Huntington Damask Diva Blog Hop

Welcome to your next stop on the Damask Diva's Huntington Blog Hop! If you are coming from Jessica Wilson's blog you are in the right place! But no worries…if you are starting with my post you can find all the links to the blog hop at our Damask Diva blog.

This is just one of the projects I've made using the Huntington paper pack. I love the rich textures and colors CTMH has put together so much I've bought several packs so I'll have it for projects throughout the year!

Make it from Your Heart vol. 2

This card comes from our great Make it From Your Heart Vol. 2 book. It is found on page 43. Pattern 22 gives you great layers and a stamping area that is very versatile! I chose to use the beautiful stamp set for fall called, Happy Autumn. To begin with, I took the small cluster of flowers and inked them up using the Rock the Block technique. Rock the Block is when you first stamp your image in the lighter of 2 colors. Then you take the darker color but instead of fulling inking the stamp you gently rock your acrylic block in a circular motion touching only the edges of the stamp. For this card I used Autumn Terracotta ink as the base color and I rocked it onto Barn Red, just on the edges of the flower. I made one imprint and then without re-inking I immediately printed again underneath. This technique is called Stamping Off. Then I stamped the sentiment in Chocolate ink. I made this card as part of a Stamp-a -Stack class and below is an example of what one of the class members, Robin, made.

Super Cute!

I think Robin's card came out super cute! She masked (covered) part of the sentiment and then used the Turkey from the retired stamp set, C1426 Thanksgiving. On one of her other cards she changed it up a bit and used the pumpkin from this set and the pilgrim boy{2 cute}. 

While, buying new stamp sets is always exciting. I just love seeing how so many sets old and new can be used to create wonderful cards and layouts!  

Stamp a Stack

Here are some more pics from my Stamp-a-Stack class I held at my home. We had a great time stamping a variety of cards-10 cards in all!

The creativity and personal touches everyone adds to their cards always amazes me! I want to thank Robin, Shirley, and Jennifer for attending the class! 

It is so much fun to be a CTMH consultant! It has blessed my life in so many ways. 

Grateful!

I'm also so grateful to you for stopping by! I hope that you'll come back soon or better yet, join my blog and never miss a post! 

Now hop on over to Brenda's blog and see what she has been busy making for you! 

May the Blessings of Thanksgiving be with you the whole year through!

Sharon

Sympathy Card

I unfortunately had to make my first sympathy card since becoming a CTMH consultant. A few weeks ago, my cousin's college age son passed away unexpectedly. Such a tragic loss. While I haven't seen the young man since he was a toddler, his grandmother (my aunt) played a very important role in my life and I knew I needed to send sympathies to her.

Background stamping

I began the card by making an A2 card blank. Next I cut fronts for the card in 1/8 in increments with the bamboo card stock 1/8 in greater than the colonial white card stock. The using the Universal Background stamp set and bamboo ink I stamped the script background. 

Torn card stock technique

As you can see, I tore the corner off both the bamboo and white card stock. I find if you tear with an "up" motion with your dominant hand the paper tears and leaves the rough edge. All CTMH card stock has a white core perfect for this and for embossing.
I finished up the card by stamping the flower and sentiment. The flower is from a retired stamp set. Both sentiments are from Card Chatter-Sympathy stamp set. Don't dismiss this stamp set! It has great sentiments that work for many situations, not just in a time of loss. I've used this set many times for illness, baptisms and support of those going through a difficult time. I'm sure my aunt felt the love sent with this homemade card.

Want to start making your own cards?

Making your own cards is fun and easy! But even easier with CTMH Workshop on the Go Card Kits!

We have 2 card kits available in our Fall 2013 Idea Book: Laughing Lola and Frosted(Christmas) These are great crafting kits at an awesome VALUE!

But you can get even more value when you join my Monthly Kit Club! You'll get FREE products every month you order one of our Workshops on the Go or Decor Kits! Want to know more about the great monthly FREE products and the special gift at the end of the club? Click HERE!  I know you are going to LOVE the great products!

To order any of our great CTMH products, please click here! I appreciate your business and am just a click, email or call away to help you make the most of your crafting!

Whooo?

Just a quick post today! Awhile back I made this cute little bag from CTMH's Artiste Cartridge! I think it turned out pretty cute.

I cut this using several Artiste cuts:

• Wings- Ovals
• Feet-upside down heart
• Eyes-scallopped flower and circle
• Feathers-Artiste owl cut
• Hand cut triangle for beak

I stamped the white feathers with our In the Background stamps. I also used a white gel pen to add some squiggles to the edge of the beak. The buttons are pretty large and heavy so I used large glue dots to stick them onto the eyes. 

I hope that this inspires you to create one also! 

To order CTMH products used in my projects, click here!

No Siesta! Paper Fiesta!

~Sharon

Same Cuts So Many Unique designs!

Recently, I provided the activity for a birthday party of a fellow crafter! Christina asked me to prepare an 8 x 10 layout where her friends and family could place a 4 x 6 photo. Isn't that a GREAT idea for a birthday party or ladies day out? I was so excited to do this so I got right to work!

Stella Paper to the Rescue

My first thought was how can I make something that will appeal to all sorts of people? And since 20 ladies were invited, what paper did I have enough of to make 20 sets of materials? The answer, thankfully, was the same for both questions: STELLA, a retired pack from a few years ago that I just loved!{Of course, I just love EVERY paper pack-LOL!}

Now to the design

I needed quick and easy to cut and to put together. But I also wanted something versatile enough that everyone's wouldn't look the same. I ended up cutting the double sided paper down to about 8 1/2 x 10 1/2 inches for the background. The left over from each 12 x 12 Boarder & Texture paper was then cut down into 1 1/2 in strips. Then I used our Art Philosophy Cricut Cartridge to cut a top note frame in cocoa card stock, a flower in the B&T, and from the Artiste Cartridge the word Family. The Artbooking Cartridge couldn't be left out so from there I cut the word Remember. Loving our zip strip, I ended up adding it to the layout also. Here are some of the designs I came up with using these simple cuts.

I love the lagoon card stock and how our double sided paper makes it so easy to change the look just by flipping the paper over. All of these pictured have a brown frame with brown script background stamped on it but I actually also provided lagoon frames and cocoa words in some of the baggies. You can see that I came up with 5 different designs. Not bad...but NOTHING like the creativity of the ladies who came to the party! Take a look at their work pictured below!

So versatile!

As you can see they ladies came up with their own designs that fit their personalities. 8-10 pieces of paper came together in all different ways. Best yet the ladies had a great time and many made more than 1 layout that afternoon. It was a fun filled party with crafting, laughing, a little chismé,  great food, sangria, and margaritas! Who could ask for more!

Color coordinated value!

It is amazing to me the value you get when you purchase one of CTMH's paper packs. 2 sheet of 3 designs Boarder and Texture paper AND matching card stock! That to me is such a blessing! When I first started to craft I'd pick paper packs out at the store downtown, get home and then realized I didn't have enough coordinating card stock. Back to the store I'd go, hoping and praying that one of their packs would work with my project, often spending more money, even with a 40% off coupon. It is such piece of mind, knowing when I open a paper pack up, I'll be able to do several projects with paper that all goes together beautifully. Then add My Creations Stickease or Compliments and your layouts, cards or craft projects will come together perfectly! 

So you like FREE?

Who doesn't like FREE? I have a new club just for you! Purchase 1 Workshop on the Go or Home Decor Kit each month for 5 months and get a FREE gift EACH month from me but that's not all! Learn more here or go to the Monthly Kit Club at the top of this blog!

Thanks for stopping by!

No siesta....Siempre Fiesta!

~Sharon

Chantilly Cards and Free Product Announcement

Chantilly Cards

I love our Workshop on the Go and Decor Kits and that is why I'm launching a Monthly Kit Club complete with FREE gifts! More on that later!  Here are two cards I made with the left overs from the Chantilly Workshop on the Go Card Making Kit I purchased over summer!  One of the fun things about stamping and scrapping is that you can create with little scraps and supplies left over from bigger projects!

The green boarder and texture paper were left over pieces from the WOTG kit. I just trimmed the one on the right a bit to fit the card, added a focal point flower and a sentiment (or a group of them!) and I was done!

This one is my favorite of the two cards! I'm loving the multi-stamped sentiment look these days! I just grabbed a bunch of Happy Birthdays I have and made a design I liked. The Sweet Leaf green one is from the WOTG card kit. The large HB is from Card Chatter Birthday(D1475). The Sunset HB is my NEWEST stamp set that I'm soooo in love with as a card maker called Holiday Tags (D1560). It has decorative frames with coordinating holiday greetings. The flowers are Floret Paper Shapes (Z1764) and I used one of our brads.

This card is great for those who like Clean & Simple! I stamped the flower and leaves from Happy Thoughts Stamp Set (C1536) in sunset and olive inks. Then I fussy cut these. The label at the bottom is also from Happy Thoughts with that small Happy Birthday from Holiday Tags this time in Sweet Leaf. What do you think of these little cards? I'd love to hear from YOU! Comments are appreciated!

Card Making Kit

Above are the cards I made from our Chantilly Card Making kit offered in our last Idea Book! The card kit came with 15 base cards and envelopes as well as a C-sized stamp set exclusive to the kit (a $13.95 value) and the ribbon. These on-trend designs with chevrons and ribbons are easy to create with the included cutting and stamping guide. TIP: I always keep my WOTG guides to use with other papers later! You add your own inks, adhesive and creativity. We have several great kits available right now! These kits are a real bargain starting at $24.95! But wouldn't you love to get more bang for your buck? Well, you can by joining Paper Fiesta's Monthly Kit Club!

New Club & GREAT FREEBIES!

Today, I'm announcing my new Paper Fiesta Monthly Kit Club!  Join my 5-month club committing to purchase at least 1 kit per month and as a thank you I'll send you your choice of either a stamp pad, marker set, or re-inker. Then after you complete your 5 month term having purchased each month, you'll get to choose any A-D size stamp set FREE from our current products! It is a GREAT way to get all the kits you already want to buy anyway AND add great products to your craft supplies!  Ready to sign up? Click here. Want to learn more? Click here or on the Monthly Kit Club tab. There you'll find out all the details! 

Thanks for stopping by my Paper Fiesta! 

Until next time, 

No siesta, just paper fiesta!

Sharon

In need of stamping and scrapping supplies? Check out my CTMH store!

  

Get Ready: Holidays from the Heart!

From Rosette Christmas Trees to Super Cute Stamps

Close to My Heart has done it again! They have added a holiday gift guide just in time for the Christmas! From the festive Sparkle and Shine paper with just a touch of silver to the new Hip Pics Album Kit you'll find quality items that every crafter must have! I just love the Sparkle & Shine paper used to make these trees. You can also get a matching Washi Tape 3-pack. This set of green, red and silver tape measures 15 yard for each color! Style and value that  is perfect for not only Christmas but all year long! 

Earn STAR items....FREE!

For every $100 you purchase from any combination of items from Holidays from the Heart and our Fall 2013 Idea Book you'll qualify for 1 'star' item from the holiday guide absolutely FREE! You'll also qualify for our fantastic Stamp of the Month! This great scandinavian Christmas set will add style and fun to your cards and layouts!

Limited time

The Holidays from the Heart gift guide is here for a limited time. Check back on my online shop from October 15th -December 31. Take advantage of these great products, many of which are while supplies last! Remember, to join one of my online gatherings when you order! Or if you plan to order more than $150, contact me before you order and I'll set it up so you get Hostess Rewards!

Inspiration coming!

I've got some great projects I'll be posting for Christmas and they'll include Sparkle & Shine! Please make sure to check in with my Facebook page and this blog. You don't want to miss out! 

Party on! No siesta! Let's Fiesta! 

Sharon

Eight Great How-to Helps: CTMH Layouts and Card Making books!

These how to books are so great! These are tried and true recipes for your crafting! From beginners to pros you'll find great project ideas that are easy to make your own. Each of these books is under $20 and 6 of them are spiral bound which makes them easy to open and use as your crafting.

You can find all of these books by clicking here or click on the individual title for more specific info:
Cherish Scrapbook Program (9038)
Imagine Scrapbook Program (9039)
Magic Scrapbook Program (9040) -Interactive pages for advanced scrappers
Reflections Scrapbook Program (9041)
Wishes Card Confidence Program (9041)
Originals Card Confidence Program (9036)
Make it from Your Heart Vol. 1 (9035)
Make it from Your Heart Vo. 2 (9042) which includes great ways to use Artbooking Cartridge cuts!

Take a peek at a layout I made recently using Make it from Your Heart Vol. 1 by clicking here.

Thanks and remember No Siesta, Paper Fiesta!

Sharon

Family Mini Album

Front Cover

Today I'm showcasing an album a made awhile back for my niece Holly. I used Avonlea paper because it was the paper I used for her baby's name banner. I also used the retired All Sorts Mini album from CTMH. Each page was covered in card stock using CTMH's Bonding Memories Glue. There are also several cuts from our great Cricut Collections. Many of the frames, tags, and even the envelope on the back of the album were all made using the Cricut. Our paper packs make it so easy since everything coordinates and when you add our Stickease or Compliments you have all you need to make those special cards, mini albums or layouts!

Back cover with additional tags & journals

Take a look inside! 

Current Products used in mini-album

Irresistables Houndstooth Alphabet

Pirouette Acrylic Stamp

A Bowwow Acrylic Stamp Set

Card Stock

Cricut Collections

In addition to the album I sent Holly a small keepsake card. Think of it as a dedication card in a way because I got to say how much she means to me.

Coordinating Card

I had such a great time making this album that I decided to make one for my other niece using the Tommy Paper Pack. I'll have that one posted soon!

Need crafting supplies?

I hope you'll give me an opportunity to earn your business! I offer support to all my customers...near and far!  My Close to My Heart business page is just 1 click away. Make sure to JOIN a gathering listed when you purchase under $150. If you are looking to spend more than $150, please contact me so I can set up your OWN gathering and earn hostess rewards! 

Thanks for joining the party! You're invited to come back soon and check out all my posts. I love getting comments and would appreciate them!