In every Idea Book there is a paper pack that is my least favourite- Jubilee was that one for the Idea Book…. but, like every time, once I start to play with it I love it! The bright, warm colours work for so many things… like my two cards here that would not have been the same if I had not used the Jubilee paper!
For the first card I used the Jubilee paper, some bakers twines, epoxy bubbles and an upcoming stamp of the month for the sentiment. I love how it turned out!
This card features a fun flower popped off the top and lots of scalloped edges! Jubilee paper, Jubilee compliments and some of our Green Chevron ribbon finish this card off!
Welcome to another Tuesday Technique! This week we are looking at paper piecing!
Paper piecing is a great technique that can give your projects depth, texture and a look that elevates them above the everyday! To paper piece you will select an image (and select carefully as images with many small parts may prove to be frustrating for your first experience) and stamp that image on a variety of papers. Depending on the stamp image you may want to only use papers with a smaller pattern – this will ensure that your image fits and looks nice when complete. Once you have stamped your images then you can cut out the individual pieces and glue them onto the base stamped image- in the case of my card here I paper pieced the owl and glued all my smaller pieces onto the blue body base.
Yes this can be a timely technique but believe me sometimes it is worth it!
If you try out one of the Tuesday Techniques I would love to see – feel free to use the ‘contact me’ tab to send me a picture of your art (I may just feature it on an upcoming blog post!)
Today we are going to look at the spray pen technique and using it for your cards and layouts!
Spray pens are fairly easy to use and we sell them in a convenient 3-pack- if you care for your pen then it will last you use after use! To care for it just make sure that you clean it after every use- storing any unused mixes in your pen could cause it to clog.
There are two recipes I use for making up a mix.
1. Re-inker and Pearl paint- mix a bit of water, a drop or two of re-inker and a very small amount of pearl paint in the barrel of your spray pen. This mix will give your spray a pearly-sheen when it is dry.
2. Re-inker and water- mix a bit of water with a drop or two of re-inker. Perfect for lots of different projects!
Tips for using your spray pen:
try to keep a box around for using your spray in. Place your project in the bottom of the box before spraying so that you do not end up decorating your entire table or room!
The first time you spray try it on a scrap piece of paper- holding your pens in different ways (or close or far away) will give your spray pattern different looks. To ensure you get the one your like you will want to safely try it out ahead of time.
Yes you may have guessed by now that my favourite paper pack is Skylark! I love to use it as it is so versatile and goes with EVERYTHING! In this layout I use Skylark and the Cricut Artbooking cartridge (as well as a few other items) to share the amazement I feel as I watch my daughter grow and develop- the things she can do are simply amazing!
My layout it fairly simple- it is one of the patterns that is featured in our Make it From Your Heart-Volume 2 book (if you have not picked one of these up I highly recommend it! It is full of layout patterns with cutting directions AND has card patterns as well!)
I added a few things to my layout – sparkle flourishes, Midtown Cork Shapes, One-Way Borders stamp set and pigment ink to stamp with (gives the colours a bit more ‘pop’). I also used the Cricut Artbooking cartridge to create my title AND the heart cluster. I have used this heart cluster a few times- it comes from a larger overlay cut on Artbooking- I cut it in different papers and then hand trim off clusters and lay the layers together. I really like the look!
I am sure that you LOVE your Close to my Heart Cricut cartridges as much as I do- I almost use them exclusively as there is VERY little not on one of the three. The collections they come in are just as useful- the stamps and die-cuts that coordinate perfectly with the cartridges are my ‘go-to’ sets time and again.
Here is a compilation of some of the projects I have done in the past year using our cartridges- more information on them can be found on the CTMH Cricut Collections Page of the website OR you can order any of these on my Shop page.
TWO of the projects are new to my blog! I hope you enjoy all of these and would LOVE to hear from you in the comments below – what would you create if you had one of our cartridges??
The first is an Easter layout I created using the Frosted paper we carried in the last Idea Book- I used glitter paper and the Artbooking cartridge to add some fun detail like the hearts and my title. I also used stamping and ‘inked’ in my ‘Happy’ image with my blending pen and ink picked up from my blush stamp pad. I also added some Kraft paper- it does go with everything after all!
This layout also using Artbooking and features the Huntington paper from the last Idea book- I LOVE the wood detail combined with the film strip (which worked perfectly for the series of photos I took of my Dad jumping a stream). All the other elements also came from the Artbooking cartridge!
You know what they say about Birds of a feather….. they usually become the best of friends!
This card was made using the Skylark paper and complements, the feathers stamp set and some natural hemp. The edges of my card were distressed by scissor distressing (carefully running your scissors across the edge of your paper in ONE direction- I don’t recommend a back and forth motion as this tends to cause rips in the paper).
Being a Close to my Heart Consultant or How I found my dream and live it everyday!
I know- cheesy right?!
BUT – so true!!
I do love my career with Close to my Heart- it has brought me so many great things!
trips to destinations I could never have even dreamed of seeing (like the Mediterranean Cruise where I got to see the Sistine Chapel!!)
a wonderful income (more on this later)
a sisterhood- of fellow consultants and downline. These ladies (and even a few precious gentlemen) are so much more than someone I work with or someone I earn income from. They are family- people I can laugh with, cry with and even cry for! They are ladies who go above and beyond to help a fellow consultant in hard times and join together got rejoice in happy! Most importantly, they are truly the only people who understand my love for this company and this product because they suffer from the same ‘affliction’ I do!
product- well of course! This is what first brought me to CTMH. I wanted so many of the pretty things in the Idea Book! When I first saw the product I was at a home party that my friend Lisa was hosting (I really should thank her). I had a pathetic $10 to spend… maternity leave and a new baby were making short work of my income. Then I opened the idea book…. and I was doomed! It was all so nice and unlike anything I had ever seen. When the consultant (now my BFF Sarah!) mentioned signing up I jumped…. and have never looked back!
Personal growth (yes another cheesy thing but it is true). I started in this business a completely different person. I was a fairly ‘shy’ person at the beginning and tended to keep my thoughts to myself. Through the years I have grown and found my voice (in a good way I assure you). I no longer feel ‘shy’ and have no problem standing up in a room full of people and discussing CTMH (or even other things as what I learned with CTMH has also helped me in my day career).
and the money thing? what about that?
Well, a few years ago CTMH had us call out our BHAGs at a meeting- I remember sitting in the room (I think we were in Las Vegas) and they encouraged us to say it out load- that Big Hairy Audacious Goal!! I paused… for a long time… too shy and scared to say what I really wanted to say. But my BFF Sarah kept poking me. So, I called out, “TO QUIT MY DAY JOB.” Wow! I had said it and found I really did mean it. Don’t get me wrong I love my day job (I am a full time teacher) and it comes with a wonderful income and wonderful benefits BUT someday I would love to leave all of this for my DREAM JOB- CTMH! Who wouldn’t? To say, ‘Yep, I quit my teaching job to sell scrapbooking products and other fantastic craft products’ and ‘Nope, that did not hurt our finances at all, in face I am making MORE now’ – that would be AWESOME!
Now I should add to this that as a Canadian teacher I make a very good salary and I also have excellent benefits- these have kept me in my day job and will likely keep me here longer as my family has medical needs that are costly and I need the sanity of a place to go everyday. BUT, I am close to the point that I could go part time (and if we didn’t need those benefits I could take the full leap!) How exciting is that!!!
Today is one of those days that I am ‘gushy’ and proud of my choice to be a CTMH consultant- I had to record it and share it with all of you! I don’t do this because I want you to join me – I simply want to share my feelings and my joy! But- if this does make you wonder… then please contact me or click on the link in my tabs “Join my Team”- there is so much this company can bring to you too!
and because the product was and will always be a big part of the ‘why’ to join here is a video I made showing all the goodies that comes in the Consultant kit!
Welcome to the last day! Today I get to sit back and wait to see how much hostess rewards we have to give away to our Grand Prize winner! I cannot wait- be sure to check back tomorrow to see who it is!
Today I wanted to showcase a card and a stamp set- CTMH has some of the cutest stamps! The paper is one you have seen before – maybe it is my actual favourite pack since I seem to use it so much- Skylark! I actually have mixed in two stamp sets on this card- one which is an upcoming stamp of the month (the word bubble) and the ‘Owls’ stamp set. To create my colourful owl I stamped the branch and the owl on a variety of papers (they are from a few different paper packs). I then cut out the pieces I wanted and pieced them together- paper piecing! I love how it all turned out in the end.
Only one day left! WOW! I cannot wait to pick and announce the winner of the hostess rewards for our CTMH Idea Book reveal- you will have till midnight (MST) on the 15th to submit your orders to the party on my SHOP (be sure you ‘join’ the Idea Book reveal party)- the winner will be announced here on the 16th!
Today’s project is a simple one but it focuses on an item that I actually intro ducted in an earlier post as a teaser- our Picture my Life system. (If you are familiar with Project Life or Pocket scrapbooking then you will be familiar with this style of scrapbooking).
We have come out with 8 different PML kits- each kit features 44 4×6 cards, 78 3×4 cards, a 12×12 designed cover page and 10 memory protectors of various designs. This allows you to add an album (did I mention we have two new patterns of albums) and you will have a completed book in an afternoon! This is the answer for those who like the look of a scrapbook but don’t have the time or don’t want the fuss. You can keep your PML book simple or you can dress it up with some simple accessories like washi tape!
Here are pics I took of 6 of the kits- I have even organized mine in our medium organizer for storage. This picture shows only the left side of the organizer but all the cards fit very nicely – even with all 8 kits I still have room in the back for another 8 or other pieces (like accessories or pictures) that I might want to take with me when completing one of these albums.
This is such a great system and I cannot wait to get started!
Products revealed:
Oh and before I forget I do have a video on Youtube also showing this:
I LOVE holidays that are fun and allow me to play with my crafts AND make my kids super-happy!!! I have so much planned for them on Valentine’s Day and this is one of the two valentines I am sending them with. These are for my daughter’s preschool class- easy, very cost-effective and super-adorable!!
Want to make your own? Here is the free printable! ENJOY!
