Artbooking Made Easy: Love Is in the Air

Embellished Burlap Bags (Perfect For Packaging Your Valentines)

Artbooking Made Easy: Inspiration Mini Albums

Warm Thoughts With a "Frosted" Touch!

Can you believe that it is already Wednesday?!  I am hoping and praying that we see some warmer temps and real soon.  I am not very good with the Winter to begin with, so this has been difficult.  I took some time the passed couple of days to work on "titling" and "journaling"  some unfinished scrapbook pages.

I am so good with getting the layouts done.  I am even good about getting the photos printed and placed.  I'm not so good with the titles though!  One of my many downfalls.....so I pulled out my Cricut, my CTMH cartridges, and my unfinished layouts and got to work.  I figured if I can get six (6) pages done each day, it would be six (6) pages more than I had done before.  If I remain consistent, it will be done in no time at all.  I also decided that I would, from now on, title and journal as I go so not to fall behind!  There you have it...another GOAL for the new year!!! 

I also dug into my scraps from CTMH's Frosted paper pack and created some cards to give to the cherished parents of my preschoolers to say "thank you" for their thoughtfulness and generosity during the holidays!!!!  This is what I came up with after being inspired by a good friend.  Here is the finished product.

So I hope you all have had some time to get some crafting in the passed few days as well.  Stay warm and keep scrapping!!!  Here is a rough draft of the dimensions of this card:

• Card base is 5 1/2"x4 1/4" (I used Colonial White from CTMH for this project)

• The stamped image is from a retired stamp set from CTMH called "A Sip" (I love when I have a versatile stamp set like this on hand.  Great for a Get Well card or to create a gift card holder for a treat from a much loved coffee shop.)
• The Frosted Gray panel that is directly on the base measures at 4"x5 1/4"
• The patterned paper panel (looks like a diamond or lattice pattern) measures at 3 3/4"x5"
• The next panel that is Frosted Gray is 2 1/2"x5"
• The Snowflake patterned panel is 2 1/4"x5"
• The Frosted Gray Oval and the Colonial White Oval  were both cut using the Cricut cartridge Art Philosophy exclusive to Close To My Heart.  The Gray lacey ones measure at 2 1/4" and the Colonial White at 1 3/4"
• The small rectangle with "You Warm My Heart" stamped on it is 3/4"x1 1/2"

~Danielle

How Do You Use Your Scraps?

I cannot believe it is already Sunday!  My goodness time flies on the weekend!  Lately I have been sharing a few things about the CTMH Cloud Nine Card Kit that happens to be our special for this month.  Like being able to create 10 adorable cards with this kit isn't enough....there is a bit leftover paper, shimmer trim, and durables to use for a few more small projects.  Doesn't get better than that for $15.  PLUS don't forget this kit comes with an awesome "all occasion" stamp set that is just the perfect size.  

With that said, I wanted to show you this cute little "Post-It" note holder I created using some of the scraps.....

The heart die-cut and the "love you" stamp image comes from the Cloud Nine kit.  I took the sentiment from an older CTMH stamp set.  Love how I can pull out ANY of my CTMH product and make it work.  Take a look here for more information about this great kit.  If you have any questions or comments, feel free!  Happy Sunday!

~Danielle

Old Plus New Makes Awesome!

Good morning, all, and happy FREEZING COLD Saturday!!!!  I never thought this kind of cold was possible here in Northern VA but there you have it!  I took some time this morning to go through my paper crafting inventory to see what things I need to use up and what things I may need to purchase from my Autumn/Winter 2013 Close To My Heart Idea Book before the end of the month. 

As you know, we have a great special going on this month.  The Cloud Nine Card Kit can be yours for just $15 with a qualifying purchase.  What I love about the kits that CTMH offers is that they include a step-by-step guide on how to complete your project leaving no guess work on your end.  Now, yes, I know that there are companies out there that offer kits to complete a project and all you have to do is stick the pieces together.  That is great.......however, for me, I don't want ALL the work done for me.  I want to do some of the work.  I want to do the stamping and the gluing and the cutting.  I like to change things up sometimes and add my own "something special" to a project.  Sometimes the "cookie cutter" projects make me feel like they defeat the whole purpose of making something handmade...something with a personal touch.  It makes me feel like my projects are mass produced and that is kind of what I try steering away from when I do paper crafts.  Easy-I am all about...just like to add my touch to my work. 

So I got right down to completing my Cloud Nine cards by following the guide that comes with the kit and was pleasantly surprised to find that I still enough paper to complete a few more small projects.  Woohoo!!!  Nothing better than that!  I will get on that ASAP but before I head off to do that, I wanted to show you a card I created using some leftovers.  My sister is on her way to take my baby girls to spend the weekend at her house and asked if I had a "thank you" card she could use....Do I have a "thank you" card!!??  Um.......Yes I do!  Since I was bitten by the craft bug this morning, I decided to make a different pattern from what was in the card workshop guide for Cloud Nine.  Here is what I did.....

Ok, wait.....you may be asking me, "where does the old plus new makes awesome come from?".  Well I used the Cloud Nine patterned paper (NEW), Teal Shimmer Trim (NEW), Aqua Dots (In current Idea book so not brand new), diecut image from Cricut Artbooking (again in current Idea Book so not brand new), and the stamped image is from my Cricut Artiste cartridge (still available but old).  More images of this card...

There you have it!!!!  I hope you all have a wonderful day doing what you love to do.  Stay tuned for more fun stuff!  If you want to order your own Cloud Nine kit, click here!  

~Danielle

New Year, New Attitude!

Happy Friday!!!  Brrrr...it is cold outside.  As much as I would like to complain about the weather, I won't as the bitter cold temps and blast of snow last evening bought me a day off!  Another day to pull myself and my thoughts together.

I have set some personal goals for myself for this new year.  I also made some promises, one being I am not going to set my goals according to how everyone else thinks they should be set.  Instead, my goals will be those that are just right for me.  That makes them more realistic and when they are more realistic, my chances of reaching those goals are much higher.

One of my goals is to take what I love doing and inspire others.  I want to use my creativity to get others to dig down deep inside them and find their own creativity.  (Whether you want to believe it or not, EVERYONE is creative!)  I want to show them that they can do it!  They have something to offer, something special, to help preserve their life's journey.  So how will I do this?  I will start by offering daily posts (yes, I will try again to be more diligent about keeping up with my blog).  Even if I did not complete a project, I will try somehow to inspire through words or pictures.  I am so adamant about this, that I am even organizing my thoughts on paper!  I know....shocker!!!!

When I became a Close To My Heart consultant, I was given a goldmine!  I have these amazing product in my hands, I have a great team of girls that are always willing to share their thoughts and ideas, and I have a plethora of inspiration from others around me via everyday in-person interactions and technology!  I vow to take all of these things and INSPIRE all.  Let me help you get your 2014 paper crafting goals met.  Want to start stamping?  Let me show you how!  Want to start a scrapbook?  Let me show you what your options are and we will find the right fit for you!  Want to add a personal touch to an upcoming special occasion?  Let me show you how you can create your very own favors, invites, and table decor!  Close To My Heart offers all kinds of great product to help all of us get that project done.  Let's create together...........

~Danielle

Simple Card Project 
Here I used the washi tape, teal shimmer trim (available in the SS2014 IB), an "thanks" stamp image from the Cloud Nine card kit which is our January special.  I added a faux patterned trim at the bottom using the Geometric Backgrounds stamp set (D1559) which is on page 97 of the AW2013 IB or here on my website. 

This one is headed off in the mail today!  Visit my website today to order your own Cloud Nine card kit for just $15 with qualifying purchase!

Happy crafting!!

 

Happy New Year! With a New Year Comes New Product!

Hello all!  Happy 2014!  I cannot believe we are already starting a new year...as much as I hate to see 2013 go, I am excited for what 2014 may have in store for me.  One thing is for sure, Close To My Heart has a bunch of new things to offer all of us and I cannot wait to share!  So let's get started.  Today I am announcing that Cloud Nine, a fabulous card kit, can be yours this month as we are all celebrating National Papercrafting month...and what is a special occasion without a special buy?! 

There are two ways to get this awesome card kit.....you can purchase it for $15 (retail value is $46) with a minimum qualifying order of $35 during the month of January.  Or get it FREE when you enroll as a new consultant in January and submit a personal sales order of $300 or more. 

Here is what is included in the kit:
You can create 10 adorable cards (2 each of 5 designs) using the materials in this exclusive cardmaking kit and some basic supplies. The Cloud Nine cardmaking kit offers you a sneak peek at 3 new Spring/Summer2014 Idea Book products: gold polka-dot washi tape, teal Shimmer trim, and Durables triangle studs! It also includes a new, exclusive D-size stamp set and an instructional guide for creating 10 cards. The full kit includes:

• 1 – My Acrylix™ Cloud Nine Stamp Set (D-size)
• 1 – Cloud Nine B&T Duos™ Paper
• 1 – Lagoon Cardstock Sheet
• 1 – Honey Cardstock Sheet
• 1 – 9" × 9½" White Daisy Die-Cuts Sheet
• 1 Roll – Gold Polka-Dot Washi Tape
• 1 Roll – Teal Shimmer Trim
• 1 Package – Durables Triangle Studs
• 10 – Card Bases & Envelopes
• 1 – Instructional Brochure

Featured colors: Lagoon, Sunset, Honey, White Daisy.

Here are the recommended block sizes for the stamp set:
2" × 6½" (Y1010)
3" × 3" (Y1006)

National Papercrafting Month Cloud Nine Cardmaking Kit