Want to Win a Stamp Set?

Everyone likes to win, right? Well, in August, Close to My Heart is giving away 25 E size acrylic alphabet sets. Just watch the video below and follow the instructions to enter yourself to win. You could win my current favorite alphabet, the Framework Alphabet. I used it on the canvases in my last post to do the initials and I used it on this fun pocket album to stamp "my Stuff".

Yup, I played a teeny bit with mod podge on this one too. I botched the paint job on the y but hey, I wanted it a little bit grungy and that is the story I'm sticking to.

The video is less than a minute and a half and has cute samples so watch it and then enter to win. Good luck!

Playing with Mixed Media

Most of the time, I am a paper, glue, ink and scissors type of gal. Once in a while I may dabble in paint but that's getting pretty brave for me.

However, after playing with a little mod podge back in March, I decided there was a whole world of creativity out there waiting to be experienced. So, I recently dabbled a bit. And here was my result.

I started with 6x6 canvases. I cut overlays from the Cricut artbooking cartridge and used those to stencil with some acrylic paint (I mixed white with reinkers to get custom colors). Add some Proplayer paper and Proplayer assortments, the notebook paper stamp from the Cricut Artbooking collection stamp sets (this has got to be my favorite stamp and Cricut cut) and the new Framework Alphabet Stamps and these were actually pretty quick.  Avoid using mod podge or any multi-medium directly on the stamped images unless you are using pigment ink and avoid using the multi-medium on photos. It's not pretty. I am definitely not the expert on this but I am having fun with it.

 

 I'm wrapping up a Claudine Hellmuth class on Big Picture Classes so there may be some more mixed media appearing on this blog in the future. I really am enjoying it. But know you can always count on me for paper, scissors and ink creations. Always.

An Inexpensive Gift Idea

I LOVE Ikea. I can spend hours wandering through that store. I recently picked up some inexpensive frames for 99 cents. I tossed them in my cart thinking, "I can do something with that."

Well, it did not sit in my craft room long before I did make something with it. With some leftover paper from my stash, a little twine, some washi tape, my Close to My Heart stamps and a little inspiration from a Heidi Swapp video, here is what I made.

Quick, easy and very inexpensive. All I need to add is a photo.

My daughter went to a girl's retreat and had to come up with a secret sister gift for $2.00 or less. Now that is hard. But I had another Ikea frame in my stash and she duplicated this frame. A darling gift for less than $2.00 and made from the heart. Her secret sister loved it. 

New Product Blog Hop!

Everyone loves a blog hop and I was excited to join this one sponsored by the amazingly talented, Tresa Black. She and I both taught the same packet, ProPlayer, at the Close to My Heart Convention in June so it was so much fun to see what she created.  

I believe I told you in a previous post that my friend, Colette Wagstaff, took my kids out for a photo shoot in preparation for my class. I needed some great photos that would look fabulous with the ProPlayer paper (my kit for convention). She did not disappoint and my kids and their friends had a blast. There were so many good photos that I had a hard time choosing. The easiest way to use some of my favorites was in a mini album format. This is a photo frame that I picked up at Ikea. Close to My Heart has a new flip stand album you can see here that is new to the catalog but I didn't know about it when I created this. Now I'm excited to create one with Close to My Heart's version. I may have to ask Colette to do another photo shoot.

I used the new Cricut Artbooking Cartridge on all of these pages. These are the file folders available on the 5 and 6 keys (7x5 Top Secret Mini Album). I cut them in half, using one half of each file folder for a page. The file folders are cut at the recommended size but I did all sorts of experimentation with real dial size for many of the other images. Don't you just love that "Oh Snap"?

Besides the ProPlayer papers, we have lots of accessories going on here. I used a lot of my leftovers at this point (this was one of my last projects). This page has the ProPlayer Assortment and the Irresistibles Hexagons.

Remember to save those leftovers. The Chevrons are leftovers from cutting a Chevron overlay on key 7. The stamp is one of the Cricut Artbooking Collection Stamp Sets. You get three different sets plus chipboard with the cartridge.

A little Base & Bling, a little Ruby Chevron ribbon, a little red Shimmer Trim.

Love the Be Yourself. Pop a little honey cardstock behind it and it makes it pop!

More Base and Bling Word Accents with a little Ruby Mini Medleys thrown in. Love the LOL, again from the Cricut Artbooking cartridge.

A little Abbey Road going on here. The saying is from the Maximum Power stamp set. The sun overlay is from key t (6x7 Summer Mini-Album). The sequins are from the Black Mini Medleys. It includes individual sequins, with adhesive already on them. Brilliant! I used a few on the next page.

Love the overlay I used in the background. I experimented with real dial size on key 3. This was a leftover from some of my testing. Just goes to show that sometimes it does pay to hoard leftovers. The good Times stamp is from another of the Cricut Artbooking Collection stamp sets.

This was actually a quick project when I got down to it. It was a great use for leftover cuts and accessories and a great way to display some fun photos that hadn't been used on scrapbook layouts. I even created one of these for the Operation Smile auction held at convention. Good times.

Now hop on over to other blogs to see more new product from the Autumn/Winter Close to My Heart Catalog.

Note: To join the blog hop, you must be a member of the CTMH Blog Boosters. Please do not add an entry to the blog hop if you are not a member of the group. However, please do check out the links to the other blogs and their great ideas!

It's Here! The New Autumn/Winter 2013 Catalog Goes Live Today!

Today, the new Close to My Heart Autumn/Winter 2013 Catalog goes live. You can check it out on my website or contact me and we'll figure out how to get you one.


There are all sorts of great new items in here. I gave you a sneak peek of the New Cricut Artbooking Cartridge last week. It's available to order now!

So many fun things you can make with this. It makes mini-albums and scrapbook pages simple.

And we have expanded our home decor items. Can you imagine the fun things you could do with instagram photos for one of these frames (there is a black one as well)? Or a chore chart? Or an inspiration board? Or a to-do list? Or a weekly calendar? Oh the possibilities!

And you can craft jewelry with Close to My Heart products! Yes, necklaces, rings, hair clips, headbands. Fun!

We're expanding our horizons and yours. Enjoy!