Matryoshka

Many of you know I have a Russian daughter and that I have spent quite a bit of time in Russia. I love the generous people, the beautiful country and so much about it (we won't discuss politics here). So when I saw the March stamp of the month, I was excited. I tend to buy just about everything matryoshka related that I can find and afford so I just consider this another addition to my collection.

I plan on playing quite a bit with this lovely set but here's my first attempt. While matryoshkas are often colorful and I do plan to explore color with this set, I like how the monochromatic scheme turned out.

Considering the little friends that joined the picture, don't you think this sentiment is perfect? (And yes, those teeny tinies are just that--tiny! This card is only 4x4 if that gives you some perspective.)

до свидания!

Paper Embossing

Only a few more days to take advantage of the Embossing is Boss special. Buy two packages of cardstock (excluding white, colonial white and kraft) and get a free embossing folder, valued at $8.95. Buy ten packages of cardstock and get all five free. Throw on the stamp of the month with that ten pack purchase and qualify for a party with another $25 free. That's a great deal!

Let me give you a visual (I love visuals). Buy two paper packets and get a free embossing folder.

 Buy ten paper packets and get all five embossing folders free! Plus you qualify to purchase the stamp of the month for $5.00 (a $17.95 value). Add the stamp of the month on and you'll qualify for another $25 free (not shown here).

I really do love these embossing folders. They really emboss well and add a nice touch to cards and scrapbook projects. So hurry! Only three days left!

Card designed by Jen Mahan

Simply Inspired Blog Hop--Embossing is Boss

And we're hopping again! This time to inspire you with the embossing folders that Close to My Heart now offers (don't forget they have a special on these folders this month). If you just arrived here from Sheri Rottler's blog, you are on the right path. If you get lost along the way, you can go to this link to start from the beginning.

This month, I wanted to keep it simple. I know there are all sorts of tricks and techniques out there with embossing folders but you know, sometimes keeping it simple is the best option.

I love the February stamp of the month. I think that darling little polka-dotted fox is just asking to be paired with some embossed paper. And I love all the embossing folders but I think the Quatrefoil is my favorite (besides I like the way it sounds in French). I used an oldie but goodie stamp technique, masking, to stamp "Hey Foxy" on two lines and in two colors.

So fun and fast and cute. And now on to see what Lisa Stenz has come up with. Happy Blog Hopping!

Happy Valentine's!

Valentine's day is only a few days away. I don't get carried away on Valentine's decorating other than pulling out my vintage Valentine's. But this year, I decided I needed a new Valentine's banner. I found this lovely (link here with instructions). So easy and fun to make. I cut the hearts on my Cricut (Art Philosophy cartridge--4" in black to fit behind doilies, 3 1/2" for patterned paper and stamped hearts). I didn't have a lot of patterned paper in Valentine colors so I cut hearts in white, ruby, hollyhock and blush cardstock and stamped them with various background stamps that I had.

Happy Valentine's Day everyone!

More Balloon Ride--New Product Blog Hop

I'm on a roll. Two blog hops within a week! This particular blog will continue to add posts until February 9th so check back to keep up on all the new product from the Spring/Summer 2014 Close to My Heart catalog.

This card is actually very fast and simple. Using the Balloon Ride papers and the Give a Lift stamp set, a blending pen and ink and a sponge and a stencil, I had a fun time making this card. Just a little sponging over the stencil with sky ink and sorbet ink was the perfect touch to make this balloon feel like it was floating in the sky.

I hope I've inspired you to do a little creating of your own. So now, click on the thumbnails below to check out other great ideas from the new catalog. Happy Browsing!



If you are a CTMH consultant and would like to join the CTMH Blog Boosters hop, please visit our facebook page and request to join.

Simply Inspired Blog Hop--Balloon Ride

Tomorrow is the official release of the new Close to My Heart Spring/Summer Catalog and a perfect excuse for a blog hop. If you arrived here from Brenda's blog, then you are on the right path. If you get lost along the way, you can go to this link to start fresh.
 

A few years ago, I went to Paris on the trip of a lifetime. But I haven't scrapbooked very many of my pictures because the paper had to be just right. And the new Balloon Ride paper is just right.

Check out these Storyteller charms. They are perfect. They come in antiqued silver (shown) and antiqued gold (three of each) and you can use them for jewelry projects or on your layout as I did here.

And the Give a Lift stamp set! Ahhh, how it makes my heart soar. And you've got to love the resin heart from the Balloon Ride assortment.

While all of these products were perfect for my Paris photos, I have another layout in mind for them later involving my dog and his idea that hot air balloons were dragons in the sky that my family needed protection from. Stay tuned--that one may show up here in the future.

And now on to the lovely Debbi's blog. I'm sure she'll have something fabulously inspiring there.

Enjoy and thanks for stopping by!

Simply Inspired Blog Hop--Cloud 9

It's time again for a blog hop! And this round, we are all doing a variation on the Cloud 9 kit, Close to My Heart's special for National PaperCrafting Month.  If you came here from Melissa's blog, you are on the right path. The blog hop is a great big circle, but if you happen to get lost along the way, please click here for a complete list of participants.  And now, on to my project!

Because Cloud 9 is a card making kit, of course you want to make the cards. There is enough product to make five designs, two of each card. However, what to do with the leftovers when you are done? I decided to use them in a My Crush book.

My Crush books are such a fun way to scrapbook quickly and easily and you don't need much product to do it as the pages are already very cute. Here's the blank pages.

I just added my photos and some leftover paper, washi tape and glitter tape from the Cloud 9 kit. I wrapped cardstock with the gold washi tape to get the larger pieces on the left page. And I cut some additional hearts to stamp on and to accent using the Cricut Artiste cartridge.

This was a lot of fun and literally only took me about ten minutes to pull together. And aren't my daughter and my nieces the cutest things?

I hope I've inspired you. And now on to Rebecca's blog to see what she came up with using Cloud 9. Enjoy!