Father's Day Celebration.

So my picture is a little distorted. . .and I can't figure out why?
I've never had that happen before, but I'm just going to have to go with it today!  Since I gave the card to my Dad yesterday!

We celebrated by going to my Sister and Brother-in-law's house for dinner.  

They invited over our family and his family and we are all pretty close, so it is a lot of fun.

They had an awesome dinner.

And dessert.

The kids had fun playing.

The dads got a few presents.

It was a really nice evening.  

I didn't take any pictures. . . not because of my picture overload syndrome. . . .(see post before ha!) but because I was so completely tired!!! I let the other gals do the photographing and I just sat there like a bump on a log.  I know they will share! :)

The card above measures 5 1/4 x 4 1/2 (a typical sized card)
To cut down a 12x12 piece easily, I just cut it to make it 
 8 1/2 x 11, then cut that in half.  You know have two card bases to use.  Cut the 11" side in half at 5 1/2.

I used Kraft Cardstock for the base. (My very favorite CS to use)

I cut out the Blue items on White Daisy Cardstock with my Cricut machine and the Artiste CTMH Cricut Cartridge.

I punched out the center White Scalloped Circle with the 2" Scallop Circle punch.

I stamped the Blue Items with Pacifica ink pad and used the Stamp Set that is a part of the Artiste Collection "Kudos".

The World's Best Dad came from a former Stamp of the Month set "Year Round Cheer"

I used foam tape to pop up the center.  

And that is it!

It is very simple, but it turned out pretty cute, If I do say so myself.

Even though the picture makes it look a little warped!

Hope you all had an awesome Father's Day!!!!  

Wedding Card Teacher Gift and Update.

 I can't believe today is the last day of school!  Wow how this year has flown past!  I am so sad for Brady to leave Dear Elementary.  I just can't imagine there is a better school out there.  The staff is absolutely amazing.  I am sure his new school, Sunrise, will be equally as great.  Just can't believe how fast he is growing up.  


The card above I made for Brady's teacher, Miss Penning. In just a couple of weeks she will be walking down the aisle.  Everything is from Close to My Heart. 
 Here is a list of the items I used.  Besides drying time for the LIquid Glass, I made this card very quickly.
die-cut cards and envelops
Florentine Paper Pack
Florentine Stickease
Color-ready alphabets ( I think they are retired, but check the clearance section on my website.)
Garden Green, Chocolate inks
Liquid Glass
Foam Tape
Colonial White Ribbon. (retired)

Don't mind the mess, please!  I purchased these cups at Walmart for a very decent price.  Then I cut out tags from some Cosmo Cricket Paper I had on hand.  I glued them to Cranberry Cardstock.  Punched a hole.  And tied a ribbon to the cup.  Voila!  A cute and easy tag!  I filled the cup with candy.  Hope the teachers like them!

Here are more of the tags.  The Cannonball is my favorite!  

A long while ago, one of my friends mentioned she had this cool sink in her barn and it could be mine, if I wanted it.  Of course I did.  And it took me many, many, many months to go and get it.  

I had our builder look at it to see if it would work in our laundry/mudroom.  His first words were, it looks like it came straight from a barn!  And it did!  He called it the prettiest sink he has ever seen and said we better lock the house up tight, now.  I think he was being a comedian.

I wonder what he thinks of my cleaned up sink now?  I used some Goof Off I purchased at Walmart to remove some spray paint overspray that was on the front of the sink.  It really worked great and came off very easily.  I just absolutely love it.  It is perfect and I feel so lucky I was able to have this sink.  Thank you so much, Stephanie!  I definitely got the better end of the deal on our "trade"!  

Here is a view of my Craft room.  They have all of the doors in and the trim just about finished.  Though, as I am typing this, they are probably already done!

I just noticed in this picture, the trim above the door isn't finished.  I will have to find another picture to add to show the trim.   

 Here is a little visitor to our hill we encountered as we were leaving the other day.  

 This is a very tall pile of dirt in our backyard that Brady loves to play on.  The tractor and trailer on top looked pretty cute.  He has toys scattered all about already.  You can definitely tell where he has been. . . in the house and out!

Baby Card and Mushroom Festival.

 Last Sunday I went to a baby shower for a friend.  They are expecting their first baby this summer and they are the absolute cutest couple ever.  


This is the card I created. . . very quickly, I might add. . . 


I used:  (all items CTMH) 
Stella Paper Pack
Cork Color-ready Alphabet stickers 
Stella Canvas Shapes, 
Opaque Pearls 
Colonial White Ribbon (retired)  in the while supplies last section on sale!
 Art Philosophy Cricut Cartridge to cut out the Banner shapes.
Kraft Cardstock

And in honor of this weekend's annual Mushroom Festival in my hometown. . .
a few mushroom pictures.  These were taken in MARCH!  I have never found any mushrooms in March before. . . and I have definitely looked!!  My little mushroom hunter had a great time scouring the woods for the little fungi.  He thought it was as much fun as hunting easter eggs!

Graduation Cards.

Just a quick post to show you a couple of cards I made for some recent High School Graduates!

The 2011 Paper was given to me by a friend and it worked out perfect!

The following items are all CTMH:  Black, Grey Wool, White Daisy, Cranberry Cardstock.  Black Archival ink.  Bitty Sparkles.

The Zebra print ribbon is from Hobby Lobby.

I wanted to use the 2011 paper and it worked out great with the school colors.  But I wanted to make it a little bit girly.  The zebra print ribbon girl-ed it up a bit!

These are standard size cards.  Hope you enjoy!

Card No. 3

Items Used All CTMH.

Trees & Things Stamp Set D1467

Splendid Day Stamp Set D1462

Kraft Cardstock

Pear Cardstock

Pear Ink

Desert Sand Ink

 Trees & Things Stamp Set D1467

Isn't this stamp set so cute?  There are so many fun options with this set!!!!!

Some of the girls were asking for some more "male" cards.  So, I thought this one could be more "male," but was still pretty gender neutral.  I really like how simple the card is!  

Our next workshop is this Sunday at the Mason's Building in Richmond!  We will be working on our Lucky Workshop Kits!    If you didn't have time to order your kit, no problem!  I always have a small "sampler" kit available for new people to our group!  A great way to try out our workshop!

Also, we will be ordering Sophia Workshop Kits on Sunday.  It is our preferred order date, but you can order your Sophia Kits by May 4 and have them in time for the workshop!!  May's Workshop will be held Saturday, May 14 10am-10pm (come when you can, leave when you must!) 

Baby Card.

Here is card #2 from our Card Boutique Class on Saturday.

Items used are all CTMH

Tulip Cardstock

Kraft Cardstock

Colonial White Cardstock

Patterned Paper from Perfect Day Kit-retired

Colonial White Ric rac ribbon

Scallop Circle Punch

Tulip Ink

E1018 Pennant Alphabet

B1365 Spring Up Stamp Set

Opaque Pearls

To make the Flower....Punch 4 scallop circles.  Fold them in half and then in half again.  Open them up and fold two of the sides in to make a triangle.  Make the corners of the front and back triangles meet.  Do all four and then adhere in a circle.  Stamp the flower from the stamp set and then cut along lines.  Place it in the center of the flower and put an opaque pearl in the center.  

Bunny Card

We completed four cards at our Workshop on Saturday!  This cute little bunny card is the first of the four!  Though this card looks very simple, it actually has a very fun technique!  Can you see that his little blue jacket is fuzzy??  How cute is that?  I used the bunny from the March Stamp of the Month set, Sensational Seasons.  The entire set has a Beatrix Potter Peter Rabbit look and it is absolutely adorable!!!  This stamp set is only available to order during the month of March!  You can earn a discount on it or even get it for FREE!

Here is how you make the "fuzz". . .

Items you need
Fun Flock
Reinker
Spritz bottle
water/rubbing alcohol
ziplock baggie


Put the fun flock in the ziplock baggie.
Mix re-inker color of choice (I used Sky Blue) and water or rubbing alcohol in the spritz bottle.  The rubbing alcohol will dry faster.  Open the ziplock and spritz the Fun Flock with the reinker mixture until you reach the desired color density.  Close the baggie and squish it around to make sure the color is evenly distributed.  You may re-spritz if needed.  Poor the fun flock out onto a surface to dry.  Once it is dry, use something to separate the clumps.  It is ready to use once it is dry!  I used CTMH's glue pen to adhere the fun flock to the bunnies jacket.

Other items used:
Spellbinders Square Scallop Die
Sky Cardstock
Bamboo Cardstock
Colonial White Cardstock
Desert Sand Ink
Watercolor pencils
Blending pen
Sensational Seasons March Stamp of the Month (available to order ONLY in March!)

Workshop & Mistletoe

Wow!  It has been a crazy week or so around here.  

Brady turned six and we have been celebrating all week!

Plus, throw Halloween in there.

Whew. . . 

Well, I can check those things off and now on to the next event!

Our November Workshop will be this Friday night, 

November 5 from 4pm-9pm 

at the Mason's Building in Richmond.

Cost:  $3 for the building.

If you pre-ordered the WOTG Kit, you can put your pages together. If you didn't get it ordered in time, I do have some extra kits.  Contact me ASAP to reserve yours!  They aren't the full kits, but they will get the job done!

You could also work on your Christmas Cards using the Mistletoe WOTG Kit.  Don't pay attention to the date on the picture below.  Obviously, it is wrong.  I can't erase it from the picture.  Seemed like a good idea when I was doing it!

Or you can make these adorable ornaments.  I will have basic Class Kits that include a full sheet of the ornament chipboard, Mistletoe Paper (or you can use your own), ribbon, and a piece of sponge.  

You can add on other things to bling yours up a bit!

Cards for a CURE. . . 

An idea I have had for quite awhile, but just haven't put together. . . is Cards for a CURE. 

 Cards we make and donate.  All of the proceeds from the sale of these cards 

will benefit the Ray County Relay for Life.  

Bring your scrap paper or any unwanted scrap items to our Workshop.

I will bring my scrap stash, plus some sketches and Idea Books to browse through.  

Hopefully we can get a few cards made to sell at our upcoming Crop and Shop for a CURE! 

Baby Card with Paper Flower

Just a quick card I made for a baby shower last night.  

I LOVE the Paper Flower. . . if you haven't already, go and watch the video tutorial I posted of Tracey Mason's.  Scroll back a page or click on the tutorial link to the right. 

Items Used:

Topstitch Paper Pack

Blush Cardstock

Black Ink

Opaques Pearls

Liquid Glass

Glue Dots

Sponge

Houndstooth print from Walmart eons ago.

Cuttlebug Embossing Folder.

Colonial White Cardstock.

CTMH Skull Card

Items used:
Thriller Stamp of the Month
Black Cardstock
Cotton Candy Cardstock
White Daisy Cardstock
Black Ink
Cotton Candy Ink
Gypsy Ink
Bitty Sparkles
Sponge
Versamark ink
Black embossing powder
Sand paper
Other- Large Sparkles


To Make this Card I stamped my image on White Cardstock with Versa Mark Ink.  Sprinkled the image with Black Embossing Powder, then tapped off the extra.  Sometimes I use a paint brush to brush off any extra powder  Then, heat set it with a heat tool.  Next, I sponged Cotton Candy and Gypsy Ink over the image.  I used black to distress the edges of the white cardstock.

I matted the image onto Cotton Candy Cardstock.  I edge distressed it as well.

Then I glued it to the black cardstock, which I had sanded.

Next, I adhered sparkles everywhere!

I took this picture with my brand-new lightbox I just made today!  Thanks to Tracey Mason, whom I already confessed to stalking  (see previous post) . . . I don't think I have enough light yet . .but it was super easy to do!  Visit her site to see her tutorial!!!!

Blog Hop.

Welcome to the New Fall/Winter Idea Book Blog Hop!

All items used are CTMH.  
new! Hooligans Paper Pack
new! Opaques Licorice
new!  Sunset Ink
Black Ink
Clear Card Scallop Circle
Rustic Numbers Stamp Set
Noted Backgrounds Stamp Set 
Wishes How-to Cardmaking book.


To create the 16, I used a fun little technique I picked up from fellow CTMH Consultant, Tresa Black.  She is seriously talented (as you will see if you continue on this blog hop) and featured this technique, Stamp Kissing, on her blog a while ago.

1.  Ink up your number stamp with Sunset Ink.
2.  Ink up the line stamp from the Noted Backgrounds set.  (looks like journaling lines)
3.  Take each stamp in each of your hands and Kiss or press them together.
4.  Now, gently turn both of your stamps, still in the air, pressed together, in opposite directions.
5.  This will remove some of the ink and create the animal, tiger striped look.

Love it!  I have used this technique with the same stamp set with hot pink instead of the Sunset.  Too cute!!!

Next up on the Blog Hop is Carla.   Click here to go to Carla's blog.  

To see a list of all of the blog hop participants, click here.

Happy Hopping!

Last Clear Card & Convention.

All Products CTMH....Splendor Paper Pack.  Irrisistible Dimensional Elements (Flower, center, leaves), orange craft buttons. colonial white waxy flax.  white daisy organdy ribbon.   Soft set eyelet setter.  corner rounder.  sandpaper.  glitz glitter glue.


CTMH's National Convention ended last night with the announcement of next convention's location. . . Anaheim, CA.  I must say I was just a little disappointed with this announcement.  I was really hoping for somewhere in the Mid-West!

But, there were a lot of fun announcements made over the last few days!   New Catalog distribution, new colors, new products, and lots of business updates that will make my business more profitable and easier to run.  Can't beat that, now can ya?

You are going to LOVE the National Stamping Month Promotion that begins next month!  Stay tuned!

Clear Card #3

inspired by CTMH.
Another Card we made at our June Club Class!

We used a Clear Card of course.  Cherry O Paper Pack.  You're Sweet Stamp Set.  Tulip Ink.  Desert Sand Ink.  Sweet Leaf Ink.  White Daisy Craft Buttons.  Colonial White Waxy Flax.  Tulip Ribbon.  Bamboo Cardstock.  Corner Rounder.  Sandpaper.


Close to My Heart's National Convention is taking place in Washington DC as we speak!  I am very jealous that I am not there. . . but I sure enjoy all of the updates!  If you are a fan of twitter. . .just do a #ctmhconv search and you will see all of the news so far!

Another Clear Card.

Card #2 from our June Club Class!

We used the Cherry-O Paper Pack.  Flower from Spring Blossoms Just Blooms.  Chocolate Ink.  Colonial White Craft Button.  Colonial White Waxy Flax.

I used the retired Coluzzle to cut the Cherry Paper circle.  So wish they hadn't retired those items!  I love using my Coluzzle!  Hopefully CTMH will come up with something to replace it soon!!!

Convention starts tomorrow!!!!!!  There should be a lot of exciting updates over the next few days!!  You can follow some of the discussion on Twitter!!!

Scallop Clear Card

This card was inspired by CTMH.

I used the Splendor Paper Pack. Over the Rainbow Stamp Set. White Craft Buttons. Goldrush Waxy Flax. Goldrush ink.  Sponge.  Orange Craft Button.  Heavenly Blue Ink.

We created this Card at our Club Class in June.

This is my 3rd post for the day, so be sure and scroll down to see all of the posts!  This is the 3rd Card from my Card Crazy Class!  Supplies Used were all CTMH. . . .You Rock Paper Pack, Stars from Star Power Stamp Set, Sentiment from Rock Star Stamp set, Inks:  Gold Rush, Indian Corn Blue, and Olive.  Blending Pen.  Design came from Wishes Card Book.

Anyone who purchases the You Rock WOTG Kit this month and attends the Workshop on March 26 & 27 can make this card!!   Contact me for details!

Wedding Cake Card

This was another Card featured in the Card Crazy Class!  Supplies Used were all Close to My Heart. . . .Veranda Creative Basics Pack, Scallop Chipboard, Colonial White Ricrac, Bitty Sparkles, Colonial White Button, White Hemp, Sentiment from For Every Occasion Stamp Set.

Cut and Score your Cardstock.  Then cut 1/4 inch from the top two panels.  Cut 1/2 inch from the center two panels.

Make a Wish Card

This is one of the Cards that was featured in the Card Crazy Class!  Supplies Used. . . .Jingle Paper Pack, February Stamp of the Month, Blender Pen, Blush Ink, Chocolate Ink, Hollyhock Ribbon, Watercolor Pencils, Noteworthy Stamp Set.

To make the Circle, I folded a white piece of Cardstock in half and then cut the circle with a Circle Cutter.  You could use any circle object and trace around it and then cut it out.  Be sure to leave a small part uncut, so you card will stay connected!

Here are the cards we completed in our first Card Crazy Class at the Retreat this past weekend!





Products Used: all CTMH. . .Topstitch Paper Pack, Life's A Jungle Stamp Set, Watercolor Pencils, Blending Pen, Chocolate Ink, Staz On Ink, Foam Tape. Card size: 3x3






The patterns for these two cards came directly from the Wishes Cardmaking Book by CTMH! I also used the Topstitch Papers, Suede Flowers, Sparkles, Chocolate Ink, Chocolate Grosgrain Ribbon, and the corner rounder (for the scallops)

Card Sizes 41/4 x 5 1/2

Topstitch is the Featured Kit in February. . . look on the right side of the page for Information on the WOTG Kit, workshop dates, times, and prices!!!

Goodie bag and Thank You card. . .

Here is one of the make and takes from the Crop and Shop this past weekend. . .


All supplies were CTMH. . .Twitterpated Paper, Brown button, Chocolate Ink, Thank You Stamp set, Many Thanks stamp set, Colonial White Ribbon, Sorbet Reinker, paint brush, sponge.


This is the goodie bag all of the croppers received. . .it was filled with some special little goodies for them to enjoy!


CTMH Supplies: Juniper Cardstock, homemade pearl mist, Thanks Stamp set, Juniper ink, Sizzix Snowflake die, Scallop Spellbinders die.