I'm back from Retreat!

I had so much fun in the Big Bear woods! The other retreaters and I crafted and made many fun projects. Here are just a few to share . . .

I made the Frosted card kit p. 69.
I think it would make an excellent card class. Stay tuned for a date/time and price. The kit in the catalog made 15 cards and it was a snap to make. And fun too! :-)

These are the Laughing Lola cards from the kit on page 68. Once again, I love kits and it was a snap to make these cards and they can be custom changed to match whatever card giving need you have. Love the colors and the stamp set is really versatile.

Sue L. showed us how to make this adorable card using the stamp of the month

 Scandinavian  Wishes

 This very fun project was provided by Kelly H. The lanterns were cut out using our newest Cricut cartridge, Artbooking. We folded them and used strips of background paper to cover the folds. Kelly even gave us a flameless candle (a real candle would be, um, not feasible). Beautiful!

Kathy showed us how to make this layout. The tree and photo blocks were cut out using the Artbooking CTMH Cricut Cartridge (I WANT this cartridge!!!!). The only difficult part was adhering it to the base page, but with a little bit of adhesive to hold it in place he was soon bolted down. LOL. I love the colors . . . the paper is from Huntington (p. 42 of the Fall/Winter catalog). Now all I need to do is develop some fun pictures to decorate the pages.

Maybe this one:

I'm ready for my next retreat!

Retreat!

That's right . . . I've retreated with my Stamp Studio treasures to the mountains of Big Bear Lake, California. It's beautiful up here . . . mountains and trees and critters galore. I've looked. I've seen. I've photographed for more scrapbooking. LOL

Even with the distraction of the beautiful scenery, I've managed to get a lot done. One of the big accomplishments yesterday -- I completed the Workshops on the Go Frosted cardmaking kit. This kit was a breeze -- or should I say a blizzard -- to put together and the results were stunning.

The Frosted cardmaking kit is on page 69 of the new Idea Book and includes everything you need to create 15 stunning cards, even pre-cut cards and envelopes. The only things you need to add are stamp pads and acrylic blocks and some basic tools, like adhesive. Presto, bam . . . 15 cards!

If you'd like to order the kit to complete your Christmas or Holiday cards, just send me an email or leave me a comment and I'll get it to you asap. You'll love the ease and fun of this awesome kit. And that's not all! Laughing Lola (p. 68) is another cardmaking kit, plus you'll discover numerous scrapbooking kits throughout the catalog.

Enjoy! I'm off to make some more cards!

Words, words, words!

The Stamp of the Month for this month, Poster Tidings, was a little hard for me to get used to, I'm not going to lie. Then a friend, Michele P., showed me how to do the different colored words, fast and easy. Here's the card we made while spending a fun day in her Stamp  Studio:

First we stamped the whole autumn stamp in Indian Corn Blue. Then on another piece of Colonial White we stamped the stamp again, concentrating on, "Fall" in Honey, "Family" in Olive, and "Blessed" in Barn Red. Next we cut out only those words. Using a piece of pop up tape, we attached the words over the original Indian Corn Blue words. Presto, the card is stamped in different colors.

Another cool thing about this card is it is made using Baby Cakes, which makes you think Baby, right? Not so! Look how adorable the dots make this card stand out? Love it! Thank you Michele P.

While we were in Michelle P.'s Stamp Studio, we also made these cards:

Fun day of stamping and chatting! Thank you, Michele!

Stamp & Chats are back!

Yes, it's true. The kids are returning to school and I'm planning some fun Stamp & Chats for the moms. :-)

Mark your calendar, the first one is Wednesday, September 11th. from 10:00 to noon. If you are new to Stamp and Chats, you are in for a treat.

Just bring your project over to my Stamp Studio or I can help you get started on a project and while we "work" we sip coffee/tea/hot chocolate. The cost is FREE and the fun is guaranteed. All you have to do is send me a quick email and rsvp so I have enough tables set up.

Happy Stamping!
Elaine

Another Cricut Cartridge!!!

Yes, it's true . . . Close To My Heart debuts a new exclusive Cricut Cartridge! I can't wait to get a chance to play with it. The cartridge is called Artbooking and the only place you can purchase it is from a CTMH Consultant like me! I have this huge list of what a want from the catalog. I'm going to have to make a list and order a few things at a time. Don't you just love a budget? Ugh.

New Artbooking Cricut Cartridge

I had a chance to really sit down and play with my Cricut over the weekend and one of the most exciting things I discovered is the Cricut Craft Room.

I now have all my cartridges loaded on the program and I don't even have to get the cartridge out. I just choose the images I want and place them on the virtual mat that's in the program. It safes SO much paper. Check the program out when you get a chance. It's FREE!

I'm off to create some more projects. It's addicting!

Happy Stamping/Scrapbooking/Cricutting,

Elaine

Thinking of those in need.

Just a note to let everyone know about a special for this month. Close To My Heart has designed the stamp set, A True Thank You. CTMH will donate 100% of the profits from sales of this set to the American Red Cross to aid the Oklahoma victims. Purchase this fun set for just $2.95 and help the victims of this horrific natural disaster.

To order the special set, send me an email and you can help too.

It's only available until June 30th.

Have a great summer stamping day!

Elaine

Bunco with a Scrapbook Twist!

This month we played bunco with a twist. The prizes were the winner's choice of items from the Close To My Heart catalog. Those dice were rolling big time . . . the beginners will tell you that it takes absolutely no skill to play this very fun game. The only issue I have with bunco is I can't roll, talk, and keep score. LOL

I made all attendees a cute card using A Bowwow as a thank you for coming to my house and being the guinea pigs since I've never played Scrapbook Bunco. LOL As far as I know, it came off without a hitch. The only problem the winners have (everyone won something) is choosing something out of the Close To My Heart idea book. So many things to choose from -- it's not easy.

Hope you are all enjoying the warm weather . . . make sure you take your camera with you so you can scrapbook all the fun summertime activities.

Your scrapbooking friend,
Elaine

I love the Stamp of the Month

This month's whimsical Stamp of the Month, A Flowering Bunch, is so much fun! I know I say that every month but seriously, this one is going to get lots of use. The flowers are so much fun . . . I just love the detailing in the flowers and leaves.


Here's a sample I made a few days ago:

 I don't know why my camera is not taking better pictures. This one is too dark and the ones I took yesterday were all washed out. I guess I need to get the manual out and change some settings. LOL
At least you get the idea . . . I made some other samples but I'll get my camera figured out first. :-)

Have a happy stamping day!

Bunco with a Scrapbook Twist

Bunco, you say? Of course I'm an avid bunco player so when I heard from my friend Mary that she combines scrapbooking and bunco  . . . well, I just had to try it. I sent out invitations (I needed 12 lucky scrapbooker/stampers to play) and started planning a very fun event.

Scrapbook bunco - did I mention it's so much fun?- is a regular bunco game (dice, chocolate, lots of laughing) with the only difference, you are playing for stamp and scrapbook supplies. If you missed out on the fun this month, don't worry, I'm planning another one in a few months.

We didn't actually stamp anything at the bunco game but I did make every attendee one of these cards with my doggie stamp set called A Bowwow. Isn't he adorable?

It was a very fun night! I hope to see you at bunco next time! Let the scrapbook dice roll!

Have a wonderfully scrapbooking day!

Stamp Lifting

I'm sure I'm not alone when I say sometimes I just can't think of a thing to make. My Stamp Studio is full of gadgets, gizmos, pretty paper, and . . . well, lots of stamps. So how can it be that I'm sitting here just staring at all my fun stash?

I've discovered a secret though. If I stamp lift a card (copy a great card idea) or use one of the fun stamping and scrapbooking kits from Close To My Heart . . . presto, I'm creative again!

This card was made using the beautiful new Claire paper (Close To My Heart, of course). The card is located on page 124 in the Spring/Summer catalog. I didn't happen to have the paper they used for the card (it's For Always) but it was a snap to convert the paper into my Claire packet of paper. I also didn't have any of the cool embellishments (that really neat ribbon or black buttons) but I did have Baker's Twine and shiny sparkles. Presto!

Now I'm ready to make more. I love the Word balloons (one of the stamp sets that comes bundled with the Artiste Cricut cartridge bundle so maybe I'll make some more hello, thank you, and you make me smile cards.

I'm so lucky to have so many great things to use. If you are having a tough time getting creative inspiration go find something to stamp lift. Our Spring/Summer catalog has lots of great cards and scrapbook page ideas. Also, feel free to stamp lift from the cards posted on my blog. That's what I'm here for.

Enjoy!

Dream Pop!

The special for this month is so much fun. I created the sample cards from the directions that were included in the kit. I love the fun patterns and the great background and texture paper. This kit can be yours too . . . just spend $35 and you can purchase this great paper packet for just $10 . . . add a few of the suggested accessories and you can also purchase the great pinwheel stamp of the month. Wahoo!

Did I mention that I have additional card and scrapbook ideas AND the packet includes a whole page of cards and scrapbook pages. Unbelievable. Why reinvent the wheel . . . stamp lift away, my friends. Here are the cards I created.

Hedgehogs and Scraps

I'm on a "use it up" kick. It started with me sorting through my stamps to weed out those that are in my clearance basket. (Call me or email me if you'd like to stop by to shop my clearance basket . . . they are priced to sell.)

I found some stamps that I will never ever sell and one of those is my darling hedgehog stamp set. It's called Happy Forever and it makes me very happy to create cards or scrapbook pages with the happy little hedgehogs.

I have also been going through my old paper and finding uses for it. Here is just one of the cards I created. I might not be able to give this one away. LOL

Happy Use It Up week. :-)

Wedding Stationery

My daughter, Megan, is getting married this June and I was very honored to be asked to make the invitations. I used a paper pattern from a few catalogs ago called Footloose and the stamp set from the Workshop on the Go for Footloose. Mainly the little turtle who has become the wedding mascot.

 Too bad I didn't save an invitation for myself. I guess I'll have to make myself one. LOL

This card is the invitation to the wedding shower and the card on the right is the set of thank you cards I created. All matchy, matchy. The turtle thinks it's going to be a beautiful day and a perfect ceremony.

Sweet Spring!

 I love this new flower set. It's a perfect card to make for someone special.

I made this cute card for a friend, but apparently I forgot to add leaves. It's Spring! LOL

This card is another one I made using the stamp set, Happy Thoughts.

Can you tell I'm into the Pinks and Greens? I'm just happy with the sunny days we've been having!

Enjoy the ideas!

Your stamper friend, Elaine!

Do you have the latest Spring catalog?

This is the cover of our latest and greatest Idea Book . . . just a warning, you won't be able to resist the new papers and ideas. So many stamps and new papers are calling my name. :-)

If you don't have the latest catalog, send me an email, I'll get you a copy right away.
Have fun stamping today!