Wings!

Just had to share some of the cards I made with my pretty new butterfly paper . . . the paper is aptly named "Wings."  Everything is made with product from Close To My Heart.

The bird is from the stamp of the month for January, Find Your Style and the paper is Wings.

Another one with the "Find Your Style" Stamp set.  The photo doesn't show it very much but I used some of the Create-A-Shade Pearl Paint to add some pearly shine to his wings.  So pretty . . . :-)














These cards are made from the Wings Workshop Kit.  I just love the kits . . . all you need is your paper cutter, adhesive and the stamp pad colors.  How lovely . . . these cards are going to make someone's day as they arrive in their mailbox.  :-)  Happy Stamping in my Stamp Studio!

Guy Cards

I love making cards for friends and families . . . there is nothing like making a special card and knowing you've made someone's day.  The only bad thing is that sometimes the guy's in my life have to tolerate a bow, a ribbon, or maybe even some sparkle.  My bad.  It's just so hard to keep it clean and simple and not reach for the pink or the sparkley froo froo.  LOL

So last week I sat down and made a bunch of manly man cards.  No bows, no ribbon, and not a sparkle in sight.  Just thought I'd share some of them since I know I'm not alone in my quest to make masculine appropriate greetings!  Enjoy!

Okay, so I added sparkle to the trees.  Whoops.

Guys are stars, right?

Tis the Season . . .

I made my first Christmas card of the season . . . and it was 100 degrees outside.  I am shocked it's almost Halloween . . . and completely unprepared for the Christmas trees and Santas that will soon take over the aisles of Target and Safeway.  Tis the season . . . yes, indeed.  I call this the season to start thinking about the season.  It's the time of the year when you start to thinking it would be nice to sip some eggnog and actually feel like toasting your toes by the fire.

Right now it's just hot outside and the thought of a pumpkin spice latte or even a hot chocolate is a little too much to comprehend.  And yet, the season will be here!

So, to get in the mood, I pulled out my embossing gun (it was very dusty) and of course, I thought Santa and his reindeer would look mighty festive in some gold embossing.  I even added some fun flock to Santa's hat and coat!  What is fun flock, you say?  It's this amazing stuff that makes your artwork have fuzz.  It looks great on a sheep or a snowman too!  Using a light weight glue, like the CTMH Bonding Memories Pen Z553, color the area you want flocked.  Then add some of the flock (it's like shredded up felt) Z263 . . . let it dry for a few minutes and then tap the excess off.  It really adds bedazzle to any artwork or project.

Stamps not shown at actual size.

For the Santa card I used the stamp of the Month for October, Share the Magic.  The set is only available through October 31st.  For more information, please visit my website: http://stampedbyme.myctmh.com

If you are interested in fun flocking or embossing, you can purchase it, as well as the cute stamp set above, on my website at http://stampedbyme.myctmh.com . . . just a few dollars can get you on the track to some flocking good fun!  The season though, well, can't it just take a while longer to arrive?  :-)

Just a few things I made . . .

Today is Friday (whew!)  and, believe it or not, October 1st.  This means we are approaching that season of giving.  I am not even going to torture myself by counting the days until Christmas!!! It will be here before we know it!!!  Have you started your shopping yet?  Don't worry, you still have time!

One of the few things we need to remember is ourselves during this hectic season of party and gift giving. I recently treated myself to a stamp and crop retreat in beautiful Lake Tahoe. It was the best weekend, full of friends laughing and stamping into the night.  I just thought I'd share a few of the wonderful things I made.  I think every one of them would be well received by my friends and family.  However, I can't part with my own, so I better get busy and make some more, right?  ;-)

My favorite: this cute mini wallet photo album:  This sweet little album measures 4 1/2" x 3 1/2" when it is closed.  The monster is attached to a band of paper that slips off the album . . . when it opens it holds between 3 and 6 photos (4" x 3"). See photo below.

Let me know if you are interested in attending a class and we can whip up some for teacher gifts and your favorite neighbors or friends.  Not only is it easy to make . . . it's super cheap!

Another fun thing to make . . . bookmarks!  Add it to a favorite book or magazine or, if you aren't sure what your bookworm friend has read, why not a gift card to Borders!?  Always fun!

Note, I made several bookmarks at the crop, but believe it or not I have either given them away or lost them in my Stamp Studio!  They are SO easy to make though.  The base is 7" x 2" not including the bow or ribbon on the top.




Another fun gift to give is a box or packet of note or gift cards.  Tie 5 cards and their envelopes together with some ribbon or raffia . . . don't forget to include some postage stamps.  Nothing says love like a homemade card.  My favorite cards have all been featuring my new peacock stamp.  Maybe I'll do him in orange and brown and we can pretend he's a turkey? 

This card is a standard size card.  I used the new Magnifique paper pack from Close To My Heart.  Of course he has sparkles and some glitter.  Very pretty!

Last, but not least, my favorite gift to give is a hand decorated picture frame! This 8"x8" wood frame is from Michaels (only $1) . . . we first painted it black (using acrylic paint) . . . then we used squares of Hooligans paper from Close To My Heart and adhered it to the frame with Mod Podge.  So fun!  Now I just have to decide which is my favorite picture to include in the frame! (The idea is from my good friend, Mary Thompson.)

As Jeanette, the founder of Close to My Heart, always says . . . make it from your heart!

Easiest Birthday Card EVER!

Have you ever realized you need a birthday card and you have absolutely NO time to make something super cute, super extraordinary?  If you are like me, you have a whole Stamp Studio FULL of decorative paper, inks, and stamps and would HATE to have to buy a Hallmark card.

With just a bit of "shopping" in your stash, you can make a super quick card any time the need arises. I made this one (pictured below) in under 5 minutes and that included finding my paper cutter that I was pretty someone stole while I was picking up kids!

Step #1:  Gather your stash!  Pick one sheet of decorative paper.  Don't get too stuck on finding birthday themed paper or something in just the right pattern.  Also remember you will only need 5 1/2" x 4 1/4" so look through your scraps! Pick a sheet of cardstock (and don't always pick white . . . it could be a color that matches your pretty decorative paper!).  Gather your paper cutter and your favorite adhesive and POW! get started!

Step #2: Cut your cardstock to 8 1/2" x 5 1/2".  If you are using 8 1/2" x 11" paper (this is standard size copier/printer paper) you can cut this in half (on the short side) and you will have 2 cards!  Set your scraps aside.  Cut your decorative paper to 5 1/2" x 4 1/4".

Step #3: Fold your 8 1/2" x 5 1/2" cardstock in half to form a standard size card that measures 5 1/2" x 4 1/4".  Using your favorite adhesive, glue the decorative paper to the front of the card.

Step #4: Using a stamp that says "Happy Birthday" or "Celebrate" or whatever you choose, stamp the image on a scrap of your white paper (or even one of your matching papers). You may choose to mat the saying with another piece of paper like I have done in the sample, or just leave it plain.  You may also have some stickers in your stash . . . pull them out and see if one would fit your theme or your message.

Step #5: Shop your stash for some fun bling . . . try a ribbon or some buttons. Decorate to your heart's content!

Presto, you have a quickie card AND you shopped your stash! Wasn't that super easy?!

One final note before I dash back into my Stamp Studio to whip up some cards . . . I buy my envelopes at one of the office supply stores, like Office Depot.  The envelopes are called "invitation size" and are sold in a box of 100 for super cheap! 

Let me know if you need help . . . I think when times are tough and money is tight it's always fun to see what's in the stash!  :-)

Wedding Bells Ringing

My hubby and I actually celebrated 18 years of marriage last week.  I can't believe how much time has flown or the adventures we have been through.  All fun, of course!

In honor of this special day I wanted to create a one of a kind card for David.  So I went "shopping" in my stash and found some fun leftovers like this fun guitar design from my CTMH Rockin' Top Coat collection.  The design is printed on a transparency and it was so easy to glue on top of the card with a few dots of Liquid Glass applied behind the guitar so the glue wouldn't show.  The paper is leftovers from a past paper pack (I'm sorry to say I can't even remember which one!)  I cut out the wedding rings from the Love Always stamp set.  I even glittered the diamond!  You can't make a wedding card without some bling!

The best part about creating your own cards is the personalization . . . it's all about making the card just the way you want!

Happy Anniversary to David and Elaine, the Mr. and Mrs.!

Chalk isn't just for kids, you know!

Why should kids be the only ones to play with chalk?  Have you ever admired (secretly coveted) those fun sidewalk decorating chalks that come in a rainbow of colors?  Chalks are not just for sidewalks and boring chalk boards!  Try Close To My Heart chalks to color your stamped images! Close to My Heart currently carries 4 different chalk sets (p. 98 of the current catalog) that feature our fun exclusive color palette.  The sets are each just $9.95 and include 9 little 1"x1" blocks of colorful chalk.

I used my chalks to create this pretty bird card.  The background image on the colonial white square is used using the Chalk Popping technique discussed below. I then stamped the bird image and cut it out before applying to the top of the white piece. I used the Passages paper kit and C1408 Live Inspired stamps. 

This is such a fun technique . . . but I know sometimes it can be scary to try something that normally colors the sidewalk!  Never fear, grab your pixie or pudgy (the little makeup applicators that come with the chalk) or just a qtip or cottonball and swab some chalk.  Apply it to your image . . . it's easier to start light and then add more color.  A little chalk goes a long way.  After the desired hue is achieved, gently blow the rest off and use your finger to gently rub the excess off.  That's it.  No need to set with anything . . . the color will not rub off or transfer to your other artwork.  It's acid free and completely safe to use on your scrapbook pages.

Ready for an advanced chalking technique?  Try some Chalk Popping -- the look is very, very fun!  First, stamp your desired image with your VersaMark stamp pad.  The image will be clear, so it may be hard to see.  Brush chalk over your image, making the stamped image pop, or appear like magic!  See page 21 of the current catalog.  I took a picture of my tools, but if this makes no sense, give me a call or email and let me know you are having chalk issues.    It's fast and easy!  Try it today!