Save the Date November Stamp of the Month Blog Hop

***IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT!***

To show our support of Red Cross relief efforts for those areas of the US

severely affected by Hurricane Sandy,

Close To My Heart will donate $1 for every Stamp of the Month

set sold as a part of this promotion during November

If you have hopped over from Maria Meyers Welcome you are in he right place!!! here are all the stamps that you can get this month for $5 but keep scrolling for this months deal.

 

So here is what I have created for this month's hop using these clever stamps . . .

 

 

I know you love a good deal, especially on quality products like Close To My Heart’s My Acrylix^® stamp sets. If you’ve been keeping your eye on a particular set or two, then now is the perfect time to act! During November, you can get 50% off your favorite stamp set in the Idea Book. Here’s how:

You already know about the Stamp of the Month program, where you can buy an exclusive D-size stamp set for just $5 with your $50 qualifying order. This month, when you qualify for and purchase the November Stamp of the Month set, Capture the Date, you get an additional bonus of 50% off any other stamp set in the Idea Book! This deal excludes those sets sold as part of Workshops on the Go^® kits or our Cricut^® collections, but that still leaves you over one hundred options to choose from!

So keep on hopping over to Carla Ironside  to see the wonderfully creative crafts she ahs created.

H2H & Mojo Monday with a SOTM twist : )

I couldn't resist using all that lingo.  The English version is that over at heart 2 heart the challenge this week is "Keeping it neutral"  and I already had a black and white card for the blog hop on the 1st so I kept going with it.....then I peeked at Mojo Monday's sketch and couldn't resist the two for one special.  I almost made it a three for one but I've had my card for the blog hop for a while so I kept it two for one. Even thought secretly I think I like this card better sh don't tell my hoppers :)

So here is the link to see what all the great H2H stampers have created.

And here is the Mojo Monday sketch how do you think I did?

To check out the other square or Round creations follow this link mojomonday.

Studio J it's not too late

It's not too late to get a deal on Studio J!  Through October if you purchase 9 layouts you get the 10th free!!!! I love studio J because I can catch up on my scrabooking AND with Studio J my favorite B&t Duos papers live on .....that is right you can use retired papers.

 

MoJo Monday

 

So here is my submission for MoJo Monday.  What so you think?

 

 

I've used smokey plum ink and moonlight B&Tduos.

Heart 2 Heart Pumpkin Challenge

Over at H2H this weeks challenge was a pumpkin.  I love punch art and couldn't resist.  Did you notice that my silver shimmer trim is not really silver?  That's right I died it using my new alcohol ink marks.  Tip:  use a shade or two darker for best results. To see the other sumissions follw this link H2H

Adding Color to Your Crafts

Do you LOVE your Cricute Artiste & Art Philosophy Cartridges?

You will love them even more when you check this out!!!!!!

 

Discover the Possibilities of Cricut® Craft Room

Categories: Art Attack

If you love your Cricut^® machine, then you are going to adore all of the fabulous things you can do with Close To My Heart Cricut^® cartridges in the Cricut^® Craft Room. Create layers, cut negative space in the shape of your choice, make borders, and link elements together for a connected look. It’s easy! We’ll show you how.
Here is how to get started with Cricut^® Craft Room:

1. Create a FREE account in a few easy steps.
2. Download and run the application for PC or MAC, depending on the type of computer you use.
3. Connect your Cricut^® machine to your computer using a Type B USB cable. (Note: For more info on this type of cable, see your Cricut^® user’s guide or your local electronics store.) Once you have connected your computer to your Cricut^® machine, the “Load Mat” button is the only button you will ever need to push on your machine in the entire process. Cricut^® Craft Room will do everything else for you.
4. Once inside the application, choose the type of Cricut^® machine you own.
5. Insert your Close To My Heart Art Philosophy or Artiste cartridge into your Cricut^® machine.
6. In the lower left portion of the application there is a tab that is labeled “Images/Cartridges.” Select “All Cartridges” from the dropdown menu. (Note: You must choose a cartridge that you own. You can also purchase individual images from the Cricut^® store.)
7. Scroll to find the Close To My Heart Art Philosophy or Close To My Heart Artiste cartridges you own.
8. The virtual mat in Cricut^® Craft Room is just like the mat you’ll load into your machine. And, it is oriented the same way that you will load your mat into the machine, with the arrow at the top.
9. To drag an image to the mat, simply click on the image in the image selection tool box and move it to the mat.
10. Once the image is on the virtual mat, you can adjust the placement by clicking on the image and moving it to any location on the mat.
11. Now that you know the basics, you can start creating and exploring the possibilities!

Follow these steps to create the negative space on a card base, like you see on this Cheer Up card, featuring images from the Art Philosophy cartridge:

1. Select the “Card” tab in the Art Philosophy images. Find the card base you prefer and drag it onto the mat. (We used Square 1 for the Cheer Up card.) The image will be cut in the exact direction and location that you place it on the virtual mat. At the top of the screen, or at the left under the “Shape Properties” tab, you’ll see size boxes. Enter the width and height for your shape. This is the size it will be cut on the machine, regardless of what size your machine indicates on the flip screen.

2. Choose an image to cut out of your card front. We have chosen a butterfly by going to the Basics tab, clicking the “Show Shift/Lock Images” at the bottom, and then selecting the butterfly. Drag the image to the right side of the card base, position it, and alter the size, as desired. Once the image is in place, you will see a cut-out image in its place. This Weld feature is automatically on unless you disable it, and allows you to see how the card base will look with your images cut out.

3. Select another image, drag it to the card base, and position it how you’d like it. Continue adding images to the card base, if desired.

4. To cut your finished artwork, load the mat into your Cricut^® machine and insert the corresponding cartridge. Next, press the green Cut button at the top of the computer screen and follow the prompts. The machine will cut the shapes as you have prepared them in Craft Room. If more than one cartridge shape has been added to the project, the machine and screen will prompt you with instructions.

Here are so more artwork examples that have been made using Cricut^® Craft Room software. Follow the instructions below to learn some more fun tricks we used in creating this artwork.

Birthday Greetings card

Here’s how to create the bracket frame as shown in this Birthday Greetings card:

1. Drag a card base from Art Philosophy cartridge and size it to be 9" wide and 4½" high.
2. Add a 1½" bracket frame (from the Basic tab) to the center of the right side of the card. So far, all of the shapes have been placed in Layer 1. You can add additional layers using the Layer feature located toward the top of the screen, directly above the mat. Each Layer will be cut from a separate sheet of paper and is indicated by a different color on the screen. Using the Layer feature allows you to fully design your Cricut^® shapes before cutting any pieces.
3. Add a second Layer by clicking the plus sign. Click and hold the Layer 2 tab and drag the tab to the left so it is first in the row. This allows you to see the second Layer on top of the first so you can visualize your finished project. Drag a 3" bracket frame to the card base and position it over the 1½" frame. Then, still using Layer 2, add a 1½" bracket frame in the center of the 3" frame.
4. Maneuver the Layer 2 frames so that they perfectly line up with the Layer 1 frame. Use your keyboard arrows for exactness.
5. Cut the pieces following the prompts on the computer screen and Cricut^® machine. Layer 2 will be cut first, so be sure to load that paper first. Then load a new sheet of paper for the Layer 1 pieces.
6. Embellish the card as desired.

All Boy page

Want to create a border that spans the entire length of your 12" page? It’s easy!

1. In Craft Room, change the mat size to 12" x 24" under Machine & Mat tab on the left of the screen.
2. Drag your selected border to the mat and rotate it so it is vertical.
3. Change the height of the border to 12". It will automatically change the width proportionally unless you click the aspect ratio button between the width and height measurements.
4. Whether you have a 12" × 24" mat or a 12" × 12" mat, you can use this function with a 12" × 12" piece of paper. Simply place the border as close to the top of the Craft Room mat as possible, but not exactly flush with the top.

5. Cut the piece following the prompts on the computer screen and Cricut^® machine.

To create the title with the letters joined together to form one piece instead of individually cut letters…

1. Drag your letters to the mat
2. Overlap portions of each letter to connect them
3. Use the Weld feature to join the letters together seamlessly.
4. Cut the piece following the prompts on the computer screen and Cricut^® machine.

There are so many possibilities to explore in the Cricut^® Craft Room using the versatile Art Philosophy and Artiste cartridges from Close To My Heart! If you have any questions about using Cricut^® Craft Room, visit www.cricut.com where a Cricut^® employee will be glad to help you. Be sure to get your Art Philosophy and Artiste Cricut^® cartridges today in order to create with them in this new and exciting environment!

H2H Christmas Challenge Part 2

Good Morning Crafters!  I was hanging around Heart to heart and they have another Christmas challenge this week and that went perfectly with my 1st card for my November Card Class.

 

This card was inspred by Lisa Sargent from this month's blog hop.  I justr made a few changes to make it work for my card class. If you'd like to see the other Christmas Creations follow ths link H2H

 

Today is the last day to sign up for my card class Friday.  Here is the link to the cards we will make October Card Camp .

Crafty Creations from Mary's Christmas Scrap Gathering

Wow !  I never cease to be amazed by the talent and creativity I see at home gatherings.

 

Marvelous Mary!

Awesome Angelina!

Cleaver Kim!

Beautiful Barb!

Terrific Tricia!

 

If you'd love to have your gal pals over for a night of crafting and learning more about CTMH give me a shout through email.  We can do cards or scrap!

Happy Birthday Brian!!!!!

So I've been waiting to celebrate my brother's birthday and couldn't wait any longer.  The challenge over at Heart to Heart this week is use numbers. Great challenge so I totally revamped the card I made for him.  I REALLY love this one so much more and I hope he does too.  Here is the link to check out a number of awesome creations H2H.

 

I also used a layout challenge from MOJO Monday. 

Here is the sketch.

 

 

and the link to see more MOJO Monday

 

Mary's Christmas Scrap gathering

Happy Saturday !!!! Today I'm getting ready for Mary's Christmas in October Scrap gathering.  It's not too late if you are in the Minooka area I know Mary would love to have you.  So here is the "basic" layout we are doing  . . . I know these ladies are seasoned scrappers so check back Monday to see all the variations of this layout : )

Can anyone guess the name of the layout from CTMH that I used as my inspiration?

Clearly the Best: Terrific Two-Tone (S01E04)

Verry Merry Mittens & Triple Time Stamping

So I have a scrap gathering coming up and the hostess has specially requested embossing to be demonstrated at her home.  Well I love the depth and texture embossing add to a layout or card but always feel like I need to "get warmed up" so I've had my handy dandy heat gun out.

 

 

The focal mitten (arn't they darling) has been heat embossed this photo doesn't really do it justice let's see if this one is better.

 

 

Well at least you can see the stickles too. I just love these mittens!!!!! Keep checking back I'll have my Janruary scrap camp project up later this week using these mittens as part of my layout.

Project Inspiration 2012 Autumn/Winter Idea Book: Spellbound Halloween P...

Rock n Roll Fall Harvest

Happy Wednesday!!! The challenge over at heart to heart this week is a technique challenge called rock n roll.  It sounds complicated but it is really simple.  You take a couple different inks in this case I used honey, goldrush, and barn red.  You ink up your stamp in one of the lighter colors.  Then you roll and rock your stamp in a darker color. I love the added dimension this technique gives and think it is PERFECT for fall leaves!  If you want to check out the other AWESOME rock n roll ideas follow this link H2H .

This layout is from Mojo Mondays.  I have really been getting inspired by their layouts (even if I edit them a little) here is the layout.

Here is a link to check out the other great layouts Mojo Monday

October Card Camp

This months Card Camp ladies have seen these but now it's your turn.  Mark your calendars for Friday October 19th @ 7.  I hope you can make it and love the cards.

 

 

#1

 

#2 Loving the glitzy glitter on this tree.

 

#3 The silver shimmer trim gives this one the final touch

 

#4 My favorite this month! Lots of bling !

 

Please let me know by Tuesday October 16th if you can make it.  The cost for the class is $10 if you bing your own adhesive. (We all have our favorites)