A Chocolate Affair - August Stamp of the Month Blog Hop

This is the first Blog Hop of the NEW Fall/Winter 2013 Idea Book and I for one am SO EXCITED!!!!! So welcome to the hop!  We will be featuring August's SOTM, which is A chocolate affair, a set of 16 stamps.  If you have come here from Vicki Price's Blog , you are on the right path! The blog hop is a great big circle, so you can start here and work your way all around.  If you get lost along the way, you’ll find the complete list of participating consultants here Helen Onulak
Grab a steaming cup of something yummy and join us for an inspiring time.  This month we have nearly 60 hoppers and a ton of new goodies to showcase.  So here is the Stamp set . . .

 

 

For this card I have used the New B&T Duos Paper Pack Laughing Lola (my Favorite) Gypsy, Blush, Sorbet craft inks as well as the markers  (for the Color My Heart Dare) As well as Chocolate ink (because what other color would you us to make Chocolates) and some glitzzy glitter to make the chocolates look yummy!!!

Now it is time to hop on over to Alyson Mayo's blog to see some more sweet crafting!

Sneak Peek - Sarita

So I couldn't resist posting a sneak peek of this paper especially because it went SO well with the challenge this week over at MOJO Monday and TODAY is the last day.

 

Here is the sketch I followed

 

 

How ever in the swap I've been working on I am swapping vertical cards so I just flipped the sketch.  So what do you think ?

I like this card and LOVE the paper but I thought it was missing something. Hmm so I dug out some extra bling and this is the final card. But now is it too blinged out? I can't decide which design is going in the swap let me know what you think.  Which card would you want?

 

To check out all the entries for the MOJO challenge follow this link MOJO Monday

Chantilly Swap

This swap was created by Terry Callaghan.  I'm so glad this paper pack will continue into the fall/winter 2013 catalogue.

Pajama PARTY !!!

Close To My Heart is teaming up with Big Picture Classes again to bring you a live webcast with step-by-step instructions for making this layout using the Cricut^® Artbooking collection. Purchase the collection beginning August 1, 2013 and revolutionize the way you scrapbook!
The FREE webcast will air Wednesday, July 31 at 7:00 pm (MDT). During the presentation, you’ll learn to make several projects from a variety of sponsors, including Close To My Heart’s Artbooking layout, as our very own Kristine Widtfeldt walks you through the steps—and sneaks the Artbooking collection!
The Pajama Party class will be available for FREE at BigPictureClasses.com on July 31, and will be archived after the event for future viewing. If you would like to interact on the message board, participate in live chat, post to the gallery, download handouts, or enter any contests, you will need to log in to the Pajama Party “classroom” by creating a free account on the Big Picture Classes website. If you have already created an account or if you registered for the first Pajama Party in May, you are all set! You will not need to create another account or register again.
We hope you enjoy this sneak peek of the new Artbooking collection as Kristine Widtfeldt, Stacy Julian, and the rest of the Big Picture Classes crew make the featured project and share their tips and tricks for using the collection. We know you will be chomping at the bit to make the Artbooking layout, so take this opportunity to  sit back, relax, and drool over the items, then be ready to spring into action August 1 when you can buy the collection with the rest of the supplies. Then tune in to the archived event for step-by-step details on how to make the project. To make the project, you will want to have the following items—or similar products—on hand:

• Z1906 Cricut^® Artbooking Collection*
• 1301 Bamboo Cardstock
• 1388 Colonial White Cardstock
• X5668 Honey Cardstock
• X5762 Lagoon Cardstock
• X5930 Slate Cardstock
• X5639 Sweet Leaf Cardstock
• X5666 Twilight Cardstock
• Z2160 Twilight Exclusive Inks^® Pad
• Z2173 Slate Exclusive Inks^® Pad
• Z1853 Aqua Dots*
• Z1799 Silver Shimmer Trim
• Z1151 3-D Foam Tape
• Z1294 Sanding Kit

*These products will be available for customers to purchase beginning August 1, 2013.
Watch the Pajama Party by yourself or with friends for a fun crafting experience. Anyone with an Internet connection can watch, so be sure to tell your friends so they can join in the fun!

My 1st CAS(E)

This is my first case challenge and I must say I may be hooked !!!!! This card came together SO fast that I not only finished before I left for work I also had time to blog about it. 

Over at H2H the challenge is water water everywhere and I thought that is PERFECT because many of the Close to my Heart Colors sound like water to me . . . Pacifica, Lagoon, and Crystal Blue are the colors I used.  All invoking images of floating across water to me. How about you?

The sentiment is from perfect fit Thanksgiving and the other stamps are from Honey comb flair. Here are the links to check out the GREAT creations by the design teams and other crafters like me.

CAS(E) this Sketch !        -        H2H

 

  Until next time Happy Crafting!!!!

Four Challenges in one post

Wow I've been playing so much I ALMOST forgot this weeks Challenges!!! Then I added one from earlier this month so NOW I'm all caught up.  So here is the low down on this card. 

Over at Color my Heart the Dare is Twilight, Olive, and Ruby.  Over at H2H the Challenge this week is Ice Cream (oo yeah) and since I missed masking I thought I'd toss that in too.  I used the Olive reinker with a blob (yes a very technical term for crafters) or two of create a shade in a mister to get this lovely soft shimmery background.  The Color ready seam binding ribbon is died with twilight, I also used liquid glass on the glass and cherry with some glitzy glitter on the Sprinkly whip cream.
The links to all 4 challenges are below check'em out while I go refill my ice cream bowl. ; )

Color Dare  -  MoJo   -  H2H - Ice Cream  -  H2H - Masking

 

The shimmery background simply does not photograph well however this photo is the best shot of the glitzy glitter and liquid glass.

 

Background Stamps

For Always Scrap Swap

Here is another swap I received this one is using the For always paper pack. They also used a layout design from The Make it from your Heart instruction guide on pgs 18-19 Cool Coordination.

 

 

I love the use of Lagoon with the For Always Paper Pack!

Color Dare AGAIN > > > >

and gypsy again.  I love those purples!!!! This card uses the for Always paper pack and I used my chalk inks to "dye" the background paper gypsy and Desert Sand.  The cardstock is Bamboo.  The sentiment is from Card Chatter Sympathy. The bling is from the Dakota assortment which will be leaving us July 1st : ( 

 

If you'd LOVE to see the Colorful creations follow this Link to Color My Heart Color Dare

 

Later Skater Swap

I for one am sad to see L8ter Sk8ter leave us for the Fall/Winter Catalog.  Here is a swap I recieved and love!!!

 

Back to school encouragment . . .

I'm so proud to say I'm an ADDICT; an addict over at H2H I finished every challenge last month. WOO HOO!!!! So this month I have a little catching up to do.  Well this weeks challenge was to Mix n Mingle.  No no not the Christmas kind but the B&T Duos kind. Mix 3 different paper packs or stamp images. Well as you can see I chose paper.

 

For this card I also drew inspiration from the sketch over at MoJo Monday.  Here is the sketch to inspire you too.

 The papers I used in this card are Scholastic, Dreamin, and Super Heros.  For the focal image the stamp is from the stamp set Blue Ribbon.  If you'd love to check out these inspiring blogs here are the links.  H2H or Mojo Monday . Happy Crafting!!!!

Sweet Life and Color My Heart Dare

Sorry if you tried to peek at this and it did not come up yesterday.  I've been using new forms of technology and the learning curve catches me sometimes.

 

This is one of the extra cards that I made for this weeks color dare over at Color My Heart.  The color I added to the challenge of bamboo and desert sand was cranberry.  I love the way this card came out I just knew it needed something on the left to balance the cherries I just took me a while to come up with something I liked.  So if you'd love to see the additional colorful creations follow this link color my heart dare.

Guest Designer @ Color My Heart . . . .

Ladies let me tell you want an honor it was to be asked to be a Guest Designer for this challenge at Color My Heart.  I was completely blown away that the crafty gals over at Color My Heart would  ask ME to be a guest designer.  So when I heard my challenge would be to use ONLY (the clincher for me) Bamboo and Desert Sand plus one other color I was feeling a little intimidated.  I tried a few different things some of them good and others a flop.  I am bright bold colors kinda person so to work with soft muted tones was a BIG challenge for me. Then it came to me is there any other color for this gal than purple??? Then BAM the creative juices flowed freely and this is my favorite creation . .

So this card uses Bamboo, Desert Sand, and Gypsy card stock and ink.  I also used the clear flower bling from the Claire assortment as my quilt ties.  the sentiment is from Joyful Birthday Occasions.  I used an embossing folder to achieve the quilted look.  This card is so me and so soft at the same time.  Thanks to Color my heart for helping me get in touch with my softer (color) side.  Check back here for the other 2 post worthy creations that fit this challenge and yes one of them even features a color other than purple ; )  Follow this link to check out ALL the Colorful Creations over at Color My Heart

Claire Scrap swap

Claire Swap

This was from Rebbecca Brown. Since I have a BOY house I may use this page for my neices and put an s on the end of GIRL.  Or maybea give away at my open house on August 1st hm decisions decisions ; )

Surf's up Swap

 

I'm SO glad to announce this B&T Duos Paper pack will be staying in the new catalog!!!!

L8ter Sk8ter Swap

I'm going through and clearing out all my swaps from the Spring/Sumer Catalog.  Enjoy these crafty inspirations.

 

This layout was a swap from Sherry Heinrich

Happy BIRTHDAY Penny !!!!

This card is for the Firecracker of the family.  Yes my sister was born on the 4th of July and this is the card I made for her.  I've been looking for a reason to play around with the sunburst idea that is so trendy now.  For this one I used red, white, and blue cardstock ran it through an embossing folder. Added some silver shimmer trim, bling from the Pink glitter gems, Green Blue Epoxy Bubbles, and a clear sparkle.  The stamps are from Frame Flair (17.95) and Joyful Birthday (9.95).

Finally the Color Challenge over at Color My Heart was red, white, and blue so if you'd love to see some patriotic inspiration follow this link Color Dare.

SNEAK PEEK . . . . New Cricut in the Fall/Winter 2013 Catalog !!!!!!!

AVAILABLE August 1st !!!!!
Here is what the NEW Artbooking Cricut Cartridge will look like.  3 Stamps sets and coordinating dimensional elements



The new cartridge has10 mini scrapbooks for you to craft till your heart is content.  Imagine the possibilities little gifts, thanks yous, the possibilities are endless.



Here is a view of the book and key functions . . . . check my pintrest page for a complete look.





















So as you can see from just a few keys this is going to be SO much fun to craft with ! ! ! !
BUT WAIT THERE IS MORE .....
All orders placed before August 1st that include the New Artbooking Cartridge will receive FREE SHIPPING ! ! ! !