May Stamp of the Month Blog Hop

Happy May Day!!  It has been a cool spring in Tampa this year, but summer has arrived!  My husband and I started planting our flowers but we still have so much more to do!  Here are a few of my flowers pics I thought you might enjoy!

This one is my favorite - the raindrops on the flower make it worth running outside in my bathrobe and taking the pic!
  
Sooooo.....

Over 60 Close to My Heart consultants are participating in this month's SOTM blog hop and this stamp set is another one of my favorites (psst - so is the June stamp set!).  It is such a delightful set because it definitely will remind you of the carefree days of your youth!  If you have been hopping with us, then you have arrived from Angela's blog.  Her designs are always inspiring!

Here is the artwork from Close to My Heart with a few great ideas to get you started!

If you want a closer look at the set, here is the Pinwheel set for May!

This is another one of the sets that I plan to keep!  I know, you have heard that before! But seriously....

I have been cutting up a storm... the Dream Pop collection, that is...

I know you save scraps but WHY???

Let's make some tags!

How can I be creative with this mess?!!!

(if you click on the picture, you will get a better view)

 Here are the tags from my mess of scraps!

Do you feel inspired yet?...   if you answered "NO" to the question, then you must continue on hopping.....

So just hop off to Wanda's blog to check out her awesome artwork!  Did I tell you yet that I love this stamp set?  NO... Well if you want to own it, be sure to stop by my website http://ctmh.com/SweetAline  and place an order - You have until May 31st!

It's A DREAM POP Blog Hop!!

Welcome to the National Scrapbooking Month celebration!  Today 35 Close to My Heart consultants in the US and Canada  are  celebrating the release of the NEW Dream Pop collection.  I absolutely LOVE it!!  So bright and current to today's trends.

If you have been hopping with everyone else, then you have arrived from Heather's blog and checked out her awesome design!  This paper pack is surely going to be a hit.

The colors are so vibrant and bring out the best in all of the new spring and summer fashions and home decor.  In honor of National Scrapbooking Month, you can get a special paper packet for only $10 when you spend $35 in May (valued at $19.95 retail). 

This paper packet includes 12 cardstock sheets as well as 12 B & T Duos® papers that were specifically designed for this promotion.  Start National Scrapbooking Month off right with a unique paper packet at a bargain price and get your creative juices flowing!  

I dug out my cruise photos because I knew there were a few pictures that I thought would coordinate with this packet pack.  Even though, this is not a red and white paper theme - it went perfectly with my Valentine Cruise Formal dinner photos!  Here is my layout...

 ( click on the photo above for a larger view)

Supplies:

Dream Pop paper pack

C1534 Sightseer stamp set

C1441 - Affection stamp set

Art Philosophy cartridge - frame

Artiste cartridge - title

Z1839 Glitter Paper

Z1764 floret Paper Flowers

Z1787 Mini-Medley Accents - Slate

CTMH Embroidery floss - retired

Inks- Cotton Candy, Lagoon, Honey and Slate

Remember this special does not start until May 1st and supplies are limited!!  If you are interested in hosting a gathering - online or in your home - hostesses receive one paper packet free with qualifying May Gathering sales totals of $400 or more.

Now it is off to Wendy's blog where I know you find are going to find tons of cuteness and inspiration!

My Sunshine SOTM layout

Where, oh where has the month of April gone to???  Today is the 23rd of April and this month has just flown by....   The 'snowbirds' have headed north 
(sorry Northerners) and that means that warmer temperatures are headed our way!  

So just like the changes of seasons in other parts of the country , our 'season' changes here as well!  Unfortunately there are only a few more days left for the April Stamp of the Month - My Sunshine!  This stamp set is one of my favorites stamp sets of this Idea Book!  I love the entire look of the stamp stamp along with the coordinating Cricut images on the Artiste cartridge.

I am one of the lucky ones in Florida - hot air balloons fly over my house ALL of the time!  I run out and take pictures of them and wave to everyone in the basket! .............. silly, huh?!

Here is a layout of one of those days....

I must admit that I created this layout especially for this stamp set BUT the stamp set was PER..fect for these photos.  I used the design that Close to My Heart had on their website as a jumping off point - I think they are pretty similar....

So if YOU want to take advantage of this special offer for the stamp of the month, contact me at Sweetaline@verizon.net  and complete you order with me and it will be at your doorstep in about 10 days!  Not a bad deal!

April Claire Workshop and the Cricut!

Sometimes I think it is funny how my mind 'channels' the thoughts of Close to My Heart!  In my Cricut workshop on April 7th, we practiced using many of the function buttons which Christine explains in this video!!  Take a look at it and see if you agree!

Here is the layout that I created for the April workshop using the "Make It From Your Heart" layout and the Claire paper pack.

The title tag  was quick and easy in the Cricut Craft Room..  Just weld the banner shape in the AP cartridge along with the lettering from the Artiste cartridge and viola!

Here is the last card from the Cricut Basics class created by Sharon.  It required 20 hearts for the design - just use the Quantity button and cut them out all at once! The original design can be found on page 102 of the IB.

Enjoy!!

Cricut Basics Class 101 and Today's Special Value!

What an interesting class we had!  I actually learned so much and I ended up buying a Cricut Expressions 2 because it is actually much better than the Cricut Expression and I knew I had to learn it if I was going to teach the class!

The first card project had so much learning going on  - how to create nested images (without a shadow button), using the Flip button, the Settings, Fit to Length, Portrait and Repeat Last buttons.

Here are the sample cards...

This card we used the Cricut pens along with the Center Point button

This card we used the Mix 'n Match button to create several shapes in one cutting...

This is a very cute idea for spring (although summer has arrived in Tampa!) and you can find the directions here for both designs on the  CTMH site here

                    
Create a festive banner to complement the OWL party bags....

                                              

Today's Special Value!  

Purchase the Z1790 Cricut Artiste Collection or the Z1686 Cricut Art Philosophy and receive the directions for the class FREE!!  You will also receive a April SOTM for $5.00!  (P.S. I love this set!!)

You can shop for your cartridges here....  if you are interested in checking out the Artiste Assembly handbook, there is a pdf file in the side bar- check it out!  If you have trouble downloading it - please email me!

Here are the pdf files for the two cartridges.....

Cricut Artiste Handbook

Cricut Art Philosophy Handbook

Here are some more designs are from the Artiste cartridge...aren't they cute?!!  Any questions, just call or email me!!

Enjoy!

April Make It from Your Heart Workshop

I fell in love with the Claire paper pack so this month I am using it to create our 2 page layout and card design!

Claire Paper Pack

Here is the WOTG layout for the Claire paper pack - isn't it cute!

For inspiration with this month's layout, I again returned to Studio J.  I am such a visual person and I hate to waste paper trying to come up with a design that utilizes the Bulk B & T paper. This design is also found in the Magic book and so we are going to add a 4 x 6" flip flap to the font of the layout.

Check back later in the week for the completed layout!

Make It from the Heart Workshop

When: April 12, 2013

Time: 6-9:00 p.m.

Cost: $10.00 for the 2 page layout and a card

RSVP:  by Wednesday April 10th 

See you then!