February Stamp of the Month Blog Hop

It's All About L-O-V-E!!  If you have been hopping with us, then you have come from Kami's blog here and checked out her awesome project. Don't worry if you get lost you can always got to Melinda's blog list here


 This month's stamp set includes these lovable foxes, hearts and "love' sayings!

I was having a hard time trying to create a scrapbook page using this stamp set but I started with the artwork that corp provided in the new Spring/Summer Idea Book!  It is pattern #18 ....a single page layout is found on page 41.  I used that design to create the blog badge for the hop. 

Every time I looked at this stamp set, a song came to mind...hmmm.  Do you remember what group made it famous?

Sorry... I couldn't resist!
                    

I finally decided on TWO different Valentine Mini-Albums (with a little help from Corp..) They were SUPER cutting intensive and I did add additional embellishments after I took the pictures.. sorry!!

Supplies:

Z1906 Cricut^® Artbooking Collection

S1401 Cross-Stitch wishes

S1402 Wild about Love

C1575 True to Life
Whoo's Your Valentine (retired)

Colors – Blush, Hollyhock, Ruby, Cotton Candy, Slate, Cocoa, Vineyard Berry and Black

**Ivy Lane B & T Paper Packet and Zip strip

**Lollydoodle B & T Paper Packet and Zip strip

Z1933 Ruby Chevron Washi Tape

Z1799 Silver Shimmer Trim

Z1921 Baker’s Twine Cranberry OR 3 1” binder rings and assorted ribbons

CCR files included….

"I Love You" Version.. I cut apart the stamp set and created a WPC cutting file to make my life easier.... 

If you own a Pazzles cutter, then you can find the files here..

Here  are inside pages 1 & 2...

Here are inside pages 3 & 4

Here are inside pages 5 & 6

Here are inside pages 7 & 8

Here is the cover of the  "You and Me" Version

Inside pages of the "You and Me" Mini Album - similar but slightly different...

Now it is time to bounce over to Sarita's blog here.  

Thanks for hanging in there with me!

Enjoy!

Artbooking Made Easy: Love, Love, Love

L-O-V-E  is coming to Lutz, Fl!!  My Valentine Mini- Album workshop is happening on January 31st from 6-9:00 p.m.!

Here is a video clip from Close to My Heart that will give you an insight into what we will be doing at this Mini-Album class...


                    

But wait - there's more....

You will will be using some of the NEW paper packs from the Spring/Summer Idea book!...............

AND ....... this month's SOTM S1401 Cross- Stitch Wishes!

AND...... February's SOTM S1402 Wild About Love!

My new paper arrived yesterday...so look for a some sneak peeks coming your way soon!!

Welcome to Cricut Basics Class 101!

When designing a class it is always hard to get started and come up with something original.  SO why invent the wheel?

Here is the idea for my first card..... 'scraplifted' from a few blog posts.

You can find the original post on Jeanette Lynton's blog here... PLUS with a little help from Jody Gustafson here,

This is my design...

After the first class I taught in 2013, I learned to start out S..L..O...W...

So in this lesson, I am teaching the basic concepts ...
*Settings
*Portrait vs. Landscape
*Quantity
*Real Dial Size vs. "Cricut Size"...

We cut the card at 3 1/2" and it matched the envelope perfectly!

Then we cut the 3 hearts for the card at Real Dial Size of 1"....then we turned off "Real Dial" size and cut with "Cricut" size....  what a difference!

Here are pictures of the other 2 cards and the Valentine card Holder from the class

In this lesson, I am teaching the basic concepts ...
*Flip
*Repeat Last
*How to make the flower

The inspiration for this card came from Mandy Leahy's blog here..
I mixed it up alittle and added the "love you"

In this lesson, I am teaching the basic concepts ...
*Sizing Images
*Repeat Last - we got this one!
*Faux Matting


This Valentine card holder is totally mine!  

In this lesson, I am teaching the basic concepts ...
*Fit To Page
*Fit To Length

Here is a picture of the ladies finishing up the projects.

How can you receive these detailed directions FREE?!
Purchase the CTMH Z1790 Artiste cartridge here

You will receive the cartridge with 3 coordinating stamp sets and matching Dimensional Elements and an Assembly Handbook.....
                         

When you purchase the cartridge I will email the pdf file to you!  Plus you can purchase the S1401 Cross-Stitch Wishes for only $5.00 to stamp your designs for the Valentine Card Holder.

CTMH Consultants....If you are interested in purchasing the directions for the Cricut Expression machine, email me  here...

Here is a snippet of the lesson...

The 12 page pdf file contains detailed directions for you to recreate on your own. with pictures and exact cutting directions.  A great class to feature our cartridge as well as our cardstock and stamps.!

Cloud Nine Layout

Since I am not big on cardmaking, I decided to cut up my paper and use it for a layout.  Again here are pics of my DIL and her co-workers...PERFECT for the moustache stamp in the kit!

This layout is a Pattern #17 found on page 39 in the Make It from Your Heart - Volume 2.

If you would like to see additional samples, check out my blog post here
for our Cloud Nine Blog Hop!

Here is a very clever idea for displaying the cards - thanks to Kelly James!  She was not in the Blog Hop but I love this idea!

Don't forget that all of the WOTG paper packs are retiring at the end of the month. Purchase one and an ink pad and you will qualify for the National Papercrafting Cloud Nine special immediately ($35.00 purchase) and then add the Cloud Nine paper pack and you can pick up the stamp of the month for $5.00!!

Start shopping now with me....

AWA Workshop in January

We had a great time this past weekend with the Sarita WOTG.  Elizabeth and her co-workers were participating in a team building event recently and they are truly a crazy bunch!

The "In Love" sentiment did not really work with this layout, so I covered it up with a moustache from the Cloud Nine stamp set.

I used the CCR (Cricut Craft Room) to create all of the cuts for the page and it was quick and easy to cut the kits for my ladies!

You can download the file here if you would like to have the quick and easy cuts as well.

Supplies:
Sarita Workshop to Go - "retiring" on January 31st!
Cloud Nine stamp set- only $15.00 with a $35.00 order!

If you are interested in grabbing up some of the WOTG paper packs, NOW is the time to do it!  You can shop in your jammies on my website here

Enjoy!!

National Papercrafting Month Cloud Nine Cardmaking Kit

Welcome to the Cloud Nine Blog Hop. Close to My Heart is celebrating National Papercrafting Month with a very special collection of cards.  If you have been hopping with  us, then you have arrived from Michelle's blog here. 
Isn't her design cute?!!  This is a circular hop so if you get lost, you can always go back to Melinda's blog here for the list.There are so many ways to use this set and I hope you find inspiration along the way.

Christine and Close to My Heart have put together a video detailing all of the items in the kit.  Check it out!

                 

Here is a sample of the cards you can  make with this kit...

But I always think outside the box and sometimes I cheat and use Pinterest for my inspiration!  I decided to embellish one of my cards with some additions from my 'stash'! So I added some washi tape and aqua dots to my card to 'amp' it up!

This card is perfect for the friend or family member in your life who needs a pick-me-up!  I hope it makes you smile and you will consider sending this card to someone you love!  Now it is on to Gina's blog here where you will always find something inspiring!

But wait .....there's more!!....................

Since this is a "CLOUD NINE' event - this is only the FIRST day of the event... there are EIGHT more days for additional artwork from this awesome special.  The next 'event' will be on Sunday, so stop by then!!