Artistry Typewriter

The newest Close To My Heart Cricut Cartridge is available now. Do you own the Artistry collection yet? This is the collection that is available two different ways. You can purchase in the usual way receiving a cartridge with book, stamps and cardstock. Or you can purchase the new digital edition for those Cricut Explore & Explore Air users. I chose the digital collection myself, which was extremely easy to upload and start cutting right away in Design Space.

I tried out all sorts of new cuts from shapes, layers, banners, borders and icons. One of my favorite cuts was this little typewriter. I loved all the layers and that I could add a sentiment to the paper coming out of the roller! I decided to add my finished typewriter to a card. I have already returned to the classroom, so "back to school" was my theme!

I wanted the typewriter to appear as if it were sitting in front of a chalk board. I used some older Chalk it Up papers for the black board and stamped a sentiment with white daisy ink. There is a little bit of shimmery purple fundamentals paper underneath. Finally, I had to add the little coffee cup as it is essential morning fuel!

I will be making many more cards with these fun cuts from the Artistry cartridge, so visit my Blog again soon. You can purchase your own cartridge here!

Tall and Happy

So I had a few pieces of cardstock and papers left over from a recent card exchange. A tall template design that I featured the Typewriter SOTM, Typed Note. Not to let these pieces or card bases go to waste I created a few cards with the Operation Smile stamp set, Happy Everything. (back cover of the Annual Expressions 2 book) It is a great stamp set that offers ideas for so many occasions and fun events. Plus, a portion of proceeds goes to Operation Smiles. Take a look at what I created!

You can learn more about Operation Smile through this great story on the Make it from your Heart Blog.

Typed Note Surprise

Time is running out to get the fabulous Typed Note Stamp of the Month! I had so much fun playing with this stamp all month long. One final project I made is a creative card for my son's Birthday. This was an idea that I talked about at the Crate Card Club, but had not tried it yet. I wanted to take the paper in the typewriter and make it a functional message that would be revealed when pulled out of the typewriter. It was super easy to create.

I used paper left over from my Crate Cards. The card was left basically with the same template, I just added some extra stamping, distressing and embellishments. Then I altered the typewriter to accommodate the pull-up message.

To achieve this effect I bubble cut the typewriter making sure to cut off the paper at the top. Then I cut a smaller strip of white cardstock {1x 2.75} to stamp the messages. I made certain that this piece would slide between some 3D foam tape that was mounted underneath the typewriter. The puffy star makes it easier to pull out the paper.

With just a few tweaks this card goes from flat, to fun and interactive!! Be sure to get this stamp set before it's no longer available!

Just a few more days to grab your Deal of the Day too! Order online here.

Box Cards With Animals

I have been playing around making these popular box cards. There are lots of great ideas on the web making them with various themes and creating them in different sizes also. Here are just a couple I completed using a cutting file for the Cricut Design Space. You can find it at The Non-Crafty Crafter Blog. All the work is basically done by your Cricut. You simply add the details and embellishments!

This first one uses the Pathfinding papers and a cute little fox from an older Stamp of the Month.

This box has the awesome & way cool Chalk It Up papers and again another Stamp of the month.

These are so fun to make and even cooler to receive! Thanks for stopping by!

Back To School with Chalk It Up

My daughter and I are back to school today! It is earlier than usual this year, but I am looking forward to the change. As tradition I have always made a layout for the first day of school. I always had pictures of both my kids too, but this year only my daughter will star in the layout as my son graduated last year. Wow, what a change for me!

I created this layout using the new Chalk It Up papers and complements. What an awesome new paper packet and embellishments. The chalkboard look has been trending for some time, so I was excited to see it and to play with it. Here is the layout~ {pictures will be added later}

Here is a photo I will add to my layout later. One of my daughter's favorite breakfast meals are banana nut muffins. So I made a batch and baked them in these totally cute paper liners with glasses. They not only match the layout, but my daughter has similar glasses too!!

Here are the products I chose for this layout along with some artwork from the Idea book using this awesome new paper collection. You can order any of these items yourself online or through me.

Thanks for stopping by!

Owl, Just Be You!

I love when you find that stamp set that continues to inspire you to create different projects. This month's Stamp, What a Hoot, is one of those stamps! My initial projects were for Halloween, but now I'm discovering that it can be used for all sorts of occasions and just because!

I created this card for Freshly Made Sketches this week. I turned the sketch, because when I first looked at it I immediately saw a polaroid picture!

I used the Chalk It Up papers and puffy sticker assortment to embellish my card. The papers and colors allow this card to be used for a male or female recipient. You can order these items online and don't forget to add this versatile stamp of the month to your order for only $5. {after qualifying purchase}

Summer Open House 2014

The brand new 2014-15 Annual Inspirations Idea Book will be released this week, Friday, August 1st. It is full of gorgeous new papers,  fun stamps, innovative tools and delicious embellishments!

I held my Open House to showcase just some of the fabulous new items. I called it a "Summer" Open House, because I will hold additional Open Houses later this year to truly show all the new items this book has to offer!

The new book will be available to view online this Friday and you may begin making purchases from the book then too!

{Welcome to my Open House}

 

One of the first "favorite" items is this red framed magnetic chalkboard. I love that Close To My Heart has introduced so many new home decor items. Several of these items have filled many walls and shelves throughout my home. This frame sits on a shelf in my dining room which already had red details in it so it was a perfect fit! It welcomed those ladies attending my Open House. I put some little bottle cap magnets on it just to show that it was not only a chalkboard. I'm excited to write messages on it or favorite quotes!

This is the my main table I had set up filled with lots of new goodies!

I wanted to show the new book, the 5 brand new colors {inks & paper}, a beautiful Seaside Workshop on the Go kit {it just happens to feature my own family pictures in it, woo~hoo!}, Picture My Life program and one of my absolute favorite items...the fundamental papers in the Whimsy color palette.

I showed a preview to a scrapbooking workshop using a gorgeous new paper called Brushed. This layout showcases a beautiful new stamp set and the cutest heart Washi tape in Lagoon! I also showed a level 3 layout using papers and embellishments from the Chalk It Up collection.
 

Finally I set up a display of the newest Base & Bling collections as well as a "try it" marker display. Yes, that's right, new markers and they are awesome!

I will have more detailed pictures of all these projects soon!

I also offered some handmade projects for sale. They included a mini album, 12x12 layouts and boxed card sets. I will have these posted in a "for sale" section on my Blog soon.

Be sure to stop back here at the end of the week! See the new book and be inspired by all the new products and the outstanding artwork. Want a new book in your hands? Just contact me and I'll help you with that. You can place your order for new products online here. Be sure to click on the JOIN button under my Inspiration 2014 gathering.