He Is Risen Easter Card

I needed to make a few Easter cards for the shut-ins at church.  I LOVE the "His Love" stamp set in the SE1 catalog.  This one doesn't go away 3/31 so there's still time to buy it!  The paper is actually 2013's Christmas paper called "frosted".  I LOVED it so I still have a ton left. 

I finished it off by coloring in the stem of the Easter lily with an alcohol marker, put on some silver shimmer trim and some grayish blue pearls I got from Oriental Trading of all places!

Buy the stamp set I used from my website for only $9.95:
Item B1469 - His Love Stamp set: http://beckyo.ctmh.com/Retail/Product.aspx?ItemID=8329

Bridal Expo

I stepped out of my comfort zone a couple of weeks ago and set up a booth at our local Bridal Expo to show all the future brides what Close To My Heart is all about!  I created several examples of what could be done for their weddings using our products. 

I took several of the Save the Dates, bridal shower and wedding invitations I've received this past year and duplicated them using Close To My Heart products where I could.  I was also inspired by pinterest on a couple as well.  Here are my favorites: 

Used: Quatrefoil embossing folder, Art Philosophy cricut cartridge, Basics Cardstock Combo pack

 Used: Black Cardstock, Yuletide Carol Paper, gold shimmer trim

 Used: Smoky plum cardstock, gypsy ink pad, I can't remember the name of the stamp set.

 Used: Letters from the Artfully Sent cricut cartridge, mini calendar stamp set, Happy to be Friends stamp set, I Do stamp set, and black ink pad

 Used: cranberry cardstock, black striped twill ribbon

 Used: I can't remember the name of the stamp set, monogram stamp, pear cardstock and ink pad.

Then I decided I'd show that you could create wedding favors and thank you cards too:

 Used: The Happy Couple stamp set, greetings stamp set from the Artfully Sent Cricut bundle, black ink pad and red enamel hearts

 Used: Artiste cricut cartridge, hollyhock and outdoor denim cardstock, silver sequins and happy autumn stamp set

 Used: chocolate ink, letters from the artfully sent cricut bundle, tree is a past stamp of the month, artiste cricut cartridge for shapes.

 Used: I Do stamp set, thistle and slate ink, and thistle diagonal striped ribbon

Oh the possibilities ... I could sit down and make even more now after thinking a few more days! 

If you see something you like, I'd be happy to help you get started on creating your own!  It's a lot of fun and definitely gives your wedding a unique look!

http://beckyo.ctmh.com

Quick & Simple Card Making

I know many of you don't know where to begin when making your own cards.  I have that problem, too.  I usually will scour the internet for ideas and try to turn them into my own designs with what I have in my scrapbook room.  I wanted to make a card that any one could do and didn't take much inspiration at all!

I used a preprinted card to start.  I bought these today to use for an upcoming workshop:  DCWV Old World.  Then I used Close To My Heart's Art Philosophy cricut cartridge to cut out some shapes in different colors.  I used a little larger size for the color and smaller for the white. 

Next ... you could use any stamp set you wanted that fit into your shape.  I was making an anniversary card so I used Close To My Heart's "The Happy Couple" stamp set (D1539) to stamp "Happy Anniversary".  I then added CTMH's red enamel hearts (Z2009) to give it a little pop of color and cuteness!

It looks really good if I say so myself, and it was VERY quick and simple!

Halloween Frightfully Fun Card

I joined an anything goes card swap that's due this weekend so I decided to take my new cute CTMH Frightfully Fun stamp set to make a Halloween card!  I took inspiration from the DAT's My Style Blog.
 

 

I used black cardstock, CTMH Scaredy Cat paper pack, black and orange ribbon, and some alcohol markers to color the monsters in!  Overall it was pretty simple to make ... just a bit time consuming!  :)

Elegant Happy Birthday

I recently participated in a Happy Birthday card swap.  I was online looking for inspiration as I often do when I cam across Lisa's Creative Corner Jubilee Boxed Card Set.  What can I say?  I was inspired!  

I used the CTMH Art Philosophy cricut cartridge to cut the flowers and used honey ink to sponge the edges of the flower.  It really makes the flower pop.  I highly encourage those that haven't tried to sponge the edges of your flowers to do so!  

The yellow paper is from the Close to my Heart Jubilee paper pack, and the Happy Birthday is stamped in Chocolate ink. 

I used a non-CTMH embossing folder just because it had the line in it to make a border where my sentiment could go.  

Overall, it was pretty easy to make, and I just love the whole set that Lisa put together.  I may have to do more!

Simple Birthday Cards

I've had several people tell me they aren't creative enough to make birthday cards.  Impossible!  You don't have to make your cards as extravagant as some make theirs in order to have a really cute card to send out instead of going to your local Hallmark and buying something.  I have two examples of simple cards that I think are really cute!

This first one is just pink paper folded over with a cute polka dot paper background.  I then cut the shape out with Close To My Heart's Art Philosophy Cricut Cartridge ... one pink and one white.  I stamped Happy Birthday with a stamp from Close To My Heart's Art Philosophy Cricut Collection Birthday stamp set.  I used silver shimmer trim I bought at Target for $1.  That's it!  Card is DONE!

The second card is VERY similar to the first one.  I used a different color pink paper folded over with a pink and gray striped background paper this time.  I decided I didn't want to get my cricut out so I just cut squares and used the handy corner rounder to make it softer.  I stamped a cupcake stamp that I got from Michael's and colored it in with watercolor pencils.  I used the same cheap shimmer trim, corner rounded the edges of the card itself, and I called it done! 

ANYONE can make simple cute cards ... I think I just proved it!  :)

Surf's Up Birthday Card

Just like normal, I waited until the last minute to get a project done ... ONE of these days, I'll be ahead of schedule!  I always have big plans, but then time just gets away from me!

For my July workshop, I put together this cute little birthday card using Close To My Heart's Surf's Up paper that I've had for a while.  I found a section of that paper that didn't have words or people on it so I wouldn't have bits of that sticking out from behind the sentiment!  I put turquoise paper behind it - otherwise, it didn't look right next to the white card.

The brown strip is just the reverse side of the Surf's Up paper I used.  The red/pink paper was actually a fuzzy piece I found in my stash - I don't remember where I got it!  I've probably had it for quite some time ... I have a problem buying paper.

I used Close To My Heart's "Heartfelt Birthday Wish" mini stamp (only $2.95!) and used an alcohol marker to color it in ... I'm not sure the color I chose was JUST right, but it'll do!  That's the first time I've used those markers! 

I then thought it needed some bling.  SO - I pulled out the Close To My Heart "Hooray Bouquet" set and stamped a flower.  Then yes, I fussy cut out that flower, adhered it to my card, and flipped up the petals a little to give it dimension.  I couldn't find my foam tape, or I would have popped up the whole flower! 

I had some gems to make it sparkle, stamped the "May this year be your grandest year yet" sentiment (from the Hooray Bouquet set) on the inside and called it a night!

If you're interested in any of the products used, check out my shopping site: http://beckyo.ctmh.com

What do you think?  I'd love to get some comments!  I'm sure there are other suggestions for upping the difficulty level on my cards!