Fast and Furious

Got BOYS?  

This card would fit the bill for any boy birthday...every boy likes fast cars and big trucks, right?  The Fast and Furious stamp set accompanied with any Happy Birthday sentiment would work to create this fun card.  Love the tire tracks!

It's difficult to see in the picture - the truck is stamped once in black ink, then again in Pear ink on another piece of paper.  The truck is then cut out and popped up over the black image.  Black Bitty Brads were used for the axles in the wheels too.  You could add a specific number, stamped or cut from the Cricut, for the age in the upper left corner for the specific birthday too.

*This card was designed by Randa Wacaster and part of our Team Shoebox Swap.

Perfect Fit is PERFECT for any occasion

Birthday cards seem to always be on my list to create...and when I do, I make multiples to have on hand at a moments notice.  I love the "Perfect Fit" concept - frames that work with just about any 1-1/4" circle image.  Have you browsed the catalog and noticed just how many images coordinate with the Perfect Fit Frames?  LOTS!!!

This birthday card uses the Later Sk8r papers, along with the Perfect Fit-Frames 2 and the Perfect Fit-Birthday stamp sets.  I'm hooked on the washi tape too...here I used it as tabs, as you would ribbon.  Another reason I love the Perfect Fit Frames stamp sets - each stamp image coordinates with a cricut shape on either of our Cricut cartridges...just cut, stamp and assemble your artwork!

Claire Self-Portrait

One last page we created at Chicago Regionals.  

Rarely do I scrapbook only ME...I'm usually behind the camera.

On the first day of the event, each of us had our picture taken...I should have known to be more prepared...I'm in a group of scrapbookers!  Its not the best picture I've ever taken, but I decided to use it anyway...it's one more completed page! 

This page uses more of the Claire papers, and a Large My Creations Paper Pouch.  The pouch is a pocket to hide any journaling...it's one way to keep the page clean (especially if you don't like your own handwriting) and keeps the focus on the picture.  

We were given 3 questions to prompt us for journaling about ourselves:

Why did you join Close To My Heart?

What makes you stay?

What have you found along the way that you never would have expected?

YouTube Saturday Video - Creatively Cricut

It's Creative Time...

allow yourself some creative time this weekend, and I've got just the ticket!

Power up your Cricut and try these tips and tricks for yourself!

This video is jammed packed with awesome tips...but make sure you stay tuned at 7:08 into this video for the BEST tip of all!

Learn the tips and tricks for using die-cut pieces from Close To My Heart's Cricut® Artiste and Art Philosophy collections. Stamp on Cricut®-cut pieces, change the size using special features, and more!

You Make My HEART Soar

Here's another layout we created at the Chicago Regionals.

(Click on any image to enlarge for more detail)

I can't tell you the last time I created a layout, using only cardstock!  

There isn't one piece of patterned paper on this layout...none.  

Another one of my new favorite stamp sets is the Sightseer stamp set that we used on this layout...we also used the Keyboard Kraft Alphabet...it's wonderful...so many letters, numbers, symbols and punctuation.  The word "HEART" was cut using the Artiste...and unfortunately, many of the images in the Sightseer stamp set have to be cut the old fashion way...with scissors.  

I'm spoiled, turning to my Cricut to cut just about anything.

These pages have lots of dimension...using 3-D foam tape to "pop" the paper airplane, the camera, and the people figures.  The black cardstock strip is accordion folded into pleats like ribbon, and the wooden shapes bring another element of texture into the layout.  

And...did you notice?  I didn't even ink distress either!  

Off to find pictures to put on all my new layouts!

A Bushel and a Peck

Here's one of the layouts we created at the Chicago Regionals.

(Click on any image to enlarge for more detail)

The layout uses the Claire papers, the Trinket Wooden Shapes and the Patterned Pennants stamp set.

The title "a bushel and a peck" was created using the negative image cut from the Artiste Cricut cartridge.  The negative images seem to be such a hot trend right now.  One tip that I can share with you, I learned at Regionals...when you are cutting a title on your Cricut, and you plan to use the negative image, do not have the Material Saver button on.  Program your Cricut to cut the entire title at once making sure to place a "space" between each word. (NOTE: I'm posting a Cricut video with lots of tips and techniques coming on Saturday...be sure to check it out!)

The banners were cut with the Cricut and then stamped with one of the patterned pennants.  I love seeing how to use stamp images in a different way.  This stamp set is also perfect to use to make faux washi tape...just by stamping a portion of the image on the edge of your artwork...it looks just like washi tape was used (I didn't do that on this layout).

The sunshine rays in the bottom right corner were also made by just using the tip portion of the patterned pennants.  So glad to have this stamp set now...I can see so many more uses for it!

More Chicago Regionals Artwork

It's hard to believe all the artwork that we created in just TWO days...jammed packed with creativity!  And I loved every bit of it!

We created this card box, cut from the Artiste Cricut cartridge, and the 6 cards that went with it.  I must admit, I love having all the pieces for each project already pre-cut for us!  I make my customers work with their trimmers...and it's a special treat when I do offer a project that is ready to stamp and assemble.

 You will notice a few products we used on just about everything we created in our two days...Washi Tape, and the Trinkets Wooden Shapes...LOVE THEM!

All these cards were made using the For a Friend stamp set.  Each card is so different from the next...really shows the versatility of the stamps.  Interesting note - only one card uses B&T paper...the rest of the cards are made using only cardstock.  With the addition of the washi tape on the cardstock, it appears more patterned papers were used.

Wait til you see the layouts we created...they are coming up next!

Fabric Medallion Tutorial

Want to learn how to create this fabric medallion using CTMH For Always Textiles?  

Let Me Show You How...

Start with 2 strips of fabric, each a different size (if you want to stack the finished medallions), so one medallion is smaller than the other.  The white piece here is approximately 1"x7", and the black piece measures 1.5"x10.5".  The strips of fabric can be any size, work with the size that works best for your specific project.  A good rule of thumb is, your finished medallion will be approximately twice the width of your widest strip...this medallion is about 3" wide.

Next, cut each strip into a fringe along the long edge of the fabric.  Be sure to leave about 1/2" at the top intact.  Each fringe is about 1/4" wide...just cut, don't measure anything. 

 Cut each fringed piece at an angle as shown above.  This doesn't need to be perfect, it just gives added texture to the finished product.

 Next, take a needle (from the piercing tool kit) and thread (or embroidery floss), and sew a running stitch (in & out - indicated by white stitching above) across the top of your fringed strip of fabric.  Leaving a tail of thread when you begin and end your stitching.  Again, perfection not necessary...if one stitch is larger than another, it's not going to matter.

Cinch each end of the thread together until the fabric strip gathers into a circle.  Pull tight and tie thread ends into a knot to secure.  Repeat this step with each strip of fabric.

Two medallions, two different sizes.

Stack the smaller medallion onto the larger one.  I just used Liquid Glass to secure the pieces together, but you could sew them together if you choose.  Then embellish the center as desired.  Here I used one of my custom-made buttons from the For Always Textiles (you can read how to do this on my previous post).  The medallion featured on the card, I embellished with a glitter button (Liquid Glass to adhere) and put a sparkle in the center covering up the button holes.  You can never have too much *bling*!

Fast, Simple and Easy!

Be sure to leave a comment if you enjoyed this tutorial.  I hope you try making a fabric medallion for your artwork.  Fabric gives fun texture, and is an element of surprise in papercrafting and it is easy to work with!

Chicago Regionals Experience

Oh.My.Goodness.  WOW...ever feel like LIFE in general is moving full speed ahead and leaving you in the dust?  I'm trying to find the balance between working outside the home, working my business and keeping up with the everyday tasks.

Anyways...I've got some catching up to do!  I've got lots of artwork to share with you...it's not like the weeds have been growing under my feet...but I do feel I had to blow the dust off my blog! LOL

Last week, I had the honor to teach at the CTMH Regional Celebration in Chicago.  I do love all the places that CTMH has allowed me to visit...and one day, I will earn an incentive trip too! Seeing Chicago was a first for me, and I'm so glad I had the opportunity.  Afterwards, my friend Shari and I went to Willis Tower (YES...I did the SkyDeck!) and the Navy Pier.

Did I mention, I'm afraid of heights?  This was a daunting task for me!  The SkyDeck is 1353 feet in the air (glass floor is 1-1/2" thick), and the Navy Pier Ferris Wheel is 15 stories high...I think I conquered my fears in one day!  Yet I can't climb a ladder beyond the 4th step...go figure!  I digress...

The class I was selected to be a part of was 'Product Peeks and Geeks'.  I was a Geek! lol  

You might be a CTMH geek if...

...you know the Fed Ex man by name (mine is a woman, her name is Judy!)

...you have dressed your family (or friends) to coordinate with a Paper Packet you like (every year at the GingerBread Cottage with friends)

...the first thing you do when opening a CTMH order is smell the paper (mine is the stamp sets!)

...you've actually said these words to a painter, saleslady, etc:"Does this come in Cranberry?" or "I'm really looking for this in Sweet Leaf."(the walls in my house are Desert Sand and Chocolate)

And last, You might be a CTMH geek if...you sometimes just LOOK at your crafting stash, and it makes you happy!

I have to admit...I qualify on all points! I am a CTMH GEEK!

Onto my geek assignment:
I was assigned to create at least one piece of artwork using the new CTMH Textiles (Chantilly and For Always).  Seriously?  This was probably the ONE product in the catalog that I hadn't had any experience with! Ugh!  But I was up for the challenge to find the "cool" factor with fabric!

A fabric medallion...I will post a picture tutorial for this one tomorrrow.  Come back to see how I made it!  You can too!

(Click on any image to enlarge for more detail)

I created CUSTOM buttons using the For Always Textiles.  So easy!  Cut a circle of fabric twice the size of your button, sew a basic stitch around the diameter of the circle, place the button in the center of the circle, cinch the ends of the 2-threads as the fabric gathers around the button, tie it off tightly.  If you want padded buttons, I just used a piece of cotton ball.  *A BIG thanks goes out to fellow consultant, Peggy Hembree for this great idea!

I created a pinwheel from fabric the same you would from paper.

 And lastly, I covered cardstock with fabric on the sides of this 3-D box, and the bow on top was a Cricut image.  To use fabric with your Cricut machine, first adhere Heat-N-Bond to the reverse side of the fabric to give it stability.  Another good tip, have a Cricut blade you use only for fabric, since cardstock and paper will dull the blade easily.