1st CTMH Festive Friday Blog Hop

Welcome to our 1st CTMH Festive Friday Blog Hop. Thank you for hopping with us. You should have arrived here from The Sassy Scrapper - Theresa Miller; if not, our path is circular so just keeping going to the next stop until you reach the blog where you started. The next stop on this hop is Be"hoot"iful Scrapbooking - Scrappin' with Ash - Ashley Denny (the entire list of stops is at the bottom of this post).

For this month's hop I created two projects; a gift box and a card.

I had the idea for the ring box first. I was partly inspired by projects that used punches to create a decorative strip of paper. I stamped the edge of a piece of cardstock then trimmed it off with my paper trimmer. This was much easier than cutting the strip then stamping. I used glue dots to hold the strips of paper in place. Since I knew the back of the paper would show on my bow, I stamped the reverse side as well. The bow was created from one 12 inch strip of paper. I cut it in half and then I loosely folded the ends into the middle and used dots to secure them, then repeated with my other 6 inch piece. I used my fingers to softly manipulate the paper to look like loops. Another dot was used to secure the bow to the top. I was going for a primitive look, but if you wanted a more elegant bow, you could add a sparkle to the center of the bow.

Products used to create the ring box:

• My Acrylix® Washi Wonder Stamp Set (D1558)
• My Creations® Kraft Ring Box (Z1868)
• 12" X 12" White Daisy Cardstock (1385)
• Cranberry Exclusive Inks® Stamp Pad (Z2116
• Topiary Exclusive Inks® Stamp Pad (Z2155)
• Memory Book Glue Dots® (1772)

FYI, if I had them on hand I would have used the Memory Book Mini Glue Dots® (Z341) because the Memory Book Glue Dots® (1772) were a little wide for my strips of "ribbon". The non-mini dots would have been fine if I had used a wider My Acrylix® Washi Wonder stamp. How I accommodated for the slightly wider glue dot size was once the dot was on my strip of paper use my fingers to "squish" the dots in so they no longer hung off the sides of my paper.

My second project is this primitive tree card.

I am not really sure why the idea of this card popped into my head. I got the idea about a week ago, before I saw the CTMH Corporate video, Hostess Rewards: Better than Ever! (shared on my New CTMH Hostess Rewards Options post earlier this week), but seeing that video changed my approach to creating the card. Instead of trying to stamp right on the card front, I stamped on cardstock then cut around those images using the Micro-Tip Scissors. I then cut those pieces in half  to create a branch for each side of the trunk. After laying the branches on the card to get a feel for how it would look I trimmed some of them so the branches got shorter as they reached the top of the tree.  I used Liquid Glass to adhere the branches so I had a few seconds to wiggle the paper around until I liked how they looked. I used 3-D Foam Tape to attach the tree trunk.

Edited to add: I forgot to mention that 1/2 of the branches were stamped 2nd generation.

Products used to create the card:

• My Acrylix® Washi Wonder Stamp Set (D1558)
• 5 1/2" X 4 1/4" Colonial White Cards & Envelopes, Value Pack (X1410)
• 12" X 12" Cranberry Cardstock (1272)
• 12" X 12" Colonial White Cardstock (1388)
• Cranberry Exclusive Inks® Stamp Pad (Z2116)
• New England Ivy Exclusive Inks® Stamp Pad (Z2135)
• Topiary Exclusive Inks® Stamp Pad (Z2155)
• Sweet Leaf Exclusive Inks® Stamp Pad (Z2153)
• Cocoa Exclusive Inks® Stamp Pad (Z2114)
• Liquid Glass (Z679)
• 3-D Foam Tape (Z1151)
• Micro-Tip Scissors (Z534)
• Non-Stick Micro-Tip Scissors (Z1836)

Here is a photo I took of the My Acrylix® Washi Wonder Stamp Set (D1558) so you have a better view of all 24 stamps in the set:

This stamp set is one of seven Hostess Rewards My Acrylix® Stamp Sets that were introduced in the Autumn/Winter 2013 Close to My Heart Idea Book. These stamp sets are only available until January 2014. You can only "purchase" this stamp set when you are a hostess of an on-line or in-home Gathering using the Hostess Rewards you earn based on your Gathering sale.

I really hope that you enjoyed the projects I shared with you today. I would love to know what you think. Your next stop on this hop is Be"hoot"iful Scrapbooking - Scrappin' with Ash - Ashley Denny.

The CTMH Festive Friday Blog Hop order is:

• The Happy Scrapbooker - Diane Tuggle
• Show Me Scrapping - Rebecca Brown
• Wandering Scissors - Michelle Bowley 
• Carol Loftus
• Blue Sky Scrapping - Linda Pekrul
• Scrapping with Elsa and Sophie ~ Dachshund Paper Pixies - Jamie Barney
• Stampologist - Paige Dolecki
• Cr8ive ME - Mary Ellen Driggs
• Imagine The Possibilities Studio - April Grigson
• The Sassy Scrapper - Theresa Miller
• centralNYscrapper - Brenda Lapp ------- You Are Here
• Be"hoot"iful Scrapbooking - Scrappin' with Ash - Ashley Denny
• Ida's Attic - Mary Schwimer 

Please mark your calendar to come back for our next hop on September 13.

If you do not have a CTMH Independent Consultant yet, I would be happy to help you learn more about CTMH products. Click the Shop with me link below to place an order or contact me if you have questions about any CTMH product or promotion or to schedule a Home or Online Gathering.

Please find me on Facebook, Brenda's Paper Crafts, and "Like" my page to keep up with new creations, announcements and specials. Thanks for visiting today.

Mini Album for Family Reunion

My family reunion was Saturday, August 3. To raise funds for printing and mailing the announcement, reserving the park and purchasing shared supplies (charcoal, etc.) we usually have an auction and a 50/50 raffle.

I missed the reunion in 2011 and 2012, but had made items for those auctions so this year I had several items to be auctioned off.

I made three heart-shaped chipboard mini albums. I used the same paper pad for each, but did not make them identical. Here's what one looks like:

If you would like to see close-ups of the other photos, click on the image above (a new window will open) and use the arrow to advance through my photostream.

I am thrilled to report that each mini album went for $25 to help pay for next year's expenses.

Also auctioned off were two photo frames I made for the "Crop Chocolate Challenge #21 - Pop Color" last year. I do not remember how much they were auctioned for.

Unfortunately I forgot to take photos of a larger framed piece I put into the auction. That item had the same photos of my great-great-grandparents shown above.

I hope these projects give you ideas for raising funds to hold your next family reunion. If you have crafty ideas for items I can create to auction in future years, I would love to hear your suggestions. Thanks for visiting my blog today.

New CTMH Hostess Rewards Options

With the Autumn/Winter 2013 Idea Book, Close to My Heart introduced seven Hostess Rewards My Acrylix® Stamp Sets. The stamp sets can only be "purchased" with select product credit hostess's  earn when having a qualifying party. The stamp sets are shown on pages 6 though 9 of the A/W 2013 Idea Book.

This video, Hostess Rewards: Better than Ever!, we learn how the My Acrylix® Washi Wonder Stamp Set was used to create the layout on page 6 plus an idea for a less "constructed" layout (shown on the right in the video).



The CTMH Corp. description of the video Hostess Rewards: Better than Ever! is "Take advantage of the opportunities from Close To My Heart to earn Hostess Rewards stamp sets; must-have sets, just for you! Watch this video to see one of these adorable stamp sets in action and learn how to get your own."

The product featured in the video is:

• My Acrylix® Washi Wonder Stamp Set (D1558)

Other products used to create the layout:

• Chantilly Paper Packet (X7163B)
• Whisper Cardstock (X5929)
• White Daisy Cardstock (1385)
• Sorbet Cardstock (X5751)
• Honey Cardstock (X5668)
• Sorbet Exclusive Inks® Pad (Z2164)
• Honey Exclusive Inks® Pad (Z2162)
• Pear Exclusive Inks® Pad (Z2197)
• Whisper Exclusive Inks® Pad (Z2172)
• Black Exclusive Inks® Pad (Z2105)
• Silver Shimmer Trim (Z1799)
• Green Glitter Paper (Z1847)
• Color-Ready Trinkets Wooden Shapes (Z1844)
• Sparkles Clear Assortment (Z1752)
• Cricut® Art Philosophy Collection (Z1686) - 1" <font> “happy go LUCKY”
• Make It from Your Heart® Volume 1 (9035) - Pattern 3 (Right)

The Hostess Rewards My Acrylix® Stamp Sets are only available until January 31, 2014.

Here is a still photo I took of my stamp set:

And a still of the first layout featured in the video:

If you would like to host a Gathering, in-home or on-line, to earn SPC to get the Washi Wonder or any other Hostess Rewards My Acrylix® Stamp Set or purchase the supplies to re-create the layout featured in the video, do not hesitate to contact me. If you would like to just jump in and purchase CTMH products, click the Shop Now button.

I am also on Facebook. Find me at Brenda's Paper Crafts.

Save the Date for the 1st CTMH Festive Friday Blog Hop

Please mark your calendars to hop with us next Friday, August 16 when we will share some ideas for holiday projects. The projects might be cards, layouts or home décor items. Our goal is to get you excited to start your holiday crafting and perhaps give you an idea or two.

The CTMH Festive Friday Blog Hop order is:

• The Happy Scrapbooker - Diane Tuggle
• Show Me Scrapping - Rebecca Brown
• Wandering Scissors - Michelle Bowley 
• Carol Loftus
• Blue Sky Scrapping - Linda Pekrul
• Scrapping with Elsa and Sophie ~ Dachshund Paper Pixies - Jamie Barney
• Stampologist - Paige Dolecki
• Cr8ive ME - Mary Ellen Driggs
• Imagine The Possibilities Studio - April Grigson
• The Sassy Scrapper - Theresa Miller
• centralNYscrapper - Brenda Lapp ------- You Are Here
• Scrappin' with Ash - Ashley Denny
• Ida's Attic - Mary Schwimer 

This is a circular hop so you can just keep hopping until you get back to where you started. If you ever get lost along the way the starting blog, The Happy Scrapbooker, will have a complete list of stops on the way.

Also please note we will be sharing projects once each month. If you would like to mark your calendars, the additional dates are September 13, October 18, November 15 and December 13 (please note these are always Fridays).

We hope to see you next Friday.

If you do not have a CTMH Independent Consultant yet, I would be happy to help you learn more about CTMH products. Click the Shop with me link below to place an order or contact me if you have questions about any CTMH product or promotion or to schedule a Home or Online Gathering.

If you enjoy reading these posts, please head over to my Facebook page, Brenda's Paper Crafts, and Like it. Thanks for visiting today.

Storing Memorabilia in a CTMH My Creations® Kraft Pocket Album

I do not know about you, but I love to save little mementos to remind me of the life events that I have really enjoyed. They might be concert or airline tickets or a receipt from a great meal or a brochure or admittance ticket from a tourist attraction. But what is the best way to save those little scraps that most people throw away? Sometimes they are not "right" for scrapbook pages and, gasp, sometimes I have not make a layout to remember the occasion (though I usually keep a journal with me when I travel and that's where those mementos are stashed).

Other suggestions from the video for using the pocket album are storing holiday cards, children's artwork and report cards and other school mementos.

In the video, Project Inspirations: Pocket Album, we are offered ideas for embellishing the My Creations® Kraft Pocket Album like the one shown on page 81 of the Autumn/Winter 2013 CTMH Idea Book; the bare album is available on page 126.



The CTMH Corp. description of the video Project Inspirations: Pocket Album is "Looking for a new way to store your favorite cards and other small keepsakes? Try the new My Creations® kraft pocket album from Close To My Heart! The album is brimming with space for your memories! Watch the video to learn a few techniques on how to give it personality with stamps, paper, and accessories."

Products featured in the video are:

• My Creations® Kraft Pocket Album (Z1870)
• Cricut® Artiste Collection (Z1790)

Other products used in the video are:

• My Acrylix® Yuletide Greetings (D1553)
• My Acrylix® Keyboard Uppercase (B1416)
• Olive Cardstock (1245)
• Ruby Cardstock (X5927)
• New England Ivy Cardstock (1282)
• White Daisy Cardstock (1385)
• Cocoa Exclusive Inks® Pad (Z2114)
• Olive Exclusive Inks® Pad (Z2137)
• Ruby Chevron Ribbon (Z1846)
• Red Shimmer Trim (Z1848)
• Sparkles Clear Assortment (Z1752)
• Sponge (Z697)
• Watercolor Pencils (3505)
• Micro-Tip Scissors (Z534)
• Tombow® Adhesive (1514)
• 3-D Foam Tape (Z1151)
• Cricut® Art Philosophy Collection (Z1686)

The Artiste cartridge was used to cut the title while the Art Philosophy cartridge was used to create the background ornament.

Did you hear how she created the dovetails on the title? She cut down the center and then cut in from the sides using the Micro-Tip Scissors.

If you would like to purchase the supplies to re-create the album featured in the video, learn more about CTMH products or being a CTMH Independent Consultant, please do not hesitate to contact me. If you would like to purchase any CTMH products to create your projects, just click the Shop Now button.

I am also on Facebook. Find me at Brenda's Paper Crafts. Thanks for visiting today.

Loving Ombré

I love the ombré look that is popular right now. It is fantastic that we can personalize our crafting projects just by adding an ombré element.

In this video, Project Inspirations: Ombré Technique, we learn how the title letters on the mini album shown on page 88 of the Autumn/Winter 2013 CTMH Idea Book were created:



The CTMH Corp. description of the video Project Inspirations: Ombré Technique is "Enhance your lettering and other embellishments by using the new ombré technique. See how it's done with some fun Close To My Heart products and a lot of creativity."

 Products featured in the video are:

• Dimensional Elements Monograms (Z1654-Z1679)
• Exclusive Inks® Re-inkers
• Treat Cups (Z1778)
• Liquid Glass (Z679)

If you would like to learn more about CTMH products or being a CTMH Independent Consultant, please do not hesitate to contact me. If you would like to purchase any CTMH products to create your projects, just click the Shop Now button.

I am also on Facebook. Find me at Brenda's Paper Crafts. Thanks for visiting today.

CTMH August 2013 Stamp of the Month: A Chocolate Affair

The Close To My Heart August 2013 Stamp of the Month is A Chocolate Affair.

I can see this stamp set being used on the packaging for bake sale goodies. Or the holiday treats many of us give at Christmastime. Or for labels on a buffet dessert table; a table like the one my cousin and aunt have when they host parties. Or you could use the stamps on cards for people who have a sweet tooth.

A Chocolate Affair is an exclusive D-size stamp set of 16 stamps that you can only obtain during the month of August 2013. Normally the stamp set can by yours for $5 when you place an order of $50 or more in qualifying Close To My Heart Products, but this month you can get the stamp set for FREE with your $50 purchase. Alternatively you can purchase it for $17.95.

If you like any of the projects in the above photo and would like to know what supplies were used to create them you will find a supply list and helpful hints at my online business address (OBA). Another resource is my Pinterest Board CTMH 2013 08 Aug SOTM A Chocolate Affair. I will continue to add new ideas for using A Chocolate Affair as I find them.

Recommended CTMH My Acrylix® Blocks: 1" x 3 1/2" (Y1002), 2" x 2" (Y1003) and 2" x 3 1/2" (Y1009).

Please contact me if you have any questions. If you enjoy reading these posts, please head over to my Facebook page, Brenda's Paper Crafts, and Like it. Thanks for visiting today.