Friday, October 31, 2014

It's The Little Things November SOTM Blog Hop

Welcome to the It's The Little Things November 2014 Close To My Heart Stamp Of The Month Blog Hop. We are so happy that you could join us. There are over 60 bloggers participating this month. If you just happened upon my blog post, clicking the link (near the bottom of each post) will take to the next blog so you can go the full circle.


You should have arrived here from ***Katie Hessel's blog Zig and Zag***. Please note that if you ever get lost along the way, a complete list of participants can be found at Melinda Everitt's If You Bling It.

The SOTM for November 2014, It's The Little Things, is a set of 15 stamps that is only $5 with a qualifying purchase.


I have had several ideas on my mind before I decided to make "place cards"/treat boxes for Thanksgiving dinner. I am not certain where the idea for this came from — the inspiration was not a conscious decision, but after I decided on what I was creating and looked around for cut sizes I was reminded of Kathy Corson's project for the September SOTM. There is also the Corporate-created "cracker box" that might have subconsciously influenced me. Honestly, my first idea was to CASE the Corporate-created square card (you can see photos of both Corporate created projects here) and create a canvas; I purchased the canvas and a shadow box for it to be displayed in a few weeks ago.


After stamping the images using both first and second generation stamping, I cut them out. I used a square of Kraft cardstock (about 1 inch; it does not have to be perfect since it will be covered) as a base to build my floral spray on. I "wrinkled" and manipulated the paper to make the edges of the flowers and leaves look more realistic. I used foam tape and Liquid Glass to build the spray. I did not stamp on or otherwise decorate the box because I wanted the floral spray to be the focus of the place cards.

I have not decided what kind of candies I will put in my boxes. I would love to hear your ideas. I have some clear food-safe bags leftover from a Valentine's Day bake sale donation so the candies do not need to be in a wrapper.

Before you visit the next stop on the hop, ***Judy Faye Garner's Judy Faye's Place***, additional information about how my project was created is below. If you have a moment to comment, I would love to know what you think of my Thanksgiving place cards.

I cut the "pie slice", the 3D Object found on page 70 of the Artiste Handbook, using my Cricut Explore and Design Space (it is image #M3ADEE). My finished box is approximately 4⅛" from the point to the "crust". Unfortunately I do not remember how I came up with the sizing; I think I just added the grid to my mat and tried to get the size between the score lines to 4 inches.

While it looked like two full boxes should fit on one mat, no matter what I tried (I did not try attaching the pieces to a canvas until writing this blog post; attaching to a 12" x 12" canvas resolved this), I could not place two full boxes (top and bottom) on one mat. If I told Design Space to print two projects, I was always prompted for two mats, so I used this workaround:


On the Mat Preview screen I rotated the box top 180 degrees and moved it below the box bottom as shown above. When the machine finished cutting the first bottom and top, I did not click Finish on my computer screen, instead I used the arrow on the Explore to eject the mat. Then I turned the mat 180 degrees (similar to how you might manually print double-sided). I inserted the mat and pressed the "C" to cut again. This way I could get two bottoms and two tops from one 12" x 12" sheet of cardstock.

I cut the 3D Object from 12" x 12" Kraft Cardstock (Z1375). I set the dial on the Explore to Light Cardstock +.

Products used, all from Close To My Heart:
Thank you for visiting today. So you do not have to scroll up, the next stop on the hop is ***Judy Faye Garner's Judy Faye's Place***.

CTMH November 2014 Stamp of the Month: It's The Little Things

The Close To My Heart November 2014 Stamp of the Month is It's The Little Things.


It's The Little Things (S1411) is an exclusive D-size stamp set of 15 stamps that you can only purchase during the month of November 2014. The stamp set can be yours for $5 when you place an order of $50 or more in qualifying Close To My Heart Products. Alternatively you can purchase it for $17.95.  Recommended CTMH My Acrylix® Blocks are: 1" x 1" (Y1000), 1" x 3½" (Y1002), 2" x 2" (Y1003) and 3" x 3" (Y1006).

Items created with the stamp set by CTMH Corporate artists are this card and cracker box:



If you would like a list of the products used to create either of the above items, you will find the information in the Recipes (clicking the link will open a PDF in a new tab), a booklet that works hand-in-hand with the Idea Book to provide details to re-create any projects at home. Also check my Pinterest Board CTMH 2014 11 Nov SOTM It's the Little Things for additional ideas using this stamp set.

Please stop back tomorrow for the It's The Little Things Stamp of the Month Blog Hop.

November 2014 also brings us Lucky 5.


It is the 5th Anniversary of Studio J® and Close To My Heart is celebrating with reducing pricing and opportunities to win. I posted all of the details and then some on Saturday, October 18, 2014 because I wanted you to have the chance to start creating. Also on that post are links to videos that will help you get started using Studio J® or to refresh your memory if you have not used Studio J® for awhile.

If you are new to Studio J®, there is no software to download, install and maintain. Since Studio J® is web-based most computers are ready for your to start creating with Studio J®. You just need your digital photos, an active Internet connection and a web browser with the Adobe Flash Player plug-in to use Studio J®. The best part? You can create in Studio J® all you want and there is no charge until you want to print your layouts (or download a JPG of them).

I also recommend Studio J® for printing photos. There are some templates for creating photos in various sizes. When you sign into Studio J®, after uploading photos, choose "Start with an Express Collection". Scroll down a little and on the left you will find "Photo Collections". Click on "Photo Collections", then "Continue" and on the next screen there are seven pre-set photo wells collections. There is one for 3" x 4 photos", with half the wells in portrait format and half in landscape, just like the Picture My Life protectors.

On November 3 five new Studio J® Kits will be added. The new kits being added are Confetti Wishes, Snowhaven, Seaside, Pathfinding, and Scaredy Cat. The new kits will have alphabet Stickease and the Quick Title tool option.

Another "new-ish" product in November...

I do not have a picture to show, but CTMH is introducing A la Carte Picture My Life™ scrapbooking programs on November 1. A la Carte PML is an optional way to purchase the currently available Picture My Life™ scrapbooking programs. The A la Carte option only contain the pocket cards — 44 4" x 6" cards (2 of each of 22 design) and 78 3" x 4" cards (3 each of 26 designs) for $14.95. The PML options you are already familiar with (which includes the cards, a 12" x 12" Designed Cover Sheet and 10 12" x 12" Memory Protectors™ in various designs) will still be available.

If you are ready to place an order or would like to research any product, the Shop Now button will take you there.


If you have any product or promotion questions, do not hesitate to email me. You will also find me on Facebook as Brenda's Paper Crafts.

Thursday, October 30, 2014

8 Weeks Until Christmas

This is another card created from a mailing — a solicitation for donations from an organization that assists Veterans. The request was received a couple of years ago and it contained some gift wrap that was designed by Sue Zipkin. This "scrap" is from the envelope the request was mailed in and has some of the same and coordinating images as the gift wrap. These snowmen were so cute that I could not help but try to use them in my cardmaking.


The card has been like this for about two weeks. Part of me thinks more needs to be done to the card front while another part of me thinks adding another element would make it too busy and take away from the images that made me keep this scrap of envelope for a couple of years.


The inside is more material from the mailing — a different section with muted colors. I cut the banner from the CTMH/Cricut® Artbooking cartridge (Z1906) and Whisper cardstock (X5929) and the letters from CTMH/Cricut® Art Philosophy cartridge (Z1686) and Gypsy cardstock (X5757) using the Cricut® Explore and Design Space. The twine is from an exchange I did with an online friend.

I hope you like how I put the card together and my "Reduce, Reuse, Recycle" effort.


I would like your opinion. Would you add something to the card front or would you leave it the way it is? Thank for stopping by today.

Saturday, October 25, 2014

Reminder - CTMH Extended Systems Maintenance Today

This is just a reminder that Close To My Heart has Extended Systems Maintenance Scheduled for today.

This was in an email to all CTMH Independent Consultants:
We will be performing systems maintenance on Saturday, October 25, from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm (MDT). During this time, online systems, including Order Entry, Studio J™, and shopping on your OBA, will be unavailable. We encourage you to share this information with customers that may use your site so they will know to avoid shopping during this extended time window.

If you were hoping to shop today I hope you will visit my Online Business Address after the maintenance is complete.

Friday, October 24, 2014

Winner, Winner, Chicken Dinner Part 2

I was remiss in posting that the three winners drawn from my bucket of entrants contacted me so [unfortunately] I will not be posting additional names today. I want to thank each and every one of you who follow my blog and/or like my Facebook page, those take a minute to comment, those that subscribe to my monthly newsletter and those that have purchased from me. You inspire me to keep moving forward and creating with paper. Now if I could figure out how to squeeze more awake hours into the day...

Thanks again and keep watching my blog and Facebook Page, Brenda's Paper Crafts, for future chances to win.

Thursday, October 23, 2014

9 Weeks Until Christmas

Single digit weeks left until Christmas? I am shocked. I know I say something like this almost every week, but with the busy lives we all lead time does just seem to evaporate.

Again this week I am using some "extra" images I printed when I was getting ready to participate in a Digistamps4Joy Monthly Christmas Challenge. This time is was the July 2014 Challenge. I think I mentioned this before - each month when you enter a project into the challenge with that month's image you are eligible to receive next months image for free. I first participated in the March 2014 Challenge and have participated every month since. I think it is fun (and a bit of a challenge) to be given an image to create with.


I used the following materials to create this card: Irresistible Bling by Digi Stamps 4 Joy printed on Georgia Pacific white cardstock. The image was colored using Lyra Aquacolor Water Soluble Wax Crayons and blended with water-dampened tortillions.

The 6½" x 5" white card base was from my stash. So was the pink cardstock which I embossed with the Dot Embossing Folder (Z1924) from Close To My Heart. I cut the White Daisy cardstock (1385) by hand and stamped it using the My Acrylix® stamp set Just To Say... (D1629) which is exclusively bundled with the CTMH/Cricut® Artfully Sent Collection (Z3017). I wrapped the banner with twine
which was from an exchange with an online friend.

I hope you like the mischievous kittens on my card. I have four of them (well their are two years old now but they still can be a handful) and I know this is what would happen if I were to put up a tree. They have managed to tip their cat tree on a few occasions and often make it sway when they run up to the top.

I am planning to link my card to the Decosse's Dynamite Doodles 12 Months of Christmas Card Link Up.

Thank you for visiting today.

Wednesday, October 22, 2014

Planning Ahead - CTMH Systems Maintenace on October 25

Hello. If you are thinking about placing an order before the end of October, I ask you to avoid shopping during the day (noon to 8:00 pm Eastern) on Saturday, October 25. Close To My Heart has announced there will be a downtime. Information from our update reads:

Extended Systems Maintenance Scheduled for October 25
We will be performing systems maintenance on Saturday, October 25, from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm (MDT). During this time, online systems, including Order Entry, Studio J™, and shopping on your OBA, will be unavailable. We encourage you to share this information with customers that may use your site so they will know to avoid shopping during this extended time window.


Click the Shop with me link if you are ready place an order. If you would like to learn how you can earn free and 50% off products, email me with your contact information so we may discuss your hosting an in-home or on-line gathering.

Monday, October 20, 2014

Winner, Winner, Chicken Dinner

You may recall that I posted a "Surprise Giveaway" on September 20, 2014 to [belatedly] celebrate my 400th blog post.

Taking into account blog followers, Facebook Page likes, newsletter subscribers, blog comments and orders between September 15 and October 17, 2014, I drew three winner from my pail of entries.


[Listen to a drum roll in your head.]

The winning names drawn were:

Lucy E.

Marian B.

Janet F.

Congratulations!!!

Please be sure to send me an email before noon on Tuesday, October 23 to claim your prize. Congratulations to the winners and thank you to everyone that participated.

Saturday, October 18, 2014

Coming in November - Studio J® Layouts are $5 and Giveaways

I normally do not "spoil the surprise" and tell you about the next month's promotion early, but I am making an exception this time so you have some extra days to prepare (and possibly win one of the prizes).

November marks the five-year anniversary of Studio J®. To celebrate there are five ways to win through Studio J® and Close To My Heart social media.
  1. Everyone wins with this "bullet point". All layouts purchased in Studio J® are only $5 which makes them a savings of over 25%.
  2. This chance to win is just pure luck: Every fifth order placed in Studio J® during November receives a FREE surprise CTMH accessory (retail value of $5 or more) in the shipping box.
  3. Five lucky people will find a "golden ticket" in their Studio J® box. The five Studio J® print orders will be randomly selected. The "golden ticket" is redeemable for one of Close To My Heart's new D-ring albums loaded with 10 Top Load Memory Protectors.
  4. Create new, beautiful layouts in Studio J®, choose your favorites, then post them on Close To My Heart's Facebook page using the hashtag #ctmhlucky5. After November 30, five lucky winners will be selected from the entries based on their artistry and creativity and each of these winners will receive their own D-ring album loaded with 10 Top Load Memory Protectors!
  5. Post a picture of your new Studio J® artwork on Instagram using the hashtag #ctmhlucky5. Just as item 4, after November 30, five lucky winners will be selected.
Also in November, five new kits from the Annual Inspirations idea book will be available in Studio J®. The new kits are: Confetti Wishes, Snowhaven, Seaside, Pathfinding, and Scaredy Cat.

If you have not given Studio J® a try (or need a refresher), CTMH produced several videos on YouTube devoted to Studio J®, including two playlists.



The video above, Introducing Studio J, has the summary: "You've taken the photos, now keep the memories. Introducing Studio J™, online design software from Close To My Heart. Real life. Real scrapbooks. Real time."

There are five videos under Studio J® How-To to help get you started. They are:
  • Studio J®: Photo Editing Tool - Edit your photos right in Studio J, including adjusting brightness; changing color balance and saturation; removing red-eye, blemishes, and wrinkles; and whitening teeth. Find out how easy it is in Studio J, Close To My Heart's online scrapbook design software!
  • Studio J®: Personalize Your Layouts - Studio J has options galore for personalizing your scrapbook layouts! Change the color of your photos; swap the cardstock and patterned B&T paper in your layout; embellish with buttons, ribbons, and metals; and distress the surface or edges of your paper using a range of tools and colors. You'll love the way Studio J offers you incredible artistic freedom with the click of a mouse!
  • Studio J®: Focus on the Photos - Learn tips and tricks that will make your beautiful photos the highlight of all your Studio J® layouts!
  • Studio J®: Perfect Placement - Discover the tools in Studio J® that help you perfectly place your embellishments right where you want them!
  • Studio J®: Step-by-Step Basics - You'll love the way this video walks you through creating a layout from start to finish in Studio J®!
CTMH had produced a monthly video series called Studio J® Love Your Layout. Even though new videos have not been released since January 2013, there are still good tips and tricks in the videos. I also believe all of the papers and embellishments shown in the videos are still available in Studio J® so if there is a retired paper packet you can still get Studio J layouts with that paper.

While you are using Studio J®, there is no cost until you decide to purchase the layout. In addition, there is no software to download and install and upgrade later. Studio J® is web based. You only need digital photos, an active Internet connection and a web browser with the Adobe Flash Player plug-in to use Studio J®. So simple.

I also recommend Studio J® for printing your photos for Picture My Life. I do not know about you, but I have found it difficult to print 3" x 4" anywhere else. When you sign into Studio J®, after uploading photos, choose "Start with an Express Collection". Scroll down a little and on the left you will find "Photo Collections". Click on it and continue and on the next screen there are seven pre-set photo wells collections including one for 3" x 4 photos" with half the wells in portrait format and half in landscape, just like PML.

I have more information about Studio J® in other blog posts. You will find those posts here.

As with most promotions and giveaways, there is some fine print which is:
*Offer valid November 1–30, 2014. Pattern and color of new D-ring album to be given to winners will be at Close To My Heart’s discretion based upon availability. New kits available in Studio J® on November 1 include Confetti Wishes, Snowhaven, Seaside, Pathfinding, and Scaredy Cat. No tax or shipping will be charged on the free item(s). Studio J layouts ship in a protected box that can hold 4 to 50 two-page layouts. For additional information about shipping/handling, please visit StudioJ.com > Products and Pricing > Shipping Options.

Click here if you are ready to try Studio J®.


If you have any product or promotion questions, do not hesitate to email me. You will also find me on Facebook as Brenda's Paper Crafts.

Thursday, October 16, 2014

10 Weeks Until Christmas

I am still using some of the extra images I printed when getting ready to participate in the Digistamps4Joy Monthly Christmas Challenge {August 2014}. The image is Santa's Helper from Digistamps4Joy . Each month when you enter a project into the challenge with that month's image you are eligible to receive next months image for free.


Santa's Helper was printed on Georgia Pacific white cardstock. The pre-cut and scored card base is 6.5" high and 5" wide. The card was covered with a page from Echo Park Paper Co.'s Winter Wishes by Michelle Coleman. The purple cardstock is from my stash and was punched using the Scallop Border Punch (Z1851) from Close To My Heart. The "Happy Holidays" stamp is from the Close To My Heart My Acrylix® Holiday Tags stamp set (D1560) and was stamped with Outdoor Denim Exclusive Inks™ Stamp Pad (Z2140).

I hope to link my card to the Decosse's Dynamite Doodles 12 Months of Christmas Card Link Up.

I enjoy reading comments so before you leave let me know what you think about my card. Thank you for visiting my post today.

Tuesday, October 14, 2014

Nativity Card

I created this card to go with the Christmas/Holiday Sentiments from Digistamps4Joy that is on the inside.


The card front is Nativity - Holiday Cards 49 (#M4C5A7). In Cricut® Design Space I used the ungroup, detach and slice features to change this image from a side-folding card to a card front. The image and the background were cut using cardstock from my stash. The background paper is from K&Company's Wintertide.


Christmas/Holiday Sentiments from Digistamps4Joy was printed on Georgia Pacific white cardstock. The image was colored using ShinHan™ Touch Twin™ Markers from Close To My Heart. This is the image I referred to last Monday when I said "I try to not scribble back and forth", but in this case that is exactly what I did. I mostly did it to see how well the printed image held up. I also used the Colorless Blender where the two colors meet. I think the printed image held up very well.

I hope to link my card to the Digistamps4Joy Monthly Christmas Challenge {October 2014} and Decosse's Dynamite Doodles 12 Months of Christmas Card Link Up.

Thank you for visiting my blog today. I hope you enjoyed my card. Don't forget that commenting will earn you one entry into my giveaway. Additional details on this post.

Monday, October 13, 2014

Mother's Day Scene Card Inspired by Annual Inspirations

This card is inspired by a card found on page 141 of Annual Inspirations.


I started by placing the Happy Mother's Day Scene Card (#M1317EA) from Artfully Sent on my Cricut® Design Space mat. I set the height to 7 inches which automatically set the width to 9.91 inches. I ungrouped the image to use hide contour feature to remove the script sentiment. I used the Artiste (Z1790) font to add the sentiment and attached the greeting to the scalloped layer.


I used a Banner (#M4613F) from Art Philosophy (Z1686) for the back of the floral cut out. I ungrouped and deleted the frame, then I duplicated, flipped and welded it to create a scalloped circle. I then sized it to about 2 inches to fit behind the floral cut-out. Before cutting, I added a Heart (#M474AB), also from Art Philosophy, and again ungrouped and deleted the frame, then set it to write and used a Cricut® Midnight Antiquities Pen to create the image. I placed the cardstock upside down on my mat to cut. After cutting I stamped the "You" from A True Thank You (M1029; retired) using a Lagoon Exclusive Inks™ Stamp Pad (Z2195). Before attaching the circle to the card, I penciled the outline of the leaves and placed scraps of green cardstock on the scalloped circle covering the outline. I also stamped "I Love You!" using Lagoon ink using a stamp from the Artfully Sent collection (Z3017). I used Lagoon Washi Tape (Z1850; retired) along the fold and covered a scrap of White Daisy cardstock with the tape to create a banner. The banners behind the scallop rectangle were hand cut from scraps.

If you would like to create similar cards and are ready to place an order or would like to research any product, the Shop Now button will take you there.


If you have any product or promotion questions, do not hesitate to email me. You will also find me on Facebook as Brenda's Paper Crafts.

Before you leave please comment which would earn you one entry into my giveaway. All of the details can be found here. Thanks for coming by to see what I shared today.

Thursday, October 9, 2014

11 Weeks Until Christmas

This card is inspired by a couple of cards a saw online recently. I am drawn to cards that are simple yet beautiful. You will find them here and here. Fortunately I pinned them to Pinterest or I might not have been able to find them later to give credit for the inspiration.

The central image/sentiment is Christmas/Holiday Sentiments from Digistamps4Joy. Each month when you enter a project into the challenge with that month's image you are eligible to receive next months image for free.



Christmas/Holiday Sentiments was printed on Georgia Pacific white cardstock. The pre-cut and scored card base is 6.5" high and 5" wide. The paper tape was found at a Dollar Tree store after reading someone's post on Facebook (BTW, besides the holiday tape, they carry some decorative glitter tape and some non-holiday tapes; none say "acid free" but I do not find "acid free" on any rolls of washi tape I have). The "Merry Christmas" stamp is from Close To My Heart My Acrylix® Holiday Tags stamp set (D1560) and was stamped with Ponderosa Pine Exclusive Inks™ Stamp Pad (Z2145).

Edited to add: I forgot to mention that I inked the edges of the digistamp with a Black Exclusive Inks™ Stamp Pad (Z2105).

I hope to link my card to the Digistamps4Joy Monthly Christmas Challenge {October 2014} and  Decosse's Dynamite Doodles 12 Months of Christmas Card Link Up.

Before you leave I would like to know what you think about my card (which would earn you one entry into my giveaway; details here). Thank you for visiting my post today.

Monday, October 6, 2014

ShinHan Marker Blog Hop

Welcome to the ShinHan™ Touch Twin™ Marker Blog Hop Blog Hop. There are over 40 talented Close To My Heart Independent Consultants participating in this hop.


This hop I am following ***Melissa Robinson's My Heartfelt Sentiments***. As you probably know, a blog hop is a big circle, so if you happened upon my blog just keep visiting the next blogger until you get back here. If you get lost somewhere along the way, a complete of participants can be found at Melinda Everitt's If You Bling It....

The ShinHan™ Touch Twin™ Markers are alcohol-based, ergonomic and the barrel is rectangular so they do not roll around. One end is a fine tip and the other is a broad tip, are easy to blend and are virtually odorless. I hate to admit it, but I have a hard time reading the color names on the caps, so I use my label marker to add my name and the color in larger text as you can see in the photo below.


Even before signing up to participate in this hop I knew I needed to practice, practice, practice (like playing an instrument) as I never was very happy with my results using markers of any kind. I stamped many small images on a piece of White Daisy cardstock and carried it and my markers with me so I could work on becoming adapt at using them. It did not take me nearly as many images or as much time as I thought it would.

When you purchase markers from your CTMH Independent Consultant, be sure to ask them for this color chart. You might notice that the top half of my squares are a little darker than the bottom half. Since you can layer color on to make it darker I thought it could be nice to see two layers of color.


This is the first card I am sharing with you today. It is inspired by the layout on page 66 of Annual Inspirations.


While everything I read about using alcohol markers say to stamp with the Archival Black Exclusive Inks™ Stamp Pad (44751), I used the New England Ivy Exclusive Inks™ Stamp Pad (Z2135) to stamp the images I colored from the My Acrylix™ Yuletide Greetings (D1553) stamp set ("Noel" was stamped with a Ponderosa Pine Exclusive Inks™ Stamp Pad (Z2145)).


I let the stamped image dry for several days before starting to color (alternatively you could use the Craft Heater (Z555) to speed the drying process), but only because life got in the way before I could start coloring. As you can see, even though I colored right over the stamped image, I have no smearing.

Other products used to create the above card: 5 1/2" X 4 1/4" White Cards & Envelopes, Value Pack (X254), White Daisy cardstock (1385), Yuletide Carol paper packet (X7187B), Cranberry cardstock (1272) and Artbooking (Z1906).

I colored this image a few weeks ago and recently made into a card. I was inspired by the card on page 72 of Annual Inspirations.


Products used to create the above card: Archival Black Exclusive Inks™ Stamp Pad (44751), Bamboo Exclusive Inks™ Stamp Pad (Z2103), My Acrylix™ Mary and Babe (C1562) stamp set, Snowhaven Paper Packet (X7188B), 5 1/2" X 4 1/4" White Cards & Envelopes, Value Pack (X254), White Daisy cardstock (1385), Glacier cardstock (X5770) and Artiste (Z1790). A closeup of one of the first images I colored with the Touch Twin markers:


I am not an expert, but here's a bit about my coloring technique. I try to not scribble back and forth (picture most toddlers with crayons), but check back in a few days where I share something that I mostly scribbled. I try to use a light touch to keep my marker nibs in good shape. I do not think you should hear the marker "squeak" against the paper when coloring. Practice, practice, practice and remember we are usually our own worst critics and beauty is different to different people.

ShinHan Art has two items in their Product FAQ about the Touch Twin markers:
Q: What is the best way to store the Markers?
A: Touch Markers will work fine when stored horizontally or vertically, but the best storage method is to place markers horizontally in a dark and dry place.

Q: Can Touch Markers be used on any kind of ground?
A: Touch Markers adhere onto all possible grounds such as paper, glass, stone, wood, concrete and unglazed ceramic. We recommend using Touch Markers on marker pads for best results.

Thank you for hopping with us. Before you move on to the next stop I would be delighted if you left a comment letting me know what you think of the cards. Our next creative participant is ***Jaime Llewellyn's Scrappin' In Harmony***.

If you are not already working with a CTMH Independent Consultant, you may purchase all of the supplies I used at my online business address.

Thursday, October 2, 2014

12 Weeks Until Christmas

I had this Santa's Helper image from Digistamps4Joy "left over" from printing copies to participate in the Digistamps4Joy August 2014 Monthly Christmas Challenge and thought I should use it before it got lost or bent and unusable. I am still getting comfortable using alcohol markers, but I am starting to be pleased with my results. I love how vibrant the colors are.


Santa's Helper from Digistamps4Joy was printed on Georgia Pacific white cardstock. The image was colored using ShinHan™ Touch Twin™ Markers from CTMH.

The pre-cut and scored card base is 6.5" high and 5" wide. I used Cricut® Design Space to set the Christmas words (#M3E46C from Word Collage) to write and attached them to a square (#M4689F from Simply Sweet). Then the Cricut® Explore wrote the words with the Cricut® Midnight Antiquities Pen and cut out the square. I duplicated the Christmas words, used the hide contour feature to remove everything but the holly, set the image to cut and cut the holly from red and green cardstock. After layering Santa's Helper on red cardstock I used foam dots to attach it to the card.

I am linking my card to the Decosse's Dynamite Doodles 12 Months of Christmas Card Link Up; this image was from August's Digistamps4Joy Monthly Christmas Challenge. The card I completed for that challenge was posted at 18 Weeks Until Christmas.

Thank you for visiting today to see the card I am sharing. Before you leave I would love it if you left a comment (which would earn you one entry into my giveaway; details here). Thanks again for stopping by.