Tuesday, June 15, 2021

Here Comes The Sun Technique Blog Hop

Welcome to the Here Comes The Sun Technique Blog Hop brought to you by a group of Close to My Heart Makers. Today we are featuring the Sunburst Technique. I created my sun with the Sunburst Background Thin Cut (Z3942) but there are many techniques for creating the "sun rays" or "fans" and many videos on YouTube.

We have almost 15 CTMH Makers sharing their creations on this hop. If you stumbled upon my post, clicking the link to the next blog (often found near the bottom of the page) will take you through the entire Sunburst Technique blog hop.

You should have arrived here from the talented ***Miss. Carrie***. If you get lost along the way, Melissa Robinson also keeps a list of all blog hop participants on her blog at My Heartfelt Sentiments.

My first card was very much inspired by the photo on page 38 of the May–June 2021 Catalog. Conveniently I still had scraps from Hillside Cottage on my crafting table.

Sunburst Technique Blog Hop - card 1
card created for the Sunburst Technique Blog Hop

I used the darker side of Paprika cardstock with the Sunburst Background Thin Cut (Z3942). I then used scraps to cut the fans, sort of like paper piecing from quilting, if you are familiar with that technique. I found the solid cardstock to be starker than I wanted, so I stamped tone-on-tone with smaller stamps from the Hillside Cottage Cardmaking Workshop Kit (G1230) to soften the appearance.

I could not let all of the "fans" from the above card go to waste, so I created the card below inspired by my visits to the American Southwest. This time I wanted to use the lighter side of the Paprika cardstock. To use the reverse side of the die cut, to reduce the edge from die cutting, I used a rubber embossing mat to "flat emboss" the Paprika "fans" and the Evergreen Sunburst in my die cutting machine (I hope that makes sense).

 Sunburst Technique Blog Hop - card 2
card created for the Sunburst Technique Blog Hop

I used the June SOTM Outdoor Borders to create some interest on the "rays" and I cut an oversized circle to use with the Spot-on Sentiments.

I hope you like the cards I shared today. Before you go to see the wonderful project ***Krista Hershberger*** is sharing with us today, the supplies I used to create my project are listed below.

All supplies are from Close To My Heart except where noted:

If you do not have a CTMH Independent Consultant, you may purchase the supplies I used at my Consultant website.

I enjoy reading your comments, so if you have a few moments, please let me know what you think of my cards. I hope you are enjoying all of the projects created for the Here Comes The Sun Technique Blog Hop. Thank you for hopping with us!

So you do not have to scroll back up, the next stop on the hop is ***Krista Hershberger***.

Tuesday, June 1, 2021

CTMH Outdoor Borders SOTM Blog Hop - June 2021

Welcome to the June 2021 SOTM Blog Hop featuring the stamp set Outdoor Borders. This month we have over 15 CTMH Makers sharing projects created with the CTMH Stamp Of The Month Outdoor Borders. Keep visiting the next blog (typically via a link near the bottom of the post) to get back to the blog where you started.

Outdoor Borders - June 2021 SOTM
Outdoor Borders - June 2021 SOTM

You should have arrived here from ***Melissa Robinson's My Heartfelt Sentiments***. If you get lost along the way, Melinda Everitt also keeps a list of all participants on her blog at If You Bling It.

Outdoor Borders Stamp Set
Outdoor Borders Stamp Set

While I think this stamp set is perfect for scrapbooking, I do not create pages that often so I challenged myself to think of ways to use this on cards. Unfortunately time did not allow me to create more than one card for this hop. I hope I will get an opportunity to use this stamp set a few more times during June.

card created with Outdoor Borders
card created with Outdoor Borders

I used a stamp platform to selectively stamp "over the hill" to create a background. I stamped using Flamingo ink on the light side of Flamingo cardstock. I cut the candle from Sage cardstock with a Cricut® Maker™ then stamped the wave stamp with Sage and New England Ivy inks to create a unique candle with dimension. I covered the Canary/Paprika flame with Clear Shimmer Brush. I stamped the mountains with Blue Belle ink on the light side of Blue Belle cardstock to go with the theme "over the hill". I added some flowers and "Happy Birthday". I used a mix of Foam Tape to add dimension. After looking at my card through the camera lens, I wish I inked the edges of the flame with Paprika ink; I think I will do that.

Before you head to ***Katy Taylor's ScrappinKaty***, the supplies I used to create my project are listed below.

All supplies are from Close To My Heart except where noted:

If you are not already working with a CTMH Maker, you may purchase all of the supplies I used at my eCommerce website.

If you have a few moments, please leave a comment letting me know what you think of my card. I hope you are enjoying the projects created with Outdoor Borders. Thanks for hopping with us!

So you do not have to scroll back up, the next stop on the hop is  ***Katy Taylor's ScrappinKaty***.

June 2021 CTMH News

Wow! The sixth month of 2021. Where has the time gone?

June 2021 Stamp Of The Month Outdoor Borders

Close To My Heart Outdoor Borders—June Stamp of the Month (S2106)
Outdoor Borders (S2106)
available June 2021

Outdoor Borders (S2106) is an exclusive D-size set of 9 stamps and is only available during the month of June 2021. Receive the stamp set for free when you are a CTMH VIP Customer and you place a qualifying order. Alternatively, place a qualifying order and the stamp set is only $5. In either case you qualify for additional sets at $5 for each additional $50 you spend on the same order. Outdoor Borders is also available for $18.95 with no other purchase required. The recommended CTMH My Acrylix® Block for this stamp set is: 1" × 6½" (Y1005).

The CTMH Art Department created a scrapbook layout using the Outdoor Borders stamp set.

scrapbook layout created with Outdoor Borders
scrapbook layout created with Outdoor Borders

The Recipes, a PDF file that lists the products used to make the samples in the May–June 2021 Catalog, lists everything used to create the cards above. You will find the Recipes under the page-turner catalog here. I am participating in a Outdoor Borders blog hop this month; you will find my post on this blog tomorrow. Please visit my June SOTM (S2016) Outdoor Borders Pinterest Board for other ideas to use the Outdoor Borders stamp set.

Return to the Happiest Place

Return to the Happiest Place
Return to the Happiest Place

Making a return appearance is Happiest Place. Happiest Place is perfect for documenting treasured memories with family and friends no matter where those memories are made.

This collection features foil-accented papers and stickers, acrylic accessory, a Happiest Place Cut Above® Layout Kit, exclusive stamps, Thin Cuts, digital SVG shapes, and more! This flyer features the Return to the Happiest Place products available [click on any image for a larger view]:

Return to the Happiest Place Flyer - page 1
Return to the Happiest Place Flyer - page 2
Return to the Happiest Place Flyer - page 3

The flyer can be downloaded here (PDF format). Along with all of the great products that are returning from the original Happiest Place introduction, CTMH has also created a new 12" x 12" scrapbooking workshop kit and a new slimline cardmaking workshop (available in two options).

Return to the Happiest Place Scrapbooking Workshop. This flyer features the scrapbooking workshop and the pages you will create; if you would like to download a PDF of the Scrapbooking Workshop flyer, you will find it here.

Return to the Happiest Place Scrapbooking Flyer - page 1
Return to the Happiest Place Scrapbooking Flyer - page 2

Return to the Happiest Place Cardmaking Workshop. The images below feature the cardmaking workshop and the cards you will create; if you would like a copy of the Cardmaking Workshop flyer, you will find it here (PDF format).

Return to the Happiest Place Cardmaking Flyer - page 1
Return to the Happiest Place Cardmaking Flyer - page 2

The guides for the scrapbooking and cardmaking workshops will be available to download from the product page (look under the "add to cart button") so you may review them prior to purchasing. Return to the Happiest Place is available through July 31, 2021 while supplies last.

Sign Up & Celebrate

Sign Up & Celebrate
Sign Up & Celebrate

If you love CTMH products and want to present them to your friends and family with the goal of earning some extra income, Sign Up & Celebrate is for you. When you sign up as a new Maker in June 2021, you will get FREE registration for the 2021 Close To My Heart Virtual Convention in late July (attendees are required to purchase the Convention product bundle, not included).

The Virtual Convention is a three-day celebration featuring crafting and learning about the products and new techniques. The event is a chance for Makers from all over North America, Australia, New Zealand, and Japan to attend an event together. Additional details are in the flyer available to download here (PDF format).

National Scrapbooking Month—You Are Enough

National Scrapbooking Month—You Are Enough
National Scrapbooking Month—You Are Enough

The National Scrapbooking Month—You Are Enough celebration continues through June 30, 2021 while supplies last. This flyer highlights all of the You Are Enough products available.

National Scrapbooking Month—You Are Enough flyer - page 1
National Scrapbooking Month—You Are Enough flyer - page 2

You can download a copy of the flyer here (PDF format).

Close To My Heart will be hosting three Facebook Live events in June, one each for the available workshops: Cardmaking (CC52119), 6x8 Album (CC52121) and Scrapbooking (CC52120). The workshops will be the week of June 21. Links to each of the events are on the CTMH Facebook Live Crafting Events tab (in the green bar above).

No Ordinary Dad

No Ordinary Dad
No Ordinary Dad

Also continuing through June 30, 2021 is No Ordinary Dad. This special includes three exclusive stamp sets to celebrate dads this upcoming Father's Day. The stamp sets are available individually, but there is a 20% savings when the sets are purchased as a bundle.

May–June 2021 Catalog

May–June 2021 Catalog
May–June 2021 Catalog

The May–June 2021 Catalog was introduced on May 1 and is valid until June 30, 2021. There are many wonderful new items in the catalog. The catalog can be viewed here. If you did not get a chance yet, please hop with us on the May–June 2021 New Product Blog Hop.

As always if you have any questions about the CTMH promotions or any products available on my eCommerce website, please reach out to me via the Contact Form to the right.

Enjoy this sixth month of 2021. Hopefully the very chilly temperatures we experienced Memorial Day weekend of 2021 are behind us and will return to average temperatures for this time of year.

Thursday, May 27, 2021

Slimline Card Blog Hop

Welcome to the Close To My Heart Slimline Card Blog Hop. The Slimline Card Blog Hop is brought to you from same the group of CTMH Makers who bring you the Stamp Of The Month Blog Hop. Today we are featuring slimline cards created with items available from Close To My Heart.

We have almost 15 CTMH Makers sharing slimline cards Makers created with CTMH products. If you just happened upon my blog, please hop with us by clicking the link to the next blog (usually found near the bottom of the page) until you come back to my page.

Slimline Card Blog Hop
Slimline Card Blog Hop
You should have arrived here from ***Melissa Robinson's My Heartfelt Sentiments***. If you get lost along the way, Melinda Everitt keeps a list of all blog hop participants on this page at If You Bling It.

For my first card I used colors inspired by You Are Enough. I used the May Stamp of the Month Flowers for You and embossed with White Super Fine Embossing Powder. The frame was welded and sliced together using the Rectangle Stamp image from the Artbooking collection.

Slimline Card with Flowers for You — May Stamp of the Month
Slimline Card with Flowers for You — May Stamp of the Month

The frame was welded and sliced together using the Rectangle image from the Artbooking collection. I used papers, stamps and colors from Hillside Cottage.

Slimline card with stamps from Hillside Cottage Cardmaking Workshop Kit
Slimline card with stamps from Hillside Cottage Cardmaking Workshop Kit
Before you head to see the slimline card ***Alyson Mayo*** created, here are a few past slimline cards I created (click on the photo caption to be taken to the original blog post) and below that are the supplies I used to create my project are listed below.

Below are a few past projects created with CTMH Slimline Cards & Envelopes:

On the following card, in addition to the slimline card base, I used Blossom paper and Cherished Blossoms Stamp + Thin Cuts from the Bring Back My Pack — Blossom special. I also used the Diagonal Stripe Slimline and Block Alphabet Thin Cuts (the alphabet is currently on clearance and while supplies last).

Blossom Slimline Thank You Card
card created with Blossom paper and Cherished Blossoms Stamp + Thin Cuts

In addition to the slimline card base I used Blossom paper and Cherished Blossoms Stamp + Thin Cuts from the Bring Back My Pack — Blossom special. I also used the Diagonal Stripe Slimline and Pennant Thin Cuts as well as On Your Birthday.

Blossom Slimline Birthday Card - card closed
card created with Blossom paper and Cherished Blossoms Stamp + Thin Cuts

On the birthday card below, in addition to the slimline card base, I used the Rectangle PhotoMat from the Cricut® Close To My Heart - Artbooking Digital Collection, Cherry Blossoms and used a scoring tool to create the embossing.

card created with Daisy Meadows and Cherry Blossoms
card created with Daisy Meadows and Cherry Blossoms

For the card I created for this hop, all supplies are from Close To My Heart except where noted:

If you are not already working with a CTMH Maker, you may purchase all of the supplies I used at my Consultant website.

If you have a few moments, please leave a comment letting me know what you think of the card I created. I hope you are enjoying the projects created with items you will find in the March–April 2021 catalog. Thanks for hopping with us!

So you do not have to scroll back up, the next stop on the hop is ***Alyson Mayo***.

Saturday, May 22, 2021

No Ordinary Dad

If you are getting ready to start your Father's Day projects, you should look at No Ordinary Dad.

No Ordinary Dad
No Ordinary Dad

No Ordinary Dad was introduced on May 15. This special includes three exclusive stamp sets to celebrate dads this upcoming Father's Day. The stamp sets are available individually, but there is a 20% savings when the sets are purchased as a bundle.

No Ordinary Dad (CC52122)
Best Dad Ever (CC52123)
My Dad Rocks (CC52124)
No Ordinary Dad Stamp Set Bundle (CC52125)

No Ordinary Dad is an excellent choice for making a card, decorating the gift bag (isn't the bag above fantastic?) and for documenting the memories made on Father's Day and every day. No Ordinary Dad is available though June 30, 2021, while supplies last.

Friday, May 21, 2021

CTMH Flash Sale Friday Afternoon

 Close To My Heart is having a May Flash Sale. It starts at 5:00pm today.

May Flash Sale
May Flash Sale

The May Flash Sale will run from 5:00pm EDT today until 1:59am EDT on Wednesday, May 26.

The items featured in this sale are limited in quantity and will only be available while supplies last, so be sure to visit the sale early!

This will be similar to past sales where...

  • Sale prices are only available on orders placed on my eCommerce website.
  • The sale features a selection of current products as well as retired items. To avoid product shortages after the sale, a limited number of the current items were set aside for the sale. Once that allowed amount is gone, those items will no longer be available at the sale price.
  • Any current items that sell out during the sale will return to availability at normal price once the sale has ended.
  • All discounted items count towards Stamp of the Month qualifying order totals.
  • Shipping and handling is based on the full retail value of the sale items.
  • There is no grace period for ordering sale items.
At 5pm EDT today, please visit my eCommerce website to see what items are included in this sale. Thank you for dropping by today.


Tuesday, May 18, 2021

May–June 2021 New Product Blog Hop

Welcome to the Close To My Heart May–June New Product Blog Hop. This hop is brought to you from same the group of CTMH Makers who bring you the Stamp Of The Month Blog Hop. Today we are featuring projects created with products found in the new CTMH May–June 2021 catalog.

We have just shy of 20 CTMH Makers sharing their creations on this May–June New Product Blog Hop. If you just happened upon my post, hop with us by clicking the link to the next blog (often found near the bottom of the page) until you come back to my page.

CTMH New Product Blog Hop - cover May–June 2021 Catalog
CTMH New Product Blog Hop - cover May–June 2021 Catalog

You should have arrived here from ***Michelle Stewart***. If you get lost along the way, Melinda also keeps a list of all blog hop participants on her blog at If You Bling It.

For our May–June Blog Hop I created this card.

card created with Hillside Garden & HG Cardmaking Workshop Stamp Set
card created with Hillside Garden & Hillside Garden Cardmaking Workshop Stamp Set

I recently needed a sympathy card and I thought this is a sweet paper collection to create with and the bouquet and sentiment from the Hillside Cottage Cardmaking Workshop were great options for the card. It is hard to see in the photo, but the two strips of Paprika framing the Flamingo cardstock were covered with Clear Shimmer Brush to create a glitter-like paper embellishment. I used the rock and roll technique on most of the stamps.

card created with Hillside Garden & Hillside Garden Cardmaking Workshop Stamp Set
card created with Hillside Garden & Hillside Garden Cardmaking Workshop Stamp Set

I carried the Paprika cardstock to the inside to frame the sentiment.

When a new catalog is released, the home office has an event for Makers to showcase the art in the catalog and has projects Makers can create with staff from the home office. Below are the cards from our recent event. On the left are the cards exactly as created from the guide and on the right are some changes I made, though some are very simple changes.

card 1
cart 1 alternate
card 2
cart 2 alternate
card 3
cart 3 alternate

Before you head to ***Aggie - Arrows of Hope Designs***, the supplies I used to create my project are listed below.

All supplies are from Close To My Heart except where noted:

If you are not already working with a CTMH Maker, you may purchase all of the supplies I used at my Consultant website.

If you have a few moments, please leave a comment letting me know what you think of the card I created. I hope you are enjoying the projects created with items you will find in the May–June 2021 catalog. Thanks for hopping with us!

So you do not have to scroll back up, the next stop on the hop is ***Aggie - Arrows of Hope Designs***.

 

Saturday, May 1, 2021

CTMH Flowers for You SOTM Blog Hop - May 2021

Welcome to the May 2021 SOTM Blog Hop featuring the stamp set Flowers for You. This month we have almost 20 CTMH Makers sharing projects created with the CTMH Stamp Of The Month Flowers for You. Keep visiting the next blog (typically via a link near the bottom of the post) to get back to the blog where you started.

Flowers for You - May 2021 SOTM
Flowers for You - May 2021 SOTM

You should have arrived here from ***Crafty Happy by Darlys Recker***. If you get lost along the way, Melinda Everitt also keeps a list of all participants on her blog at If You Bling It.

Flowers for You Stamp Set
Flowers for You Stamp Set

For today's hop I created this card. 

card created with Flowers for You
card created with Flowers for You

Something about the floral cluster and the new Circle Thin Cuts screamed at me to combine them which caused me to carry round shapes through much of my card. I was inspired by the gently falling "drops" on some of the You Are Enough papers to do something with Texture Paste. To create a stencil, I opened Design Space, created a 4.5" x 5.75" rectangle and then just started adding circles in various sizes and tried to randomly place them in my rectangle, leaving about 1/4" border around the edges (to allow room to tape down the stencil). My floating circles stencil Design Space project uses free shapes if you would like to use it.

I mixed some Opaque Matte Texture Paste with some Blue Belle re-inker. It looked more blue to me when I was working in the dark and when I set the pieces aside to dry overnight. In the morning the color reminded me of Glacier. Maybe adding tap water (my paste was getting a little dry) altered the color a bit?

I used colors from You Are Enough as inspiration for coloring the floral cluster with Watercolor Pencils. I used a gray pencil on top of the blue because to me it makes it look a little more like Blue Belle. Even though the leaves were black from stamping, I colored them so the veins would have a Glacier tint. I matted the floral cluster on the light side of Glacer using Thin 3-D Foam tape between the layers and to lift both off the card base.

So the layers we more pronounced against the white card base I inked the edges of the You Are Enough paper with Blue Belle and the piece of White Daisy with Glacier. I stamped the sentiment on the light side of Peach and dovetailed using Hexagon Thin Cuts. If you missed the technique I shared for dovetailing with the Hexagon Thin Cuts, you will find it here.

Before you head to ***Krista's Crafty Corner by Krista Hershberger***, the supplies I used to create my project are listed below.

All supplies are from Close To My Heart except where noted:

If you are not already working with a CTMH Maker, you may purchase all of the supplies I used at my eCommerce website.

If you have a few moments, please leave a comment letting me know what you think of my card. I hope you are enjoying all of the projects created with Flowers for You. Thanks for hopping with us!

So you do not have to scroll back up, the next stop on the hop is ***Krista's Crafty Corner by Krista Hershberger***.

May 2021 CTMH News

Happy First Day of May! More flowers are blooming, more birds have returned and the days are getting warmer, but is not too warm.

May is National Scrapbooking Month and today is National Scrapbooking Day. I hope you are joining us over on the Close To My Heart Official Facebook Page for the Day 2 National Scrapbooking Day Celebration live events. Creating resumes at 11:00am MDT (that's 1:00pm EDT). If you missed yesterday's sessions, you can still watch the Day 1 National Scrapbooking Day Celebration videos.

During May Close To My Heart has some wonderful specials.

May 2021 Stamp Of The Month Flowers for You

Close To My Heart Flowers for You—May Stamp of the Month (S2105)
Flowers for You (S2105)
available May 2021

Flowers for You (S2105) is an exclusive D-size set of 14 stamps and is only available during the month of May 2021. Receive the stamp set for free when you are a CTMH VIP Customer and you place a qualifying order. Alternatively, place a qualifying order and the stamp set is only $5. In either case you qualify for additional sets at $5 for each additional $50 you spend on the same order. Flowers for You is also available for $18.95 with no other purchase required. Recommended CTMH My Acrylix® Blocks for this stamp set are: 1" × 1" (Y1000), 1" × 3½" (Y1002), 2" × 2" (Y1003), 3" × 3" (Y1006) and 5" × 6" (Y1015).

The CTMH Art Department created two cards using the Flowers for You stamp set.

cards created with Flowers for You
cards created with Flowers for You

The Recipes, a PDF file that lists the products used to make the samples in the May–June 2021 Catalog, lists everything used to create the cards above. You will find the Recipes under the page-turner catalog here. I am participating in a Flowers for You blog hop this month; you will find my post on this blog tomorrow. Please visit my May SOTM (S2105) Flowers for You Pinterest Board for other ideas to use the Flowers for You stamp set.

National Scrapbooking Month—You Are Enough

National Scrapbooking Month—You Are Enough
National Scrapbooking Month—You Are Enough


National Scrapbooking Month—You Are Enough flyer - page 1
National Scrapbooking Month—You Are Enough flyer - page 2



May–June 2021 Catalog
May–June 2021 Catalog