Highlighting New Products in May–June 2022 Catalog

If you are a regular visitor, you know that I usually participated in blog hops featuring the Close To My Heart Stamp Of The Month, new products featured in the latest CTMH catalogs and products featured in CTMH promotions. Recently the blog hops moved to Facebook and became the CTMH Artwork Showcase.

CTMH Artwork Showcase May-June 2022 Catalog

The official name of the group is Melinda Everitt's CTMH Artwork Showcase. I hope that you will join the Facebook Group to see all of the fabulous artwork shared there.

The first item I created with papers from the May–June 2022 Catalog was this card for my great-niece's April 2022 birthday. I did not plan to share this card in the CTMH Artwork Showcase, but since all of the items I used are still available, I thought you might want to see a different version of the Cake Day Cardmaking Workshop and take a second look at some March–April 2022 catalog items using different papers and colors.

The color inspiration is from my great-niece who, a few days before her birthday, said her favorite colors are orange and blue.

Fresh Paint Cake Birthday Card

I used Nectarine for the first layer then added a layer of Capri enhanced with some scoring and sanding. I tucked some of the Fresh Paint racing flag paper on either side. I also used the splatter print from Fresh Paint and Capri Glitter Paper to decorate. I used Watercolor Pencils to color the presents, candles and highlight areas on the cake. I used Clear Shimmer Brush on the White Daisy piece stamped with presents, the top of the cake and the flames on the candles. I mixed a few drops of Gold Shimmer Brush with Clear Shimmer Brush and used a Waterbrush to apply it to the cake plate.

Fresh Paint Cake Birthday Card

The card with the cake slice "served" shows the "Happy Birthday!" sentiment.

Switching gears, I also created with the Tutti Frutti Cardmaking Workshop Kit. My mother is organizing a get-together for her class and the classes before and after this summer, so I made all of the cards "You're Invited" cards.

Tutti Frutti Cardmaking Workshop - Project 1

When I first saw this workshop, I was not drawn to the Lemonade in the center of this card, so I decided to alter the card a bit. I cut an 8½" × 8½" square of White Daisy and used the lightest yellow in the Watercolor Paints to create my own, very light Lemonade-inspired cardstock. I also had what I think is a happy accident. When cutting the Tutti Frutti strips, I cut them ¼" too narrow, so I cut the Flamingo cardstock ½" wider to make up the difference. I am very happy with the results. The card on the left uses the light side of Flamingo and Grape while I used the true (darker) side on the right card.

I hope you like the variations of the cards I created with the Tutti Frutti (and Cake Day) Cardmaking Workshop Kits. I will share the other cards from the Tutti Frutti Cardmaking Workshop Kit over the next couple of days so please come back.

Here's a complete list of products used; all supplies are from Close To My Heart except where noted:

• My Acrylix™ Stamp Sets: stamp and Thin Cuts from Cake Day Cardmaking Workshop Kit (G1250), Cake Day—Scrapbooking (D2080) or Cake Day—Scrapbooking Stamp + Thin Cuts (Z4416)
• Tutti Frutti Cardmaking Workshop Kit (G1256)
• Paper: Fresh Paint (X7280B) or Fresh Paint + Sticker Sheet (X7280S)
  
• Exclusive Inks™ Stamp Pads: Intense Black (Z4189)
• Cardstock: White Daisy (1385), Capri (X6057), Nectarine (X6043)
  
• Glitter Paper: Capri (Z2539) 
• Shimmer Brush: Clear (Z3293), Gold (Z3316), Mint (Z4225)
  
• Watercolor Pencils (Z3630), Watercolor Paints (Z3132), Small Round Waterbrush (Z3224), Paintbrush Set (Z3188-retired)
• TriBlend™ Marker: Citrus (Z2482), Magenta (Z2532)
  
• White Cards & Envelopes Value Pack (X254)
• Die-cutting & Embossing Machine (Z5038)
  
• Score Board (Z1937), Sanding Kit (Z1294) - both are retired

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

If you have a few moments, please let me know what you think of my cards. Thank you for stopping by and please join us at the CTMH Artwork Showcase Facebook group.

CTMH SOTM May 2022 - You Can Do Anything

If you are visiting this evening for the May 2022 Stamp Of The Month Blog Hop, I have some exciting news. Please join us at the CTMH Artwork Showcase Facebook group. The Facebook group is taking the place of the blog hops to allow for sharing of artwork without needing a blog.

I choose Watercolor Paints and Watercolor Pencils to create with You Can Do Anything. My first cards were inspired by my travels to the Rocky Mountains.

For my first card I stamped with Mink ink, then used Watercolor Paints to color in the scene.

card created with You Can Do Anything and Watercolor Paints

I stamped with Mink ink so the image would have a softer feel. I used the flat brush from the Paintbrush Set (retired) to assist with coloring the sky and water since the area to cover was large. Where the mountains are in reflection, I painted with a light gray and when that was dry I went over the area with a light blue. Around the sun I painted with a light shade of yellow then painted with a light shade of blue. After coloring and allowing the paper to dry, I stamped the sentiment, some birds and Evergreen trees. I stamped the upright trees with second generation Evergreen ink and the trees in reflection in third generation ink. After the ink was dry I used a damp paintbrush to go over the trees in reflection to give them a more muted appearance.

My second card was stamped with Intense Black and colored with Watercolor Pencils.

card created with You Can Do Anything and Watercolor Pencils

When stamping I masking the larger cloud so it would appear there is a smaller cloud slightly behind the larger cloud. I shaded the lower half of the clouds with a gray pencil. I shaded the mountains in reflection with gray, went over the top with a light shade of blue and then mixed the colors a bit when I used the Waterbruch to smooth out the pencil. On this card I also used a light shade of yellow around the sun. Once everything was dry I stamped the sentiment and birds.

Here's a complete list of products used; all supplies are from Close To My Heart except where noted:

• My Acrylix™ Stamp Sets: You Can Do Anything—May Stamp of the Month (S2205)
  
• Exclusive Inks™ Stamp Pads: Intense Black (Z4189), Mink (Z2825), Evergreen (Z6512)
  
• Distress Watercolor Cardstock (Z3885), Watercolor Pencils (Z3630), Watercolor Paints (Z3132), Small Round Waterbrush (Z3224), Medium Round Waterbrush (Z3225), Paintbrush Set (Z3188-retired)
  
• White Cards & Envelopes Value Pack (X254)
• Supplies not from Close To My Heart: Tim Holtz Stamp Platform
  

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

I hope you like the cards I created with You Can Do Anything—May Stamp of the Month. If you have a few moments, please let me know what you think of my card. Thank you for stopping by and please join us at the CTMH Artwork Showcase Facebook group. 

#may2022sotm #youcandoanything

May 2022 CTMH News

I feel like I repeat myself every month, but I cannot believe April 2022 is over and we are at the beginning of another month. I feel like I am on a hamster wheel that just keeps speeding up. My mom says that the pace is just as fast for her and she is retired. Oh no. I was hoping that I would have a lot more crafting time. Time to craft is something I definitely need to use up my stash.

In case you have not heard, May is National Scrapbooking Month. To honor the occasion, Close To My Heart created the Hope & Kindness collection. In addition to the Hope & Kindness collection, CTMH is offering some bundles for National Scrapbooking Day Celebration and will be hosting Lives on the CTMH Facebook Page on May 6 and May 7 where we will create the bundles together.

May 2022 Stamp Of The Month You Can Do Anything

You Can Do Anything—May Stamp of the Month (S2205)

You Can Do Anything (S2205) is an exclusive D-size set of 12 stamps. You Can Do Anything is available only during the month of May 2022. The stamp set can be free for CTMH VIP Customers who place a qualifying order during May. Those who are not CTMH VIP Customers can place a qualifying order then purchase the stamp set for only $5. Everyone qualifies for additional sets at $5 for each additional $50 spent on the same order. You Can Do Anything is also available for $18.95 with no other purchase required. The recommended CTMH My Acrylix® Blocks for this stamp set are: 1" × 1" (Y1000), 1" × 1½" (Y1016), 1" × 3½" (Y1002), 2" × 2" (Y1003), 2" × 3½" (Y1009), and 2" × 6½" (Y1010).

The Close To My Heart art department created some cards with You Can Do Anything:

card created with You Can Do Anything

card created with You Can Do Anything

I am enjoying creating with this stamp set. I plan to share a card or two later today, so please stop back.

National Scrapbooking Month—Hope & Kindness

National Scrapbooking Month—Hope & Kindness

Celebrate National Scrapbooking Month with the new paper collection Hope & Kindness! The Hope & Kindness. paper packet features a selection of 12 patterned sheets, including cut-apart paper sheets, and specialty cardstock and die-cuts, stamps, and Thin Cuts. The products are shown in this National Scrapbooking Month—Hope & Kindness Product Flyer:

National Scrapbooking Month—Hope & Kindness Flyer - page 1

National Scrapbooking Month—Hope & Kindness Flyer - page 2

This special also includes three exclusive workshop kits for scrapbooking (two) and cardmaking:

Hope & Kindness Album Workshop Flyer - page 1	Hope & Kindness Album Workshop Flyer - page 2
Hope & Kindness Scrapbooking Workshop Flyer - page 1	Hope & Kindness Scrapbooking Workshop Flyer - page 2
Hope & Kindness Cardmaking Workshop Flyer - page 1	Hope & Kindness Cardmaking Workshop Flyer - page 2

Click on any of the flyer images above for a closer look or you can download a PDF of each flyer.

• Hope & Kindness Album Workshop Kit (CC52210) - Album Workshop Flyer PDF
  
• Hope & Kindness Scrapbooking Workshop Kit (CC5228) - Scrapbooking Workshop PDF
  
• Hope & Kindness Cardmaking Workshop Kit (CC5229) - Cardmaking Workshop PDF

There are also two discounted product bundles. Both are shown in the National Scrapbooking Month—Hope & Kindness Product Flyer PDF.

• Hope & Kindness Product Bundle (CC52211)
• Hope & Kindness Paper Bundle (CC52212)

Offer available May 1 through June 30. Shipping & handling based on full retail price of all items.

National Scrapbooking Day Celebration

National Scrapbooking Day Celebration

Celebrate National Scrapbooking Day on the CTMH Facebook Page. The CTMH National Scrapbooking Day Celebration includes two days of live virtual events on Friday, May 6 and Saturday, May 7 from 1pm to 9pm EDT. The team at the CTMH Home Office will lead us through creating five workshops over the two days. If you are not able to join us live the videos will be available on the CTMH Facebook Page to watch when the time is convenient for you. 

Choose just the scrapbooking or the cardmaking workshops or select a bundle of all the workshops. The options are summarized in the flyer pages pictured below (or download the flyer).

National Scrapbooking Day Celebration flyer page 1

National Scrapbooking Day Celebration flyer page 2

National Scrapbooking Day Celebration flyer page 3

Visit the National Scrapbooking Day Celebration page to view all of the available workshops. Click on a workshop for an image of the workshop product bundle; click on the product image, then click on the left and right arrows to view the layouts and cards that will be created during the live virtual events.

National Scrapbooking Day Celebration is available until May 31, 2022 while supplies last.

 

Workshop Wow: As You Grow

Workshop Wow: As You Grow

With these new scrapbooking and cardmaking workshops, we get a new and different look at the As You Grow paper collection from the Annual Catalog.

Workshop Wow: As You Grow flyer page 1

Workshop Wow: As You Grow flyer page 2

Workshop Wow: As You Grow flyer page 3

The scrapbooking workshop creates 3 two-page layouts and one single-page layout; the cardmaking workshop creates 16 cards. Both workshops are available with or without stamps and Thin Cuts. Visit the Workshop Wow: As You Grow page on my eCommerce website or download a PDF of the flyer. Workshop Wow: As You Grow is available until May 31, 2022 while supplies last.

 

We Will Remember

We Will Remember

We Will Remember was designed for Anzac Day (a day of remembrance in Australia and New Zealand), but the images and phrases are wonderful tools to have on hand for creating.

We Will Remember Flyer

If you would like a PDF of the flyer, you will find it here. We Will Remember is available until May 31, 2022 while supplies last.

VIP Rainbow Acrylic Shapes

VIP Rainbow Acrylic Shapes

Calling all VIP Customers...the VIP Rainbow Acrylic Shapes will brighten all of your papercrafting projects. All of the details are shared on the VIP Rainbow Acrylic Shapes page of my eCommerce site or download a PDF of the flyer.

VIP Rainbow Acrylic Shapes Flyer

VIP Rainbow Acrylic Shapes is available until May 31, 2022 while supplies last.

 

May–June 2022 Catalog

May–June 2022 Catalog

May 1st brings us a new catalog. There is a page-turner of the catalog on my eCommerce site. Under the page-turner you can download a PDF of the catalog to your computer or tablet to browse anytime. There are two new collections in this catalog as well as many new stamps or stamps + Thin Cuts and a great look at the Hope & Kindness collection.

I hope you have a warm and fun-filled May 2022. Thank you for stopping by.

National Scrapbooking Day 2022 Blog Hop

Welcome to the National Scrapbooking Day 2022 Blog Hop where we will be featuring items from the National Scrapbooking Day Celebration scheduled for May 6–7.

National Scrapbooking Day Celebration Blog Hop

You should have arrived here from ***ScrappinKaty***. If you encounter any problems along the way, Melinda Everitt keeps a list of the blog hop participants at her blog If You Bling It.

I started out with a different card in mind, but after cutting the dies from the Circles and Patterns Scrapbooking Workshop Kit (CC3224), my focus shifted and I ended up creating this card.

card created for National Scrapbooking Day Celebration Blog Hop

When I cut the die that reminds me of a wedding ring quilt, some of the pieces made me think of flower petals, so I decided to experiment. I came up with this dimensional flower. 

I made two cuts of Lemonade for the flower and one cut of Clover for the flower. I stamped the Lemonade petals with Lemonade and Mocha inks and I stamped the Clover leaves with Clover ink.

leaves on card created for National Scrapbooking Day Celebration Blog Hop

When stamping on the leaves I lined up the stamp so it would look like veins on the leaves. Then I scored the leaves down the middle and pinched to add dimension. I glued just the tips of the leaves together with Dual-tip Multi-bond Glue Pen (Z3441) to make a cluster.

To hold the flower together I used the Circle Thin Cuts to cut a base and attached the petals with Dual-tip Multi-bond Glue Pen (Z3441). So the length of petals is even all the way around, I folded the circle base in quarters to aid with petal placement.

For the flower center I used the Circle Thin Cut to cut Mocha cardstock. I stamped that cut with Mocha ink then added using 3-D Foam Tape (Z1151).

petal shaping on card created for National Scrapbooking Day Celebration Blog Hop

I shaped the petals by placing the flower in the palm of my hand and rolling the end of a paint brush across the petal.

I stamped the Bluebird cardstock with Bluebird ink to create a background and I cut a piece of White Glitter Paper using the Fancy Borders Thin Cuts to decorate the card. 

I stamped "Many Thanks" (from the Many Wishes Cardmaking Workshop Kit) on White Daisy using Bluebird ink and dove-tailed the end before attaching to the card.

Before you visit ***Lauren CTMH Craftings***, the supplies I used to create my project are listed below.

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

• My Acrylix™ Stamp Sets: Circles and Patterns Scrapbooking Workshop Kit (CC3224), Many Wishes Cardmaking Workshop Kit (CC3223)
  
• Cardstock: Lemonade (X6035), Clover (X6040), Bluebird (X6037), Mocha (X6060), White Daisy (1385)
  
• Exclusive Inks™ Stamp Pads: Lemonade (Z6517), Clover (Z6507), Bluebird (Z6508), Mocha (Z6531)
  
• White Cards & Envelopes Value Pack (X254)
• White Glitter Paper (Z3237)
  
• Thin Cuts: Fancy Borders (Z3682), Circles (Z3943)
• Dual-tip Multi-bond Glue Pen (Z3441), 3-D Foam Tape (Z1151)
• Die-cutting & Embossing Machine (Z5038)
• Supplies not from Close To My Heart: Tim Holtz Stamp Platform
  

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

I hope you like the card I created for the National Scrapbooking Day Celebration Blog Hop. If you have a few moments, please let me know what you think of my creation. Thank you for hopping with us!

So you do not have to scroll up for the link, the next blog on our hop is ***Lauren CTMH Craftings***.

CTMH Message in a Bottle SOTM Blog Hop - April 2022

Welcome to the April 2022 SOTM Blog Hop featuring the stamp set Message in a Bottle. There are a little over ten CTMH Makers sharing projects created with the CTMH Stamp Of The Month Message in a Bottle. Click the link, often found near the bottom of a post, to visit the next blog and complete the entire hop.

Message in a Bottle Blog Hop (April 2022 SOTM)

You should have arrived here from ***ScrappinKaty***. If you encounter any problems along the way, Melinda Everitt keeps a list of the blog hop participants at her blog If You Bling It.

Message in a Bottle Stamp Set

For the Message in a Bottle Stamp Set blog hop I created this card.

card created for Message in a Bottle Blog Hop

I think many people do not think about masking and layering stamped images when the object being stamped is traditionally clear, but I wanted to try it. I wanted to create a scene of a collection of antique decorative bottles. Fortunately I am happy with the results. I hope you like it too.

In hindsight I wish I photographed the project while in progress; hopefully I can describe my process well.

I started by stamping the bottles, using masks created with sticky notes (I described the process I use for masking on the CTMH Strong Roots SOTM Blog Hop - July 2021). I also stamped the items inside the bottles.

I have observed old glass objects in a variety of colors so I searched for "what colors do bottles come in". The first website suggested, from the Society for Historical Archaeology, had a photo of old glassware (you will find the photo here) so I selected Watercolor Pencils inspired by colors in the photo. I used Watercolor Pencils because I am more comfortable layering colors from pencils than I am paints or alcohol ink markers. I also like Watercolor Pencils because you can achieve a lot of shades from one pencil depending on the pressure used.

Since glass is mostly transparent, or at least translucent, I colored a bit of the adjacent bottle color behind the more forward bottle since in real life you would be able to see a bit of the bottle through the forward bottle. Then I colored over that color with the color I selected for the forward bottle. To create some definition for the scroll in the green bottle, I colored the scroll with white pencil before coloring with green. I did the same thing with the star shaped lights, colored them with yellow before adding pink on top.

I finished the edge of the card by cutting Ballerina cardstock using the Stitched Rectangle Frames and adding Gold Glitter Gems.

Before you visit ***Stefani***, the supplies I used to create my project are listed below.

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

• My Acrylix™ Stamp Sets: Message in a Bottle—April Stamp of the Month (S2204)
  
• Cardstock: Ballerina (X6036), French Vanilla (X6046)
  
• Exclusive Inks™ Stamp Pads: Intense Black (Z4189)
• Watercolor Pencils (Z3630)
  
• White Cards & Envelopes Value Pack (X254)
• Gold Glitter Gems (Z3312)
  
• Thin Cuts: Stitched Rectangle Frames (Z4260)
  
• Die-cutting & Embossing Machine (Z5038)

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

I hope you like the card I created with Message in a Bottle—April Stamp of the Month. If you have a few moments, please let me know what you think of my card. Thank you for hopping with us!

So you do not have to scroll up for the link, the next blog on our hop is ***Stefani***.

April 2022 CTMH News

Hello! Thank you for stopping by today. In case you missed my post yesterday, I celebrated by 10th Anniversary with Close To My Heart on March 2022. I cannot believe it!

Isn't it wonderful that the calendar says the weather should be getting nicer? I am looking forward to Spring-like days, though I hope we don't have the hot Summer days like we did last year.

As always, Close To My Heart has a new Stamp Of The Month and the special for April is centered around the Color Of The Year—Wildberry.

April 2022 Stamp Of The Month Message in a Bottle

Message in a Bottle—April Stamp of the Month (S2204)

Message in a Bottle (S2204) is an exclusive D-size set of 21 stamps. Message in a Bottle is available only during the month of April 2022. The stamp set can be free for CTMH VIP Customers who place a qualifying order during April. Those who are not CTMH VIP Customers can place a qualifying order and purchase the stamp set for only $5. Everyone qualifies for additional sets at $5 for each additional $50 spent on the same order. Message in a Bottle is also available for $18.95 with no other purchase required. The recommended CTMH My Acrylix® Blocks for this stamp set are: 1" × 1½" (Y1016), 1" × 3½" (Y1002), 2" × 2" (Y1003), 2" × 3½" (Y1009), and 3" × 3" (Y1006).

The Close To My Heart art department created this two-page layout with the Message in a Bottle Stamp Set:

layout created with Message in a Bottle

I will be participating in the Message in a Bottle Blog Hop this month. Please come back after 8pm today or anytime this month to see what I create.

Wild Berry Blast

Wild Berry Blast

During April we are celebrating the Color Of The Year Wild Berry. In addition to discounts on the Wild Berry products you will find in the Core Products catalog, there are items exclusive to Wild Berry Blast. There is a product bundle that, if I did not miss anything, includes one each of all the exclusive products.

This Wild Berry Blast flyer (PDF format) has all of the promotion details. The four-page flyer is also shown in images below. Click on any image for a larger view:

Wild Berry Blast Flyer - page 1	Wild Berry Blast Flyer - page 2
Wild Berry Blast Flyer - page 3	Wild Berry Blast Flyer - page 4

Wild Berry Blast is available through April 30 while supplies last.

National Scrapbooking Day Celebration

National Scrapbooking Day Celebration

Celebrate National Scrapbooking Day on the CTMH Facebook Page. The CTMH National Scrapbooking Day Celebration includes two days of live virtual events on Friday, May 6 and Saturday, May 7 from 1pm to 9pm EDT. The team at the CTMH Home Office will lead us through creating five workshops over the two days. If you are not able to join us live the videos will be available on the CTMH Facebook Page to watch when the time is convenient for you. 

Choose just the scrapbooking or the cardmaking workshops or select a bundle of all the workshops. The options are summarized in the flyer pages pictured below (or download the flyer).

National Scrapbooking Day Celebration flyer page 1

National Scrapbooking Day Celebration flyer page 2

National Scrapbooking Day Celebration flyer page 3

Visit the National Scrapbooking Day Celebration page to view all of the available workshops. Click on a workshop for an image of the workshop product bundle; click on the product image, then click on the left and right arrows to view the layouts and cards that will be created during the live virtual events.

National Scrapbooking Day Celebration is available until May 31, 2022 while supplies last.

April Album Retreat

April Album Retreat

Close To My Heart is hosting an April Album Retreat online from April 20 to April 22. The theme is "Celebrations". Pictured is one of the 11 two-page 12″ × 12″ scrapbook layouts that will be created during the April Album Retreat. All of the details can be found here.

March–April 2022 Catalog

March–April 2022 Catalog

The March–April 2022 Catalog is now here! It features two new paper collections: Cake Day and In Full Bloom. Each paper collection has coordinating embellishments, images to stamp and a digital (SVG) collection.. There is also a new Mix-In paper packet. There are many new stamps, some are available with Thin Cuts. There will be Facebook Lives for both the scrapbooking and cardmaking workshops. A full list of upcoming Facebook Lives can be found here. You can download a Printable PDF of the catalog under the page-turner of the catalog here.

Try not to fall for any April Fool pranks today and have a fabulous month. Take care of yourselves.