Give Thanks | Home Decor

If you haven't checked out the CTMH Artistry cartridge, you're going to love it! Like all the CTMH cartridges, it's filled with hundreds of images & a font. Did you know that we now offer digital image files for our newest cartridges?? If you have a Cricut Explore™ or Cricut Explore Air™you might like this option. But please note, they do not come with the coordinating CTMH stamps sets or cardstock.

I created this framed Gratitude artwork for a fundraiser in my community. I hope they enjoy it! I'll be hosting a workshop this fall for those interested in making it - it's a great Girls Night Out project. If you're out of town, I can provide a kit for $15 + shipping (you provide your own frame). Contact me if you're interested!

Give Thanks - Framed Home Decor

I used our new Rustic Home Fundaments for the background paper. This packet is, without a doubt, my new favorite!

I cut the oak wreath & leaves using Artistry. I set my Cricut to "fit to page" to get a 12x12 wreath.

Artistry - <Fall> key

The "Give Thanks" sentiment in the center is cut with Artistry using Ruby cardstock & gold glitter paper. I raised it using our 3-D Foam Tape.

Glitter Paper

Artbooking - <B> key

For the pumpkins I used the September SOTM; I just love the gratitude sentiment. They are stamped using our Goldrush pigment ink. 

September Stamp of the Month

I cut the pumpkin images using the Artbooking cartridge - first I cut a white one (which I stamped on) & then I cut a green one (using Fern cardstock) to paste the stamped one on to get the stem/leaves to pop.

Artbooking - <n> key

Thanks for looking. Would love to hear your feedback!

3rd Annual Log Cabin Retreat

In May, I traveled back to WA (yes, I had just moved from there a few weeks before) to spend 4 fun-filled days with some of my favorite crafty friends. We had a wonderful weekend; it was relaxing, productive & full of laughs -- and wine! 

Monroe, WA - May 2016

Craft-themed wine - thanks to Carla!

One of the projects we worked on was this adorable perpetual birthday book (inspired by Michele Rowley) using the Cricut Artistry cartridge & a Picture My Life card kit. Below is the list of supplies - this is a fun & easy workshop to do with a couple friends. Makes a great gift! Contact me to schedule your workshop. Most items are on the retiring list, so if you'd like to create this little book be sure to order your items before the end of July.

Perpetual Birthday Book/Calendar

BIRTHDAY BOOK SUPPLY LIST:

My Creations™ Kraft Mini Book

Picture My Life™ Through the Year 

Purple Shimmer Trim 

White Glitter Paper
Whimsy Cardstock
Jennifer's Hand Alpha Stamp

If you're interested in attending a future retreat, please visit my Facebook Retreat group page!

Spring Recap

Greetings Crafty Friends! I've been MIA the past few months, but I'm gearing up & hoping to launch my CTMH business in my new community soon!

This spring my husband & I moved back to our "home" in South Dakota - where all our extended family lives. What a blessing it is to be able to spend "unlimited" time with our loved ones again after being gone so many years! Over the next few weeks, I'll be blogging with a recap of the past few months & the creations I made along the way.

We started celebrating in May for Mother's Day. It's been a long time since I spent Mother's Day with my mom! The weather cooperated & we enjoyed a beautiful brunch on the deck. I used retired papers to make the pinwheels & my Cricut Artiste cartridge to cut out "Happy Mother's Day" from our gorgeous glitter paper. This cartridge (and a few others) will be retiring next month, to make way for a NEW one. Personally, Artiste is one of my favorites. You can still purchase it while supplies last.

Check out the available glitter paper colors here. Many are retiring at the end of July, so if you love them like I do, stock up now! They cut beautifully with the Cricut.

Pinwheels

Glitter Paper

Cricut Artiste

I made my Mother's Day cards using the May special, Happy Times, paper packet & stamp set. Don't you just love the gold foil accents on the paper? Unfortunately, it's no longer available on my website, but I still have one paper packet in my stash...contact me if you're interested in buying it!

Happy Times paper & stamp

Happy Times - May Special

I filled paper bags with homemade cookies for all the moms. And I used dollar store clothespins, our base & bling glass covers & shimmer trim to create these "bag clips"- the base & bling stickers & many of the shimmer trim colors are also retiring items. You can still order them until the end of the month though!

Please come by next week to see how my annual retreat in May turned out!

Week in the Life|Picture My Life|Wednesday Words & Photos

It's half way through the week & I'm feeling like I might get farther this year than I did last year! Having a few goals has been helpful. And now I'm starting to get excited about putting my layouts together in a few weeks at our annual fall retreat. I'm thinking the For Always Picture My Life set is going to be perfect.

Each set comes with a variety of 10 12x12 Memory Protectors. And I can supplement with my own pocket card designs using our newest Cricut cartridge, Artfully Sent. If you haven't seen this cartridge yet, you must check it out!

I'm still thinking about what album I'll use…I'll post my decision by the end of the week.

So here's a peek at what yesterday looked like - posting fewer photos/words because a detox foot soak is calling my name.

WEDNESDAY PHOTOS & WORDS:
35 photos with my iPhone 5

10:05am Slow start

10:43am No rain

1:17pm Blue Sky

1:22pm Falling leaves

2:28pm Successful trip to the liquor store!

2:36 Red trees

5:45pm Playtime

6:14pm Home cooked meal

6:25 Grace

9:21pm Happiness

Trick or Treats?

Halloween is next week, are you ready for the festivities? I embellished these cute paper straws I found at the party store; it was quick & easy with my Cricut doing all the cutting for me! I used the Art Artiste cartridge (page 62) to do all the cutting. Then I stamped on White Daisy card stock with Black, Autumn Terracotta, Topiary & Gypsy inks.

This is the stamp set I used Trick or Treat Sweets - the images are just the right size for these straws.

I'm taking witches brew to a Halloween party this weekend - I think these straws will be a spooktacular addition! Looking for more easy treat solutions? Check out this Cut Above Halloween treat bag kit.

Everything is pre cut & ready to assemble. Order by this weekend to get it in time for Halloween. Happy Haunting!

Happy Cinco de Mayo!

Today we're celebrating National Scrapbooking Month, Mexican style! I'm co-hosting a 12 hr crop with my upline, Michele Rowley. We've planned a fun day with time to work on projects, prizes, make & takes -- and of course, great Mexican food. Those attending will receive one of these darling little treat boxes (made with the Cricut Art Philosophy cartridge), filled with some special goodies. I hope the ladies like them as much as I do!

Dotty Projects

As promised, here are a few of my Dotty creations from last weekend. I'm quite enamored with this special paper packet! 

There are three ways to get this exclusive Dotty for You paper packet, valued at $19.95:

• Place an order of $35 or more in products from the Spring/Summer 2012 Idea Book between April 17 and May 31, and add the Dotty for You paper packet for just $5*.
• Host a Gathering with a sales total of $400 or more (excluding tax, shipping/handling, and Operation Smile^®donations) between April 17 and May 31 and receive a Dotty for You paper packet FREE.
• Join Close To My Heart as a new Consultant between April 1 and May 31 and receive a Dotty for You paper packet FREE. Let’s get started.

3D Frame using the Dotty papers &Art Philosophy cartridge flowers

Dotty Papers, Just Blooms flowers & various Stamps of the Month

Dotty papers & Cricut

I used a non-3D Art Philosophy cut to make this cute little basket.

Got Mojo?

A fellow consultant told me about Mojo Monday this week - here's my first submission to their challenge. Each week, they post a "sketch" on the blog & you interpret the sketch with your own twist. What do you think - do I have mojo?

March Stamp of the Month

I created this card using the stamp set called "Potential" - and I love this sentiment. It's this month's special & you can order it for only $5 with your order of $50 or more by March 31. More Info

FREE Cricut Cartridge

Now is a great time for you to join Close To My Heart because when you sign up as a new Consultant between March 1–31, you’ll receive a FREE Cricut^® Art Philosophy collection! The collection’s retail price of $99 includes three coordinating My Acrylix^® D-size stamp sets, and three sheets of matching Dimensional Elements shapes. Already own the collection? You can always give the free one as a gift or choose to receive $100 in select product credit instead. Now is the time to embrace the philosophy of fun—Consultant and Cricut^® fun! Please contact me for more details.

One-button Card Creation

Last weekend I made this fun accordian card (thanks for the inspiration, Chris) for a co-worker who is going to be leaving. I used my Cricut Art Philosophy cartridge to make all the cuts (including the card base). And all the shapes are cut from the same button on the Cricut cartridge! Want to learn more? Contact me today.

3D Challenge - H2H

Here's my submission to the Heart 2 Heart challenge this week. I used the Typeset paper packet & the pillow box from Cricut Art Philosophy cartridge. The tag is from the Rock the Block stamp set. Just in time for Valentine's Day :)

Cricut Art Philosophy Collection

Did you get a Cricut for Christmas? Then the CTMH Art Philosophy collection is for you! With over 700 unique shapes (many that coordinate with CTMH MyAcrylix stamp sets), including rosettes, gift boxes, and lace, you'll learn how to create beautiful artwork with incredible ease. Check out this video to see all the items included in the collection.