New Product Review | 2016 Annual Inspirations Idea Book

2016 Annual Inspirations

The new Annual Inspirations Idea Book (catalog) has been available since the beginning of August...if you'd like to see it for yourself, simply place an order on my website & you'll get a FREE idea book in your box! Or - if you want to take a peek right now, click here for the online version.

In October, I'll be reviewing the Holiday Expressions catalog, that came out this month. I'm not one to rush the seasons...so I won't be presenting those products just yet. But stay tuned!





The Annual Inspirations idea book is filled with some awesome new products! If you're local, I'm happy to deliver one to you. If you're looking online, look for this green flag that denotes "new" items.



Here are a few of my favorites. And trust me, it's hard to pick just a "few!"

Cricut

The newest Cricut Cartridge is Flower Market. And like all our cartridges, it's nothing short of A-mazing! All the flowers you see on the idea book cover were made using it, as well as this wreath. I see many, many projects being created in my future with this cartridge!

Cricut Flower Market

For the first time, we're also featuring a digital only City Sidewalks cartridge that coordinates with our City Sidewalks, our holiday paper packet (more to come about that in my Season Expression Review next month).

Cricut City Sidewalks Digital Collection

Thin Cuts

Use these thin metal dies to quickly and easily cut shapes for embellishing your scrapbook pages and cards. Thin Cuts are packaged on their own magnetic sheet and work well with most die-cutting machines.

New Thin Cuts

Cards with New Thin Cuts

Paper & Inks

Our new Fundamental paper packets are designed to be VERSATILE. They're available for the entire year & coordinate with the seasonal paper packets that will be introduced in our Seasonal Expressions Catalog (stay tuned for my holiday product review in Oct).

Enchantment Fundamentals

Whimsy Fundamentals

Uptown Fundamentals

We have 8 new ink & cardstock colors.

New Colors

If you haven't already heard, Sea Glass is the "color of the year" - I will be featuring projects that coordinate with this color throughout the next year.

Sea Glass

Acrylic Stamps

Of course, there are also TONS of new acrylic stamp sets. Check them out here.

Autumn Wishes Stamp (B1530) 

School Kids Stamp (D1706)

Sugar Skull Stamp (D1698)

Short & Sweet Stamp (A1189)

I love sharing CTMH products & {creating from the heart} -  please contact me to learn more!

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!

Digital Delights with Studio J

It's half way thru the month...have you started creating your Studio J layouts yet? If you've been curious about digital scrapbooking, this is the month to try it out! Close To My Heart is offering a special this month; 2-page, photo quality, 12x12 layouts for $5. It's a fantastic deal. And with the new express kits you can create beautiful pages in a short amount of time; upload your photos, select a pattern/kit & you're ready to go! They've even got sample layouts with step-by-step instructions - here's one example.

Check out the gallery for more ideas.

These are a few layouts I created recently.

I'm happy to set up a Studio J session with you to show you how easy it is to create these fabulous layouts. You can start working on your layouts anytime. But you must order them before Feb. 28, 2013 to get the special price. Order multiples of your creations for gifts or calendars (I'm getting started on my 2014 calendars this month!)