Last Chance for Retiring CTMH Kits and Full List

Have you heard of these amazing kits? I can’t scrapbook without them!  I realized recently that these pages and Studio J are how I have been able to fill several books over the years. BUT! they are only around for a short time. January 31st is the last day to order those from the Fall Catalog. Some are already gone! Surprised smile Complete list here. With Workshops on the Go®, you create a beautiful project — includes a FULL COLOR INSTRUCTION GUIDE! either a two-page scrapbook layout, a set of cards, or a trendy 3-D item — Each Kit Includes:

  • Papers
  • Coordinating Embellishments
  • Exclusive C-size stamp set

This is Avonlea! Perfect for family reunions, school pictures, any moment you want to capture.  avonlea_sp.ashxavonlea_aa_sp.ashxavonlea_bonus_640.ashxBonus projects require extra materials.    Click here for a complete list of retiring products Picture2 I LOVE that I can purchase great products and then when I go to use them I am shown step by step.  OR I can use the materials and do something completely different. Either way, I am getting it at a great discount. It all works together and I can’t go wrong! I can work at my own pace. These kits are perfect for crops. You only need a few additional tools and inks to complete.      Did you know? You can view these complete recipes, full-color photos, and helpful hints for the additional projects through August 2013. So you can buy it now! and still get online support for months to come!

Keep Calm and Craft ON at Christmas Time!

(Here’s a brief recap of how I spent my last several weeks of 2012 and how I survived!)
So, what’s a girl to do when a week before Thanksgiving…….
stressed_girl1
Your refrigerator goes and hubby buys one that won’t be delivered for 10 days!!
You have no refrigerator and company coming for the weekend?
Then your washing machine dies?
You turn 41!
You realize you are driving around with no break lights and can’t get them fixed for another week….
Then your Aunt and Uncle announce they are moving back from Arkansas with 91 yr old Grandma, (Ma) because they bought a house in the area.  See you in a week!
Don’t forget, in the meantime you have a Christmas Concert, meals, laundry and then Christmas is truly right around the corner! I bet you can totally relate right???
Well, YOU KEEP CALM AND CRAFT ON!!!!!! Here are a few of my crafty endeavors for Dec.

We had so much fun at our Crafty Cousin’s Night. Some made scarf tree skirts, window projects, cards, ornaments. My cousin, Lisa made some beautiful fresh swags with greenery from my back yard. Sofie even hung out with us! We are scheduling another one in January for Valentine’s crafts

There were also crafts that I made with my my kid’s Arts and Crafts class.  And these yummy treats for the teachers!

Crafting truly kept me sane at a very CRAZY time! How about you? Did you use crafts as a stress reliever over the holidays? Did it work? Leave me a comment and tell me about it!! I’d love to hear your story!
Let’s chat again soon!
Until then- Keep Calm and Craft On!!
Sarita

Jan. CTMH Stamp of the Month- Happy Valentines Day and Random Stamping

Welcome to our Stamp of the Month Blog Hop and HAPPY NEW YEAR!! We will be featuring January’s SOTM, which is Happy Valentine’s Day, a set of 7 stamps. If you have come here from Allisa’s Blog you are on the right path! The blog hop is a great big circle, so you can start here and work your way all around.

This month we have almost 50 Close To My Heart Consultants sharing their creations using this month’s SOTM and other great CTMH products on their blogs. This is simple to do – just click on the link at the end of the post on each blog to move to the next one! Here we go!

I love the elegance of this set and can see it in many different projects.  I wanted to show a few things you could do. This stamp was perfect for random stamping.  I stamped a tag for a future layout. I am in love with this word, smitten! To achieve this look I layered my stamping in first and second generation stamping.
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Here are a couple others that will be used in future projects. You’ll have to bookmark my site or pin it and be sure to come back and see what future projects I create with these.
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Here I wanted a grunge look. So, I used the stipple brush to create a smudged background. Then I stamped in black and fill it in with 1st and 2nd generation stamping in Cranberry on Cranberry cardstock. It gives it a totally different look.
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Here I colored the image with our alcohol markers and then stamped the sentiment.  After I stamped it with black pigment ink, I traced over the words too to make it pop.

I hope you are inspired and excited to see what everyone has made with this beautiful set.   Keep hopping over to Jill’s Blog.

 

20 New Little Angels ARE Home for Christmas


I woke up with a pit in my stomach Saturday morning.  That pit let me know that it was true. It did happen and yes, I still felt sick to my stomach. I didn’t want to get out of bed. I thought about all the things I still had to do for Christmas and they seemed so trivial and insignificant.
Then I felt guilty, because so many are suffering as their loved ones won’t be home for Christmas.
In light of this tragedy the song. “I’ll be Home for Christmas” has taken on a new meaning for me.  As a Christian, I believe that this is not our home. Our home is with Jesus and he sits at the right hand of the Father.  Every moment is one step closer to eternal life in heaven with Him. Heaven is our home.
I pictured Jesus welcoming, embracing and rejoicing with his 20 new little angels. I started to smile.  It gave me some comfort and peace. It is the only thing that could in these dark days of mourning. 
I have worked with children my whole life, so it was especially hard for me to see pictures of those gorgeous little children on TV last night. I thought of what a 6 or 7 year old would say to their Mom and Dad. What message would they want to hear.
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Cricut Artiste Cards and Envelopes- Sized Right for You!

I hate math! I can use a trimmer and measure what I need to. I can do basic math. However,  I have never been able to figure out the magic formula for making cards and envelopes beyond your traditional sizes. Wait! I meant to say without wasting a ton of time, paper and cardstock.

THEN! in walks the Cricut Artiste Cartridge from CTMH! It does the math for you!! With the click of a button and a few cuts and scores you will look like THE rock star of card making.

Check out the video to see how!  Then order your cartridge today and be the envy of all your crafty card making friends!!

Gratitude Stones- Great Way to Use up Left Over Alphabet Stickers!

  This is my favorite time of year!  I love hearing on Facebook what everyone is grateful for. So much that I chose to write it on stone.  This was a fun project for the Kids Arts and Crafts Workshop that I teach weekly through the Waterford Recreation Dept. I hunted down rocks on my property, easy to do on farmland.  I washed them and then used my trusty Craft Heater from CTMH to dry them. The heater actually pulled the moisture out of the rock. It was awesome!! This was also a great way to use up left over alphabet sticker sheets. They placed the letters down and painted a thin layer of acrylic paint over them.  Using the craft heater speeded up the drying process. It is hard to wait to pull those letters off! The heater also came in handy for drying the paint in between layers and so the children didn’t have to take home wet paint! 2012-11-08_11-52-06_98 I would love to know what you have used your left over alphabet stickers for? Please leave a comment and share your idea!

November Stamp of the Month Blog Hop- Capture the Date

 
Welcome to our Stamp of the Month Blog Hop! We will be featuring November’s SOTM, which is Capture the Date, a set of 72 stamps. If you have come here from Wanda’s Blog  you are on the right path! The blog hop is a great big circle, so you can start here and work your way all around.
This month we have just about 70 Close To My Heart Consultants sharing their creations using this month’s SOTM and other great CTMH products on their blogs. This is simple to do – just click on the link at the end of the post on each blog to move to the next one! Here we go!
This is such a great set for capturing the date of course, but what about capturing life?? You can use it with your scrapbooking, Project Life albums, calendar projects, cards and so much more!
I am in the Holiday spirit already so that’s where my crafting brain is. Smile
I thought this would make a super cute Advent Calendar. The boxes open on the bottom, so they are perfect for storing surprises!  Simple and sweet!  I used the December stamp with second and third generation stamping.  I really love the BOLDNESS of the numbers!
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{Artiste}3D Tree p.53 of booklet. Can be seen on pg. 60 of the
Idea Book. Includes instructions and more ideas.
X7162B Pear & Partridge Paper Pack (Olive Cardstock)
Z2137   Olive Ink
Z2116   Cranberry Ink
S1211A  Stamp of the Month
D1482     Love Life Stamp Set  (for flowers, leaves and random stamping) It is also in the spring/summer Idea Book. I have been using it a lot lately.
Now you are on to Krista’s Blog to see her work! Be sure to visit all the Consultants at their Blogs to get some great crafting ideas. 
 
Remember, the November SOTM is only available until Nov. 30! Contact your CTMH Consultant or click here to see how you can get this stamp set at a discount or even free! Plus, when you make a qualifying purchase you will get another stamp for 50% off!!
 
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Create Cards, Tags and More at Create & Take Tuesday!

Create it and Take It
Twice a month you are invited to “Create it and Take It Tuesday! I will have 3-4 mini projects or 1 larger project that you can complete for a session fee of only $10
All you have to do is RSVP ahead of time and tell me what session you are planning on attending. Bring your favorite adhesive.
I will have lots of crafty eye candy to inspire you! There will be specials and sales and a give-away at each session as well!
I promise you will leave with finished projects in your hands and creative ideas filling your head!

Tuesday Oct. 30, 2012
at Creative Cottage Designs
in Waterford, WI
Morning Session: 10:00-11:30 am
Afternoon: 1:30-3:00 pm
Evening: 5:30-7:00 pm
Evening 2 7:00-8:30 pm
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Get a jump on Christmas with the Oct. Stamp of the Month. “A Very Merry Christmas”
Masking Technique
Sanding
Product Spotlight: Silver Shimmer Tape- LOVE!! And silver glitz glitter gel!
Cricut Spotlight: Paper bows! so cute!!
Stations will be set up to create 2 cards, 3 tags and a fun 3D project that can be used as a tag or an ornament.

All this for only $10!!

FREE Shipping on any orders placed this day. Plus! other exclusive sales and specials!!

October Stamp of the Month Blog Hop- A Very Merry Christmas!

Welcome to the Close to my Heart October Blog Hop!  If you have come here from Georgia’s Blog you are on the right path. This Very Merry Christmas set of 11  is all you need to help you create the handmade holiday season you desire!  It is perfect for tags, cards, gift wrap and more!  See, the red lines?  That means all of the shapes coordinate beautifully with the Cricut Artiste Cartridge to make your Christmas crafting a breeze!
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I made these candy cane treat holders using our burlap ribbon and some fun accessories.  All I did was fold the ribbon and glue the edges. You can use Liquid Glass or a hot glue gun.  You could also sew the edges closed. The nice thing about the burlap is that it is has finished edges. Plus, it fits the candy cane perfectly.
Simply add the stamped image and some fun accessories and you have a sweet little gift.   I love that you can tailor these to any décor and what a statement they will make on my Christmas tree! Think of the possibilities.
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Don’t forget this set is only available from Oct. 1-31.  Be sure to add it to your club or party order!
Thanks for looking and to see more incredible ideas, keep going! You are now on to  Lori’s Blog to see how she used this set!