September Stamp of the Month - Limited Edition (S1109)

It's September and that means a new Stamp of the Month, and a great new blog hop -- there are so many talented Close To My Heart consultants ready to share their beautiful creations. If you have come from Kami's blog, you are on the right track.



Limited Edition is so fun and full of vintage style images. There is a little touch of back to school and I see invitations, teacher gifts, movie layouts, and so much more. The tag image will work great for upcoming Christmas season or for any birthday you have coming up.


My card uses the invitation flair, Typeset (my scrapbook kit paper packet for September) and the new Milestone embellishments.

I hope you enjoyed my card (would love to hear, please leave a comment).

Now hop on over to Lisa's blog.

Studio J - Love Your Layout

A new Studio J tutorial -- enjoy

Weekend Artist - Masking

I love how great minds think a like -- Jeanette, Close To My Heart Founder and CEO, shared a cute masking tutorial on her blog this week.

I love Jeanette's Weeks of Wonder posts, here is a little sneak peek at the masking technique she shared - click here to see the full tutorial.

Have a creative weekend!!

Buttons, Buttons, Buttons

My favorite stamp set Happy Clusters (C1471) is perfect for buttons -- check out the video



Love the box? We will be altering the My Creations Card Box as an add on to the Card Kit using the Believe paper packet or you can host your own My Creations Card Box workshop, contact me at shirleyross66@gmail.com to set up your workshop.

Simply Shirley Completed Project

For those who receive my Weekend Artist newsletter, here is the layout I promised which showcases the sentiment I created in the masking technique.

The word we were given for the first day of BIF (Big Idea Festival) was 'share'.

I thought long and hard on the theme of this mini album. My passion for running my own scrapbook business is apparent in all the many scrapbooks I have created over the years showing how my business has evolved.

I had just started a Dreams mini album and the BIF Words to Live By theme worked so well with my Dreams theme. Here is the first page, like sharing a cup of coffee, sharing my passion of memory keeping makes me all warm and fuzzy inside.

I will share more of my mini album as it takes shape.

Mojo Monday on Friday

Here is my version of the Mojo Monday 204 card sketch. I wanted to go with a masculine card. I used Kraft cardstock, Sweetheart level 2 B&T (pattern) paper using the reverse monochromatic black/gray, black ink and pewter brads.

I hope you enjoy my version, would love to have you leave a message.

Technique Blog Hop - Glossy Dimensions

Thirteen talented Close To My Heart sistas are highlighting the 'Glossy Dimensions' technique found on page 23 of the new 2011 Autumn/Winter Idea Book. This is a blog round, so no matter where you start, just hop until you return and you will not miss a one of the creative creations --

If you are coming from Tonya's blog, you are on the right track.

I love the use of liquid glass with Dimensional Elements (chipboard). Here is a sample of a title I created a year or so ago using the liquid glass and the letters Y o u.

I loved the idea of trying liquid glass and re-inkers when I saw the technique in the New 2011 Autumn/Winter Idea Book. And I was even more excited when my friend, Debi decided to use it as our first technique in a new series of technique hops.

Using a recipe from the new Idea Book, found on page 27, it looked like the small Creme Brulee star in the sample card I wanted to use, would work perfect.

I got my supplies together, a craft jar, liquid glass, Creme Brulee re-inker and my stylus.

I stamped the star image from the stamp set Love Life (D1482) just as it was in the Idea Book version onto the star shaped Dimensional Element. Into the craft jar I squeezed about a dime size dollop (love those technical terms) of liquid glass and added 2 drops of Creme Brulee re-inker.

Using my stylus, I stirred until well mixed.

Next, I carefully painted the stamped image in the center of the Dimensional Element star. In order to add texture, I aided in the drying time by using my craft heater, I began to quick dry the liquid glass. This makes it soft but not smeary.

I carefully used my piercing tool to add a hole for the brad. I carefully pushed the brad into the slot and turn the Dimensional Element star over on my piercing tool pad and finished by pressing the tabs of the brads out. The pushing into the piercing tool mat, brought a rugged look to star. I pressed a few more times to add more texture and to give it a more matte than shiny appearance.

I completed the card.


I hope you enjoyed my little technique and creation - now on to the next blog - WAIT, please leave me a little message letting me what you thought of my use of this technique.  Now on to Judy's blog.

My Acrylix® Pair-a-Phrase Blog Hop

Welcome to our Double 'D' blog hop - if you have hopped from Jen's Jewel Box you are on the right track. This is a blog round, so you can start anywhere and continue until you return. Enjoy the ride!

It is amazing how Close To My Heart comes up with new specials and in preparation of National Stamping Month (September), we are offering our first-ever double stamp set! You can get the exclusive My Acrylix® Pair-a-Phrase double stamp set FREE when you place an order of $75 from August 15 through September 30, 2011.

You’ll love this double set—two D-size sets in one envelope—which includes lots of clever phrases and coordinating images you’ll use in your handmade cards all year.

And with a retail value of $35.90, this set drastically increases the value of your qualifying purchase!

But wait our Extra, Extra! August Stamp of the Month special is still running, so if your Double 'D' order is $75, you qualify for the August Stamp of the Month for only $5 AND  you will receive a cute 'A Typeface' alphabet stamp.

What a great special, THREE (3) 'D' size stamp sets and an 'A' size stamp set -- all for only a $75 order - and if you order the great Close To My Heart Cricut cartridge collection - Z1686 Cricut® Art Philosophy Collection - SIX (6) 'D' size stamp sets, an 'A' size stamp set, an awesome Cricut cartridge with an unprecedented 700 images available and more for only $99 -- email me to take advantage of this special

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My creation -- It is so fun to show how the Idea Book is an idea book.

I took the Wishes (9033) 'All Tucked In' recipe shown on page 27 in the new 2011 Autumn/Winter Idea Book. I wanted to use the new Decor Journaling Spots (Z1461), Kraft (Z1375) and Colonial White Cardstock (X5901 six pack) and the pleated ribbon from the Designer Ribbon red collection (Z1615).

 Below is a short tutorial for using the blending pen (3174) to color - if you wish to continue to Gina's blog, great. Remember to come back and check out the tutorial.

Don't have a Close To My Heart consultant, click here to order any of the products

First let us get our tools together -

Next I stamped the images using Stazon brown (Z1142) as I wanted to color using the blending pen (3174) and using a permanent ink allows for coloring without bleeding into the color.











A great way to use the ink is while the ink pad is closed, press the middle which will lay ink into the lid, ready for you to pick up with the blending pen.

Weekend Artist - Studio J

Tonight the Weekend Artist will be a little different. Are you dead tired and don't feel like getting out all your scrapbooking stuff? Grab your laptop, curl up on the couch and scrap a little Studio J style.

Here is a little tutorial


Click here for more tutorials and to get started.

Simply Shirley and Mojo Monday

This morning I am sharing with you my version of the Mojo Monday sketch.

In keeping with the new 'use it don't collect' philosophy, I grabbed some of my stash - Kraft paper, Kraft borders, Kraft journaling spots, bulk Outdoor Denim twill ribbon, and Lucky paper (my club kit paper for August) and a Thank You stamp.

I wanted to create a masculine thank you card. I used Olive and Outdoor Denim ink and added a little distressing around the pattern paper for a more rough and ready look.

I hope you enjoy my little creation.

Weekend Artist

Masking

The month of August is our masking month. Masking is the technique of covering an image to allow the stamping of another image on top to create the look of depth with images appearing in front and in back. All month I will share masking technniques that I have found in my search of the wide world of the web.

Wishing you a wonderfully creative weekend!

I saw this technique on Too Cool Stamping blog. I loved the beautiful card.

So here we go - I found a cute 2 1/2" x 3 1/2" card in the Wishes (9033) how to book. And then, I started by making two (2) heart masks using a post-it note and the stamp set Love Life (D1482).








I love that you can create your own little stamp, by adding images to the block. I am using a medium star, a little star, and a little heart. This stamp image is randomly stamped on the small project piece. I stamped it in Tulip (Z2166) and in Cocoa (Z2114).

With the masks randomly placed on my project piece, I begin to rub ink in a circlar direction on the piece using a sponge (Z697) and cocoa ink. I will continue until the project piece is covered and the color is deep enough for me. The more ink you rub onto the project the darker the shade.

Once you have completed the sponging, remove the masks. The images stamped first will show through in the shape of the masked stamp image. I created a small card for this project. I love to keep these small cards on hand, you never know when someone needs a little pick me up.

Popping Flowers

Oh I am so loving the new partnership, Close To My Heart and Cricut, and I am truly buggy about it. Here is another great video to show how our stamps work with the Cricut.  This is one of my favorites, as an Alabama football fan, houndstooth is a great pattern.

Enjoy and look for the Weekend Artist, tomorrow.

New 2011 Autumn/Winter Idea Book - is live

1. New Idea Book Is Live: The brand new Autumn/Winter 2011 Idea Book went live today. Too many wonderful new products -- so little time!!

• Eight NEW paper packets
  
• There are so many wonderful new stamp sets and accessories.
• Our background and texture (B&T) paper (patterned paper) is now a heavier weight. And to make it even better the paper now has a 'zip strip' where the copyright info is found (no longer on the paper itself). One side contains information on the coordinating CTMH Exclusive colors AND on the other side you find a fun border you can add to your creations! Nothing to throw away!!
• TOP THAT OFF WITH -- Acrylic stamp set prices GOING DOWN!! How many companies do you see LOWERING prices right now?

Here is the link to view the brand new Idea Book page by scrumptious page. If you'd like an Idea Book of your own, there are a few ways to get one:

• Join a current Crop Club or start your own and you receive yours FREE!
• Come by the house and pick one up -- call or email and I will deliver local to me here in Selma, AL.
• If you need one sent, I'm happy to send one to you for the price of shipping ($5). The Idea Book is on me!

To order from the new Idea Book, just head to my website .

2. There is a great special this month called "Extra, Extra"!: When you spend $50 (before shipping and tax) you qualify for the August Stamp of the Month (Wicked...see below) for $5. Purchase that for the $5 and you get this DARLING font stamp set (not available any other way) for FREE!

3. August Stamp of the Month: The Stamp of the Month program has been simplified. And, if you spend $50 in a single order (before shipping and tax) you can now get the Stamp of the Month for less than half the price you could before. Here's how the simplified program works:

• Spend $50 and the Stamp of the Month is yours for only $5. ($17.95 value)
• You can also purchase the set for it's full value of $17.95.