This is a place where friends of all ages can gather to create, explore, discover, inquire and share creative projects using a variety of tools and materials including Cricut and Close To My Heart resources.
New Mini Paper Bag Treat or Tea Bag Holder
by Kimberly Bower using September SOTM
Design Challenge: Atlantic Hearts Sketch #283
Here's a new design I put together today to inspire you to join in the Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge #283. Feel free to gather inspiration from this week's sketch plus all the other Design Team artwork in order to create your own project. As always, your project does NOT have to be a card. It can be absolutely anything as long as you incorporate this week's sketch in some way.
Here is this week's sketch:
If you're looking for a fun way to present a small gift of a tea bag or something similar in size, this little gift bag might just be the ticket. It was so much fun to put together. I used CTMH's 'September Stamp of the Month: Just Treats' and 'Hello Pumpkin' papers. Here's a look at the removable tag next to the embellished mini brown paper bag. So cute, right?
This Challenge will be open until Sunday night, September 30, at 11:59pm Atlantic Standard Time (10:59pm EST, 9:59pm CST, 8:59pm MST, 7:59pm PST). We hope that you will find the time to play along!
New Card Design: 'Congratulations on your achievement' featuring Grateful Heart Cardmaking stamp set
This month, Close To My Heart released the brand new 2018 Holiday Expressions catalog. You can view the entire catalog online here. Also, if you place an order of any size, Close To My Heart will send you a catalog for free. Just look for the spot to add it to your order. I love using the photos in the catalog to inspire my own creations.
For this design, I started with the gorgeous butterfly stamp. I inked it up in Archival Black, colored it with watercolor pencils, used a waterbrush to blend the colors, embellished with my clear Shimmer Brush and then heat embossed it with clear embossing powder and Versamark. I inked the flowers along the bottom in Nectarine and the leaves on the side in Glacier. I added a fussy-cut strip of the patterned paper so two lines of text would show above and below the black/gold ribbon which I attached using mini staples. The final touches were one black enamel gem on the butterfly's head and three gold glitter gems. For details on specific products used, scroll past my signature line.
I am also submitting this card to the following design challenges:
The Double Trouble #10 optional challenge calls to enter the design into the Brown Sugar Challenge #282: "All Creatures Great and Small"
One of this month's Heart2Heart Challenges calls for ribbon so this card will fit right in.
Well, that's what I have for today. I hope you enjoyed reading about my design process. Stay creative and continue to share kindness along the way,
Kimberly
Want to make this? Let's go shopping! Want help with assembly? Let's do a Facebook Live! Just let me know.
If you are not already working with a consultant, I'd be honored to earn your business. If you'd like to enjoy the added privileges of being a consultant, I can show you how. Check out the labeled tabs for more details. You can also contact me via comment or email.
Design Challenge: Color Dare #311: Ballerina, Saffron, Peacock
Welcome to this week's Color My Heart Color Challenge! This week for Color Dare #311 we are challenging you to use the three pictured colors: Ballerina, Saffron, and Peacock (with optional Gold).
Just a few notes:
We use CTMH color names for reference, however, you are welcome to use any products as long as you match closest to the colors in the challenge.
We have new guidelines on neutral colors: White, Cream, Black, Gray, Kraft and Brown(s) are free to use; however if they are included in the challenge graphic they MUST be used in your creation.
Please do not use any additional colors beyond those on this week's color palette.
My card design:
For my card design, I used my 2" Basic Circle Thin Cut and cut out 6 circles of B&T (patterned paper) from the Seasons Mix-In Paper Pack. I folded and shaped each of 5 circles to resemble a flower petal and glued them onto the 6th circle. I fussy cut one of the saffron gold shapes from the Boutique paper pack for the center of the flower. I embellished the center with three gold glitter gems. I added to the dimensional effect by attaching the flower with foam circles. I used three large foam dots in the center and one small foam dot behind each petal. I used gold embossing powder to place the sentiment, 'hello friend' in the lower right corner of the card. This sentiment is in the Grateful Heart cardmaking stamp set. For a detailed list of products used, please scroll past my signature line.
Now it is your turn to create! Just create a project (card, layout or other craft project) using this week's colors. Then link them to the Color My Heart Blog ~ Color Dare #311. The full details on how to join the fun are in the sidebar of our homepage. You have two weeks to create and enter this challenge. For this Color Dare Challenge, you have until Thursday, October 4, 2018 at 10:00 p.m. EST to submit your project. We love to see your inspiring projects!
Stay creative and continue to share kindness along the way,
Want to make this card? Let's go shopping! Want help with assembly? Let's do a Facebook Live! Just let me know.
If you are not already working with a consultant, I'd be honored to earn your business. If you'd like to enjoy the added privileges of being a consultant, I can show you how. Check out the labeled tabs for more details. You can also contact me via comment or email.
Welcome to our monthly Technique Blog Hop. I'm so glad you're here! If you're here from Darlys Recker's blog, you're on the right path. This hop is a great big circle so you can start here and work your way around. When you get back to me you'll know that you've seen all of the creative ideas offered through this month's blog hop. There are 13 participating consultants so you're bound to be inspired by the time you complete the hop. You can continue the hop by clicking on the links provided in each post. Should you get lost along the way, there is a list of participants below.
This month we are showcasing products found in our brand new 2018 Holiday Expressions catalog that give the appearance of, or contain actual, stitching. There is a 'stitched' alphabet stamp set, 'stitched' thin cuts in different shapes, thread for use in actual stitching, and of course, you can add the look of stitching with a journaling pen. You can view the entire catalog online here. Also, if you place an order of any size, Close To My Heart will send you a catalog for free. I love using the photos in the catalog to inspire my own creations.
I decided to venture outside the box a little by creating a travel sewing kit that you could keep in your purse, overnight bag, or glove box. This would make a great 'thank you' gift for a friend and is small enough that you could tuck it into a card for mailing. You could also change it up a bit and turn it into a gift card holder. It'd be an easy swap. Here's a look at it open and a rear view too:
Here's how to make this travel sewing kit:
Cut one B&T (patterned paper): 4.5" x 9.5".
Score at 1.75", 4.5", 5.75", and 7".
Make valley folds at all score lines except for 5.75" score line. At this line, make a mountain fold.
Place sewing kit along 5.75" score line. Make a mark on each end of the sewing kit. Cut along the center area of this score line so sewing kit will slide into the opening.
Flip paper over. Use a strong double-sided adhesive like Duck to create a sealed edge between the score lines to the immediate right and immediate left of 5.75" score/cut line. This will prevent your sewing kit from falling out of the bottom of your travel kit.
Use a corner rounder on both corners closest to the 1.75" score line. This will be the top flap.
Cut one B&T (patterned paper): 2" x 7". This will be a band around your kit.
Score the band at 2" and 4.75". Make sure it fits around your kit.
Use adhesive to seal the two ends of band together.
Cut a saffron heart with the 2.5" Basic Heart Thin Cut.
Cut a light B&T heart with the 2.25" Stitched Heart Thin Cut.
Stamp "Sew thankful" sentiment. Stamp leaves and designs as desired on stitched heart using 'Grateful Heart - Cardmaking Stamp Set'. Add Bitty Sparkles, as desired.
Attached stitched heart to basic heart.
Attach double heart to cover the raw edge of the belly band.
Slide belly band over sewing kit.
Enjoy!
Whoa! Wait a minute! I had so much fun creating this travel sewing kit that I made another, slightly smaller version (4" wide instead of 4.5") substituting in our Boutique cardmaking stamp, papers and complements. Which one do you like better?
I would love it if you'd share your thoughts in a comment before continuing with our hop. For a detailed list of products used, please scroll past my signature line. Just a note: I was inspired by quite a few gift card holder designs on Pinterest, most of which were fairly similar in size and structure. Your next stop along this hop is Catherine Nowak's blog so hop on over and see what wonderful creation she has for you today.
Stay creative and continue to share kindness along the way,
Kimberly
Want to make this? Let's go shopping! Want help with assembly? Let's do a Facebook Live! Just let me know.
If you are not already working with a consultant, I'd be honored to earn your business. If you'd like to enjoy the added privileges of being a consultant, I can show you how. Check out the labeled tabs for more details. You can also contact me via comment or email.
Here's a new card I made today to inspire you to join in the Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge #281. Feel free to gather inspiration from this week's sketch plus all the other Design Team artwork in order to create your own project. As always, your project does NOT have to be a card. It can be absolutely anything as long as you incorporate this week's sketch in some way.
Here is this week's sketch:
My card details:
I used one of the PML cards in CTMH's Postcard Perfect Paper Pack as my center design and added the 'my friend' sentiment from the Beautiful You Stamp + Thin Cuts set. This would be a great card to encourage a friend undergoing tough times. It seemed a fitting focus as my crafting friends and I were crafting around 'World Suicide Prevention Day' on Sunday. It's a good day, whenever you're reading this, to check on your friends and those within your circle of influence. Take a moment to encourage someone today.
This Challenge will be open until Sunday night, September 16, at 11:59pm Atlantic Standard Time (10:59pm EST, 9:59pm CST, 8:59pm MST, 7:59pm PST). We hope that you will find the time to play along!
New Card Design by Kimberly Bower
featuring Boutique and Grateful Heart Cardmaking
Stamp Sets and Grateful Heart Paper Packet
Blog Hop Featuring Close To My Heart
'2018 Holiday Expressions' New Products
Welcome to our New Product Blog Hop. I'm so glad you're here! If you're here from Haley Dyer's blog, you're on the right path. This hop is a great big circle so you can start here and work your way around. When you get back to me you'll know that you've seen all of the creative ideas offered through this month's blog hop. There are 20 participating consultants so you're bound to be inspired by the time you complete the hop. If you'd like to see the full list, you can find that on Melinda's blog: If You Bling It.
This month we are showcasing products found in our brand new 2018 Holiday Expressions catalog. You can view the entire catalog online here. Also, if you place an order of any size, Close To My Heart will send you a catalog for free. I love using the photos in the catalog to inspire my own creations.
My card design features our Grateful Heart - Cardmaking and Boutique - Cardmaking stamp sets, and our Grateful Heart Paper Packet. This paper packet features the following colors: Pomegranate, Sapphire, Glacier, New England Ivy, Fern,Saffron, Goldrush, Espresso, Mink, and White Daisy. Here's a look at these three items:
I am in love with our Grateful Heart butterfly. I took creative license and strayed from the natural colors of the Monarch butterfly to create a butterfly that made my heart happy. I inked the butterfly in Archival Black and the sentiment, 'you make my heart happy' in Sapphire. I used 'Thin Cuts - Stitched Hearts' for the three hearts on the front and one on the inside of the card. There is a tiny banner in the lower left-hand corner that uses the woodgrain from our Seasons Mix-In Paper Packet. I embellished my card with three Gold Glitter Gems and added sparkle to the butterfly and the hearts with our clear Shimmer Brush. If you got to paint a butterfly, what colors would you choose?
New Card Design by Kimberly Bower
featuring Boutique and Grateful Heart Cardmaking
Stamp Sets and Grateful Heart Paper Packet
I would love it if you'd share your thoughts in a comment before continuing with our hop. For a detailed list of products used, please scroll past my signature line. Your next stop along this hop is Miss Carrie's Creations so hop on over and see what wonderful creation she has for you today.
Stay creative and continue to share kindness along the way,
Kimberly
Want to make this card? Let's go shopping! Want help with assembly? Let's do a Facebook Live! Just let me know.
If you are not already working with a consultant, I'd be honored to earn your business. If you'd like to enjoy the added privileges of being a consultant, I can show you how. Check out the labeled tabs for more details. You can also contact me via comment or email.
Design Challenge: Color Dare #309: Twisted Tic-Tac-Toe Farewell to Retired Colors
Welcome to this week's Color My Heart Color Challenge! This week for Color Dare #309 we are challenging you to a Twisted TicTacToe. Choose three or more of your favorite retired Close To My Heart (CTMH) colors. For this challenge, you do not need to select column, row or diagonal.
Just a few notes: We use CTMH color names for reference, however, you are welcome to use any products as long as you match closest to the colors in the challenge. Also, we have new guidelines on neutral colors: White, Cream, Black, Gray, Kraft and Brown(s) are free to use; however if they are included in the challenge graphic they MUST be used in your creation. Also, make a note not to use any additional colors beyond those on the color palette.
My card design:
For my card design, I used Pattern 23 on page 50 of CTMH's Make It From Your Heart, Vol. 4. Using the pattern makes it so much easier to jump start your own creations. I used retired cardstock in Juniper, Blossom and Cranberry, plus the rose B&T paper from the Adventure Fundamentals Paper Pack. I inked the design with Cranberry, White Daisy and Bashful. I used the largest 3-layer rose and the leaf stamps from Beautiful You Stamp + Thin Cuts and the 2.5" circle from the Thin Cuts - Basic Circles set. I added a 1/2" strip of Cranberry cardstock and then placed the White Shimmer Trim just beneath the Cranberry strip.
Now it is your turn to create! Just create a project (card, layout or other craft project) using this week's colors. Then link them to the Color My Heart Blog ~ Color Dare #309. The full details on how to join the fun are in the sidebar of our homepage. You have two weeks to create and enter this challenge. For this Color Dare Challenge, you have until Thursday September 20, 2018 at 10:00 p.m. EST to submit your project. We love to see your inspiring projects!
Stay creative and continue to share kindness along the way,
Kimberly
Want to make this card? Let's go shopping! Want help with assembly? Let's do a Facebook Live! Just let me know.
If you are not already working with a consultant, I'd be honored to earn your business. If you'd like to enjoy the added privileges of being a consultant, I can show you how. Check out the labeled tabs for more details. You can also contact me via comment or email.
All-Occasion Inside Shadow Box Card
made by Kimberly Bower using
September SOTM and Boutique papers
Blog Hop: September CTMH Stamp of the Month - Just Treats
Welcome to our Stamp of the Month Blog Hop. I'm so glad you're here! If you're here from Haley Dyer's blog, you're on the right path. This hop is a great big circle so you can start here and work your way around. When you get back to me you'll know that you've seen all of the creative ideas offered through this month's blog hop. There are 20 participating consultants so you're bound to be inspired by the time you complete the hop. If you'd like to see the full list, you can find that on Melinda's blog: If You Bling It.
This month we are featuring September SOTM: Just Treats (S1808). This stamp comes with 22 images celebrating multiple Fall holidays.
If you love this stamp set, you will want to be sure to purchase it this month as it is only available during the month of September. Once you add $50 of qualifying products to your shopping cart you will see an option below the cart to add this special stamp for only $5.00.
Measurements and supplies
for card front
CTMH Exclusive My Acrylix Inks used
View of card interior (inside shadow box)
View of card when open revealing
inside shadow box
Card folds flat and fits in
standard A2 envelope for mailing
To make the card front, you'll need pieces cut as follows:
Saffron: 5.5" x 4.25" (cut 1), 2.75" x 3.25" (cut 1)
Glacier: 2.5" x 3" (cut 1), 4" x 1.25" (cut 1)
Boutique B&T (polka dots): 4" x 2" (cut 2)
Gold Glitter Trim: 4" (cut 1)
On the Saffron base, adhere the Boutique B&T and Glacier rectangles as seen in photo. Adhere the Gold Glitter Trim along the bottom edge of the Glacier strip. Stamp the sentiment, 'Thankful for sweet friends like you', on the Glacier rectangle. Adhere this to the smaller Saffron rectangle. Attach this piece at an angle on top of your base (see photo). Stamp the candy pieces (lemon center) and the coffee cup on White Daisy cardstock. I used Toffee for drink color inside cup and Saffron for design on cup exterior. Cut. Use Archival Black if you intend to use water with the watercolor pencils after coloring the cup and/or candies.
View of alternate inside of card
using White Daisy cardstock for
box rather than Glacier
To make the 'box' for the card, you need:
1) Blank A2 CTMH White Daisy Card: Cut off 0.5" from one end which will become the back of the card,
2) Glacier cardstock: 5.5" x 8.5", scored at 0.5", 4.25", and 4.75", then cut a sliver off of the end that has the 0.5" scoring,
3) Oval Thin Cuts: Place where desired on the section closest to the 0.5" score line and cut out using Cuttlebug, and
4) Linen: 3.75" x 5" for background inside shadow box.
Stamp the woodgrain image from 'Grateful Heart - Cardmaking' onto the Linen rectangle about 2.5" up from bottom (depending on size and placement of your Oval Thin Cut). Use Thin 3-D Foam Dot to place fussy-cut cup onto woodgrain 'table'. Stamp steam swirls on top of cup and onto background (see photo). Using Duck Easy Stick tape runner, tape the 0.5" seam of the Glacier 'box'. Align to fold line on interior of White Daisy Card. Fold and press card closed to adhere. Use Duck Easy Stick tape runner along both edges of the inside back of the Glacier 'box'. Align to outside back of White Daisy card base. Press to adhere. When closed, the card will be the standard A2 card size and can be mailed in the envelope provided in the CTMH bulk card/envelope package.
If you need further instructions on putting this card together, I'd be happy to assist.
I was inspired by the Inside Shadow Box Cards video instructions by Jennifer McGuire Inks to create the inside shadow box. I changed up the instructions a little to use our card base, but you could easily use White Daisy cardstock instead. I made one using Glacier cardstock and another using White Daisy cardstock. Which do you like better?
Want to make this card? Let's go shopping! Want help with assembly? Let's do a Facebook Live! Just let me know.
If you are not already working with a consultant, I'd be honored to earn your business. If you'd like to enjoy the added privileges of being a consultant, I can show you how. Check out the labeled tabs for more details. You can also contact me via comment or email.
Your next stop along this hop is Katy Taylor's blog so hop on over and see what wonderful creation she has for you today.
Stay creative and continue to share kindness along the way,
Kimberly
