It's a birthday bash! {Winnie & Walter}

It's an exciting week over at Winnie & Walter, and I am thrilled to help celebrate their 1st birthday, as well as usher in their latest new release, which will go live tonight at 10PM CST.

I have a few little lovelies to share with you, showcasing the new stamps being released - they're all about celebrating! I make a lot of birthday cards during the year, so I'm always excited about new products to inspire my cards.

On this first card, I used the new sets, Sugar Rush and The Big, the Bold and Party. The sets pair so perfectly together, you're really going to want them both! I also used the new Scenery: Stripes set to add that nice little dotted line detail. From my current W&W stash I pulled out the happy die from The Big, the Bold and the Happy Cutaways. Cutaways are Winnie & Walter's metal dies, and these word dies are so much fun to use. I just love them!

Next, I created a card with an upcycled element. Do you know what it is????? It's the sweet tag that accompanied my package from Winnie & Walter. I flipped it over and used the back as a base for my donut image. I stamped the stand right on the tag, and then I fussy cut the donuts from cardstock. After coloring them, I added some clear dimensional glaze to the frosted parts of the donuts. For a more substantial bow, I doubled up my twine before tying it.

And last (but not least) a little birthday card trio. I often like to create a few coordinating cards while I have a stash of supplies out. Might as well crank out a few extras, while I've got my mess assembled, right? These would be the start of a great gift set, as well. 

I created a little formula or pattern for these cards - it helps me stay focused and less overwhelmed with possibilities. Each image was stamped on a block of white cardstock, (and I stuck to just three ink colors.) I added a strip of black cardstock, and glitter tape to the bottom of each. I added a few quick embellishments with enamel stars, dots using Tsukineko's irRESISTable Pico Embellisher and a few hole-punched dots from the glitter tape. 

Thanks so very much for coming by - if you haven't been over to the Winnie & Walter blog yet today, please stop by - there's so very much celebrating going on, and there's lots to see! 

Winnie & Walter supplies:

The Big, the Bold and Party stamps

The Big, the Bold and Happy Cutaways

Sugar Rush stamps

Scenery: Stripes

Other supplies:

CTMH shimmer tape

CTMH black enamel stars (also available in white) 

Tsukineko Pico Embellisher (at Simon Says Stamp) (at scrapbook.com) 

Geometric Heart Card {Avery Elle}

Hello friends! As Valentine-Card-Creation season is upon us (wow, that was a serious mouthful. I promise, I'll never say that again,) I thought I'd pull another card out of my stash that fits the season. 

This is the very last card that I had published in Paper Crafts & Scrapbooking magazine, in the February issue. This isn't as difficult as it looks. . .the hardest part is laying the triangles out evenly and straight. Would you care to give it a try??? 

1. Trim1-inch squares of cardstock. (Three colors is a good place to start. I used black, aqua, and glittered cardstock.)  

2. Trim each square diagonally in half to create triangles. (You'll need 20 triangles to create this heart.) 

3. Use my card as a guide and assemble the triangles to create a heart. Play with the arrangement of colors. I tried to evenly distribute the colors, and avoid having the same color triangles next to each other. There are so many possibilities though - do what you like! You could even just do one color to start.

Here's another card I created using the same formula, but for this I used fuchsia, coral, and gold cardstocks. This is a larger 5x7 card. If you have any questions, just holler! I had fun figuring out how to make this project! Thanks so much for stopping by! 

Supplies:(Simon Says Stamp affiliate links below)
Handwritten Notes (Avery Elle) 
Many Thanks (Avery Elle)
Golden Glitz Delicata ink by Tsukineko 
Close To My Heart Glittered Cardstock 

Frightful and Delightful {Paper Crafts & Scrapbooking magazine}

Hey there friends! I'm sharing some frightful and delightful Halloween inspiration over on the Paper Crafts & Scrapbooking magazine blog today! And as I promised over there, here are a few addition photos, plus all the supplies I used. If you haven't stopped over there yet, I'd love for you to come by and read about how I inspired myself and jazzed up my creativity - without even a trip to Pinterest! (I wasn't sure it was possible!)

SUPPLIES: (some affiliate links included)
-Gift bags - Target Dollar Spot (part of the Halloween goodies!)
-Close To My Heart Paper Fundamentals Basics Assortment black chevron, gray hexagon print paper (I love this paper. Each color is paired with white and a pattern on one side, and solid colored with shiny texture on the other side. They're so versatile!)
-Close To My Heart Scaredy Cat paper pack 
-Winnie & Walter Moonlight stamp set (all stamps used are from this great set!)

Thanks so much for stopping by today! xoxo

Best Day Ever {Happy World Card Making Day}

Happy World Card Making Day!!! A day to make cards. . .wait - isn't that EVERY day? (Well, some of us wish it could be!) A day to celebrate making cards. . .well, sure! Why not!? 

I'll be honest - I'm not entirely sure how or when or where this whole World Card Making Day (WCMD) thing came about - but hey, we're crafty, and we love to celebrate. So let's do this thing!

Today I'm honored to have a card posted over at the Moxie Fab World. Teri has some fab projects from different designers, which will be posting THROUGHOUT the day! How fun is that!? So keep on checking back over there, for fun all day long! And while you're at it, keep checking in at the Paper Crafts magazine blog too, because there will be multiple posts, giveaways, and crazy inspiration all day long! 

Here's a peek of the card I'm sharing at Moxie Fab World. . . 

And now, a coordinating project. I used Close To My Heart's Picture My Life -Laughing Lola Collection on both of these projects. This collection kind of made me embrace purple. . .if you've been reading this blog for a while, you may remember we've discussed my general dislike of PURPLE. (Perhaps 12 years in schools with PURPLE as the school color could be the reason!) At any rate - the purples are really kind of nice in this collection, and I can sort of do purple without throwing up now. As long as it's paired with a fabulous aqua and gold! 

On this card, I started with a journaling card. To tuck the extra papers in, I used an exacto knife and trimmed around the first page, and then inserted the others behind. It added a fun little touch of dimension to it. Then I matted the journaling block, and adhered it to the larger size journaling card. (Then I stuck the whole thing on a card base.) Fun stuff!!! 

My cute mommy is a Close to My Heart consultant, and she supplies much of my CTMH stash. She's pretty spectacular, and if you're looking to do some shopping, my links will take you to her website! Find all the Picture My Life goodies from Close To My Heart here. 

Thanks so much for stopping by on this lovely World Card Making Day! I'd love to know what you're creating this weekend! Share your links/comments with me and I'll stop by and visit YOUR blog or gallery too! And remember to share on social media with hashtag #wcmd2014 

xoxo

Go-to Gal Designer Challenge {Tsukineko/IMAGINE Crafts}

Good day, sweet crafty friends!It's Go-to Gal Designer Challenge day! This is a just-for-fun challenge that the Paper Crafts & Scrapbooking magazine Go-to Gals toss out to each other, using some of our favorite products. This month we are playing with Tsukineko/IMAGINE Crafts products. If you hoard ink, then you probably have some of their great products in your stash. Tsukineko/IMAGINE Crafts makes VersaMagic, VersaFine, Memento and StazOn . . .just to name a FEW! I'll be honest, I had never really used a chalk ink until Tsukineko came into my life! And I've never crafted the same again! :)

For today's project, I had some brand new Stampin' Up stamps looking adoringly at me (Fall Fest and For All Things), just begging to be inked up. It still feels quite far from autumn around here, so I thought I'd do something different, and use some not-quite traditional colors on my pumpkins. I used Tsukineko/IMAGINE Crafts' VersaMagic inks in Pixie Dust, Pink Grapefruit, Mango Madness, plus Key Lime for the leaves and stems. The small Dew Drop sized ink pads are perfect for a project like this, because I was able to ink up the stamps with two colors, to create my green stems, all in one step. 

I paired my sweet pumpkins with Avery Elle woodgrain cardstock. (We discussed this in my last blog post. . .and here it is again, because I'm telling you - I LOVE this cardstock!) I also added my favorite May Arts twine, plus a wood embellishment from Close To My Heart. 

So, here's my not-quite-ready-for-fall, fall card. I am excited to see what the other Go-to Gals are up to, with their Tsukineko/IMAGINE Crafts products. They aren't just YOUR Go-to Gals. . .they are MINE too, and I am seriously turning to them for help, inspiration, and chit chat EVERY day. They're the best. So go see them, and give my Gals some love! 

• Heather Campbell

• Kim Kesti

• Laina Lamb

• Teri Anderson

Thanks so much for stopping by!!!! Have a fabulous day!

By the Sea party ensemble {Paper Crafts & Scrapbooking magazine}

Hello friends! The Fourth of July weekend is just about here! We'll be spending the weekend out at the beach, enjoying a view of the ocean and the sand in our toes. It's only a 20 minute trip from our house, so we go there fairly often, but there's still something about the July 4th weekend that makes the summer beach scene extra magical! 

Today I'm sharing this summer party ensemble on the Paper Crafts & Scrapbooking blog. I used Graphic 45's By the Sea collection, and YOU have the chance to win it over on the PC&S blog (so if you haven't been there yet, click on over for a chance! There are more pictures of these projects too!)

As I promised over there, I have more details, and supply lists here in case you'd like to try this yourself.  First up, the banner. I LOVE using my Sizzix Framelits pennant dies to create party decor. It is so easy to create pennants using any paper you choose (or even felt or foam!) There's a scalloped die, and a straight edge die, so I die-cut one of each and layered them. You can see I alternated sizes between small and large. I used a small hole punch on each corner and then I threaded twine through each pennant. (Yes, it's my favorite May Arts burlap string. . . seriously, it matches EVERYTHING. I'm obsessed, which you might already know!) Then I just added some chipboard embellishments, and pinwheels (also a die, which is from The Cat's Pajamas.)

Next up, the drink bottle. This is just a recycled Starbucks Frappaccino bottle. Sometimes I save things, even though I'm not sure why. . . .and this was one of those saves that worked perfectly. A mason jar would have been fabulous too. I jazzed it up with burlap, twine, and chipboard. This would be fun to personalize for each guest, maybe with names or initials too. (You could even let them take it home with them!) 

Next we have the cute little place setting bag. Wouldn't this be fun (and handy) when serving up a BBQ or buffet? Guests can grab a bag and have their napkin and utensils contained in this cute little bag (this one is from Fancy Pants.) Again, I just decorated it up with goodies from the By the Sea collection, a pinwheel die, and twine. 

(And would you like to know a funny secret? The napkin I used for this photo, is a Star Wars napkin with Darth Vader on the other side. It was the only red napkin I had in the house!)

And last but not least, a quick card. . . .because really, how could I NOT make a card? It could be an invitation, or maybe a thank-you card after a fabulous summer soiree. Below, I've linked up the products I've used. If you have any questions, ask away! I'd love to chat with you! And be sure to stop over at the Paper Crafts blog, for a chance to win this paper collection, plus lots of coordinating goodies!  Have a fabulous, safe, and FUN Fourth of July weekend! 

Supplies:

kraft cardstock

Graphic 45 By the Sea 12x12 pad and chipboard shapes

Sizzix Framelits pennants dies(from scrapbook.com) or (from Sizzix.com)

Sizzix Framelits scalloped pennants dies (from scrapbook.com) or (from Sizzix.com)

Pinwheels die from The Cat's Pajamas

May Arts burlap string (from Simon Says Stamp)

Fancy Pants bag

Burlap Ribbon (on bottle) Close To My Heart

Photo Pocket Page Challenge {Moxie Fab World}

Have you been by the Moxie Fab World lately?
Did you know there's a challenge?
Did you know you might win a prize?!

In honor of the new Photo Pocket Scrapbooking issue, the Moxie Fab challenge is to create a project using a journaling card. (Speaking of which, you can find Photo Pocket Scrapbooking on a newsstand near you, or in the Scrap & Paper Shop. It is pretty cool - pocket scrapbooking ideas, as well as 12x12 layouts, and even cards too!)

I decided to play along on this challenge, because let's face it. . . .I have a LOT of journaling cards, and I don't do a lot of journaling and scrapbooking! I used a journaling card from Close To My Heart's Picture My Life collection. I added a sentiment from Avery Elle and a few little do-dads and patterned paper to finish it off.

Will you play along too?? You can find all the details over on the Moxie Fab World blog.  (You have until midnight EST on Sunday, June 22!)

Card supplies:
patterned paper - Close To My Heart (Paper Fundamentals Basics Assortment)
journaling card - Close To My Heart (Picture My Life -Laughing Lola)
stamps - Avery Elle Oh Yeah
enamel shapes - Close To My Heart
enamel dots - Close To My Heart

flip floppin' on home {The Stamps of Life}

Today I'll be hopping a plane (well, two to be precise) and heading home after almost a week away in Utah. (This is the longest I've ever been away from my house of crazy boys!) I'll be back in the land of year-round flip flops, (you may know it as a place called Florida.) 

You can find a fabulous new flip flop stamp set in the TSOL store today, and create your own flip flops! Perfect if you live in a place where flip flops are the usual footwear. . . .or if you live in a place where you wish that it was!

I'll be playing catch up this week, and adjusting to the time difference (it kills me every time!) but I'll pop in when I can! I'm sure I have a million pictures to share after my adventures with the crew from Paper Crafts & Scrapbooking! 

Thanks so much for stopping by! xoxo 

PS, if you're reading this first thing in the morning, check back shortly, because it's a TWO POST kind of day around here! I'll be back at 11am EST with another post!

Glam gold ink and a Go-to Gal Designer Challenge!

Hello, hello! I love it when I have LOTS to share with you - and today is one of those days! First of all, I am posting over on the Paper Crafts & Scrapbooking blog today. We're glamming up our springtime palette with GOLD.  And as I promised in that blog post, I have some more GOLD to share with you here too, in the inky variety.

The Delicata ink pads from Tsukeniko came highly recommended to me, from my crafty advisors on Facebook. (Seriously - do you ask your Facebook friends for recommendations on EVERYTHING, like I do?!) These ink pads are amazing. There's something so buttery about this ink - it's easy to work with, it dries pretty quickly, especially for pigment ink, and it is absolutely GORGEOUS! So without further ado, let me show you how I used it!

On the first card, I tapped that wooden veneer heart in the ink, then into a clear, glittery embossing powder. I heat set it, and let it dry for a minute or two. Fun, right!? And that beautiful gold paper is from Stampin' Up, and it's another GLAM GOLD crafting material that I have been using a LOT lately!

Okay - next up. . . .on this card, I dragged the edges of the journaling card (from Close To My Heart) through the ink, and I stamped the sentiment. Then I stamped some gold circles on cardstock, trimmed them, and added dimensional glaze over the top to make some faux enamel dots. I adhered them to the card with glue dots. Super fun. (The smallest ones I used a hole punch to cut out, but the larger ones I cut by hand, because I'm crazy like that.)

Please stop on over at the Paper Crafts & Scrapbooking blog if you haven't already, because my generous friends at Tsukeniko have helped me put together a glam, gold giveaway. You'll have the chance to win both the Golden Glitz and the Silvery Shimmer Delicata pads, plus some other golden goodies, when you comment on the Paper Crafts blog post! 

BUT WAIT. . .there's MORE! (I told you it was a big day. Go refill your coffee if needed. . . it's okay. I'll wait. . . . .) Ready?

Today is also Go-to Gal Designer Challenge day. On the last Wednesday of the month us GTG's like to throw out a challenge to each other and get creative with some of our favorite companies' products. Today we are showcasing Echo Park. It's also an important day because it's the first time our NEWEST Go-to Gal is joining us. Did you see the news that Laina Lamb has joined us? I am thrilled to get to know her better, and I hope you are too! (Show her some extra love today, okay!?) 

So I sort of accidently fudged the challenge on this card. I realized just as I was posting it, that I used a Carta Bella collection for this card. . .Carta Bella is the sister company to Echo Park. So it's sort of the same. . .and sort of totally different. At any rate, this card is using the new "It's A Celebration" collection. And I just love the colors - the navy and mint with yellow and coral are so pretty! 

Now go and visit the rest of the girls, and see what Echo Park lovelies they've created!! Thanks so much for coming by! (And if you made it to the end of this LONG post - kudos to you!)

• Betsy Veldman

• Heather Campbell

• Kim Kesti

• Kimberly Crawford
• Laina Lamb

• Teri Anderson

free for all Friday {a little of this and that}

Just popping in to say hi today. No profound nuggets of crafting inspiration or anything. . . 

I just have a bunch of cards piled up in my "to be blogged" file,

so I thought I'd share them. 

And then I'm going to go find caffeine.

Because I need it.

Happy Friday. 

(woohooo! Friday!) 

a little Close To My Heart goodness on this first card. it's possible you've seen this card before. I've not done such a great job at REMOVING cards from the "to be blogged" file. 

Hero Arts hip!

Paper Smooches fishiness. 

And that's all she wrote my friends.

I'll be back soon!

See you next week.  .when I have something meaningful and profound to share! (Well. . .maybe!) ;)

Thanks for stopping by cute, crafty blog-reading friends! Whatcha up to this weekend??? 

xoxo

Always Dream {Close To My Heart}

Hey there friends! Please remember, there's one more day to enter my crafty/cleaning giveaway. . .click HERE or scroll on down to comment. (I'll include comments from this post in the entries too!)

I've had a pretty productive crafty week, I gotta say. I've ben working hard on my card photography. I've started learning to use the white balance button on my camera. (It's the button with the + and - signs) and seriously - it has CHANGED my photography. I'm stoked! Making progress and learning things feels really good! I highly recommend the great information on The Pioneer Woman blog. Exposure compensation, and this series on aperture. (And while you're at it, make these granola bars. . . .they are delicious!)

This week I've signed on to design with a SWEET stamp company for a few months. (There was a big clue in that sentence, but if you haven't figured it out, I'll tell you SOON!) 

I've gotten some new goodies in the mail recently too, so I have a fun card to share with you today! 

I used some fabulous new feather stamps, and a pocket scrapbooking card from Close To My Heart. CTMH has a new pocket scrapbooking line called, Picture My Life.  They have quite a few collections to choose from. This card is from the Surf's Up collection. The stamp is from the new stamp set, Feathers. To create these feathers, I used Gelatos and a spritz of water, and stamped the feathers on vellum. I love the way the Gelatos blend together and still create such vibrant colors! Lots of fun, and just the right amount of messy! 

Alright my friends, that's what I've got for you today! In addition to bumping up my photography skills, I'm going to attempt to spend some more time on my blog too. You won't necessarily be seeing MORE posts, but I'm committed to creating more meaningful content. I would really love to hear what YOU want to see here. When you stop by, what are you hoping for? Just a quick card for inspiration? Something more? Please share your thoughts. If you're a frequent visitor of crafty blogs, I'd love to know what you like and what you hope to see. Thanks for helping me out!!

Enjoy the rest of your weekend! (And don't forget all comments will be tossed in the hat for a chance at the crafty/laundry giveaway!)

xoxo

A super quick HI {CTMH}

I have precisely 7 minutes before I need to leave the house, but I wanted to get a QUICK (seriously) QUICK blog post in, today. I know I promised a giveaway. . .and I have NOT forgotten. In fact, a pile is gathering on my desk of wonderful little goodies, and bits of this and that, that I'm excited to share. But alas, today is not the day. I've been distracted with other things, but I PROMISE, by Monday (or Tuesday) of next week, I'll have it all ready to go!

In the meantime, it is almost FEBRUARY 1st, which means many things; one of which, items from the new Close To My Heart catalog will be ready for purchase! I had gotten a sneak peek of the catalog from my mom, and then last week CTMH was sweet enough to send me some goodies to get a jump start on, and tempt all of YOU! (So mean!)

This is just a quick shot of the first card I created with the goodies - like their new Picture My Life photo pocket scrapbooking supplies. This is from the Laughing Lola collection, which as you can see makes some darn cute CARDS as well as scrapbook layouts. I am also totally smitten with the new gold dotted washi tape. Seriously - SO fun. 

Since I have the hookup, and most definitely my FAVORITE CTMH consultant, if you want to scoop up some new goods, stop by my mom's website, and shop the day away! 

Okay - MUST go. Seven minutes are officially UP! 

Thanks for stopping by today! I appreciate it! 

xoxox 

Christmas Countdown Day 1 {Close To My Heart}

Helllllllllo! We are seriously excited about Christmas around here! My big kiddo is out of school now, so we have big plans for ornament-making, and cookie-baking. Here on the blog, I have a fun little oldie-but-goodie Christmas countdown. I'll reshare one of my favorite past holiday projects each day as we count down to Christmas. If you've been visiting for a while, you may remember some of these! Today I have a fun little Christmas project to share that I made a few years ago featuring Close To My Heart stamps.

 

 You can easily recreate this (and I have) using lots of different products, and for lots of themes other than Christmas.  I purchased these little pails from the Target Dollar Bin - I think it was after Halloween, a few years ago.  They are such a fun size to fill with candy, or crayons. The ribbons are just knotted on to the handle, and it's a GREAT way to use up ribbon scraps! I stamped the image onto sticky-backed paper, and just stuck it right onto the can, and added the dot details with a silver Sharpie.

Thanks so much for coming by today! Enjoy the last minute hustle and bustle of the season! See you tomorrow! xoxo

Poinsettia gift bag {Avery Elle and Whisker Graphics}

Just a quick post today, because I have one sick kiddo, one recovering kiddo, and I'm pretty sure my husband and I are up next. But it's been a WEEK since I've posted, so I wanted to pop in and say HELLO! 

I embellished this Whisker Graphics bag (their Middy Bitty Bag) using Avery Elle stamps and dies (Rounded Diamonds and Air Mail), plus some Close To My Heart ribbon.  

The Whisker Graphics bags are so much fun - I use them as gift bags, and they are the perfect size for packaging handcrafted cards, either as an envelope for a single card, or to package a set of cards as a gift. The tiny size bags fit perfectly on a card, and/or to hold a gift card! You can find all of the Bitty Bags on the Whisker Graphics website.

And now, I am going to make a chai, and tend to the germs in this household! One of our most important family traditions, is Nights of Lights in St. Augustine, (fun photos here!) where they light up the whole city with Christmas lights. It's amazingly magical and beautiful, and in college it was the best time of year to walk and wander with friends (or perhaps a future husband!) Since my freshman year of college, I've only missed one year. (I started to tell you how many years exactly that is, but then I freaked out and felt majorly OLD.) Tomorrow is the night they light up the city, and we'll get there even if we have to drag ourselves all hopped up on cold medicine, so today is all about REST and HEALTH! 

Have a beautiful weekend before Thanksgiving!!!!

Thanks for stopping by!

xoxo

It's Fall! {Close To My Heart}

It felt like fall around here for two days last week. It was fabulous!

But now . . . . not so much.

During Florida's autumn months, we spend the time tricking ourselves - trying desperately to FEEL autumn, because we want to fully enjoy our pumpkin spice lattes, and decorate our front porches with pumpkins and hay bales.

But in reality, it's a bit difficult to get into the autumn spirit when it's 85 degrees outside. We leave the pumpkin patch a sweaty mess, and we don't carve our pumpkin until a few days before Halloween, otherwise it will be a moldy, buggy mess.

Autumn in Florida. . . not my fave.

But autumn in general?

TOTALLY my fave.

This card features the Poster Tidings stamp set from Close To My Heart. It was the September Stamp of the Month, but if you're desperate for it, I can probably help you find one! ;)

I hope your weekend is feeling MUCH more autumn-like than mine. Enjoy it, and throw some leaves in the air for me! Our leaves will start turning brown and a few will fall off the trees. . .sometime around January! 

Thanks for stopping by!

xoxo

I Think You Are. . . . {CTMH}

Hello, hello! I hope you had a fabulous weekend! Today I'd like to share a card I whipped up using journaling cards, and a sticker from the Close To My Heart My Crush "Besties" assortment. CTMH's My Crush Books are version of a "smash book", but the bits and pieces created for the books can be terrific for cards too! On this card, I added some twine, a paperclip, plus some washi tape along the bottom to finish off the look. (The yellow is from We R Memory Keepers, and the gray is from CTMH.)
The background journaling card, (kraft with the stripes along the top) actually had text on it, which was better suited for a scrapbook, so I simply covered it up. Make products do what you want them to do! It's okay to cover something up with a sticker, or layer something over it!! It can create all sorts of new possibilities for your products. . .make them work for you, the way you want them to! Thanks so much for stopping by today. . .can you believe TOMORROW is OCTOBER!!!!??? I LOVE LOVE LOVE October. Seriously - LOVE. Autumn, and the anticipation of all the good fall food, and activities is my FAVORITE!!!! Plus, tomorrow I have a GREAT new release to share with you from The Stamps of Life! So stop back here tomorrow! :)xoxo

Amazing {CTMH}

Be sure to scroll down or CLICK HERE for the Tombow blog hop, going on through Friday, August 23rd!

Last week I spent some time at my parents house. Having a mom who is a Close To My Heart consultant is a MAJOR perk in my life!!! :)  I tried to sneak in as much time in my mom's craft room as I could, whenever I could keep my children out of the swimming pool! I  reinked all of my CTMH ink pads while I was there, and pawed through all of the new product my mom has! Woohooo!  And then. . . I came back to a fabulous box of CTMH goodies waiting at my house. A CTMH box is like Christmas coming early, don't you think!?

Some of my favorite things from the new catalog. . . .

Aqua Dots

Lagoon Washi Tape

Trinkets Wood Shapes (I'm using them on EVERYTHING!)

Today I thought I'd share this card using the new stamp set, called Love This.  This is going to be a FUN stamp set to paper-piece.  I trimmed the bird and flower from cardstock and kept things pretty simple on here but I'd like to go crazy and pop the flower petals up and add some crazy dimension . . . next time!

The font on this sentiment is so lovely, isn't it? With gorgeous sentiments, you often don't need to do much else to make a stunning and simple card!

Thanks so much for coming by today!

-Laura

Sightseer {CTMH}

As the summer winds down (just one more quick trip before school starts) I thought I'd share a few more travel-themed cards.  In the past, I haven't had much in the way of travel-themed craft supplies.  I was itching for a good "Bon Voyage" stamp.  In the process, I've accumulated a LOT of travel themed stamps.  Hero Arts and Technique Tuesday both have some new ones that are a lot of fun.  But earlier this year, I scored this stamp set, called Sightseer, from Close To My Heart, and I really REALLY really love it.  The bold images were screaming to me!! :)

So I have two cards to share today, both in one of my favorite color combos - aqua, black, and white!  I used CTMH washi tape on this, and made a fun border with the arrow stamp.

 On this second card, I embossed the camera.  I LOVE LOVE LOVE the way crisp bold images look, when they are embossed.  I also used an embossing folder to create this dotted background. (And I'm sad to say I have no idea where the embossing folder is from - I borrowed it from a friend, at a crop! And I think I NEED it!!!!) A VERY helpful tip - when stamping on an embossed surface, stamp FIRST, then emboss the dots.  (Something I didn't do this time, but I was able to fix my inconsistently stamped sentiment with a Sharpie!)

So, I'm off again this weekend for a quick little trip to my parents, where I will DIVE into my mom's new CTMH goodies from the latest catalog.  I hope to have lots of new cards made, to share in the coming weeks!