A Special "Sew Special "

Last week, I used the MOJO328 sketch with the CTMH SOTM, Cross-stitch Wishes. 

To use my Christmas Gift, I used a card base out of my new Paper Studios box'o'cards. I chose a matching navy cardstock for layering and dry embossed it. Of course, with sewing items I had to use the Tim Holtz tape measure embossing folder for a little texture.  I layered that with Paper Studios patterned paper.

I put a little tiny piece of washi tape on the patterned layer, then stamped the sew special box in CTMH Pacifica ink. Cute, but then I decided the card was too blue, so I stamped it again in Red. 

A little ribbon and a button tied with WeRMemories twine finished the card. 

It's usually too hard for me to select matching papers for the best effect on a pre-printed card. I just got lucky with having the coordinating stack. But that's one reason I love CTMH papers -- they coordinate so well!

Thank you for stopping by!

MOJO327

I've been working on the pieces for Valentine's cards...so I was pleased to see this week's sketch! Love starting a New Year project with a MOJO MONDAY sketch!

I wanted to combine my January SOTM, Cross-Stitch Wishes, with some fancy Artiste die-cuts...and I think it turned out okay. Using up some of my FAV Chantilly papers. (Still available through January)

My awesome DH/Santa got me a 12" Cricut E2,  so now I can cut smaller than 1", and also cut shapes in 1/4" increments.  

Sunday night I started cutting pieces while DH was watching tv. 

I used the heart shapes from page 51 at 1" and 1-1/4". Then cut borders at 3/4", which makes them just a bit shorter than 6", but I only used a small piece. 

So when I checked the new Mojo sketch, I was ready to go and started pulling it together. I think I would layer my patterned papers with solids next time, though.  

I added a stamped Valentine sentiment from the Holiday Tags set, and though you can't see it, the Love stamp is heat-embossed with detailed clear embossing powder. It gives it a bit of dimension. As always I added some ribbon, and a little glitter glue. As I continue to look at it,  it's starting to look too busy. Maybe it will grow on me. 

Check out other great Mojo Monday cards on their blog!

Thank you for stopping by!  Have a great week!

Winter is Here

In the midst of single digit cold...I have the space heater on in my basement craft area and have been spending a little downtime relaxing. I worked on a few cards to get them off my table (as you can see in my non-CTMH Cards & Crafts Garden blog next door). 

I also put together this beauty, using the layers on the Classy Doily stamp.

It takes a bit of planning and my weeks leading up to Christmas were rather busy...I will just have to make Christmas items in July this year :). At any rate, I had the layers made (since August...my bad) and it just needed to be put together.

I silver-embossed the Classy Doily on Champagne cardstock.
Then I embossed it again in black on Frosted paper and trimmed around the star-shaped layer. The inside star was embossed with glittery embossing powder on a Tim Holtz marbleized paper that matched. 

The silver-embossed sentiment is from Scandinavian Wishes (October SOTM), and I thought Joy was appropriate for a Thank You card, as in a gift bringing me joy. Then it's a matter of sticking it all together & stamping the inside with a Thank You sentiment. 

The ribbon is from my Dollar Store ribbon stash. That was quite a score last year! They had sheer ribbons in every color and I stocked up!  I hope I can find great deals like that this year! Thanks for looking today!

Cloud Nine Special

It's exciting to get to see the new items which are just around the corner.  I've been enjoying my sneak peek at the new Idea Book! CTMH is offering a great special featuring some exclusive products in this fabulous card kit. This month only for $15 when you order $35 in merchandise!

Create 10 cute cards (2 each of 5 designs) using three sneak-peek accessories from the upcoming Idea Book, a new D-size stamp set, and exclusive papers!

Cloud Nine Card Kit Contents 

1 – My Acrylix™ Cloud Nine Stamp Set (D-size)
1 – Cloud Nine B&T Duos™ Paper
1 – Lagoon Cardstock Sheet
1 – Honey Cardstock Sheet
1 – 9" x  9½" White Daisy Die-Cuts Sheet
1 Roll – Gold Polka-Dot Washi Tape†
1 Roll – Teal Shimmer Trim†
1 Package – Durables Triangle Studs† 
10 – Card Bases & Envelopes
1 – Instructional Brochure Featured colors: Lagoon, Sunset, Honey, White Daisy 

†new product in Spring/Summer 2014 Idea Book 

ORDER now, because the kit Is Only available until 31 January!!  AND...when you order it you're also eligible for the January stamp of the month for only $5.  What a deal!

New Year of Papercrafts

Artbooking Beauty

Happy New Year!

I hope you had a wonderful holiday season with family as well as having time for some fun papercrafting.

Papercrafting fills my need for creativity.  What I love most about papercrafting is giving homemade items to my friends and family -- whether it's a homemade tag on a gift, a greeting card with my special touch, or a book of scrapbooking pages made specially for a loved one.

My BIG Christmas present this year was a Cricut Expression 2. Now I can die cut my heart out...and use my exclusive CTMH Cricut Cartridges to their full extent for projects like the mini-book shown. The sweet hugs mini-book uses the newest cartridge, Artbooking. I have yet to explore the vast possibilities in the 700+ images available.

Thank you for letting me share my love of stamping with you through Close to My Heart projects this past year, and I hope you will share your projects with me here or on my Facebook page.

Happy crafting in this new year!
-- Dawn