Heart 2 Heart Challenge #8 - Stamp your own background

This weeks Heart 2 Heart challenge was to create something with a stamped background.  This allowed me the opportunity to do a couple of things I have been itching to do.  First, I wanted to play with the June stamp of the month Wonderful Friend.  Second, I wanted to play with a new technique I learned, chalk popping.  I am happy to say I got to do both and I am pretty happy with the end result!  This card is from the Originals book - Tied Frame but I made it into a 3x3 instead of the 6x6 due to the size of the paper that I used to experiment.

Supplies used:
Paper: Colonial White, Barn Red, and Garden Green cardstock
Inks: Versamark, Barn Red, Grey Flannel
Soft Chalks - winter set
Wonderful Friend stamp set
Pewter bitty brads
Liquid Glass
Hemp
eyelets (not CTMH)
Originals card making How-to book

Head on over to Heart 2 Heart to see everyone's awesome creations for this challenge!

A Miracle awaits you - only 1 week left!

Here it is already almost the end of May - and that means that Close to my Hearts celebration of National Scrapbook is almost over too!   Don't miss out on the Miracle kit - it has beautiful colors and awesome accessories to create 4 scrapbook pages.  Or, you could switch it up like I did and make lots of pretty cards and even a box to store them in!  AND ~ I am offering a FREE workshop for those of you that purchase or earn your Miracle kit from me!! 

 

Email me to order yours or for details on the workshop.  GrigsterN at yahoo.com

Ways to get your kit:

• Purchase the kit for $19.95. 
• Place a minimum order of $40 and purchase the kit for only $10.00
• Place a minimum order of $60 and purchase the kit for only $5.00. 
• Sign up as a new consultant between May 1-31 and receive the kit for FREE!
• Host a home gathering between April 15-May 31 with minimum sales of $300 and receive a kit for FREE!

Only available until May 31st - don't be left out!!!

Heart 2 Heart Challege #7 - A color challenge

This week I decided that I was going to participate in the Heart 2 Heart challenge because I found myself with a couple of hours to create the other night - imagine that!  I have been working on scrapbooking pictures that I have from game night held at my church and I managed to find pictures that worked well with the given color combination.  So I thought it was pretty easy to work with these colors, being that I usually have trouble working with picking colors.  Enough blabbing, let me show you what I created!

I even decided to get creative and made dice and dominoes using Topiary brads that I discovered I had!

Supplies used: (all products used are CTMH)
Cardstock: Colonial White and Ocean
B & T paper from Splendor (Topiary) and Zipidee (Desert Sand)
Inks: Desert Sand, Topiary, Ocean
Stamp Sets: Posterboard Alphabet, Noted Backgrounds
Black marker
Topiary metal embellishments 
Corner rounder to create scalloped edge
Reflections How to Book

Be sure you go check out the Heart 2 Heart challenges blog to check out what everyone else has created  and play along if you are inspired!

Summer Idea Book Projects

As you all know, I hosted an Open House for the new Close to my Heart Summer Idea Book.  All the attendees got to make 2 cards and a 2 page layout featuring brand new products from the book.  For those of you who were unable to attend, I thought it would only be fair to share 2 of the projects with you.  If you like what you see and are interested in getting your hands on a kit of your own to make the projects, feel free to email me.  I do still have a few kits available and I can pre-stamp them for you if you don't have the stamp set.

2 page layout using the Splendor Paper pack:

3x3 card featuring the Cherry-O Creative Basics and the You're Sweet stamp set (the cherry is scratch-n-sniff!):

Enjoy!

A few clear cards

I recently ordered CTMH's brand new clear cards.  At first I wasn't too sure what to make of them so the other night I decided to check out what others had done with them to see what I could then come up with.  I also pulled out my Wishes how to book to check out the circle shaped cards.  After playing for a bit here are the 2 cards that I have made so far.  I like how they turned out and now I'm hooked!

The first one uses the new Splendor paper pack, our new Irresistible lots of dots chipboard resist shapes and the brand new stamp set Hot Diggity.  I used Moonstruck Ink to stamp the butterfly as well as ink up the Irresistible frame around the word thanks.  I added some Glitz glitter glue to give it some sparkle.  I used the rock-and-roll technique to stamp "thanks."

The second one uses the new Cherry-O paper pack, Irresistible lots of dots, Cherry-O Opaques and the Bowl of Cherries stamp set only available with the purchase of the Cherry-O Workshop on the Go.  I used Sweet Leaf ink to ink the Irresistible as well as Tulip and Chocolate for the stamped images.  Some of the cherries are lighter than others, this is accomplished by using the second generation technique - stamping the image a second time without re-inking the stamp to get a lighter image.

If you like what you see and would like to order any of these items, feel free to email me:  GrigsterN at yahoo.com.

Thanks for looking, have a happy day!

May Stamp of the Month Blog Hop

Welcome to the May Stamp of the Month Blog Hop featuring the stamp set D1421 Cherish the Moment (ignore the oops in the photo!).  Hopefully you have seen lots of wonderful artwork to inspire you this month!

This is my very first time participating in a Blog Hop and I am very excited to show you what I have made!

If you have come here from Melinda's Blog then you are on the right track!

The card that I made uses a pattern from the Wishes How To Book called Folded Focus found on page 56.  It features a window so that you can see the stamped image that is inside the card. This is the view with the card closed.

I used the cutting knife to cut an "x" in the B&T paper and then rolled the flaps back to reveal the inside and then secured the flaps each with a pewter brad.  The image is stamped in Barn Red Ink.  This shows the inside of the card.

This stamp set offers the user many options.  This particular stamp is a birthday stamp but it leaves the giver the option to personalize the sentiment to perfectly fit the receivers age.  All they have to do is use a brad or a bitty sparkle or even just a marker to check off the appropriate box and circle the corresponding numbers for the age!  How fun!  This stamp set will help you make cards for all occasions!


Materials used:
Stamp: Cherish the Moment
Paper: Passages Level 2 paper packet, Colonial White cardstock, Cocoa cardstock
Inks: Barn Red
Embellishments: Pewter Brads
Wishes How To Book

Now it's time to head on over to Cindy's Blog to check out what she has created!

If you lose your way or just want to check out the list of participants, Helen's blog has a complete list.

If you like what you see here and would like to get your own stamp set or other supplies, email me at GrigsterN@yahoo.com.

Summer 2010 Idea Book Open House

Life is just a bowl of Cherries!

Get yourself out of the pits and join me for a day of cherry play!

Close to my Heart Summer Idea book Open House

Sunday May 2nd from 12:30 pm to 3:30 pm

Nicole's House in Hamilton, NJ

$5 admission gets you your own brand new Summer Idea book, 3 make and take projects including a 2 page layout as well as snacks and prize raffles!!

Invite all your crafty friends - it is sure to be a "berry" good time!!

Please RSVP by Friday April 30th so that I know how many projects to prepare.

You can email me, call me, post a comment here, or facebook me!

Hope to see you there!!

STUDIO J is here!!!!

The day has finally arrived!  All the world can now go play in Studio J!!  I will leave you with some more layouts that I have done but it's so much better when you try it out for yourself!   Go.....Play.....Be creative!!!

Click here to access Studio J

StudioJ is coming!!

StudioJ is online scrapbooking software available from Close to my Heart starting on April 27th.  Since my friend and fellow consultant is doing an amazing job outlining this great new program I am just going to direct you to check out her blog:  Rocking Paper & Scissors     No sense trying to re-invent the wheel!!  Here is a preview of one of the pages that I did in StudioJ, it only took me about a half hour to create it!

A Miracle is waiting for you!

May is National Scrapbooking Month and Close to my Heart is offering a great special!  This adorable scrapbook kit is so pretty and versatile.  You don't even have to stamp anything to make great projects from this kit!  It comes with a full color brochure with step by step directions. Plan on adding this to your collection.  There are several ways to get it:

• Purchase the kit for $19.95. 
• Place a minimum order of $40 and purchase the kit for only $10.00
• Place a minimum order of $60 and purchase the kit for only $5.00. 
• Sign up as a new consultant between May 1-31 and receive the kit for FREE!
• Host a home gathering between April 15-May 31 with minimum sales of $300 and receive a kit for FREE!

Get yours today and stay tuned for some great workshop opportunities that I will be offering for those that purchase the kit!  Just call or email me to secure your kit! Only available through May 31st while supplies last.

A Posy to brighten your day!

This is short notice I know but it's something I have been working on finding a date for.  Something opened up and well, there was the day!  I am offering a card workshop for those of you that like that more than scrapbooking.  It's just in time for Mother's Day and will save you the trouble of finding just the right card!

Monday, April 19th from 7-9pm at my house in Hamilton, NJ

You will be able to make 3 cards featuring the "A Posy" stamp set. 

There are 2 options I am offering for this:
1. $5 allows you to come and make the cards using my supplies
2. $12 gets you the supplies AND your very own "A Posy" stamp set

Contact me by Friday April 16th if you are interested in attending.  Also, if you are attending, please bring with you - a paper trimmer, scissors, your preferred adhesive, and pop-dots if you have them.

Hope to see you there!!

Let's Have a Rockin' Good Time!

This Saturday, April 10th, ScrapThat2! in the Burlington Center Mall is having one of their all day Saturday crops.  As always, I will be there with my partner offering a 2 page make and take class for $5.  This time we are featuring the paper pack You Rock with its awesome patterns and bright colors.  Check out the pictures for a sneak peak!  If you aren't signed up for the crop yet then check out the ScrapThat2! website for more info and call to reserve your spot!!

Hope to see you there!!

It's a Scrapbooking Caboodle!!

This month I have a great workshop planned.  We will be using CTMH's Caboodle paper pack to put together 2 - 2 page layouts that can be used for Easter, Spring or really any pictures that you have.  These colors are so versatile!

The top photo shows the layout that can be created by following the workshop guide.  The one below shows the second layout that can be created using papers that are left over after completing the first layout.

Details:

Date: April 18, 2010  1:00 to 3:30 pm

Hamilton, NJ

Basic Kit: $35

Best Option (basic kit plus add-ons): $50

(prices include tax and shipping)

Please comment (leave email) or email me by April 7th to secure your spot!

Basic Caboodle Kit includes:
My Acrylix® This Way Stamp Set
My Reflections® Caboodle Level 2 Paper Packet
Dimensional Elements Booksmart
Workshop Guide

Best Option   
  Tiny Tabs                        
  Designer Ribbon Rounds™ Sweet Leaf Collection    

Click on above to see more details!

Hope to see you there!

Welcome!

Welcome to my blog - thanks for visiting and hopefully you'll be inspired by what you find here.  I will be sharing ideas, tips, upcoming events, and even the occasional tutorial to help others become more creative.  So many people have wonderful and inspiring blogs, I wanted to get in on the fun!