Top view, with butterflies and more!

Front view -- maybe Olivia will save a few giggles inside when she's older.

Stamped some love right on the ends.

The inside is special too!

The stamp originally said "This is our story" -- I modified it slightly to make it right for Olivia.

Ever wanted to stamp on dark cardstock, like Black or Outdoor Denim and just couldn't get the punch in your colour that you wanted?  Now CTMH has these ADORABLE mini pigment pads in each of our 40 shades.  They are great for stamping on dark cardstock, or using with clear embossing powder to add dimension when you stamp.  I'm looking forward to using them in my Halloween and Christmas projects!





Plus, with our new stamp scrubber, they are so easy to clean.  Spritz, scrub, store it away.  So easy!

Next week, my 11-year-old son Sam is going to sleep-away camp for music theatre.  He'll be gone for a whole week ... but it's old hat for him now as this is his second year going to this camp. I hope that doesn't mean he won't miss his dear ol' mom, though.  I'm so proud of how he's growing up -- he's a good boy with a real passion for the theatre, so how can I not support him in that?

I'm pleased that I'm on the ball and have these cards ready to send to him.  Last year, I sent them too late and he only got 1 of the 3 cards I sent him.  So this year I'll be going to the post office a little earlier, in hopes that they get there in time.

Here's card #1:

I used paper from the Dakota pack and stamps from the new Creepy Critters stamp set.  Just goes to show you that Halloween stamps aren't just for Halloween. I thought this dancing skeleton was perfect for Sam at music camp.  And I just love the googly eyes!

And here's card #2:

This card uses paper from Scholastic and Clementine, plus the new Ruby cardstock that I'm in love with.  I personalized the "Pun Fun" stamp with his name to make it feel even more special.

If you've ever purchased a CTMH stamp set, you'll be familiar with the colour-coded insert that comes with the stamp, helping you to organize your stamp collection.  Sentiments, Spring, Everyday Life, etc., each with its own colour.






With this Idea Book, CTMH has taken a more classic approach, simplifying both the design of the stamp insert as well as the categories, to make things easier!





Aren't they classy looking?  Now, there are only 6 categories of stamps:  Holidays, Seasons & Nature, Flair, Everyday Life, Occasions, and Alphabets.  And the category is right on the stamp label for easy identification:





Now, those of you who have dozens (maybe even hundreds!) of stamp sets, like me, are probably wondering what kind of system to adopt to integrate these new stamps in with the old colour-coded ones.  Well, there are a couple of options:

1)  Some of these categories, like Everyday Life, are the same, so you can store your new stamps right along with the old.

2)  OR, you could just start fresh and organize only by the new categories and try to fit the old ones in.

3)  OR, you could organize by code number or alphabetically.  I sometimes think of the stamp set's name before I think of its colour or category, so this might be easier.

4)  OR, you could add a little coloured dot or sticker beside the label to help identify and match it with your colour coded stamps (Thanks, Krista Ritskes, for this great idea!)  This is likely the approach I will take -- and I plan to label my storage boxes too, for even easier storage.

You've got a few options for organizing.  What I suggest is that you don't jump too fast and set something in stone, even before you try it out.  Organize your stamps one way and live with it for a while.  If it works, GREAT!  If not, then try something different.

Regardless of how you organize, you'll still love the amazing quality and design of CTMH's My Acrylix stamps.  The insert may have changed, but the stamps are still the ones you love!

Happy Stamping!

As you've been looking through the NEW Close to my Heart Idea Book, have you noticed that some of our versatile paper packs have some different colours in them?  The name of the colour starts with the name of the paper pack, followed by a colour you might never have seen before in our palette.

Here are some more great artistic pieces from Alyson and her La Belle Vie display.  Thanks, Alyson, for allowing me to share.  You are truly talented!!










Check out more of Alyson's work on her blog!

Today, I met two very lovely and talented ladies.  My friend Karen Day (Hi Karen!!) hosted a great little shopping trip and lunch with Gail Frey and Alyson Mayo, and we four CTMH gals had a lot of fun getting to know one another and trading stories and ideas.

Alyson was one of the extremely talented artists featured at CTMH's recent Convention in Texas.  She was charged with making, well, whatever she could using "La Belle Vie" and other new CTMH products.  And WOW, what she came up with.

Today, I'm going to show you this BEAUTIFUL boutique that she made using her assigned paper and some wonderful creativity.

PLEASE NOTE:  EVERY SINGLE PIECE OF THIS BOUTIQUE IS MADE USING PAPER AND CUT FROM THE NEW "ARTISTE' CARTRIDGE, EXCLUSIVE TO CTMH.









I am just so in awe of what Alyson created!  I hope you like it too!  Check out more of her work on her blog.  And stay tuned for more of her stunning "La Belle Vie" artwork tomorrow!

One of the very first things I check out when I get a new Idea Book is the Stamp of the Month section at the back.  I am always curious to see what great stamp designs will be available and when.  And I love the artwork that is showcased with each set.

September and October 2012 SOTMs!

If you don't know what a Stamp of the Month (SOTM) is, read on.  It's a special stamp set that is only exclusively available during a specific month of the year.  It can be purchased for full price -- still affordable at a great price of $17.95.  OR, you can get it for the super low price of just $5 when you spend $50 or more.  The SOTM program is one of the best deals that CTMH has to offer!

And not only does CTMH offer these stamp sets at such a great price, they also give you artwork and inspiration so that you can USE what you buy and springboard from there into your other projects with more ideas.

DID YOU KNOW?  There is more inspiration online!!  Just visit my web site and click on PROMOTIONS >> STAMP OF THE MONTH.  There you'll see recipes for each of the projects shown using the current SOTM in the Idea Book.  It's a great way to get inspired each and every month.

Hooray!  One of the best announcements to come with this NEW Idea Book is the return of bulk cardstock!  Once again, you can buy 24 sheets of your favourite cardstock colour -- any colour -- for the great, affordable price of $14.50.

Bulk Cardstock -- what's your favourite colour?

 
As a consultant, this is exciting because now I can stock up on colours I use for workshops, which in turn, allows me to offer workshops at a more affordable price.  YAY for you, my customers!!

And as a crafter, it means I don't have to settle only for the colours that are available.  I can choose the shade that's right for my project.  And I don't have to buy it in a combo pack and leave certain colours behind to go to waste.  Less waste, more money saved and the farther our scrapping budgets go.  YAY for you, yay for all of us!!

I totally understand why, a year ago, CTMH made the decision to cut back on the number of colours available in bulk.  It was about economics and inventory levels and all kinds of business rationale.  I get that, and support that CTMH was trying to do what's best for all of us to keep prices low.  But the reality is that my favourite colour is not your favourite colour.  And my favourite colour may not be a best-selling colour.  So THANK YOU, CTMH, for bring back Bulk Cardstock in every colour, and for giving us variety, versatility and choice in our paper purchases!!  THANK YOU!

My sweet friend Sue just welcomed a bouncing baby boy into her life.  She's going to make a great Mom and I wanted to welcome Little Gus with something special.  So I got crafty today and made him a special keepsake box.  The new Dakota papers were perfect -- not to "baby", not too girly ... just perfect for this little boy now and as he grows.  Here it is:

Keepsake Box using Dakota paper.  Sweet and simple.

Paisley paper on the end and crumpled Pacifica cardstock on the face.

A special message inside.

The box and matching card.

I generally love it when layout sketches use standard sized photos -- 4x6, 5x7, 8x10.  But sometimes, you find a layout that you really love - like the layout in the Clementine Workshop on the Go on page 29 of the New Idea Book or the adorable "Do Not Peek" layout on page 88  -- and it uses smaller sized pics.  Do you have trouble visualizing how big a 2x2 or 3x3 photo really is?  I do.  I look at my photos and am often convinced it just won't work.

But then I dig in my bag of tricks and pull out my CTMH My Acrylix(tm) blocks.  Not only are they just the right size, they're clear, so I can move them around my photo and see that a certain photo really WILL work on the layout.



Here's how you crop a photo to 2x2:
Step One:
Choose a photo and move your 2x2 My Acrylix(tm) block around until you have the important part of the photo framed the way you want it.


Step Two:
Mark where the outer borders are.  Use a pencil or a wax pencil to draw a 2x2 square around the photo (or just mark the top and one side, and use the measurements on your trimmer to cut the other sides).  With practice, you may be able do this in your head and remember key landmarks to cut your photo -- i.e. The top of the photo is slightly above Sam's head, and the left side is right down the edge of Charlie's backpack.


Step Three:
Cut using your trimmer.


Step Four:
Use a tissue to erase any pencil marks left behind.


Step Five:
Attach to your layout!

CTMH's affordable My Acrylix(tm) blocks come in a variety of sizes for stamping that are designed for easy handling ... and they'll help with your cropping too!  Check them out on page 121 of the NEW CTMH Idea Book.

If you haven't tried on of CTMH's Workshops on the Go, this is a post you MUST read.  While I love to scrapbook, and I pride myself on my creativity, I love how the WOTG can make putting together a gorgeous layout so easy.  It helps me to cut my papers, learn new techniques and create the layout, while still leaving me room to modify, embellish, change and make the layout my own.  Here's how:

1)  Cutting and set-up
The WOTG come with a detailed 3-panel instruction booklet, that guides you through the cutting and prepping.

This is the gorgeous Avonlea WOTG

Cutting guide -- what could be easier?

Sketch and instructions to put it all together

2) Embellish
Each WOTG kit comes with embellishments and an exclusive stamp set that you cannot buy outside of the kit.  Some of the embellies are exclusive too!  You can stamp and bling-out your page to your hearts content.

See what comes with Avonlea.

3)  Make it your own
By using your own photos, titles and other embellishments you add, you can really personalize what some may consider an "assembly line" layout.  Plus, you can turn pages around, flip a photo from landscape to portrait and still have it look AMAZING.  The WOTG layouts are versatile and flexible so that in the end, no two are alike.

4)  Use it again and again.
I keep my WOTG instructions together and use them when planning other layouts.  Change the paper, make a few tweaks, and PRESTO, you've got more layouts complete, easily.


And Workshops on the Go are not just for scrapbooking.  This new Idea Book has THIRTEEN different kits to choose from:  8 scrapbook layouts (one for each new paper theme), 2 cardmaking kits and 3 fabulous home decor projects.  Each come with the supplies, instructions and extras you need to complete the project -- all you have to add is your own creativity!

Pear and Partridge Card WOTG

Advent Calendar - Home Decor

It's party time with Spellbound!

When CTMH introduced its second Cricut Cartridge, "Artiste", the cheer from Texas could be heard all the way across the country.  I LOVE my CTMH "Art Philosophy" cartridge, with its over 700 classic, versatile and amazing shapes!  And now I can't wait to get my hands on Artiste!  More shapes to fit just about any project.  PLUS, themed projects, 3D shapes like boxes and cupcake wrappers, interactive cards and more -- WOW!



Now, you might say "I can do that with my other Cricut cartridges.  What makes Artiste so special?"  Well, for one, there are again over 700 shapes in one cartridge -- so you can do all your cuts for one project with one cartridge.  And for another reason: the great CTMH stamps and chipboard that you get in the Artiste bundle!  For only $99, you get the cartridge PLUS 3 coordinating stamps PLUS 3 coordinating sheets of chipboard.  It helps you take your diecuts and your project to the next level!

And CTMH makes it SO easy to use coordinating stamps with Art Philosophy and Artiste.  First, in the Idea Book, you'll see a red shape around the stamps that have a coordinating Cricut shape.



Plus, on the stamp itself, you'll see the outline AND the measurement of the shape, so you know EXACTLY how to set your Cricut for the perfect cut to match your stamp.  IT'S SO EASY!



So come to one of my open crops and give Art Philosophy and Artiste a test drive.  I know you'll want one for your own collection!