CTMH Chantilly cards with Hooray Bouquet stamp set

CTMH Chantilly paper packet with Hooray Bouquet stamp set

One of my goals as a consultant with Close To My Heart is to share the versatility of each paper packet.  I enjoy the challenge of showing how many unique items can be made using 12 sheets of paper that only costs $9.95!  We all need to stretch a dollar nowadays, so with each paper packet that I purchase, I have been trying to use every last scrap.  This endeavor has made me really think creatively and shown me colors can go together even though they don't exactly match.

Take these cards, for instance. The featured colors in the Chantilly paper packet are Champagne, Twilight, Buttercup and Cotton Candy.  Here are a couple of ways that I had to be creative:

1.  I didn't have enough Cotton Candy card stock left to use for the background of my card on the right, so I dug around in my older paper packets and came up with a sheet of Blush and used it instead.  I think the combination looks great together.

2.  I only had one of the matching inks that coordinate with the paper; Champagne.  However, it was a bit too neutral for what I wanted to do. So, instead of giving up, I used what ink colors that I had on hand.  I stamped the "you make me smile" sentiment in Blush on one card and Topiary on the other.  

3.  I didn't have a blue or green sparkle for the center of the flower for the card on the left.  What to do?  Well, I had a clear sparkle and a marker in Twilight, so I colored my sparkle to match my card!  

4.  I also lacked the matching stamp set, Happy Thoughts, so I improvised using one of my favorites, Hooray Bouquet.  I love this set as it I am able to cut out coordinating shapes using my Cricut Art Philosophy cartridge.  

CTMH Chantilly featuring Champagne, Buttercup and Twiligh

I have a crop coming up next Saturday and I wanted to have each attendee to be able to leave with a completed project.  I decided that a card would be a great "Create and Take" for us to do together and would still leave time for everyone to work on their own individual paper crafting.  I was able to make these two full size samples, plus I had enough paper to make eight more full size kits!!  Each person will be given a kit that includes a 5 1/2" by 4 1/4" card base, an envelope and the pre-cut paper along with an embellishment to create their own card.

CTMH Chantilly Card using Blush card stock background and Blush ink for sentiment

Here are the dimensions if you want to make your own version at home:

Use a 5 1/2" x 4 1/4" card base and envelope from the White Value Pack (50 cards and envelopes for $14.95), then cut and layer the following:

5 1/2" x 4 1/4" piece of card stock
5 1/4" x 4" piece of B&T patterned paper
4" x 1" strip of card stock
4" x 3/4" strip of B&T patterned paper
Cricut Art Philosophy Shape 2 - Cut one at 1 1/4" in a coordinating piece of card stock, then one more at 1" using white card stock.
Cricut Art Philosophy Shift/Flower 3 shape at 1", 3/4" and 1/2" out of either card stock or B&T patterned paper, layer and embellish.  I cut the middle one out of white card stock and then stamped it using the coordinating stamp and Blush ink.  The pink embellishment is from Pink Glitter Gems.  The clear one that I colored to match is from Sparkles Clear Assortment using the Twilight Exclusive Inks Marker Set.

Thank you for letting me share what inspires me.



                     

CTMH Claire cards

Cards made with CTMH Claire paper packet

The Claire Collection from Close To My Heart is so feminine and pretty, but uses strong colors such as Outdoor Denim and Hollyhock to show off the more delicate and dainty Blush and Cashmere.  When I spread out the all the papers on my desk to view the colors and patterns, I was immediately inspired to make a coordinating set of greeting cards.  My eye went right to the flowers featured on one of the sheets of B&T (Background & Texture) paper and my mind started whirling!  

The rounded petals of the flower made me think of the Just For You stamp set which in turn coordinates with a shape on my Cricut Art Philosophy cartridge and it all fell into place!

I used a 5 1/2" x 4 1/4" card base from the White Value Pack and  then cut out the paper based on Pattern #24 in the Make It From Your Heart Volume 1 book.

Using my paper trimmer made this project easy and quick.  You can do this, too!  Just cut out a 5 1/2" x 4 1/4" rectangle piece for your background.  Next cut a 4" x 2 1/2" rectangle piece to place as your second layer.  For this piece, I used a lighter cardstock so I could stamp a sentiment on it.  Then use a 1/2" x 4 1/4" strip (I used the top zip strip on the B&T paper) to go across as the third layer.  Lastly, cut a 2 1/2" x 2 1/2" square to place just slightly right of center.

I used my Cricut to cut a quick flower shape at 2 1/2" out of a piece of Cashmere cardstock.  I stamped the flower outline and the "A note for you..." sentiment in Outdoor Denim. The petals were stamped using Blush, Sorbet and Outdoor Denim inks.  I glued a button (Outdoor Denim from the Blue Assortment) in the center, tied it with a piece Natural Hemp and finished the embellishing with 4 Opaques Adhesive Gems in Light Tan.

I wanted to do four cards that could be given away as a gift, so I mixed and matched a bit with the background paper to show some variety.  Then I added envelopes and tied them with a pretty piece of Outdoor Denim Chevron Ribbon.  Voila!  A handmade gift for a friend or loved one.

Thanks for letting me share my love of Claire!  I have lots of paper left over, so I'm off to work on a scrapbooking layout next.  I also bought the coordinating Complements Canvas Shapes, so I will be sure to use them on my next project.

CTMH Dream Pop Details

It's official, the Dream Pop paper packet will be the fantastic promotion offered by Close To My Heart to celebrate National Scrapbooking Month in May 2013!  This special edition paper packet includes 12 cardstock sheets along with 12 patterned sheets that were created to celebrate the creativity of scrapbookers everywhere!  Colors such as Banana, Mint, Raspberry, and Tangerine are sure to make your pages "Pop"!

Here are the ways that you can get your creativity juiced up and get this awesome paper packet for yourself in the period of May 1-31, 2013:

1.  Spend $35.00 (excludes shipping and handling) on my shopping website and receive this exclusive paper packet for only $10.00!  Spend $70 and receive two Dream Pop paper packets for $20.00 and so on!

2.  Be a Hostess and get it for FREE!  Either in your home or online with qualifying May Gathering Sales Totals of $400.00 or more.  This is in addition to the other ways you can earn free product by hostessing a gathering!

3.  Become a Consultant and receive it for FREE as part of your New Consultant Kit when you enroll in May. Only a $49.00 investment gets you over $149.00 in product!

The best thing is that this offer is combinable with our already wonderful promotion called the "Stamp of the Month".  When you spend $50.00 on a qualifying order before shipping and handling,  you can purchase the May Stamp of the Month for just $5.00.

In May, if you spend just $50.00 you can get both!!!  Add the Dream Pop paper packet for $10.00 and the Stamp of the Month for $5.00!  That's a retail value of $37.90 for just $15.00! 

Take a look at the May Stamp of the Month, Pinwheel - 

May Stamp of the Month - Pinwheel

This offer is "while supplies last", so don't miss out.  Order early!

CTMH Dream Pop B&T Duos

CTMH Dream Pop Cardstock