Monday, October 31, 2011

Kraft Card with Topstitch

Made by Carol Thompson

Received in my national swap package I love how Carol incorporated the Kraft cards with the paper Butterflies. These butterflies come white or with writing on them. You can sponge them, stamp on them, change them to colored by soaking them in reinker & water. There are so many ways to use them.

Don't you love the Dark Chocolate Striped Gosgrain ribbon? Me too! It is about 1 1/4" wide so you can use it wide or cut it down to a narrower size.

Enjoy your day!!


Friday, October 28, 2011

Holiday Wishes for You



I love a good deal, don't you? So have I got a great deal for you. Starting today and running through November 30th you can receive this stamp set for only $5.00 when you order $25. in My Acrylix stamp sets .

I'm very excited about this stamp set especially since all the images can be cut using the Cricut AP cartridge. But if you don't have a Cricut you can definitely cut all the images by hand, no problem!

Sorry I've been MIA lately. It is coming to the end of the football season and, if we win Friday night, we will be heading to the playoffs!! Tonight was the last team dinner I will help with. Am I sad? Kinda, I love these boys BUT then again Thursday are really busy!

I will be ordering my stamp set this weekend....you can too. Online or email me to get yours.

Hoping to post new artwork next week! Have a wonderful weekend and GO EAGLES!!

Enjoy your day!!

Wednesday, October 26, 2011

Flowers for my Mom

Posted by PicasaI love fresh flowers. Though, like alot of us, I don't receive them very often. These beautiful flowers were given to me by Dalton on Senior night at the football game. Just thought I'd share them with you!

Enjoy your day!

Tuesday, October 25, 2011

Celebrate Freedom


I love how in Studio J you can take a small picture and it will resize it for you. The picture of the flag is from the USS Arizona Memorial in Hawaii. I loved how through the roof of the memorial you can see the flag waving.

When you are in Studio J you can "toggle off" the accessories that are on the layout. Then you can add your own from the embellishments menu. But if you like the accessories that are there, like I did in this pattern, you can colorize them and "BAM"...done!

You can also resize any of the Stickease in the kits. Stickease are just Close To My Heart's way of saying sticker. And by "right clicking" on groupings you've made you can layer items to give it  real texture & depth.

Monday, October 24, 2011

Who's Your Daddy?

A seminary professor was vacationing with his wife in Gatlinburg , TN. One morning,they were eating breakfast at a little restaurant,hoping to enjoy a quiet,family meal. While they were waiting for their food, they noticed a distinguished looking, white-haired man moving from table to table, visiting with the guests. The professor leaned over and whispered to his wife, 'I hope he doesn't come over here.' But sure enough, the man did come over to their table.
'Where are you folks from?' he asked in a friendly voice.
' Oklahoma,' they answered.
'Great to have you here in Tennessee ,' the stranger said.'What do you do for a living?' 'I teach at a seminary,'he  replied.
'Oh, so you teach preachers how to preach, do you? Well, I've got a really great story for you.' And with that, the gentleman pulled up a chair and sat down at the table with the couple.
The professor groaned and thought to himself, 'Great .. Just what I need ...another preacher story!'
The man started, 'See that mountain over there? #pointing out the restaurant window#. Not far from the base of that mountain, there was a boy born to an unwed mother. He had a hard time growing up, because every place he went, he was always asked the same question, 'Hey boy, Who's your daddy?' Whether he was at school, in the grocery store or drug store, people would ask the same question, 'Who's your daddy?'
He would hide at recess and lunch time from other students. He would avoid going in to stores because that question hurt him so bad. 'When he was about 12 years old, a new preacher came to his church. He would always go in late and slip out early to avoid hearing the question, 'Who's your daddy?'  But one day, the new preacher said the benediction so fast that he got caught and had to walk out with the crowd.
Just about the time he got to the back door, the new preacher, not knowing anything about him, put his hand on his shoulder and asked him, 'Son, who's your daddy?'
The whole church got deathly quiet. He could feel every eye in the church looking at him. Now everyone would finally know the answer to the question, 'Who's your daddy?'
'This new preacher, though, sensed the situation around him and using discernment that only the Holy Spirit could give, said the following to that scared little boy... 'Wait a minute! I know who you are! I see the family resemblance now, You are a child of God.'  With that he patted the boy on his shoulder and said, 'Boy, you've got a great inheritance. Go and claim it.'
'With that, the boy smiled for the first time in a long time and walked out the door a changed person.. He was never the same again. Whenever anybody asked him, 'Who's your Daddy?' he'd just tell them , 'I'm a Child of God..''
The distinguished gentleman got up from the table and said, 'Isn't that a great story?'  The professor responded that it really was a great story!
As the man turned to leave, he said, 'You know, if that new preacher hadn't told me that I was one of God's children, I probably never would have amounted to anything!' And he walked away.
The seminary professor and his wife were stunned. He called the waitress over & asked her, 'Do you know who that man was -- the one who just left that was sitting at our table?'
The waitress grinned and said, 'Of course. Everybody here knows him. That's Ben Hooper. He's governor of Tennessee .'
Someone in your life today needs a reminder that they're one of God's children.
'The grass withers and the flowers fall,but the word of God stands forever.' ~~Isaiah
YOU'RE ONE OF GOD'S CHILDREN.

HAVE A GREAT DAY

Friday, October 21, 2011

Holiday Magic


Isn't it fun to share? I love how generous the Close To My Heart family is. This card is inspired by Vicki Wizniuk who was inspired by Emilee Smith. I tweaked the card and now I'm sharing with you.

Using a standard sized Daisy White card I layered with Topiary cs 4"x5 1/4" which is random stamped with Topiary ink and the snowflake. .Daisy White cs 3x4 1/4". Believe B/T paper 2 pieces one cut at 1 1/2"x4", second at 1 1/4"x 4" both glues to Daisy white piece. Alittle white ric-rac covering the seam.

Using the Cricut AP cartridge I cut out the stocking at 3 1/2" the the top/heel/toe also 3 1/2". Stamp images with Holiday Red ink & Topiary ink. Use mounting tape to add top/heel/toe. Mounting tape stocking to card. Add bitty sparkles to stocking

Cut a piece of Daisy White cs for saying 1/2" x 2 1/2". Adhere to card.

Enjoy your day!!

Thursday, October 20, 2011

Z-Fold Card




I love a new technique or pattern. I had forgotten this one until a friend, Pat, shared a card she had done. I went to Split Coast Stampers to find the dimensions & scoring measurements. This wonderful site has great ideas & patterns though a different company runs it.

I've used a Daisy White CS 5 1/2" x 12'. Then scored t 2", 4", 8", 12". Fold card inwards so you have a "Z" shape (see photo). For the side panels I used Crystal Blue cs 1 3/4"x 5 1/4" then Wonderland B/T paper 1 1/2"x 5". Layer and mount onto white cs.

Center panel is Crystal Blue cs 2 3/4"x 3 1/4" then Daisy white 2 1/2"x 3". Stamp Glory to God stamp set (D1483 $17.95) in Chocolate ink, the star in Crystal Blue ink. Sponge edges with Chocolate.

Take 18" ribbon (I used Crystal Blue retired) and wrap around the card. Then mount center panel with adhesive on 1 side of image, I put it on the left side. Make sure the ribbon is under the panel & the adhesive covers the ribbon too. Tie card shut.

Enjoy your day!

Wednesday, October 19, 2011

Beauty From Ashes



This card was created after seeing a similar card on Karen's blog. I thought it was so beautiful. I'm just sorry I can't link you to her blog. I am trying to be better about that but you see it and then forget the blog address. My niece sent an invite to pinterest...guess I need to start using it!!

Anyway, the card uses the Treasure Life (D1306 417.95) stamp set I so love and the Elemental paper packet (X7141B $9.95).

After layering the Elemental paper onto Daisy white cs I sponged the edge of the card with Sorbet. I love to sponge almost all my cards and mounting pieces. I feel it draws your eye into the center of the focal point. It acts like a frame.

On the center Sorbet cs I stamped the large flower with  Sorbet ink (Z2164 $5.25) then cleaned the stamp. I then stamped the flower again with Daisy White pigment ink (Z2163 $6.95   but moved the stamp slightly to the left creating a shadow. Love the effect this gives. Again sponged the edge of the Sorbet cs, mounted it onto a piece of Daisy white cs.

I finished the card with a Thank You I pick and omitted from a longer stamp of thank you's. I then rounded one end and, of course, sponged the edges.

Enjoy your day!

Tuesday, October 18, 2011

So Grateful



I'm so grateful for so many things, aren't you? Reading the paper, listening to the news is down right depressing unless you look at it as how blessed you are. How easy would it be for me to be in some of those situations? So for my family, where I live and the blessing I have received, I am grateful.

I'm also grateful that wonderful friends out there share their artwork on their blogs, on bulletin boards and through swaps. I received a card similar to this one and had to make one of my own. Then on a friend's blog, Creating with Adina, I saw this card almost exactly..great minds think alike. What I love about this card is how fast and easy it comes together.

Starting with a standard sized card, create 4 equal sized rectangles. Mount them onto card, not worrying about the middle perfectly meeting up as you have an image in the center which will cover up any misalignment. I've used the stamp set So Grateful (B1395 $9.95), Sorbet ink for pumpkin base and Sunset for the words overlay. The stem & leaves are in Olive. Stamp the stem and curly q's first then stamp & cut out 2 leaves. Mount the leaves to the card, one with mounting tape. Sponge the edge of the white cs with sorbet. Mount onto Olive cs.

Finish off with some ribbon from the Olive Mini Medley collection (Z1489 $4.95) and a Foundry Ribbon slide (Z1460 $4.95).

Enjoy your day!

Monday, October 17, 2011

Soft & Gentle are the Flowers

                                            Inspired by Creations by Karen.

I love the feel of this card. It is soft & gentle and reminds me of a warm day outside. Now that the weather has turned I really miss being able to be outside and not be cold. But that's why they call them seasons. I have lived in places where there are no real seasons and I must say I do enjoy them. So, I will live vicariously through my art and look forward to warmer weather.

This card is using the Treasure Life set (D1306 $17.95) and the Elemental paper packet (X7141B $9.95). Starting with a Daisy white card base I layered the front with Kraft paper, then layered Cocoa for the mat. Elemental B/T paper on the bottom, Daisy White cs on top. Cocoa ribbon divides the two pieces and covers any gap there may be.

Stamping the flowers into Honey ink, then the stems into NE Ivy, stamp onto white cs. Without reinking the image, stamp again for 2nd generation. This technique gives you that dimensional look the easy way. Sponge all the way around the edge of the Daisy White cs with Honey ink to draw your eye into the center, like framing a picture. Stamp your sentiment in Cocoa onto the B/T paper.

Enjoy your day!

Friday, October 14, 2011

Dreamin' of Fall



Do you sometimes lack inspiration? Me too!! But when I'm needy quick inspiration I just open up my Idea book. It is jammed packed with ideas and tips to make my creative time fun & productive.

Take this card for example. I found my inspiration from page 32 in the Fall/Winter book. Pictured is a My Creations Journal (Z1268 $7.95) which has a front cover made for it using the Dreamin' paper packet. I loved the look of it but didn't want to use Harvest Charms (Z1633 $4.95). Instead I stamped some leaves from Harvest Happiness (C1463 $13.95) cut with the Cricut AP cartridge. The leaves have been stamped with Crystal Blue & rolled into Moonstruck and Honey rolled into Moonstuck ink.

I used the Cricut AP cartridge to cut out the brackets behind the leaves. The largest is Moonstruck cs cut at 2 1/4" then Goldrush cs cut at 2 1/2". For the half bracket out of Bamboo cs I cut it at 3' then cut it in half and sponged with chocolate.

I've used the Dreamin' paper packet on the bottom, and Goldrush cs on the top. You will notice that the cs on top is paper pierced. For that I used the new Ruler (Z1471 $9.95) which has guide holes for even spacing you can poke your paper piercer through to get that pierced or faux stitching look. Also I used the ruler to evenly space the brads at the bottom of the card.

The paper in the center is zip-strip off the top of the B/T paper. This decorative 1/2" strip has a pattern or words on one side and the other side will show all the colors used in the paper packet you are working with. For this zip-strip I pleated my paper then sponged it in chocolate to bring out the pleats.

I finished with alittle Cocoa ribbon on top of the stems of the leaves.

All this was inspired by a picture in the Idea book. Guess that's why it's called an Idea book and not a catalog....

Enjoy your day!

Thursday, October 13, 2011

Remarkable Wreath





I LOVE this set! Remarkable Wreath (C1463 $13.95) is probably one of my favorite sets in the Fall/Winter Idea book. You can do soooo much with it for every season and occasion. Here I'm taking it in the Christmas direction.

Using the Believe paper packet, which to me is very whimsical, I've chosen to use the plaid side of the B/T paper. I love plaid at Christmas so this pattern works for me but you could also use Roxie paper and it would be wonderful too.

Using the Cricut AP cartridge I've cut the circle out at 2 3/4", then the frame behind it at 3 1/4". Stamp  the wreath with Cocoa ink and the berries with cranberry ink. Sponge the edge with NE Ivy.

Sponge the base card, which is 4x4, with NE Ivy. Adhere the B/T paper cut at 3 3/4"x3 3/4".

For the banner, cut a 1" wide strip 4" long. Notch out either side. Mount a piece of white cs 1 7/8" x 7/8", stamp your saying, sponge the edge. Using my scoring pad (Martha Stewart) I scored at 1" and 1 1/8" on either side. I then folded the score lines so the center of the banner was raised. I put mounting tape under the center and glue dots under the edges.

Once the card is all assembled I put Glitz Glitter Gel Red on some of the berries & the saying!

Whew! Hope that is helpful.

Enjoy your day!

Wednesday, October 12, 2011

Splendid Day


Copied right from the Fall/Winter Idea book but taken to a standard sized card. This card uses a rolled rose made on the Cricut AP cartridge and brushed with the Glitz Glitter Bronze gel and the Dreamin' paper packet.

Enjoy your day!

Tuesday, October 11, 2011

Treasure Life


Is there ever a time when you feel like everything is going wrong? I think we all do but when we are presented with "real" life situations it can open our eyes up to how selfish we are and how blessed we really are.

My good friend had a "real" life & death situation last week. And as I prayed for her, I realized that I had absolutely nothing to whine about. This amazing woman of God came through  a medical emergency that the Drs can only credit "alot of prayer" for. We know that our prayers were heard and answered by a mighty God. And that it was His hand & grace that saved her. I am thrilled to say that she is recovering and credits her Maker for her survival.

This card was made with the Treasure Life (D1306) stamp set and Dreamin' paper packet. While this stamp set has been around awhile, I love it! I used the Cricut AP to cut the ovals, popped the flowers with mounting tape, stamped & sponged the butterfly then used the Glitz Gltter Bronze gel to make him sparkle and leave a trail. Life Unscripted is the sentiment from the stamp set Unscripted (C1465)

Enjoy your day!

Monday, October 10, 2011

Senior Blessing


Every year in September the high school kids go up to Cedar Springs camp for a spiritual retreat. It is a wonderful time of bonding and growing closer to God & each other.

For the seniors, this is their year!! And with that comes a monthly blessing from their parents. Since Dalton is my only child I want to participate in everything available this year. So late their 1st night we waited at a McDonald's until we got the text that the kids were off for pizza in a nearby town. Then we jumped in our cars armed with balloons, steamers and lots of energy to decorate the cabins. After fumbling our way to their cabins in the dark, lots of laughter and reminiscing over the last several years we got the blessing done.

Since their class color is Orange...I know, not many people look good in orange but oh well! we decorated with everything orange. In their treat bags...you got it, oranges-cheetos-orange pop-candy pumpkins. It was so fun and the kids loved it.

Studio J made this layout Faster. Simpler. Easier. Did you know that you can put in a brad, copy & paste it several times and move the whole lot them together? A fast way to take a large embellishment and use it over & over.

Enjoy your day!

Saturday, October 8, 2011

Me & My Boy!!


Alittle sweaty, alittle stinky but alot thrilled! After all games everyone goes down onto the field to hear the coaches give accolades and encourage the boys. Since it was such a huge win I needed a picture with my boy.
Enjoy your day!!

Friday, October 7, 2011

Whoa!!


It's a beautiful thing to win a football game. It's even better when you beat the team that you have never beat.
That's what happened tonight for Cedar Park Christian football. We beat the defending state champions in our division.
The final score Cedar Park 20 Life Christian 14.

My Buddy


When we lived in Hawaii we met wonderful people who have become lifelong friends. Wally & Claudia are some of these friends that we always see when we visit. My husband and Wally worked together & are definitely two peas in a pod.

We took Dalton and Andy to BBQ with "Uncle Wally". Now, Duke never BBQs at home but he did at Wally's and it was delicious! Needless to say the boys were in heaven. We spent a wonderful evening in their backyard catching up, eating and enjoying each others company.

It is always sad when we say goodbye but I know that we will see them the next time we are back in Hawaii.

This layout came together quickly with Studio J. I love that you can take the Stickease and make clusters. You drag over the sticker you want, increase or decrease it's size then bring over another one to layer on top or behind the 1st sticker. If you right click on the sticker and hit "send to back" the second sticker you brought over will layer behind the 1st sticker. And you can do that over and over again until you feel you have enough layering & texture.

Want to learn more? Schedule a free 1/2 hour Studio J demonstration with me and play, play, play!

Enjoy your day!

Thursday, October 6, 2011

Believe

                                                               Made by Lucy Marino

Made with the Believe paper packet this card is very bright & cheery. Sent in with my national swaps I was glad to see such a wonderful card.

From the Originals book this pattern is called "Center Charm".  Using the AP Cricut cartridge makes this card a breeze. Layered with Believe paper packet, alittle Glitz Glitter Red (on the tree and star), Daisy White Grograin ribbon, Bitty Sparkles (under Merry Christmas) you end up with a card ready for giving.

Enjoy your day!

Wednesday, October 5, 2011

Tubing with Friends


Dalton and Scottie went tubing during church camp this summer. Doesn't this look fun? I love the action shots, and again, the little yellow warning symbol appeared when I was doing this layout. I know that the pics are alittle fuzzy but I can still enjoy them.

With this layout I toggled off the accessories that were on the page and added my own. The Elemental kit is great with these pics. I made my own cluster of Stickease stars and added alittle ribbon. I love that I can have no paper behind my text boxes so that I can put writing over pictures. Being able to pick the color of type is advantageous too!

Enjoy the day!

Tuesday, October 4, 2011

Sharpie Tattoo


When Dalton got this sharpie tattoo from his buddy Scottie I posted the picture. After the high school houseboat trip with church the kids posted pics on Facebook. I went in and grabbed the pictures. Since they are copied they showed a yellow warning symbol when I was doing this Studio J layout. What the yellow warning symbol shows on your picture or on an element you've made bigger, what it means is that the resolution may be noticeable.
Knowing this in advance I didn't care because I loved the pictures and wanted to save them in a layout. When I zoomed in on the pics I didn't think they looked bad, so I used them.
If you have pictures that are slightly out of focus but they are the only ones you have, use them!! That is real life. We can't always have perfect pictures but we still want to capture and remember the event. Same goes with a layout. We can't always have it just perfect but having it done is better than having the picture in a box somewhere where you can't enjoy it.
So as they say "Just do it!"
Enjoy the day!

Monday, October 3, 2011

Happy Halloween Circle Card

                                                       Created by Janice Hodgkins

Do you get the hebe-jebes when you look at this card? Good! Then it has done it's job.

This is October and the spider are definitely coming out to play. They are creating beautiful webs on everything and everywhere, especially in my house! Ugh!! But I know it's fall when I run into them in my yard and see there creations is the high corners of my house.

Using a pattern from Wishes this Merry Go Round card is made using the Mischief paper packet, All Hallows Eve stamp set (C1462) and the Charmed Background stamp set (D1490). A few additions from Mini-Medley Black (Z1393) & Colonial White (Z1276) with a Fondry Ribbon Slide (Z1460) to finish it off. Spooky...

Enjoy your day!

Sunday, October 2, 2011

Blogtoberfest

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Every wonder where people get their ideas for blogs? cards? funny stories? Me too, and this talented lady is one source I use. Tresa Black has a wonderful blog that I follow and she has offered a challenge to make your blog better.
I love a challenge, so I am adding the blog badge to my sidebar and taking on the challenge. As most of you know I am seriously computer challenged. But I must say that this blog is challenging myself to learn more about my blog, my computer, the internet and even myself. So for that I thank you for the opportunity and for reading & staying with me and my little blog.

I hope that this month you will see a noticeable improvement in my blog, my descriptions for projects and new additions.

Enjoy the day!!