My Cherished Creations

The Wonderful West

2008-07-08T20:15:00.000-07:00

I've been playing with some fun papers from Cosmo Cricket and Close To My Heart with a Western Feel. We've had a couple of fun excuses to use CTMH's western themed stamp sets too!

The first photo shows the inside of a fold out. It has the small flyer on the outside and the full program from the day on the inside cover that can open for reading and the map of the place. Then opposit, I have 8 smaller photos of some of the activities the family did and saw at the event. I love how it turned out. I used some of the older embllishments I had from CTMH for the first layout and brads I found at Kroger, discontinued from Making Memories on the second layout. Here, I used the Adorable stamp set from CTMH.

I also used the Sasparilla papers for a sweet layout I made of my husband and our daughters, but I'm not posting it here yet. I'm toying with the idea of getting my website up again, so will save it for there!

Hope you enjoy these as much as I do. All inks are CTMH as well as the stamps.

Graduation Darling

2008-07-08T05:31:00.000-07:00

This is a fun graduation set I got from Clear and Simple Stamps. I used it to create some fun projects. The 12 x 12 layout, card and pencil holder are made using papers, embellishments and inks from CTMH and Stamps from Clear and Simple. The card hat keeps the center opening card together and swivels with the brad. I've been creating all weekend in the midst of our family outings and will try to post some more of these projects later!

Fun Layout!

2008-06-18T20:25:00.001-07:00

I used my CTMH Dino Roar stamp set and a CTMH Level 1 kit along with some green paper I had in my stash to make this fun layout. I thought the spots reminded me of Dino on the Flinstones!My son loved dinosaurs as a small boy and I plan on adding photos and journaling about his favorite book and the hundreds of times he made me say all the names. I want to keep some private, so I'm not putting in the photos or journaling here, but you get the idea!

Free Stamps from Close To My Heart

2008-06-16T17:24:00.000-07:00

Did you hear? Close To My Heart has free stamps this months. Buy 2 get one free of equal or lesser value; A, B, C, D stamp sets only. You can still get the Stamp of the Month for June at a discount, or for free (based on the amount of product you pay for).

Email me with your order or with questions. This is only offered thru June 30th! Hurry and don't miss out getting so much for so little!

Stamp of the Month June

2008-06-16T16:37:00.000-07:00

Here is the stamp of the month for Close To My Heart for June. I just love it! And with the special this month; buy 2 stamp sets, get one FREE! at Close To My Heart, it is easy peasy to get the Stamp of the Month for Free! It is a $22.95 set and 25% off with a $25 purchase and you get an additional 25% off with each added product purchase of $25. Buy $100 this month and you get every third stamp set free and then the stamp of the month free too! Have a catalog party with freinds and get hostess rewards of free papers or stamp sets too! It is the month for FREEdom in your stamping kingdom!

contact me if you want to order from the spring, summer or product review by June 30 to take advantage of these great deals!

Generosity

2008-06-16T16:26:00.001-07:00

It has been a bit since I blogged, but I have a few fun projects I just made with my new "generosity" stamp set from Clear and Simple stamps!

The first is a clip board I bought at the dollar store, already covered. I made it for my daughter's teacher and clipped a g.c. on it for the end of the year. All stamps are clear and simple. Crystal embellishment and inks are all Close to My Heart.

The second is a layout with Miss Elizabeth's papers and Close to My Heart Inks and Clear and Simple stamps.

The third is a card with Close to My Heart papers from a Level 2 kit and CTMH inks and Clear and Simple stamps.

I loved this set, because it is so versitile! I've also made some pages for the school year book with the fish stamp and know I'll use it a lot with my faithbooking pages!

New Business cards coming

2008-05-12T11:03:00.000-07:00

I'm so excited. I just ordered my new business cards for my custom scrapbooking and cardmaking business! Vista Print had a free offer so I just paid shipping and got some other things like postcards, memo pads and a car magnet too...all free!
I can't wait 'till they arrive so I can get the word out that I am a custom designer for people who love hand made items but don't have the time to make their own! I'm also going to start putting some hand made items on-line to sell, so wish me luck!

Circle Journal Album

2008-05-12T06:08:00.000-07:00

I had lots of fun making this photo album for my friend. I wanted a photo on the inside middle 2 pages to be added and journaling in the rest. The papers and cocoa ink are Close To My Heart. The stamps are Clear and Simple. The mini floral accents on the cover are by Jolee. I used the coluzzle circle template to make the album and put a square brad on the left side to bind it. I covered the brad with one of the sweet little flowers.

Fun New Projects With Clear and Simple Stamps

2008-05-11T13:57:00.000-07:00

Hi! It's been a bit since I last made an entry, but I've been working strong and steady on my scrapbook pages and some cards and other projects as well!

I'm showing you some fun projects I've made with my new Clear and Simple Stamp Set! I'm so excited to be a member of their design team!
I did a 12.12 layout of my daughter, a fun circle journal album for a friend, and I made a card too! This is a very versitile set and I love it! Here are the scrapbook page and card. I'll post the circle album soon!

12x12 page is made with Bazill CS and CTMH paper and inks. I used EK Success Design Element letters along with SU floral punch and fun stick on jewels from the target dollar bin! I also used foam flowers from an old kit one of my kids got from Michaels and never used.

The card was made using papers from a scrapbook kit one of my kids got one christmas and the ribbon, inks and rhinestone is CTMH. All stamped images are Clear and Simple. Enjoy!

New Card for Spring

2008-03-27T05:49:00.000-07:00

Happy Spring!

We had a wonderful Easter and plenty of egg hunts. I hope to scrap my photos soon!

I've been taking some great classes from the HP website. There is currently one on photography that I'm hoping to squeeze into my schedule! I've also been moving and re-organizing my scrap room and found this card I made for a swap a few weeks ago and it reminded me of spring! I thought I'd share. It is made using CTMH buttercup ink sponged onto white daisy CS-then a trace of topiary ink was added and used to stamp the phrase and am.

I used the coluzzle file folder template to create this card. I used the March Stamp of the Month from CTMH for the butterfly and the words.

July Challenge

2007-07-11T12:03:00.000-07:00

I generally don't have photos for my workshops, because I want you to visualize where your photos will go! I stamped my personal copy of this layout and added photos, but was too lazy to take it out of the album so here is a layout I put together to copy it! It is available for $7 if you are interested in purchasing it, email me and I will be happy to let you know how much shipping will be to your home. I accept paypal.

Other layouts and kits are also available and will be posted soon.

You can email me thru my website at www.LLWCREATE.MyCTMH.com. Thanks for looking! Cranberry, Star Spangeled Blue and White Daisy CS with red and white ribbon and blue brad all CTMH!

For July, I'm going to challenge you to make a card or layout in Red, White and Blue! Here is a layout we did last July at my Cherish Workshop at Panera Bread on Glenway Avenue. I have a workshop the first Thursday of every month. It is a different theme each time and the layouts are inspired by the Cherish book offered by Close To My Heart. Cherish offers different layouts with full cutting instructions and full-color examples. It also has an index in the front with a snapshot view of the layouts in the book and tells you how many photos will fit in a 2 page spread. I love this feature, because if I have a bunch of photos or only a couple, I can look for the layouts with that number of photos and get my inspiration! I also love the fact that I can turn one or both pages to different positions and have some completely different layouts. That and the use of different stamps, background and texture papers (B&T) and cardstock colors, allows me to make tons of different layouts that are all unique creations!

I have also challenged myself to cut the layout as instructed, and them rebuild a new layout with the pieces I have for a completely different layout! IT IS FUN~ Try it~!

Pirate Layout

2007-07-11T11:47:00.000-07:00

My son had a pirate party when he was 4 years old (He is now going into 8th grade) and when we had this new set in the Summer Idea Book, I had to get it. I haven't dug out the photos from his party yet, but I remember we had a treasure hunt and a pinata.

While I was designing the layout, I remembered I had made some ATC cards for an alphabet swap where I got the letter "X" and made X marks the spot at my theme. I used a clip art image from microsoft and modified it and added a small square window from our Spring Idea Book and then added a small jewel from Michaels. You'll see it on the layout as an element.

The colors are Garnet, Colonial White, Olive and Black. There is also a touch of green in the map on the ATC Card. I used out Ahoy Matey stamp set from CTMH for these pages and did lots of stamping and distressing with our exclusive inks.

I plan on adding vellum journaling off the computer to the journal box at the bottom of the second page. I hope I can find the photos soon! We had a flood at out last home and some of the photos were damaged. I'm hoping I have some to add here, otherwise I'll have lots of journaling spaces and will have to improvise with some photos!

Hope you enjoy!

I still have a few Spring Idea books and some summer ones if you'd like to buy one, let me know and I'll be happy send one out to you. My email address is at my website home page: www.LLWCreate.MyCTMH.com

ATC Card with Pure Love Stamp Set

2007-07-11T06:46:00.000-07:00

2.5 x 3.5 ATC Card
from Close To My Heart

My Acrylix® Pure Love
1 - 5" x 3 1/2" Twilight CS
1 - 5/8" x 3 1/2" Small Stripe B&T Duos™ Paper (stripes vertical)
Chocolate Exclusive Inks™ Pad
Sponge
1 - 15" Chocolate Waxy Flax
1 - Silver Brad
1 - Just Blooms™ White Daisy Flower
2" x 3 1/2" My Acrylix® Block
Scissors
Sandpaper, coarse

Sponging
Hold the paper in one hand.
Hold the sponge in your other hand.
Pinch the sponge into a ball.
Dab the sponge in the ink pad.
Swipe the sponge on the edge of the paper.
(For a soft look, lightly tap the sponge on the paper.)

Second Generation Stamping
Ink your image on the Exclusive Inks™ pad of choice.
Stamp the image on a scrap piece of paper.
Stamp the image on your project for a lighter color.

Assembly Instructions
Fold the 5" x 3 1/2" Twilight CS in half, creating a top-fold card.

Using Chocolate ink and the sponge, sponge the edges of the card and the 5/8" x 3 1/2" Small Stripe B&T. Lightly sponge the card front.

Using Chocolate ink and the sponge, lightly sponge the petals of the White Daisy flower.

Adhere the 5/8" x 3 1/2" Small Stripe B&T across the bottom portion of the card front, about 1/2" from the bottom edge.

Using Chocolate ink and the second generation stamping technique, stamp the postage image along the top portion of the card, slightly overlapping the B&T.

Wrap the 15" Waxy Flax twice around the B&T. Secure with a knot on the back of the card.

Using the coarse sandpaper, distress the top of the silver brad.
Slide the brad through the center of the flower. Attach the flower/brad combo to the bottom right portion of the card, overlapping the B&T and the Waxy Flax.

I can't take credit for this, our corporate training board had this and I loved it and wanted to share! I love doing ATC Cards and swapping with my friends! I'm building quite a collection. In fact, I used and ATC Card I made for a 12x12 layout. I'll post it later after I've found the photo to post.

6x6 Majestic Layout

2007-07-11T06:27:00.000-07:00

I've just completed a couple of projects for a swap using the Majestic papers from Close To My Heart and 3 new stamp sets from the Summer Ideabook and Catalog including New Horizons, Ahoy Matey and Woodcut Alphabet. The colors are Blue Denim, Cranberry, Colonial White and Crystal Blue. I really like how it turned out!

I used the scoring blade of my fiskers paper trimmer to create a crease in the blue mat on the left so that it folds open like a card. I used Colonial White brads to set it off. Underneith is a Colonial White mat for journaling or another photo and I distressed the mat with cranberry ink.

I also used my paper piercer to put a hole in the ribbon from our ribbon rounds on the right hand page, by poking a hole in from the front and then from the back before inserting my brad. To fold the ribbon, I folded it over like a "V" and then folded one side over again so that the strip was face up on each side.

Stamp of the Month Tag

2007-07-11T06:19:00.000-07:00

Directions:

My Acrylix® Typewriter Keys
1 - 3 1/2" x 2" Bamboo CS
2 - 1" x 1" Bamboo CS
1 - 2 1/2" x 1 3/4" Distressed Olive B&T Paper
1 - 2 1/4" x 1 1/2" Stripe B&T Paper (solid side)
Chocolate Exclusive Inks™ Pad
1 - 6" Natural Hemp
2 - 5" Natural Hemp
1 - Just Blooms™ Paper Flower
1/4" Long Reach Hole Punch
Corner Rounder
1" x 1" My Acrylix® Block
Scissors

Scissor Distressing
Open your scissors all the way.
Hold your paper of choice in one hand.
In the other hand, hold your scissors so that one sharp edge is toward the paper.
On the edge of the paper, scrape the scissors back and forth along the paper so the white core is exposed, as desired.

Swiping
Hold the ink pad in one hand and the paper in the other.
Swipe the ink pad across the paper, as much or as little as desired.
Repeat on sides and/or edges of the paper.

Assembly Instructions
Using the corner rounder, round the two bottom corners of the 3 1/2" x 2" Bamboo CS.
Using the scissors, cut the top of the Bamboo CS in the shape of a rounded tag. The final tag should measure 3 1/4" (from the tip of the tag to the bottom edge) x 2".

Using the corner rounder, round all four corners of the 2 1/2" x 1 3/4" Distressed Olive B&T and the 2 1/4" x 1 1/2" Stripe B&T.
Scissor distress the edges of the Distressed Olive B&T.
Using Chocolate ink, drag the hemp across the ink pad to distress the hemp with ink.
Using Chocolate ink, stamp the letters "h" and "i" in the center of the two 1" x 1" Bamboo CS. Trim around letters. Scissor distress the edges.

Using Chocolate ink, swipe the edges of all the paper and the petals of the Just Blooms™ flower.
Line up the Distressed Olive B&T and the Stripe B&T (solid side) so there is a small border on all sides. Do not adhere yet. Once the papers are lined up, make a 1/4" cut on the left side of both papers, close to the bottom. Fold up the corners and swipe the folds with Chocolate ink. Adhere the Stripe B&T (solid side) to the center of the Distressed Olive B&T. Adhere to the center of the tag.

Adhere the letters "h" and "i" to the top portion of the tag.
Thread one end of the 6" hemp through the center of the flower, so about 1 1/2" is pulled through the center of the flower. Wrap the hemp around the back of the tag and through the center of the folded corners, leaving the flower in the front bottom right corner. Thread the other end of the hemp through the center of the flower. Tie in a knot to secure. Trim the ends. (The knot in the hemp is what holds the flower in place, so the slit in the flower should be smaller than the knot.)

Using the Long Reach Hole Punch, make a hole through the top of the tag.
Thread the two 5" hemp pieces through the hole and secure like a bookmark.

June Challenge

2007-06-28T11:09:00.000-07:00

Want some inspiration to make a card or a layout? Here is my Challenge for June:
Use spring green, soft pink and black in a card or layout and share it! See my first post for my layout using these colors. Then, post your work here too! Be sure to give credit to the manufacturer (if you know) and sign your on-line name!

Art Work

2007-06-28T08:36:00.000-07:00

I made this layout last week with Sweet Leaf and Blush Close To My Heart Cardstock and Petite by Joliee mini sequin flowers and the "Blessed" Acrylic stamp set from Close to my heart. To order the papers or stamp set, any time, go to www.llwcreate.myctmh.com and click on shopping. In July, I'll have FREE product for you when you place a minimum order from my site. Check my site July 1st for details!!!

2007-06-28T08:26:00.000-07:00

I love Stamping ans Scrapbooking. My goal is to share my artwork here at my blog. I'll be using my Close To My Heart Supplies on everything unless otherwise noted. I'll also update you on my upcoming workshops and offer kits for you to make or finished artwork for you to buy. My goal is to add artwork 1-2 times a week.

I also plan to have a weekly challenge. You can reply post your challenge creations so others can see your cherished creations here too!

I'll also highlight a technique or 2 every month, so keep checking back to see what we're up to!

Thanks for stopping by! If you have any questions, email me at llwcreate@fuse.net.

My First Blog Entry

2007-06-28T08:00:00.000-07:00

Here is the layout I'll be doing at next week's Panera Bread Workshop. It uses Close To My Heart papers from Expedition Level 2 Kit, and the Adventure stamps set.

To attend my $5 workshop, RSVP by July 3. To order a kit, contact me and I'll ship a kit to you. Unstamped will be $5 plus shipping.

A deluxe kit that includes the Level 2 kit and the My Acrylix "Adventure" Stamp Set along with cutting guidelines, emblellishments and a photo shipped to you is only $45.00. Additional Stamp pads in Cocoa, Autumn Terricotta and Olive are also available. Email me with your needs for pricing or to order a kit by leaving a message on my blog! You can also contact me at my blog only email address: llwcreate at fuse dot net. If you want to leave your email on this blog, spell it our like I have to help deter spammers!

Have a great summer!