February Stamp of the Month Card 6

Created by Cathy Stai

The Typeset Paper packet's (X7139B) muted colors were perfect to express to someone you appreciate.  Add a scallop border and Opaques Adhesive Gems (Z1333) to complete the look.  The Stamp of the Month oval appreciate stamp fits perfectly on an oval and shadow cut using the Art Philosophy Cricut cartridge (Z1686).

Cathy Stai ~ Independent Consultant ~ Close To My Heart ~ In Love with Ink!
Shop with me ctmh.com/cstai

Make-n-Take @ Crop for a Cure

Owl always love these:  Pillow Gift Boxes

Movie Money fits perfectly

Great for small gifts.  I added labels on the back 'Owl Be Your Valentine' to make them special.  Pillow Gift Boxes cut using the CTMH Art Philosophy Cricut Cartridge with fun bottle cap eyes!

Cathy Stai ~ Independent Consultant ~ Close To My Heart ~ In Love with Ink!
Shop with me ctmh.com/cstai

January Stamp of the Month Card #6

Created by Cathy Stai

Inside Journal Card

I like how this card turned out and guess what...the paper packet is the Mischief Level 2 paper packet (X7144B) that has the Halloween - Fall colors!!  The Close to My Heart's B&T (Background & Texture) pattern papers come double sided which makes them super easy to match to your projects.  The top picture is using the Stamp of the Month: Little Reminder.  The bottom picture is using cupcake wrappers, Pewter Designer Brad (Z1146) and Stardust Glitz Glitter Gel (Z1313) to make the elegant flower.  (I used it as a Boss Day card.)

Cathy Stai ~ Independent Consultant ~ Close To My Heart ~ In Love with Ink!
Shop with me ctmh.com/cstai

January Stamp of the Month Card #4

Created by Julie Reynolds

She's pulling a fast one....  that's right - the perfect window is cut with the Art Philosophy Cricut cartridge and the message stamped using the Stamp of the Month: Little Reminder.  Using the Wonderland Level 2 paper packet (X7146B) and then adhere buttons from the Basic (Z1358) and Blue (Z1371) assortments.  Fast!

Cathy Stai ~ Independent Consultant ~ Close To My Heart ~ In Love with Ink!
Shop with me ctmh.com/cstai

Holiday Card from my friend

Made by Darlys @ Julie Reynold's card class

Love the 'bird' and message on the inside

 I feel so special to receive one of the great cards from Darlys that she created in Julie's card class.  This card uses the Wonderland Level 2 paper packet (X7146B).  The snowflake shape is cut using the Art Philosophy Cricut cartridge and then stamped in Twilight (Z2160) using the Snowflakes (D1480) My Acrylix stamp.  Then just add a little bling with a Clear Sparkle in the center. (Z1104)  Very pretty!

Cathy Stai ~ Independent Consultant ~ Close To My Heart ~ In Love with Ink!
Shop with me ctmh.com/cstai

DIY Decorative Vase

Vase

• Cut out 130 2" scalloped circles from Grey Flannel cardstock using the shape on the Cricut^® Art Philosophy cartridge (Z1686) or by punching the circles using the 2" scallop circle punch (Z1392).

• Staple the circles together in stacks of five.

• Squeeze and scrunch the edges then adhere two stapled sets together on the flat sides to create a spherical shape.

• Sponge edges with Grey Flannel ink if desired.
• Place the finished flowers inside a glass carafe or vase.
• Wrap Sweet Leaf ribbon from the Designer Ribbon green collection (Z1616) around the neck of the vase to accent.

Cathy Stai ~ Independent Consultant ~ Close To My Heart ~ In Love with Ink!
Shop with me ctmh.com/cstai

DIY Desk Calendar

 December 9, 2011 ~

DIY Desk Calendar, Art Canvas, and Vase

Categories: Art Attack

Ah, home sweet home, where we get to decorate to our heart’s delight! Add these beautiful DIY dècor pieces to your home to live inspired every day. We’ve chosen a sleek color scheme of Grey Flannel, Black, and White Daisy, with a pop of Pear, and we used the graphic flowers from the My Acrylix^® Dreamin’ Workshop set to add subtle texture to the White Daisy paper in the desk calendar and art canvas. Here are a few hints for you as you create these chic projects.

Desk Calendar

• Create the triangular base of this calendar by folding a 12" × 12" piece of chipboard at the 3" and 7 1/2" marks.
• Insert three pins from the Bling assortment (Z1466) and clip the sharp ends if they protrude too much. (Tip: You can use hot glue on the back to anchor the pins.)
• Cut twelve 3 1/2" scalloped squares from Pear cardstock using the shape on the Cricut^® Art Philosophy cartridge (Z1686) and sponge the edges with Pear ink.
• Cut twelve 3 1/2" squares from Grey Flannel cardstock and sponge edges with Grey Flannel ink.
• Use the 3" chipboard squares from the My Creations^® memory game (Z1614) for the date tiles. Stamp the background flower pattern in second generation using Grey Flannel ink and then stamp the month or numbers with black StazOn^® ink. Sponge the edges with Grey Flannel ink. (Tip: Stamp two of numbers 1 and 2. Stamp one each of numbers 3 – 9 and 0.)
• Back each month and date tile with the 24 pieces of cardstock and then punch a hole in the top for easy hanging.

Cathy Stai ~ Independent Consultant ~ Close To My Heart ~ In Love with Ink!
Shop with me ctmh.com/cstai

Santa Gift Bag - Cricut Art Philosophy Shapes

5" size bag

I have been having great fun playing with my CTMH Cricut 'Art Philosophy' cartridges (Z1686) and decided to create these Santa Bags from just the shapes from the AP cartridge.  Below are the pre-assembled shapes and supply lists.

Created by Cathy Stai

Piece	Size Inches	Key Pad #	Function Keys	Comments
Hat Rim	1 ½	6	Decorative Layer	White – distress edges + Ink w Bamboo
Beard	2 ½	46	Shift Layer	White – flower – fold in half – use pop up adhesive in between fold -Ink front edges in Bamboo –
Use the center circle from the flower and two of the inside flower cuts
Mustache OR	2 ½	38	Shift Layer	White – Bracket – Ink edges w Bamboo
Mustache #2 choice	2 ½	12		White – Accent – use half include small oval for nose - Ink edges w Bamboo
Head	3 ½	17		White - Shape 7 – Ink bottom edges w Bamboo
Hat PomPom	1	1		White – circle - distress edges + Ink w Bamboo
Face	1 ½	12	Oval 2	Bamboo - Oval
Trace oval w shape of mustache and cut, punch small eye holes put black cardstock behind, chalk pink on cheeks and chalk red on nose
Hat	2 ½	8	Shape 11	Cranberry  – Ink edges in Chocolate
Bag	5	3	Shift Font Layer	Cranberry – Ink edges in Chocolate

Supplies	CTMH #
White Cardstock	X5921
Cranberry Cardstock	X5908
Bamboo Cardstock	X5921
Black Cardstock	X5921
Chocolate Ink	Z2111
Bamboo Ink	Z2103
Cricut Art Philosophy Cartridge	Z1686
3-D Foam Tape	Z1151
Any Pink and Red Chalk	n/a

Cathy Stai ~ Independent Consultant ~ Close To My Heart ~ In Love with Ink!
Shop with me ctmh.com/cstai

December Stamp of the Month Card 1

Created by Cathy Stai

The shapes stamped with the Stamp of the Month in Chocolate (Z2111) stamp: Made About You on this card were cut using the Art Philosophy Cricut cartridge(Z1686).  I used the Typeset Level 2 Paper Packet (X7139B), Milepost Shape - corrugated star (Z1635) and Bitty Brads (Z1368).

Cathy Stai ~ Independent Consultant ~ Close To My Heart ~ In Love with Ink!
Shop with me ctmh.com/cstai

Frank has Treats!

Created using the 'Art Philosophy' Cricut Cartridge.  Scraplifted from fancymelissa.com/blog

Notice the 'Head Bolts' cut from silver cardstock and then secured with Bitty Brads (Z1368)

Sorry for posting this after Halloween, due to giving them as gifts, I didn't want to give away the surprise.

Using the 'ART PHILOSOPHY' Cricut cartridge (Z1686), including the 3-D box, I used a 'tree branch' for the mouth and free-hand cut the hair then inked.  

Cathy Stai ~ Independent Consultant ~ Close To My Heart ~ In Love with Ink!
Shop with me ctmh.com/cstai

Buttoned Up Card Set Video

 

Buttoned Up Card Set

Lovely, chunky, fashion-forward bling turns your cards from charming to super-fantabulous. Learn the WOW techniques in this how-to video from Close To My Heart, and then send holiday cards that people will be talking about into the New Year

Cathy Stai ~ Independent Consultant ~ Close To My Heart ~ In Love with Ink!
Shop with me ctmh.com/cstai

Close To My Heart's Posting Creative Cards on Facebook

Use the exclusive cartridge included in our Cricut® Art Philosophy Collection to create a card base that allows you to stamp your sentiment on the inside of the card with a bracket window to see through!

Pair-a-Phrase Stamp Set and Art Philosophy Cricut Cartridge

To celebrate National Stamping Month in September, CTMH is offering the first-ever double stamp set! You can get the exclusive My Acrylix® Pair-a-Phrase double stamp set FREE when you place an order of $75.00 US/$82.00 CAN from August 15 through September 30, 2011. You’ll love this double set—two D-size sets in one envelope—which includes lots of clever phrases and coordinating images you’ll use in your handmade cards all year.  Have double the fun stamping during National Stamping Month with our new Pair-a-Phrase double stamp set.

Cathy Stai ~ Independent Consultant ~ Close To My Heart ~ In Love with Ink!
Shop with me ctmh.com/cstai

Close To My Heart Cricut® Giveaway

Enter this Sweepstakes - you could win a Cricut!
 

Facebook Link:  Close To My Heart Cricut Giveaway

Prize Details

Close To My Heart is giving away a Cricut Expression® Machine to one random winner! Larger than the Cricut Create® Machine or the Cricut® Personal Electronic Cutter, the Cricut Expression® Machine precisely cuts letters and shapes in impressive sizes using the 12″ × 24″ mat or the 12″ × 12″ mat. Use your Cricut Expression® Machine with Close To My Heart’s new Cricut® Art Philosophy Collection (sold separately) to create gift boxes, cards, spiral flowers, and more!

Prize Eligibility

Only persons residing in Canada and United States who are at least 18 years of age can enter.

Sweepstakes End: September 26, 2011 @ 11:59 pm (MDT)

Need more Details?

Read the Official Rules

Cathy Stai ~ Independent Consultant ~ Close To My Heart ~ In Love with Ink!
Shop with me ctmh.com/cstai

Brown Lunch Bag Crafters

 Denise, Mary and Mary Leta all loved this easy project so much they immediately came up with more ideas of using the bags.  These photos were taken while they made a few extras.  Joanna said that she was going to use the white lunch sacks and then emboss with the 'spider web' embossing folder for her daughter's Halloween party.

 Cathy Stai ~ Independent Consultant ~ Close To My Heart ~ In Love with Ink! Shop with me ctmh.com/cstai

Brown Lunch Bag Fun

 This great project was designed by Suzanne Sergi.  How smart - use your embossing folders and turn any brown lunch sack into an artsy gift bag.

It is a really easy task.  I selected embossing folders that did not have a directional pattern as you run the bag from it's top with the embossing folder on the side of the bag through your Cuttlebug. 

We used the corrugated star from Milepost Shapes (Z1464) and the tag was cut from the Art Philosophy Cricut Cartridge with the matching stamp set (Z1686).

Cathy Stai ~ Independent Consultant ~ Close To My Heart ~ In Love with Ink! Shop with me ctmh.com/cstai

CTMH New 'Art Philosophy' Cricut Rosette Card

The new 'Art Philosophy' Cricut Cartridge's offered exclusively by Close To My Heart has a fun project on page 9.  I thought I would complete this 3-D Rosette Happy Birthday card for you to see.  I used CTMH's Hollyhock, Kraft and Colonial White cardstock, This is my first project from the cartridge and I can already think of several more I want to do - so check back often.


Cathy Stai ~ Independent Consultant ~ Close To My Heart ~ In Love with Ink!

Great Video - Make Those Awesome 3D Flowers

 This video demonstrates how to make the 3-D Flowers for your layouts and craft projects.  Lisa is so creative and she has included some tricks to make your project easier.  The Art Philosophy Cricut Cartridge is available to purchase - just select the 'SHOP with ME' link.

Cathy Stai ~ Independent Consultant ~ Close To My Heart ~ In Love with Ink!

Video Scrapbook Page Pops with Flowers

 So fun finishing your layouts with easy accents using the new Cricut Cartridge 'Art Philosophy'.


Cathy Stai ~ Independent Consultant ~ Close To My Heart ~ In Love with Ink!

Art Philosophy Cricut Cartridge Sample Shapes - WOW!

Cathy Stai ~ Independent Consultant ~ Close To My Heart ~ In Love with Ink!