November already?!

Hi,
Well, here it is already November and I can't remember the last time I posted something here.  Sorry - things have been rather busy and I have dropped the ball.  Of course I've been creating, just not posting it her.  So, I shall do that now! 


First, let's start with Boss's Day.  Here are the 4 cards I created for our wonderful bosses at school.

On to Halloween!

Invitations to a Girls' Night Out

Thanksgiving

Well, there you have it.  My recent creations over the past few months.  Hopefully I'll be back before another 4 months has passed.  Until then, stay creative!

Technique Blog Hop: Alcohol Markers

Welcome to our Technique Blog Hop!  This month we are highlighting the “Blending with Alcohol Markers” Technique as shown on page 55 in the Fall/Winter 2012 Idea Book!  This blog hop is a great big circle so you can start wherever you want and continue through to see all the fabulous artwork incorporating this technique. 

You will also find a listing of all participants and their blog addresses if you should get lost or want to reference a blog along the way.  If you are coming from Judy's Blog, you are on the right track.  Let’s get started!

Lately, I’ve been super busy and haven’t had time to craft.  It makes me so sad and I miss my crafting (a.k.a. stress reliever) so much.  Luckily, I had this blog hop to focus some attention on!  I’m super new to the whole alcohol & blending marker world.  So, I took things a little easy this month.  School has started back up (ya!) and I have kids who always need a bookmarker.  I cut the Colonial White cardstock at 7.5 x 1.5, inked the edges in Chocolate, and then glued it down to either a strip of Mischief paper (one of my all-time favs!) or Flirty paper.  Flirty isn’t exactly fall’ish, but the orange side of the paper worked well.   

Next, I broke out the StazOn and stamped my pumpkins from the Fall Favorites stamp set.  This stamp set is September’s Stamp of the Month and it is too dang cute!   I’ve learned that it is best to let the StazOn dry for several minutes before coloring with markers.  So, while the pumpkins were drying, I stamped “fall” in Autumn Terra Cotta ink and the words “into a good book” in Chocolate ink. 

The pumpkins were colored in the darker and lighter shades of Autumn Terra Cotta, while the stems, leaves, and grass where colored in the 2 tones of Ponderosa Pine.  For a finishing touch, I cut a 5 inch strip out of each color: Autumn Terra Cotta, Olive, and Chocolate Baker’s Twine.  I wound the Baker’s Twine together and looped through a small hole I made using a standard hole puncher.

I’d love to hear what you think of my easy – breezy bookmarks!  Leave a comment, then hop on over to Rachel's page to see what she has created this month.

Close To My Heart Shopping List:

Alcohol Blending Marker – Z1801

Autumn Terra Cotta Alcohol Marker – Z2427

Ponderosa Pine Alcohol Marker – Z2423

StazOn in Brown – Z1142

Autumn Terra Cotta Ink – Z2101

Chocolate Ink – Z2111

Harvest Baker’s Twine – Z1751

Baker’s Twine: Neutral Assortment – Z1701

Tiny Typewriter Alphabet Stamp Set – D1222

Fall Favorites Stamp Set – September Stamp of the Month – S1209

Bonding Memories Glue - 1512

Euro Personal Paper Trimmer – Z338

Microtip Scissors – Z534

My Acrylix Block 2x3 ½

My Acrylix Block 2x2

Colonial White paper - 1388

Flirty Paper Pack – X7160B

Mischief Paper Pack – retired

Standard hole puncher – office store/walmart

  Thank you for stopping by!

School is back in session

Well,  the first week of the new school year is over and I'm completely exhausted!  I am at the same school, but have a new position - Reading Helping Teacher.  I get to go around to all the different reading classes and help kids - how great is that?!  So far, I absolutely love it!

This week was also the start of college for me - no, I'm not going back to school.  Well, not actually.  I'm teaching college!!!  My first class was on 8/29 and I was a nervous wreck.  I get to teach a sophomore level psychology class - Human Growth & Development:  Lifespan.  The class is small and they are a great group.

Since I'm so tired and do not feel like cooking a great deal, I made up a huge batch of Cowboy Caviar.  I will be taking a scoop each day for my lunch to get in my veggies.   If you've never tried it, I've included the recipe below, so give it a try!

Cowboy Caviar

2   cans black-eyed peas, drained
2   cans corn, drained
2   cans Rotel tomatoes, drained
1   can diced black olives
1-2 jalapeno peppers  seeded & diced
4-6 small sweet peppers: yellow, orange, & red; seeded & diced
3-5 radishes, diced
3/4 of a zucchini, diced
1/2 lb mushrooms, diced as fine as possible
3/4 bunch cilantro, leaves removed & tossed in
20-30 baby carrots diced as small/fine as possible
1 onion, diced (can be yellow or red- your choice)
Salt & pepper to taste

These are the vegetables I generally put into my caviar, feel free to add things like celery, yellow squash, green peas, or whatever you like.  Most recipes also call for avocado.  Although I love avocado, I don't like it turning brown, so I never add it in to this dip. 

Once you have everything diced up and the cans well drained, put all of it in a large bowl and mix thoroughly.  The longer it stands, the better the flavors meld together.  This recipe can easily be halved or quartered to make a smaller batch. 

I use the caviar as a dip or on salads.  Extremely healthy and super delicious!  Hope you enjoy!

Negative Images Can Create Positve Outcomes

Welcome to our Technique Blog Hop!  This month we are highlighting the “Negative Images” Technique as shown on page 92 in the Fall/Winter 2012 Idea Book!  This blog hop is a great big circle so you can start wherever you want and continue through to see all the fabulous artwork incorporating this technique. 

You will also find a listing of all participants and their blog addresses if you should get lost or want to reference a blog along the way.  If you are coming from Shirley’s Blog, you are on the right track.  Let’s get started!

After cutting out several images for a card workshop, I had a section of the Dreamin’ paper left that looked a lot like a grid.  For some reason, I just couldn’t throw that piece away.  Good thing I didn’t because it worked out well for this project!  I had several pictures of butterflies but didn’t have room for all of them, so I cut them down to focus only on the butterfly and then laid the “grid” over the pictures.

As embellishments, I wanted to use the Just Blooms Flutter shapes.  While I was inking the shapes, I noticed the paper underneath my shape had a negative image of the white inside a ring of the ink color.  So, of course, I added that to my layout.  You never know when or how a negative image will accent your project!

  

I’d love to hear what you think of my interpretation of the Using Negative Images Technique.  Leave a comment, then hop on over to Joy’s page to see what she has created this month.

Thank you for stopping by!

Close To My Heart Shopping List:

Art Philosophy Cricut Cartridge Z1686

Sunset Ink – Z2191

Chocolate Ink – Z2111

Crème Brulee Ink – Z20167

Crystal Blue Ink – Z2117

Round Sponge – Z697

Just Blooms Flutter Shapes – Z1463

Sparkle Flourishes – Z1708

Bonding Memories Glue - 1512

Euro Personal Paper Trimmer – Z338

Microtip Scissors – Z534

Dreamin’ B& T – retired

White Daisy Cardstock – 1385

Scroll Album Kit WOTG – G1042

For Sale Items, check out the While Supplies Last section!  http://mjwest.ctmh.com/Retail/Products.aspx?CatalogID=1702

New * New * New

With the first of August comes more heat than we know what to do with.  Good thing Close To My Heart has few cool NEW things going on!  First, there is the new Idea Book, next is the new Artiste Cricut cartridge, and last but not least, is the new way to become a Consultant.

If you have thought about being a Consultant, but wasn't sure Close To My Heart has come up with an idea to make it simpler for you.  There are two Consultant kits now!  The first one is called the Essentials Kit and is only $49!  The second kit is our traditional Master Kit for $99.  Regardless of which kit you choose, you will be receive this tote we got at Convention for free.

But, you must hurry, because there are only a limited amount.  Corporate has told us that when the supplies are gone, they are gone.  This is a great messenger bag.  I love mine! 

The Damask Tote Bag Features:
* 17" x 17" x 6"
* Large exterior pocket for 12" x 12" paper packets
* Huge interior pocket that can hold a 12" x 12" album and more
* Small zippered interior pocket
* Fabric is a coated-canvas for durability & easy cleaning
* 2 water bottle pockets
* Can be worn on the shoulder, across the body, or as a backpack
* Large outer flap snaps closed

This is one beautiful bag and it is FREE when you sign up as a Consultant with Close To My Heart.  Go straight to my website to get started! http://mjwest.ctmh.com    Come join my team, you won't regret it!

Have a fabulous day!

Christmas In July

Welcome to the “Use Your Stash Blog Hop ~ Christmas in July." You should be coming from Tabbi's Blog. If you get lost along the way you can see the entire list of hoppers on Rachel's Blog. Let's get started.

 Some of the papers are from Christmas packs, the others I used to give traditional looks a twist.  I’m trying very hard to use up my stash, so I made several items this month. I did a Christmas in July card swap and had to make 3 cards and 3 tags.  So, I’m showing you what I did for the swap

The first card was done blue background paper (I have no idea what the name of it is, but it is CTMH).  I cut out the word Joy on the Cricut Art Philosophy cartridge and then wrapped the O with the fuzzy/sparkly yarn from a local craft store to make a wreath.  I used liquid glass to adhere the red sparkles and the red/white ribbon to the wreath. 

My 2^nd card I cut out a ton of leaves, using the Art Philosophy Cricut Cartridge, and stamped them with the large and small leaves from A Holiday stamp set.  I then outlined them in Stardust Glitz Glitter Gel and layered them to look like a poinsettia.  For the center, I used round Sparkles. I put the whole flower onto Olive cardstock and stamped, in Olive, a portion of the flourish from the stamp set Adorn-able.

The 3^rd card was super fun, but took a lot of work.  I used the Art Philosophy Cricut Cartridge to cut out the background and layer shape of a Christmas ornament.  For the background, I used Smoothie cardstock.  The decorative layer on top was cut out of the animal print from the Roxie paper pack.  The branch is from the Adorn-able stamp set.  I added bling with a Designer Brad, but the real work comes from the black embossing I did around the edges of the dark portion of the animal print.  You can see the detail of the embossing in the up close photo.  I used the embossing pen and black embossing powder and then heat set it.

To me, it was harder come up with designs for the tags than the cards!  But, I still had fun and used up some stash.  The first tag I cut out a snowflake from the Art Philosophy Cricut Cartridge in White Daisy cardstock.  Then, I distressed the edges in (I believe) Dutch Blue ink.  Using the 2” circle punch, I punched out a circle and used as the center of the snowflake.  The sparkle comes from the Stardust Glitz Glitter Gel and a tiny Sparkle at the edges.

Tag #2 was also cut from the Art Philosophy Cricut Cartridge in Olive cardstock.  The background portion was cut out of the Elemental cardstock featuring the Olive side.  The Santa Claus stamp came from the St. Nick stamp set.  Santa was stamped in Black StazOn and colored with the Watercolor Pencils and then brushed with the Waterbrush.   A little bit of Stardust Glitz Glitter Gel and some red Sparkles and he was finished.

Tag #3 was created out of a rectangle piece of paper from the Believe paper pack.  I stamped the tree from A Tree onto Olive cardstock in Olive ink and adorned it with red Sparkles.  White ribbon and the Bitty Brad Metal Assortment round out the finishing touches.

Below is a shopping list for the items I used that are still available.  Please go to my website to order and it will be shipped directly to you!  Now hop on over to Shirley's blog to see what she came up with for Christmas in July.

Shopping List for these cards & tags

Art Philosophy Cricut Cartridge – Z1686

Olive Cardstock – 1245

White Daisy Cardstock – 1385

Watercolor Pencils – 3505

Waterbrush – 1771

Hemp in Natural – Z280

Red Sparkles – Z1326

Olive Ink – Z2137

Black StazOn Ink Z888

Black Ink – Z2105

Micro-Tip Scissors – Z534

Bitty Brad Metal Assortment in Black – Z1368

Sparkles in Round – Z1104

Glitz Glitter Gel in Stardust – Z1313

Elemental paper pack – Retired

Believe paper pack – Retired

Roxie paper pack - Retired

Cranberry Ink – Z2116

Embossing Pen – Z724

VersaMark – Z891

Craft Heater – Z555

Round Sponge – Z697

Craft Tray – 1764

Black embossing powder – Z670

Designer Brads – Z1360

Fuzzy Yarn – got at local craft store

Cricut Envy

Your friend bought a new Cricut cartridge at the local craft store.  She's pretty excited and thinks she has the best and newest toy.  Wait until you see what I have available to YOU on August 1st!  Your friend will have a severe case of Cricut Envy!

Introducing

The Artiste Collection

ONLY from

Close To My Heart

Artiste Cartridge Collection includes:

•3 adorable stamp sets that perfectly coordinate

•3 Dimensional Elements Chipboard Pieces that coordinate including word bubbles, pennants, and a mini album.

•700 Unique Shapes including:

•18 cupcake liners

•50+ Card with Matching Envelops

•50+ 3-D Boxes

•14 Welded Sentiments

•7 pre-scored rosettes

•4 spiral rolled flowers

• and 100′s of other images including: ferris wheels, owls, coffins, skeletons, bows, silhouettes, robots, dress forms, banners, medals, tags, brackets, frames, playing cards, pinwheels, road signs, ornaments, pumpkins, birds, butterflies, aliens, hearts, hot-air balloons

This cartridge has a little bit of everything and is super trendy!  You can start buying the complete collection from my website here on August 1 for $99 (plus S/H and Tax)

Use Your Stash Blog Hop - Oldest Paper

If you are joining us for the "Using Up Your Stash Blog Hop" you are on the right track. WELCOME! You should be coming from Wendy's Blog.  If you get lost along the way you can see the entire list of hoppers on Rachel's Blog. Let's get started.

If you are like me, you have a ton of paper that you have horded, so today I am showcasing my oldest Close To My Heart paper.  I’m trying very hard to use up my stash, so I made 2 things this month.  Now, there will be some participants with some really old paper.  I've been with Close To My Heart for only a year, so my paper isn't that old, per se.

First, I made a card for a group I’m in called RAK – Random Acts of Kindness. Each month we get a different RAK partner and we send something handmade to our partner just to let her know we are thinking of her. The lady I made this card for loves butterflies.  That enabled me to use the Wings paper I had left over from the Spring of 2011. For the card, I used the Die Cut Cards & Envelopes.  I covered the flap of the card in the dark, butterfly covered paper.  The excess paper I cut out different butterflies.  I used the green side of another Wings paper and cut it to fit the other side of the card.  I stamped the green paper with one of my favorite stamp sets, Love Life.  Then, I glued down the butterflies I cut out. 

On the inside of the card, I wanted to do something a little fun.  So, I used both sides the same paper as the majority of the front of the card.  As a base, I cut out and used the black side of the paper.  Then, I cut out a smaller square and turned it so that it was wonky.  I used the Metal Brad Assortment in Black to hold down the wonky turned paper.  I have a punch that punches out super small butterflies., along with 3 other critters.  I punched out 3 butterflies and used the reverse side of the paper, black, to give just a bit more contrast.  Then, I wrote a note to my RAK friend.

The 2^nd project I did was a SWAP of bookmarks.  This was fun because we got to just go with it, no theme or anything.  Well, I thought, might as well use more Wings paper, so I did.  I measured about 2 inches wide and about 7 inches long black cardstock.  Then, I used the same green paper from the Wings paper pack as I did for the card, but I cut it about a half inch shorter and a half inch thinner than the black cardstock.  Again, I used the Love Life stamp.  I also punched out a few butterflies using that 4 critter punch.  I adhered the green paper to the black cardstock.  I punched a hole at the top of the bookmark and looped the fuzzy black yarn through the hole.  I glued down the small butterflies and then outlined portions of the flourish with my Stardust Glitz Glitter Gel.  Of course, every girl needs bling, so I added a few extra round Sparkles here and there. 

Ta Da ~ 2 projects done and I used up paper that is over a year old.  Yeah!

Shopping List for the 1^st project

Die Cut Cards & Envelopes – Z1474

Love Life Stamp Set – D1482

Black Ink – Z2105

Micro-Tip Scissors – Z534

Metal Brad Assortment in Black – Z1366

Wings paper pack – Retired

4 Critter Punch – don’t remember where I got this

Shopping List for the 2^nd project

Love Life Stamp Set – D1482

Black Cardstock – 1386

Sparkles in Round – Z1104

Glitz Glitter Gel in Stardust – Z1313

Wings paper pack – Retired

Single Hole Punch – I’ve had this for years

Fuzzy Yarn – got at local craft store

Now hop on over to Theresa's Blog for more ideas of using up your stash.

Mark Your Calendars!

Mark Your Calendars!

For the next seven months, I will be hosting card workshops and crops at the Winters Park Assisted Living and Memory Care Center in Garland, Tx.  I’m including all the dates and if applicable, the theme. 

All card workshops, except December, will be 6*8*10.  You will create 6 cards, using only 8 minutes per card, for only $10!  What a fantastic way to have handmade cards, build up your stash of cards, and meet new people!  Crops are free, yes F-R-E-E, so you can come and learn new techniques while completing your projects and scrapbooks.

June 9              6-8pm             Card Workshop

June 29            6-10:30pm       Crop

July 7               6-8pm              Card Workshop

July 30             6-10:30pm       Crop

Aug 12             6-7:30pm         Card Workshop

Aug 25             9-11 am           Back to school crop & bake sale

Sept 8              6-8pm              Card Workshop

Sept 22            6-10:30pm       Crop

Oct 7               6-8pm              Card Workshop – Halloween

Oct 20             6-8pm              Card Workshop – Veteran’s Day

Nov 10             6-8pm              Card Workshop – Thanksgiving

Nov 23             6-10:30 pm      Crop

Dec 1               *** Special Card Workshop *** we will be making Christmas/Holiday

Cards – time to be determined

                                                                                  

Each month, you will need to email me to register and prepay to hold your place for the card workshops.  Crops are a come and go.  I am super excited about this opportunity and would love to have each and every one of you come and join me.

West.mjwest@yahoo.com

Use Your Stash - Mad about Metals

If you are joining us for the "Using Up Your Stash Blog Hop" you are on the right track. WELCOME! You should be coming from Rachel's Blog. If you get lost along the way you can see the entire list of hoppers on Rachel's Blog. Let's get started.

Today I am showcasing Metal accents!  I have a lot of paper left over from last spring, so I used that as well.  The paper is called Mayberry.  The metal charm embellie on the front is from last fall.  Both the paper and the metal charm are now retired.

I needed a card for a friend who is ill, so I just used up some old stuff.

I layered the paper, then used the Natural Hemp to give it a fun twist.  The metal charm is on 3-D Foam tape. 

Close To My Heart Shopping List

Colonial White Cardstock - 1388

Hemp in natural -Z280

Chocolate Ink - Z2111

3-D Foam Tape – Z1151

Thank you for stopping by, now hop on over to Theresa's blog for more great ideas.

May's Technique Blog Hop - Yo Yo's

Welcome to our Technique Blog Hop!  This month we are highlighting the “Yo-Yo Flowers” Technique as shown on page 27 in the Spring/Summer 2012 Idea Book!  This blog hop is a great big circle so you can start wherever you want and continue through to see all the fabulous artwork incorporating this technique.  If you are coming from Rachel's Blog, you are on the right track.  Let’s get started!

Here is the card I made for my nephew's baptism.  He is 12 and it is so not cool to have handmade things from his aunt, but I do it anyway because I love him.  He loves the Avengers and all the different super heros, so I used the Superhero paperpack. 

I cut 2 of the borders from the Art Philosophy Cricut cartridge at "fit to page."  Then, I scored them at every 1/4 inch.  Once I scored them, I folded them up (back & forth).  Using the ever popular Liquid Glass, I glued the two ends together in a circle and voila! I had a beautiful star burst for the front of my card.

I embellished with Dimensional Elements Star Shapes.  These I inked in Cranberry, Moonstruck, and Sunkiss Yellow.  On the largest star, I put a "C" for his name using the Hero Alphabet.

Now, hop on over to Judy Faye's blog and check out what she has created.  Don’t forget to post your project on our challenge blog!

Close To My Heart Shopping List:

Hero Alphabet - E1022

Superhero Paper Packet - X7152B

Liquid Glass - Z679

Dimensional Elements - Stars - Z1680

Round Sponge – Z697

Euro Personal Paper Trimmer – Z338

Microtip Scissors – Z534

Cranberry Ink - Z2116

Monstruck Ink - Z2134

Black Ink - Z2105

May Stamp of the Month

Each month Close To My Heart has a "Stamp Of The Month" special.  When you spend $50, you can add the Stamp Of The Month for only $5!  This is a great way to build up your stamp collection.  Each month, the stamp set is different, and it is always timely!


This month's Stamp Of The Month is called Friendship Bouquet.  Of course, there are always ideas in the Idea Book using the Stamp Of The Month.  However, there are a few Consultants with whom I share my own creation.  Then we all do a virtual Stamp Of The Month Swap and post them on our blogs. 

Michelle West

Judy Faye Garner

Melissa Robinson

She even had the Dotty For You paper as a background!

Sheila Wilkerson

Use Your Stash - April = Ribbons

If you are joining us for the "Using Up Your Stash Blog Hop" you are on the right track. WELCOME! You should be coming from Bethany's Blog. If you get lost along the way you can see the entire list of hoppers on Rachel's Blog. Let's get started.

Today I am showcasing Ribbons!  If you are like me, you buy ribbon and then never use it.  This was the perfect time to get out my (rather large) stash of ribbon and figure out something to create.   A 2-page spread layout is what I finally came up with.  It is extremely colorful, and well, let’s be honest – a little on the elementary side, My Dear Watson.  But, I like it and I usually don’t go for the less sophisticated-type of project. 

First, I cut about 3 inches from each ribbon I had on hand…. OK, it’s more like about 90% of the ribbon I had on hand, but – I did use most of it.  Then, I cut each ribbon piece in half.  On Colonial White cardstock, I placed a giant yellow circle that I inked around in, surprise surprise, Sunset ink.  I have no idea where I got the large yellow circle.  I was looking through my paper stash and found it.  That is when I decided to make a sun out of the circle.  The first lot of ribbons I had cut in half were then used as the rays on my sun. 

On the 2^nd page, I used the other group of ribbons as the stems for flowers.  Next, I inked just about any round-flower’ish looking item I could find and adhered the flower to the ribbon/stem.  Some of the flowers are Close To My Heart products, such as Heirloom Assortment, Just Blooms White Daisy, Bliss Level 2 (retired), and the Dimensional Elements Mixed Shapes.  I also used the Just Blooms Paper Shapes (butterflies).  All of the other flowers are listed below in my Non-CTMH shopping list.

For the saying, I used the Cocktail Alphabet in Black ink. 

This was a pretty easy project, but I had fun being silly with it. 

Close To My Heart Shopping List

Liquid Glass - Z679

Colonial White Cardstock - 1388

Just Blooms Paper Shapes – Z1463

Just Blooms Variety Pack – Z1300

Bliss Level 2 Assortment – Z1355 (retired)

Dimensional Elements Mixed Shapes – Z1683

Heirloom Assortment – Z1635

Bitty Brads Metal Assortment – Z1368

Round Sponge – Z697

Designer Ribbon Pink Collection – Z1384

Designer Ribbon Blue Collection – Z1385

Glitz Glitter Gel – Stardust – Z1313

3-D Foam Tape – Z1151

Micro-tip Scissors – Z534

Tulip Ink – Z2166

Pear Ink – Z2197

Pacifica Ink – Z2192

Cranberry Ink – Z2116

Sunset Ink – Z2191

Spring Iris Ink – Z2148

Parchment Ink – Z2142

Gypsy Ink – Z2190

Sunflower Ink – Z2150

Sunny Yellow Ink – Z2152

Black Ink – Z2105

Non-CTMH Shopping List

* K & Company Wedding Paper Flowers – these were inked in many different Close To My Heart colors

* Recollections Dimensional Flower Stickers

* 23 different types/colors of ribbon that I’ve had anywhere from 1 month to 5 years

Now hop on over to Theresa's Blog for more ideas of using up your stash.