October Stamp of the Month – Close To My Heart

Oct15

Here we are – officially in the fall season with the holidays just around the corner.  The Christmas themed October Stamp of the Month (SOTM), Home for the Holidays, is available for a limited time.  It can be yours for just $5.00 with a $50 purchase but it is only available to you during October.   You can also purchase the October Stamp of the Month for $17.95 without a qualifying purchase.   I especially love the polar bear image.  The set coordinates with the Art Philosophy cartridge and provides measurements to cut pieces for all but two of the images (the candy cane and candy don’t have images on Art Philosophy but all of the others do) .   Here is a sample set I cut out using the CTMH Art Philosophy Cricut cartridge and stamped.

Samples stamped with the October SOTM

Samples stamped with the October SOTM

I also made two cards with the polar bear postage stamp.  One with glitter paper and the other with paper from the Snowhaven paper pack.  So cute!

october SOTM polar bear cards pic

 

You can purchase the Stamp of the Month and the supplies online at my Close to my Heart business address at http://cydneyfowlercreations.ctmh.com.

Recipes:

October Stamp of the Month “Home for the Holidays” Item #S1410

the “Winter Wishes” phrase is from the stamp set To You and Yours, Item #B1403

The “Snow Much Fun” phrase and snowflakes are from Flakey Friends, Item # C1506

Art Philosophy Cricut Cartridge Item # Z1686

Snowhaven Paper Pack Item # X7188C

Teal Glitter Paper Item # Z1991

Silver Shimmer Trim # Z1799

White Daisy Bulk pack of card bases and envelopes Item #X254

White Daisy Paper Item # 1385

Ink Pads:  Glacier #Z2641, Topiary #Z2155, Ponderosa Pine #Z2145, Ruby # Z2170.  The bright red on the December 25 tag is Holiday Red and that is a discontinued color, but you can use Cranberry in its place, #Z2116.

If you are using the Cricut Explore die cut machine instead of a legacy model, you can insert codes in search to find the cuts on Art Philosophy.   Be sure to be at search all images and enter the code with the # in front of it.  Light bulb shape ornament tag is #M41BE5;  Polar bear stamp is #M450F2, the Home for the Holidays tag is #M45A94, The Do Not Open tag is #M45080 and the larger ornament is #M4003B.

I hope you enjoy this peek at the possibilities using the October Stamp of the Month!  Leave a comment below or if you have questions, please feel free to email me at cydneyfowlercreations@gmail.com and I will respond as soon as possible.  Click here to be directed to my online CTMH shop.

 

 

Pathfinding Blog Hop

Sep30

Welcome to the Damask Divas October Blog Hop!  Fall is in the air and we are featuring the Pathfinding paper pack – autumn colors galore!  If you got here from Lilian’s blog, you are in the right place.  You can always go to the Damask Divas blog site to see all of the inspiring projects – just click here.

I made a 5×7 greeting card using the Pathfinding paper pack.  I used the new Artfully Sent exclusive Close to my Heart Cricut cartridge to make the card base, envelope and envelope liner.  I used my Cricut Explore and Design Space to Print then Cut the pumpkin, sentiment and leaves (these are from Artiste).  If you don’t have the Explore you can just cut paper items in the usual way using Artiste and your Expression or E2 machine for the embellishments.

Card base made with Artfully Sent

Card base made with Artfully Sent

If you are using your Expression or E2, set the card base size according to the booklet on page 39 and page 47 for the envelope and liner.  If you are using the Explore, set the size for the card base to cut at 9.34″ wide by 11.31 height.  Set the envelope and liner to cut at 10″ wide with 7″ height.  This gives you a little extra room in the envelope for a thick card.

In Design Space you can locate items to cut by their assigned number.  Here are the numbers for the cuts I used:

Frame Card – #M1011E3

Envelope – #MEF85D

Pumpkin – #M3D514

Give Thanks and Leaves – these are part of the Harvest Layout and the items are grouped together.  #MB0171 is the number.  To use just the Give Thanks and the leaves, ungroup them.  Hide what you don’t need by clicking on the eye for each item you want to hide.  For Print then Cut – change colors to suit your theme, flatten, select all, attach.

To use the codes, make sure you put the # sign in front of the number.  Insert images, make sure you are in all images.  In the search box type the #number and hit enter.  You should see a preview of the image.  Click on the preview to insert the image.  The image codes start with #M and the cartridge codes for the CTMH cartridges start with #S.  This allows you to search for the cartridge image set in search in the same way as the images.  It is a real time saver.

Artfully Sent is #S124E3

Artbooking is #S54A

Artiste is #S20E

Art Philosophy is #S13C

Recipe for the Card:

Pathfinding paper pack – Item # X7186B

Artfully Sent Cricut Collection – Item # Z3017

Artiste Cricut Collection – Item # Z1790

Colonial White Paper – Item # 1388

You can purchase Close to my Heart products from me at http://cydneyfowlercreations.ctmh.com or from your own consultant.

I hope you enjoyed my card and information on using the Cricut Explore.  You can make this project with your legacy machines, but I am hooked on the new Explore and Design Space.  Combined with our CTMH Cricut cartridges and CTMH papers it is amazing what you can do.

I am the “end of the line” for this blog hop.  If you want to start again, click on the link at the top of the page to return to the Damask Divas blog page.  Thanks for joining us!

 

 

 

 

 

Scaredy Cat Blog Hop

Aug31

Welcome to our September Damask Divas blog hop featuring the Close to my Heart paper pack, Scaredy Cat.  Halloween will be here before we know it!  If you came here from Lilian’s blog, then you are in the right place.  You can always click here to go to the Damask Divas blog page and view all that it has to offer including a complete list of blog hop participants.

I could not resist creating a Halloween themed wreath with these papers.   Of course, the color palette does not limit you to Halloween since most of the pack are bright patterns you can use for other themes.  I really liked the actual Halloween themed page in the pack and I fussy cut some of the cute designs and sayings from it to include on my wreath.  I love rosettes so I decided to make the wreath with a variety of rosettes in different sizes using each of the patterned papers in the pack.  I also used the metal pieces from the Scaredy Cat assortment to add interesting accents and was able to bend them a little to fit the round of the wreath base. They are a little hard to see in the photo, but they are tucked between the rosettes and one is on the front of the bottom rosette.  I wrapped the wreath base in burlap ribbon and orange organza ribbon.  The bow is black tulle.  I think it is a fun little project.

Halloween Wreath Using Scaredy Cat Paper Pack

Halloween Wreath Using Scaredy Cat Paper Pack

I cut the rosette strips by hand, but you can also cut them from the CTMH Artiste Cricut cartridge and have fun details on the edges.  I scored them using my scoreboard and used liquid glass to glue them together.  You glue the accordion pleated end to end to make a circle. The smaller rosettes are a strip of paper 1 1/4″ by 12″ scored at 1/4″ intervals to make a 2.5″ round rosette.  The middle size is two strips of 2″ by 12″, scored at 1/2″ intervals and glue the two together to make a 4″ round rosette.  The largest is 2 1/2″ by 12″ scored at 1/2″ intervals – also two strips glued together for a 5″ round rosette.  You will need one inch paper circles (two for each rosette) to hold them together. You can then add an embellishment over the circle as I did or leave them showing if you use coordinating paper for the circles.  The trick is to have your accordion pleated circle sitting on your work table and push the middle together while pulling the outside edges out.  Have your circles ready with the glue on them.  Push the circle as tight into the middle as you would like and press a circle on until the glue is holding, then flip it over and glue the circle on the other side.   I used hot glue to glue them to the wreath, but liquid glass would work too.

Recipe:

Scaredy Cat paper pack – item # X7185B

Scaredy Cat Assortment – item # Z3011

Liquid Glass – item # Z679

Score Board – Item # Z1937 (I already had a scoreboard, but if you need one, check out CTMH’s new scoreboard!)

You will also need a wreath base,  ribbons to wrap the base, unless you use a grapevine wreath, and wide ribbon or tulle for a bow.

Visit my online shop at http://cydneyfowlercreations.ctmh.com to purchase CTMH items or contact your own Close to my Heart Independent Consultant.  Don’t forget to check out the CTMH Stamp of the Month program and special purchase offers each month.

I hope this project inspires you!  The next stop on the blog hop is Melissa’s.   Click here to see her project!  Enjoy and Happy Crafting!

 

September Promotions from Close to my Heart Brought to you by Cydney Fowler, Independent Consultant

Aug30

The stamp of the month is a cute set featuring a beautiful tree with hearts and sayings that include family, forever, love and sweet moments.  There is also a fancy little heart stamp, a tiny flower and tiny hearts, too.  Get it for $5.00 with any $50 order in September, or you can purchase the set for the regular retail price of $17.95.  This set is only available to order in September.  Look online at http://cydneyfowlercreations.ctmh.com, or if you have a catalog, it is on page 13.   Here are the samples for September Stamp of the Month:

September 2014 Stamp of the Month Sample Layout

September 2014 Stamp of the Month Sample Layout

September 2014 Stamp of the Month - Sample Penant

September 2014 Stamp of the Month – Sample Penant

In addition, there is a September special celebrating 30 years of stamping.  You can get the cute and versatile stamp set pictured below.  It includes 30 little stamps!  You can get this set for FREE! when you spend $30 on any current retail-priced stamps.

National Stamping Month and 30 Years of Happy Campaign

National Stamping Month and 30 Years of Happy Campaign

When you shop with Close to my Heart the bonus levels accumulate – so if you spend $50 you can get the $5 SOTM set (one set for every $50 you spend – so if you spend $150 you are eligible for 3 of the same sets at $5.00 each set – great for gift giving) AND if $30 of your $50 is retail priced stamps, you qualify for the free set of 30 stamps.

So don’t forget to stop on by my online CTMH shop and make your September purchases!  Click here or type in this address – http://cydneyfowlercreations.ctmh.com.  This is my personal online business address so if you shop there I will get full credit towards my sales quotas.  I appreciate my customers and offer my own incentives and bonuses to those who place orders with me.  If you ever have any questions, all of my contact information is on the online shop site.

Happy Crafting!

There is still time to get the CTMH August Stamp of the Month

Aug14

The August Stamp of the Month by Close to my Heart is still available until the end of August.  You can purchase the stamp set for $17.95 or get it for just $5 when you spend $50.   Click Here to go to my online CTMH shop.  It is my personal site and my account will be credited with your purchase.  I appreciate the support!  The link is http://cydneyfowlercreations.ctmh.com

Owls are very on trend right now – you can use this adorable owl themed set for Halloween with the included “happy Owloween” saying and costume pieces for the owls, or you can use it for a variety of all occasion cards and layouts using just the owls and “What a Hoot” phrase included in the set.

Here is a sample treat bag using this versatile stamp set:

1408-sotm-bag

 

And here is a cute layout using the same stamp set:

1408-sotm-layout

August SOTM

August SOTM

I know you will think of many more ways to use this adorable stamp set for your own creations.

I also have a Mystery Hostess gathering you can join when you shop at my online CTMH store.  It is open until August 31, 2014.  The customer with the largest order attached to the online gathering will be the hostess!  The mystery hostess will receive free select product credit (SPC) as long as the gathering reaches a minimum total merchandise sales of $150.  The SPC is $25 when the gathering reaches $150, and goes up as the gathering sales increase. Check out the Idea Book online to get all of the details about sales levels and corresponding hostess rewards.  Just click the above links to get to my online shop and you can get all of the information there.  Feel free to contact me if you have questions.  All of my contacts are on the website.

Happy Crafting!

 

 

 

Chalk It Up Blog Hop

Jul31

Welcome to the Damask Divas August Blog Hop featuring the Chalk It Up paper pack.  If you got here from Judy’s blog, you are in the right place.  You can always go to the Damask Divas blog to start from the beginning and/or to see the entire list of participants.  I created a cute card using the featured papers and the new Great Job stamp set.   I used the Colonial White pigment ink pad so it looked like chalk on the black paper.  Remember to let the pigment ink dry well.  It goes on thick so I blotted it to make it look more see through like chalk.  I fussy cut the Great Job and the shooting star shapes out.  I used the new Touch markers to color the shooting stars and pop dotted them for dimension.  I also used the zip strip from the graphics paper to make a “ribbon” under the saying.  The smaller black square is the reverse of the paper that also has a chalkboard look to it.  The card base is Colonial White.  I like to use the pre-made CTMH card bases that come with envelopes.  You get a pack of 50 cards and envelopes for $14.95 and they look professional.  I used archival ink to stamp the shooting stars since I was going to color them in with markers.  The archival ink won’t bleed from the markers.

A2 size greeting card - Chalk It Up

A2 size greeting card – Chalk It Up

Recipe:

Chalk It Up paper pack – Item #Z7184B

Colonial White Pigment Ink Pad – Item #Z2168

Black Cardstock paper scrap to stamp Great Job and cut out

Archival Black Ink Pad – Item #44751

Great Job stamp set – Item #C1588

Touch Markers – YR26 Pastel Peach, R140 Lt Orange, B68 Turquoise Blue

I hope this card inspires you to make your own creations.  To shop for these items and many more exciting items from the new Annual Inspirations Idea Book, go to my personal online CTMH store at http://cydneyfowlercreations.ctmh.com or contact your own consultant.  We are always happy to assist you.

Next up on the blog hop is Hilary.  Click here to go to her blog and enjoy even more Chalk It Up inspiration!  Happy Crafting!

Cards featuring CTMH July Stamp of the Month

Jul16

I needed two thank you cards for my convention roomie/friends.  I used the July Stamp of the Month, Circus Alphabet (Item #S1407).  This is also a sneak peek at the new Shin-Han markers CTMH is unveiling in the August Annual Inspirations Idea Book.  I love the way they color!  Also a sneak peek at one of the new washi tapes, Topiary (item #Z2002), that is also available in August.  I used various CTMH solid colors to make the festive banner for the multi-color card, and Skylark paper for the green card.  Notice that I cut one inch squares to stamp the individual letters on – that way if you mess up coloring you can do one letter over and the letters are easy to line up this way.  Also, don’t hesitate to stamp letters in a random, wavy pattern if you have trouble lining the stamps up perfectly straight.  Perfect is the enemy of good!  Have fun with stamping and creating!  The Skylark paper pack is available until the end of July (Item #X7177B).  Get your favorite papers before the end of July!  All of the B&T duos patterned papers will be replaced with exciting new designs effective August 1.

Here are the two cards I made for my wonderful friends, Kelle and Erin:

Green Thank You card with the Circus Alphabet and Topiary Washi Tape.

Green Thank You card with the Circus Alphabet and Topiary Washi Tape.

Multi-Color Thank You card made with the Circus Alphabet.

Multi-Color Thank You card made with the Circus Alphabet.

 

Don’t forget – you can only get this cute alphabet stamp set during July.  Retail is $17.95, but you can get it for $5.00 with any $50 purchase during July.  My personal online CTMH shop is located at http://cydneyfowlercreations.ctmh.com.  Click on the link to shop.

Thanks for stopping by my blog!  Watch for regular posts featuring more wonderful Close to my Heart products.  Happy Crafting!

 

 

July Stamp of the Month from Close to my Heart

Jul15

This circus style alphabet stamp set is so cute!  This set is only available for purchase in July.  You still have time to get yours!  You can get yours for $17.95 retail, or for the bargain price of only $5.00 with a $50 purchase.  Go to my personal online CTMH website to place an order now!  Click here to be redirected  to http://cydneyfowlercreations.ctmh.com. I will post some cards made with this stamp set in the next few days so you will have examples.  Happy Crafting.

What a fun alphabet stamp set!

What a fun alphabet stamp set!

Skylark Blog Hop

Jun30

Welcome to our monthly Damask Divas blog hop.  We are featuring the Skylark paper pack.  If you got here from Brenda’s blog, you are in the right place.  You can always start from the beginning by going to the Damask Divas blog where you will find a list of all of the participants and links to their blogs.  I created a few cards.  I just love the paper with the birds and dragonflies  so I cut my paper to highlight those images.  I added some embellishments – wood color ready shapes that compliment the design, washi tape, the zip strip from the edge of the paper, some leaves and bling.  These papers are perfect for Spring and Summer.  The colors are very soothing and peaceful.

Dragonfly - Spread Your Wings

Dragonfly – Spread Your Wings

Skylark - Believe

Skylark – Believe

Blue Bird - Happy Birthday

Blue Bird – Happy Birthday

That beautiful blue bird is part of the paper design not an embellishment! This paper would be great as a scrapbook page background as well.  I hope these cards give you some crafty inspiration.  If you want to purchase Close to my Heart papers and crafty goodness, go to my online store by clicking here, or contact your own consultant.  We are all happy to help you. Next up on the hop is Felica.  Click here to go to see what she has created for your viewing pleasure.  Happy Crafting!

Timberline Blog Hop

May31

Welcome to the Damask Divas blog hop for June featuring the Timberline paper pack.  If you got here from Brenda’s blog, you are in the right place.  You can always go back to the Damask Divas blog by clicking here if you want to start at the beginning or view the Damask Divas main blog page.

I could not resist creating a camping themed card with Timberline and the Camper Crazy  stamp set.  Such cute little RVs and camping sayings in that stamp set.  The stars and moon across the top is a zip strip from one of the sheets of paper in the Timberline pack.  The pack includes a wood grain sheet I used for the tree and a variety of outdoor themes and patterns including those I used in the card.  I colored the camper to look like an Air Stream camper and fussy cut it out using my CTMH micro tip scissors.  I “fringed” the bottom strip to look grassy and I “parked” the camper on the grass.

A2 size card using Timberline paper pack

A2 size card using Timberline paper pack

Recipe:

Timberline Paper Pack – Item #X7182B

Camper Crazy Stamp Set – Item #C1578

Art Philosophy Cricut Collection – Item #Z1686 (for the tree trunk and leaves)

White Daisy Card base and envelopes pack – Item #X254

Visit my Close to my Heart online shopping site by clicking here to purchase supplies for this project or contact your own consultant.  Happy Crafting!

Next up on the blog hop is Felicia.  Click here to go to her blog to see her Timberline project.