The Everything ABC's Blog Hop - letter I

Welcome to the Everything ABC's Blog Hop!

For this hop we will be featuring the letter I.  

This may be the name of a paper, a stamp set or an embellishment.  

Whatever the crafter has chosen as their I element 

will be featured in their post.

If you came from Linda Norman, 

then you're on the right track!

I cannot wait to see all the I inspired expressions of creativity. 

My I inspiration; INSTANT cards - nothing but PML!

Well, almost "nothing but PML".  I admit I couldn't resist a little Juniper ink on the Georgie PML card and used sparkles to cover the glue that showed through the clear acetate on the "Be Happy".  These are so very fast! = INSTANT cards.  I did these 10 cards in 30 minutes.

Your next stop on our Everything ABC's blog hop is Catherine Nowak who also has a complete list of participants in case you get lost.

Up-dated technique post

For the April CTMH Technique Blog Hop, we are featuring the resist technique.  It really is a lot of fun and the results can be magical.  If you are coming from Priscilla Gotham, you are on the right track.  In case you get lost, you can get a complete list of participants HERE.  This month we have approximately 13 Close to My Heart Consultants shareing their creations using resist techniques along with a variety of our great CTMH products.  To enjoy this hop is quite simple to do - just click on the link at the of the post on each blog to move to the next one.  Here we go!  

I had planned to use rubber cement and the butterfly template (stencil) created with Artbooking (pg.14 "sleeve" at 6 inches).   However, forgot to pick up the rubber cement after work, so...... improvised and used Tombow and our rub and remove eraser - worked like a charm!  I used daubers to create the Bokeh effect, Regatta paper packet, white shimmer trim and sparkles.  It was a very fast and fun card!

Now, hop on over to Haley Dyer's blog to see what kind of fabulous art she's created.  Be sure to drop a comment, we enjoy the encouragement.  Enjoy the Hop!

Technique Blog Hop - RESISTING CAN BE FUN

For the April CTMH Technique Blog Hop, we are featuring the resist technique.  It really is a lot of fun and the results can be magical.  If you are coming from Priscilla Gotham, you are on the right track.  In case you get lost, you can get a complete list of participants HERE.  This month we have approximately 13 Close to My Heart Consultants shareing their creations using resist techniques along with a variety of our great CTMH products.  To enjoy this hop is quite simple to do - just click on the link at the of the post on each blog to move to the next one.  Here we go!  

I had planned to use rubber cement and the butterfly template (stencil) created with Artbooking (pg.14 "sleeve" at 6 inches).   However, forgot to pick up the rubber cement after work, so...... improvised and used Tombow and our rub and remove eraser - worked like a charm!  I used daubers to create the Bokeh effect, Regatta paper packet, white shimmer trim and sparkles.  It was a very fast and fun card!

Now, hop on over to Haley Dyer's blog to see what kind of fabulous art she's created.  Be sure to drop a comment, we enjoy the encouragement.  Enjoy the Hop!

The Everything ABC's Blog Hop - letter H

Welcome to the Everything ABC's Blog Hop!

For this hop we will be featuring the letter H.  

This may be the name of a paper, a stamp set or an embellishment.  

Whatever the crafter has chosen as their H element 

will be featured in their post.

If you came from Wendy Kessler's blog

then you're on the right track!

I cannot wait to see all the H inspired expressions of creativity. 

My H is Happy Hexagon Cards and I'm Crafty Happy!  I love the time spent with friends crafting and the challenges to create items within certain parameters and for the H, I knew it had to be Happy Hexagons. I also love the How to... Tutorials and Videos, so I also found a "How to" for my H. 

CTMH has hexagon overlays for layouts and cards which are found on the Artbooking Cartridge Pg.67, the hexagon shape is found on Artistry Cricut Cartridge.  There are two hexagon stamp sets Honeycomb C1537 and Hexagonal Patterns C1626, and a hexagon embossing folder. Checking out Pinterest, I found a hexagon star fold card "How to Tutorial" I've also included my first photo How to tutorial.  It is similar to the "dahlia fold" except that this one is made with Hexagons instead of circles.  The "Song of My Heart Stampers" blog has a mini photo "How to Tutorial".  

I cut the hexagons using the Artistry Cricut Cartridge 

pg 6 (#6-Shape key) cut at 1 3/4 inches.

Fold it into a kite shape.

  I found it easiest to score a V and then adjust
the folds as needed to create even sides.

Here are three versions. 

The first is made from a combination of 

Charlotte and Georgie papers.  

The scallop edged hexagon base for the folded star 

is  cut from the Artiste Cricut Cartridge 

(pg 56 the Letter H Accent 2)

CARD 1

Charlotte Paper Packet

The Happy Stamp is from "My Anchor" C1642

 and the shape is cut from "My Anchor Thin Cuts" Z3202

I also used the chevron pattern from the Georgie paper pack

Coral shimmer trim, Sorbet ink, Whisper ink, silver sequin with a

 large sparkle colored with a Shin Han marker, Whisper thick Twine, 

staples, and the zip strip from Charlotte.

CARD 2

 

 Kaleidoscope paper pack,  

Some additional embellishments include mini staples, the green glitter triangles, 

green shimmer trim, and fern think twine,

CARD 3

Georgie Paper Pack

This card starts with a hexagon embossed canary CS 

that has been sanded to show the hexagon shapes.

Glacier thick twine, staples, white shimmer trim, 

a sequin with a Shin Han blue colored sparkles

Your next stop on our Everything ABC's blog hop is Tonya Whitehurst of Heart  and Soul Scrappers

In case you get lost along the way...go to Catherine Nowak for a complete list of participants!

Why I Became a Close to My Heart Consultant Blog Hop

 
The focus for this CTMH blog hop is artwork 
showing the "Why". 

Why I became a CTMH consultant and 
why I continue as a CTMH consultant.  

We have approximately 18 consultants participating in this hop.  If you are coming from Sheila Bennett's blog, Sheila's Stamping Stuff, you are on the right track.  In case you get lost, you can get a complete list of participants HERE. To enjoy this hop is quite simple to do - just click on the link at the end of the post on each blog to move to the next one!  Here we go! 

Here's my "Why"  
 I will tell you my story first and then show a card that illustrates techniques I've learned and the FUN I've had playing BINGO with CTMH Inspirations Bingo (click for a copy). I'm so BLESSED to be part of the CTMH family, so many great friends and fun events.  I've learned so much as I explore, create and share the mission of CTMH: 
We show you how to celebrate relationships 
through discovering your creativity, 
to preserve and share the moments that matter most.®

A few years ago, Julie Reynolds challenged her team to create a layout sharing the "WHY" we joined Close to My Heart.  I was working full time, and really not finding a lot of time to join challenges, however, I have thought about the why often.  Prior to becoming a consultant, I was attending workshops at a friend's home.  My friend's cousin is a CTMH consultant.  In those days CTMH was known as D.O.T.S.(Dozens of Terrific Stamps).  I was invited to crash their club, whenever I had time, without any monthly commitment.  At that time, I had no idea what workshops and clubs were and found them simply a fun time to learn craft techniques and spend time with friends. Then at one meeting there was a special for new consultants; I could get all these amazing supplies at a discount, PLUS, an additional gift, a cute card kit - FREE!  I like free, I like discounts, and I like making cards. The kit had a magnetic closure and contained everything for several cards including ink and stamps.  Eight years later, I'm still a consultant and still have the box and stamp set. I'm a teacher. I love learning, I love sharing what I learn, and I love crafting. As a consultant, I have access to online trainings, bi-annual events, plus an Annual Leadership Convention, packed with classes teaching me a variety of techniques, clever cards, home decor, gifts, unique layouts and even jewelry . Beyond the obvious, the classes and technical support, since joining CTMH, I've also meet such amazing, talented people who have become dear friends.

Here's my ten reasons WHY ~
10. Discounts on supplies ~ 22% commision or more, depending on my current level.
9. Amazing products; quality is a priority and Corp listens when we make suggestions.
8. Corporate support/training ~ FREE on-line business website.
7. Great stamps, Acrylic, plus, delightful double sided papers; both with popular trending designs
6. Technical support, lots of social media options
5. Preserved memories; made fast, easy, and artistically done
4. New relationships, friendships - love you  XOXO!
3. Team meetings with Julie; fun!
2. Retreats - lots of them. More fun!  hahaha
Finally,
the #1 reason WHY I became a consultant 8 years ago and WHY I'm still a consultant - is the JOY!

Being a consultant gives me joy!

I am Crafty Happy 
One FUN game I've played at Crops is BINGO.
So for this Crafty Happy Card, I played the
CTMH Inspiration BINGO I got from the CTMH blog.
I was able to come close to a blackout using 22 of 24 challenges.
All smashed into one card.

 

 This BINGO card is a little busy, but it was FUN!
I love a good challenge.
The two challenges I didn't complete were to use 4 patterned papers, and to use a complete pkg of embellishments,  What I did accomplish was using ribbon, twine, a cricut cutout, washi tape, arrows, monochromatic colors, colors in the same family (Whimsy), favorite color, (lagoon), Picture My Life (Birdie and nest), a frame, (CS around the arrows), embossing, sanding, water colors, Shin Han markers (used to color the sparkles blue), stitching, doodling, (both with the faux stitching), stamp in an unusual way (inked a 1 inch block, spritzed it and stamped it around the ends of the sentiment), stamp masking, (the You and the "hello" and arrow) hand writing ("friend"), boarder punch, and expose the white core (embossed and sanded arrows), = total 22 inspiring ideas used + 2 ideas not used.

Let me tell you how you can enjoy the benefits of being a CTMH consultant. 

Yes!  Baby we're worth it!

 

Yes, sign up as a consultant in April and be eligible to earn 

a free Cricut Collection. 

 Click HERE for more information.

Now hop on over to Kirsten Jade's blog,

Scrapbooking with Kirsten Jade, 
to enjoy her art work that dispays her WHY.

April SOTM Blog Hop - Life in Pictures

Welcome to our Stamp of the Month Blog Hop!  We will be featuring April's SOTM, which is "Life in Pictures", a set of 13 stamps.  If you have come here from Jean McNulty, you are on the right path! The blog hop is a great big circle, so you can start here and work your way all around.  If you get lost along the way, you’ll find the complete list of participating consultants on Melinda’s Blog: HERE

This month we have  approximately 28 Close To My Heart Consultants sharing their creations using this month's SOTM and other great CTMH products on their blogs. This is simple to do - just click on the link at the end of the post on each blog to move to the next one! Here we go!

Georgie paper, Juniper ink and paper, 

silver sequins, whisper thick twine

watercolor paints

Black Momento Ink

Now "Hop" on over to Tracey Pierce, the Papercrafting Princess, to see her artistic creations!  Be sure to visit all the consultants at their blogs to get some great crafting ideas and other fun inspiration! Remember, the April SOTM is only available until April 30!  Contact your CTMH Consultant (or click here) to see how you can get this stamp set at a discount!