Creating Live!

I spent last weekend along with thousands of other crafters around the world, tuned into a live 2 day broadcast featuring all things Close To My Heart. It was so inspiring and well worth the 3am starts so I could watch this event unfold in real time. I can truly say it was one of the best creative learning experiences I have had for some day. It was a credit to both the Home Office team and the wonderful consultants who planned and participated in the event....I was so inspired!!

I hit my craft room the minute the broadcast finished on the first day and created 2 cards inspired by what I had seen... and techniques that I simply had not used in a long time.

During the scrapbook segment we were shown a gorgeous layout embellished with ink sponged die-cut shapes from the Cricut® Artistry Collection and other leaf and flower shapes cut from the Basic Fundamental and La Vie En Rose Papers. The layout became my inspiration for this card...my flowers were sponged in Hollyhock and Canary Exclusive Inks™  and the splattered background was inked in Black ink using the 2nd generation stamping technique. This splattered background comes from one of my favourite stamp sets called Ink Blot - there are 7 fun images in this set that are ideal for backgrounds and highlights in any paper craft project.

I used the same design elements for this card and it also uses the 2nd generation stamping technique along with base & shade stamping. The flower images were stamped again in Hollyhock and Canary Exclusive Inks™ with the additional flower stamped in Sorbet Exclusive Ink™.

The flower images came from the Blossoming Expressions stamp set (pictured below)...it was designed as a 2 step process stamp set, meaning it has base and shade elements. To create this card I used the 2nd generation ink as my base and then using the shade /or overlay image I stamped over the top of the base in 1st generation ink. However, there are endless other creative processes you can use with the Blossoming Expressions stamp set...which is one of the reasons it has fast become my most used stamp set of late, you can see another of my creations featuring it here ... and the full stamp set is pictured below.

 

 

The thank you sentiments on the cards came from 2 different stamp sets - that also get a lot of use in my collection! - Australian Thanks and  A Thousand Thanks.

I have good news for those of you who would like watch the broadcast from the CreativeLive classes shared this past weekend -  you can now access them for FREE by clicking on this link. I have no doubt you will be inspired by what you see, as I was - Happy Crafting!
 

Welcome Spring!!

Yay!! - today is the 1st day of Spring and I have been looking forward to this day for so many different reasons!... here are my top 2 reasons

1). It means warmer weather is on it's way! (I am so not a winter girl!!)

 

2). It is the release of our brand new Close To My Heart Catalogue/Idea Book (Annual Inspirations) - jammed packed with delicious new papers and crafting goodies to inspire your creativity!

...but that is just the beginning - today also sees the release of our Holiday Expressions supplement too! It contains lots of wonderful ideas and products to prepare you for Christmas and the holiday season... you can view the contents here.

 

September is also National Stamping Month, and this year Close To My Heart has something to help every kind of papercrafter say a big “hello” to life! Available only during the month of September, these exclusive C-size My Acrylix^® Hello, Life! stamp sets can be purchased for $21 each! or - for an even better deal, you can purchase all three for only $53 —a savings of $10!! Each stamp set is designed to fit with a specific type of papercrafting, whether that’s scrapbooking, cardmaking, or pocket scrapbooking. However, all the stamp sets coordinate with each other and can be used together to create dynamic artwork. These stamp sets also coordinate with shapes from the new Cricut^® Artistry collection to help expand your artwork options, even further. Remember, these stamp sets are available for one month only, so head on over to my Online Shop for one stamp set—or all three—before these gorgeous stamps disappear!

 

 ...and don't forget when you place your order for these stamp sets to add the September Stamp of the Month too - it's the perfect accompaniment for both your Springtime projects and the Hello, Life stamp sets. Here is a little preview of a card I made combining the 2 sets.


This card also uses one of my favourite "new" products released this month - Watercolour Paints! These paints fuel my passion for the Adult Colouring craze and I love that you can just play or unleash your inner artist with fancy techniques. The background for this card was simply created by "dripping" paint and water onto my watercolour cardstock and moving it around with my heat gun to create a marbled looking background...this is a fun technique to try if you are new to watercolour paints.

Another simple technique for beginners to try is applying a "wash" of colour over die-cuts and shapes... for this technique the 1st step is to adhere the die-cut shape to the watercolour cardstock and dampen the surface with water before adding the paint. A little tip is to attach your cardstock/working area to a hard surface with washi tape before you wet it. This will help eliminate the distortion (buckling and wrinkling) of the cardstock.

For the card below, I cut a title from the new Cricut® Artistry Collection multiple times (four) adhered them on top of each other with Bonding Memories™ Glue Pen and then applied a "wash" of pink coloured tones of paints across the title. The card was then embellished with Kaleidoscope Complements and stamped images from a new stamp set called Diamonds are Forever. The images were stamped in champagne pigment ink from the Basics Exclusive Inks™ Mini Pigment Pads Set, along with a few little star images stamped with the VersaMark™ Ink Pad and embossed with Silver Embossing Powder.

These cards also showcase one of the new paper packs released today, called
La Vie En Rose... a lovely romantic pack that contains some classic black and white prints.

I am looking forward to sharing the full array of new products and some more fun and advanced watercolour techniques with you over the coming weeks... it is going to be one very creative journey that I know you are going to enjoy!


 

Become a Crafty Chick

If you love paper crafting and sharing your creativity with others - you may like to consider becoming a Crafty Chick and joining the Close To My Heart Consultant family - Close To My Heart has enriched my crafting passion with Fun, Friendship and Awesome Rewards and I know it will do the same for you!!

Today, I am excited!!! to introduce to you an updated and super trendy brand new Consultant Kit... you are going to LOVE it!!  The kit is delivered directly to your door and inside you will find a gorgeous lagoon coloured box that says "Open Me"!  It is jammed packed with crafty yumminess -  it can be purchased for $130 AUD and includes the business and creative supplies you need to start your journey and is valued over $435 AUD - click here for a full list of the contents.

Are you a former Consultant? When you re-sign to be a Close To My Heart Consultant during the month of August -  using the same email address from your previous Consultant account...  you can choose from either a “business building essentials” version of the New Consultant Kit for $55 AUD or the regular New Consultant Kit (as pictured above for $130 AUD )  - simply by logging into your Close To My Heart account (using that same email) to qualify -  you are also given the opportunity to choose a new upline/mentor if you wish to!

Whether you want to be a self-funded hobbyist, consumer consultant, card club co-ordinator, digital scrapbook consultant, or even a career builder, there is a place for you on my team of Crafty Chicks!

Benefits of Being a Consultant:

• 22% discount on all CTMH products.
• Potential to earn FREE products with every order
• You can be your own hostess.
• Preview and order new products before they are released.
• Access to an exclusive consultant website - containing artwork, creative insider kits, tutorials, business ideas and so much more.
• The opportunity to earn your $130 kit purchase back in your first 3 months.
• Free on-line training program with creative, personal and business classes.
• Opportunity to attend corporate sponsored events and earn an all expenses paid holiday (every year!)
• Free online shop/website - with NO credit card fees
• An opportunity to purchase a Cricut® Explore Machine and/or Cuttlebug at a discount price.

Benefits of Joining My Team:

• Mentoring that includes product marketing, blog set-up etc
• Access to an exclusive facebook group for team members only.
• Card/Project Kits & Handouts – free & exclusive to my team members.
• Card Swaps, Awards & Incentives throughout the year designed for team members only.
• To be a part of “Chris's Crafty Chicks” an Australian wide team of creative and inspiring artists.

It is very EASY to JOIN in the FUN!

Start by clicking here  - then Let's Get Started ... fill out the form making sure your upline is listed as Chris Lothian.

That's it!! You should hear back within the day and your kit will be shipped to your doorstep.

 

   Do you have questions?  E-mail me for more information - lotfam@iinet.net.au

You are welcome at Close To My Heart! - Enjoy Chris xx

Rainbow Card

I am not a great fan of winter and as I mentioned in my last post the weather here has been bitter! The cold snap we are having has also resulted in a string of dark rainy days. Melbourne even had it's wettest day since 1990 today. While I am happy to be out of the rain and indoors crafting, I really would love to see some brighter days ahead... but as the saying goes "you can't have a rainbow without a little rain"

The card I am sharing with you today, has a touch of my much needed sunshine and plenty of rainbow! The card design was built on a Kraft Cardstock base which really made the colours pop.

I created this card using the Rain and Shine Stamp Set (pictured at the bottom of this post). The sun was made using a shape from the Cricut® Artiste Collection cut from Canary Cardstock and the stamped image in the centre was inked in Canary Ink and cut into a circle. The clouds were created using the base and shade technique in Crystal Blue Ink and given a fluffy appearance by sponging small areas with White Daisy Pigment Ink. I used Silver Sequins to represent raindrops and a combination of rainbow coloured papers from the Paper Fundamentals Whimsy Assortment trimmed with a scallop edge of White Daisy Cardstock for my rainbow strip.

The Fundamental Paper packs are fabulous to use as foundation colour for any project, each pack contains 20 double-sided 12" × 12" sheets (2 each of 10 designs) - the same patterned design on both sides, one side with a full colour glossy resist. If you are a fan of this range ( as I am! ) I can let you in on a little secret. I have heard a whisper from our US Convention, that this range has some awesome additions coming it's way on the 1st September... so make sure you stay tuned.

In the meantime, check out the list of  products in the Retiring Items and While Stocks Last sections of my Online Shop - there are some wonderful products in both lists that I know you won't want to miss having in your craft collection.

 

Friday Friend Feature #18

I have recently spent a weekend with my Close To My Heart consultant colleagues and the camaraderie it is one of the things I most love about my job - the sharing, the friendship, admiration and not to forget " the crafty fun"!

The projects I want to share with you today were both shared and inspired by two of my very special consultant friends - Maddy and Diane.

During some creative playtime Maddy taught us how to make a pinterest inspired cascading card with a 3D floral twist. I have such a flower fetish that it didn't take me long to fall in love with this idea and find a new addiction! I also loved Maddy's inspiring use of the little frames found in the March Stamp of the Month. A perfect way to add a sentiment to this card - don't forget there are only a few more days to left  to add this stamp set to your collection too!

The flowers and leaves are all shapes found in the  Cricut® Art Philosophy Collection and were created in much the same way as the floral idea I shared back in February... you will find that post here. The puffy glitter stickers really make these cards sparkle and I am going to be sad to see them discontinued at the end of the month - if you are a fan of these puffy embellishments too?... don't forget to place your order by the 31st March to avoid disappointment.

 

The second project I want to share with you was inspired by a notebook given to my friend Diane as a gift when she attended the Close To My Heart incentive trip in Hawaii - yes! as consultants we can earn all expenses paid overseas holidays - how fantastic is that??? and who doesn't like a pretty little notebook to record their dreams, aspirations and special memories??

 

The notebook I created was made by covering a journal/exercise book with some of the gorgeous new papers and embellishments due to be released on the 1st April - I know I am a tease but how pretty are they?? and how lucky am I to have these lovelies to play with already?? Another benefit of being a consultant is the opportunity to craft with new goodies before they are released!

 

If you are looking for a chance to shine in business, creativity and be paid for doing what you love? -  then becoming a Close To My Heart Consultant  may be just what you are looking for. March is the perfect time to join us and I would love to help you with this journey.

 

 

 - click here to find out more or email me at lotfam@iinet.net.au and what ever you have planned for this weekend... I hope it is full of fun, friendship and crafty pleasures!

Friday Friend Feature #15

Today's post isn't actually a "Friend Feature" it is more a "Family Feature"!!... and while it doesn't showcase cards or scrapbook layouts it is still full of papercraft fun.

I subscribe to the theory that the "family who plays together - stays together" and over the past few weeks we have been doing lots of playing!... helping my youngest daughter prepare her class room and play based learning centre.

My daughter is a Primary School teacher, teaching Grade 1/2 (6-8yr olds). This year she has gone with a jungle theme for her classroom and the play based learning centre features a travel agency role play area, where the children will discover all things travel related - exploring other countries, building their own famous landmarks etc etc. As a family we have had a lot of fun assisting her create fun and colourful learning environments for her students.

Many of the objects we have made are a combination of recycled materials and Close To My Heart products.... my consultant discount has come in very handy! The jungle theme came together with twisted brown paper vines... along with 3D flowers and butterflies all cut from the Art Philosophy Cricut Collection and the fabulous array of CTMH Cardstock Colours.

Everything was adhered together with Bonding Memories Glue - an all-purpose glue stick with large foam applicator... it is perfect for safely bonding photographs, artwork, and so much more. It creates both permanent and temporary bonds and is acid free. Perfect for children to use too!

Another favourite Close To My Heart adhesive choice of mine is Liquid Glass - my husband used it when he made the cute little mail box and it was ideal for adhering the bottle tops and buttons to the cardboard cameras and for the straps on my paper suitcases. Close To My Heart is certainly a "one stop tool shop"...  everything we needed to create the classroom artefacts are included in the product range -  the Score Board, Deluxe Paper Trimmer, Corner Rounder, Mini Stapler and Micro-Tip Scissors - just to name a few!

My 80 year old Dad has also put his crafty skills to practise and re-purposed my daughter's childhood timber bed to create the lemonade stand that has become a Travel Agency - we certainly are a family who plays together and loves crafty playtime!

If you have family or school teacher friends who love crafty playtime then becoming a Close To My Heart consultant may be just what they need. There is nothing quite like having all your crafting materials/tools at your fingertips and at a discounted price!! I would like to offer readers of my blog the chance to go in the draw to win a $75 bundle of crafty goodness simply by referring a friend to join my consultant team. To find out more about becoming a Close To My Heart consultant click here or email me at lotfam@iinet.net.au

Have a great weekend - I hope it is full of crafty playtime!

Friday Friend Feature #13

Welcome to the first "Friday Friend Feature" of 2015! Today I wanted to share some cards made by the consultants in my team of Crafty Chicks. The cards we are featuring use some of the girls favourite Close To My Heart products.

Michelle's card showcases the gorgeous Heartstrings Paper Pack and Happy To Be Friends stamp set...  both are new products featured in the Seasonal Expressions Idea Book/Catalogue. Don't you just love the 3D flower Michelle as created using shapes from the Art Philosophy Cricut Cartridge ? - it is certainly the star of this card!

Alicia has been busy creating cards with one of her favourite stamp sets called Your Own Kind Of Wonderful and once again, shows how versatile and co-ordinating the Close To My Heart paper range is. Alicia has combined the Yuletide, Snowhaven and the Fundamental Whimsy Assortment paper packs into her card projects. She has used Slate Ink to stamp her images and some Gold Bling Gems to embellish her designs.

Veronica has been busy creating too and I love the cards she has made with some of the latest Close To My Heart product releases. How clever is the card with all the little dry embossed squares? The 6 embossing folders used are all exclusive to Close To My Heart - Arrow, Chevron, Scallop, Floral, Damask and Diamond... but you can view the full range here. The Thistle Diagonal Striped Ribbon adds a nice touch of colour and finishing element to this very elegant card. Veronica's second card was created using the stamp set included in the Artiste Cricut Collection and papers from the National Papercrafting Month special release called Year >> Noted - click here to find out how to add these papers to your crafting collection... but you have to be quick !!!... the Year >> Noted pack (includes papers, C-size stamp set and gold foil stickers) & is only available until the 31st January.

 

I hope you have enjoyed and been inspired by this art work, created by some of the consultants in my team... be sure to leave them an encouraging message in the comments section below. If you would like to know more about becoming a Close To My Heart Consultant in my team and join all our crafty fun - simply click here or contact me a lotfam@iinet.net.au.

 

Hope you have a great weekend of paper play!

Friday Friend Feature #11

While I may have been "missing in action" this past week, I can assure you I have still been adding ink & scissors to paper and creative activities have been oozing all over my craft room LOL! - so stay tuned, I have lots to show you over the coming weeks....but in the meantime, I want to share with you some fabulous cards made by my friend Alicia.

School is almost over for another year and I know many of you are looking at making thank you cards and gifts for your child's teacher... these cards designed by Alicia are just perfect for this. They were created using Close To My Heart's Teacher Appreciation stamp set - click here for a preview of the 13 images included in this set.

Alicia has a real flair for combining different themed paper packs together and these cards are no exception. These cards use papers from the following collections - Scaredy Cat, Paper Fundamentals Adventure Assortment, Seaside and Snowhaven and they have certainly come up a treat. Speaking of "treats" here are a few more ideas to help inspire your homemade gift giving...simply add your stamped images to boxes, tags and other creations from the Cricut Artiste Collection and your gift will be made in no time at all.

If you would like to order the Teacher Appreciation stamp set or need Papers & Embellishments to complete your end of year teacher gifts? - you can add your order to the gathering listed as "November Orders" at my Online Shop... all you need to do is click on the "join" icon at the bottom of the page and list the items you require.

Have a great crafty weekend and be sure to take a peek back here in a couple of days when I start sharing the projects I have been working on.

Friday Friend Feature #9

It is time for another Friday Friend Feature… every Friday I have be featuring art work created by my Crafty Friends using Close To My Heart products. Some of this art work has been created by consultants in my team, paper craft designer friends and others from my circle of scrapping and card making buddies – all have fabulous crafting skills and a love for paper craft. 

Today I am sharing some beautiful Christmas Cards created by Veronica a very talented consultant in my team. Veronica has become a little addicted to card making with the new Artfully Sent Cricut Collection ... and if these cards are any indication, I can't wait to see what else she creates from the 700 images available on this cartridge.
Veronica loves using overlays in her scrapbook projects so it was just a natural progression to look at the "sleeve" selection on the Artfully Sent Cricut Collection in the same way...for her cardmaking creations.

I love that both these cards are a deviation from traditional Christmas colours. The "Joy" card uses paper from both the Brushed and the Paper Fundamentals Whimsy Assortment and the sentiment comes from the Noel stamp set. It is a little difficult to see in this photograph but the "Joy" sentiment is embossed with Gold Embossing Powder co-ordinating beautifully with the Gold Shimmer Trim and adds a touch of Christmas sparkle!

 

I think Veronica has a "bit of a thing" for glitter! - she has placed some Purple Glitter Paper behind the "overlay" on her cute Polar Bear card...and how great does that image look stamped in Smokey Plum Ink ??! Remember, today is the very last day you can add this Polar Bear image and the October Stamp of the Month to your orders....don't miss out - click here to have one shipped to you today!

Veronica has also used some Silver Glitter Paper to make this Christmas card "sparkle & shine". This is one of the "sentiment" cards from the Artfully Sent Cricut Collection and how clever was Veronica to use the Chalk It Up Papers to enhance this sentiment - the star print is a perfect choice for Christmas.

If you would like to see what else Veronica has created using the Artfully Sent Cricut Collection head on over to her blog or if you would like to add this cartridge to your crafting collection simply place an order in my Online Shop.

Thanks for popping by my blog today - be sure to leave some "love" for Veronica in the comments section....if you are celebrating Halloween I hope you have a fun day and the rest of your weekend is full of crafting adventures!

 

Artfully Sent - Thank You Card

This weekend we have experienced the most beautiful Spring weather and it made me think of this "Pop-Up" card I created last week using the Artfully Sent Cricut Collection - this little pot of flowers simply oozes Springtime.

 

 

I combined my favourite colours of Hollyhock and Pixie along with the pink patterned B&T Duos™ Paper from the Brushed Collection to form the basis of the card. I then used some Olive and Chocolate cardstock to add some contrast and to bring my pot of flowers to life. The additional leaves were cut from the Art Philosophy Cricut Collection and embellished with a single Silver Sequin - I love using the sequin assortments to add finishing touches. The "You're Awesome" sentiment comes from the "Just to Say" stamp set that is included as part of the Artfully Sent Cricut Collection and stamped in Chocolate Ink.

 

My eldest daughter was fascinated with the "Pop-Up" feature of the card - she even called me a creative genius - ha ha! - and I decided to go with that illusion....she doesn't need to know that the cartridge is really the creative genius behind this clever card does she?? - LOL!! Truly the Artfully Sent Cricut Collection can make anyone look like a creative genius - the designs and ideas are brilliant!

 

The card base for this "Pop-Up" design has a blank front and back which is a great feature of the Artfully Sent Cricut Collection. It allows you to personalise the cards you create. I decided to cut additional flower icons and carry the potted flower theme to the front of my card. The flower pot I used is actually the "relief" (left over / cut-out piece) from one of the "Pocket-Card" designs. Again, it was embellished with leaves cut from the Art Philosophy Cricut Collection. Then I added some extra flowers -  a metal shape from the Brushed Assortment and some stamped images from the Lovely Birthday stamp set. The white scallop mat was also cut from the Art Philosophy Cricut Collection...I added some faux stitching to it with a chocolate coloured pen...that I turned my craft room upside down looking for!! - don't you hate it when you know you have something but can't remember where you might have put it last!?!!

 

 

 

After I pieced the front panel of the card together I decided to round the corners of the card, both on the inside and outside - not just to soften the look but to also have it complement the rounded corners of the scallop mat. I think it finished it off perfectly!

 

The Artfully Sent Cricut Collection is a "must-have" for any card maker...and during the month of October I will be giving away this complete Collection - valued at $130 to one lucky reader of my blog...

 

..for your chance to win** simply:-

 

1). Place an order of any value in my Online Shop between now & the 30th October

and

2). Leave a comment here or on my Facebook Page

 

Click here to see what is included in the collection.

 

** This offer is valid only for residents of Australia and made available through Chris Lothian - Close To My Heart Independent Consultant. It will not be honoured by the Company or any other Consultant. The winner will be drawn at random and announced on the 1st Nov.

 

Good Luck!

October Stamp of the Month

Traditionally when my calendar ticks over to October I make a start on my Christmas projects...I like to be organised early and I love making and receiving homemade gifts. If you too, enjoy creating personal and exclusive handmade gifts then this month's Stamp of the Month is perfect! Home for the Holidays has 7 images that will help you create, celebrate and share the Spirit of the Season!

Last year my Christmas Dinner guests received a hand stamped paper package filled with chocolates. This year I intend to fill handmade bon bons with little personalised gifts and I have already got off to a good start. I've had my Cricut Machine buzzing and cutting bon bon shapes from the Artiste Cricut Collection using Kraft Cardstock.

I have trimmed the bon bons with Red Shimmer Trim and the music print B&T Duos™ Paper from the Yuletide Carol Paper Pack  (to give them that olde world classic Christmas look). The roses and leaves were cut from the Art Philosophy Cricut Collection in Cranberry and Olive cardstock. The Colonial White tag was also cut from the Art Philosophy Cricut Collection . The Do Not Open sentiment comes from the  October Stamp of the Month ... which I stamped on the tag in New England Ivy Ink.  The bon bons were tied with the Cranberry Striped Twill Ribbon and embellished with Gold Sequins and Clear Sparkles.

When you place an order of $75 or more in Close To My Heart products here in my Online Shop  you can purchase this D-size stamp Home for the Holidays set valued at $27 for just $5 — that’s over 70% off retail! ( available for one month only )

....and in addition to this Close To My Heart have a special bonus gift to accompany each qualifying purchase of $65 - you will receive one of two chevron ribbons FREE! Each chevron ribbon—Ruby or Outdoor Denim—has an original retail value of $9.50 So which ribbon will you get? It’s a surprise! quantities are limited, so place your orders here early this month.... be sure to take advantage of this fantastic offer so you can embellish your bon bons and craft projects with your own surprise roll of bonus ribbon!

 Hope your start to October is crafty and productive too - Have a great day :)
 

Artfully Sent Card

Oh My Goodness! - how easy and FUN is cardmaking with Close To My Heart's new Artfully Sent Cricut Collection - in 3 simple steps - cut, paste and embellish... I created a card in no time at all.

I started with this little collection of cardstock pieces and a small rectangle of gold coloured paper, cut from the Brown & Tan Glitter Paper Pack.

I prepared the flower shapes first, by sponging with Glacier Ink... rolling them with the Quilling Tool and adhering together with Liquid Glass. Next I scored the leaf shapes with the Bone Folder. This all took about 5 minutes and was the most time consuming part of making the card LOL!

The Thank You sentiment is from one of the stamp sets that comes with the Artfully Sent Cricut Collection and to keep with the gold tones I stamped it in Desert Sand Ink. I love how interactive you can make the cards with this Cricut Collection... it makes them just that little more special. This birdcage shaped card stands up beautifully on it's rounded legs and when you open it up you get a full view of the sweet gilded bird.

There are 6 different functions on the Artfully Sent Cricut Cartridge and each has a unique interactive feature - you can choose from:

• Pop-up cards
• Icon cards
• Scene cards
• Sentiment cards
• Sleeve cards
• Pocket cards

Together these functions include 700 images that co-ordinate to create 400 complete projects. However, add your own creative flair and the possibilities are endless. To add this cardmaking "must-have" to your craft room simply click here to place your order in my Online Shop....and if you are needing more inspiration be sure to pop back during the week when I will share some more of my Artfully Sent creations.
 

Pretty Petals

I've just spent the most wonderful 3 day weekend playing and sharing all things crafty with my Close To My Heart community of friends - we inked and embossed up a storm....and as quoted by one friend - had the "most funest time ever"!

This is one of my cards from the weekend combining both wet and dry embossing techniques, some ink play and a lovely floral stamp set called Pretty Petals - which is also one of our Cricut compatible stamp sets.

 The glossy black flower was created with Black Pigment ink and Clear Embossing Powder. The flower image had been stamped onto some white cardstock I had customised earlier with Pixie and Canary ink. To create this unique patterned paper I smeared the 2 colours of ink onto my All Purpose Mat then spritzed with water and salt, which in turned created a nice spotty effect.... it is also the salt that gives the embossed flower it's glittery appearance. I LOVE playing with my inks to produce these special effects and I'd love to show you how too! - simply contact me at lotfam@iinet.net.au to book your own creative playtime session.

 

I used the Score Board to create the dry-embossed waffle pattern on the Canary and Hollyhock  - the ¹/₈" score increments on the board can be used in various combinations simply by using the Scoring Tool (included with the board) to make linear patterns.

 

 

The card design was finished off with a thin sliver of Black Shimmer Trim on top of a border created with the Scallop Border Punch and some faux stitching using the Black Journalling Pen.

 

Thanks for stopping by my blog today - I hope you have had a wonderful Monday and I'll be back during the week with some more Close To My Heart goodness to share with you.



Creating Backgrounds

Today, I wanted to share a card using another fun & easy background technique using Close To My Heart ReInkers. This month my creative classes and workshop events have included all sorts of different ways to add a touch of uniqueness to your projects... and this theme will be carried through to the workshops I am tutoring at this weekend in Melbourne - if you would like to attend these events? - check my Facebook Page for more information.

The background was dry brushed with Thistle, Canary and Pixie reinkers - since their release last month, these colours have become a firm favourite of mine. The metal flowers in the Brushed Assortment are very much a favourite too and have been my September Feature Product. The flowers are self adhesive and embellished with some silver bling gems in the centre. However, I removed the bling gems and replaced them with Black Epoxy Bubbles... just so they co-ordinated with the other black elements featured on the card.

...and to let you in on a little secret... the 2 pieces of patterned cardstock (from the Paper Fundamentals Whimsy Assortment) that the sentiment was mounted onto, are actually  scraps! I was cutting photo frames from the Cricut Artbooking Collection and these little pieces were the centre cut outs...I thought they were perfect to save and use for card embellishments and they already had rounded corners - pretty cool!!

 

I can't wait to experiment with the negatives and cut-outs from the new Artfully Sent Cricut Collection - with so many interactive card components such as pop-ups, scenes,  sleeves, and pockets...it lends itself to so many innovative possibilities.

 

We are only halfway through September and it has shaped up to being a very exciting month in the Close To My Heart world...firstly celebrating our founder and CEO Jeanette Lynton’s 30-year anniversary in the scrapbooking and stamping industry...with a FREE stamp set included in every order of $30 of more in current retail-priced stamps, the release of an exclusive new Cricut Collection and a gorgeous Stamp of the Month showcasing family love - be sure to visit my Online Shop and click on the Promotions tab so you don't miss a thing!

 

 

....and be sure to check back here on Friday when I bring you my 3rd instalment in the Friday Friend Feature series and some delightful little cards.