Trick or Treating in NC

We had a great time in Dillsboro and Webster NC trick or treating.  One highlight was the fire station where both boys were able to sit in a big fire truck!  It's so fun to be in NC with cold weather and sharing it with our family!  Pictured above are our daughter, Laura, our mad scientist Bryce, and our fireman Tanner.  We were in one of our favorite bookstores, City Lights.

Pear & Partridge holiday card

I told you I'd be back with more projects featuring the Perfect Fit - Holidays stamp set.  This simple card was created with patterned paper from the Pear & Partridge paper pack.  I love the warm, bright colors in this paper pack.  The colors are really beautifully balanced.

I'm all set to spend the week celebrating Susan's birthday, Halloween, and a vacation in the mountains with the fam! I MIGHT be back someday to share some more projects. . . .but I can't make any promises - the weather looks pretty perfect up there! ;)

(See you soon!)
xoxo
Laura,

Perfect Fit - Holidays!

Last week I showed you some ideas using the Perfect Fit - Halloween stamps.  Today I've moved on to winter, and the holiday season! These cards feature the Perfect Fit - Holidays stamp set.  There are so many options with these stamp sets! I think I'll be playing some more this week! I love the simple little sentiments and the birdies are oh-so-sweet.  On this first card, I colored them in with alcohol markers, and tucked them behind a snowy hill (popped up on foam tape.)

I paired the stamps on this second card, with patterned paper from the Avonlea Paper Pack.  The colors are so pretty, and I think they can definitely work for winter cards!

In just another week we'll be heading up to the mountains with my parents, and we'll be enjoying some fall weather (but to us it will feel like winter!) I'm so excited for the next few months of cool weather, special occasions and lots of holidays and fun events!!!! 

Have a beautiful week!

xoxo

Laura,

Clearly The Best: Alcohol Marker Madness (S01E07)

Spooky simple Halloween cards

Halloween is not a huge holiday in my household. . .(well, it's gotten bigger as my children have grown to appreciate all the free candy they can get) and I don't usually send out Halloween cards - yet for some silly reason, I LOVE to MAKE Halloween cards! It's probably due to my LOVE for all things PUMPKIN. Or maybe it's my love of black-white-and-any-bright-color. 

So my goal this year, is to send out Halloween cards - because I have quite a stash . . .like these three cards!

I used the Perfect Fit - Halloween set on all three of these cards, and a circle punch.  This set coordinates with the Cricut Art Philosophy cartridge, but a circle punch or two will work if you don't have that!! :) 

I used the Silver Shimmer Trim on this first card. It is SUCH fun and really easy to use. It's self adhesive, and you just lay it right on. 

On these last two cards I used some jewels from my non-CTMH stash (shhhhh)

(I think they are from Bazzill) although some accessories from the Haunted Assortment would have been even more perfect!

Have a clean and simple, SPOOKY Halloween! 

Laura,

Clearly the Best: Dauber Dynamite (S01E05)

Oct.31 (a card AND a recipe!)

Halloween is coming! 

We're looking forward to fall leaves, cool weather, and tasty treats this year on Halloween, because we'll be celebrating in the mountains, instead of sweaty Florida! Hooray! 

I like all things pumpkin, and cute on Halloween. So this swirly, cheery Halloween card is very ME!

Speaking of pumpkin, want to see one of my favorite fall pumpkin recipes?

Baked pumpkin oatmeal . . .totally delish, and you can make it on Sunday night and eat it all week long for breakfast! 

Baked Pumpkin Oatmeal

• 3 cups quick cooking oats
• ½ cup brown sugar
• 1 cup milk
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 2 eggs
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• ¾ teaspoon salt
• 2 teaspoons vanilla
• ½ teaspoon cinnamon
• ¾ cup canned pumpkin
• ¼ cup brown sugar (for the top)

In a large bowl mix together all ingredients except the ¼ cup brown sugar for the top.

Spread into a greased 9×13 pan.

Sprinkle remaining ¼ cup brown sugar on top.

Bake at 350 for 20 minutes.

Serve with milk and enjoy!

(recipe from: Baked Pumpkin Oatmeal :: Lynn's Kitchen Adventures)

Organize Your Craft Supplies

Clearly the Best: Terrific Two-Tone (S01E04)

just a note to say thanks. . .

just a note to say thanks. . . 

for this card I used more of my new FAVE Flirty paper (again! And I hope you aren't bored with it yet, because I might have another next week!)  I always love trimming images from patterned paper, and that was probably the first thing that attracted me to this paper pack.  Sure, I can stamp flowers, and cut them out.  (And I do!) But there's something about just trimming and glueing.  I paired it with a sentiment stamp from A Friend Like You.  

This layout is one of my go-to card layouts.  I do it all the time.  See? Look. . .here are some other CTMH cards from long ago. . .same thing. Patterned paper strip along the bottom, ribbon, twine, or cardstock strip above it, and then some sort of sentiment and image. Totally different cards but sort of all the same idea.

Sometimes I get in a rut. I look at my cards, and they all sort of look the same. 

But I'm going to tell myself that sometimes, that's okay.  (Humor me, okay?) 

Thanks for stopping by today!

Laura,

xoxo

Wheeee! New product!

I am BACK, after much much too long, with some projects using goodies from the new catalog.  I dove in to my new stash this week and I have lots to share over the next few weeks.

Today I'd like to share a card and a project using the new Flirty paper pack, and the coordinating Love Blooms stamp set.  I LOVE the colors on this paper.  It's perfect for this time of year, as we sit in late summer, teetering on the edge of fall.  

Also perfect for fall is a QUICK and simple project to dress up your dinner table.  I cut a strip of the new burlap ribbon, stuck some two-sided tape to make a loop, and wha-laaaa, a napkin ring! I stamped the flower a few times onto some Flirty paper, trimmed sections of it and layered with foam tape and adhered the leaves behind it.  I distressed up the edges a bit, and stuck it onto my burlap napkin ring.  Easy-peasy, just the way I like it! I am sort of obsessed with this new Rasberry color.  I think I'm going to run out of it VERY quickly! It's gorgeous!

To coordinate, I created this card using the same stamp set, and paper.  I actually made quite a FEW cards using this paper, but I'll make you wait until next week.  

Have a beautiful almost-fall week!

Laura,

xoxo

Clearly the Best: Bend It, Curve It, Stamp It (S01E01)

Upcoming Schedule

UPCOMING EVENTS WITH CLOSE TO MY HEART

AND SUSAN TOMAINO, Independent CTMH Consultant

in Fort Myers, Florida

September 20 - Card Round Robin - 9 am to noon

Please sign up at JoeSusan@aol.com as space is limited.

You'll have the opportunity to create 6 different cards with the option to create additional cards of your favorite designs.  All cards include an envelope.  Pay only for the cards you create at $1.00 each.

September 22 - All Day Create & Crop - 9 am to 5 pm

Please sign up for your spot as space is limited.  Email me at JoeSusan@aol.com.

Bring your papercrafting projects, photos, supplies, and create all day.  

You'll have access to all my stamps, inks, tools, etc. 

Cards from the Round Robin may be available as well.

Lunch provided.  Cost is $10 or FREE with any $15 purchase.

October 12-14 - WEEKEND CROP at the Embassy Suites in Estero

The weekend crops are growing and selling out FAST!  If you want to join this event please email Kim Hodges at ScrapNStik@aol.com asap.  

You will LOVE this weekend of creating, laughter, create & take projects, and lots of prizes!

Lots of SALE items unique to this event!

Pre-order any supplies you need from CTMH for a successful papercrafting weekend!

SAVE THE DATE - First Weekend Crop of 2013

January 25-27.

Email Kim for details at ScrapNStik@aol.com

Christmas tags

I made these cute Christmas tags with the wonderfully amazing Cricut Artiste and the fun Stamp of the Month for October Very Merry Christmas. I added some bling with the little Bitty Sparkles, 8 inches of Cranberry Bakers Twine and I cut out the kraft paper 1/4" bigger than the stamped cut outs. This looks like it just might be a fun future  workshop!
Posted  by Nancy

Cricut® Artiste: One Size Fits All

Cricut® Artiste Easy Instruction

September 2012: National Stamping Month

Project Inspiration 2012 Autumn/Winter Idea Book: Harvest Banner

Cards using the new monogram stamp

I made a bunch of 4 inch note cards using the sweet little monogram stamp. If you want to see more from the other paper packs, stop by my (sister Nancy) blog.

Posted by Nancy

August Stamp of the Month

What a fun stamp set for only $5.00 when you spend $50 or more. Only available in the month of August. Theses stamp of the month deals are a great way to build your stamp collection!

Posted by Nancy

This card is amazing!

You know all those little scraps of paper that you save, well here is the perfect project for you! I love all the little triangles and I am going to use this as inspiration for my own card. It looks to me that the paper used was from the Avonlea paper pack for the triangles and the paper on the right side of the card is from the  Scholastic pack. Go make this card today! I am!

Posted by Nancy

We had a blast at Convention. We came back inspired, excited and jazzed up about all the new product. Tons of fun! Look at the fun stuff we saw and did!

We cropped, scrapped and Susan won a bunch of hand made cards that were made by the art department at Close to My Heart. How cool is that?  And I, Susan's sister Nancy, finally signed up to be a consultant and I am posting things to this blog. Come back soon as I post MORE of the beautiful and inspirational cards that Susan won!  Get excited and inspired with us! Share the love!

Posted by Nancy

Colors Set to Retire July 31

The colors that are retiring from our CTMH line are available until July 31 or while supplies last - whichever comes first....so if you MUST HAVE a color of cardstock, ink pad or reinker, order now!  Go to susan.ctmh.com and order asap or email me at JoeSusan@aol.com.

 

grey wool

grey flannel

vanilla creme

parchment

brown bag

baby pink

taffy

sunkiss yellow

key lime

heavenly blue

lilac mist

amethyst

holiday red

sunflower

sunny yellow

dutch blue

moonstruck

vineyard berry

tulip

garden green

spring iris

petal

garnet

pansy purple.

Love Who You Are

Fashionista was one of my favorite stamp sets from the last catalog.  I think this was the first time I combined so many of the silhouettes together on one card.  Varying the positioning of them, cutting off the bottom halves really gave them a different look.  (And since I lose inspiration in stamp sets fairly quickly, it's always good to find a new perspective on them!)  I also love using an unexpected bright color. . .these stamps look awesome in black - but I really dig the PINK too!!!! :)

I am getting itchy to see the new catalog coming out soon, and I'm looking forward to lots of NEW inspiration to share with you!

xoxo
Laura,

You're sweet. . .oops!

Sometimes stamp sets come and go, and I sort of miss the boat that they've retired.  I try to only show product that is still current, when I create for this blog, but somehow I missed this cute stamp set retiring.  Sigh. And it's one I really like too! But the good news is that YOU might still have it in your stash too.  And there's more good news - you can use the inky technique I am going to mention, on any solid stamp set, (for instance, this card would be cute with seashells and flowers, using the Kick Back stamp set!)

When I inked these fruits, I used two colors on most of them.  The apples are a combination of Holiday Red, and Tulip.  The shading is subtle (a little more noticeable in person, but still subtle.)  I used Sweet Leaf and Pear on the Pear, and Sunflower and Orange on the orange.  Start with the lighter shade, ink up your stamp, and then just roll the edges into the darker color.  I LOVE the play with this technique!!!!  I trimmed the fruit, and popped the orange segment up on foam tape for a little dimension.  Simple and sweet!

As I was browsing the catalog, i found  another set that would be really fun to use this technique.  For a very bold look, what about a Fourth of July card featuring red and blue fireworks? (Try American Celebration!)

I hope you have time to get inky this weekend!!!! Have a sweet time!
xoxo

JUNE SPECIAL - Be a WINNER!

Close To My Heart June Special

Stampaganza from June 1–30, 2012

When you order any 2 stamp sets, sizes A through E, you select a 3rd stamp set of equal or lesser value for FREE

You can also BE A WINNER!

For each $35 order you place from my website in June (susan.ctmh.com), your name will be entered into a drawing for FREE PRODUCT! Details below! This drawing is only available through Independent Consultant, Susan Tomaino

SUSAN.CTMH.COM

• You must place your order from my website, Susan.ctmh.com to qualify
• Your order must be placed June 1 to June 30
• For each $35 you order, your name will be entered.
• TEN WINNERS will be announced in early July
• Each winner will receive $50 in FREE PRODUCT

Chill!

The days left of school are less than 20 now. . . and the days to CHILL are coming soon! I'm looking forward to a break from packing lunch, and getting everyone out the door every morning.  I know we're going to spend a LOT of time at the beach this summer - I have to take the kids where they can DIG, otherwise we will have nothing left of our townhouse's little front yard, where they keep making holes. (I'm pretty sure our lawn company is NOT loving us right now!)

I tore some bamboo cardstock, and then sanded the heck out of it, to make my sandy backdrop.  So it wouldn't stand out too much, I stamped the chair on bamboo as well, and then trimmed it and adhered it.  And I only wanted the word CHILL, so I only inked that part of the stamp! Easy peasy with this stamp.
Thanks so much for stopping by! xoxo

(card goodies: Just Chillin' stamp set, Sky, Sweet Leaf, Bamboo, Hollyhock)

Is it a flower? Or a bow?

I love the way the Stella paper looks on this bow! 

As you can see, this makes a great homemade bow for gift wrap. . . but it also makes a perfect flower!  I created a fun tutorial on creating a bouquet of these "flowers" on the ends of pencils.  The technique is the same, so check it out! A pencil bouquet would make a great gift for Teacher Appreciation Week (it's this week!!!)  They would also be a fun addition to anyone's desk at work!

Come on over to my blog, to see the tutorial to create this bow. . .or an entire flower bouquet! :)

Super Hero for 4th of July Layout

The Close To My Heart Superhero Paper Pack is perfect for a 4th of July layout!  The colors - Moonstruck and Cranberry - make this layout ideal for other uses too!  Just change out the stamped images and you can create your layout for many themes and pages.

Using the Moonstruck and Cranberry ink pads and the stamp set American Celebration, it was easy to create the 4th of July layouts.  I also used my CTMH Cricut Art Philosophy Collection for the numbers 2012.

Getting There is Half the Fun

Happy May! The season of travel and vacations is almost upon us! School is quickly drawing to a close, and I'm starting to think about what I will occupy my Mr. Seven-Year-Old with all summer long! :)

I'm not sure I agree that "getting there is half the fun," but then again I suppose it depends where I'm going, and how I'm getting there! I knew that I HAD to have this stamp set, called Adventure USA, just for the USA outline alone! (Although the rest of the stamp set is pretty darn fun too!)  I love stamping the map on the map paper from Cruisin'.  The sentiment came from the little bottom strip off the patterned paper.

Summer Two-Page Layout

The layout above was created with the Close To My Heart paper pack, Footloose.  Other exclusive CTMH products include:  4X6 Flip Flap, Footloose Stamp set, Sunset ink, Lagoon ink and cardstock, Creme Brulee ink and cardstock, and Bakers twine.

A great big thanks to the ladies who created this layout at our Scraptique Weekend Crop in Estero, Florida last weekend.  We had a BLAST!!!  If you are interested in attending a weekend crop in SW Florida, email me for information.  We have two coming up, one in August and one in October.  Other events are in the works for Tampa, West Palm, and Jacksonville.

Super Powers. . . in a ANOTHER new way!

It seems like it's been a few weeks since I've been here, but that's because one by one the boys and I all got sick.  So scroll back if you need to - do you remember how I was in the middle of showing you some different ideas to try with the Super Powers stamp set.  

On this card, I used the city skyline to create a travel or vacation themed card.  I grabbed a sentiment from Adventure USA, and I added some patterned paper from Cruisin' (including the little Motel logo - I just trimmed it from the patterned paper.)

I hope you like it, and I hope you're inspired to use the Super Powers set for projects that reach far beyond a little boy's birthday card! :)
Have a terrific week!
Laura,
xoxo

New Style Cricut Mats

This information is from Provocraft regarding the new mats.


When you get the newer style mats for the Cricut Expression machine and Imagine® machine (they have a dark outline around the edge), you will need to activate the adhesive by running the mat under warm water and letting it air dry or burnish the mat with the plastic cover on.

April 21 & 22 - WEEKEND CROP!

The upcoming weekend crop in SW Florida may be sold out, but you can still come and enjoy the many Create & Take projects! Pictured below is just one of the layouts I'll be offering using exclusive Close to My Heart products.  Featuring the new Footloose paper pack, this layout can hold a number of photos and it's perfect for a variety of uses. 

Come by and see us Saturday April 21 beginning at 9 AM until Sunday 5 PM.
Embassy Suites Fort Myers-Estero
10450 Corkscrew Commons Drive
Estero, FL  33928. 

Email me for more information - JoeSusan@aol.com.

Super Powers. . . in a new way!

One of my favorite things about stamping, is being able to combine stamps in new ways.   After using a stamp set a million times, it's easy to think we can't come up with anything new, but often inspiration strikes, when it is combined with other sets.

Today I'd like to show you some creative projects with the Super Powers stamp set. Two cards that have NOTHING to do with superheroes. . .just to prove that you might need this stamp set, even if you don't have little boys scampering around in your house! 

Here is the stamp set:

And here is the first card I created with it.  I used some card stock, along with a strip of paper from the Cruisin' collection.  The skyline came from the Super Powers set.  I stamped it on Sweet Leaf card stock, and trimmed it. I also used the stamp set, Paper Lantern, with that great sentiment stamp. 

(Don't you just love the jewel stars? I think that's my favorite part!)

And next, I combined the word bubble, and sentiment from Super Powers. . . .along with a Fashionista chick. How fun would this card be for Mother's Day!? (Because moms really DO have super powers!!!!)

Have I convinced you???? Now go - RUN to your stamp stash, and see what fun and funky combinations you can come up with!!! :)

Have a terrific week!
xoxo
Laura,

You're a Star! (Typeset)

Typeset is a super cool graphic collection that lends itself especially to masculine projects, as well as school projects (but if you look at some of the samples online and in the catalog, you'll know it can be used for much more too!)  The coordinating canvas Typeset Complements are a lot of fun to use.  

I covered a plain old marble composition book and made a couple of coordinating cards using the Typeset collection. 

I think these projects pretty much speak for themselves! If you are creating a covered composition book, here's some advice: lay your paper on the front cover, and stick it on with some removable tape. Then OPEN the book and trace along the outline of the cover on the inside (which will trace it onto the back of your paper.)  Then take it off and trim it.  I have found that marble composition books RARELY have exact measurements, and they are rarely on completely straight.  You won't be able to tell . . . .unless you just say "This cover is 6x9, so I'll trim a 6x9 piece of paper on my trimmer and stick it on."  (Because it probably won't be exact!)  ;)

FREE CRICUT COLLECTION WHEN YOU JOIN CTMH in March!

Join my team during the month of March and receive the Close To My Heart Cricut Art Philosophy Collection FREE (value $99).  The new consultant kit is only $99 (value of kit is over $288 in product and business tools), and you will receive the Art Philosophy Collection for FREE - but you must join CTMH by March 31, 2012.

It's EASY to join CTMH.  Visit my website - Susan.myctmh.com - and click "Your Opportunities" followed by "to sign up click here".  It's that easy!

For more information email me!  JoeSusan@aol.com.  Ask about the other FREE product you can earn during the first three months!



Celebrate today!

Are you totally tired of me telling you about WHICH stamp set is my favorite? (Because I know I say it a little bit TOO OFTEN.) But this set, called Paper Lantern, was one of those sets that made me GASP when I first saw it! It was love at first sight. For REAL.

I have two cards for you today, that I did quite a while ago.  I had them saved to submit for publication, but enough time has gone by and they haven't felt the love. . . .so here they are, for YOU to hopefully love!  The patterned paper on this first card isn't CTMH (gasp!!!!!) but I love the layout, and it could be easily duplicated in a variety of colors and papers. . .so just pretend. Okay?

And this second card is a fun circle card, which you can get from CTMH! So fun!

And that's all I have for you today! But I have been BUSY creating the past few nights, specifically for this little old bloggity blog. . . .so get ready for more inspiration next week! (And the week after that, and the week after THAT!)
xoxo

March Stamp of the Month

The card on the left was designed by Julie Reyonlds. 

The only change I made was using Cocoa ink and our new Studs. 

The card on the right was stamped with Grey Wool ink and includes the Licoric gems

and our new Color-Ready Ribbon.

You can purchase the March SOM for $17.95 or

 purchase it for ONLY $5 with an order of $50.00 or more. 

Contact me for more information!

Hello!

A Garden is another wonderful A-size stamp set, priced at just $6.95, that can give a LOT of bang for your buck!  

You can cover Thank-you's, Get Well, Anniversary, Encouragement, Thinking of You, and I bet you could even make a baby, wedding or anniversary card with this set!

The lines are sweet and simple to color in with markers, chalk, or pencil, and they look equally adorable left uncolored, or even paper-pieced!

I colored my images with markers, and added some tiny jewels to the flowers' centers.  This is a quick and simple card (because that's the only kind I make!)  I hope you like it!!

xoxo

Love Who You Are

LOVE this new paper!!!! It's the Stella Paper Packet, along with the super cool stamp set, Fashionista!  I added a bit of ribbon from my stash too!! ;)

I have a child SCREAAAAMING on my lap, so I think I should go now! 

Have a wonderful weekend!!! :)

xoxo

A Rainbow

I've gotta say that I think these great little A size stamp sets are a great deal, at $6.95 each! I created this card using this stamp set called, A Rainbow.

On this card, I used Sky card stock, along with Watermelon, Pear, and Sunny Yellow ink.  It's a fresh Springy look for the changing of seasons! (Especially the GREEN, because everrrrrything here in crazy-weather-Florida is covered in green pollen already! In FEBRUARY! Achoooo!)

There are lots of great possibilities with this stamp set, and I bet you have lots of sentiment stamps in your stash to easily turn these images into a birthday card, a baby card, or just about any card you need!  The included sentiment would be perfect for a get well or encouragement card.

Easter Milk Carton by Vicki Richardson

At a recent weekend crop I gave Vicki a challenge - create something with the new CTMH milk cartons.  Vicki jumped to the challenge and here is one of her incredible creations!!!!  I am posting two pictures so you can see both sides.  The top is slightly different.  The stamp set is Peeps.  Pretty cute don't you think?

THANKS VICKI !!!

Super Powers!

 

Brand new goodies for you again today! This is the Superhero paper packet, and the coordinating Super Powers stamp set. I am in LOVE with this stamp set. It is the combination of all great things: retro, funky, fun, and pop-arty.

Everything I used is just paper and cardstock - the only stamped image is the word bubble and sentiment - how quick and easy is THAT!? And oh-so-fun for a boy's (or man's) birthday, or perhaps even Father's Day!