Category Archives: CTMH

15 years of Close to my Heart goodness!

Time to Gear Up

Have you seen the hostess rewards stamps in the Seasonal Expressions book? These are only available until the end of August, so if you haven’t seen them, run and go look! If you have seen them, and haven’t gotten them yet, you will definitely want to grab a couple of friends and put in a party order, so that you can get them! Just ask me what you need to do to have that happen!

Today I am working with the Dino-mite Birthday stamp set. I LOVE the little dinosaur in this set, but wanted to play along with the Heavy Metal challenge with Heart 2 Heart Challenges. So, I got to playing!! I started with the Make it from your Heart, volume 4, again. And used pattern 10, just like I did with my notebook, here.

I was going to make just one card, but couldn’t just go with a boy card, so believe it or not, both of these cards are made with the same two pieces of paper, just flipped to use the opposite side!

I started with the boy card, and didn’t get very far before I had to go with a girl card too!

Now, believe it or not, this metal paper is the gold foil cardstock! What?!?! Right? I am LOVING how this turned out!! And believe it or not, it was SUPER simple to do!! I really wanted an ‘old’ and patina type look to my metal, and, as you know, we don’t carry anything like that in the idea book. However, we do have LOTS of different supplies to be able to do many fun things!

So, this is what I did. . . First I cut the scallop sides with the dies, from the gold foil cardstock. Then I tried a couple if things, but the one that worked the best was to use the black shinhan marker to cover the gold side, then flip it over and press it into a piece of scrap paper, to remove a bit of the black. On the spots that weren’t quite removed enough, I took an alcohol wipe and blotted in spots to make it a bit more worn looking. Then I did the same thing for a straight piece for each card. (actually, I did one piece and then split it in half to put the left edge on the cards). And then I repeated it yet again for a banner mat. I just LOVE how this worked out!! I don’t think I can tell you guys how much I liked how well it worked!

Now, this robot, was just as much work . . but turned out equally as well! So, first I measured how big the 2nd largest banner die cut was. Compared that to how tall my robot was. Then I cut some pieces to be about 2 1/4″ tall and 4″ long. This gives me enough height to have my entire robot on. Then I lined up my die to the left of my robot, and did a partial die cut. Then continued the straight cuts on the right side of my robot with my paper trimmer. Next, I trimmed the rest of the robot out with my micro-tip scissors. This gives a fun popped out look.

Now, to back up just a bit, after I stamped my robot, I decided I needed to add some color to him, but didn’t want to just color him in. I know, I know, I have to be a pain, right? So, I grabbed a post it note, stamped my robot twice, and then cut out the body parts that are colored in. I did the head and the hips/legs on one, and the chest/arms on another. This made sure my post it had a little bit of stability, as I was using the negative spaces for this technique. So, I covered my robots with my post it notes (this ended up with two passes per robot) and then squished my archival black in pad together to get some ink on the lid, grabbed a baby wipe and ‘cleaned up’ the lid. Next I dabbed the baby wipe over the robot to give the mottled grey coloring. I really like that he isn’t just one solid color.

So, these cards needed a bit more ‘bling’ . . . but with as old and grungy as the rest of the card already was, I couldn’t very well just add something sparkly and ‘new’. . . . so I grabbed some of the bronze sequins and did the same thing as the gold foil cardstock! I added some of the black shinhan marker on top, and then dabbed with an alcohol pad to get the old look.

Oh, and not to forget using the markers to add a bit on the chest of the robot and coloring in the “gear up” on these cards. I did do some stamp surgery to be able to get the sentiment to be able to fit onto the banner. When I was stamping the ‘boy’ card, I started a bit too low, so then I used a mask to put the smaller part of the sentiment “under” the block letter. I kind of like how it turned out!

So, please, let me know what you think of these fun cards! Do YOU need to have a party so that you can get this fun stamp set?

~ Michelle

Items used to make these cards:

– Value pack card base (and envelope)
– Whimsy fundamentals paper pack (retiring 8/31/18)
– Gold Foil Cardstock
– White Daisy Cardstock
– Black Shinhan Marker
– Archival Black Ink
– Memento Black Ink (retiring 8/31/18)
– Warm Grey Shinhan Marker
– Bronze Sequins
– Liquid Glass
– Fiskars Paper Trimmer
– Microtip Nonstick Scissors
– baby wipe
– alcohol wipe

Central Park Layers

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So, I am part of the design team at Heart 2 Heart Challenges, and they have all sorts of weekly challenges that run through the end of each month. (so you have more time to play with the first challenge than the last) The challenges are super fun! You should totally go and check them out to see what they have going on!

Today I have a little something that fits into two of the challenges, so I am putting it in for the Layers, Layers, Layers challenge! This is a top bound spiral notebook that I altered the cover on. (so would also fit into the Duly Noted Challenge)

I used the pattern #10 in the Make it from your Heart Volume 4 book as inspiration for the cover on this notebook. I loved the sun ray paper from Central Park, and just had to use it!!

I also used one of the PML cards mixed with the August Stamp of the Month for just a fun bit of glib-ness! Add a bit of the whimsy ribbon to the front, and you have a bit of texture and a bit of glitter, that won’t be rubbing off on you or your clothes!

This whole thing is flat, with no foam tape, so it will fit into a bag or large purse without having to worry about something popping off in the dark.

I hope you like the little project I made! I think it’s super fun! Let me know what YOU think!

~ Michelle

Items used in today’s project:

-Spiral Notebook
– Central Park Paper
– Sapphire Cardstock
– White Daisy Cardstock
– Archival Black Ink
– 1 x 6 1/2 Block
– Liquid Glass Adhesive
– Make it from your Heart, Volume 4
– Whimsy Ribbon Pack
– Fiskars Paper Trimmer
– Microtip Nonstick Scissors

August SOTM – For the Love of Crafting

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Welcome to the August Stamp of the month Blog hop! This month we have almost 30 consultants sharing ideas with you about how to use this fantastic stamp set! It is suuuuper fun! Today you should have arrived here from Debi’s blog, but if not, that’s ok, it’s a big circle, and you will get back around to her!

Take a look at all the fun stamps in this set!

While I was trying to decide what to make for this fun blog hop, I looked over and saw the package of mini chips ahoy cookies, and I thought that would be perfect match with the “Enjoy the small stuff” stamp in the set.

If you don’t know already, I am enamored by Sam of Pootles Papercraft. She has TONS of videos on how to make fantastic little boxes for all sorts of things. So, that was the first place that I went to to try to find a little box for these cookies! I found one, and decided to make it a bit smaller (you know, to go with the whole “small stuff” theme!)

So, it’s this cute little triangle box, with a Central Park paper wrapper. One side tucks in, and the other folds over.

I don’t have access to all of my tools and stamps, as I am staying at the hospital with my youngest. That means I work with what I have. Sam uses a small punch to put a finger hold in the part of the box that tucks in. I don’t have that with me, so I decided to add a little bit of ribbon with the mini stapler, to be able to pull the box open.

Since I do have a super small stash of things with me, I do only have the black archival ink with me, but wanted a bit of color around the sentiment. So, I ‘cheated’! I stamped the image once in the archival black, then stamped again with 2nd generation on my white daisy cardstock. I cut out both images with my micro tip scissors. The first generation I cut just inside the solid black line, and on the 2nd generation I cut on the outside of the black line. Then I flipped the larger piece over and colored with the Turquoise Blue Shinhan marker. I popped the two pieces up on some foam tape, and then used a bit of the same ribbon behind to help the colors pop some more!

I hope you like my little treat box! They would be perfect for party treats, teacher appreciation, co-worker gifts, gifts for nurses, and so many other things!

I hope you leave a comment and let me know what you think of it! Then, hop on over to Tracey’s blog to see what fun stuff she has for you!

Thanks again for stopping by! Make sure to stop by tomorrow to see more fun goodies with this stamp set!

Mini is Marvelous – CTMH Technique Blog Hop

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Welcome to the Mini is Marvelous blog hop! Today you are going to get to see some fun mini albums that CTMH offers! Today you should have arrived from Darlys’ blog, if not, that is ok, it’s a circle, and you will get back to her!

Today I am going to show you the Kitchen Traditions album. This is a fun little album, and it is TOTALLY ready for your photos and your recipes!

Now, you can get all of these things separately, but you can get them in a bundle too! The bundle includes the Kitchen Traditions Recipe Kit (60 – 4 x 6 cards, 6 – 6 x 8 divider pages, 2 sticker sheets), Everyday Life Album in Bashful, and the My Acrylix Kitchen Traditions stamp set. You get all of this for just $59.95!

This is a close up of the divider pages and some additional cards that can be used for more details or photos.

This is the stamp set and the actual recipe cards.

These are the stickers. Aren’t they cute? Some fun decorating stickers and some tabs for dividers!

This photo is showing the back side of the divider page, a recipe card, and a fun/detail card.

Here you can see the back side of the recipe and fun cards, and the front side of the divider.

Now, you don’t see any photos or recipes in mine, I’m actually thinking about taking it to the family reunion this summer, and asking people for their favorite recipe of Grandma Olive’s, and then make the book into one of the raffle items! I know the family would LOVE that! Especially if I could get some photos to go with them!

Thanks so much for stopping by! If you like this kit, it is only available through the summer, so you will want to move quickly, as they are only while supplies last!

Now you are off to Wendy’s blog!

Have a great crafty day!

Rad Dad – Masculine Themed Optional Hop

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Another hop! You betcha! This month we have a special called Dad is Rad, and it’s only available until the end of June! I know you will want to get this set, and we are here to show you some ideas other than what you get with the kit itself! They will all be masculine themed, so they are perfect for the Dads (or guys) in your life! Today you should have arrived from Darlys’ blog. If not, that’s ok, it’s a circle, so you will get back there. So, let’s get started, shall we??

First, let’s start with what you get in the Dad is Rad kit. Check this out!

This kit contents:
1 – My Acrylix® Rad Dad Stamp Set (D1811)
11 – cardstock sheets (1 Almond, 1 Crystal Blue, 1 Juniper, 1 Sapphire, 2 Toffee, 4 White Daisy, 1 gold glitter)
1 – White Burlap Ribbon (Z3323)
1 – Gold Bows (Z3380)
4 – white cards & envelopes

You will also have access (even without purchase) to a pdf guide on how to create a two page layout and 5 cards with the supplies in this kit. It really is a great deal!

Now, shall I show you what I came up with? I must tell you, I totally CASEd this card I found on Pinterest. I changed the colors so that it would use what came in the kit, and I LOVE love love how it turned out!

I stamped the solid argyle image in Almond Ink and the dotted argyle in Sapphire Ink. The “Thank you” was cut with my explore, I used the font Lobster Two. I cut it four times and layered them together with liquid glass, and attached them to the card with it as well.

I used the Almond cardstock for the background and the Sapphire cardstock to tie in the ink and sentiment.

I even brought the design into the inside of the card. I just couldn’t stop stamping it!

I am LOVING how this card looks! Super classy and very masculine! Tell me what you think!! What color combos would you use??

Now, after you comment, hop on over to Alayne’s blog and see what she has for you!

Thanks so much for stopping by!

June SOTM – A Bushel & a Peck

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Welcome to this month’s blog hop! This set is super cute! If you are doing the 30 days of coloring, this is the perfect set for you!!

Today you should have arrived from Darlys’ blog. If not, that’s ok, as it’s a big circle, so you will get back to her!

I don’t know about you, but I’ve had a superbusy time recently with all the grad stuff and end of the school year stuff, so I didn’t have much time to create this card! But it turned out cute!!

The coloring took more time to do than deciding on the pattern from the Make it from your heart, volume 4 book, cutting, and even adhering the papers to the card base, combined!!

I used archival black ink to stamp with, and heated it with the craft heater, so that the shinhan markers didnt pick up the ink when I was coloring. I used the 3 brown markers; bronze marker, Mahogany marker, Clay marker, the Sap green marker, cherry pink, carmine, warm grey, and black markers.

See that fun shape that the sentiment is stamped on? It is one of the shapes from the Fresh Air Cardmaking thin cuts! Isn’t it adorable?

I used my non stick micro-tip scissors to fussy cut the image out. I then used them to do stamp surgery on the sentiment stamp, so that it would look the way I wanted it to!

I used the Adventure fundamentals paper pack for the heart paper and the green water colored paper, added a bit of kraft to help the green pop a bit more against the heart paper. I wrapped some white twine around the green and kraft grouping, and then popped it with some thin foam dots. I used more thin foam dots to pop the sentiment piece.

I hope you like my card! I would love to hear what you think! Leave me a comment, I read everyone of them!

Next you are on to Gina’s blog!

Thanks so much for stopping by!!

Seasonal Expressions 2 Blog Hop

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Welcome to the Seasonal Expressions 2 Blog hop! This hop is to show off some of the new products in the new little book! I am LOVING it, and I am certain that you will as well! Today you should have arrived from Brenda’s Blog. If not, that’s ok, as it’s a big circle, so you will get there!

Today I have a super fun little mini album for you! I had so much fun putting this together! I just kept adding and adding and adding to it! If you have followed me for any amount of time, you know that I like to use our products in ways that most people don’t. Today, I didn’t use chipboard for the book, but multiple layers of our cardstock and liquid glass. You would never know, if I didn’t tell you, that there isn’t actually chipboard in this book!

The pages of this mini album are made out of envelopes from the value pack. I also used the card bases from the value pack as some of the flip pages. Look at how chunky this little thing is! I just love it!

I used the Fresh Air paper pack for this mini. I also included sheets of cardstock from Fresh Air Coordinating Cardstock pack. You will also see some of the New England Ivy Burlap Ribbon and the Fresh Air Compliments.

While this mini won’t fit full 4×6 photos, the photos could still be fairly large. There are so many flips and flaps in this little mini album!! Take a look at the video to see the whole thing!

Want to see all of the little bits and pieces? Check out the video!

Thanks again for stopping by! Next you will hop on over to Wendy’s blog. I’m certain that she will have some fun stuff for you too!

National Scrapbooking Month – Postcard Perfect

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Hey everyone! Sorry about the blip of the post originally! Today it really is a blog hop for the Postcard Perfect special for the month of May. Today you should have arrived from Brenda’s blog. If not, that’s ok, it’s big round circle, and you will get back to hers!

Today’s card is thanks to one of my uplines, Naomi Smith. We had a fun meeting that we got to learn about the new items coming up, and she issued a challenge to us. We grouped up and had to pick a pattern from the Make it from your Heart Volume 3 or Volume 4. I got paired up with Karen and Lisa, and we made these fun cards! The only ‘warning that we had was to bring the paper and the MIFYH books. Then we found out we had an hour to pick a recipe and create the item from the Postcard papers.

We chose pattern #10 from the MIFYH V4 book. It was such a fun card to do!

We used the zip strip as one of the sides of the paper, used one of the cups from the hotel to hand cut the circles, stamped and trimmed the sentiment in tangerine and then archival black, and our fun cards were born! Which one do you think is my card? I would love to hear what you think! After you comment below, please hop on over to Wendy’s blog to see what fun project she has for you!

May SOTM – Classic Summer Bash Blog Hop

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Thanks for joining us for the SOTM blog hop this month! This is a fantastically fun stamp set! I have so many ideas to do with it! I know it is a set that you will want!! Today you should have arrived from Darlys’ blog. If not, that’s ok, it’s a big round circle, so you will get there if you keep hopping along! (Plus, you will see some great projects if you keep hopping!)

So, if you know me, you know that I have billions of ideas on things, then have the hardest of times narrowing down what I want to do with any given project! LOL This project is no different, I tell ya! I have a pin board of ideas to start from for this stamp set.

I used a scrap of our vellum for the straw, with some memento ink (I probably should have used stazon ink, but didn’t have it handy)

I stamped a couple of the citrus wedges in both willow and lemon inks. I then popped them up with some thin 3-D foam tape, to create the stopper for the easel part of the card.

I used lemon cardstock for the base, matt and easel part of the card. (I glued it wrong, or you would be able to see the different shades on the cardstock! doh!)

Take a look at this whole set, isn’t it fantastic??

I really liked how the card turned out! I hope you do too!

What would you like to see me take inspiration from to use this set? Comment below, and let me see what you would like! After that, hop on over to Kathy’s blog and see what fun things she has for us to see!

Have a crafty day, my friend!!

~ Michelle

CTMH Picture My Life Hop

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Welcome to another blog hop! Today we are sharing more about Picture My Life Cards! Today you should have come from Darlys’ Blog. If not, that’s ok, it’s a big circle, and you will get back around to her!

If you were around earlier this week, I shared a layout using a PML card from the Stargazer papers. You can see that here. Today I am showing another layout with PML cards! I LOVE to stretch my papers as much as I can, and I know that my crafty ladies love it too! (in fact, they have teased me if I use a 12″ strip that is covered by multiple things!)

See this fun striped banner? It is one of the PML cards that are printed and with the Chelsea Gardens paper pack! I LOVE this striped paper! When you tuck the pieces in under other pieces, you can totally make it look like a bigger piece of paper than it is!

The next couple of photos aren’t of PML cards, but I really LOVE how they turned out, so I had to add a close up of them for you!

This last one uses our vellum paper! It is such a soft look, but it stands out so much at the same time!

I hope you have liked my page! I would LOVE to see what YOU have done with your PML cards! Come over and join my FB group, and share your PML card creations!

Now, hop on over to Kathy’s blog and see what fun stuff she has for you!

I look forward to seeing you again soon!!

~Michelle