Category Archives: CTMH

15 years of Close to my Heart goodness!

H2H’s New To You

Welcome to another weekly challenge hosted over at the Heart 2 Heart blog! This week is all about what’s new to you! And the majority of this card is all NEW TO ME!

Isn’t this card just adorable? I LOVE this little guy! So, I started by die cutting the gnome (From Garden Gnomes) twice, and then stamping with intense black ink. I also stamped him on the red pattern paper from the Comfort and Joy, and on the mistletoe paper (for the bottom of his parka). I let those dry while I moved onto the next step.

Next I used chipped sapphire distress ink with the ink blending tool to create the background for this cute guy! Then I took my card base, and again used the chipped sapphire distress ink for the edges, and went lighter on the ink the further down I went on the card base. Then I used the black soot distress ink to start at the bottom of the card base and work up, blending the two colors together.

While those were drying, I grabbed a few tri-blend markers and colored in the beard, nose, gloves, and boots on one of the stamped die cuts. (I’ll list them below) I cut out those pieces. I then cut out the pieces stamped on the B&T papers (the pretty ones). I used my liquid glass and glued the pieces, layered, onto the other stamped gnome!

I used the three dots to simulate snow falling, and stamped with versa mark ink and covered that with white embossing powder. The heat gun made quick work of the heating of those, and they popped quite nicely against the distressed background! I popped that up over the card base with some 3-d Foam tape.

Next I used a piece of white daisy cardstock, and tore it twice to get the fun snow hills behind my gnome! Pop up Mr. Gnome with some thin and regular 3-D foam tape!

Viola! Our card is DONE! I love the little gnomie! I didn’t add a sentiment, but can do that inside, or add a flagged sentiment later when sending it.

What papers do YOU think would be fun to use for his hat and parka? I would LOVE to know!

Thanks for stopping by! I do hope you play along with the H2H challenge!

~ Michelle

CTMH Items used:

Comfort & Joy paper packet
White daisy cardstock
Intense Black Ink
Chipped Sapphire Distress Oxide Ink
Black Soot Distress Oxide Ink
Versamark Ink
White Embossing Powder
Black Marker
Earth Brown Blend
Pale Pink Blend
Yellow Green Blend
Brown Grey Blend
3-D Foam Tape
Thin 3-D Foam Tape
Liquid Glass
Non Stick Microtip Scissors
Mini Ink Blending Tool

With All My Love

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Can you believe it’s October?! This year has taken forever and flown by at the same time!

Well, with a new month is a new Stamp of the Month! This month’s stamp is called “With All My Love” and is a super cute set, that allows you to color if you want, but you DON’T have to! That’s my kind of stamp!

This set has some great sentiments on it too! I love that there is some variety in the fonts on there! (Plus, you can start planning for Valentine’s day, with the heart and the XOXO! 😉 )

Now, you see that I have mentioned a VIP membership, right? Well, that’s NEW starting today, too! This is a super great program, designed to give the customers the best rewards! Rewards, you say? That’s what you heard, right? How about some of these:

FREE SOTM!
Earn 15% back from every purchase
Special workshops/classes JUST for VIP members!

I’ll be doing a quick video later today to chat with you all about it! I hope you will join me over in my FB Group!

I hope you like the stamp set! I will be sharing more artwork with it throughout the month!

Until later, Have a fantastic day!!

~ Michelle

Teeny Tiny things are adorable!

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Wouldn’t you agree? I do love some teeny tiny things!! This week’s challenge over at the H2H Challenge blog is all things Teeny Tiny!

Today I was inspired by the retired Originals Cards book to make these adorable little 3×3 cards.

I used half a sheet of nectarine cardstock for the card bases. I scored them at every half inch and sanded those lines to reveal the white core of the cardstock.

I used two stamp sets for this little card. First, the Bloom with Grace Cardmaking Stamp and Thin cuts. I stamped the pumpkin on some white daisy cardstock with the intense black ink, and then colored it with the Yellow Green TriBlend™ Marker, Tan Blend TriBlend™ Marker, Gold Yellow Blend TriBlend™ Marker, and the Orange Blend TriBlend™ Marker.

Next I used the Pennant Banner Alphabet & Thin Cuts for the sentiment on these cards. I used the grid stamp to stamp in Canary ink. Then I used the same set, and offset stamped it in mink ink. Then I stamped the letters in intense black ink.

I grabbed some string from my stash, and popped up the pumpkin and banners on some foam tape. Add some bows with some micro glue dots, and viola! You have these adorable Teeny Tiny cards!

I would love to know what you think about these cards!

“Peek-a-boo!”

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Welcome to the September Technique Blog Hop! This month is all about a window of some sort! I know there will be LOTS of great ideas on this hop, so make sure to visit everyone! (and make sure to leave some love along the way! EVERYONE loves to hear how much their creation resonates with others!) Today, you may have come from Lauren’s blog, or you may have started here. Either way, it will be a big circle, so you will eventually end up back here!

Today I did a fun peek a boo card, with a new technique that I hadn’t tried yet, and it was fun! Let’s take a look at the front, first, shall we?

I am IN LOVE with the wood paper packet! This is just one of the papers from the packet! It is actually a plank looking piece, so, I did some fussy cutting to be able to have it look like a solid piece (though, maybe not quite so much in person!)

That Thanks die cut is fabulous, isn’t it? That is new too! I cut three layers from White Daisy Cardstock, and the shadow layer from Mint Cardstock. Then layered them with the liquid glass, that I LOVE so much! I attached them on top of a piece of vellum with some micro glue dots. I finished fancy-ing up the card with some gold glitter gems.

Now, let’s take a look at the inside, shall we?

Oh my goodness! Isn’t that fantastic?!?! SOOOOOOOO much fun!

I used the From the Funny Farm stamp set for the adorable little birdie! I stamped it in the intense black ink and then colored with the Ice Blue Blend Tri tip marker. I used the circle thin cut from the card spinner die set for the little cut out for the bird.

The sentiment side uses the Stitched Fancy Brackets dies, in both White Daisy and Mint Cardstocks. I stamped the sentiment with the Teeny Tiny Type alpha set.

I hope you leave a bit of love for me! Then, off to another Michelle’s blog! 😉

Thanks so much for stopping by!!

In case you get lost along the way, here are all of the blogs this hop!

Melissa
Cat
Maz
Lauren
Michelle J. You Are Here!
Michelle L.
Brandi
Katy
Alyson
Miss. Carrie’s Creations

Who wants to see some MORE new products?

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We are having another blog hop, so that you can see more of the new products! We are focusing on the items in the smaller 2 month book with this hop, so grab something to drink, and let’s get hopping! Remember to leave a little love along the way! Your comments bring smiles to the faces of the consultants sharing their work with you! Today you may have started here, or come from ____________’s blog. Either way is great! The hop, as always, is a big circle, and you will end up back where you started!

So, what do I have for you today? Let’s take a look!

Wood You Rather?

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Welcome to another H2H challenge! This week’s challenge is all about “Wood”! I know we have some great examples for you this week!

Today, I have some Timber paper that has moved to the Online Only portion of our websites, but I do love the wood paper on it so much! (I was going to use a new product, but it hasn’t arrived yet!)

These cards come from my Cards for Guys class (with NO stamping!)! They are SUPER fun! I loved putting them together! In this class you have two cards per basic design, however each card is just a bit different. And, did you see, NO STAMPING! Incredible, right??

Now, after you see these cards, you will have to let me know which is YOUR favorite!

As you can see, these cards have the same basic set up, however are very different in looks! I used one brad and a bit of silver embellishing thread for the left one, and some extra foam tape and a wood arrow from the Wooden Arrows Assortment.

I did cut the mountain sticker a bit, so that it would fit in the ‘photo frame’, but I don’t think it’s terribly noticeable, do you?

Look at that wood paper! It totally looks like it has dimension, itself! (it doesn’t, but it looks like it does!)

So, tell me, which “Wood you rather?” 😉

I would love it if you left me a comment! Then, play along with the challenge! You have the whole month to do so!

More info on the class coming shortly, so make sure to watch for it!

H2H Challenge, Anything Goes!

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That’s a great way to start (and end) the month, right? With a challenge that can be anything! That means it’s even EASIER to participate! So, make sure you hop on over to the H2H Challenge Blog, and play along! You have the whole month to join in on the fun!

Take a walk on the wild side!

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That is this month’s challenge over at Heart 2 Heart Challenge Blog! Well, at least, the Wild Side part is, anyway! And today I have a SUPER fun card for you! Plus I will be doing a FB live at 5pm (pacific) to show you how to put it together! It will be fun!!

Anyway, this card was super fun to put together! And, it fits one of the challenges from last month, too! Anyway, I am certain that you will want to make this card too, so I have all of the supplies listed at the bottom of this post! So, gather them, and join me at 5pm and we will put it together, together! LOL!!

This card actually mimics the card that I did a few weeks ago, but it does have some changes! I wanted MORE behind my image, and so that is exactly what I did!

So, I stamped the sunflower from the Joyful Sunflower stamp and thincut set. (Well, I may have cut it and then die cut it, but either are interchangable!) So, it’s been stamped and die cut (in whatever order) and I am coloring it with a waterbrush and inks! It’s ‘faux’ watercoloring! And it is SOOOOOOOO easy!! I used the Saffron ink for the sunflower, Fern ink for the stem and leaf, Glacier and Sapphire for the background, Fern ink for the grass, and both Glacier and Sapphire for the banner!

Honestly, this card came together so very quickly!! On my live, I may add the fence that comes with the Joyful Sunflower set, just to add a bit more . . . but we will see!

I hope that you love what you see!! I would love to hear what you think! How would you have made it different? Or, would you do it the same? Leave a comment below, and let me know!

CTMH products used:
Timber Paper Packet
White Daisy Cardstock
Fern Cardstock
Saffron Ink
Fern Ink
Glacier Ink
Sapphire Ink
Toffee Ink
Intense Black Ink
Joyful Sunflower Stamp & Thin Cuts
??? Stamp Set
Waterbrush
Foam Tape
Card Base & Envelopes

Do you have a Green Thumb?

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Today’s challenge over at the Heart 2 Heart Challenge Blog is “Green Thumb”. I LOVE this! Each week there is a fun new challenge, that you can do ANYTHING with!

So, Green Thumb, obviously is going to be something green, and what would be more green than a bunch of (faux) plants? LOL!! I’ve got a 50% green thumb (and 50% black thumb…. soooo…). For the front of the card, I used the Born to Bloom stamp and Thin Cut set. According to the all-mighty google, this is the Monstera plant. (I don’t know about you, but I’ve now learned something new!) I used the Jade Green Tri Blend marker to color the plant and the Ice Blue Blend for the pot. I created the shadow underneath it with the Ice Grey blend and the colorless blender!

I used the label stamp (with Glacier Ink) and thin cut from the Joyful Sunflower set. I also used the sentiment from that set, stamped in Archival Black Ink.

I had seen a video that showed how to do this, and when I put it together, it didn’t quite match up, so I had to fudge a few things to make it work (otherwise I would share that video with you!) But, the overall look turned out GREAT!!

The papers that I used are the Wood Grain from Timber, White Daisy Cardstock, and Peacock Cardstock.

When you open up the card, you have two different little planter boxes! It is SUPER fun!!

I used the Monstera plant, the Calla lily, and the other plant (couldn’t figure that one out) on the inside of the card, and added the Citrus Blend Tri Blend Marker, Light Green Blend, and the Dull Green Blend markers to the mix.

I really liked how this card turned out! Tell me what YOU think! Then, make a project that shows YOUR green thumb, and play along at Heart 2 Heart Challenges!

CTMH Items used:
Born to Bloom stamp and Thin Cut set
Joyful Sunflower
Glacier Ink
Archival Black Ink
Jade Green Tri Blend Marker
Ice Blue Blend Tri Blend Marker
Ice Grey Blend Tri Blend Marker
Citrus Blend Tri Blend Marker
Light Green Blend
Dull Green Blend
Colorless Blender Tri Blend Marker
Timber Paper Packet
White Daisy Cardstock
Peacock Cardstock

It’s time for another Color Challenge over at H2H!

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Welcome to another week’s challenge from H2H! The challenges are so fun! And, sometimes, will take you outside of your normal realm! This week, the challenge is to use Saffron, Peacock, Sage, and Glacier! They do go together, quite well, it’s just not a combination that I would normally use!

That being said, I think I came up with something that is fabulous!! Don’t you just love it when things turn out better than you expected? I know I sure do!

So, today’s card uses two different stamp sets, Can’t Get Enough and Born to Bloom. Not things that you would just look at and say ‘oh, these two will work well together” . . . but, Can’t get enough has been one of my SUPER favorite sets! There is a little bit of everything in this E sized set! You should definitely add it to your collection before it sells out! (It’s technically retired, but available while supplies last for online orders!)

This card was surprisingly simple to put together! Come join me on my FB page on Monday at 5pm Pacific, and we will make it together!

So, I already told you what stamps I used. I also used the Peacock, Glacier, Saffron, and Sage inks to color this card. I used a small snippet of B&T from the Summer Vibes paper packet (it fits perfectly with the glacier color!).

Of course, if you know me, I LOVE to add another layer (or two) on the inside of my cards! And it doesn’t have to be hard! I just stuck with the black and white stamping of this fun image!

I love that the set has a thin cuts die set with it! Then I can have those pretty leaves and pots popped up off the page! It just adds a little bit more!

Like I said before, this card turned out so much better than I thought it might! Join me Monday night at 5pm Pacific to make this card! You only need a few supplies! (and that background paper could TOTALLY be something different!)

Thanks for stopping by! Make sure to check out the other design team ladies’ projects over at H2H! Then make your own, and link it up over there!

I can’t wait to make this card with you! See you Monday Night!

Supplies used for this card:
White Daisy Card base & Envelope
Summer Vibes Paper Packet
Peacock Cardstock
White Daisy Cardstock
Inks:
Peacock
Saffron
Glacier
Sage
Intense Black
Can’t Get Enough
Born to Bloom
Foam Tape
Waterbrush
Shammy
1 x 1 Block
3 1/2 x 2 Block
1 x 3 1/2 block