July "Art Philosophy" Blog Hop

JULY "ART PHILOSOPHY" BLOG HOP

Welcome to my first BLOG HOP!  I'm pretty excited . . . can you tell?

Welcome to our July Art Philosophy Blog Hop! Each month we will showcase a feature of the amazing Art Philosophy Cricut cartridge which can be purchased exclusively through a Close to My Heart Independent Consultant.

We're so excited to be doing this hop and we have a fabulous lineup with some very talented ladies. There will be lots of fun projects AND some blog candy!!!

Lucy Kelleher, our hostess and fellow CTMH Consultant, will be giving away a stamp set! She is giving away a prior Stamp of the Month set that can no longer be purchased called "You Are ...". (This stamp set has a $17.95 retail value). You will find a picture of the stamp set on her blog. To enter to win, you will need to leave a comment on her blog and on every stop of the blog hop. If you also become a follower of Lucy's blog, she will give you another entry .

This month we will be showcasing the "Card" feature of the cartridge. Did you know there are 100 different card shapes you can make with this cartridge? You heard me correctly -- 100!!! Now we won't be able to show you ALL 100 card options, but we will show you as many as we can.

If you just happened to come to this blog, you should start at the beginning at Lucy's blog - http://www.love2createitall.com.

My project is ... Butterfly Layers

This card is made ENTIRELY from cuts on page 55 of the Close To My Heart "Art Philosophy" Cricut Cartridge.  I love this cartridge and use it ten times more than any other.  There is SOOOO much you can use.  Look at all the cuts from just one page.

I used Cricut Craft Room to lay out and size all the cuts.  It couldn't have been easier or faster (about one minute of cutting and I doubled everything to make sure I had a good cut for each part).  The card base featured the butterfly cut outs.  The filigree butterfly called to me and as the butterflies all match on the page, I got LAYERED!  All of the paper is Close To My Heart (the blue is retired but still awesome - don't you love how the "love" word centered itself front and center?).

Since I used B&T (Background & Texture) for the base, I had to add some cardstock to stiffen the card.  The cardstock (Hollyhock) had the corners rounded and served as a highlight to the cut outs on the cover of the card.  I played with both sides of the B&T paper to make extra texture.

Inside, I used a few of the duplicate cuts for the right side and a sentiment from the "God Bless You" (D1023 Retired) set in Moonstruck CTMH ink and then the butterfly cutouts from the front (reverse side showing) to mimic the cover on the left side of the card. 

I really like the end product and it was more fun because of the challenge.  A quick shout out to my friend Joanne who let me borrow her Cricut for this month (mine is out of commission at this point! O.o).

The next stop on your blog hop fun is Stephanie Feist.

Here is the list of all the talented consultants who are participating in this months blog hop:

1. Lucy ~ http://www.love2createitall.com
2. Darla ~ http://www.stampingunderdoctorsorders.blogspot.com
3. Gloria Shirr - http://purpleglocreations.blogspot.com
4. Laura Wolff- http://scrappinsweetiesescape.blogspot.com
5. Eva-http://loveofcreating.blogspot.com
6. Danielle ~ http://littlebitofscrap.blogspot.com
7. Connie ~ http://conniescraftycloset.blogspot.com
8. Wendy ~ http://myscrapbookingblog.com
9. Joanne - http://josiesjoy.blogspot.com
10. Laura Charko - http://koladesigns.wordpress.com
11. Carolyn Heniges - http://www.nuts4scrappin.blogspot.com
12. Kindred Hearts (Penny) - http://itmakestotalcents.blogspot.com <<<YOU ARE HERE 
13. Stephanie Feist- http://www.quiltedscrapper.blogspot.com
14. Julia Hammond http://youcancreatectmh.blogspot.com

Thanks so much for stopping by and hopping with us - we hope you LOVE all the projects we created!

Wrapping up the Spring/Summer Idea Book

CURRENT 2012 Spring/Summer Idea Book

 Well, friends, it's been a good run . . . the 2012 Spring/Summer idea book will always have a place in my heart as it was my FIRST as a consultant.  That being said, the new book just arrived yesterday!  There are some EXCITING new products and we are saying goodbye to some items as well.

I have listed the items that will no longer be available as of the end of July on my Facebook page.

Retiring Items - July 31, 2012

 NOTE:  I will be placing an order for a few customers at the end of the week.  Here is a list of the specials I & CTMH are running right now:

1. If you are (or want to be) on my email list, take 10% off your first order with me (personal contact orders only - call or email)

2.  In addition to the above, I am offering 5% off any retiring items.  I will be ordering a few things before they are no longer available (re-inkers for retired colors, paper packs, and embelishments).

3.  July Stamp of the Month is the "Live Out Loud" set (available for only $5 with a qualifying $50 order) is so great!  (Count me in on that special!)

4.  CHRISTMAS IN JULY - Any order of $40 or more placed in July (in addition to the above offers) will receive one of the following FREE!!!!  1) Stamp pad, 2) Bakers Twine, or 3) Free Shipping

That's a whole lot of savings . . . so if you order retiring items, you get 15% off, 10% off the rest, July SOTM for $5 PLUS a Christmas in July gift?  What are you waiting for???

NEW 2012 Autumn/Winter Idea Book

I will be announcing when the new Idea Book is available - but here are a few sneak peaks that I've found:

1.  40 Color Palette (simplified for easier compatability)

2.  Alchol Markers (EEEEK!  So excited!) and for $5.95 you get TWO - one at the actual CTMH color and one lighter or darker!  That is amazing.  (I have Copics (comparable) and they are $6.99 a piece with the cheapest I found being around $5 EACH!)

3. New stamps, paper packs, and embelishments GALORE!  

4.  Studio J is no longer membership based (FINALLY).  All jpegs are free and you only pay for the printed layouts . . . more details to come.

5.  And finally, my biggest GEEK OUT was when they announced a new CRICUT CARTRIDGE!!!!  It is called Artiste and has over 700 images and lots of 3D projects.  It has so much that it comes with an additional instruction booklet.  Like the Art Philosophy cartridge, it comes with three exclusive stamp sets and chipboard sheets.  Can't wait to get my hands on mine!

So excited to share the new book ASAP! 

CARD WORKSHOP INFO

I just finished Card Workshop #1 on Thursday and it was great . . . my next workshop will be July 28th (yes, a Saturday) at 2:00 pm.  It will be a longer workshop as it will feature three workshops full of cards - see below for some images...  We will be card making fools . . . hope to see you there (details can be found here).  

Double Stamp & Washi

Sparkles!!!

Tone on Tone

Cuttlebug & Complimentary Colors

Dry Embossing & Faux Stitching

 

Masking technique

Dry Embossing

Stand up Flower Pot

Thanks for stopping by...  I have a lot of new projects coming up, some new techniques, and my CTMH order will bring even more inspiration, I'm sure.  Oh . . . and if anyone finds a few extra hours or an extra day laying around, I could really use it!  LOL

CTMH Blog Challenge . . . better late than never!

I recently became a member of a Facebook group that helps challenge CTMH representatives to express themselves fully on their blog.  The challenge for this week was to use paper or stamps that haven't been used and combine them with challenges from other blogs.  I came up with three cards that I would like to share.  (Please note that this was more challenging than I expected but also a WHOLE lot more fun!)

This one is for the Tuesday Morning Sketch (#152) and features my new June Stamp of the Month S1205 Friendship Bouquet  (background and Copic colored sunflower) and some of my new CTMH bakers twine. (See my "Christmas in July" offer below to get some for yourself!)

Tuesday Morning Sketch #152

 I might be a little late on this one but I wanted to share it anyways.  This was my hardest to finish of the three.  This is for the Just Us Girls Challenge #142 (JUGS #142).  First, the inspiration...

 

Then my result... I used the B1369 Rosy Regards set and white bakers twine dragged through the Topiary stamp pad to create the vine.  It didn't turn out exactly like I'd planned but it works.

JUGS #142

This is for the Heart2Heart "Wedding" Challenge and the Mojo Monday Sketch!  There is a lot more sparkle than it shows on this picture.  I love the curly CTMH chipboard as well (although it was almost 12" long to begin with, I trimmed it to make two - can't tell, huh?).  The sentiment is from D1510 4 My Friend and is stamped in Grey Wool.  I have the perfect couple to give this too as well (It helps to have an inspiration! :) ).

Heart2Heart & Mojo Monday

Well, how did I do.  It was fun but nerve wracking.  I would like to work on more for next week but we will see how it goes.  Maybe only one card at a time would be helpful.  And I would like to put directions for the more technique-rich cards (the above are pretty self explanitory...).

ANNOUNCEMENTS

1.  Tomorrow, (Monday, June 2nd) is my first Scrapbook Layout Craft Night.  We are using my new Faber-Castel Gelatos and some embossing powder to make our own backgrounds...so fun!  Information is available in the right column of this blog or under events on my Facebook page.

2.  "Christmas in July" special:  As I love July (my birthday is in 7 days and counting), I thought I'd celebrate with a great special.  During the month of July, any orders of $40 or more can choose one of the following gifts: free ink pad*, free shipping, or free bakers twine of your choice! What a deal! Contact me for details...

3.  I'm working on another Card Workshop date . . . any ideas?  I'm thinking a Saturday later in the month but may be willing to do another day as well if there is interest.  Email me or leave me a message on Facebook to cast you vote!  I have a few new techniques to share during that workshop as well! :)