If You Bling It: 08/01/2012

8/31/2012

Close to My Heart September Stamp of the Month Blog Hop

Welcome to the September Stamp of the Month Blog Hop. I am the next stop in this blog hop following Jill Lucas' Blog. We have over 60 Close to My Heart Consultants participating in this month’s Stamp of the Month Blog Hop.

The September Stamp of the Month is entitled Fall Favorites (Set of 11). Here is a picture of this stamp set:

I have so been waiting to work with this stamp set! Close to My Heart now has alcohol markers! Woo Hoo! Our markers are in Close to My Heart colors so they match our papers and dye inks! Can I hear another Woo Hoo?!! I don't have all of the colors I needed so I added a few of my Copics to finish off the scene. Our markers are a bit different from Copics. First of all they are a whole lot cheaper and they come in a set of 2 markers. For a set of 2 markers, the price is $5.95. In the set one of the markers is the Close to My Heart color and the second one is a complementary color. I love to color so I had a ball making this card.

I wish that I could get a better picture. The colors are so vibrant with the alcohol markers and I even colored the sky blue. I may try and take a better picture tomorrow, but for now this one will have to do.

List of Supplies
Fall Favorites (S1209)
Dakota Paper Pack (X7157B)
Burlap Ribbon (Z1760)
Cricut Artiste Collection (Z1790)
Pewter Brads (Z1366)
Dye Inks: Sorbet, Barn Red, and Pacifica
Black Pigment Ink

Alcohol Inks (Copics are indicated by number)
Flowers: Petals - Smoothie, Sorbet and Sorbet Light
Middle - Creme Brulee, Creme Brulee Dark, and Autumn Terracotta Light
Stems and Leaves: Olive, Olive Light, and Sweet Leaf
Scarecrow: Face - W-1, E-31, E-33, and E-51
Patches - Ruby Light, Cranberry, and Ruby
Blue Jeans - Indian Corn Blue, Outdoor Denim Light, and Outdoor Denim
Shirt - Olive, Olive Light, Sweet Leaf, and YG21
Straw - Honey Light, Honey, Y21, Y000, and Autumn Terracotta Light
Wood: E55, E17, and E18
Dirt: E00, E31, and E34
Dove: C00 and C3
Wheat: Y26
Sky: E00

The next stop on the blog hop is the Fabulous Haley Dyer.

The Fall Favorites stamp set can be purchased for $17.95 or you can even get it for only $5 between September 1 – September 30, 2012. If you do not have a Close to My Heart Consultant, you can purchase this stamp set on my website.

8/30/2012

Last Day of the Artiste in August Blog Hop

Welcome to the last day of the Artiste in August Blog Hop. This is a circular hop and Pamela O'Connor is the blog in front of mine. We are a group of Close to My Heart Consultants who are making a different project each day using our brand new Close to My Heart Exclusive Cricut Artiste Collection. Each day we will be focusing on a different shape or box that you can cut out with the Cricut Artiste cartridge.

Today is a Any Shape day. I don't have an original creation for you, but I did do a whole lot of work to make it. It is Close to My Heart's Advent Calendar. It is a Workshop on the Go that is offered in our Autumn/Winter Catalog. I used the Cricut Artiste to cut out the drawers for the calendar. They were easy to put together. The frames for the numbers are made out of chipboard and come with the kit. I decided to stamp the numbers onto Daisy White cardstock instead of directly onto the drawers as indicated in the directions. I like the look of the white. It just kind of brightens up the Advent Calendar.

Not the best picture and you cannot see my gorgeous bling that I colored with our new alcohol markers. Since I decided to stamp the numbers on white cardstock, I wanted my bling to be colored instead of clear. Everything else was the same except I inked all of the edges and the frames with Cocoa ink.

You can purchase this Advent Calendar for $44.95 here on my website. It is made very well and will become a Family Heirloom. It measures 14" × 14" × 2¾".

Featuring the Cricut Artiste Collection in the Artiste in August Blog Hop

The Cartridge has 700 images - Themed Projects, Cards, Font, and 3-D Items
Has 3 My Acrylix D-size Stamp Sets that coordinates perfectly with the shapes cut out by the Artiste
Has 3 Coordination 12" x 9" Dimensional Elements Sheets including a Mini Album

Contact me today to get the entire collection for just $99 (retail value of nearly $125) or you can place your order on my website.

Now please continue hopping. Your next stop will be to Tina Gale Husong's Blog.

Now even though our Blog Hop has come to an end, come back and visit. Don't be a stranger!

Here is a complete list of hoppers in case you get lost:
Gloria Rogers - http://www.scraptabulousstudio.com/
Rebecca Kings - http://heartfeltcreationsbybecca.blogspot.com
Adeline Brill - www.adeline-brill.blogspot.com
Kathy Johnson - http://kathyscreativecorner.com/
Amy Edwards - http://Paisleysplayhouse.blogspot.com
Jen Patrick - http://roxybonds-scrappin.blogspot.com/
Pamela O’Connor - http://reflectionsofmyartandsoul.com
Melinda Everitt - http://ifyoublingit.blogspot.com/
Tina Gale Husong - http://tiggersscrapplace.blogspot.com/

8/29/2012

You've Got Mail - Artiste in August Blog Hop

Welcome to the 30th day of the Artiste in August Blog Hop. This is a circular hop and Pamela O'Connor is the blog in front of mine. We are a group of Close to My Heart Consultants who are making a different project each day using our brand new Close to My Heart Exclusive Cricut Artiste Collection. Each day we will be focusing on a different shape or box that you can cut out with the Cricut Artiste cartridge.

Today's project is the mailbox which is found on pg 51 in the Artiste Handbook and pg 26 in the Artiste Assembly Book. I needed to work on something happy so I picked up the Clementine paper pack. The mailbox is cut at 3".

I paired the patterned paper with Saddle and Sorbet cardstock. All of the edges are inked with Saddle ink. I REALLY wanted to attach the Blue Bird of Happiness to my mailbox flag. So I cut the bird out at 1.25" twice, once in Sorbet cardstock and once in the blue patterned paper from Clementine.

Then I decided that I needed a sentiment but my patterned paper was too busy to place it on the actual mailbox. I had just ordered the chalkboard sheet that is brand new to our book and remembered that we could cut it with the Cricut. It was too flimsy to sit there by itself and needed a back up so I chose the dimensional element from the Cricut Artiste collection that goes with this shape to make my sentiment more durable. The chalkboard sheet was not hard to cut on and the only difference was that I set it to cut twice. The chalkboard sheet is self-adhesive, so that was a bonus.

I tried to stamp on the chalkboard piece by inking my stamp with our new chalkboard marker, but it dried too fast. So I pulled out my CTMH White Daisy pigment ink and stamped my sentiment. I then went over the sentiment with the chalkboard marker to make it more "vibrant".

Look at my cute little bird. The blue patterned paper is popped up with foam tape and the wing was cut from Sorbet cardstock, double popped up and then Platinum Glitz Glitter Gel was applied to it. I finished off the bird with a bitty black opaque.

I wanted the arm of my mailbox to be able to go up and down so I used a large brad from the Antique Gold Mini Medley to attach the flag. Also, I have so much on the flag with the bird and the greeting that I cut out a total of 5 flags and glued them all together, one on top of the other. Then I inked the edges with Saddle Ink and attached my bird with Liquid Glass. The brad goes through the side of the mailbox but inside of the mailbox is a 3/4" Sorbet circle and the brad goes through that as well. I am hoping that it will add a little bit of strength so that moving the flag will not destroy my mailbox.

Featuring the Cricut Artiste Collection in the Artiste in August Blog Hop

The Cartridge has 700 images - Themed Projects, Cards, Font, and 3-D Items
Has 3 My Acrylix D-size Stamp Sets that coordinates perfectly with the shapes cut out by the Artiste
Has 3 Coordination 12" x 9" Dimensional Elements Sheets including a Mini Album

Contact me today to get the entire collection for just $99 (retail value of nearly $125) or you can place your order on my website.

Now please continue hopping. Your next stop will be to Glora Roger's Blog.

And then please come back tomorrow! This Blog Hop goes all August long. See you tomorrow!

8/28/2012

Artiste in August - Handle Top Box

Welcome to the 29th day of the Artiste in August Blog Hop. This is a circular hop and Pamela O'Connor is the blog in front of mine. We are a group of Close to My Heart Consultants who are making a different project each day using our brand new Close to My Heart Exclusive Cricut Artiste Collection. Each day we will be focusing on a different shape or box that you can cut out with the Cricut Artiste cartridge.

Oh my goodness. Only 2 more days of the Artiste in August Blog Hop! I had so much fun with today's project. I love it when I get more caught up in the creative process than in the finished project. So many times I forget to enjoy creating. Today I enjoyed creating.

This box was cut out of Cashmere cardstock. It was cut at 4" and the box can be found in the Artiste Handbook pg 44 and the Artiste Assembly Book pg 8. I inked it with Saddle Ink. Just loving the new colors! I decided to make a collage using the National Stamping Month Promotion Stamp Set called It's Your Day. I pulled out these stamp pads: Pacifica, Barn Red, Sunset, Ruby, Slate, Honey, Saddle, Pear, and Black. Then, using post it notes to mask, I stamped one stamp at a time, deciding which color and which stamp I wanted to use as I got to it. Can I tell you how fun it was?

My box needed a little more color since the Cashmere cardstock muted my colors a bit, but the jury is out on my Honey colored star. It may be too bright for my box. I cut it with the Cricut Artiste and backed it with Pacifica cardstock. I may go back and recut a star in another color. I am going to leave it a day or so and see if it grows on me.

See the splotches on the handle? I second generation stamped the splotches with Saddle ink using the stamp from Diverse Backgrounds (D

I used Cranberry Baker's Twine to hold my star tag onto my box. I really like it. I am definitely going to use this box for a little gift for a friend when they need a little lift. I am just loving how this box has come out. So much fun!

All of my edges are inked with Cocoa ink. I found my cupcake box on pg 69 of the Artiste Handbook and pg 49 of the Artiste Assembly Guide. I cut the box at 3.5". And remember to cut the insert as well to hold your precious cupcake in place. For the cellophane top I cut a 4.25" piece out of a normal page protector and taped it in place with my ATG gun. It looks neat and professional once I fold the Cupcake Box's top into place.

Featuring the Cricut Artiste Collection in the Artiste in August Blog Hop

The Cartridge has 700 images - Themed Projects, Cards, Font, and 3-D Items
Has 3 My Acrylix D-size Stamp Sets that coordinates perfectly with the shapes cut out by the Artiste
Has 3 Coordination 12" x 9" Dimensional Elements Sheets including a Mini Album

Contact me today to get the entire collection for just $99 (retail value of nearly $125) or you can place your order on my website.

Now please continue hopping. Your next stop will be to Tina Gale Husong's Blog.

And then please come back tomorrow! This Blog Hop goes all August long. See you tomorrow!

8/27/2012

Artiste in August - Pumpkin Box

Welcome to the 28th day of the Artiste in August Blog Hop. This is a circular hop and Pamela O'Connor is the blog in front of mine. We are a group of Close to My Heart Consultants who are making a different project each day using our brand new Close to My Heart Exclusive Cricut Artiste Collection. Each day we will be focusing on a different shape or box that you can cut out with the Cricut Artiste cartridge.

When I looked to see what I was making today I saw that it is called the Pumpkin Box. Looking at pg 78 in the Artiste Handbook, the box did not look like a pumpkin to me. So I went to pg 60 in the Assembly guide, and the box looked kind of squat to be a pumpkin.

But I decided to carry on with an open mind and in looking at my patterned papers I chose the orange patterned paper from the Flirty paper pack for the pumpkin. I cut my pumpkin out at 5.5". Then I chose the green patterned paper from Pear & Partridge for my pumpkin leaf and vine. I really liked these colors together.

Here is my box.

I took a piece of waxy flax and threaded it through the holes in the "sides" of the box. I tied the sides together with a bow and then took a brad, put it through the vine and then threaded the brad's legs through the top two sides and opened them up. I had tried to hold the entire box together with the brad and never could get my hand inside the box to open the brad. I then spent a little time to shape my pumpkin box so that it would not be flat. This is the best I could do. The edges are sponged with black ink. What do you think of my little pumpkin box?

Featuring the Cricut Artiste Collection in the Artiste in August Blog Hop

The Cartridge has 700 images - Themed Projects, Cards, Font, and 3-D Items
Has 3 My Acrylix D-size Stamp Sets that coordinates perfectly with the shapes cut out by the Artiste
Has 3 Coordination 12" x 9" Dimensional Elements Sheets including a Mini Album

Contact me today to get the entire collection for just $99 (retail value of nearly $125) or you can place your order on my website.

Now please continue hopping. Your next stop will be to Tina Gale Husong's Blog.

And then please come back tomorrow! This Blog Hop goes all August long. See you tomorrow!

8/26/2012

Artiste in August - Cupcake Box

Welcome to the 27th day of the Artiste in August Blog Hop. This is a circular hop and Pamela O'Connor is the blog in front of mine. We are a group of Close to My Heart Consultants who are making a different project each day using our brand new Close to My Heart Exclusive Cricut Artiste Collection. Each day we will be focusing on a different shape or box that you can cut out with the Cricut Artiste cartridge.

Can you believe that we are on the 27th day of our month long blog hop? I am so grateful to have participated in this hop. I have had to stretch and use my Cricut Artiste and the new products more than I have ever used our new products in the first month after they are released. My approach to new products approaches hoarding. I buy all the new products and then just look at them for about a month. I open the paper packs and smell them. I take the stamp sets out of their packages and make a copy of them for my stamp binder. But that is it. I never actually use them for the first month.

Not so this time. I have been forced into my discomfort zone. I have cut into every one of my new paper packs. I have had to resticky 7 Cricut mats purely because I have used them so much. And I have actually order new paper packs. Man have I been having fun! And my Mojo is back!

So, take a look at my project for today - the Cricut Artist Cupcake Box.

Isn't this just the most adorable, super gorgeous cupcake box in the entire world? I know that it is the most gorgeous cupcake box in the Memphis area! LOL I made this using the Flirty paper pack. The more I use it the more I love it!

Can you see the holder for the cupcake inside of the box? Wow! They thought of everything.

I placed our pearl opaques in the centers of the big cabbage roses for a bit more oomph. I just love when I have such a great patterned paper that all I have to do is add a few embellishments and I am done. Really, what more could I add?

Featuring the Cricut Artiste Collection in the Artiste in August Blog Hop

The Cartridge has 700 images - Themed Projects, Cards, Font, and 3-D Items
Has 3 My Acrylix D-size Stamp Sets that coordinates perfectly with the shapes cut out by the Artiste
Has 3 Coordination 12" x 9" Dimensional Elements Sheets including a Mini Album

Contact me today to get the entire collection for just $99 (retail value of nearly $125) or you can place your order on my website.

Now please continue hopping. Your next stop will be to Tina Gale Husong's Blog.

And then please come back tomorrow! This Blog Hop goes all August long. See you tomorrow!

8/25/2012

Artiste in August - Happy Birthday Cupcake

Welcome to the 26th day of the Artiste in August Blog Hop. This is a circular hop and Pamela O'Connor is the blog in front of mine. We are a group of Close to My Heart Consultants who are making a different project each day using our brand new Close to My Heart Exclusive Cricut Artiste Collection. Each day we will be focusing on a different shape or box that you can cut out with the Cricut Artiste cartridge.

Today is the last Any Shape Day of the week and I was in the mood to make a card. So, I found this super cute cupcake card on pg 70 of the Artiste Handbook.

I love our two sided patterned paper, but when making cards, the pattern on the inside doesn't always work for my cards. So I cut the card base at 5" using Cashmere cardstock. That is one of our new colors and it is so creamy and rich. I was going for a vanilla cupcake, but a rich vanilla cupcake. I really wanted chocolate frosting so I used Cocoa cardstock for the frosting and cut it at 5.25" after trying it at 5" and finding it too small. The frosting and the cupcake liner can be found on pg 69 of the Artiste Handbook. The cupcake liner was also cut at 5.25" from the patterned paper from Pear & Partridge paper pack.

The banner is from one of the stamp sets that comes with the Cricut Artiste Collection, the Birthday Collection, and is cut from Cranberry cardstock. And look at these adorable candles.

I used Creme Brulee, Smoothie, Sunset, and Cranberry to stamp my candles. The candle stamp is found in the Birthday Collection stamp set as well. It was also stamped on Champagne cardstock.

I felt that the frosting needed something. And guess what. We can color our clear Sparkles with our new alcohol markers. I colored my Sparkles with my Cranberry alcohol marker and let them dry for about 30 minutes. The markers color the Sparkles evenly and then they match our cardstock and ink. Am I in Heaven, or what? Woo Hoo!

Of course I had to put a cherry on top, found on pg 70 of the Artiste Handbook, cut at 4.5", and then topped with our Stardust Glitz Glitter Gel.

Featuring the Cricut Artiste Collection

The Cartridge has 700 images - Themed Projects, Cards, Font, and 3-D Items
Has 3 My Acrylix D-size Stamp Sets that coordinates perfectly with the shapes cut out by the Artiste
Has 3 Coordination 12" x 9" Dimensional Elements Sheets including a Mini Album

Contact me today to get the entire collection for just $99 (retail value of nearly $125) or you can place your order on my website.

Now please continue hopping. Your next stop will be to Tina Gale Husong's Blog.

And then please come back tomorrow! This Blog Hop goes all August long. See you tomorrow!

8/24/2012

Artiste in August - Christmas Tree Box

Welcome to the 25th day of the Artiste in August Blog Hop. This is a circular hop and Pamela O'Connor is the blog in front of mine. We are a group of Close to My Heart Consultants who are making a different project each day using our brand new Close to My Heart Exclusive Cricut Artiste Collection. Each day we will be focusing on a different shape or box that you can cut out with the Cricut Artiste cartridge.

Today is another Any Shape Day at the Artiste in August Blog Hop. I looked through the Artiste Handbook and chose to make the Christmas Tree Box on pg 79. It is also found in the Artiste Assembly Book on pg 62.

I used the Pear & Partridge paper pack but could not decide which patterned paper to use so I used them both. Aren't they adorable?

I blinged up my Christmas trees with some of our cute little sparkles. This box doesn't require any adhesive and is very easy to make. Great idea for a cute little gift.

The Cricut Artiste Collection

The Cartridge has 700 images - Themed Projects, Cards, Font, and 3-D Items
Has 3 My Acrylix D-size Stamp Sets that coordinates perfectly with the shapes cut out by the Artiste
Has 3 Coordination 12" x 9" Dimensional Elements Sheets including a Mini Album

Contact me today to get the entire collection for just $99 (retail value of nearly $125) or you can place your order on my website.

Now please continue hopping. Your next stop will be to Tina Gale Husong's Blog.

And then please come back tomorrow! This Blog Hop goes all August long. See you tomorrow!

8/23/2012

Artiste in August - Any Shape Day

Welcome to the 24th day of the Artiste in August Blog Hop. This is a circular hop and Pamela O'Connor is the blog in front of mine. We are a group of Close to My Heart Consultants who are making a different project each day using our brand new Close to My Heart Exclusive Cricut Artiste Collection. Each day we will be focusing on a different shape or box that you can cut out with the Cricut Artiste cartridge.

I am back! And I am excited that it is Any Shape Day at the Artiste in August Blog Hop! I have been totally entranced by this Man's Shirt card found on pg 75 of the Artiste Handbook. I used the La Belle Vie paper pack because I liked the striped "oxford" look to it when I cut it out into a shirt. I used the darker La Belle Vie Mauve cardstock in the paper pack for a tie because I just love it and I could see my husband wearing a tie this color. I cut this card at 5.25" and it can easily fit in a 5.5" x 5.5" envelope or a 6" x 6", both of which I have. What I do like about the Artiste Cartridge is that I can make the envelope as well and each card comes with a corresponding envelope that you can cut out.

There were no instructions with this pattern so I had to eyeball it and figure out how they folded it. I am hoping that I did it correctly. I folded the card in half and then noticed that there were actual cuts where the collar was made. Then if I looked closely I could see where the collar folded over. I made a decision to fold the collars from both sides forward so that the back side of the patterned paper would not show. Then I adhered the collar and tie to the shirt with my Bonding Memories glue pen. Worked great!

The Cricut Artiste Collection

The Cartridge has 700 images - Themed Projects, Cards, Font, and 3-D Items
Has 3 My Acrylix D-size Stamp Sets that coordinates perfectly with the shapes cut out by the Artiste
Has 3 Coordination 12" x 9" Dimensional Elements Sheets including a Mini Album

Contact me today to get the entire collection for just $99 (retail value of nearly $125) or you can place your order on my website.

Now please continue hopping. Your next stop will be to Tina Gale Husong's Blog.

And then please come back tomorrow! This Blog Hop goes all August long. See you tomorrow!

8/22/2012

Artiste in August Blog hop - Milk Carton

Welcome to the 23rd day of the Artiste in August Blog Hop. This is a circular hop and Pamela O'Connor is the blog in front of mine. We are a group of Close to My Heart Consultants who are making a different project each day using our brand new Close to My Heart Exclusive Cricut Artiste Collection. Each day we will be focusing on a different shape or box that you can cut out with the Cricut Artiste cartridge.

I am sorry to say that I did not have time to make any artwork today. Please continue on with the blog hop and I will be back tomorrow!

The Cricut Artiste Collection

The Cartridge has 700 images - Themed Projects, Cards, Font, and 3-D Items
Has 3 My Acrylix D-size Stamp Sets that coordinates perfectly with the shapes cut out by the Artiste
Has 3 Coordination 12" x 9" Dimensional Elements Sheets including a Mini Album

Contact me today to get the entire collection for just $99 (retail value of nearly $125) or you can place your order on my website.

Now please continue hopping. Your next stop will be to Tina Gale Husong's Blog.

And then please come back tomorrow! This Blog Hop goes all August long. See you tomorrow!