Home Sweet Home CTMH February Blog Hop

Welcome to the February Stamp of the Month Blog Hop.  This month I am following Allisa Chilton's Blog.   We have over 60 Close to My Heart Consultants participating in this month’s Stamp of the Month Blog Hop and I am so excited that you are visiting my blog.  If you like what you see, I would love it if you would hit the follow button on the right side of my blog!
                                                                                                                
The February Stamp of the Month is entitled Home Sweet Home (Set of 4). Here is a picture of this stamp set:

Today marks the start of our new 2013 Close to My Heart Spring/Summer Catalog.  I am totally in love with this catalog!  The artwork in it is totally amazing!

My husband and I have been going through a lot of unplanned experiences lately.  We just bought a gorgeous house and moved in.  It is easily the largest house I have ever lived in.  With only my son still at home,  we were wondering why we were led to this house and then 3 days after we moved into it, two of our grandchildren needed a home and we had the room!  So we are new parents again to a 7 year old precious little girl and a 9 year old awesome little boy (he told me to say that!  LOL).

With that said, I wanted to make a special Valentine's Day card for my hubby and this stamp set was perfect.

I cheated and used pattern paper  from two different paper packs.  I loved the way that the cocoa paper  from Buzz and Bumble went so well with the Sorbet patterned paper from Surf's Up.  I am just shaking with excitement with the new Glitter Paper in this catalog.  With the added glitter, I decided that I did not need any other embellishment.  The stamped sentiment is stamped with Cocoa Pigment Ink onto the Champagne patterned paper from Buzz and Bumble.  And there you go.  Edges inked with Cocoa ink and a very simple card to make and give.  I even managed to put it together with 2 kids, 2 dogs, 2 cats and an ADT man (setting up our new alarm system) at home.

And here is the inside of the card.  The inside sentiment comes from March's Stamp of the Month.  I just loved what it said and I think that it will have meaning for him.

List of Supplies
Surf's Up Paper Pack (X7168C)
Buzz and Bumble Paper Pack (X7164C)
Home Sweet Home (S1302A)
Brown & Tan Glitter Paper (Z1830)
Cocoa Ink (Z2114)
Cocoa Pigment Ink (Z2503)
Sponge dauber

The next stop on the blog hop is the Fabulous Pamela Ellison's Blog.

The Home Sweet Home stamp set can be purchased for $17.95 or you can even get it for only $5 between February 1 – February 28, 2013. If you do not have a Close to My Heart Consultant, you can purchase this stamp set on my website.  

All That Glitters and H2H

Our challenge this week on Heart 2 Heart Challenges is to make something with glitter or that sparkles.  Now that is a challenge that I can wrap my craft around!  I like glitter and sparkles and bling so much that I named my team The Bling Team.

Next week our Close to My Heart Spring/Summer Idea Book goes live.

I love being a Close to My Heart Consultant because I get to use all of the new products the month before the Idea Book goes live.  So for this challenge I used some of the new products that you will be able to find in the Spring/Summer Idea Book.

We are only one month into 2013, but my family has already had many changes.  The first week found us moving into our new home and heading to Maui and then San Diego for a mini vacation.  We came back to find out that two of our grandchildren would be moving into our new house with us.  It is amazing how God works in our lives because our new house had 2 extra bedrooms which are now no longer extra.

My granddaughter, Kallista, is settling into her new room and is really a girly-girl.  So I decided to use our new Chantilly Paper Pack (X7163B) along with the Chantilly Complements (X7163C) to make this lovely Nameplate for Kallista to hang on the door to her room.

I started off with another new product, the My Creations 6" x 6" Canvas Display (Z1818).  Kallista REALLY loves pink, so let me apologize for all of the pink, but she absolutely loves it.  First I painted the sides of the Canvas Cotton Candy Pink.  Close to My Heart does not have colored acrylic paint so I made my own by mixing some Cotton Candy Reinker (Z2293) with a little Create-a-Shade Pearl Paint (Z1039).

After letting it dry, I cut a 5.75" x 5.75" piece of patterned paper from the Chantilly Paper Pack and then adhered it to the canvas with Mod Podge.  While letting that dry, I cut Kallista's name using the Cricut Artiste cartridge (Z1790) and our new Silver Glitter Paper (Z1829).  Can I say how much I love the new Glitter Paper?  It cuts like a dream with the Cricut and the glitter does not come off the paper.  LOVIN' THAT!

I decided that I wanted Kallista's name to really stand out so I cut a piece of Pear cardstock to put behind the letters.  And then I went to town decorating the Canvas with the adorable Chantilly Complements.  I love to embellish so I had to add more bling.  We have tons of new bling in our new Idea Book and I chose the Pink Glitter Gems (Z1807) and Blue Epoxy Bubbles (Z1806) to finish off my project.

I used Liquid Glass (Z679) to adhere the glitter letters and the Chantilly Complements.  Since this is going to be on Kallista's door I want to be sure that it stays stuck.  I also used a dot of Liquid Glass to accent the bird's eye.

So now it is your turn!  I would love to see what you can do with glitter and sparkles and bling.  Please go to  heart2heartchallenges.blogspot.com and post a link to your project.  

Here are a few rules:  

*Our challenges are open to everyone!
*To enter, follow the challenge of the week and post your results to your personal blog or other online gallery.
*Be sure to come back here and direct link to your challenge post so we can see your artwork! (You can see our sidebar for some simple instructions.)
*In order to enter a challenge, you must use Close To My Heart products but your project does not have to be 100% CTMH.
*If you use something from another company, please consider including details in your project's description.
* You MUST mention H2H challenges in your blog post (and a link back to us would be appreciated).
*Spread the word about our challenge blog by including our badge on your blog.
*Most importantly, have fun creating - the Close To My Heart way!
Note: Any entries not following the above rules are subject to having their link removed.

Do you want a new 2013 Spring/Summer Catalog of your own?  Just email me  and I will drop one in the mail to you.  This is my favorite catalog ever!!

Hot Cocoa with Heart 2 Heart Challenge

Well the new year has started and along with the new year has come a new opportunity.  A couple of years ago I was on the Heart 2 Heart Challenge Design Team and it really was a blessing for me.  That was when I really got active with my blogging and with all of the inspiration I received from my fellow Design Team members, I developed an artistic "style" and a real love of design.

Well I am so excited to announce that I have been asked to return to the Heart 2 Heart Challenge as a member of their alumnae Design Team.  I eagerly agreed and despite a very recent move (I am still not unpacked or actually completely moved in), I could not wait to get started on my first project.  The other members on the H2H Challenge Design Team can be found on the sidebar of my blog.

I am just loving the little paper purses so I went to my favorite Cricut Artiste Cartridge and decided to cut out the bag on page 64 of the Cricut Artiste Book.  See the yellow tote bag on the right side?  I cut the bag (3D Object) at 4.25" and two of the sides (3D Object + Shift).

I assembled the tote and turned it into a purse by threading Cocoa Ribbon through the little holes at the top of the tote.  Here is my project.

I have used some retired items as well as some brand new items.  I really like how the old meshes so well with the new.  I cut a snowflake out of our new Silver Glitter Paper using the Artiste Cartridge Page 79. (Accent 1 - Shift).  I cut it at 2.5".  

I placed my sweet little owl in a slit in the cup of hot chocolate.  You never know where he will pop up!

Supplies Used
C1479 (Not sure of the name of this stamp set.  I think it came with a Workshop on the Go)
D1548 Whooo's Your Valentine Stamp Set
X7146B Wonderland Paper Pack (retired)
Chocolate Pigment Ink Pad
Whisper Pigment Ink Pad
Twilight Pigment Ink Pad
Gypsy Pigment Ink Pad
Crystal Blue Pigment Ink Pad
Z1327 Blue Sparkles
Cocoa Grosgrain Ribbon (retired)

We would love to have you participate in our challenge.  Just please remember a few simple rules:
*Our challenges are open to everyone!
*To enter, follow the challenge of the week and post your results to your personal blog or other online gallery.
*Be sure to come back here and direct link to your challenge post so we can see your artwork!  
*In order to enter a challenge, you must use Close To My Heart products but your project does not have to be 100% CTMH.
*If you use something from another company, please consider including details in your project's description.
* You MUST mention H2H challenges in your blog post (and a link back to us would be appreciated).
*Spread the word about our challenge blog by including our badge on your blog.
*Most importantly, have fun creating - the Close To My Heart way!
Note: Any entries not following the above rules are subject to having their link removed.

Close to My Heart's 2012 Autumn/Winter Idea Book Retiring List

The end of the Autumn / Winter 2012 Idea Book is drawing near-January 31, 2013 to be exact! As with all Idea Books, The Spring / Summer 2013 Idea Book promises the release of some amazing new products! But as we enthusiastically bring in the new, we must reluctantly retire some of the old. We do our best to keep these products in stock until the end of their Idea Book cycle, but effective immediately, the items on this list are available only while supplies last.  Click on the item to see a picture of it.  You can add the item to your cart if you wish.  If the item is already gone, you will not be able to see the picture.  Remember that with a $35 purchase, you will qualify for the Whooo's Your Valentine Kit for only $10.

Item #         Item Description                                              
Z1349    Shimmer Designer Brads                                                               
Z1360    Rhinestone Designer Brads                                                            
Z1361    Brads Red Assortment                                                                 
Z1362    Brads Pink Assortment                                                                  
Z1363    Brads Blue Assortment                                                                   
Z1364    Brads Green Assortment                                                                 
Z1365    Brads Basic Assortment                                                                    
Z1387    Wooden Designer Buttons                                                               
Z1391    Buttons Clear Assortment                                                               
Z1395    Irresistibles™ Eclectic Chipboard Die-Cuts (the alphabet)               
Z1465    Irresistibles™ Make-It-Count Numbers                                               
Z1681    Dimensional Elements  Numbers                                                      
Z1761    Dimensional Elements Ornaments                                                      
Z1762    Dimensional Elements Snowflakes                                                       
Z1765    Color-Ready Arbor Wooden Shapes                                              
X7147C    Stella Complements Canvas Shapes                                                 
X7148C    My Stickease® Pemberley Assortment                                                 
X7150C    My Stickease® Victory Assortment                                                
X7153C    My Stickease® Florentine Assortment                                                 
X7158C    La Belle Vie My Stickease® Assortment                                        
X7160C    Flirty Complements Dimensional Elements                                         
X7161C    Moonlight Complements Dimensional Elements                                 
X7162C    Pear & Partridge Complements Glittery Rub-Ons                         
Z1464    Milepost Shapes                                                                               
Z1466    Bling Assortment                                                                               
Z1695    Urban Felt Alphabet                                                                       
Z1696    Keepsake Felt Alphabet                                                               
Z1709    Just Blooms® Petals Paper Flowers                                              
Z1460    Foundry® Ribbon Slides                                                              
Z1711    Foundry® Binder Clips                                                                       
Z1712    Foundry® Number  Plates                                                              
Z1461    Décor Journaling Spots                                                                      
Z1687    Bohemian Assortment                                                                      
Z1689    Timeless Charms                                                                               
Z1692    Tough Tags                                                                                       
Z1694    Bouquet Assortment                                                                       
Z1741    Haunted Assortment                                                                      
Z1749    Autumn Lane Assortment                                                               
Z1763    Boutique Assortment                                                                      
Z1772    Dimensional Elements In Color—Holiday                                      
Z1393    Mini-Medley Accents Black Collection                                              
Z1316    Designer Ribbon Cocoa Collection                                                     
Z1385    Designer Ribbon Blue Collection                                                      
Z1615    Designer Ribbon Red Collection                                                       
Z1616    Designer Ribbon Green Collection                                                       
Z1388    Newsprint Rub-Ons                                                                       
Z1700    Dark Chocolate Tapestry Velvet Rub-Ons                                      
Z1733    Black Tapestry Velvet Rub-Ons                                                      
Z1742    Parlor Velvet Rub-Ons                                                                       
Z1407    6" x 6" Olive Quick Pic™ Album                                                      
Z1408    6" x 6" Pansy Purple Quick Pic™ Album                                       
Z1054    My Creations® Display Album                                                      
Z1378    My Creations® Banner                                                                       
Z1614    My Creations® Memory Game                                                      
Z1352    4 1/2" Colonial White Circle Cards                                              
Z1353    4 1/2" White Daisy Circle Cards                                                       
Z1731    My Originals® Sweet Surprises Card Kit                                       
X7148B    My Reflections® Pemberley Paper Packet                                         
X7150B    My Reflections® Victory Paper Packet                                                
X7153B    My Reflections® Florentine Paper Packet                                         
X7158B    La Belle Vie Paper Packet                                                                
X7160B    Flirty Paper Packet                                                                         
X7161B    Moonlight Paper Packet                                                                 
X7162B    Pear & Partridge Paper Packet                                                         
Z1252    Cutting Knife                                                                                      
G1041    Workshops on the Go® Avonlea Cardmaking Kit                                 
G1043    Workshops on the Go® Pear & Partridge Cardmaking Kit                
G1040    Workshops on the Go® Spellbound Cricut® Kit                                
G1042    Workshops on the Go® Scroll Album Kit                                        
G1044    Workshops on the Go® Advent Calendar Kit                                
G1045    Workshops on the Go® Avonlea Scrapbooking Kit                         
G1046    Workshops on the Go® Clementine Scrapbooking Kit                         
G1047    Workshops on the Go® Dakota Scrapbooking Kit                         
G1048    Workshops on the Go® La Belle Vie Scrapbooking Kit                
G1049    Workshops on the Go® Scholastic Scrapbooking Kit                        
G1050    Workshops on the Go® Flirty Scrapbooking Kit                                
G1051    Workshops on the Go® Moonlight Scrapbooking Kit                        
G1052    Workshops on the Go® Pear & Partridge Scrapbooking Kit                
A1104    A Tweet                                                                                        
A1111    A Tulip                                                                                                
A1116    A Melody                                                                                         
A1122    Bravo                                                                                                 
A1128    Quick Cards—Shell                                                                        
A1129    A Rainbow                                                                                         
B1365    Spring Up                                                                                        
B1369    Rosy Regards                                                                                
B1374    Bee Happy                                                                                         
B1397    He Is Risen                                                                                        
C1439    Enjoy Life                                                                                        
C1440    Take a Picture                                                                                 
C1442    Tailor-Made                                                                                         
C1450    Eclectic Edges                                                                                 
C1452    Delight                                                                                                 
C1455    Aspire                                                                                                 
C1456    Heartfelt Treasures                                                                                 
C1457    Happy Camper                                                                                
C1458    Paper Lantern                                                                                
C1473    Remarkable Wreath                                                                         
C1474    10 Things                                                                                      
C1485    Super Powers                                                                                 
C1498    Country Life                                                                                        
C1499    Perfect Day                                                                                        
D1195    The Works Alphabet                                                                      
D1222    Tiny Typewriter Alphabet                                                              
D1296    Chocolate Alphabet Small                                                             
D1303    Classmate Alphabet                                                                       
D1462    Splendid Day                                                                                 
D1464    Card Chatter—Love                                                                      
D1467    Trees & Things                                                                               
D1472    Simple Memories                                                                                 
D1478    Bingo Alphabet                                                                              
D1505    Roar!                                                                                               
D1508    Diverse Backgrounds                                                                       
D1509    Magic Adventures                                                                                
D1511    Kick Back                                                                                       
E1013    Field Trip Alphabet