Retiring How To Books...get them while you can!

All of the Close To My Heart "How To" design books will be retiring with this current Idea Book/Catalog. They will only be available WHILE SUPPLIES LAST and are selling out FAST! There will not be another printing on any of the books. Reflections and Originals are already sold out and no longer available. The remaining scrapbook layout books, Magic, Imagine and Cherish, along with the card layout book Wishes are still available, but they are literally flying off the shelf and are going quickly. GET YOUR COPY WHILE YOU CAN! These are wonderful hardbound books with step-by-step instructions, cutting diagrams, assembly instructions, tips & techniques, and accessory suggestions. There is also a thumbnail index, and photo suggestions to show you how to create beautiful scrapbook pages or make personalized cards, and select just the right color combinations for all your special projects. Some of the books even have interative page ideas with a CD so you can print out the patterns seen in the book.

You can buy your copy/copies immediately on my website www.clearlycreativepam.ctmh.com. (click on the web address for a direct link).

These are the available scrapbook How-To Books ($21.95 each):

 This is the remaining card How-To Book ($21.95):

Baby Banner

My Niece/Godchild Kyley is expecting a baby boy on March 29th. We celebrated his upcoming arrival with a shower for her this past Sunday. I was anxious to make her a banner for a shower decoration that she could also use to decorate his nursery. I used Close To My Hearts My Creation Chipboard Banner. The theme was a little challenging for me because I had to make it so that it wasn't too feminine. She has chosen crib bedding that is Black and White damask, with B&W polka dots too. She is complimenting it with some green as well. The baby will be sharing her room, so she picked crib bedding to match hers. She has also developed quite a liking for elephants in her pregnancy, so I wanted to incorporate that as well too. This project was a cinch to put together because I cut the triangle shape and scalloped background of the banner on my Cricut, using CTMH's Art Philosophy cartridge. I changed the sizing to decimals and cut it at 6.80 and it was a perfect fit, no sanding, no trimming, nothing! I cut the letters of his name using the Plantin Schoolbook cartridge. I found the B&W paper at Michaels that matched the bedding pretty closely. Since it was so busy, I didn't want to add too many embellishments because they just wouldn't show and it would be too busy. I used a Martha Stewart punch to make some little green elephants to add here and there. The black spots on the tip of some of the triangles are some glass beads that didn't look to feminine. I used a variety of ribbons from Michaels to tie onto the rings that connects the banner. 

Here is my niece Kyley and I at the shower.

Here's a close up of the banner

The happy mom-to-be

Mojo 229

It has been a busy week and I was concerned that I wouldn't have time to do this weeks Mojo Monday sketch, but I was able to get it done last minute. It came together so fast by using Close To My Heart's Lucy Paper Packet and Glittery Rub on's, in place of stamps...fast and easy for sure! This is the first time I have used the new color-ready seam binding ribbon and I just LOVE it! It lays so nicely and moves wherever you need it. I can't wait to try some color on it. I added a  flower (from the Bitty Buds asst.) to the middle of the ribbon. Finally, I added a sentiment from the Card Chatter Sympathy stamp set.

*All products Close To My Heart.

Mojo Monday 228

 

 I was so excited to win last week's Mojo Monday contest! Thank you for all your wonderful comments...it is greatly appreciated. 

This weeks sketch was a lot of fun. Right away I knew I wanted to use the stamp set called Under the Sea from the newest CTMH Idea Book. There are so many cute sea life images so it was difficult to pick which one to use. I also used the Footloose paper packet that is also featured in the Spring/Summer catty. I layered the B&T c.s. and solid colored c.s. from the packet and followed the sketch pretty closely as far as layers and shapes. I stamped the image on the circle so the saying would be in place, then I stamped the fish again on a piece of B&T c.s., then cut it out and popped it up using foam tape (best invention since sliced bread). I colored part of the fish in by dipping a blending pen into the ink. Next I added pearls to look like bubbles. I stamped the phrase "best fishes" using another image from the stamp set. Lastly, I used the stitching ruler as a guide to do the sewing on the layers. I used the white floss from the naturals embroidery floss to sew the edge.

Below is a close up of the stamped images...

 

Below is the sketch:

 

*All products are Close To My Heart and have a link embedded so you can just click on the item and it will show you a picture and give you more info. on the product.

Mojo Monday 227

I have been participating in the Mojo Monday sketches for quite some time and had always hoped to win one of the Verve stamp sets during a contest week, but haven't been lucky enough. Believe me, the competition is fierce...but in a good way because that just means there is so much incredible talent out there. For awhile now I have had my eye on a set called Better With You, so I finally decided to get my own Verve set and I just ♥ it! It has all coffee & tea phrases and images. It was so difficult to choose which phrase to use first! I stamped the coffee-ring stain with Close To My Heart Chocolate ink on Chocolate cs. I layered that on a Bamboo base and tied Dark Choc. Striped Grosgrain Ribbon around where the layers met. Next I used the java phrase stamp from the Verve set and made a background paper by stamping it in Choc. ink on Colonial White c.s. I layered that with Choc. c.s. and cut out the latte cup on the Cricut cartridge Love You A Latte. I topped the cup with a swirl of pearls to mimic steam. Finally I cut out the label on the CTMH Art Philosophy Cricut cartridge and stamped it with a saying from the Verve Better With You set.

Here is the Mojo Sketch...in the end, I was pleased with my interpretation a latte. LOL.

Mojo Monday 226 - February Stamp of the Month

I couldn't wait to try some new product on this week's Mojo Monday. As soon as I saw that the sketch had a flower on it, I knew exactly which stamp set to use. I was inspired by the front cover of Close To My Heart's newest Idea Book, but I did change the flower somewhat. I used just one of the petals from the Just For You stamp set, throughout the whole flower. I cut out the base on the Cricut, using the CTMH Art Philosophy (a must-have) and added all the petals that I had stamped and cut. I did add a piece of foam tape to the outer edges of the petals (see below) to add some dimension. Next I added a Sorbet button from the Red Button Assortment, to which I had threaded with Chocolate Waxy Flax. I placed this on a 6X6 square card base, that I had layered with patterned cardstock from the Stella paper pack. Initially it was difficult to decide which card shape to use based on the sketch. I love the round card, but thought with the size of the flower, I better go with the square base. Julie Tilman (the sketch designer) had suggested 4.25 as the base size, but that wasn't going to work with the size of the flower. Now, back to the paper pack...I LOVE the B&T Duo that looks like a clothing pattern! My head is swirling with ideas on how to use that paper along with some sewing stamps that CTMH has. I also used the zip strip from the paper packet to create the "ribbon" that divides the two patterns of B&T cardstock. I made the leaves using the kissing technique. First I stamped the leaves in Olive and then "kissed" them on one of the petal stamps in the set to give the leaf a patterned look. Next I added a swirl from the Stella Complements Canvas Shapes. It really added a lot of texture to the card. I stamped the message using the February Stamp of the Month (SOTM), titled Thoughtful Tidings. For more details and a picture of this versatile stamp set, see the sidebar. When I was all done, I realized that the card needed to be stitched, so I did a straight stitch around the outside, using my sewing machine. By the looks at the top, I think I need to be more careful at how straight I am sewing!

*All products Close To My Heart. Just For You Acrylic Stamp Set, Stella paper pack, Stella Complements Canvas Shapes, Colonial White, Sunset, Olive C.S., Chocolate & Olive Ink, Red Button Assortment, Chocolate Waxy Flax.

 Here is the sketch:

It's HERE!

The Close To My Heart 2012 Spring/Summer Idea Book goes live today! You can view it online at www.closetomyheart.com or contact me for a copy today. It is 145 pages full of amazing creativity and fabulous products!