Mojo Monday 283 - Time for Celebration!

Please excuse my lack of posts lately. It has been a busy winter and it seems as if everytime I intend on working on a project, life interrupts and my stamping and scrapbooking get put on the back burner. It's been difficult because my mind has been full of creative ideas lately and I haven't had the time to work on anything. 

Last week, my husband and I celebrated our 20th wedding anniversary and I wanted to make sure that he received a handmade card from me. When the newest Close To My Heart catalog came out, I was immediately drawn to a couple of stamp sets that I knew were perfect to create a special anniversary card. One of them was from the Tommy Workshops on the Go Scrapbooking kit, and the other is called Sail Away. As you can see below, they were just right for his anniversary card. I love the phrase on the front, "You are my anchor", because when life does get hectic, and he see's that I'm running like crazy, he offers his assistance and stabilizes my chaos.

 

I love the message on the inside. It pretty much sums up our 20 years, through step-parenting, raising 2 kids of our own, and unexpected job layoff.

 

I followed Mojo Monday's sketch 283, and turned it on it's side. It just so happens to be contest week. Make sure you check out all the other entries. 

and last....here we are celebrating 20 years together in downtown Chicago at the Signature Room, which is on the 95th floor of the John Hancock building. The view was incredible and the food was uh-mazing!

Here are the Close To My Heart supplies I used to complete this card:

Tommy Workshop on the Go

Sail Away

Artisan Studs

Tiny Type Epoxy Alphabet

Cranberry Stamp Pad

Outdoor Denim Stamp Pad

 Like what you see? Any of these products may be purchased on my website: clearlycreativepam.ctmh.com While you're there, be sure to check out the amazing pricing on the "while supplies last" products.

Bee Mine

This card was inspired by Michelle Short's card on Pinterest. Close To My Heart's brand spankin' new 2013 Spring/Summer Idea Book was released today and there are some new products that I knew would be perfect to recreate this card. Honeycomb shapes are the latest trend in papercrafting, so I knew that the Honeycomb stamp set on page 28 would be a perfect set to use for this card. I paired it with the new Buzz and Bumble paper pack as well. I had the idea to stamp the bee stamp with the word "mine" to come up with the Valentines theme of "Bee Mine." I didn't have the right size alphabet to stamp the word, so I computer generated it. The inside is stamped with the (now retired) Whoo's Your Valentine stamp set. I thought it fit perfect with the bee theme. I also added some of the Buzz and Bumble B&T Duo's to jazz up the inside:

Here is a complete list of Close To My Heart products used:
*Buzz and Bumble Paper Packet
*Honeycomb My Acrylix Stamp set
*Jardin My Acrylix Stamp set (bee)
*Whoo's Your Valentine kit (retired)
*Colonial White cardstock
*Kraft paper cardstock
*Sunset cardstock
*Creme Brulee cardstock
*Cocoa ink
*Sunset ink
*Sponge Daubers
*Tombow Adhesive 
*Fiskars Trimmer
*Micro-Tip Scissors

Other:
HP ink (RGB codes: r-238 g-130 b-90)
small heart punch

If you are looking for you very own copy of the newest Close To My Heart Idea Book/Catalog, contact me at clearlycreativepam@comcast.net or view it online at http://clearlycreativepam.ctmh.com

Mojo 275

I had seen this pretty paper at a local craft store and absolutely loved all the colors & design of the paper. It reminded me of some Close To My Heart stamps we've had in the past and I picked it because the colors would be easy to match with CTMH's cardstock. I think this card really turned out sweet. The sketch was adorable and fun to put together. It's contest week at Mojo Monday and I would just LOVE to win a stamp set from Verve! I have my eye on a few favorites...I {{heart}} how Verve's clear stamps give such a crisp and clear image (second to Close To My Heart of course). I used the Thankful Hearts set and made background paper (little brown hearts), using one of the stamps from the set. 

 Here is the sketch:

Here is the inside of the card:

Supplies:
Cardstock/Ink: Close To My Heart, Chocolate, Cotton Candy, Cranberry, White Daisy
Background Paper: Michaels, Recollections Red & Pink Hearts
Stamps: Verve, Thankful Hearts
Ribbon: unknown
Heart Pins: Maya Road 
Tools: Fiskars Paper Trimmer, Circle Punches
Other: Tombow Adhesive, CTMH Foam Tape

 

Mojo Monday 274

All products Close To My Heart:
Avonlea paper packet
Avonlea Complements
Slate ink
Slate Mini-Medley Accents
Slate Satin Polka-Dot Ribbon
Grey Sparkles

Mojo270 - Contest Week

I love the sayings and cardinal in this stamp set - perfect for a wonderful holiday message:

card inside:

 card sketch from mojomonday.blogspot.com:

All supplies are Close To My Heart:
paper, border sticker (retired CTMH)
Cranberry, New England Ivy  & Colonial White cardstock
To You and Yours stamp set
Alcohol markers, Cranberry, New England Ivy, & Honey
Red glitter gems (from Pear & Partridge cardmaking kit)
Dimensional Foam tape 
Green Twill tape (retiring soon)

Other: Martha Stewart branch punch

Mojo 269 - Round or Square?

I couldn't decide, so I did BOTH! Usually these shapes challenge me, but I was highly motivated today and came up with one of each...

I will start with my favorite of the two:

 
I love the Avonlea Paper Pack used with the Silver Shimmer Trim. It gives it such a vintage look. I stamped the ornament image from this month's stamp of the month - SOTM (see image of the whole set below), titled Year Round Cheer. This also gives the card a very old-fashioned look, along with the Silver Glitz Glitter Gel I used at the top of the ornament. I just love the color of the Avonlea Off-White cardstock that comes exclusively in the paper pack, it is such a creamy color and adds such a pretty richness to the other complimentary papers. I outlined the ornament with a grey marker to help the ornament stand out and look dimensional and I edged all the pieces with slate ink & a sponge dauber before assembling.

Here is the inside of the card:

 

The following Close To My Heart products were used to create this square card:
X7155B - Avonlea Paper Pack
S1212 - Year-Round Cheer Acrylic Stamp set
D1494 - Christmas Cheer Stamp set (inside message)
Z2165 - Juniper Ink Pad
Z2173 - Slate Ink Pad
Z726 - Sponge Daubers
Z1799 - Silver Shimmer Trim
Z1482 - Silver Glitz Glitter Get
Z1392 - 2" Scallop Circle Punch
Z1151 - 3-D Foam Tape
Z1263 - Bitty Sparkles 
Z1790 - Artiste Cricut Cartridge (1 3/4" circle)

Here is the round card:

Instead of a scalloped edge, I wanted to be different and used a starburst pattern from the Artiste cartridge. It matches the dovetail shape you see on the strip on the left of the card. The colors of the Pear & Partridge Paper Pack really makes this card stand out, so festive isn't it? I edged all the front pieces with Desert Sand ink & a sponge dauber before assembling.

Here is the inside of the card:

I used the gift card insert card base that I cut on the Artiste cartridge and trimmed it down to fit this shape. Notice the Studio J 5-pack gift card? It's a great gift idea for the scrapbooker on your Christmas list.

Here is the gift card base cut at 5 1/4:

 

Next, I cut all the scalloped edges off since they weren't needed and it enabled this base to fit on the circle card (cut at 5 1/4"):

Then I just simply adhered all the pieces together (sandwiched between 5 1/4" circles) and voila, I was done. As my second graders would say: "easy peasy, lemon squeezy."

The following Close To My Heart products were used to create this round card:
X7162B - Pear & Partridge Paper Pack, including the zip strip
D1492 - Christmas Love Acrylic Stamp set (JOY)
G1043 - Stamp set from Pear & Partridge Cardmaking Kit (inside message)
Z2135 - New England Ivy Ink Pad
Z2118 - Desert Sand Ink Pad
Z726 - Sponge Daubers
X7162C - Pear & Partridge Complements Glittery Rub-Ons
Z1151 - 3-D Foam Tape
Z1326 - Red, Pink, & Purple Sparkle Assortment
Z1790 - Artiste Cricut Cartridge (circles, gift card base, starburst shapes) 

*If you are interested in purchasing any products to make these cards, or any other Close To My Heart Products, you can access my website at www.clearlycreativepam.ctmh.com 

On a final note, I have to share a few more pictures of my stamping buddy. When I was standing at the Cricut, I looked down to see this:

I couldn't resist to take a few more photos of my "helper" -  Mauer:

 He loves his recycled Close To My Heart box...um, I mean bed

 Good night all.

Thoughtful Thursday

Unfortunately, procrastination has been my best friend lately! I need to do some other posts  besides my Thoughtful Thursday. I do have some cards to post, and I will have some holiday ideas coming soon. I know I have promised in the recent past, but I WILL GET BETTER at posting pictures. I created this blog to share creativity, not quotes and I need to get out of this rut, so I am starting a New Years resolution early (see I am ahead of the game). Hang in here, I will stop procrastinating...soon. Ha ha. Thanks for sticking with me and checking in.