One project finished... check!

I have had these artboards for an embarrassingly long time (they are discontinued now if that says anything), and I finally got around to doing something with them. I saw a neat picture where they had "inspiration" boards in their office.



Basically the clipboards were places to clip up anything inspiring, whether it was colors or an ad, whatever, so they could remember and use it in a project. LOVED IT! I decided to do the same thing.

I used a color scheme that would go well with the office, and I wanted them to be "pretty" even if nothing was clipped onto them. So I went with some creative/inspiration quotes to dress them up:

INSPIRE - "Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once we grow up." ~Pablo Picasso

DREAM - "The only way to discover the limits of the possible is to go beyond them into the impossible." ~Arthur C. Clarke

IMAGINE - "The world of reality has its limits; the world of imagination is boundless." ~Jean-Jacques Rousseau

CREATE - "Creativity is allowing yourself to make mistakes. Art is knowing which ones to keep." ~Scott Adams

I still can't believe they are finished. :-) It gives me hope for other unfinished projects. HA!

Dani

Questions about purchasing the Cricut Art Philosophy Collection with this month's specials!

I've had several questions about whether or not the purchase of the Cricut Art Philosophy Collection counts towards this month's specials. The short answer is a resounding, "YES!"

The longer answer is I will break down everything you can get with the purchase of a Cricut Art Philosophy collection this month, taking into consideration this month's specials.

First, the Cricut Art Philosophy Collection includes...

... the actual Cricut cartridge itself, of course! It comes with 700 images: font, shapes, 3-D items, and more.

The collection is also bundled with three stamp sets:







Every shape on each of these three stamp sets has a corresponding image on the cartridge, for quick and easy stamping on a perfectly sized cut-out. Not only that, but the setting needed to cut the shape the correct size is also listed right on the stamp's carrier sheet. Easy peasy!

But the collection doesn't stop there! There are also three 9"x12" Dimensional Elements sheets included as well:







You can not only just cut and stamp with ease, you can also cut, stamp and then cover Dimensional Elements in a snap. :-)

Not that it isn't simply awesome to have the cartridge with the bundled stamp sets and dimensional elements coordinate perfectly, but throughout the Autumn/Winter 2011 Idea Book there are also numerous other stamp images which also work with the Art Philosophy cartridge. Bonus!!! If you see a stamp image surrounded by a red outline, you will know there is a matching shape on your Cricut cartridge. Here is an example of a stamp set that does just that:



This is the stamp set Hooray Bouquet. If you look closely, you can see that all six flower shapes have a red outline around them. So I know that I can utilize my Cricut Art Philosophy cartridge to easily cut out shapes for all of those stamped images. And, once again, the carrier sheet lists the setting that I need to cut the shape the right size. Here is a card I made with this set and our new Roxie papers:



I wanted a subtle tone on tone striping design in the back, so I layered strips of Kraft cardstock on top of our Desert Sand cardstock. The sentiment is also from the same set. Normally cutting out three flowers like this could be a little bit time-consuming, but with the Cricut cartridge... they were all cut in a snap. I simply stamped right on my base shape, added some embellishments, and voila! My card was finished. LOVE THIS!

The Cricut Art Philosophy collection is only $99*! That's the cartridge, stamp sets and dimensional elements all in one easy collection. It has a retail value of $124.69, so you are already getting a discount of over $25 in the bundled price. But, you can take advantage of even more this month!

The purchase of the Art Philosophy collection automatically qualifies you to get the stamp of the month for only an additional $5* (retail value $17.95). September's stamp of the month set is Limited Edition, a set of 21 stamps with vintage images, tags, sentiments and more.



Second, the purchase of the Art Philosophy collection also automatically qualifies you to receive this month's special in celebration of National Stamping Month... FREE* (retail value $35.90)! You can receive the exclusive My Acrylix Pair-A-Phrase double stamp set, our first ever double stamp set, simply by purchasing the Art Philosophy collection.





So this month, with the simple purchase of the $99 Cricut Art Philosophy Collection and an additional $5 for September's stamp of the month, Limited Edition, as well as the free Pair-A-Phrase double stamp set, you will spend $104* (actual retail value $178.54) -- a savings of over $70! You will receive the Cricut Art Philosophy cartridge, 6 (six!) stamp sets and 3 dimensional element sheets. Wow! You can hardly purchase 6 stamp sets of that size for that price, let alone with the cartridge and dimensional elements too. This is a GREAT deal.

Make sure to order your Cricut Art Philosophy collection this month before the special is over!

*All prices listed are subtotals, before any s/h or tax is added.

Ask if you have any questions!
Dani

More Cricut art!

I have been having a lot of fun creating art with my new Cricut Expressions and CTMH's new Cricut cartridge collection, Art Philosophy, as well as all our lovely new paper packs. Since my very first Cricut card shared was using September's Stamp of the Month set, Limited Edition, it seems fitting to share yet one more with that set since this is officially September now! YIKES!

This card is focusing on color with a Kraft background and Sky, Pear, Lagoon and a touch of Sunset for a pop of color. I used the new Art Philosophy cartridge to cut out the letters "fun". Clean and simple.



The Art Philosophy collection also comes with three D-size stamp sets (Philosophy Tags, Philosophy Celebration, and Philosophy Seasons), and 3 Dimensional Elements sheets (Tags, Mixed Shapes, and Banners) which work perfectly, of course, with the Art Philosophy cartridge! I had to play around with EVERYTHING! :-) I'm going to share my favorite card made with each of our new paper packs and the new Art Philosophy collection.

Here is a card that I made with our new Mischief papers, adding some red for a splash of color. I used the Cricut cartridge to cut the large scallops on the bottom of the card, the scalloped circle and banner edges off each side. I also used two of the stamp sets from the collection, Tags for the sentiment and Celebration for the banner edges. It looks like it took a long time to put together, but it was quick and easy to do with the Art Philosophy cartridge!



While sometimes clean and simple is just what I'm looking for, other times I just seem to want to play with as many embellishments as I can dressing up the card. :-) This card is using our new Roxie papers, which is my current favorite new paper pack. I used the cartridge to cut out the frame for the sentiment as well as the beautiful 3-D flowers in the bottom right corner. I have stitching, ribbon, butterflies, opaques and brads all on one card! The sentiment is another one from the Tags stamp set in the collection as well.



This one was for Dee. She kept wanting me to make something with the cupcake stamp in the Celebration stamp set. So... a birthday card was born, using the new Typeset papers. In addition to the cupcake stamp, I also used the banner, star as well as the "Happy Birthday" sentiment from the same stamp set. I used 3-D Foam Adhesive for some dimension with the cupcake, as well as making it easy to use a new Foundry Pin Clip to attach the star.



I don't know why, since the Fourth of July has come and gone a while now this year... but for some reason, I kept seeing a patriotic card with the star and heart in the Seasons set. :-) I used the red and blue prints from the new Believe paper packet (which just illustrates that you CAN use Christmas paper for other events quite easily). I cut small scallop strips to make the background, as well as the hearts, star and sentiment accent.



Here is another quick and simple one, using the new Dreamin' papers. I cut out the petals for the flower and the scallop circle with the Cricut. The sentiment strip on the bottom is one of the new Zip Strip Borders; there are three different designs in each paper pack.



The flower in the Seasons set was just screaming to be used too, so I put it with our Elemental papers with some stitching going for a quilt-like effect. I was able to cut out the flowers, large scallop accents and the sentiment "hi" with the cartridge. How easy is that?



Going back to the clean and simple design, I created this adorable little card with our new Sonoma papers. I cut out the tree branch, leaves, bird and wings with the cartridge. The sentiments are from the Seasons stamp set included in the collection too. Just love this!



And last, but not least, is our new Wonderland paper packet. I have to say this paper is gorgeous, even if winter is my least favorite season. I used the cricut to cut out the trees from the Seasons set and the sentiment accent. Aren't they cute? I love the polka dots. I also used one of the new Zip Strip borders with this set, making a mock ribbon towards the bottom and accenting it with one of our new Rhinestone Designer Brads. You really can't ever have enough bling, right?



For those of you who already purchased the Art Philosophy collection, I hope this gives you some more ideas. And for those of you who haven't yet... what are you waiting for? This cartridge is filled with 700 images and not only coordinates with the three stamp sets in the collection, but also with numerous other stamp images throughout the idea book. Whenever you see a stamp image surrounded by a red outline, you will know there's a matching shape on the Cricut cartridge. Since our stamps are clear acrylic, you can easily cut out your shape with the setting indicated on the sheet and stamp your image right where you need it to be. Can't be any easier than that! :-) If you still don't have one, get your Art Philosophy collection today!

Dani

Soccer Mini-Albums again!

One of Delaney's teammates on Three Lions asked when I was going to make them another mini-album. I guess I hadn't really thought about it, so Delaney and I decided to make a watermelon mini-album in celebration of winning the Watermelon Soccer Tournament this past June. (I checked. I guess the last time I made them some was back in November '09. Really? Has it been that long? Geez! It was apparently time for another!) We made one album for everyone who participated in the tournament, so that came to 14 mini-albums (including the coach). Yikes! :-)



Normally mini-albums are great, because they are just that... mini. You can whip them out in no time! But when you are making them in quantity, then that time multiplies quickly. Delaney agreed to help with this project, so we set up an assembly-like system and got to work. We made an album out of one sheet of 12"x12" black cardstock, just like one of the projects I had at my last open house. (Directions can be found at that link.)

Delaney helped a lot! She used my new Cricut Expressions and the Preserves cartridge (a cartridge found at Menards of all places on a tremendous sale, that my sister-in-law helped me get), and cut out all the watermelon pieces -- the small piece on the front cover and the larger piece on the back cover. Each watermelon slice had four different layers to it. So with fourteen albums, it took her a while to get all of them cut. Then she sponged the edges with a little chocolate ink to add some character to the finished embellishment. She helped sponge some of the other pieces too, as well as finding a good action shot of everyone from the final game of the tournament, and helping with design decisions with what goes where and what quote to use, etc. She was a GREAT help! With a little hard work and time, we were able to get all of the albums done in a couple of days (working here and there when we had the opportunity).

Here is the album in various stages of being opened up. First if you open the tab holding it shut, and lift up then down the next two flaps, you'll see the first panel. Then after opening up those two flaps, you'll see the middle panel. We have their first name, an action shot, a Mia Hamm quote (and we found another quote for coach, thinking he wouldn't really appreciate a quote referring to when he played as a "little girl"), a team shot in their champion t-shirts, the plaque and a spot for them to journal. And the last panel is the back, with a jersey stamped with their number.



We used a lot of retired products on this project. A couple of the cardstock colors, Clover Meadow and appropriately enough Watermelon, were used as well as a lot of retired soccer/sports sets. While I occasionally have a retired stamps sale at some of my Open Houses, not a SINGLE soccer set has ever been available for sale. :-) They are mine for life!

Delaney is excited to hand them out at practice today.

Enjoy!
Dani

Finally!

Between recovering from vacations (I know, I'm sure that no one is feeling THAT sorry for me! LOL But I just am having problems being so tired lately!!!), getting ready for school to start (* gasp *), and soccer season starting back up... I am really feeling so behind here lately!!!

But... (* drum roll, please *)... I finally got around to getting everything ready to pull the name for the Grand Prize winner from the Autumn/Winter 2011 Open House. I had to make sure that everyone had the right number of entries, so everyone eligible had the correct number of chances. I put everything in a cute little blue bucket, but it was too tight. There wasn't enough room to shake them all up, so I moved them to an even cuter bigger yellow polka dot bucket. :-)

And, as always, I got one of my kiddos to draw the winner (so hopefully no one will be mad at a cute kid, right?). And the winner is:



Congratulations, Sally R. Your name was drawn for the Grand Prize Basket! Sally only had ONE entry in the drawing, so you never know who will win. :-)

Dani

Ta-dah! My first card with my new Cricut Expressions!

This card is using our brand new paper pack, Wonderland, with the September Stamp of the Month set, Limited Edition. I used our new Cricut Art Philosophy cartridge to cut out the flourish, leaves, and 3-D flowers as well as the box for the sentiment. I absolutely ADORE the 3-D flowers. I've made my own, and this is soooooo much faster and simpler and they look absolutely gorgeous. Don't you think? Off to play some more!

Dani

Brand New: Cricut Art Philosophy Collection!

Close To My Heart has released for the first time, their very own exclusive Cricut cartridge: Cricut Art Philosophy Collection. My cartridge is on the way, and I can't wait to start messing around with it. Of course, I had to get a Cricut too... so I'll need to figure out everything all at once! LOL The new Cricut collection was a hit at the Open House, and if you haven't yet gotten your new Idea Book... you are definitely missing out!

The Art Philosophy cartridge has 700 shapes, including 3-D flowers, boxes, banners, envelopes and much, much more. It comes bundled with three exclusive D-size stamp sets as well as three sets of 9"x12" Dimensional Elements that coordinate with the cartridge. On top of that, there are many stamps in the Idea Book that work with the cartridge too! You can't beat it!

Check out all these wonderful images:
(click on each image for a larger picture)















Here is a .pdf of all the images as well, it's an 8MB file, so be patient.

The bundle comes with the cartridge, three D-size stamp sets, and three sets of Dimensional Elements. That's a retail value of $124.69, for only $99! And don't forget, when you order a minimum of $50, you get the stamp of the month set for only $5... and this month's special you'll also get a FREE A-sized alphabet stamp set with the purchase of at least $50 and the August Stamp of the Month! Great Deal!

If you have any questions about the new Cricut Art Philosophy Collection, don't hesitate to ask! And if you are ready to order your collection now, click here.

Dani

Mini-Album from One 12" x 12" Sheet of Cardstock!

This is one of the free make-takes from the Open House. I said I would post pictures of the album opened up on the blog, so here we go! If you open up the first flap holding the mini-album shut with velcro, you can then flip up and down the first two flaps.



Then the top and bottom flaps can then be folded out again.



And while it is all opened up, this is what the back looks like.



So cute and fun! It's also very easy to make. You simply score a 12" x 12" sheet in half, turn and score in thirds to the first score line, cut in thirds past the first score line. Last, you'll trim the middle flap created as the cover for your mini album. Check out these instructions, and if you make one, send me a picture! :-)

Enjoy!
Dani

Open House today - Saturday, 8/6/11!

Open House Celebration
for the new Autumn/Winter 2011 Idea Book!
9:00 am - 3:00 pm

Two free make-n-takes! Come learn how to make this adorable mini-album, made from one single sheet of 12"x12" cardstock. How cute is that!?! There is a variety of patterns to select from, pick your favorite design.

Also, make this gorgeous card with the new Roxie papers:



There will be:

• New product and artwork on display - lots of artwork from convention this year!
• Free make-n-take projects (shown above)
• Take home today! Specially priced brand new items - open house only: buy 2, get 1 free!
• Open House Only Specials - draw for your special when you submit your order!
• Over 100 Retired Stamp Sets for sale at their lowest price ever - 50% off!
• Party & Sign-up Specials!
• Door Prizes & Grand Prize Basket - Grand Prize basket valued over $80!
• Light Snacks and Refreshments!

Make sure to stop by to get YOUR Autumn/Winter 2011 Idea Book!

Dani

Teaching at CTMH Convention: Extravaganza 2011!

It's so hard to believe that after all the hard work creating for convention, the actual convention itself seemed to go by so fast!!! I can share everything now, no more secrets! :-)



I was given the My Creations® line as my teaching subject, which includes a lot actually: all the mini albums, cube, photo and recipe boxes, etc. There were also two new additions: the My Creations® Card Box and My Creations® Memory Game. So much fun! In addition to my regular three boards, I also had a lot of 3-D art showcasing the My Creations line. Don't you love our adorable Minnie Mouse aprons? Delaney thought they were hilarious; I thought they were cute! LOL





The top three boards were provided for us from corporate, and here are close-ups of the bottom three boards that were mine:







These were taken just before I mailed them off to corporate, so the open area on the bottom right was where the label went and the card in the middle board overlapped the middle crease, so it had to be attached later.

I organized my class into three main ideas:

• First, we went over the standard uses and techniques -- including ways to decorate and utilize the My Creations products showing how easy they are to use.
• Second, we explored some outside-the-box approaches to enhance our My Creations products in ways that everyone would delight in discovering.
• And last, we examined a variety of ways to not only create enchanting and memorable projects with the My Creations products, but also finish them quickly and effortlessly!

Here is a picture of the new card box and memory game:





Neat, huh? I'll share some more artwork in the days to come from convention. I also want to share some fun new tidbits about the BRAND NEW Autumn/Winter 2011 Idea Book! I LOVE IT! I can't wait for everyone to see it. The Open House is on Saturday, August 6th from 9am to 3pm - save the date!



There are eight new paper kits:

1. Typeset
2. Roxie
3. Elemental
4. Dreamin'
5. Sonoma
6. Mischief
7. Believe
8. Wonderland

I absolutely love all of them! If I had to pick one favorite right now... it would be REALLY hard... but I guess I would go with Roxie:






Nice, huh? I think since I got Dreamin', Sonoma and Elemental to teach with... their newness wore off just a bit for me... but I still love them all!

We also got some stunning new embellishments to perfectly "complement" each packet, simply amazing new stamp sets (all of which have had their prices reduced, with no reduction in the stamp sizes!), many items repackaged in smaller and easier quantities, and much more, with the BIG ANNOUNCEMENT that Close To My Heart has partnered with Cricut and are introducing an exclusive Close To My Heart Art Philosophy cartridge! Woo-hoo!!!





So much to see and share!

More next time, Dani