A Little Birdie card ... or two

The Bird Basics stamp set from Close To My Heart has some wonderfully cute stamps that you can use to "create your own bird" using different bodies, wings, legs, and tails. This fun card also uses papers from the Sarsaparilla kit. Don't you just love those knobby-kneed, long-legged birds! The extra long legs were stamped by inking only the "leg" portion of the stamp, not the "foot" portion - and then lining up the stamp image to create the long leg. If you look close enough, you can see the 'seam' where the stamp images meet. [Inspired by an original card design created by Laura Bohall]
Another quick and easy card using one of the little birdies. One of my favorite things is to use a variety of ink colors and papers with the same stamp set. Each combination has a very different look and feel. The colors used for this cute bird are Crystal Blue, Sweet Leaf, and Vineyard Berry with papers from the Emporium Creative Basics paper packet.

Another same ... but different. One of my favorite Christmas cards from last year. This uses the same card template - but with the Snow Friends stamp set and Aspen paper packet. Finishing touches for the card include Sparkles for the buttons and Liquid Applique to give dimension to the falling snow.

Hope you are finding time to stamp and create!

Wishing Star card

The Wishing Star stamp set has over a dozen different star design images. It can be used for a wide variety of occasions - birthday, celebration, Christmas, Fourth of July, and is also perfect to create cards for teenage boys. At times, it seems as though so many of my stamps and card designs use flowers and are a bit 'girly.' Creating more masculine cards is a fun challenge.


The patterned paper used is from the Stardust paper packet and uses the colors Honey, Moonstruck, and Topiary. As a finishing touch, Clear Sparkles were added to the centers of the stars. All supplies used are available from Close To My Heart (CTMH).

"On The Edge" cards

At a recent stamping/crop day, I finally got the chance to use the new Wishes Card Confidence Program book from Close To My Heart (CTMH). Both of these cards use papers from the Bella paper packet, following the 'On The Edge' template from page 53 of the Wishes book. The idea of using a large circle for one of the patterned paper pieces really appealed to me as it is something that I have not done before. The Coluzzle circle template was used to create the large circle, then it was placed on the card, and scissors were used to trim the overhanging edges even with the straight edge. I think this gives a 'fun' and unique dimension to the card.

This first card uses the With Love stamp set with Hollyhock and Olive ink, and is a very quick card to complete. The Just Blooms paper flowers from the Autumn Daisy collection work perfectly with the Bella papers.
This large 'smile' sentiment is my favorite image from the September Word Puzzle. As you can see, this card uses the same papers, colors, and Wishes template - only change is the orientation, stamped image, and embellishment. Another very quick card to complete.

Heartfelt card - Fringed Phrases

This card was made specifically for a challenge to use the new Heartfelt Whimsy Die-Cuts from Close To My Heart (CTMH). It was a fun card to make, and only took about 20 minutes to create. It is a little larger than a standard card - this card is 7" tall and 5" wide.


Papers used are from the Moon Doggie paper packet, and stamps used - both the 'Happy Day' sentiment and the scalloped lines - are from the new Fringed Phrases stamp set. The Heartfelt Whimsy Die-Cuts package comes with 3 sheets of die-cuts - each of them are 12"x12" - one in each of the three colors shown on the flower - Buttercup, Garden Green, Tulip. To make the stem of the flower, the felt was atually cut off a longer swirl element.

The basic template for the card is from the Bullseye design on page 33 in the new Wishes Card Confidence Program.

Congrats - Cuttlebug card

The 'CONGRATS' stamp for this simple card is from the For Every Occasion stamp set. For this simple card design, place just the top 3" or so of your background cardstock into the embossing folder and run it through the Cuttlebug machine. Then, place the opposite 1/2" into the folder and emboss. Using an embossing stylus and the grove of your paper trimmer, create the two straight lines which border the non-embossed area of the cardstock. Use a short sentiment that will fit in the area, add ribbon and adhere to a slightly larger piece of colored cardstock and then the card base.

The Perfect Paisley Cuttlebug folder was used along with Hollyhock ink, ribbon, and cardstock from Close To My Heart (CTMH). The neutral cardstock used is Colonial White. This is more of an off-white, or ivory color and blends more nicely with the warm autumn colors than the bright White Daisy.

This is a super quick and easy card that looks great with different color and embossing folder combinations.


Note the similarities and the differences for the same card design using the colors Cocoa, Bamboo, and Twilight along with the Traffic Jam embossing folder. The word 'DRAMA' is from the cute Doodle Art stamp set. This card was used as a party invitation, with the details on the inside. So the word 'drama' on the front does make sense for the card, even though it seems to be a strange sentiment for the front of a card if you don't see the complete card.

Toklata & Mac

Since our new kitty Moxie was featured in a post, thought it was only fair to the other cats to have their pictures shared also.

Toklata has been with us for over seven years, and she is 'queen kittie' of the household. One of her favorite spots is Aaron's office chair.

Mac was an adorable kitten, and has always been playful.

In the summer, he usually finds a snake nest and will occasionally bring home a baby snake to play with.

It's not very often that they are near each other. It's been over three years since Mac came to live with us, and Toklata is still just ignoring him and pretending that he isn't around. When Mac was a kitten, he would try to play with Tok - but she wasn't interested at all.
One interesting note, all three cats went to the vet last week. Toklata and Mac each weighed just a little over 14 pounds, and Moxie weighed just 2.2 pounds. That is quite a size difference. Fortunately, she is not intimidated by the others at all.

Choose your "Favorite Five"

Now is a great time to become a Close To My Heart consultant! During the month of July, CTMH is offering your choice of an additional five favorite products to add to your New Consultant Kit for FREE!

Choose your "Favorite Five" from this list of products:

• My Acrylix Thank You stamp set (retail value $22.95)
• Magic Moments Scrapbook kit (retail value $34.95)
• Basic Textured Cardstock Combo Pack (retail value $14.95)
• Life Delights Memory Showcase (retail value $12.95)
• My Originals Hello Birdie Card Kit (retail value $12.95)
• Creative Basics Silhouette Collection (retail value $8.95)
• Heartfelt Whimsy Die-Cuts (retail value $9.95)
• All-Out Adventure Rub-Ons (retail value $9.95)
• Window Charms Squares (retail value $9.95)

The links in the list are to posts on my blog using those products. Your "favorite five" items will be sent along with your New Consultant kit, with no additional shipping/handling or sales tax.


The New Consultant Kit is a great deal, even without the "Favorite Five" special this month. The basic kit includes business supplies and products from the Summer Idea Book - total retail value approximately $300, and your cost is only $99! Some of the items included are:

• My Reflections Back Country (Level 1 kit, Level 2 paper, and Stickease)
• White Daisy cardstock
• 4 My Acrylix stamp sets
• 2 My Acrylix blocks
• 4 Exclusive Inks pads
• 2 Exclusive Inks markers
• Double Scrubber & Spritz cleaner
• Bonding Memories Glue
• Sponge

There are also two optional Bonus Packs that you can add when joining the CTMH family. Note that there is an additional $20 shipping and handling charge to send the New Consultant Kit to you. However, that charge covers ALL of the Kit - no additional charge for the Bonus Packs or for the Favorite Five items.

The Scrapbooking Bonus Pack has a retail value of over $180, and your cost is only $60 when ordered along with the basic Consultant Kit.

• My Reflections Bella (Level 1 kit, Level 2 paper, and Stickease)
• 3 My Acrylix stamp sets
• 1 My Acrylix block
• 2 Exclusive Inks pads
• Cocoa My Legacy Linen album (12"x12")
• Foundry Tabs
• Creme Brulee Designer Ribbon Rounds
• Edge Distresser

When you select the Cardmaking Bonus Pack, you receive product with a retail value over $150 for a cost of only $50.

• Originals Card Confidence Program (card-making template book)
• My Reflections Moon Doggie Level 2 paper
• Creative Basics Animal Cookies collection
• 3 My Acrylix stamp sets
• 1 My Acrylix block
• 4 Exclusive Inks pads
• White Daisy Mini-Medley Accents
• Summer Craft Buttons

So, if you add it all up

• Consultant Kit ~ value $300 ~ cost $99
• Scrapbooking Bonus Pack ~ value $180 ~ cost $60
• Cardmaking Bonus Pack ~ value $150 ~ cost $50
• Favorite Five items ~ value $98.75 ~ cost FREE

The total value of items you can receive is over $725 - with a cost to you of only $229 (with shipping). That is an incredible value!

As a CTMH consultant, you receive a 22% discount on all orders along with a fabulous training program to teach you how to use the products, a great consultant-only bulletin board to share information, and a chance to order new products before the official release date.

Whether you want to start your own business or just get a great discount on your own stamping and scrapbooking supplies, now is the time to join Close To My Heart. Please feel free to call me at 913-485-4355, email to sheilabennett@comcast.net, or visit the Your Opportunities page of my website for more information.

Aspiration card

Another card that I made on Saturday while attending a crop. This one uses the Aspiration stamp set with the colors Clover Meadow, Blush, Petal, and Grey Flannel. All of the inks, stamps, and cardstock are from Close To My Heart (CTMH). The background was embossed using the Stylized Flowers Cuttlebug embossing folder.

It's a simple card that folds at the top, and I like the 'soft' look of it. Finishing touches include Sparkles on the larger flowers and a small knot of ribbon in the corner.