Create & Share - Final Week

For the final week in the Create & Share Cardmaking workshop offered at Big Picture Classes, the focus was to create Friendship, Hello, and Encouragement cards inspired by a specific sketch.  

By rotating the elements of the card sketch 45º, the horizontal lines become diagonal.  An image from the Flight of the Arrows set was inked in Slate and stamped on the upper left of the card.  A row of Ruby chevron Washi Tape was added, and then a row of Slate polka-dot Washi Tape.  Finally, the "happy day" sentiment from the Robot Family stamp set was used along with an atomic symbol from the same set.   

For this card, the elements of the card sketch are maintained in their original horizontal position.  Several gear shapes were cut using the Artiste Cricut cartridge and adhered to the center area of the card.  This "birthday" sentiment is also included with the Robot Family set, along with the "gear" image which is stamped on the inside of the card to give it a finished look.   A couple of pieces of patterned paper from the ProPlayer kit are used on a Ruby card base. 

Overall, the Create & Share Cardmaking class offered through Big Picture Classes was very well organized and really encouraged me to complete some projects based on each week's lessons.  I was very pleased with the information shared and techniques learned during the class.  This was my first time taking an online class, and was not sure what to expect.  Our instructor, Kim Kesti, was wonderful and I will certainly consider registering for any other classes that she may teach.  She is currently working on a new card class through Big Picture Classes for the Fall of this year.         

All papers and stamps are from Close To My Heart (CTMH).

	Sheila Bennett Close To My Heart Independent Consultant (913) 485-4355

Creative University ~ Roomie Gift

Fortunate to be enjoying my seventh year attending Creative University, which is hosted by the Fabulously Artsy Tresa Black.  Since our sleeping quarters are cabins, we have roommates and it is traditional to give each one a little "roomie gift."  

Instead of the usual lotions, chocolate, and candy, this year my four roomies received a kit so they can create 18 birthday cards. It is always nice to have some handmade cards available to send to friends and family.

Using 12" strips (cut in various widths) from both the Buzz & Bumble and Huntington paper kits, adhere them to a 12"x12" piece of paper.  Allow the adhesive to dry, and then cut 2" wide strips which you then cut into thirds, so the result is 18 pieces of unique patterned paper, each 2"x4".  This is a great way to use scraps from different paper packs.  The colors I chose are very gender-neutral and great for birthday cards.  Use this technique to create a stack of Holiday cards or party invitations, using any color combo.  

To complete each of my cards, a sentiment from the Belated Birthday stamp set was used.  The cupcakes were cut using the Artiste Cricut cartridge.  To add a bit of dimension to the 'frosting,' it was embossed using the d'vine Swirl folder.      

This wonderful idea was one of the lessons in the Create & Share Cardmaking class offered at Big Picture Classes.  

All papers and stamps are from Close To My Heart (CTMH).

	Sheila Bennett Close To My Heart Independent Consultant (913) 485-4355

My Nana (Crop Tuesday)

Next week is Crop Tuesday again.  We are meeting on the first Tuesday of each month at 10:00 am.  Please join us!  If that day and time is not convenient and you would like to create this layout, contact me and we can schedule a time for you.  

This beautiful layout is from the Lollydoodle workshop-on-the-go, substituting the Sweet & Lovely stamp set included with the Artbooking bundle for the stamp set which is available with the WOTG kit.

In the Inspired Scrapbooking class that I am taking this year at Big Picture Classes, this month our focus was on a 'season' of our life.  My Nana was an important part of my life and was always there for my brother and I during our unstable childhood.  Since my grandson was born almost two years ago and I am now a Nana in my "grandmother" season of life, it was nice to create a page layout honoring Nana's life.    

As I was selecting photos for the pages, it worked out that all photos on the left page are black & white while the later photos on the right page are full color.  Nana lived a long and full life and saw many changes in the world and technology during her 85+ years. 

If you would like to join us for Crop Tuesday, or if you would like to schedule a time to create this layout, please contact me via email or phone.  All of the pieces will be pre-cut and ready for you to stamp, assemble and embellish.  The cost is $10 per kit, or the fee is waived if you order $30 or more in CTMH products. 

All papers and stamps are from Close To My Heart (CTMH).

	Sheila Bennett Close To My Heart Independent Consultant (913) 485-4355

Create & Share ~ Gift Card Holders

For the third week in the Create & Share Cardmaking workshop offered at Big Picture Classes, we made a library pocket to hold gift cards.  Since my CTMH order arrived, I used new products which will be available in the Spring/Summer Idea Book.  

Papers in the Lollydoodle kit are fun and bright and perfect to create a pocket card.  Images used for the sentiment tag are in the Oodles of Doodles stamp set.  This whimsical card includes a lot of different shapes and textures with the patterned paper, Glitter Paper, Twist Tie, pink flower, and Baker's Twine.

For a masculine gift card holder, the Timberline paper pack has great colors.  A Ponderosa Pine card base provides a deep, rich color with a bit of woodgrain Washi Tape and some Baker's Twine.  Sentiment used is from the Congrats Graduate stamp set and the arrow image is included in the My Life stamp set which is part of the Artbooking bundle.      

All papers and stamps are from Close To My Heart (CTMH).

	Sheila Bennett Close To My Heart Independent Consultant (913) 485-4355

Create & Share ~ Paper Flowers

Completed the fourth lesson in the Create & Share Cardmaking workshop offered at Big Picture Classes.  The challenge for this week is to create "thinking of you" or sympathy cards.  In this lesson, we also learned how to create flowers using paper scraps.     

For this card, the sentiment is from the 4 My Friend stamp set and the papers are in the Huntington kit.  Hearts were cut using the Artiste cartridge.  There are two of each heart; one is flat on the card and the other was folded in half before attaching so that there is a bit of dimension.  The 'straight stitch' image is from the Stitch Wonder stamp set.  It was used in the center of the hearts, and then placed on the clear block with a slight curve to create the flower stem.  

Love the color combo of this card using papers from the Laughing Lola kit.  The flower petals were created using a 2" scallop circle punch.  Each circle was folded into fourths and then adhered to the card, giving the flower some dimension.  A two-part sentiment from the Card Chatter-Sympathy stamp set was used with the "coming your way" finishing line on the inside of the card.  Normally I do not like 'naked' buttons and always thread some twine through the holes or cover with a Sparkle, but this button looked best just plain.  

Used papers from the Laughing Lola kit again for this card.  D'vine Swirl embossing folder was used to add texture to the bottom of the card and two bird images were cut using the Artiste cartridge and then layered on the card.  This sentiment is also included in the Card Chatter-Sympathy stamp set.  

All papers and stamps are from Close To My Heart (CTMH).

	Sheila Bennett Close To My Heart Independent Consultant (913) 485-4355

Create & Share ~ Shapes with Washi Tape

It is the second week and third lesson in the Create & Share Cardmaking workshop offered at Big Picture Classes.  The challenge for this week is to create "thinking of you" or sympathy cards, and there was a specific sketch to follow.    

To create the colorful butterflies, lay some strips of Washi Tape at an angle on a piece of cardstock, and then use the Artiste cartridge to cut butterflies out of the Washi-decorated cardstock that you created.  Each one turns out a bit different, which is perfect because each butterfly is unique.  To complete the card, I used the Swiss Dots Embossing Folder on both the Lagoon and Honey cardstock.  In order to add some detail around the panel with the butterflies, the Stitch Guide and a Piercing Tool were used to create some uniform holes.  Inside of the card includes a "just because" sentiment from the Zoology stamp set. 

Using the same sketch with Chocolate and Honey results in a completely different look.  A word bubble sentiment from the School Years stamp set is used in the center and two other speech bubbles are cut after Washi Tape has been adhered to a piece of White Daisy cardstock.  Chocolate woodgrain Washi Tape was also added to the front of the card along with a piece of Burlap Ribbon. Trinkets Wooden Shapes decorate the two Washi speech bubbles.    

All papers and stamps are from Close To My Heart (CTMH).

	Sheila Bennett Close To My Heart Independent Consultant (913) 485-4355