Buzzing With Excitement!

Close To My Heart will release the Spring/Summer 2013 edition of their Idea Book & Catalog on February 1.  As a consultant, I am able to view the new book and order new product a month in advance.  So, this month has been a fun one playing with new product. 

One of my favorite new paper kits is named Buzz and Bumble.  This kit has a nice vintage feel to it and the papers will complement many different styles of stamp sets.  

This card came together very quickly - using the honeycomb paper from Buzz and Bumble along with a cute bee stamp included with the Pun Fun stamp set that was introduced last Fall.  Markers were used to color the yellow and black stripes of the bee's body, while a Metallic Gold marker was used for his head.  To make his wings appear translucent, Stardust Glitz Glitter Gel was added.  Black Striped Grosgrain Ribbon is used along with a row of Colonial White Rosette Ribbon and clear flowers from the Claire Assortment.  

Who says you can't mix black and brown?  Even though this card is very dark, I really like the vintage feel of it.  The sentiment is from the fabulous new For a Friend stamp set, and that gorgeous paper is included with the Buzz and Bumble kit.  And I love the Black Shimmer Trim, as it adds just the right amount of sparkle to the card.  

This new Spring/Summer Idea Book & Catalog is definitely one of my favorites in past years.  CTMH has introduced so many wonderful papers and fun stamps along with fabulous accessories, that it makes creating fun, quick, and easy.  Please let me know if you would like your own copy of the new Idea Book & Catalog.  You can contact me via phone at 913-485-4355 or email at sheilabennett@comcast.net.

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

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

Introducing Alcohol Ink Markers

This month, Close To My Heart introduced their own line of alcohol-based markers.  These dual tipped markers are available for all 40 exclusive colors.  Markers come in a 2-pack, with the exclusive color and a coordinating color for shading.  These markers are very nice and fun to use.  Alcohol inks are waterproof.  They can be layered and blended on paper, and also on other surfaces such as fabric and plastic.  

For a good overview of the new alcohol-based markers, watch this video tutorial created by CTMH.    



My first attempt at using the markers was at our Convention last month.  This cute rocking chair image is from the Pun Fun stamp set, and the 'lacey' pieces in the background are cut using the new Artiste cartridge for the Cricut.  Papers from both the Dakota and the La Belle Vie kits are also used.  

If you have any questions or would like a copy of the Autumn/Winter Idea Book & Catalog, please contact me. 

Pun Fun (Autumn/Winter New Product Blog Hop)

Welcome to our Blog Hop featuring new products being introduced in the Close To My Heart Autumn/Winter Idea Book this month.  If you would like a copy of the new Idea Book  Catalog, use the "Email Me" link on the right side of the screen. 

If you have come here from Lori's 'Clearly from the Heart' blog, you are on the right path! Hope you enjoy your adventure through the Blog Hop where you will see many fun new products including alcohol based markers, pigment ink, many new embellishments, and an outstanding new Cricut cartridge collection named Artiste.  Blog Hopping is simple to do - just click on the   link at the end of the post on each blog to move to the next one!

For a very quick and clever gift card holder, use the Card feature along with the "g" key on the Cricut-Artiste Collection cartridge.  The is shown on page 55 of the Handbook that accompanies the Artiste Collection.  As you can see in the picture below, the cut card is easily folded to form an inner pocket which is the ideal size for a gift card.  A beautiful patterned paper from the La Belle Vie paper packet is used.  The elegant dark pattern is shown on the front of the card, while the pink dotted backside of the paper is on the inside.

To complete the card, I adhered the cut image onto a slightly larger rectangle of card stock with rounded corners.  For the front design, two scalloped tags were cut using Artiste.  The top layer is stamped using my favorite new stamp set - Pun Fun.  This set includes six different adorable images along with "punny" sayings to go with them.   To stamp this image, I used our new pigment ink in Sweet Leaf for the words and Saddle for the cupcake.   For a more finished look, Clear Detail Embossing Powder was sprinkled on top of the pigment ink and embossed.  Then the cupcake icing was colored using our new Cotton Candy alcohol markers.

The new pigment inks are available in all 40 CTMH exclusive colors.  Pigment inks are ideal to be used for non-paper, home decor projects as the ink stays "on top" of the item rather than soaking in like dye inks do.  The ink is slower to dry, and that is why they are also wonderful to use with clear embossing powder on card stock.  It gives a very nice, finished look, is available on all 40 colors, and is not nearly as thick or as messy as colored embossing powders.

The actual image that was cut to create the gift card holder is the red image shown below on the "g" page from the Cricut Artiste handbook.

Now "Hop" on over to Angel's 'Running with Scissors Design' blog to see her work!  Be sure to visit all the Consultants at their blogs to get some great crafting inspiration and other fun ideas!  

If you get lost on the Blog Hop or find links that aren't working, there is a complete list of all participating blogs on Helen's 'Hooked on Stamping' blog.