It's a Cricut Party! {CTMH prepared projects}

Whether you use one Cricut^®-cut piece or several, you can create cute party favors and decorations using your Artiste cartridge. Combine your Cricut^® pieces with unique stamping techniques and you have projects that will knock your guests’ socks off! Want some recipes and tips for how to make this adorable artwork? Below are instructions for creating two pieces from the “Clearly the Best: How to kiss—with stamps” episode. Combine the Cricut^®-cut pieces for these projects with the kissing stamping technique taught in the video, and you have a stellar 3-D item! Watch the video to learn more about the kissing stamping technique.

Party Banner

Stamp set of your choice
X5668 Honey Cardstock
X5764 Pear Cardstock
1272 Cranberry Cardstock
Z2197 Pear Exclusive Inks^® Pad
Z2163 White Daisy Exclusive Inks^® Pad
Z1751 Baker’s Twine Harvest Assortment
Z1311 1¼" Circle Punch

Cricut^® Shapes:
Artiste
1" Shift+3D Object <J> (cut 56, p. 57)

Art Tip! This banner only uses one type of Cricut^® shape, but the finished product is still stunning. Use stamp kissing to randomly stamp across the pieces using the stamp set of your choice. Score with the help of the Cricut^®-cut score lines on the shape and piece together to create little globes. Tie together with baker’s twine and voila!

Owl Miss You Bag
1385 White Daisy Cardstock
1292 Crystal Blue Cardstock
X5668 Honey Cardstock
X5930 Slate Cardstock
Z2162 Honey Exclusive Inks^® Pad
Z2117 Crystal Blue Exclusive Inks^® Pad
Z1349 Shimmer Designer Brads
Z1752 Sparkles Clear Assortment
Z1311 1¼" Circle Punch
Twist Ties
Thread

Cricut^® Shapes:
Artiste
4½" 3D Object <Hallween> (p. 77)
4½" Shift+3D Object <Boo> (cut 2, p. 77)
1" Shift+Accent 2 <A> (p. 51)

Art Tip! This project uses many Cricut^® shapes and all the pieces coordinate so nicely for an adorable finished product. Use the Artiste assembly booklet to put the bag together and then add the embellishments. The feathers are created with punched circles that are stamped using the kissing technique; however, if you don’t have the circle punch, you can easily make these using the Cricut as well. The eyes were created using Shimmer designer brads, but you can use any large brad or button to create the same look. Finish with the “owl miss you sentiment” for a special touch.

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

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

Whooo's Your Valentine - Card Workshop

Now that the Holidays are over, it is time to start thinking about the new year.  Valentine's Day is fast approaching and you can get a head start on your crafting by attending the Whooo's Your Valentine Card Workshop this month.  Workshops will be held on Friday, January 18 at 7 pm and Saturday, January 19 at 1 pm.  

All three cards use the special stamp set available with the Whooo's Your Valentine kit from Close To My Heart.  The stamp set includes adorable owls, great background stamps, and fun sentiments.    

For this card, a patterned paper with owls on it from the Moonlight kit is used for the background.  Add some quick stamping and some Glitter Tape to add a bit of bling.  The hearts stamped on the envelope are also on the inside of the card.

Unfortunately, the lighting for this photo distorts the colors.  Inks used are Lagoon and Chocolate.  Each cardstock strip was stamped with a background stamp from the Whooo's Your Valentine kit and then adhered to the card base.  The circle sentiment was stamped and then punched with a 1 1/4" circle punch and mounted on a 2" scalloped circle.  A bit of wide Dark Chocolate Striped Grosgrain ribbon completes the card.       

While hopping through last month's Blog Hop for the Whooo's Your Valentine kit, I just loved the cards that Helen Onulak created, so this card is "stamp lifted" from her.  It uses both of the adorable owls, along with the same background stamps used on the previous card.     

Be sure to watch this great video prepared by CTMH which shows all the contents of the Whooo's Your Valentine kit.

The Whooo's Your Valentine Card Workshop will be offered on Friday, January 18 at 7 pm, and on Saturday, January 19 at 1 pm.  You will create three of each of the three cards for a workshop fee of $10.  Allow approximately two hours to complete your project.  Please be sure to bring your favorite adhesive.  All other supplies are provided with the workshop fee.  All stamps and papers used are from Close To My Heart (CTMH).

Everyone who attends will also receive a FREE copy of the soon-to-be-released Close To My Heart Spring/Summer Idea Book & Catalog.  This my favorite Idea Book of recent years and has many fabulous new stamp sets and other products in it.  New products will be available to order on February 1.  As an added bonus, if you place a $30+ order, your workshop fee is waived. 

Please let me know if you would like to attend.  Contact me by sending an email to sheilabennett@comcast.net, or calling 913-485-4355.

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

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

Monogram Stamps - A Personal Touch

Add a personal touch to your artwork with our new Monogram stamps - only $2.95 each.  Each Monogram stamp is approximately 1 1/4" in diameter and are packaged in a "mini" 3"x3" stamp envelope, just like our regular size stamp sets.  

Express Collections from Studio J

Studio J from Close To My Heart is online design software that allows users to create custom-printed two-page layouts for 12"x12" albums.  There is no software to purchase and install; instead, simply log in to Studio J and start designing your layouts.  The cost for each two-page layout is only $6.95.  That includes the printing of the two 12"x12" pages and JPEG files for each of the separate pages, as well as a single JPEG showing both pages that can be shared online or via email.  The examples below are the single "web" image for easy online sharing.  The Studio J logo and text along the bottom is NOT printed on the actual pages.      

You can learn more about Studio J by visiting my website.  

In addition to creating your own custom layouts from scratch, CTMH has added Express Collections.  This includes six Express Collections you can use to quickly and easily create beautiful layouts.  Each themed Express Collection includes 10 two-page coordinating, fully embellished layouts, plus a front and back page for your album, that are professionally deigned and nearly complete - you simply drag in your photos and add your title and journaling!  You can choose to create all 10 layouts plus the covers, or create just a few of the layouts in the collection.  Express Collections makes getting your photos off your camera card or computer and into gorgeous layouts faster than ever!

It took about 10 minutes each to create these two-page layouts using the Express Collections.  It is so simple to upload your photos, drag them to a "photo well" where they are automatically resized to fit, add a title and some journaling, and your layout is complete.  

The Boys:  this layout shows my son, Aaron, with his son and his father as well as my grandfather - Avery's great-great grandfather.  Papa says that he is "double great."

Hands that Hold:  five generations of hands to support Avery.  

Beautiful:  Samantha dancing in her pointe shoes

Graduate:  Samantha's senior photos



Watch this short 3-minute video prepared by Close To My Heart which shows how easy it is to use the Express Collections from Studio J.  

Bend It, Curve It, Stamp It - Clearly the Best

Close To My Heart is excited to be working with My Craft Channel, an online craft TV network, to create a new video series called Clearly the Best.  If seeing is believing, then you will quickly see that when it comes to stamping, CTMH's My Acrylix stamps and blocks are truly the best.  Each video will show stamping techniques demonstrating the creative flexibility and perfect placement possible with our clear stamps.    


This first video, titled "Bend It, Curve It, Stamp It" shows innovative ways to use the flexibility of the clear stamps to create unique shapes for your projects.

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. 

The Philosophy of Fun

If you have ever thought of becoming a Close To My Heart consultant, now is the perfect time.  CTMH is currently offering "The Philosophy of Fun" special, where you will receive a FREE Art Philosophy Cricut collection when you sign-up as a new consultant.  The collection retails for $99.  However when you purchase the new consultant kit this month for only $99, the Art Philosophy collection is included at no extra charge.  

The new consultant kit includes over $285 of product from the Spring/Summer Idea Book, along with business materials to help you launch your CTMH career.  Add the additional $99 retail value of the Art Philosophy cartridge, and that is a total of over $380 worth of products for an investment of only $99!

For more information, here is a short video prepared by CTMH explaining The Philosophy of Fun special.  


If you are interested in joining, contact me at 913-485-4355, or visit my new website at sheila.ctmh.com.

CTMH & Cricut - introducing Art Philosophy Cricut® Collection

Last week, Close To My Heart held their annual Convention at the Disneyland Hotel.  And I was fortunate enough to be selected to teach an Extravaganza class featuring the BIG announcement for the year - it is the Art Philosophy Cricut® Collection.  It is a bit difficult to see in the photo, but there is an exclusive Cricut cartridge along with his spiral companion book, three stamp sets with images that can be cut using the Cricut cartridge, and three Dimensional Elements shaped chipboard sheets which also coordinate with the Art Philosophy cartridge.  This entire bundle is only $99, and is available beginning August 1.

As an Extravaganza teacher, I received the new Art Philosophy cartridge along with new papers and other products being introduced about two months in advance so that I could create display boards and prepare for the seven classes that I would teach.  

The Art Philosophy cartridge is incredible - it includes 700 shapes.  There are 50 basic shapes (shown on this button overlay).  But the most amazing part is that all six Feature buttons of the Cricut are utilized.  

The Feature buttons are fabulous.  For each of the basic shapes, you have the following Features:

• Layer:  frames, outline shapes
• Decorative Layer: tags and frames with cut-outs
• Tag:  shaped tags with cut-outs, and ribbon slides
• Card:  shaped cards, and cards with cut-out image windows
• Font:  26 letters, numbers, special characters, photo corners, borders, spiral flowers
• Decorative Font:  26 letters with decorative stems, 3D boxes, envelopes, flourishes, doilies, more borders

You simply have to see the booklet to appreciate the potential of this Cricut cartridge.  Considering that all of the Feature buttons are utilized, and in such unique ways, this cartridge seems to be the equivalent of at least three 'regular' Cricut cartridges.

For a sneak peek at some of the possibilities, here are the three display boards that I created for Extravaganza.

Board #1:  Features images that be cut using the last button on the overlay, which includes a tag and a cupcake.  The cupcake stamp is in one of the stamp sets that is bundled with the Art Philosophy cartridge.  New papers featured are from the Elemental and the Roxie kits.

Board #2:  Features the new Sonoma paper pack along with some shaped cards, letters, and other images cut using the Art Philosophy cartridge. The stamps on the three cards are also included in the bundle with the Cricut cartridge. 

Board #3:  Includes papers from Wonderland and Believe paper kits.  Notice the variety of different card shapes that can be cut using the Art Philosophy cartridge as well as the large flowers that are from the Hooray Bouquet stamp set, and the holly leaves that are from the new A Holiday stamp set.  Both of these stamp sets, along with many others in the Idea Book include coordinating images that can be cut using the Cricut cartridge.  These coordinating stamp set shapes are in addition to the stamp shapes in the three stamp sets that are included with the purchase of the Art Philosophy cartridge.

And for even more information, CTMH has prepared a short video introducing the Art Philosophy Cricut® Collection. 

Trees & Things stamp set (video)

Close To My Heart has put together a short 3-minute video showing some quick and easy ways to use the Trees and Things stamp set.  This stamp set has 26 images that you can mix and match for a wide variety of creations.