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

Feathers for a Birthday

A lovely, simple card sketch on CAS(E) this Sketch! (CTS#59) features feathers, and is perfect for a masculine card.  

Using the Artiste cartridge for the Cricut machine, two feathers were cut using patterned paper from the ProPlayer kit.  Stamping a sentiment from Joyful Birthday on a Kraft card base and adding the feathers and a button completes this simple sketch.    

Just discovered another 'challenge' blog which looks fun, it is STAMPlorations.  And this card fits their January Stamps & Feathers challenge perfectly.  

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

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

Cross-Stitch Wishes (January SOTM Blog Hop)

Welcome to our Stamp of the Month Blog Hop which features the Cross-Stitch Wishes stamp set from Close To My Heart.  This stamp set contains 13 adorable images with the look of cross-stitch embroidery.  

If you have come here from Jill's Scrap Wench blog, you are on the right path!  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!  

In my younger days (before children), I created quite a few cross-stitch projects.  And this stamp set reminds me of those stitching days.  For this card, a piece of patterned paper from the ProPlayer kit is used along with Ruby, Chocolate, and Champagne cardstock.  A sentiment from Cross-Stitch Wishes has some Chocolate woodgrain Washi Tape behind it to add to the rustic feel.  Using Pattern #24 in Make It From Your Heart Volume 2 was a nice start to creating a quick card. 

To complete the inside of the card, a strip of Washi Tape was used along with a small heart from Cross-Stitch Wishes. 

Since this stamp set features the art of hand stitching, I decided to share my favorite cross-stitch piece which I created in 1988.  (Fortunately, I stitched my name and the year in the corner.)  It has been hanging on the wall since then, and people assume it is a photo or an actual Monopoly game board until they get a closer look. 

Place a $50 minimum order this month (December 2013) and you are eligible to purchase the Cross-Stitch Wishes stamp set for only $5.  

Now "Hop" on over to Wanda's 'Creating With Inks, Paper, Stamps and Bling!!!' 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.  

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

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

Special Care (December SOTM Blog Hop)

Welcome to our Stamp of the Month Blog Hop which features the Special Care stamp set from Close To My Heart.  This stamp set contains 6 images which are designed to resemble laundry care tags.  My creation combines the "Gently Wash" image with an adorable hippopotamus to welcome a new baby to the family.   

If you have come here from Jen's Gina's Little World of StampinHeaven blog, you are on the right path!  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!  

My creation combines the "Gently Wash" image from Special Care with an adorable hippopotamus from Wild Wonders to welcome a new baby to a family.  Patterned papers are from the ProPlayer kit and are used with Pacifica cardstock and some Black Glitter Paper.  For some added detail, the Stitch Guide was used to create a pattern along the edge where the two patterned papers meet.  Once the holes were punched, this was hand-stitched with some Waxy Flax. 

Place a $50 minimum order this month and you are eligible to purchase the Stamp-of-the-Month Special Care for only $5.

Special Care (set of 6 stamp images)

Now "Hop" on over to Lori's 'Saving My ...' 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. 

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

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

Looking for Adventure

One of my favorite pages from the Album Retreat is 'Looking for Adventure' which includes a photo of my husband on his month-long bicycle ride from California to Florida along with some of my son and grandson's adventures. 

     

Looking for Adventure

The color scheme for this layout really appeals to me and goes so well with outdoor/nature photos.   

Looking for Adventure (left page)

Patterned paper from the ProPlayer kit is combined with stamped images from Geometric Backgrounds and the My Life stamp set, which is included in the Artbooking Bundle.  

Looking for Adventure (right page)

Included on these two pages are a few pieces of patterned paper which you may not recognize from a CTMH kit.  These are from the My Crush Best Day Ever Assortment and are a great way to include some additional variety to your scrapbook pages and cards.  Even though each assortment is designed to be used with the My Crush books, they use  CTMH Exclusive Colors and coordinate well with other Close To My Heart products.  Four different assortments are available, and each includes more than 20 4"x4" double-sided pieces for only $4.95.  The letter stickers spelling 'looking for' are also from the same Best Day Ever Assortment.        

All of the pages for the Album Retreat were designed by the CTMH Art Department and include multiple cuts from the Artbooking Cricut cartridge as well as papers from different CTMH kits with a mixture of embellishments and stamp sets.  Even though each page is very detailed, it was fun and challenging to create each of them.  Click on any of the photos for an enlarged view. 

Be sure to follow my blog to see all of the completed pages which I will be sharing throughout the month of November. 

• Capture the Details (cover page)
• Hello World
• The Sweet Life
• Real Life Story
• Just Chillin'
• Today is a Good Day
• Looking for Adventure
• Hello
• 10 Things I Love
• On This Day
• My Happy Place

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

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

The Sweet Life

Another set of pages from the CTMH Album Retreat, titled 'The Sweet Life.'  

The Sweet Life

The "homework" assignment for these pages suggested photos with a primary-color feel.  The photos I chose fit the colors well with my son, grandson, daughter, and tomatoes from our backyard.  Journaling in the red envelope simply says "Enjoy the warm days of summer."  

The Sweet Life (left page)

Very little stamping on this set of pages, just "THE" in the title using the Framework Alphabet stamp set.  Some patterned paper from the ProPlayer kit is used with Whisper, Lagoon, Ruby, and Honey cardstock.   

The Sweet Life (right page)

Inside the red envelope is a piece which can be removed to see the 'hidden' journaling.  After returning home, I intended to use some scraps of cardstock to create a 'dot' for the letter 'i' on Life.  Unfortunately, I forgot to do that and feel that the page is okay without it.        

All of the pages for the Album Retreat were designed by the CTMH Art Department and include multiple cuts from the Artbooking Cricut cartridge as well as papers from different CTMH kits with a mixture of embellishments and stamp sets.  Even though each page is very detailed, it was fun and challenging to create each of them.  Click on any of the photos for an enlarged view.

Be sure to follow my blog to see all of the completed pages which I will be sharing throughout the month of November. 

• Capture the Details (cover page)
• Hello World
• The Sweet Life
• Real Life Story
• Just Chillin'
• Today is a Good Day
• Looking for Adventure
• Hello
• 10 Things I Love
• On This Day
• My Happy Place

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

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