Just A Number – Birthday Card workshop

Do you need to replenish your stock of birthday cards?  If so, this workshop is for you.  You will create four cards each of three different designs.  The cost of the workshop is only $10, and you will have a stack of twelve birthday cards to give to someone special.  All of the cards for this workshop use sentiments from the Just A Number stamp set,  which will be available from Close To My Heart beginning February 1.

A “fashion forward” gal from the Fashionista stamp set is used along with papers from the Stella kit.  A notched image cut using the Art Philosophy cartridge is perfectly sized for a sentiment from the February stamp-of-the-month, Thoughtful Tidings.  Inside of the card is complete with a ‘happy birthday’ sentiment and a row of shops stamped along the bottom.     

For a more masculine look, an argyle print from the Cruisin paper is used with a sentiment from Just A Number and frame from 10 Things.  A piece of Juniper cardstock was embossed using the Cuttlebug Argyle folder to coordinate with the printed paper.   

Actually very little stamping on this card.  The bird and the frame are cut using the Art Philosophy cartridge.  Some Bitty Opaques and a Bitty Sparkle are added for a finishing touch.  The flourish is from The Present stamp set and this card also uses a sentiment from Just A Number.  Thanks to CTMH consultant Christine David for the inspiration for this card.      

February’s “Just A Number” Birthday Card workshop will be offered on two weekends - February 3 & 4 and also February 10 & 11.  The Friday evening classes will start at 7 pm, and there will be two sessions on each Saturday.  One starting at 9 in the morning and the second one at 1 in the afternoon.  You will create four of each of the three projects (total 12 cards and envelopes) for a workshop fee of $10.  Allow approximately two hours to complete your projects.  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 brand-new Close To My Heart Spring/Summer Idea Book.  As an added bonus, if you place a $50+ order, your workshop fee is waived. 

Please let me know if you would like to attend one of the Birthday Card workshops.  Feel free to leave me a comment on this blog, send an email to sheilabennett@comcast.net, or call 913-485-4355.

A Little Thanks - 3 More Times

UPDATE:  For Thanksgiving week, the Heart 2 Heart Challenge is to share 'Thank You' cards, so here are three made with the the November stamp-of-the-month, A Little Thanks.

A piece of White Daisy cardstock was embossing using the Houndstooth Cuttlebug folder,  and then brayering the raised portion with Black ink so that the pattern is clearly visible. 

The bright green of the Pear cardstock is such a nice complement to the papers from the Olivia kit.  Added a corner detail using a stamp from The Present.

Using the large 'Thanks" stamp, I 'inked' it up with a Glue Pad and then put some bright yellow 'A La Mode' glitter on the image.  The yellow glitter on top of the Black cardstock actually looks more green, and goes with the bright patterned paper from the Hooligans kit.

Just a reminder - the CTMH "A Little MORE Thanks" special this month is that you receive this A Little Thanks stamp-of-the-month with any $100 order, and you also receive an ADDITIONAL stamp set for FREE with your $100 order.  Contact me if you would like a copy of the Autumn/Winter Idea Book.   

Not Necessarily Christmas ...

When you see themed paper, be sure to think of other uses than the 'obvious.'  This paper is from the new Mistletoe Christmas themed My Reflections kit, but the completed card is not necessarily a Christmas card.  Even though the red and white paper has snowflakes on it, it can be used as just a nice patterned paper on any project.

 This is actually a clear card with a scalloped bottom edge, even though the uniqueness of a clear card is not obvious in a scanned image.  The brown background is inside the card and is stamped with a nice texture corner stamp from The Present stamp set.  Then the patterned papers are adhered to the inside front of the clear card, and the square and frame are on the front of the card.  The fancy frame is from Circle of Love and the cute flower and sentiment are from Unity.   

The "Present" is a Gift

Two more cards that we created during a "Create & Take" session at this summer's CTMH Convention.  Both of these use Unity and The Present stamp set along with papers from the Olivia My Reflections kit. 

Even though it is difficult to see in the scanned image, this card base is actually clear acrylic.  The focal points are on the front of the card and 'hide' the inside sentiment, and the background is on the inside but is viewable through the clear front.  

A different perspective - with the card open.

This card features a wonderful sentiment from The Present stamp set, along with beautiful papers from Olivia.  It would make a great Thanksgiving card. 

Another Challenge Combo

Again this week, I am combining a sketch challenge from the Mojo Monday blog and the challenge from the Heart 2 Heart Challenges blog.    

For the card, stamps from The Present set were used along with papers and colors from the Olivia kit.  All stamps and papers used are from Close To My Heart (CTMH).

This week's Heart 2 Heart Challenge was to create an item using a sentiment stamp as the focal image.  The Mojo Monday blog features a sketch design and encourages contributors to create a card using the weekly sketch and then "link" the entry back to their blog.  This week's sketch is titled MOJO156.

Now the challenge will be to see how many more weeks it will be possible to combine the weekly challenges from these two blogs.  

Noteworthy Workshop - Create Something Cute for Notetaking

For something a little different, there are no cards for this workshop.  Instead, you can create three different notebooks at this month's Noteworthy workshop.  Even though the projects  have very different looks, they all actually use the same shade of green ink - the new, versatile Pear color from Close To My Heart.  Classes will be offered on Friday evening, September 24 and also on Saturday morning, September 25.  

Composition Book:   You probably remember seeing Composition Books at your local office supply store.  They have a black and white mottled cover, with lined paper inside the book.  For this project, a fun front cover is made using papers and cardstock from the Hooligans My Reflections kit and a sweet sentiment from the Treasure Life stamp set.  The large embellishment is created using the pinwheel technique, which I taught recently for Creative University Online.  

Jr Legal Pad:   This beautiful peacock is from the new Circle of Love stamp set, with background papers from the Magnifique kit.  Silver Pearl embossing powder was used for the image, and four new CTMH colors (Pear, Gypsy, Pacifica, Lagoon) were sponged over the top of the embossing.   This is a very quick and easy way to create a beautiful image.  And thanks to fellow CTMH consultant Tresa Black for sharing this great "embossing resist" technique recently on her weekly Fabulously Artsy Ustream show.

Inside of the folder holds a Jr Legal Pad (approx. 5"x7"), and has a pocket on the side.      

Sticky Note Holder:  A smaller project, this holds a 3"x3" pad of paper.  The beautiful fall colors are from the Olivia paper packet and the small flower is from The Present stamp set.  The Pear color is in the patterned paper, and also used to color the stem of the flower and around the edges of the stamped circle.   This clever design has a piece of ribbon threaded through a hole in the small flap so that a mini gel pen can be inserted into the ribbon loop to hold the cover closed.  Another CTMH consultant, Bobie Glassette, taught this class during the recent Creative University Online.  

The "Noteworthy" workshop will be offered on Friday evening, September  24 (starting at 7 pm), and also on  Saturday morning, September 25 (starting at 9 am).  You will create one of each of the three projects for a workshop fee of $10.  Allow two or three hours to complete your projects.  Please be sure to bring your favorite adhesive.  Note that a dry, tape runner type of adhesive will work better for these projects than a liquid adhesive.  All other supplies are provided with the workshop fee.

As an added bonus, place a $50+ order from the Close To My Heart  Spring, Summer, or Autumn/Winter Idea Book - and your workshop fee is waived.  Depending on total orders received, there will be a drawing for Hostess Rewards - so you could earn $25 or more in FREE product from CTMH.

Please let me know if you would like to attend one of the "Noteworthy" workshops.  Feel free to leave me a comment on this blog, send an email to sheilabennett@comcast.net, or call 913-485-4355.

Stamping in the Corner ...

At the Close To My Heart Convention this summer, we had some "Create & Take" sessions and were able to create some nice cards following instructions from CTMH staff and using new stamp sets, papers, and embellishments.   It is always nice to learn new tips and techniques.  Be sure to look at your stamps and try to imagine how they can be used in non-conventional ways.

One of my favorite tips that I learned this year during "Create & Take" was the stamping in the corners of this card.  If you look closely at the green frame with the words "Precious Moments" and then at the corners of the card, you will see that the same stamp was used.  For the corners, only a portion of the stamp was used, and I really like the effect of framing the card.  Even though this card uses papers from the new Christmas themed Mistletoe kit, it is not a Christmas card.  The small frames (one solid and one outline) and the sentiments are from the new Unity stamp set, and the flourish and small circle is from The Present.  Also included on the card are some of the wonderful new Mocha Opaques which are self-adhesive gems, with a pearlized finish.  They are so easy to use, add a great finishing touch, and are a bargain at only $2.95 for 108 gems in a variety of sizes and colors.