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

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.  

Whooo's Your Valentine (Blog Hop)

Welcome to our Whooo's Your Valentine Blog Hop.  Yes, it is almost two weeks before Christmas and we are showing you Valentine ideas.  But for crafting, you have to plan in advance!  

In celebration of National Papercrafting Month, Close To My Heart is offering a fun kit you can use to create treats for Valentine's Day or any time you would like to give a little treat to someone special.  The kit includes: 

• 12 -- Die-Cut Boxes (3 each of 4 colors; Blush, Hollyhock, Ruby, White Daisy)
•   3 -- 12"x12" Cardstock Sheets (Blush, Hollyhock, White Daisy)
•   1 -- Sheet Silver Glitter Paper (new product for Spring/Summer 2013)
• 12 -- Treat Tubes with Lids (new product for Spring/Summer 2013)
•   1 -- Whooo's Your Valentine Stamp Set (shown below)

All of this is only $10 when you place a minimum order of $35 from the current Autumn/Winter 2012 Idea Book & Catalog.  The boxes are super simple to create - they are all pre-cut and pre-scored, you simply fold on the lines and use a little adhesive to hold it together. 

If you have come here from Joy's 'Wow...did you make that?' blog, you are on the right path!  The kit comes with a picture of six different projects with a Valentine theme, so on our Whooo's Your Valentine Blog Hop we will be showing you different uses for the treat tubes and for the stamp set itself.  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 this project, the chevron stripe stamp in the Whooo's Your Valentine set was used for the sides and top of the box.  Remember to stamp on the box before assembling it!  The adorable owl from the stamp set is stamped using Lagoon ink and the edges are rolled in Saddle ink for some added color.  Almond Glitter Gel is added to her beak and some Brown Sparkles bring her eyes to life.  Also, the smaller owl from the stamp set is on the top of the lid.  Some Silver Shimmer Trim was used around the top of the box, as a ribbon with the sentiment, and also around the tube.  

For this treat, the heart patterned stamp was used with Ruby ink to stamp on all four sides of the Ruby box.  A piece of Dark Chocolate Striped Grosgrain was tied in a large bow around the tube and the 'B' Monogram stamp was used to create a more elegant look.  

For a true Valentine treat, I created these two tubes by following the samples provided by CTMH, with a few changes of my own.  Creating these tube treats is really fun.  Of course, it is almost impossible NOT to use one of the incredible CTMH Cricut cartridges.  The paper bow and the pink rosette ribbon were both cut using the Artiste cartridge.    

Every paper crafter needs this adorable stamp set that is included in the Whooo's Your Valentine kit.  I will definitely be playing with it more and sharing some cards with you soon.  

Now "Hop" on over to Jody's 'Cre8n' Memories' 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!  

The Whooo's Your Valentine kit (with a retail value of $40) is available for only $10 from December 13 until January 31, with a minimum $35 order of products from the CTMH Autumn/Winter 2012 Idea Book & Catalog.

Stationery in a Box

A fun stationery project completed with the Perfect Fit-Frames stamp set and a Monogram.  There are five cards, lined envelopes, seals for the envelopes and a holder to store all of them.  This would make a great gift.  Each Monogram stamp is approximately 1 1/4" in diameter and are packaged in an adorable little 3"x3" stamp envelope, just like our regular size stamp sets.  Each letter is only $2.95.

For this project, Close To My Heart papers from the Dakota kit were used along with prepared cards and envelopes from the 50 card value pack.  The shapes for the Perfect-Fit Frames stamp set were cut using images from the Art Philosophy cartridge and the magazine-style holder is available with the Artiste cartridge.  The 1 1/4" circle punch is the perfect size for the monogram letters.   

Thanks to CTMH fellow consultant Lisa Stenz for sharing this great stationery idea. 

Year-Round Cheer (December SOTM Blog Hop)

Welcome to our Stamp of the Month Blog Hop which features the Year-Round Cheer stamp set from Close To My Heart.   This stamp set has a cute image and sentiment for every month of the year!   

If you have come here from the 'Fancy Melissa' blog, you are on the right path!  With some very creative Close To My Heart Consultants sharing their projects, you will see many different uses for this stamp set.  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!

If you have not guessed by now, the new Artiste cartridge for the Cricut machine is one of my very favorite products.  It contains such a large variety of images, and all of them are cut with precision to create wonderful items very quickly.  For this card, the two pieces are cut from La Belle Vie paper using the 'Card' feature of the 'k' button.  The "Tis The Season" image from the Year-Round Cheer stamp set is stamped using Sweet Leaf and Bamboo.  A small Sparkle was added to the center of the ornament, some larger Sparkles on the ends of the card insert along with a strip of Silver Shimmer Tape and more Sparkles completes the card.

The center piece slides out of the card wrapper, with enough room for you to sign the card on the front or on the backside.  

Now "Hop" on over to Michelle's 'Scrappy Hour' 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!  Remember, the Year-Round Cheer stamp set is only available during the month of December 2012.  The regular price is $17.95, or you can purchase it for only $5 with a minimum order of $50 in other CTMH products.  

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.