Creative University ~ Roomie Gift

Fortunate to be enjoying my seventh year attending Creative University, which is hosted by the Fabulously Artsy Tresa Black.  Since our sleeping quarters are cabins, we have roommates and it is traditional to give each one a little "roomie gift."  

Instead of the usual lotions, chocolate, and candy, this year my four roomies received a kit so they can create 18 birthday cards. It is always nice to have some handmade cards available to send to friends and family.

Using 12" strips (cut in various widths) from both the Buzz & Bumble and Huntington paper kits, adhere them to a 12"x12" piece of paper.  Allow the adhesive to dry, and then cut 2" wide strips which you then cut into thirds, so the result is 18 pieces of unique patterned paper, each 2"x4".  This is a great way to use scraps from different paper packs.  The colors I chose are very gender-neutral and great for birthday cards.  Use this technique to create a stack of Holiday cards or party invitations, using any color combo.  

To complete each of my cards, a sentiment from the Belated Birthday stamp set was used.  The cupcakes were cut using the Artiste Cricut cartridge.  To add a bit of dimension to the 'frosting,' it was embossed using the d'vine Swirl folder.      

This wonderful idea was one of the lessons in the Create & Share Cardmaking class offered at Big Picture Classes.  

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

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

Butterfly Love

A clean and simple card for CAS(E) this Sketch (CTS63).  

Barn Red cardstock is used for the card base, and Champagne with a glossy resist pattern from the Paper Fundamentals assortment provides some texture to the background.  For the focal point, a wooden butterfly was sponged with Barn Red Ink and then a paper butterfly layered on top along with some brown Sparkles.  The banner and sentiment are both images in the Lifting Spirits stamp set. 

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

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

Embossing is Boss!

During the month of February, you qualify to receive a FREE embossing folder for every two packs of cardstock (single color or combo) you purchase.  That is a savings of $8.95!  No limit to the number of FREE folders you can receive.

Select from five new embossing folder designs - dot, chevron, quatrefoil, damask, or stripe.  Each folder is a 5"x7" for use with an embossing machine.  Pattern is repeatable for larger papers.  

CTMH cardstock is the perfect match to embossing folders.   It is white-core, which is PERFECT for embossing.  When embossed, you can sand it, bringing out the white in a pattern.   

Watch this video for some great tips on the best way to use the new CTMH embossing folders.     

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

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

Shimmer, Sparkle, and Shine ~ Stampers With An Attitude (Blog Hop)

This month, the "Stampers With An Attitude" blog hop participants are going to Shimmer, Sparkle, and Shine!        

If you have come here from Pamela's 'Reflections of My Art & Soul' 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!

If you miss someone's birthday, adding some "Shimmer, Sparkle, and Shine" to a belated card should make up for the oversight.  A fun animal print from the Laughing Lola kit is used as a background for a sentiment from the Belated Birthday stamp set.  A piece of Black Glitter Paper is used to mat the sentiment and new Purple Shimmer Trim  adds a pop of color.  For even more shine, a Black Sparkles Flourish was added along with purple sparkles on the sentiment tag.   

The inside is finished with a strip from Laughing Lola and a sincere sentiment from the Belated Birthday set. 

Now "Hop" on over to 'Barbi's Paper Creations' to see how she "simmers, sparkles, and shines." 

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

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

Teddy Bear Birthday

Last year, Close To My Heart started releasing a few sets of stamps from Jeanette's Stamp Archive.  These are some favorite oldies, but goodies, that are back for a limited time only.  These stamp sets, hand drawn by Jeanette herself, were originally offered in rubber on wood blocks but are now available in clear My Acrylix polymer.  It's a wonderful piece of Close To My Heart nostalgia for artwork that reflects the good old days.

At one time, I had the Teddy Bear Birthday stamp set in  rubber & wood, so it was fun to be able to purchase it as a My Acrylix set.  It is a sweet bear image, and brings back memories of my early days with CTMH.  

Inspiration for the card design is from Freshly Made Sketches (FMS122), and papers from the Skylark kit are paired with Desert Sand cardstock.  The teddy bear image was stamped using Desert Sand pigment ink and embossed with a clear detail embossing powder.  Markers were used to add a bit of color to the bear.  The party hat and sentiment were both stamped using Lagoon pigment ink and embossed with clear detail embossing powder.  

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

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

Happiness and Sunshine

Today's card was created following the sketch on the Mojo Monday blog (MOJO331), along with a 'love' theme for the Heart 2 Heart Challenges blog. 

Patterned papers and cardstock are from the Laughing Lola kit, with a sentiment from the Give a Lift stamp set.  The arrows image in the background is in the new Flight of the Arrows, which is a great stamp set for adding interest to your stamped creations.  To add a bit of pizazz, some hearts were cut from Glitter Paper using the Art Philosophy cartridge and a piece of Teal Shimmer Trim follows the path of the arrows.  

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

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