Holiday Workshop #19!

My 19th Annual Holiday Workshops are finished for the year!  

I hold them the first week of December each year and they're always a favorite of mine!  We make cards, little gifties, and ornaments.

Thank you to all my loyal customers for coming!  I truly appreciate each of you and hope you enjoyed making the six projects.

Have a Very Merry Christmas!  

Specials thanks to Denise, Mandy, Bren & Cindy, and the CTMH Annual Inspirations Catalog for inspiring me.

Products: Snowhaven paper pack, Cut Above Christmas Card Kit, Artiste Cricut Cartridge  rosette shape (Snowman's head), Silver Shimmer Trim, Red Shimmer Trim, White Shimmer Trim, Dot Embossing Folder, Gold Glitter Paper, December Stamp of the Month - Cutie Pie, Heartstrings paper pack, Teal Glitter Paper, Pixie Extra Thick Twine, Sing Glory Stamp set, Glacier Cardstock, Quatrefoil Embossing Folder, Silver Sequins.  

Simply Inspired Blog Hop - Seasonal Expressions!

I'm so excited for this Simply Inspired Blog Hop!  If you've arrived here from Pamela's blog,  you are hopping in the right direction!   

The brand new Seasonal Expressions is packed with beautiful new products for Valentine's Day and beyond!  I can honestly say I love every single product in the book!  The papers are gorgeous, there's a fabulous variety of stamp sets and accessories, and there are four  cool new Embossing Folders
 to tickle your Cuttlebug!

 I like the simplicity of the limited palette I've used for my card.   Flaxen, Glacier, Black, and Colonial White were the colors that inspired me and I love how the black makes everything pop!  I did a little random stamping on Colonial White cardstock with the new Brushstrokes, Doodled Designs, and A Bunch of Thanks stamp sets.  I couldn't decide on just one or two new sets, so I had to go with four!  The "You are fabulous" sentiment comes from a very special stamp set called You're the Bomb.  When you purchase this set, $3 is donated from the proceeds to Operation Smile.  What a worthy cause to support!

It's always fun to put the finishing touches in place, especially when using the super cute new Junebug Puffies and Flaxen Extra Thick Twine.  

Time to hop over to Krista's blog to see what cool art she has created!  

Additional products used: Hopscotch Paper Pack, Black Cardstock, Clear Sparkles, Gold Shimmer Trim

It's that Holiday Workshop Time of Year!

Looking forward to my 19th Annual Holiday Workshops!  

I have lots of fun projects planned and hope you can join my for this creative and festive evening!  The workshops will be held at my home.

The drawing for the this beautiful scrapbooking/travel bag with pull up handle and wheels will be held on Dec. 4th!  $139.95 value!  You still have time to earn tickets for the drawing!  One ticket for each $50 purchase.

"She" Loves Her CTMH Life!

I just returned from the Close To My Heart Team Builders Event in beautiful Salt Lake City!  Three days of learning, recharging, creating, and FUN!  It was a fun reuniting with CTMH friends and absorbing lots of great information!  

This was my favorite creative project we made called "She" Art!  Loved working with pretty papers, stamps, scissors, a CTMH 6x6 Canvas, all held together with Mod Podge.

My canvas is actually "Her" Art since my affirmation is "her heart is filled with sunshine".

Here's a view of the canvas sides.  They look cute decorated too!

Here "she" is in progress!  Thank you CTMH for a wonderful weekend!  

I feel refreshed and ready to do great things!

Supplies used:

 6x6 Canvas, Paper packs: Seaside, Brushed, Yuletide Carol, Chalk It Up, Paper Fundamentals Whimsey Asst., Brushed Workshop on the Go stamp set, Gold and Silver Sequins, Storyteller Charms

New product available Dec. 1, 2014: Hopscotch Paper Pack, Pixie Extra Thick Twine

Trick or Treat Box

Wouldn't receiving this festive little Halloween Treat Box 

filled with sweet treats make you smile?

Both candy and gifts are more fun to give in special packaging like this little box cut with the CTMH Exclusive Artiste Cricut Cartridge!  

Sizes:  Box: Artiste page 37, cut 11 1/2".  

Spider: Artiste page 77, cut 2 1/4".  

Glitter Circle: 2 1/4".  Pumpkin Tag: 1 1/4" Circle, 1 1/2" Scallop.

Supplies: Tag - Perfect Fit Halloween Stamp Set, Scaredy Cat Paper Pack. Silver Glitter Paper, Clear Sparkles, Baker's Twine.

Retired - Spellbound B&T Paper

From Our Haunted House To Yours!

How about this little Haunted House card to wish someone a spooktacular Halloween?  

I used the awesome CTMH Artbooking Cricut Cartridge to make the house.  It's actually a page from a mini album on the cartridge the you can cut as a circle.  I used Cricut Design Space with my Cricut Explore to change it to an oval shape.  The October 31 greeting is a sticker from the Scaredy Cat Complements.

Supplies:  CTMH Artbooking Cricut Cartridge, Scaredy Cat Complements, Scaredy Cat Assortment, Black Glitter paper (behind the bat accent) and Black Cardstock.

Retired: Spellbound B&T paper.

Celebrating Halloween!

Happy Halloween week!  

Leading up to October 31st, I will be sharing a creative Halloween post each day.  Today's card is a bright (much brighter in person than my photo portrays) and a tiny bit spooky.  I love how the pumpkin doubles a full moon with polka-dots acting as stars in the background paper.  It all comes together with a creepy spider dangling from a thread of glitter paper.  

This card makes me happy for Halloween!  Enjoy!

Supplies:  CTMH Exclusive Artbooking Cricut Cartridge, Scaredy Cat Paper Pack, Honey Cardstock,  Black and Grey Glitter Paper,  Assorted Clear Sparkles.

Retired: Spellbound paper pack, Beware - stamp set.

Throwback Thursday!

It's Throwback Thursday on Facebook, so let's give is a go

here as well!

Back in my early, early days of D.O.T.S, which stood for Dozens of Terrific Stamps, I made this fun 5 x 7 Halloween card.  Years ago, consultants could submit artwork and if it was chosen,  it would be featured in a monthly newsletter. It was a big honor to have your artwork published there!  I sent this Halloween card in and it didn't appear in the newsletter, but it DID eventually appear in our 1998/99 Annual Idea Book/Catalog!  I remember the day Monica, from the corporate office, called me to ask if I would do some artwork for that catalog.  Me?  Really?  I said yes and then began to panic!

Monica listed off all the stamp sets they wanted samples for and I set to work over a few weeks time, making dozens of cards and scrapbook pages.  With each sample I created, I wondered if they would be worthy of the next D.O.T.S Idea book.  I practically drove my young daughters crazy asking their advice on accents, etc.  The day finally arrived when I boxed up my samples and off the went from Minnesota to Utah.  Whew!  The pressure was done and I'd see if any of my artwork would appear in the new book at our next convention.  Here is the front of the Idea Book where 33 of my samples where used.  What an privilege that was to see my happy little creations on those pretty catalog pages!

Here's the page where my little Halloween card was shown plus two more of my cards.  Thank you CTMH (D.O.T.S) for all of the opportunities you've given me over the past 19 years!  I still love my job as much now as I did back in those early years!

Simply Inspired Blog Hop - Artfully Sent

It's time for another fun Simply Inspired Blog Hop!  Yay!

Thanks so much for hopping by!  

If you've arrived from the blog of the super talented Lynn Como, then you are on the right track!  If you get lost along the way, find a list of participants here.

This time we're celebrating the amazing new Close To My Heart Artfully Sent Cricut Cartridge!  It's the fourth Exclusive CTMH Cartridge and is a BIG winner with 700 amazing images for card making and more!  It's incredibly versatile with possibilities for awesome scrapbook pages, fun mini albums, and other cool decor projects!  You will love it!

Here's a 5 x 7 card I made using the Artfully Sent cartridge.  Find the shape on page 25 - letter G.  I used Confetti Wishes Paper Pack and matching Complements for some happy colors and added several White Enamel Stars and Clear Sparkles giving the cupcake some fun "sprinkles"!  The little pennants are hanging from a stamped zigzag border from the stamp set  D1616 Have a Happy Life.

Here's the card without the pretty papers behind the cut out shapes.  It looks like two different papers, doesn't it?  It's just one piece of Canary cardstock.

Artfully Sent Exclusive CTMH Cricut Collection.  The Bundle includes the AWESOME cartridge with 700 shapes, 3 stamp sets ($53.85 value) + a package of White Daisy card stock ($9.50 value).  It's a value packed bargain at $99!

Now hop on over to see what creative goodness Tina Lovell is sharing with us!  Enjoy!

My Favorite Photo Canvas

This is a adorable decor project we made recently with one of my Stamp Clubs.  I LOVE this little 6x6 Canvas dcorated with a favorite photo of mine!  The second photo was the inspiration for this project from Jeanette Lynton's blog.  Her blog is filled with tons of amazing artwork!  Be sure to visit often!

 

 

When I saw this canvas design on JeanetteLynton.com, I knew I had to make one for myself.  Click here for the details and additional inspiration!  http://www.jeanettelynton.com/2014/04/artbooking-made-easy-snapshots-mini.html

 

 

Products used on my canvas: CTMH Artbooking Cricut Collection, 6x6 Canvas, Thistle, Craft, Sorbet, White Daisy Cardstock, Brown/Tan Glitter paper, Teal Shimmer Trim, Clear Sparkles, Chalk It Up Assortment, Skylark B&T paper (retired)

 

FREE Bag and a FREE Stamp Set!

Would you like this beautiful Close To My Heart bag for FREE?  

How?

This gorgeous bag will go to a lucky winner in a drawing on December 3, 2014!

Here's how you can earn tickets for the drawing:

1 ticket - every $50 spent at a Gathering, Workshop, or on my OBA

1 ticket - Signing up for a Project Workshop

5 tickets - Joining a 5 month Creative Club

5 tickets - Organizing a 5 month Creative Club

5 tickets - Hosting a Gathering

3 tickets - Hosting a Book Party

10 tickets - For joining my team as a consultant!

Earn as many tickets as you can and better your chances to win this awesome prize!

 You will LOVE this bag!

The wheels and pull up handle on this beautifully constructed bag will make your travels stylish and easy!  Use it for traveling to a crop, a weekend get-away, or as carry on luggage for your next flight.  It's 16" wide, 12" deep, and 21" high size will hold lots of your supplies and more!  $139.95 value.

But wait!  

You can receive this special #30yearsofhappy stamp set for FREE right now! 

September is National Stamping Month and we're celebrating Close To My Heart's founder and CEO Jeanette Lynton's 30th anniversary in the scrapbooking/stamping industry!  The set is yours free when you spend $30 on any retail priced stamps during September!  ($13.95 value!)  Shop here.

* The free CTMH bag is an offer from me and not a CTMH promotion.

Simply Inspired Blog Hop ~ 30 Years of Happy!

I'm so excited to participate in my very first Simply Inpsired Blog Hop with a group of very talented artists!

If you came from the delightfully creative Denise's blog, then you are on the right track.  Thanks for hopping by!  If you get lost along the way, you can find the complete list of participating consultants here.

Good things come in small packages and that's true with this

little giftie I've created using the awesome #30yearsofhappy stamp set!  30 super cute little stamps available FREE in September to celebrate National Stamping Month!  Yes, you read correctly, this $13.95 valued exclusive stamp set is absolutely FREE with a

$30 stamp purchase!  Yay!  Find it here.

I've packaged up a set of six 3x3 cards and envelopes in one of the new Designer Creations Lagoon Paper Bags and added a little band to hold the package closed.

Hope you like these quick and easy enclosure cards!  It was fun to showcase the fabulous CTMH Embossing Folders!  Make up a bunch and have some ready for last minute gifts!

In addition to the #30yearsofhappy Stamp Set, the cards were created with Chalk It Up Paper Pack and Assortments, Embossing Folders: Chevron, Stripe, Woodgrain, Honeycomb, Dot,and Arrow,

Neutral Metallic Baker's Twine, Clear Sparkles Assortment,

3"x 3" White Daisy Envelopes,

Black, Lagoon, Sorbet and Flaxen Stamp Pads, Art Philosophy Cricut Collection.

  

  

Now hop on over to the amazing Michelle Synder's blog to see what she has created for us!  I can't wait to see! 

Scaredy Cat #3

Here we go, the third of my Scaredy Cat swap cards!  I love versatility in products and this one is a favorite!  Would you think this is was created with Halloween paper?  No!  That's what makes the Close To My Heart B&T Duos so appealing. 

One side of the patterned paper doesn't work for your project? 

Flip it over for another option! 

 

 

Additional Products used:  Card base: Art Philosophy Cricut Collection, Scaredy Cat paper pack, Lovely Birthday stamp set, Pink Glitter Gems, Thistle Diagonal Striped ribbon, Colonial White cardstock, Black stamp pad.

Scaredy Cat #2!

Here's my second Scaredy Cat card from a recent swap. This festive card showcases a bit of the Halloween collage pattern paper.  So many cute little designs giving you all sorts of options for your projects!  I used the spoooky fence and bitty pumpkins.  Love them!

 

 

Additional products used:  Artiste Cricut Collection, Halloween Greetings Stamp Set, Scaredy Cat Assortment, Black Stamp Pad, Black Shimmer Trim, Black Mini Medley Collection,

What a HOOT!

This cute little owl is part of the August Stamp of the Month set and is super sweet for any occasion!  Here he is ready wish someone a Happy Birthday! 

 

 

This card went together in just a few minutes using the Cut Above Happy Birthday Card Kit!  I simply stamped the owl, hat, and flowers on White Daisy Cardstock, and the wings on Skylark B&T paper.  I added a bit of color with Watercolor Pencils, a couple of Black Sparkle eyes and tada....quick and cute!

 

 

 

 

S1408 What a Hoot

Who's a Scaredy Cat?

Not me!  Just a lot of fun with the Scaredy Cat paper pack! 

August 1st, the new Annual Inspiration Idea Book went live. 

Oh my goodness, it is FILLED with fabulous new paper packs, stamp sets, accessories, home decor and more!  Scaredy Cat is one of my favorites!

 

 

I participated in a team card swap with all the new paper packs and matching stamps and had a ton of fun playing with Scaredy Cat!  More samples to come this week, so stay tuned!

 

Additional products used: Stamp set Trick or Treat Sweets,

Scaredy Cat Assortment, Watercolor Pencils

 

Pinspiration!

I love a little Pinterest!  Okay, make that a LOT of Pinterest!
 I must have thousands of ideas pinned for inspiration and I am
happy to say, I really do try quite a few of them!

Here's a card I made with a little Pinspiration using a fun and easy technique called Bokeh. You know, the background effect in photography?  I combined the ideas from a couple cards, and this is the result!

 

 I used my sponge daubers and four colors of ink to make the colorful Bokeh style background.  I simply tapped dots all over the card with the daubers. Added a sentiment and embellished with some Glitter Paper circles, Gold Sequins, and Clear Sparkles! 
Ta Da!
Easy, fast, and fun!

 Other Supplies Used:
White Daisy Cards/Envelopes, Happy Couple Stamp Set
Stamp Pads: Sweet Leaf, Juniper, Lagoon, Black,(Sky- retired)

It's Catalog PARTY Time!

It's time for one of my favorite events of the year....

New Catalog Celebration time! 

I've been keeping the 2014-2015 Annual Inspirations Idea Books under wraps awaiting this event to unveil their awesomeness! 

At our CTMH Convention, one of the most highly anticipated moments is when we get our hands on the new catalog!  It's with the same excitement that my customers come to my Open House get their personal copy and view all the amazing new products too! 

Hope you can join me for this exciting evening!

Drop me a note in the comments if you'd like a copy of your own!

View the entire Annual Inspirations August 1 on my website!

http://margi.ctmh.com/ctmh/products/online-idea-book.aspx

Isn't He a HOOT?

I love, love, LOVE this little owl!  I made him with the CTMH Artbooking Cricut Collection

which I also love!

He looks super cute perched upon the cheerful Lollydoodle B&T papers, don't you think?

 

 

The Lollydoodle paper packet is retiring the end of this month, along with lots of other fun papers, stamps, stamp pads, accessories

and more! 

Check out the Retiring Items on my website before their gone!

 

Additional supplies used: 

Dot Embossing Folder 

Slate, Pear, Cotton Candy, White Daisy Cardstock

Pink Glitter Paper Asst.

Silver Shimmer Trim

Slate Baker's Twine

 

 

 

 

 

Pretty, Pretty Princess!

 

I recently helped my daughter make a special card for her niece's 1st Birthday.  The party theme was Pink and the little girl's daddy calls her Princess, so we knew we wanted to make a pink card with a sparkly crown.  We headed straight to all my awesome Close To My Heart Cricut Cartridges to find the perfect card shape. 

 

 

 

 We found a sweet pocket card with crown and a pull out tag

in the CTMH Cricut Artiste Collection!

What fun it was to create with the pink and silver glitter papers!

 

Here is the Artiste Cricut Collection booklet page with the 3 images

we used and the sizes we cut them.

 

 

Products used:

Artiste Cricut Collection, Pink and Silver Glitter paper, White Daisy cardstock for the card base and sentiment square. Clear Sparkles, Black Stamp Pad, Scallop Border Punch, Corner Rounder, Bonding Memories Glue

Retired Products: Stamp set: You Are My Happy, Watermelon B&T paper, Bubble Gum ribbon