Annual Inspirations Sneak Peek: Scaredy Cat

Good morning! I cannot believe that the Annual Inspirations catalog premiers TOMORROW!!! For all of those local to the Cleveland, OH area, I am hosting an Open House on August 17th from 2-5pm. We will be creating a card and viewing new products. More details are on my FB page: https://www.facebook.com/ctmh.aprilwatkins?ref_type=bookmark

Now, onto the fun stuff! Today, I will be showing you a sneak peek of the Scaredy Cat paper pack (X7185B, $9.95).

Although this paper pack uses a Halloween color scheme, only one of the B&T papers is exclusive to Halloween! The purple and orange combination is a great way to incorporate bold, feminine colors into a unisex design.

Plus, this paper pairs nicely with the August Stamp of the Month (S1408, $5.00 with a $50.00 purchase, or $17.95).

Although this paper pack is not available as a Workshop on the Go, there are coordinating compliments accents, and stamp sets available, including these adorable resin stars (Z3011, $6.95) and the Halloween Greeting stamp set (D1605, $17.95) that I used to create this card.

If you want to create some really fun, easy Halloween pages with the Scaredy Cat paper pack, pick up the Artbooking Cricut Cartridge (Z1906, $99.00). Want more info about Artbooking, check out these videos from Close to My Heart:

Happy Scrapping, My Artsy Friends!

Annual Inspirations Sneak Peak: Confetti Wishes

Welcome back to another Annual Inspirations Sneak Peek. Today, I am going to show you the Confetti Wishes paper pack (X7189B, $9.95). This paper pack is inspired by birthday celebrations, but is actually very versatile.

The Workshop on the Go (WOTG, G1086, $29.95) features some beautiful layouts, an exclusive stamp set, gold shimmer trim, and the Confetti Wishes Assortment (resin and vellum shapes).

I used the Confetti Wishes paper to create this card:

This card was created also using the new Happy Birds stamp set (C1600, $13.95). AND, I used our BRAND NEW MARKERS! I am proud to announce that CTMH will be selling ShinHan Touch Twin Markers!!! Each marker is $5.95. We are offering 24 colors and a blending marker. The colors create a seamless blend to create a more realistic look.

Happy Scrapping, My Artsy Friends!

Seize the Sketch and Color My Heart Challenges

I interrupt this week of Annual Inspiration previews to bring you another card challenge.

I created this card using this week's challenge sketch from Seize the Sketch (STS#25).

I also played along with Color My Heart's Color Dare #103: Honey, Indian Corn Blue, Topiary, and Cranberry.

For more information on Seize the Sketch, visit them here: http://seizethesketch.blogspot.com/

For more information on Color My Heart, visit them here: http://colormyheartcolordare.blogspot.com/

Ingredients: White Daisy Cardstock (1385), Honey Cardstock (X5668), Indian Corn Blue Cardstock (1284), Cranberry Cardstock (1272), White Cards and Envelopes Value Pack (X254), Topiary Ink (Z2155), White Daisy Ink (Z2163), Charming Chevrons (A1150), Artbooking Cricut Cartridge (Z1906)

Annual Inspirations Sneak Peek: Pathfinding

The new Annual Inspirations catalog goes live on FRIDAY!!! So, for the rest of the week, I will be posting sneak peeks for you all.

Today I want to show you my favorite paper pack called Pathfinding (X7186B, $9.95). Pathfinding has a very autumn feel to it. Personally, I love the autumn because it is so very colorful. Pathfinding embraces the oranges, reds, browns, and greens of fall in a beautiful paper pack. The Workshop on the Go (WOTG, G1082, $29.95) includes gemstones, the Pathfinding assortment (cork board embellishments, so cute!), and an exclusive stamp set to create some beautiful layouts.

The fun thing about WOTGs is that you can use them to create a layout of your own design, as well. I made this recently.

Everything featured in this layout is from the WOTG, except the "So Grateful for You" wreath, which is a stamp exclusive to Hostesses (Thanksgiving Wreath, B1454, $6.00).

Making layouts is not the only thing you can do with the Pathfinding paper. I also made these cards.

In addition to the Pathfinding WOTG, these cards feature the Season of Thanks stamp set (D1604, $17.95).

Speaking of cards, Pathfinding also offers a card WOTG (G1083, $24.95), which includes enough material to make 15 beautiful cards.

This card kit even features one of our new colors Glacier.

Happy Scrapping my Artsy Friends!

One Sheet Wonders

One Sheet Wonders are, well, wonderful! You can basically complete six cards with one sheet of B&T paper, one sheet of cardstock, six card bases, stamps of choice, and coordinating embellishments. Basically, raid your stock, pick out the pieces you need, and get started. Here are two sets I made yesterday.

To make these sets, you need to cut the B&T into the following pieces:

• 4- 4x5.25 pieces
• 2- 4x3 pieces
• 2- 4x2.25 pieces (flip to back pattern)
• 2- 4x1.25 pieces (dovetail)
• 2- 4x.75 (3/4) (dovetail)
• Shapes cut with Artbooking and Art Philosophy Cricut cartridges

The papers viewed here will be retired in just a few days, so get them while you can!

Ingredients: Laughing Lola (X7170B), Skylark (X7177B), Paisley Perfect (C1556), Skylark Assortment (Z3000), Black & Grey Epoxy Bubbles (Z1935), Lagoon Ink (Z2195), Gypsy Ink (Z2190), Chocolate Ink (Z2111), Flaxen Ink (new color not available until August 1st), Artbooking (Z1906), Art Philosophy (Z1686).

Happy Scraping, My Artsy Friends!

Scrapping Buckeye Babes: Color Combo Challenge

I am a consultant on the Scrapping Buckeye Babes team. Recently, my upline tasked us with a monthly color challenge. This month, the challenge was to use saddle, black, and juniper. We could incorporate white, as well. I am not normally a fan of mixing browns and black, so this was not an easy thing for me to do. I decided to showcase a stamp set that will be retiring this month to create a simple "miss you" card.

The saddle and black houndstooth paper is from our paper fundamentals basics paper pack. I absolutely love this paper pack! The B&T paper matches literally everything!

For the inside of the card, I added a cute sentiment, and more houndstooth.

Okay, so maybe I cheated a little by using a paper that was already in the color scheme, but using this paper at all was still a big step.

Ingredients: Cityscape stamp set (C1563), Paper Fundamentals Basic Assortment (Z1939), Black Cardstock (1386), White Daisy Cardstock (1385), White Daisy Stamp Pad (Z2163), Juniper Stamp Pad (Z2165)

Happy Scrapping, My Artsy Friends!

Join My Team

I am taking a break from posting artwork to talk to you about joining my team. One of my goals for my second year as a consultant is to begin recruiting my downline, and I am excited to share our new consultant kits with all of you!

First, my story. Last summer, a friend invited me to her CTMH home gathering. I had never heard of CTMH before, so I did some research. I fell in love with the company! I was looking for an opportunity to work from home, while I stayed home with my son. I have always loved scrapbooking, and CTMH was the perfect combination of everything I wanted! I officially signed up as a consultant on July 25th, 2013. Since becoming a consultant, my scrapbooking has improved so much. I also started making cards, which I have totally fallen in love with. As far as the business goes, I managed to break even my first year, which isn't bad for a first year business. Entering my second year, I intend to grow my business even more!

So, what do you need to do to join my team? First, there is an initial investment of $99, for which you will receive a kit with a retail value over $365!!! There are two kits to choose from. The first is for the scrapbooker, like me. This is the person who doesn't do a lot of small stamping and really focuses on memory keeping.

This kit includes a full workshop on the go, compliments to the paper pack, coordinating project life cards, matching embellishments, and some basic supplies every scrapbooker needs. If you are worried about having duplicates of supplies you already have, fret not. You will need doubles of basic supplies, like scissors for the home gatherings you will have.

The second kit is for the cardmaker or stamper.

With this kit, you will also receive a full paper pack, coordinating embellishments, and basic supplies. But, you will also receive three of our brand new markers, our exclusive watercolor pencils, coordinating ink pads, versatile stamp sets, and our My Acrylix blocks to get you started. 

Both of these kits are lovely ways to get you started with your business. And, after joining my team, you'll have the opportunity to earn back the cost of the kit through CTMH's Straight to the Top (STT) program. I was able to hit both of my STT goals within the first three months as a consultant, and I can help you get there too! 

For more information about becoming a consultant, contact me directly at watkinsaprilm@yahoo.com, or visit my website and click the Be a Consultant tab listed under What We Do (http://aprilwatkins.ctmh.com/ctmh/what-we-do/be-a-consultant.aspx). I look forward to having you on my team!

Happy Scrapping, My Artsy Friends!

You Are My Happy: Two More Challenges

Hello again! Today I finished another card for two more challenges, Freshly Made Sketches and Heart 2 Heart Challenges. This week's Freshly Made Sketch looks like this:

The first July challenge of the month for Heart 2 Heart is a color challenge featuring red and white daisy, some sort of sparkle, and stitching. We were also allowed to incorporate blue and neutral colors. Here is my card:

I used a white daisy base and matted my design on Indian corn blue cardstock. The stripe pattern is scraps from the Sparkle and Shine retired paper pack. The pennant is cut with cranberry cardstock. 

The sentiment is from one of my favorite retired stamp sets, You Are My Happy. And, for a change of pace, the sentiment has been stamped in white daisy pigment ink.

For my sparkle, I mimicked the flower at the bottom of the card using clear bitty sparkles. I just love daisies, so I create these little flowers a lot.

For the stitching, I used CTMH's stitch guide to create this flourish that resembles the stem and leaves of a flower. I used a back stitch to fill in all of the gaps. Then, I topped with a daisy stamp, also from You Are My Happy. 

A card stitching hint: If you are going to stitch on cards, consider matting the design, so that you do not show the underside of the stitching on the inside of the card. If you want to stitch directly on the card, you could always decorate over the stitching on the inside, instead.

For more information on Freshly Made Sketches visit: http://freshlymadesketches.blogspot.com/ 

For more information on Heart 2 Heart Challenges visit: http://heart2heartchallenges.blogspot.com/

Ingredients: white daisy cardstock (1385), cranberry cardstock (1272), Indian corn blue cardstock (1284), bitty sparkles (Z1263), stitch guide (Z1852), cranberry ink (Z2116), white daisy ink (Z2163).

Happy Scrapping, my Artsy Friends!

Two Challenges One Card

Today I made a card for two challenges, Mojo Monday and Color My Heart's Color Dare.

This week's Mojo Monday sketch looks like this:

This week is also Color My Heart's 100th challenge. The color dare was to use Pacifica, Crystal Blue, and Barn Red.

Here is my friendship card, inspired by both.

I added the brass triangle studs to give a little texture to the card, and to make the card more masculine. It is now appropriate for women or men.

I finished the inside of the card with a sweet Dr. Seuss quote.

For more information on Mojo Monday visit: http://mojomonday.blogspot.com/

For more information on Color My Heart visit http://colormyheartcolordare.blogspot.com/

Ingredients: white daisy cardstock (1385), barn red cardstock (X5637), sky cardstock (X5761), Skylark paper pack (X7177B), barn red ink (Z2104), crystal blue ink (Z2117), durables triangle studs (Z1928).

Happy Scrapping, my Artsy Friends!