October Stamp of the Month: Home for the Holidays

Welcome to October! I absolutely love this month. The colors, the hoodie weather, caramel apples. Love it! But, just like every store you visit, Close to My Heart is already thinking about Christmas. Normally this sort of thing irritates me, but if you plan to make homemade Christmas cards, now is the time to get started! To help you along your way, the October Stamp of the Month (SOTM) Home for the Holidays can be yours for $5 with a $50 purchase! This adorable stamp set coordinates with the Cricut Art Philosophy cartridge, which will help you make gift tags, holiday cards, and fun decor easily!

To celebrate the release of this stamp set, I created a card using Freshly Made Sketches #156.

For the card base, I used the Snowhaven paper pack. Then, I created my own B&T with the candy stamps and then topped it off with two of the image stamps and some shimmer trim.

I left the back of the card with the beautiful sweater pattern found in Snowhaven.

And, because the inside of the card is black, I added a piece of white daisy cardstock with the candies stamped again.

To further help you with your card making endeavors, CTMH is offering a free roll of chevron ribbon with a $50 purchase. More information can be found here: October Campaign

For more information on Freshly Made Sketches, visit FMS.

Recipe: Home for the Holidays (S1410), Snowhaven Paper Pack (X7188B), White Daisy Cardstock (1385), Cricut Art Philosophy (Z1686), Cranberry Ink (Z2116), Black Ink (Z2105), Glacier Ink (Z2641), Basics Pigment Ink (Z2503), Red Shimmer Trim (Z1848), Black Shimmer Trim (Z1809), Silver Shimmer Trim (Z1799)

Happy Scrapping, My Artsy Friends!

Take Heart Ideas Winner

I am very honored to have been chosen as the September winner for Take Heart Ideas for my Back to School binder.

For more info on Take Heart Ideas challenges visit: http://takeheartideas.com/

Happy Scrapping, My Artsy Friends!

Masking Tape Technique

Hello there readers! Today is going to be a quick blog to showcase my first attempt at the masking tape technique. First, what the heck is the masking tape technique?!?!? Well it is actually really easy! Basically, you take masking tape, dip the sticky side directly into your ink pad, stick it to your paper, pull it up, and that's it!!! BUT, I recommend using painter's tape, instead of masking tape, because it will pull up easier, and therefore not damage your design. Washi tape would also work, but as I am obsessed with washi tape, I can't being myself to "waste" mine.

Now, here is what I created:

I combined this technique with the Scrapping Buckeye Babes monthly color challenge: Topiary, Pacifica, Honey, and Cranberry. And, I sort of made this a fun back to school card, or a card that can be given to someone studying, celebrating good grades, or anything along those lines.

Ingredients: Pacifica Cardstock (X5759), Pacifica Ink (Z2192), Honey Ink (Z2162), Cranberry Ink (Z2116), Topiary Ink (Z2155), Geek Is Chic (D1599)

Happy Scrapping, My Artsy Friends!

Hello. My name is April, and I am a One Sheet Wonder addict!

Recently, I started a card making group for my church. Tomorrow, we will have our first creative meeting. Since many of the women in my group are new to card marking, I created samples that any beginner could make! I used the same one sheet wonder pattern I have posted about previously, and two different paper packs to allow for options.

The cut guide is as follows:

• 4- 4 x 5.25
• 2- 4 x .75
• 2- 4 x 1.5
• 2- 4 x 3.25
• 2- 4 x 2 

I suggest cutting the paper into three 12 x 4 strips to start, and then cutting the individual pieces. It really makes it a lot faster.


The first set I made using the Brushed paper pack. I must admit that at first glance, I was not in love with this paper. However, once I saw it in person, not just in the catalog, I saw a lot of potential.

The Budding Friendship stamp set is a perfect compliment to this paper pack. I used markers to color the flowers for an additional pop of color on two cards. But, I kept the rest simple for the newbies.

I also used the Seaside paper to create a more masculine set of cards. I absolutely love this paper!

For this set, I colored the Blooming Heart mini stamp to add a pop of color, but again kept the rest really simple.

For more one sheet wonders I have made check out these two posts: http://artsyapril.blogspot.com/2014/07/one-sheet-wonders.html & http://artsyapril.blogspot.com/2014/08/one-sheet-wonders-using-snowhaven.html

Ingredients: Brushed Paper Pack (X7190B), Seaside Paper Pack (X7192B), Daisy White Cardstock (1385), Black Ink (Z2105), Chocolate Ink (Z2111), Gold Shimmer Trim (Z1985), Topiary Striped Washi Tape (Z2002), Blooming Heart (M1049), Sincere Expressions (A1146), Be Still (A1141), Look to the Light (B1428), A Budding Friendship (D1602), ShinHan Touch Twin Markers (collection)

Cuddly Salutations: Get Well Soon Card

This week's Heart 2 Heart Challenge is to use your favorite stamp or stamp set. I absolutely love the Cuddly Salutations Hostess Rewards stamp set! I used it today to create this Get Well Soon.

I love the color blue, so I used several shades with the Cuddly Salutations whale sentiment. I also used a white gel pen to create the idea that the whale is spraying up the sentiment. And, I used the ShinHan Touch Twin Markers to color my whale.

I added another Big Hug sentiment that I stamped on a cutout

 from Artbooking.

The final touch was this banner I cut from Art Philosophy and stamped with the All the Details stamp set (another favorite from the current catalog). 

Overall, I think it was a fun way to create a Get Well Soon card!

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

Ingredients: Paper Fundamentals Enchantment Assortment (Z2031), Outdoor Denim Cardstock (1275), White Daisy Cardstock (1385), Outdoor Denim Ink (Z2140), Black Ink (Z2105), White Daisy Ink (Z2163), All the Details Stamp Set (D1555), Big Hug Stamp Set (D1584), Artbooking (Z1906), Art Philosophy (Z1686), ShinHan Touch Twin Markers (view them all), Cuddly Salutations (Hostess Exclusive)

Happy Scrapping, My Artsy Friends!

Using Embossing Powders

I am new to the world of embossing. I have had a Cuttlebug for a few months, so I have done dry embossing using embossing folders, like this:

Since, Close to My Heart brought back embossing powders with the Annual Inspirations catalog, I decided to try it out. To use our embossing powder you will need VersaMark watermarking ink, embossing powder (I used white for this card), and a craft heater.

I used a retired stamp set from the Frosted Workshop on the Go to create a fun B&T using embossed snowflakes. Here is the result:

I accented the card with our gold shimmer trim.

And, used a card from the Picture My Life (PML) Pear & Partridge Scrapbooking Program to create the sentiment.

To give the card dimension, I used foam tape to pop up the PML card. I also added an eyelet and twine to give it a tag look.

Things I learned from my first time embossing with powder: 

• Open the powder for the first time over a trash can, because powder shifts during shipping.
• Make sure to knock off all excess powder, or you will end up with a smudge.
• Don't touch the stamped images, because it will smear.
• The paper gets hot. (This should a no-brainer, but apparently, I was too excited to care. OUCH!)
• Embossing is super fun! 

Ingredients: Picture My Life Pear & Partridge (Z2017), Cranberry Cardstock (1272), VersaMark Watermaking Ink (Z891), White Embossing Powder (Z2068), Craft Heater (Z555), Gold shimmer Trim (Z1985), White Card Bases (X254)

Happy Scrapping, My Artsy Friends!

Vintage April

Since I have finished my little man's scrapbook, I decided to create a scrapbook for my own childhood. Today, I created my first page for my book. I used the retired paper pack Chantilly, Yuletide Carol, and some DCWV brand burlap paper to create this original layout.

I started with a sheet of Colonial White cardstock. Using a CTMH spray pen, I spritz the paper with New England Ivy Re-Inker mixed with water. I let the paper set over night to dry.

After the paper had dried, I basically began laying out the layers until I had the look I had envisioned. Because I wasn't working from a sketch, I took a picture of the look the way I wanted it, used a pencil to mark the placement of each layer, and then removed the pieces to distress the edges with Chocolate ink and a dauber.

 I totally adore this picture of me, and I love how the burlap paper not only enhances the browns in the photo, but also adds to the vintage element.

To embellish the page, I tore some retired Skylark fabric to create this bow.

Then, I created a cluster embellishment using the Chantilly stamp set, All the Details stamp set, some bronze shimmer trim, and a craft store flower brad. I set the embellishment on an area where I "painted" in Chocolate with a dauber.

In the end, I think this is a cute page to show off one of my favorite pictures of myself. On a side note, I am about the same age in this picture as my son is now. It is amazing how much we look alike. That is one of the things I love about scrapbooking! It is just fun rediscovering family traits!

Ingredients: Colonial White Cardstock (1388), Yuletide Carol paper pack (X7187B), White Daisy Cardstock (1385), All the Details stamp set (D1555), Bronze Shimmer Trim (Z1849), Olive ink (Z2137), Outdoor Denim ink (Z2140), Chocolate ink (Z2111), New England Ivy re-inker (Z2235), spray pens (Z1380), daubers (Z1938), Cricut Art Philosophy (Z1686)

Happy Scrapping, My Artsy Friends!