Autumn Journal Workshop - Pick your time!

Create this lovely journal, in the spirit of Autumn. Using our new Olivia papers and a brand new stamp set called, "The Present," you will make something to enjoy yourself or to give as a gift. This design was inspired by Close To My Heart Consultant, Shelly Vaught.

• Tuesday, Sept. 28 - 10am -or-
• Wednesday, Sept. 29 - 6:30pm

Class fee: $15 or $10 with a $30 order. All project materials are provided. Class held at Julie's art room in Snohomish. Click here to register.

Peek at New CTMH Palette Colors!

This past Tuesday's Layout Workshop brought a chance to work with some of the brand new colors in Close To My Heart's Summer Palette.

Lots of background stamping provided the design for the paper here, and our new Blue/Green Sparkle combination added some shine and texture.

Button, button . . Who's got the button?

Remember that childhood game? If you don't, I'm really dating myself!

Buttons are so much fun. They bring back memories for many of us - of looking through our Grandma's button jar or tin. Sorting by color, size, or shape . . . We can all probably hear in our "mind's ear" the sound of buttons as they tumble out onto the table, as we pour them from the container . . .

What could be more fun than to incorporate buttons into our papercrafting? Here is yet another group of happy crafters, enjoying embellishing their recipe boxes with buttons! This Camano Island group had a great time adding color and texture with Close To My Heart buttons.

September SOTM Art #8

So what the heck is this? In the middle of all this Ed Hardy looking artwork . . . here comes a sweet little card in soft colors and sparkles!

This, my friends, is an example of what happens when one looks at a stamp set and thinks WAY outside the box. :-) Combining "Thriller's" crown and heart images with "Royal Birth" D1441, you have the perfect mix to make a card fit for a princess.

Art by Renee Valenti

September SOTM Art #7

Ink distressing on the edges of this Sunset cardstock helps to create a consistant look. Notice the brushed look of the 'doorway' where the crow is perched? Adding a similar look along the edge of the paper by scraping it directly on the black ink pad ties it all together. The eye loves repeated elements of design!

Art by Julie Reynolds

September SOTM Art #6

Another of my favorite size - the 4x4. Again, another artist has opted to snip her stamp! Splitting that "Happy Hauntings" image makes it so easy to stamp in 2 different colors. Gone are the days of having to ink separate parts of the image with different markers . . . why make it hard when it doesn't have to be??!! Snip and use each part separately and easily on whatever ink pad you desire.

This card is a beautiful example of our coordinating products . . . cardstocks, inks, embellishments - they all work together without a hitch.

Art by Maggie Cameron

September SOTM Art #5

Can a skull with bat wings be cute? If it can, this card certainly is the perfect example!

The bright spots of color on this card are just what it needs to add an element of simple fun. Gypsy and Pear are the two new colors here that grab your eye right from the first glance. Distressed on the edges, these pieces create a great backdrop for the focal point image.

A tiny Licorice Opaque added for the eye . . . repeat that same element in the lower right corner . . . and the card is finished!

Art by Kimberly Ganiere

September SOTM Art #4

A shimmery, smokey looking sight! Pretty spooky ........ created by embossing the skull image on black cardstock, then brushing over with our Create-A-Shade Pearl Paint. When paint is dry, gently rub over the top of stamped image with a tissue to reveal the design.

Art by Debi Gardner

September SOTM Art #3

Do you know one of the very coolest things about our MyAcrylix stamps? You can cut them up! That's right . . . if you have an image that you'd like to break up . . . move around . . . you have the freedom to do that! The "Happy Hauntings" image comes as one horizontal image. BUT you can simply snip it in half with your sharp Close To My Heart scissors, position them however you'd like to on your clear acrylic block . . and WAH LAH! It's a new image!

When you're done, simply clean off your stamp images, replace them on your storage sheet and you're ready to use them again either as initially designed, or in your own creative way!

Art by Sharon Chatterton

Magic Lift Card

This Magic Lift Card will be featured at 2 workshop times next week (see schedule in previous post.) You will use our new Magnifique papers and the cute new stamp set, "A Sip." Have fun creating these dangling embellishments . . . and you'll just have to come to see what the MAGIC is! Email me now to register to make two of these cards, just alike, so you'll have gifts ready to give. And after having made two, you'll be a pro.

All materials will be provided to make both gifts. And you will leave with a full cut list and instructions so that you can easily make more at home. Now THAT'S value!

September SOTM Art #2

This slim little 3x6 card is the perfect greeting for Halloween. The illusion of a bat flying in front of the moon works wonderfully here, using a half circle of grey cardstock behind.

A Bitty Sparkle is added to the one eye, adding just a 'bit' of intrigue!

Art by Shannon Law

September SOTM Art #1

Ed Hardy, here we come! "Thriller" picture images are embossed in black. The lettering is borrowed from "Party Invitation" stamp set, C1298.

Can't quite name the green? It's Pear, one of our brand new colors featured in the Autumn/Winter 2010 Idea Book.

Art by Cathy Stai

Is it Ed Hardy . . . or the September Stamp of the Month?

It's the look that's everywhere . . . on clothes . . . on shoes . . . on jewlery and tattoos . . . it's the artist Ed Hardy's style. And now . . . Close To My Heart's own September Stamp of the Month, "Thriller" has a similar style that keeps us current! Stay tuned for art samples being posted all month long to give you great ideas for creations with this fun stamp set.

Don't think it's your style? I can guarantee that it's the style of a lot of young people you know, and they would love being given your creations that feature this artwork!

A good reason to scrapbook . . .

Squash Album Workshop

My customers have had more fun with this little album! It starts out looking like a 6x6 . . . then opens, and opens . . . and keeps on opening! It's the album that keeps on giving. ;-)

Here you see mine, full open - and then see how it closes to a 6x6.

Below, you'll see a happy group of ladies with their finished Squah Albums, all ready to fill with photos.

The Stanwood "Squashers"