Birthday Girl

Isn’t it amazing how a casual comment can turn into something exciting? That was the case with this layout that is the first of my Scrapbook in a Year program. I used a Hero Arts stamp set and Close To My Heart Cotton Candy ink to create the background, the new Elizabeth Craft Designs cupcakes diecut to create the embellishments, my Pazzle to generate the title, and Paper Cuts Pink Lemonade, Razzleberry, Black Licorice and Sweet Tooth papers. Making the cupcakes was a blast with my Copic markers and SparkleNSprinkle glitter. This kit is jam-packed with product and is selling for $25. If you’re interested in purchasing this kit, email me at diane@scrappigators.com. By the end of next week, you will be able to order on my website (www.scrappigators.com).

Whale Under the Sea Tutorial

 

This is the first of about six stamps on the Close to My Heart Under the Sea stamp set (C1500). My focus on this tutorial is on the coloring techniques. I kept the card construction rather simple. I made the card using scraps from my Pemberly Workshop on the Go kit. I used embellishments from the CTMH’s Mocha Opaques Adhesive Gems (Z1333). You can order this sweet little stamp set from my CMTH website: http://dianecook.myctmh.com.

I used the following Copic markers:
0 – Colorless Blender
B0000 – Pale Celestine
B02 – Robin’s Egg Blue
BV20 Blue Lavender
BV23 – Grayish Lavender
BV25 – Grayish Violet

I also used Memento Tuxedo Black Ink, Tombow adhesive, and foam strips. I stamped my whale image on Copic Express It cardstock.

Step 001 * BV20 - After applying a base coat of 0 –Colorless Blender, then, using a circular motion, color the entire whale with BV20 – Dull Lavender

Step 002 * BV23 - Using circular stroke along Whaley’s perimeter, color with BV 23.

Step 003 * BV20 - Using a circular brushstroke, use BV20 to blend the darker color into the rest of the whale. As you blend, feel free to leave a small area in the center of your image lighter.

Step 004 * BV23 - Now apply a second coat you BV23 inside your first coat of the darker color.

Step 005 * BV20 - Again, blend over with BV20. You will see Whaley darkening with the exception of the center light spot.

Step 006 * BV25 - With a small, circular brush stroke, edge Whaley’s inside perimeter with BV25

Step 007 * BV20 - Soften with BV20

Step 008 * B0000 - Apply base coat of B000 to waterspout

Step 009 * B02 - Accent with B02.

Sep 010 * Assemble your card as you desire. I used scraps from my Close to My Heart Pemberly set. I cut my wave with a Creative Memories border punch. I cut my Whale image to 3”x3” and graduated the matting sizes by either ¼” (for a 1/8” frame) or ½” (for a ¼” frame). I also used a foam strip t pop the waves.

Avonlea -- Our Wedding

 

When the Autumn/Winter 2012 Close To My Heart Idea Book came out, I decided to use our eight new Workshops on the Go as a launch point for my long-awaited heritage album. I started by scanning our wedding photos into my computer and selected the Avonlea workshop as the backdrop for our wedding. My only significant change in this layout is in the alphabet font -- I didn't have the Keepsakes Alphabet, so I substituted with the Field Trip design. I will be doing the additional layout with the remaining Avonlea products.

I ordered an extra Avonlea Paper Pack because I want to redo this layout with some distinctive changes, which I will share in another post. Since I still have the stamp set and instruction, I only needed to order the Avonlea paper pack for my redo. Of course, I let my fingers do the walking through the accessories pages of our Idea Book..

The Avonlea WOTG includes the Avonlea Paper Packet, My Acrylix Workshop, Colonial White Cardstock, Parlor Velvet Rub-Ons, Opaques Mocha Adhesive Gems, and an Instructional Guide. Additional required tools are: E1024 My Acrylix Keepsakes Alphabet; Z2111 Chocolate Exclusive Inks Pad; Z2137 Olive Exclusive Inks Pad, Z2434 Chocolate Exclusive Inks Marker, and Z697 Sponge.  Visit my website (http://dianecook.myctmh.com) to place your order today.

 

 

CELEBRATING THE HARVEST WITH AN ARTISTE HARVEST BOX

 

PRODUCTS:

*  B1395 My Acrylix So Grateful Stamp set

* 1245 Olive Cardstock

* 1388 Colonial White Cardstock

* X4928 Saddle Cardstock

* Z2123 Goldrush Exclusive Inks Pad

* Z2137 Olive Exclusive Inks Pad

* Z2171 Saddle Exclusive Inks Pad

* Z1088 Chocolate Waxy Flax

* Z1743 Sparkles Brown & Tan Ass’t

* Z1790 Cricut Artiste Collection

* Z679 Liquid Glass

Take a favorite stamp set, mix in custom-designed shapes from CTMH Cricut Artiste Collection and you have a perfect gift box to fill with goodies for those special people in your  circle. I got the idea from page 74 in our current Fall/Winter catalog and proceeded to put it together in a matter of minutes.  Feel free to order your products from my CTMH Website (dianecook.myctmh.com).

Getting Ready for Christmas

 

 

Christmas will be here sooner than you think, so I planned my first CTMH Christmas Card Workshop on the Go for September 18th in Lewes, Delaware and on September 23rd at our studio in Dover. This is a three-hour class and is well worth the time. I also plan to offer it again in October. I've added this sweet cardholder from our new Cricut Artiste cartridge which is a great use for the scraps. Of course, I wanted to see if I could get all the cards to fit . . .and they did! All 15 of them!!! So now all I have to do is address them. I have more class details on our website (www.scrappigators.com) or if you wish to tackle the workshop on your own, you can order G1052 at my CTMH website (http://dianecook.myctmh.com). To round out your purchase, consider the Cricut Artiste Collection (Z1790) which includes the cartridge with 700 images, My Acrlyix D-size stamp, and 12" x 9: Dimensional Elemings in coordinating shapes.

 

Also, we're hosting our first day crop on October 13th at the Kenton Ruritan Clubhouse in Kenton, DE. The $30 fee includes a salad and sandwhich bar for lunch, snacks, beverages, free make-and-takes and door prize drawings. We'll have vendors from Close to My Heart (me), Christian Lifestyles Scrappigators (my friend Melissa and me), Stampin Up (Laura Barthlemeh), and Creative Memories (Catina Bright). Visit our scrappigators website for more information about our Scrappigators Love to Crop day crop.

 

Finally, if you want to see a totally cute Christmas card featuring Copic products, pop on over to our scrappigators blog (http://scrappigators.blogspot.com) for a quick look-see.



 



CMTH Sunflower

 

There's nothing like a bright yellow sunflower to perk things up, especially this month. I completed my Intermediate Copic certification class, had surgery the following week, had to cancel a weekend event I had my heart set on attending the week after that, and am now forced to wear a clumpy boot on my right foot (not related to surgery) for at least a month in hopes of calming the bursitis and tendonities in my right heel. Yes, perky sunflowers are a perfect way to end the month and usher in a new season of Copics and classes.

This was the a Close To My Heart Stamp of the Month (S1205) that I simply fell in love with. My background paper is from the Dotto collection that was a bonus pack from several months ago. I used the following Copic markers to color this image: E37 Maroon; G94 Grayish Olive; R29 Lipstick Red; Y08 Acid Yellow; Y17 Golden Yellow; YG23 New Leaf. The buttons came from my Close To My Heart button stash from maybe their 2010 collection.

On a final note -- this will be my last duplicate entry from my scrappigators blog(http://scrappigators.blogspot.com).  I intend to use this blog to highlight my Close To My Heart projects, products, promotions, and workshops/classes. If you're interested in seeing more Copics, Mosaic Moments, EK Success and other projects, then please subscribe to my scrappigators blog as well. By the end of the year, I also hope to post at least one tutorial on the blogs as well.

Okay, I'm done. Have a great day!

Footloose WOTG

It's been forever since I've been able to blog! My SMASH books are growing -- especially my Scrappgiators one. We're vending regularly at Crop Classix weekend retreats, Becky & Clare's day crop in Millsboro, DE and Stamping by the Sea (last month) weekend event. We've suddently discovered that May is our take a breath month, so we're trying to play catch up there as well. That said, I'm excited about revisiting my Close To My Heart projects.

IThis is my first CTMH Workshop on the Go project this year. I'm featuring the Footloose WOTG at my May 21st Workshop at Scrappigators Country Store. Be sure to check out Scrappigators Group and our Scrappigators Country Store page on Facebook for more details. 

Here’s what the kit includes:

· My Reflections Footloose Paper Packet (X7151B)

· My Acrylix Footloose Workshop Stamp Set (C-size)

· 2 White Daisy Cardstock sheets

· 1 Wooden Badge Buttons (Z1703)

· 1 Instructional Brochure

We will also be using these additional products:

· E1002 My Acrylix Rustic Alphabet

· Z2167 Crème Brulee Exclusive Inks Pad

· Z2195 Lagoon Exclusive Inks Pad

· Z2135 New England Ivy Exclusive Inks Pad

· Z2164 Sorbet Exclusive Inks Pad *

· Sanding Kit

· 3-D Foam Tape

· Y1000 1”x1” My ACrylix Block

· Y1003 2”x2” My Acrylix Block

· Y1006 3”x3” My Acrylix Block

Go Light Your World Smash Page

 

 My Smash journey continues. Our ministry drama outreach partnered with a local homeless shelter, Dover Interfaith Mission for Housing, to present a mime during the morning service at Trinity Wesleyan Church on Sunday, December 4th. After the presentation, the pastor stood and said, "well, that's the sermon! There's nothing left to be said. We'll now light the second advent  candle. . . " The twelve homeless men who participated in the mime were quite moved. They accomplished something special. They were seen as something other than worthless because they're homeless. My Smash page elements includes a December Diecut ticket from my Cricut Art Philosphy cartridge (I can order that for you if you're interested), a list ticket from the K&Company Entertainment Smash pad, scanned images of the church program cover and a reference scrap highlighting our place in the service. The photos were provided by a Trinity Wesleyan church member (Susan W.).

Debuting Tuesday -- Fun-Filled Fantasy Card

I normally post my tutorials here later rather than sooner, but not today! Tomorrow is Technique Tuesday at Digital Delights by Louby Lou and this little princess card and her dream blessing is my latest. Isn't she sweet? I wonder if I can find an RSS feed connection to play Jiminy Cricket singing When You Wish Upon a Star? Was that in Pinnochio? I think I've somehow gotten behind on my Disney movie lore.

Of course, she's a digital stamp which adds a lot of versatility to your stamping applications. While I'll never give up my rubber and acrylic stamps, I do find digitals freeing somehow. I can size them to fit my project and, for the most part, select projects that allow me to fully expand my Copic marker and Prismacolor Pencils blending skills. This little princess is a Copic girl. I used Stickles on her dress and cap. The bling (flowers and lace border) is part of the Michael's Recollections collection. I also managed to pick up a good deal on a Fiskar's brick punch and this offered me the perfect opportunity to use it.

Visit Digital Delighst by Louby Lou for complete instructions. In the meantime, have a great day!

Gatefold Valentine

Yeah, yeah, I know that Valentine's Day was eight days ago, but love is never out of season, now isit? I can't believe this month is almost over!

I want to be sure and share this cute hybrid card I prepared for Digital Delights by Louby Lou -- one of my favorite places to find digital stamps. Uh, and "yes" she did get this card before Valentien's day!

For my complete tutorial, just drop by the Digitial Delights website for a peek. I particularly enjoyed playing with my Copic markers and my SparkleNSprinkle glitters. I especially enjoyed Polly Pippin in Love, the little mouse we find inside the heart. The black dotted paper is from Close To My Heart's Sweetheart Collection (visit my website to see these enchanting papers) too see how easy it is to have the product sent right to your home.

So, what have we learned? The heart holiday may be over for another year, but love lasts forever!

My Organizational Rewards Board

I'm participating in an Organizational Challenge with TheScrapRack which is a product I just love. Email me at diane@scrappigator.com for more information on how to get started with this premier organizational system. One of our first week's assignments was to design a Rewards Board for identifying rewards we would get when we finished each challenge. This one is mine. My "Time To Clean" bear and "Happy House" are from Digital Designs by Looby Lou. I used Copic markers to bring color to my digital stamps and Close to My Heart's Cranberry Red Exclusive Inks to chalk the 2-inch scalloped edges of my reward circles. I cut my pink three-inch half circles from Recollections 8 1/2" x 11" cardstock and chalked the edges with cranberry also. I added a ninth reward record the date I not only complete the challenge but that my crop room is finally organized. Then I'll do a happy dance all through the house, maybe, if I'm by myself and there's no one to see, or take a picture.

Scripture Challenge: Anchor

I was thrilled to see that Patter Cross  decided to continue her scrripture challenge this year. The revelation that an alphabet challenge perfectly coincides with a biweekly format is phenomenal. I love how the Lord keeps things simple for us when we have an ear to hear.

Our first challenge for 2011 is from the letter "A": -- Anchor. My mind immediately quantum leaped to a Ray Boltz song: The Anchor Holds. I ran into several problems while putting this page together. The first is that I couldn't find any music background paper either in my stash or in our local craft stores. In all fairness, I did find one sheet of brown distressed/vintage music backgournd paper, but I preferred white.Fortunately, my friend Tina  had two sheets of music paper and the Rainboworld paper worked perfectly. I did manage to find some music brads at Micheals which seems to have worked well. AND I got them for half price!

My second problem was the anchor, Again, I searched for an anchor, either a sticker or a stamp, at my local craft stores and couldn't find any at all. Since I discovered digital stamps last November (or maybe October), I googled "anchor" digital stamps and found what I was looking for at http://www.whimsystamps.com/.

I haven't totaled up the purchases I made to support this page, but I really do like the way it turned out. What the scanned image doesn't show is the depth. Using Microsoft Publisher, I typed the chorus of The Anchor Holds around the outer edge of a 6"x6" square. After I printed it out on my HP Photosmart B5500 printer (it also prints 12"x12"), I cut it down to size using my EK Success Cutterpede paper trimer. I also cut the inside edges, approximating the size. I probably should have measured it, but I was too busy creating, thinking on my feet! Then I took my gifted paper and cut out a 6" x 6" piece. I knew I didn't want the background paper to fight the anchor design, so I looked around and voila! Standing right in the middle of the craft table array was my Fiskars Scallop Tearing ruler.

"Perfect," I muttered as I decided where to tear it. But I couldn't get a reasonable grip to tear inside such a small space. PLUS I didn't have any more paper should I tear too much! But God called us to be problem solvers, so I went to my ScrapRack Travel Pack and retrieved my Cutter Bee Retractable Craft Knife which was up to the job. I already decided that I wanted to elevate the frame so I immediately glued the top frame to the music frame. THEN I decided to chalk the edges with CTMH's Chocolate Brown. Of course, chalking the outer edges was a piece of cake, but not so the inside frame which was glued to the music fram. So,  I used a masking technique and a CTMH dauber to complete the chalking effect.

I'm writing much more than I'd planned, but I thorougly enjoyed this project and its final. While this would be a good place to stop, I think it's important to note the story behind this incredible song. It didn't take much to find out that Lawrence Chewning wrote the song and that this story began in 1992. You can find the complete version of his story on his website (http://www.lawrencechewning.com/). But the song actually came to him after a year of extreme stress and trauma: the death of his father, burnout after pastoral ministry for 19 years, and his wife's third miscarrage.

“I was given a sabbatical from pastoring for six months," he writes. "During that time, my wife and I grieved and prayed. I also began to play the piano again for hours at a time, alone with God. During this time of sadness and uncertainty, the Holy Spirit gave me a song which I entitled 'The Anchor Holds'. As I would sing it, I began to experience God's comfort, encouragement and hope. Eventually, fresh vision came and I entered a new phase of the calling on my life." Rev. Chewning's old friend, Ray Boltz, heard about the song and asked to evaluate it for his "Allegiance" project. It was released in November 1994.

Sadly, tragedy and disappointment is an integral part of life itself. Those who are not anchored often do find themselves adrift and unable to receive the comfort and healing that's necessary to move on, to move forward. But the Lord is our refuge; He is our stronghold; He gives us strength; He walks with us in the garden and in the desert. What more can we ask? He is the anchor that holds us.
PRODUCTS USED:
 Meljen's Designs Digi Stamp Anchor Away
 SparkleNSprinkle Opaque Fantasy Gold G1001
 Boxer Scrapbook Productions Fish Lovers Alfphabet Stickers (Item #15036)
 Recollections Music Notes Brads
 Close To My Heart Chocolate Dye-Based Ink
 Close To My Heart White Daisy Cardstock
 Close To My Heart 3-D Foam Tape
 Recollections Kraft Cardstock
 SHEET MUSIC, Rainboworld by Masterpiece Studios
 Gold Chord, elasticized from my stash
 Tempus Sans ITC Font
 Fiskar’s Scallop Tearing Ruler

Go Granny Go Birthday Card

I designed this card on Friday, October 8, 2010 for Marge Cook, my mother-in-law, on the occasion of her 95th birthday. It’s a 5 ½” x 4 ½” card. I chalked the edges of the card and the ovals with Outdoor Denim Exclusive Inks.

PRODUCTS
Stamps:
• SparkleNSprinkle Go Granny Go [1516-308G] and Go Granny Go!!! (phrase) [3180-397A]
• Close To My Heart For Every Occasion stamp (D1187)
• Close To My Heart The Present (D1436)

Stickles
• Black Diamond
• Silver

Copic Markers
• E33 Sand
• B05 Process Blue
• E00 Skin White
• RV29 Crimson
• R20 Blush
• C-1 Cool Gray
• Y08 Acid Yellow

Paper
• Close To My Heart Outdoor Denim (1275)
• Close To My Heart White Daisy (1385)

Other Products
• Close To My Heart Exclusive Inks Outdoor Denim (Z2140)
• White Satin Ribbon
• Spellbinders Nestabilities, Classic Scalloped Ovals Large
• Close To My Heart 3” x 3” Acrylic Block
• Close To My Heart 1” x 1 ½” Acrylic Block
• Close To My Heart 2: x 3 ½” Acrylic Block
• Close To My Heart Sponge Dauber (Z726)
• Inkssentials Opaque Pen White
• Close To My Heart Bone Folder Z1204
• Sizzix Big Shot
• 3M ATG Gun
• Mini Pop Dot

H2H Tag Challenge

I just got back from the CKC Convention in Valley Forge when I saw the new Heart2Heart Challenge and its requirement to involve tags. I viewed this as a perfect opportunity to play with acrylics I saw and use up some scraps at the same time!

I love making cards from scraps! I found some wonderful sentiments on a mostly-used Emporium Level 1 Sticker set, backed them with scraps from Emporium B&T’s and mini-glue-dotted them onto a clear card base (Z1323).

I made my tag from a Twilight cardstock scrap, colored a White Daisy Clear Bloom (Z1300) with Buttercup ink (Z2110) and adhered an Emporium sticker in the center. I used the tail end of a Z1127 Chocolate Ribbon Round as my tag topper. I edged papers and stickers with Twilight Ink (Z2160)

Since this is a greeting card, I wanted to make sure that I could write a sentiment on the inside of the card, so I considered myself most fortunate to find a journaling blank among my leftover Emporium stickers. So I placed my sentiment on the lower portion of my Clear Card album and left the top open for my sticker. I positioned the journaling sticker to it could be seen above the sentiment. After adhering two layers of B&T’s on top of the cardstock tag, I cut the blank top off the “beautiful moments” sticker and adhered it to the tag. Next I adhered the flower with a glue dot, then the center of the flower with the Stickese sticker. Finally, I added my tag topper and adhered it with glue dots and now I have a most unusual card.

Two Challenges: Triple the Scraps & Heart2Heart Color Challenge

Matthew 6:26 is the inspiration for this scripture. Behold the birds of the air, for they neither snow nor do they reap, nor gather into barns; and your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are not you of much more value than they? Our little birds may not “work”, but what is more joyful in the morning than to hear to hear uplifting bird-song as we begin our day? In the same way, what father does not revel in his own child’s laughter, or seek to “fix things” that make his child sad? Just as my own sons’ parenting skills are clear reflections of their father, so must our hearts and our actions be reflections of our heavenly Father. How blessed are we to have His protection, his agape love, and to be cherished as His children?


I struggled with what projects to take with me to work on at the Friday Night Crop at the CKC Convention in Valley Forge, PA. It hit me Thursday morning (we left Thursday evening) that this would be a WONDERFUL opportunity to catch up on ALL of my missed challenges! I was five behind on my Triple the Scraps scripture challenge and I wanted to do this week’s Close to My Heart Color Challenge.

So, I frantically looked for scriptures and art for three out of the five challenges, added a few last minute projects, and was confident that I would have plenty to do while making huge strides to finish overdue projects during our four-hour cropping window. I failed to factor one element into my best-laid plans: EXHAUSTION! After a grueling, 10,000-step, six-class day, my world took on Alice-in-Wonderland angles and shapes. My inability to cut a straight line with a ruler/trimmer magnified itself to the power 10. Scallops were lost and edges skewered. But how like our heavenly Father is it to accept us as we are, odd angles and all? Rather than redo the project, I decided to let the imperfections remain because we are flawed creatures who can rest in our Father’s perfections.

“You should have seen her!” my roommate Melissa shared with our two other cropping partners – Tina and Erica. “By 10:00 she was nodding off at the table with pop dots in her hand.” The next day, after another five classes and almost 6,000 steps, I added the final touch to the project -- “stitching” – while sitting in my minivan waiting for my three traveling companions to finish their last class. I used three-general stamping on my little birds and created my scallops with an EK Success corner rounder.

I used the following products to complete this project.

 Vineyard Berry cardstock (1248)

 Vineyard Berry Exclusive Ink (Z2257)

 Blush Cardstock (Z2257)

 Crème Brulee cardstock (X5754)

 Black Exclusive Inks (Z2305)

 Classic Cap Alphabet stamp set (D1110)

 Love Birds stamp set (C1396)

Challenge 15 --Fear Not

An expected noise, swooshing branches scratching the side of a house, thunder-splitting lightening assaulting a nearby tree – who isn’t afraid of things that go bump in the night? But Scripture tells us we have nothing to fear for our Lord is with us always. He strengthens us in the middle of the storm. He keeps us safe in the unsafe places. He has plans for us. So when we’re afraid, we can draw courage from Isaiah 41:10 as we move through the danger and experience victory at His right hand.

Triple the Scrap’s Fear Not” challenge begged for monsters which were not part of my inventory until my CTMH convention bundle arrived last week. So I put together another sneak preview using products schedule for release on September 1. I used the Hooligans Level I Paper Pack X7129A which included the cardstock and stickers for the 6” x 6” page, squares, and “Boo!!” I used my EK Success powder brush to de-stick the stickers. I used the felt monsters for added depth from CTMH’s Hooligans Level 2 Assortment ( Z1332). I edged with Black Exclusive Inks (Z2105) and one of our new fall colors, Lagoon (Z2195).

I took a short cut and used some mini-shimmer alpha stickers from Making Memories for the “Fear Not” title rather than break open a new pack of our Color Ready Bold Alphabets (X5750). I can blame it on my two larger dogs (Bo @ 65 pounds and Tally @ 55 pounds) who are deathly afraid of thunderstorms. Just I finished, thunder, lightening, and a more than wet thunderstorm swept by our house. Lucy (a 28-pound fireball) was pretty nonchalant about the whole thing, but Bo and Tally were completely undone. They could not “fear not.”

Forgive

Somebody spilt the milk! Was it the cow in Close to My Heart’s Howdy Acrylix Stamp Set (D1435)? Or was it the farmer’s son who tried to take shortcuts when he was sent out to milk the cow who was never returned to the barn the night before? Should the unseen farmer’s son be forgiven? Proverbs 17:9 tells that when we forgive, we extend love to others. How real is that? . . . and maybe even Bossie will forgive him for leaving her outside all night long.


Besides the Howdy stamp, I used the following products:

 Splendor Level 2 paper pack (scraps)

 Back Country Level 2 paper pack (scraps)

 Olive Exclusive inks (Z2137)

 Barn Red Exclusive inks (Z2104)

 Chocolate Exclusive inks (Z2111)

 Cricut Old West cartridge for the letters

Onward and Upward

Our first Angola By the Bay Women's Club Craft Fair is over and now I'll be moving ever forward in the scheme of things -- all things. While my sales were mediocre, I met some WONDERFUL people and may have some future Scrapbook in a Year participants in the future.

This one-of-a-kind Hoppy Birthday card found a home in Angola. Melissa and I plan to continue participating in craft shows as we fine-tune our resale product line.

My focus during the next six weeks will be on building various scrapbooking pages. I'm also gearing up to teach SDU classes at A.C. Moore in Dover and possibly in Michaels in Rehoboth Beach, DE. Between our new CTMH projects and gearing up for teaching the EK Success product line, I'm totally  psyched.

I'll be posting more in the days ahead. Meanwhile, have a hoppy day.

You're a Hoot!

     My friend, Melissa Fulgham, and I will have a booth at the Angola Craft Show on Saturday, July 17th, so I’ve been working on some new cards.    Helen Onulak (http://www.hookedonstamping.com/), another Close To My Heart consultant, had this really sweet card that incorporated a scalloped edge in one of its layers, so I just had to play with scallops. I almost bought a scalloped Nestibles set when I realized, duh! You have a Making Memories Slice die cutter! I’ll bet you have scallops there! One thing lead to another when I found my scallops on the Making Memories Slice Basics 1 Card and decided to play with a window card treatment. This is a result! 1 4 ½” square card with a matching envelop (20-lb bond copy paper) which I made using my Crafters Companion Enveloper.

I’ll be posting complete instructions on my http://ourcraftroomcreations.blogspot.com in a couple of days. In the meantime, here's a sneek peak at the products I used to create this simple little card:

Products Used:
      White Daisy CTMH Cardstock
      My Acrylix Stamp C1362 You’re a Hoot
      Key Lime Exclusive Inks Marker Z2331
      Parchment Exclusive Inks Marker Z2342
      Black Exclusive Inks Marker Z2305
      Sunflower Exclusive Inks Marker Z2350
      Cocoa and Topiary Exclusive Inks
      Liquid Glass

Tools Used:
      Making Memories Slice Basics Card 1
      My Acrylix Blocks 1” x 1 ½” (Y1001)
      My Acrylix Blocks 2” x 2” (Y1003)
      Sponge Dauber (Z726)
      Crafter’s Companion Enveloper (Email me at dcookwrites@cookworkshop on how to order)

Triple the Scraps: Hymn

Spring is so here. Even as I upload my latest Triple the Scraps project, I can't seem to turn my thoughts from Spring. So, I ramped up my "challenge" a bit and focused on using bits of papers left from other Close To My Heart projects to build this page. My scripture is from Ephesians 5:19 which encourages us to communicate through hymns and spiritual songs. And if the rocks will praise Him should mankind remain silent (Luke 28:40), then why not the flowers too? The only stamp on the page comes from Close To My Heart's You Rock Workshop on the Go (B1341). I used a White Daisy cardstock base and B&Ts from Daydream, Bella, Aspen and Celebrate Everyday to create the backgrounds. I used a 1.25" round punch to create the flower centers and petals. The green cardstock was left over from our May Workshop On The Go pack -- Cheery-O. By the way, if you listen carefully, you just might hear the flowers praising Him too!