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).

Operation Welcome Home

These 4 ½” x 5” cards are for: Operation Welcome Home Maryland. This organization includes handcrafted cards in their "welcome home" packages for servicemen and women returning from overseas assignments. Operating of BWI, they greeted 42,088 returning servicemembers in 2009. My personal goal is to make a minimum of 25 cards per month. 
      While not all cardmakers like to include an inside sentiment, I do. I also like to stamp the matching envelopes. Operation Welcome Home Maryland doesn't require envelopes. The first card reflects both the card cover and the inside message. I normal stamp the inside before building the card.
      I made 24 of these cars using CTMH products. I used Cocoa cardstock (X5642) on a white card base and Desert Sand (1273) for the helmut base. Much to my disappointment, I ran out of my cocoa cardstock . . . and I didn’t even have any chocolate on hand to substitute! I also CTMH Exclusive Inks Cocoa (Z2114), Vanilla Cream (Z2169) and New England Ivy (Z2135).

     I used the following CTMH Stamps:

• Welcome Home (D1370) 
• Around the Block (D1377)
• For Every Occasion (D1187)
• Hero’s Pride (C1315)
• Just Like You (C1300)
• Dainty Thoughts (C1350)

     I used my stippling tool from our Texture Tools set (Z1298) for my background on the second card.

 

The AC Moore Experience

I happy to say that I taught my first workshop at AC Moore yesterday afternoon. I had one student (praise God for small beginnings) so we were able to customize the techniques I planned to teach in my background papers class. Caroline, my student, said she was happy with all that she learned and signed up for a beginner's class in two weeks.

I did learn an important lesson -- never, EVER, test the status of your paper cutter blade with your finger. It may seem dull, but it will cut your finger . . . But I did find out that a Fiskar's Portable Rotary Trimmer that I've had an eye on does indeed have a side ruler. PLUS, it will be harder to cut my finger on it.

Next on my scrapbooking agenda is the DelCastle Holiday Craft Fair, so I need to return to my craft room and get back to work.

AC Moore Background Papers Class

These are samples of a two-page spread featuring hand stamped background papers. In this project's case, I used four pieces of white cardstock to create this layout. I'll be teaching this project at AC Moore's in Dover on Wednesday, November 4, 2009 from noon to 2 P.M.

We will be using some of the following techniques:

• Random Stamping
• Faux Suede
• Generational Stamping
• Masking
• Chalking
• Pouncing

Layout Materials:

• 12 x 12 White Cardstock (4 sheets)

Photo Suggestions:

• 4” x 6” (3)
• 2. 6” x 4” (1)
  

Supplies:

• Inkssentials Glossy Accent
• Color Box Classic Pigment Ink 0813 Provence*
• Color Box Classic Pigment Ink 08001 Pinwheel*
• Approximately 2 yards of coordinating ribbon
• Pop dots
• Scotch Tape
• Craft sponge, cut in quarters.
• Stamp scrubber

Stamp Sets:

• Hamptons Craft Affair SC0155 Owl Garden**
• Hamptons Craft Affair SC0151 Easy ABC
• Inkadinkado 97626 Patterned Bugs**
• Stampology Clear Stamps Katie Pertiet – Journaling**

Equipment:

• 12x12 cutter
• EK Success 3-inch scalloped circle punch or a plain circle punch.
• EK Success 2-inch scalloped circle punch
• EK Success corner rounder
  
  * NOTE: This reflects the color scheme I used; you may certainly select your own. Plan on a three or five-color palate with a corresponding brown for chalking/edging.
  
  ** NOTE: These are the stamp sets I used. Should you decide to use different stamps, make sure you have a variety of small pieces for background, and larger complementary design and that one of your stamp sets has a tree that measures at least three inches tall.

50-Card Christmas Workshop

When I saw these cards on one of the Close To My Heart (CTMH) bulletin boards and realized that you could make 50 cards from half a level 2 paper pack, I knew this was an incredible holiday workshop. Unlike the one I saw, I've added a few extra elements to the project. Instead of two basic stamp sets, I used four. Instead of 4" x 5.5" cards, I purchased quality card bases at 4.5" x 5.5 inches. So I created a "ribbon" effect by adding a half-inch strip and crimping it. In the first set of four cards you see, I used CTMH's Angel Sent cards featuring for sweet cherubs (A1099). Visit my website at http://dianecook.myctmy.com for more art. I'll be posting more later today or tomorrow. My workshop is at my home and is slated for Saturday, October 3 from 9 AM to 5 PM. Sign-up deadline is September 15, 2009. For more details, email me at dcookwrites@cookworkshop.com and I'll add you to my newsletter mailing list.

Age of Discovery, Part 1

The beauty of babyhood is that every day brings a new discovery. This class was "One Stamp, Ten Techniques. Of course, it screamed for more baby pictures so I used pictures of Brayden to fill the bill. I particularly enjoyed stamping a tree on two different papers and incorporating them into one in design (see "Age of" page). I also enjoyed stamping the owls on printed paper (see Discovery page), which is a new/different application for me. I'll most certainly be adapting these two techniques ot Close to My Heart. And, of course, isn't my practically perfect grandbaby absolutely adorable?

Great American Scrapbooking Convention

The last weekend of June I got to enjoy two incredible days with my son, his wife, our grandbaby, and regional scrapbooking artists who attended the Great American Scrapbooking Convention in Chantilly, Virginia. One of my favorites was an Interactive Stamping workshops from Stamps By Judith (http://www.stampsbyjudith.com/). The above 12"x12" scrapbook page was created wth a solid heart stamp (for the butterflies and ladybugs), a solid flower, a snowflake, mini dots, a haypile, a sprig and a stick weed. We started by tearing a piece of paper in an irregular shape leaving a ragged edge. Then we placed it over the bottom of the cardstack and stamped off the edge of the torn paper. I loved the artistic approach. The cards were equally challenging and artistic. Of course, I did have to purchase some of their stamps . . . mainly the ones that we used in the workshop.I hope I have the chance to take another of Heather's workshops in the future. My husband just reminded me that it's time to retire for the evening, so I'll try to share more tomorrow. Have a great day.

Diane