September Creative Club - SPOOKY Banner

Join me for the September Creative Club to make this darling Halloween banner! To see detailed information about the no-obligation monthly club, please click on the link "Creative Club" at the top of the blog page. You will receive all materials needed to make the banner, including a full package of Midnight Felt Shapes (take home the extras!). We had a great time at the August Creative Club - you won't want to miss this month!

Dates: Wednesday, September 21 - 7:00 p.m.
          

Where: My house - Contact me for the address

RSVP: By 9/9 to 309-826-6705 or clearlyfromtheheart@gmail.com

Hope to see you there!

Happy July 4th!

I hope you're having a fun, safe Fourth of July as we celebrate America's freedom! Here's a patriotic banner to add to the festivities.

To make this banner, you will need the following CTMH items:

Paper: Fanfare Level 2 Paper Packet
Stamps: July SOTM - American Celebration
My Creations banner
Embellishments: Kraft Color-Ready Borders; Blue Assortment buttons; Red Assortment buttons; Blue Assortment ribbon; White Daisy grosgrain ribbon; White Waxy Flax; Dimensional Elements Solos (U, S, A); Dimensional Elements Stars
Ink colors: Pacifica; Cranberry

Let Freedom Ring!

Valentine's Day Countdown - Happy Valentine's Day!

Happy Valentine's Day! We made it through the Countdown! Or maybe I should say the CountUP. lol! I hope you have enjoyed the hop process and will join Paige and me for future holiday hops.

This is my final project, and I really love it. It is inspired by a banner made by Lisa Stenz {here}. I used one of the new My Creations banners from CTMH. There are 8 alterable pennants in each set, so you could easily make two of these banners - one for you to keep, one to give away.

I chose to use the new spray pen on the top part, filling the pen to the 2nd line with Blush re-inker and to the 8th line with water. Remember to spray your item in a box to catch the spray-over.

The accordian flowers were easy to make. Each one uses 2 pieces of 1/2" x 12" B&T paper, scored every 1/2" and accordian folded. (The pieces are attached on the short end.) Attach the ends to make a circle, then gently push the inside toward the table until it lies flat. Using a strong adhesive, attach the accordian flower to a punched circle (smaller than the flower) and hold for a few seconds until it is well adhered. Decorate as desired.

The banners come with jump rings, but I chose to put mine together with ribbon.

Items used:
Paper: Sweetheart (light pink polka dots & accordian flowers); Sophia (darker pink); Cotton Candy cs; White Daisy cs
Stamps: Bohemian alphabet
Embellishments: Designer Ribbon Collection - Pink; Opaques Pearl Adhesive Gems; White Daisy grosgrain ribbon
Inks: Blush re-inker; Blush; Hollyhock
Other: Spray pen; corner rounder; My Creations Banner

Valentine's Day Countdown - Day Twelve - Recipe/Photo Box

Wow! Our Valentine's Day Countdown hop is winding down. Hasn't this been fun?

Today's project is an item that will sit on my desk every day. I used the My Creations Recipe/Photo Box that has been sitting on my shelf every since they came out. I guess it was about time for me to actually use it! I made a box that will keep customer information cards. I love the cheerful Sophia papers.

Pleated cardstock - I used two 12" lengths of cardstock cut 1 1/4" wide. The cardstock is scored every 1/2" to make it easier to pleat. You can also mist the cardstock lightly with water to make it easier to work with. I adhered it to the back of the flap and trimmed it at the ends.

The ribbon rose is from some of the new Pink Collection ribbon. The length of ribbon is 12" long, and you can use it all together or cut a rose off like I did. Isn't it beautiful? I used ribbon from the Pear Mini-Medleys to make leaves.

 The inside - I put cardstock on the flap but not on the inside. I figured that once I get it filled with cards, I won't see much of the inside. But you could certainly line yours with paper or cardstock.

Items used (all items CTMH unless noted):
Paper: Sophia Level 2 Paper Packet
Stamps: Our Mission (not available); Polka Dot Alphabet
Ink: Hollyhock; Blush; Pear
Embellishments: Button Collections - Pink and Green; Sophia Level 2 Journaling Spots; Designer Ribbon - Pink; Pear Mini-Medleys; Dimensional Elements Hearts
Other: My Creations Recipe/Photo Box

Please visit the other Consultants' blogs to see what they have made today!

Valentine's Day Countdown - Day Eleven - Sock Cupcake

You may have seen these little goodies on other blogs. This is another quick, inexpensive gift for someone special!

Start with a pair of spa socks -- the fuzzier, the better! I found mine at Old Navy. Lay the pair out, one sock on top of the other (like they come from the store). Starting at the toe end, roll the socks up, keeping the bottom edge even. Place a rubber band around the bottom of the socks. Place a "cupcake liner" around the sock cupcake. You might have to work with the top a little to make it look more cupcake-like. I tucked a Tulip button into the top for a cherry. I measured the cardstock against the socks and just made it the height that looked good. Then I ran the piece through the crimper after stamping it. This would be a nice little gift, along with some lotion, to tuck into yesterday's gift box.

Items used (all items CTMH unless noted):
Cardstock: White Daisy
Stamps: Love Ya!
Ink: Hollyhock; Cotton Candy; Blush
Embellishments: Tulip Mini-Medleys
Other: Spa socks (Old Navy)

Now, more hopping!

Valentine's Day Countdown - Day Ten - Photo Cube Gift Box

Today's project is another practical/decorative item. I used the My Creations Cube to make a gift box that can later be used as a photo cube. The idea came from the amazing mind of CTMH Consultant Christine David. You can see her box here.

If you'd like to see a tutorial on putting the cube together, click here to go to an earlier post on my blog.

The ribbon roses were really easy to make. Start by punching a circle the size you want your flower to be. Using a glue dot (you'll use a lot of them!), attach one end of the ribbon to the center of the cardstock circle. Start twisting the ribbon, attaching it to the cardstock every little bit with a glue dot. Keep going until the flower is the size you want it to be. I ended my flowers by attaching the end to the back of the cardstock circle. A Pearl Opaques in the center is the finishing touch. I have a lot of retired ribbon, so this is a great way to use it up!

I apologize for the quality of the photos. I'm struggling with the white balance on my camera.

Items used (all items CTMH unless noted):
Paper: Sweetheart Level 2 Paper Packet
Stamps: Love Ya!
Ink: Baby Pink; Cotton Candy
Embellishments: Button Collections - Pink; Colonial White Waxy Flax; Pearl Opaques; Blush ribbon (retired); White organdy ribbon (retired)
Other: My Creations Cube

Enjoy the following projects:

Valentine's Day Countdown - Day Nine - Lollipop Covers

Here's another quick and easy project -- lollipop covers! These hardly take any time at all to put together, and they are suh-weet, if I say so myself! (Sorry -- couldn't pass that one up!) 

To make the covers, I cut pieces of cardstock 2.75" x 7". You may have to adjust yours a little depending on the size of the lollipop. Score at 3", 3.25", 6.25" and 6.5". I used the Soft Set Eyelet Tool to punch a small hole in the center of the bottom scored piece (for the stick). Drop the lollipop stick through the hole, and fold the cover over the top. Close it like a matchbook. I ended up using a little adhesive to hold the flap in place. 

The stamp set is one of our A-size sets at the amazing price of $7.95. Isn't it cute?

Items used (all items CTMH unless noted):
Cardstock: Tulip; Cotton Candy; White Daisy
Stamps: A Game
Ink: Black; Tulip; Cotton Candy
Embellishments: White ric-rac (retired)

Make some of these sweet treats for yourself, then check out the rest of the blog hop:

Valentine's Day Countdown - Day Seven - LOVE Wall Hanging

Scrapbooking products aren't just for scrapping. You can make lovely gifts and home decor items, too! I made this fun wall hanging using the CTMH Mix & Mingle Album. The album is a mix of white chipboard and acrylic pages in different shapes.

To add color to the chipboard elements and one of the pages, I used our brand-new spray pens. The pens come 3 to a package for just $3.95. Each pen holds 10 ml of liquid. It is super easy to make homemade glimmer sprays using CTMH re-inker, a few drops of Create-A-Shade Pearl Paint, and water. It's hard to see in the pictures, but it adds not only color but a nice shimmer, too. You can also use just reinker and water for a totally different effect.

I recommend placing the item to be sprayed in a box or some other container to prevent splatters from getting everywhere. Yes, I learned this the hard way. I use a CTMH shipping box with several layers of paper towels:

The finished product (sorry that the shimmer is hard to see):

Our ribbon is now offered in color families rather than all the same color. I used the Pink Collection for the Cotton Candy Pom-Pom Ribbon around the large heart.

Items used (all items CTMH unless noted):

Paper: Sweetheart Level 2 Paper Packet

Stamps: Universal Backgrounds

Ink: Black; Tulip re-inker

Embellishments: Dimensional Elements Monogram (L, V, E); Dimensional Elements Hearts; Sweetheart Epoxy Stickers; Black Mini-Medleys; Designer Ribbon - Pink Collection; Sparkles - Red, Pink & Purple Assortment; Tulip Mini-Medleys

Other: Mix & Mingle Album; spray pen

Visit the blogs listed below for other ideas:

Valentine's Day Countdown - Day Three - Love Journal

This idea is one I came across a long time ago in a parenting magazine: create a "love journal" for you and your child (or spouse). Sometimes it is easier to write thoughts and feelings instead of talk about them. The journal passes back and forth between you and your child. You write something in it and leave it with your child. He or she writes something back to you and gives it back to you. And so on. You could also create a journal about things you love. Or creative ideas. Or whatever you'd like! Since the pages of the journal are completely blank, you can be as creative as you want. The decorated cover page just slides in to the clear cover and is easy to take out and change if you'd like.

I used some of our brand-new products on this journal cover, as well as some old favorites. The Kraft paper is new (yay!), and I also love our new scalloped punch. And did I mention the fabulous new Kraft Color-Ready Borders? LOVE them! The Salutations stamp set is one every scrapbooker and card maker needs to have in the stamp library. It is so versatile!

Items used (all CTMH unless noted):
Paper: Kraft paper; Cherry-O Creative Basics (retired); Tulip cs
Stamp sets: Salutations
Ink: Tulip; Brown Bag (for distressing)
Embellishments: Irresistibles Lots of Dots alphabet; Kraft Color-Ready Borders; Buttons - Pink; Dimensional Elements Hearts; Colonial White Waxy Flax; assorted ribbon (retired)
Other: My Creations Journal; 1 1/4" circle punch; 2" scalloped punch; 1 1/2" circle punch - EK Success

Check out the great projects from other CTMH consultants:

Valentine's Day Countdown - Day One - February Event Calendar

Welcome to the first day of the Valentine's Day Countdown Blog Hop! To start the month off, I've made my monthly Event Calendar topper.

This went together really quickly with the brand-new Sweetheart Level 2 Paper Packet and the stamp set Love Ya! The plaid heart is stamped directly on the cardstock, and the other heart is stamped on a scrap piece of cardstock, cut out, and mounted with 3D foam tape. Top it with a little ribbon knot, and you're done!

I always like to do a little random stamping on the calendar, too, almost always in second or third generation stamping. First generation stamping is using a fully inked stamp; second generation is when you stamp once on a scrap piece of paper then stamp on the cardstock without reinking.

Items used:
Paper: Sweetheart Level 2 Paper Packet
Stamp sets: Love Ya!; In the Month of February
Ink: Hollyhock; Blush
Embellishments: Black Mini-Medleys
Other: Event Calendar

All items listed are available on my website.

Check out the great artwork from other CTMH Consultants:

Mistletoe Album

My dad and stepmom spend the winter in the Orlando area, so this year they flew all of us down to spend the holidays with them. What a great gift! We had a wonderful time (in spite of chilly weather), and I wanted to share some of the pictures with them as a little thank-you. I made this album for them using the My Creations 3-ring Binder, Flip-Flaps, and a Level 1 kit. It went together very quickly! It will go in the mail to them tomorrow.

The cover

The My Creations 3-ring Binder comes with five tabbed pages. I cut the tabs off and made my own. I also used a Flip-Flap on each page, so I was able to get a total of 3 photos on each page, leaving the facing page for journaling. I cut the Level 1 kit pages into 5 x 7 inch pieces (3 per page). The page is actually 7 1/2 inches wide, so I added a strip of colored cardstock on the edge of each page like a binding. I only had to add one sheet of New England ivy cardstock for the front and back inside covers. The rest all came from the kit!

Flip-Flap open

My sweet nephew Duncan

Flip-Flap open - My daughter and my youngest nephew Gavin

Items used:
Paper: Mistletoe Level 1 kit
My Creations 3-ring Binder
Stamp sets: Just for the Holidays, Picture Perfect
Accessories: Flip-Flaps, Mistletoe Level 2 Assortment (retired), New England Ivy Designer Ribbon (retired), Cranberry bulk ribbon, Essential and Autumn Harvest brads (retired)
Ink: New England Ivy, Cranberry

Wooden Photo Frame Tray - Find Your Style

I was in Hobby Lobby one day with some friends and came across this frame. My 40% coupon was burning a hole in my pocket, so I bought it with a vague idea that I would make it "perty" some day. The Wings paper seemed just right for this project! 

What really got me thinking was the Bohemian alphabet. I could see the word "CREATE" in my mind -- crazy, huh! 

I used the January Stamp of the Month. The dress form is in the "frame." For the butterfly and the shoe (don't you LOVE the shoe?!?), I stamped them in black ink and ~ because I inexplicably don't have black embossing powder ~ stamped over the image with VersaMark and embossed it in clear embossing powder. I then sponged ink over the images. The butterfly in the pewter frame is covered with Liquid Glass. I was too impatient to post the picture to let it dry completely, so it's still a tad cloudy. But tomorrow -- it will be bright and shiny!

This is my favorite part -- my sweet grandma and me on her 90th birthday a couple of years ago. She is one of my favorite people in the whole world and is a fabulous quilter. She is also the person who taught me to crochet. I love that we share the "crafty" gene. 

 And, yes, I have heard (once or twice or twenty) that I look very much like her. :)

Event Calendar: January

I thought it would be fun to have a quick monthly project this year. Toward the beginning of each month, I'll be posting a topper for the event calendar, a blank perpetual calendar. These make great gifts and are handy for keeping track of birthdays and other special events. I've even made them for "Baby's First Year" calendars -- a great way to track the special events of a little one's first year! Here is what the event calendar looks like:

My own event calendars seem to have gone AWOL, so I had to borrow October from an already-completed calendar to show January's topper. By next month, I'll have the real deal! I just covered up "October."

The top is a square about 3 1/2 inches. I painted the Dimensional Element snowflake with Creat-A-Shade Pearl paint then added Glitz Glitter Gel to really give it some sparkle. The bottom of the calendar has a space between 3/4" and 1 1/4", depending on the month. I just added a little paper for some color:

I usually do some random stamping on the calendar pages, too. Join me every month to create your own event calendar. At the end of the year, you'll have a wonderful keepsake to use for years to come!

Products used:

• Event calendar (Z126)
• Magnifique Level 2 Paper Packet (X7127B)
• Dimensional Elements Flurry (Z1225)
• Create-A-Shade Pearl Paint (Z1039)
• Glitz Glitter Gel (Z1313)
• Sparkle Blue & Green Assortment (Z1327)

Christmas Ornaments - Part 2

More ornament fun! This idea has been making the rounds among the CTMH consultants. Again, I can't claim it as an original idea, although the design is mine. These could not be easier to make! Grab your reinkers, Prisma Glitter, and some clear ornaments, and off you go!

Take the hanger off the ornament, and put a couple of good squirts of reinker in the clear ornament. I used Cranberry in one ornament and Olive in another. Carefully swirl it around until the entire inside is coated with color This may take a little while to get comlete coverage. I set the inked ornament on an empty container to let extra reinker drop out of it.

Add a generous amount of Prisma Glitter to the inside of the ornament. Cover the opening and SHAKE until the inside is covered with glitter. It's amazing to see what looks like a dark color (like the Olive reinker) turn lighter and glittery!

After the ornament was "glittered  up," I decorated each one using the Winter Cheer Glitter Rub-ons. The rub-on itself is a type of sticky substance. It can be a little challenging to see the image you're cutting out, so hold the sheet at an angle to be able to see the pinkish outline. After the rub-on is in place, cut a small piece from the included glitter paper and rub it over the adhesive. Like magic, the sparkly image appears!

Sorry that the quality of these pictures is rough. The ornaments are challenging to photograph since they are so reflective.

Cranberry and Gold:

Olive and Silver:

The Cranberry ornament on the tree. The lights shine through it and make it beautiful!

Products used:

• Z134 - Prisma Glitter - $4.25
• Z2216 - Exclusive Inks Reinker (Cranberry) - $4.25
• Z122 - Winter Cheer Glitter Rub-ons - $13.95
• Clear ornaments (Michael's)
• Silver ribbon (retired)
• Total - $22.45 (enough to qualify for a FREE D-size stamp set of CTMH's choosing!)

Optional add-ons:

• Z2237 - Exclusive Inks Reinker (Olive) - $4.25 (or any color you'd like to use!)

Christmas Ornaments - Part 1

I promised you a project that is around $20 so you can take advantage of the Plenty for Twenty offer on my website! I saw this idea on another consultant's blog (Creating with Christine) - many thanks to Christine Adams for sharing her amazing ideas! Disclaimer - I made my ornaments almost exactly like Christine's because I loved what she did! These only took me a couple of hours to make, and they would make a wonderful gift. Remember to save all the little pieces you punch out - these make the stars and flowers in the center of some ornaments.

A complete product list will follow the photos, but I only used the Dimensional Elements Ornaments, ink, embossing powder, and Prisma Glitter. Super easy! (And more than a little messy -- you will sparkle for days after using the Prisma Glitter!)

Products used (including prices):

• Z1337 - Dimensional Elements Ornaments - $4.95
• Z1336 - Pearl Opaques - $2.95
• Z134 - Prisma Glitter - $4.25
• Z2192 - Exclusive Inks Stamp Pad - Pacifica - $5.25
• Z2194 - Exclusive Inks Stamp Pad - Sky - $5.25
• Silver ribbon (retired)
• Total - $22.65 (which qualifies you for a FREE D-size stamp set that CTMH will select!)

Optional add-ons

• Z669 - Silver Embossing Powder - $3.95
• 1764 - Craft Tray - $7.95
• 1512 - Bonding Memories Glue - $6.95
• Z891 - VersaMark Pad - $9.95
• Z555 - Craft Heater - $29.95
• D1243 - Peace on Earth - $22.95
• D1440 - Everlasting Life - $22.95

You don't have to stop with just inks -- the Dimensional Elements handle embossing and distressing and look great with paper, too! Because the ornaments are layered, you can place a photo in some of the ornaments. Let your creativity flow!

H2H: Gifts!

'Tis the season of gift-giving, and the H2H Challenge Team has a challenge this week to showcase gifts. I have been making these little books to give to the nieces when we all are at Disney this Christmas. I thought they could use them for autographs from the Disney characters, or they can just have a little memory book of the trip. I used a board book and a Level 1 kit to make this sweet little book! (Product list after the pictures) I tried to keep it simple because I have a feeling the book will be handled a LOT! The 6x6" size is perfect for smaller hands. 

This page is a pocket page for autograph cards, ticket stubs, or other keepsakes.

Products used:

• My Creations Board Book
• Zippidee Level 1 kit
• Fancy Fuzz Zippidee Borders
• Zippidee Level 2 My Stickease
• "T" Dimensional Elements Monogram
• Stardust Flexi Labels
• Picture Perfect
• Thrill Ride
• Just the Ticket

If you're looking for more gift ideas, here are links to two previous posts with gift ideas:

Christmas card with detachable ornaments


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