Saturday, August 9, 2014

CTMH August Blog Hop In With The New!!

As of August 1 you can start to order from the new Catalog!!
Be sure to check it out... it has over 250 new products!
A year-long book replaces the twice-annual smaller publications. This one is packed with 193 pages, including 250+ brand new products. There are five new colors introduced this year, each with its own bulk paper pack and complementing Exclusive Ink Pad.  

 So for this Blog Hop, You will see creations from our team that may include stamp sets,patterned paper,inks, embellishments and more from the New Close To My Heart Idea book ~ 2014–2015 Annual Inspirations. To purchase any of the items seen in our blog hop today, kindly contact me to place an order or you can order on line at: http://cardsbytamara.ctmh.com.

We hope that you will take the time to leave comments on our posts, as we really love feedback from our blog viewers....whether it was something that you really liked or some new technique that was used that you would like to learn how to do....by leaving us comments, we get to hear what you like, and what you want to see. Thank you… now on to our hop! 

 If you have just hopped onto my blog, you can start here as this is a circular hop, but if you want to follow our team's blogs, then please start at the beginning and join Brae Montgomery at http://wp.me/p4htXJ-yY

If you came from Michelle Stewart http://mycreationswithmichelle.blogspot.com/2014/08/brae-ers-team-blog-hop-featuring-new.html then you are in the right place!

 Here is my attempt with recreating a card I saw on Pinterest that was done on watercolor paper!  I tried the card two different ways to see what look I liked best.  But I think I like each of them!  
Two different views 


I found that the more you spray the paper with water, the more runny, and muted the color becomes. So spray a small amount of water first and then add more to get the look you are going for!  Also, wait until the paper is fully dry (or heat dry it) before stamping the sentiment!
I found the Watercolor paper at Michael's in the kids paper section at 1/3 the price of the paper in the artist section.  I tried to compare the quality, and they seemed similar and worked well for this project!





My inspiration for this card came from Pinterest on this website, and also from another website with this amazing color palette (seen below) and this card (such amazing talent there!!) that is shown below.  I just knew that I really wanted to try to recreate this card using some of the new CTMH stamp sets!!! 
 

The instructions for this card from the website were: For it to work you must use watercolor paper as it's heavy and porous enough for many sprits of water, blotting dry, more water, ink...  I start by misting my watercolor paper with a Mini Mister filled with plain water.  Then I stamp a layer of images and let then wick and bleed in the water.  I blot a little with a paper towel then spritz more water and stamp again.  I keep going until it looks done.  With each repetition of water and stamping I spritz less and less and the result is a sharper, less defused, image.  My last image stamped was the greeting.  At that time the paper was totally dry.

I decided to use a new stamp set A Budding Friendship $19.75 D1602 because I thought the flowers looked very similar and would give the look I was going for!
I used the following ink pads: 

  







And finished it off with a piece of from the Baker's Twine Neutral Metallic Assortment $6.50 Z1921
And put it on 12" X 12" Lagoon Cardstock $15.95 X5762


 Hope you love making this card as much as I did!


Your next stop on the Team Braer Hop is Nicky Scott - http://www.timelesscottage.ca/team-brae-er-new-product/ to help inspire you with her amazing creation of her favorite things! 

If you get lost along the way, you can head to  Brae's blog at www.brae-er.com, as she has the complete blog list .http://wp.me/p4htXJ-wC


Thanks for hopping along with us - we hope we were able to inspire you to get creative using some of the designs, products and techniques seen along the way.  Join us next time where we will be featuring things where it will be Back to 'school' we go! This hop will have a bit of a different twist on it- we will create a piece of artwork using current product BUT it must have a tutorial aspect.  Our bloggers may show this by a video, by picture tutorial or in another format!!  Can't wait to see what everyone comes up with next time!!
1. Brae Montgomery-http://wp.me/p4htXJ-yY
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Saturday, August 2, 2014

Cricut Compatible Stamp Sets

As most of you know I LOVE my Cricut.  Adding a die cut shape to my cards or scrapbook layout just adds a little bit of ooomph to the project in my opinion.
The greatest thing about the Close to My Heart Cricut cartridges is that they are bundled with three My Acrylix stamp sets and chipboard pieces and they come packed with 700 images – I’m not sure if there is another Cricut cartridge that offers that many shapes!
The first and most exciting thing that I’d like to share is that Close to My Heart has added a shopping tab just for the Cricut Compatible Stamp Sets.  They do not follow the same retirement program as some of our other stamp sets and although they might not be in the catalog you can find them all right here!

DSCN1061DSCN1062DSCN1063
The next tip I’d like to share is how to store your stamp sets.  In the past I have stored my stamp sets in individual storage boxes separated by size and organized by number.  This system still works great for me, however I’ve enhanced it a bit by separating out my Cricut Compatible sets into a Large Organizer $27.50 Z1834
 Within the organizer I have separated out the cartridge type and they fit just perfectly!  

DSCN1059DSCN1060
My third tip I’m sure will make perfect sense…when you cut one – you may as well cut a half dozen!  When I first started with my Cricut I would make one cut at a time and then I realized that I didn’t always (even though our stamps are clear) get the image perfectly placed on the die cut paper so I started cutting more than one and you know what sometimes I started getting them stamped perfectly on the first try.  What to do with those other cuts – save them of course.  I keep them tucked right in with the stamp set for the next time I need to make a quick card.
I hope you’ve found my tips helpful and that you’ll stop by again soon – or even better click on the follow button on the right and you’ll get a new e-mail each time I post.
And if that wasn't enough info....there is a brand new Close To My Heart/Cricut cartridge coming in this catalog. It's not yet available (ProvoCraft has some production delays) so I'm waiting much as you are to get my hands on this amazing cartridge....CTMH has let us know it should be available in September 2014! 
Let me tell you, it is the answer to this cardmaker's dreams!!!  


The new-for-2014 cartridge is called "Artfully Sent."  With more than 700 images on this completely designed cartridge, the value is immense. Here's what theInspirations Book says about this cartridge:

"Cardmaking has never been easier or more fun! With our newest Cricut collection you can make handmade masterpieces in no time at all. Choose from cards with sentiments cut directly into them, or combine several cutouts to create your own pop-up scenes. Featuring more than 25 different card themes and 5 different card formats including dynamic interactive designs, this cartridge has a card for any and all occasions -- even if the occasion is "just because"!  Card styles include pop-ups, scenes, sentiments, sleeves and pocket cards.  

Now let's take a look at everything your $99 investment in this new cartridge will get you:
1 Cricut Cartridge (700 images; cards and font)
3 (that's right, THREE!) My Acrylix D-size stamp sets (value $17.95 each!)
1 pack of 12x12" CTMH White Cardstock (a $9.50 value!)

Let me give you a sneak peek at just one of the really fabulous cards you can make with this cartridge.  This is one that's shown in the Inspirations Book, as an example:



Another great CTMH consultant found this screen shot of what the cartridge's book looks like to find this pop-up balloon image:



See it there, in the "Pop Ups" icon, top (red)?  YES, Cricut cuts out the center of the card, and you just adhere it to your cover -- voila, you're a pop-up card artist!!  Add the cute banner ... or use it on other cards, scrapbook pages, etc. ... and you've got a darling card.

And yes, you can even use it in Cricut Craft Room (for the Expression) or Cricut Design Room (with your Explore). Look here:



How easy-peasy is that?!   I'm telling you, I've never been more excited about a Cricut/CTMH cartridge as I am about the pending arrival of "Artfully Sent."

Here is Close To My Heart's video about this fantastic new cartridge




Now, we're all prevented from "pre-selling" this Cricut cartridge because, frankly, there are many top-sellers who have been undercutting us little guys.  But I CAN take your name and e-mail address if you're interested in being the first on your block to order it from me as soon as it's available.
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The NEW Close To My Heart Annual Inspirations Catalog is available now!



Today, August 1 you can start to order from the new Catalog!!
Be sure to check it out... it has over 250 new products!
A year-long book replaces the twice-annual smaller publications. This one is packed with 193 pages, including 250+ brand new products. There are five new colors introduced this year, each with its own bulk paper pack and complementing Exclusive Ink Pad.  


And isn't the August Stamp of the Month the cutest???

It is called What a Hoot!

And as always, it is just $5 with a minimum $50 order (also available at full price without a minimum).

$19.75 S1408 or $5 with a $50 order!!



Another new product is the 

ShinHan Touch Twin Markers

These markers are amazing!  You can do so much with alcohol markers (now you may have heard about Copic markers? these are the SAME top of the line quality that comes from those- just a better price point). CTMH will be carrying 24 of these markers and YES they are refillable (if you ever need to refill them).
So, what can these markers do? Alcohol markers are fast drying- colour embellishments (like the stars and sequins shown below from another CTMH rep who already started playing with the markers) and the colour stays! Alcohol markers blend beautifully- you won’t see stroke marks when colouring with these! The colours are bright and long-lasting.
You can blend the colours together to get a truly lovely look (and CTMH has a colourless blender that helps achieve a blended look).
marker intromarker intro 2
One of the other consultants that tried out these markers said: Not only do they sit in my hand nicely (they are ergonomically designed) but they are so smooth! The other thing I immediately noticed- there is NO NASTY SMELL! Some alcohol markers make my head swim with the smell they give off but these ones don’t!

 For those that would like to select a color to match the current CTMH colors, here is a comparison chart.


 And here is a color wheel with all the CTMH colors including the 5 new colors!  

5 New Colors for CTMH in 2014 Flaxen, Thistle, Canary, Glacier, Pixie


CTMH is also introducing new cardmaking kits called "Cut Above" which each comes with almost everything you need to create 10 beautiful cards or treat bags. You'll also find new "Designer Creations" -- button bags, cupcake boxes, a takeout box and printed paper bags. There are dozens of adorable new stamp sets made from the industry's finest photopolymer called "My Acrylix", including new exclusive-to-Hostesses sets, Stamps of the Month and specialty stamp sets in CTMH's "Workshops on the Go."


 And if that wasn't enough info....there is a brand new Close To My Heart/Cricut cartridge coming in this catalog. It's not yet available (ProvoCraft has some production delays) so I'm waiting much as you are to get my hands on this amazing cartridge....CTMH has let us know it should be available in September 2014! 
Let me tell you, it is the answer to this cardmaker's dreams!!!  


The new-for-2014 cartridge is called "Artfully Sent."  With more than 700 images on this completely designed cartridge, the value is immense. Here's what theInspirations Book says about this cartridge:

"Cardmaking has never been easier or more fun! With our newest Cricut collection you can make handmade masterpieces in no time at all. Choose from cards with sentiments cut directly into them, or combine several cutouts to create your own pop-up scenes. Featuring more than 25 different card themes and 5 different card formats including dynamic interactive designs, this cartridge has a card for any and all occasions -- even if the occasion is "just because"!  Card styles include pop-ups, scenes, sentiments, sleeves and pocket cards.  

Now let's take a look at everything your $99 investment in this new cartridge will get you:
1 Cricut Cartridge (700 images; cards and font)
3 (that's right, THREE!) My Acrylix D-size stamp sets (value $17.95 each!)
1 pack of 12x12" CTMH White Cardstock (a $9.50 value!)

Let me give you a sneak peek at just one of the really fabulous cards you can make with this cartridge.  This is one that's shown in the Inspirations Book, as an example:



Another great CTMH consultant found this screen shot of what the cartridge's book looks like to find this pop-up balloon image:



See it there, in the "Pop Ups" icon, top (red)?  YES, Cricut cuts out the center of the card, and you just adhere it to your cover -- voila, you're a pop-up card artist!!  Add the cute banner ... or use it on other cards, scrapbook pages, etc. ... and you've got a darling card.

And yes, you can even use it in Cricut Craft Room (for the Expression) or Cricut Design Room (with your Explore). Look here:



How easy-peasy is that?!   I'm telling you, I've never been more excited about a Cricut/CTMH cartridge as I am about the pending arrival of "Artfully Sent."

Here is Close To My Heart's video about this fantastic new cartridge




Now, we're all prevented from "pre-selling" this Cricut cartridge because, frankly, there are many top-sellers who have been undercutting us little guys.  But I CAN take your name and e-mail address if you're interested in being the first on your block to order it from me as soon as it's available.
Posted by at No comments:
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