NEW Cricut Cartridge!

I have some exciting news to share with you!  Close To My Heart is having our annual convention this week in sunny Florida.  Even though I will be attending my niece's wedding this weekend instead of the convention, my friends have been sharing much of the excitement with me.  The most exciting news is that Close To My Heart will have a new Cricut Cartridge called Artbooking.  It will be available starting August 1, 2013.  Stay tuned for more details.
Thanks for visiting.
Betty

Announcing a Vendor Fair and Crop!

Friends of mine, Erin and Laurie, are sponsoring a crop and Vendor Fair on Sunday July 21, 2013.  All of the profits will benefit their Relay For Life Team.  Relay for Life is sponsored by the American Cancer Society.  Just think, an entire day of uninterrupted crafting!  What could be better than that you ask?  Well, shopping at the vendor fair. of course!.  A delicious lunch is included.  Please come and bring your friends and family to support this great cause.  Pre-registration is required because space is limited to 36 croppers.

Vendor Fair and Crop  
When:  Sunday July 21, 2013
Where:  New Hope Eagle Volunteer Fire Company
              46N. Sugan Road
              New Hope, PA  18938
Time:     8AM to 6PM
RSVP     TheDReamersRFL@gmail.com
The cost is only $25.00 to crop and shop.  Admission to vendor fair is only $1.00.
The crop includes lunch, 4 Ft. workspace, Electricity and WiFi.  There will also be Door Prizes, Raffles and Make and Takes.

If you unable to come, please consider donating to their Relay For Life Team.  We can all relate because everyone of us has been touched by cancer.  Help them reach their goal of $1500.  Every dollar counts.  Here is the link to their fundraising page.

You can also check out their Facebook page.

Please let me know if you have any questions about the event.  I will be there with my Cricut machine and the Art Philosophy and Artiste cartridges.  Hope to see you there.

Betty

Joyful Stars June Blog Hop

Welcome to the Joyful Stars Blog Hop.  I'm so happy you decided visit and hope that you get some great new ideas as you hop along.  If you have come from Elizabeth Mindemann's Blog, then you are on the right track.  This is our very first month and our theme  is "Anything Goes".  I made a Birthday card using the beautiful "Claire Paper Pack" and the "Girl's Rock" stamp set.

This card is a version of the pattern "Cubes and Colors" on page 11 of the "Originals" Card Confidence Book.

ABOVE:  Start with a Colonial White card base. This card uses a technique called "second generation" stamping to make the background.   Ink the medium flower image with Sorbet Ink and stamp it onto scrap paper first, then onto the card base. The image will be lighter on the card base.  This creates a soft muted background that will not compete with our focal image.  If you stamp both first and second generation images on the same project, it will create depth and shades of the same color. Use this technique to create your own "designer paper"!  Concentrate the stamping in the center of the card. The background paper will cover both edges.                                                                                           
BELOW:  Then ink the small flower in Outdoor Denim Ink and use the same technique.  Just fill in open spots and be sure to stamp some half on and half off the card.
   

Next you will work on the card borders.  Cut a strip of background paper 1 1/2" wide.  Cut a strip of Outdoor Denim cardstock 1/2" wide.  Adhere the Outdoor Denim strip under the patter strip leaving about 1/8" showing.

Adhere the strips along both the top and bottom edges.

This is the Girl’s Rock Stamp Set.  Take a look at the plastic carrier sheet that holds the stamps.  Notice the word “Art Philosophy” at the bottom right.  This indicates the images with the solid outline can be cut using the Art Philosophy cartridge.  If you like flowers, this is the perfect stamp set and cartridge for you.  No more cutting out flowers!  You will notice the size and page number next to each cuttable image.  This makes it so easy to find the image on your cartridge and tells you the size to cut the image to fit the stamp.  After you cut the image, just ink up the stamp and stamp the images.  How easy is that?

 Cut the images shown and then ink them as follows:  Stamp the large colonial white flower using Sorbet Ink.  Stamp the small flower and leaves using Outdoor Denim ink.  

 It is so easy to add color with Close To My Heart coordinating stamps.

Using 1/2" circle punch, punch out the center of one of the flowers on the reverse side of the background and texture paper.

Layer the stamped flower pieces together.

 Add mounting tape to the back of the large stamped flower and adhere to the sorbet flower.

Add completed flower and leaves to card front as desired.  For a little added dimension, add liquid glass to the flower center.  Allow to dry for 3 - 4 hours.

 Stamp the sentiment inside and second generation flower images to coordinate with the the card front.

Stamp your envelope with both first and second generation flowers.  You can even coordinate the postage stamp.  Right now, these beautiful Vintage Seed Packet stamps are available at the Post Office.

Now hop on over to  Jean Murphy's Blog to see her beautiful artwork.
Thanks for stopping by.
Betty