I know you have heard me talk about Close to My Heart's exclusive Cricut Collections Art Philosophy, Artiste, and Artbooking. I own all three and love them all. I can honestly say that I rarely use any of my other Cricut cartridges because they are that fantastic. I've even sold off a few of my other cartridges and keep only a few themed cartridges like "50 States" or "Mickey Mouse & Friends", etc. As to holiday cartridges, cartridges with crafting projects on them I am no longer in need of them because CTMH cartridges are so complete with 700 images in each cartridge. They all have beautiful fonts, each one can be used for card making or scrapbooking. Artbooking has lots of 3D paper crafting projects in them and Art Philosophy has a few as well. Each collection comes with 3 stamp sets, 3 Chipboard Dimensional Elements (for embellishment and for mini albums),
Art Philosophy Collection, was the first one Close to My Heart introduced. I highly recommend this one for everyone and particularly if you have a Personal Cricut, aka the baby Cricut machine. To view the digital handbook here in PDF.
Artiste, was the second collection to be introduced and it's geared towards the paper crafting enthusiasts. Great for creating boxes, party favors, banners, and yes even a mini album. You may view the digital handbook or the assembly instruction book here in PDF. There's a second book to show you how to put together the 3D projects.
Artbooking, the most recent collection is geared towards me, just kidding. It really uses the current scrapbooking trends and makes it easier for us crafters. Different types of scrapbooking layouts, 10 mini albums, overlays, great for greeting cards too. View the digital handbook here in PDF format.
Below is a video explain the differences between the three collections. It can be challenging if you must only select one collection.
I hope this helps. If you order online you will receive a FREE Idea Book, a FREE Holiday Gift Guide, and Stamp Set. Just my way of saying thank you.
Hi Paper Crafters! I enjoy reading and writing poetry. Often I am torn between writing and crafting but I decided to combine the two. I took a workshop this summer on writing love Poetry needless to say this was out of my comfort zone. I really admire and enjoy reading love poems but writing them ... I have only a few. Writing I Need a 12" x 12" Step Program was fun, light hearted, and YES I do love Scrapbooking. Sharing this poem with other scrapbookers is fun. People laugh right through it. If others can relate to it and visualize what I'm saying then I've accomplished my goal.
When I first started scrapbooking I remember struggling with how to mix patterned papers, papers with designs on them, so that my page wouldn't look so busy. How did the pros figure out how to mix papers that I would overlook or not even know how to work with? They made it look so easy and for me it was so hard.
My first scrapbook instructor, Jackie, gave me some basic rules that I will never forget. In honor of my first mentor I will gladly share her wonderful tips.
Don't select pattern papers where the circles or dot patterns are larger than the head of people in the picture. This distracts your eyes from the subject matter.
Larger circles or large dots are reserved for large portrait or close up pictures.
Next, it's great to mix dotted and striped pattern papers together.
Select colors found in your photographs and select theme papers or patterns that coordinate.
But then I learned that the scrapbooking industry is willing to help scrapbooking and card making enthusiasts. In fact, every season they select themed colors and coordinate new patterned papers within the same color family to help with coordination.
The new found problem was finding the ink pads to coordinate with the patterned papers. If you were like me I had ink pads from so many companies. I was super happy to find a perfect match from one company only to discover those ink pads I liked were no longer available. Find the right coordination of things is time consuming. Next, finding embellishment to coordinate. I found some with the right theme but the wrong colors, etc.
Then came Close to My Heart to the rescue. Everything coordinates, the papers, the inks, markers, embellishments, no need to shop around trying to find things that matched. It's a quick one stop shop. They have a base line of colors and you can always get more ink pads, re-inkers, cardstock that coordinates, etc. To top things off the quality of their products are top notch. This allows for even simple designs to look incredible. I love that. So I must admit that I'm now becoming a Close to My Heart snob. Shhh! That's our secret okay.
I must say that Close to My Heart has impressed me again. They explain that almost ALL of their pattern papers coordinate and why. Amazing! Someone is finally breaking it down so that everyone can understand. Why didn't someone do this sooner? I always have an extra CTMH patterned paper or scrap and no longer have to worry if it matches. I'll just go for it. Below is a video from Close to My Heart that explains how their patterned papers coordinates with each other regardless if they are from different paper packets. Cool, right?
PS. If you enjoyed this video and would like to learn more just click visit my Online Store.
There are tutorials on so many things including stamping, mini albums, specials, you name it.
I found myself trying to figure out how I can make a Wedding greeting card for a friend who's wedding theme was hockey. She's an avid Flyers fan so the colors are orange and black, also her wedding theme colors. I just couldn't find myself to put a hockey related theme on a card for a wedding but decided to incorporate the wedding colors. Below is my design.
This card was created using both Close to My Heart and non-Close to My Heart products. The paper packet that I used for this card is from a company that is no longer in business. Hey I still have to used my pre-CTMH stuff sometime, right?
The cake image is from a Piece of Cake,D1407, a retired Close to My Heart stamp set and the Best Wishes to You Sentiment is from one of the stamp set in the Art Philosophy Cricut Collection. I used Close to My Heart alcohol ink markers Sky, Honey, Sunset, and Whisper. The card base is made from Daisy White cardstock. Buttons were from a Michael's store find and I used a retired Close to My Heart product of waxy flax that I had in my collection.
The next few posts are going to be YouTube videos that Close to My Heart recently posted and are very interesting. The first one is about how to mix pattern papers and the next one is an informative video about the different Cricut collections. This video is useful if you are trying to decide which Cricut collection is right for you.
If you have had a chance to view the latest Idea Book Fall/Winter 2013-2014, you will notice that they are offering two card making kits. I hosted a workshop where four incredible ladies created 5 greeting cards using the Frosted Card Making Workshop on the Go. This kit includes instructions, paper, cardstock, baker's twine, bling, and of course a D sized stamp. You just need to have scissors, paper trimmer, and ink pads in order to create 15 cards with 3 different card designs. Well I thought it would be good to give the ladies a single snowflake stamp and new create two more cards. Below is one of the cards that I can easily share with you.
This card is a standard A2 greeting card and contains stamped images, patterned paper, and Slatewashi tape.
I used the stamp found in the Frosted Card Workshop on the Go, stamping in Juniper ink, and used a grey sparkle for added touch. Using the Slate Ink Pad and stamp found in the kit I was able to create my version of coordinating washi tape by simply stamping the image. I made "V" notches on both the washi tape and the slate background image and then layered on top. I think it looks terrific together.
I couldn't leave the inside of this lovely greeting card to go bare so I added a sentiment inside.
The Frosted Card Workshop stamp images are fantastic and used the images found in that kit to create this sentiment. Using Champagne ink pad I stamped the background snow. Followed by the snowflake image and sentiment in Juniper ink. The cardstock that I used to mat the sentiment can only be found... you guest it in this exclusive card workshop on the go.
Close to My Heart has done it again. They have come out with some incredible deals that you can't resist. I have also had a chance to preview the new line of products and wait until you get to see what's coming in October. You definitely want to get started on your holiday crafting once you are able to view the new items on October 15th. Don't worry I will remind you when we approach the launch date.
So back to September incredible deals. Who wants more stamps? Me! Me! Me! I can hear you out there.
Get an exclusive You Are My Happy stamp set trio in celebration of National Stamping Month! During the month of September, when you make a purchase of $50 or more, you qualify for this whimsical stamp set trio for only $10. You'll love the whimsical alphabet, light-hearted sentiments, and fanciful images for a variety of occasions to give a cheerful touch to your projects, with a full retail value of $47.90.
Watch the campaign video above and shop online or contact me to place your qualifying order to snatch this darling stamp set trio today! *Offer valid September 1-30, 2013. Placing a minimum order of $50 is required for qualification.
But wait there's more. As always there's also the Stamp of the Month deal to consider. Again if you spend $50 in qualifying purchase you can own a $17.95 stamp for just $5! Awesome right?
September 2013 Stamp of the Month is called "Poster Tidings", S1309, and can be purchase this month only for $17.95 or with a $50 order for only $5.
There are projects for you to try using this stamp on my online store.
