August Card Club

Wow it was fun to see everyone after taking a month off to take care of family things and take some family time! We took the grandchildren, son and daughter-in-law to the beach for a few days! I had so much fun! I hope they did too!

But getting back to my routine is nice - and I missed all my friends! With a slightly different format beginning with the new Close to My Heart Annual Inspiration (wow!!! I love the new idea book!) we started by learning a new technique, and reviewing one that we had done before.

These techniques will be done and/or reviewed each month and put on a "Technique Ring", then if anyone (including me) feels the need for some inspiration you can go to your 'ring' and choose one. I do have to thank my friend Adel for this wonderful idea. She is awesome for sharing this idea and letting me 'case' it! (copy and share w/everyone).

Our first technique (bottom) was the new 'painter tape' technique. Isn't it great?? And super easy, just use it like a stamp! The second is sanding on a dry embossed surface. Just as easy as it sounds!

Now for the cards we made with these two techniques.
Using the painter's tape with new colors Flaxen, Pixie and Thistle, adding a sweet sentiment and some cute black dot flowers then matted it with black. I love this quick easy and fun card.

The dry embossing was done on Lagoon cardstock and with our white core it looks amazing sanded. Diagonally cut the dotted 'Seaside' paper and layer it on top. For a little contrast we used Thistle ink to stamp the sentiment on the circle (keeping with the dot format) and tied a cute bow on the side with the new Thistle diagonal stripe ribbon.



The third and fourth cards didn't really use any specific technique but they were equally fun to make!


Both of these cards were made using the Pathfinding paper pack. What a wonderfully versatile paper pack. The card on the left is what I like to call a 'tucker' card. It is small enough to 'tuck' into a coat pocket, a lunch box, a suitcase. . . well you get the idea! And yet it is big enough you could mail it if you wanted. Finished size is 3 1/2 x 3 1/2. And - check out that cute little staple in the upper corner! Fun little accent!

And What a Hoot!! Our August Stamp of the Month!! Isn't it a hoot? So Adorable! After stamping and cutting him out he was matted on white cardstock that was distressed and sponged along the edges. Along with some Shimmer tape and sequin eyes on his mask he makes an adorable little card.
Thank for stopping by!

Items used in the making of these cards:
Z1924 Dot Embossing folder
X5762 Lagoon cardstock
X7192B Seaside paper pack
X7186B Pathfinding paper pack

Z1990 Thistle Diagonal stripe ribbon
B1467 My Acrylix You Mean the World to Me
Z2640 Thistle ink pad
Z2642 Flaxen ink pad
Z2644 Pixie ink pad
Z2641 Glacier ink pad
D1616 My Acrylix Have a Happy Day
B1462 My Acrylix Lovely Birthday
S1408 August Stamp of the Month - What a Hoot!
Z2012 Gold sequins
Z2449 Cerulean Blue Shinhan marker
Z2461 Peacock Green Shinhan marker
Z2465 Turquois Blue Shinhan marker

Thank you - Thank you - Thank you!

Just playing around and finally getting my thank you cards done and sent after 3 months!!!! But my mom always told me - it is never too late to send a Thank You card - so I am holding her to that!

Just some simple CAS cards - Clean And Simple! 

 'Thank you so much' is made using some of the new colors; Flaxen and Canary with a little Honey thrown in along with some new Gold Sequins!
'Thank you for your kindness' is made with a retired paper pack (sorry) and the ever popular bling!
The circular 'thank you' card is made using the new Seaside paper pack and using the new color Glacier!
'Thanks a Bunch' is made with the new color Thistle, the new epoxy stars and the black striped ribbon -

Thanks for stopping by ~ Happy Stamping

Convention Cards

What a fun time at convention this year! I just love Disneyland! And what a wonderful place to have a convention? Right? Fun Fun Fun!!!

This year I was blessed to help at one of the creative sessions! I was so excited when I got my email! My Mike asked if I was okay because I was just giddy! What fun! What an honor!

One of my friends got to help at a later one and we both agreed it was extremely hard to keep our secret, because we couldn't show anyone!!! Yikes - you all know how hard it is for me to keep quiet!

So here are the cards! They are made with our new upcoming Cricut cartridge Artfully Sent! It is all about cards. Sad part is (Provo Craft) the booklets won't be ready therefore the cartridge won't be available until September! So sad, but will totally be worth the wait! Now without further ado . . .

The cards are primarily  based on a 5x7 format. I can hardly wait to play around with it and see what they will be like at the standard 4.25x5.5 size! and here you also see one of the new colors - Flaxen! Amazing new basic color! I Love It!


YES the design is cut into to front of the card and you can back with any color you want! Here are two more new colors used, Canary and Glacier! Really nice new colors, aren't they?

 The last card is just downright fun, isn't it? Again the words are cut out of the front of the card as well as the clouds on the inside panels with the pop-up balloon! Just add a little stamping some blingy embellishments and voila - your card is done ~ As soon as our cartridge is available club members will be making this card!

Thanks for stopping by ~ Happy Stamping

Stampers With An Attitude Bling it On!

Welcome to Stampers With an Attitude's monthly Blog Hop! This month it is all about the bling! Something that is near and dear to my heart - and art!!!

Every one will be showing their best 'Bling it Up Artwork with an Attitude'! Because that's just the way we are! Blingy!!!

This month they are trusting me (of all the blingy people!) to start this hop! However if you started in the middle of this hop you have come from Denise Elliott's and you are on the right track.

Those of you who watch my blog know that I am mostly a card maker - but - I wanted to try something a little different this month. I wanted to make something for each of my children, something they could use (or not) inside or outside, but pretty - so this is what I came up with.

 

 I used the base and bling rings and made these darling napkin rings. The Kraft container holds extra napkins for the table. The roses were made with texture embossed paper and the swirls and hearts from the gorgeous glitter paper. And yes there is a red glitter gem in the center of each rose. Just a little glittery bling added to the 'blingy' glitter paper.

















I am sorry to say my camera quit working, at of all times - convention - so these pictures were taken with my phone, I really hoped the glitter from the paper and the center of the flower would show up better - guess I better buy an new camera!

The next blingin' blogger on this hop is Di Crawford check out her bling!

Thanks for stopping by ~

Happy Stamping!

Stampers With an Attitude January Blog Hop!

Welcome to the Stampers with an Attitude January Blog Hop!  If you have come from the ever creative Melinda Everitt's blog you are on the right track. The Stampers with an Attitude are excited to show artwork using Close to My Heart Washi tape and one of our stamp sets, so here we go.

Washi tape is one of the newest and biggest ideas for decorating your cards, scrapbook pages and just about anything you want to decorate. Washi tape has been out for a while and the designs are really beautiful! I love stamping and using our (CTMH) background and texture papers, therefore until lately I have just set aside the Washi tape, I just wasn't sure?! So, after Christmas I decided to just jump right in and go for it! Then -  along came the Stampers with and Attitude's blog challenge for January using Washi tape!!! Coincidence??? Hmmmm ~ Either way it's working out perfect for me. And - by jove - I think I've got it!!  I love Washi tape!!

Most all of the cards for my card clubs are KISS friendly, and FUN!
I wanted to design a card using Washi tape - and surprise them with a card that doesn't have my usual B&T paper designs. I hope they like it - so simple and FUN - the most important thing when it comes to creating.

The Washi tape I used for this card are ~ Silver Geometric (Z1932), Slate Polka Dot (Z1817) and the Lagoon Washi tape is from the Holidays from the Heart Collection which is no longer available, I had this card made before the end of the year. Using Art Philosophy I cut out a tag for the sentiment and attached it with Slate Bakers Twine. The Congrats stamp is from the Artiste stamp collection. I hope this shows you how easy it is to use Washi tape and how beautiful it makes your designs.

I will now send you on your way to the next blogger ~  Sheila Bennett  you will love her design.

Thanks for stopping by ~

Stampers With An Attitude New Product Blog Hop!

Welcome to Becky's Studio! And Welcome to the Stampers with an Attitude Blog Hop! The Stampers with an Attitude are excited to show you some Artwork with an Attitude using product from our new Autumn/Winter Idea Book. So grab your coffee, maybe a cookie or some chocolate, sit back and have a fun journey.

The blogger in front of me is Pamela O'Connor  . Great work Pamela, thank you for sharing your talents. If you got here from her blog, you are on the right track.

We have so many wonderful new products in this Idea Book and I have been having so much fun jumping from one product to another, and one paper pack to another - BUT -

I am totally in love with the new 'Baby Cakes' paper pack (X7073B)! It is so cheerful and fun and so versatile! As you will see, I got a little carried away using it! But I just couldn't help myself.

First of all with the name Baby Cakes it just lends itself to 'Baby' cards! Right? 

I used Baby Cakes polka dot paper on this card along with some embellishments made from our new 'Artbooking' (Z1906) Cricut cartridge. What a fun cartridge!!! Don't you just love that darling Giraffe? So so cute - and can be used for a boy or a girl!

(I know I used a sentiment from and old stamp set, my bad! But it was just perfect for what I needed.) ;~}

But .  .  .

What if you don't have any babies right now to make cards for??

Well .  .  .

Baby Cakes can make adorable birthday cards too!

This birthday card was made using one of the new mini stamps 'A Little Gift' (M1030). Is that just the cutest present?

And, I had to embellish it with the Art Philosophy cartridge that just happens to have a bow that works quite well with it - don't you think? Adding some shiny opaque gems (Z1335) and voila - your done!

And since I just couldn't stop! (I love this paper!)

 I used Baby Cakes this time with the September Stamp of the Month 'Poster Tidings' (S1309) and made a fun 'Fall' card.

I just love how versatile this paper pack is! I'm sure you will find just as many options for this fun paper pack and I hope you have just as much fun using it as I did -

``
Your next stop on this  blog hop is the very talented and creative Melinda Everitt.

 Have fun, be creative, and show some attitude!

Thanks for stopping by ~

July Card Club -

Welcome to Becky's Studio ~

Here are the cards we did for card clubs this week!

Summer is definitely upon us right now so I just had to make some cards with our fun 'Tommy' paper pack all red, white, blue and yellow!

And the 'Surfs Up' paper pack with a beach theme.

The card on the left is made with a fun fabric flower for weddings that are going on all summer long.
And last but not least my friend Karen showed us this fun quick technique at our last meeting, and I just had to share it! So fun! Besides, one can never have too many thank you cards around, don't you think?

I hope you like them, they were fun to make.

Thanks for stopping by ~

June Stamp of the Month

I absolutely fell in love with this stamp set! The flowers can be made just about any color you want - just use your imagination. These flowers were embossed with black and I used water color pencils and the water color pen to color them. The two flowers in the back were stamped directly onto the paper, the one in the front was stamped separately, cut out then attached with foam dots to make it 3d (which is kind of hard to see in the picture) 

If you would like to learn how this technique works - I would love to show you how.

Thanks for stopping by!

FUN IN THE SUN - Blog hop!

Welcome to the Stampers with an Attitude Blog Hop!  The blogger in front of me is Jen Patrick- http://roxybonds-scrappin.blogspot.com so if you came from her blog you are on the right track.   The Stampers with an Attitude are all excited to show you a little Art with an Attitude, so here we go.

There are so many things that remind me of summer... and since that is the theme of my card clubs this month I just have to share a couple of the cards they will be making! Shame on me but I just couldn't help myself posting two pix.

The first card I made is all about 'Sunshine and Ice Cream'! What is more fun in the sun than that? The sun was made using Art Philosophy's 'star 1' using Honey and Sunny Yellow. The ice cream cone is made using an older stamp set but so much fun! Desert Sand cone, Honey ice cream. The ribbon is CTMH white gross grain stamped with "sunshine" using the "honey" pigment ink - how fun is that?

My second card has very little stamping but has just as much fun in the sun! The Ocean Beach and Spinners. I used Sky for my card base. When you tear the Juniper paper just right it looks like waves on the ocean then tear some Champagne cardstock for the sand. The spinners were made by using two 2 inch squares and one 2 1/4 inch square.

I had a lot of fun making these simple summer cards!

Thanks for stopping by.


For more Art with Attitude, the next blogger on this hop is the talented Melinda Everitt ~ http://www.ifyoublingit.blogspot.com/2013/06/fun-in-sun-ctmh-stampers-with-attitude.html

This weeks blog challenge was to post a Halloween card! How fun is that? So I am going to post two pictures (actually 3) of the cards I have made this week. The first one is a darling circle card we made at my friend Shelley's Gathering the other night! It was so fun! Is that just the cutest little ghost you have ever seen?

You can tell I like him because I used him on both cards :~)

 I would love to give credit to the creative lady I got this next card idea from but I cannot remember which blog I found it on! Shame on me!

If this is your design?  Thank you for the cute idea.

Have fun making your own Halloween cards -

Trick - or - Treat!!!!


Thanks for stopping by ~

Organized for Christmas???

This is something that is not only near and dear to me but also desperately needed by me!!! I know I seem to have it all together, organized and so prepared everyday - oh heck who am I kidding - you all know me well enough by now that if I were to be completely organized, you would think I were kidnapped and replaced by an alien!!! ;~D  ~ So this class is for me too!

 We will be making a Holiday Organizer, an Event Calendar and a few stocking stuffers. Just to give us a little head start on the fun stuff.
Here is a picture to give you an idea of what they look like. Now keep in mind the stocking stuffers, stamps and papers may change a bit, we don't want to be exactly alike do we??

Each attendee will receive a CTMH Event Calendar; the template, instructions and where to find additional inserts for the organizer; and at least two adorable stocking stuffers. The organizers are easy to make so I'm sure you will want to make more for gifts.


As you know my space is limited so please sign up early -
October 13, 2012
1:00pm - 4:00pm
$25 per person
Please rsvp by 10/5/12 to reserve your space at the table I also want to make sure I have enough event calendars purchased -

Thanks for stopping by ~

Adding Color to Your Crafts

Pretty, but kind of plain ~

Oh my - I have been having a blast with my gold leaf! It is just as fun and just as messy as all that glitter that I love too! :~}

Here is a little pumpkin that I decorated with gold leaf. I like that it looks old and a little tattered - fits me. I used my CTMH Artiste cartridge and added some pumpkin leaves. I crumpled them up and added some gold leaf to them too. It just added so much to the pumpkin!

I put it on the table and decided it needed more!

Much better with the Fall colors

More gold leaf???

Noooo - just more!

So I got in my closet, found my fall leaves and berries, set the pumpkin on top and voila! I like it so much better.

I hope you like it ~



Thanks for stopping by ~

Stamp of the Month - September

Welcome to our monthly Stamp of the Month Blog Hop! On the 15th of each month we will be showcasing the current SOTM set with various projects created by talented Close to my Heart consultants. If you are visiting from Pam Stewart's then you are on the right track, if not please start at the beginning with her!
For all you fall lovers out there the "Fall Favorites" (S1209) will surly catch your eye!  This stamp set will turn out to be one of your favorites, especially after you see all the wonderful artwork done on this blog hop.
This is my creation! While I was in the studio gold leafing a pumpkin for my fall table I remembered a fun technique taught by Jill at Stamp Paradise (now closed, so sad). The cute little pumpkins in this stamp set worked out great for this technique.

S1209 - Fall Favorites - September Stamp of the Month

First I stamped the pumpkins with our brown staz-on ink on a piece of acetate and let it dry. Then I turned it over and painted the back of the pumpkins, stems and leaves only with the Bonding Memories glue pen. I let it get a little tacky then applied the gold leaf. I used bits and pieces of the gold leaf and had some with different colors so I used some of the green colored leafing for the stem and leaves - I hope it shows okay in the picture. I backed it with some 'quilted' honey card stock and framed it with one of the fun cards on Art Philosophy!
The little 3x3 card is made using the same pumpkins and our fun new alcohol pens.

Thanks for stopping by - Now if the goblins of cyber space have gotten you lost along away here is the list of all the talented consultants who are participating in this month’s blog hop!   Hmmmm I guess I was the only one to participate in this hop!
So thanks for stopping by -

Here it is on my wall

I was so inspired by several fellow consultant's Christmas wreaths that I just had to make a fall wreath - I used CTMH Artiste and Art Philosophy cartrtidges some folded pinwheels along with a shiny ribbon to hang it. This was really fun to make - I hope this will inspire you to make your own wreath.

ps. . . I'm sure you will all be more careful with your hot glue than I was - ouch!!!

And here it is on my door

Thanks for stopping by ~

Blog Challenge - Make it From Your Heart Volume 1

Our challenge this week was to take a card design from the Make it From Your Heart - Volume 1.  Close to My Heart's newest how-to publication. It is small and easy to carry with you, and packed full of beautiful designs for scrapbook pages and cards.

My two designs are Pattern #19 on page 42.


The FALL card is made with the Stella (X7147B) paper pack, the Burlap Ribbon (Z1760), Cocoa and Colonial White card stock and Glamour Lowercase (D1522).

The NOEL card is made with the Pear & Partridge (X7162B) paper pack, the Silver Shimmer Trim (Z1799), Olive, Cranberry and Colonial White card stock. (the font is from a discontinued set - but worked well with this card)


Thanks for stopping by ~

INSOMNIA! Sometimes it's a good thing!

This is what happens when I can't sleep at night!!! I go on line, watch u-tube videos and get some great ideas - then it's time to hit the studio and create - create - create!!! I watched an amazing paper artist (Angie) create the cute little mummy candy holder and the envelope candy holder.  So I just had to try them - Thanks Angie -

The mummy is just torn bamboo card stock. I put mine only on the front, but you could go all the way around - Colonial white cardstock with Desert Sand sponged on the edges would be really cute too. I like the red bling on the mummy eyes - makes them really scarey!!!

While I was putting the mummy together I thought the top of the pillow box looked like owl ears - so, nothing better to do - I made an owl candy holder.Both pillow boxes were cut at 3 1/2" from the Art Philosophy cartridge. I cut the owl feathers and face from some discontinued polka dot paper with the Artiste Cartridge at 3 1/2" (with real dial size off) since I wanted it to fit my 3 1/2" box :~) . I also gave the owl some of the amber bling in his eyes. I think it just makes him look wiser!

The coffin was cut at 3 1/2" also from the Artiste Cartridge, and the skull was cut at 1" (with the real dial size on) and just popped it up with a foam dot!

What can you fit into these cute little candy holders? Tootsie rolls, small packs of M&M's, Peanut Butter cups, the possibilities are endless.

I hope these will give you some inspiration to make some really cute candy holders for your special 'Trick-or-Treaters.

Thanks for stopping by  -

Now to get creative and get my items ready for the next Workshop on The Go Blog Hop and the Stamp of the Month Blog Hop! Coming soon! Watch for it!!!

Scrapbooking on the Move - NEW CLUB!

Have you always wanted to scrap book your photos but didn't know where to start? Let me show you how!!! Coming soon to Becky's Studio - 'Scrap Booking on the Move!!'

Because I know you are all busy people and don't have time to sit - for long! And yet - you need time for your self. And we all want to finish an album -

This club is only a two hour commitment - once a month! And at the end you will have a lovely completed album! It's that easy!

Make a two hour a month - 10 month commitment
Each month you will make a two page layout -
Each month you will receive tickets for a drawing that will be held at the end of your 10 months (see details below)
At the end of the ten months one lucky member will win a 'FREE' album.
AND
the rest of the club members will be able to buy an album for HALF PRICE!!

What a great deal!

This is how you will get tickets for the drawing:

Committing to the Club - and being the hostess one month - 5 tickets
Come to the monthly club - 1 ticket
Complete the two page layout - 1 ticket for each page
Bring your pictures for the layout - 1 ticket
Actually adding your pictures to your page - 1 ticket for each page

Finishing an album - Priceless

If you are interested in the club please let me know -

Thanks for stopping by ~

Workshop On The Go Blog Hop

Welcome to our first Workshop on the go blog hop!  Each month on the 20th a group of talentedClose to my Heart consultants will be featuring projects made showcasing any of the 13 current WOTG kits!

If you are visiting from Melissa Kosena - www.scrappingplace.blogspot.com then you are on the right track, if not please start at the beginning with our hostess Pam! http://i-candy-scraps.blogspot.com.
This is my creation! Pear & Partridge two page layout - I put my own touch on the WOTG layout - I hope you like it!

 
Now if the goblins of cyberspace have gotten you lost along away here is the list of all the talented consultants who are participating in this month’s blog hop!

1. Pam Stewart - http://i-candy-scraps.blogspot.com -
2. Shirley Ross - http://www.momnmescrap.blogspot.com/
3. Joanne Barnes - http://josiesjoy.blogspot.com
4. Shalana Glass - http://scrappinwithshalana.blogspot.com/
5. Melissa Kosena - www.scrappingplace.blogspot.com 
6. Becky McClain - www.beckysstudio-cards.blogspot.com

Kris's Gathering

"'Lets Hang Out!"

My sister Kris had a wonderful gathering the other night. She wanted something special to make - from the Artiste cartridge!

Isn't this fun? We made the darling little bag (on the Artiste cartridge), wrapped it with a belly-band with the adorable bow (also on Artiste), added a fun little stamped image from My Acrylix Pun Fun. And yes! the pink tissue paper is holding chocolate!!

The Artiste Cricut cartridge is so  amazing! Just perfect for those of us who like paper crafts, stamping, scrapping and well paper crafting of any type!

So much fun! Thank you Kris and thank you to all who attended -