Jubilee is up with roses!

I am enjoying my self in Disneyland, while here for Close To My Heart's annual convention. We enjoyed a wonderful dinner at the awards banquet tonight and I was fortunate enough to be invited to sit with my upline, Pam Klassen at her Director's table.

It was time to use some gorgeous patterned paper from Jubilee. I stamped this delightful flower from retired, Love Blooms in Ruby and Cocoa ink, while the leaves were done with Topiary. Jubilee paper is available until July 31st or when supplies run out, leading up to the release of our new Fall//Winter Idea Book Aug 1st.

Travel Diary - Day Seven - I'm exhausted from a wonderful day at convention, so I will catch you up tomorrow on the goings on. Our last wonderful day of convention is tomorrow. The day will feature new product showcase and Extravaganza. This is the day we get to see how all of our new product is used by some of our very fine, artistic consultants. They will have created some amazing artwork with the new product they received in advance, so we would be inspired. I'll share more details with you tomorrow when it is all wrapped up for another year.

All supplies are Close To My Heart.
Paper: Jubilee
Stamps: retired Love Blooms
Ink: Topiary; Ruby; Cocoa
Cardstock: White Daisy; Indian Corn Blue

Use up the old, to prepare for the new!

I was fortunate enough to purchase a large paper rack and decided to reorganize my paper. Wow, I really didn't think I had as much paper as I do. So, I decided to try to use some beautiful retired patterns up, before I left for Convention.

I love background stamps and I found this piece of retired Vineyard Berry cardstock already stamped with an image from retired stamp set, Intrinsic Backgrounds. I loved the patterned paper, since it was Sweet Leaf on one side and Twilight on the other. I apologize, I can not remember what paper package it came from....maybe you remember and can tell me?

I stamped with an image from, Perfect Fit Frames 2, on the coordinating Art Philosophy cut shape. The frame ink is Sweet Leaf and the sentiment, from Holiday Tags, is in Twilight. I embellished with retired Twilight buttons and Natural Hemp.

Trip Diary: Day Five - Leadership Day was wonderful. We received some new products to keep and were able to play with additional new products. I spend the day with my upline Pam, along with Denise and Jennifer. It was a great day, then met up with my family and we had dinner out at my daughter's choice...McDonalds!

Trip Diary: Day Six - I am going to make this short today! Today was amazing...it started with our fantastic General Session at Convention where the laughter and new product launch abounds. Kristine & MOnica were contestants, with 2 other couples, on an Amazing Race knock off. It was hilarious! WE saw our new consultant bags and wonderful new products throughout the race that was most certainly won by the Scrap Moms...Kristine & Monica. We had a break for lunch, then back for a business session with Kristine. She shared market strategies and other great factual information about our new products and Idea Book changes.
I spent the day with my Tweeker CTMH Sisters, Jennifer and Barb. I met them at convention in Disneyland 3 years ago, then we roomed together with Jackie in Dallas 2 years ago. We are missing Jackie at convention this year.....but the 3 of us together today felt like we picked right up where we had last left off. Love my Tweeker Sisters!

All supplies are Close To My Heart.
Stamps: Perfect Fit Frames 2; Holiday Tags; retired Intrinsic Backgrounds
Patterned Paper: retired 
Cardstock: Colonial White; retired Vineyard Berry
Embellishments: retired Twilight buttons; Natural Hemp
Tools: Art Philosophy Cricut Cartridge

Balloon Ride OWL

I am usually in a panic just before our amazing new products are revealed, because that means paper packs are retiring. For our Fall/Winter 2014 book, all paper packs are retiring, but I guess this time I finally know I will love what's new.

So I was happy to use some sweet Balloon Ride paper along with Cocoa and Sky cardstock. This birdie was cut with Artbooking and the sentiment is from a retired owl set. I added Aqua Dots for the eyes and some retired Sorbet stitched ribbon. All pieces were edged with Desert Sand ink.

Travel Diary: Day Four Yesterday started off with a good sleep in.......didn't help that I had a tough time sleeping during the night...when one would expect to be sleeping. With no real rest and a sore leg, I sent my husband and daughters off to the park without me. I lullygagged around doing my stretches and showering. Then I was going to try a trial walk over to the Disneyland Hotel, to see the route I would need to take for the 4 convention mornings. Once I arrived at the hotel, I sat down for a rest and noticed there were lots of women checking in....CTMHers no doubt. Next thing I know, here came the Goofiest looking character......Goofy! I met a lovely lady, whose picture I took with Goofy, who turned out to have just arrived from her 14 hour flight from Australia. After I took that picture, I noticed something that looked familiar. I wasn't sure, but a gal standing out at the front of the hotel looked suspiciously like my upline, Pammiewhammie Klassen. I looked away for a moment as my cell phone whistled, then there she was, coming into the hotel. I hobbled over to see her and got a wonderful hug.....from my Pammiewhammie! We chatted for a few moments then I heard a ding from the elevator and there was another amazing sight......my Tweeker Sister Jennifer Kelly! That was an even  bigger hug and I didn't want to let go....I love Jennifer...she takes care of me at convention and makes sure I get where I need to be! I missed seeing our other Tweeker Sister, Barb, but hope to see her soon.
So, off I went with Jen; Holly and Amber for lunch and a drink at Trader Sam's. We enjoyed drinks and flat bread lunch, then were joined by Gina. When we parted, I went back to my room at the Paradise Pier
 I organized a few things, then decided to go down to the lobby, to get a coffee. With coffee in hand, I wandered around the boutique to see more of the Disney goodies. After finishing my coffee, I went back up to my room and was surprised to find my husband and daughters already there. So, we got ourselves together and went to Denny's for dinner. A brief note about dinner, night three at Joe's Crab Shack......what a blast. I was slightly annoyed by the strobe light and loud music at this joint. Then, I realized it signified staff were going to perform. Oh yes, if you are a baby boomer you would have recognized the choreographed dance as the Hustle......only to updated music and some timely moves! It was really fun and if it was your birthday, there were other surprises in store. A young man was required to wear a kid's cowboy hat and ride a stick pony around the dining area while patrons sang Happy Birthday. Ladies wore a grass skirt with flower crown and did a hula dance during the celebratory song. We also had an amazing waiter who treated me to a complimentary key lime pie.....yummy!
After tonight's dinner at Denny's, my husband and oldest daughter returned to the park and my other daughter and I shopped at our hotel boutique. We saw a sweet plush Stitch pillow pet and had to have it. Then back to our room so I can get ready for an early night, for my early morning at Leadership, today.

All supplies are Close To My Heart.
Paper: Balloon Ride
Stamp: Retired
Ink: Desert Sand; Cocoa
Cardstock: Colonial White; Cocoa; Sky
Embellishments: Aqua Dots; retired Sorbet Stitched Ribbon
Tools: Artbooking Cricut cartridge

Kaboom lifted!

 When I saw a card that Wendy Coffman created with June's Stamp of the Month, Kaboom, I knew I had to create a similar one. Here is the card I created and had gals at my June Embossing & Diecutting class create 2 of.

We used Pacifica; Lagoon; Pear; and Sky ink for the starburst stamping. This set really threw me for a loop....I wasn't loving it until I saw Wendy's card and started to experiment. I edged the stamped piece with Black ink and the sentiment is also done with Black ink. I added some Stardust Glitz to the centre of each small starburst.

Travel Diary - Day Three: Well, today started after a well deserved rest. The Disneyland Paradise Pier Hotel is very nice. The rooms are decked out to make you feel like you are at the beach. The beds.....nice and firm! So we did a wee bit of walking to the Grand Californian Hotel to see where we can have easy entry to the park. We drove for our usual Subway lunch off property. We got back and were heading to Downtown Disney to see How To Train Your Dragon 2, when my leg yelled at me to not walk anymore. So, my husband and daughters went to the movie and I hobbled back to our room. After some stretching, I headed down to the lobby and got a much needed Americano. I spent the next few hours surfing online and intermittently doing stretches. I may have to swallow my pride and rent a motorized chair tomorrow, so I can at least enjoy my family's joy at the park.

All supplies are Close To My Heart.
Stamp: Kaboom, June Stamp of the Month
Ink: Pacifica; Lagoon; Pear; Sky; Black
Cardstock: White Daisy
Embellishments: Stardust Glitz

Do Your Best

Here is the first card I made using Timberline paper and stamp set, Do Your Best.

I stamped on Champagne cardstock with Desert Sand ink, with Do Your Best images. I punched the scallop circle with our punch, from retired Garden Green cardstock. I stamped the sentiment with Olive ink on White Daisy cardstock, from the Holiday Tag set. I added Hemp Baker's Twine. All of this on some Timberline patterned paper.

Travel Dairy - Day Two: Driving in California is not for the faint of heart! We left Yreka about 9am for our 10 hour drive on California's part of the I5. It seems for parts of it you are being prepared for the upcoming roller coasters......stomach jumping; seat belt locking; and being thrown around your vehicle! The drivers.....WOW.....I am not sure if all drivers must complete some form of Nascar or Indy school, but it seemed they all had. I also noticed cars with California plates seemed to be lacking signal lights...especially when they were moving from lane to lane! We had to stop a few times for gas. At one stop it was so hot in the van, with it turned off, I opened the sliding door to let some fresh air in. Nope...outside air was same temperature as inside. We finally arrived at about 8:30 pm and got registered at the Paradise Pier Hotel. We didn't do any looking around, but rather went out to Denny's for dinner. Then we made a trip to VONS, same as Safeway, for some supplies. Ha, they had my 1.5 litre of Ernest & Julio Gallo White Zinfandel for $5.40....score! Tomorrow is slated for swimming; shopping and resting after our marathon drive.

All supplies are Close To My Heart.
Stamps: Do Your Best; Holiday Tags
Paper: Timberline
Ink: Desert Sand; Olive
Cardstock: White Daisy; Champagne; retired Garden Green
Embellishments: Hemp Baker's Twine
Tools: Circle Scallop Punch

Arrows ROCK!

I love all background stamps and was really taken with this arrow one, Flight of the Arrows. So for the next 2 weeks, I will be posting some Father's Day cards I have yet to post and some other great cards made with current and retired paper. I am on my way to CTMH's annual convention in Disneyland, so will add some local updates about my trip, too.

I used Balloon Ride patterned paper for the background with a Sunset mat. I edged everything with Desert Sand cardstock. I stamped arrow images with Sky and Desert Sand ink. The sentiment is also in Desert Sand ink from, You're The Best, set. I added Sunset Baker's Twine to complete this card.

Travel Diary: Today we started our day at 3:45 am to get our van packed and loaded up to be at the ferry terminal for 4:20 am. My daughters and I did not bother to go to bed, so we were very goofy despite my husband's clear dismay for our behaviour. After our 1.5 hour ferry ride, that commenced at 6:10 am, we drove from Port Angeles, Washington to Yreka, California. It was a very long drive....we arrived at approximately 6pm! Tomorrow we have another long day of driving.......9 hrs 43 min, (so says Google maps) from Yreka, California to Disneyland's Paradise Pier Resort in Anaheim, California!

All supplies are Close To My Heart.
Paper: Balloon Ride
Stamp: Flight of the Arrows; You're The Best
Cardstock: White Daisy; Sunset
Ink: Desert Sand; Sky
Embellishments: Sunset Baker's Twine

Floral Fusion Cover-Up

There is no other way to put this, than straight up......I am addicted to dies! This is a new Die-namics from My Favorite Things.

I kept it simple to let the amazing die speak for itself. I cut it from White Daisy cardstock and put it on a coordinating base. I used my retired CTMH alcohol markers in Smoothie to colour the 3 flowers, then I added Glitter Gems to the centres. I stamped the sentiment from, Joyful Birthday, on Smoothie cardstock with White Daisy pigment ink. I edged it with Smoothie ink.

All supplies are Close To My Heart, unless noted.
Stamp: Joyful Birthday
Cardstock: White Daisy; Smoothie
Ink: White Daisy pigment; Alcohol Smoothie markers
Embellishments: Pink Glitter Gems
Other: My Favorite Things Floral Fusion Cover-Up die

Happy Father's Day

I made lots of Father's Day cards, this one includes patterned paper I made with our June Stamp of the Month, Kaboom.

The patterned piece is random stamped in Pear; Pacifica; Lagoon; Sky; and Creme Brulee ink with the Kaboom set. I used our scallop punch on some Pear cardstock and matted the entire thing on Pacifica cardstock on a White Daisy base. I added some Topiary Chevron ribbon with a Pear button and Natural Hemp.

All supplies are Close To My Heart.
Stamp: Kaboom June Stamp of The Month
Ink: Pacifica; Pear; Lagoon; Sky; Creme Brulee
Cardstock: White Daisy; Pacifica; Pear
Embellishments: Topiary Chevron Ribbon; Pear buttong; Natural Hemp
Tools: Scallop Border Punch

Polka Dot Butterflies

I love polka dots and they go well with butterflies. Here is a simple card using polka dots from several sources.

My first source of polka dots is our Dots embossing folder, that I used with Lagoon cardstock. My second source came from our recent promotion, Free To Be Me. The vellum has embossed gold polka dots on one side and they show silver on the back side. My third source is my horded Dotty For You paper that I cut a butterfly, using Art Philosophy, from.

I added Stardust Glitz to the butterfly, then some Aqua dots. The sentiment is from Oodles of Doodles and is stamped in Lagoon ink over top the banner image in Desert Sand. I also used a sponge to edge the Lagoon base; butterfly and banner.

All supplies are Close To My Heart.
Stamps: Oodles of Doodles
Ink: Desert Sand; Lagoon
Cardstock: Lagoon; retired Free To Be Me; retired Dotty For You; White Daisy
Embellishments: Stardust Glitz; Aqua Dots
Tools: Art Philosophy & Artiste Cricut cartridges

Happy Birthday with a Kaboom!

Here is another card I made with my stamped paper using June's stamp of the month, Kaboom.

I used Pacifica and Pear cardstock for accents with my stamped patterned paper. I used Pacifica; Lagoon; Pear; Sky; and Creme Brulee ink with the Kaboom stamp set. The sentiment is from retired, From Me To You.

All supplies are Close To My Heart.
Stamp: Kaboom June SOTM; retired From Me To You
Ink: Pacifica; Lagoon; Sky; Pear; Creme Brule; Black
Cardstock: White Daisy; Pacifica; Pear
Tools: Art Philosophy Cricut cartridge

Ivy Lane switch up

I had some bits and pieces on my work space from another project.....so I put them together and switched up this sentiment from the Ivy Lane Workshop On The Go kit.

I used our Chevron embossing folder on this Smokey Plum cardstock. Then I added some Ivy Lane patterned paper to some Slate cardstock. I stamped this sentiment in Smokey Plum ink, with the star accent from a stamp set exclusive to our Artbooking Cartridge package. I added some Slate Baker's Twine and Sparkles.

All supplies are Close To My Heart.
Stamp: Ivy Lane WOTG kit; Artbooking Cartridge package
Paper: Ivy Lane
Ink: Smokey Plum
Cardstock: White Daisy; Smokey Plum; Slate
Embellishments: Slate Baker's Twine; Pink Sparkles
Tools: Artiste Cricut cartridge

KABOOM!

Who knew our June Stamp of the Month, Kaboom, would create such wonderful patterned paper!

I was on the fence with this stamp set until I made a few cards, then realized I could create some great patterned paper with it. So that is what I did....with Pacifica; Lagoon; Pear; Sky and Creme Brulee ink.

I added a Lagoon mat, then Pear and Pacifica banner pieces for my sentiment from retired, Fringed Phrases. I finished the card with Lagoon Baker's Twine.

You can get your own Kaboom set to create paper too!  Just click on the picture below or to the right and it will take you to my website.

All supplies are Close To My Heart.

Stamp: June SOTM Kaboom

Ink: Pacifica; Lagoon; Pear; Sky; Creme Brulee

Cardstock: White Daisy; Lagoon; Pacifica; Pear

Embellishments: Lagoon Baker's Twine

Art Philosophy Stencil

When I am cutting shapes for workshops, I often cut the entire page, if it is a shape I think I might use for other projects.This card is the result of this practice.

I cut the 2 butterfly shapes from Art Philosophy, out of Sweet Leaf cardstock, at 1/2". I saved what was left from the cardstock to use either as a stencil, or screen, for another project.

I stamped the 'screen' with a retired image from, Noted Backgrounds, in Desert Sand ink. I attached it to this gorgeous Lagoon patterned paper, from Skylark. I cut and stamped the shape and sentiment from, Oodles of Doodles, then added a large butterfly cut from retired, Dotty For You, paper. I added some Turquoise Shimmer Trim for the butterfly body and Stardust Glitz on some of the dots. I finished the card with some Aqua dots.

All supplies are Close To My Heart.
Paper: Skylark; retired Dotty For You
Stamp: Oodles of Doodles
Ink: Desert Sand; Lagoon
Cardstock: White Daisy; Sweet Leaf
Embellishments: Turquoise Shimmer Trim; Aqua Dots
Tools: Art Philosophy Cricut cartridge

The best things in life......

The best things in life.......for me in June 2014......my son graduates Grade 12 on the Honour Roll with Distinction; and I get to attend Close To My Heart's annual convention.....to name just  two! 

This is another unique card using one piece of Skylark paper. I added the reverse pattern for the border, then stamped with images from stamp set, The Best Things. I stamped the flourishes with Desert Sand ink and also sponged it on all edges. I stamped and matted the sentiment with Lagoon. I tied the Art Philosophy cut sentiment piece with Lagoon Baker's Twine and added some sweet Wooden bird Trinkets.

All supplies are Close to My Heart.
Paper: Skylark
Stamp: The Best Things
Ink: Desert Sand; Lagoon
Embellishments: Wooden Trinkets; Lagoon Baker's Twine
Tools: Art Philosophy Cricut cartridge

Father's Day is up this month.

I am starting to prepare my cards for Father's Day. I was able to use some retired paper for this card, with a new stamp, You're the Best.

Another super simple card.....Pear cardstock with the sentiment stamped with Outdoor Denim Ink. Patterned paper from retired Later Sk8r is also stamped on with Outdoor Denim ink with other images from the same stamp set.

All supplies are Close To My Heart.
Stamp: You're the Best
Paper: retired Later Sk8r
Ink: Outdoor Denim
Cardstock: White Daisy; Pear

Thanks

Here are another 2 easy peasy Thank You cards I made for my Nannies.

 Wings was still my retired paper pack of choice. I used Lagoon ink to stamp the sentiment from the, Thank You, retired stamp set. I added black buttons to one, then used our scallop border punch to dress up the card below.

All supplies are Close To My Heart.
Paper: retired Wings
Stamp: retired Thank You
Ink: Lagoon
Embellishments: retired Black buttons
Tools: Scallop border punch; Art Philosophy Cricut cartridge

Believe In Yourself

Skylark is my favourite paper pack from our Spring/Summer Idea Book. I paired it with stamp set, Believe In Yourself.

 This card was quick and easy, with Skylark paper. I cut the pattern for 6 unique cards and this is the one I like best. I stamped the bird with Lagoon ink, then the sentiment with Desert Sand on Colonial White cardstock. The mat is Desert Sand and I added ribbons cut from the zip strip, then 3 Green Epoxy Bubbles. I also sponged Desert Sand ink on all of the edges. Done and done.....so easy!

All supplies are Close To My Heart.
Paper: Skylark
Stamp: Believe In Yourself
Cardstock: Colonial White; Desert Sand
Ink: Desert Sand; Lagoon
Embellishments: Green Epoxy Bubbles