Christmas Cards Workshop

Saturday, August 22nd
12:00 p.m.
$35

Registration deadline:  August 9th

Let's get a head start on our Christmas cards this year!  In this special extended workshop you'll make 15 fun and easy cards to get you ready to start celebrating the holidays. (The above picture highlights just a few of the cards you will create.)

We'll be using Picture My Life (PML) cards in this workshop, a wonderful option for card makers.  They give non-stampers of variety of fun images, but can also be "dressed up" by those who do love to stamp. The layout ideas in this workshop can be used with any of the PML cards, for any occasion.

BONUS:  If 15 cards are not enough for you, I am offering bonus kits to all workshop participants for $25.  You'll get the supplies and cut-to-size papers, cardstock, and envelopes to make an additional set of cards.  Stamp the images during the workshop and assemble at home.  That will give you a total of 30 cards (or more)!  You must let me know BEFORE the workshop if you would like additional kit(s). Are you interested in making the project but can't make the above date?  Contact me to purchase a kit!

Heart 2 Heart Challenge - Life is Good

I was honored to be selected as Heart 2 Heart's Top Chick in April for their Anything Goes challenge and my Hopscotch Flip Stand Album project.  As such, I was asked to be their guest designer for the month of July.  How exciting!

This week's challenge is 'Life is Good.  My interpretation is Life is Good When You Dream!  This 12" x 12" canvas was made with the beautiful paper from the Florentine paper pack from a few years ago.  It was such a beautiful piece of paper I couldn't bear to cut it up and had to do something special with it!

Supplies used:

• Florentine Paper Pack
• Art Phililosophy Cricut Collection
• Just for You Stamp Set (B1398)
• Dreams Come True Stamp Set (D1470)
• Life is Good Stamp Set (D1495)
• Velvet Rub-ons - Black
• Bohemian Assortment
• Wooden Badge Buttons (Z1703)
• Color Ready Wooden Shapes
• Opaques Adhesive Gems - Pearl

Be sure to check out Heart 2 Heart - they always have fun challenges and the entries are beautiful!  I hope you'll take a challenge!

Color Dare #152 – Cranberry, Canary + Slate & White Daisy

Welcome to Color Dare Challenges from Color My Heart.  Each Friday the design team announces a color palette for you to use to create your project.  You can create any type of project you'd like, as long as you use the chosen colors (and ONLY the chosen colors!).  If you don't have the actual Close To My Heart colors, just use a similar substitute.

Color Dare #152 – Cranberry, Canary + Slate & White Daisy

I wanted to make a card using one of the beautiful overlays from the Cricut Artbooking Collection (Z1906).  It all came together when I chose the hexagon design.  I found my much beloved set of hexagon stamps, and finished it off with the cute little bee.  Because bees are cute when they are on your card instead of buzzing around your head! 

• I cut the hexagon overlay from Slate (X5930) cardstock using the Cricut Artbooking Collection (Z1906) and glued it to the front of a White Daisy (1385) card.
• I stamped the bee and dot trail from the Happy Everything (D1653) stamp set using Slate (Z2173) ink.  I colored the bee in with a yellow colored pencil.
• I stamped hexagons from the Honeycomb (C1537) stamp set with Cranberry (Z2116) and Canary (Z2643) inks onto White Daisy (1385) cardstock, cut them out, and layered them onto the card with 3-D Foam Tape (Z1151).
• I stamped the sentiment from the Happy Everything (D1653) stamp set with Slate (Z2173) ink onto Canary (X5772) cardstock cut into a banner shape and glued it to the front of the card.
• For the inside of the card I again stamped the bee and dot trail with Slate (Z2173) ink and the hexagons with Cranberry (Z2116) and Canary (Z2643) inks.

How will this week's color combination inspire you?   Visit Color My Heart for more information about the challenge, get inspired by the design team, and upload your project.  I hope you'll join the Color Dare!

Crop at Gretchen's!

Friday, August 7th
10 a.m. - 11 p.m.

Contact me if you are interested in attending!

• Location:  Chili, NY.  Contact me for directions.
• I currently have space for 10 people, 2 per 6' table.
• Crop space is in my basement, so stairs are a necessary evil.  I would be happy to help you carry your supplies up and down.
• Feel free to use my refrigerator and microwave or oven to prepare snacks/meals.  There is no coffee maker - bring your own prepared coffee if you need the caffeine.
• $10 crop fee includes a make-n-take project.
• Registration is required and is on a first-come, first-serve basis.
• Feel free to invite friends!

More Dates: 

• Sunday, August 23rd - 11 a.m. - 9 p.m.

Heart 2 Heart Challenge - Life is a Highway

I was honored to be selected as Heart 2 Heart's Top Chick in April for their Anything Goes challenge and my Hopscotch Flip Stand Album project.  As such, I was asked to be their guest designer for the month of July.  How exciting!

This week's challenge is "Life is a Highway".  This theme turned out to be a real challenge for me, but turned out great (in my humble opinion), which is why I like these challenges.  They keep you on your toes and give you a sense of accomplishment once you've tackled them.

Supplies Used:

• Colonial White (1388), Smoothie (X5733), Flaxen (X5771) & Black (1386) cardstock
• Picture My Life Wanderful (Z3062)
• Cricut Artbooking Collection (Z1906)
• Midtown Cork Shapes (Z1863)
• Sparkles Assortment - Black &Grey (Z1754)

Be sure to check out Heart 2 Heart - they always have fun challenges and the entries are beautiful!  I hope you'll take a challenge!

Heart 2 Heart Challenge - Life is a Beach

I was honored to be selected as Heart 2 Heart's Top Chick in April for their Anything Goes challenge and my Hopscotch Flip Stand Album project.  As such, I was asked to be their guest designer for the month of July.  How exciting!

This week's challenge is "Life is a Beach".  This year I have created a series of seasonal display pieces.  The CTMH Seaside collection works together to make fun summer themed artwork.

I am teaching a workshop so you can create your own Summer Fun Display.  Contact me if you are interested:

Saturday, July 18th - 1:00 p.m.
$32

Supplies used:

• Seaside Paper Pack (Z7192B)
• Seaside Complements (Z7192C)
• Glacier Extra Thick Twine (Z2039)
• Pear (Z2197), Sorbet (Z5164), Lagoon (Z2195), and Desert Sand (Z2118) inks
• Bronze Shimmer Trim (Z11849)
• Metallics Markers (Z1768)
• Color Ready Wooden Shapes
• Canvas Badge Buttons
• Wooden Badge Buttons

Be sure to check out Heart 2 Heart - they always have fun challenges and the entries are beautiful!  I hope you'll take a challenge!

Life is worth...

Color Dare #150 – Sunset & Sweet Leaf + Slate & White Daisy

Welcome to Color Dare Challenges from Color My Heart.  Each Friday the design team announces a color palette for you to use to create your project.  You can create any type of project you'd like, as long as you use the chosen colors.  If you don't have the actual Close To My Heart colors, just use a similar substitute.

Color Dare #150 – Sunset & Sweet Leaf + Slate & White Daisy

• I started by adding strips of Slate Polka Dot Washi Tape to a White Daisy (1385)card.
• I stamped the large rose shading and outline from the Love Blooms (C1511) stamp set in Sunset (Z2191) ink on the card.
• I masked the flower and stamped the leaf shadow and outline three times in Sweet Leaf (Z2153) ink.
• I stamped two more flowers and one leaf on scrap White Daisy (1385) cardstock, cut them out, and attached them to the card with 3-D Foam Tape (Z1151).
• I added the sentiments from the Just To Say Cricut Collection Stamp Set (D1629) with Slate ink.  The great thing about this stamp set is that the wide variety of sentiments allows you to create this card for any occasion!
• Don't forget to make the inside of the card fun!

How will this week's color combination inspire you?   Visit Color My Heart for more information about the challenge, get inspired by the design team, and upload your project.  I hope you'll join the Color Dare!

Heart 2 Heart Challenge - Life is a Picnic

I was honored to be selected as Heart 2 Heart's Top Chick in April for their Anything Goes challenge and my Hopscotch Flip Stand Album project.  As such, I was asked to be their guest designer for the month of July.  How exciting!

The first challenge for July is "Life is a Picnic". I have been working on a Crush Book to highlight all the fun I have with my wonderful CTMH team.  This layout is from our last summer picnic.

Crush Books are a fun way to scrapbook since you can make them as simple or complex and you'd like.  The beautiful printed pages will inspire you to preserve your memories in a unique way!

Supplies used:

• My Crush Bluebird Book (Z1856)
• Taste of Summer Paper Pack
• Picture My Life cards - Hopscotch
• A Happy Hello stamp set (S1502)
• Ponderosa Pine (Z2145), Crystal Blue (Z2117), Canary (Z2643), Sorbet (Z5164), Lagoon (Z2195), Hollyhock (Z2128), and Thistle (Z2640) inks
• Teal Shimmer Trim (Z1918)
• Coral Reef Sequins (Z3042)
• Color Ready Wooden Shapes

Be sure to check out Heart 2 Heart - they always have fun challenges and the entries are beautiful!  I hope you'll take a challenge!