Close To My Heart New Product Blog Hop! coming tomorrow

Tomorrow is THE day!!!! Close To My Heart's Autumn/Winter 2013 catalog goes live! And it is loaded with lots of new, fun, beautiful product waiting to help you create beautiful things! One of the biggest creative tools is the brand new "Artbooking" Cricut cartridge. It is loaded just like the other CTMH cartridges are. I have been playing with it and have so much I want to create still. I am sure this blog hop will be filled with inspirational ideas using this cartridge and so much more concerning all the new products. There are some extremely talented ladies on this hop. So be sure to come check us out!

And here is the new catalog. Be sure to have a look through by going to scrapinmolly.blogspot.com. or you can also shop by clicking the button on the right that says shop with me. For sure you are going to want to shop once you see all the creativeness that is about to explode on this hop!

 

And when you place an order this month of at least $50 in product you can get the chocolatey goodness August Stamp of the Month for FREE!!!!!!

Have a blessed day and get geared up to hop around all day tomorrow! I think you'll need some chocolate for the energy to do all that hopping  :)          Polly

Sympathy card - H2H and CAS(E) sketch challenges

  I barely jump back into the challenges that are out there in creative land and I am a winner already! I won over at Color Dare for the card that I created in my last post. These challenges really help me to think outside the box, to grow, and stretch.
  So here I am back again today with another card. I have several birthdays in the next couple of weeks that need cards to be made and some sympathy cards too. So what an opportunity to also join these challenges. Today I am entering this card in heart 2 heart challenge this week using "ombre" on a project. What's the you say? I will  just copy their explanation and then be sure to go over and check out some of the fabulous examples that they have there.

  I am combining that with  CAS(E) sketch # 38. I have just discovered this blog. A wonderful place to get ideas for a (C)lean (A)nd (S)imple card. So be sure to check them out HERE.

  Not much explanation needed here I don't think. I used Close To My Heart cardstocks in Hollyhock, Smoothie, and Blush. The shape was cut using the new (going "live" this week!) Artbooking Cricut cartridge. It's found on page 51. A border. I cut it at 2 1/2", 3 1/2", 4 1/2". The label for the Sentiment was cut using the Artiste Cricut cartridge. It's the 3-D Object key on page 36 and cut at 1 1/2". I used the following stamp sets. D1476 Card Chatter-Sympathy and D1088 Comforting Thoughts. The last set was the sentiment I stamped inside and it is a retired stamp set. I did emboss the card base using Cuttlebug Floral Fantasy embossing folder.

  Have a blessed day, Polly

My first cut on our new "Artbooking" Cricut cartridge!

  This might be my first cut, but I have so many ideas and things I want to do with this that it definitely won't be my last. I just need to hibernate in my craft room for at least a month! I could maybe get somewhat caught up! I created this card for two Close To My Heart challenges. Heart2Heart challenges this week is to use water as our inspiration. And Color My Heart color dare is to use Olive, Twilight, and Ruby. So I thought I would combine the two. Red and Blue always go well with a water theme, but I would not have put Twilight and Olive together! That's one thing I like about these color dares, especially since it is using Close To My Heart's colors. I am not an expert in color and  I can learn a lot by participating in these dares. I had to play with this some to get something that I liked and then I still wasn't sure. It helps to walk away from a project and when I come back I see it in a different light. I think the struggle to get something to come together sometimes causes you to not like it so much until you give it some time. I was dying to use the new cartridge and I have a bunch of cards that I need to make so I wanted to kill several birds with one stone. Here's what I came up with:

  I don't always get the insides decorated, but this one I did and I really liked how it turned out. This one will probably go to a son or grandson. So here is the inside:

Supplies I used:
  Card inspiration:  Make It From Your Heart Vol 1, card #24 page 44
  White Daisy cardstock
  Twilight cardstock
  Artbooking Cricut cartridge  overlay>shift  page 78 set dial at 4.25"
  Stamp sets:
               Tommy WOTG  C1546
               Just a Number D1514
 Inks:
       Twilight
       Olive
       Ruby
       Black
Harvest Bakers Twine: Olive
Foam tape

And BTW, when I came back to it, I did like it! Especially after I did the inside.

            Have a blessed day,  Polly

 

Artiste card

  For July's card class I decided to cut my card base and the inside pop-up using Close To My Heart's "Artiste" Cricut cartridge. I hadn't cut one of those yet. I used the card on page 51. It turned out really cute and is very quick. I set the measurement dial at 5.5" and let the machine do the work. I used Pear cardstock for the base and I stamped with the new cat's eye background stamp ( D1559 Geometric Backgrounds) with Pear ink to create the band across the front. My label was cut with Close To My Heart's "Art Philosophy" Cricut cartridge and we also have a stamp set that coordinates with that cut. ( D1524 Frame It Up.) Very handy I say. I used Smoothie ink. The flower I created using another cut from the "Artiste" cartridge. On page 44, Accent 1, shift. I started with a 2.5" cut and then kept going down in quarter inch segments. I cut 4-5 layers of one paper and then cut 2 smaller in a yellow paper for the center. Both papers are from the Dotty For You paper pack. I ink distressed the edges of all the flower pieces and then laid them out on my Versa Mat and misted them a little and crumpled them up into a ball. Then uncrumpled them some and left them to dry. Once they were dry I took the largest one and put a dab of Liquid Glass in the center and laid the next smaller one on top making sure the petals were staggered. I continued that process until all petals were glued together. You can then ruffle up the petals and get the look you want. Next I threaded some Bakers Twine in Smoothie through the button. I was shown by a friend a really cool trick to threading twine or other threads, especially if they are thicker and the holes are small.
   The blue thing is for cleaning teeth (found in the toothpaste, floss isle.)

   Thread twine through the blue cleaner thingy. Then thread blue thingy through one of the holes of the button.

Pull twine through the hole making sure you don't pull it all the way through or you start over. Pull only one end of the twine all the way through. Loop that end through the blue loop again and thread the blue thingy down through the next hole.

   Is that not the coolest?!
 

  Here is what the front of the card looks like. Oh, and I added some Glitter Glitz Stardust to the flower after I had it glued  on the card front and when I had the inside complete. You could also add the Glitz to the flower and set it aside to dry and then attach it to the card when it is dry. 

  The inside pop-up part was cut with the fantabulous embossed cardstock from the Dream Pop papers. I love that paper pack! I would hoard this paper, but I got more than one so that I can cut up parts and pieces of one pack and the other I can save to use for bigger cuts and whole page layouts. I am trying to get past saving paper cause I like it so well and don't want it to be gone. I tell myself that there is always paper coming  out that I like as well or better! No need to worry that I will run out of paper that I like and have to quit scrapbooking and card making. LOL

I added a strip of the patterned paper  to the top of the pop-up to add some dimension/texture. I used my corner rounder to create a scalloped border. This is a pretty quick simple card, but cute.
I am entering this in the Anything Goes Challenge.
                                 Have a blessed day,   Polly

Close To My Heart page protectors converted for use on Creative Memories pages

  For those of you who are/were Creative Memories ladies and are now left without those products, especially things like page protectors. I ran across this wonderful video, I think on FB, that gives an excellent tutorial on how to convert Close To My Heart page protectors so that they will work for Creative Memories albums. Shaunna Richards is one of our newest CTMH consultants from Down Under! We are so glad that they now have a company to supply their needs and look forward to seeing the work of creative ladies from that part of the world.
   Anyway, she created a wonderful video to show how you can continue to protect those pages that you might still have from Creative Memories or those albums that you want to finish and/or use.






                                              
   Hope this helps. Go HERE and order yours today. http://pollylewis.ctmh.com/Retail/Product.aspx?ItemID=1051&CatalogID=35 for a 10 pack at  $5.95  or better yet, get the value pack http://pollylewis.ctmh.com/Retail/Product.aspx?ItemID=1037&CatalogID=35 a 50 pack for $22.95

While your there shopping be sure to check out the "while supplies last" section. You'll find some great bargains. You need to come back and check this area often, as it is always changing.
      Blessings,     Polly

Big Picture Classes hosting a free Pajama Party and featuring our new Close To My Heart "Artbooking" cricut cartridge!

Last post I was telling some about our newest Cricut cartridge and now you can get a sneak peek. Big Picture Classes is going to be hosting another Pajama Party featuring Close To My Heart and most exciting of all our newest Cricut cartridge, "Artbooking", on Wednesday, July 31 at 6pm Pacific Time! There will be a live chat, contests, and prizes! I'm sure we'll be learning tips and tricks, inspirational ideas, and there will be a project all for free! All you need to do is head over to Big Picture Classes and sign up HERE. There you can find a project list and other info. You will not be able to order this cartridge until Aug. 1, but this class will show you what you can do with this cartridge and it will be archived in your classes so that you can go back and access it at a later date when you have that fantabulous cartridge in your cricut machine just waiting to cut!
  Here is the featured project.





So go get signed up for the class and  then go HERE and order your cartridge. Also, at the Big Picture site you can see the list of all the supplies you need to complete this project, so check it out and get your order in for everything you need now!
      Blessings,   Polly

Another new Cricut Cartridge from Close To My Heart!

   I absolutely LOVE Close To My Heart's Cricut cartridges. They are so packed full of images, 3-D objects, cards, words, and so much more. I think after each one I can't imagine how Jeanette will come out with another that can be as good or better than the two we already have. I have not near used up everything I'd like to make with the Art Philosophy or the Artiste cartridges. They each have one font and over 700 images. These babies are loaded, they each have 6 feature keys. But as you've already probably guessed or seen on other blogs, she's done it again!! The new "Artbooking" cartridge is jam packed like the others, but with all new stuff. It has one font and 30 themed Double page layouts all size coordinated, 10 themed Mini Albums (8x8, 6x6, 5x7) with a minimun of 8 pages each, Full and Partial page overlays, loads of phrases, themed accessory images and themed and decorated photo mats!!!!
   We were able to create one of the mini albums at convention and they used soooo many cute cuts from this cartridge, including the file folder pages.
   I have my cartridge, but alas, I have been so busy with other stuff and I haven't made the first cut with it :(((

   This cartridge will be available to customers on Aug 1! You can preorder  one from me and I will give you free shipping and tax or better yet, host and online party and earn it for 1/2 price.! Remember, Close To My Heart cartridges also come with 3 sheets of coordinating chipboard shapes and 3 D-size stamp sets. Just email me and let me know you would love to have one.
  




 I have to say that the only thing I haven't used as much on the previous cartridges was the stamp sets, but I am absolutely in love with these!



One example of a mini book. Don't ya just wanta open it up and check out the lusiciousness?!

And the new catalog is full of so much fun and creativeness! I just want to order a truckload! I will be sharing some of all that sweetness in the coming days. If you would like a copy of your own New Idea book let me know and I can share with you how to get one for free.
   Don't miss out on the great promotion for the month of July.  The Workshop on the Go Canvas Art Kit in the 2013 Spring/Summer catalog is now 1/2 price! For $19.95 you get a 12"x12" chevron printed canvas in neutral colors, a C-size stamp, 1 yd Cashmere Bakers Twine, 10 clear sparkles, 2- 12"x6" Dimensional Elements in Color-Art Shapes and an instructional guide. The stamp set alone is almost worth that amount and you'll have it to use over and over. Hurry and grab yours as these are only while supplies last! Go to: pollylewis.ctmh.com and while your there be sure to check out the great bargains under "While Supplies Last" in the left column. There are some super, duper deals there.


 
 I believe that is enough goodness to share for this post. But never fear, I will be back soon to post more. I still plan to post my scrapbook pages for convention. But I loaned them to another consultant and I need to take some close ups of some of the special things I did and so I will have to wait to get those back later this week.
    Blessings,    Polly

I'm Back! I hope....

I thought the last time was bad when I neglected to post for about 4 months and now its been much more than that! I hate to even acknowledge it, but I either quit completely or get back into it and so here I go. I can give you lots of excuses/reasons as to why there's been such a long time with no posts and I will give you some, but truthfully I coulda at least checked in and let ya'll know what was going on.
It has been a VERY busy year for me to say the least and I've really done very little crafting. In Jan. and Feb. I was spending a lot of my time next door at my elderly neighbors house taking care of her. She didn't fair so well through the winter, especially since she has COPD. And she doesn't have family close so I have "adopted" her. In March I was working on getting some seeds going for the garden, beginning to sew for the upcoming wedding and making preparations to go to Indiana to see our newest granddaughter. She was born April 4th which was a week or so before we thought she'd come. This was our daughter's first daughter and long awaited. She has 5 boys already! They thought they were quitting, but then they got a beautiful
surprise!
                     
And then two days after she was born we got the terrible news that my husband's brother had been killed in a tragic accident. So we left for Indiana a few days earlier than planned. It was a very bittersweet week. All of our children and grandchildren got to spend some  time together which hadn't happened in quite a while and little Myla brought smiles to very sad faces. He will be greatly missed, most especially by his wife and he left behind 3 children still at home and one married. He never even got the chance to love and kiss on  a grandchild. He was such a happy, cheerful person and never met a stranger. His viewing and funeral were testimony to that.
   Then it was back home to prepare for a Feast week and then I had a couple weeks to prepare for a bunch of Indiana family to come down for our oldest son's wedding on May 19th. We had a houseful and then some. Our two married children and their children stayed here and so did my parents. My husband's sister and husband stayed at the neighbors and we had others staying elsewhere. Most of them stayed almost two weeks! I loved it, but got very tired of cooking and cleaning up! I would not change it for anything. I had prepared quite a bit of food ahead, (I thought,) but it seemed like we were running to the grocery or Wal-Mart everyday. We also had started an upstairs bathroom remodel (very much needed) a few months before which our son was doing. After he started he was called out of town to work and was only home on weekends. This lasted at least 6 wks and so we were remodeling a bathroom even as family was showing up.
  I also, had taken on the job of altering the bridesmaid dresses and somewhat remaking the bridal gown. It was at least 4 sizes to big! But she loved it and couldn't get it in the right size. It began as a strapless and I added the top part on so that it sorta had cap sleeves and gave a bit more coverage. She also didn't have to go around holding it up all night :) I did manage to get that done before my family all came in. Here is a picture of her in her dress.

  And then as soon as all the family left and things were mostly put back in order I began to work on my layouts for the Close To My Heart convention album contest. This years theme was "Live" or Viva!. I had been gathering ideas, sketches, techniques and info for almost a year so I had quit a bit to start on, but it still took me about 5 weeks to get 5- 2 page layouts completed before I left to go on June 26th. I was soooo ready to get back in my craft room to actually scrapbook and then I practically lived there for those 5 weeks.
   My poor crafting ladies that meet monthly must have felt very neglected. We didn't meet in April or May at all! But they remained loyal and put in orders each month anyway.
   And so....that is the first half of 2013. I have much more to tell and I will be sharing my layouts in the next couple of weeks. Telling of some fun and exciting new things I learned at convention  and showing some new product. Close To My Heart is an awesome company to work for. They care so much about their consultants.
  I believe this will be all for tonight. And unless some major catastrophe comes up I plan to be back with more in the next day or so.

Blessings,   Polly