Cards Made With New CTMH Embossing Folders

Slate Polka-dot Flower Base Made with CTMH Washi Tape

The new embossing folders are 7 x 5 inches.  This makes them easy to use for card bases without worry of having missed edges and ending up with weird blank gaps. I used a Cricut Cuttlebug to run all of the embossing folders through with CTMH cardstock.  Even though they are large folders, they fit with no problem. The first two cards are made with the same Dot folder - one shows the embossed side and the other is the debossed side.

CTMH Stripe Embossing Folder Base Layer

 Even though there is a lot of texture on both the card above and the one below, they are both standard sized and would not require any additional postage.

CTMH Chevron Embossing Folder

 I love the versatility of the stamp sets that come with the Workshop On The Go kits. The stamping on all of the cards is from the Ivy Lane WOTG Cardmaking Kit stamp set.

CTMH Sarita Base with Embossed Lagoon Cardstock Layer on Top

 If a more distressed look is desired, the embossed areas could be sanded and the white core of the cardstock will come through giving a shabby chic or weathered grungy look. I chose not to do this on any of these cards, but it only takes a few moments to achieve that look.

Sunset Cardstock Embossed With CTMH Quatrefoil Folder

 The last card looks much better in person.  The top two layers are stamped images, the next layer is a piece of B & T Duos (patterned) paper placed on the bottom layer, which was embossed.

Top Two Layers are Stamped Images from Ivy Lane WOTG Cardmaking Set

Supplies are all from CTMH, except for the butterfly punch used on the third card from the top. All five of the new embossing folders are found here.

Please let me know if you have any questions.
Thank you for visiting today!
Beverly

Fun Pockets from the Artbooking Cricut Cartridge

This is my absolute favorite video from CTMH's Artbooking Made Easy series thus far. Carly shows an awesome mini book and a 12 x 12 layout using the Artbooking Top Secret keys. I love all of the fantastic pockets!  There are so many ways to use them.  How cute it would look to layer one on the front of a card! Or on the inside of a card for a secret message or gift card. And the notebook paper cut is perfect for so many different types of layouts.  LOVE this!
As always, please let me know if you have any questions.
Beverly

Artbooking Made Easy: Nursery Rhymes

This is the newest video from CTMH using the Cricut Artbooking cartridge.  Even though the title makes one think of babies, the cuts shown in the video can be used in lots of different ways - including cards.  I think it helps to get the creative juices flowing when one can see many ways to use the same shapes.


Just a note about Cricut Craft Room. It is an online program that enables you to edit and manipulate Cricut shapes for any cartridge.  To use it for cutting with your machine you need to connect your computer to your Cricut.  To download the software and for more information, please visit Cricut.

Please let me know if you have any questions!
Thank you for visiting.
Beverly

Base & Bling Wearable Crafts - What is it and How do I use it?

Close To My Heart has a fun, inexpensive jewelry line that can be completely personalized to fit your style.  In this video, Kristine from CTMH shows us the basic assembly and a cute gift presentation for any necklace that you make.
As always, please let me know if you have any questions.  The Base & Bling line can be found here.
Thank you for visiting today!
Beverly

Video Tutorial For Mailable Gatefold Cards

This video walks through the steps in making the cards that I posted here and here.

Please let me know if you have any questions.
Beverly

Artbooking Made Easy: Sweet Smiles

In this video from CTMH, Monica shows a cute album and a card made with the Artbooking Cricut cartridge.  There are so many possibilities using this cartridge. I hope that some of the ideas that CTMH shares will inspire you to create pages and cards that speak to you.

Thank you for visiting today!
Beverly

Classy Doily Cards

 Classy Doily is not a new stamp, but it is one that I really like to use on cards.  It can be stamped on a die-cut made for it with the Artiste Cricut cartridge, or fussy cut as above, or stamped on a base as shown in a couple of the examples below. The card above was stamped and paper pieced on both patterned paper (Sarita) and cardstock (Colonial White and Cotton Candy.)  The image below uses two colors of ink - Sky and Lagoon.

The next two cards are rainbow inspired and paper pieced.  The first is paper pieced with different colors of cardstock and the second is made with different colored inks stamped on White Daisy cardstock.

CTMH Classy Doily Stamped in Different Colors and Stacked 

The last card was stamped on Cotton Candy cardstock with black ink.  Parts of the design were filled in with Liquid Glass.  This changes the color of the cardstock a bit and makes a glossy surface.  The stamped layer was embellished with a sentiment placed over Black and Silver Shimmer Trim.

Sentiment is from CTMH's Give a Lift Stamp Set

Liquid Glass gives a glossy, glaze-like effect

Thank you for viewing today's post.  Please let me know if you have any questions.
Beverly

More Mailable Gatefold Cards - Lots of Pictures

Balloon Ride Paper Pack from CTMH

Mailable cards that don't require extra postage don't need to be plain.  All of the cards in this post can be mailed in a standard A2 envelope with a regular First Class postage stamp.  They are all made from a 12" by 5 1/2" piece of paper and scored at 2, 4, 8 and 10 inches. Patterned paper is layered on, but doesn't make the card bulky. If a lot of additional embellishments are added, then more postage may be necessary.

Belly Band with stamped image from Give A Lift set

Belly bands can be slid on or closed with hook and loop tape.  This one is adhered together and slides over the card to hold it closed for mailing. I like to use the decorative trim edge of the B & T paper for belly bands layered over cardstock.

Inside of card

The stamped image above is also used as part of the belly band for the card below.  It is part of the Give a Lift CTMH set. The inside section is 4" wide.  Each of the two flaps on both sides are scored and each section is 2" wide.

  

Below is a card made with the new Picture My Life Scrapbooking program cards, which were leftover from an album that I made a couple of weeks ago.

Picture My Life Balloon Ride Scrapbooking Program

This card doesn't have a belly band.  The fussy cut image is adhered on one side of the fold to hold it closed.

Mustache cut with Cricut Artiste Cartridge

It is fun to add die cut shapes to cards.  The heart below was cut with the CTMH Cricut Artiste cartridge at 4 1/4".  I then cut it in half and adhered each half on the front pieces.  After affixing it to the front flaps of the card, I cut the flaps to the shape of the heart.  Cupcakes, mittens, leaves and many other Artiste shapes would also work very well for a fun thematic front for the card.

Open Heart Shaped Gatefold Card

Below, is another Artiste die cut.  After cutting the butterfly I stamped it with a retired CTMH stamp. 

The card pictured above has higher front flaps, measuring 3" high on the outside. The patterned paper covers the front flaps completely.  Or a bit smaller pieces can be matted on the various flaps of the cards which gives the card a different look.  There is no right or wrong.

The last card shows an alternative way to cut the front.  The middle section was not cut down for the staggered look that was shown on the rest of the cards.  The front was cut at an angle starting at 2 1/2" from the bottom of the card on the outside.

CTMH Australian Salutations Stamp Set for the Belly Band Greeting

Sarita B & T Paper used on this card

Thank you for making it all the way through this long post!  By the end of the week, I hope to have a video tutorial posted showing the process for making these fun cards.
Beverly

Gatefold Card

CTMH Sarita B & T with Outdoor Denim

I love making cards that are a little bit different from the standard design. Gatefold cards can be made in many different sizes and with a variety of opening styles.  This is a very easy card to make. The base is Outdoor Denim cardstock cut to 5 1/2" x 12" with Sarita patterned paper layered on top. Later this week, I'll post a tutorial showing how to make them.

Open Gatefold Card

The inside of the card has a Colonial White cardstock inset for a message. On top of the belly band, that holds the card closed, is a wooden embellishment from the Sarita collection. If it were to be mailed, extra postage would be needed because of the bulk of the embellishment.  Otherwise, it is a standard mailable size and fits in a regular A2 envelope.

Supplies used:
Sarita Paper Pack
Sarita Assortment

Thank you for stopping by today!
Beverly

CTMH's New Embossing Folders

Jill from CTMH explains a fantastic feature of the new embossing folders and how to find the grain of the paper so that you can get the results you want.

Please let me know if you have any questions.  The embossing folders can be found here.  You can receive one free for every two colored cardstock paper packs purchased through February, as supplies last.

Thank you for visiting today!
Beverly

Introducing Pocket Scrapbooking with Picture My Life - lots of photos

 Picture My Life is a way to pair your photos with some beautiful printed cards to create quick and easy albums with very few tools or supplies.  The double-sided cards have space for journaling on one side and versatile quotes, sentiments or icons on the reverse.

This video shows how I used the Balloon Ride kit to create a fast album with pictures from a family trip.  I used a couple of extra Memory Protectors for some additional photos.  With the leftover PML cards, I made a few greeting cards to mail to friends. Pictures of the mailable cards are at the bottom of this post.

 There are eight different Picture My Life Scrapbooking Programs from CTMH.  Each of them include 122 card-stock weight cards, a cover sheet and 10 Memory Protectors.

Picture My Life Skylark Scrapbooking Program

Picture My Life Babycakes Scrapbooking Program

 

Picture My Life Laughing Lola Scrapbooking Program

Picture My Life Chantilly Scrapbooking Program

Picture My Life Later Sk8r Scrapbooking Program

Picture My Life Balloon Ride Scrapbooking Program

Picture My Life Avonlea Scrapbooking Program

 

Picture My Life Surf's Up Scrapbooking Program

Inside of card

 These cards were made from leftover cards from the Balloon Ride PML  Scrapbooking Program. 

Inside of card

 

Inside of card

Thank you for viewing this very long post!
Beverly

The New Spring/Summer 2014 CTMH Idea Book - Top Three Favorite Items

Click on image to view Idea Book online

February 1, 2014, was the release date for the new CTMH Idea Book and Catalog. There are many new, exclusive products available in each new book.  Here are a few of my top picks:

Click on image to view Embossing Promotion details

1. Large (5 x 7) Embossing Folders!  You can receive your favorite(s) for free with a purchase of colored cardstock packs! There are five different designs: Dot, Chevron, Damask, Stripe, and Quatrefoil. The Accessories page found here lists them all.

2. Picture My Life is a new program offering from CTMH. It is sort of like Project Life, but the program kit starts you off with a Cover Sheet and 10 Memory Protectors.  There are also 122 fabulous cards to insert in your pocket scrapbooking album.  They are sized at 3 x 4 and 4 x 6 inches to coordinate beautifully with your photos. It makes it easy to share your photos with minimal work but with lots of panache! There are 8 different collections.  Please visit here to see them all. Tomorrow's post will show a video of an album that I made using the Balloon Ride kit.  I also made some flat/mailable cards with some of the leftover cards.

CTMH Believe In Yourself C1574

3. I love stamps.  There are so many wonderful new images! It is hard to choose but this is one of my favorites. And (can't help myself!) here is another one:

The outline in red indicates which images are Cricut Artiste compatible

Also, there are some Australian designs that are NOT in the new USA Idea Book, but are available here. The first six sets on this linked page are in the Australian/New Zealand Idea Books. Here is a sneak peak at one of them:

CTMH Aussie Praises Stamp Set

If you'd like to order a new Idea Book please visit my website here. Please let me know if you have any questions.

Thank you for visiting!
Beverly