Sugar Scrub

This is a bottle I made out of the Starbuck bottles. I used Dotty paper from CTMH paper. I used my new promarkers pens to color the lid. I rolled some roses for the front and wrapped pink tule around the bottle

Tricks of the Trade

Here is a  list of how to use the many tools that CTMH offers to us in the catalog. the List came from Julie Reynolds and our fearless team leader Joy McHargue......

BONDING MEMORIES GLUE

re-sticking my Cricut mats)

make re-sealable envelopes!  Just put a line of bonding memories glue on Jenvelope flap, let air dry and you have a re-stickable flap!  

temporary adhesive when masking (another image), if I can't stamp on a Post-It

cover the face of chipboard or paper with the glue then sprinkle it with prisma glitter.

trace stamped images with it then sprinkle on the glitter.

Best adhesive for gluing paper to My Creations items like the blocks or star. Make sure you have good "blue" coverage from edge to edge and hold for 30 seconds.

very economical adhesive.

QUILLING TOOL

curl our Cricut flowers

 quilling- cut 1/8" strips and roll

Hook Ribbons to push them through a “slot” in the cubes to make a hanger for it!   

BONE FOLDER

one of the best weighted and shaped ones out there.  (curve in place for between thumb and index finger

Score and crease cards before folding

Scoring for additional multi-folds in card creations

use this with my 3D Artiste Cricut items…folding those lines could not be done Jwithout the bone folder!  

add texture to my card stock – score to stripe on reverse side

make flat cricut cut outs pop up.... Like a five petal flower

I use the bone folder to "curl" edges of flowers, leaves, borders, etc. (rub with round end on VersaMat

 Use the bone folder like you would a pair of scissors to curl ribbon.  I place my item down on my piercing mat or the foam side of our versamat for stability.

I use it a lot for faux stitching – especially great for non-straight lines. 

 I recommend everyone with a Cricut have one handy to use to score and fold all cards and 3-D items for crisp edges.

SPONGE DAUBERS

Washable

Must have at least one for each color family, or why not one for every color! 

With sponge daubers, I like to use one for each color family. I'll label the side "orange", "red/pink", "blue",etc.

Ink distress edges, makes a nice, “tight” sponged look on the papers (as opposed to round sponge )

Also, like to use these to come in on the corners of my papers when sponging…so instead of just the edge being sponged, The entire corner is colored and then blended out to the edges.

apply color to a stamp image,

also I use them for chalk application.

I also use Sponge Daubers on masked images (stamp the image (like the scotty dog we had a while back, cut it out.  Keep the outside, discard the inside of the dog.  Use the sponge dauber to color the fur of the dog.)

I like to do a quick-coloring technique with them by creating a stencil & sponging through.

Stamp an image on glossy or thick cardstock. Cut it out (or portions of the image) w/ an xacto knife. Stamp same image on paper, lay stencil over top & sponge through. It makes a quick, almost air-brushed type of look.

use these with pigment inks…sponge on different colors on one stamp image 

Use sponge daubers to add colors to Color Ready Seam Binding Ribbon

I love using the sponge daubers to color chipboard and irresistibles.

I also like to heat emboss with clear detail powder and use my sponge dauber to create my own resist pattern on paper and chipboard.

cleaning up white edge of paper on cricut cuts (with ink that matches paper)

FINISHING FILES

I use the finishing files to even out the edges of the chipboard – clean off the nubbins from punching them out

to make paper blend in with the my creation items when I cover them.  

I use the handles to curl paper and roll flowers when my tweezers or quilling tool are not within reach. 

hole poker

holding down paper when embossing

I use these all the time for finishing edges on projects, especially wood, FABULOUS for a clean edge.  Sell them by the boat load at expos because I always incorporate their use in one of the hands on projects

PIERCING TOOL KIT

Pierce holes for brads

The piercing tool is great for picking up opaques and sparkles – and especially the bitty ones - as you want to add them to your work.

Piercing holes for stitching

lifting the adhesive off the silver trim ribbon

opening the hole back up from the liquid glass

TWEEZERS

Easy pick-up of brads (especially when you have lovely long fingernails or short absent ones!)

Tweezers - to place opaques and sparkles on artwork

RUB-ON TOOL

Application of rub-ons

smoothing your paper down after using the bonding memories to help it lay down. No air bubbles.

To give dimension to cricut cutouts ex. Flowers

LIQUID GLASS

Good adhesive for gluing paper to MyCreations items

Great for any dimensional items on cards, pages or projects: buttons, etc.

adhering Cricut-cut flowers together once they are rolled

making sponged dimensional element letters shine

highlighting pretty much anything you want to have highlighted .....

Dakota 4x4 mini album

I used Dakota paperpack from CTMH. cardstock and inks used are as follows black, barn red, pacifica, and slate. TFL!

WINNER, WINNER CHICKEN DINNER

The winner is...............and a GREAT offer

Posted: 18 Nov 2012 10:54 PM PST

Here's the post you have all been waiting for. Thanks to all of you for taking the time to leave your names, but using random.org, the lucky winner is

TERRY MORROW (tmorrowstreasures blog)

Huge congrats Terry, email me with your details, I need full address and telephone number



I wrote about this contest way back in October and the winner was announced on November 18, 2012. My name was drawn as the winner.....this is so exciting, a whole set of pens. I was going to ask Santa for this for Christmas if I didn't win. If you get a chance to go to this blog you should. She is so funny and very creative. I look forward to her emails everyday. here is the link to her blog if you want to visit it http://going-buggy.blogspot.com SO freaking excited and on a Monday too!!!!! thank you, thank you, thank you!!!!

WIN a complete set of PROMARKERS

Letraset have given a fantastic prize to one lucky follower of Going Buggy - a complete set of ProMarkers - that's 148 lovely alcohol markers for you. Go to this site for a chance to win this awesome set. While you are there check out her blog. She is so funny and I look forward to getting her email updates. http://going-buggy.blogspot.com/ .

Upright Z-fold Card

I found this pattern again on the Scor-pal website and it was designed by Valerie Stangle (2009). There are some very talented ladies on this site and boy do the know how to use the Scor-pal. This uses a 4 1/4 x11 sheet of card stock, score at 5.5 and turn card over and move it over 1/4 inch and the score at 3 inches. This will create your mountain and valley fold. The mats are cut as follows....bottom mat cut at 4 3/4 x 3 1/4, next mat cut at 4x3 and the final mat is cut at 3 3/4 x 2 3/4. I cut a 1 1/2 inch circle and 1 1/4 inside circle. For the inside mat I cut that at 3 1/4 x 4 1/2. I used CTMH papers from the Moonlight paperback X7161B, Pansy Purple for the card base. Inks used were Z2147 Smokey Plum, Z2153 Sweet Leaf and Stazon black ink and N4 Neutral Gray Copic marker. I think the card came out cute. TFL!

 

 

Upright Diamond fold card

I found this pattern on a Scor-pal website and you can see the directions here. The pattern is from Sheila Weaver http://www.joannasheen.com/tuition-advice/upright-diamondfold-easel-card-by-sheila-weaver

It is made with an 7x11 sheet of card stock. I used CTMH papers from the Moonlight set and used stamp set C1522 Creepy Creatures, and ink pad Smokey Plum Z2147. It is a pretty simple card to make just score and cut. TFL!

 

 

Yaya sisters

I made this layout in honor of my aunts and mother. Every year we have an Easter family reunion and all the family always tries to show up. My mom and her sisters take a sister photo anytime one or more sisters are together. It is funny to see the hair styles and clothing changes thru out the year. I sued CTMH moonlight papers for this layout. Halloween paper for an Easter layout....why not?? Anyway I think it worked out okay. I also used a stamp set called Girlfriends that I bought at our local scrapbook store and tried my hand again at water coloring. I used the Letraset aqua markers and since I didn't have all the colors I also used some Copic markers. To me it is confusing to see where to put the darker shadows so it can natural...but like I said before practice makes perfect. TFL!

 

 

Letraset Aqua marker

Here is my first attempt at watercoloring. I bought a couple of Letraset Aquamarkers over the weekend cuz I was able to use my 50% off coupon so I decided now is a good a time as any to try them out. I used CTMH stamp set D1454 Sensational season and Strathmore 140lb watercolor paper also on sale for 50% off. After stamping with Stazon black ink I colored in the image. For my first attempt I think it came out pretty good. Not the best but then practice only makes perfect. I put a Happy Birthday saying on the inside and I am going to send it to my friend Teresa for her birthday. TFL!

 

August Card Class

We had our card class last night at Panera Bread and as usual Joy outdid herself. I say that every month but this month she really did. We used the paper pack FOOTLOOSE X7151B. The August stamp of the month Baroque Borders, CC1020 It's your day from the constant campaign, Thanks A1125 and Under the sea C1500. We also did a bonus project using the Cricut Artiste Collection. Thanks Joy class was awesome.

 

 

BUSY, BUSY....

OMG, I can not believe that my last post was on June 27th. I have been so busy with work, weekend work and going to the convention that I have not blogged in forever. Sorry my followers. I promise that I do have lots of things to post.

It is funny now that I have have been off for three weekends in a row from my weekend job I have been busier than ever. I typically work 60-70 hours a week when we are doing shows and now that I am working 40 hours a week there is not enough time to do anything. Why does it do that? I guess I can manage my time better when I am under pressure.

I am involved in 2 swaps right now and as soon as I mail the cards I will post the photos. I am also trying Zumba for the first time and let me tell you it has been hard. I have no rhythm and no coordination what so ever. I look like a zombie out there.Just cause my skin is brown does not mean I know how to salsa.....even my county music and I can dance my heart out.

Just wanted to let everyone know that I am still here and will post soon....promise.

Gatefold Easel Card

I found this tutorial on a ScorPal Mingle founded by Robin Fulbrook. It is a very cool card and only uses one sheet of 81/2 x11 sheet of paper. I used the Dotty for you paperback and the June stamp of the month S1206 Life is Tweet. I also used Grey Wool, White Daisy and Black CS. Black and Smoothie inks were also used. The photo shows the card in the closed position, the the card in the flat position and finally in the open position. TFL!

 

Use Your Stash Blog Hop

This month's blog hop is all about the oldest paper in your stash. You should be coming from Ann-Marie Trammell's blog http://scrapsanonymous.blogspot.com I spent one whole week looking at all my CTMH paper and I think I found my oldest paper. But for the life of me I can not find the name of this paper. I bought it from my upline Joy McHargue. This month I decided to make a card instead of a layout. This card is called a gatefold easel card. I found this on the Score Pal website. It only uses a sheet of 8 x 11 1/2 sheet of paper. I also used Z2118 Desert Sand Ink and X5642 Cocoa CS and Pewter Brads.

Now head on over to Rachel Ventura's blog at http://thehappyscrappinsquad.blogspot.com to see how old her paper is. Thank goodness none of the paper used in this blog hop is older than we are. TFL!

Envelope Mini Album

Tyler had a major thunderstorm last night which effected lots of Oncor customer's....our job being one of them, So we all got to get off early with pay. Whoppie! So I came home and came straight to my scrap room to try to be creative. Plus I have not been in my room on a while. I saw a pin on Pinterest about an envelope mini album so I decided to come and try one.

I used a paper pack I bought at Hobby Lobby on sale called Countryside Villa. I also used some bling I bought from the Great American Scrapbook Convention that I only paid $1 for. I used 5 envelopes also from HL. Thanks for looking.

 

Mini laid flat

Page one.

Page 2 and 3.

Pages 4 and 5.

Mini standing up.

 

IT'S STAMPAGANZA TIME!

It’s Stampaganza Time!
June 2012 Constant Campaign

Purchase any two stamp sets (sizes A, B, C, D, or E) at full retail price and receive a third stamp set of your choice FREE (of equal or lesser value)—a savings of up to $29.95!

Stamp sets that count toward the qualifying purchase include full-priced A, B, C, D, and E sets only. Stamps that do not count toward a qualifying purchase include customizable (K), Workshops on the Go™, Cricut^® collection, and Stamp of the Month (both discounted and full-priced) sets.

Dates: Offer valid June 1 (9:00 am MDT) – June 30 (11:59 pm MDT)

Cased Card from Melanie Sinka

I found this card on the message board and it comes from Melanie Sinka 05/21/2012 "Two Pemberley Card Post"...it was so cute that I had to try it out. I used all CTMH products:

Pemberley paper Z7148B

Desert sand card stock Z2118

stamp sets:

Tags, borders from the AP cart

A1125 Thanks

D1481 Vintage Type for the tags

Natural Hemp, Bitty Opaques, Pin Clips, rolled Flowers and Desert Sand and Outdoor denim inks. I also used Cocoa ribbon and some retired paper flowers

Card in closed position.

Card opened.

Card back.

Inside front panel.

I put a template at the end of the post so you can see how to cut the paper and get two cards from one 81/2 x 11 sheet of paper.

Last front panel

 

Using an 81/2 x 11 sheet of paper put a tick mark on one side at 51/2 and the opposite side at 3 inches...I just cut with a straight ruler and our cutting knife (Z1252) and the score at 3" and 6 3/4". You will get two cards with one piece of CS. They will be opposites so you have to score after you have cut the paper in half. I hope this makes sense to every one.

This is what your paper should look like once you have cut and scored.

 

Joy's Card Class for May 2012

This month featured the paper pack Pemberley Z7148B and the following stamp sets ....May stamp of the Month: Friendship Bouquet, WOTG Pemberley stamp set, Enjoy C1496, Universal Backgrounds D1477, Card Chatter-Sympathy D1476 and Keepsake Alphabet E1024 and Desert Sand ink Z2118 and Outdoor DenimZ2140, Bitty Opaques Z1707, Grey Wool twine, Bouquet Assortment Z1694 and finally Bulk Milepost Star Shapes. Oops almost forgot Z1100 Grosgrain Ribbon.

Joy teaches us wonderful techniques month after month. I always look forward to Card Class! TFL!

 

USE YOUR STASH BLOGHOP

Use your Stash Blog Hop

WELCOME! If you are joining us for the "Use Your Stash Blog Hop" you are right on track. This month we are featuring Brads and Metals in CTMHland. You should be coming from Michelle West's blog http://www.inksandinspirations.blogspot.com if you get lost then go back to Rachel's blog www.thehappyscrappinsquad.blogspot.com where you can see the entire list of hoppers. For this month I used the CTMH colored staples Z1010...funny what you find when hunting for something else. I also used bitty brads Z1368 and Z1269 filigree charms. I used My Reflections Complements Lucy X7149C for the wording and Daydream paper X7108B. Now head on over to Shirley Ross at http://www.momnmescrap.blogspot.com/  to see what she has come up with. TFL!