Boutique Purses and Cards Make and Take

At our fundraising crop last week, there was such an interest in the paper purses that I had made out of the CTMH Artiste Cricut cartridge, that I really should have offered them as a make and take.  Well, I have been lucky enough to be chosen to be a vendor at a crop on this Saturday also.  So, I will be offering a class in which the croppers will make both cards and both purses.  That Artiste cartridge makes everything, even the paper bows and roses just a snap to put together.  Take out yours and get crafting!

CTMH Flirty Layout "Trendy"

Over the next few posts, I plan on sharing some of my artwork that I have created using the CTMH Flirty paper pack.  It is retired now, but don't worry, I have enough to create some kits with.  For those of you familiar with Flirty, it has a bold floral pattern for which it is known.  I decided not to highlight this quality, and instead go for a "trendy" look.

Follow GIRLplusPAPER on Facebook

How would you like to easily keep up with all of my latest projects and news?  Get timely updates by following me on my GIRLplusPAPER Facebook page.  Visit the page and hit the "like" button.  

It is that easy!

CTMH Chantilly - Superbly Simple Cards

 Today I got the urge to play with the 3D bows available on the CTMH Cricut Artiste cartridge.  I had a small piece of Chantilly paper laying around, so I got to work.  Using the bow on page 55 of the Artiste handbook, I set my size dial to 1".  I cut all of the pieces needed to complete the floral bow at 1".  The pieces came out perfectly.  The green bow, below, was my learning curve attempt.  I did not realize at first that I should keep the dial at 1", and I decided I wanted the "tails" about 1.25" long.  Instead they were cut proportionately for a 1.25" bow, and they turned out about 2" long.  I still liked them though, so I used them.

Using White Daisy cardstock, I simply embossed the top of the card front using my Cuttlebug.  The sayings come from the CTMH stamp set Hooray Bouquet.  A 1/2" strip of coordinating cardstock attached to the cardfront, followed by the bow complete these simple cards.  Hope you enjoy them!

Chantilly Springtime Collage Frame

 

It was love at first sight for me when I saw the CTMH Chantilly paper.  It immediately made me think of Spring.  So I created this Chantilly Springtime Collage frame for a very special lady who is always going out of her way to help others.  She should be receiving it soon.  

Paper Flower Twirling Instructions

I thought that today I would post a little tutorial on twirling the paper flowers that you can cut out with the Close To My Heart Art Philosophy and Artiste cartridges.

1.  Lightly spritz the flower cut out using a spray bottle.  This is my own little secret - the paper will dry quickly and this allows the paper fibers to loosen a little.  It will be much easier to twirl and create a more lifelike flower this way.  Don't have a spray bottle, don't worry!  Dampen the flower with your finger after dipping it in water, it works, trust me.

2.  Look at your flower.  There will be a little tail on the outside that starts the spiral. There will also be a big base at the center of the flower. You will want to begin twirling that little "tail" piece around something such as a q-tip with the cotton removed from one end.  Twirl that spiral until you come to the base.  Remove the q-tip.  Your flower will sit upon this base.

3.  Apply glue to the base, and attach the spiral that you have twirled.  If you have used a tacky glue, you should be able to adjust the size of your flower by tightening or loosening the spiral at this point.  Hold the spiral down gently until the flower sets.

4.  For the finishing touches, glue a bead, button or bling in the center of your flower to finish it off.  
You may also want to curl down the petals of the flower to create a more natural look.  It is completely up to you.

5.  Apply a bobby pin, a pin back or any sort of hairpin that you desire to the back of the flower using a really strong glue.

Sign Up and Celebrate in April!

Signing up with me to become a Close To My Heart consultant has never been sweeter!  Sign up with me in April and receive the 2013 April, May, June and July Stamp of the Month as our gift to you.  This bonus has a value of $71.80!!!

This is a cherry on top of your New Consultant Essentials Kit which includes

everything to meet your crafting and career needs. Approximately $155 in retail value!

• Read Me First Letter
• Current Idea Books (qty. 3)
• Hostess Order Forms (qty. 5)
• Customer Order Forms (qty. 5)
• Close To My Heart Color Swatches (W471)
• Spring/ Summer 2013 B&T Duos^® Sampler (W1123)
• Petite Perks™ Critter Expressions Incentive Stamp Set (W2025)
• Chantilly Complements Dimensional Elements (X7163C)
• Workshops on the Go^® Chantilly Scrapbooking Kit (G1053)
• Reflections^® Scrapbook Program (9037)
• Originals Card Confidence Program® (9036)
• Buttercup Exclusive Inks^® Pad (Z2110)
• Cotton Candy Exclusive Inks^® Pad (Z2193)
• Spinner (Z1832)
• My Acrylix^® Wheel of Life Stamp Set (D1545)
• My Acrylix^® For a Friend Stamp Set (D1542)
• 4" × 5" My Acrylix^® Block (Y1012)

That means that you will receive over $225 in retail products when you sign up to become a CTMH Consultant in April for only $49.  
Don't delay, sign up today!


Some items may not be shown. Contents are subject to change without notice.

My Sunshine CTMH April Stamp of the Month

A new month is upon us yet again.  Celebrate with My Sunshine, the April 2013 Stamp of the Month.  It can be yours for only $5 with a qualifying purchase.  Click here for more details.

Jump for Joy! during March 2013

During the month of March, CTMH is offering a Jump for Joy! promotion.  

Hostesses earn more rewards in March because when a Gathering reaches $250 or more in sales, the hostess jumps up to the next Hostess Rewards and Hostess Rewards Plus! levels. Now that’s a reason to jump for joy!

*Shipping/handling and tax applies. Only Gatherings with a total of $250 or more will qualify for the jump in Hostess Rewards or Hostess Rewards Plus!. Qualifying hostesses will receive Hostess Rewards from one level only—the level that is one higher than their sales total.

Please feel free to contact me to host your very own online gathering.  It is simple to do...you can be an online hostess by sending out online invites to all the creative people in your life, they can place their orders online, and you will Jump for Joy! when your gathering order reaches $250 or more.

Floral Happiness - March 2013 Stamp of the Month

Where did February go?  As we welcome March, we are getting closer to Spring and all of the beautiful flowers that will be blooming.  Put yourself into a state of "Floral Happiness" with this beautiful stamp set featuring a most versatile saying.  As with all of CTMH's stamp of the month, this set can be yours for only $5 with a qualifying purchase.

Last Call for February's Stamp of the Month

Just wanted to give everyone a quick heads up that today is the last day to order this fabulous Stamp of the Month set.  It is going, going and will soon be gone!  Jump on over to my CTMH site to order this stamp set for as little as $5 with a qualifying order.

For Always Card Kit $6.95

I have had many requests over the past year to make my projects available for sale on my blog.  I thought that a card making kit featuring the new CTMH For Always paper line would be the perfect place to start.  You will receive the paper supplies necessary to complete all four cards, for only $6.95 plus shipping.  All of the paper will be pre-cut, hand-stamped, and will include all of the CTMH Art Philosophy and Artiste shapes that you see, including the beautiful flower cut-outs to make these elegant roses. 

Sold Out

For Always and Home Sweet Home February 2013 Stamp of the Month

I just love the new CTMH For Always paper pack.  You can pair it up with any color cardstock, making it the most versatile paper ever...I swear!   And when I saw the CTMH February 2013 Stamp of the Month, Home Sweet Home, I just knew the two were a perfect match.  Home Sweet Home can be yours for as little as $5 by making a qualifying purchase by February 28, 2013 on my website.

For each project I used the CTMH Artiste Cricut cartridge for the shapes upon which I stamped the sayings.  Did you notice the really trendy chalkboard look of those sayings?  If you look carefully, especially at the card, you will notice the "black" paper is part of the For Always paper pack as well.  I simply stamped with White Daisy ink and the look was complete.  All of my paper embellishments and 3-dimensional items including the top box itself were also cut with the Artiste Cartridge.  I have been tossing around the idea of offering a pre-stamped and pre-cut cardmaking kit for my followers that would include the card above.  Leave me a comment if that is something that you would be interested in.

Scrapbooking Crop in New Jersey

For Always Simple 3 x 3 Card

Here is a super quick 3"x3" card made from one of CTMH's new paper packs, For Always.  I started with a 6"x3" piece of Daisy White cardstock and a 1.5"x3" piece of For Always.  I folded the white cardstock in half and embossed the front.  I cut the For Always in two, so I had a 1" and a .5" piece.  I glued them down, made a paper rose with my CTMH Cricut Artiste cartridge, added bling, and voila!  I have a cute little card perfect for many occasions.

You're Sweet Card

On this Valentine's Day I wanted to share a quick little card that I whipped up in no time at all thanks to the shapes I cut from my CTMH Cricut cartridges.  The heart and sayings are from the CTMH Whooo's Your Valentine kit, the striped cutout is stamped with the Perfect Fit Frames stamp set.  I started by making a standard 4.25" x 5.5" card out of white cardstock.  I cut a 4" x 5.25" piece of Blush cardstock.  I embossed it using my Cuttlebug and glued it onto the base.  The silver glitter strip is a small piece of our CTMH Glitter Paper pack.  Glue on the little layers and you are done!

Try Digital Scrapbooking this February

Have you ever wanted to give digital scrapbooking a try?  February is the perfect month to do so!  Click here to try Studio J absolutely free.  There is no downloading of software necessary.  Just simply upload your photos and begin creating your masterpiece.  If you love the 2 page layout that you create, it is only $5 to order during the month of February.  Studio J gives you access to many of CTMH's paper packs, including both the newest as well as many retired designs.  Never again run out of your favorite cardstock while in the middle of your layout...you can use as much as you would like when you scrapbook digitally.  So why not give this no risk offer a try?

New "While Supplies Last" Items

There are some newly arrived items on my CTMH website, and boy are they going fast!  

How about this Flirty paper pack that includes 6 Sheets of B&T Duos paper shown above as well as 6 sheets of 12x12 cardstock.  Would you believe it is on sale for only $1.75??????

How about this Mischief paper pack for only $2.50?

Many other great deals are still available, but won't be for very long.  Click here to claim your treasures, as they won't last long at these unbelievable prices.

Whooo's Your Valentine?

It's time to celebrate National Papercrafting Month with this incredible Whooo's Your Valentine Kit from CTMH.  Can you believe that it can be yours for only $10 when you spend $35 or more in Close To My Heart products from the Autumn/Winter 2012 Idea Book?  The kit is a $40 value and it includes 12 die-cut boxes, 3 cardstock sheets, 1 sheet of silver glitter paper, 12 treat tubes, and an exclusive D-size stamp set created specifically for the kit, one that is sure to become a favorite. You might want to take note of the treat tubes and the silver glitter paper...they are your sneak peek at two new Spring/Summer 2013 products!

Don't delay...this offer is only available while supplies last through January 31, 2013.  Come shop with me by clicking here.

Pear & Partridge Artiste - Quick Gift Card Holder

I really need to start gearing up for all of the holiday craft shows that I have committed to participating in.  The only problem is finding the time for my crafting.  So I briefly stopped doing laundry today to make a few really quick cards with the Artiste cartridge and CTMH's new paper line, Pear & Partridge.  I cut out the card on page 57 of the Artiste booklet at 3.75", which was the largest available on a sheet of 12" cardstock.  And with some manual intervention, I was able to cut out three cards from one sheet!  I cut out the "card" shape on page 77 two times, at 2.5" and 3" to create the layered saying.  I stamped with Chocolate ink and distressed the edges with Desert Sand.  A strip of leftover cardstock behind the saying, some pop dots, bling and done.  I love, love, love the saying, I think because it, as well as the paper, reminds me of something back in my childhood back in the 1970's.  The saying is part of the Pear & Partridge Workshop on the Go Card Kit.

The best part of the whole project was that I was able to cut out, stamp and assemble 3 of these cards in under 5 minutes.  Once opened, the card has a built in tab that would be perfect for holding a gift card.  Stay tuned to see what else I whip up with for the holidays!