Splendid Technique!

I enjoyed watching Tresa Black and other talented CTMH consultants yesterday on a live broadcast on UStream of Creative University.  I especially loved learning this technique from Tresa called "Joseph's Coat".  I had to try it before going to bed last night and I know I will be using it a bunch!  You can see the instructions for this and other fun techniques at  http://www.ustream.tv/channel/fabulously-artsy. 

For this little bit of fall card, I used CTMH paper pack "Olivia" and the stamp sets "Something Splendid" (available 2 more days) and "Timeless".  Inks used are chocolate, creme brulee, sorbet and goldrush.    The sparkly brad is one of our new products being released on Wednesday.  Thanks for looking!

H2H stitching

This week's challenge at www.heart2heartchallenges.blogspot.com is to make something using stitching-faux or real.  I am in the middle of creating prototypes for my Christmas workshop and so I made one of the tags to fit the challenge. 

I used Close To My Heart's wonderful cardstock in Ponderosa Pine to cut the tag.  I trimmed it with a bit of paper from the fabulous, soon to be released  CTMH Mistletoe pack, the berries were enhanced with a bit of red stickles.  For the curly stitch and the straight stitches, I used CTMH stamps from the "Togetherness" set and Martha Stewart gold pigment ink, embossed with gold embossing powder.  The beautiful ornament comes from the soon to be released CTMH "All The Best" stamp set.  I again used the same gold ink and powder on CTMH Holiday Red cardstock. I crowned it with a red rhinestone from  my stash.  The sentiment is from the same set and I stamped it with Versamark and used red embossing powder-"All The Best" actually shows up better in person.

The final touch was to press the piece of colonial white ribbon in gold ink and tie a knot!  All the Christmas CTMH papers and stamps will be available to customers starting Sept. 1st and can be purchased on my website: http://belindak.myctmh.com

High School-Amazing

No artwork today.  Just a post about my mom feelings!  Today my youngest son begins high school!  That means we've seen one all the way through those years ( he is now married and doing great ) and 1 halfway through and  we're now beginning the journey with another.  I know everyone says this, but I just don't know where the years have gone!  I vividly remember skipping (ok, maybe only inside of me!) down the hall of his elementary so very happy that my last little bird was on his way out the nest.  I laughed at those first timers who were crying over leaving their little darlings with the teacher!  In my opinion, once they got a taste of a few hours of freedom, they would be skipping along with me.

Fast forward 9 years and I can no longer skip physically due to spinal cord damage and multiple sclerosis that was diagnosed a couple of months after dropping off that kindergartner.  In fact, that year was the only year of his life that I could walk with him to the first day of school.  He only has very vague memories of a mom who could walk.  I wish I could go back in time and tell that carefree me to not rush things.  To live in the moment.  To cherish every little second she had with those little boys.  I feel like I lost so much of their growing up years in the hospitalizations, therapy and medical chaos that ensued.

God has been so good through the years and I know He filled in the gaps in their lives that a sick mom couldn't.  He also has allowed me to have many years of relative stability and the ability to ( almost ) fully participate in all they do, despite my disability.

Now, my last two babes are well on their way to being grown men who will no longer need their mommy.  I am not skipping inside today but I am filled with thankfulness that  my God has allowed me to see them to this point and with His grace I will be there for the remaining milestones in their lives.  There is no higher calling and no greater honor than to be mom to my precious sons. 

Triple Play-Aug 15

In a few days on August 15th, Close To My Heart will be offering a great kit called Triple Play.  This $29.95 kit will be available for as low as $5 with a qualifying order!  The kit will include a darling stamp set, embellishments to stamp, ribbon, 4 mini ink pads and patterned cardstock to make 3 mini albums in 3 different colors.  I wanted to spice things up a bit so in addition to making 1 mini album in pink following the directions, I also used the blue set to make a sticky notepad holder and 2 thank you cards and the remaining yummy fall set to make an accordian album.

I will post the pink and the fall albums on the 15th. 

Sketch Challenge

I've always known I've never followed instructions to the "T" but this week proves it with the sketch challenge from www.heart2heartchallenges.blogspot.com  .  One thing I love about sketches are they are a beginning and that's usually all I need to get started on a project is to just be given the beginning.

Base Card:  CTMH Topiary Cardstock-I love the white core of our cardstock when it shows through with sanding after being embossed(Cuttlebug swirls and flowers).
Paper strip/flowers: CTMH Splendor papers-I knew I wanted to make some sort of  shabby flower and this is what I came up with.  Our double-sided papers are always perfect for this type of element.  Flowers were cut with Cricut and then smooshed up, inked with a sponge and then folded in half and squished in the middle. Staples adhere them to the bottom of the card.  They still needed a little something so I took pieces of CTMH Waxy Flax and adhered them to the center with a dab of CTMH Liquid Glass.www.heart2heartchallenges.blogspot.com

Cage & Bird: I used my Cricut again to cut CTMH White Daisy Cardstock for the bird cage with the Bloom cartridge.  I gilded it with CTMH Glitz Gel.  The birdie is stamped from the CTMH A Tweet set.  I dabbed it in CTMH Crystal Blue ink on top and CTMH Brown Bag ink on the bottom.  I used a fairly light hand to ink it.  After I cut the bird out, I used a sponge to go over the edges with the Crystal Blue ink. I made a braided chain for the bird cage out of CTMH Bamboo Waxy Flax. Green pearls finish the eye and cage top. 

Remember, you can always purchase any Close To My Heart products from my website http://belindak.myctmh.com

Tag Challenge-mini album

You guessed it-another challenge entry for www.heart2heartchallenges.blogspot.com.  This week's challenge was to make a project using a tag.  I used 3 tags in my mini album inspired by the talented Tresa Black at www.fabulouslyartsy.com.  I had wanted to make one of these for a while and when I heard my bro. and SIL were headed on a 3 month RV trip through Canada, I decided it was the perfect time to make one and use the Journey collection of papers and stamps from Close To My Heart.  Throughout the album I used the Journey papers LV1 and LV2 as well as the My Stickease sheets.  I also used the CTMH stamp sets Live Inspired and Happy Journey.  I used lots of Chocolate Ink to age/distress the elements.  I love how it turned out and have 3 months to look at it until they return from their journey.  I hope I don't decide to keep it instead!