Create a Card

Since it's Wednesday, it's Create a Card day. Where is this week going? I've been very busy creating the last week or so, so my days are flying by!

Here's a card created using Close To My Heart's "Tailor-Made" stamp set. I was playing with my CTMH Artiste Cricut cartridge the other day and saw that there is a cut on there for a mannequin.  Cool!

It's a pretty basic card using Juniper and New England Ivy inks.  The Creative Basic B&T papers are no longer available.

4 ¼” x 5 ½” left fold card base

4 ¼” x 5 ½” Juniper card stock

4” x 5 ¼” Creative Basic Stripe B&T

3” x 4” New England Ivy card stock

2” x 2 ½” New England Ivy card stock

2 ¾” x 3 ¾” Wings Creative Basic B&T

1 ¾” x 2 ¼” Colonial White card stock

Stamp machine with New England Ivy.

Stamp tape measure with New England Ivy and cut out.  Stamp scissors and thimble with black and cut out.  Stamp pincushion with Juniper and cut out.

Attach Wings Stripe to Juniper cardstock.  Attach Wings Creative Basic to New England Ivy cardstock and center on Stripe B&T

Attach stamped image to NE Ivy cardstock and attach towards top of Creative Basic.  Attach cut out pieces to card front as shown.

Magic Club Layout #2

I have to say, I LOVE this paper packet!  This is the second layout that the Magic Club did for August.  Again, we used Avonlea.

As the weather cools here in upstate NY, I find myself drawn to craft even more.  There are not enough hours in the day to do everything I would like to do.  How about you?  Have you thought of any Christmas/Hanukkah gift ideas yet?  I know that I will be recreating with paper one of the Studio J layouts that I did about the USS Coolidge.  You'll find that layout in the slideshow to the right.  I'm going to frame it as one of my gifts to my brother.

I saw a fabulous rag quilt that looks like the American flag on Pinterest.  I plan to make a couple or three or maybe even four of them.  LOL!  My Sister in Law, a niece, and our daughter are into the red, white and blue color scheme, so I know they'll all love it.  And, of course, I need to make one for myself, but that will wait until after Christmas :)

Well, my craft room is calling....  Have a wonderful Monday!

Freebie Friday is Back!

I'm getting back into the groove!  It's Freebie Friday!  As some of you know, before my Cruisin' Buddy and I boarded the ship in Barcelona, we made a two day stop in London.  We toured London the first day, then took the Eurostar to Paris for the second day before heading off to Barcelona.  Needless to say, you can only get a small glimpse of Paris in a day, so, she and I plan to return some day.  We have no idea when, but we will!  As you can expect, we love anything Paris related (and there seems to be so much out there these days), so today I'm giving you the chance to win the La Belle Vie Close To My Heart paper pack.



What do you have to do for your chance to win?  Easy!  Just tell me where your fantasy dream vacation spot would be.  Next Friday I will draw the winner!



Don't forget... The Great Cricut© Giveaway!   When I have 50 followers for my blog, I'll give away the CTMH Art Philosophy Cricut© cartridge.

And...when I have 100 followers, I'll give away the CTMH Artiste Cricut© cartridge.

So, tell your friends!!  I can't wait to give these cartridges way!

Create a Card

Happy Wednesday!!  It's Create a Card day!  This card was created using Close To My Heart's D1528 Jardin stamp set.  As some of you know, I'm Paris crazy and hope to one day return for more than a one day visit!  

4 ¼” x 5 ½” top fold card base

4 ¼” x 5 ½” Blush card stock

2” x 3 ¼” Blush card stock

4” x 5 ¼” Grey Flannel card stock

1 ¾” x 3” Grey Flannel card stock

1 ½” x 3 ¼” Grey Flannel card stock

Random stamp the 4” x 5 ¼” and the 1 ¾” x 3” pieces of Grey Flannel with Blush ink.  Stamp a sentiment on the 1 ½” x 3 ¼” and ink edges of Grey Flannel card stock piece with Blush.  Stamp a butterfly and cut out.

Attach the stamped Grey Flannel pieces to the Blush pieces.

Attach the smaller one ½” from top and ¾” from left side. 

Cut a 1 ½” x 4” piece from the embossed Blush card stock.  Cut V in bottom to form banner edge. Attach to card flush at top and ½” from right side of card front

Attach sentiment as shown.

Attach pink ribbon to front, leaving an opening on the right.  Tie ribbon in a bow around the loose ribbon. 

Attach cut out butterfly.

Magic Club Layout

Here is one of the layouts the Magic Club did for August.  We used Close To My Heart's  new Avonlea kit.  Such a pretty paper pack.  I kept the embellishments to a minimum as it seemed to take away from the pages.  I only used some of Z1748 Brocade Assortment on this set of pages. 

It's Freebie Friday!

This freebie is good Friday, Saturday and Sunday only!  Purchase either Z1790 Cricut Artiste Collection or Z1686 Cricut Art Philosophy Collection and take your choice of any $29.95 Workshop on the Go for FREE!!

Z1790 Cricut Artiste Collection

Z1686 Cricut Art Philosophy

View the complete collections HERE.

Simply visit my website to place your order, then email me with your choice of FREE Workshop on the Go kit.

Don't forget to check out the Stamp of the Month.  It's yours for only $5 with a $50 order.  How cute is this set?!

Plus!  Don't forget the National Stamping Month double stamp set, It's Your Day!  It's yours for only $5 with a $35 purchase!

 Questions?  Shoot me an email!

Create a Card

My posting schedule is way off kilter!!  I've been like a mosquito on caffeine lately!!  I have a laundry list of things I want to do around the house, but I still feel the need to craft a bit also.  Next up will be to restain my kitchen cupboards.  I also want to get brave and paint my counter top.  It's a hideous powder blue and I've been living with it for 35+ years.  LOL!  We opened the kitchen up back in 1983, but, the "if it does the job, why change it" mindset of my husband meant we were keeping it..  LOL!    Over the years I've tried to think of inexpensive ways to cover it up, but hadn't dared try painting it.  Now that I see it can be done, that's on my to-do list also.

And, of course, there's Pinterest which gives us all of these fabulous ideas!  :)

This card was created using X7148B Pemberley from Close To My Heart.  The stamp set, also from CTMH, is D1510 - 4 My Friend

4 ¼” x 5 ½” top fold card base

4 ¼” x 5 ½” Pacifica card stock

2 ¼” x 4 ¼” Pacifica card stock

2” x 4” Pemberley B&T

1” x 3 ½” Pemberley B&T (5)

2” x 2 ½” Desert Sand card stock

1 ¼” x 1 ½” Colonial White card stock

Stamp sentiment on Colonial White with Pacifica ink.

Tear edges of Desert Sand card stock piece.  Ink edges with Pacifica ink.  Wet torn edges to curl

Attach 5 Pemberley pieces to Pacifica card stock, following the photo. 

Attach the 2” x 4” Pemberley B&T to Pacifica card stock.  Tie Goldrush organdy ribbon around this piece as shown.  Attached to card front.

Attach 3 opaque pearls..

Love your Layout

Use Studio J® online design software to create a beautiful layout in just minutes by watching this month's Love Your Layout video. You'll learn creative techniques, including how to create the custom candy-stripe ribbon featured in this month's layout. Watch the video here and then log in to Studio J.com to try it yourself!

Introducing our first Guest Artist

We have our first Guest Artist.  I'm so happy to introduce Katherine Carlgren.  Katherine worked with the Close To My Heart Scholastic Workshop on the Go.  Here are her layouts.

Aren't Katherine's layouts great?!  Thanks so much for participating in my new Guest Artist program!

Would YOU like to be a Guest Artist?  If so, please email me with a link to your blog, or if you don't have a blog, a few pictures of your artwork.  I'd love to have you be a guest artist!

Who Let the Dogs Out

I saw this cute video on Good Afternoon America yesterday and just had to post it today.  I'm guessing the homeowners were shocked to come home and see the dogs out. So, I imagine they set up the camera to catch the cat in the act.  LOL!

One more Purse

Here's a smaller purse I made.  It's also made with the pink Waverly Tres Chic fabric.

It has a different lining fabric, but I forgot to take a picture of the inside before I took it into the shop.  So, here's a picture of the fabric. :)

Well, I better get off the computer and get something done.  Today I need to clean up my scrap room.  Since I was so crazy busy in August, everything just got dumped in here.  I need to put all the paper, etc. away so that I can find what I'm looking for.  I need to get my club projects done for the next six months of our Magic Club and Stamp a Stack Club.  Then, I'll get some more sewing done.  I have lots of ideas swirling around in my head.  I have so  much fabric, both to sew doll clothes and also lots of quilting fabric.  I saw some great rag quilts on Pinterest that looked like American flags.  I can think of 3 people who would love them for Christmas (along with one for myself).  Plus, I really need to start using up some of the other fabrics!  I have way too much.  I'm thinking of opening up an Etsy store.  I'm trying to come up with a name for it.  Since I sign my work with "Suzanne", I'd like to use that in my store name.  Anybody have any ideas?  I'm leaning towards something that sounds French like Avec Suzanne or Chez Suzanne, but would love some other ideas!

I have a new tote to show today

I'm having so much fun sewing these Paris purses.  It's fun to try something new every now and then!  This one is done with the black and creme Tres Chic Waverly fabric.  I know a couple of people who will be getting new purses for Christmas :)

The lighting is a little off on the inside.  It's the same light color of the top picture, not the yellowy color that it looks like in the bottom picture.

Love your Layout

Use Studio J® to create a beautiful layout in just minutes by watching this month's Love Your Layout video. You'll use text boxes in creative ways to add unique touches to your artwork. Watch the video here and then log into Studio J to try it yourself!

We have WINNERS!

The winner of the $50 in free Close To My Heart products is Shawna Mc!  Shawna gets to choose $50 in free products from the following:

• My Acrylix^® Stamp Sets including customized K-size and E-size stamps (Stamp of the Month stamps are not included)
• My Acrylix^® Blocks including the My Acrylix^® Block Starter Kit
• Exclusive Inks^® Stamp Pads
• Archival Black Exclusive Inks^® Stamp Pads
• Exclusive Inks^® Mini Pigment Pad Sets
• Exclusive Inks^® Marker Sets
• Exclusive Inks^® Re-inkers
• My Reflections^® Paper Packets
• My Stickease^® Assortments
• Complements Embellishments
• Workshops on the Go^® Kits
• Studio J^® layouts
• Studio J^® 5-Packs
• All Cardstock Packs

And, the winner of the $50 Mystery Hostess Shopping Spree is Yvette B.  She also gets $50 in free products from the above list.

Have fun shopping, ladies!!

As I said in yesterday's post, I'm doing a bit of house keeping.  You know how it is...we hang onto things thinking that we will do them "someday".  Well, realistically, I know that I'll never find time to do them all.  LOL!  So, it's time for me to pry them out of my hands and offer them to you at a steal!  I've added two new pages to my blog.  You'll see the Limited Edition Sale page.  This page contains great deals on special kits that Close To My Heart offered at a special price with a CTMH purchase at different times during my time with them.  I've marked them way down and most of them I do have more than one...the exception being the Promise of Spring stamp set.

The other page is the "Boutique".  This page contains some of the many layouts I've created over the years.  Each is a double page layout for $5. I have many more to post, but these are the ones I had pictures of at the moment. :)  So, if you see anything you'd like, just shoot me an email.

Guest Artists!

I'm still looking for more Guest Artists!  September's Guest Artists is Katherine Carlgren.  Katherine will be working with the Scholastic Workshop on the Go kit.

Here's the details of the Guest Artist program.

1. If you would like a chance to be a guest artist, please send me a link to artwork on your blog, or, if you have no blog, email me pictures of some of your art. Put Guest Artist in your subject line.
2. On the first of every month, I will choose the guest artist for that month.
3. Upon choosing the artists, I will send you one of Close To My Heart's Workshop on the Go kits. You will need to create the featured layout in the kit (you may jazz it up or put your own spin on it).  Then, with all the products left over in the kit, you'll make as many items as you can. You may choose to do another two page layout and some cards, or a one page layout & cards, only cards, or choose something of your own to alter.You will have until the 15th of the month to get all of this done :)
4. When you finish creating, you will send me photos of everything you've created so that I can post them on my blog.  If you have a blog, you'll also post them there.  
5. You'll get high praise and recognition on my blog.

Does this sound like something you'd like to do?  If so, send me your blog link or photos of your artwork.  The first guest artist will be announced on 9/1.

I can't wait to see what everybody creates!!

Limited Edition Sale Items

I've been doing a little house keeping.  You know how it is...you have all these great kits put aside that you say you'll do "someday".  LOL!  Well, I have more than one of each of these kits, so, it's time for me to pry them out of my grasp and let some of them go.  I've put up a page for them and will be adding to the page as I pry my fingers off the rest of them.  LOL!!  If you see any that interest you, just hit the buy now button and it will take you to a check out page.  Go ahead and check out and then I'll figure up the postage and we can settle up for the remainder.  If  you have any questions, just let me know!  Here's a link to my Limited Edition page.