CTMH August SOTM Blog Hop

Wow, what an exciting time to be a consultant for Close To My Heart!  The new Autumn/Winter Idea Book goes live to customers tomorrow (Aug 1) and there are so many incredible changes.  I'm quite sure as you go through this month's hop, you'll see lots of gorgeous new papers and embellishments.

This month we have over 60 consultants participating.  It's a cyclical hop so if you've come from Michelle's blog, you're on the right path.  If you're starting here, just keep clicking links until you get back here and you'll have seen it all.

August's Stamp-of-the-Month is very Halloween-y.  As I've said in past years, I'm not real big on Halloween.  So I decided to use the stamps in a different way, although I have to say that I do think the rest of the set is super cute.  Here's what it looks like:

Here is the card I made:

I used our brand new 6x6 Kraft cards and envelopes, one of my favourite new paper packs, Typeset, Milepost Shapes and Complements Canvas self-adhesive images.  I used the border and sentiment from the stamp-of-the-month.  I rubbed the star over my Vineyard Berry ink pad to add some colour.  Everything was sponged in Desert Sand or Black ink.  Here's another view so you can see how neat those card bases are.

And since these have got to be my favourite new accessory, I had to include a close-up.  They're so neat!

Now, you're ready to keep on hopping over to Terrie's blog. 

Happy Creating!

Retiring Items

My friend, Carla, has a fabulous post outlining all the retiring items.  These will not be available after July 31, and I'm putting in an order on Saturday night.  Check out Carla's post and email me with your order.  (I'll be at a 12-hour crop all day on Saturday, so please don't phone an order in.)

Another Sneak Peek!

Check out this video about the new Dreamin' Workshop-on-the-Go kit with added Cricut fun.

Then come see this paper in real life at my open house. 

Dates: Thursday, August 4: 8-9pm
          Friday, August 5: 8-9pm
          Saturday, August 6: 2-5pm.  Come at this time for a make 'n' take, too!

Please RSVP, especially for Saturday.  See you then!

New Autumn/Winter Idea Book! (and lots of changes)

I'm still here, I promise.  It's just been a crazy few weeks.  I'm home from convention and trying to get back into the swing of things.  Getting information I've learned out to the people who want to know (okay, neeeeeed to know!).  Trying to get my head back into family obligations and other things I'm supposed to be doing even though I only want to think about Close To My Heart and all these ideas percolating in my brain!  I'm going full-steam ahead.

First of all, this blog is going to become my headquarters on the internet for all things Simply Creating with CTMH.  Our websites are going away as of October 1st, so you won't be able to access my calendar or artwork there anymore.  I'll still have an address to give you for shopping online or if you'd like to join me in this adventure as a consultant.  That means there will be some changes in what you see me post here on my blog.  I'll be doing more advertising for promotions and events as well as posting artwork.

I'm sure you're eager to see the new Idea Book.  I can't give it to you, yet; but drop by my open house and pick up your copy for free.  Here's the information:

Drop in to pick up your free copy of the new Idea Book. Take a look at the amazing changes coming in this new catalogue!

Thursday, August 4, 8-9pm
Friday, August 5, 8-9pm
Saturday, August 6, 2-5pm.

If you want to play with some new products and make a small project, you'll need to come on Saturday afternoon.

Please RSVP to let me know when you're coming, especially if you'd like to attend Saturday afternoon.  Let me know if you need my address.

And to whet your appetite for all things new, here's a sneak peek:

Want to stay in the know?  Subscribe to my posts on the right or like my facebook page http://www.facebook.com/simplycreating.

CTMH July SOTM Blog Hop

Happy Canada Day to all my fellow Canadians!  How exciting to be celebrating this fun day with a blog hop featuring a stamp set that's perfect for today (okay, tomorrow since this is up on Thursday night instead of Friday morning).  If you came here from Vickie's blog, you're on the right track.  Remember that this is a cyclical hop, so keep hopping until you get back here and you'll have seen everything!

Here is the Canadian version of this stamp set.  Yes, you read that correctly.  There is a Canadian version and an American version.  How neat is that?   



I'm expecting lots of patriotic projects this time around.  Since there are lots of American consultants on this hop I thought I'd better put the Canadian side of things on display.  Here is my project:



I have had this event calendar for quite some time and haven't done a thing with it, until now.  I used only the SOTM along with Cranberry, Black, Gypsy, Lagoon, Grey Flannel, and Pacifica inks.  All the fireworks and stars are stamped second generation so they don't interfere with anything I need to write on the calendar.  I also kept it pretty plain, with no embellishments so the calendar will hang nice and flat when I finally finish it and put it up on the wall.  (Who knows how long that will take!)

If you'd like to see another project I've made with this stamp set, just scroll down to the next post.

Now it's time to keep hopping over to Shirley's blog and check out what's she's created.

Happy Creating!

Summer Card Camp!

I won a registration to Summer Card Camp!  It began on Monday and has been lots of fun so far.  I don't have a lot of time to create now that both kids are home every day all day, but I did get a chance to complete a card yesterday.

I love this colour combo!  So bright and cheery and very summery.  Here's the card I made:

I used only Close To My Heart products.  The stamp set is actually the July Stamp-of-the-Month, so you're getting a little sneak peek.  The images are stamed in Gypsy, Sky, Sunset, Cotton Candy and Black inks.  Then I sponged the same colour inks on the background to fill it in a bit and edged the front piece in Black.  I also used Jennifer's window technique as well, cutting into the card front inside the epoxy frame sticker, which came from the Sweetheart Level 2 assortment.  The letter "u" is one of our Irresistibles Eclectic Chipboard Diecuts, inked in Black.  To finish it off, I added a few Bitty Sparkles since I didn't have any larger circle ones left.  Here are a couple other angles to show you the window.

Happy Creating!

My Free Studio J Layout

I completed this layout for free, completely nothing.  It was so fun to create it and play on my favourite online scrapbooking program.

(click on photo to see it larger)

We visited Uncle Rob at the Canadian Forces Base in Trenton on June 5 and I've already got this very fun event scrapbooked.  I love how quickly I was able to finish it.

You've got a few days left to make your free layout.  After it's complete, you can print it the same way you would do your photos for your classic layouts.  Just visit my website and start getting caught up or even just create a layout to celebrate a recent event.

Happy Creating!