Artfully Sent "r" key

This is the key I chose to play with first.  The "r" key is found on page 14 and includes a images below.

Regular  Pocket Card Sentiment Scene Icon  Pop-up Sleeve

Each key has these many options, making this cartridge house over 700 images!  Want to see all the Artfully Sent images?  Check it out.

Here is the first card I made:

This is the Sleeve card using Brushed paper (X7190B).  I took another piece of Brushed background paper and cut it longer then the sleeve dimensions.  I did this so I could stamp "thank you" (from the Collection), and to attach the ribbon.  Both of those techniques allow the recipient to easily remove the sentiment.

With the paper inside, I stamped the saying in the butterflies with black ink.  I only inked the word I wanted each time.  In other words, "so very much" was one stamp.  First I inked the "so" and stamped it.  I then cleaned the stamp.  Second, I inked "very" in the corner of the pad.  I wiped away any stray ink before stamping.  I cleaned the stamp again.  Finally, I inked "much!" and stamped that.

I finished the card off with black resin stars from Scaredy Cat Assortment (Z3011) and Topiary Mini Chevron Ribbon (Z1929).


My second card is almost the same as the above card, but with different colors.  What else is different?  I'll give you a hint... I used the Cricut Craft Room to edit it.

I removed some of the butterflies to insert a saying!

After selecting an image in the Craft Room, you can chose to "show contours" which will reveal the lines within the card.  In this case, the butterflies.  Click the lines you'd like to remove, click on "exit", and you'll have a modified image.  : )

Slate cardstock was paired with Wanderful B&T paper (X7191B).  The blue dotted paper is on the reverse side.  I cut a smaller piece to cover the opening of that butterfly and adhered it to the back side of the front of the card.  Then I cut a large piece - one to cover the whole backside - and adhered it.  I put glue around the butterflies so the paper would be seated nicely.  When you open the card, the blue dotted paper is on that whole side.

"Congratulations" is heat embossed with Gold Embossing Powder (Z2066).  I thought about doing it in Silver, but because of the washi tape (Z1932) being silver, I wanted contrast.

Sponging in Slate and adding Gold Sequins (Z2012) finished off this card.

November 2014 Studio J Special!

November marks the five-year anniversary of Studio J^®, and that means it’s your lucky month, with five amazing ways to win through Studio J and Close To My Heart social media!

First, throughout the month of November, all layouts purchased in Studio J are $5! That is a savings of over 25% off of retail! 

Your second chance to win big must come by sheer luck: every fifth order placed in Studio J during November receives a FREE surprise Close To My Heart accessory in its shipping box! The accessory has a retail value of $5 or more.

If luck doesn’t smile on you in that way, you might stumble upon it by finding a little extra something in your Studio J box. Five “golden tickets” will be sent out during the month of November with randomly selected Studio J print orders! This “golden ticket” is redeemable for one of Close To My Heart’s new D-ring albums* loaded with 10 Top Load Memory Protectors™.

For a fourth way to win, simply create new, gorgeous layouts in Studio J, select your favorites, and then post pictures of them on Close To My Heart’s Facebook page using the hashtag #ctmhlucky5. After November 30, five lucky winners will be selected from the entries based on their artistry and creativity and each of these winners will receive their own D-ring album loaded with 10 Top Load Memory Protectors!

And there is one last way to win: take your new Studio J artwork and post a picture of it on Instagram using the hashtag #ctmhlucky5. Just as it is with Facebook, after November 30, five lucky winners will be selected from the entries to receive their own D-ring album loaded with 10 Top Load Memory Protectors!

*Offer valid November 1–30, 2014. Pattern and color of new D-ring album to be given to winners will be at Close To My Heart’s discretion based upon availability.  No tax or shipping will be charged on the free item(s). Studio J layouts ship in a protected box that can hold 4 to 50 two-page layouts. For additional information about shipping/handling, please visit StudioJ.com > Products and Pricing > Shipping Options.

Now, go and create!  There is nothing to download and no obligation to purchase.  But once you try it, and see how easy it can be, you'll be hooked!  This special won't last forever - only through November 30, 2014 - so jump to my website and start today.  No, not today, RIGHT NOW!  : )

Artfully Sent Cricut Collection key "e"

This key  is found on page 13 of the guide.  Bren Yule designed it. 

This card is what the group got to make.  Take a peek at her site.  She includes  a few other cards using the key, and an inspiration card too.

Bren loves the vintage  and lace look.  The bird has been dry embossed with our Damask Embossing Folder (Z1927) before sponging it with Chocolate ink.  The paper is from Yuletide Carol paper packet (X7187B).  Bren decided to cut a separate heart for the bird wing (from Art Philosophy Cartridge).

Surgery Excuse

I had scheduled surgery on my wrist last week.  The doctor and I thought it was time to go looking for the reason why my right wrist wasn't feeling 100%.  It had been a year and a half since my bike incident (my chain came off before I fell to the ground - shoe clips ).

The doctor "repaired" my torn ligaments on the outside of my wrist, and filed down a bone spur that was right below my tendon of my wrist "face".  Whereas I am thrilled I finally had the procedure done, and that I will get better, I'm not so happy (right now, of course) that I am in a cast pass my elbow.  Yes, I'm typing this all in with my left hand.  And so far, I can't do much else either.

With that in mind, I thought I'd share some older work until I have use of my hand to play again.  That's not to say it will be all old stuff.  I got together with some CTMH sisters right before surgery to explore the Artfully Sent Cricut Collection.  If you're a card maker, and want simple quick cards, you'll enjoy this collection.

Thanks for understanding.  : )

Bat Halloween Card

Although this is a quick Halloween card, it requires the Cricut Craft Room from ProvoCraft to create.  That and the Artbooking Cricut Collection.

The image you see as a card is a photo mat found on page 71 of the Artbooking cartridge.  The <v><shift> key to be more exact (Column 4 Row 4 key).

What I did was I welded the photo mat to a square of the same size, placing the mat under the square.  Then the whole length is cut, and I only have to fold the paper.  : )

The last thing I did was add Buttercup cardstock (now retired) to the inside of the card.  Today's choices would be Canary for a bright moon.

That's it!  Super easy, and super cute!