Sheila's Stamping Stuff

A Christmas Deer

2017-12-11T01:00:00.000-06:00

For "Christmas Critter" challenge week on the Heart 2 Heart Challenges blog, I chose this adorable deer. The card uses papers from both the Silver & Gold packet and the Falling For You packet. It is a nice way to combine papers from different kits. The deer and small Christmas tree were cut using Thin Cuts with the Silver & Gold-Scrapbooking stamp set and then a bit of ink color was added using the coordinating stamp images. It is a simple and rustic card, with a nature theme. The format of the card is based on Make It From Your Heart, Volume 1, Pattern #21. These "how to" books are my most used CTMH tool.

Create your own "Christmas Critters" project and share it on the Heart 2 Heart Challenges blog!

All papers and stamps are from Close To My Heart (CTMH).
#ctmh #cardmaking #heart2heartchallenges #christmascard

	Sheila Bennett Close To My Heart Independent Consultant (913) 485-4355

Wedding Wishes

2017-11-27T01:00:00.000-06:00

Congratulations to my daughter and her fiancé who were married this weekend! For a wedding card, I decided to "alter" their invitation. This is a way to use your CTMH supplies along with other products to create something personal and unique.

In order to turn their invitation into a congratulations card for them, I used the Artiste Cricut cartridge to cut the "Mr & Mrs" from Colonial White cardstock. This was added to a piece of Vellum using 3-D Foam Tape which was placed over the top of the invitation. This creates a subdued look, while preserving the original.

Using images from the Wedding Wishes stamp set, I created panels to cover both the Reply and the Details card which had been included in the side pocket. Some ShinHan Touch Twin markers were used to add additional color, and some Foil Tape and Glitter Gems add a bit of sparkle and sheen. Initially, I thought that I would just create some new inserts for the pocket, but the decided that it would be nice to be able to see the foliage that was originally printed so just added a stamped panel to the top of each of the insert cards.

This is a photo of the "unaltered" invitation. We purchased the bi-fold pocket folders and some custom printables from an Etsy shop to print everything at home. To complete and finish each invitation, some CTMH colored cardstock was used along with vellum and Glitter Paper to add some pizzazz. The pocket contained the Reply card, a Details card, and a stamped addressed envelope for the Reply to be returned. For members of the wedding party who were invited to the rehearsal and rehearsal dinner, there was an additional card in the pocket.

The challenge this week on the Heart 2 Heart Challenges blog is "Anything Goes" so this was perfect timing to share our wedding invitation project.

All papers and stamps are from Close To My Heart (CTMH).
#ctmh #wedding #heart2heartchallenges

	Sheila Bennett Close To My Heart Independent Consultant (913) 485-4355

Gratitude

2017-11-13T01:00:00.000-06:00

Thanksgiving is the season for gratitude, so the Heart 2 Heart Challenges this week is to "Count Your Blessings". This card uses Patten #19 from the Make It From Your Heart Volume 2 sketch book along with seasonal print papers in the Falling For You packet and one of my favorite sentiments which is found in the Always Grateful stamp set.

Create your own "Count Your Blessings" project and share it on the Heart 2 Heart Challenges blog!

All papers and stamps are from Close To My Heart (CTMH).
#ctmh #cardmaking #heart2heartchallenges

	Sheila Bennett Close To My Heart Independent Consultant (913) 485-4355

Falling For You

2017-10-30T01:00:00.000-05:00

Leaves are definitely a "sign of the season" and that is the current challenge on the Heart 2 Heart Challenges blog. Using a sketch from the Freshly Made Sketches blog (FMS310), Falling For You stamps and metal dies, along with papers from the Falling For You kit, this card reminds me that there is a chill in the air and it is sweatshirt season.

Find some time to create your own "sign of the season" design and share on the Heart 2 Heart Challenges blog!

All papers and stamps are from Close To My Heart (CTMH).
#ctmh #cardmaking #heart2heartchallenges #FMS310

	Sheila Bennett Close To My Heart Independent Consultant (913) 485-4355

Share A Smile with Punny Pals

2017-10-16T20:00:00.000-05:00

October is "Share A Smith" Month, and with the purchase of every Punny Pals stamp set, Close To My Heart is donating $7 USD of the proceeds to Operation Smile™. And, for this month only and while supplies last, you can get a coordinating set of Thin Cuts for cutting out the adorable animal shapes. Even better, we’ve built an exclusive card kit that includes the Thin Cuts along with card bases, envelopes, paper pieces, and instructions that you can use to create endearing cards that will sure enough bring a smile to anyone’s day!

If you arrived here from Janna's Creative Studio you are hopping through our circle of Close To My Heart consultants sharing their "Punny Pals" projects.

The sweet monkey from the Punny Pals stamp set inspired me to create a card stating that the monkey is a "CHIMPION"! Using papers and Fall colors from the Falling For You packet forms a great background for the monkey image. The basic card design is from the Make It From Your Heart, Volume 1, Pattern #26. All of the designs in the Make It From Your Heart books are a great starting point for creating a personal card.

Please visit Show and Tell with Michelle to continue along our Blog Hop featuring Punny Pals stamp set and coordinating Thin Cuts for each of the images.

If you get lost along the way, the complete list of participants is available on Melinda's 'If You Bling It' blog.

All papers and stamps are from Close To My Heart (CTMH).
#ctmh #cardmaking #youreachimpion #punnypals

	Sheila Bennett Close To My Heart Independent Consultant (913) 485-4355

Under the Stars

2017-10-16T01:00:00.000-05:00

This week's challenge on the Heart 2 Heart Challenges blog is "Under the Weather" which can represent a weather-related project, or a "get well" card for someone who may be "under the weather."

I chose to use the new Constellations stamp set to create a starry weather pattern in the sky, and add a "get well" message from the Short & Sweet stamp set. The stars and constellations were embossed on a piece of Pewter cardstock, using both white and gold embossing powders. Banner shapes for the "get well" sentiment were cut using the new Basic Banners die. The dark strip of paper with the Gold Foil Tape on top is actually a patterned paper from the Cats & Bats packet; showing the versatility of the CTMH paper packets.

Find some time to create your own "Under the Weather" design and share on the Heart 2 Heart Challenges blog!

All papers and stamps are from Close To My Heart (CTMH).
#ctmh #cardmaking #getwellcard #constellations

	Sheila Bennett Close To My Heart Independent Consultant (913) 485-4355

Plaid Saint Nick

2017-10-02T01:00:00.000-05:00

"Mad For Plaid" is the new challenge on the Heart 2 Heart Challenges blog, and was the perfect opportunity for me to use the new Buffalo Plaid embossing folder which is available in the Holiday Expressions book from Close To My Heart. This folder creates a wonderful background, and the silver Foil Paper from CTMH embosses beautifully. To complete the card, the adorable Little Saint Nick image was colored with some ShinHan Touch Twin alcohol markers and the silver Shimmer Brush used for a bit of sparkle on his hat. The sentiment is found in the Gingerbread Friends stamp set.

Find some time to create your own "Mad For Plaid" design and share on the Heart 2 Heart Challenges blog!

All papers and stamps are from Close To My Heart (CTMH).
#ctmh #cardmaking #christmascard #santa #plaid

	Sheila Bennett Close To My Heart Independent Consultant (913) 485-4355

Christmas Tunes (October SOTM Blog Hop)

2017-10-01T20:00:00.000-05:00

Welcome to our Stamp of the Month Blog Hop. This month's Christmas Tunes is a great stamp set for creating personal Holiday cards.

If you have come here from the JD Designs blog, you are on the right path! Blog Hopping is simple to do - just click on the link at the end of the post on each blog to move to the next one!

This fun tree in the Christmas Tunes stamp set inspired me to add a bit of color with some alcohol markers and then a bit of sparkle with the Shimmer Brush on the top star. Even though it is a bit difficult to see in the photo, the Shimmer Brush was also used on the ribbon which was cut using the new Ribbon Thin Cut die. On a Raspberry cardstock base, the "falalalala" pattern from the Silver & Gold paper packet was used, and then a bright green from the Cats & Bats pack was used for contrast and for the ribbon. Design of the card was based on pattern #20 in Make It From Your Heart, Volume 2.

Place a $50 minimum order this month (October 2017) and you are eligible to purchase the Christmas Tunes stamp set for only $5. It is also available for $17.95 without a qualifying purchase.

Now "Hop" on over to the Create With Alyson blog to see her work. Be sure to visit all the Consultants at their blogs to get some great crafting inspiration and other fun ideas.

If you get lost along the way, the complete list of participants is available on Melinda's 'If You Bling It' blog.

All papers and stamps are from Close To My Heart (CTMH).
#ctmh #cardmaking #ctmhSOTM #christmascard #holidaycard

	Sheila Bennett Close To My Heart Independent Consultant (913) 485-4355

Meow!

2017-09-22T20:00:00.000-05:00

Welcome to our Holiday Expressions New Product Blog Hop, brought to you by the same ladies who participate in the monthly Stamp-of-the-Month Blog Hop. This new Holiday Expressions book has some really fabulous new papers, stamp sets, and die cuts that you will want to create your own projects this Fall.

If you arrived here from Create With Alyson, you are hopping through our circle of Close To My Heart consultants sharing their projects featuring new products.

This adorable origami inspired cat is from the Cats & Bats-Cardmaking set which includes die cuts for the cat, stars, bat, and some of the words in the stamp set. Instead of creating a Halloween theme card, I chose to simply feature the cat and a "meow" message. The two layer stamp images work perfectly with the die cut to create an adorable cat. The papers from the Cats & Bats packet even include one with the look of origami folds to coordinate with the cat image.

Cats & Bats-Cardmaking (stamps & die cuts)

Please visit the Stamping Rules! blog to continue along our Blog Hop.

If you get lost along the way, the complete list of participants is available on Melinda's 'If You Bling It' blog.
#ctmh #cardmaking

	Sheila Bennett Close To My Heart Independent Consultant (913) 485-4355

Arrr Matey!

2017-09-18T01:00:00.000-05:00

Since September 19 is "International Talk Like A Pirate" day, the Heart 2 Heart Challenges blog decided to host a pirate challenge. At first, I was stumped on what stamps to use, and decided to just search the Cricut cartridges that Close To My Heart offers to see if there were any appropriate "pirate" goodies. So I was pleased to find this fishing ship on the new Your Are Here cartridge, which certainly reminds me of a pirate ship. The "Arrr Matey!" was cut using the font included with the You Are Here cartridge, and the wave frame is on the Artbooking cartridge. Even though it is difficult to see in the photo, the darker portion of the ship is actually a patterned paper from the Basics Fundamentals packet, and the flags have a bit of sparkle added to them using silver the Shimmer Brush.

So, brush up on your "pirate talk" and share your creation on the Heart 2 Heart Challenges blog!

All papers and stamps are from Close To My Heart (CTMH).
#ctmh #cardmaking #pirate #talklikeapirate #pirateship

	Sheila Bennett Close To My Heart Independent Consultant (913) 485-4355

Falling For You

2017-09-04T01:00:00.000-05:00

To begin the month of September, the Heart 2 Heart Challenges blog has a color challenge incorporating six vibrant colors for Fall. For this card, I used five of the colors to stamp leaves from the Falling For You-Cardmaking stamp set with coordinating Thin Cuts dies. The ink colors used are Toffee, Pomegranate, Sorbet, Canary, and Peacock. The Pebble for the color challenge is both the cardstock card base and the linen look patterned paper from the Basics Fundamentals packet. The card sketch (FMS303) is from the Freshly Made Sketches blog.

To play along with our color challenge this month, create your own artwork using the colors Toffee, Pomegranate, Sorbet, Canary, Peacock, and Pebble. Then post it, and share the link with us on the Heart 2 Heart Challenges blog!

All papers and stamps are from Close To My Heart (CTMH).
#ctmh #cardmaking #heart2heartchallenges

	Sheila Bennett Close To My Heart Independent Consultant (913) 485-4355

Feel So Blessed (September SOTM Blog Hop)

2017-09-01T20:00:00.000-05:00

Welcome to our Stamp of the Month Blog Hop. For September, the Feel So Blessed stamp set includes great images to be used by both cardmakers and scrapbookers.

If you have come here from the Crafting For Sanity? blog, you are on the right path! Blog Hopping is simple to do - just click on the link at the end of the post on each blog to move to the next one!

Included in the Feel So Blessed stamp set is a wonderful feather, and I used three different inks to "stamp roll" and create multi-colored feathers. As a background for the sentiment, a nice accent stamp from the Splash of Color set was used. It is a simple, one-layer card with some burlap ribbon to add to the rustic feel.

Place a $50 minimum order this month (September 2017) and you are eligible to purchase the Feel So Blessed stamp set for only $5. It is also available for $17.95 without a qualifying purchase.

Now "Hop" on over to the Stamping Maui blog to see her work. Be sure to visit all the Consultants at their blogs to get some great crafting inspiration and other fun ideas.

If you get lost along the way, the complete list of participants is available on Melinda's 'If You Bling It' blog.

All papers and stamps are from Close To My Heart (CTMH).
#ctmh #cardmaking #ctmhSOTM

	Sheila Bennett Close To My Heart Independent Consultant (913) 485-4355

A Thoughtful Bird Study

2017-08-28T10:59:00.002-05:00

One afternoon, I decided to do a "bird study" with the adorable Thoughtful Bird stamp set. Since it includes a coordinating die cut, it was really fun to play with and to come up with different color combinations for the bird. It is actually a 3-step stamp with three separate layers of images to create great detail on the bird.

This first card uses a linen look paper from the Basics Fundamentals paper packet, along with a sentiment and the bird from Thoughtful Bird. Ink colors used for the bird were Almond, Sweet Leaf, and Toffee.

Next I wanted to create more of a peach colored bird, so used ink colors Sorbet, Toffee, and Espresso. Also used the same linen paper and a sentiment from the Birthday Sparkles stamp set.

Everyone loves a blue bird, so this one uses Crystal Blue, Almond and Toffee inks for the bird. To create a bit of background, an image from the versatile Splash of Color stamp set was used. The striped paper is also from the Basics Fundamentals paper packet.

One of my favorites is the red bird. It is not truly a cardinal since there is not a crown on his head, but the colors worked out wonderfully. For this bird, I actually only used the first and third layers of stamp images, so only the colors Cranberry and Black. And I felt that the bird still looks great without that extra layer of detail. To complete the card, a dotted paper from the Basics Fundamentals packet with used along with some black Glitter Paper which really adds a nice background for the bird.

Finally, I decided to use only the "negative space" left by using the die cut. Layered behind the bird is a piece of our new Silver Foil Paper which has been embossed using the new Rose Embossing Folder and a Cuttlebug. The Foil Paper is available in both Silver and Gold, and embosses beautifully with no tears or blemishes. This sentiment is also included in the Thoughtful Bird stamp set. The ribbon is part of the new Basics Ribbon pack.

Hope you have enjoyed this little bird "study" and I thought it was perfect to share for the current Anything Goes--CTMH Style challenge on the Heart 2 Heart Challenges blog.

All papers and stamps are from Close To My Heart (CTMH).
#ctmh #cardmaking #Heart2HeartChallenges

	Sheila Bennett Close To My Heart Independent Consultant (913) 485-4355

Stylish and Classy

2017-08-21T01:00:00.000-05:00

When I saw the theme of "Stylish and Classy" for this week's Heart 2 Heart Challenges, my first thought was the new Foil Paper from CTMH. This is available in either Silver or Gold, and looks fabulous when embossed because it does not crack like a regular foil. Of course, the Rose embossing folder also means classic style to me, as does the wonderful sentiment from the Inspire stamp set. The card base and Glitter Paper are both Bashful, which is the color-of-the-year and is a beautiful pink.

All papers and stamps are from Close To My Heart (CTMH).
#ctmh #cardmaking #Heart2Heartchallenges

	Sheila Bennett Close To My Heart Independent Consultant (913) 485-4355

We Are Makers

2017-08-16T20:00:00.000-05:00

Welcome to our Annual Inspirations New Product Blog Hop, brought to you by the same ladies who participate in the monthly Stamp-of-the-Month Blog Hop. The month of August means a brand-new catalog full of fun new products for your creative projects.

If you arrived here from JenRubio, you are hopping through our circle of Close To My Heart consultants sharing their projects spotlighting new products just introduced for 2017-2018.

One of my favorite new stamp sets is We Are Makers, which includes four really nice "creative" sentiments. These are perfect for documenting your stamping and scrapping days on scrapbook pages, or for sending a card to a fellow artist who enjoys paper crafts, knitting, or any other creative pursuit. Watercolors were used to add a splash of color behind the sentiment, and a gorgeous flower pattern from the new Adventures Fundamentals paper packet was used for the background of the card. .

We Are Makers (D1732) stamp set

Please visit the NJ Stamping Queen blog to continue along our Blog Hop.

If you get lost along the way, the complete list of participants is available on Melinda's 'If You Bling It' blog.

All papers and stamps are from Close To My Heart (CTMH).
#ctmh #cardmaking #watercolor

	Sheila Bennett Close To My Heart Independent Consultant (913) 485-4355

It's A Sketch!

2017-08-15T13:00:00.000-05:00

It's a sketch challenge week on the Heart 2 Heart Challenges blog. For my card, I used a small "happy birthday" from the Short & Sweet stamp set along with new papers from the Basics Fundamentals kit, a perfectly coordinated ribbon, and new Basics cardstock colors.

To play along with our sketch this month, create your own artwork following our sketch, post it, and share the link with us on the Heart 2 Heart Challenges blog! It's always fun to see different interpretations of the sketch.

All papers and stamps are from Close To My Heart (CTMH).
#ctmh #cardmaking #Heart2Heartchallenges

	Sheila Bennett Close To My Heart Independent Consultant (913) 485-4355

Just PIGcause!

2017-08-09T13:03:00.000-05:00

First challenge of August on the Heart 2 Heart Challenges blog is "Friends." This is a great reason for you to create something to send to a special friend in your life. And I'm sure they would love to find something fun in their mailbox!

For this card, I chose an adorable pig and sentiment from the Punny Pals stamp set and paired it with this week's CAS(E) this Sketch (CTS 233). A piece of patterned paper from the new Basics Fundamentals has the perfect words for a "friends" theme. A stamp from the versatile Splash of Color set was used as the 'ground' under the little piglet.

All papers and stamps are from Close To My Heart (CTMH).
#ctmh #cardmaking #Heart2Heartchallenge

	Sheila Bennett Close To My Heart Independent Consultant (913) 485-4355

Camp Out

2017-08-07T01:00:00.000-05:00

This week's theme on the Heart 2 Heart Challenges blog is "Camp Out." This is a great theme for summer travel, family memories, and adventure.

The stylized trees on this patterned paper from the Jack packet give this card a "camp out" feel. And the sentiment from This Way 2 Paradise (stamp set in the "You Are Here" Cricut collection) reminds you to seize the adventures in life.

The limited edition Jack paper will be retired at the end of this month, so don't wait too late to get a packet for your adventures.

Be sure to visit the Heart 2 Heart Challenges blog each week as a new challenge is posted. We would love to see your creativity!

All papers and stamps are from Close To My Heart (CTMH).

#ctmh #cardmaking #Heart2Heartchallenges

	Sheila Bennett Close To My Heart Independent Consultant (913) 485-4355

School Year (August SOTM Blog Hop)

2017-08-01T20:00:00.000-05:00

Welcome to our Stamp of the Month Blog Hop. The month of August means back-to-school, and CTMH has a great School Year stamp set for you.

If you have come here from Janna's Creative Studio, you are on the right path! Blog Hopping is simple to do - just click on the link at the end of the post on each blog to move to the next one!

Used the nice woodgrain frame included in the School Year stamp set along with a sentiment from the Pack Your Bags stamp set for this inspiration card. Pack Your Bags set is available as one of three exclusive stamp sets you receive with the purchase of the brand new "You Are Here" Cricut collection which is full of travel related cuts. The flowered background paper is from the new Basics Fundamental packet, which includes 10 new neutral colors.

Since it is a new catalog year, CTMH introduced a new color-of-the-year ~ Bashful. This lovely pink pairs beautifully with brown, grey, and many other colors; and you can get Bashful cardstock, ink, glitter paper, Pearl embellishments, pigment ink, and even an Everyday Life album.

Place a $50 minimum order this month (August 2017) and you are eligible to purchase the School Year stamp set for only $5. It is also available for $17.95 without a qualifying purchase.

Now "Hop" on over to the Crafting for Sanity? blog to see her work. Be sure to visit all the Consultants at their blogs to get some great crafting inspiration and other fun ideas.

If you get lost along the way, the complete list of participants is available on Melinda's 'If You Bling It' blog.

All papers and stamps are from Close To My Heart (CTMH).
#ctmh #cardmaking #ctmhColoroftheYear

	Sheila Bennett Close To My Heart Independent Consultant (913) 485-4355

Fabulous Fonts ~ Storybook Alphabet

2017-07-24T01:00:00.000-05:00

This week's theme on the Heart 2 Heart Challenges blog is "Fabulous Fonts." With so many different alphabet stamp sets now available from CTMH, there are many fonts to choose from.

This 5"x7" card has a Black base, with a White Daisy front to highlight a series of bright colors. This month's stamp-of-the-month is Storybook Alphabet and includes a fun and whimsical font. Using five of the more recent colors that Close To My Heart has introduced: Lemon, Tangerine, Emerald, Pansy, and Raspberry, letter stamps from the Storybook Alphabet set were used to create the word "hello." A thin strip was cut from each of the five colors to create a background behind each letter. This card shows a quick and easy way to create a simple card using some cardstock and colored pencils.

The original inspiration for this card was a Happy Birthday card created by Laura Beacham. However, I think her card has a much nicer overall effect and detailed finish than my "hello" card. This is Laura's inspiration card:

You can see more of Laura Beacham's work on her Pinterest and Facebook pages Laura's Creative Pages and Cards.

Be sure to visit the Heart 2 Heart Challenges blog each week as a new challenge is posted. We would love to see your creativity!

All papers and stamps are from Close To My Heart (CTMH).

#ctmh #cardmaking #Heart2Heartchallenge #hellocard

	Sheila Bennett Close To My Heart Independent Consultant (913) 485-4355

So Hard to Say Goodbye

2017-07-16T20:00:00.000-05:00

With the annual CTMH Convention and highly-anticipated release of new stamps and papers next month, it is time to say "goodbye" to some retiring products. Visit the Going Soon! section of my website to see what is retiring.

If you arrived here from Miss Carrie's Creations you are hopping through our circle of Close To My Heart consultants sharing their "So Hard to Say Goodbye" projects.

Inspired by the cheerful colors in the Little Dreamer papers, this colorful unicorn was stamped using the Little Dreamer-Cardmaking stamp set. This card is sure to put a smile on anyone's face! There are even coordinating die cuts available to make it fast and easy to cut out an adorable unicorn of your own.

Decorating the inside of the card really completes it.

Little Dreamer-Cardmaking stamp set

Please visit Stamping Maui blog to continue along our Blog Hop highlighting favorite products that are soon to retire.

If you get lost along the way, the complete list of participants is available on Melinda's 'If You Bling It' blog.

All papers and stamps are from Close To My Heart (CTMH).
#ctmh #cardmaking #ctmhLittleDreamer #unicorn #alwaysbeaunicorn

	Sheila Bennett Close To My Heart Independent Consultant (913) 485-4355

Oh the Places You'll Go!

2017-07-10T01:00:00.000-05:00

"Oh the Places You'll Go" is the theme this week on the Heart 2 Heart Challenges blog. And I can envision lots of adventures and "places" in the future for any newly married couple.

Make Dr. Seuss proud and stretch your imagination to visualize the stark contrast between black + white + gold + sparkle on this card, as it is difficult to capture with a photograph. This card is one that is definitely more impressive "in real life." Black cardstock is used for the card base, with some White Daisy and then a piece of gorgeous Black Glitter Paper which is covered with the beautiful gold dots from Fundamentals-All About the Gold. Embossing the sentiment and rings from the Wedding Wishes stamp set and layering them on a piece of Gold Glitter Paper along with a piece of black & gold ribbon adds to the dimension of the card.

Be sure to visit the Heart 2 Heart Challenges blog each week as a new challenge is posted. We would love to see your creativity!

All papers and stamps are from Close To My Heart (CTMH).
#ctmh #cardmaking #H2Hchallenge #Heart2Heart #weddingcard #happilyeverafter

	Sheila Bennett Close To My Heart Independent Consultant (913) 485-4355

Storybook Alphabet (July SOTM Blog Hop)

2017-07-01T20:00:00.000-05:00

Welcome to our Stamp of the Month Blog Hop. The Storybook Alphabet stamp set for the month of July has a cute decorated image for each letter of the alphabet.

If you have come here from Show and Tell, with Michelle, you are on the right path! Blog Hopping is simple to do - just click on the link at the end of the post on each blog to move to the next one!

Utilizing images from the Storybook Alphabet set as capital letters along with the Etched Alphabet as lowercase, created a "happy birthday" sentiment. Watercolor pencils were used for some 'soft' color on the larger letters. Distressed papers from the No Worries packet, along with pattern #20 in Make It From Your Heart volume 1, create a nice neutral card which can be used for anyone.

Place a $50 minimum order this month (July 2017) and you are eligible to purchase the Storybook Alphabet stamp set for only $5. It is also available for $17.95 without a qualifying purchase.

Now "Hop" on over to The Inky Scrapper blog to see her work. Be sure to visit all the Consultants at their blogs to get some great crafting inspiration and other fun ideas.

If you get lost along the way, the complete list of participants is available on Melinda's 'If You Bling It' blog.

All papers and stamps are from Close To My Heart (CTMH).
#ctmh #cardmaking #ctmhNoWorries

	Sheila Bennett Close To My Heart Independent Consultant (913) 485-4355

No Worries

2017-07-01T01:00:00.000-05:00

This is my first creation as a new member of the Heart 2 Heart Challenges blog Design Team. The theme for this first challenge in the month of July is to use papers from the No Worries packet, which contains some fabulous patterns for beach/summer. However, the papers are universal enough to use for just about any project. A basketweave paper was used for the background of this card, which is based on Pattern #24 in Make It From Your Heart volume 2. A strip of Rose Gold Foil Tape adds just a bit of sheen. The stamp images are from the Words of Motivation stamp set which is available exclusively to CTMH Consultants.

No Worries paper packet

Be sure to visit the Heart 2 Heart Challenges blog each week as a new challenge is posted. We would love to see your creativity!

All papers and stamps are from Close To My Heart (CTMH).
#ctmh #cardmaking #ctmhNoWorries #H2Hchallenge

	Sheila Bennett Close To My Heart Independent Consultant (913) 485-4355

Stamps Headed for Retirement

2017-06-16T20:00:00.000-05:00

Welcome to our Retiring Stamps Blog Hop, brought to you by the same ladies who participate in the monthly Stamp-of-the-Month Blog Hop. In anticipation of a new Annual Inspirations catalog in August, it is "out with the old" to make way for new stamp sets. Close To My Heart has released a list of retiring stamp sets which we are featuring in this Blog Hop. When you see a favorite, be sure to get your order in before the end of July.

If you arrived here from Create With Alyson you are hopping through our circle of Close To My Heart consultants sharing their projects using retiring stamp sets.

After consulting the retiring list, I was inspired by two stamp sets. The circle images are from the So Many Smiles set and the sentiment is found in Happy For You. The bright colors are papers in the new Prickly Pear packet. Pattern #26 in Make It From Your Heart volume 2 sparked the card design.

In addition to all of the US State and Canada Province stamps, this is a list of the stamp sets that are scheduled to be retired.

Please visit Show and Tell, with Michelle blog to continue along our Blog Hop.

If you get lost along the way, the complete list of participants is available on Melinda's 'If You Bling It' blog.

All papers and stamps are from Close To My Heart (CTMH).
#ctmh #cardmaking #ctmhPricklyPear .

	Sheila Bennett Close To My Heart Independent Consultant (913) 485-4355