Cricut Monday-Storybook Cartridge

For those of you who love the Stampin Up Top Note Die, here is a great alternative. It is the Marquee 1 on the Storybook Cartridge. I love how you can pick your own sizes when using the marquee. Also, there is the frames option that allows you to closely mimic the top not die.

Close To My Heart is offering a way cool Constant Campiagn

I got this card making set in my hot greedy little (okay not so little) hands. OM GOODNESS!! This card set is gorgeous!! The card bases are die cut with a cute flourish design. This card kit will make 16 cards. Here are the details:

TO CELEBRATE NATIONAL STAMPING MONTH
in September we are giving you 3 ways to
get a FREE Everyday Celebration card kit
for making 16 beautiful cards!
• Purchase a minimum of $60 in stamp sets**
(includes A, B, C, D, and E-size) between
August 18–September 30 (CC1006C)
• Host a Home Gathering with minimum sales
of $400 between September 1–30
• Sign up as a new Consultant between
September 1–30
You can also buy as many card kits as you’d
like for $39.95 per kit (CC1006B). And
there’s more fun! Place any order between
September 1–30 and you’ll be automatically
entered in our daily drawing for a FREE
card kit! Winners will be announced on
your Consultant’s MyCTMH website and
closetomyheart.com. Express your passion for
stamping with this pretty new card kit today!

CTMH Friday...look at our great special going on now!!

Close to My Heart is celebrating the end of summer with a special way to say "Thank you!" Customers ordering between August 3rd-17th will receive fantastic FREE products!

From August 3–17, customers who place a minimum order of $100 will be rewarded with a number of extra perks! They’ll receive the August Stamp of the Month (It's Your Day) for FREE as well as a current, hand-selected My Reflections® Level 2 paper packet (a total retail value of $39.90)!

But, that's not all! CTMH will cover tax and shipping and handling on BOTH of these free products, saving you even more! Spread the word quickly, because this Thanks-a-bration campaign only lasts for 15 days.

Below is the list of free paper packets that customers may receive as a thank you for this campaign. Customers will not be able to select the paper packets they receive for free, but all will be popular, currently-available packets.

My Reflections® Vintage Travel Level 2 Paper Packet
My Reflections® Rough ‘n Tumble Level 2 Paper Packet
My Reflections® Route 66 Level 2 Paper Packet
My Reflections® Expedition Level 2 Paper Packet
My Reflections® Floral Tapestry Level 2 Paper Packet
My Reflections® Everlasting Level 2 Paper Packet
My Reflections® Caprice Level 2 Paper Packet
My Reflections® Enchanted Level 2 Paper Packet
My Reflections® Free Spirit Level 2 Paper Packet
My Reflections® Life Delights Level 2 Paper Packet
My Reflections® Whoops-a-Daisy Level 2 Paper Packet
My Reflections® Perfect Day Level 2 Paper Packet

Contact me at valls_celeste@yahoo.com if you are interested.

My favs. Thursday

Are there times that you only have a few minutes to be on the computer and you want to check out some cool artwork or just be inspired? So you only go to a few of the different websites on your list? Well, that has happened to me before. When I am having one of those days, this is one of the blogs I visit.
http://www.sandimaciver.com/
As you can see from the pictures above, she has the most amazing projects!! One of my favorite things about her is her use of color. Her projects almost always jump out at you because of the color choices she makes. Whenever I need a wow card or project, Sandy is one of those people I go to to CASE, lol. I hope you give her a try and see for yourself how amazing her crafting is.

Stampin Up Wednesday

I found the inspiration here....
http://www.sandimaciver.com/sandi_maciver/2009/06/flower-fancy-stamp-set-smells-like-coffee-mmmmmmmmm.html

but, I wanted to change the colors...not that I don't love her color combo, but I have been in the mood to use these colors: Chocolate Chip, Very Vanilla, Melon Mambo, and Pink Pirouette. The funny thing is that Stampin Up retires their IN COLORs every year, and some of them go really well with the next year's colors. This, in my opinion, is the perfect example of the In Colors remaining trendy even into the next year. Stamps sets used are Sincere Salutations and Flower Fancy.

Technique Tuesday's paper cutting guide for the big shot XL dies

I don't remember where I found this techinque, I went looking for it a couple months after I had seen it, but couldn't find it, so I took what I remembered and pieced it together. You take 12x12 cardstock and cut it at the 7 inch mark, cutting down 7 inches. Rotate the cardstock 90 degrees clockwise and cut at the 7 inch mark, cutting down 7 inches. Repeat this for the other two sides. When you are done, you should have 4 7x5 cuts and 1 2x2 cut. These cuts should work well with some of the big shot XL dies. Even if you don't use them for the big shot, this is a great way of getting the most out of your 12x12 cardstock cuts.

Cricut Monday

I loved the Rockability paeprs from Stampin Up, but wanted more of the background to show on the scalloped square paper. So I took on of the papers and used my expression to make the scalloped square on it. The scalloped square comes from the Mini Monograms cartridge. Now I have heard from the Cricut Messageboard that the scalloped squares don't cut out right, but I seemed to have no problems with it. Also used from Cricut was the Hello Kitty Font. I am totally in love with this font, and have used it on quite a few things, including masculine layouts. It really is a very versatile font. Also used it Stampin Up's Rockability Specialty Papers, IN Color (08-09) papers, Just Jawing stamp set, A Little Something hostess set from Stampin Up, RHR ribbon from Stampin Up, black ribbon from HL, Martha Stewart Garnet glitter, Martha Stewart Carrara Marble coarse glitter, and Stampin up embossing powder and ink pads. I love the way the Carrara Marble glitter makes the skull look more like bone. As Mavis, from my fav. book series would say TTC, or too totally cool!