Sew It's Your Birthday

Here's a card for the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge:  Happy Birthday.  It uses one of my very favorite stamp sets called "Sewn With Love" by Lawn Fawn.  Hope you like it!

A Trio of Baby Cards

Today I am showing off a trio of baby cards I recently made using the Little Onesie stamp and coordinating die cut set by Clearly Besotted.  I colored the images using Zig Clean Color Real Brush markers   The cards measure 3x3 inches each.  I have entered them into the Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge:  Trio of Something.  There are a few people I know having babies this year so they should be put to good use soon enough!

Happy Birthday Card with Trio of Birds

I purchased the stamp set "I'm Tweet on You" (My Favorite Things) a while back but just recently got around to playing with it to make a few cards.   I was inspired by some cards I saw here on Pinterest. I colored the images using the Zig Clean Color Real Brush markers, and also used the Stitched Hillside Borders die set by Lawn Fawn to make the green hillside.  Since my card has a trio of birds and a birthday theme, I decided to enter it into both the Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge and Wednesday Challenge.

Hello...hello!! Despite my best intentions, this past summer FLEW BY and I didn't get around to doing much crafting. However, I did manage to completely move and reorganize my crafting space from a small third bedroom upstairs to a much bigger space in our family room downstairs. Now, I don't feel so clausterphobic and my daughter can play nearby!! Plus, I have the perfect space to host papercrafting workshops! So, to officially christen my new crafting space, I'll be hosting a card workshop on Saturday, November 20 from 1:00 to 3:30 p.m. There are still two spots available, so contact me by e-mail at christinemhealy@yahoo.com if you are interested. I've included some pics of the cards we will be making.

You Rock Cards

Here are three cards I designed using the CTMH You Rock Level 2 Paper Packet, with a little help from "Wishes" a how-to book for cardmaking. I will be teaching how to make these cards on May 1, 9:30 a.m. at the Kingstowne Center for Active Adults. If you would like to learn how to make these or any other cards, just contact me at christinemhealy@yahoo.com ...I would love to show you how!!

Crafting for a "Celebrity"

Boy oh boy....am I WAAAAYYYYY overdue for a new posting!! So, I thought I would highlight my newest card that I finally completed this past weekend. I say "finally" because a friend of mine, Trish, commissioned me to make this card, along with a couple dry erase boards, back in late February. So, during my time off last week, I got down to business and here is what came out of it.... Trish and her family are headed to Canton, Ohio this August to attend the NFL Pro Football Hall of Fame induction ceremony that will honor Floyd Little, nickanamed The Franchise, for his years of playing on the Denver Broncos. Trish is very friendly with Floyd's daughter, Christy Jones, who lives in the Washington, DC area. Congrats to Floyd "The Franchise" Little!!!! Hope he likes the card.

Here is one of the dry erase boards I made for Trish to give as a going away gift to another friend and her family...

All I can say is...Poor Kevin!!!!!

Topstitch Class - Coming March 13!!

I'm really looking forward to hosting the "Topstitch" Class at my home on Saturday, March 13, from 1:00 - 3:30 p.m. This is one of my very favorite CTMH paper packets and I think you will love it too!! The base colors are baby pink, heavenly blue, chocolate and vineyard berry. The pinks and blues makes it perfect for female and/or male cards and scrapbook layouts.

For just $20.90 (plus tax & shipping) you will receive the following CTMH products:

• Topstitch Level 2 Paper Packet ($12.95)
• Soft Suede Pinwheels - full pack ($5.95))
• Clear Sparkles - half pack ($1.50)
• extra embellishments including some buttons and ribbon ($0.50)
• full use of my stamps, inks, adhesives and other tools

The following pictures show a sampling of the cards for which I will be providing instruction during the workshop (there is a total of six different designs)*

* I will be pre-cutting the papers for you so all you have to do is stamp and assemble

While I will be gearing my instruction toward cardmaking, you can certainly focus on scrapbooking if you wish. Either way, you will leave with ample supplies that will allow you to complete additional projects on your own time - cards and/or scrapbook layouts.

If you are interested and/or want to learn more, please e-mail me at christinemhealy@yahoo.com or call me (703)927-2404.

DEADLINE to register for class is Sunday, February 28. Feel free to invite a friend along...just let me know if you are ordering for two. I look forward to seeing you in March!!

Fabulous Flower Soft

I wanted to share this card I recently made using (of course) my beloved CTMH papers and stamps, but I added another product to the mix...this product is called Flower Soft (http://www.flower-soft.com/). If you haven't heard of it, you will, and if you haven't tried it, you should. It's super easy to use and will bring incredible texture to your cards, scrapbook layouts and other paper creations. Essentially, Flower Soft is "an amazing pot of coloured sprinkles" per the description on their web-site. While it is often used to embellish stamped images, there are many, many other ways to incorporate Flower Soft in your crafting. I have just begun to experiment with this innovative product and have made a few cards. For the card showcased in this post, I used a mix of three Flower Soft colors including nut brown, bright orange and russet red (for another example, view the "For You" card posted on my blog on October 6, 2009). Most recently, I purchased the polar white color which appears to have some natural sparkle. I can't wait to use this color with my CTMH stamp set, All Decked Out D1308, to make some snow men cards that I plan to give to my daughter's teachers for the holidays....I'll post some pics of these once I finish. If you have any questions about this product, feel free to contact me at christinemhealy@yahoo.com.

Overdue Shout Out!!

I'm way overdue to send a "shout out" to Laura and all the lovely ladies in her Mom's Group who attended the cardmaking workshop I taught on October 22. I really enjoyed meeting them and watching them dive in to the four card projects that I laid out for them. Here are two of the four card projects I brought along for them to complete:

What was especially enjoyable for me was to watch as several of the ladies added their own personal touch to their cards. Some even changed the look completely by using the backside of the papers or different stamps since all the CTMH decorative papers are two-sided, and I was sure to bring along several different stamp sets. I think everyone really enjoyed the evening and, as a special bonus for me, five of the ladies signed up to attend another workshop that one of them will host in December! Yeah...I can't wait!! THANKS again ladies!!!

Preparing for Clifton Day Festival

I can't believe it's almost here....this will be my first year participating as a vendor at the Clifton Day Festival (http://www.cliftonday.com/) held this coming Sunday, October 11 from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. in Clifton, Virginia. Since this will be my first time at the Festival, I don't know what to expect, but I'm really hoping to meet some people who like to play with paper, stamps, and ink as much as I do! And if I'm really lucky, I may get some folks who want to sign up for one of the upcoming workshops I'm planning to host in November. Of course, a big reason I'll be at the Festival is to sell my handmade cards. Sometimes I get into a groove and I'll make a group of cards that are similar, either using the same paper packet or same stamp. Here is an example:

Other times, I'll make a completely one-of-a-kind card like the examples that follow:

If you have some time, consider stopping by my booth #308 at the Clifton Day Festival this weekend!!

Follow-up From Twitterpated Workshop

I've missed posting recently as I've been consumed with preparing for the Clifton Day Festival (http://www.cliftonday.com/) where I'll be selling my handmade cards this coming Sunday, October 11.

I've been wanting to let you know how the Twitterpated Workshop I hosted on September 27 turned out. For me, it was an awesome way to spend a Sunday afternoon! And I believe the three ladies who joined me felt the same way since they all expressed interest in attending future workshops that I might host. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU ladies for coming - you all did a spectacular job and I loved sharing our hobby!!

And speaking of future workshops, I am hoping to advertise my next event by the end of next week (mid October). It will likely be scheduled for a Sunday afternoon, either November 1st or 8th....so come visit my blog again soon to find out the details. I would love to have you join me!!

One of the best parts about the workshop is that I'll be giving away FREEbies including stamps and other CTMH products. At this last workshop, one of the ladies won the September Stamp of the Month for free (retail value of $22.95)...just by attending and having her name drawn. Also, each workshop participant purchased a paper packet "kit" that included an exclusive stamp set from CTMH and a full-color Workshop Guide that gives detailed instructions for making one 2-page layout and six cards (two each of three designs). Also, the guide provides pictures of one other scrapbook layout and three other card designs. Pictured above are the three cards I made for the workshop. I followed the guide pretty closely, but added my own touch moreso to the sorbet-colored mushroom card on the left.

Card Project for Mom's Group

Well here I am again at mid-night typing away. While I truly do love staying up late, my body is not so happy when the alarm goes off at 6:00 a.m......uuuuuuggghh!!

I haven't posted anything during the past two weeks because I've been using my time in the evenings to focus on making cards. A couple weeks ago, I was "hired" by my sister-in-law, Laura, to make cards for the four women who hold positions in her mother's group (president, secretary, etc.). Every six months, the officers change over and the ones who are finished receive a parting gift as a token of appreciation. When Laura asked me if I would be interested in making some blank cards to be given to each of the four officers as their parting gift, I jumped at the chance. Afterall, it serves as a great opportunity to do some creating, and also allows me to get my name and product out to the public since I would like to move more in the direction of selling my handmade papercrafts in the future.

So without further ado, here is a sneak peek at a few of the cards the officers will be receiving next week at their meeting...

All of the products used to make this birthday card (above) are CTMH except for the ribbon. Stamped very lightly is the sentiment: "Make a wish..............."

I must give credit for the design of these two cards (above) to my wonderful CTMH supervisor, Jennifer Bohnart, who is a crafting diva!! She hosted my CTMH Kick-off party back in May and this was the "make and take" project. I especially like these two cards as they use one of my favorite CTMH stamp sets which is "Be Yourself" and was the May Stamp of the Month.

Last, but certainly not least, are the monogram cards where I used the Tickled Pink Kit papers (striped) and incorporated some "bling"....tiny rhinestones are one of my favorite embellishments to use.

I hope the ladies like receiving these cards as much as I enjoyed making them!

Stitching on Cards

I wanted to share with you this card that I recently made using embroidery floss as a border. First, I pre-punched small holes (evenly spaced) using a piercing tool. Then, I used a simple hand-stitching technique to attach the floss to the card. Besides papercrafting, I really enjoy sewing so this technique allows me to merge my two crafts into one! CTMH products used include:

• Creative Basics Animal Cookies Collection (X5807) = blue flowered paper
• My Acrylix stamp set - For Every Occasion (D1187) = Hi!
• White Daisy Variety Pack (Z1300) = white paper flower
• Craft Buttons - Summer Collection (Z1282)
• Embroidery Floss - Red & Pink Assortment (Z1092)
• Exclusive Inks Stamp Pad - Dutch Blue (Z2119)

Thinking Outside the Box with Magic Moments Scrapbook Kit

I've been having a GREAT summer so far and have been able to spend some extra time papercrafting with all my new Close To My Heart products!! Here are the most recent cards I made using the CTMH Magic Moments Scrapbook Kit Z9071 that will soon be retired (can be ordered from my website at http://christinehealy.myctmh.com/ while supplies last). Instead of scrapbooking with this kit, I decided to cut up some of the paper and use some of the stickers, as well as use some of My Acrylix stamps to make these mini (4x4) cards. Also, I used a template from http://www.papertreyink.com/ to construct a cardholder out of cardstock (not easily seen in the background). Well...I'm off to make some more cards!

First Card

I just started as a Consultant with Close to My Heart in early May and this was one of the very first cards I made using CTMH products. My supervisor, Jennnifer B, hosted one of her monthly card clubs and I attended. We used the Emporium Level 1 Kit which I especially like for its color combinations and eclectic style. I thought this would be a good first card to share with you as I especially like the way it turned out!