IT'S A GUY THING! -- MAY STAMP CLASS

With Father's Day just around the corner, we will focus on the men in our lives for our May class.  All of the cards can be used for Father's Day, birthday, or just a thinking of you type greeting.  You will choose on class day.  Let's take a closer look at each of the projects.

May is National Scrapbooking Month, and Close to My Heart is offering a wonderful tropical-themed paper pack with a stamp and a scrapbook layout.  I wanted to incorporate this lovely paper in our class, and fellow consultant Jeanie Burch shared this wonderful Hawaiian shirt card.  The sunglasses hanging on the pocket, complete with plastic lenses, just make this card.  You can use any type of sentiment on the inside.  My brother-in-law will be receiving this for his retirement!  

The new Seasonal Expressions 2 catalog from Close to My Heart will be available to order from by the time you come to the May class, so I thought we should make use of one of the new paper packs - Fresh Air.  I love the rustic look of this paper, but all you have to do is flip the paper to the other side, and you have a much softer feel.  You will decide in class which version of this card you will make. 

Outdoors - whether at the beach or in the wild - is perfect for our guy cards.  This card is clean and simple, but very special.  The gold foil paper is a real highlight.  The space on the right top is not empty.  Though it doesn't show up well in this picture, there are embossed lines.  These are made with your scoreboard!  A simple trick to add a special touch to the card. 

I saved the "special" card for last!  This full card front die is really fun to work with.  But what a surprise when you open it up and find a 3-D box of balloons!  The technique is not at all difficult, but really adds a lot to this card. 

Dates for Stamp Club are:
Tuesday, May 1
Thursday, May 3
Saturday, May 5
Monday, May 7
All classes meet at 9:30 and run until about 1:30

All classes meet in my craft studio in Prescott Valley, AZ

Cost is $20 to complete the 4 projects
And remember -
if you bring a friend who has never come before,

 you both get the class for that $20!

OR 

If you have never come before 

but have found this information on my 

blog or Facebook page,

 then you can do the class for half-price!
 

If you can't make any of the above dates 

OR

you live out of the Prescott Valley area, 

I can put together a pre-stamped kit of the projects.

(add $5 if you need a pre-stamped kit)

Shipping is available for an extra fee.

Please email me to let me know which date you want scrappingailaz@gmail.com
Once you confirm your registration, 

if you are unable to attend the class,
I will prepare a kit with instructions 

for you to complete the projects.

A Slice of Happy Birthday!

Pizza - what a great food!  And especially for birthday parties.  I remember cooking pizza for my sons' parties when they were little.  Now they can remember those times! 
 
The stamp set used for this card is from CTMH's "A Slice of Happy" cardmaking workshop.  The papers are from the new Stargazer paper pack - and the embossed background is the Simple Chevron folder from CTMH (Z3247).  I love using embossing on the plain white to give dimension.

This fun card will be part of my Birthday Extravaganza classes in February.  Dates are Thursday February 1, Saturday February 3, Monday February 5 or Tuesday February 6.

I'm entering this card in the Anything Goes challenge over at Addicted to Stamps and More.  Pop over there and see the other great creations.

Thanks for stopping by! 

Something New - a new card, new papers, and new design book!

It's fun to take a paper with one theme and switch it around for another use. The papers on this card are from the NEW CTMH Make Waves set - that's right, it's all about mermaids and water. But you would never know that from this card! The green paper with the leaves stamped on it actually has star fish all over it - but you don't really notice them! 

I used pattern #12 from the NEW Make it From Your Heart Volume 4 for the design.  This new loose-leaf book fits in the CTMH Everyday Life Album and has 24 card patterns (18 vertical card designs and 6 horizontal) in the standard 4¼" x 5½" card size. 
 
I love the fact that the paper packs from CTMH have 8 different designs that coordinate with each other - so it's easy to make a card like this with four different papers and you know that they will work together!

The sentiment and leaf border are stamped using the NEW Sunny Thoughts stamp set.  In fact, it is so new, you can't even get it until February, since it is the Stamp of the Month next month.  But this gives you something to look forward to!

Do you notice a little theme going on in my descriptions?  This card is being entered over at the Heart 2 Heart Challenge Blog, and one of the themes for January is SOMETHING NEW.  So I'm just showing how this card fits in that category.  Click on the blog link above to see the other great projects focusing on something new!

This card is one of the six we are doing in my February Birthday Extravaganza classes. Dates for Birthday Extravaganza are Thursday February 1, Saturday February 3, Monday February 5 or Tuesday February 6. Can't make it or don't live in the Prescott Valley, AZ area? No problem - I can do a pre-stamped kit and even pop it in the mail to you. Photo instructions included. 

Email me at scrappingailaz@gmail.com if you are interested.

I've posted photos of three other cards we are making in earlier posts on this blog - so head to the home page to see all of them.  The other two will be posted soon.

MASCULINE BIRTHDAY CARD

 

Why is it that we have so much trouble creating cards for the men in our lives?  It really is fun to work with some of the rustic elements for a change, and this is what I came up with.   I started with the sketch from the Fusion Card Challenge Blog, but also found a number of other challenges this week that were focusing on masculine cards.  So this young buck is going to be entered in all of them!  This card is also going to be a part of February's Birthday Extravaganza classes.

Here's what I used on the card (all from CTMH unless noted):
Stamps and Dies:
Hunting for Words (B1571) - stag image 
Just a Number (retired D1514) - sentiment
Paper and Inks:
Gimme Some Sugar patterned paper (X7228B)
Kraft cardstock (Z1375)
Pewter cardstock (X5954) 
White Daisy cardstock (1385)
Tuxedo Black ink (Z899)
Charcoal Ink (Z2831)
Other:
Wood Slats Embossing Folder (Z3248) - still available online though not in the current catalog!
Thin 3-D foam (Z2060)
Prismacolor Premier art markers (light walnut, cool grey 30% and brick beige)

Be sure to check out the other creations made on the various blogs where I am entering this card:
Fusion Card Challenge - sketch
Sweet Stampin' - "For Men"
Watercooler Wednesday - Masculine
Addicted to Stamps and More - Photo Inspiration. 

Thanks for stopping by my little corner of blog-land!
 

Clean & Simple Birthday Card

I am getting ready for my annual Birthday Extravaganza class - where we make 6 birthday cards in one setting!  The design this week at Freshly Made Sketches was perfect - and one of the Design Team members used the vellum, which inspired me to add it to this card.  Just a little something special on the front.  I think it's the little things that add to a simple card - like the stitching on the circle die and the embossed background.  They add detail but don't take up "space", keeping your focus on the main elements.

Here's what I used on the card (all from CTMH unless noted):
Stamps and Dies:
Eat Cake & Celebrate (D1731) - cake image
Hunting For Words (B1571) - sentiment
Basic Circles Thin Cut Dies (Z3318)
Stitched Circles dies (Simon Says)
Paper and Inks:
White Daisy cardstock (1385)
Vellum paper (Z3367)
Thistle ink (Z2840)
Other:
Confetti Embossing Folder (Z3118) - still available online though not in the current catalog!
Thin 3-D foam (Z2060)
Clear Shimmer Brush (Z3293) - highlight on the flame!

This card is entered in two challenges this week - Freshly Made Sketches and Southern Girls Challenge (Stitch Me Up!).  Check out the other great creations on both of these blogs.

I appreciate you stopping by - and hope you are staying warm and dry wherever you are!

FREE CAKE! Stamp Ink Paper Challenge card

Who doesn't like free cake!  This is a fun little stamp from the new Seasonal Expressions catalog from CTMH.  A great way to have fun as you wish someone a happy birthday.  The background papers are from the new Chelsea Garden collection.  Since all of CTMH's stamps are clear, they are very easy to cut apart.  I did that with this stamp so I could stamp the smaller sentiment on the banner without having to mask.  It's so easy to put the stamp back together on your block if you want to stamp it as a single image.

I used the sketch from this week's Stamp Ink Paper challenge.  Pop over there to see what other great creations have been submitted.

Thanks for stopping by - and enjoy your weekend!

WHIMSY 16-CARD WORKSHOP

This is the workshop I created for the CTMH convention in June. 

 It’s finally time to share it with you! 

Dates are:
Saturday, February 10
Monday, February 12
Wednesday, February 14
Cost is $35 and includes all materials except adhesives.  

Everything is pre-cut and ready to stamp and assemble.

All classes will meet at 9:30 in my Prescott Valley, AZ 
craft studio and run until about 2:30
If you are not in the area, I can mail a pre-stamped kit (for an additional fee) to you.  
A shipping charge will be added.

There will be options to select different sentiments on some, 
but not all, of the cards for those in attendance.

Please email me by January 29 to register. 
 This will ensure that the materials are ready in time for class. scrappingailaz@gmail.com

Once you register, if you are unable to attend the class, 
I will prepare a pre-stamped kit (for an additional fee) 
for you to complete with photo instructions.

CHRISTMAS CARD WORKSHOP

 SILVER & GOLD PML 

CHRISTMAS CARD WORKSKHOP

CTMH Consultant Guide available

It's time to be thinking about Christmas cards, and the CTMH Silver & Gold Picture My Life cards make the perfect start to 22 beautiful cards.
Complete cutting instructions and instructions for assembling the cards are included.

If you aren't a Close to My Heart consultant but would like to create these cards, I will soon be posting the information for purchasing a pre-stamped kit that will allow you to put these cards together at home.

These are the cards that you can make with your customers!

These 22 cards are created using the silver and gold foil PML cards from the packet.  You need 5 different colors of cardstock, but it comes out to only about 2-1/2 sheets total, plus one sheet of white.  Each customer will also need a pack of bitty sparkles and red enamel gems, plus about half a pack of cards/envelopes.

There is one Cricut cut used for the wreath from the Flower Market cartridge.  But if you don't have Cricut or that cartridge, I have created an alternate option for the "noel" card using a stamped image.

Individual photos of all the cards, plus the alternate option for the "noel" card, can be found on the "Kits for Sale" page of his blog.  Click here to open that page.

You can get all of the information to create this workshop with your customers for only $10.   
Use the Buy it Now button below to get all of the instructions, and a Consultant Release allowing you to use this project with your customers.

Once you've made your purchase, please email me at 

greetingsfromgail@gmail.com

with your CTMH website address - your OBA!

I will then send you the e-files for this project and you can start preparing for the upcoming Christmas season. 
If you have any troubles with the Buy Now button, please email me
greetingsfromgail@gmail.com
and I will send you an invoice. 

CHRISTMAS - a Clean and Simple Card

Who doesn't love a cute pig - and on your Christmas card, of all places!  This card was perfect for the Christmas Card Throwdown Challenge of using only pink, red and green on your card.  Be sure to pop over to their blog and check out other cards using this color combination!

This little pig, and 12 other animal friends, can be found on the latest Operation Smile stamp set from Close to My Heart.  Operation Smile is the charity that CTMH supports, and $7 from the purchase of each stamp set goes directly to Operation Smile.  While the little critters are not season specific, I teamed them with the new Beary Christmas Scrapbooking stamp set to create this card. Here's what a few of the other cards looked like when they were finished.

And here's what the Operation Smile stamp set - officially known as Punny Pals (D1751) - looks like!

This is the Beary Christmas Scrapbooking set (D1730 stamp set only, Z4047 stamp set bundled with thin cut dies).  This is the set that provided the Christmas theme for my card.  Notice that I stole the Santa hat right off the bear's head!

The sentiments used on the cards are all individual stamps, so you can choose a single greeting or get them all.  They are:
Ho Ho Ho (M1181)
Mistletoe Kisses (M1182)
Merry Everything (M1183)
Merry Christmas (M1134)

Thanks for stopping by today to see my little friends.  Enjoy the rest of your week!

FALL CARD - Clean and Simple

Today it started to feel like fall!  And if we had any trees in our yard, we would soon be raking leaves from them.  But since we didn't want to obstruct our views, we only planted shrubs, so we don't have to deal with that chore of the season.  But I do love fall leaves - all of their wonderful colors.  So that is what I portrayed on this card with yellows and reds and oranges and greens and even some purple!

I used the sketch from Freshly Made Sketches.  The panel with the leaves is popped up over the white card base.  Those who attend my monthly card classes will be creating this card as a part of the October class.  Stay tuned if you want to see what else we will be working on!

Here's a closer look at the dimension I was able to create with the layers of leaves.  I cut two of the "thankful" words and glued them together so they had a little more substance on the card.


Here's a list of what I used.  All products are from Close to My Heart unless indicated.
Stamps and Dies:
Falling for You Cardmaking stamp/die bundle (Z4041) - stamp set alone is C1686
Happy Day Cardmaking Workshop Your Way kit (G1139) - "for you" sentiment
Thankful for You thin cut die (Z4036)
Inside/Out Stitch Rectangular dies (My Favorite Things)
Paper and Inks:
White Daisy cardstock
Poppy cardstock
Tangerine, Goldrush, Juniper, Fern, NE Ivy, Toffee, Sorbet and Poppy inks
Other:
Thin 3-D foam (Z2060)
Bronze sequins (Z4029)

Be sure to stop over at the Freshly Made Sketches blog and see other projects using this sketch.  In addition, I entered this card in the Clean & Simple Fall challenge over at Stamp Ink Paper.  Check them out as well.

Thanks for stopping by.  Hope you enjoy the weekend.  Take it easy - you may have to be raking leaves soon!