Halloween Cards

I made these Halloween cards using the Close To My Heart Trick or Treat Sweets stamp set. It is an a2 card measuring 5 1/2 x 4 1/4", with the patterned paper layer measuring 5 1/4 x 4". The patterned paper is from my stash and all solid cardstock is recollections. I used a friend's punches to punch the circles and scallop circles. The images were stamped with Close To My Heart's Archival Black Exclusive Ink pad. The bubbles are from Queen & Co.

If you'd like to purchase this stamp set, or any other Close To My Heart product, please visit my website at http://brendahalstead.ctmh.com/.

1st Birthday Card

I made this card for a friend's daughter's 1st birthday. I used the Create A Friend and Birthday Bash Cricut cartridges. The card is an A2 card (4 1/4 x 5 1/2"). All solid cardstock is Recollections, the patterned paper is a retired Close To My Heart paper and the gold glitter cardstock is from Hobby Lobby. The sentiment is from the Stamps of Life candles4birthday stamp set. The pearls are from Queen & Co.

I used my Gypsy to cut the princess at 3" using the Create a Friend Cricut cartridge and cut the 1 at 1 1/2" using the Birthday Bash Cricut cartridge. Here are pictures of my Gypsy screen and cutting mat. (You'll notice I cut 2 bodies and that is because I couldn't decide if I was going to use the face the cartridge cuts or stamp a face. I used the one the cartridge cuts.)

Thanks for stopping by and looking at my card!

Birthday Card and Sympathy Card

Hello, and thank you for stopping by my blog! I have two cards I'd like to share.

The first is a birthday card I made for my daughter, who loves owls!

This is an A2 size card (4 1/4 x 5 1/2"). All solid cardstock is Recollections. The patterned cardstocks are from my stash. The patterned cardstock layer on both the front and inside of the card measures 4 x 5 1/4". The green layer on the front measures 3 3/4 x 5", and the green layer on the inside measures 3 1/4 x 4 1/2".

I used the Close To My Heart August 2014 Stamp of the Month (What A Hoot) to make the owl, and used the Card Chatter - Birthday stamp set, which is retired, for the sentiment. I used Close To My Heart's Archival Black Exclusive Ink Stamp Pad (item # 44751) to stamp the owl and sentiment. I added small rhinestones to the owls eyes.

The second card is a sympathy card for a dear friend.

This is also an A2 size card (5 1/2 x 4 1/4").  The white cardstock is Close To My Heart White Daisy (item # 1385) and the patterned cardstock was in my stash. The patterned cardstock layer on the front measures 5 1/4 x 4", and the white cardstock layer on the front measures 5 x 3 3/4". I used the Close To My Heart June 2013 Stamp of the Month (A Flowering Bunch) to stamp the flowers and used Close To My Heart's Words of Comfort stamp set, which is retired, for the sentiment. I used Close To My Heart's Archival Black Exclusive Ink Stamp Pad (item # 44751) to stamp the image and sentiment. I added Queen & Co. pearls to the front.

On the inside of the card, I used a strip of the patterned cardstock, which measures 5 1/2 x 1".

I hope you enjoyed my cards. If you would like to purchase Close To My Heart products, please visist my website at http://brendahalstead.ctmh.com/. I'd love to have you as my customer! Also, if you'd like to become a Close To My Heart Independent Consultant, visit my website, hover your mouse over What We Do and then click on Be A Consultant from the drop down menu. I'd love to have you on my team!

Thanks for stopping by!

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Hello Kitty 1st Birthday Card

My granddaughter's 1st birthday party was this past Sunday, and here is the card I made for her.

This is an A2 size card (4 1/4 x 5 1/2"). The base and all solid cardstock is Recollections. The patterned paper is Lucy (a retired Close To My Heart (CTMH) B&T paper pack).

For the front of the card, the patterned paper layer measures 4 x 5 1/4". I used the Hello Kitty Greetings Cricut cartridge to cut Hello Kitty at 3 1/2", I used the Hello Kitty Font Cricut cartridge to cut the number 1 at 2" and I used the Stampin' Up! Bitty Banners stamp set and CTMH Archival Black exclusive ink pad for the sentiment and cut it out using the coordinating die set and my Cuttlebug. I used Recollections glitter on the flower on Hello Kitty's head and the number 1.

For the inside of the card, the patterned paper layer measures 4 x 5 1/4" and the solid layer measures 3 x 4 1/4". I used CTMH's retired Card Chatter - Birthday stamp set and CTMH's Archival Black exclusive ink pad for the sentiment.

If you are interested in purchasing any CTMH products, or sign up to be an Independent Consultant, please visit my website at http://brendahalstead.ctmh.com/.

Mickey 2nd Birthday Card

I made this card for my grandson's 2nd birthday. It is an A2 size card (4 1/4 x 5 1/2"). I used Recollections cardstock for the base and all solid cardstock used. The patterned paper is Stampin' Up!. I believe it is the Regal paper collection.

For the front of the card, I cut the patterned paper at 4 x 5 1/4". I cut the solid blue at 3 1/2 x 4 3/4". I used the Micky & Friend Cricut cartridge to cut Mickey Mouse at 3 1/2". I used the Pooh & Friends Cricut cartridge to cut the birthday hat at 1 1/2". I used the Mickey Font Cricut cartridge to cut the number 2 at 1 1/4".

For the inside of the card, I cut the patterned paper at 4 x 5 1/4". I cut the white layer at 3 x 4 1/4". I used the Close To My Heart Card Chatter - Birthday stamp set (which is retired) to stamp the sentiment with CTMH's Ruby exclusive ink. The birthday hat on the inside was cut from the Pooh & Friends Cricut cartridge, but I can't remember what size because I was originally going to use it on Mickey but it was too big.

Thanks for stopping by and looking at my card!

Hi Card

This is a card I made for a card swap I participated in with my Close To My Heart (CTMH) team members. I cut the base for this card at 5 1/2 x 8 1/2" and scored the 8 1/2" at 4 1/4" to make an A2 size card (5 1/2 x 4 1/4").

For the front of the card, the patterned paper layer measures 5 1/4 x 4" (I used retired CTMH patterned paper). I inked the edges using CTMH's Blush exclusive ink pad. (I used this color to ink all the edges on this card.) I then used the same cardstock as the base to cut a strip measuring 5 1/4 x 1 1/2", inked the edges and adhered it centering from tope to bottom to the patterned paper layer. I then cut a different patterned paper at 5 1/4" x 1", inked the edges and adhered it centered top to bottom on the solid strip. I used the CTMH Artiste Cricut Bundle cartridge (item #Z1790) to cut the word bubble (on page 65, Accent 2) at 1 3/4" using the same cardstock as the base of the card. I then used the Word Balloons stamp set (which is part of the CTMH Artiste Cricut Bundle) to stamp "hi!" (using the same color of ink as I used on the edges of my papers) on the word balloon and inked the edges. I used pop dots to adhere the word bubble to the center of the strip. I then added bling on each side of the word bubble.

For the inside of the card, I cute the patterned paper layer at 5 1/4" x 4". Ink the edges and adhere to the inside of the card. I cut the cardstock (same as used for the base) at 4 1/4 x 3", inked the edges and adhered to the patterned paper (centering it).

I hope you like my card.

If you are interested in purchasing the CTMH Artiste Cricut Bundle or any other Close To My Heart products, please visit my website at http://brendahalstead.ctmh.com/. Also, if you are interested in joining Close To My Heart as an Independent Consultant, I'd love to have you on my team. You can sign up on my website at http://brendahalstead.ctmh.com/. Just hover your mouse over What We Do and then click on Be A Consultant from the dropdown menu.

Sympathy Card & Best Friend Card

Here are the latest two cards I made.

This sympathy card is an A2 size card (5 1/2 x 4 1/4"). The blue mats are 5 1/4 x 4" and I rounded the corners. The paper is from the Close To My Heart Free To Be Me paper pack that was offered in May. The flower stamp is from Stampin' Up!, which I borrowed from my friend. The sentiments are from the Close To My Heart Words of Comfort stamp set (item # C1524). This stamp set is retiring, so if you are interested in purchasing it, you may do so by visiting my website at http://brendahalstead.ctmh.com/.

This best friend card is also an A2 card (4 1/4 x 5 1/2"). All cardstock is Recollections. The bottom white mat on the front and inside measures 4 1/8 x 5 3/8" and the pink mat measures 4 x 5 1/4. The next layer on the front measures 3 3/4 x 5", and I used the smallest strawberry and stem stamp from The Stamps of Life Club strawberries2stamp stamp set. I then stamped the sentiment and large strawberry and stem from the same The Stamps of Life Club stamp set and used the coordinating die set to cut the large strawberry and stem, as well as the leaf. As you can see, the die cuts and embosses the leaf at the same time. The white mat on the inside of the card measures 3 x 4 1/4", and this sentiment is also from the strawberries2stamp set. All inks used are Close To My Heart.

Happy 5th Birthday

I made this birthday card for my grandson's friend's 5th birthday.

This is a 5 1/2 x 4 1/4 card. The base is Recollections cardstock. The patterned cardstock is 5 1/4 x 4, and is from the Simple Stories SN@P! Color Vibe paper pad. I used the Create A Critter 2 Cricut cartridge to cut the lion (on page 78 of the handbook) at 3 1/4", which is on page 78. All the solid cardstock is Recollections, and the hat was also cut from the Simple Stories SN@P! Color Vibe paper pad. I stamped the Happy Birthday banner using the Stampin' Up! Bitty Banners stamp set and cut it out using the coordinating die with my Cuttlebug. The number 5 was stamped using Close To My Heart's Hopscotch Alphabet stamp set (item # E1028). The inside white layer measures 4 1/2 x 3 1/4" and is Recollections cardstock. I stamped the sentiment using the Close To My Heart retired stamp set called Card Chatter - Birthday. I used Close To My Heart's Archival Black Ink stamp pad for my stamping.

I used my Gypsy to cut the layers of the lion, and here is a picture of my screen:

If you are interested in purchasing the Close To My Heart Hopscotch Alphabet stamp set or any other Close To My Heart products, please visit my website at http://brendahalstead.ctmh.com/.

Thanks for stopping by!

21st Birthday Card

I made this card for my son's 21st birthday.

This is a 4 1/4 x 5 1/2" card. The patterned cardstock layer on the front and inside are 4 x 5 1/4". The off white layer on the inside is 3 1/2 x 4 3/4". The strip across the bottom on the front and inside is 4 x 1/2".

I used the Campin' Critters Cricut cartridge to cut the fishing deer, which can be found on page 24 of the handbook. I cut the the deer at 3 1/2". All solid cardstock is Recollections. The patterned cardstock is Close To My Heart from the Free To Be Me paper pack. I used the Close To My Heart Hopscotch Alphabet stamp set (item # E1028) to stamp 21 on the front and used the Close To My Heart Banner Wishes stamp set (item # B1438) to stamp Happy Birthday on the front. I used the retired Close To My Heart Card Chatter-Birthday stamp set for the inside sentiment.

Thanks for stopping by!

Banner Wishes Birthday Card

Today is my Mom's birthday, and here is the card I made for her.

I cut my white layers for the front of the card and then placed the small layer of white centered on the larger layer of white. I then used the Close To My Heart A Flowering Bunch stamp set (this was the June 2013 Stamp of the Month) and first stamped the flower in Close To My Heart Cotton Candy Exclusive Ink over both layers and some off the edge if the card. I then stamped the flower again in the same manner using Close To My Heart's Gypsy Exclusive Ink. I cut a purple mat for each of the white layers and adhered them. I used pop dots to adhere the smaller layer to the bottom layer. I then used the Gypsy ink to stamp the banner using Close To My Heart's Banner Wishes stamp set (item # B1438) and I stamped Happy Birthday from the same stamp set in Cotton Candy. I added some gems to the banner. I also used pop dots on the banner. On the inside of the card, I stamped the flowers used on the front of the card - once in Cotton Candy and once in Gypsy. I used the Close To My Heart Card Chatter - Birthday stamp set to stamp the sentiment in Gypsy. This stamp set is no longer available, but there are other Close To My Heart stamp sets that could be used.

Here is a view of the front of the card where you can see the layers popped.

I hope you like my card, and if you would like to purchase any Close To My Heart products, please visit my website at http://brendahalstead.ctmh.com/.

Thank You and Birthday Cards

So sorry it's been so long since I posted. Things have been very busy trying to get my Close To My Heart business going and planning my daughter's wedding.

Anyway, here is a birthday card I made using Stampin' Up! butterfly stamps & punches and Stampin' Up! patterned paper. I also used Close To My Heart Exclusive Inks stamp pads and buttons from my stash.

Here are two thank you cards I made using Close To My Heart's Banner Wishes stamp set (item #B1438), Close To My Heart Archival Black Exclusive Ink stamp pad (item #44751), patterned paper, buttons and bakers twine from my stash.

If you would be interested in purchasing the Banner Wishes stamp set or any other Close To My Heart products, please visit my website at http://brendahalstead.ctmh.com/. I'd love to have you as a customer, and if you are interested in becoming a Close To My Heart Independent Consultant, I'd love to have you join my team!

Thanks for stopping by!

Save The Date Card

My daughter is getting married in August 2015, and I made this Save The Date card to send out. I used the Sweethearts Cricut cartridge to make this. I flipped and welded the shape for the base of the card. The base of the card and the layers were cut at 4 1/2". I cut off the ring part from the black layer. I also used the hide and contour feature on my Gypsy for the ring. "Save the Date" phrase and shadow were cut at 2". I used the D'vine Swirls Cuttlebug emossing folder on the. black layer of the ring box. The white and black cardstock are Bazzill and the silver and silver prismatic cardstock were bought at Hobby Lobby.

I used my Gypsy to make the cuts, and here is a picture of my Gypsy screen.

Thanks for stopping by!

Valentine's Day Blog Hop!

Welcome to our 2014 Valentine's Day Blog Hop! You should have reached here from RockinRenee's Blog. If you are just joining us, please start at RockinRenee's Blog. There are so many great projects and I don't want you to miss a single one! Today we are highlighting Valentine's Day inspired projects.

I made a treat bag topper for this blog hop.

For the base of the topper, I used the oblong shift and shadow shift cuts on page 46 of the Elegant Edges cartridge. I cut this at 7". The hearts are from the Simply Charmed cartridge on page 30. I cut them at 2" using the shadow feature. The face on the dark pink heart is from the Peachy Keen Stamps Everyday Character Face Assortment (PK-490) and I used the 1 3/8" face. Happy Valentine's Day is from Close To My Heart and was from the Whooo's Your Valentine stamp set. All solid cardstock is Close To My Heart and the patterned cardstock is from SEI. I purchased the treat bags at the grocery store.

Thank you for joining me. Your next stop on the hop is with gonescrappin.

Here is the entire blog list:

1. RockinRenee - http://icameisawicreated.blogspot.com/
2. HappyScrapper64 - http://happyscrapper64.blogspot.com/
3. gonescrappin - http://scrappycol.blogspot.com/
4. Hrvatica - http://www.croatiancrafter.blogspot.com/
5. Scootingranny - http://scootingrannysworld.blogspot.com/
6. MamaC - http://cccscraproom.blogspot.com/
7. Greenie8705 - http://ginabeanacrafts.blogspot.com/
8. MariaJ - http://stampcutcreate.blogspot.com/
9. Di&Co - http://creatingislikebreathing.blogspot.com/
10. Dragonfly50 - http://designsbydragonfly.blogspot.com/
11. TiffysMom - http://angiespaperpassion.blogspot.com/
12. "Violette" - http://whimsical-treasures.blogspot.com/
13. cricutaddicted - http://scrappingformorefun.blogspot.com/
14. LoriSjogren - http://singingshell.blogspot.com/
15. Scrapalette - http://scrapalette.blogspot.com/

Old West Birthday Card

 I made this birthday card using the Old West Cricut cartridge and the Elegant Edges Cricut cartridge. 

This is an A2 size card (4 1/4" x 5 1/2"). The first layer of the outside and inside of the card measures 4 1/8" x 5 3/8" and I used some patterned paper from my stash. I used the Elegant Edges Cricut cartridge to cut the mat (cream) and mat shadow (blue) for the outside of the card at 4 1/2" using the Oblong shift and Shadow shift features on page 51 of the handbook. The blue mat on the inside of the card is 3 5/8" x 4 7/8" and the cream mat on the inside of the card is 3 3/8" x 4 5/8". The cowboy boot (page 54 of the handbook) was from the Old West Cricut cartridge and I cut it at 1 3/4". The cowboy hat (page 57 of the handbook) was also from the Old West and the one on the front of the card was cut at 1", while the one on the inside was cut at 3/4". The Happy Birthday on the front is a Stampin' Up! stamp I bought at a garage sale, and the Celebrate on the inside is from the Close To My Heart Card Chatter-Birthday stamp set. All solid cardstock is Recollections.

Here are pictures of the handbook pages I used. The first one is from Elegant Edges and the other two are from Old West.

Thanks for stopping by!

Bird Birthday Card

One of my best friend's birthday was this month, and here is the card I made for her.

All solid cardstock is Recollections, and the patterned paper mats are from The Paper Studio Primrose and Sparrow paper pack. This is an A2 size card (4 1/4" x 5 1/2"). The floral patterned paper mat measures 4" x 5 1/4" and the pink patterned paper mat measures 3 3/4" x 5". The bird is from the Florals Embellished Cricut cartridge and was cut a 2 1/2". The banner and Happy Birthday stamp are from the Stampin' Up! Bitty Banners stamp set and framelits set.

I used my Gypsy to position all the layers of the bird on my mat, and here is a picture of my Gypsy's screen.

Thanks for stopping by to visit!

Christmas Mini Album (Picture Heavy)

Here is a Christmas Mini Album I made using the Close To My Heart Artbooking cartridge.

 

Here are some close up photos of some of the inside pages.

I cut everything at 10" as indicated in the handbook (pages 56 and 57). Here are the pages from the handbook.

As soon as my Christmas pictures arrive from Shutterfly, I will add them to this album.

I hope you enjoyed seeing my mini album.