Artwork

Die Cuts – Love it or Leave it?

by CraftyAmanda in About Me, Artwork, Cards, Close to My Heart, CTMH | 2 Comments

Yes I have an electronic embossing machine.   I love it.  I use it often.   That being said,  I have not once used a die in my machine.  My plates are clear without blemish,  or should I say my plates were clear. . .    Please pause for a moment of silence.

lit-candleThank you.

Now that I have come to terms with the marring of my once pristine plates I can tell you about the new Thin Cuts that Close to my heart released!

There are four designs of Thin Cuts that correspond to four stamp sets.

Thin-cut-AnchorMy Anchor Thin Cuts Z3202Stuck on You Thin Cuts Z3200

 Thin-cut-critters

Spring Critters Thin Cuts Z3207Thin-Cuts-Springtime-

  Springtime Wishes Thin Cuts Z3201

Thin-cut-Stuck

Stuck on You Thin Cut Z3200

So,  you see how many different dies you get with each set.   The leaves from Springtime Wishes have already gotten used many, many times.   Oh,  did I mention the price?   Each is only $13.95.  That seems great to me.

So,  want to see the stamp sets that correspond to these dies?   Me too!

Stamp-MyAnchor

My Anchor Stamp Set – C1642 (13.95)

Stamp-SpringCritters

Spring Critters Stamp Set – C1638 ($13.95)

Stamps-Springtime-Wishes

Springtime Wishes Stamp Set – C1641 ($13.95)

Stamp-StuckOnYou

Stuck on You Stamp Set – C1643 ($13.95)

I just love all the sentiments and fun puns CTMH has included with these sets.   Make putting together a quick card easy and fun.

Consultants were invited to a workshop your way event on Dec 5th.  I was able to attend thanks to two CTMH sisters who toted me and my stuff around and allowed me to continue to heal after surgery and join in the fun.  We did the Charlotte Workshop your way (WYW).  It was fun.  The cards from the WYW use the Springtime Wishes sets and having the Thin Cuts made them oh so easy!

CharlotteWYW-cards

So,  for me,  I started hesitantly down this new road of crafting (I have a gypsy and cricut after all).   Now that I’ve made the first step(s),  I am loving die cutting and the thin cuts that are paired perfectly with the stamps.   If you try them,  I would love to hear your opinion!

Happy Crafting!

New Year – New Product

by CraftyAmanda in Artwork, Close to My Heart, CTMH | 6 Comments

There is just so much I am excited about this month.  First of all the Stamp of the Month is super cute and I love, love, love  multi layered stamps.   So looking forward to finding my craft desk again and being able to play with it.   Here is what part of my craft desk looks like currently.  (Hubby saw me taking a photo and asked if I was going to post the items as a “lot” on ebay.  Good thing he’s cute.)  For the few that know me,  this is not a normal situation for me.  I have been treading water for months now,  and the fall vendor schedule paired with holidays and surgery has taken me under!   I will emerge again,  might not be this week.

carfttable-janFor now I’ll share the generic images and tell you what I hope to do soon!

belovedbouquet_imageSo,  first of all,  the “baby’s Breath” branch is going to add to many of my random stamping sheets in the future.  I just know it.  Also,  the details in the flowers and leaves should make whipping up a quick thinking of you card easy!    (I got a MISTI – most important stamp tool invented,  and I look forward to creating several cards with this stamp set and the MISTI tool!)

Beloved Bouquet

Beloved Bouquet

A couple more images of artwork,  then I need to say goodbye so I can get some bookwork done before I start afternoon Mom duties.

02 – Sarita L3

02 – Sarita L3

1601-sotm-artworkI really like the pairing of the black and white (La Vie En Rose).  Don’t you just love the depth of  the two step stamps?

Happy Crafting.

 

Finally able to use my laptop

by CraftyAmanda in Artwork, Cards | 2 Comments

I am currently in recover/healing mode from a surgery I had in November.  Yesterday was the first day I got to use my computer.  yay!   It felt so good to have a full keyboard at my fingertips.   During my recovery I was able to create a birthday gift for my friend.  I will post photos of it soon,  but as she is at her Mom’s helping with a knee replacement healing,  I don’t want her to see it here before she sees it in person.  (it is so much better in person!)

In the mean time,  I’ve been able to pull all my cards that I’ve created from scraps,  and sort them into categories.  (blank, thinking of you, sympathy, birthday etc. . .)  My plan is to pull from each of these piles and create a collection of cards to give as Christmas gifts.  Do you know what 500+ cards looks like?   something like this.

IMG_20151201_101520 IMG_20151201_101507 IMG_20151201_101451 IMG_20151201_101437 IMG_20151201_101418

Next step?   Create/decorate some boxes and fill with cards.   I think I might make a list of recipients too.  Perhaps a couple “extra” bundles will be created to have on hand for last minute gifts.

Better get back to work!

Happy Crafting.

 

Quilling – It’s becoming addicting!

by CraftyAmanda in About Me, Artwork | 1 Comment

So,  last April at my crafting retreat, a lady came that does quilling.  I had met her at another event,  and she and four of her friends joined me and my group at my weekend.  She volunteered to do an impromptu  quilling class so 5 of us sat down and learned the basics of quilling.  At the time it was good information,  but I just couldn’t see myself doing it.  (Might have had to do with just before the busy season with little to no crafting time,  who knows.)  Now we come to September and kids are in school,  we are winding down in the evenings and one weekends with some older television shows as a family and I started quilling.  I liked it.   I watched a few youtube videos, stalked some pinterest boards,  and tried new and different types of paper winding.

At first I didn’t have a project in mind,  just wanted to make some things to put on cards.  Then I decided I wanted to use one of the left over canvases and put something together for me.  Here it is:

DSC_0004ta da!

I was really pleased with how it came together as artwork.   Our church has a harvest auction every fall,  and I decided I would donate this to be auctioned in support of local food & other needs.

DSC_0003 DSC_0002

I was hoping to have the winning bid cover my costs, but was pleasantly surprised as the money it raised.   I am currently working on my second ever quilling project,  and this time I am under a deadline as I am creating it for my high school bff who has a birthday soon.  (She is an appreciator of handmade art,  I know the colors of her house,  so I am excited about getting this to her!)  I will take pictures before I swaddled up her gift and place it in the loving hands of the mail carriers.

So,  take a page from my book and try something new!

Happy Crafting.

Huntington scraps from previous project used

by CraftyAmanda in Artwork, Cards, Close to My Heart, CTMH, Technique | 3 Comments

I have been SLOWLY working towards cleaning out my crafting supplies and I found several packs that had a few projects left from a club night or workshop.   Here are the ones I found using Huntington papers.  I also have been intentional of using embellishments from my impressive hoard of embellishments.  Most are CTMH,  several have been retired for multiple years, and they are all useful!

DSC_0022 DSC_0020 DSC_0021 DSC_0034 DSC_0035

On Some of these I’m sure you notice the sunflower.  I was crafting with some of my friends and sharing with them the ease of creating these flowers.  We were experimenting with several sizes.  I also found the brass big brads and they worked perfectly in the smaller flowers!   Oh,  I should mention that one of my friends also had some Huntington scraps and shared with me a few of her “other colors.”  They were the small less than 2×2 pieces that I don’t think she wanted to use.  Worked perfectly for me!   I love embedded embossing too!

Happy Crafting!

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