Summer Vibes – Papers & bling

by CraftyAmanda in Artwork, Cards, Close to My Heart, CTMH, Scrapbook, Stamping, workshop | 1 Comment

So vibrant and fun! CTMH continues to create great paper packs. They can be used for Summer fun photo and cards, but I could see me using the red gingham and leaves paper in a fall apple orchard trip, or the waves lend themselves to bath time photos with baby!

Did you know you can order the paper, or the paper & the sticker sheet?

After you decide if you will be able to use all the great stickers, then you can add stamps, thin cut sets & other embellishments as you need.

Z3742 Card Making stamp & thin cut set
Can be purchased separately

z3745 Scrapbook stamp & thin cut set
Can be purchased separately

As great as the acrylic shapes are, I think my favorite are the picture my life cards. They can be made into a card front just on their own, or tucked in behind a photo on a layout. For me they are wonderful.

If you are low on some colors of cardstock, no worries, just select the Summer Vibes cardstock pack and you’ll have variety that coordinates with the Summer Vibes papers.

If you are behind on your scrapbooking and you want some WOW layouts quickly, check out everything you can do with the Scrapbook workshop.

Summer Vibes papers & stickers, some Cardstock, acrylic shapes, (exclusive to the kit) laser cut die shapes and directions. Everything you need to create three 2-page layouts.
You can order the kit with or without page protectors

Papers & cardstock with stamp & thincut exclusive to the Card Kit

Need to send some happy mail? This kit is sure to bring a smile to anyone who receives one of these cards.

I could see some of these popcicles or ice cream cones on a layout or two!

Be sure to check out my youtube channel (search for Crafty Amanda) as I walk through putting together kits & giving idea of how to make any CTMH kit work for you!

Happy Crafting!

New Idea Book New Hostess only Stamps

by CraftyAmanda in Artwork, Close to My Heart, CTMH, Offer, Scrapbook, Stamping | Leave a comment

In this new Idea book you’ll see lot of new papers, stamps, thin cuts & more, but you won’t see the new Hostess only Stamp sets. . . So, here they are!

Love that it has the “stripes” for the lighthouse separate so you can choose your lighthouse colors!

And if the exclusive stamp sets are enough of an incentive, check out the amount of FREE product you can receive when you host a qualified gathering.

Contact me so I can help you earn one of these or other CTMH products!

Happy Crafting!

Managed a little playtime

by CraftyAmanda in Artwork, Cards, Close to My Heart, CTMH, Stamping, Technique | 2 Comments

I saw these cards in the July/August idea book and I had to order the stamp set. For whatever reason, I fell in love with mushroom stamps when CTMH released it’s Twitterpated workshop YEARS ago. Between the cute gnomes and the mushrooms, I was sold.

You can buy the stamp set alone, or get the coordinating thin cuts so you can avoid fussy cutting. My die/embossing machine is currently safely packed away in storage so I choose to get the stamp set only.

When I first started playing with the stamps, I thought, oh this will be fun I can color with markers and have a relaxing time doing that. . . life laughed at me and workers showed and started pounding, sawing and in general making lots of noise in a room that will eventually be next to my studio, but currently has some opened walls into my studio. The plastic barrier does not do anything to prevent the noise. I did color for a bit, but then put it aside and fled the studio in hopes to find a quiet(er) sanctuary.

The next morning, not sure what day, but a day when workers were not scheduled to be here, I found my colored images and started fussy cutting them. I am not typically a fussy cutter, but at this point I was grateful for some quiet studio time. Here is the card that resulted from 45 minutes of sheer crafting bliss!

I did a bendi fold as I wanted to use more of the mushrooms as background and was enjoying the coloring. For the base of the card I only used shimmer brushes to color. By making multiple passes over some of the areas I was able to achieve some shading. Most of that doesn’t show up in the photo, but if you look in the back left under the white flower you can see a bit of it on a small mushroom.

These are instructions from a series of fun fold classes I did. I plan to do some videos walking through the folds and providing the handouts so you can create your own book of fun folds to refer to when you make cards. (Hopefully this fall?)

It was nice having some play time again! I did use the sentiment and the butterfly in the upper right corner from the July Stamp of the Month!

Happy Crafting!

Craft with Heart Cards 3&4

by CraftyAmanda in Artwork, Cards, Close to My Heart, CTMH, Stamping, Technique, Video | 2 Comments

In the midst of a world of chaos, and I’m not just referring to COVID-19, I decided to take on the project of re-developing my CTMH business from California. In Michigan, we have a great group of crafty ladies and before all the safer at home orders, the group met at least once a month. This monthly gather was a day that could bring crafting, good stories, food, always fellowship, and also included a new technique, card fold, or some other project. We have all missed this. And I want to find that again here in Southern California

Along the lines of finding that again here, I had not chosen to make it a priority. When we first moved, there were other duties that needed attending. Now that we are all here, in a house that is under construction, (and because we hired a contractor, nothing we can do to help move it along) I found myself with time to craft. Thankfully I had kept SOME of my crafty tools and supplies out when we packed the rental house. So, what do I do with all this “free time?” I watch videos of other ladies crafting, videos of how to edit videos, make lists of things I feel I could teach others, and try to find fun new techniques for cards & scrapbooking.

Cards 3 & 4 from Craft with Heart Cards May-Aug 2020

One of the items that got “kept out” was the Craft with Heart subscriptions boxes that arrived as we were packing the house. Since I needed some material for making video content, and I had time to craft, wah-la videos of me making the crafting with heart cards in “My” style.

I’m learning lots and looking forward to learning more. If you have any suggestions for changes, video content, or other comments, please share.

Hope you find some time for fun crafting!

Facebook Live Workshops

by CraftyAmanda in Cards, Close to My Heart, Contest, CTMH, Scrapbook, Stamping, Technique, Video, workshop | 2 Comments

Close to My Heart has been hosting workshops for the paper kits in the Idea books and special paper packs on Facebook. If you indicate you’re going you will be eligible for prizes from CTMH. You can find the list of upcoming events here https://www.facebook.com/CloseToMyHeartOfficial/events/?ref=page_internal

If you miss any of the live workshops, you can always go back and watch it in your own time. Some of the paper packs are available in the online-only section and are only there while supplies last. You can see what’s available here. https://craftingwithamanda.closetomyheart.com/Retail/Products.aspx?CatalogID=317

June 30, 2020, Brushed Bundle (CC6204) Brushed Workshop (This is the link for the instructions for the to make 3 double layouts, 1 single layout & 8 cards.