Close to My Heart

Techniques to add depth to your project(s)

Here they are, numbers two and three in our technique tag series. (See the information at the end of this blog to learn how you could win all 35 of these technique tags in this series.)tag_bkgstamp_samp

Background Stamping:

In this sample I rolled some clear plastic wrap to form “rosettes,” (top left) in the middle sample I crinkled up some clear plastic wrap and pounced it on the paper. The last example I wrapped a piece of paper towel around a block, inked it then stamped on the paper. Other items around your house that make for great backgrounds include onion bags, bubble wrap, orange sacks and many other everyday items. I would love to see or hear about your creative background stampings.tagclub_bckgrdstamptag_bckstamp_ins

Sanding Cardstock:

Sanding cardstock is a great way to add texture or interest to your work. With CTMH’s white core cardstock, you have great opportunities to customize your work in several ways. You can crinkle it then sand. You can sand just the edges, sand over objects like a key, paperclips or coins, and you can play with directional sanding to bring interest to your work.

tag_sandingcs_samp tag_sandingcs_instagclub_sandcs

Here is the sample from club night.

Here are the stamp sets I’ve used in this example, and many of the other tags that we will be looking at in the upcoming posts:

C1605 Happy to Be Friends

D1632 Amour

I also used Seaside papers (X7192B)

Our awesome markers were also put to use throughout this process of creating the technique tags.

Contest Information:

Now you might want to know how you can earn chances to win these tags.   There are several ways.  Write a comment on this post.  (1 entry)   Share this post link on your Facebook post and let me know on my FB page Crafting with Amanda that’s you’ve done it.  (1 entry per share).  Like my FB page.  (3 entries)  If you’re a pinterest person, for every technique tag you pin, you receive an entry.  (up to 35!)    At the end of the contest I will assign each entry a number and using a random number generator will pick a winner.  I will announce the winner on this blog, and then contact them to get the address where the tag book should be sent.

If you would like a copy of my technique instructions file,  leave a comment with your email and I will send it to you.

Happy Crafting and Good Luck!
 

It’s Here, the new Holiday Inspirations Book!

Get your own copy of the new Holiday Expressions book delivered to your door when you place any order on my website.   www.craftingwithamanda.closetomyheart.com

16-he-cover

I am loving all the new paper.  I typically do,  but there are some papers that take longer for me to find my mojo than others.  This book also had a couple of those,  but I am now hooked.  Looking forward to getting back in to the school routine and perhaps some crafting time for me!  I have so many ideas of projects that I want to create with these great papers.

Close to my Heart has started highlighting a paper pack of the month,  it is available after that time,  but the bulk of their marketing will be about this paper.  In September Jeepers Creepers is their choice.   Here are some of the artwork their artists created.

16-he-jeepers-creepers-birthday-card 16-he-jeepers-creepers-pocket-pages 16-he-jeepers-creepers-be-scary-card 16-he-jeepers-creepers-wyw-card-set  16-he-jeepers-creepers-monstrous-card-set 16-he-jeepers-creepers-happy-halloween-card 16-he-party-time-wyw-cardmaking-kit I’ve selected all the cards to start with,  I will do another post with the scrapbook pages!   Some of these cards are from the Jeepers Creepers workshops your Way.  I am truly loving the new workshops your way that CTMH has put together.  Everything I need in one kit,  little waste,  and both layouts & cards.  SIX layouts come together quickly!

Happy Crafting!

Who doesn’t love to win something?

tag_liquidglass_samp Not me.  **I am starting a series of blog posts around a technique tag book that my club night gals and I made over the last year.   We did four techniques each month over nine months. 4 x 9 = 36 techniques right? Wrong.  I duplicated one of the techniques, so one month we only did three new ones.   What does all of this have to do with winning?   You can win all 35 of the new technique tags that I am making just for this contest!  Over the next several weeks, I will be posting a couple of techniques each day.

Now you might want to know how you can earn chances to win this great prize.   There are several ways.  Write a comment on this post.  (1 entry)   Share this post link on your Facebook post and let me know on my FB page that’s you’ve done it.  (1 entry per share)(https://www.facebook.com/CraftingWithAmanda).  Like my FB page.  (3 entries)  If your a pinterest person, for every technique tag you pin, you receive an entry.  (up to 35!)    At the end of the contest I will assign each entry a number and using a random number generator will pick a winner.  I will announce the winner on this blog, and then contact them to get the address where the tag book should be sent.

I will be showing photos of the technique samples tags that I made for the club night gals, AND the brand new tags using Seaside papers & Skylark.  With no further ado. . .

Technique #1

tag_tearroll_insCardstock paper Tearing & Rolling:

This is a great technique to add interest to your project without adding bulk.   If your cardstock is white core, (like CTMH)  you  can also add contrast or help direct your focus to your photos or other focal point.

In my example I rolled the edges on one of my samples to help bring the focus to the flowers.  On the beach image I used the torn edge to help balance the white of the image and help draw your eye to it.

tag_tearroll_sampHere are the stamp sets I’ve used in this example, and many of the other tags that we will be looking at in the upcoming posts:

C1605 Happy to Be Friends

D1632 Amour

I also used Seaside papers (X7192B)

Our awesome markers were also put to use throughout this process of creating the technique tags.

tagclub_tearroll  This is the sample from our club night.  Notice on this one I rolled all the edges of the framed image.  I also showcased the tearing techniques for showing the white core (top)  and not showing (bottom) of the cardstock running diagonal.  It can be varied depending upon which way you tear the paper.  (towards you or away from you.)

So.  Remember to comment on this post, share on FB, and pin the tag to Pinterest to earn entries into this contest.  You can share your pinterest shares with me on the FB page.

If you would like a copy of my technique instructions file,  leave a comment with your email and I will send it to you.

** – This series was started over a year ago,  but never finished.  I am reposting all of them over the next few weeks with the last ones that were never completed and will go back and collect the entries from the beginning and now.

Happy Crafting and Good Luck!

 

 

Liquid Glass and Liquid Applique fun techniques!

Anyone remember the technique tags?    It was a well intentioned series of blog posts that got pushed aside for life.   Well,  I am going to revisit them,  and push myself to complete the series so I can finally pick a winner to receive the beautiful set of tags.  (More information on that later.)  With no further ado. . .

Let’s start with Liquid Glass.  (Z679) Some have said it’s the same as liquid glaze you can pick up at a local craft store,  but I will politely disagree.  I purchased the “off brand” at a scrapbook retreat as I ran out of Liquid glass.  It was not the same.  It didn’t hold it’s shape when creating a puddle of it or covering an embellishment, and it certainly didn’t hold as well as Liquid Glass.  I used it up on Christmas cards, and was very happy to see it fly into the plastic recycle container!tag_liquidglass_samp

In this tag,  I tried to show many ways Liquid Glass and enhance your project.

Technique Tag - Liquid Glass

To highlight letteringtag_liquidglass_samp4

To “pop” the center of a flowertag_liquidglass_samp2

Add some re-inker and create “berries” on a branchtag_liquidglass_samp6 tag_liquidglass_samp5

It’s also a great adhesive for buttons and other bulky embellishments

Liquid Applique is another product that you can do different things with it.tag_liquidappl_ins

Heat for puffy clouds, fur on animals, or Santa’s beard.tag_liguidapp_samp

Don’t heat for a smooth opaque looktag_liguidapp_samp3

So much fun in  a tube  of liquid applique!tag_liquidapp_samp2

Here are the Club night tags.tagclub_liquidapp tagclub_liquidglass tagclub_liquidglass1

Now you might want to know how you can earn chances to win these tags.   There are several ways.  Write a comment on this post.  (1 entry)   Share this post link on your Facebook post and let me know on my FB page Crafting with Amanda that’s you’ve done it.  (1 entry per share).  Like my FB page.  (3 entries)  If you’re a pinterest person, for every technique tag you pin, you receive an entry.  (up to 35!)    At the end of the contest I will assign each entry a number and using a random number generator will pick a winner.  I will announce the winner on this blog, and then contact them to get the address where the tag book should be sent.

If you would like a copy of my technique instructions file,  leave a comment with your email and I will send it to you.

Happy Crafting and Good Luck!

 

Quick peak at the new Flower Market Cricut Cartridge

Hi Everyone,

Been a busy summer around here.  In good news the weather has allowed us to get all the fields of hay finished and now we are starting in on grain harvest.  In bad news,  I’ve only gotten to play with the new exclusive CTMH Cricut Cartridge, Flower Market,  for one night.   In great news,  this cartridge is AWESOME.  I can make beautiful flowers quickly with out much fuss or mess!

flowerMarket_Cricut(It comes with all the newest colors,  so that made it even more fun!)

I decided I would cut a few flowers just to get a feel for the cartridge and loaded a piece of white daisy cardstock and let the games begin!   The first two flowers I cut were the lilac (p6 of the book) and a background flower from p11.

lilacsThe lilacs I used our spray pens filled with rubbing alcohol, 12-20 drops of re-inker and for a nice shimmer,  one of them I added 3 pea size drops of pearl paint (delta).   The lilac is made up of 4 layers,  then I cut three bigger flowers and 2 little flowers to add on top of the 4 layers.  Love how well these turned out,  and how quickly they came together.   I used our green marker to color the stem.

For the next flower (background p11)  I used markers to color it in.  I love how you can use one marker and get great shade variation just by adding more layers of color.

flower_market_flowersHope to find some more time soon to play with this WONDERFUL cartridge!

Happy Crafting!