Long time, no see?

Man does time get away from me!!

Christmas is coming and I'm feeling the crunch....after the new year I will post some blog candy as a reward for all of you that hang with me through thick and mostly thin!!! (blog posts that is)

I will also be starting up Terrie's List, a "Craig's List" type of blog site for all sorts of things to sell, trade and give away in the papercrafting genre'. It should be a fun way to "share" the over abundance we all have hanging around our houses.

My word for next year is SIMPLIFY. This will include every little corner of my life. I hope to have at least one post a week on my progress.

Also plan on having at least one post a week on a paper crafting project. Some original, some lifted from my talented CTMH friends and friends I have accumulated out in the blogosphere.

Please know that I wish all my friends and family the most joyous, peaceful holiday and many, many blessings in the new year..........

Love you all,
Terrie

November Stamp of the Month Bloghop "A Little Thanks"

Welcome back to my little corner of the blogosphere and the November installment of the Close to my Heart Stamp of the Month Bloghop. This month we feature a VERY versatile stamp set "A Little Thanks" featuring many, many ways to express your thanks and gratitude. We all need ways to say thanks and this stamp set is sure to be a new favorite!

If you have come to my blog from Michelle Nist's Blog, you are on the right track. Keep on reading for my contribution this month and then click on the link at the end to go on to the next site.

I chose to start my Thanksgiving prep early by creating some place cards and special treats for each of my family members to tell them how very much I love and appreciate them.

I used Sunset, Pear, Barn Red and Smoothie inks on the "Give Thanks" stamp in this months set. I also used the "I am so Thankful for you" stamp for my M & M tubes.

I also created two cards, one standard size and one gift enclosure with the "Magnifique" paper pack. I used the "Gratitude" stamp from the Stamp of the Month and the inside contains I think my favorite saying of all the stamps.....







Time to head on over to Pamela O'Connors Blog and see what she has created for us this month. We have a lot of traveling to do this month and December, so I will catch you next year back here on the Hop.... Have fun!

October SOTM Blog Hop, "Sharing the Magic"

Welcome to the holiday season! Yep, that's right, it is time to showcase Close to my Hearts October Stamp of the Month "Sharing the Magic" with it's cute whimsical Santa, snowman, reindeer, Christmas tree and presents.

If you have come here from Kimberly Smiths Blog, you are on the right track. This is circle hop, so when you are finished here, just click on the link at the bottom of my post and keep on hopping till you eventually will see all the artwork. There are lot's of participants again this month, so grab your favorite beverage and your sketch pad and have fun...

I went traditional with my first card. I used two of the B & T papers from the "Mistletoe" paper pack and the Santa, sentiment and string of Christmas light images from the "Sharing the Magic" SOTM. Liquid applique or Santa's suit and fun flock for his beard, eyebrows and mustache. Watercolor pencils to color and I also used some soft chalks to try and add some "glimmer" from the string of lights. Oh and don't forget the new red bling!





The next card is totally different, but I love how it turned out. I used four of our new colors, Lagoon, Pear, Gypsy and Cotton Candy. I used the "Flurry" dimensional elements, clear embossing on the sentiment from "Sharing the Magic" and several sizes of gems to "pretty" it up a little. I cut out a "peek-a-boo" for the sentiment and stamped it in Lagoon on Pear.




Time to head on over to Tammy's Blog to see some more holiday "Magic"
Should you need anything to get going on your holiday crafting, make sure you give me a call or head to my website for 24/7 shopping in the comfort of PJ's and slippers! Have fun....

Some Custom Creations...

Hello again and be careful not to faint since I have actually posted something before the month is up!

A friend of mine, Lucie has requested a couple of custom creations and here is what I came up with.... First, she needed a birthday card for her sister. This birthday is a BIG one so she and her sister are heading to Italy next year to celebrate. She found a card she liked in the "Originals" idea book and I took it from there. I used a downloaded picture of Italy and gold embossed one of the frames from the exclusive convention stamp set around it. This took a lot of masking as I didn't have a frame large enough to fit around the picture. I used chocolate ink to stamp flourishes around two corners of the card front and then used my craft blade to create a cut out frame to see the map that was inside. I really liked the look. Next I created two small tags to include the sentiment and attached them with gold embroidry floss.

Next she needed a wedding card. While she picked out another card from "Originals", I didn't have the ring stamp set, so I bought a ring set in the bridal section at Michaels. I used the Card Commentary stamp set stamped in Pansy Purple and then a piece of the dimesional elements borders and some dry embossing and I think a quite elegant card was finished.

Hope she likes them and I plan to be back soon with the baby cards she requested as well.

September SOTM Blog Hop- It's a "Thriller"

Welcome!

Glad you could stop by the September Stamp of the Month Blog Hop.If you have found your way here from Jennifer Benner's Blog, you are on the right track. If you are starting here, just keep on traveling around the "circle" hop till you return! I'm sure you will be amazed by the over 60 CTMH consultants participating and also pick up a few "liftable" ideas as well.

This month we are featuring a "scary" halloween themed stamp...."Thriller" This stamp set is sure to please a wide variety of tastes from the traditional skulls, and dracula to the hip "Ed Hardy" style.

My project this time is a very usable holiday decoration, a candy container cute enough to set out as a decoration and on halloween, I can hand out candy directly from the jar.



The jar itself is a plastic "cheese ball" container from Costco. I covered the label with CTMH's new "Pear" cs and then used a "My Creations" cube that I ruined and then deconstructed to make 3 decorations that I strung along the sides. I like the dimension is gave the boring round jar.




The lid is also covered in "Pear" cs cut into a circle to fit and then I used the new "Captured Moments" stamp set, a small yellow circle covered in "liquid glass" and "Color Ready Alphabet" stickers inked in "Sunset." The "Scary Halloween" is masked from a "Thriller" stamp and the lid is finished with assorted tied ribbons around the edges.



A picture of each of the embellished pieces from the cube : ) this one is a black embossed image from "Thriller" on some "Hooligans" B & T paper and mounted on "Gypsy" cs. All the pieces are strung on with some black cording I had from IKEA.





The next is on the "Gypsy" fingerprint B & T from Hooligans, with images Black embossed again from "Thriller" Thanks to Tresa Black for the little paper flower instructions from last weekends "Creative University".





Again, Black embossed images from "Thriller on Pear/Gypsy cs. I tied tiny cording knots to add some dimension to the image.


Hope you enjoyed my project, it's time to head on over to Katy Donaldson's Blog for your next dose of creative juice.


If you are in need of a "Thriller" SOTM, make sure you visit my website HERE or give me a call so you can get your new Fall/Winter Catalog and come for a visit to see all the new products in person.

See you next month!

Autumn/Winter CTMH New Product Blog Hop!

Well it's that most wonderful time of the year! It's time for the CTMH new product Blog Hop and it's Fall, so time for everything festive and fun! Lots of consultants have their new product on hand and have been creating like crazy to share their wonderful ideas with you, so let's get started! It's easy to do, if you came from Michelle Loncar's Blog you are on the right track, or if you just happened by, just click on the link at the bottom of each participants post and follow along. It is a circle hop, so you will eventually come back round here!


I am always so excited to see the new Christmas paper each year, so I chose to use the Level 1 "Mistletoe" kit and see what I could come up with. While I still have tons of product left, this is what I have created so far:



This first card is 6 X 6 and uses one of the Level 1 pages cut into fourths, cranberry cs, several Mistletoe My Stickease, some of our twill ribbon sewn with cranberry embroidry thread and "scrunched" up to make the cute border. The 2nd picture is in detail.





Next I took the B & T from the Mistletoe level 1 pack and mounted it on chipboard strips to give it some dimension and used our new colored sparkles and a dimensional element star inked in honey and then a My Stickease and some natural hemp finish this card off.



The next was a happy accident as I had another card almost finished and "messed" it up by having dirty fingers. I scrapped the other card that had three ornaments and then designed a new single ornament. I like the clean and simple look much better! I still managed to get some errant ink on this card, but still I think it looks pretty good!



Next I tried to really get creative and start with a blank card...(very scary) I used My Stickease borders and banners, chalked some clouds with a hand cut template and created mounds of snow with a piece of B & T from the level 1 Misletoe kit and then stamped the awesome shadow scenes from another new stamp set in the Idea Book. All stamp sets are new and I will be happy to share with anyone if they can't figure out which set it comes from : )

Another new stamp set contains this cute little tree. Stamped in New England Ivy, cut out and embellished with our new teeny tiny sparkles in RED! The Happy Holidays is from the same stamp set as the tree and the paper it is stamped out of is some border from a pre-printed portion of a level 1 Mistletoe sheet.

Last but not least are two cute and very simple tags that I created with a single image from the Mistletoe My Stickease sheet. Easy Peesy!

Thats all for now....it's time to head on over to Amy Schultz's Blog for your next creative discovery! Have fun, see you on September 1st for the CTMH Stamp of the Month Blog Hop!

August Stamp of the Month Blog Hop...

It's been kind of crazy around here since I got back from convention and low and behold, it is time again for the August Stamp of the Month "Blog Hop." This month we feature a very beautiful large floral stamp set with sentiments called "Something Splendid." This stamp set is perfect for overstamping, using bleach techniques and lots of other creative stamping uses. You will surely find that out as you hop around this month to over 60 blogs bursting with ideas!

If you have come to my blog from Chris Shouses blog, you are on the right track. Check out what I have created this month and then click on the link below to continue on the hop!



I pulled out my embossing supplies this month and made a simple but elegant card.








Basically, I embossed one of the large stamp images of the flower in the center with gold powder along with the "Enjoy Life" saying. Looking kind of plain, I embossed the center in gold as well and popped it up. Still not happy, I went out and got some gold beads and used liquid glass to adhere them to the center. (trying to look like the seeds in the middle of a sunflower?) It is gorgeous in real life....this picture shows the detail a little better.




I am looking forward to showing off some of the upcoming Stamp of the Month sets that were unveiled recently at our CTMH convention in Washington, DC. Please come back next month and join us...

In the meantime if you are itching to get your own "Something Splendid" stamp set at a nice discount or even free, click here and get to shopping! Also stop back to see sneak peaks of new product available to you September 1st in the new Fall/Winter Catalog/Idea Book!

To head on over to the nex blog, go visit Sylvia Jacquot here and enjoy her project....
See you soon!

July Stamp of the Month Blog Hop!

Welcome once a again to this month's CTMH Stamp of the Month Blog Hop featuring one of my favorite stamp sets of all time "Happy Forever" This cute stamp set features images of the most darling little hedge hog I have ever seen!

If you have come to my blog by way of Adeline's Blog, you are on the right track and if you just happened by my blog, you can start here and continue on as this is a "circle" hop and you will eventually see all of the creative ideas of over 70 CTMH consultants using this set.

I created two cards this month to showcase this stamp set

The first is a "onsie" card made from a tutorial found here that I have fallen in love with...I have made a whole slew of onsies as of late and decided to make one more featuring a little girl hedgie. (Notice I added a ribbon to her hair and some eyelashes) So fun. I used my nesties for the edging on the collar and the leg openings and brads for the snaps. Colors are garden green and chocolate. Sentiments for this one are computer generated.

The second card I made way back in April for my daughters Birthday and I couldn't help but ink this stamp set up! I used CTMH's "Cherry-O" paper and some tulip embelishments included in the WOTG. I paper pieced the balloons and colored the hedgie with colored pencil. Used some liquid glass and embroidry floss for the finishing touches.

That's it for me this month, but make sure to hop on over to Michelle's Blog to continue on this creative journey.

I'm heading to Washington DC in one week for my first ever CTMH Convention, so make sure you check back next week (starting Wednesday) for daily updates and to share in my excitement. I plan to post each day, so join me! If you need anything while I'm gone, you can go to my CTMH website here to order and have your product sent directly to you!

Talk to you all soon and have fun on the hop!!

CTMH June SOTM Blog Hop: Wonderful Friend...

Welcome to this month's SOTM Blog Hop. I can't believe it is June already. The kids are out of school and we are trying to control the boredom : ) My son Ian did get his Father's Day card done as he stamped along with me, so we are ahead of the game there!

If you have arrived from Lori's Blog, you are on the right track. If you just happened by, this is a circle hop, so just start here and keep going, you will make it all the way around eventually. If you have any trouble with links, click here to find a complete listing for all the participants of this month's blog hop.

This month we feature a great stamp set sure to come in handy for Father's Day or any time you want to honor that special man in your life. The sentiments are great and the images provide a great heritage, masculine look.

I created a card and a two page spread this month, so let's get started...






For my card, I cheated and used one of the card patterns from the Passages WOTG but used the sentiments and two of the images from the June SOTM for the card stamped in Cocoa ink. I also used papers from the Passages, Level 2 paper pack and some of the spiral clips that come with the WOTG. I am pleased with how it turned out.



My two page layout is the Minuet pattern from page 46-47 in "Imagine" I used the Passages paper pack again with Black and White photo's of my husband and kids. I random stamped the tie image and a couple of the sentiments on CS to use as my B & T for the layout. Colors of ink used were Brown Bag, Barn Red and Cocoa. I did second generation stamp some of the "ties" as well. I covered some of our dimensional element letters in B & T and cut out and sanded for the title. I also used Cocoa grosgrain ribbon and antiqued picture hangers and hinges on the layout.

If you are in need of this awesome stamp set, click here to go to my website and if your ready to head on to the next blog, you will be heading to Carol's blog so thanks for stopping and see you next month....

Terrie

Welcome to the May Blog Hop featuring "Cherish the Moment"

Welcome again to another creative and fun CTMH Stamp of the Month Blog Hop!

I hope you all had the chance to check out the blog hop a couple of days ago featuring all of our new products set to go "live" to our customers tomorrow! If you haven't checked it out yet, scroll down and you can start at my site and just keep clicking the links to see what our talented consultants showcased.


This month we feature a fun and very versatile stamp set, "Cherish the Moment." If you have arrived here from Laurie's Blog, you are on the right track, if you just happened by, just click on the link at the bottom of my post and "hop" on....


I have been dreaming of making a humongous calendar for my studio and am getting closer all the time. My husband mounted a large sheet of flashing found at Home Depot and I can attach anything with magnets that my little heart desires. While it is still a work in progress, here is what I have so far...




As you can see, I am still missing some numbers and am planning on covering the plastic ones I have with CS to make everything blend better.

Here is a close up of my creations for this time...



I created each coaster "date marker" with a different paper pack from the new Summer Idea Book. I also used a different stamp from the May SOTM set "Cherish the Moment" on each one. Also used to name a few are NEW sparkles that go with the NEW "Cherry O" paper pack. NEW star Dimensional Elements, NEW velvet ribbon that is included in the "Cherry O" Creative Basics kit and also some cut out gold embossed "keys" from an upcoming SOTM set.



You might be saying this is a lot of work for a creative coaster to be used once and then discarded? Well, I cherish the time I get to spend creating, so what I did to make the coasters re-usable for different events, I attached the stamped image with event specific info to the coaster art with velcro, so I just need to remove the dated image (to use on a scrapbook page) and then stamp myself a new one with the new information. Easy, Easy and you only create once and use again and again....I LOVE acrylix stamps!!!

Well, thanks for stopping by and I am going to send you on to our next creative genius, Laura Dame. Thanks for stopping by and be on the lookout for new pics of my ever evolving "creative calendar!"

CTMH New Product "Blog Hop"

Hello again, it is time to hop around the CTMH Blogosphere and check out what our creative consultants have crafted to show you with a plethora of new product! That's right...in a few short days, you will be able to shop to your hearts content for some awesome new Close to my Heart product from the summer Idea Book/Catalog that goes live on May 1st!

So grab your beverage of choice and sit back, relax and "hop" to your heart's content! If you have come from Sheila's blog you are on the right track...

My offering this month is a cute 4 X 4 card taken loosely from the "Animal Cookies" WOTG card project. (I say loosely because as I was sitting in my thinking chair trying to figure out what I was going to do, this cute monkey was staring at me saying "pick me") anyway, I digress...here is my card:



I used Topiary CS as my base, cut out a 2 x 2 window out of the front and then layered a piece of our NEW Splendor B & T paper from the level 2 pack. I cut a 3 X 3 piece of Goldrush CS for the inside and stamped my cute little bug from our NEW stamp set B1353 "A little Buzz". I think this is the only stamp set I have ordered so far...these little bugs are so so cute! Next I stamped the same little bug on White Daisy CS and cut out the body and wings after coloring in Goldrush and Moonstruck inks. I bumped up that colored part of the image and added some NEW Stardust Glitz Glitter Glue. This is definately a must have for all you girls that like the bling!

I've been busy working on the new Summer WOTG kits and will be posting soon, but for now, head on over to Lisa's blog to see what she has created for you this time around. See you in a few days for the May Stamp of the Month Blog Hop and until then....Have fun!

April Stamp of the Month Blog Hop: "Flower Pot"

Happy Spring Everyone and welcome to this month's SOTM Blog Hop! Close to my Heart has welcomed Spring in a big way with this BEAUTIFUL SOTM "Flower Pot". This great stamp set is chalk full of windowsills full of blooming beauties. If you have arrived from Caren's blog, you are on the right track. When you are done viewing my contribution to the hop, follow the link at the end of my post and head on over to the next site...Most importantly, have fun and enjoy the Hop!





I used Garden Green Cardstock for my card this time with B & T accents from our Veranda Level 2 paper pack. The images were inked with our Black Archival Ink on Colonial White CS and matted with Juniper CS. I colored in the image with our markers and used Garden Green Grosgrain ribbon with a Creme Brulee picture hanger and brad. Sparkles add a little bling to the center of the flowers and the "Hello There" Sentiment was from the "Twitterpated" WOTG. The card pattern was "Triple the Fun" from Originals, pg 56 using a 3 1/2 X 8 size instead of 5 X 7.

Here is a picture of the inside using a sentiment from "Flower Pot"......





Thanks for stopping by and if you are interested in a little Spring shopping, head over to my website here and pick up your "Flower Pot" Stamp of the Month at a discounted price with purchase...maybe even FREE!



Now it's time to head on to your next stop on the "hop", head on over to Judy's Blog and see what she has whipped up to show you this month! See you next month!!!

March Stamp of the Month Blog Hop " A Little Everything"

Well it is that time again and I'm here to show you my take on this month's Stamp of the Month which is "A Little Everything" This stamp set is a great one, perfect for all your celebrations with lots of sentiments to show how much you care. If you have come to my stop on the hop from Dawn's Blog, you are on the right track, and if you have just happened by, continue on from here to complete the full circle. It's easy and lots of fun!


My first project was a gift bag crafted with the "Rough and Tumble" paper pack and "My Stickease." I used the stamp of the month sentiments and Cranberry ink along with some of our buttons and floss. I was very happy with how it turned out and then decided to take this stamp set even further by creating some custom wrapping paper for my gifts....









I used the colors from the paper and again the same sentiments plus a few different stamps from the "Connections" stamp set and some of our "Cranberry" grosgrain ribbon and "Clover Meadow" organdy ribbon. I think this makes a fun gift. Hope you like!



Now head on over to Laura's Blog to check out her creations this month.



If you want to place an order for this awesome stamp set "A Little Everything" please feel free to visit my website here. Till next month....

February Stamp of the Month Blog Hop!!

Welcome to the February SOTM Blog Hop! This month we feature the adorable "Piece of Cake" stamp set which you can view and order on my website here, or call me to schedule your own gathering and earn it for free!

This is a circle hop, so if you have come here from Tammy's Blog, you are on the right track. When you are finished checking out my contribution to the hop, click on the link below to go to Dawn's blog. Have fun....

I made two cards this month. The first one is from the Originals Idea Book and is called "Tag Trio's." (also available on my website) I used one of the cupcake images and a sentiment from this month's stamp set. I also used some Blush ribbon, More to Adore paper and colored in the images with a variety of coordinating Exclusive markers. I also used a Creative Memories "maker" to create the tags. Quick and easy!




The second card also uses a larger cake image from this month's stamp set and that same sentiment. (Can you tell it is my favorite!) I used the heart B&T paper from the Animal Cookies paper pack and again used the tag punch and colored in the image with CTMH markers.




Thanks so much for stopping by and now "hop" on over to Dawn's Blog to check out her creations!