Creating with Art Philosophy!

Yes, it's true...I've gone Cricut crazy! I just LOVE the Art Philosophy Cricut cartridge available only from CTMH. Earlier this week, I offered a class that focused on just a few of the fun things you can do with the Art Philosophy cartridge. Can I tell you...it was so hard to figure out just WHAT to share in three projects. There are so many, many wonderful things you can do with this amazing cartridge I'm afraid my class didn't even begin to show the fabulous-ness found in the Art Philosophy cartridge and its 700 images!

Here are the three projects we created...

Flowers, flowers, flowers! All of the fun dimensional, rolled flowers have never been easier than with Art Philosophy! There are 6 beautiful flowers on the cartridge - the flowers featured here are found on page 70 of the Art Philosophy booklet. This card made its way to school this morning for my daughter's 2nd grade teacher's birthday! I hope she likes it!

This great little gift box was inspired by Jeanette Lynton's Shape-a-Day posts on her blog. All month long she has been sharing a different Art Philosophy shape each day - lots of amazing inspiration there. Check it out HERE! Just add some little treats and you have a great gift for any loved one! The box shape is found on page 22 of the Art Philosophy booklet.

Finally, this sweet little card actually uses two different card cuts. The Kraft piece is the front of the cupcake card. The cupcake and the cupcake card are found on page 70 of the Art Philosophy booklet. The fancy card shape is on page 43.

There are so many wonderful things you can do with the Art Philosophy cartridge and bundle! I have more projects to share, to check back often or use the form on the left to subscribe and receive blog posts right in your inbox!

Happy Crafting!

Teacher Appreciation: Pencil Bouquet

Earlier this week I shared the 100 Grand bars we made for our teachers and staff for Teacher Appreciation Week. On Wednesday, all of the students were asked to bring in some sort of school supply for the classroom. I found the idea for these cute little pencil bouquets online and thought they were so fun!

To create your own pencil bouquet, simply follow these steps:

1. Gather 20 - 50 sharpened pencils in your hand to form a round bunch making sure the eraser ends are all even to make a flat bottom.

2. Hold them tightly together while a friend secures them with wire (this is the trick to the whole thing - the wire needs to be tight enough to hold them pencils together or the middle ones will slip out)

2. Add ribbon and a gift tag with a cute note!

I hope my kids' teachers liked them!

Teacher Appreciation: U R Priceless!

We are celebrating Teacher Appreciation Week at my kids' school this week! In addition to the students bringing in small gifts each day for their teachers, our PTC does our best to show the teachers and staff just how much we appreciate all their hard work to enrich and enhance the lives of our children.

Today, we gave each staff member a small treat...a 100 Grand bar! However, we all agreed that 100 Grand simply wasn't enough for those who give so much of their time and their hearts, so we added the tag that reads "U R Priceless".

These little candy bar wrappers were simple to whip up - and fun too!

Simply cut your desired paper to fit the specific candy bar you are using (be sure to allow a little overlap for adhesive). These wrappers used B&T papers that were cut to 6 1/2" x 4". I scored one long side of the B&T at 1/4" and folded the other edge to meet the score line. The 1 1/4" circle punch was perfect for punching the notch out of the top (be sure to do this before adhering the sides together unless you want the front and back notched out). Next, I added adhesive to the 1/4" flap and along the inside bottom edge and folded the wrapper to adhere. My paper crimper was getting a little lonely after sitting in the same spot for probably the last 6 years, so I pulled it out and gave it a workout - I'm not sure it shows so well in the picture, but I crimped the bottom inch or so of the wrapper. Add the candy bar, embellish as desired, and the basic wrapper is complete!

It is our hopes that during Teacher Appreciation Week, we make our teachers feel like 100 Grand, but we all know they truly are PRICELESS!

More Treats!

The Halloween excitement has definitely hit our home! I just finished up the treats for the kids classmates. What a fun afternoon I had creating these simple and fun little treat bags!

With Joey in 3rd grade, I knew he wasn't going to be into the cutesy Jack-o-Lantern stamps I've used in past years. As soon as I saw our new Beware set, I knew it was the perfect Halloween stamp set for my growing boy!!!! :-)

Jenna picked out the goodies - individual packs of M&Ms and little parachute men toys.

The tags were quite simple to create:

Cut or punch two circles - one 2 1/2" and one 3"

Stamp the Happy Halloween image on the 2 1/2" circle

Edge the 2 1/2" circle with Orange ink

Attach the smaller circle to the larger one

Punch a hole in the tag

Tie onto treat bags

So simple...just my style!

Tricks or Treats!

Today I'm working on fun Halloween treats for the kids to take to school for their friends. I'll share my treats later, but I just had to share this adorable little treat from my super crafty customer and friend, Maria!

This Yummy Mummy is so easy to make! Simply get a Hershey's chocolate bar and wrap it with white crepe paper (you know, those fun party streamers). Smudge it with a little Chocolate ink to give it that aged look that all mummies have. Add some google eyes and a simple tag and you have a gift anyone would love!

I might make up a few to take to our neighbors when we visit their homes on Halloween. Thanks Maria - your creativity always amazes me!!

One Sweet Gift

What do you get when you combine a 4-pack of Frappucino bottles, M&Ms in several yummy flavors and Close to My Heart's new Sweet Home My Reflections Paper Packet?

A treat too sweet to not share with YOU!

At our recent team retreat in Lake Tahoe, I was beyond spoiled by my scrappin' buddy, Amanda who was my "spirit" for the retreat - our version of Secret Sisters.

Amanda made me this incredible snack pack of M& Ms. She bought a Starbucks Frappucino 4-pack and drank the contents (must have given her plenty of energy to this project done)! After cleaning the bottles and lids she decorated them with Sweet Home papers and filled them with 4 different flavors of M&Ms. Notice the cute little circle tags to designate which flavor is in which bottle. She then covered the holder to match (I'm guessing she had to take the box apart and then re-assemble. I absolutely LOVE the ribbon and ric-rac tied to the sides.

What a fun gift! I have to admit, I think I was the envy of the retreat with all of the fabulous gifts from my Spirit! Thank you, Amanda!!!

Cards for Operation Smile

As many of you know, Close to My Heart is an active supporter of Operation Smile. Operation Smile is an amazing children’s medical charity whose network of global volunteers are dedicated to helping improve the health and lives of children and young adults. Since its founding, Operation Smile volunteers have treated more than 130,000 children born with cleft lips, cleft palates and other facial deformities. Did you know that only $240 can pay for a surgery which will bring a beautiful smile to a child's face? Last year (July 2008 - June 2009), through your donations and simple "rounding up" of your orders. we were able to donate almost $650 to Operation Smile. Further, through all consultant contributions and purchases of My Acrylix stamp sets, Close to My Heart donated $150,000 to this incredible cause.

At our Leadership Conference last week, we held a Silent Auction to benefit Operation Smile. A handful of consultants were asked to create something to donate to the auction which also included items made by our amazingly talented corporate Art Department. I was honored to receive a phone call asking me to contribute to this fun Silent Auction.

I chose to create a Magic Moments Card Set! Cutting and designing 20 cards was a snap using the one of the three workshop guides in the new Wishes book. Embellishing each of the cards took a little more time as no two cards in the set are alike. All 20 cards were put into a fun altered tin complete with dividers to keep the cards organized by theme.


The bidding on my item was beyond my wildest dreams! Thank you so much to everyone who bid on my card set. A special thanks to Marie for your very generous donation to Operation Smile - enjoy those cards!!

I've shared some of my favorite cards from the set below.

For this fun card, I cut the paisley accent out of the paisley print B&T paper from the Magic Moments paper packet.

A simple little Sparkle can make a big difference! That cute flower and the sentiment are both found in the Dainty Thoughts stamp set (C1350).
Liquid Applique and a touch of Prisma Glitter on the Sunflower star really makes this card shine. Stamp sets used are Thoughtful Seasons (D1299) and Magic Moments (B1318).
For this card, I stamped the cute paisley from the Magic Moments stamp set (B1318) in three different colors (Hollyhock, Indian Corn Blue and Sunflower) and then pieced together the elements to create a multi-colored paisley! An Antique Copper Brad adds the finishing touch.


Super simple card! I used the Thank You stamp set (D1361) and the Magic Moments set (B1318). After stamping the sentiment, I covered it with a Circle Window Charm and placed it on the card with a foam square - love that dimension!
Two more simple cards! The Celebrate card uses two stamp sets; Magic Moments (B1318) and It's a Party (D1182). The simple knotted ribbon adds a great finishing touch! The Thank You card uses Thank You (D1361) and lots of fun buttons!

Once again, I paper pieced the fun paisleys for these two cards. For a little extra kick, I added Liquid Applique to the dots in the center of the paisleys. FUN!
Who doesn't love flowers?!!? I use the Big Pinks Just Blooms for this card. Notice the Hollyhock and Garden Green brads in the center of the button. Such a simple card! If you love flowers how about a whole garden of them? This last card was created using our White Daisy Just Blooms paper flowers and Sweet Leaf Ric Rac for the stems and leaves. The centers of the flowers were created by cutting out circles from the circle print B&T paper in the Magic Moments paper packet and covering them with Circle Window Charms.

Saying Thank You!

As each year passes I am finding the last week of the school year to be more and more difficult! We have been so blessed to have such wonderful teachers to enrich the lives of our children, and I am always the parent standing in the classroom on the last day of school with tears in my eyes, trying to find the words to thank another amazing teacher for putting her heart and soul into teaching my child. This year is no exception!

Jenna had the most incredible experience with her pre-K teachers this year. They were fun, enthusiastic and had more energy than all of us parents put together. Jenna loved going to school every single day and thanks to Miss Robin and Miss Marietta, she is heading to kindergarten confident and ready to take on the world.

Joey was also fortunate enough to have an amazing 2nd grade teacher! Ms. Kodish made learning fun and exciting, and did everything to meet each child right where they were academically and help them succeed. She nurtured Joey's new found love of reading, and made school a place he wanted to be! As a parent, I couldn't ask for anything more!

Today, we surprised Ms. Kodish with this fun little album I put together with the help of the kids in the class. A few weeks ago I sent home a letter and a 4x6 piece of cardstock, and asked the students to write a note to Ms. Kodish. It was so fun to see how their personalities shined in these notes. From the creative girl who added a cute 3-d flower and wrote in pink glitter pen to the sweet boy who wrote something to the effect of "Even though I don't like school, you are a great teacher. Thank you for helping me with my math!" Each note, whether long and detailed or short and sweet was truly written from the heart!

One day last week I "borrowed" each of the kids for just a minute during class and took pictures of them to make the album complete. With a little help from Close To My Heart's Simply Snapshots, this treasured 9x9 album was done in just a couple hours.

Ms. Kodish couldn't read the kids' notes through the tears, but when she does read them I hope she will feel the love and appreciation we all feel for her!

Thank you Ms. Kodish, Miss Robin and Miss Marietta for helping my children grow! We will miss you all next year and will always remember how much you enriched their lives!

Teacher Appreciation Week!

A couple week's ago, my son's school spent an entire week showing our wonderful teachers just how much they mean to us! What better way to do that than with gifts and goodies! They were treated to a luncheon and a breakfast hosted by our PTC as well as little goodies brought in each day by the kids.

A friend and I got together and made 4o of these cute little water bottle toppers for our teachers and staff. They are so easy to make - and so fun to give!

Here's a quick how-to...
-Start with a piece of cardstock 3" x 10 1/2". Score each short end at 3".
-Use a circle punch or a coluzzle circle cutter to cut a circle in the center of one of those 3" ends.
-Fold the other 3" end up to create the pocket. We simply held the pocket together with brads.
-Cut a 2 3/4" x 2 3/4" square out of a coordinating B&T paper to cover the pocket and decorate to your liking. You'll notice we used the scalloped circle we punched out for the top as part of the design on the pocket.
-Place a single serving tea or lemonade packet in the pocket and hang on a water bottle!
As easy as that!

We used my very favorite paper of all time, Let's Get Together (X7083B) along with two fun stamp sets, Thank You (D1361) and Delight in Everything (D1204).