I haven't stamped in awhile....

I was too busy getting my novel, Terran One: Remember The Commandos, on the market.  It is on Amazon Kindle right now and will shortly be in print.  I've decided to self publish with Amazon.  I've decided to take a breather since my second book is written and doesn't hit Amazon Kindle/print until the end of September.  I've abandoned my stamp room so now I'm going to get in there and actually do something.  I thought I'd clean and then scrapbook.  I do have to make a few birthday cards and a graduation card.  I'll put them up on here when I'm done.  I haven't abandoned my faithful follower, lol.

New Card, Close To My Heat, Got To love the waxy flax...

Close To My Heart: May is National Scrapbooking Month, But What About Card Makers, Here You Go

This is the Close To My Heart Miracle kit for May's National Scrapbooking Month.  It's perfect for card makers and I'll show you why. 

I'm the Matron of Honor and my hubby is the Best Man for our friends wedding in September.  They are great friends and we're honored to be asked.  This is the second time around for her and the last.  Kim is a great guy. 

The first card is made with just the contents of the kit.  I used two pieces from the My Stickease (TM) (the Celebrate and the boarder on the bottom), one of the Miracle Kit paper diecuts cut in half (the scalloped edged paper on the top), a chipboard butterfly and a piece of Colonial White cardstock.  This first card is for the bride and will accompany her bride to be present that I'll give her the night before the wedding when the guys are off somewhere.  We're all going to be in the same Holiday Inn/Conference Center where the wedding will be.

This second card from the Miracle Kit is the card that will accompany the wedding present for both Kim and Julie. 

I personally think this card is just perfect for a wedding.  Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue.  Here's how I made it.

I took a sheet of Colonial White and cut it 11" by 8.5" which will make two cards that are 5.5 x 4.25.

I used the Fiskars paper cutter, lined the 8.5" since up at 4.25 and scored it with a bone folder in the cutting groove.  Only score once because you can put cut your paper in half with a bone folder believe it or not.  I've done it.

Now using the Xyron Design Runner.  I love this thing and have most of the SD cards that are available for it, I use a scrap paper and my DR ruler and measure where I am going to start on a scrap paper.  This makes it easier when setting up your printing on the actual card as in the next photo.

So I start with the Design Runner at the rounded edge of the ruler and figured out where it would print (what measurements) then I lined up my card paper with the ruler so the DR will print in the perfect location.  What a great tool to use.  You can make sure your DR also prints completely straight because it will print in the center area.

Close To My Heart Just Blooms (T) are perfect for Weddings.  I used the white, I believe it's Daisy White.  The Just Blooms are paper flowers that have flowers and butterflies.  I inked the edges with CTMH Dutch Blue.  I used a large bloom, a smaller bloom and and even smaller bloom and three butterflies that I inked and stuck together with thin pieces of very strong glue tape.  You can use whatever you like but make sure you only put glue in the center of the butterflies.  I also used a Colonial White brad in the center of the flowers and glue dots to attach it to the card.

It gives the allusion of a butterfly that is just landing on the flower.

Out With The Old (Diecut)

I decided to make a couple of cards with some old Close To My Heart paper since I have some new stuff coming soon.  I really love these two colors but never used them.  I admit that I am a hoarder.  The embossing was done with the bigshot and one of the texture plates.  The bee was made with the Slice Vintage Findings card and the flower was made with the Think Pink card.  The heart and corners were also from the Think Pink card.  I haven't used eyelets in a long time so thought I'd add some to the card.  No text because really I don't know what these will be used for right now.  I'll add that later.

One Design, Three Cards (sorry about the photos, no time)

Wishes, p12, Keyhole.  All CTMH

New Card, Stampin Up except for the small butterfly stamp, Sewing

I wanted to try my Kenmore Mini Ultra.  I haven't used it in a long time so I wanted to see if it still worked.  I am happy to say that yes it does still work.  The paper is SU, the lemon stamp is SU, the cardstock is SU, the saying is from the Xyron Design Runner and the butterfly is from CTMH.

I've Just Ordered Stamps and Paper From The New CTMH Summer Idea Book!

I can't wait for it to come.  They have an awesome new Cherry-O paper pack which is just gorgeous.  The new idea book goes live on May 1st.  Until then, I've decided to work from the Wishes card creation book and pick a card design to feature three ways.  I've also pulled out my sewing machine.  I'm taking part of the day off from my novels to do some design work.  My power cord to my netbook is dead so I am waiting for the new one to come.  It is back logged in Flushing and probably won't be here until the middle of the week so I'll have to bring my 17.3" laptop in to my stamp area.  Can't miss my Splitcoaststampers!

Why Can't We All Just Get Along Card, Stampin' Up and Close To My Heart

The top card was made with a combination of Stampin' Up and Close To My Heart cardstocks, patterned paper, stamps and inks.  You'd be surprised how closely SU and CTMH papers and inks match each other.  The stamps are the June SOTM for CTMH.  They're gorgeous. 

Top card is SU patterned paper and cardstock and CTMH stamp and ink.  The second card is all CTMH except the ribbon which is Making Memories.  The second card shows just how a Level One CTMH kit can used to make cards.

Slice, Seasons Card, Colorbok Cardstock and Basic Grey

I make mostly birthday cards, father's day, mother's day and only make other cards should I have a need for them.  This flower is from the season's card.  The white cardstock is Neenah.

Another CTMH Birthday Card, Celebrations Stamp Set

My father in laws birthday is in a few days.  In fact, two days before my son's birthday.  Hubby wanted a card so this is what I came up with.  I'm not sure what paper this is.  It's from awhile ago. 

No Slice Today, CTMH...

I just love this February stamp of the month from Close To My Heart.  I am telling you, clear stamps have given me back my love of stamping especially the new ones that are coming out.  They are really nice.  This card is made with the Top Stitch paper pack, Love Is In The Air stitched stamp, and Feb stamp of the month, Piece of Cake.  The black card stock is Bazzil and I used the Big Shot texture plate for the diamond texture on the brown.

Mother's Day Card, Using Think Pink, Note Worthy and Basics One

I used some Close To My Heart paper I had around.  I do love their papers, just gorgeous.  I used the Slice Think Pink card for the frame and the silhouette.  The circle was cut using Basics 1 and the tag was from Note Worthy which goes to show you that you don't need all the cards from Making Memories to do a variety of cards.  Notice I cut off the top of the frame.  I had issues with my xyron 510 and when I was pulling the frame off the backing paper it ripped.  I actually think it looks more like a frame this way.

Mother's Day Card: Basics/Seasons and Noteworthy Cards...

I am much happier with the brand new slice.  It seems like Making Memories has all the kinks out and I haven't had to home it at all.  This card was made with some really cute CTMH patterned paper that I found, Colorbok textured cardstock, white brad and green CTMH cardstock.  The sentiment was done with my Xyron Design Runner.  I bought it a few years ago and it works like new.  I love it.  I have every sentiment that I'll need for a long time.  I cut the flowers out using three different sizes from the Basics/Seasons card, 1.5 inch, 2 inch and 2.5 inch.  The stem was cut in 4 inch.  The tag was cut with Noteworthy at 2.5 inches for the white part and 3 inch for the pink.  I used the design runner's optional ruler to line up the printing on the tag.  The tag is pop dotted off the card.  The smallest flower was trimmed between the petals to give it more texture.  I love CTMH's patterned paper because it takes all the work out.  No layering here.

This Blog Is Dedicated To My Making Memories Slice

I'll be using my slice at least once a week to make cards and will be posting them here. Look for my first card on Monday.