Happy Valentines!

Create a class set of Valentines in 30 minutes! Really! It will take you less time to create these Valentines than to run out to the store and purchase a box of ordinary ones. All you need is cardstock, a stamp set, paper scraps and your tools. (And this is a great way to use up your stash!)

For these Valentines, I started with the Centre Focus pattern (from Originals, pg. 111) as the basic layout. However, I made it my own, by adding a patterned paper background and changing the size of the centre piece to accommodate the sentiment.

Here's my recipe:

* Start with a 3" x 3" card with the fold at the top. (To make the card, cut a 3" x 6" piece from cardstock and fold in half.)

* Trim a 2 1/2" square from patterned paper and adhere to card face.

* Tear a 2" piece of washi tape or trim a 1/2" x 2" piece of paper or trim a 2" zip strip and adhere to middle of card, flush on the left side.

* Trim a 1" x 1 1/2" piece from cardstock and stamp sentiment. Adhere sentiment to right side of card, in the middle, overlapping washi tape.

* Stamp or write sentiment, Happy Valentine's Day, on inside.

For these cards, I used the sentiment from the Live Out Loud stamp set and the sentiment "Happy Valentine's Day" from the Whoo's Your Valentine stamp set on the inside. (Not shown.) I used the scraps from my Dotty For You papers.

It's easy to create multiple Valentine's quickly with this pattern. Get your little Valentine involved too! Assembling and stamping are easy and fun tasks for little hands.

Don't forget teacher! Use your school-themed papers and stamps to whip up cute Valentines for your child's teacher.

For these Valentines I followed the Sunset pattern (Originals, pg. 66).

* Use a 2 1/2" x 3 1/2" card with the fold on the tops as your base. (To make the card, cut a 3 1/2" x 5" piece from cardstock and fold in half.)

* Trim a 1 3/4" x 3 1/2" piece from patterned paper and adhere it to the card front, placing it 1/4" from the top, keeping the edges flush.

* Trim a 1 1/4" x 1 1/2" piece from cardstock and adhere it 1/4" from the right and top edges of the patterned paper.

* Stamp embellishments and adhere to card face.

For these cards, I used the ticket stamps from Blue Ribbon and Victory Workshop stamp sets and the large heart from Whoo's Your Valentine stamp set. I used the scraps from my Scholastic paper packet.

You've got 2 days left! Take a few minutes to show your love by creating your own special Valentines!

Happy October!

October is my favourite month of the year! There's lots to celebrate this month. Birthdays, Thanksgiving, Halloween, fall festivals and it finally begins feeling like autumn weather. I love crunching through the fallen leaves, watching the salmon run and taking advantage of the cool, crisp weather to get the last of the year's gardening done.

Though I'm delighting in picking pumpkins and decorating with corn stalks, in my scrapping life, I begin to think about the next big holiday: Christmas!! Now is the time to get Christmas cards, home decor, scrapbook pages and hand crafted gifts ready for the most wonderful time of the year.

This year, start your Christmas crafting with a bang using October's Stamp of the Month: Scandinavian Wishes. This gorgeous stamp set reminds me of warm woollen sweaters and cups of hot chocolate. Perfect for cards, pages and gift packaging, this will be a stamp set you come to again and again over the years.

To start making  your own Scandinavian Wishes, simply place an order of $50 or more in regularly priced product and add the Stamp of the Month for only $5. Aren't placing a qualifying order this month, but still want the stamp set? Scandinavian Wishes is available at the regular price of $17.95, but only in October.

Want to make the items seen in the photo? In addition to the October Stamp of the Month, you'll need Frosted Paper Packet, Frosted Assortment, Baker's Twine Harvest Assortment, Bronze Shimmer Trim, Stitch Guide, Scallop Border Punch, Cricut Artiste Collection, and of course inks!

Sneak Peek Day 8

Calling all cardmakers! CTMH has lots of fun new products to take your cardmaking to the next level.

Workshops on the Go Laughing Lola Cardmaking Kit

There are two new Workshops on the Go Cardmaking Kits! Use the materials, kit-exclusive accessories, and instructions to create 15 beautiful cards (five cards each of three designs) inspired by Jeanette Lynton!

The Laughing Lola kit comes with My Acrylix Laughing Lola Cardmaking Workshop Stamp Set, Laughing Lola papers, five cardstock sheets, 15 White Daisy cards and envelopes, Whisper, Black and Silver Baker's Twine (10 yards), Purple Gems and instructional brochure.

The theme of this set is love and support.Whether you're creating a get well card, sending a little something to cheer up a friend or making a sympathy card, this kit makes cards that are stylish and heartfelt.

Workshops on the Go Frosted Cardmaking Kit

The Frosted kit is perfect for conveying your Warm Winter Wishes. The D-size stamp set is one you'll turn to over and over again, not only for cards, but for scrapbook pages, holiday projects and even tags and packaging!

The kit comes with a Frosted Cardmaking Workshop Stamp Set, Frosted papers, five cardstock sheets, 15 Colonial White cards and envelopes, Champagne, Colonial White and Silver Baker's Twine (10 yards), Silver Glitter Gems and instructional brochure.

These kits are only $24.95! That's only $1.66 per card! And represents a savings of $11.83 (the retail value of the individual pieces is $36.78).

These card kit are also excellent projects for Home Gatherings! Split a kit among your guests and each can create and take home three beautiful cards. And of course, your guests will love the cards so much, they'll want their own full kits! It will be easy to earn free Hostess Rewards when you host your own Workshop Home Gathering!

In addition to these kits, CTMH is offering a new My Originals Polar Pals Card Kit. Following up on the popularity and ease of the My Originals Matchbook Card Kit, Polar Pals is an easy to assemble kit for cardmakers of any skill level. The kit consists of 12 tri-fold pop-up shaker cards for sending holiday and wintery greetings to friends and family. The tri-fold cards hold photos and gift cards perfectly. In addition to the cards, the kit includes a sheet of stickers, 12 Shaker Bubbles, 12 adhesive springs and 12 coloured envelopes. These cards are perfect for all the little gift cards given out over the holidays--to teachers, co-workers and as stocking stuffers.

CTMH has also added a new style card to its card family: White Daisy Circle Spin Cards and Envelopes. The focal point of these cards is a die-cut circle that spins! Just the right size for adding a sentiment or spectacular stamp, these cards make a strong statement!

October and November are great for hosting a Home Gathering and choosing a cardmaking project as the theme. At this time of year, people are looking to get into the holiday mood with crafty projects and it's just the right time to start holiday shopping! But you don't have to wait to book your autumn Gathering! Contact me today to get your preferred date!

Out with the Old to make Room for the New!

Buzz & Bumble WOTG artwork.

I've been aware of the Spring 2013 Retiring List for a while. This is a list CTMH publishes to let Consultants know what products will no longer be available. But it wasn't until today that I examined it in detail.

Now, I know products are retired to make room for new and exciting things, and I really am looking forward to the unveiling of new products with the Fall/Winter 2013 Idea Book which comes out in August...BUT...I'm sad to see some of my favourite products go.

Claire WOTG artwork.

Of course, there are always paper packs that are not carried over to the next Idea Book. The papers not being carried over this time are Buzz and Bumble, Later Sk8r and Claire. Of course, the accessories that accompany them will not be carried over either.

Also, after July 31st, you will no longer be able to order Avonlea, Dakota, Clementine or Scholastic paper packs.

Later Sk8r WOTG artwork.

If you need brads, now is the time to stock up. It looks like CTMH won't be carrying them anymore--at least not the assortments they have now. The same goes for all the button assortments, Mini-Medley Accents and the Pewter and Wooden Badge Buttons.

If you enjoy making mini-albums and 3D items, you may want to stock up on  the My Creations Bookmark Album, Milk Carton, Canvas Journal and Paper Pouches.

Cardmakers will be saying goodbye to the 6" x 6" Kraft Die-Cut Cards and Envelopes and Kraft envelopes in all sizes.

Under tools and storage, the Accessories Organizer, Exclusive Inks Organizer Carrying Case, 2" scallop circle punch and corner rounder are also retiring.

By way of stamp sets, all E-size stamp sets (the big alphabets) and personalized stamps (single name stamps, address stamps and custom stamps) will no longer be available. There is also a long list of individual stamp sets that are retiring (such as School Rocks, Tea Time, Love Blooms, Christmas Love and many more). If you've had your eye on a stamp set, now may be the best time to get it. Remember, all stamp sets from the current Idea Book (with the exceptions noted above) will be available when the new Idea Book comes out. Also, any stamp sets that are marked as a Cricut Art Philosophy or Artiste set will continue to be available.

 So it's out with the old to make room for the new! There will be lots to look forward to with the next Idea Book and some exciting rumours are flying about what the new products are. Make sure to follow my blog so you don't miss the 10 day countdown to the new Idea Book in July. I'll be blogging about the new products at the top of my shopping list.

In the mean time, send me an email with your wish list items and I can let you know if they're being retired.

Remember, you can shop for all your favourite products on my website 24/7. You don't have to wait for a Gathering or invitation. Shop anytime!