oodles of fun

Sometimes you have to make a project just because you can, for the pleasure of it and for no other reason than the joy of inking up some new stamps.  The premier of new Idea Books is always an exciting time for CTMH enthusiasts but this is an especially exciting time for me.  I've had a lifelong dream of having some kind of hobby/craft business and for the last few years I've had the goal of slowly building up my business and reputation as a consultant for CTMH so that when I became an empty nester I would be ready to make that dream come true.  I am so happy to say that the last couple of weeks everything has really started coming together just the way I have imagined it:  I get to share a hobby I am passionate about, meet new people, and share new techniques and the delightful products CTMH designs.  So, this pretty much sums up how I'm feeling tonight and I have a hunch when everyone gets to see the Spring/Summer 2014 Idea Book starting today, a lot of folks are going to feel the same way!

details:  Naturally, all products are from CTMH.  The tag layers were cut using the Art Philosophy cartridge using the Dotty For You paper.  Then I arranged letters from the Framework alphabet in the center of the tag and on a separate piece of cardstock.  I then used Cranberry, Cotton Candy, Sunset, Topiary, Lagoon, and Gypsy with the new Oodles of Doodles stamp set to add colors to the stamped image on the spare cardstock, fussy cut each letter, and glued them in place.  I used the Doodle Signs (a hostess rewards exclusive stamp set) for the heart.  Since that image didn't have an outline I simply ran the edges of the piece over my black ink pad so that it would have the same kind of definition as the letters, and I finished the tag off with a strip of (discontinued) white grosgrain ribbon.

Happy crafting!  Annette

Welcome Little One for Mojo 324

As you can imagine, there are so many things I could be (and probably should be) doing on this last Sunday before Christmas but I gave myself a little gift today:  I have spent the afternoon crafting not one but two cards for challenges.  I had several weeks when I wasn't able to craft at all after hurting my hand and then I had to get caught up at work so this much crafting time was such a treat!  At any rate, the first card is for the Mojo Monday #324 sketch challenge.  There has been quite a baby boom in my area lately so I thought I'd better get caught up on welcoming everyone's new additions.

details:  I used the retired "Dotty For You" kit because I *love* the sky/clouds/hearts background.  I used the onesies image from the "Wrap It Up" cartridge, switching out the blade with a pen in my Cricut and adjusting it to the lightest pressure setting.  I cut out the yellow, green, and yellow lightly big circles from one of the Dotty patterned papers, carefully planning the placement using my Gypsy.  Once the Cricut had drawn the onesies I fussy cut them, stamped the clothesline from the January 2014 Stamp of the Month, "Cross Stitch Wishes," in Grey Wool as well as the sentiment from a retired SOTM set "Little Reminder."

Happy crafting, Annette

my "spin" on Freshly Made Sketches #73

For whatever odd reason, the first thing I thought of when I saw this sketch from Freshly Made Sketches this week was the Ferris wheel cut on CTMH's Artiste Cricut cartridge, and that made me think if my husband because he's such a boy at heart, LOL.  Anyway, it took a bit of thinking before I could piece it all together in the way I wanted to make a Valentine as unique as our lives together but I think I pulled it off and that boyish smile on his face was worth the extra time I took with this one.
Details:  As I mentioned, I use the Artiste cartridge for the Ferris wheel with Whisper for the circular part of the frame and then I cut the other pieces (which are grouped together as one image) in white and sponged the center support piece with Whisper ink.

I used the Dotty 4 You paper pack for the sky/cloud background as well as the gondola pieces, which I simply glued the pieces I had cut out of white CS on the back of the patterned paper and cut out each piece so the dotted paper showed on the front.  The heart image is in Smoothie using The Happy Couple (D1539).  The patterned paper at the bottom is from the Later Sk8r paper kit (X7167B) and I used Outdoor Denim CS behind the white banner.  Because I had a lot to say in a little space, I cut my CS to a size that would fit in the computer and typed my sentiment and then cut it to size.

For the inside, I used the Smoothie colored paper from the Dotty 4 You kit and cut a heart frame using the Art Philosophy cartridge and centered it over the sentiment, which was also done on the computer.  All in all, this is not your typical or traditional Valentine card but, well, that just wouldn't be our style.  Happy crafting, Annette