November's 5-4-10 Card Workshop

Check out the cards we will be making on Friday, November 2nd at 6:30 or Saturday, November 3rd at 10:00.  You can create these five cards for only $10.00!  It is so nice to have a collection of cards on hand and ready for when you need one without having to go to the store, spend an hour looking and reading all the cards and then have to spend upwards of $4.00 or $5.00 for ONE card!  Contact me if you are in the Helena, Montana area and would like to attend this workshop. 

Some of these cards are inspired by other talented crafters, and I always appreciate their ideas and inspiration! 

October Stamp of the Month

October's stamp of the month is called, Very Merry Christmas.  It has cute mittens, tags, and an ornament.  This can be yours for only $5.00 with a $50.00 purchase.  It would make great Christmas cards!  And since it is only October, you can actually get them done early....rather than procrastinate.  (Not that I know anyone who would wait til the last minute)  :) 

5 cards for 10.00 workshop

Would you like to make these beautiful cards?  Wouldn't it be nice to have cards on hand, so they are ready to go when you need one?  Isn't it nice to give someone a hand-made card rather than an expensive, store-bought card?  If you answered "yes" to any of these questions, you have to come to my card workshop!  We are making these 5 cards on Friday, October 5th from 6:30-8:30 OR Saturday, October 6th from 10:00am-12:00.  Come one of these times and go home with 5 cards and envelopes ready to sign and deliver or mail.  Each month, let me show you how to create 5 different hand-made greeting cards with a variety of papers, stamps, techniques and embellishments.  Everything is pre-cut and ready for you to stamp and assemble.  The cost is $10.00 if you bring your own adhesive or $12.00 when you use my adhesive.  Beginning card-makers are welcome!  Bring someone I don't know and you and your friend may choose a card from my stash!  Workshop is held in my home in Helena, Montana.  RSVP for directions. 

Please RSVP by calling or texting:  (406) 465-8761 or email:  mkosena@bresnan.net

September Stamp of the Month

This is one of my favorite stamp of the month stamp sets in the Fall/Winter 2012 Idea Book.  Scarecrow, pumpkins, and a cute tag.  This stamp set is perfect to use on layouts of corn mazes, Halloween pics, hayrides, picking pumpkins, and carving pumpkins.  Cute, cute, cute!  If you spend $50.00, you can get it for only $5.00!!  What a steal!

Workshop on the Go Blog Hop

Welcome to our first ever Workshop on the Go (WOTG) Blog Hop!  Each month on the 20th, a group of talented Close to My Heart consultants will be featuring products made from any of the current 13 Workshops on the Go! 

If you are visiting from Shalana's blog you are on the right track!  If not, please start at the beginning by our hostess, Pam at www.i-candy-scraps.blogspot.com 

This is my double-page layout using the Scholastic papers and the C-size stamp set included in the WOTG. I did not add a title because my scrapbook club created this project and I wanted to leave it open for them.  It could be first day of school, general school photos, or graduation. 

I used an edge distresser on all the cardstock to show the white core and give it more of a vintage look.  I also inked around all stamped images with desert sand ink.  The library date stamp was random stamped on the chocolate cardstock.  I made a journaling block by stamping the lines several times.  I never would have attempted this with a wood stamp!  I love CTMH's clear stamps!  They are the best!  I also used the stamp set School is Here (B1407).  That stamp set coordinates beautifully with the Scholastic WOTG. 

Thanks for looking!  Now, hop on over to Becky's Blog and see what fantastic artwork she created!

Here is a list of all the consultants that are participating if you get lost along the way!

1. Pam Stewart - http://i-candy-scraps.blogspot.com 
2. Shirley Ross - http://www.momnmescrap.blogspot.com/
3. Joanne Barnes - http://josiesjoy.blogspot.com
4. Shalana Glass - http://scrappinwithshalana.blogspot.com/
5. Melissa Kosena - www.scrappingplace.blogspot.com
6. Becky McClain - www.beckysstudio-cards.blogspot.com

September 2012: National Stamping Month

Elemental Layout--Flashback Friday

The Elemental Papers (now retired) were so versatile and they were already distressed looking.  "Love Life" was the stamp set used for most of the layout.  The left side of the layout was CASED (copy and steal everything) from the Fall/Winter 2011 idea book.  There layout was slightly different and had a great picture of a beautiful sleeping baby on it.  But I loved how they had used the dotted scallopped stamp set as a border down the side and I just knew I had to copy that aspect of the layout. 

It's Here! The NEW fall/winter Idea Book!

The new Close to My Heart Idea book is here!  It is jam-packed with all sorts of crafting goodies!  13 Workshops on the Go!  13!  Two card workshops, one cricut workshop and two home decor workshops in addition, to the eight workshops that coordinate with the eight new paper packs!   I am LOVING the new papers and there is all sorts of new embellishments!  Absolutely stunning artwork to get your creative juices flowing!  If you would like to get a copy of this fantastic Idea Book, please contact me to get one in your hot little hands.  Or you can always shop my website and see the Idea Book online, too. 

Flashback Friday--Emporium

A layout featuring the Emporium Creative Basics papers with Cranberry ribbon. I used a blending pen to color in the flowers.

Flashback Friday--Dreamin' of Easter

Easter layout using the Dreamin' papers. This was the first Easter Izzy really knew what she was suppose to do at an Easter Egg Hunt. Run for 'em!

Flashback Friday--Animal Cookies

Bright colors abound in the Animal Cookies papers. They were perfect to convey the happy mood and thrill of an amusement park. I used the button stamp set and put clear buttons over the top of some of them for added dimension and interest. I used my cricut to cut out the letters for the title.

Flashback Friday--Dreamin' Again

I'm pretty sure this is the Dreamin' papers again. There was a time when I knew the name of every paper pack by heart....but there was also a time when I would go upstairs and not forget what I went up there for! Getting old is tough! haha! This is layout featuring my daughters 4th birthday party. She was really into princess stuff back then.

Flashback Friday--Jingle

A quick and easy level 2 layout using stickease and the Jingle paper pack. These are pics of my children's Christmas programs.

Flashback Friday--Cherry-O

Wasn't this the cutest, whimsical papers ever? One of my favorite papers. I stamped the cute little bugs and colored them in with markers and attached them with foam tape. I'm working on collecting my pics of the kids snuggling together. Wyatt, my youngest, is such a cuddler. He is always on some one's lap. I'm going to title it: Snuggle Bugs.

Flashback Friday

I don't even remember the name of the paper pack used for this layout! If you know it...let me know! This was a quick and easy layout using stickease--a level 2.

2012 National Scrapbooking Month: Dotty for You

Check out this video showcasing the National Scrapbook Month's promotion: Dotty for You papers! Super cute papers with bright, vibrant, fun colors! You can get this set for only $5.00 when you purchase $35.00 in products! Such a steal! Available now through May 31.

Flashback Friday--Christmas

This was the very first layout I designed for my scrapbook club members. It was a take on the Workshop on the Go using this paper. I also got the idea for the Christmas tree on the left side of the layout from someone else who used that to make a card. I'm sorry I don't know who made the card. If you know, let me know, so I can give credit where credit is due. This was from several years ago. You'd think I would have pictures on it by now!

Flashback Friday--Veranda Creative Basics

I loved the colors in the Veranda papers. And the flower-type paper reminded me of a shabby-chic Grandmas house wallpaper. Loved it! I stamped the scallopped-edge border, cut it out, and distressed the edges lightly with desert sand ink. A little bit of ribbon, some photo clips, and bing, bang, boom...it's a layout.

Roxie Layout

Here is layout using the Roxie papers. You can only get these papers for a few more months and then they will be gone. I used the 10 Things stamp set and the stamp set from last Septembers Constant Campaign. I love the zip strips that come on our papers now. They are so fun and add a little "oomph" to layouts and cards. I also made a mini 4x4 fold out book that is attached to the layout.

Flashback Friday--Wonderland

This paper pack has not been retired very long, and it is one of my favorites. I love the colors. This was a fun layout...I used glitz silver glitter glue. And that is not a zip strip across the middle of the pages. I stamped those cute little winter guys on a 1/2 inch strip of colonial white cardstock. Super cute!