July Creatively Redeeming Treasures Blog Hop

Hi! Welcome to this month's Creatively Redeeming Treasures Blog Hop! If you are coming from Elizabeth's blog, you are in the right place! If you are just stopping by, feel free to follow the links and hop the whole way through and see everyone's artwork. This month's theme is 'Anything Goes', which is my favorite theme. :) I thought I'd show you a project I made for my team last month at convention. I recently learned how to do Coptic binding, which is a way to bind books so that they open flat at any page. If you would like to learn how to do this, there is an excellent tutorial here. I used a small notebook for the inside pages and plain, cream-colored cardstock for the outside covers. I used brown, waxed thread, although embroidery floss also works well. 

I forgot to take pictures before they flew in a plane, so it's a little beat up. I layered Chocolate and Sweet Leaf cardstock. On the brown cardstock, I stamped some flourishes around the edge in Chocolate, and on the green paper, I stamped the scallop dots from this stamp set. (By the way, this is one of my favorite stamps ever. I use it so often to make a subtle pattern on paper and it is so versatile. If you like making patterned paper with stamps and plain cardstock, this set is definitely a must have)

I layered a strip of the Chocolate Grosgrain Ribbon on the green piece. The stamp is from 'For a Friend', and I cut an oval out on my Cricut that fits perfectly.

That's it for today! Thanks for stopping by. Now hop on over to Dolores' blog to see what she's made for us this month!

Be Crafty!

Meredith

Quick update

If you are here looking for this week's party kit, it's not here today. Please check out the blog hop I'm participating in today in the post below, and check back tomorrow when hopefully my camera is fixed for this week's party kit. It might be my favorite! Flowers and pastels and lace, oh my!

Joyful Stars Blog Hop

Hi!  Welcome to the July Joyful Stars Blog Hop! If you are coming from Cindy's Blog, you are in the right place! Not sure what a blog hop is? Its basically a big circle of blog posts on a similar theme and you 'hop' from one post to the next through the provided links, eventually reaching the point where you started.

This month, our theme was 'Anything Goes', so I decided to mix some old and some new. I started with the July sketch challenge from Paper Crafting Divas. I used some paper from the 'Clementine' Paper pack (which is one of my all time favorites and is sadly no longer available) as well as cardstock in Champagne and Saddle.

The sentiment is from For Every Occasion, which is probably the most versatile and useful sentiment set I own. If you make cards, you MUST own this set.

The pattern on the brown cardstock is from a new stamp set that isn't available until August 1, but it is really fantastic. It's three different border/background stamps which fit together, making it super easy to make your own patterned paper! I LOVE stamps that let me make my own patterned paper, and this stamp is fantastic. There's the ikat pattern I used here, a checker pattern, and a diamond pattern. I stamped the ikat pattern on the brown cardstock in Chocolate ink because I wanted it to stand out.

I also used some brand new Bronze Shimmer Trim which isn't available until August 1. You guys, I got a roll at Convention and I've almost used the entire thing in the two weeks since I got it. I adore this shimmer trim. I'm not really a glitter person, but I find myself reaching for shimmer trim all the time. As I said, the Bronze shade isn't available yet, but you can find it in silver and black. (OR, to order anything out of the new Idea Book before it's available, you can join my team for only $49, receive $155 worth of brand new product, and get a discount on all of the new products in the new Idea Book! Contact me for more information.)

Now, can we talk the flower design for just a moment. I really love the way it looks, and I have seen these shapes used so many times. Would you believe that I didn't realize how simple they are to make until about three months ago? It's true. (In case you are like me, and don't know, a full tutorial for this card is below and I'll share the secret). To finish off the look, I used a flower from the XXXXXXX assortment pack and a brown button tied with some bakers twine.

So that's my project for today! Hop on over to Joyce's blog, or keep reading for the full tutorial. Thanks for stopping by!

Card Recipe!

Use standard size card base or cut cardstock to 8.5" x 5.5" and fold in half to make 4.25" x 5.5" card
Cut dark brown cardstock piece at 4.25" x 5.5"
Cut beige piece at 4" x 5.25"
Cut 4 squares at 1.25" x 1.25" and 4 at 1.5" x 1.5" from 4 different sheets of cardstock. Stamp or sponge as desired. (I sponged all the cardstock pieces in Chocolate ink)
Use a corner rounder on two opposing corners of all 8 squares. Layer one small piece on one larger piece as desired and adhere to beige cardstock.
Attach shimmer trim.
Stamp sentiment in Chocolate ink
Attach center embellishment
Adhere beige piece to dark brown piece
Adhere dark brown piece to card base.

That's it! If you make a card similar to this or similar to the sketch challenge, send me a picture! I love seeing what you create.

To find out more about CTMH, to order any products from CTMH, to find out more about joining my team and receiving a ton of free product, or to learn about online and in person classes, Contact me! Also, don't forget to check out our July Specials!

Be Crafty!
Meredith

July Classes!

I just wanted to take a moment to talk about classes and introduce the classes for this month. We do a layout and a class on something else (cards, 3-D object, etc) once a month. Class kits are available, and they are available at two different levels. At the first, and easiest level, the kit comes with only what you need to complete the project. For a layout, that means the base pages, photo mats, embellishments, journaling and title blocks, and directions. If you attend this class in person, you will be able to use my supplies for stamping and inking, and if you order it online, everything will be pre-stamped. At the second level, you will still receive all the supplies you need for the project, but there will be some extras. You will receive an entire pack of embellishments, not just the amount you need for the project. You will receive pre-cut paper, but you will also receive some extra paper as well. You will receive the stamps and ink you need to do your own stamping. All classes are available in person or online, and if you participate online, you will receive detailed instructions and Skype/FaceTime/Gchat support as necessary.

Now that we have the details out of the way, lets talk about our July classes. The first class is a layout class. We will be completing two, 2-page layouts with a grey, coral, and teal color scheme and a 'Summer' theme. I'm a huge fan of this layout, and it comes together so quickly! Here's a quick picture of the first page, and I'll have more up soon - I am having difficulties with my camera right now so I'm sorry about that. 

The layout class, if you participate in person, will be on July 30th. Please register by going to the 'Classes' link at the top of the page and selecting the correct option from the drop down menu under July Classes. Registration for virtual and in person classes must be by July 19th.

The second class we have this month is a mini-card class. I absolutely love mini cards, because they are perfect for tossing in a gift bag or including with a quick present (birthday, hostess, thank you, etc). Also, they are just so cute! We will be making 6 mini-cards in 6 different designs for different occasions. The cards will come in a mini 'magazine box' holder that I really wish I could show you, and I will upload pictures as soon as I can. This class will be on July 29th. Please register by July 18th by following the procedure outlined above.

That's it for today! Check back tomorrow for a very exciting blog hop, on Wednesday for my next party kit (you guys are really going to love this one), and don't forget about all of the exciting July specials!

Be Crafty!

Meredith

Space Theme Birthday Kit

It's the first Wednesday in July! Who's excited? I know I am. I'm so happy to show the first of my new line of party kits! I really love how this kit turned out, and I hope you do too! This kit includes:

A Happy Birthday banner

10 invitations featuring a rocket ship and stars

The insides of the invitations are ready to be filled out with all of the information for your party

10 UFO cupcake toppers in blue and orange

And 10 cupcake wrappers which say 'Happy Birthday' on the top

They are also in blue and orange

This kit comes with everything you need to throw a space theme birthday party, AND, it's customizable! You can add more invitations or cupcake supplies. You can add party favor boxes. You can add a name to the banner. Basically, you can add anything you want to make this kit exactly what you need for your own space-themed party!

The kit retails at $30, but remember, in July, everything is 10% off! Use the code HBJuly2013 in my Etsy store for the discount, or contact me directly to purchase it.

Thanks for stopping by and be sure to check back next Wednesday for the next kit!

Be Crafty!

Meredith

It's July!

Late post today, guys. Sorry about that. I'm still recovering from my trip, and straight back into school, so my brain feels a bit full today. But I'm excited that it's July because my birthday is this month, which means savings for you! I have a 10% off code for my Etsy store, just use the code HBJuly2013, and I'm offering 10% off anything you want to order from Close To My Heart! And, now is a great time to use that offer because the current Idea Book expires at the end of this month, so there's a bunch of great items on the retired list, AND a fantastic July special you can use it on as well!. 

The July special from Close To My Heart is this fantastic 12' x 12" canvas workshop, including an exclusive stamp set, the canvas, and lots of embellishments to make a gorgeous display piece for your home. In the Month of July, this workshop is 50% off! It retails at $39.95, but in July, it can be yours for $19.95 with no qualifying purchase AND you get an additional 10% off because I love you guys! How great is that? Now, the June special sold out about halfway through the month, so if you want this deal, order soon! To take advantage of  my offer, you must contact me directly instead of ordering off my website.

So, lets review! 10% off anything in my Etsy store, 10% off anything from Close To My Heart, and a gorgeous workshop at half price! Don't you just love July?

Remember, every Wednesday this month I will be introducing a new party kit, and those also qualify for this special, and stay tuned for more information for this month's class. We are doing a mini card kit that I can't wait to show you, and classes are in person and online so everyone can join in the fun!

To find out more about classes, to learn more about Close To My Heart, or to take advantage of any of these specials, feel free to contact me!

Be Crafty!

Meredith