It's a Jungle (Too Many Monk Episodes??)

I think I've watched one too many Monk episodes lately.  Got the It's a Jungle Out There song running through my head so I've once again played with the "Life's a Jungle" stamp set:

One, well actually TWO, things I love about acrylic stamps: You can stretch them to fit around a particular shape (like a circle) AND you can cut them apart to divvy up images or sentiments.  Well, maybe THREE things...I love that you can see through the clear blocks to position exactly where you want an image.

Thanks for stopping by!
Marie with a :)

Wild About You

I confess.
I just cannot part with my CTMH stamps.
No matter how many new and wonderful images we sell, I still love the old.
Here's Life's a Jungle...an oldy...but I did pair it with a round card from the Art Philosophy cartridge so it's not ALL old...

Thanks for stopping by!
Marie with a :)

More Art Philosophy: French Fry Box

Here's the pieces I cut out with the cricut. Isn't that mini tag card adorable?

• Just doing some size comparisons here...the small french fry box is the size of a thumb nail!

Thanks for stopping by,

Marie with a :)

92 Card Shapes!!

I counted 'em.  And there are at least 92 different card shapes you can make with the Exclusive CTMH Cricut cartridge.  This one is just your basic circle card with a little layering.  I also used the new "pair-a-phrases" stamp set that will be available FOR FREE with qualifying orders beginning August 15th.  Check out the Two D-sized stamp set HERE .

Here's a size comparison: the card is a 5" version of the scrapbook circle, which is 11".  Have I mentioned I LOVE the new Exclusive CTMH Cricut Cartridge?  FYI...it's called "Art Philosophy."  And it's fantabulous :)

Thanks for stopping by!
Marie with a :)

Un.Believe.Able

Did I say that already?  Well let me repeat myself: the new CTMH cricut cartridge is unbelievable.  I'm somewhat inept when it comes to technology but I've managed (with a little help from my CTMH sisters) to figure it out. This is like having a kazillion different dies all in one place: fonts, cards (I haven't counted the exact number of shaped cards yet but it's A LOT), boxes, shapes, tags, buckles, and on and on and on.  Notice the butterfly on my french fry box and the one in front of it, in my last photo?  That's just two of the dozens of sizes I can created with this one cartridge. The cartridge has been so exciting that I haven't even mentioned all of the other new products we've got: great new cardstock weight papers (and let's face it, CTMH papers have always been the best in the industry!), fun embellishments, great new workshops on the go and stamp sets....and LOWER PRICES!

I filled the box with cards, inspired by one of my CTMH bloggers (I'll add a link to her blog when I find it!)

Just a couple of the hundreds of  shapes, including round cards.

Found it! Here's a link to the artwork that inspired this card box: Lori Miller's Clearly From The Heart Blog 

Thanks for stopping by!

Marie with a :)

PS I Like You Too: Typeset Layout

I am in Scrapbookers' heaven.
The Exclusive Cricut Cartridge is Un.Believe.Able.
No more need for 500 punches or costly dies.  This one cartridge (which takes up less space than a single large (not extra large) Sizzix big die I have for the Big Shot) does it all. Cards. Boxes (Chinese Take Out, Pillow, Crayon or French Fry and so on), envelopes, tags, flowers, and shapes galore. And don't forget fonts!  The beauty however is that it does them in WHATEVER SIZE YOU NEED...from 1/4" to 11 3/4" (to 23 3/4" depending on the Cricut Machine you have.)
Sure it's an investment. But $99 gets you the equivalent of 7000 punches/dies.  Yes, you read that right.  PLUS you get 3 coordinating stamp sets (size D) and 3 sets of coordinating chipboard pieces. Swoon.  Now what husband could possibly thing that isn't a bargain? ;)  Notice in this layout I have used a large (10 3/4 ") shape as the main focus...but notice the same tiny shape in the corner of the picture on the first page?  Yep...there's so much you can do with this cartridge that it'll be a challenge to get me out of the craft room...

 Did I mention stars and arrows?

This layout was to remind my kids that I don't just LOVE them...I like them too :)

Thanks for stopping by,

Marie with a :)

Lotsa (Easy-Peasy) Mayberry Cards

I have had several people special request "non bulky" cards lately.  Seems some folks are getting tired of the special packing or extra postage that a very bulky card sometimes requires. With that in mind, I created a few sets of "flat" cards that fit into your standard business sized envelopes (I happen t have a box of a thousand of these in my craft room :)  )

All products are CTMH.

Thanks for stopping by!

Marie with a :)

I Spy, I Spy...(a couple of layouts)

Can you spy any new CTMH products in the first layout?

 Nope...it's not the Lucky paper, although that was new when the last Idea Book was released.

 The banners and arrows were created using the NEW CTMH cricut cartridge.

The NEW cork letters are quick and easy to use!

an image from one of the fabulous NEW stamp sets :)  

Yes, there's LOTS to look forward to in the new Idea Book.  Get yours next week...only $3.95 each. Send me an e-mail or message if you are interested.

One of the more recent products that CTMH has come out with are the the Workshops on the Go or WOTGs as we refer to them. They include coordinating paper, stamps and embellishments for creating great layouts. Also included are complete instructions for completing a layout and more project instructions to be found online.  The following is a layout I created using the exclusive You and Me WOTG.  I didn't exactly follow instructions; though I did get the general idea from the instructions. Following my layout, is one my sweet friend completed, following the directions precisely.  

I

I LOVE the token Alphabet set!

Aren't these little pennants adorable? With the new Cricut cartridge, you can make them any size from 1/4" to 11 3/4" !

 At the last minute, I decided to add one of the NEW journaling spots.  Hidden tags for journaling...happy sigh. 

These last photos are the layout my friend Donna P created, following the WOTG instructions:

Tomorrow, I'll post some of the cards I created this week :)  In addition to 3 layouts, I created 20+ cards!

Thanks for stopping by,

Marie with a :)

Sentimental Sister/Heart 2 Heart

I finally created for the Close To My Heart challenge again. The challenge this week was to use doilies or lace. I used a bit of lace ribbon.  The card is for my sister who is having a pretty rough week.

Don't you love our new foundry photo clips???  (click on any photo to enlarge)

(anyone out there who can explain to me how to rotate my photos?  They are correct in my photo files online but when I post they sometimes turn sideways!) 

Some of you have asked why I switched to the larger Cricut.  When I first entered the paper crafting world, it was scrapbooking that drew me in.  I liked card making and have made hundreds of cards over the past couple of years, but my passion continues to be scrapbooking.  The smaller Cricut is fantastic for creating titles and die cuts and all sorts of things.  But it doesn't cut out 12 x 12 doilies or circles and such: it is limited to 5 3/4 inches - perfect for card makers. So I sold mine to a talented and avid card maker.  Plus I have a daughter getting married (the one who is often seen in the craft room with me :)  ) in 9 months and we are pretty excited about making banners and invitations and table decor. Finally, with the new partnership that Close To My Heart has with the Cricut I thought this was perfect timing to make the switch - check out the link below:

 what a deal! 

Thanks for stopping by.  I have more cards and layouts to share soon!

Marie with a :)

The Goodies Have Arrived!

Yes, my new Cricut (I sold my smaller one to purchase the 12 x 23 size) is here AND my box of new, amazing Close To My Heart products galore is here as well...but I can't play. Sigh. It feels like I am five years old and it is Christmas Eve and I can hardly stand the anticipation. For a sneak peak at one of the new paper lines as well as some new embellishments, check out this layout I created last night while watching Monk. You can click on photos to enlarge.

I have lots more to share and post but I have some kids chomping at the bit to get to where we are supposed to be going so I'll be back later :)  

(The photos are from a couple of months ago, when I got to visit my sister Samantha (http://samiesentiments.blogspot.com/) in Vermont. We had a fun "sisters" photo shoot.  A couple of the photos insist on being sideways in this post and I haven't figured out how to change them.)

Thanks for stopping by!

 Marie with a :)

First Post-Convention Card

I'm super excited about all of the changes CTMH has in store for you!  I will be sharing all of those details tomorrow. In the meantime, here's a card using a new pin clip and stamp from the Blue Ribbon stamp set.Have I mentioned LOWER PRICES?
Lots of posts/cards/layouts coming soon :)  Thanks for stopping by!  Marie with a :)

Here's me with Mickey in front of the Disneyland Hotel :)

Ready For Convention (I think...)

This is my first CTMH convention and I'm not sure what to expect...hopefully lots of creativity and fun!  I've been trying to get back into the creative mode in preparation and made over a hundred cards in the last two days.  Here's a couple of them (some of these I made in bulk):

(The Scripture verse on this last card is from Verve)