Saturday, December 31, 2011

My Top 5 Reasons I Love CTMH!


My Top 5 Reasons I love Close To My Heart!

5. Jeanette Lynton~ How can you not love her? She is an amazing woman who started this company and has so many wonderful ideas under that great head of hair. (Picture taken at the Regional Celebration in Calgary. I was so excited to meet here and told her that I was glad I didn't throw up on her... Morning sickness from Peter)

4. New Products~ How they do it time and time again is totally amazing to me. Each new Idea Book is filled with such amazing items that make we so glad to work for this company.

3. Crafting~ I love to craft, wish I had more time to just sit in the office and get lost in all those great products.

2. Convention~ Days full of crafting ideas, seeing the new products and meeting new friends... what's not to love!

1. Making new friends~ I have met some amazing ladies over the years because of CTMH, we have laughed, cried and crafted together. Thanks to all of you who have entered into my life and I too hold you "Close To My Heart!"

Friday, December 9, 2011

More Cricut projects


I LOVE how much I can do with the Close To My Heart Cricut Art Philosophy cartridge. Here are a few of the projects I've been working on from left to right:
1. French Fry box
2. Candy bar- 3-D flower
3. Journal- both the Font and flowers (stamped image after cutting out flower)
4. Cupcake box

All these projects would have taken me hours without the Cricut machine... I'm totally sold! Look for more projects to come in the next few days. :)

Thursday, December 8, 2011

Cricut Christmas Trees


When I first saw this tree by Mandy Leahy, I though it would make a great hostess gift for the holidays. Why not make 3 trees, 1 6" and 2 4"! This project became one for the whole family and man what was I thinking when I decided to do 2 sets? Actually it was a very fun project to work on and the girls really enjoyed helping. Nothing will compare to Peter doing the what I now call the 'Cricut Dance' as it was cutting out the flowers.
I used the following products from Close to My Heart:
Z 1686 Art Philosophy cartridge
X5907 Light Green Shade Pack (Sweet Leaf, Juniper, Ponderossa Pine)
X5907Dark Green Shade Pack (Garden Green, Olive, New England Ivy)
1272 Cranberry Cardstock
x5914 Buttercup Cardstock
Z2110 Buttercup Ink
D1482 Love Life Stamp Set

After rolling and pinning 850+ flowers I love how they turned out and the quality crafting time I spent with the kids. Hopefully the hostess who will be receiving these trees will love them too. Happy Crafting!

Wednesday, December 7, 2011

Cricut Crazytown

After many years fighting the urge to buy a Cricut machine, I broke down this summer and bought one. It was a small one-- 12x6 and was very nervous to use it. Then this summer Close To My Heart came out with their Art Philosophy only available from a consultant I was excited to learn all that I could do. Slowly I started using the Cricut and then I discovered some projects that would suddenly be so much easier to complete with the help of something that would cut for me! I'm totally hooked! I recently finished 2 projects and am amazed at how much easier they were, while at the same time totally awesome. :) Pictures to follow tomorrow!

Now I'm discovering all the amazing stamp sets that come with the Art Philosophy package (Cricut cartridge, 3-D size stamp sets and 9-9x12 Dimensional Elements sheets). I love all the different images, 700 of them in all... fonts, shapes and 3-D items. But when you think about all the different sizes that you can cut, the number is endless! I have now purchased a 12x12 Expressions Cricut and am loving the items that I've been able to create.

Check out my website www.katymartin.myctmh.com for more info or contact me. Happy Crafting!