Thinking of You Card featuring Gecko Galz Ephemera

Yesterday my work table was covered in half finished projects that I just could not muster the mojo to work on. I decided instead to do the logical thing and push them all of to the side and start something new ;) 

My little guys program coordinator (she is amazing) had a funeral to attend yesterday so I decided to make a simple card to leave on her desk. Well, that was at 10:00, at 11:45 as I was rushing to get out the door for my appointment I realized I had overdone it just a bit.

Showers and combed hair are totally overrated anyway. I did take time to brush my teeth.

This is the card I created:

Materials: 

12x12 heavy cardstock (I used Bazzil)
(2 )12x12 design paper ( I used a design from the  Kaisercraft "Little Toot" collection)
White cardstock
Vintage Image (I used this image from the Gecko Galz spring release available in April)
Ribbon
Flowers
Leaves
Crystal Gems (mine are from the Dollarama)
Stamps (Close to My Heart S1601 Beloved Bouquet. D1584 Big Hug Occasions, D1476 Card Chatter-Sympathy Occasions)
Ink (Close To My Heart Indian Corn Blue)
Metal Charms
Teal Pearls
Multipurpose Glue (I used the Craft Medley Premium Craft Glue)
6x6 Envelope (For looks only, the flowers make it too puffy to put in, if you want to mail it use flat flowers)
2 Paperclips

How To:

1. Create a card base using the heavy cardstock (5 3/4 x 11 1/2)
2. Fold the base into a gatefold by scoring at 3 1/8 and 8 7/8 on the long side.
3. Crease all the edges using a bone folder for a crisp professional look
4. (Cut two of these pieces one for the front and one for the inside) Create the front mat using a 5 1/2 square and then a 5 square of the reverse side. Adhere the lighter patterned 5" square to the 5 1/2" square ensuring that it is centered nicely.
5. Cut the **1** of the matted squares in half and adhere on half to each side of the gatefold base's front
6. Using your vintage image, create another mat that will complement the size and shape of your image. Be sure to repeat the matting pattern you used for the front of the card. 
7. Place the matted image on the left panel of your gatefold. Move the image around until you are satisfied with its location. You want it to be as far to the right as you can, while leaving an inch on the left side and not going outside the mat on the right side.
8. Adhere only the portion that is on the left side panel.
9. Open the card and create mats for the inside of the card. You can now adhere the mat you prieviously created to the centre space of the inside.
10. Cut a 5 1/2 x 3 piece and then a 5 x 2 3/4" piece of the reverse pattern.
11. Adhere this to the inside right panel.
12. The final mat for the inside will be more challenging as you need to match it up with the overhanging piece with your vintage image on it. I cut a strip of patterned paper 5 1/2 x 8 7/8 and adhered it to the left side panel. I then used my scissors to trim away the excess paper, being sure to match the matting size on the other panels. 
    
13. Using white cardstock I created panels for all three inside sections and one to hide on the outside of the right panel under the vintage image. 
    
14. Using stamps I created a background type paper with the desired sentiment and inked it all with a piece of sea sponge.
15. Now for the fun part, add your crystals, beads, charms and flowers to create the look you like.
    
16. I added a paper clip between the base and mat on the left inside panel so I could attach a hand written note. This way the card can be easily regifted to the next person needing a pick me up.
    
17. The second paper clip I used to attach the envelope to the back of the card. Why? I am not sure, but it felt unfinished without the envelope.

Great job! I am sure the recipient of your card will cherish it.

If you like my card please share it, tweet it, instagram or pin it!

Gecko Galz Feet Challenge

I laugh even now as I am typing that title. I wonder how many hits this post is going to get from people with medical issues with their feet? I assure you, all the Gecko Galz are in fine shape. Just in case you are here looking for foot advice, you may want to try The Mayo Clinic Page.

Ok enough of the silliness, this crafting business is serious stuff. Well, not really, but I need to get to the point of the post before you all think I am totally off my rocker.

This was my sample for the February Gecko Galz Challenge featuring Feet! Yep, Feet! Mine likely won't qualify as I can't honestly say that there is a foot in this boot for sure...but I thought it was as close as I wanted to get to having a foot as the focal point of a design.

This ATC was created using kraft cardstock with archival black ink and a finbair stamp and then going over it with tea dye and rusty hinge distress ink. I then adhered the lovely vintage boot from the Ephemera Fun Collage sheet. I have a bucket of vintage buttons and these two made me think of the buttons that women used to have to deal with on long boots such as these. I attached a metal corner flourish, the buttons, a mulberry flower and a bit of glitter to give it a finished look. I stamped the sentiment using Colonial White ink and a Close To My Heart stamp. Voila. My ATC was complete. I hope you like it. Be sure to go and join the Gecko Galz Papercrafting challenge group. It is a great place to put your 'BEST FOOT FORWARD" get it...sorry that was sad.

Gecko Galz Seasons Greeting Challenge

Aren't the challenges on Gecko Galz so much fun. I wish that I had known about them sooner as I am having a blast creating all these new styles. 

This challenge was of course a Christmas Challenge. I really like the way it turned out. I find challenges that don't limit colour choice are much easier for me.

Material Used:

• Gecko Galz Oh Christmas Saying OCS09
• Do Crafts Denim Lace
• American Crafts Cardstock
• Close To my Heart Colonial White Card Base
• Close To My Heart Artiste Cricut Cartridge Rolled Rose
• Ebay Leave
• Old Paper Distress Ink
• Crayola Pencil Crayons 
• Spectrum Noir Alcohol Markers
• Stickles
• Flat Back Pearls

1. I always start by colouring my focal image. It sets the tone for the whole card. Depending on the colours that come out of it determines what supplies I will use on the card. 
2. Double mount the focal image on dark and then lighter blue cardstock creating a 31/2x31/2 square.
3. Cut a piece of cream cardstock 4 1/2 x 3 3/4 (I ran mine through my cuttlebug to add some dimension). Ink the edges with Old Paper Distress ink and attach it to a piece of dark blue cardstock.
4. Attach the blue lace to the blue and cream layer, securing the lace on the back with a piece of tape. Attach the layer to  the card base.
5. Using Foam squares attach the focal image to the card base. Be sure to add a bit of extra pressure where the foam squares attach to the lace. 
6. Arrange your leaves and rolled flower to the bottom left corner. Add three half back pearls to the bottom right of the focal image.

Ta-Da....you are so creative!

Prima Doll Mixed Media Mini Canvas: Always be your own kind of wonderful

Late last night I was inspired when a mini canvas fell off my bench and onto my toe. Hey some people are inspired by apples hitting their head...for me a good swift knock on the toe does just fine. I made the decision that I have too many half finished projects lurking in my studio. One would think that I would have come to that conclusion before hurting myself, but potato p-a-t-a-t-o. 

I got out my Prima Doll stamps and an old pad of DCWV paper, a few Prima flowers and flourishes and some Basic Grey Rub Ons and Voila....my mini canvas masterpiece was born.

Here is what I did:

1. I had previously painted the canvas a blotchy mix of pink and white acrylic paint. 
2. I sanded down some of the areas of the canvas so that the texture showed through.
3. I used the white rub ons and my bone folder to put the flourishes in the upper centre to right side of the canvas, trying to have as much show through were I intended to place my doll.
4. Using a plain white paper doily cut in half I created a half moon on the right centre of the canvas.
5. I had some Prima Say It With Crystals flourishes in the studio so I used one in the top left .
6. I had some left over scraps of a crocheted doily from our club layout from a few weeks ago so I used it to create a sort of base to ground all the elements at the bottom of the canvas.
7. Silver filigree and some pretty Prima flowers were added to the crocheted doily pieces.
8. Using the "Always be your own kind of wonderful" stamp from Close To My Heart, I stamped my sentiment with black Memento Ink  and then coloured it with cotton candy ink (which I applies using a makeup sponge).
9. I popped the sentiment up on foam squares and then finally adhered my pretty Prima Doll. She is inked using Tattered Rose Distress ink.

Thats It. As my little guy would say "easy peasy, lemon squeezy".

Guest Design By Denise Marchetti : Prima Doll Calendar

One of the absolute best parts of having a craft business is that you meet the most talented people. The other day I was fortunate enough to have Denise Marchetti in my studio. Denise was telling me about this amazing calendar that she had created using her Prima Stamps. I was intrigued and she promised to share pictures of her masterpiece as soon as possible. Well guess what, she sent them to me Thursday. So knowing me as as you do, of course it took me until now to to get everything organized to share them.

Here we are: Denise Marchetti's Prima Doll Calendar.

January, is birthday theme as my daughter and granddaughter are 
both January babies I used anything I had on hand that 
would go with my theme.great idea to use scraps and from your stash!

February: Valentine's Day

March: Easter is in March 2016

April: Vacation theme

May: Bring in May flowers from stamps I have

June: Used stamp of the month from close to my heart 
and SU lovely as a tree

July was paper piecing to create a scene at the beach

August is stickers from leftover packages I had

September is back to school

October: My favourite one is large spider web stamp embossed 
with black and then spiders are from die and so are pumpkins

November: Leaves falling (some distressing and inking)

December: Waiting for Santa santa in window is fussy cut from paper 
and then place behind acetate and then window die cut.

 I used copic for most skin tones but 2 are done with watercolours.

Thank you for sharing your beautiful calendar with us Denise. It is wonderful to have a chance to see the versatility of these adorable stamps.

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My Grandma's Teacups Scrapbooking and Craft Supplies: Cuppa Sunshine- Papercrafting Project

Happy New Year Crafty Friends. I pulled together a little project to get the year rolling. I am calling it my Cuppa Sunshine as it has been pretty dreary weather lately and I wanted a cute pick me up to decorate my studio.

Materials Needed:

• Card stock in three complimentary colours
• Designer Paper (Avonlea from Close To My Heart shown)
• Hot Glue Gun
• Tooth Picks 
• Glass or Crystal Beads
• Foam Mat (upside down mouse pad works like a charm)
• Stylus or rounded pen lid

This project uses the retired paper line "Avonlea" from Close To My Heart but if you can't get your hands on that, substitute it with your favourite paper. All of the die cuts are from designs found in the Cricut Artiste Cartridge.

I use a cricut explore so it allowed me to modify some of the cuts. If you are using an expression you may need to do a bit of fussy cutting to get the desired look. Feel free to use my cut files if you are using Cricut Design Space.

Teacup and Saucer











Flowers For Teacup

Teacup Assembly:

I first assemble the teacup (the scalloped piece) try to shape the teacup to be as circular as possible. Next add the handle. I used white daisy card stock but I think I should have chosen a thicker paper to give it the strength to support the cup. Glue the two handle parts together leaving the tabs separate. Glue the tabs on either side of the seam for the cup.  Use one of the gear pieces as a bottom for your cup. You can glue the tabs inside for stability or outside and cover it with the design paper.  Use the other crescent shaped piece (cut from designer paper) to decorate your cup.

You should only have two pieces left at this point. Take the semi-circle and glue the two edges together to form as doughnut and use the remaining gear to support it. It takes a bit of shaping to make the saucer sit flat. I used a stylus and foam pad on the reverse side of the paper to form a ring around the edge of the saucer and around the circle formed by the gear. TA-DA your cup and saucer should look fabulous at this point.

Do you have a small square of floral foam or even some scavenged play dough? Hot glue it to the inside of your cup to support the flowers we are going to make.

Flower Assembly:

Now for the fun part. Cut our your flowers and foliage. It really does not matter what posies you choose but I find working in three's makes for a nice balanced look. I ink my cut outs at this point. I do this for two reasons, I like the look of inked pieces and also it changes the structure of the paper making it more pliable thus making my shaping easier.

I know at this point you want to get rolling with the flowers but honestly it works out much better if you work on your leaves first. Take each piece of foliage and place it face down on a foam pad. Use a stylus or pen lid (whatever you have) to work the leaves so that they stretch and begin to curve. Turn your leaves over and have a look. If they are not curled enough, turn them over and keep going. Once you have them nicely shaped you will want to lay them over the top of your teacup to get an idea of how they will look. Using your hot glue gun attach the leaves to the foam square. Don't glue it on tight. You just was to have a few contact point to work around.

Take your flowers and repeat the shaping process. You may want to use a pencil to roll the petals back a bit to create a bit of interest. Once they are molded you take the out most edge and hot glue it to a toothpick. I saw this on a  Tim Holtz Video and thought it was brilliant. Slowly roll the flower trying to space the petals so that that they don't all line up. I like to stop about mid curl and put another dot of hot glue. When you come to the end of the curl let it fluff back out a bit before gluing it to its base. Now you should have a perfect flower on a stick. Go ahead and fuss over it. The more you work with it the more realistic it looks.  Once the six rolled flowers are done its time to make the petal flowers. I liked mine with just the two layers but feel free to experiment to see what you like. Attach the first layer to the toothpick by gluing the tab to the side of the flower and then poking the stick through while the glue is hot. Be sure to leave some of the stick showing through the top. Add your additional layers. After you are done adding layers finish it off with a pretty glass bead. Be sure that the toothpick stays safely beneath the surface of the bead.

I like to work with one type of flower at a time and I start by placing them in a triangle. Then I work on the next colour of flower creating an additional triangle. Using the remaining petal flowers fill in the spots. Use an extra leaves to fill up the gaps. Make sure that you like the design before you use the hot glue and fasten them in place.

Enjoy!

Jumpstart Your Christmas Cardmaking: Pop-Up Nativity Card

Who doesn't love a good pop-up card? This card requires a wee bit of fussy cutting but the end result is so cute that its worth the effort.

Materials:

Colonial White card base & Envelope

Colonial White Cardstock

Desert Sand Cardstock

Adhesive

Crystal Blue Ink

Desert Sand Ink

Cocoa Ink

I used Glory To God Stamp Set (Retired) but the new version is Reason For The Season (You can also use the diecut pieces that are included in the design file in artfully sent)

Embossing Folder (I used a frame folder from Cuttlebug)

Cricut Artfully Sent Cartridge

The best way to tackle this card is to work on it as two separate cards and then put them together. 

Cut a 41/4 x 51/2 piece of colonial white cardstock. Using your embossing folder create the frame impression. Next stamp your city background in desert sand ink. Next add your sentiment, wisemen and star in Cocoa. Using a sponge lightly ink your sky using crystal blue ink and the ground using desert sand. Allow the ink to dry completely and then adhere it to the front of your card base.

Using your artfully sent cricut cartridge select the Nativity Pop Up Design from page 46 of your instruction booklet. You will see all the layers you need appear. Once you have cut the pieces out of colonial white and desert sand you will want to carefully fold the pop up base. The easiest way to do this is by folding the card in half like a regular card using your bone folder and then go back and gently push alternating slotted areas forward. Once you have all your folds done attach it to the desert sand base liner. I find it is easier to line the characters up once it is stable (no pun intended). If you need to stamp your images now is the time to do it and then fussy cut them before adhering to their steps.We stamped our Creche right on the back of the card so that Jesus and his family would seem to be inside it.  Stamp your sentiment in the bottom right hand corner with cocoa ink. Once you have your nativity scene together you can gently adhere it to the card base. Voila you are a pop-up card whiz.

Jump Start Your Christmas Card Making - Mary & Babe Card

The countdown to Christmas has officially begun in my house. Once the first Christmas card classes occur I
know that time will start to pass quickly and I have to put myself into high gear. I love the way that our first set of cards turned out. The ladies in the club had allot of fun with the design and I hope you will too.

The first card in the series is the Mary & Babe Card.

Mary & Babe Stamp Set

Materials:

Water Colour Pencils 
Chocolate Ink
Adhesive
Colonial White Envelope
Cricut Art Philosophy Cartridge (or scalloped oval and oval punch)
Crystal Blue Cardstock
White Daisy Cardstock
Colonial White Cardstock
Mary & Babe Stamp Set


Cut a 81/2 x 51/2 sheet of crystal cardstock to create a card base (I used my cricut and the damask decor cartridge to get the edge you see pictured.) If your design requires a liner like mine did be sure to cut the coordinating piece out of colonial white cardstock.

Using your punches or cricut cartridge cut a scalloped oval out of crystal blue and a liner for it out of colonial white. Cut an additional oval out of white daisy that fits just inside the blue shape. I cut an additional oval frame out of colonial cardstock to frame my focal image but the other ladies chose to leave that piece out.

Using the Mary and Babe stamp from Close To My Heart stamp the image on the white daisy oval. Colour with your favourite water colour pencils. If you want to wet the image after colouring be sure that you used an archival ink. If you would rather use your alcohol based markers you will want to use MEMENTO ink.

Use Pop dots to mount your focal image to the blue scalloped oval and then to the card base.

June Stamp of the Month: Kaboom

Have you started planning all those summer celebrations yet? This month Close To My Heart is offering the cutest stamps set that would be just perfect for your Canada Day Celebration invitations, cards and layouts. Its called Kaboom! You can snag this set for only $5 with a qualifying purchase in June. Be sure to take advantage of the anniversary kit offer at the same time. Have fun creating with these explosive deals.

Don't limit yourself to fireworks and picnics. I see this set being used for an action hero type layout for my five year old. Bam, Bang, KABOOM! Love it.

National Scrapbooking Month

What are you doing to CELEBRATE National Scrapbooking Month? This fun kit is available for just $5 with a $50 purchase. Guess what: You can still get your Stamp of The Month for $5! Go ahead and double up on the May deals.  After all,  National Scrapbooking Month comes but once a year....treat yourself! 

Cropping for a Cause

Hello friends.  I have been very busy the last couple of weeks getting ready for what turned out to be a wonderful day with an amazing group of women.  Originally we planned the event in support of the Relay for Life Team that my son has been on for the last few years.

After months of planning the event and after paying for the hall the team folded. Ironically I had been at a meeting of 31 gifts consultants that same day and had met a woman who's father needed a kidney transplant. I am a huge believer that God puts us where he wants us to be so I was sure that this was a sign that we should continue with the event and give the proceeds to this local family.

After having most of the vendors and croppers pull out at the last minute because it was no longer in support of Cancer I was ready to throw in the towel. After prayerful consideration and a looooooooonnnnnnnnnngggggg discussion with my husband (who is always my sounding board in situations like this) I made the decision to proceed and just accept whatever happened.  What happened turned out to be a wonderful day!

The vendors that came were quite possibly the nicest bunch of direct sales people I have ever met. The Scrapbookers were a cozy little group that spending the day with was a delight.

At lunch time we sat at tables to the side of the hall in small groups of 2-4 women. At supper time we put all the pizza on one table and strung the other tables together so that we could all be together. My husband had quite a chuckle when he realized we had all been sitting there eating pizza and sharing stories for over an hour without noticing. We bought things off each other, learned from each other and laughed so much my sides are still a bit sore.

We may not have raised a ton of money for the family but we raised $127 which is not bad. I will continue to brainstorm ideas to raise more money as part of my charitable plan for this year.

I love love love Scrapbooking, but scrapbooking for a cause was an incredible experience.  What can you do to use your creative skills for a good cause? Cards to shut ins? Crafts with kids groups? It is an amazing feeling to use the gifts God has given each of us to make others lives a bit better.

Please visit our amazing new friends: (I will add the links as I receive them )
Pampered Chef- Chantele
Ahna & Zoe- Claudette
Thirty-One Gifts - Julie
Scentsy - Lisa
Organo Gold- Yvonne

Artbooking Made Easy: Fun in the Sun

Artbooking Made Easy: Artbooking My Life

April's Stamp Of The Month

The stamp of the month for April has got to be one of the cutest sets this spring. Imagine all the projects you will be able to create with this adorable collection of "blurbs" and "chat balloons".

Balloon Talk is available to purchase for just $5 with a qualifying purchase in April. It has 24 sweet sentiments that will have you stamping happily for every occasion.

To order this adorable set just visit my site at My Grandma's Tea Cups Close To My Heart

Now is the Time to let your Creativity Make Your Dreams Reality

Have you been dreaming of starting out on a new adventure? Last year, that was me. By chance I was invited to party at a new neighbours house. I had heard of Close To My Heart as I was an avid scrapbooker. I even owned a couple of the cricut bundles and a few stamps.  Never in my wildest dreams did I think that I would sign up to be a consultant and a year later have my own business that I love, an amazing scrapbook club, a downline of enthusiastic consultants, a schedule of classes and workshops and so much more.  My life has changed in ways that I can not begin to describe.  Are you ready to take that first step? During the month of April, Close To My Heart is offering an incredible package, The consultant kit contains over $300 in products and supplies and costs only $99.

If you reach your sales goals of $1200 for your first quarter they will give you your enrollment fee back so the kit is free. 

For the month of April only new consultants get their choice of one of our three exclusive Cricut bundles. FREE!!! $99 value

If you are unsure of the cartridge bundle that suits you best Senior Director Melissa Laverty created a really helpful video:

Don't miss this incredible opportunity to follow your dreams. I did and now I can't imagine my world without Close To My Heart. Take the leap and join my team ------------------------------> Your dream starts here------------->

Artbooking Made Easy: All-Star Scrapbooking

Artbooking Made Easy: Fab Frames

Is there something on your mind. Feel free to share it.

Artbooking Made Easy: Happy Springtime

Is there something on your mind. Feel free to share it.

My Latest BZZZZZ Agent Assignment Arrived Today.

What a wonderful thing to chase the winter blahs away. I went down to the post office to pick up my Close To My Heart Order and received the happy news that I had a second parcel waiting. You have to see how cute it is.

I can't tell you what the campaign is just yet as the official buzz does not start until Wednesday. This campaign was made for me...if you follow me on fb you will hear me talking about this very topic regularly in the morning.  Check back Wednesday to see what we are up to.

The other package contained my Close to My Heart order for February. One of the ladies ordered the Jubilee paper packet and it is even cuter up close then it is in the catalogue. Guess what is going on my list for next month's order!  Here is a peek at all the goodies we ordered. I hope you all had a wonderful weekend! This is going to be a super busy week here in the studio but I hope you will take a moment to say hi here or over in the google plus group. if you have not joined yet, be sure to find  My Grandma's Tea Cups Insiders  I have to run now as I have orders to sort. Oh, and don't forget about the Mystery Hostess Party going on today! You could win some awesome Jamberry Nail wraps .Mystery Hostess Jamberry Nails Party

February Stamp Of The Month: Wild About Love

Have you heard about the amazing Stamp of The Month special from Close To My Heart? Each month you have the option of purchasing a full size stamp set for only $5 with a purchase of $50. I purchase mine every month because I am one crafty Mama that loves a deal.  The hardest part is waiting for the month that I can grab up my favourites for $5. The great part is that you can purchase the stamp sets for every $50 you spend. If you are like me and have a young stamper in the family, it is a really inexpensive way to build her collection too. They also make perfect gifts for scrapping friends and family.  Close to my heart makes it so easy to qualify for the Stamp Of The Month each month by offering a different special or incentive to get you stocked up on all the supplies you need to make beautiful works of art.






The Stamp of the Month for February is "Wild About Love". You will love the cute woodland feel of this adorable set.

See I told you so!

Two of the stamps coordinate with the Cricut Art Philosophy Cartridge available exclusively from Close To My Heart.  If you have not purchased this bundle yet you should put it on your wishlist.  Each Close To My Heart Cricut bundle come with over 700 images to cut, coordinating stamps and chipboard pieces. Each bundle costs only $99 but by hosting a home gathering, FB party or catalogue party, you could get it half off or even free using your hostess rewards.  If you live in Canada and would like to book an online or catalogue party please contact me at mygrandmasteacups@gmail.com. If you live outside of Canada you can go to the Close To My Heart website and search for a consultant in your area.






Imagine the possibilities for all the artwork that you can create using this super adorable stamp set.