Damask Divas Pathfinding Blog Hop

Welcome to the Damask Divas' September Blog Hop featuring the Pathfinding paper pack from Close to My Heart!  If you came from visiting Stephanie Davis, The Gypsy Chic, then you are in the right place.  If you just happened upon my little corner of the blog world, you should definitely head over to the Damask Divas blog and start from the beginning of the hop.

Fall is here!  I love everything about Fall in the Midwest -- from the cooler weather to the changing colors of the leaves to the smells and sounds.  So it is no surprise that this month's paper packet is one of my favorites in the 2014-2015 Annual Inspirations Idea Book.

Before we get to today's layout, I have a quick tip I would like to share with you.  If you are like me and love to create layouts, but don't always have pictures printed or know what pictures you want to use for a layout... don't be afraid to create anyway!  I find creating layouts without the added pressure of fitting the layout to my picture(s) is a relaxing way to stimulate my creative mojo.  When I finish a layout, I just place the layout in a cheap page protector and store them in a 3-ring album (like those used for Picture My Life).  

Another quick tip....in place of photos, I simply grab an unused piece of computer paper and cut to the proper photo size(s) for my layout, write the photo dimensions on the piece, and attach to my layout with a small(!) amount of repositionable adhesive in the upper center of the "fake photo".  Another option is to use a photo mat and write the dimensions directly on the photo mat.  If using this option, make sure you write in the center of the mat so your writing doesn't peek out when you add the photo.

Now onto the real reason you are here... today's layout.  Hope you enjoy!

{Click picture to enlarge}

Supplies used:

*X7186B - Pathfinding Paper Packet
*X5770 - 12"x12" Glacier Cardstock
*Z2123 - Goldrush Exclusive Inks Stamp Pad
*Z2104 - Barn Red Exclusive Inks Stamp Pad
*Z2111 - Chocolate Exclusive Inks Stamp Pad
*Z1790 - Artiste Cricut Collection
*Z2012- Sequins Gold Assortment
*S1408 - Family Is Forever SOTM Stamp Set (available through 9.30.2014)
*9042 - Make It From Your Heart, Volume 2, How-To Program

To order these or any of our other fabulous Close to My Heart products, please visit http://jddesigns.ctmh.com.

Thank you for visiting me at JD Designs and for hopping with us on the Damask Divas September Blog Hop!   Next up on the hop is Traci Williams.  I hope you'll head on over to her blog as she has a great project lined up for you, too.

Happy scrapping!

NEW Cricut Artfully Sent Collection

Close to My Heart & Cricut have done it again!

The recently release Artfully Sent Cricut Collection is a MUST HAVE.  With over 700 images, 400 projects, and 25 themes on one cartridge, this collection is a card maker's dream!!  Artfully Sent has done for card making what Artbooking did for scrapbooking.

With Artfully Sent, you can create pop-up cards, sleeve cards, scene cards, sentiment cards, swing card, pocket cards (as in Picture My Life), envelopes with liners, and SO MUCH MORE!!

Check out this awesome pop-up card!!

{Click photo to enlarge}

Look at everything included in this collection!

Included in this collection:

*Artfully Sent Cricut Cartridge

*3 coordinating exclusive stamp sets --

1 sentiment set, 1 frame set, 1 alphabet

*Full pack of 12x12 White Daisy cardstock

To order this cartridge, please visit my website at http://jddesigns.ctmh.com or contact me today!  I would be happy to help you.

Damask Divas Scaredy Cat Blog Hop

Welcome to the Damask Divas' September Blog Hop featuring the Scaredy Cat paper pack from Close to My Heart!  If you came from visiting Stephanie Davis, The Gypsy Chic, then you are in the right place.  If you just happened upon my little corner of the blog world, you should definitely head over to the Damask Divas blog and start from the beginning of the hop.

For today's layout, I used the Scaredy Cat paper pack, all three Cricut Collections, and various embellishments.  I'm not a   huge Halloween person.  I'm definitely more "cute Halloween" than "spooky Halloween" so the scary pumpkin was a bit of   a   stretch for me, but I plan to add cute by adding pictures of my son from this coming Halloween.

{Click picture to enlarge}

Supplies used:

*X7185B - Scaredy Cat Paper Packet
*Z1989 - Slate Diagonal Striped Ribbon
*Z2173 - Slate Exclusive Inks Stamp Pad
*Z2191 - Sunset Exclusive Inks Stamp Pad
*Z1902 - Signage Dimensional Elements
*Z1686 - Art  Philosophy Cricut Collection
*Z1790 - Artiste Cricut Collection
*Z1906 - Artbooking Cricut Collection
*9035 - Make It From Your Heart, Volume 1, Idea Book


Bonus card made with scraps

To order these or any of our other fabulous Close to My Heart products, please visit http://jddesigns.ctmh.com.

Thank you for visiting me at JD Designs and for hopping with us on the Damask Divas July Blog Hop!   Next up on the hop is Sarah Gardner at Irish Crafter.  I hope you'll head on over to her blog as she has a great project lined up for you, too.

Happy scrapping!

Damask Divas July Blog Hop - Skylark

Welcome to the Damask Divas' July Blog Hop featuring the Skylark paper pack from Close to My Heart!  If you came from visiting Sarah Gardner at Irish Crafter, then you are in the right place.  If you just happened upon my little corner of the blog world, you should definitely head over to the Damask Divas blog and start from the beginning of the hop. 

For today's layout, I used the Skylark paper pack, the Cricut Artiste cartridge, and a fun pattern from the Magic how-to book.  I absolutely love our CTMH how-to books.  They take the guess work out of designing a layout.  I also used the Skylark chipboard complements.  By combining these great products, I was able to create a quick, easy, no stamping layout.  I didn't have any photos on-hand so I simply added photo mats, measured at 1/4" larger than the recommended photo sizes -- which will allow me to easily add photos at a later time.

 {click to enlarge}

Supplies used:

*X7177B - Skylark Paper Packet

*X7177C - Skylark Complements

*Z1790 - Cricut Artiste Collection

*Z1853 - Aqua Dots

*1273 - 12" x 12" Desert Sand Cardstock

*Z2118 - Desert Sand Exclusive Inks Stamp Pad

To order these or any of our other fabulous Close to My Heart products, please visit http://jddesigns.ctmh.com.

Thank you for visiting me at JD Designs and for hopping with us on the Damask Divas July Blog Hop!   Next up on the hop is Michelle Southworth.  I hope you'll head on over to her blog as she has some great inspiration for you, too.

Happy 30th Birthday, CTMH!

It's CTMH's 30th Birthday. 

While many consultants are currently in California celebrating at CTMH's annual convention, I'm here at home. But I don't plan to let that stop me from celebrating -- I will celebrate with you by sponsoring a birthday giveaway!! 

From now until Saturday 6/28, anyone who places an order $30 or more via my website, http://jddesigns.ctmh.com, will be entered to win a CTMH stamp set!! PLUS -- because CTMH wants to share the birthday love, anyone who places an order of $50 or more can select one of 8 gift collections for only $30. 

To view these special collections, please visit http://jddesigns.ctmh.com/ctmh/promotions/campaigns/1406-celebrate-30.aspx.

CTMH New Consultant Sign-On Special

Close to my Heart is offering an unheard of, fabulous bonus for any new consultant who signs up to be part of the CTMH team in April.  For just $99, you get the kit below

AND

in April only, you get YOUR CHOICE of one of CTMH's three exclusive Cricut cartridge bundles.


You can choose from

Art Philosophy

Artiste

or the recently-released Artbooking!

Whichever cartridge bundle you choose, you will not be disappointed!!  All bundles come with the Cricut cartridge, 3 exclusive coordinating stamp sets, and 3 coordinating sheets of chipboard shapes.

Contact me today to join my team and the CTMH family!

New Adventure with Close to my Heart

• 
  
• Hello!
  

  It’s no secret that I am a crafter – mainly a scrapbooker. So for many of you, it will come as no surprise to learn, I recently signed on to be an independent consultant with a company called Close to My Heart, a leading scrapbooking and stamping company. I’ve been a CTMH customer for years now and decided it was finally time share my CTMH love with others. CTMH offers something for every level of paper crafter including scrapbookers, card makers, home décor DIYers, and more. If you are Cricut user, you have to check out CTMH’s 3 exclusive Cricut cartridges which coordinate with many of their stamp sets. They are simply the best, most versatile cartridges on the market.

  In addition to offering fun, easy-to-use, classic and trendy products, CTMH features great monthly specials for its customers including a special $5 stamp set. May is National Scrapbooking Month, and CTMH will be offering a special paper packet only available in May.

  I would love the opportunity to share my newest adventure with you personally either one on one or at a home gathering. Also, if you know of someone who might also like to hear more about CTMH, please share my contact information with them, or drop me a note and I will be happy to reach out to them.

  Please visit my personal CTMH website at http://jddesigns.ctmh.com.

  To hear more or schedule a home gathering, contact me today.

  Happy crafting!
  

Custom Necklace Board

I've been wanting somewhere to hang my necklace, but didn't want to invest in a jewelry cabinet that was tall enough to hold the longer ones.  So I decided to make something myself.

Our master bedroom was built with two 1950's-style (i.e. small, single door) closets.  One of the previous owners took the second closet and opened it up to the bathroom so he could have a stackable washer/dryer on the main floor.  However, he never removed/walled off the closet door on the bedroom side -- so we now have this random door to the back of the bathroom closet in our bedroom.  I saw this as the perfect place to hang my new necklace board.

Don't you just LOVE it??  I do!!