Interactive Card Series #2: Center Fold Display Card

The outside front panel has fussy-cut flowers, along
with leaves on the side of the greeting banner.
I really like the waterfall of clear gems in two sizes.

Hi Everyone!  How is your summer going?   
Here in Southeastern Pennsylvania, we are hot and humid -- very typical weather for us in this part of the country for this time of year.  What's unusual is that we have already had our FOURTH official "heat wave" and we're not even done with the first week of July. A heat wave is when the temperatures cross 90 degrees for four or more consecutive days. 

And while my 55+ community (VFP - Villas at Five Ponds) has beautiful pools (indoors and outdoors) and a hot tub/spa, they are rendered unusable when Mother Nature sends her natural fireworks -- thunderstorms -- overhead.  So the best thing to do is stay inside with the central air conditioning, and craft, right?

The inside view of my Center Fold Display Card. There's a sentiment mini-card
on the left inside panel, with room for your greeting and signature.

 I'm getting my mojo back slowly but surely.  It was cramped a bit due to some major spine surgery I had in the beginning of May.  The worst part about recovery is that the nerve endings for my thighs were on fire, making sitting and crafting impossible. Thankfully, that passed after a couple of weeks. The best part about recovery is that I remember very little of the pain in the hospital or the first ten days afterwards, thanks to my surgeon's belief in pain management.  

OK, that's me ... what about you?  Have you been getting to those layouts waiting to be done, or the cards needing to be mailed?  August is my heavy-hitting birthday month. I used to spend a boatload of money in August at the Hallmark Store, but now I try my best to make the cards I need, especially for those "cardworthy" friends and family -- you know, the ones who won't think it's weird or cheap to receive a handmade card.

First up, I unwrapped some brand new Stampin' Up! Designer Paper called "Magnolia Lane" and made this "Center Fold Display Card."  I saw a similar card in this design made by another Stampin' Up consultant, and created my own template for it.  Here it is:

If you are a Cricut user, you may want to access the file I created for this template. The base of the card is 12" long, so you'll have to turn the base lengthwise and cut it using a longer (24") mat, at least for that part. I think the base comes up that way when you go to cut it on your Cricut Explore or Maker.

I know that not all of my readers are Cricut users, or may have other electronic machines. So here are some easy cut instructions with measurements that you should be able to adapt or to create your own cutting files:

Please remember me if you'd like to purchase some "Magnolia Lane" paper from Stampin' Up! The paper truly is beautiful, and at just $11.50 for 12 sheets of double-sided designer paper, that's less than $1.00 per sheet!!    I still haven't figured out how to be sure that the link to the product links to ME as your SU Demonstrator, so when you search for a Demo, please indicate that you'd like product credit to go to ELLEN JARVIS in WARMINSTER, PA.  Here is the link to the paper itself: 

https://www.stampinup.com/ecweb/product/149484/magnolia-lane-designer-series-paper

I'd appreciate your support of my endeavor with Stampin' Up! very much. Those who have known me for a while know the story of how I came to be with Stampin' Up!, and how I am building my business from scratch ...again.

Enjoy your summer!  And watch out for new posts as I try to reinvigorate my blog. It's been a long time coming!!  

Crazy Cat on this Month's Stamp of the Month

Oh my word, how cute is this Stamp of the Month (SOTM) for August from Close To My Heart?                    OK, truth be told, I'm not a cat person (but do have two dogs who think they're cats), and I've outgrown Halloween but still I love this build-a-cat.

And you don't have to relegate it to your "Holidays I Never Celebrate" stash.  Let me show you how I've changed it up:

 

 

 

For this first birthday card, I stamped the crazy cat four times, each on different "Whimsy Fundamentals" cardstock from CTMH's new collection. Then I went to town dressing each up for a party, using my journaling pen and other random embellishments I had hanging around the Paper Jungle. 

 

The guy upper left got a suit of paper, a tie made from CTMH Shimmer Tape, a hand-drawn mustache and glasses, topped with Liquid Glass. The gal below him got a dress made of CTMH's new Sea Glass Glitter Paper, and some twine twisted for her hair. For the gal to the upper right, I used Sparkle gems for her necklace and turned the stamp set's pennants upside down to elongate her ears. Her mask is also stamped on Shimmer Tape. The guy below her has the bat in the stamp set converted to a bow tie, and he earned some freckles thanks to the Journaling Pen.

 

They're set within a picture collage that I designed and cut quickly on my Cricut Explore. I cut it from some of the new Whimsy paper -- isn't it darling?  The sentiment stamp came from CTMH's "Fireworks Fun" stamp set -- it's fun to mix and match! 

 

 

 

This crazy cat decided to party on some older (now retired) Kaleidoscope paper. She's layered onto a piece of acetate that holds back a party full of multi-colored sequins and glitter.  Behind the glitter is a layer of another paper from the Kaleidoscope collection, that has been stamped with the CTMH "Bitty Birthday" M-sized stamp. 

 

At the Crazy Cat's shoulder is a pretty flower that I cut using the brand new Cricut Flower Market cartridge!  The cartridge has beautiful flower designs and other images too -- 700 in all. The collection comes with three D-sized stamp sets from CTMH, and a pack of the new Adventure Fundamentals paper, which includes 7 bright, bold colors including the "Willow" green from which I cut the flower's leaves, and "Lemon" yellow of the flower's stamens.

 

Special for Blog Readers!

 

 

I do have a special for my Blog Readers if you'd like to buy the Flower Market Cartridge this month. Buy the Cartridge and its collection ($99 retail, plus tax and shipping), get the SOTM for just an additional $5, and then I'll reimburse your FedEx Ground shipping ($7.95)!  Just let me know in a comment here that you'll be buying, and I'll look for it, and reimburse your shipping via PayPal or by check, your choice. 

 

 

And now for some results!

 

Over the weekend, I participated in the Disney Pixar Blog Hop (scroll down if you missed my project!), and offered a prize of a free (and now discontinued) package of 12" assortment Flip Flaps to a random commenter.  Random.org chose the #2 comment by "LYN or GARY MEEKER."  Lyn or Gary, please leave a comment here or send me an e-mail with your contact information so I can get this pack out to you!  Congratulations!

 



"Deal of the Decade" Launches in Close To My Heart -- Shop with me to win prizes!

WOW, do I have a Close To My Heart deal for you! Rightfully, our Corporate office is calling it the "Deal of the Decade," and here is why:

During the entire month of December 2014, if you have a qualifying purchase of just $50, you can purchase not ONLY the Stamp of the Month for just $5.00 ($17.95 retail value), but also you can buy any and every C- or D-sized stamp set in the 2014-15 Annual Inspirations catalog for just $10 each. Normally, these are $13.95 and $17.95, respectively -- so that is a 28% and a 44% savings, again, respectively.  

We've never seen such an amazing sale, and it's all the buzz.  

But WAIT, there's more!!!  On Monday, December 1 ONLY (that's right -- Cyber Monday), you can purchase ANY of the CTMH/Cricut Collections at 20% off.  Buy one, or buy all four -- what a perfect Christmas present for the crafter in your family.  The Cyber Deal runs from midnight until 11:59 p.m. (Mountain time -- CTMH is headquartered in Utah) on Monday, December 1.  Hurry, hurry!

...and YES, your purchase of just one Cricut cartridge qualifies you to take advantage of the stamp deal's "Deal of the Decade".

Okay, so I wanted to show you which stamp sets are C- and D-level in this year's CTMH Annual Inspiration catalog, so you can print this out and decide which ones should be on your must-have list. 

Below are pictures of the 68 qualifying stamp sets, and following I will place a list. The stamp sets are shown in the order of the list (below), if you read left to right, and top to bottom.  The list has the stamp set number, its name, and the page number on which  you will find the stamp set in the catalog.

I would sincerely appreciate your shopping through my Close To My Heart Online Business Office. 

My address is http://cardmonkey.ctmh.com.  
Once there, join the "Deal of the Decade" party by clicking that box.  Those who JOIN this party and place a $50+ order and purchase even just one stamp set on the "Deal of the Decade" will be entered into a raffle drawing to win a gift basket of all sorts of CTMH goodies that I have assembled. 

And for each $10 stamp set you buy on the "D.o.t.D", you'll get an extra entry...

Unable to purchase this month but still want a chance to win the gift basket?  

Leave a comment below and you'll automatically get one entry.  Simple. Easy peasy.  

And know I truly do appreciate your reading my blog, and hope that when the time is right for you, you'll shop for Close To My Heart products with me. If I can inspire you, or would like to show you how to make a particular project, let me show you how.  

The grand prize drawing will take place on January 1, so watch throughout the month as the grand prize swells!  And who knows, maybe I'll even have more than one prize and winner?!  Stay tuned ... 

So here are the stamp sets you'll want to pick from:

The following stamp sets are eligible for the December Constant Campaign:
C1504	Fall Harvest	55
C1506	Flakey Friends	81
C1509	Magic Potions	42
C1522	Creepy Creatures	43
C1533	Fabulous You	107
C1537	Honeycomb	128
C1556	Paisley Perfect	133
C1557	Polar Bear Holiday	80
C1558	Wild Wonders	94
C1559	Always Grateful	54
C1561	One-Way Borders	119
C1562	Mary and Babe	72
C1567	Santa Claus	71
C1570	Lifting Spirits	117
C1576	Pick a Posey	106
C1578	Camper Crazy	116
C1580	Big Top	92
C1584	Feathers	121
C1588	Great Job	30
C1589	Lifetime of Happiness	52
C1590	Delightful Ditty	34
C1591	Merry, Merry	68
C1592	World Traveler	115
C1594	Treasured Friendship	126
C1595	Hello Summer	129
C1597	Rainy Day	104
C1598	Noel	65
C1599	Pretty Petals	130
C1600	Happy Birds	57
C1601	Nursery Charms	95
C1602	Magical Moment	154
D1469	Polka Dot Alphabet	137
D1507	Urban Alphabet	137
D1522	Glamour Lowercase	135
D1537	Glamour Uppercase	135
D1539	The Happy Couple	108
D1540	In the Background	132
D1541	Fast and Furious	120
D1542	For a Friend	58
D1543	Country-Born	59
D1544	Distressed Backgrounds	45
D1550	Happy Autumn	56
D1552	Magical Days	70
D1553	Yuletide Greetings	66
D1554	Christmas Village	67
D1555	All the Details	33
D1556	School Years	32
D1559	Geometric Backgrounds	44
D1560	Holiday Tags	90
D1578	Flight of the Arrows	35
D1584	Big Hug	96
D1599	Geek is Chic	31
D1600	Here We Go	114
D1602	A Budding Friendship	102
D1603	Shreddin' the Slopes	77
D1604	Season of Thanks	51
D1605	Halloween Greetings	40
D1607	Bodacious Banners	93
D1609	Seaside Greetings	127
D1610	Christmas Post	64
D1611	Frosty Fun	83
D1612	Teacher Appreciation	37
D1613	Best Christmas	78
D1614	Reason for the Season	73
D1616	Have a Happy Day	118
D1617	Make It Merry	69
D1618	Build-a-Cake	88
D1627	Your Own Kind of Wonderful	105

THANK YOU again for your support throughout the year. 

DeFiaNtLy DiFfeReNt & CreAtiVeLy Yours,

TBB Friday: Big Girl bling!

Welcome back to another TBB Friday, short for "The Buckle Boutique," a fabulous online store where you can purchase all sorts of bling to make your projects sing!

Over at the home of my sweet granddaughter, Charlotte, things are really popping!  My daughter Emily is now 34 weeks pregnant -- it's hard to believe how time has flown.  Here Emily is four weeks ago, looking obviously expecting. And here is one of Baby Evan's first baby pictures. Can't make it out?  It's the face! 

Well, Emily and Josh have moved Charlotte out of her "baby room" and into a "big girl bedroom," and are changing out the name and dots on the baby's wall.  I cut the baby's name using my Silhouette Cameo and vinyl from Expression Vinyl.



 
Gii treated Charlotte to a pretty new comforter for her big Queen-sized (make that PRINCESS sized!) bed in her new room.  The "Swirly Paisley" bedding is from Pottery Barn Teen. We all love how girly it is, but at the same time, how adaptable it will be to Charlotte as she grows through the years.

When Emily frst showed me the carpet, I remarked how very similar the pattern and colors are to Close To My Heart's (now retired) "Chantilly" paper line.  I offered to make a banner for Charlotte's room, to dress it up a bit. 

Not only did I use the retired paper from Close To My Heart, but I also used retired pennants in two sizes. But the piece-de-resistance, I think, is how I added blinged letters cut from The Buckle Boutiques' fabulous rhinestone sticker sheets.  This is how it turned out:

And here is a close up of the cut letter. The TBB rhinestone sticker sheets cut like butter in your Cricut machine!

 

Well, stop by again next week for some more nifty TBB projects!

The Buckle Boutique’s Link Listing

The Buckle Boutique’s Website . . . click HERE
The Buckle Boutique Blog . . . . click HERE
Facebook Page . . . click HERE
Twitter Page . . . click HERE
Pinterest Page . . . click HERE

 


DeFiaNtLy DiFfeReNt & CreAtiVeLy Yours,

You've got to BELIEVE in Bling -- The Buckle Boutique's Winter Bling Party, November 27

Welcome to The Buckle Boutique Winter Bling Party!

Today the Buckle Boutique Design Team will be sharing projects we have created using products available from The Buckle Boutique for your winter holiday crafting.Get ready to enjoy some projects with rhinestones, sparkle and bling!

Today I'll show you one of the many holiday projects I've been making using the fantastic Dazzling Diamonds adhesive rhinestone resin sheets.  In fact, I'll show you more fantastic blinged projects throughout December, so you can make your Christmas the most fantastically blinged-out holiday ever. 

After all, "Bling is the new black," I am told ... and ... 

You've GOT to BELIEVE!

Imagine this framed ... I just haven't gotten there yet ... and hanging in your home. SWEET, huh?  

Or, do you like it better in silver with red letters?  

I made BOTH projects in less than a half-hour, using The Buckle Boutique's cuttable adhesive rhinestone resin sheets. 

To make this, adhere your Dazzling Diamonds sheet bling-side DOWN onto a sticky Cricut mat (the stickier, the better). To make sure the sheet doesn't shift, I added some painter's tape to the corners and sides to hold the sheet firmly onto the mat. 

Next, load your Cricut with the ProvoCraft/Close To My Heart exclusive "Artbooking" cartridge, where you'll find the word "Believe" as you see it here.  I cut the image at 8.5", using the Deep Cut Blade set at 6 on the blade/5 on the machine, speed 3, multi-cut 2. I cut the image once from the clear Dazzling Diamonds, and repeated the cutting by cutting it from the red Dazzling Diamonds. Make sure when you're "weeding" or removing the cut from the mats that you save all of the little pieces inside the letters "e", "l" and "B".  

If you are adhering this onto a surface other than paper, peel back the adhesive backing of the Dazzling Diamond a little at a time, first affixing the background color to whatever you are applying the image. While the product does not stretch naturally, you can yank it out of position by over-tugging, so be gentle and slow. Keep the rhinestone sheet smooth and lines straight as you peel back and apply the sheet. Not quite right? You can reposition it a bit -- but again, first time is the charm.

Once your background is in place, remove the backing from the word "Believe" one letter at a time, and glide the word into place. Just peel back the removable backing as you're affixing it to your image and it will fit perfectly. Then insert the insides of the letters in the contrasting color, and voila, you're done! Easy-peasy!!

Now because I want to frame this for hanging, I wanted to adhere my sheets onto thick cardstock. With the clear DD rhinestone sheets, I wasn't as careful and the sheet really did stick pretty firmly to the paper. Repositioning wasn't easy -- so I recommend LEAVING ON the adhesive backing and instead, using a two-way tape (like Sookwang or Scor-Pal) to affix the image. I did this with the red image, and it was easier and neater for my purposes. 

Which one do you like better?

WINTER BLING BLOG HOP SPECIAL!!  If you would like to make this project yourself and need the ARTBOOKING cartridge to do so, I will give a $15 rebate to the first FIVE people who order the cartridge from my Close To My Heart business page by clicking HERE. Once you have ordered it, please leave me a comment, or contact me at cardmonkey@comcast.net, for your rebate check or PayPal deposit. This rebate is from CardMonkey personally, not through Close To My Heart, and is only good for Artbooking cartridges purchased through my website. 

BUT WAIT! Before you go, I have one more great deal to tell you about.  The Buckle Boutique is offering a GREAT PRE-HOLIDAY DEAL for YOU at their online store!!

The Buckle Boutique is offering

15% off your total order

when you use coupon code 

happyholiday15

This offer is good from 

Wednesday November 27th 

through Monday December 2nd

Fine print: Discount cannot be combined with any other offer, is limited to in stock merchandise only and is not applicable on custom or previous orders.

So make sure to head over to The Buckle Boutique and stock up on your favorite products right away!

Now, let me move you on down the road to see the rest of the fantastic things that the Buckle Boutique Design Team has made for you ... head on over to my friend, Lori's fantastic project at "Scrappin' My Stress Away." 

Here is the full hop list of the Buckle Boutique's great Design Team, in case you get lost:

The Buckle Boutique

Shawn

Ellen

Lori

Stephanie

Niki

For more info, see The Buckle Boutique's
Website // Blog // Facebook Page // Twitter // Pinterest

DeFiaNtLy DiFfeReNt & CreAtiVeLy Yours,