For Sale - My Acrylix Stamps

I have the following stamp sets for sale. 
I have indicated if the stamps are new (N) or if they are previously loved (U)

A1116 - A Melody (N) $5.00

B1395 - So Grateful (N) $7.00
B1360 - Trouble Maker (N) $7.00
B1394 - John 3:16 (N) $7.00

C1471 - Happy Clusters (N) $10.00
C1421 - The Boo Crew (N) $10.00
C1462 - All Hallows Eve (N) $10.00

WOTG - Believe (N) $12.00
D1456 - Chairs to You (N) $12.00
D1330 - Connections (U) $5.00
D1341 - Butterfly Wings (1 stamp used) - $10.00
D1351 - You've Got Flair (1 stamp used) $10.00
D1377 - Around the Blood (U) $5.00
D1206 - Endless Love (N) - $10.00

* Prices include shipping in Canada.  

Please email me for your selection, if you would like a photo or to discuss payment.

Thanks,

Jennifer

All About Inks!!!

Are you confused about inks? Water, solvent, distress, pigment, dye - what does it all mean? I've had a few questions so I went back to school with Close to My Heart. The following is only the basics and by no means provides a complete listing of all the ink products available.

There are two basic components to ink - the "colourant" and the "carrier". The colourant makes the paper change colours and the carrier is the liquid that carries the colourant from your tool to the page and then evaporates leaving the colour behind. Colourants can be dyes or pigments and carriers can be water or solvent.

So - lets start with the colourant:

Dye based ink soaks into the surface it is applied to and bonds wiuth the medium to change colour. They dry faster, because they soak in to the paper. They are of a thinner consistency which makes them great for detail and provide a crisp image when stamping an image on matte paper. Ink pads for dye based inks are made of felt.

Pigment based ink are slower drying because they sit on top of the surface. They provide the colour and do not change the paper colour making them great for stamping light images on dark paper - they stand out. Pigment inks are thick - they provide a vibrant colour, and hold embossing powder well. Pigment inks can be dried faster with a craft heater. If your project is going to be exposed to direct sunlight for long period of time use pigment inks. Pigment ink pads are a sponge or foam based pad. Pigment inks because they are thicker do not provide as crisp an image when stamping.

Distressing Ink is a hybrid with both pigment and dye based inks. They are not permanent until heat set. Distress ink provides a chalky opaque look and are achival/fade resistant once heating. They are great for antiquing and distressing all types of projects.

Okay, so now that you've got the basics of the "colourant", lets talk about the "carrier":

Water Based Inks have no odour. The water will evaporate slowly which makes them a great choice when stamping on matte paper. Water based inks can be blended with water. They do not completely dry on non-porus surfaces.

Solvent Based Inks have a rubbing alcohol type scent. They are great to use on non-porus surfaces, such as acrylic, or metal. The solvent evaporates faster than water. Solvent based inks are great to stamp an image outline and then use water based inks to colour inside the image. Solvent based inks are permanent.

Staz-On is a dye ink with a solvent carrier - it will dry quickly on non-porus surfaces. It is archival and fade resistant. It is prone to dry out quickly and is not good to stamp on fabric.

VersaMark is a clear pigment based ink that leaves a watermark image. It drys slowly so is perfect for heat embossing or chalk popping.

Close to My Heart inks (except White Daisy & Colonial White) are dye based water inks on a felt pad. This provides for even coverage when stamping with crisp images. They are great for everyday use on matte paper and as they are water based they can be blended with a waterbrush and provide easy clean-up. White Daisy and Colonial White inks are pigment water based. This allows coverage over darker coloured cardstock. Because they are pigment based the ink pad is foam so images are not as crisp. Pigment inks settle so any re-inker should be shook well before use.

Alcohol markers are the newest addition to the CTMH family. Alcohol markers are great for colouring because you can blend and build the colour up. They will have a rubbing alcohol type odour.

I hope this helps everyone understand the chemistry of inks and gives you some insight into choosing the right ink for your projects.

When I Grow Up... with Scholastic

When I grow up.... I want to be?  When my boys were little I heard things like a hockey player, an engineer, a baseball player, a soldier... What fun it was this week to look back at pictures of my two boys when they were still deciding what they wanted to be when they grew up.  

 Of course one of the other fun things was first day of school pictures.  A time honoured tradition when I was little.  My mom would line all 6 of us up and not only would we get a group shot, but each of us would have our individual picture taken of the first day of school.  

We'd all pose with our new shoes, first day new outfit and of course books and pencils that were crisp and clean.

The left side of this layout - Matt & David were so little - I can't remember the grades they were entering but they are now 28 and 25!!  They always got new ball caps to head back to school and we always took advantage of their babysitter's lovely gardens. 

I stamped the pencils and report card from a retired stamp set called School Rules stamped in the fabulous new colour of Saddle. 




The right side page uses images from the stamp set School Rocks #B1396, and again stamped with Saddle.  The school house, and bus were popped up with foam tape.

The letters are from Canvas Alphabet which I just love.  Topped off with a few durable round studs for a bit of manly bling.





Scholastic paper package doesn't have to be for just back to school.  I have some photos from the Book Depository - 6th Floor Museum, Dallas, TX from my trip this summer which will fit perfectly with scholastic paper. 

This 2 page layout will be the September scrapbook workshop page for my ladies, and I'm anxious to see how they will each put their own spin on Scholastic. 

Hope you enjoyed, and happy crafting,

Jennifer
   
    

 

Fun Cards!!!

Sometimes you just want to create some fun cards!!!  I love each one of these little guys and always have fun when I colour.  

The first card was stamped with a great little stamp set called "Just for You"  I love this beautiful flower - cut with my Art Philosphy cricut cartridge, stamped and highlighted with a pewter brad.  The paper is from Stella and the sentiment is from the stamp set "A Little Thanks."  Complimenting colours are Olive and Chocolate - simple but effective. 

The second card is featuring the retired paper package Cruisin' and the exclusive stamp set that came with the WOTG.  This card was inspired by a fellow consultant and I just love how my car is popped off the page and rarin' to go!!!  I rode in one of these cars in Cuba and they look good, but man they didn't have great springs!!!

 I was in a stamped image swap with a number of other ladies and these two images were ones I received.  I love these little girls and couldn't wait to pull out my Copics and colour away.

I ran the background paper through my cuttlebug to emboss the Happy Birthday sayings.  The little girl is mounted on the grey Decor journalling spot and of course every little girl needs some bling - so I added a shimmer brad and some organdy ribbon.  Cute right? 

  I pulled out some old bling from CTMH that has long since retired but was in my stash of goodies to add the pink and green bling down the right side.  I bet some of my fellow consultants may also have this mini-medley in their stash!!
The topiary cardstock mat was edge distressed for a little extra something.  I used the Lucy patterned paper and punched an eyelet border and then mounted on blush cardstock.










I hope you like what I created and maybe I inspired some of you.

Happy creating,

Jennifer
  

Avonlea Card Workshop on the Go

Avonlea paper package is beautiful, featuring 3 exclusive to the kit colours of Avonlea Off White, Avonlea Teal, and Avonlea Green.  These colours are complimented by Slate, Chocolate and Smokey Plum.   

For September's group, we will be doing the Avonlea Cardmaking WOTG, a great value at $29.95.  Included in the kit is 15 Colonial White cards and envelopes, 2 Avonlea B & T papers, 4 cardstock sheets (slate, smokey plum, chocolate and avonlea off-white), Slate epoxy bubbles, 5 yards grey organdy ribbon, instructional brochure and an exclusive to the kit C-size stamp set.

  These are my 15 cards - the instructions are so easy to follow with great colour photos and step by step cutting guide, stamping and assembly instructions. 

When I was finished with my 15 cards, I still had lots of cardstock, B & T paper, expoxy bubbles, and ribbon left.  So, with that in mind, I wanted to see what else I could create.

These are the additional 5 cards I created with no additional supplies, other than what had come in the kit!!!

For the designs, I used the new Make it From Your Heart - Volume 1 (page 11 of the Idea Book $7.95), inspiration from the Idea Book and a wee bit of my own creativity. 

I like how they all turned out. 



I never like to throw away any small scrap, but truly when I was finished there were only scraps of paper left.  I still have a few epoxy bubbles and quite a bit of the ribbon left.  I'll be able to use that in other scrapbooking projects!!

Enjoy and happy creating.

Jennifer  

 

September 2012: National Stamping Month

Isn't this an absolutely fabulous stamp set?  I know I love mine and have been busy creating cards to show you.  This is an incredible value - 2 D size stamp sets for only $5.00 with a $35.00 order from the Autumn/Winter 2012 Idea Book. 

Enjoy the video and happy crafting,

Jennifer

A Sonoma Birthday Album

You may remember a birthday invitation I posted a few months ago which I created for my mom's 80th birthday celebration.  Well, I finally finished the pages from her celebration.  We had such a wonderful day together.  I absolutely love spending time with my brothers and sisters, my nieces and nephews and their sweet children, and had such fun catching up with cousins who we have not spent enough time with. 

I love the paper package Sonoma, which has retired.  I used every single piece of a number of paper packages for the invites and mom's album.  Although I'm sad to see it go, I'm happy to see new paper packages arrive in the Autumn/Winter 2012 Idea Book. 

 



 
I carried over from the invite the Sonoma flowers which were second generation stamped with Smokey Plum ink and made a smaller quilt block than on the invite.  Embellishments are from the Bohemian Assortment and the new Antiqued Gold mini medley along with some opaque adhesive gems from the brown assortment.



 Did you notice the two pages so the flip flaps could be used?  These are the 4 X 12 and 8 X 12 sizes.
This is What Matters Most - what truer words could ever be said.  Family, friends and faith, all together to celebrate.  This page shows the flip flaps open. 












Okay - I must confess  - - I did not make this page - nope not at all.  I did purchase this layout at Convention 2011 Disneyland, California.  The proceeds from my purchase went to Operation Smile a charity that CTMH supports.  I love this layout and was waiting for the most special pictures to use. 

 Yummy cake - my mom is a seamstress and quilter so her cake had to highlight her hobby.  My nephew's girlfriend is a pastry chef and she outdid herself with this custom designed cake.  Everything, even the wee fabric strips were edibile.  There were buttons, pins, scissors, fabric, it was incredible. 

 

More flip flaps so I could make sure to get in all the photos.  On the left side page at the bottom I have a poem I read to my mom that I still have to put on.  The poem is below.





Flip flaps open.  This is such a fantastic way to get lots of photos on your pages.  I used some of the Chocolate Velvet rub ons.  They are wonderful to use. 

This was a really simple page just letting the pictures and caption say it all.  Key Time Together.  I used some retired kraft borders inked chocolate.  I'm sad to see these retired but I still have a few in my stash!!!






Last page - I love the zip strips which are great for borders with an impact.  I again used the Bohemian Assortment and Heirloom Assortment to add the cluster of embellishments.




I hope you enjoyed these pages as much as I enjoyed making them.  I'm slowly catching up on some scrapbooking I have wanted to get at for a while.  I'm excited to receive my order of new goodies and I am anxiously watching my Purolator tracking slip.

Dear Lord, I am 80 and there’s much I haven’t done.  I hope dear Lord, you’ll let me live until I’m 81.

But, if I haven’t finished all I want to do, would you please let me stay awhile, until I’m 82?

So many places I want to go, so much I want to see, do you think you couild manage to make it 83?

Many things I may have done, but there’s so much let in store, I’d like it very much to live to 84.

And if by then I’m still alive, then I’d like to stay to 85.

The world is changing very fast, so I’d really like to stick around and see what happens to the world when I’m 86.

I know, dear Lord, it’s a lot to ask, and it will be nice in heaven, but I’d really like to stay around until I’m 87.

I know by then I won’t be fast, and sometimes I’ll be late, but it would be o-so-pleasant to be around at 88.

I will have seen so many things and had a wonderful time, so I’m sure that I’ll be willing to leave at 89.

(Well maybe.)

Happy crafting.

Jennifer

        

Project Inspiration 2012 Autumn/Winter Idea Book: Home Decor

Aren't these great projects.  I had the chance to see a number of the Advent Calendars made up at Convention.  Not everyone followed the "traditional" use - some were for children's barrette's, buttons in a sewing room, trinkets from your little ones.  Lots of great uses. 

The Scroll Album is simply stunning.  A great way to display your photos other than in the "traditional" photo album.  The scroll is a heavy wooden dowel and would look great with any decor.

How about getting these items for free!!!  Ask me how.

Until then, happy crafting,

Jennifer

IT'S HERE - IT'S TIME

This is always an exciting time at CTMH - the launch of a new Idea Book.  The Autumn/Winter 2012 CTMH Idea Book does not disappoint.

For starters - 6 new colours have been added to the pallette, 8 new paper packages with patterns and colours to delight everyone.  Great Workshops on the Go for scrapbookers, card makers and home decor - as well as a great Halloween party planner.

Want to know the best thing.....

Introducting - ARTISTE -- a new Cricuti cartridge, exclusive to CTMH.  This cartridge is da bomb with 700  images - many of them 3D to make your projects pop. 

For only $99.00 you will receive the cartridge, three exclusive stamp sets, and 3 dimensional elements chipboard shapes.

The cute mini album posted earlier was made with the Dimensional Elements - Album Pages and images cut with the Artiste collection.

You could earn this cartridge half price - want to know how.....


Host a Home Gathering  - - With sales of only $250.00 you will receive $40.00 in free products and any one item in the Idea Book at 50% off!!!  What could be better than that.

I'm excited to share with you all the new products available from the Autumn/Winter 2012 Idea Book . 

I will be posting my class schedule in the coming weeks along with artwork - stay tuned!!

Until then, happy crafting


Jennifer