Random Ramblings of a Scramping Addict

Summer 2010 Idea Book Sneak Peak Blog Hop

Welcome to our Close To My Heart New Product Blog Hop!  Over 40 Fabulous Close To My Heart consultants are celebrating the upcoming release of the Summer 2010 Idea Book by giving you a sneak peak of some of the great products available in the new Idea Book which goes live May 1st!

If you have come here from Emma Hubert's blog you are on the right path!  You can also find a complete list of participants here.  To participate in the blog hop is simple.  To see the next sneak peak, you need simply follow the link at the end of this post to move on to the next one and so on.

Are you ready to be inspired?  Here we go!

This cute gift card holder was made with the new (X7126B) Passages Level 2 paper pack and the coordinating stamp set (C1408) Live Inspired.  This is my absolute favorite new stamp set released for Summer 2010 and the paper is so earthy that it was a must-have for me.  The patterns and colors in this collection have a masculine appeal, and would work great for showcasing travel photos (especially European I think) or heritage photos.

On the front of the card I used the Chalk popping technique as described on page 21 of the Summer Idea Book.  The technique is super simple and gives your finished piece a unique look.  To chalk pop you need simply.

1. Ink your stamp with Versamark Ink
2. Stamp the image onto the paper and,
3. Brush chalk with the applicator over the Versamark ink.

The chalk 'sticks' to the Versamark.  It's that easy!

While I used the technique with dark chalk on dark paper, you get some really great effects using a dark ink on a light paper too!  Due to the nature of the medium, some of the chalk will automatically stick to the background paper almost 'clouding your image', but the areas that are stamped with Versamark will stick more - making your image 'pop' off the page.  You can even use more than one colour of chalk to make a multi-colored image.  Click here to view a card in my gallery that employs this technique.

Here are some alternate views of my gift enclosure card - first the back which is the card opening, held shut with an arrow shaped photo turn.  And next the inside which is only modestly decorated and holds the gift card.  I designed this card with a graduation in mind, but the cover sentiment could easily be used to celebrate a promotion, a new job, or quite simply 'just because'.

   

Artwork Recipe

Card Stock: (1245) Olive, (X5637) Barn Red, (X5642) Cocoa (Barn Red & Cocoa are included in the Passages Paper pack - I just added the Olive)
Patterened Paper (B&T Duos): (X7126B) Passages My Reflections Paper pack 
Ink: (Z891) Versamark, (Z2114) Cocoa
Stamp Set: (C1408) Live Inspired, (D1187) For Every Occasion
Other:  (Z904) Autumn Soft Chalks, (Z668) Gold Embossing Powder, (Z555) Craft Heater, (Z1275) Mini-Medley Accents Antiqued Copped Collection
Finished Size: 4.25" x 3"

Now, hop on over to Amanda's Blog to see what she created with the new Summer 2010 products!  Be sure to visit all the consultants participating in the hop to get some great crafting ideas and inspiration - and of course get a sneak peak at more new paper packs and My Acrylix stamp sets at the same time!

Remember, the Summer Idea Book goes live on May 1st, and that's just 3 days away! Contact me to find out how to get your copy today.

**Link to working? Missed a Blog? Click here to find a complete list of the Summer 2010 New Product Sneak Peak Bog Hop participants.

Thanks Coach! Gift Card Holder

As Hockey season came to an end with the official team party yesterday, I volunteered to make gift card holders to present to the coaches on behalf of the parents and kids.  We purchased some restaurant gift cards so that they could enjoy some time with their families after having given us a great deal of their time throughout the season.  This is what I came up with.  The team is the "Bruins" - so the Black/Yellow combo came easily.  While I used it for a thank-you, this particular card could easily be a adapted to a Birthday or other Best Wishes card for the hockey buff on your greeting card list!

The card is held closed by the removable band.

And here is a picture of the inside.

While the card is small (only 3" x 4.25") there is enough room on the inside panels to house a personalized message and signatures - and I just love how the card fits neatly inside.

The focal image I used is from the retired CTMH Power Play stamp set, one of my personal faves! Hockey is a huge part of our lives, and unfortunately in my experience hockey stamps and scrapbooking supplies are truly hard to come.  I'm not sure why that is, but it's true.  Baseball tends to be everywhere, but ice hockey, not so much.  If you do need to add some hockey stamps to your collection though, you might check out In the Game - Hockey which is currently available from Close To My Heart.  It has some cute images, and some really great hockey phrases that would come in handy for sure.

Artwork Recipe
Card Stock: (1386) Black, (X5681) Textured Cardstock Combo - Sunkiss Yellow, (1273) Bamboo, (1225) Sunny Yellow
Patterened Paper (B&T Duos): stars from (X7097B) Game On My Reflections Paper pack 
Ink: (44751) Archival Black Exclusive Inks Stamp Pad
Stamp Set: (D1233 - retired) Power Play, (D1361) Thank You
Other:  Embossed Zig Zag Punch - Martha Stewart
Finished Size: 4.25" x 3"

This style of card takes very little supplies, and yet feels really substantial once it's all together.  I was super pleased with the end result.  I am in the process of putting together a photo tutorial, so check back (hopefully Wednesday) to find out exactly how this came together.

More You Rock!

I've been absent from the blogosphere for a bit, so thought I would post a quick share.

This is yet another creation from the CTMH You Rock Collection!  This is definately one of my favourites from the Spring 2010 Idea Book and the sentiment is a Glitter Rub-On.  How fun is that?  Enjoy!

Maculine Birthdays

I think I've said this before, but for me one of the most challenging creative situations is creating masculine cards. There are so many beautiful papers and embellies that are ultra feminine - but for men I find the pickings rather slim. This weekend I had 2 boy cards to make (lucky me!) - one for my nephew who just turned 15, and the other for my step-dad. You would think that just having created a few man cards for Father's Day that I would have had my mojo on, but nope. Creating the man cards was as challenging for me this weekend as it ever has been. Here's the first one I managed to come up with: This was one of those cards that turned out nothing like I had intended it to. When I started out, I was looking to base my design on a card I saw recently in Stamper's Sampler (pg 110, Cherish the Moment by Ronnita Carridine, Apr/May/June 2009 issue - Ronnita doesn't seem to have a blog I can link out to, but she deserves a big shout out anyway!). I absolutley loved the muted background stamping that Ronnita had done and her card was finished simply with two pieces of coordinating ribbon placed near the bottom of the card and a stamped sentiment. Well, aside from the muted background stamping and the fact that I left significant 'white space' at the top of the card, this card evolved into something completely different. I stuck to using mostly cardstock with the exception of the one blue patterned strip. The Outdoor Denim twill tape and the buttons were my answer to adding some texture and dimension and the sentiment is from the soon to be released "It's Your Day" stamp set by Close To My Heart. (The set will be available in August 2009 as the Stamp of the Month). The background stamp I chose was from the set Legendary Moments (also CTMH) and while it's tricky to see in the picture, the background image was stamped a few times with Bamboo ink on Bamboo paper, but some of the images are stamped in 'second generation' so they are much lighter. I thought that this also added a little bit of depth to an otherwise very basic background. The second card that I managed to crank out was for my nephew and I again used the "It's Your Day" stamp set which I'm actually starting to really really like. When I first saw it I wasn't totally convinced that I would use it, but I can see the sentiments especially becoming a quick favourite. It's funny how that happens. Again I stuck with mostly cardstock, adding only that one small piece of patterned paper beneath the sentiment. The background is embossed with the 'Swirls' Cuttlebug folder and the little list up near the top right is adhered with pop dots. The cake itself turned out pretty cute I think. Each layer is a seperate stamp so CTMH has made it easy to make the cake multi-colored. I also really like the fact that the cake is kind of funky too and definately not formal. Very fitting for a 15 year old boy. The color combo (Outdoor Denim, Olive, Heavenly Blue, Bamboo and Sorbet) was another one of those accidental discoveries. It just so happened that the Sorbet ink was sitting on my desk and so I used it. I think that it gave the card just the right pump of bright colour that it needed. I think that without it, the whole thing might have looked rather drab. Tomorrow I'll post the girlie card I got to make this weekend as well. It was reallly fun to pull together. It took me a while and again, it was one of the creations that evolved away from what I had originally envisioned, but all in all it turned out pretty cute. So until tomorrow.

Just a Quick Update

Happy Monday Everyone! I just wanted to pop in this morning and share one of the other Father's Day cards that I did indeed manage to create in time for the occasion. I took the no frills approach on this one and based my design on this card on Kathi's Corner, which in turn was inspired by this card on the Cards Blog. Now because I was going for something masculine - as you can see my card looks significantly different than either of those two, but I sure you'll agree that the basic structure is the same.

Sorry that the pic isn't the best --- I am in search of some instructions for improving my art photography.

Father's Day

So I'm a little late (as usual) getting crafty for Sunday's celebrations, but I thought I'd share what is the first of four cards that need to be made.

I have to admit that this did NOT start out any way that it ended up and I think that's part of the reason it took so long. When I initially sat down to create, I intended to use a more traditional masculine stamp set -- but this set (Alfresco by CTMH) was nearby and was calling my name. I have probably owned this set for more than 6 months, and it had never seen ink believe it or not, until now!

I was a little hesitant to use it at first since the centre of the medallion was a small flower and not very masucline, but I decided quickly that covering it was my answer - so I used a small blue nail head. When I inserted it it slipped a bit and so the edges of the flower are still visible on the one side, but it wasn't a big enough boo-boo to warrant doing it again so I left it.

I hope that I you'll agree that it looks masucline enough for Father's Day. I'm still not 100% convinced, but it will have to do. I find it really tricky some times to make cards for men.

Here's the full view.

Now I just need to get busy making the rest of them. Wish me luck.