Go Fish Design Team Call!

Hello Everyone!


Some of you may remember that I had my own small acrylic stamp company. As a part of that venture I created a challenge blog (Go Fish Challenges!) with the help of an awesome design team. Now my stamp company is gone but the challenge blog lives on and is growing more every day. The team, led by my awesome Blog Coordinator and friend Kate, are looking for some help. We need to find some talented crafters out there interested in sharing their talent with others. If you think you might be interested please visit the Go Fish Challenge Blog and see all the details and submit your project. I look forward to seeing all the amazing projects...good luck!


As always, happy crafting!

Go Fish Challenge #17

Hi Everyone,

Today is my own personal entry in the Go Fish Challenge #17. I hope you enjoy it and try your hand at the challenge too!

My project is a layout of a family dinner at a local Italian restaurant. I used my new Florentine paper and my Family Love stamp set. The "Typical Family Photo" comes from that stamp set.

Here is a close up of my Posterboard alphabet stamp set. I used the accent stamp from Family Love in the middle of the letters to add some pizzazz. I made them stand out with some copper brads.

Here is a closer look at some cute Antique Copper Designer Brads.

I hope you enjoyed the layout today. Happy scrapping!!!

Birthday Cards

Today's post features two birthday cards that are pretty gender-neutral. They show off some old patterned paper from CTMH and a new stamp set and embellishments available in the latest CTMH catalog.

This first card uses the Card Chatter - Birthday stamp set from CTMH. This set is very versatile.

You will also see my cute little wooden button - these buttons are perfect for masculine cards! I used my chocolate waxy flax to thread the button.

The last card uses more waxy flax, another sentiment from the birthday stamp set and some antiqued copper brads. Both cards are clean and simple - just the way I like 'em.


I hope you enjoyed today's projects. If you are interested in purchasing these or other fun  products from CTMH please click on the cute shopping cart below.

Footloose Beach Fun Layout

I'm back with another fun 2 page layout. This time the subject is a beach trip from 1999...a flash from the past. I am using my Footloose Workshop on the Go and the designs courtesy of the kit to create a great layout. I even learned a new technique on this one.

Here is a close up of the first page...sorry for the bit of glare.

Here is a close up of the adorable turtle stamp that come with the Workshop Bundle - can't get this stamp set separately so if you like the stamps you see consider investing in the Footloose WOTG (alphabet stamp set not included).

Here is the companion page 2...you will notice a large whole above the word "FUN" where I plan to add my journaling.

Here is a closeup of the Wooden Badge Buttons. I used another stamp from the exclusive set in the WOTG kit and stamped directly onto the button and then distressed the edges with coordinating inks. You can also get a nice look at the new technique I learned...check out the way the word "FUN" is colored. It has two layers of color. If you think that is cool look for 3 color layers in the starfish stamp! In case you are interested, the title is stamped using the Headline Alphabet from CTMH.

Here is the last closeup of this 2 page layout. You can see I stamped another image from the set onto a different wooden button. I used 2 color layers on the little fishy. The starfish has 3 color layers! Check out directions for this technique below.

Technique Notes...


Okay, what you do is select the stamped image you want to work with and pull together the colors that you think will coordinate well. Separate you colors light to dark. Choose the lightest color first and ink up your entire image in that color (don't stamp it on the paper yet because you need to add more colors). Now, using daubers or sponges add the other layers of color directly on the inked up stamp. Remember to work from light to dark. Once all your colors are added go ahead and stamp the image on your piece of paper. The first time I did this I jumped up and did a "fist pump" in the air and yelled "YES!". I am telling you, this is my new favorite technique and it works so well with this paper and stamp set. 


Here is another look at just two colors in the title  "Beach" (Creme Brulee and Sorbet - Close to My Heart) and then 3 colors on the turtle (Creme Brulee, Lagoon, and New England Ivy (who knew that you could work the color of ivy into beach-themed paper?). Try this technique and I promise it will become one of your favorites...stock up on the some sponge daubers though (I have one for every color group - reds, blues, yellows, etc.).

Now I have promoted the heck out of this Workshop on the Go kit but you can also just buy this fantastic Footloose paper pack and use your own fun beachy stamp set or buy a different one that CTMH has to offer. If you want to just peruse the CTMH for other ideas or buy something else that has struck your fancy just click on the cute little shopping cart below. 

Have a wonderful week everyone!

Go Fish Challenge #16

Hello Everyone,

Today's post is all about the Challenge going on at Go Fish! Challenge #16 is a photo inspiration challenge celebrating Mother's Day. Head over to the blog and join in the fun.

If you are interested in checking out the Close to My Heart monthly specials go HERE.