Seaside

Does this make you dream of the beach, or spending time at the lake?  I for one can't wait for summer.  School is out, flip flops all day, spending a lazy day with the kiddos.  Heaven!

This card was created using the Seaside Paper Pack, Desert Sand Cardstock, Glacier Ink and
Brown Baker's Twine.  The stamp set is Beach Gear (A1164)  A set of 4 stamps all about summer. The fourth stamp is a sun, so all the fun is covered.

Dreaming for summer......
Katie

The Blossom Cardmaking Kit

Do you love making cards?  These card making kits are just great for putting together handmade cards.  All of the items necessary to make 15 cards are right here, with cutting instructions and helpful hints.  You will make 5 cards of each of the 3 designs.  Try one....I'm sure you will love them

Katie

Happy to be Friends

Made this little card the other day using the Brushed Paper Pack and Happy to be Friends (C1605).  This is such a springy paper pack:  pinks, yellows and greens.  Of course I had to add a little shine with the Pink Shimmer Trim.  The pink and yellow flowers are cut out and added on top of the green leaves.

Enjoy the April Showers
Katie

Brushstrokes

This one of my many favorites from the Seasonal Expressions catalog.  Brushstrokes is a set of eight stamps and as you see here in the two cards made by the talented guys at CTMH, its a pretty great set.  Use one color, two colors or multiple colors to make a beautiful art piece.

There are several things in the Seasonal Expressions that will be going away at the end of this month.  Some papers, embellishments and more. Don't miss out on getting your order in!

Contact me today!
Katie

The Rest of the Story

Here are the rest of the cards made using the card workshop found in the Wishes Card Making Book  The first post can be found HERE

 Enjoy looking and I hope you make a few cards using this pattern.  

 We are needing some bright festive colors around here lately.  Too much cold and snow too early, don't you think?

Stay warm and craft on!

Katie

Time is Running Out for the October Stamp of the Month

Don't miss out on your chance to get this great stamp set.  It will be gone at the end of the month.  Home for the Holidays (S1410) is a set of 7 very festive stamps you will want to add to your collection.

Supplies: Home for the Holidays, Black, Cranberry and Whisper Cardstock, Glacier, Black and Cranberry Inks, Snowhave Paper Pack and Silver Sequins

Katie

Frightfully Fun and friends

A couple of quick cards made from one of the CTMH How To Books.  They are such life savers when making cards.  Just open, pick a pattern and start creating.  I look at my stamp, find a pattern that is a good fit for my image and go from there.  Just that easy.  You can find these books on page 190 of the Annual Inspirations Idea Book.  Books for both cards and scrapbooking pages.

Start your creations today!
Katie

If the Broom Fits....

I love the saying included in the stamp set Halloween Greetings (D1605)  And the witch is a cutie too.  This card was made with several new items.  The new color Thistle is in the Scaredy Cat Paper Pack.  You can get this color in ink or cardstock too.  Halloween Greetings is new, a set of 10 stamps for those spookier stampers out there.  The White Enamel Stars (z2010) come in a pack of 72 with two sizes in the pack.  

                                           

The Glitter Paper (Z1992) in Purple and the Triangle Border Punch (Z1997) give the card a little glitz.

I just ran the piece of Thistle card stock through the punch and cut a strip of Glitter Paper to adhere to the back.  Just an easy way to add something different.  Here are just a few of the new items in the Annual Inspirations book. Have you tried out your new goodies yet?

Katie

Jack's Birthday is coming up!

It has almost been a year already.  So hard to believe that Jack will be turning one soon.  We love the Little Blue Truck books by Alice Schertle.  So.... the theme for his party is Little Blue Truck.  And I just happened to have the perfect stamp set for the occasion.  Fast and Furious (D1541) has two trucks, two cars, words and a tire track.  Couldn't have worked out better.  Now, on to finish up the rest of the party plans.

Celebrate!

Katie

Freshly Made Sketches

I thought I would give this a try.  Using the sketch from Freshly Made Sketches, I made a card using the Fall Harvest stamp set.  

 All supplies used to make this card are from Close To My Heart.  Hope you enjoy the upcoming autumn weather.  Football, cooler weather and raking leaves.......

Supplies:
Fall Harvest (C1504), Chocolate, Autumn Terracota, Glacier and White Daisy Cardstock, Chocolate, Autumn Terracota and Barn Red Inks, Bronze Sparkle and Shimmer Trim, Bone Folder and Sandpaper

Thanks for looking,

Katie

Christmas Workshops!

As the holidays are quickly approaching, I wanted to let you all know about a couple Christmas workshops I am going to be offering.  I will have a Christmas Card Workshop and a Christmas Gift tag Workshop.  Both will take place at my house...please let me know by Monday, November 11th if you would like to attend one of the card workshops and by Friday, November 29th for the tag workshop.

Christmas Card Workshop:

Wednesday, November 20th or Thursday November 21st

6:00-8:00

$15 (supplies for 10 cards & envelopes) or $30 (supplies for 10 cards & envelopes + Santa Claus Stamp set)    See my website if you would like to see the entire stamp set...http://katiehessel.ctmh.com/Retail/Product.aspx?ItemID=7579&CatalogID=2155

If you need more than 10 cards, you can purchase supplies for more sets of 10 cards for $15 each.  Also, if you are not able to attend the actual workshop, I can prepare a kit for you to take and work on at your house.  Supplies needed that would not be included in the kit are the juniper, ruby, and whisper stamp pads.  Let me know how many cards you would like to make and whether you would like to add on the stamp set or the ink pads!

Tag Workshop:

Thursday, December 5th

6:00-8:00

$5 or free with a $25 or more order placed in the month of November or December

Come enjoy an evening with Christmas music and snacks and make 10 gift tags for your presents!  See examples of some of the fun things in the Holiday Gift Guide and get some gift ideas for the people on your list.  

Hope to see you at one or both events.  Please let me know if you have any questions!!

Heartland Stampers Swap

I have been meaning to make it back to a Heartland Stampers meeting for a long time, but last week finally worked out in my schedule.  I had signed up for a card swap and I had my babysitter all lined up!  I made 15 cards for the swap and even embossed one of my leaves and it was super fast using the cricut Art Philosopy cartridge...I just love it and can't wait to get my hands on the newest cartridge from Close to My Heart.  I used a retired paper pack, but the stamp set I used for this card is called Harvest Happiness (C1463).  I can't wait to make more fun FALL things.

 I can't believe school starts on Monday!  Don't let the busy fall stop you from taking some time for yourself.  My goal is to leave a project out on my desk that I can add to, even if it is only during ten extra minutes.  I am also going to complete more studio J layouts instead of trying to scrapbook every picture traditionally.  Contact me if you would like to learn more about how Close to My Heart can help you create faster, simpler and easier!!!

Mojo Monday

I saw the Mojo Monday 247 sketch and I just knew I had to give it a try!  I already had a circle cut and stamped with one of my favorite butterflies from the Delight set that we used during the July Cards and Cocktails.  They always have such fun sketches at the Mojo blog http://mojomonday.blogspot.com/ ...even if I don't usually get the project posted on time!

June Cards and Cocktails

Here are just a sample of the fun cards we made this month at Cards and Cocktails!  It was very relaxing and everyone made at least five cards, with plenty of paper and supplies to make many more,  and all while enjoying a festive beverage and great conversation:)  The paper pack we used was Lucy X7149B and the stamp sets shown are Delight C1452, Card Chatter-Birthday D1475 and A Blossom A1121.  Even I was impressed by how many cards you can make from just one Close to My Heart paper pack...I made 16 and still had half of my paper left over!  This just makes me want to tell my hubby Kyle what a great deal my favorite hobby is and why I should order more stamps.  We haven't purchased a store bought card in years!  I hope to see you at cards and cocktails next month at 6:00 on July 26th when we will be making cards with the Pemberley paper pack.

Stampaganza!!!

Don't forget that June is Stampaganza month!  That means that for every two stamp sets you buy, you can get one for free!!!  Of course I had to take advantage of this and get some fun new sets.  I didn't have very many little boy stamps...and it seems like all of my friends are having boys so I needed to stock up.  One set I got was Roar! (D1505) and I have already used it to make some simple thank yous for some little boys!  I am sure it will get a lot of use for future little boy birthday parties!!!  Head over to my website if you would like to purchase this set or take advantage of the Stampaganza.

 http://katiehessel.ctmh.com

Happy National Scrapbooking Month!

I am celebrating national scrapbooking month by using up some of my old paper to make cards using the May stamp of the Month from Close to My Heart. I think that the May stamp of the month is so cute! I love chairs in general though, so of course I would love stamps of cute chairs. I can't remember where I saw the mocha gems used on the armchair, but I scraplifted it from somewhere. Other people are so creative!

Check out how you can earn your own free "Chairs to You" stamp set by going to my website at http://katiehessel.myctmh.com Happy scrapping!!!

5 for $5.00 Birthday Card Workshop

For the 5 for $5, we made birthday cards using the Fanfare paper packet. I used the Piece of Cake stamp set to stamp the cake in different colors and then cut out the different layers and glued them on the card.

I love the present card. I can't take credit for the design though...I saw this cute card on Vicki Zizniuk's blog. It is so simple to make though and the words "Happy Birthday" came from the Card Chatter-Birthday stamp set.

I made this card using the Cupcake Sprinkles stamp set. The red stars on the frosting have liquid glass on them to help them stand out. I love that stamp set. It is so cute for kid's birthday cards!

The last two cards both used the Piece of Cake stamp set. I used a water brush to color in the cupcakes and the cake. The water brush uses water and ink pads to give a neat "water color" look. It is also a lot cheaper than buying markers in every color! I hope that you enjoy the cards and maybe you can make it to the April 5 for $5. We will be making thank you cards using the Wings paper packet!

Easter Card

I finished another set of cards before a holiday! This has got to be a first for me. I used the Springtime stamp set and the Sophia paper pack from Close to my Heart. I love this set, it is so cute! I rounded the corners of the card...really like this look. I also cut out the top part of the umbrella and used a pop dot to make it stand out. The buttons are from the pink assortment and I used different ones on each card. There is still time to order your spring stamp sets and paper to make your own cards!

Sophia Workshop on the Go

I love the Sophia paper...the colors just remind me of spring. I am planning on making the scrapbook pages from the workshop on the go kit tonight at the crop! I love how they used the corner rounder to make scalloped edges. I have not tried this yet, but I am excited to. Hopefully it is as easy as it looks! If you would like to attend the Sophia workshop on the Go, just email me to place your order by Thursday, April 14. katie.hessel@gmail.com We will be meeting at my house on April 27th at 5:00 to make the cards or scrapbook pages. I hope you can make it!

I also know that spring is on the way because I went shopping today and they had the most beautiful colors and patterns. Then when I got home, I opened all of the windows to get some fresh air in the house. It is always a good day when the sunporch is open and the sun is shining through. Spring is just around the corner...have you been making spring cards or pages to celebrate the season? Check out my website to see what Close to My Heart has to offer you! http://katiehessel.myctmh.com

Almost Valentine's Day...

I am proud of myself for finishing some cards before a holiday arrives! I sent out our real valentines to some friends and family, but I wanted to make some fancy cards too. The cards that I mailed I cheated and ordered from shutterfly. For these cards, I used the Sweetheart Workshop on the Go and followed the guide directions. Sometimes it is nice not to think too hard about things! I used an easy folding technique on the card to the far left that I sometimes forget about. On the thin pink strip of paper near the top, I did a fan-fold and it almost makes the paper look like ribbon. It looks neat and is cheaper than using real ribbon! If you are interested in making your own cards using this kit, check out my website http://katiehessel.myctmh.com I hope that you have a great Valentine's Day!