Chantilly, Oh So Simple, Card

I was inspired to make a card using only paper and stamps and this was the result...

Simple Chantilly Card

I cut a word blurb from Daisy White cardstock at 1 3/4 inches (see page 65) using the Artiste Cricut cartridge.  I then stamped the sentiment using Pear Ink.  The four strips were also cut using the Art Philosophy cartridge at approximately 4 inches, but these strips could easily be cut with your  paper trimmer and the ends could be trimmed into pennant ends with your scissors.  Before adhering them to my card base, I used Pear ink to ink the edges of the base. 

I cut a strip of Pear cardstock to approximately 1/4 inch and adhered it to my card approximate 1/2 inch from the top of the card.  if you prefer, you could also use a coordinating piece of ribbon. I then attached the word blurb using 3-D foam tape instead of the usual piece of ribbon, because I wanted to keep it extremely simple. 

Chantilly Mini Book

As promised, this post will reveal the inside of my mini-book...

The pages were cut using the Artiste Cricut Cartridge.  I cut the cover page from page 58 of the Artiste handbook using Chatilly B&T pattern Paper and the other two pages were cut from page 59 of the handbook using buttercup cardstock and white daisy cardstock.

I still need to add my journalling, but this mini-book was put together quickly and with minimal embellishments.  In a way, the unique shapes of each page work well as a design enhancement, minimizing the need for additional embellishments.

Chantilly Prom Layout

There is so much I love about the Chantilly paper pack...and when I sat down to do a layout for my daughter's Junior Prom, the was the paper that called my name :-)  I am so happy that Chantilly is still available in the new Autumn/Winter Idea Book, along with the Chantilly Assortment and Dimensional Elements.

First things first, the left hand page...

Junior Prom, Left Hand Page

This page includes the equivalent of two 5x7 pictures, but the one of the left is actually a mini-book.  I'll post details about this mini-book in a later post.  The flowers across the bottom of my page were inspired by the flowers that graced the cover of our Spring/Summer 2013 Idea Book.  I used  Buttercup, Cotton Candy and Pear Ink to stamp the flowers and swirls from several stamp sets:  D1498 (from the Art Philosophy stamp set); D1482 Love Life; and C1503 The Best Things.  The title was stamped in Pear Ink using E1019 Bohemian Alphabet Stamp Set, which is retiring and once the stock is depleted, will no longer be available.  As a finishing touch, I added a multitude of pearl embellishments that I have had in my stash for many years.

Junior Prom, Right Hand Page

The right hand page was a very simple layout that featured the Pear cardstock and Pear Ink and a couple of stamped images from The Best Things stamp set.  Again, a few pearls scattered on this page, finished the layout.

Look for my companion post  (it will be posted in a day or two) that will give you additional details on the mini-book :-)

Also a reminder, the August Stamp of the Month, A Chocolate Affair, is available for FREE with a $50 purchase.  This stamp will make a fun, light-hearted addition to your stamp collection.

Ribbons and Trims

This is a quick video that explores many of the ribbons and trims offered by Close to my Heart.  It not only provides inspiration for how to use many of the different products, it also demos coloring the Slate Satin Polka-Dot Ribbon (and this same technique can also be used to color the Color Ready Seam Binding Ribbon.)  This is a fantastic technique, because suddenly your Slate ribbon can now become Sunset and used on a Babycakes card and your Colonial White Seam Binding Ribbon can become Gypsy and added to a treat box that you cut using Laughing Lola and the Artiste Cricut Cartridge. So many options!

Tiffany also alludes to a technique in which you combine re-inker and alcohol to dye the Colonial White Rosette Ribbon.  Used as is, the Colonial White Rosette Ribbon is so beautiful and I have used it on several projects that were intended for a baby.  However, now that I know that it can be dyed using our re-inkers, my creative juices are flowing.

I also wanted to mention that I have had wonderful results using re-inker and alcohol to dye the color ready seam binding.  It is a great technique when you want to dye more than a small piece of ribbon and by adjusting the ratio of re-inker and alcohol, your results can range from muted, soft hues all the way to intense, rich colors.  You can experiment to get the look you want.   Also, the alcohol helps to speed up the drying process, which is a plus.  Being able to apply ink to these ribbons completely opens up the creative possibilities.
 

August SOTM

A Chocolate Affair is CTMH's August SOTM.  It will be a wonderful addition to every chocolate lover's stamp collection and with this month's special from CTMH, can be your FREE with any $50 purchase during the month of August.

Images of the stamps available on A Chocolate Affair

Sample of some Artwork that can be made using the August SOTM

Buzz and Bumble, The Fun Continues

The lovely Buzz and Bumble paper has certainly been one of my favorite from the Spring/Summer 2013 Idea Book.  I will most likely end up using every scrap of paper from that paper pack - because I just love it so much!

Here are two more layouts that I created using papers from this pack.

Buzz and Bumble, IB Diploma

On my IB Diploma layout, I used cuts from the Artiste Cricut Cartridge and stamps from the Avonlea WOTG.  I made the cuts using Sunset cardstock and them stamped the images using Cocoa ink.  My title was made using the Canvas Alphabet on which I stamped using Sunset ink and the 2 1/4 inch flower from Hooray Bouquet (D1491) as a background and texture stamp.  I love the look of this technique.

Buzz and Bumble, Remember

My Remember layout was made exclusively from B&T papers and cardstock, with the exception of the title.  The title was from the Avonlea Complements Canvas Shapes and was stamped using Sunset ink and Universal Backgrounds (D1477).  A few sparkles from the Brown and Tan Assortment (Z1753) finished this layout.