Getting Our Ombré On!

Six Close To My Heart friends & neighbors got together yesterday afternoon

to see the recent Extravaganza Art CD from Convention,

thanks to Rebecca Brown of Show Me Scrapping!

She showed us the Cricut Craft Room and we each cut

a cute Halloween album using the new Artbooking cartridge.
Oh, what a product that is! I can't wait to make more mini albums!

(I'll post later this week more about that project.)

Everyone got to show and tell some items we've been working on

using some of the new products from the Autumn/Winter Idea Book.

AND

We tried the Ombré technique showcased in CTMH's video

using Liquid Glass, drops of re-inker, the bone folder, and chipboard shapes.

It was a good learning experience,

and we found that by adding Create A Shade paint to the mixture,

and by using a small paint brush,

it was so much easier to apply and it looked great on our third attempt.

Which reinforces the saying, "Practice does make perfect!"

We'll definitely be trying this again with different color hues.

We began with these materials. 

From left to right: Our 1st, 2nd, and 3rd attempts

with Outdoor Denim, Twilight, and Pacifica.

(Colors in the Caribbean!)

Then I showed the group a sample "ombré" card I made using paper strips:

 The "Claire" paper packet

(Claire card inside)

And a third "ombré" technique

using the Houndstooth alphabet, finger daubers,

and inks: Clover Meadow, Pear, and Key Lime.

(If you do this on small pieces, hold your finger dauber at an angle

and sponge "in thirds" visually. I did it from dark to light, left to right.
Larger chipboard shapes are much easier to ink with this method!
I do love a challenge!
And I planned to use this word PEAR on a future layout, so
there IS a method to my madness...)

I can't wait to see some of the projects you've made

after getting YOUR ombré on!

So glad you stopped by!

A Mix of Huntington, Glitter, Kraft, and Sparkles

Here's my first creation using CTMH's new Huntington papers.

The colors and patterns are so rich and yummy 

and I combined the patterned piece

with a Kraft card and some strips of the new Glitter paper too.

"CHOCOLATE tastes as good as skinny feels"

is just one of the stamp variations

in the August SOTM (stamp of the month) set.
With a $50 order, you'll receive this stamp set FREE! 

A few brown and beige Sparkles and a little bow later

(I cut the CTMH brown/white stripe ribbon in half)

and VOILA! 

A little card that has made me crave a bit of chocolate...

now if I could just find some!

(Did you know that my DH and I hide chocolate from each other? The last time I found a big bag of peanut M&M's I had to get a ladder to reach between the joists in the basement. No joke!)

A little peek at more Huntington papers from the Workshop on the Go...

Want to Experience a Chocolate Affair?

"A Chocolate Affair," the August stamp of the month, is FREE if you order $50 during August!

Who wouldn't want to experience this?! It's making me hungry ... and I'll provide a "no calorie wand" for you to wave over these little delicious pieces too.

You could use these stamps for gift containers, cards, layouts, banners, and more!

(Usually the CTMH Stamp of the Month is just $5 when you place an order of $50 or more. 

In August, we have this extra SWEET offer -- a full size D stamp set FREE!)

The 2013 Fall/Winter Idea Book is available now!  

Your Idea Book is FREE with a $30 order -- simply order online through my web site or email/phone me your order. As you browse the new Idea Book, you'll find CTMH's new, exclusive Cricut "Artbooking" cartridge with a huge variety of ways to make layouts and mini-albums! You'll see new ideas for making Autumn decorations as well as Christmas gifts and greeting cards. And MUCH more!

Head on over to the Idea Book and take a peek -- and make your wish list to give to your spouse, bestie, family members, or kids -- and shop for your friends too! Wait 'til you see all the stocking stuffers and cute gift ideas!

A heads-up!!! Christmas and gift-giving time is only 100 plus days away!