3D Flower Tutorial & Card

One of the best things about CTMH is the amount of valuable education and ideas they provide to both consultants and customers. Here's a wonderful video that shows you how fast, simple and easy it is to add gorgeous 3D flowers to your cards and layouts using nothing but a stamp, ink pad and micro-tip scissors.



And, here's a quick birthday card I made using this stamp set! I love this birthday sentiment too. The full phrase is: "A true friend remembers your birthday...but not your age." Cute right?

If you like this card and are interested in making one for yourself then go HERE to learn about my 20 Birthday Card Workshop on April 30th. I'd love to have you!

Card Supplies (all CTMH unless otherwise stated):
Paper: Cherry-O B&T, Garden Green Cardstock, Colonial White Cardstock
Ink: Tulip, Chocolate
Stamps: Springin' Up, Card Chatter Birthday
Other: Glue Dots

20 Birthday Cards & Help Japan!

I've been very busy the last couple of days working on another way we can help the American Red Cross and our Japanese friends and family. You already know about the beautiful "Hope For Japan" stamp set from Close To My Heart (if you don't go HERE). Now, wouldn't it be lovely to receive this stamp set and make 20 beautiful birthday cards??!! It's a win-win for everyone! I can't share all the details yet so stayed tuned! Better yet, leave a comment with your email address and I'll add you to my newsletter so you can get all the details firsthand.

~Michelle

Hope for Japan

Like so many of us, Jeanette Lynton, Close To My Heart founder and CEO, cares deeply for those suffering the devastation in Japan. She is offering our Close To My Heart customers the opportunity to help. 

From today, March 24, until April 30, The 'Hope for Japan' stamp set will be available for $5 and Close To My Heart is donating 100% of the profits to the American Red Cross to benefit relief efforts in Japan.

It's important to me that you know that I will receive no commission at all on this stamp set.

Please forward this on to all your friends and family and consider helping support this cause! Email me or go HERE to purchase this set today! To see the rest of Jeanette's blog post click here.

Thank you and God Bless!

~Michelle Battitori
email: handmadefromtheheart@gmail.com
web: http://michellebattitori.myctmh.com/

Stamping on Scrapbook Layouts

This week I used the H2H Scrapbook sketch and my stamps to finish a 2009 layout of my family's trip to Pennsylvania for the 4th of July.

If you've never tried stamping on your layouts I highly encourage it. It's a great way add those extra touches that make your layout truly unique.

To create the star border on the circle I curved the stamp on the acrylic block until I was happy with the shape then stamped away!  

I also used the the My Acrylix Stamps to lay out my letters before I started stamping. This way I could make sure my word fit in the space and I was happy with the spacing. So easy! 

Thanks for checking out my layout today!

Supply List (all CTMH unless noted):

Paper: Sweet Home, White Daisy Cardstock, Blue & Red Cardstock (scraps)

Ink: Honey, Garnet, Dutch Blue

Stamps: Friendship Alphabet, Trouble Maker

Other: Colonial White Waxy Flax, Basic Craft Button, Clear Sparkles, Ribbon (from stash) 

Free MyAcrylix Block...Offer Ending Soon!

Do you want to earn a free My Acrylix block from Close To My Heart??!! Read below to find out how.

At Close To My Heart, we know we’ve got the best clear stamps and blocks—and we’ll prove it! Throughout March, when you buy My Acrylix^® stamps, we’ll give you a free My Acrylix^® block. Not only will you have the best stamps on the block, you’ll have the best block, too! Just purchase $25 in stamps and you can choose from two of our most versatile sizes: 3" × 3" (Y1006) or 2" × 6 1/2" (Y1010).

• Dates: Offer valid March 1–31, 2011.
• Details: Limit one free My Acrylix^® block per order per customer. Qualifying stamp purchases include A-, B-, C-, D-, E-size stamp sets, and Stamp of the Month sets purchased at full retail or at a discount. K-size stamp sets, Stamp of the Months earned for free, and Workshops on the Go™ are excluded. Tax and shipping/handling may apply. Close To My Heart reserves the right to substitute a block of a similar size or price.

Visit my website or click on the shopping card to the left to get your free block today!

~Michelle

Mojo Monday Sketch

Yes, I realize it's pretty early Saturday morning but sometimes that's the only time I get to create. My friend Teri calls herself The Midnight Artist...maybe I should change my blog name to The Early Morning Creator! Just kidding but I do wish I could sleep in on the weekends once in awhile.

It's no secret I love to use sketches to help me create. Back when I started scrapbooking and cardmaking I thought it was cheating but now I just realize it's smart. I'd much prefer to use what little creative time I have to actually make something usable. With that being said here's a sketch from Mojo Monday that I was inspired by:

And here's my take on it. I literally had only 15 minutes to make this while my pizza was in the oven last night!

I modified it slightly but think I stayed pretty true to the design. I used the Wings Level 2 Assortment to create a rolled flower. If you want to try this flower make sure to use several glue dots or strong adhesive to hold it on the base.

Supply List (All Close To My Heart unless specified):
Paper: Wings Level 2, Black Cardstock
Stamp: Cherished Flourishes
Ink: Archival Black
Other: 2" Scallop Circle Punch, Wings Level 2 Assortment (Z1398), White Daisy Sassy Strands (retired), Filigree Charms (Z1269), Licorace Opaques (Z1335), Glue Dots

Wanna win some blog candy??

Happy Friday everyone! The very talented CTMH designer Vicki Wizniuk is having a contest for some blog candy to commemorate her blog-aversary. Go HERE to see her work and enter her contest. Be prepared to stay awhile because she is that good!

~Michelle

Punched Scallop Flower Tutorial & Birthday Card

I'm always looking for new ways to use my tools and after some quick searching on YouTube found a new use for the 2" scallop punch.

Want to know how I did it? Start out by punching a scallop flower out of cardstock. Then, use scissors to cut along every second scallop towards the center. Don't cut all the way to the middle though. Then, flip the flower over and gently use your bone folder to rub small circles along each petal until they start to curl up. Flip back over and distress the petals with ink and a sponge. Voila! Super simple right??!!

To finish the card I punched two ovals out of Olive Green Cardstock and used my bone folder to "draw" lines. Then I used my sanding tool to expose the white core which I very quickly covered with Olive ink. I also stamped on CTMH's large canvas badge buttons and adhered it to the center of my flower. Quick, easy, and super cute!

Here's the list of all supplies used (all supplies are from CTMH unless otherwise noted):
Tools: 2" Scallop Punch, Bone Folder
Paper: Mayberry Level 2, Cotton Candy Cardstock, Olive Cardstock
Stamps: Party Pennants
Ink: Cocoa, Honey, Cotton Candy, Olive
Other: Canvas Badge Buttons, Cocoa Ribbon

~Michelle

Welcome!

Welcome to my brand new blog! I'm excited to have you join me on my handmade journey. The goal of this blog is show you that beautifully handmade items don't have to take a lot of time or cost a lot of money.

I ask that you be patient with me as I learn the ins and outs of the blogging world and hope that you'll find creative inspiration out of my projects. And who knows...you may even a learn a little something along the way!