Wednesday, December 30, 2015

Embossing Technique Class



January's Creative Club will be Friday, January 8 at 7pm. This month we will focus on a variety of embossing techniques including heat embossing, dry, embossing, and using the CTMH circle and square diffusers!

The cost of the class is $5. If you are in Northern VA and would like to participate please RSVP at my Meetup.com group using this link: http://www.meetup.com/Manassas-Papercrafters/events/224728626/

If you cannot make the class but would like a take home kit please message me for info.

I hope you can make it!

~Michelle

Monday, December 28, 2015

Going...Going...Almost Gone!


The Holiday Expressions Idea Book is retiring on December 31. Many of the items in this idea book are only available while supplies last through 12/31. This includes the White Pines paper pack and White Pines Picture My Life scrapbooking program. So, if you want to preserve your holiday memories with these gorgeous products now is the time to get them!

Stamp sets from the Holiday Expressions will still be available to purchase for one year from the time they were released, with the exception of the Hostess Rewards and the Stamp of the Month sets which will also retire 12/31.

The following items will still be available since they are also found in the Annual Inspirations book:

  •  Z2013 Sequins Silver Assortment,
  •  Z3087 Green Shimmer Trim, 
  • Z3090 Red Enamel Gems
  •  Z3093 Fern Thick Twine 
To start shopping please visit my website, www.michellebattitori.ctmh.com 



Thursday, December 24, 2015

Merry Christmas


Wishing you and your family a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

With Love,
Michelle Battitori

Sunday, December 13, 2015

Candlelight Garden Inspiration

I just can't get enough of the December Stamp of the Month, Candlelight Garden! Here are a few of the projects that have been inspiring me to create:


First up is this awesome gift idea from the CTMH Art Department! Who wouldn't want a hand crafted home decor item as a gift? 



Next up is this stunner from Chris Lothian! Love the dimension she creates with the flowers and her color combo is so elegant!



Last up today is this unique card from Inky Fingers! The card design is not only visually appealing but I adore how she used the stamp to create her own background paper! Oh, and her coloring is pretty awesome too!


I hope some of these cards inspired you to create with Candlelight Garden. As a reminder it's only available through 12/31 and can be yours for only $5 with a qualifying CTMH order. To get yours please contact your CTMH Consultant or visit my website www.michellebattitori.ctmh.com

~Michelle

Sunday, December 6, 2015

Focus on Stamping Blog Hop

Welcome to the Focus on Stamping Blog Hop! Today, CTMH consultants will be showcasing stamping techniques of their choosing. If you've arrived from Kathy Burrow's blog you are on the right track! A complete list of hoppers can be found on Melind'a blog HERE.


I've always loved the look of clean and simple cards with bold backgrounds but thought it was a look only possible for grand watercolor artists. Not anymore! It's such a simple technique to achieve when "Stamp Around the Block!" It's really as simple as 1, 2, 3!


Simple. Bold. Beautiful! First up is Sapphire & Fern:



The next color combo I used was Saffron, Sunset, and Ruby inks:



And one more using Thistle, Gypsy, and Pacifica. The butterfly was stamped on a leftover piece of Saffron, Gypsy, and Thistle paper. A simple outline with a black journaling pen finishes this card off.



I hope you've enjoyed my project! Which color combo is your favorite? What color combo would you like to see? Leave me a comment to let me know. Now it's time to visit Haley Dyer's blog to see what she's come up with!


Basic Supplies Used 
Z3146 Watercolor Paper, 1386 Black Cardstock, Z1380 Spray Pen, D1627 Youre Own Kind of Wonderful, Z2105 Black Ink, Y1006 3x3 MyAcrylix Block, Z2045 All Purpose Mat, Z2190 Gypsy, Z2640 Thistle, Z2192 Pacifica, Z2651 Saffron, Z2191 Sunset, Z2170 Ruby. Z2648 Sapphire, Z2650 Fern

Friday, December 4, 2015

Last Day for 25% Cyberweek Savings!


The CTMH Cyberweek sale ends today! Make sure you've placed your orders before 4:00 pm MST (6 pm EST).

As a reminder here's what's included in the sale:
Z3111 Base & Bling Snowflake Charm—Faux Gold
Z3112 Base & Bling Jingle Bell—Faux Gold
Z3135 Base & Bling Snowflake Charm—Faux Silver
Z3136 Base & Bling Jingle Bell—Faux Silver
Z3138 Base & Bling Red Bead Charm—Faux Gold
Z3139 Base & Bling Red Bead Charm—Faux Silver
Z3180 Picture My Life™ Going Places Scrapbooking Program
Z3147 Cut Above™ Dapper Giraffe Card Kit Z2028 Designer Creations Short Stack Album
Z2036 Designer Creations Slate Paper Bags
Z2037 Designer Creations Lagoon Paper Bags
Z2038 Designer Creations Ruby Paper Bags
Z2039 Designer Creations Honey Paper Bags
Z2049 Designer Creations Cupcake Box
Z2050 Designer Creations Takeout Box
Z2053 Designer Creations Buttoned Bag
Z1838 5" x 7" Hinged Display Tray
Z1750 Designed Décor Display Tray
Z2006 Designed Décor Red Magnetic Chalkboard
Z2015 Designed Décor Black Shadow Box
Z2016 Designed Décor Colonial White Shadow Box
Z1833 My Creations™ Kraft Container
Z1871 My Creations™ Kraft 3-Ring Album
Z1953 My Creations™ Journaling Cards Box
Z1956 My Creations™ Hip Pics Album Z3043 My Creations™ Black Mini Book
Z3044 My Creations™ Kraft Mini Book
Z3069 My Creations™ Mini Mix Album
Z3137 My Creations™ Pint-Sized Container
Z3168 Cricut® Artfully Sent Collection
Z1476 4 ¼" x 5 ½" White Daisy Envelopes
Z1477 5" x 7" White Daisy Envelopes
Z1478 6" x 6" White Daisy Envelopes
Z1756 3" x 3" Colonial White Envelopes
Z1757 4 ¼" x 5 ½" Colonial White Envelopes
Z1758 5" x 7" Colonial White Envelopes
Z1759 6" x 6" Colonial White Envelopes
Z1851 Scallop Border Punch Z1997 Triangle Border Punch

To order simply go to www.michellebattitori.ctmh.com and choose the "Cyberweek Sale" section under the shopping menu! Remember there will be no special prompt at checkout so make sure to select your items from the "Cyberweek Sale" section!

As a bonus all sale items count towards discounted Stamp of the Month!

Happy Savings,

~Michelle Battitori

Tuesday, December 1, 2015

December SOTM Blog Hop - Candlelight Garden


Welcome to the Stamp of the Month Blog Hop! Today, 33 CTMH consultants will be showcasing artwork using the new Candlight Garden stamp set.  If you've arrived from Haley Dyer's blog you are on the right track!



For my project I created a scrapbook layout featuring my baby girl and her budding personality! To create this layout I started with a sketch from the Reflections How-To book (Main Frame - Perfect Square p. 63) and modified it to fit my photos.


The mason jars were stamped on White Daisy cardstock and decorated using a variety of techniques like watercoloring, stamping, masking and paper piecing. Like her, each jar is unique and I love the way it turned out!


The title was created in Design Space using the Artistry Cricut Cartridge font and one of the many shape images.

To create the journal jar I masked the string with a post-it-note before inking it. When I was ready to stamp I removed the post-it and stamped on cardstock. No more string! I also used the masking technique to alter the sentiment stamps to make them fit inside the jars.

This layout certainly wasn't one of the quickest I've ever created but I absolutely love the way it turned out. It's sweet and quirky just like my girl!

Thanks for checking out my project. I hope I inspired you try something new with this stamp set. If you'd like to recreate it here is the Design Space file: https://us.cricut.com/design/#/canvas/33702097. You will need the Artistry cartridge to use this file.

Now it's time to continue on the hop by visiting Lauren Moore's blog! If for some reason you get lost along the hop please visit Melinda's blog for a list of participating hoppers.


This stamp set is only available 12/1 - 12/31 and can be purchased for only $5 with a qualifying CTMH order. To purchase yours please contact your CTMH consultant or visit my shop at www.michellebattitori.ctmh.com.

Layout Recipe:
S1512 Candlight Garden stamp Set,  9037 Reflection How To Book, Z3167 Cricut Artistry Collection, X7199B Sangria Paper Packet, 1385 White Daisy Cardstock, 1386 Black Cardstock, Z3098 Peacock Fundamentals Assortment, Z3126 Paper Fundamentals Enchantment, Z3132 Watercolor Paints, Z3188 Paintbrush Set, Z2641 Glacier Stamp Pad, Z2652, Poppy Stamp Pad, Z2652 Pomegranate Stamp Pad, Z2653 Canary Stamp Pad, Z2648 Sapphire Stamp Pad, Z534 Micro-Tip Scissors

Have a crafty Tuesday!

~Michelle Battitori

P.S. Don't forget it's Cyberweek at CTMH! Save 25% on select items now thru Friday, 12/4! To see what's included please go HERE.


CTMH Planners Are In!


Calling all planner addicts!

During December, you can get your hands on the new, gorgeous Everyday Life™ album from Close To My Heart, the accompanying Everyday Life 2016 planner pages, and the coordinating Everyday Life Perfect Plan roller stamp in an exclusive product bundle for only $29.95 USD/$35.95 CAD. That’s over 15% off the retail price! With the new Everyday Life line, you’ll experience “memory keeping on the go” as you track your water intake, stamp reminders, keep appointments, and tuck away precious memories—plus much more—all at once! This offer is only available while supplies last, so plan to place your order early in the month and start 2016 off right.

The $29.95 USD bundle (order number CC1059) offered in this campaign includes the following: items:

  • Z3208 Everyday Life™ Album—Black ($10.95 USD/$13.25 CAD) 
  • Z3209 Everyday Life™ 2016 Planner Pages ($15.95 USD/$18.95 CAD)
  • Z3212 Everyday Life™ Perfect Plan Roller Stamp ($8.95 USD/$10.50 CAD
The album is a black hardcover 3-ring album with gold foil designs. It measures 9 3/8” x 8 ¼” x 1 ½.” 

The 2016 planner pages consist of 154 pages, including 1 pocket folder page, 12 monthly dividers with tabs, 1 designed page finder, and 4 sheets of stickers. The pages are 3-ring hole punched and measure 8 3/8” x 6 7/8.” The pages include both monthly and weekly spreads that begin January 2016 and run through December 2016.

I love that the roller stamp coordinates with the label stickers that come with the 2016 planner pages and features titles, reminders, and additional images.

To order your planners simply place an order using the campaign item number (CC1059) on my website, www.michellebattitori.ctmh.com. Note: Adding the items separately will not trigger the discount. You must use the campaign item number provided.

While there are no limits to the number of planners you can order they are "While Supplies Last" so please order early! 

Happy Planning!

~Michelle Battitori

P.S. Wouldn't these make fantastic gifts for friends and family this year?