Card-A-Thon Kits Available for Purchase

Last Saturday I hosted a Card-A-Thon event with the theme "A Year of Cards." It turned out great and everyone had a good time creating! Each attendee had 2 hours to create an unlimited amount of cards in whatever theme and quantity they wanted!

I created cards for one holiday a month using a variety of stamps and papers. I kept some of the cards pretty general, like July, making a birthday card instead of 4th of July.  Here's a closer look at each card (click on photo to see a larger version):

Most of the card ideas were based on CTMH's How-To-Books and on-line sketches but February's card was a total CASE of THIS one by Vicki W. 

For those that are interested I have 4 kits available for purchase! Each kit contains 12 cards, all pre-cut and pre-stamped for you! All you have to do is assemble them based on the included color photo and you're done! The cost of each kit is $15, or $20 if shipped out of state. 

If you'd like to order a set (or two) please choose one of the options below:

Northern VA Pick-Up  - $15:

Out of State Shipped - $20:

Happy Creating!

~Michelle

February Card-A-Thon Class

On Saturday, Feb 7 at 10 am I will be hosting another Card-A-Thon class! I love these classes and hope you'll be able to join me! This month's Card-A-Thon theme is A Year of Cards. I've designed 12 different cards for you to choose from all based on a holiday for each month of the year. I'll be sharing all the cards throughout the week but here's a sampling of what's available to choose from:

Here's how it works...you'll have two hours to make as many cards as you can! Everything will be pre-cut and ready to make. Simply take each card box to your station and create! If you like a particular card feel free to make more of it (just be mindful of others who may want to make it as well). The only "rule" is that you must completely finish the card before moving on to the next one. The only supplies you'll need are your adhesive and VersaMat. The cost for this class is $15 or free with any $50 CTMH order!

I have a few spots open so if you'd like to RSVP here's the link: February Card-A-Thon Class

Hope to see you next Saturday!

~Michelle Battitori

Artfully Sent Blog Hop - Gift Bags

Welcome to our Artfully Sent Blog Hop!  We will be featuring the AMAZING benefits of the newest CTMH Cricut Cartridge...Artfully Sent. If you have come here from Paige's Blog, you are on the right path! The blog hop is a great big circle, so you can start here and work your way all around.  If you get lost along the way, you’ll find the complete list of participating consultants on Melinda’s Blog.

This month we have over 40 Close To My Heart Consultants sharing their creations. This is simple to do - just click on the link at the end of the post on each blog to move to the next one! Here we go!

The Artfully Sent Cartridge is chock full of card options -- pop-ups, swing style, and scenic, with over 700 images to choose from! It's also great for embellishments and the stamps that come with the set are so versatile I see them being my go-to for A LOT of future projects!

I never seem to have enough gift bags...especially around the holiday's so I knew for my project I wanted to turn some of the holiday cards on the Artfully Sent Cartridge into gift bag decor!

If you have a large mat you could cut the full card and trim off the back but I don't. It wasn't a problem thanks to THIS very helpful tutorial and the slice feature in Design Space.

I've done the hard work already so if you'd like to make one for yourself here's the FREE Design Space file: https://us.cricut.com/design/#/canvas/project/21757000

(Note, it takes a little bit to load so please be patient)

Products Used (All CTMH unless otherwise noted):

Paper: Snowhaven (X7188B), Cranberry Cardstock, Black Cardstock, Silver Glitter Paper (Z1829)

Ink: Cranberry (Z2116), Black (Z2105)

Stamps: Artfully Sent Stamps (D1631 Curlique & D1629 Just to Say)

Other: Cricut Artfully Sent Cartridge, Black Ribbon, Gift Bag (Dollar Tree)

To make a different style gift bag here are the steps you'll need to use:

1. Open Design Space and change canvas to basic shapes. Choose rectangle and change size to the size of our gift bag (mine was 10 1/2" x 8 1/4).
2. Insert desired card from Arfully Sent Cartridge (I used Sentiment Layer on p. 49).
3. Insert basic rectangle shape and size to fit the back of the card. 
4. Hide or delete the score line layer (this is very important otherwise the slice feature won't work).
5. Select the items (but DO NOT GROUP).
6. Right click and select Slice! When the rectangle shape turns the same color as the card you'll know the slice function worked and you can remove the back of the card!
7. Size the card front as needed and continue decorating!

It may seem like a lot of steps but I promise it's really not that bad! If I wasn't so camera shy I'd make a video. Lol! 

Now "Hop" on over to Jean's Blog to see her work! Be sure to visit all the Consultants at their Blogs to get some great crafting ideas and other fun ideas! To purchase your own Artfully Sent Cricut Cartridge contact your CTMH Consultant or visit my website HERE!

~Michelle Battitori

Artbooking Winter Layouts

Brrr...it's mighty cold outside! If your weather is frightful stay inside with a cup of cocoa and watch this great CTMH video* showcasing 2 winter-themed keys on the Cricut Artbooking Cartridge.



Now is the time to pull out your photos of sledding sensations and tasty crations and match them with heaps of shapes, titles, borders, and overlays on your wintry projects. Use the video as a starting point for your own projects and ideas.

If you'd like to purchase any of the products used in this video please visit my website.

>>Start Shopping

*If you are receiving this video via email the video portion will appear blank. To view the video please click on the post title.

Mojo Monday #300 & Flakey Friends

It's been hot and humid (with lots of rain) so I thought I'd cool things off a bit with a winter card this week. It didn't really work but a girl's gotta try right? I used Mojo Monday's sketch this week. It's their 300th and in honor of it they are giving away 30 prizes from various sponsors.

I used a retired pack, Wonderland, for this card. I started off by using my CTMH ruler and stitch guide to create faux stitching around the edge. The "stitches" were created using the .2 tip pen that's available on the While Supplies Last section of my site. It was a bargain and I couldn't resist! The image was colored with alcohol markers and finished off with some Sparkles and Glitz Glitter Glue.

Thanks for looking!

Supplies used (all CTMH unless otherwise noted):

Paper: Wonderland (retired), Twilight Cardstock, Colonial White Cardstock

Stamps: Flakey Friends (C1506)

Ink: Chocolate, Smokey Plum Alcohol Marker (Z2420), Twilight Alcohol Marker (Z2400)

Other: Shimmer Trim (Z1799), Glitz Glitter Glue (Z1313), Sparkles (Z1326)