Male Cards

Male cards are so hard to make and I had to come up with one today for Philips soccer coach. As many of you know soccer is big in our house and Philip plays on two teams. His coach has been his coach since he was 5 and as he's 10 next month so that's a while. The two families have become close friends as we all live on the same street although we never knew each other before we signed up for soccer. I wonder if we would be as close friends if it wasn't for soccer. Funny how live could turn out differently.

Anyways Jim has his birthday today and we off to eat Pizza at our favorite pizza joint - mama's



I realised I didn't have a card for him as I find male cards so hard that I didn't have any made ready to go. So this is what I came up with. Its using a technique I'm teaching in March called pierced spotlight. Its fun to do and I think it makes a cool card. I won't teach this card as not everyone is so soccer nuts but something more general which will suit all.

Have a great weekend.

Ronnie

Stamping with Solid Images

When you use acrylic stamps with solid images sometimes you have problems when they are new getting a good image. I've tried many ways to fix this and the one I use most often is stamp clean stamp and clean again. The following blog entry though gives you a good review of some other methods to use.

Notice she recommends the foam mat - ever wondered what that foam was for in CTMH stamps well thats your answer. I though as many of you know keep the large foam mats on hand - plus remember the CTMH self healing mat has foam on the back just for this reason.

Anyways here's the link to the blog -Preparing stamps blog

Ok - I know shoot me!

I can't believe I haven't had chance to post in so long. Why bother coming to my blog if I don't post often. I really need to get better but life seems to take over so much that I don't get it done.

What have I been working on I hear you ask? Well making a tutu - well to be more exact updating a tutu. This last weekend Eleanor performed her first ballet solo and she needed a tutu to wear. New tutu's start at about $250 so you can see why I preferred to use one that belongs to her dance teacher and just add some extras things. Here's a picture of the finished tutu - I forget to take a picture of the before.




Then here's a picture of her dancing in it!



So you can see why I've been busy now. I have had some time to play with my stamps but haven't made a scrapbook page since we cropped in January. The following card is one I'm teaching this month. I really like how the background piece came out. You use string and masking tape to do it so its even cheap to do. The colors are outdoor denim, indian corn blue and crystal blue - all are shades of the same blue family. The stamps are all CTMH stamps.
I taught the card for the first time last night and everyone had fun doing this. Its a fun cheap technique for making your own backgrounds and could be used on a scrapbook page as well.
Come to class this month if you want to learn how to do it. Check my website for club times and email me if your interested.

Birthday Book

More details about this later but a quick post for Jill and Susan especially.

Alternative Look on Eggs

The February Stamp of the Month for CTMH is some really cool Easter Eggs. A number of consultants have been coming up with some alternative uses which I have been happy to adapt to myself. This is a use that Mary Gunn shared on a consultant list I read - Eyes. Well tired eyes to be exact or morning after eyes. I just had to make that card so here's my version. Not exactly the same but the credit goes to Mary for the idea I would never have seen the eyes myself!

My Creations Cube WorkShop

Adding a workshop to my calendar just in time for Valentines Day. I hope you like it.

My Creations Cube Workshop

Learn how to use one of CTMH newest products and create a great gift for someone in your life or a great home decor item for yourself to keep. Workshop is just in time for a Valentines gift.

DATE: February 12th

TIME: 10am till noon or 7pm till 9pm

LOCATION: 6808 Day Drive Fort Worth TX 76132
COST: $20 - this includes all supplies but your adhesive. You will receive 1/2 a level 2 package of silhouette papers which will leave you with plenty left to make another cube at home - just order another cube!

MORE: My Creations Cube is a chipboard 5" cube. During this workshop you will learn how to decorate this cube to create a piece of artwork that would grace any home. We will use the Silhouette Papers (Bamboo, Black, Colonial White and White Daisy). You will need to bring tape runner and 12inch trimmer. You will leave the workshop with a completed cube ready to add your photos and printed instructions so you can make more at home.

Space at each session is limited to 10

RSVP: Deadline for RSVP is January 26th to ensure products arrive in time. Email me at ronniecrowley@prodigy.net

Can't make this time but want to do this project - get a group of friends together and lets book your own workshop party!

LOVE Card

This is one of the cards I'm teaching this month at my clubs. I'm using the clear acrylic hearts which we're embossing with red powder to make the embellishment. This is a method that came as a result of me trying to make my own special embossed buttons. A customer sent me a link to a blog which told you how you can stamp with versamark on a button and then emboss to create your special buttons. Cool idea - well 10 buttons and a burnt finger later I have determined that this isn't a method that works well for me. Unless your happy with bits of embossing powder in places you didn't want it. Even with the help of embossing buddy I couldn't stop this happening. The fact it didn't work for me doesn't mean it won't work for you. I'd be interested to hear if anyone had any better success with this idea. It maybe due to the buttons I was using or maybe I didn't have my leg crossed in the correct manner - you tell me.
My embossed heart made me feel much better and come to club this month and you'll learn how to make one yourself!
Don't belong to a club of mine - visitors are welcome check the dates on my CTMH website or find some friends and we can start your own club just for you and your friends.