Karen Varcoe, Gresham OR kvarcoe@aol.com 503 267 6080

Wednesday, July 31, 2013

7/31 August Workshop: All About Chocolate

Oh, the fun I had putting this workshop together for you!   (I only snuck a few chocolates..)   Our August Stamp of the Month is called A Chocolate Affair, and it is the cutest stamp set I've seen in a long time!   It's all about chocolate, ladies, so what's not to like?

Scroll to the bottom of this post for details on how to get all the instructions and cricut files!

First, let me tell you that Close to My Heart has an awesome August special:   when you make a $50 purchase you will get A Chocolate Affair FREE!   This workshop will show you just some of the ways you can use your stamp set.  I used the NEW and adorable Babycakes papers, Babycakes Assortment, various ribbons and embellishemnts and some NEW treat holders as well as some familiar friends.   All boxes are cut from Cricut Artiste, tags are cut from Cricut Art Philosophy.   All of the cute boxes are sized to perfectly fit four chocolate nuggets (wrapped in Babycakes papers of course!).  The bags have chocolate kisses, the pillow box has yummy chocolate covered mint candies, the tube has mini oreos, and the flowers have reese's pieces and sixlets.

Here's the whole kit and kaboodle:


 Here's the super cute flowers with our treat cups.  I double cut the flowers and leaves to make them sturdier, and they are closed with a velcro dot.  The leaves pivot on the slate mini medley brad to open for eating (and refilling of course).

Cute pie boxes with our clothes pins and baker's twine:

 Another Artiste box.  I used a piece of our nice and sturdy sheet protectors for the "window".   Note the cute little wrapped nuggets!


Adorable candy box with a tag and Babycakes assortment topper.

One of my absolute favorite NEW products:  burlap bags!   I decorated this one with more of the Babycakes assortment, rosette ribbon and tan sparkles. plus the brown striped ribbon and our new bronze shimmer trim.  And a pink glitter gem cupcake topper!  The ribbon is firmly attached with our new very strong adhesive strips - love 'em!

 Hershey's candy bar holders with a magic pull string and more bronze shimmer trim.   I have to order more, my first roll is almost gone!

Cute, cute little purses with four nuggets.

 Our muslin bag with ribbon, babycakes assortment and more shimmer trim!  I paper pieced the strawberry - yummy!  Next to it is a treat tube.  Mini oreos fit perfectly inside!
 A pillow box filled with yummy mint chocolates...

I love the gable boxes you can cut on Artiste!

 Another purse - closed with velcro and a babycakes assortment clasp.

If you'd like to get the instructions for all the perfectly sized Artiste and AP boxes and tags, go to my website, "join" the EZ Invite All About Chocolate order, order $9.95 of any product and I will send you the Cricut Craft Room files and instructions for making all 22 treat holders.   Your order will ship directly to you and I will e-mail all files within 24 hours of your order.   E-mail me if you have questions!  If you haven't used Cricut Craft Room yet, I promise you, it's very user friendly.

Items needed for this workshop:

Babycakes Paper Packc X7173C
Babycakes Assortment Z1869
Mini Clothes Pins Z1815
Muslin Bag Z1822
Burlap Bag Z1872
Pillow Box Z1840
Treat Tube Z1823
Treat Cups Z1778
Chocolate Card Stock (included in Babycakes paper pack)
Sunset Card Stock (included in Babycakes paper pack)
Buttercup Card Stock (included in Babycakes paper pack)
Pear Card Stock Z2197
Colonial White Card Stock 1388
Baker's Twine Z1702 and Z1701 (any combination of colors can be used)
Bronze Shimmer Trim Z1849
Chocolate Striped Grosgrain Ribbon Z1617
Adhesive Strips Z1904
Chocolate Stamp Pad Z2111
Cranberry Stamp Pad Z2116
Topiary Stamp Pad Z2155
Hook and Loop Dots Z1805 (you need just 2 dots)
Rosette Ribbon* Z1800
Brown & Tan Sparkles* Z1753
Pink Glitter Gem* Z1807
Slate Mini Medley Brads* Z1787
Various candies

(*For these items you will only need one to three and of course bling can always be changed around to use what you have on hand.)

Sunday, July 28, 2013

New Product Blop Hop Coming!

Join some amazing CTMH Consultants and hop around our blogs on August 1st (or after) to see oodles of projects made with Autumn Winter CTMH products!

You can start at my blog and hop your way around.   I love blog hops because there are so many amazing ideas shared.

Saturday, July 27, 2013

7/27 ProPlayer Layouts for August

Here's some great paper called ProPlayer.   It's done in Pacifica, Ruby, Slate and Black with Creme Brulee added.   Great colors; very versatile.  

For this first layout, I used Artbooking, our NEW Cricut Cartridge!   I'm not showing anywhere near the full potential here, but I wanted to use just the star overlay, plus the stars from the overlay.   The overlay is cut from black card stock at 10", one for each page, then the stars are scattered around outside the overlay.   What do you think?   Come to my Open House on August 1st and see more examples done with Artbooking.  I have a super duper special in August:   buy the Artbooking Bundle which includes three D size stamp sets and three sets of chipboard, and you will get the adorable August SOTM free (CTMH's August Special) PLUS from me you will get a free C size stamp set or free paper pack!

Back to our layout:  I took these photos when we surprised Megan last December.   Scott was able to make it up in time for his Christmas visit to catch Gresham High's choir concert at the Grotto.   We had told Megan that Scott was coming the next afternoon!    David and Keary were able to go too, so we were all there to see her.   I used our new black mini medley on this layout.  (Now I notice that one of the sparkles slipped over there on the left - oops - rebellious little thing!  Just imagine that it's on the edge of the swag!)   I also used black shimmer trim, black glitter paper and I cut out the word Celebrate with silver glitter paper and the Artbooking cartridge.   It has lots of great titles too.
 Okay, I've shown you ProPlayer can go fancy, now let's see a great layout done with the ProPlayer Assortment, our new Twist Ties, and --- ta da! --- new hexagon irresistables!   They come in three sizes and I love 'em!   (That corrugated hexagon is part of the ProPlayer Assortment.)

 Here's a close-up of those little guys!











This layout doesn't have photos yet, but I plan to put some vacation pictures on these pages.

For the third layout, we have the Workshop on the Go layout.   Again, notice the great stamped title - very fun and easy to do.  This layout is going to get pictures of one of our famous game nights, maybe from New Year's Eve.   Oh, for more hours in the day....    Contact me at kvarcoe@aol.com to order a kit!



7/27 Babycakes Layouts for August

I had SO much fun with this paper pack and embellishments!   And, in spite of the name, it's definitely not just for babies!

Here's the Workshop on the Go Layout, and I used it for photos of Megan.   Just need to add some journaling to that cute mat.   I am really enjoying the new D size stamp sets that come in our WOTG now.   They are perfect for stamping titles.


 Here's a close-up of the NEW Bronze Shimmer Trim and Babycakes Assortment.   For the bow, the instructions had us leave the adhesive backing on - isn't it cute?







 Here's a close-up of one of the stamped titles:

Here's a family reunion layout.  A PERFECT chance to use one of our new Hostess Stamp Sets!
Notice our new Jute Ribbon - very easy to work with and it adds great texture.   The canvas stickease for Babycakes includes the letters for the word NAPTIME, but I wanted to use those letters another way:   In the photo below I used the letter I combined with the heart and smiles stickers.   In the layout above, I used other letters from naptime and made the word TEAM, then cut out the letters for our last name from the alphabet paper that's on the back of this polka dot paper.

Here's a shot that shows the Babycakes Assortment, the Canvas Stickease and one of those Hostess stamps "Awkward Family Photo"   The layout above has another classic:   "We put the fun in dysfunctional."   Told you it was perfect!   Every time my husband and his four siblings all get to the family reunion they reenact a photo taken some 50 years ago.   This is the first time I've seen them forget where they were supposed to sit!   (That's the picture of them all wandering around looking at the ground.... so sad..... (grin)


I'll finish off my Babycakes layout trio with a baby layout!   Here's the newest addition to Keary's family:  Kennedy was born in April and he was at the reunion also.   Just need a couple more photos of the little guy to complete this layout.   I added our tan and brown sparkles and that great bronze shimmer trim again, as well as the canvas stickease and jute ribbon.

If you like these layouts or the ones done with ProPlayer, contact me for a kit to join us for August Scrapbooking.    




Sunday, July 7, 2013

Retiring List

Here's the list of retiring items.  Those highlighted have already sold out.  There are three weeks left in this Idea Book period.
Retiring List Column1 Column2 Column3
Part Description Category Family
Z1347 12 x 12 Post Bound Album- New England Ivy Album album
Z1366 Brads Metal Assortment Accessory brads 
Z1410 Antiqued Copper Designer Brads Accessory brads 
BULK151 AntiquedCopperBrads Bulk brads 
BULK153 PewterBrads Bulk brads 
BULK275 Avonlea Cardmaking Workshop Guide Bulk Brochure
BULK286 Chantilly Workshop Guide (10 pack) Bulk Brochure
BULK287 Buzz and Bumble Workshop Guide (10 pack) Bulk Brochure
BULK288 For Always Workshop Guide (10 pack) Bulk Brochure
BULK289 Claire Workshop Guide (10 pack) Bulk Brochure
BULK290 Later Sk8r Workshop Guide (10 pack) Bulk Brochure
BULK291 Surf's Up Workshop Guide (10 pack) Bulk Brochure
BULK292 Tommy Workshop Guide (10 pack) Bulk Brochure
BULK293 For Always Cardmaking Workshop Guide (10 pack) Bulk Brochure
BULK294 Chantilly Cardmaking Workshop Guide (10 pack) Bulk Brochure
BULK255 Avonlea B&T Duos® Combo Pack Bulk BT
BULK256 Clementine B&T Duos® Combo Pack Bulk BT
BULK257 Dakota B&T Duos® Combo Pack Bulk BT
BULK259 Scholastic B&T Duos® Combo Pack Bulk BT
BULK279 Buzz and Bumble B&T Duos® Combo Pack Bulk BT
BULK282 Later Sk8r B&T Duos® Combo Pack Bulk BT
BULK283 Tommy B&T Duos® Combo Pack Bulk BT
BULK284 Surf's Up B&T Duos® Combo Pack Bulk BT
Z1358 Buttons Basic Assortment  Accessory Buttons
Z1369 Buttons Red Assortment  Accessory Buttons
Z1370 Buttons Pink Assortment Accessory Buttons
Z1371 Buttons Blue Assortment Accessory Buttons
Z1372 Buttons Green Assortment  Accessory Buttons
Z1703 Wooden Badge Buttons Accessory Buttons
Z1704 Pewter Badge Buttons Accessory Buttons
Z1821 Buttons Black Assortment Accessory Buttons
Bulk212 Chocolate Buttons Bulk Buttons
Bulk273 Grey Sparkle Badge Buttons Bulk Buttons
BULK297 Black Button Bulk Buttons
G1060 Workshops on the Go® For Always Cardmaking Kit WOTG Card 
G1061 Workshops on the Go® Chantilly Cardmaking Kit WOTG Card 
Z1412 10-Things Pocket Paper Product cards
Z1474 6" x 6" Kraft Die-Cut Cards & Envelopes Paper Product cards
Z1721 3” x 3” Kraft Envelopes Paper Product Cards
Z1722 4 1/4" x 5 1/2" Kraft Envelopes Paper Product Cards
Z1723 5” x 7” Kraft Envelopes Paper Product Cards
Z1724 6” x 6” Kraft Envelopes Paper Product Cards
Z1450 Cork Color-Ready Alphabet Accessory Color Ready
Z1718 Color-Ready Garden Wooden Shapes Accessory Color Ready
Z1719 Color-Ready Evergreen Cork Shapes Accessory Color Ready
Z1773 Color-Ready Noted Canvas Shapes Accessory Color Ready
1771 WaterbrushMedium Tool coloring 
Z1246 EmbPowderCocoa Tool coloring 
Z1350 embossing powder topiary Tool coloring 
Z1351 embossing powder dutch blue Tool coloring 
Z655 EmbPowderOlive Tool coloring 
Z656 EmbPowderOutdoorDenim Tool coloring 
Z659 EmbPowderCranberry Tool coloring 
Z670 EmbPowderBlack Tool coloring 
Z672 EmbPowderRed Tool coloring 
Z673 EmbPowderWhite Tool coloring 
Z724 EmbossingPen Tool coloring 
X7155C Avonlea Complements Canvas Shapes Accessory Complements
X7156C Clementine Complements Canvas Shapes Accessory Complements
X7157C Dakota Complements Silver Foil Images Accessory Complements
X7159C Scholastic My Stickease® Assortment  Accessory Complements
X7164C Buzz and Bumble My Stickease® Assortment  Accessory Complements
X7166C Claire Complements Canvas Shapes Accessory Complements
X7167C Later Sk8r My Stickease® Assortment  Accessory Complements
Z1392 2" Scallop Circle Punch  Tool cutting
Z578 Corner Rounder Tool cutting
Z1326 Sparkles Red, Pink & Purple Assortment Accessory embellishment
Z1327 Sparkles Blue & Green Assortment Accessory embellishment
Z1710 Just Blooms® Paradise Paper Flowers Accessory Flowers
BULK233 Just Blooms® Flutter Paper Shapes (1" with script) Bulk flowers
Z1612 Paper Clip Pins Accessory foundry
Z1827 My Creations™ Paper Pouch - Small   Crafts   gift 
Z1828 My Creations™ Paper Pouch - Large  Crafts   gift 
G1062 Workshops on the Go® Canvas Art Kit   WOTG   home décor 
Z1734 Irresistibles™ Persnickety Journaling Spots Accessory Journaling
Z1755 Posh Journaling Spots Accessory Journaling
G1053 Workshops on the Go® Chantilly Scrapbooking Kit WOTG Layout
G1054 Workshops on the Go® Buzz and Bumble Scrapbooking Kit WOTG Layout
G1055 Workshops on the Go® For Always Scrapbooking Kit WOTG Layout
G1056 Workshops on the Go® Claire Scrapbooking Kit WOTG Layout
G1057 Workshops on the Go® Later Sk8r Scrapbooking Kit WOTG Layout
G1058 Workshops on the Go® Tommy Scrapbooking Kit WOTG Layout
G1059 Workshops on the Go® Surf's Up Scrapbooking Kit WOTG Layout
Z1748 Brocade Assortment Accessory Level 2
Z1766 Memo Assortment Accessory Level 2
Z1780 Wrangler Assortment Accessory Level 2
Z1794 Cottage Assortment Accessory Level 2
Z1810 Later Sk8r Assortment  Accessory  Level 2 
Z1813 Claire Assortment  Accessory  Level 2 
Z1831 Buzz and Bumble Assortment  Accessory  Level 2 
X7155B Avonlea Paper Packet Paper Product Level 2
X7156B Clementine Paper Packet Paper Product Level 2
X7157B Dakota Paper Packet Paper Product Level 2
X7159B Scholastic Paper Packet Paper Product Level 2
X7164B Buzz and Bumble Paper Packet Paper Product Level 2
X7166B Claire Paper Packet Paper Product Level 2
X7167B Later Sk8r Paper Packet  Paper Product Level 2
Z1487 Mini Medley Accents Pewter Collection Accessory mini medley
Z1489 Mini Medley Accents Olive Collection Accessory mini medley
Z1697 Mini-Medley Accents Smoothie Collection Accessory mini medley
Z1736 My Creations® Mini Banner Crafts My Creations
Z1739 My Creations® Milk Carton Crafts My Creations
Z1740 My Creations® Bookmark Album  Crafts My Creations
Z1774 My Creations® Canvas Journal Crafts My Creations
Z1081 ColonialWhiteWaxyFlax Accessory Ribbon
Z1088 ChocolateWaxyFlax Accessory Ribbon
Z1089 BlackWaxyFlax Accessory Ribbon
Z1096 EmbroideryFlossNeutralAssortment Accessory Ribbon
Z1798 Black Tulle Ribbon Accessory Ribbon
Z906 BambooWaxyFlax Accessory Ribbon
W1123 Spring Summer 2013 B&T Duo Sampler Supply Supply
Z1267 Paper/StampOrganizer8.5x11(3) organization  
Z4134 Handle and Swivel Base organization  
Z4136 ExclusiveInksOrganizerCarryingCase Organization  
Z4200 AccessoriesOrganizer Organization  
Z608 EmbossingStylusMedium Tool  
A1132 Family Stamp  A 
A1133 Festival of Lights Stamp  A 
B1372 Circle Together Stamp  B 
B1395 So Grateful Stamp  B 
B1396 School Rocks Stamp  B 
B1405 Rugged Dude Stamp  B 
B1406 Blessings of Peace Stamp  B 
B1410 A Friend Like You Stamp  B 
B1414 Bonjour Stamp  B 
C1438 Tea Time Stamp C
C1461 Salutation Seals Stamp C
C1466 Instant Memories Stamp C
C1505 Pun Fun Stamp C
C1507 Angelic Blessings Stamp C
C1508 Paisley Flair Stamp C
C1511 Love Blooms Stamp C
C1520 Christmas Joy Stamp C
D1187 For Every Occasion Stamp D
D1388 Card Chatter - Christmas Stamp D
D1399 Dream Big Stamp D
D1440 Everlasting Life Stamp D
D1444 A Little Thanks Stamp D
D1492 Christmas Love Stamp D
D1517 Game On Stamp D
D1519 Abundance Stamp D
D1521 Powder Heaven Stamp D
D1523 Sweet Music Stamp D
D1528 Jardin Stamp D
E1010 Chocolate Alphabet Large Stamp  E 
E1014 Posterboard Alphabet Stamp  E 
E1015 Cocktail Alphabet Stamp  E 
E1017 Old World Alphabet Stamp  E 
E1018 Pennant Alphabet Stamp  E 
E1019 Bohemian Alphabet Stamp  E 
E1020 Token Alphabet Stamp  E 
E1021 Trinity Alphabet Stamp  E 
E1022 Hero Alphabet Stamp  E 
E1023 Varsity Alphabet Stamp  E 
E1024 Keepsake Alphabet Stamp  E 
K900 Single Name Stamp Stamp  Custom 
K9012 Address Stamp w/o Icon 2 Lines Stamp  Custom 
K9013 Address Stamp w/o Icon 3 Lines Stamp  Custom 
K9014 Address Stamp w/o Icon 4 Lines Stamp  Custom 
K9022 Address Stamp with Icon 2 Lines Stamp  Custom 
K9023 Address Stamp with Icon 3 Lines Stamp  Custom 
K9024 Address Stamp with Icon 4 Lines Stamp  Custom 
W1600 Customized Set Stamp Custom