Inspirational Art Canvas

Art Canvas

• Cut a piece of cardstock to the size of your canvas. (Tip: Do all your stamping and inking first before attaching the cardstock to the canvas.)
• Select four or five alphabet stamp sets, varying the size and styles. (Tip: You can create this “subway art” look with whatever alphabet sets you have on hand.)
• Choose a few simple icon stamps to fill in empty areas.
• Play around with the placement and spacing of the letters and icons before stamping.
• Stamp the words and icons with black StazOn^® ink.
• Attach the finished cardstock piece using a thin coat of Mod Podge applied to the canvas.

http://tuttonstreasures.blogspot.com/2010/09/m-stix-tutorial.html

m&m candy tutorial

Artwork created with August Stamp of the Month

August AMAZING PromotionS!!

From August 15 - August 31 there are 3 STUPENDOUS SPECIALS that intersect with Close To My Heart. In fact, if you spend $75 (before shipping and tax) during this period of time, you earn over $40 in stamp sets FREE and another $17.95 stamp set for only $5! No foolin'! Dounle up on promotions this month but only during Aug 15-31st!
Here's how it works:

1. Purchase $50 in product (before shipping and tax) and get the August Stamp of the Month (Wicked) for only $5 ($17.95 value). That $55 also counts toward the $75 in #3 below. The card at the beginning of the post is a standard size card (4 1/4" x 5 1/2") that I made using this set (products used list at the end of this post).
2. When you spend the $50, and then the $5 for the Stamp of the Month (worth $17.95), you also get this darling "A Typeface" stamp set FREE ($6.95 value).
3. Add another $20 in product to your order, so you are spending $75 (before shipping and tax) and get Close To My Heart's first ever DOUBLE stamp set called "Pair-a-Phrase" (two of our "D" size stamp sheets, worth $17.95 each, for a total of $35.90 in value) FREE!

Pennant n Balloon card

I love a homemade card. And, I am sure you will love this one. Who can resist smiling at the bright colors, pennants and balloons?

Thanks P.Dolecki for sharing.

CTMH says "Cricut"

I will admit I love the Cricut! Do I own one? No. I have an addictive personality and a very small budget...honestly,  a zero budget for hobbies right now. So, I have never bought one. No sense in owning the machine if I can't purchase all the coordinating goodies, right? Thank goodness for friends and my kids' school who own one and graciously loan their machines to me. Well, times have changed for me! CTMH has teamed with the makers of Cricut and created an exclusive cartridge for CTMH. It has over 700 images, comes packaged in a bundle with 3 exclusive CTMH stamps AND (as if that wasn't enough) coordinates with numerous stamp sets in the Fall 2011 catalog! I have my catalog now. You can get yours August 1st!! I have decided now is the time for Cricut ownership. With over 700 images and all the other possibilities, this one cartridge will be enough for creative heaven!

Gift: Card box with month cards

JUBILATION June SOTM CARD SET: Cards are 4x4; Box 4.5W, 4.5H, 3D

Stamps: Jubilation SOTM, In the Month of Jan., In the Month of Feb., Snow Flurries

Paper: Sweetheart, Wings CB, Sophia, Fanfare, Hooligans, Olivia, Mayberry

Cardstock: White Daisy, Colonial White, Dutch Blue, Sky, Black, Topiary, Pear, Pacifica, Sunset, Barn Red, Olive, Cocoa

Ink: White Daisy, Cocoa, Dutch Blue, Tulip, Topiary, Hollyhock, Blush, Sunny Yellow, Black, Chocolate, Goldrush, Autumn Terracotta, Olive, Smoothie

Embellishments: White Daisy Brads, Bitty Sparkles, White Daisy Grosgrain, Lime Green Stickles, Holiday Button, Olive Waxy Flax, Cranberry Grosgrain, Glitz, Black Stitched Ribbon, Black Diamond Stickles, Chocolate Organdy, Olive Stitched Ribbon, Colonial White Bigger Brads, Designer Brads

Tools: 4x4 Envelope Flats, Terrifically Tacky Tape, 2" Scallop Circle Punch, Piercing Tool, Sponge, 3D Foam Tape, Glue Dots, 1/2 Velcro Dot 

Thanks T.Lunceford for sharing your great idea!

Layouts: Fanfare paper pack part 2

Another 4 layouts using the Fanfare paper pack. The pattern names are:

Fantastic Five
Sweet Symphony
Jazzy Combination
Portrait Collection
Backstage
Super J (from Studio J)
Abstract
Powerful Trio

Layouts: Fanfare paper pack

4 fabulous layouts created using the Fanfare paper pack. Available until July 31st for $12.95 plus tax and shipping. Tomorrow will display 4 more layouts. Check back soon.

July promotion: Bang for your Buck!

 Bang for your Buck!!

 IT’S SIMPLE. SPEND $50, THEN CHOOSE A BONUS ITEM FOR $1 (FIVE products to choose from). Because everyone loves more bang for the buck!

Eligible $1 Bonus Items:
• Creative Basics® Mistletoe Collection
• Creative Basics® Animal Cookies Collection
• My Originals® Bits & Pieces Card Kit
• My Originals® It’s Your Day Card Kit
• My Originals® Around the Holidays Card Kit

PLUS, don't forget that a $50 order will give you the July Stamp of the Month set (shown below) at 50% off. Another bonus savings for you! :) How cute are your 4th of July pictures going to look in your scrapbooks using this set?

Card: Celebrate with the July sotm

Happy 4th of July! Enjoy your summer celebrations with this fun card. The exclusive July stamp of the month is available in the month of July only. Purchase it for $22.95 or earn it at a discount with purchase, even FREE! I love stars especially this set. Look for more artwork created with this stamp in the near future.

June promotion reminder: Studio J free jpeg

If you haven't created a layout with Studio J, it is not too late. You have until midnight June 30th. I created mine and love it. Love the layout and love Studio J! It was so easy. While I love papercrafting, Studio J makes scrapbooking so easy especially for the multiple books I maintain. Below is the layout I created with Studio J. I plan to print a copy for each of my siblings and parents. With a membership, the layouts will cost $6.50 each and no additional time. I get to simply click 6 copies and checkout. Easy peasy lemon squeezey!

Paper Cake...magnificent

It is hard to write words or provide a worthy description since you are probably still gasping in awe. This paper cake was created by a fellow consultant, Tracey Mason as a gift for a friend's son's wedding. The cake is actually paper mache' round containers covered in paper textured by the cuttlebug (you can buy similar pre made paper), decorated with CTMH pearl opagues and Tracey's one of a kind swirl paper flowers, tiny pinecones from her yard and green 'twigs' are a punch from Martha Stewart (available at Hobby Lobby and Micheal's). The blue 'ribbon' is simply paper but real ribbon would be just as beautiful. My goal this summer is to re-create this gorgeous cake. Can't wait to share it with you.

Freezer meals: Pork Barbacoa

My family especially Abby loves this meal! She is definitely a carnivore. The recipe is from Macey's crock pot dinner solutions. I have made it as a crock pot meal and as a freezer meal. Listed is the crock pot instructions and afterwards my suggestions for converting it to a freezer meal.

Pork Barbacoa
Mix the following a bowl:
3 tsp garlic powder
4 tsp cumin
3 tsp molasses
5 cans tomato sauce
1 1/2 c brown sugar
4 c Dr. Pepper soda

Pour sauce mixture over pork roast in a crock pot and cook on low 6-7 hours.
Shred meat meat, return to pot and cook 1 hour in the sauce on low.
Keep warm until ready to serve.
Serve in flour tortillas. Garnish with lettuce, cheese and sour cream

Conversion Suggestion:
You have 2 options. First, follow the crock pot directions and freeze after meat has cooked for 6-7 hours. Then, shred meat and freeze in sauce. Reheat shredded meat and sauce when ready to serve. Or, secondly,  freeze raw meat and Dr. Pepper in a gallon size bag. Combine other ingredients in a quart size bag and freeze. When ready to use, thaw in fridge. Cook in crock pot as directed above.

Freezer meal: Diablo chicken

Another easy recipe from Macey's grocery store's crock pot dinner solutions. You can find all their recipes archived at www.maceys.com/crocktalk

Diablo Chicken
6 boneless skinless chicken breasts
4 tbsp butter
1/2 c honey
1/4 c dijon mustard
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp curry powder

If making as a crock pot meal, place bottom in crock first and pour the sauce mixture over top. Cook on low for 8 hours.
If making into a freezer meal: place all ingredients together in to a freezer gallon sized bag. Seal and freeze. Thaw in fridge when ready to use. Place in a 9x13 baking dish and bake at 350' for 30 mins or until internal temperature reaches 165'.

Freezer meal: Pork Tenderloin

I have a new love with pork tenderloins. Baked correctly, these pieces of pork are tender and juicy. I purchase mine from a warehouse store for optimal pricing.

Pork Tenderloin

In a gallon freezer bag place:
1 pork tenderloin
2/3 c soy sauce
2 tsp garlic
1 tbsp ginger
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 black pepper
1 c ketchup
1/4 c sugar
1/4 c white cooking wine (very inexpensive  about $1 at walmart)
1 oz honey

In a quart bag place:

1 tbsp vegetable oil
1/2 tbsp sesame oil
1/3 c vidalia onion, chopped
1/3 c celery, chopped
1/3 c carrot, chopped
1/3 c red pepper, chopped
1/3 c green bell pepper, chopped
1 c pineapple chunks

Seal bags. Place together inside a gallon size freezer bag. Label and freeze. Thaw in fridge when ready to use. Can be cooked in crock pot for 4-6 hours on low or placed in oven at 350' for 30 minutes.

Freezer meal: Polynesian Pork Chops

This recipe is courtesy of Macey's grocery store. They offer weekly crock pot dinner solutions. This is their recipe. I suggest serving it with rice and a yummy salad.

Polynesian Pork Chops:

In a gallon size freezer bag place:
4 3/4 inch think boneless pork chops
1 can of golden mushroom soup
20 oz can of pineapple chunks
1 tsp garlic powder or minced garlic
1/4 c water
1 medium yellow onion, chopped
2 tbsp soy sauce
1 Tbsp honey

Label. Freeze. Thaw in fridge when ready to use.

June promotion: Studio J free jpeg

Studio J is an awesome FREE online scrapbooking option for those who need to get caught up, have limited creative working space, can't find time to scrapbook, need to make multiple projects or love the ease of working on a computer!Best of all, Studio J is FREE to use. Costs incur for printing only.

In June, you will also get a FREE jpeg file of one project. Use the jpeg (the digital copy) to print at your favorite printing store or to share digitally (on a blog or by email).

Click the Studio J button on the right of the blog or go to www.tabatha.myctmh.com and click Studio J. Create an account (to save your work for free for 90 days) and begin uploading photos. Super easy!

Email me your jpeg to be entered into a contest for a $25 gift certificate!! Winner announced July 5th.

Freezer meal: Denison's Lasagna

Here is my hubby's favorite lasagna. The recipe is a family tradition and favorite of my best friend (and partner in crime) Mallory Denison Miller. Thank you Denison family for sharing!

Denison Lasagna
1lb hamburger
3 1/2 c diced tomatoes (fresh or canned)
8 oz seasoned tomato sauce
envelope of Spaghetti sauce mix
6 oz mozzarella cheese
2 c cottage cheese
1  box lasagna noodles

Brown hamburger with diced tomatoes, tomato sauce and envelope of seasoning. Cook noodles al dente. In a disposable aluminum baking dish, layer meat mixture, cottage cheese, mozzarella cheese and lasagna noodles. Cover. Label and freeze.

Bake frozen for 2 hrs or thawed for 1 hour at 375'

Freezer meal: Candied Carrots

Don't forget that side dishes and breakfast items can become freezer meals also. Below is a yummy recipe for Candied Baby Carrots. A favorite in our house. It is the only way my kids will eat cooked carrots. With the butter and sugars, can you tell why?

Candied Carrots
2lb bag of baby carrots
1 tsp salt
1 tsp sugar
1/2 c butter
1/2 c brown sugar

Place carrots, salt and sugar in a bag together. Place the remaining ingredients together in a quart size ziploc. Place both bags together in a gallon size bag. Label and freeze.

When ready to use, place carrots, salt and sugar in a saucepan. Cover with water. Boil; reduce heat to medium and cook for 20 minutes. Drain. Add butter and brown sugar. Cook 5 mins. Serve!