Sponge Dauber Storage

We all love the sponge daubers from Close to my Heart, but how do you store yours?  

A friend of mine turned me onto this box and I fell in love.  I use my label maker to label the color I used on each dauber. Right now I have two boxes. One for regular ink and one for Pigment inks.  They fit into all my bags or stack neatly on my crop table.  At $7.99 (on sale right now!) they are affordable too! Check them out at Scrapbook.com



You can find the Close to my Heart daubers here

Digital Options with Forever

If you have been with me for a while you may remember, and you may have the old Creative Memories Memory Manager and Storybook Creator products. While these were sold by CM, they were created by Panstoria, which has now merged with Forever. If you have the CM Memory Manager and/or Storybook Creator products (like I do!!) you can now upgrade them to Forever and continue to have peace of mind that your photos are protected. If you do not have the prior software and do not know what this is, let me share! With these powerful photo tools you are able to organize, edit, share, print, etc your photos all in one place. There is no need to pay hundreds of dollars for complicated software. You can also print digital gifts such as photobooks, calendars, mugs, and more. I have used Memory Manager and Storybook Creator for many years and could not be happier with the products. I have 20,000+ photos on my laptop and preserving them and knowing they are safe is important to me.

Watercolor leaves

Using the new Close to My Heart Watercolor products I made these fun fall leaves with the help of my Cricut Explore

find all the supplies used on my website at www.LoriKutsch.ctmh.com

Gold Cricut Explore Giveaway!!!!!!!

As you may have seen…Cricut is hosting a GOLD party on October 7^th!!!!  

^{You must be wondering how to enter!   Well start by watching this video, then follow the step below}

Here’s how this will work:

1.     You need to follow this blog by completing the "Follow by email" section just to the left of this post.  

2.     You must  join the event by following this link (if you have not already joined) https://www.facebook.com/events/1012692955447978/ 

3.     Add a comment with my name  (Lori Kutsch) on the VIP Guest list RSVP Post in the event – On our event page under the VIP guest list post (Use the following link:https://www.facebook.com/events/1012692955447978/permalink/1019566428093964/ ) – you must comment with my name to be eligible for a chance to win a Gold Machine from my guest list.

Good Luck everyone!!!!   

If you have not already joined my facebook groups, do that while you are here!

Cricut Craft Room

Cricut Explore & Design Space

Lori Kutsch Scrapbooking

**Comments made on this blog will not get you entered into the contest**

Cricut Digital Sale

Digital sale at Cricut!!  Licensed digital images (so these are not in the subscription) are 33% off.

Use the code DIGITALSALE and get another 20% off that already reduced price!  But wait theres more...for those that are Cricut Circle members, you get another 10% off that.  This sale includes Disney, Anna Griffin, Boy scouts....to just name a few

Go Here to shop Cricut Sale

CTMH Lighthouse Birthday Card

Today I played with some stamping and heat embossing to make this cute Lighthouse Birthday card.

Get all the supplies to make it on my website here

Supplies used:

Seaside Greetings Stamp Set #D1609

Cashmere, Colonial White & Glacier Cardstock

Cashmere & Glacier Exclusive Ink

Sponge Daubers

Versamark Ink

Craft Heater

White Super Fine embossing Powder

CTMH Nevermore

Nevermore is the Halloween themed paper that is in the new Close to my Heart Annual Expressions catalogs.

Nevermore paper, compliments and assortment.

Paper Pack‬ #X7198B $9.95
Compliments ‪‬ #X7198C $5.95
Assortment #Z3083 $5.95

Available in the Holiday Expressions until Dec 31st

Click here to go to the Nevermore products on my Close to My Heart site

Making shadow layer with System Fonts in Design Space

This is what I learned how to do today! I couldn't wait to get home and make a video to show you!! I hope its something knew to you too!

Coloring Fun with Close to My Heart

Stamping Technique: Marker Coloring

Remember the marker chart from last week that showed you how to create our exclusive colors by blending ShinHan™ Touch Twin™ markers? Well, today we’re going to show you beautiful artwork that uses these formulas to fill in stamps! AND we’re going to teach you some tricks for how to do this!

Using this month’s featured paper packets, Zoe and Nevermore, our artist made these 3 adorable autumn cards:

Aren’t they cute? Using the ShinHan™ Touch Twin™ markers to fill in stamped images is a great way to add rich, vibrant color to your artwork. Before we dive in to the specific techniques used in these cards, let’s talk about ink and paper. When filling in a stamped image with these alcohol-based markers, the ink you use to stamp your image really matters. If you stamp with a water-based ink, your image will most likely bleed and become less distinct as you color over it with the markers. We recommend using our Archival Black Exclusive Inks™ pad or other inks like the Black StazOn™ ink pad or the Tuxedo Black Memento™ ink pad.

Whatever ink you use, be sure that your ink dries completely before you use the markers. On this artwork, our artist used a craft heater to make sure the stamped images were completely dry before she grabbed her markers. We also recommend using White Daisy cardstock when blending the markers to create our exclusive colors.

After stamping (and drying!) the outline of these blossoms, our artist followed the marker chart to create Pomegranate, Eggplant, Sunset, and Saffron petals. As you’ll remember from our previous post, the order of the layered colors is very important, so make sure to follow the marker chart. We love how she alternated Saffron and Sunset on the largest flower! With the help of the chart, she also created Fern and Sweet Leaf leaves. Notice how the Eggplant cardstock on the base of the card matches the Eggplant blossom and pulls the card together.

On this card, our artist used a really cool technique to get the shading on the leaf. She began by following the instructions for creating Sweet Leaf: First she colored the stamp with the Sap Green marker and then with the Pastel Green marker. To create Sweet Leaf you have to repeat these steps, so she colored it again with Sap Green, but then only colored half of the leaf with the Pastel Green, creating that ombré effect. How cool is that?

For the final card, our artist dressed this little monster up in Gypsy, Thistle, and Pear, created again by blending our markers. And don’t you just love those rosy cheeks? After coloring the face using the Barley Beige marker, the artist used the fine tip of the Light Orange marker to lightly add a few dots close together in a circle shape. She then immediately colored over the cheek a few times with Barley Beige large tip to blend the cheek in. The result—a very cute, blushing vampire.

And there you have it! A few tricks you can use when filling in your stamps with the ShinHan™Touch Twin™ markers. To see more artwork made using our Nevermore and Zoe paper collections, search for the hashtags #ctmhzoe and #ctmhnevermore on Facebook and Instagram. And stay tuned here on the blog for more artwork featuring great stamping techniques throughout the month!

Recipes

4 ½” x 5 ½” So Thankful Card
Originals: A Heartfelt Classic™
D1662 My Acrylix® Harvest Wreath, D1651 My Acrylix® Wavy Blooms, X7197B Zoe Paper Packet, X5774 Eggplant Cardstock, 1385 White Daisy Cardstock, Z2170 Ruby Exclusive Inks™ Pad, Z888 Black StazOn™ Ink Pad, Z3089 Grey Enamel Gems, Z2013 Sequins Silver Assortment, Z2456 ShinHan™Touch Twin™ Mahogany Marker, Z2452 ShinHan™ Touch Twin™ Golden Yellow Marker, Z2455 ShinHan™ Touch Twin™ Light Orange Marker, Z2467 ShinHan™ Touch Twin™ Warm Grey 4 Marker, Z2453 ShinHan™ Touch Twin™ Lavender Marker, Z2448 ShinHan™ Touch Twin™ Carmine Marker, Z2447 ShinHan™ Touch Twin™ Bronze Marker, Z2450 ShinHan™ Touch Twin™ Cherry Pink Marker, Z2463 ShinHan™ Touch Twin™ Sap Green Marker, Z2462 ShinHan™ Touch Twin™ Peony Purple Marker, Z2459 ShinHan™ Touch Twin™ Pastel Green Marker, Z2454 ShinHan™ Touch Twin™Leaf Green Marker, Z3132 Watercolor Paints, Z2027 Mini Stapler

6″ x 6″ Autumn Harvest Card
Originals: Background Blocks™
B1463 My Acrylix® Thankful Heart, D1662 My Acrylix® Harvest Wreath, X7197B Zoe Paper Packet, X7198B Nevermore Paper Packet, X5751 Sorbet Cardstock, 1385 White Daisy Cardstock, Z2173 Slate Exclusive Inks™ Pad, Z888 Black StazOn™ Ink Pad, Z3093 Fern Thick Twine, Z2463 ShinHan™ Touch Twin™ Sap Green Marker, Z2459 ShinHan™ Touch Twin Pastel Green Marker, Z2467 ShinHan™Touch Twin™ Warm Grey 4 Marker, Z2451 ShinHan™ Touch Twin™ Clay Marker, Z2455 ShinHan™Touch Twin™ Light Orange Marker, Z1151 3-D Foam Tape

5 ½” x 4 ½” Happy Halloween
Wishes: Pattern Designer Tag™
C1630 My Acrylix® Little Monsters, X7198B Nevermore Paper Packet, X5758 Sunset Cardstock, 1385 White Daisy Cardstock, Z2105 Black Exclusive Inks™ Pad, Z888 Black StazOn™ Ink Pad, Z3095 Whisper Thick Twine, Z3089 Grey Enamel Gems, Z2446 ShinHan™ Touch Twin™ Black Marker, Z2445 ShinHan™ Touch Twin™ Barley Beige Marker, Z2454 ShinHan™ Touch Twin™ Leaf Green Marker, Z2467 ShinHan™ Touch Twin™ Warm Grey 4 Marker, Z2453 ShinHan™ Touch Twin™Lavender Marker, Z2462 ShinHan™ Touch Twin™ Peony Purple Marker, Z2455 ShinHan™ Touch Twin™ Light Orange Marker, Z1151 3-D Foam Tape, Z3171 Cricut® Art Philosophy Collection

Cricut® Shape:
Art Philosophy
3 ½” <tag 3> (p. 50)

You can find all the supplies needed to complete this project on my website here

Cricut Faux Leather, Woodgrain Sampler

**This post contains affiliate links and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking through my links. 

Easy-to-cut, textured faux leather gives all the benefits of leather without the extra cost. No need for a deep cut blade: Cricut® Faux Leather is both thin and durable, so you can cut it into intricate shapes that stand up to wear and tear. Full 12" x 12" sheets let you make projects as big as your imagination—faux leather gives you 5 square feet of crafting pleasure! You can personalize your DIY projects with any of the 50,000+ shapes in the Cricut® Image Library, or upload your own unique images for free. Create eye-catching jewelry, trendy fashion accessories, attention-grabbing home décor, and textured paper crafting accents. 

• 5 sheets of 12" x 12" faux leather in 5 colors: Charcoal, Boxwood, Ash, Walnut, Espresso
• Use with all Cricut® electronic cutting machines
• Material cuts smoothly, offering you the look and feel of real leather without the need for a deep-cut blade
• Full-size 12" x 12" sheets of quality-certified, durable faux leather for larger projects
• Ideal for fashion accessories, home décor, and embellishments for scrapbooking and card making

Orders yours from Cricut here

I have been playing with this for a little bit already, and I have to say I am very pleased with it.  You can add dimension and texture to projects like never before!!

3D Butterfly Card

All Close to my Heart products can be purchased on my website at www.LoriKutsch.ctmh.com (click here to be directed to my site).  The following products were used:

Whimsy Paper Fundamentals (Crystal Blue) #Z3127
Crystal Blue Pigment Ink #z2504
Bonding Memories Glue Pen #Z553
Clear Embossing Powder #Z2088
Craft Heater #Z555
Dizzy Circles Stamp #C1610
Art Philosophy Cricut Cartridge #Z3171

Wink of Stella Pens purchased from Amazon.  Can be found here

Its September Mystery Box time!!

This contains mysterious items, some of which could be visible from the moon! Includes 4 NEW materials, 2 accessories and 1 cartridge. Hurry and buy one before we run out!!

Order your by following this link to go directly to the Cricut site.

For orders over $30.00, get free standard shipping in the US with code FALLSHIP

September & October Gatherings

I am now booking for my September - October Gatherings.  Above is the Butterfly card we will make using our new Fundamentals Papers.  Each person at your home Gathering will leave with a completed card, and you will of course can earn hostess rewards to use for FREE product (based on gathering orders).

My weekends in September are already booked, but most weekday evenings are still open (I am out of town the 16th-20th).  If you would like to be one of my September or October hostesses let me know right away!

If you are not local to me, or able to be a hostess you can also do an online party.  Contact me today for more info.

(card designed and shared by Dana Kessler)

Job interview & Close to my Heart

I went on an interview for a job and when the boss asked what I wanted for compensation I replied:
1. First, I would like 22% commission on everything I sell. 
2. And as I sell more, my commission goes up, up, up!
3. I want the ability to earn all-expense paid trips for a job well done, not just vacation time, but the vacation!
4. I would also like the opportunity to purchase my own products at a great discount or even get them FOR FREE!
5. I expect you to provide me with the very best website and training FOR FREE!
6. When I bring in and train any new team members, I deserve to be compensated plus earn a percentage of their sales & the sales of the people they bring in.
7. I would like the opportunity to rapidly advance within the company.
8. When I do well, I expect LOTS of praise and recognition, gifts & bonuses!!
9. I would like my friends and family to work here.
10. By the way, I need to set my own schedule & work only when it suits me and my family.
So... when can I start?
After the owner recovered from shock, he ROARED with laughter, "You can't be serious!?! You're dreamin'! You'll never find an opportunity like that ANYWHERE! And if you do...come back and get me because I want to work with you!"
So I gave him my business card. smile emoticon


This is exactly what Close to My Heart offers!  Commissions start at 22%.  You can earn FREE product every month, you get rewarded as people join your team, no one decides when you get promoted but you!  Its a great company, and I could not be happier with them since I joined (without even seeing a catalog prior!!) in 2013. 

For more information or to join the Hearts of Bling team, contact me today or check out the consultant kit by clicking here

BETA PREVIEW - Cricut Design Space Patterns & Large print and cut

Ok here it is!!! Remember this is a BETA PREVIEW so you will not have access to these features just yet!