Birthday card with CTMH stamps.

My son asked me to make a birthday card for his girlfriend this morning as he left for work. He requested something sweet "like I'd make for his dad" :)  Papers are random scraps.  CTMH stamps Baby Love, Mad About You and Card Chatter - Birthday, stamped with Tulip colored ink.  Hearts popped up with foam tape.  Crocheted ribbon is from the Designer Ribbon pink collection from CTMH.

CTMH Memory Box - colors/letters/numbers

I made this for my grandson to help him learn colors/letters/numbers.  I inked all the edges & then I used Modge Podge to glue the papers on & then covered it all in Modge Podge to make it more durable for a 2 yr old.
CTMH Token Alphabet, 1 1/4" circle punch, memory box, retired Animal Cookies paper, Dutch Blue re-inker and various paper scraps for the colored circles.

Almost Here! CTMH Typeset

This is my version of the layout on page 14 in the CTMH catalog.  I used Typeset paper.  All the letters & shaped cuts were from Cricut's Art Philosophy Cartridge.  My grandbaby is due 11-18-11 so we are trying to wait patiently!

Christmas card with Art Philosophy & CTMH icing overlays.

I used Art Philosophy to cut the light blue backgroud (manipulated the size on my Gypsy).  Art Philosophy was also used to cut the snowflake background & then covered with clear glittery stuff you can't see very well on here. The big snowflake & "believe" are Top Coats Icing Overlays from CTMH. The inside is a CTMH stamp which is embossed (my first time trying embossing powder). The snowflake inside is a metal finding from I don't know where.

CTMH Art Philosopy & From My Kitchen layout

This is Cade learning how to make cheesecake with his grandpa.  CTMH buttons & Elemental paper pak, Art Philosophy letters & chipboard, CTMH olive & creme brulee ink, mixer, oval wording, bowl & spoon - From My Kitchen cartridge.

North Judson Train ride for Cade

Cade loves trains and his mom found out about this train ride.  It also took us to a pumpkin patch so he could get a pumpkin!  The layout was done using CTMH Dreaming paper pack/bronze glitter gel/shimmer designer brads.

Fishing Labor Day Weekend

This is hubby with his salmon.  Pictures inked around the edges with CTMH chocolate ink, CTMH chipboard, stamps & ribbon finish it off :)

CTMH October Special From Me...

For the month of Ocotber I am offering free shipping (only in the US lower 48 states).  So, if there's something you've been wanting, now is a good time to get it!  You can order online & pay the full amount & I can refund the shipping charge through Paypal. 
 Order here:  http://www.ctmh.com/sherrybarnes

Don't forget, with a $50 purchase you qualify for the Stamp of the Month for only $5.00 plus tax.  The October stamp is an awesome Christmas stamp which would be great to get started on your Christmas cards/holiday decorating/Christmas layouts.
https://sherrybarnes.myctmh.com/Retail/Product.aspx?ItemID=6281&CatalogID=953

Cricut Art Philosophy - race for Progeria

Here is a layout using Fanfare and Art Philosophy.  This is a 5K fundraiser for a little boy with Progeria that I run every year.  This year I ran with my grandson Cade (22 months) & this was his 1st race.  Pictures were taken with a cell phone so the quality is not so good but it's all I have & I have to scrap his very first race!  I hope we will have many more :)

The banner pieces are chipboard pieces that come with the Art Philosophy bundle.  I covered chipboard with the matching shapes cut with the Cricut & Fanfare paper, letters cut from Art Philosophy.  The stars are handcut from Fanfare star printed paper & foam dotted for dimension that you probably can't see here!

Cricut Art Philosophy Cartridge projects - CTMH

Here is a couple projects from the Art Philosophy cartridge.  First up is a birthday card with the 3d flowers.  This project is in the cricut cartridge handbook instructions.

Next is the pillow box.  I used some left over CTMH paper from the Miracle set.  I cut my box @ 8" & used some of the December Stamp of The Month stamps and some of the foundry pins.  My friend's birthday is this week & I think I'll put some choloates in there for her.

Fanfare layout

This is a layout done with Fanfare.  I also used CTMH buttons & Cork Alphabet.  "This littly piggy" & the little pigs are from Cricut's Nursery Rhymes cartridge.

Art Philosophy Cricut® Collection

Awesome new CTMH Exclusive Cricut Cartridge Bundle 8-1-11

CTMH has an exlusive Cricut cartridge Cricut Art Philosophy Collection that will be available 8-1-2011.  It is part of a bundle - cartridge (with 700 images including fonts, shapes & 3-D items), 3 D-size stamps sets and 3 9"x12" dimensional elements. All of this for $99 plus tax/shipping.

Really want that cartridge but a little tough to spend that much all at once?  Email me for a special plan to help you get this awesome cartridge! sbarnes1963@att.net

4th of July

Zoo

Mayberry Workshop on The Go Kit - my version

This double page layout is ready & waiting for my next grand baby.  Update, she is here 7-29-11, 6lbs 7 oz  Melanie Nicole...grandbaby #2!

Miracle Workshop on the go kit plus Cricut

This is the Miracle double page layout.  I don't have the CTMH Chocolate Alphabet set yet so I used Cricut's Ashlyn's Alphabet to create my title letters.  This kit is not going to be in the new CTMH book so if you want one you might want to order one pretty soon :)  There are many precut/ready borders in this package & I just love the stamps that come with it...soooo cute!  One day I'll acutally take good photos of my layouts too...lol
https://sherrybarnes.myctmh.com/Retail/Product.aspx?ItemID=5839&CatalogID=1639

Stamping Tips

I'm kind of new to stamping & thought I would share a few tips.  Some of these may seem mundane to the seasoned stamper but there are always new people starting in the wonderful world of paper crafts.

1.  When using clear stamps, try to use an acrylic block that is close to the size of the stamp.  If you use a block that is much larger you can get ink on the block that will often transfer onto your paper when you try to stamp your image.  If I don't have the correct size block, I use a damp paper towel to wipe away any ink that gets on the block before I stamp.

2.  If you stamp an image & it does not come out as intended many times you can just flip the paper over & stamp on the other side if your paper is the same on both sides.  If this is the last of my paper & I make a mistake I go into a little panic mode forgetting there is a whole other side to use to make a good stamped image!

3.  You can ink the edges of stamped cut out pieces to cover the white edges of the paper or cardstock.  Inking also adds some dimension to your project.

NOTE:
When I saw all the sizes of blocks available I thought it was just a selling gimmick but soon learned how helpful the right size block can be.  This alone can sometimes prevent a ruined project!  CTMH has many different sized blocks & a wonderful storage case for them.  I am working on building my block stash so I will always have the right size block for my stamps.

Here is a link to a block set that includes 4 popular sizes:
https://sherrybarnes.myctmh.com/Retail/Product.aspx?ItemID=53&CatalogID=95
Here is a link to the awesome block storage case:
https://sherrybarnes.myctmh.com/Retail/Product.aspx?ItemID=50&CatalogID=97

All About Me

I'm a wife, mom to 5, grandma to 1 with 2 more on the way and a full time medical assistant.  I am also an Independant Consultant for Close To My Heart (CTMH).  I've been crafting since I was a little girl but only started scrapbooking in the last 1.5 years when my first grandbaby got here.  He loves to look at my scrapbooks!  With 2 more grandbabies due this year I'm sure I won't run out of material :)

Thanks for stopping by.  I'll be adding more material as I figure out how this is done!