A Camo Party!

Yesterday I told you I would share some projects I created for my sister's baby shower! This artwork is actually a year old but I found it appropriate since Close to My Heart has introduced such a great Banner Campaign throughout the month of June!

My sister, Rachel asked for a camo theme so I strayed from my Close to My Heart Paper stash but refused to leave my Art Philosophy Cricut Cartridge unattended...it is a MUST HAVE!

I wanted to make a "Welcome" Banner to sit on top of the Cake so I cut my pennants from my Beloved Art Philospohy cartridge....it has multiple pennant shapes.  I cut the base scalloped pennants from Close to my Heart Cocoa Cardstock and the layering camo print were a simpler triangle pennant. I think they layered nicely.  I used Close to My Heart Chocolate Waxy Flax (this stuff is the BEST!) for the string and attached it to a couple small dowel rods.

Here it is on the Cake....Super Cute, right?!  My mom has owned her own baking business for over 35 years and she is well known around these parts for it! I told her "Messy Camo"...she said she doesn't do "messy" very well! 

My nephew's name is James Allen but he is called "Baby Jay" in remembrance of his Great Grandpa who passed before  he was born.

Here are the cupcake toppers I created...Did you know the Art Philosophy Cricut cartridge also has multiple Medallion Shapes?! I cut the scalloped circles from Cocoa cardstock, cut a banner from Colonial White cardstock, and adhered a corrugated star from the Milepost Shapes assortment onto the front.

These attached nicely to regular toothpicks just by using a small bit of Liquid Glass. :)  

Disregard that horrible Cupcake plate....It was an oversight and I had to borrow one from a family member! (a girl is bound to forget SOMETHING, right?!) I did try to jazz it up a bit by covering the inside circles with the camo paper though...and when you need circles who better to get the job done...? Art Philosophy! :)

I had never given a shower before so I did some research online for game ideas, I stumbled onto the timeless candybar game and I made it into a matching game of sorts....I cut scalloped square cards from the Art Philosophy cartridge using desert sand cardstock, topped it with a cocoa cardstock layer and then cut my numbers from Bamboo and New England Ivy. I wish I would have taken more pictures of this game, in fact this is the only one I have and it was just a quick snap shot with my phone to show a friend while it was sitting in my office.  It was so cool and has been passed around for a few additional showers. :)

This  was my  Favorite  project  for  the  Shower!  I  created  a "Wishes for James" Treasure Box from the Close to My Heart My Creations Card Box!

I cut the scalloped cards in Chocolate cardstock from the Art Philosophy Cartridge and hand typed the sentiments on my computer and printed them on 8.5" X 11" Vellum sheets then trimmed to size.

Each guest was given a card to fill out, then they were returned to the box...they will serve as a wonderful keepsake for both  Jay and his parents. I also think this project was enjoyed by all. :)

I shared this yesterday but am sharing it again today as it is one of my favorite projects I've ever created. Here is the My Creations Mini Banner I created for my nephew, it was used as decoration during the baby shower but it now hanging on the wall of his nursery.

And No, I didn't trace/trim even a single pennant! Every shape in this banner has a coordinating cut on the 

Art Philosophy Cricut cartridge! It was a SNAP to put together! The scalloped circles and font are also both cut from the AP cartridge.

Don't forget the June Special....for every $25 CTMH purchase (it must include 1 A-D sized stamp set) you will receive a FREE My Creations Mini Banner! And when I say FREE I mean TOTALLY FREE, they aren't charging tax or shipping for this freebie! :)  You can take advantage of this special as many times as you'd like ($50 order with 2 stamp sets = 2 free Mini Banners, $75 order with 3 stamp sets = 3 free Mini Banners, you get the point. )

I'm also carrying over my personally offered special...all $50 orders from my website (and by joining the "Banner June" Gathering) will qualify you to receive one of my Exclusive Pre-Cut Layout Kits FREE! Shipped right to your door!

I hope you enjoyed this post on some of my old Art Projects! I wish I would have thought to take photos of everything I created for the event! But Isn't it great knowing that our Close to My Heart products are valuable to us OUTSIDE of  Scrapbooking and cardmaking?! 

I also wanted to share one last picture of this little fella...my sweet nephew, Jay! This was bright and early one morning at our office while I was playing him  his daddy was out catching cattle).  He is the sweetest! :) 

I know he made you smile....now go have yourself a Great day! I'll see you tomorrow! :)

Blessings, Sus

Paper Bag Pocket Tutorial

If you have followed my Facebook for a while then you already know how much I love these little things! Who would have thought a plain ole paper bag could be so cute, huh?! 

I learned this project from a fellow consultant, Aaron Brown....I don't think "Idol" is the right word but I have really looked up to her for a long time, she has projects that are just "me" and she is always so willing to share her techniques and ideas via video or blog posts.  If you'd like to take a peek at her blog it can be found here.

These Paper Bag pockets are so perfect for so many occasions....Most of the orders I get are for Kiddo birthday parties.  These are an order from a little girl who specified "Brown and Pink" and "camping"....I was really scratching my head with those requests. 

The Close to My Heart Clementine Paper kit had the "Brown and Pink" and had a kind of "country" feel to it.  I did stray from my Beloved Close to My Heart Artiste and Art Philosophy Cricut Cartridges for this project and pulled out the very first cartridge I ever purchased, "Camp out".  Inside the pocket of the bag there will be an additional card (not pictured) with printed party details (will be created closer to party time as details are still not finalized at this time) tucked inside.  And isn't the marshmallow a nice touch? :)

I'd love to show you how I created these......:) 

I buy the cheapo bags from the grocery store! I think these were 50 for about $1.25 (THRIFTY GIRL) 

I used the following sizes for my cardstock/paper pieces:

Sorbet Cardstock - 5" X 1.75"   

Saddle Cardstock - 5" X 2.5"   

Brown Pattern Cardstock - 5" X 1.5"   

Flowered/Paisley Pattern Cardstock - 4.75" X 2.25"

I also used a Zip Strip from the Clementine Level 2 Paper Kit and trimmed 1.5" off the end. You can use a .5" X 10.5" piece of cardstock in place of the Zip strip if you prefer.  

Using your Bone Folder (you will want very crisp folds for this project) fold your paper bag in half. (I like my backside to be "clean" so I folded it in such a way that the bottom of the bag (when opened with normal use) with all the seams are facing me (and will be covered with paper) Make sense?

Now, you will fold down the front flap....there are no exact measurements for this step but with the cardstock dimensions I have given you it will need to be approximately a 2" "folded down" flap, thus leaving about a 1.25" section of the bottom...I know, these are not the most descriptive instructions but follow me anyway, it might make sense later. :)

Adhere your cardstock pieces as shown to the inside of your pocket...you will notice how you are covering up the factory seams.

Now place adhesive where you see my pen marks, being careful to leave the "pocket". 

After you have adhered them together with firm pressure lift up the bottom "flap" and add your sorbet cardstock to the bottom of the pocket.  Then, as before, apply adhesive where you see my pen marks. I know....fanciest tutorial you've ever seen, huh?! HAHA Does anyone beside me speak "Hick" ? :)

Next add your front cover piece....When I first started making these my instinct was to trim up the Frazzled pieces of the bag edge but now I think it adds character.  I love when someone says "Oh My gosh, I can't believe that is an old paper bag!!" :)

Add adhesive to your zip strip (or cardstock strip).  This step isn't absolutely necessary but sometimes I like to add candy or other things to the pockets and having something "holding it together" in addition to the adhesive just makes it that much sturdier. :)

Wrap it firmly all the way around and if using a zip strip just trim off that 1.5" tail.  Be mindful where you place your seam as you will want to cover it.

I covered my seam with the little wooden sign and further embellished with a butterfly and a few sparkles as seen in the very first photo. 

These are SO easy to make and they can really reflect the personalty of the sender or the theme of the party! Here are a few others I've done in the past.  

I wish I would have taken pictures of all of them...had never expected to enter "Blog Land"! 

I hope you have enjoyed this short tutorial, and be sure to stop by Aaron's blog...she has great ideas, you will LOVE IT! :)  

Thank you for joining me!

Blessings, Sus