Coffee Card Using Tim Holtz Set With Distress Inks

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

A month ago I picked up this great Tim Holtz coffee set at Michaels, it included coordinating stamps, dies and the On The Go embossing folder.  

I went back last week after taking a class in distress inks, to use a 50% off coupon and picked up a Distress Ink Kit that had neutral colour mini distress ink pads in it.   Using one of the tags from the kit, I followed the instructions for blending then decided to use the coffee stamp & die set to make a card.

I stamped the coffee cup onto the tag, then I stamped it again on a scrap of cardstock and used Distress Inks to shade the cup,  then I stamped a third time for the coffee sleeve and used more distress inks for slightly different colours.   I used the included coffee cup and sleeve dies to cut out the stamped images then used foam tape to layer them over the original stamped image.    

The tag was really long so I cut an inch off the bottom then stamped the sentiment from the Tim Holtz set on the scrap piece and cut it out with the coordinating die.   I topped the tag with some twine from my stash and frayed the top.

I embossed my  Early Espresso card base with the On The Go embossing folder then used some Walnut Stain Distress Ink on the cups closest to the outside edges.  

I used my CTMH Shimmer Brush on the Coffee Sleeve to add a little bit of shimmer to the logo area.

Distress Inks Used:

Walnut Stain

Vintage Photo

Antique Linen

Faded Jeans

Tumbled Glass

Shaded Lilac

Hickory Smoke

Butterfly Cards Using Distress Inks

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


I took a class at a local scrapbook store this week and learned how to use Distress Ink.  I've seen them around for years but didn't know what the difference was between this and regular dye based ink.

I was curious and loved the preview pictures for the class so I decided it give it a try - I'm so glad I did because I absolutely loved it.   So much that I placed an order through Scrapbook.com yesterday for a few of the mini kits and some stencils that were on sale.

Here are the finished cards that we made in class using different techniques including blending, dry embossing, heat embossing and stenciling:

I added a bit of shimmer to the butterfly wings after I got home using the new 

CTMH Shimmer Brush - I love that extra bit of sparkle. 

Inks Used:

Dusty Concord

Faded Jeans

Hickory Smoke

Peacock Feathers

Shaded Lilac

Tumbled Glass

Scrap My Stash with Mojo Monday 458

Playing with this weeks sketch over at Mojo Monday. 

 This time, I decided to see what I have in my paper stash and came across a full pack of SU Blueberry Crisp that I bought about 5 or so years ago.  I don't have a lot of SU cardstock but I managed to find a few sheets and some embellishments from my stash that coordinated perfectly with this patterned paper. 

I also decided to try out a couple of stamp sets and dies that I purchased last winter.    The stamped images are from the Watercolour Wings Stamp Set.  I used CTMH Pacifica ink for the sentiment and stamped the background butterfly in Crumb Cake then added the die cut butterfly over it.  I used the flourish stamp from the Timeless Textures stamp set to add some detail on the Not Quite Navy cardstock with CTMH Pacifica Ink.  

 Products used in this project:

Stampin' Up

 Blueberry Crisp patterned paper

Very Vanilla Cardstock

Not Quite Navy Cardstock

Crumb Cake (I think - not entirely sure, only had one loose sheet of it)

Bold Butterfly Framelits

Timeless Textures

Watercolour Wings

Rhinestones

Linen Thread

Crumb Cake Ink

Close To My Heart

Pacifica Exclusive Inks

Thin Foam Tape

CTMH Blossom Scrapbook Layout with Springtime Wishes Thincut Dies

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


Working on layouts right now using up retired CTMH cardstock from 2015.

This layout uses the Blossom paper pack from last year's Seasonal Expressions 2 Idea Book and I got my inspiration from the cover of the 2016 Seasonal Expressions 1 Idea Book.   I love the new Thin Cuts metal dies that CTMH introduced in this Idea Book back in January.  

I also used a pattern from the Regatta Workshops Your Way Guide.  The Workshops Your Way program was also introduced in the SE1 Idea Book - the layouts for these workshop kits are available to download for free right off my CTMH website.   Each guide is only available until that Idea Book retires so make sure you download the current layouts and then check back in September for the Holiday WYW layouts - each guide features card and scrapbooking layouts.  

My son, the clown...

Springtime Wishes Flower on Blossom patterned cardstock with Lagoon and Pear die cut accents.  Embellished with Coral Reef Sequins and Bitty Sparkles.

Large cluster of Springtime Wishes Flowers using the cover of the SE1 as inspiration.   Embellished with Bitty Sparkles.  I cut the title and date pieces with my Cricut and sponged the edges of the Sunset and Glacier Cardstock with the coordinating inks.  

 I used a Ranger Clear Embossing Pen in my Cricut Explore to write the words out, then heat embossed with Ranger Super Fine While Embossing Powder.  

CTMH Products Used In This Project:

Springtime Wishes Stamp Set (retired)

Springtime Wishes Thin Cut Dies (retired)

Blossom Paper Pack (retired)

Sunset Cardstock

Pear Cardstock

Sweet Leaf Cardstock

Lagoon Cardstock

Glacier Cardstock

Sorbet Cardstock

Coral Reef Sequins

Bitty Sparkles

Glacier Extra Thick Twine

Mini Staples

Mini Stapler

Ranger™ White Super Fine Embossing Powder

Glacier Exclusive Inks™ Stamp Pad

Sunset Exclusive Inks™ Stamp Pad

Black Exclusive Inks™ Stamp Pad

Cricut Cartridges Used:

CTMH Art Philosophy - Frame 

Days and Dates - Oval

Haley Font from Cricut Access

Other Products Used:

Ranger Clear Embossing Pen

Sizzix Big Shot Machine

Sizzix Magnetic Platform for Wafer Thin Dies

CTMH Charlotte Workshops Your Way

With today's launch of the new Seasonal Expressions Idea Book comes a new Workshop Program called Workshops Your Way.

It's a little different than the current Workshops on the Go Program.

This new program includes all the supplies needed to make three 12x12 layouts, one Picture My Life Pocket Scrapbooking Layout and nine cards. The instructions are available to download from my CTMH website.

 There are also coordinating My Acrylix Stamp Sets and the new Thin Cuts dies available separately for each kit.

This is the Charlotte Workshops Your Way Kit, it comes with this gorgeous patterned cardstock, some solid cardstock and a bunch of accessories, including some gorgeous black ribbon with gold running through it.

No ink or stamps needed to complete the scrapbook layouts.

The card instructions show the new Springtime Wishes Stamp Set &  Springtime Wishes Thin Cuts   metal dies.

This is the first layout from the Charlotte Workshops Your Way Kit.  It was perfect for my cousin's wedding reception photos.  Too bad I had forgotten my camera at home and didn't get any of the outdoor ceremony.  

Since I didn't have many pictures to choose from I added an extra Picture My Life Card and will probably add a Cricut cut with a title on that upper floral spot.  

The journaling card is also one of the Charlotte WYW Picture My Life cards.  

This is the coordinating Springtime Wishes Stamp Set which is available separately.  I'm happy they decided to offer it like that sometimes I have wanted just the stamp set and not the whole Workshop Kit. 

This is exciting!! We now have coordinating metal dies!  

They come in the same packaging as our stamp sets but are on these great magnetic sheets.

I'll admit it - I have spent the same amount on my Big Kick and all the plates and platforms as I did for my Cricut Explore.  I used my magnetic platform for the first time cutting out the new Thin Cuts. 

I will probably be using it a bit more with these new Workshops. 

I stamped my images first with Archival Ink then ran them through the Big Kick.

I used CTMH Watercolour paints on them but you can also use and Ink Pad with a sponge dauber and get really nice soft colour on the cut pieces.   

 These are the three cards from the Charlotte Workshops Your Way Instructions.  

I had enough scraps left to do the nine cards and a little bit more.  

If you added in some extra solid cardstock you could really stretch out the patterned cardstock and make a lot more layouts or cards.  

Consultant January Special!

This month I am offering an exclusive Consultant Special - a 10% discount for anyone who orders the new Charlotte Workshop Your Way Kit (G1104) the Springtime Wishes Stamp Set (C1641) and  Springtime Wishes Thin Cuts (Z3201) - a savings of $6.53!

Local customers ordering directly with me will have the 10% taken off at the time of their order. 

Online Canadian customers will be reimbursed by me for the $6.53 once your order has been processed.

This Introductory Special is only available through me and is not a Close To My Heart offer. 

In Canada? You can purchase these products on my CTMH website:

http://nancyhelmer.ctmh.com

Or start your own CTMH business for just $149. 

 Receive regular updates of upcoming Classes & Workshops 

by signing up for my Monthly Newsletter.  Link in right-hand column.

CTMH Better With A Friend Hostess Set!

 In January you get Bonus Hostess Rewards with Close To My Heart!

Every Gathering over $350 gets an additional $30 worth of Hostess Rewards - that's $90 in Free product with that $350 Gathering.  Have a Cricut?  Now's a great time to check out CTMH Exclusive Cricut Collections and earn those extra rewards.

Here's a fun Stamp Set that is available only to CTMH Hostesses - it's called Better with a Friend and it's only $10 with Hostess Rewards.

I had lots of fun playing around with this set this afternoon.  I've had these Cuttlebug Animal Print embossing folders for quite a while but never got around to using them before now.  When I saw this stamp set in the Annual Inspirations Idea Book I knew it would go perfectly with those folders.  I just did some very simple cards, embossed but not a lot of embellishments & I got to dig through my scraps and use up some very bright colours of cardstock that I've had sitting in my craftroom for quite a while.

This first card is all CTMH products except for some of the colouring on the stamped image.  

I used CTMH Bamboo, Black & Ruby cardstock. CTMH Black & Desert Sand Ink and finished it off with a couple of CTMH Gold Bling Gems that I had leftover from my Pathfinding WOTG.

These bright coloured cards are done with cardstock and markers that I already owned before I joined CTMH.  The large rhinestones I found at a Dollar Store and the animal print Washi tape I found yesterday at Wal-Mart.  Of course since I'd already had these stamped before that I just had to buy it - couldn't resist. 

Contact me for more information on Hostessing a CTMH Gathering. 

http://nancyhelmer.ctmh.com

Last Craft Fair of 2014

I did my last craft fair for 2014 last weekend at the Murrayville Hall, just down the street from my house.  I had some handmade items available for sale this time. The first fair that I did there was in November and my tendinitis had flared up so I wasn't able to make much beforehand.

Love the ideas I see on Pinterest.  I was able to make up some bottle toppers and gift card holders to sell along with some cards that I had made before the craft fair I attended at the end of November.

Bottle toppers:

CTMH products used:

Champagne, New England Ivy and Ruby Cardstock &

Patterned paper from Yuletide Carol Paper Pack  X7187B  $10.95

Desert Sand (z2118) & Ruby  (z2170) Exclusive Ink $6.50

Stamps Sets:

Be Jolly (Hostess Set) B1455

Merriest Christmas B1468  $10.95

Yuletide Carol WOTG Stamp Set  g1084

Quatrefoil Embossing Folder z1926  $9.75

Poinsettia cut with CTMH Artiste Cricut Cartridge Collection  z1790  $109.00

Coffee Cup Gift Card Holder - really cute. One of my favourites, the lid pulls up and a gift card sticks to the inner card.

CTMH products used:

October Stamp of the Month - Home for the Holidays s1410

Kraft Cardstock z1375 $10.50

Snowhaven WOTG Stamp Set (clear embossed snowflakes) g1085

Glacier (z2641) & Cranberry (z2116) Exclusive Ink

My table at the Murrayville Christmas Craft Fair.

Visit my website at http://nancyhelmer.ctmh.com for more information on these products.

Sign up for my newsletter - link is to the right!

You can also follow me on Facebook 

Don't miss out on CTMH Deal of the Decade - with an order of $50 from either the Seasonal Expressions or Annual Inspirations Idea Book you qualify to order an unlimited number of C or D sized stamp set from the Annual Inspirations Idea Book for just $10 each.  That is a savings of between $5.25 - $9.75 per stamp set.  And many of our stamp sets are compatible with CTMH Cricut cartridges.  Offer available until December 31, 2014,

Love & Laughter Wedding Card

I had a wedding to go to this weekend so I pulled out my new supplies from the Occasions Mini again.  I think these new dies will be something that I will use over and over this year.  The Big Shot is my favorite thing from Stampin' Up and I love all the new dies and folders that they keep coming out with. 

Supplies Used:

Card Stock: Cherry Cobbler, Basic Black, Whisper White
Ribbon: Whisper White

From the Occasions Mini:
Hearts Collection - Framelits Die
Adorning Accents - Edgelits Die
Adorning Accents - Textured Impressions Embossing Folder
Love & Laughter Stamp Set

It is hard to see in the picture, but I did also emboss the bottom piece of cardstock with the same hearts and lined them up with the red cardstock.

October is a BIG deal at Stampin' Up

Join Today!  Visit my Stampin' Up website for more details & to sign up online

World Cardmaking Day

Today is World Cardmaking Day!  Here is what I was working on today:

I followed sketch #160 at Clean & Simple Stamping.

I used one of the few non-Stampin' Up stamps set that I have and coloured it in with pastels.
The main card colour is Early Espresso, with Pretty in Pink for the accents & images are stamped on Whisper White.
Ink is Early Espresso and Positively Pink (retired).
I used the Scallop Trim Border punch along the bottom and used the Big Shot to emboss the strip at the top.

Free Big Shot for New Demonstrators

Join Stampin' Up in October and get a FREE Big Shot. 

timeless type jr. alphabet dies

I Love this machine!  The variety of die cuts and embossing folders that are available exclusively  through Stampin' Up are Amazing. 

I joined Stampin' Up last October so I could get the demonstrator discount and build up my supply of Big Shot Dies for card making and scrapbooking. 

I used my extra 15% birthday discount last month to order the Timeless Type Junior Alphabet Dies so I can make my own die cut titles for my scrapbooking  layouts. 

This is the best offer I have seen for New Demonstrators!  And just in time to do your holiday cards or handmade gifts - don't miss out!


Check out my Stampin' Up website for more details or to sign up online!

New Hostess Plan

One of the changes that Stampin' Up has made this year is a revision to the Hostess Plan. 

Hostesses can now spend Hostess Dollars towards any item in the Idea Book & Catalogue or use their Hostess Dollars towards exclusive Hostess Only Sets.

Host a Workshop over $525 and you will also get to choose an item for 50% off.

As a Stampin' Up Hobby Demonstrator I can also earn Hostess Dollars for my personal orders over $200. I'm really looking forward to ordering under this new plan and adding to my Big Shot accessories and getting more tools for my craft room.

Cherry Cobbler Ornament Card

I bought the Tags til Christmas set & the ornament punch knowing that I wanted to do one of my Christmas cards with it but with no specific idea in mind.

If you've looked at my previous post with the Snow Swirled card you'll have seen that I used the Petals-A-Plenty embossing folder and embossed a portion of the Whisper White cardstock on the front. At the time I was making it I pre-cut all my cardstock - including the piece for the inside which was also the same size as the one for the cover. Initially I had them all separated but somehow they got mixed together and once I got going with the Big Shot there was no stopping me! I love that machine!

So once I realized my mistake I needed to find something that I could do with them. I didn't want to make another eight of the same card and I had a new package of Cherry Cobbler cardstock sitting there so I turned the embossed cardstock around and for this card have the unembossed piece at the top.

Using my Holiday Greetings stamp from the Sincere Salutations set, I stamped the top with Cherry Cobbler craft ink. 

Then I stamped the ornament from the Tags til Christmas set with the Cherry Cobbler craft ink and heat embossed it with clear embossing powder.

I “hung” the ornament with a piece of silver cording (about an inch long), then attached the ornament with Stampin' Dimensionals -added a rhinestone and a 1 inch strip of embossed Cherry Cobbler cardstock and Viola! Another simple card and no wasted cardstock :)

Supplies Used

116824  Petals-a-Plenty Embossing Folder  $10.95

119847  Ornament Punch Extra Large $22.95

119246  Basic Rhinestones  $6.50

109130  Clear Stampin' Emboss Powder  $5.95

119717  Regals Craft Stampin' Spots  $26.95

119685  Cherry Cobbler Cardstock  $8.50

100730  Whisper White Cardstock  $9.25

115068  Sincere Salutations stamp set  $29.95

104430  Stampin' Dimensionals  $5.25

104199  Linen Thread  $5.95

prices shown are in Canadian $

note:  I used silver cording that I bought at least 6 years ago from Stampin' Up. It is no longer available however the Linen Thread can be used in its place instead.

All supplies are by Stampin' Up - visit my online store for more information or to place an order.

Snow Swirled Card

I finished the first set of my Christmas cards yesterday. We had a blast of Arctic air here last week so I've been avoiding going out to my stamp room – way to cold up there!

I found this design on Robin Merriman's blog – Trinity Designs

I made my own modifications to her design by using 1” strips of Night of Navy cardstock run through the Big Shot with my Petals-A-Plenty embossing folder instead of ribbon. And I placed rhinestones in a few of the stars on the tree instead of the top – but other than that I stuck to her basic design and measurements for the cardstock.

I stamped the greeting from the Snow Swirled set on the inside of the card with some snowflakes in the corners.

I love how with just two colours of cardstock, one inkpad, one embossing folder, and some rhinestones you can have such a beautiful card. Quick and simple – and stunning!

Supplies Used:

116824  Petals-a-Plenty Embossing Folder  $10.95

100730  Whisper White Cardstock   $9.25

100867  Night of Navy Cardstock  $8.50

102977  Night of Navy Classic Stamp Pad  $7.25

119246  Basic Rhinestones  $6.50

111690  Snow Swirled Stamp Set  $30.95
104430  Stampin' Dimensionals  $5.25

All supplies are by Stampin' Up - visit my online store for more information or to place an order.

Prices in Canadian $

Last Day for Online Spectacular & 50% off Starter Kits

Check out the online store at Stampin' Up - today is the last day to take advantage of these amazing prices!

Designer Fabric Coasters

I attended a meeting of the Canada Inks Up team earlier this week and made the adorable coasters that are in the Holiday Mini catalogue (page 16).  I hadn't done any sewing for years so when I heard that we would be making projects with the Designer Fabric I picked one that looked like it would be easy -  plus I really need some coasters and the little trees were so cute.

Here is one of the coasters that I made - I ended up making seven - odd number, I know -  but I had an extra piece of fabric after running everything through the Big Shot.

They were so simple to make - I ran the fabric and the quilt batting through the Big Shot using the Scallop Square Die, then I layered the fabric and the quilt batting and ran it through the sewing machine.

Using the Pennant Die I ran the Always Artichoke fabric through the Big Shot - the fabric square was folded in half and lined up on a bit of a diagonal on the die to make the tree and then I unfolded it and ran it through again to scallop the bottom.

Then I cut my pieces of Early Espresso Ribbon, folded them in half, and put it through the sewing machine.

So simple and I love how they turned out!  The instructions provided actually called for hand stitching but I knew that would result in an unfinished project for me - even though I like to sew I just don't have the time or patience to hand sew each piece together. 

Supplies Used

• Deck the Halls Designer Fabric  (121716  $6.50 during Online Spectacular)
• Early Espresso Grosgrain Ribbon (119955   $9.50)
• Designer Buttons - Deck the Halls (121002  $11.50)
• Big Shot (113439 $132.95)
• Scallop Square Bigz Clear Die (115950 $29.95)
• Pennant Die (113483 $53.95)

A complete list of project items is available here