silhouettesecretsplus

Quick gifts

Posted on July 19, 2017July 18, 2017 by silhouettesecretsplus

I love being able to whip up a quick gift to send to a friend.

I had a towel in my stash & it seemed to be whispering my name. So I went shopping in the Silhouette Design store to find a cut file I liked.

After a measurement error & my 2nd scrap of black HTV, I ended up with a nice, simple gift I could throw in my care package.

Yes, even seasoned Silhouette users make mistakes. And do you know, often times you learn more from making a mistake than not. At least in my experience, I remember things better the next time when I’ve made a mistake or had to research how to do something. Does that mean I won’t make the same mistake again? No! But I may laugh at myself more the next time!

How do you learn to use the machine? You play, you practice, you research, you create!

I love learning what new technique or new project I can do with my Silhouette Cameo.

Enjoy!

Prickly Pear Blog Hop

Posted on July 15, 2017July 15, 2017 by silhouettesecretsplus

Welcome to our Prickly Pear Blog Hop!

We will be showcasing items from our Prickly Pear Paper Pack with various projects created by talented Close to my Heart consultants. If you are visiting from Diana’s blog then you are on the right track, if not please start at the CTMH Blog Challenge and Support Group Blog Hop Guidelines beginning with our hostess Carol.

The Prickly Pear paper pack was so fun to work with. This is such a bright, fun, and versatile kit that you should not feel limited to only using desert & cactus photos or cards. Along with the Prickly Pear papers, I used the Scripty Thank You stamp set that coordinates with the Thin Cuts – Basic Ovals available from Close to My Heart.

Check out these bright colors HERE!

These cards were part of my monthly card kit for August and you can find out more information HERE.

This is your final stop on this month’s Prickly Pear blog hop. If you did not start at the beginning, please hop to Carol’s blog next and start at the beginning.

I hope you’ve enjoyed seeing all the fabulous ideas from these talented Close to My Heart consultants!

July is jam packed with specials including Stampganza (Buy 2 stamp sets get the 3rd FREE), Word Puzzle stamp sets, popular retired sets making a comeback & Stamp of the Month set – Storybook Alphabet – Find out all the great specials on this post HERE!

You can find all these amazing products and more on my website HERE!

August card kit by EllyMae

Posted on July 14, 2017July 13, 2017 by silhouettesecretsplus

This months featured paper pack is Prickly Pear and I chose to use it to make Thank You cards. I used the Scripty Thank You stamp from the current Seasonal Expression 2 catalog and it coordinates perfectly with the Thin Cut Basic Ovals set.

When I first saw this paper pack at the release of the Seasonal catalog, I did not know what I would do with it. You see cacti and more cacti and think desert and sand only…. but it has bright colors and was so easy to work with.

When you receive my monthly card kit, you get:

Instructions to create 4 different card designs featuring current Close to My Heart product
Pre-cut supplies to create 1 each of the 4 designs
a supply list to re-create each design
the featured stamp set used to create the monthly kit (retail value of $6.95-$13.95)
Flat rate priority shipping

Invoices will be sent to your email from Square.com.

*CTMH consultants are welcome to purchase the monthly card kit instructions as well. The cost is $10.00 and a digital copy of the instructions will be emailed to you along with a release to use with your business. No physical product will be sent.

There are two ways to get this monthly card kit:

Each month you can contact me at silhouettesecretsplus@gmail.com to order the kit that has been created by the 20th of the month.
You can join in the group of Card club members that sign up for a 6 month commitment and get extra benefits along the way.

Are you interested in being a Card Club Member? What do you get?

Card club members commit to a 6 month term and get more benefits for their commitment.

Members will automatically be sent the card kit I have created each month for the 6 month term. No more missing a Facebook post or email with the monthly announcement.

What you get as a member:

Monthly card kit will be a base price of $30* or less each month.
Your kit will include a CTMH stamp set (typical retail value of $9.95-$13.95)**
You can choose to have the Thin Cuts bundle (if available) included with your kit for the cost of the bundle – see below.
Supplies to make 1 each of the 4 card designs created by EllyMae
Instructions to duplicate the card designs
Priority flat rate shipping
Special goodies will be given out to club members during the term
(ex. Free sequins, sparkles, extra goodies, small stamps, etc.)
At the end of the 6 months, those that fulfill the term will receive a free gift from me
(1) FREE Annual catalog included in your card kit (new catalogs come out August 2017)
(1) FREE of each Seasonal or Holiday Expression that is released during your term
Each month I feature a new paper pack & stamp set to use in my monthly kits.

Please let me know if you would like to order this month’s card kit at silhouettesecretsplus@gmail.com

*Monthly kits are priced at $30 or below depending on the stamp set used in the kit.

**Some stamp sets have coordinating Thin Cuts available, but they are only available as a bundle and cannot be ordered separately. If this stamp set is used, each person has the option to order the Thin Cuts to be included with your kit. The monthly kit cost is only increased to include the cost of the Thin Cuts.

July specials from CTMH

Posted on July 11, 2017July 13, 2017 by silhouettesecretsplus

July is an awesome month from Close to My Heart, with many specials going on.

The Annual catalog is retiring at the end of July and if you have your eye on products in the current annual catalog, you better grab them now. It’s a great month to grab stamp sets as the special for July is Stampaganza and that means it’s Buy 2 stamp sets and get a 3rd for FREE*.

In addition to Stampganza, they have brought back several of the most popular stamp sets that were previously retired. These are also included in the Buy 2 get the 3rd for FREE*.

And…. if that wasn’t enough, they also brought back this month are the very popular Word puzzle sets. Which are also included in the Stampganza Buy 2 get the 3rd for FREE*.

And there is more, they also have the Stamp of the month that you can add for only $5 when you order reaches $50. This month it is called Storybook Alphabet.

What a great month of July!

Grab these specials now as they will all expire on July 31st on my website HERE.

*Free stamp set is off the lowest priced stamp set in your cart.

Glass etching with the Cameo

Posted on June 20, 2017June 19, 2017 by silhouettesecretsplus

With the end of the school year also comes end of the year gifts for teachers, aides, bus drivers, and many others who have helped throughout the school year.

I love having my Cameo to help me create a personalized gift to show my appreciation.

I cut my stencil from Oracal 651 vinyl, apply it to my clean surface and then apply my Etchall cream. I let my etching cream sit on my object for 20-30 minutes, scrape off the excess & put it back in the bottle. I love the fact that Etchall cream is reuasable!

I always pick up a new tip when I’m doing a project….

Today’s tip….. even when you are rushing, don’t forget the painters tape on the edges of your vinyl to prevent any of the etching cream from oozing off the edges of the vinyl & touching the glass in a place you don’t want etched.

I hope you explore all the different possibilities that you can create with your Cameo machine!

Enjoy creating today!

No Worries Blog Hop

Posted on June 17, 2017June 17, 2017 by silhouettesecretsplus

Welcome to our No Worries Blog Hop! We will be showcasing items from our new Seasonal Expressions II catalog with various projects created by talented Close to my Heart consultants. If you are visiting from Haley’s blog then you are on the right track, if not please start at the CTMH Blog Challenge and Support Group Blog Hop Guidelines beginning with our hostess Carol. Next check out Diana’s blog.

Here is one of the cards that I have created using the No Worries paper pack and Card making stamp set.

This is such a fun collection for summer and one of my favorites!

I have created my July monthly card kit featuring this No Worries paper pack and the No Worries card making stamp set & Thin cuts.

You can find more information on my monthly card kits HERE.

Your next stop on the blog hop is Diane’s blog.

I hope you enjoy seeing all the neat ideas created using this fabulous No Worries collection by Close to My Heart.

You can find all of these amazing products on my website HERE.

July monthly card kit

Posted on June 13, 2017June 13, 2017 by silhouettesecretsplus

This month I chose to work with the CTMH No Worries paper pack and the No Worries card making stamp set with the Thin Cuts.

I am absolutely in love with this beach themed paper pack and have to admit that I have ordered several packs just to have on hand.

The No Worries card kit is available with 2 options:
1 – Without the Thin Cuts – $30
2 – With the Thin Cuts included – $43

When you receive my monthly card kit, you get:
– Instructions to create 4 different card designs featuring Close to My Heart product
– Supplies to create 1 each of the 4 designs
– Supply list to re-create each design
– Stamp set (and thin cuts by choice) used to create monthly kit
– Flat rate priority shipping
Invoices will be sent to your email from Square.com.
*CTMH consultants are welcome to purchase the monthly card kit instructions as well. Cost is $10.00 and a digital copy of the instructions will be emailed to you, no physical product will be sent.

There are two ways to get this monthly card kit:

Each month you can contact me to order the kit that has been created.
You can join in the group of Card club members that sign up for a 6 month commitment and get extra benefits along the way.

Are you interested in being a Card Club Member? What do you get?
Card Club members commit to a 6 month term and get more benefits for their commitment.
Members will automatically be sent the card kit I have created each month for the 6 month term. No more missing a Facebook post or email with my monthly announcement.
As a member, you will click “store” on the payment information on your first Square invoice & I will charge members on the 20th of each month for the next month’s card kit.

What you get as a member:

Monthly card kit will be a base price of $30* or less each month.
Your kit will include a CTMH stamp set (typical retail value of $9.95-$13.95)**
You can choose to have the Thin Cuts bundle (if available) included with your kit for the cost of the bundle – see below.
Supplies to make 1 each of the 4 card designs created by EllyMae
Instructions to duplicate the card designs
Priority flat rate shipping
Special goodies will be given out to club members during the term

(ex. Free sequins, sparkles, extra goodies, small stamps, etc.) ***

At the end of 6 months, those that fulfill the term will receive a free gift from me ***
(1) FREE Annual catalog included in your card kit ***
(new catalogs come out August 2017)
(1) FREE of each Seasonal or Holiday Expression that is released ***

Each month I feature a new paper pack & stamp set to use in my monthly kits.

Please let me know if you would like to order this month’s card kit at silhouettesecretsplus@gmail.com.

Enjoy!

Little Dreamer Blog Hop

Posted on May 20, 2017May 19, 2017 by silhouettesecretsplus

Welcome to our Little Dreamer Blog Hop!
We will be showcasing items from our new Seasonal Expressions II catalog with various projects created by talented Close to My Heart consultants.
If you are visiting from Gerri’s blog then you are on the right track, if not please start at the beginning with our hostess Carol.

I loved playing with this Little Dreamer kit and made several cards from it, but one of my favorites is this one.
I was inspired by another card I saw on Pinterest and I had to tweak it to fit on my folded card.
Pinterest is my #1 go to for inspiration and learning new techniques.
You can find my CTMH Pinterest board HERE, where I save anything I see that is created with CTMH products.

I love creating this folded card.
With just a few score lines, you can create a card that WOWs!

I used the Little Dreamer Paper Pack, Little Dreamer Coordinating Cardstock, Little Dreamer Cardmaking Stamp & Thin Cuts, the Marvy Journaling pen and the Clear Shimmer Brush to create this folded card.
You can find all the supplies on my website at EllyMae.ctmh.com

Each month I create a card kit, with 4 different designs using a current paper pack & stamp set. For June’s kit, I used the Little Dreamer coordinating supplies.
You can find more information on my kits HERE.

If you have not started at the beginning, you can swing on over to Carol’s blog where it starts for more inspiration!

Thanks for stopping by!
Enjoy!

Did you see this Live Beautifully product?

Posted on May 19, 2017May 19, 2017 by silhouettesecretsplus

Have you seen this month’s special?
Happy National Scrapbook month & for that reason, we have the Live Beautifully products available the entire month of May.

I sat down last weekend to play and tried to just focus on using this stamp set & papers.
I’ve already created a 20 card kit with it and it was beautiful, but I wanted to see what I could do with the leftover scraps and so far, I’ve created these 5 cards….

With just scraps!!!

I found all these ideas on Pinterest and created them with just a few tweaks for the items I had left over.
Here is a closer view at each of them.

In the card above, I stamped the flower in Pomegranate, then I took the CTMH Gold pen and traced all the lines in the stamped image. I stamped the leaves in New England Ivy and added some white Shimmer trim to where the edges of the papers met in the middle.

I stamped the above card using Sorbet ink and then did a second generation stamping on the rest of the white background. I then used my Orange water color pencil to shade in some areas on the flower and my water brush to blend it in a bit. I stamped the sentiment using Archival Black ink & matted it on a piece of Sorbet card stock.

I stamped the image above using Lemon ink and then took my Orange watercolor pencil and added some shading for dimension. I stamped the leaves in Willow ink and the sentiment in Archival black.

Above, I stamped the flowers in Pomegranate ink and the leaves in Willow. I added a strip of gold glitter paper to the edge of the card, which looks great with that black and white paper.

And this one has to be a favorite of the ones created that day. I stamped the flower in Pixie ink and then the leaves I stamped in Fern and rolled the edges of the leaves in New England Ivy. I stamped the sentiment in Slate ink on the gray striped paper.

There are so many ideas I’ve seen using this month’s special.

You can find all the ideas I see on my Pinterest board HERE for this special paper & stamp set.

You can find all the supplies to create these cards on my website at

EllyMae.ctmh.com

And don’t forget, these are only good while supplies last or during the month of May and then they will be retired!

Thanks for stopping by!
Enjoy!

Beach Home decor

Posted on May 16, 2017May 16, 2017 by silhouettesecretsplus

Sometimes you just can’t pass by something in the craft store. I really don’t need any more paper in my craft stash but beach themed was calling my name…… and it jumped in my cart.

These images were all part of 12 x 12 sheet of paper and I cut it apart to make 4 – 6 x 6 squares. I found canvas blanks that were the same size and used Mod Podge to add the paper onto the canvas. Once the Mod Podge was dry, I sponged some ink on the edges of each one to match the background colors.

These canvas squares do not have backing on them so I will just add a 3M hanger to the back to hang on our walls.
Now that these are dry, it’s time to find a place for them in our house.

I only used one sheet of paper and now have the entire pack to use for other projects. A very low cost home decor item that I can change out at any time that came together very quickly.

Enjoy!

Silhouette Secrets

Because some things are just too good not to share!

Author: silhouettesecretsplus

Quick gifts

Prickly Pear Blog Hop

August card kit by EllyMae

July specials from CTMH

Glass etching with the Cameo

No Worries Blog Hop

July monthly card kit

Little Dreamer Blog Hop

Did you see this Live Beautifully product?

Beach Home decor