Perpetual Calendar Class coming up Thursday, June 7th

These perpetual calendars are so fun to make with Close to My Heart's Collage Cubes (Z1737, $14.95).  I made the top set using the Pemberley paper packet and the ones below using the Roxie paper packet (my original inspiration came from Consultant Lynn Como).  The letters are cut using my Cricut Art Philosophy cartridge.  If you'd like to attend this workshop on June 7th, let me know!  Cost for the class is $20, which includes your set of Collage Cubes and the paper needed to embellish them (choose from either of the two designs shown).  These calendars also make a great gift because you can use them year after year.   You can order the ready-to-embellish Collage Cubes as well as this adorable paper on my website (http://christina.ctmh.com).

Cards from my Spring Card Marathon

These cards show off our fun Dotty for You paper packet.  I could play with this polka-dot paper ALL DAY LONG!!  Remember that, if you want this paper pack, you need to order it before the month of May is over (it's only $5 with any $35 purchase. . .visit http://christina.ctmh.com to order) 

These cards feature stamps from the New Arrival stamp set.  It's a great stamp set to have if you need to send occasional baby cards (and it's a good one for baby announcements, too). 

The inspiration for this card came from Allisa at Rocky Mountain Paper Crafts.  I love her clean, classic cards. . .visit her blog at www.rockymtn.papercrafts.blogspot.com

Open Club Night--Monday, June 4th, 6:30 p.m.

If you'd like to come make this layout (or the cards) at my Open Club Night on Monday, June 4th, sign up today!  Cost for the class is a $20 minimum order--no charge for layout or card materials.  You can choose to make either the two-page 12 x 12 layout or four cards (there's a fourth card that isn't shown on this board).  I pre-cut all of your pieces for club workshops, so you just come and put it all together!

The "Open Club" concept is similar to my regular monthly hostess clubs--we'll do some of the same layouts/cards that I do in these classes and each attendee places a $20 minimum order--but you're not required to make a 10- to 12-month commitment to attend.  You simply sign up for the ones you want to attend and then come and enjoy the fun.  We won't be rotating hostesses for these classes, but I'll still reward you with a free gift when your Open Club purchases reach $100. 

Interactive Card Workshop--May 14th or May 22nd

My customers have been telling me that they want to learn some of these fun interactive cards--cards that pop up, slide out, etc.  So, I sat down and learned how to make some of these fun cards, and I'll be teaching them at my Interactive Card Class on May 14th or May 22nd.  You can also learn how to make some of these fun cards on www.splitcoaststampers.com (look under Resources)

This is a waterfall card--I think it's one of the easiest interactive cards you can make!  This card features the beautiful papers in our Dotty for You paper packet--only $5 with a $35 purchase in the month of May.  To order, visit my website at http://christina.ctmh.com

When you pull down on the tab, you reveal each layer of the waterfall--with a hidden message or image under each flap.

This is a T-slide card, so named because it has a T-shaped mechanism in it that you pull out to reveal the hidden message tab underneath the front panel

I think you could put this puppy on ANYTHING and you've got a winning card (and for only $6.95, "A Bowwow" is a MUST have stamp set). This card is a Surprise Pop-Up Card--when you pull the tag out at the top it slides back a panel to reveal your message below.

This is a Slider Card featuring the May Stamp of the Month. What's fun about this card is that, when you pull out the top tag, the bottom one slides out the bottom. By the way, the sunflowes are stamped in Brown Staz-On ink and colored with our Close to My Heart waterbrush using Sunflower, Chocolate and Olive inks.

Lemon Cream Cake

I got this recipe from one of Todd Wilbur's "Top Secret Recipe" books (my favorites)!  This is a great cake and easy to make. . .and I almost always have the ingredients for this on hand.

For the cake, use a white cake mix and follow the instructions on the box.  Pour the batter into a greased 10-inch springform pan (if you don't have one, I think you could just do this cake in two 9" cake pans).   Bake for 40 minutes at 350 until cake tests done.  Cool the cake completely.

Lemon Cream Filling
8 oz. cream cheese, softened
2 cups powdered sugar
3 T lemon juice
1 cup heavy whipping cream

Vanilla Crumb Topping
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup powdered sugar
1/4 cup cold butter
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

For the filling, mix your cream cheese and powdered sugar with an electric mixer until smooth.  Stir in lemon juice.  In a separate bowl, whip the whipping cream with an electric mixer until it forms stiff peaks (Christina's tip:  always chill your bowl first).  Gently fold the whipped cream into your cream cheese mixture.

Make the crumb topping by combining flour and powdered sugar in a medium bowl.  Add butter (I cut it into little cubes) and dribble with vanilla extract.  Use your hands to mix the cold butter into flour and sugar.  Break butter into smaller pieces as you incorporate the dry ingredients.  You want to end up with a very crumbly consistency with pieces no bigger than a pea.  Chill the topping until your ready to use it.

When your cake has cooled, slice it in half through the middle and remove the top.  Spread all but 1/2 cup of the lemon cream mixture onto the bottom half of the cake, then carefully replace the top half of the cake (note:  I think I reserved a little more than a 1/2 cup).

Spread the remaining 1/2 cup of cream filling over the top and sides of the cake.  Sprinkle the crumb topping on the top of the cake and press it onto the sides.

Chill the cake for at least 3 hours before you serve it.  It looks pretty garnished with a fresh strawberry or raspberry (or mint).  You can also sprinkle it with powdered sugar on the plate.

Sunflowers for May!

Our May Stamp of the Month is the perfect stamp set to use with all kinds of fun coloring techniques--markers, watercolor, colored pencils, etc.  My favorite coloring tool is the watercolor brush (p. 132 of the current Idea Book, $9.25).  Just fill the well of the brush with water and then use your stamp pads or reinkers as your "paint."  I squish the lid to my stamp pad down firmly so that it picks up some of the color from the pad, and then I use the lid as my palette.  I adjust the amount of ink on the tip of the brush and the amount of water I'm squeezing into the tip of the brush to get the color level I want.  And, when I'm done with one color, I can just wipe the brush until it's clear again and then go right into another color.  Note, when watercoloring, I like to use an ink pad such as our Staz-On in or our Black Archival ink because these inks don't run when I color.

More Fun Animals/Gift Baskets with Art Philosophy Cartridge

So, I had so much fun making the bunny and chick boxes that I decided to make a few more!  I used the same basket pattern for each of these--you'll find it on your Art Philosophy Cricut Cartridge under Font Layer, Shift <Square1> (it's also the #3 on your keypad).  I selected "Fit to Page," giving me the largest one I could fit on a 12 x 12 page.  The two party baskets shown here are made with the new Dotty for You paper pack--with all those happy colors and patterns, it's perfect for parties!  The gift <Gift> is cut at 5 1/2 inches (cut the bow the same).  Because the bow worked as a handle for the basket, I just snipped off the arched handles of the basket.  For the party hat, I used <Banner4> cut at 5".  The trim at the bottom is made using the <Shape10> Font, Shift, cut at 1".  Note that you'll have to hand-trim it to make the length fit your hat.  The circle on top is <Circle3> cut at 1 3/4."  The tags are also cut with the cartridge, <Tag4>, cut about 1 3/4."

By the way, if you don't yet have the Art Philosophy Cartridge, this is one you absolutely must have!  With over 700 images, I think you'll find that this is the cartridge you'll use more than any other.  You can order the Cricut Collection (which comes with THREE coordinating stamp sets and three sheets of coordinating chipboard die-cut images) for only $99 HERE.

Okay, so I went nuts making animal gift boxes!  But, I thought the bunny and the chick were sort of Easter-specific, so I wanted to create some critters you can use all year round.  I'm pretty sure you can do a cat or a dog with no problem--why not an owl, penguin and chinchilla?

Here are some directions for making the owl using the Close to My Heart Art Philosophy cartridge.
Cut the basket "Fit to Page."  I used Chocolate Cardstock. 
Body is <Shape9> (the egg shape), cut at 5 1/2" in Chocolate Cardstock.
The face is <Oval3> cut at 2 1/4" in Bamboo Cardstock
The wings are <Petal2>, cut 2 at 2 1/4" each in Chocolate
The nose is <Petal2> cut at 1 1/2" in Creme Brulee
The talons (feet) are each made up of 3 pieces <Petal2> cut at 1" in Creme Brulee
The eyes are <Circle1> cut 2 at 1 1/4" each in white
The pupils are <Circle1> cut two at 3/4" each in black
The eyebrow (the best part) is <Bracket1>, cut at 4"--it cuts two, use only one

We have pet chinchillas, so I thought it would be fun to come up with a chinchilla.  You could also morph this into a mouse or a squirrel. 
Cut the body <Shape9> at 5 1/2" in Grey Wool Cardstock
Cut his tummy <Circle1> at 3" in Grey Flannel Cardstock
Cut his feet <Oval3>, cut 2 at 1" each in Grey Wool
Hands are <Oval3>, cut 2 at 3/4" in Grey Wool
Nose is <Circle1>, 1" in Grey Wool with 1/2" <Heart1> in Cotton Candy
Eyes are <Circle1>, cut 2 at 3/4" in white
Pupils are <Circle1>, cut 2 at 1/2" in black
Ears are <Oval3>, cut 2 in Grey Wool at 1" and 2 in Cotton Candy at 3/4"
Tail is <Oval1>, 2" in Grey Wool--I hand-snipped around the edge
For whiskers, hand cut small tapered black strips
To change him to a mouse, cut his ears round and then use <Tab2> Font layer/shift cut at 4 3/4" to get a fabulous flourish that will work for a tail.

I think the penguin is my favorite, just because he's so simple and quick!
Cut body <Shape9> at 5 1/2" in black
Tummy is <Oval3> cut 3" in white
Beak is <Petal2>, 1 3/4" in Creme Brulee
Eyes are <Circle1>, cut 2 in white at 1 1/4"
Eyelids, cut one <Circle1> 1 1/4" in black and cut in half
Pupils, <Circle1>, 1/2" cut 2 in black
Wings, <Oval1> cut 2 at 1" in black
Feet, <Banner4>, cut two at 1 1/2" in Creme Brulee