Congrats!

Congrats to Kathie L, she is the winner of the November Mystery Hostess Party! You earned $100 in FREE product and 2 1/2 off items!

Also- Congrats to Jeannie the only comment on the blog post give away. I will be sending you a FREE Gold Fundamentals pack!

Tomorrow starts a whole new Mystery Hostess Party and Weekly give-away!

Adding Fundamentals to Cards

 Here are two more ideas for use with Fundamentals- The 1st card is a great example of adding an additional pattern to a set of papers. The Sangria paper is so pretty, my favorite in the catalog but it's very earthy in color. I wanted to brighten it up just a bit with white for this card especially withe the bold white where the sentiment is. By adding the dot pattern fundamentals I brightened up the card across the whole card.

 How cute is the watercolor whale here? I love watercolor for adding color shades. By adding more watercolor pigment to the top and tail of the whale I gave him a realistic look.
It's a little hard to tell with the lighting but I have cut the pattern fundamental paper into a fringe. It gives the card a great 3D look and adds more interest to the pattern of the fundamental paper.

 

TODAY is the VERY last day to join in the NOVEMBER Give AWAY

Be Sure to go to the November 24th blog post for all the details and to enter.

 

A Season to be Thankful

Happy Thanksgiving to each and everyone of you! I am truly Thankful for to be part of the crafting community. It brings such joy to my heart!

This card also uses the fundamentals. One side of the fundamentals paper has clear embossing. This is perfect for resist techniques. For this card I used a sponge dauber and rubbed over the paper with the same color ink. This gave a shaded look and made the pattern pop.

Check back tomorrow for a few more cards using the Fundamentals.
And don't forget to enter the GIVE AWAY! Head to the post on November 24th for the details.

Fundamentals in Day Planner

 As you saw yesterday the Fundamentals is the perfect product for Scrapbooking and Cardmaking, but now let me show you how I use them in my planner. For starters I use the bows as paperclip toppers. As you see I keep several extras at the front of my planner. I am always clipping notes and lists to my daily page so have extras is a must for me.
I also mark a group of pages with paper clips. Having one of these cute bows at the top makes it easy to spot.

 

 I like the tabs that come in the Fundamental Stickers to mark special pages in my planner. These special pages I keep all year and move them around in the planner. Having a tab makes them easy to locate since I need to reference several times a month. 

Of course the stickers are also great for right on the planner page to make a special event or an important reminder.

 

 

NOW it's for the GIVE AWAY! All the details are on the Post from November 24

 

Fundamentals-So Awesome!

 Experience the beautiful Simply Fundamental Scrapbooking workshop—available only during November! This workshop has been created using all the items featured in our campaign exclusive My Legacy™ album bundles, available during November for $71.80 each!
When you purchase the album bundle, you will also qualify to receive a value pack of side load or top load Memory Protectors™ FREE—a savings of $19.95 USD
Along with the album style and design of your choice, each bundle includes
*one Paper Fundamentals Enchantment pack,
*one Fundamental stickers Enchantment pack,
*one Peacock Fundamental assortment
 * three sheets of White Daisy cardstock.
You will then be set to turn these beautiful products into fabulous layouts using the new Simply Fundamental Scrapbooking workshop featuring five layouts you can make using all the supplies in your bundle.

The FREE class to put these pages together and the bonus cards will be December 5th at 1:30
If you purchased this special from me you can come to this class!

 

Now it's time for a Give AWAY!

1. Leave a comment on the November 24th blog post with you favorite neutral color and be entered to win a Gold Fundamentals Set

2. Place an order on my website www.kaaronbrown.ctmh.com between November 22-27 and I will send you(separately) a Gold Embellishment Set 

*Make sure you use the NOVEMBER MYSTERY HOSTESS PARTY

Winner and Kaleidoscope Birthday Card Class-Join today!

Come make 15 beautiful Birthday Cards with Me.
Class Date: December 5th
Time 9:30am
Location: My House
RSVP and Pay to Hold your Spot by November 23rd
Cost $29
Fee includes- Cardstock and Pattern Paper, Stamp Set, 15 cards and envelopes, color directions, pink gems and glitter tape.

Belinda email me at kabrown63@hotmail.com with your mailing address by Nov. 28th and I will mail you your prize!

Faux Embroidery Letter Pendant

 I am calling this Faux, because I don't know how to do embroidery. All I did was back stitch, so I don't think it really qualifies?
When I was thinking about different ideas for the Base & Bling line I thought about a necklace my grandmother wore all the time. It was much more detailed than what I made. It was oval and had flowers that were ribbon knots and leaves. It also has very tiny gold thread in it.
Here is a very simple idea for the pendants. I think these little initial pendants would make great bridesmaids gifts or how about a for a teenage girls slumber party?
 Step 1. Stamp a letter on your fabric using a light colored ink (just dark enough to see)
Step 2.  Using Embroidery thread back stitch over your letter and tie off in the back.
Step 3. Cut a piece of scrap cardstock and quilt batting the same size as your pendant. Sandwich the batting between the fabric and the cardstock.
Step 4. Glue (I used fabric glue) the fabric piece by wrapping it around the cardstock and batting. This part is tricky. Getting the letter in the center is a challenge, but I figure it looks homemade if it's off just a bit, right?
Step 5. Glue your puffy letter to the pendant. I used liquid glass on 2 and Hot glue on one. The liquid glass worked fine, it just took a lot because the fabric was soaking up some of it.

Tips: After you wrap around, glue and dry trim off any excess fabric from the back so that it's not too bulky.
Use a popscicle stick to help fit the puffy letter into the pendant, this way you don't tear the fabric.

BE SURE TO ENTER THIS WEEK'S GIVE AWAY- ALL THE INFO IS TUESDAY'S POST.

Base & Bling Christmas Tree Ornament and Keychains

 Last year we had the Base & Bling line from CTMH and I picked up these hooks from Hobby Lobby thinking they would work well with the pendants to make Christmas Ornaments. Of course life happened and I never got around to making any. This year I pulled out the hooks I bought, luckily I could find them after 11 months and went to work.
I did check and Hobby Lobby still has these this year.

 Also just a reminder from last year, these pendants make great keychains. How cool would these be as stocking stuffers this year? And don't forget that you can put pictures in them too. I have make several of these as personalize gifts for family and friends. I recently sent a picture keychain to my friend who lost her dog. She said it was the sweetest gift to get and a little picture she could keep with her all day.

 

BE SURE You enter the GIVE AWAY

Details on the November 17th Blog Post.

Base & Bling Necklaces and Lanyards from CTMH

 This week I thought I would give you some ideas for the Base & Bling line from CTMH. I really think this line from CTMH is a genius addition to the product line. For starters it appeals to the jewelry love in all woman. Even me who is a very minimul jewelry person. This stuff is so darn cute!
Next it is so easy to make a pendant that the kids can do it! When kids make their own gifts they are proud, I think a pendant is better than the hand print wreath any day!
So of course there is the traditional necklace way to use them, but I thought this week I would show you a few other ideas. Starting with the Lanyard. Most teachers are now wearing them with their ID and maybe keys on them. What a great gift would this be for your kiddo's teacher this Christmas?

 So I created my own CTMH style lanyard. I used one of the pendants and added a flat jewelry hook to the bottom using CTMH Liquid glass. This creates 2 loops on the pendant, now I can hook a lanyard to the top and the id to the bottom.

I a few more ideas to show you this week using the Base and Bling line.

Let's GIVE AWAY some Base and Bling!

1. Leave a comment on this blog Post telling me your favorite Thanksgiving Tradition (random winner will be drawn)

2. Place an order of $35 or more November 15-21 and I will send you FREE a Base & Bling Pendants, Glass and Charms. Must use the November Mystery Hostess party.

We have a Winner!!

Ema, please email me at kabrown63@hotmail.com with your mailing address by Nov. 21 so I can send you your Pattern book and sponge daubers.

Another give away starts next tomorrow, so be sure to check back in the morning, you won't want to miss the ideas I have for you!

Rewarding My Team

 I like to send my team little gifts at the end of each QTR. They work hard at their business and I want them to know that I appreciate them. When I saw the stamp set with the Dream Big, Sparkle more, Shine Bright I knew that would be great for my Team.
Being a CTMH consultant is one of the best choices I have ever made. I love being part of a company that rewards me but also lets me reward others.
CTMH provides TONS of support for all of their consultants. If you join my team not only do I send out gifts and welcome packages I also share all of my classes with my team, as well as any clubs, party and other business ideas that have been success full for me.
Please Consider joining my team-Here is the Consultant Kit- Full of products to get you started

Sign up today- It really will be the best choice you make! www.kaaronbrown.ctmh.com

Be Sure You have entered the contest for this week. You can find all the details on the blog post from November 10th.

Multi Color Leaves

 Earlier this week I showed you a couple of projects using the pattern books. Two of those projects- a card and the scrapbook pages had leaves on them. With Fall making it's official arrival I love the color of leaves. Here in Texas we are cooler, but the leaves are not turning yet. I do have many friends in the north and they have been sharing their photos on facebook of the leaves. WOW!
To create a multi colored leaf follow these steps.
1. Stamp your stem in a dark color (I used cocoa) as seen in the photo.
2. Ink your stamp in the lightest color first. (I used poppy)
3. Use a sponge dauber to add shading to the stamp- use a darker c complimenting color. (I used eggplant)
4. Stamp over your stem.
5. Repeat for each side.

Don't FORGET about the Give AWAY! Be Sure to look at the post from November 10 for all the details.

Why use a Pattern Book?

 I am a fan of a pattern. For me starting with a sketch, map or pattern takes part of the thinking out of it. If I have a pattern to go by then my brain only has to think about colors, stamps and embellishments- the fun stuff! 95% of my projects start with a pattern. Most of the time I use one of the CTMH How to Books. Sometimes I look at Pinterest or a website with sketches on it. The think I love about The CTMH pattern books is that they are full color with measurements. They also give tips and trick on techniques as well. The older books are card or scrapbook specific, but the newer ones are combos.

Take a close look at both of these cards, even thought they are both completely different they are the very same pattern. When you work with a pattern, never be afraid to rotate the pattern to fit what you need.
This pattern comes from the CTMH Make it From Your Heart V. 2 book and good news! YOU can win a copy by leaving a comment on this blog post- details below!

 This pattern is also in the book! Like I said the later How To books are combos of cards and scrapbook!

 Take a look at my leaves, I used a sponge technique to stamp them on Kraft Cardstock. I love the look of ink on kraft paper, it gives a very rustic look. Later this week I will have directions on how to create these leaves.

Now for the GIVE-AWAY!!

Leave a comment on this blog post telling me where you find inspiration for projects. 
One random winner will be drawn from the comments to win a pattern book and sponge set.
Open to all, Winner announced on 11/16

 

Place an order of $40 or MORE on www.kaaronbrown.ctmh using the November Mystery Hostess Party during the week of November 8-14 and I will send you FREE a pattern book and package of daubers.

 

Every order placed in the Mystery Hostess Party will be entered to win the hostess rewards.