I wanted to share the Butterfly Shadow Box I created using various different sizes of butterflies cut using the Art Philosophy Cricut Cartridge from Close To My Heart.

{*Click photos to view larger}

Can you see the cute itty bitty ones? They were cut at 1/4" ... I just love those little butterflies. =) I cut the rest of them in sizes 1/2", 3/4", 1" all the way up to the big one which I believe is 2 1/2". I left the centers of the butterflies flat and then bent up the wings to add a 3D effect.

The cardstock colors used were CTMH Smoothie, CTMH Creme Brulee and CTMH White Daisy over the damask patterned paper from the CTMH Stella Paper Pack. Each butterfly was adhered down using Liquid Glass from Close To My Heart. Once all the butterflies were in place I topped them off with some sparkles using a few little dots of CTMH Glitz down the center of each one.

Here is another look at it before putting it into the 10" x 14" shadow bow frame...

TO ORDER THE ART PHILOSOPHY CRICUT COLLECTION, CLICK HERE!
TO ORDER CLOSE TO MY HEART PRODUCTS, CLICK HERE!

© Copyright 2012, MyPassionForScrapbooking.com | Mandy Leahy CTMH Independent Consultant

After browsing Pinterest and seeing all the gorgeous topiaries I decided to come up with one of my own. Of course, I had to make it unique and different from all the ones I had seen and this is what I came up with. =) 

This is one of the 3 projects I created after being asked by Cricut to design some projects for a bigger campaign they will be doing with summer projects. Very exciting!!!

Since I love making paper flowers I came up with something fun using actual paper flowers cut using the Art Philosophy Cricut Cartridge from Close To My Heart. Nope, not the 3D ones... it was actually this one...

I cut them using Close To My Heart Creme Brulee Cardstock in sizes 3", 2 1/2" & 2". You'll need the 3 sizes to make 1 flower on the topiary. I took about 10 sheets of cardstock to cover the 4 1/2" styrofoam ball.

To help you out I created this quick video showing how to make the flowers and attach them to the styrofoam ball.

And if you prefer to see pictures of the process, don't worry I've got you covered too... 

You'll want to cut 3 sizes of each flower (3", 2 1/2" & 2") using the Art Philosophy Cricut Cartridge. Then ink up the edges with an ink color of your choice. I used CTMH Orange on Creme Brulee Cardstock.
Next you'll want to take a little squirt bottle and spritz each flower with 2 sprays on the front and 2 sprays on the back. They will start to curl up and the ink will spread inward.
Now for the fun part..... wad up the flowers into little balls.
Open them back up and layer them smallest on top to largest on the bottom.
Now take a push pin and carefully poke it through the center of the flower stack. I use the foam pad from the Close To My Heart piercing tool kit so the pin goes into the pad rather than poking my fingers. ;)
Squish the flowers inward to cover the push pin and shape it to look like a flower.
Now take the push pin and insert it right into your styrofoam ball about 1/2" from the previous one and go all the way around the ball to create your topiary. Oh oh I almost forgot to mention you'll need to make a little hole at the bottom of your styrofoam ball for the stem (aka wooden dowel). I just used scissors and twisted them until I had the size and depth to what I needed. And to make the stem green I wrapped it in floral tape. ;) You could also paint it if you prefer.
Here is closer look at how they will look once they are put up against eachother... I started covering the styrofoam ball with flowers by going across the center and then the row above and below and continued until it was completely covered.

Once you have the styrofoam ball completely covered you'll simple take a vase and fill it with the green floral foam. I poked the dowel directly into the foam and covered it with the green moss that can be found in the floral section at the craft store. Now just use some thick ribbon... I used the Dark Chocolate Striped Ribbon from Close To My Heart and tied a bow onto the stem/dowel. I trimmed  the edges of the ribbon by folding and cutting at a downward angle to create a nice clean finish.... viola!

Hope you enjoyed my topiary and will want to make one too. Please feel free to share your finished project on my facebook page or send me a link to your blog post. I'd love to see it. =)   

TO ORDER THE ART PHILOSOPHY CRICUT COLLECTION, CLICK HERE!

TO ORDER CLOSE TO MY HEART PRODUCTS, CLICK HERE!

Copyright 2012, MyPassionForScrapbooking.com | Mandy Leahy CTMH Independent Consultant

Are you all ready for another GIVEAWAY? How about one where you get to pick the prize?!?! Even better, right?

My February GIVEAWAY is $99 in Close To My Heart Products -OR- the Art Philosophy Cricut Collection. Your choice!!! The giveaway will end February 29th at 12pm PST. Hurry over to my giveaways page to enter!

© Copyright 2011, MyPassionForScrapbooking.com | Mandy Leahy CTMH Independent Consultant

Are you anxiously waiting to see who the winner of my giveaway for the Art Philosophy Cricut Collection is? Well I won't keep you waiting long.... but first I wanted to thank each and every one of you for participating. I hope that someday you all have a chance to win one of my giveaways.

Don't forget to keep an eye on my facebook page for upcoming stamp set giveaways and the February Giveaway announcement which I'll also post up on my blog later this week.

Big CONGRATS to #605 Tracy Godfrey!!!
You have until February 7th to claim your prize... contact me here!

Check out the awesome February Stamp of the Month that you can get for just $5 when you spend $50 or more on my CTMH website, here! Also all the fabulous NEW Close To My Heart Products from the Spring/Summer Idea Book are available starting 2/1... hurry over and start shopping.

© Copyright 2012, MyPassionForScrapbooking.com | Mandy Leahy CTMH Independent Consultant

I just wanted to share what I came up with after seeing the Mojo Monday sketch this week. I had fun making this "Love" card using pennant banners from the Art Philosophy Cricut Cartridge. I have to admit that it took me a little bit to come up with an idea for the sketch since it's pretty much just 4 squares and a long rectangle in the center. =) Have you attempted the sketch?

Details on how I made it: I used the new Stella paper pack (avail. Feb 1st) for the squares and rectangles, inked them up with CTMH black ink, cut the pennant banners using the Art Philosophy Cricut Cartridge with CTMH black cardstock, popped them up with foam squares, made cute little bows with hemp to go between the banners, added L-O-V-E with the CTMH cork alphabet, made an accordion circle with CTMH black cardstock, adhered that to the card and stuck a CTMH Rhinestone Designer Brad through a CTMH Foundry Pin Clip and cut out a 1" heart using the Art Philosophy Cartridge to place on top of the pin, added a CTMH wooden button with a hemp bow and lastly I added 3 CTMH sparkles.

Phew... that was information overload. Haha! I didn't want to leave any info out but this preggo mama is off to bed!!! I've been really sick and super tired this 1st trimester. Looking forward to feeling better in the next few weeks and get some energy back so I can craft more often. =) I've got so many ideas for upcoming projects and videos I want to create and share with you all.

TO ORDER CLOSE TO MY HEART PRODUCTS, CLICK HERE!
TO PARTICIPATE IN MY GIVEAWAY FOR THE ART PHILOSOPHY CRICUT COLLECTION, CLICK HERE!

© Copyright 2012, MyPassionForScrapbooking.com | Mandy Leahy CTMH Independent Consultant