Stamp of the Month Blog Hop - April: Balloon Talk

Welcome to the Stamp of the Month Blog Hop! This month we’re featuring the April set Balloon Talk, a set of 24 stamps.

If you have come here from Sheila Bennett’s blog, you’re in the right place! There are more than 50 independent Close to My Heart consultants participating. Click on the link at the end of the post on each blog to move through the Hop.

The Blog Hop is a great big circle. Start here and work your way around. If you get lost along the way you’ll find a complete list of participating consultants here. You can use this list to pick up where you left off.

Off we go!

Part of my inspiration for this card was a challenge I took up for Lent. I did give something up, but not in the traditional sense. What I gave up was hanging on to the dozens and dozens of swap cards I’ve collected over the years. I’ve been sending a card a day to a friend or family member. There is nothing better than sending happy mail!

So how did this inspire me in the creation of this swap card? Well, I really never saw the importance of cards that say “I miss you” until I started sending out these cards. Not all of my friends or family members live near me. How nice it will be to send them a card that tells them I miss them. I miss living near them and being able to do things together. Great inspiration for a card!

I chose the new Lollydoodle paper for its fun and colorful palette. I paired it with the Chevron embossing folder to give the piece of Cotton Candy cardstock some texture. I cut out the bubble for the “hello it’s me” on the Cricut® and hand-cut the other two.

Here is what I used. All products are Close to My Heart:

S1404 Balloon Talk stamp set

X7183B Lollydoodle Paper Packet

1385 White Daisy cardstock

Z2193 Cotton Candy Exclusive Inks stamp pad

Z2165 Juniper Exclusive Inks stamp pad

Z2164 Sorbet Exclusive Inks stamp pad

Z1925 Chevron Embossing Folder

Z1807 Pink Glitter Gems

Z1686 Cricut® ArtisteCollection

Z1151 3-D Foam Tape

9042 Make It from Your Heart Volume 2

Now “Hop” on over to Maria Myers' blog to see her work, and be sure to visit each consultant’s blog to get some great crafting inspiration and other fun ideas! Don’t forget, this exclusive stamp set is only available through April 30th! Click here to order yours today!

Floating Your Fancy

I LOVE these project ideas! Fast, simple, easy, and beautiful!

Get the most out of Close To My Heart's Cricut® Artbooking cartridge with these fun home décor ideas. Create decorative floating frames and functional message boards quickly and easily. Contact me for more information.

Blog Hop Special Edition: Emboss It!

Welcome to a special edition Blog Hop! This time we’re featuring artwork made with our versatile new embossing folders!

If you have come here from Jean McNulty’s blog, you’re in the right place! There are more than 25 independent Close to My Heart consultants participating. Click on the link at the end of the post on each blog to move through the Hop.

The Blog Hop is a great big circle. Start here and work your way around. If you get lost along the way you’ll find a complete list of participating consultants here. You can use this list to pick up where you left off.

Let’s emboss it!

I made several cards because I wanted to play with each of the different embossing folders. I also used some retired paper and embellishments that I’d dug out for another project and was trying to use up. (Can you say “hoarder”?)

Card #1:

I have a confession to make: I started making this card about 4 years ago! A friend had shown me the idea, and I’d cut a bunch of pieces, but I’d never done any stamping or assembly. I came across the pieces when looking for some old swap cards to mail. I am so happy to say I finished one of my unfinished projects!

(This photo will be updated when I am able to try again in better lighting.)

I cut the circles, scalloped circles, and ovals on my Cricut®, and I embossed with the Damask folder. I used one new stamp set (Oodles of Doodles) and one old one (for the inside sentiment). I also used some old brads to make it swing open.

  

Card #2:

Dotty for You paper. I had a lot of scraps of this left, and as I am so excited for spring, I thought it would be a good one to use and try to move on out of here!

I embossed with the Dot folder and used some old Smoothie embellishments along with that Oodles of Doodles stamp set again.

Card #3:

I basically lifted this one right out of the current Idea Book except I changed the color scheme. Another Dotty for You scrap and Smoothie Embellishments but a different, new stamp set – Funky Blossoms. Love the woodcut look of the flowers in this set!

I embossed with the Chevron folder and used more of the Smoothie Mini-Medley.

Now “Hop” on over to Sheila Bennett’s blog to see her work, and be sure to visit each consultant’s blog for more creative inspiration. Click here if you’d like to order one (or all) of the embossing folders! 

Artbooking Made Easy: Happy Springtime

Add new life to all your layouts, cards, and crafts with the springtime keys on Close To My Heart's Cricut® Artbooking cartridge! The cutouts are perfect for spring-themed projects but versatile enough to accent almost anything. Contact me for more information.

Cards Made from Scraps

A couple of weeks ago I decided I should sit down and create some cards using scraps from retired paper. I loved (and still do love) the Sonoma paper packet with its purples, greens, and browns. Someone once said to me that, "Purple and green love each other," and I couldn't agree more.

Make It from Your Heart Volume 1 #21

I used several patterns from Make It from Your Heart Volumes 1 & 2, but I also came up with a couple of my own based on the pieces I was working with.

Make It from Your Heart Volume 1 #21

Make It from Your Heart Volume 1 #21

Make It from Your Heart Volume 1 #21

Make It from Your Heart Volume 1 #21

Make It from Your Heart Volume 1 #21

For the card below I used the negative space from a Cricut shape I'd cut out for another project. I actually used something I'd held onto to use "one of these days!"

Personal Design

Make It from Your Heart Volume 2 #28

Make It from Your Heart Volume 2 #30

Make It from Your Heart Volume 2 #30

The other thing I did was use up some old embellishments, including the Olive Mini-Medley Accents and some ribbon from the Cocoa Collection.

Make It from Your Heart Volume 2 #30

Make It from Your Heart Volume 2 #23

Make It from Your Heart Volume 1 #29

Personal Design

Personal Design

Make It from Your Heart Volume 2 #24

Personal Design

Cloud Nine Cardmaking Kit #5

Make It from Your Heart Volume 1 #23

Thanks for stopping by to take a look at my creations!

Artbooking Made Easy: Top Secret

The secret is out! We love the Cricut® Artbooking cartridge from Close To My Heart. The shapes on the top-secret--themed mini album keys are perfect for scrapbooking your big ideas and big adventures! Contact me to learn more.

Artbooking Made Easy: Nursery Rhymes

The nursery-themed keys on the Cricut® Artbooking cartridge from Close To My Heart will have you singing nursery rhymes, reliving childhood memories, and reminiscing about your baby's first years. Watch the video to see these two keys in action. Contact me to learn more.

Studio Savings - March 2014

Find out how you can purchase your Studio J™ layouts for only $5 USD/CAD $8 AUD/$10 NZD—over $2 off the regular price!—during the month of March. 

Artbooking Made Easy: Sweet Smiles

Want to make an adorable baby album for yourself or as a gift? Watch the video to see how using the Cricut® Artbooking shapes, icons, and borders to scrapbook memories of your sweet baby will have you grinning from ear to ear! Contact me if you'd like to learn more.