Stamp of the Month Blog Hop - August: What a Hoot

Welcome to the Stamp of the Month Blog Hop! This month we’re featuring the August set What a Hoot, a set of 17 stamps. 

If you have come here from Haley Dyer’s blog, you’re in the right place! There are more than 60 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!

When I was a kid my aunt loved owls, so every time I see one I think of her. They’re one of those once-popular icons that has come back around again, and I think this stamp set is just so darn cute!

With each new catalog my monthly swap group changes things up a bit. For the next six months each member has to use the same assigned paper packet with that month’s Stamp of the Month set. Our swap leader has given us some really challenging combinations this time. The paper packet for August was Wanderful. It has fun designs featuring travel themes. What? Travel themes with an owl stamp set? That’s right!

The other part of my particular assignment for August was to use a 3-D shape from one of our Cricut cartridges. After giving all of this some thought and perusing the Cricut shape booklets, I decided I wanted to go with a party theme. I used the cake/pie box on Artiste. These are so easy to put together!

I stamped the owl image on both the polka dot paper and the paper with the graph paper design. Then I cut out the area around the eyes and the tummy from the graph paper pattern and glued them down in the appropriate areas on the polka dot pieces. I used one of our new ShinHan Touch Twin Markers to give the eyes a touch of color.

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

S1408 What a Hoot stamp set
X7191B Wanderful Paper Packet
44751 Archival Black Exclusive Inks stamp pad
Z1985 Gold Shimmer Trim
Z2459 Pastel Green ShinHan© Touch Twin© Marker
Z1790 Cricut© Artiste Collection

Now “Hop” on over to Michelle Johns' blog to see her work, and be sure to visit each consultant’s site to get some great crafting inspiration and other fun ideas! Don’t forget, this exclusive stamp set is only available through August 31st! Click here to order yours today!

Stamp of the Month Blog Hop - July: Circus Alphabet

Welcome to the Stamp of the Month Blog Hop! This month we’re featuring the July set Circus Alphabet, a set of 68 stamps. 

If you have come here from Kami Welter’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!

Who doesn't love to doodle? That’s why I think this stamp set is so cute. It’s made up of doodled letters and numbers! That being said, I wanted to use a paper that was fun and whimsical like these letters are. It only took me a moment to choose the floral pattern from the Lollydoodle papers. 

Using the Art Philosophy cartridge I cut a flower from Juniper cardstock and then cut the coordinating layer from White Daisy cardstock. The Chocolate Woodgrain Washi Tape coordinated perfectly with some of the flower centers in the paper, so I applied it to the center of the Juniper flower before attaching the white flower. I cut leaves from both Pear cardstock and the Green Glitter Paper with the Artiste cartridge and tucked them under the flower.

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

S1407 Circus Alphabet stamp set

X7183B Lollydoodle Paper Packet

1385 White Daisy cardstock

X5752 Juniper cardstock

Z1847 Green Glitter Paper

Z2165 Juniper Exclusive Inks stamp pad

Z1930 Chocolate Woodgrain Washi Tape

Z1151 3-D Foam Tape

Z1851 Scallop Border Punch

Z1686 Cricut© Art Philosophy Collection

Z1790 Cricut©  Artiste Collection

Now “Hop” on over to Dawn Ross’ blog to see her work, and be sure to visit each consultant’s site to get some great crafting inspiration and other fun ideas! Don’t forget, this exclusive stamp set is only available through July 31st! Click here to order yours today!

Cloud Nine and Stella Cards

As you may remember, Close to My Heart offered a fun card kit called Cloud Nine for National Papercrafting Month in January. I recently had a chance to sit down and put my cards together (I'd cut the paper weeks ago), and while I was at it, I decided to cut a second set using different paper because I really like the card patterns. I chose the retired Stella paper packet, partially because it had two of the same colors in it (Lagoon and Sunset) as the Cloud Nine. I used my Cricut to cut additional shapes for the sentiments, and I was ready to go!

I had originally thought I'd use the same Gold Polka Dot Washi Tape that came with the Cloud Nine kit, but once I started putting the cards together I decided the Smoothie Striped Washi Tape would work better. I love how both sets came out!

1

The other thing I did was use the Cloud Nine B&T scraps to make five additional cards. I had mistakenly cut some square White Daisy card bases that were supposed to be Colonial White, so they needed used up as well. 

These cards were all so much fun to make, and I am always happy when I actually use something up and don't have extras to add to my stash!

Artbooking Made Easy: Cross-Cartridge Collaboration (S01E11)

While each Cricut® collection from Close To My Heart is a treasure trove all its own, together they offer an unmatchable selection of borders, overlays, photo mats, and much, much more! The thousands of both classic and trendy die-cuts found within this terrific trio will ensure that the projects you make are always uniquely your own. Mix 'em, match 'em, and love 'em!

Claire Cards with Cricut Images & Dimensional Elements

I will admit it. I got both the Art Philosophy and Artiste Cricut cartridges almost as soon as they were available; however, even though they each came with three exclusive stamp sets and three sheets of Dimensional Elements shapes, I didn't use them. A few months ago I realized that I really needed to create a workshop where I put those stamp sets and chipboard pieces to use. 

First I decided which two stamp sets would be most appropriate for the project I had in mind. I chose one from each cartridge, and they both contain sentiments. Next I decided I wanted to use my trusty old Wishes book that's full of great card patterns and ideas, and I decided that the Just Because Workshop would be perfect for my project.

In the end I made 14 cards with the Claire paper packet, each one with a different sentiment. I love how it all came out!

If you'd like more information on this project, please feel free to contact me! I'd be happy to show you how!

Later Sk8er Birthday Card Workshop

 

About every other month I teach a project to fellow consultants at our local team training. For May I designed a birthday card workshop using the Later Sk8er paper packet, Washi Tape, Outdoor Denim Chevron Ribbon, Epoxy Bubbles, and both the Joyful Birthday and Perfect Fit - Birthday stamp sets. I also wanted to highlight just a small portion of the many great card bases that can be cut with the Art Philosophy and Artiste Cricut cartridges.







Card 1

 

Card 2

Card 3

Card 4



Card 5

Card 6

 



Even though this paper has a masculine theme, I tried to make some of the cards more feminine.

 

Card 7

Card 8

Card 9

Card 10

Card 11

Card 12

 

I'm new to using Washi Tape. I know it's been around a while, but until Close to My Heart added some to the catalog, I just hadn't tried it. I had fun using it in various ways on the cards. My favorite is the one where I put two rows of it across the bottom of the card. (Card #8)

 

If you'd like to know more about now I created these cards, please feel free to contact me!

Stamp of the Month Blog Hop - May: Pinwheel

Welcome to the Stamp of the Month Blog Hop! This month we’re featuring the May set Pinwheel, a set of 10 stamps. If you have come here from Tamytha Jenkins’ blog, you’re in the right place! There are more than 50 independent Close to My Heart consultants sharing artwork made using the Stamp of the Month and other great Close to My Heart products. Hopping is simple to do – just click on the link at the end of the post on each blog to move to the next one.

 

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!

 

 

Don’t you just love pinwheels? I still like to place one in an outdoor planter every now and again to watch it spin in the breeze. They also make me think of the 4^th of July, so I thought Tommy would be the perfect paper to make a fun, yet patriotic card.

 

 

The pinwheel is the star of the show! Placing some foam tape between the two pieces added a more realistic touch, and the striped paper straw adds another element of fun. Rather than using some sort of embellishment, I liked the look of the stars as anchors for the chevron ribbon. Here is the complete supply list. All products are Close to My Heart unless otherwise noted:

 

S1305 Pinwheel stamp set

1385 White Daisy cardstock

X7169B Tommy paper packet

Z2140 Outdoor Denim Exclusive Inks stamp pad

Z2116 Cranberry Exclusive Inks stamp pad

Z1808 Outdoor Denim Chevron Ribbon

Z1151 3-D Foam Tape

 

Z1790 Cricut Artiste Collection

Miscellaneous Brad

Stylish Stix from Queen & Co.

 

Now “Hop” on over to Joy McHargue’s 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 May 31st! Contact me to get yours today!

Stamp of the Month Blog Hop - April: My Sunshine

Welcome to the Stamp of the Month Blog Hop! This month we’re featuring the April set My Sunshine, a set of 8 stamps. If you have come here from Krista Hershberger’s blog, you’re in the right place! There are more than 50 independent Close to My Heart consultants sharing artwork made using the Stamp of the Month and other great Close to My Heart products. Hopping is simple to do – just click on the link at the end of the post on each blog to move to the next one.

 

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!

 

 

 

The My Sunshine set certainly says summer to me, and as I am someone who loves summer, I wanted to combine the stamps with papers that also make me think of summer. Surf’s Up seemed like the natural choice. It’s got fun colors and images. I think the sun image from the stamp set is fun, too.

 

This is what I came up with:

 

 

I made a larger card than I usually do (7" x 5") because I wanted to make use of the people and graphic elements in the paper. Popping up the ring of the sun as well as the Zip Strip and sentiment added some punch. The Epoxy Bubbles brought out a little more of the blues. Here is the complete supply list:

S1304 My Sunshine stamp set

1385 White Daisy cardstock

X7168B Surf’s Up paper packet

Z2164 Sorbet Exclusive Inks stamp pad

Z2195 Lagoon Exclusive Inks stamp pad

Z1806 Epoxy Bubbles

Z1702 Baker’s Twine Paradise Assortment

 

Z1790 Cricut Artiste Collection

 

Now “Hop” on over to Tamytha Jenkins’ 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 30^th! Contact me to get yours today!

Back-to-School 2012

It's that time again for our family - school is once again in session! Ever since my son was in his second year of preschool I have made back-to-school cards for him and his friends and teachers. I think it's a simple little thing to do to help make something that many dread a bit sweeter.

The moment I saw our new Scholastic paper I knew I had to use it for this year's cards. (I also had to have it because my son and I are book lovers.) With a little inspiration from the new Idea Book and input from fellow papercrafters, this is what I came up with:

I love the "sketchy-ness" of the "back to school" phrase and thought pairing it with the pencil stamp made perfect sense. To get the blue tip on the pencil I first inked the stamp in Cashmere ink, and then I used an Outdoor Denim marker to color the tip. I used the same marker to sketch out my own "th" next to the 4 and "grade" just below it. I used both of our Cricut cartridges (Art Philosophy and Artiste) to cut some shapes, including the notebook paper which happens to be the reverse side of the paper with the numbers and letters all over it.

Feel free to contact me if you need a more detailed supply list or instructions on how to replicate this card.

National Stamping Month Blog Hop

For many of us the kids are returning to school, and some of us want to celebrate! What better way to do that than with National Stamping Month and a blog hop!

If you have come here from  Laila Harris' blog, you are on the right path.

Close to My Heart kicks off the party with another fun double stamp set called It's Your Day*. That's right, you get two D-size stamp sets in one envelope! It includes nearly 50 trendy images and sayings so you can add fun and flair to all your cards, layouts and other projects.

I made a couple different cards with this stamp set. Here is the first one:

Supply List:

CC1020 It's Your Day stamp set

X7156B Clementine paper packet

X5754 Creme Brulee cardstock

1388 Colonial White cardstock

Z2111 Chocolate Exclusive Inks stamp pad

Z1701 Baker's Twine Neutral Assortment

Z1686 Cricut Art Philosophy Collection

Z1790 Cricut Artiste Collection

And here is the second one:

Supply List:

CC1020 It's Your Day stamp set

X7159B Scholastic paper packet

X5932 Cashmere cardstock

1388 Colonial White cardstock

Z2114 Cocoa Exclusive Inks stamp pad

Z2171 Saddle Exclusive Inks stamp pad

Z1706 Round Durables Studs

Z1297 Edge Distresser

Z1151 3-D Foam Tape

Z1686 Cricut Art Philosophy Collection

Now hop on over to Shirley Ross' blog to see what she has created, and then continue on through the hop to see a wide variety of projects to inspire your own creativity!

*To celebrate National Stamping Month in September, we are offering a new double stamp set! You can get the exclusive My Acrylix® It’s Your Day double stamp set for just $5 when you place a minimum order of $35 in full retail products from August 15 through September 30. You’ll love this double set—two D-size sets in one envelope—with trendy images that capture the flavor of your day-to-day activities, errands, and musings—the little things that make up who you are and are worth remembering and sharing! With a retail value of $35.90, this set drastically increases the value of your qualifying purchase. Have twice the fun stamping during National Stamping Month with our new It’s Your Day double stamp set!