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!

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!