Tuesday, May 31, 2011

CTMH June SOTM Blog Hop

Welcome to another stamp-of-the-month blog hop.  What a fabulous stamp set we're showcasing today!  It's perfect for any season, literally.  If you came from Mary's blog, you're on the right track.  If this is your first stop, then look for the link at the bottom of each post.  Keep hopping until you come back here and you'll have seen all the amazing artwork created with this stamp set.

Here's what you get in this set:

Aren't they just adorable?  And, talk about seasons, these images work all year long!

Here's the card I made:


I really had fun with this card.  I used a sketch from one of Paper Crafts' recent submission calls.  Fanfare seemed perfect for this celebration card, which could be used for any type of celebration.  The medallion is made by accordion-folding a 1"x12" piece of paper and glueing the ends together.  I also inked all the edges in Pacifica ink.  Then I used the sun image, rock and rolled and punched out with CTMH's 1 1/4" punch, to keep my medallion flat.  I popped the Celebrate image and added some rhinestone flourishes from Recollections.  This became my daugher's birthday card.  She turned 6 on the 30th.  So exciting!

Now, it's time to hop on over to Debra's blog and see what she's created. 

Happy Hopping!

Tuesday, May 24, 2011

4 Cards, 1 Stamp Set

We completed another neat project at the Toronto Regionals.  It was perfect for a workshop and so last weekend, that's what I did.  We made 4 of the six cards I made at Regionals.

Here are the four cards my customers created:


The stamp set we used was Happy Moments.  And there are a variety of paper kits used.  From left to right: Lucky; Bliss and Mayberry; Bliss, Sweetheart and Sophia; Lucky and Mayberry.  Each card has different kinds of clear buttons on it.  Take a look at each one below:



Here's a close up of that neat flower.  We just stamped the same one three times.  Once with Bamboo on the large square piece, then twice with Blush.  These two we sponged with Bamboo ink and then cut them out.  The top one we kept the full petals only, every other one.  Then curled the petals.  This is my favourite card!


On this card we sewed the buttons onto some Cocoa cardstock with Waxy Flax, then cut them out, giving them a nice colour.




And here's a close up of the last card.  We also backed the buttons on this one, the large one in the flower with a bit of Mayberry paper and the smaller ones with Grey Flannel paper.


Here are the other two cards I made, but didn't include in the workshop.  The masking we did for the sentiments was just too fiddly for my customers, although now that you see what you can do, maybe you'll want to try it!

This first 3x3 card used Miracle and Wings.


And this last standard-size card used Sweetheart and Wings.


It's pretty amazing how different these cards all look!  And all with one stamp set.  I also love how papers from different kits were used on the cards.  It's something I like to do, but have a hard time with.

What can you do with just one stamp set?  Happy Creating!




Sunday, May 22, 2011

CTMH: Regional Layout Number 2

I had so much fun making this layout!  Mayberry is my favourite new paper kit and pairing it with photos from our first attempt at a vegetable garden was perfect.  (Thanks, Tara, for the title idea!)

Here are photos of each page separately:


We did some pretty neat techniques on this layout.  The Kraft Colour-Ready borders were used, one of which we inked up with Cocoa beforehand.  We distressed the edges by tearing and rolling the edges.  But my favourite part was the stars!
Here's a close-up:


Can you figure out what we did?  After stamping the stars, we cut out the inside, right through all the layers on the layout.  Then we put a different piece of paper on the back of the layout.  Picture those tissue paper stained glass art projects you used to make.  Neat, eh? (Yup, that's my Canadian "accent" coming through!)  You can do this on any type of project and I think I'm going to try it again.

Happy Creating!

Tuesday, May 17, 2011

Another Great Studio J Video!

Check out all the great things you can do with photos on your Studio J layouts.


Have you played yet?  If not, you can click here.  Just set up an account and get creating in no time!

Happy Creating.

Friday, May 13, 2011

CTMH: Regional Layout Number 1

I'm so relieved that blogger is up and running again.  I don't post that regularly, but I was all ready to do so yesterday afternoon.
Well, here we are and I'm ready to show you the first of two layouts we completed at the Regional Celebration in Toronto last month.

(I just realized the pages are swapped.  Whoops!  It will be placed in my album the other way around.)

Do you recognize the right-hand page at all?  Check out page 18 of the Spring/Summer Idea Book.  Now does it look familiar?  I ended up adding a bit more spritz to my base pages, but I love the way this layout looks!  Here's some photos of the individual pages:



See the neat-looking hearts?  We sprayed the stamps with re-inker and water before we stamped with it.  Such a cool technique.  It was fun working in the back with these little boxes they'd set up.  I almost sprayed Kristine's pants!  Sorry about that, Kristine.  We used the Affection stamp set and the Headline Alphabet, which we stamped using the back side of the stamp on the back side of the patterned paper.  You'll also notice the distressing.  We used the long brush from the distressing tools, brushing Grey Flannel re-inker onto the edges of everything.

Here are a couple of detail shots:


We also used pink buttons, the Sweetheart Level 2 Assortment (those black and white epoxy stickers), and Colonial White waxy flax.
Such a fun layout to work on.  Stay tuned for the other layout we completed as well as some cards yet to come.

Happy Creating!

Friday, May 6, 2011

CTMH: 4 Cards: 1 Paper Kit, But Many Stamp Sets!

These are the four cards we made at the crop held during the Toronto Regional Celebration last month.  I know I had said I would post these photos (and more) a LOT earlier and I apologize for leaving it until now.

Here are the cards:



The paper kit we used was Mayberry, but I really can't remember all the stamp sets.  I know some of them were Happy Moments, Affection, and Paper Lanterns, but I'm not sure about the one with the stitches.  I love them all, especially since Mayberry is my favourite new paper kit!

I do have more photos of cards and layouts we completed that weekend, but they'll have to wait until next week.  It's Club Night tonight and we're playing with Sweetheart and tomorrow I'm in charge of the A-May-Zing Race happening at my daughter's school, a fundraiser.  Busy, busy!

Happy Creating!