CTMH: January Stamp-of-the-Month Blog Hop

Happy New Year!  I can hardly believe that 2012 is upon us!  I'm sure you'll hear that a lot over the course of the blog hop.
If you've come from my friend, fancyMelissa's blog, you're on the right track.  Just keep hopping by clicking on links in each post and you'll get back to where you started.
Here is the stamp set, called A Little Reminder:

It's a great set for remember-the-date cards, highlighting a special event or you could play on the passage of time idea or even just recording the date on your scrapbook layouts.  I've been sick with a nasty cold for almost the entire month and figured I'd be better by now.  No such luck.  I haven't had the energy to do the necessary things and some crafting.  So, I will show you a photo of Close To My Heart's artwork and hopefully add some of my own in the very near future.

Just remember that this stamp set is only available until Jan. 31.  And since our Canadian prices are dropping to match the American, you can get it for $17.95 or for $5.00, with an order of $50.00!

Now, hop on over to Traci's blog and see what inspiration she has for you.

Enjoy ringing in the new year and celebrating with family and friends!  May there be many happy creating days ahead, for you and for me, as soon as I get over this cold!

Crop 'Til You Drop

I'm hosting another 12-Hour Fundraising Crop on Saturday, January 21 and I'd love to have you join us!

We'll be cropping away from 9am to 9pm.  Here are all the details:

Why: to raise money for a medical mission trip to Guatemala in Feb. 2012. My husband and I have been doing these trips with Speroway for a number of years.  Your fee will help put medicine into the hands of those who need them so badly. Place: Hope Fellowship Church, 1685 Bloor St. E.Courtice Cost: $50 for 12 hours, $35 for 6 hours plus dinner, $30 for 6 hours no dinner Registration Deadline: Monday, January 9. Register by December 31, with payment and you'll get a tax receipt for this calendar year. Fee includes: 6’ table all to yourself Snacks and coffee, tea, bottled water all day (and dinner if you've chosen that option) Use of stamps, inks, and other tools Swap table Giveaways and goodie bag Layout workshop using Wonderland (open for anyone not attending crop as well): $5 cost for one-page workshop additional $5 for coordinating page kit We'll also have another Dollar Auction, with the entire proceeds going directly to the costs for our trip. And enjoy an on-site scrapbook store! Julie from Sassy Scrappin' will be joining us. Sign up today!

CTMH: December SOTM Blog Hop

Happy December!  It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas.  We had our first dusting of snow this morning and it looks beautiful.  We're here for another Stamp-of-the-Month blog hop.  If you came from Dawn's blog, you're on the right path.  If you're starting here, just keep clicking the links in each post until you get back here and you'll have seen all the inspiration we have prepared.

This month's stamp set will get your thoughts away from Christmas and on to Valentine's Day.  It's full of lovely images and sentiments.

You'll see that 4 of the images are compatible with the Art Philosophy cartridge as well.  So fun!  I decided to go really simple with my cards, just stamping directly on the card base.  The hearts in this set are perfect for standing alone and I'm really in a simple kick since planning workshop cards.  My own Christmas cards are going to be super simple, too.  Here are my cards:

This first one is a 3x6 card.  I used Tulip ink and the lighter one is second generation.  The sentiment comes from For Every Occasion.

This card uses Cotton Candy ink and I double-stamped the image.  The sentiment is from Pair-a-Phrase and is masked to get just that one word.  I added a line with my Legacy Writer pen.

This last card is also done with Tulip.  The sentiment is from Say It In Style.  What do you think about the line around the outside?  I'm not sure I like it.  Do you think I should add it to the first card or leave it as is?  

I have to thank my upline, Sheri Ballantyne, for help with the designs of these cards.

Now it's time to hop on over to Georgia's blog and check out the fabulous artwork she made.  Don't forget that this stamp set is only available for the month of December.

Happy Creating!

CTMH: Card Set Using Up More Scraps

I've managed to complete another set of paper from a past promotion.  This one was a fun kit all about celebrating.  It included a stamp set, which is the only set I used on these cards.

I believe the colours were Indian Corn blue, Sweet Leaf, and Chocolate.  It also included a set of Chocolate Mini Medleys.  This is a set that I'll be selling at my craft fair on Wednesday.  What would you pay for them?

Using Up the Old

I am getting ready for my very first Craft Show in a couple weeks and so I've been using up lots of old paper to create cards and other goodies.  I have so many left-over kits from workshops or gatherings and have made them all up to sell, but I've also been creating with scraps from old paper kits.  I wanted to show the last 3 cards I made with the Tickled Pink paper kit we had a number of years ago.  It was a promotion for National Scrapbooking Month.  I had fun coming up with the best way to use every last bit of paper.

I wish I could remember all the embellishments I used, but the stamped images came only from the set that came with the paper.  I know you're probably deep in preparations for Christmas, but hopefully these will make you think of spring.

A question before I go.  What sorts of items would you buy at a craft show?  Or, if you've been a vendor at one before, what types of things did you sell lots of?  As a newbie to this whole thing, I'd love your advice.

Happy Creating!

CTMH: November Stamp-of-the-Month Blog Hop

We are here again, for another SOTM blog hop!  This month we've got almost 60 consultants participating.  If you came from Tamytha, the Paperheartist, you're on the right path.  If this is your first stop, just keep clicking the links at the end of each post until you get back here.

I am so excited to share my project with you.  Sometimes you make something that ends up exactly the way you wanted it to turn out.  I changed things around a lot while working on it, but the end result showcases my photo the way I really hoped it would.  Before we get to my artwork, here's a photo of what the stamp set looks like:

How fun is that!!!  I love that it matches with one of the Art Philosophy images, that the higher numbers are stamps, too, so that I don't have to stamp a 3 and a 0 to make 30.  This set is perfect for any kind of event, for invitations but also layouts.

Here is my project:

I had so much fun creating this layout, following the Sidebar-Main Frame pattern from Reflections.  I'm a year and a half behind, since my daughter has had her 6th birthday already, but I love this photo of her.  It was taken during her first birthday party with her friends.  I printed the photo in black and white so I could use any colour and I decided on blue because that is Arianna's favourite.  I loved the way the stamps were all rectangular. To show that my focus was on a year, I stamped each image a number of times, in a type of random grid, using Indian Corn Blue ink on Indian Corn Blue cardstock.  Then, you'll see the May stamp on the tag, since her birthday is May 30.  I chose to cut a different image than the ticket one because this bracket rectangle looks more girly.

Here's a close up of the stamped side:

And here is a close-up of the embellishment cluster.  

Materials used:  

Cardstock: Lilac Mist, Indian Corn Blue, Outdoor Denim, White Daisy

Ink: Indian Corn Blue, Outdoor Denim

Embellishments: Milepost Shapes, Colour-Ready Cork Alphabet, Lilac Mist brads, felt flowers (from Maya Road) and Denim Baker's Twine (from The Twinery)

Other: sponge, My Legacy Writer

Now it's time to hop on over to Katy's blog and drool over the artwork she's created.  

Happy Creating!

Join my Team and Get a Deal: Time is Limited!

Have you ever considered becoming a Close To My Heart consultant?  Now is the time, but that time is almost up.  The special promotion, Add on for Free, is over October 31.  Right now, when you sign up to join my team, you can choose an add-on pack (retail value of up to $140!) for free.  You already get an amazing deal when you purchase the New Consultant kit, for just $99 and now you'll get even more.  But it's over very soon.

I'd love to have you join our team of consultants.  I'm looking for people who are willing to step out, have fun, and learn new things.  It will feel overwhelming at first, but I'm here to help you, answer your questions, and get you started off on the right foot.  Maybe you're not sure what's all involved with this new job.  Maybe you're raring to go.  Send me an email or call me and we'll set up a time to chat.

CTMH: October Stamp-of-the-Month Blog Hop

We have reached my favourite month!  I love October.  I love this time of year, the way the weather is cooler at night and nice during the day.  I love the colours of the leaves changing.  We have ivy on our garage and our house changes from green to red every fall.  I love putting my sweaters on and cozying up with a yummy cup of Earl Grey tea.  It's also my birthday at the end of the month (and it's a big one this year!), but that's just a plus.

Our Stamp-of-the-Month blog hop is here and we've got a great group of consultants participating again.  If you came from Adeline's blog, you're on the right track.  This month's stamp set will get you thinking Christmas!  Now is the time for preparing cards and gifts and this set is perfect for that.

Isn't it cute?  I love it.  It has such wonderful texture and is so fun to work with.  Here are the cards I created.

I decided to use up some old paper for both of these cards.  This first one is made with Mistletoe Level 2.  The trees are stamped with New Englad Ivy in first and second generation.  The trunks and sentiment are stamped in Cocoa.  I sponged the edges of everything with Cocoa ink.  The trees on the left and middle are popped with one layer and the tree on the right is popped with two layers.  The embellishments added are from Bitty Sparkles, Rhinestone Designer Brads and the Red/Pink/Purple Sparkle Assortment.

This second card is made with some really old paper.  In fact, I've had the papers adhered to the card base for a couple years and I don't remember the name of it.  On this card, I stamped the sleigh with Ponderosa Pine and the other images with Cocoa ink.  I also lightly tapped my sponge all over the Colonial White piece.  The little ribbon is just from my stash.  The white-looking dots on the paper are Stardust Slitz Gel.  You can still see some of the colour through them in real life and they sparkle a bit, too.

Now hop on over to Sheila's blog.  I'm sure she's created some beautiful work to inspire you.  If you want to get your hands on this stamp set, email or call me or go to my website to order.

Happy Creating!



Wow, I Feel So Honoured!

I am so touched and amazed!  I thought that getting this little award from Lisa was an honour.  But then I got it from Jackie a little while later and I was tickled pink!  So, when I also got it from Carol a few days later, I was over the moon!  These ladies are so talented, so getting an award from them means a lot!  I didn't know people loved my blog so much.  I don't always post very regularly, but I try.  Thank you so much, ladies, for completely making my week!

This is a different kind of blog award in the respect that it recognizes inspiring blogs with less than 200 followers. This way some very worthy, but often over looked blogs benefit from some extra exposure...which is something every blogger can use!  And who doesn't like an award?


Liebster is the German word for "beloved" or "favourite". So it is now my turn to bestow this award to 5 of my most beloved blogs who have less than 200 followers. So be sure to check out the blogs listed below and congratulate them by leaving them some blog love in the form of a comment and becoming a Follower if you find them to be as inspiring as I do!

Kim at Creative Hands and Hearts.  I love her simple cards.

Arlene at Arlene's Creative Space.  She's one of my team members and does a great job scrapbooking heritage photos.

Carla at Carla Creates.  My friend, who creates gorgeous, award-winning layouts.

Brae at The Brae-er.  She just had a baby!  I love the details she uses in her artwork.

Sarah at Just Visiting.  Sarah is amazing!  She's been published numerous times and her work is beautiful.  Oh, and did I mention that she roomed with me for all four years of university?  Yup, I'm proud of her.  ;)

Make sure you check out their blogs.  Happy Creating!

I can hardly believe it.  Today my son turns 4!

This sweet little baby, only a day old, has grown up into this silly little boy, oh, pardon me, big boy.

He's such a character!  Full of personality and silliness.  He loves to make silly noises and he is incredibly curious.  He asks questions about everything and has to look at new things from every angle.  He absolutely adores anything to do with machines, particularly Mighty Machines and emergency vehicles and really knows his dinosaurs.

  

He's all these silly things, but he loves to pretend he's a baby, complete with sounds.  He still loves to cuddle with me and give hugs.  When he starts telling a story, he really gets into it.  He is a challenge sometimes, with a determined spirit that really hates when he doesn't get his own way.  He's still adjusting to the rules in his Kindergarten class, but he'll get there.  God created him as a true boy, rough and tumble, climbing, playing, running sort of boy.  I can only imagine what God has planned for Nathaniel. 

Happy Birthday, my favourite silly boy!

I have been having some fun working on past card kits and other projects.  Some of these are projects from gatherings and others are me just finishing up paper packs.

These first cards were made with the Splendor paper kit, Over the Rainbow and TLC stamp sets, and a Heavenly Blue brad.  The images were stamped in Goldrush, Moonstruck, Topiary and Heavenly Blue.

I love that this style card.  Fun and light and yet I've used two of them for sympathy cards.  Did you notice that on those two cards the sun is hiding behind the clouds more?  I didn't take it away entirely.  It's my way of telling the people to whom I would send the cards that the sunshine is still there, even though it may not feel that way at the moment.  Have you ever done that?  Put something on your card that has an extra meaning?  What did you do?  I'd love to hear about it!

Stay tuned for more cards.  Happy Creating!

CTMH: September Stamp-of-the-Month Blog Hop

Welcome to the September SOTM Blog Hop!  If you came from Judy's blog, you're on the right track.  If this is your first stop, just keep clicking the links in each post until you get back here and you will have experienced all the amazing artwork that consultants have created for you.

What a whirlwind this week has been!  I almost forgot that I didn't have a project made for this hop.  My kids start school next week, and Nathaniel will be starting Junior Kindergarten, so exciting!  We've been really focused on the last bits of potty training.  Yeah, not so fun, but necessary.  Arianna is looking forward to having her little brother join her at "her" school.  Anyway, that's been my focus and the reason I raced down to my craft room, during the half hour quiet time I could get out of the kids this afternoon, to create this card.  It really didn't take much time, thanks to the Cricut Art Philosophy cartridge which did the cutting for me.

I used Roxie Level 2 kit to create this card.  In fact, every piece of paper besides the base is from the patterned paper in this kit.  Love it.  I also used Just Blooms Paper Shapes Flutter (Those butterflies make me happy!), Foundry Ribbon Slides, and Designer Ribbon Red Collection, along with some retired Twill ribbon.  I stamped the tag in Sorbet, Cocoa and Desert Sand inks and everything was sponged with Desert Sand ink.  Then I added in some Clear Sparkles for a little extra bling.

Since I had paper in the Cricut, I decided to cut some pieces for journaling spots.  This stamp set is perfect for that.  Here are the two I stamped, ready to add to a card or layout.



The edges have been sponged with Desert Sand and the lines stamped in the same colour.  I also stamped some images in Cocoa and Barn Red, in first and second generation.  Can't wait to use them!

It's now time to hop on over to fancyMelissa's blog and see the stunning artwork she's got for you to drool over.  I know it's going to be great!

Happy Creating!

CTMH: You and Me, Part 2

As promised, here are the rest of the cards I made with the leftovers from the You and Me Kit sold in May.  I did add a bit of cardstock and all the card bases as well.

I had a lot of fun creating these cards.  Sometimes I used a pattern in the How-To book, Wishes.  Sometimes I followed someone else's idea and sometimes I just made it all up myself.  And most of the time, those last ones are my favourites!  I don't often do things all on my own when it comes to paper crafting and I'm pretty sure I'm not the only one.  I always have such a sense of accomplishment when I love how my own ideas work out.
Feel free, though, to use these ideas to get you creating.  ;)

It's almost time for the Stamp-of-the-Month blog hop, so stay tuned!

CTMH: You and Me

I really loved the You and Me kit we sold to celebrate National Scrapbooking Month in May.  The layouts were gorgeous and the paper, wow!  I cut the paper for my layouts very sparingly so I would have leftovers to make cards.  Some of these cards are completely cased from other consultants, but I made them quite a while ago, so I don't remember who made them initially.  Here they are!

 This next photo shows the inside:

I'll post some more tomorrow, so come on back then.  I hope these inspire you to crack open your You and Me Kit and get crafting.  I know some of you haven't opened it yet, I just know it!  ;)

Happy Creating!

Cricut Card Workshop

Come on out for a fun afternoon, playing with the new Cricut cartridge, Art Philosophy.  We'll be creating a slight variation on the Bonus Project from the Typeset Workshop-on-the-Go kit.  I'll provide all the materials.  You just need to bring $12 along with your favourite adhesive, dimensional adhesive and a pair of scissors.  Your fee includes a 1/2 package of Milepost Shapes as well as all the other embellishments you'll need.  We'll even get to do some messy painting.

When?  Saturday, August 27, 2-5pm.
Where?  My basement studio
RSVP by Wednesday, August 17.

Here are the cards we'll be making:

Call or email me today to reserve your spot.
Happy Creating!

CTMH August SOTM Blog Hop

Wow, what an exciting time to be a consultant for Close To My Heart!  The new Autumn/Winter Idea Book goes live to customers tomorrow (Aug 1) and there are so many incredible changes.  I'm quite sure as you go through this month's hop, you'll see lots of gorgeous new papers and embellishments.

This month we have over 60 consultants participating.  It's a cyclical hop so if you've come from Michelle's blog, you're on the right path.  If you're starting here, just keep clicking links until you get back here and you'll have seen it all.

August's Stamp-of-the-Month is very Halloween-y.  As I've said in past years, I'm not real big on Halloween.  So I decided to use the stamps in a different way, although I have to say that I do think the rest of the set is super cute.  Here's what it looks like:

Here is the card I made:

I used our brand new 6x6 Kraft cards and envelopes, one of my favourite new paper packs, Typeset, Milepost Shapes and Complements Canvas self-adhesive images.  I used the border and sentiment from the stamp-of-the-month.  I rubbed the star over my Vineyard Berry ink pad to add some colour.  Everything was sponged in Desert Sand or Black ink.  Here's another view so you can see how neat those card bases are.

And since these have got to be my favourite new accessory, I had to include a close-up.  They're so neat!

Now, you're ready to keep on hopping over to Terrie's blog. 

Happy Creating!