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!