May 2013 Stamp of the Month Blog Hop

Welcome to the May 2013 CTMH Stamp of the Month Blog Hop, featuring Pinwheel, a set of 10 Stamps.  This month we have over 60 Close To My Heart consultants participating in our hop.  If you've just arrived here from {Lucy's} blog, you are on the right track.  If you are just starting here, our round-robin hop can still be enjoyed in it's entirety.  Just follow the links at the end of each post, and eventually you'll end up right back here!

I made my card following the Mojo Monday sketch 291 and using the CTMH Sophia papers.   The bright colors would make this card appropriate for a variety of occasions, so I opted to not use a sentiment until I decide who will be the recipient.  I stamped the pinwheel image twice (once in Hollyhock and once in Pear), then cut out and layered the pieces.  The Bigger Brad was used to allow the pinwheel to spin, and the pinwheel was mounted with 3-D Mounting Foam.  

Papers: CTMH cardstock in Colonial White and Goldrush,  CTMH Sophia 

Inks: CTMH Goldrush, Hollyhock and Pear 
Tools and Techniques: CTMH Bigger Brads in Hollyhock, CTMH ricrac ribbon in Hollyhock, 3-D Mounting Foam
Stamp Sets: CTMH Pinwheel 

Remember, Pinwheel is only available during the month of May 2013.  Ask your consultant, or click here, to find out how to get this stamp for yourself!

Now hop on over to {Haley's} blog to see what she's created.

If you find any broken links along the way, Helen has the complete list of hoppers here.

April 2013 CTMH Stamp of the Month Blog Hop

Welcome to the April 2013 CTMH Stamp of the Month Blog Hop, featuring My Sunshine, a set of 8 stamps.  This month we have over 50 Close To My Heart consultants participating in our hop.  If you've just arrived here from {Wendy's} blog, you are on the right track.  If you are just starting here, our round-robin hop can still be enjoyed in it's entirety.  Just follow the links at the end of each post, and eventually you'll end up right back here!  

I made my card following the Mojo Monday sketch 286, and I went for the round option.  Since I wanted to use the bird stamp, I figured using the Magnifique papers was a good plan.  I cut out the scalloped circle card using the Cricut Art Philosophy cartridge, and the bird image was cut out from the Artiste cartridge.  I wanted to use clear embossing powder to make the bird shine.  The trick to embossing in any color is to ink your stamp with Versamark and then with the color of your choice, and then stamp your image.  Sprinkle with clear embossing powder and use your heat gun to melt the powder to give a nice shiny surface.

Papers: CTMH cardstock in Chocolate, Colonial White, and Lagoon; CTMH Magnifique 
Inks: CTMH Pacific, Versamark
Tools and Techniques: CTMH ribbon, CTMH Bitty Brads in Antiqued Copper, 3-D Mounting Foam, CTMH Clear embossing powder, Cricut CTMH Artiste cartridge, Cricut CTMH Art Philosophy cartridge
Stamp Sets: CTMH My Sunshine

Remember, My Sunshine is only available April 1-30, 2013.  Contact your consultant, or click {here}, to find out how to get your own.

Now hop on over to {Lori's} blog to find some more favorites.

If you find any broken links along the way, Helen has the complete list of hoppers {here}. 

March 2013 Stamp of the Month Blog Hop

 It's time for the March Stamp of the Month Blog Hop.  This month there are over 50 Close To My Heart consultants participating in our hop, featuring the March Stamp of the Month Floral Happiness, a set of 16 stamps.  If you arrived from {Mary's} blog, you are on the right path.  If not,  you can jump in anywhere and enjoy the creations!

I created my card using the Avonlea paper pack and following the Mojo Monday 282 sketch.  The dimension comes from the Parlor Velvet Rub-Ons and buttons from the Green Assortment.  The sentiment was stamped on Slate cardstock in Slate ink.  I like how stamping on the cardstock with the same color ink lets the image stand out yet be somewhat subdued at the same time.

Papers: CTMH cardstock in Slate and Colonial White, and CTMH Avonlea 
Inks: CTMH Olive and Slate
Tools and Techniques: CTMH Parlor Velvet Rub-ons, CTMH Buttons, Zots glue dots, direct-to-paper distressing
Stamp Sets: CTMH Floral Happiness

Remember, Floral Happiness is only available 1-31 March 2013.  Contact your Close To My Heart consultant, or click here, to find out how to order your own.

Now hop on over to {Angel's blog} to see her creation.

If you find any broken links along the way, Helen has the complete list on her blog.  

February 2013 CTMH Stamp of the Month Blog Hop

Welcome to the February 2013 CTMH Stamp of the Month Blog Hop featuring Home Sweet Home, a set of 4 stamps.  If you've just arrived here from{Laurie's} blog, you are on the right path.   But, if you're just starting here you won't miss a thing.  Our hop is one big circle, so jump right on in and enjoy the artwork!

It's a funny coincidence that this month's Stamp of the Month is called Home Sweet Home and this month I will celebrate one year back from being stationed in Okinawa.  I'd had a project idea in mind for this set, but once I sat at my craft table I changed my mind and decided to play with my Cricut.

Papers: CTMH cardstock in Kraft, 
Inks: CTMH Pacifica
Tools and Techniques: Cricut, Cricut Artiste Cartridge, CTMH Buttons, Glue Dots
Stamp Sets: CTMH Home Sweet Home

Remember, Home Sweet Home is only available February 1-28, 2013.  Contact your consultant, or click here, to find out how to get one for yourself.

Now hop on over to {Sarita's} blog to see what she's created.

If you find any broken links along the way,  Helen has the complete list of hoppers listed on her blog.

My 2012 Crafting Count

Well, 2012 was not a very productive year for me craft-wise, but that is because of how busy I was with work and school.  I moved back to the States from Okinawa, took a bunch of college classes, made the Dean's List, was inducted into TWO honor societies, got an AWESOME back injury at work, completed extra professional education and reading for work, and planned and executed the biggest-deal project of my military career.  Unfortunately, that means my expenditures on crafting supplies FAR exceeded my production for the year.  These are my totals:

Pages complete: 0

Cards complete: 13

Altered Items: 3

Digital Pages complete: 0

Sewing Items: 0

Crochet Items: 0

Miscellaneous Items: 2

I actually did work on some digital layouts on Studio J, but I don't count them until I place the order (so that will mean a boost in my 2013 numbers).  

I think my school schedule this year will be such that I will be able to have at least a little bit of crafting time each month (well, until the fall anyway).  Maybe I'll set a goal this year of scheduling crafting time into my weeks.  That sounds like a good goal.  What are YOUR crafting goals for 2013?

January 2013 Stamp of the Month Blog Hop

Welcome to the January 2013 CTMH Stamp of the Month Blog Hop.  If you just arrived from {Sarita's} blog, you are on the right path.  This month there are nearly 50 Close To My Heart consultants participating in our blog hop.  We are featuring the January 2013 Stamp of the Month Happy Valentine's, a set of 7 stamps.  

For my project, I broke out my Cricut and the Artiste cartridge.  The little square box measures 2.5" on each side, and has a cutout window on the top.  I cut the box body from Sweet Leaf cardstock, and the lid from La Belle Vie.  I stamped the rose on the reverse side of the window cutout from the box lid in StazOn black ink.  I cut out the rose and then used Liquid Glass to attach it to the underside of a 2.5" square of acetate (I just use those overhead transparency sheets you can buy at the office supply store).  I also used Liquid Glass to attach the acetate to the underside of the lid.  Once the LG was dry, I attached black Opaques from the Licorice package, and made a bow from black grosgrain ribbon which was attached with Zots glue dots.  For the box body, I mixed black Re-inker with Create-a-Shade Pearl Paint and dry-brushed it over the box, allowing some of the cardstock color to show through.  If you wanted to make the  box sturdier, you could coat it with a product like Mod Podge.  Now you have a cute box that you can put a small gift or treasure into.  

Remember, Happy Valentine's is only available January 1-31, 2013.  Contact your consultant or click here to find out how to get your own.

Now hop on over to {Michelle's} blog to see what she's created.

If you find any broken links along the way, Helen has the complete list of hoppers listed on her blog.

December 2012 CTMH Stamp of the Month Blog Hop

Welcome to the December 2012 CTMH Stamp of the Month Blog Hop, featuring Year-Round Cheer, a set of 12 Stamps.  If you've just arrived here from{Dawn's} blog, you are on the right path.  If you are just starting here, just jump in and enjoy our circular hop, which has over 50 participants this month.  When you reach the end of a post, click on the link to go "round" to the next post in the hop to see lots of "cheer".    

I love stamp sets like this that give you a bunch of stamps that are nearly the same size but a variety of subjects.  They are perfect for creating card sets (which make great gifts) or for building up your stash of cards.  They also work well for added sentiments to pre-made cards without sentiments (sort of "fill-in-the-blanks" card).    I decided to make some small cards using scraps from some favorite paper packs.  These square cards were made in 3" and 3.5" sizes.  I simply cut the bases, cut some scraps, and then stamped and mounted the images.  The 3" size make great gift cards to put on gift bags or bottles of your favorite adult beverages.  Use a hole punch in the corner and then tie it on using your favorite ribbon, string, tinsel...whatever you can think of.  

Remember, Year-Round Cheer is only available 1-31 December 2012.  Contact your Close To My Heart consultant, or click here, to find out how to order your own.  

Now hop on over to {Elizabeth's} blog to see her creation.


If you find any broken links along the way, Helen has the complete list on her blog.