December Stamp of the Month Blog Hop

Welcome to the December Stamp of the Month Blog Hop! If you just arrived from Laura's blog, you are on the right path.

This month there are over 60 Close To My Heart consultants participating. We are featuring the December Stamp of the Month Notice the Details, a set of 41 stamps.  I can't wait to see the various projects that all of the participants will be showing.  This set has a lot of potential for some fun projects.

The title of this stamp set made me think about my Project 365.  Let's just say I haven't kept up with that the way I'd intended.  But this set is exactly what Project 365 is about--noticing the little everyday things, and keeping track of it.  I used this set in my layout for the week of Spring Break.  I took the week off of work to spend with my son.  We had a fun week, doing a bunch of little things.  I'm glad that I was able to spend that time with him, and even happier that I documented it.

 

 

 

 

Papers: CTMH Colonial White, Sweet Leaf and Twilight cardstock
Inks: CTMH Sweet Leaf and Twilight

Techniques: Second-generation stamping
Stamp Sets: Notice the Details, Friendship Alphabet, April Word Puzzle, and Today's Date

And, because I know someone will ask, yes that is a giant rattlesnake in the picture.  Photo is at the very bottom of the post (so if you're squeamish, don't scroll past the link to the next blog).  

Remember, Notice the Details is only available December 1st-31st, 2009.  Contact your Close To My Heart consultant, or click here, to order one for yourself.

Now hop on over to Katy's blog to see what she has created!

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

Giant snake photo below

Do you really want to see it?

Don't say I didn't warn you...

Seriously, you've been warned.

Last chance....

Now imagine trying to take a picture of a flower and hearing your little one say "mom, there's a snake", and then turning to see this thing about 6-8 feet away from your kid.  Good thing I'm not a screamer...  If I hadn't stopped to take that flower picture, I would have walked within striking distance of that thing.

Card for a friend

My friend Sue recently had a surgery, which has left her in a lot of pain (too much even to scrap some days).  I wanted to send a gift and a card to let her know that I'm thinking about her.  I made this card following Mojo Monday sketch 108.  Sue loves all things Asian, so I wanted to use my Far East stack for this card.  She also loves the Temecula Olive Oil Company, so I picked up something for her there.

Papers:  CTMH Cardstock (Indian Corn Blue and White Daisy), DCWV Far East stack

Ink:  CTMH Indian Corn Blue

Ribbon:  White Organdy (JoAnn)

Flowers:  Prima

Brad:  Making Memories (??)

Tools and Techniques:  Second-generation stamping

Feel Better Soon, Sue!!

Blog Candy ends tonight at Midnight Eastern

Look what I found while blurfing (isn't that a cute term?  I totally stole it from Vicki.) today...Jacque's Joie de Vivre.  She's giving away fantastic blog candy with lots of goodies for making Christmas cards, but you have to leave a comment by midnight eastern TONIGHT!!!

Postcard Sketch Inspiration Challenge Christmas Card

I needed to take a break from my homework, so I thought I'd try the OCC challenge.  This week's challenge is a sketch inspiration challenge for a postcard.   I think it turned out cute, and was a pretty quick (for me) card.

Papers:  CTMH cardstock, DCWV Holiday Collection The Christmas Stack

Inks:  CTMH Bamboo, Cranberry, Desert Sand, and Ponderosa Pine

Stamps:  CTMH No Peeking, Vintage Christmas, and Friendship Alphabet Small

Embellishments:  Prima flowers, Making Memories Crystal Brads

Tools and Techniques:  Direct-to-paper ink distressing

This is yet another card for Sparkle's Christmas Card Challenge (woohoo, number three for the week!!!). 

I guess I have to get back to the homework...

That was easy

Now I have the voice from the easy button going through my head.  But the sketch at Card Positioning Systems was very simple.  So in a quick few minutes, with no stamping and nothing complicated, I made this cute card.  Who says you have to make a complicated card to make a nice card???  Not me.

Papers:  DCWV Holiday Collection The Christmas Stack, CTMH cardstock Topiary and Holiday Red
Ribbon:  Michael's
Brad:  Creative Imaginations
Tools and Techniques:  3-D Mounting Foam

I guess that means one more for Sparkle's Christmas card challenge as well!

Mojo Christmas cards

Woohoo, today is (I think) only the second time I've actually made the Mojo Monday card on Monday.  I might even be one of the first 50 to post my card.  I made two, so that ups my Christmas card total by two.  I really think I will have my Christmas cards done by December 1st (Thank You Sparkle for the Christmas card challenge).  This card follows Mojo Monday sketch 112. 

Paper:  DCWV Holiday Collection The Christmas Stack, CTMH cardstock Topiary and Tulip

Inks:  CTMH Topiary, Versamark

Stamps:  CTMH Just for the Holidays

Ribbon:  Michael's

Tools and Techniques:  Nestabilities Circle and Classic Scalloped Circle Small, CTMH 1/4" long reach punch, heat embossing, 3-D Mounting squares

All Boxed Up Card set

I found a great template for a card box from Lauren Meader at Papertrey Ink. You can purchase the template here. I made a set of assorted cards following the September '09 PageMaps sketches. This is a fun and quick (and useful) gift to make.

Paper: CTMH Emporium, CTMH Cardstock

Inks: CTMH
Stamps: CTMH Thank You, CTMH Many Thanks, CTMH Connections, CTMH Treetops

Ribbon: CTMH Cocoa, Vineyard Berry (from Emporium Creative Basics) and White Daisy Ricrac

Tools and Techniques: Fiskars Threading Water punch, Marvy Uchida circle and scalloped circle punch.

It's a Stampaganza!

Whether you're a long-time fan of stamps or are just venturing into this fun hobby, now is the perfect time to grab some My Acrylix® decorative stamp sets! From November 3–30, 2009, when you purchase any two stamp sets (sizes A, B, C, D, and/or E only) at full retail price you will receive a third stamp set of your choice FREE (of equal or lesser value)— a savings of up to $22.95! Choose from any stamp set offered in any 2009 Idea Book or the current Product Review.

Take advantage of this month’s great offer to add to your assortment of these innovative stamps. Don't forget to check out the section for retiring stamps on my website, so you can get your favorite stamp before it retires December 31st!

What are the details you ask??

- This special is available from 9 a.m. MST on November 3rd through November 30th 2009.

- You may choose your FREE set from any current stamp set we sell (excluding E-size, customizable (K), Art & Soul®, Workshops on the Go™ and Stamp of the Month) that is of equal or lesser value than the LOWEST PRICED set that you purchase.

- The full retail value of the FREE stamp set can vary up to $22.95.

- No tax is charged on FREE stamp sets. For Gathering and Individual orders, shipping/handling is always charged based on the full retail value of the item. For EZ Invite and MyCTMH orders, shipping/handling is charged based on the weight of the item.

- You will receive your choice of a free stamp set after every two sets you purchase at full retail price. The free sets will ALWAYS* be the smallest sized sets in your order. For example, if you plan to get four D-sized sets and 2 B-sized sets, the two B-sized sets will be the free sets. (*I'm all about the customer service. Email me to make your order the best it can be for YOU.)

Check out my website to view the catalog. You can place your order online or by email.