March 2010 Stamp of the Month Blog Hop!!

The shortest month seemed to fly by even faster than usual this year.  It's time for the March Stamp of the Month Blog Hop.  This month there are over 60 Close To My Heart consultants participating in our hop, featuring the March Stamp of the Month A Little Everything, a set of 26 stamps.  This sentiment stamp set really does contain "a little everything", and the sentiments are all in our new Cocktail font.  If you arrived from Chris' blog, you are on the right path.  If not, no worries.  Our hop is a round-robin, so you can jump in anywhere and enjoy the sights!

My card is a thank you card made following Sunday Sketch and Stamp Challenge #22, Crafty Creations Challenge #56 (cut it out and pop it up), Lexi's Creations Challenge #8 (anything goes), Flourishes Timeless Tuesday Challenge #54 (All about me, using something you love, which is this case is 3-D Mounting Foam), Your Next Stamp Challenge #10 (Spring Colours), and Practical Scrappers challenge (stamps, I have had Cottage Floral for ages but had never used it). The really fun Cocktail font of the SOTM looks great with these cheery colors.  Sorry the picture is a wee-bit fuzzy.  I made this card because I needed a thank you card, so I took a quick picture and then put it in an envelope and sent it on it's way without checking the quality of the photo.  Lesson learned.

 

Papers: CTMH Buttercup, Hollyhock, and White Daisy cardstock, CTMH Boom Di Ada
Inks: CTMH Autumn Terracotta, Buttercup, Garden Green, and Hollyhock

Tools and Techniques: Fiskars Threading Water border Punch, unknown ribbon, Marvy Uchida Giga Scalloped Circle and Mega Circle punches, direct-to-paper (aka "crosshatch") distressing, 3-D Mounting Foam
Stamp Sets: CTMH A Little Everything and Cottage Floral

Remember, A Little Everything is only available March 1-31st, 2010.  Contact your Close To My Heart consultant or click here to find out how to get this stamp for a discounted price or even FREE!!

Now, hop on over to Jen's blog to see her fantastic creation!

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

Karate Ian Bookmark

A few weeks ago, I made myself a magnetic bookmark.  My son wanted me to make one for him also (he has been working his way through the Harry Potter books, and he frequently is reading more than one book at a time).  So last night I bought Karate Anya and Karate Ian from The Greeting Farm (looks like Sparkle has enabled me to another line of stamps-she was one of the first to get me interested in Bellas also).  I was a little worried about using digital "stamps", and I wondered if I would be able to use my Copic markers to color images printed on an inkjet printer.  The great thing about these images is that you can re-size them without worry because they are really high resolution.  So I printed 9 images on one sheet of paper, and let the ink dry while I made another card.  I was quite pleased that the image didn't bleed when I colored it.  It looks like I might be hooked.  At least these won't require any storage space in my already-cramped stamp storage boxes. :)  Obviously, I need lots of practice coloring hair.

Spring-y Mojo Birthday Card

I'm on a roll today.  I have to say, I really enjoy spending my entire Sunday in my pajamas.  I'm glad I was able to get my roses trimmed yesterday, so I didn't have to get dressed today.  So, this is card number two for today, made following Mojo Monday 126.  Other challenges include Crafty Creations Challenge #55 (stitching), Pile It On challenge (flowers), and Your Next Stamp (Spring Colours).  I'd also come across a challenge with plaid, but I can't seem to find it again.

 

Papers: CTMH White Daisy cardstock, Bazzill Cardstock, Basic Grey Lemonade
Inks: Copic Markers, CTMH Twilight

Tools and Techniques: Prima flowers Basic Grey Opaline Half Pearls, Nestabilities Petite Oval Large and Petite Scalloped Oval Large, Fiskars Threading Water border Punch, unknown ribbon, sewing machine, 3-D Mounting Foam
Stamp Sets: Hero Arts Sweet Wonderful You, CTMH Happy Birthday and Card Sentiments (inside)

Cute and Spring-y Birthday Card

I'm still getting over the crud that has been going around, and I woke up with a headache, so I decided to scrap for a bit before hitting the gym (and DH hired a cleaning company that started two days ago and will come bi-weekly, so I don't feel obligated to be cleaning something right now).  A few weeks ago I stopped at the Stampin' Post on my way home and bought the cutest little girl stamp set by Hero Arts.  Which meant I needed more Copics to color them with.  So I ordered 19 more from The Merri Artist (bringing my current total of Copic markers to 30), and was excited to get to break-in both of my new purchases.  Friday evening I started coloring a few of the largest girl image, and today I am making cards with them.  This is the first card, made for an upcoming birthday.  This card was made following CPS sketch 154.  Other challenges were OCC Something Old That's New, Flourishes Timeless Tuesday Challenge (I LOVE using up stuff from my stash, and the paper, flowers and baubles have been in my stash for AGES), Pile it On (flowers), and Fun With Shapes and More challenge #41 (Spotted).

Papers: CTMH Orange and White Daisy cardstock, Sassafrass Sunshine Lollipops
Inks: Copic Markers

Tools and Techniques: Unknown flowers (whoever makes the monthly flowers, these are January Carnation and March Daffodil), Bella's Baubles
Stamp Sets: Hero A rts Sweet Wonderful You, CTMH Card Sentiments (inside)

At last!!!

In December of 2008, I began working on a scrapbook for my father-in-law.  It should have been easy, as I was using the (now retired) Magic Moments Scrapbook kit.  Pre-printed layout pages, embellishments, directions, suggested photo sizes, really designed to make it easy.  Well, I kept getting hung up on selecting photos, so it went untouched for a long time.  But FINALLY, I completed the last page (which is actually the first page of the book) today [Note:  "today" was actually January 6th 2010.  It took me six more weeks to actually get the photos uploaded and the slideshow made, hence the mid-February post].   In addition to the Magic Moments kit, I put my Silhouette to use, cutting titles for several pages, and the bracketed square for the title page.  I put some extra empty page protectors in the book, so that I can make and send layouts that he can simply slide in (always a good idea to keep things simple for those who aren't scrapbookers).

Sweet Sketch Wednesday Birthday Card

While blurfing instead of cleaning, I happened upon Sweet Sketch Wednesday, and decided to use sketch #36 for a birthday card.  I decided to go with colors outside of my normal comfort zone, and have fun with it.  I think this turned out pretty cute.  This is also for Pile It On challenge (flowers) and PaperPlay Challenge (Birthday for someone special).

Papers: CTMH Watermelon cardstock, Sassafrass Sunshine Lollipops
Inks: CTMH Cocoa, Garden Green, Twilight, and Watermelon

Tools and Techniques: Nestabilities die with Cuttlebug, second-generation stamping, 3-D Mounting foam, Zots, Xyron 150, unknown ribbon
Stamp Sets: CTMH With Love and Happy Birthday

Bright Mojo Birthday card with a cut-out

I followed this week's Mojo Monday sketch to make a birthday card for another karate mom.  I was inspired to use a white hibiscus with a pink center, as that is her profile photo on Facebook.   Using the flower was also how this card meets the Pile It On challenge (Let us see flowers!).  I chose Watermelon to be the shade of pink I used, and I used the CTMH Color Combo site to come up with the coordinating colors.  Two bright cards in a row for me (although they won't be posted in order), and I like it!!  I guess I'm feeling ready for summer.  I know I'm ready to be over this nasty winter cold.

 

Papers: CTMH Sunkiss Yellow and White Daisy cardstock, CTMH Watermelon and White Daisy Textured Cardstock, CTMH Emporium
Inks: CTMH Garden Green and Watermelon

Tools and Techniques: Silhouette Machine (flower), Cuttlebug, Happy Birthday embossing folder (which I rubbed the Watermelon ink pad over the front part of the folder before putting the paper in and running through the machine), Wright's ribbon, 3-D Mounting Foam, sponging.
Stamp Sets: CTMH Happy Birthday and  True Friends 


Close To My Heart has the Textured Cardstock combo packages buy one get one free for the month of February, PLUS they will donate $2 to Operation Smile's Haiti relief efforts from each offer purchased.  Visit my website for more details, or to place an order.  Buy one get one free AND helping a good cause, you can't beat that!!!!

What to do with those beautiful cards

I always keep the wonderful handmade cards that I receive, but usually they are in a file or a pile (for a while, makes me smile, like a crocodile...oh, sorry, didn't mean to get all rhyme-y on you).  Not very neat, and not easy to look at.  Well, I totally copied Sue's idea to scrap them.  That is a perfect plan.  Now, these wonderful cards are preserved so I can look back at them, and they aren't shoved in a box and constantly being moved when I *try* to get all of my scrap stuff organized.   I think the card layouts will be a nice addition to the Christmas layouts (whenever I get around to getting THOSE finished).

 

  

  

Papers: CTMH Creme Brulee cardstock, DCWV  textured cardstock, CTMH Jingle
Inks: CTMH Tulip, CTMH markers for journaling

Tools and Techniques: Silhouette Machine ("Season's Greetings" title), 2 page layout from CK Sketches January 2010
Stamp Sets: CTMH Made by Me

For these layouts, I wanted to try to make use of the pages in the DCWV stack that are meant to be used whole.  Not something I normally do, and a bit of a challenge with cards (especially considering the unusual sizes of several of them), but I think I like how it turned out.  I probably could have done more in some of the white (green) space, but I didn't want to detract from the cards.  All I added was a strip of coordinating paper (also from the stack) and a little bit of bling.

  

  

  

  

Papers:  DCWV  Holiday Collection The Christmas Stack
Inks: Micron journaling pen

Tools and Techniques: CTMH Sparkles, Nicole Crafts rhinestones, CM number stickers, Snowflake brads (maybe MM?)

First Christmas cards of 2010

Even without taking college classes this semester, 2010 has started out VERY busy for me.  Before creating these two identical cards, my scrapping total for 2010 was 4 pages, 3 cards and two altered items.  I really should have been cleaning, doing laundry, trimming my rose bushes or working out at the gym instead of scrapping, but sometimes a girl just HAS to scrap!!!  I am really hoping to have a productive week and get my March cards made, but I won't be holding my breath. :)  My January and February cards never ended up being made, so I know better!

I made this card following Mojo Monday sketch 124, Sparkle's 2010 Christmas Card Challenge Week #10 (use red and blue), and Cute Card Thursday Challenge 98 (Spots and Dots).  

Papers: CTMH Star Spangled Blue cardstock, DCWV  Holiday Collection The Christmas Stack, other cardstock
Inks: CTMH Bamboo, Chocolate, Outdoor Denim

Tools and Techniques: Marvy Uchida Punches, CTMH ricrac ribbon, direct-to-paper ink distressing, 3-D Mounting Foam
Stamp Sets: CTMH Heartfelt Christmas and CTMH Just for the Holidays