April 2010 Stamp of the Month Blog Hop

It's time for the April Stamp of the Month Blog Hop.  This month there are over 60 Close To My Heart consultants participating in our hop, featuring the April Stamp of the Month Flower Pot, a set of 16 stamps.  If you arrived from Latisha's 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!

This will likely be my last hop for a month or two, as I am about to be stationed in Okinawa, and the movers will be coming soon to take all of my stuff (don't worry, I will keep an emergency supply of scrap stuff here at the house so I don't go into complete scrap withdrawal).  Once me and my stuff are re-acquainted in Okinawa, I will jump right back in to our monthly hops.  The participants always make such amazing and creative projects with the Stamp of the Month, I LOVE all of the inspiration!!

I made this double pocket card following a tutorial found on Splitcoast Stampers.   However, I did not mount the pocket portion on a card base, it felt quite sturdy without adding a base.  I thought the tag would make a cute bookmark, and a bookstore giftcard would be a perfect addition.  I used papers from the Felicity Collection, with some additional cardstock and ribbon.  The Felicity Collection was a promotional kit which is unfortunately no longer available, and while I was using it I was reminded that whenever there is an adorable paper kit available for a limited time, STOCK UP!!!  Keep watching, because CTMH will be offering another adorable paper kit for National Scrapbooking Month.  National Scrapbooking Month is May, but Close To My Heart will begin to offer this special kit April 15th!

The flower pot was stamped on the plaid paper in Cocoa ink, and then cut out.  The flowers were stamped on white cardstock in Black ink, colored with CTMH markers and then cut out.

Papers: CTMH Twilight and White Daisy cardstock, CTMH Felicity

Inks: CTMH Cocoa and Black, CTMH Markers in Autumn Terracotta, Barn Red, Garden Green, and Olive

Tools and Techniques: CTMH Long-Reach punch, Terrifically Tacky Tape, CTMH Sorbet stitched ribbon, paper piecing, Sticky Dots Die Cut Adhesive
Stamp Sets: CTMH Flower Pot


Remember, Flower Pot is only available April 1-30th, 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 check out Kami's blog to see her creation. 

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

Another card from my scrap day

This is the card I started while my friends were still here scrapping with me.  No sketch, just winged it.  I wanted to use lots of flowers, and I had the piece of patterned paper already cut out with the Nesty, so I wanted to put that piece to use.

Papers: CTMH Chocolate cardstock, CTMH That's Amore

Inks: Versamark

Tools and Techniques: CTMH flowers, CTMH ribbon (Blush collection), CTMH Tulip Brads, Nestabilities Labels Eight, Cuttlebug, CTMH White embossing powder
Stamp Sets: CTMH Happy Birthday

Birthday card from my scrap day...

...sorta.  I had some friends over to scrap last weekend, but I didn't get much scrapping done while they were here (but had some good conversation and some yummy snacks!!).  I made this card after everyone left (instead of putting all of my supplies away, and they are STILL down on the dining room table). 

I made this card following OCC Sketch Challenge 7, using some adorable paper I bought at CKC Pasadena last year.  Other challenges include Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge #75 (Spring Has Sprung), Pixie Dust Studio Pixie Challenge #12 (Buttons and Flowers), Crafty Calendar Challenge #6 (Flower Power), and Creative Card Crew Challenge (It's A Celebration). 

Papers: CTMH Chocolate, Clover Meadow and Twilight cardstock, Doodlebug Designs Dragonfly Stripe and Seedlings

Inks: CTMH Chocolate and Twilight

Tools and Techniques: CTMH Buttons, Prima Flowers, CTMH Chocolate Brads, 3-D Mounting Foam, Marvy Uchida circle punch, Marvy Uchida scalloped oval punch
Stamp Sets: CTMH From Me to You

Shaped Birthday Card

I lovelovelove my Silhouette.  I don't use it nearly enough (but then again, I don't scrap nearly enough either).  I signed up for the membership where I get unlimited downloads of digital images, so I have a lot of really cool files that I can cut out.  This card template (both the whole card and the striped piece) is one of my Silhouette files.  So I can make a really neat shaped card with very little effort (and no scissor-frustration).

I followed a few challenges for this birthday card:  Pile It On Challenge #10 (pastel colors),  Paper Cutz Challenge #32 (anything goes), Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge #74 (also anything goes),  Treehouse Thursday Challenge #40 (clean and simple), and Cute Card Thursday Challenge #103 (Celebrations).

Papers: CTMH White Daisy cardstock, Making Memories
Inks: CTMH Breeze (retired) and Grey Wool, Copic Markers

Tools and Techniques: CTMH Rhinestone Flowers, direct-to-paper edge distressing
Stamp Sets: CTMH A Little Everything and Card Sentiments (inside), Stamping Bella

Pretty in Pink Mojo Birthday Card

I made this card following Mojo 129 sketch.  This is actually the second card I made today (after doing 12 digital scrapbook pages--Studio J is going to be FANTASTIC!!!), and this one I'm actually EARLY for.  Pretty simple, with lots of paper layers (7 layers at the center, which doesn't include the card base.).

Papers: CTMH Blush, Sweet Leaf, and White Daisy cardstock, Making Memories Brooke Narrow Stripe and Brook Paisley
Inks: CTMH Blush and Sweet Leaf

Tools and Techniques: CTMH Half Pearls, direct-to-paper edge distressing cross-hatching, CTMH ribbon
Stamp Sets: CTMH True Friends, Say It In Style,  and and Card Sentiments (inside)

Felicity Birthday Card for an Old Friend

I made this card for my oldest friend, who I met in 4th grade (we won't discuss just how many years ago that is).  First, let me say that I am a horrible friend when it comes to writing, getting cards out on time, calling, even e-mailing.  So A and I don't talk much, mostly just the occasional posts on Facebook.  Last summer my husband, son and I went home to Florida for our vacation and tried to see all of our friends.  The night we went out with A and her family was great.  I think a good indicator of friendship is how easily you can pick right back up as though no time had passed.  We had a great dinner, and then went back to her house where we hung out for hours talking as though we hadn't been away for nearly nine years.  In the meantime, other than Christmas cards I have sent NO notes/letters/emails since we got back to California.  With her birthday being at the beginning of the month, I am pretty much ALWAYS late getting her card in the mail, and this year is no exception (I may have got it out on time last year.   Maybe.).  If I'd finished two hours sooner, it might have made today's mail, and she might have received it on her birthday.  Now, it will go out the day before her birthday and hopefully only be one day late.

I used the CTMH Felicity Collection (man, I wish those papers were still available), and the sketch for this 8 X 3 1/2" card is from Wishes by Jeanette Lynton. 

Papers: CTMH Chocolate, Cocoa, Colonial White, and White Daisy cardstock, CTMH Felicity
Inks: CTMH Bamboo, Chocolate, and Twilight (inside)

Tools and Techniques: CTMH Half Pearls, sewing machine, second-generation stamping, direct-to-paper edge distressing cross-hatching, sponging
Stamp Sets: CTMH Felicity, Say It In Style,  and and Card Sentiments (inside)