October 2010 Stamp of the Month Blog Hop

Welcome to the October 2010 CTMH Stamp of the Month Blog Hop, featuring Share the Magic, a set of 12 Stamps.  If you've just arrived here from {Georgia's} blog, you are on the right track.  If you are just starting here, just jump in and enjoy our circular hop, which has over 60 participants this month.  When you reach the end of a post, click on the link at the end to go to the next post, easy peasy!!

My project is a set of 12 gift tags.  I thought it would be fun to do some heat embossing, so I chose a few different colors of paper with plans to use different embossing powders on them.  My first step was to punch out the tags, and then put in eyelets at the top for the ribbon/waxy flax.  Next, I put the "To:" and "From:" stamps on the block.  **Hint:  to put multiple stamps on the block exactly the way you want them, place the stamps on your work surface or on a piece of paper with the flat side up and in the positions that you want them in.  Then, set the block on top of the stamps and press gently.  Voila!  Perfectly positioned stamps for your project.  This is extremely useful when making words from alphabet stamps.**  The stamps were inked with Versamark, and then stamped on the tags.  Embossing powder was applied, making sure to brush away the excess powder before using the heat gun.  **Hint:  when heat embossing on both sides of an item, make sure that you remove the excess powder from the first side before embossing the second side.  Trust me, even if you don't intentionally put powder on the first side when you powder the second side, it WILL end up there.**  The snowman was colored in using markers, and ribbon and Waxy Flax were used for the hanging loop.

Papers: CTMH cardstock in Cranberry, Olive, Tulip, and White Daisy
Inks: CTMH Markers in Black, Chocolate, Cranberry, Goldrush, and Olive, Versamark
Tools and Techniques: Heat embossing, CTMH embossing powder in Black, Gold, and White, CTMH eyelets (old style) in Cranberry and Olive, CTMH Eyelet Kit (old style), CTMH ribbon, Waxy Flax, Marvy Uchida punch
Stamp Sets: CTMH Share the Magic


Remember, Share the Magic is only available during the month of October 2010.  Ask your consultant, or click here, to find out how to get this stamp for a discount or possibly even FREE!

Now hop on over to {Dawn's} blog to share in her magic. 
If you find any broken links along the way, Helen has the complete list of participants {here}.

September 2010 CTMH Spotlight Blog Hop

Welcome to the September 2010 CTMH Spotlight Blog Hop.  This month we are featuring Dimensional Elements.  If you've just arrived from Chris' blog, you are on the right path.  If you are just starting here, simply click on the link at the end of the post to go to the next blog on our circular hop. One of the purposes of our Spotlight Blog Hop is to give you ideas to use up those items in your stash.  That is definitely something I need to work on (and, as I posted at the beginning of the year, is one of my scrapping goals for the year).  Hopefully you will find some great ideas to inspire you to use up some of YOUR stash!

My project is a My Creations Display Album (yep, in my stash!).  I covered the chipboard cover with CTMH Expedition paper (now retired).  The Dimensional Elements used are from Classic Alphabet (retired) and On Target.  Before adhering the paper to the DE, I used the CTMH Finishing Files to clean up the edges (particularly where they had been connected to the DE sheet).  I used Mod Podge as my glue, and after it dried I trimmed with my Cutting Knife.  I once again put the Finishing Files to use to clean up the edges.  I then did direct-to-paper ink distressing with Chocolate ink, using a Sponge Dauber (which, by the way, my *frugal* butt washes and re-uses!) to ink the inner part of the circle.  I cut a piece of Chocolate cardstock to back the letter (to help it stand out better against the green background), and attached with Liquid Glass.  I cut out the picture using my (now retired) Coluzzle Circle, and adhered that to the DE circle with Liquid Glass as well.  Just a few Basic Craft Buttons (also from my stash), and my cute little display album is complete.

I hope you enjoyed my project, and were inspired to use up some of your own stash!  Now hop on over to {Tracey's} blog for more inspiration.