July 2011 Stamp of the Month Blog Hop

Welcome to the July 2011 Stamp of the Month Blog Hop featuring American Celebration, a set of 12 stamps.  If you have just arrived from {Terrie's} blog, you are on the right path.  If you are just starting here, you can join in our circular hop by simply clicking the link to the next blog at the end of each post.

My project is a set of place cards for your Independence Day picnic table.  Simply cut cardstock to your desired width by two times your desired height, then score and fold.  Stamp the images in shades of red and blue (I used Cranberry, Pacifica, and Sky), and stamp or write in the guests' names.  I also made slightly larger cards that you can use to label the tables (really useful if you are having a potluck, so like dishes are put together).  I used the rock and roll technique on the "dessert" card, first inking the stamp in Sky, then rolling the Cranberry stamp pad around the edges to get the two colors blended.  Names were stamped using Friendship Alphabet Small.

Remember, American Celebration is only available July 1-31, 2011.  Contact your consultant or click here to find out how to get your own.

Now hop on over to {Nicole's} blog to celebrate her project.

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

June 2011 CTMH Stamp of the Month Blog Hop

Time for the June Stamp of the Month Blog Hop.  If you just arrived from {Lisa's} blog, you are on the right path.  This month there are over 50 Close To My Heart consultants participating in our round-robin blog hop.  We are featuring the June 2011 Stamp of the Month Jubilation, a set of 24 stamps.

It is PCS season (that means "Permanent Change of Station", or moving season for all of you non-military types), so that means several of my friends will be moving in the next few weeks.  I used the stamp of the month to make a few "good luck" cards.  These cards were made using the pattern for card 1 of the greetings card workshop in the book Wishes by Jeanette Lynton.  Two sheets of cardstock and one sheet of B&T paper give you all the pieces you need to make 16 cards.   This stamp set is perfect with the greetings card workshop, because you can make a bunch of cards for a variety of occasions faster, simpler, and easier.  Three pieces of paper and one stamp set!  I LOVE easy!

Papers: CTMH Sweet Leaf and Juniper cardstock, CTMH Creative Basics Wings
Inks: CTMH Cocoa, Juniper, and Sweet Leaf

Tools and Techniques: Wishes, Direct-to-paper ink distressing, sponging, 3-D Mounting Foam
Stamp Set: Piece of Cake

Remember, Jubilation is only available June 1-30, 2011.  Contact your Close To My Heart consultant, or click here, to order one for yourself.

Now hop on over to {Georgia's} blog to experience her Jubilation!

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

CTMH Spotlight Blog Hop Featuring Buttons

Welcome to the May 2011 CTMH Spotlight Blog Hop featuring buttons.  If you've just arrive from {Luisa's} blog, you're on the right path.  If you are just starting here, you can still enjoy the whole hop.  Our hop is a circular hop, so just click on the link at the end of each post to take you to the next stop on the hop.
 

One thing I love about CTMH is that the accessories and embellishments match the inks and papers perfectly.  However, sometimes you want to do something a little different.  I wanted to incorporate a patterned button into my card, so I made my very own designer buttons using a patterned paper, Liquid Glass, and a few clear buttons.

 To do this, simply cover the back of your button with Liquid Glass, then place it on the paper.  Press it down to ensure no air bubbles, and every few minutes press down again to ensure it stays even (notice the one on the paper is raised up on one side, you don't want your final product like that).  Once it is dry, cut around the button, sand the edges if necessary, use your Piercing Tool or Embossing Stylus to poke through the holes, and then attach to your project.

I made my card following Mojo Monday Sketch 190, and the H2H Challenge (All Buttoned Up).   

 Now hop on over to {Nikka's} blog to see what she's put together!  If you find any broken links along the way, Wendy has the complete list of hoppers here.

May 2011 Stamp of the Month Blog Hop

Welcome to the May 2011 CTMH Stamp of the Month Blog Hop, featuring Chairs to You, a set of 14 Stamps.  This month we have over 50 Close To My Heart consultants participating in our hop.  If you've just arrived here from {Sheila'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 this card following the sketch for Mojo Monday 188 and the OCC Challenge (easel cards).  Rather than make a round or square card, I opted to use my Nestabilities Labels One die to make my card.  This card actually had quite a monochromatic feel until I colored the flowers of the chair Vineyard Berry.   After that addition, I figured a bit more color would look good, so I used a Cocoa button and Antiqued Copper brads as the centers of the flowers, which were colored using homemade glimmer-y mist.  The scalloped circle was sponged with ink in the same color (Juniper), and mounted with 3-D Mounting Foam.  Decorate the inside, and a cute housewarming card for a friend who is about to move (of course, knowing my "postal failure" history, only time will tell if this card actually makes it to the intended recipient).

Papers: CTMH cardstock in Cocoa, Juniper, and Sweet Leaf, CTMH Wings Creative Basics
Inks: CTMH Cocoa, CTMH Markers in New England Ivy and Vineyard Berry
Tools and Techniques: Nestabilities Labels One, Cuttlebug, CTMH flowers, CTMH ribbon (included in Wings Creative Basics, CTMH Buttons, CTMH brads, Marvy Uchida punch, 3-D Mounting Foam
Stamp Sets: CTMH Chairs to You


Remember, Chairs to You is only available during the month of May 2011.  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 {Brae'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.

March 2011 CTMH Spotlight Blog Hop

Welcome to the March 2011 CTMH Spotlight Blog Hop.  This month we are featuring scrapbooking techniques.  If you just arrived from {Haley's} blog, you are on the right path.  If you're just starting here, you can enjoy our hop by simply clicking the link to the next blog at the end of the post.

I decided to feature Studio J layouts, specifically using them in interactive layouts.  I have printed several Studio J layouts that I intended to add something to after I received it.  In some instances, it was a picture that I didn't have electronically (a copyrighted photo from an event, for instance).  Other items have been pressed pennies, tickets, and in today's example, bib numbers from races.

There are a lot of great ways to add interactive elements to your scrapbook layouts.  One of the easiest is to use Memory Protector Flip Flaps.  But the technique I am going to show you today is ideal when the interactive item is an unusual size.  My bib number was 8 1/4" X 8 3/8", so instead of a flip flap, I used a piece of transparency film (yes, those same sheets that you remember from elementary school, which you can buy in your local office supply store).  I cut a piece of transparency film 5" X 8", and scored it down the length.  Next, I used a bone folder to sharpen the crease (hint:  if you don't have a bone folder, the My Acrylix® blocks can be used to serve the same purpose).  You really want to create a sharp crease so your interactive portion will lay flat when closed.  Next, I attached the transparency to the back of the layout using Terrifically Tacky Tape.  When you are using the transparencies, you need to use a really heavy-duty adhesive, because the slick material doesn't hold adhesive well.  Also, you'll want to make sure to NOT put the layout or the materials you are attaching all the way up into the crease.  If you don't leave a bit of space at the crease (really, you don't need much), your interactive flap won't lay down flat when you are finished (see the layout below, from the first time I did this technique.  All except the bottom right photo were mounted using this technique-except through the page protector.  Notice how the top left photo on the right page isn't laying flat.  That's because I put the pieces all the way up into the crease, so it didn't have room to close flat).  

After attaching the flap to the back of the layout, I prepared my two pieces for the outside of the page protector.  One is the race number, the second is a piece of cardstock that I cut to match the size of the race number and used for journaling.  Be mindful of how the viewer will look at the items when you mount them.  Because I was using two items, I sandwiched the outer piece of transparency between them, once again using Terrifically Tacky Tape.  I adhered the cardstock and race number to each other using my regular adhesive (only part of each is attached to the transparency).  Then I simply lifted my "flap" and slid the page into the page protector, then laid the flap down on the outside of the page protector.  The race number is made of Tyvek, so I wasn't really concerned about it not being protected.  If you are using something that is paper, laminate it before attaching to the transparency (that is exactly what I did the first time I used this technique, and is how I discovered Terrifically Tacky Tape, as none of the other adhesives I tried would keep the laminated item attached to the transparency.

I hope I've given you some ideas for your scrapbook pages, and helped you to see how you can incorporate items into your layouts to make them interactive.  Now hop on over to  {Adeline's} blog to see what she's created.

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

March 2011 Stamp of the Month Blog Hop

Welcome to the October 2010 CTMH Stamp of the Month Blog Hop, featuring Sensational Season, a set of 10 Stamps.  If you've just bounced here from {Brae'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 hop to the next post.

I couldn't resist all of the hoppy references with the cute little rabbits in this stamp set!  I also decided to bend the rules a bit and made a birthday card instead of an Easter card.  I made this card following Mojo Monday sketch 179.  The adorable little hare was colored using Copics, and I paper-pieced his jacket.  Since I'd stamped him on White Daisy paper to color him, and WD was too bright to look good with the other colors, I sponged around him to make it blend better.  I used Nestabilities Classic Oval Large for the oval.  Martha Stewart punch was used for the lacy border, which was then DTP distressed with Twilight ink.  3D Mounting Foam was used to mount the square, Xyron Create-a-Sticker was used for the ribbon, and glue dots were used for the buttons.  The paper pack is Felicity, which was a promotional paper pack last year.

And hare's a close-up of the bunny (before sponging).

Now hop on over to {Tammy Lea's} blog to see her sensational work.  Remember, Sensational Season is only available March 1-31, 2011.  Contact your CTMH consultant, or click here, to find out how to get yours for a discount or even for FREE!

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

CTMH Spotlight Blog Hop Featuring Color Combos

Welcome to the February 2011 CTMH Spotlight Blog Hop featuring color combos.  If you've just arrive from {Adeline's} blog, you're on the right path.  If you are just starting here, you are in for a treat.  Our hop is a circular hop, so just click on the link at the end of each post to take you to the next stop on the hop.

The CTMH Idea Books are much more than just a catalog.  They are full of great layouts, cards, and projects that you can look back on for inspiration.  I have all of my Idea Books going back to the first CTMH gathering I attended in 2006.  One of the great inspirations to be found in our Idea Books are the color combos.  I always love getting to the My Acrylix stamp section to see the artwork created using interesting color combos.  The color combo I'm using comes from the Autumn/Winter 2007 IB and features three colors that debuted in my first IB (A/W 2006).  The colors are Cocoa, Honey, Petal, and Twilight.  And since (with the exception of Cocoa) I'm pretty sure none of those colors has been with another in any CTMH paper pack, that left me to my cardstock and embellishments.  But never fear!!!  CTMH colors are easy to match with our Exclusive Inks and Re-Inkers.

This is just a "Fat Lil' Notebook" that I'm embellishing so there is no confusion as to whom it belongs.  First I took out the spiral, and then covered the front and back cover with cardstock.  One thing I love doing with my cardstock is ink distressing with the matching ink.  That gives the oomph of the technique without making it too busy.

But then I realized that there is no ribbon in Twilight, Honey, or Petal.  Never fear, there are several ways to get a perfectly-matched ribbon.  For the Twilight organza ribbon, I cut a length of White Daisy organza and put it in a sandwich bag (the zipper type), making sure to push it toward the bottom.  With the bag lying on its side, I dripped about 15 drops of Twilight Re-Inker into the bag near the top.  Then I carefully closed and zipped the bag, and smooshed the Re-Inker across the width of the bag.  After it seemed to be fairly evenly distributed, I pushed the ribbon up into the ink and rubbed the bag around.  Once it appeared to have good coverage, I unzipped the bag and pulled the ribbon out to dry.  There were a few spots with too much ink, so I patted the ribbon with a paper towel.  And since I did this inside a zipped baggie, no inky smudges on my fingers (I removed the ribbon from the baggie using tweezers to keep my fingers clean)!

The Honey ricrac was colored in a different way, since I don't own Honey Re-Inker.  I simply opened up my Honey ink pad and set it on a plastic grocery bag.  Next, I took my length of ribbon, and starting at one end laid it on the surface of the ink pad. Then I used an edge of the plastic bag around my fingers while I pressed the ribbon into the ink pad, making sure to get both sides of the ribbon.  After the first pass, there was a pretty cool pattern showing white through the Honey, but I decided to go for a solid color.  So, second pass entailed pressing the ribbon into the surface of the ink pad while pulling it through for full coverage.  A few spots looked a bit more color-saturated than the rest, so I blotted them with a paper towel.  Voila!  MORE perfectly-matched ribbon!!!

So, I challenge you to find some color inspiration, and don't let your options be limited by how things are.  Use inks, Re-Inkers, and markers to get things just the color you want!

Now hop on over to {Wendy's} blog for some more color inspiration!