June 2014 Stamp of the Month Blog Hop

Welcome to the June 2014 Stamp of the Month blog hop featuring Kaboom, a set of 16 stamps.  Join me and 50 other Close To My Heart consultants as we share our projects featuring this set.  Whether you've arrived from {Alyson's} blog or are just getting started, just click on the link at the end of each post to go to the next post in the hop.

This explosive set is perfect for summer festivities, and would work great for scrapbook layouts, cards, and party invitations.  Another great feature is that several of the stamps coordinate with the Cricut Art Philosophy cartridge.  My card is a 3 1/2" square card which I cut using the Art Philosophy cartridge.  It would work as a standalone card, but would also be great tied to a thank you gift (like a bottle of wine), announcing to the recipient, "you're the bomb."

Remember, Kaboom is only available June 1-30, 2014.  Contact your consultant, or click here, to get one for yourself.

Now hop on over to {Joy's} blog to get blown away by her creation!

October 2013 Stamp of the Month Blog Hop

It's OCTOBER, and that means a Christmas-themed stamp set for the Close To My Heart stamp of the month!  Whether you arrived from {Krista's} blog or are just starting here, simply click on the link at the end of each post to go to the next blog in the hop.  This month we have over 50 consultants participating in the hop which features Scandinavian Wishes, a set of 12 stamps.

This stamp set has coordinating shapes that can be cut from the Cricut Art Philosophy cartridge, so I decided to make some ornaments or gift tags.

I used the Art Philosphy cartridge to cut out a few of the ornaments.  One great thing about the stamps that coordinate with the various Cricut cartridges is that the cartridge name, image size and page are listed on the stamp carrier right next to the image, making it virtually fool-proof.

I cut out the images, then stamped them with Versamark ink.  For two of them I used a colored embossing powder, but for two of them I used clear.  After allowing them to cool, I used a sponge to color the two that were heat embossed with clear powder (which allows the paper color to show through).  You could do a bunch of different things with these:  use ribbon or twine and hang them as ornaments or gift tags, add them as a dimensional element to a layout or card, put a bunch of them on a length of twine to create a garland (you could even use one alone to be a simple bookmark).

Remember, the October Stamp of the Month is only available from October 1st through 31st. Contact your Close To My Heart consultant, or click here to find out how to get this stamp set for yourself.

Now hop on over to {Kim's} blog to see what she's created.

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

June 2013 Stamp of the Month Blog Hop

Welcome to the CTMH Stamp of the Month blog hop.  If you just arrived from {Shirley'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.  This month we are featuring A Flowering Bunch, a set of 10 stamps.

Summer means a new class for me, which means new books, which means NEW BOOKMARKS!!  Which is perfect, because when I looked at this stamp set, the big flower just screamed "bookmark" to me.  I chose colors from the Later Sk8r paper pack.

The first step was to cut out the shape from the Cricut Artiste cartridge, once in White Daisy and once in Pear.  Then the image was stamped on the White Daisy cardstock, sprinkled with black embossing powder and heated with the heat gun.  To do the watercolor, squeeze the lid of your stamp pad.  When you open the pad, there will be a bit of ink on the underside of the lid, which you will run the waterbrush through to load with color.  After coloring, the magnet disks were attached to the inside of each piece and then they were laminated.  Laminating after attaching the magnet disks gives an extra layer of protection to keep the magnets attached to the bookmark.  The bad thing about lamination is that regular adhesives don't adhere to it very well.

A few years ago I learned about Terrifically Tacky tape, which is AMAZING when you are working with surfaces that don't take adhesive well.  I applied the Terrifically Tacky tape to the underside of the front piece and trimmed to fit, then attached the two pieces of the bookmark together.  I squeezed them together, then decided to give the bond a little extra holding power by using my heat gun to warm the bookmark and squeezing some more.  And here is the final product in action.

Papers: CTMH Pear and White Daisy cardstock
Inks: CTMH Lagoon, Outdoor Denim, and Pear; Versamark
Tools and Techniques: CTMH Black Embossing Powder, Waterbrush, Cricut Artiste cartridge, Basic Grey magnets, Xyron lamination, Terrifically Tacky Tape  

Remember, A Flowering Bunch is only available June 1-30, 2013.  Ask your consultant, or click here, to find out how to get this stamp for yourself!

Now hop on over to {Angel's blog} to see her creation.

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

April 2013 CTMH Stamp of the Month Blog Hop

Welcome to the April 2013 CTMH Stamp of the Month Blog Hop, featuring My Sunshine, a set of 8 stamps.  This month we have over 50 Close To My Heart consultants participating in our hop.  If you've just arrived here from {Wendy'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 my card following the Mojo Monday sketch 286, and I went for the round option.  Since I wanted to use the bird stamp, I figured using the Magnifique papers was a good plan.  I cut out the scalloped circle card using the Cricut Art Philosophy cartridge, and the bird image was cut out from the Artiste cartridge.  I wanted to use clear embossing powder to make the bird shine.  The trick to embossing in any color is to ink your stamp with Versamark and then with the color of your choice, and then stamp your image.  Sprinkle with clear embossing powder and use your heat gun to melt the powder to give a nice shiny surface.

Papers: CTMH cardstock in Chocolate, Colonial White, and Lagoon; CTMH Magnifique 
Inks: CTMH Pacific, Versamark
Tools and Techniques: CTMH ribbon, CTMH Bitty Brads in Antiqued Copper, 3-D Mounting Foam, CTMH Clear embossing powder, Cricut CTMH Artiste cartridge, Cricut CTMH Art Philosophy cartridge
Stamp Sets: CTMH My Sunshine

Remember, My Sunshine is only available April 1-30, 2013.  Contact your consultant, or click {here}, to find out how to get your own.

Now hop on over to {Lori's} blog to find some more favorites.

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

January 2013 Stamp of the Month Blog Hop

Welcome to the January 2013 CTMH Stamp of the Month Blog Hop.  If you just arrived from {Sarita's} blog, you are on the right path.  This month there are nearly 50 Close To My Heart consultants participating in our blog hop.  We are featuring the January 2013 Stamp of the Month Happy Valentine's, a set of 7 stamps.  

For my project, I broke out my Cricut and the Artiste cartridge.  The little square box measures 2.5" on each side, and has a cutout window on the top.  I cut the box body from Sweet Leaf cardstock, and the lid from La Belle Vie.  I stamped the rose on the reverse side of the window cutout from the box lid in StazOn black ink.  I cut out the rose and then used Liquid Glass to attach it to the underside of a 2.5" square of acetate (I just use those overhead transparency sheets you can buy at the office supply store).  I also used Liquid Glass to attach the acetate to the underside of the lid.  Once the LG was dry, I attached black Opaques from the Licorice package, and made a bow from black grosgrain ribbon which was attached with Zots glue dots.  For the box body, I mixed black Re-inker with Create-a-Shade Pearl Paint and dry-brushed it over the box, allowing some of the cardstock color to show through.  If you wanted to make the  box sturdier, you could coat it with a product like Mod Podge.  Now you have a cute box that you can put a small gift or treasure into.  

Remember, Happy Valentine's is only available January 1-31, 2013.  Contact your consultant or click here to find out how to get your own.

Now hop on over to {Michelle's} blog to see what she's created.

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

November 2012 Stamp of the Month Blog Hop

Welcome to the November 2012 CTMH Stamp of the Month Blog Hop, featuring Capture the Date, a set of 72 Stamps.  This month we have over 60 Close To My Heart consultants participating in our hop.  If you've just arrived here from {DiAnn'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!

This stamp set seems as though it is meant for creating some great journaling blocks, date tags, and even invitations.  But I wanted to do something a little different.  Using our wonderful Cricut Artiste cartridge, I cut out this cute two piece card from Olive cardstock for the card base and Juniper cardstock for the wrapper, at the 4" size.  I then cut two squares of patterned paper (from the retired CTMH Jingle paper pack) and cardstock, rounded the corners, and mounted on the card front.  I cut a second wrapper from patterned paper, this one at 3.75".  The scalloped circle was cut and then sponged with Olive ink.  A little bit of ink, a few Twinkle Brads (sadly, also retired), and some Zots mounting dots equal a cute Christmas card.  This would also be great for any important date.  Don't you LOVE a versatile stamp set?

Papers: CTMH cardstock inCreme Brulee, Juniper, and Olive, CTMH Jingle
Inks: CTMH Olive and Tulip
Tools and Techniques: Cricut Artiste Cartridge, Marvy Uchida punch, corner rounder, CTMH Twinkle Brads, Zots glue dots, sponging
Stamp Sets: CTMH Capture the Date

Remember, Capture the Date is only available during the month of November 2012.  Ask your consultant, or click here, to find out how to "capture" your own.

Now hop on over to {Maria's} blog to find some more inspiration. 

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

July 2012 CTMH Stamp of the Month Blog Hop

Welcome to the July 2012 SOTM blog hop featuring Live Out Loud, a set of 8 stamps.  If you have come here from {Nancy's} blog, you are on the right path!  If this is your first stop, we have made it simple to see all of the fabulous artwork - just click on the link at the end of the post on each blog to move to the next one!

My card was made following this week's Mojo Monday sketch.   The scalloped circle and rectangle were cut using my Cricut Art Philosophy cartridge.  The "Soar" image was stamped on Creme Brulee cardstock in Tulip ink, and then cut out.  A sorbet button, with Colonial White Waxy Flax tied through the holes, was attached using Liquid Glass.  Creme Brulee grosgrain ribbon was attached with adhesive, and the circle was attached using 3-D Mounting Foam.

Cardstock: CTMH Colonial White, Creme Brulee, Juniper, Tulip, and White Daisy

Patterned Paper: CTMH Key To My Heart

Ribbon: CTMH Creme Brulee

Stamps: CTMH Live Out Loud

Ink: CTMH Tulip

Other: CTMH Buttons, CTMH Waxy Flax, CTMH Liquid Glass, Cricut Art Philosophy cartridge

Remember, Live Out Loud is only available July 1-31, 2012.  Contact your CTMH consultant, or click here, to find out how to get your own.

Now hop on over to {Dawn'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.

June 2012 Stamp of the Month Blog Hop

Welcome to the June 2012 CTMH Stamp of the Month Blog Hop, featuring Life is Tweet, a set of 15 Stamps.  If you've just arrived here from {Gina's} blog, you are on the right path.  If you are just starting here, just jump in and enjoy our circular hop, which has over 50 participants this month.  When you reach the end of a post, click on the link at the end to go to the next post in the hop.

For my card, I broke out my CTMH Cricut Art Philosophy cartridge to cut the card shape.  I cut it out twice (once in cardstock, once in patterned paper), cut the patterned card at the fold, and glued them together.  The sentiment was stamped on the reverse side of the patterned paper, and the image was stamped on cardstock and trimmed.  A cute bow for the front, a couple flowers stamped inside, and I have a "tweet" birthday card for a friend.

Papers: CTMH cardstock in Sweet Leaf, CTMH Dotty for You
Inks: CTMH Lagoon and Sorbet
Tools and Techniques: CTMH ribbon,Cricut Art Philosophy Cartridge, Liquid Glass
Stamp Sets: CTMH Life is Tweet

Remember, Life is Tweet is only available 1-30 June 2012.  Contact your Close To My Heart consultant, or click here, to find out how to get your own.

Now hop on over to {Amy's} blog to see her tweet creation.

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