April 2014 Stamp of the Month Blog Hop

Welcome to the April 2014 Stamp of the Month blog hop, featuring artwork from over 50 Close To My Heart consultants using Balloon Talk, a set of 24 stamps.  Whether you've arrived here from {Sarita's} blog or are just getting started, simply click on the link at the end of each post to go to the next blog in the hop.

So I know what you're thinking.  A bubble text stamp set is PERFECT for creating scrapbook layouts.  It absolutely is.  But, I found another cool use.  I LOVE to read, and between fun reading, school reading, and work reading, I often find myself looking for another bookmark.  Sometimes, I'll grab a Post-it note when I can't find a bookmark, and those things are boring and expensive.  This bookmark makes perfect use of the "START HERE" bubble, providing a perfect little pointer right to the line you want.  By using magnets, this bookmark will stay on the page and can be placed wherever it needs to be in order to point at your next sentence (photos were taken before laminating in order to reduce glare).  I did the 'emboss resist" technique of loading the stamp with Versamark and then my color of choice, then covered with Clear Detail embossing powder and heated with my heat gun.  Then I sponged the white text with Pear ink.  This allowed me to get two colors, and to keep them both true.  I cut a patterned piece of paper to the width of the text balloon and scored the middle, and then cut Blush cardstock to allow a 1/8th inch border.  I mixed Blush Re-inker with Create-a-Shade Pearl Paint, and brushed it onto the Blush cardstock.  After everything was dry, I assembled the pieces, adding magnets to the inside to allow the bookmark to grip the page, though it would also work without the magnets.  Laminating the bookmark after applying the magnets will ensure they stay attached to your bookmark.

Papers: CTMH Blush cardstock, CTMH Chantilly

Inks: CTMH Pear and Twilight, Versamark Watermark

Tools and Techniques: CTMH Clear Detail embossing Powder, sponging, CTMH Create-a-Shade Pearl Paint, CTMH Blush Re-inker, Basic Grey Magnets
Stamp Sets: CTMH Balloon Talk

Remember, Balloon Talk is only available April 1-30, 2014.  Contact your consultant, or click here to get one for yourself.  Now hop on over to {Lucy's} blog to see what she is talking about!

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.

August 2013 Stamp of the Month Blog Hop

Welcome to the August (!) 2013 Stamp of the Month blog hop featuring A Chocolate Affair, a set of 16 stamps.  This month we have over 50 consultants participating in the hop.  Whether you've arrived here from {Gina's} blog or this is your starting point, simply click on the link at the end of each post to be taken to the next blog in the hop.

This stamp set is perfect for making tags for sweet little gifts (or should that be little sweet gifts) that you might give to someone.  I had planned to put my tags on little cellophane-wrapped packages of gluten-free cookies, but I haven't been able to get off of work before the bakery closes (sidebar:  WHY does the bakery have to close so early?  WHY do I have to work so late?).  Since I didn't make it to the bakery, NO COOKIES FOR YOU!!!

My tags were made using a 2 inch circle punch and a 2 1/2 inch scalloped circle punch.  The images were inked first with Versamark and then with the colored ink, then stamped on the cardstock.  I used clear embossing powder and my heat gun to get a bit of texture and sheen to the images.  Inking the stamp with Versamark and then the colored ink allows the colored ink to be applied to the paper and the Versamark ink over top in one step.  You could add a hole with a hole punch and use ribbon or twine to wrap around a bundle, or you could adhere these to something flat (like a giant dark chocolate bar).  What a stamp set to use when there is NO chocolate in the house!

The heat embossing is a bit more evident in the second picture.

Remember, A Chocolate Affair is only available August 1-31, 2013.  Contact your consultant, or click here, to find out how to get one for yourself.

Now hop on over to {Wendy's} blog to see her sweet project!

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

February 2012 CTMH Stamp of the Month Blog Hop

Welcome to the February 2012 CTMH Stamp of the Month Blog Hop, featuring Thoughtful Tidings, a set of 11 Stamps.  If you've just arrived here from {Katy's} blog, you are on the right track.  If you are just starting here, just jump in and enjoy our circular hop, which has 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'll be leaving Okinawa in a few weeks, so planning ahead is even more important yhan usual (because once the movers pick up my stuff, I won't see it again for probably two months).  This June, two of my Dragons cheerleaders will be graduating from high school, so I wanted to make cards for them.   The graduation cap card was cut with my Silhouette (I know, what's wrong with me???  I received a Cricut for Christmas and here I am using my Silhouette!).  Some paper piecing, heat embossing, and a sentiment from this month's SOTM, and I have a couple of cute graduation cards.  (Forgive the quality of the photos, my battery charger remains MIA)

Papers: CTMH Black, Topiary, and White Daisy
Inks: CTMH Black, Versamark
Tools and Techniques: Silhouette machine, CTMH Gold Embossing Powder, heat embossing
Stamp Sets: CTMH Thoughtful Tidings and Friendship Small Alphabet

Remember, Thoughtful Tidings is only available February 1-29, 2012.  Contact your consultant, or click here, to find out how to get your own.

Now hop on over to {Shirley'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.