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.

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}.

Christmas Accordian Tag Card

I LOVE the internet. I was searching for directions to make the super-cute cards that were on the counter at The Stampin' Post (since I didn't get to take the class), and I happened across this post of an accordian tag card. This lady is WAY talented (and patient, she did a 15 panel card). Anyway, I took her advice and tried a shorter word. I used Ponderosa Pine, Desert Sand and Cranberry cardstock and inks, Everlasting papers, Star Struck and Victorian Snowflake stamps, Friendship Alphabet Small, large gold brads and Christmas tree brads, CTMH ribbon. I think I will use this to go with a gift-in-a-jar for the neighbors for Christmas. This is DEFINITELY not a card that will get mailed.

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