Autumn Many Thanks Card

I had to get my scrapping fix in today, so I checked out the sketch challenge at OCC. I wanted to break in one of my (too many) stamp sets that I got this week, so decided on a thank you card. I also wanted to kick out a bunch of Christmas cards, but I don't see that happening today. I still have homework to do. :(




Stamps: CTMH Many Thanks
Papers: CTMH cardstock, CTMH Enchanted
Inks: CTMH Autumn Terracotta, Garden Green, Smoky Plum and Sunflower
Techniques: DTP ink distressing, emboss resist
Other: 3-D Foam mounting squares, Marvy Uchida scalloped punch, MM spirals

Pilin' it on

Wow, I finished my homework assignments and had them turned in before dinner tonight, so I had time to scrap. I decided to work on a Christmas card, so I checked out Sparkle's Christmas Card Challenge for this week. She challenged us to use something that was given to us. This was a difficult challenge for me, I buy EVERYTHING (don't worry, DH doesn't read my blog :) ). But, I also decided to try to work in another challenge or two. I ended up with a total of FOUR challenges for this card: Sparkle's Christmas Card Challenge #44, Amy's Friday sketch from a few weeks ago at Prairie Paper and Ink, Monochromatic Mania from Our Creative Corner, and the Pile it On Challenge #18 (Three Dimensional--I know, real toughy for me, right??? LOL).




Papers: CTMH cardstock, CTMH Perfect Day, Scribble Scrabble Rosy Winter Wonderland
Inks: CTMH Sorbet and Tulip, CTMH markers, Copic markers
Stamps: Cosmobella, CTMH Annotations, CTMH December Word Puzzle
Techniques: Sponging, watercoloring
Dies and Punches: Nestabilities Classic Scalloped Circle Small and Standard Circle Small, Martha Stewart Snowflake


So, let's cover how I met each challenge. The Bella image I received in a swap. I followed Amy's sketch (with minor liberties-the extra snowflakes at the top). The colors used were Barn Red, Tulip, and Sorbet (I think it qualifies as monochromatic). I mounted the sentiment circle with 3-D Mounting Foam (of course!), and added some vellum snowflakes that were cut with a Martha Stewart punch. The two on the sentiment circle were mounted on the circle with glue dots. The three up top were mounted using glue dots and clear buttons (one has no button, one is mounted on one button, and the last is mounted on two buttons that are stacked on top of each other to give extra height).


Now I should try to clean up some of this scrap stuff that seems to have found its way onto every surface in my scrap room...

National Cardmaking Day

Today is National Cardmaking Day, so I had an excuse reason to tear myself away from my Business Management paper to make a card. Technically, this card is related to my Business Management paper. The paper is based on an interview that we had to do with a business owner. So I chose a local business (Truly Madly Sweetly Bakeshop, which has the most delicious cupcakes and mini cheesecakes) to do an interview with. I was so pleased when the owner agreed to sit down with me. Because she was such a fantastic lady (as well as a fantastic pastry chef), the chat was really easy for me. So, I was going to write her a thank you note, and then I remembered that today was National Cardmaking Day, and instead decided to make a card. The inspiration for this card is from the colors of her shop (white and light pink, with striped walls up top). I followed Mojo Monday Week 106 sketch.

Stamps: Cupcakeabella, CTMH Thank You
Papers: CTMH cardstock (Blush, Chocolate, Hollyhock), CTMH More to Adore
Inks: Memento Tuxedo Black, CTMH markers, Copic markers, CTMH Hollyhock, Prismacolor marker
Embellishments: CTMH ribbon, CTMH brad (Cranberry), Liquid Applique, Round sticker from More to Adore Stickease
Techniques: Paper piecing, heat gun-puffed Liquid Applique, shadowing with Cool Grey marker

Here is a closer view of the cupcake. I was careful to keep the Liquid Applique off of the stamped lines of the icing so they would show when it was finished. To puff up the Liquid Applique, simply use your heat gun just as you would for heat embossing. The sticker stamped with "Thank You" was mounted on a 3-D foam mounting square. To remove the stickiness from the back of the sticker, I simply sprinkled it with baby powder and tapped off the excess. That way it won't stick to the card when I mail it.

October Stamp of the Month Blog Hop

It's time to blog hop! If you've just arrived here from Wanda's blog, you are on the right path.

Wow, this year is 75% over! We're getting SO close to Christmas. What a perfect time for the October Stamp of the Month, Holiday Warmth. That is the stamp set that over 60 Close To My Heart consultants will be featuring in our October Stamp of the Month Blog Hop. This month we've shaken things up a bit and broken the hop down into three mini-hops. There will be a link to each of the other groups at the end of my post. This month's SOTM is a set of 11 stamps, and is perfect for your Christmas card making.

For these cards, I used one of the workshops in Wishes by Jeanette Lynton. I went for a rustic look with these cards, using Desert Sand cardstock for the base, along with Cranberry, Bamboo and Ponderosa Pine.



Papers: Bamboo, Cranberry, and Desert Sand cardstock
Inks: Cranberry, Desert Sand and Ponderosa Pine
Techniques: Direct-to-paper
Stamp Sets: Holiday Warmth, Card Chatter-Christmas, Just For the Holidays (holly leaves and berries)



Papers: Bamboo, Cranberry, and Desert Sand cardstock
Inks: Bamboo, Cranberry, Desert Sand and Ponderosa Pine, Cranberry Exclusive Inks Marker
Techniques: Direct-to-paper, accent coloring
Stamp Sets: Holiday Warmth



Papers: Bamboo, Cranberry, and Desert Sand cardstock
Inks: Cranberry, Desert Sand and Ponderosa Pine
Techniques: Direct-to-paper, accent coloring, any color heat embossing, sponging
Stamp Sets: Holiday Warmth, Evergreen

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 a discount or maybe even for free.

Now hop on over to Susan's blog to check out her artwork.

Blog hop group 1.

Blog hop group 2.

Everyday Celebration

To celebrate National Stamping Month, Close To My Heart has a wonderful promotion featuring the Everyday Celebration card kit. This kit comes with an exclusive D-sized stamp set (only available with this kit), 16 Colonial White card bases (with a fantastic bracket-shaped edge) and matching envelopes, cardstock, B&T Duos papers, two mini distressing inks, Mini-Medley Accents Shades of Chocolate collection, ribbon, 3-D foam squares, a sponge and full-color directions for creating the 16 cards. You can purchase the kit for only $39.95, or you can earn it for free by purchasing $60 in stamp sets (sizes A, B, C, D, and E only) by September 30th, by hosting a gathering with at least $400 in sales by September 30th, or by signing up as a new consultant by September 30th. Additionally, there is a daily drawing for a free kit, and each day that you place an order you are entered in that day's drawing.

These are the cards made following the guide. 16 cards, embellished and decorated inside as well. Aren't the colors fantastic?

These are the leftovers. Plenty of scraps left to do a layout or a bunch more cards, even some embellishments left.

The guide and the stamp set. I can see this set getting a lot of use.

If you want to get one of these kits, check out my website.

Cheer-y birthday card

I made a birthday card for my friend J, which I of course failed to get in the mail in time for her birthday. And to make matters even better, I forgot to sign it (which I realized right as I dropped it in the mailbox). There should be no doubt in anyone's mind about whether or not I am a true blonde...

This card followed the sketch from Mojo Turns 100 Day 6. There was another challenge for decorating the inside of your card, but I seem to have misplaced that. The circle of Emporium patterned paper on the inside of the card is the scrap leftover from this Thank You card I made for the September SOTM blog hop. I hate when pretty paper goes to waste, so I was quite glad to be able to put that scrap to use.






Papers: CTMH Emporium, CTMH cardstock
Inks: CTMH, Copic markers, CTMH markers
Ribbon: CTMH Cocoa grosgrain Stamps: Stamping Bella (image received in swap), CTMH Ring in the Year, CTMH Card Sentiments (retired) Tools and Techniques: Fiskars Threading Water punch, Nestabilities Circle and Scalloped Circle, sponging, direct-to-paper ink distressing, 3-D Foam mounting squares

Birthday Card for MIL

So yesterday I realized that (holy cow!) September is nearly half over. Where has this year gone? I also realized that my MIL's birthday is coming up next week (nice of my husband to remind me--NOT) and I needed to make a card. I combined two challenges for this card, Mojo Monday 103 sketch and Cute Card Thursday Challenge 77 (color challenge-use pink and green). Actually, I had come across a third challenge that was to decorate the inside of your card, but I seem to have misplaced that one.



Papers: Basic Grey Eva, Bazzil cardstock
Inks: CTMH
Ribbon: CTMH
Stamps: CTMH Gracious Greetings
Tools and Techniques: Nestabilities Label , sponging, 3-D Foam mounting squares, Prima Flower

I also made some Christmas cards that will be in another post. I'm trying to complete as many cards as I can before I get back into having to do school work.