My 2012 Crafting Count

Well, 2012 was not a very productive year for me craft-wise, but that is because of how busy I was with work and school.  I moved back to the States from Okinawa, took a bunch of college classes, made the Dean's List, was inducted into TWO honor societies, got an AWESOME back injury at work, completed extra professional education and reading for work, and planned and executed the biggest-deal project of my military career.  Unfortunately, that means my expenditures on crafting supplies FAR exceeded my production for the year.  These are my totals:

Pages complete: 0

Cards complete: 13

Altered Items: 3

Digital Pages complete: 0

Sewing Items: 0

Crochet Items: 0

Miscellaneous Items: 2

I actually did work on some digital layouts on Studio J, but I don't count them until I place the order (so that will mean a boost in my 2013 numbers).  

I think my school schedule this year will be such that I will be able to have at least a little bit of crafting time each month (well, until the fall anyway).  Maybe I'll set a goal this year of scheduling crafting time into my weeks.  That sounds like a good goal.  What are YOUR crafting goals for 2013?

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.

December 2012 CTMH Stamp of the Month Blog Hop

Welcome to the December 2012 CTMH Stamp of the Month Blog Hop, featuring Year-Round Cheer, a set of 12 Stamps.  If you've just arrived here from{Dawn'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 to go "round" to the next post in the hop to see lots of "cheer".    

I love stamp sets like this that give you a bunch of stamps that are nearly the same size but a variety of subjects.  They are perfect for creating card sets (which make great gifts) or for building up your stash of cards.  They also work well for added sentiments to pre-made cards without sentiments (sort of "fill-in-the-blanks" card).    I decided to make some small cards using scraps from some favorite paper packs.  These square cards were made in 3" and 3.5" sizes.  I simply cut the bases, cut some scraps, and then stamped and mounted the images.  The 3" size make great gift cards to put on gift bags or bottles of your favorite adult beverages.  Use a hole punch in the corner and then tie it on using your favorite ribbon, string, tinsel...whatever you can think of.  

Remember, Year-Round Cheer is only available 1-31 December 2012.  Contact your Close To My Heart consultant, or click here, to find out how to order your own.  

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


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

October 2012 Stamp of the Month Blog Hop

Welcome to the October 2012 CTMH Stamp of the Month Blog Hop featuring Very Merry Christmas, a set of 11 stamps.  If you've just arrived from {Melinda's} blog, you're on the right path.  If this is your starting point, simply click on the link at the end of each post to hop to the next and see what more than 60 Close To My Heart consultants created with this holiday set.

I felt compelled to use some non-traditional colors in my card today.  Rather than the traditional red and green, I used Creme Brulee, Grey Wool, Kraft, Outdoor Denim, and Twilight.  I followed this week's Mojo Monday sketch, and the patterned papers are from the retired CTMH Aspen paper package.  The colors are much more vibrant in person.  Hopefully Santa will bring me a DSLR camera for Christmas.

Cardstock: CTMH Grey Wool, Kraft, and Twilight
Patterned Paper: CTMH Aspen

Ribbon: CTMH Creme Brulee

Stamps: CTMH Very Merry Christmas

Ink: CTMH Twilight

Other: CTMH Ribbon, Cuttlebug Snow Dots embossing folder, Nestabilities Scalloped Square, dry brushing, direct-to-paper distressing, glue dots.

Remember, Very Merry Christmas is only available October 1-31, 2012.  Contact your CTMH consultant, or click here, to find out how to get your own.

Now hop on over to {Sheila's} blog to see her very merry project!

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

September 2012 Stamp of the Month Blog Hop

Welcome to the September Stamp of the Month blog hop featuring Fall Favorites, a set of 11 stamps.  If you have just arrived from {Georgia's} blog, you are on the right path.  Just starting here?  Simply click on the link at the end of each post to go to the next post in the hop.

When I saw this stamp set, it immediately made me think of an autumn table setting.  I thought the scarecrow would make a perfect place card holder.  The image was stamped on White Daisy cardstock, colored with watercolor pencils, and then cut out with a border using scissors.

 

I cut rectangles of Creme Brulee cardstock, and hand-wrote the names in Dutch Blue marker, adding a few accent doodles.

To make my scarecrows stand, I cut a strip of cardstock, and scored it in three places to make a triangle to attach to the back.  Vary the angles of the triangle to vary how far back it leans.

Remember, Fall Favorites is only available September 1-30, 2012.  Contact your consultant, or click {here}, to find out how to get your own.

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

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

August 2012 Stamp of the Month Blog Hop

If you've just arrived from {Nikka's} blog, my apologies.  A computer error (not mine) caused my Idea Books and stamps to be shipped to Okinawa instead of to my stateside address (which I updated before I even left Okinawa).  I may have to wait to play, but you don't have to wait to enjoy the rest of the hop.  Head over to {Brae's} blog to see her creation.

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