CTMH Stamp of the Month Blog Hop for April - Blessed

Welcome to the Close to My Heart Stamp of the Month Blog Hop for April - featuring the gorgeous stamp set "Blessed".

Along this month's Stamp of the Month hop you'll find dozens of fabulous creations using this stamp set - all brought to you by a very talented group of CTMH Consultants! If you've come here from Wendy's Blog, you are on the right path. If this is your first stop on the hop, that will work too (just keep hopping till you get back here again)!

To continue along the hop, just follow the link at the end of each post to go to the next site. We hope that following the hop will give you lots of inspiration and ideas for using your "Blessed" stamp set, along with the many other great CTMH products you'll see in each post!

My creation for you today is a card measuring 5" x 7".   I love the "Base & Shade" stamping technique used with this stamp set.  One stamp is the outline of the image, and a second stamp is the 'inside' of the image.  Simply stamp your base and the shade in two different colors of ink & you already have a coloured image - - no colouring required!  It is difficult to tell in the photo, but I have 'pop-dotted' the center sqaure to give further emphasis to the flower. 

Card design was inspired by the pattern "Center Squares" in the CTMH Originals Card Program book.

Materials Used (all CTMH):
Magnifique Level 2 Paper Pack
Blessed acrylic stamp set (April 2011 Stamp of the Month)
White Daisy Grosgrain
Cardstock: White Daisy, Cranberry
Ink: Pacifica, Cranberry, Black

The "Blessed" stamp set is available from your consultant from April 1st to 30th! You can earn this stamp set at a discount or even FREE with every CTMH order placed in the month of April!

Thanks for stopping in!! To continue on the hop, visit Michelle's BLOG to see what she has created for you!

Magnifique Mini Album - Another CASE from Tracey!

Check out this fabulous mini-album - what a great Christmas gift to give, don't you think?
Another CASE from the very talented Tracey Mason!  You can check out her album HERE.

Materials Used (all Close to My Heart):
Magnifique Level 2 Paper Packet
Magnifique Level 2 Stickease
All Sorts Mini Album
Chocolate Ribbon Collection
Twill
Dimensional Elements Booksmart
Basic Craft Buttons
Clear Buttons

CTMH's Stamp of the Month Blog Hop for November

Welcome to the Close to My Heart Stamp of the Month Blog Hop for November - featuring the sentiment stamp set "A Little Thanks".


Along this month's Stamp of the Month hop you'll find dozens of fabulous creations using this stamp set - all brought to you by a very talented group of CTMH Consultants! If you've come here from Melissa's Blog, you are on the right path. If this is your first stop on the hop, that will work too (just keep hopping till you get back here again)!
To continue along the hop, just follow the link at the end of each post to go to the next site. We hope that following the hop will give you lots of inspiration and ideas for using your "A Little Thanks" stamp set, as well as the many other great CTMH products you'll see in each post.

My creation today is a card measuring 6"x6".  I chose my favourite sentiment from this stamp set to use on my card.  I pierced holes around the sentiment using my paper piercing tool to create a subtle border and I stamped a background behind the sentiment to add a little colour to the focal point of the card.
 

Materials Used (all Close to My Heart, except as noted):
Magnifique Level 2 Paper Pack
"A Little Thanks" acrylic stamp set - November 2010 Stamp of the Month
Intrinsic Backgrounds acrylic stamp set
Best Wishes acrylic stamp set
White Daisy Grosgrain Ribbon
White Mini Medley Accents (crotcheted flowers)
Black brads - from my stash
 
The "A Little Thanks" stamp set is available from your CTMH Consultant from November 1st to 30th! You can earn this stamp set at a discount or FREE with every CTMH order in the month of November!
 

 

Thanks for stopping in! To continue on the hop - be sure to visit CAREN's BLOG to see what she has created for you!


If you get lost along the hop, or come across a broken link, feel free to refer back to the complete list of November's Blog Hop participants HERE.

CTMH Christmas Card Extravaganza!

I've been super busy planning and creating in preparation for this year's Christmas Card workshops!
Here are the results:

A great selection of holiday cards!  Some are cased from fellow CTMH consultants, some are inspired by CTMH Idea Book artwork, others are designed by me!  Lots of variety, something for everyone!  Different techniques on every card!

I will be running a series of "Christmas Card Extravaganza" workshops at my home in Calgary in late November and early December!  Work at your own pace - make as many cards as you want, and you pick the designs you want! 
Not in the Calgary area or unable to attend?  I'm also offering these cards in take-home workshop kits - precut and prestamped! 

Details of cost, registration, dates and times of these workshops and take-home workshop kits can be found HERE.

Here are the close-ups of the cards (all materials used are Close to My Heart (CTMH)):

CASE'd from Carol Labuski

Materials Used:

Mistletoe Level 2 Paper Pack

St. Nick acrylic stamp set

Peace on Earth acrylic stamp set

Cranberry Grosgrain

Colonial White Brad

Cardstock: New England Ivy, Colonial White

CASE'd from Corinna McGregor

Materials Used:

Festive Frills acrylic stamp set

Glimmer ribbon from the Mistletoe Creative Basics

Opaques Pearls

Cardstock: Ponderosa Pine, Desert Sand, Colonial White

CASE'd from Susan Daniels

Materials Used:

Share the Magic acrylic stamp set (October 2010 Stamp of the Month)

Christmas Melodies acrylic stamp set

Black Grosgrain ribbon

Cardstock: Black, White Daisy

CASE'd from Corinna McGregor

Materials Used:

Mistletoe Level 2 Paper Pack

Snow Days acrylic stamp set

Glitz Glitter Gel

Licorice opaques

Cardstock: Colonial White, Cranberry

Designed by Carla Ironside

Materials Used:

Aspen Level 2 Paper Pack (retired)

Father Christmas acrylic stamp set

Clear Sparkle

Cardstock: Creme Brulee, Outdoor Denim

CASE'd from Lisa Stenz

Materials Used:

Jingle Borders acrylic stamp set

Peace on Earth acrylic stamp set

Holiday Trinkets acrylic stamp set

Foam Tape

Liquid Glass

Cardstock: White Daisy, Chocolate, Baby Pink

Designed by Carla Ironside

Materials Used:

Share the Magic acrylic stamp set (October 2010 Stamp of the Month)

5/8" White Daisy Organdy Ribbon

Clear Sparkle

White Embossing Powder

Cardstock: Crystal Blue, White Daisy, Petal, Sweet Leaf

 Inspired by the CTMH Idea Book

Materials Used:

Jingle Level 2 Paper Pack

Holiday Trinkets acrylic stamp set

Holiday Buttons

Cardstock: Olive, Smokey Plum, Colonial White

Ribbon (from my stash - not CTMH)

Inspired by the CTMH Idea Book

Materials Used:

Aspen Level 2 Paper Pack (retired)

Evergreen acrylic stamp set

Red Sparkles

Dimensional Elements Stars in DE Flurry

Cardstock: Juniper, Colonial White, Creme Brulee

Designed by Carla Ironside

Materials Used:

Jingle Level 2 Paper Pack

Jingle Creative Basics (retired)

Just for the Holidays acrylic stamp set

Peace on Earth acrylic stamp set

White Daisy Grosgrain

Bitty Sparkles

Black Eyelets

Cardstock: Black, White Daisy

Designed by Carla Ironside

Materials Used:

Passages Level 2 Paper Pack

I Believe acrylic stamp set

Peace on Earth acrylic stamp set

Red Sparkle

Cocoa Grosgrain

Cardstock: Cocoa, Colonial White

Designed by Carla Ironside

Materials Used:

Colonial White Circle Card Base

Magnifique Level 2 Paper Pack

Share the Magic acrylic stamp set (October 2010 Stamp of the Month)

A Timber acrylic stamp set

Chocolate Brads

Glitz Glitter Gel

Cardstock: Chocolate, Colonial White

CASE'd from Kelly English Triggs

Materials Used:

Tannenbaum acrylic stamp set

Cranberry Grosgrain Ribbon

Cranberry Brads

Cardstock: Cranberry, New England Ivy, Colonial White

CASE'd from Kelly English Triggs

Materials Used:

Mistletoe Creative Basics (paper and ribbon)

Adornable acrylic stamp set

Holiday Trinkets acrylic stamp set

Cardstock: Cranberry, Colonial White

Fabulous, right?!?!  Which ones are your favourites?  Or do you want to make one of each? If you are in the Calgary area - I hope you'll join me to make Christmas cards this year!!  Bring a friend for a fun ladies night out!   Get all the workshop details HERE and contact me today to register - spaces are limited!!

Magnifique Gift Card Holder Tutorial

My first tutorial!!  I recently created this cute gift card holder and loved it so much that I shared it as my "Make & Take" project at my September Close to My Heart Open House.  I promised those in attendance that I would share the instructions on my blog - so here they are (better late than never!).  And as fate would have it, Tresa Black is having a 'tutorial' party on her blog Fabulously Artsy this week - so I'll be joining her party with this post!   [EDIT 10/11- Darn, I missed the deadline (by minutes!??!) for Tresa's Tutorial Party! That's what I get for leaving my post to the last minute!! That's OK - I had fun putting this together anyway and learned a few things about creating tutorials in the process, as well!!]

My gift card holder was inspired by Karin Menghini at Two Friends Stamping!  Thanks Karin!

Instructions for Gift Card Holder:
1) Start with a piece of cardstock measuring 4 1/4" x 7".  Score along the 7" side at 2.5" and 5.5".  (I score my cardstock using the track of my paper trimmer and a bone folder or embossing stylus).

2) Fold cardstock on score lines as shown.

 3) Cut two pieces of patterned paper.  The top piece measures 4 1/8" x 2 1/4".  The bottom piece measures 4 1/8" x 1 1/4". 

 4)  Adhere patterned paper to cardstock as shown.

 5)  As I used a dark coloured cardstock, I added an extra piece of colonial white cardstock inside my gift card holder in order to be able to write a message to the recipient.  This piece measures 4 1/8" x 2 1/4".  Adhere to the inside of the top flap of the gift card holder as shown.

 6)  Using the piercing tool and your self healing mat, make a hole in each top corner of the bottom flap of the gift card holder.  Insert a 'bitty brad' in each hole to secure your gift card pocket. 

 7)  Stamp a sentiment for the outside of your gift card holder.  I used a 1 3/8" circle of colonial white cardstock on which to stamp my sentiment, and matted it with a chocolate scalloped circle. 

 8)  Create a 'belly band' to wrap around your gift card holder to hold it closed.  I used a piece of chocolate cardstock which measured 1" wide by 9.5" long.  I then adhered a piece of patterned paper measuring 3/4" wide by 9.5" long onto the chocolate cardstock.  I wrapped the cardstock strip around the gift card holder to determine the appropriate fold lines and then secured the ends using my stapler. 

 9)  Adhere your sentiment piece over top of the belly band in the center (ensure you cover your overlapping ends and staple). 

 10)  Stamp an image that coordinates with the image on your sentiment piece inside the gift card holder.

 Here is the completed gift card holder shown open & with gift card inside:

Front of Gift card holder shown closed with belly band:

 And the view from the back (note that your belly band also covers up your brad prongs on the back!)

Materials Used (all Close to My Heart):
Magnifique Level 2 Paper Pack
Tag the Occasion acrylic stamp set
Antiqued Copper Bitty Brads
Cardstock: Chocolate, Colonial White
Inks: Sky, Pacifica, Chocolate

Very easy to make & you could change it up with your papers/stamps for any occasion!  If you make one using my tutorial - please be sure to comment here & leave a link to your project (or Email Me a photo)!  I'd love to see what you come up with!!

CTMH's Stamp of the Month Blog Hop for October

Welcome to the Close to My Heart Stamp of the Month Blog Hop for October - featuring the great seasonal stamp set "Share the Magic".
Along this month's Stamp of the Month hop you'll find dozens of fabulous creations using this stamp set - all brought to you by a very talented group of CTMH Consultants! If you've come here from Melissa's Blog, you are on the right path. If this is your first stop on the hop, that will work too (just keep hopping till you get back here again)!

To continue along the hop, just follow the link at the end of each post to go to the next site. We hope that following the hop will give you lots of inspiration and ideas for using your "Share the Magic" stamp set, as well as the many other great CTMH products you'll see in each post.
 
My creation today is a 4.5" by 4.5" card.  The design is "Curtain Call" from the CTMH card design book "Wishes".  I coloured my image using my stamp ink pads and my blender pen.

Materials Used (all Close to My Heart):
Magnifique Level 2 Paper Pack
Share the Magic - October 2010 Stamp of the Month
Blue/Green Sparkle Assortment
Chocolate Designer Ribbon
Inks: Sky, Pacifica, Lagoon, Chocolate, Sunset, Baby Pink
Cardstock: Chocolate, Colonial White

The SHARE THE MAGIC stamp set is available from your CTMH Consultant from October 1st to 31st! You can earn this stamp set at a discount or FREE with every CTMH order in the month of October!

Thanks for stopping in! To continue on the hop - be sure to visit MICHELLE's BLOG to see what she has created for you!

If you get lost along the hop, or come across a broken link, feel free to refer back to the complete list of October's Blog Hop participants HERE.

Magnifique and the New Flip Flaps!!

The new Flip Flaps are my FAVE new product in the Fall/Winter CTMH Idea Book!! I'm always looking to get more photos on my layouts - these flip flaps are the perfect way to do that!  AND - they are so much fun!! Interactive elements such as these are like little surprises for anyone browsing through  your scrapbooks!

Page 1 (with flaps closed) - some favourite snapshots taken at my wedding:

Page 1 (with flaps open - these are 2 Flip Flaps added to a regular page protector at the top and the bottom.  Both are 6" width and adhere to the page protector using a self-adhesive strip on the Flip Flap):

Grand total for this first layout: 18 PHOTOS!!!  Awesome!

And here is the 2nd layout - this time featuring some of the professional photos from our big day!

Page 2 (with flaps closed):

And page 2 (with the flaps open- this time I used a 4" flip flap paired with an 8" flip flap and they are adhered on the left and right sides of the page protector):

Aren't those fun!?! 
(Note: these are CTMH designed layouts!  We did these during our Create & Take sessions at Convention this past summer . . . I just recently added my photos & journalling to them and I'm so happy with the results!)

Materials Used (all Close to My Heart)
Magnifique Level 2 Paper Packet
Flip Flaps 12" Assortment
Foundry Flourishes Assortment
Mocha Opaques
Circle Of Love Acrylic Stamp Set

The New Fall/Winter 2010 CTMH Idea Book is Here!!

The new Fall/Winter 2010 CTMH Idea Book is now available!

Here are the four new fabulous paper & sticker collections for the season:

Olivia:

Hooligans:

Mistletoe:

and Magnifique:

All gorgeous!!! Don't you think?

And in addition to the new paper collections - you'll also find tons of other fantastic new products inside this Idea Book: new colours in our colour pallette, teriffic new embellishment packs - including new metals, ribbon, sparkles & pearls, a new versatile mini album, fun chipboard ornaments, new clear cards, new circle cards, new "flip-flap" interactive page protectors,gorgeous new faux leather albums, and DOZENS of great new acrylic stamp sets!

If you are in Canada & want to get your hands on  your OWN copy of the new Idea Book - send me an Email, I'd love to send you one!!  Better yet, if you are in the Calgary area - join me at my Fall Open House (details HERE) - and you'll get to see all the yummy new products in person!

Don't want to wait?   Browse the new Idea Book NOW!  Just click HERE to view it Online!

Be sure to check back in the coming days & weeks  - I'll be posting lots of new artwork featuring these great new products!