Mojo Monday Congratulations

It has been forever since I played along with Mojo Monday.  Mainly because I've been doing more scrapbooking than cardmaking lately.  But this week I was in need of a card to congratulate friends of ours who just became engaged . . . and Mojo Monday's sketch provided me with the needed inspiration!

Materials Used (all Close to My Heart):
Wings Level 2 paper pack (retired)
Veranda Creative Basics paper pack (retired)
For Every Occasion acrylic stamp set  (best EVER stamp set for cardmakers!!)
Soul Mates acrylic stamp set
Spray Pen (with Pearl Paint, Vineyard Berry Re-inker, and water)
Licorice Opaque Gems
Colonial White Waxy Flax
Black Ink
Cardstock: Black, Juniper, Colonial White, Vineyard Berry
Foam Tape

Have a great weekend!

Spring All Occasion Card Workshop

I'm hosting an all-occasion card workshop next Monday night - June 27th at my place at 7:30pm! 
The workshop is create at your own pace, make as many cards as you would like for just $1.50 each & you choose which cards to make.  I'll have 10-12 different designs for you to choose from.    You can change up the sentiments to meet your needs and you'll leave with a great assortment!

Here is a peek at a few of the cards you'll be able to choose from:

I still have room for a few more attendees, so if you'd like to join us - send me an email ASAP at csironside@shaw.ca so that I can make sure to have enough supplies ready to go!

Veranda Anniversary Card

I know my blog has been short on new artwork in the last little while  . . . I have been creating - just haven't had a chance to post.   I do have a new card for you tonight :-)

This card was inspired by several challenges:
The sketch is from Cardabilities
Canadian Stamp Talk Yahoo Group - Ribbons/Buttons
Cupcake Challenges - In the Garden

Materials Used (all Close to My Heart):
Veranda Level 2 Paper Pack (retired)
Pizzazz Irresistables Chipboard (retired)
Party Pennants acrylic stamp set
Follow Your Heart acrylic stamp set (retired)
Cocoa Designer Ribbon
Juniper Buttons from the Green Button Assortment
Colonial White Waxy Flax
Ink: Creme Brulee, Juniper, Cocoa
Cardstock: Cocoa, Juniper, Colonial White

Happy Mail

Look at the happy mail I received from my CTMH friend Brandy Lees!
Love the card Brandy!! Thanks!

CTMH's Stamp of the Month Blog Hop for December

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

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 Michelle'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 "Amore" stamp set, as well as the many other great CTMH products you'll see in each post.

My creation today is a layout for my wedding album!  This photo was taken on my family's farm.  This is where I grew up! Having my wedding photos taken out on the farm meant so much to me.  This photo, in particular, was on of my favourites taken that day - we look so young & in love!!  The Amore stamp set added the perfect title, journalling, and embellishment to express EXACTLY how I felt that day and how I feel when I look at this photo!
 

Materials Used (all Close to My Heart):

Veranda Level 2 Paper Pack

Amore acrylic stamp set (December 2010 Stamp of the Month)

Foundry Flourishes

Tulip Bigger Brads

Cardstock: Cocoa, Juniper, Colonial White

Ink: Tulip, Cocoa

Layout design based on the "Main Frame - Details" sketch in the Reflections Scrapbooking Book!

The "Amore" stamp set is available from your consultant from December 1st to 31st!  You can earn this stamp set at a discount or even FREE with every CTMH order placed in the month of December!

Thanks for stopping in!! To continue on the hop, visit KATY'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 December's Blog Hop participants HERE.

Convention Swap Items Part #3

A few more of my favourite swaps received at the recent CTMH convention:

A very cute scenic card by an unknown consultant (it is hard to tell in the photo, but the rising balloons are each 'popped' out a little bit higher, giving them the appearance of flying right off the card!  Love it!):

A cute water bottle tag using Veranda, by another unknown consultant:

I love the black & white with a 'pop' of color on this next card (by yet another unknown consultant):

A fabulous Cherry-O creation from Linda Case:

Here is a gorgeous Passages card made by Linda Black:

Fantastic little accordian flower card by Laura Petruso using the recently retired Twitterpated:

I love the bright colors on this great card by Kelly Waterman:

And finally, another very cute Cherry-O card from Patty Smith:

So many creative ideas out there!! 

Convention Swap Items Part #2

A few more cards I received at Convention from fellow swappers:

Love this gorgeous card using the now retired Notebook paper by Kerri Wint:

And a gorgeous Thank You card using Perfect Day and some amazing stamping, as well as glitter mist from the very talented Haley Dyer:

A gorgeous easel card using Veranda made by Sheri Johnson:

A very creative envelope card from Brenda Rutt using the recently retired Unforgettable paper pack:

And a cute little random stamped card using Topstitch from my fellow Canadian and blogging friend Krista Ritskes:

CTMH Veranda Thank You Card

A card using last week's sketch over at Clean and Simple Stamping.  I also used felt flower embellishments to meet this week's challenge over at Practical Scrappers which is to use fabric, felt or tulle!  Fun!!

Materials Used (all Close to My Heart, except as noted):

Veranda Level 2 Paper Pack

Thank You Acrylic Stamp Set

Heartfelt Whimsy die-cut embellishments (Tulip felt flower)

Creme Brulee Bigger Brad from the Spring Blossom Mini Medley Accents (on sale right now - $6.95, while supplies last!)

Other: Brown felt flower from Sharing Memories Scrapbooking

Ink: Cocoa & Tulip

Cardstock: Juniper & Cocoa

CTMH Veranda All-Occasion Cards

I held an all-occasion card making workshop this past Sunday featuring the Veranda Paper Pack.
Thanks to Jody at Cre8nMemories , my fellow CTMH Consultant for the inspiration for this workshop.  I made a few small modifications, but for the most part - I totally CASE'd Jody's cards!!  Jody is amazingly talented & I'm constantly inspired by her creations - be sure to check out her blog.

Here are the cards we made, which are designed from the Just Because Card Workshop, found in the CTMH book Wishes.

Materials Used (all Close to My Heart):

Veranda Level 2 Paper Pack

A Little Everything Acrylic Stamp Set (March 2010 SOTM)

One of a Kind Acrylic Stamp Set

Bulk Card Bases & Envelopes in Colonial White

Other:  Hollyhock Ribbon, Blush Ribbon, Basic Craft Buttons, Colonial White Waxy Flax, Vineyard Berry Ribbon, Big Pinks paper flowers, Essential Brads, Stardust Glitter Glue, Foam Tape, Glue Dots

Inks: Blush, Juniper, Cocoa, Creme Brulee, Garden Green, Vineyard Berry, Olive

Cardstock: Cocoa, Juniper, Olive, Colonial White

If you are in the Calgary area and are interested in attending future workshops, Email Me or Subscribe to my newsletter (see button on the right side of my blog) to be notified of future events.

CTMH Veranda Workshop Cards

Here are the featured cards in the Veranda Workshop kit:

The first set is using only the materials in the kit:

The second set uses additional metal embellishments and additional paper flower layers:

I like both sets!  I think you can't really go wrong with the Veranda paper!  And these cards feature some fun stamping techniques including "rock & rolling" to create some great multi-shaded stamped images.  (Want to know how?  Send me an email, I'd be happy to explain!)

Materials Used (all Close to My Heart):

Veranda Basic Workshop Kit (includes Veranda Level 2 Paper Pack, Filigree Charms, Follow Your Heart exclusive stamp set, and instructional brochure which includes patterns & instructions for these cards)

Inks: Garden Green, Tulip, Cocoa, Creme Brulee, Brown Staz-On

The second card set also uses:

Spring Blossom Just Blooms

Antiqued Copper Mini Medley Embellishments

CTMH Veranda Bliss

This layout is the featured project in the Veranda Workshop on the Go Kit.  It was perfect for some more of the pics in my wedding album. 

Materials Used (all Close to My Heart):

Veranda Workshop on the Go Basic Kit (includes Veranda Level 2 Paper Pack, Filigree Charms, exclusive workshop stamp set "Follow Your Heart", and a full colour workshop guide)

Just Blooms Spring Blossoms Flowers

Antiqued Copper Mini Medley Embellishments

Inks: Cocoa, Tulip, Garden Green, Creme Brulee, Brown Staz-On

Cardstock: Garden Green, Vanilla Cream

Note:  The Veranda Workshop Kit is available only until April 30th.  If you are in Canada, click here to shop online, or Contact Me today to order yours!