July 2016 Stamp of the Month

July 2016 Stamp of the Month is "From the Notebook." Each month you can purchase a new D-size stamp set, available for one month only, for just $5. When you place an order of $50 or more in Close To My Heart products, you qualify for this special Stamp of the Month pricing.

Buckle Card and Design Space Share

The January Joyful Stars Blog Hop was amazing! One of my fellow hoppers inspired me by sharing a unique design the "Big Buckle Card." The tutorial is on Splitcoaststampers. I took the tutorial and used that to make a project in design space to cut the pieces with my Cricut Explore. I used Close To My Heart's Paper Collection of the Month and Stamp of the Month to get a jump on some Valentine's Day Cards. If you would like to try the Design Space Project here is the link. I have a subscription to the Cricut library and now I'm not sure which pieces I used! This will be free if you have a subscription or the cartridges I happened to use. Otherwise you will be prompted to purchase whatever you do not have in your library. 

Joyful Stars January 2016 Blog Hop

Welcome to the Joyful Stars January 2016 Blog Hop! On the 10th of each month a group of Close To My Heart consultants share artwork using some of our favorite products. This hop is a circle, so it doesn't matter if you are coming from Krista's blog or if you start here on my blog. Just continue around until you're back at the blog you started on to make sure you see all the fabulous projects. 

My project for you this month is a trio of cards using Beloved Bouquet, this month's Stamp of the Month. I also showcased Close To My Heart's featured paper collection this month, La Vie En Rose. 

The first card uses the base and shade technique. I stamped the solid flower in Pixie and the outline stamp in Pomegranate. I used the same technique for the leaves. The lighter color is Pear and the darker color is Topiary.

On the second card I stamped the flower and leaf outlines with the Black Memento™ Ink Pad on Watercolor Paper. Then I used various colors from the Watercolor Paints to color the images.

The last card I stamped the flower and leaf outlines with the Black Memento™ Ink Pad again, but this time I used various  ShinHan™ Touch Twin™ Markers. I think this one is my favorite! On each card I did use the beautiful Black & Gold Ribbon, a brand new item in the Seasonal Expressions 1.

Thanks for hopping along this month. Your next stop is Donna's blog. Just in case you get lost or experience a technical difficulty, you might want to keep Joyce's blog open in a separate tab, as she has a full list of participants.

Joyful Stars September 2015 Blog Hop

Welcome to the Joyful Stars September 2015 Blog Hop! This hop is a circle, so it doesn't matter if you are coming from Andrea's blog or if you start here on my blog. Just continue around until you're back to the blog that you started on to make sure you see all the fabulous projects.

My project is a card featuring the September Stamp of the Month: Paper Garden. The image was stamped in Whisper Ink on Watercolor Paper. Then I used the new Watercolors to paint! The colors of paint I choose work wonderful with Sangria Paper Pack. I kept the embellishments simple with Poppy Thick Twine and a flower from the Sangria Assortment.

Thanks for hopping along this month. Your next stop is Marie's blog. Just in case you get lost or experience a technical difficulty, you might want to keep Joyce's blog open in a separate tab, as she has a full list of participants.

July Special

This adorable card was made by Close To My Heart's Art Department and features a Hostess Rewards Stamp. Normally the ONLY way to get this stamp is to host a qualifying gathering, but this month there is another way to earn this stamp!

During the month of July, when you purchase $25 in current, retail priced stamps, you qualify to receive either the July Stamp of the Month FREE or any one of the Hostess Rewards stamp sets featured in Annual Inspirations 2014–2015 or Seasonal Expressions 2 for only $5!

Taste of Summer Cards

Today is the last day to grab the Taste of Summer paper pack and stamp set! Here are some cards I made using two sheets of paper plus cardstock and kraft paper.

Click to go to Shopping Web Site

Click to go to Shopping Web Site

I used the same paper combination but a different stamp set on the next card. It's a preview of June's Stamp of the Month.

Orange Creamsicle, yum!

April Joyful Stars Blog Hop

Welcome to the Joyful Stars April Blog Hop! Several consultants are sharing their creations using current Close To My Heart products. If you've come here from the blog of my super talented friend Nancy then you're on the right track. If you just happened upon my blog, that's fine, just continue from here and when you get back to me, you know you've seen them all.

My project is a Marquee card featuring Typed Note (April's stamp of the month), Chalk It Up Paper Packet, and the puffy stickers in the Chalk It Up Assortment. 

If you're interested the Marquee Card SVG, it is a free download here until the end of the month. A PDF is included so you can print and cut if you don't have an electronic cutting machine that uses SVG format. 

Your next stop on the Joyful Stars blog hop is Lori's blog. Just in case you get lost or experience a technical difficulty, you might want to keep Joyce's blog open in a separate tab, as she has a full list of participants.

March 2015 Stamp of the Month

Each month Close To My Heart offers an exclusive stamp set. It's only available during that month and then it disappears! Better yet...with a $50 order you can earn a deep discount on the stamp. It's only $5!

The March 2015 Stamp of the Month is "Choose Happy." I love the use of the frames and sentiments in the darling mini album pictured above. 

What a Hoot!

A few weeks ago I made these cards that were designed by the talented Nancy Brown. They are made with the August 2014 Stamp of the Month What a Hoot. I didn't think I'd want to get this stamp but I came home from her house and ordered it right away! With a $50 purchase the stamp set is $5, but only through August 31, 2014.

Chocolate Understands Gift Box

Feeling a little down about the carefree summer days coming to an end? Well, Chocolate understands! This box was made with Close To My Heart's Chocolate Affair Stamp Set. It's only available until August 31, and if you order $50 it is FREE!

Supplies:
My Creations® Card Box
A Chocolate Affair, August 2013 Stamp Of The Month
Babycakes Paper Packet
Babycakes Complements
Babycakes Assortment

Joyful Stars July Blog Hop and a Giveaway!

Welcome to the Joyful Stars July Blog Hop. This hop is a circle so it doesn't matter if you are coming from Heather's blog or if you start here on my blog. Just continue around until you're back to the blog that you started on to make sure you see all the wonderful projects. There are 15 this month.

For my project I chose to use the July Stamp of the Month to make a few cards. I usually shy away from images that need to be colored. (I'm not sure why, I loved my coloring books as a kid!) For these cards I actually watercolored. I love the way the colors blended together, and I don't care that they bled over the lines!

I just started my Crafting With Crystal CTMH Facebook page. To celebrate I am sponsoring a giveaway! Like my page for a chance to win a Dream Pop paper pack. This beautiful paper was the special in May 2013 and is no longer available. I will choose a winner on Saturday, July 13.

Now your next stop on the hop is Stephanie's blog.

Close To My Heart Supplies:
Sweet Life, July 2013 Stamp Of The Month
Archival Black Exclusive Inks® Stamp Pad
Buzz and Bumble Paper Pack (no longer available, sniff, sniff)
Buzz and Bumble Assortment (retiring July 31, 2013!)
Sparkles Brown & Tan Assortment
Mini-Medley Accents Wooden Collection
Waterbrush Medium (also retiring July 31, 2013!)

Other Supplies:
Watercolor Paper
Distress Ink Markers 

CTMH June Stamp of the Month

As a  Close To My Heart consultant I received the Stamp of the Month sets awhile ago. I couldn't wait for June because I love this one: A Flowering Bunch. I think I finally figured out its appeal to me. It reminds me of a Vera Bradley pattern!

I cut the corresponding flower shapes from our Cricut Artiste cartridge, stamped the images in black, then colored them Copics. I stamped the sentiment and added a border with a black journaling pen. The bold and colorful flowers stand out on the white background and because I used foam tape! I chose a palette close to the Vera Bradley Folkloric pattern. Now I'm eager to mimic other patterns.

Have a nice day!

Today is National Scrapbooking Day. I spent part of the day at a unit meeting with Close To My Heart consultants. We didn't scrapbook, but we made a few projects including this card. It features the Dream Pop paper packet and Pinwheel, May 2013 stamp of the month. Both of these items can only be ordered this month.

Soaring By to Day Hi Card

Edited 4/5/2013: I just found out about this awesome challenge blog CASology. Week 38 is the theme UP so I am entering this card. Check it our here.

The April Stamp of the Month has great images for spring, including this hot air balloon. I used the Unscripted Sketches pattern #204 for inspiration!

Supplies:

Cricut Artiste Cartridge: clouds, hot air balloon (Close To My Heart)

White Daisy and Sky Cardstock (Close To My Heart)
April 2013 My Sunshine Stamp Set (Close To My Heart)
Everyday Button Bits Stamp Set (Papertry Ink)
Gypsy and Barn Red Markers (Close To My Heart)
Black Ink Pad (Close To My Heart)
Zig Millennium Black Pen (EK Success)
Gelly Roll Stardust Pen (Sakura)

Floral Happiness card

Every month Close To My Heart offers a stamp set that is available only for that month. You can purchase it for $17.95 or if you spend $50 you can purchase it at the special price of $5.00! I absolutely love this month's stamp Floral Happiness.

Supplies:
Chantilly Paper Packet (Close To My Heart)
Card Chatter - Birthday Stamp Set (Close To My Heart)
Exclusive Inks Stamp Pads - Slate, Blush, Cotton Candy, Sweet Leaf, Olive, Cocoa (Close To My Heart)

Home Sweet Home Frame Project

Today I attended a unit meeting at Joyce's house (my upline). I had a great time crafting with my Close To My Heart friends! This is the project Joyce had for us. It was the first time I used the February Stamp of the Month. I love the sentiment. This project is an awesome idea for gift giving. Just take the glass off an inexpensive frame to put your 3D artwork on display.

Sunshine Card

It seems to me that "sunshine" is a trend in paper crafting. Check out this post  with a stamp set and dies from Papertrey Ink (on my wish list). This post features a stamp set from Hero Arts. To make my card I needed to improvise a bit since I don't have the dies or stamps. I cut strips of Sunny Yellow cardstock and Sunflowers cardstock. Then laid them down on my card base. I suggest using an adhesive like Dotto so the pieces are repositional. Once your background is created cut the pieces hanging over the base. Since this was so easy to do I'm wondering if I need to invest in dies and stamps! 

Sentiment is from the July 2012 Stamp of the Month: Live Out Loud.

How Tweet of You

A quick thank you card I made using the June 2012 Stamp of the Month: Life Is Tweet. Instead of coloring in the bird I used paper piecing, my favorite thing to do with outline stamps. This is the first project I made with the Florentine Paper Packet. I also used one of the Color-Ready Garden Wooden Shapes.

This card was also an excuse to try my new Tim Holtz Paper Rosette die. I love how easy it is to make rosettes. No scoring necessary the die already perforates the folds. Love it!

October Crafting

Last week I completed a project with the My Creations Memory Game. It was part of a swap. Now I'm anxiously awaiting for all of the consultants to finish. I'll post pictures as soon as I get it back! In the meantime here is artwork from Close To My Heart to get you thinking about crafting this month. This picture is of the Mischief paper. Usually, I don't make Halloween cards or layouts, but I'll be using this paper for trick or treat gift bags.

This picture shows artwork using the October Stamp of the Month, Holiday Magic. Christmas is 12 weeks away! I can see this as a stamp set I'll reach for a lot when working on Holiday cards and layouts.

August Stamp of the Month

Balance It Out from the How-To Book Originals

I'm just not in the Halloween mood so I haven't felt like creating with August's Stamp of the Month. However, recently I was inspired by other Close To My Heart consultants that were really thinking outside of the box. "Put Your Best Foot Forward" is the perfect card to give encouragement to my niece as she starts college in a few weeks.

August 2011 Stamp of the Month: Wicked



 

The Stamp of the Month is available until August 31, 2011 for $17.95 or with a $50.00 purchase you can earn it at an amazing price of $5.00. Also, the monthly special for August is a free stamp set when you qualify and order the Stamp of the Month at the $5.00 price. Visit my web site to take advantage of this deal.