Holiday Magic (October SOTM Blog Hop)

Welcome to our Stamp of the Month Blog Hop which features the Holiday Magic stamp set from Close To My Heart.  This is a great Christmas set with stockings, trees, and a sleigh, all with varied patterns and a nice assortment of sentiments.. 

If you have come here from Krista's 'Simply Creating' blog, you are on the right path! With over 50 Close To My Heart Consultants sharing their creations using this month's SOTM and other  CTMH products on their blogs, you should be able to find lots of great creative ideas to use for your own projects.  Blog Hopping is simple to do - just click on the link at the end of the post on each blog to move to the next one!

For a very non-traditional Christmas card, this uses the Mischief paper packet, which is actually designed for Halloween. On this 5"x7" card, the tags for the sentiment and for the tree were cut using the Art Philosophy cartridge for the Cricut.  The tree was stamped using Sunset ink, and 'rolling' the edges of the stamp in Cocoa ink before stamping in order to add some color variety to the image.  Instead of using the standard 'tree stand' that is included in the Holiday Magic stamp set, I chose to use the small decorate image which matches some of the detail in the tree and the background paper. 
 

Now "Hop" on over to Jen's 'Roxybonds' Scrappin' blog to see her work!  Be sure to visit all the Consultants at their blogs to get some great crafting inspiration and other fun ideas!  Remember, the Holiday Magic stamp set is only available during the month of October.  The regular price is reduced to $17.95, or you can purchase it for only $5 with a minimum order of $50 in other CTMH products.

If you get lost on the Blog Hop or find links that aren't working, there is a complete list of all participating blogs on Helen's 'Hooked on Stamping' blog.

Sonoma - Cards with "Shape"

My very favorite feature of the new Art Philosophy cartridge for the Cricut machine is the card 'feature' which cuts a fabulous card with each image on the keypad.  

For this shaped card, the base was cut using Cocoa cardstock, and then a slightly smaller card was cut using the paisley paper from the Sonoma kit.  The patterned paper card was then cut at the fold line, one half placed on the front of the card, and the other half turned over so the reverse side of the paper would be on the inside of the card.  It really gives a nice 'complete' look to the card.  For the sentiment, the image is stamped using one of the stamp sets that is included with the Art Philosophy cartridge.  The coordinating shape was also cut using the Cricut in graduated sizes for a layered look.  

A long and narrow card, this features different papers from the Sonoma kit along with the 1/2-inch 'zip strip' that is included on each piece of patterned paper for a border.  To add a little sparkle, Rhinestone Designer Brads were added to the sentiment piece.  

Quick and easy - use the Art Philosophy cartridge to cut a ticket-shaped card, add a smaller ticket shape with a stamped image from the included stamp set, and you have a unique card.

An overview of all the shapes that can be cut using the 'Card' feature of the Art Philosophy cartridge.  Some of the cards have specific shapes for the outline of the card, while others have rounded edges and a cut-out 'window' in the front of the card. 


All stamps, inks, cardstock, and patterned paper used are from Close To My Heart (CTMH). 
   

Pair-a-Phrase Card Workshop

Everyone needs greeting cards!  Using the special Pair-a-Phrase double stamp set (that can be yours for FREE with a $75 order) along with other new stamps and papers from the Close To My Heart Autumn/Winter Idea Book, you can create an assortment of greeting cards.  These are perfect to send to someone special and are sure to brighten their day.

inside of card

Winter weather will be here soon, and this cute little snowman from the Pair-a-Phrase stamp set is sure to bring a smile to someone's face.   The card is cut using the Art Philosophy cartridge and a piece of double-sided paper from the Wonderland kit.  The snowman "peeks" out of the window in the front of the card.  

This card may look familiar.  It is the same card design that I posted in August to introduce the Pair-a-Phrase special for "National Stamping Month" in September.  Just used different papers and colors.  This card uses my favorite plaid paper from the Roxie kit along with the bicycle.  The sentiment is completed on the inside of the card with "and may trouble be a stranger to you."  

Seems as though it is almost impossible to create a card without using the new Art Philosophy cartridge and my Cricut machine.  For this card, the shaped pieces that the sentiment is stamped on were cut using the Cricut.  And for the cameo card shown below, the scalloped oval for the stamped image and the large scalloped border pieces at the bottom of the card were both cut using the Art Philosophy cartridge.  

Another 'repeat' card - this is almost identical to a card posted for the Heart 2 Heart Challenge a couple of weeks ago.  The only difference is a neutral colored card base.  Used the Sweet Moments stamp set to create a cameo, added a piece of wide Chocolate striped ribbon, a scallop border, and the card was finished.  Colors used are Sorbet, Pear, and Cocoa.  

           

The "Pair-a-Phrase" Card Workshop will be offered on Friday evening, September 16 (starting at 7 pm), and also on  Saturday afternoon, September 17 (starting at 1 pm).  You will create three of each of the three projects (total 9 cards and envelopes) for a workshop fee of $10.  Allow approximately two hours to complete your projects.  Please be sure to bring your favorite adhesive.  All other supplies are provided with the workshop fee.  All stamps and papers used are from Close To My Heart (CTMH).

The Pair-a-Phrase stamp set is only available until the end of September.  The retail value is $35.90, and it is yours for FREE with a $75 minimum order of CTMH products.

Please let me know if you would like to attend the Card Workshop this month.  Feel free to leave me a comment on this blog, send an email to sheilabennett@comcast.net, or call 913-485-4355.

Since this week is "Die Cuts R Us" on the Heart 2 Heart Challenges blog, all three of the cards qualify.  For even more ideas, visit the links at the end of their blog post.  

A Sweet Moments Cameo

It has been quite a while since I have been able to do one of the Heart 2 Heart Challenges, and decided to participate in this week's color challenge.  

One of my favorite new stamp sets in the Autumn/Winter Idea Book is the Sweet Moments set with stamps to create cameos.  The scallop oval and the larger oval borders were cut using the Art Philosophy Cricut cartridge.  Just stamped the cameo and frame on the oval, added a piece of wide Chocolate striped ribbon and the card was finished.  Using the Sorbet and Cocoa colors seem natural with the cameo, and the Pear really seems to brighten up the card.

Sorbet, Pear, Cocoa

All stamps, inks, and cardstock used are from Close To My Heart (CTMH).