Home Sweet Home (February SOTM Blog Hop)

Welcome to our Stamp of the Month Blog Hop which features the Home Sweet Home stamp set from Close To My Heart.   The four beautiful sentiments in this set can be used for cards or scrapbook pages.   

If you have come here from the 'Carla Creates' blog, you are on the right path!  With over 60 very creative Close To My Heart Consultants sharing their projects, you will see many different uses for this stamp set.  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!

Since each stamp in the Home Sweet Home set is a nice, large size, I created a 5"x7" card using the Jane Austen quote.  The pretty springlike paper is from the Chantilly pack.  One of several fun new embellishments that I used is the Hollyhock Zipper Lace.  This is basically half of a zipper, with a scalloped edge.  It adds a nice amount of texture and variety.  For the green ribbon knot, Pear ink was used to color a piece of the Color-Ready Seam Binding Ribbon.  This ribbon is actually a Colonial White color on the roll, but you can use any of our inks with a sponge to daub some color on to coordinate with your project.  Also, on the green patterned paper are some new Pink Glitter Gems which add a touch of 'bling' to the card.

Now "Hop" on over to Tamytha's 'Paper HeARTIST' 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 Home Sweet Home stamp set is only available during the month of February 2013.  The regular price is $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.

All papers and stamps are from Close To My Heart (CTMH).

	Sheila Bennett Close To My Heart Independent Consultant (913) 485-4355

Square Frame for a Rectangle Photo?

Just thought that I would share another project using new paper from the Close To My Heart Spring/Summer 2013 Idea Book & Catalog which will be released on February 1.  As a consultant, I am able to view the new book and order new product a month in advance.  So, this month has been a fun one playing with new product. 

Since the 1st February Challenge for Heart 2 Heart Challenges is Home Decor, this bracket frame certainly qualifies.  Be sure to visit the blog to see some fabulous other Home Decor items using CTMH products.   

My last post (Buzzing With Excitement!) included two cards featuring papers from the new Buzz and Bumble kit.  This project uses the same paper used on the second card of that post, but in a completely different way.   

With a 5"x7" photo of Avery at nine months and a 7"x7" opening in the My Creations Bracket Frame, it was easy to make the two fit together by creating a 9"x9" scrapbook page which fits perfectly inside the back of the frame.  Even though it is difficult to see in the photo, there is Black cardstock and another piece of patterned paper from the Buzz and Bumble kit with the photo, some Burlap Ribbon and a few other embellishments.  Only stamping on the project is Avery's name using letters from A Typeface stamp set.  The My Creations Bracket Frame is pre-assembled chipboard with an 11" outer dimension, 7" inner dimension, and is 1" deep.

To make things much easier, you are able to cut the same bracket shape using the Art Philosophy cartridge for the Cricut.  Simply load your paper and select the 'Fit to Page' option so that the shape is cut at 11 inches.  For some reason, if you set the Cricut to cut at 11", an error message says there is not enough room on the paper.  But if you use the 'Fit to Page' option, the message window says that it will cut at 11".  Just one of those silly technical oddities that you learn to work around.  After the bracket shape is cut, lay the Bracket Frame upside down on top of the paper and draw a line for the 7"x7" square opening.  Using scissors or a cutting knife, cut the center portion out.  Before adhering the paper to the Bracket Frame, I edged the frame with Black Pigment Ink, and also the piece of patterned paper on both the outer and the inner edges with the Black Pigment Ink.  

This new Spring/Summer Idea Book & Catalog is definitely one of my favorites in past years.  CTMH has introduced so many wonderful papers and fun stamps along with fabulous accessories, that it makes creating fun, quick, and easy.  Please let me know if you would like your own copy of the new Idea Book & Catalog.  You can contact me via phone at 913-485-4355 or email at sheilabennett@comcast.net.

All papers and stamps are from Close To My Heart (CTMH).

	Sheila Bennett Close To My Heart Independent Consultant (913) 485-4355

Buzzing With Excitement!

Close To My Heart will release the Spring/Summer 2013 edition of their Idea Book & Catalog on February 1.  As a consultant, I am able to view the new book and order new product a month in advance.  So, this month has been a fun one playing with new product. 

One of my favorite new paper kits is named Buzz and Bumble.  This kit has a nice vintage feel to it and the papers will complement many different styles of stamp sets.  

This card came together very quickly - using the honeycomb paper from Buzz and Bumble along with a cute bee stamp included with the Pun Fun stamp set that was introduced last Fall.  Markers were used to color the yellow and black stripes of the bee's body, while a Metallic Gold marker was used for his head.  To make his wings appear translucent, Stardust Glitz Glitter Gel was added.  Black Striped Grosgrain Ribbon is used along with a row of Colonial White Rosette Ribbon and clear flowers from the Claire Assortment.  

Who says you can't mix black and brown?  Even though this card is very dark, I really like the vintage feel of it.  The sentiment is from the fabulous new For a Friend stamp set, and that gorgeous paper is included with the Buzz and Bumble kit.  And I love the Black Shimmer Trim, as it adds just the right amount of sparkle to the card.  

This new Spring/Summer Idea Book & Catalog is definitely one of my favorites in past years.  CTMH has introduced so many wonderful papers and fun stamps along with fabulous accessories, that it makes creating fun, quick, and easy.  Please let me know if you would like your own copy of the new Idea Book & Catalog.  You can contact me via phone at 913-485-4355 or email at sheilabennett@comcast.net.

All papers and stamps are from Close To My Heart (CTMH).

	Sheila Bennett Close To My Heart Independent Consultant (913) 485-4355

Whooo's Your Valentine - Card Workshop

Now that the Holidays are over, it is time to start thinking about the new year.  Valentine's Day is fast approaching and you can get a head start on your crafting by attending the Whooo's Your Valentine Card Workshop this month.  Workshops will be held on Friday, January 18 at 7 pm and Saturday, January 19 at 1 pm.  

All three cards use the special stamp set available with the Whooo's Your Valentine kit from Close To My Heart.  The stamp set includes adorable owls, great background stamps, and fun sentiments.    

For this card, a patterned paper with owls on it from the Moonlight kit is used for the background.  Add some quick stamping and some Glitter Tape to add a bit of bling.  The hearts stamped on the envelope are also on the inside of the card.

Unfortunately, the lighting for this photo distorts the colors.  Inks used are Lagoon and Chocolate.  Each cardstock strip was stamped with a background stamp from the Whooo's Your Valentine kit and then adhered to the card base.  The circle sentiment was stamped and then punched with a 1 1/4" circle punch and mounted on a 2" scalloped circle.  A bit of wide Dark Chocolate Striped Grosgrain ribbon completes the card.       

While hopping through last month's Blog Hop for the Whooo's Your Valentine kit, I just loved the cards that Helen Onulak created, so this card is "stamp lifted" from her.  It uses both of the adorable owls, along with the same background stamps used on the previous card.     

Be sure to watch this great video prepared by CTMH which shows all the contents of the Whooo's Your Valentine kit.

The Whooo's Your Valentine Card Workshop will be offered on Friday, January 18 at 7 pm, and on Saturday, January 19 at 1 pm.  You will create three of each of the three cards for a workshop fee of $10.  Allow approximately two hours to complete your project.  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).

Everyone who attends will also receive a FREE copy of the soon-to-be-released Close To My Heart Spring/Summer Idea Book & Catalog.  This my favorite Idea Book of recent years and has many fabulous new stamp sets and other products in it.  New products will be available to order on February 1.  As an added bonus, if you place a $30+ order, your workshop fee is waived. 

Please let me know if you would like to attend.  Contact me by sending an email to sheilabennett@comcast.net, or calling 913-485-4355.

All papers and stamps are from Close To My Heart (CTMH).

	Sheila Bennett Close To My Heart Independent Consultant (913) 485-4355