Pinwheel (May SOTM Blog Hop)

Welcome to our Stamp of the Month Blog Hop which features the Pinwheel stamp set from Close To My Heart.   This stamp set includes several fun pinwheels in different shapes and sizes, along with nice sentiments.  Some of the shapes can be cut using the Artiste cartridge for the Cricut.   For the images with a red outline, the stamp set has information printed on it regarding the correct page number to find the image and the correct size to cut it to coordinate with that particular stamp image.   

If you have come here from 'Stamp til Dawn' blog, you are on the right path!  With so many creative Close To My Heart Consultants sharing their projects, you will see a variety of 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!

For this card, the bold striped paper from the Tommy kit is used for the background.  Three of the pinwheels from the Pinwheel set were cut using the Artiste cartridge  Different colors of ink were used to stamp a design on each shape.   For a bit of texture behind the assembled pinwheel, a piece of Black Tulle Ribbon was folded to about a 1 1/2" width.  The matching envelope completes the card.

Now "Hop" on over to the '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 Pinwheel stamp set is only available during the month of May 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

Dream Pop & Word Balloons (Blog Hop)

Since May is "National Scrapbooking Month", Close To My Heart is offering Dream Pop - a special paper packet for only $10 when you spend $35.  This paper packet is valued at $19.95 retail and includes 12 cardstock sheets (2 each of 6 kit-exclusive colors) as well as 12 B&T Duos papers (2 each of 6 designs) that were specifically designed for this promotion - you can't get the paper packet anywhere else!  The cardstock sheets have glossy patterns on one side that coordinate with the B&T patterns for a pop of shine on the colorful cardstock.  The colors of the cardstock sheets and B&T papers are speciality colors exclusive to this paper pack only:  Banana, Grey, Mint, Raspberry, Strawberry, Tangerine.  Color My Heart: Color Dare #45 is for the speciality colors in the Dream Pop paper packet., and this card using four of the textured cardstocks.

If you have come here from 'Pam's Heart Art' blog, you are on the right path!  With 30+ very creative Close To My Heart Consultants sharing their projects, you will see many different uses for this brightly-colored, fun paper pack.  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!

In order to highlight the glossy pattern on the Dream Pop cardstock, this card uses four of the pieces on a black background.  A strip of Black Shimmer Trim is placed near the top of the card and some black & white Baker's Twice added.  The 'love u' sentiment is from the Word Balloons stamp set included with the Cricut Artiste Collection.

Now "Hop" on over to 'Kathy's Kreative Korner' 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 Dream Pop paper packet is only available during the month of May 2013, while supplies last.  The retail value is $19.95, but it is yours for only $10 when you spend $35 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

Bonjour!

Bonjour ... bonjour ... bonjour ... Who remembers the villagers singing these lyrics from "Beauty and the Beast"? 

Close To My Heart has a very elegant stamp set named 'Bonjour' which includes five French sentiments.  I used this stamp set along with papers from the Dream Pop paper packet to create a card which can be featured on two different 'challenge' Blog Sites.  The paper is a "sneak peek" at the special that will be available during the month of May for 'National Scrapbooking Month'.

This week, the Heart 2 Heart Challenge is "Button Up" and buttons must be used in the creations.  Even though this card only has one button, any more would have just been a distraction.  The other 'challenge' blog is a new one to me.  It is CAS(E) this sketch! and each week they feature a clean and simple card challenge.  Sketch #24 is shown below for comparison to my completed card.

This clean and simple card combines Slate and Honey card stock with the Grey cardstock from Dream Pop which has a unique glossy resist pattern that adds texture and pop to your creations.  The small colored triangles are simply cut from a strip of the patterned paper in the Dream Pop kit and added on top of a strip of Silver Shimmer Trim.  The 'Bonjour' image from the Bonjour stamp set is stamped using Slate Pigment ink and then embossing with Clear Detail Embossing Powder.  This gives the sentiment the same shine and texture as the chevron stripes of the Grey card stock.

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

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

It's a Cricut Party! {CTMH prepared projects}

Whether you use one Cricut^®-cut piece or several, you can create cute party favors and decorations using your Artiste cartridge. Combine your Cricut^® pieces with unique stamping techniques and you have projects that will knock your guests’ socks off! Want some recipes and tips for how to make this adorable artwork? Below are instructions for creating two pieces from the “Clearly the Best: How to kiss—with stamps” episode. Combine the Cricut^®-cut pieces for these projects with the kissing stamping technique taught in the video, and you have a stellar 3-D item! Watch the video to learn more about the kissing stamping technique.

Party Banner

Stamp set of your choice
X5668 Honey Cardstock
X5764 Pear Cardstock
1272 Cranberry Cardstock
Z2197 Pear Exclusive Inks^® Pad
Z2163 White Daisy Exclusive Inks^® Pad
Z1751 Baker’s Twine Harvest Assortment
Z1311 1¼" Circle Punch

Cricut^® Shapes:
Artiste
1" Shift+3D Object <J> (cut 56, p. 57)

Art Tip! This banner only uses one type of Cricut^® shape, but the finished product is still stunning. Use stamp kissing to randomly stamp across the pieces using the stamp set of your choice. Score with the help of the Cricut^®-cut score lines on the shape and piece together to create little globes. Tie together with baker’s twine and voila!

Owl Miss You Bag
1385 White Daisy Cardstock
1292 Crystal Blue Cardstock
X5668 Honey Cardstock
X5930 Slate Cardstock
Z2162 Honey Exclusive Inks^® Pad
Z2117 Crystal Blue Exclusive Inks^® Pad
Z1349 Shimmer Designer Brads
Z1752 Sparkles Clear Assortment
Z1311 1¼" Circle Punch
Twist Ties
Thread

Cricut^® Shapes:
Artiste
4½" 3D Object <Hallween> (p. 77)
4½" Shift+3D Object <Boo> (cut 2, p. 77)
1" Shift+Accent 2 <A> (p. 51)

Art Tip! This project uses many Cricut^® shapes and all the pieces coordinate so nicely for an adorable finished product. Use the Artiste assembly booklet to put the bag together and then add the embellishments. The feathers are created with punched circles that are stamped using the kissing technique; however, if you don’t have the circle punch, you can easily make these using the Cricut as well. The eyes were created using Shimmer designer brads, but you can use any large brad or button to create the same look. Finish with the “owl miss you sentiment” for a special touch.

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

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

Looking Good!

A fun little card made with papers from the Buzz and Bumble kit and a stamp from the Puns of Praise set.  The glasses were inked using Sunset pigment ink and the sentiment was inked using Cocoa pigment ink.  After stamping, Clear Detail Embossing Powder was added and the imaged heated to emboss.  The embossing gives the image a bit of shine and depth, just perfect to add Liquid Glass to create the look of actual lens in the glasses.

Please let me know if you would like your own copy of the Close To My Heart Spring/Summer 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

You're Sew Thoughtful

Does anyone still hold a "Quilting Bee"?   If so, this is the perfect card to send to your fellow "bees."  

Another card using one of my favorite paper kits Buzz and Bumble.  The sewing machine stamp from Puns of Praise was stamped using Cocoa Pigment ink and then embossed with Clear Detail Embossing Powder.  You can see the slight shine and depth of the embossed image.  Markers were used to color the image.  After that it was simply adding some pieces of patterned paper from the Buzz and Bumble kit to a 6"x6" card base.  A row of Colonial White Rosette Ribbon was added as a finishing touch.

To help celebrate April Fool's Day, the Heart 2 Heart Challenges blog is featuring 'Pun Fun' projects.  Everyone loves a pun, so 'bee' sure to check out the posted projects.

Please let me know if you would like your own copy of the Close To My Heart Spring/Summer 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