Illuminate (November SOTM Blog Hop)

Welcome to our Stamp of the Month Blog Hop which features the Illuminate stamp set from Close To My Heart.   When you place a minimum order of $50 during November, you will have the opportunity to purchase the Stamp-of-the-Month, Illuminate, for only $5!  This stamp set contains 15 images:  a light pole, several lanterns, a candle, 'glow rings' around the candle flame, and some nice sentiments.  

For some inspiration, I found the RetroSketches blog and used "retrosketches #87" as the template for this card.  It also qualifies for the "Lots of Layers" challenge on the Heart 2 Heart Challenges blog this month. 

If you have come here from Jen's Roxybonds blog, you are on the right path!  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!  

Laughing Lola papers were used for this card, but the papers are completely different than the plaid and purple colors used for the Scandinavian Wishes and Poster Tidings cards created for the two previous SOTM stamp sets with the Laughing Lola papers.  The Laughing Lola paper pack has been very versatile for different projects.

The lamp post and lanterns from the Illuminate stamp set are fun stamps to play with.  A stamp from the Swirls Around set is used to add a bit of texture to the Gold cardstock strip.  In order to simulate the feeling of sparkling lights, some Glitter Paper in both tan and black are used as layers on the card.

A row of lights was stamped on the inside of the card and on the envelope flap to complete the "illuminate" theme.

Now "Hop" on over to Wanda's 'Creating With Inks, Paper, Stamps and Bling!!!' 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.  

For a complete list of Blog Hop participants for this month, visit Melinda's 'If You Bling It' blog.  

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

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

Happy Owlidays!

Have you seen the Holidays From the Heart Gift Guide from Close To My Heart?  In it are some great new stamps and papers for Christmas and Valentine's Day as well as a "preview" of some new stamp sets and embellishments that will be available in next year's Spring Idea Book.   In order to introduce the special Holiday products, a select group of CTMH consultants will be sharing their creations in this Blog Hop.  A thumbnail of each participant's creation is shown in the Linky list below.  Simply click on one to go to their blog post with detailed information.  

And we all LOVE to read comments about our work, please 'give us some love' by leaving a quick comment telling the artist your favorite part of their project.

Inspired by a card that I saw on Pinterest, this fun card has a circle cut in the front of the card so that the adorable owl stamped inside is peeking out.  My favorite item in the Holidays From the Heart Gift Guide is definitely the Season's Tweetings Gift Bag Kit which includes this great stamp set.  Also included in the kit are nine die-cut tags and six fabric Gift Bags, three each of a Topiary chevron and Ruby polka-dot.  To see the gift bags and tags that I created, visit my Holiday Gift Guide with an Attitude! blog post.  The dotted paper is available in the Sparkle & Shine paper packet which is featured in the Holiday Gift Guide.

A view with the card open so you can see the owl on the inside.  You may have noticed that some white Fun Flock was added to the white fur of his Santa hat to give it some dimension.  Both the Ruby frame around the open circle and the dove-tailed tag which complements the tag shape from the Season's Tweetings stamp set are cut using the Artiste Cricut cartridge.  In order to cut the circle in the card front, simply place the frame on the card in the desired location and then mark the center with a pen.  After that, put the card on a Cricut mat, set the Center Point over the pen mark, and cut a circle the required size.  Use the Multi-cut option in order to ensure that both layers (Juniper cardstock and dotted paper) are cut.

Season's Tweetings

Be sure to visit all the Consultants at their blogs to get some great crafting inspiration!  The special Christmas and Valentine's items shown in the Holidays From the Heart Gift Guide are only available through December 31.  

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

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

This blog hop is open for members of the CTMH Blog Boosters.  Please do not enter if you are not a member of the group.  (But please feel free to look ...  and we all love comments!)

Two Trends Together: Chevron and Washi Tape (Holiday Gift Guide Blog Hop)

Not everything in the Holidays From the Heart Gift Guide is for Christmas or Valentine's Day, there is also a "preview" of some of the new stamps sets which will be available in the Spring Idea Book. 

If you have come here from 'Show and Tell, with Michelle', you are on the right path!  With some very creative Close To My Heart Consultants sharing their projects, you will see many different projects - both for the Holdiays and for any occasion.  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!

'Clean and Simple' cards really appeal to me.  So this card pairs the Charming Chevrons stamp set with some of the new Washi Tape available in the Holiday Gift Guide.  The coordinating Sparkle Chevron Shapes are adhesive-backed and add just the right about of 'bling' when used with this stamp set.  The sentiment is from Banner Wishes, which is another new stamp set available in the Holiday Gift Guide.

A strip of wood grain Washi on the inside completes the card which has a Chocolate base and sentiment.  All three rolls of tape used on this card are in the Party Washi Tape 3-Pack.  In the pack are 15 yards each of 1" wide Cotton Candy polka-dot, 1/2" wide Honey triangles, and 1/2" wide Chocolate wood grain.

Now "Hop" on over to Haley's 'The Inky Scrapper' 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!  For a complete list of Blog Hop participants, visit Melinda's 'If You Bling It' blog.    

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

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

Holiday Gift Guide with an Attitude! (Blog Hop)

This month, the "Stampers With An Attitude" blog hop participants are sharing projects using new product that from the Holidays From the Heart Gift Guide.  The special Holiday items are only available from October 15 to the end of the year.   

If you have come here from Pamela's 'Reflections of My Art & Soul' blog, you are on the right path!  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 small gift this Christmas, use the Season's Tweetings Gift Bag Kit to stamp a die-cut tag and attach it to one of the pre-made fabric bags.  The kit includes an adorable stamp set, complete with a small Santa hat to add to the owl or one of the cute birds.  The Season's Tweetings set has some other images, including three different sentiments which each fit within the dove-tailed border image.  Using the Artiste Cricut cartridge, cut a coordinating piece of cardstock to use for the sentiment.  The images were stamped on to one of the Die-Cut Tags which are included with the kit.  A bit of white Fun Flock was added to the Santa hats 'furry' trim.  

Season's Tweetings Gift Bag Kit includes the stamp set with 10 images, 6 fabric Gift Bags (3 each of Topiary chevron and Ruby polka-dot), and 9 die-cut tags.  It is a $24.90 value, for only $14.95, and is only available until December 31.

Now "Hop" on over to Lajeania's Scrap 'Til You Drop! blog to see more creations using products from the Holidays From the Heart Gift Guide!  The special Holiday items are only available through December 31. 

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

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

Studio J ~ Express Collection

Had fun this weekend creating four scrapbook layouts in Studio J.  These four layouts are part of the "All About Me" Express Collection.  There are eleven different 2-page layouts in this Express Collection, each one is completely designed with coordinating cardstock, patterned papers, title, and other embellishments.  

Once you upload your photos to Studio J, then you simply 'drag and drop' each one into a Photo Well in the Express Collection template.  The photo is automatically resized to fill the specific size of the Photo Well.  Journaling space is also set up for you, complete with the recommended font style and color.  Simply click in the box and type your journaling.  When you have completed the first layout, simply Add Layout to start a new page.  You can use another template from the same Express Collection, or choose a different Collection.  Once you have added your photos and journaling for each layout in your project, continue to the Checkout page to purchase your creations.  Close To My Heart will print each page as a high-quality 12x12 photo.  When they are delivered to your home, they are complete and ready to slide into a Scrapbook Album.  

In My Front Yard:  shows plants growing in our yard that are special to me.  Each one has a history, and is special to me because of who gave them to me.  The pre-made title for this Express Collection page is "Little Things Make Me Happy" and I thought that was a nice title for my heirloom plants.

The Simple Things:  it seems that we forget to document the simple, everyday events in our lives, and that makes this page extra special.  For the journaling box, I included a quote by Laura Ingalls Wilder.  Her series of "Little House" books was the beginning of my life long love of reading. 

Things That Matter:  enjoying time spent together is certainly a thing that matters.  Samantha and I were able to spend a week on the Freedom of the Seas last December.  It was a wonderful vacation, with many fun memories.  A highlight of the week was spending an afternoon swimming with Remo the Sea Lion.  

My Week In Pictures:  photos from one week in September which included a trip to Denver where I introduced Origami Owl custom jewelry to ladies who attended the Scrapbook Expo.

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