A Little Thanks (November SOTM Blog Hop)

Welcome to our Stamp of the Month Blog Hop which features A Little Thanks stamp set from Close To My Heart.  This is definitely my favorite "thank you" stamp set, as the sentiments are more unique than just a simple 'thanks.'  


If you have come here from 'Jen's Jewel Box' blog, you are on the right path! With over 60 Close To My Heart Consultants sharing their creations using this month's SOTM and other great 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! 

 

Using paper from the Passages My Reflections kit, this 5"x7" card features the Pinwheel technique from the August/September 2010 issue of the Technique Junkies newsletter.  Since I have used them on the last three SOTM Blog Hop cards, it is obvious that one of my favorite new embellishments are the Shimmer Designer Brads.  These large brads are beautiful and appear to have a coating of very fine glitter.  They really sparkle and shine, and you can buy 27 brads in bronze, gold, and silver (9 of each color) for only $4.95. 

If you would to view a tutorial on creating the pinwheel design, I taught the technique during Creative University - Online in August.  You can still watch the class, it was recorded and can be viewed on the Fabulously Artsy Ustream channel.  When you go to the channel, there are two videos for the Pinwheel Technique, a Part 1 and a Part 2.  Evidently, there was a bit of a malfunction that caused the recording to be split into two parts. 

Now "Hop" on over to Misty's 'Creative Minds Are Rarely Tidy' blog to see her work!  Be sure to visit all the Consultants at their blogs to get some great crafting ideas and other fun ideas!  Remember, A Little Thanks stamp set is only available until the end of November.  Let me know if you would like to find out how you can get this stamp set at a discount or even free.

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.

During the month of November, Close To My Heart is expressing their gratitude to you by helping you earn two fabulous My Acrylix® stamp sets for FREE!  When you place a minimum order of $100, you will not only receive the November Stamp-of-the-Month set, A Little Thanks, for FREE, you will also receive one stamp set of your choosing from the 2010 Autumn/Winter Idea Book for FREE*!  This means you can increase the value of your purchase by up to $45.90—that’s almost 50 percent more in value! It’s just their way of imparting "A Little MORE Thanks" to you for being a great customer.

*Free stamp sets include A-D size sets. Stamps that are not available as the free set include Workshops
on the Go,™ Stamp of the Month retail, E-size, and customizable K-size. Tax and shipping/handling may apply. Offer good November 1–30, 2010.

Christmas in October - card workshop

It's that time of year - the weather is getting a little cooler, and it is time to start thinking about Christmas cards!  You can get a headstart on creating your cards by attending this month's "Christmas in October" card workshop.  Classes will be offered on Friday evening, October 29 and also on Saturday afternoon, October 30.  Note that none of the cards use traditional Christmas paper or colors, and only two stamp sets are used for the front of all four cards. 

A cute prancing reindeer from the I Believe stamp set, with a shiny red Sparkle for a nose, appears to be ready to fly away into the night.  Cardstock used is Gray Flannel and Gray Wool, and the snowflake stamps are from the same stamp set.

Another monochromatic card using the Santa image from the same I Believe stamp set.  The green patterned paper is from the Passages paper kit, and is used with Olive ink and New England Ivy cardstock.   

A third card using the same I Believe stamp set.  This card is definitely more colorful, using papers from the Hooligans paper packet.  A small amount of Liquid Applique is added to the 'cuff' of the stockings, and a Bitty Sparkle is in the center of a snowflake on each stocking.

The inside of the stocking card is completed using a sentiment from the Peace On Earth stamp set.     
      

Finally, an adorable little tree from A Timber stamp set, paired with paper from Magnifique paper packet.  .    

The "Christmas in October" card workshop will be offered on Friday evening, October 29 (starting at 7 pm), and also on  Saturday afternoon, October 30 (starting at 1 pm).  You will create three of each of the four projects (total 12 cards) for a workshop fee of $10.  Allow two or three 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).

As an added bonus, place a $50+ order from the Close To My Heart  Spring, Summer, or Autumn/Winter Idea Book - and your workshop fee is waived.  Depending on total orders received, there will be a drawing for Hostess Rewards - so you could earn $25 or more in FREE product from CTMH.

Please let me know if you would like to attend one of the "Christmas in October" card workshops.  Feel free to leave me a comment on this blog, send an email to sheilabennett@comcast.net, or call 913-485-4355.

Improve Your Technique card workshop

Using different stamping techniques adds nice variety to your creations, and most are surprisingly easy to do once you have been shown how to do it.   At this month's Improve Your Technique card making workshop, you will learn four techniques and go home with some fun projects.   Classes will be offered on Friday evening, August 27 at 7:00 and also Saturday afternoon, August 28 at 1:00.  

Technique #1 - Paper Piecing:  Using the Be Yourself stamp set and fun You Rock papers, this card is simple to create by stamping the skirt in a bright color, cutting it out, and adhering it to the top of the image stamped in black. The layers of the skirt have been enhanced using the new Glitz Glitter Gel.  It is very easy to apply, and adds a nice shimmer to a project.

Technique #2 - Painting With Bleach:  The August stamp-of-the-month, Something Splendid, is the perfect image to use with this technique.  The basics are that you apply ink to cardstock, emboss an image, and then use regular household bleach to remove the ink inside the embossed image.  It is a surprisingly easy technique and is very fun to watch as the Barn Red ink first changes to a bright, vivid green before the bleach dries.  Thanks to fellow CTMH consultant Tresa Black for sharing her "fabulously artsy" technique and to Michelle Loncar for helping to design the card during a creative 13-hour marathon stamping day.  Paper from the Passages My Reflections kit is used for the subdued color scheme.  

 

Technique #3 - Window Card:  The papers for this card are from the Zippidee kit and the stamps are the Love This stamp set that is included with the Triple Play mini-album special, and is only available August 15 through September 30.  The flower is actually on the inside of the card and a window is cut through the front of the card so the flower is seen 'through the window' when the card is closed.  

Technique #4 - Gift Card Holder & Masking:  This clever gift card holder also uses Zippidee papers and the Love This stamp set.  A Masking technique is used to create the illusion that the large flower is in front of the smaller flowers.  

The "Improve Your Technique" workshop will be offered on Friday evening, August 27 (starting at 7 pm), and also on  Saturday, August 28 at 1:00 pm.  Allow two or three hours to complete your projects.  Since these technique cards are a bit more involved than normal, you will create 2 cards using each of the 4 different techniques - a total of 8 cards and matching envelopes for a workshop fee of $10.  Please be sure to bring your favorite adhesive.  All other supplies are provided with the workshop fee.

As an added bonus, place a $50+ order from the Close To My Heart  Spring or Summer Idea Book - and your workshop fee is waived.  Depending on total orders received, there will be a drawing for Hostess Rewards - so you could earn $25 or more in FREE product from CTMH.

Please let me know if you would like to attend one of the "Improve Your Technique" card workshops.  Feel free to leave me a comment on this blog, send an email to sheilabennett@comcast.net, or call 913-485-4355.

CTMH Workshop-on-the-Go kits for Summer

The new Summer Idea Book from Close To My Heart was released on May 1 and there are some really fun new stamp sets along with four new My Reflections scrapbook paper kits.  Each of the four is also available as a Workshop-on-the-Go (WOTG) package that can be used to create scrapbook pages and cards - and each one contains an exclusive stamp set that is only available with purchase of the kit. There are four new WOTG kits included with each Idea Book.  These kits are available ONLY during the 4-month cycle of the Summer Idea Book which is May, June, July, and August. 

Each kit contains a complete paper packet, an exclusive stamp set, a Workshop Guide, and a coordinating embellishment. Each item in the WOTG - except the exclusive stamp set and the Workshop Guide - can be purchased separately. However, if you purchase the basic kit for $29.95, you will be saving between 10% and 15% off the retail value. The Workshop Guide is a full-color 6-page brochure which has complete cutting and assembly instructions for 2 scrapbook pages and 6 cards (2 each of 3 designs). Also included are pictures of 2 additional scrapbook pages and 3 additional cards. More information about the additional projects is available in the Workshops On The Go section of MyCTMH website.

A very charming kit is Cherry-O.  It includes cheerful images and the Bowl of Cherries stamp set has stamps for cherries, stems, leaves, and bowls.  The three card designs for this WOTG are shown above.

Zippidee includes a fun color combo that can be used for more 'boyish' items.  The Ticket to Ride stamp set has some great images to use with vacation photos, or to create masculine cards.

This Passages kit and Lifetime stamp set have a very 'vintage' feel.  The papers are just beautiful and would make wonderful scrapbook pages for a European vacation.

The Splendor kit comes with the whimsical Summer Wishes stamp set which will brighten up any project.

You can think of the WOTG kits as a "project in a bag" since the papers, stamp sets, embellishments, and instructions are all included - the only extras you need are adhesive, inks, and blocks to use the stamps. Chances are you already have these extras at home just waiting for a new project to work on!  Contact me to order your WOTG project - or order through the MyCTMH website.  All of the papers available in each kit can be viewed on the website.