13 Hours Worth of Stamping!

Yesterday, a friend and I were able to spend 13 hours straight playing with all of our great Close To My Heart stamps and inks. Looks at how many projects I completed. A few of the cards were started last weekend at the CTMH Regional Celebration in Minneapolis, and some of the others are "stamp lifted" from cards that have been shared by other CTMH consultants. There are some nugget tins in the back that are a bit difficult to see. But I promise a "close up" of them in a later post.


One of my favorite cards from the day is this adorable silhouette card using the Childhood Portrait stamp set. The little girl stamp is embossed using Cocoa embossing powder, so the image has a bit of sheen and texture to it. This is a very simple card to create, no layers except a strip of Cocoa cardstock on the lower inside as a background for the great border punch used along the bottom.


The Childhood Portait stamp set has several other adorable images, and they are perfect to use for creating quick and simple cards. This little boy on a rocking horse is a simple black & white card, with the Swiss Dots embossing folder used for the background. Looks like the scanner added a bit of a blue 'haze' to the card - but it is really just white cardstock.

Tresa's Blogtoberfest!

If you're looking for some fabulous creative tips for using your Close To My Heart stamps and inks, be sure to visit Blogtoberfest on Tresa's Fabulously Artsy blog. Tresa is a sister CTMH Consultant, an amazingly creative artist, and I'm so glad that I've gotten to know her. Her step-by-step videos are very informative - as well as entertaining! While you're there checking out her Blogtoberfest tips this month, be sure to view some of her Tutorials listed on the right-side bar of her blog. Her 'opening credits' are sure to make you smile. :)

Around the Holidays - card kit

These round cards using the Around the Holidays card kit are so cute. Normally, I like to use stamps and ink to create cards. But at the CTMH Regional Celebration last weekend, we were given some of the card kit for a project. Instead of following directions and creating the project, I chose to use the kit as intended and assemble four of the cards.

These were very quick and easy to create. The card bases are pre-printed and the kit also comes with sheets of "stickease" which are cardstock-weight stickers. All the inking, coloring, and cutting were already completed. Yes, even the ink 'distressing' on the edge of the card is part of the pre-printed bases. I simply peeled the "stickease" pieces off their backing sheet and adhered them to the card bases. Some of the images are adhered using 3-D foam squares and this gives some really nice depth to the cards. Sparkles are the only item used that are not part of the card kit. The Around the Holidays Card Kit includes 12 circle card bases, envelopes, stickease, 3-D foam squares, and even the ribbon. You just need some adhesive and about an hour of your time to complete the 12 cards!

Holiday Warmth (October SOTM Blog Hop)

Welcome to our Stamp of the Month Blog Hop! October's stamp-of-the-month (SOTM) from Close To My Heart is Holiday Warmth. There are 11 images in the stamp set that can be used for holiday greeting cards or scrapbook pages. If you have come here from Kristie's 'Scrappin, Stampin or Scrampin' Blog, you are on the right path!

This month we have over 60 Close To My Heart Consultants sharing their creations using this month's SOTM and other great CTMH products on their blogs. 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!

The tree image for this 6x6 card was embossed on New England Ivy cardstock using Clear Detail Embossing Powder. A darker green ink, Ponderosa Pine, was then sponged on the embossed image to enhance the detail. This technique results in a soft, subtle look. The plaid paper is my favorite from the Everlasting paper packet. Adding Sparkles to the tree really gives it a nice little bit of bling.

For a more whimsical card using the Holiday Warmth SOTM stamp set, take a look at my Christmas Card Workshop post. It's surprising to see the different looks - elegant, whimsical, etc - you can achieve with the same stamp, just using different techniques, colors, and papers.

Now "Hop" on over to Cibele's 'Flower Foot Designs' 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, the Holiday Warmth stamp set is only available until October 31! Let me know if you would like to find out how you can get this stamp set at a discount or even free.

There are actually three 'rounds' of Blog Hop lists this month, each with about 20 links, so you don't feel that you have to visit over 60 blogs at one sitting. If you get lost on the hop or find links that aren't working, there is a complete list of all three rounds of participating blogs on Jena's 'Live, Love, Laugh, Scrapbook!' blog.

Christmas Card Workshop

Finally created cards for my annual Christmas Card Workshop in October. This year, the workshop will be offered on Friday evening, October 9 (starting at 7 pm) and also Saturday afternoon, October 17 (at 1 pm). Normally, the Friday and Saturday workshops are on the same weekend - but my schedule does not allow that this month. Whichever date you choose to attend, the cards will be the same. You will create 5 cards each of 3 different designs - a total of 15 cards and matching envelopes for $15. All supplies are included and pre-cut for you. You just need to bring your own favorite adhesive, stamp your images, and assemble your cards.

The first card uses the new Welcome Home stamp set from Close To My Heart. The fireplace image is used on the front of the card - and the card is actually a pocket. Patterned paper is from the That's Amore paper packet.

Use the circle 'handle' to slide the insert out of the card. The sentiment is completed on the insert. Also, the pocket is convenient for holding a gift card or $$ cash.

Pastel colors are used with the New Fallen Snow stamp set to create a soft, sparkling card.

The sentiment is from the Peace On Earth stamp set and is completed on the inside of the card, along with some more pastel snowflakes.

Holiday Warmth is the stamp-of-the-month (SOTM) and is only available during the month of October. You can earn it at a substantial discount or even FREE with an order from CTMH. Sentiments used are from the December Word Puzzle.

The unique opening of the card uses the 'z-fold' technique.

Please let me know if you would like to attend one of the Christmas Card Workshops in October!

An Open Window ...

With the nice fall weather, our windows are open - our cats love to sit in the open windows! And it was funny this evening as I walked through the house and found all three cats in their own window.

Mac was checking out everything happening in the front of the house.

Toklata refused to turn around, but you can tell by the 'tilt of her ears' that she is listening intently. :)

Moxie learned how to "window sit" from the other kitties.

This picture made me laugh - looks like she is sticking her tongue out!

And then there is Mac posing with the 'Alfred Hitchcock' look.

You may notice there is not a "cute" picture of Toklata - probably because she is such a 'grouch' most of the time.