Layered Flowers Blog Hop

Welcome to our Technique Blog Hop! This month there are 12 of us highlighting the “Layered Flowers” Technique as shown on page 7 in the Spring/Summer 2011 Idea Book. This blog hop is a great big circle so you can start wherever you want and continue through to see all the fabulous artwork incorporating this technique. If you would like to start from the beginning, please visit this link. While there you will also find a listing of all participants and their blog addresses if you should get lost or want to reference a blog along the way. Let’s get started! If you are coming from TIFFANY'S Blog, you are on the right track! This technique is highlighted with the Sophia paper packet in the Idea Book but you will find variations for its’ use through this hop. If you would like to see details on the technique or my supply list, please continue reading below. If not, please continue onto Amy's Blog where you will find some additional artwork highlighting this technique. Be sure to leave a comment and let me know what you thought of my variation and happy hopping! Supply List: Frienship Blessings Stamp Set (D1191) For Every Occassion Stamp Set (D1187) Sweetheart Level 2 MyReflections Kit (X7134B) Black Brads (Z1366) Cotton Candy Ink (Z2193) Tulip Ink (Z2166) Black Ink (Z2105) Sanding Kit (Z1294) Embossing Tool (Z608) Paper Piercer (Z1114) The Steps to Layered Flowers are: Stamp base image in one color and outline in another (if applicable to stamp selected). Repeat on another piece of cardstock. Trim first image around all outer images. Trim second image, cutting out portions of the flower (to create the layered effect). Curl ends of petals on second image and adhere on top of first image. Layer mixtures of stamped accent and embellishments to finish. Here you can see a visual demonstration of this technique:

April Stamp of the Month Blog Hop - BLESSED

Welcome to our Stamp of the Month Blog Hop! We will be featuring April's SOTM, which is Blessed, a set of 12 stamps. If you have come here from Kami's Blog, you are on the right path! The blog hop is a great big circle, so you can start here and work your way all around. If you get lost along the way, you’ll find the complete list of participating consultants here . This month we have Close To My Heart Consultants sharing their creations using this month's SOTM and other great CTMH products on their blogs. This is simple to do - just click on the link at the end of the post on each blog to move to the next one! Here we go...

I used the CTMH Level 2 Sweetheart paper pack to create this interactive slide card. You will notice that the Hollyhock bird has a black outline that was created using the 2-step outline stamping technique and was embossed using Black embossing powder.

After the slide has been pulled, the hidden flower bud was also created using the 2-step outline stamp, and the leaves were colored using the CTMH colored pencils.

Now "Hop" on over to Georgia's 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 SOTM is only available until April 30th! Contact your CTMH Consultant (or click here) to see how you can get this stamp set at a discount or even free!

Contrast Embossing - Technique Blog Hop

Welcome to this group’s first attempt at a Technique Blog Hop! This month there are 11 of us highlighting the “Contrast Embossing” Technique as shown on page 31 in the Spring/Summer 2011 Idea Book!

This blog hop is a great big circle so you can start wherever you want and continue through to see all the fabulous artwork incorporating this technique. If you would like to start from the beginning, please visit this link. While there you will also find a listing of all participants and their blog addresses if you should get lost or want to reference a blog along the way. Let’s get started!

If you are coming from Kelly's Blog, you are on the right track! You will find variations for this technique's use through this hop.

This 6x6 card was made using the Originals pattern "Background Bar" (pg 75). The larger heart was stamped at the "background" using Cotton Candy ink, and the smaller heart was stamped using Versamark and embossed with Baby Pink powder. This element was then cut out, leaving a small border of white, and then "popped" with foam tape to the center of the Tulip cardstock mat.

If you would like to see details on the technique or my supply list, please continue reading below. If not, please continue onto Heather's Blog where you will find some additional artwork highlighting this technique!

Be sure to leave a comment and let me know what you thought of my variation and happy hopping!

Supply List:

Sweetheart MyReflections Level 2 Paper Pack (X7134B)

Black Bigger Brads (Metal Assortment Z1366)

Black Ribbon (Black Mini Medley Z1393)

Black Ink (Z2105)

Pink Assortment Buttons (Z1370)

Cotton Candy Ink (Z2193)

Versamark Ink (Z891)

Craft Heater (Z555)

Baby Pink Embossing Powder (Z648)

3-D Foam Tape (Z1151)

Love Language Stamp Set (D1343)

The steps to Contrast Embossing are:

1. Stamp background image on project.
2. Stamp additional images in Versamark ink. Sprinkle with contrasting color of embossing powder.
3. Tap off excess powder. Set with craft heater.

Here you can see a visual demonstration of this technique.

Thanks for stopping by! Continue onto Heather's Blog to continue the hop!

Creative Corner - Easter Banner

Happy Spring!

I love sitting as I work with my doors and windows open. The breeze is refreshing and I love to hear the sounds of birds chirping and singing. I feel inspired!

Lately, I have been hooked on the Sophia paper and also the MyCreations banner from CTMH. Hope you enjoy this new one I adapted from the Wings Workshop-on-the-Go. I added a couple of additions and created 3 special paper flowers. (Thanks to my good friends Debi and Fran for teaching a flower workshop at a team meeting...I am finally getting around to making some!)

Take a look and let me know what you think...more importantly...ENJOY a fresh new start - Spring is in the air!

Join me at Stamp Class this month, and create one of these ADORABLE banners.

March Stamp of the Month - Sensational Season

Welcome to our Stamp of the Month Blog Hop! This month, we are featuring the March SOTM, Sensational Seasons, which is a set of 10 adorable stamps.






If you have come here from Debra's Blog, you are on the right path! The hop is one big circle, so you can start here and work your way around. If you get lost along the way, you can find a complete list of all participating consultants HERE.





There are several consultant's participating and showcasing some WONDERFUL artwork using the SOTM and CTMH product. This is simple to do, just click on the link at the end of each blog, and you will move to the next blog. Ready?! Here we go...

This standard size card was created using the new CTMH MyReflections Level 2 paper pack Sophia. It was embellished using the new pink buttons, with scissor distressing and inking the edges of the white cardstock, plus using the CTMH chalks to color the sweet bunny rabbit. The rabbit was adhered using 3-D foam tape giving a raised appearance.

Now, hop on over to Haley's blog! Be sure to visit all the consultant's websites to get some great crafting and fun ideas. Remember, the SOTM is only available until the end of March - don't miss your chance to add this cute stamp set to your collection. Visit your consultant's website, or visit HERE, to see how you can received this stamp set at a discount, or even for FREE.

Creative Corner

Good Morning Friends!

How are you today? Hope you are enjoying the good life and finding thankfulness in the little things of daily life. That is something I am challenging my heart to do each day - find the daily things that bring love and blessing to my life. I don't want to take if for granted.

Here's some creative inspiration for you today. I love this little box, and it offers so much in such a small space. On each side, there is room for two 3x3 greeting cards and envelope, then in the middle there are three YUMMY chocolate nuggets. It is all covered with a page protector that has been converted into a plastic slide cover, and then wrapped cutely with coordinating ribbon.

On this set, I used the Wings paper from the current CTMH catalog and filled it with simple Thinking of You cards. Such a WONDERFUL gift! I am giving mine to a friend that has helped me to co-teach a class this semester at our homeschool co-op.

Gather a few friends together for an evening or afternoon of fun, and I would be happy to come to you and teach this sweet project.

Hope you all have a blessed weekend - enjoy the small pleasures of life!

Creative Corner - YIKES!

* PLEASE know that you will have to turn your head sideways to see the pictures. :0) I uploaded and deleted and rotated pictures a hundred times, and EVERYTIME they came out sideways...not sure what happened...SORRY! :0)

Hello Friends!

It has been such a crazy couple of weeks - busy with school, church, and so much more. I was eating lunch with the kids this afternoon, and it hit me...it's been TWO weeks since I posted a Creative Corner!

So....let's correct that problem. Do you need some inspiration?

Here's a cute mini book I made recently. Let me share a little something about the book...

A couple of weeks ago, my friend Marcia called and wanted to ask a favor. She knows that I am always looking for some kind of community service to involve my kids in, so she told me a story about sweet young 5 year old girl named Oceana. Oceana was recently placed in the hospital where she has been diagnosed with cancer, for the SECOND time. The story moved my heart with compassion, and when Marcia asked if we could make a couple of Valentine cards for her - I couldn't help but say "YES!".

That started the creative process...we made Valentine cards, crocheted, a hat, blanket and bag, and picked out some yummy chocolate. The final touch to the goodies was this mini 6x6 album. I immediately went to my leftover Hooligans paper, it matched the purple and green that we used for her hat, blanket and bag. Such FUN colors! We made the book to be an ABC book of Oceana's favorite things. She can add a picture and journal about the item.

Hope you like it and feel inspired to not only be creative, but also to serve someone in your part of the world. Can I ask one other favor? When you kneel down to pray at night, please offer up a special petition for a sweet young girl named Oceana.

Happy Scrappin'...I will be back on Thursday to post another Creative Corner...hopefully, the pictures will be straight! :0)

Come See What's New with CTMH...

Welcome to our New Product Blog Hop! My friends and I are so excited about the new products in the CTMH Spring/Summer 2011 Ideabook, and I am so glad you are joining us on this blog hop.

If you came here from Melissa's Blog, you are on the right path! The blog hop is a great big circle, so you can start here and work your way all the way around. If you get lost along the way, you can find a complete list HERE.

We have 11 talented consultants participating in this hop. The journey is simple...just click on the link at the end of each blog post to move to the next blog.

READY?! Here we go...

My creative project features the new MyCreations Banner and the new Sophia paper pack. I have to be honest, this project is one that fellow consultant Karen Pedersen created. When she shared it, I just couldn't resist and created one for myself!

The banner is made to use for home decor puposes...it uses the new E-Size Bohemian Alphabet set to spell SPRING on one side, and SUMMER on the other. Also, the new 2 inch scalloped punch was used to create the floral pieces each letter is mounted on. To complete the touch on the paper flowers, the new CTMH Pink Assortment of Buttons were used.

The MyCreations banners are amazing, and can be used for many different occassions and can even showcase precious photos.

The Sophia Paperpack is a collection of beautiful floral themed paper using the color combination of Blush, Hollyhock, Pear and Goldrush. It is GORGEOUS!

Ready to see some more amazing artwork?! "Hop" on over to Shirley's Blog. Be sure to check out all the consultants' blogs to see some creative work and to pick up some GREAT crafting ideas.

Don't forget also to contact your consultant or check HERE to see how you can purchase these products for yourself.

Just for fun, here's another fun item I created using my Sophia scrap...A journal for my good friend Roslyn Faust. ENJOY!

February Stamp of the Month Blog Hop

Welcome to our Stamp of the Month Blog Hop! We will be featuring February's SOTM, which is "Friendship", a set of 8 stamps. If you have come here from Adeline's Blog, you are on the right path! The blog hop is a great big circle, so you can start here and work your way all around. If you get lost along the way, you’ll find the complete list of participating consultants here.

This month we have several Close To My Heart Consultants sharing their creations and other great CTMH products on their blogs. This is simple to do - just click on the link at the end of the post on each blog to move to the next one!

Here we go!

To create this 5x7 card, I used paper from the Wings Level 2 paper pack, and the Ribbon Winner card template from the CTMH Orginals Card Confidence Program. The flourish was created by using the "Multi-Colored Embossing" technique found on page 23 of the new CTMH Spring/Summer Catalog. I first stamped the image in Vineyard Berry ink and then "rolled" the edges in Black ink. To complete the technique, I clear embossed over the top of the color.

The finishing touches of the card include using embellishments from the new Black Mini-Medley collection, Colonial White Organdy ribbon, and scissor distressing around all the edges.

To see more fabulous Stamp of the Month artwork, "Hop" on over to Laurie's 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 February SOTM is only available until February 28th. Contact your CTMH Consultant (or click here) to see how you can get this stamp set at a discount or even free!

Creative Corner

Hello Everyone!

Happy Thursday! Are you preparing for a fun and exciting weekend?! I can't wait - I am working on all of my special little projects for our CTMH Catalog crop on Saturday - it is going to be so much fun to share all the new a fun stuff with all of my scrapping friends! Hope you will join me : Saturday, Noon - 6pm at my home. WOOHOO!

Okay, so the real reason for this post is to share some creative inspiration with you this week. This simple project was so fun to create and is going to make a super-duper gift for a great friend of mine. I took an 8x10 photo frame and scrapped...now all I have to do is add a simple dry erase marker, and it becomes a very fashionable dry erase board that sits at your desk, or by the phone - anywhere you need it to be!

Of course, if you are not sure of how to design your space, I just used a 5x7 card design from the CTMH Wishes book, and made sure I left a space larger enough to write a message on...EASY!

Also, if you notice, I added a wallet size mat in the top left corner. This is the perfect spot for a sweet picture of someone special in your life. Fun, huh?!

Hope you enjoy this easy project - try one for yourself - you'll be surprised by how easy it is, and what a neat gift it will make.

Hello Friends!

Hope you are enjoying a wonderful productive week!

Thanks to my consultant friend, Pamela O'Connor, I am currently participating in a scrapbook challenge that combines the art of scrapbooking with Bible study - commonly known as Faithbooking. This version of Faithbooking involves creating a scrapbook page that revolves around a word that you have studied in your personal devotional time.

The fun part is that the lady coordinating this challenge gives a new word every 2 weeks, and the new word begins with the next letter of the alphabet. So, today, I am sharing with you my "A" page which is "Anchor".

I hope you enjoy these posts. I will share each time a new word has been scrapbooked - hang in there with me, and we will complete the alphabet during 2011.

I would like to encourage each of you to join me on this journey this year. Take the time to let your heart meditate on the focus word and don't be afraid to search through God's Word to bring guidance and strength to you.

I look forward to hearing from you all - and hope that this simple art will be an inspiration to you creatively and spiritually.

If you would like to check on the blog I am following for this challenge, click here. :0)

Creative Corner

Hello Friends!



Happy Thursday! I hope you all are enjoying your week and feeling productive. How excited are you that the weekend is almost here?!



Today, I would like to share a special project with you that I created a few weeks ago for my special friend, Jamie Sossamon. Jamie is a friend of mine from our homeschooling world, and she is just days - maybe hours away from delivering her fourth child. This lady is amazing and her children are just beautiful. I can't wait to give her this gift for baby Emma...

This beautiful white 12x12 shadow box came from Target, and I created a single layout to showcase a special newborn 8x10 photo of baby Emma. There is also a space to include her newborn statistics. Even in the top right corner, they could add her wristband from the hospital - there is room for it in the shadowbox. What a wonderful way to capture this precious newborn's grand entrance to the world! :0)

Welcome to baby Emma, and blessings to the Sossamon family!

I have been wanting to share this project for several weeks...I hope you like it and can see in spite of the wallpaper... :o)

This is the gift I made for my Mother-in-Law for Christmas. The pictures are of each of the grandkids and each of her 2 sons' families. My MIL was sooooo happy to receive this - pictures from the heart always make a wonderful gift!

This 13x14 shadow box came from Seven Gypies. I used CTMH Carnberry, Black and White cardstock to mat the wallet size black and white photos, and included a tag with the family name on the bottom. It was so easy to embellish, and I think the ribbons on the handle really set it off.

I hope you enjoy this! Let me know what you think...

A Little Thanks - November's Stamp of the Month

Welcome to our Stamp of the Month Blog Hop! We will be featuring November's SOTM, which is "A Little Thanks", a set of 16 stamps. If you have come here from Cindy's Blog, you are on the right path! The blog hop is a great big circle, so you can start here and work your way all around. If you get lost along the way, you’ll find the complete list of participating consultants here .


This month we have several Close To My Heart Consultants sharing their creations and other great CTMH products on their blogs. This is simple to do - just click on the link at the end of the post on each blog to move to the next one!


Here we go!

The card I created this month is a 4 1/2 x 4 1/2 circle card. The card design came from the Close To My Heart Card Confidence book, Wishes. I used the CTMH level 2 My Reflections paper pack, Olivia, along with Colonial White organdy ribbon and a gold shimmer brad. I LOVE the fall colors in this paper pack and can't wait to make some more Thanksgiving cards!

Now "Hop" on over to Angela's 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 November SOTM is only available until November 30th! Contact your CTMH Consultant (or click here) to see how you can get this stamp set at a discount or even free!

SPOOK-tacular Birthday

What a weekend we had - LOTS of family activity!

One of the fun things we did included going to John's brother's house for my niece's birthday party.
Coral is officially TWELVE years old! The theme of her party was fun and scary...we enjoyed a dinner of "guts, blood and eyeballs" (spaghetti & meatballs) and a scary movie. How exciting it was to be in a house full of pre-teen girls - that may have been the scary part! :0)

To help her celebrate I created this cute accordian-fold card (inspired by a fellow SOTM swapper & consultant, Judy Faye). I used the Hooligans paper pack and September's SOTM, Thriller.
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I thought she might also like a special place to keep and display her party pictures. This mini-album was so fun to make, and it was a huge hit with all the girls.

Hope you enjoy a spooky, safe and FUN Halloween! :0)

Creative Corner - Purse Driven Life

How many of you have a purse for every outfit?! I have so many friends that are meticulous at coordinating shoes, clothes and purses...I am usually just proud to have clothes that are not wrinkled and am extremely proud if I can find my wallet when walking out of the house! :0)

The creative inspiration I am sharing this week is a super cute accordion purse that is filled with coordinating greeting cards. Isn't it adorable, and it totally matches! It created using the new papers from the CTMH Magnifique kit and uses chocolate ribbon to finish it off.

I hope you will join me for a November workshop, 12 Days of Christmas, where we will be creating this project along with 11 others. Each project will make a darling Christmas gift or a sweet stocking stuffer. Stay tuned for more details...I can't wait for you to come play!

Happy Fall

Isn't this a beautiful card?! I received this with a sweet gift from my Secret Sister at our school co-op. It was tucked inside a wicker basket that had the contents for creating a Hearty Ministrone Soup. What a SPECTACULAR way to usher in the lovely fall weather we have been experiencing, plus, the soup was DELICIOUS!

When I pulled this card out, it was just breath-taking to me. The white paper on the front is white glossy photo paper that has been sponges with various colors of ink. The trees were embossed with gold embossing powder. It is all matted onto a "pocket" card and tied together with gold ribbon. The tag inside is matted with coordinating paper and the edges of the white cardstock is inked with coordinating inks. This tag make the perfect spot to write your message.

Hope you all like this and find it as inspiring as I did.

Happy Creating!

Share the Magic - October Stamp of the Month

Welcome to our Stamp of the Month Blog Hop! We will be featuring October's SOTM, which is Share the Magic, a set of 12 stamps.

If you have come here from Doreen's Blog, you are on the right path! If this is your first stop, you may want to go back to Helen's Blog and start from the beginning!

This month we have 71 Close To My Heart Consultants sharing their creations using this month's SOTM and other great CTMH products on their blogs. This is simple to do - just click on the link at the end of the post on each blog to move to the next one! Here we go!

This 6x6 card was created using the Orginals Card Confidence program. The papers come from the Mistletoe Level 2 MyReflections kit, and is embellished using Cranberry grosgrain ribbon, colonial white button and Tulip brads. The cute tag adds a fun dimension to the card and the large space provided the perfect setting to create a focal point. This was accomplished by adding several identical images and embellishing only one.

Now "Hop" on over to Wendy's 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 SOTM is only available until October 31st! Contact your CTMH Consultant (or click here) to see how you can get this stamp set at a discount or even free!

Retreatin' Bugs

This summer I hosted a small scrapbook retreat in Blanco, TX. The retreat house is one of my favorite places! I was blessed to have my cousin, Sandy, and her friend, Jan, come down from Ft. Worth to spend the weekend with me. To make it even MORE special, my mom came out for the day on Saturday to visit.

Over the course of the weekend, we encountered SEVERAL insects and bugs - I couldn't resist including them in the layout - they were SPECTACULAR!

I created this layout last week...LOVED it! It is from the new CTMH Magic book. Other product I used was the Splendor paper pack, Pizzazz Irresistibles, Splendor Designer Brads, and Colonial White grosgrain ribbon.

Enjoy!

September Blog Hop

Welcome to our Stamp of the Month Blog Hop! We will be featuring September's SOTM, which is, Thriller, a set of 9 stamps.

If you have come here from Jenna's Blog, you are on the right path! If this is your first stop, you may want to go to Helen's Blog and start from the beginning.

This month we have 67 Close To My Heart Consultants sharing their creations using this month's SOTM and other great CTMH products on their blogs. This is simple to do - just click on the link at the end of the post on each blog to move to the next one! Here we go!



This is a 6x6 card - the mat is a 3 x 2.5 piece of Gypsy B&T from the NEW CTMH Hooligans paper pack. I then cut a piece of transparency paper at 2.5 x 2 and used the black STAZ-ON ink to stamp the skull stamp. On the back side of the transparency, I used my CTMH paint brush set, (I chose the sponge brush) and brushed a light coat of our white ceramacoat paint. After drying, I punched holes for my ribbon and tied on the transparency.

Other products used included white organdy ribbon (3/8"), Stars Dimensional Elements and the new licorice opaque beads.

Now "Hop" on over to Katherine's 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 SOTM is only available until the end of September! Contact your CTMH Consultant (or click here) to see how you can get this stamp set at a discount or even free!