Nov. SOTM Blog Hop: Around the Block

Welcome to the November Stamp of the Month Blog Hop! This month's hop features the stamp set "Around the Block," available November 1 - 30, 2009 only. You can take advantage of Stampaganza and qualify for a discount on this set of 26 stamps or even earn it free! If you have come here from Wanda Riley's blog, you're on the right path! At the end of this post, you'll find a link to the next blog on the hop. You can keep going all the way around until you come back to my blog, if this is where you started.


My first item using Around the Block is a card using the Twitterpated Level 2 paper packet. I thought it would be cute to be able to "lift the roof," so I stamped the image on B&T, cut it out, and adhered only the very edges. I cut a slit toward the top so the roof can be lifted to show the message on the attached tab. The windows are paper-pieced, and I stitched the stems of the flowers. I didn't have floss in Sweet Leaf, so I colored white floss by laying it on scrap paper and running the Sweet Leaf ink over it several times. Easy!

Here's a close-up of the flowers and the stitching:

Items used:

• Around the Block - Nov. SOTM
• Twitterpated Level 2 Paper Packet
• Ink colors: Chocolate, Sorbet, and Sweet Leaf
• Basic Brad Assortment
• Embroidery Floss - Neutral Assortment

I also wanted to use the stamp set to scrapbook the pictures of the very first house my husband and I owned as newlyweds. It is the only brand-new house we have ever owned, and we loved to go every day to check on the progress. I used the house to create a journaling space.

I love the Heartfelt Die-Cuts and used the big circle from "Wonder." I wanted to fill it with photos, so I traced a circle onto plain cardstock using the inside of the circle as a template.

After cutting out the circle, I arranged my photos on the circle and laid the die-cut over it to be sure of my placement.

Once the pictures were where I wanted them, I adhered them one-by-one onto the circle. Then I flipped the circle over and trimmed the photos.

I adhered the felt by using adhesive in a few places, then securing it with brads placed around the scallops.

Items used:

• Around the Block - Nov. SOTM
• Delight in the Everyday - National Stamping Month promo
• HeartFelt Die-Cuts - Wonder
• Assorted Dimensional Elements Monograms
• Shades of Chocolate Mini-Medley Accents Collection
• Chocolate ink

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I hope you enjoyed visiting my blog! Now hop on over to Carol Taggio's blog to see the beautiful work she has posted! Enjoy the rest of the hop, and I'll see you next month for the December SOTM blog hop.

Stampaganza! Nov. 3 - 30

It's the most wonderful time of the year . . . Close to My Heart is giving us an early Christmas present! From November 3 - 30, if you purchase two of any size stamp sets (A - E, excluding Stamp of the Month and K-size personalized stamps), you get one stamp set FREE (A - D only)! What a great deal! This is the perfect time to give a Christmas wish list to your family, filled with your must-have stamp sets. You may order directly from my website, or you may call me and place an order.

You can also qualify for the discounts on the Stamp of the Month with your Stampaganza purchases! If you purchased 3 D-size stamp sets at $22.95 each and 1 E-size stamp set at $34.95, you will qualify for two free stamp sets (up to D-size) plus the SOTM free! If you choose two D-size stamp sets for your free sets, the value is $172.65 for just over $100! (Regular s&h charges apply.)

Heading off to make my wish list . . .

Blog hop tomorrow!

Join me for the November Stamp of the Month blog hop on November 1! As always, there are dozens of talented consultants who are sharing their wonderful artwork using the November Stamp of the Month, "Around the Block." This is a circular hop, so you can start here and work your way around through all 60+ sites! Ready . . . set . . . HOP!

Twitterpated Tri-fold Card

Sorry for being MIA for a while -- I have been really busy with finishing up a college course! Now I have a week off between classes, and I have time to PLAY!

I made this Thanksgiving card from a tutorial on Splitcoast Stampers. I used the "Twitterpated" papers from CTMH's Fall/Winter Idea Book. I'm crazy about this paper -- it has such a fun autumn feel but can be used for so many other things! The stamp sets I used are Many Thanks (leaves and acorns) and Grateful Hearts (sentiment).


The card with the insert taken out:

I used an easy technique called stamp rolling on the leaves. Choose two or three colors of ink and cover the stamp with the lightest color ink. Moving from lightest to darkest, gently roll just the edges of the stamp image on the stamp pad. Stamp as usual!