March SOTM Blog Hop - A Little Everything

Are you ready for another fun-filled blog hop? I can hardly wait to see all the creative things the other 60-something consultants have made with this fantastic, versatile stamp set! This is a circular hop, so you can start anywhere and "hop" around until you get back where you started. If you came here from Shannon Pelletier's blog, you're on the right path. At the end of my post, be sure to look for the link to Kami Welter's blog. She is next on the blog hop! If you get lost, click here for a list of all the blog hoppers.

This month's set is already one of my favorites. It's called "A Little Everything," and there are sentiments for almost every occasion on the set. I love the larger font for "Thanks," "Happy," and "Celebrate." Great to use on scrapbook pages as well as cards! This is a set you will pull out over and over. You can purchase the set on my website, and you can also earn a discount or even get it free! The set is only available from March 1 - 31, 2010.

I used the Wishes Card Confidence Program to make the cards featured with this Stamp of the Month. Wishes has three bulk card workshops in the book, allowing you to make a larger quantity of cards very quickly! Here's a link {Christmas in July} to the same bulk workshop making Christmas cards! The complete product list is at the end of the post. Now hop on over to Kami Welter's blog to see her lovely project!

Just Because Card Workshop

Cards 1 and 2:

Cards 3 and 4:


Cards 3 and 4 (inside):


Cards 5 and 6:

Cards 7 and 8:

Cards 9 and 10:

All 20 cards (2 of each pattern):




Items Used

• A Little Everything - March SOTM
• Wishes Card Confidence Program
• White Value Pack Cards and Envelopes
• Basic Textured Cardstock Combo Pack
• Authentic
• A Paisley
• Grace Level 2 Paper Packet (words B&T)
• Twitterpated Level 2 Paper Packet (plaid B&T)
• Foundry Bookplates
• Pewter Mini-Medley Accents Collection
• Antiqued Copper Mini-Medley Accents Collection
• Dimensional Elements Booksmart
• Twill ribbon
• Basic craft buttons
• Inks: Twilight, Desert Sand, Chocolate
  

March SOTM Blog Hop List

In case you get lost on the hop or if a link does not work, here is a list of all the participants:


Jena DeVries http://www.livelovelaughscrapbook.blogspot.com
Helen Onulak http://www.hookedonstamping.com
Michelle Nist http://Michellenist.blogspot.com
Carol Loftus http://www.CarolLoftus.blogspot.com
Antoinette Herrin http://www.GodblessyourART.blogspot.com
Shannon Pelletier http://www.mycolorfulworldinvt.blogspot.com
Lori Miller http://www.clearlyfromtheheart.blogspot.com
Kami Welter http://www.scrappin4memories.blogspot.com
Angela Tutton http://www.tuttonstreasures.blogspot.com/
Annette Green http://AnnettesCreativeJourney.blogspot.com
Haley Dyer http://www.inkyscrapper.blogspot.com
Melissa Burch http://melissaburch.blogspot.com
Michelle Loncar http://michelleloncar.blogspot.com
Adeline E. Brill http://adeline-brill.blogspot.com
Wanda Riley http://www.creatingwithwanda.blogspot.com
Debra Van Patten http://memoriesoftheheartbydeb.blogspot.com/
Jamia Bankhead http://www.papermadnessinc.blogspot.com
Nancy Brown http://www.creativelyartsygallery.blogspot.com
Dawn Heuft http://www.stamptildawn.blogspot.com
Shirley Ross http://www.momnmescrap.blogspot.com
Jenifer Benner http://www.jensmessystudio.com
Sarita Schraeder http://www.blessedscrapper.blogspot.com
Deb Young http://www.scrapbookczar.blogspot.com
Carla Ironside http://www.carlacreates.blogspot.com
Jen Patrick http://www.roxybonds-scrappin.blogspot.com
Sheila Bennett http://sheila-bennett.blogspot.com
Barbra Otten http://barbraotten.blogspot.com/
Kimberly Smith http://verykimberry.blogspot.com/
Susan Brooks http://www.stampingintheopen.blogspot.com
Laurie Levnik http://www.creationsbylaurie.blogspot.com
Beth Naumann http://www.bethscreativeblock.blogspot.com
Tanya David http://www.scramperscorner.blogspot.com
Brae Montgomery http://thebrae-er.blogspot.com
Melissa Laverty http://www.fancymelissa.blogspot.com
Karen Norman http://www.gettinscrappywithit.blogspot.com
Katy Donaldson http://www.scrappinkaty.blogspot.com
Latisha Haag http://domestichomefrontcoordinator.blogspot.com
Danielle Chapman http://cupcake-stamper.blogspot.com
Georgia Hauglid http://inkygeorgia.blogspot.com/
Brenda Harmless http://keepsakeswithheart.blogspot.com
Tammy Lea Pinchard http://mycreativeclubhouse.blogspot.com
Traci Godbee http://createwithtraci.blogspot.com
Lori Brown http://www.savingmine.blogspot.com
Laurie Newton http://scrapsfromthebeach.blogspot.com/
Misty Jackson http://www.misstscraps.blogspot.com
Jody Gustafson http://www.cre8nmemories.blogspot.com
Dawn Ross http://www.iamahappystamper.blogspot.com
Terrie Dodd http://www.my-life-in-real-time.blogspot.com
Laura Dame http://www.thecroppersconnection.blogspot.com
Kristie Herdener http://www.goofyscrapper.blogspot.com
Carol Horton http://carol-scrappininparadise.blogspot.com/
Lori Leng http://www.pinkcloudscrappers.blogspot.com
Chris Shouse http://www.houseostamps.wordpress.com
Jill Lucas http://scrapwench.blogspot.com
Jen Rubio http://www.jenrubio.blogspot.com
Kathleen Androlewicz http://bowlofstamps.blogspot.com/
Sylvia Jacquot http://stampinsylvia.blogspot.com/
Amy Edwards http://PaisleysPlayhouse.blogspot.com
Amy McVey http://www.clearlystamping.blogspot.com
Jessica Booth http://jessicabooth.blogspot.com/
Kim O'Rear http://kimorear.blogspot.com
Mary Eisen www.mestamp2.blogspot.com
Judy Burger http://makingtimeformemories.blogspot.com/
Cindy Leek http://www.paperspadsandpictures.blogspot.com
Cibele Glazer http://www.flowerfoot.blogspot.com
Pamela O'Connor http://www.cherishyourmemories.blogspot.com
Alison Mullen www.stickygirlstamps.com
Caren Goldsein http://www.scrappycaren.blogspot.com
Shannon Buck http://stampinbuds.blogspot.com

It's Monday, so it's time for some MOJO!

I just received the CTMH stamp set "Noted Backgrounds" and really, really wanted to use it on this card. I LOVE the houndstooth check pattern! Isn't it awesome? I stamped right on the white card base with black ink -- super easy! Our clear stamps are so awesome to use, too, because I could see exactly where I needed to line up the pattern as I stamped.

A little something to make the inside special, too:

Items used:

• D1361 - Thank You
• D1416 - State of Mind
• D1412 - Noted Backgrounds
• X7115B - Jingle Level 2 Paper Packet
• Inks/cardstock: Tulip, Black, White Daisy textured, Grey Wool
• Z1220 - Twinkle Brads
• Z1266 - Just Blooms Spring Blossom
• Z1136 - White Daisy Mini-Medleys

Valentine's Day Countdown - Happy Valentine's Day!

YAY! I did it -- blogged every day of the Valentine's Day Countdown! :) I've enjoyed counting down to Valentine's Day with you! I hope you have found some ideas that have inspired you as you make sweet things for your sweethearts. You'll need something to keep all those cards in, so the final project is a Memory Keeper box. I used one pre-printed page and a Stickease from the Veranda Level 1 Scrapbooking Kit to decorate the box, along with some embellishments. The Memory Keeper box has a magnetic closure to keep the lid down snugly and keep all your pretty cards inside. Please click here if you'd like to see another post using the Memory Keeper box with step-by-step instructions on assembling it. Enjoy!

It's a winner!

Close To My Heart has an ongoing, monthly contest for consultants to enter the projects they make. They award first through fourth prizes and two runners-up. I entered for the first time in January and found out today that my card (pictured here!) won third place! I am very, very excited!!!

The card is based on Mojo Monday sketch 121 (another card and the sketch are found here) and is a standard-sized card. I altered the sketch a bit to make a flap that lifts to reveal a message underneath. The main image is a stamp from the set that comes with the Workshop on the Go kit. The stamp has a stitched look, so I took it up a level and hand-stitched all the lines using chocolate embroidery floss. The center of the flower is one of the new Colonial White Designer Brads. I added a rub-on to continue the spiral pattern. My faithful Nestabilities and Cuttlebug provided the scalloped circle. Everythis is edged with chocolate ink.


The front flap lifts to reveal a special message!

Items used:

C1366 - My Acrylix® Fringed Phrases
D1387 - My Acrylix® Made with Love
G1005 - Topstitch Workshop Basic Kit (includes Topstitch Level 2 Paper Packet and stamp set)
Z1274 - Colonial White Designer Brads
Z1219 - Brads Essential Assortment
Z1097 - Nature’s Ambiance Rub-Ons
Z1096 - Embroidery Floss Neutral Assortment
Z2111 - Chocolate Exclusive Inks® Pad
Z2102 - Baby Pink Exclusive Inks® Pad
Z2126 - Heavenly Blue Exclusive Inks® Pad
Z2157 - Vineyard Berry Exclusive Inks® Pad

PS. I just found out I was one of the winners of the Mojo Monday February Mojo Madness 124 contest with my Valentine's Countdown - Day 2 card! It has been a GREAT day!

Valentine's Day Countdown - Day 13

We're almost there! This post is the first of a two-part post! The cards are today; the rest is tomorrow. These cards are made from the Veranda Level 1 Scrapbook Kit! I used one pre-printed page for tomorrow's surprise project; the cards are made from the remaining 3 pre-printed pages. I cut them in half to make a total of six 6" x 6" cards. You could make 12 or more cards if you cut each piece into quarters and made 3" x 6" cards. The cards are decorated using the Stickease included in the kit, along with a few stamp sets and embellies. Couldn't be faster, simpler, or easier!

The card designs are inspired by one of the card workshops in "Wishes."

Valentine's Day Countdown - Day 12

Pull-Up Treats


I couldn't believe how easy these pull-up treats were to make! Rather than reinvent the wheel, I'll link here to the Splitcoast Stampers tutorial that showed me how to make these. The directions are really good, but I had to adjust mine because I got the great big $1.25 Hershey's bars rather than the regular-sized ones. Mine ended up about 4 1/4" x 9".

Sweet!

Valentine's Day Countdown - Day 11

Water Bottle Caddy

Okay, maybe I'm stretching a little with the Valentine's treats! But who wouldn't enjoy receiving a little refreshment that is packaged so prettily? This is a super-fast project. Cut a piece of cardstock 2 1/2" x 9 1/2". Score at 3" and 7". Punch a 1 3/4" hole in the top scored area. Fold up the 3" scored piece and fasten with brads or eyelets. I usually don't adhere the sides to allow the lemonade packet to slide in easily. Decorate and add a single serving size packet of lemonade, tea, or other beverage. I also wrapped the bottle itself with a scrap of B&T paper.
Items used are Perfect Day Level 2 Paper Packet and Soul Mates stamp set. The cardstock is Cocoa textured cardstock. I love that the reverse side is a lighter value of the front! It gives a really neat effect. Remember that the textured cardstock is BOGO in February, and $2 goes to Operation Smile's Haiti relief efforts.

Valentine's Day Countdown - Day 10

Stamping on Candles



Stamping on candles is so easy! Wouldn't this make a sweet little gift? Start with a regular ol' candle. Stamp the image on white tissue paper and cut out the image, trimming close to the image. Take a piece of waxed paper at least as tall as the candle and long enough to wrap all the way around the candle with some left to grab on to. Wrap the waxed paper tightly around the candle (over the image stamped on tissue paper) and hold on to the excess in the back. Turn on your heat gun and gently heat the image. When it begins to slightly change colors as the wax melts, stop heating or you will melt the candle. Peel away the waxed paper.
I added some paper flowers and brads to my candle. I wouldn't recommend burning the candle with any additional decorations on it for obvious reasons. :) To attach the brads, just poke a hole in the candle and stick the brad prongs in.

Valentine's Day Countdown - Day 9

Coaster Treat Box


Give a sweet treat to someone special by putting together this little coaster treat box! You need five square coasters, paper, a Cropadile, and something to string it all together.


I used the polka-dot paper from the Jingle paper packet for this project. I covered the outside with red and the inside with the reverse of the same paper. Punch holes on 3 sides of four of the coasters; punch holes on all 4 sides of the last coaster. I only covered one side of the bottom (the side you can see looking down into the box) so I could use just one sheet of 12x12 B&T paper. My coasters were 3 1/4" square.


Once the holes are punched, lace the four sides together first, the attach the bottom. Decorate and fill!

Mojo Monday Sketch 125

Here's a sweet Valentine for my sweet husband. I used the Perfect Day Level 2 Paper Packet and the stamp sets "Authentic" and "Soul Mates."

Valentine's Day Countdown - Day 8

Nugget Tent

I made this cute little tent for Hershey's Nuggets in no time at all! I cut a piece of cardstock 3" x 9 1/2" and scored at 3", 4 1/2" and 7 1/2". Decorate as desired, then place the Nuggets in the tent and tie it shut with a ribbon. Tip: I ran a piece of adhesive where the candy goes so it stays in place. Easy!

Items used:

• Perfect Day Level 2 Paper Packet
• Juniper cardstock
• Dimensional Elements Hearts
• Cocoa organdy ribbon

Valentine's Day Countdown - Day 7

This is kind of a year-round project, but I wanted to share my February calendar page. I never can get my act together enough to complete an entire calendar at once, so I'm committing to making a page a month. I like projects I can do in smaller segments.

I'll list the items used at the end of the post. The layout is one from Reflections called "Sidebar - Original." I like to use Reflections for calendars because the layouts are all one-page layouts. Of course, you can mix and match them to make two-page layouts!



My pictures on this page weren't taken in February, but they are of a sweet memory of a day my husband and I enjoyed in September for our 24th anniversary.

I love the new E-size alphabet called "Posterboard." It's what I used to make the title. I stamped each letter on B&T paper then cut it out. The alphabet stamp has a thick border, so it makes the letter look like it was matted on a darker cardstock. Cool, huh!

Items used:

• Reflections Scrapbook Program
• 12" x 12" Monthly Calendar
• That's Amore Level 2 Paper Packet
• Winter Cozy Textured Cardstock - (Don't forget Hearts for Haiti!)
• Grown with Love
• Save the Date - English
• Soul Mates
• Friendship Alpha Small
• Posterboard Alpha
• Heartfelt Whimsy
• Ribbon Rounds: Chocolate, Blush, and Colonial White
• Pretty Pins
• Clear Craft Buttons (center of the flower)
• White Daisy Mini-Medley
• Just Blooms Big Pinks paper flowers
  
  

Valentine's Day Countdown - Day 6

Today, we're going to make a waterfall card. Those of you who know me also know that I'm very easily amused, so I LOVE interactive cards! This is a simple card to make and packs some "wow" factor. (Well, at least to me it does!) It does involve several steps, so I included lots of pictures.

Start with a card base for a standard-sized card (4 1/4" x 5 1/2"). I usually cover the front of the card with a piece of patterned paper. Cut cardstock in the following sizes:

Neutral cardstock:

• 1 3/4" x 1 3/4" (cut 4)

Colored cardstock:

• 2" x 2" (cut 4)
• 9" x 2"
• 3/4" x 4"
  

Score the 9" x 2" piece at 2", 2 3/4", 3 1/2", and 4 1/4". Fold along the scored lines. I forgot to score at 2" before I took the picture, so be sure you score in all four places.
Attach the horizontal strip (3/4" x 4") to the front of the card toward the bottom. Attach it securely with eyelets or brads, but be sure you don't put any adhesive in the middle.

Slide the longest section of the scored piece behind the horizontal strip. I know it's tempting, but don't use adhesive on this long piece -- it will be the part that slides.

Okay, now you can get out the adhesive -- put some on the back of the first 2" x 2" scored section, and attach it to the front of the horizontal strip. Remember -- no adhesive on the long part!

See? Like this:

Now decorate the neutral-colored squares (if you haven't already) and attach them to the colored cardstock squares. Attach the first square to the bottom scored piece, then keep going. My tip: put the adhesive on the scored piece, not the squares. The squares will overlap.

Keep going until all four squares are attached:

Now comes the fun part! Gently pull on the long part of the scored strip and watch the waterfall! (As I said . . . easily amused!) To make it easier to pull, you can attach some fibers or ribbon.

Ta-da!! The finished product:

Valentine's Day Countdown - Day 5

Today's project is a super-quick one and is perfect for little treats. The kids could even help make these for Valentine's Day parties at school.

Start with a piece of cardstock (or patterned paper) that is 4 1/4 x 5 1/2 inches (one quarter of an 8 1/2 x 11 inch piece of cardstock). If you use cardstock, random-stamp the entire piece. When you are random stamping, stamp in a triangular pattern, turning the cardstock as you stamp. Start with the largest stamp, then fill in with the smaller stamps. Be sure to make some stamps go off the edge of the paper. I used stamps from the Solo "L" set.

Adhere the short edges to make a tube:

Squeeze one end together and adhere. (Tip: I run adhesive all the way down the short side, then on one long side from one corner to halfway down. On the opposite long side, run the adhesive just in the middle portion. It will make it easier to put it all together.)

To make the end really secure, give it a couple of turns in the crimper. This makes it look like a real sour cream container, too!

Put in some goodies:

Finish by squeezing the open end in the opposite direction from the first, adhering, and crimping. (Make sense?)

Now, I think it's pretty cute as is, but you can certainly kick it up a notch with ribbon and a tag. Enjoy!

Valentine's Day Countdown - Day 4

Here's a quick, easy gift that will show you care! The memo board is simply a metal cookie sheet. I attached the paper (That's Amore) with regular adhesive (my ATG adhesive works great). Cut the paper to fit and round the corners. Decorate (the fun part!). The magnets are stamped images that are cut out and attached to magnets.

Some alternatives are to add a decorated clothespin with a magnet on the back for holding notes. Cover a square coaster with paper and attach a post-it note pad. Put magnets on the back and hang it on the memo board. If you use extra-strong magnets on the back of the memo board, you can attach the whole board to the fridge!

I used my Crop-a-dile to make the holes and set the eyelets at the top for the hanging ribbon.