Mojo Monday Sketch 150

This sketch was so fun to use! I love the scallop along the bottom, and the scallop pattern in the paper worked perfectly along with the design.

August SOTM Blog Hop - Something Splendid

Welcome to the August Stamp of the Month blog hop, featuring "Something Splendid," a set of 13 stamps. If you have come from Nancy Brown's blog, you're on the right path! This is a circular hop, so you can begin on any blog and "hop" your way around.

This month's stamp set truly is splendid: I couldn't stop playing with it! As a result, there are many, many pictures on this post. The stamp set is incredibly versatile. I used the Grace Paper Packet, but the stamp set will go with so many papers and colors. You can see another example I made here. I used a variety of techniques on my cards and scrapbook page. Check back through the month to see how I made the cards! You can purchase the stamp set at full price, earn it at a discount, or even get it FREE during August 1 - 31. See my website for details.

All the projects using Something Splendid:

Clear card

Inside of the clear card - Attach the blue circle first, then add the background paper to the back, hiding the adhesive.

3 x 3 - Originals All in a Row

5 x 7 - Originals Colors & Cubes - Paint resist

Magic - Backstage (hidden journaling)

Hidden journaling

5 1/2 x 4 1/4 - Originals Lucky Three - dry embossing

8 x 3 1/2 - Originals Oval Cameo

Your next stop on the hop is at Barbra Otten's blog. Hop on over to see her lovely artwork!

Heart 2 Heart Challenge 4

Another Monday -- another Heart 2 Heart Challenge! This week's challenge is all about ribbon: use at least two different ribbons on the card or layout. These ladies are singing my song, because I LOVE ribbon! I've had these little ribbon flowers on my mind lately, and this seemed to be the perfect place to try them out. If you're interested in learning how to make them (and they're super easy!), scroll down below the pictures of the cards for a quick tutorial.


Supplies used:

• Cherry-O Level 2 Paper Packet (available May 1)
• Cranberry Designer Ribbon Rounds
• Blush Designer Ribbon Rounds
• Sweet Leaf Designer Ribbon Rounds (sensing a theme here?)
• Designer Brads - Splendor (available May 1)
• Irresistibles Dimensional Elements - Pizzazz (available May 1)
• Say It In Style
• Originals Card Confidence Program - "Lucky Three"
• Inks: Tulip, Chocolate, Sweet Leaf
  
  

I left a pocket on the inside of the card to slip in a gift card.
To make the ribbon flowers, start with a length of ribbon between 3" and 6" long (depending on the width of your ribbon and how large you want the flower). Using matching thread, do a running stitch all along the edge of the ribbon.

When you get to the end, pull gently on the thread to gather the ribbon. It will start to form a circle.

Pull the "tails" together and stitch together. Be sure to backstitch a few times to secure the threads before knotting it.

Trim the excess ribbon after stitching.

You have a flower! There's one more step, though --

Use a brad or a button (one with a shank works best) to fill the center of the flower. You're done!

September Blog Hop: Treasures

Welcome to our Stamp of the Month Blog Hop! We will be featuring September's SOTM, which is "Treasures," a set of 13 stamps. If you have come here from Pam Klassen's blog, you are on the right path!

This month we have over 65 Close To My Heart Consultants sharing their creations using this month's SOTM and other great CTMH products on their blogs. "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! Here we go!

Items used:

• September SOTM - Treasures
• Wishes Card Confidence Program
• Silhouette Level 2 Paper Packet
• Colonial White, Bamboo, and Black cardstock
• Black ink
• Designer Ribbon Rounds - Black Collection
• Basic Brad Assortment - Black Bitty Brads

The card front was made separately then attached to the card base after the front was completed. I started by stitching around the bamboo cardstock with a sewing machine. Lightly distress the edges of the B&T paper with ink; adhere. Cut the circle and stamp the dandelion, going slightly off the circle. Stamp the sentiment, then place a mask over the sentiment before stamping the stem. (I didn't do this and wish that I had!) Distress the edge of the circle with bamboo ink; attach to the card using 3-D foam tape. Randomly stamp the smallest dandelion seed image in the upper right corner of the card. Place black bitty brads in the center of each seed. For the final step, I used a fun technique to make the stem on the dandelion: gathered ribbon. This is very simple to do for a great effect!

1. Start with a ribbon with stitching down the center:


2. Using a sharp tool like the paper piercer, pull out a few stitches from the end of the ribbon.


3. Pull gently on the threads while holding the other end of the ribbon.



4. Continue gathering the ribbon until you have the desired length. Tie a knot in each end of the threads to prevent unraveling.


I tucked one end under the popped-up image and tucked the other end under the cardstock front before adhering it to the card base. Easy!

Tie a knot in a 3" piece of ribbon and attach where the gathered ribbon meets the circle. Attach the card front to the card base -- you're done!

Now "hop" on over to Kimberly Smith'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 September SOTM is only available until September 30! Contact your CTMH Consultant (or click here) to see how you can get this stamp set at a discount or even free!

If you get lost on the hop or find links that aren't working, click HERE for a complete list of participating blogs.

Remember - September is National Stamping Month, and CTMH has a gorgeous card kit to celebrate! See my post here for details and photos of the cards!

Child's Birthday Card: Animal Cookies

This month my CTMH unit is swapping birthday cards for children, featuring the Animal Cookies paper. I made this 5 1/2" x 4 1/4" card from the "Delightful Dots" pattern in Wishes, the newest CTMH how-to card book. I used the Animal Cookies Level 2 Paper Packet, Creative Basics Animal Cookies Collection (including the ribbon!), and the stamp set Childhood (D1358).

Colors in the card are Dutch Blue, Clover Meadow, Tulip, Sunflower, and Desert Sand. I used Sassy Strands for the ties on the kite.



I love to pop-dot elements on my cards to give them dimension. I stamped the kite twice, once in Dutch Blue and once in Tulip. I cut out the striped portions from the Tulip kite and attached them on the Dutch Blue kite base. The kite string is stamped in Desert Sand with Sassy Strands "ties" glued on.



To give the background some dimension, I stamped one of the clouds from the Childhood stamp set onto white cardstock then cut the cloud out. I used it as a mask, sponging over the cloud with Dutch Blue ink.








I moved the stencil down a little and sponged more. I continued down the card front, making it look like a sky full of clouds!










The finished product: