Monday, August 31, 2009

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:
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!

September Blog Hop List

If you get lost on the blog hop, feel free to access the next name on the list:

Jena DeVries http://www.livelovelaughscrapbook.blogspot.com
Nona Davenport http://www.nonapearl.blogspot.com
Katy Donaldson http://www.scrappinkaty.blogspot.com
Cibele Glazer http://www.flowerfoot.blogspot.com
Laura Dame http://www.thecroppersconnection.blogspot.com
Lori Leng http://www.pinkcloudscrappers.blogspot.com
Jamia Bankhead http://www.papermadnessinc.blogspot.com
Melissa Laverty http://www.fancymelissa.blogspot.com
Pamela OConnor http://www.cherishyourmemories.blogspot.com
Sheila Bennett http://sheila-bennett.blogspot.com
Adeline E. Brill http://adeline-brill.blogspot.com
Wendy Kessler http://www.myscrapbookingblog.com
Beth Naumann http://www.bethscreativeblock.blogspot.com
Barbra Otten http://barbraotten.blogspot.com/
Terrie Dodd http://www.my-life-in-real-time.blogspot.com
Judy Burger http://makingtimeformemories.blogspot.com/
Jessica Booth http://jessicabooth.blogspot.com/
Leisa Hubley http://www.bigredscraps.blogspot.com
Helen Onulak http://www.hookedonstamping.com
Debra Van Patten http://memoriesoftheheartbydeb.blogspot.com/
Juli Clark http://www.thestampteacher.blogspot.com
Sarita Schraeder http://www.blessedscrapper.blogspot.com
Michelle Robinson http://www.amaizenbluelady.typepad.com
Maricar Harris http://www.maricarharris.blogspot.com
Antoinette Herrin http://www.GodblessyourART.blogspot.com
Kathleen Androlewicz http://bowlofstamps.blogspot.com/
Cindy Leek http://www.paperspadsandpictures.blogspot.com
Dawn Heuft http://www.stamptildawn.blogspot.com
Barbara Harris http://www.paper-creations117.blogspot.com
Alanna Moses http://www.damoses.blogspot.com
Laurie Levnik http://www.creationsbylaurie.blogspot.com
Tanya David http://www.scramperscorner.blogspot.com
Karen Norman http://www.gettinscrappywithit.blogspot.com
Jan Moxey http://scrapandstamp4ever.blogspot.com/
Tammy Lea Pinchard http://mycreativeclubhouse.blogspot.com
Paige Dolecki http://www.paigespaperparadise.blogspot.com
Kelly Triggs http://www.stampinallday.blogspot.com
Sherry Thompson http://www.picturespatternsandpaper.blogspot.com
Deb Young http://www.scrapbookczar.blogspot.com
Nancy Ball http://www.ballisticdesign.blogspot.com
Chris Shouse http://www.houseostamps.wordpress.com
Dawn Ross http://www.iamahappystamper.blogspot.com
Brae Montgomery http://thebrae-er.blogspot.com
Laurie R Newton http://scrapsfromthebeach.blogspot.com/
Haley Dyer http://www.inkyscrapper.blogspot.com
Carol Taggio http://craftycarol55.blogspot.com
Amy McVey http://www.clearlystamping.blogspot.com
Carla Ironside http://www.carlacreates.blogspot.com
Jennifer Royal http://www.craftroyalty.blogspot.com
Jen Rubio http://www.jenrubio.blogspot.com
Kristie Horness-Herdener http://www.goofyscrapper.blogspot.com
Jill Lucas http://scrapwench.blogspot.com
Wanda Riley http://www.creatingwithwanda.blogspot.com
Miranda Kurz http://www.scrampinwithmiranda.com
Jody Gustafson http://www.cre8nmemories.blogspot.com
Susan Brooks http://www.stampingintheopen.blogspot.com
Kami Welter http://www.scrappin4memories.blogspot.com
Jennifer Patrick http://www.roxybonds-scrappin.blogspot.com
Julia Menssen http://www.ralphandjulia.blogspot.com
Shannon Pelletier http://www.mycolorfulworldinvt.blogspot.com
Linda Shewchuk http://www.awesomememories.blogspot.com
Brenda Harmless http://keepsakeswithheart.blogspot.com
Donni Alvarenga http://www.donniscreativetherapy.blogspot.com
Nancy Brown http://www.creativelyartsygallery.blogspot.com
Traci Godbee http://createwithtraci.blogspot.com
Pam Klassen http://eimmap.blogspot.com/
Lori Miller http://www.clearlyfromtheheart.blogspot.com
Kimberly Smith http://verykimberry.blogspot.com/
Caren Goldsein http://www.scrappycaren.blogspot.com

Wednesday, August 26, 2009

New Idea Book Sneak Peek

Would you like a sneak peek of some of the awesome new paper from the CTMH Autumn/Winter Idea Book? I love, love, LOVE the new "Jingle" paper! I made these pages for a page swap with my unit. I used the Creative Basics - Jingle as well as new Dimensional Elements (snowflakes). The cardstock used for the base really is White Daisy -- it looks kind of pink in these pictures. The cute little stocking is a new stamp set, hung by a piece of new Cranberry velvet ribbon. Be sure to contact me to get your new Idea Book!

The page layout is from Imagine - Memoirs Complete (pgs. 66 - 67):



I painted the snowflake with Create-a-Shade Pearl Paint. It gives it a nice shimmer!

Monday, August 24, 2009

Sympathy Card: That's Amore

I made this card for my unit's monthly card swap. This month, we decided to stick to a theme (sympathy cards) rather than a certain paper packet or stamp set. This is another wonderful card pattern from the Wishes Card Confidence Program. The card is 4 1/2" x 4 1/2" and uses the paper packet That's Amore. Stamp sets used are TLC and Fringed Phrases. I added a little extra "something" on the card - self-adhesive pearls. A package of the pearls will be sent to anyone placing an order on my website in September.