Sensational Season SOTM blog hop!

Welcome to our March Stamp of the Month blog hop featuring this month's new SOTM - Sensational Season D1454! If you've just joined me from Dawn's blog then you are on the right path!

To create the 8x3.5" card above, I used Wishes - Top Band (p. 100) as inspiration for my design. I used background and texture papers from two different paper packs - Sophia X7131B and Bliss X7132B. My images are stamped with black ink (using just a little bit of the masking technique to make the bunny look like it is standing behind the lettuce in the garden). The flower is made by adhering cotton candy pom-pom ribbon from our new Pink Collection Designer Ribbon Z1384 into a spiral shape onto a cardstock circle base (punched out of cotton candy cardstock with our 1.25" circle punch). The leaf was made with our new 2" scallop circle punch and pear cardstock. All images (on cards above and below) are colored in with markers in the following colors: Bamboo, Blush, Creme Brulee, Desert Sand, and Pear. I also added a lot of sponge distressing with Desert Sand ink and sponge daubers. Remember, you can click on any of my photos to see the images larger and up close.

My 4.5" circle card design above is inspired by Wishes - Attention Getter (p. 46). I hope these creations have inspired you! Now you can continue on the SOTM blog hop and see many other creative ideas for using this stamp set by visiting Tamytha's blog next! Enjoy!!

Simply Scallops (YouTube video tutorial!)

Here's the latest YouTube video from Close to my Heart. I sure do LOVE using our new 2" scallop circle punch! (and doesn't this banner look fun and so easy to make?!!) Enjoy!

Valentine's Day Countdown - Day 12

Today I'm sharing a paper triangle box that I learned how to create at my 3rd upline Cindy Baker's consultant team meeting last year (here is a link to Cindy's Blog - I so admire her artistic talent)! At that same team meeting we also learned how to create all kinds of trendy paper flowers like the paper roses that adorn this box. Here's a link to one of my favorite paper flower online tutorials on my fellow CTMH consultant Jennifer Bennett's blog that shows you so well how to create the paper roses. I was a little lazier than Jen though and just kept it quick and simple by using Tulip cardstock (no sprayed ink or sponging) and also didn't crumple up the paper much either for my roses shown here. I've been wanting to post this fun triangle box here on my blog for some time now, so I think it's about time, right?! This box could be filled with Hershey's kisses (or any treat you'd like) to be given for Valentine's Day (or for any gift-giving occasion really).

To create the triangle box you will need one piece of cardstock cut to 5"x 12" and a piece of background & texture paper cut to 4.75" x 11.75". Adhere those two pieces together, centering the b&t which will leave you with a 1/8th" border of cardstock framing the outside edge. Then use your scoring blade/tool to make a crease in the center of the longest edge (at the 6" mark). Use a pencil to mark the mid-points (2.5 inches in) on both of the short ends. Then use your scoring blade/tool again to score a line from your corners at the 6" scored line to the 2.5" mid-point marks you made on each end. I've sponged the edges of my creased lines (above) with chocolate ink to help them be more visible so you can see all the lines that are scored (this also adds dimension and beauty to the finished box as well I think). Crease all your folds into a pie-shaped wedge and punch a hole on the open end where all the paper edges meet (you can see on my sample above that this results in 4 holes as the punch will go through 4 different parts of the paper). I like to use my crop-a-dile tool to easily punch through so many layers at once - it's actually 8 layers of paper when you count the b&t paper). Then simply thread a ribbon through the holes and tie a bow to hold your box closed.
Isn't this a simply great box pattern?!!!
I just love it - THANK YOU Cindy Baker for teaching it to me!

Valentine's Day Countdown - Day 11

For day 11 of the Valentine's Day Countdown blog hop, I'm sharing this cute little Ghirardelli Chocolate holder/pocket card. This pocket card features the Sophia X7131B papers with Bunny Love B1324 and In the month of February C1403 stamps. I'll be back again soon to share all the cutting dimensions with you!

Valentine's Day Countdown - Day 10

Today I'm sharing another simple and sweet idea for Valentine's Day. This is an altered nugget tin. You can purchase these tins for just a little over a dollar each, online from specialtybottle.com (the tin's id code is THN8 in case that helps you find it). I simply wrapped 12 chocolate nuggets with strips of 1" x 3" background and texture paper from the Sophia kit X7131B and placed them inside the tin. I also created a little sleeve and tag (using a few punches including our NEW 2" scallop circle punch!) that slides over the tin to hold it closed and make for a nice presentation. These tins can be used to make such easy and affordable little gifts - and who doesn't just LOVE getting chocolate for Valentine's Day or ANY day of the year?!!!

Versatile Rosette Ribbon (YouTube video!)

Close to my Heart corporate recently started making some short little YouTube video segments as a way to help enhance creative training for our consultants and they are so helpful to me that I just can't resist wanting to share them here with you on my blog too! I have decided that I will start posting them here on my blog every time a new one is released to benefit us all. There are two more previous videos I will come back and share with you soon, but for now, here is today's video segment (below):

Learn to create a pink accent for your cards and a lovely brooch for your sweater or jacket with our pink Designer Ribbon. The project ideas in this video will delight you! Enjoy!!

Valentine's Day Countdown - Day 9

I'm sorry I haven't been able to post any new ideas for the Valentine's Day Countdown blog hop these past three days! Between helping my kids finish up their science fair projects that are due this week and being sick (again!), I've been struggling to squeeze in any creative time over the past few days. I am thrilled to be back to posting again today though, and I hope you will enjoy this very easy but super cool idea! It's so simple, just cover a pack of gum (with matchbox-style packaging - the kind that slides out from a sleeve) with your favorite background and texture paper and embellish! You could use stamping, but for this particular design I used only paper and My Stickease (adhesive die-cut stickers) from the NEW Sophia My Reflections kit X7131B and X7131C.
Before and After pics (above)
Here's a photo of all the supplies I used to dress-up my sweet little gift (above). For now, you can still purchase the recently retired "Tiny Tabs" I used, online here from my myctmh website for just $2 a pack (49% off) during our special "while supplies last" clearance sale! I ordered a few extra packs of Tiny Tabs last week, so if you live locally and are in need of some really quick (since V-day is less than a week away) feel free to let me know and I can get some to you for your own creating fast! I found that our local dollar store has this type of gum available in packs of 4 for just $1 each, so these could easily make for some affordable little Valentine's Day gifts the kids could give out to their friends and/or teacher's at school. It's also a great way to use up left-over My Stickease and paper scraps while making each and every one you create unique! I will be back again tomorrow to share another creative idea for Valentine's Day, so I hope you will come back and visit my blog again soon as we continue on with the countdown!

Valentine's Day Countdown - Day 5

For Day 5 of our Valentine's Day blog hop I have a 4.5" Circle Card to share. This card features the February Stamp of the Month - Friendship D1453 and the Sweetheart X7134B papers again. The design is inspired by Wishes - Ricochet (p. 127).
Here is another view of this card inside a Cd/Dvd envelope that I stamped just a little with the same scrolly stamp I used on the card. I love how you can see just a portion of the card peeking through the clear window - so fun!
Finally, I thought you might like to see what these envelopes look like in their packaging in case you'd like to get some for your own creating! I picked up a box of 100 envelopes for less than $5 at Wal-mart (electronics aisle), so this is a very affordable option to use for giving your circle cards away (and you could also use these sleeves for 4.5 x 4.5" square cards too)!

Online Clearance SALE - while supplies last!!

A bunch of newly discounted and retired products are now available to you at phenomenal prices on my myctmh website!! Visit my website here to take advantage of these deals that are being offered only while supplies last! A few of the discounted items include our My Creations Acrylic mini-album at 30% off ($7.00), a variety of rub-ons assortments at 71% off (just $2.00 each), ribbon rounds at 33-50% off ($4.00), the ribbon rounds organizer case at 71% off ($5.00), and much much more!! I hope you will check it out!

Valentine's Day Countdown - Day 3

Welcome to day 3 of our Valentine's Day Countdown blog hop! When I saw these adorable little "M&M stix" on fellow consultant Angela Tutton's Blog last September, I just knew I had to make these for Valentine's Day! THANK YOU Angela for sharing such a fantastic tutorial on how to make these. I have been so inspired by you and I hope you like my creations for Valentine's Day. These are just two of the items I'll be making with my local creative friends this Saturday, February 5th (join us at 6pm or 7pm) at my $5 Creative Class! I still have room for a few more guests, so please contact me to RSVP soon before it fills up!
Close-up (above) of the tag that uses Bee Happy B1374, In the month of February C1403, and Affection C1441 stamp sets with Black, Tulip, Cotton Candy, Garden Green, and Honey inks/markers.
Close-up (above) of the tag that uses In the month of February C1403 and Affection C1441 stamp sets with Black and Cotton Candy inks.

Valentine's Day Countdown - Day 2

For Day 2 of our Valentine's Day Countdown blog hop, I'm sharing this simple standard-size card! This is just one of the cards we'll be making this Saturday, February 5th (join us at 6pm or 7pm) at my $5 Creative Class! I still have room for a few more guests, so please contact me to RSVP soon before it fills up! What I love most about this card is that it is so very versatile and could be used for any number of occasions - Valentine's Day, Birthdays, Anniversaries, Weddings, or even as a Thank You or Thinking of You card (you decide what sentiment you want to stamp or write inside). This card could also be re-created and/or mass-produced easily using any variety of different color combinations that you'd like! This standard-size card uses the February Stamp of the Month -Friendship D1453 with Black and Tulip inks and a small piece of b&t paper from the Sweetheart X7134B paper pack. I've used the flourish-type stamps with the stamp-rolling technique to create the interesting background. The flower was created using our NEW 2" scallop circle punch - and it was so easy! You simply punch a scalloped circle from a piece of cardstock (I used Tulip cardstock here), then punch a small hole in the center with a piercing tool, then use micro-tipped scissors to cut towards the center (stopping 1/4 or 1/8" from center) to create the petals. I also put the two prongs of a black button brad through the two holes in this shimmery pink button to make the center of my flower. The prongs of the brad are put through the center of the flower and spread flat on the back. Then I adhered the flower using a square of 3D mounting tape over the top of my black grosgrain ribbon piece. I didn't do this on my flower shown here, but you could also use your piercing tool handle or a pencil (anything tubular) to wrap the cardstock petals around to curl them and give them some shape.