National Stamping Month (Create Kindness) Blog Hop!

THANK YOU for stopping by to enjoy our

National Stamping Month Blog Hop!

If you've just arrived here from
JACQUELIN's BLOG
then you are on the correct path.

Today, 21 consultant artists are sharing
artwork created using the special 
limited edition "Create Kindness"
National Stamping Month Kit 
that is available for purchase
during September 2016 only.

3x3" LOVE card - 2" scalloped circle punched from RASPBERRY cardstock.
Colored with Cherry Pink, Tender Pink, and Leaf Green markers.

3x3" SMILE card - 2" scalloped circle punched from LAGOON cardstock.
Colored with Peacock Green, Turquoise Blue, and Leaf Green makers.

3x3" HELLO card - 2" scalloped circle punched from PANSY cardstock.
Colored with Lavender, Peony Purple, and Leaf Green Markers.

3x3" FRIEND card - 2" scalloped circle punched from WILLOW cardstock.
Colored with Golden Yellow, Marigold, and Leaf Green Markers.

SPECIAL TIP
for stamping on the envelopes:
Cut a 3x6" scrap of white daisy cardstock.
Insert it inside the envelope before stamping
and coloring your flowers on the outside. 
This will prevent ink and color from bleeding 
through to the inside/backside of your envelope.

Now you can continue on with hop...

and be inspired by more creativity

using these products by visiting

MICHELLE's BLOG

next! Enjoy the hop!!

  

Stamp with "Jubilation" in June!!

Welcome to our June Stamp of the Month blog hop featuring this month's new SOTM - Jubilation D1457! If you've just joined me from Beth's blog, then you are on the right path!
All of my artwork today also features the Mayberry paper pack X7136B (colors include Cocoa, Colonial White, Honey, Olive, and Smoothie). First, I'm sharing a 4.5" circle card inspired by Wishes - Side Note (p. 127). The Christmas tree image was done with the "paper-piecing" technique. To do this, I stamped the image with Olive ink on Olive cardstock (tone-on-tone stamping), then cut out around the outside edge of the tree with my micro-tipped scissors, then adhered the Olive tree to the center of the same image already stamped with Honey ink on Colonial White cardstock. The "holiday cheer" image is stamped with 1st and 2nd generation Cocoa ink. Another great tip for you: Our 1.25" circle punch Z1311 is the perfect size to punch out all of the images included in this stamp set - love that!!

Next I have a 3.5"x8" card (above). My design is inspired by Originals - Bound Together (p. 33). I've stamped and cut out a few of the cute "daisy" flower images to embellish my card and notice that the "daisy" stamped with Honey ink and cut out makes a good center for the folded paper flower focal point. To create the largest petals of the flower I used the 2" scallop circle punch to punch out four circles of B&T paper that are then folded to create my dimensional petals. Here's a closer view of the flowers (below):

and finally, here is a view of all of the images included in this stamp set (below). There's such a big variety of holiday images and sentiments here that I can totally see myself using this wonderfully versatile stamp set over and over again throughout the year!!

Now you can continue on with the rest of the SOTM blog hop and see more creative ideas for using this stamp set by visiting Paige'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 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?!!!

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.

Debbi's Paper Flower Tutorial!

I held a Cherry-O recipe/card box workshop on Saturday, June 12th, and since then I've had a lot of people who couldn't attend asking me how I made the paper flower that decorates the front of the box (Thanks for attending Debbie, Donna, and Karyn - we had so much fun - and I'm so glad to have had the opportunity to show you how to make these already)!!

So I finally got around to taking some photos to post a flower tutorial for everyone - yaay! Let me first say, that all credit for these flowers should go to my very talented 5th upline and Executive Director with CTMH, Debbi Fournier of LaVerne, California. She is the one who shared and taught us how to create these awesome flowers at a consultant team meeting I attended recently in May. First, you will need to punch out some B&T paper with a punch (or use a die-cut or your cricut) to make FOUR 2-inch scalloped circles (my photo above shows you a few of these punched out, so I could show you the step-by-step progression of how to fold each of these pieces, all in one photo). You will fold your punched circle in half, and then in half again so it looks like the one labeled step #3 above. Then you will fold it in half one more time (because it will be so thick by now, it is easiest to just fold one flap forward and one flap the other way). Use your bone folder to crease your folds well, then open it up all the way and cut it in half on the first folded crease-line you made (as shown in step #5).
Next you will re-fold each half of the punched and creased circle pieces accordian-style (some may call it a fan fold; one piece forward, one back, one forward, and so on). Because you have made 4 scalloped circles cut in half, you should end up with 8 fan-folded pieces. You will also want to punch a cardstock circle using our 1.25" circle punch to use as the base to add your flower petals to. Fold the circle in half twice to create creases and help you find the exact center of the flower (I have marked my center with an x to help you see it more easily).
Next, cover your base cardstock circle with Tombow (or any permanent tape-runner adhesive) and begin adding the folded flower petals. Make sure that the top flap of the fan-folded part opens up facing the same direction as you are adding them all the way around.
Then insert a brad or button in the center of your flower
(I used a colonial white designer brad on mine Z1274).
Finally, I sponged the petals with a sponge dauber and chocolate ink and added a self-adhesive red Sparkle to the center of the brad. You can crinkle and wrinkle up your petals if you want to or just fluff them up with your fingers if you want them to stand up a little more. I adhered the flower to my box with glue dots on top of some crimped hand-cut paper leaves that I sponge-distressed with chocolate ink also. Here is the final view of the recipe/photo/greeting card box I decorated with Debbi's beautiful flower (below):
I hope you will enjoy making some of these simple but "wowie" flowers as much as I do. Have fun getting creative with them!

Special THANKS goes out to Debbi Fournier for sharing her lovely flower with us!