February Stamp of the Month Blog Hop

Hello and welcome to the February Stamp of the Month Blog Hop.  This month we have a great stamp set - Piece of Cake.  It is so fun and whimsical.  You’ll fall in love with all of the fun cakes, cupcakes and fantastic sentiments. 

 If you’ve come here from Jamia’s blog – you are on the right path.  Below the artwork you will find the the next blog to hop to for you to complete your blog hop. 

For this month’s artwork I created a “waterfall card.”  As you pull the ribbon on the bottom of the card, new flaps fold up and additional artwork pops up.  I love these type of interactive cards. 

Now go check out Debra’s  fabulous artwork using the February Stamp of the month.

Enjoy

I have some new artwork for you from the new Spring Idea Book, but I am waiting for my club members to meet tonight before I post it.  My clubs have been so backed up this past month with all the snow and bitterly cold temperatures.  But we are finally getting back on track and in the swing of things.  So until I post the new artwork, here is an older piece I created but hadn’t posted yet.   Enjoy!

Recipe:  Notebook Paper pack, big blooms, Friendship alphabet, Code It stamp set, Chocolate stamp pad & cardstock and pewter designer brad

Wooo Hooo!

My top team members get a card from me congratulating them on their accomplishments for the month.  I have some amazing ladies on my team – House O’ STARS – who inspire me with their accomplishments, both in CTMH and out.  The card below was sent out recently to some of my 1st and 2nd team members. 

Recipe:  Twitterpated paper pack, You’re a Hoot stamp set, Colonial White ribbon, corner rounder, crystal blue cardstock and ink, chocolate stamp pad, stipple brush and black bitty brads.

In the month of January when you join Close To My Heart as a consultant you get all the goodies below – PLUS the absolutely gorgeous Felicity kit.   I would be honored for you to consider me as your Close To My Heart Consultant/Director.  We have a team all over the country so you don’t have to live near me to be a consultant on my team.  Also, you would get early access to the new Studio J software to try your hand at studio scrapbooking.

1 sketch – 3 cards

I made these cards a couple of months ago and forgot to share the picture with you.  I used the same “sketch” for each card but just varied the stamps used and paper to produce 3 different looking cards very quickly.   The only stamp set in common with each card is the D1361 Thank You word puzzle stamp set.

All products from Close To My Heart.

Soccer card:  Thank you stamp set, Soccer field stamp set (retired) Holiday red stamp pad & Cardstock, Sunny Yellow cardstock, black stamp pad & bitty brads.

Green & Black card:  Thank you stamp set, Gear Up, Tinkerin’ paper pack, Topiary cardstock & stamp pad, black stamp pad, cardstock, brad & photo clips

Grateful card:  thank You stamp set, Connections stamp set, 3-D foam, Garden green cardstock, Bamboo cardstock, chocolate stamp pad, pewter hinges, Heartfelt ribbon (retired),

Studio J – Real Life. Real Scrapbooks. Real Time.

 Have you heard about Studio J from Close To My Heart?  We have entered the world of digital scrapbooking!  However, Studio J is so much different than any digi scrapbooking out there.  I was lucky enough to be one of the 300 or so beta testers for Close To My Heart to test the software for it’s full release.  I love it!  I created my first layout below in 45 minutes.  I’m sure as I work with it more I’ll get faster but the time saving aspect of Studio J is huge for me.  I also loved the results.  When I received my completed layouts in the mail I put them in page protectors and showed my family.  My kids didn’t even notice the difference.  My husband knew it was different but still thought it looked good.  Now I believe I will continue scrapbooking the classic way with paper, stamps, ribbons and buttons.  But this will be a great addition to my scrapbooks.    The paper on the BOO layout is exclusive to Studio J and not available in classic scrapbooking.   However, all of our other exsisting paper patterns and layout patterns are available on Studio J, including several retired paper packs that are no longer available.  I can’t wait for you all to try it when it is available.  All CTMH consultants will have access to it in January 2010.  If you want to be among the first to use it you should consider signing up as a Close To My Heart consultant.  Then you would even get a discount on your layouts!

 

The above layouts with the girl features the Grace paper pack.  These came directly from Close To My Heart so we could see the quality of the paper in a Studio J layouts. 

Retail pricing for Studio J layouts is $12.95 US with introductory promotions that include free shipping and page protectors.  During the preview period, Consultants will be given the chance at an unbelievable deal: layouts discounted to just $9.95. You may order up to 10 discounted preview layouts, either in a single order or in multiple orders. Shipping charges apply, and no free page protectors are available during the preview period.

PAPER AND PRODUCTION
Studio J layouts are printed on “100-year” archival quality paper that is used by top professional photographers and uses silver halide processing, the gold standard in photo processing. The paper isn’t specified as either glossy or matte. It’s shinier than a true matte, but it’s flatter than a glossy stock.  This is intentional and required for Studio J’s unique processing and papers.

Sign up for updates here:  http://www.studioj.com. You may win an album just by signing up for the mailing list.

Blog Hop – January Stamp of the Month

Welcome to the CTMH January Stamp of the Month Blog Hop featuring the stamp set True Friends.  This set of 11 stamps features frames, brackets and friendship sentiments.   This stamp set is only available in the month of January 2010.  You can earn this stamp set for free with a purchase in January of $100 or more – or pay just $5.74 for it when you purchase $75 or more – or pay just $11.48 with a purchase $50 or more – or pay just $17.21 with a purchase of $25 or more.  I paired this stamp set with the new paper from the Spring Idea Book – Caboodle.  The light springy colors just felt they matched this stamp set perfectly. 

If you came from Katys blog - you are on the right path on our CTMH blog hop.  See below for the next blog to complete you blog hop circle. 

This is an easel card.  You mail it flat and then the recipient opens it up and will *hopefully* figure out to stand the card up like an easel. 

Recipe:
True Friends stamp set, Caboodle paper pack, Sweet Leaf stamp pad & ribbon, Crystal Blue stamp pad, Winter mini-medley, Buttercup cardstock, corner rounder, 3-D foam tape

Now to continue on the blog hop – click here for Tammy’s blog.

I made the following card for a Christmas card, however, my dh thought people would not be able to figure out that it was an easel card.   LOL!  So it was only sent to a few CTMH consultants who I thought would be able to “get it.” 

Christmas Card Countdown – Time is UP!

Okay I had this post all ready to go on the 14th of December and I forgot to schedule it.  I was so busy making my own Christmas cards that I neglected my blog.  Sorry about that! 

 

First of all, Congratulations to all of you who are done with your cards. BRAVO!!! 

 

For the rest of us, HA! HA! HA!, this is it!  Time’s UP!  Time to get your cards in the mail. 

 

And if you don’t think you’ll get them done.  That is okay!  New Years Cards are very festive.  It’s fun to receive a card after the holiday.  I tend to appreciate them a bit more even. 

 

Last days of Holiday Heyday Sale

The Holiday Heyday Sale ends on Dec. 17th (or while supplies last).  There are many great buys still available.  One of the best deals is the Grab Bag.  You can purchase $100 worth of Close To My Heart goodies for just $30.  Here’s a sample of what came in one of the grab bags already shipped out:

* My Acrylix Classic Caps
* My Acrylix Random Thoughts
* My Accents – White
* Chocolate eyelets
* White Sassy Strands
* Summer Carnival Sassy Strands
* Clear Inspirations- Thank You
* My Stickease Floral Tapestry
* Black Base Pages 12×12
* My Reflections Elegant Bouquet Level 1
* Textured Cardstock pack in spring colors

A couple of other great items still available: 

Magic Moments kit – includes 12×12 preprinted pages, ribbon and brads (would make a great calendar gift!)

Sassy Strands for $1.00

Ribbon rounds for $4.00

Level 1 paper packs for $5.00

Card Kits for $6.50

Let’s Play Ball stamp set for $6.00 (orig. $18.95)

Precious Alphabet for $8.00 (orig. $22.95)

Shop here:  www.clearly.myctmh.com in the Holiday Heyday Sale.

Tip of the week – curling waxy flax

Waxy flax is so easy to work with.  I reach for it every time I need to thread a button.  I prefer it over embroidery floss or even hemp because it doesn’t shred when you start working with it.  Plus we have 11 beautiful colors that match our cardstocks and inks perfectly.  For this card I tied two of the HeartFelt die-cut wonder shapes together with waxy flax.  I left the ends rather long – 1 1/2 inch or so.  To give the waxy flax a different look I twisted it so it started curling on itself.  Just keep twisting and twisting to get the achieved look.  You might have to snip a tad bit off the end that didn’t curl. 

Recipe:  Heartfelt Wonder Die-Cut shapes, Many Thanks stamp set, Back Country paper pack, Love Letter rub ons, Chocolate cardstock, brads and stamp pad, Crystal blue cardstock, sandpaper, stipple brush, Olive stamp pad and Bamboo waxy flax

Christmas card poem

For your amusement here is a little spoof about the midnight stamper making her Christmas cards going around on the internet a few years ago.

“Twas the Week Before Christmas” by Sherri Campbell
(who has WAY too much time on her hands *Ü*)

‘Twas the week before Christmas
and the house was a hush.
Save the stamping of rubber
in a last minute rush.

The cardstock was cut
with precision and care,
In hopes that a greeting
would soon be stamped there.

The children were tucked in
their beds around eight,
but now it’s 10:30–
How’d it get so late?

And I in my PJs
with blurry red eyes,
had finally arranged
all the stamping supplies.

It started out simple
(it does every year)
just make a few cards
for friends who are dear.

Nothing too fancy–
just an elegant touch
A gold embossed image,
some ribbon and such.

I pressed ink to paper
(it looked crisp and clean)
a sprinkle of powder,
then heat for a sheen.

When what on my green Christmas
cards should appear?
Why a tiny gold Santa,
with sleigh and reindeer!

But with little stray flecks,
and some missing spots, too,
I knew in a moment
this one wouldn’t do.

Then I tried it again,
once more, and another.
“I will get this right!”
I said to no other.

On pigment! On powder!
On heat from a gun!
Now ribbon! And envie!
Can I make fifty-one?

“I can do it!” I said
with all of my might.
And looked at the clock–
’twas well past midnight.

I went straight to stamping
out card after card.
“This might take all night,
but at least it’s not hard.”

But after I finished,
they looked a bit lame.
I didn’t want fancy,
but these were too plain.

And then in a twinkling
a thought came to mind.
“I’ll just dress them up
and then they’ll be fine.”

So I went in my craftroom
and looked all around.
Then back to the table
with all that I’d found.

My Fiskars I brandished
(I wasn’t a quitter).
And soon I was covered
in EP and glitter.

A bundle of papers
I spread on the table
to find the right background
(quite sure I was able).

With fibers that sparkled,
a mulberry sheet
was just the right choice,
my card to complete.

I started to smile
when the cuckoo came out.
“It’s now 3am!”
That bird left no doubt.

The cap of a marker
I held in my teeth.
I’d lay in some color,
or maybe gold leaf.

My broad little face
was all beaded with sweat.
But I wouldn’t give up!
Well, not at least yet.

There was glue on the table
and ink on the floor.
I laughed at the site,
though my fingers were sore.

I did not complain,
just kept up my work.
When more things went wrong,
I did not go berserk.

When I finally finished,
one card, around six,
it looked pretty good
after all of my tricks.

“I’m keeping this one.
My work on it shows.”
So clutching my card,
up the staircase I rose.

I crawled into bed
at the first crack of dawn.
Creativity spent,
motivation all gone.

But make no mistake!
I promise one thing–
“You’ll all get your cards!
But you’ll get them next Spring!”