Something Splendid - August Stamp of the Month

Welcome to our Stamp of the Mopnth Blog Hop.  We will be featuring August's Stamp of the month, which is D1424, Something Splendid., a set of 13 stamps.

This month we have a fabulous stamp set called Something Splendid. This stamp set contains 13 individual clear stamps.

This month we have about 70 Close to my Heart Consultants sharing their artwork with this stamp set. So grap your favorite drink, sit back & relax and enjoy the show!

So, on with the Blog Hop.
If you're following the blog from the beginning and you came here from Dawn's Blog, you're on the right path.

If you're starting with my blog, then you will click on the link at the bottom of my post and each person's after mine. When you arrive back at mine again, you know you have seen them all.

If you get lost along the way, or come across a broken link, then go to Kathleen's blog for the entire list. You can also start the hop there.

Just a little tip. If you  prefer to hop from the list, just hold the "Control" key down while clicking on each person's link, it will open their blog up in a new window. That way, you just close each window and you are always on the blog with the list.

Now, hop on over to Lori Miller's Blog and see what awesone Eye Candy she has for you!

You're Great - Easel Card - Sweet Sketch Wednesday + Tutorial

I made this card for my grandson's 1st Birthday. This is the baby and his sister that I take care of during the week while his mommy and daddy work. My daughter thinks she is so lucky to have me, BUT, what she doesn't realize is that I'M the lucky one to be able to do so.

Here's my little Birth day Boy.

I got the inspiration for this card from another great sketch over at Sweet Sketch Wednesday. The sketch is the front, but I made it into an easel card.

The papers are from the Magic Moments Paper pack from Close to my Heart.
The stamp is from a set of clear stamps from CTMH called "You're Great."
The Hand Stitching is done with Matching Embroidery Floss.
The Happy Birthday is from a stamp set called It's Your Day.
The Dark Blue Sparkles are so new that they won't be available for purchase until September 1st.

PRODUCT TUTORIAL
The name "jeffrey" was made by using the Lots of Dots letter stickers. The are white and the dots on them are a residt. So, I colored the letters with the matching ink pads and a sponge dauber. The easiest way I found of coloring the letters is to remove them from the alphabet sheet and stick them to the plastic bad they come in. I use a spong dauber to color each one, then wipe over them with a tissue to remove any excess ink from the dots and also from the plastic bag. I then just remove each letterfrom the plastic and place it where you want it.

If you like this card, papers, embroidery floss, and stampset, you can just follow the links above to order them directly from my website.

Happy Forever - Truly Scrumptios Sketch Challenge

Well, Convention was fabulous again this year. As a matter of fact, I believe it was the best one ever.  But then I've been saying that for the past 13 years. So may great new product to play with and I get my bundles on Tuesday. Can't wait to make some Christmas Cards!!! I love doing Christmas In July and didn't get around to planning anything for this year.

This is my first creation since being home. Well, it actually was on of my cards for my club yesterday.
It's a set called Happy Forever. There are four hedgehogs and three sentimernts.  
Isn't he the cutest!!! And if you look closely, you will notice that I used some of the NEW colored pearls that will be available in the Fall/Winter Catalog. Check out hi Belly Button!!!

This card was inspired by by a sketch from Truly Scrumptious Sketch Blog.
I used the flip side of the Splendor paper with flowers. I wanted it to be more masculine since I forgot to make a card for my son for his birthday and have no time if I want to get it in the mail today. What do you think???  Is it masculine enough???

The hedgehog was colored in using the stencil technique. This is the first stamp set since the Teddy Bears years ago that I used this technique for. The may have been one in between, but I'm having a Senior Moment and can't remember what the image was. 

Live Inspired - CTMH Convention Swap Card

I hope you all enjoyed the July SOTM Blog Hop yesterday. If you haven't had a chance to do so, the information for it and my card is in the post before this one.

Well, I finally did it. I got 35 swap cards made and THREE days left to make more. Yeah right!!!

I told my team months ago that because of the chronic pain I've had for more then a year, that I was not making swap cards this year. Well, they sort of talked me into it and said how much fun I'd miss. But honestly, after 13 years of convention swap cards, it seemed like more of a chore then fun. The pain did not allow me to make them anyway so I gave up on the idea. Then a wonderful thing happened to me last Wednesday. I went to the Hospital for an Epidural. Well, they shot steroids into my spine and 95% of my chronic pain is gone. So, last night after the kids went home I started on some cards. I expect to have 35 of them done by this evening. I have to send the grandbabies home first because having a 1 year old and a 3 yr. old with me all day does not make a very productive card making day.


This card was inspired by a sketch from Card Patterns Sketch #70

The paper pack used is called Top Stitch.

The Main Stamp set is "Live Inspired" - C1408.
I also used the little butterflies from "A Flitter" - A1108


Other challenges using this card:
Incy Wincy - Things with Wings
If the Shoe Fits Scrap It - Wings

CTMH July SOTM Blog Hop - Happy Forever

Well, here we are again for another Stamp of the Month (SOTM) Blog Hop.

If you came here from Chris Shouse's Blog, then you are on the right path.
It's quite all right if you are starting here with me. Just continue from here to the next person linked at the bottom of each post. When you get back to me again, you know you have completed the round with everyone.
If you'd like to start at the very beginning or are looking for the entire list, then Go to Helen's Blog. 

This wonderful stamp set consists of nine stamps with four of the cutest Hedgehogs. 

I love to use Red, White & Blue for my Summer cards between Memorial Day and Labor Day. I just think these colors are just so fitting for any occasion.
My colors are Moonstruck and Cranberry. The B&T is from Cherry-O.

The image was colored with Copic Markers. However, when I teach my class with this set, I'm going to make a stencil and use it to color with chalks. Just didn't have time to make stencil yet.

The Hand Stitching was done with matching Embroidery Floss!

The inspiration for this card came from a sketch at Sketch Saturday.
Now hop on over to Kim's Blog for more Eye Candy!!!

June SOTM - Wonderful Friend

Well, here is it, June 1st already. and time for another fabulous

Stamp of the Month Blog Hop.

If you’re not familiar with how a blog hop works, you just click on the name at the end of this post to go to the next person, and so on. However, before you do, I’d love it if you’d leave a comment at the end so I know how you liked my cards.

If you want to start from the very beginning,  start here with Kathleen.
If you are following in order from the beginning, you would have come here from Kim’s Blog.

I have four cards to share with you today.  All using the Stamp Set called "Wonderful Friends"

The first one is a 5”x7” card and has my signature Hand Stitching done with matching Embroidery Floss on it. This one was made for my DH.

I used the Cherry-O Creative Basics for the background.
I used a Spellbinders Fancy Tags Die for the sentiment. I colored the Colonial White Designer Brads with a Copic Markers

The next three cards were made for my clubs and workshops this month. I was determined to use every stamp in the set.

This first one is a standard A2 card and is similar to my larger hand stitched card. This one is workshop friendly.

This card is also a standard A2 card. I used the puddle pad technique and stamped my background.

The third card is 4” x 8.5 and sized to fit in a business envelope.
All materials are CTMH except for this ribbon. It just matched perfectly.

I hope you liked my cards. It’s now time to hop on over to Alison’s Blog and see what great Eye Candy she has in store for you.

Love You Forever - HAS April swap card

I forgot to post this card a while back. This was made for the Humble Artists Swap which we have every two months. We have very specific guidelines. Here they are.

-Use at least one alphabet stamp set
-Have at least three stamped images (can be featured or background)
-Use at least one colour cardstock, from each of 3 different colour palettes
-Use embossing wet or dry (you may use cuttlebug; sizzix; nestabilities or other means for dry embossing)
-There must be at least 7 layers (this means in one spot, I should be able to count 7 layers....make sense?)
-There must be at least 3 different embellishments (can be ribbon; waxy flax; buttons; brads; flowers.......)
-Use only paper featured in the Spring catalogue
-Card must be no smaller than 4 1/4 x 5 1/2
-Use only CTMH products"

My card is 5.5”x5.5” and was made into an easel card because I’m addicted to them.
The papers I used are from the Caboodle paper pack.
I used “The Works” alphabet set for BABY.
All of my images were embossed with Clear Detail EP.

The hand stitching was done with matching embroidery floss.

CTMH May SOTM Blog Hop

Well, here we are, another month into the year and it's time for another Close to my Heart Blog Hop.
Not only does this kick off a new month, but also a NEW CATALOG!!! 

If you have been following the blog hop from the beginning, then you should have come here from  Kathleen's Blog . If you just came across this hop by chance, then you can continue from here and just click on the person listed at the end of this post.  When you get back to me you know you've seen them all.
If you'd like to start from the beginning, please go to Helen's Blog and start there.

My card today uses the May Stamp of the Month, Cherish the Moment. This set comes with a total of 8 stamps.

I used the one that say Happy Birthday. I stamped it in Chocolate ink and then used clear detail embossing powder on top to make it stand out more. I also colored a small half pearl with my brown Copic Marker and placed it on the image to mark the box that says "Young at heart".

The papers used are form the NEW Cherry-O, Creative basics pack. It even comes with a roll of this yummy velvet ribbon.

The hand stitching around the card was done with Blush Embroidery Floss.

The flowers and ferns were punched from various punches and the border punch is MS.
The sketch Challenge #16 is from The Pixie Cottage.

Now, hop on over to Katy Donaldson's Blog for more fabulous eye candy!

April Stamp of the Month Blog Hop

Welcome to the Close to my Heart, April Stamp of the Month Blog Hop.
If you're starting here for the hop, just click on the next person at the end of this post. When you get back to me, you know you've seen them all.


If you want to start at the very begining, then you want to start here at Helen's Blog. There you will also find a complete list of Bloggers in case you get lost or a link doesn' t work.

The inspiration for my card came from  Skipping Stones Tuesday Sketch. I'm addicted to sketches. I just can't get enough.

My card uses the new April Stamp of the Month, called "Flower Pot".  Flowers are one of my favorite things to use in card making.

The B&T is from the Caboodles Collection and the ribbon is Sorbet.

I used stickles on the flowers for just a little glitz!

Now, hop on over to Barbara's blog and see what great artwork she has to share.

Bunny Love - Papertake Weekly Challenge

Here are two more cards using the CTMH stamp set called Bunny Love.

The inspiration for this first card came from a sketch challenge over at the Papertake Weekly Challenge Blog.
The paper is retired Precious Paisley's from CTMH.




This card was inspired by a sketch from the Peachy Keen Blog.