April Stamp of the Month Blog Hop

Oh my it is blog hop time! Welcome to the Close To My Heart April Stamp of the Month blog hop.  We have a ton of talented ladies sharing some spectacularly creative projects showcasing the April Stamp of the Month, Flower Pot (D1409).

This is a round hop, so if you are starting here, keep going til you see me again!

A perfect stamp for coloring or paper piecing.
I used the Caboodle (x7121b) My Reflections Level 2 paper packet to create this beautiful window box scene - stamping the image once on the card base and once on two different B&T (pattern paper) from this paper packet.

 Next, I cut out the window box and the cross sections for the shutters in green and the shutters in sorbet (this is the same B&T pattern, I used the monochromatic sorbet back side of the green dotted piece).  Adding the brads (Z1218), the paper pieced flowers and the bitty sparkles (Z1263), finished it off.

All pieces were attached to the card base over the original stamped image and with my craft knife I cut out the window.

Adding some bricks and a little more B&T to the bottom created a country cottage charm.

As a birthday card for my most special little girlfriend, Emily, I thought it would be a cute touch to add her smiling face inside.  The vellum window creates the depth of her being inside.

 

I love the new Just Blooms paper flowers(Z1266) and wanted to add these to this great stamp set, so for my next card I stamped the small flower pot, the stem and leaves and then added some Tulip flowers and a little butterfly --

Enjoy the hop, your next stop is Carol Loftus! Please take a moment and leave a little comment before hopping on.

Not Your Mama's Christmas Cards

Or maybe they are, cause I love non-traditional, non-red and green, something different Christmas cards.  Each month I prepare a $5 five Christmas card workshop based on a theme - we have done monochromatic green, one sketch 5 ways, and this month we are looking at the My Reflections Jingles paper packet colors of Juniper, Tulip, Creme Brulee, and Olive.

I love to use all my paper 'til the last little scrap -- the smallest little scrap is saved for future use.  Why not use some of those precious scraps in our Chstmas cards this month.

And a little snow theme, cause it is cold out there (and I live in the sunny south where it seems unable to stop snowing).  A few snowflakes, some snowmen, a few deck the hall ornaments, and MERRY CHRISTMAS round out the field of stamps. 

We will be using second generation stamping, images hiding in corners, tone on tone stamping and more.  And don't forget the bling.  Embellishments round out the beauty of a card - like adding your jewelry to enhance that great outfit.

I love using the great Wishes How-to book as a quick and easy design guide.  Or I may even look through magazines to get an idea and then play with a design until I like it.

Check out my website for workshop details -- this would make a great Close To My Heart party idea -- OR take the plunge this month and Dare to Dream.

Supplies:

Value Pack Card Bases and Envelopes (X1410)

Jingle Level 2 paper packet (x7115c)

Juniper ink (Z2165) and Cardstock (x5752)

Tulip ink (Z2166) and Cardstock (x5753)

Wishes How to Book (9033)

Snow Friends (D1244)

Holiday Trinkets (D1366) and Christmas Melodies (D1324)

Embellishments (brads, ribbon, and more)

Just for Fun

Have you seen the U.S. Postal Service commercial with the clown.  The little toy clown is inside the room by the box he came in and all of a sudden he is at the door - (scary music plays now) --

I think the little stuffed animal world must be watching, too, cause just the other day one of Todd's furry toys was found sitting next to my chair at my desk -- (scary music plays again). 

Did Todd place him here as added protection while Todd napped? Or did this little furry, stuffed creature creep over to await my return?

We will never know, will we -- (a little more scary music).

Caboodle and another Tip

I love the Caboodle My Reflections paper packet -- it is so amazing versatile!  While completing the club layouts and cards, I decided to stay a little closer to the designs shown in the amazing club brochures (color brochure contains all cutting and preparation instructions - AMAZING).

Here is the card, a design from our great How to Book, Wishes, (how to books do not cramp your creative style, they just help FREE your mind to let the creativity flow) -- Gallery is the name of the design.

While I stayed close to the original design in the brochure, I did take a few liberties -- a tip to share is coloring the dimensional elements (chipboard) - our deminsional elements are white so all you need do is  ink a sponge, sponge dauber, or sponge tool and pounce your shape until you have the desired level of color - the color will darken as it dries and REMEMBER to wait until your item dries before stamping a design or saying!

Tiny Tabs were also used on this card -- an amazing new little embellishment, the Tiny Tabs may  be used as a folded tab, you may break them in half and use each half ( the little silver back of the tab was used on my card), or you may pop out the designed center apoxy piece (not sure if that is what it is called but sounds good -- don't you think) to be used separately -- WOW three ways - one product.

Cute card, great new products, and so many ideas -- are your creative wheels turning? 

National Crafting Month Tip

As part of National Crafting month, I thought I would share a few of the tips I have learned over the years.

I love to use tools created from unexpected places.  Early in my CTMH career, I learned the best tips were found on the CTMH consultant's bulletin board -- one of my favorites is called the Perfect Positioners. Using cross stitch plastic, you could line up anything, from brads to faux stitching.

 

My favorite sizes are 12 x 4 or 12 x 3, 4 x 6, and 3 x 2 (which fits nicely in my distressing kit).  I have several round sizes, too.

Using a marker and the perfect positioner, you are ready to take on your project.  Here we are going to add dots marked along the edge -- place the perfect positioner over your work being sure to evenly line up from edge to edge.  Pressing in each space with the blunt end of your marker creates a cute little dot.

This cute card was created by Becky during a recent class -- awesome job for a beginner, wouldn't you say?

DARE TO DREAM -- Taking the Plunge

Four years ago, I was introduced to Close To My Heart products and my truly best friend in business, Teri.  She shared my passion for scrapbooking and she shared with me the most awesome scrapbook, card making, and stamping products ever.  Most importantly she believed in me and provided me the courage to Dare To Dream and with that I began the odessy running my own business.  The hardest job I have ever loved.  And Teri has remained my coach and cheerleader as I continue my journey ... let me be your coach and cheerleader as you Dare to Dream.

And in the fabulous fashion of Close To My Heart, they are making your dream of running your own business deliciously better with a little sneak peek at the 2010 Summer Idea Book Stamps of the Month -- yes, you read right, all 4 exclusive stamp sets FREE when you take the starting your own business plunge.

Your investment for joining the Close To My Heart family anytime during the month of March 2010 -- $99*.  An awesome Spring Consultant kit already valued at over $300 PLUS 4 BRAND NEW Stamp of the Month.  No one has these sets...not even current Consultants, makes me want to sign up all over again.

ALL THIS FOR ONLY $99....yes, $99 for over $400 worth of product.

 You will not be alone in this endeavor, our nationwide Team is full of supportive members and Close To My Heart has the most awesome Training Academy -- I'd love to share this opportunity with you and have you join our team.  Have questions, please feel free to email me at shirleyross@myctmh.com.

Make your dreams come true and take the plunge today.

As an added bonus, Close To My Heart provides TWO add on kits - specifically designed to provide you all the tools you need to begin this journey in your area of interest -

Scrapbooking - you will receive a complete package, including our wonderful How-To book, Imagine all for only $60* (retail value of $160)

Cardmakers - you will receive a complete package, including our wonderful How-To book, Wishes, all for only $50* (retail value of $150)

Add either of these kits or both to your basic consultant kit and you are ready to hit the road running.

Don't miss out on this wonderful opportunity - I look forward to hearing from you.

*plus shipping and handling