CTMH Stamp of the Month Blog Hop - Life Is Tweet

It is June already, wow where is the time going -- And it is Stamp of the Month Blog Hop time! This month's stamp is so tweet --

Little birds and cute flowers and lovely tweetable sayings, this is a keeper for sure!!

As you can see by the two images outlined in red, an Art Philosophy coordinated stamp set!! Love my Cricut and my Art Philosophy cartridge!!

If you have come from Amy's blog, you are on the right track. This is a round, so start anywhere and when you return to where you started means you have seen it all!

I created a cute card and matching envelope using the bird, the 'tweet, wonderful you' sentiment and the Florentine My Reflections paper packet (my paper packet for June).

I stamped the sentiment and bird in Creme Brulee, inked all the edges, including the small piece of vellum I had found in my stash (already had scallops) in Cocoa.

Added a little Seam Binding ribbon.

The envelope needed a little bunch of flowers in the corner.

As did the inside of the card -- I added one of the other little tweety birds on the inside.

Last, using the Pemberly Gathering on the Go tote box make 'n take (CTMH provides it's consultants with so much to help us be successful), I created one of the two June Gathering make 'n take samples using Florentine My Reflections paper and the June Stamp of the Month!! Love it!

I hope you have enjoyed my creations and I would love to hear what you thought of my little offerings.

Now off to see what Krista has in store for you --

REMEMBER, June is Stampaganza - Buy 2 Get 1 FREE. If you have a consultant, contact her with your wish list of stamps, if not, please head on over to my website and check out the great stamps. Stampaganza starts on June 1st!!

Simple Shirley

Today I am sharing my Simply Shirley, Tips, Techniques, and More email project with you. I hope you enjoy, please sign up for the Simply Shirley email's if you would like to see what next week has in store for you.   Tips Permanent Ink Tip: Stazon or CTMH Archival Black? That is the question. Which works best for coloring with markers or a blending pen? This was a little experiment I wanted to take on. Stazon and Archival black are used primarily for inking on non-paper surfaces or for coloring with 'no' bleeding. I had both, so thought I would do a little test. Stazon is a product manufactured in Japan, which makes it a little scarce after the Sunami. CTMH Archival ink is one of our products manufactured in the USA. Because of the difference in manufacturers, Stazon is offered at a higher price point as it is not an Exclusive CTMH product. Now on to the experiment. I stamped several sunflower images from this month's stamp of the month -- a favorite of mine. I found that the Stazon appeared to be darker when stamped and once dried (I left them to dry overnight). I have to add, I did re-ink the Stazon ink pad, however I did not have re-inker for the CTMH Archival Black, so that may have added to the difference in shade. Continue to the Technique section for the coloring test.

Techniques - Coloring with Markers and Blending Pen I started with Stazon and markers (CTMH markers are retiring, if you were wanting some, get them before they are not available) see sunflower on the left. I started with a light color (Sunkiss yellow), followed by Honey and I finished with Sunflower. I like the bright orange look. Next I used the blending pen. I like to think of the blending pen as having every marker in one or two pens (keep one for light colors and one for dark). I used Honey and Sunflower - the best way to use the blending pen is to squeeze the ink pad in the middle before you open it. When you do open it, you will see ink in the lid. Using the paint brush tip of the blending pen, pick up ink from the lid and begin coloring. When coloring with the blending pen, you will see that the ink, even dark colors, will go on lighter. On the second sunflower, I added a little sunflower using the sunflower marker, making this version darker. I wanted to see how well it blended with the ink coverage from the blending pen. It was nice. The last sunflower was created with coloring only using the blending pen and I used only yellows for a more yellow sunflower. I repeated the test with the Archival black using markers, markers plus blending pen, blending pen only -- results -- the Archival did have a little bleeding with the markers. With the blending pen it appeared to do just fine. This could be that the markers were wetter when applying ink and the blending pen is a dryer technique. I hope this helps you in making decision as to which ink you would rather use -- NOTE -- Copic alcohol inks are not to be used with either Stazon or Archival ink -- Mementos is the ink I use for my Copic coloring. I have blending pen coloring classes scheduled at some upcoming retreats. If you are interested, email me for more information. I would love to do a blending class for your friends, call and let's schedule a good date for you.

More - Using up metal embellishments was our 'Use Your Stash' theme for our blog hop. Since I had the metal embellies out and I had these little notebooks in my altered items stash and now I have sunflowers - it just made sense. Hope you enjoyed this weeks Simply Shirley.

Use Your Stash Blog Hop - Brads and Metal

Thank you for joining us for our Use Your Stash Blog Hop. I love this hop, as it helps me use up what is hanging around. It is always fun to find a new home for beautiful embellishments. If you have come from Theresa's blog, you are on the right path. This is a blog round, so if you are starting here, keep going until you return and you will have seen all the wonderful creations by these talented ladies.

I started with getting out some of my stash metal, some Olive Mini Medleys (love having just what I need in the color I need all in one little package). Metal charms (retired) from a previous Idea Book and look how well they go with the current and beautiful Florentine My Reflections paper packet (June's paper of the month), and a few pewter brads.

My space is a little messy and ready for my brain to get creative.

I love how everything was matchy, matchy -- I am a little OCD when it comes to coordinating my paper and my embellishments, another reason I love CTMH!!

I created a little card from the scraps of Florentine paper leftover after cutting for all of June's workshops, clubs, and classes.

The Florentine My Stickease butterfly was a great addition, I think. May's Stamp of the Month, Friendship Bouquet, is so versatile, I used it here for the sentiment!

I hope you enjoyed my little creation. I love comments, so please let me know how you liked my card.

Now on to see what Joy has created for you!!

Technique Blog Hop - Yo Yo Flowers

Time for another technique blog hop -- this month we are sharing our variations of the Yo-Yo flower as seen on page 27 of the 2012 Spring/Summer Idea Book. We have a talented group of Close To My Heart consultants who have created their take on these perfectly beautiful Lucy (paper packet used in the Idea Book Tip and Technique) inspired flowers.

If you have come from Judy Faye's blog, you are on the right track - this is a continuous hop, so start anywhere and when you get back to the where you started, you have seen them all!


Here is a card where I created a yo yo flower using the same instructions as found on page 27 of the 2012 Spring/Summer Idea Book.

Take two scallop borders (I used the Art Philosophy Cricut cartridge to find the perfect border),  score every 1/4", accordion fold, adhere the two borders at one end to create one long border. Using a thread and needle create a basting style stitch along the bottom (flat end of the border) of the border, keeping a long piece of thread at each end. I find piercing the holes first, makes the stitching a little easier. Another tip, use embroidery floss as it is stronger and thicker, so you will have less tearing.

Pull both ends of the  thread ends, pulling the border into a circle. Push down on the edges so the yo-yo lies flat and then tie the two pieces of the thread together. In my example, I use a Bling button as the center.

In this example, I used two scallop circles, scored from side to side along the valley cut of the petals. Cut one petal from each flower, accordion fold and adhere two scallop circles together. You may attach (as I have in the example) to a third scallop circle. I used a glitter star to cover the middle. (p.s. this is my Close To My Heart team Convention cowboy hat - YeeHaw Dallas, here we come - would love to have you join us, ask me how).

I hope you have enjoyed my two creations and versions of how to create yo-yo flowers, would love for you to leave a little comment letting me know what you thought.

Now on over to Joy's blog, for another great version of this technique.

Card A Day Blog - Invitations

Over at Card A Day blog, we are into invitations. Today my card is a cute little invitation using an invitation stamp set and some retired Close To My Heart paper, love using up my stash.

I love the red, white and blue with a little Sunny Yellow -- a quick and easy card.

Happy party time.

Creating your own invitations can be fun. And if it is for a child, they could be involved -- a good Mom and me crafty idea!!

Have a great day.

Card A Day Blog - Invitations

The theme today (and yes I am late) over at the Card A Day Blog is invitations. I was looking through some cards I received from a friend and found an interesting design created with an envelope. So I thought, let me see what I can do with this.

I started with a regular sized envelope and folded the two sides into one another making a middle pocket. I cut the flap at the fold lines and sealed the two sides down, finishing the pocket in the middle.

I random stamped using one of the Art Philosophy Cricut cartridge stamp sets and created an invitation tag.

I added a matted, embossed piece with a ribbon band and a Happy Birthday sentiment to one side of the flap.

This would also work well for a little gift card ==

I hope you enjoyed my creation, would love to read your comments.

Storage Tips

I am loving the plastic Cropper Hopper style scrap folders (I use the Hobby Lobby brand). These folders hold full sheets of cardstock in the middle and there are two smaller compartments, where you can store your scraps.

I am not a paper hoarder (not since I learned the Faster, Simpler, Easier (t) Close To My Heart way). This system works well for the amount of card stock I keep on hand. What I needed most was a way to put my hands on a particular color and to be sure I was using up all my scraps.

When I am working on a project, I pull the folder out. It makes it easy to transport to an event all neat and together. And I find with the scraps right there in the front, I will more than likely use the scraps I have on hand.

I used my 2" x 4" Avery labels for labeling the folders. The small label provided was too small -- my old eyes need big print.  I printed the color name twice on each label and folded it over the label portion of the folder. This way when I am standing over the folders, I can see the name right side up from the back and when standing level in front of the folders, I can read them (almost from across the room).

My next storage tip involves our Close To My Heart My Acrylix stamp storage box (Z1038), which I use for everything.

Today, I am showcasing my technique box. In this box, you will find all the techniques I have learned over the years. And more, as I add to it almost every day.

Each technique is printed on a 6" x 6" piece of cardstock and the example of the technique is either on the back or bottom corner of the sheet.

The box is divided into sections to help find the techniques by type, such as Embossing, Resist, Basic Stamping, Base and Shade, etc.

My Club members enjoy receiving their own 6" x  6" technique instruction sheet for their technique boxes, too. Join one of my clubs or start your own, I am a click away.

Thanks for stopping by, please leave a comment and if you have a great storage idea, please share.

Mom & Me Using Dotty for You

It is another Wednesday and to the PAC we go a croppin'. It is our 'All About Me' class and my first layout is ready to put in my 'Mom & Me' version of this album workshop.

The finishing touches included adding a photo of Mom and me. Covering the chipboard letters in coordinating Dotty for You paper. After adding a little Baker's Twine to the ampersand, I finished the layout with three bitty pearls in the upper corner of the photo.

I love this page and will cherish it for years to come.

Next is a two page layout with the journaling prompt - '10 Things I Love'.  In my version, I am journaling about 10 Things Mom and I Love.

Over the last two weeks, I have shared some of the journaling that will be included on the left hand side of the layout.

There is a fold out piece on the left hand side of the layout where I will hide the journaling.

The layout called for a list of 10 things along the right hand side layout. I am using lists with small photos to accompany the word. One will be 'jellybeans' and I have a photo of our jellybean jar. And so on.

I will share the completed layout next week and will continue along this album's journey to completion.

The Dotty for You paper packet is awesome and for a qualifying order of $35, this paper packet can be yours. Click here for more details. Click HERE to start shopping.