November Stamp of the Month Blog Hop: A Little Thanks (and a Tutorial Too!)

Welcome to the Close To My Heart Stamp of the Month Blog Hop! The November stamp of the month, A Little Thanks, belongs in every stamper's arsenal. It is so useful! You can buy the stamp of the month for $22.95, or you can earn a discount of up to 100% PLUS a free stamp set (this month only). Let me show you how!

{If you've arrived from Melissa Burch's blog, you're following the hop. Continue on to my friend Teri Baxter's blog next.}

During November we're expressing our gratitude to you by helping you earn two fabulous My Acrylix® stamp sets for FREE! When you place a minimum order of $100, you will not only receive the November
Stamp of the Month set, A Little Thanks, for FREE, you will also receive one stamp set of your choosing from the 2010 Autumn/Winter Idea Book for FREE*! This means you can increase the value of your purchase by
up to $45.90—that’s almost 50 percent more in value! It’s just our way of imparting A Little MORE Thanks to you for being a great customer.

Did you notice the text background on my card (behind the sentiment block and the piece behind it)? When I first designed this card (following a sketch pattern from the Originals DIY cardmaking guide), it looked like the one below. I liked the general idea of this card, but the Colonial White rectangle just looked too plain and too stark to me.

I decided to create my own background using the November stamp of the month. I first began by laying down text (or sentiment) stamps to cover the background (or at least one side of it).

Then I placed my block onto the stamps, picking them up in place. After inking them up with Bamboo ink (a nice neutral that goes perfectly with the Olivia paper pack), I stamped them on the Colonial White rectangle.

I reinked and stamped the words again on the left side. (I knew it didn't matter about the big hole in the middle because it would be covered.)

Doesn't this look much better?

To finish my card, I swiped the edges of the Colonial White text rectangle in Bamboo ink. I also distressed the edges of my card base with Barn Red ink. The focal image/saying was attached with pop dots to give it added dimension. A twill knot finished it off.

Thanks for taking the time to read through my tutorial. I hope you give this technique a try! Let me know if you do. Don't forget to go on to Teri's blog next.

All supplies from Close To My Heart: A Little Thanks stamp set; Olivia paper pack; Smoothie, Barn Red, and Bamboo inks; Colonial White twill ribbon