October Stamp of the Month Blog Hop: Very Merry Christmas

The Close To My Heart October stamp of the month, Very Merry Christmas, has arrived in time to get started on those crafy holiday projects!  I hope that this blog hop will inspire your creativity.  (If you're already hopping along, then you've probably arrived from Laurie Newton's blog.  From here, you will hop to Susan Brooks' blog next.)

My cards all pair the October stamp of the month with the Pear and Partridge paper pack to make cards that would mail easily to get a jump start on my holiday cheer.  I used card sketches from the Make It From Your Heart, Vol. 1 to simplify the process.  Red and Stardust Glitz Glitter Gel make adding bing a snap.  I also used Cranberry baker's twine on most these.  For the mitten card, above, I used the Cricut Artiste to cut the mittens, stamped them in Cranberry, and then stamped them again with New England Ivy on Colonial White scrap cardstock.  I cut out the green cuffs, adhered them to the Cranberry mittens (with the baker's twine in between the two layers) and then outlined the design with Liquid Applique.  After the Liquid Applique dried, I heated it with my heat tool so that it puffed up.

For this 3rd card of the same design, I stamped the presents from the tree image several times in multiple colors on scraps and then cut them out to adhere to the card front.  I also comined two of the sentiments into one.  This card has a lot of Glitter Glitz bling! 

My 4th card uses a different Make It From Your Heart sketch.  Can you see how I scored the Cranberry cardstock to add interest to that panel? 

Finally, I made this card for two different challenges (that you can read about HERE) but here it is in case you missed it.  I dyed our seam binding ribbon with Sweet Leaf reinker and added a few details with the Silver metallic pen.

I also have some non-holiday uses for this stamp set that I will be sharing throughout the month, so please visit often or even consider becoming a follower of my blog.  Thanks for stopping by, for your kind words in the comments section, and for your time.  Be sure to check out Susan's festive project next.  Happy holidays!

World Card Making Day 10/6

 

On Saturday, 10/6, in honor of World Card Making Day, I am hosting a fall-themed card class (with some Christmas inspiration thrown in) at 2:00, followed by a crop from 4:00-10:00.  If you'd like to know more, feel free to email me at inkyscrapper @ gmail dot com.

 

I'll also have some online inspiration here for you in case you live a little too far away to come to my class and crop.  (Out of curiosity, I would love to know where my readers live- at least your state.  I promise not to stalk you if you share a little personal info in the comments section!)

Pocket Card

This past Saturday, I hosted a team meeting for my Close To My Heart downline at my home.  One of the talented gals, Anita DeForest, led us in creating this darling card.

We used the Rugged Dude stamp set for the pocket, the Cricut for the stars, and some of our new alcohol markers to color the flower.  Isn't it sweet?  I am loving the Dakota barnwood paper!  (I used that paper collection for my layout, below.)

Thank you, Anita, and all the ladies in attendance, for sharing your ideas, talents, and fun with me.  I'm so blessed to have such a great CTMH team!

SOS September Challenge: BTS

In many parts of the world, BTS means "back to school," but not this month at Scrap Our Stash Challenges!  We encourage you to scrap your own stash using items with the intials B, T, and S.  Here's my contribution:

B= Brothers, Brads, and Barbed Wire
T= Tag and Textured paper
S= Stars and Studio J

One afternoon this spring, I kept my nephews after school and ended up getting some great pictures of them together! I decided to make my layouts digitally in Studio J so that I could easily get one for myself, my sister, and our mother.

You can learn more about Studio J by clicking HERE.  It is a free online scrapbook design studio.  Upload your pictures, choose your paper pack and number of photos, select your prefered layout, and get creative!  The new Studio J Express Collections have done almost all of the work for you- just add pictures and journaling then order. 

If you'd like to learn more about Scrap Our Stash or to participate in this month's BTS challenge, go HERE.  We'd love to have you join us, and it's not too late to play!  All skill levels and products are welcome, so get scrapping BTS/SOS style!

H2H Challenges: Christmas Is Coming!

Did you know that Christmas will be here in about 13 weeks?  I don't want to send anyone into a panic with Fall having just arrived, but it's coming quickly!  At Heart 2 Heart Challenges, we're trying to help you prepare by tackling some of those holiday cards and projects early this year.

For my card, I started with the lovely Pear and Partridge paper pack, a simple sketch from the Make It From Your Heart, Vol. 1 how-to guide, and the upcoming October stamp of the month, Very Merry Christmas.  I stamped the ornament on scrap Colonial White in both Cranberry and Olive, and then I carefully cut out the Cranberry ornament and the Olive center strip to give the ornament more depth.  With thoughts of mailing this card in mind, I used a little Cranberry baker's twine and Red Glitter Glitz Gel to keep it from being too bulky while still looking festive.  The sentiments were stamped in New England Ivy.

If you'd like more holiday inspiration, be sure to check our Design Team's festive projects.  Then get busy yourself and create a project or two for the upcoming holidays.  Remember, this Christmas challenge is our last challenge of September, and you have until the end of the month to play.  (You've also got time to link up to any of the other H2H September challenges.)  I can't wait to see what you make!  Remember to use some Close To My Heart products, please.  Merry early Christmas!

Two Challenges, One Christmas Card

Even though Fall has just arrived, it's not too early to think about Christmas cards!

I based my card on the Sweet Sunday Sketch #168 challenge and the current Dynamic Duos #21 color combo, Always Artichoke and Certainly Celery.  (Allisa Chilton's card at Dynamic Duos totally inspired me!)


For my card, I started with a Colonial White standard card and swiped the edges of if and the Colonial White frame with Sweet Leaf ink.  The main panel is a piece from the new Pear & Partridge paper pack.  I used scraps of Sweet Leaf polka dot paper and card stock, plus a strip of New England Ivy too.  The pattern on the Sweet Leaf cardstock is the edge of one of the stamps from the upcoming CTMH October stamp of the month, Very Merry Christmas, that I stamped with New England Ivy to give that piece some interest.

The ornament is also from the October SOTM, and I stamped it in both Sweet Leaf and New England Ivy, then cut it out and pieced it together.  Can you see the sparkles I added with the Stardust Glitz Glitter Gel and the silver metallic pen faux stitching?  To color the seam binding knot, I dampened it and then dropped Sweet Leaf reinker on it.  I like how the color bled.

One Christmas card down, 99 or so more to go... I will have to make a variety this year just to get them all finished!  Do you send Christmas or holiday cards too?

Enjoy the Ride Birthday Card

We took my brother-in-law out to lunch for his birthday Sunday.  Since he has recently bought himself a mountain bike, I knew that I had to use the National Stampin Month special stamp set, It's Your Day, for his birthday card.

I had to make his card in UGA colors, so I began with a standard-size side-fold White Daisy card base.  I cut a piece of black cardstock 1/4" smaller, and then a Cranberry piece 1/4" smaller than that.  I stamped the top piece of the Cranberry cardstock with the polka dot stamp in the set using Cranberry ink.  The bike was stamped in Black and then in 2nd and 3rd generation to give it "motion."  The chevron stamp makes a great tire tread.  I am loving the new Slate gray ink.  A little Cranberry baker's twine finished it off.

If this looks familiar, it's because it's the same basic card that you can see HERE, based on a Make It From Your Heart sketch.

12 for '12: July and August

Studio J to the rescue!  This online scrapbooking program makes it so easy for me to upload my favorite photos from the month and then create a layout- while the memories are still fresh.

For July, Clementine seems like a fun mix and worked well with all my mismatched photos.  We celebrated my parents' and our anniversaries, camped in Pigeon Forge, played at Splash Country and Dollywood, and attended Logan's family reunion.  Can you see one of my jars of refrigerator pickles?  They were delicious!

August's base is the pretty new Avonlea collection.  It's maybe a little too fancy for my pictures, but I just love this pretty paper!  We started school and had fun celebrating some birthdays last month.

 

Here's hoping your September is going well and that you're taking photos as you live your life!  I've got to remember to take the camera to tonight's football game. ;)

H2H Challenges: Bigger is Better!

At Heart 2 Heart Challenges, we've got a BIG challenge for you: create a BIG card, or at least bigger than the standard 4.25"x5.5".  One of my favorite big sizes is the 8"x3.5" size, because you can easily make two from one sheet of cardstock.  Rather than cut my own, however, I started with one of Close To My Heart's pretty Colonial White die cut card bases.  (You get 10 scalloped cards and envelopes for only $6.95.)

My new Jardin stamp set was begging for some ink, s'il vous plait, so I inked two of the larger images up in Blush, Smokey Plum, and Black. 

Are you decorating the insides of your cards too?  It takes very little extra effort to add a little something special to your cards.

Here are a few close ups of the stamping.  I added some Silver Glitter Glitz Gel to the butterfly's body.  After stamping and cutting out the bow, I added a smokey gray sparkle from the black sparkles collection.  Can you see where I added a piece of black tulle ribbon?

 

Now it's your turn to create and show off a BIG card.  If you need more inspiration, visit the H2H blog to check our DT samples.  Then, link up your BIG card.  I'll see you there!

 

All supplies from CTMH: Jardin stamp set; Colonial White Die Cut cards; La Belle Vie paper pack; Black, Blush, and Smokey Plum ink; black tulle ribbon; black sparkes; silver glitter glitz gel

New Product Artwork: Scholastic

*All this week, I'm featuring NEW artwork from all of Close To My Heart's NEW paper collections! Be sure to visit each day to check out what's new.

Last but not least is our final new CTMH paper collection, Scholastic.  Not only is it perfect for back to school, but think of all those school memories and photos you still have to scrapbook!  How about something special for the book lovers in your life?  Here's what the CTMH Art Studio has to share:

 The layout, below, uses the Scholastic Scrapbooking WOTG.

My layout uses the cool C1521 Approved stamp set.

 Joanne Coleman made this adorable post-it note holder with the Scholastic WOTG kit.

Carol Gomes made this cool window card with the A1131 Love stamp set and Ruby cardstock and ink.  The heart spins around when you open the card!

New Product Artwork: Pear & Partridge

*All this week, I'm featuring NEW artwork from all of Close To My Heart's NEW paper collections! Be sure to visit each day to check out what's new.

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!  Pear and Partridge will surely see you through your holiday needs this year!  With its neutral palette, however, you can really extend this kit beyond the holiday season.

 Above is the Pear and Partridge Scrapbooking WOTG kit, and below is the Card Making WOTG kit.  (The card kit will definitely be offered as a workshop this fall!)

 How would you like to create your own Advent countdown calendar box?  The Workshop on the Go has everything you need except your basic tools!

Here's some more festive artwork from my talented swappers (clockwise from top left): C1520 Christmas Joy by Karen Hoffman; C1506 Flakey Friends snowglobe card by Linda Wentz; C1510 Merry & Bright by Georgia Hauglid; B1412 Perfect Fit- Holidays by Bobbie Markley; G1052 Pear and Partridge Scrapbooking WOTG by Brigetta Giles

 C1520 Monogram stamp Christmas tree box by Georgia Hauglid

New Product Artwork: Moonlight

*All this week, I'm featuring NEW artwork from all of Close To My Heart's NEW paper collections! Be sure to visit each day to check out what's new.

Here is the spook-tacular Halloween paper collection, Moonlight!

My talented swappers continued the Halloween theme, but Moonlight can really be oh-so-much more!  C1509 Magic Potions Artiste milk card by Miyuki Williams; B1413 Perfect Fit- Halloween Holiday by Terri Harden; G1051 Moonlight Scrapbooking WOTG by Dawn Ross; C1522 Creepy Creatures by Laurie Tuma

Bwah-ha-ha-ha-ha!

New Product Artwork: La Belle Vie

*All this week, I'm featuring NEW artwork from all of Close To My Heart's NEW paper collections! Be sure to visit each day to check out what's new.

You've seen me feature La Belle Vie several times already because I love it so much!  The beautiful home decor (above) and layout (left) were created by the CTMH Art Studio.  The layout and stamp set are exclusive to the La Belle Vie Scrapbooking WOTG kit.  Here is a card that I made using the same kit:

And more from my swap group (clockwise from top left): A1132 Family by Miyuki Williams; C1511 Love Blooms by Patricia Ervin; G1048 La Belle Vie Scrapbooking WOTG by Yours Truly; B1414 Bonjour luggage tags by Michelle Giovo; and C1505 Pun Fun by Shellie Sauvie

New Product Artwork: Flirty

*All this week, I'm featuring NEW artwork from all of Close To My Heart's NEW paper collections! Be sure to visit each day to check out what's new.

Are you ready for some Flirty fun?  This paper collection definitely lives up to its name!  How would you like to make this beautiful home decor, either with Flirty or another palette that matches your home?  Isn't the Scrapbooking WOTG kit fun?

 

Here are our talented swappers showing off their fun side, clockwise from top left:

C1523 Outta This World by Laurie Tuma; D1529 Artiste Collection Birthday (purse) by Karen Hollis; and D1525 Casual Expressions by Emily Carter 

 Here's a more serious, fall side of Flirty: A1130 Boutiful Season by Michelle Giovo and G1050 Flirty Scrapbooking WOTG by Alona Peters



New Product Artwork: Dakota

*All this week, I'm featuring NEW artwork from all of Close To My Heart's NEW paper collections! Be sure to visit each day to check out what's new.

OK, pardner, it's time to get some giddy up in your craftin'!  Here's the Dakota paper pack collection, first from the CTMH Art Studio:

 Here is the scrapbooking WOTG:

And now our talented swappers:
Clockwise: G1403 Pear & Partridge WOTG set by Maria Woodworth; D1523 Sweet Music by Peggy Powers; and G1407 Dakota Scrapbooking WOTG by Bobbie Markley

New Product Artwork: Clementine

*All this week, I'm featuring NEW artwork from all of Close To My Heart's NEW paper collections! Be sure to visit each day to check out what's new.

You've already seen several of my creations with my darlin' Clementine, so here's a look at what the CTMH Art Studio has been up to:

 This one is the Clementine Workshop on the Go Scrapbooking kit creation.

Now let's see what my talented swap group made for your viewing pleasure.
Clockwise from top left: G1046 Clementine Scrapbooking WOTG kit by Karen Hoffman; D1528 Jardin by Linda Wentz; B1410 A Friend Like You by Emily Carter; C1529 Scroll Album WOTG by Joanne Coleman

 B1405 Buttons, Bits, and Bobs Flair by Terri Harden; B1404 A Cup of Cheer by Shelly Allen; C1504 Fall Harvest, also by Shelly Allen