February Stamp of the Month Blog Hop: Wild About Love

You're going to go wild for the February stamp of the month, Wild About Love, and all the great ideas and new products we're showcasing on this month's blog hop!  If you're already hopping, then you probably came here from Gina's Little Corner of Stamping Heaven, and you'll visit the Fancy Melissa next.  (If you get lost along the way, click HERE for the entire list.)

Since we've been "snowed in" (or at least snowed out of school!) this week, I have had so much fun making cards and a layout with the February stamp of the month and the Ivy Lane paper pack!

I will be featuring Wild About Love at my Spring/Summer 2014 Idea Book Unveiling Open House on Saturday, 2/8.  (Leave me a comment or check out my Facebook page for more details!)

All of my projects use the NEW Ivy Lane paper pack.  I used Desert Sand, Cocoa, and/or Hollyhock inks on all of my projects.

I also used the CTMH/Cricut Art Philosophy for the "fancy" cuts.  The stamp carrier sheet tells you how to cut both the heart and "Wild Thing" sentiment.  I also used the Art Philosophy cartridge for the heart gift bag.

These three standard-size cards and my layout are all based on sketches from Make It From Your Heart, Vol. 1.

Each card has been embellished with bronze shimmer trim, NEW hemp baker's twine, NEW triangle Durables studes, and/or NEW Pink Flamingo dots.

Here are some close ups from my layout too.  (If you look closely, you'll see a sneak peek at the July stamp of the month, Circus Alphabet!)

 This page is tucked in behind my layout so that I could include more journaling.

Before you check out what the talented Fancy Melissa has in store for you, please leave me a comment!  Here's hoping your February is Wild About Love!

Balloon Ride Meets Tuesday Morning Sketches

It has been so hard not posting some of the new goodies Close To My Heart is unveiling February 1!  Since that's only a few short days away, I couldn't resist sharing this card I made based on Tuesday Morning's Sketch #234.

Here's the sketch:

 I started with a Cashmere card stock base (4.25"x4.25") and used two different pieces of Balloon Ride B&T for the top and bottom panels with Saddle ink distressing.  I used my CTMH/Cricut Art Philosophy cartridge to cut the "stamp," which is sponged in Cashmere ink.  The Sorbet balloon is from the Balloon Ride assortment.  I used Bronze shimmer trim and new hemp baker's twine to accent my card.

I also want to link this up to Heart 2 Heart Challenge's "two-faced" challenge because I used both sides of the gorgeous balloon B&T duos (on the bottom panel and on the "stamp").

May you be lifted up today too!

H2H Challenges: In the Spotlight

This week's Heart 2 Heart Challenge is called "in the spotlight," and I can think of lots of different ways to interpret this challenge. In fact, I had hoped to create a layout with my daughter's dance recital pictures, but I just couldn't make the time.  Instead, you're getting a sneak peek at new products from the Close To My Heart Spring/Summer Idea Book (available 2/1/14)!  I guess I'm putting the new products in the spotlight!

Can you tell that I've also used the spotlight technique on my card?  If you're not familiar with this technique, be sure to check out this week's H2H inspiration!  Basically, you stamp your images in one ink color on your project, and then pick an area to highlight in full color.  Can you tell that I used clouds for my spotlights?  (I cut them with the CTMH/Cricut Artiste cartridge.)

In this close up, you can see the cloud shape clearly.  I stamped a portion of the hot air balloon on the cloud, and then used sponges to color it quickly.  On the second balloon, I used markers and my blending pen.

Before you check out the H2H spotlight inspiration, here's my materials list.
***Available 2/1/14: Give a Lift stamp set; Balloon Ride paper pack
Available now: Saddle, Creme Brulee, Juniper, and Sorbet inks; blending pen; bronze shimmer trim; CTMH/Cricut Artiste cartridge

Hip Hip Hooray! It's Your Birthday!

Yesterday, we enjoyed spending time with family as we celebrated my niece's 13th birthday.  (My SIL & I are finding this occasion very bittersweet, as my baby will also be 13 before I blink.)  Who doesn't love a little 'stache of cash, so I made a card using the Cloud Nine card kit but paired it with the Sparkle & Shine paper pack.  Mustaches are so trendy right now!

The card is based on the Atlantic Heart Sketch challenge #38.  Both of the die cut shapes (mustache and speech bubble) come in the Cloud Nine kit, but you can also cut them with the CTMH/Cricut Artiste cartridge.

I used Juniper and Slate ink, plus Juniper washi tape and silver shimmer trim.  Can you see the doodle border I drew with the silver metallic marker?  The triangle durable studs came in the Cloud Nine kit, and will be available separately in February with the unveiling of the Spring/Summer CTMH Idea Book.  (All supplies are from Close To My Heart.)

Thanks for stopping by!  I hope you make today a Hip Hip Hooray kind of day, no matter what you're doing.  (A little birdie told me that I get to take my nephews to church today, so I am looking forward to that and then having friends over for dinner tonight.)

CTMH Technique Blog Hop: Cricut Overlays

Chirp!  Chirp!  (That's the sound of a Cricut machine for you non-Cricut owners out there.)  I'm really excited to join the CTMH Technique Blog Hop group, where we share a technique with you each month on the 15th.  (If you're already hopping, then you're here from Wendy Kessler's blog.  You'll check out Marianne Hancock's Cricut creation next.)

Here's a sample from the CTMH Corporate artists.  I plan to have my project posted this weekend.  With our remodel, moving back in, going back to work, and supervising a student teacher, I have had NO crafty time!  (Thanks so much for your understanding.)  Go check out Marianne's gorgeous layout now.

Cross-Stitch Wishes (January Stamp of the Month) Card Swap

Each month, I participate in a stamp of the month card swap with my Close To My Heart team.  We have a really talented group of ladies, as you can see by their work here!

You can see my card HERE if you missed it.

Let me know if you've got to have this stamp set, and I can help you get it ordered, or you can click HERE to get started yourself.  You are sew special!

You Warm My Heart

Just a little cup of cheer coming your way...

Thanks to my friend Joy for this card idea!  I am using it for some of my holiday thank yous.  May you stay warm and cozy!  We are warming up just a bit from a major cold freeze.  I always enjoy a cup of hot tea.  Cheers!

Cloud 9 Blog Hop

Close To My Heart has a super fun National Papercrafting Month special offer, the Cloud 9 Card Kit!  Check out all the fun that twenty-two of my favorite blogging consultants have compiled for you.  (If you're already bouncing along from Cloud 9 creation to Cloud 9 creation, then you've arrived from Wendy Kessler's blog.  You'll go to Sheila Bennett's blog from here.)

After making the 10 cards using the guide and provided materials, I used my scraps to make this cute little notebook to record happy thoughts for 2014:

It actually started as a Lagoon spiral notebook!

You may have realized that the speech bubble stamp actually says "Happy Birthday," but I masked off the "birth" part.  It's simple: cut tape to fit the piece of your stamp that you want to hide.  Then, ink up your stamp as usual, but PULL OFF THE TAPE before you stamp the image on your project.  (It will be easier to cut the tape to size if you stamp it on scrap paper first and use that as a guide to cut your tape.  When you stick the tape to your stamp, you can efficiently use your microtip scissors to cut off any excess tape.)

To make the blank part of the sentiment look, well, not so blank, I cut a star out of Honey card stock from the kit (using one of the die cut stars as a model).  I found the brass brad (office supply store) in my tool bag, and it added a nice complement to the brass triangle stud.

By the way, the teal/Lagoon shimmer trim and gold polka dot washi tape come with the kit!  You're going to love how fun it is!  If you don't already have a consultant or you're one of my favorite customers, please click HERE to learn all about the Cloud 9 card kit and how you can get yours.

In addition to the Cloud 9 blog hop, I'm also entering the notebook in the Heart 2 Heart Challenges NEW challenge for the new year.

Now go check out Sheila's Cloud 9 creation!