September SOTM Blog Hop

Welcome to our Stamp of the Month Blog Hop! We will be featuring September's SOTM, which is Fall favorites a set of 11 stamps. If you have come here from Teresa’s Fabulous Blog, you are on the right path! The blog hop is a great big circle, so you can start here and work your way all around. If you get lost along the way, you’ll find the complete list of participating consultants here on Helen’s blog.
This month we have 60 Close To My Heart Consultants sharing their creations using this month's SOTM and other great CTMH products on their blogs. This is simple to do - just click on the link at the end of the post on each blog to move to the next one! Here we go!

 
After seeing all the beautiful blue denim scarecrows I decided I needed to change things up a bit. 


I used a combination of the new Alcohol Markers & the classic watercolor markers CTMH uses!  Both are very fun to blend with!  That blending pen makes all the lines go away like magic! 
It’s an easel card I made on my Gypsy.  I welded two identical label shapes together along the top/short edge to make this card.  After cutting I scored and folded it in the middle of the cover to make the easel.  I love easel cards because a couple of extra folds and you have a 3D card!


Items used

• Colonial white cardstock
• Cocoa cardstock
• Flirty Raspberry from the Flirty paper collection
• Moonlight B&T owl paper
• Autumn Lane Assortment Z1749
• Burlap Ribbon Z1760 (A surprising favorite!)
• Art Philosophy Cricut & Cricut Craft room to weld the shape together to make a card that folds at the top
• Ruby, Olive and Autumn Terracotta Alcohol markers
• Watercolor Pencils (may be currently out of stock) Item # 3505
• Brown Stazon Ink pad Z1142
• Alcohol blending marker Z1801
• Blending pen (for colored pencils) 3174

Now "Hop" on over to Traci's beautiful blog to see her work! Be sure to visit all the Consultants at their Blogs to get some great crafting ideas and other fun ideas! Remember, the <month> SOTM is only available until <last day of the month>! Contact your CTMH Consultant (or click here) to see how you can get this stamp set at a discount or even free!

This project also is part of this week’s Mojo Monday challenge.   I’m number 152.  I flipped it on the diagonal but it’s still the map I used to make my card! 

I’m hopping everywhere this month because I also entered it in these challenges:
Eureka Stamps:  Anything Goes
Totally Stampalicious:  Anything Goes
Delightful challenges:  Fall Days
Stampin Sisters in Christ:  Diecut
Pile it on: I spy something that begins with P

Be sure to come back for next month.  The October Stamp of the Month will feature my Advent Workshop made entirely of current CTMH products!   I’ll have Cricut Craft Room & Cricut Gypsy files available so creating it will be a snap!
Here’s a sneak peek!  Go here for to see the whole Advent Calendar!

I love my team

This Tuesday night is our monthly Team Time to get together and swap ideas and projects!  I’m working on mine today. 

I thought I’d share a little goodie that I’ve had the privilege to carry around this month.   The team member who has the highest _____  (requirement varies depending on the month) gets to carry some bling on her keychain each month.  There’s two of these goodies.  One’s a beautiful heart keychain, the other is this star which was a special item from this year’s convention. 

I received the star last month and it’s been a fun sparkly piece! 

Want to join the fun?  Join my team!  It’s only $49 and you get tons of product to start you out!  Click here to see all the goodies!

$49 consultant special

This month kicked off the new Close to My Heart Consultant kit at just $49!  You get all this which is valued at $130 dollars!  Just the Avonlea Workshop on the Go & the Glamour Alphabet is is $47! 

 

This is an offer that you don’t have to think twice on.  Try out CTMH!  You can jump in with both feet or just a toe!  Just come on over and try us out!

But don’t wait because this adorable tote comes free this month –but it’s while supplies last! 

These totes are hot!  Nobody’s selling them but everybody wants them!  If you don’t want yours, let me know… 

I’m sure a deal can be made.  But you can only make me a deal if you sign up!  Click her for details….

Product Review: My Acrylix Stamp Scrubber

This morning I thought I’d tell you a little bit about the new Stamp Scrubber Item # Z1782 from Close to My Heart.

Don’t judge it by its size.  It’s a great little scrubber.  It gets the job done and some say that it takes a little less stamp cleaner than before.  It has been redesigned because we now have pigment inks and our previous scrubber could not handle pigment inks well.  This one does great. 

For cleaning pigment inks, it’s best to spray our Spritz Cleaner directly on the stamp and then use our scrubber.  Do this immediately after stamping.  Don’t let the pigment ink start drying or you’ll have to go to the sink and let the stamps soak a bit. 

Pro & Cons:

+ I love its size!  It fits on my desk and doesn’t take over!  My old one was so big that it took over my little Scrapbox. 

+ It’s perfect for packing on the go for crops!  It fits in my tray with my acrylic blocks.*

+ I love the bristles!  It gets debris and dog hair off of my stamps and my ink pads!  (I’ll swipe over my ink pad gently to remove stuff that I used to pick off with my nails.  Fewer inky fingers!)

+ The bottom have little rubber feet for traction.  You can use it with one hand!

- The only problem I’ve had is that I’ve lost it once.  See #2 above.  It fits anywhere and it took me a few days to find it in my tray of blocks. 

 

Here’s some pix to compare sizes

 

Too thick to go in our ink organizer but it stores well with Acrylic blocks! 

 

To order this and more, click here.

Advent Calendar Sneak Peek!

I’m almost done with my version of the Advent Calendar.  It is super cute!  With all of the wonderful Winter holiday shapes on the Artiste & Art Philosophy Cricut Cartridges I couldn’t resist putting together my own!  It has minimal stamping and maximum fun!  It is super easy to create because I’ve created a template on my Gypsy so it will be easy to cut via the Gypsy or Cricut Craft Room.  It only takes 1 extra piece of White Daisy cardstock.  Everything else is cut using the scraps left from cutting the Advent drawers. 

I’ll be offering a workshop kit soon!  Leave me a comment to let me know if you’re interested!

 

 

DIY snowman…. Just two circles welded together! 

 

Thanks for looking!  My comments are moderated, so it’s easy for you to leave a comment!

National Stamping Month Blog Hop

Hello!  It’s time for another blog hop because the 15th is the first day of our National Stamping Month promotion!  This year you can get this fabulous stamp set “It’s Your Day” for just $5 with a $35 purchase.  Yes, it’s two sheets of stamps in one little compact package for just $35!  It’s retail value is $35.90 which is more than the minimum purchase requirement.  How cool is that???

 

It’s compatible with the brand new Artiste Cricut Bundle.  Those little conversation bubbles, hearts and the circle can be quickly cut on Artiste!

So if you want to keep hopping, you can!  There’s more than 40 consultants who have created artwork for this blog hop. If you’ve come from Casandra’s blog you’re on the right track! 

Here’s my first little project using this stamp set. I stamped in the dotty background all over my slate colored purse in Slate.  Can’t believe how much darker it is!  I plan to add a little pocket but I have to get this picture posted ASAP.  I’m already late for the ‘hop. 

 

Thanks for stopping by! now on to visit Vicki to see her fabulous artwork!

New “While Supplies Last” items online—$2 Albums, $1 Stickease!

They’re back until they’re gone!  And they’re at unbelievable prices too! 

Shop now!  Don’t forget to join my August Gathering and get a free gift from me!

 

Here’s the new items:  You’ll see the Original Price & the discounted price and the Item number

Quantity: BOTTLE CAPS

$1.50 Z1691

Quantity: 4 1/4" x 5 1/2" CLEAR CARDS

$3.00 Z1323

Quantity: CRUISIN' COMPLEMENTS SILVER FOIL IMAGES

$1.00 X7154C

Artiste in August Day 10

I don’t want you go get lost on the blog hop so I’m putting up a little link so you can get to Rebecca Kings’ blog  tonight. 

 

I made the petal envelope on page 36 a while back but I haven’t photographed it!  I made a new one this evening and it just didn’t turn out.  Petals need to be petal colored.  Dakota wasn’t a good pick for this paper. 

On the 8th Day of Artiste, there’s FedEx!

Look what came today! 

I’ve been unpacking orders instead of playing on my Cricut tonight!  Look at the boxes!  I’ve never had my shipment broken up between two boxes until today.  The Advent Calendars take up a lot of room but they’re packed so well!  There’s goodies for 7 customers and a ton of hostess rewards for me and 2 customers.  We placed a mega order and all received hostess rewards.  Karen is the first to earn a half priced Cricut Artiste Cartridge.  Hooray for Karen!  Who is next? 

PS  I just realized there’s a box missing, it was delivered a couple days ago. 

 

Anyway, the Artiste in August is taking a break tonight.  Hop on over to Becca’s blog and see her artwork!

Artiste in August: Day 7

Today’s featured shape is the the 20 circle ball shown on page 57 of the handbook. 

This one was a bit interesting.  I like my creation.  It reminds me of a beach ball, I was hoping to have an ornament that would fit on a Christmas tree.  Well, that didn’t happen!  It hangs really nicely in my tree outside! 

For starters, the handbook was a bit misleading.  So far, when we see the dimensions in red next to our 3D item it’s of the finished item.  In this case, it’s of one circle when folded.  Thus, I was in a bit of a surprise when I cut circles on my Cricut at 2.75.”  They were about 3.75 inches tall!  When scored and folded, they were 2.75 inches.  All in all, my project cut at 2.75” is 6.75 inches tall!  Almost as tall as the Cricut cartridge box.    Wowzers! 

Tip for this project:  Use the assembly instructions as your guide.  You need to take 5 circles and make them into a star pattern exactly as it shows in the book.  I’d do this with at least 15 of the circles, if not all 20.

My ball won’t stay naked for long.  I’m thinking that the Paradise Blooms would look terrific in the center of each triangle. 

If you came from Gloria’s blog, you’re on the right path, now on to see what Becca has created! 

Artiste in August: Day 6 Baby Shoe

If you’re on this hop, you probably came from Gloria's Blog.  If you didn’t, don’t worry, just keep hopping! I have a full list at the bottom of this post.
Today is the baby shoe.  It’s on the 3D element and Card buttons under C for Child.  You can find it on page 63 of the Artiste Handbook. 
I simply used Colonial White cardstock for the shoe with the strap in a sheet of La Belle Vie with a rosette from the Rosette Ribbons.  I made this shoe a little differently than the directions.  I cut two of the shoe soles.  Like our shoes, it needed an insole and an outer sole.  It made it so much easier to assemble and it looks terrific!  You’ll feel like a shoe cobbler but you’ll have terrific results. 
I wrapped the little tab around the insole and adhered it.  That stretched the top nicely and gave it great shape.  Next I adhered the outer sole with liquid glass to hid all those little tabs.
I used a combination of Tombow adhesive and Liquid Glass to hold it together.  Tombow is quick.  Liquid Glass is permanent and will never pull apart. 

Look at how nice and clean it looks inside. 


I’ve made a lot of these little shoes.  I think they’re more like socks.  Because I can’t find one whole pair of them tonight. 
My little neighbor loved them too.  At 3 inches long they fit her doll.  Aren’t they adorable? 


thanks for stopping by!  See you tomorrow!  Now on to the next stop on this hop! Rebecca Kings’ blog 

Artiste in August Day 5 & New Product Blog Hop

Today’s a double header!  2 Blog Hops in 1 Post
It’s the New Product Blog Hop and a continuation of the Artiste in August Blog Hop.
 
If you’re on the Artiste in August Blog Hop hop, you probably came from Gloria's blog If you didn’t, don’t worry, just keep hopping! I have a full list at the bottom of this post.

If you’re on the CTMH New Product Blog Hop, you probably came from Adeline’s blog

When you hop to the next post, on your hop, follow the color that you just came from!  I'm after Adeline in one blog hop and before her in another!  LOL.  

Today I grabbed the chipboard album that came with the Artiste Bundle and cut paper to match.  It was a cinch.  Set the dial to 3.75” and cut!  All the album pages were on the Family/Life page of the Handbook on page 60.  I inked all the album edges with cashmere.  It goes on so dark, it’s scary!  But not to worry, once dry it’s much more mellow. 
I also added a pocket from the purse you find on page 41.  I cut it at 1.25” Real Dial Size.  It’s only about 1/8th of an inch deep, just enough to get the burlap strings into the pocket for the posies.  (Yes, I know I cheated and some Art Philosophy flowers are on the front cover)  These burlap strings are from the ribbon that I took apart.  I didn’t mean to take it all the way apart, but at a narrow width under a half inch, it was too messy. 

I updated my main picture to be one that wasn’t take under flash at midnight.  So much prettier under natural light. 

I haven’t fully decorated the album yet.  If I had ordered the Clementine compliments this album would go together in a breeze! 


Products used:

ITEM #		ITEM INFORMATION
Z1790		CRICUT® ARTISTE COLLECTION
X7156B		CLEMENTINE PAPER PACKET
Z1760		BURLAP RIBBON
Z2160		TWILIGHT EXCLUSIVE INKS® STAMP PAD
Z2175		CASHMERE EXCLUSIVE INKS® STAMP PAD
Z1791		DIMENSIONAL ELEMENTS ALBUM PAGES
Z553		BONDING MEMORIES® GLUE PEN
Z726		SPONGE DAUBERS
Z1753		SPARKLES BROWN & TAN ASSORTMENT

Thanks for stopping by!  Now on to the next hop!
For the Artiste in August, please see  Adeline's Artiste in August Post


For the new Product Blog Hop please see  Casandra’s post. 

Artiste in August: Day 4 Anything goes!

If you’re on this hop, you probably came from Gloria's blog.   If you didn’t, don’t worry, just keep hopping! I have a full list at the bottom of this post.
Friday is “anything goes” so I’m featuring a card I made last week at our team meeting.  Michele Rowley designed it. 
This card uses the banner/award ribbon tails on page 35 in the handbook as well as the conversation bubble on page 65
I used the Smokey Plum pigment ink to stamp the cobweb border (and then embossed it w/ Clear Detail Embossing Powder).  The stamp is from the Moonlight WOTG and the leaf/swirls behind the conversation bubble.  They’re from the Baroque Borders, our Stamp of the Month.  After not having a clue how to use this stamp set, I’m loving all the different uses for it. 
This card was easy to assemble.  All I had to do was trim the ribbons to various lengths and adhere and slap that border on top for a beautiful finish. 

 
Did this card design look familiar?  It was inspired by Melissa Laverty’s “Hey Girl” card that she made for last month’s CTMH Convention Extravaganza. 
hat’s all for now.  See you in 23 hours or so!  Now on to the next stop on this hop for you, off to bed for me! Here's Becca Day 4 post.  



Gloria Rogers - http://www.scraptabulousstudio.com/ Our creative inspiration for this blog hop!
Lalia Harris - http://craftylalia.blogspot.com/
Rebecca Kings - http://heartfeltcreationsbybecca.blogspot.com
Adeline Brill - www.adeline-brill.blogspot.com
Jessica Wilson - www.craftinandstampin.blogspot.com
Kathy Johnson - http://kathyscreativecorner.com/
Amy Edwards - http://Paisleysplayhouse.blogsot.com
Jen Patrick - http://roxybonds-scrappin.blogspot.com/
Pamela O’Connor - http://reflectionsofmyartandsoul.com
Melinda Everitt - http://ifyoublingit.blogspot.com/
Tina Gale Husong - http://tiggersscrapplace.blogspot.com/
Denise Hobbs - http://oklahomainker.blogspot.com/

Artiste in August: Day 3 - An Avonlea Card

If you’re on this hop, you probably came from Gloria's blog.  If you didn’t, don’t worry, just keep hopping! I have a full list at the bottom of this post.
Friday is “anything goes” so I’m featuring a card I made as soon I as I received my products! 
Two things I love about this shape which is found on page 63 or letter c under the Card special feature button. 

1. It’s compatible with the stamp set Casual Expressions!
2. It’s a very versatile elegant shape. 

This card features the Avonlea paper, and the Slate Satin Polka Dot Ribbon, Ready color ribbon and one rosette off of the new Colonial White Rosette Ribbon (one of my favorites).  (Wow!  3 ribbons on 1 card!  I have a hard time incorporating ribbon but this one just came together! 
That’s all for today.  See you tomorrow!  Now on to the next stop on this hop!  Becca's blog.  
 


Gloria Rogers - http://www.scraptabulousstudio.com/ Our creative inspiration for this blog hop!
Lalia Harris - http://craftylalia.blogspot.com/
Rebecca Kings - http://heartfeltcreationsbybecca.blogspot.com
Adeline Brill - www.adeline-brill.blogspot.com
Jessica Wilson - www.craftinandstampin.blogspot.com
Kathy Johnson - http://kathyscreativecorner.com/
Amy Edwards - http://Paisleysplayhouse.blogsot.com
Jen Patrick - http://roxybonds-scrappin.blogspot.com/
Pamela O’Connor - http://reflectionsofmyartandsoul.com
Melinda Everitt - http://ifyoublingit.blogspot.com/
Tina Gale Husong - http://tiggersscrapplace.blogspot.com/
Denise Hobbs - http://oklahomainker.blogspot.com/

Artiste in August: Day 2 Gable Box

Welcome to the Artiste in August Blog hop!  This is a daily blog hop that is going to go all month long! There’s a few of ladies who have taken up the challenge to post something from the Artiste Cricut cartridge every day this month. Today’s challenge is the Magazine File. This was one of the first things I created with my cartridge as I had just finished making several of these from instructions I had found on a blog. I must say, this one was MUCH easier and MUCH faster. I love the elegant curves!
If you’re on this hop, you probably came from Gloria's Blog.  
If you didn’t, don’t worry, just keep hopping! I have a full list at the bottom of this post.
I made some gable boxes. Two things I love about the gable boxes because they have a solid bottom (the contents will never fall through) and it takes no adhesive!

You may recognize this one:  I made it for the Stamp of the Month blog hop and posted it yesterday: 

And here’s a couple mini ones.  Even at this little height, they cut and fold really well with our CTMH paper! 

This color is Ocean, which was discontinued several years ago!  I still love it!
That’s all for today.  See you tomorrow!  Now on to the next stop on this hop! Becca's blog.


Gloria Rogers - http://www.scraptabulousstudio.com/ Our creative inspiration for this blog hop!
Lalia Harris - http://craftylalia.blogspot.com/
Rebecca Kings - http://heartfeltcreationsbybecca.blogspot.com
Adeline Brill - www.adeline-brill.blogspot.com
Jessica Wilson - www.craftinandstampin.blogspot.com
Kathy Johnson - http://kathyscreativecorner.com/
Amy Edwards - http://Paisleysplayhouse.blogsot.com
Jen Patrick - http://roxybonds-scrappin.blogspot.com/
Pamela O’Connor - http://reflectionsofmyartandsoul.com
Melinda Everitt - http://ifyoublingit.blogspot.com/
Tina Gale Husong - http://tiggersscrapplace.blogspot.com/
Denise Hobbs - http://oklahomainker.blogspot.com/

Artiste in August: Day 1 Magazine File

Don’t get lost!  If you’re on the SOTM blog hop, it’s the next post below!

Welcome to the Artiste in August Blog hop!  Yep, I’m doing two blog hops today.  LOL.  This one is going to go all month long!  There’s a few of ladies who have taken up the challenge to post something from the Artiste Cricut cartridge every day this month.  Today’s challenge is the Magazine File.  This was one of the first things I created with my cartridge as I had just finished making several of these from instructions I had found on a blog.  I must say, this one was MUCH easier and MUCH faster.  I love the elegant curves! 

If you’re on this hop, you probably came from Gloria's blog.  
If you didn’t, don’t worry, just keep hopping!  I have a full list at the bottom of this post. 

I made this magazine file using the fit to page setting on my Expression.  It’s great, it will fit more than a dozen A2 sized cards and a few envelopes.  The stamp “Hi” is one of the many stamps included in the Artiste Cricut Bundle. 


All products are from Close to My Heart!  The paper is from May’s Dotty For You special.  I have tons of it.  If you want some and don’t mind paying shipping on 12x12 paper, let me know.  I have a couple more packets available to sell.  If you would like the new Idea Book and get the Artiste Cricut Bundle for just $94.05, click here. 
Now on to the next stop on this hop!  Becca Kings’s blog.




Gloria Rogers - http://www.scraptabulousstudio.com/  Our creative inspiration for this blog hop!
Lalia Harris - http://craftylalia.blogspot.com/
Rebecca Kings - http://heartfeltcreationsbybecca.blogspot.com
Adeline Brill - www.adeline-brill.blogspot.com
Jessica Wilson - www.craftinandstampin.blogspot.com
Kathy Johnson - http://kathyscreativecorner.com/
Amy Edwards - http://Paisleysplayhouse.blogsot.com
Jen Patrick - http://roxybonds-scrappin.blogspot.com/
Pamela O’Connor - http://reflectionsofmyartandsoul.com
Melinda Everitt - http://ifyoublingit.blogspot.com/
Tina Gale Husong - http://tiggersscrapplace.blogspot.com/
Denise Hobbs -  http://oklahomainker.blogspot.com/