What at Hoot Blog Hop

Welcome to our Stamp of the Month Blog Hop! We will be featuring August's SOTM, which is What a Hoot, a set of 17 stamps. If you have come here from {Traci's 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 on Melinda’s Blog: http://ifyoublingit.blogspot.com/p/stamp-of-month-blog-hop-list.html.
This month we have over 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!

I paper pieced this little owl using the Scaredy Cat paper that will be available tomorrow August 1st! This is a Halloween paper pack but I think this cute little owl is ready for a party of any kind. 
Paper piecing was super simple because each piece was its own stamp!  Hint:  Don’t cut out the legs, simply stamp them and a little bit of the body on the base paper.  From there, layer upwards!  Everything was stamped in black ink. 1 single ink pad.  Crazy simple!
I drew a little border around the card using my wonderful journaling pen that I purchased from CTMH.  It takes a light hand but I love it because it looks best if you’re not perfect!

This adorable stamp set is only available to purchase in the Month of August 2014.  It’s a D sized set that can be purchased alone for $17.95 or for only $5 with a $50 purchase!!!
This is the first stamp set of our new catalog called our 2014 Annual Inspirations.  You can see it here starting 8/1.  Or let me know if you need a copy!
It’s time to keep hopping because this is a blog hop!  Click the blog hop badge or {here to go to Melissa’s blog.}

Come back soon to see more artwork from the brand new 2014 Annual Inspirations catalog! 

Teddy Bear Birthday

Just a quick post today.  Teddy Bear Birthday is a throw back stamp to celebrate 30 years of Close to My Heart.  You may recognize it if you pair it with a wood block.  That’s how it used to be sold. 
It’s on its way back to the vault.  Thursday is its last day in production again. 
This was one of the workshop cards from last Friday’s Fun & Fabulous 4th Friday Card Workshop. 

My friend was thinking of a Teddy Bear Picnic baby shower theme so I ordered this stamp a while back.  In keeping with the picnic theme, I chose the red gingham plaid paper from the Jubilee papers for him to “sit” on. 
Once again, I used the CTMH Watercolor pencils.  I quickly and roughly colored over his fur except his muzzle.  I used our handy blender pen (the water based one, not the Alcohol marker) and smoothed it out.  I still had a bit of brown on the blender marker and it was enough to add a light coat of brown to his muzzle.  I couldn’t color it that lightly if I had tried! 
These colored pencils are sticking around!  They’re a great, soft alternative to the blend-able alcohol markers. 
Check back, this is one of my final posts of artwork for the Spring & Summer 2014 Idea Book.  I’ll be featuring artwork from the Annual Inspirations in the next few days!

I'm linking this post up with the Color My Heart Color Dare #103.  Hop on over there to see more artwork inspired by the colors in Jubilee.

Have you ever seen a Bendy Card?

 

Hello!  This is one of newest favorite styles of cards!  It’s a Bendi or Bendy card.  The design has been around for a bit but I discovered it this spring. 

I used the soon-to-retire Balloon Ride paper pack for this card with the Lifting Spirits stamp set. 

It opens to show a hidden message and so it can fold flat for mailing (with a little extra postage).  There’s little tabs and slots that do all the work.  This is just a little card and fits in an A2 envelope.

I colored the airplane with the CTMH Watercolor pencils.  They’re so easy to use and when you purchase the blending marker, you can have soft, streak free coloring. 

Inside I used the Belated Birthday stamp set. 

I’ve had a request for a 3D card workshop.  Stay tuned to hear the local details.  Let me know if you’d like a mail order kit!

As of today, there’s a few packs of Balloon Ride still available online.  Get it today before it’s too late!

Creative Friends Blog Tour

In the last couple of weeks, I was asked by Marilyn McCleod, of Pink Paper Cottage, if I wanted to participate in a blog tour.  Check out Marilyn’s blog here and her Etsy shop.  She makes some beautiful projects with paper and fabric.  Since meeting her, she’s moved from Washington State to LaPine, Oregon, which is a favorite vacation spot for my family.  It’s her birthday this week and I love this pic that she posted on her blog. 

In this Close to My Heart and blogging world that I've become a part of during the last three years, I've developed friendships with people I absolutely love and admire, and who are creative way beyond my wildest dreams!
I will feature three crafty friends who inspire me.  In the meantime I’m going to answer the four questions.

1.  What am I working on?

I’m currently working on a challenge to “Create Every Day.”  This is my own challenge, not one that I found on the internet.  I used to turn my Cricut on nearly every day.  Lately, the main reason it’s been on is for workshop preparations and I want to change that. 

Over the weekend, I worked on a lot of UFOs, or UnFinished Projects, cards mainly.  They were leftovers from card workshops or half designed cards that didn’t make the cut.  I’m going to have a garage sale next month.  I want to put as many finished cards into the sale as possible.  I also want to get back to working on my Picture My Life album that I started this winter.  I’ve been organizing my pictures from BC.  Or Before Caleb.  I didn’t scrap before we had our son so there’s 8 years of pictures that are printed but need to be put in albums. 
This is a REALLY fun & loooooong post.  You’ll want to keep reading!

Create Every Day – Day 3

I’m continuing my challenge of creating something everyday.  This was another use-up-my-stash card.  Everything was already cut except for the card-base which was great because I made a little improvement!

This is a great card with the ProPlayer papers that are being retired at the end of the month.  I also used the June Stamp of the Month. 

I’ve created this card before, but this time I changed the base a bit.  The card is actually 4x5.5” That allows me to get 6 of the blue background pieces from a single 12x12 sheet of paper. 

It also allows me to cut 3 card bases from a 12x12 piece of cardstock.  Generally I’d start with a 4x11 piece but this time I didn’t trim it down, I scored at the 11” mark and made a pocket for a gift card.  I adhered the flap with some Scor-Tape.  You want this flap to be well adhered down and tight so the card doesn’t fall out.  Out of 3 of these cards, 1 of them is really tight. 

You can now follow all of my Create Every Day posts by clicking here.

Create Every Day–Day 2

I’m continuing my challenge of creating something everyday.   I created a TON of things this Independence Day holiday weekend. Most the cards I created were UFOs or Unfinished Objects left over from workshops.  I’m preparing my stash for a big sale in August. 
Here’s the one for today’s challenge. It’s a brand new card that I created from scratch.

This is a block card or baby block card.  It has various names and all of them usually point you to another card design.  I used this blogger’s instructions for my first card.  Her video’s great.  Really clear and you really only need to watch it halfway through to get the measurements. 
All of the diecuts are from my stash, including the daisies that I had assembled a couple years ago. They’re from button 1 on the Art Philosophy Cricut Cartridge.
This card folds flat!  I forgot to take a pic of that!  Maybe I’ll take more pix of the next card. 
I’m off to my craft room!  Can’t wait to show you what’s next!

Create Every Day Challenge Day 1

I’ve created this little challenge for myself, to get back to creating every day. 
Here’s day 1. 

I used the Lollydoodle Paper Pack with the retired A Bow Wow.  Notice how I didn’t color in the whole dog?  Just a little bit of ink does wonders!  My workshop gals loved this card—especially the fact they didn’t have to color too much!
Lollydoodle is retiring at the end of the month!  Be sure to order and get yours before it runs out!

Don’t forget, that with a $35+ purchase, you can receive some exclusive Hostess Only goodies between now & 7/14/14.  Find out how by reading all about it HERE.
Be sure to follow my Facebook Page for ALL of the daily challenge posts. 
Want to join me?  You don’t need any fancy pictures but I’d love to see what you’ve been creating.  Feel free to post a pic on the Crafty Lalia Facebook page. 

Artfully Sent CTMH’s Newest Cricut Bundle

Yes!  A new cartridge!

It’s a cardmaker’s dream!  Create custom cards at the touch of a button or use any of the 700 images to create your own unique card! 

Here’s a little video about it.  I’ll be sharing some artwork created by Close to My Heart all month! 

Click here to view it on YouTube.com

This bundle will be release “sometime” in August.  Would you like to be the first to get it and receive a free gift from me?  Join my mailing list to be notified!

Last chance!

This is the last month to shop from the current Idea Book.  All paper packs are being discontinued as well as nearly 130 other products!  Also inks, reinkers and many of our tools are increasing in price on August 1st. 

Of those products, we had 7 Hostess Exclusive Stamp Sets that could only be earned with hostess rewards which usually means you need to have a party.  For the next 2 weeks, you can earn any of those stamp sets!  When you place an order on my website, I’ll share the hostess rewards with you.   I’m going to close a gathering on 7/15/14.  The rewards will ship to me and then I’ll send them to you at no additional shipping!  Why am I doing this?  You are awesome customers!  And I have a TON of hostess rewards that can only be used to purchase current product—I need space in my craft room for NEW product.  That’s another WIN for you!

Have you been wanting the Unicorn Dreams D1583 stamp set or the adorable Enjoy the Little Things B1451 stamp sets? 

There’s 4 more sets!

Here’s how to receive these stamp sets. 

Shop my website:  www.CTMH.com/LHarris. 

• Spend $80 + Receive the D sized Unicorn stamp set OR a combination of 1 A and 1 B sized Hostess Exclusive sets.
• Spend $50 + Get any of the A or B sized Hostess Exclusive sets.
• Spend $35 + Get any of the A sized Hostess Exclusive sets.

Can’t see the stamp sets that well?  View them online pages 6-9 of the Spring & Summer Idea Book.

Select your free stamp set.  You can then email me your choice of stamp sets or I’ll contact you. 

Enjoy:   On 7/16/14, I’ll place the order for everyone’s hostess stamp sets.  When they arrive at my home, I’ll forward them on to the address I have on file for you.  It’s easy! 

This offer is only offered by me, Lalia Harris, Independent Close to My Heart Consultant and expires 7/15/2014.  These freebies are only for the Hostess Exclusive Stamp sets which are discounted below the regular MSRP.