December 2011 Blog Hop–Mad About You

Welcome to our Stamp of the Month Blog Hop!

We will be featuring December's SOTM, which is Mad About You a set of 14 stamps.

 
If you have come here from Vicki’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 HERE.

This month we have 57 Close To My Heart Consultants sharing their creations using this month's SOTM and other great CTMH products on their blogs. So sit back and enjoy each creation as you venture through this blog hop and get GREAT ideas to create on your own!! 

This Hop 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 chose to create a couple of smaller sized cards this month...what FUN!!!!  The left card is a 4 3/4" x 3 card and the right card is a 3 1/2" x 2 1/2 size card.  It had been quite a long time since I created a different card size rather than the “normal” 5 1/2 x 4 1/4 size card. 
 
I used Jeanette Lynton’s WONDERFUL how-to book Originals to guide me in my creating! This book is a MUST HAVE and is such a HUGE time saver!!!  Who doesn’t like to save time?!?! J

Products I used to create these 2 cards…

X7140B Roxie level 2 paper
X5646 Vanilla Cream cardstock
Z282 Black Hemp
Z1463 Just Blooms Paper Shapes
Z1263 Bitty Sparkles
Z1326 Red, Pink, & Purple  Sparkles
Z1313 Stardust Glitz Glitter Gel
Z1320 Tulip Mini-Medley

 Ink colors I used…

Tulip, Black, Smoothie, Desert Sand and Cocoa

Now "Hop" on over to Helen’s 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 December SOTM is only available until December 31st!!!  Contact your CTMH Consultant (or click here) to see how you can get this stamp set at a discount or even free!
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Here are some more details on the two cards I created...

First of all – this December SOTM stamp set IS Cricut Compatible – Yayy!!!  The reason I LOVE this option, is I can get the beautiful look of a “cut out” stamped image, without taking the time to cut it out myself – the Cricut machine does it for me!!! J

Now, some details on my cards…the card on the left is found on page 24 of the Originals book and it’s called “Little Squares”. 

 
I used the edge distresser on my black cardstock and inked the edges of the Smoothie card base. 

If you look closely, you may notice the dry embossed hearts on the smoothie cardstock behind the words.  This embossing wasn’t quite the look I was going for, but it is very light and subtle and adds an extra touch to this card design.










The “You’re Sweet” card design is also found in the Originals book on page 16 and the pattern name is “Center View”. 

I love the zebra print in the Roxie paper pack and wanted to use this paper in some way. J The design on the other half of the card I created by stamping the large heart in smoothie ink and used 2nd generation to get the textured look. 

I LOVE that I could cut out this “circle4” image from the Cricut and stamped my frame, and than cut a smaller “circle4” to stamp the You’re Sweet on it.  The small heart was also cut by the Cricut machine…it was cut at .4, just under 1/2”.  I added some stardust glitz glitter gel and covered the small heart to give some extra shine! 

I hope you enjoyed my creations!  Happy Blog Hopping!!! J
 
  Krista

Photo Box–great Gift idea!

What a FUN project to create…and it was so QUICK and easy!!

It had been a long time since I created anything with Close To My Heart’s recipe/photo box…and it was GREAT FUN to play with this white box and transform it into a photo box!  

I was asked to create a photo box for a Girls Scout Troup using this spacious box.  This is what I designed using our new ROXIE paper pack and some basic accessories– what FUN!!  The Roxie paper pack is so “girlish” and was a must in the designing of this box! J These 12 year old girls LOVED the zebra patterned paper.

I thought it would be nice to not keep the box white - so each girl took a Desert Sand ink pad, and used it directly on the box, coating the edges of each side of the photo box!  QUICK & EASY! J

We had a lot of fun with embellishments too…Check out the EXCITING ways you can decorate buttons!!! 

We also used a LOT of Cricut images in creating this box.  I used the Cricut flowers to add some dimension to outside of the box. 

To make quick and easy 4x6 photo mats, we used many different shapes from the Cricut Art Philosophy Cricut cartridge! 

We also used the Instant Memories stamp set, found on page 23 of our Idea Book.  I LOVE the swirl image that accompanies this stamp set!!  This swirl can be used on sooo many different projects! J     

Are you looking for other gift ideas that you can create for a birthday or as a special gift???

Check out this recipe/photo box and many more “white items” in the newest Idea Book on page 131.

There is a WIDE variety of items that make PERFECT gifts!!!  You’ll find a magnetic card box, all sorts of book type projects ready for your creative skills!  Banners, Journals, cubes, etc… Check out ALL of your options by clicking HERE to view our online Idea Book!J

Also, don’t forget that you can get the limited edition Holiday Wishes stamp set that coordinates beautifully with the Art Philosophy Cricut cartridge for only $5 with a stamp order of $25 through November 30th!