February Stamp of the Month - Easter Eggs

I apologize for not posting the last couple of weeks. Things got really hectic here after Carl proposed at the end of December. Of course, me being a procrastinator does not help. So I've spent the last 2 weeks running around getting things arranged for our wedding, which took place Saturday. Now that it's over, I should be able to get back to posting somewhat regularly.

I'd like to share a layout I did for our Stamp of the Month swap group. I'm in two different swap groups, one of which requires the use of certain papers/colors (this month was Emporium). The layout is one from Cherish - sorry, I don't remember which one. Colors are Crystal Blue, Sweet Leaf, Cocoa, and Buttercup. I used the Coluzzle Oval to cut the verse on the left page, as well as the basket on the right page. I used Twill Ribbon to accent the verse and accessorize the basket.



The Buttercup journaling strip is stamped using one of the eggs from the Easter Eggs set to create a background similiar to that of Saran Wrap. I used another egg with a wood grain background to stamp in Cocoa on the Cocoa strip across the page.

For the basket, I cut several strips of Cocoa at 1/2 inch wide. I decided on how big to make my basket and cut a base from some of the the B&T paper using the Coluzzle Oval. Using the standard basket weave, I made my basket and then trimmed the strips around the base. I adhered all the loose pieces with a drop of liquid adhesive and set aside to dry. Once dry, I sanded the basket both horizontally and vertically to give it a little texture. The handle was cut using the Coluzzle Oval as well. If you have questions, please email me. I was hoping to get a tutorial done, but with all that I've had going on and now being sick on top of that, it just hasn't happened yet.

For the verse, I used the Coluzzle Oval and cut a piece of Buttercup and a mat out of Crystal Blue. I used a hole punch to punch holes in the sides and set Buttercup Eyelets in the oval. I threaded Twill Ribbon through the eyelets then used glue dots to adhere it to the page.

The February Stamp of the Month, Easter Eggs, will be available February 1st through February 28th only. With 20 stamps - all different designs of eggs, these are great for backgrounds and borders.

Until next time...

January's Card Night Class

This has to be a record for me - 3 posts in 1 day! LOL! I managed to get my card samples done for Card Night this coming Wednesday. It was a challenge for me to use the Daydream papers as I'm not a girly girl or a pink person, but I'm pretty pleased with them. Of course, you can also flip the B&T Duos for a whole different look. Stamps include Cupcake Sprinkles, Card Commentary, and Happy Birthday. Colors are Sweet Leaf, Blush, and Lilac Mist. Accessories available during class (not all shown or used here) include: Blush Ricrac, Just Blooms Big Pinks, Colonial White Brads, Holiday Collection Craft Buttons, and miscellaneous ribbons from my stash.

Card Night is usually the first Wednesday of each month. We moved it this month due to weather and family illness. It's always on my calendar - usually a month ahead of time. You get 10 cards for $10 complete with envelopes. We always use the papers featured in that month's Workshop On The Go. We generally do 2 each of 5 designs; however, there are times where I'll come up with more designs - it varies. If you'd like to attend a Card Night, give me a call or shoot me an email. If you can't attend, but would like to host a Card Night, I'll come to you. It's always fun and a great night out with friends.

Until next time...

Just The Ticket

Here is the other card I made for a swap. This card uses Emporium Level 2 Papers and Just The Ticket stamp set. Inks are Sweet Leaf and Crystal Blue. I used the Base and Shade technique for the tickets. The tickets were punched with the Paper Shapers Ticket Punch. It's just a tad small for this stamp set, but I still think it compliments the tickets well. Accessories are Twill Ribbon tied with Embroidery Floss Green Assortment.

Until next time...

Reminisce

I worked on a couple of cards for a swap this week. This first card is done using the new Reminisce stamp set and That's Amore Level 2 Paper Packet. I cut the ovals with the Coluzzle - they compliment this stamp set well. I used Chocolate ink to stamp the sentiment. The chocolate base piece is scored at 1/2" intervals to add texture and dimension. I opted not to sand it for a more elegant look. I added 2 Colonial White brads to secure the sentiment to the Sweet Leaf strip. Colors are Sweet Leaf, Blush, Chocolate and Tulip.

Until next time...

Evansville Crop for the Cure

The Evansville Crop for the Cure is fast approaching! The dates for this year's event are Saturday, February 28th and Saturday, March 14th. Registration will be opening up soon - and if you've been before, you know it fills up FAST!

I've attended the event for the last 2 years and LOVED every minute of it. It makes for a long day, but it is so worth it! In 2008, the crop raised $18,000 for Susan G. Komen for the Cure Greater Evansville Affiliate.

The event is a fun-filled day with lots of activities. Lunch, dinner, snacks & beverages are provided and the food is great! There are classes and free make & takes throughout the day. As well as goodie bags for everyone. Not to mention a host of door prizes from various vendors and donors. You can read more about it here.

I'll be attending both dates again this year. You'll get to see a lot of the new Close to My Heart products from the Spring 09 Idea Book. I'll also be doing one of the free make & takes (although I haven't decided just what yet). There will also be a prize drawing at my booth (I haven't decided that either - but it will be great). I should have my workshop schedule and samples done as well. And of course, I will be donating 10% of the sales from both days to Susan G. Komen for the Cure Greater Evansville Affiliate. While I will have some select products available during the crop, it is not feasible for me to bring everything; however, I will also be taking orders at both events.

Feel free to email me with any questions regarding the Crop for the Cure! Hope to see you there!

Candy Wrapper Tutorial

In the previous post for the Daydream Layout, it called for making candy wrappers. Now, I'm not good with drawing and design (that's what stamps are for), but I didn't think I had anything that would work. So....here's how I did my candy wrappers.

Start with a 1 1/4 inch circle. You can use your coluzzle, punch, whatever you've got.

Next, cut your circle in half. It doesn't have to be exact or perfect - trust me!

Now cut those halves in half again. You should have 4 quarter circles. Like this...

Now go find and dust off a pair of decorative scissors (I know you've got some somewhere). The pattern doesn't really matter.

Carefully place one of your quarter circles in the scissors, lining up the piece corner to corner. Trim off the rounded part of the quarter circle. (Sorry the photo's blurry - do you realize how hard it is to try to take a picture when you're using both hands? Or maybe I'm just not that coordinated?)

It will look something like this, depending on what scissor pattern you used.

Sponge the edges of your candy wrapper pieces in preferred ink color. Here I used Sweet Leaf as that was what coordinated with the layout.


Adhere your candy wrapper pieces behind your piece of candy using either glue dots (mini's) or some sort of liquid adhesive (Scotch Quick-Dry Tacky Adhesive works well).

And there you have it...a little piece of candy in a wrapper to add to a card or a layout!

Until next time...

Daydream Workshop Layout

I got a little play time today. This is the first layout from the new Daydream Workshop, however I made mine a little more "boy friendly" as I have boys. You can see the original version here. I used the same pieces of paper as called for in the cutting diagrams; however I reversed the pink prints and used the Sweet Leaf and Creme Brulee sides. I did change the Blush bases for Sweet Leaf.



Instead of Hollyhock and Blush cupcakes, I made Lilac Mist & Spring Iris ones - which I thought were more fitting for boys.

You can view the complete details for this workshop on my website on my Calendar page under January 18th. You can view the 2 additional layouts and cards here.

Until next time...

Key To My Heart Artwork

I finally managed to sneak away and do some creating with these GORGEOUS papers and stamps. This layout is from Imagine, called Salsa. I did make a few minor changes (that's what's so great about these books!).

The edges are stamped in Sorbet with the large corner stamp. I rotated it to fit nicely in each corner. To get the centers of the edges, I inked only a portion of the stamp and then covered what I didn't want with a post-it note. I used the other corner stamp and the second generation technique to stamp on the Juniper with Juniper ink. The trick to accomplishing the look I got, is to not press down very hard or evenly when stamping off on scratch paper. You'll get darker parts of the stamp as well as some light spots.

The heart is stamped in Sorbet on Colonial White cardstock then cut out and 3D dotted onto the stamped Juniper cardstock.

For this page, I used the same stamping techniques as before for uniformity. For the key, I inked my stamp first in Creme Brulee. Then I took a section of round sponge (I cut mine into 8ths), and inked the sponge in Sorbet then lightly dabbed it onto the key. Then I stamped it onto Colonial White cardstock and cut it out. It gave it a sort of tarnished look.

The center heart is stamped in Sorbet on Colonial White cardstock. I stamped the small corner flourish in Creme Brulee around the square creating a frame. Then I sponged the edges in Creme Brulee. The journaling stamp is stamped in Sorbet on Colonial White cardstock with the edges sponged in Creme Brulee.

I added 3 Colonial White bigger brads from the Mini-Medley Accents Shades of Chocolate collection.

Don't forget you can get your own Key To My Heart collection for a limited time for only $47.90 or $20 with a $75 purchase, or FREE with $130 purchase. You can shop directly through MyCTMH website or call or email me.

Hostesses can get a set free with a $400 gathering - schedule yours today!

Join my team through January 31st, and you'll get it for free also!

Until next time...