Wicked SOTM Blog Hop

Welcome to August's {Wicked} Stamp of the Month Blog Hop! This month the featured stamp of the month is S1108-Wicked, a set of 9 mischievous images!  Below are the images in this stamp set.  Today the new Autumn/Winter 2011 Idea Book goes live along with new LOW stamp set prices and no Stamp of the Month program (spend $50 and you can purchase the SOTM for $5.00 or purchase this D-size stamp set outright for $17.95).  OMG all our stamps sets have DROPPED in price can you believe it?

If you have come here from Cecilia Marsh's blog, you are on the right path!  I am the first stop for this month's hop! You can find a list of all the partipant's in case you get lost here: http://bowlofstamps.blogspot.com/p/sotm-blog-hop-list.html  This month we have just over 60 Close To My Heart Consultants sharing their creations using this wicked set. The hop is simple to follow - just click on the link provided in the post to move to the next blog!

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My first item is an easel card created with the new Mischief Paper Pack (Workshop on the Go).  I just love how whispy our little witch is!  I tried to emphasize her hat, shoes & gloves with Liquid Glass (same thing as Diamond Glaze type adhesive).  I finally made up my mind to use or lose my Pazzles Inspiration (die cutting machine like a Cricut only can do a lot more things) to cut all the scallop and circle pieces.

Below shows the card standing up as an easel card (directions can be found at Splitcoast Stampers under Resources).

A close look at the inside of the card (which hold up card).

Supplies used: S1108 Wicked Stamp Set; G1029 Mischief WOTG; Sunset, Black & White Daisy Cardstocks; Black & Grey Wool Exclusive Inks; z1353 CTMH 4-1/2" Circle Cards; z1333 Mocha Opaques; z679 Liquid Glass; Pazzles Inspiration to cut scalloped circles and black CS circles.

Now, this next let gem I had been eyeing to make since last Halloween is the cute little witch's shoe.  I had it on display at my workshop yesterday and everyone said they loved it but it looked hard to make. (Oh no it wasn't!). 

A closer look at the little sign:

Here's a view so you can see it straight on to get a better idea of the dimension.

,Supplies used: S1108 Wicked Stamp Set; G1029 Mischief WOTG; Black  & Sunset Cardstock; Black Exclusive Ink, VersaMark Ink; Z1338 Sunset Mini Medley Accent Collection; Z1095 Orange & Yellow Embroidery Floss (apparently retired); Z1612 Pin Clips; Retired Neutral Buttons (very old); Autumn Glitter Embossing Powder (I got it at a stamping convention).
OK if you are like me you are saying, "So where's the template?"  You can find that template here.  It really is very easy!


Time to hop on over to Helen Onulak's Blog to see her beautiful eye candy! Be sure to visit all the Consultants' Blogs to get some great crafting and other fun ideas! Remember, the SOTM is only available until August 31th! Contact your CTMH Consultant (or click here) to see how you can get this stamp set at a discount or even free! Here we go!

Finally, be sure to check out the August Specials.  Here is the first which is available all month: 

The second special for August runs August 15th thru the end of September.  Get 2 D-size stamp sets free when you spend $75:

Happy hopping!

White on White

I have always admired the white on white on white cards that you see posted here and there from time to time.  So, I decided to try one for a very special friend that recently lost her beloved sister.  I found that having a lot of texture helps to dress it up:

The accenting color is called Grey Wool and it is sponged over clear embossed words.

Although I really didn't have multiple lighting arrangements it looks that way.

The last picture shows a close up.  What you really can't see is the pearlized finished of the cardstock.  I tried to capture it but the camera wouldn't cooperate!

Supplies used:  Card Chatter - Sympathy Stamp set; White Daisy Cardstock; white pearl opaques adhesive gems; white satin & organza ribbon; Cuttlebug embossing folder; spellbinder die cut.

Art Philosphy Cricut Cartridge by CTMH & Provo Craft

Close to My Heart has worked with Provo Craft to bring you an exciting new Art Philosphy Cricut Cartridge Collection with 700 gorgeous shapes that were personally selected by Jeanette Lynton.  Wait to you see some of the fabulous items included with this amazing offer available August 1st.  (Email me to get your copy of the new amazing Idea Book now!)

Mid-month Feature Blog Hop

I just joined a new CTMH blog hop that just started up.  It features a mid-month hop with different themes as well as stamp of the month themes. This month I continued with the Stamp of the Month theme because I just love this stamp set!

If you have come here from {Jody Gustafson's Blog} you are still on the right track.  We have 14 artists participating in this blog hop.  Below you will see my artwork and a little tutorial.  From here you will be heading over to {Kristine Ponte's Blog} to see her lovely eye-candy!

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I have created a round card with the little fire-cracker stamp.  I just love those little fire crackers!  I tipped the top of the wick (created with white waxy flax) with a tiny bit of orange glitter and then added liquid glass to the fire crackers for a little more dimension.

A closer look here for dimension and detail.

Recipe:  Z1353 White Daisy Circle Cards; D1458 American Celebration; G1021 Fanfare WOTG kit; Z1400 Fanfare Level 2 Brad Assortment; Z1369 Red Button Assortment; Z1371 Blue Button Assortment; Z1081 Colonial White Waxy flax; Z679 Liquid Glass; Sunny Yellow, Cranberry and Pacifica Exclusive Inks; Star gem stones of unknown origin; Spellbinder Nestabilities labels 15.

Next we have the Paper Rocket Confetti Poppers and Tutorial:

Gather supplies:  Assorted printed papers; paper towel or toilet paper tube; tissue paper; floss or string, favorite adhesive, hot glue gun; 2 pony beads (won't show); ribbon for streamers; stickers or other embellishments to decorate your rocket.

Gather tools:  Staper; scissors; craft or needlework needle; hole puncher; 1-1/4" circle punch (my tube is 1-1/2" diameter so punch needs to be smaller than tube diameter) & fun craft punches for confetti (if you are making your own).

1.  Cut a small piece of tissue paper about 3" x 3" (big enough to cover bottom of you tube).  Next punch out a circle from scratch cardstock (CS).  With some glue, attach the CS circle to center of tissue paper. 

2.  Let it dry and then thread about an arm's length of twine into your craft needle and tie a bead to the end for a knot.  Thread thru the center of your the CS circle attached to tissue paper.  This is the chamber door that will hold your confetti.

3.  Glue the tissue paper door to your cardboard tube with a small line of glue around the bottom of the tube.

4.  The string will come thru the bottom of the tube.  You may wish to decorate the end of the string with a pull tab of some sort (shown later on).

5.  Next, you will cut a piece of pattern paper to cover your tube.  Mine is 4-1/4" x 6".

6.  On the paper that will cover the roll I decided to add ribbon streamers and just used scotch tape to tape them to the inside of the paper before I cover the roll.

7.  After the roll is covered you can add decorations to the outside.  Now you are ready to fill your rocket with confetti.  I used some star confetti and decided they would drop like rocks so I made some tissue confetti from the left over tissue paper I used to cover the bottom of the rocket.  That way the confetti will sorta float like feathers.

8.  For the rocket top, I used cut a large circle out of pattern paper and cut to the center of the paper.

9.  I cut a triangle out of the circle so I could bring the ends together to form a cone.

10.  String will come out the top of the cone to hold up your rocket so you can poke a hole through the center of the cone.

11.  On the rocket tube, punch a hole on each side at the top across from each other.  Thread string (I used very thin ribbon thru the  holes and take both ends of the ribbon and string it through a pony bead.  The top of your cone will rest on top of the pony bead.  Now thread the ribbon thru the top of the cone.

12.  I secured the cone to the top of the rocket with low temperature hot glue.

13.  That is the pull tab of my rocket which is hanging from a ceiling fan.

14.  Ahhhh, the decorated rocket in all its glory.  Now all I need is a few grandkids to test it out.

15. Add some grandkids to the mix to see if they think pulling the tab and having the confetti fly out is fun.  Yep, it worked!

Now, if you stayed for the whole tutorial by sure to hop on over to over to {Kristine Ponte's Blog} to see her lovely eye-candy!

One More Studio J Layout

Studio J is truly addicting but I had to show you the last layout I did of my grand daughter.  It was her first birthday.  I wish I had taken some still pictures of her eating her first ever piece of cake because she was covered head to toe.  Here is the full layout which is much easier to see when you click on it to make it bigger:

Here is the left page:

And now here is the right page:

The printouts from Studio J are absolutely amazing. I guess they would have to be if they are printed on 12" x 12" photo cardstock!

Aren't grand kids the best?  Happy Tuesday!

Pivot Stapler (reprint from MyCTMH site)

(Note that this article appeared on my Online Ordering site as an "Idea of the Month". )

One of my favorite tools to use is the Pivot Stapler which is a unique tool to CTMH!  you can swing the stapler around in all directions to make stapling easier.

The ideas in this post are used by permission and were created by Alisan Smith - A very creative and talented CTMH Consultant whose ideas I still use ALL the time--thank you Alisan!!  (Note that you can click on pictures to see greater details.)  The first item it showing ways to embellish with staples.

Next is another way to embellish using staples:

The great thing about the stapler is that you can staple all the way down the border of a 12x12 page (do click on this to blow up to see detail!)

On this last one, the ribbon was stapled down and tied a knot around the staple. These bows are NEVER falling off!

Hope you enjoyed today's adventures in stapling!