Stamp of the Month Blog Hop - March: Choose Happy

Welcome to the March Stamp of the Month Blog Hop! This month’s set is Choose Happy, a set of 14 stamps.

If you have come here from {Carol Taggio’s blog}, you’re in the right place! There are more than 65 independent Close to My Heart consultants participating. Click on the link at the end of the post on each blog to move through the Hop.

The Blog Hop is a great big circle. Start here and work your way around. If you get lost along the way you’ll find a complete list of participating consultants here. You can use this list to pick up where you left off.

Let’s begin!

 The Brushed paper packet has a LOT of pink in it. There’s nothing wrong with that, but I am not personally a huge fan of pink. Therefore, when designing my card I wanted to go with less of the pink, or in this case, Pixie. That being said, I chose to focus more on the Canary or yellow. I love this new color. It’s bright, but not too bright.

I ended up choosing a card pattern with a lot of pieces, which allowed me to use a number of different papers and textures. I used tiny pieces of one of the zip strips in the packet, and I added texture to the White Daisy by embossing it with the Diamond Embossing Folder.

This particular stamp set isn’t specifically designed to be used with one of our Cricut cartridges, but I knew we had a shape similar to the frame I wanted to use, so I played around with it until I got the right size. I like how there is plenty of white space around the stamped frame. It helps the Flaxen color of the frame stand out.

I find that it is best to adhere dry embossed pieces with either foam tape or Glue Dots, and as I wrapped the embossed piece with the Extra Thick Twine, the foam tape was most appropriate in this instance.

Here is what I used. All products are Close to My Heart:

S1503 Choose Happy stamp set

X7190B Brushed Paper Packet

Z2642 Flaxen Exclusive Inks™ Stamp Pad

Z2165 Juniper Exclusive Inks™ Stamp Pad

Z3036 Flaxen Extra Thick Twine

Z1807 Pink Glitter Gems

Z1151 3-D Foam Tape

Z2060 Thin 3-D Foam Tape

Z3020 Diamond Embossing Folder

Z1836 Non-Stick Micro-tip Scissors

9042 Make It from Your Heart™ Volume 2 (#29)

Z1906 Cricut® Artbooking Collection

Now “Hop” on over to {Michelle Jones’ blog} to see her work, and be sure to visit each consultant’s site to get some great crafting inspiration and other fun ideas! Don’t forget, this exclusive stamp set is only available through March 31st. Click here to order yours today!

Stamp of the Month Blog Hop - December: Cutie Pie

Welcome to the Stamp of the Month Blog Hop! This month we’re featuring the December set Cutie Pie, a set of 11 stamps. 

If you have come here from {Dawn Ross’ blog}, you’re in the right place! There are more than 60 independent Close to My Heart consultants participating. Click on the link at the end of the post on each blog to move through the Hop.

The Blog Hop is a great big circle. Start here and work your way around. If you get lost along the way you’ll find a complete list of participating consultants here. You can use this list to pick up where you left off.

Off we go!

This month’s set is just fun. I mean, who doesn’t love cupcakes, and when you pair this set with the Confetti Wishes papers you have the perfect combination!

I was inspired by a sample layout on page 41 in Make It from Your Heart Volume 2. I loved how they used photo frames for pictures rather than just photo mats. I wanted to add a bit of pizzazz so I cut mine from the Canary Paper Fundamentals and placed two of them with the embossed side up, while the last one has the patterned side up for a little contrast.

The other great thing about the photo frames is they have cutouts. I put small pieces of our Purple Shimmer Trim behind them to make them stand out. I also ran a strip under the edge of the banner with the sentiment for a little more bling.

Here is what I used. All products are Close to My Heart:

S1412 Cutie Pie stamp set
X7189B Confetti Wishes Paper Packet
Z2033 Paper Fundamentals Whimsy Assortment
44751 Archival Black Exclusive Inks stamp pad
Z2462 ShinHan™ Touch Twin™ Peony Purple Marker
Z2464 ShinHan™ Touch Twin™ Tender Pink Marker
Z2461 ShinHan™ Touch Twin™ Peacock Green Marker
Z2465 ShinHan™ Touch Twin™ Turquoise Blue Marker

Z1919 Purple Shimmer Trim

Z1936 Purple Glitter Gems
Z1151 3-D Foam Tape
Z1836 Non-Stick Micro-tip Scissors
Z1906 Cricut® Artbooking Collection

Now “Hop” on over to {Beth Naumann’s blog} to see her work, and be sure to visit each consultant’s site to get some great crafting inspiration and other fun ideas! Don’t forget, this exclusive stamp set is only available through December 31st. Click here to order yours today!

Floating Your Fancy

I LOVE these project ideas! Fast, simple, easy, and beautiful!

Get the most out of Close To My Heart's Cricut® Artbooking cartridge with these fun home décor ideas. Create decorative floating frames and functional message boards quickly and easily. Contact me for more information.

Artbooking Made Easy: Happy Springtime

Add new life to all your layouts, cards, and crafts with the springtime keys on Close To My Heart's Cricut® Artbooking cartridge! The cutouts are perfect for spring-themed projects but versatile enough to accent almost anything. Contact me for more information.

Artbooking Made Easy: Top Secret

The secret is out! We love the Cricut® Artbooking cartridge from Close To My Heart. The shapes on the top-secret--themed mini album keys are perfect for scrapbooking your big ideas and big adventures! Contact me to learn more.

Artbooking Made Easy: Nursery Rhymes

The nursery-themed keys on the Cricut® Artbooking cartridge from Close To My Heart will have you singing nursery rhymes, reliving childhood memories, and reminiscing about your baby's first years. Watch the video to see these two keys in action. Contact me to learn more.

Artbooking Made Easy: Sweet Smiles

Want to make an adorable baby album for yourself or as a gift? Watch the video to see how using the Cricut® Artbooking shapes, icons, and borders to scrapbook memories of your sweet baby will have you grinning from ear to ear! Contact me if you'd like to learn more.

Artbooking Made Easy: Sugar & Spice

Add a little sass and pizzazz to your teen girl layouts using the Cricut® Artbooking cartridge from Close To My Heart! Watch the video and contact me, your Independent Consultant, to learn more.

Artbooking Made Easy: Crush on Artbooking

When you combine Close To My Heart's Cricut® Artbooking shapes with My Crush™ books, you'll take your on-the-go art to new heights. Watch the video to see how you can cohesively bring two different worlds together: Cricut® Artbooking shapes and My Crush books!

Artbooking Made Easy: Love, Love, Love

Love making mini albums? Love Close To My Heart's Cricut® Artbooking cartridge? Love learning chic techniques for papercrafting? You will love this episode of Artbooking Made Easy where we show you how to create two trendy looks using re-inker, sponge daubers, and mini album pages cut from the Artbooking cartridge. Be sure to contact me to learn more.

Artbooking Made Easy: Love Is in the Air

Use Close To My Heart's Cricut® Artbooking cartridge to create striking scrapbook pages for your loved ones, from happy couples to loving families to cherub-like babies and so much more! Plus, learn how to create dramatic backgrounds to perfectly complement your love-struck photos.

Artbooking Made Easy: Cross-Cartridge Collaboration (S01E11)

While each Cricut® collection from Close To My Heart is a treasure trove all its own, together they offer an unmatchable selection of borders, overlays, photo mats, and much, much more! The thousands of both classic and trendy die-cuts found within this terrific trio will ensure that the projects you make are always uniquely your own. Mix 'em, match 'em, and love 'em!

Artbooking Made Easy: Freedom Layouts (S01E10)

The Cricut® Artbooking cartridge from Close To My Heart has shapes you'll love for your patriotic layouts and cards—and for all celebratory layouts and cards after that! Get great ideas from this video for using the freedom-themed keys to make sparkling titles, photo mats, overlays, and accents for any project.

Artbooking Made Easy: Everyday Layouts (S01E08)

Combine cuts from a variety of themes from Close To My Heart's Cricut® Artbooking cartridge to make original papercrafted masterpieces. Watch the video to kick-start your ideas!

Artbooking Made Easy: Fall into Artbooking (S01E07)

Fall for the autumn-themed projects you see in this video, all made with the Cricut® Artbooking cartridge from Close To My Heart!

Babycakes Birthday Card Workshop

Babycakes isn't just for babies! I chose 12 card patterns and added some Gypsy, Lagoon, and Honey cardstock to the Buttercup, Sunset, Slate, and Chocolate that came with the paper pack. I used the Cricut® Artbooking Collection to create some of the frames and other accent pieces, and then I added in a little Lagoon and/or Slate Washi Tape, the Slate Striped Twist Ties, and the Slate Mini-Medley, and ended up with some fun cards!

If you'd like more information on how I made these cards, or if you'd like a kit, please contact me and I would be happy to help you!

Artbooking Made Easy (S01E06): Designed Décor Flip Stand Album

With the help of the Cricut® Artbooking collection and Designed Décor flip stand album, Close To My Heart will make a home decorator out of you! Watch as simple icons, shapes, and titles from this cartridge are transformed into works of art perfect for display in your home.

Artbooking Made Easy (S01E05): Halloween Mini Albums

Close To My Heart will bring your projects back to life with the Cricut® Artbooking cartridge. Watch this video to learn how to use it while making your own fun Halloween mini albums.

Stamp of the Month Blog Hop - October: Scandinavian Wishes

Welcome to the Stamp of the Month Blog Hop! This month we’re featuring the October set Scandinavian Wishes, a set of 12 stamps. If you have come here from Alyson Mayo’s blog, you’re in the right place! There are more than 50 independent Close to My Heart consultants sharing artwork made using the Stamp of the Month and other great Close to My Heart products. Hopping is simple to do – just click on the link at the end of the post on each blog to move to the next one.

The Blog Hop is a great big circle. Start here and work your way around. If you get lost along the way you’ll find a complete list of participating consultants here. You can use this list to pick up where you left off.

Off we go!

I have seen so many cute cards made with our new White Daisy Circle Spin Cards but hadn’t had a chance to play with them myself. I finally got my chance! I was going to try to use a non-traditional paper pack, but in the end I decided that I really needed to use Frosted. I love how there is a coordinating snowflake on the new Artbooking cartridge!

This is really a pretty basic and simple card, but I think it turned out beautifully. I cut the piece for the front, attached it with a tiny bit of repositionable adhesive, and then opened up the card and traced the cut-out so it would be placed perfectly. I cut it out by lining up the pencil lines with the wire on my trimmer and got a perfect square which I then flipped over and attached to the inside of the card. I also added a sentiment to it.

To finish off the rest of the card I cut out circles of cardstock to cover the white spinner circle, attached them, and then cut out the matching snowflake on my Cricut. I stamped “Joy” in Twilight ink, cut around it, and then attached it with 3-D Foam Tape on top of one of the snowflakes. Lastly I applied one more snowflake, added a few Sparkles, and that was it!

Here’s what I used. All products are Close to My Heart:

S1310 Scandinavian Wishes stamp set

X7175B Frosted paper packet

Z1866 White Daisy Circle Spin Cards & Envelopes

1388 Colonial White cardstock

Z2174 Champagne Exclusive Inks

Z2160 Twilight Exclusive Inks

Z1752 Sparkles Clear Assortment

Z1906 Cricut Artbooking Collection

  

Now “Hop” on over to Krista Hershberger‘s blog to see her work, and be sure to visit each consultant’s blog to get some great crafting inspiration and other fun ideas! Don’t forget, this exclusive stamp set is only available through October 31^st!  Click here to order yours today!

Artbooking Made Easy (S01E04): Spooky Halloween Layouts

It's easy to add some creative spook to your projects with the Cricut® Artbooking collection from Close To My Heart. View a few creepy creations and learn how to make your own in this video.