Posted on Monday, February 1, 2016

CTMH February SOTM Blog Hop: Balloon Animals

Welcome to our Stamp of the Month Blog Hop! We will be featuring February 2016 Stamp Of The Month (SOTM), Balloon Animal (S1602), a set of 13 stamps.

This month we have 40 Close To My Heart Consultants sharing their creations using the February 2016 SOTM and other great CTMH products on their blogs. This blog 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. So, here we go!

If you have come here from Wendy’s Blog, you are on the right path! The blog hop is a great big circle, so you can start here antd 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.

I had fun making these cards using this cute stamp set:

I stamped the images with Pixie, Honey, Pear, and Crystal Blue Exclusive Inks Stamp Pads on a 4″ x 5.5″ White Daisy cardstock. Aren’t they gorgeous for Spring color combo? 🙂 I made a mask from post it note to stamp the Honey Giraffe Balloon so it looks like it is behind the Pixie Horse Balloon.

And for the balloon strings, I drew them using Marvy® Uchida® LePen™ Journaling Pen.

I cut a 3/4″ paper strip of Penelope Paper Packet for the border. Then I fussy cut the sentiment label tag using Non-Stick Micro-Tip Scissors. And I added on the card using thin 3D foam tape. I finished my card with some Coral sequins assortments.

The next 2 cards I made for a birthday girl and a birthday boy 🙂

For the background on these cards, I stamped the Ink Blot stamp set using Honey Ink Pad and Gypsy Ink Pad. I stamped the sentiment randomly for fun 🙂

I stamped the animal balloons on White Daisy cardstock using the same ink pads with my first card, and then I fussy cut them using Non-Stick Micro Tip Scissors. I added them on the card using thin 3D foam tape and drew the balloon strings using Marvy® Uchida® LePen™ Journaling Pen.

I finished both cards by adding some Durable Triangle Studs for the boy theme card and Flamingo Dots for the girl theme card.

The SOTM – Balloon Animals (S1602) is only available until February 29, 2016! You can grab it for only $5 with qualifying order of $50 or more. Please contact me or leave me a comment if you any questions 🙂

Now hop on over to Vickie’s Blog to see her work! Be sure to visit all the Consultants at their blog to get some great crafting ideas and other fun ideas!

Thank You so much for stopping by at my blog today and I hope you find some inspirations here to create!

Posted on Friday, January 15, 2016

CTMH Technique Blog Hop: Bokeh Stamping

Welcome to the first monthly CTMH Technique Blog Hop in 2016! This is my first time joining this technique team. For this month hop, we are sharing projects that we created using bokeh tehcnique. You should arrive from Michelle’s blog. This blog hop starts from Melissa’s blog.

You probably are already familiar with this technique. Bokeh is actually a photography term which means the blur produced in the out-of-focus parts of an image that produced by a camera lens. The word bokeh is actually from Japanese – boke – that means blur or haze (source Wikipedia). In cardmaking or other papercrafting area, this term is used to create a blury/hazy background out of dots.

There are lots of tutorials you can find on YouTube and Pinterest. But today, I am sharing 3 ways you can create the bokeh background.

First step is to prepare the watercolored background. Cut the Watercolor Paper in sizes you desire and wet them with some clear water and add colors on them using watercolor brush that I picked up from the inkpad lids or you can also use watercolor paint. The color combo for my background is Pomegranate, Honey, Saffron, Ruby and Poppy. You have to make sure the watercolor background is completely dry before the sponging with White Daisy Pigment Ink. I used my Craft Heater to speedy-dry my backgrounds 😉

First way is using stencil. I punched the clear plastic packaging/acetate with circle punches in different sizes. You also can diecut them using circle dies or if you have Cricut or Silhouette will work well too. Or if you happen to have circle stencil, you can use it, too. I made my stencil from clear plastic acetatr packaging, also you can use cardstock.

Using washi tape to hold the stencil on my card so it won’t move around when I sponge the White Daisy Pigment ink. Them I started sponging the White Daisy Pigment Ink on the circles randomly and it is okay to overlap those circles.

Here’s the card I made with this background:

The second way is you can use any circle stamps, even the backside of the circle-textures stamps. I picked some circle stamps in different sizes from the stamp sets I have: Perfect Fit – Halloween, Dizzy Circles, Oodles of Doodles.

I stamped them randomly and also overlapping each other using White Daisy Pigment Ink.

Here’s the finished card. I love those big circles mix with small and medium sizes.

And the third way is using waterdrops directly on the watercolored background using aqua waterbrush and dab it using paper towel.

As you can see on the finished card, I added some circles using White Pigment Ink and dab randomly with sponge dauber to give more “hazy/blurry” look on it. I like how it turned out 🙂

After stamping and sponging with the White Pigment Ink, I always dry it with Craft Heater so they won’t smear when I do the next stamping because pigment ink dries slowly.

For the embellishments and sentiments on these cards I use the new Spring Wishes Stamp Set and Spring Wishes Thin Cuts. I stamped the flowers and leaves using Slate Exclusive Ink Stamp Pad and the sentiments I used Black Exclusive Ink Stamp Pad. Diecutting machine I used is We R Memory Keeper Evolution Advance. I also use Black Cardstock as the mats then I added them on white card bases. Then, I finished my cards using some Sparkle Clear Assortments.

So, those are my cards to share with you today on this blog hop, I hope you like them! Your next hop is Melissa’s blog to see what she had created for you!

Thank You so much for visiting today! Have a fabulous day!

Posted on Friday, September 25, 2015

Fall Coffee Lovers Blog Hop & Giveaway

Happy Fall Y’all!!! The Autumn season officially started on September 23rd according to the calendar.

This is the season where we can enjoy the beautiful colorful leaves and cooler, crisp air. And it is also the time for…

The Fall Coffee Lovers Bloghop starts from today, Friday, September 25 through Friday, October 2, 2015.

Since it is Fall Bloghop, so theme of your project(s) must be Fall. You can create any project(s) that has coffee, or tea, and/or cocoa on it.

You need to link up your NEW project(s) using the Inlinkz button at the Coffee Loving Cardmakers blog from 6 am Pacific Time (9 am EST) on Friday, September 25 through Friday, October 2nd at 11:59 pm Pacific Time (2:59 am EST on 10/3/2015).

There are no limits to the number of entries, the more the merrier. Please remember to keep the projects with a FALL theme and NO BACKLINKING, please! Your project (s) has to be a new.

Kicking off the first day of this Fall blog hop, here’s my card:

I always always love the colors of Fall leaves. And that wanna try to jump into a pail of leaves! Wish I was this coffee cup 😉

I heat-embossed the leaves with Gold and then color them using the new color ink pads from Close To My Heart: Saffron and Pemogranate. Starting with the Pemogranate at the bottom and them the Saffron from the top of the leaves, you can see when they mix in the middle it turns into a beautiful orange. I fussy cut them and added them on the card using glue dots. Glue dots give extra dimension but not too thick like 3D foam tape, also they quick and stronger than using adhesive runner on that woodgrain embossed background.

Giveaways!!!

I am giving away a pack of prize from Close To My Heart

There are new Treat of Friendship stamp set, new Mini Calendar stamp, Paper Packet samplers, Black Mini Pigment Ink Pad, Cocoa Mini Pigment Ink Pad, Wood Veneer, and some extra stuff I will throw inside the package for you 😊

Amy will use Random.org to pick the winners.The winners will be posted at Coffee Loving Cardmakers blog.

And now to the extra prize to win on my blog! You have few chances to enter to win this stamp set:

You can do all of them or some. But if you do all, the more chance you can win! You have until Sunday, October 4th 9.00 pm EST (6 pm Pasific) to leave comments on this blog post. And I will pick the winner using Random.org and will be announced on Monday, October 5th on my blog

Leave a comment to answer this question: What is your favorite thing to do in the Fall? What is your favorite drink and dessert? Or even just say “Hi!”
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To share my blog post, you are welcome to use th share button at the bottom of this post.

Thank You for hopping by and I hope you all have a wonderful Fall!

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Supplies:

Pathfinding Paper Packet (CTMH)
White Daisy Cardstock (CTMH)
Woodgrain Embossing Folder (CTMH)
Ranger Gold Embossing Powder (CTMH)
Craft Heater (CTMH)
Exclusive Inks Stamp Pads: Pomegranate, Goldrush, Saffron, Black
My Acrylix stamping blocks (CTMH)
Watercolor Pencils (CTMH)
Sequins Gold Assortment (CTMH)
Aquash Water brushes (Pentel)
Watercolor Paper (Handmade Modern, Target)
Non-stick Micro-tip Scissors
Adhesive runner
Glue Dots
3D foam tape
Evolution Advanced Diecutting-Embossing-Letterpressing Machine (WRMK)

Posted on Wednesday, September 9, 2015

Expressing Gratitude With Handmade Cards

Thanksgiving Holiday is getting closer. This is one of our favorite Holidays. This is the season we focus on giving thanks to the Lord for all the blessings.

There are many ways we can express our gratitude to others. One way I love is by sending them handmade cards. You pour your love into the cards you make for them and they will appreciate every moment you spend to make it for them.

Today I am sharing some the cards I made as part of the Joyful Stars Blog Hop this month. If you arrived from Marie’s blog then you are on the right track 🙂 The blog hop starts at Joyce’s blog where you can find the whole list of participants.

All cards I made are using the new stamp set, Harvest Wreath (D1662). This one stamp set has lots of beautiful images you can use for Fall theme projects.

The first card, I stamped the wreath straight on the White Daisy card base and added the stamped embellishment, sequins and sparkle clear on it.

The Non-stick Micro-tip Scissors is the best sciccors to fussy cut.

Supplies you’ll need to make these cards:

Harvest Wreath stamp set (D1662)
Woodgrain Embossing Folder (Z1996) – you can use CTMH embossing folders with any kind of die cut machine like Cuttlebug, Evolution Advanced, Evolution, etc.
Exclusive Inks Stamp Pads: Goldrush, Flaxen, Canary, Cranberry, Pear, Olive (retired, new ink pad Fern is best for stamping the wreath and leaf.), Black.
My Acrylix stamping blocks: 1″ × 1″ (Y1000), 1″ × 3 ½” (Y1002), 2″ × 2″ (Y1003), 3″ × 3″ (Y1006)
White Daisy cardstock
Kraft Cardstock
Sequins Gold Assortment
Sparkles Clear Assortment
Adhesive runner
3D foam tape
Non-stick Micro-tip Scissors

All supplies are available at my CTMH store. Don’t forget to check the National Stamping Month stamp sets, Hello, Life! stamp sets and you do not wanna miss this gorgeous stamp set from the September Stamp Of The Month, Paper Garden. When you put an order, don’t forget to join my Online Gathering Party for a chance to win $10 Hostess Reward credit.

Your next hop is Lori’s blog to see what she has created for you.

I also link up my card at Susan’s Thanksgiving Crusade Thanksgiving Challenge 2015.

Have a wonderful Wednesday & Thank You for stopping by!

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Other supplies:

Evolution Advanced embossing machine (WRMK)
Kraft carstock (Neenah)
The Paper Studio Card & envelope sets
Studio G gems
Adhesive
Scissors

Posted on Thursday, April 9, 2015

Many Smiles Begin With You

Welcome to Joyful Stars April Blog Hop. This is a monthly blog hop from a group of Close to My Heart Independent Consultants.

If you arrive from Lori’s blog , then you are on the right track. If you happen to be here first, please keep on hopping to visit my fellow consultants’ projects. The hop starts at Joyce’s blog where you can find the full list of participants for this month.

This time I made a note card featuring Smiles Begin With You Stamp Set, Blossom Paper Packet, Sequins Gold Assortment and Stitching Guide.

Creating the chalkboard looking card is very easy. On a piece of Black cardstock, stamp the sentiment with VersaMark ink pad and heat embossed it with White Embossing Powder. Then, using a piece of paper towel or tissue, with circular motion add the White Daisy Pigment Ink all over the cardstock. And I usually dry the pigment ink using Craft Heater for quick drying, but you can let it sit on the side for air-drying if you are not in hurry.

Then I add the banners I cut form Blossom Paper Packet and add at the corner of the card using adhesive runner. Using the Stitching Guide and Stitching mat + needle set (retired, but I recommend to get this Stitching Mat). I stitched them by hand. These Stitching Guide and Mat is very easy to use for card-making and scrapbook layouts.

I finished my card with some Sequins Gold Assortment. I love all CTMH Sequins Assortment because they have adhesive already, just ready to use on projects.

I hope you’ll like my project this month 🙂 Your next hop is Nickie’s blog to see what she has created for you this month. Thank you so much for hopping by at my blog!

Here’s the list of supplies I used for the card where you can get from my CTMH Online Store:

Smiles Begin With You stamp set
Blossom Paper Packer
White Daisy cardstock
Sequins Gold Assortment
Stitching Guide.
Foam Pad

Don’t forget we have very DEAL OF THE DAY grab bag every day that you can SAVE lots of money on crafting supplies, it starts at 3 PM (Mountain time) for 24 hours, every day for the whole month of April.