July CTMH Blog Hop!

Welcome to the Close To My Heart Stamp of the Month Blog Hop!

All artwork on the hop will feature July's SOTM, "You've Got Flair" a set of 8 stamps! If you have come here from Jamia's blog you are on the right path! If this is your first stop, you may want to go back to Jena's Blog and start from the beginning.

This month we have 46 CTMH Consultants sharing their SOTM creations, and other great CTMH artwork. Joining the hop is fun and simple to do - just click the link at the end of each blogger's post to move to the next one! If you get lost or a link doesn't work just click on links in the list below... Here we go!

I designed this card for my July Card Class and besides featuring the July SOTM, I used embossing (both dry and wet), cutting with scalloped scissors and layering with foam tape. The template is from SCS and can be found here. Other CTMH supplies include: Chocolate Textured CS, White Daisy, Garden Green, and Tulip CS, white embossing powder, twill ribbon, sparkles, and a red button. The card measures approximately 4.25"x5.5"at it's widest/tallest points.

I've also made these two cards featuring "You've Got Flair" - the July SOTM. I used a waterbrush and Cocoa, Desert Sand, and Bamboo ink to color the randomly stamped images (for the card backgrounds). The finished cards also use Love Story rub-ons, twill ribbons, TLC stamps, edge anchors, just blooms paper flowers, and chocolate mini medley embellishments.




Remember, the June SOTM is only available until June 30th, so contact your CTMH Consultant (or Me!) to see how you can get this stamp set at a discount or even free!

Thanks for stopping by! Now "hop" on over to Haley's blog to see her work! Or... click on the links below for ALL the bloggers participating in the hop:

Jena Devries (http://www.livelovelaughscrapbook.blogspot.com/)
Wendy Kessler (http://www.myscrapbookingblog.com/)
Sherry Thompson (http://www.picturespatternsandpaper.blogspot.com/)
Dawn Heuft (http://www.stamptildawn.blogspot.com/)
Brae Montgomery (http://thebrae-er.blogspot.com/)
Melissa Laverty (http://www.fancymelissa.blogspot.com/)
Karen Norman (http://www.gettinscrappywithit.blogspot.com/)
Deb Young (http://www.scrapbookczar.blogspot.com/)
Adeline E. Brill (http://adeline-brill.blogspot.com/)
Tammy Lea Pinchard (http://www.creativeimpressions-pinchme.blogspot.com/)
Jen Rubio (http://www.jenrubio.blogspot.com/)
Cibele Glazer (http://www.flowerfoot.blogspot.com/)
Laurie R Newton (http://scrapsfromthebeach.blogspot.com/)
Kami Welter (http://www.scrappin4memories.blogspot.com/)
Helen Onulak (http://www.hookedonstamping.com/)
Sarita Schraeder (http://www.blessedscrapper.blogspot.com/)
Chris Shouse (http://www.houseostamps.wordpress.com/)
Paige Dolecki (http://www.paigespaperparadise.blogspot.com/)
Dawn Ross (http://www.iamahappystamper.blogspot.com/)
Jamia Bankhead (http://www.papermadnessinc.blogspot.com/)
Nona Davenport (http://www.nonapearl.blogspot.com/)
Haley Dyer (http://www.inkyscrapper.blogspot.com/)
Misty Jackson (http://www.misstscraps.blogspot.com/)
Jennifer Patrick (http://www.roxybonds-scrappin.blogspot.com/)
Carla Ironside (http://www.carlacreates.blogspot.com/)
Jody Gustafson (http://www.cre8nmemories.blogspot.com/)
Heather Painchaud (http://www.twindragonflydesigns.blogspot.com/)
Julia Menssen (http://www.ralphandjulia.blogspot.com/)
Lori Miller (http://www.clearlyfromtheheart.blogspot.com/)
Pamela OConnor (http://www.cherishyourmemories.blogspot.com/)
Reba Poquette (http://www.thedirtyscramper.blogspot.com/)
Anne Beck (http://www.anniemuses.blogspot.com/)
Shannon Pelletier (http://www.shannonmvt.blogspot.com/)
Caren Goldsein (http://www.scrappycaren.blogspot.com/)
Jan Moxey (http://scrapandstamp4ever.blogspot.com/)
Kristie Horness-Herdener (http://www.goofyscrapper.blogspot.com/)
Alanna Moses (http://www.damoses.blogspot.com/)
Leslie Markland (http://pandascrapper.blogspot.com/)
Barbra Otten (http://barbraotten.blogspot.com/)
Traci Godbee (http://createwithtraci.blogspot.com/)
Jill Lucas (http://scrapwench.blogspot.com/)
Amy McVey (http://www.clearlystamping.blogspot.com/)
Laurie Levnik (http://www.creationsbylaurie.blogspot.com/)

Last Deal of the Day

Today is the last "Deal of the Day" for the June promotion! And it is by far the best deal yet! Click here to get your goodie box! Remember supplies are limited! Don't delay!

Anya Challenge Card

Every Friday on the Greeting Farm Blog, a new challenge is posted. This week's challenge is to create a card that features polka dots! This is what I came up with. It's perfect timing too - because my 9th wedding anniversary is coming up in July and now I have a card all ready to go. :)

The card is approximately 6" in diameter. I used the 50's Sweetheart Anya Digi stamp; Copic markers to color, and my nesties for the scalloped rectangles. CTMH products include: Dutch Blue, Cranberry, Black, White Daisy, and Colonial White CS; Silhouette PP; Heartfelt felt collection; embroidery floss; Love Story Rub-ons; and sparkles. Ribbon and scalloped punch (inside card) are from Michaels.

Another P365 Layout

Here is another digi layout I made while on vacation. I'm slowly catching up! :)



Template by Yin Designs (#87), and I just slightly modified it by adding a few extra layers around the flower shapes, Patterned paper is Jessica Sprague (Home Away From Home Kit), the solids were colors taken from the JS paper. Font is CTMH Tall Pen.

home!

We just got home from our week long trip to Cannon Beach, OR. It was a fabulous trip and I've got some great pictures to share, along with some fun new scrappy/crafty stuff.

I'll try and make some time to post tomorrow. However, unpacking is priority #1 (well, after sleeping in my own bed - ahhhhhhhhh).

It's so great to be home. :)

Digi Layouts - Project 365

Good Golly Miss Molly I'm soooooooo behind on my Project 365 Layouts. Thankfully I'm on vacation and have some time to catch up. Here's one I finished tonight:



(You can click on the photo to see it larger.) I used one of Jessica Sprague's "Templates Plus" (which btw are ALL on sale this week). Papers are from Amy Teets, and the fonts are "You Are Loved" and "System".

Dave is giving me the evil eye and telling me it is time for bed, so I'll have to share my other layout with you tomorrow. Blessings!

Hula Anya

Feeling inspired by my Hawaiian Shirt Card for Dave, I played with more Moondoggie paper and another of my new Anya stamps from the Greeting Farm. I also used a Journey Journaling Spot tag, and crocheted ribbon from CTMH.

Hula Anya is raised from the page, and actually swivels on a penny pendulum - so she looks like she's really doing the hula. I used this tutorial by Tresa Black to make this card. She calls it a Swinger Card.

Aloha

My hubby is just so darn cute. We recently went shopping for some new "work" shirts for him (his office is pretty casual), and he insisted we get Hawaiian style ones. He had a few already, but they were getting ratty from repeated wear. So, since they were on sale, we got 5 new Hawaiian shirts. He was so excited come Monday. He told me that he now had enough to wear one each day of the week! LOL...

Sooo, as I sat down to make him a Father's Day card, this seemed appropriate! :) I was inspired to add the lei after seeing a similar card on the CTMH bulletin boards. I'm sorry to whoever was the original designer -because I can't remember who you are! I'd love to give you credit though.

All supplies are CTMH - paper is from Moondoggie, stamps are Extreme Happiness, and I used Sorbet, Tulip, and Desert Sand inks. I used hemp, chocolate bigger brads, and 3d foam for embellishments. I attached the shirt to a 4x4 card base. For the shirt, my paper started at 8"x12" and then I used the pattern featured on my Classy Crafts video from last year:

An Apple a Day...

A few days ago a customer hired me to make her some Teacher Appreciation cards. She wanted them to be able to hold gift cards, and they had to say M.P. teacher (the initials of the school).

These little apple cards were what I came up with! :) I'm really pleased with how they turned out. The apple shape was freehanded. I used Cranberry and Clover Meadow cardstock (CTMH) and used cuttlebug folders to emboss them. I sponged the edges with the same ink color for depth. The M and P are from the CTMH Headline Alphabet stamp set (inked in Sorbet), and the "teacher" is from Family Ties Adults stamp set, stamped/sponged in cranberry ink on a Dimensional Elements tag.

Inside the card is a little pocket just the perfect size for a gift card. :)

Anya bandwagon

So I've jumped on the Anya bandwagon, and it's a crazy fun ride. I'm so in love!!! You can find Anya, etc stamps here.

This is one of the digital stamps, but their rubber stamps are also adorable... (I'm the proud owner of 6 already). They come already mounted on EZ-mount and the prices are really good for the size of the images. PLUS - shipping is SUPER fast. Gotta love that!

This is a card I made for a friend who just graduated from the UW (colors are purple and gold). I made another for a friend who graduated from MLT High, but forgot to take a picture before sealing in the envelope.

I'm sure I'll have many more Anya inspired cards to share soon. (thanks a LOT, Sparkle and Jenn - sheesh you enablers you!!!)

Awesome deal!

Do you like great deals??? How about surprises? Well today only you can have BOTH! Get $220 in popular CTMH product for only $100!

Click here to purchase this awesome deal! Supplies are limiited and will go fast. :)

He Giveth, and giveth, and giveth again...

We sang a song at church today that brought me to tears, but reminded me of the TRUE nature of God. He is not cruel. He is not vindictive. He is not seeking to tear down, but always to build up. He loves with a love that I can not even begin to comprehend or understand. His ways are higher than my ways, and his thoughts toward me are pure, and holy, and kind hearted.

I'll admit that over the past week I've been listening to the lies Satan has been feeding me about God. I've been angry, and disappointed, and unbelieving. (Wow this is really hard to post here).

This worship song brought all of those lies into focus, and brought me to my knees. Lord forgive my distrust and my unbelief! It is only in you that I have a hope, a future, and salvation! I give the status of my family - whether it stays as it is, or grows - over to you, Lord.

Here are the lyrics to that song. May it bless you as it did me.



He giveth more grace when the burdens grow greater,
He sendeth more strength when the labors increase;
To added affliction He addeth His mercy,
To multiplied trials, His multiplied peace.
His love has no limits, His grace had no measure,
His power has no boundary known unto men:
For out of His infinite riches in Jesus,
He giveth, and giveth, and giveth again!

When we have exhausted our store of endurance,
When our strength has failed ere the day is half done,
When we reach the end of our hoarded resources,
Our Father's full giving is only begun.
His love has no limit, His grace has no measure,
His power has no boundary known unto men:
For out of His infinite riches in Jesus,
He giveth, and giveth, and giveth again!

National Knit in Public Day!

First, let me thank you for all the lovely and kind thoughts, prayers, and encouraging words. We are doing okay, and once again trusting God to reveal His plan to us.

Secondly.. today is National Knit in Public day! Hopefully the sun will come out, and I can find a cozy spot to sit and knit this afternoon - say at Starbucks or another fun place. Knitting is one of my most favorite activities, and it is relaxing and even soothing to a weary soul. It will (and has been) good medicine for me these last few days.

Another note, in keeping with the knitting... Did I mention that I taught Dave to knit while on our trip to Minnesota? Yup! And do you know what he said??? "This is SO fun! I think I like this even BETTER than scrapbooking!" :D Have I mentioned how much I love my husband?!?

A Heavy Heart

I suppose it is appropriate that I've been sharing things this week using the Heartfelt Collection. Today's post is definitely from the heart, but unfortunately I'm writing with a very heavy, broken heart.

We got word from our agency on Tuesday that our birth mom has severed contact with the agency. We have no other information besides that - no word of why, or how this came about... no reason given for her sudden change of heart.

We are absolutely devestated. We don't understand how this can be happening AGAIN. We just trust that God has a plan for us, and are trying our best to walk in faith.

I'm going to be taking a few days off from the blog to grieve with my family. We do hope to get back on the agency listings and try again soon. Please pray for us.

Heartfelt Week - day 3

I designed a few cards to share for day 3 of "Heartfelt Week". I'm showing many different ways of using the CTMH die cut felt collection. They are just so fun and easy to use! I've used the same paper packet (Stardust) for all three cards.

This first card also features the Borders Dimensional Elements, Moonstruck ink, Buttercup and White Daisy cardstock, and a stamp from Amuse.


I used bigger brads in White Daisy and Tulip, the letters U and R from Dimensional Alphabets Monograms, Spot on Backgrounds stamps, and a token from a previous CTMH promo. The "stitching" and "of my" are done with a black journaling pen.



This last card features the Journey Journaling Spots, one of the new Foundary Tabs, sparkles, chocolate brads, and a chipboard element from my stash that needed using up. The felt dragonfly was stitched with white embroidery floss.

Heartfelt Week - day 2

Welcome to Day 2 of Hearfelt week: Seven-ish days of creations made with the new Heartfelt die cuts from CTMH! :)

Here is another set of pages for our new baby's book. My vision for these pages is to include some photos of her just after she is born. I'd like to put tiny hands/feet pics in the small photo boxes. For the second page, I want to have a photo of her and her birth momma in the felt frame on page two. Hopefully her birth mom will be willing to do this... if not we'll just put another cute shot of our princess there. In the journaling box I'll talk about our baby's "Special Delivery" and how she came to be a part of our family.





Materials: Heartfelt Die Cut Felt Shapes, Floral Tapestry papers, Big Pinks paper flowers (colored with hollyhock reinker), Courdoroy Brads from Winter Cozy Mini Medleys, Circle Window Charms, Dimensional Elements Borders, Spring Blossom brads, Pure Love stamps, Love Always stamps (the back side of one heart), Chocolate Alphabet Small stamps, and a promotional alphabet set no longer available, Journey Journaling Spots.

oh.. and here's a tip for adhering your felt! You can use a strong adhesive like Tombo or ATG tape. However I've found a fast drying liquid glue that is awesome! It's from Beacon and it's called "Fabri-Tac". It's a permanant adhesive that dries clear and bonds fabric, ribbon, cloth, paper, metal and more! I love it. :) Try "googling it" or find it at Michaels in the glue section.

Heartfelt Week - day 1

I recently purchased the new Heartfelt Felt Diecuts from Close To My Heart and I love them! They are so much fun, and make a great accent for scrapbook pages and cards. They are also very easy to use.

For the next few days (maybe even the week?) I'm going to showcase projects that I've made using this fun product. I hope you'll come back and see all the great cards and layouts!

I know that it's hard to scrap with a new baby in the house - and even harder when you have more than one bitty to look after. So I thought I'd better get started on our new baby's book!

Here are two pages I did using the Silhouette and Silhouette Creative Basics papers, and the cranberry scalloped felt borders and flowers from the Heartfelt collection. I also used Sparkles, and a few misc. buttons from Michaels.

Here are some detail shots:

Come back tomorrow for more Heartfelt inspiration! :)

a few more fun cards

Both of these cards feature the CTMH Bella papers, and a few recent stamp purchases from stampingbella.com. I'm quite pleased with these simple, but fun cards. :) I especially love the new Ketto line of stamps (I bought 2 of them!).

Robot Cards

I had some time to play the other night and made up these 2 robot cards. They both use the Tinkerin' papers from the Summer CTMH Idea Book. Also, I finally found a few fun ways to use spiral clips - my arch nemesis of embellishments. ;)

This first card also features the "Gear Up" stamps, and a sticker from the Tinkerin' My Stickease. The tiny happy birthday stamp comes from the Bella stamp "Daydreamabella" and was an unfortunate afterthought. Don't you hate when you mess up a card like that. Then you rummage through your stash searching for the perfect "cover up". Oh well... the sticker makes up for it.



On this card I used one of my new stamps from stamping bella also - Cakey Watt. Unfortunaetly my little cakeywatt has issues. This is what he was supposed to look like. You'll have to scroll down a few lines to see him. I contacted the creators and they are sending me a new one. He's still cute, but just not AS cute. ;)



Wow...sorry if this post sounded like I was complaining. It's been 90 degrees here for the past 3 days, and I'm just crabby. Bah!

Baby Room is done!

I just wanted to share pictures of the baby's room with you all. It's done! Now we are just waiting for the birth of our little one. Please keep us and our birth momma in your prayers!