May Stamp of the Month Blog Hop

Welcome to the May SOTM Blog Hop! 

I think this month's stamp set will be a very popular one, especially paired with the Close to My Heart National Scrapbooking Month paper pack "Free to Be Me"!  If you have been hopping with us, then you have arrived from Jamie's blog here.

There are 54 consultants participating in this month's hop, but not to worry, if you get lost along the way, you can always hop over to Melinda's blog here and find all of the links for the SOTM participants.

The stamp set S1405 You've Got a Friend includes 5 fun images that are ideal for a card or a scrapbook page!

I try to feature the next month's stamp set in my workshop - "Mini Book Magic", which is always the last Friday of the month!  That is the reason you see so many of my mini books using the stamp set.  This month is no exception!  This month's paper pack is X 7179B Ariana and we again used a previous project from CTMH as a springboard!

This is the second album that I cut with my new Cricut Explore.  I am getting the hang of the software and I have included the file for the cuts at the end of this post.  Check it out!

Here is the cover to the book...

Included in this workshop was the X7179C Ariana My Complements.  A little faux stitching adding some punch to the Outdoor Denim paper cut.

On the inside of the cover, I used the SOTM set to accent the two photo mats. I used the pen feature on the Explore to outline the shape.  Here is a close-up!

I was able to create the tag shape using the Contour feature of the shape and eliminate the inside of the cut.  Look for a post coming soon in how to do this! The stamp set I used is A1158 Doodle Signs and can be purchased here along with the NEW Z1961 White Marquee Enamel Shapes.

"Front of the Chat Bubble"

"Back of the Chat Bubble"

"Postage Stamp Page"

This is the file that I used in the tag - I just shrunk it down and took out the photo opening!

Inside of the Postage Stamp Page

This is my favorite page!

Next page...

Back Cover...

Lots of pages and embellishments BUT my ladies finished it in 1 1/2  hours!  They are getting good at this!

Here is a picture of the Explore file...

Here is the link for the file...

Thanks for hanging in with me through this LONG post but I think you now have a clear picture of how versatile this stamp set is!

Now it is time to hop on over to Melinda's blog here! and check out her fabulous artwork.

April SOTM Blog Hop

It is April already!!  Seriously??? There is a saying that I remember from my childhood..... "April Showers Bring May Flowers"  BUT it has been raining like crazy here in Florida the entire month of March!  So I am looking forward to some pleasant spring weather!

Welcome to the April SOTM Blog Hop.  This month we are featuring, S1404 Balloon Talk.  If you have been hopping with everyone else, then you have arrived from Pam J's blog here. We have 54 consultants participating in this month's blog hop!  If you get lost, the hop is one big circle and you can find the entire list on Melinda's site here.

This stamp set is chock full of conversation bits and pieces .....

Here is the artwork that corp has for us as inspiration!

I had my mini-book workshop last week and I always try to use the next month's stamp set as inspiration.  It is always the last Friday of the month and so it is a perfect segue into the next SOTM set!

This mini-book was inspired by Monica's baby book video but I mixed it up alittle bit and did not add all of the baby embellishments.  I used White Daisy cardstock as the base and then embellished it with cardstock and B & T paper to coordinate with the colors I used.

Cover of the book...

Second and third pages.....

Fourth page.....

Just a few glimpses of the book for now...  Time to add photos, more phrases and some ribbon for the binder rings!

Supplies:

X7183 Lollydoodle paper pack

S1404 Balloon Art

B1450 Owls

C1584 Feathers

WOTG Lollydoodle stamp set

Z1934 Flamingo Dots

Z1906 CTMH Artbooking cartridge - pg. 50 and 51

Colors- Slate, Whisper, Blush, Cotton Candy, Pear, Sorbet and Lagoon

Now it is off to Melinda's blog here  to check out terrific card!