Candy Cane Alphabet Blog Hop (December SOTM!)

Happy December 1st!
I was supposed to be participating 
in this Blog Hop tonight, BUT due to 
unexpected technical difficulties
my post didn't go live at 6pm
when it was supposed to and I was
(understandably) skipped.

I didn't want to miss out on all the fun
though, so I'm sharing my artwork 
using this stamp set here anyway,
AND...as a bonus, you can
use the link below to check out
the Blog Hop next and be inspired by 
all of the beautiful artwork created by
many of my CTMH consultant friends!

Today I'm sharing a standard-size card I created
featuring the Hello Pumpkin papers! Yes...
those candy cane stripes can work to create so
much more than just Christmas-themed projects!

AND...How much do we LOVE that 
Sugarplum Glitter Paper?!!

Now, please use THIS LINK to
join in on the December Stamp of the
Month Blog Hop and enjoy more creations
with this oh-so-versatile stamp set! 

September Artwork featuring Cats & Bats!

So here are all of my latest
creations featuring the

CATS & BATS

paper collection!

...and I snuck in a few retired

paper scraps on the cards too

(can you spot them?).

First up, the four 12x12 layouts

I created using the

Workshops Your Way kit 

(G1136)...

There's still time to make

these layouts with me

($32 per pre-cut kit

to create 4-12x12

layouts like shown),

on the following dates:
Saturday 9/23 (6pm-9pm)
Friday 9/29 (6pm-9pm)
Monday 10/9 (9am-Noon)

(Non-local customers can request

a pre-cut "kit-to-go!" The cost of

postage is a little extra. Please

contact me for details).

Next, these are the pre-cut cards I'm offering
at our card-making classes this month!
Cards are make as many as you want for
$2 each (bring/use your own adhesive).

The technique we will focus on
learning and improving this time
is watercoloring, so bring your water
brush and paints if you have them
(or just come and use mine if you
need to) on the following dates:
Saturday 9/23 (6pm-9pm)
Friday 9/29 (6pm-9pm)
Monday 10/9 (9am-Noon)

Lastly, here's a fun "interactive" pop-up card

that I also have as one of our card class options
(using this month's National Stamping Month
"From the Heart" stamp set and card kit!)

This card folds flat for mailing in an envelope,

but when you pull the sliding tab, the front

pops up revealing a hidden message underneath:

Holiday Expressions New Product Blog Hop!

THANK YOU 

for stopping by to enjoy
our Holiday Expressions

New Product Blog Hop!

If you've just arrived here
from JACQUELIN's BLOG
then you are on the correct path.

Today, 25 consultant artists are sharing artwork
they've created using all-new products from our 
NEW Holiday Expressions Catalog!

Today, I'm sharing SIX

Harry Potter-themed cards I designed

using paper and embellishments

left-over after I created just the scrapbook 

pages using the Jeepers Creepers

Workshops Your Way Scrapbooking Kit 

(Item #G1110):

Start by cutting all of the layout pieces ONLY shown in the Jeepers Creepers WYW instruction guide (do NOT cut the darker-shaded card pieces labeled 4, 5, and 6!!). Then, using the scraps that are left over, you should have enough paper to cut pieces to create TWO of each card design shown here. The key is to cut each of the papers one sheet at a time (starting with Card #1 first, then Card #2, and so on). ALWAYS cut the smaller measurement first (that's how I got it to work out). Also, when you're cutting the smaller measurements first, make sure you are paying attention to which way the stripes and zig zags are going! If you keep the stripes pointing the same directions as my card samples show, you should have just enough paper. Make sure you cut the second (duplicate piece for each card) right away from the same strip you cut the first one, before moving on to cutting the next pieces.

In addition to 12 standard-size card bases and envelopes (item #X254), you will also need one sheet of Black 12x12 cardstock and some clear Sparkles ((item #Z3274). You will also need some very minimal scraps of Black, Lemon, and Tangerine cardstocks to make your Cricut Artistry cuts. The only stamped and colored-in image is the sorting hat on Card #2, so unlike most of the creations I share on my blog, these cards require very minimal stamping!

Leave your email address in the comments below (or email me!) if you want to request that I send you a copy of the full instructions (an MSword document). This file will also include a page that you will print two of (in black and white) on White Daisy cardstock to create your sentiments for each card. Enjoy!!

CARD #1 (above)

Sentiment – cropped to 3” x 2.75” tall

Pansy CS – 3.25” x 3”

Eyeballs B&T – 1.5” x 5.5”

Lagoon stripe B&T – 2.75” x 5.5”

5.5” of black stripe washi tape

Cut lightbulb using Cricut Artistry (p. 33)

1.5 “ on Canary and Tangerine cardstocks.
Mount lightbulb with 3-D foam tape.

CARD #2 (above)

Sentiment – cropped to 2.75” x  3.75” tall

Pansy CS – 3” x 4”

Lightning Bolt B&T – 4” x 5.25”

Black cardstock – 4.25” x 5.5”

Stamp sorting hat from “Purr-fect Halloween” set (S1608)

with Black Memento ink on White Daisy CS scrap.

Color with Warm Grey 4, Warm Grey 7, and 

Colorless Blender 0 markers, and cut it out.
Mount sorting hat with 3-D foam tape.

CARD #3 (above)

Sentiment – cropped to 1.5” x 3” wide

Black CS – 1.75” x 3.25”

Lightning Bolt B&T – 1.5” x 5.5”

Tangerine stripe B&T – 2.75” x 5.5”

Polka Dot Zip Strip – 5.5
(adhere and layer on top of the stripe B&T)
Cut the glasses using Cricut Artistry (p.22)
1" on Black cardstock, adhere w/ fine glue pen.

CARD #4 (above)

Sentiment – cropped to 1.5” x 2.25” wide

Black CS – 1.75” x 2.5”

Zig Zag B&T – 4” x 5.25”

Lagoon stripe B&T – 2.25” x 3” and .75” x 3”

Cloud & Moon Zip Strip – 3” cut from left side.

CARD #5 (above)

Sentiment – cropped to 2.5” x 3” tall

Black CS – 2.75” x 3.25”

Tangerine stripe B&T – 1.5” x 4.25”

Lagoon stripe B&T – 3” x 4.25”

Pansy CS - .75” x 3” (wrapped with stripe washi tape)

4.25” of willow washi tape

Tangerine CS heart cut w/ smallest of Hearts thin cuts.

CARD #6 (above)

Sentiment – cropped to 1.5” x 3”

Black CS – 1.75” x 3.25”

Sentiment outlined w/ fine black pen (hand-drawn)

Zig Zag B&T – 4” x 5.25”

Tangerine stripe B&T - .75” x 3.5”

Tangerine CS heart cut w/smallest of Hearts thin cuts.

Now you can continue on with the hop
and be inspired by more creativity
using more all-new Holiday
Expressions products by visiting

TERRIE's BLOG next!

Enjoy the hop!!

   

August Stamp of the Month Blog Hop!

THANK YOU for stopping by to enjoy 

our August Stamp of the Month Blog Hop 

featuring this month's SOTM:

Purr-fect Halloween S1608

I am the 23rd of 24 fellow consultant artists
participating in this month's hop!
If you have just joined us, you can start here and continue on
to the next blog participant (as this is a circular hop), and so on.
  If you've just arrived here from JEAN's BLOG 
then you are on the correct path.

First, I've created this standard-size this card (above) using all-NEW products,
including the NEW Rustic Home Fundamentals papers (Z3262) with Pansy and Tangerine
cardstocks (NEW colors X5782 and X5786). The hat and mask were colored with Lavender
and Marigold ShinHan Touch Twin markers. As you can see, the heart was cut from
Tangerine cardstock using the smallest of the NEW Hearts Thin Cuts (Z3260).

 This card (above) is a tad different than the first version of it
that I shared above. I later decided to give this cat a "batty" bow-tie! lol.

 I also want to show you that this stamp can be used for more than just Halloween! 
The products I used above include the NEW Rustic Home Fundamentals papers (Z3262)
with NEW Sea Glass cardstock (X5789) and a little bit of Retired "Cloud Nine" B&T paper
(to make the crazy-looking cat). Notice also that the grey cat on the left card was colored
with watercolor paints, while the one on the right was colored
with a Warm Grey (WG4) marker.

Finally, here's a view of all of the images included in this fun stamp set:

  
Now you can continue on with the hop...
and be inspired by more creativity
using this stamp set by visiting
TRACIE's BLOG next! Enjoy the hop!!

September 6th Card Class! (6-9pm)

These are the cards I'm teaching tonight!

Let me show you how to create

8 hand-made greeting cards

(2 each of 4 designs!) on the 

first Saturday evening of

every month for $12.00

(that's only $1.50 per card!)

...OR

get your class for just $5

with any $24.95 or more

product purchase.

This month's cards feature

the brand new

SCAREDY CAT

and SNOWHAVEN

paper packs!

Mojo Monday 359 (Halloween Greetings Card)!

 I'm so happy to have finally been able to find a little time to participate in the Mojo Monday Card Sketch Challenge this week!! Here is my standard size card inspired by Mojo Monday 359.

All of the products I used are from Close to my Heart.

D1605 Halloween Greetings stamp set

X7185B Scaredy Cat paper packet

Z3011 Scaredy Cat assortment (enamel stars)

Archival Black and Slate ink pads

ShinHan Touch Twin Markers:

Barely Beige (YR29)

Peony Purple (P282)

Warm Grey (WG4)

August Stamp of the Month Blog Hop!!

THANK YOU for stopping by to enjoy our
August Stamp of the Month Blog Hop

featuring this month's SOTM: 

What A Hoot S1408

If you've just arrived here from ALYSON's BLOG,
then you are on the correct path.
If you get lost at any point along the way,
you can see a full listing of all of the blog hop
participants by visiting this link here:
 http://ifyoublingit.blogspot.com/p/stamp-of-month-blog-hop-list.html

First, I'm sharing this fun Halloween Treat Bag I made (above) using our
NEW Designer Creations Slate Paper Bags (Z2036)
shown on page of 176 of the new Annual Inspirations Catalog.
Images are stamped with Black ink and colored/blended with our
NEW ShinHan Twin Touch Markers (Clay, Mahogany, Golden Yellow, and Marigold).

Next, is a standard size card (above) featuring the New CHALK IT UP paper pack (X7184B).

Card design is inspired by Make It From Your Heart, Volume 2 - Pattern 20 (p. 42).

Images are also stamped with Black ink and colored/blended with our
NEW ShinHan Twin Touch Markers (Clay, Mahogany, Peacock Green, and Turquoise Blue).

Lastly, here are all of the stamp images included in this set:

Now you can continue on with the hop 
and be inspired by more creative ideas
using this stamp set by visiting
SHEILA's BLOG next!
Enjoy the hop!!

October Events (and $5 Creative Class artwork!!)

I've had to change my usual class schedule quite a bit this month due to all of the family commitments that I have coming up every Saturday in October (it is such an exceptionally busy month for us)! This coming Saturday 10/8, we will need to start later than usual (7pm) due to having kids involved in the Marching Band/Field Show Tournament at Barstow High that afternoon and evening.

...and for those of you who have been asking, I have been working on designing a brand-new Christmas Card Workshop that will start on November 11th and 12th, so you can mark your calendar for that now too if you're interested (photos and more details to come soon)!!

Thurs. 10/6 (9am-11am) - Morning PLAYDATE

Friday 10/7 (6pm-10pm) - Evening PLAYDATE

Sat. 10/8 (7pm-10pm) - Evening PLAYDATE (notice the 7pm start time!!)

Thurs. 10/13 (9am-11am) - Morning PLAYDATE

Sat. 10/15 (10am-2pm) - Christmas Card Buffet @ LDS church ($1 per card)

Thurs. 10/20 (9am-11am) - Morning PLAYDATE

Friday 10/21 (6pm-10pm) - Evening PLAYDATE

Thurs. 10/27 (9am-11am) - Morning PLAYDATE

You will also notice that I am now using the term "PLAYDATE" to describe my events, so let me explain why. Instead of scheduling certain classes on specific dates, I have decided to be more flexible by offering you more time to come "PLAY" with me in my stamp room and you get to choose what exactly you will be creating and when. Here are all of your options this month:

$5 Creative Class: 

Make 3 items - two cards and a pocket-tag treat-holder for Halloween (shown below!) Price does not include adhesive (so bring your own or purchase from me as needed).

$5 Card Buffet: 

Choose and make any 3 cards from my stash of left-over pre-cut card kits from previous classes I've offered. Price does not include adhesive (so bring your own or purchase from me as needed).

Event Calendar Workshop: 

Finish the Event Calendar(s) you may have already started with me on 9/24 OR it's not too late to begin one or more of them now (I have 9 available kits left to sell)! Click here for photos of the project and details about pricing. Price does not include adhesive (so bring your own or purchase from me as needed).

Workshops on the Go kits (as shown in the Idea Book):
For around $20, you can make two beautiful two-page 12x12 layouts (4 pages), or for $29.95 (plus tax and s/h) you can create these same layouts and get to keep the matching C-size stamp set you've used to make them! Create any of the WOTG layouts with or without the bonus projects shown in the Idea Book when you pre-order your supplies at least a week before you plan to join me at a "playdate". I do have some of the more in demand kits already "in stock" for you to choose from while supplies last on a first come, first serve basis. I currently have ONE Roxie kit (p. 25), ONE Elemental kit (p. 31), TWO Sonoma kits (p. 43), ONE Believe kit (p. 55), and ONE Wonderland kit (p. 61) on hand available for purchase.

FREE Open Crop time:

Bring any supplies you already have to use to come and create to your heart's delight! You are welcome to use any of my stamps, inks, and tools as needed so you can get done whatever projects you want to finish! I also have a variety of cardstock and patterned papers available for you to purchase individually by the sheet to use as you create. You will want plenty of paper to use with my NEW Cricut machine and our AWESOME Art Philosophy cartridge if you you'd like to try it out (I would love to show you how)!!

PLEASE e-mail me, Facebook message me, or call/text my cell phone (760-220-0683) to RSVP at least a day before you plan to join us. Space is limited and I need to know ahead of time how many people to be prepared for on each date! THANKS so much for your rsvp's and I will look forward to seeing you at one or more of my upcoming events soon!!

$5 Creative Class Projects for October:

3.5" x 8" card (above) featuring the October SOTM - Holiday Magic S1110
with the Roxie papers X7140B

Pocket-tag Treat-holder for Halloween featuring the Captured Moments stamp set C1423 and Mischief papers X7114B (shown above and below) inspired by my friend, Nikka Geers. You can click on this link to Nikka's blog for her instructions how to make this using the "pillow box" cut from our Cricut Art Philosophy cartridge (I cut my pillow box at 5.5" and the tag is cut from Olive cardstock at 4.5").

Standard size card (below) inspired by Wishes - Simple Expression (p. 40)
featuring the Remarkable Wreath stamp set C1473, Dreamin' paper pack X7142B,
and Glitz Bronze Glitter Gel Z1483.

$5 Creative Class projects for 8/6!

6x6 kraft die-cut card from the Sonoma WOTG kit G1028 (shown on page 43).

Standard size card inspired by page 17 of the Idea Book

featuring the Blue Ribbon C1464 stamp set with the Typeset papers X7139B.

Pillow Box cut out with Cricut Art Philosophy cartridge Z1686 (at 5.5")

featuring the Wicked SOTM S1108 with the Mischief papers X7144B.

(back side view shown below)

 

THANK YOU to the ladies who attended tonight's creative class: Abby, Carolyn, Denise, Dorothy, Rosann, and Sandra! I had a great time visiting and creating with you all and hope you enjoyed yourselves too! (THANKS for bringing your lemon cookies Denise...they were "delish")!!

For those of you who missed this class, I hope you enjoy seeing what we created (shown above)...3 different projects for just $5. I do have some left-over project kits that will be available for purchase and use during my upcoming SNS (Saturday Night Scrappers) FREE Crops/Playdates on 8/13 and 8/27 (4pm to 10pm)...so there is still time to "make-up" these projects with me during the month of August (while supplies last...first come, first serve)! Please feel free to contact me to RSVP to reserve your space for either of these dates now. Click here for details about the "Sonoma" Workshop that I am also offering on these dates. If you are interested in the "Sonoma" Workshop I need to know ASAP so I can get enough kits pre-ordered to be sure that they arrive in time!

Consultant Team Swap Cards!! (from July 23rd meeting)

So I've just starting hosting a brand-new monthly swap for members of my consultant team! Our first "virtual" swap card was due to me in July, and I am happy that I am finally ready to post and share all of these beautiful creations! My card for this swap (above) is a standard size card (5.5" x 4.25"). The stamp sets I used include 3 different stamp sets - Happy Clusters C1471 (p. 93), Love Life D1482 (p. 29), and A Typeface (August promotion). Cardstock colors I used are Olive, Smokey Plum, and White Daisy. Ink colors used are Bamboo, Black, Desert Sand sponging, and Smokey Plum. I cut the star out using our NEW Cricut Art Phiilosophy cartridge!!! The catalog doesn't include a red line around this image on p. 93, so I wasn't sure if it would be compatible, but discovered that the "Star" image cut at 2-3/4" size worked perfectly!! I am thinking that A LOT more of our images will work with this cartridge than are shown in the Idea Book - you just have to experiment and try different things until you find the right size to cut them!!!

I'm including the swap guidelines that I gave to my team (below) so you can read the specific challenge I gave them for creating this time. I am hopeful that next month a lot more of my team members will be able to participate along with us! Now please ENJOY all of these fun, creative cards made by some of my wonderfully-talented team members and friends (the Friends Forever Stampers Team)!

(visit PaulainPS.blogspot.com for details)

Cardstock: Sunset, cocoa, desert sand, olive; Stamps: You & Me, August SOTM Wicked, Hodgepodge Alphabet; plus: mocha opaques, and chocolate buttons threaded with raffia. (no blog to link to yet).

(visit NikkaGeers.blogspot.com for details)

(visit GracefulCardmakers.blogspot.com for details)

August SOTM Blog Hop (featuring "Wicked" and "A Typeface"!)

WELCOME to our August Stamp of the Month blog hop featuring this month's new SOTM - "Wicked" S1108! If you've just joined me from Shannon's blog, then you are on the right path!

First, I'm sharing a standard size card (above) that I created using a little bit of Smokey Plum B&T duos paper from our NEW Sonoma X7143B paper pack. Notice how I've used the "witches hat" image as the stem for my pumpkin! To make the stem I first stamped the image with Black ink on my 3"x3.75" piece of colonial white cardstock. Then I used the "paper piecing" technique to add the green stem by stamping the image again with Olive ink on a scrap of Colonial White cardstock, cutting out just part of the "hat" image, and then adhering that part over top of the first image I stamped with Black ink. To create the pumpkin, I cut out three 1.5" ovals from Sunset cardstock using the "Oval3" button with our NEW "Art Philosophy" Cricut Cartridge!! Then I stamped the honey-comb-like image with Sunset ink ("tone-on-tone" stamping) on each oval and sponged the outside edges with Desert Sand ink. Then I layered and adhered them together over the stem to create the pumpkin! I also used "masking" technique to stamp just the word "Halloween" on the 1"x2" piece of Colonial White cardstock. I added the word "Happy" using stamps from the "A Typeface" stamp set that is your FREE gift "this month only" when you purchase the "Wicked" Stamp of the Month for just $5 with any $50 order! (both stamp set images are shown at the bottom of this post and remember, you can click on any of my photos to see them larger).

Next, I'm sharing a "candy bar pocket" (above) that I created using the the "Tag5" plus "Card" buttons with our NEW "Art Philosophy" Cricut Cartridge (I just LOVE our new Cricut Cartridge and have been playing with it a lot this week)!! The card/pocket is cut from Olive cardstock at the 5.75" inch setting (this allows you to cut two from one sheet of 12x12" cardstock). Colors used here again are Black, Colonial White, Olive, Smokey Plum, and Sunset (the cat is stamped with "2nd generation" Black ink). The "Bling Assortment" Pin Z1466 and Pin Clips Z1612 that I've used on both projects are held in place by being stuck through the 3-d mounting tape I used underneath my card elements to give them some lift and dimension.

Finally, here is the card I created with my customers recently at my New Idea Book Reveal Party and Open House (above)! Don't you just LOVE that this stamp set can be used to create a lot more than just items for "Halloween"?!! I am looking forward to using the "honey-comb-like" image and the "flourishy border" stamp as well as some of the other sentiments on a variety of different projects. This card is also made with a few other brand-new products including the Love Life D1482 stamp set, Roxie paper pack X7140B, Just Blooms paper shapes butterflies Z1463, and Bling Assortment buttons Z1466!

I hope you've enjoyed seeing my artwork! Now you can continue on with the rest of this blog hop and see more creative ways to use this "Wicked" stamp set by visiting Haley's blog next! Enjoy!!

March SOTM Blog Hop!!

WELCOME to my blog and THANKS for joining us for our March Stamp of the Month BLOG HOP featuring the March SOTM - D1408 A Little Everything!! The first creation I have to share with you is a standard size card that features this versatile SOTM set as well as the X7110B Back Country papers and two additional stamp sets - B1309 Fun Times and D1283 Say It in Style (for the "with love" sentiment). Masculine cards are sometimes hard for me to feel inspired about designing, so I was really pleased to come up with this one - masculine and fun! You can also see a few more cards below that I created for the standing SOTM swap I host and participate in with a group of very creative consultants each month. All of my swap cards below are created using the X7122B You Rock papers.

I hope you enjoy them!

Finally, the card just above was created using my Spellbinder Nestabilities circles and scalloped circles to cut out the scalloped card base and circle of smokey plum B&T paper with my Cuttlebug (I just love these new tools I've started using more recently). I also used the "masking technique" to stamp my sentiment. I'm including a brief photo tutorial below so you can see exactly how I did it in case the masking techniqe is new to you. Masking is much simpler than it sounds and it sure does allow for some amazing possiblities when you are trying to get extra creative with your stamping!

Now you can HOP on over to KATHLEEN'S BLOG to see the

beautiful artwork she has to share with us next!