Hop On Over for some SOTM Blog Hop Fun

Welcome to our Stamp of the Month Blog Hop! We will be featuring February's SOTM, which is Friendship D1453, a set of 8 stamps. If you have come here from Tamra Post's Blog, you are on the right path! The blog hop is a great big circle, so you can start here and work your way all around. If you get lost along the way, you’ll find the complete list of participating consultants here.

This month we have 67 Close To My Heart Consultants sharing their creations using this month's SOTM and other great CTMH products on their blogs. This is simple to do - just click on the link at the end of the post on each blog to move to the next one! Here we go!

Thanks for visiting my Scrapi Traci blog. I'm excited to show you my projects! I hope you'll take the time to leave me a comment and become a follower!

I loved this "Friendship" SOTM so much that I couldn't just show one project.  My first is using a CTMH's 6" x 6" Memory Showcase with a Wings Level 1 Kit, Wings Level 2 Assortment, Black Mini Medley and Pearl Opaques.

My second project is using the new Sweetheart Level 2 Paper Packet, ribbon from the new Pink Collection Designer Ribbon, Bitty Sparkles, and Pink Sparkles.

Now "Hop" on to Deanne Jacobs' Blog  to see her work! Be sure to visit all the Consultants at their Blogs to get some great crafting ideas and other fun ideas!

Remember, the February SOTM is only available until February 28. Contact your CTMH Consultant or click here to see how you can get this stamp set at a discount or even free!

"Sweet" Card Fun with NEW Sweetheart Paper & Accessories

I sat down to put together my Sweetheart Level 2 pages for my Feburary workshops, and had so much fun with this gorgeous paper, that I had to make some cards!  I can't decide which B&T I like better from this kit - they are all so beautiful and versatile.

Besides the Sweetheart Level 2 paper packet, I also used the NEW pink ribbon collection designer ribbon, pink assortment brads, pink assortment buttons and Sweetheart Level 2 Assortment.  The stamp sets I used are Amore D1445 and Sweetheart Workshop with black, cotton candy, tulip and blush inks.

"How To" Books Are Incredible Resource For Quick Pages

One of my favorite products from Close To My Heart are their "How-To" books.  Each of their four scrapbooking and two card books are filled with the most beautiful ideas. They work whether you copy the page idea completely or just get a general idea to get you started.  It's not always that you can't come up with the ideas yourself but sometimes why reinvent the wheel when you have this resource of gorgeous layouts.

Here's a fun page that one of my clients designed at my lastest all-day crop using "Reflections" (Bottom Border - Portrait) to use as the first page of an album she's doing for her daughter's high school graduation.  So fabulous!!

Another client also tried the books for the first time at my crop and couldn't get over how many pages she finished.  Here's a couple samples of what she did using "Cherish" and remnants from her Zippadee and Passages kits.

As you'll see, all three pages are school pages.  It turned out that three of my clients that came for the crop were all working on school pictures. Such a crazy coincidence that turned out so great because all just recreated each other's pages throughout the day!  Now they have an idea to plan the theme for next time like "beach" pictures!

Check out all the "How-To" program books that CTMH offers here!

Kids Scrapbooking Birthday Parties Are Great Fun!

I just did my second kids birthday party, and I'm really enjoying them!! This one was with eight 5 - 6 year olds. Since it was both boys and girls, I had to design something somewhat generic and not too complicated for the hour of crafting. The kids really enjoyed doing both the project above - a bookmark, complete with plastic cover, and the photo card below.  Both were done using CTMH's Magnifique papers, stamps (The Works Alphabet, Boom, Snow Flurries, and January Word Puzzle, and pacifica and sky inks.

It was cute seeing how hard all were concentrating on distressing (CTMH sanding kit), stamping and adding sparkles.  Many of the parents couldn't believe how focused they all stayed throughout the party!

The kids got to take their bookmark home as their goody bag. I made the photo card so the birthday Mom could send back to the kids with a photo of each of them with the birthday girl, as a thank you! 

It's Easy to Learn New Techniques with Art & Soul



The thing I love about the scrapbooking is all the possibilities.  There are so many fun choices of products and techniques to choose from when scrapbooking. Sometimes it can get a little overwhelming and it makes it hard to break out of your box.  Close To My Heart's Art & Soul TV episodes are amazing.  In 15 minutes, they introduce and quickly breakdown fabulous new techniques.  It really give you that "ah ha" moment when you realize how easy some of these cool techniques are, and you can't wait to try them out.  Check out  an episode of CTMH TV for yourself by clicking here!  The latest shows how simple it is to add extra pizazz to buttons, brads, ribbon, or paper flowers by stamping images with Staz On ink, and finishing with a little heat setting. It also featured a neat trick of using a crushed piece of printer paper, dabbing it in Liquid Glass and rubbing all over a section of cardstock. Then, you go over the same piece with a inked dauber to create a marbled look.  Their use of this technique on the Snowflake Dimensional Elements is beautiful.  I am absolutely including that in my next snow page!!



SMILE Banner

Close To My Heart just posted this ADORABLE banner on their Facebook page.  It makes me want to drop everything and make one!!  It's made using CTMH's New "My Creations Banner" in the Spring/Summer 2011 Idea Book.  For only $5.95, it includes 8 white chipboard pennants with 7 jump rings. Pennants are 7" x 6".  There are just so many options for using these new banners. For Valentine's Day, I'm planning on making one for my daughter. Instead of "Smile", "Haley" will be perfect to spell out.  I'll share once it's finished . . .

It's Never Too Late To Spread Joy

My Girl Scout Troop had a special Field Trip planned to visit a local nursing home to sing Christmas carols right before the holidays. The girls worked so hard on making some beautiful cards at their holiday party. It was so cute watching each of them concentrating on writing something special in their cards.  We then practiced our songs and took a picture to give with the cards.  Only, we never got to visit.  The poor residents of the nursing home were put on quarantine because of a stomach virus going around and the state health department was coming in. What a terrible way to spend the holidays!  

The girls were really disappointed but even though the holidays are over, we decided to still drop off our cards and picture. We just told our girls that it's never too late to spread some joy!!

http://myemail.constantcontact.com/It-s-A-Scrapi-New-Year-s-Resolution.html?soid=1103337725196&aid=KEVvg3jYSQ4

http://myemail.constantcontact.com/It-s-A-Scrapi-New-Year-s-Resolution.html?soid=1103337725196&aid=KEVvg3jYSQ4

Inspirations Brochure Filled With Spectacular Goodies

When I first got my hands on this incredible brochure last month, which gives us a sneak peak at the NEW Wings Paper Collection, several beautiful stamp sets and new embellishments, Iwas so excited. Having taken advantage of the special deals and purchased a Wings WOTG (consultants could order last month) and pretty much EVERY special offer enclosed, I am not just excited, I'm thrilled. I've already sat down and crafted using these fun items. So, so beautiful.   Check out the complete Inspirations brochure here, if you haven't done so yet!

Magnifique Cards Are Stunning

The "Workshop On The Go" Magnifique" Cards are truly stunning and their messages are so perfect for post-holidays thank yous to friends and family!! 

I am looking forward to working on these with my fun card ladies this month on Thurs., Jan. 13 and Tues, Jan 18th!

Scrapi January Workshop Are "Magnifique"

My January workshops will all be creating beautiful layouts with CTMH's "Magnifique" papers.  The colors are so vibrant and beautiful together, and the messages are perfect for celebrating families! 

My Level 1 Workshop will be held at "It's Bazaar on 21st" on Sat., Jan. 29, 9:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. For $25, we will complete five pages using papers, stickers and a little extra embellishments!

My Level II Workshops will be held at my Scrapi Home Workshop on Mon, Jan. 10, 7 - 9:30 p.m.; Thurs., Jan. 20, 7 - 9:30 p.m.; and a makeup on Thurs., Jan. 27, 7 - 9:30 p.m. For $33, we will create two 2-page layouts with papers, stickers and embellishments!

Take a look at the fun layouts:

"Magnifique" Level 1 Workshop - Layout #1




Level 1 - Layout #2



Level 1 Bonus Page

"Magnifique" Level 2 - Layout #1

Level 2 - Layout #2

January Stamp of the Month Is So Stylish

January's Stamp of the Month, "Find Your Style", might just be my favorite SOTM ever.  I treasure my girlfriends and I love that this stamp design gives me so many fun options for "FRIEND" cards. 

Here is one I created for a special friend's birthday using the new fabulous Wings paper (featured in the special January 2011 Inspirations brochure.)  I used CTMH 3-D tape for my black embossed bird, colonial white ribbon, Wings My Stickease, black button from the new Black Medley with juniper waxy flax.  I distressed the edges of the black card base as the final touch.  Too cute!

To see more great designs using this Stamp of the Month, check out the January 1st posting of Close To My Heart Consultant Helen Onulak's blog and continue on a blog hop using using this SOTM.  There is a huge network of fabulous consultants participating and sharing their designs. I'm excited that I'll be part of February's Blog Hop.