May CTMH SOTM Blog Hop featuring Chairs to You and Bliss

Welcome to our May 2011 Stamp of the Month Blog Hop featuring Chairs to You. If you have come here from Karen'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. 

This month we have over 50 Close To My Heart Consultants sharing their creations using this month's SOTM and other great CTMH products on their blogs.  To follow along just click on the link at the end of the post on each blog to move to the next one! Here we go!

This stamp set just begs to be made into a scene so I created this sweet little vingnette and combined it with our new Card Chatter Sympathy set to create my card.  I thought the "just sitting here thinking of you" sentiment on the Card Chatter set was PERFECT to go with the Chairs to You stamps so I picked it up last month in anticipation of this hop. 

I stamped one of the Chippendale style chairs onto some B&T and cut off the top of the chair to make the stool.  The tea cup is from our Tea Time set but I trimmed down the cup to make the size appropriate for my scene.  The rug was made with a little B&T paper with Colonial White cardstock cut into fringe attached to the back.  Some Mocha Opaques are perfect for buttons on the chair.  After I assembled the card I decided to add some Liquid Glass to the top of the tea cup to give it shine like real china.

This was such a fun card to make and I'm looking forward to sending it off to my Dad to let him know I'm thinking of him. 

If you'd like to make this card, get these supplies:

Paper:  Bliss Level 2

Stamps:  Chairs to You (May SOTM), Card Chatter Sympathy, Tea Time

Inks:  Chocolate

Other:  Mocha Opaques, Liquid Glass

Now "Hop" on over to Jean's Blog to see her work! Be sure to visit all the Consultants at their Blogs to get some great crafting ideas! Remember, the May SOTM is only available until the 31st so head on over to Paige.MyCTMH.com to see how you can get this stamp set at a discount or even free!

Mother's Day Card with CTMH Rosy Regards, Simple Memories, You and Me

This is the Mother's Day card I'll be sending out to my Mom and my MIL this year.

The fold I used is very fun - its a 4x11" piece of Crystal Blue Cardstock that I folded in half and then folded the front back at about 2.5" from the edge which keeps the card propped open in a kind of Z fold after its removed from the standard sized envelope.  Here you can see the card folded out - the inside flap is where I'll write my message.

The journaling spot is a sneak peak at a stamp that will be featured in the upcoming May special "You and Me" scrapbooking kit - you're going to LOVE that one!  I also used the new doily stamp "Simple Memories" to give some texture to the base paper.  The Sweet Leaf circle is punched with our 2" scallop and the "I love you" comes from Tag the Occassion.

Those FABULOUS roses come from our set "Rosy Regards" which is a base and shade stamp so you can use two different inks or first and second generation ink to really give the roses lots of pop.  Here's a close up so you can see the Glitz Glitter Gel I added to each flower along with a sparkle for the center.  I'm really happy with how these cards came out and can't wait to send them out!

If you'd like to make this card, get these supplies:

Paper:  Crystal Blue CS, White Daisy CS, Sweet Leaf CS

Stamps:  Rosy Regards, Tag the Occassion, Simple Memories, Say it in Style, You and Me (upcoming May special)

Inks:  Crystal Blue, Chocolate, Desert Sand, Hollyhock, Blush

Other:  Sparkles, Glitz Glitter Gel, Hollyhock Ribbon (retired - but the Designer Pink Ribbon Rounds is a good substitute)

Don't Worry Bee Happy Card with CTMH Mayberry and Bee Happy

Whether you have been following my blog for a while or have just stumbled across me in the vast reaches of blogland, it probably didn't take you long to figure out I am a stamp-a-holic.  Yes, I admit it.  I am addicted to Close to my Heart stamps. 

When I saw the new set "Bee Happy" in the Idea Book I knew I was going to have to get it - how can you resist these little guys?  There are four adorable bees and two saying "don't worry, bee happy" and "you're sweet as honey".  It was a toss up for which sentiment to put on this card but as I was stamping I had that old song (very popular when I was a kid) playing through my head the WHOLE time - do, do-do-do, do-di-do-di, do-di-do....  Okay, you get it now right?  Sorry if its stuck in your head now too (hee-hee-hee)....

I colored the image in using our Watercolor pencils and then blending with our Blending Pen.  I added some Glitz to the bees wings and some dimensional buttons that were on clearance (score!) not too long ago.  Here's a better shot of the glitter...

If you'd like to make this card, get these supplies:

Paper:  Mayberry Level 2, Kraft Cardstock

Stamp:  Bee Happy

Ink:  Cocoa

Other:  Watercolor Pencils, Blending Pen, Glitz Glitter Gel, Buttons (I used retired Twitterpated dimensional chipboard buttons), Hemp, Kraft Color Ready Borders

Happy Easter!

Happy Easter

Wishing all of you a blessed day filled with peace, family fun and lots of goodies to share!

Paper Hugs,

Paige

 

The Final Push...

WARNING - this post is full of blantant mother's pride! 
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

This past Saturday my daughter accomplished a 5.5 hour pre-test for her black belt journey.  It was brutal.  She ran a total of 3 miles, did 100 timed pushups, at least a hundred additional pushups, timed crunches, timed 500 round kicks in full sparring gear, sparring, several forms, boxing, cardio, self-defense, her weapons form and more. 

I was able to be her self-defense partner (nothing my kids like better than throwing Mom around like a sack of potatoes) but other than that I had to cheer from the side lines.  It was SO hard watching her push herself beyond all her limits time and time again.  There were tears, there was exhaustion, there were times when she didn't know if she could keep going but she did anyways.  I was exhausted at the end just from WATCHING her push herself so hard.  I honestly couldn't be more proud of my girl.  It was probably one of the hardest thing she'll do both physically and mentally prior to becoming an adult.  I just can't even explain how in awe I am of my child.  She is growing up to become everything I could ever hope she would be - beautiful, intelligent, diligent, compassionate, strong in body and soul.

While the process of getting here has been long (she's been doing martial arts for 5 years and has been actively training for her black belt for 6 months) it has helped define even clearer the amazing woman she is becoming.  Our mother-daughter relationship has grown even closer over the past 6 months as we've trained together for her to reach this goal.  We've reached that magical time in our relationship where adult friendship begins to cement under the mother-child bond.  She is just plain fun to hang out with!

While I'd love to say she can now take a break, the next month is the final push to polish any areas she still needs to work on.  So, she's been back at it working on running and push ups along with the rest of the requirements and working on polishing her weapons form and other forms.  She's got less than a month until the final black belt test and she is working heart, soul and every muscle of her being to accomplish that goal.  As I promised at the beginning of her journey, I'll be there ever step of the way helping in any way I can.  Sometimes that means being the drill sergeant and telling her to get lower on her pushups, to kick higher on the bags, to keep pushing herself beyond where she thinks she can go.  Sometimes that means being the shoulder to lean on when exhaustion and soreness take their toll.  While we can see the light at the end of the tunnel we still have that last 10% to go and sometimes that last little bit is the hardest part of all.  All this while she is maintaining a 4.0 in high school.

If you made it all the way through this post - thanks for listening to my ramblings of motherly pride.  Sometimes you just have to shout out from the roof tops how much you love your kids.  Now, I'm off to work on my own training so I can keep up with my kid!

Thinking of You card with CTMH Fill in the Blank and Salutation Seals

I'll admit it, when I first saw the "Fill in the Blank" stamp set I didn't think I'd use it too much but it came in one of the hostess bundles that I ordered (mostly to get the gorgeous Sophia paper pack).  Boy was I wrong about this set - it ROCKS!  You saw it as the clouds and butterflies in the Miracle workshop I posted - here is the bird from that set.  Its super easy to use and the shapes are simplified for cutting.  For those of you who are CTMH paper junkies like me - the creme brulee bird is the back of Aspen and the purple paper is from Hooligans.  Love the dash of black to spice it all up.

After watching the video that CTMH produced on using the new Salutation Seals set (see it here) I knew I had to pick it up.  The Thinking of You is from that set - while I did trim out the scalloped base, the purple top is punched out with our 1.25" punch - so EASY!

If you'd like to make this card, get these supplies:

Paper:  Hooligans, Aspen (retired), Creme Brulee Cardstock, Black Cardstock

Stamps:  Fill in the Blank, Salutation Seals

Inks:  Gypsy

Other:  Corner Rounder, Black Ribbon (retired), Licorice Opaques, Just Blooms, Creme Brulee Brad

A tale of an Octopus....

Men, do you know what happens to your power tools during the day while you are off at work?  Does you wife sneak into the garage to snag your portable air compressor?  What maniacle creations does she make in her craft room using YOUR tools?

Or

A Tale of Octavia Octopus

While working in my craft room today a new friend suddenly appeared....

She said her name was Octavia.  When I asked her how she made it from the ocean to my house she pointed out the window to the down pouring rain. 

Octavia said she was looking for a place to find some crafty inspiration.  So, we sat down on the sofa and talked about what she wanted to make.  She has 13 kids and lots of photos to scrap so I knew I could help her out.

I showed her the new Idea Books from Close to my Heart.  She liked it so much she asked if she could have one to show all her ocean friends.  Being the nice crafty lady that I am, I gave her a whole box.

She was so happy, she started to dance!

I asked her if she'd like to hang around the house with me until my kids came home so they could meet her.  We had a little while to wait so she helped me with my chores.

She was GREAT at picking up the shoes in the front hall.  She even cleaned out under the sofa for me.

She waited for my kids to get home from school.  Sometimes it seems to take forever!

My kids really enjoyed meeting my new friend and were sad to see Octavia go but I told them she'd be back to crop with me soon!

If you'd like to make an Octavia Octopus get the following supplies:
(1) 12" balloon
(2) 5"  balloons with eyeballs printed (.15 cents each at the party supply store)
(8) long skinny balloons (these are 260 - whatever that means).
Air compressor to blow them all up

CTMH Miracle 14 Layouts and 6 Cards Workshop

To create this set of layouts and cards, purchase the supplies on the list at the end of this post!  If you are local, we will be doing this workshop on Friday, 29th April from 7-10PM.  Orders will be due by Monday, 18th April to get the kits here on time.  You need the WOTG kit ($29.95) PLUS the Stickease ($4.95) - my stamps will be available during the workshop, all other embellishments are at your discretion!  To order, e-mail me at paigedolecki (at) yahoo.com. 

Anyone purchasing a Miracle Workshop kit through my website at Paige.MyCTMH.com will receive the Word document I have created that shows how to cut all these layouts at one sitting (it takes about an hour to cut all 7 layouts and card pieces).  All layout patterns are either from the Workshop on the Go Guide or from our Magic how-to scrapbooking book.

Main Layout from the Workshop on the Go Kit

Bonus Layout from the Workshop Guide

Layout #3 Using Stickease and Blue Buttons

Layout #4 Using Stickease and Blue Buttons

Layout #5 From the Idea Book

Layout #6 Based on CTMH Corporate artwork

Layout #7 Using Stickease and Magic book

Cards made with kit - you make 6 cards, 2 each of 3 designs

To Make this Workshop, get the following items:

Miracle Workshop on the Go Kit (makes the first two layouts plus 6 cards)

Miracle Level 2 Stickease

Additional Items:

Magic Scrapbooking How-To Book

Sweet Leaf Bulk Grosgrain Ribbon

Blue Button Assortment

Colonial White Waxy Flax

Chocolate Alphabet Large (Layout #1 and #2)

MyAcrylix "Fill in the Blank" stamp set (layout # 6)

Bohemian Alphabet (layout #6)

Designer Ribbon Cocoa (layout #6)

Chocolate Ink

Twilight Ink

1.25" CTMH Circle Punch (Layout #5, #6, #7)

1" Circle Punch (Layout #5, #7)

Olive Marker (Layout #7)

Mocha Opaques (Layout #6)

Video featuring CTMH On This Day - tutorial on paper piecing and some inspiration

Quick video created by CTMH corporate featuring our new stamp set "On this Day" used in cards and layouts!

Springtime Thinking of You Card with CTMH Blessed and Over the Rainbow

This sweet card uses the April SOTM "Blessed" just like my last posting with the rainbow butterflies only this time I've used the beautiful sentiment and the tulip flowers that come with the stamp set too!

I've used some old Heavenly Blue gingham print paper for the background and stamped the clouds, sentiment and flowers directly onto the paper.  I then stamped the butterflies and the flower heads onto separate cardstock, cut them out and pop-dotted them onto the piece for dimension.  The leaves were colored in using our Waterbrush and Topiary inkpad directly onto the patterned paper as well.  The cocoa ink outlines ran a wee bit because of the waterbrush moisture so I went back in after they dried with a watercolor pencil to fill in any lines that had become fuzzy.

If you'd like to make this card, get these materials:

Paper:  White Daisy Cardstock, Heavenly Blue Gingham (very old and retired)

Stamps:  Blessed (April SOTM), Over the Rainbow

Inks:  Cocoa, Gypsy, Topiary, Tulip, Cotton Candy

Other:  Clear Sparkles (heads of the butterflies), Watercolor Pencils, Waterbrush

HUGE Paper, Stickease and Accessory Sale going on at my website PLUS...

***********ENABLER ALERT!!!**********************

There is a HUGE sale going on at my website of limited quantity "while they last" bundles and individual paper, stickease and accessories!  There are items with 70% OR MORE off the retail price!

CHECK IT OUT HERE!
**PLUS we have a beautiful stamp set called Hope for Japan for just $5 where ALL the proceeds will go to the Red Cross for relief work in Japan - SEE IT HERE

 

***AND during April if you spend $100 on my website you'll get a FREE Level 1 Kit PLUS the Stamp of the Month! See it HERE


So get some great deals and if you spend $100 you'll get $32.90 in FREE stuff as a bonus! Happy Shopping!