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.

Washi Tape Blog Hop

Welcome to the Washi Tape Blog Hop!

Over 15 Stamp of the Month consultants are participating in this blog hop.  If you are hopping with us, then you have come from Michelle's blog here.
Have you checked out her great idea for using our Washi Tape?

I must admit that I check out Pinterest every day!  I am always looking for great ideas for anything!  Of course there are plenty of ideas for 'washi tape' and so I found a cute idea for patchwork washi tape quilting here!  

That was my inspiration for this card design!  

Supplies:
X254 White cards and envelopes
Z1933 Ruby Chevron Washi Tape
Z1931 Honey Triangles Washi Tape
Z1850 Lagoon Houndstooth Washi Tape
Z1817 Slate Polka Dot Washi Tape
B1451 Enjoy The Little Things Hostess Rewards stamp set
A1158 Doodle Signs Hostess Rewards stamp set
Z1702 Baker's Twine - Paradise Assortment
Z1961 Marquee Enamel Shapes
Colors: Honey, Lagoon, Ruby and Slate

Now it is off to my friend Toni's blog here... to check out her Washi tape design idea!  She is sooo 'artsy'!

Enjoy the hop and keep on creating!

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!

"Emboss It" Blog Hop

Welcome!  Over 25 consultants who participate in the Stamp of the Month Blog Hop are also participating in the "Emboss It" Blog Hop.  If you get lost along the way, just click on Melinda's link here.

If you have been hopping with us, then you have hopped from Michelle's blog here and you have been inspired to try her technique.

If you are confused in how to use our NEW Embossing folders, then watch this video below!  Jill does an amazing job in explaining the grain of our paper  ( who knew?) and how to emboss with our folders.

         

Here is my sample of the "grain" of paper ( I knew there was grain in fabric but I had no idea there was a grain to paper!)

Did you notice that my paper sample actually tore apart?...

Here is a picture of the folders that we are currently offering!

I decided since it IS the first day of Spring ( sorry some of you still haven't experienced that yet...), that I am celebrating this event!  For me, the indoor house projects are completed ( well.....almost) and it is time to move outdoors!

I rescued these flowers from the local K-Mart...perfect flowers for a Florida spring! As I was browsing the store, all of the Easter decorations reminded me of spring as well....so here is my embossed Easter card front!

I stamped the images first and then embossed the layer.  Here are a few hints to help you out...

Here is the inside of the card

Supplies:
Z1924 Dots Embossing folder
C1561 One-Way Borders
B1446 Some Bonny Hostess Rewards stamp set
Sweetleaf, Buttercup and White Daisy cardstock
Blush, Sky, Sweet Leaf and Buttercup Inks
Z1732 Color-Ready Seam Binding- retired
Assorted Copic markers

The CCR file for this design is here... 
Please email me if you have any problems...

Here is another card using scraps from a Chantilly workshop from last year!  I glued them onto a card base and then embossed the design.  I added the dimensional images after the embossing...DO NOT throw away your scraps!   ..............yeah....I know....

Now it is time to hop on over to the "Bling" Queen a.k.a. as Melinda's blog here.http://www.ifyoublingit.blogspot.com/2014/03/join-me-in-close-to-my-heart-emboss-it.html and she what she has to offer!

Heart 2 Heart Scrapbooking Challenge

The challenge this month is to use your Cricut machine...  well this challenge was designed just for me, I think!  I recently participated in Scraporium's crop  and can I tell you, it was FAB-u-lous!

The theme was a 1950's diner and I knew I had the perfect skirt for this event.

Ginny and I love to play 'dress up"! ...... so we were all dressed up for this event. I always look forward to what Monica and Frances are wearing and my great friend Laurie joined our group!

I designed this layout using the Cricut Craft Room and the 3 cartridges by Close to My Heart....Art Philosophy, Artiste and Artbooking.  There are a few neat features to this layout including creating paper strips with washi tape.

Here are the details to this layout:
Make It from the Heart, Volume 2...pattern #5
Lagoon, Black, White Daisy cardstock
B&T Lollydoodle
D1559 Geometric Backgrounds and black ink
Silver Glitter paper
Pink Polka Dot Washi Tape- retired
White Gel pen

If you would like to download the CCR file, you can find it here..  There are a few other goodies included for your 50s pictures!.

Enjoy!

10 Tips for Better Blog Photos

I ran across this blog post while hopping through some blogs and I thought what a great post this would make!



Just click on the link here  to check it out.  The suggestions are for sewing projects but you can certainly apply the information to any type of pictures that you would like to post.

Sometimes my pictures turn out fabulous and sometimes - not so much...  I do most of my editing in Photoshop Elements 12 but PicMonkey is a free site that is very user friendly!



Check it out here...  Of course there are many other ideas and sites to help you out but I thought I would get you started with this post.

Enjoy!