CTMH Blog Hop - Holiday Magic Banner

Welcome to the CTMH Stamp of the Month (SOTM) blog hop!  This month we are featuring S1110 Holiday Magic (set of 18).  If you came here from Paige's Blog you're right on track!

I love it when our SOTM sets have stamps in them that can be used all year long and this stamp set definitely fits the bill!!  There are only a few stamps that are exclusively Christmas...

This fun garland can be made in a variety of colors and you can re-use the idea all year long!  Come back soon to see my garland...spooky style.  (I have an Art Philosophy Borders video ready to post tomorrow...so I'll post the garland on Sunday or Monday)

Shh... this little elf put the garland up in a few places around the office to take pictures.  It looked so cute!!!  I can hardly wait to bring it back (I'll make it longer...) when it's time to decorate for the holidays!

(along the edge of our counter)

 (On the door... It looked so cute in person!)

You can purchase the Holiday Magic stamp set for $17.95 during the month of October, or you can buy it for only $5 when you spend $50.

Here's a list of wonderful coordinating items that will make your holiday crafting easier.  Mix and match to create your own $50 kit and then add a little "Holiday Magic" for only $5.

• X7145 Believe My Stickease Assortment - $4.95
• G1030 Workshops on the Go Believe Kit (I think this is a must have!!  Great deal!) $29.95
• B1390 Countdown  $9.95- (make a cute countdown calendar and much more.)
• X254 Cards and Envelopes (50 card value pack!) $14.95
• All of the above is only $59.80 and you will be able to make a ton of projects

(hint, hint... I'll be sharing tons of ideas with these items over the next couple of months. 

 Buy them now and you'll be ready to copy away!)

Well let's hop on over to Angel's blog to see what fun she had with this stamp set.

Book Card Video Tutorial

I taught this fun card at my workshop a couple of weeks ago and my customers asked me to create a video so they can watch it again later.

I aim to please...
so here we go....

National Stamping Month Tip #4

Need inspiration?  Well, put down the stamps and papers and go take a walk.  Yep, my tip for today is to go outside.  Go for a walk, a run, a bike ride, play frisbee, chase your kids around the yard.  You decide on the activity...but it must be outside!  (Even an invigorating walk to the mailbox in the snow can work.)

Being outside elevates your mood and opens up the channels to creativity.  Don't believe me?  Try it!

Whenever I'm stuck on a project or I don't know where to start.  I pull out the paper, stamps, inks and accessories that I know I want to use and I lay them on the table.  I take a good look at them, put the leash on the dog and go for a walk.  

Bonus Tip:  This makes the kids and the pups happy too!  They'll stay out of your hair for a bit while you create.

I'd love to hear what you do when you're stuck?  Have you tried my suggestion?

CTMH Fall Banner Workshop

Here's the fall banner that we'll be completing at my October crops/workshops.  Fee is $5 for this project and includes the rubons.  (We used the Halloween portion of the package on the September projects.  You will have additional rubons leftover that you can add to the banner or use on another project.)  I currently have 10 kits still available at this price.  Additional kits will receive a full package of rubons and the price will be $8.

It was really hard to photograph this with my limited photography skills.  It is so adorable in person!!!  I took the picture at an angle so you can see the dimension on the letters.

Techniques used/highlighted on this project:

• Tone on tone stamping
• Applying rubons
• Sponging/Distressing
• Art Philosophy cutting techniques

CTMH Imagine Layouts featuring Dreamin

Just look what you can do with 1 Level 2 Paper pack, 1 package of My Stickease, 6 pieces of neutral cardstock and the Imagine Book. (I actually have a few pieces left over that I'm creating cards with so stay tuned to see what else I made!)

I sponged a little ink on some of the pages, but didn't add anything else.  I wanted you to see exactly how it comes out when you use the supplies listed above. 

I will be featuring these layouts at my crop on October 8th.  If you purchase a level 2 paper pack and 1 package of stickease, I'll share the handout with you.  (Please remember, you also need the extra neutral cardstock to complete the layouts as pictured below.  You are welcome to order that too!)

Thank you to fellow consultant Barbara Trommer for the inspiration and help!

National Stamping Month 2011 - Tip #3

Let's talk about adhesives... There are tons of adhesives on the market and my choice of adhesive changes, depending on the project I'm working on.  This is not a complete list of adhesives!!!! This is just what the normal stuff I use over and over again.  I'll chat about some of the specialty stuff as I use it on projects.  For everyday scrapbooking and cardmaking, you should be all set if you pop this in your tool bag....

Avery or Elmers Glue Sticks (not pictured)
Yep, I'm a glue stick girl.  I love them.  If you want glue stick success you need to
Be patient - roll it with a brayer and hold that puppy down for a minute, especially if you're working on a dimensional item AND be generous with your glue sticks!  Cover that paper!!

Bonding Memories Glue
This comes in two sizes.  The wide tip is pictured below. Beyond being a wonderful adhesive, I love that this glue becomes repositionable!  I use it for masks all the time.  Put a little glue on and wait for it to turn from blue to clear.  Once it's clear it's a repositionable adhesive!  Which means, I use this wide tip one to refresh my cricut mattes!  I use the narrow tip version for small items like letters and cricut cuts and I use it with glitter.

Glue Dots
Every tool kit needs these!!  You can adhere ribbon and flowers and buttons and all sorts of fun accessories.

Tape Runner
I haven't ventured into the ATG gun world....yet...I keep thinking about it.... I love that these little tape runners are small and fit in my bag.  I kind of interchange the use of tape runner and glue sticks depending on my mood.  Tape runner is quick and less messy.

Other Adhesives I use

• Modge Podge
• Hot Glue
• Xyron

CTMH Art Philosophy Cricut Tips #3

Here's a quick little video with more cricut tips for the CTMH Art Philosophy Cricut Cartridge.



Bonus tip for my blog readers!
Here's how I cut my shapes to make the most of my time...

Select several images at once. (Shape 1, Shape 2, Shape 3, Shape 4, Shape 5)
Set size = 1/2 inch
Cut

Repeat Last
Set size = 3/4 inch
Cut

Repeat Last
Set size = 1 inch
Cut

Then I took a sharpie and labeled each piece with the name of the shape and the size I cut it at.

Are you going to create your own?  I'd love to see how your organize them or how it works for you!

National Stamping Month 2011 - Tip #2

Getting Organized.... It seems like I'm much more productive when I actually know where my supplies are... so here are a few of the organizing tips that work for me...

Stamps
I file by Color - Below is a picture of how the stamps are packaged. 

As you can see they are already "color coded."  I can tell by looking at this picture, that the "pink" set is a sentiment set and the "blue" set is a "frame, tags and borders" set.  Instead of reinventing the wheel, I just go with what CTMH provides.  My customers at my crop will often say "Where can I find Easter stamps?" and I say "Check yellow."  It takes a little time to memorize the "code," but once you get it....you'll always know where to look!

While CTMH sells an awesome stamp holder that I use when I'm on the go.... I have way too many stamps at home for that system to work for me.  My stamp organization has evolved over time.  Here's the latest version from Ikea!!  Love, love, love these!!  They hold a ton of stamps, look cute AND match my room!

I turned one of the small ones sideways so you can see the stamps inside.  The package from Ikea comes with two small containers and one large.

Stamp Pads and Markers

I use the Exclusive Inks Organizer to hold all my stamp pads and markers.  It's on a lazy susan base so you can spin it around to see the different colors.  I haul this organizer all over the place!!  I move it around my table as necessary and I slip it inside it's case to take it to all my crops. If I had to pick just ONE organizational item from CTMH that I absolutely could not live without....this would be it.  Love it!

How do you organize your stamps, stamp pads and markers?

National Stamping Month 2011 - Tip #1

September is National Stamping Month and I'm planning to celebrate by sharing tips, techniques and ideas to help you make the most of your stamping time.

How many of you have had your husbands tell you that you have to have the right tools for the job?  I know this mentality has sure helped me in my house.  My husband fully supports all gadget and gizmo purchases and if they are on my wish list....I'm sure to find them on those special gift giving holidays.  Of course he has a shed full of drills and saws too. LOL

Today I'm going to focus on a few of the basic tools that I think should be in every good stamper's toolbox.

You definitely need a good paper trimmer and I've had great success with the Fiskars trimmers.  I have a big CARL trimmer to prep for workshops, but my everyday, cart around in my bag trimmer is an old fashioned fiskars.  I have 6 of them that I take with me to workshops and crops.  (I got this picture from my CTMH website and it's so stinkin cute.  I may need to upgrade one of my trimmers.)

Not all cutting can be done on a trimmer, you'll also need a pair of micro-tip scissors.  Don't buy inexpensive kids scissors.  You need a good sharp pair that will do intricate cuts! (Z534 $9.95)

 Piercing Tool Kit - Love, love, love this little kit!  It comes with a piercing tool, two sewing needles and a push pad.  This is perfect for making holes for brads and sewing.  I could right a whole post (hmmm...maybe I did?? Coming Soon!) about using the piercing tool to add some pizazz to your projects. (Z1114 $5.95)

 This is a bone folder and it makes all your folds crisp and clean!  Once you tried it out, you won't want to work on a project with out it. (Z1204 $4.95)

Next up is a rubber brayer!  My regular customers know the great value of this little tool and now I'm going to tell you.  Not only does it make incredible backgrounds (which I'm often too lazy to create - hey, I have awesome texture paper!) but I think it's real, everyday, gotta have it in my tool kit talent, is....helping to glue things down. 

You know the drill, you put some glue on your paper, you attach the paper to your project and you rub it down....well grab your brayer and roll it baby!  No smudges on photos, the pressure activates the tape runner and gives you a solid bond.  (Z616 $12.95)

 

Next up is our handy dandy Versamat.  The mats create a great work surface.  This side is the self-healing side, perfect for using a craft knife, but I use it to measure, measure, measure...  Just cut a bunch of pieces for your card or layout from a sketch and don't remember which is which?  Lay it on the grid and measure it.  Need 9 inches of ribbon...lay it across the grid and snip it. 

But wait, that's not all!  Flip this baby over and it has a "cushy" side which makes it a perfect cushion for stamping.  (Z1279 $14.50)

 

Got tools?  Now you need something to put them in.  My customers laugh at me because I can fit a whole lot in one of these little babies.  I have several that we'll be chatting about later in the month.  But for now, you need one for your tools. ;-) (Z4200 Accessories Case $12.95)

If your toolbox is missing any of these items pop on over to my website to pick them up or add it to your order for our next crop, workshop or gathering.


I hope you'll check back often this month because I'll be sharing the following tips and much, much more....

• Stamping Tips and Techniques
• Adhesive
• Card and Scrapbook Sketches
• Mission - Organization
• Unlock your creative side
• and even more tool time (Besides the "necessary" tools there are a whole lot of "gotta haves!"