CTMH January SOTM - S1601 2nd Generation Stamping Technique

I am loving the January Stamp of the Month!  It is such a versatile stamp set.  I can see myself finding uses for it all year long.  There are 14 stamps in the stamp set and it includes the following sayings:

• You mean so much to me
• Love You!
• Thinking of You
• Happy Valentines Day!
• Hugs, kiss and Valentine wishes.
• Love is not a matter of counting the years, it's a matter of making the years count.

At my workshop this month I showed the Second Generation Stamping Technique.  This technique is perfect for this stamp set and really helps you to get the most out of your stamp pads.  You can create additional shades and add depth to your projects.

On the first card we used the little sprig in the set.  While I was working with a Valentine theme, you could ink this sprig with a variety of colors and use it all year long.  

• Ink your stamp in the color of your choice and stamp it on your card.
• Before you reink, move your hand over slightly and then stamp it again.  
• The lights, darks and varying shades add more interest and depth to your project.

On the second card we played with the base and shade stamp sets.  While you can stamp them in any order, I like to start with the solid stamps first, then stamp the detailed stamps on top.

Ink your stamp in the color of your choice and "stamp it off" on scratch paper.

Then stamp your image again on your project.

Ink up the detailed image and then stamp it on top.  

Tips for lining up the stamps:

Use a block that is a little bit bigger than your image so that you can see excess block all the way around the edge of your image.  This will help you to see through the blocks for proper alignment.

I find that it helps if I stand up so that I can look straight down on my image.

Look for a particularly distinguishing characteristic of the stamp and use that to align it.  On the rose, I used the two leaves/petals that have that v shaped cut away between them.

Practice makes perfect.  Experiment a few times on scratch paper until you get the hang of it.

You can purchase the stamp of the month, papers and inks featured on my website.  

Artfully Sent Love Banner

I had so much fun making this fun banner!!

 

Using the CTMH Designer Creations ruby bags and the CTMH cricut cartridges made it come together so fast!

Supplies and Assembly tips:

• Lay out all your bags on your work surface.
• Lay your string/ribbon about 1 1/4 inches down from the top of the bag.  
• Fold down the top of the bag and secure with tape runner along the edge.  This creates a "channel" for the string/ribbon to slide through.

Supplies Used:
Z2004 Lagoon Hearts Washi tape - 7.95
Z2988 Black Striped Twill Ribbon -  6.95
Lagoon, White Daisy, Black and Cranberry Cardstock
Various found ribbons

Cricut cuts with Explore codes:

Artbooking Cricut Cartridge
Connected Hearts Border - #46CCB
Heart Banner Border #M3EF31

Artfully Sent Cricut Cartridge
Font
Heart Arrow Pocket Card - #MCE019
Heart Pocket Card - #MCDF39

All of the little red/black hearts were cuts leftover from other Artfully Sent projects.

You can order all of the CTMH supplies from my website:  

Valentine Treat Tube

Here's another project featuring D1560 Holiday Tags.  The labels can be cut with the CTMH Artiste Cricut Cartridge, which makes it quick and easy to whip up a bunch of tags.
.

I cut the cranberry tag from page 37 of the Art Philosophy cartridge

And then cut the white tag 1/4 inch larger using Pg 50.  The wholes didn't line up perfectly so I just re-punched them.

Valentine Countdown featuring cuts from CTMH Cricut Cartridges

Every once in a while I design a project that I love, love, love... and this is one of them.  I wish my picture could do it justice!!!  I used the Designed Decor frame from Close to My Heart

I love this frame.  It's quick and easy to switch it out for different holidays.  Just wait until you see what I have planned for St. Patrick's day!!

I created the countdown with some quick and easy cuts from all three of our Cricut cartridges.

• Art Philosophy - fry boxes, lacy hearts
• Artiste - labels on the boxes
• Artbooking - heart swag

The tags are created with one of my new favorite sets - D1560 Holiday Tags.  (I have several posts lined up featuring this set so if its not on your wish list yet....I think it will be soon!!)

Valentine Workshop - Part 1

I did a mini valentine workshop at the house on Saturday (4 people).  It was fun.  I loved putting it together and spending the afternoon with some great ladies!!

Here are two of the projects we did.  I still need to photograph the other two...ooops....

I used a Wishes pattern to create the front of the card....

And the inside pops out.  Too cute and super easy!!

The card below was designed by my good friend Gail.  I had to change it up a little to use stamps and products I had on hand...but it's pretty close to the one she swapped at our unit meeting.  Thanks Gail!!

Supplies List:

All supplies are Close To My Heart

X7107B That's Amore Paper Pack

A 1103 A Love Stamp Set

D1191 Friendship Blessings Stamp Set

Ink: Chocolate, Hollyhock and Blush

Z1263 Bitty Sparkles

Z1127 Chocolate Ribbon Rounds

Valentine Fun

Ok, so I've been at home for almost a week with a health problem.  (Very minor and I had a little outpatient procedure done and I am totally fine!!!!!) Anyway, I was bored, bored bored...couldn't stamp or sit or stand or walk so it was just me, painkillers, the tv and my laptop for a while.  At some point during the fun ordeal I saw a great post on a blog....which I cannot find now!!!!  So I totally apologize.  I have no idea who to credit for inspiration.

What I remember is a cute little nugget tin filled with little doodads to make Valentines. 

I saw it and thought..hmmm... I have nugget tins....  Only to find that I had 1 nugget tin....not tins... But I found 3 mini lunchboxes in my stash and so the fun began.

First I stamped a bunch of different hearts using several different stamp sets.  When you work for Close To My Heart....you tend to have a lot of Heart stamp sets ya know....  You loyal CTMH customers and friends will probably recognize some of the retro paper!!  It's retired now, but I still have a lot in my stash so I decided to use some up.  Here's just a small sampling of some of the items I put in the tins.

And as all stampers know.... you have to have chocolate to sustain you when you make your cards, so I included a little goodie bag of chocolate. 

Kit Contents:

• 
  
  10 Blank 3x3 cards to be used as cards or bag toppers
• 
  
  10 empty goodie bags
• 
  
  Covered glue stick
• 
  
  Assorted hearts
• 
  
  1/2 inch strips of watermelon cardstock
• 
  
  1 1/4 inch strips of black cardstock (before I put them through the scallop punch)
• 
  
  Assorted Watermelon squares (3x3 and 2.75x2.75)

Then of  course I had to make a little card to put inside.  Plus they could use the card and baggie of chocolate as samples to copy when they created their own Valentine Fun!