If You Bling It: 06/01/2010

6/30/2010

Welcome to the CTMH July Stamp of the Month Blog Hop

Welcome to the Close to My Heart July Stamp of the Month Blog Hop! We will be featuring the July Stamp of the Month, Happy Forever, a set of 9 stamps, that is only available during the month of July.

If you have arrived from Andrea's Blog, you are on the right path. This month we have over 70 Close to My Heart Consultants sharing their creations using the July Stamp of the Month and other great Close to My Heart products on their blogs. Following the Blog Hop is simple to do - just click on the link at the end of the post on each blog to move to the next one. So, here we go!

I must admit that I was a bit intimidated about coloring in this stamp set. I have a hard time coloring in large areas of a stamp with a marker. Then I remembered the technique for using a sponge dauber and glossy card stock to sponge in areas of a stamped image.

What you do is stamp the image twice (in two separate places) on the glossy cardstock with a waterproof ink such as our Archival Black Ink. I let it dry and then, with a craft knife, I cut out the hedgehog's face and legs from one image and the furry coat from the other. I then stamped the hedgehog onto my cardstock I was using for my card. I placed the glossy cardstock over my stamped image and using a sponge dauber, I sponged Desert Sand ink onto the face and legs. I then placed the second image stamped onto the glossy cardstock over my stamped image and sponged Brown Bag Ink onto his fur. Wow did this make it easier!

For the flowers, I mixed reinker and 91% Isopropyl Alcohol into a small squirt bottle and sprayed the flowers. They were ready to use within 30 minutes. I am just loving all of the ways that I can use my reinkers. Plus I get flowers that perfectly match my paper and inks!

I found a card pattern that worked perfectly. It was a Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge that you can find on Karen Giron's Blog. I knew that I wanted to use the CTMH My Reflection's Animal Cookies paper pack because it is so fun and playful, just like my Hedgehog!

Products Used

Stamps: July Stamp of the Month, Happy Forever (D1423)
Pattern: Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge #74
Paper: Animal Cookies My Reflections Level 2 Paper Pack (X7112B) and Glossy Cardstock
Inks: Desert Sand (Z2118), Brown Bag (Z2108), Archival Black (4475-1), Bamboo (Z2103) and Black (Z2105)
Markers: Dutch Blue (Z2139), Sunflower (Z2350), Clover Meadow (Z2313), and Tulip (Z2366)
Reinkers: Sunflower (Z2250) and Dutch Blue (Z2219)
Embellishments: Just Blooms Spring Blossom (Z1266) and Splendor Designer Brads (Z1317)
Other Products: Adhesive, sponge daubers, Clear Embossing Powder (Z671), Versamark Ink Pad (Z891), Craft Heater (Z555), and 91% Isopropyl Alcohol

Now "Hop" on over to Wendy Fording's Blog to see her work! Be sure to visit all of the Consultant's blogs to get some great ideas on how to use this versatile stamp set.

Remember that the Happy Forever Stamp Set is only available from July 1-July 31, 2010. Contact your CTMH Consultant or click here to see how you can get this stamp set at a discount or even free.

Here is the complete list of all of the Consultants participating in our Stamp of the Month Blog Hop in case you get lost.

Helen Onulak
Kathleen Androlewicz

Carol Loftus

Lori Leng
Adeline Brill
Terrie Dodd
Michelle Loncar
Haley Dyer

Wanda Riley

Lori Brown

Georgia Hauglid

Shannon Buck

Katy Donaldson
Shirley Ross
Annette Green
Dawn Heuft
Carol Horton
Krista Ritskes

Judy Burger

Kami Welter

Brae Montgomery
Sarita Schraeder
Jen Patrick
Misty Jackson
Laurie Newton
Alison Mullen
Teri Baxter
Sheila Bennett
Melissa Burch
Caren Goldstein
Jill Lucas
Sylvia Jacquot
Deb Young

Danielle Chapman

Debra Van Patten

Cindy Leek
Antoinette Herrin
Barbra Otten
Shannon Pelletier
Kimberly Smith
Chris Shouse
Nancy Brown
Kim O'Rear
Tammy Lea Pinchard
Jen Rubio
Kristie Herdener

Carla Ironside
Lori Miller
Pamela O'Connor
Jamia Bankhead
Dawn Ross

Beth Naumann

Amy Edwards

Mary Eisen

Angela Tutton
Susan Brooks

Jody Gustafson

Traci Godbee

Andrea Ewen

Melinda Everitt

Wendy Fording

Janelle Jaksitz

Nancy Keller

Juli Clark

Nicole Griggs
Melissa Robinson
Katherine Schmitt

6/15/2010

Check out the CTMH Spotlight Blog Hop Featuring Just Bloom Flowers!

Welcome, welcome, welcome. I am participating in the June 2010 Blog Hop featuring each of the participating CTMH Consultants spotlighting our Just Bloom Paper Flowers. If you are getting here from Jenifer Benner's Blog, you are in the right place.

For my card, I used a pattern in our Originals Card Confidence Program called "Puzzle Backdrop". I also tried a cool technique for coloring my Just Blooms Paper Flowers. I used 91% Isopropyl Alcohol and a small squirt bottle. To that I added my Crystal Blue Reinker until I had the shade of blue I wanted. Then I sprayed my flower (sitting on a paper towel to protect my counter) until it was covered well. Because I used alcohol instead of water I was able to use my flower in about 10 minutes. The alcohol evaporates faster than water and it doesn't cause my flower to be misshapen like it sometimes is when I dunk it in a water/reinker mixture to color it.

The paper used is from our My Reflections Caboodle Level 2 Paper Pack. In the middle of the flowers you will see the new Irresistibles Pizzazz Chipboard Die Cuts. I love these because all you do is apply the color you want with a sponge dauber and then VOILA! the design appears. This is just so chic and incredibly easy to use to add that extra little touch to your artwork! See, I also used the leaves from the same set!

Products Used

Stamps: D1306 Treasure Life
Pattern: Original - Puzzle Backdrop
Paper: Caboodle My Reflections Level 2 Paper Pack (X7121B)
Inks: Cocoa (Z2114), Sorbet (Z2164), Sweet Leaf (Z2153), and Topiary (Z2155); Crystal Blue Reinker (Z2217)
Embellishments: Splendor Designer Brads (Z1317), Just Blooms Spring Blossoms (Z1266), and Irresistibles Pizzazz (Z1307)
Other Products: Adhesive, Piercing Tool Kit (Z1114), Sponge Dauber (Z726) and foam pop dots.

If you are ready to move on, then head on over to Debra Van Patten's Blog.

6/02/2010

Check out this cute Recipe Box!

We will be making this cute Recipe Box at my CTMH June Workshop.

Here's a view of the inside:

One more picture:

I used the new CTMH Cherry-O My Reflections Level 2 Paper Pack as well as one of the patterned papers from the Cherry-O Creative Basics Paper Pack.

In our new catalog, we have this cool recipe box that we can alter plus a card kit that includes 6 dividers, 32 recipe cards and 3 pages of My Stickease stickers to decorate your box and cards with. So exciting! I just had to have a workshop using it.

The workshop will be at my house on June 19th or 20th. E-mail me at mkgmt@aol.com if you are interested in attending or would like to purchase a kit for yourself.

June 2nd is a Goodie Box!

Click on this link to go to my website so that you can order this fantastic deal!

     Here are the rules: click on the link in blue or the picture above. That will take you to my website where you can see and order the specials today.

     In June, take advantage of a different deal each day only on my CTMH Website. Click on the Jackpot June link to see each day's deal. Each day will either be a Jackpot day or a Goodie Box day. Deals will run for 23 hours: from 10:00 am (CDT) to 9:00 am (CDT) the following day, while supplies last. (The hour between 9:00 am and 10:00 am will be used to finalize all pending transactions, clear the queue, and launch the next deal.)

   Important Notes: In order to give shoppers the best possible deal on products and shipping, Jackpot June purchases must include ONLY Jackpot June items (the Goodie Box or the discounted items) and nothing else. This will streamline the shipment of orders and is also how we're able to offer discounted shipping for this exciting promotion. This means:
     On Goodie Box days, only one Goodie Box and no other items may be checked out in a single transaction.
     On Jackpot days, only the discounted items may be checked out in one transaction; no limit on discounted items per transaction.

     Please remember that if you wish to make regular purchases on my website, you may still do so, but you are not eligible for the Jackpot June discounted products, free items, Goodie Boxes, or discounted shipping with regular purchases.

     Discounted shipping/handling will be $0.99 for each item purchased. So if you purchase 5 items, you will be charged $4.95 for shipping/handling. No shipping/handling is charged for the free Jackpot item.

     Normal shipping in-house turnaround times will be extended on Jackpot June Constant Campaign items from 4 business days to 5-10 business days.
*** If you have any questions, please e-mail me at mkgmt@aol.com.

6/01/2010

Here's the June 1st Jackpot June Daily Deal!

Click here to see the Jackpot June Special for June 1st!

Here are the rules: click on the link for the mystery jackpot below (in blue) or the link above. That will take you to my website where you can see and order the specials today. Not only can you win two free ribbon rounds today, but the Level 1 Paper Packs are discounted 30% off! If you purchase the paper pack that is the Jackpot Item then you win both ribbon rounds!

One of the products listed below is the mystery jackpot item for today. If you order the mystery jackpot item, we'll send you the Designer Ribbon Round Heavenly Blue Collection (retail value of $7.95) AND the Designer Ribbon Round Hollyhock Collection (retail value of $7.95) for FREE! Order one of each of the items below to guarantee that you will hit the jackpot!

MY REFLECTIONS BLUE RIBBON LEVEL 1 KIT