Welcome to the March stamp of the Month Blog Hop!!
If you came from Tanya’s Blog then you are following the right cookie trail and I am glad that it lead you to me!!
This month we are featuring the stamp set A Little Everything – a set of 26 stamps that is essential for the cardmaker and a perfect compliment to the pages of the scrapbooker! If you would like to purchase this set- and you live in Canada- then click here!
My project is a 3×6 card created using the Long Layers pattern from Wishes. To complete this project I used paper from the Veranda paper packet, Just Blooms Spring Blossoms, the CTMH hole punch, and clear sparkes. I also used the stamp set to create my sentiment and the scalloped borders. The ribbon knots in the flower centers were created using the creme brulee ribbon supplied with the Veranda Creative Basics.
If you would like to see another project (and video tutorial) using this stamp set then click here.
Be sure to visit the next stop in the blog hop- Melissa’s Blog!
The past two weeks I have felt Canadian Pride like at no other time in my life!!
I have often stood in awe of the pride for one’s country that I have seen evident in other places. Americans are well known for great displays of pride. Two years ago I travelled to Spain and made the mistake (or was it) of taking the Subway just before a big soccer match. This was an amazing experience- I did not know that one Subway car could hold so many people- all wearing their team colours and singing their team songs- all hearts were clearly beating as one (you could feel it in the air)!!
The time has come for Canada to do the same- to stand up and be proud of our amazing country!!
We all know we love it-but for some reason we never really show it! I think the winter games in Vancouver have changed Canadians forever in this way.
We went into these games with a lot of hope and high expectations for our athletes. We took a hit at the beginning- other countries giving their opinion as to how we were handling the olympics. We felt fear and maybe some shame- but we turned it around.
We went from a country that has NEVER won a gold on home soil- to a country that is now tied for the most gold medals held at a winter olympics!! Today we hope to break the tie and win another gold!!
We saw our athletes persevere- through the death of loved ones, through falls, through insults and slandering BUT we have gone on one and showed just what CANADIANS are truly made of!!
We have seen great displays by our athletes- they are amazing people who have done amazing things!! I AM SO PROUD OF THEM ALL!!
This winter olympic game has been the first that I have ever watched. It was the first time that I felt pride so vast that I cried, stayed up way past bedtime, swore in front of my child (with joy and only once) and screamed as loud as I can with joy!! I am so sad to see the games end!!
Tonight we will sit as a family and watch the final big event- the hockey game- CANADA VS USA! Many people will be tuned in as this is a well known hockey rivalry. Canadians hold high expectations for our hockey players (it is after all not just a game to us but it is OUR GAME!) I know our hockey athletes will do us proud!!
This is another project from my CTMH application package! This was also my favourite- I just loved how it all came together and turned out so sweet!!
For this card I challenged myself but picking a few products that I had not used in a while. I put them together and tried to make something gorgeous. The products used in this card were all CTMH: dimensional felt die-cuts, top coats- framed in, silver pearl embossing powder (mixed with prisma glitter) and paper from the Caboodle paper pack. I also used two stamp sets- Playful Petals and Life’s Creation.
It is hard to show the dimension that the final card had but the top coat fit on top of the felt die-cut- making a lovely border as well. I also added depth to the die-cut by edging it with crystal blue ink.
I am finally finished!! I feel so much lighter and free- now I can finally move on to the next thing!
You may be wondering what I am referring to??
Close to my Heart is a wonderful company and one of the many lovely things they do every year is run an amazing convention- this year it is in Washington DC and my whole family will be attending it with me!! Ever since I attended my first convention I have dreamed (seriously!) of presenting at extravaganza- after the one in Orlando my friend Sarah and I, swore that we would be doing the next one!
This year the company changed how extravaganza presenters were picked- you had to apply and submit 5 pieces of artwork (one layout, one card, one 3D item and two of your choice) AND submit a video showing your teaching style!! I was given ample warning and worked hard on my projects- some you have already seen on the blog and other you have not. Part of me wanted to keep them a secret so that I would not receive feedback- good or bad!!
On Monday I mailed by package off to corporate- now I wait to hear!!!
Well, I also figure it is time to share some of the projects I sent- so read on and enjoy (and I will let you know what happens when I hear!)
This is a 41/2 by 41/2 card I made using the Wishes pattern Window Wishes. I used colours from our Topstitch paper and some of our fabulous dimensional elements- a scalloped border and one of our new hearts! I mounted the heart of a square piece of paper that I had applied ribbon weaving too- a great way to use of small bits of ribbon! They are mounted so that when the card is closed they pop out of the window. I also stamped the dot pattern on the front of my card with one of our background stamps!!
This project was my favourite- and if you have seen the latest CTMH TV video on my website then I just have to say that I had this finished when Jeanette aired that show- great minds just think alike!!
I downloaded a cube template off the internet and made three baby blocks using colours and paper from the Caboodle collection. I went with the A, B, C thing and feel that they would be a great decorative feature to a baby room!!
On each block I used different elements that would add to that letter while also making sure that each block had some texture or shine. Views of the different sides are shown below!!
As promised in my newsletter the other day (for those of you who receive it) here is the projects that we will be working on for the Veranda Playgroup on March 31st- if you are interested in comign to this OR ordering the kit ‘to go’ then please let me know by March 10th!
This is the first layout we will be working on- it is just amazing and so well thought out. We use the exclusive stamp set and the filigree charms that come in the basic kit and the NEW spring blossom flowers and mini medley accents in antiqued copper that are part of the add-on options!
This is the second layout- the sample from CTMH actually had the cocoa patterned paper showing on the other side (which is juniper) but that did not really fit with my photos- I flipped the paper over and took advantage of the great versatility of our papers!
And here are two of the three card patterns that you can make.
Now my playgroups work in a way that fits my customers- we have three hours to play and try to optimize our time. Some ladies come and just do the layouts, some come and just do cards and others mix it up!! It is all about what you want!!
I attended my younger sister’s wedding last weekend- a beautiful event that went off flawlessly! The bride was gorgeous and the groom handsome. But, I could not help but be drawn into the smaller events that were happening throughout the evening- like the photo on my layout of my son, Austin, dancing with his Grandma (my mother).
Such a special moment and captured in such a beautiful way- kudos to my hubby who I think took this photo (usually his are not that great but I LOVED this one!).
From this photo came a really great one page layout AND a technique video for all my viewers!!
I hope you enjoy the video below- it will show you how I made my own 12 x 12 scalloped paper!
I also have supplied some photos of the page featured in the video- this is a teaser for the March Stamp of the Month hop that begins on March 1st (be sure to check back for that). The page I created features all CTMH product that can be purchased off my website- click here to go there! I used a piece of black textured cardstock, the Remark Glitter Rub-ons, Bitty Sparkles, Black Ribbon Rounds and stamps from the March Stamp of the Month A Little Everything!
Oh and I almost forgot! I used our Antiqued Copper Mini Medleys but made them black by sponging black staz on all over them- worked like a charm!!
Hello my faithful readers and fabulous customers- I had a request to show the Topstitch layouts and cards that I had created for the playgroup that is coming up so here they are!!
One important note is a date change for this playgroup- something has come up that I cannot miss so the new date will be March 10th at 6:30- I apologize for any inconvenience this may cause but there was no way around it!!
The pictures here show the two layouts that any scrapbookers will complete and the cards are a bonus (for the scrapbookers) or they will be the playgroup if you are more of a card maker!! I love that this format has something for everyone! Since the date was moved back their still is time to order in supplies- PLEASE let me know by Friday if you would like to be added to the group!!
Did you know that Close to my Heart has a presence in the social networking world?? They do on Facebook and even Twitter!!
If you have not had a chance to become a fan of CTMH in either of these places I strongly encourage it!!
Why??
Because the give away all sorts of free goodies and there is great artwork, ideas and videos!! Why would you not want to become a fan!! The picture above is what I received after winning $50 of free product from their first contest on facebook- I got to pick my goodies and I could not be happier!! Right now they are running a contest on facebook for consultants and on twitter there is another contest that anyone can enter– don’t miss out on a great chance to win!!
I thought I would share with you a recent page I created that I felt showcased a few different and fun techniques! I call the layout R-O-C-K in Canada (get it!)
The first technique I pulled into my layout was on the photo- I new that my paper was going to have a lot going on and I wanted my photo to stand out- best way to do that was with a black and white photo. Then I decided just a little colour would be great. I pulled our my CTMH soft chalks and used a cotton swap to pick up my colour and blend it into my photo- orange in his shirt, red in the flames of the guitar and just a hint on his cheeks! I love how it turned out!!
The next thing I did was create my own background paper. This is just one of the incredible things that you can do with CTMH acrylix stamps!! I took our largest block (4×6 1/2) and loaded stamps on it from the You Rock stamp set. I made sure to fill in all the spaces working with the largest images first and filling in with the smaller images. I think inked the whole block (with all the stamps on it) with my rubber brayer and outdoor denim ink (this just gave the ink a lighter intensity then if I had used the ink directly). After that I placed the image on my piece of 12×12 cardstock- I repeated the inking and stamping until my entire background was complete!
I also added some hiddent journaling to my page (since I realized that I had left no where else for it to go!) I had mounted my photo on a page leftover from our My Creations All-Sorts Mini Album and mounted that on 3D foam tape to create a spot for my journaling. I used my printer and my CTMH font CD to complete my journaling but left appropriate space to stamp some words that were provided as part of the You Rock stamp set!! What a great use of your stamps!
This is how the layout turned out in the end!!
If you create a layout using one of the techniques from above the link up to me below!! I would love to see your work and share it with others!!
If you are interested to see what is going on for my customers during the month of February then click on the link below! If you would like to become a subscriber to my newsletter then please email me at braemontgomery@myctmh.com
