March Stamp of the Month Blog Hop!

I know February is a short month, but wow, that went by quickly!  It's already time for the March Stamp of the Month Blog Hop!  If you've arrived here from {Amy's blog}, Welcome!  The blog hop is a big circle, where you check out what over 50 different consultants did with the same stamp set.  I love the creativity!


This month's stamp set is called Potential, and you can just buy it for $17.95, or with a $50 purchase, you can get it for just $5.00!


It's very elegant, with flourishes and some really nice sentiments.

Here's my creations this month:

I really like the card in front -- because I LOVE the Rhinestone Designer Brads (Z1360, $5.95).  Did you know you can color them with Sharpies (or Copic markers)?  Look how pretty!

For the other card I made a fan circle.  I scored a 12" strip of paper at 1/4" intervals (with my Martha Stewart Scoring Board) and did a fan fold.  Then I glued the ends together, smashed it down, and made a scalloped/fan circle. I glued the fan circle to a 2" circle underneath (for stability).  Then I put the 2 3/4" circle stamp on top. Another colored Sparkle on top of that.

I stamped the Olive card stock with Olive ink, for a tone on tone effect.  The card element is big, but kind of cool.

Supplies Used:
March Stamp of the Month, Potential (S1203, $17.95 or $5 with your $50 purchase)
Florentine paper pack (X7153B, $9.95)
Card Stock Colors:  Olive, Cocoa, Creme Brulee, Colonial White
Stamp Pad Colros:  Olive, Cocoa, Twilight
Rhinestone Designer Brads (Z1360, $5.95)
Clear Sparkles (Z1104, $2.95)
Colored Sharpies
Martha Stewart Scoring Board (got mine at Michaels.  $20 regular price. Use your coupon!)


Now hop on over to {Teresa's Blog}, to see her creativity!

Spring Card Workshop is Saturday!

I'm excited about the new Close To My Heart Idea Book that was released this month!


I'm excited to announce my Spring Card Workshop cards - We'll be making 6 of each of the 3 card styles.  So much fun!!


The workshop is Saturday, February 25 at 10am at my home in Newcastle.  Email me to RSVP!


This one is using the new Florentine Paper Pack (X7153B, $9.95), 4 My Friend (D1510, $17.95), Paradise Paper Flowers (Z1710, $5.95):

This is using the new Lucy Paper Pack (X7149B, $9.95) and 4 My Friend (D1410, $17.95), Pink Assortment Buttons (Z1370, $3.95), Just Blooms Flowers (White Daisy - retired) and White Waxy Flax (Z1081, $3.95).  I made the flower pink by spraying it with a mixture of rubbing alcohol and Cotton Candy Reinker.  (I used the Spray Pen (Z1380, $3.95 for a pack of 3 spray pens).

And this beautiful card uses the Pemberley paper pack (X7148B, $9.95) and Card Word Puzzle (C1494, $13.95)

I hope you can come and join us.  The class is $25 or it's free with your $25 minimum order.  AND the best part is it includes envelopes!  :)  It's nice to have a stash of cards on hand.  The second and third cards could be used for anything - birthday, thank you, thinking of you...


Let me know if you'd like to join us.  425.255.3731 or shoot me an email.  We'd love to have you!  


Save a spot for you and a friend today!!


Lisa

A Garden - new stamp set!

I've been playing with the new Spring/Summer Idea Book stamps and papers.  Love them!  If you want to see the new Idea Book and/or order from it, come to a card class this month, or place an order on my website.  :)


I made this card using the new Lucy paper pack:

The fun thing about this card is the white center is on the left panel and the blue stamp frame is on the right, so when it is opened, it looks like this:

It is so cute!  
Here's the right panel:

And the left panel:

I love the new Bitty Opaques - tiny, tiny pearls that you can stick anywhere!  ;)

I also used the Bitty Sparkles, colored with a pink Sharpie.


Supplies Used:  A Garden Stamp Set (A1119, $6.95), 4 My Friend (D1510, $17.95), Lucy Paper Pack (X7149B, $9.95).  Card Stocks:  Sky, White Daisy.  Stamp Pads:  Pear, Cotton Candy, Outdoor Denim, Sky.  Markers:  Cotton Candy, Sky, Key Lime, Sunkiss Yellow.  Accessories:  Bitty Sparkles, Bitty Opaques - Pearl.  Other: Cricut/Art Philosophy Cartridge, Piercing Tool (to place embellishments), Round Sponge, Pink Sharpie

Addicted to this Cricut Shape ...

I'm so weird.  I get exposed to something, then I want to use it all the time.  Unfortunately, this has happened with this Cricut Shape.  The one that's kind of like 4 parentheses in a square shape.

Originally saw this card by Lisa Combs:  (Art Philosophy Cricut Cartridge (Z1686, $99), Remarkable Wreath (C1473, $13.95), Roxy Paper Pack (X7140B), Inks: Cocoa, Smoothie, Glitz Glitter Gel)

At first, I thought the wreath only worked for Christmas, but no, it's an all-year-'round stamp set!

I made this new years card for my mom to send to some friends (she makes requests of me).  I used Twilight and Crystal Blue with Glitz Glitter Gel.  My favorite all-purpose words stamp set ... Say It In Style (D1283, $17.95)  It's got it all!  (anniversary, birthday, thank you, love, party, mothers day, fathers day, congrats, hello, Easter, Hanukkah, Valentines, miss you...)  You should check it out.

Then I did this one with the new LUCY paper pack (LOVE it!)  Also love the new little paper flowers (can you tell?)  The stamp set has a PEEP (you know, the marshmallow rabbit) on it.  You can't really see it, it's under the letter "g."  LUCY paper pack (X7149B, $9.95) and My Peeps (B1402, $9.95), Paradise Paper Flowers (Z1710, $5.95)

Well, I got away from the shape, but now I'm on to the flowers.  I used the Rock The Block stamp set to make the big green thing on the corner of the card.  This is a GREAT way to make lots of simple cards (good to give to friends).  The "Thinking of You" is from Card Chatter - Sympathy (D1476), which I somehow missed when it first came out.  It's got a lot of really nice sentiments.  This is one of those rare occasions where I used black ink.

Well, gotta get back to creating!  See you soon.  :)

February Stamp of the Month Bloghop

I'm SOOOO excited - the new Close To My Heart Spring/Summer Idea Book starts in February!  New stamps, new papers, new embellishments.....can't wait to show you!


If you've arrived here from {Helen's Blog}, Welcome!


The Stamp of the Month Blog hop is where a bunch of Close To My Heart consultants show you what they did with the same stamp set, in this case, the February Stamp of the Month, called Thoughtful Tidings


Haven't seen it yet?  Here it is:

It's got a lot of great "thankful" thoughts.  You can just buy it for $17.95, or get it for $5.00 when you place a $50 order.  (Nice way to say Thanks For Being A Great Customer.)  Click here to start shopping from the NEW IDEA BOOK! (Starts February 1)


I made a couple of projects with the set.  Here's the first one:

This one was fun!  I used the Cricut Art Philosophy cartridge to make the heart-shaped (French fry) box from the new Pemberley paper (LOVE it!) and a whole bunch of Cricut Tulip colored hearts in different sizes.  I sanded the edges lightly, so they would be defined, then using foam mounting tape, I just started sticking hearts to the main heart (from the stamp set).  I also used the gingham ribbon from the Red Collection designer ribbon.  Very fun, and pretty easy, too!  Filled it with chocolate kisses.  


My second card is kind of basic, but I wanted to show you more new papers.  This one is from the girly pack - Lucy.  I used the strip at the top of the 12x12 sheet for an accent piece. (More from Lucy later...)

I put some new Bitty Pearls on the flourishes.  The card is kind of basic to me, but sometimes that's ok.

Last but not least is a kind of funny (odd) one.  I was looking at the "Many Thanks" stamp and thinking, that looks like one of those political yard signs (which I hate).  So, I decided to make some yard signs for the front of my card...like this:

The signs are hanging off the edge of the card.  It's kind of funny, and timely, too.  I used toothpicks for the sticks and mounted the signs on foam mounting tape.  On the inside, I wrote:  It's unanimous...you're the best!


To make the grass, I tore it, but instead of making the white core side facing out, I used the "back" (green) side.  Then I cut "grass" with my scissors.  I know Martha Stewart has some "grass scissors" but I don't have them.  


Have fun with this stamp set!  I did.  :)


Now hop on over to {Katy's Blog} to see what fabulous ideas she has for you!  Enjoy!

STRESSED spelled backwards is DESSERTS

I saw that little saying in a local cupcake store and I thought it would make a fabulous saying on a card...one with cupcakes, of course!

I made this card with the Piece of Cake stamp set.  (Lots of cakes and cupcakes in it).  I also used some extra little goodies...Liquid Applique (for frosting) and Red Glitz Glitter Gel (for cherries).






Here's a close up of the cupcakes:

You can even puff up the Liquid Applique with a heat gun, but I chose not to.  (Not sure about how the Glitz Glitter Gel would react to the heat...not well, I suspect...)  You could always puff up the Liquid Applique first and then apply the Glitz...


Hint:  Do a couple of test blobs with the Glitz on your scratch paper.


I like making my own patterned paper, and just used the other desserts in the set to do it.  I used Blush card stock with Hollyhock ink, stamped randomly.  The words "Happy Thoughts" is from the Zoology stamp set.  I thought it would be good to wish someone who was stressed and in need of desserts some happy thoughts!


To make the circle tag, I just typed the saying out on my computer, picked a nice font and colored the typeface (with my computer).  You can change your typeface colors under Format/Font/Color/More Colors/Custom.  I changed mine to Cranberry color (Red 204, Green 26, Blue 51).  


Supplies Used:
Piece of Cake stamp set (D1407, $17.95)
Zoology stamp set (B1391, $9.95)
Card Stock:  Blush, Lilac Mist, Vanilla Cream, Key Lime, White Daisy
Inks: Hollyhock, Outdoor Denim (for the main cupcake plate), Baby Pink (to sponge around the edges of the white paper
Markers:  Key Lime, Cotton Candy, Lilac Mist
Fun Stuff:  Liquid Applique, Red Glitz Glitter Gel, Clear Sparkles (colored with a green Sharpie)
1 1/2" circle punch
Sponge Dauber
Foam mounting tape

Sneak Peek & Collage Cubes

I'm so excited, I just finished decorating my Rock The Block cubes.  (This is what happens when you are snowed in...)  

If you have no idea what I'm talking about, here's the scoop:


When you place a $25 order from the Fall/Winder Idea Book, you can purchase the Rock The Block promotion kit for just $15 (a $44.90 value)!!!  The kit includes an exclusive E-sized ($29.95 value, 8 1/2" x 11 sized) stamp set and the super cute, new product coming out February 1, Collage Cubes!  The Collage Cubes are a set of nine 2"x2" paper/chipboard covered cubes that fit in a cute little tray.  All ready for decorating!


Here's the stamp set:

The sayings will fit on the 2x2 blocks

I was a little stumped looking at the cubes, because I didn't have any cute pictures in my stash to put on the cubes, so I decided to make this cute perpetual calendar, designed by Lynn Como.


I think it turned out really cute.  I used the Rock The Block stamp set, my Cricut Art Philosophy Cartridge, BRAND NEW CTMH papers called LUCY.  ALSO in my sneak peek are the Just Blooms Paradise Paper Flowers (love 'em!) and the Lucy Compliments Glitter Rub-Ons (the crown...plus there's lots of flowers).  (All available Feb. 1)

I cut all the letters and numbers with the CTMH Cricut Cartridge, and blinged it up with rhinestones colored with my new rainbow of Sharpies.  I also decorated the tray with Lucy papers.  SO FUN!  Who knew that snow could make me so productive??

I love how the Just Blooms Paradise Paper Flowers already have printing on them! 68 flowers in a pack in 4 styles and various sizes.  Wheeeeeeeeee!

I printed some little Cricut flowers and stuck Just Blooms on top.

Also used Sharpie-colored rhinestones and my Edge Distresser

This was a really fun project to make, but time consuming because of the Sharpie-coloring and gluing.  Also, to "finish" my cube edges, before I started decorating, I sponged them with Olive.  I used a few drops of Olive Reinker on a plate and a round sponge to distress the edges.  I think that was faster than if I'd used a stamp pad to ink my sponge.  Don't know, I didn't time myself!

Let me know if you want to come and check out these goodies in person!  Card classes this month are January 20, 26 and 27!  lisa@lisasargent.net

Supplies Used:

Cricut Art Philosophy Cartridge

Rock the Block stamp set

Lucy Paper Pack (new)

Lucy Complements Glittery Rub-Ons (new)

Collage Cubes (new)

Paradise Paper Flowers (new)

Clear Sparkles

Rainbow of Sharpie Markers

Card Stock & Stamp Pads:  Creme Brulee, Cotton Candy, Olive, Sweet Leaf, Chocolate

Liquid Glass (as additional adhesive for Clear Sparkles)

Buttons (Pink Assortment)