Saturday, December 31, 2011

Happy New Year & January Bloghop!

Happy New Year!  It always seems to come too quickly.  I've barely (not even) recovered from the Christmas rush, and then it's January already!  I hope your holidays were wonderful and filled with food, friends, family and love.  I know mine were -- especially the food part, as in too much of it.


Since it's a new month, it's time for the Stamp of the Month Blog Hop!  this month's fun stamp set is called Little Reminder.  You can buy it from January 1-31 for $17.95, OR you can get it for $5.00 with your $50 order.  If you've arrived here from {Teresa's Blog}, you've arrived at the right spot.


The BEST part about January, is that you can also take advantage of the Rock the Block promotion.  When you place a $25 order out of the current, Fall/Winter Idea Book, you get the FABULOUS Rock the Block Stamp Set and Cubes for just $15.00 (It's almost a $45 value!)  WOW!


This is the E-Sized (large) stamp set that you get with the Kit.  It also comes with 9 super cute 2x2x2 decoratable (is that a word?) paper cubes in a tray.  All for just $15 with your qualifying order (and it's easy to qualify!).


In case you haven't seen it yet, here's the Stamp of the Month set, Little Reminder:






I thought it would be fun to curve the words in the stamp set "Welcome Little One" and "Let's Celebrate."  I random stamped the images...


First I tried it with Sunny Yellow, Key Lime (too light to see) and Smoothie...




Didn't really like that.  Key Lime is too light, and the Sunny Yellow elephants are too bold.


Next I tried with with Amethyst, Lilac Mist, Key Lime (still too light), Sunkiss Yellow (better) and Blush.  I like this a lot better.




Still, it's a little dull.  I tried adding a Key Lime strip across the card (didn't like it because it blocked out my cute words and elephants).


I think I'm going to put a border around the edge -- so then I won't cover up my random stamping.




You can't really tell from the picture, but I colored the rhinestone sparkles with a Sharpie pen.  I know we sell colored sparkles, but I recently learned a tip from my upline.  You can take a Sharpie (or Copic marker) and (permanently) color rhinestones.  It won't work with a Close To My Heart marker, because they are water-based, but the Sharpie and Copic are alcohol-based inks, and will 'stick' to the gem.


Stamp Sets Used: Little Reminder (January Stamp of the Month S1201, $17.95 or $5 with a $50 order); Circle Together B1372 $9.95; Zoology B1391 $9.95
Colors Used:  Key Lime, Amethyst (the elephant), Lilac Mist, Blush, Sunkiss Yellow, Gypsy (for the center circle flowers).
Other:  1 1/4" and 1 1/2" circle punches,  Clear Sparkles, Colored Sharpie Markers


I know, I know, I used THREE stamp sets on this card -- but with the new lower prices on the stamp sets, it's still reasonable (plus, you get so many stamps in a stamp set!)




Don't forget, if you order the $25 in product from the Fall/Winter Idea Book, you will qualify for the $15 Rock the Block set...which comes to $40.  For just $10 more you can qualify for the Stamp of the Month for $5.  That's a savings of almost $43 if you get the Rock the Block and the Stamp of the Month.  I LOVE saving money!  (The Cube Set itself will retail for $15 starting February 1.)


For Christmas I asked for the Rainbow of Sharpies from Costco.  I got them (smile).  LOVE 'em!




For my second creation with this stamp set, I wanted to use the GIANT circle.  I have to tell you, I'm not crazy about it.  I'm thinking it might look good as the center of a flower....???  It's so freaking big!  (You know me, not a "big stamp image" buyer...love those little stamps!)


I used the CTMH Art Philosophy Cricut cartridge to cut a really big (as big as it would make it on my 12x12 mat -- 5 1/2" card (finished size).  This is what I got:




Then I cut two 5 1/2" vellum "flowers" (I think they're actually scallop circles).  I folded them so they were folded on the petals and attached them to the card with puffy tape.  I cut every other fold, to make the petals.  Also, I sponged the edge of the petals with Smoothie Ink (with a Sponge Dauber).


I haven't decided how to mark the birth date yet -- rhinestone sparkle, stamp a star, stamp a circle, draw a circle...  Anyway, it was fun!  (And easy!!)...with my lovely new Cricut!  :)




Supplies Used:  Little Reminder (stamp of the month), Cricut Art Philosophy Cartridge (Z1686, $99 for 1 cartridge (700 images, 3 coordinating stamp sets, 3 coordinating chipboard sets)


Thanks so much for stopping by to take a loop around the Blog Hop.  Now hop on over to {Judy's Blog} to see her wonderful creativity!


Have a Happy New Year!  See you soon.


Lisa