September Stamp of the Month Blog Hop: Grateful for this Life

Welcome to the September Stamp of the Month Blog Hop featuring Grateful for this Life. You should have come from Show and Tell with Michelle's blog, but don't worry if you started here. The hop is a circle, so just keep going until you get back to where you started. If you get lost along the way, head over to Melinda's blog for a complete list of participants. 

As this post goes live, I'm in New York after traveling from Washington State. We're visiting our son, daughter-in-law, and grandson for a week before heading to Kentucky. Yes, it's a circuitous route, but my husband has been tied up with a class and has yet to meet the grandson named after him. So...we go the circuitous route!!

My craft room was packed up about a month ago. I had to work way ahead in order to participate in this month's hop. I decided to go very clean, simple, and straightforward to make sure that my supplies were all current. Here's what I came up with...

I used Ballerina and Flamingo cardstock colors to go with my black stamping. The focal point sentiment was stamped in black, cut out with an xacto knife (centers) and scissors. I added Black Shimmer Brush to it to jazz it up a bit. "for YOU" was stamped in Flamingo after I had the circle and sentiment attached with foam tape. My scissors got a real work out between cutting around the sentiment and creating itsy-bitsy, teeny-weeny pieces of foam tape to pop it up, but I think it was worth it!

I had SOOO many ideas for this, but alas, the craft room boxing put a kabosh on my ability to execute them. However, now that the new September/October catalog is live with its plethora of Fall and Thanksgiving themed stamp sets, I have a whole new set of ideas. Hopefully the craft room gets set up soon so I can get this gorgeous set inky again. Like you, I'll be hoping over to Scrappin' Katy's blog and then on to the rest to glean even more ideas from these talented Makers.

Until next time,
Becca

August Stamp of the Month: Tutti Fruiti

 

I usually participate in the stamp of the month blog hops. This month I had my project ready but failed to sign up. My brain is in about six different places as we're in the middle of a move. I'm literally typing this as there's a guy behind me packing up my kitchen. Even though I missed participating in the hop, I wanted to post my project.

I had a terrible time photographing this, so please accept my apologies for that up front. The base images were stamped in Pebble, Ballerina, and Lemonade. I then cut three panels at an angle, the bottom one in Lemonade using the Stitched Lattice Background Thin Cut (retiring soon, so get it fast), a plain piece of White Daisy, and then Ballerina stamped in Pebble. I then stamped the lemon image in Pebble on a small piece of Lemonade, cut it out and glued it down. I added the second sentiment in Flamingo over the top.

I think it turned out so cute! I you want to see the other projects, start by visiting Melissa Robinson's blog and click through all the links.

Until next time,

Becca

Christmas In July Blog Hop

Welcome to the Christmas in July Blog Hop. You should have come from Maureen's blog, but don't worry if you started here. The hop is a circle, so just keep going until you get back to where you started. If you get lost along the way, head over to Melinda's blog for a complete list of participants. 

I decided to feature the White Pines paper from the Bring Back My Pack promotion. I loved this paper so much the first time around, and I'm loving it even more with the updated colors and new sticker sheet. 

Before I show you my scrapbook pages, here's the backstory. My husband is in the army and we're getting ready to move for the seventh time in twelve years. In my efforts to organize and purge, I came across some pictures and memorabilia from when my son was a baby. He turns 35 next month, so it's about time I scrapbooked his baby pictures, don'tcha think? Here's page #1...

Cute, right?! I used the downloadable workshop guide at the top of the White Pines Promotion page and altered it for my photos. Some of you are old enough to remember the joys of film cameras. You took a hundred pictures, developed them, and hoped you got a couple of good ones. Well...these ones came out great but I only had the two. I decided to follow the basic layout design, particularly my sticker placement, with a few minor alterations.

This next layout is also with White Pines and my son, but it has a completely different feel.

I used a number of retired products on this, the sequins, gold photo corners, "hello" thin cut, and Creme Brulee pigment ink to be specific. However, the blue paper comes from White Pines and the yellow gingham comes from the Lovely paper suite. The images are from Nursery Days and the name banner was created with Classic Alphabet Thin Cuts. The souvenir birth certificate and birth announcement were things I found in my tub of scrapbooking things. I love how French Vanilla cardstock is the perfect color to pair with these 35 year old items. I decided to show this to you despite the retired products because I wanted you to see how a Christmas themed paper collection doesn't limit how you use it.

Interesting note, the blue pigment ink is actually Blue Belle. It, however, is the perfect Glacier color. While I was somewhat disappointed about that when I first received it, I will get far more use out of the color as is.

Next stop on the blog hop is ScrappinKaty. I can't wait to see what she and all the other amazing Makers have created. Again, the hop is a circle, so be sure you visit everyone to glean lots of great inspiration.

Until next time,

Becca

July August 2021 New Products Blog Hop

 

Welcome to the New Products Blog Hop for the July/August 2021 Seasonal Catalog. You should have come from Maureen's blog, but don't worry if you started here. The hop is a circle, so just keep going until you get back to where you started. If you get lost along the way, head over to Melinda's blog for a complete list of participants. 

As soon as I saw this catalog, I fell in love with the Doodled Florals stamp set. I stamped a bunch of images and colored while watching TV. When I was done, I had a large pile of images ready to go. I went a little wild, so strap in and hang on...

Here I paired the floral images with a sentiment from Every Bit of Wonderful, which is this year's Operation Smile stamp set. I stamped it in Charcoal on the largest Stitched Scalloped Brackets. I glued it to white paper cut with Floral Background Overlay backed with Linen cardstock. Have I mentioned recently how much I love Linen??? It's so classy! 

For these next four cards, all sentiments come from the Seasonal Borders stamp set.

The background paper on the above card is from the new Mix-In paper. I cut it down using the largest Stitched Rectangle Thin Cut. The sentiment is white embossed on black paper and foam mounted. I also foam mounted some of the flowers for added dimension.

I used Linen paper again, this time running it through the Stitched Lattice Overlay Thin Cut. I flicked Black Shimmer Brush on it before adding it to the card base and layering the flowers over the top. I made liberal use of foam tape to add dimension to the flowers and sentiment banner. 

This one also uses Stitched Lattice Overlay (Kraft) and Stitched Rectangle Thin Cuts (Peach), but I cut them down to create my wide and thin bands which I glued to a piece of white cardstock cut with the largest Stitched Rectangle Thin Cut. I stamped my sentiment then sponged lightly with Peach ink to shade it. Then I flicked Peach Shimmer Brush over the entire background. When it was dry. I mounted it to another piece of Kraft paper cut to 4 x 5.25. Before gluing it to my card base, I stamped around the edges of the card in Almond ink. The flowers come from Seasonal Borders as does the sentiment. Once the flowers were glued or foam mounted, I went over them with more Peach Shimmer Brush.

I've had this tag sitting in a pile of "I had a plan for this but it didn't happen and now I don't know what to do with it but I sure don't want to throw it a way" stuff. The tag is cut from Tags and Tabs Thin Cuts and overlayed with a scrap of Canary cardstock I ran through the Stitched Lattice Overlay Thin Cut, glued to the tag, and trimmed with Micro-tip Scissors. I added the flowers, then used a sliver of Black Glitter paper over the top. After threading some white embroidery thread through the tag hole, I secured ONLY the top to my Kraft card base. Then slid the black band underneath to line the top edge with the bottom edge of the Black Glitter paper. It creates a cool offset look. Then I glued down the bottom of the tag and added the frame made with the middle size Stitched Rectangle Thin Cuts around it.

I happen to love that there aren't any sentiments in this Doodled Florals set. I have plenty of those, the Seasonal Borders stamp set being the tip of that particular iceberg. 

Speaking of Seasonal Borders... We're nearing the end of the current Core Catalog. Every stamp set, including Seasonal Borders, is retiring. So are all of the overlay thin cuts. The Stitched Rectangle Thin Cuts are staying (thank heavens!), but any of the ones that cover a card front are retiring. Also retiring are the Stitched Scallop Bracket Thin Cuts (first card). All retiring items are now available only while supplies last, so if you see something you have to have, get it quickly!!

Next stop on the blog hop is Brandi' R's crzy4scrapbooking. Again, the hop is a circle, so be sure you visit everyone to glean lots of great inspiration.

Until next time,

Becca

Taking It All In

Back in May, CTMH hosted an album retreat centered around the five senses. They apparently didn't sell out because the exclusive stamp set called Taking It All In is now available for purchase (click HERE). 

Here's a look at this versatile set.

I popped that in my cart right away because, in addition to the unique sentiments, there are some fun icons. My favorite is the large flower. 

Let's take a minute to talk about those sentiments...

The album retreat was centered around the five senses. It's a different way to document life which is why the sentiments aren't found in other scrapbooking stamp sets. And for me, I have two new grandbabies. That means lots of discovery of sights, sounds, and smells. 

This will be one of the sets I never allow the movers to pack. I have a handful of them that, should they get lost in a move, would break my heart. I have so many ideas for both cards and scrapbook pages!! I'm thrilled that the stamp set became available, but I'm guessing there's a limited supply. Once again, here's the shopping link for this set.

Additional supplies used for this card are:

• Flamingo Ink
• Evergreen Ink
• Raspberry Ink
• Nov/Dec 2020 Mix In paper (retired, striped paper at top)
• July/August Mix In paper (leaf pattern paper at bottom
• Ballerina cardstock
• Evergreen cardstock
• Circle Shaker Thin Cut
• Stitched Rectangle Thin Cut
• Shaker Window Foam and Acetate
• Leaf Layer Thin Cut
• Julep Loose Sequins (retired)

Off to make more pretty things!

Until next time,
Becca

July SOM Blog Hop: Strong Roots

 

Welcome to the July Stamp of the Month Blog Hop featuring Strong Roots. Here's a look at this lovely set.

 The hop is a circle. You should have come from Brandi's Crzy4Scrapbooking blog. You'll head to Gina's blog next. If you get lost along the way, head over to Melinda's blog for a full list of participants.

I went very simple on this card. I embossed the images in gold on Distress Watercolor cardstock then used watercolor pencils to color. Once it was done, I ran it through the largest Stitched Rectangle Frame and mounted it on card base with foam tape. That's it! he hardest part was being patient enough to let the watercolor paint air dry.

Now head over to Gina's blog, and be sure to keep hopping until you make it back to where you started so you see all the inspiration provided using this beautiful stamp set.

Until next time,

Becca

June SOM Blog Hop: Outdoor Borders

Welcome to the June SOM Blog Hop featuring Outdoor Borders. This is such a fun set! There will be lots of great inspiration as you travel from one blogger to the next. You should have come from Darly's blog, but don't worry if you started here. The hop is a circle, so just keep going until you get back to where you started. If you get lost along the way, head to Melinda's blog for a complete list of participants.

Here's a look at this fun set...

I follow a lot of different bloggers. One of them is Tenia Nelson over at Jazzy Paper Designs. A while back she posted this fun card. I decided to scraplift it for my contribution to the hop.

Don't hate me, but I'm not usually a fan of flamingos. This??? This floats my creative boat!

You'll notice that I used Outdoor Borders in two places, for the sentiment and as the background on the left side. I think I'll experiment a little and see if stamping the background wavy lines in Flamingo ink makes me any happier than the black. Here are the products that round out the rest of this card:

• Leaf Layer Thin Cuts
• Hexagon Thin Cuts
• Stitched Rectangle Thin Cuts
• Hello Pumpkin Washi Tape
• Crafty Sequins
• Summer Vibes Cricut Cartridge
• Black ink
• Black cardstock
• May-June 2021 Mix-in paper
• Avocado Cardstock
• Sanding paper

The flamingo comes from the Summer Vibes Cricut Collection. I used the print then cut feature by inserting the image, flattening it, then sending it to my printer before cutting it. I sized it to 2.5 inches tall for this. If you don't have a color printer, you could recreate this with Flamingo cardstock. Use the light side for the wings and full strength side for the body plus black for the base.

I sanded the lighter side of Avocado paper for two reasons. First, I wanted to make it even lighter, and second, to make it match the woodgrain background of the Mix-in paper used for the hexagon. 

Both the washi tape and sequins are from product lines introduced a long time ago, but they are still available for purchase. I don't tend to use up all of my supplies from prior purchases. However, I'm getting low on the Hello Pumpkin Washi tape because it's my FAVORITE! 

Now you're off to Krista's Crafty blog. Again, be sure to keep hopping until you see all the great projects.

Until next time,
Becca