Something Splendid - August Stamp of the Month Blog Hop

Welcome to the August Stamp of the Month blog hop!  This month we have over 60 consultants participating in our hop, so you're sure to find Something Splendid along the way.  If you're arriving here from Terri's The Midnight Artist blog, you're on the right track.  If you're starting here, you'll move along to Beth's Creative Block and on around until you arrive back here.

(On a side note for my regular followers, I know it's been a while since I've posted.  I was gone all week to CHA, so I will have some updates beginning Monday on that!)

August's stamp of the month set is Something Splendid, 13 stamps sure to give you some beautiful results.  I chose to use our lovely Passages paper pack, along with the Celebration Card Workshop from the Wishes card confidence program book.

Here are just 3 of the 6 card patterns included in this "workshop".  You make 2 of each pattern using just 2 sheets of cardstock and 2 sheets of pattern paper, plus card bases (6 sheets of CS).

I think this is my favorite of the cards.  Even with that big, two-step flower, it still has a bit of a masculine look.  I sponged the edges of all of my papers for some added dimension.  The base flower was stamped 2nd generation in Barn Red (ink up your stamp, stamp off on a scrap, then stamp on your paper).  Then the detail layer was stamped normally in Barn Red and the flower center in Garden Green.  Pewter brads finish things off.

For this card, I switched to Brown Bag ink for my flower base and stuck with Barn Red for the detail layer.  I used twill tape instead of ribbon to keep with the more masculine feel.

Finally, I kept it very simple on this card.  I went back to Barn Red for both layers of my flower, and left off the embellishments entirely.

If you're inspired to make this stamp set your own, just visit my website to find out how you can get yours at a discount or even free!  When you're ready to hop along, head on over to Beth's Creative Block.

Sparkly Koi Card

Get out your Cuttlebug Plum Blossom embossing folders, and your Stickles, and make this fun Koi Pond Card.

For this card, you will need a scrap piece of plastic packaging (acetate), sized 4" x 5.25".  Place this in your koi pond embossing folder and run it through your Cuttlebug.  On the back side, you will use your Stickles to fill in the embossed areas.  NOTE:  do the blue & orange from the back.  After it dries, you will flip it over and do the black and white from the front.

Use a black card base and mount a 4" x 5.25" piece of blue cardstock to the front.  Then use Glossy Accents to glue your embossed plastic to the blue cardstock.  (You will "hide" the GA by putting it only on the areas where the Stickles will cover it.

Items available at Cutters Creek:

• cardstock
• Plum Blossom Cuttlebug embossing folders
• Stickles - Broken China (Distress), Spiced Marmalade (Distress), Black Diamond, and Frosted Lace

Other item:

• recycled plastic packaging (I used part of a Cricut cartridge package)