Fast & Simple Christmas Cards - Stamp of the Month Blog Hop

Welcome to the October Stamp of the Month blog hop!  This month we have over 50 talented consultants sharing ideas with you for this month's beautiful stamp set.  If you have arrived here from Kami's blog, or if you are just starting out, you are in the right place!  When you're done here, you will continue on around the circle to visit all of the great artwork, starting at Traci's blog.

This month's stamp set, Holiday Magic, is a set of 18 fun stamps you can use to create artwork that is sweet & simple or elegant & ornate.  To be honest, I was in a bit of a time crunch this month (really nothing new), so I wanted to make something fast & simple but still beautiful.  And, for me, it's always a plus if I can use mostly scraps when making cards.   I came up with two card designs, both starting with a 5x7 card base made from Kraft Cardstock.  Here's card #1:

For this card, I started with my paper scrap from the Typeset paper pack.  To coordinate, I stamped my sleigh in Juniper on a Colonial White scrap, and stamped the sleigh runners in Cocoa directly on a Twilight mat.  Then I cut out the sleigh and adhered it using 3-D Foam Adhesive Tape.  I distressed the edges of the mat slightly with the Cocoa ink & adhered it to the card.  I added a strip of Twilight ribbon and I was done.  Easy peasy!

 

For card #2, I stamped the "script" tree twice directly on the Kraft base using Olive ink, then stamped the tree trunks using Cocoa ink.  I stamped the other tree in Olive on a scrap of Colonial White and cut it out.  I decided on placement, and stamped a trunk for it directly on the card base (again in Cocoa).  I adhered the final tree using 3-D Foam Adhesive Tape.  My strips at the bottom are a leftover piece from the Elemental paper pack and Tulip cardstock.  My sentiment is stamped in Tulip on Colonial White.  Another fast & easy card.

Used on both cards, cardstock is located here, stamping blocks are here and ink pads are located here.

I can see making several similar cards for easy mailing and a quick completion of my card list.  To see the exact items I used, just click the links.  It will open in a new window (all items in the same window), so you don't have to worry about losing your place in the hop; it will still be here!  Now, when you're ready, let's head on over to Traci's blog and see what she has come up with this month.

I'm a Real Witch Today! - with Echo Park Papers

There are still a couple of days left in Echo Park Month at Cutters Creek, and today it's my turn to share again.

Want to know how I made this?  Head over to the Cutters Creek blog and check it out!

Sweet! - A Cutters Creek/Echo Park Blog Hop

Hello and welcome to the Cutters Creek Blog Hop!  This month we are all using Echo Park Paper products, which you can find in the store right here.  If you've arrived here from Mandie's blog, you're in the right place; if you're just starting out, you may want to go start the hop over at the Cutters Creek Blog and work your way back through the list.  When you're done here, you'll move along over to Deanna's blog, where I'm sure she has something awesome cooked up for us!

If you get lost along the way, here's the complete lineup:

• Cutters Creek Blog (Chris)
• Mandie's Blog
• Lori's Blog - YOU ARE HERE
• Deanna's Blog
• Mindy's Blog
• Laura's Blog
• Melissa's Blog
• Kim's Blog

So, for my project today I whipped out a 2-page scrapbook layout using the Country Drive collection kit.  Be sure to click on the picture to see it larger!

FYI, in case those two little girls with my two big girls look familiar it's because they're Mandie's.  I figured she wouldn't mind my sharing pics of her kids on the 'net since she does!  Anyway, I of course started with a sketch for my layout (this one's from one of Scrapbook Generations Publishing's books) and changed things up a little to make it work for what I wanted.  I used the letter stickers in the kit for my title, and simply matted the large word 1) to draw more attention to it and 2) because the large letters were the same color as my cardstock background.

 

Yet again, I inked the edges of my small squares of paper with coordinating ink.  Not only does this add dimension, but it also helps disguise any place where my cuts may not have been perfectly straight.  The little raspberries are cut from the paper with strips of various patterns on it - I cut the entire strip, then cut squares from it.  The squares are popped up on foam adhesive.  My "lacy eyelet" border was made with a Fiskars punch.  I used skinny 1/8" ScorTape to adhere both this border and the narrow strip of striped paper.  (Psst, I love the 1/8" for stuff like this!)

This is my journaling block.  I will fill it out later - I don't like to journal under pressure, and since I just finished this today, well...  I made the banner piece look more "flag-like" by placing a small piece of foam adhesive under part of it.  This little bit of dimension makes it feel like it's waving in the wind!  Finally, I added a couple of raspberry stickers from the kit to tie in with the raspberry squares in the border strip below.

I hope you enjoyed today's project, and would love it if you become a follower or subscriber.  Don't forget to hop along to Deanna's blog next.  When you're ready to shop, be sure to head on over to the Cutters Creek store and browse the Echo Park Paper selections, as well as all the other goodies that Kim has stocked!

Visit Illinois - the Prairie State: 50 States Blog Hop

Welcome to the 50 States Blog Hop! This hop was inspired by our host Shawnee's journey across the United States as she traveled with her family to their new home. The United States is truly beautiful with many wonderful places to visit and see.

If you've hopped along from Mississippi, then you are in the right place!! If you are just joining me from your dashboard or happened along from somewhere else, please be sure to CLICK HERE to start with the first state in the union, Delaware, because you won't want to miss out on any of the fun (or any of the blog candy!!)...

There is an AMAZING Grand Prize Package for one LUCKY hopper (winner chosen by Rafflecopter)!!  To be entered to win, please do the following:

• Visit each state and leave a comment on each project (simply follow the links provided below)
• Like Blessed on the Bright Side and Handmade By Lisa FB Pages.

So what's the Grand Prize???
Cricut Cartridge - Destinations, beautiful handmade flowers from Shannon at Creative Chaos Flowers, and a $20 Gift Certificate to Scraptastical Kreations.
Now on to my state and my project....

I live in Illinois, and although I live in the far reaches of "Chicago land" now, most of my favorite places are in other parts of the state.  One of my absolute faves for taking the kids is Starved Rock State Park in Utica, IL, and it just goes to show that the term "Prairie State" does not necessarily apply.  Here's a layout of one of our trips there:

I started my layout with a sketch pattern in the Magic book from Close To My Heart, adding a couple of the tricks in the book for getting additional pictures on your layouts.  Check it out:

Notice the tags attached to the outside of the left sheet protector and the Flip Flap mini protector open on the right sheet protector.

The pattern papers, stickers, and chipboard embellishments are all by Scrapbook Customs (which I purchased from Memories & Beyond in Downers Grove - and yes, they have all 50 states!).  In addition to the sketch book, all of my cardstock, brad, and the Flip Flap also came from Close To My Heart. My borders and large tags were all cut with the Cricut, using the Art Philosophy cartridge collection exclusive to Close To My Heart.  FYI: bonus until the end of September, make any CTMH purchase of at least $75 and get a FREE double size stamp set with your order.

I have some great BLOG CANDY for you myself!  I am giving away three great paper crafting publications - Paper Creations (Fall 2011), Scrapbooking & Beyond (Summer 2011), and Cricut Cards - an over $30 value.  It's simple to win, just be a follower (or email subscriber) and leave a comment.  (Not required, but I would love it if you go "like" my Facebook page as well - I have giveaways coming up over there as well!)  All comments entered before Midnight Central Time on Sunday night are eligible to win.  I will announce the winner Monday.  I will try to contact the winner as well if possible, so if your email is not on your Blogger profile be sure you leave it for me!

Now you can hop to the NEXT STATE IN THE UNION!!  Remember to leave a comment on each state to be eligible for the GRAND PRIZE!!






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Birthday Party with Art Philosophy Cricut Cartridge - September Product Spotlight Blog Hop

Welcome to our Close To My Heart Product Spotlight Blog Hop! This month we are featuring our brand new exclusive Cricut cartridge, Art Philosophy. If you are just starting out, or have arrived here from Carol's blog, you're in the right place. When you're done here, you will head over to Jena's blog and see what she has created for us.

Using the Art Philosophy cartridge, Roxie papers and coordinating cardstocks, and only those stamp sets that come with the cartridge, I created the basics of a birthday party that any Teen/Tween girl is sure to love.  (Psst, this 41-year-old Mom loves it too - too bad my birthday is past!)  I also added some Opaques in Pearl and Licorice, and Glitz in Stardust.

 

There are even more great stamps and cuts included in the collection to add more to this party!  There's a great banner you can cut in a large size along with the included font, and a coordinating stamp for cutting a smaller size that would look great decorating the side of a cake or on a scrapbook page of the event!

Here's a fun invitation made with a cartridge cut that has an opening cut into the front.  The details are stamped on the inside of the card.  With this card cut at 8.5" wide, it's a perfect invitation size, AND it happens to fit the invite stamp perfectly.  I kept the embellishments simple to make it easier to mail.

Of course a birthday wouldn't be complete without a card for the birthday girl.  This is made with the same cut as the invitation, but in a larger size.  This is an approximately 5x7 card, with the opening cut the perfect size for the larger shaped stamp.  All of the roses are from the cartridge as well, and super easy to roll up!

I thought this cute little box would make a nice take-home for an extra cupcake.  Now, if you buy big bakery cupcakes, you're going to have a problem with the icing.  But if you go for the homemade variety they should fit fine.  Otherwise, for sure a couple of minis should squeeze in there nicely.  The ribbon ties it closed and makes it quick to open as soon as the snack attack hits.  This ribbon is from the Designer Ribbon Pink Collection.

This is my favorite part!  Can you just see this sweet little bag filled with lip gloss, nail polish, and other assorted girly treats?!  And I just love the way that pleated ribbon looks on there!  This one is from the Designer Ribbon Red Collection.

If you're ready to move along, head on over to Jena's blog any time!  Before you order, be sure to drop me an email - I'd love to help you get some things free, and maybe even get your Art Philosophy cartridge at half price.  My recent hostess took online orders only, received $120 in free product, and got three items (including her Art Philosophy cartridge) at half-price.  Let me show you how!

Thanks for stopping by - I'd love to hear your comments.  If you like what you see here, I'd also love it if you became a follower or email subscriber.

Happy Days Layout with Echo Park Paper and Close To My Heart

It's Echo Park Paper month over at the Cutters Creek blog, and today I have a project up.  Since I added a few things using products from Close To My Heart, I thought I would post it here as well, with all of the extras.  You can read about the base layout over on the Cutters Creek Blog, including links to the Cutters Creek products I used in my layout.

I started with the "Ta-Da!" layout pattern from the Magic interactive scrapbook layouts book, changed up the right page a little, and added some interactive parts.  The shield shape for the title area is cut using the new Art Philosophy Cricut cartridge exclusive to CTMH.  Remember, be sure to head over to the Cutters Creek blog to see the base layout underneath here!  Look carefully, you may not be able to tell the difference right away...

  

This picture shows some added Flip-Flaps flipped open on the vertical pictures.  This is a REALLY easy way to add more pictures to a layout.

This final picture shows the Flip-Flaps for the horizontal pictures flipped open.  For this one, I have three Flip-Flaps stacked one on top of the other.  With their super adhesive flap, you can stick a stack right to the outside of your layout's sheet protector!

Close To My Heart products used:

• Magic, interactive scrapbook layouts pattern book
• Cardstock in Black and Lagoon (Summer)
• 4x6 Memory Protectors Flip Flaps
• Art Philosophy Cricut cartridge collection

 If you like this Echo Park Paper collection, be sure to head to Cutters Creek and see all of the 12x12 collections and 6x6 paper pads available from them.  Thanks for stopping by today!  Hope to see you again soon.

Cricut Tool Kit Winner!

Thanks to random.org, we have a winner of the Cricut Tool Kit!  Congratulations to #11 - Haley D.  Haley, please contact me with your mailing address and I'll get your prize in the mail!