Baroque Birthday - August Stamp of the Month Blog Hop

Welcome to our stamp of the month blog hop!  This month, we are featuring Baroque Borders, a set of 5 stamps (including 2 over-sized corners) with a vintage/distressed feel.  If you've arrived here from Elizabeth Mindemann's blog, or if you are just starting out, you are in the right place.  When you're done here, you'll hop along to Traci Godbee's blog.

One of the things I like about this stamp set is that the designs of the corners are great to use them as NOT corners, LOL.  There's great artwork from corporate where they used one of the corners to make patterned paper.  Here's the sample from them:

How cute is that?! And I think they can look totally different just by using different colors.  I think the Buttercup & Twilight combo they used in their layout has a "fun" feel to it, while the colors I chose feel more "elegant" to me.  Here's my project:

I started with one of the card sketches in our brand new Make It From Your Heart publication, and altered it a little. (*more details below)  I wanted to use the beautiful new La Belle Vie papers, which has some exclusive colors, but I didn't want to stamp with black.  I stamped some samples with various inks I thought would go well, and chose Smokey Plum to stamp two of the large "square" corners on my card base.  I then layered on my pattern papers and added a Rhinestone Designer Brad.  I completed my card by choosing a pretty sentiment stamp and coordinating shape from the new Artiste Cricut Cartridge collection (**more details below), which I stamped in Blush ink and sponged the edges with Bamboo ink.  I adhered it using 3-D adhesive foam tape for extra dimension (or you could use one of the Dimensional Elements).

If you want to skip the supply list and details on Make It From Your Heart and Artiste, you can hop along to Traci Godbee's blog now. (Of course, I'd love it if you leave a comment and/or become a follower first!)

*Make It From Your Heart, Volume 1: Our newest how-to publication features patterns for 16 two-page layouts, two single-page layouts, and 12 cards.  Plus, there are great ideas for techniques and tips for using patterns that are useful to both newbies and those like me who have been around the block a few times!  48 pages, softbound. $7.95

**Cricut Artiste Collection: This second Close To My Heart exclusive cartridge again features 700 images.  Included on this cartridge are some great 3-D items, interactive cards, a full alphabet, and more.  The collection also comes with three D-size stamp sets, shown here, and 3 sheets of coordinating Dimensional Elements (12" x 9" each).  I've only had the chance to make a FEW of the things on this cartridge, but it is AWESOME - the interactive flip cards are great and EASY to decorate.  (Upcoming post alert!) $99.00

Supplies use to make my card (links for new products coming as soon as they are live!):

• Baroque Borders, August 2012 SOTM
• La Belle Vie paper pack
• Cricut Artiste Collection
• Exclusive Inks Stamp Pads in Smokey Plum, Bamboo, and Blush
• Rhinestone Designer Brads

Thanks so much for stopping by today.  I hope to see you again soon!  Now don't forget to hop over to Traci Godbee's blog.