"Blessed" - April Stamp of the Month Blog Hop

Welcome to our Stamp of the Month Blog Hop! We will be featuring the April Stamp of the Month (SOTM), "Blessed", a set of 12 stamps. This stamp set really helps celebrate the beauty of spring - and is perfect for special occasions.

If you have come here from Traci's Blog you are on the right path! The blog hop is a great big circle, so you can start here and work your way all around. If you get lost along the way, you’ll find the complete list of participating consultants here.

This month we have approximately 55 Close To My Heart Consultants sharing their creations using this month's SOTM and other great CTMH products on their blogs. This is simple to do - just click on the link at the end of the post on each blog to move to the next one! Here we go!

I LOVE the base and shade stamping that is possible with this stamp set.  It sure makes coloring a breeze!  Of course, you can also use colored pencils, chalk or other color mediums to color in the images.  Gotta love a stamp with lots of versatility!  

I used the "rolling" technique to color in my flowers.  I stamped the image first in baby pink (one of the colors in the Sweetheart paper packet) and then rolled it in Tulip.  I have found, when doing base and shade stamping that I like to stamp the base first and then the outline is more-easily placed.  (Doing so in reverse can pose a challenge with some stamps so give my order a try.)

I did use the Pear Marker to color in the leaves, using the Waterbrush pen, since there is no solid base for it.  On the butterfly I added a finishing touch - some bling!  Are you surprised?!  :0)  You will find a complete supply list provided below.

Now "Hop" on over to Lisa's Blog to see her work! Be sure to visit all the Consultants at their Blogs to get some great crafting ideas and other fun ideas! Remember, the SOTM is only available until the end of April, 2011! Click here to see how you can get this stamp set at a discount or even free! I have additional samples viewable on my website! Click here to view them!

Supply list:  D1455 Blessed, X7134B Sweetheart paper packet (Black and Tulip), Z2166 Tulip Ink Pad, Z2105 Black Ink Pad, Z2397 Pear Marker.

HAPPY HOPPIN'!

Let's provide some Hope for Japan!

OUR HEARTS GO OUT TO THE VICTIMS of the earthquake and tsunami in Japan, and like so many of you, Close To My Heart and our Owner and CEO, Jeanette Lynton, are eager to help. And helping has never been easier!

During April, purchase the exclusive “Hope for Japan” A-size stamp set for the special price of only $5 (retail value $7.95) and Close To My Heart will donate 100% of the profits to the American Red Cross efforts in Japan. This beautifully designed stamp set reminds us of how our hearts are hopeful for those who are in need.

I'd be happy to either add your stamp set to my next order or you can purchase it directly from my website.  Contact me today to get involved in this heart-worthy cause.  100% of the profits will be donated by Close To My Heart to the American Red Cross Japan relief efforts.

I have issued a challenge to my team and we are in competition with another team to see who can sell the most stamp sets to support this worthy cause.  I would love for you to help us while helping the victims in Japan!

Hugs,

Melissa Robinson,

Contrast Embossing Blog Hop

Welcome to this group’s first attempt at a Technique Blog Hop!  This month there are 11 of us highlighting the “Contrast Embossing” Technique as shown on page 31 in the Spring/Summer 2011 Idea Book!  This blog hop is a great big circle so you can start wherever you want and continue through to see all the fabulous artwork incorporating this technique.  If you would like to start from the beginning, please visit this link.  While there you will find a listing of all participants and their blog addresses if you should get lost or want to reference a blog along the way.  Let’s get started!

If you are coming from Heather's Blog, you are on the right track!  This technique is highlighted with the Lucky paper packet in the Idea Book but you will find variations for its’ use through this hop. 

This is the card I designed using the Wishes Card program.  It is a 4x4 card.  I used the "brush" from "The Present" stamp set as my background and the butterfly from the "Hot Diggity" set as my embossed images.  I used the Pansy Purple Embossing Powder as my contrasting ink and love the way it "popped" on the Olive cardstock.  I love the simplicity of this design and just used some Cocoa ribbon to finish it off.

If you would like to see details on the technique or my supply list, please continue reading below.  If not, please continue onto Shirley's Blog where you will find some additional artwork highlighting this technique!  Be sure to leave a comment and let me know what you thought of my variation and happy hopping!

Supply List:  D1436 The Present, C1407 Hot Diggity, Z664 Pansy Purple Embossing Powder, 1764 Craft Tray, Z555 Craft Heater, Cocoa Cardstock, Olive Cardstock, Pansy Purple Cardstock, Heat Tool, Cocoa Ink, Versamark Pad.

The steps to Contrast Embossing are:

1. Stamp background image on project.
2. Stamp additional images in Versamark ink.  Sprinkle with contrasting color of embossing powder.
3. Tap off excess powder.  Set with craft heater.

Here you can see a visual demonstration of this technique.

 

Thanks for stopping by!  Continue onto Shirley's Blog to continue the hop!

Retreat Welcome Sign (and more highlights)

It was fun, arriving at the retreat location, with this welcome sign especially for us.

 

This photo is of the entire group - 39 of us!

 

This is a photo of team Consultants in attendance.

 

 These are first downline team members who shared in this fun weekend with me!

If I haven't told you before...I love my team!

Sophia Interactive Layouts

Each year at my team retreat, I design and share patterns for two projects.  This year our theme was "Friendships in Full Bloom" and the Sophia paper packet (my absolute favorite) helped me set the tone for commemorating our fun weekend.

I designed these layouts incorporating the 12" Flip Flaps.  Two of the layouts came straight from the back of the Level 2 Stickease and the other 2 were of my original design (using our exclusive how-to books, of course).  I loved incorporating the new Eclectic Alphabet for the titles.

Here are two of the layouts with photos and journaling from the retreat weekend on them.  I apologize for these photos not being very clear but I took them quickly while they were in page protectors but I think you get the general idea.

I was very pleased with them and hope you like them too!

I won, I won!

When I attended the Close To My Heart Team Builder's Conference in Salt Lake City in mid-January, we were each given a beautiful, hand-designed brooch.  Most of them were uniquely designed and there were 59 of them!  This is what mine looked like.

A few weeks ago my upline, Jody Peck, issued a contest for designing one of our own.  There were several submissions and I'm proud to announce I won 1st place in the category of "Most Creative"!  It was fun seeing all of the creative ideas using various CTMH products!

I used lots of fun CTMH doodads, including Dimensional elements, Pink and Pear Buttons, Pear Ribbon, and the beautiful Sophia paper!

Altered Matchbook Notepad

Those you who know me well know I LOVE to alter inexpensive gifts!  I found these notepads, in pairs, at Target.  These were one of my retreat goodies that each attendee received.  I have since added a matching pen.

Sophia is one of my absolute favorite paper packs and I don't think I'll tire of it anytime soon.

Team Retreat = FUN!

Three weeks ago I hosted my annual Heartfelt Sentiments team retreat!  I was blessed to have 39 fellow scrapbookers in attendance who shared the weekend with me.  Many attendees were members of my team while some of their friends, family members and customers also decided to join in the fun!  We gathered at the Lone Oak Ranch & Retreat in Gainesville, TX.  This beautiful property resembles a Texas-style town, complete with Western memorabilia. 

During the weekend, we enjoyed delicious food, fun gifts, and lots of laughter!  It was a great time as it always is but it never lasts long enough.  However, I am grateful for the time I was able to spend with my dear friends and look forward to next year's retreat.

Here are just a few photos from the weekend.  Stay tuned for more in upcoming posts!

We never went hungry and enjoyed yummy food!

Who would have thought 39 people could crop in one room?  But...we did!

My Mom and I posing for a photo during the beautiful weather we were able to enjoy.

Ahhh...my friends and downline, Melissa, Mary and Jennifer.

Here's my version of a glamour shot.  LOL  The ranch is on some beautiful property.