CTMH January Stamp of the Month Blog Hop

I can't believe that it is time for another Blog Hop. As 2010 fades into memory, we look forward to 2011 with great anticipation. CTMH is changing to a bi-annual Idea Book that will be officially released February 1st. I have already seen it and there are many really exciting new products! Items that are featured in the Winter 2010 Idea Book will be available (while supplies last) through January 31st, but January is a transition month. "Wings" a terrific paper packet is available beginning January 1st along with several new stamp sets. What fun to have a sneak peak at the new Idea Book. The January STOM "Find Your Style" has so many possibilities!

This is a circular blog hop so please make sure you check out all of the wonderful artwork that has been completed by the well over 50 participants this month. The full listing is in my last past. If you have arrived here from Kristie's Blog you are on the right track.

I always like to do something a tad different each Hop and this month is no different. One of my 2011 goals is to learn paper quilling. I have dabbled in it but now it is time to begin to get serious. The sentiment in "Find Your Style" is perfect.

To make the rolled roses, I prepared the card stock by spraying it with a mixture of CTMH Pearl Paint mixed with Hollyhock and Amethyst re-inker plus 90% rubbing alcohol. I find that the alcohol dries more quickly than water. I used the spray pen included in the new Idea Book. Once the paper was dry, I used a spiral punch, rolled the paper inward toward the center of the spiral and secured the outer edge with a dab of Liquid Glass. I used my quilling tool, but I tried the rolling with the piercing tool and that works also. Once the Liquid Glass had set, I lightly brushed the tops with liquid adhesive and sprinkled with Prisma Glitter.

The flourishes were rolled using straight pieces of actual quilling paper. The leaves were punched from Topiary and Sweet Leaf. The card stock is Amethyst and Gypsy and the sentiment was stamped in Gypsy.

My next project is done using a fun technique I mentioned in this post. The technique is called Black Magic and is done with images stamped in either White Daisy or in this case Colonial White on dark card stock. Once the ink is dry, you color the image with water color pencils.

The image was stamped on the black band that includes the sentiment (from the Wings Workshop on the Go set) and then the top portion was cut out. The sentiment, by the way, is heat embossed using Silver Pearl. The pattern paper is from the new Wings paper packet. I added some Sparkles and the card was done!

It is time now, to head off to Sarita's Blog and see what she had created using this month's Stamp of the Month. Wishing everyone a Happy, Healthy and Prosperous 2011. For Now, Happy Crafting!

It's Blog Hop Time Again

It's that time again, CTMH Stamp of the Month Blog Hop! Here is the complete list of participants. Check back in at 9:00pm EST for the fun hop featuring a brand new stamp set called "Find Your Style." For Now, Happy Crafting!


Helen Onulak http://www.hookedonstamping.com
Kathleen Androlewicz http://BowlOfStamps.blogspot.com
Teri Baxter http://www.themidnightartist.blogspot.com
Dawn Ross http://iamahappystamper.blogspot.com
Traci Godbee http://createwithtraci.blogspot.com
Dawn Heuft http://stamptildawn.blogspot.com
Judy Burger http://www.makingtimeformemories.blogspot.com
Annette Green http://AnnettesCreativeJourney.blogspot.com
Shannon Buck http://www.stampinbuds.com
Pamela O'Connor http://cherishyourmemories.blogspot.com
Wendy Fording http://papercreationsbywendy.blogspot.com
Kristie Herdener http://www.goofyscrapper.blogspot.com
Cindy Leek http://www.paperspadsandpictures.blogspot.com
Sarita Schraeder http://www.blessedscrapper.com
Melissa Robinson http://www.mlisrobinson.blogspot.com
Lori Brown http://www.savingmine.blogspot.com
Krista Ritskes http://kristaritskes-simplycreating.blogspot.com
Nancy Brown http://creativelyartsygallery.blogspot.com/
Haley Dyer http://inkyscrapper.blogspot.com
Carla Ironside http://carlacreates.blogspot.com
Georgia Hauglid http://inkygeorgia.blogspot.com/
Shirley Ross http://www.momnmescrap.blogspot.com
Carol Harris http://www.carol-harris.blogspot.com
Brae Montgomery http://thebrae-er.blogspot.com
Michelle Loncar http://michelleloncar.blogspot.com
Katy Donaldson http://www.scrappinkaty.blogspot.com
Wanda Riley http://Creatingwithwanda.blogspot.com
Angela Tutton http://www.tuttonstreasures.blogspot.com
Jody Gustafson http://www.cre8nmemories.blogspot.com
Jen Rubio http://JenRubio.blogspot.com
Sheila Bennett http://sheila-bennett.blogspot.com
Toni Hinchcliffe http://whollycrafts.blogspot.com
Doreen Guilfoyle http://whereisyourhappyplace.blogspot.com
Adeline Brill http://www.adeline-brill.blogspot.com
Jen Patrick http://roxybonds-scrappin.blogspot.com
Mary Eisen http://mestamp2.blogspot.com
Melinda Everitt http://ifyoublingittheywillcome.blogspot.com/
Laurie Newton http://www.scrapsfromthebeach.blogspot.com
Melissa Laverty http://www.fancymelissa.com
Beth Naumann http://www.bethscreativeblock.blogspot.com
Susan Brooks http://stampingintheopen.blogspot.com
Tammy Lea Pinchard http://mycreativeclubhouse.blogspot.com
Carol Horton http://carol-scrappininparadise.blogspot.com
Kami Welter http://www.scrappin4memories.blogspot.com/
Tamytha Jenkins http://www.paperheartist.com
Wendy Coffman http://stampingrules.blogspot.com/
Lisa Sargent http://lisa-sargent.blogspot.com
Vickie Tagatz http://create-with-me-vickie.blogspot.com/
Paige Dolecki http://www.PaigesPaperParadise.blogspot.com
Nicole Griggs http://nicolescreativezone.blogspot.com
Corinna McGregor http://corinnamcgregor.blogspot.com
Angel Sawyer http://runningwithscissorsdesignco.blogspot.com
Deanne Jacobs http://www.deannestamps.blogspot.com/
Angela Garcia http://angelascraftcloset.blogspot.com
Tamra Pope http://tamrascraftypapercreations.blogspot.com
LeAnne Dudley http://dudleychickdesigns.blogspot.com
Jean McNulty http://stampinmaui.blogspot.com

Black Magic...A Fun Technique

Every once and a while, I surf around looking for interesting new techniques. I found this one, Black Magic, on Splitcoast Stampers the other day and have been having a great deal of fun experimenting with it.

Making sure that you are using a dark color piece of card stock, you stamp your image in pigment based light color ink. After you heat set it (you can let it dry naturally but that takes quite a while) you color over the image with pencils. Start with the center darker shade first and then blend your coloring using lighter shades. If you like, you can highlight with a white gel pen for further accent. The image appears to "jump" off the page!

This card uses images from CTMH's Treasure Life, Tag the Occasion and A Flitter Stamp Sets. The solid card stock is Spring Iris, Blush and Baby Pink. The pattern paper is from a retired set I had in my stash called Daydream.

This is actually the second card I have made using this technique. The first card will be featured in tomorrow evening's Stamp of the Month Blog Hop! That card features a brand new paper packed called Wings and the January Stamp of the Month. Don't forget, the STOM, is only available during the month that it is featured and you can qualify to earn it at a reduced price or even free! The details are on my website.

Don't forget to stop back tomorrow evening to check out the new CTMH papers and Stamps. For Now, Happy Crafting!

A Clean and Simple Thank You Christmas Card

I hope that everyone had a wonderful Christmas.


Years back, my Holiday was a whirlwind of activity. Christmas Eve we would watch Midnight Mass and open our Stockings. Then it was up early in the morning to make the hour drive to my Parents. We would spend half the day there and then drive back to the city to spend the remainder of the day with DH's parents. There were stops at friends along the way back to the city too. We would return to our house around midnight and finally open our gifts to each other. Whew...it was a lot but I have such wonderful memories of those days.


Alas, both of my parents are gone now as is DH's Dad. :o( Now, we still keep the Christmas Eve tradition, but there is no long drive to the country. I cook dinner at our house, pack it up and take it to DH's Mom's house for a quiet evening meal. As my Step Dad always said..."time marches on" and I suppose that is what has happened in my family. The kicker is, we now have all morning and early afternoon to open our gifts. Do you think the DH will budge on that tradition??? Nope...can't open our gifts to each other until we return home from Mom's house....stubborn stubborn man. :o)


This year, as I had a card and message all ready to post, when the phone rang. When I answer, I hear "Merry Christmas" in a voice that I hadn't heard in at least 5 years. It was a boyhood friend of DH who moved to Chicago many years ago. As I proclaim "What a treat for you to call today," I am asked, "Guess where I am?" He was here in Philadelphia visiting relatives and staying in a hotel a mile from my house! I starts saying, you are coming over and DH's eyes are getting wider and wider...See, he has no clue who is on the phone. I hand the phone to DH and with in 30 minutes we are all sitting in my Living Room enjoying what turned into be a very special Christmas afternoon.


Christmas is magical. Not only for the obvious "Reason for the Season," but also, I think wonderful things happen on Christmas Day. Last year, a cousin who I had lost touch with for many years contacted me via facebook on Christmas Day!


Yesterday, I had the opportunity to make a card for the Splitcoast Stamper's Clean and Simple Card Challenge. A CAS card is one that focuses on design. It should one focal point and be uncluttered with layers and embellishments. Give one a try sometime...they are harder than you think!

The challenge was to make a CAS card using 2 shades of brown, green and white. I chose Chocolate, Brown Bag, Topiary and White Daisy. I randomly stamped the pine branches around the edge of the square. I made sure to use generation stamping for a realistic look. The pine cones were double inked (rock and roll stamping) in Brown Bag and Chocolate. Both those stamps are from a company called Rubber Stamp Tapestry. The "Thank You" is from Close To My Heart's really cute set called "Tag the Occasion." I assembled the card and in a jiffy it was completed.

I wanted to make a "Thank You" card because so often we forget to say "thank you" to Christmas. I say, "thank you" for the reason for the season and "thank you" for the memories that Christmas creates. For Now, Happy Crafting!

A Holiday Card

See, I really am trying to be better about posting my work! :o) I felt like coloring today and I hadn't had a chance to use this stamp yet this year. Rudolph is from a CTMH set called Santa's List. It was issued last year but I think it remains a great set.

The card is done on a standard A2 base of Colonial White. The pattern paper is from Mistletoe...the new Holiday Paper this year...love, love, love it. Rudolph is heat embossed in Cocoa powder and colored with my Prisma Pencils. I used Gamsol (odorless mineral spirits) to blend the colors. Gamsol is a fun medium to work with. Prisma Pencils are wax based. The Gamsol "melts" the wax and thus helps with the blending of colors. I added a few cranberry sparkles for bling and the card was done!

It is soon time for me to head off to class. I continue to teach scrapbooking at now three local "big box" craft stores. Keeps me quite busy but it is great fun. For Now, Happy Crafting!

Lunar Eclipse

There was an interesting and unique occurrence this morning. For the first time since 1638, there was a Winter Solstice Lunar Eclipse. From what I understood, because of the solstice, the appearance of the eclipse was to be unlike an "average" eclipse. An Eclipse results when the Earth lines up directly between the Sun and the Moon. The Sun's light rays are blocked thus casting a shadow on the Moon.

So, at 2:30am, in my pink Christmas pj's, pink faux Ugg boots (shoes must always match your outfit) and long dress coat, I trotted outside with tripod and camera in hand to record the occassion.

It was a beautifully clear night here on the East Coast and despite the cold, I gazed upon the sight for 45 minutes. I have to admit that part of the time I was fighting with my camera and tripod, but none the less enjoying the view. I am not sure what that "streak" in the upper right hand corner of the top photo is...perhaps a falling star?

As I was standing there looking, I couldn't help but ponder how frightening an Eclipse must have been for Ancient Cultures. To see the Moon, a constant in the night sky, turn red without the knowledge of the reason why, must have been petrifying. I am so thankful that "we" know the whys and wherefores of an Eclipse, but are still able to contemplate the mystery of the event.

By the way, I am STILL working on Christmas Cards. I can't post them yet because I don't want the recipients to see them on my blog before they see them in their mailboxes. :o) For Now, Happy Crafting!

Busy Holiday Season

Ok, I know I have no excuse this time :o). It has been way to long since I update my blog. But, that doesn't mean that I haven't been doing anything! I have been so busy that I haven't had the chance to even sit down and type. I've done more craft fairs, a home party, made Holiday Gifts, two card workshops...here are a few pictures and I promise that I will get back on track soon!




Both of these cards are done using Mistletoe. I just love this paper packet. It is traditional with a some flair. And, CTMH papers are double sided which expands the possibilities for creativity. The reverse sides are just as pretty as the "main" sides. The second card I've posted combines both sides of the snowflake paper.

Here are some fun shots from the Mistletoe Workshop on the Go afternoon...ah...we started at 11:00am and kept making cards until 10:00pm!

My cousin even came all the way from Georgia for the Workshop!

Last but not least, here is a picture of my table at a friends Open House...
So you can see that I've not been sitting on my "tinsel" doing nothing! :o) I have so many more goodies to post! For Now, Happy Crafting!