November SOTM Blog Hop!!

• THANK YOU for stopping by to see my contribution to our Stamp of the Month Blog Hop!! I had such fun building my own little houses with this stamp set - D1377 Around the Block - by using the paper piecing technique with our beautiful cardstock and B&T duos papers! I have used our Sweet Home paper packet (X7116B) to create all of my artwork featuring the following CTMH colors - Black ink, Buttercup, Chocolate, Crystal Blue, Desert Sand ink, Garnet, Indian Corn Blue, and White Daisy. I hope my creations will inspire you to give this stamp set a try too - there is so much you can do with this very versatile set!
• First, I have posted a 6x6" scrapbook page inspired by Reflections - Triple Play-Tagline (p. 95). Next I have a 4.5" circle card inspired by Wishes-Simply Secure (p. 46). Third, I have a 2.5x3.5" card inspired by Wishes-Small Wonder (p. 101). Finally, I have shared a 3x3" card inspired by Wishes-Layered Look (p. 19). Remember, you can click on any of my photos to see the details up close if you want to!!
• Now, HOP on over to WANDA'S BLOG to see her beautiful artwork next! If you get lost at any point along the way, I have a full list of all the blog hop participants in the posting right before this one that you can refer to anytime you might want or need to - now go enjoy the rest of the hop - you're very close to the end now!

November SOTM Blop Hop Participants!

Well, it's almost time for our November SOTM blog to start. We have a great big list of participants this time so I thought I would post the list early as a separate post for you. If you get lost at any point along the way, feel free to refer to this list to get back on track. The hop begins at 12:01 am and I am looking forward to staying up late to see all the great artwork shared by so many talented CTMH consultants - I hope you can enjoy it along with me!!

http://www.livelovelaughscrapbook.blogspot.com/
http://www.hookedonstamping.com/
http://www.carlacreates.blogspot.com/
http://www.paperspadsandpictures.blogspot.com/
http://www.creationsbylaurie.blogspot.com/
http://kristaritskes-simplycreating.blogspot.com/
http://bowlofstamps.blogspot.com/
http://www.paigespaperparadise.blogspot.com/
http://www.mycolorfulworldinvt.blogspot.com/
http://www.cre8nmemories.blogspot.com/
http://www.thecroppersconnection.blogspot.com/
http://www.my-life-in-real-time.blogspot.com/
http://www.savingmine.blogspot.com/
http://www.flowerfoot.blogspot.com/
http://www.scrappycaren.blogspot.com/
http://createwithtraci.blogspot.com/
http://www.iamahappystamper.blogspot.com/
http://www.maricarharris.blogspot.com/
http://www.papermadnessinc.blogspot.com/
http://scrapsfromthebeach.blogspot.com/
http://www.nonapearl.blogspot.com/
http://www.scramperscorner.blogspot.com/
http://sheila-bennett.blogspot.com/
http://www.fancymelissa.blogspot.com/
http://paisleysplayhouse.blogspot.com/
http://www.pinkcloudscrappers.blogspot.com/
http://www.goofyscrapper.blogspot.com/
http://scrapwench.blogspot.com/
http://adeline-brill.blogspot.com/
http://michellenist.blogspot.com/
http://www.stamptildawn.blogspot.com/
http://jessicabooth.blogspot.com/
http://www.stampingintheopen.blogspot.com/
http://www.blessedscrapper.blogspot.com/
http://www.scrappinkaty.blogspot.com/
http://www.mestamp2.blogspot.com/
http://www.scrapbookczar.blogspot.com/
http://www.inkyscrapper.blogspot.com/
http://verykimberry.blogspot.com/
http://barbraotten.blogspot.com/
http://mycreativeclubhouse.blogspot.com/
http://www.creativelyartsygallery.blogspot.com/
http://makingtimeformemories.blogspot.com/
http://stampinsylvia.blogspot.com/
http://thebrae-er.blogspot.com/
http://www.cherishyourmemories.blogspot.com/
http://www.godblessyourart.blogspot.com/
http://memoriesoftheheartbydeb.blogspot.com/
http://www.roxybonds-scrappin.blogspot.com/
http://www.myscrapbookingblog.com/
http://www.bethscreativeblock.blogspot.com/
http://www.misstscraps.blogspot.com/
http://keepsakeswithheart.blogspot.com/
http://www.clearlystamping.blogspot.com/
http://www.awesomememories.blogspot.com/
http://www.houseostamps.wordpress.com/
http://eimmap.blogspot.com/
http://michellescreativeconnections.blogspot.com/
http://www.jenrubio.blogspot.com/
http://www.creatingwithwanda.blogspot.com/
http://www.clearlyfromtheheart.blogspot.com/
http://craftycarol55.blogspot.com/
http://www.mamaolie.blogspot.com/

Happy Halloween!! (and a "Spellbound" POP-up card for you!)

• Well, it's been a long day, but a good one. Jose Jr. had a youth Football game this morning and Isabelle and Wendy also had Cheerleading this morning too. I really enjoy getting out and seeing my kids do so well with their activities - and I am so proud of each of them. Then around 2pm we came home, had a late lunch, and took short naps before getting ready for Halloween and the Trunk-or-Treating at our church parking lot! Emily and Jose Jr. did a fabulous job decorating our trunk and Em passed out candy while Jose and I took the younger kids around to get their treats. Then we stopped by to visit my Mammaw (the kids great-grandma) and Trick-or-Treat at her front door before stopping to get some Del Taco for a late dinner. We had a great day and I got some terrific photos of all the kids in costume and all the festivities - yaay!! I will post some of my best Halloween photos early this next week, but for now I just wanted to share a fun Halloween pop-up card I taught my CTMH consulant team to make last month at our monthly consultant team meeting!
• I do want to say THANKS to fellow CTMH consultant Rachelle Funk! This free-standing Pop-Up card is totally inspired by one she created with the Treasure Life SOTM set from Sept 08, a card she had sent me over a year ago. I've had her card sitting on my display shelf in my stamp room all this time because it has always inspired me, and so I finally had a chance to try making a Pop-Up card of my own! I love how this card folds closed and is a standard size when flat so you can mail it in a standard-sized envelope also! I promise to come back to this post and share the directions with you sometime soon!
• I hope you all had a Happy Halloween today too!!

Thanks a Bunch-My Humble Artists Swap Card!

I was really late getting my Humble Artists swap card done this time around. It was due to be mailed out to my fellow swap participants by the 10th of September, but I wasn't able to get mine done and in the mail until mid-October - yikes! - so sorry ladies!! I really had trouble finding my creative mojo this time around. I think it's mostly because I have been so overwhelmingly busy and then also really sick with a sore throat/cough for almost three weeks now. I think I am finally starting to beat this cough now though and I can't wait to feel like my normal self again soon.

The guidelines for the swap this time around were:

• Choose card size/shape
• Choose color combo
• Random stamp CS and use 2 or more B&T's minimum
• Use a minimum of 5 layers of paper
• Use 3 brads, plus at least one other embellishment of your choice
• Most importantly, let's have fun!

So this is my swap card - it is 6x6 in size and the card design is inspired by Originals - Button Trio (p. 90). I used mostly Bon Appetit stamps (D1367) and a tiny little circle stamp from the Endless Friendship stamp set (D1354) with B&T duos papers from the Bella pack (X7114B) and the Evensong pack (X7104B). The "Thanks a Bunch" sentiment stamp comes from the Thank You stamp set (D1361). Ink colors I used are Desert Sand, New England Ivy, Olive, and Smokey Plum (1st and 2nd generation). The big leaves were stamped in Olive, cut out, sponged around the edges with NE Ivy ink, and paper-pieced on top of the grapes. It may be hard to tell from this scan, but I also added lots of liquid glass. I hope you enjoy this card as much as I enjoyed designing it!

October Stamp of the Month Blog Hop!!

• THANK YOU for stopping by to see my contribution to our Stamp of the Month Blog Hop!! This has been a fun set of stamps to play with and a great way to start getting me into the Christmas spirit early this year! I have used our new Jingle papers (X7115B) to create all of my artwork featuring the following CTMH colors - Black, Creme Brulee, Juniper, Olive, Tulip, and White Daisy. I hope my creations will inspire you!
• First, I have posted a 4.5" circle card inspired by Wishes-Simple Statement (p. 11). On this card the tree is colored in with Olive ink and our waterbrush. Next, I have a 2.5x3.5" card inspired by Wishes-Well Rounded (p. 27). I used the Creative Basics Jingle Collection (X5805) papers and ribbon on this card. Third, I have shared a 3x3" card inspired by Wishes-Middle Ground (p. 19) - gotta love that Twinkle Brad (z1220)! And finally, I have a 6x6" scrapbook page inspired by Reflections-Sidebar Triple (p. 42). Now I just need to choose a photo to add to complete my page! Remember, you can click on any of my photos to see the details up close!!
• Now, HOP on over to HALEY'S BLOG to see her beautiful artwork! If you get lost at any point along the way of this hop, I have a full list of all the participants in a column on the right side of my blog for you to refer back to anytime this month - enjoy!!

Three very EASY fall cards!

These three cards are inspired by a card created by one of my CTMH downline team members, Katrina Sikora. I also used Wishes - Simple Expression for my inspiration (p. 40).

I needed a card design that would be quick and easy to create with a group of about 30 teenagers in about an hour and a half. I was asked to teach card-making to a group of 13-18 year-old girls (the teen mothers program at our continuation high school). The teacher of this program is one of my regular customers and this is the fifth time she has asked me to come to her class to stamp with her girls (I do it once or twice each school year). I'll be creating these cards with them this afternoon and I am so looking forward to it! Each girl will only make one card to start (and then maybe two each if there is time), but I altered my sample card designs each slightly to show them that they can change up their card layout a little if they want to.

Because I am donating all the supplies we use (I consider it a community service thing and a small tax write-off as a bonus), I wanted to use up some of the bulk "Free Spirit" papers and bulk Outdoor Denim designer ribbon I've had tons of and have not used for ages. I don't expect any sales to come from the class, but it is a great way of spreading the word about what I do (I'm always hoping the girls will share what they made with their parents and generate some interest there - lol). I know shades of blue really aren't very traditional fall colors, but I wanted to make it work so I could use up what I have and I think I really like how they turned out. Who says you can't use blue to create fall-themed cards?!! Colors I used are Colonial White, Desert Sand, Indian Corn Blue, and Outdoor Denim. Hope you enjoy seeing them!

2nd day of school!

The kids rode the bus today - yaay!

and here are a few more photos I took of the kids

in their new classrooms yesterday on the first day of school!

Poor Jose Jr, I think he was embarrassed to have Mom

still taking pictures of him at his desk in the 5th grade.

I promised I won't make him do it again next year as

I guess it's time for me to let him grow up a little - lol.