December SOTM Blog Hop

Welcome to our Stamp of the Month Blog Hop! This month over 60 Close To My Heart consultants are displaying artwork from the December Stamp of the Month, Cutie Pie. If you’ve come from Kathy Burrow’s Blog you’re in the right place…if you’ve started here- WELCOME! This blog hop is a giant circle so you can join in the fun by clicking the link at the bottom of my post and still make complete trip around this hop. If you happen to get lost along the way, you can find a complete list of participants on Melinda Everitt’s Blog.

Two of my guilty pleasures are cruising Pinterest & Bloglovin’!!  I stumbled on this sketch on Pinterest from Page Maps and knew immediately I wanted to use it with December’s Stamp of the Month, Cutie Pie. Eeek!! All of the details of this sketch fit PERFECTLY with this month’s stamp set!! The biggest challenge was deciding what paper and photos to use!

Please note: This blog post is full of NEW product that will be available December 1 in the Seasonal Expressions Volume 1 so a few of the links may not work today but they will be up and running tomorrow!!

Sketch By Page Maps

I surprised myself when I chose to use the Heartstrings Paper Packet. I’m the mom of a six year old boy and we don’t do a lot to celebrate Valentine’s Day in our home. I have a few pics here and there from school activities, but other than that I just don’t have a whole lotta use for Valentine themed products. So I’m sure the moms of little boys can understand that pinks and reds are not usually my go to choices when buying paper. BUT I loved the blue hues & newsprint that were included in the Heartstrings Paper Packet and could envision other uses and it just so happened to work out for these photos.

CTMH: Seasonal Expressions Volume 1

Now let me quickly break down my layout… I started with a Whisper Cardstock Base, followed by multiple B&T Duos® from the NEW Heartstrings Paper Packet. I stamped the frames from the Cutie Pie SOTM Stamp Set in Black Exclusive Ink™ on a piece of B&T that gets it’s shape from the Art Philosophy Cricut® Cartridge. I used a waterbrush and Lagoon Exclusive Ink™ to create the ink splatter on the page. On the bottom right, I used the Keyboard Uppercase Stamp Set in Glacier Exclusive Ink™ and fussy cute them to look like alphabet stickers.

CTMH: Seasonal Expressions Volume 1

 The NEW Heartstrings Picture My Life™ card was the perfect size for my journaling.  {Notice the little heart around the day of the week…that little gem is also included in the December SOTM, Cutie Pie}  I know a lot of people struggle with journaling, but my struggle is titles. Where to place them, what to write, how big??? I ended up using the Artbooking Cricut® Cartridge and Lagoon Cardstock to create the title. After the title was cut I felt like I needed a little more dimension surrounding the title so I grabbed the NEW Doodled Designs Stamp Set & Glacier Exclusive Ink™ to create a backdrop.

CTMH: Seasonal Expressions Volume1

On a scrap piece of Whisper Cardstock I stamped the cupcakes in Glacier Exclusive Ink™ and used a sponge dauber with the same color ink to create a little definition between the B&T Duo® and Whisper Cardstock. The cute little subtitle come from NEW Love Ya Silly Stamp Set in Lagoon Exclusive Ink™.

CTMH: Seasonal Expressions Volume 1

I tossed a few Aqua Dots and added grey stitching using my craft sewing machine. This layout is so adorable in person…I feel like it’s nearly impossible to catch it with a photo.

decsotm

Remember, this stamp set is only available until December 31. For more information on how this stamp set can be yours for only $5 contact your CTMH consultant or click here to shop with me now! It’s now time to head to Michelle John’s Blog to see what she has created using this fun stamp set!

-Kelly

Last of the Recent

I have one final layout to show you that I created using Studio J®. CTMH is well known for being a source of great inspiration! The artwork department is amazingly talented and the same rings true when it comes to Studio J®!! When I went to the Studio J® log in page I saw a layout I knew I wanted to recreate!!

Studio J

I couldn’t find the layout design in the gallery, but no worries! Studio J® offers No Limits. You can either print a 12″ x 12″ photo or you can create a layout from scratch which is what I did here!!!

studioj3

Studio J: CTMH Independent Consultant Kelly Janes

Studio J: CTMH Independent Consultant Kelly Janes

There is still time left to take advantage of the great Studio J® special CTMH is offering this month! 

First, throughout the month of November, all layouts purchased in Studio J® are $5! That is a savings of over 25% off of retail!

Your second chance to win big must come by sheer luck: every fifth order placed in Studio J®during November receives a FREE surprise Close To My Heart accessory in its shipping box! The accessory has a retail value of $5 or more.

If luck doesn’t smile on you in that way, you might stumble upon it by finding a little extra something in your Studio J® box. Five “golden tickets” will be sent out during the month of November with randomly selected Studio J print orders! This “golden ticket” is redeemable for one of Close To My Heart’s new D-ring albums loaded with 10 Top Load Memory Protectors™. <—There is still one ticket left!!!!

For a fourth way to win, simply create new, gorgeous layouts in Studio J®, select your favorites, and then post pictures of them on Close To My Heart’s Facebook page using the hashtag #ctmhlucky5. After November 30, FIVE LUCKY WINNERS will be selected from the entries based on their artistry and creativity and each of these winners will receive their own D-ring album loaded with 10 Top Load Memory Protectors!

And there is one last way to win: take your new Studio J® artwork and post a picture of it on Instagram using the hashtag #ctmhlucky5. Just as it is with Facebook, after November 30, FIVE LUCKY WINNERS will be selected from the entries to receive their own D-ring album loaded with 10 Top Load Memory Protectors!

To add to the fun, five brand new kits from the Annual Inspirations idea book will be made available in Studio J®, so you can create new artwork using the latest papers and embellishments from Close To My Heart.


 Let me share a few of the highlights of Studio J!!

-There is no software to download & Studio J & it is completely FREE to play in Studio J! 
-Studio J will hold & store your unfinished layouts for 90 days!! The only time you pay is when you are ready to purchase your finished layouts!!
-There are multiple options when it comes to creating in Studio J. Use an Express Collection to create layouts in minutes….you choose a theme, layout design, add your photos and journaling and your layout is done! If you want to be more involved in the creative process choose the Custom Layout option. You are in complete control and the options truly are limitless.
-You can use Studio J to create your own photo holiday cards, invitations, announcements, etc with the No Limits selection.
-You can print photos…as many as you can fit on a 12″ x 12″ sheet.
There are so many other things I could share with you!! This really is a great creative outlet! I HIGHLY recommend you give it a try!

I hope you all are having a relaxing Thanksgiving with your family & friends!!

-Kelly