Gina's Little Corner of StampinHeaven

Welcome to our Stamp of the Month Blog Hop!   We will be featuring June's SOTM,  Jubilation,  a set of 24 stamps.  If you have come here from   JEAN'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 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 had a lot of fun with this set.  It has a stamp for every season and holiday.   It is perfect for making small cards and gift cards. I challenged myself to use only scraps for my cards.  I made a card for every occasion.   Here is a picture of ALL my cards.   Keep scrolling down to see a cl

Over at CAS-ual Fridays this week, their challenge is all about graduations. I needed to make a card for my nephew who just graduated from Georgetown College in Kentucky.   Being a guy - I figured this card needed to be Clean and Simple.  Perfect for CAS-ual Friday challenge.   I used only cardstock on this card - Sunset and Black - Georgetown College's colors.  The 'g' is from the now retired Dimensional Elements - Simple Alphabet.   I have several of these and need to remember to use them!   I used a sponge and black ink to make it Black.    The other piece of chipboard is from the Dimensional Elements - Booksmart (Z1223).   The button brads and the little knotted ribbon are both from the Mini Medley Accents Black Collection (Z1393) CFC4 Need more graduations ideas?  You'll see plenty of great artwork over at  CAS-ual Fridays !                                  

The colors on 4 Crafty Chicks Challenge blog caught my eye and I couldn't resist!  After using the Fill in the Blank stamp set for The Playdate Cafe challenge (see my card HERE ), I wanted to use the butterflies this time.  Once again I dug around in my scraps for pattern paper to use - maybe someday my scraps will dwindle down.... DOUBT IT! Here are the colors on 4 Crafty Chicks:                                                 I used the following Close To My Heart colors Sunset, Olive, Honey and Cotton Candy. 4CCC-39 I used the embossing/sanding technique on the Olive cardstock to add a little texture.   The Honey paper is from Mayberry, small butterflies are from Sweetheart and the large butterfly is from Olivia.   All are VERY different paper packs but these blended so well when put together.   RECIPE: Card Pattern:  Originals - Triple the Fun Fill In The Blank stamp (D1465) Happy Birthday (retired) Sweetheart Level 2 kit (X7134B) Mayberry Level 2 kit (X7136B

This weeks colors at The Playdate Cafe are fun.                                   Black and White gives the feeling of a sleek look and with a splash of green thrown in, that makes it fun!   I had a new stamp set that I've been wanting to use and thought this challenge would be a great time to get creative with it.    I've been trying to use more of my scraps for making cards so I rummaged around awhile in my scraps until I found two pieces of pattern paper that were perfect for this card I had in mind.  The black pattern piece is from Close To My Heart's Hooligans paper pack and the green/white polka dot if from our Spring collection - Sophia.   Who would have thought - Halloween and Spring could go together so well! PDCC83 Recipe: Fill In The Blank stamp (D1465) Hooligans Paper (X7129B) Sophia Paper  (X7131B) Black Cardstock (1386) White Daisy Cardstock (1385) Black Exclusive Ink (Z2105) Buckles - White Daisy Mini Medley (Z1136) Ribbon from Mini Medley Pear Coll

Close To My Heart's special kit for National Scrapbooking Month, You & Me , had just a little bit of scraps left over after creating the two layouts.   I wanted to see what I could create with the scraps.  I had a few pieces of Irresistible Chipboard die-cuts, about 5 inches of the wide ribbon and a fairly good size piece of Colonial White Cardstock.  I created three cards using the leftover Colonial White cardstock as my card bases.  Card sizes are 3x3, 4 3/4 x 3 and 4 1/4 x 5 1/2.   I've got instructions below with larger pictures of the cards.    Here is a picture of everything I had left:   You can see I stamped all of my images for the layouts within a 4 1/2 x 4 1/2 square leaving a large piece of cardstock leftover. Cutting dimensions for card bases:   top right measurement - 4 3/4 x 6; bottom left measurement - 5 1/2 x 8 1/2; bottom right measurement 3 x 6 After cutting and cards are folded: Card #1 - Time to Celebrate (4 1/4 x 5 1/2) Use Chocolate ink and stamp

I have had my You & Me kit for over a month and just now completed it.   I've been procrastinating because I wanted "just the right" pictures for it.   My workshop for this kit was coming up soon so I really needed to get this done.  I was about to settle for anything.   Then, the other night I was looking for my camera.  I had a card I wanted to post and I couldn't find my camera anywhere! The last place I saw it was next to my computer.   I texted my youngest daughter Kayli to see if she had seen it anywhere.   She said she saw it in Kirsti's room in a chair.  (she's my oldest).   Sure enough, under a pile of clothes, there was my camera.   Wondering what she would be using my camera for, I took a look at the most recent pictures.   I couldn't believe it!  She had taken pictures with some friends and these were JUST RIGHT!   I'm so lucky I found the camera!  She said she was going to delete them before she gave the camera back to me.  I would hav

For the last several month's my husband and I have taken on a couple of remodeling projects.  One project is a bonus room remodel.  We spent one entire Saturday prepping and painting.    Much to our disappointment, the room needed a second coat because it didn't cover well.     The thought of doing this all over again loomed over me like a big dark cloud.   We planned to get back to it the following Saturday with the help of my mom & dad. They are the best non-paid paint professionals around!  Will usually work for pizza.   On Friday, I came home at lunch to start painting the small bathroom.   When Jeff came home early too, I decided to give my Mom & Dad a call and see if they wanted to come a day early.   They were there within the hour, paint brush in hand.   What a HUGE help they were.   Thank goodness they love to paint, it was pretty big job.    I wanted to make a Thank You card so I decided to use this week's Playdate Cafe colors along with the CAS-ual Frida

I've been working on my cards for the June Stamp of the Month blog hop and needed a break so I decided to check out a few challenges.   I originally wanted to combine a color challenge with the Mojo Monday challenge but the colors just weren't working for me.    Don't get me wrong - the colors on the challenges are great but just not for this particular card I wanted to do.   I know someone with a birthday coming up soon so I wanted this to be a birthday card.  Last night (it was getting late) I chose a color challenge to use - Smoky Plum, Olive and Grey Wool.  Nice colors.   I pulled out the inks and laid the cardstock samples out and left it to start on today.   So, I return to my craft table this evening and I'm working away on the card and I after I had most of the pieces cut and stamped I realize I'm using Smoky Plum, Creme Brulee' and Grey Wool.  WHAT????  How did that Creme Brulee' slip in there?   I tried to go back to the original colors and re-c

I want to share a great video by Close To My Heart that features the My Acrylix ® Dreams Come True stamp set.  This video is packed with inspiring artwork and creative techniques. Discover how to create a beautiful banner using the My Creations ® Mix & Mingle album, learn how to use the embossed resist technique for gorgeous lettering, clip away part of a stamped sentence for a whole new meaning, build a card sentiment like a puzzle, and more! List of some of the products used in Video: Mix & Mingle Album -  Z1334 Dreams Come True Stamp - D1470 Dimensional Elements Monograms (Item numbers Vary) Clear Embossing Powder - Z671 Craft Heater - Z555 Sponge Dauber - Z726

This week's challenge over at Pals Paper Arts is to create anything for a wedding.  A card, invitation, place card or even a wedding favor.  I created this wedding card for a friend whose son was getting married.   We had a gift card to include so I made the card with a spine inside to hold the gift card in place when they opened the card.  For the card, I used the retired Close To My Heart Creative Basic Veranda Collection. The creme brulee ribbon was included with the Veranda Collection.   The stamp set I used for the Hearts  and the "side by SIDE" sentiment is still available.   It is from the Soul Mates Word Puzzle (D1254).    I used Juniper and Olive ink for the Hearts.   The metal accents are from the Mini-Medley Accents Antiqued Copper Collection (Z1275).  PPA92   Inside of card with gift card in the center.  Get more great wedding ideas over at Pals Paper Arts .

I'm finally beginning to use more of the stamps that I purchased last year!   This cute little stamp set of whimsical flowers caught my eye and I had it on my wish list for quite a while.  I finally got it but many months went by before I finally used it!    I made this card for one of the blog challenges but I let the deadline for posting to that challenge get by.   I really liked the way the card turned out and want to share it anyway.    The challenge was to use these colors:                                            The Close To My Heart colors I used were Honey, Sorbet, Sunset and Sky.  I random stamped the flowers on the piece of cardstock but I also stamped a few to cut out and add on top to give it a little more dimension.   The card pattern is from Originals .  I used paper from the Olivia paper pack for the top portion of the card and Honey cardstock on the bottom.   Sky cardstock is matted with White Daisy.      I added a couple of brads to some flowers and used a

Here's another exciting brand new challenge blog!   It's called CAS-ual Fridays.   The "CAS" is for "Clean and Simple".  This one looks fun so I will be checking it out each week.   This past Friday was their very first Challenge and it was all about TEXTING!                                      For this challenge we can use stamps, texty pattern paper, or anything to get creative.  They were looking for text, not just a simple sentiment.  I had a great stampset for this.  Last year I purchased a stampset called My Game (D1433).  My daughter plays softball and this set has 24 different sentiments that is just perfect for any sport.   I decided to make a card for my daughter's softball coach.  I used nearly all the sentiments lining them up on a 4 x 6 block.  Some were vertical and some were horizontal.   Then I stamped the entire block onto my cardstock to create my 'texty' pattern.  Here is my card: CFC1 The pattern is from Originals -

I LOVE the colors at Play Date Cafe this week!  I couldn't wait to create something with them.  Here are the Play Date colors:                                        I wanted to do something a little different with this card.  I have lots of irresistible chip board die cuts and I forget to use them.  I love how these look when you add ink to them.   I chose to use a simple pattern for a small card from Originals .   The Pattern is called Little Squares.   The square in the middle is cut out and the sentiment on the inside shows through the front of the card.    Here is my card: Recipe: Originals (9032) White Daisy Cardstock (1385) Honey Cardstock (X5668) Smoothie Ink (Z2196) Irresistibles Villa ChipboardDie-Cuts (Z1390) White Organdy Ribbon Stamp - Unity (C1422) Sponge (Z697) All products are Close To My Heart I've got 2 more challenges to share so be sure to check back soon!

About a week ago I sat down to make a card using a card sketch from a challenge blog I found.   I chose my paper and even stamped and colored a chair from Close To My Heart's May Stamp of the Month - Chairs To You.   But that was about as far as I got.  For some reason, I wasn't feelin' it.   Do you have those moments?   The card just wasn't coming together like I wanted it to.  So I left it there on the table semi- put together.  I got busy last week and never came back to it.   Yesterday I was checking out the new blog postings for Thursday and came to one I have been wanting to try out -  Pals Paper Arts .    I couldn't believe it!  Their color choices for this week's challenge were the colors I had already started with on my unfinished card.   I sat down at my table last night and looked at the card.   I could use this for the Pals Paper Arts Challenge!  But - the design had to go.  I pulled out my favorite card design book - Wishes by Jeanette Lynton and

It's been more than a week since I've sat down in my craft room!  Last week was a busy week for me between my daughter's softball games, my monthly club workshops and for good measure I threw in a private workshop on Friday night! It was busy but I still had fun!   I did miss a few challenges that I would have loved participating in. Tonight's ballgame was cancelled and as soon as I got that message I knew exactly what I'd be doing tonight.    I really planned on creating several cards tonight but I was really having a difficult time getting my creative mojo going.   It took me a while to get started. I chose the Playdate Cafe Challenge first.   This is an interesting color combination.  It's not one that I'd ever think of myself but when I saw the colors, I almost immediately knew which stampset I'd reach for first.     Here are the PlayDate Cafe Colors: PDCC79 Here is my card.   I chose to use the Close To My Heart colors of Cranberry, Sweet