This is the Close to My Heart New Product Blog Hop.  Most of the product you will see used throughout the hop is new in the CTMH 2012 Spring/Summer Idea Book and will be available for you to order beginning February 1st.

The hop is a circle so if you are starting here just continue until you make your way back.  If have already started, you should be coming from Michelle’s Blog.

I made this layout:

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Supplies used are all Close to My Heart: X7148B Pemberley Paper Pack, Z1694 Bouquet Assortment, Z1707 Bitty Opaques Pearl Adhesive Gems, Z1718 Color-Ready Garden Wooden Shapes, Z1336 Opaques Pearl Adhesive Gems, and Indian Corn Blue and Outdoor Denim inks.  I used the Spellbound sketch from the Magic book. I just love these wooden shapes!  I really wasn’t sure about them at first, thinking they were nothing special but I love adding a bit of color to them and especially how they look when you stamp on them.  I mean, check out those beautiful butterflies!  I stamped on both of them with Outdoor Denim ink and used the Pemberley stamp set (exclusively included in the G1033 Pemberley Workshop on the Go Kit ).  I sponged the larger butterfly with Indian Corn Blue ink before stamping.  One thing to note is that you do want to be careful with the more intricate wooden shapes.  They are delicate.  Below is a closeup of the butterflies where you can see the pearls that I used on the large butterfly are the smaller ones on from the Pearl Opaques package.  Then I used the Bitty Pearl Opaques to create the tails.  Hopefully this will give you an idea of there size.  They are small.  I found it works best to use the Tweezers when working with them. 

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I haven’t purchased any of the new alphabet stamp sets yet so I used Trinity Alphabet which came out in the fall.  There are 4 new alphabets to choose from though so you are sure to find one that suits your tastes.

Shirley’s Blog is your next stop!

If you get lost along the way, you can refer to the list in the previous post.

Related posts:

1. 2012 Spring/Summer CTMH New Product Blog Hop (List)
2. CTMH New Product Blog Hop – Summer 2010
3. List only: CTMH New Product Blog Hop – Spring 2010

Related posts:

1. CTMH Rock Around the Block Blog Hop (List)
2. Pair-A-Phrase Blog Hop List
3. CTMH New Product Blog Hop Summer 2010 – List

WELCOME!  I’m so glad you are joining us for our very first “Use Your Stash Blog Hop”.  This hop is made up of all Close to My Heart consultants who have banded together to use some of the many things we have just sitting around and not getting used.  This will be a monthly blog hop.  I know I am really looking forward to using up some of my older product.  I hope it will give you some fresh ideas and inspire you to do the same.  If you have already started, you should be coming from Michelle Battitori’ s Blog.  If this is your first stop, continue through until you make your way back here.

Today I am using Topstitch papers and My Stickease.

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Supplies used: CTMH Topstitch Paper Packet, CTMH Colonial White Mini-Medley, CTMH Topstitch My Stickease, and CTMH Chocolate Waxy Flax.

I have been waiting to scrap these pictures.  I knew as soon as I saw them that I would use this paper.  Today was the day I dug it out and it all came together beautifully!  I really need to dig out more My Stickease because they make for some quick, easy, and great-looking pages!

Now hop on over to Judy Garner’ s Blog for more ideas on using up your stash.

If you get lost along the way you can see the entire list of hoppers on my previous post.

Related posts:

1. January 2012 – Use Your Stash Blog Hop (List)
2. January 2012 Spotlight Blog Hop – Scraps
3. Sharing from the Heart Blog Hop – January 2012 (List)

Joy McHargue
Ann-Marie Trammell
Michelle Battitori
Wendy K       <— You are here.
Judy Garner
Tabbi Fritz
Tonya Whitehurst
Debi
Shirley
Michelle West
Rachel Ventura

Related posts:

1. CTMH Technique Blog Hop – Multicolor Motifs – List
2. January 2012 Use Your Stash Blog Hop – Cherish Layout using Topstitch
3. CTMH Technique Blog Hop – Original Argyle (List)

If you are looking for the Technique Blog Hop, CLICK HERE.

If you are looking for the Sharing From the Heart Blog Hop, CLICK HERE.

*Coming Soon* Check back this Saturday, January 21st for the 1st CTMH Use Your Stash Blog Hop.  This hop is made up of a group of Close to My Heart Consultants who we to use up some of our old stash.  We will showcase products that we have in our stash and have never used and are just taking up space.  Maybe they are the same things that you have sitting in your stash?  Let us inspire you to use them up!

Related posts:

1. December Blog Hop Recap
2. CTMH Technique Blog Hop – Multicolor Motifs – List
3. CTMH New Product Blog Hop – Summer 2010

This blog hop is a circle so you can start wherever you want and continue through to see all the fabulous artwork incorporating this technique.  If you are coming from Debi’s Blog, you are on the right track!

I couldn’t decide on embellishments for this card so I made three different versions.  I think I like the pearl one best which was my first instinct.

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All supplies used are Close to My Heart: White Daisy Cardstock, Crystal Blue  & Cotton Candy ink, Designer Ribbon – Pink Collection, Badge Buttons (sneak peek from the new Idea Book coming out in February), Designer Brads – Rhinestone, Sparkles – Red, Pink, & Purple Assortment, Opaques – Pearl, and Card Commentary stamp set.
This card also qualifies for this week’s Heart to Heart Challenge to pull out a stamp set that you haven’t used.  I really like this word set but just haven’t use it yet.

I realized that I am about out of cards so it is time to start making more and getting organized for 2012.  I created my stamped pattern with one stamp using second generation stamping for the lighter shade.  After you go through this hop I hope that you will begin to look at your stamps in a new light.  This is just one of the many creative techniques that we can use with our stamps.

Thanks for stopping by!  Please continue on to Sheila’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!

For a list of all the blog hop participants, scroll down to the previous post.

Related posts:

1. CTMH Technique Blog Hop – Original Argyle (List)
2. CTMH Technique Blog Hop – Ghosting (List)
3. CTMH Technique Blog Hop – Multicolor Motifs – List

Debi
Wendy  <—You are here.
Sheila
Lisa
Michelle B
Judy Faye
Shirley
Cherri
Melissa
Tonya
Tabbi
Rachel

Related posts:

1. CTMH Technique Blog Hop – Glitter Glitz (List)
2. CTMH Technique Blog Hop – Ghosting (List)
3. CTMH Technique Blog Hop – Multicolor Motifs – List

This blog hop is a circle so if you are just starting, continue until you make your way back here.  If you are coming from Laurie’s Blog, you are on the right track!

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Supplies used: Roxie Paper Packet, Roxie My Stickease, and square-shaped gold brads.

This layout was so simple to put together and I am very pleased with the result.  There were not many scraps left by the time I finished the Roxie Workshop layouts and bonus project (come back to my blog on Thursday to see more) but this just goes to show how you can stretch those last scraps to create just one more layout.  I was looking for additional embellishments and at first I chose the brads because they are my stash buster for this month….I liked the gold but I only had the square ones which I don’t normally use.  If it hadn’t been for this I never would have picked these but I love them on this layout.  The picture is blurry, yes, but I just love this photo of my daughter who rarely wants her picture taken anymore.

Thanks for stopping by!  Your next stop is  Luisa’s Blog!

For a list of all the blog hop participants, scroll down to the previous post.

Related posts:

1. January 2012 CTMH Spotlight Blog Hop – Scraps (List)
2. January 2012 Use Your Stash Blog Hop – Cherish Layout using Topstitch
3. January 2012 – Use Your Stash Blog Hop (List)

Wendy K.	<---You are here.
Luisa Morgan
Terry Metzger (no post)
Elizabeth
Carol Horton
Haley D.
Nikka Geers
Laurie Flannery

Related posts:

1. CTMH Spotlight Blog Hop – My Stickease (List)
2. January 2012 Spotlight Blog Hop – Scraps
3. January 2010 CTMH Product Spotlight Blog Hop – List

This month’s theme choices were: SOTM, Valentine, or Winter.  I chose Valentine’s.

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Supplies used are all CTMH: Art Philosophy Cricut Cartridge, My Creations Banner, Sweetheart Paper Pack, Silver Brads, Mad About You stamp set (December SOTM), Bling Assortment Buttons, Black Waxy Flax, 3D foam tape, Crochet Flowers, and Cotton Candy, Black, & Tulip inks.

This paper was on clearance for only $3 for the pack.  It was one of my favorites so I just had to get another one.  When we had Valentines as an option for this blog hop it arrived at the perfect time.  At first I was going to make a card, then I thought maybe a layout, then I remembered that I wanted banners for holidays throughout the year.  There is plenty of paper in a paper pack so I decided to go for it and the great thing is I would have it done for the upcoming holiday!

I cut the scalloped pennants using the Art Philosophy Cricut cartridge at 7″.  I cut cardstock for the base on the ones that I used B&T paper on.  I also mounted all the pieces on the My Creations chipboard Banner.  One thing I noticed when I used the inside and out of the banners and I flipped some over to use the different patterns on the paper…the inside piece did not match up if I flipped it over.  You’d think that with this pattern it wouldn’t matter but it must be off a little, just enough to not line up.  On those pieces I added embellishments to cover up the space.  Next time I make one, if I use this same pattern, I will use the cardstock as my base again and just use one piece of B&T paper so I don’t have to worry about it matching up exact.  Letters are also cut with the Art Philosophy cartridge at 2″.

Here’s closer pictures because it looks much better when you can see it up close.

Your next stop is Lori’s Blog.

If you get lost along the way, you can scroll down to the previous post for a list of all participants.

Related posts:

1. Sharing from the Heart Blog Hop – January 2012 (List)
2. Sharing from the Heart Blog Hop – September 2011
3. January 2012 Use Your Stash Blog Hop – Cherish Layout using Topstitch

Diana Soling
Cindy Leek
Krystal O'Neill (no post)
Nicoleb Schuette (no post)
Elizabeth
Adeline Brill
Wendy K.      <---You are here.
Lori Stroup
Heather Hunt
Lela Norris
Deb Fortin
Patti Rowe
Jody Gustafson

Related posts:

1. Sharing from the Heart Blog Hop – List
2. Sharing from the Heart Blog Hop – December 2011 (List)
3. Sharing from the Heart Blog Hop – November (List)

Supplies used are all Close to My Heart unless otherwise noted: My Creations Collage Cubes, Art Philosophy Cricut Cartridge by CTMH, Provocraft Cricut George Cartridge, Hot Diggity stamp set, Little Boys stamp set, Birthday Boy stamp set, Chairs to You stamp set, Daydream stamp set, Wonderland stamp set, Baby Impressions stamp set, Christmas Greetings stamp set, Harvest Happiness stamp set, Aspiration stamp set, Pair-a- Phrase stamp set, Fun Times stamp set, In the Wild stamp set, Life’s a Jungle stamp set, Ink (Smokey Plum, Cranberry, Baby Pink, Heavenly Blue, Outdoor Denim, Petal, Smoothie, Olive, Grey Flannel, Holiday Red, Sky, Brown Bag, Indian Corn Blue, Cotton Candy, Goldrush, Grey Wool, Topiary, Chocolate, Sorbet, Autumn Terricotta, Pear, Pacifica, Sunny Yellow, and Lagoon), White Daisy cardstock, Tulip cardstock, multiple colors of cardstock from my stash of scraps, Splendor Paper Packet, and Mod Podge by Plaid.

When I saw these fun blocks, I knew I wanted to make a set for my one-year-old.  It was just a matter of coming up with different things to put on it.  You can see from the pictures what I chose.  Other options would be….picture of baby and family/friends/pets….since there are (9×6) 54 sides you could use 26 for the letters of the alphabet, 0-9 for numbers, 9 for shapes, and 9 of anything else of your choice.  I am looking forward to doing another one of these with photos!

I started off by first sponging the all the cubes and the tray with Pacifica ink (yes, a very messy job!).  When I used the Mod Podge on the inked surface the color came off onto my brush.  I tried putting a coat of Mod Podge over everything before moving on.  It helped, but not completely.  I would recommend not using ink to sponge your blocks.  If I had it to do over again I would have left them white or used acrylic paint.  So, lesson learned and passed on to you.  Doing it over again, I also would not stamp all the images.  I like to Mod Podge overtop of projects like this and some of the ink smeared because I used dye-based inks.  You can see this on the turtle and the mittens.  So….I’d recommend using pigment inks or I’d use stickers or diecuts.

Decorating these cubes made me want to pull out a bunch of others that I have sitting around that I haven’t gotten to working with yet.  Now that I’ve learned some things the next set should be easier.  I’m going to put more of these on my to-do list for the new year.

Thanks for stopping.  Now, move on to Michelle’s Blog!

Related posts:

1. CTMH Rock Around the Block Blog Hop (List)
2. 2012 Stamp Sunday #1 – Rock Around the Block
3. April 2010 CTMH Spotlight Blog Hop

Helen Onulak
Kathleen Androlewicz
Traci Godbee
Georgia Hauglid
Lori Brown
Sheila Bennett
Susan Brooks
Mary Eisen
Gina Brandstetter
Krista Hershberger
Jennifer Rubio
Jean McNulty
Elizabeth Mindemann
Teresa Scrivens
Diana Soling
Wendy Kessler   <--- You are here.
Michelle Loncar
Amy McVey
Angela Garcia
Wendy Coffman
Karen Fullam
Allisa Chilton
Nikka Geers
Angel Sawyer
Vicki Price
Rachel Ventura
Lalia Harris
Cecilia Marsh
Shirley Ross

Related posts:

1. SOTM Blog Hop – Limited Edition (List)
2. 2012 Spring/Summer CTMH New Product Blog Hop (List)
3. Sharing from the Heart Blog Hop – List

If you are looking for the TECHNIQUE Blog Hop, click here.

If you are looking for the SHARING FROM THE HEART Blog Hop, click here.

Coming soon – the Rock Around The Block Blog Hop – come back on December 19th!

Related posts:

1. Blog Hop Recap and New Blog Hop Coming Soon!
2. CTMH December Product Spotlight Blog Hop – List
3. Sharing from the Heart Blog Hop – December 2011 (List)

This blog hop is a circle so you can start wherever you want and continue through to see all the fabulous artwork incorporating this technique.  If you are coming from Tonya’s Blog, you are on the right track!

Supplies are all Close to My Heart:  Sophia Level 2 Paper Packet, Sophia Workshop Stamp Set, Stardust Glitter Glitz, Goldrush, Hollyhock, and Pear inks, and Mini-Medley Pear (Buttons).

Closeup:

First I just have to say that Glitter Glitz is one of my favorite products.  Close to My Heart currently has four different colors available – Stardust, Bronze, Silver, and Red.  It is so versatile and can be used to sparkle-up anything including stamped images, ribbon, flowers, buttons, and more.  You can also use it for doodling or accents.

Now to my layout…it is made from the Sophia Workshop on the Go Kit and I made it my own by adding some Stardust Glitter Glitz.  I love the fine-tipped applicator!  It makes it so easy to control for making thin or thick lines.  I added glitter to my stamped images, to the pattern paper, and along my scalloped border.  I also put some around the edges of my flower.  The middle of my flower is a pear-colored button.  I added the Glitter Glitz to the middle and around the edge.  Once that dried, I poked a tulip-colored brad through the button holes for extra detail.

Thanks for stopping by!  Please continue on to Melissa’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!

For a list of all the blog hop participants, go to the previous post.

Related posts:

1. CTMH Technique Blog Hop – Glitter Glitz (List)
2. CTMH Technique Blog Hop – Original Argyle (List)
3. CTMH Technique Blog Hop – Ghosting (List)

Debi
Michelle
Judy Faye (no post)
Shirley
Tonya
Wendy   <— You are here.
Melissa
Cherri
Rachel
Tabbi
Sheila
Tracey

Related posts:

1. CTMH Technique Blog Hop – Original Argyle (List)
2. CTMH Technique Blog Hop – Ghosting (List)
3. CTMH Technique Blog Hop – Multicolor Motifs – List

This blog hop is a circle so if you are just starting, continue until you make your way back here.  If you are coming from Carol’s Blog, you are on the right track!

Supplies used are all Close to My Heart: Splendor Paper Packet, Splendor My Stickease, Liquid Glass, Stardust Glitter Glitz, and Brads Metal Assortment.

My Stickease are a quick way to create a fabulous layout.  To add some extra pizzazz to my layout I added antique brads to the flower centers, Glitter Glitz to border my title, and Liquid Glass to the “brads” in the lower right corner.   This layout can be filed this under the “30 minutes or less” category!  I used the 8 1/2 x 11 horizontal Dec. 2011 Page Map as inspiration.

Here is a list of some things you can do with My Stickease:
apply baby powder to the back and use 3D foam tape to add dimension
add sparkles (rhinestones or gems)
add gems/pearls
add flowers
add buttons
use Liquid Glass
use Liquid Applique
use Glitter Glitz or glitter
add brads
add eyelets
add ribbon

Thanks for stopping by!  Your next stop is Haley’s Blog!

For a list of all the blog hop participants, go to the previous post.

Related posts:

1. CTMH Spotlight Blog Hop – My Stickease (List)
2. March 2010 CTMH Product Spotlight Blog Hop Featuring Liquid Glass
3. March 2010 CTMH Product Spotlight Blog Hop Featuring Liquid Glass – List

Wendy K.    <--- You are here.
Haley D.
Terry Metzger
Melinda Everitt
Jenifer B
Laurie Flannery
Luisa Morgan
Diana Soling
Carol Horton

Related posts:

1. January 2012 CTMH Spotlight Blog Hop – Scraps (List)
2. CTMH Spotlight Blog Hop – Embossing (List)
3. CTMH Spotlight Blog Hop – Art Philosophy (List)

This month’s theme choices were: SOTM, Christmas card, and/or New Years.

I chose the Christmas card theme.  Since I have used up all of the paper from the current Believe Paper Packet, I pulled out an older one for this project.  I had scraps left from the Mistletoe Paper Packet and decided that I would make cards until it was gone.  Then I dug into my stash of Christmas embellishments to see what I could use up there.  It’s amazing how far scraps can go!

Supplies used: Close to My Heart Mistletoe Paper Packet, Holiday Time stickers by Walmart, Stampin’ Up! grosgrain ribbon, CTMH Twinkle Brads – Jolly, decorated slide mount from a swap, printed ribbon from my stash, Kaiser Pearls, Teresa Collins for Junkitz Holiday Tilez, and CTMH Cranberry Ink, and CTMH Colonial White Value Pack Cards & Envelopes.  Card inspiration from Page Maps.

All the cards:

Your next stop is Jody’s Blog.

If you get lost along the way, there is a list of all participants HERE.

Related posts:

1. Sharing from the Heart Blog Hop – Christmas Gift Ideas
2. Sharing from the Heart Blog Hop – November (List)
3. Sharing from the Heart Blog Hop – October 2011

Related posts:

1. Sharing from the Heart Blog Hop – List
2. Sharing from the Heart Blog Hop – September 2011 (List)
3. Sharing from the Heart Blog Hop – January 2012 (List)