Sometimes inspiration is hard to pass up.

I was browsing some type of social media at the time (either Pinterest, or Facebook) and I ran into this unbelievably gorgeous card. And I just absolutely had to borrow it.

Today's lucky find is from Erin Taylor, for Papertrey Ink's Make it Monday #83.

Of course I'm on a Christmas kick now, and my favorite color combination is red and silver. So much that these were actually my wedding colors four years ago! I stamped the tree, snowflakes, and sentiment in embossing ink, and then used silver embossing powder plus a couple of gemstones to jazz up the tree. If you look closely there are snowflakes from two separate stamp sets in the cluster.

For something new, this time I reversed the colors and instead stamped with Cranberry Ink on white. Again, if you look closely - snowflakes from two different sets. It's about this time of year that I dig out all the Christmas sets I've bought since I started collecting CTMH, and I like to give some oldies a whirl amid the new sets that are available in the current catalog.

I am offering Christmas card workshops this year! Cards are $1.50 each to make and come with their own envelopes. The dates available are October 27th, November 3rd, and November 24th. If you want a card creating party of your own let me know and we can set something else up! Designs are currently in the works and will be posted once complete.

Michaels, etc:
* Solid cardstock - Jewel Collection
* Solid cardstock - Primary Collection
* Rhinestones
* Silver embossing powder
* Embossing Ink

CTMH:
* Snowflakes
* Card Chatter - Christmas
* Holiday Warmth (retired)
* Cranberry Ink

I'm still enjoying what's left of summer!

Winter's comin...

This feels like the last weekend of Indian summer, but I won't complain. With that fades into fall and then winter, and with winter comes Christmas!!

I did it - I have since made my first Christmas card of the year as I am thinking Christmas card workshops for October and November while we're still in September. I'm super pumped to do them - nothing beats a little wine, some munchies, and good company.

Today's inspiration is courtesy of Case Study: Case Study Challenge #95 based off Teneale's version.

Those dots look familiar, don't they - they're off the double sided stamp set featured in this month's promotion for National Stamping Month! And, I used the newest craze of "swiping" to give it a bit of texture. It doesn't show very well, but I used liquid glass to pop up the middle of the snowflakes and broke out my CTMH waterbrush to color in the little raccoon. He's colored with Grey Wool (retired), Barn Red, Blush and Pondorosa Pine.

I brought the blue inside the card and again used liquid glass for the middle of all those snowflakes. My favorite thing about liquid glass is that it takes on whatever color it's sitting on top of and it doubles as an adhesive if you have lost the adhesive backing on some of the smaller adhesive gems/pearls.

It would be fitting to enter my first Christmas card of the year into H2H's Christmas challenge!

Michaels, etc:
* Solid cardstock
* Ribbon
* Embroidery floss

CTMH:
* Snowflakes
* Bundled Buddies (retired)
* Pink/Red Adhesive Gems
* Opaque Adhesive Pearls
* Bling Assortment
* Liquid Glass
* Cricut Art Philosopy Cartridge
* Water brush

Designs for the workshop are well in progress!

Starter Kits!!

I remember when I first started and didn't have a clue as to what I really needed (vs my huge wish list that threatened to dwarf my 4'11 frame). Therefore, I'm offering a starter kit to get you started!

The set pictured above is showing the La Belle Vie Level 2 paper pack with two of 3 double sided patterns and 6 sheets of corresponding solid card stock, 3x3 acrylix block, Ponderosa Pine Ink, Quick Cards - Butterfly (A-sized stamp set), and a Tombow adhesive runner.  Retail value: $39.60 CAD.

I am offering this kit for $35.00 which includes: (from the current catalogue)

* 1 - Any A-sized stamp set of your choice
* 1 - Any Exclusive Inks ink pad of your choice
* 1 - Level 2 Paper Pack
* 1 - 3x3 acrylix stamp block
* 1 - Tombow Adhesive roller

all you'd need to do to get started is pick up a pair of scissors and a paper trimmer from your local craft store and you're set to go.

Contact me if you're interested - stamped.by.hand.ctmh@gmail.com

I can never turn down a contest...

When I made this card, I didn't have a recipient in mind this time, but most of my female family members' birthdays have come and gone. I'm considering making cards for sale, however.

I had a fantastic time in Vancouver and Seattle! We visited Summerhill and Quail's Gate winery, our friends in Vancouver, Granville Island, our friends in Seattle, Pike Place Market and even took a hammer to our dinner.

This is the view from our table at Quail's Gate Old Vines Restauraunt in Kelowna, overlooking the mountains, the lake, and their vineyard is to the right.

I can't resist a Mojo Monday contest, and last Monday's contest was no exception! I came home to my order waiting for me which included two stamp sets from the latest catalogue - Jardin and Magic Potions. I have grand plans for Magic Potions later!

Today's inspiration is Mojo Monday : MOJO257

I broke out my embossing gun which I haven't for some time now! The silver powder is from somewhere in Vancouver Island that my grandmother bought me years ago before she passed away. However, she's probably grinning from Heaven - like me, she absolutely adored crafting of all kinds. I decided to blend a few paper packs again; Florentine, Stella, and Avonlea. They match so beautifully.

As I didn't have an event to make this for, I decided to add some elements from the front and leave it blank. In case you're wondering where the butterfly is from - I stamped it out of Jardin and cut out the butterfly. I've got a serious weakness for beautiful butterflies.

Last but never least, it's a new month which means there's a new SOTM available! It's really cute to use for Fall, Thanksgiving, or even possibly Halloween cards and decor. It's called Fall Favorites and I know I will definitely have to get one for myself.  This set is only 5$ with a 50$ minimum purchase.

And of course don't forget... it's National Stamping Month! See this post - http://stamped-by-hand.blogspot.ca/2012/08/just-couldnt-resist.html for details. Spend $35 and get a double-sided set for only 5$ more. It's quite versatile!

Michaels, etc:

* Ribbon

* Solid cardstock

* Silver embossing powder

* Rhinestones

CTMH:

* Avonlea Level 2 Paper Pack

* Stella Level 2 Paper Pack (retired)

* Florentine Level 2 Paper Pack

* Jardin

* Smokey Plum

* Topiary

I'm out to enjoy the last weekend of summer! 

Road trip to Seattle!

We're packing and about to head out to Kelowna tonight. I can't wait to get my fill of wine, good food, and good company. One of our friends in Seattle has a new house = card moment!

Today's inspiration is from Mojo Monday: Mojo Monday 256.

This looks like a crazy hodgepodge of patterns, but I had originally wanted to use the other side of the paper from Avonlea until I ended up putting glue on that side! I guess sometimes fate just wins out. I also distressed all edges of the other pieces with Olive Ink.

Interestingly enough I came across a blog that had talked about mixing and matching different paper packs from CTMH - and this card is no exception! If you look closely I mixed in Stella (retired) for a punch of pink.

This time I opted to not stamp a sentiment inside the card but I did decide to add a little growing tree - to symbolize a new house. I colored it using CTMH inks and a paintbrush. Bordering the writing area is the side of the Avonlea paper I originally had planned on using.

All papers from CTMH mix and match beautifully no matter what the color or the season you bought it in - keep that in mind if you have a few paper packets and are stumped as to what to do with them.

Michaels, etc:
* Solid cardstock
* Ribbon

CTMH: 
* Avonlea Level 2 Paper Pack
* Stella Level 2 Paper Pack
* Live Out Loud - July 2012 SOTM
* Beary Busy
* Art Philosophy Cricut Cartridge
* Olive
* Barn Red
* Moonlight
* Cocoa

Happy Labor Day Weekend!

Just couldn't resist...

... playing with the new paper packs in the newest CTMH catalogue! Especially because my mother-in-law's birthday is coming up and what better choice than La Belle Vie?

My inspiration is Clean and Simple 117 from Clean & Simple Stamping. I really loved her choice of butterflies and string which I originally discovered on Pinterest.

The biggest butterfly in that trio on the front is actually the backside of the background paper! I cut out three different butterflies with the Art Philosophy Cricut cartridge in three different sizes and then the middle is glued down, and the wings are popped up with foam tape.

Because I wanted butterflies on the inside, I chose to use the butterflies from a special promotional double sided set called It's Your Day that is on sale for 5$ more when you spend $35! The promotion runs from August 15th - Sept 30th and has a lot of versatile images! It's National Stamping Month in September and what better way to celebrate?

My sister in law has left for home, sadly, but that means I will be posting on my regular schedule once again. Out of all the adventures we had, I think street poling was the most fun.

Michaels, etc:
* Solid cardstock

CTMH:
* Art Philosophy Cricut cartridge
* La Belle Vie Paper Pack Level 2
* Opaque Adhesive Pearls
* It's Your Day
* Card Chatter - Birthday
* Smoky Plum
* White Daisy

My goodness September long is coming up next weekend ... hope you all have grand plans!

Summer and more babies...

There has to be something in the water at my workplace. My manager is expecting #4 anytime these days, the Business Analyst on my project is expecting in January and one of my fellow developers' wife is expecting in December. So I suppose I will be planning a few of these "lets get something from the office to show we care" things.

I'm not ready to follow suit however, but I do love kids - right now I spoil my god children as much as I can. They're 4 and < 1.

This was inspired again by the same Case Study (101), this time based off Iwona Palamountain's take on it. I just loved her tag and tried to borrow a few elements from it.

It's more on the simple side, but now and again it's fun to go on the simple side for a change. The shape for the sentiment is from the three sheets of Dimensional Elements shapes that come with the Cricut Art Philosophy cartridge.

I carried over the same colors from the sentiment on the front along with the flowers - I admit I love doing this to give the card an all over uniform look.

Michaels, etc:
* Solid color cardstock
* Blue Ribbon

CTMH:
* Cricut Art Philosophy package, Dimensional Elements
* Card Word Puzzle
* Lucky Level 2 Chipboard Assortment (retired)
* Baker's Twine, Paradise
* Florentine Level 2 Paper Pack
* Dreamin Level 2 Paper Pack
* New Arrival
* Sky Ink
* Outdoor Denim Ink
* Sunflower Ink

Happy Heritage Day!