March Stamp of the Month Blog Hop

It's that time again! Time for another fabulous Stamp of the Month Blog Hop with over 60 talented CTMH consultants!

If you've come here from Susan's blog, you're on the right track. For those of you checking out the blog hop for the first time, it's really quite simple - and fun. After you've checked out my contribution below, click on the link I will provide to the next blog. Continue to follow the links until you end up right back here and you are sure to be filled with creative inspiration!

This month we are featuring A Little Everything (D1408), and it is exactly that! Filled with sentiments for just about every occassion, this set is a must-have for cardmakers, but I think scrapbookers will find plenty of uses for it as well!

I chose to create with the new Caboodle My Reflections paper packet. The fun spring-y colors in this set are perfect for Easter, little boys OR little girls and anything else Spring!

My simple 8" x 3 1/2" thank you card uses the "Top it Off" concept from Jeanette Lynton's Wishes Card Confidence Program. Add a little Direct-to-Paper Edge Distressing and some Sorbet Ribbon and this card is done in a jiffy!

The A Little Everything set is only available through March. Visit my website to see how you can get your set at a great discount, or even FREE!

Now it's time to head on over to Tanya's Blog - I'm sure she'll have something fabulous to share with you! If at anytime you get stuck along the blog, hop on over to Helen's blog where you'll find a complete list of this month's hoppers!


Happy Hopping! :-)

One More Piece of Cake!

We've always got room for one more Piece of Cake, right? And even better, this is the calorie-free, fat-free kind!

Yes, I've been playing with my February Stamp of the Month set AGAIN!

By now you probably know that simple, simple, simple is my style, and this fun card is just that!

Once again, I used the Topstitch papers (and I PROMISE, I will play with other papers soon - I just LOVE Topstitch - oh, think I've said that before!). The cake is stamped using Versamark ink and heat embossed with Baby Pink Embossing powder. I love the way the Baby Pink embossing powder just pops on the Chocolate cardstock! Add a little Colonial White ribbon and a Baby Pink button with some Hemp tied through and, as Emeril would say...BAM! A quick and easy card!

There are just a couple more days left to get your own Piece of Cake set. Head on over to my Close to My Heart website and orders yours today!

Did you get YOUR Piece of Cake?

I am still loving the February Stamp of the Month, Piece of Cake - and so are so many of YOU! If you haven't ordered your set yet, there is still time! Piece of Cake is available through February, so head on over to my website - http://www.beth.myctmh.com/ and order yours today! Don't forget, you can earn the set at a generous discount, or even FREE!

As promised, I have some more fun Piece of Cake cards to share with you.

The first card, shown above, was created by CTMH Consultant, Linda Taylor. Linda used the Topstitch papers (have I told you those are my FAVORITE papers from the Spring Idea Book?!?!). I love her use of ribbons and sparkles!

My good friend and talented upline, Sue Laufer created this next gorgeous card using the Caboodle papers - so fun! Do you see the fun Clear Inspirations circle tag hanging from the Sorbet ribbon. CUTE!

Rebecca Cross also opted for the Caboodle papers for her sweet card. More bling - LOVE it!

Karen Barber sure knows how to think outside the box! She used the flowers on the very top of one of the cake images to stamp the fun floral border on her focal piece! Clever! A little Prisma glitter on the candles and cake stand add just the perfect finishing touch!

My friend Gayle Luker created this last card using the beautiful Veranda papers! Gayle proves you don't have to color in all of those detailed line image stamps - they are gorgeous just as they are! I love her use of ribbon as well!
I can hardly believe February is almost over! Get your Piece of Cake set before it's to late, and then visit my blog again on March 1st for a brand new Stamp of the Month Blog Hop featuring a FABULOUS new set!

More Sweet Treats

I am having so much fun creating with the February SOTM set, Piece of Cake. I've already shared my card made with the fun and funky You Rock papers, but this time I've used my very favorite papers from the Spring 2010 Idea Book - Topstitch!

This first card was heavily inspired by fellow consultant Amy McGrew. I added a little distressing to the edges, some color to the cupcakes and cake plate and a touch of Liquid Applique to create frosting good enough to eat!

The 2nd card was inspired by consultant Melissa Laverty - you may have seen her version if you went through the Stamp of the Month Blog Hop. I fell in love with this simple card design as soon as I saw it and had to create my own version! The cake and sentiment are embossed with Baby Pink embossing powder to make them more vibrant against the Chocolate card base.

Thanks Amy & Melissa for being such amazing creative inspirations!!

I hope you haven't seen enough of the February SOTM set as I have more to share in the coming days. Check back soon, but in the meantime, be sure to head over to my website - http://beth.MyCTMH.com to order your very own Piece of Cake set!

Hearts for Haiti-Give & Get Back!

We have all been touched by the devastation and suffering caused by the recent earthquake in Haiti. Like so many of you, Close to My Heart is eager to help those in need. And helping has never been easier!

During the month of February, purchase any pack of 12" x 12" Textured Cardstock and you'll get a second pack FREE AND Close to My Heart will donate $2 to Operation Smile's Haiti Relief efforts. That means that for only $14.95 (plus tax and shipping) you get TWO packs of Textured Cardstock and you help this urgent, important cause.

Our Textured Cardstock comes in 5 fabulous combo packs, so choose your two favorites or get some of each! Visit my website to order yours today!

To learn more about Operation Smile's Haiti relief efforts visit http://www.operationsmile.org/haiti.

February SOTM Blog Hop

After taking a month off from the Stamp of the Month Blog Hop, I'm BACK! I missed it so much last month, December was just so hectic for our family, I realized it was one of those times when I just had to let something go. Needless to say, I am so excited to be back!


Many of you are already familiar with the format of the hop, but for those of you just checking it out for the first time, here's a little about how it works. After you are finished browsing my post, click on the link I will provide at the bottom. That will take you to another consultant who is sure to have another fabulous piece of artwork to share, she will also post another link. Continue to follow the links until you get back her to mine. You are sure to be inspired by the creativity of my fellow CTMH consultants!


I simply LOVE the images in this month's Stamp of the Month set, Piece of Cake. Filled with whimsical images of cakes and cupcakes, this set is almost good enough to eat!!





These fun images will work great in ANY color scheme, but I decided to go a little outside the box and pair it with our funky new My Reflections kit, You Rock. Since the paper had a bit of a tye-dyed look to it, I figured my stamped image should too. Yes, it was time to pull out my re-inkers and create my own "puddle pad". To create your own puddle pad, you will need the following supplies:

*3-4 Re-inkers in coordinating colors (I used Goldrush, Indian Corn Blue, Outdoor Denim and Olive)

*1 paper plate

*1 small piece of felt (I used pink as it was the only color I had laying around - using white would allow you to see your colors much better)

With the felt on the paper plate, start with your lightest color and drop a few drops of re-inker onto the felt.

Add the remaining colors around the edge of the first color allowing the colors to run together.

Be sure your puddle pad is large enough to accommodate your stamp - I had to make mine large enough for a 2 1/2" x 2 1/2" stamp.

Place your stamp onto the puddle pad as you would if you were using a traditional ink pad.

Stamp onto your paper as usual.

I LOVE this technique for adding several colors to my stamped images!

I dressed up the cake with a touch of Liquid Glass and some Sparkles - after all, everything is better with a little bling!

Don't forget, the February Stamp of the Month, Piece of Cake is only available through February 28th! Head on over to my website (or check with your own consultant) to see how you can earn yours at an amazing discount, or even FREE!

Be sure to check back later in the week - I have more fun artwork using the February SOTM set to share with you!

Now onto the next stop...I'm sure the fabulously talented Brenda has something wonderful to share with you! Head to her blog by clicking on her name above. If at anytime you get lost along the way or come across links that are not working, Jena's blog has a complete list of this month's "hoppers"! Happy Hopping!

Join my Close to My Heart Team!

The new year is a time for new beginnings, so what better time to join the Close to My Heart family and begin earning a great discount on all of your favorite stamping and scrapbooking supplies!

Have you checked out the New Consultant Kit? Wow! Makes me want to sign up all over again! :-) This amazing new kit has everything you need to get your business off to a great start - over $300 in in product for only $99!

To make make the deal even better, when you sign up you can take advantage a generous discount of one or both of the bonus packs shown below. Bonus packs are filled with our newest product and represent a 65% discount off the regular retail price.

Scrapbooking Bonus Pack - over $160 in product for only $60

Cardmaking Bonus Pack - over $150 in product for only $50

As if those discounts weren't a sweet enough deal, if you join my team in January you will receive the National Papercrafting Month exclusive Felicity Collection absolutely FREE with your New Consultant Kit.And...all New Consultants will have the opportunity to preview Studio J, CTMH's brand new online scrapbooking software before it releases to the public this Spring - you'll even have the opportunity to purchase up to 10 layouts at a special introductory price!

A few of the reasons I love being a CTMH Consultant include...a generous discount/commission, industry leading products, working with amazing and inspiring women, and the opportunity to expand my creativity and meet new people! I know you'll love it too!

Whether you want to earn a discount on your own supplies, a little extra spending cash, or supplement or even replace a full-time income, it is all possible with CTMH! Call or email me and we can chat about the opportunity. Or simply head on over to my website and sign up!!