April SOTM Blog Hop

Welcome to the CTMH Stamp of the Month Blog Hop!  We will be featuring April's SOTM, which is called My sunshine, a down right adorable set of sunny goodness.  If you have come here from ANGELA'S BLOG, you are on the right path!

This month we have 60 Close To My Heart Consultants sharing their creations using this month's SOTM (and other great CTMH products) on their blogs. Hopping 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!

This month I created a trio of cards. I had made THIS CARD for my team to make at our monthly meeting and I still had the Cricut cuts on my tabletop...so I thought a series of cards might be a fun way to use up the diecuts! Plus I'm totally addicted to this chevron background stamp....

For the first card I was inspired by the Freshly Made Sketches #79. The chevron background is stamped with In The Background - I use this one set on EV-ER-Y-THING lately!

I used the clouds across the card instead of the scallops, and added that sweet dancing sentiment in the cloud surrounded by dots of my favorite Stardust glitter gel pen. Foam tape added dimension to the cloud border.

On the inside I added a Chevron strip plus another sentiment from the set stamped in Creme Brulee onto Sanded Creme Brule Cardstock.

Card #2 uses some of the same pieces, with a cool technique thrown into the mix. This time I used the sketch #21 from {CAS}E This sketch. I did a lot of detailing on the sun stamps with my Glitter gel pen, and around the edge of each cloud. I guess I just always like to have a silver lining! The background is sponged with grey clouds...forgive me, but I live in Oregon. Once my young son asked me what's wrong with the sky as we were driving...because it was blue with white clouds. We get fairly used to a grey sky around here in the winter!

I created a Paper Braid for the piece that's anchoring the sun image. It was so easy and makes a fabulous Chevron pattern. I found the instructions for paper braiding here. Now I have a use for all those 1/4 inch strips I am hoardingsaving. I'm linking this card up to the Moxie Fab World Chevron Challenge.

The final card of my trip uses that fun puddle pad I made for THIS CARD. This time I worked with the new Retro Sketches #57. I just love this balloon done up in a bright rainbow of colors!

I carefully trimmed matching chevron stamped cardstock squares to match the chevron stamped background. These pieces I edges in Whisper Ink to make them pop a bit more, then I layered on the clouds. The balloon is detailed with lots of glitter gel pen and a sparkle.

On the inside I added the poor neglected bird from this April SOTM - isn't she sweet?  I rolled the bird in Sky and Creme Brulee Inks, the added a Sparkle eye and a Creme Brule wing. Her little wing is a separate image to make filling in with an alternate color easier.  Finally, I'm linking up to the Old Back Porch 52 Card Pick Up!

Now "Hop" on over to JILL'S BLOG to see her TWEET work! Be sure to visit all the Consultants Blogs to soak in the great crafting and SOTM ideas. Remember, this SOTM will float away at the end of April, so contact your CTMH Consultant (or click here) to see how you can get this stamp set for just $5!

Just one last quick peep, Stampin' Friends...In April CTMH is offering an amazing special with FOUR free SOTM stamp sets for new CTMH consultants! That's over $70 in bonus stamps to go along with your fabulous Consultant kit. Kits start at just $49, a small investment for an awesome business opportunity!

Essentials Kit - Just $49!

I know that for me personally, CTMH has brought me so many new friends, a boost of self confidence, and of course a fabulous collection of stamps and papers! When I joined it was just to get more stuff, really. The paper discount sounded fab, and so I signed up. At my first solo party not even the hostess showed up! I didn't give up, and two years later I earned a cruise with CTMH! The biggest and best part of CTMH for me has been the friendships and relationships that I now share with my Stampin' Ladies and team members. Getting together for workshops and events is some of the best fun I have every month!

Team Stamping Rules at DisneyLand, 2011.
One of my favorite things is traveling with my ladies to our annual CTMH Convention.

Contact me if you have questions or want to chat, or click here to join my team today.

Team Stamping Rules, Dallas 2012.
Each year we're growing and learning together!
In 2013 ten of us will be going to DisneyWorld!
I {HEART} my team!