December Stamp of the Month Blog Hop

Welcome to the December Stamp of the Month Blog Hop! This month we have 30 talented consultants sharing their crafty creations using Thoughtful Flowers, a stunningly pretty set of 14 floral images and sentiments.You may be arriving here from TAMMY'S BLOG.

As soon as I saw this set I started to ponder how I could best turn it into floral sprays of goodness. I didn't really want to fussy cut all the flowers, or have it be too bulky, so it seemed natural to give masking a try!  I used some post-its to create a mask for each type of flower. Then I started with my biggest center flower, masking each image off as I went along, working from the "front" of the floral spray to the "back" so that the finished element would have depth. I stamped everything in Memento Tuxedo Black ink, and colored the image using Shin Han alcohol markers. I don't usually go in for the one layer card but the MUSE Challenge this week is a cute one layer card with a vine wrapping around the sentiment so I took it as an additional challenge not to add a bunch of extra layering.

I went back in on the image with a shimmer pen for some subtle sparkle. I am a girl who lives and breathes sparkle, but I couldn't bring myself to add sequins or rhinestones this time. I wanted to let the pretty flowers stand alone, so all I did to finish is add a few teensy drops of glitter gel to the tiny flower centers and draw a delicate border around the outer edge of the card base with a very fine journaling pen.

Next up on the hop is KATHY'S BLOG. You can find a full blog hop list here. Don't forget that the December SOTM is only available in the month of December, so click here or chat with your consultant to get yours soon. Happy Hopping!

 Additional December SOTM Projects:

December SOTM Holiday Card

Merriest Christmas Card

I had such a good time this weekend! Between our Gilmore Girls extravaganza on Saturday and the holiday Card Buffet on Sunday, my friendship cup is overflowing. Today I sat down at my table and let the happy sparkle flow through...

This card is based on the new sketch over at Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge. I painted a panel of watercolor paper with wine and green paints. Then I sponged on some Extreme Glitter acrylic paint in gold. I layered on some Kraft CS and Enchantment Fundamentals. 

I stamped my sentiment (shh! That set is retired.) and embossed the MERRIEST word with gold glitter embossing powder. Stars and snowflakes were stamped and embossed using that same glittery powder. It's not the cleanest embossed look, but it sparkles so in the light! I ran some of that glitter acrylic paint around the edges of my card front before I glued it all together. My hands are a glittery, painty mess, but my heart is happy.  

Embossed Merry Christmas Card

I feel like this a lot this year - that the time is just flying by so quickly, faster than I can comprehend. Every now and then it's kind of fun to get a jump on things, since I usually feel so far behind. 

Today's card for the new Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge has a little sneak peek of the December SOTM in it. See those beautiful gold embossed pointsettias? Can't get those until December. I also made good use of the Woodland Wishes Thin Cuts Bundle. I know I can fussy cut a banner - but it was way more fun to use the die cuts and have them perfectly formed every time!

I added a bit of ribbon and baker's twine, and accent stars stamped in Sea Glass. I am in love with our color of the year! I hope you've got enough time to pop over to Atlantic Hearts to play along with the challenge this week!

Mojo Monday Merry and Bright Card

I am neck deep into Holiday Card season now. My table is covered with tree diecuts, glitter gels, and snowflakes galore. I'm not decorating for Christmas yet, just wallowing in the sparkly holiday card prep and peppermint hot chocolate!

Today's card was inspired by the new sketch over at Mojo Monday. I layered a woodgrain heart cutout panel over my holiday sentiment from Woodland Wishes. I layered this over some Swan Lake paper and silver shimmer trim banners.

The background is embossed with a snowflake folder. I used the matching Thin Cuts dies to die cut a tree, which I stamped with the coordinating image and embellished with lots of glitter gel. A couple of bitty sparkles topped off this design.

I hope you are saving some time on November 27th to stop by and make a few holiday cards of your own at my Holiday Card Buffet!

Monthly Memories Swan Lake Kit

Friday night is the night! My Stampin' Ladies are coming over for our monthly scrapbooking night and we are making these beautiful Swan Lake pages. We will eat yummy things, scrap, chat, and have a fabulous night out - it's my favorite night every month!

Our kit this month will make 6 pages and 8 cards. Everything you need to make the pictured projects is included (except the blank card bases). These kits are an amazing deal!

You can also swap out any of my page or card designs for the original CTMH designs made for this kit. So you've got 6 double page spreads to choose from to coordinate with your personal family memories.

I cannot wait to get my kiddos Thanksgiving gratitude lists scrapped onto this page. 

I used the Get Better stamp set for my version of the included card designs instead of the Thankful for You set (with matching die cuts!) that CTMH chose. There are enough card pieces cut in the kit for you to make all 8 cards if that floats your boat. Or you can easily substitute your own favorite stamp set!

You can download the CTMH version on this kit HERE for free! Or you can place your kit order here and I will email you my full color instructions for my version of these projects complete with cutting guides, lots of pictures, and step by step instructions. If you are local to me, your kit purchase scores you an invite to our monthly crop night, where we create our kits together. Dinner is included, just bring your kit and favorite adhesive to join in the fun! 

You can also complete these kits at my monthly crop day (which is November 27th this month) or as a To Go Kit wherever you like to crop. If you are planning to hang with us, I want to be sure to have enough space and dinner for all...

So PLEASE RSVP to reserve your spot at the crop!

November 4th Monthly Memories Bring Lists:

SWAN LAKE I WANT IT ALL KIT 

(about $27, everything you'll need to complete as shown):

G1112 Swan Lake Workshops Your Way Kit

Includes Swan Lake Papers and Complements, 

4 sheets of cardstock (1 Peacock, 2 Whisper, and 1 White Daisy), 

Grey Enamel Gems and Black Shimmer Ribbon

Optional Stamp set: Get Better If you are attending in person you can borrow my stamps!

SWAN LAKE BASIC KIT 

(about $15, very basic pages to add your own cardstock and embellishments):  

X7212B Swan Lake Paper Packet

X7212C Swan Lake Complements

You'll need to add 2 sheets of Whisper CS, 1 Sheet of Peacock, and 1 Sheet of White Daisy Cardstock to complete the pages as shown. 

If you are attending in person, you can buy CS by the sheet from my Cash & Carry.