Take Twelve Layout - January

In a previous post I shared my January Take Twelve photos. Now, here is my finished layout.

I used the sketch provided in the challenge and some leftover papers I had in my stash. I kept my stamping to a minimum by stamping the numbers for both the photos and journaling.

I'm really looking forward to this challenge next month. It's nice to be able to stay current this year and not feel so overwhelmed with all the photos.

Supplies used (all CTMH unless otherwise noted): 
Paper: White Daisy Cardstock, KI Memories Scrapbook Kit
Stamps: Token Alphabet
Ink: Goldrush, Cocoa
Other: Ribbon and Stickers (KI Memories Scrapbook Kit)

Cupcake Toppers

I'm working on using up my stash of papers so when my son celebrated his 2nd birthday Jan 21 I figured I'd use my scraps and make handmade cupcake toppers! This is a perfect activity to do while your cupcakes are baking and cooling (see tutorial below).

He shares his birthday with another little boy so we decided to have a joint party. We kept it small with family only and we all seemed to enjoy ourselves more!

The top cupcake uses the January SOTM to highlight the special occasion. I cut two scallop circle at 3" and two circles at 2 1/2". I used  3D Foam Tape to add the toothpick and each side together. It was looking a little bland so I added a small dollop of Glitz Glitter Gel to each scallop.

The rest of the layers used a simple accordion flower and the Token Alphabet Stamp Set for each boy's initial.

I love the way these turned out and so did everyone else! They were a huge hit!

Below is a step-by-step tutorial on how I made them. Let me know what you think or if you've done this yourself.

1. To make these start out with eleven 1" x 12" pieces of pattern paper and twenty-two punched circles.

2. Score each one in 1/4" increments and accordion fold. Add adhesive to the ends and connect.

3.Fold into center and add strong adhesive (I used a glue gun) to adhere accordion flower to punched circle. You may need to "fight" with the paper a bit. It's OK! If you don't adhere something to the middle the flower will pop back up. 

4. Turn over and add more glue, a toothpick and the another punched circle.

5. Decorate center as desired. To keep mine simple I stamped initials using the Token Alphabet set and another punched circle.

Supplies used (all CTMH unless otherwise noted): 
Paper: You Rock (retired), American Crafts Textured Cardstock, White Daisy Cardstock, Grey Flannel Cardstock
Stamps: Token Alphabet, January SOTM
Ink: Grey Flannel, Outdoor Denim, Cranberry, Topiary
Other: Circle Punch, Glue Gun, Toothpick, 3D Foam Tape, Art Philosophy Cricut Cartridge, Glitz Glitter Gel-Bronze

Sweet 16 Birthday Card

I was recently asked to make a Sweet 16 Birthday Card for a customer. The only guidance I had was that she liked green.  Here's what I came up with:

It's a 5 x 7 card. Since I wasn't sure of her likes or dislikes I kept it pretty simple. For the dimensional numbers I first colored them with a Chocolate Marker. Then, I stamped them with Colonial White Ink using the same image I used on the card front. A little ribbon and some bling and it's done! Hope she likes it!

Supplies used (all CTMH unless otherwise noted): 
Paper: Key Lime Green, Crystal Blue, Colonial White, Chocolate
Stamps: Friendship (former SOTM),Fill In The Blank, Party Pennants
Ink: Chocolate, Colonial White
Other: Dimensional Elements Numbers, Colonial White Ribbon Rounds, Sparkles

Spring/Summer Open House

If you live in the Northern VA area please join me for my Spring/Summer Open House on Saturday, January 28th from 10 am - 12:00 pm (directions and address will be sent with RSVP).

I'll show you the newest CTMH products and you'll get a chance to play by making this sweet bookmark with the new stamp set, Card Word Puzzle!

I will have Idea Books for sale as well as some retired products at a deep discount. If you can't make it and would like to order an Idea Book please let me know and I will get one sent ASAP! You can also earn one for free...just ask me how!

Use Your Stash Blog Hop

If you are joining us for the "Using Up Your Stash Blog Hop" you are right on track. WELCOME! You should be coming from Ann-Marie's blog. I'm so excited to be participating in this challenge hop. Lord knows I have a ton of items stashed up and I look forward to bringing out some of the old and making it new and fresh again.

There are 9 participants this month. If you get lost along the way you can see the entire list of hoppers on Rachel's Blog. 

Today I am showcasing the "You Rock" paper set and coordinating Stickease to highlight my oldest son riding his bike without training wheels. Yeah Luc!! 
This layout was super easy with the stickers and has zero bulk. Both pictures are 4 x 6. To highlight my sweet boy I used one of the sticker frames on top of the layout to draw attention to him and not the house behind him.

Unfortunately this set is retired but the Hooligans set would be a great alternative and it's on sale on my website!

I have a few more pieces to this set and I'm working on a follow-up post with some fun food decor items so stay tuned for that. Now hop on over to Wendy's blog for more ideas of using up your stash.

Supplies used (all CTMH unless otherwise noted): 
Paper: Grey Flannel Cardstock, Your Rock (retired), American Crafts Cardstock
Stamps: none
Ink: none
Other: You Rock My Stickease, Page Maps Sketch, Miss Elizabeth's 2-Sided Clear Stickers

Another Argyle Card

I was so inspired by the Argyle Technique from our recent blog hop that I made this card with my version of an argyle pattern.

I didn't have an argyle stamp set so I decided to make my own. I used the backside of a square stamp (love that I can do that with an acrylic stamp) and stamped it on top of my B&T paper using Black Ink. Then, I lightly drew a stitching pattern with a pencil and the CTMH ruler and used my piercing tool to add evenly spaced sew lines. I finished it off with some hand-stitching and voila!

Supplies used (all CTMH unless otherwise noted): 
Paper: Typeset Level 2, Black Cardstock, Colonial White Cardstock
Stamps: Boys at Play (C1386), X-Treme (D1432)
Ink: Vineyard Berry (Z2157), Black
Other: Edge Distressor, White Embrodiery Floss, Ruler, Piercing Tool

Technique Blog Hop - Argyle Technique

Welcome to our Technique Blog Hop!  This month we are highlighting the Argyle Technique as shown on page 91 of the Autumn/Winter 2011 Idea Book!  This blog hop is a great big circle so you can start wherever you want and continue through to see all the fabulous artwork incorporating this technique.  If you would like to start from the beginning, please visit this link.  While there you will also find a listing of all participants and their blog addresses if you should get lost or want to reference a blog along the way.  Let’s get started!


If you've arrived from Lisa's Blog you are on the right track! I've been enjoying simple designs lately so when I saw a card on page 114 of the current Simply Handmade Magazine (Northridge Publishing.com) and I knew I had to do my version of it. 

I started out by using the capital letter 'V' from The Works Alphabet and Grey Wool Ink. Once the first row was finished I turned my block and stamped in the open spaces of the first row.

I continued this alternating process until the whole 4 x 4 card front was created. Once I got going it didn't take nearly as long as I thought it would!

I finished my card off with a scrap of black cardstock and the Irresistibles Lots of Dots set to finish off my sentiment. Of course I had to add a little bling to my felt flower!


Thanks for stopping by. I'd love to know what you thought of my card so please leave me a comment below.  Please continue onto Judy's Blog where you will find some additional artwork highlighting this technique!  Happy Hopping! 

Supplies used (all CTMH unless otherwise noted): 
Paper: White Daisy Cardstock, Black Cardstock
Stamps: The Works Alphabet (D1195)
Ink: Grey Flannel (Z2125), Grey Flannel Exclusive Inks Marker (Z2324)
Other: Lots of Dots Irresistibles (Z1261), Sparkles (BULK232), 3D Foam Tape (Z1151), Felt Heart