Feb. SOTM Blog Hop - Piece of Cake

Welcome to the February Stamp of the Month blog hop featuring "Piece of Cake," a celebration stamp set of 10 stamps. If you have come here from Haley Dyer's blog, you're on the right path! Be sure to scroll to the bottom of the post for the link to the next blog on the hop, Jill Lucas' blog. With over 70 CTMH consultants participating, you are sure to find plenty of card, scrapbook page, or other papercrafting item ideas.

I saw this darling spinner card on Splitcoast Stampers (click here to view the tutorial) and had to try it. (Whoa -- I almost said, "Had to give it a SPIN!") I'm thrilled with how it turned out! The Caboodle papers are bright and cheery. When you open the card, the piece with the cakes on it spins around. Too cute!

Spinning ...

And spinning ...

And spinning some more!

I got a little print-happy that day on SCS and printed off another tutorial on making faux alligator wallets. I immediately pictured it in hot pink, so out came the Hollyhock cardstock and the chocolate ink pad. I'm still a little Cuttlebug challenged, but I managed to get the embossing done after a few (several) tries. Please don't look too closely at my sewing, especially on the curves. I really do a lot better on fabric! :)

The cupcakes needed to be frosted, so I used Liquid Applique to give it some dimension. The "cherries" are actually Tulip Bitty Brads. The inside is lined with Bella papers and closed with a Velcro closure:

Wouldn't this be a cute place for a gift card? Or some cold, hard cash?

If you'd like to see one more item made using the Piece of Cake stamp set, click here to go to a previous post.

Now hop on over to Jill Lucas' blog to see her amazing creations! Once you circle back to my blog, you'll know you've seen it all. See you next month, if not sooner!

Hearts for Haiti

The devestation in Haiti is heartbreaking, and Close To My Heart wants to help ease the suffering. During the month of February, our 12" x 12" textured cardstock combo packs are buy one, get one FREE -- and with every offer purchased, CTMH will donate $2 to Operation Smile's Haiti relief efforts.

You might be wondering what $2 could possibly buy. Here are a few items:

» Collapsible water containers ($2 per container): Each container holds 10 liters amount of water and is especially useful for kids carrying water for long distances to ensure that all their water doesn't spill en route from their water supply. It is also very useful for storing clean, safe water for everyday use.

» Water purification tablets (60 cents for 50 tablets): Each tablet is able to turn 4-5 liters of dirty water into water suitable for drinking. Every day, 4,000 children worldwide die because they do not have access to clean water, according to UNICEF.

» High energy/protein biscuits ($1 per pack): These contain minerals and vitamins and have been developed for malnourished children during emergencies.

» Oral rehydration salts (7 cents for one package): This solution, containing sugar and salt, treats children suffering from dehydration caused by diarrhea. Approximately 3,500 children die each day from dehydration caused by acute diarrhea, according to UNICEF.

(Many thanks to CTMH consultant Amy Hervey for sharing this information!)

The Hearts for Haiti campaign is definitely a win-win for all involved! You get a great deal on our wonderful textured cardstock, and the suffering people of Haiti receive much-needed assistance. Visit my website February 1 - 28 to stock up!

Blog Hoppers - February SOTM

It's almost time for the February Stamp of the Month blog hop! In case you get lost on the hop, here is the list of the consultants participating:


Jena DeVries http://www.livelovelaughscrapbook.blogspot.com
Helen Onulak http://www.hookedonstamping.com
Haley Dyer http://www.inkyscrapper.blogspot.com
Lori Miller http://www.clearlyfromtheheart.blogspot.com
Jill Lucas http://scrapwench.blogspot.com
Laura Dame http://www.thecroppersconnection.blogspot.com
Carla Ironside http://www.carlacreates.blogspot.com
Amy Edwards http://PaisleysPlayhouse.blogspot.com
Deb Young http://www.scrapbookczar.blogspot.com
Barbra Otten http://barbraotten.blogspot.com/
Jamia Bankhead http://www.papermadnessinc.blogspot.com
Chris Shouse http://www.houseostamps.wordpress.com
Debra Van Patten http://memoriesoftheheartbydeb.blogspot.com/
Jessica Booth http://jessicabooth.blogspot.com/
Jen Patrick http://www.roxybonds-scrappin.blogspot.com
Melissa Laverty http://www.fancymelissa.blogspot.com
Jody Gustafson http://www.cre8nmemories.blogspot.com
Katy Donaldson http://www.scrappinkaty.blogspot.com
Caren Goldsein http://www.scrappycaren.blogspot.com
Kathleen Androlewicz http://bowlofstamps.blogspot.com/
Shirley Ross http://www.momnmescrap.blogspot.com
Laurie Levnik http://www.creationsbylaurie.blogspot.com
Laurie Newton http://scrapsfromthebeach.blogspot.com/
Mary Eisen www.mestamp2.blogspot.com
Sarita Schraeder http://www.blessedscrapper.blogspot.com
Cibele Glazer http://www.flowerfoot.blogspot.com
Adeline E. Brill http://adeline-brill.blogspot.com
Jenifer Benner http://www.jensmessystudio.com
Wanda Riley http://www.creatingwithwanda.blogspot.com
Sylvia Jacquot http://stampinsylvia.blogspot.com/
Amy McVey http://www.clearlystamping.blogspot.com
Dawn Ross http://www.iamahappystamper.blogspot.com
Nancy Brown http://www.creativelyartsygallery.blogspot.com
Susan Brooks http://www.stampingintheopen.blogspot.com
Latisha Haag http://domestichomefrontcoordinator.blogspot.com
Cindy Leek http://www.paperspadsandpictures.blogspot.com
Judy Burger http://makingtimeformemories.blogspot.com/
Nona Davenport http://www.nonapearl.blogspot.com
Kim O'Rear http://kimorear.blogspot.com
Kristie Herdener http://www.goofyscrapper.blogspot.com
Karen Norman http://www.gettinscrappywithit.blogspot.com
Carol Loftus www.CarolLoftus.blogspot.com
Lori Leng http://www.pinkcloudscrappers.blogspot.com
Misty Jackson http://www.misstscraps.blogspot.com
Michelle Nist http://Michellenist.blogspot.com
Lori Brown http://www.savingmine.blogspot.com
Kimberly Smith http://verykimberry.blogspot.com/
Tanya David http://www.scramperscorner.blogspot.com
Krista Ritskes http://kristaritskes-simplycreating.blogspot.com/
Traci Godbee http://createwithtraci.blogspot.com
Kami Welter http://www.scrappin4memories.blogspot.com
Beth Naumann http://www.bethscreativeblock.blogspot.com
Brenda Harmless http://keepsakeswithheart.blogspot.com
Sheila Bennett http://sheila-bennett.blogspot.com
Melissa Burch http://melissaburch.blogspot.com
Antoinette Herrin http://www.GodblessyourART.blogspot.com
Jen Rubio http://www.jenrubio.blogspot.com
Tammy Lea Pinchard http://mycreativeclubhouse.blogspot.com
Terrie Dodd http://www.my-life-in-real-time.blogspot.com
Dawn Heuft http://www.stamptildawn.blogspot.com
Brae Montgomery http://thebrae-er.blogspot.com
Pamela O'Connor http://www.cherishyourmemories.blogspot.com
Angela Tutton http://www.tuttonstreasures.blogspot.com/
Shannon Pelletier http://www.mycolorfulworldinvt.blogspot.com
Alison Mullen www.stickygirlstamps.com
Laura Petruso http://www.starbreezedesigns.blogspot.com
Carol Horton http://carol-scrappininparadise.blogspot.com/
Georgia Hauglid http://inkygeorgia.blogspot.com/
Michelle Loncar www.michelleloncar.blogspot.com
Shannon Buck http://stampinbuds.blogspot.com/
Danielle Chapman http://cupcake-stamper.blogspot.com/
Annette Green http://www.AnnettesCreativeJourney.blogspot.com

Mojo Monday Sketch 122

I'm giving you a sneak peak of the February Stamp of the Month! It's all about cakes in February -- couldn't be sweeter! (Sorry, I couldn't resist.) For more artwork featuring this stamp set, please check back on Feb. 1 for the monthly blog hop!

For this card, I used the Topstitch paper packet. The cake is heat embossed on chocolate cardstock using white embossing powder.

Mojo Monday Sketch 121

These days, I'm operating on the "better late than never" principle! It seems like there is so much going on that things like crafting get set aside. After a long week, though, there is nothing like making something beautiful to soothe the soul.

I love this sketch! (I say that every time, don't I?!) Instead of making the card front one piece, I made it a flap to lift to see the inside. The paper is called "Caboodle" and seemed to say "baby boy card."

Other items I used:

• D1266 - Baby Steps
• D1187 - For Every Occasion
• C1338 - Just for Boys
• Z1123 - Sorbet Ribbon Rounds collection
• X7121B - Caboodle Level 2 Paper Packet

If you're interested in seeing the stamp sets or other items more closely, just click on the links. It will take you to my website where you can view more details or purchase the items to make this card yourself!

Felicity Layout

I am having such a great time using the papers from Felicity! It's great to have papers that can have a very masculine look or a feminine look. I came across this picture of my oldest son, Michael, from when he was in preschool, and the argyle papers said, "Use me!" :) I chose a layout from "Imagine," and away we went. The Twilight courderoy brads worked so well with the layout -- I'm really tickled with how it turned out! All the stamp images used on the layout are from the set that comes with the Felicity package, even the alphabet!

Win a free Felicity kit!

We're having some change at our house: my two oldest children are moving out. When my daughter found an apartment, I knew exactly what I would do with her room -- make it my scrapbook room! So I'll be busy this week, moving all my stuff (and it's a lot 'o stuff!) from the dungeon (aka the basement) to my bright and shiny new room! Once I get moved, though, the first paper I'm reaching for is this lovely Felicity collection. I can't get enough of this paper!

There are several ways you can get your own set of Felicity papers:

• Buy it outright for $34.95.
• Buy $60 of stamps and get it FREE!
• Spend $125 on (almost) any Close To My Heart product and get it FREE!
• Win it by posting a comment on the National Papercrafting Month blog! There will be a daily winner until January 31. All you have to do is post a comment under each day's entry!

To check out the blog, click the National Papercrafting Month icon on the right side of my blog. Good luck!