Happy Birthday Todd!

Rock the Block Perpetual Calendar

 I've been working on this perpetual calendar since the week after Christmas and I finally finished it this evening.  You know how it is, sometimes you start a project and it gets put to the side and it takes awhile to pick it back up again, well that's what happened to me. 

I admit I don't have a degree as a designer, so when I create I just jump right in without a plan of action....but that's the fun of it!  I started with the basic idea of what paper packet I wanted to use (CTMH Roxie X7140B) and the stamp set with the Rock the Block campaign (E1025), that was my plan.

As I got closer and closer to finishing I had no idea what pictures to use.  Picture taking is not one of my strong points, would love to take more pictures, just never think about and when I do, now that almost everything in life is digital/computerized, we hardly ever print pictures anymore.......What to do?

Into the trusty box of stuff I've collect from each trip we've taken and I found these Hawaiian post cards we picked up a few years ago.  Each year I buy a new Hawaiian calendar (wishing I was there), and the wheels begin to turn.....and feeling of the islands flowed through me.  Now I have a wonderful Hawaiian calendar that I can cherish for years to come.
More pictures below.







For the blocks starting from top left to top right (row 1):
Block 1:  Stamp January, February, March, & April from November's SOTM "Cherish the Day" S111.  On the outer two sides cover with desired paper.  Mats used are 1 15/16 x 1 15/16 inches and 1 3/4 x 1 3/4;
Block 2: use numbers 0, 1, 2, 3, 5, & 6 (will also be used as a 9);
Block 3:  use numbers 0, 1, 2, 4, 7, & 8.  Mats used are 1 15/16 x 1 15/16 inches and 1 3/4 x 1 3/4.

For the blocks starting left to right middle row (row 2):
Block 4:  Stamp May, June, July, and August from November's SOTM "Cherish the Day" S111.  On the outer two sides cover with desired paper.  Mats used are 1 15/16 x 1 15/16 inches and 1 3/4 x 1 3/4;
Block 5:  Stamp September, October, November, December from November's SOTM "Cherish the Day" S111.  On the outer two sides cover with desired paper.  Mats used are 1 15/16 x 1 15/16 inches and 1 3/4 x 1 3/4;
Block 6:  Stamp coordinating image or saying for the top of the block (I used D1498).  On the bottom side cover with desired.  The stamp coordinating image for 3 other sides.  Using January 2012 SOTM "Little Reminder (S1201) stamp the days of the week Friday, Saturday and Sunday.  HINT:  when you place the days of the week on the block, with the block facing you with the stamped image on the top of the block put the days of the week counter clockwise, leaving the right side and bottom to be decorated with desired paper.  Mats used are 1 15/16 x 1 15/16 inches and 1 3/4 x 1 3/4;

For the blocks starting left to right bottom row (row 3):
Block 7:  Decorate with selected pictures of your choice.  Mat used is 1 15/16 x 1 15/16 inches and pictures are just shy of that at 1 1/32 x 1 1/32, sorry about the math here, adjust to quarters if easier.  Put pictures around the middle and cover the two outer sides with desired paper;
Block 8:  Stamp coordinating image or saying for the top of the block (I used D1498).  On the bottom side cover with desired paper. Using January 2012 SOTM "Little Reminder (S1201) stamp the days of the week Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday.  HINT:  when you place the days of the week on the block, with the block facing you with the stamped image on the top of the block put the days of the week counter clockwise.  Mats used are 1 15/16 x 1 15/16 inches and 1 3/4 x 1 3/4;
 Block 9:  Decorate with selected pictures of your choice.  Mat used is 1 15/16 x 1 15/16 inches and pictures are just shy of that at 1 1/32 x 1 1/32, sorry about the math here, adjust to quarters if easier.  Put pictures around the middle and cover the two outer sides with desired paper



For the calendar base the measurements are:
Back piece:  8.25 x 6.25, score at .5 and 1 inch all sides.
Bottom piece:  8.5 x 6.5, score at .5 and 1 inch all sides.
This will be a tight fit, you could add a 16th of an inch to each side,
if preferred. Make the pieces like a box lid, then adhere the two together to make the base.

Have fun......

What's Up?

A lot is all I can say ....I've been busy, busy, busy creating for some up coming swaps, blog hop and open house.  And I've decided to build up the excitement a bit....the rules of the swap and hop are pretty simple with one aspect, and that is....no sneak peaks.  Coming soon right here is the My Heart's Swap group, CTMH consultants participating are Tamra Pope, that's me; Tamytha Jenkins; Tammy Wisterman; and Diane Fischer (no blog yet, but coming soon).  The first swap goes live February 2012.  Check back soon.

CTMH Stamp of the Month for February 2012 goes live on February 1 along with the new Idea Book.

Open House this Sunday, January 29, 2012, at my house from 10:00 -2:00.  Giveaways, make and takes, Cricut Art Philosophy how to class, CLEARANCE SALE, raffles, door prizes and much, much more and did I mention Chocolate......Valentine themed party.  Contact me to RSVP today.   

Just a quick reminder of the great upcoming new classes for 2012.

Card's Plus Group $25.00 product purchase club, all supplies provided to make 2 over the top cards and one altered project.

New and improved Work Shop on the Go scrapbooking class, $29.95 per month. (Basic Kit)

Card Class $25.00 per month, all supplies included, and you go home with 6 great cards for all occasions.

All altered project club, let me show you how to turn those everyday objects into fabulous home decor and more...Class fee varies per month, but never more than $25.00 per month, all supplies provided.

Contact me today for more information and to reserve your spot.  Class times vary, night, day, and weekend classes available.  You pick the day and time to fit your schedule!

CTMH Roxie Valentine Trio

Now that Christmas has come and gone, I'm totally in the mood for Valentine's Day and I turned to this amazing paper pack from CTMH "Roxie".  I fell in love with this as soon as I saw it in July at Convention......and I just knew it would make the best V-Day paper.  Enjoy.  Hope the lighting is ok, new camera (a real one) for Christmas and I'm still not sure how to use it just right.

 A year or so ago I attended a club class from my upline Annette Green and we made a paper bag card and I couldn't wait to do another one, and here it is.

And its a gift card holder too.....surprise, surprise this will be for my Husband for V-Day.

The mail box was on my blog earlier, scroll down to see more.....and the Love card is using the heart shaped treat holder.  Way cool stuff!

January 2012 Stamp of the Month Blog Hop

 

Here's a toast to the future, a toast to the past, and a toast to our friends, far and near. May the future be pleasant; the past be a bright dream; and may our friends remain faithful and dear......

Happy New Year and welcome to the Stamp of the Month Blog Hop! What a way to start out a brand new year, by hopping through over 50 plus consultants' blogs and seeing all the fantastic creations they've made using this month's featured stamp of the month "Little Reminder", S1201. If you are coming here from Judy Faye Garner's Blog you're on the right path....and don't forget to check out all the consultant's this month for all their amazing ideas. 

Celebration is what I think of when I see this set....the celebration of life, new life.  This treat bag would make a great party favor for a baby shower, along with this coordinating gift tag.

Sometimes its nice to get back to the basics....I wanted to use an earth toned base cardstock, but I found the plain cardstock a bit to plain....it needed something.  A paint brush, an old shipping box (for a back splash), chocolate re-inker (Z2211) and colonial white cardstock (1388) and wallah....a chocolate speckled base cardstock.

First for the treat bag, after creating the cardstock, I turned to my trusty Cricut and the Cricut Art Philosophy cartridge available only through CTMH (Z1686).  Using a 12x12 sheet of colonial white cardstock, place it on the cutting mat and load, then adjust the right/left to (R/L 2 1/4 inches) and the In/Out to (I/O 2 1/2 inches), select the Shape 7 and cut at 3 1/4 inches.  Once shape has been cut out with the cut out shape to the left side of the 12x12 cardstock, cut the cardstock to 10 x 11 13/16 inches.

From the top across the 11 13/16 inch side score at 1/2 inch and from the bottom of the 11 13/16 side score at 1 1/2 inches.  Score all the remaining measurements from the 10 inch side at 3/8; 1 3/8; 2 3/8; 6 1/8; 7 1/8; and 8 1/8.  At the bottom of the 11 13/16 side cut at score marks 3/8; 2 3/8; 6 1/8; and 8 1/8 up to the 1 1/2 inch score line.  Fold at score marks.  Turn the treat bag upside down, cut a piece of clear plastic ( I used an old protector from my Cricut cutting mats) and glue over the cut out shape on the inside of the bag.  

Once dry, about 20 minutes to be safe, stamp images directly on the bag.  One of the stamps was actually worded "Welcome Little One", I carefully cut the word "One" off the saying, so I could substitute the number 1 in its place.  Using Cocoa ink (Z2114) I stamped the words "Welcome Little" and on the excess scrap cut away from the 12x12 cardstock I stamped the number 1and five butterflies from an older stamp set from convention 2010 (Pictures This, one of my all time favorites).  Next, stamping with the same set I stamped a swirl pattern near the 1 1/2 inch score line at the bottom of the bag and four butterflies in Smoothie (Z2196).  Have fun cutting, that's really back to the basics after having the Cricut for a while.  Notice the Cocoa butterflies are all popped up and one smoothie butterfly is popped up.

  Next, the little embellished token at the top of the bag.  I used an oldie but goodie and still available, Colonial White Mini Medley Accents (metal tag) Z1276.

How about a tag too? 

 Products used are CTMH unless otherwise noted......

• Kraft Cardstock Z1375
• Cricuit Art Philosophy cartridge Z1686
• January SOTM "Little Reminder" S1201
• Smoothie Cardstock X5763
• Metal Brads Z1366
• Milepost Shapes Z1464
• Cocoa Ink Z2114
• Smoothie Ink Z2196
• Art Philosophy Tags Z1686 (Part of the Cricut Bundle Collection)
• An assortment of miscellaneous ribbons
• Coarse gold glitter

 Now "Hop" on over to Jean McNutly's Blog and see her work! Be sure to visit all the Consultants at their Blogs to get some great ideas!   Enjoy.