Sep 15, 2015

National Stamping Month Australasian Blog Hop


Hello and welcome aboard our Close To My Heart National Stamping Month Australasian Blog Hop. If you have arrived here from Mez's Craft Room, then you are in the right place. If you landed here by accident, no problem, please join in by following the link at the end of this post

Close To My Heart has released not one, not two, but THREE exclusive, limited edition stamp sets to celebrate National Stamping Month in September! Yay! 

These three stamp sets, entitled Hello, Life are available only in September 2015 for $21 each, or purchase all 3 stamp sets for $53 and save! Each of the three sets has been designed with a particular style of paper crafting in mind.  There is a stamp set for pocket scrapbookers, a stamp set for traditional scrapbookers and a set designed for cardmakers.


Today, I would like to share with you a project I have made that features the fun and funky "hello" stamp from the Hello, Life- Cardmaking National Stamping Month stamp set.  I love all of the stamps in the three stamp sets, but I particularly like the "hello" stamp as it reminds me that it's always ok to give a card to someone you may not have spoken to in a while just to say hello!  In our busy world, where we race from one activity to the next, we sometimes forget to reach out to remind our friends and family that we are thinking of them.  This card is perfect for saying hello, how are you, I'm thinking of you!



I created this set of three cards with matching envelopes featuring the Enchantment colours Poppy, Pomegranate and Ruby. I used paper from the gorgeous new Enchantment Paper Fundamentals and decided to feature both the bold printed side as well as the glossy side in my project.  I paired each of these Fundamental papers with its matching Exclusive Inks Stamp Pad to create a fun, simple monochromatic look for each card.



These cards are super quick to make and involve minimal products and techniques.  To create these cards you will need to cut 4 flowers using the Artistry Cricut Cartridge (page 11, F1, 1.5") from the Fundamentals paper of your choice- I used Poppy in the first example below).  (N.B. These particular flowers feature in one of the page layouts made using the Sangria Workshops on the Go Scrapbooking Kit.  That's when I first used them and fell in love! They are currently my favourite flowers to use on cards and pages!)

Each card will need one card base (I used a standard 4 1/4" x 5 1/2" white card from our Value pack), 3 of the flowers, a piece of Fundamentals paper cut to 4" x 5 1/4", a piece of White Daisy Cardstock cut to 3 3/4" x 5", matching Exclusive Inks Stamp Pad, 3 large (7mm) Clear Sparkles, 3-D Foam Tape and the Hello stamp from the Hello, Life- Cardmaking stamp set.



I started by stamping the sentiment in the bottom right corner of the piece of White Daisy Cardstock in Poppy, mounting this on the Poppy Fundamentals paper and then onto the card base.  I then popped some 3-D Foam Tape behind the centre of the 3 flowers and a Clear Sparkle in the middle of each flower and added them to the card (3/4" from the top of the card).  Yes, that's it! A quick and easy card design that you can whip up in minutes!  And this is what it looks like when it's finished.  Clean, sweet and simple.


And here are the other two cards in Pomegranate and Ruby:


I then created matching envelopes for each of the cards using Fundamentals paper.  

It's so easy to create envelopes for cards using the Close To My Heart Score Board!  Follow the steps below to create your own envelope for our standard cards (4 1/4" x 5 1/2").

Step 1: Cut a piece of paper measuring 8" x 8".


Step 2: Ensure the arm of the Score Board is in the locked position.  Measure one corner down to 4 1/2" and use the scoring tool to score on the outer score line.



Step 3: Rotate the paper 90 degrees and measure down to 3 1/2" and score on the outer score line.

Repeat the above 2 steps, turning and scoring at 4 1/2" and turning and scoring at 3 1/2" until all 4 corners are scored.


Step 4: Now look for where the lines cross over each other.  You should see 4 small triangle shapes.  Use your Non-stick Micro-tip Scissors to cut out the triangles, positioning your scissors on the outside edge of the score lines.


Step 5: Now fold along the score lines, using the CTMH Bone Folder to create crisp folds. 

Step 6: Use the Corner Rounder to round the top and bottom flaps of the envelope if you like that look.


Step 7: Fold in the side flaps and adhere the bottom flap using 3L E-Z Dots Adhesive.


This is what the three envelopes look like at this stage: 


Step 8: Cut any shapes you like using your Cricut or simply use your trimmer to cut rectangles from White Daisy Cardstock to create a space for writing a name and/or address on your envelopes.  Here, I have used the Art Philosophy Cartridge (p. 55, <Rect7>, 2.75") to cut these shapes from White Daisy Cardstock and then adhered them to the front of each envelope using 3L E-Z Dots Adhesive.


Step 9: I am going to hand deliver these cards, so I used the last of the flowers that I cut with the Artistry Cricut Cartridge to decorate the front of each envelope.  I used 3-D Foam Tape to raise each flower and added a large Clear Sparkle to each flower as well.  You may just like to stick the flower down flat and go without bling if you are posting your card and envelope.



So here are the three finished cards being popped into their matching envelopes.  I hope you have fun making these and giving these to your family and friends to say hello!


Thank you for visiting my Blog to check out my special project featuring the National Stamping Month stamp set Hello, Life- Cardmaking.  I would love it if you would leave a comment below before you hop to the next stop on our Australasian Blog HopPassionate About Pages to see how the very talented Shaunna has used the exclusive National Stamping Month stamp sets to create her own projects.

Remember, the National Stamping Month stamp sets are only available throughout September 2015 from your Close To My Heart Independent Consultant for $21 each, or for $53 when you purchase all three exclusive stamp sets.  

Warmest crafting wishes,
Denise :)

10 comments:

Unknown said...

Denise, love your ideas using Hello Life and your instructions for the envelope! Just awesome. Thank you!

Lauren said...

These are so cute and I LOVE the matching envelopes!

Leah said...

Simple and gorgeous. Love how the envelope is matched with the card - they look so great together. I would love to receive these!

Justice Aunties Inc said...

TFS your envelope making instructions, you make it look so easy, and yet, its i bet i still wont be able to master envelope making, Ive been trying for years. But i will definitely give it a go

Shaunna Richards said...

Such happy cards - I'm sure the recipients will be thrilled to open those special envelopes for your welcome 'Hello'

Vandra said...

Thanks for all the instructions you've given us to make those lovely cards. Cute Flowers.

Papercrafting with Doreen said...

Beautiful, as usual, Denise. I really love the the matching envelopes

Doris Taylor said...

Lovely cards I always like a little bling as well. Thanks for the instructions for the envelope

Maz said...

LOVE the matching envelopes, thanks for sharing the instructions on making them. They are just such cute cards.

Jane Molloy said...

These are so bright and happy. Love this great idea on the same colour tone