CTMH Australasian Stampaganza Blog Hop

Hello and welcome aboard our Close To My Heart Stampaganza Australasian Blog Hop. If you have arrived here from Lauren Moore's CTMH Craftings, 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. 

Stampaganza is happening again! That means that throughout March, when you purchase two of our gorgeous My Acrylix stamp sets, you can choose another stamp set (of equal or lesser value) FREE! Yes, FREE! That's 3 stamp sets for the price of 2. What's not to love about that?

So today on our Australasian Blog Hop, we are celebrating Stampaganza 2016 by sharing some projects using our favourite stamp sets from the Annual Inspirations or Seasonal Expressions Idea Books.  

I have chosen my most favourite stamp set, Blossoming Expressions.  As you can see, this stamp set is completely gorgeous! The stamp set features solid stamps with less detail for background stamping and stamps with finely detailed leaf and flower images for stamping the foreground. You can use first and second generation stamping with the same colour to create a subtle contrast between the background and foreground, or stamp with different ink colours for a more dramatic effect- the choice is up to you.

Did you know that it's Jeanette Lynton's birthday this month? Jeanette is the CEO and founder of Close To My Heart and she is one truly remarkable woman! 

To celebrate Jeanette's birthday, CTMH are encouraging everyone to create a handmade birthday card for Jeanette, snap a photo of it and post it to Facebook or Instagram using the hashtag #cards4jeanette.  You can see more details on the CTMH Blog Make it from your Heart. Wouldn't it be wonderful if we flooded social media with beautiful handmade cards for Jeanette?  Will you join in the celebration too by creating your own card?

I was determined to use my favourite stamp set, Blossoming Expressions to create a truly special card in honour of Jeanette's birthday.  I created the following Cascade Card featuring La Vie En Rose B&T Paper with coordinating colours Pixie, Hollyhock, Ruby, Poppy and Pomegranate.  

Cascade Cards are so easy to create.  The base is created from two pieces of Cardstock that are cut and scored so they can slide together and interlock to make the mechanism that helps the card stretch out and then lay flat again. 

You can click on the link to download my instructions (PDF) for creating this Blossoming Expressions Cascade Card. I do hope you enjoy creating this special card as much as I enjoyed designing and making it! 

My next card is based on a card design by consultant Catherine Nowak. I just love the simplicity of the design and I think the La Vie En Rose B&T Paper works beautifully alongside the purple hues of Thistle and Eggplant on this card.  

The ingredients used to create this card are:

D1665 Blossoming Expressions stamp set

White Daisy Card and Envelope (Value Pack)

5 1/2” x 7/8” La Vie En Rose B&T Paper (black and white side)

4” x 4” White Daisy Cardstock (for stamping flowers and leaves)

2 3/4” x 1” White Daisy Cardstock (for stamping sentiment)

3” x 1” Thistle Cardstock

5” strip of Purple Shimmer Trim

Thistle Exclusive Inks Stamp Pad

Eggplant Exclusive Inks Stamp Pad

Pear Exclusive Inks Stamp Pad

Topiary Exclusive Inks Stamp Pad

Black Journalling Pen

Thin 3-D Foam Tape

3-D Foam Tape

Thank you for visiting my Blog to check out my card projects featuring the stamp set Blossoming Expressions.  I would love it if you would leave a comment below before you hop to the next stop on our Australasian Blog Hop, Jenny Gilbert's The Creative Heart, to see what stamp set is Jenny's favourite! 

Remember, the Stampaganza promotion is only available throughout March 2016 from your Close To My Heart Independent Consultant, so make sure you snap up your favourite stamp sets before the end of the month!

Warmest crafting wishes,
Denise :)