From Leftovers to Tag

I am sharing a tag made with an Inspired Stamps His Little Ones and Hymn Line Wings stamp today but you might be surprised to learn that every piece came from my "leftover jar". 

The moment you start crafting, you will find you have bits and pieces left over. Then you feel guilt about wasting $ if you throw them away. To solve the dilemma, I keep a jar on my desk that I throw the bits in to.  I let it fill up and when it won't hold another thing, I dump it out and start making tags, cards, etc.

The stamped image was one I deemed "unworthy" for a card because I didn't like how her face turned out after adding too many freckles. But she's perfect for a gift tag that will be barely glanced at as the recipient rips it off with the wrapping paper! The Hymn wings were just extras from a day of card making. The tag, trim and tinsel were also in the leftover jar. I wanted to stamp a word on the bottom of the tag but was limiting myself to a strictly "leftover" project.  The recipient's name could be written at  the bottom as well.

Please look at the rest of the Design Team's creations at the Inspired Stamps Blog!

  Have a Merry Christmas!

Christmas Gift w/Inspired Stamps

This is a gift I enjoy making and  giving because it is always used and appreciated by the recipient.  I use a frame from Ikea but Michaels also carries a similar frame now.  The scripture stamps from Inspired Stamps are the perfect stamps to use for this project.  By using both sides, you are able to add several scriptures.

Inspired Stamps Christmas His Little Ones

I blinked and it's December! How about you? Thanksgiving was a lovely time but now I'm ready to enjoy the few fleeting days of Christmas festivities.  Today I am sharing one of the sweet His Little Ones stamp from Inspired Stamps.  This is the outside of the card and I have used a sentiment stamp from another favorite Christmas stamp set, Nativity Set. 

The inside of the card uses a scripture from the beautiful Poinsettia Stamp Set. I hope you enjoy this Holy season! Next week I will share an inspirational gift you can make that will encourage someone throughout the year.

Cyber Monday Sale no CTMH Cartridges

Reminder: Cyber Monday sale on CTMH Cricut cartridges tomorrow only. 20% off all 4 cartridge collections. PLEASE order from my website:belindak.myctmh.com and "join" the December gathering at the bottom of the home page to place your order. Here is a description of each collection:

Art Philosophy-This is the original from CTMH and 4 years later I still turn to it often for images. It is a great 1st time user cartridge with over 700 individual images including some for all major holidays, the collection includes 3 coordinating stamp sets and 3 coordinating chipboard shapes.

Artbooking-This is a fantastic cartridge for new and avid scrapbookers. It includes several predesigned mini books and several 2 page layouts already designed for you. Again, over 700 images and comes with 3 stamp sets and 3 pages of chipboard shapes

Artfully Sent-My new favorite is all about making cards. It includes MANY predesigned cards for every occassion. Choose a card, cut it out and glue together. It even has an envelope cut for every card. Includes 25 sheets of card stock in white and 3 stamp sets.

Artiste-If you like to make 3D items, this is your cartridge. boxes, bags, cards and tons more. perfect to make small gift items. Again includes 3 stamp sets and 3 sheets of chipboard shapes.

ALL cartridge collections have a value of $125 or more and normally sell for $99 but tomorrow will be 20% off

First EVER Cyber Monday Sale on CTMH Exclusive Cricut Collections

This is for anyone who owns a Cricut, bought a Cricut this weekend or knows there will be one under the tree! For the first time ever, Close To My Heart is offering a Cyber Monday Sale on Monday, December 1, 2014. There has never been a better time to buy Close To My Heart’s exclusive Cricut® Collections for 20% off the retail price. 

Whether you love scrapbooking, cardmaking, or creating 3-D projects, our four exclusive Cricut® collections make the perfect addition to any craft room! Place your order Monday on my CTMH site: http://belindak.ctmh.com/Default.aspx

CTMH Cricut Cartridges are NOT available through Cricut Design Space but can be linked to your Design Space account when you purchase from CTMH. These cartridges contain an amazing amount of images and are the ones you will use most often once you have them.

My Etsy Shop

I have an Etsy shop now and would love for you to stop by and take a look around. One of my favorite items are my unique Vintage Hymn Mixed Media crosses. It takes several steps to make these beauties including mod podging the music taken from an old hymnal, using modeling paste and a stencil to add texture and distressing with ink and paint.

You can find them and other items HERE

Inspired Stamps Waterfall Tutorial

Today I am sharing a tutorial on a waterfall card using Inspired Stamps sweet Nativity set. Because the cutting and folding takes a little time, I kept the stamping very simple. I used to think this had to be  really difficult card to do found it's actually quite simple.

 

My card is 5x7 so start with a base of 10x7 folded in half.  You will also need 4 squares for your mats cut at 3x3 and 4 plain squares of 2 3/4"x2 3/4". I then used a light touch with a sponge to add color to the white squares and then inked the edges darker.  After they were all inked, I used a dark blue to stamp the images.

 Adhere each of the stamped images onto a mat.

Next cut a plain cardstock strip to 2 3/4" x 12". Then score the strip at 3", 3 3/4", 4 1/2" and 5 1/4". Fold on the score lines-as shown (all mountain folds).  

 Choose your bottom image and adhere it to the 2 3/4' square left from the 1st fold.

Pay close attention for the next image to only put adhesive on the strip, then carefully line up next image square over adhesive and right next to fold-not over or under it. Continue with last 2 squares.

I adhered coordinating cardstock to the bottom inside flap of my strip. Now cut a coordinating strip of cardstock 1"x5" and another 2"x5".  Center and adhere 1" piece to the edge of back of bottom square.

Attach ends of 1" piece over 2" piece with brads-NO adhesive

 Use adhesive on back of 2x5" piece and  adhere only to your card front approx 3/4' from bottom of card front.. The back of your waterfall strip should NOT be attached or glued to anything.  Slide it between your 1" and 2" strips between the brads. it becomes your pull "tab"

Inspired Stamps November Release

Isn't she sweet? Meet Inspired Stamps new Hymn Girl. Available on the on-line store's NEW location: https://www.etsy.com/shop/GodblessyourART . With this move, shipping costs will go DOWN!

She is ready to trim the tree and hang the stockings.  An assortment of gift boxes, stockings and ornaments are included in this set to place in her hands.  I wish you could see the sparkle of this card! Be sure to see the other cards and new stamps on the Inspired Stamps Blog.

Scripture Card Using Inspired Stamps

Thanks for stopping by today!  Do you have this $3.99 scripture stamp from Inspired Stamps?  Psalm 27:1 is a great one to add to your collection! You can use it for so many different types of cards-get well, encouragement, sympathy and more. In these turbulent times it is a scripture we can stand on!

The gorgeous papers I used are from Bo Bunny and can be purchased in the Inspired Stamps on-line store.

Tootsie Pop Treat

I'm sharing a fun little treat with you today for the "anything but a card" assignment from Inspired Stamps.  I used 2 scripture stamps from my much used Fall Gratitude stamp set to stamp on a pumpkin cut out.  

These are super easy to put together.  Paper is 2.5 x 6" score and fold 2 lines about 3/4" apart in the center.  Hole punch 2 holes at the top of both sides to feed your twine through and to secure the tootsie pop.  I also used a glue dot to hold the tootsie pop more securely.

Happy Birthday-Fall Style

Inspired Stamps Design Team is sharing Fall birthday cards today.  I have used 2 of the sentiment stamps from the great Birthday stamp set and leaves from the charming  Leaves stamps. The wonderful Apple Cider papers are from Bo Bunny and are available in the Inspired Stamps on-line store.