Thin Cuts Blog Hop

Welcome to the Thin Cuts Blog Hop!

If you came from visiting Brenda Lapp, then you are in the right place.  If you just happened upon my little corner of the blog world, simply start here and continue hopping until you return here -- our fun hop is one big loop for your viewing pleasure. 

The month's bonus hop features the amazingly fabulous Thin Cuts from CTMH -- which are on special this month for 25% off.  If you have never tried these wonderful wafer thin dies, now is the time!  If you have tried them, now is the time to stock up and expand your collection!!

I have a wide variety of Thin Cuts in my personal collection -- for today's project, I chose to feature Sweet Birthday.  If you follow my blog, you know the Sweet Birthday stamp set was my favorite release in the 2016-2017 Annual Inspirations Idea Book -- however, my first thought was "No coordinating Cricut / Thin Cuts?? Ugh..."  I bought the stamp set anyways.  :-)

Then, in October, CTMH made my dreams come true.  They released a coordinating Thin Cut set to go along with my favorite Sweet Birthday stamp set.  :-)  Now I use this adorable stamp set and its coordinating Thin Cuts all the time.  I absolutely LOVE the pair!

When creating the layout below, I used a sketch from Even More Scrapping which was coincidentally called "Sweet Friend"  The sketch was fabulous because it called for multiple repeated images across the center -- perfect for the fun party hats.  It also called for a large circle on the left page which I swapped for a cut from the Cricut Artistry collection.

I plan to add pictures from my niece's recent Moana-themed birthday party.  The colors in the Adventure Fundamentals collection coordinate beautifully with the bright, fun colors from her party.  And the 4x6 and 4x3 photo spots will make it a piece of cake to finish this layout (see what I did there?  Piece of cake... Birthday party... I'm so punny!!)

To create the adorable cupcake embellishments, I stamped the image using archival black ink and allowed it to set for a few minutes before coloring the image with the CTMH watercolor pencils.  I mixed two shades of green for the wrapper on the left cupcake and two shades of blue on the right cupcake.  To blend, I used my CTMH clear shimmer brush.  I actually have two of these brushes -- one for regular use and one for blending and other "messy" use.  As for the pink frosting, I colored about a quarter inch around the edge and used the shimmer brush to fade the color towards the face.

I also added some shimmer detail to the party hats -- specifically along the bottom trim, the polka dots, and the top "poof". I just love how the shimmer brush adds a little extra "pop" to a project.

Supplies used:

*Sweet Birthday Thin Cuts
*Sweet Birthday stamp set
*Artistry Cricut collection
*Adventure Fundamentals paper packet
*12" × 12" Lagoon cardstock
*12" × 12" Lemon cardstock
*12" × 12" Raspberry cardstock
*12" × 12" White Daisy cardstock
*Archival Black stamp pad
*Shimmer Brush - clear
*Watercolor Pencils
*Shimmer Trim - silver
*Sugar Rush dots
*Foam tape

To order these or any of our other fabulous Close to My Heart products, please visit http://jddesigns.ctmh.com.

Thank you for visiting me at {jd designs} and for hopping with us on the Close to My Heart Thin Cuts Blog Hop!  Next up on the hop is Jean McNulty. I hope you'll hop on over to her blog for more inspiration.

Until next time, design with {heart}!

Damask Divas' Dreamin' Big Blog Hop

Welcome to the Damask Divas' March Blog Hop featuring the Close to My Heart Dreamin' Big paper packet!  The Damask Divas' team is excited to inspire you with fabulous projects from this beautiful collection!  You can see the full hop line-up over on the Damask Divas' blog.

In the beginning of December, CTMH Consultants around the US were able to attend a one-day mini-convention of sorts.  These events are held at locations throughout the US/Canada and offer consultants a sneak peek at upcoming releases as well as the opportunity to create beautiful projects with the new releases.

At December's SE1 launch, we created this fabulous Adventure layout using the Dream' Big collection. I love how this layout showcases the versatility of the Dreamin' Big collection.  At first glance, the collection appears masculine with its color scheme and bug embellishments.  However, the the flowers offer the perfect alternative to the bugs for a softer, more feminine look to this collection.

Supplies used:

*Dreamin' Big paper packet
*Dreamin' Big Complements
*12" × 12" White Daisy cardstock (for photo mats)

To order these or any of our other fabulous Close to My Heart products, please visit http://jddesigns.ctmh.com.

Want to join me at the next launch event?  Join my Designer Therapy team today, and I will hook you up with all the details.  For more information, click here.

Thank you for visiting me at JD Designs and for hopping with us on the Damask Divas' March Blog Hop!   Next up on the hop is Cheri Rice Parish. I hope you'll hop on over to her blog for more fabulous Dreamin' Big inspiration.

Until next time, remember to design it with {heart}!

March Spotlight Collection - Dreamin' Big

Dreamin' Big is my hands-down favorite collection from the Seasonal Expressions 1 Idea Book.  From the vibrant, yet subtle color scheme to the fabulous coordinating Complements and sequins, I am in LOVE with this collection.  I hope you'll check it out as I'm sure you'll fall in love, too!

To order these or any of our other fabulous Close to My Heart products, please visit http://jddesigns.ctmh.com.

Stay tuned throughout the month to my blog and my Facebook page for lots of fabulous Dreamin' Big inspiration.  And be sure to follow #ctmhdreaminbig all month long for all the Dreamin' Big fun!

Until next time, design with {heart}!

Stamp of the Month Blog Hop -- Tea-rrific

Welcome to the March Stamp of the Month Blog Hop!

If you came from visiting Wendy Kessler, then you are in the right place.  If you just happened upon my little corner of the blog world, simply start here and continue hopping until you return here -- our fun hop is one big loop for your viewing pleasure. 

The month's featured stamp set is S1703 Tea-rrific (pictured below).  This set is only available until March 31st and is only $5 with a $50 Close to My Heart purchase.

For today's project, I decided to pull out my watercolor palette and have some fun.  First I heat-embossed the stacked teacups image using white embossing powder.  Heat embossing provides a slight ridge to contain watercolors when painting.  This is a great way to get a more controlled look.  After setting the embossing powder with a heat gun, I used my round watercolor brushes to apply color to the image.  I love how the white outline pops against the color.

One thing to remember when watercoloring is the color will always dry lighter than it appears when wet.  That said, if I was making this card again, I would have added another layer of watercoloring once the first layer had dried to increase the color saturation and help it pop more against the black cardstock layer and sentiment.

Overall, I enjoyed the techniques used on this card, and I am looking forward to more play time with this stamp set.

Supplies used:

*Tea-rrific stamp set (March SOTM)
*12" x 12" Black cardstock
*12" x 12" Watercolor paper
*5 1/2" X 4 1/4" white cards & envelopes, value pack
*Black Exclusive Inks stamp pad
*VersaMark ink pad
*Ranger white super fine embossing powder
*Craft heater
*Watercolor paints
*Waterbrush - small round
*Marvy Uchida LePen journaling pen
*Bitty Sparkles

To order these or any of our other fabulous Close to My Heart products, please visit http://jddesigns.ctmh.com.

Thank you for visiting me at jd designs and for hopping with us on the Close to My Heart Stamp of the Month March Blog Hop!  Next up on the hop is Alyson Mayo. I hope you'll hop on over to her blog for more inspiration.

Until next time, design with {heart}!

March Close to My Heart Specials

March Constant Campaign

Thin Cuts give you a fast and easy way to cut all kinds of shapes for your crafting, and this month they are all available at 25%-off! Choose from titles, sentiments, and a wide variety of shapes to stamp on, so you can get precise, dimensional shapes in no time!

This sale also includes four Thin Cuts bundles not previously offered—the Swirly Seashells, Sweet Birthday, Wreath, and School Kids Thin Cuts are now available in bundles with their coordinating stamp sets! This special pricing is only available during the month of March while supplies last, so get your orders in early.

To see all the fabulous Thin Cuts included in this special, simply visit my website at jddesigns.ctmh.com and click the Monthly Specials option on the shopping menu.

And to sweeten the deal, any new consultants who join my Designer Therapy team during March will receive the Sweet Birthday Stamp + Thin Cuts bundle (CC1220) FREE in their New Consultant Kit, while supplies last!

* * * * *

March Stamp of the Month

Only $5 with a $50 purchase

To order these or any of the other fabulous CTMH products, please visit my online store at jddesigns.ctmh.com.

Until next time, design with {heart}!