Jaded Blossom/Lovebug Creations Wedding Hop - May 31

Did you know that the most popular month for weddings -- still, after 75 years of record-keeping -- is June?

Well, if you ever tried to book a wedding in June, you might know.  I was once a June bride -- Marriage #1 -- and I can tell you that it's a beautiful time of year, but in my area (the Northeast), it can be hot and stormy. LOL, kind of describes my first marriage, especially the stormy part! 

My Marriage #2 was at the end of March -- "in like a lion, out like a lamb."  And that too describes my second (current/last!) marriage.  Yup, I tamed that lion, LOL -- and he's a lovely lambie! :)

So anyway, let's get to the point of why you're here as we head into June: the Wedding Blog Hop, hosted by Jaded Blossom and Lovebug Creations, and featuring their respective creative team members. 

We'll be showing you Jaded Blossom's fun Wedding stamps (Wedding Wishes and Wedding Candies), while also showcasing Lovebug Creations Rumple Ribbons. Here are the two Jaded Blossom stamps, available in their store:

Lovebug Creations is featuring the release of their newest color, a luscious soft beige called "Buttercream."  

Now, when I think "Buttercream," I think yummy icing. When I think icing, I think cake. And of course, if it's a wedding hop, I think wedding cake. There's my thinking behind this project I made for this Hop, a beautiful paper wedding cake, filled with treats for the bride. I envision this as a gift to take to the bride at a pink/green themed wedding shower ...

The "cake" is a three-tiered octagonal box which is a pattern available from the Silhouette Online store. I decorated each panel with different but complementing pink/green papers cut and embellished on each panel. 

For the bottom layer, I decorated the panels with a paper from my stash, accented by LBC Rumple Ribbons in Panther Pink On the Edge. At the lower edge, I tipped the panel with a piece of white cardstock cut with a Martha Stewart eyelet lace punch.

On the middle layer, I again used the MS eyelet lace at the bottom, with a paper from my stash; LBC Rumple Ribbons in Green Leaves laced through a ribbon punch cut, topped with a half pearl. 

On the top layer, I used pink roses from Wild Orchid glued in a serpentine pattern on each panel, trimmed with leaves punched using a Punch Bunch leaf punch. The top is capped by a rolled rose from Cricut Art Philosophy cartridge, along with more roses from Wild Orchid. Adhesive pearls dot the top as well. 

The top tier is unfillable, as I made it. I filled the center tier with Hershey's Kisses adorned by punched sentiments from the Wedding Kisses stamps from Jaded Blossom. The bottom tier I left empty for now, thinking I may make circular thank you cards for the bride to use after her shower. 

Once it was filled, I tied the entire "cake" using Lovebug Creations' newest product, "Mama's Mesh" in Ballet Slippers, tied with another piece of LBC Rumple Ribbons.  

I hope you enjoyed my project, and that you'll leave a little love in my COMMENTS section. If you do and your comment is chosen at random by RANDOM.ORG, you could win my personal blog candy, which is a beautiful Stamp of the Month 16-piece stamp set from Close To My Heart featuring roses called "Floral Happiness" ... I love this set, and plan to feature it on the thank you cards I'll be making (soon!) to enclose in the bottom of this box. Here it is:

And our hostesses are offering Hop-wide blog candy, too!
To be eligible for these host-sponsored prizes, you must comment on EVERY PARTICIPATING BLOG, so get hopping if you'd like to win one of these two prizes that will be awarded:

A $15 Gift Certificate from Jaded Blossom

A $15 Gift Certificate from Lovebug Creations

So get hopping!  Your next stop is: 
ASHLEY 

Here is the entire line-up in case you get lost along the way:

Candace

 Kim and Pamela 

Michelle 

Martha 

Kate 

Dawn Mercedes 

Jamie

 Tanya 

Crystal 

Dorcas

 Julie 

Christine

 Jenny

 Dawn Rene 

Trixie

 Ellen (CardMonkey) - You are HERE

 Ashley 

Stephanie

 Jaymie

 Zeni

Thank you again for Hopping By!!

Rumple Ribbons Thursday: Lemonade Love

Bright sunny skies, butterflies, daisies, lemonade and love -- doesn't this just scream Summer to you?  

This pretty card is made using a base from April's Card Kitchen kit by Jillibean Soup. I added a sweet yellow butterfly and complemented the card using Lovebug Creations' Rumple Ribbon in Lemonade.

I just love all of these fun, refreshing elements on this card -- how about you? 

The Advantage of Card Kits

I have had a couple of people inquiring about using card kits -- whether I like them and if so, why. Honestly, I'm fussy ...  I've tried a few card kits and thus far, the only one that I just love is The Card Kitchen kits by Jillibean Soup.  

I like their style. I like that they typically include 10-12 full sheets of 12x12 paper or a full 6x6" paper pad. I like the die cuts and embellishments that come with them. And why use them?  Well, I feel they keep my creative mojo going. Some days, we just don't have the ooompfh, you know?  

When a kit comes in (always the first week of each month, assuming I pay using PayPal promptly), I like to sit and read the instructions first, and then cut each of the card's papers at once. For each of the 8 cards, I put the cut pieces and the planned embellishments into the cello bag that will eventually hold the finished card.  The Card Kitchen kits also include the card blank and envelope, so that goes into the corresponding cello bag as well. 

You may also have noticed that sometimes I change up the design of the kit card. I may add Rumple Ribbon, or buttons, or CTMH Liquid Paper. I might change the sentiment as well, or add my own die cut that changes up the card's plan entirely. The nice thing, it's totally up to you!

For this card I show here, I've made it exactly as the designer planned it for The Card Kitchen. Once all the pieces were in their cello bag, when I make it, a card like this flies together -- less than 5 minutes!  Wouldn't these be great to take to a crop or party, so you'd only have to bring along adhesives and scissors? 

Pocket Full of Sunshine Blog Hop

Welcome to the Pocket Full of Sunshine Blog Hop!
 

If you have just stumbled upon the hop, Lissa Marie is our host at So Many Crafts, So Little Time today. Start there so you don't miss a thing.

But, if you came from Lucy's sweet blog, you are in the right place.  

Grab a cuppa'Joe or favorite beverage, and relax as you browse through the awesomely bright and cheerful projects we have made for you, and get ready to win some blog candy!

Now, I don't know about where you are, but summer's struck!  Last week, temperatures here in the Philadelphia area just missed 90 degrees -- egads, that's too hot for what's still technically spring. But this weekend, we're back to almost winter. I mean, seriously??  60 degrees?  Mother Nature ... gee ...

Anywhoooo, traditionally, Memorial Day Weekend is the first time that we fashionistas (HAHA!) here in the Northeast can break out our white pants/skirts, sandals and summer handbags. Here's my take on a paper-crafted pocketbook for the:

POCKET(books!) FULL OF SUNSHINE 

BLOG HOP!
 

I made this cute PAPER purse using Close To My Heart's "Surf's Up" paper, cutting it with a file by Silhouette America on my Silhouette Cameo.  I trimmed it out with white stitching from my sewing machine around the cute edges and the darling buckle tag closure. My pocket(book) isn't full of sunshine per se ... it's loaded with Hershey's Kisses, "nom-nom, yummy," as my dear granddaughter Charlotte would say. 

  

Now for the good stuff!

Our sponsor today is ME!

I will be awarding a $20 Close To My Heart gift certificate to one lucky blog hopper, to be used at my CTMH site at cardmonkey.ctmh.com.  To be qualified for this drawing, please comment on all participating blogs. Just be sure to leave a comment at So Many Crafts, So Little Time to let us know you have done your part to be entered into the drawing.

And don’t forget to keep an eye out for more blog candy offered throughout the hop. Some blogs are offering extra perks on their own! If they are offering even more blog candy, they all have their own requirements for you to win, so don't forget to read the rules for each one.

Thank you for taking the time out to check out my project, if you like my project and you are not already a follower, you are encouraged to add your email in the subscribe area to get updates right in our inbox or follow my via BlogLovin! Keep clicking for more Pockets Full of Sunshine!

Your next stop is with SARAH.

Here is the line up to help you navigate
through this fun blog hop:

Lissa Marie:  http://somanycrafts.com
Janet:  http://janetscreativeworld.blogspot.com/
Anita:  http://anitaandbugs.blogspot.com/
Cicily: http://pinkdalmationscrapper.blogspot.com/
Lucy: http://love2createitall.com/
Ellen:  http://cardmonkeyspaperjungle.com/
Sarah:  http://itswhatkeepsmesane.blogspot.com/
Teresa:  http://freshandrenewed.blogspot.com/
Beth:  http://thecraftyscrapyard.blogspot.com/
Shawnee:  http://quiverofangels.blogspot.com/
Holli:  http://sunflowerHolli.blogspot.com/
Jessi:  http://mylifeinartsncrafts.com/ 
Daphne:  http://craftyscrapsofstuff.blogspot.com/
 

OH, and
Happy Memorial Day!   

Thank you
to all military personnel
(past and present)
for your service.

Rumple Ribbon Thursday: Happy Memorial Day!

Have I told you lately how much I love Lovebug Creations' Rumple Ribbon? 

As I headed into making my patriotic cards for the summer holidays, I begged Kimi of LBC to please make red/white/blue ribbons -- and she responded in all glory!

She made two sets of R-W-B ... one that is called the Old Glory collection, and the other is the Star Spangled collection, both of which are now available from http://lovebugcreations.net. 
Old Glory has more vintage, subdued colors of Betsy Ross Blue, Washington White and Revere's Ride Red. In the Star Spangled collection, you'll find parts of the "Simply" colors -- Simply Red, Simply White, Simply Blue.  (Simply Black and Simply Grey are also now available.)  

For this card, I once again added Rumple Ribbons to a Jillibean Soup Card Kitchen card, to make it my own. I mixed up colors from the two patriotic collections, and used Simply Red, and Betsy Ross Blue. Aren't they perfect matches for the Jillibean Soup diecuts?  

Do you have plans for Memorial Day?  Our (private) community's pool opened earlier this month, and there's a pool party to welcome the summer.  In Warminster, there'll be the traditional parade sponsored by the VFW; when I served as Township Supervisor, I rode in the parade (sometimes in a convertible, more often in a golf cart) and threw candy to the kids lining the parade route. Honestly, it was about my favorite part of the job when I served. (And I'm glad I'm only a cardmaker now, not a politician!) 

Happy Memorial Day, and thank you to all veterans who have served our country, including my father (Army), uncle (Army), nephew (Army and Coast Guard), father-in-law (Marines), mother-in-law (Air Force), and ex-father-in-law (Navy). 

DeFiaNtLy DiFfeReNt & CreAtiVeLy Yours,

Bicycling into Summer on a Red Bicycle

Did you see the first summertime red bicycle card I posted last Saturday?  Well, here's another! 

This too uses the May Card Kitchen kit from Jillibean Soup. The red bicycle is printed on the "Bite Sized Bits" paper that came on the kit. This card is as-designed -- easy-peasy and great for a Tuesday, don't you think?

Pretty Silhouette Wedding Card

I'm excited to say that I've registered to go to this year's convention for Close To My Heart (CTMH) at the end of June in Orlando.  There, I'll not only meet other consultants and learn how to build my business, but I'll also get sneak peeks at new products.

I'm told that one of the more fun things to do at the CTMH Convention is to participate in the unofficial "swaps."  There, consultants trade their own CTMH projects with others -- with the goal of getting new ideas on using papers, embellishments, etc.

This wedding card is one of the cards I'm making to trade. 

I used a wedding silhouette cut file from Silhouette America and modified it to use two individual papers. The paper is called (appropriately!) "For Always."  This paper is currently available, and will be continued into the next Idea Book. I added a paper punch for the red lapel flower, and gems for the bride. I pop-dotted the couple onto a card made from CTMH Colonial White cardstock. 

Don't forget to place your orders with me in May (click that link!).   Those who place qualifying orders ($50 or more) can get this month's Stamp of the Month for just $5.00 (value: $17.95), see below:

Projects (above) made using CTMH's
Stamp of the Month for May (below)

Back from Disney

Charlotte really enjoyed her trip to Disney World, and can't wait to go again.  Here she is, in our rental car, returning to the villa we'd rented after she and her parents spent the day in Ariel's Grotto, the newest section of the Magic Kingdom's Fantasyland.

 

For the grandparents, all of the walking and the heat -- and the crowds! -- in the Magic Kingdom just wasn't our cuppa tea. However, the trip was priceless in that we had hours in the car hearing Charlotte's versions of the songs, "It's a Small World" (John's favorite ... NOT!), "Supercalifragilisticexpealidocious", and "Under the Sea."

 

Two year olds can be so charming! Disarming! And EXHAUSTING!!  :)  We loved it.

 

Card Kitchen "Celebrate" Card

Our family has an awful lot of occasions to celebrate this month. 

In our immediate family, we have three birthdays (my hubby, son-in-law and Dad)

... Mothers' Day for our three living Moms (me, my Mom and my daughter), 

... plus graduations: my niece Nicole and nephew Max graduate from high school; and my oldest niece graduates from Franklin & Marshall University (Lancaster, PA) with a music degree. 

I bet you're just as busy! This cute card could be used as an invitation, a congratulations card or a birthday card.

To make it, I used a design from May's Card Kitchen kit from Jillibean Soup. I removed one element from atop the tag, and cut the word "Party!" using a design from Silhouette America's online store. I popped it up in red (which photographs as pink) to give a little more zing. What do you think?  

Happy celebrations, whatever is on your calendar!!
  

Feels like Summer Today

Has summer started where you live?  Spring?  I've noticed as I've aged that my Pennsylvania springs are much shorter, and air conditioning season starts well before the Summer Solstice. 

This card makes me think of summer memories of my youth, when I'd ride with bicycles with friends, and we'd decorate our bikes for summer holidays' parades.

The base of this card is made from May's Card Kitchen kit from Jillibean Soup. I swapped out the sentiment sticker with one that honors "Memories", and used Really Reasonable Ribbon in red instead of the planned navy binding. 

This card makes me long for picnic days. How about you?

Trendy Color Combo: Green, Gray and Yellow

I'm loving this color combination: yellow, yellow green, white and light gray. And I found it in the Jillibean Soup Card Kitchen card kit for April, well, at least in part. 

The kit called for a cream-colored bow and a "Hello" sentiment in yellow that just didn't do it for me. Remember: You're always encouraged to change up these kits to make them your own!  

I swapped out the cream ribbon for Lovebug Creations' Rumple Ribbon in "Green Goddess." Yummy! Then, using one of the Pink By Designs stamps I recently received as part of my work on the Lovebug Creations Creative Team, I instead used the sentiment: "You really made my day."  A heart sticker from the kit was changed up for a sweet yellow butterfly that complemented the Jillibean Bite Sized Bit.  

Rumple Ribbon Thursday - Thank you!

Hi, friends ... It's Ellen CardMonkey here, and it's Rumple Ribbon Thursday.

 

I'm excited to show you this card for several reasons.

 

First of all, I was able to use several different techniques and supplies on this card that just made me smile.  And secondly, I'm writing this post WAY ahead of time because I'll be on vacation when this is posting ... and that it's up means that I'm enjoying myself in Disney World with my hubby, daughter/son-in-law and granddaughter Charlotte!

 

Let me tell you how I made this card. I used Jillibean Soup papers and patterns found in the April Card Kitchen kit. Do you like kits?  I do because it gets my Mojo going, and I usually can change it up to suit my own style.

 

In this case, instead of using the "ordinary" ribbon, I substituted Lovebug Creations' Rumple Ribbon in Caddy Blue. Isn't it just perfect!? 

 

The kit provided a simple kraft die cut butterfly to use. I wanted something with a little more zing, so I pulled out my Copics ABS (Air Brush System) and airbrushed the butterfly in turquoise, purple, yellow, brown and green.  I then used a white gel pen to add definition.  Can you see the cute antennae?  They're turquoise electrical wire topped with Swarovski beads.

I hope you try these techniques and enjoy them!
 

Rumple Ribbon on a Masculine Card -- Really!!

Hi Rumple Ribbon friends!  It's Ellen CardMonkey back with another card that features one of my very favorite accents: Lovebug Creations' Rumple Ribbon -- this one in "Eyes of Blue".

Do you have as much difficulty as I do coming up with masculine cards?  I usually cop out and buy those cards -- the guys never seem to appreciate the time put into custom cards anyway.  Or is it just my guys??  Well I have a friend who rides a Hog (Harley-Davidson), and I thought maybe he would like this ...

The outside of the card is fairly simple; that elegant blue edge is the Rumple Ribbon. I love how it blends with the Close To My Heart "Later Sk8r" paper.  Inside, the motorcycle on the move actually pops up from the card when it's opened.  

I used Close to My Heart stamp sets: "Born to Ride" and "Card Chatter - Birthday", along with CTMH stamp pads in the ink colors: Lagoon and Outdoor Denim Blue. If you're interested in purchasing any CTMH products, please be in touch with your favorite consultant (and I hope that's me!). You can check out the latest Idea Book by going to http://cardmonkey.ctmh.com.
 
 

DeFiaNtLy DiFfeReNt & CreAtiVeLy Yours,