January Stamp of the Month Blog Hop - Bloom & Grow

Welcome to our blog hop featuring the lovely Close To My Heart Stamp of the Month, Bloom and Grow. You may have just come from Miss Carrie's Creations. If you'd like to see the entire list of participants, you can find them at Melinda Everitt's post here.

This stamp set features a seed packet embellished with vines and room for a sentiment about growing. I used that seed packet, along with some sponge dauber techniques and the new Chelsea Gardens papers, for my first two cards. 

I inked the seed packet stamp with Sweet Leaf ink, then daubed on some Juniper ink in a few places. The card design was taken from the new Make It From Your Heart Vol. 4 book of card patterns, p.38. I used a sponge dauber for Charcoal Ink to in the edges of the patterned papers (something I used to do a lot).

For my second card, I embossed the seed packet in white for the next card. Then I sponged over the design with Sweet Leaf and Glacier inks, more heavily inking the outer frame with Juniper ink. I dry embossed the light gray linen paper with the Rose embossing folder.

The sentiments in this set can also stand alone without the seed packet. I need two anniversary cards this month, so I made one of them fairly flat for mailing. I layered dovetail scraps of the Chelsea Gardens papers (p.6, Make It From the Heart Vol. 4). Then I silver embossed one of the sentiments on watercolor background paper, along with three of the hearts from the stamp set.
The only element with any dimension is the new cream ribbon, but it's such a soft ribbon it doesn't make a hard knot.

I think silver embossing is perfect for these papers.

This stamp set is only available in January for $5.00 with a $50.00 purchase or for $17.95. You can purchase this set and other new materials shown from your CTMH consultant or , if you don't have one, you can shop here following the links. 
Thank you for visiting! Now you're ready to go  to Melissa Robinson's artwork.

Additional Materials used:

Sweet Leaf Ink, Glacier Ink, Juniper Ink, Charcoal Ink 

#1 - Whisper Thick Twine, Black and White Dots, Sponge Daubers (or value pack) 

#2 - Versamark Ink, Ranger White Superfine Embossing Powder, Tweezers to hold edge of embossed panel while heating, Craft Heater,  Chelsea Gardens Dots and Gems, Whimsy Ribbon Pack

#3 - Ranger Silver Superfine Embossing Powder,   Cream Ribbon