Hello and welcome aboard the Australasian Close to My Heart Stamp of the Month Blog Hop. If you have arrived here from Mandy’s Blog, Hall of Indulgence, 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.

Today I would like to share with you these cards which features the November  stamp of the month “Illuminate”. I have enjoyed the challenge of working with this stamp set as it is quite different to what I normally work with and I hope you like my offering.

I love working with clear acrylic stamps and Close to My Heart clear My Acrylix stamps are the best quality I have ever used over too many years I care to remember!  With clear stamps it is so easy to place your stamps accurately on your paper and with these samples I have tried to show you how you can link up stamps to create a more complete image.

To start with I did some basic cards but decided that I needed to do something a little different with yet another folded card.  I searched Google and ended up on Split Coast Stampers again for a recessed window card.  The link for this tutorial is here.  I also wanted to convey a message of light shining on Mary and child and the birth of Christianity.

Here is my version using the “Illuminate Stamp” and “Mary and Babe” stamp sets and the lovely silver paper from Holiday from the Heart Gift Guide. Here are some close ups to show more details of this card. I have stamped the image of the Mary and Babe in slate grey on the background cardstock slightly to the right of the card to take into account the lantern that would be hanging there. To create the lamp post I have stamped the image on a piece of scrap cardstock and then fussy cut out the image and then using a sharp craft knife I have cut out around the swirls on the top of the lamp post.  When fussy cutting or cutting with a knife it is very important to move the paper or card around and not your scissors or knife as you get a better result. I have used alcohol markers (buttercup) to colour in the lamp to create a little bit of colour (and create the image of light shining onto Mary and her baby) to a very serene silver/grey colour scheme.  To stamp the yellow rays of light on the base card I have put the lantern in the approximate place it would end up and then marked the spot with a pencil and then stamped with buttercup ink to create the rays of light.  I have used my Bonding Memories glue to adhere the lamp post onto the side of the card and then put two layers of foam adhesive to create the correct height of the lantern with the recessed window, and to stabilise the lantern. Using my Cricut I cut out the sentiment shape and then stamped the sentiment from “Illuminate” in black.  I also cut out the edging on the shape from Twilight cardstock and glued it onto the background shape.  I felt that it needed a little more black and balance so added the black bakers twine.  I finished off with some sparkles to add a little shine. Here are my first efforts with the “lluminate” stamp set: The materials I have used are:

November SOTM set – “Illuminate” Holidays from the Heart – “Mary and Babe”

Daisy White cardstock

Black cardstock

Twilight cardstock

Buttercup cardstock

Juniper cardstock Slate

Cardstock Holidays from the Heart Sparkle and Shine B&T Duos 

Buttercup alcohol markers

Black and white bakers twine

Cuttlebug embossing folder – Swiss Dots

Cricut – Art Philosophy cartridge

Clear sparkles Adhesives –

Tombow tape runner and Bonding Memories glue

This exclusive stamp of the month is only available during November. It can be yours for just $5 with a qualifying order of $75 or for $29 if ordered separately from your CTMH consultant. If you do not have a consultant please contact me or place an order in my online store.  I’d love you to leave a comment and some liking before heading off to the next stop, Monika’s blog, A Sprinkle of Glitter.

Happy Crafting Patricia