Close to My Heart fans, what are your fave products?

[KirstenB]

I know next to nothing about stamping. But some of their papers look really pretty (I was looking at them on the Internet). Does anyone here use CTMH? I'm at a busy point in our lives, and I like the way they have papers, stamps, stickers etc all together. What are your favorite products? Thanks

 

[Twingle]

I LOVE CTMH - they've really changed the way I scrapbook, as in, I can usually actually finish an ENTIRE layout, rather than saying, oh, I need XXXX to make this complete, putting it aside, and never touching it again!

I mainly use their My Reflections Kits - there is the main kit (papers, cardstock stickers, etc.), and then there is a supplemental package of the papers and a supplemental package of the cardstock stickers. I also really like their My Accents, everything matches back to the kits (the colors are all labeled, for example, the Hollyhock in your kit will match the Hollyhock accents.)

I think the acrylic stamps are awesome - I've had a much easier time with using them then with other brands. A much crisper image, not so much shadow around it. I think maybe they are etched deeper?

I've never found a CTMH product I haven't liked - and I've been buying their stuff for about nine years!

 

[KirstenB]

Thanks Twingle! I saw the Reflections kits. As I said I'm just at a busy point in my life, and I really like the way it looks like I can just plug in my photos. Do you happen to know if they would fit in a Creative Memories album? Their albums are side loading. It sounds like 12x12 paper, etc, so I'm thinking it would be compatible. Also, when you stamp, do you tend to pick one color, ink it and go? Or do you stamp in black and white, and then fill in more than one color? I hope that question makes sense!

 

[Twingle]

I don't have any of the larger CM albums, but I know the smaller ones I use are not true to size - and the CTMH paper 12x12 is actually 12x12. I think you would have to trim off a little of each side of the CTMH paper, and then it should be fine in your CM album. Side load or top load doesn't matter, because you would either create your page directly on the CM white/black pages or create your page and then put it on the CM white/black pages, because of the staple thingys that allow you to put them in the CM albums.

As far as stamping - really, anything goes! It depends on what kind of "look" you are going for, and what type of stamp you are using. I think you said you were looking at products online? If you pull up the online catalog, this is what I'm talking about:

Look for the stamp set called "Fair Blossoms". There are "solid" stamps, which appear all black, and there are "outline" stamps, which are outlines of the images. In the "Fair Blossoms" set, there are solid stamps of a large flower, three smaller flowers, a large leaf, two smaller leaves, and a flower vine. The outline stamps are of a large flower, a smaller flower, a leaf, and two leaves together. You could use the stamps in several ways.

1. Ink the solid stamp in the same color as your paper, stamp, this would give you a watermark or a tone on tone image.

2. Ink the outline stamp in the same color as your paper, stamp, and you'll have an outline of the stamp in a watermark or a tone on tone image.

3. Ink the outline stamp in black, then color in using markers, colored pencils, chalks, etc.

4. Ink the solid stamp in a color, stamp the image on a scrap piece of paper, then stamp the image again on your layout, without reinking the stamp. I've heard this called second generation stamping, and it gives you a lighter color. Then, ink the outline stamp in the same color, line up the outline image with the second generation image you've already stamped, and you will have an outline around the solid stamp.

If you want to see pics, let me know. If you're new to stamping, this might be clear as mud!

 

[MazdaUK]

I love the stamps - and having compared them with cheaper ones I can see why they are the price! But they are lovely - I usually have a huge list I have to prune . I'm currently waiting for some cardstock - my first, so I can't say how good it is.

You'll only need to shave off a little from the edges of the pages to fit in CM albums - If you've got some perfect fit paper you could place it over the page before you complete is and decide which "edge" you can sacrifice, to save wasting any work I have loads of small strips of 12x12 paper I've shaved off, waiting to do serendipity squares

 

[rlovew]

I have used their cardstock and their brads and eyelets. I just use the plain color ones and I love the brads and cardstock. I think it is good quality and it cuts well on my craftrobo but it can be used for projects where i don't want something as thick as brazill. Also I like that it comes in matching pallette packages. i have used a lot of mine for bases on my pages. in fact I think I used some of it for Susie's tading pages but i am not sure.

Rebecca

 

[danicaw]

I was just introduced to CTMH last night at a card making workshop.
I had a wonderful time and love the papers and the clear acrylic stamps...so cool.
But I was curious how these stamps compare to the other clear acrylic stamps on the market. Do they all work the same?
MazadaUK mentioned a cleaner/crisper image?
Will the different stamps all work on any of the acrylic blocks or are they brand specific?

Sorry for all the questions, this is new to me and I am trying to figure out how much its all going to cost me

 

[MazdaUK]

I think a block is a block its the quality of the stamps that is superior. I tend to use big blocks rather than wasting money on tiny ones that I can only use for one or two things. This is probably BAD, but I don't care
I bought a cheap block online and the only difference was its size - TINY With stamps the silicone (or whatever) is much stronger - with a cheaper one I worry about stretching/tearing it.

 

[Twingle]

danicaw - glad you enjoyed your workshop! Alot of the acrylic stamps are just personal preference. Personally, I really like the CTMH and Technique Tuesday's stamps. I HATE Brenda Walton's - they tore very easily, and did not have a very clear image. There's been a couple other's here and there that I've purchased, they're okay, but I can't remember specific brand names.

As far as the blocks - blocks are blocks. Some of them have guides on them so you put the stamp on straight, some are just plain.

As far as needing smaller blocks - no need! Use a tic-tac container or, if you don't have one handy, a juice glass will work. Anything that has a smooth surface and you can see through, you're good to go.

 

[KirstenB]

Thanks Twingle, I looked up Fair Blossoms, and your description made perfect sense. I appreciate the help!

 

[Twingle]

Glad to help - I think you'll enjoy stamping. But, it can be almost as addictive as Disney