From the Heart Bashful Card

The From the Heart card kit special offer is only available until the end of the month, while supplies last.  I made this pretty card (if I do say so myself!) using Bashful cardstock as my base (with the darker actual shade on the outside and the lighter side on the inside).

After stamping the card sentiment in Charcoal on the center panel, I stamped it again on both sides of scrap Bashful cardstock and on Juniper cardstock.  I fussy cut the whole flower out of the darker side and the lighter side on the front section.  (I added the yellow with a marker.)

The Charcoal mat is from the Basics Fundamentals and the Juniper piece is from the Whimsy Fundamentals.  I added white shimmer trim and our new pink pearls to finish the card.  I  hope you like it!

Holiday Expressions New Product Blog Hop

Have you seen all of the holiday goodness of the current Close To My Heart Holiday Expressions?  You are going to be wowed by all of the talented artists highlighting their favorites from the Holiday Expressions.  It's the most wonderful time of the year!  (If you're already hopping then you've probably arrived from Priscilla's blog.  From here'll visit Gina's blog next.)

One thing I love to do is use your products in unexpected ways.  This Christmas card uses the new Prince of Peace stamp set, and I paired it with the autumnal Falling for You paper and a sketch from Make It From Your Heart, Vol. 2.  To make this card extra festive, I used red glitter paper, gold shimmer trim, and the Beary Christmas dots.

To stamp the candle, I first used washi tape to mask off the holly leaves and berries (although next time I will probably skip this step and just ink them up in Charcoal).  Then I inked up the candle flame in Saffron and the candle body in Charcoal.  Pull off the washi tape, huff on the stamp, and press onto your project.  The next step (after cleaning the stamp) was to ink up the holly (only) in Fern and then stamp.  I used my waterbrush to color the leaves with Fern ink and then used some of the small red Beary Christmas dots for the berries.  Finally, I painted the candle flame with my gold shimmer pen.  It adds such depth and richness!

Here are a few more projects (previously posted) with the Falling for You collection.

Feel So Blessed layout

Falling For You wall hanging

Feel So Blessed feather card

Thank you for hopping on the Holiday Expressions blog hop!  I'd love for you to leave a comment before you continue on to Gina's blog.  Thank you!

{Click HERE for all the hop participants and their blogs.}

September Stamp of the Month and Color Dare 261

When I saw the Color My Heart Color Dare 261, I knew that I wanted to try it with the feather from the beautiful Close To My Heart September stamp of the month, Feel So Blessed.

This color challenge was indeed a challenge, but I like how my card turned out.  I ended up using Saffron ink on Saffron card stock for the first feather, Nutmeg ink on the Nutmeg B&T from the Falling For You collection, Toffee ink on Almond card stock, Toffee ink on the pale Almond B&T from the Basics Fundamentals, and Toffee ink on the speckled B&T from Falling For You.

Cutting out the feathers didn't take any time at all!  (It probably took longer to decide how to arrange them on the card!)  Look carefully to see how I added gold shimmer to the Saffron feather.

To complete the card, I cut a band using the lighter side of the Saffron card stock and then layers a piece of the same Nutmeg patterned paper as the feather and then the gold shimmer trim.  The bronze & white twine is from the Falling For You collection.  I like the mix of textures that pieces added.

Remember, you can only get this stamp set through the end of September!  Be sure to check out both of the Color Dare challenges.

H2H Challenges: Talk Like a Pirate Day

This week's Heart 2 Heart Challenge is to celebrate "Talk Like a Pirate Day" on Tuesday, 9/19 (and until the end of the month on the blog!).

I decided to go with maybe more of a nautical theme than a pirate one.  My card is base on this sketch from Sweet Wednesday Sketches, Bugaboo Sketch 121.  I added a 4"x5.25" panel of Lagoon B&T and then used pieces of the Basics Fundamentals to add more color.  I used the CTMH/Cricut Artistry cartridge.  (The brown pieces were cut at 2.75" and the Lagoon cardstock mat at 3".)  I finished it off with a burlap ribbon and some adorable sequins (from the Falling for You collection).   The sentiment is stamped in Espresso (from the CTMH/Cricut Flower Market set) to match the center medallion.

See you soon! Thanks for visiting.  Be sure to check out what all the H2H designers have in store for you this week.  Aaargh!

Featured Paper Blog Hop: Falling For You

Welcome to our featured paper blog hop showcasing the fall-themed collections of the Close To My Heart Holiday Expressions: Cats & Bats or Falling for You!  (If you're already hopping then you've probably arrived from Brenda's blog.  From here, you'll visit Gerri's blog next.)  I decided to make a wall hanging using the Falling for You Workshops Your Way kit.

I grabbed one of our Memory Protectors Design 5 because I wanted to use the "Count Your Blessings" 4"x6" card on this wall hanging.  I cut various pieces of the Falling for You paper pack to fit the openings (4"x6" and4"x3") and then added the Complements artwork, bronze & white twine, and bronze sequins (all included in the Workshops Your Way collection).  I will add some Fern ribbon to the top to hang this on my wall (and of course some pictures too!)

Here's a scrapbook layout I made with the Falling for You collection and the September stamp of the month, Feel So Blessed.  You can find more about this layout HERE.

Thanks for hopping by!  Both of the featured collections are available until the end of 2017.  Now, hop on to Gerri's blog next!

CTMH Technique Blog Hop: Fabulous Foil

This month's Technique Blog Hop group is highlighting our fabulous foil.  (If you've already started hopping, then you've probably arrived from Sarah's blog.  From here you'll visit Cat's blog next.)  Of course I had to show off our gorgeous National Stamping Month From the Heart card kit and stamp set!  It is only available this month, while supplies last.

Here is the gorgeous card, closed. (Can you see the gold shimmer I added to the flowers with the gold shimmer brush?)

 When you pull on the insert, the front panel folds up to reveal a pretty sentiment stamped on the inside.

Here is the inside of the card.

To create this card, I used the From the Heart card kit and stamp set, stamped in Toffee, Saffron, Goldrush, Almond, and Fern.  I did add gold shimmer trim and glitter dots to this set.

Thanks for hopping by!  If you haven't grabbed your From the Heart card kit and/or stamp set, be sure to before the month's out.  Now visit Cat's blog next!

National Stamping Month Blog Hop

Close To My Heart is offering a beautiful kit (or just pieces of this kit!) for September, AKA National Stamping Month!  You're going to see some beautiful, creative ways to use all or part of this set (which consists of a beautiful stamp set and interactive card bases) along this blog hop.  (If you're already hopping, then you've probably arrived from Michelle's blog.  From here, you'll visit Gina next.)

My layout began with the beautiful new scrappbooking Workshops Your Way, Falling for You, and the From the Heart stamp set.  I selected a sketch from the NEW Make It from Your Heart, Vol. 3, pattern 25.

I love the Workshops Your Way because they include coordinating embellishments.  I did add Fern cardstock to complete my layout.  Scroll down for a tutorial on how I used the large stamps from this special stamp set on my layout and colored with a waterbrush.

On the right page, I used one of the journaling squares from the collection in the bottom right corner.

If you'd like to skip the tutorial, go on to Gina's blog next.

I really wanted to use the large flowers from the sentiment stamps on my layout but didn't think any of the sentiments fit for a scrapbook page.  There's an easy way to mask the parts that you don't want to use.  Grab some washi tape and cover the parts you don't want to stamp.

Next, ink up your stamp.  (I chose Charcoal to go with the Falling for You palette.)  Then pull the washi tape off carefully.  (Caution: You may get inky!)  Huff on your stamp (blow some of your hot breath on it) to reactivate the ink and then stamp directly onto your project.

 Voila!  I decided to color my images with the waterbrush.  I began with Saffron and turned my layout over so that I painted from the bottom of the flower toward the top so that the bottoms would be a bit darker.

To add more dimension to the flowers, I added some Golrush ink with the waterbrush.

Finally, I colored the berries with Nutmeg and the leaves with Fern.

I ended up adding some of the solid stamps to fill out the clusters and of course added those pretty bronze sequins.

 These flowers colored with Saffron and Goldrush.

Here's a close up of this finished cluster.

Thanks for reading this all the way to the end.  I would love a comment before you hop on over to Gina's blog!

{Click HERE for all the hop participants and their blogs.}

I'm also linking this up to the Three Amigos Blog Hop challenge #6: Falling for You.

Bless Your Heart Card

When I saw the Southern Sass stamp set, I knew that I had to own it!  I decided to try my hand with it and the Color Dare 260 color challenge: Willow, White Daisy, Raspberry, Bashful, and Charcoal.

Here are the details: This card is based on the Make It from Your Heart, Vol. 1 sketch #25.  On the White Daisy card base, I layered a piece of Bashful cardstock that I stamped with the small heart from the Happy Heart stamp set in Raspberry.  (I stamped the large heart from the same set on the envelope.)  Next is a piece of Charcoal from the Basics Fundamentals and then a Raspberry cardstock panel.  Finally, I stamped the sentiment on White Daisy cardstock with Bashful and Raspberry ink.  (Ink up your stamp in the lightest color and then ink up part of the stamp with the darker color.)  Finally, I added this pretty Willow heart wreath cut with the CTMH/Cricut Flower Market cartridge (p. 42 cut at 4.25") and a piece of Adventure ribbon.

The latest stamp on my wishlist is the Stronger Together stamp set.  ALL proceeds will benefit the Red Cross and their relief efforts.

H2H Challenges: Color Challenges

To kick off September, Heart 2 Heart Challenges has a gorgeous color inspiration challenge:

Use Toffee, Pomegranate, Sorbet, Canary, Peacock, and Pebble.  In addition to the colors, the birds in the inspiration inspired me to create!

I began by stamping the bird base in Sorbet, the second layer in Pomegranate, the beak and feet in Canary, followed by the overlay and sentiment in Peacock.  I added Toffee branches, Fern leaves, and a piece of Enchantment ribbon to complete my card.

Be sure to see how all the Heart 2 Heart designers inspired you this week and all of our September challenges!

September Stamp of the Month Blog Hop: Feel So Blessed

The September stamp of the month, Feel So Blessed, is a beautiful set of 26 images and sentiments.  You're going to get so many great ideas and get to see lots of NEW PRODUCT from the new Holiday Expressions supplement.  (If you're already hopping then you've probably arrived from Priscilla's blog.  From here, you'll visit Gina's blog next.)

This stamp set is beautiful combined with the Falling for You collection!  I chose the new Make It From Your Heart, Vol. 3 layout Pattern 27 for the sketch for this layout.  Everything you see is from the Workshop Your Way package.

On the left page, I stamped the sentiment in Nutmeg and then waterbrushed the letters with Almond, Saffron, Goldrush, and Fern inks.  The white and bronze twine is really pretty along with the coordinating sequins from this collection!

The cute little circle numbers are part of the set, so I used them to highlight the pictures that I will add and will then use on my journaling box.  I really love the feather stamp!

Thank you for hopping by!  After leaving a comment, visit GINA'S BLOG to continue the Feel So Blessed September stamp of the month blog hop.

{Click HERE for all the hop participants and their blogs.}

Jack Blog Hop

Jack is Close To My Heart's featured collection this month, and you're going to get some great ideas with this blog hop!  (If you're already hopping then you've probably arrived from Carol's blog.  From here, visit Erica's blog next.)  I have two very different projects to share with you.

For more details about this card, click HERE.

Here's a different look at Jack with TWO layouts from our European adventure last year.  We visited Kronborg castle.  It may be most famous for being the home of Shakespeare's Hamlet.  I took a million pictures while we were there. so my first layout uses one of our pocket pages (Design 2) to hold five photos on the left, plus a Pocket Plus Memory Protector Design 2 for more photos in the middle.

The Jack color combo was a great compliment to my pictures, so I used elements of the Workshop Your Way to embellish this layout.

Here is the right page and the back side of the Pocket Plus Protector.

For my second layout, I realized that the axes in the Jack collection look a lot like medieval maces or other weapons.

Because it was the 400th anniversary of Hamlet, live actors were reenacting scenes from the play in the castle.  That was so incredibly cool!  We even bumped into the actor playing Hamlet on his break and got a picture together.

Here's a scrapbooking tip: If you're visiting historical places, take pictures of the historical markers and use those photos for journaling.

These pictures are from the pretty, ornate chapel.  (I'm linking my layouts to the Three Amigos Jack challenge.)

Thanks for letting me show you a different side to Jack.  This collection is only available until the end of the month.  I'd love a comment before you leave.  To continue the hop, go visit ERICA'S BLOG next!

Annual Inspirations New Product Blog Hop

The 2017-18 Close To My Heart Annual Inspirations because available at the beginning of the month.   (Surely you've seen it by now?!?  If not check it out online HERE.) What is your favorite new product or collection?  You are going to be so inspired by all of the great ideas that you find along this blog hop!  (If you're already hopping then you've probably arrived from Darlys's blog.  From here, you'll visit my Heart2Heart teammate Alyson's blog next.)

When I first saw the Thoughtful Bird stamp set, I knew I would be ordering it ASAP!  My card was inspired by the card featured in the Annual Inspirations Idea Book on p. 76.  This page also explains how to use our new three-step images, so I won't go into too much detail here.  I began by stamping the bird base (the solid bird) in Glacier near the bottom left of a 3.5"x4.75" panel of White Daisy card stock.  Next, I stamped the middle bird layer/image in Lagoon.  The next step is to stamp the beak and feet (in Saffron).  The final step is to stamp the top bird layer/image in Peacock.  Our clear blocks make this pretty painless, but I'm not going to lie and say that it didn't take a little practice to get the images just right (or even "just right enough" LOL).

After completing the bird, I stamped the branch in new Toffee ink and the leaves in first and second generation fern.  I stamped the sentiment in Peacock.  To finish making the card, I layered the stamped panel onto our new two-toned cardstock (Lagoon in this case), with the lighter side cut at 3.75"x5" and the regular/darker side at 4"x5.25".  A strip of Peacock ribbon across the top was the final touch.  (This particular ribbon is retired, but the new Peacock ribbon is even prettier!)

Since I love this bird set so much, I couldn't leave well enough alone!  I stamped it again and again in different color combos following the same basic recipe.  The first color is the bird base, the second color is the middle image, the third color is the beak/feet, and the fourth color is the top image & sentiment.  All the cards have a Toffee branch and Fern leaves.

Canary, Canary, Saffron, and Nutmeg (NEW!) with Canary B&T (Whimsy Fundamentals), gold sequins, and white & gold ribbon

Canary, Saffron, Goldrush, Black with Saffron B&T (Enchanted Fundamentals), pearls (NEW!), and black & gold ribbon

Poppy, Cranberry, Saffron, and Black with Cranberry B&T (Adventure Fundamentals) and red shimmer trim

Pebble (NEW!), Pewter (NEW!), Saffron, and Charcoal (NEW!) with Charcoal B&T (Basics Fundamentals, silver sequins, and Whisper twine.

If you're not tired of this bird yet, I have another one that I made for a challenge/blog hop.  It features the same colors as the first card.  If you'd like to know more, you can learn more HERE.

Thanks for flying by!  I would love to know which color combo you prefer and would love suggestions for future attempts.  Be sure to go see the awesome NEW creation Alyson has made!

{Click HERE for all the hop participants and their blogs.}