Happy Halloween!

This large sugar skull (11.5" tall) was a surprise for my older daughter to decorate her dorm room for her favorite holiday!  (I really think she loves Halloween as much as Christmas!)  I used new Pansy and Blossom cardstock (plus obviously Black and White Daisy), and my CTMH/Cricut Flower Market cartridge did the work!  (We learned at my recent card class when making this in a small size, the holes can be difficult to punch out.  Cut intricate cuts slowly and with a sharp blade.)

Happy Halloween!

H2H Challenges: Change

Love it or hate it, we all face change in our lives, and that is the theme of the first November Heart 2 Heart Challenge.  (Don't worry; your calendar is correct!  Today is October 31 but since our challenges always end at the end of the month, we knew no one could participate in a one-day challenge.  You have until the end of November to make your change project and link it up.)

My card features a fall wreath from the CTMH/Cricut Flower Market collection on a Kraft cardstock base.  All of the other papers are from the Enchanted Fundamentals plus a little Desert Sand.  The cap of my acorn is actually Cocoa ink instead of the Cricut cut.  The banner and sentiment are from the Finding the Words stamp set (which is also available in French and Spanish).  A little shimmer trim completed this simple card.

We would love to see your interpretation of "change."  Visit the H2H blog to let our design team inspire you and to link up your project!

H2H Challenges: Jeepers Creepers

Here is a super fun card that I made for my daughter and her BFF for Halloween (two versions of the same card)!

The cool sugar skull was so easy to make with the CTMH/Cricut Flower Market cartridge!  (It did take a while to punch out all the little cuts, though.  A toothpick can be your BFF!)

The washi tape is actually from the City Sidewalks collection, so I am really mixing up my holidays here- not that you can tell!  I can't decide if I like the sentiment in black or Willow best.  Either way, have a happy Halloween!

Be sure to visit Heart 2 Heart Challenges to see some terrific ideas with the Jeepers Creepers collection!

CTMH Technique Blog Hop: Wacky for Watercolor

This month's technique blog hop is featuring our beautiful watercolor paints.  You are going to get some creative ways to use this versatile crafting product!  (If you're already hopping then you've probably arrived from Wendy's blog.  From here you'll visit Darlys next.)

As I searched for creative watercolor techniques, I really liked the look of the abstract dripping watercolor technique. I didn't want to create a canvas, but after a few trials I was able to make this "thinking of you" card.  (If you'd like to skip the tutorial, go to Darlys next.)

 To begin, I cut a panel of watercolor paper 4"x5.25" that I attached to the flap of an open box with a little rolled washi tape on the back.  (I needed the panel to be vertical so it would drip rather than flat on a table.  The small box was very effective.  I could tilt the box flap as needed to encourage the paint to run.)  I learned that for the drip to be effective on paper, you need to wet the watercolor paper first.  I just brushed stripes of water across the panel from left to right with my large flat brush.

Then I saturated the purple paint with water.  Using my largest round brush, I began pouncing color across the top of the card, working from left to right.  The paint began to drip in two placed on the left but nowhere else.  (Unfortunately I forgot to photograph this step.)

 Next I added the blue color I had chosen in the same manner as the purple.  I went back and added a little water and got more drips across the card.  (When the paint hit an especially wet strip across the bottom third of the panel, it ran from side to side rather than down.)

 In the same manner, I added the third, green color. I tried adding a very light, watery fourth green and found that adding more water was more effective.

Because the water worked so well at adding additional drips, I went back and dabbed water in places along each color band.

After the panel dried, I inked up the sentiment from the Happy to Be Friends stamp set in Emerald for the "for you" portion and Pacifica for "Thinking" then stamped on the bottom right of the card.  I adhered my watercolor panel to an Emerald card stock base.  A pair of blue enamel and glitter gems finished it off!

Thanks for hopping by!  I'd love to know what you think of my card and this technique.  You should definitely give it a try; no two creations will be alike.  Now go see Darlys's beautiful watercolor project!

Click HERE for the complete list of participants.

October Stamp of the Month Blog Hop: Yuletide Joy

Even though I was appalled to find Christmas trees at our local Walmart a few days ago, in the crafting world you have to work ahead of the season.  With that in mind, Close To My Heart has a pretty Christmas stamp set, Yuletide Joy, as the October stamp of the month.  If you're not ready to bring out the tinsel and lights, don't worry!  This blog hop will start the festivities!  (If you're already hopping then you've probably arrived from Brenda's blog.  From here, you'll visit Michelle Loncar's blog next.)

My card pairs Yuletide Joy with the City Sidewalks collection: paper pack, embellishment assortment, washi tape, and red epoxy gems.  (You can purchase them all individually, or save with the City Sidewalks Workshop Your Way collection.)  I knew I wanted to use the stocking stamp, which is super easy to cut with the (retired) CTMH/Cricut Art Philosphy cartridge.  In keeping with the City Sidewalks retro feel, I stamped the stocking in Lagoon.  My sketch is from Make It From Your Heart, Vol. 2.  The sentiment is stamped in the new Willow exclusive ink.  Don't you love the silver shine of the star and the washi tape?

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!  Please leave me a comment and then check out Michelle's lovely project next!

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

Blessed Beyond Measure Layout

Time is running out on ordering the September stamp of the month, Blessed Beyond Measure!  You literally only have hours to get this beautiful fall stamp set.

 This layout uses the pretty Swan Lake paper pack.  This sketch is found in the Swan Lake Workshops Your Way kit.  We random-stamped the outside edges of the card bases.

 To create the leaves on the title section, I cut a mask with my Cricut and then sponged color into the negative space.

For the pumpkin, I inked it up in Goldrush and then inked the edges by rolling them in Poppy ink.  

Remember, the Blessed Beyond Measure stamp set is only available through the end of the month- tonight!

September Stamp of the Month Swap Cards

The Close To My Heart September stamp of the month, Blessed Beyond Measure, is so pretty!  I wanted to share the cards that my swap group made this month.  These are NOT my work, and unfortunately they aren't signed so I can't give credit where credit is due.  Please know that these aren't mine.  They sure are pretty, aren't they?

You can easily cut out the pumpkin and leaves with the CTMH/Cricut Artbooking cartridge.  Happy Fall, y'all!

H2H Challenges: Sea Glass

Have you seen Close To My Heart's Color of the Year, Sea Glass?  It is absolutely gorgeous!  This week, Heart 2 Heart Challenges' Team Sea Glass is highlighting this color.

My card uses two Oh, Deer Picture My Life cards (cut from the Oh, Deer Workshop Your Way collection).  This gorgeous holiday paper pack features Sea Glass, Juniper, Fern, Desert Sand, Whisper, Slate, and White Daisy.  Since I didn't stamp at all on the card, I used several different embellishments: two pieces of the Oh, Deer Assortment (star & pine cone) and the addition of White Shimmer Trim.

To make this simple card even more festive, I used my Shimmer Brush to paint a little sparkle on the stars on the zip strip.

Be sure to check out all the H2H designers' work for this challenge and join us through the end of September!

Holiday Expressions New Product Blog Hop

Have you seen the new Holiday Expressions Idea Book?!?  In it you'll find fabulous seasonal paper pack collections for your fall and winter crafting.  (If you're already hopping, then you've probably arrived from Melinda's blog, and you'll go to Lela's blog next.)

 For this hop, I am featuring the Oh, Deer! collection.  I made (from left to right) a gift card holder, a standard-sized side-fold card, and a 3"x3" card.  I also made a very non-holiday card with the Oh, Deer collection, the new CTMH/Cricut Flower Market cartridge, and the additional of Thistle card stock and ink.

Read more about this card HERE.

Now for the festive cards!  First up is a gift card holder.

 This gift card holder was cut from Ruby card stock with the (retired) CTMH/Cricut Artiste cartridge.  The deer head and medallion were cut with the CTMH/Cricut Artistry collection.  The band and medallion frame were cut with Desert Card Stock and tied with the twine included in the Oh, Deer Workshop Your Way.  I stamped the Swirling Stars stamp set in White Daisy on the card front.

For this standard, side-fold card, I random stamped the bells from the A Little Jingle stamp set  (M1147) in Whisper, Desert Sand, and Sea Glass.  On a 1.25" White Daisy square, I gold heat embossed the sentiment.  I also heat embossed the bells in gold and silver then cut out to accent the sentiment.  This card sketch is from Make It From Your Heart, Volume 2.

 That pretty star is from the Oh, Deer Workshop Your Way embellishments.  I also added a strip of silver shimmer trim.

My final card uses the pine cone cut from CTMH/Cricut Artistry collection.  The pine cone base is Cocoa card stock, and the needles (top layer) are Juniper.  I used the direct-to-paper technique to add White Daisy ink to the Juniper pine needles.  When that dried, I painted on the needles with the new clear Shimmer Brush.  The White shimmer trim is not included in the Oh, Deer Workshop Your Way (but the twine is!).  I embellished this card also with white epoxy gems from the white and gray collection!

Thanks for stopping by!  I hope that you're getting into the holiday crafting season.  Visit Lela's blog next!

Click HERE for all the hop participants and their blogs.

CTMH Technique Blog Hop: Flower Power

This month's CTMH technique blog hop is featuring the brand new CTMH/Cricut FLOWER MARKET collection!  You are so going to love the beautiful creations you can make with this awesome collection.  It has lots of cuts that aren't floral, too.  (If you're already hopping, then you've arrived from Michelle Loncar's blog.  To continue the hop, visit Tonya next.)

For my 8"x3.5" card, I decided to use the pretty succulents on the Flower Market cartridge.  I selected my color palette of Juniper, Whisper, and Fern (from the Oh, Deer collection) plus Thistle after looking at several pretty succulent images online.  Who would have thought to use the Christmas/winter Oh, Deer paper for a something obviously not wintry?  I love how versatile Close To My Heart's themed papers are!

To begin, I cut several different succulents from p. 40: Juniper at 2.75" and Thistle at 1.5" and 1" plus the SHIFT succulents at 2" and 1.25" (Whisper) and Fern (2").  Below, you can see the Juniper succulent pieces after they were cut.

For each succulent, I sponged the matching ink color onto the two base/largest pieces and then added a little White Daisy ink to the smaller pieces.  I also bent and shaped the card stock as I glued the pieces together to give them some dimension.  For the succulent cuts (as opposed to the SHIFT succulent cuts), I didn't use all the pieces because they were just too bulky for a card.

To finish my card, I stamped the sentiment (from the Flower Market collection) in Black onto the large piece of Oh, Deer B&T.  I also added White shimmer trim and silver sequins, plus the twine from the Oh, Deer Workshop Your Way.

Thanks for hopping by!  Enjoy the Flower Power hop and visit TONYA'S BLOG next!

National Stamping Month Blog Hop

It's STAMTember or National Scrapbooking Month!  Close To My Heart has a darling card kit available this month only!  You're going to want it for the 8 (that's right, EIGHT) different stamps and the adorable container it comes in!  (If you're already hopping than you've probably arrive from Lauren's blog.  From here, you'll visit Darlys next.)

Since this set is a card kit, I decided to create a scrapbook layout instead!  I took three of the card bases and cut them in half on the scored fold line.  I then created a tile effect and added in three 3"x3" squares of White Daisy card stock. 

I adhered my squares to a 9.5" square of black card stock on both pages, then onto a 10" square of new Willow card stock, and finally onto the 12" square White Daisy scrapbook base.

After stamping 2 of the stamps from the kit in black, I quickly colored them in with a green and purple colored pencil.  Green shimmer trim and epoxy triangles easily finished off the pages.

Not bad for photos from this past weekend!  This kit is so much fun to use.  Thank you for hopping by!  You're going to love all the great ideas you'll find, so go visit Darlys's blog next!

Click HERE for all the hop participants and their blogs.

H2H Challenges: National Stamping Month

Since Close To My Heart has declared this month to be STAMPtember, we at H2H had to follow suit.  We are celebrating National Stamping Month by, of course, stamping on our projects!

My card (which will be sent to my college daughter one day soon) features two stamp sets: M1146 Swirling Stars on the background in Sea Glass and C1605 Happy To Be Friends in black for the sentiment and in Sea Glass for the flowers.  I used a piece of Memo Fundamentals B&T and Whisper card stock for the sentiment banner.  I embellished this card with aqua shimmer trim, rose gold foil, All Together Complements, and White & Gold Twine.

Be sure to check out all of the great National Stamping Month projects that the H2H Team Sea Glass has created for you!