H2H Challenges: The Birds and the Bees

The final March challenge at Heart 2 Heart Challenges is "the birds and the bees."  I stretched this theme to include the butterflies too- though I did use the Sunshine Birdies stamp set (the March stamp of the month)!

The sentiment panel is one of my "tests" for my watercolor layout (that you can see HERE).  I painted on a 3" square block and then "stamped" it onto White Daisy card stock.  These colors go well with the Penelope paper pack, so I stamped the sentiment and butterflies in Black.  I had to  add a little bling with the purple shimmer trim and green epoxy triangle gems.

Sometimes you just need a quick and easy card!  Be sure to check out all of this week's H2H inspiration, and join us!

Happy Easter!

This simple card Rejoice stamp set with a mix of Zoe and Penelope papers. After stamping in Slate, I embellished with white and gold ribbon and a gold Treasured puffy sticker. 

Happy Easter from my family to yours!

H2H Challenges: Monogram

If you follow my blog, then you'll notice that I haven't been posting as much as I normally do.  Things are fine here but super busy.  (I know that we all are!)  I am working on my last course of my specialist (EDS) degree in addition to all of my other duties and responsibilities, so I just haven't had the crafty time that I would like (and need).  That will change before we know it though, because graduation is 4/30!  (HOORAY!!!)

I'm not the only one graduating this year.  (Again, if you're a fan then you already know this.)  Our oldest graduates from high school in May, and I have decided to make a small album of our family and friends for her to take with her to college so that she won't feel that she is journeying away from home alone.  I am using the CTMH Everyday Life album for this project and decided to use this week's Heart 2 Heart Challenge, Monogram, for the dedication page of her going away present.  (Shh!  She won't get this for quite a while, and I will post updates from time to time.)

The pretty floral background is page from the My Crush Everyday Life pages.  I used my CTMH/Cricut Artfully Sent cartridge to cut her initials on a piece of Charlotte B&T and then adhered them onto White Daisy card stock.  I added strips of pink shimmer trim and then the Whisper arrows B&T (also from Charlotte).

The flowers in Cotton Candy and Black and the sentiments are from the Blossoming Expressions stamp set that I further embellished with gray epoxy gems.

I will be sharing more as I create this album.  Won't you visit the H2H blog and link up a favorite monogram project?

H2H Challenges: Retiring

This week's Heart 2 Heart Challenge is the theme "retiring."  Maybe you or someone you know has retired, or maybe you want to use up some of your retired stash.  I've chosen to highlight the soon-to-retire Charlotte Workshop Your Way.

You can find instructions to make this card in the Charlotte Workshop Your Way downloadable guide.  I did use the new Woodland Romance stamp set, which is also retiring at the end of April.  For my stamping, I used Champagne, Slate, and Black inks.  The embellishments all came from the Charlotte WYW kit.  This card went together really quickly, so check out the Charlotte Workshop Your Way before it retires on 4/30.

Be sure to go to the H2H blog to see what all of our designers have made to inspire you this week.  You have all month to play along with any of the March challenges.

CTMH Watercolor Blog Hop

Have you tried your hand with Close To My Heart's wonderful watercolor products?  (We have paints and pencils.)  This blog hop will give you some amazing tips to use this products.  (If you're already hopping then you've arrived from Priscilla's blog, and you'll visit Jeanie next.)  I decided to create a layout with our watercolor paint and the March stamp of the month, Sunshine Birdies.

Since I am thinking spring, I used the Penelope paper pack and Creative Insider layout sketch.  I changed it though to use 3" squares on the right page.

I must thank the fabulously artsy Tresa Black for the idea to watercolor directly onto a block and then "stamp" the paint.

You may notice that on this page I cut down one of the small Picture My Life cards to make a 3" square.  On the left page, I trimmed down one of the large cards to make a journaling bloc.

I had fun watercoloring the stamped images.

Thanks for checking out my layout featuring our watercolor paints.  I'd love a comment before you leave.  Go see what Jeanie has made to inspire us next!

Click HERE for all the hop participants and their blogs.

Stampaganza Extravaganza and Retiring Stamps Lists

Stampaganza is here!  Buy two CTMH stamp sets and get a 3rd free (of equal or lesser value)!

Close To My Heart has also released two important stamp reference lists that you can view by clicking the links, below.

• Stamps Retiring in 2016
• Stamps NOT Retiring in 2016

You can take advantage of Stampaganza on my scrapbook class on Sunday, March 13, or anytime online HERE.  Happy stamping!

March Stamp of the Month: Sunshine Birdies

March is here along with signs of spring like the cutest Close To My Heart stamp of the month, Sunshine Birdies!  I am so loving this stamp set!  I made a quick and easy card for this month's blog hop.  (If you're already hopping, then you've arrived from Melinda's blog.  You'll visit Lela's blog next.)

My card started with the Penelope paper pack and a sketch from Wishes.  Don't you love how cheerful this palette is?  On the Crystal Blue card stock base, I stamped the sentiment in Honey and then embellished it with green epoxy triangles.  For the focal image, I stamped the tree branch in Pear first and then the cute little bird in Thistle, swiping the edges in Crystal Blue.  To keep the sun shining, I stamped the sun in Honey on the Honey striped square.  Once I pieced the card together, I added the little music notes stamp in Thistle onto the card base.

Here's a frugal tip for you: the green shimmer trim on center stripe doesn't go all the way across the card.  I used two small pieces (one on the left and one on the right) rather than one long piece.

Thanks for perching here a moment.  You're going to get so many great ideas for the March stamp of the month, Sunshine Birdies, so go visit Lela next!

Click HERE for all the hop participants and their blogs.