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.}