H2H Challenges: Tea Time

This week is the final Heart 2 Heart March challenge, Tea Time.  This challenge is the perfect opportunity to use the March Close To My Heart stamp of the month, Tea-rrific.  (Of course if you don't have the stamp of the month, you can make any kind of tea-inspired project.)

This weekend I offered these five cards as a 15-card workshop (3 each of the 5 designs) with the March stamp of the month, Tea-rrific, and the Dreamin' Big paper pack.

 We used waterbrushes and the inks to march the Dreamin' Big palette to color each card.  (The top left card also uses paper piecing to make the polka dot cup.)

Be sure to join H2H and the Tea Time challenge- or any of the other March challenges!

So Lucky Card

Happy St. Patrick's Day!  When I created my Marker Madness card, I went ahead and made a St. Patrick's Day card for my college daughter using the same marker technique: adding dimension to die cuts.

To begin, I used this pretty shamrock bouquet cut from the CTMH/Cricut Flower Market cartridge on Willow card stock.  I then added color with two different ShinHan Touch markers (Leaf Green and Pastel Green) to add interest and depth.

To make my card, I added a panel of Pansy B&T (from the Adventure collection) and a panel of White Daisy that I stamped with Willow ink in first and second generation.  The "so lucky" sentiment is part of one of the three stamp sets that comes with the CTMH/Cricut Flower Market collection.  In order for that piece to stand out a bit, I inked the edges in Willow ink.  The Canary horseshoe was cut with the same Cricut key as the shamrock.

To finish the card, I used a piece of Pansy ribbon from the Adventure ribbon collection and three gold sequins.

Have a happy St. Patrick's Day!

CTMH Technique Blog Hop: Marker Madness

Close To My Heart offers a beautiful selection of alcohol markers in a rainbow of colors plus some specialty markers (chalk and metallics, anyone?).  This month's technique blog hop is focusing on our markers.  (If you're already hopping, then you've probably arrived from Melissa's blog.  From here, you'll visit Darlys next.)  I don't consider myself a coloring expert, so I decided to try to use them in a different way.

This card front of the pretty Canary daffodil with Willow foliage on a Glacier base was cut with the CTMH/Cricut Flower Market cartridge.  (You're not crazy if you're thinking you don't see any markers here.  You're not.)  I wanted to show how you can take a rather flat die cut and jazz it up with some marker highlights.

 Here is my finished card.  I added veins and texture with easily with the fine tip of our ShinHan Twin Touch alcohol markers.  For the daffodil's "cup," I colored the smaller piece again to add dimension.

To create the background panel, I colored the Glacier card stock with Turquoise Blue stripes from left to right.  I then flicked some rubbing alcohol on the panel to create the "raindrops."

 To finish off the card, I matted my original piece onto a piece of Lagoon Adventure 5"x7" B&T and then added an Adventure ribbon bow and sequins from the Dreamin' Big collection.

As you can see, markers aren't just for coloring in lined images.  Try adding a little extra depth, dimension, and texture to your next project.  Thanks for sharing in my marker madness today!  Now go see what craftiness Darlys has in store for us!

Dreamin' Big Blog Hop

Welcome to the Dreamin' Big blog hop!  A lovely group of CTMH consultants are highlighting this spring-y paper collection for you today.  (If you're already hopping then you've arrived from Darlene's blog.  Visit Carol's blog next!)

This layout is based on a PageMaps sketch that I found.  I used the Dreamin' Big Workshop Your Way paired with the Tea-rriffic March stamp of the month set.  All of the embellishments are from the Dreamin' Big Workshop Your Way collection.  (When I add my pictures, I will probably also add some of the Whisper twine included in the collection.)

The lacy doily cuts were made with the retired CTMH/Cricut Artiste cartridge.  On this left page, I used one of the 4"x6" journaling cards from the collection.  On the right page, I cut one of the 3"x4" cards down to 3"x3".

To color the tea cup stack and flower, I used my thin waterbrush and ink from this palette: Sorbet, Poppy, Saffron, and Juniper (after stamping with Archival Black ink).  The larger tea cup is paper pieced with a Complements sticker flower on top.

Thanks for hopping by!  Please leave a comment before clicking on over to Carol's blog!

March Stamp of the Month Blog Hop: Tea-rrific

The March Close To My Heart stamp of the month is my cup of tea!  This adorable set truly is Tea-rriffic, and I can't wait to see all the great ideas shared along this blog hop.  (If you're already hopping then you've arrived from Alyson's blog, and you will head to Jean's blog next.)

This card came together quickly using the Tea-rriffic set and the Dreamin' Big Workshop Your Way collection.  I stamped the tea cup stack with black archival ink and then used my small waterbrush and Glacier, Canary, Sorbet, and Poppy inks to paint the cups.  The waterbrush is super easy to use and will be featured in my upcoming Tea-rriffic card workshop.

All of the embellishments came with the Dreamin' Big Workshop Your Way: Whisper twine and these pretty sequins (along with Complements that I haven't used yet).  Using one of these kits is a great way to have a variety of papers and embellishments that go together beautifully.

Thanks for hopping by!  Brew yourself a cup of tea and then go see Jean's sweet project to continue the hop.

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