Friendship Pleated Card

Pleated paper is just so pretty to me, especially when it's the Hello Lovely paper (only available through the end of the month- and that is TOMORROW!!!).  To create these beautiful pleats, cut a piece of B&T paper 3"x12" and then score in this pattern: +2", +1" and continue until the end.  Then fold, alternation mountain and valley to create your pleats.  You will end up with wider piece than you need for a standard-size card, so place it where you like it best and cut off the excess.

The herbs and sentiment are from the Good Thymes! stamp set (stamped in Fern- 1st & 2nd generation- and Sorbet to match the Hello Lovely paper).  I finished my card with gold shimmer trim, but the Blush shimmer ribbon would have also been a beautiful choice.

Would you like to give this technique a try?  If so I would love to see what you create.  Feel free to link up in the comments!

Caught a Bug? Card

When I saw the lady bug on the CTMH/Artistry cartridge, I knew I had to pair it with the bug paper in the Dreamin' Big paper pack, which is only available until the end of this month (GASP!  How can Sunday be the end of the month already?!?).

This sketch is from the Make It From Your Heart, Vol. 2.  I used Whisper card stock as my card base, plus pieces from the Dreamin' Big Workshop Your Way.

I'm linking this card to the Heart2Heart Challenges, All Creatures Great and Small.

Love This (Card)

This card idea came from the cute sketch at Stamp Ink Paper Sketch Challenge #95.  (Unfortunately I missed the challenge deadline.)

Because I used the fun Some Kinda Wonderful paper pack, I am also linking up to the Heart 2 Heart What a Wonderful challenge.  The April stamp of the month, Flock Together, is so much fun to color with our Shin Han Twin Touch markers (after stamping with Momento permanent ink).

I think this card will go to my college daughter as she enters finals to complete her freshman year.  She needs a little encouragement during this stressful time!

Sweet 16 Double-Z Fold Birthday Card

How my baby can be 16 today is beyond me!  To celebrate her birthday, I created this Double-Z fold card just for her with the Sugar Rush collection.  All of the "fancy" cuts were made with the CTMH/Cricut Artistry cartridge

You can't help but notice the addition of Sea Glass glitter paper for the "16."

 Can you tell how the Sea Glass washi tape extends across the entire width of the card?

I used the Pomegranate washi tape to "fill in" the heart in the balloon.

If you'd like to make your own Double-Z fold card, just search for directions (& let me know if you can't find them).  It's an easy card to make and is fun with all its layers and dimensions.

 Here she was at 8 months and a little more recently.  Happy Sweet 16, baby girl!  Your Daddy and I love you!!!!!!!!!

Spring Card

The daffodils may have faded, but this card (that  I sent to my aunt) is still pretty in its own right.

This card features the Dreamin' Big paper packet plus Canary card stock and silver shimmer trim.  the daffodils and watering can were cut with the CTMH/Cricut Flower Market cartridge. The sentiment is included in the Flower Market collection.  I think the yellow sequins make pretty buds, don't you?

I'm entering this card in the Fantabulous Cricut Challenge #299, Spring.  Thanks for letting me know what you think of this quick and easy card. Happy spring!  I hope flowers are blooming wherever you are!

CTMH Technique Blop Hop: Vellum Makes Everything Better

This month's CTMH Technique blog hop is focusing on vellum, that beautiful sheer paper that (I think) makes your crafts look so fancy.  (If you're already hopping, then you've probably arrived from Melissa's blog.  From here, you'll visit Tammy next.)  I have three different cards to share with you today.

As you can see, I have two different versions of the same CTMH/Cricut Flower Market calla lily cut.  You will have to look closely to see the pretty striped vellum from the Uptown Fundamentals collection because the White Glitter Paper sort of steals the show.  The first version uses Whisper card stock for the sentiment panel (stamped in Slate with the Happy To Be Friends stamp set) with silver sequins and shimmer trim.

 Here's a close up where you can see the vellum layer better.

 The second version adds Canary ink sponged on the main panel and on the calla lily flower itself.  Gold sequins and shimmer trim complement the yellow.  Fern ink was sponged onto the stem.

 This card uses the same elements plus Slate ribbon from the Rustic Home collection.

My third card has already been featured on my blog, but I LOVE making vellum "mason jars" to hold flowers!  (You can read more about this particular card HERE.)

Thanks for stopping in and checking out my vellum projects.  I hope you'll give this pretty paper a try!  I'd love for you to leave a comment before you hop on to Tammy's blog.  Thanks!

Princess Baby Card

A friend's third grandbaby is on the way, so I made this pretty princess card for her baby shower.

The card base was cut with the (retired) CTMH/Cricut Artfully Sent cartridge on Canary card stock.  The front panel uses pieces of the Sugar Rush collection (available until the end of the month, while supplies last).  I embellished it with a heart from the Sugar Rush complements, pink epoxy gems, sparkles, and gold shimmer trim.

Best wishes to the new momma-to-be and their little princess!

(I couldn't resist sharing this on H2H Challenges' April Showers challenge!)

H2H Challenges: April Showers

You know the saying about April showers, right?  Heart 2 Heart Challenges' first April challenge is April Showers.  I knew that I wanted to try to pair the April stamp of the month, Flock Together, with the umbrella from the CTMH/Cricut Flower Market cartridge.

To begin, I stamped the hen and chick with Momento black permanent ink on my Glacier card front and again on White Daisy.  Then I took the cut out umbrella and laid it on my card to see where to stamp the hearts upside down to simulate raindrops.  (I stamped the "rain" with Glacier ink.)

The next step was to color the White Daisy birds with my Shin Han Twin Touch markers to coordinate with the Some Kinda Wonderful paper collection and then cut them out.  (By stamping them on the card base first in black, I didn't have to try to cut out the little feet!)  I don't know if you can tell how I split the umbrella so that it looks like it's tucked under Mama Hen's wing.  All of my embellishments except the silver shimmer trim came with the Some Kinda Wonderful Workshop Your Way collection.

Be sure to check out all of the Heart 2 Heart Design Team's inspiration for April Showers.  The month has just started, so you'd be a fool not to join us!

April Stamp of the Month: Flock Together

The April Close To My Heart stamp of the month is the adorable Flock Together featuring a set of adorable birds and some cute sayings.

My card paired the stamp of the month with the with Some Kinda Wonderful Workshop Your Way collection.  It includes the pretty paper pack plus the white twine and black epoxy gems featured on the card.  After stamping the birds with Momento ink (for its permanency) I colored them with our Shin Han Twin Touch markers to match Some Kinda wonderful.  The hearts were stamped with Raspberry ink.

If you'd like to follow the monthly Stamp of the Month Blog Hop, click HERE to get started.  (Unfortunately I missed out on this month's sign up, but I plan to join May's.)