Think Pink Blog Hop

Close To My Heart has a cool "Pretty in Pink" promotion this month!  One of my blog hop groups thought it would be a great idea to showcase this special, and I couldn't agree more!  (If you're already hopping then you've probably arrived from Priscilla's Paperie blog.  From here you'll visit the amazingly talented Alyson next.)

My first card uses the CTMH/Cricut Flower Market cartridge to cut out these pretty tulips from Raspberry, Pixie, and Sweet Leaf card stock.  Notice how I used both light and dark sides of the Raspberry and Sweet Leaf card stock.  Since I am using up my stash of Pixie cardstock, I made it "two-toned" by sponging Pixie ink onto the second layer of my center flower and onto the Pixie cardstock of the flower on the left.

For the lightest layer of my center tulip, I brushed Bashful shimmer brush to give it some sparkle.  A piece of Adventure ribbon finished off this simple card.  (Notice how I made "grass" by cutting fringe on a strip of Sweet Leave cardstock.)

My next cards are all a variation on Pattern 9 from the new Make It From Your Heart, Vol. 4.  Each card uses Raspberry, Pixie, Bashful, and White Daisy cardstock plus Bashful glitter paper.  The XOXO and heart were both cut from the CTMH/Cricut Artbooking cartridge.

The Bashful paper is from the Gimme Some Sugar paper pack, and the pretty ribbon is from the Adventure ribbon collection.

Thanks for letting me share these Pretty in Pink projects with you!  I would for you to leave me a comment before heading on to the next blog.  Just click on her name to continue the hop to see Alyson's beautiful creation!

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

H2H Challenges: Sunny Days

Winter, please go away!  I am so over you.  I would love to see some sunny days, and Sunny Days are the current Heart2Heart Challenge! Today was actually quite lovely, so my whole family went on a walk.  I also made this card recently with my card club members to celebrate a little sunshine in our lives.

Based on a sketch from Make It From Your Heart, this card uses one of my new favorite techniques: splattering a background with a shimmer brush (in this case the gold shimmer brush).  The center medallion and sunshine were cut from the CTMH/Cricut Artbooking cartridge.  I used Canary and Glacier cardstock, plus patterned paper from both the Whimsy Fundamentals and the Chelsea Gardens collection.  Of course gold shimmer needs some gold shimmer trim!

Be sure to check out all of the inspiration at the H2H blog.  All of the February challenges are open until the end of the month, so be sure to join us!

Featured Paper Pack: Make Waves Blog Hop

This month's featured paper pack is Make Waves, an adorable "under the sea" collection!  You're going to love seeing some creative ways to use this collection along this month's hop.  (If you're already hopping then you've arrived from Shirley's blog.  From here, you'll visit Kathleen's blog next.)

For this hop, I challenged myself to use some of the Picture My Life cards on cards instead of scrapbook pages/pocket pages.

This card uses the Southern Sass stamp set paired with two of the different patterned papers and the pink 3"x4" card.  I stamped the sentiment with Pixie ink, distressed the edges with Emerald, and accented it with the pretty Make Waves gems.

For my second card, I cut off about 1/4" off the card and then stamped this Southern Sass sentiment with Pansy ink.  I used the Make Waves shimmer trim on top and below the Emerald patterned paper.

 Again, the flower sequins add nice sparkle and dimension.

My final card only uses PML cards plus shimmer trim and purple Make Waves gems.  (Did you notice the one in the mermaid's hair?)  Even though my girls have outgrown the mermaid phase, this will make a sweet birthday card for a little redhead I know.

Thanks for visiting my blog along the Make Waves blog hop.  Before you head to Kathleen's blog, please leave me a comment.  Then go make some waves!

CTMH Technique Blog Hop: In Love with Vellum

Vellum is an elegant, translucent paper that adds class to any project.  It can, however, be a little difficult to work with because of its transparency.  Along this month's technique blog hop, you'll see some beautiful projects and learn some great tips for using this pretty paper.  (If you're already hopping then you've probably arrived from Melissa's blog.  From here, you'll visit Darlys's blog next.)

My card uses the Inspired Words stamp set paired with Gimme Some Sugar paper pack and the Make It From Your Heart, Vol. 4 sketch #9.  To create the rough edge on the top and bottom of my vellum piece, I used my bone folder and my paper trimmer to score the edge.  The sentiment was inked in Bashful and then rolled in Tangerine.  The sentiment is mounted onto Bashful card stock and then Peacock ribbon.  When working with vellum, any adhesive I've ever tried shows through, so I hid my glue dots with the ribbon strip and sentiment.

This Chelsea Gardens card uses the same vellum techniques.  Don't you love how soft the Charcoal square becomes with the layer of vellum on top?

Thanks for visiting!  From here, click on her name to go visit Darlys next.  I would love a comment before you leave!

H2H Challenges: Sketch Challenge with Make It From Your Heart

For the first February challenge, Heart 2 Heart is encouraging you to use any sketch from Close To My Heart's Make It From Your Heart sketch guides.  (We currently have four of them!)  My card uses MIFYH Vol. 4, Sketch 23.

If you'd like to learn more about this card, using the Chelsea Gardens collection, then please click HERE.

Be sure to join us at Heart 2 Heart with your favorite take on your favorite sketch!

Love Letters Monograms

If you missed out on ordering your January Love Letter(s), I may be able to help you out, but only if you contact me this weekend!

Since my "baby" loves the color blue, we decided to use Glacier card stock to cut flowers for her monogram rather than use the pink flowers included in each kit.  She also did not want a name/word banner on her letter.

To create the rose gold flower centers, I used a regular hole punch to cut out pieces from the sticker sheet.  Then I used Liquid Glass to give them dimension.  The Glacier centers are from the Chelsea Gardens collection.

Again, these letters may still be available this weekend while supplies last, but you must contact me!

CTMH Stamp of the Month Blog Hop: Sunny Thoughts

Welcome to the February Stamp of the Month blog hop featuring the cheerful Sunny Thoughts stamp set! (If you're already hopping then you've probably arrived from Jean's blog.  From here, you'll visit Carol T.'s blog next.)

Of course I had to use a sun CTMH/Cricut cut (from the Artbooking cartridge) to coordinate with the Sunny Thoughts stamp set.  I cut this sunrise at 4" from Canary card stock, and  I stamped the sentiment in Glacier onto the card front, and then splattered gold shimmer brush onto the card front and the Canary sun.

NOTE: Be careful squeezing your shimmer brush to be able to splatter it onto your card front!  I ended up with a huge blog on my sentiment, so that card went in the trash.

My second card front went much better, so I mounted the sun rays onto the pretty Glacier patterned paper from the Chelsea Gardens collection.

I wish you could see the pretty shimmer on this card in person, because it is so difficult to photograph!  You'll notice that I finished the card with a piece of Whimsy Glacier & Gold ribbon.

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

Thank you for visiting!  I'd love a comment before you visit Carol's blog next!