H2H Challenges: Signs of the Season

This week's Heart2Heart challenge is "signs of the season," and this 3"x6" card fits the bill for November.  It's a lovely size and such fun to use.  The actual sketch comes from the Wishes how-to guide.  I used the Falling for You collection and the Inspired Words stamp set (on the center panel).  The left panel uses one of the Complements (stickers) from the collection, and the right one is a piece of the patterned paper in the kit.

I used my waterbrush to color the center image and accidentally dropped a dot of color onto the bottom of my card.  That mistake turned into a serendipitous border! I just continued to add dots all the way across the bottom and top of my card.  It actually turned out cute.  My CTMH team's motto is "It's not a mistake; it's an opportunity to embellish!"  All my customers know this one too!

Can you see how I added gold shimmer with the shimmer pen to all of the Saffron and Goldrush images?  It sparkles in real life.

In all things, give thanks!  Please leave a comment with something/someone for which you're thankful.  Be sure to visit the H2H blog!

Retiring Stamp Sets Blog Hop

It's that time of year!  Close To My Heart has announced their retiring list of items that are only available through July, while supplies last, to make room for tons of new product that will be unveiled in August.  (Click HERE to download a PDF of the retiring list.)  This blog hop features many of the stamp sets that are retiring.  (If you're already hopping, then you've arrived from Priscilla's blog.  From here, you'll go to Brenda's blog next.)  I've chosen to feature our state stamps, and specifically my home state of Georgia.  (CTMH offers all 50 states and all of the Canadian provinces through the end of July.)

Both cards feature Sorbet (for the Peach State) and Sweet Leaf with patterned paper from the Whimsy collection.  I used both green and coral shimmer trim on these cards.  (The adorable heart shimmer trim was cut with a hand-held punch that is not from CTMH.)

This first card measures 4"x4" and also features a retired greetings sentiment.

This standard-sized card uses a pattern from Wishes with an added Sweet Leaf polka dot background and green epoxy triangles (if you look closely).

Thank you for hopping by!  Be sure to get your must-have stamp sets before they retire!  I'd appreciate a comment before you head off to Brenda's blog next!

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

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.

CTMH Technique Blog Hop: Kissing Is for Stamping

Valentine's may have been yesterday, but the Technique Blog Hop is bringing you some awesome KISSING techniques today!  You may think you already know all there is to know about kissing, but I bet you'll learn something along this blog hop!  (If you're already hopping and reading up on your kissing technique, then you should have arrived from Tammy's blog.  You'll go to Tonya's blog next.)  What is kissing in the stamping world, you might ask?  It is basically pressing (or "kissing") two stamps together.  You can add or remove color with this technique.  For my projects, I chose to add color.  Here's what I mean:

I decided to make 3"x3" cards featuring the kissing technique with the February stamp of the month, Balloon Animals.  I "kissed" these cuties with stamps from the Charming Cascades stamp set to get the "polka dots" that you see on each stamped image.

For my first card, I chose a sketch from Originals called "Top It Off."  Because the giraffe was too big to fit on the 2.5"x1.25" panel, I knew that I would cut it with an "off the edge" technique so I started with a much larger piece of White Daisy card stock.  I inked up the giraffe balloon animal in Honey and the polka dot stamp from the Charming Cascades in Chocolate.  I carefully pressed the giraffe onto the polka dot stamp.  (I had the large polka dot stamp inked up face up on my work space.)  Be careful because when both stamps are inked up they are slippery!  Then, using my paper trimmer I began to trim down my panel to the requisite size and then fussy cut the head off the edge.  I mounted that piece onto a piece of Chocolate card stock.  On the Honey card stock 3"x3" card front, I repeatedly stamped the "It's Your Day" stamp in Chocolate.  A scrap of Honey Fundamentals card stock, some bronze shimmer trim, a random (non-CTMH) flower, and a retired Rosewood brass gem finished off this cute card.

For my second card, I wanted to use that cute puppy dog, so I inked him up in Glacier and then pressed him carefully onto the stars from the Charming Cascades set that was inked up in Sapphire.  This card uses the Middle Ground sketch from Wishes and the Regatta paper pack.  The blue epoxy gems match much better in real life!  Doesn't this card remind you of how boys are made of snips and snails and puppy dog tails?  I like the patriotic stars with  Regatta anchors, and I hope you do, too.

Last up is my girly bunny card.  I inked up the bunny in Pixie and then kissed it onto the Charming Cascade hearts that were inked in Pomegranate.  This card sketch is Layered Look sketch from Wishes and uses the La Vie en Rose paper pack.  I embellished it with the last of my pink epoxy gems.

Thanks for hopping by!  I hope you've enjoyed my kissing technique.  I'd love to have a comment before you leave, but then you can go see what TONYA has created.  I promise not to kiss and tell! ;)

World Traveler Cards

Traveling is apparently in my genes, and I am a sucker for great travel-themed crafty goods!  Of course I fell in love with Close To My Heart's new Wanderlust paper pack collection and the World Traveler stamp set.

My first card measures 8"x3.5" and uses a sketch from Originals.  How do you like the new Flaxen color?  I am seeing this shade pop up everywhere!  I am loving our new Black Arrow washi tape too!

My next card was super fun to make!  When I saw the "snap" stamp, I knew that I had to combine with the "Oh" from the sentiment!

For this card, I stamped "Oh" and "Snap" in Honey.  I hope that you can see the sparkle for the camera's flash and the silver washi tape.  The card uses a sketch from Wishes.  Here's a little close up:

Be sure to check out the tons of great ideas using NEW CTMH products in this link up!

Click HERE for great ideas!

Thanks for traveling by!

H2H Challenges: Shabby Chic

The "shabby chic" look has been popular in home decor for quite some time, and Heart 2 Heart Challenges is asking you to take this style to your paper crafting projects.

Hopefully my card fits the bill!  It's an 8"x3.5" White Daisy card stock base with layers of the gorgeous Ariana paper pack (following a sketch from Wishes).  I don't know how well you can see the little bird, but is and the sentiment are from the Love This stamp set.  You probably can't tell at all that I paper pieced the bird, but its little epoxy eye jumps out, doesn't it?

If you need a little inspiration, be sure to check out all of the H2H Design Team's creations this week.  (BTW, this week is the last February challenge, and then the voting will begin for YOUR favorite creations!)  Show off your shabby chic style and link up by Friday!

#45 Anniversary Card

My parents celebrated their 45th anniversary on Saturday!  We are so very blessed.  Here's the card I made for them using the For Always paper pack:

This 6"x6" uses a Wishes sketch and a piece of retired Irresitibles chipboard (sponged with Slate ink).

Happy anniversary, Grammie and Grumps!  We love you!

Another Card Share

As I said in one of my recent posts, life has been very busy.  Unfortunately, my sister's sweet, dear mother-in-law passed away last week.  She fought a good fight against that nasty, hateful cancer, and was ready to meet her Redeemer and Savior, but we are sure going to miss her!

I gave my sister this card along with a bunch of thank you cards and envelopes.  The sketch came from the Wishes how-to guide, which will be available again in a spiral-bound format on 8/1/13!  I used the For Always paper pack paired with Sky card stock and ink.

This beautiful butterfly is from the January 2012 stamp of the month stamp set, which is no longer available.  I inked it up in Sky, Slate, and Black and then cut it out and layered it onto the Black stamped butterfly on the Cricut circle.

My heart goes out to my sister, brother-in-law, nephews, and the entire family as they cope with this loss and transition.  I love you guys so much!

Happy Birthday, Traci!

Today is my dear friend Traci's birthday!

Here is the fun card I made to help her celebrate her special day (made from a Wishes sketch). I have been hoarding that beautiful Olive & Lagoon damask paper, so you know she's a true friend. ;) Isn't the Lagoon patterned paper pretty too? They are from the Stella paper pack.

I stamped the background with the music stamp from the Universal Backgrounds stamp set, and the Happy Birthday sentiment is from the Salutation Seals stamp set. A few pearls and ribbon finished it off.

Happy birthday, Traci!!!

Zebra Birthday

A dear friend just recently celebrated her 11th birthday with a roller skating party no less, and since she loves zebra print, we went a little crazy! We found the two zebra print bags and the mug with her initial at one store, and the zebra gowned jewelry holder was a last minute, perfect find.

The zebra pattern from the Roxie paper pack was a great match, but I paired it with Hollyhock to give me more of a pop of pink. This card sketch can be found in the "Wishes" how-to guide. All of the stamps are from the Royal Birth (retired) stamp set. This princess definitely deserves to be treated like royalty!

Happy birthday, Little H!

H2H Challenges (From Your Heart to Ours): Gratitude

This week's Heart 2 Heart challenge is "from your heart to ours," where we ask you to share something special with us. This week's theme is gratitude, and you have all month to play. I created a collection of goodies, and I'll share each of them with you, below. All of my projects use the Sonoma Workshop on the Go kit (paper pack and stamp set). (If you'd like to see the rest of the H2H Design Team's creations, head right on over to H2H. Thanks!)

My first project is a bottle tag (which I am also linking up to CAS-ual Friday's "Tag, You're It" challenge.) Don't you think this would make a lovely hostess gift to show your thanks? It was really simple to create, and I had a scrap of Sonoma paper that was the perfect size! I just used the scalloped circle punch to cut out a whole in the top center to make this piece hang onto the bottle. The back includes a piece of Colonial White cardstock on which to write a personal message. Then I decorated the front similar to my card, below.

This card's decorations were inspired by the Sonoma Workshop on the Go instructions, but I didn't want to make a 6"x6" card. Instead, I used the "Sentiment Secured" pattern from the Wishes how-to book.
Here's a peek at the inside, stamped with the "ribbon" from the Sonoma Workshop on the Go stamp set and punched with a Martha Stewart lovely.

Finally, my last three cards are actually what started this whole project! Since the H2H theme was to create something for someone to whom or for which you're grateful, and of course my family came to mind. I created these three little 2.5"x3.5" cards (also from Wishes patterns) for the loves of my life (from left to right in card order). my husband, my younger daughter, and my older daughter. (I think they were pleasantly surprised to find them last night!)

Thanks for stopping by! I'd love for you to leave a comment, especially sharing what you're grateful for, before heading on. Thank you, dear readers and visitors! I am grateful for YOU.

Sonoma Workshop on the Go "Medallion" Card

Are you familiar with Close To My Heart's Workshop on the Go kits? They are a great value and even include instructions for a scrapbook layout! You get a paper pack, and exclusive C-size stamp set, and at least two other goodies (embellishments and/or tools) to create tons of wonderful projects!

My card uses the paisley stamp from the Sonoma Workshop on the Go kit in a fun way: as a medallion!

First, I stamped the paisley once, and then I started stamping the paisley again and again as I moved around the first image in a circular shape.


It took a little practice to get them fairly evenly spaced, but I think I succeeded.

Finally, I cut the entire piece out as one medallion. A pretty sparkly button in the center finishes it off.

I also used a little silver glitz glue for the other decoration on this 5"x7" card (pattern from Wishes).

H2H Challenges: From Our Heart to Yours CASE Challenge

This week's Heart 2 Heart challenge is a monthly feature we like to call "From Our Heart to Yours." This week, we're sharing our style for you to CASE. What's a CASE? Why, copy and steal exactly, of course! (Usually, however, it's a CASE with a twist of your own style.)

So, which H2H Design Team Member's style is most like yours? We'd love to see who inspires you. Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, right?

As for "my" style, I really struggled with this challenge! Since I love to use sketches, I decided to make a card using the Wishes "Top Band" pattern. You can find a PDF with instructions for this card sketch right HERE if you'd like to use this sketch too.

It is probably easier for me to define who I'm not as a crafter rather than who I am. I think that I'm generally a simple gal, but that doesn't mean that I won't glam it up when the occasion calls for it. I like to stamp, but I don't like to color. I love to get inky with a little distressing or stamp rolling. Tearing is another fun, simple technique that I like.

While this card is probably busier than my usual style, it's thanks to this gorgeous CTMH Dreamin' paper. All those beautiful flowers on the front are part of the paper, not anything that I did! (The butterfly was white with the black text, but I colored it by sponging first with Bamboo to antique the white and then with a bit of Pacifica to give it dimension and to match the project better.) The Dreamin' paper pack may not be my first choice of colors (I'm not much of a yellow girl unless it's 14 karat.) but there's just something that I love about this paper. Maybe it's the hints of cool that we're starting to feel underneath all this hot Southern heat.

We hope that you'll join us once again this week at H2H for another fun challenge! You have until the end of the month to play along with any of August's challenges and to be eligible for our Top 10 and/or the prize packs. Get your game on and CASE away!

May CTMH Stamp of the Month Blog Hop: Jubilation "Super Mom"

This month's Close To My Heart stamp of the month, Jubilation, will have you smiling with all the possibilities! Join me to see what a (large) group of talented CTMH consultants have created with this versatile, celebratory set of 24 stamps. (If you're already hopping, then you should have arrived from Susan's blog. To continue hopping, visit my friend and fellow H2H design team member Melinda next.)

My CTMH team participates in a monthly stamp of the month swap, and this month we were required to use the Lucky paper pack, so I challenged myself to make a feminine card using the "Super Mom" seniment along with the heart and flower images. (The dotted circle stamp is from the Tag the Occasion stamp set.)

I random stamped the Sunset cardstock with the flower image in Sunset ink. Using my corner rounder (with the guard removed), I punched the scallops along the card edge and then distressed the edges with a sponge and Desert Sand ink. This card is the "Delightful Dots" sketch from the Wishes how-to guide. Since I only had a few scraps of the Lucky paper pack, I pulled in some Olive patterned paper from the Mayberry pack for the scalloped circle. Don't be afraid to mix up your paper kits!

When the card was all put together, I thought it was missing something, so I added the hemp along the bottom. It was the perfect finishing touch! To attach it, I pierced a hole in the card at the fold, threaded the hemp through, and then tied it around the card front. This simple addition really finished off the card nicely.

Thanks for stopping by! After leaving me a comment, be sure to hop on to visit Melinda next! (If you get lost along the way or find a broken link, come back right here and then click HERE for the complete list of hoppers. Thanks!)

Techniques: Faux sewing; rock 'n roll stamping; generational stamping; random stamping; direct-to-paper inks; sponging; scalloped edge with corner rounder

All supplies from CTMH: Jubilation & Tag the Occasion stamp sets; Lucky & Mayberry paper packs; Sunset card stock; Sunset, Olive, Desert Sand, & Dutch Blue inks; Cocoa marker; Mocha Opaques pearls; hemp; sponge; corner rounder; 3-D foam squares

Sophia "It's a Wrap" Notecard

Aren't the Sophia papers and the Sophia Workshop on the Go stamp set adorable? They are so perfect for spring! This notecard was fun (and easy) to make. (The complete instructions can be found in the Wishes how-to guide.) Begin with a 4.25"x5.5" piece of White Daisy cardstock. Stamp the edges with the vines, leaves, and flowers, leaving room to write your note in the center. (My large flowers are Hollyhock with Goldrush centers, the small flowers are Blush, and the greenery is Pear.)

Wrap a piece of 9.5"x4"* B&T paper around your notecard so that the top overlaps a bit. Fold smartly to keep it in place. Then, decorate a center panel to glue on the wrap. (Since the top of my center decorative panel was hidden, I tore off a bit of the wrap. I really like how it turned out!)

(*The original instructions called for this piece to measure 9.5"x4.25", but I pared it down to get three out of a 12"x12" sheet instead of only two. Who's going to miss that quarter inch? Not me!)

Enjoy your day today! I know that I sure am.

Valentine's Love

Here are the cards I've made for my daughters for Valentine's Day. After they go to bed, I will place them at their seats on our kitchen table so they'll see them at breakfast in the morning. (DH's Valentine can be seen HERE.)

Both cards started with card bases I had in my scrap drawer and scraps of the Sweetheart paper pack. The colors are Tulip, Cotton Candy, Baby Pink, and black.

Our older daughter's card uses the current Petite Perks stamp set. I needed a little inspiration, so I turned to the recent H2H sketch.

Because our younger daughter loves to play tic-tac-toe, I knew I had to use the A Game stamp set. On the inside, I wrote that she fills my life with "Xs & Os" (and of course I stamped the X & O on the inside with the stamps I used on the card front. Her card is based on a sketch in the Wishes how-to guide.
Happy Valentine's Day to you and yours! May you spend time with the ones you love, and treasure each moment.

Here's some more Valentine inspiration:

Magic: "Performance" Layout Sketch/Sweet Baby

Whenever I scrapbook, I love to use a sketch to help guide my work. Did you know that Close To My Heart has four fabulous scrapbooking how-to/sketch books? The newest one, Magic, is what I will be featuring all year with my scrapbook club. (Want to know more? Email me! )

This layout of my darling nephew (the same cutie-patootie from earlier this week, from the same photo shoot) is based on the "Performance" sketch. Why don't you give it a try? It really is easier than it looks! Just click on the link below to download your own copy of this layout sketch. Then upload you photo(s) of your layout to join a little Linky party!

Click HERE for the sketch with instructions. Happy scrapping!

All supplies from Close To My Heart: Wings Workshop and Old World alphabet stamp sets; Silhouette paper pack (retired); Black ink and marker; Black mini-medley accents; Just Blooms paper flowers

Sketch: "Performance" from Magic

{Layout 2011 #2}