April Stamp of the Month Blog Hop: Balloon Talk

No fooling, it's time for the April stamp of the month blog hop!  If you've already started hopping, then you should have arrived from Lori's blog.  You will visit Jen next.

My card is based on a Make It From Your Heart sketch and the CTMH Corporate artwork for this set. I love the fun Lollydoodle paper pack! On the center Whisper panel, I used Slate ink to stamp the two outline speech bubbles and "miss you."  The focal sentiment is Cotton Candy ink on a Pear mat.  The arrow gem is from the Lollydoodle Assortment.  I also used some Lagoon and Slate washi tape.

Be sure to check out all the cute ideas with this set!  Your next stop is Jen's blog.  Thanks for hopping by!

Give a Lift Card

Happy spring!  We are starting spring break this afternoon (YIPPEE!!!!!!) so I wanted to share a lovely card with you.

Imagine me floating away... to a little rest and relaxation at least!

(If you're interested in the details, this card is based on a sketch from Make It From Your Heart, Vol. 1.  I used the "quick coloring" technique to sponge the balloon and the sky.  The Sorbet band around the balloon is paper pieced.)

All supplies from Close To My Heart: Give a Lift stamp set; Balloon Ride paper pack; Crystal Blue, Saddle, Sweet Leaf, and Creme Brulee inks; Sorbet and Creme Brulee markers; blending pen; Bronze shimmer trim; Balloon Ride Assortment

Snowy Sarita

After a few brief tastes of spring, we are back to more cold weather.  Hopefully this is our last cold snap before spring stays.  (At least we didn't get the snow that was predicted.  We've already missed 8 school days and have extended our day by 30 minutes to make up for some of the student days.)

These pictures are from one of our January snow days.  I paired them with the Sarita paper pack, which might seem like an unusual choice with its Southwestern motifs, but I liked the colors and thought that the B&T Duos that I chose kind of looked like sweaters.  What do you think?

I used up a lot of retired stash, like Sassy Strands, rub-ons, and brads.  I thought that they really went well with my layout, and it is always great to use (rather than horde) my crafting supplies.

This layout is definitely a tribute to how much the girls have grown and changed.  They used to jump on the trampoline and sled when it snowed, but this year, they went driving around in the T-Rex.  They are growing up so quickly!

No matter what your weather, make today a great day!

H2H Challenges: Country Flair

What does the challenge "country," mean to you?  Is it country music?  Cows in a pasture?  Denim, cowboy boots, and quilts came to my mind, so that was my inspiration for the Heart 2 Heart Challenges country flair challenge this week.

I chose the Ariana paper pack for its Outdoor Denim and Crystal Blues.  Doesn't the blue strip pattern remind you of ticking?  I used a sketch from the Lollydoodle Card Workshop on the Go because it reminds me of a quilt.  (I "hand stitched" my pieces with my Outdoor Denim marker.)  The pretty striped bow is from the Ariana Assortment.

Thanks for checking out my country flair!  Now go see what the rest of the H2H DT has created.  You have until 3/31 to link up your project for any of our March challenges.

Studio J Special This Month!

Don't forget that this month only, Studio J. layouts are only $5 each!  You need a minimum of 4 layouts to place your order.

One of the things that I love most about Studio J (other than its ease of use) is that I can create gift layouts so so so easily!  I made a copy of the above layout and then changed the journalling a bit to customize it for a gift for my mother-in-law.  I know that she will LOVE having pictures of her "baby" boy and her granddaughters!

Happy St. Patrick's Day

May your troubles be less

And your blessings be more

And nothing but happiness 

Come through your door!

~Irish blessing

Confirmation Layout

This layout was actually my first project for the Heart 2 Heart Challenges "lucky" challenge.  It's really more like blessed than lucky, for indeed I am truly blessed.  I try to be mindful of my blessing each and every day, and that is especially true today.

The soft, muted colors of the Balloon Ride paper pack seemed to be the best fit with the photos of our family at my daughter's recent confirmation.  I used my Frame Flair stamp set for my title and journaling boxes.  If you look carefully, you'll also see that I embellished the corners of the Saddle photo mats with the rectangle frame stamp.  I also used a retired set (though the name eludes me right now) for the sayings.

One cool thing about our alcohol markers is that you get two in a set, the actual color and either a lighter or darker pen.  I used both on my layout.

To add a little sparkle, I used bronze shimmer trim and the Rosewood mini-medley assortment.  My girl definitely has a sparkly personality so a little bling was in order.

May you count your blessings today and always!

H2H Challenges: Feeling Lucky

This week's Heart 2 Heart Challenge is all about feeling lucky!  I just have to ask (in my best "Dirty Harry" voice), "Are you feeling lucky?  Are you, punk?"  If so then scoot on over to the H2H blog and link up your lucky project!

My project is a shamrock card that I am actually using as a cute little table top display.  If you'd like to make one, you can find a great tutorial HERE.

To start, I cut out two 4" hearts out of Pear card stock and two 4" hearts out of the Pear B&T paper from the Lollydoodle paper pack with my CTMH/Cricut Art Philosphy cartridge.  (The White Daisy heart is 3.5".)  I used my Holiday Tags and Geometric Background stamps with Sweet Leaf, Pear, and Honey inks to decorate two of the hearts.  (The flowers, fabric button, and Pear ribbon are retired stash.)

Doesn't the gold polka dot washi tape look like gold coins?  Also, to create my little heart shamrock, I cut four 1.25" Sweet Leaf card stock hearts, folded them in half, and only adhered one side to the larger heart.

Be sure to visit the tutorial to see how to thread the ribbon to make the card stand up.  You can fold it back flat and mail it if you wanted!

Thanks for visiting.  Be sure to check out the talented Heart 2 Heart designers' lucky projects!

Happy Place Card

If you saw the March stamp of the month blog hop, then you already know how much I love nesting dolls.  Here's a card I made with this great stamp set.

(Mom, pretend to be surprised when you see this for Mother's Day!)

I used the Ariana paper pack and my Cricut Artiste cartridge to make a card with the Make It From Your Heart Vol. 1 sketch.  Those nesting dolls were colored with our markers and cut by hand.

I hope that you're enjoying your March.  Don't forget about this month's Studio J $5 layouts and the March stamp of the month, Happy Place!

March Stamp of the Month Blog Hop: Happy Place

It's time for the March stamp of the month blog hop!  Be sure to click through the entire hop to see some fabulous ideas with the March stamp of the month, Happy Place.  (If you're already hopping, then you've probably arrived here from Judy Faye's blog.  You'll visit my fellow Heart 2 Heart Challenges design team member, Jen Patrick, next.)

As soon as I saw this stamp set, I thought of my Grandmother!  She definitely inspired my love of nesting dolls.  I gathered up some old photos that had all been taken at her house to create this layout.  (Too bad I couldn't find any photos of her nesting dolls, but I can still tell my story without them.)

 Using two sketches from Reflections and the Ariana paper pack, I was able to create this layout pretty quickly.  I embellished it with the Ariana Assortment and our blue & green epoxy bubbles.

 These photos are really old (1974, 1979, and mid-80s), so they aren't photographing well (but they look good in real life).

Here's a close up of those pretty nesting dolls.  I am liking our alcohol markers more and more!  They are making it easier to color these girls!

Can you tell which kid is me?

{Hint: I'm sitting beside my grandmother.}

Thanks for hopping by.  Go check out Jen's creation now!

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!

5"x7" Side Stair Card/Tutorial

Today is my Dad's birthday, and here is the cool card (if I do say so myself) that I made him.

It is a 5"x7" side step stair card, complete with a tutorial below.  (You can see a few other A2 side stair examples here and here.)  I really wanted to try the slightly larger size, and I LOVE the results.  It is even easier to cut and to decorate.  Begin with a 10"x7" card stock base.  If you want to stamp your base, do this before cutting and scoring.

Place a short side against the measuring edge of your paper trimmer (so that you will be making a long cut, as shown above) and set the left corner at 3".  On the cutting arm, move your blade to 2.5".  You will cut from 2.5" down to 9".  Next, turn your card 90 degrees so that the long edge is against the measuring edge of your trimmer.  USE YOUR SCORING BLADE and score from the cut to the edge of the base at 1".  (You are scoring the longer 4" section not the shorter 3" section.)  Move the base to 2" and score again.  Score again at 3.5".  At 5", score all the way across the entire card stock base.  The final score at 7.5" should be at the other edge of your cut.

Once you have finished cutting and scoring, first fold the card in half along the 5" complete score.  Leave the 3" side as a mountain fold, but push the other (4") side down to make a valley fold.  You will then have to fold the remaining edges to create your side stair card base.  Then you're ready to decorate!

Since my Dad's a pilot, I had to use my Lifting Spirits stamp set (even though he doesn't fly bi-wings).  I also used two retired stamp sets for the sentiments.  The Timberline paper pack is a great match on many levels: first the Ponderosa Pine color and then because he loves to go in his motorhome!  (It has a camping theme.)  I did a lot of fussy cutting for this card, but some of the clouds are from the CTMH/Cricut Artiste cartridge.

Here's a side shot so you can see how the elements and layers work together.  To finish the card, I embellished it with Gold polka dot and Lagoon houndstooth washi tape and Durables studs.  The inside has a white panel that finishes the sentiment with "growing up is optional!"

Thanks for helping me wish my Dad a very happy birthday!  I hope you're having fun celebrating in the sun.

All supplies from Close To My Heart: Lifting Spirits stamp set; Timberline paper pack; White Daisy card stock; Ponderosa Pine, Slate, Twilight, Goldrush, and Lagoon inks; Ponderosa Pine, Goldrush, and Twilight markers; Gold polka dot washi tape; Lagoon houndstooth washi tape; Durables studs; CTMH/Cricut Artiste cartridge