52{C}CT June Sketch with ColourQ

Hi everybody! This week at 52 {Christmas} Card Throwdown we have a sketch for you. This one stumped me for a bit, but I finally decided on snowflakes. I used the colors from ColourQ.

I'm not sure why, but this picture didn't turn out very well. The card is really a lot prettier in person.

Please come play along with us a 52{C}CT and show us your take on the sketch!

Materials used:
Cardstock: Grey Wool, Sunny Yellow, White Daisy
Stamps: Snowflakes, Holiday Wishes
Ink: Sky, Cranberry, Grey Wool
Other: Silver Glitz Glitter Gel, Cranberry Grosgrain ribbon

Color Dare with Freshly Made Sketch

Here is my card for the new Color Dare at Color My Heart. We are using Dream Pop this week. If you want to play along and don't have Dream Pop, you can use any of these CTMH colors (or similar colors from another brand): Sunset, Slate, Cotton Candy, Honey, Juniper. This sketch is the Freshly Made sketch, rotated 90 degrees.

I finally inked up my Pinwheel May Stamp of the month in Sunset and Juniper. I cut the pinwheel layers out of the Artiste Cricut cartridge. When stamping the sentiment, I stamped it once in Juniper, then again in Sunset and cut out the word "Celebrate" from the Sunset layer and glued it on top of the Juniper layer. Then I stamped some extra stars in Sunset. Instead of the scallop, I added some silver shimmer trim and I added a shimmery button to the pinwheel center for consistency.


Materials used:
Cardstock: White Daisy
Paper: Dream Pop
Stamps: Pinwheel
Ink: Sunset, Juniper
Other: Black Button Assortment, Silver Shimmer Trim

Blog Candy Winner

Thank you to everyone who visited my blog and commented on my post for the Operation Write Home Memorial Day blog hop! I chose the winner of my blog candy through random.org, and the winner is: Marilyn at Marilyn's Cricut Cards! Marilyn, I will be sending you 5 6x6" cards and a fun grab bag!

Here is Marilyn's comment: "Oooh, I really like your take on the sketch by rounding the corner! Lovely colors on your card as well! Thank you for sharing your card with us! ~ Marilyn"

One Sheet Wonder Cards

While I was hopping around the Operation Write Home Memorial Day Blog Hop, I found this super cool tutorial by Seongsook. It is to make a host of cards using up a whole sheet of background paper. As soon as I saw it I immediately thought of one sheet of paper that I've had for a while. It was an impulse buy for me (which is very rare). Also, I bought it at a scrapbooking store (which is also very rare). I just thought it was so pretty, but I didn't have anything to use it for. So, I grabbed it and started cutting. Here are my finished cards. I used the Cricut to cut out the shapes, and I used some of my old petite perks stamps for the sentiments:

The CTMH colors I used to coordinate with the paper were Crystal Blue and Olive. I also got an extra CAS card out of the extra square. I like it.

Materials used:
Paper: Cosmo Cricket (not CTMH)
Cardstock: Olive, Crystal Blue
Card bases: Colonial White Bulk
Stamps: Retired Petite Perks
Ink: Cocoa, Crystal Blue, Olive
Tools: 1 1/4" Circle Punch, Artiste Cricut Cartridge, scallop scissors (not CTMH)
Other: Prima flowers (not CTMH), Slate Epoxy Bubbles

Operation Write Home Blog Hop and Color My Heart

This week at Color My Heart, we are supporting Operation Write Home by participating in the Memorial Day weekend Blog Hop. We are using colors from a previous challenge. I am using CMH Dare #18 - Avonlea Teal, La Belle Vie Pink, and Flirty Raspberry. The sketch is OWH sketch #1.

I left it minimally embellished to allow the colors to be the primary focus. If you'd like to know more about Color My Heart, please see my previous post, or visit us at Color My Heart Color Dare.


ETA: I decided after seeing so many generous people in this hop giving away blog candy that I would too! Comment on my blog and one random winner will get 5 6x6 cards and a small grab bag of Close To My Heart inks and/or stamps and/or embellishments!

Click on the banner to start the hop:


Materials used:
Cardstock: Colonial White
B&Ts: La Belle Vie, Flirty, Avonlea
Stamps: Thanks
Ink: Chocolate

52CCT May Embellishment - Baker's Twine

Hi! This week at 52 {Christmas} Card Throwdown we have a fun Baker's Twine challenge for you. Here is my card:

I thought my cozy cat that I used for my last card looked cozy enough for a Christmas card. I really wanted a saying like: "Have a cozy Christmas," but couldn't fit it on the card. I think I'll put it on the inside.
I hope you'll come play along with us at 52{C}CT this week and show us your best baker's twine!

I'm entering this card into these challenges:

Mojo Monday
CAS-ual Fridays
Sentimental Sundays -CAS
Inspired By
Opus Gluei - black or cats or black cats

Materials used:
Cardstock: Holiday Red, White Daisy, Sky
B&Ts: Believe
Stamps: Cozy Cat, Snow Days
Ink: Black, Sky
Other: Sky Marker, Red Sparkles, Cranberry Baker's Twine, Art Philosophy Cricut Cartridge

Color Dare and Operation Write Home

Hello everybody. Here is a card I cased from Allisa Chilton, I used the sketch #1 from Operation Write Home, and the colors at Color My Heart.

Tomorrow I will be making a Thank You card for Operation Write Home blog hop using this same sketch. I hope you'll join in the blog hop, and I hope you'll play with us at Color My Heart this week using Crème Brulee and Juniper!


Materials used:
Cardstock: Juniper, Crème Brulee, Colonial White, Desert Sand
B&Ts: Elemental, Typeset
Stamps: Cozy Cat
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black (not CTMH)
Markers: Desert Sand, Juniper
Other: Cuttlebug Christmas embossing folder (not CTMH), Cashmere Twill Ribbon, Brown and Tan Sparkles

Nook Case

Here's project I made that does not include paper or Close To My Heart products. I was thinking about my trip to Orlando next month for convention, and I have a laptop, but it is our only computer. If I took it with me, my hubby would be without a computer. Then I remembered the Nook that my mom got me for Christmas. I don't use it much, but it does get internet when there's free wi fi. And there will be in our rooms! So the only problem I had was that I had no case for it, and it wouldn't travel well. So I came up with a solution. I used the colors at ColourQ and found some yarn in my stash that matched. I used this pattern, and I whipped up this case in just a few hours.

Materials used (not CTMH):
Size H crochet hook, Red Heart yarn: Gold, Lt. Blue, Mango, White, (I don't know the name of the dark blue), a button from my stash, and a needle and thread to sew on the button.

52{C}CT May Theme - goodies/treats

Hi everybody. Today at 52 {Christmas} Card Throwdown we have a theme for you - sweet treats/holiday goodies! I did something a little different than normal for me. Two weeks ago I won the grand prize at Sweet Sketch Wednesday, and the prize was $21 in digital stamps from Bugaboo. One of the stamps I chose was this sweet Merry Christmas sign with the candy cane on it. Since I don't really have any Christmas treat stamps, I decided to try this one out and color it with my CTMH alcohol markers.

I colored two of the same images, one just the blue words, the other everything else. I popped up the candy cane and the Christmas tree using foam tape, and I attached Ava, Deacon, and the bells using regular adhesive. I used a gold and silver metallic marker to color the bells' ringers, the end of Deacon's hat, and highlight the candy cane. I love those markers! Then I added a little Stardust glitz to Ava's hat, the stars on the tree, and the snowflakes. I sure hope you'll come play along with us at 52CCT this week and show us your holiday goodies!

Materials used:
Cardstock: Sky, White Daisy
Stamps: Ava/Deacon Merry Christmas Sign from Bugaboo (not CTMH)
Marker sets: Sky, Ruby, Topiary, Crème Brulee
Retired markers: Desert Sand, Taffy, Buttercup
Other: Gold and Silver Metallic Markers, Stardust Glitz Glitter Gel

Color Dare #43 with Retro Sketches

Hey everybody. This week at Color My Heart, I chose primary colors. The same ones used in the Tommy paper pack. They are Cranberry, Outdoor Denim, and Honey. I used the sketch from RetroSketches to make my card.

I made a card that is pretty masculine. It could be for a graduation or an anniversary. I'm sure I'll send it to someone! I really wanted to use some of my CTMH natural hemp to give it a little more of a nautical feel, but I can't find it! So I just used some of this twine I found in my junk drawer.

Please come play along with us at Color My Heart!


Materials used:
Cardstock: Colonial White
B&Ts: Tommy
Stamps: Card Word Puzzle
Ink: Outdoor Denim
Other: Honey and Outdoor Denim Mini Medleys, twine (not CTMH)

52{C}CT May Color Challenge

Hi everybody! This week at 52 {Christmas} Card Throwdown we have a color challenge for you, and it's a simple one - Red and White! You are not allowed to use any other colors (except a black outline for your image and skin tones are allowed). I made my card Clean and Simple, and I used the sketch from Merry Monday! Here is my card:

So everybody get out your red and white and please come play with us this week at 52CCT!


Materials used:
Cardstock: White Daisy, Cranberry
Stamps: A Holiday
Ink: Cranberry
Other: Bling Brads

Teacher Appreciation Week

Heart2Heart is celebrating teachers and so are we. My 6-year old daughter really wanted to make a card with the velvet cross she got at church. So we colored it and she picked out the paper and embellishments and the inside of it. I helped her put it together how she wanted it, so this one was mostly her. I think it's great for a 6-year old!

This card is 5x7. The inside lining that she picked out is 4x5 1/2. Here is the inside:

CTMH Materials used: Ink - Watermelon, Stamp - Thoughtful Tidings, Markers - Pacifica, Lagoon, Blush, Pear, Crème Brulee

All other materials: from my stash.

Color Dare with Dream Pop

I chose shades of pink for color dare #42 - inspired by mother's day. They are Hollyhock, Cotton Candy, and Blush. I decided to do something a little different than normal, and I substituted some of the colors. I used Raspberry for Cotton Candy and Strawberry for Hollyhock. I also used Blush. My neutrals were grey, white, and shimmer!

The sketch is from Mojo Monday, and the flower is from the tutorial at Technique Time Tuesday. Please come join us at Color My Heart this week, and make something for the special woman or girl in your life!

Materials used:
Cardstock: Grey, White Daisy, Blush, Strawberry, Raspberry
B&Ts: Dream Pop
Stamps: Say It in Style
Ink: Slate
Other: Silver Shimmer Trim, Shimmer Brad

Shabby Rooster Card

I LOVE playing at the Shabby Tea Room. But sometimes I just don't get it. I read their descriptions of different card styles, so I kind of understood what it meant to make a shabby card, but it seemed like "extremely ornate" was what I saw when I saw a "shabby" card that someone made. So I went to the source - shabbychic.com. I read what the shabby chic style is. What I understand now is that you can take something old and worn out and add beauty to it by adding pretty dainty, lacy, fabrics, lots of flowers, and lots and lots of white and pale colors. But it's not "extremely ornate." It's simple, clean, dainty, rustic, natural, and very girly. That's my interpretation anyway. Here is a quote from Rachel, owner of the Shabby Chic brand:

"I believe in cozy relaxed settings where kids are free to put their feet on the sofa and guests can place their cups on the coffee table without a care. For me, the secret to living well is to surround myself with beautiful things that are practical and deliciously comfortable."

So this card is the epitome of what I understand shabby chic to be... rustic, beautiful, simple, comfortable. What do you think?

I followed the colors and the textures in the inspiration photo from the Shabby Tea Room. I used an embossing folder for my white strip, and I hand stitched around the outside and the inside panels. I hand crocheted the flower with ecru crochet thread, and tied it around a simple sheer ribbon bow with a rustic wooden button. The sketch is from a new challenge called Atlantic Hearts.


Materials used:
Cardstock: White Daisy
B&Ts: Dakota
Stamps: Country Life
Ink: Slate
Other: Black Embroidery Floss, Wooden Mini Medleys, Spellbinders embossing folder (not CTMH), ribbon from my stash and ecru crochet thread (not CTMH)

Paper Doll Card

My 6-year old daughter was being super sweet tonight, and borrowing my stamping supplies to make me a card for Mother's Day with her daddy. She kept giving me hugs and she was so excited. I've been wanting to make her some paper dolls, so I made her this to thank her for being sweet. Maybe I will give it to her on Mother's Day. I'm entering this into the "for mother" challenge at Pile it On, although it is from her mother, not for my mother. I hope it counts (I already made my mother and my mother-in-law something). So these are the challenges I'm entering:

Dynamic Duos
Sweet Sunday Sketch
Sentimental Sundays - paper piecing
Opus-Gluei - bouquet
Pile it On - Mother's Day
Pink Elephant - Mother's Day

I made the floral background paper using first and second generation stamping. I colored my doll using CTMH markers, and I paper pieced her clothes using Tommy and Wonderland. She is stuck on the front using one of our velcro dots:

On the inside, I made a lemonade stand using kraft paper and stamps from the paper doll set. I only adhered the stand on three sides, so that I could use it as a pocket for her clothes. I left some room on the side to put the doll so Leah can play with her there:

Here is a close-up on the sentiment:

This is a good lesson for my daughter to learn.

Here is how I colored and cut out all the outfits:

I really hope she enjoys this set and doesn't ruin it too quickly!


Materials used:
Cardstock:White Daisy, Honey, Kraft, Heavenly Blue
B&Ts: Tommy, Wonderland
Stamps: Paper Doll, Bingo Alphabet, Roxie WOTG
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black (Not CTMH), Honey
Markers: Autumn Terracotta, Outdoor Denim, Blush, Ruby, Olive, Taffy, Slate, Creme Brulee, Cotton Candy, Sky, Pear
Other: Velcro Dots

Retro Pals

Here's a card I made for Retro Sketches and Pals Paper Arts:

Materials used:
Cardstock: Heavenly Blue, White Daisy
B&Ts: Dream Pop, Hooligans, Dotty for You
Stamps: Petite Perks W2022
Ink: Honey
Other: Natural Hemp

Life is Tweet

Today I noticed a mourning dove had made her home on our front porch. So I have birds on the brain. (No pun intended). Here is a birdy card for some more challenges:

Freshly Made Sketches
Color Throwdown
Simon Says - Happy Mail
Inspired By
Pile It On - "April showers bring May flowers"

This card is 6" tall... that's a little different size for me. I random stamped the flower from Life is Tweet in all the different colors from the Color Throwdown challenge. I cut out the center flower from Art Philosophy.


Materials used:
Cardstock: White Daisy, Heavenly Blue, Dutch Blue
Stamps: Life is Tweet
Ink: Taffy, Dutch Blue, Amethyst, Key Lime, Heavenly Blue
Other: Art Philosophy Cricut cartridge, Blue sparkles (for the birdy's eye)

NSD

Today's National Scrapbooking Day, so I spent some time this morning making a few cards. We went to the park, and tonight I will spend some time scrapbooking. Here are the cards I made for a few challenges. The first one is for:

CAS-ual Fridays
A Day For Daisies

For this card I was to use a Day For Daisies image and add something lacy. For CAS-ual Fridays, the challenge was Tic-Tac-Toe. I chose polka dots (on her scarf), bling (there are black sparkles on the lace, and black & white. I chose the lace because I thought it went excellently with the image. The word art is from Word Art Wednesday. This is the third time I've used this particular verse. I really like it!

Materials used:
Cardstock: White Daisy
Stamps: digital images from A Day for Daisies and WAW
Other: black lace from my stash (not CTMH), Black Sparkles

The next card is for:

Less is More - use complimentary colors
CAS(E) this Sketch

I chose to use the colors orange and blue that are across from each other on the color wheel. It seems that when I play at Less is More, I never leave enough "white space." Well, today I hope I left enough "orange space" for them. :)


Materials used:
Cardstock: Sunset
B&Ts: Dotty for You, Pemberly
Stamps: Pun Fun
Ink: Outdoor Denim

The last card is for:

Sweet Stop Sketches
Our Creative Corner - Anything Goes
Crazy4Challenges

I thought my black washi tape was perfect for this card because of the colors - light pink, black, kraft, and cream. I also got to use my new floral ribbon; isn't it pretty?


Materials used:
Cardstock: Black, Kraft
Pattern paper: Rosewood from Colorbok (not CTMH)
Stamps: Card Chatter - Sympathy
Ink: VersaMark, White Daisy
Other: White Embossing Powder, Colonial White Rosette Ribbon, black washi tape from my stash (not CTMH)