Color Dare #71-- Cranberry and Ponderosa Pine

Welcome back to another Color My Heart Color Dare blog post!

  This week's challenge is to use the Close To My Heart colors Cranberry and Ponderosa Pine in your papercrafted creation.  (You may substitute similar colors if you don't have the assigned Close To My Heart colors).  Getting ready for the Thanksgiving holidays did not leave me with a lot of time to create so I looked through the CTMH cricut cartridges I own and found cuts that suited my needs.  This card did come together quickly!

Supplies used:  Artbooking, Artiste, Cranbery CS, Ponderosa Pine CS, White Daisy CS, Universal Backgrounds Stamp, Slate ink, Glossy Metallic paper (retired DOTS from mid 90's!) and a red sparkle.  (I used a flash to photograph this card so you could see the silver metallic panel.)

We are looking forward to seeing how you use these two fabulous colors together.  (You may also use neutrals such as black, white and off white.)  Please link up your creations here.  Now head on over and see what the rest of the fabulous Color Dare Design Team has to inspire you.

Thanks for stopping by!  Have a wonderful week filled with fun and creativity!
:) Marie

p.s. I'm also entering this card into Bitten by the Bug 2 Christmas Card , Fantabulous Cricut--Sparkle and Bling, Rose Blossom Garden Christmas Theme and Use it Tuesday-Anything Goes challenges.

Sponging Techniques for Heart 2 Heart Challenges

It's Technique Time at H2H (a blog which features the use of Close To My Heart products) and it's time to take out your crafting sponges.  I have two cards I want to share with you today that use this technique.

This first card uses a variety of sponged colors on the background panel--Slate, Crystal Blue, Sunset, Topiary and Cranberry.  I used a 3" Round Sponge cut in quarters to apply color to the background panel. The stamps are Universal Backgrounds and Heartfelt Birthday Wish.  Cardstocks are White Daisy, Slate, Cranberry and Topiary.  The banner was made with 2 strips of Red Shimmer Trim and 1 strip of Silver Shimmer Trim. The birthday letters are filled in with Silver Glitz Glitter Gel.  

My second card uses "Sponging" along with "Masking".  First I used the Artbooking cartridge to cut out the overlay from page 84 at 5.5".  This mat was then placed over the White Daisy CS and Crystal Blue Ink was sponged through it.  The Twilight flower outline and stem were cut using the Art Philosophy cartridge. (flower petal page 29 shape 11 in Hollyhock at 1.25"; outline in Twilight at 1.25" layer;   stem page 57 layer shift cut at 3").  The stamp set is Sincere Expressions.

Here is how I set up to sponge the background:

Which card do you like better? I would love to read your comments.

How will you interpret this challenge?  We look forward to seeing what you create for this "Sponging Technique" challenge.  Remember to use some Close To My Heart products in your creation.  Use a direct link to link to Heart to Heart--you have until the end of November to enter this challenge.

Check out what the rest of the Design Team has to inspire you:

Shirley, Carol,  Haley,  Lucy and our Guest Designer Hansi.  Please leave them some well deserved comments.   

Thanks for stopping by!  Have a wonderful week filled with fun and creativity!

:) Marie

Acrylic Block Stamping Technique for FMS #113 and 52 Christmas Card Throwdown

The Cranberry panel on this card was made by inking an acrylic block and then spritzing it with water and then applying it to paper.  That is the challenge this week at 52 Christmas Card Throwdown.  I used the current Freshly Made Sketch #113 to try out this technique.

The greeting is from the Frosted Cardmaking Kit and was black embossed.  The background was embossed with a Darice Snowflake embossing folder.  A strip of Silver Shimmer Trim was placed on the left side and the Cranberry inked panel was popped up with 3D Foam Tape.

This was a fun card to make!  Thanks to Sarah Stone whose blog I follow who inspired me to enter these challenges with this technique.

Thanks for stopping by!  Have a wonderful week filled with fun and creativity!

:) Marie

Numbered Birthday Card for CAS(E) This Sketch #54

My son's birthday is coming up next week and the sketch at CAS(E) This Sketch inspired me to make this card.

Products Used:

    Indian Corn Blue CS

    White Daisy CS

    Outdoor Denim CS

    Darice Brick Wall Embossing Folder

    Artbooking Cricut Cartridge (page 75 photo mat 1 cut at 2.75"; page 40 "3" cut at 1.25")

    3D Foam Tape

Here is the sketch that inspired me:

Thanks for stopping by!  Have a wonderful week filled with fun and creativity!

:) Marie

Sunday Stamps #63--Lime, Grey and Turquoise

Welcome back to another Sunday Stamps Challenge post!  Last challenge we had 26 wonderful entries for Kathya's sketch challenge and we very much enjoyed visiting and commenting on all of your blogs.  This time it's a color challenge (we usually alternate between a sketch and a color challenge) and the colors are Lime, Grey and Turquoise.  These are not colors that I would usually use together but I have to say that I like how my card turned out.

I adapted a Tuesday Morning Sketch to create this card using these retired Close To My Heart products: Later Sk8tr paper, Card Chatter--Sympathy and Tee Time, Ocean CS and ink.  I also used Pear Ink, Slate CS and Black CS.

Here is our color graphic--click on it to get to our Sunday Stamps blog:

We can't wait to see what you create using these colors!   Please use a direct link to join us here and include a link back to us in your blog post.  (Feel free to post our color graphic too to let your readers know about our challenge.)  You have until Friday, November 29 to enter this challenge.

Please take the time to visit the rest of the Design Team's blogs and leave them some appreciation.
Hayley, Joan, Brenda, Holly, Steph and Kathya.

Thanks for stopping by! Have a wonderful week filled with fun and creativity! .

:) Marie

Atlantic Hearts Sketch #29 with Dynamic Duos Challenge Colors #79

The Dynamic Duos Challenge this week is called "Black Tie" with Smoky Slate or Silver and the Dessert Option is Christmas.  I combined this challenge with the Atlantic Hearts Sketch challenge #29 and I like what I came up with.

 The top part of my card is from a take out container lid and is shiny silver.  I ran it through the Cuttlebug machine with a Christmas folder (not sure of the name).  The bottom part of the card is shimmery silver and white paper from the Close To My Heart Holiday Gift Guide called "Sparkle and Shine".  I used punches to make the snowflakes and silver star.  (This was really difficult to photograph and I think that my bluish blouse is reflected on the shiny silver paper!)

Here is the silver "paper" I used:

Here is the color graphic for Dynamic Duos:

Here is the sketch graphic for Atlantic Hearts:

If you like color challenges I invite you to check out Color My Heart Color Dare which features Close To My Heart color combinations (substitution colors are permitted as long as they are similar).  Also, Sunday Stamps will have a new color challenge starting on Sunday.

Thanks for stopping by!  Have a wonderful week filled with fun and creativity!

:) Marie

Another Color Dare #69 Card Using Freshly Made Sketch #112

This week's Freshly Made Sketch intriqued me and I immediately thought of using the new Charming Chevrons stamp set. (page 13 of CTMH  2013 Holiday Gift Guide here).  I  still had the current Color My Heart Color Dare colors on my craft table so I decided to use them again.  From top to bottom the colors are Goldrush, Smokey Plum and Olive.  The Colonial White background was run through the Cuttlebug machine with the Darice Plaid Embossing Folder.  The stars are from the Perfect Fit--Birthday stamp set stamped in coordinating inks. I was trying to make the chevrons looks like rockets.   The "Celebrate" ribbon is from American Celebration (retired CTMH). The card size is 5" x 6.5".

Here is the Freshly Made Sketch #112 I followed:

We would love to see what you can do with these colors.  You can join the Color My Heart Color Dare here.

Thanks for stopping by!  Have a wonderful week filled with fun and creativity!

:) Marie

Color Dare #69--Smokey Plum, Olive and Goldrush

Welcome back to another Color My Heart Color Dare blog post!  This is a challenge blog that features Close To My Heart colors--if you don't have the featured colors you can substitute similar colors so you can still play along.  Here are this week's colors:  Smokey Plum, Olive and Goldrush--beautiful autumn colors!

The background panel of my card uses a Hostess Reward set called Washi Wonder which you can see on page 6 of the Autumn/Winter catalog here.  The greeting is from Card Chatter--Sympathy and was stamped in Olive ink.  The brick pattern made by the Washi Tape stamps was stamped in Goldrush, Smokey Plum and Olive inks.

Are you up for this Color Dare?  If so, please use a direct link to link your project up here.  Please stop by and be inspired by what the rest of the Design Team have created.  We would love to visit your blog and see what you create with these colors.  

Thanks for stopping by!  Have a wonderful week filled with fun and creativity!

:) Marie

Seeing Double for Heart 2 Heart Challenge

Heart 2 Heart is a challenge blog that features the use of Close To My Heart products. (In other words you must use some CTMH products if you link your project up to this blog).   This week's theme is "Seeing Double" and I chose to use Desert Sand cut reindeer from the new CTMH Artbooking cartridge (page 57 Icon cut at 3").  The background was stamped with the Quick Card--Bright All Night Hostess Reward Set (stamped three times, trimmed and pieced together for the sky) in Crystal Blue ink.  The bottom of the card was run through the Cuttlebug machine with an embossing folder.  Bronze Glitz Glitter Gel was applied to the antlers and a White Chalk marker was used on the tail and the front of the reindeer.

How will you interpret this challenge?  We look forward to seeing what you create for this "Seeing Double" challenge.  Remember to use some Close To My Heart products in your creation.  Use a direct link to link to Heart to Heart--you have until the end of November to enter this challenge.

Check out what the rest of the Design Team has to inspire you:

Brittany, Carol,  Haley,  Lucy and our Guest Designer Hansi.  Please leave them some well deserved comments.   

Thanks for stopping by!  Have a wonderful week filled with fun and creativity!

:) Marie

Scandinavian Wishes for Color Dare #78 and Freshly Made Sketch #111

I've never seen a sketch quite like this and decided to play along with this Freshly Made Sketch Challenge #111 by Linda C.  The colors I chose--Close To My Heart Buttercup and Sunset are the challenge colors at Color My Heart Color Dare this week.  The stamp set is the October Stamp of the Month called Scandinavian Wishes.  The embossed background was enhanced with Buttercup Liquid Pearls and the stamped heart and border were glitzed up with my favorite embellishment--Stardust Glitz Glitter Gel. Cardstocks I used are White Daisy, Buttercup and Sunset.  I used Sunset ink over Buttercup CS and popped up the heart using 3D Foam Tape.

Here is the Freshly Made Sketch #111:

Thanks for stopping by!  Have a wonderful week filled with fun and creativity!
:) Marie

Birthday Card with CAS(E) This Sketch #52

Here is a quick card I put together using CAS(E) This Sketch #52.  The cardstock is Close To My Heart Pacifica and the ink is Close To My Heart Indian Corn Blue.  The stamp is from the Cricut Artiste Collection and was trimmed to fit better on the card.   The embossing folder is from Goose Bumpz called Tide and was brayered with Indian Corn Blue Ink.  The greeting is popped up with 3D Foam Tape.

Here is the CAS(E) This Sketch model:

Thanks for stopping by!  Have a wonderful week filled with fun and creativity!

:) Marie

Gelato Stripes for Atlantic Hearts Sketch #28

Atlantic Hearts has another great sketch for us this week.  I was intrigued by the stripes and decided to use my new Gelatos once again. 

 

This time I made colored stripes on watercolor paper and wet them with a paintbrush and layered it onto Black CS.  The greetings are from the Artiste Cricut Collection which has stamps to match the Cricut cuts-- they were stamped in Cranberry ink. The star embellishments are "Milepost Shapes" (recently retired from Close To My Heart).  Originally these stars are kraft colored however I gave them some color with the same Gelatos I used to create the background.  The birthday greetings and stars were popped up with 3D Foam Tape.  A pair of  Licorice Adhesive Gems adorn the Birthday Wishes banner. This was a fun challenge to undertake!  

Here is the Atlantic Hearts Sketch #28: 

The challenge closes on Sunday, November 10.

Thanks for stopping by!  Have a wonderful week filled with fun and creativity!

:) Marie

Triple Banners for Sunday Stamps Sketch Challenge #62

Kathya has a great sketch for us this week at Sunday Stamps!

I turned it on its side to feature vertical banners--the truth is I needed a Thank You card and the stamp I chose looks better in a horizontal orientation.  I've been on a kick lately to use up some of my stash so I'm using Close To My Heart retired Mayberry and Victory with a Cranberry banner.  The frame is cut from the CTMH Art Philosophy cartridge and is stamped with Frame Flair.  The greeting is A True Thank You.  The inks are Outdoor Denim and Cranberry and I used Honey and Goldrush markers.  The greeting is popped up with 3D Foam Tape.  This card was really quick to make.

We can't wait to see what you create using this sketch!   Please use a direct link to join us here and include a link back to us in your blog post.  (Feel free to post our sketch graphic too to let your readers know about our challenge.)

Please take the time to visit the rest of the Design Team's blogs and leave them some appreciation.
Hayley, Joan, Brenda, Holly, Steph and Kathya.

Thanks for stopping by! Have a wonderful week filled with fun and creativity! .

:) Marie

Gelato Background for Atlantic Hearts Sketch #27

Atlantic Hearts always offers a great sketch to follow and this week is no different.  Blues are my favorite colors and I love trying out new products so when I saw a set of Faber-Castell Gelatos in shades of blue I knew I'd have to have them.  They look like tubes of chapstick and have a waxy feel to them.  After you apply them you use some water and a paintbrush to blend them.

Before I applied the Gelatos to regular white CS I clear embossed 60 from the retired Close To My Heart Friendship Alphabet.  I used a heat gun to dry the paper and then used red liner tape to adhere it to a Moonstruck CS background.  The background panel is Heavenly Blue and the White Daisy strip was run through the Cuttlebug with a Darice Embossing Folder.  The ribbon is holographic curling ribbon that I bought for wrapping Christmas presents.  

Here is the Atlantic Hearts sketch #27:

Thanks for stopping by!  Have a wonderful week filled with fun and creativity!

:) Marie

Polar Bear Holiday Fun for Color My Heart Color Dare #67

This week's challenge at Color My Heart Color Dare is to use Black, White and a pop of Green. Close To My Heart has so many wonderful greens to choose from!   Lagoon is one of my favorite Close To My Heart colors and I just had to use it here.  The card size is 5" x 6.5".

The stamp set is called Polar Bear Holiday and has several delightful images.  The background paper is from Sweetheart (retired CTMH). The frames and snowflakes were cut using the Art Philosophy cartridge. Opaques Pearl Adhesive Gems and Stardust Glitz Glitter Gel were used as embellishments. The greeting is popped up with 3D Foam Tape.

My card layout was inspired by Tuesday Morning Sketches although I rotated it to fit my image. 

I'm also entering this card into Pile it on Challenge--use 2 embellishments and Use it Tuesdays which features Creatures this week.

We are looking forward to see what you can create using Black, White and a pop of Green.  We love Close To My Heart colors at the Color Dare, but if you don't have them yet, please play along and substitute similar colors.  Please join us by linking your blog post here.

Thanks for stopping by!  Have a wonderful week filled with fun and creativity!

:) Marie