Blog Candy Giveaway!

It is the end of January and as promised previously I have a giveaway for one lucky reader!  Wild About Love is an adorable stamp set from Close To My Heart which was a February 2014 Stamp Special and is no longer available.  It coordinates with the Art Philosophy cricut cartridge.

I made a Valentine card with it using a Try Stampin' on Tuesday sketch (rotated 90 degrees):

Close to My Heart products used:

     Saddle CS

     Saddle Ink

     Sparkle and Shine striped paper (retired)

     Wild About Love stamp set (retired)

     White Daisy CS

     Copper Shimmer Trim

     Ruby Ink

     Stuck on You Puffies

     In My Heart Stamp set (I Love You--retired)

     This Moment Stamp set (back side of heart stamped to make 2 hearts)

To Win this stamp set (and some other mystery products):

    1.  Become a follower of my blog or subscribe by email

    2.  Leave a comment on this blog post (or email to me) saying you are a follower AND that you 

         would like to win the Wild About Love stamp set

    3.  The deadline for  entry is Friday, February 6 at midnight EST.

Here are links to other cards I made with this stamp set:

    #1

    #2

    #3

Other card challenges:

     Pile it On  Hearts or Flowers

     Simon Says-- Anything Goes

     That Craft Place--Valentines

     Scrappin' for Fun Challenge--Love

Thanks for stoppping by!  Have a wonderful week filled with fun and creativity!  Good luck in the prize drawing!

:) Marie

     

Artfully Sent Sympathy Card for Bitten by the Bug 2

My new Cricut Explore and I are becoming better acquainted and I'm having fun learning how to do new things.  While making this card I taught myself how to "attach" an element from a different cartridge and "draw" it rather than cut it. (Initially I tried to "weld" and "slice" the greeting but I didn't like how it looked when it was cut).

Here's a second copy with some sparkles added as flower centers:

Close to My Heart products used:

     Artfully Sent cartridge page 37 (pocket card)

     Garden Green CS (retired)

     Vineyard Berry CS (retired)

     New England Ivy CS

     Bakers Twine from Laughing Lola Cardmaking Kit (retired)

Other products

     Jasmine cartridge--With Sympathy greeting

     Cricut silver and black pens (Explore outlined in silver and then I filled it in with Black ink by   

         hand)  

I'm entering this card into the challenge at Bitten by the Bug 2 to make a sympathy card and Heart2Heart Tic Tac Toe Challenge--(center column vertical--cricut, ribbon, bling)

Coming soon--Blog Candy!  This Friday I will be offering some FREE craft supplies to one of my readers so please sign up to become a follower so you don't miss out on the details!

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

Color Dare #127--Indian Corn Blue, Black, White Daisy and Silver

Welcome back to another Color My Heart Color Dare blog post!  This week we are challenging you to use only the following colors:  Indian Corn Blue, Black, White Daisy and Silver.

My card features a doily cut from the Art Philosophy cartridge (page 65 font layer cut at 3.5") which I used as a stencil to sponge Indian Corn Blue ink through.

Close to My Heart products used:

     White Daisy CS

     Black CS

     Art Philosophy cartridge (label cut from glitter paper--pg. 47 Layer cut at 3")

     Sponge Dauber

     Indian Corn Blue ink

     Black and Grey Glitter paper (used the darker silver paper)

     Your Own Kind of Wonderful Stamp 

I used the Retrosketch #149 for my inspiration

This card also fits into the Cardz 4 Guys Anything Goes theme.

Now it's your turn to play with these fun colors.  If you don't have these exact colors you may substitute similar colors.  We would love to have you visit the challenge blog to see what the rest of the Design Team has created and then link up your papercrafted creation with a direct link here.  Hope to see you in our gallery!   The deadline is Thursday evening, January 29 at 9pm CT.

At the end of January I will be offering some FREE craft supplies--please become a follower so you don't miss out on the goodies!

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

:) Marie

Going Gray for Cards in Envy

Gray--now that's a color I don't use too often and so I decided to take the challenge at Cards in Envy this week.  This card came together very quickly using the Freshly Made Sketch #170.

Close to My Heart products used:

      Grey Wool CS (retired)

      White Daisy CS

      Grey Wool B & T paper (retired)

      Ruby Ink

      Happy Hexagons stamp--Hostess Rewards set

Here is the Freshly Made Sketch I followed:

Coming soon--blog candy! I will be offering some FREE craft supplies to one of my readers so please sign up to become a follower so you don't miss out on the details.

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

:) Marie

Love You Card for Bitten by the Bug2 with a Mojo Monday Sketch

Everyday I learn a little bit more about how to use Design Space with my new Cricut Explore.  Today I taught myself how to weld two images from Artbooking (Love You and scalloped circle) together to make a new shape.  I really like how it came out.

Close to My Heart products used:

     Sweetheart paper (retired)

     Tulip CS (retired)

     Artbooking Cricut cartridge

     Black CS

     White Daisy CS

     Stardust Glitz Glitter Gel (retired)

This card meets the challenge requirements for:

     Bitten by the Bug2--Cricut Letters or Phrase

     Mojo Monday sketch

Here is the sketch that inspired me:

     

At the end of January I will be offering some FREE crafts supplies--please become a follower so you will have the opportunity to win!

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

:) Marie

     

Hopscotch Valentine with Pals Paper Arts Sketch #236

This card came together so quickly following the Pals Paper Arts sketch #263.  Hope you like it!

Close To My Heart products used:

    Hopscotch paper

    This Moment stamp set (January 2015 stamp of the month)

    Artfully Sent stamp set (Happy Valentine's Day)

    Pacific CS

    Pacific Ink

    White Shimmer Trim

    Pacifica Alcohol Marker (retired)

There are so many wonderful stamp images in the January Stamp of the Month set from Close to My Heart:

Here is the sketch that inspired me:

     

At the end of January I will be offering some FREE craft supplies--please become a follower so you don't miss out on the goodies!

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

:) Marie

Musical Note Birthday Card Meets Several Challenges

Here is a quick card I made with several challenge requirements in mind.

Close to my Heart products used:

    White Daisy CS

     Clear Sparkles

     White Shimmer Trim

     

Other products:

    Black CS by Recollections

    Paper Lace 2 Cricut cartridge

    Black Prismatic paper by Colorbok

    Snowflake embellishments--unknown

Challenges:

     Cut it Up--Black and White with a diecut

     My Time to Craft--stripes

     Inkspirational--"Note"

   

I'm planning on having a blog candy giveaway soon so please sign up as a follower so you won't miss out on FREE stuff.

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

:) Marie

Friday Mashup Meets Sunday Stamps and Colour Me....

The Friday Mashup challenge invited us to try out the Embossing Folder Stamping Technique.  After experimenting with several different embossing folders I settled on the Layered Hearts folder by Darice.

The card layout was inspired by this Sunday Stamps sketch which I rotated.

The colors were taken from the Colour Me... Challenge palette--Pacific Point, Real Red and White.

Close to my Heart products used:

     White Daisy CS

      Pacifica CS

      Ruby CS

      Ruby Ink

      XOXO stamp

      White Embossing powder

      Art Philosophy cricut cartridge to cut scallop edge and banner

      3D Foam Tape

Other products:

     Darice Layered Hearts Embossing Folder

I'm planning on having a blog candy giveaway soon so please become a follower so you won't miss out on FREE stuff!

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

:) Marie

Have an Ice Day for Numerous Challenges

Don't you just love penguins?  I think they are really cute and I decided to play with numerous challenges today.  My favorite penguins are retired Hostess Rewards from Close to my Heart called Wintry Wishes.

Close to my Heart products used:

     White Daisy CS

     Moonstruck CS (retired)

     Wintry Wishes stamps (retired)

     Moonstruck Ink (retired)

     Silver Embossing Powder

     Stardust Glitz Glitter Gel

     Art Philosophy cartridge  (snowflakes and scalloped rectangle)

     Silver metallic marker

Other products;

     Prismatic Reflective Paper by Colorbok

The Atlantic Hearts Sketch inspired me with this layout:

Other challenges that I'm entering are:

     The House That Stamps Built-What If Wednesday--Blue, Silver and White

     Bitten By the Bug--Snowflakes

     House of Cards--Glitter

     Die Cutting Divas--Photo Inspiration

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

:) Marie

Happy Valentine's Day for Joyful Stars Blog Hop

If you are looking for the latest Color My Heart Color Dare challenge blog post please go here.

Welcome back to a wonderful new year with new Close To My Heart products.  There are a lot of delightful new products to be seen in the Seasonal Expressions 1 catalog (good until March 31) and I'm sure you'll see great examples of artwork when you follow this blog hop of Close To My Heart consultants.

 

If you are coming from Cindy Leek's blog you are on the right track.  

My Valentine's Day card features Heartstrings paper from the Seasonal Expressions 1 catalog and gold foil stickers from the January Constant Campaign called Noted. 

Close To My Heart products used:

     White Daisy CS

     Art Philosophy cartridge to cut the heart doily

     Gold Embossing Powder

     Heartstrings paper

     Gold Foil stickers from Noted paper kit (special for January National Papercrafting Month)

I followed the Try Stampin' on Tuesday sketch to make this card.  I'm also entering this card into the Heart2Heart challenge--something old (Art Philosophy, gold embossing powder) and something new (Heartstrings paper and Gold Foil stickers)

Now it's time to head on over to Nancy Brown's blog to continue on the Joyful Stars blog hop. If you get lost along the way please visit Joyce's blog for the complete lineup.

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

:) Marie

Snowhaven Napkin Fold Card for Color Dare #125

Happy 2015! Welcome back to another Color My Heart Color Dare challenge!  (I can't believe my last Color Dare post was a month ago!)  This week we are challenging you to create something with the following Close To My Heart colors--Cranberry and Glacier (think Snowhaven paper palette).  You may add the following neutrals--Whisper, Black and White Daisy.  (New policy--this year we will indicate which neutrals can be used with the main challenge colors)  Now that the Christmas holidays are over I'm starting to think about Valentine's Day.  I challenged myself to make a napkin fold card.


Outside of card:

Inside of card:

My Santa was very good to me!  He brought me the new Cricut Explore and I am loving it!  This card was made with a Design Space cut file shared by Tabitha Carroll of Shutterscape Creations.  (I'm not sure where I found the cut file as I've joined so many Facebook Cricut Explore groups recently!)  This card became so much easier to make--all I had to do was choose the colors, sponge the creases and glue the pieces down.  The Cricut Explore cut AND scored the White Daisy CS background--how cool is that?  It really cut the intricate doily hearts out beautifully--no snags and easy to get the little pieces out.

Close to my Heart products used:
     White Daisy CS
     Cranberry CS
     Glacier CS
     Snowhaven paper
     Art Philosophy heart
     Slate washi tape mounted over white Daisy (retired)
     One Way Border arrow stamp
     Black pigment ink square
     Clear embossing powder
     XOXO stamp--stamped in both Glacier and Cranberry
     Sponge Daubers
     Happy Valentine's stamp

Now it's your turn to play with these fun colors.  If you don't have these exact colors you may substitute similar colors.  Please limit yourself to adding the following neutrals Whisper, Black and White Daisy.   We would love to have you visit the challenge blog to see what the rest of the Design Team has created and then link up your papercrafted creation with a direct link here.  Hope to see you in our gallery!  The deadline is Thursday evening, January 15 at 9PM CT.

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

   

Another Ice Fishing Card for Dee Dee's Digis and Send a Smile for Kids

I'm still having fun playing with this delightful Ice Fishing Digital stamp!  Here is a more masculine version:

Close To My Heart products used:

     White Daisy CS

     Cotton Candy CS

     Moonstruck CS (retired)

     Moonstruck B & T paper (retired)

     

Other products

     Dee Dee's Digis January Stamp of the Month Ice Fishing--FREE this month!

Challenges entered:

      Send a Smile for Kids--Valentine or Love cards

      Dee Dee's Digis--January Digi of the Month

      The Male Room Challenge Blog--new beginnings--I see it as a new relationship....

      Pile it On--Digi Papers or Precolored Digis

      Crafty Creations Challenges--"Brrr, the blues!"

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

:) Marie

P.S.  My next post I will be returning to creating with acrylic stamps!

     

You've Caught My Heart for Send a Smile for Kids and DeeDee's Digis

As I was reading my blog list a few days ago I learned about a free offer from DeeDee's Digis.  The digital stamp set was FREE!  I couldn't resist trying out digital stamping because the images are so darned cute!  I made a Valentine's card so I can send it on to Send A Smile for Kids who are sending them to sick kids in some hospitals.  It was so EASY to size the image in Word, print it and then embellish it with some stamping and Liquid Pearls.

Do you recognize the current Atlantic Hearts Sketch?  Here is the graphic that inspired me:

Close To My Heart products used:

     White Daisy CS

     Cotton Candy CS

     Cotton Candy Ink

     Moonstruck Ink (retired)

     Love Life stamps (retired)

Other products:

     White Liquid Pearls

    DeeDee's Digis Ice Fishing stamps

Head on over to DeeDee's and grab this adorable set of digital stamps:

    

Challenges entered with this card:

     Atlantic Hearts Sketch #88--sketch

     Dee Dee's Digis--Digi of the Month challenge

     Send a Smile for Kids--Valentine or Love cards

      Pile it On--Digi Paper or Precolored Digis

     Simon Says--Anything Goes Wednesday Challenge

     

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

:) Marie

     

Roxie Sweet Sixteen with Cricut Explore

Happy Sweet Sixteen, dear niece Ellie!  This is the very first card I designed with my new Cricut Explore and I love it!

Not only did I design this but I figured out how to save the cut file to share.  Here is a link for any Cricut Explore lovers--Sweet Sixteen card by Marie Flayer.  The images are from the subscription to Design Space.  

Close to My Heart products used:

     Roxie paper (retired)

     Black CS

     Black and Grey Glitter Paper

     Silver Metallic Marker

Challenges entered:

     House of Cards--Glitter

     Seize the Birthday--Birthday

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

:) Marie