Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge #144 Meets Cardz4Guys #104

This card is for a good friend of mine who is undergoing 30 days of radiation treatments.  My goal is to send him a card a week and this is card #2.

Close to My Heart products used:

     Kraft CS

     Zoe paper

     Gold Metallic Marker--to make dots inside the circles, color the wood bird

         and color some gold leaves in tree)

     Keep Your Chin Up stamps

     Chocolate Ink

     Versamark Ink

     Clear Embossing powder

     3D Foam Tape

     Buttercup spiral clip (retired)

     Wood Trinkets (retired)

Here is the Atlantic Hearts Sketch #144 that inspired me to make this card:

I was also influenced to make this card by the Spots and or Stripes challenge over at Cardz 4 Guys.

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

:) Marie

p.s. There is a new color challenge over at Color My Heart Color Dare:

Challenge ends on Thursday evening, February 4 at 9PM CST.

Artbooking Overlay for Color Dare #178--Thistle, Pixie, Glacier and White Daisy

Welcome back to another Color My Heart Color Dare challenge post!  We have another beautiful color combination for you to work with this week.  My challenge was to combine all and only these 4 colors:  Thistle, Pixie, Glacier and White Daisy.  (If you don't have these fabulous Close to My Heart colors yet you can substitute similar colors so you can still play along).

Although I usually like to follow a card sketch (and enter it into a challenge) I decided to be inspired by my own creative impulses with this card.

My background panel was created by stacking the three featured colors on top of each other and slicing them on my paper cutter.  (I have 2 remaining panels for future card making).  The arrow overlay is from the CTMH Artbooking.  The sentiment stamp is from Holiday Tags.  The circles are layered with 3D Foam Tape.

Close to My Heart products used:

     White Daisy CS

     Glacier CS

     Thistle CS

     Pixie CS

     Artbooking Cartridge

     Glacier Ink

     3D Foam Tape

Please check out what the rest of the awesome Design Team has to inspire you with this challenge here.  We hope you will find the time to create something and share it with us on the Color Dare blog or on our Facebook page. (As always if you don't have the exact colors you may substitute something similar.)

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

:) Marie

Sapphire and Glacier Thinking of You card for Mojo Monday #432

This card was made with the "negative" piece leftover from my last card here.  I don't like to throw any scrappy leftovers away so I found a sketch from Mojo Monday #432 to use this piece with.  The sketch was rotated to fit my leftover piece.

Close to My Heart products used:

     White Daisy CS

     Sapphire CS

     Glacier CS

     Enchantment Fundamentals (banner on left and reverse side of it is on right)

     Balloon Ride paper (middle banner)

     Brushstrokes stamp

     Glacier Ink

     Maritime Puffies

Other products:

     Ticket punch by SU

     Paper Lace 2 cartridge

Here is the Mojo Monday sketch I used (rotated 90 degrees)

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

:) Marie

Sunday Stamps #118 Meets Just Us Girls #327 and Inkspirational Challenges

The excessive snow this past weekend enabled me to explore several card challenges I probably wouldn't have had time to pursue.  My son is in the Navy and deployed right now so he will be receiving this card at some point.  My card combines elements from the following challenges: Sunday Stamps sketch #118, Just Us Girls #327 include an anchor challenge and Inkspirational Challenge to use a previous color scheme--#10 Shades of Green for me.

Here is a closeup of the anchor cut out of CTMH Sapphire paper and then embossed with Polysparkle Clear embossing powder to give it a sparkle.

Close to My Heart products used:

     White Daisy CS

     Peacock CS

     Glacier CS

     Sapphire CS

     Artistry cartridge (Anchor cut and frame)

     Scalloped embossing folder

     3D Foam Tape

     Polysparkle Clear embossing powder (retired)

Other products:

     Paper Lace 2 cartridge (Thinking of you cut)

Here are the linked challenge graphics in case you want to join in the fun too!:

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

:) Marie

p.s.  If you are looking for a fun color challenge check out this one from Color My Heart Color Dare:

Challenge ends Thursday, January 28 at 9 PM CST (10 PM EST)

Freshly Made Sketch #220 with For Family Stamp Set

I was snowed in yesterday and got to spend some extra time in my craft room making cards.  The following two cards were made for a friend whose twin grand daughters are celebrating birthdays next weekend.

Which card do you like better?

Freshly Made Sketches #220 was my inspiration for the card design:

Close to My Heart products used:

     White Daisy CS

      Topiary CS

      Thistle CS

      Topiary Ink

      Thistle Ink

      Honey Ink

      For Family sentiments stamps

      Happy to Be Friends floral stamps

The current challenge at Seize the Birthday is "Clean and Simple" so I'm entering this card into that challenge also.

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

:) Marie

      

Beloved Bouquet for Case This Sketch #156 and Inkspirational Challenges #100

My favorite new stamp set has to be Beloved Bouquet (Close to My Heart January 2016 Stamp of the Month) and I just can't stop using it!  Today's lovely card uses the Baby's Breath stamp in "shades of green" for the Inkspirational Challenge #100 called "Blast from the Past".

Close to My Heart Products used:

     White Daisy CS

     Peacock CS

     Fern CS

     Beloved Bouquet stamp

     Balloon Animals (February stamp of the month) frame

     Just a Number (birthday stamp--retired)

     Peacock Ink

     Fern Ink

     3D Foam Tape

My inspiration for the card layout came from Case This Sketch #156:

Since it is a birthday card I am also linking this to the Seize the Birthday Clean and Simple challenge.

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

:) Marie

p.s.  If you are looking for a great color challenge this week check out Color My Heart Color Dare.  

    

Beloved Bouquet Meets Color Dare #177

Welcome back to another Color My Heart Color Dare challenge post!  I'm really excited to share this particular color combination with you as it really appeals to me.  We are challenging you to create a project with just these four fabulous Close to My Heart colors:  White Daisy, Whisper, Peacock, and Crystal Blue.

(If you don't have these Close to My Heart colors you can substitute something similar so you can still play along!)

My card features the January Stamp of the Month Beloved Bouquet which I really love!

The card layout is from Tuesday Morning Sketches #335:

Close to My Heart products used:

     White Daisy CS

     Peacock CS

     Crystal Blue CS

     Beloved Bouquet stamps

     Peacock Ink

     Crystal Blue Ink

     Artbooking cartridge--decorative circle

     Artistry cartridge--scalloped border

     

Here is the Design Space file if you want to recreate this card.

Please check out what the rest of the awesome Design Team has to inspire you with this challenge here.  We hope you will find the time to create something and share it with us on the Color Dare blog or on our Facebook page.  If you don't have the exact colors you may use something similar.

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

:) Marie

Use Your Stash "Patterned Paper" Blog Hop

It's time for our monthly Use Your Stash Blog Hop where we share what we've made using older product.  The theme for this month is "Patterned Paper Addict" and it was hard for me to choose what lovely paper I wanted to use.  If you are coming from Casandra Bennett's blog you are on the right track.  (If you get "lost" along the way you can check Wendy Kessler's blog for a list of all the participants).

My cards feature the beautiful "Brushed" paper pack which was retired last year. I combined it with some older "Tulip" red cardstock, Black cardstock, red or black shimmer trim and some new stamps that I really love called "Stamps of Approval" which is available in the new CTMH Seasonal Expressions catalog.  I made a group of cards to keep available to use or perhaps give as a gift to someone else.  I used Design Space to create the scalloped borders. The label mats were cut using the Artistry cartridge.

Which card do you like the best?

Card #1:

  

Card #2: 

Card #3:

Card #4:  

Card #5:  

Card #6:

Now head on over to Sheila Bennett's blog to see what she has to share with you.

Stop by the Color My Heart Color Dare blog on Friday morning to see the wonderful new color combination challenge.

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

:) Marie

Seasonal Expressions 1 Blog Hop

Welcome to our Seasonal Expressions Blog Hop!  We will be featuring new products from the newly released Close to my Heart Seasonal Expressions 1 catalog.  If you have come here from Jen Rubio's Blog, you are on the right path! The blog hop is a great big circle, so you can start here and work your way all around.  If you get lost along the way, you’ll find the complete list of participating consultants on Melinda’s Blog: 

  

This month we have 31 Close To My Heart Consultants sharing their creations using new products from the Seasonal Expressions 1 catalog and other great CTMH products on their blogs. This is simple to do - just click on the link at the end of the post on each blog to move to the next one! Here we go!

My friendship card features the following new products from Seasonal Expressions 1:

     Regatta paper

     Black and Gold Ribbon

     Stamps of Approval

Other Close to my Heart products:

     Pomegranate ink

     3D Foam Tape

Do you see the pretty focal frame?  It was actually cut from a piece of Regatta paper.  Look in the lower left hand corner to find it.  How easy to use is this?!

I followed the Stick it Down January card sketch to make this card.

Now "Hop" on over to the very beginning of the hop to Wendy Kessler's Blog to see her work! Be sure to visit all the Consultants at their Blogs to get some great crafting ideas and other fun ideas! Remember, the items featured in the Seasonal Expressions 1 catalog are available only until April 30.  Contact your CTMH Consultant (or click here) to see how you can get these limited time only products.

  

Here are some more projects I have made using new products from the Seasonal Expressions 1 catalog: Stamps of Approval Card, Kiss it Better card, Spring Critter card, Beloved Bouquet card.

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

:) Marie

Let it Snow for Fantabulous Cricut Challenge Blog #268

Welcome back to another Fantabulous Cricut Challenge blog post!  Today we are challenging you to create something with your cricut with a Snow Theme.

Close to My Heart products used:

     Artfully Sent cricut cartridge

     White Daisy CS

     Wonderland paper (retired)

     Black CS

     Sunset CS

     Stardust Glitz Glitter Gel (retired)

I'm also entering this card into the Clear it Out Challenge blog to add a snowflake and Heart 2 Heart "Frozen" challenge.

Challenge #268-Snow
Make a project featuring snow

This Weeks Sponsor

Pretty Cute Stamps

To qualify for the prize, be sure to use at least 1 Cricut cut on your project and if it's not obvious, let us know what cartridge you used. If you use a Cricut Explore machine, at least one cut must be from the Cricut catalog of images.

And, if you submit a project in our challenge that isn't a card, you will get two entries for a chance to win the prize instead of one! 

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

Color Dare #176 Meets Fusion Card Challenge and Seize the Birthday

Welcome back to another Color My Heart Color Dare challenge blog post!  We are challenging you to create something with just these Close to My Heart colors:

(Of course if you don't have these CTMH colors yet you may substitute similar colors).

My card features the original Paper Fundamentals pattern and cuts made with the Art Philosophy (scalloped oval) and Artiste (Happy Birthday) cartridges by Close to My Heart.  If you have these cartridges and would like the Design Space file you can grab it here.  

Who would think to make a birthday card in these colors?  I think it works when you tack on the 50!  

Close to My Heart products used:

     Art Philosophy cartridge

     Artiste cartridge

     Paper Fundamentals Slate (original pattern --now discontinued)

     Whisper CS

     Black CS

     White Daisy CS

     Shimmer Brads (retired)

     Black Shin Han Touch marker

Here is the card sketch that inspired me:

I'm also entering my card into the Seize the Birthday, Cardz 4 Guys birthday challenges and Heart 2 Heart numbers challenge. 

Please head on over to the Color My Heart Color Dare blog to see how the rest of the fabulous Design Team have to inspire you!  Our challenge ends on Thursday evening January 25 at 9 PM CST.  

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

:) Marie

My Little Superhero for Friday Mashup #238

A few weeks before Christmas my son told me that my grandson would really like a Superhero costume. Although I didn't have time to make it for him for a Christmas gift I did finish it shortly thereafter when he was staying at my house. We are calling him the "Amazing Antonio" thus the A emblem.  He has a reversible cape with a velcro closure each way, a black sweatshirt and a red t-shirt.  Here is what I made for him:

Here is the "Amazing Antonio" wearing his superhero costume:

The logo was designed in Design Space (with help from grandson) and cut on the Cricut Explore (love this machine!)

Products used:

     Holographic Gold Heat Transfer Vinyl from Vinyl Expressions

     Holographic Red Heat Transfer Vinyl from Vinyl Expressions

     White Heat Transfer Vinyl from Cricut

     Nursery Rhymes cartridge for the letter A

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

:) Marie

Kiss it Better Meets Saturday Sketch #394

A good friend of mine will be undergoing radiation and chemotherapy soon so I made him this card using Sketch Saturday #394:

Close to My Heart products used:

     Regatta paper (from the new CTMH Seasonal Expressions catalog)

     Champagne CS

     Champagne Ink

     Pomegranate Ink

     Kiss it Better stamp set (from the new CTMH Seasonal Expressions catalog)

     3D Foam Tape

Here is the sketch that inspired me:

    

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

:) Marie

p.s. If you are up for a good color challenge check out Color My Heart Color Dare.  This week's challenge features Glacier, White Daisy and Silver.

La Vie En Rose Birthday Card for Joyful Stars Blog Hop and Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge

Welcome back to another Joyful Stars Blog Hop!  We are a group of Close to My Heart consultants who share something each month on the 9th and at 9PM EST.  If you are coming from Yvonne Barbosa's blog you are on the right track.  (If you get "lost" along the way visit Joyce's blog for the complete lineup.)  Have fun being inspired!  

My card features the beautiful La Vie En Rose paper from the Annual Inspirations catalog. 

I made it for my niece who just turned 17 following the current Atlantic Hearts Sketch #141. I'm also sharing it with Seize the Birthday challenge blog.

  

Close to My Heart products used:

     La Vie En Rose paper

     Silver Foil Tape

     Artiste cartridge (frame)

     Artbooking cartridge (17)

     Black CS

     Black and Grey Glitter paper

If you have a Cricut Explore here is the cut file.

The next stop on the blog hop is Betty Locco's blog.  I'm sure you'll be inspired by what she shares.

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

:) Marie

P.S.  If you like Close to My Heart products and you like to challenge yourself I invite you to check out the Color My Heart Color Dare blog.  We award blog badges to our weekly winners and have a monthly prize drawing for a randomly drawn entry so the more often you play the more chances you have to win a donated prize from a CTMH consultant.

Mojo Monday #429 Meets Bitten by the Bug

Here's a winter card inspired by two of my favorite challenge blogs (other than Color My Heart Color Dare of course!) Mojo Monday #429 and Bitten by the Bug Frosty the Snowman theme.

Close to My Heart products used:

     Pomegranate CS

     Crystal Blue CS

     Sapphire CS

     Artistry Cartridge

     Artfully Sent Cartridge

     Shimmer Adhesive Gem

The Design Space file can be found here.

Other products:

     Crayola Blue Supertip pen for buttons

     Minc Holographic Heat Reactive Foil (for snowflake)

     tiny wiggle eyes

I'm also entering this card into the Heart 2 Heart "Frozen" challenge.

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

:) Marie