Boxing Week Sales at Close to My Heart!

Would you like to purchase Close to My Heart Embossing Folders and Thin Cut Bundles (stamps and coordinating dies) for 1/2 price?  There is an assortment of current and retired items available for sale today only until 3PM MT (2 PM PST, 4 PM  CST or 5 PM EST).

Come check it out here!  Stop by again every day this week for another assortment of highly discounted items.

Be sure to check out the Clearance button and the Going Soon buttons for additional values.  If your order reaches $50 you will also be eligible to purchase the December Stamp of the Month for just $5!

Happy Shopping!

:) Marie

Color Dare #224 Meets CAS Challenges #366.

Here is the last Color My Heart Color Dare challenge for 2016! We invite you to use the designated Close to My Heart colors to create something you like.  (Of course if you don't have the exact CTMH colors yet you can substitute something similar so you can still join in on the fun!)  This year we are extending the usual one week challenge to 3 weeks (ending 9PM EST January 5) so you have plenty of time to join us over the holidays.  

Our colors this week are:  Cranberry, Crystal Blue, Willow and White Daisy.  My card features stamps and thin cuts from the Thankful for You Thin Cuts Bundle.

Here is a close-up so you can see how sparkly the Clear Shimmer pen made the swan's bill and wings.

Close to My Heart products used:

     Thankful for You Thin Cuts Bundle

     White Daisy CS

     Adventure Fundamentals Paper (Willow green pattern)

     Cranberry CS

     Crystal Blue CS

     White and Gold Ribbon

     Clear Shimmer Brush

     Willow Ink

     Crystal Blue Ink

     Scallop Punch (retired)

Other product:

     Stitched Oval Die by Katscrappiness.com

     Tiny wiggle eye

Here is the Color My Heart Color Dare graphic.  Just click on it to get to the challenge blog to check out what the rest of the awesome Design Team has to inspire you.

     

My usual creative process often starts with pairing the color challenge with a current sketch challenge.  I often consult the Paper Playful blog to find other challenges to inspire me.  This week I found the Crazy 4 Challenges blog in which you can use any of their sketches for the whole year.  I chose challenge #341.

I'm also entering my card into the Sunny Day Crafting challenge where it is always Anything Goes.

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

:) Marie

CAS Christmas Card for Addicted to Stamps and More #224

The last six months has really flown by!  This is my last project for the Addicted to Stamps and More Design Team.  I've been honored to be among this very talented group of people in sharing my passion for creativity.  The theme this week at Addicted to Stamps and More is CAS or Clean and Simple.  We are being sponsored by Happy Little Stampers.

My card features a cut from the Celebrate With Flourish cricut cartridge, some gold embossing and Fireworks Craft Ink (Cottage Ivy) sprayed background.  Indian Gold Embellishment Mousse was rubbed on the edges of the base layer to accent the card.

Here is a second photo to show off the shimmer of the present.

My card was inspired by this wonderful sketch from Case This Sketch.#201

I'm also entering this card into the Sunny Day Crafts--Anything Goes challenge.

Please stop by the Addicted to Stamps and More blog to check out what the rest of the fabulous Design Team has to inspire you.  We would love to have you share your CAS projects with us in our last challenge of 2016!

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

Thoughtful Flowers and City Sidewalks for December Joyful Stars Blog Hop

Welcome to the December 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 Donna Ackley Long's blog you are on the right track.  (The complete lineup is also on Joyce's blog in case you get lost.) Have fun being inspired!

One of my favorite stamps from the December Stamp of the Month Thoughtful Flowers is this poinsettia stamp.  I colored it several times with our Shin Han Touch Markers (Carmine and Tender Pink) and then used the CTMH Clear Shimmer Brush on the center petals.  I used a 1/4" hole punch to cut the flower centers from CTMH Gold Shimmer Trim.

Here is a closeup so you can see the sparkle on the top leaves made by the Clear Shimmer Brush:

Close to My Heart products used:

     White Daisy CS

     Thoughtful Flowers

     Memento Black Ink 

     City Sidewalks paper

     Light Cerulean Blue Shin Han Touch marker (to create lines on top panel)

     Clear Shimmer Brush

     Tender Pink Shin Han Touch Marker (base layer of color on top of flower)

     Carmine Shin Han Touch Marker (several coats on top flower petals and bottom flower petals)

     Gold Shimmer Trim

     3D Foam Tape

Here is the Atlantic Hearts Sketch that inspired my card layout: 

I'm also entering this into the Feeling-Sketchy Anything Goes Sketch challenge.

Now it's time to head on over to Donna Thomson Digby's blog to see the awesome project she has to share this month.

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

P.S. If you like what you see on my blog please consider becoming a follower of my blog so you won't miss any of my fabulous projects.

Color Dare #222 Meets Paper Players Sketch #323

Welcome back to another Color My Heart Color Dare challenge blog post!  This week it's about Metallics!  We would love to see your projects made with your choice of Gold, Silver, Rose Gold, with Black and White Daisy and/or Colonial White.  I went to the Close to My Heart Uptown Fundamentals to create my card.

I varied the light position of these photos to show off the gold foil shininess!

Close to My Heart products used:
      Colonial White CS
      Hearts Embossing Folder (retired)
      Black CS
      Uptown Fundamentals Paper (script paper and foil paper)
      True Love Stamps
      Versamark Ink
      Ranger Gold Detail Embossing Powder
      Memento Black Ink

Here is the Paper Players Sketch #323 that inspired my card layout:

I'm also entering this card into the following challenges:
      Simon Says Wednesday--Anything Goes
      Sunny Day Crafting--Anything Goes
      The House That Stamps Built--Anything Goes
      As You Like it Challenge--Choose your favorite metallic and why.  My          favorite metallic is Gold--to me it is such a rich and regal color.

Now head on over to the Color My Heart Color Dare blog to check out what the rest of the fabulous Design Team has to inspire you.  Don't forget we are looking for some new Design Team members.  Read about it here.

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


   

December Stamp of the Month--Thoughtful Flowers

Welcome to our Stamp of the Month Blog Hop!  We will be featuring December's SOTM, which is "Thoughtful Flowers", a set of 14 stamps.  If you have come here from Krista Hershberger'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:  http://ifyoublingit.blogspot.com/p/stamp-of-month-blog-hop-list.html. 

This month we have 30 Close To My Heart Consultants sharing their creations using this month's SOTM 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 card features two floral stamps and one (of 6) sentiment stamps. 

      

Close to My Heart products used:
      Cranberry CS
      Canary CS
      Uptown Fundamentals Paper (gold strip)
      Adventure Fundamentals Paper
      Memento black Ink
      Marigold Shin Han Touch Marker
      Golden Yellow Shin Han Touch Marker
      Clear Shimmer Brush
      Clear Epoxy Bubbles

Here is the Try Stampin' on Tuesday Sketch that inspired my card layout:

Now "Hop" on over to Gina Brandstetter'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 December SOTM is only available until December 31!  Contact your CTMH Consultant (or click here) to see how you can get this stamp set at a discount!

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

:) Marie

P.S.  If you are looking to participate in a challenge that features Close to My Heart Exclusive colors please check out Color My Heart Color Dare blog.