Going Wild with Ink Blots

If you are looking for the Joyful Stars Blog hop post please go here.

I made this card for a young lady in Army Boot Camp.  It was inspired by Can You Case it #132.

Close to My Heart products used:

     Flower Market cricut cartridge--hello

     Champagne CS

     Cotton Candy CS

     Smokey Plum Fleurs des Jardin paper (retired)

     Ink Blot stamp set

     Hollyhock CS

     Smokey Plum Ink

     Cotton Candy Ink

     Hollyhock Ink

     Liquid Glass for star

Here is the Can You Case it sketch I followed:

     

The challenge over at Simon Says this week is "Going Wild".  Consider that I "went wild" stamping all those ink blots in the background!

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

:) Marie

Color Dare #189 and Try Stampin' on Tuesday Take Two

When I made my Color Dare challenge card the other day I had leftover pieces from the background panel I randomly stamped with the Ink Blot stamps.  Here is what I made with those extra pieces:

Here is my first card:

Which one do you like better?

Close to My Heart products used:
     White Daisy CS
     Juniper CS
     Thistle CS
     Hollyhock CS
     Hollyhock Ink
     Thistle Ink
     Ink Blot stamps
     Artistry cricut cartridge
     White Shimmer Trim
     Thistle ribbon

Here is the Try Stampin' on Tuesday sketch that I used:

Here is the Color Graphic from Color My Heart Color Dare:

I invite you to play along in both of these fun challenges this week.

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

:) Marie

Color Dare #189 Meets Try Stampin' on Tuesday #266

Welcome back to another Color My Heart Color Dare challenge blog post!  This week we are inviting you to create something with just these colors:  Juniper, Thistle, Hollyhock and White Daisy.  Here is my card:

Here is the Color Dare color graphic:

    

Close to My Heart products used:

     White Daisy CS

     Juniper CS

     Hollyhock CS

     Thistle CS

     Artistry cartidge

     Ink Blot stamp set

     Hollyhock Ink

     Thistle Ink

     Thistle Ribbon

     White sequins from Coral Reef sequins (retired)

My card was inspired by the Try Stampin' on Tuesday #266 Sketch:

Now it's your turn to get creative--how will you use these challenge colors?  Come check out what the rest of the fabulous Color My Heart Color Dare Design Team has to inspire you.

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

Color Dare #182 Meets Retrosketch #203

This week's Color My Heart Color Dare challenge is a fun one--Hollyhock, Smoothie, Lagoon and White Daisy. (But then again, I think they are ALL fun!) I'm really loving the Close to My Heart February stamp of the month called Balloon Animals and used the bunny for my card.

Here's a shot from a different angle so you can see how shiny the Liquid Glass application to the bunny and Lagoon circles are:

I followed the Retrosketch #203 Sketch:

Here is the Color My Heart Color Dare color graphic:

Close to My Heart products used:
     White Daisy CS
     Hollyhock CS
     Smoothie CS
     Lagoon CS
     Lagoon Ink
     Hollyhock Ink
     Smoothie Ink
     Balloon Animals stamp set
     Liquid Glass
     Color Ready Seam Binding--colored with sponge dauber and Lagoon ink
     Charming Cascades stamps
      3D Foam Tape

Other products:
     3/8" hole punch
     5/8" hole punch

Here are some other challenges that I'm entering this card into:
     A Blog Named Hero--A Bit of Sparkle
     Between the Folds--Liquid Glass
     Stampin' Royalty--Sparkle and Shine
     Heart 2 Heart Challenges--Balloon Animals

I've seen so many cute cards made with the Balloon Animals stamp set!  I've been trying to make cards featuring all of the different animals. Check out these links  Monkey, Horse.

Head on over to the Color Dare blog to be inspired by the rest of the awesome Design Team.  We would love to have you participate in the challenge by linking your card up here.

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

Fantabulous Cricut #269 Meets What if Wednesday Sketch J2716

Welcome back to another Fantabulous Cricut Challenge post.  The theme for our challenge this week (#269) is to make a project with a Valentine's Theme.  My card uses a decorative label cut from the Art Philosophy cartridge and a banner cut from the Artiste cartridge.  I used Design Space for cutting these elements.

Here is a side view so you can see the beautiful foil heart on the top layer.

Close to My Heart products used:

     Hollyhock CS

     La Vie En Rose paper

     Black CS

     White Daisy CS

     Ruby CS

     Art Philosophy cartridge

     Artiste Cartridge

     Artfully Sent Cartridge Collection stamp

     Black Ink

     3D Foam Tape

     Opaque Adhesive Gems

Other products:

     Toner paper by Heidi Swapp

     Light Pink Reactive foil by Heidi Swapp

     Minc machine

Here is a link to my Design Space file so you can recreate this card if you wish.

My card was inspired by this fabulous sketch by the House That Stamps Built:

I'm also entering my card into the My Time to Craft #314 "Love is All Around" challenge and Cards in Envy "From the Heart" challenge.

Now head on over to the Fantabulous Cricut Challenge blog to check out what the fabulous Design Team has to share with you.  We would love for you to join in this challenge.  There is a prize being sponsored by D.L. Art you could win.

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

:) Marie

Color Dare #168 Meets Global Design Project Sketch #10

Welcome back to another Color My Heart Color Dare challenge blog post!  This week we are featuring the Close to My Heart colors from the La Vie En Rose color scheme:

The other Design Team members have used the beautiful La Vie En Rose papers to create their projects but I dare to be different and used just the cardstock colors.  

Close to My Heart products used:

     White Daisy CS

     Ruby CS

     Poppy CS

     Pomegranate CS

     Hollyhock CS

     Black CS

     Pixie CS

     Dizzy Circles stamp set

     Black Ink

     Liquid Glass (on Ruby top layer of circle sandwich)

     Itty Bitty Pearl

     3D Foam Tape

Here is the Global Design Project sketch that I followed:

Now it's your turn to create something with these challenge colors.  If you don't have the exact colors listed you may substitute similar colors so you can still join in on the fun.  Please go here to find the challenge blog linky and check out what the rest of the fabulous Design Team has created.

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

:) Marie

Color Dare #162 with Brushstrokes

Welcome back to another Color My Heart Color Dare challenge blog post featuring Close to My Heart colors: Hollyhock, Canary,White Daisy, Pear, Glacier.

Watercoloring seems to be a hot trend right now and I took a shortcut to that effect by using the stamp set called Brushstrokes.  I random stamped the background and used a small star punch with White Shimmer Trim for accents.

Close to My Heart products used:
     White Daisy CS
     Hollyhock CS
     Glacier CS
     Canary CS
     Brushstrokes stamp set
     Hollyhock Ink
     Pear Ink
     Canary Ink
     Glacier Ink
     Hello Life--Cardmaking stamp
     White Shimmer Trim

Other products:
     Studio G star punch

Here is the color graphic:

Are you up to this challenge?  If you don't have the exact Close to My Heart colors yet feel free to substitute something similar.  The challenge stays open until Thursday evening, October 8 until 9PM CDT.  We hope to see you in our gallery!

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

:) Marie

La Vie En Rose Meets Friendly Pets with Sunday Stamps Sketch #110

There's a really great sketch over at Sunday Stamps this week and I just had to use the beautiful rose background paper from Close to My Heart to make this card:

Close to My Heart products used:

       La Vie En Rose paper

       White Daisy CS

       Hollyhock CS

       Friendly Pets Stamp

       Say it All Stamp

       Black ink

       Sunflower Marker (retired)

       Hollyhock Marker (retired)

Here's the sketch that inspired me:

       

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

:) Marie

Artfully Sent Card for Fantabulous Cricut Challenge #250 "Celebrate Mom"

Here is another Mother's Day card made with the Artfully Sent cricut cartridge.  I'm entering this into Fantabulous Cricut Challenge #250--Celebrate Mom

Close to My Heart products used:
      Artfully Sent Cricut cartridge  
      Goldrush CS
     White Daisy CS
     Pixie CS
     Hollyhock CS
     Canary CS
     Happy to Be Friends stamp
     Chocolate ink
     Bronze Shimmer Trim
     Brown and Tan Glitter paper

First I cut the pocket card from page 17 in the Artfully Sent cricut booklet in the 5 cardstock colors and then placed the assorted flowers into the negative spaces of the Goldrush CS.  I taped them on the back to secure them before attaching it to a white folded card.  I used various sized hole punches to cut the glittery flower centers.  (I know I could have used the Cricut to do it but it I was trying to use up small remnants of my glitter papers so as not to waste anything.)

Here is another version of the same card design that I posted 2 weeks ago:

Which do you like better?

I'm also entering this card into the Heart2Heart Challenge--Anything Goes.

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

:) Marie

   

Artfully Sent Card for Color My Heart Color Dare #119 and Stampin' Royalty #254

Welcome back to another Color My Heart Color Dare challenge post!  This week we invite you to use the Close To My Heart colors  Smokey Plum, Hollyhock and Olive.  (if you don't have these exact colors you may substitute similar colors along with adding neutrals such as black, white, beiges, greys).

Close To My Heart products used:
     Artfully Sent Cricut cartridge
     Champagne CS
     Hollyhock CS
     Olive CS
     Smokey Plum Fleurs des Jardines paper (retired)
     Casual Expressions stamp

I'm also entering this card into the Stampin' Royalty "Be Thankful" challenge and The Paper Plunge "Grateful" challenge.

Now it's your turn to play with these fun colors.   Please visit our 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!
   

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

:) Marie

Color Dare #94--Buttercup and Hollyhock with a Sweet Sunday Sketch #219

Welcome back to another Color My Heart Color Dare challenge post!  This is challenge #94 and we are featuring the colors Buttercup and Hollyhock.  (You may substitute similare colors if you don't have these colors yet and you may combine them with neutrals such as white, black, tans and greys also). 

I must admit that I struggled with this color combination for awhile before I started looking for a sketch to follow.  

Close To My Heart products used:

    White Daisy CS

    Buttercup CS

    Hollyhock CS

    Swirls Around Stamp set

    Hi stamp

    Hollyhock Ink

    Scallop punch

    Hollyhock Alcohol Marker

    Buttercup Alcohol Marker

    3D Foam Tape

Other products:

    Martha Stewart Butterfly Punch

    Liquid Pearls White Opal

Here is the Sweet Sunday Sketch Sketch Challenge #219 that inspired me:

Check out what the fabulous Color My Heart Color Dare Design Team B has to inspire you:  Gretchen, Michelle, Hansi and Sarah.  You have until Thursday, May 22 9PM CT to enter your papercrafted creation here.  We look forward to visiting your blogs and seeing what you create with the colors Buttercup and Hollyhock.

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

:) Marie

Dynamic Duos Triple Threat Meets Try Stampin' on Tuesday Sketch #157

"I Dream of Spring" is the twist that goes along with this week's Try Stampin' on Tuesday Sketch #157.  It's been a long winter in the northeast and I'm so ready for spring!  The colors are from this week's Dynamic Duos palette:

My Close To My Heart color substitutions are Olive, Sunset and Hollyhock. 

Close To My Heart Products Used:

      Feathers stamp set

      Hi stamp

      Hollyhock CS

      Sunset CS

      Olive CS

      Artiste Cartridge pg.31(accent 4 cut at 2.75")

      Olive B & T paper (retired)

      Hollyhock Ink

      Sunset Ink

      Black Ink

      Retired CTMH markers--Hollyhock, Olive, Sunset

Other:

      Liquid Pearls--White Opal

Here is the Try Stampin' on Tuesday sketch that inspired me:

     

These are great spring colors and the feathers could pass as bunny ears for a spring image.  If you like color challenges like I do please check out Color My Heart Color Dare blog for weekly inspiration.

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

:) Marie

Farewell to Chantilly for Heart 2 Heart Two Faced Challenge with Sweet Sunday Sketch #204

The Chantilly paper pack from Close To My Heart will retire today so I decided to play with it just one more time.  I followed the Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge # 204 and was inspired to use both sides of the paper in the current Heart 2 Heart Challenge to use both sides of a piece of paper.

Products Used:

     Chantilly Paper (sold out from Close To My Heart)

     Artbooking cartridge to make black overlay (pg 50  overlay shift at 2.25")
            and flower (pg. 80 icon shift at 2")

     Sparkle and Shine Washi tape (from CTMH Holiday Gift Guide)

     Ruby CS
     Hollyhock CS

     Black CS

     Heart hole punch

     Liquid Pearls White

Here is the Sweet Sunday Sketch I followed:

I'm also entering this card into The Card Concept #2 challenge featuring "Texture".  The CAS style I am showcasing is "Clean and Layered".

The new Close To My Heart catalog will be available on my website here on Friday, Feb. 1.  Please stop by to check it out.

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

Cloud Nine for Color Dare #78 Hollyhock and Indian Corn Blue

Welcome back to another Color My Heart Color Dare post where we feature Close To My Heart colors.  (If you don't have the challenge colors you are welcome to substitute something similar.)

This week we are challenging you to use Hollyhock and Indian Corn Blue in a papercrafted project.  (Neutrals such as white, beige, grey or black are also allowed).

My card uses one of the stamps from the January special promotion cardmaking kit called Cloud Nine--available only through next Friday, January 31. The cloud bubble was cut with the Artiste cartridge (page 70) at 1.75" as recommended on the Cloud Nine stamp carrier sheet. The greeting is popped up with 3D Foam Tape.   The Indian Corn Blue mat was cut at 2".  The arrows from the banner are from the One Way Borders Flair stamp set.  The White Daisy background panel was embossed with a Darice embossing folder called Cloudy Day.

In this next photo you can see that the arrow design continues inside the card:

I followed the current Freshly Made Sketch #120 to make this card.

Check out what the rest of the fabulous Color My Heart Color Dare Design Team B has to inspire you:

Gretchen, Carmen, Michelle and Sarah.  You have until Thursday, Jan. 30 to enter your papercrafted creation here.  We look forward to visiting your blogs and seeing what you create with the colors Hollyhock and Indian Corn Blue.

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

:) Marie

Color Challenge Time at Sunday Stamps

Welcome back to another Sunday Stamps Color Challenge!  This fortnight we are featuring the colors Midnight Muse, Strawberry Slush and Silver.

My card was made following the Repeat Impressions What If Wednesday Sketch #J184  using Close To My Heart colors Outdoor Denim, Hollyhock and retired Silver metallic paper.  After I pieced my card front together I ran it through the Cuttlebug machine to emboss it with a Darice Snowflake Swirl folder.  The penguin is from Wintry Wishes which is a Close To My Heart Hostess Reward available through the end of this month (see page 9 of current Idea Book).  Outdoor Denim ink was used along with a Hollyhock marker to color the hat and scarf and a Slate marker to color in the skates.  The flourished square with circle opening was cut from the Art Philosophy cartridge (page 53 Square 4 at 2.25")

Here is a second version that I made with a slightly different orientation and a Cuttlebug Snowflake folder:

 

 Which do you like better?

 

 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, January 24 6PM EST 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

 .

 

H2H Photo Inspiration with Atlantic Hearts Sketch #8

There is a lovely birdcage with flowers photo inspiration challenge at Heart2Heart Challenges this week and I was inspired to play along.  I chose the birdcage and soft pink and orange coloring to feature in my card.

 

The card base is Hollyhock and the patterned paper with a birdcage design is from Dream Pop (retired CTMH).  The bird is from CTMH April 2013 Stamp of the Month called My Sunshine.  The greeting is from the Oklahoma Tornado Relief special called a True Thank You which is currently available here.  The bird was stamped in Pacifica pigment ink and clear embossed.  I then used the lighter of the two Hollyhock Alcohol Markers to color the wing, the bird and the YOU.  I applied Stardust Glitz Glitter Gel to the wing and the YOU.  The bird and bird wing were raised up with 3D Foam Tape.  If you look closely you can see a tiny wiggle eye on the bird.  

Here is the Atlantic Hearts Sketch that I followed:

Thanks for stopping by! If you get a chance please play along with these CTMH consultant sponsored challenges along with Color My Heart Color Dare featuring Topiary and Smoothie.  Have a wonderful week filled with fun and creativity!

:) Marie

Color Dare #42--Blush, Cotton Candy and Hollyhock--Happy Mother's Day!

 Color My Heart Color Dare is a weekly color challenge that features Close To My Heart colors--feel free to substitute similar colors if you don't have these colors yet. Three lovely pinks are the challenge ingredients for week #42.   From left to right these colors are Blush, Cotton Candy and Hollyhock.  Before I glued them to the Black CS I used temporary adhesive to attach them to a piece of scrap paper so I could black emboss the  flourish from the Love Life stamp set.  The #1 Mom medallion was cut from Black and Grey Glitter Paper using the CTMH Artiste cartridge (page 74 shift cut at 1.5").  This piece was then adhered to a square of Black CS and then popped up off of the card using 3D Foam Tape.  The bottom White Daisy stripe was dry embossed with a Cuttlebug folder and then embellished with Pink Glitz Glitter Gel.  The last thing I did to this card was to place Silver Glitz Glitter Gel dots to the ends of the flourish image.

I am also entering this card into the following challenges:
Stuck on U Sketches--Use a Diecut for Mom or Mother
Fantabulous Cricut #159--Mother's Day
ABC Challenges #27--Tic Tac Toe--Glitter, Dry Embossing, Pink Cardstock

I was very pleased to have my hexagon card from last week's Color Dare challenge selected as last week's Top Three in the new Atlantic Hearts Challenge blog.  This blog was started by Atlantic Canadian Close to My Heart consultants Darla Haverstock and Michelle Stewart. 

Now it's your turn to see what you can come up with using these three pinks.  Are you up for this challenge?  If so, please link your blog post featuring your papercrafted creation (does not have to be a card) to Color My Heart Color Dare by Thursday, May 16 at 9PM CT.  I look forward to seeing you in our gallery!

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

Try Stampin' on Tuesday Sketch #113 with Inkspirational Challenge #15 Photo Inspiration and Cas-ual Fridays CFC 98 Glitter

Here is a card I made following the Try Stampin' on Tuesday Sketch #113.  I really like how the sketch calls for a stamped design or embossed design on the bottom panel and a tilted focal panel.  The rose is from the Close to My Heart March Stamp of the Month called Floral Happiness in Hollyhock ink for the flower and Topiary ink on Topiary CS for the leaves. My favorite embellishment--Stardust Glitz Glitter Gel was applied to the rose outline.   The greeting is from Card Chatter--Birthday stamp set in Topiary ink on a small scrap of Bliss paper (retired CTMH).  The Hollyhock CS bottom panel was dry embossed with the Cuttlebug Baby's Breath embossing folder and then distressed with a sanding block. 

 

Here is the Try Stampin' on Tuesday sketch:

I am also entering this card into Inspirations Challenge #15--photo inspiration (pink flower)

The third challenge I'm entering this card into is Cas-ual Fridays #98--to use Glitter.
Thanks for stopping by!  Have a wonderful week filled with fun and creativity!
:) Marie