Baby Boy Card With Try Stampin' on Tuesday Sketch and Twinkling H2O Paints

This colorful baby card was created with an old Close to My Heart wooden stamp called "For Baby" which was embossed with Outdoor Denim embossing powder and then painted with African Jade, Yellow Rose and Heavenly White Twinkling H2O paints. 

Here is a close up so you can see how shimmery the Twinkling H2O paints are:

   

The blue footprint vellum paper is from Recollections and the solid blue panel is retired Close to My Heart Heavenly Blue.  Retired CTMH Outdoor Denim cardstock is the background panel for the focal image.

My card layout was inspired by this fabulous Try Stampin' on Tuesday sketch:

I'm also entering this card into the following challenges:

      Always Fun Challenges #34--Anything Goes

      My Creative Scoop--Coloring Challenge #28

      Heart 2 Heart--Anything Goes

         Use Your Stuff--Heat Embossing

      Send a Smile 4 Kids--Anything Goes

      Crafting With Friends--Anything Goes

      

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 "following" me by email or in your blog roll so you don't miss out on any of my fabulous card making ideas. You can sign up on the right sidebar.

Camping Out At Fantabulous Cricut Challenge Blog

Welcome back to another Fantabulous Cricut Challenge blog post!  This week's theme is "something to do with camping".  How will you interpret this challenge.

I went to the newest Close to My Heart cricut cartridge called Artistry for my inspiration.  The evergreen trees were cut from the Art Philosophy cartridge.  Freshly Made Sketch #199 was my starting point for the card layout.

Close to My Heart products used:

     Artistry Cricut Cartridge (Star background, teepee, campfire)

     Art Philosophy cartridge (evergreen trees)

     Whisper CS

     White Daisy CS

     Ponderosa Pine CS (retiring Sept. 1)

     Barn Red CS (retiring Sept. 1)

     Outdoor Denim CS (retiring Sept. 1)

     Champagne CS

     Saddle CS

     Goldrush CS

     Artfully Sent stamp set    

     Outdoor Denim ink (retiring Sept. 1)

     Stardust Glitz Glitter Gel (retired)

     Oak Brown Marker (retired)

Here is the Freshly Made Sketch that I followed:

Please stop by the Fantabulous Cricut Challenge Blog to see what the other fabulous Designers have to share with you.  The challenge will close Sunday August 30.  We hope you can join in on the Cricut fun!

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

:) Marie

Artistry Octopus In Atlantic Hearts Sketch #118

Welcome back to another Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge blog post.  This is the final one for me as new Design Team members will be joining the team.  It was a great pleasure and honor to work with the talented AHSC designers.

My card features some current Close to My Heart product and has a sneak preview of the Artistry Cricut collection which will be available to customers on August 1.

Close to My Heart products used:
     Artistry Cricut Cartridge--coming soon!
     Seaside paper--retiring soon
     Outdoor Denim CS--retiring soon
     Chocolate CS
     Colonial White CS
     Teal Shimmer Trim
     3D Foam Tape
     Stardust Glitz Glitter Gel--retired

If you have the Cricut Explore and the Close to My Heart Artistry cartridge, the cut file to make the above card is here.

Here is the Atlantic Heart Sketch #118 that I followed to make the card:
   

The challenge at the Male Room Challenge Blog this week is to use "Spots and Stripes" so I'm entering this card into that challenge also.  (Did you see the stripes in the Woodgrain background panel?)

Now go to the Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge Blog and be inspired by the other Design Team members.  We hope you'll be able to enter our challenge this week.

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

:) Marie

Red, White and Blue Father's Day Card for Color Dare #148

Welcome back to another Color My Heart Color Dare challenge blog post!  This week's challenge colors are Cranberry, Outdoor Denim and White Daisy.  I imagine that many of you will make patriotic themed cards but I needed to make a Father's Day card last week and combined that with this week's challenge.

This card was really easy to make using Close To My Heart's Artfully Sent cartridge!  This Z-fold card is on page 40 of the Artfully Sent booklet and featured mustaches instead of stars.  In Design Space I changed the card to eliminate the mustaches by first "ungrouping" the base card and then clicking on each mustache and clicking on "hide contour".  

Here is a photo of the card partially open:

Close to My Heart products used:

      Artfully Sent Cricut cartridge

      White Daisy CS

      Cranberry CS

      Outdoor Denim CS

      Stardust Glitz Glitter Gel (retired)

      

Other products:

     Star hole punches

I'm also entering this card into Heart 2 Heart's "Man Oh Man" challenge.

Here is the color graphic we would like you to include with your Color Dare entry this week.  You have until Thursday, July 3 at 9PM CT to link up your papercrafted item here.

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

:) Marie

     

Ice Cream Dream Meets Atlantic Hearts Sketch #110

If you are looking for the Favorite Cricut Character Fantabulous Cricut Blog post with Blog Candy please go here.

Welcome back to another Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge blog post.  We have a very different and interesting sketch for you to try this week.  My card features a dog from Close to My Heart June Stamp of the Month called "Ice Cream Dream".

Close to My Heart products used:

     Outdoor Denim CS

     Cashmere CS

     Hopscotch paper (retired)

     Ice Cream Dream stamp

     Black Ink

     Outdoor Denim brads

     Pink Glitter Glitz Gel (retired)

     3D foam Tape

     Artfully Sent greeting stamp

Other products:

     Prismacolor pencils (CTMH used to carry these...)

Here is the sketch graphic to inspire you:

     

     

We hope you can find the time this week to try out this unusual sketch.  You can link up your creation here.

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

:) Marie

Creative Blogger Tour, Gelato Galaxy Card and Giveaway!

Don't you love getting good news from an unexpected source?  That's what happened to me two weeks ago when the super talented Jody Gustafson emailed me to nominate me for the "Creative Blogger Award"!  I've always had tremendous respect and admiration for Jody's artwork and first became aware of her through the Color My Heart Color Dare blog where she would participate in so many of our challenges--being selected as a winner numerous times.  Thank you, Jody, for inviting me to join this group of Close To My Heart consultants.  I am humbled and honored to be among this amazing group of talented women.  Here are links for you to check out many of the other women who have been part of this Creative Blogger Tour.

    Jody Gustafson

    Amy Moore

    Karen Day

    Brenda Rose

    Vicki Wizniuk

    Kelly Janes

    Amie Kiger

    Katy Donaldson Taylor

Creative Blogger is a chain of blog hop tours.  Each invited member answers the same four questions and then passes on the nomination to someone else.  I'm sure you will find lots of inspiration in the above blogs.

What am I currently working on?

It seems I've always got several projects in my head and on my crafting table. As a member of the Color My Heart Color Dare and Sunday Stamps Design Teams I am often working on upcoming challenges. I also have ongoing scrapbooking projects. (My grandson's scrapbook is done in Studio J and my sister's scrapbook is done in an 8.5 x 11 format so I can color copy pages for my other siblings.) Since Halloween is quickly approaching I've just completed a "Card in a Box" for my grandson using cuts from Artfully Sent and Artbooking.  (Paper is retired "Spellbound" with a Champagne back panel.  Ghosts were cut from Artfully Sent Envelope Liner #8 cut at 9".  Bats were cut from Artiste at .75" and 1".  The skulls were cut from Artiste at 1.75")  I'm also entering this card into the Cardz4Guys  and The Male Room Halloween theme challenge.

Here is another one that I made for him but haven't posted yet featuring cut out computer images of his favorite Transformers (Optimus Prime, Bumblebee, Chase and Heatwave Autobots).

Other projects that I'm working on are Christmas cards and a collection of cards to donate to Operation Write Home.

How does my work differ from others in its genre?

I'm not sure how my artwork differs from others. I do like clean lines, some paper layering and trying new products and techniques. Here is a new technique I just learned from the Friday Mashup Challenge called "Galaxy" in which I used Gelatos as watercolors to create this unique background.

My "Gelato Galaxy" technique involved scribbling with various Gelatos on a craft sheet, spritzing with water and then dragging a piece of watercolor paper over it.  I used a heat tool to dry the paper in between layers of colors.  I tried to create a "moon" in the bottom right corner by removing some color with a wet paintbrush.  Lastly I flicked tiny drops of Pearl Paint form an old toothbrush and then added the sentiment from the Close To My Heart retired "Mad About You" stamp set in Thistle ink.  (Outdoor Denim CS and Silver Shimmer Trim were also used on this card).

                                                    Why do I create what I do?

The main reason why I create cards and scrapbook pages is because I enjoy it!  If I go more than 3 days without making something I start to feel a bit out of sorts. A few hours in my craft room and a completed project and then I feel "complete" again. I get a lot of satisfaction out of making things for other people. I have always loved "making things" starting with making potholders and learning to sew when I was a young girl. Although I've made quilts, clothing, curtains and scrapbooks cardmaking is my favorite crafty pursuit at present.

                                   How does my creative process work?

 Would you believe that sometimes I wake up in the middle of the night with a card idea in my head? Sometimes that is my process. If it is a color challenge I'm creating for I will often look to find a current sketch challenge to use. (Some of my favorite sketch challenge blogs can be found here: Freshly Made Sketches, Try Stampin' on Tuesday, Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge, Retrosketches, Mojo Monday, Stampin' Royalty and Pals' Paper Arts.) If it is a sketch challenge I'm creating for I will look for current color challenges. (Color My Heart Color Dare, Colour Me..., Pals' Paper Arts and Nacho Average Challenges.)

When I'm really stumped, I read my blog list and start commenting on other people's artwork which gets my creative juices going again.  Pinterest, Facebook (CTMH Artwork, CTMH Eye Candy) and the Close To My Heart consultant Artwork Bulletin Boards are also additional sources of inspiration.  You can check out my Pinterest boards here.  


Are you ready to continue on the Creative Blogger Tour?  It is my pleasure and honor to nominate Hansi Brittain from the Quilting with Paper blog.  She is an amazingly talented Close To My Heart consultant!  I've been a huge fan of her artwork ever since she started submitting cards to the Color My Heart Color Dare challenge.  Her awesome sense of design, color and flare for beautiful card embellishment have awed me on many occasions.  I'm sure you will be inspired and impressed by her artwork.  Please visit her blog post on Monday, 10/27/14 to read more about her.  (If you become a blog follower of hers then you will see it in your blog list).

Thank you for reading this far!  To celebrate my Creative Blogger Award I'd like to have a giveaway of some craft supplies to one randomly drawn commenter. I have an extra April 2014 Stamp of the Month called My Sunshine AND an assortment of Close To My Heart papers cut into 4.25" x 5.5" pieces that can be used as card fronts.

To be eligible to win you must:

--Become a follower of my blog AND

--Write a comment on this blog post indicating you are a blog follower

--Deadline to comment on this blog post is midnight EST, October 26th, 2014.

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

:) Marie

 

Cuddly Sensations and Artfully Sent for Color Dare #115

Welcome back to another Color My Heart Color Dare challenge post!  Can you believe that this is challenge #115?  This week we are challenging you to use the following three Close To My Heart colors:  Outdoor Denim, Olive and Sunset.

You may substitute similar colors if you don't have these CTMH colors yet and you may combine them with neutrals such as black, white, colonial white, greys and tans).

Close To My Heart products used:

     Artfully Sent Cricut cartridge (Swing Card and wreath at 5.5")

     Olive CS

     Outdoor Denim CS

     Colonial White CS

     Dotty for You paper (retired)

     Olive Ink

     Sunset Ink

     Have a Happy Day stamp set

     Cuddly Sensations (Hostess Reward Stamp Set)

Other products:

     Orange Gel pen (to fill in letters cut into Dotty for You paper)

We would love to see you enter our color challenge by linking up here.  You have until Thursday, October 24 9PM CT to enter.  There are several blog badges to be won along with a prize to one randomly drawn entry every month. 

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

:) Marie

     

Water Lilies and Dragonflies for Mojo Monday 350

There's a great sketch this week at Mojo Monday and I found some time to play along.

Close To My Heart products used:

     White Daisy CS

     Sky Ink

     Love Life 

     Sky CS

     Creme Brulee CS

     Sunset CS

     Outdoor Denim CS

     Just Blooms butterfly (retired)

     Stardust Glitz Glitter Gel (retired)

     Bronze Shimmer Trim

Other products

    Repeat Impressions stamp "Water Lilies and Dragonflies"

    Prismacolor Pencils

    Anna Griffin embossing folder

Here is the Mojo Monday sketch that inspired me:

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

:) Marie

    

Card Concept #12 Nautical Theme Meets Freshly Made Sketch #140 and Stampin' Royalty #232

Blues are my favorite colors so they were a natural choice to create a card using the Freshly Made Sketch #140.  Blues are also prominent in nautical scenes so this card also works for The Card Concept #12.  My card follows a Clean and Simple design.  These blues also work for the Stampin' Royalty Ombre challenge.

Close To My Heart Products Used:

     Outdoor Denim CS

     White Daisy CS

     Sky CS

     Crystal Blue CS

     Indian Corn Blue CS

     Pacifica CS

     Pacifica Ink

Other products:

     Lighthouse Stamp by Studio 112

Here is the Freshly Made Sketch that I followed:

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

:) Marie

Timberline Father's Day Card for Friday Mashup 163 and Pink Elephant 254

This week's sketch at the Friday Mashup  appealed to me so I made a Father's Day card with the sketch:

The sketch I followed:

     

Close To My Heart products:
    Timberline Paper
    Outdoor Denim CS
    Champagne CS
    Outdoor Denim CS
    Slate CS
    Say It In Style (retired)
    Durable Studs (retired)

Other products:
    Decorative Label Punch by SU

I'm also entering this card into the Pink Elephant TPE254 Theme of Father's Day and Oldie But A Goodie Father's Day/Masculine theme. (The stash item I used on this card is the Decorative Label Punch which I've had for at least 3 years and the Say it in Style stamp set is that old also).  Heart2Heart's challenge is to use studs.  The theme at Pile it On #23 is to use Patterned Paper.



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

Color Dare #97--Honey, New England Ivy, Olive and Outdoor Denim

Welcome back to another Color My Heart Color Dare Challenge post where we invite you to creatue using the specified Close To My Heart colors.  (You are welcome to substitute similar colors if you don't have Close To My Heart colors yet).  This week our colors are Honey, New England Ivy, Olive and Outdoor Denim.

In my creative opinion masculine cards feature geometric shapes and dark, rich colors so I chose the very trendy chevron shape.

Close To My Heart products used:

    Outdoor Denim CS

    Olive CS

    White Daisy CS

    Honey CS

    Charming Chevron stamp

    Happy Birthday stamp--retired wood stamp

    Outdoor Denim Ink

    Honey Ink

    New England Ivy Ink

Other products:

    Adhesive Gold Gems by Darice (cut from a long strip)

I'm also entering this card into the Stampin' Royalty Masculine project challenge.

Check out what the fabulous Color My Heart Color Dare Design Team  has to inspire you.  You have until Thursday, June 13 9PM CT to enter your papercrafted creation here.  We look forward to visiting your blogs and seeing what you create with the colors Honey, Olive, New England Ivy and Outdoor Denim.

Color Dare #91 Meets Ariana

Welcome back to another Color My Heart Color Dare blog post!  This week we are challenging you to create something with the Close To My Heart colors found in the Ariana paper pack:  Crystal Blue, Outdoor Denim, Ariana Coral and Ariana Green.  (Substitutions are allowed as long as they are close to the assigned colors).  You may also combine these colors with neutrals such as white, black, greys, tans.

Close To My Heart products used:

    Outdoor Denim CS

    Ariana paper

    Outdoor Denim Ink

    Cloud Nine stamp--retired (I changed the shape of the stamp by selective inking and an Outdoor Denim              Marker)

    Stardust Glitz Glitter Gel

    3D Foam Tape

    Teardrop Corner punch--made by Family Treasures--retired CTMH

My card inspiration came from the CAS Colours and Sketches Challenge #71:

Come check out what the rest of the Design Team and Guest Designer Amy Kiger have to inspire you.  We would love to visit your blogs and see your Ariana creations so please use a direct link to us here.  We do award blog badges to weekly winners and award a monthly prize to a randomly drawn participant so the more times you enter in a month the greater your chance of winning.

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

:) Marie

Three Blues and a Yellow for Color Dare #90 and Try Stampin' on Tuesday #163

Welcome back to another Color My Heart Color Dare blog post--can you believe this is challenge #90? This week we are challenging you to combine all of the following Close To My Heart colors in your papercrafted creation: Pacifica, Indian Corn Blue, Outdoor Denim and Honey.

 You may combine them with neutrals such as black, white, greys, tans and you may substitute similar colors if you don't have these Close to My Heart colors yet.

Close To My Heart products used:
    Indian Corn Blue CS (bottom layer)
    Outdoor Denim CS (next layer)
    Pacifica CS
    Mayberry patterned paper (retired CTMH)
    Feathers stamp set
    Indian Corn Blue ink (left)
    Honey pigment ink (center)
    Pacifica pigment ink (right)
    3D Foam Tape

The inspiration for my card came from this fabulous sketch from Try Stampin' on Tuesday #163:

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, April 24 9PM CT to enter your papercrafted creation here.  We look forward to visiting your blogs and seeing what you create with the colors Pacifica, Indian Corn Blue, Outdoor Denim and Honey.

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

:) Marie

 

Embossed Pearlescent Paper for Technostamper Sketch Challenge #309

As I was reading my blog list the other day I found another challenge blog--Technostamper.  I really liked the sketch and went to my stash to play along.  I really like how the embossed pearlescent paper looks on this card and will be doing this again soon.  Here's a helpful tip I can share with you--to give color to the teacup image I left it in the embossing folder and softly rubbed the 1" pigment ink square over the top.

Close To My Heart products used:

     Cotton Candy Ink (pigment ink)

     Holiday Tags 

     Outdoor Denim CS

     Outdoor Denim Ink

     Whisper CS

     3D Foam Tape

Other products:

       Daisy Burst embossing folder by Sizzix

       Pearlescent Paper by Colorbok

       Cuttlebug embossing folder (teacup with flower)

Here is the sketch that inspired me:

 

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

:) Marie

Masculine Theme for Try Stampin' on Tuesday #160

As a golfer I have lots of golfing friends who will receive birthday cards from me.  I was inspired to make this card by the Try Stampin' on Tuesday Sketch #160--although I did change the orientation of it to fit the golf green.  I usually prefer to use acrylic stamps rather than digital stamps but this golf green digital image by Digi Darla seemed to fit the space well and coordinate with the turf and golf ball papers too.

Close to My Heart products used:
    Banner Wishes birthday stamp
    Outdoor Denim CS
    Tee Time golf ball stamp (retired)

Other products used:
    Golf Green image by Digi Darla (recently closed their business)
    Turf paper by Frances Meyer
    Golf ball paper by Frances Meyer

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

Their challenge closes at midnight on Monday, April 1 (ET). 

 If you enjoy sketch challenges as I do I invite you to try out the current sketch at Sunday Stamps which closes at 6pm ET April 4.

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

:) Marie

Basketball Birthday for Freshly Made Sketch #129

Basketball is one of Tommy's favorite sports (and one of mine, too) so I made him this card using the Freshly Made Sketch #129 to commemorate his 13th birthday.  It is 6"x 6".  The Close To My Heart Artbooking cartridge was used to cut the numbers and basketballs.

Close to My Heart products used:
   Saddle CS
   Buzz and Bumble paper
   Outdoor Denim CS
   Gold Polka Dot Washi Tape
   Artbooking cartridge
 
Other:
   Orange textured paper--the Paper Company

Here is the Freshly Made Sketch that inspired me:

If you enjoy sketch challenges like I do, I invite you to try out the current sketch at Sunday Stamps.

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

Colour Me ...Colors #11 Join Try Stampin' on Tuesday Sketch #158

This card was inspired by for two challenges:  Colour Me...Card Challenge #11 and Try Stampin' on Tuesday #158.

Close To My Heart Products Used:

     Claire Paper Packet

     Outdoor Denim CS

     White Daisy CS

     Chalks (retired)

     Waxy Flax

Other products:

    Darice Spring Tulips embossing folder

    Heart buttons

Here are the challenge graphics that inspired me--please visit these sites.

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

:) Marie

Pals Paper Arts Colors #194 Meet Freshly Made Sketch #126

Combining stamping challenges is fun for me so I'm using the color palette from this week's Pals Paper Arts Challenge along with the current Freshly Made Sketch.  Here is the result:

Close To My Heart Products used:

     Grey Wool CS (retired)

     Petal from Winter Cozy B&T (retired)

     Outdoor Denim CS

     Salutation Seals stamps

     Outdoor Denim Ink

     3D Foam Tape

     Scallop Circle Punch (retired)

     Scallop Border Punch (retired)

Here is the Color Palette from Pals Paper Arts:

Here is the Freshly Made sketch that inspired me:

Since this is a birthday card, I'm linking this up to Seize the Birthday also.

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

:) Marie