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

Atlantic Hearts Sketch #112 With a Golf Theme

Welcome back to another Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge Blog post!  I went to my stash to make this card.

Close to My Heart products used:

     Heavenly Blue CS (retired)

     White Daisy CS

     Outdoor Denim Ink

     Topiary Ink

     Tee Time stamp set (retired)

     Thank You stamp (retired)

     Casual Expression Good Luck stamp

     3D Foam Tape

Other products

    Washi tape (source unknown)

    Turf and Golf Ball papers by Frances Meyer

Here is the Atlantic Hearts Sketch that inspired my card:

We hope you'll find time this week to play along with this challenge.

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

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

Ariana Thank You with a Pals Paper Arts Sketch

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

Ariana is my favorite new paper from Close To My Heart.  I love the colors and the large floral print.  I followed the Pals Paper Arts Sketch to create this card.

Close To My Heart products used:
     Ariana paper
     Outdoor Denim CS
     Cherub Pink CS (retired)
     4 My Friend Stamp
     Outdoor Denim Ink
Other:
    Small heart punch

Here is the Pals Paper Arts Sketch #192:

I'm also entering this card into the Sweet Stamps Blog #157--anything goes challenge.

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

Masculine Birthday Cards for Nacho Average Challenge #75

Close To My Heart has a new catalog out with 7 new paper packs which you can see here.  Timberline lends itself to making cards for the men in your life.  I used the Nacho Average Challenge #75 sketch to make two guy cards.

This card uses Ponderosa Pine, Outdoor Denim and Whisper cardstocks.  The woodgrain panels are from Timberline.  The stamp is from Casual Expressions Occasions in Ponderosa Pine ink.  It is placed onto a small piece of platinum metallic CS (retired CTMH) and then raised off the card with 3D Foam Tape.

This card features Kraft CS embossed with a Darice Woodgrain folder a it's card base.  The ink is Outdoor Denim..

Here is the Nacho Average Challenge #75:

I can't decide which card I like better--what do you think?

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

 .

 

Sketch Time at Sunday Stamps!

Steph has a fantastic sketch for you to try out this week at Sunday Stamps!

The butterflies pictured can be ANY shape you desire.  I wanted to make a masculine card so I chose hexagons:

The stamps are from Honeycomb  and Sincere Expressions from Close To My Heart.  The papers are Kraft and Outdoor Denim with matching ink.  Outdorr Denim baker's twine is from the Baker's Twine Harvest Assortment.  The background was embossed with the Stampin' Up Honeycomb folder.

In this second card I changed the greeting out to 3 Durable Studs which will be retiring soon from Close To My Heart.

Which one do you like better?  

We can't wait to see what you create using this sketch!   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 sketch graphic too to let your readers know about our challenge.)  You have until Friday, January 10 6 PM EST to enter.

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

Bright All Night for Freshly Made Sketches #116

This card was stamped in just one color--Close To My Heart Outdoor Denim.  The central image is Quick Cards --Bright All Night which is an exclusive Hostess Reward stamp.  It is backed with old Metallic Silver paper by Close To My Heart.  The flags were stamped from Laughing Lola Cardmaking Kit. The thin border was drawn with a Silver Metallic Marker and a CTMH ruler.

My inspiration came from Freshly Made Sketch #116:

I'm also entering this card into 52 Christmas Card Throwdown--choose a previous challenge from 2013.  My card fits into Combo #22 No Red or Green.  

and Less is More #149-- Metallic with one other color (metallic silver mat and marker)

Thanks for stopping by!  Please come back tomorrow for a new Color My Heart Color Dare Challenge post.  Have a wonderful week filled with fun and creativity!

:) Marie

Alphabet Soup Theme for Heart 2 Heart Challenge

What kind of challenge is Alphabet Soup?  This week at Heart 2 Heart challenges we are asking you to use 2 or more different Close To My Heart fonts--stamps or cricut cuts.

 

This fun card was made with two different stamp sets and Later Sk8tr paper from Close To My Heart.  The penguin and greeting are from one of the new Close To My Heart Hostess Rewards Set called Wintry Wishes.  The "You can never have too much happy" is from Laughing Lola Cardmaking Workshop on the Go and is raised up with 3D Foam Tape.  There is a strip of Slate Washi tape under the "happy" greeting.  The hat and scarf were paper pieced also from Later Sk8tr paper.  The skate blades have some Silver Glitz Glitter Gel and the snowflakes are accented with Stardust Glitz Glitter Gel.  The card is completed with a single wiggle eye.

We would love to have you join in on our challenge.  Please use a direct link to link your creation to Heart 2 Heart challenges--you have until the end of September to enter this challenge.

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

:) Marie

"Penguin Power" Wintry Wishes for CAS Colour Sketches #40

Don't you love these adorable penguins?  They are from a new Hostess Reward Set by Close To My Heart called "Wintry Wishes" that you can see on page 9 of the new Idea Book.  The color challenge at CAS Colour and Sketches #40 is  a Double--color challenge AND sketch.  Here is my submission:

Here are the requirements:

My substituted colors are from Close To My Heart--White Daisy, Indian Corn Blue and Outdoor Denim which I think are an excellent match! The penguins were stamped with Outdoor Denim ink.   The Indian Corn Blue mats were cut from CTMH Artiste cartridge (pg.77 Accent 2 shift at 2.5").  The ear muffs and skate blades were accented with Platinum Liquid Pearls.  The hatband and pom pom were accented with White Liquid Pearls.  The snowflakes were accented with my favorite embellishment--Stardust Glitz Glitter Gel.

Here is a plug for the September National Stamping Month Promotion by Close To My Heart:.  Watch this short video to see what fabulous items are included.  Feel free to place an order from my website here.

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

Sarita for Atlantic Hearts Sketch #16

It has been awhile since I've played along with Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge and I wanted to play with this beautiful new paper pack called Sarita so here I am! 

Materials used are:
Sarita
Lagoon CS
Goldrush CS
Colonial White CS
Frame Flair
Salutation Seals (recently retired CTMH)
Lagoon Ink
Outdoor Denim Ink
Hollyhock Alcohol Marker (don't have Cotton Candy yet!)
3D Foam Tape

Here is the Atlantic Heart Sketch #16:

 

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

:) Marie

Post-it Note Holder for Close To My Heart New Product Blog Hop

I'm excited to be a part of this special event!  Thanks to Tresa Black for organizing this wonderful showcase of talent.  The new Close To My Heart Idea Book went live on August 1 and many consultants are sharing items made from new products in the catalog.  I can't wait to check out all the wonderful new artwork that you'll see at the bottom of this post.

My creation for this New Product Blog Hop took about 10 minutes to make (including locating all the supplies!).  I started with a 3.5" x  5" standup acrylic frame and cut Sarita paper to go inside the frame.  Next I used the Artiste cartridge to cut the banner for the Hugs sentiment from Lagoon CS.  The sentiment is from the new Laughing Lola Cardmaking Kit and was first inked in Versamark and then inked in Outdoor Denim ink and then clear embossed to give it a shine.  I attached a rectangular piece of Outdoor Denim CS to the top of the frame (frame turned upside down from it's usual use) with Tombow Adhesive.  Next I used 3D Foam Tape to adhere "Hugs" to the CS and lastly I used Tombow Adhesive to attach the 3" x 3" Post It Note Pad.  This makes a useful and inexpensive gift.

 View from the side:

 Thanks for stopping by!  Have a wonderful week filled with fun and creativity.  Please visit again soon!
:) Marie

Don't forget to visit these other blogs and leave some comments for the hardworking consultants that are willing to share their fabulous ideas.

"This blog hop is open for members of the CTMH Blog Boosters. Please do not enter if you are not a member of the group."

Tee-rific Birthday for Sunday Stamps Challenge #54

Welcome back to another Sunday Stamps Challenge post!  This week we are using a sketch designed by Hayley.  Don't you just love it? I do!

 

I used this sketch to make a masculine birthday card.  There are lots of golfers that I send birthday cards to.  

The background paper is Victory (retired Close To My Heart).  The golfer and golf balls are from Tee Time (retired CTMH) which is matted with Avonlea Green (retired CTMH) and Outdoor Denim.  The banner golf balls and tees were stamped in Outdoor Denim ink and placed over a piece of Bakers Twine Neutral Assortment and popped up with 3D Foam Tape.  The "Have a Tee-rific Birthday!" greeting was generated on my computer.  I ran the printed greeting through a cuttlebug folder from the reversed side so the circles appear to be golf ball dimples.  It was pretty quick to make this card and I will be doing more of these for my lady golfer friends too.  

Now  it's your turn to join in on this challenge fun!  You have until Friday,evening, July 26 to link up your creation here.

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

Ombre Shades of Blue for Atlantic Hearts Sketch #11

My FedEx man dropped off a box of new Close To My Heart products yesterday and I just had to break open the box and play.  Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge #11 appealed to me so I was inspired to find a way to use some of my new goodies.  New products that I used for this card (available August 1 here) are the inksplatter stamp from the Laughing Lola Cardmaking Workshop on the Go and the new Artbooking cricut cartridge for the Hello.  It might look as if I masked and sponged this card but I used  a stamp instead (and kept my fingers from getting inky).  The colors from top to bottom are 1st generation Outdoor Denim, 1st generation Pacifica, 2nd generation Pacifica, 1st generation Twilight, 2nd generation Twilight, 1st generation Crystal Blue and 2nd generation Crystal Blue.  Hello was cut from Artbooking cartridge (page 39 Title at .75").  I used Bonding Memories Glue Pen to adhere the Hello to the card.  The final touch is a pair of wiggle eyes and a hand drawn smile. 

Here is the sketch I followed:

I don't usually purchase Workshops on the Go kits but I really loved the D sized stamp set that is included so I purchased Laughing Lola.  Here is a photo of these new stamps:

Please stop by tomorrow for the newest Color My Heart Color Dare challenge post!

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

Happy 80th Birthday Bobby G. and Seize the Birthday #13

Here is a very special card I made for a family friend who just turned 80!  He used to own a car dealership so I thought this old wooden stamp--Retro Roadster--from Close to My Heart would suit him just fine.  I couldn't figure out how I would put the number 80 on the card and then looked at the blank license plate and promptly put in the year 1933.  I followed the Seize the Birthday Sketch #13 to make this card.  Some of the supplies I used were Lucky paper (CTMH retired), Outdoor Denim Ink, Versamark Ink, Clear Embossing Powder, Whisper CS, Darice Steam Punk embossing folder, Sanding Kit, 3D Foam Tape and Just a Number.

Here's the Seize the Birthday Sketch:

    

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

:) Marie

Color Dare #36--Claire Colors--Blush, Hollyhock, Sunset and Outdoor Denim

Thank you, Sarah Stone, for coming up with another great color challenge!  This week's Color My Heart Color Dare Challenge uses the colors found in the new Close To My Heart paper pack called Claire (Blush, Hollyhock, Sunset and Outdoor Denim).  This is one of my favorite new color packs from Close To My Heart.  My first card features a floral panel from Claire, 1.5" circles from Sunset, Holllyhock and Blush cardstocks and a Bamboo background.  The Outdoor Denim flower overlays were cut with the Art Philosophy cartridge.  I cut apart Colonial White Rosette Ribbon and used it as the flower centers on the right.  The vertical stripe is CTMH new Slate Polka Dot Washi tape.  The greeting in the lower right corner is from Perfect Fit--Birthday.  I applied some Stardust Glitz Glitter Gel (my favorite embellishment!) to parts of the flowers in the left panel.

My next card uses white as a neutral color with a Hollyhock randomly stamped background.  I chose the round medallion type stamps from the Artiste Cricut Collection Kudos stamps as it reminded me of the Doily theme on the main panel.  The Outdoor Denim panel  was dry embossed and distressed to expose the white core of the cardstock.  I cut out one flower from the Claire paper and popped it up from the Hollyhock strip with 3D Foam Tape and glittered it with Stardust Glitz Glitter Gel. 

We would love to have you join us in this challenge!  Just link up your papercrafted creation to Color My Heart Color Dare by Thursday evening, April 4 by 9PM CST.  Check out what the rest of the Design Team has created for this challenge.  They would be thrilled if you would comment on their work too!

Oops!  I almost forgot to mention that there is a prize for the winner this week:
Hollyhock  Zipper Lace and Blue and Green Epoxy sparkles:



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