Addicted to Stamps and More #216--Anything Goes!

Welcome back to another Addicted to Stamps and More challenge blog post!  This week we invite you to join our "Anything Goes" challenge. 

Our wonderful sponsor is

Happy Little Stampers was created in 2015 by Kylie (owner of ATSM and ATCAS). Kylie wanted to bring out a line of stamps that were useful for every day crafters. From cute to whimsical images, from everyday to funky sentiments there is something for everyone!

Shop: Happy Little Stampers

Prize: $15 gift certificate

My center panel step card was cut and scored on the Cricut Explore.  Here is the Design Space file if you would like to replicate it.  Are you wondering how I created the textured background on the main panel?  I placed a piece of Press 'n Seal on an acrylic block and pressed it into Glacier ink and stamped the white focal panel.

Close to My Heart products used:

     White Daisy CS

     Topiary CS (retired)

     Topiary Ink (retired)

     Cotton Candy CS (retired)

     Cotton Candy Ink (retired)

     Glacier Ink 

     Topiary Chevron Ribbon (retired0

     Blossom Cardmaking Workshop stamps (retired)

     Happy to Be Friends stamps

     Stardust Glitz Glitter Gel (retired)

I'm also sharing this card with the Sunny Day Crafting Blog #19--Anything Goes and Scrappin' 4 Fun Anything Goes challenge.

Be sure to stop by the Addicted to Stamps and More blog to see what the rest of the fabulous Design Team has to share.

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

:) Marie

p.s. If you like what I've shared here please consider becoming a follower of my blog. :)

Fantabulous Cricut Challenge #285 Meets Sketch Saturday #429

Every other Monday there is a new challenge posted at Fantabulous Cricut Challenge blog!  This week we are inviting you to create a project using wet or dry embossing.  

I made this card for a dear friend who is also an avid golfer using the Sports Mania cartridge for the background.  Do you see the golf greens and flagsticks in the Topiary Green (CTMH) background?  The Happy Birthday panel was printed in Design Space from Anna's Lovely Layered Cards with a Cricut gold pen.  After the Happy Birthday was printed I dry embossed it or "debossed" it to resemble the dimples of a golf ball.  

The inspiration for my card came from Sketch Saturday #429:

I'm also submitting it to Hiding in my Craft Room challenge to use scraps (Gold piece behind sentiment is a scrap piece) and the Seize the Birthday challenge.

Fantabulous Cricut Challenge:

Challenge #285-Embossing
Create a project that features wet or dry embossing!

This Weeks Sponsor

Bugaboo Stamps

The prize is 7 digital stamps!

And we are giving away a $25 Amazon gift certificate, courtesy of FCCB Design Team!  

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.

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

Color Dare #187 Meets Atlantic Hearts Sketch #153

Welcome back to another Color My Heart Color Dare challenge blog post! The Color Dare challenge this week is to combine White Daisy and any or 1, 2, 3 , 4 or all 5 of the following greens: Pear, Sweet Leaf, Fern, Topiary and New England Ivy.  (Of course, if you don't have these CTMH colors yet you may substitute similar colors so you can still have fun and play along with us.)

My cards use the following greens:  Sweet Leaf, Topiary and New England Ivy.

The stamp set is called "4 My Friend" and has been retired.

Which card do you like better?

Close to My Heart products used:

     White Daisy CS

     Topiary CS

     Topiary Ink

     New England Ivy CS

     New England Ivy Ink

     For My Friend (retired)

     Miracle paper (retired)

     Striped stencil (retired)

     Sponge Dauber

     Sap Green Shin Han Touch Marker

Other products used:

     Liquid Pearls White (on first card)

     Stickles Crystal glitter glue (on second card)

Would you like to know how I created the 3 green "embellishments" on each card?  I created a stencil with a regular hole puncher and colored it in with the Sap Green Shin Han Touch marker.  On the first card I also added 3 tiny dots made with Liquid Pearls.  On the second card I covered the dots with Crystal Stickles.  

My inspiration for my card layout is from Atlantic Hearts Sketch #153:

I'm also linking this card up to Seize the Birthday challenge and the Shopping Our Stash challenge for a masculine card.

Now it's your turn to get creative--how many greens will you use?  Come check out what the rest of the 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

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

      

Hole in One Congratulations Card With Atlantic Hearts Sketch #114

Welcome back to another Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge blog post!  We have another wonderful sketch for you to try.  Last week a good friend of mine had a "hole in one" and I used this week's sketch to make him a congratulatory card.

Close to My Heart products used:

     White Daisy CS

     Cranberry CS

     Topiary CS

     Black CS

     Champagne CS

     Dutch Blue CS (retired)

     Dutch Blue Ink (retired)

     30 Years of Happy stamp (retired)

     

Other products:

      Decorative Tape (argyle pattern)

     All Sports Cricut cartridge

Here is the Atlantic Hearts Sketch #114 that I followed to make the card:

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

Happy Mother's Day Card for Joyful Stars Blog Hop and Other Challenges

Welcome back to our monthly blog hop called "Joyful Stars".  We  are a group of Close To My Heart consultants sharing our love of Close to My Heart products with you. If you are coming from Krista Hershberger's blog you are on the right track.  If you get lost along the way you can find your way back on track by visiting Joyce's blog for a complete lineup.

I followed the Try Stampin' on Tuesday sketch to make my card:

Close to My Heart products used:

     Art Philosophy cricut cartridge for doily

     White Daisy CS

     Black CS

     Brushed paper

     Topiary CS

     Ruby CS

     A Budding Friendship stamp

     Happy to Be Friends greeting

     Black Ink

     Pixie Ink

     Canary Ink

     Stardust Glitz Glitter Gel (retired)

     3D Foam Tape

Challenges entered:

     Try Stampin' on Tuesday sketch

     Friday Mashup--Mother's Day

     Bitten by the Bug--Mother's Day

     Shopping Our Stash--Big, Bold and Beautiful

Now it's time to head on over to see what the very talented Nancy Brown has to share with you!

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

:) Marie

Taste of Summer Sneak Peak for Nacho Average Challenge #139

There is a new Constant Campaign being offered by Close to My Heart which begins on May 1.  It is a limited time offer for a special stamp set called "Taste of Summer" and also a special coordinating paper packet that will be available on May 1.  The Nacho Average Challenge sketch this week seemed to showcase the orange slice stamp perfectly so I made this card:

Close to My Heart products used:

     White Daisy CS

     Taste of Summer Paper

     Lagoon CS

     Canary CS

     Topiary CS

     Topiary brad (retired)

     Taste of Summer stamp

     Paper Bird stamp (greetings)

     Scallop Punch 2" (retired)

     3D Foam Tape

     

Here is the Nacho Average Challenge Sketch I followed:

Here are some sneak peak previews of the May Constant Campaign offers:

There are no qualifying orders necessary to get either of these deals!  They will be available only while supplies last so get yours as soon as you can.  Stop by my website on May 1 to order.

I am also entering this into Heart 2 Heart challenge "Anything Goes".

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

:) Marie

Keep Your Chin Up Meets Freshly Made Sketch #180 and Kraft Journal #218

The Kraft Journal just announced it's new challenge (Earth Day) and it seems that the card I made using Freshly Made Sketch #180 fits into that theme.

Close to My Heart products used:
     White Daisy CS
     Topiary CS
     Sweet Leaf CS
     Canary CS
     Keep Your Chin Up (tree)
     Exotic Flower
     Country Burlap (retired)
     Artfully Sent cartridge--to cut sun from "Hello Sunshine" card
     Bakers' Twine Neutral Assortment (retired)
     3D Foam Tape
     Sponge Dauber (to color tree)

Other products
     Liquid Pearls--White (accents on Exotic Flower image)
     Crayola Brown Metallic Marker for outlining tree branches

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

Floral Embossed Aluminum Foil Card with Pals Paper Arts Sketch

Did you know that you can use Shin Han Touch Alcohol Markers to color dry embossed aluminum foil?  That's what I did to make this card:

Here is another view of it photographed from above so you can see the aluminum foil better:

Close To My Heart products used:

      Timberline paper--retired

      Floral Embossing Folder

      Topiary CS

      Black CS

      Topiary Ink

      Laughing Lola Cardmaking Kit stamp--retired

      3D Foam Tape

      Art Philosophy Cricut cartridge--to cut "window"

      Shin Han Touch Alcohol Markers--Vivid Green, Carmine, Golden Yellow

Here is the Pals Paper Arts sketch that I followed:

 

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

:) Marie

Four Color Challenge for Color Dare #103

Welcome back to another Color My Heart Color Dare challenge post where we invite you to use Close To My Heart colors for your papercrafted creations.  This week we challenge you to use the following four colors:  Honey, Indian Corn Blue, Topiary, and Cranberry. (If you don't have these specific CTMH colors yet you may substitute colors that you do have that are similar).  You may combine these with neutrals such as black, white, beige, tans and greys.

Close To My Heart products used:

     Jubilee paper

     Topiary CS

     White Daisy CS

     Happy Autumn stamp set (I masked off the flowers to ink the stems and then colored the flowers with an           old Cranberry marker)

     Casual Expressions Thinking of You stamp

     Topiary Ink

     Indian Corn Blue Ink

     Indian Corn Blue B & T paper (retired)

     Cranberry Ribbon (retired)

I followed the Nacho Average Challenge #99 sketch to make this card and I really like how it came out.

Check out what the fabulous Color My Heart Color Dare Design Team has to inspire you. You have until Thursday, July 31 at 9PM CT to enter your papercrafted creation here.  We look forward to visiting your blogs and seeing what you create with the colors Honey, Indian Corn Blue, Topiary and Cranberry

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

:) Marie

    

Watercoloring with Stamp Pads for Color My Heart Color Dare #84

Welcome back to another Color My Heart Color Dare post!  This week we have 3 wonderful Close To My Heart colors for you to combine:  Sky, Topiary and Sweet Leaf.  (Of course, if you don't have Close To My Heart colors you may substitute similar colors).

How did I achieve this watercolored look?  I spritzed watercolored paper with water and used a Waterbrush and my CTMH inkpads.  With the lids closed I squeezed the top onto the inkpad to make a small pool of ink on the lid.  From left to right on my card are Topiary, Sweet Leaf and Sky inks.  The greeting was cut from the watercolored paper with the Artiste cartridge (page 65 accent 1) at 1.25".  Before I cut it out I experimented with a piece of scrap CS so I could center it the way I wanted.  (From the landscape orientation on my cricut machine I moved the cutting dial down .25" and 1.25" to the left).  The top layer was raised with 3D Foam Tape.

After I photographed this card I decided to embellish it with some flowers and sparkles.  I'm not really sure which I like better.  I would love to read your preference in the comments below.

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

     Hiding in My Craft Room--spring colors

     Cut It Up--green for St. Patrick's Day or spring

Check out what our Guest Designer Lauren and the rest of the fabulous Color My Heart Color Dare Design Team B has to inspire you:  Gretchen, Michelle, Hansi and Sarah.  You have until Thursday, March 13 9PM CT to enter your papercrafted creation here.  We look forward to visiting your blogs and seeing what you create with the colors Sky, Topiary, and Sweet Leaf.

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

:) Marie

Delicate Wings for Color My Heart Color Dare #82--Goldrush and Topiary

Welcome back to another Color My Heart Color Dare post where we challenge you to use Close To My Heart color combinations.  This week's challenge colors are Goldrush and Topiary and they made me think of spring! (Neutral colors are permitted as are close color substitutions if you don't have the assigned colors yet.)  We look forward to seeing what you create and leaving comments on your blog.  We have blog badges for weekly winners and a randomly chosen monthly prize winner--the more challenges you enter the greater your chance of winning a prize!

(Please note that Goldrush is not quite as orange as it appears in this photo.)The Operation Write Home sketch #175 was my inspiration for this card.

Close To My Heart products used:

      Topiary CS

      White Daisy CS

      Goldrush CS

      Goldrush Ink

      Black Ink

      Goldrush Marker

      Sweet Leaf Marker

      Swirls Around Stamp set  

      Say It In Style stamp (retired)

      Petite Perks--Delicate Wings*

*Delicate Wings is available to consultants only for them to use as sales incentives for customers.  If you would like this adorable set just place an order on my CTMH website and I will be happy to mail you this adorable set.

The theme for this week's Heart2Heart challenges is "Flourishes" so I'm linking my card up there also.

  

Check out what the rest of the fabulous Color My Heart Color Dare Design Team B has to inspire you:  Gretchen, Michelle, Sheila, Hansi and Sarah.  You have until Thursday, Feb. 27 9PM CT to enter your papercrafted creation here.  We look forward to visiting your blogs and seeing what you create with the colors Goldrush and Topiary.

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!  We love to have you join us in using these challenge colors in your creations.  This week our challenge colors are White, Yellow, Green and Kraft.  Please use ALL of these colors and post a direct link to your blog entry. 

My card was made following the RetroSketches #100:

It is a 6 x 6 card with Sunny Yellow B & T paper (retired CTMH), Topiary CS, Sunny Yellow CS, Kraft CS and Topiary Ink.  The focal image was made by first clear embossing the numbers (Friendship Alphabet--retired CTMH) and then stamping the acrylic block in Topiary ink, spritzing it with water and then onto the paper.  The other embellishments are a star hole punch, licorice adhesive gems and Baker's Twine Neutral Assortment.

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, February 21 at 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

Sponging Techniques for Heart 2 Heart Challenges

It's Technique Time at H2H (a blog which features the use of Close To My Heart products) and it's time to take out your crafting sponges.  I have two cards I want to share with you today that use this technique.

This first card uses a variety of sponged colors on the background panel--Slate, Crystal Blue, Sunset, Topiary and Cranberry.  I used a 3" Round Sponge cut in quarters to apply color to the background panel. The stamps are Universal Backgrounds and Heartfelt Birthday Wish.  Cardstocks are White Daisy, Slate, Cranberry and Topiary.  The banner was made with 2 strips of Red Shimmer Trim and 1 strip of Silver Shimmer Trim. The birthday letters are filled in with Silver Glitz Glitter Gel.  

My second card uses "Sponging" along with "Masking".  First I used the Artbooking cartridge to cut out the overlay from page 84 at 5.5".  This mat was then placed over the White Daisy CS and Crystal Blue Ink was sponged through it.  The Twilight flower outline and stem were cut using the Art Philosophy cartridge. (flower petal page 29 shape 11 in Hollyhock at 1.25"; outline in Twilight at 1.25" layer;   stem page 57 layer shift cut at 3").  The stamp set is Sincere Expressions.

Here is how I set up to sponge the background:

Which card do you like better? I would love to read your comments.

How will you interpret this challenge?  We look forward to seeing what you create for this "Sponging Technique" challenge.  Remember to use some Close To My Heart products in your creation.  Use a direct link to link to Heart to Heart--you have until the end of November to enter this challenge.

Check out what the rest of the Design Team has to inspire you:

Shirley, Carol,  Haley,  Lucy and our Guest Designer Hansi.  Please leave them some well deserved comments.   

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

:) Marie

Father's Day Key on the Artiste Cartridge for Rose Blossom Garden #5--Card #2

As promised here is my second card for the Rose Blossom Garden challenge this week using the Father's Day Key on the Artiste Cartridge.  This time I used the diamond border from page. 75 (accent 2 shift cut at 1.25").  The pretty patterned paper is Topiary B & T (retired CTMH).  These stripes were layered over Slate CS.  The bottom border is Topiary CS.  The Thinking of You greeting (retired CTMH Say it in Style) was first stamped in White Daisy (a pigment ink) and then Clear Detail Embossing Powder was applied and heated.  It was another really easy card to make using the Artiste cartridge!  I plan to try this idea with other color combinations.

 

To me this card has a masculine feel to it so I will also be entering it into Top Tip Tuesday for a guy.  **My Top Tip is to use a pigment ink and then apply clear embossing powder so that if there are stray flecks of powder they will not be visible on your card.

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

Sweet Stop Sketch #195 for Play Date Cafe #166

Black, white and a splash of green are the colors for this week's Play Date Cafe Challenge #166 and I found a very interesting sketch from Sweet Stop Sketches #195 to combine with this challenge.   I used Close to My Heart Topiary CS as my green.  The frog is from a retired CTMH set called "Frogs".  He was stamped in Topiary ink and then he received a coating of my favorite embellishment, Stardust Glitz Glitter Gel, all over his body except for the 3 brown spots which were Bronze Glitz Glitter Gel.  He also has tiny wiggle eyes which were applied with Mini-Glue Dots.  The patterned black and white papers are from CTMH Black Background & Texture Paper (retired).  The leaves extending from the bottom left and top right of the circle were cut with the Artiste cartridge (pg. 32 accent 3 shift cut at 1") from holographic green paper (source unknown).  The frog was raised up from the black circle with 3D Foam Tape.  I like how the frog and the leaves sparkle in the light.

 

Here is the sketch from the Sweet Stop :

Here is the Play Date Cafe Challenge graphic:

 

If you are looking for a good color challenge try using these 3 shades of green at

 

Color My Heart Color Dare.  You have until 9PM CST Thursday, January 31 to enter.

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