Watercolor Class Day #2 Homework

The Online Card Class Watercolor class is really fun yet I'm a little behind in my "homework".   Lesson #2 was about more background watercolor techniques.  I started this card last week with the Color Dare #93 colors and just finished it today.  I used 4 Close To My Heart ink pads for the watercolors.  First I placed an acrylic block onto the ink pad and then misted with water and used a brush to paint on the colors.

Close To My Heart products used:

    Cranberry Ink

    Twilight Ink

    Honey Ink

    Juniper Ink

    Friendship Alphabet stamps (retired)

    True Teal CS (retired)

    Metallic paper (DOTS retired)

    3D Foam Tape

Other products used:

    Watercolor paper by Faber Castell

    Stazon Teal Ink

    Studio G star punch

    Perfect Pearls Heirloom Gold Mist spray by Ranger

As this is a special birthday card for a dear friend I'm also entering it into Seize the Birthday.

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

:) Marie

Color Dare #93--Honey, Cranberry, Juniper, Twilight With Watercoloring

Welcome back to another Color My Heart Color Dare challenge post!  This week we are daring you to combine all four of these Close To My Heart colors in your project.  (Of course close color substitutions are allowed if you don't have the assigned colors).

Since I recently enrolled in the Online Card Classes Watercoloring class my card reflects that.  The top banner was made by clear embossing the floral stamp from In the Background onto watercolor paper.  Then I used a narrow acrylic block pressed into the inkpad and then spritzed with water to stamp on the paper.  I did this several times with all the challenge colors and I like how it came out.

Close To My Heart products used:

    Cranberry CS

    Black CS

    Twilight CS

    Honey Ink

   Cranberry Ink

   Juniper Ink

   Twilight Ink

   1 x 4 acrylic block

   Enjoy the Little things stamp set (Hostess only set)

   In the Background Stamps

   3D Foam Tape

   Clear Embossing Powder (retired)

   

Other:

   Watercolor paper by Faber Castell

   Versamark Ink

   Prismacolor pencil

Please head on over to the Color Dare blog and check out what the fabulous Design Team and special Guest Designer Caroline have to inspire you.  We would love to see your artwork in our gallery.  Please use a direct link to your blog post when entering the challenge.

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

:) Marie

Frosted Card with Try Stampin' on Tuesday Sketch #147

This week's Try Stampin' on Tuesday Sketch #147 was a perfect sketch to use the Close To My Heart Frosted paper.  Using a snowflake was an extra option for this challenge.  The stamps are from the Frosted Cardmaking Kit and were inked with Twilight ink.  The snowflake was also embossed with polysparkle tinsel embossing powder for a little sparkle (retired CTMH) and popped up with 3D Foam Tape.

Here is the Try Stampin' on Tuesday Sketch #147:

Frosted is also the featured color this week for Color My Heart Color Dare so I'm linking it up there. Snowflakes are the theme at Addicted to CAS so I'm linking it up there also.

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

:) Marie

Frosted Colors with a Mojo Monday Sketch for Color Dare #73

Welcome back to another Color My Heart Color Dare Challenge post.  This week we are challenging you to use the Close To My Heart colors Frosted Grey and Frosted Turquoise as found in the current Close To My Heart Frosted Paper Pack.

Similar colors would be Slate, Heavenly Blue, Crystal Blue, Twilight if you don't have Frosted paper.  I used one of my favorite new stamp sets called Wintry Wishes to make this card.  The card sketch is from Mojo Monday 323.  The hat and ornament were paper pieced.

Materials used:

     Frosted Cardmaking Kit (paper and Frosted twine)

     Wintry Wishes (Close To My Heart Hostess Reward Stamp Set)

     Slate CS

     Crystal Blue CS

     Black Ink

     Twilight Ink

     Stardust Glitz Glitter Gel

Mojo Monday sketch:

     

We are looking forward to seeing how you use these two fabulous colors together.  (You may also use neutrals such as black, white and off white.)  Please link up your creations here.  Now head on over and see what the rest of the fabulous Color Dare Design Team has to inspire you.  

Thanks for stopping by!  Please stop by again Sunday morning for a new Sunday Stamps challenge.  Have a wonderful week filled with fun and creativity!

 :) Marie.  

Love and Hugs for CAS(E) this Sketch #56

I love the simplicity of the CAS(E) This Sketch challenges and was inspired to participate in this challenge.

Materials Used:

       Avonlea paper (retired Close To My Heart)

       Garden Green CS (retired Close To My Heart)

       Words of Comfort

       Twilight Ink

Here is the sketch:

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

:) Marie

Frosted Snowflakes for CAS(E) This Sketch #37

Today I was inspired to enter the challenge at CAS(E) This Sketch.  The sketch features hexagons and many people used them already so I decided to use a snowflake image instead.  The snowflake comes from the Frosted Cardmaking Kit from Close To My Heart which will be available on August 1 from my website.  The first card uses Crystal Blue CS as a mat and Crystal Blue ink for the snowflakes.  The greeting was stamped in Twilight Ink.

The next card has a reversed color scheme--snowflakes are white embossed.

Which card do you like best?

 

Here is the sketch from CAS(E) This Sketch #37:

These cards were really fast and easy to make!

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

Words of Comfort for Freshly Made Sketches #86

It has been awhile since I've tried a Freshly Made Sketch and I needed some inspiration to make another sympathy card so I decided to check out this week's sketch.  The Close To My Heart products that I used are Chantilly paper, Slate CS, Twilight CS, and Words of Comfort greeting which was black embossed.  (Here is my embossing tip--place stamp in Versamark ink, then place stamp in your chosen color of dye ink and then sprinkle Clear Embossing powder--any stray flecks of embossing powder are not visible on your card!)  The center panel was dry embossed with a Cuttlebug folder called Birds and Swirls.  First I used a paintbrush to paint in the grooves of the folder with Twilight Ink and then I ran the paper in the folder through the Cuttlebug machine.  The thin black and white ribbon was in my stash for quite awhile and I have no idea who made it..

 

Here is the Freshly Made Sketch #86 that I followed:

 

Thanks for stopping by!  Have a wonderful week filled with fun and creativity1

:) Marie

Avonlea Many Thanks Card for My Time To Craft #220--Sentiment As The Main Focus

Here is a quick card that I made with Close To My Heart Avonlea paper, Thoughtful Tidings (retired stamp set), Frame Flair label stamp, Twilight CS, Twilight Ink, Silver Glitz Glitter Gel, Stardust Glitz Glitter Gel (on parts of background panel) Twilight Marker and Juniper Marker.  The label was cut with the CTMH Art Philosophy cartridge--page 54 rectangle 2 cut at 2".    The My Time To Craft #220 challenge was my inspiration to create this card and I'm linking it up there.

 

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

:) Marie

Color Dare #38--Buttercup, Pear and Twilight

Color My Heart Color Dare has a new challenge with new Close To My Heart colors:  Buttercup, Pear and Twilight.  I probably would not have thought of putting these colors together originally but thanks to Sarah's vision that is the challenge.  I do like how these colors work together in my card.  A card on Pinterest was my inspiration for this card.  The papers I used are Twilight from Florentine, Pear from Chantilly, Buttercup from Buttercup Fleurs des Jardines, with White Daisy and Slate as neutrals.  The flower centers were embellished with small pieces of Colonial White Rosette Ribbon and Clear Sparkles.  The greeting is from Casual Expressions and was stamped in Twilight ink.

Are you up for this week's challenge!  You have until Thursday, April 18 at 9PM CST to post your papercrafted item.  If you don't have these exact Close to My Heart colors, feel free to substitute something close to these colors.  We look forward to viewing your artwork in our gallery.  Please visit the other Color Dare Design Team blogs for more inspiration.  You won't be disappointed!

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

Color Dare #22 Twilight and Sweet Leaf

Twilight is one of my favorite Close To My Heart colors and it is featured in this week's Color My Heart Color Dare paired with Sweet Leaf.  The Twilight strips on my card are from the Florentine paper pack (retiring Jan.31).  The stamp is from the December Stamp of the Month called Year Round Cheer.  I used a 2.25" circle punch to cut into the Twilight paper and then stamped the image in Twilight ink onto the Sweet Leaf base.  Embellishments I used are Silver Shimmer Trim, Stardust Glitz Glitter Gel and a Silver Metallic pen. All products are available on my website through links provided here.

If you want to see other examples of these two colors together please check out these links:  Baroque Borders, and  Rock the Block sympathy card,



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

Sunday Sketch #20 Get Well Card

I found this really great sketch at Sunday Sketch and decided to try it.  It came together really quickly with Florentine paper and the Art Philosophy Cricut cartridge from Close To My Heart.  The background paper is CTMH Colonial White.  The Olive CS label  was cut at 2.5" from Shape 8, Decorative Layer from page 47 of the Art Philosophy handbook.  The greeting is from CTMH Say it in Style (retired) and was first stamped in Versamark ink and then in Twilight ink and then clear embossed.  The corners of the label were embellished with Silver Glitz Glitter Gel.

The card:

The sketch:

Thanks for stopping by! Have a wonderful weekend of fun and creativity!

:) Marie

Mojo Monday 261 with Clementine and Friday Favorite Things Linky Party

I made these cards for Mojo Monday 261 and am entering it in Wendy Coffman's Friday Favorite Things Linky Party .  Other than the ribbons above the scalloped circles all supplies are from Close To My Heart.  Card #1 uses Clementine patterned paper, Desert Sand CS, Creme Brulee CS, Twilight CS banner, Sorbet CS for vertical stripe and Silver Shimmer Trim which was colored with a Honey marker (How fun is that to be able to color this ribbon with CTMH alcohol markers?!!!).  The scalloped circles were cut using the Art Philosophy cricut cartridge and the birthday greeting is from Salutation Seals and was stamped in Twilight Ink on Colonial White CS.

 

Here is the sketch from Mojo Monday 261:

 

 

Here is card #2 which uses Chocolate CS and Creme Brulee CS and the zip strip from the Clementine paper over Creme Brulee CS for the vertical stripe.

 

 





 

Which of these two cards do you like better?  Does one look more masculine or feminine than the other?

 

Keep reading my blog--a Giveaway of some sort--details with my next post!

I will be celebrating my 100th post as a blogger with my next post! I am planning some type of giveaway but am open to hearing your suggestions too. What kind of requirements should I have to be eligible to win? Please leave a comment below if you have any suggestions for me. (this is post #99 already!)

 

Here is the link for that 100th blog post!

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

:) Marie



Welcome Gifts for New Daughter-in-Law

I met my son's wonderful fiance two days before the wedding and I wanted to present her with a basket of gifts. I used the computer to make a card that said "Welcome to the Flayer Family" but forgot to photograph it to share. Inside the card I stamped a very old greeting from Close To My Heart that said "Wishing you a basket full of love" and signed it from all of us. The first gift that I made was a set of stamped notecards using her first name initial. I used CTMH Baroque Alphabet, Twilight Ink and Florentine Paper. (This stamp set will be retired as of August 1, 2012 so order it soon if you are interested in this intricately elegant font.)

The next gift is a personalized wooden frame that I purchased at Michael's. I applied several coats of Create-A-Shade paint and then embossed the top corner with a stamp from CTMH called "Dreams Come True" (retired from CTMH) in Gold Tinsel Embossing Powder (retired from CTMH) and stamped the date using "Elegant Script" (retired from CTMH). I didn't have a photo to put in the frame so I stamped a greeting from Cloud9 Design Simple Thoughts--Wedding set. The gold rings are from a very old CTMH wood set. The paper is blue parchment (retired CTMH). Various sizes of Opaque Adhesive Gems were applied to the top corner stamp.

I used Stazon Opaque White Ink to stamp their names on wine glasses. The heart stamps are from a retired CTMH set called "A Little Something". The letters are from Inkadinkado.

It was so much fun to create these gifts and to see how happy my son and his fiance were when they opened these gifts. Thanks for stopping by.

Fantabulous Cricut #95 Label it!

I love all the things you can do with Close To My Heart Art Philosophy cricut cartridge! This week's Fantabulous Cricut Challenge Me Monday is to use a label on your card. There are so many that I could choose from from this fantastic cartridge! I decided to also make a fun shaped card--scalloped circle--so from the Art Philosophy cartridge.

Cricut cuts I used: Scalloped Circle card feature from page 31 at 4.25"; Circle #2 from page 31 at 3.75"; Shape 8 from page 47 at 2.5"; Decorative layer from page 47 also at 2.5". I used CTMH Wonderland paper, white daisy paper, strip of Twilight paper, Twilight ink, versamark ink and clear embossing powder. The greeting is from CTMH Say it in Style--a very versatile set. Thanks for stopping by!

My Rock the Block Challenge--Day 6--Sympathy

I'm back to using the corner stamp today--my favorite stamp of the Rock the Block set which can be found here. The CS colors are Garden Green and Twilight. I used Twilight ink to stamp the corner floral stamp and the greeting. Next I stamped over both images with Versamark ink and then embossed with CTMH Polysparkle Clear embossing powder (retired). I carefully cut out the corner floral image and used foam tape to raise it up. Licorice adhesive gems (CTMH) were placed on the flower centers. The greeting is from B1369 Rosy Regards also from CTMH.

Thanks for visiting my blog. I still have lots of great ideas of how to use this set!

November Constant Campaign--Holiday Wishes and Clean and Simple Sketch Challenge

Close To My Heart is offering a fantastic holiday stamp set called "Holiday Wishes" for just $5.00 (valued at $17.95) with a purchase of $25 in acrylic stamps during November 2011. I received mine yesterday and had a blast making these cards today. There are coordinating Art Philosophy cricut cuts to match these stamps. These are the stamps that come in the set and I managed to use every one of them in these 4 cards. All products used are from Close To My Heart.

This first card is based on the Clean and Simple Stamping Sketch FTL164 which can be found here.It features "Believe" paper, Topiary and Holiday Red CS and Topiary Ink. Lines were embossed on the Holiday Red CS and then distressed with a sanding block. The star and banner were cut on the cricut with CTMH Art Philosophy cartridge.

The next card features "Wonderland" paper, Twilight CS, and Blue and Green Sparkles. After stamping with Twilight Ink, the images were stamped in Versamark and then clear embossed with Polysparkle Tinsel Embossing Powder (CTMH retired).

The tree in this card was stamped in Sweet Leaf Ink on Sweet Leaf CS. The birds were colored with a Tulip marker. The same image was then stamped in Versamark and embossed with Polysparkle Tinsel and then Topiary Ink was rubbed across the tree. The background paper is CTMH "Mistletoe" (retired).

The final card features Vineyard Berry CS and Ink. Bronze glitter gel was applied at the top of each stocking and Stardust glitter gel was used on the angel halos and wings.