For Always Paper for Freshly Made Sketch #79

It has been a while since I've posted a card with Freshly Made Challenges and I'm glad to be able to do so today.  I really like their sketches!  This card uses Close To My Heart products:  For Always paper, Slate CS, Ruby CS, In the Background Stamps, Baker's Twine Neutral Assortment, 4 My Friend stamp set, Ruby Ink, Stardust Glitz Glitter Gel and a red button.  (The pleated ribbon is retired from Stampinup.)

Here is the Freshly Made Sketch:

 

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

:) Marie

Seize the Birthday #11--Masculine Card

"Buzzing with Good Wishes" is the greeting on the front of this card made for Seize the Birthday#11--Masculine Card challenge this week.  It is from the new Close To My Heart stamp "Quick Cards--Bumblebee".  I stamped the bee separately onto Creme Brulee CS with Cocoa ink and cut him out and then glittered him with Bronze Glitz Glitter Gel on his body and Stardust Glitz Glitter Gel on his wings. He was also popped up from the card using 3D Foam Tape. The focal paper stripe is from Close to My Heart Buzz and Bumble.  The background panel is Kraft CS which has been run through my Cuttlebug with the SU folder "Honeycomb".  This design went together very quickly and I can see making lots of cards using this fabulous sketch..

Here is the Seize the Birthday sketch:

 

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

Shelly's Terrifically Thrilling Thursday challenge--anything goes

Clearly Inspired Challenge #71--anything goes

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

Egg-cited about Easter for Heart 2 Heart Challenge, Cuttlebug Mania and Fantabulous Cricut

Happy Easter!  Heart 2 Heart is a challenge blog featuring (mostly) Close to My Heart products and I have lots of these!  For my Easter cards this year I wanted to use the CTMH Artiste cartridge to cut out words from Spring Iris cardstock--although it is retired it is a great purple for Easter and I have lots of it in my stash.  (The cricut cuts are from page 73 Shift Spring at 1.5" and from page 66 Accent 2 N at 1"). I glued them (little dabs of Tombow adhesive) onto a white daisy panel that was dry embossed with a Darice folder called Floral Border. (I hope CTMH offers dry embossing soon!)  I then used Close to My Heart chalks--also retired--to color the flowers and the stems. The flower centers have a little drop of Stardust Glitz Glitter Gel.. (I'm not sure why the stems look so grey--they are actually a pale garden green.)  I mounted them onto Spring Iris, Buttercup or Taffy and mailed them to family members.  I'm also entering this card into the Cuttlebug Mania challenge to make an Easter item and Fantabulous Cricut #154--Easter Greetings.

If you have a lot of Close to My Heart products and love to enter challenges that feature these products I encourage you to try Color My Heart Color Dare.  This week's challenge is to use Hollyhock, Blush, Sunset and Outdoor Denim (Claire colors) in a papercrafted project.  We would love to have you play along with us!  There is also a prize to be awarded to the winner--Hollyhock Zipper Lace and Blue and Green Expoxy bubbles.

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

Seize the Birthday #11--Feminine Card

The challenge at Seize the Birthday #11 this week is a feminine card.  I used the new Close to My Heart Chantilly paper as the focal panel and stamped the greeting from Perfect Fit--Birthday in Ruby ink.  The White Daisy background was run through the Cuttlebug using the Geometric Rings embossing folder.  The finishing touches on the card were easy--drops of Pink Glitz Glitter Gel on the white background and Stardust Glitz Glitter Gel on the Chantilly paper.  The sketch was really simple to follow yet can be interpreted in so many ways!

(The contrasting background in my light box is the reverse side of this beautiful Chantilly paper).

Here is the Seize the Birthday Sketch:

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

:) Marie

Color Dare #35--Sky, Buttercup and Blush

The challenge at Color My Heart Color Dare this week is to use the following Close To My Heart colors:  Sky, Buttercup and Blush (you may substitute a similar color if you don't have these CTMH colors).  My first cousin just joined the "grandmother club" and I used these colors to make her a congratulations card.  I also added the neutral color Grey Wool (retired CTMH).   The balloons were cut using the Artiste cartridge (page 70 accent 3 at 1.75") and mounted onto White Daisy CS.  A little bit of Stardust Glitz Glitter Gel was added to the cutout portion of each balloon.  The balloon strings were stamped with the accessory stamps that come with the Artiste package.  (If you are a cricut lover and you don't have Artiste or Art Philosophy yet you should seriously consider making this purchase from my website here.)  The "Congrats" greeting is also from the Artiste stamp collection.  I used a very old D.O.T.S. wooden stamp called Daisy Sprinkle to fill in some of the white space on the panel (and also to cover up a grey wool smudge!).

Come on over and check out what the rest of the Color Dare Design Team has come up with.  Their artwork never disappoints!  Please consider joining in this fun challenge--submit your papercrafted creation to ColorMyHeartColorDare.Blogspot.com by Thursday, March 29 at 9PM CST.

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

Later Sk8tr for Seize the Birthday #10

Here is a combination of "old" with "new" for a fabulous Seize the Birthday sketch.  The "old" are the stamp images--D.O.T.S. wooden stamps (company is now called Close To My Heart).  The "new" is the new Later Sk8tr paper from Close to My Heart which features Laggon, Pear and Outdoor Denim.  The challenge this week is to create a masculine card.

 

Here is the Seize the Birthday sketch:

I'm also entering this card into Crafty Ribbons Challenge #41--for the boys.

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

:) Marie

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

This is the first time that I am using a digital stamp for a card project.  The stamp is from Bugaboo and it was colored with chalks and then mounted on a 3" scalloped circle cut from Close To My Heart retired Kentucky Green.  The shamrock brads came from Oriental Trading several years ago.  I followed the Try Stampin' on Tuesday sketch.  The white background panel was dry embossed with the Cuttlebug Divine Swirls embossing folder.

Here is the Try Stampin' on Tuesday sketch:

 

I am entering the above card in the following challenges:

Try Stampin' on Tuesday--sketch

Use it Tuesday #52--Diecuts, punches or cutouts

All Sorts Challenge--1 image, 2 papers and 3 embellies ( 2 brads and a ribbon)

Catch the Bug Bingo challenge--(top row across--green, image and charm--shamrock brads)

Tuesday Alchemy--Anything Goes

Using the same stamped image I made a vertical card with a green background panel.  It was embossed and then distressed with my own embossing folder--you can find the directions to make your own embossing folder here.

I like them both--I would love to hear what you prefer--leave me a comment and I will be sure to check out your blog and leave you a comment also.

This is my off week from designing for Color My Heart Color Dare but I would like to invite you to join in on this week's color challenge (Olive, Sweet Leaf and Goldrush):

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

:) Marie

Sweet Stampin' Embossing Challenge meets Sunday Stamps Sketch #38

I love the look of dry embossing so I just had to enter a card into this week's Sweet Stampin' Challenge for dry embossing.  The Sunday Stamps Sketch #38 fits so nicely with the Cuttlebug frame embossing folder I used. The white core cardstock from Close to My Heart makes it possible to get more out of dry embossing by distressing the raised edges. 

   
All products used can be found on my Close To My Heart website here except for the Cuttlebug embossing folder.  The card ingredients are:

Black CS
Ruby CS
White Daisy CS
For Always patterned paper
Casual Expressions stamp set
Black ink
Red Sparkle Adhesive gems
Licorice Opaque Adhesive gems
Cuttlebug Tiffany Scroll Flourish Frame
Sanding Block
1.25" CTMH Circle Punch
3D Foam Tape

Here's the sketch from Sunday Stamps #38:

 

Color My Heart Color Dare has a great challenge this week--combine any two Close To My Heart paper packs.  Hope you can play along with us there!

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

:) Marie

Color Dare #33 with a Try it on Tuesday Sketch

The challenge at Color My Heart Color Dare this week is to combine 2 or more Close To My Heart paper packs--current or retired.  I used one of each for this first card--For Always (current) with Roxie (retired).  The Delight in Everything (retired CTMH) flowers were gold embossed onto the black For Always panel.  The "Thinking of You" greeting is from Casual Expressions which was stamped in Black ink.  A strip of gold rickrack (unknown source) accents the vertical black strip from For Always.

 Here is the Try Stampin' on Tuesday #108 sketch:

I'm also linking this card up to Use it Tuesday challenge #50.  Their challenge this week is to use an uninked stamp (Delight in Everything flowers) and gold.

I wasn't finished playing with the idea of combining different CTMH paper packs so I challenged myself to combine 4 of them with this next card.  It's great for using up scraps.  The rectangles I cut on my paper cutter at 1" x 1.5".  I used Roxie, For Always, Elemental and Clementine.  The horizontal stripe is the zip strip from For Always and I embellished it with Almond Glitz Glitter Gel.  The "You're Appreciated" greeting is also from Casual Expressions Occasions and was black embossed and popped up from the gold metallic paper(retired CTMH) with 3D Foam Tape.  I used a Hollyhock marker to color in the flowers on the frame.  I used the Art Philosophy cricut cartridge (page 42 oval 3) to cut the ovals at 1.5" and 1.75"

It was fun challenging myself to make these cards!  I hope you'll be able to join in Color Dare #33. 

 You can use your CTMH stash to play.  Just link up your papercrafted item (does not have to be a card) to Color My Heart Color Dare by 9PM CST Thursday, 3/15/13.  

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

:) Marie

Seize the Birthday #8--Golf Theme

Welcome back to my blog!  This week it's masculine birthday card making at Seize the Birthday #8.  I really liked the sketch and decided to play along.  I used the Close to My Heart Art Philsophy cartridge to cut the label on the right hand side of the 6.5" x 5" card (page 53 layer cut at 3.75") from Outdoor Denim CS.  The background paper is from the Lucky paper pack (retired CTMH).  The golf ball (Tee Time acrylic stamp set--retired CTMH) was stamped in Outdoor Denim ink onto glossy paper (retired CTMH), trimmed and popped up from the tee with 3D Foam Tape.  The tee was stamped in New England Ivy ink onto glossy paper (retired CTMH) and also popped up from the background with 3D Foam Tape.  The greeting was made on my computer using the Showcard Gothic font. 

 

Here is the sketch from Seize the Birthday:

Thanks for stopping by!  If you like to use "masculine colors"  perhaps you would like to join in on a color challenge using Outdoor Denim, Lagoon and Pear in the Color My Heart Color Dare #32.

Have a fun week filled with fun and creativity!

:) Marie

Color Dare #32--Lagoon, Pear, Outdoor Denim

Welcome back to my blog!  Today's post features a new challenge from Color My Heart--it is Color Dare #32 and it features the Close To My Heart colors Lagoon, Pear and Outdoor Denim.  These are the focus colors for the new CTMH Paper Packet called Later Sk8r.  This is the first time that I am combining these colors together and I love how they look together!  The Skipping Stone Design Sketch #71 caught my eye on Pinterest and I thought it would work well with these 3 colors.  I made a rosette (sometimes called a yoyo) using the CTMH Artiste cartridge (page 62 Accent 3 Shift cut at 1.25") with the Later Sk8tr patterned paper as a backing for the Salutation Seals greeting (stamped in Outdoor Denim and Lagoon inks and hand cut and layered with 3D Foam Tape).  I used Silver Glitz Glitter Gel for the tiny flower centers and the three dots on the right hand side.  It was really easy to assemble this card using this fabulous sketch.

Overachiever that I sometimes am, I decided to make another card to share with you using these colors.  I was inspired by this card from the For Always Workshop on the Go Kit  which can be found in the top right hand corner of page 37 in the Spring/Summer 2013 Idea Book.  I used several different paper strips from the Later Sk8r Paper Packet cut at 1.25" x 3.75" with opposite corners rounded using the CTMH Corner Rounder.  The Birthday greeting is from Just a Number and was stamped in Outdoor Denim ink.  I cut 4 starbursts using the Art Philosophy cartridge (page 23 decorative layer shift cut at 1.25")  The edges of these four pieces were distressed with Outdoor Denim ink and they were popped up off the card using 3D Foam Tape.  Opaques Mocha Adhesive Gems were placed inside the starburst cutouts.  This was another simple card to make.  (For me making decisions about what shapes and design take much more time--there are so many wonderful options to choose from with the Close To My Heart product line!)

I had a lot of fun meeting this challenge and I hope you will too!  If you don't have Close To My Heart colors you may substitute something similar.  Please post your papercrafted item to the Color My Heart Color Dare blog and link back to your blog post so we can come and leave you some love.

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

:) Marie

Seize the Birthday #7 Sketch with CTMH Cozy Cat

Cozy Cat is one of my favorite new stamps from Close To My Heart and I've already made 5 different cards featuring him.  This card follows the Seize the Birthday #7 sketch.  This card is a little larger--5" x 6.5" and uses a new CTMH paper packet called Chantilly.  The cat was stamped onto two different patterned papers (old Buttercup B&T and Chantilly) and the cat was raised from its pillow using 3D Foam Tape.  The greeting was stamped in Ruby ink onto Cotton Candy CS (included in the Chantilly paper packer) and is from a very old wooden stamp (20 +years) and I honestly can't remember who made it.  The label was cut from the Art Philosophy cartridge (page 53 layer cut at 3.75") from Ruby CS.  I applied Stardust Glitz Glitter Gel to many points and flower centers from the Chantilly paper to add a subtle "bling" to the card.

Here is the Seize the Birthday Sketch:

 

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

Black Tie Friday--animal theme

All Sorts Challenge Blog--animal theme

Heads up--there is a prize to be won this week over at Color My Heart Color Dare--a brand new January Stamp of the Month from Close To My Heart called "Happy Valentine's Day".

 

Here is a link to a lovely card I made using this stamp set.  The creative possibilities are endless with this group of stamps!

For your chance to win the above prize submit your papercrafted item by 2/28/13 at 9PM CST to the link supplied in the above color graphic.  The featured CTMH colors are Buttercup, Honey and Sunset however you may use a similar color if you don't have any of the CTMH colors.

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

:) Marie

Sympathy Card with a Sunday Stamps Sketch

I needed a sympathy card this week and used this great sketch by Sunday Stamps #36.  Most of the materials I used are no longer available from Close to My Heart (stamped greeting, accent flowers, vineyard berry ribbon, Olive B&T paper, vineyard berry cs and garden green cs).  I used a Darice Bamboo embossing folder and then distressed the garden green cs to reveal the white core underneath.  I rotated the card 90 degrees from the original sketch.

 

Here is the sketch:

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

:) Marie

Color Dare #31--Buttercup, Honey and Sunset with a Mojo Monday Sketch

Welcome back to my blog--I appreciate your readership!  This week's Color My Heart Color Dare #31 features analogous colors (next to each other on the color wheel) of Close To My Heart colors Buttercup, Honey and Sunset.  I used the Mojo Monday Sketch #281 to compose my card. This first card features cuts from the Art Philosophy cartridge and the 2" Scallop Circle Punch.  The flowers were cut from page 21 of the Art Philosophy handbook--layer, shift at 2". The birthday greeting in the bottom circle is from Salutation Seals set and was stamped with Honey ink and popped up with 3D Foam Tape.  These circles and a Kraft stripe (stamped with Ritzy Ribbon in Sunset ink) are over a piece of patterned paper from Buttercup Fleur des Jardines (retired CTMH) and this is over Honey cardstock.

 

I really liked the sketch and wanted to create another card using it along with these colors so I changed the background to Kraft which was dry embossed with the "Bricked" folder from Tim Holtz.  I punched 3 circles using the 2" Scallop Circle Punch and stamped the medallion from Love Life in the 3 different colors.   Opaque Mocha Adhesive gems were used for the the circle centers and on top of the sunset patterned strip from Olivia paper (retired CTMH).

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

Here is the Mojo Monday sketch that inspired me:

We hope that you will undertake our color challenge and enter it into Color Dare #31. 

 

 If you do not have the exact Close to My Heart colors please feel free to substitute something similar.  Please provide a direct link back to your blog and include a link back to Color My Heart Color Dare.

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

:) Marie