Watercoloring Fun for Between the Folds #8

I've finally had a chance to play with the new watercolor products from Close to My Heart and it was so much fun!  My fellow Color Dare Design Team member Donna Digby is also a part of a new CTMH challenge blog called Between the Folds so I was inspired to create for their weekly theme.  From one watercolored panel I created two cards.  The branch shapes were cut with the new Artistry cartridge.

Here are the closeups--which one do you like best?

Close to My Heart products used:

       Watercolor paints

       Watercolor paper

       Paint Brushes

       Colonial White CS

       Goldrush CS

       Bronze Shimmer Trim

       Chocolate Ink

       Say it All stamp

      Artistry cartridge

Come join in the fun at 

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

:) Marie

Color Dare #160 Meets Freshly Made Sketch #204

Welcome back to another Color My Heart Color Dare challenge blog post!  In Color Dare #160 we are challenging you to combine the following Close to My Heart colors: Ruby, Goldrush, Black and White.  I found a great sketch over at Freshly Made Sketches to follow.

Close to My Heart products used:

     White Daisy CS

      Black CS

      Ruby CS

      Ruby Ink

      4 My Friend Stamp (retired)

      Life is Wonderful Frame stamp (retired)

      Goldrush embossing powder (retired)

      Charming Cascade stamp

      Black shimmer Trim

      Goldrush ink

Here is the color graphic for Color Dare #160:

Here is the sketch from Freshly Made Sketches that inspired me:

We hope that you can join us at the Color Dare this week!  If you don't have the exact Close to My Heart colors yet, feel free to substitute similar colors.  The deadline for entering is Thursday evening, September 25 at 9 PM CDT.  

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

:) Marie

Feel Better Soon Card for Just Add Ink #279

There was a great sketch I saw recently by Just Add Ink and I used it to make a Get Well card for a dear friend.

The "Feel Better with chick" is from the Tags, Bags, Boxes and More #2 cricut cartridge.  The yellow rose background pattern is a Rubbernecker stamp.  The papers are from Close to My Heart--Sunset, Pacifica, Sky and Canary.

Here is the sketch that I followed:

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

:) Marie

Fantabulous Cricut Challenge #260--Project for a Kid

This week at the Fantabulous Cricut Challenge Blog we are asking you to make something for a kid.  Our sponsor this week is Bugaboo stamps who is offering 7 digital images to the winner.

My birthday card was cut using the Close to My Heart Artfully Sent cartridge:

Close to My Heart products used:

     Artfully Sent cartridge (page 28 Scene and Scene Shift cut at 5.5")

     Sapphire CS

     Metallic CS (retired)

     

Other products:

     Perfect Pearls Mist--Perfect Pearl

This card was so easy to make!  The most challenging part was masking off parts that I did not want to cover with the Perfect Pearls Mist!

I will also be entering this card into the Seize the Birthday challenge for Anything Goes.

Please come on over to the Fantabulous Cricut Challenge blog to check out what the rest of the fabulous Design Team has to share with you.  We would love to have you join in the challenge which will end Sunday, September 27.

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

Artiste Thank You for Freshly Made Sketch #203

Here is a really quick card that I made following Freshly Made Sketch #203.

Close to My Heart products used:

       Artiste Cricut Cartridge

      Green Glitter Paper

      Sapphire CS

Other products:

      White Gold Shimmer paper by Recollections

       Turquoise Textured paper--unknown source

Here is the Freshly Made Sketch that I followed:

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

:) Marie

Personalized Birthday Gift Cards for Joyful Hearts Blog Hop

It's an exciting time to be a Close to My Heart consultant and be able to share some wonderful new products from the new Annual Inspirations catalog!  Joyful Stars is a group of CTMH consultants who share in a monthly blog hop.  If you are coming from Crystal Davis' blog you are on the right track.  (If you get "lost" along the way visit Joyce's blog for the complete lineup.)

My twin nieces turned 14 last week so I made them similar cards in their favorite colors.  I used the Artiste cartridge to make the basic gift card holders and the new Artistry cartridge for the Happy Birthday decoration. I programmed my Cricut Explore to draw the Artistry Happy Birthday image instead of cutting it.  The names were written with the Art Philosophy font and then colored in with markers.

Here is what the gift card looks like inside:

Close to My Heart products used:

     Pixie CS

     Pixie Ink

     Thistle CS

     White Daisy CS

     Artiste Cartridge

     Artistry Cartridge

     Card Chatter--Birthday (retired)

     Happy Everything (retired)

     Silver Metallic paper (retired)

Other products:

    Cricut Explore Silver Metallic Marker

    Cricut Explore Pink Crystal Marker

    Cricut Explore Black Marker

    Purple Metallic paper from recycled gift bag

Next on our blog hop tour is Helen Gullett.  I'm sure you will like what she has to share!  Thanks for stopping by!  Have a wonderful week filled with fun and creativity!

:) Marie

Color Dare #158 Meets Mojo Monday #413

Welcome back to another Color My Heart Color Dare challenge post!  This week we are challenging you to use just these 3 Close to My Heart colors:  Cotton Candy, Hollyhock and White Daisy.  I chose the Tall and Skinny sketch from Mojo Monday #413 to showcase these beautiful colors.  My card uses some new products from the Annual Inspirations catalog which are available to order NOW.

Close to My Heart products used:

     Cotton Candy CS

     Hollyhock CS

     White Daisy CS

     Artistry cricut cartridge to cut flowers

     Brushed zip strip (retired)

     White Shimmer Trim (cut with 1/4" hole punch)

     Cotton Candy Ink

     Hollyhock Ink

     Hollyhock Marker (retired)

     Say it All stamp set

     Charming Cascades stamp set

     3D Foam Tape

Here is the Mojo Monday sketch that inspired my card:

Now it is your turn to play along.  Create something using these three CTMH colors and link it up to us here.  (Feel free to substitute similar colors if you don't have these CTMH colors yet.)

  

We look forward to be inspired by what you create!

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

:) Marie

Artbooking Star Flourish Card for Freshly Made Sketch #200

Here is a quick card I made to help celebrate Freshly Made Sketch's 200th challenge.  It is one of my favorite sketch challenges that inspire my card making.  I left this without a sentiment which I can add later when I need to send a card.

Close to My Heart products used:

     Artbooking cartridge

     White Daisy CS

Other products

     Gold Holographic Poster Board by ArtSkills!  (It is a leftover piece from a box I made which may be posted at a later date.)

Here is the Freshly Made Sketch #200:

   

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

Color Dare #156 Meets Retrosketches #177

Welcome back to another Color My Heart Color Dare challenge blog post!  This week we are inviting you to join us using the fabulous Close to My Heart colors Hollyhock, Goldrush, Colonial White and Kraft.

My card features the August Stamp of the Month called Framed and Paper Fundamentals Adventure paper.  (Don't you just love the glossy chevron pattern on the paper?)

Close to My Heart products used:
     Colonial White CS
     Paper Fundamentals Adventure paper
     Kraft CS
     Goldrush Ink
     Hollyhock Ink
     Charming Cascades stamp (available Sept.1)
     Framed stamp set (retiring Sept.1)
     Artistry Cricut cartridge to cut label frame
     Colonial White Mini Medley (retired)
     Colonial White Rosette Ribbon (retired)
     Pink Glitter Gem

Here is the Retrosketches #177 Sketch that inspired me:

Now it's your turn to use these colors and share it with us here.  Don't worry--if you don't have these exact colors you may substitute similar colors so you can still join in on the fun.

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

:) Marie

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

Numbered Birthday Card Using CAS(E)This Sketch #135

Happy 21st Birthday to my dear nephew Brendan!  Here is your special birthday card:

Close to My Heart products used:

     White Daisy CS

     Cranberry CS

     Sapphire CS

     Happy Birthday from Artfully Sent Cricut Collection

     Cranberry Ink

     Silver Metallic CS (retired)

     Stardust Glitz Glitter Gel (retired)

     3D Foam Tape

     Art Philosophy cartridge--star, cranberry and silver starburst

     Artistry cartridge--"21"

Other products:

     Star themed tape--source unknown

This is the CAS(E) This Sketch#135 sketch I followed:

     

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

     Cardz 4 Guys--"A Numbered Birthday"

     Seize the Birthday--Anything Goes

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

:) Marie

Artistry Crab for CAS(E) This Sketch #135

There are so many delightful new images to play with in the new Close To My Heart Cricut Cartridge called "Artistry"!  Today I made a simple card using the crab from page 15.

Close to My Heart products used:

     Seaside paper (retiring 9-1-15)

     Peacock CS

     Peacock Ink

     Champagne CS

     Sunset CS

     Peacock Green Shin Han Touch Marker

     Artfully Sent Cricut Collection Stamp

Other products:

     Wiggle Eyes

Here is the CAS(E) This Sketch I followed:

The challenge at Addicted to Stamps or More is to "Make Your Mark"--I used a Peacock Green Shin Han Touch Marker to draw the line above the greeting.

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

:) Marie

Artistry Mason Jar Card for Joyful Stars Blog Hop

It's an exciting time to be a Close to My Heart consultant and be able to share some wonderful new products from the new Annual Inspirations catalog!  Joyful Stars is a group of CTMH consultants who share in a monthly blog hop.  If you are coming from Andrea Sherman's  blog you are on the right track.  (If you get "lost" along the way visit Joyce's blog for the complete lineup.)

My card features the new Zoe paper, Peacock CS and the mason jar and flowers cut from the new Artistry cricut cartridge.  (All of these products are available now!)  The jar lid was colored with the CTMH Silver Metallic Marker.

The Artistry cartridge comes with 3 stamp sets and a pack of Enchantment color palette cardstock which has 7 new colors!  Peacock is one of them.  It is also available in a digital version to save some money.

If you are interested in replicating this card and you have the Cricut Explore and the CTMH Artistry cartridge you can find the cut file here.

I used the Nacho Average Challenge Sketch #153 to make this card:

Your next stop on this blog hop is Stephanie Huber's blog.  I'm sure you'll be delighted with what you find there.

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

:) Marie

Color Dare #154 Meets Hand Stamped Sentiments #217

Welcome back to another Color My Heart Color Dare challenge blog post!  Just two colors this week:  Smokey Plum and White Daisy.  I found this great sketch at Hand Stamped Sentiments and made several cards using the sketch.

Which card do you like best?

Close to My Heart products used:

     White Daisy CS

     Smokey Plum CS (retiring on Sept.1)

     Smokey Plum B&T paper (retired)

     Smokey Plum Victorian B&T paper (retired)

     Swirl stamp from Life is Wonderful July 2015 SOM

     Banner stamp from Artiste "Kudos" Collection

     Happy Birthday stamp from Artfully Sent "Just to Say" Collection

     Smokey Plum Ink (retiring on Sept.1)

     White Daisy Ink

Here is the Hand Stamped Sentiment sketch that inspired me:

Please head on over to the Color My Heart Color Dare blog to see what the other fabulous Designers have to inspire you.  We hope you can find the time to play along in our challenge this week!

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

:) Marie

     

Artistry Hearts Background Card for Friday Mashup #219

Artistry is the new Close to My Heart Cricut cartridge and is available right now here!  I received mine last week and am having a blast creating with it.  The theme at The Friday Mashup is to make a square card and/or use the colors grey, pink and blue.   Here is my card:

Close to My Heart products used:

     Artistry Cricut cartridge (Background pg. 5)

     White Daisy CS

     Whisper CS

     Sky CS (retired)

     Baby Pink CS (retired)

     Whisper Ink

     Scrapbook Kids Faces and Hands (retired)

     Framed --August SOTM greeting

Other products:

     Fiskars Corner Heart Punch

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

:) Marie