Color Dare #224 Meets CAS Challenges #366.

Here is the last Color My Heart Color Dare challenge for 2016! We invite you to use the designated Close to My Heart colors to create something you like.  (Of course if you don't have the exact CTMH colors yet you can substitute something similar so you can still join in on the fun!)  This year we are extending the usual one week challenge to 3 weeks (ending 9PM EST January 5) so you have plenty of time to join us over the holidays.  

Our colors this week are:  Cranberry, Crystal Blue, Willow and White Daisy.  My card features stamps and thin cuts from the Thankful for You Thin Cuts Bundle.

Here is a close-up so you can see how sparkly the Clear Shimmer pen made the swan's bill and wings.

Close to My Heart products used:

     Thankful for You Thin Cuts Bundle

     White Daisy CS

     Adventure Fundamentals Paper (Willow green pattern)

     Cranberry CS

     Crystal Blue CS

     White and Gold Ribbon

     Clear Shimmer Brush

     Willow Ink

     Crystal Blue Ink

     Scallop Punch (retired)

Other product:

     Stitched Oval Die by Katscrappiness.com

     Tiny wiggle eye

Here is the Color My Heart Color Dare graphic.  Just click on it to get to the challenge blog to check out what the rest of the awesome Design Team has to inspire you.

     

My usual creative process often starts with pairing the color challenge with a current sketch challenge.  I often consult the Paper Playful blog to find other challenges to inspire me.  This week I found the Crazy 4 Challenges blog in which you can use any of their sketches for the whole year.  I chose challenge #341.

I'm also entering my card into the Sunny Day Crafting challenge where it is always Anything Goes.

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

:) Marie

ATSM #210 Meets Case This Sketch #188

The new challenge at Addicted to Stamps and More is a "photo inspiration" challenge and we are being sponsored this week by QKR Stampede.

Sponsor

QKR Stampede and Eureka Stamps was purchased by Stamp On It in 2013 from the state of Colorado and moved to its new home in Michigan! We(Stamp On It) had its humble beginnings over 25 years ago and is now a mobile(on-the-road) family owned and operated business. We travel coast to coast and attend as a vendor over 25 retail stamping and scrapping shows each year. 

Blog: http://qkrstampede.blogspot.ca

Prize: 3 digital images 

When I first saw the photo I was drawn to the quilt and wanted to create something that resembled a quilt.  The blotches of color on the wall behind the quilt called me to create a watercolored background with a "smooshing" technique.  Here is my card:

If you would like to "recreate" this card and have a Cricut Explore here is the Design Space file.  Enjoy!

Close to My Heart products used:

     White Daisy CS

     Thistle Ink

     Canary Ink

     Crystal Blue Ink

     Flower Market cricut cartridge

     Thistle CS

      3D Foam Tape

      Spray Pen (for water)

Other products:

     Cricut silver and black pens

     Ruler

     paintbrush

     Nuvo Embellishment Mousse Pure Platinum

          (used with water to paint "quilting lines" on watercolored panel)

     

My creative process usually entails finding a card sketch challenge to play along with so I used Case This Sketch #188 pictured here:

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

     CAS on Sunday--pastels

     Cut it Up--Watercolor

Now it's time to head on over to the Addicted to Stamps and More blog to see what the rest of the fabulous Design Team has to inspire you.  We are looking forward to seeing how this photo inspires you to create and commenting on your blogs.

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

:) Marie

Sympathy Card in Sapphire, Crystal Blue and Whisper For FMS 240

My favorite colors are in the blue family so I decided to combine Close to My Heart Sapphire and Crystal Blue with a neutral Whisper for a Sympathy card.  I am happy with the result.

Close to My Heart products used:

     Crystal Blue CS

     Sapphire CS

     Whisper CS

     Sapphire Ink

     Crystal Blue Ink

     Floral Embossing Folder

     Sincere Expressions stamp

     Sponge Daubers

Here is the fabulous Freshly Made Sketch #240 that inspired my card:

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

:) Marie

     

Zoe Sympathy Card for House That Stamps Built What if Wednesday Challenge

Sympathy cards don't need to be in greys and blacks!  My card today features Zoe patterned paper and A Bunch of Love stamp.

Here is a close up of the flowers so you can see the effect of the Crystal Nuvo drops.

Here is the House That Stamps Built sketch that inspired my card:

I'm also entering my card into the Die Cuttin' Divas Anything Goes with Diecuts challenge.

Close to My Heart products used:
     Peacock CS
     Crystal Blue CS
     Zoe paper
     Art Philosophy cartridge for doily cut
     Sorbet CS
     A Bunch of Love Stamp and Coordinating Thin Cut Die
     Sincere Expressions stamp
     Peacock Ink
     3D Foam Tape

Other products:
     Nuvo Crystal Drops--Sugared Almond, White, White Blizzard
     Prismacolor pencils

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

Color Dare #195

Welcome back to another Color My Heart Color Dare challenge post.  Our challenge this week is to combine Close to My Heart colors Thistle, Pear, Crystal Blue, Lagoon and White Daisy.

My card features the "smooshing" technique.  I inked up my craft mat with all 4 colors, spritzed with water and then picked up the ink using an acetate sheet and then smooshed it down onto the paper.  I held the acetate between my fingers to limit the contact with the paper so that I could create lines of color.  Then I stamped a small flower from the Hawaiian Hibiscus stamp set in Thistle ink across the page and added some purple and clear glitter gems.  The sentiment is from the Artfully Sent Cricut collection which will be retiring soon.

Close to My Heart products used:
     White Daisy CS
     Lagoon CS
     Lagoon Ink
     Pear Ink
     Thistle Ink
     Crystal Blue Ink
     Hawaiian Hibiscus stamp
     Artfully Sent stamp
     Purple Glitter Gems
     Clear Glitter Gems (retired)

Here is the Color Dare challenge graphic with this week's challenge colors:

Now it's your turn to get creative--how will you use all and only these challenge colors?  Come check out what the rest of the fabulous 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

Beloved Bouquet Meets Color Dare #177

Welcome back to another Color My Heart Color Dare challenge post!  I'm really excited to share this particular color combination with you as it really appeals to me.  We are challenging you to create a project with just these four fabulous Close to My Heart colors:  White Daisy, Whisper, Peacock, and Crystal Blue.

(If you don't have these Close to My Heart colors you can substitute something similar so you can still play along!)

My card features the January Stamp of the Month Beloved Bouquet which I really love!

The card layout is from Tuesday Morning Sketches #335:

Close to My Heart products used:

     White Daisy CS

     Peacock CS

     Crystal Blue CS

     Beloved Bouquet stamps

     Peacock Ink

     Crystal Blue Ink

     Artbooking cartridge--decorative circle

     Artistry cartridge--scalloped border

     

Here is the Design Space file if you want to recreate this card.

Please check out what the rest of the awesome Design Team has to inspire you with this challenge here.  We hope you will find the time to create something and share it with us on the Color Dare blog or on our Facebook page.  If you don't have the exact colors you may use something similar.

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

:) Marie

Wavy Blooms for Color Dare #140

Welcome back to another Color My Heart Color Dare challenge blog post!  This week we are challenging you to use the following Close to My Heart colors:  Ruby, Crystal Blue, Colonial White and White Daisy.  I used Sunday Stamps Sketch challenge #100 for my card layout.

Close to My Heart products used:
     White Daisy CS
     Colonial White CS
     Ruby CS
     Wavy Blooms stamp
     Typed Note sentiment stamp
     Ruby Ink
     Crystal Blue Ink
     Sponge Daubers
     Clear Sparkles
     Ruby Alcohol Marker to color clear sparkles
     White Daisy 3/8" ribbon (retired)

If you don't have the above Close to My Heart colors yet you may substitute similar colors so you can play along.  The challenge closes on Thursday, May 8 at 9PM CDT.  We would love to have you share your papercrafted creation in our gallery. 

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

:) Marie

Let it Snow with a Freshly Made Sketch #166

If you are looking for the Joyful Stars December Blog Hop please go here.

Here is a quick card I made to satisfy two challenges--sketch by Freshly Made Sketches #166 and Dots theme for Addicted To CAS.

Close To My Heart products used:

     White Daisy CS

     Crystal Blue CS

     Be Jolly stamp set

     Sanding Kit

     Crystal Blue Ink

     Versamark Ink

     Polysparkle Tinsel Embossing Powder (retired)

     Metallic paper (retired)

     

Other

     Dots folder by Sizzix for Stampin Up

     Martha Stewart Punch (Drippy Goo)

     Holiday Time ribbon

Here is the Freshly Made Sketches sketch:
   

Here is the theme graphic for Addicted to CAS:

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

Foxy Birthday for Color My Heart Color Dare #92

Welcome back to another Color My Heart Color Dare challenge post!  This week we are inviting you to make something using the Close To My Heart colors Sweet Leaf and Crystal Blue.  (You may substitute similar colors if you don't have these colors yet and you may combine them with neutrals such as white, black, tans and greys also).

Close To My Heart products used:

    White Daisy CS

    One Way Border stamps

    Crystal Blue Ink

    Black Ink

    Black CS

    Winter Cozy B&T paper (retired)

    Sweet Leaf Marker

    Wild About Love stamp set (Feb. 2014 Stamp of the Month)

    Reverse side of Artiste Word Balloon stamp (so it could face the fox who is "speaking")

    Say it in Style Happy Birthday (retired)

    Aqua Dots--flower center

    also--tiny wiggle eyes--source unknown

My card design was inspired by this Operation Write Home sketch:

I'm also entering this card into Seize the Birthday Anything Goes Challenge.

Check out what the fabulous Color My Heart Color Dare Design Team B has to inspire you:  Gretchen, Michelle, Hansi and Sarah.  You have until Thursday, May 8 9PM CT to enter your papercrafted creation here.  We look forward to visiting your blogs and seeing what you create with the colors Crystal Blue and Sweet Leaf.

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

:) Marie

Dotted Love for Colour Me...! #2

Melon Mambo and Marina Mist are the colors for this week's Colour Me...! challenge.  My substitutions are Red Velvet (retired Close To My Heart) and Crystal Blue.  I used the Artiste cartridge to cut out the heart border (pg.72 Accent 3 shift at 1") and heart label (pag.66 card cut at 2.5").  Inks are Crystal Blue and Red Velvet.  The stamped image is Dotted Love.

I used the Nacho Average Challenge Sketch #71 to make this card:

I'm also entering this card into the Two Creative Chicks--Anything Goes and Keep it Simple.

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

:) Marie

p.s. Be sure to stop by Friday for a new Color My Heart Color Dare Challenge!

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

Seeing Double for Heart 2 Heart Challenge

Heart 2 Heart is a challenge blog that features the use of Close To My Heart products. (In other words you must use some CTMH products if you link your project up to this blog).   This week's theme is "Seeing Double" and I chose to use Desert Sand cut reindeer from the new CTMH Artbooking cartridge (page 57 Icon cut at 3").  The background was stamped with the Quick Card--Bright All Night Hostess Reward Set (stamped three times, trimmed and pieced together for the sky) in Crystal Blue ink.  The bottom of the card was run through the Cuttlebug machine with an embossing folder.  Bronze Glitz Glitter Gel was applied to the antlers and a White Chalk marker was used on the tail and the front of the reindeer.

How will you interpret this challenge?  We look forward to seeing what you create for this "Seeing Double" 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:

Brittany, 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

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

All White Except a Stamped Image!

My Time to Craft's challenge this week is to make an all white card except for the image.  This idea really appealed to me so I cut many layers with my CTMH Artiste cricut cartridge. I used the Card function from page 63 to cut the flourished square at 2", 2.5", 3.0" and the negative piece that was cut at 3.5".  The featured stamp is from the new Casual Expressions Occasions set--a very versatile set!  (Most of the stamps in this set have a corresponding cricut Artiste cut.)  I first put my stamp in Versamark ink and then into Crystal Blue ink and then sprinkled clear embossing powder and heat set to give it a shiny appearance.  I also used a stylus to score the paper at 1/2" and 5/8" from each edge.  The top two layers are popped up with 3D mounting tape.  This is my first time entering this challenge and using the new Artiste cartridge made it so easy and fun to do! 

 

 

Thanks for visiting my blog today--what do you think of my new self made blog button (top right side)? Feel free to copy the code and put it on your blog to easily find me again.
Happy Creating!
:) Marie