Postcard Perfect Birthday Card with Atlantic Hearts Sketch #481

 Welcome back to another Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge blog post!  This week our sketch features a central panel with circular element and shorter tabs on top and bottom. The pretty patterned paper on my card is from CTMH retired "Postcard Perfect", Sunset Ink, Polysparkle Tinsel Embossing Powder, Tags and Tabs Thin Cut, Finding the Words "Happy", With All My Love "Birthday".  The circular frame is from Stampin' Up's Starry Scribbles dies and the orange metallic foil paper is from DCWV.

 

Here is our fabulous sketch that inspired my card layout and for you to try.  Our challenge is open until Sunday evening, July 17 and you can link up your project here.  We look forward to visiting your blogs and leaving some bloggy comment love. Please stop by our blog on Wednesday to see what the rest of the talented Design Team has to inspire you.

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

     Seize the Birthday #242--Metallic

     Creative Fingers #235--Anything Goes

     Inspiration Station #33--Celebrate! (I'm inspired by the                     birthday candles so I made a birthday card)

 

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

:) Marie

 

p.s. If you like what you see on my blog please consider "following" me by email or in your blog roll so you don't miss out on any of my fabulous card making ideas. You can sign up on the right sidebar.

9 Paneled Card with Blossom Paper and Just Add Ink Sketch #543

 The sketch over at Just Add Ink really appealed to me so I decided to use this pretty patterned paper to create a Get Well Card.

Close to my Heart products used:

     Blossom Paper

     Sunset Card Stock

     Sunset Ink

     Winged Masterpiece (small flower and sentiment)

Here is the fabulous Just Add Ink sketch:

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

      Try it on Tuesday--Say it with Flowers

      Crafter's Castle--Anything Goes

      Crafty Sentiments Designs--Anything Goes

      The Spot #152--Photo Inspiration:

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

:) Marie

p.s. If you like what you see on my blog please consider "following" me by email or in your blog roll so you don't miss out on any of my fabulous card making ideas. You can sign up on the right sidebar.

Haunted House Card for Color Dare #217

Welcome back to another Color My Heart Color Dare challenge blog post!  This week we invite you to use all and only these colors:  Sweet Leaf, Sunset, Black and White Daisy.  (If you don't have these Close to My Heart colors yet feel free to substitute something similar so that you can still play along!)

My card was so easy to make!  I just went to Design Space, found my Artfully Sent cartridge, slid the papers and mats into the Cricut Explore and glued the pieces together.  So simple!

Close to My Heart products used:

     Artfully Sent Cartridge (recently retired)

     Black CS

     Sunset CS (recently retired)

     Sweet Leaf CS

     White Daisy CS

     Say it All stamp (recently retired)

     Sunset Ink

     Clear Shimmer Brush (applied to the moon)

     Black Marker (color bats over the moon)

Here is the Color My Heart Color Dare graphic. (Just click on it to see what the rest of the fabulous Design Team has to share).  We would love for you to join us in our gallery.

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

     Sunny Day Crafting--Anything Goes

     Hanna and Friends #260--Halloween/Autumn

     Star Stampz--Halloween

     Fab n Funky Challenges #324--Halloween

     Simon Says Wednesday Challenge--Anything Goes

     Die Cutting Divas--Halloween

     Craft Cardmakers--Things That Go Bump in the Night

     Paper Girls #114--Halloween

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

:) Marie

     

Hooray Bouquet for Color Dare #199

Welcome back to another Color My Heart Color Dare challenge blog post. This week we have a 4 color challenge--Pacifica, Sunset, Cranberry and White Daisy.  My flowers were cut with the soon to retire CTMH Art Philosophy cartridge and stamped with the soon to retire Hooray Bouquet stamp set.

Close to My Heart products used:

     Pacifica CS

     Cranberry CS

     Sunset Ink

     Cranberry Ink

     White Daisy CS

     Art Philosophy cartridge

     Hooray Bouquet stamp set

     White Shimmer Trim

     3D Foam Tape

Here is the Color Graphic for Color Dare #199.  Just click on it to get to our challenge blog to be inspired by the rest of the fabulous Design Team.  We would like you to use all and only these colors but if you don't have these Close to My Heart colors yet you may substitute with similar colors.

My card layout was inspired by this fabulous sketch from Freshly Made Sketches #242:

I'm also adding this card to the Simon Says Stamp Shimmer challenge.

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

:) Marie

Color Dare #164 Meets Global Design Project #006 and Can You Case It Halloween Theme

Welcome back to another Color My Heart Color Dare challenge post!  There are 6 colors for this week's challenge:

I found a new blog challenge called Global Design Project and decided to combine these two challenges with a Halloween theme.

Close to My Heart products used:

     Whisper CS

     Pear CS

     Sunset CS

     Sunset Ink

     Spellbound paper zip strip (retired)

     Slate CS

     Eggplant CS

     Confetti Stars embossing folder

     Love Ya Silly Stamp

     Sunset Ink

     Say it All stamp

     Black Ink

     Stardust Glitz Glitter Gel (retired) on embossed stars

     My Legacy Writer Black Pen .03 (retired) to outline monster     

Here is the Global Design Project Sketch #006 that inspired me:

I'm also entering this Halloween card into the Can You Case It? Halloween challenge this week.

Will you be able to take the Color Dare challenge this week?  If you don't have the exact Close to My Heart colors listed you may substitute similar colors.  Just have fun with it!  Link up your papercrafted creation here by Thursday evening, October 22 at 9PM CDT.  

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

:) Marie

Use Your Stash Blog Hop--Use an Uninked Stamp

Welcome back to another Use Your Stash Blog Hop!  We are a group of Close to My Heart consultants who are trying to use up what we have.  Our theme this month is "If you stamp it, they will love it!" and we are using stamps we have not yet used or loved.   If you are coming from Michelle Loncar's blog you are on the right track.

My card features stamps from the Blossom Cardmaking Kit which I purchased several months ago but had not yet created anything with them.

I followed the Technostamper's 1st and 3rd Monday Lunchtime Sketch #363 to make this card.

Close to My Heart products used:

     Blossom Paper

     Sunset CS

     Blossom Cardmaking Kit stamps

     Sunset Ink

     Lagoon Ink

     3D Foam Tape

     Stardust Glitz Glitter Gel (retired)

The next stop on our blog hop is Casandra Bennett's blog.  I'm sure you will love what she has to share.

Our Blog Hop Coordinator, Shirley Ross, has also asked us to share stamp storage ideas.  Here are a few pictures of my stamp organizational process but I have to admit I need more SPACE!

Some of my old Close to My Heart stamp sets (pre My Acrylix) are stored on this book shelf.  The cabinet to the left holds lots of paper and there are lots of supplies in plastic shoeboxes.

Some of my old Close to My Heart stamps (pre My Acrylix) are contained within these cabinet drawers that I purchased at IKEA about 17 years ago.  On top of the cabinet are plastic shoeboxes with CTMH My Acrylix organized alphabetically.  (My most recent acquisitions are not filed alphabetically and are stored together in a big plastic container).   There is one CTMH box labeled Christmas.  Above the cabinets and plastic shoeboxes is an old wooden casette display cabinet that is overflowing with Close to My Heart stamp pads.  (I've collected quite a few over the 18+ years I've been a consultant!)

Several years ago, my best stamping buddy Arlene, made me this binder to help me be able to see what stamps I have to choose from.  Previously I stamped all the sets in black but this summer I decided I would choose one of the newly released colors (Thistle) so I would be better able to see what the current stamp sets are.

Here is a picture of the outside of the binder that was stamped with Close to My Heart stamps:

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

:) Marie

Finding the Words with Blossom Paper for AHSC #108

Welcome back to another Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge blog post.  My card features some new Close to My Heart items.

The Close to My Heart Seasonal Expressions 2 catalog features a beautiful new paper pack called "Blossom" and a wonderful new stamp set that features words to make dozens of greetings.  It is called "Finding the Words" and it is a very versatile stamp set.

Close to My Heart products used:

     White Daisy CS

     Lagoon CS

     Blossom paper

     Art Philosophy cartridge frame cuts

     Finding the Words stamp set

     Lagoon Ink

     Sunset Ink and sponge dauber

     Teal Shimmer Trim

Here is Atlantic Hearts Sketch #108:

  

Please stop by the Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge and check out what the rest of the Design Team has done with this sketch.  We would love to have you join us in our gallery.

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

:) Marie

     

Using My Stash for Atlantic Hearts Sketch #106

Welcome back to another Atlantic Hearts Sketch challenge blog post!  This week's sketch has some interesting layers.  Cas-ual Fridays is celebrating their 4th birthday so I used their color scheme (Black, White, Turquoise and Orange).  My favorite turquoise paper is called "Tropical Blue" by Close to My Heart and was retired many years ago.

Close to My Heart products used:

     White Daisy CS

     Black CS

     Dotty for You paper (retired)

     Tropical Blue B & T paper (retired)

     Belated Birthday stamps

     Sunset Ink

     Black Ink

     3D Foam Tape

Other products:

    Ribbon--unknown source

    Frost Glitter Glue by Recollections

As I was making this card I was debating whether or not to add the black and white ribbon.  Here is a photo of my card before I added the ribbon:

My preference is the card with the ribbon?  Which one do you like better?

I'm also entering this card into the current Seize the Birthday challenge.

Below is the Atlantic Hearts Sketch #106 that I used to make this card.  We hope that you will find time to create with it and share it with us here.  The Design Team always does an amazing job so you should definitely check it out.

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

:) Marie

Happy Thanksgiving with Addicted to CAS Sketch

Happy Thanksgiving to you!  I was inspired to make some cards using the Addicted to CAS Sketch:

Close To My Heart products used:

     Pathfinding Paper

     Barn Red CS

     Chocolate CS

     Sunset CS

     Sunset Ink

     Holiday Tags stamp

Other:

     Gold Sparkles

Close To My Heart products used:

     Huntington paper (retired)

     Autumn Terracotta CS

     Barn Red CS

     Autumn Terracotta CS

     Holiday Tags

Both of these Close to My Heart patterned papers are so beautiful--I can't decide which card I like better?  Which one do you prefer?

Here is the Addicted to CAS sketch:

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

:) Marie

Color Dare #116--Thistle and Sunset with Case This Sketch #97

Color My Heart Color Dare has the perfect color challenge as we approach Halloween.  Color Dare #116 is Thistle and Sunset.

My card follows the Case This Sketch #97 challenge.

   

Close To My Heart products used:

    Thistle Ink

    Sunset Ink

    Spellbound paper (retired)

    Spider Web stamp (old wood stamp--long ago retired)

    Spider (old wood stamp--long ago retired)

The background texture was created with a bunched up piece of Saran Wrap and Sunset Ink.

I'm also entering this card into a new challenge blog I found called The Paper Plunge.

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

:) Marie

Sunday Stamps Colors Meets a Freshly Made Sketch

Welcome back to another Sunday Stamps Color Challenge post!  This week we are challenging you to use some fall colors along with turquoise.  For my card I used the Close To My Heart colors Sunset, Canary, Crystal Blue and Cranberry.

This color graphic inspired me to go with a fall themed card.  

Close To My Heart products used:

    Sunset CS

    Canary CS

    Cocoa CS

    Crystal Blue CS

    Sunset Ink

    Canary Ink

    Cranberry Ink

Other products:

    Fiskars punch

    Gold Sparkles

    Darice Foliage Embossing Folder

    Paintbrush

    Ranger Craft Pen Nibs    

How did I color the Crystal Blue panel with embossed leaves?  First I placed an acrylic block into one of the three ink colors used and spritzed with water.  I then used a paintbrush to color the leaves with the inked up acrylic block and used a Craft Pen Nib dipped in the same ink to ink the veins and outside edges.

This is the Freshly Made Sketch that I used:

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, October 31 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.  Holly, Alyson, Brenda, Steph, Angel,Leena and Kathya.

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

:) Marie

Cuddly Sensations and Artfully Sent for Color Dare #115

Welcome back to another Color My Heart Color Dare challenge post!  Can you believe that this is challenge #115?  This week we are challenging you to use the following three Close To My Heart colors:  Outdoor Denim, Olive and Sunset.

You may substitute similar colors if you don't have these CTMH colors yet and you may combine them with neutrals such as black, white, colonial white, greys and tans).

Close To My Heart products used:

     Artfully Sent Cricut cartridge (Swing Card and wreath at 5.5")

     Olive CS

     Outdoor Denim CS

     Colonial White CS

     Dotty for You paper (retired)

     Olive Ink

     Sunset Ink

     Have a Happy Day stamp set

     Cuddly Sensations (Hostess Reward Stamp Set)

Other products:

     Orange Gel pen (to fill in letters cut into Dotty for You paper)

We would love to see you enter our color challenge by linking up here.  You have until Thursday, October 24 9PM CT to enter.  There are several blog badges to be won along with a prize to one randomly drawn entry every month. 

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

:) Marie

     

Fall Colors for Color Dare #110

Welcome back to another Color My Heart Color Dare challenge post.  This week we invite you to create something using the following Close To My Heart colors: Sunset, Honey and Barn Red.

I couldn't resist making a card with an autumn theme with these fabulous colors!

Close To My Heart products used:

      Barn Red CS

      White Daisy CS

      Olivia paper (retired)

      Bamboo Ink--sponged onto the White Daisy CS

      Barn Red Ink

      Honey CS

      Sunset Ink

      Flourished Blessings leaf stamp (retired)

      Pathfinding Cardmaking kit stamps--thanks and woodgrain stamps

      Bronze shimmer trim--cut with a 1/4" hole punch for embellishments

I followed the Freshly Made Sketch #152 to make this card.

This card is also being entered into the Friday Mashup FM177 Leaf Theme.

There is a photo inspiration for Add a Little Dazzle that I'm sharing my card with:

We would love to have you play along with our challenge!  You may substitute similar colors if you don't have these Close To My Heart colors yet and you may combine them with neutrals such as black, white, beige, greys and tans.  

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

:) Marie

      

Artiste Cut Feathers for Color Dare #105

Welcome back to another Color My Heart Color Dare blog post where we challenge you to use Close To My Heart colors. We're looking ahead to Fall with this color scheme:  Sunset, Pear and Barn Red.

You must use all 3 of these colors in your papercrafted creation (it doesn't have to be a card!).  You may also combine your project with neutral colors such as white, black, greys, tans.  If you don't have CTMH colors yet you may substitute with a similar color.

Close To My Heart products used:

     Barn Red CS

     Sunset CS

     Pear CS

     White Daisy CS

     Black CS

     Artiste cartridge

     Artbooking cartridge

     Dot Embossing Folder

     Pear Ink

     Baker's Twine Paradise Assortment

     Barn Red Ink and sponge dauber for feathers

The feathers were cut from White Daisy CS with the Artiste cricut cartridge.  (pg. 78 Accent 3 shift 1 at 2.75" and 2 at 2.5").  I then sponged Barn Red ink on the feathers.  Hello is found on page 39 of the Artbooking cricut cartridge book and was cut at .5".

The dotted embossed squares were colored by painting Pear ink (ink an acrylic block and then spritz with water) onto the negative area of the embossing folder.  Squares were cut out after the paper was embossed.

Check out what the fabulous Color My Heart Color Dare Design Team has to inspire you. You have until Thursday, August 14 at 9 PM CT to enter your papercrafted creation here.  We look forward to visiting your blogs and seeing what you create with the colors Sunset, Pear and Barn Red.

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

:) Marie

     

     

Color Dare #95--Two Greens and an Orange and Blog Candy Alert

Welcome back to another Color My Heart Color Dare post!  This is Color Dare #95 and we are challenging you to create something using the following Close To My Heart colors:  Sunset, Olive and Lagoon.  (Of course you may substitute similar colors if you don't have the exact CTMH colors).

I must admit that I struggled with this color combination and that is why there is so little Lagoon on this card.  

My card follows this week's Try Stampin' on Tuesdays sketch challenge #168.  Here is the sketch:

I'm also entering this card in the Heart 2 Heart challenge "In the Garden" theme.

Close To My Heart products used:

     Sunset CS

     Olive CS

     White Daisy CS

     Black CS

     Olive ink

     Sunset Ink

     Lagoon Houndstooth Washi Tape

     Silver Geometric Washi Tape

     Happy Autumn stamp set

     Sanding Kit

    

Other products:

     Cuttlebug Pinking Stitch Embossing Folder

Check out what the fabulous Color My Heart Color Dare Design Team  has to inspire you.  You have until Thursday, May 29 9PM CT to enter your papercrafted creation here.  We look forward to visiting your blogs and seeing what you create with the colors Sunset, Lagoon and Olive.

This weekend I will be participating in Operation Write Home Memorial Day Weekend Blog Hop and have something to give away to a lucky blog follower.

BLOG CANDY GIVEAWAY DETAILS:

In celebration of our military heroes (proud Navy mom here) I'm offering a prize to one lucky person whose name will be picked at random.  The prize is this beautiful new Close To My Heart stamp set called Sweet Life. (It is no longer available from CTMH)

To be eligible to win you must:

--Become a follower of my blog AND

--Write a comment on my 5/24/ 2014 Operation Write Home post indicating you are a blog follower

--Deadline to comment on my 5/24/14 blog post is midnight EST, May 31st, 2014

Thanks for stopping by!  Have a wonderful week filled with fun and creativity!  Good luck in the prize drawing!

:) Marie