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

It's Autumn at Fantabulous Cricut Challenge Blog

Welcome back to another Fantabulous Cricut Challenge blog post where we love to share what we make with our Cricut cartridges!  The current theme is Autumn and I chose to use the Close to My Heart Artfully Sent cartridge to make this beauty:

Close to My Heart products used:

     Artfully Sent cartridge

     Goldrush CS

     Champagne CS

     Barn Red CS (retired)

     Vineyard Berry ink--sponged onto Goldrush CS (retired)

     

Other products:

     Wings of Fire Rhinestones by Studio 18

     Gold Metallic marker by Cricut

The "tree with branches" card from Artfully Sent (pg.11 or #M10114D) was cut from both Champagne and Barn Red CS.  The Barn Red tree trunk was then placed inside the Champagne tree trunk and over the Goldrush CS which was lightly sponged with Vineyard Berry Ink.  I hand wrote the Happy Birthday greeting inside the Goldrush banner with the Metallic Gold Cricut pen.

Since this is a birthday card for my dear sister who loves everything Autumn I'm entering this card into the Seize the Birthday challenge.

We hope that you will visit the Fantabulous Cricut Challenge Blog to see what the other fabulous Designers have made and share YOUR Autumn themed cricut project with us.  You have until Sunday October 25 at 11PM EDT to link up with us here.

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

:) Marie

Starry Birthday Card for Joyful Stars Blog Hop

The Joyful Stars Blog Hop is back in action!  We are a group of Close to My Heart consultants who share something each month on the 9th and at 9PM EST.  If you are coming from Krista Hershberger's blog you are on the right track.  (if you get "lost" along the way visit Joyce's blog for the complete lineup.

My project this month is a "Step Panel Card".  You can find a video tutorial for it here.  It was actually very easy to make.  

Here's a slightly different one.  Which one do you like better?

The "Toppings" option at Seize the Birthday this week is "Splatter" and I feel that the tiny stars are splattered across the top so I'm entering this card into that challenge.

Close to My Heart products used:

     Pacifica CS

     White Daisy CS

     Sapphire CS

     Charming Cascades stamp

     Indian Corn Blue ink (retired)

      Artistry cartridge (pg.17 Background)

      Black and Grey Glitter paper

      Silver Shimmer trim

Next on our blog hop tour is Betty Locco.  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

Paper Garden Silhouette for Friday Mashup #228

Here are two cards I made for this week's Friday Mashup challenge to create a background, use a silhouette or both.  I made it easy for myself by using the pretty "Brushed" paper from last year's Close to My Heart catalog.

Which do you like better?

Close to My Heart products used:

     Brushed paper (retired)

     Black CS

     Memento Tuxedo Black Ink

     Paper Garden stamp (no longer available--Sept. 2015 stamp of the month)

     Sincere Expressions stamp

Other

   Ribbon trims--unknown source

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

:) Marie

Monochromatic Watercolors

The "Can You Case It?" challenge blog has an interesting sketch this week and I used my new watercolor paints from Close to My Heart to make this card:

It needed some more sparkle so I added some sequins:

Which do you like better?

Close to My Heart products used:

     Watercolor paints

      Metallic CS (retired)

      Belated Birthday

      Black Ink

      Versamark Ink

      Clear Detail Embossing Powder

Other products

     Sequins

Are you wondering what the object under Happy Birthday is?  It looks like a crown to me.  It was actually a boo boo which I decided to keep.  I had intended to stamp the word "belated" with a ^ but I put the acrylic stamp on the block backwards and got the "crown".  It works for me and hope it gave you all a good laugh!

Here is the sketch that inspired me:

I'm also entering this into the Hiding in My Craft Room challenge to make something "Monochromatic". 

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

:) Marie

The Male Room Challenge #20 Meets Between the Folds #9 and Seize the Birthday

Between the Folds is a new challenge blog featuring Close to My Heart products which are my favorite products!  This week they are featuring a sketch from the Originals Card Confidence Program.  The theme at The Male Room Challenge Blog this week is Autumn.  Here is the card I came up with:

Close to My Heart products used:

     Saddle CS

     Champagne CS

     Chocolate CS

     Brown and Tan Glitter paper

     Artistry cartridge

     White Pines CS

     Birthday Funnies stamps

     Pathfinding leaf stamp (retired)

     Vineyard Berry Ink (retired)

     Vineyard Berry Ribbon (retired)

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

:) Marie

Color Dare #162 with Brushstrokes

Welcome back to another Color My Heart Color Dare challenge blog post featuring Close to My Heart colors: Hollyhock, Canary,White Daisy, Pear, Glacier.

Watercoloring seems to be a hot trend right now and I took a shortcut to that effect by using the stamp set called Brushstrokes.  I random stamped the background and used a small star punch with White Shimmer Trim for accents.

Close to My Heart products used:
     White Daisy CS
     Hollyhock CS
     Glacier CS
     Canary CS
     Brushstrokes stamp set
     Hollyhock Ink
     Pear Ink
     Canary Ink
     Glacier Ink
     Hello Life--Cardmaking stamp
     White Shimmer Trim

Other products:
     Studio G star punch

Here is the color graphic:

Are you up to this challenge?  If you don't have the exact Close to My Heart colors yet feel free to substitute something similar.  The challenge stays open until Thursday evening, October 8 until 9PM CDT.  We hope to see you in our gallery!

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

:) Marie

La Vie En Rose Meets Friendly Pets with Sunday Stamps Sketch #110

There's a really great sketch over at Sunday Stamps this week and I just had to use the beautiful rose background paper from Close to My Heart to make this card:

Close to My Heart products used:

       La Vie En Rose paper

       White Daisy CS

       Hollyhock CS

       Friendly Pets Stamp

       Say it All Stamp

       Black ink

       Sunflower Marker (retired)

       Hollyhock Marker (retired)

Here's the sketch that inspired me:

       

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

:) Marie

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