More Hexagons for Tuesday Morning Sketch #181 and Make it Monday

I had some leftover hexagon pieces from my last card for Color My Heart Color Dare and they are useful in the Make it Monday with Kraft Outlet Use Your Scraps Challenge this week.  It fits in quite nicely with the Tuesday Morning Sketch #181 and gave me the chance to use Cozy Cat again--he'll appear in the Close To My Heart catalog on February 1.  The greeting is from Hooray Bouquet and the hexagon pieces are from CTMH retired Black Background and Texture paper.  The cat was stamped onto Grey Wool B & T paper and Holiday Red B & T paper and then cut out and lifted up off his pillow with 3D foam dots.

The sketch:

 

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

:) Marie

p.s. don't forget to check out the current color challenge at Color My Heart--black, white and a pop of color (your choice of Close To My Heart colors!)  due Thursday, Jan. 25 at 9pm CT

Color Dare #26--Black, White and a Pop of Color!

Welcome to a new Color My Heart Color Dare Challenge!  Our challenge for Color Dare #26 is to use only Black and White with a "Pop" (meaning small amount) of color.  I've been seeing a lot of cards with hexagons or honeycomb patterns lately and I decided to try using these fun shapes for this challenge.  The Close To My Heart Artiste cricut cartridge has this shape on page 56.  I began my card by cutting 5 of these hexagons from black CS (accent 2 @ .75").  Then I took out some old Black Background and Texture paper and cut a dozen from each of 3 prints (the remaining pieces will be used in other cards).  I attached the black CS panel over a white base and put the right 1.5" through the Cuttlebug using the "Tiny Mosaic Texture" embossing folder so the texture shows through the cutout portion of black CS.  When I had all my pieces cut (Cricut Artiste makes that so easy!) I arranged them to form a honeycomb pattern on top of the black CS.  The "Thinking of You"  greeting is from the 4 My Friend stamp set and was stamped onto a 1.25" hexagon cut from page 56 of the Artiste cartridge again.  This was layered over another hexagon cut out of 1.75" Silver Glitter paper and then over a 2" square of Pacifica CS.  I had a lot of fun putting this together (and using some very old CTMH paper!)

 

I look forward to seeing your creations entered in this week's challenge.  Link up your card or other papercrafted item using Close to My Heart colors to Color My Heart Color Dare by thursday evening, January 25 at 9PM CT.  

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

:) Marie

Masculine Card for Fantabulous Cricut #144 and Try Stampin' on Tuesday

I made this card for my sailor son who is serving in the Persian Gulf  using the Try Stampin' on Tuesday Challenge #101 and I like how it came out.  It was only after I made the card that I found that I could also enter it into Fantabulous Cricut Challenge Me Monday #144--"It's a Man's World".  The diagonal striped patterned paper features Outdoor Denim and Honey colors and is from "Tommy", a new paper packet from Close To My Heart that will be released on February 1.  The anchor is from an old CTMH wood stamp set called "Anchors Away".  The hello greeting is from one of my all time favorite stamp sets which is still available from Close To My Heart called "For Every Occasion".  The Outdoor Denim shape below the Silver Shimmer Trim (colored with a Honey alcohol marker) was cut with the CTMH Artiste cartridge and then cut in half.  I used Accent 4, Shift from page 61 cut at 3.25".  The shape was then run through my Cuttlebug using the "Baby's Breath" embossing folder. Since I am mailing this card I wanted to keep the layers down so instead of tying a ribbon knot as shown on the sketch I used an old ribbon punch and used a hole punch to cut out accents (instead of using gems or brads) from the Silver Shimmer Trim and placed them to the right of the focal point.

 

Here is the Try Stampin' on Tuesday Sketch:

Thanks for stopping by!  Look for my post later this evening with the new Color My Heart Color Dare Challenge.  You still have until 9 PM CT tonight to enter the current challenge of using Close To My Heart colors Indian Corn Blue and Ruby.

Have a wonderful week filled with fun and creativity!
:) Marie

Dynamic Duos #35 with Mojo Monday Sketch #276

Last evening I received some new Close To My Heart papers and stamps and had to use this adorable "Cozy Cat" as soon as I could today.   This happy cat will appear in the new Close To My Heart catalog on February 1 as will the light green Chantilly paper.  Dynamic Duos #35 colors this week are Saffron and Certainly Celery and I substituted CTMH Buttercup and Sweet Leaf.  I really liked the sketch from this week's Mojo Monday #276 and decided to use it.  The cat was stamped twice--once onto Buttercup B&T paper (retired CTMH) and then again on Chantilly (soon to come CTMH).  The cat was popped up from the cushion using 3D Foam Dots. Don't you LOVE how the background circle and border have the same pattern to them?  They were made with the CTMH Artiste cartridge (circle is accent 4 from page 31 cut at 3.5"and the border is accent 4 shift cut at .75".)  I started with a 5" x 6.5" card to accomodate the large circle and trimmed it a bit to have the border end up perfectly on the card.  A tiny drop of Silver Glitz Glitter Gel was applied to the cat's color.  The grey and white twine on the border is from the Baker's Twine Neutral Assortment from Close to My Heart.

Here is the Mojo Monday Sketch:

Here are the Dynamic Duos Colors:

 

If you like color challenges like I do, please come play with us at Color My Heart Color Dare.  This week's colors are Close To My Heart Ruby and Indian Corn Blue--submissions are due Thursday evening at 9PM CT.

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

Feminine Birthday for Numerous Challenges

Here is a card that I made using the sketch from Seize the Birthday #1.  I used Close to My Heart products which include Pemberly workshop on the go stamp set (retired), Hollyhock CS, Hollyhock Ink, Say it in Style stamp set (retired), glitter paper from "Whoo's Your Valentine" January promotion, Hollyhock Alcohol Markers, Topiary Alcohol Markers and Stardust Glitz Glitter Gel.  (Most of these items can be found on my website here.)

 

Here is the sketch that I used:

I am also entering this card into these challenges:

Seize the Birthday #1--Feminine Birthday

Use it Tuesday--sparkle

Catch the Bug --anything birthday

Ooh La La Challenge--birthday
OOZAK--anything goes with pink and bling
Sweet Stamps Blog--anything goes

If you like color challenges like I do, please come play with us at Color My Heart Color Dare.  This week's colors are Close To My Heart Ruby and Indian Corn Blue--submissions are due Thursday evening at 9PM CT.

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

Black Tie Friday's #14 Condolence Challenge using Northridge Publishing Challenge Colors

This card uses Close to My Heart retired colors Kiwi, Heavenly Blue and Grey Wool to closely match the Northridge Publishing January Challenge colors of Chartreuse, Aqua and Light Grey.  The bird is from CTMH "Blessed" stamp set (retired) and the greeting is from CTMH  "4 My Friend".  The Heavenly Blue panel was dry embossed with a Darice embossing folder called "Large Petal".  I am also entering this card into the Black Tie Friday#14 Condolence challenge.  It is also suggested from this site that we actually send the card to the Newtown, CT community at Messages of Condolence, P.O. Box 3700, Newton, CT 06470.  

If you like color challenges like I do, please come play with us at Color My Heart Color Dare.  This week's colors are Close To My Heart Ruby and Indian Corn Blue.

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

Color Dare #25 Ruby and Indian Corn Blue

This is my first week on the Color My Heart Color Dare Design Team and I'm very excited to be sharing this very special card with you. Our colors for the challenge this week are Close To My Heart Ruby and Indian Corn Blue.  This is the first time that I've ever made a step card and I found the basic directions for cutting the base of it here.  It was pretty easy to do and fun to challenge myself with a new card fold.  The patterned paper in the center of the card is from very old CTMH Indian Corn Blue B & T paper.  The stars were cut from the CTMH Art Philosophy cartridge (star5 from page 40) at varying sizes from 1" to 2.5".  Each of the stars was layered with one layer on 3D foam dots to add dimension.  The greeting is from 4 My Friend and was stamped in Ruby ink.  My favorite CTMH embellishment is Stardust Glitz Glitter Gel and I used it for the star centers on the sides of the card and 2 of the stars on the center panel.  The star on the lower left side was stamped with Love Life star stamp.  I used a red button and white twine from the Bakers Twine Neutral Assortment to finish the card.

Here is a side view:

 

Please stop over at Color My Heart Color Dare to see what the rest of the fabulous Design Team have created.  (These are some seriously talented ladies and I'm looking forward to seeing their Ruby and Indian Corn Blue submissions myself!)  We would love for you to play along with us this week too!  The deadline for submitting a papercrafted project (card or otherwise) is Thursday at 9pm CT.

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

:) Marie

 

Whoo's Your Valentine with Sunday Stamps Sketch #30 and Inkspirational Colors #1

As a celebration of National Crafting MonthClose to My Heart is running a special promotion in January for this adorable set of stamps, papers, glittered paper, diecut boxes and treat tubes.  Just spend $35 on anything in the current Idea Book and you qualify to purchase this fun set for just $10.  Please go to my website for more details (if you just have to have it and don't have another CTMH consultant.)

 

These are the adorable stamps in this special promotion:

Here is a card I made following the Sunday Stamps Sketch #30 using the required colors for Inspirational Color Challenge #1 of Kiwi, Black and Dark Pink.  I used Close To My Heart colors of Pear, Black and Pink Carnation (retired) with White Embossing Powder and Black ink for the sentiment.  I've had wiggle eyes in my stash for a long time and was happy to find a good place for them on this adorable owl.

 

 Here is the Sunday Stamps sketch:

Here is the Inkspirational Color Challenge Palette:

 

If you like color challenges come join us at Color My Heart Color Dare!  This week's challenge is to use only Neutral colors from the Close To My Heart Basic color palette and is due thursday evening 9PM CT.

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

:) Marie

My Top Twelve for 2012

Happy New Year Everyone!  Thanks for reading and taking the time to comment on my blog posts.  I've had a lot of fun creating cards, entering them into challenges and blogging about them this past year and I look forward to having even more fun with it this year.  With each card challenge I have stretched myself to create something unique. Today's post is for sharing my favorite creations this past year.  (It was pretty difficult to pick just 12 when I've made 95 blog posts this year!)  You can click on each picture for a link to the blog post where it appeared for further details.  These are listed in near chronological order.

Corner stamp from Rock the Block January 2012 promotion and Art Philosophy window cutout:

I wrote my first tutorial on how to make your own embossing folders using the Art Philosophy cartridge:

Pemberley paper for photo covered tissue box cover with tutorial:

Lagoon, Pacifica, "Potential" and home made bling:

 Roxie get well card made from scraps:

Starburst card using Miracle paper:

Rainbow card with construction wall tape accent:

Congrats card using a recycled envelope as patterned paper:

Artiste cut skeleton on inked dry embossing folder:

Using negative Artiste cut out as Guest Designer for Sunday Stamps color challenge:

Used up some of my stash in this black and gold music themed card:

Quilted card for Color My Heart Color Dare:

Some of my other accomplishments for 2012 were being a Guest Designer for Color My Heart Color Dare (twice) and for Sunday Stamps and writing 95 blog posts in one year!  In January I challenged myself to create something new from the Rock the Block CTMH set and post it for seven consecutive days.  I've discovered many new card challenges from reading what other papercrafters are posting.  In February Terry Ann Diack awarded me the Liebster Award which I had fun passing on to others. I learned how to make a blog button and became a Pinterest viewer and poster.

It has taken me quite awhile to select these projects and post them again here and the experience has been a valuable one for me.  I feel good about the art I have created this year while trying out new techniques and color combinations and the opportunity I have to share it with anyone who is interested. 
 
Thanks for stopping by and for the encouragement that you share with me and others who love papercrafting!  This next year I plan to comment on more blog posts (it's good for me and for others) and have more fun--and I have fun when I am involved creating cards or projects with ink, paper and other tools.

I would love to hear from you if you have time to comment.   Have a year filled with fun and creativity!--that's my plan and I'm sticking to it!


:) Marie

10 Minute or Less Holiday Card for Cas-ual Friday CFC83 and 10 Minute Craft Dash #9

Most of my Christmas cards this year were done with this idea. The challenge this week at Cas-ual Fridays and 10 minute Craft Dash #9 is to make a holiday themed card in 10 minutes or less and this card qualifies. Last year I purchased some glittery poinsettia 12 x 12 scrapbook paper (Recollections brand) on sale at Michaels after the holidays and knew I would use it for something!

 It was too pretty to cover with photos so I cut around the flowers and then glued them on to card bases, added a background silver metallic stripe and a greeting from Close To My Heart stamp set "Wonderful Season', a dot of Buttercup Liquid Pearls and I was done!  Once I had all the supplies out I started the timer and found that it took me only 4 minutes and 19 seconds to make this card from start to finish!

Inside the card reads "a Merry Little Christmas".  Because there are so many different sized poinsettias on this paper I was able to make a variety of different cards.

     


Thanks for stopping by!  Wishing you a wonderful new year filled with fun and creativity!
:) Marie

Ellie's Birthday Card Using Try Stampin' on Tuesday Sketch

My wonderful niece Ellie turns 14 on Thursday, January 3rd and I made her a special card.  I followed the Try Stampin' on Tuesday sketch and used some new and old Close To My Heart products and a Cuttlebug folder. After the Cotton Candy CS was embossed it was distressed with a sanding block from the CTMH Sanding Kit.  I used the Artiste cartridge to cut the numbers from the new Glitter paper available February 1st or in the December--January Who's Your Valentine special promotion available now.  The paper is from Close To My Heart Sweetheart paper packet (retired).  I also used the Artiste cartridge to cut the Accent 4 frame from page 60 at 3".  The edges of the frame were lightly distressed with Slate ink and a Round Sponge.  3D Foam Tape was used to raise the frame up from the rest of the card.  The silver stripe on the bottom is Silver Shimmer Trim which is backed with adhesive to make it really easy to apply.

The sketch from Try Stampin' on Tuesday:

 
 Ellie likes to play in my craft room when she comes to visit and I think she will like this card.
Thanks for stopping by!   Have a wonderful new year filled with fun and creativity!
:) Marie

Color Dare #23--Sky and Gypsy--A Tribute to Toby

This week I have the honor of being a guest designer for Color My Heart Color Dare #23--Sky and Gypsy.  (You can view my winning entry that earned me this spot here.)  Last week my local quilt store closed it's doors forever and I wanted to do something special for it's owner, Toby, who has decided to retire and enjoy her new grandchild.  I have been wanting to make a card with a quilting theme for a long time and thought these colors would work together nicely in this format.  The CTMH patterned paper that I used was from Believe (blue with dots), Hooligans (darker purple--Gypsy and outside lighter purple scalloped edged border) and Magnifique (light blue squares in the center).  I also created my own "fabrics" by stamping images from the Love Life set with Sky and Gypsy inks.  The light purple center squares were made with a sponge and Gypsy ink.  I chose this particular quilt pattern because it was very similar to a pattern made by the quilt store owner called "Namchee Bazaar"--there were even smaller 1/2 square triangles and squares that I eliminated to make it easier to do.   Here is a helpful hint--when assembling these small pieces--glue them on to a piece of grid paper.  (The grid paper I used had 1/2" squares).   After I had all my pieces glued down I used a dry embossing folder by Darice (Plaid) and my Cuttlebug machine to add some texture.  The greeting is from the For Every Occasion set and was stamped in Versamark ink and Gypsy ink and then clear embossed.

This card truly was a labor of love and appreciation for all the wonderful times I spent sharing my love of quilting at Toby's store and all the inspiration I found there with all the people who worked there.

Thanks for stopping by!  Please consider joining in on the challenge this week at Color My Heart.  Have a wonderful week filled with fun and creativity!
:) Marie

Color Dare #22 Twilight and Sweet Leaf

Twilight is one of my favorite Close To My Heart colors and it is featured in this week's Color My Heart Color Dare paired with Sweet Leaf.  The Twilight strips on my card are from the Florentine paper pack (retiring Jan.31).  The stamp is from the December Stamp of the Month called Year Round Cheer.  I used a 2.25" circle punch to cut into the Twilight paper and then stamped the image in Twilight ink onto the Sweet Leaf base.  Embellishments I used are Silver Shimmer Trim, Stardust Glitz Glitter Gel and a Silver Metallic pen. All products are available on my website through links provided here.

If you want to see other examples of these two colors together please check out these links:  Baroque Borders, and  Rock the Block sympathy card,



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

Artiste Cut Gift Card Holder Using Freshly Made Sketch #65

I've been making cards that will hold gift cards for my teenaged nieces and nephews for Christmas and have been having fun using the Close To My Heart Artiste cartridge to do so. I followed the Freshly Made Sketch #65--love their sketches!  The scalloped edged card was cut at 5" and can be found on page 55 of the Artiste handbook.  I used a double sided paper that was given to me as a gift many years ago.  The patterned paper is old CTMH Holiday Red B&T paper.  The tree is from Christmas Love and was stamped onto Sunny Yellow CS (now retired) in Topiary ink and embellished with my favorite accent--Stardust Glitz Glitter gel.  The Merry Christmas greeting is also from Christmas Love and stamped in Topiary ink.  A strip of Topiary CS goes under the tree.  I used Buttercup Liquid Pearls to color in the yellow star at the top of the tree.

It was very easy to assemble this card.  Here are pictures of the inside including the bank gift card.

This greeting is from a very old rubber mounted CTMH greeting set called Christmas Fun Set.

This greeting is from the October 2012 Stamp of the Month set called Very Merry Christmas.
I'm also entering this card into the Forever Friends Fortnightly Challenge (Christmas theme), Exploring Cricut "It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year" and Top Tip Tuesday (Anything Christmas theme with special rules).

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

Dynamic Duos #33 Black, Gold with a Music Option

I was intrigued by the Dynamic Duos #33 challenge to combine black and gold with a music option so I made this card.  I used Close To My Heart products 4 My Friend and Universal Backgrounds stamp sets, Gold Embossing powder, Metallic papers (retired) and Black and White Daisy papers and Black ink   The hearts were made with a small punch.

  I am also entering this card into the following challenges :
 Seize the Birthday Linky Party #1

and Black Tie Fridays #13 to use glitter. (I think metallic papers and gold embossing powder qualify).








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