Cyber Monday Offer from Close To My Heart!

Please tell Santa!

Cyber Monday Only: 20% Off All Cricut®Collections! For the first time ever, Close To My Heart is offering a Cyber Monday Sale on Monday, December 1, 2014. There has never been a better time to buy Close To My Heart’s exclusive Cricut® Collections for 20% off the retail price. Whether you love scrapbooking, cardmaking, or creating 3-D projects, our four exclusive Cricut® collections make the perfect addition to any craft room! Sale starts at midnight (MST) on December 1 and ends at 11:59 pm Monday night. Make sure you share the news about this sale with all your customers, friends, and family , too! You and your customers will be able to take advantage of this special deal on your Online Business Address (OBA) as well as in Order Entry. Orders placed in Order Entry and on your OBA must be submitted between 12:00 am and 11:59 pm (MST) on Monday, December 1 in order to get the discount on your selected Cricut® collections. Enjoy extra savings on Close To My Heart's exclusive Cricut® collections this Cyber Monday! Here are some things about each of the Close To My Heart Cricut collections: Art Philosophy--Over 700 images with card layers (comes with 3 stamp sets and 3 sheets of dimensional elements) Artiste--this features many 3D items such as boxes in various shapes and themes and swing cards       (comes with 3 stamp sets and 3 sheets of dimensional elements) Artbooking--this features many things that go with scrapbooking such as beautiful page overlays and mini        album pages  (comes with 3 stamp sets and 3 sheets of dimensional elements) Artfully Sent--this features pop-up card insides and envelopes (comes with 3 stamp sets and 25 sheets of      12 x 12 white paper) You can reach my shopping site here. (If you place an order please join it to the Marie's Cyber Monday Cricut Special Gathering located under the big picture on the home page.) I hope you can take advantage of this one day only sale! Thanks for stopping by!  Have a wonderful week filled with fun and creativity! :) Marie

Musical Banners for Sunday Stamps #90

Welcome back to another Sunday Stamps challenge post.  This card was made for my son's birthday so I went with a music theme.  He is quite a proficient musician and plays violin, keyboard and guitar and I'm very proud of him.

Here is the Sunday Stamps sketch I followed:

  

Close To My Heart products used:

     Yuletide Paper

     White Daisy CS

     Saddle CS

     Black CS

     Black Marker to draw in violin neck and pegs

Other products:

     Quarter Note cricut cartridge

     Black Tie Glitter paper by Core'dinations

     Computer printing of greeting

 

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

We can't wait to see what you create using this sketch!   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 sketch graphic too to let your readers know about our challenge.)  You have until Friday, December 12 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, Brenda, Steph, Angel, Kathya, Alyson and Leena.

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

:) Marie

Please check out this post including a special offer Cyber Monday only offer from Close To My Heart!

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

Christmas Cards Using Case This Sketch #100

The Case This Sketch challenge this week inspired me to make these two cards using different techniques.  The one on the left was paper pieced and the one of the right was masked and sprayed with Gold Perfect Pearls Mist.

The first card uses the following Close To My Heart products: White Daisy CS, Mistletoe paper (retired), Whisper CS, Cranberry ink, All the Best stamp (retired), PolysparkleTinsel Embossing powder (retired), Holiday Tags stamp, Metallics Markers--silver.

The second card uses the following Close To My Heart products:  White Daisy CS, Christmas Love (retired), Cranberry Ink.  The background was created by masking the bottom triangle and spraying the card with Gold Perfect Pearls Mist.

I'm not sure which card I like better--which one do you like best?  Both of these cards went together very quickly using this fabulous sketch:

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

:) Marie

Sunday Stamps Color Challenge #89

Welcome back to another Sunday Stamps challenge post.  This fortnight we are challenging you to use these colors:  Plum, Lavender & Vanilla.  (Close To My Heart would be Gypsy, Smokey Plum and Colonial White;  SU would be Perfect Plum, Wisteria Wonder and Very Vanilla).

Close To My Heart products used:
     Gypsy CS
     Colonial White CS
     Black CS
     Smokey Plum Fleurs des Jardines paper (retired)
     Smokey Plum Ink
     Gypsy Ink
     Sponge Daubers

Other products:
      Feathers Embossing Folder by Elizabeth Craft Design
      Flower by Recollections

I followed the Freshly Made Sketch #162.

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, November 28 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

Aged to Perfection for Friday Mashup #186

If you are looking for the Color My Heart Color Dare challenge post please go here.

There is always an interesting challenge at the Friday Mashup and I play along whenever I have the chance.  This week we are asked to follow the sketch, or use an "unexpected element" or "mash it up" and combine both.  I went with "mash it up" and I must admit that I've never seen my "unexpected element" (cork slices) on a card before and who knows, maybe I'll start a new trend!

This card was made for a wine loving friend and has a greeting similar to one of my all time favorite sayings "Like fine wine, improving with age."

Close To My Heart products used:

     Smokey Plum CS

     White Daisy CS

     Black Ink

     3D Foam Tape

     Shin Han Touch Markers--Lavender, Sap Green and Pastel Peach

     White Embossing Powder (retired)

Other products:

     Aged to Perfection stamp set by Fiskars

     Used Cork--sliced

Let me know what you think of my new embellishment idea.

This is the challenge graphic from the Friday Mashup:

This was a really fun sketch to work with!  Many thanks to Holly and the Design Team for providing such fun challenges!  I would love to be part of this Design Team.

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

:) Marie

Silver Ornaments and Blue for Merry Monday Christmas Challenge #134

If you are looking for the Color My Heart Color Dare challenge post please go here.

This Christmas card was inspired by this week's Merry Monday Christmas Challenge #134.  The challenge is to use Blue, Ornaments and Silver/Grey.

This card came together very quickly using the Artbooking cartridge!

Close To My Heart products used:

     Pacifica CS

     Holiday Tags

     Pacifica Ink

     Artbooking Cricut Cartridge (pg. 75 overlay shift cut at 5.5")

     Silver Metallic paper (retired)

     3D Foam Tape

Here is the Merry Monday challenge graphic:

I strongly encourage you to check out this challenge--the Design Team did an awesome job and the work of the challenge participants is outstanding!  You will be inspired!

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

:) Marie

Artfully Sent Card for Color My Heart Color Dare #119 and Stampin' Royalty #254

Welcome back to another Color My Heart Color Dare challenge post!  This week we invite you to use the Close To My Heart colors  Smokey Plum, Hollyhock and Olive.  (if you don't have these exact colors you may substitute similar colors along with adding neutrals such as black, white, beiges, greys).

Close To My Heart products used:
     Artfully Sent Cricut cartridge
     Champagne CS
     Hollyhock CS
     Olive CS
     Smokey Plum Fleurs des Jardines paper (retired)
     Casual Expressions stamp

I'm also entering this card into the Stampin' Royalty "Be Thankful" challenge and The Paper Plunge "Grateful" challenge.

Now it's your turn to play with these fun colors.   Please visit our challenge blog to see what the rest of the Design Team has created and then link up your papercrafted creation with a direct link here.  Hope to see you in our gallery!
   

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

:) Marie

Feel Better Soon for Just Add Ink #238

There is a wonderful sketch at Just Add Ink that I just had to try.  The recipient of this card is a fan of the color purple.

Close To My Heart products used:

      Amethyst CS (retired)

      Summer Carnival B & T paper (retired)

      Hydrangea Ink (retired)

      Artiste cartridge to cut the mat for the greeting

      

Other

    Feel Better Soon stamp from Studio G

Here is the sketch:

     

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

:) Marie

    

Snowhaven Paper for Sunday Stamps Sketch #88

Welcome back to another Sunday Stamps Challenge post!  We have a really fun sketch for you to work with--will you use up some paper scraps or use washi for the background?

Close to My Heart has a wonderful winter holiday paper called Snowhaven which has a sheet of various stripes.  I cut it up and used it for my background.  The framed polar bear is from the CTMH October Stamp of the Month called Home for the Holidays.  I really enjoyed using this sketch!

Close to My Heart products used:

     Snowhaven Paper

     Black CS

     Home for the Holidays stamp

     Artfully Sent stamp set--Just to Say...

     Ruby ink

     Glacier ink

     Bakers' Twine Neutral Assortment

     Black Marker

Other Products used:

    Wink of Stella pen (on snowflakes and red scarf)

We can't wait to see what you create using this sketch!   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 sketch graphic too to let your readers know about our challenge.)  You have until Friday, November 14 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, Brenda, Steph, Angel, Kathya, Alyson and Leena.

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

:) Marie

Freshly Made Sketch #160

If you are looking for this week's Color My Heart Color Dare card please go here.

I love the simplicity of this week's Freshly Made Sketch #160.  This card came together very quickly for me.

Close To My Heart products used:

     Balloon Ride paper--retired

     Yuletide Paper

     Pacifica CS

     Saddle CS

     Ruby CS

     Artiste Cricut cartridge

     Snowhaven heart stamp

     You Mean the World To Me stamp set

     Ruby CS

     3D Foam Tape

This is the Freshly Made Sketch I followed:

I'm also entering this into a new challenge that I recently found that requires at least 1 Close To My Heart product.  The challenge is Take Heart Ideas and the theme is Anything Goes.

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

:) Marie

Aged to Perfection...for Stampin' Royalty #252

If you are looking for the recent pick your own Orange Color Dare post please go here.

Here is a special birthday card I made using the Stampin' Royalty sketch #252:

Close To My Heart products used:

     Black Ink

     Smokey Plum CS

     Olive CS

     Olive Fleur des Jardines paper--retired

     Bamboo CS

     Saddle Ink

     Black Ink

     Shin Han Touch Markers--Lavender, Sap Green, Pastel Peach

     3D Foam Tape

   

Other products:

     Corks Embossing Folder by Darice

     Aged to Perfection stamp set by Fiskars

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

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

:) Marie

Color Dare #117--Pick Your Own CTMH Orange!

Welcome back to another Color My Heart Color Dare post!  Which Close To My Heart Orange will you choose?  We challenge you to select just one orange from the Close To My Heart palette (Sunset, Sorbet, Autumn Terracotta or Goldrush) which you can combine with neutrals such as tans, greys, white, black and browns.

My card features the Close To My Heart color Autumn Terracotta. (You may substitute similar colors if you don't have any of these CTMH colors yet).

Close To My Heart products used:

     Champagne CS

     Chocolate CS

     Autumn Terracotta CS

     Colonial White CS

     Holiday Tags stamp set

     Season of Thanks

     Chocolate Ink

     Autumn Terracotta Ink

     Artiste cartridge to cut jigsaw panel (pg. 57 Accent 1 Shift cut at 2.5" 3 times in 3 papers)

     Bakers' Twine Neutral Assortment

     3D Foam Tape

     

I am also entering this card into the following challenges:

     HIMCR (Hiding in My Craft Room)--any holiday

     Card Concept--Thank "Fall"--"Clean and Layering"

     Take Heart Challenges--Anything Goes--include one CTMH item

Come check out what the Color Dare Design Team has created.  We would love to see you enter our color challenge by linking up here.  You have until Thursday, November 6 at 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

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

Creative Blogger Tour, Gelato Galaxy Card and Giveaway!

Don't you love getting good news from an unexpected source?  That's what happened to me two weeks ago when the super talented Jody Gustafson emailed me to nominate me for the "Creative Blogger Award"!  I've always had tremendous respect and admiration for Jody's artwork and first became aware of her through the Color My Heart Color Dare blog where she would participate in so many of our challenges--being selected as a winner numerous times.  Thank you, Jody, for inviting me to join this group of Close To My Heart consultants.  I am humbled and honored to be among this amazing group of talented women.  Here are links for you to check out many of the other women who have been part of this Creative Blogger Tour.

    Jody Gustafson

    Amy Moore

    Karen Day

    Brenda Rose

    Vicki Wizniuk

    Kelly Janes

    Amie Kiger

    Katy Donaldson Taylor

Creative Blogger is a chain of blog hop tours.  Each invited member answers the same four questions and then passes on the nomination to someone else.  I'm sure you will find lots of inspiration in the above blogs.

What am I currently working on?

It seems I've always got several projects in my head and on my crafting table. As a member of the Color My Heart Color Dare and Sunday Stamps Design Teams I am often working on upcoming challenges. I also have ongoing scrapbooking projects. (My grandson's scrapbook is done in Studio J and my sister's scrapbook is done in an 8.5 x 11 format so I can color copy pages for my other siblings.) Since Halloween is quickly approaching I've just completed a "Card in a Box" for my grandson using cuts from Artfully Sent and Artbooking.  (Paper is retired "Spellbound" with a Champagne back panel.  Ghosts were cut from Artfully Sent Envelope Liner #8 cut at 9".  Bats were cut from Artiste at .75" and 1".  The skulls were cut from Artiste at 1.75")  I'm also entering this card into the Cardz4Guys  and The Male Room Halloween theme challenge.

Here is another one that I made for him but haven't posted yet featuring cut out computer images of his favorite Transformers (Optimus Prime, Bumblebee, Chase and Heatwave Autobots).

Other projects that I'm working on are Christmas cards and a collection of cards to donate to Operation Write Home.

How does my work differ from others in its genre?

I'm not sure how my artwork differs from others. I do like clean lines, some paper layering and trying new products and techniques. Here is a new technique I just learned from the Friday Mashup Challenge called "Galaxy" in which I used Gelatos as watercolors to create this unique background.

My "Gelato Galaxy" technique involved scribbling with various Gelatos on a craft sheet, spritzing with water and then dragging a piece of watercolor paper over it.  I used a heat tool to dry the paper in between layers of colors.  I tried to create a "moon" in the bottom right corner by removing some color with a wet paintbrush.  Lastly I flicked tiny drops of Pearl Paint form an old toothbrush and then added the sentiment from the Close To My Heart retired "Mad About You" stamp set in Thistle ink.  (Outdoor Denim CS and Silver Shimmer Trim were also used on this card).

                                                    Why do I create what I do?

The main reason why I create cards and scrapbook pages is because I enjoy it!  If I go more than 3 days without making something I start to feel a bit out of sorts. A few hours in my craft room and a completed project and then I feel "complete" again. I get a lot of satisfaction out of making things for other people. I have always loved "making things" starting with making potholders and learning to sew when I was a young girl. Although I've made quilts, clothing, curtains and scrapbooks cardmaking is my favorite crafty pursuit at present.

                                   How does my creative process work?

 Would you believe that sometimes I wake up in the middle of the night with a card idea in my head? Sometimes that is my process. If it is a color challenge I'm creating for I will often look to find a current sketch challenge to use. (Some of my favorite sketch challenge blogs can be found here: Freshly Made Sketches, Try Stampin' on Tuesday, Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge, Retrosketches, Mojo Monday, Stampin' Royalty and Pals' Paper Arts.) If it is a sketch challenge I'm creating for I will look for current color challenges. (Color My Heart Color Dare, Colour Me..., Pals' Paper Arts and Nacho Average Challenges.)

When I'm really stumped, I read my blog list and start commenting on other people's artwork which gets my creative juices going again.  Pinterest, Facebook (CTMH Artwork, CTMH Eye Candy) and the Close To My Heart consultant Artwork Bulletin Boards are also additional sources of inspiration.  You can check out my Pinterest boards here.  


Are you ready to continue on the Creative Blogger Tour?  It is my pleasure and honor to nominate Hansi Brittain from the Quilting with Paper blog.  She is an amazingly talented Close To My Heart consultant!  I've been a huge fan of her artwork ever since she started submitting cards to the Color My Heart Color Dare challenge.  Her awesome sense of design, color and flare for beautiful card embellishment have awed me on many occasions.  I'm sure you will be inspired and impressed by her artwork.  Please visit her blog post on Monday, 10/27/14 to read more about her.  (If you become a blog follower of hers then you will see it in your blog list).

Thank you for reading this far!  To celebrate my Creative Blogger Award I'd like to have a giveaway of some craft supplies to one randomly drawn commenter. I have an extra April 2014 Stamp of the Month called My Sunshine AND an assortment of Close To My Heart papers cut into 4.25" x 5.5" pieces that can be used as card fronts.

To be eligible to win you must:

--Become a follower of my blog AND

--Write a comment on this blog post indicating you are a blog follower

--Deadline to comment on this blog post is midnight EST, October 26th, 2014.

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

:) Marie