Paper Pizazz!

Welcome to a new blog hop from the ladies at Blog Hops with Heart!

This month we are highlighting some of our favorite specialty papers in the Paper Pizazz Blog Hop!

Here's my delicious creation...

I used the new Thin Cuts Basic Circle Tag Dies from Close to My Heart to create an adorable card and gift box combo!  By adding the included oval in the lid of the Gift Card Box, I was able to place a bit of vellum over it for visual interest and a peek at the goodies inside...

I used that same oval that I cut from the lid to ink my sentiment for the card!  See the little peek of vellum behind the hearts?  Speaking of hearts, I just HAD to add some glitter paper for some added sparkle!  The pattern papers I used are from the Fundamentals Whimsy and Adventure Papers.

Now you are off to JAYMA'S Blog!  We hope you enjoy our jazzy paper creations on the  hop!

Here are the participants:

Amie (that's Me!)

Jayma

Becca

Boo to You!!!

Welcome to my booooootiful blog!

You have probably hopped over from Wendy's Blog, so you are in the right place!  If not, be sure to keep clicking around the hop until you see her boooootiful layout!  ;)

This project is quite popular around the Pinterest boards, and you can find a million and one different versions.  It has been on my "to do" list for longer than I care to admit, lol.  I found a quick and simple tutorial HERE, cut my 6 inch paper square from the new Cats and Bats paper from Close to My Heart, and got to work.

I used a couple of Thin Cuts Dies to make his cutie pie face--the Heart Border and the Basic Circles.   I used my Black and White Dots for his eyeballs...and some retired Poppy Thick Twine for his mop of hair.  Those harmless choppers are made out of shiny Silver Foil Paper.  Here he is hanging out in my Everyday Life Stripes Album where I store my dies.

He's going to come in VERY handy to mark my place!

Here's a quick pic tutorial before you leave...

Doesn't he remind you of the abominable snowman from Rudolf without his teeth?  LOL!!!

You are now on your way over to Katy's Blog!  Don't be afraid...bwahahahahahaaaaaa!

Here's our entire Blog Hops with Heart lineup today...enjoy!!!

Kelly

Jayma

Stephanie

Wendy

Amie (that's me!)

Katy

 

Use It, or Lose It!

It is time!!!  Time I finally used THAT paper...THAT embellishment...THAT frame.  You know what I'm talking about...it's time to use your crafty stash!  Do you even remember what you bought that roll of ribbon FOR???

Today my crafty friends and I are hopping to use our stash (see what I did there?)  ;)

You may have hopped over from Jayma's Blog, but if not, be sure to catch her post by hopping around our short circle.  Just click the next name at the bottom of each post.

Heeeeeeeeeere's my project!

This qualifies as one of those "difficult to capture on camera" projects, but don't worry!  I took a bunch of pics to help you get the feel of it...(now channel your inner Maui as you sing this...) you're welcome!  ;)

The following sentiment would be the entire reason I fell head over heals for the Stationery Noted paper line from Teresa Collins back when it came out...in (gulp) 2013!!!  What can I say, a girl sometimes needs a while to get the nerve to cut up ponder beautiful paper! 

I attached my very favorite saying via red shimmer trim to a background of Close to My Heart's Uptown Fundamentals vellum paper with gold dots...

I apologize in advance for the long post!  This project has just been soooooo long in the making that I am swoooooning with joy about it all coming together so seamlessly!  Now, THIS little saying just about wraps up my baby girl--she marches to her own beat no matter what anyone else thinks.

The gold foil embellishments in the Springtime Complements were PERFECT for my project!

Cue the tears...sorry!  I have no less than ten shots of her pulling this wagon with reckless abandon through the sprinkler at our old house last summer...oh to be so happy-go-lucky about just having the BEST time of your life in the sprinkler!

Now this one is for me.  The picture below this statement shows us standing alongside a ravine in TN while we were hiking...and I'm absolutely beyond terrified.  But I did it.  With a smile.
 

The final motivational sentiment would take FAR too long to explain it's family meaning around here...just suffice it to say that when I most feel like controlling a situation I need to extend grace.  To my girlies.  And let's just say I am always practicing.  :)

I used the red Prickly Pear Sequins for a bit more bling!

Thank you sooooooo much for sticking with me here...and even if you didn't, lol.  The next stop on our hop is Kelly, so get on out while you can before I start talking again!

WAIT!  (what did I tell you!?) Here is a list of all the crafty ladies on our hop today in case you need it...

Jayma

Amie (that's me!)

Kelly

Becca

Stephanie

 ENJOY!!!

Going Green Blog Hop!

I just LOVE the month of May!  With everything in my neck of the woods coming back to life and turning green again, I couldn't resist a blog hop dedicated to just that...

And I decided to choose my new favorite shade of green to star in my show--Sea Glass, the first ever Close to My Heart Color of the Year.

I just so happened to have the perfect gift bag to use (oh yes, I reuse them!)  So I knew right away how to wrap this gift for one of my favorite little people.

I created an easy-peasy gift tag out of the rainbow and cloud dies from the Little Dreamer Scrapbooking and the Cardmaking stamp and dies sets...along with some White and Gold Ribbon.

The matching card features a little different color scheme, adding more Emerald Green accents and some great Sea Glass Glitter Paper. 

I used a scalloped frame die from Mama Elephant, a pocket card from the Little Dreamer Paper Packet, and some Sea Glass CS as well.  Some Princess Gold Embossing powder from Ranger added just the right amount of glam.

I hope you enjoy all the greenery on our hop...you are now off to see Lalia's creation!

Here is the entire line up for our hop this month...

Amie (that's me!)

Lalia

Shelly

Stephanie 

Becca

Blog Hops with Heart 1 Year Anniversary! (Well, Almost!)

There is nothing quite like realizing your new blog hop group is heading for its FIRST anniversary...

...and also nothing quite like realizing that date has already passed, lol!!!  

In the spirit of anniversaries both forgotten and remembered, welcome to the Blog Hops with Heart (ooops we missed our) First Anniversary Blog Hop!

I used the opportunity to be AHEAD of the game for my in-laws wedding anniversary next month.  The Lawn Fawn Scalloped Box Card dies are absolutely my new favorite toy, and I'm not afraid to use them!

I paired the box dies with the Close to My Heart Uptown Fundamentals paper that is gray and black with white polk-a-dots.  Then I added a variety of colorful circles cut from the little round yarn die in the new Lawn Fawn Meow You Doin' set.  You never know where you'll find the purrrr-fect size circle!  ;)

I used a separate LF grass die to add some grassy knolls for my clan to adorn.  Those glittery little hearts are a die included with the box card set, along with all the parts to this coordinating banner!!!  I fashioned my own banner to fit the poles and wire...

Then I slightly bent the pliable acrylic stamps from CTMH Finding the Words to fit...

Each of my family members is represented here by a kiddo from the Mama Elephant In My Heart stamps and dies.  Our feline friend, Willow, needed to be a part of things, so I grabbed the Meow You Doin' sets as well.  Then I used my Copics and ShinHan Touch Twin Markers to color them to suit each of our personalities and styles.  One of my kiddos has super-curly-Q hair, so I HAD to give it a try, lol...anyone have any ideas for that one?

These three black dots dressed it up nicely...

I really love the contrast and the bright colors!

Now you are off to see Kelly's anniversary craftiness!  Thanks so much for joining us, and we hope you come back for future hops too!  :)

Here is the complete line-up this month...

Amie (that's ME!)

Kelly

Becca

Jayma

Stephanie

A Blog Hop with Heart(s)

Time for another fabulous blog hop with the ladies over at Blog Hops with Heart...and this one is ALL HEART, but not necessarily all valentines!  ;)

I am starting things off today with a DARLING little card that has a unique but very fitting sentiment...

It's easy to get stuck in a rut when making baby cards...but let's face it, you can only say "welcome baby" so many times before craving a new tag line.  I thought the phrase, "hello darling," was JUST the thing to liven this one up.  I was making this card for a set of twins, so I just needed to tweak it a bit by adding the "s."  This sentiment is available on one of the stamp sets that accompanies the Flower Market Cricut Collection by Close to My Heat.  Oh, my, that font just makes me drooooool...

This beautiful strip of Sea Glass Washi from the Sugar Rush collection grounds the white space nicely, looks fab with the retired Georgie Papers...and the tiny hearts take SWEETNESS to another level!

We are thrilled to have you hopping along today, so leap on over to Stephanie's Blog for some more HEART(ful) creations along the way!

By the ladies at Blog Hops with Heart!  ;)

Here is the entire hop lineup...

Amie (that's me!)

Stephanie

Jayma

Katy

Becca

Wendy

Shelly

Stick it in a Pocket Blog Hop

Hello hoppers!  Welcome to the Blog Hops with Heart Stick it in a Pocket Blog Hop!  Now THAT'S a mouthful!  :)

We are SO glad you are here, because Kelly came up with a SUPER-fun theme this month, and we hope you all have as much fun hopping as we did creating!  The hop runs in a circle, so make like a kangaroo and just keep going, and going, and going...you get the picture.  :)  

My particular project inspiration came in the spur of the moment as I was wrapping up a little birthday gift.  I was bored with tying on gift tags...so I made a pocket for it instead!

The pocket is cut from the Close to My Heart Cricut Artiste Cartridge and the tag is cut from the newest Cricut Cartridge from CTMH...Artistry.

I used a sentiment from the For Family My Acrylix and Fern and Whisper Thick Twine to thread the tag.  I separated the thick twine in order to use a strand to stitch on the pocket.  I will take this opportunity to remind you that stitching on paper is a tricky business...it does rip if you lose yourself in the moment while creating...ask me how I know.  ;)

I used a textured stamp and tone on tone ink/CS to create the pocket texture.

This adorable pineapple washi makes a cute little pocket trim.

Sequins are from the Calypso and Magical assortments.

That's all I have for you today, so you are off to Kelly's Blog to see what kind of pocket she's using today! Enjoy!

Here is a list of all the ladies on our hop today--I am THRILLED to have added a few new names this month!

Amie (that's ME!)

Kelly

Becca

Shelly

Stephanie

Jayma

Katy

Mixed Media Madness Blog Hop!

Welcome to the Blog Hops with Heart Mixed Media Madness Blog Hop!  If you need an alternative activity to the bouncing orange ball, WE have just the right kind of madness for you!  Our hop runs in a circle, so just click on the next participant's name at the bottom of each post to take you to the next inspiring creation!  I will post a list of all the talented bloggers at the end.

I have been keeping a bible journal lately, so I want to show you EXACTLY what that involves...

1.  I painted a very thin layer of clear gesso onto my page to prep it.  I don't do this for every page--just the ones I intend to get a little WET...I used a couple of sheets of vellum to protect the pages I am NOT working on today...

Yep, it curls...a bit.

2. Use a bit of washi to keep your page still...

I used a few circle cuts to mask off the bottom of my page.  Then I sponged Crystal Blue Exclusive Ink onto my skyline and up...

3. The verse I am working with is Isaiah 1:18  

"Come now, let us reason^[a] together, says the Lord:
though your sins are like scarlet,
    they shall be as white as snow;
though they are red like crimson,
    they shall become like wool."

I used my watercolors to add some red coming down from the top...then I stepped away to let it all dry...

4. I came back to a nice wrinkly red, white, and blue page.  Hmmmm, that was interesting to me. I stamped the word RED in Ruby Ink, and thought this Ruby Chevron washi worked nicely...and some cloudy washi...and some snowflake Cricut Artistry cuts...and clouds OF COURSE...and white snowy shimmer trim!

5. This last addition was completely spur of the moment...wool.  I stamped the Lamb from the Reason for the Season My Acrylix in White Daisy Pigment Ink and embossed with White Embossing Powder.

See the Wink of Stella Gitter on the snowflakes?  :)

I love the process of hearing God's Word through my art!  Now I can't wait to see the rest of the art on our hop!

Check out the fabulous madness over on Kelly's Blog next!

Here's the lineup for our hop this month:

Amie (that's ME!)

Kelly

Becca