A Dynamic Duo Indeed!

Have you ever tried one card, two ways?  That is what I did for this next challenge post!

I love to try and combine challenges when able because, quite frankly, it is a super time saver!  I also enjoy the added challenge to combine challenges!  ;)

The first version of this card is for the Dynamic Duos Challenge this week to combine Black with a Kraft color--I used Desert Sand from Close to My Heart.  You are allowed to use any neutrals for the challenge along with these colors.

I used a gorgeous fall themed stamp set from Close to My Heart called Harvest Happiness.  They are clear, acrylic stamps, so you can see through them to stamp on the shapes that coordinate.  These shapes can be cut with your Cricut cutting machine from Provo Craft with the exclusive Cricut Art Philosophy Cartridge.  I used the rock-and-roll technique to make the leaves all sorts of brown shades with my Cocoa, Saddle, Bamboo, and Desert Sand Inks.

You can see how I mimicked the shapes on the front on the inside below.  I just cut out two of these card shapes out with the Cricut Artiste Cartridge from Close to My Heart as well--one in Black and one in Desert Sand.  Then I just used the Black one as my card base, and cut up the other one to use the different parts on the inside so it would not be all Black.

For the second challenge over at CAS-ual Fridays, I added some color to the leaves.  They are having a fall colors challenge and you must use at least one leaf on your clean and simple card.  I was quite happy to add some color!  ;)

I really do like how the Colonial White CS makes the leaves pop out from the black background.  That cute little tag is cut from the Art Philosophy Cartridge as well, and I used two different stamp sets to create the sentiment:  Perfect Fit Thanksgiving and Holiday Tags.  A couple of Black Opaques complete the tag.   I fashioned a frayed bundle of Hemp to "attach" the tag to the leaf cluster.

Well, what do you think?  Which do you prefer?  Color or neutral?  Would you like to win your favorite of the two?  All you have to do is 

1.  Leave me a comment telling me which is your favorite and why.

2.  Become a follower here on my blog, Mimi, Myself, and I.

3.  Like me on Facebook.  

I will pick a winner from all the eligible US entries who will receive the card of their choice!  :)  You have until the end of September to comment, and I will announce the winner here on my blog.  Good luck, and thanks for popping in to see what I made today!  :)

Autumn with Art Philosophy Blog Hop

Welcome to our Autumn Art Philosophy Blog Hop!  Each month we are showcasing our amazing Art Philosophy Cricut cartridge which can be purchased exclusively through a Close to My Heart Independent Consultant (like ME!)
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It's the time of year where leaves are changing colors, temperatures are dropping, the days are shorter, and the holidays are quickly approaching. This month we will be featuring projects with an Autumn theme made using the Art  Philosophy Cricut cartridge!

If you just happened to come to this blog, you should start at the beginning at Lucy's blog - Love 2 Create.  If you came here from Stephanie at The Quilted Scrapper, then you're in the right place!

I love this time of year and have two Autumn themed cards that I want to show you that feature one of the most popular symbols of Autumn -- leaves and acorns.  Each of them utilizes the Harvest Happiness My Acrylix Stamp Set in conjunction with the Cricut Art Philosophy Cartridge by Close to My Heart.  The first card is inspired by a fellow consultant who recently lost her battle with cancer.  She was an active member of one of our Facebook groups, and a wonderfully talented and encouraging woman named Maureen.  I used her inspiration as a tribute to her since I did not know her other than seeing and commenting on her work she posted up to share with us.  I wish there was a blog to direct you to, but she did not have one yet.  Here is Maureen's original card:

Now, here is my take on her beautiful card.  The idea to stitch the baker's twine through the holes in the wreath was just the perfect touch.  This wreath shape is found on page 31 of the handbook for Art Philosophy (AP.) The leaves are found on pages 56 and the acorn is on page 36.   The cricut cuts them out the exact size you need to stamp the image on perfectly.  I realized when making this card that I need a "leafy" embossing folder.  I would have loved to give that background some texture.

The next project I made is actually a set of cards with a fall theme.  I used the same stamps and cuts as the card above, but switched out the ink color on some of the leaves to give them a whole new look. 

 My favorite part of these cards is the background paper.  I stamped it myself using an adorable geometric stamp from the Love Life My Acrylix Stamp Set.  This one was made for stamping a pattern onto your project and nests into itself each time you stamp it.  I used a technique that I had never tried before too.  I chose three autumn color re-inkers, Autumn Terracotta, Goldrush, and Ruby.  Then I placed a baby wipe on the inside of my old stamp cleaner and randomly dropped the three colors onto it to create my own stamp pad to use!  Here is what it looked like...

Pretty messy business!  But the results are fabulous!  Sooooo worth it.  Here is a link to a great video to demonstrate this amazingly easy stamping technique.  Just look at all the colors you end up stamping all at once...

These tags I attached were already cut out with the Art Philosophy cartridge and waiting in my scrap cuts drawer.  Yes, I have a recycle drawer full of scrap cuts that didn't make it into a project yet--don't judge!  ;)  I always check to see if there is something I can use in there when I start a project.  Unfortunately, it means I have no clue what kind of paper it is or the size of the cut.

I wanted these cards to coordinate, but not match exactly, so I changed up the Harvest Baker's Twine colors I used and added different sentiments.  The last one I left without a sentiment for true versatility.  :)

I also added a different leaf to this one from page 34 of the AP handbook.  I love these leaf stamps because I don't need to cut out a thing by hand--the Art Philosophy Cartridge does all the work with my Cricut machine!

Do you have a cricut machine?


The next stop on your trail of falling leaves is Jennifer Kramer at 4 Hearts Scrapbooking.

Here's the entire blog hop lineup in case you "fall" off the path:

Lucy ~ Love 2 Create
Darla ~ Caution: Crafting is Contagious!!!
Diana ~ Diana's Free Moments
Stephanie ~ The Quilted Scrapper
Amie Kiger ~ Mimi, Myself, and I  (you are here!)
Jennifer Kramer ~ 4 Hearts Scrapbooking (your next stop!)
Rebecca ~ Stamp and Scrap Studio
Kindred Hearts ~ It Makes Total Cents
Theodora Stacey ~ Celebrate Crafts
Arlene ~ Arlene's Creative Space
Amanda Cortez ~ Scraps of Love
Priscilla ~ Priscilla's Paperie
Ginger ~ Ginger's Creative Cottage
Michelle ~ My Flights of Fancy

Three-peat Repeat

Yep, I told you on Friday's post that I had more of these to show you, so let's start this Monday off right!  This one has a wonderful fall theme to welcome in the cooler weather.  We will be doing a similar card at my next card workshop! 

I used Goldrush and Olive Dye based ink pads, and the new Desert Sand Mini Pigment Ink.  The pigment ink stays wet longer so I was able to add clear embossing powder and use my heating tool to give it the shine you see below. 

I love the colors of fall!  Which seasonal colors are your favorites?

Mojo Monday 259

Even though I got my Mojo on yesterday to play along with Mojo Monday 259, I ran out before I could post it to my blog, lol.  I absolutely love this sketch, it is so much fun!  This is another one of those cards that just came together somehow--I was making a 3D pumpkin with the new Artiste Cartridge right before I saw the fabulous sketch, and it took off from there!  ;)

Can you find the pumpkin in the photo?  ;)  This is part of one of the cuts from the 3D Pumpkin cut at 4 inches on page 78 of the Artiste Handbook.  I was in a texture driven mood, so there is a lot to point out in this one.  First of all, here is the sketch:

I have been very blingy lately, so knew right away that a button from the BLING ASSORTMENT would find it's way into the mix.  It really did make the perfect center for my flower from the JUST BLOOMS™ FLORET PAPER SHAPES.  The leaf is also from this same assortment.

Buttons!  I wanted to add some too, so used a couple from the Buttons GREEN ASSORTMENT.
Hemp tied to the center of the buttons added another element of texture, and I loved the twisty-ness with my pumpkin theme.  The large family sentiment from the AUTUMN LANE ASSORTMENT was begging me to add it, so I caved in--the results are just what I wanted.

Next up, a little heat embossing.  I wanted to compliment my Bling with some silver.  Plus--don't you just love watching the powder turn all shiny with the heating tool?  I do!  Any excuse to use it works for me! I used the new Mimi (lol...I mean mini) Pigment Ink in Whisper, the swirly stamp from Harvest Happiness My Acrylix Set, and then our Silver Embossing Powder.  The new Pigment Inks stay wet longer so you can use them easily in this way. 

Now, we have come full circle back to the part of the card that started it all--the pumpkin.  I used the Musical Flourish Cuttlebug embossing folder by Provo Craft on the shape after cutting the Goldrush Cardstock on my cricut.  Then I sanded it down to let some of the white core pop.  I love how all of our Close to My Heart papers have a solid white core!  I hand-cut a piece of Cocoa Cardstock to mat the pumpkin shape and used my white gel pen to add some dots.  The green strip you see in the middle of the card is Topiary Cardstock that I used my paper distresser on to rough up the edges.

Thanks for stopping in to see my latest Mojo Monday creation!  You can play along too--I highly recommend it!

Mojo Monday 254 and Color My Heart Color Dare #11

I finally got back on track with another challenge, and this one is a double doozey!  I used the sketch from Mojo Monday 254 and the color scheme from Color Dare #11.

So, the color scheme made me cringe at first as do many that have so many colors to work with.  It included Ruby, Goldrush, Sweet Leaf, Honey, Indian Corn Blue, and Cocoa.  At first, I thought I was going to have to sit out another week since I had no Ruby at all yet.  Then I realized that I have the paper sampler with some of each color and could use that!  I added Colonial White, and then focused on one of the colors that I had a background paper for and ran with it from there.  I decided that the colors actually reminded me of fall so pulled out my Harvest Happiness My Acrylix set.  Here is what I came up with:

My background paper is from the retired Lucy Paper packet.  This gorgeous ribbon is also in sweet leaf and can be found in the Designer Ribbon Green Assortment.

My favorite part of this one is the Cocoa Cardstock stamped with the Colonial White Ink in the leafy swirls.  I covered it with gold embossing powder and heated it.  The effect was fabulous!  I also love the bit of added hemp in the leaf cluster.

Each of the pieces is inked with the Cocoa to bring a sense of cohesion to the crazy color scheme.  ;)  In fact, I was so distracted by the colors that I neglected to add any black to the colors for the whole lesson on shades that Sara gave us on her Color My Heart Blog!  Wooopsie!  Sorry, Sara!  :O