Good-bye, Mojo Monday!

Oh my goodness what a SHOCKER!  When Julee announced that Mojo 500 would be her final Mojo Monday sketch challenge my jaw totally hit the floor.  I completely understand her two little precious reason, though.  ;)

Thank you, Julee, for providing us with so many wonderful sketches to jump start our mojo!

Mojo was one of the very first "challenge" blogs that I discovered through my other crafty friends after I became a Close to My Heart Consultant.  Let's just say I was quickly hooked on sketches!  I have had the joy of winning a couple of different stamp sets, and my Verve collection has somehow outgrown it's drawer...no idea how that happened.  ;) So I went back and found my very first Mojo Monday post when I played along with sketch 249...so promise you won't click, but it is HERE, lol.  Wow that was a long time ago! My VERY favorite entry (go ahead and click, lol) is THIS one from all the way back in January of 2013!  Or maybe it's THIS one.  I love them both!!!

I guess I can't stall any longer reminiscing, so on to the final sketch!!!

Now, I recall receiving these papers and ribbon with my Mojo order a while back--and there was some new challenge to use them for...but oh my goodness, I had no time to play along and now I have no idea what they were for, lol.  I decided it would be fitting to use them for this sketch along with the Blessings and Sunny Days Verve stamp sets and dies.

Those white dots work beautifully with all the other color here...

I happened to have some perfect paper pairings that complemented the two pattern papers I was working with...a Juniper wood grain paper from Jack that I used for the sentiment and a scalloped lace zip strip from one of the Prickly Pear 12 x 12 papers that runs along the ribbon.

I also glittered up the flower and button with the two Shimmer Brushes offered by Close to My Heart.  Can you see it?

Well, the time has come to say good-bye to Mojo Monday...but I'm hoping it is more of an "until we meet again!"  ;)  (sniff, sniff)

A Jawsome Mojo Monday!

I loved the new Mojo sketch this week as soon as I caught a glimpse of it.  Since I didn't have a square envelope handy, though, I stretched it out to a more easy-button friendly size A2.  I do so like my easy buttons!  ;)

I immediately grabbed my new Lawn Fawn Duh-Nuh stamps and dies and paired them with my current fave papers from Close to My Heart--No Worries.  Quite the ironic combo, don't you think?

SO many great patterns in this paper pack to use on my card layers, but my favorite is definitely that weathered woodgrain!  The net, waves, and striped panel each add to the overall beachy feel of this great sharky sentiment.  I used a burlap ribbon for even more texture. 

I finally remembered to try the little dotting method in my Copic coloring!  LOVE how it looks on the shark!

I turned this particular card into a graduation card for my BFF's son...just added another sentiment on the inside that is a bit more specific from THIS versatile stamp set.  I just forgot to take a pic!  (Updated to add that pic!) Ooops!

I can't wait to use this sketch again!

UPDATE:  Please check out my new post that shows how I tweaked my card to better suit my occasion HERE!

Mojo Monday 495 with Courage

Welcome to my little corner of the blogosphere! 

I wanted to share my creation for the Mojo Monday contest this month because I used a very special stamp and die set--and I'm hoping to get the word out there to my fellow crafters to come join in on a wonderful fundraiser.  You can purchase the Ellen Hutson Courage Stamp and Die set to make a $25 donation to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation. 

I happen to work with two amazing women who conquered breast cancer, so I wanted to join in the fight and make these cards for them.

I flipped the versatile sketch from Mojo Monday 495 on its side to better suit my sentiment...

I used my R20 Blush Copic marker to color in the ribbon for the inside of the card...

Thanks so much for stopping in to see my card today--now take a moment and check out this ongoing fundraiser if you like...United We Conquer.

Here are the rest of my supplies...

Close to My Heart Uptown Fundamentals Paper
Close to My Heart No Worries Paper Packet
Close to my Heart Exclusive Die Inks in Raspberry, Pixie, Ruby, Eggplant, Pansy, Thistle, Glacier, Lagoon, Sweet Leaf, Willow, Tangerine, Lemon, Desert Sand, and Archival Black
Ranger Princess Gold Embossing Powder
Sizzix Big Shot

New Year, New Mojo!

Isn't it amazing how motivation is really the key to getting a project done?


THIS STORY was my motivation for my sprinkled birthday card, and the perfect Mojo Monday sketch by Julee provided the rest!

I used the Sugar Rush Paper Suite and coordinating stamp/die set from Close to My Heart.

Sea Glass Glitter Paper and Sugar Rush Dots, of course!  :)

The Baby Girl Complements provided these great embellishments!

 I was sooooooo happy to ring in the new year with a new Mojo like this, and hope she loves it! 

If you are a crafty peep with birthday cards laying around, why not send one off to her today (read the story in my link at the beginning if you have no idea what I am talking about...?)  I bet you have a stash ready to go!  :)

Mojo Monday Sunshine with Artistry

What better way to start off the new week than with some sunshine and a little Mojo! 

The first Monday of the month is always contest week over at the Mojo Monday Sketch Blog.  This week, I used a great shape from the Close to My Heart Artistry Cartridge along with one of my favorite Verve stamps to make a cheery card.

I mixed and matched from three different new CTMH paper packs for this one:  Zoe, Georgie, and Kaleidoscope.  Then I added a mix of patterns from the new Paper Fundamentals too!  

You can't see it in the pics, but the pattern on the Canary Yellow is a shiny embossed cross hatch.

The sentiment stamp from Verve works just perfectly with the image from Artistry.  I wanted to stamp the "SUN" in Sunset (oh, yeah) so after a few trials masking, I just decided to add a layer instead.  That worked much better for me...

A few carefully placed sequins, and I was finished.

I love the Bokeh paper in the background, how about you?

Only in September for National Stamping Month!

September Stamp of the Month!

Mojo Monday Heartstrings Love!

I am in LOVE with this paper, I tell you!  AND of course, I still love Mojo Monday Challenges when I get to play along...so is this a great combo or what?  :)

Here is the sketch for Mojo Monday 379 by the talented Julee Tilman...

 Here is my Valentine...

The adorable sentiment and coordinating papers are found in the Heartstrings Paper Packet and Workshop on the Go from Close to My Heart.  I stamped and inked with Whisper Exclusive Ink--a Dye ink that dries quickly and beautifully.

A Red Enamel Heart added JUST the right touch!

This gorgeous ribbon came in my latest Verve order...I could not resist their sale after Christmas, and wow did this color coordinate perfectly with the paper!

Can you see the peeks of Teal and Silver Glitter Paper?  I love that bit of sparkle it adds.

Have you ever played along at Mojo Monday?  Come give it a try!  :)

Stamp of the Month!

Mojo Monday is a MUST!

I am SO happy to be back in the swing of things around here!  I even got my Mojo on this week!

I LOVE a good sketch as a starting point, and this one from Mojo Monday was perfect for trying out this crumpled flower...

I layered CS flowers that had been inked with a ShinHan Alcohol Ink Marker around the edges after I.....

Spritzed them with water...

Crumpled them up...

and left them to dry.

I will be telling you all about the beautiful products I used here very soon, so subscribe to my blog or Facebook Page and tune back in on August 1st!!  If you want to find out sooner, just place a $50 order on my website, and I will send you a free copy of Close to My Heart's new Annual Inspirations Idea Book which holds the clues!

Shop 24/7 at mimimyselfandi.ctmh.com!

Mojo Monday 335

I have a very sparkly Mojo Monday creation to share with you today!  Are you ready to put your sunglasses on?  Here we go!

I didn't blind you with the silver glitter paper, did I?  I just can't get enough of this stuff!  I used it as the frame element in the Mojo sketch by adhering it to one of the chipboard Cricut shapes in the Artbooking Collection.  The portion in the middle is covered with the reverse side of that White and Whisper colored arrow chevron pattern that I took from the NEW Paper Fundamentals Basics Assortment.  These neutral colored pattern papers have an embossed resist on one side that you can see better in the picture below with JUST the right lighting...

This sentiment is found in an acrylic stamp set from Verve called Bloom and Grow.   I also used the leaf stamp and die that coordinates from that set.  I stamped it in Juniper on the polka-dot pattern in the Lollydoodle Paper Packet.

I love all the LAYERS in this card...it was tricky to stand it up for a picture!  ;)

The chipboard arrow shape and stamp are also included in the Artbooking Collection--it is definitely not just for scrapbooking!  :)  The Smokey Plum color I used is perfect.

I had a hard time limiting my pictures for this post!  I can't get enough of the color combination!  This gorgeous, delicate flower in dark purple is from the CTMH Ivy Lane Assortment.  It shows up just a bit darker than it actually is in real life.  The flower-shaped sequins that dot the sides are from the new Polka collection from Lawn Fawn, and I used liquid glass to insert a little purple glitter gem into each shiny silver flower.

Thanks again for popping in to see me!  :)

Hello, My Name Is Mojo Monday 314

I'm BAAAA-AAAAACk!  ;)

I know, I already posted today, but I just finished my Mojo Monday 314 card, and I cannot wait to get it up, because it is also my very first EVER entry for the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge that is due at 7am my time tomorrow!  Whew!

I have no idea how this happened, because, quite frankly, this sketch was not my fave (sorry, Julee!)  BUT, I was so inspired by Teresa Kline's take on the sketch, that I HAD to give it a go.  Sometimes you just have to go with it, you know?

SO.  Glad.  I.  Did!!!

I have been SOOOOO WANTING to use this "hello, my name is" stamp since I bought it!  It is from the Close to My Heart All the Details My Acrylix Stamp Set.  I absolutely LOVE the song by Matthew West by that same name.  HERE it is if you want to take a listen.  You won't regret it!  ;)

Anyhow, like I said, I wanted to use it JUST like this on a card and this was the perfect set up!  :)

I used my Ruby Close to My Heart Exclusive Dye Ink and swiped it across the pad after inking up for a great effect!  I wanted to soften the bold Ruby a bit, and this did the trick!   I also wanted to add a bit of bling to the card.  My Green Glitter Paper was JUST the perfect touch to take this cut from the Cricut Artiste Cartridge from wow to POW!!! 

I knew this antiqued button would be the perfect embellishment for my Close to My Heart Color Ready Seam-Binding Ribbon.  I pulled out my Mini Medley Accents Antiqued Gold Collection and my Hemp and got to work!

Doesn't the fishtail banner look nice with it unattached at the bottom?  I love the dimension it adds.  Speaking of the banner, I love that weathered dotty pattern and it fits right in with the theme over at Simon Says Stamp.  I even persuaded my Basic Grey Die-cut Flowers to get in on this action by adding one in the background!  So many textures...I love it! 

Thanks so very much for popping in and giving my card a look-see today!  I had a lot of fun combining my different supplies to make it!  :)

Other Supplies:

White Daisy Card base from Close to My Heart
MME Dolled Up 6x6 Paper Pad
Close to My Heart Chocolate Exclusive Ink

A Huntington Mojo With Meaning

Hello, my crafty friends. 

What is your least favorite card to make?  I am torn when it comes to answering this question.  I most dread needing to make sympathy cards because of the very nature of the situation that caused the need for a card in the first place.  However, I love the very opportunity to provide a word of comfort to anyone that is in need of it.

My friends recently lost their father suddenly, and I while I dreaded heading into my room to make them, I could not wait to send them a hug in the form of a handmade card.  For inspiration, I turned to Mojo Monday's latest sketch, and the soft hues of Close to My Heart's Huntington Paper.

The sketch gave me a great starting point to finally pull out my verve die cuts and matching stamps.  When I can't find what I need in my Close to My Heart My Acrylix, my Verve collection is one of my first stops.  I used the Bloom and Grow set with coordinating dies to stamp this flower in Autumn Terracotta, Barn Red, and Olive.  They were perfect for the overall theme.   I also added some Mocha Opaques to draw out the Champagne color from the Huntington zip strips I used for the banners.  The "heartfelt sympathy" is stamped in Slate Ink from the Verve Blessings set. 

The second card is quite similar using the same supplies except Cocoa Ink for the sentiment...

It will be a long process of saying goodbye for my friends this week.  I pray that God holds them tightly in his loving arms so that they know in their hearts it is really a matter of "until we meet again."