Catching Up with a Buttoned-Up Birthday Wish

Hi everyone! 

Time to play a bit of catch-up so you might have seen this card last month when I attempted to play along with my Close to My Heart upline's Card-A-Day Challenge.  The truth is, I am just too busy to be a card-a-day kind of girl, lol!  I did get quite a few cards made for over half of the month, but a girl's gotta do what a girl's gotta do!

One of the things I HAD to do was play with my new toys!  I finally used some of my rewards points on Amazon to pick up the Ranger Ink Blending tool that I played with at an Archiver's Card Workshop.  I used it on the background of my card for "Use a Button" day...

This technique is so easy it is pitiful!  Just use an embossing folder on your CS, lay it on a protected surface like this Kraft Mat, and ink away!  :)  I used a bit of a circular motion and moved onto and off of the paper as I went, inking up when needed.

I used the days of the week stamps on the My Life My Acrylix set.  This stamp set is included only in the Cricut Artbooking Collection available exclusively from Close to My Heart Independent Consultants like me!  :)

I laced the buttons with my trusty Waxy Flax, and attached them to the page with a glue dot.

Then on the inside I stamped Happy Birthday from the Perfect Fit Birthday My Acrylix. 

Do you get it?  Sun-day, Mon-day......Birth-day!  ;)

Heart 2 Heart Design Team Sunset Debut!

Hi everyone!  I am here for my DT debut with Heart 2 Heart Challenges, and boy did we have a hum-dinger to start with!  This was sooooo much fun to make, so you guys just HAVE to play along with me and the rest of Team Sunset at H2H this week! 

The Challenge is Mix & Match and all you have to do is use 3 or more different papers and/or 3 or more different stamp sets in your project!  WOW!!!  While you start to digest that, let me show you my card...

Can you guess which three CTMH paper packs I used?  Here is a hint--two of them are names!  I will tell you in a bit!  ;)

Which SIX CTMH My Acrylix stamp sets did I use?  Hee, hee!  Here is a hint...some are retired (sorry!)  Keep reading!  ;)

Three or more buttons, too!  ;)  Stock up on your button needs, because you won't see them in the next Idea Book! 

Alright, I'll let you off the hook.  Here is my complete creative formulary:

Artiste Cricut Collection

CTMH Claire, Tommy, and Later Sk8ter Paper Packets
Storybook Numbers (ret.), Sightseer, Wheel of Life, Rock the Block (ret.), Love Life, and Fast and Furious My Acrylix stamp sets

Black and Honey Exclusive Inks

Black, Green, and Blue Buttons Assortments

Black Waxy Flax

So, what do YOU need to do to join in at H2H?  It's easy!  Just make a project using three different papers or stamp sets, use mostly CTMH products or order some from out fabulous designers, and link your post up with us at Heart 2 Heart Challenges Mix and Mingle!  :)  See you there!!!

Color Dare Time Again!

Hi everyone!  Another week has flown by, so here we go with another Color My Heart Color Dare.  Our challenge colors this week are Close to My Heart Smoothie and Topiary.  A great pair for summer and flowers!  I popped out some flower cards, but really wanted to give the challenge a bit more of a go...sooooooo I grabbed my Close to My Heart My Acrylix B1408 Buttons, Bits, and Bobs and got to work.  Somehow, I managed to end up back at flowers!!!  Take a peek...

I did not intend to make a flower, let me be perfectly clear about that.  It just kind of GREW into one!  My neutrals that I chose this week were Saddle, Bamboo, and White Daisy.

I stamped the buttons in Smoothie Ink.  I used the Bling buttons that are available in the clearance section of my website for the flower button.  Crazy low prices over there, but low supplies so check them out fast!  The centers are all tied with bits of Bamboo Waxy Flax.  Then I realized that the little stem on the June Stamp of the Month, S1306 A Flowering Bunch, would be amazing on that round button!  Yeah...and just like that I was back at floral arrangements, lol. 

One of the amazing things about Close to My Heart stamps is that they are completely flexible.  I curved this stem on the acrylic block to make it just the right shape for my card.  It is like having 20 stamps in one!  LOVE!

I have to admit that the sentiment I started with from the same SOTM was not anything I saw as card-worthy until I used it here.  I envisioned it in scrapbook layouts, but found out it makes an amazing card sentiment too!  Those Bitty Sparkles were MADE to enhance this font--they are the perfect size to fit the flourishes.  What do you think?

I will show you my floral cards a little bit later, but for now--it's YOUR turn to make a project using the Close to My Heart colors Smoothie and Topiary, or something similar if you don't have those two.  Link up with us at the Color My Heart Color Dare to compete for the Color Dare Diamond Badge for your blog! 

Juniper, Take Two!

I had another idea rolling around in my head for the Juniper Color Dare that I wanted to share.  (poetry anyone?)  ;)  If you missed my first one, you can see it HERE.

This one is a Father's Day card that I made with my Juniper Ink and Cardstock.  It turned out a bit abstract, but I still love it! 

I used C1542 Perfect Fit Dad for this size A2 card.  This awesome stamp set is perfect for all your Father's Day needs!   Love the little argyle tie!  Here is a pic of the set...

It kind of looks like the front of the card is sized different from the back, but it isn't--it's just the angle of the camera.  I folded the top of the card over and added a little Juniper button with some bamboo waxy flax to look like a dress shirt collar.  How cute it that?  :)

A little bit of stitching markering and this card was done!   Easy and adorable!  You can find this stamp set on my website by following the links above.  You can even try to win one right now on Jeanette Lynton's Blog!  Go see!

Try your hand at using Close to My Heart's Juniper (or a similar color) and link up your creation to the Color My Heart Color Dare by Thursday the 11th at 9pm CST.  I double-mat dare you!  ;)

Scraptacular Memories Workshop Time!

Super excited today!  I have finally finished the layout for my first ever Scraptacular Memories Workshop!  I have been doing card workshops (now they will need a cute name as well,) for several months and I decided to go for it and begin to hold scrapbook layout workshops as well this year.

Here it is!  I wanted to keep it low stress to see how it flows, so I am doing one double page layout for starters.  :)   We will be using one of the brand new stamp sets in the new Close to My Heart Spring and Summer Idea Book-- # 1545, Wheel of Life. 

Using spinners is a hot new trend in papercrafting, so I cannot wait to do this one with you!  The Juniper color is really hard to photograph because it looks so different in various types of lighting.   Just pretend there are actual pictures in the mats on the right.  I have to find them, lol...don't worry, you can totally customize this layout to your photos and their orientation.  The photo mats will not be pre-cut.  ;)

Here are some of the details:

Waxy Flax faux stitching technique and the brand new Black Buttons!

Dimensional adhesives for the spinner to POP!

Burlap Ribbon, baby!

Ink distressed edges anyone?   Lettering is all cut by hand--JUST KIDDING!!!  It will all be pre-cut by my trusty workhorse--the E2!  These are made with the Cricut Artiste Cartridge.

Gorgeous little journal tag from the Cricut Art Philosophy Cartridge tucked inside one of our new Paper Pouches! (I broke down and bought them, Stephanie!)

If you would like to attend this first ever Scraptacular Memories Workshop, don't hesitate to RSVP as seating is limited!  Come try out some of the brand new Close to My Heart products and get your copy of the NEW Idea Book!  Click HERE for more details...and keep on sparkling!

All that Glitters is Fab!

Yes!  I did it!  I finished all four challenges on the Heart 2 Heart blog this month!  I didn't even need a resolution to do it, either!  This final challenge was sooooo up my alley.  Glitter, baby!  I decided to make a wedding card, because every bride sparkles at her wedding.  ;)

Did anyone else find their glittery projects hard to photograph?  The light was bouncing every which way, lol.  Anyway, I went with the For Always paper to give the card a classy feel.  The black and white patterns in this one are absolutely divine!

I LOVE this shape from the Art Philosophy Cricut Cartridge.  I would have to say it is my favorite even (or maybe one of them!)  I cut the one shape on White Daisy at 2.25 and the other one to mat it on our new glitter paper at 2.5.  Then I inked up the edges of the white one in black ink for a dramatic effect.  The Mr. & Mrs. sentiment is found on the Artiste Cricut Cartridge.  I cut it at 1.5 inches.

This bow was part of my older CTMH stash, but I simply needed to use organdy ribbon, and we just don't carry any currently.  I think it would be great to color coordinate it with the wedding colors if you know them!

A great product we DO carry, however, is waxy flax!  Oh how I love it for tying up buttons--no need to lick the flax to get it through!  ;)  These black glitter buttons are one of my favorite new embellishments for the Spring/Summer Idea Book.  Perfect for this card too!

Can you see the scalloped edge of the glitter paper?  I cut this edge from the Artiste Cricut Cartridge on my Expression 2.  If I remember correctly, it is cut at 1.25.  I attached it with my ATG and then used the Black Shimmer Trim to cover the edge.  :)

Here is a close up of the card closed.  You can see the back of the card peeking through the decorative edge.  I think it is a great look for a wedding card.  What do you think?

Thank you, Heart 2 Heart for all the fabulous challenges this month! 

Color Dare Mojo Combo!

Whew, got it finished!  I realized that practically all of the Color My Heart DT had submitted entries for the current Color Dare.  Since I was selected to be on the Design Team, I had not even realized that I should link up an entry!  Well, you know I just had to make one, and I happen to have a second challenge that I wanted to enter as well, so this card is going in both the Neutral Color Dare AND Mojo Monday 275.  :)

Here is the Mojo sketch:

Before you wonder if I have lost my sparkle, rest assured that I have not!  The Color Dare this week is to use all neutrals.  NO colors.  I reluctantly chose Colonial White, Bamboo, Desert Sand, and Chocolate.  I honestly didn't think I had it in me--and as you can see, I added a punch of color to the background for the pics, lol!  You can't keep a colorful woman down, lol!

One of my goals for 2013 is to use more of my craft supplies.  I have been HUGELY focused on using my Close to My Heart products, which is great, but I want to branch out and see what I can do.  So to take a step, baby step, that is, in the right direction, I used the Verve stamp set Hope Blooms for the sentiment and stamped flower on this card.  They are stamped in CTMH Chocolate Ink, however, ha ha!

The flower took on a life of its own as I stamped and cut and glued and tied, and I love it!  

This faux band aid was the very first piece of the card that formed in my head.  I KNEW I would enboss it using my Hugs and Kisses embossing folder.  Perfect hidden sentiment for a boo-boo, don't you think?  Soooo many people are sick right now, so this is my get better card for everyone who needs it.  I had the flu over Christmas, so I know how they all feel, and trust me, it is miserable.  Perfect theme for a neutral card--misery.  ;)

See the burlap ribbon in there?  I removed some of the strands to give it a different texture.  No sparkles here!  Check out the bottom corner of the inside of the card.  More hugs and kisses from me.  Germ free, I might add! 

My creative formulary for this card:

*Colonial White Close to My Heart Size A2 Card Base
*Colonial White, Bamboo, Desert Sand, and Chocolate Cardstock
*Pemberley Paper Packet (retiring after this month!)
Provo Craft Hugs and Kisses Embossing Folder
*Chocolate, Bamboo, and Desert Sand Exclusive Ink
*It's Your Day My Acrylix Stamp Set
Verve Hope Blooms Stamp Set
*Close to My Heart Burlap Ribbon
*Colonial White Ribbon Rounds
*Paper Blooms
*Basic Buttons Assortment
*Bamboo Waxy Flax
*Liquid Glass
Gelly Roll White Pen


It is alright if you would like to restrain your sparkle for this challenge...you have until Thursday at 8 pm to link up your entry at the Color My Heart Color Dare!  Go for it!  :)