Boy Friendly Gift Card Holder with a Hint of Ombre?

I love making frilly, sparkly, girlie paper projects!  Making one that is fit for a king is another story.  For my workshop I wrapped up on Friday, I made a great any-gender gift card holder using the new Artbooking Collection from Close to My Heart.  Go HERE to learn more about this fantastic new Cricut Collection and see all the amazing cuts it has, or keep reading to see the gift card holder!  ;)

This adorable torn sheet of notebook paper is a cut from the brand new Artbooking Cartridge!  Isn't it just darling?  I have been wanting a cut like this!   It even comes with the paper lines to stamp on yourself!  The sentiment, "FOR YOU," is from the My Acrylix stamp set For Every Occasion.  This versatile set is disappearing after July, so get it now if you want it!  It has sentiments for all occasions!

I used several hues of blue for this project in an attempt at an ombre technique so that I could link up with Heart 2 Heart Challenges for their July Ombre challenge.  I used the graduating shades of blue from Close to My Heart:  Sky, Crystal Blue, Indian Corn, Pacifica, and Outdoor Denim.  I have my eyes on another technique to try this out as well, so we will see how it goes. Not sure if this one qualifies or if the shades need to be all lined up...hmmmmm, ombre is so mysterious!  ;)

Two of the arrow stamps I used are from the Cricut Artbooking Collection My Acrylix sets, My Life and Take Note that are available to the public on August 1st on my website.  Take a sneak peek!

The third one, with the polka dots, is from the Close to My Heart Wheel of Life My Acrylix.

Here is a look at the inside of the gift card holder....it is cut from the Cricut Artiste Cartridge on Kraft paper.  I DID alter it a bit though...it usually looks like this...

I just chopped off all the sides to square it off!  ;)  Looks a bit more manly that way....

This great little pocket for your gift card is all cut out for you to easily assemble.

Super-cute, right?  I left it all plain inside because we all know the guy you give it to won't even pay attention to who it is from when he sees the gift card, right?  ;)

Want to get your hands on that Close to My Heart Artbooking Collection as soon as possible?  How would you like free shipping as well?  You can do BOTH, plus get the August Stamp of the Month absolutely free by pre-ordering RIGHT HERE!  I will put all the orders in right away on August 1st AND your name will be entered into a drawing for $25 worth of CTMH papers, inks, blocks, and more--just from ME! 

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!!!

Damask Divas Dream Pop Blog Hop!

Nope, you are not seeing double, lol!  The Damask Divas are putting on two blog hops this month!  So let's get to it!

If you found your way here from Cheryl's Blog, then you are in the right place!  If you want to start at the beginning, just head on over to the Damask Divas Blog for the whole line up.  :)

I used the colorful Dream Pop papers to make a cheery banner for my friend's birthday.  She is battling cancer, and I wanted to make something for her to look at each day and be lifted up by God's promises.  I am thrilled with how it turned out, and I know I used exactly the right papers.

It isn't easy to photograph a banner, unfortunately, so here are some partial shots to see the details better.  Can you see the shine of the specially embossed cardstock?

 

These are some of the other Close to My Heart products I used to make the banner:

Joyful Jar (retired)
May 2013 Stamp of the Month
C1538 Girls Rock
D1545 Wheel of Life
A Rainbow (retired)
He is Risen (retired)
Be Still
D1440 Everlasting Life
Cricut Art Philosophy Collection
Cricut Artiste Collection
My Creations Mini Banner
For Always Textiles
Sparkles
Shimmer Trim
Baker's Twine Paradise Assortment
Black and Grey Glitter Paper

I hope you are inspired by this one to make something bright and cheerful with the Dream Pop papers too!  Your next stop is Traci at Papercrafting 101.  Enjoy the rest of the hop!

Don't forget to stop by the Claire Hop too!  ;)

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!

Color Dare #26 and MORE Spring and Summer Sneak Peeks!

Ever feel like you are wandering around in a black and white movie?  All this playing around with black and white themes has me thirsty for color for sure!  The challenge this week (starting Friday) at the Color My Heart Color Dare is to use black and white with just a {POP!} of color.  I really had a hard time keeping it to just a pop of color!  ;)  I decided to go simply understated for this challenge, and the result is that I came up with quite a few versions of cards!

Here is the first one!  This card was really fun to make.  There were a million and one different directions I could have gone with the spinner spaces, but this is a valentine, so I kept the love theme constant.  I used my Cricut Expression 2 and the Cricut Art Philosophy Cartridge to cut the circle card base from white daisy cardstock.  Then I cut the rest of the shapes according to the stamp sets that coordinate with them.  

The spinner is from the Wheel of Life My Acrylix Stamp Set D1545--available from the new Spring and Summer Close to My Heart Idea Book beginning on February 1st!  This is a fun stamp that can be used in oh so many ways!  My very first Scrapbooking workshop in February will feature this set!  

There was a skinny little cut of our black tulle ribbon lying around, so I tied it right on the fold of the card.  I cut out the arrow after I stamped it, shortened it, and popped it up with a skinny piece of foam.  That silver brad goes right through it all!  Love how it looks.  My pop of color in this card comes from this letter "u" cut with the Art Philosophy Cartridge on Ruby Cardstock.  I also used an adorable stamp from the Whooo's Your Valentine Kit to stamp teeny tiny hearts in Ruby Ink on the circle card base.  The x's and o's on the heart are also from this set.  It is only available until January 31st or while supplies last!  You can get it for ONLY $10 with any $35 purchase!

Ok, so these next two cards are similar to each other yet different.  I used one of my favorite new stamp sets for Spring and Summer, D1540 In the Background.

Isn't this a fabulous pattern stamp?!  I cut the word, "thanks" from the Cricut Artiste Cartridge at 1 inch on Lagoon cardstock. Simple cards can still make a beautiful statement.

This next card features my favorite pattern from the In the Background My Acrylix stamps.  It is a chevron pattern!  The stamp gives it a slightly distressed look, but if you want it more solid, just color in some of the negative space.  :)  It is available beginning on February 1st!

These little guys are from the It's Your Day My Acrylix and are stamped in Black and Lagoon.  I gave them little shimmer trim bodies to add some much needed sparkle after all the black and white!  I cut "thanks" at 3/4 of an inch for this size A2 card.

That is it for me for now with the black and white...but it is just the beginning for you!  Go ahead and link up your paper project to the Color Dare!  It can be a card, layout, 3D item, gift tag, or anything else you might create with black and white and a POP! of color.  Remember, you don't need to use all Close to My Heart products, just include some!  ;)  Link up HERE at Color My Heart--the Color Dare Challenge Blog starting Friday.