April Showers bring May Flowers Challenge Card for Heart2Heart Challenges

We've certainly had our fair share of April showers here in the Pacific Northwest and I'm glad to say they are definitely bringing out the May flowers!  For this week's challenge at Heart2Heart Challenges, we're looking for your floral projects - share with us any kind of project featuring flowers using CTMH products and then link to our Challenge site at http://heart2heartchallenges.blogspot.com.  Be sure to include in your blog post that you are participating in our challenge!

Here is the card I made for this week's challenge.  I used our awesome Hooray Bouquet stamp set - definitely a must have set as the flowers all coordinate with the AP cartridge so NO cutting required!  Love it!

Close up of the stacked dimension on the flowers.

If you'd like to make this project, get these materials:

Paper:  Victory (ledger paper), Florentine (blue paper)

Stamp:  Hooray Bouquet

Ink:  Taffy, Sorbet, Twilight (1 and 2nd Generation stamping)

Other:  Neutral Assortment Baker's Twine, Buttons (retired CTMH)

Have a happy Monday!

Paige

Sewing Technique Challenge for Heart2Heart Challenges

I'm "sew" excited for this week's challenge at Heart2Heart Challenges - its a sewing technique challenge!  Create a project that features Close to my Heart products and some kind of sewing - machine, faux stitching, stamped stitching, hand stitching, etc. and post at the Heart2Heart Challenges site!  Remember to say in your post that your project is for our challenge!

One of the very first crafts I learned was hand embroidery so this project really took me back in time.  I don't think I've done an embroidery project in the past 10 years!  I have to admit after doing this I started thinking about a few unfinished pieces I have in my embroidery bag that I should probably finish one of these decades.  

I drew the stems and leaves by hand and used a back stitch to go over the outlines.  I then used a White Daisy marker to go over the inside of the leaf and a layer of Olive marker on top of that to give the leaf more definition.  The centers of the flowers are French Knots done with our black and white Baker's Twine.  It looks like little seeds when its knotted up like that!

A quick tip on doing hand embroidery on your cards, a double layer of paper is easier to work with than a single layer.  I used my piercing tool to make holes for the stitching on the lagoon/black piece and it was a breeze.  The single layer flower shape I had to put a couple of layers of Scotch Tape on the back of the shape to keep the paper from falling apart with so many French Knots.  I didn't stamp a sentiment on this card because I need to build up my stash of all purpose cards - you know the ones you can add any kind of sentiment to and send off at a moment's notice. 

If you'd like to make this project, get these supplies:

Paper:  Stella, Black CS

Stamps:  Lucy WOTG stamp set

Ink:  Black, Sunset, Olive Marker, White Daisy Marker

Other:  Art Philosophy, Baker's Twine Neutral Assortment, Green Collection Embroidery Floss (retired)

Thanks so much for stopping by!  I hope you'll head on over to Heart2Heart Challenges and create a project for this week's sewing technique challenge!

Paige

Springtime Home Decor for Heart2Heart Inspiration Challenge

This week's challenge at Heart2Heart is a photo inspiration challenge!  Its always fun to see what people pull from an inspiration photo - whether its the color, the composition, the overall feel of the piece, etc.

I loved the fabric bunting at the top of the inspiration photo, the coral pink color and the outdoors theme.  I started this piece on a blustery cold and rainy day here in Seattle where the only thing I could think about was how nice it will be when winter fades away to spring!

Here is the inspiration photo from Heart2Heart Challenges:

 I put extra layers of foam tape under just the middle of the banner so it looks like it is rippling in the air.  The layered bunting was created by misting cardstock and shaping pleats into it to make it look more like fabric.

Close up of the tree and flowers.  To get a larger tree canopy I stamped three of the tree tops from Splendid Day and pop dotted them in layers.

I used lots of little paper flowers and leaves, bitty sparkles, bitty pearls and buttons to make my scene.  I love these kinds of project because you can pull things from your stash to use up!  

Our inspiration photo is just so full of details!  I hope you'll join the fun and post something you create to the Heart2Heart Challenges site!  Can't wait to see what you pull from the photo!

If you'd like to make this project, get these supplies:

Paper:  Smoothie CS, Sky CS, White Daisy CS, Sunny Yellow CS

Stamps:  Spendid Day (tree, plane), American Celebration (the stripes on the blue circles), Bohemian Alphabet

Ink:  Sky, Topiary, Smoothie, Dutch Blue

Other:  Liquid Glass, Bitty Pearls, Bitty Sparkles (some were colored pink with a Sharpie), Red Assortment Buttons, Paper Flowers (retired), Ultra Fine Tipped Black Sharpie, Watercolor Pencils (coloring leaves on the tree)

Springtime Color Challenge for Heart2Heart Challenges!

The Heart 2 Heart Challenge for this week is a color challenge!   We are challenged to use Sweet Leaf, Sky Blue and Sunkiss Yellow for our projects.  When I was playing around with the colors all I could think is what a pretty springtime picture they would make - so that's what I made!  I think this will look great by my front door or in the half bath to welcome spring.

Here is a close up of the layered flowers.

I used a picture frame I bought at the Target dollar spot a couple of years ago and added a sweet hanging bow with our Chocoloate Striped Grosgrain Ribbon.  Everything was cut using the Art Philosophy Cartridge and I did a little bit of stamping on the leaves with the polka dot stamp from "Diverse Backgrounds".  I used a white gel pen and Bronze Glitz to accent the flowers.

To make this project, get these supplies:

Paper:  Sky CS, Sunkiss Yellow CS, Sweet Leaf CS, Kraft CS

Ink:  Sunny Yellow (for edging flowers), Sweet Leaf

Other:  Chocolate Grosgrain Ribbon, Bronze Glitz Glitter Gel, Art Philosophy Cartridge

Look Who's Turning 11 Birthday Card with CTMH Superhero and Look Who's

If you've visited me before, you know I'm a sucker for CTMH stamps.  I have a huge collection that grows with every Idea Book.  When I saw the new stamp set called "Look Who's" in the new Idea Book I fell in love with the banner image that says party AND the awesome scalloped frame with "look who's turning" and "birthday wishes for someone special".  Its just such an adorable emblem to add to a card or scrapbook page.

This week's challenge at Heart2Heart Challenges is a sketch challenge - one of my favorite kinds!  I'll show you the sketch at the bottom of the post and you'll see how perfectly it fits this stamp set!

Close up of the fun Glitz covered cupcakes and emblem:

If you'd like to make this project, get these supplies:

Paper:  Superhero

Stamps:  Look Who's

Ink:  Cranberry, Black

Other:  Art Philosophy Cartridge, Baker's Twine Neutral Assortment, Silver Glitz Glitter Gel, Red Glitz Glitter Gel

And here's the sketch:

I hope you'll join in the fun at Heart2Heart Challenges this week and link a project inspired by this sketch!  Its so much fun and the only limit on what you do is that it must contain some CTMH product!

Champagne and Chocolate for Valentine's Day

Champagne, chocolate and Valentine's Day - they just seem to go together!  This year I probably won't be indulging in the champagne because I've been on Ibuprophen for the aches and pains of training for my black belt but I still wanted to give my husband a treat in celebration of the love we share (not to mention thanking him for all the massages he gives to my sore muscles).  I whipped up a door hanger from the Art Philosophy cartridge which is perfect to hang from a bottle of champagne or sparkling cider and fill with some chocolates.

I also made a couple of cute 4x4" heart cutout cards from the AP cartridge with Black cardstock and filled the openings with our cute Roxie paper.  I'm thinking I'll slip one inside of his computer bag telling him to hurry home on Valentine's night!

After 23 years of having him as my Valentine, I'm still over the moon in love with my husband Mark!  Here's to you babe!

I hope you've been inspired to create something for your special Valentine! 

If you'd like to make this project, get these supplies:

Paper:  Roxie, Kraft Cardstock

Stamp:  Mad About You (December SOTM)

Ink:  Black, Tulip

Other:  Art Philosophy Cartridge, Signo Uni-ball White Gel Pen, Ribbon (retired Organdy but our new Seam Binding would be perfect), Red Baker's Twine (Paper Source)

Heart2Heart Inspiration Challenge card with CTMH Art Philosophy and Live Inspired

The Heart2Heart Challenge this week is an Inspiration challenge!  We were given a beautiful photo and asked to create something based off the picture.  Here's what I was inspired to create!

After I cut the leaves with my Art Philosohy cartridge, I painted them with Pearl Paint to given them a soft shine.  I added some roses and a tag stamped with several images from the "Live Inspired" set.  The butterflies unfortunately didn't photograph very well, in real life they are much prettier with an undercoating of Stardust Glitz, some sparkles and a Liquid Glass cover.  The ribbon is our new seam-binding - this stuff ties bows like a dream! 

To see the inspiration photo and compare my project with the base photo, visit Heart2Heart Challenges by clicking HERE!  To join the fun, create a project using some CTMH product and link your photo using the easy Mr. Linky tool at the bottom of the H2H Challeng post!

After several days of being in the middle of a power outtage due to a massive ice storm, I am so thankful to have power back and be online! We've been through several long term power outtages over the last 11 years so we know how to make-do through them but they are still a big old pain in the butt!  I'm so glad to be back in the land of electricity, central heating, dishwashers and washing machines again!  My poor kids are going to have a whole week tacked on to the end of the school year after this one - lets hope its the last major event of this winter.

Paige

Bling Birthday Card in Amethyst and Crystal Blue for Heart2Heart Challenges

After spending a lot of time with my good friend the snow shovel today, I decided I needed some time to recuperate in my craft room.  Lucky for me, Heart2Heart Challenges posted a new challenge yesterday - use Amethyst, Crystal Blue and Bling on a project.  To play along, simply use some CTMH product on your project and link your photo up with our Mr. Linky tool on this week's challenge post!  Click HERE to go to it!

I needed a birthday card for my DD who is turning 16 tomorrow - EEK!  Can it be possible my little baby girl is 16 years old?!?  I'm so proud of the young woman she has become - she is strong, smart, persistent, loving, helpful, generous, beautiful and hard working.  She is working so hard at school this year taking lots of difficult classes with tons of homework and she keeps at it even if it means doing homework all evening and all weekend.  We all just love her to pieces!

I've also been a busy girl working on display items for my Open House celebration of the Spring/Summer Idea Book.  While I'm not quite ready yet to show off those projects, I thought you might get a kick out of seeing the whirl wind disaster I can create making just ONE little card!  No, I am not a neat creator - I keep pulling out stuff from my stash until I get the look I want which usually means lots of boxes and bags open and on my desk with my creating space getting smaller and smaller!

Hope you are all staying warm and dry on this snowy night!

Paige