New, New, New!!!

New papers, colors, crafting supplies are always tons of fun!  Close to My Heart released their a new Annual Inspirations at their convention last month.  Love the new stamps, papers, kits, markers, and more, but mostly, I just like the new ideas!  Here are a few cards I did with the new markers.  Very cool ShinHan Twin Touch markers!  So creamy, smooth, rich, and blendable! 

Happy Birthday, Sister!

I've been seeing these little box pop-up cards all over the place!  So, for my sister's birthday tomorrow, I quickly made one from Close to My Heart's Jubilee paper pack.  I can officially say I've actually used every paper pack that Close to My Heart carried from July 2103 to July 2014!  Now time to clean out the studio and make room for new papers, colors, inks, embellishments, and more.

Riding Balloons on the Paper Trail

You're on the the Paper Trail Blog Hop, if you've hopped from Trisha's blog.  What a way to travel around the globe!  I thought the Balloon Ride papers would be difficult to use but I was surprised to find how easy and flexible Close to My Heart's colors and design choices work together.  I created two cards, each using a different stamp set but still focused on one central image.  Amazing how different each card looks.

I know you will want to see even more inspiring work hopping to Betsy's blog.  If you want details for any of these pieces of artwork or others you see in this hop, feel free to email me!

Skylark on the Paper Trail

What a fun paper feature for the Paper Trail blog hop: Skylark. If you cam here from Amy's blog, Welcome!  The Paper Trail is small circular blog hope and we hope you will enjoy circling our artwork  I was inspired by cruising Pinterest and the Close To My Heart how to Make it From Your Heart Vol. II book.  While I am a huge fan of vintage themed papers and Skylark screams vintage to me, it is also very versatile.  The two cards I created as so different! Shoot me any questions or comments and then hop over to Linda's blog to continue on down the trail.

Close to My Heart Supplies

Skylark Paper Packet

Outdoor Denim Cardstock

Slate Striped Twist Ties

Cocoa Exclusive Ink Pad

Lagoon Exclusive Ink Pad

Holiday Tags Stamp Set

Teal Shimmer Tape

Paradise Assortment Baker's Twine

Wooden Mini-Medley Accents Collection

Cricut Art Philosophy Collection
 Cricut Artiste Collection

Square Durables (retired)

Happy Birthday, Sweetie!

Life is so busy!   Between work and the holidays, I tried to get a little crafting in.  Here is my sweetie's birthday card I created one morning before running off to work, literally.  These cards were done in less than an hour from walking up the stairs to the studio to taking the photos.  Only thing I left for later in the day was the decision which card to use.  I couldn't decide which background I liked better.   I used washi tape over white cardstock for two panels one card. Then I tried dry embossing and stamping the panels of the other card.  Which one do you think I chose?

Close to My Heart Supplies

Kraft cardstock

White Daisy cardstock

Glitter Paper brown and tan

Black cardstock

Washi Tape slate polka dot

Opaques Adhesive Gems mocha

Heartfelt Birthday Wish stamp

Distressed Backgrounds stamp set

Black ink pad

Distressing Inks black

Sarita on the Paper Trail

I loved the the Sarita paper pack when this catalog first came out and have waited patiently (eh, maybe not so patiently) for it to be the feature on the Paper Trial blog hop.  If you came from Linda's blog, you already know why I'm so excited!  The rich colors and trendy/retro designs are to die for!  I made two birthday cards this week with the paper for a friend and my mom.  After getting inspired from these cards, hop along the trail to Karen's blog! 

Let's Play Babycakes on the Paper Trail!

The Babycakes paper from Close to my Heart is a baby themed paper but it's more than that.  If you hop through the Paper Trail Blog, you'll see lots to inspire you using this versatile paper.  If you're coming from Amy's blog, you have already seen some beautiful artwork.  I don't know of anyone having a baby in the next month or so but I do have lots of birthdays coming so I decided to create two birthday cards.  One combines and coordinates with Laughing Lola.  Who'd have thought that!?!?  The other I used washi tape to make the ruffle along the punch balloons.  Both cards were from Make it From Your Heart, Vol 2, by Close to My Heart.

Close to My Heart Supplies:

Babycakes Paper Pack

Laughing Lola Paper Pack

Washi Wonder Stamp Set

Holiday Tags Stamp Set

Perfect Fit Frames Stamp Set

Perfect Fit Birthday Stamp Set

Lagoon Houndstooth Washi Tape

Lagoon Ink

Black Ink

Lagoon Cardstock

Laughing Lola Cardstock

Buttercup Cardstock

Aqua Dots

Shoot me questions about the materials or products I used and hop on down the trail to Lynne's blog! 

1,2,3 Craft!

It's the middle of the month again which means a challenge by Tracey!  We are welcoming Darly to our little hop this month.  I managed to get my card done in about 20 minutes so it's very quick.  Tracey's challenge was to use the Originals pattern called To the Point.  I rotated my card to show versatility as well a highlighted the You are My Happy September special from Close to My Heart.  The special is actually three stamp sets in one:  cute alphabet, seasonal images, and great quotes.

 You can other creative uses for the To the Point pattern on Betsy's blog.  See you next month!

1,2,3 Hop!!

Did you see how Betsy and Tracey interpreted this could card design?  It was so fast and easy!!!  I loved the fresh, eye catching focus circle.  This design is from the Close to My Heart's Originals Card Confidence Program and is called Heart Tag.  It's supposed to be a little 3"X4" card but that is only a suggestion, meant to spur creativity.  Here's my creativity:

Cherries, Apples, Peaches.......the Fruit of Summer

These two cards were made with Close to My Heart's July Stamp of the Month: Sweet Life.  I haven't done outline images to color in I don't know how long!!!  These are birthday cards for family members.  I loved this stamp the first time I saw it!

Close to My Heart Supplies

July Stamp of the Month: Sweet Life

Buzz and Bumble Paper Pack

For Always Paper Pack

Watercolor Pencils

Burlap Ribbon

Artisan Studs

Opaques - Cream

White Daisy Cardstock

Honey Cardstock

Black Cardstock

1,2,3 Scrapping in June!!!

Time has flown so quickly since the last time Tracy and Betsy and I posted for this hop!  Tracy chose a cute zig zag circle card from the Close to My Heart Cricut Art Philosophy cartridge as this month's 1,2,3, Scrap challenge.  These two cards are for a couple of graduates I want to send good wishes and congratulations.  Not only did I cut the cards and circles, I also cut out matching envelopes.  These went together so fast!!!  Only thing I have to wait on is the glitter glitz to dry!  LOL 

Hope these inspire you!  All products are Close to My Heart:
A1135  Quick Card- Bumble Bee
1271    Cardstock - Buttercup
X5751  Cardstock - Sorbet
Z2114  Exclusive Inks Stamp Pad - Cocoa
Z2123  Exclusive Inks Stamp Pad - Goldrush
Z2415  Exclusive Inks Marker Set - Honey
Z1732  Color-Ready Seam Binding Ribbon
Z1769  Glitz Glitter Gel - Almond
Z1770  Glitz Glitter Gel - Pink
Z1771  Glitz Glitter Gel - Green
Z1375  Kraft Cardstock
Z1686   Cricut Art Philosophy Cartridge

Q

1,2,3, Scrap in May!!!

Welcome to the mid-month blog hop with Tracey, Betsy, and me! 

This is probably the quickest card I have made in a long, long time!  I can't remember a better or busier spring.  The weather has been great after a mild winter, we had a fabulous Mother's Day, and the school year is ending on great notes!  We're going to a friend's on Saturday to celebrate his 60th revolution around the sun (LOL  and those are HIS words) so I need a masculine card for this weekend.  Close to My Heart's Later Sk8r paper was perfect for this occasion.  This card is designed around the wonderfully adaptable Pattern #20 from the Make it From Your Heart scrapping and card how-to book and took me less than 30 minutes.  Don't you love how easy and fast cards like these go together!

 

 

Close to My Heart Supplies

Later Sk8r Paper Packet

Slate Exclusive Inks stamp pad

Whisper Exclusive Inks stamp pad

Outdoor Denim Exclusive Inks stamp pad

Lagoon Exclusive Inks stamp pad

Slate cardstock

White Daisy cardstock

Fast and Furious stamp set

Make it From Your Heart Vol. 1

1,2,3 Scrap!!!

It's the 15th and time for our little mid-month hop!  Tracey challenged us to use the egg shaped card on the Cricut Art Philosophy cartridge.  I made my cards from soft pinks and used the Chantilly paper to make cute flowers, also cut from the same cartridge.  The bow and word Easter are cut from the Cricut Artiste cartridge.  I love how "Easter" turned out with sponged with the different colors from the Chantilly paper pack.  Be sure to hop over to Betsy's and Tracey's blogs and check out their "egg" ideas!

Change It Up and Keep It the Same!!!

I  have been busy creating cards and cards and cards!!!  The new Close to My Heart Chantilly Card Workshop on the Go has papers, embellishments, stamp set, and instructions for 15 birthday cards.  I did them all in about an hour and a half just adding ink and adhesive.  But I didn't stop there.  The kit has enough Background and Texture paper to make another set of cards, so I did!  I followed the cutting guides but changed the Kraft/Desert Sand colors to Creme Brulee, the Sunset to Cotton Candy, and the Lagoon to Pear, all part of the CTMH colors featured in the Chantilly coordinated paper pack, that I have in my "stash".  I pulled out some favorites for the embellishments: Creme Brulee bulk ribbon (retired), Pink Assortments Buttons, Color-Ready Seam Binding (and dyed it with Cotton Candy Reinker), and a little bit of Creme Brulee Baker's Twine from the Paradise Assortment to finish off the buttons.  I think all the cards came through fabulously!  Below are cluster photos to compare the the different "look".  What difference the colors make, even using the same patterns!  I love this set!

Happy 81, Mom!!!

Mom's birthday is January 1.  Yep, she was a New Year's Baby in 1932.  She's an amazing, amazing active and independent 81 year old.  My brother and I met her on New Years in downtown Seattle to celebrate her birthday and here is the card I got her, which was shamelessly copied from Vickie Wizniuck, a wonderfully amazingly creative Close to My Heart consultant.

All Supplies are Close to My Heart

Florentine Paper Pack

Card Word Puzzle Stamp Set

Just a Number Stamp Set

Twilight Exclusive Ink Pad

Basics Exclusive Inks Mini Pigment Pad Set

White Daisy Cardstock

Cocoa Cardstock

Designer Rounds Cocoa Collection ribbons

Opaques Pearl Adhesive Gems

White Daisy Embossing Powder

Versamark Ink Pad

Waterbrush

Celebrating Two Wonderful Women!

I have a gym routine:  5:00AM wake up and on a cardio machine by 5:20 weekday mornings.  I altered that routine on Thursday do make some quick cards for two good friends from work.  One celebrated a birthday and the other got the job she has dreamed of for years.  I'm so thrilled to call them my friends!  I'm equally impressed the Close to My Heart products that I could create such wonderful expressions from my heart in an hour!!!

These cards use the warm, trendy colors of the Clementine paper pack.  Look at all the wonderful embellishments and stamps that coordinate with these papers!  Such totally different looks from just one paper pack. 

Close to My Heart Supplies:

Clementine Paper Pack

Burlap Ribbon

Paradise Paper Flowers

Flutter Paper Shapes

Antique Copper Designer Brads

Opaques Adhesive Gems - Pearl

Make If From Your Heart Volume 1

Cricut Art Philosphy Collection

Just for You Stamp Set

Card Chatter - Birthday Stamp Set

4 My Friend Stamp Set

Close to My Heart Exclusive Colors:

Cocoa

Saddle

Cashmere

Champagne

New England Ivy

Twilight

Creme Brulee

Sorbet

Colonial White

Don't Throw Those Workshop On The Go Brochures Away!!!

I love the Workshops On The Go brochures from Close to My Heart!  I have saved all of them since they were first introduced.  Artwork trends change over the years and the older how-to books and WOTG brochure artwork don't seem as fresh and new but you know what?  The techniques and ideas can be used again and again whether they inspire or are a guide when the "mojo" is lost or just to save time.  Recently, I pulled out a package of 6"X6" Kraft Die-Cut cards and envelopes.  This time I really was in a hurry as I needed some thank you cards and my stash was empty.  I was also stumped.  What to do with these large kraft cards?  I pulled out the Sonoma WOTG brochure which features a bonus project using 5 kraft cards.  I  used the Dotty For You paper special from this spring, dug out some coordinating embellishments from my stash and whipped out these cards in about an hour.  Fast and easy, new and trendy, all inspired by older art.  I'm not throwing my brochures away and I'm collecting the new ones!!!

Happy Birthday Sweetie!

I love Michael! He turns 52 today and I gave him several gifts including this perpetual calendar and a card (other gifts were no handmade....  :))  Here is the perpetual calendar I made.  Turned out to be pretty easy to do and my wonderful friend Tracey and each made one in an afternoon.  We got the idea from the Close to My Heart consultant website.

This uses a 12X12 chipboard base, Mischief papers, and various letters and alphabets.  Isn't it cute?  I was just surprised how fast it actually went together!

For Michael's card, I used a Mojo Monday sketch.  He favorite color is purple so I tried to use purple with a masculine twist:

BIG Happy Birthday to my Love!

Paper Trail Blog Hop featuring Wonderland paper

Happy New Year and welcome to 2012!  If you got here from Karen's Inky Fingers blog, you have already been treated to the fabulous paper featured this month.  For January, our little blog hop is featuring Close to My Heart's Wonderland paper, for an elegant "wintery" feel using neutral grays, soothing blues, toasty browns, and accented with light trendy lavender.  These are thank you cards for the students and friends who gifted me for Christmas so each is a small notecard.  I seem to be making lots of little notecards these days.

  For more beautiful work featuring the Wonderland papers, continue to hop over to Vicki's Wizard Hangout blog!