Monday, February 28, 2011

CTMH STOM March Blog Hop

I LOVE LOVE LOVE this month's Stamp of the Month called Sensational Season. It is filled with wonderful sentiments and the cutest bunnies. And, the good news is that the bunnies can be used for other reasons besides Easter!



I know that a line stamp set can be daunting if you are not a person who likes to color. I have endeavored to create projects that give suggestions on different ways to work with this and all lines sets. If you have arrived here from Wendy's Blog, you are on the right track for the hop. So, without further ado, here is my first project...



I made this cute little Easter Basket from a 6 x 6 inch piece of Baby Pink card stock scored on each side at the 2 inch mark. It was then cut on 2 sides to the center score line and folded inward. Each image from the stamp set was stamped and cut out. The Mama Bunny's apron and clothing was paper pieced using Sky card stock and paper from Sophia. I did all of my coloring with water color pencils and blended with a water brush. The side mats are woven paper that has been ink distressed. I added paper flowers, sponged the backgrounds, dyed hemp and even dyed glitter gel (more about that on another project.)

This next project shows another way to water color an image using the CTMH markers. Close To My Heart markers are water based and work very well with this method. This method will not work with alcohol markers such as Copics or Sharpies.



Stamp your image (you may want to use StazOn), select markers and have water, a plastic plate or paint pallet handy and a paint brush.










Using the marker, color a "puddle" of ink on your piece of plastic.












Using your brush, add water to the "puddle" of ink.










Pick up color with the brush and begin to paint the image.






Any time you want to paint with another color just create a "puddle" with that color marker and repeat the process. Don't forget to shade your image for a realistic look. Most line stamps are very easy to shade because there is built in shading lines. Just paint the shading lines with a darker matching color.









Use as many colors as you like to complete your project. As a suggestion, have a paper towel hand just in case your paper begins to get wet. You do not want to saturate your paper.







The completed image.










Here is the completed card. It is an 8 x 3 1/2 card. These are great because they fit into any business sized envelope. The sketch is from Originals Card Confidence book.

I did one more project just in case someone is still afraid of coloring. These images are sooooo cute that they can stand alone without coloring.
I used Colonial White, Chocolate and Crystal Blue to complete this card. I mentioned earlier that I would talk about our Glitter Gel. I mixed a drop of Crystal Blue re-inker with a pool of Glitz Glitter Gel to make my own sparkle paint. I applied the mixture with a toothpick to the bow on the package. On the Easter basket, I did the same process on several areas of both images. Try it...it works really well! BTW - the stick pick is made from a jewelry findings header pin with glass beads threaded on it. I tied the bow around it.

This just such a terrific stamp set, I hop....err....hope that you will have fun with it. It's time to hop over to Angel's Blog to see what she has created. Thanks for stopping by. For Now, Happy Crafting!

March Close To My Heart STOM Blog Hop List

Once again it is time for the Stamp of the Month Blog Hop. Following please find the list of this month's participants...stop back a little later to hop hop hop around and see the wonderful artwork created by these talented consultants. BTW - "hop hop hop" is a little tip about this month's stamp. For Now, Happy Crafting!

Helen Onulak http://www.hookedonstamping.com
Kathleen Androlewicz http://BowlOfStamps.blogspot.com
Brae Montgomery http://thebrae-er.blogspot.com
Jill Lucas http://scrapwench.blogspot.com
Tammy Lea Pinchard http://mycreativeclubhouse.blogspot.com
Wendy Fording http://papercreationsbywendy.blogspot.com
Cindy Leek http://www.paperspadsandpictures.blogspot.com
Sawyer http://RunningwithScissorsDesignCo.blogspot.com
Melissa Robinson http://www.mlisrobinson.blogspot.com.
Caren Goldstein http://www.scrappycaren.blogspot.com
Terri Baxter http://www.themidnightartist.blogspot.com
Melissa Laverty http://www.fancymelissa.com
Kimberly Smith http://verykimberry.blogspot.com
Terrie Dodd http://www.my-life-in-real-time.blogspot.com
Vickie Tagatz http://create-with-me-vickie.blogspot.com
Angela Tutton http://www.tuttonstreasures.blogspot.com
Wanda Riley http://Creatingwithwanda.blogspot.com
Jen Patrick http://roxybonds-scrappin.blogspot.com
Sheila Bennett http://sheila-bennett.blogspot.com
Sarita Schraeder http://www.blessedscrapper.com
Doreen Guilfoyle http://whereisyourhappyplace.blogspot.com
Pamela O'Connor http://cherishyourmemories.blogspot.com
Adeline Brill http://www.adeline-brill.blogspot.com
Nancy Brown http://creativelyartsygallery.blogspot.com
Traci Godbee http://createwithtraci.blogspot.com
Krista Ritskes http://kristaritskes-simplycreating.blogspot.com
Georgia Hauglid http://inkygeorgia.blogspot.com
Lori Brown http://www.savingmine.blogspot.com
Annette Green http://AnnettesCreativeJourney.blogspot.com
Carla Ironside http://carlacreates.blogspot.com
Katy Donaldson http://www.scrappinkaty.blogspot.com
Susan Brooks http://stampingintheopen.blogspot.com
Beth Naumann http://www.bethscreativeblock.blogspot.com
Kami Welter http://www.scrappin4memories.blogspot.com
Dawn Ross http://iamahappystamper.blogspot.com
Jen Rubio http://JenRubio.blogspot.com
Tamytha Jenkins http://www.paperheartist.com
LeAnne Dudley http://www.dudleychickdesigns.blogspot.com
Dawn Heuft http://stamptildawn.blogspot.com
Laurie Newton http://www.scrapsfromthebeach.blogspot.com
Mary Eisen http://mestamp2.blogspot.com
Michelle Loncar http://michelleloncar.blogspot.com
Debra Van Patten http://memoriesoftheheartbydeb.blogspot.com
Carol Harris http://www.carol-harris.blogspot.com
Haley Dyer http://inkyscrapper.blogspot.com
Melinda Everitt http://ifyoublingittheywillcome.blogspot.com
Judy Burger http://www.makingtimeformemories.blogspot.com
Shirley Ross http://www.momnmescrap.blogspot.com
Tamra Pope http://tamrascraftypapercreations.blogspot.com
Teresa Scrivens http://www.creatingwithinkypaw.com
Nicole Griggs http://nicolescreativezone.blogspot.com
Paige Dolecki http://www.PaigesPaperParadise.blogspot.com
Tonya Whitehurst http://heartandsoulscrappers.blogspot.com
Traci Pasqualone http://ScrapiTraci.blogspot.com
Shannon Beck http://www.cardsfromthefarm.blogspot.com
Lisa Sargent http://lisa-sargent.blogspot.com
Wendy Coffman http://www.stampingrules.blogspot.com

Sunday, February 27, 2011

Another Card for City Crafter Challenge Blog

As I was searching the stash yesterday looking for the line stamp I used in yesterday's post, I also found another great stamp set. I have had this one for years also. It is so much fun and perfect for another card for the City Crafter Challenge Blog.




I have always loved this set. The flower pot, leaves, flowers and grass are all individual stamps. You stamp each one individually and no two times that you use the set does the image come out the same. The flower pot is a line stamp that I water colored using a paint brush and ink squeezed onto the lid of the stamp pad...a fun technique. I love pots of flowers and greenery that are a mixture and drip over the sides of the container. Every year I plant oodles of these and place them all over my patio. :o) That was the look I was going for when completing this card. I think I used about 12 different colors of ink when doing this image...yes really 12 because I had to put them all away then.

Well, thanks again to gals at City Crafter Challenge Blog for helping me find this fun stamp set. For Now, Happy Crafting!

Saturday, February 26, 2011

Nothing To It! A Handmade Note Card for City Crafter Challenge Blog

For the last several weeks I have had a great time playing along with the challenges at the City Crafter Challenge Blog. This week's challenge was to create a card with "no bows, no lace, no flowers, no buttons." Ugh...No ribbon, no brads...no buttons...no bows...what is a girl to do? :o)

As I started thinking about what project I could do, I remembered this outline stamp in my stash. I have never used it so I thought, well, the image can't handle much embellishment, so let me try it now!


The image was first heat embossed with Silver Pearl Embossing Powder on a black sheet of card stock. I then began to paint it with moistened Perfect Pearls. Let me tell you, it took on a life of its own. My original intent was to add sparkles, but after the painting was complete, I felt that it would have been over the top! :o) The completed image was cut out directly along the embossing lines and matted to match colors that are in the image.

I know that I keep saying it, but I really do enjoy the City Crafter Challenge Blog's unique weekly challenges. Please do visit them and see the wonderful artwork that other participants create. For Now, Happy Crafting!

Thursday, February 24, 2011

Handmade Wedding Card Featuring Close To My Heart Bliss Papers

I didn't realize how much time had passed since my last post...soooo busy but soooo much fun creating! Bliss is one of the new Close To My Heart paper packets. It combines soft shades of Bamboo, Colonial White, Gray Flannel and Chocolate. Odd color combo but it works perfectly for Weddings!

My cousin saw the Wedding Card I had made a few weeks back and asked me to create one for a Wedding she will be attending in a few weeks. This card needed to include shades of "berry."





This card is done on a 5 x 7 inch base of Bamboo card stock. My first layer is Vineyard Berry. The next layer is one of the B/T Duo's from Bliss. I split it and the lower portion is the side with the Gray Flannel and the upper portion is the Bamboo. I hid the seam with the ribbon panels. That's the last of my Vineyard Berry ribbon that was included in the now retired Emporium Creative Basics kit (bummer).




The Cake was heat embossed in gold. It is colored using Blush and Vineyard Berry inks blended with a blending pen. The leaves are New England Ivy, Olive and Garden Green. I used my Spica pen (a clear gel glitter pen) to lightly color over the draping icing. I added some of CTMH's Opaques Mocha Pearls for added bling. The cake has been popped up on a mat of Colonial White. Before I sponged the Colonial White with Bamboo, Gray Flannel and Vineyard Berry, using a piece of Saran Wrap, I randomly stamped Liquid Glass all over the mat. When it dries, it gives a nice texture and an ink resist. I think it gives a nice shaddow effect for the background of the cake. What do you think?


The cake image is from a retired CTMH set called Now and Forever. CTMH has a new Wedding Cake image that is included in the set called Precious Love (C1444). I really like it but just haven't had a chance to get my hands on it yet!


My Cousin also wanted a matching Gift Card Holder...

It is just a simple piece of Bamboo scored and attached on the sides to form a pocket. It is held closed with Velcro.

Time to head off to teach a scrapbooking class...For Now, Happy Crafting!

Sunday, February 20, 2011

City Crafter Challenge #44

I must say that I am having fun with the City Crafter Challenge Blog's Challenges. This week was a fun color challenge. We were given the following picture for inspiration...

When I studied the picture, I saw lots of fun colors to work with...shades of blue, pink, yellow and that little touch of orange on the cut little guy sitting by himself in the background and the bow tied to the tail of the little mouse. Since the picture was fun, I decided to do a "fun" card.

I wanted to capture all the fun colors in my design. I used 2 shades of blue (Heavenly Blue and Lagoon), 2 shades of pink (Blush and Hollyhock) Buttercup yellow and one flower center has just a touch of Autumn Terracotta for the orange. The cake image is from "A Piece of Cake" and captures the flower in the one gal's hair. Repeating elements in a card is always a sound design principle. The mats cut with my Nesties, the scallop board punched with my Threading Water Fiscars punch and the pink button all use the same curved shape found in flowers. The two gals enjoying their drinks both have polka dot sleeves. That is why I used my Cuttlebug Swiss Dot embossing folder, the brads and my silver Spica pen for the repeating dots. For a little more bling, I used Glitter Gel on the flame and button and again used the Spica pen to color the centers of the flowers and the cake stand. Here is the full card...
A fun Birthday card with an easy to follow design. Remember, when completing a card or scrapbook page, repeating elements will help to tie your card together and help the lookers eye move around the project. They can then easily enjoy all the work that you put into making your special piece of artwork. By the way, I used a blending pen and the colors mentioned above to color the cake after I had heat embossed it in Cocoa.

Thanks again to the gals at City Crafter Challenge Blog for helping me to get my creative juices flowing. For Now, Happy Crafting!

Close To My Heart Card Workshop

We had a great time at the Card Workshop yesterday! The workshop was called "February Flower Power" and featured the Sweetheart Paper Packet, Pink and Red Sparkles and all kinds of ways to make flowers. We also learned how to read a card sketch and made several cards (all different) from the same sketch.


Here are some of the participants diligently working on a card that featured a ribbon rose...



We have already decided that in March we'll be making a 6 x 6 inch CTMH accordion album and learning how to incorporate stamping into our scrapbook layouts. I shall post pictures of that project and the date and time in the near future. If you live in the Philadelphia PA area and would like to join in the fun, just let me know. For Now, Happy Crafting!

Thursday, February 17, 2011

Close To My Heart Card Workshop

A quick post today as I am very busy getting ready not only for my SDU classes, but also, my Card Workshop on Saturday. I am also working on items for my Artfire shop, but more about that later... :o)



This is a sample of the cards that we will be making. They feature Sweetheart papers and A Posey stamp set. I call it February Flower Power. There are some buttons, brads and sparkles thrown in too!

I run these card workshops monthly so if you are in the Philadelphia PA area, let me know if you would like to join in the fun.

BTW - a shout out to the ladies over at the City Crafters Challenge Blog...I was mentioned (again...hehe) as a Spotlight Artist on their weekly challenge. You can find my Wedding Card here. For Now, Happy Crafting!

Tuesday, February 15, 2011

Close To My Heart CAS Card

I really like doing these clean and simple cards. After you have thought out the design, they really don't take that long because the beauty of the card is IN the design...not the layers...not the embellishments...not the fuss.

This card was made using Close To My Heart's great paper packet called Miracles. I just love the soft blues and greens.






The card is done on an A2 base of Colonial White card stock. I used a technique called "ink resist" on the focal point mat. I heat embossed both the flourish and sentiment in Olive embossing powder. One it had cooled, I heavily sponged a mixture of Crystal Blue and Sweet Leaf all over the mat. The ink will not cover the embossing and it gives a lovely shaded look. What do you think? The butterflies were cut from Crystal Blue and Opaque Pearls were added for their little bodies. A quick simple card with elegant results.


Product List: CTMH - Miracle Paper Packet, Crystal Blue, Sweet Leaf and Colonial White Card stock. CTMH - Crystal Blue and Sweet Leaf inks. CTMH - Delightful Things and Carefree Days. CTMH - Olive Embossing Powder and Versamark ink. CTMH - Pearls


I was inspired to use "Miracles" yesterday because look what I found when I walked out my front door...



Truly a "Miracle" how those Snowdrops poked up through the snow. Spring CAN'T be far away. For Now, Happy Crafting!

Saturday, February 12, 2011

All That Glitters...a City Crafter Challenge Blog Card

I am really enjoying the City Crafter Challenge Blog's weekly challenges. I missed last week due to "circumstances" but I have been able to complete a card for the most recent challenge. This week's challenge was harder than it sounds....complete a card using Gold and Silver. Hum...gold and silver...I mix those colors all the time when I am too forgetful to change my earrings, but try and coordinate in into a card? I am not afraid to say that I played with this card for 2 days before I came up with the completed project.

The Wedding Cake image was heat embossed in gold, cut out and colored. I used shades of pink for the roses and colored the draped icing with a silver metallic pen (doesn't look shinny in the pix but you will have to trust me it sparkles in real life.) Silver Sparkles were also added. The mat that the card was placed on was a mulit-step process. First I stamped the flourish in the corner. Next, the entire mat was randomly "stamped" with Liquid Glass using a piece of crumpled plastic wrap. When that was dry, I sponged the entire area with a combination of Gray Flannel and Bamboo inks. The dried Liquid Glass creates an ink resist for the sponging. The edge was highlighted using Black ink. The pattern paper is from a CTMH packet called Bliss. The ribbon for the gold knot was attached using silver photo clips. A pink, silver and crystal floral pick was added to the knot. The pick was bent to mimic the flourish in the cake.


So, the gold on the card is the heat embossed cake and ribbon. The silver is the flourish, bling, floral pick and photo clips...whew... :o) I think the cake's mat combined with the pattern paper sort of looks like wallpaper at a Wedding Reception Hall. What do you think? :o)


Definitely a harder challenge than it sounds but I had fun "agonizing" over the card. BTW - a special thanks to my friend Jenny. She helped me work out the all the details on the card this afternoon. Don't forget to check out the City Crafter Challenge Blog. The ladies do a terrific job. For Now, Happy Crafting!



Monday, February 7, 2011

A Close To My Heart Clean and Simple Card Using a Flourish

Time for another challenge! :o) Before I started my major project (to be posted at a later date)for the day, I checked out the Splitcoast Stampers website for the usual Monday Clean and Simple Challenge. It has been mentioned before, but a Clean and Simple card (CAS) is one that focuses on design not "frills." This weeks challenge was to use red, yellow and peach on a card. Delightful spring colors and I am sooooo ready for spring.


The use of a "flourish" on a card or scrapbook page is trendy right now. But, if not done properly, a flourish can weigh down or clutter a project. A flourish, like any other embellishment should help the eye move across the project and highlight the focal point.



For this card, I used the largest flourish stamp found in the Close To My Heart set called "Cherished Flourishes." I purposely stamped it (Sorbet ink) on an angle so that it would be a base for my focal point. The frame for the sentiment was stamped in Tulip ink and cut out. Thank You was also stamped in Tulip. It was attached just slightly overlapping the flourish. As a small embellishment I used the rock and roll stamping technique for the small flower (Creme Brulee and Sorbet inks), cut it out and added a small Tulip brad to the center. Using a pop up dot, it was attached to the corner of the sentiment frame. I added the Tulip ribbon to the bottom as an anchor for the flourish.

Supply List (All Close To My Heart Products)

Card Stock: Colonial White, Tulip, Creme Brulee, Sorbet

Inks: Tulip, Creme Brulee, Sorbert

Stamp Sets: Cherished Flourishes, Unity, Tag the Occasion

Accessories: Tulip Ribbon, Tulip Brad and Pop Dot

A flourish can be used to add motion, as an accent or to highlight the main focal point on either a scrapbook page or card. Don't be afraid to give a flourish a try. For Now, Happy Crafting!

Friday, February 4, 2011

Close To My Heart Mix and Mingle Bell Pull

This winter is the pits! I don't think it even matters where you live either. Here in the Philadelphia area we have had snow, ice, wind freezing rain...just this week alone and the weather people have issued yet another alert starting this afternoon until 10:00pm TOMORROW! AHHHH I am struggling to decide if I should delay my Idea Book kick off party even...Everyone is soooo ready for spring.
Way back when the weather was warm and I went to Convention, I got a Mix and Mingle album. These alterable part acrylic and part chipboard albums are terrific. Each piece measures 4 inches square and once completed are connected together with jump rings. I have been waiting for the right time to use it. A hanging bell pull to welcome spring seemed the perfect opportunity.

I used a variety of fun products and techniques to complete this bell pull. The album actually comes with 3 acrylic and 5 chip board pages. My plan to to use the other pieces on a stand up picture frame and a sticky note holder. Quite a value for the money. Anyway, I will share pictures of the individual panels and explain how I made them.

Panel 1


Panel 1 is made using a chipboard piece. It was covered with Crystal Blue card stock. I added a piece of pattern paper from the new Miracle paper packet. The 2nd layer was completed by painting a wash of Pearl Paint mixed with Sweet Leaf re-inker onto Colonial White. When it dried, I randomly stamped in Olive, the large flourish from the Circle of Love stamp set. The tag was cut from Bamboo using my Cuttlebug, the edges were stamped in Olive with the small flourish in the same set. I sponged the edges in Bamboo. The roses were made by rolling card stock that had been cut into a spiral. The leaves were made using my MS rose leaf punch. The butterfly was sponged in Blush and is from the Miracle Irresistibles set. Pink Sparkles were added for bling. BTW - the hanger was made by threading Sweet Leaf ribbon through the holes in the top. One side of the stitching on the ribbon was gathered to make the medallion and another chipboard piece was sponged and attached for the center.

Panel 2

This panel is done on acrylic. The butterfly and bracket are both from the Miracle Irresistables and were sponged with Blush, Crystal Blue and Sweet Leaf. The roses are rolled Blush card stock and the leaves again are made using the punch. There are more Sparkles for Bling. Attaching items to acrylic is easy when you know how! I use CTMH Liquid Glass. Because it dries clear, you will never see adhesive on the back side!

Panel 3



Panel 3 is very similar to Panel 2. Chipboard that has been sponged and attached to the acrylic piece with Liquid Glass. On this panel, I repeated the medallion element also.


Panel 4


The fourth and final panel returns to covered chipboard. It was covered and matted the same way that the first panel was except this time a wash of Pearl Paint and Crystal Blue re-inker was used. The grass was made by stamping the grass image from "A Hop" onto Colonial White card stock in Olive and New England Ivy. The rose stems are from "Smiles" and were stamped in New England Ivy. The roses were made the same way and the butterfly is also an Irresistables. "Spring" is made from stickers that were sponged in Blush. I added Twinkle brads in the lower corners to finish the project.

Complete Product List


Stamp Sets: Welcome Home, Circle of Life, Smiles, A Hop

Colors: (card stock, ink pads and re-inker) Blush, Crystal Blue, New England Ivy, Olive, Bamboo, Colonial White, Sweet Leaf

Paper Packet: Miracle

Other Items: Sparkles, Sweet Leaf Ribbon, Miracle Irresistables, Liquid Glass, Glue Dots, Color Ready Alphabet Stickers, Cuttlebug and Mix and Mingle Album


Here is the completed Bell Pull one more time...

I hope that everyone stays safe in this nasty weather and let's not forget to "Welcome Spring." For Now, Happy Crafting!