Stamping Bella Challenge

Wow, I did a few challenges this week....here is my entry for Stamping Bella's Bellarific Friday challenge. The theme was "Pop It Up" and from another great Canadian stamp company!

This sweet image is called "Everyday Princess", by Christy Croll. She seemed a bit rebellious, so I paired her with Close To My Heart's Sweetheart patterned paper and coordinating cardstock.

My background mat is Tulip cardstock; then Colonial White; and then patterned paper for the top layer. The reverse side of the black patterned paper is the same I used on the pop up portion of her skirt and on the scalloped border.

I used my Edge Distresser on the Colonial White layers to add more interest to the card. The pink layers are Blush cardstock. I coloured the image with my Copic markers using shades of grey and pinks, since these seem to be the colours my 13 year old daughter are wearing. She is a bit rebellious these days, so this is my ode to her this week.

Finally, I added some black Opaque gems; Clear Sparkles and butcher's twine to finish off this card. You can also see it alongside other entries on the Stamping Bella Blog today.

All supplies are Close To My Heart, unless noted.

Paper: Sweetheart

Stamp: Everyday Princess by Christy Croll at Stamping Bella

Cardstock: Colonial White; Tulip; Black; Blush

Embellisments: Black Opaque gems; Clear Sparkles

Tools: Corner/scallop maker

Other: butcher's twine; Copic markers

More Flower Power.....

While playing along with challenges last week, I cut out some extra flowers with my new Spellbinders Grand Peony dies. They paired so well with Elemental paper, I put together this card:

The sentiment on this card is from CTMH's Tea Time, stamped in Olive. The background stamped on the shape, is from Universal Backgrounds (which, by the way, I've been calling something else!). I stamped the background with Garden Green and also sponged with it.

The flower is cut from Elemental patterned paper, with Tulip and Sorbet cardstock. I inked the patterned flowers with Desert Sand ink.

I added Twill ribbon that I pleated; a Colonial White button with Sorbet waxy flax; and finally 3 Opaques Adhesive Gems.

All supplies are Close To My Heart, unless noted.

Stamps: Tea Time; Universal Backgrounds

Ink: Desert Sand; Garden Green; Olive; Sorbet

Cardstock: Tulip; Sunflower; Honey; Sorbet; Colonial white; Olive

Embellishments: Opaques Adhesive Gems; Colonial White buttons; Sorbet waxy flax

Other: Cricut and Spellbinders

The witch's dress.....

Okay, so when I first spied this technique on a fellow CTMH consultant's blog, I went crazy and made several of these dresses. Mandy Leahy is very creative and is always coming up with creative ways to use our Art Philosophy cartridge.

I started with cutting a 3" scalloped circled with my Art Philosophy cartridge from retired Orange cardstock. Before scoring it, I stamped the edges with this flourish spider web border from the stamp set included with Mischief's Workshop on the Go. You can see it by clicking on the link to my website.

I started with a Barn Red cardstock mat, added a layer with Colonial White and then the striped patterned paper from Mischief. The "Witch Hazel" square is cut from another patterned paper in the paper kit. I stamped the border, on the Colonial White scalloped edge border, from August's stamp of the month, Wicked. The stamped the cat in black, then embossed her in clear embossing powder.

The black and white patterned papers are also from the Mischief paper pack. Finally I added Black Opaques to the dress flower and two corners of the card, to finish things off.

All supplies are Close To My Heart, unless noted.

Stamps: Mischief Workshop On The Go; Wicked

Patterned Paper: Mischief

Cardstock: Barn Red; Colonial White; Grey Flannel

Ink: Black

Embellishments: Black Opaques; Black printed grosgrain ribbon

Other: Art Philosophy; Clear Embossing powder

Christmas Tree craziness

Well, here is another creation inspired from Mandy Leahy. A fellow Close To My Heart Consultant, Mandy's tree was gorgeous, but a crazy crazy 17" high! There was no way I was going to take that on, so this tree was created on an 8" styrofoam cone.

I used 6 different green cardstock colours: Sweet Leaf; Topiary; Garden Green; Olive; Pear; and retired Citrus Leaf. I cut the spikey flower with CTMH's Art Philosophy cartridge at 2 3/4"; 3"; 3 1/4" and 3 1/2 ". I rolled them and secured them with Liquid Glass on the bottom.

I usually let mine set overnight, just to be sure the Liquid glass had dried. I started with 2 sheets each of all 6 colours. You can cut 9 flowers on each 12 x 12 sheet of cardstock. I ended up cutting an additional 2 sheets for each colour, in order to finish this tree. Yes, that IS a lot of flowers for one tree!

The close up shows how the flowers are fanned out and I've attached them to the cone with pins, I picked up at a fabric store. I added Cranberry grosgrain ribbon as a garland, then went on to the all important tree topper.

The topper, also lifted from Mandy's tree, is 3 stars cut from our AP cartridge at about 2 1/2", from Cranberry cardstock. I coloured each with our Bonding Memories Glue pen. When the glue had turned clear and was tacky, I rubbed on our Prisma Glitter. I scored each in the middle, then stuck them together with a kebob skewer in the middle. Then I stuck the skewer in to the top of the tree and fluffed the flowers up around it.

All supplies are Close To My Heart, unless noted.

Cardstock: Cranberry; Sweet Leaf; retired Citrus Leaf; Garden Green; Olive; Topiary; Pear.

Embellishments: Cranberry grosgrain ribbon; Prisma Glitter

Tools: Art Philosophy cartridge; Liquid Glass

Other: White headed pins; skewer

A Kraftin' Kimmie Challenge

I really love to find Canadian made products and that is what Kraftin' Kimmies are! This week was a sketch challenge so I inked "Giselle" and "Kimmie's Tea Sentiments" up for this one.

I started by picking my Copic markers and then paired those up with Close To My Heart's Mayberry patterned paper and coordinated cardstock. The base cardstock colour is Honey, then I added some Hollyhock patterned paper. The sentiment mat is Hollyhock and Giselle's mat is Cocoa. The striped pattern paper has a Garden Green cardstock mat.

After I stamped and coloured Giselle, I used my rectangle Spellbinders to cut and emboss her image and the Cocoa mat. I did trim her image as I like the way it made her look as though she was running to serve tea!

The flowers and sentiment shape were cut with my CTMH Art Philosophy cartridge. This is my new favourite Cricut cartridge and you can purchase it by heading to my online store here. You can also pick up our FREE Pair-A-Phrase stamp set with your qualifying purchase, before Sep 30th.

Here is the Kraftin' Kimmie sketch:

All supplies are Close To My Heart, unless noted.

Patterned paper: Mayberry

Stamp: Kraftin' Kimmie Giselle and Kimmie's Tea Sentiments

Cardstock: Colonial White; Hollyhock; Cocoa; Garden Green

Ink: Hollyhock; Garden Green

Embellishments: Clear Sparkles

Tools: Art Philosophy Cricut cartridge

Other: Copic Markers

A Blog Award

I am tickled to have received this award from Andrea Ruiz, a fellow Close To My Heart sister. Check out Andrea's blog, she has some beautiful artwork!

The goal of the award is to spotlight up and coming bloggers who currently have less than 200 followers. The rules of the award are:

1. Thank the giver and link back to the blog who gave it to you.
2. Reveal your top 5 picks and let them know by leaving a comment on their blog.
3. Copy and paste the award onto your blog.
4. Have faith that your followers will spread the love to other bloggers.
5. And most of all, HAVE FUN!

Please visit the blogs of my Top 5 picks, in random order:

1. Karen Day (a fellow Canadian consultant with GORGEOUS artwork)
2. Jackie Lupien (my new found "Tweeker" buddy, from 2011 convention)
3. Sarah Walmsley (a sweet downline of mine)
4. Jamia Bankhead (one of my HAS swapping friends)
5. Tiffany Cheney (a fellow CTMH sister, whose artwork I admire)

I hope we can inspire you to follow us.

The Play Date and Mojo Monday merge.....

Okay, I've finally got it together again to do some challenges. The first I tackled was this week's challenge for The Play Date Cafe. Since this week was a colour challenge, I combined it with the weekly sketch challenge over at Mojo Monday.

I used Sorbet; Sunflower; Olive and Garden Green from Close To My Heart to represent the required colours for The Play Date Cafe. I used my new Spellbinders Grand Peony dies to cut the flower layers. I used a bone folder to curl their edges and inked them with Sorbet ink.

I stamped an image from "State of Mind" with Sorbet ink on Sorbet cardstock, then mounted it on Colonial White. The green layers are Garden Green and Olive and they are sitting on patterned paper from "Elemental". The leaves are cut from New England Ivy cardstock.

The patterned paper is mounted on Colonial White, then more Sorbet. The edges were sponged in coordinating ink colours. I added White Hemp and Colonial White buttons to finish everything off.

Here is The Play Date Cafe and Mojo Monday information.

All supplies are Close To My Heart, unless noted.

Stamps: State of Mind

Paper: Elemental

Cardstock: Colonial White; Sorbet; Sunflower; Garden Green; Olive; New England Ivy

Ink: Sorbet; Garden Green; Olive

Embellishments: White Hemp; Colonial White buttons

Other: Spellbinders Grand Peony Nestabilities

Sonoma and Art Philosophy

Well, I have been lifting more ideas from Mandy Leahy. She posted a beautiful card and video tutorial, with a dress she made using a shape from Close To My Heart's Art Philosophy cartridge. I have changed colours and added a few more layers to create this card using Sonoma colours.

Following Mandy's instructions, I cut 3 scalloped circles at 3"; 3 1/4" and 3 1/2" in retired Amethyst; Smokey Plum; and Pansy Purple respectively. I scored them between each scallop, leaving 2 to cut out for the top of the dress.

I added gold ribbon that had been included in a Creative Basic paper pack and cut and rolled a flower from Art Philosophy, aslo. I added Stardust Glitz to the centre of the flower and top of the dress. I also added an almost retired Kraft border with the strip of Sonoma paper.

The dress form image was stamped in Cocoa from the Tailor-Made stamp set and the sentiment is from Wings Workshop On The Go set.

All supplies are Close To My Heart, unless noted.

Stamps: Tailor-Made; Wings WOTG

Paper: Sonoma

Cardstock: Colonial White; retired Amethyst; Smokey Plum; Pansy Purple; Cocoa

Ink: Cocoa

Embellishments: Kraft Borders; Stardust Glitz; Gold Ribbon

Tools: Art Philosophy cartridge

More Damask Decor and CTMH

I needed to replenish my stock of cards at the cafe, so using Damask Decor was an easy and elegant solution. I paired the cartridge with my all time two favourite colours....Sweet Leaf and Twilight.

I stamped in Desert Sand with Universal Backgrounds and the sentiment in the card above is from A Little Thanks. The shape was cut from Twilight and adhered to the Sweet Leaf on a Colonial White card base.

I trimmed the front of both cards 1/4 inch and added cardstock on the inside of the card for something different.

All supplies are Close To My Heart, unless noted.

Stamps: Universal Backgrounds; A Little Thanks

Ink: Desert Sand; Twilight; Pacifica

Cardstock: Sweet Leaf; Twilight; Colonial White

Other: Cricut and Damask Decor

Dreamin and Art Philosophy

This shaped card was the second cut from one piece of 12 x 12 cardstock. It is 5 1/2 square and it is for my neighbour's 40th birthday this Sunday.

I sponged all edges with Cocoa ink. The patterned paper is from Dreamin' and the base and left side of the card are Bamboo cardstock. The right side is Goldrush and the small mat is Cocoa cardstock.

I used our wonderful new Milepost embellishments along with some retired buttons. The grid pattern was stamped with Noted Backgrounds; the sentiment from A Little Everything; and the ticket from You and Me. The ticket is tied up with some White Hemp.

All supplies are Close To My Heart.

Stamps: Noted Backgrounds; A Little Everything; You and Me

Paper: Dreamin'

Cardstock: Bamboo; Goldrush; Cocoa

Ink: Dutch Blue; Cocoa; Goldrush

Embellishments: Milepost shapes; retired Fall buttons; White Hemp

Tools: Art Philosophy and Cricut

Noted Backgrounds and Cricut

While I was away in Oregon, in July, I managed to pick up a Cricut cartridge that has been on my list for a few months. Damask Decor had some beautiful images I wanted to have to cut.....so here is the beginning.

I cut this image in CTMH's Blush cardstock and then stamped an image from Noted Backgrounds in Desert Sand ink. I mounted it on Black cardstock; then Tulip; then Black again. All of the edges have Desert Sand ink sponged on them.

All supplies are Close to My Heart, unless noted.

Stamps: Noted Backgrounds

Cardstock: Black; Tulip; Blush; Colonial White

Ink: Desert Sand

Tools: Sponge; Cricut and Damask Decor

Aaaaaah, Sonoma is back.

I wasn't too fond of this paper when we first saw it as a special, but something in it now makes me warm to it. Could be those paisley and purples....who could resist!

I made this card for a dear friend of mine I used to work with. We had dinner together and I had to at least show up with a card.

I've cut this amazing shaped card with my Art Philosophy cartridge.....you can purchase your own by clicking to my website and ordering the amazing bundle! This was cut at 5 1/2 in Desert Sand and I sponged the same ink on all of the edges. I also used my edge Distresser to rough things up a bit, too.

I also cut the lollipop flowers with the AP cartridge. They were cut at 1.5; 1.75; and 2 inches, then rolled and secured with Liquid Glass. I added sparkles to the middle of each flower, then added some Cocoa grosgrain ribbon, along with a decorative pin in our new Bling assortment.

I stamped and cut out an image from Paisley Praise and stamped the smaller Desert Sand shape with the notebook image from Typeset WOTG stamp set.

All supplies are Close To My Heart.

Stamps: Paisley Praise; You and Me; Typeset WOTG

Paper: Sonoma

Cardstock: Desert Sand; Cocoa; Colonial White; Pansy Purple

Ink: Desert Sand; Smokey Plum

Embellishments: Sparkles; Bling Assortment; Cocoa grosgrain ribbon; Liquid Glass

Tools: Art Philosophy; Edge Distresser

Fall is here..................yipee!

I LOVE FALL!

Ahem......now that I have professed my feelings for this season, here is a simple card I made with some beautiful Dreamin' paper and new stamp set, Unscripted.

I started with a Pacifica background underneath the beautiful blue leaf patterned cardstock from Dreamin'. I cut the underneath shape with my Art Philosophy cartridge from Bamboo cardstock and used a sponge to ink the edges with Desert Sand ink.

I stamped the background on Sky cardstock with coordinating ink; then added a mat in Pacifica. The sentiment is stamped in Dutch Blue on Colonial White cardstock, on the matching Art Philosophy shape. I cut a mat 1/4" larger from Goldrush cardstock. The sentiment is on foam squares for some added dimension.

My final stamping was the flower border along the edge in Dutch Blue ink. All pieces were edged by sponge with Desert Sand ink. To finish the card off, I added white hemp to the background image and some of our new Wooden Designer Buttons.

All supplies are Close To My Heart, unless noted.

Stamps: Unscripted

Paper: Dreamin' kit

Cardstock: Colonial White; Bamboo; Sky; Pacifica; Goldrush

Ink: Sky; Dutch Blue; Desert Sand

Embellishments: Wooden Designer Buttons; White Hemp

Other: CTMH's Art Philosophy Cricut cartridge

Keep swimming........

I am falling behind in photographing and posting my recent artwork....today will be no different!

First, I am overwhelmed with our Art Philosophy cartridge and my need to roll flowers. I have not had something consume my time like this for a long time. I'm obsessed....let's be frank!

I'm covering styrofoam balls; styrofoam cones; cutting spiky flowers; cutting rose like flowers; cutting spiral circles for lollipop flowers....................it is crazy flower town in my scrapbook room!

I have a dear friend with a birthday this Sunday and a neighbour. I must get on with making their birthday cards. Also I must make a Thank you card to send along with an album to a wonderful gal who has accepted countless packages for me.

So, I will post more artwork this weekend when I can get out from under my glorious Art Philosophy flowers. If you haven't got your cartridge yet.................click to the right onto my website and order it so you can join my crazy flower town!

Art Philosophy CTMH exclusive

Here is another rose made with Close To My Heart's, fabulous new and exclusive, Art Philosophy Cricut cartridge.

This rose was made with Blush and Grey Flannel cardstock. Each rose was cut at 3 1/2". The Grey Flannel roses were first stamped with an image from Noted Backgrounds in second generation Black ink. I used a sponge with Black in to add ink to the edges.

For the Blush roses, I also used a sponge to apply ink to the edges of each rose. I added pins with white ball heads to the centre of each flower. The ribbon is retired Blush polka dot grosgrain ribbon. The pins are holding the roses on to a 2" styrofoam ball I got from the dollar store.

All supplies are Close To My Heart, unless noted.

Stamps: Noted Backgrounds

Tools: Art Philosophy cartridge

Cardstock: Blush; Grey Flannel

Ink: Blush; Black

Other: Pins and Styrofoam ball

Remarkable Wreath workshop is complete!

This is the final card in my upcoming Remarkable Wreath class. Each gal will make 4 of each of these cards I've posted using this stamp set. They are cards for all seasons!

This is the fall one of the bunch with Cranberry cardstock stamped with Damask Tiles in Cranberry ink. The flourish is from Playful Flourishes.

The shapes were cut with Close To My Heart's Art Philosophy Cricut cartridge. The buckle is a new embellishment in our Fall/Winter Idea Book.

The leaves for this images were inked in Goldrush, then rolled in Autumn Terracotta. The Cranberry cardstock was distressed with our Edge Distresser. Bronze Glitz was used to bling up the wreath.

All supplies are Close To My Heart.

Stamps: Remarkeable Wreath; Damask Tiles; Playful Flourishes

Cardstock: Cranberry; Colonial White; Goldrush; retired Breeze

Ink: Cranberry; Cocoa; Goldrush; Autumn Terracotta

Embellishments: Foundry Metal Accessories; Bronze Glitz

Tools: Art Philosophy Cricut cartridge

More Remarkable Wreath

Here is the second card in my "Remarkable Wreath" card workshop. I used Cocoa and Hollyhock ink along with retired Breeze; Colonial White; Hollyhock; and Smokey Plum cardstock.

The border and other shapes were cut with Art Philosophy, CTMH's exclusive Cricut cartridge. The background was stamped in second generation Cocoa with an image from Damask Tiles.

Then three types of bling were added: Glitz to the flowers and border along with Bitty Sparkles. I also added one of our new, gorgeous Rhinestone brads.

All supplies are Close To My Heart, unless noted.

Stamps: Remarkable Wreath; Damask Tiles

Cardstock: Colonial White; Hollyhock; Smokey Plum and retired Breeze

Ink: Cocoa and Hollyhock

Embellishments: Bitty Sparkles; Rhinestone brads; Glitz

Tools: Art Philosophy Cricut cartridge

Remarkable Wreath

I am finally going to post some artwork with new products from Close To My Heart's Fall//Winter Idea Book. This is the first card in a series designed for an upcoming card class. Gals will go home with 4 each of 3 designs; Remarkable Wreath stamp set; and some new Glitz.

I started with Grey Flannel and stamped with Damask Tile in second generation Cocoa ink. The shapes were cut with CTMH's Art Philosophy cartridge, then the edges were distressed with our Distresser. I stamped the wreath in Cocoa ink, then the berries in Cranberry. You'll excuse me for using retired Breeze for the blue ink and cardstock. I have a pack I wanted to use up.

A strip of Cranberry cardstock tied up with some white hemp and some new Red Glitz......I call this card classy and done!

All supplies are Close To My Heart, unless noted.

Stamp: Remarkable Wreath; Damask Tiles

Cardstock: Grey Flannel; Breeze; Cranberry; Colonial White

Ink: Cocoa; Cranberry

Embellishments: Red Glitz; White Hemp; Art Philosophy

Roses are red...and sometimes blue, green and creme!

I am having a rose crazy time with CTMH's new, exclusive Art Philosophy Cricut cartridge. In addition to some great basic shapes that coordinate with our stamp sets, there are 2 fonts; card shapes; decorative boxes; borders; and flower spirals!

I became rose crazy when a fellow CTMH Consultant, Lisa Stenz, created a beautiful wreath with these roses. Since seeing her wreath, I've been rose rolling CRAZY! No, really, I've probably rolled about 300 roses!

I have some small styrofoam balls I was going to use for another project, but they seemed to be telling me to cover them in roses. So I obliged and here is my rose ball ornament.

I cut all of the flowers at 3 1/2 in Sweet Leaf, Twilight, and Colonial White cardstock. I stuck them together with Liquid Glass and used a white headed pin to get them on the ball. I added some Sweet Leaf stitched ribbon as the hanger. This ball was 2" and with the roses it is now about 4" across.

I've since used spray adhesive......the really toxic, messy, smelly stuff.....and added glitter to this ball.

If you want to make one of these for yourself....all you need to do is contact me to order the NEW Close To My Heart, Art Philosophy Cricut cartridge. When you purchase it before the end of September, you will also receive a wonderful double D stamp set called Pair-A-Phrase. You can get more information from my website.

All supplies are Close To My Heart, unless noted.

Tools: CTMH Art Philosophy Cricut Cartridge

Cardstock: Sweet Leaf; Twilight; Colonial White

Embellishments: Sweet Leaf stitched ribbon

Other: Cricut Expressions; pins; 2" styrofoam ball