Oh so sweet, Clementine

I LOVE Clementine paper and this is another card by request.

Close To My Heart's 2012 Autumn/Winter Idea Book holds many wonderful products and memories for me. I was able to be in Dallas, with some AMAZING and WONDERFUL friends, for its launch. It also has some all time favourite products that will soon be replaced with our brand spankin' NEW 2013 Spring/Summer Idea Book!

I started with a Colonial White base, then added gorgeous Saddle cardstock I stamped with an Intrinsic Background image. The border is Champagne cardstock stamped with a stitched image from a retired set, in Saddle ink. I used an image from Clementine's Workshop On The Go stamp set, stamped in second generation Saddle, for the focus shape. The sentiment came from another retired set.

To finish this card off, I added a piece of Burlap Ribbon, then tied up a button with a strand of the ribbon. This card got me in a wee bit of hot water. My co-worker who requested it neglected to mention it was going over seas.....it ran up a $4 tally at the post office.....oooops!

All supplies are Close To My Heart.
Paper: Clementine
Stamps: Clementine WOTG; Intrinsic Backgrounds
Ink: Saddle
Cardstock: Colonial White; Saddle; Champagne; Creme Brulee
Embellishments: Burlap Ribbon; Colonial White Button
Tools: Artiste Cricut cartridge

Florentine for All Seasons

This is another card created by request. This one was for an "Uncle's Birthday".

I should mention, this and my previous card were requested without a lot of embellishment layers as they were both being sent overseas. I went with the KISS approach for both.

I started with a Colonial White base then added Florentine patterned paper. The sentiment is from 4 My Friend stamped in Cocoa ink.

I added a Kraft border, then tied up a button from Antiqued Gold Mini-Medley with a string from my Burlap Ribbon.

All supplies are Close To My Heart.
Paper: Florentine
Stamp: 4 My Friend
Ink: Cocoa
Cardstock: Colonial White; Avonlea Teal; Bamboo
Embellishments: Antiqued Gold Mini-Medley; Bamboo Ribbon; Kraft Borders
Tools: Artiste Cricut cartridge

Cards by request

I am very happy when co-workers ask me to custom make cards for them. This was one of those cards. I was asked to make a "Girl Birthday card", but a "friend" card, rather than "love" card!

I broke out some Clementine paper and got to work. I started with a Colonial White base, then added some Creme Brulee cardstock and patterned paper. The border is a zip strip from one of the papers, then another Clementine pattern. The shape was cut with Artiste and stamped with flourishes from Love Life and the sentiment is from Card Chatter - Birthday. 

I added some Blooms; a Colonial White brad and some Stardust Glitz to finish off this card.

All supplies are Close To My Heart.
Paper: Clementine
Stamps: Love Life; Card Chatter - Birthday
Ink: Creme Brulee; Ruby
Cardstock: Creme Brulee; Colonial White
Embellishments: Blooms; Colonial White Brad; Startdust Glitz
Tools: Artiste Cricut cartridge

Clearing out the old.....

Lucky for me I have people ask me to make them cards....this gives me the opportunity to use up some retired papers. 

A co-worker needed a "girl" birthday card, so I was able to get out some retired Stella paper. I added a strip of Blush cardstock I embossed with a new folder. The scalloped circle is in Ruby and the sentiment is from, 4 My Friend. I added some Creme Brulee stitched grosgrain ribbon and Stardust Glitz and called it done!

All supplies are Close To My Heart.
Paper: Stella
Stamp: 4 My Friend
Cardstock: Colonial White; Blush; Ruby
Ink: Ruby; Blush
Embellishments: Creme Brulee stitched grosgrain ribbon; Stardust Glitz
Tools: Art Philosophy Cricut Cartridge

Whooo's Your Valentine!

I've been busy this week getting some final things ready for Christmas....as I'm sure many of your are, too. I find some time to play with my new, Whooo's Your Valentine kit.

This card is very simple. I started with Blush; Whisper and Slate cardstock along with Ruby ink. I stamped the border in Ruby on Whisper cardstock, then added a Slate mat. I stamped the hearts in Ruby ink on Blush cardstock, then cut them out. The heart shape can be cut out with Art Philosophy, also. The sentiment is also stamped with Ruby ink.

I had a tiny piece of grey felt on my work table that I cut a spiral circle out of. I rolled it up to make a small rose, then added a drop of Stardust Glitz on top for a wee bit of sparkle.

This kit is so sweet and for a sweet price, too! Just $10 until Jan 31, 2013 with a $35 purchase. When you make your $35 purchase and add the Whooo's  Your Valentine kit....you can add just another $5 of product and purchase our stamp of the month for $5!

The Whooo's Your Valentine kit is a $40 value, which includes: a very cute "D" sized stamp set; 12 treat tubes; 12 precut and scored boxes; glitter and regular cardstock so you can make wonderful treat containers like the ones shown below.

All supplies are Close To My Heart, unless noted.

Stamp: Whooo's Your Valentine

Cardstock: White Daisy; Blush; Slate; Whisper

Ink: Ruby

Embellishments: Stardust Glitz

Tools: Art Philosophy Cricut cartridge

Other: Grey felt

A beautiful embossing season!

I do LOVE embossing and this folder is one of my newest favourites!

I embossed Chocolate cardstock with a new Spellbinders M-Bossibilities folder, then swiped Cocoa ink across the embossing. I added a Cranberry background mat and Cranberry grosgrain ribbon. The patterned paper is from Pear & Partridge. The sweet birds; gift; and sentiment are stamped with Cranberry; Olive; and Cocoa inks, respectively. There is an Olive mat underneath the patterned border and I've added Bitty Red Sparkles to the stamped shape.

All supplies are Close To My Heart, unless noted.
Stamps and Paper: Pear & Partridge Card WOTG kit
Cardstock: Chocolate; Olive; Cranberry; Colonial White
Inks: Cocoa; Cranberry; Olive
Embellishments: Cranberry Grosgrain ribbon; Bitty Red Sparkles
Tools: Art Philosophy Cricut cartridge
Other: Spellbinders M-Bossibilities folder

Oh Christmas tree, oh Christmas tree......

Today is 12/12/12!

That is a special day that I will find a special way to mark....I just don't know how yet! Will you mark this day in history, different than just another day?

Here is another card in my long line of pigment ink and embossing. This one started with Jingle Borders stamped in Twilight ink on Slate cardstock. The sentiment is from Ornamental Cheer, stamped in Black pigment ink and embossed with clear powder. The tree is stamped with Juniper pigment ink, then also embossed in clear powder.

I stamped some Grey Flannel cardstock with another image from Jingle Borders, with Twilight ink. Then I added some Juniper and Twilight cardstock in the background. I used some beautiful Satin Polka Dot ribbon along with a Twilight button, tied up with Black Waxy Flax.

All supplies are Close To My Heart.
Stamps: Ornamental Cheer; Jingle Borders; Holiday Wishes
Cardstock: Slate; Grey Flannel; Colonial White; Juniper; Twilight
Ink: Twilight; Black and Juniper pigment
Embellishments: Satin Polka Dot ribbon; Twilight Button; Black Waxy Flax; Clear embossing powder
Tools: Art Philosophy Cricut cartridge

The girl who embossed everything!

Yes, it is Christmas time and I do emboss almost everything!

This card starts with Universal Backgrounds stamped in Twilight on Twilight cardstock, on top. I used pigment ink in Black for the top sentiment and in Twilight for the bottom bulb. Both were embossed in clear embossing powder. The bulb stamping is from Ornamental Cheer. The sentiment is from a retired set whose name has escaped me.

The polka dot paper is retired Wonderland. I added Silver Shimmer Trim and a bow from Black Waxy Flax.

All supplies are Close To My Heart.
Stamps: Ornamental Cheer; Universal Backgrounds
Paper: Wonderland
Cardstock: Colonial White; Twilight; Sky
Ink: Twilight; Black and Twilight pigment ink
Embellishments: Silver Shimmer Trim; Black Waxy Flax
Tools: Artiste Cricut cartridge

There's a BIRD in my Embossing folder...

Ha, did that title get your attention........no birds were hurt in the production of this card!

This is another new M-Bossibilities from Spellbinders. If it has a bird on it....I will have it in my collection!

This is Chocolate cardstock with Garden Green embossed cardstock, on top. I added a Cranberry border with some Pear & Partridge paper on top. The shape is from the fantastic, Perfect-Fit Frames and is stamped in Cocoa on Colonial White. The stamped circle is from, Perfect-Fit Holidays and is stamped in Cocoa and Cranberry ink. I've added Twill ribbon and Cranberry Waxy Flax to finish the whole thing off.

All supplies are Close To My Heart, unless noted.
Stamps: Perfect-Fit Holidays and Frames
Paper: Pear & Partridge
Cardstock: Chocolate; Cranberry; Garden Green; Colonial White
Ink: Cocoa; Cranberry
Embellishments: Twill ribbon; Cranberry Waxy Flax
Tools: Art Philosophy Cricut cartridge
Other: Spellbinders M-Bossibilities

Embossing Challenge

I LOVE embossing! I have recently purchased many new embossing folders. This one is from Spellbinders.

I started with Cranberry cardstock on the base and as my scalloped border. I embossed Chocolate cardstock, then inked it up with Cocoa ink. I added a strip of paper from Pear & Partridge and used some Olive cardstock as a mat. I stamped an Artiste image with the exclusive stamp set from Close To My Heart's Card Workshop On The Go Kit.

I added CTMH's scrumptious Burlap Ribbon and a Red button tied up with some Cranberry Waxy Flax.

This card is destined for the embossing challenge over at the "Just Us Girls" Challenge blog.

All supplies are Close To My Heart, unless noted.
Stamps: Pear & Partridge Card WOTG kit
Paper: Pear & Partridge
Cardstock: Chocolate; Cranberry; Olive; Colonial White
Ink: Cranberry; Cocoa
Embellishments: Burlap Ribbon; Red button; Cranberry Waxy Flax
Tools: Artiste Cricut cartridge
Other: Spellbinders M-Bossibilities

Avonlea #3 Christmas with Remarkable Wreath

This is the 3rd card my Card Hostess Club created at our November workshop. They created 4 of this card and of the previous two cards I've posted. As I look at this photo, I see the shadow has made things look a wee bit funky....hope you can see past it!

I LOVE Remarkable Wreath and would put it as one of my top 3 stamp sets EVER from CTMH. I've paired it with Avonlea Teal patterned paper and cardstock. The branch wreath is stamped with Slate ink on Whisper cardstock. Then the dots are stamped with Pacifica first and second generation ink. Finally, I added my favourite winter embellishment....Liquid Applique. After heating up the little snow balls, I added some Stardust Glitz for sparkle.

All supplies are Close To My Heart.
Stamp: Remarkable Wreath
Paper: Avonlea
Ink: Pacifica; Twilight; Slate
Cardstock: Colonial White; Avonlea Off-White; Whisper
Embellishments: Liquid Applique; Stardust Glitz
Tools: Art Philosophy Cricut cartridge

Avonlea #2 Christmas Card

Here is the second card gals created during our Hostess Club workshop, using Blessings of Peace and Avonlea paper.

We started with Avonlea Green as our base and sponged edges with Pacifica ink. The sentiment is stamped with Pacifica ink and we added a border of Silver Shimmer Trim. The snowflake was punched from Whisper cardstock and a glitter button added.

All supplies are Close To My Heart, unless noted.
Stamps: Blessings of Peace
Paper: Avonlea
Ink: Pacifica
Cardstock: Colonial White; Whisper; Avonlea Green
Embellishments: Silver Shimmer Trim; Glitter Button
Tools: Martha Stewart snowflake punch

Avonlea meets Christmas Card Workshop

For my November Card Hostess Club, the girls each received "Blessings of Peace" and the Avonlea paper pack. Here is the first of 3 cards they created.

The base layer is Slate cardstock and all edges have Slate ink sponged on. Then came some lovely Juniper coloured patterned paper. We added a strip of Avonlea Teal and tied it up with some Grey Wool Baker's Twine. The gorgeous bird image is stamped with Twilight ink and the sentiment with Slate ink.

All supplies are Close To My Heart.
Stamps: Blessings of Peace
Paper: Avonlea
Ink: Twilight; Slate
Cardstock: Colonial White; Slate; Avonlea Teal
Embellishments: Grey Wool Baker's Twine; Sparkles
Tools: Art Philosophy Cricut cartridge

H2H Sketch Challenge

It is time for a sketch Challenge at H2H this week. Why not rustle up your Close To My Heart products and play along with us. Here is what I created this week.

This card is 3.5" x 8" and started with some Pear & Partridge paper. I love birds and couldn't resist using the Pear & Partridge Workshop On The Go Card kit stamp. I stamped with Ruby; Olive and Cocoa ink. I added some Stardust Glitz to each feature square in some manner.

The mats are the reverse side of the beautiful bird paper. I added Colonial White Waxy Flax tied up and some gorgeous Burlap Ribbon.

Here is the sketch for your to create your own project and upload it to the H2H blog:

All supplies are Close To My Heart.

Paper: Pear & Partridge

Stamp: Pear & Partridge Card WOTG kit

Cardstock: Cocoa; Cranberry; Colonial White

Ink: Ruby; Cocoa; Olive; Desert Sand

Embellishments: Colonial White Waxy Flax; Burlap Ribbon; Stardust Glitz

More Christmas Joy

Normally I take the weekend off from posting, but since I was out of commission with memory troubles, I thought I might put a weekend post out.

This card continues my pattern and stamp set repeats. This time for the background I stamped the musical image from Universal Backgrounds in Twilight ink on Twilight cardstock. The sentiment is from Christmas Joy. I stamped with Black pigment ink, then embossed with clear powder.

The tree is from retired Holiday Wishes. Stamped with Twilight pigment ink and embossed with clear powder on Colonial White cardstock. The border is Slate cardstock with Burlap ribbon and Twilight button. My glitter ribbon is from Michael's.

All supplies are Close To My Heart, unless noted.
Stamps: Christmas Joy; Holiday Wishes; Universal Backgrounds
Cardstock: Colonial White; Slate; Twilight
Ink: Twilight; Black and Twilight pigment ink
Embellishments: Burlap ribbon; Twilight button
Tools: Corner/scallop maker
Other: glitter ribbon

Ornamental Cheer abounds

As you can see I'm back on this pattern. In fact, I have a few cards of this pattern and group of stamp sets. I also have a few cards with the tree grouping I posted yesterday.

I have found another favourite product to add to my arsenal....that is Close To My Heart's NEW pigment inks in all 40 colours! It makes jazzing any artwork up with coordinating ink that is brighter than our dye ink, plus you can emboss it with clear for more shine.

I started with Pacifica cardstock on the top, stamped with the script image from Universal Backgrounds. The sentiment is from Christmas Joy and is stamped with Black pigment ink and embossed with clear powder. The ornament is Sky cardstock stamped with Pacific pigment ink and embossed in clear. The image is from new Ornamental Cheer stamp set.

The patterned paper is from retired, Wonderland, paper pack. I added some Silver Shimmer trim and a wee bit of Colonial White grosgrain ribbon.

All supplies are Close To My Heart.
Stamps: Christmas Joy; Ornamental Cheer; Universal Backgrounds
Paper: Wonderland
Cardstock: Pacifica; Sky; Colonial White
Embellishments: Silver Shimmer Trim; Colonial White grosgrain ribbon; Clear embossing powder
Tools: Artiste Cricut cartridge

My memory has space for more cards!

I have spent the week deleting old posts; resizing and deleting pictures in the hopes that my memory of pictures was no longer full. With cautious joy, I'm posting this card.

I stamped the Twilight cardstock with an image from, Love Life, in Twilight ink. The sentiment is stamped with Black pigment ink and embossed with clear powder. The image is from, Christmas Joy. The gorgeous tree is from, Holiday Wishes, and is stamped on Sweet Leaf cardstock with Topiary pigment ink. I also embossed the tree image with clear embossing powder.I added some Burlap ribbon along with a Twilight button and my card is done.

All supplies are Close To My Heart.
Stamps: Love Life; Christmas Joy; Holiday Wishes
Cardstock: Twilight; Sweet Leaf; Topiary; Colonial White
Ink: Twilight; Black and Topiary pigment
Embellishments: Burlap ribbon; Twilight button; clear embossing powder
Tools: Art Philosophy Cricut cartridge

Out of Memory.........

Well, after reading what I thought was a crazy thing that happened to Vicki Wizniuk, I was too lazy and chose to NOT heed her advice. I was about to create some new posts for my blog, and while attempting to upload some pictures I got a message saying I was out of memory!

Well, I hope to NEVER be out of memory.....personally......but this is evidence once again, we should all take Vicki's advice and now mine. RESIZE YOUR PICTURES before posting them to your blog.

I use Photoshop in various forms and it is very simple to resize your image. You click on "Image", then in the drop down menu you will see "Image Size". I was told by my webmaster to resize pictures to 400 x 600 pixels....easy to remember as a 4x6 photo. If you are using Photoshop CS5, as you type one number, the proper size for the other side automatically keys in. This is wonderful feature, because when resizing in Photoshop Elements 5, I remember having to guess at the other number. It made me laugh sometimes, because if my guess was really off the picture would go from rectangular to square. I started just subtracting 1200 pixels from each number that appeared when I went into the image size and that seemed to do the trick.

I will now attempt to get into my album to resize or delete some photos. I could not get past the pop up box to create a profile last night, in the Picassa album. I may have to pay for more memory......or I will get my computer genius Son on it to crack the code/system for me! (I never imagined I would ask my 16 year old, or any teenager, to rescue me with a fix in our cyber world!) I will let you know how I make out, if it is something different than suggestions Vicki made.

So, until I resolve this, I guess my artwork will be temporarily unavailable!

Something completely different....

I thought I would interrupt my one design blue cards, to bring you this sweet one created with Pear & Partridge.

I used the stamp set from Pear & Partridge Card Workshop On The Go set. I stamped in Ruby ink, then restamped a portion in Olive ink. The other sentiment is from retired, Christmas Love. That is it......sweet and simple!

All supplies are Close To My Heart.
Pear & Partridge WOTG Card kit
Stamp: Christmas Love
Ink: Ruby; Olive
Tools: Artiste Cricut cartridge

Alcohol Markers RULE!

This is the last of 3 designs gals created at my Flakey Friends workshop, a few weeks back.

This must be where my love of this pattern got started. This card is simple with Avonlea paper on the top and Twilight cardstock on the bottom. The Twilight is stamped with the snowflake image from Flakey Friends in Twilight ink. The sentiment is stamped in Black pigment ink, then embossed with clear powder. The sentiment is from Very Merry Christmas, Oct stamp of the month.

The cute snowman is stamped with Black Memento ink then coloured with our Twilight and Crystal Blue Alcohol markers. I added Silver Shimmer Trim and Grey Wool Baker's Twine, also. There is also some puffy snow from some Liquid Applique.

All supplies are Close To My Heart, unless noted.
Paper: Avonlea
Stamp: Flakey Friends; Very Merry Chirstmas
Ink: Twilight; Black Pigment
Alcohol Markers: Twilight; Crystal Blue
Embellishments: Silver Shimmer Trim; Grey Wool Baker's Twine; Liquid Applique
Tools: Artiste Cricut cartridge
Other: Black Memento ink

Christmas Cards GALORE!

As I mentioned yesterday, I'm stuck on one card pattern. Here is another version.

 I have to make hundreds of Christmas cards this year. The cards I will need for family; friends and customers. In addition, I have been selling lots of cards at the cafe I work at part-time and will be selling at another cafe opening the beginning of December.

This card used Flakey Friends for the snowflake background on Twilight cardstock. The sentiment is from Pear & Partridge Card WOTG and the bulb is from Oct SOTM, Very Merry Christmas. I stamped both with our new Black and Twilight pigment inks. I then embossed with clear embossing powder.

To finish up, I added some Baker's Twine in Grey Wool and Silver Shimmer Trim.

All supplies are Close To My Heart.
Paper: Avonlea
Stamps: Flakey Friends; Very Merry Christmas; Pear and Partridge Card WOTG
Ink: Black and Twilight pigment; Twilight
Embellishments: Silver Shimmer Trim; Baker's Twine; clear embossing powder
Tools: Artiste Cricut cartridge

Christmas Challenge at H2H

We are having another Christmas Challenge over at H2H.

Here is one of the cards I created for this challenge.

I am caught up creating cards with a certain layout at the moment. You will see how caught I am as I post more cards.

So, I got out one what I think is the BEST EVER Christmas stamp sets....Holiday Wishes. It came with large, bold images to stamp on coordinating shapes from Art Philosophy. So I cut out some trees and went to town with other great CTMH products.

I inked this stamp with our new pigment inks in Blush. I added clear embossing powder and heated it up for a nice shiny appearance. I stamped the sentiment with our Black pigment ink, then clear embossed it, as well. Then I continued stamping the sentiment all over the Slate cardstock in Whisper ink.

I added a strip of Grey Flannel cardstock punched with our corner/scallop makers. Then some of our scrumptious Silver Shimmer Trim. I finished off the card with a Blush button tied up with Colonial White Waxy Flax.

Now it is your turn to create something with a Christmas theme for the challenge at H2H Challenge Blog.

All supplies are Close To My Heart.
Stamps: Holiday Wishes; Christmas Joy
Ink: Whisper; Black and Blush pigment
Cardstock: Slate; Grey Flannel; Colonial White
Embellishments: Silver Shimmer Trim; Blush button; Colonial White Waxy Flax; Clear embossing powder
Tools: Corner/scallop maker; Art Philosophy Cricut cartridge

The birds of Pear & Partridge

Here are the final two cards of the workshop I held using the Pear & Partridge Workshop On The Go Card Kit.

I have been fascinated by birds since moving to Victoria, BC,  21 years ago. We have so many parks and beaches to see different species, that it often becomes my challenge to see/photograph ones I've never seen before. So, when birds are included in stamp sets......I find I have to use them.

We used a sticky note on the shape, to line up the three images while stamping. We varied the pattern of the border paper and how our ribbon and sparkles were placed. 

All supplies are Close To My Heart.

Paper: Pear & Partridge WOTG Card Kit

Ink: Cocoa; Cranberry

Tools: Art Philosophy & Artiste Cricut cartridge

More Pear & Partridge switch up cards

I'm sorry for not posting the past few days. We've been worried about a friend who has been in hospital since last Wednesday. We've been cooking and taking food to his 2 sons, for the past week. He finally woke up today and we can now breathe a wee sigh of relief.

So, here are 2 more variations of cards my class made with the Pear & Partridge Workshop On The Go Card Kit.

The only real difference with these cards is the placement of the ribbon and sentiment shape. I tried making a horizontal version of this card, for variety, but really liked the vertical version better.

All supplies are Close To My Heart.

Paper: Pear & Partridge WOTG Card Kit

Ink: Cocoa; Cranberry

Tools: Cricut Art Philosophy and Artiste cartridges

Pear & Partridge Workshop On The Go Brilliance

I recently held a workshop featuring the Pear & Partridge Workshop On The Go kit. This is a wonderful workshop and I switched it up a bit by providing shapes to be stamped on, rather than the squares and rectangles that were in the kit pattern.

I wanted to show both the horizontal and vertical variations you could make with supplies. I am also still tickled to have patterned cardstock, that has two wonderful sides to utilize.

We stamped with Cranberry; Olive and Cocoa ink. The gold coloured ribbon and delicious glitter sparkles are included in the kit, along with the exclusive stamp set and cutting pattern.

 I will have the other 2 sets of 2 cards posted in the next few days.

All supplies are Close To My Heart.
Pear & Partridge Workshop On The Go Kit
Ink: Cranberry; Olive; Cocoa
Tools: Art Philosophy and Artiste Cricut cartridge

Humble Artist's Swap for October

Our guidelines for October's Humble Artist's Swap were a doooooozy! Here is the card I created with the guidelines listed below.

I started with Saddle cardstock as a base. I used a wood pattern paper from Dakota and stamped the spider webs from, All Hallows Eve. The stamped diamond pattern is from the Spellbound WOTG kit. It is stamped on Slate cardstock; patterned papers from Pear & Partridge and Moonlight. I used Slate; Cashmere and Black ink to stamp the diamonds.

Next I added strips of Burlap and Tulle ribbon. Then came a border of Ruby cardstock stamped with the diamond pattern in  Ruby ink. The two shapes are cut from Artiste. They are stamped with images from Spellbound WOTG kit and Magic Potion in Ruby ink.

My cute little Dracula is stamped in black ink on White Daisy cardstock. He is from Creepy Creatures and I added colour with a Ruby alcohol marker.

I added stamped spiders with 3 different embellishments for bodies. I used a clear and Black Sparkle and Round Baubles. I also add a Black Brad and Bitty Opaques to exceed my embellishment requirement.

Here are the guidelines:

-Use at least  1 new ink colour

-Use at least 2 new ribbons

-Use at least 3 new patterned papers

-Use at least 4 new cardstock

-Use at least 5 embellishments (including 2 new ribbons)

-Use at least 6 stamped images

-Use at least a 7 word sentiment

-Use at least 8 layers 

All supplies are Close To My Heart.
Stamps: All Hallows Eve; Creepy Creatures; Magic Potion; Spellbound WOTG
Paper: Moonlight;  Pear & Partridge; Dakota
Cardstock: Colonial White; Saddle; Whisper; Slate; White Daisy; Ruby
Ink: Black; Cashmere; Ruby; Ruby Alcohol marker
Embellishments: Burlap & Tulle ribbon; Round, Clear & Black Sparkle; Black Brad; Bitty Opaques
Tools: Artiste Cricut cartridge

Flakey Friends Workshop

Here is the second card created for my Flakey Friends workshop.

I started by stamping all of the cute snowmen with Memento Black ink on Colonial White cardstock. I used both Crystal Blue and Twilight alcohol marker sets to colour  scarves and hats. Twilight ink was sponged on all of the edges and pounced for the snow.

I punched the snowflakes from Whisper cardstock and the snowman borders are Slate and Twiligh cardstock. I added Clear Sparkles to the snowflakes and Stardust Glitz to the stamped snowflake balls above each snowman. The pattern paper is from Avonlea.

All supplies are Close To My Heart, unless noted.
Paper: Avonlea
Stamps: Flakey Friends
Cardstock: Whisper; Slate; Twilight; Colonial White
Ink: Twilight
Markers: Crystal Blue & Twilight Alcohol
Embellishments: Clear Sparkles; Stardust Glitz
Tools: Corner/Scallop maker
Other: Snowflake punch

H2H Inspiration photo Challenge

This week's challenge at H2H is a photo inspiration. This photo got me thinking about bringing the outdoors inside. That would not be an advisable thing at our house these days......there seems to be an inordinate number of robins in our trees and 3 of our 4 indoor cats chattering at them every day.

With thoughts of those robins, I got out one of my all time favourite stamps, A Tweet.

I sponged Autumn Terracotta and Cocoa ink on the stamp to make it appear robin like. I cut a tiny piece of Honey cardstock for the beak. The leaf branches were cut with Art Philosophy, from Pear cardstock. I added some red berries just for a pop of colour.

I stamped the wood grain with Desert Sand and Cocoa ink on Colonial White cardstock. I added Burlap ribbon; and a button with Colonial White Waxy Flax.

The sentiment was stamped with Cocoa pigment ink, then embossed with clear embossing powder. (I just LOVE our new pigment stamp pads!)

All supplies are Close To My Heart.
Paper: Footloose
Stamps: A Tweet; Weathered Backgrounds
Ink: Cocoa Pigment; Cocoa; Desert Sand; Autumn Terracotta
Cardstock: Colonial White; Cocoa; Pear
Embellishments: Burlap Ribbon; Red Glitz; Cocoa Button; Colonial White Waxy Flax; Bitty Black Brad
Tools: Art Philosophy Cricut cartridge

A sweet match for the holidays...

I am holding a workshop this coming weekend featuring Avonlea paper and Flakey Friends stamp set. Here is the first card the Gals will make.

I cut a rectangular bracket shape with Artiste, then stamped my Flakey Friend and sentiment, with Memento Black ink. I coloured his hat and scarf with our NEW Alcohol markers in Twilight. I stamped the snowflake border in Twilight ink on some Juniper cardstock, then matted it on Twilight.

The edges all got inked with Twilight, including the patterned paper from Avonlea. The snowflake is punched with a Martha punch from Whisper cardstock. I tied up a Twilight button with Colonial White Waxy Flax, for its centre. Finally, I added Stardust Glitz the buttons and Liquid Applique to the snowflakes.

All supplies are Close To My Heart, unless noted.
Stamps: Flakey Friends
Paper: Avonlea
Ink: Twilight
Cardstock: Colonial White; Twilight; Juniper; Whisper
Embellishments: Twilight Button; Colonial White Waxy Flax; Stardust Glitz; Liquid Applique
Tools: Artiste Cricut Cartridge
Other: Martha Stewart snowflake punch; Memento Black ink

Keeping it Neutral with H2H

Yipee for me, I'm actually participating in two challenges this week. I created this card for the "Keeping it Neutral" Challenge over on the H2H Challenge Blogspot.

This card was a fair stretch for me. I love to use neutrals, then add a pop of colour. To just use neutrals made me get my thinking cap out!

I used a technique that Lisa Stenz used last year, to use cardstock left over from cutting shapes from Art Philsophy as a stencil, to stamp with. I was cutting shapes to use with stamp set, Perfect Fit Frames, then used the left over cardstock for my stencil. 

I sponged Whisper ink into the shape. I stamped the script image from Universal Backgrounds, over top of the stencil in Slate ink. I used our amazing Black pigment ink to stamp the sentiment from, Thank You. I embossed that in clear powder, then went looking for other embellishments to use.

I looped up some beautiful, retired Black with Colonial White flower grosgrain ribbon. I added a Colonial White button tied with some Colonial White Waxy Flax.

I mounted my stamped image on Whisper; Slate; then Black cardstock. The entire sandwich was then added to a Colonial White base.

All supplies are Close To My Heart.
Stamps: Thank You; Universal Backgrounds
Ink: Slate; Whisper; Black Pigment
Embellishments: Black pattern Grosgrain ribbon; Colonial White Button and Waxy Flax; Clear Embossing Powder
Tools: Art Philosophy Cricut Cartridge

Dynamic Duos Challenge

My Canadian Humble Artrist Swap Sister, Karen Day, told me about this great challenge over at Dynamic Duos. I love it and this is my second challenge for their blog.

Their challenge is to combine two colours and you can use neutrals, also. I just happened to have the two similar colours for this week's challenge, laying out on my workshop table.

I combined Creme Brulee and Cashmere. I stamped an image from Noted Backgrounds in Cashmere ink on Colonial White cardstock. I attached that to a Cashmere cardstock background, then to my Colonial White base. Next I attached a left over piece of patterned paper from Pear & Partridge.

I cut a ticket shape from Art Philosophy and stamped it in Cashmere with an image from, The Best Things. Next, I wrapped the ticket up in some Black Waxy Flax. The Creme Brulee flower was also cut from Art Philosophy, then I added a Prima flower and a Black brad.

The sentiment is from, Thank you. I stamped it with our Black pigment ink, then embossed it with clear embossing powder. I am just in LOVE with our new pigment ink stacks. This is the first I'm using them, since getting them in July. Not sure what I was waiting for....but they are so wonderful to stamp and emboss with.

All supplies are Close To My Heart, unless noted

Stamps: The Best Things; Noted Backgrounds; Thank You

Patterned Paper: Pear & Partridge

Ink: Cashmere; Black pigment; Desert Sand

Cardstock: Cashmere; Colonial White; Creme Brulee

Embellishments: Black Waxy Flax; Black brad

Tools: Art Philosophy Cricut cartridge

Other: Prima flower