Season of Magic

This is the second card in the set of 3, that I created for a recent card class. I am using the wonderful stamp set, Season of Magic, again.

I started with a Desert Sand mat to coordinate with the scalloped circle cut with our Art Philosophy Cricut cartridge. On top of the Sweet Leaf cardstock is a favourite cut from Art Booking from Pomegranate cardstock. I set the size to 5 1/4" for the cut, then just have to trim a little from the shape, to fit the card.

I stamped the wreath with Desert sand with first and second generation ink. I used the handle end of a paint brush, dipped in Pomegranate ink, to create the berries. The sentiment is also stamped with Pomegranate ink.

Finally, I cut the lovely glitter Poinsettia from Flower Market and retired Red and Green Glitter paper. I added a green clear bubble gem to the middle.

All supplies are Close to My Heart.
Stamp: Season of Magic
Cardstock: Desert Sand; Sweet Leaf; Pomegranate; Colonial White; retired Red & Green Glitter
Embellishments: Green bubble gem
Tools: Art Philosophy, Artbooking, and Flower market Cricut cartridges

Christmas cards galore!

Wow, I have been very negligent with my blog.....eek....is anyone out there.....!

I have been toiling away with my craft fair crafts and Christmas cards for classes and to sell. I have completed 2 craft fairs with my final one on Dec 17. I installed the first rack of Christmas cards today and another, at a different location, on Dec 1st.

Then I will take a little excursion to Portland, Oregon for Close To My Heart's Seasonal Expressions Launch and some Christmas shopping.

Here is a card I created for one of my first Christmas card classes, using the fabulous, Season of Magic. I would like to add that often I am inspired by other CTMH Consultants and sometimes copy their work. I do like to give credit where credit is due, so if any of my art looks like something you originally created....Thank you for the inspiration.

For something a wee bit different, the scalloped circle and base mat colour is Desert Sand. Then on Pomegranate cardstock, I random stamped with coordinating ink and White Daisy pigment ink. One the Colonial White circle, I stamped the wreath with Desert Sand ink, then stamped the second generation ink to provide a lighter wreath behind. I stamped the berries with Pomegranate ink and the sentiment with Black ink.

I cut the poinsettias from Flower Market with retired Red and Green Glitter papers. I added some retired Green Glitter gel to the centre of the flower. I also drew a line, with my Black Journaling pen, around the main circle for a bit of focus.

All supplies are Close To My Heart.
Stamp: Season of Magic
Ink: Pomegranate; Black; Desert Sand; White Daisy pigment
Cardstock: Desert Sand; Pomegranate; Colonial White; retired Red & Green Glitter paper
Embellishments: retired Green Shimmer Gel
Tools: Art Philosophy & Flower Market Cricut cartridges

Lovely Leaves to make paper

I LOVE to make my own patterned paper with stamps. I also LOVE leaves. I used Lovely Leaves and covered a sheet of White Daisy cardstock, to make this paper. Then I had some fun colouring with three different marker palettes. I created a set of 6 cards, with 2 of each colour.

 For the above set I added Sangria patterned paper and Ruby cardstock. I coloured with my Shin Han Alcohol markers, then added some retired sequins. Below, I added some retired patterned paper and Sweet Leaf cardstock. The sentiments are stamped in Black ink from a set included with our Cricut Flower Market cartridge.

 For the last set of cards, I used turquoise and green with Fern cardstock. I used retired sequins on all and this card also received some retired patterned paper. 

These cards made a sweet set and the colours could easily be switched up or the leaves could be left uncoloured, too.

All supplies are Close To My Heart.

Stamps: Lovely Leaves; Flower Market Cricut sentiment stamp

Ink: Shin Han Alcohol Markers; Memento Black ink; Black ink

Cardstock: Fern; Ruby; Sweet Leaf; White Daisy

Embellishments: retired Sequins

Happy Thanksgiving!

I hope you are having a wonderful and warm Thanksgiving weekend. We had some rain and a wicked wind on Thursday...but we are back to beautiful sunny Fall weather today.

I have been neglecting my blog, so I am going to try to get back on track!
This is one of my favourite Fall cards using Woodland Critters and some retired  Sangria paper.

I stamped this sweet owl with Pomegranate ink then added some glitter to her eyes with our Shimmer Brush. I stamped the Oak leaf in the background of the Fern cardstock, with 2nd generation, retired Autumn Terracotta ink. I added retired Sangria patterned paper and some Sequins.

All supplies are Close To My Heart.
Stamp: Woodland Critters
Cardstock: Fern; Colonial White
Ink: Pomegranate; Black; retired Autumn Terracotta
Embellishments: Sequins; Shimmer Brush

Beach Days

It feels like we have made a steep jump from Summer to Fall. I LOVE Fall, but still have some Summerish cards to show. I used recently retired Beach Days stamp set with has coordinated cuts with our Artistry Cricut cartridge.

I started with Eggplant cardstock, then added some watercolour like patterned paper. I stamped the shells from Beach Days with Poppy ink on White Daisy cardstock. I cut the crab shape, then stamped with coordinating stamp image with Eggplant ink. I matted the ribbon piece then added some Aqua Shimmer Trim and Sequins.

All supplies are Close To My Heart.
Stamp: Beach Days
Cardstock: Eggplant; White Daisy
Embellishments: Aqua Shimmer Trim and Sequins
Ink: Poppy & Eggplant
Tools: Artistry Cricut cartridge

She sells seashells.....

Wow, we had a nice break from our hot weather, on Sunday and Monday. Seems things will be heating up again in the forecast for Wednesday. I heard someone say 30 degrees, which in Victoria, is not seen often....so here is hoping the forecasters are wrong!

Here are another 2 cards using Swirly Seashells patterned paper, that I made.

I stamped the main shell with Versamark ink, then embossed it with Gold Embossing Powder. I used our watercolour paints to colour it in, Since it was a small piece, I used our White Daisy cardstock, rather than watercolour paper. Then I cut our the shell image and popped it up on some foam tape. I added the shell over some White Twine I smooshed through Desert Sand ink, before fringing and tying it up.

 I used Crystal Blue cardstock and sanded it down. I covered Bambo cardstock with random stamped images from NEW, Swirly Seashells stamped with Cocoa ink. I punched a scalloped border on some Desert Sand cardstock, then added it as a mat. The sentiments are from sets, Way To Go on the top card and a sentiment set from our Flower Market Cricut package. Both were stamped with Cocoa ink. I added Mini Pearls to finish the cards.

All supplies are Close To My Heart.
Stamps: Swirly Seashells; Way to Go; Flower Market package
Cardstock: Crystal Blue; Bamboo; Desert Sand; White Daisy
Ink: Cocoa; Desert Sand; Versamark; Watercolour Paints
Embellishments: Mini Pearls; Gold Embossing Powder; White Twine

Swirly Seashells

I have been posting lots of cards on Instagram, then forgetting to share them to my blog. Here is one of the first cards I made with new product from our Annual Expressions.

I love shells, so Swirly Seashells was a must have for my first group of products bought. I random stamped with Cocoa ink on sanded Bamboo cardstock, using all of the shells in this set, to create my own paper. I matted with Desert Sand cardstock that I punched with our Scalloped Border punch.

I stamped the main shell in Versamark, then embossed with Gold Embossing Powder, on white cardstock. I used our watercolour paints to fill it in. I took some White Twine and rubbed it in my Desert Sand stamp pad, then tied it up and fringed it out.

The sentiment is from a retired set that I stamped with Cocoa ink on sanded Crystal Blue cardstock. I added some Mini Pearls to finish off this card.

All supplies are Close To My Heart.
Stamp: Swirly Seashells
Ink: Cocoa; Versamark
Cardstock: Crystal Blue; Bamboo; Desert Sand
Embellishments: White Twine; Gold Embossing Powder

Way To Go and Hello!

Well, seems I have really been neglecting my blog......eeeep! Since the 24th of July, we have been becoming familiar with recovery from a sewer back up. Our outside yard replacement and repair is finished and next week we start reconstruction in our  home. Luckily, I have had new products to make me happy during this "shitty" time!

I started with a new border stamp set, Way To Go. I stamped with: Poppy; Pomegranate; Gypsy; Peacock; Canary; and Lagoon inks.

I then cut some Black cardstock and Purple Glitter paper with our new, Hello, thin cut die. I adhered the three die cuts together to add some dimension to the word. The really great thing about this new die, is it comes in a set with the word "thanks", too.

I added some Pomegranate and Gypsy cardstock  along with a line with my Black Journaling pen.

All supplies are Close To My Heart.
Stamp: Way To Go
Thin Cut: Hello
Cardstock: Colonial White; Pomegranate; Gypsy
Ink: Poppy; Pomegranate; Gypsy; Peacock; Canary; Lagoon
Embellishments: Purple Glitter paper

Hello There!

"Are we there yet......" it was nice to only smile and think those words while my husband and I spent a glorious week on Pender Island. Now, things don't move that fast in Victoria, but they sure moved a lot slower on Pender. We didn't have a schedule to abide by other than the one I dictated regarding the hot tub! That schedule included a daily dip, so we did. Each time we did, hummingbirds came to slurp sugar water I made about 3 feet from us. I'm sure they knew I would not have my camera poised to shoot them, while I was in the hot tub!

So, while I have a ton of new CTMH product, I am showing you a card with sweet retired product, as I have yet to catch up!

I used retired Charlotte patterned paper on Slate cardstock, with some Coral Shimmer Trim. I cut a scalloped circle with Slate cardstock; 2 scalloped strips; and a circle from more Charlotte patterned paper. I accordion folded the strips and put them together for this fan style piece.

I stamped and cut this sweet froggy from retired Spring Critters and its coordinating Thin Cut dies. I coloured the frog with my water brush and some Pear and Lagoon inks. I stamped the arrow circle with the circle image from Doodled Designs. I added some Clear Sparkles to finish this card off.

All supplies are Close to My Heart.
Paper: retired Charlotte
Stamp: Doodled Desings; retired Spring Critters with coordinating Thin Cuts
Cardstock: Slate and White Daisy
Ink: Black; Slate; Pear; Lagoon
Embellishments: Clear Sparkles
Tools: Art Philosophy Cricut cartridge

A Happy Birthday

I just arrived home from a week's long vacation on Pender Island, with my husband. We enjoyed a peaceful week and discovered many beautiful beaches; trails; and nature places on both North and South Pender Islands. I am sunburned, exhausted, but relaxed and ready to get my CRAFT on!

This card used patterned paper from the lovely, Florence. I matted it with Flaxen cardstock on a Colonial White card base. I cut this amazing shape with Ornate Blossoms Thin Cuts and stamped the coordinating image from Ornate Blossoms. I used my Shin Han Markers to colour some highlights in then stuck it to a zip strip from retired Happy Times. I stamped the sentiment with Fern ink from May's stamp of the month, Celebrate with Cake. The banner is from the same set, stamped with Peacock ink.

All supplies are Close To My Heart.
Paper: Florence; retired Happy Times
Stamp: Ornate Blossoms with coordinating Thin Cuts
Cardstock: Flaxen; Colonial White
Ink: Peacock; Fern; Shin Han Alcohol Markers; Memento Black 

Sunshine on a Cloudy Day

I love the name of this stamp set....Sunshine on a Cloudy Day! I need to just sit with that sometimes and all of the words in this set. I made this card for myself and for anyone struggling with something.

I used the GORGEOUS Florence patterned paper on a Flaxen cardstock base. I stamped the sentiment with Pacifica and the background with Glacier. I added some framing lines with my Black Journaling pen, then added some sequins from the Florence Sequins.

All supplies are Close To My Heart.
Paper: Florence
Stamp: Sunshine on a Cloudy Day
Cardstock: Flaxen; White Daisy
Embellishments: Florence Sequins
Tools: Art Philosophy Cricut cartridge

Crazy Cats

Okay, I LOVE cats! Our family has 4 of them and I love cat images to stamp. When Tim Holtz released his Crazy Cats stamp and dies, I was online furiously searching how I could get this set fast. This is one of the first cards I made.

I used Black and Whisper cardstock for the first two mats. The patterned paper is from retired Charlotte, then I cut an image with new My Favorite Things Wonky Stitched Squares die. I stamped and cut the kitty with my Tim Holtz stamp & die, then coloured it in with Copic Markers. I stamped the sentiment and paw image from, Love My Cat stamp set.

All supplies are Close To My Heart, unless noted.
Stamp: Love My Cat
Paper: retired Charlotte
Cardstock: Black; Whisper; White Daisy
Ink: Black
Other: Tim Holtz Crazy Cats; MFT Stamps Wonky Stitched Squares

Coffee.....Right Meow!

Happy Father's Day!

Okay, on to business. I love cats and when they are intermingled with coffee, it is a total win! I created this card after purchasing this sweet set from, Your Next Stamp, called Coffee.....Right Meow! I am linking this card up to the Summer Coffee Lovers Bloghop.

I started with Black cardstock, then added some Peacock cardstock from our Paper Fundamentals. I added a strip of retired patterned Crystal Blue from Lucy. I tied it up with some Slate Baker's Twine, then added a mat that had been created with our Scallop Border Punch.

I cut this word bubble from Artiste, then stamped the sentiments included in this set: No Coffee; No Workie; No Talkie in Whisper ink. I cut the word "Coffee" from YNS fancy die cut in Black cardstock. I coloured the sweet kitty with our Shin Han Alcohol Markers, then put this card together.

All supplies are Close To My Heart, unless noted.
Paper: Paper Fundamentals; Lucy
Cardstock: Black; White Daisy
Ink: Whisper; Black Journaling Pen; Shin Han Alcohol Markers
Embellishments: Slate Baker's Twine
Other: Your Next Stamp - Coffee.....Right Meow! with coordinating dies and Fancy Coffee die

I am Tickled Pink!

It seems everyone has pink flamingo images out these days. I am actually really tickled with ours, as this sweet bird can be used so many different ways. Even the wing can be used on its own. Plus, what goes better with our Tickled Pink flamingo than our Calyspo paper....oh my!

I started with a Black background then added this diagonal striped patterned paper from Calypso. I used my Scallop Punch to make the borders with Lagoon cardstock, then added them to another Black cardstock mat. I stamped the flamingos with Pixie; Cotton Candy and Hollyhock ink. I used a mask to cover each one after stamping the first with Hollyhock ink. I outlined the main flamingo with my Black Journaling pen.

I added Stardust Glitz to the wing on the Hollyhock bird, then stamped with sentiment with Black ink, also. I added Black and White striped sequins from the Calypso Sequins pack. I also added a dot of Stardust Glitz to the centre of each sequin.

All supplies are Close To My Heart.
Stamp: Tickled Pink with coordinating dies
Paper: Calypso
Cardstock: Black; Lagoon; White Daisy
Ink: Pixie; Cotton Candy; Hollyhock; Black Journaling Pen
Embellishments: Calypso Sequins; Stardust Glitz
Tools: Scallop Border Punch

A Bunch of Love

Wow, it is June! I just need to sit with that for a minute.............

Okay, now  lots of things come to mind that I need to get done! 

I'm going to create this post first, then I hear my rhubarb, raspberries and strawberries calling, along with many other things.

A Bunch of Love is a wonderful and versatile new stamp set with coordinating dies, from our Seasonal Expressions.

I started with pretty patterned paper from Penelope on a Black mat. The border is more patterned paper from the pack and some Aqua Shimmer Trim. I cut this shape with Art Philosophy in White Daisy and Black cardstock.

The die cut image I coloured in with a waterbrush and Thistle; Pear; and Crystal Blue ink. I did stamp with Memento black ink first, so the image would not run once wet.

All supplies are Close To My Heart.
Stamp: A Bunch of Love with coordinating dies
Paper: Penelope
Ink: Thistle; Crystal Blue; Pear; Memento Black
Tools: Waterbrush; Art Philosophy Cricut Cartridge

Some kind of AWESOME!

I was away last week on an Oregon excursion. The beach just north of Yachats remains amazingly spectacular! Also, the shopping in Portland remains mighty fine, too. Especially when it is for craft tools! So, with this being the second last day you can order this amazing Happy Times paper pack, here is another card I made to swap at our recent Spring Up event.

This paper really does not need much of anything to make a fabulous card. I added Fern cardstock, then stamped with Beyond Awesome, which in of itself is awesome! I added some zip strip ribbons and Gold Sequins and this card was done.

All supplies are Close To My Heart.
Paper: May Happy Times
Stamp: Beyond Awesome
Ink: Black; Black Journaling pen
Cardstock: White Daisy; Fern

Right MEOW!

When I saw these cat with coffee stamps from Your Next Stamp, I had to have them.....right MEOW! I paired them up with Urban from our Annual Inspirations.

I coloured this funny cat, from, Coffee...Right Meow, with my Shin Han Alcohol Markers, then die cut him with YNS coordinating dies. I cut a tag with Art Philosophy, then stamped the sentiments with Black ink, then added the kitty. I added some Grey Enamel Gems and Baker's Twine. The base is Urban patterned paper on a Peacock cardstock mat.

All supplies are Close To My Heart, unless noted.
Paper: Urban
Cardstock: Peacock; White Daisy
Ink: Black; Shin Han Alcohol markers
Embellishments: Grey Enamel Gems; Slate Baker's Twine
Tools: Art Philosophy Cricut cartridge
Other: Your Next Stamp Coffee...Right Meow stamp & coordinating dies