Embossing and a Challenge

Spring time in Victoria starts with cherry blossoms. Cherry blossoms always make me want to create with Pink and Grey. This is one of the cards for my March Embossing and Die cutting class. I am also going to enter it in the Dynamic Duos challenge.

I started with Whisper cardstock, then embossed with this classic swirls folder. I sanded the raised swirls expose the white core of Close To My Heart's cardstock. Then I rubbed Blush ink across the top. Then I flipped this piece over and rubbed Slate ink on the back. It took a lot of ink, but the darker grey finally seeped through to the front.

I cut both sentiment shapes with Art Philosophy. The flourish is stamped in Blush ink from set, Love Life. The sentiment is from retired, You are My Happy, in Black ink. I added Slate Polka Dot Washi tape and Silver Shimmer Trim, in addition to Sparkles.

All supplies are Close To My Heart, unless noted.

Stamps: Love Life; retired  You Are My Happy

Cardstock: Whisper; Blush; White Daisy

Ink: Slate; Blush; Black

Embellishments: Slate Polka Dot Washi; Silver Shimmer Trim; Sparkles

Tools: Art Philosophy Cricut cartridge

Other: Swirls Embossing Folder

Paper Fundamentals for New Product Blog Hop

When I first saw Close To My Heart's NEW Paper Fundamentals, I knew I had pictures to scrapbook that could be featured on these spectacular glossy resist papers.

This photo is from our summer vacation last year, spent in Yachats, Oregon. We love to spend time there every summer and this afternoon we spent in the water with our daughters. We had fun running away and into the tide. This picture made me smile because my husband was like a little kid playing in the water.

 I started with the Black chevron page, as it made this shadowed image of my husband pop. I mounted the photo on Pacifica cardstock, then sponged Black in around the outside of both the photo and cardstock. The strip of patterned paper is from Ariana. I keep going back to this paper package for this blue pattern and the stripes on the reverse.

I cut the criss cross screen and "My Sunshine" from Artbooking, in Sweet Leaf and Pacifica cardstock. I inked the sentiment edges with Black ink. The ribbons are cut from Skylark and Ariana patterned paper. I added Sweet Leaf stitched grosgrain and Outdoor Denim chevron ribbon. The metal frame and brads are from a retired Olive embellishment package.

I used letters from the Keyboard Kraft Alphabet, for my headings. I covered both with Liquid Glass, for an additional texture. I added a card from Skylark Picture My Life for my description and wrote with our Black Journaling Pen. Here are close ups of each element.

All supplies are Close To My Heart.
Paper: Skylark; Skylark Picture My Life; Ariana; Paper Fundamentals
Cardstock: Pacifica; White Daisy
Ink: Black; Black Journaling Pen
Embellishments: Kraft Keyboard Alphabet; Olive Mini Medley; Liquid Glass; Sweet Leaf stitched grosgrain ribbon; Outdoor Denim chevron ribbon
Tools: Artbooking Cricut cartridge

Spring/Summer NEW Product BLOG HOP

It is time for another Spring/Summer NEW Product BLOG HOP!

I recently celebrated my 19th Wedding Anniversary, on January 28th. This is the card I made for my beloved husband, Randy.

I used patterned paper from Ariana along with Outdoor Denim cardstock. I have to double check each time I see this paper, to be sure it is from Ariana. This paper pack is so versatile with corals; greens; and blues to fit almost any bill. 

I stamped the flourish, from Inspiration Flourishes, in second generation Outdoor Denim ink. I stamped the bird from, Believe In Yourself and the postage stamp & mark from Balloon Ride WOTG in Outdoor Denim ink, also. The sentiment is from, Big Hug and is stamped with White Daisy pigment ink on Outdoor Denim cardstock.

I added part of a flourish in sparkles, from Sparkles Clear Flourishes - Small. I also edged all of the pieces and parts with Desert Sand in, by sponge.

All supplies are Close to My Heart.
Stamps: Big Hug; Inspiration Flourishes; Believe In Yourself; Balloon Ride WOTG
Paper: Ariana
Cardstock: Outdoor Denim; White Daisy
Ink: Outdoor Denim; White Daisy pigment
Embellishments: Sparkles Clear Flourishes - Small

Check out all of the great artwork created on our New Product Blog Hop.

Embossing & Die cutting class for February

Here are 2 of the cards made at my February Embossing & Die cutting class. I wanted to focus on Close To My Heart's NEW Embossing folders and Cricut cartridges, for these cards.

 I embossed using the Dots folder on the top card and for my own selection of cards, used a patterned dots folder from Spellbinders on the bottom card. The border was cut from Artbooking with Slate cardstock. The circle and scallop shape were cut with Art Philosophy. The stamped circle border is from a stamp set included with Artiste and the sentiment is from, Thank You.

I added Slate Polka Dot Washi Tape to White Daisy cardstock, then cut the pieces to look like ribbon ends. The patterned paper is from Babycakes and Sarita.

All supplies are Close To My Heart, unless noted.
Stamps: Artiste Bundle; Thank You
Paper: Babycakes; Sarita
Cardstock: Chocolate; Slate; Colonial White; White Daisy
Ink: Slate; Chocolate; Sunset
Embellishments: Slate Polka Dot Washi Tape
Tools: Art Philosophy & Artbooking Cricut cartridges; Dots Embossing Folder
Other: Spellbinders M'Bossabilities

Comforting Words

I am posting this card today with a dear friend in mind. She mentioned recently that it was the anniversary of her Dad's passing. I added that her memories would always be in her heart, as are mine. This card is very fitting, so I post it with eternal and loving memories of my own family members who have passed.

The patterned paper is from Laughing Lola, as is the Gold cardstock matting the stamped image. The stamped feathers, in Lagoon ink, are from the set of the same name. The sentiment is stamped in Black ink and is from, Big Hug. I added the chevron shapes from Wooden trinkets and elevated the stamped image on foam squares.

All supplies are Close To My Heart.
Paper: Laughing Lola
Stamps: Feathers; Big Hug
Cardstock: White Daisy; Laughing Lola Gold
Ink: Lagoon; Black
Embellishments: Wooden Trinkets

Inspiration Flourishes

If the stamp set has a flourish image, then I must have it! This new stamp set, Inspiration Flourishes, was no exception.

This card is almost identical to another I posted for the New Product Blog Hop. For this card, all of the patterned paper is from Balloon Ride. The ink colours are Saddle and Sky, with some Artisan Studs added in.

All supplies are Close To My Heart.
Stamp: Inspiration Flourishes
Paper: Balloon Ride
Cardstock: Saddle; Colonial White
Ink: Sky; Saddle; Desert Sand
Embellishments: Artisan Studs
Tools: Art Philosophy Cricut cartridge

Lovely Ivy Lane

I LOVE Close To My Heart's new Ivy Lane paper because it is so versatile. I paired it with our February stamp of the month, Wild About Love.

This is the card gals who attended my Open House made. I wanted to showcase several new products from our Spring/Summer Idea Book.

The gorgeous green patterned paper is from Ivy Lane. I embossed Lagoon cardstock with our Chevron embossing folder. Then I rubbed my Lagoon ink pad over top of the embossed piece for this lovely two-toned effect. Behind it is Gypsy cardstock that was punched with our Scallop Border Punch.

The sweet fox was stamped in Lagoon ink on Colonial White, then mounted on Sweet Leaf cardstock. We added a Purple Glitter Gem to the flower's centre. Ribbon strips, of our gorgeous new Purple and Turquoise Shimmer Trim, were added. A small piece of an Ivy Lane zip strip over top, then stamped with the postal squiggles from Balloon Ride's WOTG stamp set. Then a butterfly and the sentiment is stamped in Lagoon ink from, Big Hug.

All supplies are Close To My Heart.
Stamp: Wild About Love Feb SOTM; Big Hug; Balloon Ride WOTG
Paper: Ivy Lane
Cardstock: Colonial White; Lagoon; Gypsy; Sweet Leaf
Ink: Lagoon
Embellishments: Purple Glitter Gems; Purple & Turquoise Shimmer Trim
Tools: Chevron Embossing Folder; Art Philosophy Cricut cartridge