March CTMH Blog Hop

Welcome to the March Close To My Heart Stamp of the Month Blog Hop.  This is my first time participating, so I hope you enjoy it!  If you are coming here from Jean's blog, then you are on the right track.  If you are just starting with ME, then at the end of this post, you will find another consultant's blog to move on to.

This month's stamp set is Potential (S1203). You can purchase this stamp set for $17.95 or get it for just $5 when you purchase $50 worth of products from me.

I made three cards for the hop using White Daisy CS that I random stamped in Black Ink.  Then I cut three pieces to make the three cards.

I used White Daisy, Desert Sand, and Black CS, Pewter and Black Brads, and a NEW Durables Stud in Pewter.  They just stick right on.  I also used the Dry Embossing Stylus to score lines on the Desert Sand CS on the card on the right.  Then I sanded the front with the Sanding Kit.

A close up of the standard sized card.  I used the Durable Stud on this card.

This is the second standard sized card (4.25 x 5.5) that I made with the piece of random stamped paper.  I stamped the medallion on a piece of White Daisy cut out with the Art Philosophy Cartridge.  This piece goes around to the back.  The word "Together" was stamped using the masking technique.  Cover up the  words We're in this  with a piece of paper before you stamp.  There are three Black Brads on this card as well as sanding.  The back of the card is shown on the right.

The final card is a 3x3 with the pattern coming from Wishes.  It's called Middle Ground on page 19.  I added Pewter Brads to the front.

Now if you have made it this far, please head on over to Carol's blog to see what she has created.  Thanks for stopping by!

March 2012 Constant Campaign: The Philosophy of Fun

Join Close To My Heart in March and get the Cricut Art Philosophy Cartridge FREE!  The New Consultant Kit is only $99 and it's loaded with business supplies and new products to start your own business.  Now is the time to make a difference in your life and get the cartridge FREE in the process!  Listen to Christine in the video below as she tells a little more about it.

Picture Perfect with Heart2Heart

 Here is the inspiration picture for this week's challenge.  What a great room!  I just love everything about it.  I wish I had the talent to decorate like this.  It just draws me in.  Someone told me the other day I was a "brown" person.  That's true, but blue is exciting to me too.  So this is just where I could hang out for a while.  Don't you think?

My card is a 3.5x8 sized card in White Daisy.  On top of that I placed a piece of Desert Sand CS.  The pattern for this card is Upright in the Originals Card Book on page 34.  I used Crystal Blue CS and ink for the flowers.  The Blending Pen (3174) was used to color the flowers and butterfly.  Do you see the butterfly on the pillow in the challenge picture?  The stamp set is Card Word Puzzle (C1494), and the ribbon is the Dark Chocolate Striped Grosgrain (Z1617).  Three Pewter Brads finish off the card.  Thanks for looking!

The Stella Bonus

 I made the Stella Workshop on the Go Bonus Projects the other day.  I didn't get the card set that it showed, but decided to make my own 8x3.5 cards.  These cards aren't exactly the same as shown on the brochure, but pretty close.  From the Stella Paper Pack that is included in the WOTG, I have made 6 cards and 3 two-page layouts so far.  There are still at least two pieces of patterned paper left and a few scraps of card stock.  I have used all of the buttons and lace from the Bohemian Assortment (Z1687) and still have Hearts left from the Dimensional Elements Hearts (Z1735)  My goal is to use up all of this Workshop on the Go to see what I can create.

For the cards, I have added my own card stock.  Aren't the chair and lamp stamps cute?  The stamp set comes with a lampshade to decorate, a separate base, a chair, two sayings: I CHAIRish you, and You are the LIGHT of my life.  Also there is a piece that says: Moments to Share and a small circle with a design inside to stamp inside our Token Alpha (E1020) or anywhere you might want to stamp.  It could make a pretty background also.  Check out this Workshop on the Go, Stella (G1032).

Out of My Comfort Zone

Sometimes I have a hard time with colors.  I get into a rut with the same ones.  Believe me, I have come a long way since I started with CTMH.  I was maybe a two color gal back then, now I can really combine the colors with the help of so many wonderful examples I find in the catalog.  But these colors are new to me.  I am more of a soft color person.  But it's growing on me.  I kind of like it!  The patterned paper is Stella, with Sunset, Tulip, Colonial White and Olive CS, the stamp set is Just for You (B1398) with Sunset, Tulip and Olive Inks and I used Sunset Ribbon and Bakers Twine with a Tulip Button. This design is an older Mojo Monday by Maria Gurnsey. Try to step out of your comfort zone, you might find you like it.  :)

Heart2Heart Challenge

Over at Heart2Heart, Mary posted this card design challenge.  This is my interpretation of it.   This is a 5x5 card made using Sweet Leaf, Cotton Candy and Colonial White CS.  There's a bit of Lucy patterned paper here too.  I used that cute little stamp set, My Peeps  (B1402).  I colored the eggs with Water Color Pencils. For embellishments, I dug into my Brad drawer and Pink Sparkles pack.  The Dimensional Element Heart is sponged with Cotton Candy Ink.

To Brighten Your Day

Don't you just love simple cards. I used Pemberley and Desert Sand Cardstock, Card Chatter-Sympathy and Chocolate Waxy Flax. Also Outdoor Denim Buttons and Ink. I just cut a strip of Pemberley and then cut across it a few times on the diagonal. The "x"s are waxy flax. Inside the card, the sentiment reads: and chase the clouds away.

Tried a New Soup Last Night.

I have been trying new recipes lately. I love soup, so that is the first section in a cookbook that I go to. But this recipe came from a blog that I follow. I found out about this wonderfully funny lady a few years ago from a friend and fellow consultant who lives in AZ. I have been a fan ever since. The blog is Shrimp.
The Pioneer Woman and last night's soup was Tuscan Bean Soup with Shrimp Wonderful! Tomatoes, Kale and Beans with fresh Shrimp. Can't get better than that! You should follow her; she'll put a smile on your face!

Happy Thoughts....coming your way

That's the sentiment on this standard sized card made with a piece of Pemberley. The stamp set is Card Chatter-Sympathy. Card patterns can come from a lot of places. This was an ad in an old stamp magazine. It's a very simple card to make. There is Desert Sand and Colonial White CS, a Colonial White Button with Chocolate Waxy Flax, Outdoor Denim Brads and Ink. What inspires you?

Pink!

I made just a sampling of cards in the last two days, between my real work and laundry. And of course I get sidetracked on other things too.

All of these cards were made using Wishes. This 4.25x5.5 card's pattern is called Geometric on page 124. I used the Lucy paper pack, Colonial white and Creme Brulee CS, Just for You (B1398), Cotton Candy, Blush, Creme Brulee, Grey Wool and Sweet Leaf Ink, a Sweet Leaf Brad and Button, Colonial White Waxy Flax and a Paradise Paper Flower

This 3x6 card uses Lucy, Blush, Cotton Candy and Creme Brulee CS, with Card Word Puzzle(C1494) Watercolor Pencils and a Jewel. Pattern on page 59.

This is the Layered Look pattern on page 19 of Wishes. A 3x3 card using My Peeps
(B1402)and a jewel from the Pink Collection.

And finally, Curtain Call on page 94. This 4.5x4.5 card uses Grey Wool Bakers Twine along with some of the other things mentioned above. Look what you can do with just a few items.

Heart2Heart with Lucy

I put this card in the 1-2-3 Challenge over at Heart2Heart. We were to use 1 stamp, 2 patterned papers and 3 embellishments. Mine is a standard sized card, using the card pattern found in Wishes on page 78. It's called Sentiment Secured and is so easy to do. Don't forget Wishes will be gone at the end of the Spring/Summer Catalog, so if you don't have all of them, don't miss out.

This card is made with:
Cotton Candy and Colonial White CS, the Lucy Paperpack, Pear Brads (retired) and the Stamp set called Butterfly (A1120) One of our new "Quick Cards" stamps. The sentiment reads...Love as delicate as a butterfly's wings; as strong as the circle of life. A beautiful, simple expression. The stamp was rolled in Creme Brulee, Blush and Cotton Candy inks to get this effect.

Oh, by the way, this is MY Lucy.

Pemberley and a 5x5

If you are coming back today and are wondering what happened to last night's card, I fixed it. Here is the revised version. Have you ever had something that really bothered you, thought about it all night then fixed it when you got up? Probably you aren't that obsessive, and I was too cold to get up in the middle of the night to do it, so here it is.

This paper is gorgeous and the stamp set C1494 Card Word Puzzle is a must have. I just love little words that I can put in small places. I will be using this paper pack and stampset alot.

I also used the Art Philosophy cartridge for the card, flourish and circles. I used Desert Sand ink for the flowers and words along with our Watercolor Pencils to color the flowers. There are Opaques in the middle of the flowers.

Made a Box Today

I used the Art Philosophy cartridge and made a little box out of Tulip Cardstock and trimmed it with some paper from the Roxie Paper pack. I used retired CTMH Black Ribbon to tie it up.

Inside the box, I made 4 cards with coordinating envies out of White Daisy CS. These are 4x4 cards, using D1482 Love Life for the heart and flourish. I stamped the hearts with Tulip and Smoothie, two of each. There is Black Cardstock and a Clear Gem on the front too. The envelopes are made using the Art Philosophy Cricut cartridge and they have a bit of Roxie on the inside.

Finally....Snow

I'm really not a big fan of snow. It looks pretty (from inside the house) but that's about the extent of any love I have for it. But today, the weather is mild, sun is shining brightly and not even a breeze. I really can't find anything to complain about.

They said we had 9-10 inches, but by the time I ventured out, some had melted. It was still beautiful

We have had very little snowfall this year. Kind of been really nice, but I guess a little bit before spring can't hurt.

Now, for some hot cocoa. Join me?

Oh, my Goodness!

The New Spring/Summer Idea Book is here and ready for action! Beautiful artwork, new stamps, gorgeous papers, fantastic embellishments and much, much more. Check it out online, or ask me how you can have your own. Don't miss out on this fantastic new catalog!


The February Stamp of the Month is available too, now till the end of this month. There are so many possibilities with this set.