Thanks! {with green and a pop of bling}

I combined two challenges today for a fun, graphic "Thank You" card!

The pop of Pear green with black and white is so stunning! That was the color combination this week on Dynamic Duos! I chose some chevron paper from the For Always kit. The little Thank You sentiment is from a special stamp being offered for a limited time to help provide relief to the Oklahoma victims. You can get the details under the Current Specials tab!

I splashed just a little chartreuse Color Shine {Heidi Swapp} on the base of the card giving it a bit of shimmer. I then added some green bubbles and black sparkles for some "bling". I hope it was enough for the challenge on The Paper Players , Bring on the Bling!

 

 

H2H Photo Inspired

This week on Heart 2 Heart Challenges Blog we are given a photo to inspire our project. I was really excited to create something from the first moment I saw it~

I loved all the clean white with the pops of color from the flowers. The bird cage itself inspired the beautiful bird image that I chose.

 

Be sure to stop by Heart 2 Heart Challenges to see the fabulous art that the Design Team has created from the photo!



Dad's Day 'Stache!

Happy Father's Day to all the Dad's out there! A little late, but I wanted to share the card I sent off in the mail for my own Daddy! I don't get to see him very often, but he is often in my thoughts. We send silly stuff back and forth in the mail all the time, so I thought he should get a fun Father's Day card from me. A "serious" card just wouldn't be right!!

You can see by this old photo of me and my Dad that the "mustache" was quite appropriate! Aren't we cute!

Buzz & Bumble Beauties

It's that time of year when I do some reorganizing in the craft room. An opportunity to go through my stash and use it rather than hoard it! I came across these papers and the coordinating MyStickease. They are really beautiful images and the Buzz & Bumble papers are gorgeous as well.

Wherever I'm With You

I love the sentiment on this card! I used the sketch over on Mojo Monday which had lots of different layers to play with. I was able to split up the words in the sentiment with a banner as shown in the sketch. The color combination came from the Paper Players Blog. {CTMH colors are Sky, Smoothie, Crème Brulee and Cocoa}

Tool Time on H2H

This week Heart 2 Heart Challenges Blog asks us to create a project using our favorite tool or incorporating a tool on our manly project! One of my favorite tools is undoubtedly the Cricut. I chose the Artiste cartridge for the fun sprocket images. They worked perfectly for a "bike" theme on my awesome guy card! I used the Later Sk8r papers and some small metal looking screw images from the coordinating embellishments. I added more real metal with brads and eyelets to the sprockets using another fun tool, the Crop-o-dile.

Be sure to pedal on over to H2H Blog to see more creations from the Design Team!


This card will be given to my husband for Father's Day. He has been riding his bike to work almost everyday for over a year now! When we ride together he motivates me to ride farther and faster. He also listens to my complaining the whole ride..."I'm exhausted", "My knees hurt", "Are we there yet?"...What a great guy, I'm so proud of him!!

Summer Time Sketch

Today is the first day of our Summer Vacation! The Paper Players challenge this week is to create a project with a Summer theme. I chose to feature a little bike. It's one of the activities I really enjoy doing. I have to get up early in the morning though to beat the sweltering heat! I also used the sketch from Freshly Made Sketches this week. I loved the banners and twine. I thought it would be interesting to create black & white banners to contrast the bright pinks, oranges and yellows.

{All products are Close To My Heart except the patterned background label by Heidi Swapp; colored with Color Shine sprays}

Dynamic Duo Wedding Cards

Earlier I posted some anniversary cards I intend to donate. I also wanted to contribute some cards with a wedding theme. I thought the Dynamic Duo colors of red and purple would work well. I used up some more of the For Always My Stickease Assortment. I simply added in some purple ribbon with the black, gray and ruby red colors!

Hello Again H2H!

I told you in a previous post that I had some exciting news from Heart 2 Heart Challenges Blog! I was asked to join them this month as a Guest Designer! I was excited to get started with this month's first challenge with a tropical theme. Do you like Pina Colada's?

If you have Pina Colada's then it must be a party!! I immediately thought of a BBQ/Luau with this theme! Invite your friends, have a welcoming gift ready for them, and don't forget to decorate the table!

 

After dinner mints or a scented tea light candle would nestle perfectly into this tropical goodie box! All the cuts are made on the Cricut Artiste cartridge. I added some chevron stamping, folded it up and added the top flower layers. So easy!

Tropical flowers on the straws make them fun and festive. Just a bit of twine around a napkin and cutlery dresses them up well!

Be sure to stop by Heart 2 Heart challenges blog to see what the designers have created and play along!!

For Always Anniversary

One of the organizations that I donate cards to was in need of some anniversary and wedding cards. I pulled out some of the gorgeous For Always papers and the coordinating My Stickease. These cards were super simple to put together. I only needed to do some cutting and just a little bit of stamping as the Stickease images were really the star.

This first card uses the Freshly Made Sketches pattern. I used a background stamp as if it were a border stamp by only stamping a portion of the stamp on the edges of the cardstock base. I like the pop of yellow with the black, white and juniper colors!

 

 

Here are the other cards I created with the same papers and My Stickease images. Changing the colors really changes the whole look. This first one uses the same colors as my own wedding day! A classic color combination. The other card is more of the juniper color with black & white. I have noticed a growing trend everywhere of turquoise and coral colors! The second card really blends with the current trends.

 

Country Born Grad

One more graduation card for you today! Like the last post, it is not a typical graduation card. It was created specifically for the Grad! I chose the soft, feminine Clementine papers and the lovely horse image from the Country Born stamp set. I thought the addition of natural twine was fun and did not take away from the pretty paper or beautiful stamped image.

Buzzing with Best Wishes Grad!

I have never created so many graduation cards until this year! I suppose it's because my own kids are close to graduation and all of their friends are too! Also, many of my friends all had children around the same time as me!! Regardless the reason, I have lots of creating to do.

My card today features the lovely Buzz & Bumble papers and embellishments. I am submitting this card for a couple of challenges. The first challenge uses the sketch this week on The Paper Players. I love the graphic blocks of patterned paper and that scroll feature!

The second challenge is for Heart 2 Heart. Their Nip & Tuck theme this week challenges us to use real or faux stitching. I chose faux, because I love how quick and easy the technique. It gives the project the same effect as real stitching without the extra work of dragging a sewing machine out of the closet!

This is certainly not a "typical" graduation card, but neither is the recipient! I wanted a gorgeous, classy card, because the young lady receiving is just that!

Creature Feature

Today's card features a creature for the challenge on Heart 2 Heart this week. My creature is a wise owl with a graduation congratulations. I've used some older papers with a "school" theme as well as some stamps & embellishments perfect for the occasion.

Grillin' & Chillin'

Today I am playing along with The Paper Players in their Masculine card challenge. I decided to go with a grilling theme. It's that time of year when we love going outdoors to grill up some amazing food and enjoy the fresh air. If I buy the meat and veggies, I know I can get the Grill Master to cook it!

 

 I wanted my card to look like polaroid snap shots of the Grill Master's tools. A simple background of cool blue to display the pictures that were attached with some washi tape!

Blue Baby Buggy

Playing along with Dynamic Duos challenge today! It's a Blue and Black duo. I chose Close To My Heart's Pacifica blue color and some black and white patterned papers from Teresa Collins. The challenge also had a dessert option of a kid theme. I just so happened to need a baby shower card and let's face it babies all grow up to be kids!! {tee-hee}

Inspired By Summer

This past weekend I hosted my Summer Card Exchange. Participants were asked to create cards with a summer theme. I ask that they use as much Close To My Heart product as possible. This time I also threw in another challenge for them to create a card with a minimum of 6 layers.

There was a fun variety ranging from beach babes to pinwheels, a splash of bright colors to a patriotic theme. I also had hungry frogs and blue ribbon cows! They are all very creative. I hope you are inspired by our artwork!

 

 

This first card is my own. I wanted to use bright colors for my beach gal. No color is happier or brighter than yellow and the Dream Pop papers were perfect! I also used some glitter paper & buttons to kick it up one more level!

 



Happy Summer card by Stacie~

Celebrate this summer by Aysa~

Happy Cow by Tommie~

Happy Day Pinwheel by Pat~

Frog Hello Card by Julie~

Sassy Beach Babe by Janet~

I also had a sweet summer project for anyone that wanted to play after the exchange. I posted a sneak peek of it earlier this week. A fun little gift idea using the new small paper pouches and Dream Pop paper. A creative way to share some summer with a pouch of watermelon seeds!