Triple Play-Aug 15

In a few days on August 15th, Close To My Heart will be offering a great kit called Triple Play.  This $29.95 kit will be available for as low as $5 with a qualifying order!  The kit will include a darling stamp set, embellishments to stamp, ribbon, 4 mini ink pads and patterned cardstock to make 3 mini albums in 3 different colors.  I wanted to spice things up a bit so in addition to making 1 mini album in pink following the directions, I also used the blue set to make a sticky notepad holder and 2 thank you cards and the remaining yummy fall set to make an accordian album.

I will post the pink and the fall albums on the 15th. 

Sketch Challenge

I've always known I've never followed instructions to the "T" but this week proves it with the sketch challenge from www.heart2heartchallenges.blogspot.com  .  One thing I love about sketches are they are a beginning and that's usually all I need to get started on a project is to just be given the beginning.

Base Card:  CTMH Topiary Cardstock-I love the white core of our cardstock when it shows through with sanding after being embossed(Cuttlebug swirls and flowers).
Paper strip/flowers: CTMH Splendor papers-I knew I wanted to make some sort of  shabby flower and this is what I came up with.  Our double-sided papers are always perfect for this type of element.  Flowers were cut with Cricut and then smooshed up, inked with a sponge and then folded in half and squished in the middle. Staples adhere them to the bottom of the card.  They still needed a little something so I took pieces of CTMH Waxy Flax and adhered them to the center with a dab of CTMH Liquid Glass.www.heart2heartchallenges.blogspot.com

Cage & Bird: I used my Cricut again to cut CTMH White Daisy Cardstock for the bird cage with the Bloom cartridge.  I gilded it with CTMH Glitz Gel.  The birdie is stamped from the CTMH A Tweet set.  I dabbed it in CTMH Crystal Blue ink on top and CTMH Brown Bag ink on the bottom.  I used a fairly light hand to ink it.  After I cut the bird out, I used a sponge to go over the edges with the Crystal Blue ink. I made a braided chain for the bird cage out of CTMH Bamboo Waxy Flax. Green pearls finish the eye and cage top. 

Remember, you can always purchase any Close To My Heart products from my website http://belindak.myctmh.com

Tag Challenge-mini album

You guessed it-another challenge entry for www.heart2heartchallenges.blogspot.com.  This week's challenge was to make a project using a tag.  I used 3 tags in my mini album inspired by the talented Tresa Black at www.fabulouslyartsy.com.  I had wanted to make one of these for a while and when I heard my bro. and SIL were headed on a 3 month RV trip through Canada, I decided it was the perfect time to make one and use the Journey collection of papers and stamps from Close To My Heart.  Throughout the album I used the Journey papers LV1 and LV2 as well as the My Stickease sheets.  I also used the CTMH stamp sets Live Inspired and Happy Journey.  I used lots of Chocolate Ink to age/distress the elements.  I love how it turned out and have 3 months to look at it until they return from their journey.  I hope I don't decide to keep it instead!

H2H week of 7/26

The sock "cupcake" made the rounds on the Cricut MB a few months ago.  I took the opportunity for this week's challenge at www.heart2heartchallenges.blogspot.com to make a few for gifts for fellow scrapbook retreat goers.  The challenge was to use the Close To My Heart colors of Blush, Vineyard Berry and Creme' Brulee'.  I cut 2 cupcake wrappers using my Cricut. I did not have CTMH Vineyard Berry ink or paper so I used another brand for that layer of cardstock.  I cut off the decorative top of the blush cupcake wrapper and then stamped it in blush using  the CTMH Rock Star stamps.  I used a blender pen to accent with Creme Brulee'.  I cut out a few stamped stars and affixed to the edge of the blush layer. I used pink pearls from my stash to decorate the top of the wrapper.  The frosted cupcake is actually a spa sock from Michaels rolled up and put inside the wrapper.  Glitz glitter glue from CTMH frosted the stars and stamping.  I used CTMH organdy ribbon and another cutout star to top off my confection.  No calorie sweetness-my favorite!

H2H Recipe Challenge

This is for the H2H "recipe" challenge  www.heart2heartchallenges.blogspot.com.  I took a hot pink jumbo clip and used mod podge to adhere Cherry O papers and Stickease.  I also used Liquid Glass and Glitz glitter glue to sparkle it up.  I used a piece of Cherry O LV 1 paper for the recipe card and added a journaling block from the Stickease collection as well as some stamping from the Bowl of Cherries stamp set.  A sweet button and bow top it off.  All is Close To My Heart product except the clip.  Sorry to be brief but...Gotta run!

"ABC" Challenge

The challenge this week at www.heart2heartchallenges.blogspot.com is an
"ABC" challenge which means make Anything But a Card.  I polished off 2 projects in one with this one.  I am in a swap with some other paper artists that was a "groupies" swap which meant to use anything laying around your scrap room and group them together.  The trick was to not buy anything especially for the swap.  Easy Peasy when your stash runneth over like mine!  I made a door (or wall) hanging. 

The Close To My Heart products used are:
papers from "Splendor" pack (cloud, bird, bottom grass and butterfly), Colonial white flowers sponged with ink, Organdy ribbons from the Spring Harmony collection, stamps from "Over the Rainbow" (sun, sentiment, design on butterfly), "Delightful Things" (flower stems), and "Soul Mates" (joy on  hanger), inks:Sunflower, Topiary and Moonstruck, Glitz glitter glue on the butterfly and sun, Liquid Glass to hold the micro beads.

Non-CTMH products from my stash are microbeads, hanger, pearls and solid cardstock. I cut out the bird with the "Home Decor" Cricut cart and the butterfly with the "Walk in My Garden" cart.

Thanks for flying in!

H2H 14 - Star Quilt Card

I am submitting this card to the challenge at www.heart2heartchallenges.blogspot.com.  It actually began as an ATC (artist's trading card) that I am in a swap for.  All items are from Close To My Heart except the rhinestones and white pen.  The strip down the side is from the Cherry O My Stickease and is a border.  The cherry in the corner is from the same set, I just added Liquid Glass to the cherries and Glitz to the leaves.  The stamped sentiment is from the Bowl of Cherries set. 

To make the star, I folded 4 squares of 2 sided paper (Cherry O) into triangles and then folded the center point down to be even with the straight edge.  I then just alternatively overlapped them to create the star.  A button in the center with waxy flax finishes it off.  The "stitching" is from a white Signo gel pen.  Enjoy!