Heart 2 Heart Challenge - "Three"

Welcome to this week's Heart 2 Heart Challenge entitled, "Three".  You can interpret that any way you choose and I always look forward to seeing everyone's interpretation.  Mine is pretty simple:  three flowers.  How thought-provoking, huh?  LOL  But I totally love how this card came out...and hope you do too!

I used the Wavy Blooms stamp set.  It is one of those stamp sets I have loved since released but had not purchased.  I finally did so and love it! The floral images are fun for coloring and the three sentiments are so inspiring.  

In seeing this stamp set used before, I loved how the flowers had been colored in so that is totally the direction I headed with it for use this first time.  I used various ShinHan Markers and the Colorless Blender Marker that removes ink and makes me look like a seasoned artist.  It truly is awesome so you need to try it!  Nothing fancy done on them but then I did add a Pink Enamel Gem and an Enamel Blue Dot and 3-D the purple and blue flowers for some dimension on the card.  The sentiment was stamped in Black and I used the Black journaling pen to doodle around the border of the White Daisy piece.

I cannot wait to use this stamp set more, be it the flowers, sentiments or both.  Doesn't this card just make you smile?  I sure hope so.

Consider joining the creative fun at this week's Heart 2 Heart Challenge.  Be sure to use Close To My Heart products in your creation.  Linking up is fun!  Join the fun today!

Make It From Your Heart!

Stampers with an Attitude Blog Hop - Penelope/Boxes

Welcome to our Blog Hop where we are featuring artwork focused on the Penelope product line or on "boxes".  The "boxes" interpretation is unlimited with the wide range of options we have, especially with our exclusive Cricut Collections, although I chose to head a different direction with that theme.

If you are coming from Melinda's Blog, you are on the right track.  Should you get lost along the way, you can find a complete list of participants by clicking here.

Without stepping much outside of the box (hee hee), I decided to break open a pack of the Cupcake Boxes.  I have eyed them since they were contained in the Idea Book, finally ordered them, and now saw the opportunity to decorate one and put it to good use so I did just that.  This is how the boxes look empty.  You get two boxes that measure 4" on each side with a clear, plastic window, perfect for displaying a treat.  They are very easy to assemble.

Recently purchasing the "Friend in Me" stamp set (pictured below), I decided to use it to decorate the box.  I stamped the floral and leaf images and colored them in with the ShinHan Markers.  I love the bright and vibrant look of the colored images.

Here is the fabulous Friend in Me stamp set that can be used well beyond sisters and friends.  The floral images are, of course, perfect for springtime.  This is definitely a new and favorite stamp set of mine.

Here is a side view of the box so you can see its dimension.  Besides cupcakes, you can put other delicious treats - even contained within a clear bag inside - or you can also make small cards to place inside.  Do not limit yourself by the title of these boxes but I definitely needed a reason to buy a cupcake and make sure it fit inside.  ;)

Would love to hear what other ideas you have for box contents so post them in a comment.  I love hearing from you!

Now head on over to Cat's Blog.  I know you will love what she created!

Happy hoppin',

CTMH Technique Blog Hop - Kissing is for Stamping

Did you know you can kiss with your stamps?! NO...YOU don't kiss them, you have them kiss one another!  :)  That's the technique we are highlighting this month on our artwork and we are so glad you have joined us!  

If you are coming from Michelle's Blog you are on the right track!  A complete list of participants is at the bottom of this post if you were to get lost along the way.

You need to use, at least to my knowledge (we will see if the other blog hop participants know otherwise), a stamp image that is solid for this technique.  I chose to use images from this month's Stamp of the Month, "Balloon Animals".

Before I show you my creation I am showing you two "kissing" techniques.  With this one you can see how the elephant looks like he/she has been kissed with hearts.  Too fun!  I stamped the elephant image in Pixie ink and - BEFORE stamping the elephant onto paper - then took a heart image, inked it up in Hollyhock ink and stamped it on the elephant.  I repeated that process to cover my elephant in hearts AND THEN stamped it on the cardstock.  

This technique is referred to as "Reverse Kissing".  Rather than applying a "kiss of color", I removed it.  I inked up the elephant in Cotton Candy ink and then used the heart image to REMOVE color from the inked elephant.  I repeated this process, again to kiss all over the elephant, and THEN stamped it onto the cardstock.  I learned this technique MANY years ago so it was fun to return to it and I enjoyed doing so with this stamp set.

 

So...while I showed you how this technique was done with the elephant (I will have to create some artwork using them), I actually used the giraffe for my card.  You can see I used the standard kissing technique here and incorporated the La Vie En Rose paper pack.  I LOVE the polka dot Zip Strip so had to be sure I included it.  A Red Enamel Heart, a small piece of Gold Shimmer Trim, some White & Gold Ribbon and gold hearts from the Fundamentals Assortment were used to finish it off.  I kinda know a little girl who loves giraffes so will have to send this to her soon.  

Thanks so much for hoppin' with us and now go check out what Wendy has to showcase with this technique.

Happy hoppin'!

Participants:

1. Melissa Robinson *YOU ARE HERE*
2. Wendy Kessler
3. Catherine Nowak
4. Priscilla Gotham
5. Darlys Recker
6. Tammy Lubick
7. Haley Dyer
8. Tonya Whitehurst
9. Kirsten Jade
10. Helen Gullett
11. Michelle Loncar

Heart 2 Heart Challenges - Color Challenge

Welcome to this week's Heart 2 Heart Challenge featuring shades of Red, Black and White.  We linked up with the Color My Heart Color Dare Challenge as well so as you share your artwork, created with Close To My Heart products, be sure to link up to both!

I am loving Close To My Heart's Watercolor Paints and the La Vie En Rose paper pack.  I used both on this simple but fun card, incorporating this month's "Share Your Love" exclusive stamp set where $7 from your $17.95 purchase is donated to Operation Smile.  A little bit of Black & Gold Ribbon was included, as well as a Gold Puffie Heart, and that's it.  I love how this card came together and hope you do too.

Be sure to share your creation with us at both Heart 2 Heart and Color My Heart Color Dare.  I can't wait to see what you create!

Have a wonderful week!

Heart 2 Heart Challenges - Favorite CTMH Paper Pack

I am so excited to share a card made with my favorite paper pack, "Penelope".  That is what we are doing this week at Heart 2 Heart Challenges where we are sharing artwork made with our favorite Close To My Heart paper pack.

Here is a peek of the fun patterns in this paper pack.  You get two each of the 6 designs, which have other patterns on the back.  So awesome!

Here is my Easter card made with leftovers from the Workshops Your Way layouts and cards.  It is quite colorful and I am okay with that.  :)  I absolutely HAD to use the polka dot Zip Strip and added some stickers from the Complements, one Silver Puffie, some Silver Foil Tape and ribbon.  

Here is a little closeup of the embellishments.

Be sure to link up to the Heart 2 Heart Challenge for this week.  I look forward to seeing your artwork!

Share the Love Blog Hop

Welcome to our Blog Hop where we are featuring this adorable stamp set, "Share the Love".  Did you know when you purchase this stamp set, $7 from your purchase will be donated to Operation Smile? That's right, it will!  By ordering a stamp set this month you can have part in changing the life of a child.  Read more details here.

If you are coming from Catherine's Blog, you are headed in the right direction.  You can find a complete list of participants by clicking on this link.  So...let's get started, shall we?

I had fun incorporating this bokeh background that is included in the Picture My Life My Story Scrapbooking Program.  I created the "splatter" background using watercolor.  I tapped the waterbrush over my finger to create the dots.  Cool, huh?!  I did stamp the typewriter image three times - once directly on the background piece, then in Glacier ink and lastly on White Daisy.  I fussy cut the Glacier image to create the colored typewriter and then 3-D the sentiment piece, just for dimension.  The sentiment is stamped in Lagoon and I added a Gold Puffie Heart.  The White & Gold Ribbon was just the finishing touch.

Now, go check out what Melinda has up her sleeve for this fun stamp set!  I appreciate you stopping by.

Happy hoppin'!

Stamp of the Month Blog Hop - Balloon Animals

This month we are happy to showcase artwork incorporating the February Stamp of the Month, "Balloon Animals".  It is this fun stamp set that is perfect for birthdays or celebrating that special something in your life.  Don't tell anyone but I bought a kit one time, many years ago, so I could make my own balloon animals.  Yes, I sure did!  You can get this stamp set for $5 this month, with a $50 purchase!  It is valued at $17.95.  Click here for those details.

If you are coming from Melinda's Blog, you are on the right track.  In fact, you can also find a complete list of participants on her blog should you get lost along the way.  So...let's get started!

Random-stamping a background is one of my all-time fave techniques.  Doing so allows you to make a patterned paper of your choosing and that is just what I did here with the "Let's Celebrate" sentiment.  The Lagoon sheet of paper in the background is from the Fundamentals line and has some clear embossed texture on it (not so easy to see in the photo).   

The details of this card are pretty simple, adding some Silver Sequins and Silver Shimmer Trim.  Ink colors used for this card were Whisper, Lagoon, Black, and Thistle.

Thanks for taking a moment to stop by and now head on over to Michelle's Blog to see what she designed using this stamp set.

Happy hoppin'!

Heart 2 Heart Challenge - Two/2nd

Welcome to this week's challenge where we are focusing on the theme, Two or 2nd, as we kick off February.  You can interpret it in any way you choose, designing artwork using Close To My Heart product, and linking to our Heart 2 Heart Challenge.  I went with the obvious for two/2nd representing the second month of the year, February.  I love celebrating Valentine's Day all month long so figured why not?!

This fun but simple card was made using the "Animal Greetings", Operation Smile, stamp set where $7 of your purchase is donated to change the life of a child by providing surgeries for facial deformities in children.  Two Picture My Life cards from the Beautiful You collection were also used.  I love the gold foil accents on these cards.  

I trimmed off a quarter inch from the top and bottom of the triangle, 3 x 4, pattern card.  To add to the heart card, I covered the sentiment that was originally on there that said "Besties", creating the banner out of Pomegranate cardstock (which was also used for the main part of the card).  I colored and then fussy cut the bear, using ShinHan markers, stamped the sentiment in Pomegranate ink, and then added one Gold Heart Puffie and White & Gold Ribbon for a finishing touch.  I love how quickly this card came together and I think it is perfect!  Our Picture My Life cards (aka PML) offer this fun and viable option outside of their obvious uses.

Look at these adorable images in the cute sentiments included in this stamp set.  Aren't they precious?!

So...grab some of your papercrafting products and join us for this week's challenge.  We love seeing your artwork and I especially enjoy everyone's take on the theme.  Head on over to Heart 2 Heart Challenges and link up to the challenge.

Make It From Your Heart,