Boo Crew Blog Hop

Welcome to our Blog Hop where we are featuring a special called "Boo Crew". This Halloween-themed product collection is totally adorable and fun spooky, all at the same time. 

These products are available through the end of October and can be purchased separately, or you can save 25% when you purchase a Bundle.

If you are coming from Blenda's Blog, you are on the right track. You can make your way around the hop circle to view some fantastic artwork. Should you get lost, you can find a list of all participants here. 

And...pssst...we are also allowed to give you a sneak peek of some new products coming your way September 1st and I have done just that! 

Meet Zoey! She is one of our NEW Halloween Besties and she has some friends who are joining her in the September/October Supplemental Idea Book which will go live, to the general public, on Septembere 1st! I could not resist using her as she, and her coordinating stamp images, pair perfectly with Boo Crew. Isn't she adorable?

I love the fun color combinations in this paper pack to include: Ballerina, Black, Nectarine, White Daisy, and Wild Berry. 

This fun-fold card has a different way of opening and I totally love it. It was great for putting her as the focal point, with the colorful papers, while then having a place for the ghoul-friend sentiment (don't you love that?!) and a hand-written message.

I colored her in using Watercolor Pencils and couldn't resist adding some Clear Shimmer Brush for added sparkle. I couldn't resist adding some Black Dots for her antennaes, a COMING SOON Flower Sequin, and a Bitty Sparkle in the middle. I love the happy of this resulting card and hope you do too! 

To get a copy of the NEW Core (yearlong) AND September/October Supplemental Idea Books, simply place an order on your Makers website, of any size, and you'll get it FREE! (Be sure to sign into your account and you'll see it automatically add to your cart before checking out.) The NEW products will be released September 1st!

Now, head on over to Melinda's Blog to see what she has created to share with you. 

Happy hopping! 

Vacation/Staycation Heart 2 Heart Challenge

Welcome to this August Heart to Heart Challenged titled, "Vacation/Staycation". Using Close To My Heart products (at least one), you are invited to create a papercrafting project of your own and then link up to us on the Heart 2 Heart Blog. We love seeing how everyone spins the theme differently and hope you'll join the fun!

Do you recognize this card? I recreated it from artwork shared in the current July/August Idea Book. It's called an "Idea Book" for a reason as it contains much more than product. You can use the artwork ideas for inspiration OR, if you're like me, you can recreate them almost exactly as designed. LOL Gotta love that! 

The stamped and die-cut images come from the set, "Wander - Cardmaking Stamp + Thin Cuts". Isn't the little camping trailer adorable?!

I love how some of the images were used to create some texture on the paper strips and that a splash of watercolor was used in the background. And the saying...YES! Bring on the POSITIVE adventure! (LOL I don't want non-fun adventures.)

Thank you for stopping by my blog. Consider joining us on the Heart 2 Heart Blog Challenges each month! We love having you! 

Keep creating!

Anything Goes Technique Blog Hop

Welcome to this month's Technique Blog Hop where we use Close To My Heart products to showcase papercrafting techniques. However, this month you are in for a treat as the participants can highlight any of their favorite techniques as we titled this, "Anything Goes". 

If you are coming from Michelle Loncar's Blog, you are on the right track. You can find a complete list of participants at the bottom of this post. 

Here is what I have created to share with you today:

For this card, I incorporated a few techniques such as resist embossing and dry embossing. I'll explain my process. 

Using the August Stamp of the Month, "Tutti Frutti Summer" (shown below), I random stamped the strawberry image, with Versamark Ink (Z891), all over this stitched rectangle. I poured White Embossing Powder (Z2068) all over the images, removed the access powder, and heat set it with the Heat Tool. You can see some of those white strawberries on the area to the far left. 

Then, using the "Picked Raspberry" Distress Oxide Ink, and a Foam Tool, I applied ink all over the White Daisy Cardstock. 

Next, I wanted to distress the pink background by spritzing it with some water. I couldn't put my hands on my water bottle quickly so just sprinkled it with my hands. You can see how I got a little too much, for my liking, in the top right area but it ended up being covered by the Green Apple cardstock in my finished project. 

After I applied the drops of water, I used a paper towel to wipe off the pink ink that had stuck to the white strawberries. By doing so, I left this fabulous result. Don't you love it?! I do! This technique is called "Resist Ink Distressing". 

For the strip of Green Apple Cardstock, I did some dry embossing with my Dual-Tip Stylus Embossing Tool. I put my paper in my paper trimmer and measured off in 1/2" and 1/4" increments. Then, I used a sanding block to distress it for the resulting look. 

Lastly, for the strawberry, I didn't want it to have a black outline. I wanted just the fruit image so I stamped it on cardstock using Ballerina ink (light pink) and then used Tri-Blend Markers to color in the image. I fussy-cut it and used Thin 3-D Foam Tape for added dimension. 

A few Black Dots and I called this fun card "done"! I hope you enjoyed it and maybe even learned something new, or were reminded of a technique you haven't done in awhile.

Now, keep making your way around the Blog Hop and head over to Cat's Blog. I'm confident you'll love what you see there! 

Happy hoppin'! 

List of Participants:

1. Melissa Robinson *YOU ARE HERE*

2. Cat Nowak

3. Darlys Recker

4. Haley Dyer

5. Brandi Robinson

6. Maz Wood

7. Lauren Moore

8. Tamara Sandwisch

9. Katy Taylor

10. Krista Hershberger

11. Jayma Malme

12. Michelle Loncar

"Tutti Frutti Summer" August Stamp of the Month Blog Hop

Welcome to our Stamp of the Month Blog Hop where we are featuring, "Tutti Frutti Summer". It's the exclusive stamp set, for August, and can be yours for $5 or FREE (if you're a VIP)! Read all about our Stamp of the Month Special by clicking here. 

There are the 15 images that are included in the stamp set. Aren't they fun for celebrating those summer occasions? 

If you are coming from ScrappinKaty, you're on the right track. You can find a complete list of participants here. 

If you know me well, you know I couldn't resist using these bright colors on my card. I chose various colors of the Tri-Blend makers to color in the images. I stamped three times to make the border and I like what it adds to the card. A simple sentiment and White Dots and I called it done! 

Thank you for stopping by to see this simple yet colorful greeting card. I hope you like it!

Head over to CatScrapbooking to view the next piece of artwork as you make your way around our Blog Hop! 

Make it a great month!

"Full Circle" Heart 2 Heart Challenge

I love participating in the artwork challenges created by Heart 2 Heart. It is alway enjoyable to showcase my artwork while seeing what others create! 

This week's theme is "Full Circle" and this is the greeting card I created. 

Are you like me in that you HAD to have the Woodgrain paper packet, from Close To My Heart, but weren't sure how to use it and so it has just sat there? Well, that was me! I was challenged with knowing how to use it with other products and have been creating with it recently! 

I love how this card turned out, with its VERY SIMPLE design! 

I love the s'more sentiment, as well as the s'more image, from the "Wander" Cardmaking Stamp + Thin Cuts set, and decided to use it. With the log paper in the background, I feel they are a perfect match! 

Incorporate "Full Circle" into your creations and link up to us at Heart 2 Heart. Be sure to use at least one Close To My Heart product in your creation, please. 

Wishing you a great month!