Heart 2 Heart Challenge: Wildberry (Color of the Year)

Welcome to Heart 2 Heart's first Challenge of 2022! I hope you will consider joining us in all the fun this year! Each month we host an artwork challenge, based upon a theme, on the 1st and 3rd Monday. By posting your artwork on social media, and then linking up to the challenge on the Heart 2 Heart Blog, we can be inspired by your creativity. 

Let's get started with the first challenge of the year entitled "Wild Berry". If you are unaware, Wildberry is Close To My Heart's Color of the Year. The image above contains the coordinating products offered in this beautiful and vibrant color. If you have it, consider incorporating it into your artwork OR feel free to interpret the theme as you choose. It's always fun to see a "spin" on the topic. 

On this card, I used Wild Berry Cardstock, Loose Sequins, and Glitter Paper. The "gray", aka Mink, accents are from the November-December Mix-Ins Paper Packet.  

I have really enjoyed making Shaker Cards recently and love how this card turned out with the stamp images coming from the Peace and Love Stamp Set + Thin Cuts.

I appreciate you stopping by my Blog and hope you like this card. Consider leaving a comment and then join the creative challenge at Heart 2 Heart. I look forward to viewing your creation! 

Deck the Palms Blog Hop

 

I'm excited you are joining us for this Blog Hop featuring the exclusive "Deck the Palms" product collection that can be used for anything tropical, including a tropical Christmas! With its unique design, you can flip over the paper to change the themes. Isn't that wonderful? 

The Bundle includes exclusive stamp sets, paper packet, sticker sheets, coordinating cardstock, acrylic shapes of two designs AND palm leaf Thin Cuts! You can view all of the purchasing options by clicking here, and you save 20% when you get all of it!

If you are coming from Wendy's Blog, you are on the right path. You can find a list of participants by clicking here.

I am sharing several pieces of artwork as it's easy to fall in love with all things in this Collection. 

I decided to go with a tropical Christmas for this card as we have family members in Florida and it would be perfect for them. Truth be told, I wouldn't mind celebrating Christmas in Florida (LOL) for an excuse to scrapbook some photos with this beautiful paper. 

I used the smaller flamingo from the card workshop but then fussy cut the Santa's hat from the larger flamingo and then just glued it on top. For my card design, I found the larger flamingo was a bit too big when I wanted to use the patterned paper and show enough of it.

I enjoyed adding a few of the Acrylic Shapes to use as embellishments on this card. Did you know they are now thinner than they used to be? I love that CTMH changed that, allowing us to use them on cards and other mailed items.

For this card, I decided to follow a design from Katy Taylor (who is a great friend and on my team 💜) from last year. I though the gorgeous Wild Berry Loose Sequins would be gorgeous with the color combination and that star patterned paper is one of my favorites because of the fun and bright color! To create this kind of a Shaker Card, I used the 3" x 4" Flip Flaps. I did secure it to the card base so it's not interactive, but instead provides a fun and transparent background, for the sequins to shine through.

And...I couldn't end this blog post without including these cards I made from the workshop directions that are FREE and downloadable. Just visit a respective workshop kit - Cards or Scrapbook Layouts (Tropical or Christmas) - and you will find the link to download it.

For these two cards, I loved the use of the striped or polka dot pattern towards the top and the different ways the ornaments were decorated - stamped and cut from paper. 

Besides the color combination being awesome and bright on these cards, I also love how we used the White Gel Pen to create accents on the ornaments. These cards are just super happy and I'm totally fine with working outside of the traditional Christmas colors. 

If you haven't checked out these workshop options, be sure to click on the respective product offerings. This "Deck the Palms" Special is a must-have and only available through the end of December 2021, while supplies last. 

Now it's time to have fun by seeing what the others have created to share with you! Head on over to Cat Scrapbooking to view her creation! We appreciate you stopping by and letting us know what you think by leaving comments! Enjoy the rest of your week!

"Silver and Gold" Technique Blog Hop

 

Welcome to this Technique Blog Hop where we are creating artwork with Silver and/or Gold. Participants can choose to incorporate either, or both, into their designs and I can't wait to see what everyone has to share today. 

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

I experimented with a few Silver and Gold ideas and finally settled on these simple, but striking, ornaments by way of "shakers". These Star Shaker Window Thin Cuts were great for making these elements that could be hung on a tree or used as gift tags. They could also serve two-fold as an element on a Christmas card that could then be used as an ornament. 

They were super simple to put together. I used the respective Silver and Gold Embossing Powders, as well as Glitter Paper. The cardstock colors used are Sapphire and Scarlet. The Star Confetti, in both shades, were obviously perfect. I did use Thread in order to create the hanging ribbon. 

I know you'll be inspired with the artwork that lies ahead. Now, head on over to Haley's Blog to see what she has created to share with us today. Thank you for stopping by!

List of Participants:

1. Melissa Robinson *YOU ARE HERE*
2. Haley Dyer
3. Cat Nowak
4. Michelle Loncar
5. Wendy Kessler
6. Darlys Recker
7. Brandi Robinson
8. Michelle Johns
9. Judy Dahlgren
10. Tamara Sandwisch
11. Katy Taylor

Holiday Cards Blog Hop

Welcome to our "Holiday Cards" Blog Hop where participants are using Close To My Heart product for anything "holiday", at this time of the year. It will be fun to see what everyone has to share!

If you are coming from Wendy's Blog, you are on the right track. You can find a complete list of participants by clicking here. 

Using this month's Stamp of the Month, "Created to Shine", I created this window scene. Silver Foil Paper was used as was the Multi Square Windows Thin Cut to create this look. I love how the shaker elements on the above photo resembles snowflakes falling. Do you see it too? 

For the Shaker portion, I used the Rectangle Shaker Foam + Acetate largest piece along with the Silver Loose Sequins. The sentiment, stamped on Candy Apple cardstock, is from the For All Occasions (D2052) stamp set. I couldn't resist adding some White Gel Pen for the stitching on the banner. 

I super duper love how quick and easy this came together. The longest amount of time was spent on deciding the color of the lights and coloring them in! LOL And actually, that didn't take very long. 

Head on over to Melinda's Blog to see what she has created to share with you! Thanks so much for stopping by. 

"Created to Shine" November Stamp of the Month Blog Hop

 

Welcome to our November Blog Hop where we are featuring the awesome and inspiring "Created to Shine" stamp set. It can be yours FREE (for VIPs) or for $5, with a qualifying purchase. Valued at $18.95, that's a great bargain! Read more about our Stamp of the Month Program here. 

We're excited to share fun creations with you. If you are coming from Stefani's Blog, you are on the right track. You can find a complete list of participants by clicking here. 

I am excited to share this card I designed, that I made into a shaker card! Yes, I did and I'm thoroughly pleased with the result! 

To create the shaker lightbulbs I did use an exacto knife. I carefully placed 3-D Foam Tape around the edges of those bulbs so the shaker parts didn't fall out. 

Here is a photo of the beautiful back side of that piece. LOL I glued the small cardstock pieces on the back, that coordinate with the color of the sequins I placed inside. For the acetate window, I just took one of our Rectangular Shaker Window Foam & Acetate pieces to cut the size needed.

I had a fun time creating this and love the happy result of this card. It makes me smile and I hope it does the same for you! It can totally be used for the holidays, or for anytime of the year! YOU ARE CREATED TO SHINE!

Thank you very much for stopping by. Now head over to CatScrapbooking to see what she has created to share with you. I'm sure you'll love what you see as you make your way around this Blog Hop. 

Happy hoppin'! 

Slimline Cards - Heart 2 Heart Challenge

I'm thrilled to share a Slimline Card with you which is aligned with the Heart 2 Heart Challenge this week which is a Product Challenge. You are tasked with making a Slimline Card - ours measure 3 1/2" x 8 1/2" - and come with envelopes!

I had fun creating this love card using the Perfect Match paper pack and two different stamp sets for the sentiment. The "love" and "so much" comes from the Happines Lives Here - Cardmaking stamp set. "YOU" is from the January Stamp of the Month.

Making the Heart Shaker Card out of Ballerina Glitter Paper was a fun element to include. The confetti was cut from the shaker card pieces - and contains both the negative and positives of the cut. I added Iridescent Flower Confetti for added sparkle, as well as the Gold Glitter Gems. (The gold bow is a leftover from a retired collection.)

Here is a list of the supplies I used to create this card:

• Z257 Slimline Cards & Envelopes
• CC12202 Perfect Match Paper Packet + Sticker Sheet
• Z3906 Iridescent Flower Confetti
• Z3870 Heart Shaker Window Thin Cuts
• Z4312 Heart Shaker Window Foam + Acetate
• C1884 Happiness Lives Here—Cardmaking ('YOU')
• Z3843 Ballerina Glitter Paper
• January Stamp of the Month ('love' and 'so much')
• X6038 Candy Apple Cardstock
• Z4194 White & Gold Skinny Ribbon
• Z3312 Gold Glitter Gems

Be sure to join this challenge and the other, for January, on Heart 2 Heart! We love seeing what you create! 

Make it a great week!

January Stamp of the Month Blog Hop - "Every Thank You"

It's time to ring in 2021 with a NEW Stamp of the Month set AND a NEW Idea Book full of NEW products and NEW artwork! I'd say those are several great reasons to celebrate, wouldn't you?!

If you are coming from Stefani's Blog, you are on the right track! You can find a complete list of participants by clicking here. 

This exclusive stamp set, with 25 images, provides us the opportunity to say thanks a variety of ways. Valued at $18.95, it can be yours for just $5 - or FREE if you're a VIP.  You can find all the details, about the Stamp of the Month, by clicking here. 

I worked on this card a bit at a time, not sure how my idea would come together. I do love the result! 

The Star Shaker Window Thin Cuts was used to create the focal point which incorporates one of the 'thank you' sentiments from the stamp set, as well as a cute heart. I did build the shaker on top of a White Daisy star and DID cut it out of the top banner cut, for a different look. 

Layered on top of Raspberry cardstock and Sapphire Glitter Paper, I filled the star with Blue Belle Sequins and the NEW Flower Confetti. By stamping 'so much' and adding the Raspberry Twine Bow and stamped hearts, I was pleased with the finished card. I actually love it and hope you do too! 

If you are wondering how I got the stitched portion on the bottom part of the "banner", I used the Stitched Hexagons Thin Cuts - the largest one - and only ran that portion through my diecut machine. I like the added touch that was a result of an experiment.

Thank you so much (get it? LOL) for stopping by my blog. Please continue making your rounds, for this Blog Hop, by heading to Wendy's Blog to see what she has created to share with you. Consider leaving a comment before you do so. 

Happy 2021!

Heart 2 Heart "Multi-Dimensional Magic" Challenge

How about joining us for an artwork challenge based around the theme of "Multi-Dimensional Magic"? At Heart 2 Heart that is what we are doing this week with challenges lasting all month long. Consider joining the fun and be sure to incorporate Close To My Heart product in your creation. 

I was excited to see Star and Heart Shaker Card Thin Cuts in the NEW Idea Book and enjoyed making this simple card the other night. I cut out confetti from the Thin Cuts and tossed in some Silver Star Confetti as well. 

The patterned paper is from our fun and NEW "Party Time" paper collection and I could not resist incorporating the beautiful (and NEW) Sapphire Glitter Paper to finish off the shaker. In fact, we have several new colors that are absolutely gorgeous and a must-have. Check out those color choices by clicking here. Which is your favorite?

Create your artwork and then head over to Heart 2 Heart and link up to our Blog. We love to see your creations! 

Happy creating!

Stamptacular Stamp + Thin Cuts Blog Hop

Welcome to this special Blog Hop where we are featuring products included in Stamptacular!

Have you heard?! Close To My Heart is having a BIG sale this month on our Stamp Sets, as well as those with coordinating Thin Cuts (aka dies). You can save up to 50% and some exclusive favorites have returned! To see what is available, click HERE.

If you are coming from Melinda's Blog, you are on the right track. You can find a complete list of participating Consultants here.

I could not resist using this retired (but currently available) and favorite stamp set of mine called "Perk Up". It's on sale for $15 this month (regularly priced $22.95); what a savings! I especially love the punny and fun sentiments, especially on this rainy day in Georgia!

It was fun to create this shaker card, using real coffee grinds and the Mix-in paper packet.

If you are a papercrafter, you have probably used stickers on your artwork creations. Have you ever run out of a vowel or other letter because you didn't have as many as you needed? I have! Did you know that our alphabet stamp sets solve that challenge because you can have as many of any letter as you choose! I love being able to vary my fonts, using different alphabet stamp sets, AND use them over and over and over again. They are especially wonderful when you want to personalize something for someone who has a unique name like my niece, Alyzae. This is called "Simply Said" and is on sale for $9.50. We have plenty of other fonts, of various sizes, on sale as well so be sure to check out Stamptacular! 

For the shaker portion, I used the Shaker Window & Confetti Thin Cuts and the Shaker Window Foam & Acetate. I love how simple they are to use and that I can use product I have on-hand to create these fun and interactive cards. If you haven't tried them, you need to put the on your next order. Trust me, you'll love them too!

Here is a close-up of the focal points so you can see a bit more of the detail. I couldn't resist adding some sparkle with the Clear Shimmer Brush and a little bit of Raspberry Twine (shown in the main image). 

Head over to Michelle's Blog and then keep making your way around the circle to see the other artwork we have to share with you today. If you have any questions about anything you see, please ask.

Happy hoppin'!

Color of the Year: Julep - Heart 2 Heart Challenge

It's almost perfect that I am sharing this card the day after "National Coffee Day". Are you a coffee drinker? Daily? Several cups?

The theme of this week's Heart 2 Heart Challenge, which is also the first for October, is focused on our color of the year, Julep. It's the beautiful light green color you see used generously on the card. Close To My Heart offers a variety of products that coordinate. You'll have to check them out!

Wanting to use the bold and diagonal striped paper from the Mix-Ins paper packet, I was excited when I was able to incorporate it here. A little sparkle, using the Julep Glitter Paper, was perfect for the frame around the window as well as the heart confetti made from the Shaker Window & Confetti Thin Cuts set. 

This continues to be my favorite go-to stamp set right now. I LOVE that it has coordinating Thin Cuts for the cup and lid. It's called "Perk Up". (The Thin Cuts are currently on backorder but will be back in stock soon. You can get the stamp set separately, if you choose.)

I remember enjoying a cup of coffee with my Grandma Rita when I was young. I think I enjoyed it because it's what she would enjoy, with my Grandpa, during breakfast. I knew it wasn't something I could expect daily so it was a fun treat to enjoy when I was with her. (For awhile it was a little "secret" from my Mom, or so I thought.)

I didn't drink coffee as I grew into adulthood, until I started attending scrapbook retreats. My friend Cindy would have her cup of coffee each morning, with some delicious creamer, and I began to do the same. It's funny because I very seldom finish a cup of coffee nor is it something I need on a regular basis, but do enjoy. In fact, caffeine has no effect on me so that's definitely not a reason for me to drink it. I do enjoy the smell, but frankly, I prefer a little bit more chocolate and caramel, to take away from the coffee taste. LOL

Consider participating in the artwork challenges at Heart 2 Heart! We love seeing your creations as you incorporate CTMH product in your art.

Make today a great day!