"Message in a Bottle" April Stamp of the Month Blog Hop

 

Welcome to our Blog Hop where we are featuring the April stamp set, "Message in a Bottle". 

This set comes with 21 images, of various sizes, to include different bottle shapes, items to put inside and sentiments. I am excited to see the variety of ways these images were used by our participants. 

If you are coming from Brandi R - crzy4scrapbooking, you are on the right track. You can find a complete list of participants by clicking here. 

To create this card I used a minimum number of supplies. I took Kraft Paper , tore it and inked the edges with Toffee. To create the ocean scene, I used Capri cardstock and then applied Bluebird ink to it, by splotching it on with a plastic wrapper. It was totally organic and I like how it turned out. 

For the bottle, I stamped it twice - on White Daisy cardstock and Vellum. I stamped the scroll on White Daisy and glued it on top of the white bottle base and then added the vellum on top of them to give this look. A few embellishments and it makes me want to be on the beach. What about you? 

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

Make it a great month! 

In Any CASE...with Melinda & Melissa

Join us twice a month as we CASE, “Copy And Selectively Edit”, artwork created by the Art Department of Close To My Heart as showcased in the current Idea Books and our Make It From Your Heart How-To Books.

On the 2^nd and 4^th Thursday of each month, at 7 pm CST, we will direct you towards a piece of art and recreate it using the exact products or others that compliment its initial design. Tips, techniques and assembly directions will be shared in detail to help you recreate them on your own.

As you reproduce the items we have shared, post them on social media using the hashtag #ctmhinanycase. We will randomly search that hashtag and reward those who CASE our items. Winners will be announced on our blogs so be sure to follow us!

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Today I am showcasing this perfect card that was pretty quick and simple to create! I did have to make some adjustments, based on what papers I had available, but that's what CASEing is all about, right?! Copying and Selectively Editing?! That's exactly what I did!

I really found this card super simple to make that I think I will consider making a few more! They are totally fun AND that sentiment... Can you think of some people to whom it applies? I can!

A few things I switched out:

* I used a piece of striped (discontinued) Vellum Paper since it appears I am out of our regular vellum. Sounds like it's time to reorder! When you stamp on Vellum use our Archival Black Ink Pad. It's' the one that will dry completely and your images will never smear.

* I was unable to use the exact Zip Strips used in the original artwork. Just two strips of ANY paper, measuring 1/2" x 4 1/4", are perfect for this card!

This is the stamp set I used which comes with the Thin Cuts - Documented. No fussy-cutting for me! That definitely saved some time!

Details:

• The vellum measures 2 1/2" x 4 1/4".
• The bottom Zip Strip is placed 1 1/4" from the bottom of the card. 
• BEFORE placing the other "strip" (of cardstock), glue down the vellum paper flush to the grey piece so it helps hold it in place. Doing so allows a 1 1/4" margin at the top. 

These are what the images looked like just after using the Thin Cuts and Cuttlebug:

This was after I "roughly" applied some color with Watercolor Pencils (we have new ones coming out September 1st!):

And the finished flowers...after applying some color with the Waterbrush Pen:

Aren't they fun?! And I didn't have to be "artsy" to generate this look! Gotta love that!

It's time for you to head over to Melinda's Blog where she is showcasing the bookmarks shown in this image!

We appreciate you tuning in each week and look forward to seeing you again on the 26th! We love to read your comments AND better yet, we give away prizes when you follow our CASEing and tag us on your social media sites - #ctmhinanycase! Let us know when you create something fun!

Have an awesome day!

Vellum - Heart 2 Heart Challenge

For the first Heart 2 Heart Challenge of May we are seeking papercrafting projects where vellum has been incorporated. You can use it in any way you desire. Be to use at least one product from Close To My Heart and link up to us on our Blog. 

Keeping with what seems to be my motto, "Sweet and Simple", I am pleased with this card. I wanted the polka dot vellum paper to serve as the focus point and then stamped the "thankful" sentiment on it with Black Archival Ink (and let it dry thoroughly). I glued it on Pansy cardstock, placing adhesive on the dots so it would not show through the vellum.

The scallop border is a Thin Cut used on Gold Foil Paper. White & Gold Ribbon (one of my faves) was added, as well as some Gold Glitter Gems. The rest of the sentiment, "for sweet friends like you" was stamped in Pansy ink. The stamp sets used are brand new and will be released tomorrow, May 1st. (I'll edit this post and include a photo and link to them.)

You may be wondering where I got this patterned vellum paper. It is included in the Postcard Perfect paper packet that is a special for May, celebrating National Scrapbooking Month. The polka dot pattern is only one of the two included in this exclusive product line. I couldn't resist incorporating it.

Be sure to link up to us at Heart 2 Heart for this week's challenge. I look forward to seeing your artwork there!

In any CASE...with Melinda & Melissa

Thank you for joining us again for...

Join us twice a month as we CASE, “Copy And Selectively Edit”, artwork created by the Art Department of Close To My Heart as showcased in the current Idea Books and our Make It From Your Heart How-To Books.

On the 2^nd and 4^th Thursday of each month, at 7 pm CST, we will direct you towards a piece of art and recreate it using the exact products or others that compliment its initial design. Tips, techniques and assembly directions will be shared in detail to help you recreate them on your own.

As you reproduce the items we have shared, post them on social media using the hashtag #ctmhinanycase. We will randomly search that hashtag and reward those who CASE our items. Winners will be announced on our blogs so be sure to follow us!

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Melinda and I have some fun artwork to share with you today, a spin off of creations generated from the Close To My Heart Art Department.

I am highlighting the "so happy for you" card shown on the left. Because I don't have a sewing machine, I had to make some adjustments to accommodate the elements of the card.

Be sure to read to the end of this post so you can view what Melinda is sharing with you, with a link provided to take you to her blog.

I enjoy working with vellum and don't do so often enough. I love the softness it provides for artwork,  generating an elegant look. There are some things that need to be considered when using vellum, including a way to attach it so that the adhesive doesn't show and disrupt the desired results. For that reason, I decided to create a black border (as opposed to sewing as done on the original card) that would secure the vellum. 

The Black cardstock was cut at 5 1/2" x 4 1/4" with a 1/4" border allowed on all sides, creating a frame. I then stapled two pieces of White Twine to the black frame, before proceeding, so the back of the staples do not show. 

I glued the piece of patterned paper to the card base. After embossing the floral images, with White Embossing Powder, on the Vellum Paper, I placed a thin line of adhesive around the edges of the vellum piece (where the black would cover it) to secure it to the patterned paper. Then, I adhered the black frame on top of it. 

The sentiment was stamped, in Black ink, on a piece of Bashful cardstock measuring 3/4" x 2 3/4". A dovetail was cut for visual appeal. Add three White Gems and you have a beautiful creation to gift to someone. 

I love the resulting card and hope you do too. It's simple and elegant - a perfect combination, in my opinion. 

Supplies used:

• Z3367 Vellum Paper
• Z3350 Basic Fundamentals Paper Pack
• C1693 Many Congratulations
• Z3370 White Pearls
• Z3216 White Twine
• Z2027 Mini Stapler
• 1386 Black Cardstock
• X5941 Bashful Cardstock
• Z555 Craft Heater
• Z891 Versamark Ink Pad
• Z2068 White Embossing Powder

Now, be sure to head over to Melinda's Blog where she is showing you how to make this gorgeous sympathy card using our awesome clear, acrylic stamps.

We always appreciate you stopping by our blogs and encourage you to do your own version of CASEing. Be sure to tag us when you do - #ctmhinanycase - as we search social media ready to reward participants with a prize.

Enjoy the rest of your week and see you next time, on May 10th, for our next episode of "In Any CASE..."!