Get Back to the Fundamentals - Technique Blog Hop

We have a fabulous campaign this month where you can get plenty of scrapbooking products for a great discount!  This product line is absolutely fabulous and this is a great time to get it in your hands!  You can click HERE for all the details and then contact your Consultant to place your order.

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

I absolutely love how this card turned out and hope you do too!  It is fun and cheery and this paper made it that way!  The Fundamentals are absolutely fabulous - from the paper to the stickers to the assortment.  I really love this textured side of these papers.  Can you tell?!  :)  

Here is an angled photo that shows the texture a bit more.  The gift package came from the "Believe in Christmas" stamp set.  I used a marker chart, provided by our Art Department - click HERE to get your hands on it, to create colors that coordinate with our palette hues even though we do not have exact ShinHan markers to match.  Doesn't it look great?!  I take no credit for it other than adding the colors as indicated.  LOL  But...it was totally cool to see the colors blend together!

The bow was added from the Fundamentals Assortment and a Red Enamel Heart and three Bling Gold Gems, plus some Poppy Twine, helped glitsy up this card.  I used this card/post for inspiration for this card.

Let me know what you think of my artwork - I always love hearing from you - and then head on over to Darlys' Blog to see what she has in store for you.  Thanks for stopping by and always remember to...Make It From Your Heart!

Happy hoppin'!

Here is a list of the hop participants:

1. Melissa Robinson *YOU ARE HERE*
2. Darlys Recker
3. Priscilla Gotham
4. Catherine Nowak
5. Sheila Bennett
6. Jenifer Benner
7. Michelle Loncar
8. Wendy Kessler
9. Tonya Whitehurst
10. Haley Dyer
11. Shirley Ross

July Technique Blog Hop - Simple Shadows

Welcome to our Technique Blog Hop this month where we are featuring the "Simple Shadows" technique located on page 102 of the current Annual Inspirations.  Here is a summary of the technique as found in the idea book.

If you are coming from Debi's Blog, you are on the right track.  She happens to be the start of the hop where you can also find a complete list of participants.

I decided to use one our Design Creations Lagoon Paper Bags to make a holder for some photos I am giving to a friend.  I used the Artbooking Cricut cartridge, exclusive to Close To My Heart, for both the camera and sentiment images.

The camera image was cut out at 2 1/2" - both the Black and Cranberry pieces.  Smile was cut at 2" out of Black and Canary cardstock and staggered a bit as shown in the technique.  (I just realized I used the same image as the sample.  LOL)  The original sentiment says "Smiles" but I did cut off the "s" to just have "Smile".  I added some Light Gray Epoxy Bubbles, Pixie Extra Thick Twine, and a Bubbly Enamel Shape.

Here are the pages for the two keys I used - page 40 and 51:

Thanks for stopping by and feel free to leave a comment, if you choose.  Now head on over to Wendy's Blog to see her fabulous incorporation of this technique.

Happy Hoppin'!

May Technique - A Bit of Blot

Welcome to our Blog Hop where we are featuring the technique, "A Bit of Blot".  This technique is highlighted on page 55 in the Annual Inspirations Idea Book. (Steps to complete this technique is listed at the bottom of this post.

If you have arrived here from Debi's Blog, you are on the right track.  She happens to be the start to this hop so if you get lost along the way, you can return to her blog for a complete list of participants.

One thing I found out about this technique is it doesn't have to be perfect.  In fact, I threw away a few pieces of cardstock and discovered I actually could have used them.  By the time you stamp over the blots and embellish up your creation, you don't see what you thought initially as imperfections.

I used Lagoon and Pacifica inks to create my background and incorporated those colors throughout my card.  I stamped the butterfly in Lagoon ink and the sentiment in Black.  The sentiment came from the stamp set that is included and exclusive to the Brushed Workshop on the Go.  It really is fun!

I colored four Sparkles with the Black ShinHan marker (a technique I absolutely love)!  Some Black Shimmer Trim, punched with the Scallop Border Punch, and Slate Twine were added to finish off the card.

Truly pleased with my card, I am ready to give this technique another try with some different colors.  Why don't you give it a try?!  I think you will like it!

Hop on over to Sheila's Blog to see her incorporation of this technique.

Happy hoppin'!

Embossing is Back - Technique Blog Hop

This month we are highlighting the ever-so-wonderful technique, heat Embossing!  The title is "Embossing is Back" because the embossing products left our Close To My Heart Idea Book for a short while but have no fear...it IS back and I am thrilled!  You can find this technique on page 128 of the Annual Inspirations Idea Book and the embossing tools (Craft Heater, Embossing Powder, Versamrk) are located on page 179.

I will be honest, I have not embossed in quite some time so had to make sure I could do it.  Yep...it is just like riding a bike.  You never forget the process.  (Sure...  I do not know if I would be as smooth in riding a bike as I used to be.  LOL)

If you are coming from Denise's Blog, you are on the right track!  Keep moving through the Blog Hop in the links provided or you will find a list of all participants at the bottom of this post.  Let's get started with my creation, shall we?

I think this is my favorite way to use the embossing technique!  I love using clear or white embossing and then sponging over and around it (and then using a tissue to wipe any ink off the embossed image).  For this card, I did use the White Daisy pigment-based ink pad (you can also use Versamark).  

I sponged over the embossed image, using Sponge Daubers (one of my favorite tools), in Cotton Candy, Lagoon and Gypsy inks.  Isn't the ranbow look fun and cheery?  I layered the sentiment on Black cardstock and then used 3-D Foam Tape to apply.

I cut dove-tailed banners out of Cotton Candy and Lagoon cardstock and Black Shimmer Trim.  I added Bitty Sparkles across them to resemble a "stitch" and for some added bling.

I used two of my favorite stamp sets (there are many more - LOL) on this card.

This one is "Happy Everything" and the Operation Smile stamp set for this time of the year.  (I used the balloon image and stamped it onto some Paper Fundamentals - where you will find the heart pattern.)  A little twine, and some Liquid Glass, and I have a fun balloon!

I also used the ADORABLE stamp set from the Blossom Workshop on the Go for the sentiment.  You can find it through Seasonal Expression 2 on page 10 (the page number located on the page)!

I used this Sketch Challenge from Heart 2 Heart to design my card.  How simple, easy and fun?!

Thanks for stopping by.  I know I can't wait to hop to see what the other girls created with this technique.  Please leave a comment before heading over to Sheila's Blog!

Happy hoppin'!





A list of participants:

1. Melissa Robinson *YOU ARE HERE
2. Sheila Bennett
3. Wendy Kessler
4. Haley Dyer
5. Catherine Nowak
6. Darlys Recker
7. Di Crawford
8. Michelle Loncar
9. Judy Faye Garner
10. Belinda McLane
11. Denise Elliott

CTMH Technique Blog Hop - Blank Canvas

Thank you for joining us this month as we highlight the "Blank Canvas" technique as showcase on page 32 in our Annual Inspirations Idea Book.  

If you are coming from Aggie's Blog, you are on the right track.  I am the start of this blog hop.  I list of participants is contained below should you get lost along the way.

We were asked to show the fun and benefits of crafting on our My Creations 6 x 6 Canvas Display.  I have seen so many fun ways they have been used and am excited about what you will see through this hop.  I decided to give my hand at "She Art", a mixed media project, and this is what I came up with!  Does she look like me?! 

My friend, Leisa, sketched out on some scratch paper - it was interesting to see how she sees me - and then I used it to create this home decor' item that I will place in my office area.  

I paper-pieced various types of B&T (much of which came from the Brushed paper packet; the heart was cut out of Yuletide Carol B&T) and various colors of Cardstock.  I cut out some of the floral images from the B&T, cut the honeycomb pattern from the Artbooking Cricut cartridge, and just added some goodies here and there to cutesy it up.  While a bit intimidated when I started, I was pleased with the finished result.  (I used Modge Podge to both adhere and seal my artwork.)  I hope you like it as much as I do!  

Thanks for stoppin' by!  Let me know what you think of my out-of-the-box creation before moving onto Belinda's Blog!  

Here is a list of participants:

1. Melissa Robinson *YOU ARE HERE
2. Belinda McLane
3. Di Crawford
4. Darlys Recker
5. Melissa David
6. Michelle Loncar
7. Marianne Hancock
8. Aggie Peters

Happy hoppin'!

You Need Some Distressing in Your Life?

That is not to be confused with DEstressing although distressing can help relieve any tension you may be experiencing, without endangering anyone or anything.  :)

Check out this quick and awesome video highlighting some of Close To My Heart's distressing tools!

I LOVE our white core and the possibilities it offers for our papercrafted creations.  My favorite technique is probably when I use our Sanding Block to expose the white core, especially when an art project has been embossed with our Embossing Folders.

The Edge Distresser and Sanding Kit are priced right and great to add to your next purchase!  Give distressing a try!  You might like it!

Contact me with any questions and...

CTMH Technique Blog Hop - Music to the Eyes

If you are coming from Michelle's Blog, you are on the right track.  There are 15 of us participating in this hop and you can find a complete list of participants by visiting Sheila's Blog.

Thank you for joining us this month as we highlight a technique, which is both simple and fun, that jazzes up your artwork creations with the little help of a Journaling Pen.  I love to use a journaling pen to add a little "extra" to my projects when it needs just a bit more.  This is how the technique reads as found on page 34 in our Annual Inspirations Idea Book:  "Jazz up your pages with a journaling pen and your creative hand!  Outline individual letters and other accents with the pen to better contrast them with the background, making them bolder and easier to read."

On this card, made with two Hopscotch Picture My Life cards, I used the journaling pen to doodle around two pieces of paper (one B&T and the other cardstock) and around the small sentiment.

With the sentiment, I kept things very simple and just drew lines around the banner.  With the other two pieces where this technique was applied, I simply allowed my hand to move freely and wanted the lines to appear curvy.  Then I went back across the same area, still allowing for free movement, while working to make the two lines intertwine.  There really is no way to do this "wrong" so why not give it a try?  I find that if my artwork is needing just a little more, some doodling with the Journaling Pen will probably to the trick! (It is just $3.25!)

Now, head on over to Debi's Blog where you are sure to find something ingenious and fun!

Happy hoppin'!