"Let's Hear It For the Boys" Heart 2 Heart Challenge

For this week's June Heart 2 Heart Challenge, the theme is "Let's Hear It For the Boys". I tend to create mostly feminine, cutesy artwork but there's always a need for masculine items so I am thankful for this challenge. With Father's Day taking place yesterday, it was a great way for me to be productive for both occasions. 

My husband loves to fish, although he hasn't done so in quite some time. The moment I saw this image in the "No Ordinary Dad" Special, I immediately thought it would be perfect for him. 

I kept the card simple, using a sketch from our Make It From Your Heart Volume 4 How-To Book. I did slightly adjust it to fit the bigger image and sentiment. 

I did paper-piece the fish, and used Watercolor Pencils, to be able to 3-D it for some added dimension. The colors I included are his favorites. 

These are the stamp sets available from the "No Ordinary Dad" Special. There are three options or you can purchase all of them, at a discounted price. Which is your favorite saying/image?

I invite you to join us for this creative challenge on the Heart 2 Heart Blog. To join the fun, simply link up to us at the bottom of the respective post. We love seeing your creativity! Make it a great week!

"Here Comes the Sun" Sunburst Technique

Thank you so much for joining me for this month's Technique Blog Hop where we are featuring the "Sunburst". 

Participants can choose to create the technique from scratch, OR they can use the Sunburst Background Thin Cut from Close To My Heart. (Because it is so popular, unfortunately it is currently on backorder. That tells you how popular it is! With it being on "backorder", that means you can still include it on your order and it will ship separately, from your other products, once it becomes available again.)

If you are coming from Krista's Blog, you are on the right track. 

While I considered using the Thin Cut and cutting different pattern pieces for each pie piece, I decided to follow the lead of one of my customers. She sent me a card where she had used patterned paper for the main background. I decided to use our Sunbeam Holographic Paper as the background. Isn't the name of it perfectly fitting for this technique? We have five different colors to choose from as well as these awesome butterfly sequins. 

I cut out the sunburst pieces from Black Cardstock, keeping the design of this card very simple. While the holographic paper is gorgeous, it changes colors based upon the angle and lighting and I am cautious what I pair with it.

The zig zag circle (I'm not sure what that design is called), which creates the focal point, was cut from a Thin Cut provided in the You Are Enough Stamp + Thin Cuts set (available through the end of this month). 

A friend was visiting, as I created this, and she suggested I cut the circle piece out of the focal point and then stamp directly onto the background. That's exactly what I did for this resulting look. (Typically, when I am looking at this card, these are the colors I see most often. It's very different from the top photo, don't you agree?) 

Feeling like the card needed some sort of accent, I realized how awesome these bottom You Are Enough [Butterfly] Sequins would look with it. I was pleased with the result and hope yoou like it as well. It's a sweet and simple card that can be used for any occasion. 

I appreciate you stopping by and invite you to head over to Wendy's Blog to see what she has created to share with you. Then, be sure to continue making your way around the Blog Hop. I hope our artwork inspires you to create something incorporating this technique. 

Happy hoppin'!

Participants:

1. Melissa Robinson *YOU ARE HERE*
2. Wendy Kessler
3. Cat Nowak
4. Michelle Loncar
5. Haley Dyer
6. Danielle Wagner
7. Darlys Recker
8. Brandi Robinson
9. Lauren Moore
10. Kim Loewen
11. Miss Carrie
12. Brenda Lapp
13. Krista Hershberger

Heart 2 Heart Challenge: Get Inky!

We're kicking off the June Heart 2 Heart Challenges with the theme of "Get Inky". There are so many ways to consider this theme, especially as you incorporate stamping. Be sure to incorporate at least one Close To My Heart product as you participate in this challenge and link up to it on the Heart 2 Heart Blog. 

With Father's Day around the corner, and wanting to use a new stamp set, as part of the "No Ordinary Dad" Special, this is the card I designed. 

I did select three colors in which to ink up the sentiment: Bluebird, Clover and Sapphire. I did first ink up the image in Clover and then added Bluebird towards the top and Sapphire towards the bottom. I wanted to create an ombre' effect. While the colors blended quite a bit, I was pleased with the results and then designed other elements around the focal point. 

I did stamp the image, again, in Candy Apple, and cut out the respective hearts, then gluing them on top. Using Sapphire ink, I random-stamped the background, on Bluebird cardstock, for added texture. I couldn't resist adding a little bit of Silver, feeling it was necessary to separate the papers. 

I hope you will consider joining this Challenge, and others, on Heart 2 Heart. If you have questions, feel free to post them below, on the Blog, or you can email me directly. 

Make it a great week and don't forget to create as much as you can!

"Outdoor Borders" June Stamp of the Month

 Welcome to the June Stamp of the Month Blog Hop where we are featuring, "Outdoor Borders"!

This stamp set, which includes 9 awesome borders, can be your for $5 or FREE (if you're a VIP), when you place a minimum $50 order this month. 

These borders, in a variety of themes, are great to add to your greeting cards or scrapbook pages - big or small. I am sure you will see different ways to use them as you make your way around our Blog Hop.

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

This card is a shout out to my fellow Educators, who are wrapping up the pandemic school year of 2020-2021. I am sure it is obvious why this border, that includes "hello summer", spoke to me loudly.

Knowing I wanted to incorporate the sun and sentiment, I decided to add some color with the wavy border, in primary colors. While I considered using a stamp image from another set, I decided to 3-D the sentiment and add some Black Dots, in order to keep it simple. I was pleased with the result, drawing the attention to the focal point. I hope you like it too! 

I am looking forward to seeing what the other participants have created with these fun borders. Be sure to head on over to Brenda's Blog to see what she has created to share with you. 

Wishing you an enjoyable June!

Slimline Blog Hop

Welcome to our Blog Hop where we are featuring Slimline Cards. Close To My Heart's version of Slimline Cards measure 3 1/2" x 8 1/2". While I often feel the need to fill up the space, I did something a little bit different on this card and am excited to share it with you!

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

As mentioned above, when I decorate slimline cards, I feel the need to fill up most/all of the space, adding different elements to do so. I remembered I had recently watched a video on coloring with alcohol markers and that I had seen a simple card. I decided to CASE it from Prairie Paper and Ink (link at bottom of post), using CTMH products. 

In wanting to provide inspiration for this size of card, I love that this design allows you to pick out a focal point (or two) and then add some additional elements. By adding the Peacock Feathers Distressed Oxide Ink and splattering it with Espresso Ink, using a Waterbrush Pen, some texture was provided to reduce the white space. 

This is the stamp set I used, Desserts a la Whirl. I am totally enjoying creating with it and can't wait to try a Spinner Card next! 

Here is a close-up of these two images. I love how they turned out and hope you do as well!

Now it's time to head over to Brenda's Blog, to see what she has created to share with you. Consider leaving a comment before you make your way around the Hop. 

Happy hoppin'!

This card was CASEd from here.

May/June New Product Blog Hop

The NEW May/June Idea Book was released on the first of the month and we are here to show you some great artwork created with some of the new products! 

If you are coming from Brandi's Blog, you are on the right track. You can continue to make your way around the Blog Hop by clicking on the respective links. Should you get lost along the way, you can find a list of participants here. 

Did you know you can get a copy of this Idea Book FREE by placing an order of any size? You can! You can also view it digitally, in the meantime. 

I had fun creating this "crooked" (LOL) Shaker Card. I promise, it was intentional. I actually received a card that looked similar to this, awhile back, and decided to recreate it using our products. 

I love the fun and celebratory look accomplished by the use of the Party Time Paper Pack. The festive colors were great for incorporating the stamped images I used. That star strip is one of the Zip Strips! I love how it looks!

This stamp set, called "All-star Birthday", has all of these fantastic images. I had a hard time deciding what I wanted to use but knew I wanted to make it a Shaker Card. I can't wait to make more artwork using the other images.

All of the elements on this card make for a great way to celebrate someone's achievement. I couldn't resist adding some Glisten Stickles on the starbursts, just for a little sparkle.

TIP: I'm not sure that inner star was intended to be used as a Shaker. I cannot figure out how you can accurately place the foam part for the shaker, as it's totally a guess on where it goes. You can tell I wasn't accurate, despite my efforts, but I also don't feel it negatively impacted the card. I figured you would be forewarned and could learn from my mishap. 

I appreciate you stopping by. Be sure to leave a comment, if you would like, and then continue making your way around the Hop. Wendy's Blog is next. Happy hoppin'!

Sponging Heart 2 Heart Challenge

This week at Heart 2 Heart, we are featuring "Sponging" as a Technique. You can incoprorate it however you'd like, into your artwork, as long as you incorporate at least one Close To My Heart product in your creation. 

As far as the sponging is concerned, I cut out the ice cream and cupcake images, on White Daisy cardstock,  Then, using Mustard Seed (yellow) and Picked Raspberry (turquoise) Distress Oxide Inks, I sponged the respective areas. To create a little texture, I then spritzed them and allowed them to dry completely. 

Once that was the case, I stamped the outline of the images in Espresso Ink. To create the texture on the cone, I stamped the image onto Toffee cardstock, used the Thin Cut again, and then fussy-cut around the upper portion so I could glue it down as shown. I did the same process with the cupcake holder. I did sponge the Peacock Feathers Distress Oxide Ink on top of the heart patterned paper that comes from the May/June Mix-Ins Paper Packet. 

The adorable ice cream cone and cupcake is from the Dessert a la Whirl Stamp + Thin Cuts set. It was on the top of my list from the NEW May/June Idea Book. (You can get one FREE with a purchase of any size or you can view the digital version through the link.)

While better viewed in the top photo, I did use Lemonade ink to stamp the confetti image on the Lemonade cardstock to create some tone-on-tone texture. You can more clearly see the effects of the spritzing. I love the distressed look it creates. The "You are so sweet" sentiment was perfect for stamping on the Stitched Scalloped Bracket Thin Cut. Of course, I couldn't resist adding in a little bit of Thin 3-D Foam Tape, for added dimension, while also adding a White Dot colored with the Dark Red Blend Marker, and adding a bit of Silver Embellishing Thread. 

The paper is from the Party Time Collection. I LOVE the vibrant and polka dot patterns that definitely create happy! 

To participate in the Sponging Technique Challenge, create your artwork and then link up to us at Heart 2 Heart. You'll find the link option at the bottom of the related post. We always enjoy seeing what you have to share with us so consider joining the fun!

Make it a GREAT week!

Just Distress Oxide It! Technique Blog Hop

Welcome to our Blog Hop where we are featuring Distress Oxide Inks. I am sure you will find a lot of great artwork that incorporates these fun products. 

If you are coming from Judy's Blog, you are on the right track. You can continue to make your way around the Blog Hop by clicking on the links provided. A list, of participants, is provided at the bottom of this post. 

Truth be told, I haven't created much with Oxide Inks and need to take time to do so. I have realized to just go with it as they end up blending nicely together with little effort on my part. 

To create this card:

• I started with the pink ink and created the long streak as shown.
• When I added the next color (yellow), I went back over with the previous color to overlap them a bit more. 
• I continued doing the same with the green and blue inks. 
• I then spritzed the entire sheet with a little bit of water. I like the effects it provides, removing the need for the background to look perfect. I have not figured out how to make the water spots show up more so I will have to look into that.
• After the cardstock dried, I ran the butterfly Thin Cut through my diecut machine.
• I bent up the wings a bit and added 3-D Thin Foam Tape on its body, so it provided additional dimension. 
• The sentiment was stamped with the Black Archival Ink and a few Silver Glitter Gems were added for the finishing touch. 

Are you wondering about the BIG Butterfly Thin Cut? It is available for a limited time only, while supplies last, as part of the "You are Enough" Special that was released this month, in honor of National Scrapbooking Month. You can find the details by following the links. 

These are the Distress Oxide Ink colors I used: 

I love how well they blended together. 

I truly appreciate you stopping by and hope you enjoy what everyone has created. Consider leaving a comment and then head on over to Cat's Blog to see what she has to share with you. 

Enjoy the second half of May! Happy hoppin'!

List of Participants:

1. Melissa Robinson *YOU ARE HERE*

2. Cat Nowak

3. Wendy Kessler

4. Michelle Loncar

5. Haley Dyer

6. Darlys Recker

7. Brandi Robinson

8. Tamara Sandwisch

9. Lauren Moore

10. Judy Dahlgren

National Scrapbooking Month Blog Hop

 

Welcome to this Blog Hop where we are showcasing the exclusive and GORGEOUS products that are part of the National Scrapbooking Month Special, "You Are Special". 

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

The collection includes a unique paper collection, coordinating stickers and cardstock - all which contain rose gold accents. There is also an exclusive stamp set, with coordinating Thin Cuts, AND the awesome (and large) butterfly Thin Cuts! You can buy the products individually or SAVE 30% when you buy them all as a Bundle. 

I couldn't resist incorporating some of the rose gold accented cardstock, from this collection. Not wanting to detract away from it, I did keep the design of this card simple. 

The Blush Shimmer Ribbon, included in the Bundle, is a perfect accent for coordinating with the rose gold patterns on the paper.

I did use Sapphire cardstock, and Sapphire Glitter Paper, for the small butterfly Thin Cuts. It made for a great accent on the card which I had to incorporate.

Consider leaving a comment, to let me know what you think, before you head over to Wendy's Blog. Then, continue making your way around the Blog Hop to see all of the artwork creations. 

Happy hoppin'!