So Much Happy...

 Happy Monday everyone!  I am so excited....we actually have temps that are above freezing and the thaw has begun!  There is hope for Spring after all!  I was seriously beginning to wonder...though we are still getting snow, at least it is melting and not adding to the tons we already have! To celebrate, I decided to get out some Spring themed papers and play along with the Freshly Made Sketches Challenge!  This sketch challenge ends today, so you need to hurry if you want to join in! Here is a look at the original sketch design-

My card was created with the So Much Happy paper line by Close To My Heart.  The fun, bright colors were perfect for a touch of Spring!  I cut a piece of floral paper into a 3" x 3" square and then cut it into 1" x 1" squares.  I adhered the pieces to a Sapphire piece of cardstock.  I popped up my layer with dimensional tape before adding to my Lemon cardstock.  This card would be perfect for using up those scraps you have been hoarding! Here is a look at the patterns included in the So Much Happy paper packet-

All supplies by Close To My Heart, except where noted:

D1831 Budding Peony Stamp Set
X7241B So Much Happy Paper Pack
X6008 Lemon Cardstock
X6021 Sapphire Cardstock
Z2848 Sapphire Exclusive Inks
X6027 White Daisy Cardstock
Grosgrain Ribbon-Unknown

I have also entered my card in the following challenges:
C.R.A.F.T. Challenge-Flowers or Easter
Daisy Chain Challenges-Spring is in the Air
Heart 2 Heart Challenges-Seasons Change

In case you have not heard the news, Close To My Heart is having a Paper Party! Paper packs are currently Buy one, Get one Half off!  Now is a great time to add to your collection.  Coordinating cardstock packs are also included! You can view the current selection here!

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Video Boy Birthday Card

I have adored this stamp by Penny Black for years...which is about how long it took me to finally ink it up and color it! My son is quite the gamer and though his age has surpassed this gamer, I still found it fitting for his birthday card! I colored the image with Prismacolor pencils and shaded with Gamsol. My papers are from the retired Stargazer Collection by Close To My Heart.

All supplies by Close To My Heart, except where noted:
Video Boy Stamp by Penny Black
Happy Birthday Stamp by Simon Says Stamps
Stargazer Papers by Close To My Heart-Retired
Z4189 Intense Black Exclusive Ink
Z3314 Black & White Dots
Prismacolor Pencils
Gamsol

I have entered my card in the following challenges:
Colour Crazy Craft Challenge-Anything Goes
Crafty Catz-Anything Goes w/option of making it square
Krafty Chicks Challenge-Polka Dots
Seize the Birthday-Birthday w/Dots & Stripes
Watercooler Wednesday-Masculine

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Pocket Card Celebration

Close To My Heart is continuing their 35 year celebration with 35% off Pocket Cards in March.  Our pocket card selection coordinates perfectly with our paper packets.  Pocket cards are a go to item for pocket style scrapbooking and are perfect for quick and easy cardmaking.  You can view the current selection here!


Thanks so much for stopping by!

Freshly Made Sketches #379

My fluffy cat is back for the sketch challenge at Freshly Made Sketches! I love cats of all types....but have a fondness for soft, fluffy kitties, with one exception!  My kitties seem to have read the calendar and actually believe the first day of spring is near.  As a result, I have kitties shedding everywhere!  When it comes to shedding time, fluffy kitties are the worst!  I am up to vacuuming a couple of times a day and there is no end in sight for the kitty hair.  I seriously need a Roomba to work full time! Here is a look at the original sketch design-

I kept my card on the clean and simple side.  My camera lighting does not appreciate the different materials on my card, but I can assure you in person, they all match!  Did you know you can color suede with your alcohol based markers? My pink suede bow was not the exact shade that I wanted....Copic marker to the rescue, a few swipes and it matched perfectly...regardless of what the camera says! I have used Copics to color bling, ribbon, brads, embossing etc.  They are truly a versatile product!

All supplies by Close To My Heart except where noted:
C1769 Purrrrific Stamp Set
X7242B I Heart Us Paper Packet
X6027 White Daisy Cardstock
X6016 Pixie Cardstock
Z4189 Intense Black Exclusive Inks
Z2844 Pixie Exclusive Inks
Z3318 Thin Cuts Basic Circles
Z4181 Thin Cuts Stitched Circles
Z4195 Beautiful Friendship Bows (On the Clearance Rack!)
Pixie Glitter Gems-Retired
Copic Markers-various-sorry I do not have the color list available

I have also entered my card in the following challenges:
Allsorts-Favorite Stamp
My Time to Craft-It's raining Cats & Dogs
 Penny Black & More-Anything Goes w/option of circles

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Mojo Sketch #511

One of my goals this year, is to mail more cards.  We all love to receive cards in the mail and a handmade card brightens everyone's day.  I know we often think of sending cards for special occasions, but it is the non-conventional ones that are the most surprising.  I honestly do not celebrate St. Patrick's Day...but decided it would be a good day to send a little something in the mail. I created my card based on the sketch challenge at Mojo Monday. I have always been a huge fan of Julee's layered sketches!

My four leaf clover was created with the super cute stitched heart dies by Close To My Heart. I cut a total of eight hearts.  I adhered four hearts directly to my circle shape.  I then scored the remaining four hearts down the middle and only applied adhesive to the center of the hearts.  After adhering to the flat hearts, I raised the sides of the hearts to give the clover a 3-D effect. Since the hearts did not line up perfectly in the center, I colored a gem with a Copic Marker to match my clover and placed in the center. My stem is cute from an oval stitched die. Super cute and super easy to make!

My sentiments is actually from this month's Love Blossoms special. I love the large font and you can create many sentiments out of the words that are included.  I took the liberty of cutting apart one of the sentiments to make a custom saying for my card.  Don't fear cutting your stamps, you can always slide them back together on a clear block.  Cutting sentiments apart gives you more freedom in your placement and more mileage out of the stamp set.  Here is the original stamp set-

All supplies by Close To My Heart, except where noted:
CC2199 Love Blossoms Stamp Set
Z4182 Stitched Heart Dies
Z4187 Stitched Oval Dies
Z3312 Gold Glitter Gems
X5707 Summer Celebration Pattern Paper-Retired
Topiary Cardstock-Retired
Topiary Ink-Retired
Gold Sequins-Retired
Copic Sketch G46

(I had every intention of using the current color of Clover for my card....but it seems to have disappeared from my craft room!  Clover would be a close color to Topiary, you can view all the Clover items here)

I have entered my card in the following challenges:
Color My Heart Color Dare-Inspiration Board
Crafty Cardmakers-Make It Green
Crafty Gals Corner-Add a Shamrock/Clover
Die Cut Diva's-Use Green and or Gold
Double Trouble Challenge-Wearin of the Green w/optional twist of gold plus double dare of H2H
Ellibelle's Corner-Spring or Green
Heart 2 Heart Challenges-Wearin of the Green
ModSquad Challenge-Layered Looks
Use Your Stuff-Stitching, Faux or Real

Thanks so much for stopping by!

DIY Home Decor Project

Close To My Heart has a new DIY Home Decor Project available! With the Home Chipboard Monogram workshop, you can create a papercrafting project that is sure to add a cozy touch to any room! This workshop uses chipboard monogram letters and easy-to-cut shapes from the Cricut Design Space™ project file created just for this workshop.

The kit provides you with the pattern paper, cardstock, chipboard monogram letters, and puffy stickers to spell the word Home. You also get access to the cutting files in Cricut Design Space.  You will need access to the Cricut Artistry Collection and a Cricut Machine to use the files. You can view the kit details here!  Here is a look at the kit contents (puffy stickers not shown)-

The kit is available until April 30, 2019 or While Supplies Last!  Feel free to contact me with any questions!