I have been invited to be a guest designer over at the Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge Blog this week.  I have fallen in love with the new Little Dreamer paper packet by Close To My Heart and decided the bright colors would be a perfect fit for a needed birthday card! While I love the patterns in the packet...I also ended up making a few of my own.  My die cut balloons seemed a little plain in cardstock.  I inked up the small star stamp from Little Dreamer stamp set and stamped my balloons with the coordinating dye ink.  While that gave them some much needed contrast.....I then spied a white gel pen on my desk......I decided to outline my stars with the white gel pen and LOVE the added pop and dimension the die cut balloons now have.   My Birthday Wishes sentiment was inked in Pixie Ink and then rolled in Thistle Ink for a two tone look.  Here is a look at the original sketch design:


I finished out the inside with my favorite birthday sentiment, One in a Million, and a strip of pattern paper.  The fun paper that I have as a background in my photo is another pattern found in the Little Dreamer paper packet!


All supplies by Close To My Heart, except where noted:
A1201 One in a Million Stamp Set
C1677 Little Dreamer Stamp Set
X7219B Little Dreamer Paper Packet
X7219D Little Dreamer Cardstock
1385 White Daisy Cardstock
Z3321 Little Dreamer Glitter Gems
Z2843 Canary Ink
Z2844 Pixie Ink
Z2840 Thistle Ink
White Gel Pen by Chaoyi
Balloon Die Cut-Unknown

I have also entered my card in the following challenges:
Color My Heart Color Dare-Little Dreamer
QKR Stampede-Birthday Cards
Seize the Birthday-Birthday
Simon Says Stamp-We're Going Around in Circles

Thanks so much for stopping by!  I hope to see your creation over at Atlantic Hearts this week!

I hope you love this woodgrain paper as much as I do...because I see lots of creations with it in the future! The paper is included in the No Worries Paper Packet as well as the Workshops Your Way Anniversary Cardmaking Kit. My card is created with the Cardmaking Kit.  I LOVE the fun fonts and stamps included in the exclusive stamp set.  I have a ton of thank you cards to get created, so this stamp set will be getting a work out.  My card is based on the sketch challenge this week at Mojo Monday.


My card is 5" x 5" square.  I created the white background panel by stamping the small succulent stamp randomly with Sea Glass ink.  The large succulent is stamped with Sea Glass ink onto Sea Glass paper.  I layered two images together for added dimension. Here is a look at all of the fun images included in the stamp set-

All supplies by Close To My Heart, except where noted:
G1131 Workshops You Way Anniversary Cardmaking Kit
1385 White Daisy Cardstock
Textured Cocoa Cardstock by DCWV
Z2507 Sea Glass Pigment Ink
Z2814 Cocoa Ink
Oval Dies-Unbranded

I have also entered my card in the following challenges:
Cards in Envy-Favorite Color Combo (Sea Glass & Cocoa)
If you Give a Crafter A Cookie-Photo Inspiration ( Colors and that Fabulous Woodgrain)
Southern Girls- Add Sparkle

Thanks so much for stopping by!

One of my favorite manly stamp sets is on the retirement list!  B1535 Hooked on You will retire in July and no longer be available to purchase.  The trout image is great for masculine cards and the set comes with a variety of sentiments as well.  Everyone knows of my fondness for burlap, so it was the perfect pairing.  I distressed the edges of my burlap panel with Cocoa pigment ink.  My trout image was stamped on White Daisy cardstock, but was a little too white for my liking.  I colored my image with Prismacolor pencils and blended with Gamsol.  I applied Liquid Glass over my stamped image for a just out of the water look.  Once my Liquid Glass was dry, I went back over my panel with Antique Linen distress inks by Tim Holtz to take away some of the whiteness from my image.

I finished out the inside of the card with one of the sentiments from the same set and added a strip of burlap ribbon for detail.


All supplies by Close To My Heart, except where noted:
B1535 Hooked on You
1385 White Daisy Cardstock
Textured Brown Cardstock by AC Cardstock
Burlap Cardstock by DCWV
Z899 Memento Black Ink
Antique Linen Distress Ink by Tim Holtz
Prisma Color Pencils
Gamsol
Z679 Liquid Glass
Burlap Ribbon by Recollections
Resin Dots by Echo Park
Circle Die-Unbranded

I have entered my card in the following challenges:
2 Crafty Critters-Anything with a critter
Crafting with Dragonflies-Animals
Crafty Animals-Anything Goes
Kitty Bee Designs-Animals
Pile It On-Animals
Scrapbooking & Cardmaking-For the Men
Shopping our Stash-Use Fabric
Stamped Blessings-Animals
Stampavie and More-For the Men/Boys
Tuesday Throwdown-Texture

Thanks so much for stopping by!  You can check out all of the retiring items here.

So excited to actually be able to enter the Mojo Monday Sketch Challenge on MONDAY!  I am usually trying to get in just under the wire, sometimes by mere minutes.  I went with a monochrome of gold and white. My card features gold glitter, gold embossing and gold bling and is based on the following sketch-


My card is created with the gold embossed papers and flower stamps from the Live Beautifully Campaign.  This collection is only available in the month of May or while supplies last....get yours before they are gone!


All supplies by Close To My Heart, except where noted:
Live Beautifully Stamp Set
Happy Happy Happy Stamp & Die Set by Lawn Fawn
1385 White Daisy Cardstock
Live Beautifully Paper Packet
Z3238 Gold Glitter Cardstock
Z891 Versamark Ink Pad
Z2066 Ranger Gold Embossing Powder
Z3312 Gold Glitter Gems

I have also entered my card in the following challenges:
Art Impressions Stamps-Dots & Stripes
Crafty Gals Corner-Bling
Creative with Stamps-Flowers
Daring Cardmakers-All that Glitters is not gold
Dragonfly Dreams-Monochrome
Monochrome Magic-Anything Goes
The Crazy Challenge-Monochrome
Through the Purple Haze-Glitter
Use Your Stuff-Metallics

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Happy Mother's Day to everyone....whether your children happen to be two legged or four!  I created this card with the Timeless Tulips stamps by Sunny Studios.  Sunny Studios was a new company to me.....but it was love at first sight!  I love the layers on these tulips and they have an awesome daffodil stamp set as well.  The daffodils are still on my wish list!  While Close To My Heart has always been my first love....I am an equal opportunity stamper....and collect the images that I love.  I give thanks to all of the crafters in blogland for the enabling!

I found my layers through trial and error.  I put all of my pink inks together and stamped away on scrap cardstock until I came up with a trio of colors that worked well for me.  The leaves were much simpler, as they only had two layers.  I originally purchased a set of inks for this set that were just for layering....but they did not work out well for me.  I have decided it works much better to just play with the inks you have and come up with a combo that works for you.  The Short & Sweet Sentiments set by Close To My Heart was perfect for making a tag to hang off of the jar.


Since my stamp collection is still recovering from my craft room loss.....I printed a sentiment from Word onto my cardstock and mounted to the inside.  I added a little burlap for some added texture.

All supplies by Close To My Heart, except where noted:
Timeless Tulips Stamp & Die Set by Sunny Studios
Vintage Jar Stamp & Die Set by Sunny Studios
A1189 Short & Sweet Sentiments
1385 White Daisy Cardstock
X5773 Pixie Cardstock
Z2844 Pixie Ink
Green Inks by Hero Arts
Z1263 Bitty Sparkles
Burlap Ribbon by Celebrate It
Pink Twine by Ms. Sparkle & Co.
Rectangle Die-Unbranded
Chevron Embossing Folder-Retired

I have entered my card in the following challenges:
A Gem of a Challenge-Spring Fever
Cards in Envy-Motherly Love
Crafting with Dragonflies-Lots of Flowers and/or Mother's Day
Crafty Calendar Challenge-Flowers
Die Cut Divas-Flowers
Die Cuttin Divas-Mother's Day
Happy Little Stampers-Anything Goes w/Dies
Really Reasonable Ribbon-Mother's Day


Thanks so much for stopping by!

It is so nice to have a little crafting time....it is a much needed boost to my sanity!  I am on a mission to completely use up my paper packets....so this card was made with lots of scraps!  I knew I was saving them for a reason! My card is based on the sketch challenge this week at Mojo Monday-


My card is created with left over bits from the now retired Sugar Rush paper packet.  The scrap pieces worked wonderfully for making my banners and die cuts.  I love how all of the Close To My Heart products coordinate together.  I popped up my balloons for some added dimension and added a little bling.



My signature must be that I always finish out the inside of my cards as well.  It might be just a small stamped image or a bit of coordinating paper.  The little touches really finish out the card.  The One in a Million sentiment is great for any birthday card!


All supplies by Close To My Heart, except where noted:
A1201 One in a Million Stamp Set
B1537 Birthday Sparkles Stamp Set
1385 White Daisy Cardstock
X5780 Pomegranate Cardstock
Retired Sugar Rush Paper Packet
Z2854 Pomegranate Ink Pad
Z3274 Sparkles
Z1263 Bitty Sparkles
Balloon Die-Unknown

I have also entered my card in the following challenges:
Come and Get it-Birthday
C.R.A.F.T-Birthdays
OLLCB-Something that starts with a B
Seize the Birthday-Birthday

Thanks so much for stopping by!  Be sure and check out the retiring items to grab your favorites before they are gone!

I think Spring has finally arrived in Wyoming...we went from snow one day to 70 degrees the next....so there is hope!  I decided to break out the bright colors for a colorful thank you card.  My card is based on the sketch challenge this week at CAS(E) this Sketch.


My original plan was for a white on white card....but I could not resist adding the black layer for the added pop!  Then the black against the Raspberry just seemed fitting!  My card is created with flowers from the May Stamp of the Month, Live Laugh Love.  With the bold words in this set, I think the flowers could be easily overlooked....but they can stand out on their own!  I stamped the flowers in Memento Black and then added color with my Prismacolor pencils.  My shading is done with Gamsol.  I love shading with Gamsol.....I really am a novice colorer (is that even a word)....but Gamsol provides great results with very little effort. My "thanks" is from my favorite die that is cut multiple times, covered in black pigment ink and then heat embossed with black embossing powder. I love the added dimension the layers add to the card.  If you have yet to see the May Stamp of the Month, here is the full set.


All supplies by Close To My Heart, except where noted:
S1705 Live Love Laugh
X5788 Raspberry Cardstock
1385 White Daisy Cardstock
Textured Black Cardstock by AC Cardstock
Z899 Memento Black Ink Pad
Z2503 Basics Pigment Ink Set
Black Embossing Powder by Zing
Z3274 Clear Sparkles
Z1263 Bitty Sparkles
Prisma Color Pencils
Gamsol
 Z3259 Hello & Thanks Thin Cuts-Retired
Rectangle Pierced Die-Unbranded

I have also entered my card in the following challenges:
AAA-Bright & Beautiful
Crafty Cardmakers-Add a Sentiment
Creative with Stamps-Flowers
Happy Little Stampers-Anything Goes with Dies
Make My Monday-May Flowers
Paper Creators-Bright & Bold

Thanks so much for stopping by!

I hope everyone is finding some crafting time today for National Scrapbooking Day!  Close To My Heart is celebrating all month long with the Live Beautifully Campaign.  We have released gorgeous new papers and stamps for National Scrapbooking Month.....they are only available in the month of May or while supplies last!  I decided the perfect pairing for the new products, was to create a card for the Mojo Monday Sketch challenge!


The Live Beautifully Paper packet includes 16 sheets of gorgeous pattern papers.  You get two sheets each of six designs and two sheets each of two gold embossed designs.  I went with a grey and pink tone for my card, with just a hint of gold.  After stamping my flower, I went back over the image with my gold Shimmer Brush to add a little bling.  Here is a close up of the papers that are included in the packet.


All supplies by Close To My Heart, except where noted:
Live Beautifully Stamp Set
D1703 Nature's Wish (Thank You Sentiment)
Live Beautifully Paper Packet
1385 White Daisy Cardstock
Z2850 Fern Ink
Z899 Tuxedo Black Ink by Memento
Rose Petal Inks by Altenew
Pierced Dies-Unbranded
Z3312 Gold Glitter Gems
Z3316 Shimmer Brush-Gold

I have also entered my card in the following challenges:
Always Fun Challenges-Flowers
Aud Sentiments-Flowers & Sentiment
Die Cut Divas-Flowers
Hiding in My Craft Room-May Flowers
Make My Monday-Flowers
Simon Says Stamp-Hint of Pink

Thanks so much for stopping by!

I LOVE the bold sentiments in the May Stamp of the Month, S1705 Live Laugh Love.  Super cute set!  The adorable flower images would be a great addition to your stamp collection as well!  I can't wait to create with my set!  So many possibilities!


You can add this set to your collection for only $5 in the month of May with a qualifying purchase or you can purchase at the retail price of $17.95.  Close To My Heart has an awesome new release today, be sure and check out all the new items in my store!

Thanks so much for stopping by!