Frame it Up with H2H

Welcome to this week's challenge at Heart 2 Heart Challenges.  This week’s challenge is all framed up. How would you interpret this challenge?

This challenge couldn't come at a better time.  We are raising two of our grandkids.  May I say that it has been a long time since I had sole care of a young child?  These kids came to us from a not so great environment and had not  been raised with rules, schedules or consistency.  So I decided that they each needed a behavior chart.  I pulled out some poster board and started drawing lines and quickly lost interest in all of this work.  Not to mention I would have to do this every couple of weeks for 2 kids - no way, Jose!

I happen to own two of the newest Close to My Heart frames and picked out the Designed Décor Black Frame on which to build my cute little, useful behavior chart.

Here is my behavior chart:

The first thing that you will notice is that I didn't call it a behavior chart.  It is called Keith's Rewards.  The kids' therapist wants me to be more positive and less negative.  Rewards sounds pretty positive to me.

I was delighted to see the weeks of the day stamp set in the CTMH Cricut Artbooking Collection.  SCORE!  I used the Dimensional elements banners from the collection as well.  The days of the week are stamped with Pacifica, Ruby and Outdoor Denim ink onto a piece of White Daisy Cardstock.  I left room so that Keith can place stickers on the days that he does what is listed on the left.  All of the behavior notes and the days of the week are held on with our Mini Clothes pins so that they are removable.  Yay!  No remaking of charts.  No drawing lines.  I can even scan and copy the days of the week papers if I don't want to stamp them.  Why I wouldn't want to stamp them is beyond me, but no problem, I have it covered!
I used these stamps sets:

The letters for Keith's name was cut with the Cricut Art Philosophy Cartridge.  I used the Cricut Craft Room to widen the letters.  I cut the letters out of cereal boxes with the deep cutting blade.  Each letter has 3 layers of cereal box to make it sturdy, held together with out liquid glass.  The paper covering the letters is from the CTMH ProPlayer Paper Pack.

So now it is your turn!  Please show us your artwork with your interpretation of all framed up.  I cannot wait to see what you make!  After you finish your artwork please go to  www.heart2heartchallenges.blogspot.com and post a link to your project.  I cannot wait to see what you make!

Here are a few rules:  

*Our challenges are open to everyone!
*To enter, follow the challenge of the week and post your results to your personal blog or other online gallery.
*Be sure to go here and direct link to your challenge post so we can see your artwork!

*In order to enter a challenge, you must use Close To My Heart products but your project does not have to be 100% CTMH.
*If you use something from another company, please consider including details in your project's description.
* You MUST mention H2H challenges in your blog post (and a link back to us would be appreciated).
*Spread the word about our challenge blog by including our badge on your blog.

* I love to leave comments on our participants' blog posts, but word verification slows me down, so please turn yours off so that I can leave you some love on your blog!
*Most importantly, have fun creating - the Close To My Heart way!
Note: Any entries not following the above rules are subject to having their link removed.

I have entered my project in the Anything but Christmas Challenge at the Emergency Crafters Challenge and the Anything Goes Challenge at Challenges 4 Everybody.

Gratitude with H2H

Welcome to this week's challenge at Heart 2 Heart Challenges.  Our challenge this week is called Gratitude. 

I really loved this challenge.  I had a special friend who I wanted to make a special card for and this challenge came at a good time.  

Here is my card:

I was going to sponge the background for this card, but it was just taking too long for me.  I am kind of an inpatient person at times.  So I pulled out my handy dandy brayer.  I used Sky, Crystal Blue and Indian Corn Blue Inks for the sky and Champagne, Cashmere and Saddle Inks for the ground.  The trees are stamped with Topiary and New England Ivy Inks, using the Rock and Roll technique.  The lines you see in the sky is partly due to how the cardstock picks up ink and partly due to it was still kinda wet when I took the picture.

I used these stamps sets:

Lifting Spirits (C1570)

Always Grateful (C1559)

I also used the stamp set from the Frosted Cardmaking Workshop on the Go (G1063).

So now it is your turn!  Please show us your artwork with your interpretation of gratitude.  I cannot wait to see what you make!  After you finish your artwork please go to  www.heart2heartchallenges.blogspot.com and post a link to your project.  I cannot wait to see what you make!

Here are a few rules:  

*Our challenges are open to everyone!
*To enter, follow the challenge of the week and post your results to your personal blog or other online gallery.
*Be sure to go here and direct link to your challenge post so we can see your artwork!

*In order to enter a challenge, you must use Close To My Heart products but your project does not have to be 100% CTMH.
*If you use something from another company, please consider including details in your project's description.
* You MUST mention H2H challenges in your blog post (and a link back to us would be appreciated).
*Spread the word about our challenge blog by including our badge on your blog.

* I love to leave comments on our participants' blog posts, but word verification slows me down, so please turn yours off so that I can leave you some love on your blog!
*Most importantly, have fun creating - the Close To My Heart way!
Note: Any entries not following the above rules are subject to having their link removed.

Happy Halloween!

First of all, Happy Halloween!  Wishing you many Trick or Treaters, many spooky costumers, and awesome candy.

I missed my deadline with the Heart 2 Heart Challenges last week.  I hate missing deadlines!  But sometimes you just have to let it go and I did.

I was also in a Halloween Tag swap and I missed that deadline too.  On a roll here......

The challenge at Heart 2 Heart was to use lace as an inspiration.  Cobwebs are a spooky kind of lace.  Here is my scary tag.

Can you see that my tag is tombstone shaped?  Now how cool is that?  The tombstone is cut with the Cricut Artiste, pg 76, (EEK) Accent 1  at 6".  I used Slate cardstock and then sanded the entire piece to give the look of granite.

Then I stamped the cobwebs using Creepy Cobwebs (D1319). I stamped them with Black Pigment Ink and then immediately stamped them a second time, a little offset.  I think that gives them a spookier look!

The spiders are cut from our Tan and Glitter paper using the Cricut Artist, pg 77 (Halloween) Accent 4 (shift) at 3/4".

The pumpkin is cut with our new Cricut Artbooking cartridge.  I changed the proportion using Cricut Craft Room and made him a bit skinnier so that he would fit on my tag.  He is on pg 55 (i) Icon (Shift).  The Trick or Treat is on the same page. (i) Title.

Everything is inked with black except the tombstone.

I finished up the tag with black tulle ribbon and our Red Shimmer Trim.

Heart 2 Heart You Better Shape Up Challenge

Welcome to this week's challenge at Heart 2 Heart Challenges.  Our challenge this week is called You Better Shape Up and both of the Heart 2 Heart Challenge teams are participating!  

For our challenge this week, make artwork that is NOT square or rectangular. 

Saturday is my team, The Bling Team, sponsored 12 Hour Crop here in Memphis.  We choose a charity each crop to sponsor and decided to donate Patriotic Cards to the local VA Hospital to place on their in-patients Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner trays.  We are asking our croppers to bring as many cards as they can make and to make more at our crop.  The military is near and dear to us since many of our loved ones are or were in the military.  I was an Air Force wife, my son is in the Navy and my son-in-law is in the Air Force.  My father served in the Air Force during the Korean War.  Yes, these military members that served our country hold a special place in my heart indeed.

I decided to make a Side Stair Step card.

I used our retired Stamp Sets, Courage (B1437) and Home of the Brave (D1576).  The card base is made of our Kraft paper and is stamped with Desert Sand Ink.  I also used Outdoor Denim and Ruby Ink.

So now it is your turn!  I cannot wait to see what you make!  After you finish your artwork please go to  www.heart2heartchallenges.blogspot.com and post a link to your project.  I cannot wait to see what you make!

Here are a few rules:  

*Our challenges are open to everyone!
*To enter, follow the challenge of the week and post your results to your personal blog or other online gallery.
*Be sure to go here and direct link to your challenge post so we can see your artwork!

*In order to enter a challenge, you must use Close To My Heart products but your project does not have to be 100% CTMH.
*If you use something from another company, please consider including details in your project's description.
* You MUST mention H2H challenges in your blog post (and a link back to us would be appreciated).
*Spread the word about our challenge blog by including our badge on your blog.

* I love to leave comments on our participants' blog posts, but word verification slows me down, so please turn yours off so that I can leave you some love on your blog!
*Most importantly, have fun creating - the Close To My Heart way!
Note: Any entries not following the above rules are subject to having their link removed.

I am entering this card into the My Favorite Things Challenge at Quirky Crafts Challenge - (my favorite thing is making a card for our Veterans.)

H2H Goes Au Naturale

Welcome to this week's challenge at Heart 2 Heart Challenges.  We only have one day left in September so this is actually our first October Challenge!  Our challenge this week is called Au Naturale.  The Design Team had some fun with this challenge discussing what it entailed but suffice to say that what you wear when you stamp is up to you!  LOL

For our challenge this week, use either all neutral colors or something from nature. 

I just wasn't in the mood to use neutral colors.  So that left me something from nature.  I am loving all of the gorgeous landscape stamps that Close to My Heart is offering so I chose the Stamp Set from the Frosted Cardmaking Workshop on the Go (G1063).


I was also in the mood to play.  Sometimes I am in the mood to "Get the Job Done" and sometime I want to get lost in the creative process.  I had seen a simple card using a tree stamp and something called the masking tape technique and I was intrigued.  Here is the card I am talking about.

Well, as I said, I was intrigued and I was in the mood to play.  This could either turn out really good or really bad.  LOL  But either way it would be fun for me.  I went in search of masking tape.  I apparently do not own any, but I did find painter's tape and scotch tape so I grabbed them both.  I knew that I wanted to try and make a Fall/Winter scene so I grabbed Inks that I thought would work and set down to create. I did not have any glossy cardstock, as the original blogger had listed that I needed so I used White Daisy Cardstock.

I started with the painter's tape since it is closer to masking tape.  With the Masking Tape Technique, you pull off a piece of tape about 2 inches bigger than the width of the card so that you will have room to hold it. Prepare to get inky!  Now you rub, tap, or just push the sticky side of your tape onto the ink pad, allowing the ink to get onto the tape.  Then you take the tape and apply it gently to your cardstock.  Don't try to adhere it because all you want to do is use the tape to apply the ink.  You want the tape to easily come off the cardstock without ripping it.

When you change colors, you get a new piece of tape.  As I said, I just wanted to play with it at first and see if it would work.  Here is my first try.  I watermarked it so that no one would steal it.  LOL!

For some reason, I continued on, but I changed color selection.  Wow does Sorbet come out dark!  I also decided to change tape and went to Scotch tape.  Here is my second try, also watermarked.  You know, you have to be careful in cyberspace!

This was beginning to show promise,  but how do I get rid of all of the lines?  Not how I pictured it.

I did like the Scotch tape better because I could see where the ink was.  Long ago I took a brayering class from Michelle Zindorf.  She taught us to use multiple shades of the same colors to build our scenes.  Plus she taught us to not be afraid of adding additional layers of ink.  So off I went to my handy dandy ink tower.

I was having a ball!  My 10 year old grandson came in, looked at what I was doing, and walked off shaking his head.  I was deep in the creative process.  I started with the ground and applied layers and layers of Champagne (ink not the drink), Cashmere, and a little bit of Saddle.  Then I added Sweet Leaf and Olive right above that.  My ground was complete!

Forgive me, but I needed some lighter colors for my sky so I raided some of my retired inks.  I googled Winter sky and looked for images to inspire me. I just love the colors of a crisp fall/winter sky!  Colors used were Indian Corn Blue, Sky, Heavenly Blue (retired), a tiny bit of Crystal Blue, Baby Pink (retired), Blush, Creme Brulee, Buttercup, and Gypsy.

Here is my card.

You ask how I got rid of the tape lines?  By repeatedly applying more ink and filling it in.  Don't be afraid of adding more and more ink.  Also don't panic if it looks dark because as the ink dries, it lightens up.  Plus overlap, overlap, overlap.  The ink fills in an covers the lines. The texture comes from the way the ink beads up on the tape.  I did not throw the tape away after use.  I stuck it to my table and designated them as blue. green, brown, pink, purple and yellow and reused them until I was finished with the card.

I love, love, love this card and this is my new favorite technique.  After I finished the background, I stamped the trees using a rock and roll technique.  I used Sweet Leaf, Olive and New England Ivy Inks.  The sentiment is stamped a bit low to cover an ink mark from my rock and roll stamping of the trees, but I am okay with that.  This sentiment comes from Happy Autumn (D1550). The edges are inked with Black Pigment Ink and placed on Black cardstock to showcase it.  Finished off with a Creme Brulee mat and a sky blue card base.

And here is the inside of the card, decorated because you just cannot have a naked card!

So now it is your turn!  Please show us your artwork with your favorite things.  I cannot wait to see what you make!  After you finish your artwork please go to  www.heart2heartchallenges.blogspot.com and post a link to your project.  I cannot wait to see what you make!

Here are a few rules:  

*Our challenges are open to everyone!
*To enter, follow the challenge of the week and post your results to your personal blog or other online gallery.
*Be sure to go here and direct link to your challenge post so we can see your artwork!

*In order to enter a challenge, you must use Close To My Heart products but your project does not have to be 100% CTMH.
*If you use something from another company, please consider including details in your project's description.
* You MUST mention H2H challenges in your blog post (and a link back to us would be appreciated).
*Spread the word about our challenge blog by including our badge on your blog.

* I love to leave comments on our participants' blog posts, but word verification slows me down, so please turn yours off so that I can leave you some love on your blog!
*Most importantly, have fun creating - the Close To My Heart way!
Note: Any entries not following the above rules are subject to having their link removed.

I am entering this card into the Keep It Simple Challenge at 356 Cards and the Great Outdoor Challenge with Creative Corner Challenges.

My Favorite Things at H2H

Welcome to this week's challenge at Heart 2 Heart Challenges.  We have a little bit of a Sound of Music theme going on right now at H2H, and to follow up last week's "brown paper packages tied up with string," Team Sunset is moving on to a few of our favorite things!  

I am going to make a confession here.  I am not much of a scrapbooker.  (Blush, blush) I have always intended to get more into it.  With 5 kids, 5 stepkids, and tons of grandchildren, it is not like I don't have a zillion pictures.  It just seems intimidating at times to get started.

But when Close to My Heart released our latest exclusive Cricut cartridge, the Artbooking Cartridge, which makes scrapbooking super interesting and easy to do, I decided to take the leap.

Here is my scrapbooking page:

What do you think?  Now you ask why is this one of my favorite things since obviously scrapbooking hasn't been in the past?

Well, I know you cannot see him well, but that über cute blonde young man in the back row, fourth from our right is my grandson, Austin.  One of my most favorite things to do is to watch this very talented young man play baseball.  This picture is of his team who won a weeklong tournament UNDEFEATED!  I could not be there this time since they live 8 hours away, but I was excited to use their team colors and our new Artbooking overlay to commemorate this awesome feat.

I am loving this new cartridge.  Because of the way it is set up I programmed in 11 inches for the size and all of the pieces cut out in proportion to each other.  That took away much of the decision making and there was no need to re-cut any of the pieces.  I like to cut out multiples of the overlay in different colors and then place some of the different colors into the overlay to add some additional interest.  I was afraid that it might be too "busy" so I matted the picture so that it would "pop".

This scrapbook page's diecuts are from pages 82 and 83.

Page 82

Page 83

So now it is your turn!  Please show us your artwork with your favorite things.  I cannot wait to see what you make!  After you finish your artwork please go to  www.heart2heartchallenges.blogspot.com and post a link to your project.  I cannot wait to see what you make!

Here are a few rules:  

*Our challenges are open to everyone!
*To enter, follow the challenge of the week and post your results to your personal blog or other online gallery.
*Be sure to go here and direct link to your challenge post so we can see your artwork!

*In order to enter a challenge, you must use Close To My Heart products but your project does not have to be 100% CTMH.
*If you use something from another company, please consider including details in your project's description.
* You MUST mention H2H challenges in your blog post (and a link back to us would be appreciated).
*Spread the word about our challenge blog by including our badge on your blog.

* I love to leave comments on our participants' blog posts, but word verification slows me down, so please turn yours off so that I can leave you some love on your blog!
*Most importantly, have fun creating - the Close To My Heart way!
Note: Any entries not following the above rules are subject to having their link removed.

Like what you see?  You can purchase this awesome Cricut Artbooking Collection on my website.  Here is all that you get with this collection:

You will receive:

1 – Cartridge (700 images: Font, Mini Books, Layouts)

3 – My Acrylix® D-size stamp sets

3 – 12" × 9" Dimensional Elements (3 sheets of different shapes) 

What a deal!  So, head on over to my website and you can shop to your heart's content!  We have a bunch of specials this month as well!

I have entered my scrapbooking page into the Anything but a Card Challenge at All Crafts Challenge. and the Challenge #178 ABC's 123's at the Fantabulous Cricut Challenge Blog

It's Color Challenge Time at H2H!

Welcome to this week's challenge at Heart 2 Heart Challenges.  Yes, we are having a color challenge this week.  Our colors are Barn Red, Cashmere, Sunset, and Gypsy for a little pop.  


I needed a birthday card for my grandson who is turning 15 next week.  I kind of knew that these colors didn't shout out 15 year old boy but I decided to go ahead and try it.

Once again I used the Stamp Set, Maximum Power, D1564.   This time I decided to use the cool Mustang image.  Now what boy would not want a Mustang?

Here is my card:

The patterned paper is from our retired Claire paper pack.  See the tire track banners?  I stamped those with the Maximum Power stamp set and then stapled them onto the card.  I wanted to give a more masculine feel.  The shape that the car is positioned on  (police badge) was cut from the Cricut Artiste Cartridge, pg 45, Accent 4.  My card base is 5" x 7".  The police badge was cut twice using my Cricut Gypsy.  Love my Gypsy!

Here is how I designed my Police Badge image.  With the Gypsy I can change the height/width ratio, which I did for this card so that the Police Badge would fit.  I changed the measurement to 5" height and 4" width.  I then took the Birthday sentiment (pg 86, , 3.75") from the Cricut Artbooking Cartridge and dropped it into place at the top of the badge.  This will allow the Birthday to cut out.  Then I hit cut and cut the Barn Red overlay of the badge.

After I cut out the Barn Red overlay, I went back into my Gypsy and deleted the Birthday and then went into the show/hide feature and hid the center cut of the badge.  This enabled me to cut the Cashmere cardstock solid badge image.

The car is stamped first with our Black Pigment Ink onto the Cashmere cardstock and then I stamped it again onto Sunset cardstock and cut it out and then popped it up with our 3D Foam tape.  The number 15 is made using our Irresistibles Houndstooth Alphabet.  These are chipboard numbers and letters that have a pattern on them that resist ink.  I sponged Gypsy Ink onto them and adhered them with Liquid Glass.  For some added ZING I added some Liquid Glass to the Birthday on the badge.

So now it is your turn!  What stamp set has you singing and dancing and what song are you singing?  After you finish your artwork please go to  www.heart2heartchallenges.blogspot.com and post a link to your project.  I cannot wait to see what you make!

Here are a few rules:  

*Our challenges are open to everyone!
*To enter, follow the challenge of the week and post your results to your personal blog or other online gallery.
*Be sure to go here and direct link to your challenge post so we can see your artwork!

*In order to enter a challenge, you must use Close To My Heart products but your project does not have to be 100% CTMH.
*If you use something from another company, please consider including details in your project's description.
* You MUST mention H2H challenges in your blog post (and a link back to us would be appreciated).
*Spread the word about our challenge blog by including our badge on your blog.

* I love to leave comments on our participants' blog posts, but word verification slows me down, so please turn yours off so that I can leave you some love on your blog!
*Most importantly, have fun creating - the Close To My Heart way!
Note: Any entries not following the above rules are subject to having their link removed.

Like what you see?  Head on over to my website and you can shop to your heart's content!  We have a bunch of specials this month as well!

Musical Inspiration at Heart 2 Heart Challenges

Welcome to this week's challenge at Heart 2 Heart Challenges.  Loving this challenge - using a song, make a piece of artwork that reminds you of that song. Does that make sense? I have been humming Fun, Fun, Fun by the Beach Boys all week.



I couldn't find a Close to My Heart T Bird image so I used the GTO image from our Stamp Set, Maximum Power, D1564.

So let's say that I used Ronnie and the Daytona's Little GTO song for my card as well.



I decided to vintage up my card because after all, the songs are from the 60's.  
Here is my card:

Iused our new paper pack, Laughing Lola (X7170B), the beautiful Base and Bling Floral Accents (Z1883), and the Black Mini Medleys (Z1862).  See the words under my picture?  That is the zip strip off of one of the patterned papers.  I am hoping that this card has a feminine feel to it.

So now it is your turn!  What stamp set has you singing and dancing and what song are you singing?  After you finish your artwork please go to  www.heart2heartchallenges.blogspot.com and post a link to your project.  I cannot wait to see what you make!

I used the card pattern from My Favorite Things to make this card so I am entering it into their challenge.

Here are a few rules:  

*Our challenges are open to everyone!
*To enter, follow the challenge of the week and post your results to your personal blog or other online gallery.
*Be sure to go here and direct link to your challenge post so we can see your artwork!

*In order to enter a challenge, you must use Close To My Heart products but your project does not have to be 100% CTMH.
*If you use something from another company, please consider including details in your project's description.
* You MUST mention H2H challenges in your blog post (and a link back to us would be appreciated).
*Spread the word about our challenge blog by including our badge on your blog.

* I love to leave comments on our participants' blog posts, but word verification slows me down, so please turn yours off so that I can leave you some love on your blog!
*Most importantly, have fun creating - the Close To My Heart way!
Note: Any entries not following the above rules are subject to having their link removed.

Like what you see?  Head on over to my website and you can shop to your heart's content!  We have a bunch of specials this month as well!

I am also entering this card into the Lots of Layers Challenge at ABC Challenges and the Inspired by a Song Challenge at Ooh-La-La Creations.

Bon Voyage with H2H

Welcome to this week's challenge at Heart 2 Heart Challenges.  Our challenge this week is Bon Voyage. Bon Voyage means good journey in French. I took French in high school so for some reason FRance was on my brain. The Cricut Artbooking cartridge is also on my brain and I just had to use one of the super cute overlays from our new cartridge.


Here is my card:

The overlay was cut in Whisper Cardstock.  The Eiffel tower (I've been there!) was cut in Black cardstock with the Cricut Artiste cartridge.  The cloud and the fancy frame were also cut with the Artiste cartridge.  The plane is from the Artbooking cartridge and was cut with our Black glitter paper.  There is black Glitter Trim around the edge.  The card base is made from Indian Blue Cardstock.

So now it is your turn!  Let me see what you can do with our Bon Voyage theme.  After you finish your artwork please go to  www.heart2heartchallenges.blogspot.com and post a link to your project.  I cannot wait to see what you make!

Here are a few rules:  

*Our challenges are open to everyone!
*To enter, follow the challenge of the week and post your results to your personal blog or other online gallery.
*Be sure to go here and direct link to your challenge post so we can see your artwork!

*In order to enter a challenge, you must use Close To My Heart products but your project does not have to be 100% CTMH.
*If you use something from another company, please consider including details in your project's description.
* You MUST mention H2H challenges in your blog post (and a link back to us would be appreciated).
*Spread the word about our challenge blog by including our badge on your blog.

* I love to leave comments on our participants' blog posts, but word verification slows me down, so please turn yours off so that I can leave you some love on your blog!
*Most importantly, have fun creating - the Close To My Heart way!
Note: Any entries not following the above rules are subject to having their link removed.

Like what you see?  Head on over to my website and you can shop to your heart's content!  We have a bunch of specials this month as well!

Water, Water, Water at H2H Challenges

Welcome to this week's challenge at Heart 2 Heart Challenges.  Team Sunset is up!  Our challenge this week is Water, Water, Everywhere. Use water - the ocean, a lake, or even a glass of water, as your inspiration for your artwork. 

I have lived in Memphis, TN for almost 10 years, but I grew up in Southern California and lived there until I was in my 30's and the US Air Force had other ideas for my family. I have only been back for an occasional trip, but my heart still belongs to the coast of California.

We grew up by the beach and surfboards and palm trees were plentiful. I was super-excited by this challenge, especially after I saw that Close to My Heart's new Artbooking cartridge has a surfboard with a matching overlay! I had gone through a week of mild depression and crafting has always been my "medicine" so I picked myself up and started working on my surfboard tag.

Here is my tag:

There is no stamping on this tag, but there is a whole lot of ink on it.  LOL  All of the edges are inked with Chocolate Ink.  Did you know that you can only purchase an Cricut Artbooking Cartridge from your Close to My Heart Independent Consultant?  The Artbooking Cartridge is  available to order on August 1st.   I am offering an Cricut Artbooking  Preorder Special here.   

Here is another view of my fun little surfboard hanging outside.  I love this picture because you can see the "coconuts" on the Palm Tree.  Making this tag took me into my happy zone.  I really had fun adding all of the little touches.  I am participating in a Summer Tag Swap and so turning this surfboard into a tag really delighted me.

So, how did I make it?  All of the cuts were made with the Artbooking Cartridge.  

Artbooking Cartridge, pg 53

Surfboard - Cut twice and glued together to give strength, Kraft Paper Colonial White Cardstock, pg 53, < Icon >, 10"

Surfboard Overlay - Surf's Up Patterned Paper, pg 53, < Icon> < Shift >, 10"

Fun & Sun - Surf's Up Teal Cardstock, pg 53, < Title >, 2"

Sunburst - Surf's Up Patterned Paper, pg 53, < Border > < Shift >, 5"

Artbooking Cartridge, pg 52

Waves - cut twice and glued together to give strength - Surf's Up Patterned Paper and Crystal Blue Cardstock, pg 52, < Border > , 4"

Artbooking Cartridge, pg 67

Palm Tree Base - Chocolate Cardstock, pg 67, < Icon>, 9"

Palm Tree Fronds - Surf's Up Patterned Paper, pg 67, < Icon > < Shift >, 9"

Oops, I misspoke.  I wanted the sun to stand out more so I cut the Sun base with our Artiste Cartridge - Sorbet Cardstock, pg 70, < Accent 2> < Shift >, 4" and I "hid" the middle circle out so it wouldn't cut.

Artiste Cartridge, pg 70

So now it is your turn!  What do you think of when you think of water?  Could it be the color or a lake or an ocean or maybe just a wonderfu vacation?  After you finish your artwork please go to  www.heart2heartchallenges.blogspot.com and post a link to your project.  I cannot wait to see what you make!

Here are a few rules:  

*Our challenges are open to everyone!
*To enter, follow the challenge of the week and post your results to your personal blog or other online gallery.
*Be sure to go here and direct link to your challenge post so we can see your artwork!

*In order to enter a challenge, you must use Close To My Heart products but your project does not have to be 100% CTMH.
*If you use something from another company, please consider including details in your project's description.
* You MUST mention H2H challenges in your blog post (and a link back to us would be appreciated).
*Spread the word about our challenge blog by including our badge on your blog.

* I love to leave comments on our participants' blog posts, but word verification slows me down, so please turn yours off so that I can leave you some love on your blog!
*Most importantly, have fun creating - the Close To My Heart way!
Note: Any entries not following the above rules are subject to having their link removed.

Like what you see?  Head on over to my website and you can shop to your heart's content!  We have a bunch of specials this month as well!

Love all of the challenges!  This tag is entered into the Anything Goes Challenge at Challenges 4 Everybody,  Anything But Square (I definitely think I have that covered - LOL) at A Gem of a Challenge, and the Summer Challenge at Pumpkin Spice.

Mix and Mingle Challenge at Heart 2 Heart Challenges

Welcome to this week's challenge at Heart 2 Heart Challenges.  I am  a member of Team Sunset, which I love because I love a good sunset!  Our challenge this week is to Mix and Mingle in your artwork at least 3 different stamp sets and/or 3 different paper packs.

I just returned from Close to My Heart Convention and I am really looking forward to this next catalog. We were given some of the new stamp sets to use and I am LOVIN' them so I could not resist pulling them out.

My dear hubby is such a doll that 4 days after Convention he watched the kids and critters so that I could attend a Crafting retreat in Scottsboro, Alabama. My friend and I were the only crafters doing papercrafting. The rest of the crafters were quilters. I used to quilt before I started papercrafting and the excitement of being surrounded by quilters influenced my card design.

Here is my card:

I decided to use 3 stamp sets on my card from the new catalog.  This way I can also preview some of our fantastic new products.

Here are the stamp sets:

A1145 Flowering Thanks

I used the Flowering Thanks Stamp Set as my focal point.  It was colored with Close to My Heart Alcohol Markers.  I wanted the flowers to stand out more without coloring them so I did a wash of Champagne Ink with my waterbrush around the Thank You.

B1425 Stitched with Love

With the Stitched with Love Stamp Set, I fussy cut the heart from the top image.  I designed my card to look like a quilt and I loved the little heart in the corners.  It was also colored with our Alcohol Markers.

D1559 Geometric Backgrounds

And finally, I used the center stamp from Geometric Backgrounds for the design around the focal point.  When I first used this stamp, I thought it was not picking up ink well.  It just about drove me crazy until I realized that it was designed to look distressed.  I used my paper cutter and cut the stamped image into 3 rows and then placed it around the Thank You. 

Supplies Used (All Close to My Heart unless indicated)

Black Pigment Ink
Clear Embossing Powder
Ruby Cardstock
White Daisy Cardstock
Indian Corn Blue Cardstock
Black Cardstock
Champagne Cardstock
Alcohol Markers
Hollyhock (Z2418)
Olive (Z2425)
Creme Brûlée -Dark (Z2406)
New England Ivy (Z2424)
Sky - Light (Z2402)
Indian Corn Blue - Light (Z2422)
Outdoor Denim (Z2421)
Stamp Sets (New - available 8/1)
Flowering Thanks (A1145)
Stitched with Love (B1425)
Geometric Backgrounds (D1559)

So now it is your turn!  Which 3 stamp sets and/or paper packs are you going to Mix and Mingle?  After you finish your artwork please go to  www.heart2heartchallenges.blogspot.com and post a link to your project.  I cannot wait to see what you make!

Here are a few rules:  

*Our challenges are open to everyone!
*To enter, follow the challenge of the week and post your results to your personal blog or other online gallery.
*Be sure to go here and direct link to your challenge post so we can see your artwork!

*In order to enter a challenge, you must use Close To My Heart products but your project does not have to be 100% CTMH.
*If you use something from another company, please consider including details in your project's description.
* You MUST mention H2H challenges in your blog post (and a link back to us would be appreciated).
*Spread the word about our challenge blog by including our badge on your blog.

* I love to leave comments on our participants' blog posts, but word verification slows me down, so please turn yours off so that I can leave you some love on your blog!
*Most importantly, have fun creating - the Close To My Heart way!
Note: Any entries not following the above rules are subject to having their link removed.

I am entering this card in the Thank You challenge at Squigglefly and the Make it Red Challenge at Crafty Croppers.

Like what you see?  Head on over to my website and you can shop to your heart's content!  We have a bunch of specials this month as well!