One Layer Valentine

This one is for The Paper Players! I love their challenges, but I must admit that creating a one layer card is so challenging for me. I love the patterned papers, twine, Washi tape, etc., etc., all those fun products we layer over and over on our projects. It is so restricting to create something with one, single layer. However, when I see examples of this style, I do appreciate the clean, simple lines.

Clean Slate

Hello! Happy 2014! I'm preparing for some new crafting projects and this first project is the perfect start....or should I say finish!? I am playing with The Paper Players this week. Their challenge titled "clean slate" is to create a project with the chalkboard technique. The title really got me thinking though??? Make a clean slate or to start a new meant that I should at least finish other projects I have already started, being my 2013 scrapbook. I always finish my album with a "pocket" page to store and display those awesome holiday photo cards we receive at Christmas. So that is where I started my "clean slate"!

 

This year I made my own family photo card through Shutterfly. That was my jumping off point for my pocket page. It had a black background that was perfect to play with the chalkboard technique. The black was the base page and then I added a 6x12 piece of white card stock to the front. {the pocket} I dressed up the edges with some Washi tape. I also attached my photo card with some Washi tape so that I could peel it back to reveal the back of my card that has a picture of our pooch and greeting. I dressed it up with faux chalk pen stitching, stamping in white daisy pigment ink, some banner pieces and an area for some journaling. 

Then I fill the page with all those cool photo cards from friends and family. I love doing this page in every album! Have you tried the chalkboard technique? See lots of ideas on the Paper Players Blog!

Frosted Evergreens

Today I am playing with The Paper Players! The theme is "Evergreen", not just the color, but the trees too! I chose to use frosted gray's and deep denim blues for my trees.

Merry & Bright in July!

Today I am playing along with a Christmas in July challenge on The Paper Players! When my daughter saw me creating this card she said "It's too early for Christmas cards. Why do people have Christmas in July?" She really is not fond of this idea, she prefers to keep Christmas in December!! {silly girl}

I have also used a mix of patterned papers which happens to be the challenge on Heart 2 Heart this week. I love mixing and matching different papers from various kits. It really stretches the possibilities of projects when you do this. I often find it is necessary in scrapbooking, because the photographs have a mix of colors!

The papers I chose are from the kits Stella, Rockin' and Dotty for You. My "merry&bright" was cut using the new Cricut Artbooking collection available August 1st. I added some red sparkle glitz to the "bright" for some festive fun!

Sweet Bee Birthday

My card today features a sweet bumble bee buzzing by with a Birthday wish! This card was also created for three different challenges this week~

1. Mojo Monday sketch...can you believe their celebrating 300 challenges!!

2. The Paper Players Tic-Tac-Toe challenge.

3. Dynamic Duos color challenge...gray & ???

A closer look at the bumble bee's glittery wings!

The sketch~

 

For the circle element in the sketch, I formed some mini honeycombs in a circular pattern!

 

For my Tic Tac Toe I chose the right column; Birthday, Yellow & Ribbon

Finally, My Close To My Heart color choices were Slate Gray and Crème Brulee, lovely & sweet!

 

Be sure to check out each of these challenge blogs for inspiration and to play along!

 

Country Sketch

The Paper Players has an interesting sketch this week. I decided to use the Country Born stamp set and some older Elemental papers. The finished card makes me really happy...maybe it's the colors or the sweet country images.

 

The City is exciting, but Life is Good in the Country!

 

 

Wherever I'm With You

I love the sentiment on this card! I used the sketch over on Mojo Monday which had lots of different layers to play with. I was able to split up the words in the sentiment with a banner as shown in the sketch. The color combination came from the Paper Players Blog. {CTMH colors are Sky, Smoothie, Crème Brulee and Cocoa}

Summer Time Sketch

Today is the first day of our Summer Vacation! The Paper Players challenge this week is to create a project with a Summer theme. I chose to feature a little bike. It's one of the activities I really enjoy doing. I have to get up early in the morning though to beat the sweltering heat! I also used the sketch from Freshly Made Sketches this week. I loved the banners and twine. I thought it would be interesting to create black & white banners to contrast the bright pinks, oranges and yellows.

{All products are Close To My Heart except the patterned background label by Heidi Swapp; colored with Color Shine sprays}

Buzzing with Best Wishes Grad!

I have never created so many graduation cards until this year! I suppose it's because my own kids are close to graduation and all of their friends are too! Also, many of my friends all had children around the same time as me!! Regardless the reason, I have lots of creating to do.

My card today features the lovely Buzz & Bumble papers and embellishments. I am submitting this card for a couple of challenges. The first challenge uses the sketch this week on The Paper Players. I love the graphic blocks of patterned paper and that scroll feature!

The second challenge is for Heart 2 Heart. Their Nip & Tuck theme this week challenges us to use real or faux stitching. I chose faux, because I love how quick and easy the technique. It gives the project the same effect as real stitching without the extra work of dragging a sewing machine out of the closet!

This is certainly not a "typical" graduation card, but neither is the recipient! I wanted a gorgeous, classy card, because the young lady receiving is just that!

Grillin' & Chillin'

Today I am playing along with The Paper Players in their Masculine card challenge. I decided to go with a grilling theme. It's that time of year when we love going outdoors to grill up some amazing food and enjoy the fresh air. If I buy the meat and veggies, I know I can get the Grill Master to cook it!

 

 I wanted my card to look like polaroid snap shots of the Grill Master's tools. A simple background of cool blue to display the pictures that were attached with some washi tape!

For Mom

So many things happening this month and week! I have mentioned all month long that it's National Scrapbooking Month and in yesterday's post I also talked about celebrating National Bicycling Month. This week also celebrates Teachers and Nurses. Plus, this Sunday is Mother's Day! At the florist shop we are in high speed filling orders and to add to the chaos our high school is holding Senior Prom Saturday night!  {Oh my!}

It's a good thing I created my Mother's Day cards last month!! I am sharing these cards with The Paper Players challenge this week that focuses on Mom! I was inspired by a tutorial from Betsy Veldman on a water color embossing technique. It creates such a beautiful image and it's a lot of fun to do! You can find a tutorial video on the technique here. I was able to use all Close To My Heart stamps, re-inker's and embossing powders to re-create this project.

You're the Best~Thanks

Using the sketch at The Paper Players this week I created this fun Thank You card. I flipped the sketch to fit the award ribbon image I wanted to use. The ribbon tails are created with some of the fabulous Dream Pop shimmer cardstocks.

 

I have tried to capture the shimmer in these cardstock sheets. Each color comes with a different pattern like dots, chevron, wood grain, etc. When the light shines on them you can see these patterns shimmer with an embossed finish. They are really cool!

Contact me to get your Dream Pop collection or order online here.

One Layer Thank You

I can't remember the last time I created a one layer card! That was the challenge this week on The Paper Players. I decided to keep it simple with a Thank You card, perfect for a teacher or perhaps a secretary that works just as hard for all the students!

I encourage you to visit The Paper Players blog and see the other creations from the design team. Their artwork is incredible and inspires unique ideas for only one layer!!

Happiness is Homemade {and recycled!}

I am constantly saving my BirchBox's to be repurposed as card boxes. The challenge on The Paper Players was the perfect reason to get me motivated. With Mother's Day just around the corner it was a great opportunity to get some homemade gifts made!

The box is a kraft material which makes recycling it super easy! I only needed to simply decorate the top lid to cover the BirchBox label.

Here is the before~

I inked up the County Born stamp once more this week to create a country themed box and set of cards. Here is the outside of the box recovered! Don't you just love the little wooden clothespin?!

Inside the box is a set of 10 cards, 2 each of 5 designs.

 

 Here is a close up of each card. One of the cards matches the outside of the box.

Sweet Honey Challenge

My card today features the new Honeycomb stamp set and the fabulous For Always fabric! It uses the color challenge at Dynamic Duos and the sketch challenge on The Paper Players. I kept it very clean and simple and the colors are very bold, but so lovely! The "dessert" option on Dynamic Duos was to use ribbon. I did not really choose a ribbon, instead I pulled in the black script fabric and tied it all together with some Crème Brulee twine!

I think it turned out pretty "sweet"!

 

 

{My yellow color of choice was Close To My Heart Crème Brulee.}

Easter Humor

Who knew Peeps could be so funny! Creating this card for three different challenges today and giggling at the silly humor!

I am ready for Spring, just like the girls at Heart 2 Heart Challenges this week!  Peeps have become a trademark of Easter and makes me think of warmer weather, sweets and taking a vacation on Spring Break!

I stayed with the Dynamic Duo colors of dark green {topiary} and yellow {crème brulee}. I don't think the kids have a favorite color Peep, they just prefer to leave the package open so they harden a bit!

 Finally, it's all about "stitches" on The Paper Players. No thread required for my card, I went for "funny" so hopefully you get a chuckle!!