Just a Note >> I Love You!

This gorgeous Valentine card was inspired by multiple challenges! It's amazing how much we can push our creativity!

The sketch for my card comes from Freshly Made sketches this week.

As you can see I chose my shape to be a vintage looking typewriter, which happens to be a Stamp of the Month that will be available later this Spring!

For my base paper I chose the lovely Heartstrings paper in a Cranberry color. This is my favorite B&T paper currently in all of the paper collections. Using mostly cranberry in my card brings me to the second challenge over at Heart 2 Heart Challenges. Yep, I'm a September Birthday girl!

Finally, the last challenge was proposed on CTMH founder's Jeanette Lynton's Blog, Make It from Your Heart. An inspiration Bingo board. Close your eyes and let your finger land where it may. Then choose your direction.

I landed on "Use Shin Han Touch Twin markers" and could go vertical or horizontal. I chose to use the "O" column. Now some of these may need explaining!

The first Bingo box is to use stitching. This required getting my daughter's machine out, because I obviously work with paper and don't really sew. I did alright though and the contrast of the white thread with the cranberry paper is lovely.
 

The next challenge was to expose the white core of the paper. This was achieved by both tearing the edge of the paper and using a distressing tool on the edges. This sketch really lent itself to the torn paper!

Next was to frame a part of your creation. In a way the black cardstock frames the cranberry paper on the entire base of the card. This was also done by framing the stamped heart within the typewriter paper.

Now if you look closely in this next picture you will see where the PML card came into play. I stamped the typewriter paper on a For Always Picture My Life 3x4 card that contained some script. A little ironic I realize, but it's still super cute!

Finally, the box I landed on originally! To incorporate the Shin Han Touch markers I wanted to use a heart stamp for the center of the paper on the typewriter. The shape and size of this heart worked the best, but it was open in the middle. A quick fix was to color in the middle with the Very Cherry Shin Han Touch marker and then I blended it together with the colorless blender marker.

That was fun playing along with those challenges, you should try one, or two, or all of them....at the same time!! Thanks for stopping by...

Love Note

Want a little sneak peek?! My card today features some new products available December 1st from the Heartstrings collection found in the Seasonal Expressions. I'm also playing along with the sketch challenge at Freshly Made Sketches and the "no" ink challenge on Heart 2 Heart.

 

There was no ink used in the making of this card. The darling typewriter image is from the Heartstrings Complements and the mini badge button is one of 8 pieces in the Heartstrings Assortment. With embellishments this cute there is no need to stamp with ink! Plus, no inky fingers!

Be sure to check out all the beautiful artwork and inspiration at Freshly Made Sketches too!

Hey Foxy!

The theme this week on Heart 2 Heart Challenges is "Hearts Galore"! I'm showing some love to the adorable Wild About You Stamp of the Month. How cute and totally trendy are these fox? They are everywhere right now and you can't help from singing 'that' song when you see one! Now even though the challenge is to show some hearts on your project, I made the cute chevron hearts just a subtle addition to this card.

You Are So Loved

Can you believe that Valentine's Day is just around the corner? I know that I better get started on my cards now if I want to be ready!

The sketch at Freshly Made Sketches inspired me to use some newer and older items. One of the brand new items from Close To My Heart are the versatile Basic Fundamental papers. These double sided papers are incredible. One side has a glossy resist pattern, while the other side in the same pattern is a flat, non-glossy design. This paper with a tiny heart pattern was perfect for this cute little banner that I found at a local craft store made by Me&My Big Ideas company. It too has a shiny quality on the gold banners and some glitter on the bitty hearts. In my older stash of goodies, I pulled some assorted hearts from my Heidi Swapp collection and sprayed them in Sweet Cherry Color Shine mist. Just a bit of glitter glitz was added to these to match the other elements.

 

 

At a closer look you can really see all the glitter and shine of all these products together. Even the Washi tape has some glimmer!

 



 

The Fundamental papers and that gold polka-dot Washi tape are available now for purchase. You can order online here or with me personally.



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.

C-T-M-H Challenge on Heart 2 Heart!

I'm just a little bit behind on this challenge. This was Heart 2 Heart Blog's challenge last week. Create a project using items that represent C-T-M & H! Here is what I decided for my letters~

C is for~ Camper! I am in love with the new Camper Crazy MyAcrylix stamp set. {don't worry, you can order yours in just a few more days!}

T is for~ Trees! Just a few cute trees stamped in Topiary ink.

M is for~ Mist! I sprayed just a bit of Color Shine misting spray in Citron and Teal. It creates the background of forest and sky.

H is for~ Heart! These campers are happy in love! My chipboard heart was sprayed with the mist in Sweet Cherry then sponged with a dauber in Tulip.

 

 

Be sure to check out the Heart 2 Heart Blog and all the fabulous creations from the design team and other participants. What products or techniques would you use to represent your C-T-M & H?!!



Happy Valentine's Day!

Love is in the air today and all this week on Heart 2 Heart Challenges! I have been helping a local florist for the past few weeks in preparation for today. I wish I had a photograph to show you all the beautiful flower bouquets that were delivered today!! I did manage to send out some Valentine's of my own earlier this week. I am entering this "punny" Valentine for H2H's challenge this week~

Show some love today and everyday! Happy Valentine's Day! :)

Hoot~Hoot Love! {Mojo Monday meets Dynamic Duo}

How about some sweet Valentine love today, while I combine two challenges!

I've used the sketch from Mojo Monday this week and the colors of pink & red from Dynamic Duo's. I chose Close To My Heart colors of Cotton Candy and Cranberry on a nice clean white background. These little owls are so in love...what a hoot!

 

 

For Always Valentine

I really like working with black and white, because it can be so versatile and allows an array of other colors to be added in. That's why I love the new For Always papers in the Close To My Heart Spring Idea Book available in just a few days!!!

I used the sketch at Freshly Made Sketches this week with a little hidden surprise! I chose the Tulip red as my pop of color for the challenge at Dynamic Duos. It is a retired color now, but is still one of my favorites, because it is not a super bright red or too dark!

{Edit: I am also entering this in Color My Heart's Color Dare challenge this week; black & white with a pop of color!}

All products are Close To My Heart. I've incorporated some older ribbons; Tulip red rosettes and Cotton Candy pink pom-pom, black glitter buttons available in the Spring Idea Book and the stamped sentiments are from the Whooo's Your Valentine Kit only available this month!

Winter Valentine

Today's card is a fresh take on a winter valentine! I am playing along with the photo at Inspired By and using the sketch at Freshly Made Sketches.