Together Forever Wedding Card

Good Morning everyone.  Hope you had a great weekend.  This week at Heart 2 Heart blog they are looking for wedding creations.  Summer is the time of year most weddings are held, we were married in June just celebrated our 17th as a matter of fact - wow, time flies.
Anyway, here is my card.

I used the retired paper pack Sweetheart for the black background paper and the small floral paper with little hearts on it.  The stamp set I used is the Pemberley Workshop on the Go set.  I just love that set.  It is still available through the end of July.  I used Cotton Candy Pink paper for the mat. and I used my Waterbrush pen with cotton candy and baby pink inks to color in the flower.  The sentiment "Together Forever" is from a retired set called Unity.   It is hard to see in the picture, but I added Bitty Pearls to the flowers.
Here is a close up of the flower:

I don't know of anyone getting married this year, but congrats to everyone that is!

Life is Tweet

I just love the June Stamp of the month "Life is Tweet" set.  The large bird is so cute, I had to use it for this month's club.  I also wanted to use the new Color ready ribbon Close To My Heart offers.  It just so happens that Ribbon is the theme for this weeks challenge at Heart 2 Heart blog this week.
Here is my card front:

Here is the inside of the card...

For the Ribbon, I used the Waterbrush to wet the ribbon, then I dragged it through the Creme Brulee stamp pad using a sponge to hold it down.  Then I crumpled it up and used a heat gun to dry it.  Then adhered it to the front of the card using Tombow adhesive, wrapping the end under the Lagoon colored paper.

The technique I used to color the bird is called Reverse Masking.  Here is a step by step of how to do that.
First stamp your image on white card stock using regular black ink.

Then I made two reverse mask stencils by stamping the bird on scrap pieces of cardstock.  Then cutting out one so that the belly is exposed.  On the second one I cut it out so that the rest of the upper body is exposed but not the belly.  I used my scissors to cut or you can use an exacto knife.  See the pictures below (by the time I took the picture my templates were well used)

These are the ink pad colors I used with matching sponges.  Creme Brulee, Smoothie, Sweet Leaf and Lagoon.

 Start with the belly mask and line it up.  Using the sponge add Creme Brulee ink until you like how it looks.  I used a blotting motion at first and then a light scrubbing motion to get it to the edges.

Then add some Smoothie ink I just blotted it on where the three black dots are.

This is what it looks like when you remove the mask.

Next you want to put the upper body mask on.  I started with Sweet leaf green and just put it on the lower part of the template.

Then I added the Lagoon ink to the top part of the bird.

This is what it looks like when you remove the mask.

The last thing I did was use a Creme Brulee marker to color in the beak and the feet.

I hope that description was helpful and you can creat your own stencils using the reverse masking technique.  Thanks and have a great day!

Father's Day Card

Here is my father's day card for my dad.  Check out Heart 2 Heart Blog for more wonderful Father's Day ideas for this weeks challenge.  Post your ideas too!

I used Cruisin' Paper Pack X7154B and the stamp set that comes with the WOTG.
Happy Father's Day sentiment is from Say it in Style D1283
Cranberry, Honey and Versamark inks
Black embossing powder Z670
Neutral Baker's twine in Black Z1701
I stamped the car on a scrap piece of whte cardstock and embossed it with the black embossing powder, then cut it out and used 3-D foam tap to pop it up.

Happy Father's Day to all!

Graduation Card

This week on Heart 2 Heart Challenges Blog they are looking for Black and White with any additional color.  I wanted to make my half-sister a graduation card and I found a cute cap shaped card on Pinterest and had to make her one.
Here is my card:

I used black cardstock, white daisy cardstock.  Black and Cranberry ink.  I used four different stamp sets.  "Follow your dreams"  is from a special stamp set that is no longer available.  The music notes (my sister will be going to college to be a music teacher) are from A1116 A Melody, The Congratulations circle is from the Cricut stamp set, and Imagine the Possiblities is from the July 2012 stamp of the month Live Out Loud.  I made a tassle using white embroidery thread and a bigger brad in black is holding it on the front of the card.
Here is a link to the Pinterest card.  Do Stamping with Dawn
Have a great day!

Dotty For You

This week at Heart 2 Heart Challenges Blog they are looking for Dots and Stripes.  So I thought this would be a great time to remind everyone that there are only 2 weeks left for the Dotty For You paper special from CTMH.

If you purchase $35.00 from our Spring/Summer Catalog you can get the fantastic Dotty For You paper pack for only $5.00.  It is such a great deal for only $5.00 you get 24 sheets of double-sided paper.  See my CTMH Specials Tab for more information.

Hurry, it is while supplies last.

Here is my creation using the Dotty For You paper:

I used four colors from the Dotty For You paper pack and I used the Pemberley WOTG Stamp set to random stamp the remaning four squares.  The sentiment is from the April Stamp of the Month "You Are...".  The flowers are from the Z1710 Paradise Paper Flowers $5.95 for 68 flowers.  Then I added a Grey Wool Adhesive Gem to the center.  They come in the Z1335 Licorice Opagues Adhesive Gems $2.95 for108 gems.  I used Grey Wool stamp pad to stamp the sentiment and ink distress the edges of the squares.

This card design is from the April 23rd Mojo Monday #238 sketch.  Unfortunately I didn't post in time for the sketch, but I love how this turned out.  Some of my clubs at the end of April made this card.

Have a great day!

Mother's Day Gift

This week at the Heart 2 Heart Challenges Blog they are looking for Mother's Day cards or gifts.  I'm posting the project that we did for my Workshops last month.  It is an Easel Card Box with a set of 4 cards.  I thought that it would be a perfect gift for Mother's Day.  I want to thank the so very talented Vicki Wizniuk for the inspiration for the top of the box.  I just loved a card she made and had to copy it for the top of the easel box.  Here is a link to her black and white card.

Here is my project:

Here is a side view.  The top raises up and stands like an easel and the drawer slides open.  It holds a set of four cards and envelopes.

Here is a picture of the four cards.  I made them really simple borrowing from the card on page 23 of the current catalog.

Here are the instructions for making the easel box and the cards.



For the Box Drawer:

8 ½” x 9 13/16” Blue Pattern Pemberley paper pack

Score at 1” and 2” around all four edges

Cut out the “L” shapes on all four corners and the flaps.

For Drawer Pull:

3 ½” piece of ribbon
Fold under the ends of the ribbon and use Tombow adhesive to secure.
2 Bamboo colored brads
Poke a hole in each end of the folded over ribbon and place the brads through.  Measure 1 ¼” from the edge of the box front on both sides and poke a hole through the drawer front.  Slide the brads through to secure the ribbon to the drawer front.  Tape all four corners of the box using red lines tape to build the box.  Fold sides in and use red lines to secure.

For the Outer Box:

12” x 8” Bamboo Cardstock
Score at 1” and 2 1/8” along the long edge.  Turn 90 degrees and score at 2 ½”, 3 5/8”, 8 ¼” and 9 3/8” along the short edge.
Cut out the folds and flaps as seen in picture.  Using Red Lines, tape the flaps to build the back edge of the box.  Insert the drawer in the box and use red lines tape to secure the seam of the bottom of the box making sure that you have it loose enough for the drawer to easily slide in and out.

For the Decoration on the top of the box:

C1494 Card Word Puzzle stamp set
Pemberley Workshop on the go stamp set
Buttercup Marker
Indian Corn Blue Marker
Create-A-Shade Pearl Paint
3-D foam tape
4” x 5 ¼” Bamboo Cardstock
3 ½” x 3” Blue Pattern paper  glue to front of Bamboo cardstock piece approx.. ½” from the top and side edges.
3 ¼” x 2 7/8” Colonial White cardstock to be random stamped using Outdoor Denim ink pad and the small flower and the butterfly images.  Ink distress the edges.  Glue on top of the blue pattern paper lining up the bottom edge.
4” x 1 ¼” Colonial White cardstock stamp the border along the bottom edge and “Grateful for you” on the right hand side using Outdoor Denim ink.
4” x 1 ¼” Blue Pattern Paper use scallop punch across one long edge and adhere to the back side of the colonial white piece.
(2) 1 ½” x ¾” Outdoor Denim Blue cardstock cut a “V” to make banner edge and adhere to back side of the bottom edge of the colonial white piece.
(1) 1 ½” x ¾” Buttercup cardstock cut a “V” to make banner edge and adhere to back side of the bottom edge of the colonial white piece.
(2) 1 ½” x ¾” Colonial White cardstock, random stamp, then cut a “V” to make banner edge and adhere to back side of the bottom edge of the colonial white piece.
Use 3-D foam tape to attach the colonial white piece to the card front making sure that the banners do not hang down past the bottom edge.
2 ½” x 2 ½” Colonial White Cardstock scrap stamp the rose image using Outdoor Denim ink pad.  Color in the rose using buttercup marker and Indian Corn Blue marker for the center.   Cut out with scissors.  Paint on a light coat of the Pearl Paint.  Attach to the card front using tombow and 3-D Foam tape.

Easel Mechanism:

4 ¼” x 11” Outdoor Denim Cardstock
Score at 5 ½” and 8 ¼” along the long side.  Using Outdoor denim ink pad and a sponge, ink the edges of the cardstock so the white core is not showing.  Attach to the top of the box.  Attach the card front to the front scored area using red lines tape.

For the Inside of the Easel Card:

4” x 5” Colonial White Cardstock stamp the small stemmed flower in the lower right hand corner.  Color in using the Buttercup marker.  Adhere to the inside of the Easel card.
4” x ½” Border from Blue Pattern Paper Use the sponge and Outdoor denim ink pad to distress the edges.  Adhere to card front approx.. 1 ½” from the bottom.  Add three Large Pearls on top of the border.

For the set of Four Cards:

(4) Standard sized 4 ¼” x 5 ½” Colonial White Card bases and envelopes  Put a piece of scrap paper across the top 2” of the card base and Random stamp the large Rose image using outdoor denim ink pad.
(4) 4 ¼” x ½” Pieces of Pattern Paper Attach one to each of the card fronts.
(4) 2 ¼” x 2 ¾” Outdoor Denim Cardstock attach one to each of the card fronts either centered or to the left side approx.. ½” down from the top edge of the card.
(4) 2” x 2 ½” Colonial White Cardstock stamp each one with a different sentiment and image of your choice.  Adhere to the front of the card on top of the Outdoor denim cardstock.  Add embelishments as desired using Buttercup Organza Ribbon and White Pearls.

**Items highlighted in red are the supplies you will need to complete this project.

You have me in Stitches...

This week on Heart 2 Heart Challenges Blog they are looking for anything with sewing on it.  It can be handstitching, machine, or "faux" stitching.  Today I'm sharing with you a card that I had made awhile ago, but haven't shared yet.

It's hard to tell, but I did some machine stitching around the outside edge.  I used the Stella paper pack (one of my favorites this year), the flowers are part of the Paradise Paper Flowers and I also used the Bitty Pearl Gems too.  I used the Cricut AP cartridge to cut out the center piece.

Here is a close up of the stitching.

Now let's see what kind of stitching you can add to your projects.  Have a great day!

Lucky Challenge

This week on Heart 2 Heart Challenges they are having us share our Good Luck with all.  The challenge is to create a project for someone that shows them how lucky you are to have them in your life.  Plus, there is a step up challenge: use the color green!

I was also able to incorporate the Mojo Monday Sketch #232 for this week in my card as well.

So here is wishing everyone a Lucky Day!

I dug deep in my stash to find all kinds of stuff that has been retired, but I need to use it too.  Here are the products that I used on my card:

Paper pack is the new CTMH Footloose paper pack X7151B (it's not just for summer fun and beach pictures).  CTMH stamp sets are:  C1008 (retired) Top O' The Morning set for the cute guy.  C1236 (retired) Solo "L" for the word Lucky.  D1335 (retired) Intrinsic Backgrounds for the X pattern on the frame.  D1482 Love Life for the pattern stamped on the Desert Sand paper.  Love that set.  Ink Colors are New England Ivy, Desert Sand, Sweet Leaf, Creme Brulee, and Sunset for the hair color.  I added some retired New England Ivy Ribbon.  I also used my Cricut and the CTMH AP cartridge to cut out the funky square shape cut at 2 3/4", matching frame cut at 2 3/4" and the cute little tag with the shamrock cut at 1 1/4".

Here is the picture of the Mojo Monday Sketch:

Good Luck and be sure to play along with the challenges, I would love to see your creations!

Spring Color Challenge at H2H

Hi Everyone - How is it already Wednesday and I just feel like I'm getting my week started.  Anyway, here is this weeks challenge at Heart 2 Heart challenges blog.  It is a Spring Color Challenge.  The actual challenge is to use the CTMH colors Sunkiss Yellow, Sweet Leaf green and Sky blue.  Unfortunately I do not have the Sunkiss Yellow color - What you say there is a CTMH color that I don't have  - yes it is true.  So I used Buttercup Yellow instead.
Here is my springy card:

The cute bee stamp set is from B1374 Bee Happy and the flower border is from a retired set called C1308 Be True.  I just cut one piece of cardstock from each color at 1 5/8" x 4", inked the edges with the same color ink and laid them out together on my stamping surface.  Then I stamped the flower border using black ink.  I then glued them to the front of my standard white cardstock base leaving an even border around each piece.  I used my Marvy 2 1/2" scallop circle punch to punch out a white daisy piece and a black piece.  I stamped the bee and sentiment on it and then used my waterbrush to color it in and used a sponge to ink the edges in Sky blue.

It's hard to tell in this picture, but I used my dry embossing stylist to go around the scalloped edges which made them curl up and then attached it to the black scallop circle off-setting the edges so the black shows. 
Then I just used 3-d foam tape to attach to the card front.  Last I had to add some sparkle, so I used the Z1313 glitz Stardust on the wings, and the dots on the flower border.
Thanks for looking and I hope spring comes soon!

Consultant signup FREE Cricut Collection!

Have you ever thought about becoming a CTMH consultant?  If the answer is yes, do not wait any longer to sign up.  For the month of March CTMH is offering a fabulous special for all new consultants.
Here are the details:
Now is a great time to join Close To My Heart because when you sign up as a new Consultant between March 1–31, you’ll receive a FREE Cricut^® Art Philosophy collection! The collection’s retail price of $99 adds incredible value to your New Consultant Kit and will give you hours of creative fun with the included exclusive Cricut^® cartridge, three coordinating My Acrylix^® D-size stamp sets, and three sheets of matching Dimensional Elements shapes. Already own the collection? You can always give your free one as a gift or choose to receive $100 in select product credit** instead. Now is the time to embrace the philosophy of fun—Consultant and Cricut^® fun!

*Offer available March 1—31, 2012. No additional tax is charged on the Cricut^® collection when ordered during enrollment.

**Additional requirements and limitations regarding the redemption and shipping of Select Product Credit apply. Select Product Credit is added to new Consultant account following approval of enrollment

Click Here to go to my website to sign up on my team.  If you have any questions please feel free to email me at debistampnfun@hotmail.com