Heart 2 Heart Challenge, ABC

So this week at the Heart 2 Heart Challenge, we are doing the ABC's!  Be sure to check out the projects from the design team.  They are really great.  So here's what we have to do this week:
A= Alphabet. Use alphabet stamps, stickers, etc.... in some way on your project

B= Boy. Your project must be for a boy.
C= Chocolate. You must include the color Chocolate (or other dark brown) somewhere on your artwork

I have a feeling that I will be doing more than one of these this week.  This challenge is right up my alley!  Not only do I have three boys, but I have a nephew being born any minute now.  My brother and his wife are at the hospital and hopefully, we'll add another grandson to my mother's flock soon. 
Here is my project:

Here's the left page

And the right page

These pictures are from our very first day here in Australia.  This will go in the boys' album to celebrate and remind them of our first day here. 

I used the Tiny Typewriter alphabet to spell out the little tag box.  I used some non CTMH chipboard letters for the Sydeny.  I painted them with our white paint and then sponged chocolate ink on the edges. 

I tied little bits of ribbon to the letters to add a little more texture to the page.  I used three papers from the set Sweet Home on these pages.  The yellow is the front side, but the other two are back sides.  Since I was using the back side on the brown, I had to cover up the trademark.  The bottom of the "E" worked nicely for that. 

I thought the plain blue didn't work well with the brown so I added some brown to it.  I used the swirl from our Felicity stamp set and some small flowers from the Connections stamp set.  I random stamped on the blue with Chocolate ink.  It turned out really well and tied the two papers together.  I decided to use the front side of the yellow because a few of the pictures have yellow in them and it made for a really nice accent. 

I added a line of buttons for some fun and over all I am very pleased with how the layout turned out. 
Hope you like it too!

Heart 2 Heart Challenge, Color Challenge

So this week at the Heart 2 Heart Challenge, we have a color challenge.

These colors really make me think of fall.  There's a problem though.  It's not Fall here.  It is 12 days into Spring.   So it took me most of the week to come up with something that I liked... and I LOVE how it turned out.

Thanks to inspiration from Tresa Black's bandana technique, I created my own background paper.  The cardstock started off as white daisy.  Using two stamps from the Summer Wishes set, I random stamped the cardstock.  I then carefully colored all the swirls on the flowers with a white pencil.  Using a sponge, I then rubbed Autumn Terracotta ink all over the page.  I had planned to add some white dots like Tresa does, but I actually loved how it looked without the dots.  I picked a pattern from Wishes called Simplicity.   I mounted my paper on some sanded New England Ivy cardstock and added another strip of it across the front.  I rubbed ink on a 2x2 square of colonial white cardstock.  I used candles from the Everyday Celebrations card kit and masked them.  I wanted the flames to be Honey and not NEI.  The word "wishes" is from the Summer Wishes set and "birthday" is from A Litte Everything.  I popped up the square with foam tape and added two old Autumn Terracotta spirals under it.  I am really happy with how it turned out!

Heart to Heart Challenge, Fancy Folds

This week at the Heart 2 Heart Challenge, we are doing fancy folds.  Please check out the challenge and the other great projects here.
Here is my project, a folded paper Christmas star ornament:

I made this using our Jingle paper and added a little bling with some small sparkles, randomly added around the ornament.  I first learned how to make these at a workshop in the summer of 2008.  Shortly after I became a consultant in October of 2008, I posted one on the bulletin board and was flooded with requests for directions.  I also hosted a workshop in 2008 with them as well.  I got a little tired of them and haven't made them since then.  It was nice to pull something out from the past and do it again.  I enjoy making them a lot, though I won't over do it this time hopefully. 
Here are some directions for making them.  I used Evensong in the lower example. 
You will need 5 different patterned papers.
1) Cut one 4"x4" square and two 2"x2" squares from each paper.
2) Fold each 4"x4" square in half.

3) Open the square and fold in half the other direction. 

4) Open and fold diagonally.

5.) Open, turn square over and fold diagonally in the opposite direction.

6.) Open up the square and bring diagonal folds together.  Make sure the paper you want to show is on the inside.

7.) Repeat 4 times for the other 4"x4" squares. 

8.) Adhere the first folded square to the next, for a total of five.  Do not attach the first to the last yet.  (The two squares shown below get adhered together.  Make sure the squares are all oriented the same way.)

9.)  All five together

10.) Attach ribbon to last squre and adhere the first square to the last square.  The ribbon should be on each side of the point.

11.)  Fold all 2"x2" squares diagonally with the patterns that you want shown on the inside.

12.)  Adhere all 2"x2" squares to the outside of the star, over the back sides of the other paper. 

13.)  Ink all edges with coordinating ink and add any embellishments.

14.) Done!

Once you've done a couple to get the hang of it, you can do them pretty quickly.  I can make one is less than 15 minutes, including all the cutting, folding and adhering.  These make great little gifts for teachers, customers, etc.  Have fun!

Heart 2 Heart Challenge, Week 19

This week the Heart 2 Heart Challenge is a sketch challenge.  We have to take this sketch and make it our own.  Be sure to check out the other projects here. 

I decide to make a scrapbook page so here it is:

And since I tend to make double layouts, I came up with a page to go with it.

The second page is very similar to the sketch as well.  It looks like I just turned it upside down and added another circle.  Complete accident, I assure you. 

I used the blue patterned paper from our Moon Doggie paper pack and the striped paper is from a retired pack called Free Spirit.
I kept the pages fairly simple so that the pictures could shine through.  I took these pictures the day we visited the Myall Sand Dunes.  What an incredible place.
I sanded all the Indian Corn Blue cardstock and the edges of the striped paper.  I also lightly sanded the edges of the pictures. 

I made the little title tags by covering CTMH dimensional elements with Indian Corn Blue cardstock.  I used a couple of the book plate DEs for the tags.  I stamped the "Life is good" with ICB ink.  The stamp is from the Treetops stamp set.  I hand wrote on the other tag with an ICB marker. 

 
Thanks for looking!

Heart 2 Heart Challenge, week 17

I'm finely back to crafting after several weeks of moving.  Not being able to craft is like having an itch I can't scratch.  We've gotten all moved in and everything is unpacked.  We don't have internet at the house yet, but I am able to borrow internet on the weekend. 
This week's Heart 2 Heart Challenge is a color challenge.  It was pretty difficult for me as I don't use the colors very often in general so it was tricky to get them all together. 
This week we had to use Vineyard Berry, Blush and Creme Brulee.  Here is what I came up with:

I get to make quite a few more of these in order to send them out to close friends and family who will need our new address.  It turned out fairly well considering how much trouble I was having with these colors.  I used the flower from Extreme Happiness as well as the word Paradise. 

I am a big fan of having layers.  This card has lots of layers.  The pattern is from our Wishes book and is called File Pocket.  The little folder opens up to show our new address. 

I think that I will include a picture of the kids in front of our new house or something.  I haven't decided what to include in the card.  I could just include a picture of the incredible view from our new house.  We hope that we get to rent the house for the entire time we are here.  I don't think that I could complain at all if I get to wake up to this view for the next three years.

H2H, week 7 Everything grows

The Heart 2 Heart Challenge this week is a color challenge.  We have to use these three colors on a project: Ocean, Topiary, and Desert Sand.

 Tricky colors to pull together, but here is my project. 

Everything except the button is Close To My Heart.  I used the Everything Grows stamp set to make this card for my brother and sister-in-law.  They just found out that the baby they are expecting is a boy so these colors work perfectly for them.  I had already stamped all my Ocean hearts when I decided to go hunt for some embellishments.  It turns out that in my giant stash of buttons, I had one Ocean button, that just happens to have 2 little hearts for holes.  How perfect!

I free-handed the Topiary cardstock for behind the tree.  I then layered some stamped Topiary circles and Ocean hearts on top of the cardstock.  The tree trunk was stamped in Desert Sand.  
Here is a close up of the top of the tree.  I apologize that it is a little blurry.   

This will actually be my last Heart 2 Heart Challenge post for a while.  On next Monday, the movers finally arrive!  It will be several weeks before we get moved, have our stuff delivered and am ready to craft again. 
I may post a few other things I am making this week as I have to get finished up with some things before we move. 
Thanks for looking!

Heart 2 Heart Challenge, week 6 Techniques

 For the Heart 2 Heart Challenge this week, we are supposed to showcase a technique, any technique we would like to show.  To see all the projects, see the challenge here. 

I decided to show stamping on paint.  I really enjoy this technique and it's easy to do, as long as one is patient.  Here is my project:

I made this card for a friend of mine who is having a really hard time right now.  I am hoping this will brighten her day. 

For this technique, mix a small amount of Create-A-Shade paint with any reinker of choice.  I chose sorbet and juniper.   Paint the tinted paint onto cardstock and let dry completely.  This will take a few hours.  Once dry, stamp image of choice onto the painted cardstock.  I chose the flower from the stamp set Aspiration (C1340) and the stem and leaves from an old set From Me To You (D1247).  I stamped them with regular black ink.  Stayz-On ink can also be used for faster results.  The regular ink takes a very long time to set.  I stamped the flowers and cut them out.  I stamped the stem and leaves on the background, and then some extra leaves that I cut out. 

I love the shimmer that the paint gives to the paper.  The ribbon is actually a very pretty colonial white ribbon, but it looks really dark in the pictures. 

The center flower and the leaves are raised.  I also filled in the dots on the center flower with a black marker and then highlighted with liquid glass. 

Thanks for looking!

Heart 2 Heart Challenge, week 5, Mother's Day gift

This week for the Heart 2 Heart Challenge, we were to make a Mother's Day card or other project. Check out The Heart 2 Heart Challenge blog to see all the other great projects.
For my Mother's Day gift, I made a card and gift card holder. All products used are from Close To My Heart. I got this idea from the June 2010 Scrapbooks Etc. Magazine. They made one for a graduate on page 94.

The outside of the card is a picture of my mom and myself. I was only a few months old in this picture. I used some paper leftover from our Felcity kit. Felcity was a Constant Campaign last fall. I really like this paper and wish I had more of it. The word "love" is from one of our rub-ons. For the flowers, I used our Create-a-Shade paint mixed with sorbet ink and painted the flowers. I also used one of our new fliagree charms in the center of it.

The inside of the card holds a gift card holder.


I used the stamp set from the Felcity set to stamp some birds and a flourish. My mom has three kids, so I made three little birds.


Here is the first side of the gift card holder. The empty spot will get a gift card, but I just haven't been to the store to get it quite yet.

The other side of the gift card holder:

I made little pull out cards with pictures of my kids for her.
The card all closed up:

When making this card, be sure to leave room for the gift cards. I made a corner fold of about 1/4".

Heart 2 Heart, week 4, project #2

I was so inspired by the Heart 2 Heart Challenge (http://heart2heartchallenges.blogspot.com/2010/04/heart-2-heart-4-challenge.html) that I actually made two projects. I am home with sick kids today, so I am filling up my time with projects.
I used an older paper for this card. We are putting together some care packages for troops overseas so I thought I would make a card to go in them.
Here it is!


All products used are Close To My Heart. The pattern for the card came from our Wishes book and is called "Done Right" (pg 119).
I used the Blue Ribbon paper pack, Thoughtful Seasons stamp set for the "thanks", our twill and outdoor denim twill ribbon, soft set eyelets, hemp, and a chipboard star from a long ago Constant Campaign (Dazzling Diecuts, Fall 2008). I inked the star with Cranberry ink using my rubber brayer.
This is the first time that I have put eyelets in twill ribbon. It was tricky as the eyelets kept pulling through. I've done it in grosgrain ribbon before and it is much easier.
I wove two colors of ribbon together for the background of the star. The ribbon gets adhered to a piece of cardstock before the star is put on and it is all cut.
A close up:



Thanks for looking!