Clean and Simple (CAS) Happy Birthday Swaps ...

Happy Tuesday! 

As the week grows closer to my trip to the Close to my Heart convention, I find myself trying to complete several projects that need to be accomplished prior to my leaving. 

One of such as a clean and simple swap I signed up for a while back. 

I had to create two groups of cards. 

One set was embossed with the Close to my Heart Rose Embossing Folder. 

Then embellished with Red Shimmer Trim, Pewter cardstock, and a relatively simple White Daisy circle. 

The circle was distressed with Cranberry ink and the sentiment "Make a Wish" from the Short & Sweet Stamp Set, was inked with Tuxedo Black Memento Ink. 

The second set, I use the Central Park Patterned Paper Packet as the main focal point.

I used Poppy and Sapphire cardstock as well. 

The sentiments,  "Thanks a Bunch" from the Heartfelt Thanks Stamp Set, and the "Celebration" from the Cheers to You Workshops Your Way Stamp Set were stamped in Cranberry and Sapphire inks. 

I added a few Stargazer Dots to each of these, depending on the colors in the card. Some were blue, some red and some yellow. These are still available, stock up!

I tried to make sure that I made a few extras to swap with at the Convention next week. 

Counting down,  just 9 days!

Welcome Baby Card...

So about a week ago, I was in my local Tuesday Morning, browsing the baby aisle, and stumbled upon this adorable blanket... 

I immediately thought to myself, wait, I have a hot air balloon stamp at home. 

So tonight's card which will also be on my display at the Close to my Heart Convention in about a week and a half, was in fact inspired by that blanket. 

Now originally I was planning to use soft pastel blues, but decided against it, and chose to use the soft aqua colors. 

I may go back and create some neutral ones and even a pink or blue one. 

The hot air balloon stamp is from the Cheers To You Cardmaking Workshops Your Way stamp set. 

I stamped the image in Tuxedo Black Memento Ink, and filled in just a few spots with some of my 

Cricut Markers. 

The "Welcome Baby" sentiment is from the Short & Sweet Stamp Set. 

One of my favorites, because it has so many different sentiments. 

And at only $6.95 it is an amazing deal.

The cardstock used is Pewter, Lagoon and White Daisy. 

The small strip of White Daisy was also run through the Cuttlebug (Exclusive Hostess Offer) , with our Rose Embossing Folder. 

This embossing folder, is truly my go to for many cards and scrapbooking layouts.

I used a little Lagoon ink to help distress the edges of the hot air balloon panel. 

Then I finished off the card with a few Bitty Sparkles to add some simple shine. 

I did enter this card into the following challenge:

Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge Blog- Transport It (Hot air balloon)

Welcome New Baby Card...

So recently I have had several friends either give birth or announce that they are expecting. So I decided to go ahead and get a head start on my baby shower gift cards. 

Who says they always have to be pastel colors, pink or blue...

The main focal point stamp "Bitsy Bug Rosa" is from A Day For Daisies.

A Day For Daisies (ADFD) provides themed categories of over 1000 digital illustrations, including fairy tales and magical mermaids, cutie kids, vintage illustrations, sentiments and lovely designs for all occasions! 

ADFD WEBSITE: www.adayfordaisies.com

I colored in the design using mostly copic markers. 

I then also applied some clear shimmer to her wings and face, using the shimmer brush by Close to my Heart. 

The shimmer brushes are also available in gold and bashful.

For the base of the card I used a pre-cut and pre-scored card from the White Cards and Envelopes set from Close to my Heart. 

I used the "Blacked Out" technique that I love so much. 

The red cardstock is Ruby from the Close to my Heart Enchanted Cardstock Pack collection. The green is Sweet Leaf from the Whimsy Cardstock Pack Collection.

The smaller sentiment "Welcome Baby" is from the "Short & Sweet Sentiments" stamp set by Close to my Heart. 

I love this little set, it has so many great sentiments in one complete set, and it's an amazing value at only $6.95.

These are all of the sentiments that are included:

As a small bit of embellishment, I added two Sparkles, to the lower part of the card. Did you know that you can color them using your Shin Markers? That's right, since they are clear, you can color them any color you want. 

I entered the card into a few challenges:

Pile It On! Challenge Blog - #141 Think Small
Cardz TV- Anything Goes 
Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge - Inside the Box
Crafting From The Heart - #200 Anything Goes 
The House That Stamps Built - #M2818 Anything Goes
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes 
Pammie's Inky Pinkies Challenges - #1812 Anything Goes 
Simon Says Stamp Challenge  - Work It Wednesday 
Crafty Catz - #409 Anything Goes

Cute Little Hello Card

This morning, I had the most fun creating this cute little card with the "Movie Star" digital line art image from the Melonheadz Clip Art set "Stars Clip Art".

To create this card, I colored in the digital image with my ShinHan markers.

I used a few pieces of ribbon for my embellishment.

I stamped the sentiment "Well, Hello" from the Short and Sweet stamp set with Tuxedo Memento Ink.

I layered the image onto a piece of cardstock.

Then I recycled an old cello card envelope and filled it with some sparkly embossing powder to create my own little shaker card. I then mounted the entire envelope onto the card base with some thin 3-D foam tape.

The inside of the card is simply a piece of white cardstock that I sponged the edges with my Cranberry Mini Pigment Ink Pad.

I also stamped a little stars image with the "Party Gathering" stamp set.

I also entered this card into a few challenges:

Pile It On! -Recycle (cello envelope to create a shaker type card)
Jo's Scrap Shack-Funday Friday Challenge Anything Goes
Create and Inspire Challenge -Challenge#64 Anything Goes
Paper Creator- Challenge #60 Something For Kids
Crafty Awesomeness Challenge-Anything Goes
Crafts Galore Encore Challenge -Anything Goes
Send A Smile For Kids- Anything Goes
Classic Design Team Open Challenge Blog- Challenge #16 Anything Goes
A Perfect Time To Craft - Challenge #7 Anything Goes
A Bit More Time To Craft- Challenge #49 Anything Goes
Two Sisters On the Blog- Challenge #6 Anything Goes
Crafty Hazelnuts Patterned Paper August 2017 Challenge -Anything Goes
Cards TV- Card Crazy Crafters Anything Goes Challenge #7

Christmas Is Only 155 Days Away...

That's right, 155 days or 22 weeks away. 

It will be here before you know it. Im usually pretty good about shopping for gifts throughout the year, but Christmas cards... that's a different story. 

So every year I start in July, and I still don't always finish in time.

 In my defense however, we don't receive many cards, and I usually end up sending folks cards, that never send us one, so I at least start with the ones that do send us one first. 

So for this card, I kept things rather simple. 

I started with a white card base, which I rarely do, but for this I decided to go with white. 

I cut 1/2 inch strips of several pieces of Fundamentals Papers. 

There's probably at least 1 pattern from each color family. 

The larger red strip in the middle, was cut at 1 inch. 

I adhered each strip, then trimmed down the edges. 

The sentiment "Happy Holidays" is from the current stamp set "Short & Sweet" Sentiments. 

The outline is a stamp from our older retired "Cute Koalas" stamp set, in Tuxedo Black Memento Ink. 

After stamping the sentiment with my Cranberry Mini Pigment Pad, I also sponged the edges, after fussy cutting it out.

I cut a 1 1/2 inch circle out of the yellow patterned paper from the Prickly Pear Paper Pack. I cut it in half so that each side peeks out from behind the sentiment. 

Then I adhered two small Rhinestone Clear Sparkles for a little extra pizzazz. 

Lastly, I sponged the inside of the card with my Cranberry Mini Pigment Ink Pad. 

I will add this card to my collection of Christmas cards that are ready to go the day after Thanksgiving. 

I also chose to submit this card to a few challenges:

Cards TV Card Crazy Crafters Anything Goes Challenge #6

Craftyhazelnut's Christmas Challenge Extra

Christmas Cards All Year Round Anything Goes

C. R. A. F. T. Challenge #425 Christmas

Sparkle Creations Christmas Card Challenge #17

Merry Monday 2nd Annual Christmas In Summer Link Up

ABC Christmas Challenge N is for New & O is for Old 

One-Sheet-Wonder Thank You Card Set...

Since it's pouring outside here, what better time to stay inside and make a few cards.

I wanted to use the new Close to my Heart two-tone cardstock and two of my new stamp sets.

 

I made a set of 4 cards, each one slightly different but for the most part using the same main colors.

I used the Crystal Blue and Sweet Leaf colored cardstock from the two-tone Whimsy Cardstock Combo Pack. 

You will notice on one of the cards, I flipped the bottom strip over to the lighter side before mounting it on the card. It's just a very subtle color difference.

I used the new Delicate Flower Essentials stamp, to create the floral pattern. I essentially took the stamp and created a One-Sheet-Wonder with my Tuxedo Black Memento Ink Pad. Then I colored in just a few leaves with my ShinHan Markers. 

On two of the cards, I did some light sponging with the color Lagoon Mini Pigment Pad. This color is also available in our full size exclusive ink pads. 

The "Thank You" sentiment is from the Short & Sweet Sentiment Set. This set has 12 different sentiments, and is a great offer for only $6.95. 

The Delicate Flower Essentials Stamp is only $2.95 and will be available starting August 1st.


***My favorite card out of the group***

I also chose to enter my favorite card out of the group into a few challenges this week: 

Cute Card Thursday #487 Summer Colors

Jo's Scrap Shack Fun Day Friday Challenge #198 Anything Goes

Pile It On #132 Something Beginning With "S" (Sweet Leaf Colored Cardstock)

A Quick Thinking Of You Card...

Here is a quick little thinking of you card, I made for a friend of mine that used to live here in North Carolina.

In the video I used the North Carolina Everyday Life Stamp Set, the Short & Sweet Stamp Set and the Enchantment Fundamentals Paper Pack. 

For a little extra dimension, there is some sponging around the circle with the sentiment on it.

The North Carolina stamp, is part of the entire United States collection. There is one for every state. And at only $2.95 for the set, you can't beat that at all. 

Here are a few of the others states:

Again each stamp set for the states is only $2.95, the perfect little stocking stuffer. It is not too early to start thinking about Christmas!

A Quick Birthday Card...

Had a chance to play for a little bit with some new goodies, that arrived today. 

Come join me, as I make a quick birthday card. 

Part 1:

Part 2:

Hope you find these useful. Please let me know if you have any questions at all. 

To purchase the paper pack, I used, click here.

My Most Recent Close to my Heart Order Unboxing Haul July 2017

Please join me in unboxing my new Close to my Heart goodies!

To purchase any of these items please visit my website!