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!

Lots of Layers Challenge Card...

Today's card was inspired by the Lots of Layers card Challenge over at the Pile It On! Challenge Blog.

Since Fourth of July is right around the corner, I thought I would be a great time to use Sapphire, Poppy and White Daisy cardstock for a beautiful patriotic look.

 I used the new Heartfelt Thanks stamp set for both the sentiment and the floral background. 

I stamped both in Tuxedo Black Memento Ink. 

The oval layers are raised up on 3-D Foam Tape. 

I distressed the edges of the oval with Sapphire ink. 

To help bring out the floral pattern, I used just a few of the blue dots in the Stargazer Dots pack. If you follow mw regularly you know I love those and am stocking up now, so I still have them once they sell out. 

I entered my card into the following challenges:

Pile It On! Challenge Blog-#143 Lots of Layers

613 Avenue Create-#210 Anything Goes

Crafting by Design- Anything Goes

Crafts Galore Encore Challenge Blog-#52 Anything Goes

Crafty Creations Challenges-#368 Anything Goes

Creative Moments-#145 Anything Goes

Dragonfly Dreams-Anything Goes

Fun-Day Friday Challenge-#238 Anything Goes

Inspiration Destination- #152 Anything Goes

Pause Dream Enjoy Challenges-#24 Anything Goes

The Crafty Addicts Challenge Blog- #49 Anything Goes

Whoopsi Daisy Challenge Blog- Anything Goes 

Congratulations Card for Your Little Slugger...

Anyone that knows me will tell you my favorite sport is baseball! 

Always has been since I was barely walking well. 

My father played when I was growing up, so I watched many games in person as a small child, then as a teenager I was a baseball manager for the junior varsity and varsity teams. 

I loved it! 

These days, I attend games when can, and watch them on tv even more. 

So the moment I saw this Slugger Sam digital image, from Dr. Digi's House of Stamps, 

I knew I had to have it.

It is so versatile, you can color him any combination to match someones favorite team.

I mostly chose to use several shades of red, brown, and beige with my Copic markers.

I then also brushed all of the brown colored areas with the Gold Shimmer Brush. 
I popped him up with 3-D Foam Tape.

For the card itself, I started out with a 4 1/4 x 5 1/2 White Daisy Cardstock card base. 

I used a layer of Ruby Cardstock and then a layer of Kraft Cardstock.

I used a layer of Ruby Printed Paper from the Enchantment Fundamental Paper Packet. The polka dots were perfect for a sibilance of baseballs.

The little horizontal band across the card, is a layer of Ruby Cardstock as well. 

The Oval sentiment is a layer of White Daisy.

The sentiment "A Day to Remember" is a perfect way to celebrate your little Sluggers first game, championship, or a win!  
These two stamps together would be perfect for a scrapbooking layout as well!
The sentiment comes from the stamp set Highlight Reel, 
which will be our July Stamp of the Month! 

So keep in mind your will be able to purchase it in July for only $5 with any $50 purchase.

I stamped the sentiment in Tuxedo Black Memento Ink.

Finally, I added just a few little red dot embellishments from the Stargazer Dots pack.

I entered this card into the following Challenges:

Pile It On Challenge Blog! - #142 Sports/Hobbies

Through The Craft Room Door - Week of May 15th Anything Goes 

The Paper Nest Dolls Challenge Blog - May Challenge

Jo's Scrap Shack- Fun-Day Friday Challenge #234 Anything Goes 

Addicted to Stamps and More - #292 Make Your Mark (Copics)

2 Sisters on the Blog - #15 Three of a Kind (3 Red Dots, 3 Types of Paper/Cardstock)

A Perfect Time To Craft- #5 May 2018 Anything Goes 

Crafts Galore Encore Challenge Blog - #51 Anything Goes 

Thank you so much for stopping by, please consider leaving a comment below.

Stargazer Birthday Card

As a child, one of my favorite hobbies was looking at the stars at night through the telescope I received one Christmas. 

While I did not turn out to become an astronomer, I did become a scientist, and often do have conversations about space, stars, and the like. 

I'm not sure whatever happened to that telescope, maybe one of my younger brothers has it. 

As an adult I have visited the local planetariums quite a few times. 

I might just purchase a telescope as an early birthday present to myself. 

Therefore tonight's card was inspired by my Stargazer hobby. 

I used one of my favorite techniques "Blacked Out", utilizing layers of black cardstock under most of the patterned paper layers. 

The card base is Pewter Cardstock by Close to my Heart. 

The yellow, grey, and blue patterned papers are all from the "Stargazer" Patterned Paper Packet by Close to my Heart. If you love this paper, do not wait to purchase it, it is while supplies last, since the Seasonal Expressions Catalog 1 is finished.

The distressing on the grey strip and blue mat was completed with "Charcoal" ink by Close to my Heart. 

The sentiment and the telescope are both from the Cardmaking "Stargazer" Stamp Set. It does also have a matching thin cuts die set, but for today's card, I did not use the dies. 

I colored the telescope with Copic Markers, then used a Gold Shimmer Brush to give it some shine and sparkle. 

I finished off the look with a few red "Stargazer" Dots also by Close to my Heart.

Were you aware that I have a VIP Group on Facebook so that we can share our artwork with each other? 
I would love to have you join us! Just click here to join us!

I entered this card into the following challenges:

Pile It On! Challenge Blog - #142 Sports/Hobbies

Creates and Makes Challenge Blog - #21 Anything Goes 

Not Just Cards Challenge Blog- April Challenge Anything Goes 

Crafting From The Heart - #204 Anything Goes 

Simply Papercraft - #57 Anything Goes 

Crafty Catz Weekly Challenge Blog- #415 Anything Goes 

Jo's Scrap Shack - Fun-Day Friday Challenge #232 Anything Goes 

Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper Challenge Blog- May 2018 Patterned Paper

Cardz TV- #46 Anything Goes 

Quick Birthday Card...

So this is my Birthday month, I will be reaching "Level 40", so this month, my goal is to make as many birthday cards as I can, to use throughout the rest of the year. 

So tonight, I made the following card. 

All products are from Close to my Heart. 

I stamped the two sized flowers from the "For you Darling" stamp set. 

The two sized flowers are stamped in Canary and Tangerine Ink.

I lined the edge of each panel with Canary Cardstock. 

I mounted the finished panel on the White Daisy card base with 3-d foam tape. 

The sentiment is from the "Birthday Sparkles" stamp set. 

The sentiment is stamped in Tangerine Ink. 

To add a little extra flare to the sentiment, I used a few yellow "Stargazer" dots.

First Day Of School Scrapbooking Page Elements

In just a few short months (August), my twins will be starting Kindergarten. 

I figured I would go ahead and get started on the scrapbooking pages for their first day. 

I decided to make a few Scrapbooking Page Elements for now and later I will add a few embellishments to the pages such as the red shimmer trim and enamel dots. The Stargazer dots in red, blue and yellow will be perfect. I already have some of those in my stock, but for those of you that, don't be sure to get them before they leave at the end of the month. Our current seasonal expressions ends at the end of April and our new one begins May 1st. 

My Scrapbooking Page Elements, give you a sneak peek as to what is to come... 

The patterned paper included in these two elements are both from the new "Central Park" Collection. It is gorgeous and definitely a versatile set of prints. 

Where are my balloon festival friends? You will want this collection for all of your festival photos and memories. 

The stamp set used is one of the Stamp Of The Month sets from 2017, called "School Year". 

It is a retired set, however some of you may have it in your collection. 

I stamped the sentiment and the pencils in Tuxedo Black Memento Ink. 

I colored the pencil stamp in using markers, and distressed the edges of the white cardstock using Cranberry Exclusive Ink. 

I can't wait to see what you create with these new patterned papers!

I submitted my Scrapbooking Page Elements to the following challenges:

Pile It On! Challenge Blog- #141 Pencils 

Crafting From The Heart- Challenge #201 Anything Goes 

Pearly Sparkles Challenge Blog- Challenge #27 Anything Goes 

Crafty Friends Challenge- #81 Use Your Favorite Color  (Green)

Not Just Cards Challenge Blog- April Challenge Anything Goes 

Cardz TV- Challenge #43 Anything Goes 

Pammie's Inky Pinkies Challenges- Challenge #1814 Anything Goes 

Creates and Makes Challenge Blog- Challenge #20 Anything Goes

Classic Design Team Challenge Blog - Challenge #24 Anything Goes 

Crafty Catz Challenge Blog- Challenge #412 Favorite Color Combination (Green and Black)

Penny's Paper Crafty Challenge Blog- Challenge #375 Anything Goes 

CraftyHazelnut's Patterned Paper Challenge- April Challenge Patterned Paper