Using Backgrounds - Part 4

It's the last day for Cards Using Backgrounds! 

I actually have some other cards that have been completed with previously created background that I decided not to post. These are some of the last ones... 

The first one is a slimline card that was based on a card created for the Scrapbooks and Cards Today blog. Their example was a standard A2 card but I liked the idea of the focal point in the lower right and used that same idea on a slimline card. The background was created using a stencil and Distress Oxide inks and it was brushed with Moondust Glitter Gel. The banners were added along with some black stamped images. I wanted the focus to be the background so I kept the rest of the card simple. 

The second card was created using a gel plate. I made several backgrounds using this method and this was the only one that I deemed useable. I definitely need more practice with that product! I used both Carolina and Bluebird inks although it looks like only the lighter of the two. The stamp was pressed into the ink and removed. I wanted the background to remain the focus so I added a simple die cut sentiment along with some silver embellishing thread and sequins. 

The last card uses a technique that I used quite a bit earlier this year. It is done using alcohol markers on vellum and using rubbing alcohol to move the colour. I stayed with the blue and green colour scheme and added a border along with shadowed sentiments. 

Products used are Close To My Heart unless otherwise indicated: 

Paper: Bright Stack, Brights Paper Pack (Doodlbug), Favorite Things Paper Pack (Heidi Swapp), Pink Cardstock (Scrapbook.com), White Daisy Cardstock, Carolina Cardstock, Willow Cardstock, Bluebird Cardstock, Vellum, White Cards and Envelopes, Slimline Cards and Envelopes 

Stamps: Thinking of You, Greetings Mix 2 (SSS), Stripe Jungle Background (SSS)

Inks: Carolina, Bluebird, Archival Black, DO Inks - Spun Sugar, Kitsch Flamingo, Picked Raspberry

Accessories: Stitched Rectangle Thin Cuts, Thinking of You Thin Cuts, Basic Circle Thin Cuts, Stitched Circle Thin Cuts, Hello Die (SSS), Sending Die (Pink Fresh Studio), Smiles Die (Pink Fresh Studio), Layered Slimline Dies (Pink and Main), Circle of Love Textured Roses Stencil (Stamperia), Moondust Glitter Gel, Copic Markers, Loose Gold Sequins, Loose Silver Sequins, Silver Embellishing Thread Rubbing Alcohol, Gel Plate (not CTMH)

Enjoy,

Alyson

Using Background - Part 3

Still more backgrounds to put to use...

These two cards are the result of some play time with gloss sprays. I wasn't thrilled with the end result of either background so I opted to cut out the sections that I liked. 

The first piece had several colours of gloss spray on it and and a rainbow effect was created across the top. I used that section to die cut the letters to spell HAPPY. The colours are so bold that they worked very well on a black background. I die cut the word "birthday" and added it underneath. The last step was to add a few coordinating sequins around the coloured letters. Simple and easy! 

The second card was also the result of a play session with gloss sprays. I used a large die to cut the entire sentiment and mounted it on white. It needed something else so I added a black border. The inside of the heart was coloured and a few coordinating sequins were added around the card. 

Products used are Close To My Heart unless otherwise indicated: 

Paper: White Daisy Cardstock, Black Cardstock, Distress Watercolour Cardstock, White Cards and Envelopes 

Stamps; none

Inks: Gloss Sprays - Fuchsia, Cheddar, Lime, Ocean, Turquoise

Accessories: Stitched Rectangle Thin Cuts, A Big Thank You Thin Cut, Happy Birthday Die (Creative Expressions), Misc. Sequins, Sharpie Marker, Foam Tape 

Enjoy,

Alyson

Try Stampin' on Tuesday - Sunflower Birthday

Welcome to Try Stampin' on Tuesday Challenge 517! 

The sketch is shown in horizontal format but I rotated it 90 degrees to create a vertical card. 

The optional theme this week is "thank you". 

These papers begged for some sunflowers to go with them! I stamped and coloured three sunflowers and some leaves. They were die cut and placed at the top of the banner. Some gold embellishing thread was added and the flowers were brushed with a gold shimmer brush. The final step was to add some gold gems around the floral cluster. 

Come and join us at Try Stampin' on Tuesday and show us how you interpret the sketch shown above. 

You have two weeks to link up your project. 

We can’t wait to see what you create! 

Products used are Close To My Heart unless otherwise indicated: 

Paper: Flowers for Every Season (SU), Green Cardstock (scrapbook.com), White Daisy Cardstock, Sundance Cardstock, Neenah Solar White Cardstock

Stamps: Happy Birthday, Bloom with Grace Cardmaking

Inks: Intense Black, Clover 

Accessories: Bloom with Grace Thin Cuts, Tri-Blend Markers, Gold Embellishing Thread, Gold Glitter Gems, Gold Shimmer Brush, Thin Foam Tape 

Enjoy,

Alyson

Using up Backgrounds - Part 2

 More backgrounds... and time to put them to use! 

These two backgrounds are rainbows - probably my favourite type of card! The first was created by inking a rainbow background on white cardstock (using Distress Oxide inks) and then die cutting the floral background. I kept the sentiment simple to keep the focus on the background. The word "smile" was stacked a few times and brushed with the Clear Shimmer Brush. I coloured and added some crystal gems around the card to finish it off. 

The chevron card background was created with a pull apart stamp, also using Distress Oxide inks. Again, the sentiment was kept simple. I added some coordinating sequins along the inked chevon sections as well. 

Products used are Close To My Heart unless otherwise indicated: 

Paper: White Daisy Cardstock, Black Cardstock, Sundance Cardstock, White Cards and Envelopes 

Stamps: Nested Chevron (Pink Fresh Studio) 

Inks: All DO Inks: Mustard Seed, Carved Pumpkin, Picked Raspberry, Wilted Violet, Blueprint Sketch, Peacock Feathers, Mowed Lawn, Twisted Citron

Accessories: Stitched Rectangle Thin Cuts, Stitched Simple Brackets Thin Cuts, Floral Background Thin Cut, Hugs Die (SSS), Smile Die (Elizabeth Craft Designs), Clear Shimmer Brush, Misc. Sequins, Gems - Pink, Turquoise and White (Pink Fresh Studio), Sharpie Markers 

Enjoy,

Alyson

Christmas in July Blog Hop

Welcome to the Christmas in July Blog Hop! 

It is exactly FIVE months until Christmas... what better time to start working on Christmas cards? 😳😳😳

Close To My Heart has a Christmas in July campaign happening - the White Pines paper pack and four additional stamp sets have been brought back. You will see a variety of Christmas projects on this blog hop as any other Christmas products that are still available may be used. 

You should have arrived here from Brenda Lapp's blog. If you get lost along the way, a list of all participants can be found on Melinda Everitt's blog. 

I have a hard time thinking of Christmas when it is hot and humid outside. Usually by mid-December, there is snow on the ground and the temperatures are around or below the freezing mark. 

My first card was created using the Bargello technique. I inked a background using Peacock, Lagoon and Mint. Since Peacock and Mint are impossible to blend together, Lagoon was placed in between those colours each time. The strips were cut in the opposite direction and placed on the card front. I added a stitched frame and embossed the sentiment on vellum. The poinsettia was cut from the Comfort and Joy Cricut collection using silver foil, silver glitter paper and vellum. Then - and I believe I am totally crazy for doing this - I individually coloured several white beads using a Tri-Blend marker. I wanted them to match the papers... My fingers were blue for days afterward! The final step was to add silver Stickles around the card. 

My second card was created using a sketch from Make It From Your Heart - Vol.5. I originally stamped and fussy cut a wreath and lots of small elements and then decided that wasn't what I wanted... so it was on to the trees. They were stamped in Evergreen in first, second and third generation. They were fussy cut and the edges were brushed with the Gold Shimmer Brush. The patterned paper is from the Holiday Stack and I drew some stitching lines on each side with a green marker. The background was splattered with two shimmer bushes - Candy Apple and Evergreen. I added a strip of Gold Shimmer Trim to the sentiment and also used some Gold Embellishing Thread . The last step was to add gold Stickles around my card. 

The next stop on this blog hop is Show and Tell with Michelle. I am sure her project will put you in the Christmas spirit! 

Products used are Close To My Heart unless otherwise indicated: 

Paper: Holiday Stack, White Daisy Cardstock, French Vanilla Cardstock, Candy Apple Cardstock, Peacock Cardstock, Mint Cardstock, Silver Foil, Silver Glitter Paper, Vellum

Stamps: White Pines Cardmaking

Inks: Mint, Lagoon, Peacock, Evergreen, Candy Apple, Toffee, Lemonade, Versamark

Accessories: Comfort and Joy Cricut Collection, Stitched Rectangle Thin Cuts, Silver Embossing Powder, Heat Tool, Gold Shimmer Trim, Gold Embellishing Thread, Goldenrod Stickles, Silver Stickles, Bitty Beads, Green Sharpie Marker (not CTMH), Gold Shimmer Brush, Candy Apple Shimmer Brush, Evergreen Shimmer Brush, Tri-Blend Marker, Foam Tape, Thin Foam Tape

Enjoy,

Alyson

Using Backgrounds - Part 1

I have created many background over the last few months and it is finally time to use them! 

These three backgrounds were all created by embossing the pattern with white embossing powder and then using distress oxide inks to blend a colour on top. I decided to turn each one into a shaker. The inside of each shaker was splattered with coordinating shimmer brushes after the sentiment was stamped. I cut the shaker outline into the top piece to keep the shaker even with the front of the card. 

Products used are Close To My Heart unless otherwise indicated: 

Paper: White Daisy Cardstock, Sundance Cardstock, Bluebird Cardstock, Pixie Cardstock, Peacock Cardstock, White Card and Envelopes 

Stamps: Heart Full of Love, Sentiment Collection (Penny Black), Flora Background (SSS), Gerbera Daisy Background (SSS), Stripe Jungle Background (SSS)

Inks: Peacock, Lagoon, Raspberry, Pixie, Bluebird, Sundance, Versamark, Various Distress Oxide Inks 

Accessories: Circle Shaker and Thin Cut, Heart Shaker and Thin Cut, Misc. Sequins (not CTMH), Heart Foam and Acetate, Circle Foam and Acetate, White Embossing Powder, Heat Tool, Foam Tape

Enjoy,

Alyson

Sending Sunshine and Rainbows

I saw a card very similar to this one on Pinterest. The creator was Windy Ellard but the post was written as part of swap. The link to that post is here. 

Rainbows - how can you not love rainbows? They brighten anyone's day! 

This rainbow was created using a stencil and then a coordinating die. The clouds were all die cut and angled to create a sky underneath the rainbow. I stamped a few hearts in the cloud section and added the sentiment at the bottom. 

Inside, I stamped several hearts in the same colours and then used Sharpie markers to join the hearts together. 

Products used are Close To My Heart unless otherwise indicated: 

Paper: Neenah Star White Cardstock 

Stamps: Card Captions, Animated Sentiments, A Little Sentiment, Beautiful Day

Inks: Archival Black, Pansy, Bluebird, Lagoon, Green Apple, Lemonade, Nectarine, Candy Apple 

Accessories: Beautiful Day Thin Cuts, Fancy Borders Thin Cuts, Rainbow Builder Stencil and Die (Heffy Doodle), Sharpie Markers (not CMTH)

Enjoy,

Alyson

Corner Fold Card - Isabella

This card style was created by a fellow CTMH Maker - Melissa Mills Johnson - and she also shared the cutting diagram. I love the Isabella paper collection and decided to use that to create my card. 

The sections were covered with a few of the patterned papers from the Isabella collection. The floral image was stamped, coloured and die cut. The first half of a small sentiment was stamped in the top corner and the larger part of the same sentiment can be found inside the card. I used a blue Sharpie marker to outline sections of the card. The last step was to add Stickles to the berries on the front. 

Products used are Close To My Heart unless otherwise indicated: 

Paper: Isabella Paper Pack, White Daisy Cardstock, Lemonade Cardstock, Bluebird Cardstock

Stamps: Isabella Scrapbooking, Boutique Cardmaking

Inks: Intense Black, Bluebird 

Accessories: Isabella Scrapbooking Thin Cuts, Tri-Blend Markers, Sharpie Marker (not CTMH), Waterfall Stickles, Silver Glitter Gems, Foam Tape 

Enjoy,

Alyson

AH 430 - Birthday in Blue

Welcome to Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge 430! 

The sketch is an interesting one this week - I chose to rotate it 90 degrees to create a vertical card. 

I die cut outlines for the square and rectangle using stitched dies. The flowers were stamped, coloured and die cut. The sentiment pieces were also die cut. Once the basic pieces were adhered, some gold embellishing thread was added under the bottom flower and I also added some gold Stickles to the berries on the top flower. A few gold gems were added and the flowers were brushed with the Gold Shimmer Brush. 

Come and join us at Atlantic Hearts and show us how you interpret the sketch shown above. 

You have until Sunday evening to link up your project. 

We can’t wait to see what you create!

Products used are Close To My Heart unless otherwise indicated: 

Paper: Isabella Paper Pack, White Daisy Cardstock, Lemonade Cardstock, Sage Cardstock, Bluebird Cardstock, Neenah Solar White Cardstock 

Stamps: Isabella Scrapbooking, Handmade Essentials (scrapbook.com) 

Inks: Intense Black, Bluebird, Sage

Accessories: Isabella Scrapbooking Thin Cuts, Stitched Rectangle Thin Cuts, Stitched Square Thin Cuts, Basic Circle Thin Cuts, Stitched Circle Thin Cuts, Tri-Blend Markers, Gold Embellishing Thread, Gold Glitter Gems, Gold Shimmer Brush, Goldenrod Stickles

Enjoy,

Alyson

Beautiful Day House with Sunburst

The July Stamp of the Month from CTMH is one that I honestly didn't think I would use at all... I wasn't even going to purchase it. It has a series of trees and shrubs along with the house shown in my card. There are no dies so everything does have to be fussy cut unless you want to use a single image or mask images. 

I started by inking a sky using a cloud stencil. A sunburst stencil was placed on top of that piece and I used Goldenrod Stickles to cover half of the stencil. The images were stamped and fussy cut and arranged around the centre of the sunburst. I filled in the lower half of the card, trying to coordinate colours as closely as possible. The sentiment at the top was perfect for this setting! 

Products used are Close To My Heart unless otherwise indicated: 

Paper: White Daisy Cardstock, White Cards and Envelopes 

Stamps: Strong Roots, Greetings Mix 2 (SSS) 

Inks: Intense Black, Carolina, Archival Black 

Accessories: Tri-Blend Markers, Sunburst Stencil (Echo Park), Cloud Stencil (MFT), Goldenrod Stickles

Enjoy,

Alyson