AH 290 - Bold and Bright Fa-la-la

Welcome to Atlantic Hearts Sketch 290!

At first glance, the sketch with the flower pot made me think of a spring like card but remember, the images are simply placeholders and can be changed to whatever suits your fancy. 

I chose to rotate the image 90 degrees to create a vertical card instead of a horizontal one and the flower pot image became the birds on my card. I used some extremely bold patterns so I needed an image that was simple to balance the busy-ness in the patterns. 

Shimmer trim from some time ago matched these patterns quite well so I decided to use that to divide the patterns. I chose to use a whimsical sentiment to go with the birds. The birds were bushed with two shimmer brushes. 

Come and join us at Atlantic Hearts and show us your interpretation of the sketch shown above.

You have until Sunday evening to link up your project. 

Products are as follows:

Paper: Oh What Fun Paper Pack, Holiday Style PML Cards, Lagoon Cardstock, Glacier Cardstock, Raspberry Cardstock (all CTMH), Neenah Solar White Cardstock

Stamps: Festive Trees (CTMH)

Inks: Raspberry (CTMH)

Accessories: White Pearls, Pink, White, Aqua and Teal Shimmer Trim, Clear Shimmer Brush, Mint Shimmer Brush, Scallop Border Punch (all CTMH), Stitched Ovals (GMD), Pink Twine (SU), Foam Tape (other), Teal Sharpie Marker 

Enjoy,

Alyson

Sliding Polar Bear

Wow - this was a challenge - in more ways than one! 

The Double Trouble challenge alone has a lot of elements to meet if you do them all, and then the tic-tac-toe adds another entire element to this! I thought I had everything and then I realized I was missing the hanging component... so, I added some hanging snowflakes from my title. 

I had an additional challenge to cope with while creating this card - I broke my eyeglasses when I hit them against something yesterday. Consequently, I am wearing a pair that is about 4 years old and the prescription has changed significantly since that time. I can't see close up clearly so it is a miracle if the colouring and cutting is accurate... I will have my new lenses in on Monday - we don't realize how dependent we are on things like that until something happens! 

So, my sliding polar bear will be entered into the Double Trouble challenge - all components - as well as Try Stamping on Tuesday's challenge. Here is the info for each challenge and my card. 

Create a Christmas, holiday or winter project - DONE

Link up with the Try Stamping on Tuesday Tic-Tac-Toe challenge - DONE 

Add a hanging element to your project - DONE

I chose to use the middle line - Glitter, Trees, Winter 

Products used are as follows: 

Paper: White Daisy Cardstock, White Glitter Paper (both CTMH) 

Stamps: Oh What Fun Cardmaking, Polar Bear Holiday (both CTMH), Winter Trees (SU)

Inks: Carolina, New England Ivy, Black, Lemon (all CTMH)

Accessories: Fancy Borders Thin Cuts (CTMH), Sharpie Markers, Foam Tape, Sponge Daubers

Enjoy,

Alyson

Heart 2 Heart - Inspired by Nature

Welcome to Heart 2 Heart's latest challenge! 

This week, the theme is Inspired by Nature. Since it is getting closer and closer to Christmas, I chose to create a Christmas card. I used a poinsettia theme ands poinsettias are most certainly nature related! There are also snowflakes and pine cones on my card that represent nature. 

The main top piece is from the Picture My Life card collection that coordinates with the 'Tis the Seasons paper pack from Close To My Heart. The remaining papers are all from the 'Tis the Season paper pack. The stamp set is the M-size Hand-Lettered Christmas. I chose it because it was the closest sentiment I could find that fit into the circle size that I wanted... I stamped the sentiment using both Candy Apple and New England Ivy ink. The bow was double tied and then slightly spread apart. 

Come and join us at Heart 2 Heart and show us your project that is inspired by nature. You have until the end of November to enter this or any of the November challenges. 

Products used are almost all Close to My Heart 

Paper: 'Tis the Season Paper Pack, 'Tis the Season PML Cards, White Daisy Cardstock, Candy Apple Cardstock, New England Ivy Cardstock, Neenah Solar White Cardstock 

Stamps: Hand Lettered Christmas

Inks: Candy Apple, New England Ivy

Accessories: Gold Striped Skinny Ribbon, 'Tis the Seasons Complements, Gold Pearl Gems, Circle Stitched Dies, Basic Circle Dies, Circle Tag Dies, Foam Tape

Enjoy,

Alyson

Three Amigos - Gate Fold Card and Vellum Envelope

Welcome to November's challenge at Three Amigos! 

I love this month's challenge - it is all about interactive projects! I went looking for something interesting to do when I was asked to be the Guest Designer this month. This challenge is open to SO many possible interpretations. 

I found a gate fold card and then decided to expand on it, creating a hidden pocket in the back, allowing somewhere to write a message, and these kinds of cards usually don't stay closed very well, so a band is often required. Rather than using a band that slides on, I decided to create one that closes using hook and loop dots. 

The flowers and leaves were created using a lot of masking - thanks to a stamping platform, it made that process go much easier as the flowers were also stamped in second generation. 

Finally, I wanted an envelope into which the finished card could be placed but I wanted to card to be able to be seen through the envelope. Had I thought about that first, I would have created the card in a smaller size rather than 6x6 but it was too late for that. I used vellum for the envelope but I had to cover the adhesive along the sides with some patterned paper because I had to make the envelope slightly larger than 6x6 for the card to fit inside. Ah, the life of paper crafters - not mistakes, but opportunities to embellish, right? 

Below, I have included several photos so you can see the entire project in all its parts. 

Here is the entire project opened up. 

Let's back up to the beginning and see what it looks like when it is all closed up...

This is the card removed from the vellum envelope. 

Here you see the band and how it can be attached with the hook and loops dots. 

This shows the opened card with the slide out card in the back for the purpose of writing a message. 

There is a pocket on the back where that piece slides in. 

This is just a close-up of the centre section to show the masking of the flowers and leaves. 

And finally. another picture (the same one) of the complete open project with all the pieces.

Come and join the Three Amigos challenge and share your interactive project with us! 

We can't wait to see what you create :) 

Products used are as follows: 

Paper: Live Beautifully Paper Pack, White Daisy Cardstock, New England Ivy Cardstock, Ballerina Cardstock, Vellum, Gold Foil Paper (all CTMH)

Stamps: Chelsea Garden Cardmaking, Chelsea Garden Scrapbooking, Happy Times, Frame it Up, Have a Happy Day (all CTMH)

Inks: Eggplant, Charcoal, New England Ivy (all CTMH)

Accessories: Artiste Cartridge, Art Philosophy Cartridge, Gold Glitter Gems, Stitched Ovals Thin Cuts, Oval Thin Cuts,  Rose Embossing Folder, White and Gold Twine, Thin Foam Tape (All CTMH), Scalloped Squares, Tags, Tags 2 (all Nestabilities)

Enjoy,

Alyson

Dec.25th Card

It was time for a challenge today - and this one meets a few of them. I haven't entered a challenge for quite a while because I have been so busy... 

Creating Christmas cards takes an enormous amount of time! 

I was able to make a Christmas card for this challenge - albeit not the type I usually make - but I am sure I will put it to use. The main challenge was Double Trouble.

It is a free for all this week as it is a single week challenge. However, there are some additions... 

Adding a number to your project is the second part. 

The third part is to link up with any previous challenge with which they have combined so I am linking up with Colour Dare challenge #316.





So, my card is very green - I used a lot of different shades of green! I went back to an oldie but goodie stamp set - Perfect Fit Holidays. I embossed the date using Clover Pigment ink. The two smaller circles were embossed with white and then I used a small sponge and various shades of grey (Sage looks grey and Emerald looks almost blue) to rub ink over the birds. That was MUCH HARDER than it looks because it was such a small space to do. Layers and layers of green... 

Products used are as follows: 

Paper: Cats and Bats Paper Pack, Oh What Fun Paper Pack, White Daisy Cardstock, Clover Cardstock (all CTMH)
Stamps: Oh What Fun Cardmaking, Perfect Fit Holidays (all CTMH)
Inks: Emerald, Sweet Leaf, Sage, Clover, Willow, Clover Pigment Ink, Versamark (all CTMJH)
Accessories: Emerald Ribbon, Clear Detail Embossing Powder, White Embossing Powder, Heat Tool, White Pearls, Foam Tape (all CTMH), 1 1/4 Punch, Green Twine (both SU)

Enjoy,
Alyson

AH 288 - Peace on Wood Christmas Card

Welcome to Atlantic Hearts Challenge 288! 

It is an interesting sketch this week - and one that I chose to remain close to for my card. I had a die that I really wanted to use and I cut it twice in both red and green cardstock. There are a lot of details within the die itself so I just cut the flower section off the die cut and layered it on top of the leaves. 

The background was a challenge because I didn't want anything to compete with the flower... The sentiment is much more noticeable in real life than in the photo. It is almost lost here in the picture. I brushed the flower and leaves with shimmer brushes to bring out some of the details. The red pearls add an extra touch of shimmer to the card. 

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.

Products used are listed below:

Paper: Candy Apple Cardstock, Willow Cardstock, Gold Foil Paper, Basic Fundamentals (all CTMH), Wood Grain Patterned Paper (SU)

Stamps: Scandinavian Wishes (CTMH)

Inks: Versamark

Accessories: Flowers and Leaves Die (GMD), Snowflake Embossing Folder (Cuttlebug), Red Pearls (CTMH), Thin Foam Tape, Red Shimmer Brush, Clear Shimmer Brush, Gold Embossing Powder, Heat Tool (all CTMH)

Enjoy, 

Alyson

H2H - Glitter Glam

Welcome to this week's Heart 2 Heart challenge. 

The theme this week is Glitter Glam so dig out all that glitters and show us what you have! 

I am in the midst of working on Christmas cards so this was an opportunity to use some glittery snowflakes for me. After I had cut three snowflakes from glitter paper, they look rather plain on the Sapphire cardstock. I decided to add an embossed centre piece but it still looked plain. 

That is when the texture paste came out... I had cut a snowflake stencil a while ago and the center of it had large snowflakes but the the ends had some smaller flakes. Placing it carefully, I was able to use only the smaller flakes as long as I worked quickly as I had to reposition it on both sides of the paper. The paste dries fast and I didn't want to have to clean up and then start again to do the other side of the card. 

The sentiment is from a retired CTMH stamp set and the frame is from a SU set that also has a coordinating die. 

Come and join us at Heart 2 Heart and show us that all that glitters can also be made into a project that you wish to share with us for this challenge. 

You have until the end of October to link up with this or any of our other October challenges. 

Products used are listed below: 

Paper: White Daisy Cardstock, Sapphire Cardstock, Sugarplum Cardstock, Silver Glitter Paper (all CTMH, Neenah Solar White Cardstock 

Stamps: Festive Trees (CTMH), Merry Christmas to All (SU)

Inks: Sapphire, Sugarplum (all CTMH)

Accessories: Artbooking Cartridge (CTMH), Stencil Sheets (Grafix), Texture Paste and Tools (Ranger), Winter Flurries Thin Cuts (CTMH), Merry Christmas Thinlets (SU), Snowflake Embossing Folder (Darice), Clear Sparkles (CTMH), Blue Burlap Ribbon (CTMH), Foam Tape

Enjoy,

Alyson

Holiday Sparkle/Season of Joy Blog Hop

Welcome to the Holiday Sparkle/Season of Joy Blog Hop. This blog hop features the Cut Above Holiday Sparkle card kit - and ways that it can be altered and/or projects created using the new Season of Joy Cricut Cartridge. 
I am sure as you progress through this bog hop that you will find holiday inspiration in the creations along the way!

You should have arrived here from Kimberly Bower's blog.

If you get lost, a complete list of participating bloggers can be found on Melinda Everitt's blog. 

I wanted to use the Holiday Sparkle Card Kit items to create my own shaker card from the cards within the kit. 

Here is a photo of the kit.

I cut apart one of each of the cards. Using pieces from each, I reworked another card (making a standard size card instead of a 5x7 card). I lined up the borders from one of the cards and put a piece of White Daisy cardstock behind them to set them apart from the background. I prefer the shakers to be embedded within the card rather than on top so I cut into the base of the card and also cut some Raspberry stars at the same time. They were added to the shaker. I chose a sentiment from the Love with all the Trimmings stamp set to stamp on one of the original circles. A Raspberry stitched frame was added and this card was finished! 

The next blog on the hop is Darlys Recker's blog.

I am sure she will show you more creative inspiration in her artwork! 

Products used are all Close To My Heart

Paper: Holiday Sparkle Cut Above Card Kit, White Daisy Cardstock, Raspberry Cardstock

Stamps: Love with all the Trimmings

Inks: Clover

Accessories: Raspberry Twine, Shaker Thin Cuts, (Loose Silver Sequins, Foam Tape - Shaker Window Foam and Acetate - all contained within the Holiday Sparkle Cut Above Card Kit) 

Enjoy,

Alyson

AH 286 - Shining Tree

Welcome to Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge #286!

This week's sketch is an interesting one... it lends itself to a lot of possibilities. A circle in the background can be open to a shaker card of some sort and the image in the forefront can be interpreted in several ways. 

I took some liberties with the sketch - I moved the circle (which doesn't HAVE to be a circle...) up on the page and chose to make it a moon or a sun, depending how you interpret my card. I then added a Christmas tree in the foreground. I sponged the entire background using several colours of ink. The snow at the bottom was created by using an embossing folder and then the "hill" was cut using a decorative die.

It is a simple card but it makes a statement - exactly what I wanted. 

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. 

Products used are Close To My Heart unless otherwise indicated: 

Paper: White Daisy Cardstock

Stamps: Christmas Love (ret.)

Inks: Lemon, Canary, Saffron, Carolina, Bluebird, Sapphire

Accessories: In the Woods Thinlets (SU), Circle Dies (Nestabilities), Cascading Circles Embossing Folder (ret.), Decorative Borders Thin Cuts, Foam Tape, Gold Glitter Gems

Enjoy, 

Alyson

Cross Canada Blog Hop - Grateful Heart

Welcome to the Cross-Canada Blog Hop!

This month, we are featuring the Grateful Heart Paper Pack. 

You should have arrived here from Diana's blog. This blog hops runs from East to West across Canada so if you want to start at the beginning, go to Michelle's blog and she has the entire list of bloggers on her blog. 

I am working on Christmas cards at this time and I love non-traditional colours for Christmas. This was the perfect opportunity to continue with my Christmas cards and showcase the side of Grateful Heart that most people don't see... 

I love the blues in this paper pack. Paired with silver, they make an awesome colour combination. I created a poinsettia and then used the Fancy Tags thin cuts to cut out the sentiment that was stamped from the Wonder of the Season stamp set. I cut another of the tags to go behind it. I love the intensity of this card. The pattern is from MIFYH - Vol 4 (Pattern 9). 

The next bog on this hop is Terry Ann.
I am sure she has something fabulous to share with you!

Be sure to join us again on November 10th when we will feature 'Tis the Season from the Holiday Expressions catalog! 

Products used are all Close To My Heart

Paper: Grateful Heart Paper Pack, White Daisy Cardstock, Glacier Cardstock, Mink Cardstock, Silver Glitter Paper
Stamps: Wonder of the Season
Inks: Sapphire, Glacier, Heather
Accessories: Flower Market Cartridge, Fancy Tags Thin Cuts, Decorative Border Thin Cuts, Blue Burlap Ribbon, White Pearls, Clear Shimmer Brush, Foam Tape

Enjoy,

Alyson