AH 356 - Distress Ink with Watercolour

Welcome to Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge 356!

Although this sketch is horizontally oriented, I rotated it 90 degrees to make it a vertical card. 

Distress inks are completely new to me - I watched some videos to get a few ideas and saw a technique I really liked. It involved colouring the base with one or more distress inks (I chose only one) and then using a background stamp with water applied to the stamp and pressing down on the coloured base. The pattern really shows up when the base is heated - that is how I got the lines imprinted on the base of my card. 

I used a sentiment that fit perfectly inside one of the Stitched Bracket Thin Cuts. I manually added a white border as I felt it needed to be mounted. The flowers and leaves were stamped, coloured and die cut. I added some pink shimmer trim and turquoise ribbon on top. The flowers were brushed with the Clear Shimmer Brush as well. 

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: White Daisy Cardstock, Ballerina Cardstock, Lagoon Cardstock, Watercolour Paper, Neenah Solar White Cardstock

Stamps: Sentiment Collection (Penny Black), Cherry Blossoms (Pretty Pink Posh), Stripe Jingle Background (SSS)

Inks: Lagoon, Intense Black, Peacock Feathers Distress Ink (Ranger)

Accessories: Cherry Blossom Dies (Pretty Pink Posh), Stitched Bracket Thin Cuts, Soft Pink Shimmer Trim, Clear Shimmer Brush, Pink Gems, Tri-Blend Markers, Lagoon Ribbon (misc.), Thin Foam Tape

Enjoy,

Alyson

Technique Blog Hop - Colour Your World

Welcome to the February Technique Blog Hop. 

The title of this month's bog hop is "Colour Your World" - the technique is colouring. 

You should have arrived here from Melissa Robinson’s blog. 

Colouring is not a strength of mine but I do the best I can... and I enjoy it. 

I chose to use the Shared Happiness stamp set but in a different way than  the stamp is intended. There is a centre section designed to place a sentiment but I used the floral part and stamped around the border of my card instead. The images were coloured using the Tri-Blend markers. Some Stickles were added to the centres of the pink flowers and I coloured some Clear Sparkles to place in the centre of the purple flowers. I cut to rectangles using the Stitched Rectangle Thin Cuts and created a small shaker that also contains the sentiment.

I hope you enjoyed my project. 

The next blog on this hop is Michelle Loncar’s blog. 

I am sure she has something wonderful to share with you. 

Products used are Close To My Heart unless otherwise indicated: 

Paper: White Daisy Cardstock, Wisteria Cardstock, Clover Cardtock, White Daisy Cards and Envelopes 

Stamps: Shared Happiness, Life is a Journey

Inks: Clover, Wisteria, Intense Black 

Accessories: Tri-Blend Markers, Clear Sparkles, Goldrush Stickles, Stitched Rectangle Thin Cuts, Silver Loose Sequins, Clear Shimmer Brush, Foam Tape, Acetate (not CTMH)

Enjoy,

Alyson

CD 381 - Just Because

Welcome to Colour Dare Challenge #381.

This week, there is a palette from which to choose at least three colours. Black, White and all other neutrals are free to use. 

I wanted to focus my cards around the Lagoon and Glacier colour scheme and then add a bolder colour for some of the flowers. I chose to use Nectarine and Lemonade for that purpose. 

There are several stitched dies used on my card - and I based the design on an older Mojo Monday sketch. The floral arrangement was coloured using Lagoon and Glacier for the leaves and Nectarine and Lemonade for the flowers. A few sparkles were added to the flowers. The outside edges of the large flowers along with the small flowers were brushed with the Clear Shimmer Brush.

The sentiment was stamped and then die cut using a curved banner die. 

Come and join us at Colour Dare and show us how you use the palette 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: Mix-In Paper Pack, Central Park Paper Pack, White Daisy Cardstock, Black Cardstock, Glacier Cardstock 

Stamps: Shared Happiness, Spruced Up Cardmaking Workshop

Inks: Intense Black, Lagoon

Accessories: Spruced Up Cardmaking Workshop Thin Cuts, Stitched Rectangle Thin Cuts, Scallop Border Thin Cuts, Shaker Window Thin Cuts, Square Stitched Dies (GMD), Tri-Blend Markers, Touch Markers (not CTMH), Sharpie Markers, Bitty Sparkles, Clear Sparkles, Clear Shimmer Brush, Foam Tape 

Enjoy, 

Alyson

How Sweet It Is...

I don't have a lot of extra time to enter challenges but I did have some time this afternoon to create a Valentine's card. 

I began with my Cricut and created an appropriate sized heart to fit the stamp I wanted to use. I also created a ring for the heart to turn it into a shaker card. The other hearts were also cut on my Cricut. I stamped the floral heart image and coloured it, then made it into a shaker. The base of the card was also Cricut cut to allow the shaker to be embedded within the card. Some gold ribbon, gold gems and gold embellishing thread were added, along with the embossed sentiment (in two parts). 

I am entering my card in the following challenges: 

Aud Sentiments (valentine or love sentiment)

Paper Craft Crew (inspiration photo - I used the colours) 

PCC370

Addicted to Stamps (anything goes)

Fusion (photo or sketch - I used the photo) 

Products used are Close To My Heart unless otherwise indicated: 

Paper: Heart Happy Paper Pack, White Daisy Cardstock, Candy Apple Cardstock, Neenah Solar White Cardstock 

Stamps: Card Chatter - Love, All My Love (Concord and 9th)

Inks: Intense Black, Versamark

Accessories: Cricut - Basic Shapes, Tri-Blend Markers, Touch Markers (not CTMH), Gold Embellishing Thread, Gold Embossing Powder, Heat Tool, Loose Silver Confetti, Red Sequins (not CTMH), Acetate (not CTMH), Gold Flecked Gems, Gold Skinny Ribbon, Foam Tape, Thin Foam Tape

Enjoy,

Alyson

H2H - Oh My Heart

Welcome to H2H's weekly challenge! 

This week, the theme is "Oh My Heart". There is a current paper pack by that name and that can certainly be used but that is just one option for this challenge. There are other ways to interpret this theme. 

I chose to use Close To My Heart's valentine paper pack from last year (Heart Happy). I created a heart insert and cut out the pieces on my Cricut machine. I developed a shaker that is embedded in the card front - the way I prefer to make them. The background of the heart was stamped with the second part of the sentiment as the word "Sending" is adhered to the front of the acetate. I added a bow made from Sapphire Crochet Thread and Silver Embellishing Thread and added two strips across the top and bottom. The heart was brushed with the Red Shimmer Brush as well. 

Come and join us at Heart 2 Heart and show us how you interpret this week's theme. 

You have until the end of February 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: Heart Happy Paper Pack, Candy Apple Red Cardstock, Sapphire Cardstock

Stamps: Sending and Wishing (SSS)

Inks: Sapphire

Accessories: Cricut Basic Shapes, Art Philosophy Cricut Cartridge, Red Shimmer Brush, Sending Die (SSS), Blue Crochet Thread, Silver Embellishing Thread, Silver Loose Sequins, Other Sequins (red, light blue, white) (not CTMH), Foam Tape, Acetate (not CTMH)

Enjoy,

Alyson

TSOT 443 - You are my Happy

Welcome to Try Stampin on Tuesday Challenge #443!

This week, there is a choice if you wish - there is a sketch and a technique. You can choose to do one or the other - or both! 

I decided to use both the sketch and add stitching to my card. I used a sheet of Graphic 45 paper with peacocks on it for the left side and a piece of Willow cardstock on the right. I hand stitched around the edges of those papers, changing the embroidery floss colour when the paper colours changed. I also stitched down the seam of those two papers, alternating the embroidery floss again. 

The peacock father paper was added along with the two banners. I chose to stamp a sentiment in a circle shape and mat it. I also added some hand edging along the two banners. 

Come and join us at Try Stampin on Tuesday and show us how you interpret the 

challenge 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: Graphic 45 Peacock, White Daisy Cardstock, Lemon Cardstock, Carolina Cardstock, Willow Cardstock, Pansy Cardstock, Neenah Solar White Cardstock

Stamps: Greetings Mix 1 (SSS)

Inks: Willow

Accessories: Sharpie Markers, 1 1/4 inch Circle Punch (misc.), 1/1/2 inch Circle Punch (misc.), Purple Gems, Foam Tape, Purple Embroidery Floss, (not CTMH), Green Embroidery Floss, (not CTMH), Needle (not CTMH) Paper Piercer

Enjoy,

Alyson

AH 354 - For You Bird

Welcome to Atlantic Hearts Challenge #354!

I decided to use the Spruced Up Paper Pack to create my card. I love the colours in this pack and the coordinating stamp images. 

The bird, branch and pine cone were stamped, coloured where appropriate and die cut. The sentiment was stamped in two colours (rock and roll technique - same as the branches) and then die cut using a stitched bracket die. The cross pieces are one of the zip strips from the paper pack, backed with Julep Glitter Paper. Everything was organized on top of the cross pieces and adhered. 

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: Spruced Up Paper Pack, French Vanilla Cardstock, Julep Glitter Paper, Neenah Solar White Cardstock 

Stamps: Spruced Up Cardmaking, Say It All

Inks: New England Ivy, Julep, Espresso

Accessories: Spruced Up Cardmaking Thin Cuts, Stitched Bracket Thin Cuts, Tri-Blend Markers, Foam Tape, Thin Foam Tape 

Enjoy,

Alyson

February SOTM Blog Hop

Welcome to the February Stamp of the Month Blog Hop! 

This month, the featured stamp set is called "Cherishing Her". It is a beautiful set with a bouquet of flowers and sentiments that are perfect for so many occasions! 

You should have arrived here from Brandi Robinson's blog.

If you get lost, a list of all participants can be found on Melinda Everitt's blog.

I created two cards for this blog hop. The first is a card that has the bottom section of the front piece cut away. The sentiment shows underneath as it is mounted on the inside of the card. The bouquet of flowers was stamped, coloured and fussy cut. I used both the Stitched Rectangles and Stitched Squares Thin Cuts to cut the shapes I needed. The flower bouquet is mounted with foam tape on the Dreamy Holographic paper. The inside of the card has the second part of the "Smile" message just above where the card sits closed. Some of the flower edges were brushed with the Clear Shimmer Brush. 

The second card that I created has a raised centre panel. The white cardstock was stamped using Versamark ink and then embossed in silver. I cut out the centre rectangle, stamped the sentiment on that piece and then mounted it with foam tape. I used the Pewter Journaling Pen (0.1) to draw around the centre panel. Some of the flowers were brushed with the Clear Shimmer Brush and I coloured some white dots using coordinating markers. 

I hope you enjoyed my cards. 

The next bog on this hop is Haley Dyer's blog.

I am sure she has something amazing to share with you! 

Products used are all Close To My Heart 

Paper: White Daisy Cardstock, Lagoon Cardstock, Pixie Cardstock, Clover Cardstock, Dreamy Holographic Paper 

Stamps: Cherishing Her

Inks: Intense Black, Versamark, Lagoon, Clover, Wisteria 

Accessories: Stitched Rectangle Thin Cuts, Stitched Square Thin Cuts, White Acrylic Hearts, Black and White Dots, Spectrum Noir Markers, Clear Shimmer Brush, Silver Embossing Powder, Pewter Journaling Pen (0.1), Heat Tool, Foam Tape

Enjoy,

Alyson

CD 379 - Medallion Friendship

Welcome to this week's Colour Dare challenge! 

It's all about Valentine's this week - at least it is based on the image that is shown as the inspiration photo. That doesn't mean your project must be Valentine related - just use the colours that are shown. All neutrals are free this week as well.

I chose a sketch from Scrapbooks and Cards - Card Maps #2. I liked the idea of medallions (which I haven't used forever...) 

I started with an ombre pink base and lined it with two striped pieces and scalloped borders. The medallions were created from both cardstock and patterned paper. Some leaves were die cut and buttons were added on top of the medallions. The sentiment is certainly not just for Valentine's Day but is usable for so many occasions. 

Come and join us at Colour Dare and show us how you interpret the photo 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: Celebrate Today Paper Pack, Heart Happy Paper Pack, Craft On Paper Pack, White Daisy Cardstock, Raspberry Cardstock, Carolina Cardstock, Lemonade Cardstock, Julep Cardstock, Neenah Solar White Cardstock

Stamps: A Thousand Thanks 

Inks: Raspberry, Carolina

Accessories: Scalloped Border Thin Cuts, Stitched Flower Thin Cuts, Budding Peony Thin Cuts, Various Buttons, White Twine, Crystal Blue Waxy Flax, Blush Waxy Flax

Enjoy,

Alyson

H2H - Bluebird Colour Challenge

Welcome to this week's Heart 2 Heart challenge! 

It's a colour challenge this week - and that colour is Bluebird. It is a gorgeous shade of blue and one of my favourite colours in the Close To My Heart colour palette. 

I found a stunning card on Pinterest that used a background stamp that I recently purchased. Unfortunately, there was no watermark on the card so I can’t give credit to the artist... 

I stamped the background stamp using Black Pigment Ink and then embossed it using Clear Detail embossing powder. I lined around each of the flowers and stems using a light grey marker and then applied a blending pen to that to soften the colour even more. I then coloured the flowers using one marker (three shades). A chalk marker was used to add the dots. Then sentiment was stamped in black and added to the front along with some bitty pearls on the dots. I'm so happy with how this turned out! 

Come and join us at Heart 2 Heart and show us how you use the Bluebird colour in your project. 

You have until the end of January 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: White Daisy Cardstock, Black Cardstock
Stamps: Flora Background (SSS), Wordfetti
Inks: Black, Black Pigment Ink
Accessories: Clear Detail Embossing Powder, Heat Tool, Tri-Blend Markers (Ice Grey, True Blue, Blender), Chalk Marker, Bitty Pearls 

Enjoy,

Alyson