Colour Dare 299 - Friend Wreath

Welcome to this week's Colour Dare Challenge! 

It's another Tic Tac Toe board!

These are so much fun because we don't limit you to to using just a line... you can use one line, two lines, the entire board or just a selection of colours if you want. The only thing you cannot do is add colours that are not on the board. So, GO FOR IT! 

I wanted to use the Fresh Air paper pack, and it is that paper pack on which this tic tac toe board is based, so my choice of lines is the top one and the diagonal line going down to the right. 

The stamp sets I used with the exception of the sentiments are (surprisingly) Christmas stamps. The wreath and all the trimmings are indeed from Christmas stamps but I purposely avoided the berries as they would really need to be stamped in a red colour and that obviously wouldn't fit the colour scheme here. I suppose I could have done them using Nutmeg but it just wasn't quite the same.

The wreath itself is barely visible as I stamped it in Glacier but with all the extras on top, it is almost completely covered. Leaves, branches and flowers were added. I hand cut the flowers but everything else was stamped directly onto the wreath. 

The New England Ivy Burlap Twine was cut into individual pieces (it comes flat with 6 pieces that can be cut apart to make individual stands). An old button was threaded with Juniper twine for a finishing touch. 

Come and join us at Colour Dare and show us how you use this awesome Tic Tac Toe board. You have two weeks to link up your project. 

Products used are Close To My Heart unless otherwise indicated:

Paper: Fresh Air Paper Pack, Linen Cardstock, New England Ivy Cardstock, Nutmeg Cardstock

Stamps: White Pines Cardmaking Workshop (ret.), Season of Magic (ret.), Extra Special (Altenew)

Inks: New England Ivy, Glacier, Juniper, Nutmeg

Accessories: New England Ivy Burlap Ribbon, Whimsy Ribbon Pack, Button (ret.), Foam Tape, Thin Foam Tape, Scallop Border Punch (ret.), ShinHan Marker

Enjoy,

Alyson

Glitter Friend Card

With some extra time on my hands today, I decided to create a card for the challenge at Tuesday Morning Sketches. It has been a LONG time since I have submitted a card to this challenge but I do follow their sketches each week. 

Colouring flowers red is always a challenge because they often end up looking like they belong on Christmas cards... I wanted to do something that wouldn't be like that so that was my challenge to myself as I worked on this card. I chose a background that was glittery but not a Christmas pattern. I had a hard time deciding on the flourishes - nothing seemed to work (either too big or too small). I really didn't want to resort to my Cricut but it ended up being the best option. The paper between the front and the cardstock base is vellum. I did cut the front piece with a stitched die but it is very hard to see in the photograph. 

I am not an expert in colouring by any means - I am a mere beginner and am self-taught. Anything I have learned has been from the few videos I have watched. I really need a lot of help in this area :) 

Check out the glitter on the background piece of this card! It's hard to see in the large photograph. 

Here is the sketch on which I based my card for this challenge. 

Products used are Close To My Heart unless otherwise indicated:

Paper: White Daisy Cardstock, Peacock Cardstock, Vellum, Silver Foil Paper, Blue/Green Glitter Paper (unknown)

Stamps: Wild Rose (Pretty Pink Posh), Beautiful Friendship (ret.)

Inks: Black Pigment Ink, Versamark

Accessories: Art Philosophy Cartridge (ret.), Clear Sparkles, White Embossing Powder, Heat Tool, Wild Rose Dies (Pretty Pink Posh), ShinHan Markers, Rectangle Stitched Dies (GMD)

Enjoy,

Alyson

Wishing You Smiles Splatter Ink Butterfly

I have been wanting to get another card together for the Double Trouble Challenge - and also try something I haven't done for a while at the same time. 

This card took me a long time to create but it also made me think carefully about how I wanted to do this for a few reasons. First - there is a restriction of colours with this challenge. You can only use three specific colours (plus black and white if desired, but since Nutmeg is one of the colours, black really doesn't fit). Second, I need to have a form of string. Finally, I also want to link up with the Three Amigos challenge and that requires a form of die cutting. 

So - I started with my largest block and three ink pads - Glacier, Sorbet and Nutmeg. I inked up the block, spritzed it with water once and turned it upside down on watercolour paper. It took me three attempts before I had something that looked like it was usable. 

Next was on to my Cricut machine to find a decent butterfly. That was sliced on a larger piece of white cardstock than required and then run through my Big Shot with a stitched die to form the outline. The butterfly still had the outer border around it but it worked for my purpose. The wishing die was cut four times and adhered on top of each other. 

The butterfly and background were foam taped to the inked background with many tiny pieces that took forever! The sentiment was added and then the twine formed the body of the butterfly. A couple of the inked pieces were added to the inside of the card. 

Double Trouble Thing 1 - specific colours - done 

Double Trouble Thing 2 - string things - done

Double Trouble Thing 3 - link up to Colour Dare challenge - done

Three Amigos Challenge - use die cutting in project - done 

Products used are Close To My Heart unless otherwise indicated:

Paper: White Daisy Cardstock, Glacier Cardstock Nutmeg Cardstock, Watercolour Paper

Stamps: Sending and Wishing (SSS)

Inks: Glacier, Sorbet, Nutmeg

Accessories: Art Philosophy Cartridge (ret.), Stitched Rectangles (GM Designs), Wishing Die (SSS), Foam Tape, Glacier Twine (ret.)

Enjoy,

Alyson

AH 270 - Happy Times Friend Card

Welcome to Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge #270! 

I love this week's sketch - for that matter, I love most of the Atlantic Hearts sketches! There are always so many possibilities with the sketches. This week, though, I chose to stay very true to the sketch because I had something in mind as soon as I saw it. 

Right away, it reminded me of the Happy Times stamp set that I used on my card. I also love the sentiment stamp that I used as well. There are terrific sentiments in that particular stamp collection and I have cut so many of them to fit on various cards but this one was perfect for this card.  Quite a while ago, I saw a card on Pinterest that used the sequins along the bottom but I don't know who did it - I wish I did, so I knew who to credit with that fabulous idea! I placed a thin strip of gold paper behind the ribbon, just to set it off a little bit. The sequins are actually white but were coloured with a marker. 

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 all Close To My Heart

Paper: Happy Times Paper Pack, White Daisy Cardstock, Raspberry Cardstock

Stamps: Happy Times (ret.), A Friend Like You (ret.)

Inks: Fern, Raspberry, Tangerine, Canary

Accessories: Thin Foam Tape, White Sequins (ret.), ShinHan Marker, Whimsy Ribbon Collection

Enjoy,

Alyson

H2H - Copycat for a BIG Thank You!

Welcome to another Heart 2 Heart Challenge! 

This week, we are challenging you to find something in the Seasonal Expressions 2 catalog and make it your own - hence the title of the challenge, which is "Copycat". If you don't have a copy of the catalog, there is a link on the right side of my blog - it is the orange catalog - and you can browse the catalog there for ideas. 

I have been wanting to use one of the two large dies that were just introduced in this catalog - so I chose the A Big Thank You die. The sample project is located on page 69 in the catalog and it looks like this: 

I waned to do my project in a monochromatic theme, using shades of blue-green. I was able to use almost all current papers, except for one. I couldn't find a decent Lagoon pattern. The Adventure Fundamentals had the rose pattern and the watercolour pattern, neither which worked well here. I did use the watercolour pattern for the interior heart. I ended up going to the Calypso paper pack for the Lagoon piece as it looked the best. I found the Glacier papers in the Fresh Air and Central Park paper packs and the Peacock piece in the Documented paper pack. 

I played around with the placement of each piece and surprisingly, I like the Peacock piece on the top the best. I wasn't even going to use that paper as I thought it would be too dark. Sometimes, it takes trying different things to see what it looks like! I also used Black Glitter Paper for the background as it stands out more than just plain black cardstock. I added some black gems to one card and decided that they were too much and left them off the other cards. 

Come and join us at Heart 2 Heart and show us which artwork you decided to copy and then make your own. You have until the end of June to enter this or any of the June challenges. 

Products used are all Close To My Heart

Paper: Documented Paper Pack, Central Park Paper Pack, Fresh Air Paper Pack, Calypso Paper Pack (ret.), Adventure Fundamentals, Black Glitter Paper, White Cards and Envelopes

Stamps: none

Inks: none

Accessories: Black and White Dots, A Big Thanks You Die

Enjoy,

Alyson

SaveSave

With Sympathy

No-one ever likes to have to create sympathy cards - it is probably a good idea to have a handful of them on hand for occasion that call for one. 

This one is for a funeral coming up in a couple of days. I found the idea on Pinterest and it fit the situation perfectly. Simple and straightforward with a message inside the card. The flowers were stamped at varying heights to allow for the sentiment to be placed in the upper corner. Very easy and it came together pretty quickly. 

Hopefully, I won't have another one of these to do for a while... 

Products used are Close To My Heart unless otherwise indicated: 

Paper: White Daisy Cardstock, Thistle Cardstock, Whimsy Fundamentals (ret.)

Stamps: Flowering Fields (SU), Flourishing Phrases (SU)

Inks: Thistle, New England Ivy

Accessories: ShinHan Markers

Enjoy,

Alyson

Colour Dare 297 - Just Because

Welcome to another Colour Dare Challenge! 

This week, it's an interesting colour combination... Glacier, Nutmeg and Sorbet. Being honest, two of these aren't my favourite colours and I rarely use them (Sorbet and Nutmeg) but together, they look really good because they both have orange undertones. Glacier has a blue undertone (obviously) and they work remarkably well as a group of three - I was very surprised. 

I embossed a piece of Nutmeg cardstock using a deep woodgrain embossing folder - unfortunately, that barely shows up in the photo. The Glacier piece along the bottom was punched using a border punch that I have had for ages and not used in years! I Cricut cut the doily behind the flower and I brushed the lines of the flower with the Clear Shimmer Brush. This card is so much prettier in real life than in the photo.

Come and join us at Colour Dare and show us how you use the colours shown above. You have two weeks to link up your project. 

Products used are Close To My Heart unless otherwise indicated: 

Paper: Whimsy Fundamentals, White Daisy Cardstock, Glacier Cardstock, Sorbet Cardstock, Nutmeg Cardstock

Stamps: Say it All (ret.), Keep Dreaming (ret.)

Inks: Glacier, Tuxedo Black Memento Ink

Accessories: Artiste Cartridge (ret.), Woodgrain Embossing Folder (SU), Border Punch (not CTMH), ShinHan Markers, Clear Shimmer Brush

Enjoy,

Alyson

Fold Down Card Box - Gimme Some Sugar

I love these fold down card boxes and the Gimme Some Sugar paper pack was one of my favourite paper packs from the previous catalog. I had just a few pieces of it left - just enough to create this box for the card set that I purchased from a friend and wonderfully talented fellow consultant - Brenda Rose. She designed the standard size and 3x4 size cards that are inside. I had to make envelopes to fit the 3x4 cards. Then I made 6 tags to fit in the smallest section. 

The large pink flowers have been brushed with the Bashful Shimmer Brush but it doesn't show in the photos. It is very noticeable in real life. 

I just love giving these sets of cards and tags away - creating them is so enjoyable and people are always so thrilled to receive them :) 

Products used are Close To My Heart unless otherwise indicated:

Paper: Gimme Some Sugar Paper Pack, White Daisy Cardstock, Bashful Cardstock, Juniper Cardstock, Bashful Glitter Paper, White Cards and Envelopes

Stamps: Short and Sweet, For You Darling, Chelsea Gardens - Cardmaking (ret.), Sending Smiles

Inks: Black

Accessories: Art Philosophy Cartridge (ret.), Flower Market Cartridge, Bitty Sparkles, Clear Sparkles, Bashful Shimmer Brush, White Twine, White and Gold Ribbon, Pentel Pen (not CTMH), Stapler, Whimsy Ribbon Collection, Large Hole Punch (not CTMH), Juniper Ribbon (ret.), PML White Frame Overlays (ret.)

Enjoy,

Alyson

AH 268 - Be Brave, Be Bold... Single Layer Card

Welcome to Challenge #268 at Atlantic Hearts! 

It's a very interesting sketch this week... if interpreted exactly, we will have a lot of birds in the challenge but remember - a sketch is a starting point only! 

I chose first to turn the sketch around 90 degrees. Second, I decided to replace the bird with a large sentiment and the pine branches with flowers and leaves that surrounded the sentiment. I still wanted the white space at the bottom and I wanted a small sentiment there as well - accomplished all of those things. I don't create single layer cards very often but the only embellishment on my card are little gems in the centre of the flowers. I also used just two markers - and simply doubled or tripled the colouring to darken some sections. I stamped using regular ink, so I had to be extra careful to try not to touch the lines as I was colouring to avoid bleeding. 

I actually wanted to colour the flowers red but there is that ever present dilemma that red flowers with green leaves will look like Christmas... Anyone else struggle with that? 

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 used are Close To My Heart unless otherwise indicated: 

Paper: White Daisy Cardstock, Lagoon Cardstock

Stamps: Beautiful You, Be You, Bamboo Roses (Altenew)

Inks: Peacock

Accessories: ShinHan Markers. Aqua Gems (ret.)

Enjoy,

Alyson

Who Needs Patterned Paper?

My card today uses cardstock only - and there are a lot of things that can be done using ONLY cardstock. I actually didn't do much - just dry embossed one piece and cut a few shapes using my Big Shot and did some colouring. It is amazing how much can be done without using patterned paper. 

And what inspired this card? Well, there is a new challenge out there called Double Trouble. This week, the challenge is to use NO patterned paper and the second part of the challenge is to use some sort of die cut on your project. I have done both of those things. There is also a third part and that is to link up with another challenge - Three Amigos - as they are hosting a die cut challenge - and I am doing that as well. Three for three! 

So, here is my card.

This photo shows the shimmer on the flowers. 

Products used are Close To My Heart unless otherwise indicated: 

Paper: White Daisy Cardstock, Willow Cardstock, Blossom Cardstock, Thistle Cardstock

Stamps: Beautiful Friendship - Cardmaking, Documented - Cardmaking

Inks: Tuxedo Black Memento Ink, Willow

Accessories: Documented Cardmaking Thin Cuts, Spellbinders Decorative Circle Nestabilities (not CTMH), Rose Embossing Folder (Darice), ShinHan Markers, Clear Shimmer Brush, White Twine, Foam Tape, Sharpie Markers (not CTMH)

Enjoy,

Alyson

H2H - Banner Day

Welcome to this week's challenge at Heart 2 Heart! 

It's all about the banners this week - and banners are hot in the paper crafting industry. They can be added in the form of chipboard, stickers, and often they are found on the paper themselves. They can be created using washi tape, or by cutting triangles or banner shapes yourself or using die cutting machines to help create unique ones that can be very sophisticated. They come in all shapes and sizes! 

At Heart 2 Heart, we are asking that you create a project that has some sort of banner. 

I chose to use paper that already had banners printed on it - how easy is that? The Beautiful Friendship paper pack has a few papers with banners printed on them - this is one of the PML cards that I trimmed a little bit to fit my card design. I used a pattern from Make It From Your Heart - Vol. 4. A sentiment can be added inside the card later. 

Come and join us at Heart 2 Heart and show us your projects with banners. You have the entire month of June to enter this or any of the upcoming June challenges. 

Products used are all Close To My Heart

Paper: Beautiful Friendship Paper Pack, Silver Glitter Paper, Canary Cardstock, White Daisy Cardstock

Stamps: Sweet Baby

Inks: Charcoal, Heather, Smoothie

Accessories: Grey Enamel Dots, Adventure Ribbon Collection, Thin Foam Tape, Foam Tape, Sweet Baby Thin Cuts

Enjoy,

Alyson