H2H - Love of Colour Peony Flower

Welcome to this week's Heart 2 Heart challenge! 

If you are not yet familiar with the Love of Colour book, you need to be! It is a fabulous resource created by Close To My Heart that lists all the current colours and provides three colour schemes that work with each of those colours. The three colour schemes that are provided for each colour use three, four of five colours from the CTMH colour palette. 

Whether you struggle to put fabulous colour combinations together or not, this is a must-have resource. The projects shown alone are a terrific starting point when you are having creative-block and can't decide where to begin. Then there are the colour schemes that provide so much inspiration as well. 

This week, Heart 2 Heart is asking you to choose one colour scheme from the Love of Colour book to use for your project. There are so many from which to choose! 

I narrowed my choices down to two - and it was TOUGH! It came down to 

a) Pansy, Lagoon and Peacock

or

b) Raspberry, Lagoon and Peacock

Both contain my favourite colours... but the second combination won. 

I chose to colour the flowers in Raspberry and the leaves in Lagoon. Peacock was an accent colour only. I did have to cheat a tiny bit for the flower centres and add a light pink.

Come and join us at Heart 2 Heart and show us which colour combination you select from 

Love of Colour! 

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

We can't wait to see what you create! 

Products are as follows: 

Paper: Documented Paper Pack, White Daisy Cardstock, Raspberry Cardstock, Lagoon Cardstock, Teal Glitter Paper (all CTMH), Neenah Solar White Cardstock
Stamps: Budding Peony (CTMH)
Inks: Intense Black, Lagoon (both CTMH)
Accessories: Budding Peony Thin Cuts, Lagoon Glitter Gems, Tender Pink, Turquoise Green ShinHan Markers, Foam Tape (all CTMH), Rose Red ShinHan Marker (Other), Oval Dies, Scalloped Dies (both Nestabilities)

Enjoy,
Alyson

CD 327 - BIG Birthday Flower

Welcome to Colour Dare Challenge #327! 

This week, it is a Tic Tac Toe board - and these challenges offer SO MANY possibilities! You can choose a row but add as many of the other colours as you wish or you can just go ahead and use ALL the colours on the grid. We do want to know which colours you chose, however, so please indicate that for us in your post.

I chose to use TWO rows - the bottom row of Willow, Raspberry and Carolina and the last column of Pewter, Ballerina and Carolina. 

I actually wasn't planning to use Pewter at all but as I was creating my card, I found that I really needed a lighter colour for the centre of my flower and Ballerina worked well. I wanted to make another row, which then meant adding Pewter to the mix... It ended up working really well inside the flower. 

I stamped the background on the Carolina cardstock using the same colour of ink. The leaves were stamped on patterned paper and outlined with a marker for emphasis. This flower is one of my favourite stamps but I don't use it often as it is so overwhelming. I love the way it turned out with the Raspberry marker colour. 

Come and join us at Colour Dare and show us how you use the Tic Tac Toe grid shown above. Although we use Close To My Heart colours for reference, you can use any products for your project. Just stay as close to the listed colours as possible. You have two weeks to link up your project - we can't wait to see what you create!

Products used are as follows: 

Paper: White Daisy Cardstock, Ballerina Cardstock, Carolina Cardstock, Pewter Cardstock, Cats and Bats Paper Pack (all Close To My Heart), Neenah Solar White Cardstock

Stamps: Blended Bloom (SU), Wild Rose (Pretty Pink Posh), Holiday Tags (Close To My Heart)

Inks: Intense Black, Willow, Pewter, Carolina (all Close To My Heart)

Accessories: Artistry Cartridge, Black and White Dots, Scallop Border Thin Cuts (all Close To My Heart), Wild Rose Dies (Pretty Pink Posh), Rectangular Stitched Dies (GM Designs), ShinHan Markers (other)

Enjoy,

Alyson

AH 300 - Multiple Roses card

Welcome to Atlantic Hearts Sketch 300! 

This is an interesting sketch, for sure! There are a lot of details provided in the sketch and although a sketch is always a guide, you don't have to follow the shapes exactly. In my case, I did follow several of the shapes as shown... I found it kind of hard not to do that. I really look forward to seeing how the rest of the design team interprets this sketch and then how participants interpret it as well :) 

I used a triple stamping flower to create my roses and three shades of purple (from lightest to darkest). After laying out the design on white cardstock, it looked very empty so I added a piece of patterned Kraft cardstock underneath and that provided a much better base for the design. I did want a sentiment on the front so I replaced the arrow with a skinny sentiment. 

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 unless otherwise indicated: 

Paper: White Daisy Cardstock, Rustic Home Fundamentals, Adventure Fundamentals, Pansy Cardstock, Neenah Solar White Cardstock

Stamps: Sending Smiles, Beautiful You

Inks: Lilac, Thistle, Pansy, Willow, Clover

Accessories: Beautiful You Thin Cuts, Basic Circle Thin Cuts, Stitched Circle Thin Cuts

Enjoy,

Alyson

H2H - Hello Friend Card

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

It's all about technique this week - and creating your own random stamped background. This is not hard to do at all. 

Just select at least three stamps - and work in triangles. Each stamp should form a triangle when it is stamped three times. You will see a "random" pattern emerging as you do this - and don't be afraid to stamp off the edges of the paper as well because patterns don't end before the edges of the paper! It really is very easy to do. 

Once you have your stamped background, use it on your project - it's that easy :) 

I chose to use some leaves and flowers to create my background, along with the occasional heart. I chose a floral cluster to go in the bottom left corner and a sentiment around which I also stamped. 

The close-up shows the shimmer on the floral cluster which doesn't show up in the large photo. 

Come and join us at Heart 2 Heart and show us your random stamped project. You have until the end of January to link up with this or any of the other January challenges. 

We can't wait to see what you create!

Products used are all Close To My Heart unless otherwise indicated: 

Paper: Feels Like Home Paper Pack, Fern Cardstock, Linen Cardstock, Neenah Solar White Cardstock

Stamps: I Heart Us Cardmaking, Budding Peony

Inks: Sugarplum, Fern, Sapphire, Intense Black

Accessories: Gold Glitter Gems, ShinHan Markers, (not CTMH), Sugarplum Shimmer Brush, Clear Shimmer Brush, Foam Tape

Enjoy,

Alyson

Variety of Sympathy Cards

I was asked a while ago to create some sympathy cards for a friend. I don't think anyone likes making sympathy cards as they are never for an occasion for which we want to create... however, it is always nice to have a handmade card on hand. 

These ones were quick and easy - all are from patterns in Make It From Your Heart - Vol.4. 

I also chose the colour schemes from Love of Colour. 

I did a couple of each card to make things go a little faster. 

The first card was based on a flourish die from Penny Black. The papers are all retired Fundamental papers with ribbon placed lengthwise. 

The second card was based on a Memory Box die called Stem Triptych and I love how the stem is broken into three parts.

The last card was based on three dies from Creative Expressions called Queen Anne's Lace. I love the look of these when they are cut and I decided to group them together and 

tie the bottom with a bow. 

Hopefully these cards will be put to good use!

Products used are all CTMH unless otherwise indicated: 

Paper: White Daisy Cardstock, Sweet Leaf Cardstock, Canary Cardstock, Ballerina Cardstock, Whimsy Fundamentals, Fern Cardstock, Sage Cardstock, Mint Cardstock, Peacock Cardstock, Falling for You Paper Pack, So Much Happy Paper Pack, Almond Cardstock, Espresso Cardstock, Peacock Cardstock, Saffron Cardstock, Documented Paper Pack, White Daisy Cards and Envelopes

Stamps: Say It All, Know That I Care

Inks: Sweet Leaf, Mint, Peacock, Espresso

Accessories: Pink Gems, Yellow Sequins, Yellow Seam Binding (unknown), Yellow Thin Ribbon (unknown), Whimsy Ribbon Pack, Thistle Skinny Ribbon, Goldrush Twine, Green and Silver Twine (SU), Peacock Ribbon, Elegant Die (Penny Black), Queen Anne's Lace Die (Creative Expressions), Stem Triptych Die (Memory Box), Foam Tape

Enjoy,

Alyson

CD 325 - Happy Roses

I am so happy to be back on the Colour Dare Design Team again! 

This is my first challenge of the new year and I LOVE this colour scheme... almost all intense, dark colours plus Glacier, which is one of my favourites! 

The challenge is to use at least three colours but you can use all of them if you wish. I chose to use all of them, plus white. 

The Heather (grey) comes in as the woodgrain background. I die cut the flowers in the purple shades and the "leaves" with the blue/green shades. Bitty Sparkles were added just for a bit of interest. I stamped the sentiment using the rock 'n roll technique with both Sugarplum and Eggplant inks. 

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. Don't forget that although we use Close To My Heart names to identify the colours, you are welcome to use any products to create your project. 

Products used are listed below:

Paper: Gimme Some Sugar Paper Pack, White Daisy Cardstock, Eggplant Cardstock, Peacock Cardstock, Glacier Cardstock, Sugarplum Cardstock, Sugarplum Glitter Paper (all CTMH), Neenah Solar White Cardstock

Stamps: Sentiment Collection (Penny Black)

Inks: Sugarplum, Eggplant (CTMH)

Accessories: Bitty Sparkles, Basic Circle Thin Cuts, Stitched Circle Thin Cuts (CTMH), Springtime Impressions Thinlets, Petals and More Thinlets (SU)

Enjoy,

Alyson

AH 298 - Nesting Birds Card

Welcome to a new year and my first post back with Atlantic Hearts! 

I LOVE wreaths on cards and this is an adorable one... This sketch lent itself so well to a wreath and some little birdies on a branch! 

I die cut the wreath, branch and birds and placed the birds so it looks like the mama bird is watching her little ones. The woodgrain paper was a perfect backdrop for this scene. Although the sketch didn't call for s sentiment, I thought it looked empty without one so I added a small one in the left corner. 

I brushed the birds with the Sugarplum Shimmer Brush - a close-up of that can be seen below. 

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 are as follows: 

Paper: Feels Like Home Paper Pack, Fern Cardstock, Charcoal Cardstock, Sugarplum Cardstock, Sugarplum Glitter Paper (all CTMH), Neenah Solar White Cardstock

Stamps: Budding Peony (CTMH)

Inks: Charcoal (CTMH)

Accessories: Sugarplum Glitter Gems, Sugarplum Shimmer Brush (CTMH), Green Ribbon, Swirly Scribble Thinlets (SU), Woodland Branch Die, Resting Birds Die (Memory Box), Black Sharpie Marker

Enjoy,

Alyson 

The Important Things LO

Welcome back to Heart 2 Heart! 

I hope you had an amazing Christmas holiday! 

Now it's time to get back into the swing of things here at Heart 2 Heart. 

The first challenge of the year is titled "The Important Things". Different things are important to people - family, friends, pets, heirlooms - something might be important to someone and it's not our place to determine what that is. Everyone has an "important thing" in his/her life. This week at Heart 2 Heart, it's time to celebrate those important things! 

I have some very important people in my life, but I can't possibly celebrate all of them in one post. I wish I could! However, for the purpose of this post, I chose to do this twofold. The family below is very important to me. They are from my church family and are such an inspiration. This layout was actually a Christmas gift and was framed for them. 

The papers in this layout were a real mix from a variety of paper packs... It was hard to find the right combination of papers to work with the colours in the picture. I had piles of paper packs piled up with sheets pulled from about 20 paper packs until I finally found what I wanted! 

I used watercolour paints to splatter the background - and I am still finding blue paint on my white studio furniture today as it was too cold to do that outside. It is amazing how far paint travels in that process! The title was stamped with pigment ink and embossed. 

The other little details were added after the photo was placed and the large Cricut cut pieces were adhered. I am so happy with how this turned out. 

Truly, the important things matter. Celebrate yours! 

Come and share your important things with us at Heart 2 Heart - you have until the end of January to link up you project. 

Products used are all Close To My Heart

Paper: Linen Cardstock, Espresso Cardstock, Ruby Cardstock, White Glitter Paper, Fresh Air Paper Pack, Boutique Paper Pack, Jack Paper Pack, Grateful Heart Paper Pack

Stamps: Grateful Heart Cardmaking, Chelsea Gardens Scrapbooking

Inks: Black, Espresso, Charcoal, Ruby, Sapphire, Sapphire Pigment Ink

Accessories: Flower Market Cartridge, Gold Shimmer Brush, Clear Detail Embossing Powder, Heat Tool, Watercolour Paints, Paint Brushes, Thin Foam Tape, Foam Tape, Gold Pearls, Gold Flecked Gems, 3-D Foam Dots

Enjoy,

Alyson

Wood Squares Birthday Card

I have several masculine birthdays coming up quickly and those types of cards are some of the most difficult for me to create. Relying on Pinterest is almost always helpful and today, I found a terrific card that I completely CASEd. 

Full credit goes to Kristie Marcotte for this design. Her blog is terrific - well worth checking out! This card must have been created way back as I scrolled through several pages but didn't see it there. 

I wanted to do something that had at least two shapes in it 

to meet the requirements for the 

Double Trouble design challenge. 

I only met the first part of the challenge as 

I don't have any birds on my card 

and I didn't enter any additional challenges...

Woodgrain is so perfect for masculine cards so I wanted to use that as much as I could for my card. The background is embossed with a hardwood pattern and I used two wood-type papers for the square grid. Love how this turned out. 

Products used are as follows: 

Paper: Espresso Cardstock, Almond Cardstock, Fresh Air Paper Pack (all CTMH), Wood Textures DSP (SU), Neenah Solar White Cardstock

Stamps: Happy Birthday (CTMH)

Inks: Espresso (CTMH)

Accessories: Basic Shapes (Cricut), Basic Circle Thin Cuts, Stitched Circle Thin Cuts, Gold Pearls (all CTMH), Hardwood Embossing Folder (SU)

Enjoy,

Alyson