Thank You Card for Thirty One Hostess

A friend of mine is hosting a Thirty One party next week and she is doing a fabulous job of inviting a ton of guests and making sure everything is in place for her event! I expect it will go really well for her. As part of her hostess gift, she will also be receiving this card that I created for her as a thank you for hosting the event. 

The card was based on an old Verve sketch (shown below the card). I used the Chantilly papers just because I love them! 

 
Products are Close To My Heart unless otherwise noted: 

Paper: Chantilly Paper Pack, White Daisy Cardstock, Hollyhock Cardstock, Pear Cardstock, Buttercup Cardstock, 
Stamps: Thank You (ret.), Scroll Album Workshop (ret.)
Inks: Ruby, Pear, Cotton Candy
Accessories: Artbooking Cartridge, Art Philosophy Cartridge, Flamingo Dots, Bitty Sparkles, Black and Grey Sparkles, Spellbinder Dies (not CTMH), Black Journaling Pen, Foam Tape

Enjoy, 
Alyson

4 My Friend - CASE This Sketch Challenge Card

Another card challenge! It feels so good to get back to doing these again :) This challenge was one that didn't take long as I knew after I looked at the design team's take on the sketch that what I had in mind would work perfectly. I love flourishes and the "Swirls Around" stamp set was perfect for this challenge. Five flourishes fit almost perfectly on a standard card size and then the sentiment could go in the middle. 

So that's another one completed and I had fun - maybe yet another tomorrow if I find some more time!

Products used are Close To My Heart unless otherwise indicated:

Paper: White Daisy Cardstock, Pacifica Cardstock, Cotton Candy Cardstock, Black Cardstock
Stamps: Swirls Around, 4 My Friend
Inks: Ruby, Cotton Candy, Pear, Lagoon, Pacifica, Black
Accessories: Foam Tape, Clear Sparkles, Baker's Twine - Paradise Assortment, Other Baker's Twine (Red, Blue, Pink - not CTMH)

Enjoy, 
Alyson

Love Much, Laugh Often... Atlantic Hearts Challenge Card

Finally, after many months, I am trying a card challenge again! It has been way too long! 

Some members of my upline's team run this challenge blog and I have always wanted to participate but have not had the time until now. As it is, this entry will barely make it in before the deadline this week! I love this challenge blog because it is always a sketch challenge and those are my favourite :) 

So, here is my card. I love this owl stamp set and this is the first time I have used it. I am not good at colouring to begin with, so this was an extra challenge for me. The sketch for the challenge is found below the card. 

Products used are Close To My Heart unless otherwise indicated: 

Paper: White Daisy Cardstock, Ruby Cardstock, Chocolate Cardstock
Stamps: Owls, Big Hug
Inks: Black Pigment Ink, Chocolate Pigment Ink, Pear Pigment Ink, Ruby Pigment Ink
Accessories: Artbooking Cartridge, Burlap Ribbon, Ruby Chevron Ribbon, Green Ribbon (not CTMH), Foam Tape, Ruby Buttons (ret.), Colonial White Waxy Flax (ret.), Blue and Green Epoxy Gems, Copic Markers (not CTMH)

Enjoy, 
Alyson

Completed Album for Departing Minister... (Whew!)

Well, after a few weeks of almost non-stop work, interrupted by a few events, including the funeral of a dear friend of mine, some major car troubles and some other issues, I have managed to complete this album (as of May 29, but there were other things to post first...)! It has consumed all the time I have had available, including some very late nights and early mornings, but it is finally finished. 

I am not going to explain the pages... just post them here. I used mostly Close To My Heart products and I tried to keep the pages simple yet include all the photos that I was able. This minister was responsible for the children and youth programming at my church. I did not do any of the journaling and have left that up to her so she can make it meaningful for herself. I used a lot of flip flaps so there are many hidden photos and often, there is a journaling spot is under those photos as well.  

I hope she enjoys the album - it was certainly a labour of love :) 

Enjoy the photos!

Enjoy, 
Alyson

Get Well Card for a Friend

A friend of mine is having some medical problems lately and is likely looking at surgery to resolve the issue. I created this card for her, just to let her know that I am thinking about her and am there if she needs any help. 

The card was based on an older sketch and I used the Laughing Lola papers to create it. 

Products used are all Close To My Heart: 

Paper: Laughing Lola Paper Pack including cardstock specifically from this kit, White Daisy Cardstock 
Stamps: Card Chatter - Sympathy (ret.)
Inks: Lagoon Pigment Ink, Black Pigment Ink
Accessories: Art Philosophy Cartridge, Clear Detail Embossing Powder (ret.), Heat Tool, Neutral Buttons (ret.), Paradise Flowers (ret.), White Crocheted Flowers (ret.), Paradise Baker's Twine, Purple Glitter Gems, Sparkles Black Flourishes - Small

Enjoy, 
Alyson

June Stamp of the Month Blog Hop - "Kaboom"

Welcome to the Stamp of the Month Blog Hop! We will be featuring June's SOTM, "Kaboom", a set of 16 stamps.  If you have come here from Pamela's Blog, you are on the right path! The blog hop is a great big circle, so you can start here and work your way all around. A complete list of bloggers can be found here.  

This month we have approximately 50 Close To My Heart Consultants sharing their creations using this month's SOTM and fabulous Close To My Heart products on their blogs. Just click on the link at the end of the post on each blog to move to the next one!

The stamp set looks like this: 

I chose to create a card with some of the stamps in this set. The card is actually a birthday card but that sentiment is inside the card. 

Products used are all Close To My Heart:

Paper: Lollydoodle Paper Pack, White Daisy Cardstock, Sunset Cardstock, White Daisy Die-Cut Cards and Envelopes

Stamps: Kaboom

Inks: Pigment Inks: Juniper, Sunset, Pear, Cotton Candy

Accessories: Flamingo Dots, Aqua Dots, Foam Tape

 Now "hop" on over to Jill's Blog to see her work! Be sure to visit all the consultants at their blogs to get some great crafting ideas and other fun ideas! Remember, the June SOTM is only available until the last day of June! 

Click here to see how you can get this stamp set for 

just $5 this month!

Enjoy, 

Alyson

Mini-Album Complete - Goodbye to Our Choir Director :(

As I mentioned in an earlier post, our beloved choir director at church is retiring this June. I have completed the mini-album for him... I just wish I had more time to put into this project but I also have to do a complete 12x12 album in the next 2 weeks for a minister who is also leaving! 

So, with that in mind, I did this album using the Pro Player Paper Pack and some co-ordinating embellishments. There is no stamping but I did use my Cricut a fair bit. Each page is shown, including the cover. I used two Cricut cartridges in addition to the CTMH cartridges for some musical images. Those cartridges are identified in my supply list in case you are looking for the details. 

The front cover is shown first, followed by each of the facing pages in the album. 

I hope he enjoys this album of memories from the choir. He has certainly made a huge impact on each of the members who has worked under him. We will miss him dearly. 

Products used are Close To My Heart unless otherwise indicated: 

Paper: Pro Player Paper Pack, Black Cardstock, White Daisy Cardstock, Ruby Cardstock, Pacifica Cardstock, Slate Cardstock, Whisper Cardstock
Stamps: None
Inks: Black, Ruby, Pacifica
Accessories: Cricut Cartridges - Art Philosophy, Artbooking, Musical Notes (not CTMH), Quarter Note (not CTMH), Tiny Type Epoxy Alphabet, Baker's Twine - Red and Blue (not CTMH), Kraft 3-Ring Album, Music Notes Embossing Folder (not CTMH), Black Journaling Pen, Corner Rounder, Ruby Mini-Medley Collection, Black Mini-Medley Collection, Base and Bling Black Jewels, Pro Player Assortment, Slate Mini-Medley Collection (ret.), Cork Colour-Ready Alphabet (ret.), Irresistible Dots Colour-Ready Alphabet (ret.)  

Enjoy, 
Alyson

The Start of a Gift Album

The Lead Minister at church spoke to me last week regarding the creation of an album for a minister of ours who is departing. When he gave me the timeline, I almost fell on the floor... just three weeks away! I also have the gift album for our choir director to complete as well... but such is life, so I guess I will be awfully busy for the next while! 

So, with that in mind, my focus on what to do first has changed! This minister's focus is on the children and youth program, so right now, I only have a handful of photos, but more are promised to be coming my way early next week! Here is the first layout I have completed. I am trying to keep it simple (but that is not my usual style for anyone who knows me...) I used a pattern from "Make It from the Heart - Volume 1" as my guide. 

Since there were so many colours in the photos, the Skylark paper pack worked well for this - the Desert Sand helped to ground the photos and the soft greens, turquoise and touches of yellow added the right touches of colour. 

The first photo shows the two page layout and the following photos show each page individually. I am going to leave the journaling spots open on all the layouts for the recipient to write in on her own, so she can personalize them so they mean more to her. 

Products used are Close To My Heart unless otherwise indicated: 

Paper: Skylark Paper Pack, White Daisy Cardstock, Lagoon Cardstock, Sweet Leaf Cardstock, Desert Sand Cardstock

Stamps: None

Inks: None

Accessories: Art Philosophy Cartridge, Skylark Assortment, Sarita Assortment, Baker's Twine - Neutral Assortment (ret.), Colour-Ready Evergreen Shapes (ret.), Colour-Ready Cork Alphabet (ret.), Arbour Wooden Shapes, (ret.), Floral Wooden Shapes (ret.) Wooden Bird (not CTMH)

Enjoy, 

Alyson

Thank You Card for Organist/Pianist

Here is another end of season thank you card - this time for the organist/pianist who accompanies our choir at my church. He is an amazing musician and he goes way above and beyond what is expected of him. Aside from that, he has a fabulous sense of humour as well. I just adore him. 

So, our choir always presents him with a thank you card and gift at the end of each season. This card will be signed with a message from each of us. 

Products used are Close To My Heart unless otherwise indicated: 

Paper: Timberline Paper Pack, Bamboo Cardstock, Twilight Cardstock, Black Cardstock, White Daisy Cardstock, Goldrush Cardstock
Stamps: A Little Thanks (ret.)
Inks: Black Pigment Ink, Twilight Pigment Ink, Versamark Ink
Accessories: Art Philosophy Cartridge, Clear Detail Embossing Powder (ret.), Baker's Twine - Harvest Assortment, Cricut - individual images - piano, music notes (not CTMH), Black fine tip marker (not CTMH)

Enjoy, 
Alyson

Thank You Card for Special Choir Director

The Choir Director at my church is retiring at  the end of June and it will be very hard to see him leave. He has done amazing things with our choir but it is time for him and his wife to move to Nova Scotia so he can spend time with his family and his grand kids. I have thoroughly enjoyed working with him and I know the rest of the choir and the congregation feels the same way! 

His last day is June 29 and that is also the day after the Close To My Heart Convention, which I am attending. I was scheduled to fly home that day but since I booked my flight so long ago, I had the foresight to take out full insurance on my flight and I was lucky enough to be able to change it... I am now returning on the evening of the 28th of June - on a red-eye flight. I have never been able to sleep on a plane. I get back to Toronto at 6am on the 29th and will be home just in time to get to the Sunday service to be able to participate in his final service. Our choir is singing an amazing piece of music for him (I have loved working on it already) and there will be a farewell ceremony as well. I don't want to miss that. I will end up missing the very end of the Convention activities on the Saturday evening as I have to leave by 7pm to get to the Los Angeles airport by 10pm but I have a Nexus/GOES card so at least I can bypass customs so I don't have to be there 3 hours in advance! If all goes well, everything should work out OK. I know I will be exhausted when I get back, but that's alright... I expect it.

So, here is the card for the choir to sign. It has an entire 5x7 card inside to allow for more signing space that you cannot see. I am also working on a scrapbook for him as well. I will post that when I am finished. 

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

Paper: Jubilee Paper Pack, Cocoa Cardstock, Colonial White Cardstock, Topiary Cardstock, Indian Corn Blue Cardstock

Stamps: For a Friend

Inks: Topiary Pigment Ink, Indian Corn Blue

Accessories: Artiste Cartridge, Dimensional Elements - 12x9 Awards, Topiary Mini Chevron Ribbon, Baker's Twine - Harvest Assortment, Green and Blue Epoxy Bubbles, Clear Embossing Powder (ret.), Cricut Music Notes Cartridge (not CTMH)

Enjoy, 

Alyson