Atlantic Hearts Sketch 81 - Happy Birthday Card

The sketch at Atlantic Hearts this week was perfect for a birthday card with a specific individual in mind. Masculine, yet still gets the point across in a very pleasant way - just right. 

So, here is my card, along with the sketch.

Products used are Close To My Heart unless otherwise noted: 

Paper: Pathfinding Paper Pack, Glacier Cardstock, Cocoa Cardstock, Olive Cardstock

Stamps: Holiday Tags

Inks: Cocoa

Accessories: Chevron Border Punch, Gold Shimmer Trim, Cocoa Grosgrain Ribbon (ret.), Harvest Baker's Twine (ret.), Neutral Buttons (ret.), Leaf Punch (not CTMH) 

Enjoy, 

Alyson

Cut Above Christmas Cards- with a Slight Twist

I finally decided to pull out my package of Cut Above Christmas Cards and see what I could do with them. I wanted to stay true to what was provided in the package and not add anything else to what was actually given AND use only one colour of ink plus the suggested stamp set. That meant trying to stay true to the original card without changing up too much of what was already there. 

The suggestion in the package was to use Ruby ink but I found Cranberry was a much better colour match. 

I ended up with 5 vertical and 5 horizontal cards: I used all of the twine but not the same length on each card. I did keep to the sparkle on the reindeer's nose on each card... I also did not raise the sentiment piece on every card - I found that there was simply not enough of the foam tape to do that - I cut each square into two pieces and used 4 pieces on each raised sentiment to keep it from falling in. 

I really wanted to use the scallop stamp from the stamp set but I found it SO difficult to line up no matter how many times I tried. I ended up completely ruining one of the sentiment pieces and had to turn it over and create my own background from an older stamp set as you can see in the top photo. I did manage to get it reasonably lined up on one card. 

This is a great kit for the quick creation of 10 Christmas cards for anyone - beginner, intermediate or advanced - who wants to create his/her own cards. Now I want to try the other set!

Products used are all Close To My Heart

Paper: Cut Above Christmas Card Kit

Stamps: Merriest Christmas

Inks: Cranberry, New England Ivy (only because I messed up)

Accessories: none - all were included in the kit! 

Enjoy, 

Alyson

Birdcage Card - Just for You

This gorgeous card is one that I found on Facebook. It took me a bit to find the blog of the creator but it was created by Patricia Manhire and her blog is Patricia Manhire's Creative Corner.

I loved the idea of the card so much that I had to create my own version of it! 

It is made using the Artfully Sent Cartridge - and this is my first time using this cartridge! In addition, it also uses the absolutely adorable November Stamp of the Month, "It's the Little Things". Combining those two products, along with the Brushed Paper Pack makes for a simply beautiful card. 

I have a feeling more of these cards will be created in the future - I LOVE this :) 

Products used are all Close To My Heart

Paper: Brushed Paper Pack, Flaxen Cardstock, White Daisy Cardstock, Pink Glitter Paper
Stamps: It's the Little Things (Nov. SOTM)
Inks: Black, Flaxen, Canary, Pixie, Hollyhock, Pear, Juniper
Accessories: Artfully Sent Cartridge, Clear Sparkles, Foam Tape, Thin Foam Tape

Enjoy 
Alyson

Christmas Gifties

These adorable little gift bags go back to last Christmas season... they are from the seasonal catalogue that Close To My Heart put out last fall and I never got around to using them at that time. It so happens that I have a use for them now so I decided to pull them out and decorate them!

I think they are just so cute :)

Products used are all Close To My Heart

Paper/Bags: Season's Tweetings Gift Bag Set (ret.)
Stamps: Season's Tweetings (ret.)
Ink: all Pigment ink - Black, Topiary, Ruby
Accessories: ShinHan Markers

Enjoy, 
Alyson

November Stamp of the Month Blog Hop - It's the Little Things

Welcome to the Stamp of the Month Blog Hop! We will be featuring November's SOTM, "It's the Little Things", a set of 15 stamps.  If you have come here from Michelle'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. 
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 5x7 card using a new technique for me - watercolours. This was surprisingly easy to do. I wanted to be able to use one of the patterned papers from the Brushed Paper Pack, so I chose three colours that co-ordinate with that paper - Canary, Pixie and Juniper. I used a large acrylic block and covered it with our dye inks, varying the locations of the colours. I then spritzed the block with water and turned it over to stamp it on the paper. This is the result. The stamp set was used to create the section inside the rectangle, using a lot of masking to overlap the stamps. For the sentiment, I used Canary ink in the middle and graduated to Pixie on the outside, although it looks like some orange ink was used, it is just the mixture of the yellow and pink. My camera seems to be a little "off" with my colours lately - have to see if I can remedy that... the pinks are not as pink as they should be! 

 Now hop on over to Dawn'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 November SOTM is only available until the last day of November!

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

just $5 this month!

Products used are all Close To My Heart:

Paper: Brushed Paper Pack, White Daisy Cardstock, Juniper Cardstock, Canary Cardstock

Stamps: It's the Little Things

Inks: Juniper, Canary, Pixie

Accessories: Art Philosophy Cartridge,  Pink Glitter Paper, Pink Shimmer Trim, Flamingo Dots, Pink Glitter Gems

Enjoy, 

Alyson

AHSC - Sketch 79 - Love and Joy to You... Card

This week's sketch gave me an opportunity to create another of my soon-to-be needed Christmas cards! And I knew when I saw it that I had to create my own background paper as well. I looked for a poinsettia stamp but couldn't find one so I decided to go with a sprig of holly instead. I initially coloured an entire leaf in with marker and realized that it was far too dark so I opted to outline the leaves with markers and use watercolour pencils to fill in the interior instead. The Yuletide Paper Pack was perfect for the background as it is a basic pattern without being overwhelming. 

Products used are Close To My Heart unless otherwise indicated: 

Paper: Yuletide Paper Pack, Ruby Cardstock, New England Ivy Cardstock, Champagne Cardstock, Gold Glitter Paper
Stamps: To You and Yours
Inks: New England Ivy Pigment Ink, Ruby Pigment Ink
Accessories: Art Philosophy Cartridge, ShinHan Markers, Watercolour Pencils, Yuletide Assortment, Green Ribbon (not CTMH)

Enjoy, 
Alyson

Workshop Gift Card Holder

This year, for my Christmas Card Workshop, I am providing each of my guests with this cute little gift card holder filled with a Petite Perks stamp set. I love how this gift card holder can be cut in a size that fits whatever needs to go inside, using our awesome Artiste Cricut Cartridge! The stamp set fits just perfectly in the slot on the inside. 

I used the Season's Tweetings stamp set, a retired stamp set from last year, to stamp the owl and the sentiment on the front. Isn't it just adorable? I hope my participants will love these little goodies :)

Products used are all Close To My Heart:

Paper: Snowhaven Paper Pack, Cranberry Cardstock, White Daisy Cardstock
Stamps: Season's Tweetings
Inks: Glacier Pigment Ink, Black Pigment Ink 
Accessories: Artiste Cartridge, ShinHan Markers

Enjoy, 
Alyson

Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge 78 - My Thoughts are Happiest... Card

Wow! I am amazed that I actually finished this on time! I have been so busy STILL unpacking and getting settled but my new craft space is almost complete now, so at least I am not having to dig for paper out of boxes any longer :) 

This week's sketch is one that can be simple or lend itself to many layers. I chose to add several layers to my card. I started out intending to use the Seaside Paper Pack but somehow ended up sidelined and found myself using Glacier, Lagoon and Colonial White cardstock with Glitter Paper instead... not entirely sure how that happened. The card took me quite a while to complete as masking images and 2nd and even 3rd generation stamping was necessary for the stamping component as well.

So, here is my final product, along with the sketch. 

For some reason, the colours seem to be "off" - they don't look like that in the photo on my computer and I am not sure why the photos appears so dull here on my blog. 

Products used are Close To My Heart unless otherwise noted:

Paper: Colonial White Cardstock, Lagoon Cardstock, Glacier Cardstock
Stamps: A Budding Friendship, Have a Happy Day
Inks: Lagoon, Glacier
Accessories: Dot Embossing Folder, Teal Glitter Paper, Scallop Border Punch, Colonial White Bigger Brads (ret.), ShinHan Markers, Clear Sparkles, Colonial White Button (ret.), Paradise Baker's Twine (ret.), Off-White Ribbon (satin and pleated - not CTMH), Turquoise Ribbon (not CTMH)

Enjoy, 
Alyson

Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge 77 - Let it Snow Card

The sketch at Atlantic Hearts this week is one that I really enjoyed. I have to say, however, that it was a major challenge for me to complete as I am in the process of unpacking at the moment and I have boxes all over the place! It was not an easy task to find the supplies that I needed to do anything crafty and it won't be for the next while as I struggle to find space for my belongings in a smaller environment. 

Here is my card for this week's sketch: 

Products used are Close To My Heart unless otherwise noted: 

Paper: Snowhaven Paper Pack, White Daisy Cardstock, Black Cardstock, Cranberry Cardstock, Glacier Cardstock
Stamps: Be Jolly
Inks: Cranberry Pigment Ink, Black Pigment Ink
Accessories: Art Philosophy Cartridge, ShinHan Marker, Branch Punch (not CTMH), Scallop Border Punch, Foam Tape, Black Button (ret.), Colonial White Waxy Flax (ret.), Red Polka Dot Ribbon (not CTMH)

Enjoy, 
Alyson

Creative Blogger Nomination

I am so amazed that I was chosen by a fellow consultant and amazing scrapbooker for this blog nomination. Jocelyne Roy, whose blog is located at chezjocelyne.blogspot.com is a fabulous artist and I was lucky enough to meet her at the very first CTMH Convention that I attended, way back in 2008. Be sure to check out her blog for inspiration (and she claims that I inspire her... sure..) I am amazed that I inspire anyone for that matter. 

Anyways, I have been asked to answer a number of questions - and these are not easy questions. 

1. How long does it take me to create a project? 

That is kind of a loaded question. I deal with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), and since it manifests itself for me in the form of perfectionism, everything takes me much longer than normal. One layout that I submitted for Extravaganza took me four full days to complete. An average card is usually a few hours but I often agonize over the paper colour combination, the placement of pieces, embellishments and the like so not all of it is spent in the actual creative time. 

2. What am I working on right now? 

My creative place is actually completely packed up and my studio echoes at the present moment as I am moving to a new location TODAY so I have nothing on the go right now. However, my upcoming projects include many Christmas cards, regular projects for the Atlantic Hearts Design Team and I would like to work on some scrapbook layouts of my precious Mika (she's my adorable puppy who is now 15 months old - see photo below). 

3. What are my favourite things (products) to create with at the moment?

I LOVE turquoise - anything and everything turquoise! Teal glitter paper, teal shimmer trim, Glacier and Lagoon cardstock - those are probably my favourite items to work with. I also love the Fundamental Cardstock and the texture of that paper. Embellishing with ribbon is another favourite technique of mine and I love to cluster embellishments. Fabric has always been a favourite and I also enjoy sewing on layouts and cards. 

4. How do I become inspired and stay inspired? 

I read several blogs and I am very active on Pinterest as well. I collect tons of sketches and I almost always create using a sketch as my starting point. I cannot draw for the life of me and when I share with people that I almost failed grade 8 art, they think that's a joke, but it isn't! I am a horrible artist when it comes to drawing anything. Pinterest has so many wonderful ideas - and the wealth of information that can be found there is endless! When I have that creative block that all of us get at one point or another, that is where I go for my inspiration and it almost always helps me to get going again. 

Now, I get to nominate a few other bloggers who inspire ME. 

The bloggers I nominate are:

Lisa Stenz - her artwork is absolutely stunning and she is the most genuine and friendly woman that you could even want to meet! 

www.lisascreativecorner.blogspot.ca

Wendy Coffman - she creates some of the most unique projects I have ever seen and she is so willing to share her knowledge with others! 

www.stampingrules.com

Gail Gross - she is an artist I just met this summer at CTMH's Convention and WOW! - is she talented! Check out her blog for awesome projects, ideas and new ways to use products! 

www.greetingsfromgail.blogspot.ca

Enjoy, 

Alyson