A Little Note...

I have been doing a lot of crafting while stuck at home and unable to participate in my normal activities... that's not always a bad thing as I enjoy spending time in my craft room. I hope you are finding time to be creative as well - or pursue whatever hobby interests you. 

This flower stamp is one I purchased not long ago - love the flowers and the fact that it is long enough to place across a standard card with just a little bit extra. I used that idea and created a card where the top section is cut away. The flowers cover the cut edge and rest over the top of the card.

I stamped everything using Intense Black ink and then coloured the flowers and leaves. I also inked a light blue background behind the flowers. That can be seen in the lower photos but it doesn't show well in the top photo. Parts of each flower were brushed with the Clear Shimmer Brush and I coloured some tiny sparkles to place in the centres of the flowers. 

Products used are Close To My Heart unless otherwise indicated:

Paper: White Daisy Cardtock

Stamps: Peony Cluster (Sweet and Sassy Stamps), Sentiment Collection (Penny Black) 

Inks: Intense Black, Blue Distress Inks (Ranger)

Accessories: Tri-Blend Markers, Clear Shimmer Brush, Bitty Sparkles, Sharpie Marker 

Enjoy,

Alyson

H2H - Life is a Zoo

Welcome to this week's Heart 2 Heart challenge! 

The theme this week is paper tearing. Close To My Heart's papers have a white core so there are a lot of options with this technique.

I chose to use the non-white side for my torn papers... considering what I chose to do, I didn't want the white showing. 

I created a scene simply using a variety of cardstock colours, torn and layered on top of each other. I started with Espresso (dark brown), travelled through shades of green and ended with a medium blue (Bluebird). Each piece of cardstock was torn and adhered at the bottom. I stamped four of the animals from the current Operation Smile stamp set, coloured them, cut them out and then placed them between the torn edges. I went back and added glue dots to secure the torn paper edges. The sentiment is part of a larger sentiment but I only wanted the section that read "Life is a Zoo". A few tiny images were stamped on each colour section as well. 

Come and join us at Heart 2 Heart and show us your paper tearing technique. 

You have until the end of March to enter this or any of the March challenges. 

We can’t wait to see what you create! 

Products used are Close To My Heart unless otherwise indicated: 

Paper: White Daisy Cardstock, Espresso Cardstock, Toffee Cardstock, Almond Cardstock, New England Ivy Cardstock, Evergreen Cardstock, Clover Cardstock, Julep Cardstock, Glacier Cardstock, Carolina Cardstock, Bluebird Cardstock, Neenah Solar White Cardstock 

Stamps: You Make Me Happy, Quote Bubbles (Dylusions) 

Inks: Intense Black, New England Ivy, Espresso, Bluebird

Accessories: Tri-Blend Markers

Enjoy,

Alyson

Hugs - Stamping on Coloured Cardstock

Happy day! 

I hope it's happy with all the stuff happening in our world today...

I recently watched a video by Jennifer McGuire that demonstrated how to stamp on dark coloured cardstock. This has always been an issue for me - inks simply don't show up well on the darker cardstock colours. 

Skeptical doesn't begin to describe how I felt as I watched the video... thinking, "This works for HER but I will never get the same result." Much to my surprise, this technique really does work! 

It starts with a three step stamp - one that also has an outline stamp as one of the three images. There are other ways to do this but the effect will be different.

I started with the main filled stamp image - and stamped that with white pigment ink. Without heating it, the detail stamp was stamped directly over the white, in the cardstock colour - in this case, Peacock. The image was then heat set. The outline was stamped using Versamark and embossed with silver embossing powder. The white ink kind of takes on a lighter shade of the cardstock - how neat is that? 

My first attempt wasn't successful as I didn't heat set the pigment ink well enough and ended up with embossing powder all over the image... it worked better the second time. I cut around the flower and made a centre panel to use as a guide to place the leaves. That centre panel was raised using four layers of scrap cardstock and a sentiment was die cut for the bottom. I love the way this looks and can’t wait to try it with other stamps and cardstock! 

Products used are Close To My Heart unless otherwise indicated: 

Paper: Peacock Cardstock, Silver Foil, Neenah Solar White Cardstock

Stamps: To a Wild Rose (SU)

Inks: Peacock, White Pigment Ink, Versamark 

Accessories: Silver Embossing Powder, Heat Tool, Hugs Die (Calligraphy pop)

Enjoy,

Alyson

Peek Through Cards

Many of us have extra time at home as we are supposed to be self-isolating. I don't know about you, but this is a gift for me - am LOVING the extra creative time! 

I just love watching Jennifer McGuire's videos and trying new ideas. These cards are based on a recent video that she posted. 

The cards are peek-though cards - when they are closed, the images appear through the front of the card. When the card is opened, those images are actually attached to the inside of the card. My explanation isn't the best but these cards are so neat in real life! You do need a coordinating set of dies to create these types of cards. 

I used a floral stamp for the first card - and made several errors along the way. I was able to hide those errors - luckily - and not have to completely redo the card. The flowers are sitting on the inside of the card but peek though the front. Both the flowers and leaves were coloured with the Tri-Blend markers. A few sequins were added along with some orange gems. 

This view shows the card standing. 

This is the inside. 

I wanted to do something different for the second card so I pulled out a ewe stamp set - love these images! I splattered two colours of shimmer on the front of the card - Red and Raspberry. In addition to the ewes, I also stamped some little hearts and coloured them. A stitched border was added around the front of the card. I think this is so sweet... I just adore those little ewes. 

This view shows the card standing.

This is the inside. 

Products used are Close To My Heart unless otherwise indicated: 

Paper: White Daisy Cardstock, Ruby Cardstock, Neenah Solar White Cardstock 

Stamps: Celebrate Today Card Kit, Sentiment Collection (PB), Ewe are the Best (MFT)

Inks: Intense Black, Black, Evergreen

Accessories: Stitched Rectangle Thin Cuts, Celebrate Today Card Kit Thin Cuts, Ewe are the Best Dies (MFT), Yellow Sequins, Orange Gems, Red Shimmer Brush, Raspberry Shimmer Brush, Tri-Blend Markers

Enjoy,

Alyson

Knowing You - Fun Fold Card

Good morning! 

I recently found a terrific tutorial for making the card below. There is a link to that blog post further down... It is very easy to do! 

I chose to use the Budding Peony stamp and die combination to create my card. Using dies for this really does make it easier, although you certainly could fussy cut images if you wanted to do so. 

I stamped all the images and coloured them first - then die cut each of them. The card base is Bluebird Cardstock and the patterned papers are Bluebird or Carolina patterns to go with the cardstock. The base of the card was cut and assembled and then it was time to decorate. I wanted a place to write a message so that is on the far side inside the card. The peonies and leaves were placed throughout the card and the shadow lines on the flowers were brushed with the Clear Shimmer Brush. I stamped two sentiments - one for the outside and one for the inside. Each was mounted on a piece of Bluebird cardstock after being cut with stitched dies. The area to write was stamped in second generation with the Splash of Colour stamp, just to add more interest. 

This card fits inside a standard card envelope - perfect for mailing. 

The link to the tutorial is HERE. Enjoy - this card is fun and easy to create! 

Products used are Close To My Heart unless otherwise indicated: 

Paper: These are My People Paper Pack, Craft On Paper Pack, White Daisy Cardstock, Bluebird Cardstock

Stamps: Budding Peony, Splash of Colour, Sentiment Collection (Penny Black)

Inks: Intense Black, Bluebird

Accessories: Stitched Square Dies (GMD), Stitched Nested Label Dies (SU), Budding Peony Thin Cuts, Tri-Blend Markers, Sharpie Marker (not CMTH), Clear Shimmer Brush

Enjoy,

Alyson

Bee Kind

It's time to participate in the Double Trouble challenge! 

There are always three components to these challenges - here they are: 

Thing 1 - Include one spring item made using punches, dies, cutting machines or fussy cutting. 

Thing 3 - Put some sweetness in your project - include a bee, honey 

or honeycombs 

Thing 2 - Enter your project into the "Bitten by the Bug" challenge blog 

(except fussy cutting can’t be used here)

I created a card that meets all three "Things" requirements.

I began by using texture paste coloured with a Saffron re-inker to create the colour I wanted. That was spread across a honeycomb stencil and left to dry. Two pieces of patterned paper were added to the card front and then I cut the bee and the sentiment from free Cricut files and assembled them on top of the card. The yellow sections were brushed with the Gold Shimmer Brush. The card front was mounted on a stitched rectangle die cut. 

I am entering my card in the following challenges: 

Double Trouble 

Bitten by the Bug 

Products used are Close To My Heart unless otherwise indicated: 

Paper: Hawthorn Paper Pack, La Vie en Rose Paper Pack, White Daisy Cardstock, Black Cardstock, Neenah Solar White Cardstock 

Stamps: none

Inks: none

Accessories: Bee Files (Cricut), Honeycomb Stencil (Memory Box), Stitched Rectangle Dies (GMD), Saffron Re-inker, Opaque Matte Texture Paste, Texture Tools, Gold Shimmer Brush

Enjoy,

Alyson

Hummingbird Flowers

I was finally able to get the Hummingbird Thanks stamp and die set... I have been waiting for this for quite a while. 

So, it was time to go to work... 

I started with a versamrk stamped background using the same flower stamp set (Wild Rose) as I used on the rest of the card. That background was then heat embossed using clear detail embossing powder and then I used distress inks to cover the paper. I used a combination of turquoise and blue. The images are clearly visible through the ink. I also did the inside circle using shades of purple distress ink. 

The flowers, leaves and birds were all stamped, coloured and die cut. I cut a circle out of the background piece and place the purple piece on the base of the card. The background was foam taped and then the shaker was added. Inside the shaker, there are turquoise and purple sequins along with some white seed beads. 

Finally, the flowers, leaves and birds were adhered to the top of the card. The centre sections of the flowers were brushed with the Clear Shimmer Brush and I added a sparkly gem to the centre of some of the flowers. I also added a sentiment on top of the acetate. This was so much fun to create! 

Products used are Close To My Heart unless otherwise indicated:

Paper: White Daisy Cardstock, Neenah Solar White Cardstock

Stamps: Hummingbird Thanks (PPP), Wild Rose (PPP)

Inks: Versamark, Intense Black, Various Distress Inks (Ranger)

Accessories: Hummingbird Thanks Dies (PPP), Wild Rose Dies (PPP), Clear Detail Embossing Powder, Heat Tool, Shaker Window and Confetti Thin Cuts, Shaker Window Foam and Acetate, Turquoise and Purple Sequins (not CTMH), White Seed Beads (not CTMH), Tri-Blend Markers, Big Hugs Die (unknown), Clear Shimmer Brush, Little Dreamer Glitter Gems

Enjoy,

Alyson

TSOT 449 - Happy Birthday to EWE

Welcome to Tty Stampin' on Tuesday's weekly challenge!

The sketch this week is straightforward but there is also an additional technique to use if desired (in combination with the sketch but not on its own) - that is a "pop of colour". 

I chose to use both the sketch and also apply the pop of colour to my card. I have had this ewe stamp set for ages and this is the first time I have used it! The main image was stamped in black and coloured using bold pink except for the ewe's face and coat.  The white background was splattered using a stamp (with second generation stamping) and a shimmer brush to get two shades of pink. The ewe was coloured in light shades of grey and pink. I embossed the sentiment in white and die cut stars for the side. The middle star has two layers of glitter paper - the back one in the bold pink and then a lighter pink to match the ewe's face. 

Come and join us at TSOT and show us how you interpret the sketch 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: La Vie en Rose Paper Pack, White Daisy Cardstock, Black Cardstock, Raspberry Cardstock, Pink Glitter Paper, Bashful Glitter Paper, Neenah Solar White Cardstock

Stamps: Ewe are the Best (MFT), Ink Blot 

Inks: Intense Black, Raspberry, Versamark

Accessories: Basic Stars Thin Cuts, Ewe are the Best Dies (MFT), White Detail Embossing Powder, Heat Tool, Touch Markers (misc.), Tri-Blend Markers, Raspberry Shimmer Brush

Enjoy,

Alyson

AH 360 - Lots of Layers...

Welcome to Atlantic Hearts Sketch #360! 

This is a sketch with several layers - something I really enjoy! 

I chose to use Peach, Wisteria and Sangria as the cardstock colours, combined with some patterned paper with stitched flowers, which is gorgeous! 

I followed the sketch as it is because it is just so perfectly arranged. The patterned paper created the bottom layer and I used square and rectangle stitched dies wherever possible. I wanted the cardstock to have a little more detail than just being straight cut. I added some white acrylic hearts that were coloured with an alcohol marker to match the papers. Love how this turned out! 

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: Needlepoint Nook DSP (SU), White Daisy Cardstock, Peach Cardstock, Wisteria Cardstock, Sangria Cardstock 

Stamps: You Make Me Happy, Strokes of an Artist 

Inks: Wisteria, Peach

Accessories: Stitched Square Dies (Gina Marie Designs), Stitched Rectangle Dies (SSS), White Acrylic Hearts, Touch Marker (misc.) 

Enjoy,

Alyson

March Technique Blog Hop

Welcome to the Technique Blog Hop! 

For the month of March, the theme is distressing. This technique was extremely popular several years ago but isn't used as much today. However, there are a lot of ways to distress paper that are often overlooked. Some examples are roughing the edges, ink distressing, swiping an ink pad over paper, tearing paper, sanding - these are just a few.

You should have arrived here from Brandi Robinson's blog.
If you get lost along the way, there is a list of all participants on Melissa Robinson's blog. 

I chose to use ink distressing along the edges of my paper. The Seas the Day paper pack already has distressed looking papers in the pack and I decided to capitalize on that. I used the woodgrain pattered for my background along with the striped pattern. The doily and the strip are from the Mix-In paper pack. I inked the edges of all the pieces and then stamped the cat and the sentiment. The cat was coloured and I also coloured some Black and White Dots (white ones) to coordinate with the Smoothie paper colour. The vellum leaves were cut using the Artistry Cricut Cartridge and adhered behind the other pieces. 

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

I am sure she has something "distressing" (in a great way) to share with you! 

Products used are all Close To My Heart 

Paper: Seas the Day Paper Pack, Mix-In Paper Pack, Vellum, White Daisy Cards and Envelopes

Stamps: You Make Me Happy

Inks: Sapphire, Pewter, Mink, Smoothie, Glacier

Accessories: Artistry Cricut Collection, Scalloped Circle Thin Cut, Tri-Blend Markers, Black and White Dots

Enjoy,

Alyson