Colour Dare 269 - Flowering Christmas Tree

Welcome to another Colour Dare challenge. It's a beautiful combination of colours this week - perfect for a flowering Christmas Tree! 

I decided to pull out a die that I haven't used for a few years. I paired it with a retired embossing folder that sort of looks like snow falling in the background. I cut the die twice - once in Glacier (blue) and the second time in Bashful (pink). I cut out the flowers from the second one and placed them on top of the first cut. I had a hard time with the Toffee colour in this combination but decided to colour some Bitty Sparkles in that colour and add them to the centre of the flowers. All of it was matted on a couple of rectangular mats and it was an easy to create card. 

Join us at Colour Dare and show us how you use this colour combination to create a project. You have two weeks to link up your project as the closing date for entries is Thursday, November 23 at 10pm EST. 

Products used are Close To My Heart unless otherwise indicated:

Paper: White Daisy Cardstock, Black Cardstock, Glacier Cardstock, Bashful Cardstock

Stamps: none

Inks: none

Accessories: Flowering Christmas Tree Die (Memory Box), Bitty Sparkles, ShinHan Marker, Cascading Dots Embossing Folder (ret.)

Enjoy,

Alyson

H2H - Enchantment Abounds

Welcome to another challenge at Heart 2 Heart. This week, the challenge is Enchantment Abounds. Since this is a Close To My Heart based challenge site, Enchantment relates directly to a line of papers, inks and related products that are carried by Close To My Heart. There are 10 colours in that colour group: Saffron, Goldrush, Poppy, Ruby, Pomegranate, Eggplant, Sapphire, Peacock, Fern and New England Ivy.

Enchantment can also relate to something enchanted such a a magical forest or something similar.

I chose to go with the Enchantment colour palette.

My card is for a male friend who is celebrating a birthday. I created the background in Design Space by cutting out the triangles from a rectangular base piece. I used three inks on a large block to create the background. I just tapped the ink pads (Goldrush, Ruby and Sapphire) in various places until the block was covered and then let the ink bead with small drops of water added. I turned the block over and pressed it onto the cardstock. The Ruby ink turned much darker than I expected. I backed that piece with some retired embossed cardstock.

The sentiment is from a retired stamp set called Tagged with Love. A few ribbons and embellishments were added to finish off the card.

Join us at Heart 2 Heart and show us how you interpret the Enchantment Abounds challenge. You have the entire month of November to link up your project.

Products used are all Close to My Heart

Paper: White Daisy Cardstock, Pomegranate Cardstock, Enchantment Fundamentals (old stock - retired), Cats and Bats Paper Pack, Gold Glitter Paper
Stamps: Tagged with Love (ret.)
Inks: Pomegranate, Ruby, Sapphire, Goldrush
Accessories: Art Philosophy Cartridge (ret.), Enchantment Ribbon Collection (old stock - ret.), White and Gold Ribbon, White Twine, Blue Burlap Ribbon, Cats and Bats Dots, Foam Tape, Corner Rounder

Enjoy,
Alyson

AH 236 - Peace Poppy Card

My card for Atlantic Hearts this week has a very special purpose. Remembrance Day in Canada is on November 11th and that is the day that we honour our war veterans. World Wars I and II were horrible, awful events, as are any wars, but those two in particular were of a magnitude that the entire world hopes never to experience ever again. My father was a World War II veteran so this day holds special significance for me. 

Last year, while out shopping, I encountered a very special gentleman at a local drugstore. He was  holding the poppy box where people can donate to the poppy fund for our veterans. I always drop in some money and pick up a poppy. This fellow was exceptionally friendly. We began chatting and I found out that he was 98 years young (as he put it). He didn't look nearly that old - no assistive devices at all! He said he was there every single day from mid-October though until November 10th as the ceremony downtown was on the 11th. Sure enough, I saw him at the (very crowded) ceremony. And he is back again this year - same place with his poppy box - and a year older at 99 years young! We have already had a few conversations. He is so kind and gentle. 

I wanted to do something for him, just to let him know how much I appreciate him and his service. So, this card is for him. I flipped the sketch 90 degrees. I purposely chose poppies for the significance of the day and the word PEACE. 

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: Basic Fundamentals, Charcoals Cardstock, Pebble Cardstock, White Daisy Cardstock

Stamps: Scandinavian Christmas (ret.), Painted Poppy (Altenew)

Inks: Black, Fern, New England Ivy, Poppy, Cranberry, Ruby

Accessories: Painted Poppy Dies (Altenew), Grey Enamel Gems, Basic Ribbon Collection (last year - ret.), White Twine, Clear Shimmer Brush, Thin Foam Tape

Enjoy,

Alyson

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Colour Dare 267 - Have a Beautiful Day card

Welcome to another challenge at Colour Dare. This week, we are featuring the colour palette from the Falling for You paper pack - and it has a LOT of colours! If you want to use the papers from the paper pack, that makes it easy. If you don't have the paper pack, then please use the following colours - or as close to these colours as you have:

Fern

Saffron

Goldrush

at least ONE of the neutrals 

(but you can use as many neutrals as you wish)

I chose to use the Falling for You paper pack as it contains so many of these colours and I also used one of the co-ordinating stamp sets, along with a couple of other stamps that fit really well. I wanted layers and layers of fall flowers and leaves that looked like those on the patterned paper... It was hard to get them all to fit on the left side so I pulled them together in a group. Some were die cut and some had to be fussy cut, depending on which stamp set I used. 

I used some retired twine to separate the papers and then ran some bronze and white twine along the side. I can't tell you how many times I lifted adhesive as I had placed items down and then realized the something had to be adhered underneath something else... that's the problem working with multiple layers when you are tired! 

SO, the finished product (with many layers)... 

Join us at Colour Dare and show us how you use the colours this week to create a project for this challenge. There are a LOT of colours and it can be overwhelming, so we have divided up the colours a little bit. 

Be sure to use all three colours in the top palette and at least ONE neutral but you can use as many neutrals from the second palette as you want. 

You have until Nov. 9 at 10pm EST to link up your project. 

Products used are all Close To My Heart

Paper: Falling for You Paper Pack, White Daisy Cardstock, Fern Cardstock
Stamps: Falling for You - Scrapbooking, Thoughtful Flowers (ret.), Lovely Leaves (ret.), Happy Birds (ret.)
Inks: Tuxedo Black Memento Ink, Espresso
Accessories: Falling for You Thin Cuts, Bronze and White Twine, Basics Ribbon Collection (last year - ret.), Gold Pearls, ShinHan Markers, Foam Tape, Thin Foam Tape

Enjoy,
Alyson

Heart 2 Heart - Vines and Twine

Welcome back to another challenge at Heart 2 Heart. The title for this week's challenge is Vines and Twine. This challenge is more flexible than it seems. If you aren't into vines as in flowers and greenery, then you can pick up the twine aspect from the title and use some twine on your project instead. 

I decided to go with the vines aspect and create a Christmas card with a vine-like wreath. It is sort-of vines with branches poking out here and there. That's why I added the holly berry branches as well. I used one of the papers from the Silver and Gold paper pack for the background - it just repeats Fa La La and made a perfect backdrop for my card as it had simple repeating pattern on it. The poinsettia was cut from the Flower Market cartridge, although I did play with the original pieces to get what I wanted. The Clear Shimmer Brush was used on the poinsettia and on all the tiny berries. 

Come and join us at Heart 2 Heart and show us how you interpret the Vines and Twine challenge. You have until the end of October to link up with this or any of the other October challenges listed below (the link will take you directly to the challenge in question).

• Under the Weather
• BeYOUtiful
• Mad about Plaid

Products used are all Close To My Heart

Paper: Silver and Gold Paper Pack, Ruby Cardstock, Cranberry Cardstock, Fern Cardstock, New England Ivy Cardstock, Silver Glitter Paper
Stamps: First Noel
Inks: Versamark, Ruby, New England Ivy
Accessories: Flower Market Cartridge, Red Enamel Gems, Sparkles - Large (ret.), Bitty Sparkles, Clear Shimmer Brush, Silver Embossing Powder, Heat Tool, Foam Tape

Enjoy, 
Alyson

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Share a Smile Blog Hop

Welcome to the Share a Smile Blog Hop! The Share a Smile campaign is so awesome - not only does it benefit Operation Smile, which is an amazing charity in itself, but the products that are available are just so adorable that I don't know how anyone could possibly NOT want them! The Punny Pals stamp set has the sweetest animals and sentiments to go with them and the fact that you can get thin cuts for each of the animals now so you don't have to fussy cut them... well, it just doesn't get any better than that! 

You should have arrived here from Haley Dyer's blog. 

If you get lost, there is a list of all participants on Melinda Everitt's blog.

I couldn't decide which of the Punny Pals I liked the best - the koala with KOALA-ty issues was right up there, along with the toad and his TOAD-ally awesomeness. However, the pig finally won out for me this time. I wanted a female pig for a friend, so I chose a pink and grey colour scheme for my card with lots of layers. 

I hope you enjoyed my project. I wish I had time to create more... there is still more time in October, though! 

The next stop on this blog hop is Michele Rowley's blog.

I'm sure she has something wonderful to share with you. 

Products used are all Close To My Heart

Paper: Basic Fundamentals, White Daisy Cardstock, Heather Cardstock, Bashful Cardstock, Raspberry Cardstock, Bashful Glitter Paper

Stamps: Punny Pals

Inks: Tuxedo Black Memento Ink

Accessories: Art Philosophy Cartridge (ret.), Punny Pals Thin Cuts, Scallop Borders Thin Cuts, Rose Embossing Folder, ShinHan Markers, Bashful Pearls, Thin Foam Tape

Enjoy,

Alyson

AH 234 - Doggie Christmas Greetings

With the Punny Pals campaign happening in the month of October, it is the perfect time to use one of those images on this week's Atlantic Hearts card! I chose to use the doggie and to pair him with a holiday greeting. 

I love non-traditional colours for Christmas so I chose to use purples for my card this week. I also have no problem cutting my stamps... I have done it for many years and never had a problem. I had already cut my Season's Greeting stamp into 3 pieces and I also cut my paws stamp for this card - I just cut one paw off the group of them. That way, I was able to insert the paws inside the sentiment. 

I stayed very true to the sketch this time around - it worked for me so why change it? 

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 Close To My Heart unless otherwise indicated: 

Paper: White Daisy Cardstock, Thistle Cardstock, Pansy Cardstock, Eggplant Cardstock
Stamps: Punny Pals, Season's Greetings, Paws
Inks: Tuxedo Black Memento Ink, Pansy
Accessories: ShinHan Markers, Silver Gems (from previous paper pack collection but unsure which one...), Silver Ribbon (not CTMH), Silver Doily (not CTMH), Embossing Folder (not CTMH)

Enjoy, 
Alyson

CD 265 - Sending Hugs card

Love the colours this week at Colour Dare... standard neutrals, Bashful, Pomegranate and the option of Silver. Perfect mix for a card to send to a friend who really needs a pick-me-up. 

I chose to use two retired stamp sets because I love the flowers and the sentiment from each of them. The flowers were embossed with black pigment ink and heat set so I could add a bit of shading and the colour wouldn't run. They were fussy cut leaving no border. The pomegranate background is from the old fundamental cardstock that is embossed on one side. The White Daisy cardstock was embossed using the rose embossing folder and then I faux stitched around the edge of the card. I added a few old black flourish embellishments (I miss those so much!) and placed the sentiment on top of the flowers over a strip of shimmer trim. 

Come and join us at Colour Dare and show us how you use the colour combination shown above. You now have TWO WEEKS to link up your project. The due date for this challenge is Thursday, October 26 at 10pm EST. 

Products used are all Close To My Heart

Paper: White Daisy Cardstock, Black Cardstock, Enchantment Fundamentals (old stock - ret.)

Stamps: A Budding Friendship (ret.), Sending Love (ret.)

Inks: Black Pigment Ink, Black

Accessories: Cricut Basic Shapes, Black Sparkle Flourishes (ret.), ShinHan Markers, Clear Detail Embossing Powder, Heat Tool, Silver Shimmer Trim, Clear Sparkles, Thin Foam Tape, Piercing Tool and Mat, Rose Embossing Folder

Enjoy, 
Alyson

H2H - BeYOUtiful

The theme this week at Heart 2 Heart is BeYOUtiful. This topic led me to create a very special layout. 

Denise and I have been friends for a while and although we are separated by a couple of driving hours, we communicate daily via Facebook and text message. She keeps me on the the straight and narrow and makes sure I am doing what I am supposed to be doing... She is an incredibly giving woman - of her time and talents. I just love her to pieces and the title of this theme fits her perfectly. She truly is beautiful - inside and out - and I am so blessed to be able to call her my friend. 

This layout was created using primarily the Basic Fundamental papers and Bashful - ink, glitter paper and cardstock. The Bashful paper matched Denise's scarf perfectly. The background piece is actually Linen, not White Daisy. I stamped a background of stars very lightly using Bashful ink and a template cut from the Artistry Cricut cartridge. The flowers are from the Beautiful You stamp set and the hearts are from a retired thin cut set from last year. 

The next two photos show a couple of the flowers brushed with the shimmer brush. 

Join us at Heart 2 Heart and show us how you interpret the theme of BeYOUtiful. You have until the end of October to link up with this or any of the October challenges. 

Products used are all Close To My Heart

Paper: Linen Cardstock, Black Cardstock, Charcoal Cardstock, Bashful Cardstock, White Daisy Cardstock, Bashful Glitter Paper, Basic Fundamentals

Stamps: Beautiful You, Falling for You, Journaling Prompts (ret.)

Inks: Charcoal, Bashful, Pixie, Raspberry, Sweet Leaf, Juniper

Accessories: Artistry Cartridge, Beautiful You Thin Cuts, Heart Thin Cuts (ret.), Basic Ribbon Collection, Clear Shimmer Brush, Black Journaling Pen, Thin Foam Tape

Enjoy, 

Alyson

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An Elegant Wedding Card

I am honoured to be a guest at a wonderful wedding coming up, which calls for an elegant card. 

It is always a challenge to create a card using only two colours and this one was to be done with just Sapphire and Gold. I had to dig back in my stash for some special Sapphire paper from the old fundamental papers - the one that had the embossed image on one side and the same pattern in white and sapphire on the reverse. I also had to find old gold glitter paper that matched the same shade as our current gold foil paper. It was time as well to break out the All About the Gold Fundamentals from last year. An old stamp simply called "Love", embossed in gold, made the perfect center for this card. 

All of these products, along with a Cricut border, led to this finished product - the front and then the inside... 

I trust the happy couple will enjoy their new life together. 

Products used are all Close To My Heart

Paper: White Daisy Cardstock, Sapphire Cardstock, Gold Foil Paper, Gold Glitter Paper, old Enchantment Fundamentals (ret.) All About the Gold Fundamentals (ret.)

Stamps: Love (ret.)

Inks: Versamark

Accessories: Artistry Cartridge, Artiste Cartridge (ret.), Gold Foil Tape (ret.) Gold Embossing Powder, Heat Tool, Foam Tape, Thin Foam Tape

Enjoy, 

Alyson