CPS 181

I have a Close to My Heart workshop rapidly approaching and thought it was about time to make invitations.  I used the CPS 181 Sketch as the basis.  I used liquid glass on the spots to make them 3D and shiny but it doesn't show in the photo.

I really wasn't happy with the way it turned out and decided I will probably use one of the cards below as my pattern with "party time" instead of "party animal."  What do you think?

You can almost see the dimension and sheen from the liquid glass in this one.

All products except the small white flower are Close To My Heart.

Thanks for stopping by,

Marie with a : )

For Fun Recipe

**Reminder: Last chance to enter the blog candy contest.  To enter, click on this LINK, scroll to the bottom of the post and follow the instructions.  Drawing tomorrow evening, Thursday August 19th and announced on Friday.

It was a busy day, tying up some loose ends for Alyssa's rapidly approaching YWAM missions adventure.  After church tonight, I FINISHED THE FIRST ROUND OF CTMH CLASSES...the "Bachelor Level" courses.  Of course, I couldn't call it a night without creating a challenge card.  This one is for For Fun Challenges which was a recipe challenge: 1 ribbon, 2 designer papers and 3 embellishments.

Amazingly enough, I actually used some of my NEW CTMH supplies : )

Here's the supplies used (all CTMH)

Cardstock: Colonial White, Desert Sand

Paper Pack: Cherry-O

Ink: Tulip

Embellishments: buttons (Mini Medleys - tulip), Opaques (Cherry-O), Sparkles (red, pink and purple assortment)

Ribbon: from Mini Medleys (tulip)

Hemp - (white)

Thanks for stopping by,

Marie with a : )

Eat, Sleep, Stamp, Just For Fun and Blog Candy

(To enter the blog candy drawing, scroll to the end of This post.)
This first card is for two different challenges: Eat, Sleep, Stamp's Thursday sketch and Just For Fun's Color Challenge #24 which was olive green, cranberry and yellow.

Supplies:
Cardstock:  white daisy, garden green, buttercup (CTMH), Rich Razzleberry (SU)
Paper: Floral Tapestry (CTMH)
Ink: Rich Razzleberry (SU)
Pearls: Hero Arts
Stamp: Verve, Tattered Angels
Label Die (Nestablities)


















(Keep scrolling for two more cards. Not sure why there is such a gap between photos.)

I'm not sure what brand this butterfly cling stamp is, or the "just wanted to say" stamp (I think it was an Archiver's freebie?)  The cardstock is chocolate (CTMH) and the inks are petal, chocolate and juniper (CTMH)  The inside has some small butterflies, a parenthesis and "I Miss You" (all CTMH)

I've been hoarding my CTMH stick pins...but this past week I have been busting into all of the supplies I was saving : )






















Thanks for stopping by,
Marie with a : )

CAS 102 ( And Game On with Silhouette)

CTMH has some big changes coming up...including retiring most of our paper packs.  I would be in utter dismay if I wasn't certain that we'll be producing something even more fabulous! One of my all time favorites (I say that about a lot of papers, don't I?) has been Silhouette.I used it for a variety of cards over the last twenty four hours. This one is for the Clean And Simple 102 challenge. I had a tough time with this week's sketch!

Supplies (All Close To My Heart unless otherwise noted)

Simply Snapshots album pages (Silhouette)

cardstock bamboo, juniper, tulip, blush

ink:black

sparkles and pearls (non CTMH...can't wait 'til my supply is restocked this week : ) )

Stipple Brush (Texture Tools)

Other: flower punch, square punch)

  I combined it with Game On for this card that I quickly made this morning for a friend whose birthday we were celebrating:

Remember the death of my flower punch that I shared in THIS POST?  Well there has been a resurrection!  My wonderful husband fixed it for the umpteenth time and this time it seems to be a more permanent fix. Yay for the Handsome Husband!
These flowers are quick and easy using a flower punch (some people simply cut circles or scroll circles and scrunch) and the Game On newsprint paper along with the CTMH Filigree Charm brads.
Supplies (all supplies Close To My Heart except punch):
Silhouetee paper pack
Game On paper pack
black ink
Dazzling diecuts (summer Celebration)
Color Ready Alphabet (Hodge Podge)
Brad: Filigree Charms
Live Inspired Stamp Set
All My Love Stamp Set
Flower Punch: McGill

I've been blessed with so many wonderful friends that I could just make "Love you, friend" cards all day long. I hope each and every one of my friends knows the element of joy and encouragement that they add to my life.

Supplies (All supplies CTMH except metal frame)

Paper Pack: Silhouette

card stock: bamboo, tulip

ink: black, tulip

brads: Filigree Charms

Journaling Spots (Journey)

All My Love Stamp Set

Metal Frame (?)

Supplies (All supplies Close To My Heart)

Paper pack: Silhouette

Cardstock (Bamboo, tulip)

Ink (black, Desert Sand)

Brads (from Mini Medleys/Tulip set)

Aspiration Stamp Set

Whooo Loves You Stamp set

For Every Occasion Stamp Set

Other: Nestabilities oval and oval scroll dies

And finally...here's a simple, glittery tissue paper flower.  To learn how to make these, check the "tutorials and such" page at the top of my post.

Who wants to book a workshop?

Marie with a : )

First Time at the Cafe

This is my first time trying a Play Date Cafe challenge.  It was a color challenge using the following colors:
Here's my card:

Supplies used (all CTMH unless otherwise noted):

Card Stock: Tulip, Bamboo, White
Ink: Desert Sand

Papaer Pack: Perfect Day

Stamp Sets: Inspired Living, For Every Occasion

Embellishments: Hinges, My Accents (from back in the day), white

pearls

Other: Nestabilities rectangle die

The inside flap reads: dream with possibility. (and inside the card: Happy Birthday)

I love the CTMH Clear Acrylic Stamps for several reasons.  A couple that come to mind are: 1) I can see to position my stamps so I don't end up with a crooked sentiment or image. 2) They can be stretched and "curled" to fit alongside another shape such as a circle and 3) I can cut them!  For the sentiment: Live Inspired, Dream with Possibility, I cut it in half to make it easier if I want one part on the outside of the card and the rest on the inside.  I know, I know, you can "mask" - but this is so much quicker and easier!

Oh Happy Day!

That's what we CTMH Consultants sing when it's Idea Book Arrival Day.
One of the things I love about CTMH is the quarterly Idea Book.  Each one is chock full of ideas and techniques.

These are from the last three quarters.  I can't show the one I got today...yet.  But I can tell you there are lots of wonderful new goodies in it!

Technique: Paper flowers from circle punches.

Technique: Antique stamping

Each Idea Book has tons of gorgeous card samples.  The books are well worth the $3.95 investment!

Oh...before I forget...here's my card from today:

Supples: All CTMH unless otherwise noted:

butterfly stamp and sentiment from Celebrate Life SS

scroll stamp from Free Spirit sS

white hemp

daydream paper pack

buttons: winter, classic

marker, cocoa (for faux stitching)

inks: cocoa, twilight

other (non CTMH) random sparkles and pearls, pop dots, large tag die

If you have viewed many of my cards, you'll notice I love gems, sparkles, or rhinestones...And I'm happy to leak the little secret that CTMH is back with COLORED SPARKLES AND PEARLS.  Woo hoo!

A lot of consultants I know purge their "old" stamps to make room for the new ones.  Not me.  I have a hard time parting with any of my CTMH stamps and haven't gotten rid of very many!  A large portion of these I got for free by having at home workshops...maybe YOU should consider becoming a consultant...contact me for more info!

Thanks for stopping by,

Marie with an extra large : )

CAS-tastic "CASE" challenge

The challenge over at CAS-tastic Wednesday this week is to "CASE" one of the DT Team members' cards. Gotta love the papercaft blogosphere where "lifting' artwork is encouraged : )

Supplies

: CTMH paper (Perfect Day, and a "limited edition" that we no longer carry - can't remember the name)

CTMH inks (juniper, cocoa)

CTMH buttons (basic)

CTMH Hemp (white)

SU border punch

Sizzix flower die cut

CTMH SS (Treasures of the Heart)

I chose to do  a rendition of Deb's card but of course my flower is no match for her fabulous vintage tissue flower!

Thanks for stopping by,

Marie with a : )

New Challenge: Really Reasonable Ribbon

I ran across THIS SITE twice today and decided to give it a try.  Here's my take on Really Reasonable Ribbon's black and white challenge:

Supplies:

CTMH Cardstock: White Daisy, Black

CTMH ink: White Daisy, Black

Cornish Heritage Farms Scrap Block (aged music)

McGill 2 1/8 flower punch

Crystal Clusters by Mark Richards 

Sentiment: Hero Arts Acyrlic Stamp (everyday sayings)

 Sizzix embossing plates (not sure what the particular names are)

ribbon from the dollar store

It's difficult to see the texture from the embossing folder in the photos : (

Sad, sad times.  My McGill flower punch has bit the dust.  It is one of my oldest and most used punches. It's lived a good life and will be greatly missed.

Thanks for stopping by,

Marie with a : )

PS  My 14 year old starts school tomorrow - she's excited but I'm not! It's kind of a rough school with 2500 students.  Still, I know the "Lord my God will be with her wherever she goes."

A funny.  I persuaded the 14 year old to  play a game of  Scrabble with me, along with her 12 year old sister.  (I felt like I needed a win after losing numerous games to Josh.)  "Don't worry if I stomp all over you guys,"  I said.  "I'm showing no mercy because I want you to be challenged."  To make a long story short the final score was Mom: 184, Michelle: 181.  Some stomping, huh?  I was sweating it the entire game and barely eked out a win.  That'll teach me not to open my mouth like that!

Papertake Weekly: White and Bright

Since I LOVE cards that are mostly white, I'm really looking forward to seeing everyone's take on the Papertake Weekly challenge. Here's mine:

I'm going to try to start listing products - at least for my CTMH cards - but that could be a daunting feat since I am so disorganized.  This card was easy:

Star Spangled Blue CS - CTMH

White CS - CTMH

Summer Craft Buttons - CTMH

Star Spangled Blue Ink - CTMH

Sentiment - CTMH, Love Quotes

Flower Die Cut - Sizzix  (I have had this die for over a year and this is the first time I have used it!?!)

 I appreciate your visit!
Marie with a : )