Joyful Stars Close to My Heart April Blog Hop

Welcome to the April

Close to My Heart Joyful Stars Blog Hop.

 Have some fun hopping between the blogs of this group of talented Close to My Heart consultants, and me, where we share creative projects using CTMH products.

I've made a fairly simple birthday card to share with you this month. 

Now, since this is a blog hop,

you might have arrived here from  Krista Hershberger's blog.

Your next stop is Joyce Gough's blog.  

The hop is circular.

If you are just starting here,

simply continue hopping until you find your way back,

making the full circle.

Challenges:

Unicorn Challenge #42 - Spots and/or Stripes 

Tuesday Throwdown Challenge #429 - AG 

Always Fun Challenges #105 - Flowers 

Crafty Friends Challenge #107 - Happy Birthday

Color My Heart Color Dare Challenge #336 - Tic Tac Toe  (fern, sugar plum, charcoal)

  

Double Trouble Challenge #24 - Card #2

When I get a chance, I try to make 2 cards for the Double Trouble Challenge, one for each week.  Today I am sharing my second card for Challenge #24.

I picked up some gold foil for the cards in the post before this one and had enough to add something metallic to this card.

I love this car die, which I borrowed from a friend, cutting it in gold and also black and then off setting the two just a tiny bit.  The die for the gold foil corner is by Tim Holtz.  The "CELEBRATE" stamp is by CTMH.  And, if you squint a bit, you may be able to see the Happy Birthday embossing folder I used on the red background.

 

CHALLENGES:

Double Trouble Challenge #24 - Metallic + Transportation + enter the Brown Sugar Challenge

Brown Sugar March Challenge #288 -  Transportation

Watercooler Wednesday Challenge #213 - Masculine 

Simply Create Too Challenge #147 - AG twist for a male

Die Cut Divas March Challenge -  AG

Incy Wincy Designs Challenge March 18-30 - For the Men or Boys 

 

Double Trouble Challenge #24

It took me a little while to figure out how I was going to play in this week's Double Trouble Challenge.  We are currently at our home away from home and I have limited supplies on hand.

The Troubles want to see something metallic and some type of transportation on projects this week.

Plato once wrote,  "Necessity is the mother of invention." 

Here is where necessity and Thing 1 and Thing 2 took me:

I used some CTMH papers, fussy cutting one biking dino to pop onto the biking dino on a die cut piece of patterned paper, which is glued to a die cut piece of aluminum foil on top of a matching blue die cut.  Then I added a simple sentiment.

Now I just need to link to the current Brown Sugar Challenge and Thing 3 will be happy, too.

Challenges:

Brown Sugar Challenge #288 - Transportation 

Double Trouble Challenge #24 - Metallic, Transportation, and BSC link
Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper Challenge March 2019 - AG 
Crafter's Cafe Challenge #215 - Borders or something Metallic
Send a Smile 4 Kids Challenge - Cards 4 Boys or AG
Through the Craft Room Door Week of March 19th - AG
Crafty Calendar March Challenge - For a Child

Easter Handbag

Today, while my DH played 9 holes of golf, I played with a handbag die set a friend loaned me.

These will be perfect gift bags with a bit of Easter grass, a few chocolates, and a gift card. 

The little chick with banner is a stamp with matching die  from CTMH, which I colored with watercolor pencils.  I also die cut a piece of craft foam to mount them on.  It gives the image a lot more stability than pop dots, especially those skinny legs and feet.

Challenges:

Sparkles Forum Monthly Challenge # 113- Include an animal

Die Cut Divas Challenge - AG 

Crafty Animals Challenge #24 - AG 

Crafts Galore Encore Challenge #61 - AG 

2 Crafty Critter Crazies Challenge #24 - AG with a critter 

Get Creative Challenge #78 - AG twist anything but a card 

One Layer Card + Envelope Part 2

In order to make the card and envelope in yesterday's  post, I used a My Favorite Things matching die cut of the flower to mask an area on the card and envelope while I brushed ink around it.  

(I'll keep these with the stamp and die for future use.)

That also left me with a negative of the flower.  I adhered that to another piece of white cs and brushed color around the inside edge to create a second card and envelope.

 Flower stamp is from MFT, sentiment stamp is CTMH,

 

Background crossstitch canvas die is by AlteNew. 

I love the tiny bit of texture it gives the card.

And here are the two cards together.  Same stamp, two ways.

I like the pink one best.

How about you? 

Challenges:

2 Sisters on the Blog Challenge #25 - Clean and Simple 

Creatilicious Challenge #158 - AG optionasl CAS

Creations in Pink Challenge #7 - AG in mainly pink

Scrap from your Heart Challenge #31 - CAS

Southern Girls Challenge - Flora and Fauna

A Place to Start Launch Challenge - One layer card w/ matching envelope or AG

 Did you see the dinosaur display card that I made for the 

Joyful Stars Blog Hop?  Scroll down one post to see it.  

Thanks so much for your visit today! 

Joyful Stars Close to My Heart March Blog Hop

Welcome to the March

Close to My Heart Joyful Stars Blog Hop.

 

 Have some fun hopping between the blogs of this group of talented Close to My Heart consultants, and me, where we share creative projects using CTMH products.

This month I've made a Double Display Card using the adorable Something Fierce paper pack from Close To My Heart.

Now, since this is a blog hop,

you might have arrived here from  Krista Hershberger's blog.

Your next stop is Joyce Gough's blog.  

The hop is circular.

If you are just starting here,

simply continue hopping until you find your way back,

making the full circle.

I'll be entering this card in the following challenges:
Do-Al Creatives Challenge #127 - Fancy Fold
Send a Smile 4 Kids Challenge - Card 4 Boys or Anything Goes
Allsorts Challenge Week #510 - For a Child 
Crafty Calendar March Challenge -  For a Child
Double Trouble Challenge #23 - Thing #1: Green, Thing #3: Gold (sparkles), Thing #2: enter the Heart 2 Heart Challenge
Heart 2 Heart Challenge - Wearin' of the Green 

 

One Layer Card + Envelope Part 1

One layer cards are generally my least favorite cards to make.  They always look unfinished to me.  But, I really wanted to play in the A Place to Start Challenge, so here is a one layer card and matching envelope.  

(I will not promise to mail it this way.) 

 Flower stamp is from My Favorite Things, sentiment is by Close to My Heart.

Challenges:

A Place to Start Launch Challenge -  A Single layer card and matching envelope or AG

Crazy 4 Challenges #474 - Flowers 

The Flower Challenge #30 - Anything Goes

To see another way I used this flower stamp, check tomorrow's post.  And you might want to glance at the CTMH Joyful Stars Blog Hop post in between for a fun multifold dino card. 

Double Trouble Challenge #23

They are sporting lots of green with a touch of gold over at 

Double Trouble Challenge #23.  And they've paired up with this week's Heart 2 Heart Challenge, as well.

I started out making an altered double display card. It turned out so nicely I decided to save it for the March Joyful Stars Blog Hop this coming Sunday.  You might want to check back to see it.

Consequently, I was back to needing a card for this week's Double Trouble Challenge.  I decided to pull out one of the card fronts I made the other day using a baggie of CTMH paper scraps.  Things are pieced here and there, but you'd never know it.  

The stamps I used are from the retired March Word Puzzle stamp set  from Close to My Heart.

Additional challenges:

Cut It Up Challenge #168 - Clovers (I used dies for the stitched rectangle and the scalloped strip.)

Inkspirational Challenge #181 - Use your stash

Young adult male birthday card

As the grandsons move into their upper teens, making their birthday cards becomes more of a challenge.

No more cute animals or ferocious dinosaurs.

This card is for my oldest grandson, who will be 19 shortly.

I considered a Tim Holtz Crazy Bird, 

but decided to just use the Crazy Bird party hat.  

 Papers are from CTMH and the die cut is by Memory Box.

Challenges:

Country View February Craft Challenge - Black and White plus one (yellow, in this case)

Seize the Birthday Challenge #159 - Anything Goes 

Daring Cardmakers Challenge - Oh Man! 

Inkspirational Challenge #181 - Use Your Stash, Designer's Choice 

Crafty Catz Challenge #450 - Anything Goes with For A Boy Twist 

 

Double Trouble Challenge #21; week 2

Happy Valentine's Day everyone!

I don't have a Valentine to share with you, 

but I do have a couple birthday cards that follow the 

Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge # 303, as well as,

 Double Trouble Challenge # 21. 

Here's the sketch:

Additional challenges I am entering: 

Seize the Birthday Challenge #159 - AG

As You Like It Challenge - Birthday or Christmas?  (I prefer birthday because you don't have to have all the cards done for the same date!)

Joyful Stars Close to My Heart February Blog Hop

Welcome to the February

Close to My Heart Joyful Stars Blog Hop.

 

 Have some fun hopping between the blogs of this group of talented Close to My Heart consultants, and me, where we share creative projects using CTMH products.

Today I have a wrap card to share with you.

And since I had a few extra hearts, I added them to the inside top panel of the card.

I got the idea for this wrap card from a tutorial I saw on a blog called A Place to Start. You'll find a very nice wrap card tutorial there.  My heart dies weren't as large as the ones that Chana used, so I just used a few more to get the full wrap effect.

Now, since this is a blog hop,

you might have arrived here from  Krista Hershberger's blog.

Your next stop is Joyce Gough's blog.  

The hop is circular.

If you are just starting here,

simply continue hopping until you find your way back,

making the full circle.

And while you do that I'll enter a few challenges:

A Place to Start February Challenge - Inspirational die or stamp

Crafty Catz Challenge #448 - AG with Hearts & Flowers

Fab n Funky Challenge #426 - Hearts & Flowers

Aud Sentiment Challenge #220 - Love or Valentine Sentiment

Double Trouble Challenge # 21

Today I'm playing in Challenge #21 at Double Trouble.

Thing 1, aka Troublemaker, has requested flowers for this challenge.

Thing 3, aka Twisted Sister is looking for anything with wings, or "b" related.

Thing 2, aka Double Trouble wants you to enter one of two sketch challenges at Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge.

Here's my entry:

This is the sketch I followed from AHSC #302.

 

 

Smile Birthday Card

Yesterday I began working on a wrap card for the CTMH Joyful Stars Blog Hop next week.  Today, as I was assembling it, I accidentally applied the glue to the wrong side of the patterned paper.  Luckily, I also needed to make a birthday card.  And the paper that had glue all over it became the center section of this card.

Papers are all from CTMH; smile die came free with my new cuttlebug; and flower dies are from MFT.

Inside sentiment is....

It's Your Birthday.

Challenges:

Simon Says Wednesday Challenge #58 - AG

City Crafter Challenge Week 447 - Floral Background 

Creative Knockouts Challenge #283 - Flower Power 

C.R.A.F.T. Challenge #499 - AG 

Kitty Bee Challenge #135 - Birthday

Crafty Ctaz Challenge #447 - AG with option Lots of Layers

A "T"uesday Birthday Card

When I checked the new challenges for today on Paper Playful, the very first challenge listed caught my eye.  The Challenge was Cardz for Guys and the theme was Something beginning with a "t".

That was all it took to get the wheels turning.

Here is my "t" card.

It is a tilt card with a stamped and fussy cut teal t-rex on a triangle embossed background.

Papers and t-rex stamp are from CTMH.  Die cut is from ODBD.
The tutorial for the tilt card can be found at Beccy's Place.

Challenges:
Di's Digi Challenge - Emboss It wet or dry
Crafty Friends Challenge #102 - Animals/Birds
Pile It On Challenge #150 - Land and/or Water Animals
Tuesday Throwdown Challenge #424 - Anything Goes
Through the Craft Room Door Challenge Week of Jan 29th - Always Anything Goes
Die Cut Divas Challenge #405 - Anything Goes
Crafty Sentiments Designs Challenge - Anything Goes
Cardz 4 Guys Challenge #212 - Something Beginning with a "t"

Lots of Hearts

In going through my Valentine stash, I came across this very colorful heart paper.  Paired with a frog stamp from CTMH, it makes a cute Valentine card.

Challenges:

Through the Craft Room Door Week of Jan. 22nd - Always Anything Goes

Wednesday Simon Says Challenge - Have a Heart 

Moving Along with the Times Challenge #89 - Have a Heart

C.R.A.F.T. Challenge #498 - Love/Valentine

Aud Sentiments Challenge #219 - AG with a sentiment 

AI Challenge #248 - Lots of Hearts 

Cut It Up Challenge #166 - Hearts

Crafty Friends Challenge #102 - Animals/Birds 

Daring Cardmakers Challenge - Lots of Color 

Pile It On Challenge #150 - Land and/or Water Animals

Send a Smile 4 Kids Challenge - Valentines 4 Kids or AG 4 Kids

Double Trouble Challenge #20

This week's Double Trouble Challenge #20 is celebrating National Hugging Day, which is today - January 21st - with a "Love is in the Air" theme.

How about a few Hedgehugs? 

This card follows the color combo for the current Color My Heart Color Dare Challenge #326, black, white with a splash of one other color; has a banner waving in the "Air"; and has Wink of Stella glitter in the hearts to make them "Sparkle and Shine" so the card can also be entered in The Paper Girls Challenge #168.

Crazy Bird Male Birthday Card

I am beginning to think that CAS is not in my creative blood.  

This birthday card looked fine without the crazy bird.  But it just didn't look finished to me.

inside

 The papers are from the new CTMH catalog.

The sentiment and dot stamps are from the CTMH January SOTM.

I added dots of liquid glass to the dots to make them look like bling.  I paper pieced the crazy bird.  The inside die cut is by Paper Sweeties and the sentiment by Great Impressions.

Challenges:

Artistic Inspiration Challenge #211 - AG optional tag (on inside of card)

Unicorn Challenge #39 - Things with Wings 

Through the Craft Room Door week of Jan 15th - AG

Die Cut Divas Challenge #403 - Birthday

CCC Digi Creations Challenge #99 - Happy Birthday 

Watercooler Wednesday Challenge #204 - Masculine AG

The Male Room Challenge #102 - AG optional beverage

New Baby Congratulations

Today I'm sharing the card I made for my granddaughter, who had a baby girl last weekend.  

I've used a digi image from Sweet n Sassy stamps, colored with markers.  Papers and sentiment are from CTMH.

Challenges:

C.R.A.F.T. Challenge #496 - New (Baby)

Southern Girls Challenge - AG

Mod Squad Challenge - Patterned Paper

Pile It On Challenge #150 - Land Animals 

Angie's Digital Stamps Challenge #27 - AG

Color My Heart Color Dare Challenge #324 - tic tac toe (bottom row, white daisy, raspberry, pixie)

Stamplorations January Challenge - Animals and/or sketch

Ice Skating

This little digi mouse is all bundled up in hat, scarf, and mittens for a little ice skating.  I fell in love with this new CTMH navy paper with green hearts the moment I saw it.  

Challenges:

Double Trouble Challenge #19 - Warm & Cozy; Mittens; CWS#34 entry

Creative with Stamps Challenge #34 - Mittens

  

Color Crazy Challenge Week #1 - AG with coloring (I used markers to color the little mouse.)

2 Crafty Critter Crazies Challenge #22 - AG with a critter 

 

Joyful Stars Close to My Heart January Blog Hop

Welcome to the January

Close to My Heart Joyful Stars Blog Hop.

 

 Have some fun hopping between the blogs of this group of talented Close to My Heart consultants, and me, where we share creative projects using CTMH products.

It's a new year.  And there are a lot of new products available.

I've made a set of three cards to show you some of the new papers and two of the sentiments in January's Stamp of the Month set.

This sentiment is from an older CTMH stamp set.

Now, since this is a blog hop,

you might have arrived here from  Andrea Sherman's blog.

Your next stop is Marie Flayer's blog.  

The hop is circular.

If you are just starting here,

simply continue hopping until you find your way back,

making the full circle.