Supplies used: Sophia Paper Packet (retired), Cricut Art Philosophy cartridge, Chantilly Textiles, Harvest Baker’s Twine, Felt Alphabet – Keepsake (retired), Sparkle Flourishes, and Bitty Sparkles.

I have to admit when Close to My Heart came out with these fabrics I really wasn’t sure what to do with them.  It’s great that they coordinate with different papers but I have a feeling they will last me a very long time.  For my layout I used the fabric to create the butterflies and flowers.  The butterflies are roughly 2″ squares of fabric cut with pinking shears on the sides.  To create the flowers I first cut a long strip (about 1/2″) of fabric.  Then I twisted it so the pattern was mostly on the outside and from there I twisted it further into a circle.  As I did the final twisting, I used 1″ glue dots to adhere it to my paper flower.  The inside of the small flower is a strip of fabric tied in a loose knot with the ends cut off.  At first, I planned to use knots with the ends but I didn’t like it so I used those (they look like little bows) in the upper corner of my layout.  I used this sketch from Scrappy Sketches.

And here are some closeup pics:

Your next stop is: Judy Faye !

Participants:
Debi
Tabbi
Stephanie Chumbley
Wendy K.
Judy Faye
Shirley
Joy

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Supplies used: CTMH Hooligans Paper Packet, Recollections Glitter Tape, American Crafts Elements Clear Mini Jewel Brads, Prima Black Rhinestones Flourish, and Making Memories Simply Stated Hand-Lettered Rub-on Words (Expressions).  I used a sketch from Sketch Savvy.

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Supplies used are all Close to My Heart: Sophia Paper Packet (retired), Sophia My Stickease (retired), Clear Sparkle Flourishes, Sweet Leaf Ribbon (retired), Green Glitter Glitz, and Stardust Glitter Glitz.

The Sophia Paper Pack was one of my favorites.  I still had some left along with the coordinating Stickease so I decided to use them for this challenge.  These are both retired but I also added in some current product.  The most common things I do with My Stickease is add 3D Foam Tape to add dimension, and add more embellishing to them in some way.  You could use brads, ribbon, sparkles, or my recent favorite – Glitter Glitz.  On my layout, I used Sweet Leaf Ribbon (retired), Sparkle Flourishes, and Stardust Glitter Glitz.  I also used Green Glitter Glitz to add some color and sparkle to the scalloped paper at the top of the page.  One more secret was the placement of the Stickease “buttons”… the scallop was a scrap that I had with my papers and it was a tad bit shorter than what I need for the page.  I used these button stickers to fill the gap!

Here’s a closeup:

Your next stop is Shirley’s Blog!

List of Participants:

1. Stephanie Chumbley

2. Wendy K.

3. Shirley

4. Tabbi Fritz

5. Melinda Everitt

6. Judy Faye Garner

7. Joy McHargue 

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The April Challenge at Scrap Our Stash is Dots and Stripes with Birds, Butterflies or Bees from your stash.  Create a layout using at least one polka dot and one striped paper and either birds, butterflies, or bees.

Here is my layout:

Supplies used: Echo Park papers and stickers, Studio18 Rhinestones, and unknown flower rhinestones.  Sketch by Liz Qualman – My LIttle Sketch Book:

This was a pretty quick layout because I used a sketch and a paper packet.  It really doesn’t get much easier than that!

What will you create? Go to Scrap Our Stash to submit your own layout.  You have until April 29th.

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Supplies used: Echo Park Summertime papers and stickers, Basic Grey Rhinestones, CTMH Hello Blooms stamp set, and CTMH Lagoon ink.  Challenge: Scrapbook.com – Page Maps Sketch Challenge

I used this Page Map sketch, making it 12×12 page:

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The For Always Cardmaking Workshop Kit includes:
My Acrylix^® For Always Cardmaking Workshop stamp set(C-size)
For Always B&T Duos^® Papers (2 sheets)
Cardstock (4 sheets, various)
White Daisy Cards & Envelopes (15 each)
Purple Glitter Gems (72 pieces)
1/8″ Slate Satin Ribbon (5 yards)
Instructional Guide ($1.00)

Required Tools:
Z 2105 Black Exclusive Inks Pad $5.25
Z2165 Juniper Exclusive Inks Pad $5.25
Z2173 Slate Exclusive Inks Pad $5.25
Z2147 Smokey Plum Exclusive Inks Pad $5.25
Z578 Corner Rounder $7.95
Y1000 1″ × 1″ My Acrylix Block $3.95
Y1006 3″ × 3″ My Acrylix Block $8.50
Y1010 2″ × 6 1/2″ My Acrylix Block $9.95
Z 1151 3-D Foam Tape $5.95

When you place an order of $50 or more, you get the Stamp of the Month set for only $5.
The Stamp of the Month is:
(February)Home Sweet Home
(March) Floral Happiness
*The Stamp of the Month may vary depending on your purchase date.  If you order online, it will be the month in which you are purchasing.  If you order by contacting me, it will be Floral Happiness.

The current Constant Campaign is:
(February) Studio J $5 Layouts
(March) Hostess Jump for Joy
*The Constant Campaign you qualify for may vary depending on your purchase date.  If you order online, it will be the month in which you are purchasing.  If you order by contacting me, it will be the March Special.

Below are my cards.  
At first I was going to change up all the cards.  I liked the layout but wasn’t sure about the colors and I use mostly birthday and anniversary cards.  Then I went back and looked at them a second time and had a different perspective.  Really, these cards can work for pretty much anything!  So I kept them as is and then made one additional one of my own.  I wasn’t sure about the Twilight color on the heart card but liked it in real life better than the picture.  You can change up the colors on any of these cards to make them completely new and different like I did with the red heart card.  There was enough papers to cut what I needed for 5 of these cards (in addition to the cards in the kit).  I just needed card bases and I used Tulip Cardstock and Tulip Ink.  Tulip is a retired color but you could use Ruby or Cranberry for the same look.

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The hop is a circle so if you are starting here, just continue until you make your way back.  If you have already started, you should be coming from Heather’s Blog.

The product I chose to feature today is the My Creations 6×6 Canvas Display.  It is a 6×6 canvas sheet mounted on a wood frame and has a sawtooth hanger.  I challenged myself with this project because I have never worked with canvas before.  At only $4.95, this is an inexpensive project to make for yourself or as a gift.

Supplies used: 6×6 My Creations Canvas Display, D1506 Family Love stamp set, C1503 The Best Things stamp set, Indian Corn Blue pigment ink, Black Pigment Ink, Color-Ready Trinkets Wooden Shapes, Ruby Pigment Ink, Smokey Plum Pigment Ink, Flutter Paper Shapes, Clear Sparkles, Bitty Sparkles, Black & Grey Sparkles Assortment, For Always Textiles.  I also added a pin from the Bling Assortment which is retired.  I just couldn’t resist but it could easily be left off or add one from the For Always Assortment.

Things I learned from this project:
* I put an acrylic block under the canvas when I stamped so I’d have a solid surface.
* If stamping, use images that are forgiving (not small words).  I figured this but had to try it and see.  The flourishes stamped pretty good but there seemed to be an area around the wood that I just wasn’t able to press the image enough to get it to stamp onto the canvas.  I covered this up on the right corner with the butterfly.  You could still use words like I did but stamp them first to cardstock so you have a nice clean, crisp image, then attach to the canvas.
* I used Liquid Glass as my adhesive.  The fabric is thin so if you use a liquid adhesive, do so sparingly.
* I used pigment ink for the entire project.  It dried well on the canvas, probably because it could soak in.  I was lazy and left the wooden pieces overnight to dry but they didn’t.  Even heat setting them took longer than normal.  So just be aware of this.  You could use the dye inks for the wooden pieces however I wanted the bright, vibrant colors that the pigment inks provide.

Now hop on over to Beth’s Blog to see her wonderful creation!

Here is a list of all the blogs in the hop:

Helen Onulak
Kathleen Androlewicz
Lucy Kelleher
Maria Myers
Joy McHargue
Maureen OSullivan
Jen Patrick
Traci Pasqualone
Melissa Robinson
Priscilla Gotham
Judy Faye Garner
Haley Dyer
Heather Schmuckal
Wendy Kessler   <-- You are here.
Beth Naumann
Allisa Chilton
Pamela Ellison
Jody Gustafson
Terry Ann Diack
Tamytha Jenkins
Georgia Hauglid
Krista Hershberger
Dawn Ross
Wendy Coffman
Laurie Newton
Traci Godbee
Elizabeth Mindemannn
Mary Eisen
Melinda Everitt
Michelle Johns
Nikka geers (no post)	http://Nikkageers.blogspot.com
Michelle Loncar
Gina Brandstetter
Sheila Bennett
Misty Jackson

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I used used Echo Park paper and stickers for this layout with some added Studio 18 rhinestones.  I used a sketch from Let’s Scrap.

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Supplies used: DieCuts with a View paper, K & Company chipboard stickers, Close to My Heart cardstock (retired colors), CTMH Art Philosophy Cricut cartridge and Kaisercraft rhinestones.

I used this sketch from Even More Scrapping:

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This stamp set coordinates with the Art Philosophy Cricut cartridge, which makes it so easy to cut and stamp.  What a perfect way to make tags for Christmas, birthdays, or any other occasion!  These were so quick and easy to make!  I stamped most of them with one color but you could use the rock n’ roll technique like I did on the pink/purple circle or add multiple colors with a sponge dauber.  You can add a small sentiment to the center, a to/from, or just the name of the person receiving the gift.  I used the Salutation Seals and Casual Expressions stamp sets.  You could also use these as embellishments on a page or other project.  You can rotate two of the frames for a total of 6 different looks.  Just stamp and leave as is or add pearls, sparkles, ribbon, and other accessories to add more details.

Some of the things I used to embellish:
Pearls
Sparkles
Glitter Glitz Gel
Durable Studs
Boutique Assortment
Mini-Medley Accents
Just Blooms

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Today we will show you how to Make It From Your Heart!  Jeanette Lynton has created a brand NEW “how-to” program to not only guide you but also inspire you to create beautiful artwork.   This amazing publication has so many different pattern blueprints that you can interpret in ANY WAY you want!

Through our blog hop, we hope to inspire you to use your own artistic instincts to interpret and create your own artwork.  Each of our crafty consultants has chosen a different page of this book to create two projects for you – that’s right two projects with the SAME pattern!  One project will follow the blueprint pattern as laid out.  The second project will use the pattern “with a twist”  to show you how versatile the patterns are.

We are having a giveaway – that’s right blog candy for you hoppers!  Lucy will be giving away a copy of the Make It From Your Heart – Volume 1.  All you have to do to be eligible to win is to leave a comment on each blog.

If you are coming from Stephanie’s Blog, you’re in the right place.  If this is your first stop, you can go to the beginning at Lucy’s blog.

Now to the good stuff!  For my projects I chose Pattern #30 in Make It From Your Heart Volume 1.  This is an amazing book and very affordable at only $7.95!

My first project is a card:

Supplies used: Creative Imaginations paper, CTMH White Daisy cardstock, CTMH Smokey Plum ink, CTMH Pear ink, Stampin Up blending pen, CTMH Black ink, CTMH Love in Bloom stamp set (retired), and unknown rhinestones from my stash.

I used a blending pen with ink off the lid of my ink pad to color in the flower image.

My second project is a journal.  I alter these notebooks all the time for birthday gifts.  The kids love them.  They are great gifts for any age and can be personalized for anyone.  I typically use the same paper on the back but did not have enough for this one so I used a coordinating color of cardstock.  Then, I cut it a bit small on the backside…great things can come from mistakes, right?  I covered the section with ribbon and made it longer so it overlaps into the notebook to be used as a bookmark.   What a great idea!  :-)

Supplies used: Creative Imaginations paper, Stampin’ Up! cardstock, CTMH Friendship Alphabet Large stamp set (retired), CTMH Smokey Plum ink, CTMH Opaques Pearl Flourishes, and K & Company Layered Accents.

Back:

This is the final stop on our blog hop.  Thanks for looking and you can purchase the amazing Make It From Your Heart Volume 1 on my Close to My Heart website today for just $7.95!

Here is the list of all the talented consultants who are participating in this months blog hop:

• Lucy ~ Love to Create
• Darla ~ Caution: Crafting is Contagious
• Michelle ~ My Creations with Michelle
• Maria ~Maria’s Paper Craft Place 
• Theodora ~ Celebrate Crafts
• Bethany ~ Stamping at Home
• Stephanie ~ The Quilted Scrapper
• Wendy ~ My Scrapbooking Blog

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Supplies used: Composition notebook, Cricut Create-a-Critter cartridge, CTMH Cricut Art Philosophy cartridge, CTMH Gypsy cardstock, CTMH Grey Wool cardstock (retired), CTMH Grey Flannel cardstock (retired), CTMH Baby Pink cardstock (retired), CTMH Circle Around stamp set (retired), and unknown rhinestones from my stash.

My daughter had THREE birthday invitations this week!  This means that this is one of a few altered notebooks that I will be making.  I’m sure glad I dug through the clearance a couple weeks ago and picked up some extras.  Back-to-school time is when I usually stock up.  I’d be even smarter if I made them ahead of time but we usually make them specific to a what the birthday girl likes.

The Create-a-Critter cartridge has some super cute animals on it but I have to admit it makes me frustrated because I am so used to the Close to My Heart cartridges with marked keypads in the booklet, so much easier to find the images!

I’ve been doing a fair share of random stamping lately.  I really have a hard time settling with plain paper anymore.  I stamped the purple cardstock wtih the same color ink for a tone-on-tone look that adds a fun pattern.

My tips for random stamping:
1. choose 3 stamps (one large, one medium, one small)
2. start with the largest stamp, stamping in a somewhat triangular pattern
3. fill in with the medium and then the small stamp

Important key: Make sure when you stamp that you have a scrap paper underneath and stamp over the edge of your paper.  This will make it look like real patterned paper. And try not to think about it, it’s supposed to be random!

Here’s the back:

I usually do the back in the same main patterned paper as the front or if I only have one sheet of that paper then I will choose a coordinating color of cardstock.

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This blog hop is a circle so you can start wherever you want and continue through to see all the fabulous artwork incorporating this technique.  So if you are starting here, just continue until you make your way back.  If you have already started, you should be coming from Amy Kaminski’s Blog.

Supplies used are all Close to My Heart unless otherwise stated: Die Cuts With a View paper, Twilight Marker Set, Clear Sparkles, Bitty Opaques Pearl, Just Blooms Flutter Paper Shapes, and DCWV alphabet stickers.

I took a different approach to the technique this month.  I am showing some of the things besides stamped images that you can color with the new Close to My Heart alcohol markers.  I used both colors that come in the Twilight set but for the most part I did not notice a difference in color. I did like the lighter color for the butterflies but I did one with each and you can see there is not much of a difference, if you can tell at all.  The sparkles are a very light color with they are finished.  My favorite coloring was on the pearls.  They took the color very well and are beautiful!  I would recommend either heat-setting the pearls and sparkles or letting them out to dry.  After 10 minutes, my pearls were still wet to touch but they were dry overnight.

Other items that would be good to color: Color-Ready Wooden Shapes, Color-Ready Alphabets, ribbon, any of the Just Blooms, cork, chipboard, etc.

Thanks for stopping by!  Please continue onto Joy McHargue’s Blog where you will find some additional artwork highlighting this technique!  Be sure to leave a comment and let me know what you thought of my variation and happy hopping!

Here is a list of participants:

1. Judy Faye Garner
2. Michelle West
3. Rachel Ventura
4. Shirley Ross (no artwork)
5. Amy Kaminski
6. Wendy Kessler
7. Joy McHargue

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D1469  Polka Dot Alphabet  $17.95

Supplies used: CTMH Polka Dot Alphabet stamp set,DCWV papers, CTMH Chocolate ink, CTMH Sophia Journaling Spots (retired), Mark Richards Crystal Stickers, and Micheal’s Rhinestones.

It’s clear that I used this stamp set for the title, but I also used the letter V to create the banner-like images on the bottom right of the layout and by the title.

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A1121  A Blossom $6.95

Supplies used: CTMH A Blossom stamp set, DCWV papers, CTMH Cotton Candy ink, CTMH Chocolate ink, Making Memories Paperie Greenhouse Shimmer Alphabet Stickers, Studio 18 Rhinestones, and unknown ribbon.

Take a close look and you will see that the flowers of this stamp set are a perfect match to my daughter’s outfit in these photos!!

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If you are starting here or coming from Laurie Newton’s Blog, you are on the right path.

Supplies used: CTMH Dotty for You papers, CTMH Ocean ink & cardstock (retired), and unknown rhinestones and ribbon from my stash.

I tried to think and think of some different ideas for this stamp set and kept going back to that butterfly!  I just couldn’t resist it and came up with this quick and easy card.  I really like the bright colors.

I liked this card so much that I made another one but had to alter the colors because I didn’t have any more of the original ribbon.  I like the blue one better and my girls are divided, one likes the blue and the other likes the pink, funny.

Supplies used: CTMH Dotty for You papers, CTMH Watermelon ink & cardstock (retired), and unknown rhinestones and ribbon from my stash.

Now hop on over to Lori Miller’s Blog!

List of participants:

Kathleen Androlewicz
Helen Onulak
Melissa Laverty
Pamela O'Connor
Adeline Brill
Jean McNulty
Dawn Ross
Mary Eisen
Krista Hershberger
Terry Ann Diack
Angel Sawyer
Traci Godbee
Laurie Newton
Wendy Kessler
Lori Miller
Elizabeth Mindemann (no artwork)
Wendy Coffman
Sheri Ballantyne
Kim Schnoor
Heather Schmuckal
Katy Taylor
Misty Jackson
Michelle Johns (no artwork)
Julia Hammond
Beth Naumann
Pamela Ellison
Judy Faye Garner
Lisa Sargent
Kristine Ponte
Jody Gustafson
Jen Rubio
Casandra Bennett
Lalia Harris
Vicki Price
Shirley Ross
Sheila Bennett
Haley Dyer
Melinda Everitt
Allisa Chilton
Michelle Jones
Gina Brandstetter
Debra Van Patten
Maria Myers

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D1296 Chocolate Alphabet Small

Supplies used: Dream Street Papers, CTMH Chocolate Alphabet Large, CTMH Chocolate Alphabet Small, CTMH Cotton Candy Ink, Recollections Glitter Shapes, and Kaisercraft Rhinestones.

As you can see on my layout, I really like using these coordinating alphabets together!  One thing you may not notice is that I also used the “*” stamp and added it among the flowers on the background paper.  I was amazed at how well it blended in as part of the pattern!

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Supplies used: Die Cuts With a View paper, Crystal Stickers by Mark Richards, Close to My Heart ribbon, and journal tag from a swap.

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Supplies used: Die Cuts With a View papers, Making Memories Glitter Gem, tag from a swap, and ribbon from my stash.

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