Merry Christmas to All! Atlantic Hearts Sketch #35

 Best Christmas wishes to all my crafty friends!

Crazy day to be posting (needless to say, this one was pre-scheduled), but there IS a sketch challenge out there for you this week, from Atlantic Hearts:

You have until Sunday night to link up, so maybe a little crafting time will be available later in the week...

Here's my card:

I took a little more freedom than usual with the sketch. The stamps and dies for the cup full of cocoa are a long-time ago gift from my sister, from Papertrey Ink. I used the silver washi tape from the CTMH Sparkle and Shine pack as the horizontal element and the candy-cane stripe paper from the same pack as the background. The sentiment was stamped on vellum--something I've been seeing out in the blog-o-sphere, which allows you to still see the image underneath, but still add detail.

The red glitter accents were cut from the CTMH red glitter tape, with a simple hole punch!

Another look:

So sweet friends, enjoy your day, and see you in blog-land!

Happy Christmas,

Caroline

Wishing you Joy! Dynamic Duos #84

Happy Saturday, everyone.

If you're like me, this day will be crammed full of final holiday preparations, shopping, baking, wrapping, get-togethers with friends, snow-shovelling...

Card-making has finally taken a back-seat!

We hope you will play along with this week's Dynamic Duo's challenge, however. Check the blog, but I think you will have two weeks to participate.

It's "Black Tie" week, and the companion colour is a rich red.

I've been seeing the chalkboard technique done with a red background, out on the web.
This link and this image, for instance.

The poster-style stamp I wanted to use actually stamps the background colour, leaving the lettering white, so I couldn't add that rubbed white look. I chose to add some distressing in other ways, trying for a more shabby chic style.

I stamped the focal panel on a long strip of cardstock and scrolled the ends. The black background was inked white on the edges, and the top edge has some Rock Candy Distress glitter, for the "sparkle" option of this week's challenge. The doily and big loopy bow add more texture. The final touch, some sequins from Neat & Tangled's Classic Christmas assortment.

This will definitely be one of those cards you have to hand deliver...

Check out the awesome creations by the other designers:

Anne Marie Hile

Annette Elliott

Angel Johns

Cindy Brumbaugh

Holly Endress

JoAnn Burnham

Julie Gearinger

Michelle Bala

Sarah Fleming 

Tenia Nelson

Hope you'll find time to play along! 

Happy crafting and Happy Christmas!

Caroline

Sparkle and Shine! Color My Heart #74

Hello Crafty Friends!

Well, the countdown is really on...just five more days until Christmas. Yikes!

Still a few more things to get organized here, plus constant grocery shopping! Our two sons who are away at school are back home for the holidays :) plus the third son's girlfriend is spending Christmas with us. Wonderful to have a full house, but they are eating me out of house and home. No complaints!

So, one more chance to break out some traditional Christmas colours for Color My Heart's dare #74,

RUBY & JUNIPER

These are the principle colours in this year's Christmas paper pack, from Close to My Heart, Sparkle and Shine.

There is a coordinating pack of washi tape available, too and we had fun making cards with it at the Rehabilitation Centre where I volunteer in the Recreation Therapy department,  a couple of weeks ago.

This card is a variation on that idea. I started by laying strips of washi tape and DP onto a scrap of cardstock, then cut my tree shape from that.

The other two trees are cut from Juniper and Slate cardstock, then emobssed, inked and sanded. I used Paper Smooches' Border Die #1 for the snowbank and a greeting from last years' SOTM set.

Some more washi tape for the tree trunks, a few seasonal sequins from Neat & Tangled, and DONE!

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Off you go to Color My Heart to see some beautiful creations by the Design Team. Then show us your last minute crafting, using Ruby and Juniper (or your own close colours). You can link up to this challenge until noon next Thursday (Boxing Day, here in Canada).

Happy Christmas, everyone!

Caroline

Supplies:

Cardstock in White Daisy, Slate, Juniper, Sparkle & Shine DP; black textured cardstock from Wausau Papers.

Silver glitter paper and Fiskars star punch 

Corner rounder

CTMH stamp of the month S1012

Washi tape: Z1907 Sparkle and Shine assortment; woodgrain washi, Paper Wishes

Paper Smooches border dies #1 

Provocraft and Sizzix embossing folders

 

Sweet and Subtle--Dynamic Duos #83

Happy Saturday morning, Dynamic Duos fans!

Think of me WARMLY this morning--as you read this, I'll be out caroling with my choir, in -17°C weather...

Here's the challenge for this week, from Dynamic Duos:

I have to admit, I find these "Subtly Yours" weeks the most challenging. I am drawn to more vibrant colours and contrasts, but hey, that's what challenges are all about, right?

I broke out my new Modern Mehndi stamps and dies from Lil'Inker:

Don't they remind you of those Mandala black-velvet posters that were popular in the 70's? I could colour those things for hours...

Anyway,  I was also inspired by some little note cards by Jen Shults, HERE, to create these:

 I inked each image with Memento Rich Cocoa, then used Copic markers in shades of the challenge colours to colour them in. The cards were cut from kraft paper at 3" using the Cricut Art Philosophy cartridge, with a smaller white square inside, for writing.

Here's a closer look at each one:

I used some of the accompanying images on the card bases, to give that henna look.

My fave is this one.

This next one almost looks like paisley. Might have over-done the background stamping.

Card sets are a great Christmas gift idea! 

Check out the Dynamic Duos blog for more wonderful inspiration from the Design Team:

Anne Marie Hile

Annette Elliott

Angel Johns

Cindy Brumbaugh

Holly Endress

JoAnn Burnham

Julie Gearinger

Michelle Bala

Sarah Fleming 

Tenia Nelson

We'd love to see YOUR creations! Here's how to participate:

RULES & FAQs

Happy crafting,

Caroline 

Card Recipe:

Cardstock in Kraft and White Daisy

Inks: Memento Rich Cocoa, CTMH Saddle

Copic Markers: B0000, BG10, BG72, BG75, E50, E33, E35 , Y26

Stamps and dies: Lil'Inker-- Modern Mehndi 

Cricut Art Philosophy cartridge (CTMH)

Jute twine

Cocoa ribbon

Foam tape

Atlantic Hearts Sketch #33--Lookin' Good!

 Good morning, crafty friends!

Don't you just love a sketch, when you need a card in a hurry? 

This new one from Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge saved my bacon.

I needed a quick birthday card for my dapper brother-in-law.

Some retired CTMH paper, a border punch & a couple of dies, the great Puns of Praise stamp set, and I was all set.

Here's another view:

I love colouring outline stamps with alcohol markers! So easy to achieve shading and dimension. I added Liquid Glass to the lens of the magnifying glass to make it look glassy.
I used the new M-size stamp Heartfelt Birthday Wish on the inside and shaded it to match the magnifying glass.

Head on over to Atlantic Hearts to grab the sketch.
Design team interpretations are posted on Wednesday; you have until midnight Sunday to link up your take on this week's sketch. Can't wait to see how you use it!

Happy crafting,

Caroline

Supplies:

Cardstock: CTMH Cruisin' (retired); White Daisy. Black textured cardstock from Wausau Paper.

Martha Stewart border punch

The Twinery: Ocean baker's twine

Puns of Praise stamp set:

Heartfelt Birthday Wishes stamp set: M1033

Memento Tuxedo Black ink

Copic Markers

Nestabilities: circle dies

Simon Says Stamp: tilted border dies

Quilled It! -- Dynamic Duos Challenge #82

It's a new month, so Dynamic Duos has another Bold & Cheery colour combo for you!

 I saw a really cute card recently, with a tree made using quilling. I thought, if you can create a tree, why not a holly leaf? I dug out my supplies and got to work, but the answer is, because it's WAY TOO PUTZY. 

So, instead, I present a cute quilled wreath:

The leaf shape is called a Marquise (delicious word!).

I dyed my clear sparkles pink with a Copic marker-that is such a handy feature--and added the pink stitched ribbon bow at the last minute.

So! How does this Bright & Cheery combo grab you?

Head on over to the Dynamic Duos blog for some more inspiration:

Anne Marie Hile

Annette Elliott

Angel Johns

Cindy Brumbaugh

Holly Endress

JoAnn Burnham

Julie Gearinger

Michelle Bala

Sarah Fleming 

Tenia Nelson

 

Here's the deets on participation--we LOVE to see your work!

1. Any project is welcome...paper crafts, scrapbooking, digital, or crafts...
2. Please ONLY use the two colours listed for your project. Neutrals are welcome.
3. Combine us with as many other challenges as you would like, except other colour challenges.
4. Please add our graphic to your blog with a link back to us.
5. Any offensive or inappropriate posts will be deleted respectively

 Happy crafting,

Caroline

 

Card Recipe:

Card stock in CTMH Colonial White, Hollyhock, and green from Michael's

Embossing folder: Provocraft

Stitched rectangle die: Lil'Inker Designs

Stamped sentiment: Paper Smooches' "All Yule Need"

Quilling supplies: rolling tool, cork board, quick-dry Aleen's glue.   

Color My Heart #72--Barn Red

We have a single colour challenge for you at Color My Heart this week:

Barn Red is an interesting colour--more of a warm brown than a red. It made me think of warm quilts, and inspired by this photo:

And using this die:

I came up with this card:

While I used a chevron pattern die, you could easily use one of the many overlays from the CTMH ArtBooking Cartridge to recreate this card.

I wanted to include some patterned paper on that section on the right side, like on the quilt. I cut up some of the coordinating papers from the Huntingdon pack (bamboo and slate), but couldn't decide which looked best. While re-arranging them, some fell out, leaving the white recessed space. The "missing pieces" led to the sentiment!
The big bow may be over kill, but it needed a little something-something.

How will you interpret this one-clour challenge?
Head over to the Color My Heart blog for more inspiration, and rules to link up.
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See that shiny twine on the sentiment tag? There is a metallic Divine Twine giveaway going on, over at Whisker Graphics. Use this LINK to check it out.

Supplies:

Cardstock in Colonial White, Barn Red, Huntingdon paper pack

Ink in Barn Red and Cashmere

The Twinery silver metallic twine

Sizzix tag die

Lil'Inker Chevron Cover-up die

Sheer brown ribbon, Michael's

Sentiment stamp (retired) Close to My Heart.    

Midnight Musing at Dynamic Duos #81

Good Saturday morning, crafty friends!

Hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving, and survived the craziness of Black Friday.

Time for a new challenge from the Dynamic Duos:

As it's the fifth Saturday this month, it is "Your Choice" week, where we specify one colour and you get to choose the other. Midnight Muse is a nice deep blue (altho not so dark as navy).

I chose to go with a complementary color, Goldrush, a soft orangey-yellow.

Here's the card:

This beautiful stamp is a rubber-cling one I won last year. I am a strictly clear acrylic stamper, myself. I find using non-see-through images very challenging. This one is nice and square, however, and fits perfectly into a Stitched Mats-Rectangle from Lil'Inker Designs. The sentiment is also from Lil'Inker.
The snowflake die is a Die-namic from My Favorite Things. And that sequin in the centre? Started out a different colour, but was tinted with an alcohol marker.

So, off you go to the Dynamic Duos blog, to see what colours the other DT gals have picked.

Anne Marie Hile

Annette Elliott

Angel Johns

Cindy Brumbaugh

Holly Endress

JoAnn Burnham

Julie Gearinger

Michelle Bala

Sarah Fleming 

Tenia Nelson

Here's how to participate in the Dynamic Duos challenges.

1. Any project is welcome...paper crafts, scrapbooking, digital, or crafts...
2. Please ONLY use the two colours listed for your project. Neutrals are welcome.
3. Combine us with as many other challenges as you would like, except other colour challenges.
4. Please add our graphic to your blog with a link back to us.
5. Any offensive or inappropriate posts will be deleted.

Hope to see you link up this week!

Happy crafting,

Caroline

Supplies:

Cardstock in Colonial White, Goldrush and Pacifica; DP in Pacifica.

Inks: Goldrush, Pacifica

Copic Marker

Dies: Stitched Mats-Rectangles/Lil'Inker Designs; snowflake/My Favorite Things

Stamps: Hero Arts and Lil'Inker Designs

Wink of Stella glitter pen

Merry & Bright! Atlantic Hearts Sketch #31

Yay! It's Monday morning, well, afternoon now... Let's start over:

Monday means another fabulous sketch over at Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge!

Here it is:

Intriguing, eh?

I've interpreted those sprigs/branches as celebratory confetti. I'm trying to use up my stash for Christmas cards this year (so I can justify a nice long wish-list of items to use in the New Year!), so I broke out some ric-rac trim. 

I put down some double-sided tape to secure it to the card base. I didn't have any ric-rac (how DO you spell that word, anyway?) in Juniper, so "made some" from card-stock with a Sizzix die.

The sentiment was another Sizzix die. I cut out the word "merry" in red and in white and inlaid the white one into the negative/left-over space of the red piece.

This shows the left over pieces!

Here's the finished card:

A few little silver glitter stars, some glass-head pins (in keeping with the sewing notions theme) and just a touch of Wink of Stella.

So, how will you interpret this sketch?

Visit Atlantic Hearts blog to see the sketch, available today. DT samples will be posted on Wednesday; you have all week to create a card, scrapbook layout, 3D item, home decor... let you imagination go!

Happy crafting,

Caroline

hb2u...from the Dynamic Duos!

Happy Saturday morning!

If you are a follower of the Dynamic Duos Two-Color challenge blog, you will notice something right off the bat here, in the photo above: MORE THAN TWO COLOURS!

That's right Dynamic Duos has a new feature this week, the TRIPLE THREAT.

Yummy colours, huh?

So this week, I've been thinking about diagonals, stripes and text-speak, thanks to these cards:

Carmen Mitchell

Karen Day

Jen Shults

Gotta love the INTERWEBZ for unlimited inspiration.

Here's what I came up with:

I stamped a panel with the awesome One-way Borders stamp set in BUBBLEGUM and RUBY, cut it at an angle, added a border in PEAR embossed with chevrons, then layered on some die-cut letters and other goodies.

It's hard to take a good picture; all those stripes trick the eye and make it look crooked!

I'm thinking this would be fun to do in more masculine colours, for a guy B-day card.

Anyway, the Dynamic Duos design team went to town with this one!

Check the blog for some great examples.

Anne Marie Hile

Annette Elliott

Angel Johns

Cindy Brumbaugh

Holly Endress

JoAnn Burnham

Julie Gearinger

Michelle Bala

Sarah Fleming 

Tenia Nelson

 Here's the deets for joining in the fun:

1. Any project is welcome...paper crafts, scrapbooking, digital, or crafts...
2. Please ONLY use the THREE colours listed for your project. Neutrals are welcome.
3. Combine us with as many other challenges as you would like, except other colour challenges.
4. Please add our graphic to your blog with a link back to us.
5. Any offensive or inappropriate posts will be deleted respectively.

I'd love to see what you do with the Dynamic Trio this week!

Happy crafting, and Happy Thanksgiving, my American friends!

Caroline

Supplies:

CTMH card-stock in Bubblegum, Ruby, Pear and White Daisy.

Ink in Pear, Bubblegum and Ruby

Clear embossing powder

Cuttlebug embossing folder

Sizzix Alphabet dies: Nouveau

Nestabilities circle dies 

Corner rounder

Foam tape

Stamp set: One-way Borders (C1561)

Bubblegum bobble trim

Basic Grey: Pink candy dots

Color My Heart...Grateful

Can you believe that we are up to #70 at the Color My Heart Color Dare?

Yes, indeed, and this week's colours are perfect for an autumn-themed card:

OLIVE
AUTUMN TERRACOTTA
BARN RED
   
There is a new twist this week, too. Sarah has provided an optional sketch:

Here's my card:

I wanted to play around with some water-colour effects. 

I used both Distress Markers and CTMH stamp-pads to ink up my stamps, then spritzed a little water on them before stamping. You can see a close-up of this in the next photo. The sentiment was stamped first, then masked off, allowing it to show around that gorgeous chrysanthemum image.

I did more messy colouring, dying my Color-Ready seam binding. I swiped the Autumn Terracotta ink-pad onto a craft sheet, spritzed that, then smooshed my length of ribbon around until it had absorbed the colour. Then dried it with a craft heater. Autumn Terracotta fingers!

The lovely lacy frame die is from Paper Wishes. The strip of DP at the bottom is from the Huntington paper pack from CTMH.
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Now off you go to the Color My Heart blog, to see some more lovely examples by the DT, and for guidelines to participate. We'd love to see your creation with these challenge colours, be it card, scrapbook layout or 3D object. Remember, there are blog badges for our weekly winners and a prize for our monthly winner.

 

Happy crafting, and, more importantly, Happy Thanksgiving!

Caroline

Supplies:

Cardstock in Olive, Barn Red and Colonial White, Huntington paper pack

Ink in Olive, Barn Red, Autumn Terracotta.

Distress Markers in Bundled Twigs and Spiced Marmalade

Stamp Set: 

Paper Wishes: Lacy Rectangles die 

Color Ready Seam Binding