CTMH Core Memories for Color My Heart

I love flowers for cardmaking. I have a gazillion of them, but I'm always tempted to get new ones when I see pretty cards from other card makers. However, I'm trying to use what I have rather than purchase more and more and more. Today's card is an example of that. I dug into my CTMH stash for flowers that came in the Core Memories Album Retreat (Spring, 2023). Here's a picture of the double set that was part of the retreat:

Another part of this retreat was a slimline die cut with lots of leaves. I have used it and the flowers inside the picture frame to create a celebration card for my friend, Deborah Clack, who just released the first book in her three-book series called "Shelter & Sky". I helped her with some plot points in book three, so she very generously sent me book one. I chose my colors based on the Color My Heart challenge #690. 

The blue grid paper is also CTMH, but I used a die cut from Stampin' Up! called Just a Note to cut it into the notepad shape. I also used a Stampin' Up! embossing folder for the texture behind the main focus. The "HAPPY" is from My Favorite Things (I think), but everything else from die cuts to alphabet stamps to liquid pearls is all CTMH. 

Here's a second card with almost the exact same supplies, but I didn't like it quite as well. 

You can't tell in the picture, but the sentiment banner is almost warped looking because of the many layers it's going over. I added it after I had the liquid pearls in place because I just felt like it needed something more. In retrospect, maybe I should have added a skinnier sentiment. Too late to experiment now as that banner is seriously stuck in place. You can tell me which card you like best in the comments.

Until next time,

Becca

Miss You for Color My Heart

I woke up with this card swimming around my imagination. Not even kidding. Someone please tell me I'm not the only person who does that. I chose my color scheme based on Color My Heart's Challenge #688 of red, yellow, and green. We had to use at least two of the three, but I used all of them plus my "free" neutrals.

This card uses a hodgepodge of products from multiple companies. The gears and white script on the background are Stampin' Up! as are the black die cut leaves, ladybug, and dew drops. 

If you join me over on my Facebook Group, "Crafty Friends," you'll see several other cards that combine those gears with other floral images. The flowers and leaves are from the In Full Bloom suite of products from CTMH. The suite used a lot of filmstrips, camera, and lightbulbs to add an industrial element to the flowers. That's what inspired my use of these particular flowers with the gears in the background.

I was so happy with how this turned out, I showed it to my husband. He only sees a fraction of what I make. I've coached him to say, "Ooo, aah!" when I present him with a card. That only strokes the ego so much. But this time he said, without prompting from me, "Ooo...that's really pretty." 

That's a win, people!

Until next time,
Becca

Autumn Teaches Us

Here's another card for the current Color My Heart challenge.

I decided to CASE myself using the second card in this post as my template.

The stamps and dies are from the Autumn Leaves bundle by Stampin' Up! I followed the same smooshing process as this card, but this time I used Distress Oxide inks. My browns were Vintage Photo and Antique Linen. My two colors were Picked Raspberry and Spiced Marmalade. I followed the same process of smooshing and splattering, this time using Gilt Gloss Spray. I also edged each leaf with more Vintage Photo ink to create definition.

My background was sponged in Picked Raspberry and Antique Linen. The background leaves were stamped in Vintage photo and Antique Linen. I thought about adding more of the gilt gloss spray but decided I liked the contrast of leaves with and background without.

The circular die is also Stampin' Up! but is from the Spotlight on Nature set. I originally stamped my sentiment directly to the card, but it was a smidge crooked and my OCD couldn't handle it. I prefer the cleaner look of no circular die, but I wasn't about to throw out all my work when I could save it by using the circular die.

This card is going out to my mom. Hopefully it will reach her before December because mail from here is SLOW lately!

Until next time,

Becca

Hello Brown!

I'm participating in the current Color My Heart challenge which is browns plus any two colors. I chose Limeade and Journey.

My flowers and the small leaf cluster, as well as the "hello," are from My Favorite Things, the large leaf is CTMH, and the background panel was cut with a Stampin' Up! die.

Here are a close up shot of the cluster as well as a process shot of the die cutting.

I smoshed the inks onto my glass mat, spritzed them with water, and dabbed paper into the mess. I then waited for that to dry before splattering more of the ink using a fan brush then splattering white gloss spray over everything before die cutting. As I was working, I was unhappy with the lack of contrast between the flowers and centers, so I swiped Journey ink directly into my already messy paper and die cut two more centers. I ended up glueing three centers together, the darkest on top, on each flower. My sentiment was also cut three times and glued together to give it more oomph. Finally, I accented with white Liquid Pearls.

I always enjoy a challenge, and this one was particularly fun. In fact, I might add a second--maybe even a third--card to this challenge because I have plenty of ideas.

Until next time,

Becca

CTMH Crisp Air meets Color My Heart #663

 I believe I've already mentioned that we have no air conditioning in our home here in Germany. It's one thing I WON'T miss when we return to the states next summer. The temperatures are climbing again, so I'm huddled in my craft room playing with the current Color My Heart challenge. I'm soooo ready for fall, which accounts for why I used a CTMH set with pumpkins.

I love it when other artists change up the colors, like purple pears or blue pumpkins, so I thought I'd give it a go myself. For those of you who are interested, my pumpkin sections were cut from Glacier and sponged with Capri ink. I added lines with a white gel pen which I think adds an artistic touch. My leaves, stem, vines, and sentiment were stamped in Acorn. The gingham paper is super old. The color is Sunflower. I brayered over it with Lemonade ink to meet the color challenge. I used an MFT border set to create the double edge then accented with some twine and enamel dots.

Dear fall, I hope you are inspired to show up soon. I'm not sure how many more 90+ degree days I can take.

Sincerely,

Becca

Gallery Blooms and Beautiful Motifs

It's hot here, and Germany doesn't believe in air conditioning, so I'm holed up in my craft room with a little fan blowing directly on me. I pulled out some die cuts I made a while back, colored them up, and then added them to a card.

I'm having so much fun with the die cuts from the Beautiful Gallery Suite from Stampin' Up! I combined them with more die cuts from Thoughtful Wishes and a sentiment from Wonderful Thoughts that I absolutely love. It says, "You're wonderful. You're loved. You matter." It's one, long sentiment that I cut into bits and used part on the outside and the rest on the inside of the card. 

I also used the Timeworn Type embossing folder and the Textured Notes die cuts. My cardstock is Cloud Cover and my inks are CTMH Mist and New England Ivy. A double bow and some gems finished it off.

I know exactly who this card is going to, but I just sent her another card yesterday so I'm going to hold off mailing it for a few days. I love sending friends notes to tell them how much they meant to me.

Until next time,

Becca

Gallery Blooms Plays Well with Others

I've been stamping for a long time. I need more floral stamp sets like I need a hole in the head...and yet I couldn't resist the new Gallery Blooms and Beautiful Motifs stamps and die cuts that recently released from Stampin' Up! Here are two cards I made today that make me feel better about this "non-essential" purchase.

This card also uses the new Garden and Glass embossing folder plus a frame from the Storybook Friends set. The picture doesn't show it well, but I die cut it in gold.

On this card, I started by ink blending two different Distress Oxide inks: Picked Raspberry and Candied Apple. After sprinkling it with a little water and using a paper towel to lift the water, I cut the panel down to 5 x 3.75 and added my flowers and leaves. The sentiment comes from Country Birdhouse, just like the top card. I did a little "surgery" on the flowers, cutting a cluster of leaves from one place and tucking it behind in another.

Until next time,

Becca

Gallery Blooms meet Freshly Made Sketches.

 Short post this morning as I'm already late getting ready for church. I finished this card last night but didn't have light to take a photo. I'm entering it in the current Freshly Made Sketches card challenge.

I'm having so much fun combining stamped images with die cuts. This uses Stampin' Up! Gallery Blooms, Elements of Text, and Thoughtful Wishes.

Gotta run!

Until next time,

Becca

Combining Challenges with Dragonflies

One of the reasons I started up my blog again was because I really enjoy participating in various challenges. This card uses a hodgepodge of CTMH and Stampin' Up! products for the following challenges: Color My Heart, Freshly Made Sketches, and CAS on Friday

My colors are Sweet Leaf, Flamingo, and Lemonade (CTMH). I cut them into 1.25" x 4.25" strips, layered them onto a thin piece of cardstock (which is how I'm rescuing a bad purchase of cardstock that turned out to be waaaay too flimsy), then ran it through the Garden embossing folder from Stampin' Up! I then sanded it to expose the white core. I ended up trimming of about 1/8th of an inch from the top and bottom because I wanted it to be noticeably smaller than my center section. I adhered this layer directly to my card base. 

The lattice work die cut is called Linked Together and is also from Stampin' Up! I wanted a more substantial frame, so I cut a stitched rectangular frame from a CTMH die set and layered the two together. I added foam tape to the back, including super skinny lines in a few places in the center to keep it from sagging.

The dragonflies are from CTMH. Adhering them together and then to the Linked Together frame was a bit fiddly but worth it.

The final touch was some clear gems from Stampin' Up! Of all their products I used, this is the only one that's no longer available. 

I haven't added a sentiment because I'm restocking my card stash and blank ones are always good to have on hand.

Until next time,

Becca

Since joining Stampin' Up! after CTMH closed, I've been following the Artisan designers and have totally fallen in love with Maheswari Rajaguru. This is my first attempt at copying her unique, gorgeous style.

The stamped images come from a new set called Gallery Blooms. The frame is from Storybook Friends, and the lock and key are from Tags to Go. The background is the Distress Tile embossing folder. Colors are Petal Pink (Stampin' Up!) and Acorn (CTMH, but Pecan Pie from Stampin' Up! would work just as well). The frame, lock, and key were cut from gold metallic paper. I cut the frame piece three times, twice in plain white paper, and layered them together for added depth. Accents are the 25-27 In Color Flat Pearls.

I think I'm going to use this as an engagement/wedding card since I just found out the daughter of friends in New York is getting married. Or maybe I'll recreate it in her wedding colors just for the fun of doing this again!

Until next time,

Becca

I Appreciate You

 As soon as I saw the new May Online Exclusives release from Stampin' Up!, I knew I wanted to try combining it with my favorite die cuts released jointly between CTMH and Stampin' Up! last year, Secret Garden. I am thrilled with how they combined. 

Everything except the yellow buds on the edges of my floral cluster are Impressions Abloom. The embossing folder is also new. It's called Pressed Flowers. 

I predict that you'll be seeing more of this combination of products in the future because...it's so pretty!!

Until next time,

Becca

Mother's Day with Color My Heart Challenge

 The current Color My Heart (#648) challenge is Yellow+1. I chose to use the still available "Secret Garden" collection for this card.

My yellow is Honey Butter and my green is Artichoke. Both of these are retired CTMH colors. Also CTMH Retired is the frame die and the small sentiment. I don't know the actual names...sorry. I adore these Secret Garden floral dies!! I tend to cut everything in white and then sponge color, like I did here. It's such a soft, pretty look.

Until next time,

Becca

Cherry Blossom Wishes Meets Color My Heart #640

Over on my FB page, I did a video about using ink pads to watercolor. I created several cards, but I chose my color scheme based on Color My Heart's #640th challenge featuring brown and one other color. I chose pink.

This card features irresistible paper. I squeezed ink into the lid of my ink pads then used a fan brush to paint over the paper. I also used to paint the embossed image.

On these two, I created my own irresistible paper by embossing the musical notes pattern on the card base then water coloring pink ink over the top. Then, using a hot iron and a piece of printer paper, I removed the embossing. 

I then cut a large arch from the card front base. I cut a second arch from the first one so I could make two cards. To comply with the color challenge, I sponged brown around the edges. If you look closely, you can see how there's no color under the pink but there's some brown over the musical scores.

Each card features a set called Cherry Blossom Wishes. It was one of the last sets released by Close to my Heart before they closed.

Until next time,

Becca

Sweet Magnolia

 In September, I took on the role of Titus II for the Protestant Women of the Chapel (PWOC) group here in Wiesbaden, Germany. For those of you unfamiliar with either, Titus II refers to the Bible verse that says older women are to teach younger women, and PWOC is a Bible study for military affiliated women. It's a precious privilege to mentor woman who are about the same as my daughter and daughter-in-law for the remaining time we have on active duty.

All that to say, one of my PWOC "girls" had a baby girl a little while ago. The baby's middle name is "Magnolia." The closest flower I have to that in my crafty stash is Peony Dream by Altenew. I combined it with other fun products in my crafty stash for this sweet baby card.

I chose my colors based on the current Color My Heart challenge and the design from the current Freshly Made Sketches challenge. My colors are CTMH Mulberry and Glacier. The lace die and alphabet set are also from CTMH. I'm not exactly sure where the "Sweet" die cut is from. 

I hope "my" sweet girl likes it!

Until next time,

Becca

Lolli & Pop

Well, friends, it's been about a year since CTMH announced they would be closing. It took time for me to get my footing under me after that, but the fog is beginning to clear. I did transfer over to Stampin' Up! along with many other CTMH Makers, but I have no intention of selling. At least not while we're still in Germany. 

I didn't expect to be back on my blog. However, there are some challenges that I'd still like to participate in, and I need a blog for that. Today's card is a prime example. Color My Heart's current challenge is pink and red with optional neutrals. When a dear friend announced that her first grandbaby (a darling little girl) had arrived and that she and her husband would be Lolli and Pop, this card idea came to me in a flash.

I used my Cricut to create most of this card. Only the background die cuts are Stampin' Up! (Everyday Arches and Brilliant Backgrounds). Don't even ask how long it took to make the Print Then Cut feature on my Cricut work for that banner. My printer was giving me fits!!

To create the lollipops, I used the shapes feature. I inserted three circles and a baby rattle that had a similar band across the center. Using the rattle as my guide, I elongated one circle into an oval then used it to slice one circle into the band shape. I duplicated it, then grouped the two lollipops together to size them. I also inserted the equal sign and elongated it until they became my sticks. I also added an ampersand and sized it to fit between my printed sentiment. 

I sponged edges and then added Glossy Accents over both the lollipops and the ampersand, then dotted some pearls around as the final accent. Now for the hard part. I have to let the Glossy Accents dry before I open the card back up to stamp and write my inside sentiment and greeting. Fortunately, it's Sunday and the hubs is preaching. If I can just exercise enough patience to get to church, this will be dry by the time I get home.

Gotta say...it's good to be back!

Until next time,

Becca

Clearing the Final Clearance at CTMH

 Hi again. I wasn't planning to post anything here again, but I'm on a mission. CTMH's final clearance sale is going on now. If I have anything in my stash that's still available, I'm working with it until it sells out. Right now that means "Flower Friends" stamp and thin cuts set plus the "Square Patterns" thin cuts. Here are the cards I've made so far...

I'm entering the second one in the Color My Heart Color Dare. I chose these colors based on their current challenge of Royal, Wisteria, and Lagoon. Black is neutral, so I made liberal use of it.

Here are a couple more cards using "Flower Friends" with some patterned paper. I used the same basic background for both because I'm also using up scraps.

I hope I've inspired you to check out the final clearance sale. There are awesome deals there!

Until next time,

Becca

Just Chicken In

 Dear Blogging Friends,

If you haven't already heard the new, Close To My Heart (aka, CTMH) is closing. They've been in business for forty years, and they've been a part of mine in some way or another for about thirty-five. I can't even begin to count the ways my life is better because of the creativity and friendships this company has inspired over those years.

I'm not closing this blog because I pay nothing for it, but I will post current crafting projects in my Facebook Group "Crafty Friends" only. I hope you'll join me there, but be sure to agree to the terms (basically encouragement only, no selling, and I retain the right to delete you or offensive posts.) 

Before I go, here's an adorable Stamp of the Month called Just Chicken In (see sidebar for full image).

The chicken beaks and feet were colored with pencils. The bodies and background were sponged with Mustard Seed Distress Oxide and Journey inks respectively. Such a soft look with minimal effort.

Since the inception of this blog, I've always closed with "Until next time." I'm sincerely torn between maintaining the tradition or signing off with something heartfelt and different. I guess I'll let you decide...

Becca

Mixing Eras

Have any of you seen the movie "Return to Me" starring David Duchovny and Minnie Driver? It's one of our favorites. Not only is the main story great, the side characters--particularly the quartet of old men--are hilarious. The men play poker and argue about the greatest singers and baseball players of all time. They argue about not only the people but mixing eras.

For today's card, I have mixed eras. Well...maybe not eras exactly, but certainly products that span decades. There are many hassles about having to move every few years, but one upside is that I'm forced to look at everything I own. That's usually when cards like these happen. So without further ado...

Everything here is a CTMH product. The oldest is the gold metalic paper. I think that goes back at least twenty years. I'm down to scraps, but I didn't need much. Everything stamped and gold embossed comes from the Cape Code-Scrapbooking set which came out in July 2023. The thin cuts are a hodgepodge, including some from a Christmas set introduced last year. So not only am I mixing eras here but seasons. 

The point is this: if you haven't gone through all your craft supplies in a while, do so. You never know what they will inspire you to create.

Until next time,
Becca

2023 Favorites

 I haven't blogged in forever, but I wanted to end the year by celebrating my top ten favorite projects of the year. Many of them I haven't posted here as I share more freely in my Crafty Friends Facebook Group. 

There you have it, my top ten projects of the year. 

Now that we've moved to Germany and the craft cabinet is set up and loaded, I hope to be posting more in 2024. Wishing you all a happy, healthy, and crafty new year.

Until next time,
Becca

Cozy Up with Flower Shoppe

 Fall is my absolute favorite time of year. I love pumpkin spice everything, hot tea, cozy blankets, and a good book...which makes the new Cozy Up collection of products introduced in the brand new CTMH July-August catalog a must have. But even I need a little more summer before immersing myself in "all Fall, all the time." I decided to use the Flower Shoppe paper suite that was introduced last year in the Core Catalog. It was hands down my favorite in that book. It's still available, and another package is in my cart because...I mean, just look at how cheerful it is.

Isn't that fun? The snail comes from Cozy Up - Cardmaking and the envelope comes from In Autumn Time. 

While Flower Shoppe was out, I thought I'd pair it with the July Stamp of the Month: The Bee's Knees. This set is available for $19.95 or, with a $50 purchase, is either $5 or free. See sidebar for link.

I used colored pencils on both cards, making them quick and easy. 

For information on the other products used, leave me a comment and I'll get back to you.

Until next time,
Becca