Celebrate Your Day, Mom

Quick post today because I've just decided that I need to start over on a story I was already half-done writing for an August 1 deadline.  And that's in addition to the previously announced deadlines for the three-book series plus three promotional novellas, the first of which are due July1 and September 1. Yikes! 

This card combines a couple of challenges and gets me ready for Mother's Day next month.

Here's the supply list:

• Paper: CTMH Blossom (retired)
• Stamp: Verve Poppy Birthday
• Ink: CTMH Glacier (pigment)
• Embossing folder: No idea...sorry
• Die Cuts: Circle is Spellbinders, "Mom" free on Cricut Design Space (It's a card I found by searching for "Mom" and sized down to 2.23Wx3.31H)
• Shimmer Trim: CTMH Green and White that I turned into pink with Copic marker R22

Here are the challenges is fulfills:

• Mojo Monday: Sketch
• CASology: Mom

I'll be using the leftover cut out of the "mom" on a different card soon.  I'm not sure how long it will be free in Design Space, so hurry over and get it while you can.

Now back to the Russian Revolution and lots of gorgeous, glittery jewelry.  If you'd like to see some of what's inspiring my story, you can visit my Pinterest page here.

Until next time,
Becca

Rain or Shine...

Sometimes I like to see how many card challenges I can meet with one card.  This is one of those.

Here are the five challenges it meets:

• Curtain Call: Keep it Simple
• Less is More: Three Stamps
• Addicted to CAS: Rain
• Color Throwdown: Blue, Green, Yellow, and White
• Freshly Made Sketches:#232

The stamps are from an long-ago CTMH set called "Miss May" colored with Copic markers. Although I love the clean, graphic stamps that are the trend now, every once in a while, one of these cute images calls my name.  Between owning Copics and progressing in my coloring, I can now do these old stamps justice, but I think I should have used green for the second part of the sentiment instead of more yellow.

Regardless of what I did or maybe should have done instead, Miss May is a darling image, and it was fun to pull her out again after many years of languishing on the shelf.

Until next time,
Becca

Marbled Background

I had some fun today creating a marbled background using this week's Color My Heart Challenge: Thistle, Hollyhock, Juniper, and White Daisy along with CAS(E) this Sketch #168.

To create my background, I smushed a 3x3 square acrylic block into Thistle ink. I then used a crumpled piece of plastic bag to dab water onto the block and get the ink moving. I stamped the block onto white cardstock, cleaned the block, and repeated the process with Hollyhock and Juniper ink.  After carefully considering how I needed to cut my square so it would look like a rectangle and follow the sketch, I cut the angle the wrong way...so I flipped the sketch.

The sentiment panel is 1"x4". I stamped the sentiment with Thistle dye ink (Happy) and White Daisy pigment ink (Anniversary). After letting the pigment ink dry, I used a scratch piece of paper to glue the bottom piece of the marbled background first, the sentiment strip next, then the top piece of marbled background. Some stitching and a crochet flower with corduroy brad center (retired CTMH accessories) finished off the top panel.

The white cardstock panel is cut at 4"x5.25" and scored at the 1/4" mark all the way around. I mounted it with foam tape on the card base, then mounted the marbled panel with another layer of foam tape.

Okay...time to face the music (aka, the tax man). Wish me luck!

Until next time,
Becca

You're Beautiful

I combined three challenges for today's card: Color Throwdown, Freshly Made Sketches, and Heart2Heart (although I used a butterfly instead of "Birds or Bees" because it's all I had this far away from home).

Everything is CTMH. Here's the supply list:

• Stamps: You're Own Kind of Wonderful, Your Beautiful Self, Packages, Boxes & Tags
• Ink: Peacock and Fern (pigment)
• Paper: Enchantment Fundamentals
• Accessories: Clear Embossing Powder, MISTI stamping tool, paintbrush, foam tape

I stamped the line of hearts after the card was assembled using my MISTI. I had to press harder on the edge that was more angled because of the foam tape. That's why the hearts do that weird shadow-edged thing.  Most of the time, I'd tear the whole thing off and start over, but I kinda like it.

For the coloring, I painted with pigment ink because, again, it's all I have right now.  I dabbed a line of Fern on the edge of small bowl, wet my brush with plain water, and painted the butterfly. It gave me a mottled look instead of smooth one.

This is for a dear friend who just needed to be reminded of this simple truth today.  I know I need to hear it once in a while. How about you?

Until next time,
Becca

Color Blocked Congratulations

I love the bright, bold colors chosen for this week's Color My Heart Challenge: Gypsy, Lagoon, and White Daisy.  And I love the idea of combing bold with "Delicate" which is this week's Addicted to CAS challenge.  I put the CTMH Artistry cartridge back to work for this card:

I forgot to measure, and I don't have the card to do it after the fact, but I think the squares are 1.25" square, so the color blocking is 2.5x2.5" mounted on 2.75x2.75" White Daisy base.  The trees were cut with my Cricut, glued down, then painted over with shimmer paint although you can't see it in the picture. The sentiment is from CTMH "Shower Flowers" stamped in Gypsy then trimmed down after the fact to get the thinnest possible strip.  It would have been fun to let the edges of this hang over a bit and snip a "V" in each end, too.

After the center block was done, I mounted it on a single layer of foam tape and attached it to the card base.  I'm a big fan of the white on white mounting because it adds interest without adding bulk.  I can easily see this with a second, thicker white mat similar to how I did this card.

A writer friend was recently nominated for a RITA award.  She gave me credit in her "Acknowledgements" for helping her brainstorm the book.  I was touched because I felt like I did so little.  This card is for her.

Until next time,
Becca

Birthday Hats

Have I mentioned how much fun I'm having with the CTMH Artistry cartridge?  Maybe once or twice...or a little bit more?!  Well, I am. And I used it again, along with the colors for this weeks Color My Heart Challenge, on these hats to create a fun birthday card.

I cut both the top and bottom layers of the hats in white, drew a faint line with a pencil so I could sponge color on the bottom layer and have it show through the holes of the top layer in the right place.  To give a tiny bit of added interest, I flipped the top layer of the center hat so the holes were in a slightly different place.

The background paper is from "Penelope" with additional sponging in Glacier around the edges to give more definition.

Super simple, but that's what I love so much about this cartridge. Which I might have mentioned before. Once or twice.

Until next time,
Becca

Simple Hello

Okay...let's just say it up front.  The latest Cricut cartridge from Close to my Heart is THE BOMB! 

I stamped "Shower Flowers" in Canary, Smoothie, Flaxen and Sweet Leaf, this week's challenge from Color My Heart.  I topped it with the "hello" sentiment from Artistry in Smoothie and White Daisy.  After the sentiment was down, I added a bow. 

So simple, but it ranks in the top five of all the cards I've made this year.

Until next time,
Becca

Crafting on the Road

I'm staying with my son for about three weeks.  His job is a pretty overwhelming at the moment, so he asked if I would come to make sure he ate something when he got home after a LONG day.

How can a mother say no?

Anyway, this isn't my first time spending several weeks with him.  Last October, while my husband was in Korea and Japan, I came for the fun of it.  I had a great time, but I really missed being able to craft.  So, this time I brought a minimal stash of stuff expecting my son would have things like scissors and glue. 

Nope. Had to borrow them from a neighbor.  But, still, I managed well enough to be able to play along with this week's Freshly Made Sketch challenge.

I brought a stack of pigment inks from CTMH.  They're small, so I could fit a lot of colors in my bag.  I used every color in my stack on this card.  For those of you who are CTMH fans, this is the Enchantment color family.  I used two CTMH stamp sets: Shower Flowers and Happy to be Friends.

I don't like the torn and crumpled border on this card. It just doesn't fit with the crisp edges of the flowers.  However, limited supplies and a border that isn't budging means this is how the card gets mailed. WAIT...I think I fixed it.

In writing news, I finished two major projects this week: a synopsis and the first draft of a novella that comes out in November of this year in The Blue Ribbon Brides Collection.  Yay!  (Had to say that in case hubby reads the blog and thinks I'm not working. He's pouting a little because he's not getting home cooking while son is. Son has very little sympathy. It's good to be me!)

Time to get back to writing, cleaning, and cooking.  You know...the same stuff I do at home.

Until next time,
Becca

Hippity, Hop, Hop

I am having so much fun with the new CTMH Artistry Cartridge!  I made this cute Easter card by welding a few shapes together and adding a bunny over top.

I used the Penelope paper pack, which allows me to enter this week's Color My Heart challenge, then did a little tone-on-tone stamping for the background of the sentiment panel using the small dots in the stamp set "Packages, Tags, & Boxes."  I'm finding lots of uses for that stamp set and the dots in particular!

Both layers of the bunny were cut in white.  I then sponged color on his tummy, face, and ears in varying degrees of intensity.

Fun and easy!

Until next time,
Becca

Hey. Thanks!

Really quick post today as I have a thousand things to do before my flight this evening.  I'm playing along with the Heart2Heart "Three" challenge.  I chose three different paper packs from CTMH (all retired) and cut them into three banners.

Nothing earth-shattering about this idea, but sometimes simple is just what you need to "get-her-done."

Until next time,
Becca

CTMH Artistry Frame does Double Duty

It's probably not a big surprise to any of you that I glean inspiration from a huge number of paper crafting blogs.  I've been noticing a trend lately where a top panel is given a fun edge before mounted over top of a card base.  Initially, I thought of buying some of the die cuts to recreate the looks, but then I said to myself, "Wait! Can't you recreate the same look with the CTMH Artistry cartridge?"

"Why, I believe I can," I answered myself.

"Okay, self. Let's see what we can do."

(I'm an author.  These kinds of conversations are normal for me.)

Here's what "myself" came up with:

I used the "Joy" sentiment that shows up on p. 48 of the Artistry booklet, ungrouped it and deleted the "Joy" image leaving only the background panel. I unlocked this image and edited it to 4.25x6.5 inches. I cut it in "Charlotte" paper then used my paper trimmer to cut one edge off giving me two decorative edges to play with.

"Myself" is very pleased!

Until next time,
Becca

Celebrate. Woo Hoo

I have a few minutes before I need to call my writing partner to brainstorm, so here's a quick card I made this morning for both Mojo Monday: #436 and Heart2Heart: Party Animals.

I used all CTMH products, although the Confetti Wishes paper for the striped banner is retired.  The balloons were cut with Artiste, and the stamp sets are "Packages, Boxes, & Tags" plus "Balloon Animals" which is the February Stamp of the Month.

The idea to stamp the dots on the balloons comes from a Stampin' Up! set.  I love taking ideas and using products I already have to recreate them.

Now back to my day job!

Until next time,
Becca

For Someone Special

Ever since I received the new CTMH Artistry cartridge, I've been wanting to play with the "weld" feature on my Cricut Explore to create a panel overlay.  For this card, I welded a rectangular frame from the Art Philosophy cartridge with a floral overlay from Artistry to create this card:

In order to get the overlay and rectangle to weld like I wanted, I had to "unlock" the images so I could stretch them.  I began with the rectangle and edited it to be 4.25" W x 5.5" H.  The border ended up being too thick, so I copied and pasted the frame, sized it down, then used the "slice" feature to cut the two images. I then unlocked the flower image and manually stretched it enough to get a few places on the top and bottom to touch the inside of the rectangle.  Once everything fit, I hit "Select All" then right clicked and chose "Weld" from the drop down menu.  If you own both Art Philosophy and Artistry, here's the file so you can download everything you need to recreate this (including the accent flower).

If you aren't familiar with the "slice" and "weld" feature on your machine, I encourage you to go to the Cricut tutorials on their website.  Once you've know how to use them, these features give you incredible artistic freedom.

I sponged the background in colors for this week's Color My Heart dare: Honey, Pear, and Cranberry, glued my welded flower and rectangle piece over top, and added a banner stamped with the line and a sentiment from a stamp set called "Packages, Boxes, & Tags."  It felt like it needed something more, so I cut a double layer flower from Artistry both in white, sponged the background flower, and added them to the banner.  Again, something felt off, so I sponged a leftover bit of paper with more Cranberry, punched it out, and added a center to the flower.  That grounded it so it wasn't "floating" and made the card feel finished.

I'm pretty excited about how this turned out.  I can see myself using this overlay for all kinds of cards and get a different look by varying the colors and intensity of the background sponging.

Until next time,
Becca

Special Birthday Card

My mother is turning 80 next month, so I wanted to make her an extra special birthday card.  I pulled out an old, wood-mounted stamp from CTMH called Paris Floral because it's one of my all-time favorites.  Old and a favorite. Sounded like a good combo for Mom.

I recently took a water coloring class and learned this nifty trick...use lots of water. I know, right?  I also learned not to stress when colors bleed into one another.  For this perfectionistic soul, that's tough.

I'm entering it in the following challenges:

• The Card Concept: Floral Radiance
• Freshly Made Sketches: #224
• Muse Challenge: #153
• Addicted to CAS: Bloom

My favorite part of this card is the sewing.  Mom used to teach Home-Ec, so it felt like I was personalizing it just for her.  Now...shhh, don't tell her that I plan to hand-deliver it.  I'll be flying in for the surprise celebration then head out to help my son for about a month so that, when I turn 80, he has as many fond memories of me as I have of my mom.

Until next time,
Becca

Retro Birthday Hello

My younger brother is turning...never mind.  Old enough that we both remember view finder toys and cameras that required film.  I wanted to make him a "manly" card and participate in the dual challenges of "Share the Love" at Heart2Heart and the color scheme from Color My Heart.

This card uses a bunch of old and new CTMH products as well as some Washi tape I got from someplace like Hobby Lobby or Michaels.

Here's the supply list (everything is CTMH unless noted):

• Cricut cuts: Circle and Word Bubble-Artiste; Film strip - Artistry
• Stamps: Reel Life (view finder - retired); Word Balloons (hello - coordinating stamp set for Artiste); Finding the words ("birthday", current) Share the Love (camera, promotional set available this month only)
• Washi tape: Red chevron and black checkered from ???; Arrow (retired)
• Ink: Black and Cranberry

I really like how this turned out.  I hope it takes my brother on a trip down memory lane--you know, while he's still young enough to have his memory.

Until next time,
Becca

XOXOXO

Love is in the air...and on my typewriter!

I recently busted my crafting fast wide open and purchased the new "Artistry" Cricut cartridge from Close to My Heart along with a few other yummies.  The four layer typewriter is my new favorite thing, and I'll be using it a ton. Today, I'm using it for the current challenge over at CAS on Sunday: Valentines.

Isn't that adorable??

I wanted the background to have a little something to make the white paper stand out, so I used a panel of watercolor paper, swiped Tim Holtz Spun Sugar Distress Stain over the back, and faded out the edges by feathering them with a paint brush.  The sentiment is from a retired CTMH set called "Typed Note."

Let me tell you what else I'm in love with...the German carbide blade for my Cricut.  I've had so much trouble with fine cuts, but this new blade is the BOMB!  I'll be ordering a multi-pack because I never want to be without one again.

Nothing like new stuff to get your creative juices going.  Let's hope it stimulates the actual typewriter (aka, laptop) so I can meet some writing deadlines after being down a couple weeks with shingles.

Until next time,
Becca

May Your Memories...

I hate when my stash of sympathy cards runs out. It means too many people I care about are hurting. But, since they are some of the most appreciated cards, I try to always have at least three on hand.  Here's one I created using the new Charlotte paper from CTMH:

The flower was cut with a file that's free on Cricut Design Space (for my Explore) right now.  I cut it in Sorbet and Black, sponged the flower edges with Sorbet ink, and used some Slate Velvet Rub-ons left over from a CTMH Workshop I ordered years ago.  The leaves are from a stamp set called "Shower Flowers" stamped in Slate. The background panel is actually from the paper designed to be used for Picture My Life.  After I had the card assembled, the touch of gold in the ribbon felt out of place because I didn't have gold anywhere else so I added the two large gold sequins.

I'm entering it in this week's Color My Heart challenge: White, Black, Whisper, Slate, Sorbet, and Champagne.   

I love how this turned out so I'll be making a few more for my stash.  There's something both fresh and gentle about the color scheme that makes it perfect to extend sympathy.

Until next time,
Becca

My Three Best

It's the last day of the latest class at Online Card Classes.  The last two days have been "Expressive Florals" where you can take any blob and turn it into a flower.

Here are my best three:

 Used a stamp as a guide for flower placement.

 Free-form roses. Like the roses, hate the leaves, LOVE the sentiment.

Free-form blobs connected by stems and leaves.  Like the leaves.

I think I'm way too literal and picky when it comes to creating these kinds of things.  This free-form stuff just makes me sweat.  If I decide to do much more with watercoloring, I need to invest in better brushes and paper.

The last card meets a different kind of challenge.  Karen Day and I have started daring each other to use up old CTMH paper.  I used Aspen cardstock and B&T paper.  Tag, Karen.  You're it.

As for the shingles, my left eye is only partially swollen now.  I still look too scary to leave the house, but at least I'm starting to function.  Next week I'll be hitting the writing hard.  Deadlines are starting to creep up on me, not to mention a few launch functions for the book releasing March 1.  I have to say, though, if you're going to have to waste a week of work because neither your brain nor body can hold up, watercoloring isn't a bad way to go.

Until next time,
Becca

Sweet Baby A

Thanks for all your well wishes.  This shingles thing is no fun.  My eye is still swollen, and my forehead is starting to look really ugly, but I feel like I'm turning the corner.  I'm going to head up to my office and see if I can get some writing done, but I took the morning to work on a card that kept me up last night.

I have a dear friend who just had a baby girl.  Their nursery colors are tan, coral, aqua and white.  I decided to use the negative space watercoloring lesson from Online Card Classes to customize a baby card.

To begin, I embossed the letter A from CTMH "Building Blocks" alphabet set in clear. Then I went to work on the background.  I spritzed my paper with water and dropped Yellow Deep and Yellow Ochre onto various places, swirled it around, then dropped Cobalt Blue and Rose Madder in a few places.  I let that dry then added more of the same colors, mixing a few to create purple and green hues.  Before it dried, I came in with a well-loaded brush and put Cobalt Blue near the edges of the A.  After it dried, I did a wash over the whole thing with Burnt Sienna.

After I lifted the embossing powder by ironing it off between two sheets of blank writing paper, I wet the entire letter and touched Compose Blue along the left side, adding more pigment to the edges to create shading.  With the embossing powder gone and touches of watercolor inside the letter, it looks like I worked harder than I actually did to create that crisp edge.

I trimmed the panel to 4x4, distressed the edges with Cocoa ink, stamped "sweet" and "Baby" in Cocoa, and handwrote the rest of Annalise's name.  Some gold sequins and Glacier Thick twine finished the card.

All stamps, ink, and accessories are from CTMH, watercolors are Holbien Artist's Water Color, and paper is Strathmore 300 Series 140# Cold Press.

Until next time,
Becca

Hello Friend

Since it's nearly impossible to write for any length of time with one eye swollen shut, I did my first card from the current Online Card Class: Intermediate Watercolor Techniques for Card Makers. 

I used an old Stampin' Up set called "Fall Whimsy" stamped in third generation Momento Rich Cocoa.  The sentiment is from Verve.

Did you catch that this was done with one eye swollen shut?

Yeah...

Time for more Percocet and a nap.

Until next time,
Becca