Punny Pals!

This week's theme at Heart 2 Heart Challenges is Pun Intended.  For my layout, I chose to use the Operation Smile Punny Pals stamp set to create background paper.  I added patterned paper from the Falling for You and Cats and Bats paper packet and White Daisy, Fern, Bamboo (retired) and Black cardstock  I originally thought I wanted to use the cute puns with the critters, but I like the look without them much better.

Not sure to whom design credit should be given.  I found it on Pinterest...the only reference was Indulgy.com

Operation Smile Punny Pals D1751

When you purchase this stamp set, Close to my Heart will donate $7 USD of the proceeds to Operation Smile™, a non-profit organization that provides surgeries to repair cleft lips and palates for children around the world.

For more "Punny" inspiration be sure to visit Pun Intended at Heart 2 Heart Challenges.  And then...create a project and link up!  Just use at least one CTMH product!  You have until December 31st to enter.

Silver and Gold!

Silver and Gold...the theme for this week's Heart 2 Heart Challenges.  Even better, we are teaming up with Close to My Heart Color Dare as they present their challenge, Christmas Extravaganza "December Linky Party".  You can check out their page here.

I used my favorite Christmas stamp set from the Holiday Expressions book, and keeping the design clean and classy, created this card.

I used White Daisy cardstock and Silver and Gold glitter paper.  All the stamping was heat embossed and I added bling with Bitty Sparkles.

Here is another card using the First Noel Stamp Set and the Silver and Gold Paper Packet. I copied this design straight from the catalog. The artwork there is always so inspiring!

C1688

X7226B

You will love the Silver and Gold designs you find at Heart 2 Heart Challenges.  While you are there, we hope you will, in turn, inspire us with your project. For even more fun, check out the inspiration at Color My Heart Color Dare Challenges and also link your project there!

I also submitted this to Addicted to CAS, a fun challenge for Clean and Simple designs.

Do Be Bashful!

Bashful...the Color of the Year for Close to My Heart and so beautiful!  I love how it coordinates with the CTMH palette.  There are so many examples out there showing how it accents the Basic group.  While that is true and I certainly did use that paper packet, I also decided to throw in an old favorite...Outdoor Denim.  I believe Sapphire would work equally as well.

Design credit to Serendipity Sketches 141

All products used are Close to My Heart.  The circles were cut on the Cricut and the title and accents are from the Happy Moments Complements set. 

Products available in the Bashful shade include cardstock, ink pads and reinkers, glitter paper, gems and an album.  They will all be available through July 31, 2018.  I anticipate seeing coordinating patterned papers in the the 2018 Seasonal Expressions 1 & 2.

For more inspiration on the theme of Do Be Bashful, please visit Heart 2 Heart Challenges.  And then, how about creating a project and sharing it with us at Heart 2 Heart Challenges?  We will love being inspired by you!

Pretty Color Dare Challenge

Such pretty colors for the Color My Heart Color Dare Challenge!  I was inspired by a card by Create with Connie and Mary on Pinterest.  I chose to switch out the flower for a snowflake and otherwise made it a Christmas greeting.  I created Cricut files, but this could also be done with punches.  I dry embossed the Bashful paper, but it would also look fine left alone. All products are from Close to My Heart.

Be sure to visit Color Dare 269  for more inspiration for using these pretty colors.

Falling for You!

Just a short post showing my entry for the Close to My Heart Color Dare Challenge.  I was inspired by a card in the 2017-18 Annual Expressions and used the Falling for You paper packet.  I used the three main colors of the challenge as well as the secondary choices of White Daisy and Charcoal (the circle mat is the light side of Charcoal cardstock).  The scalloped border is cut with a Thin Cut.  I cut the circles on the Cricut, but there are also circle Thin Cuts available.

Falling for You paper packet

This is a quick and easy layout, yet makes for a very attractive card! 

For more inspiration using this color combination, please visit Color Dare Challenge #267.

Enchantment Abounds

Enchantment will abound at Heart 2 Heart Challenges this week. I am looking forward to seeing what the design team has come up with! I chose to follow the theme by creating a layout using the Enchantment Fundamentals Packet from Close to My Heart.  The colors in this group are rich and vibrant and the patterns are perfect for your paper crafting.

Design Credit to Page Maps

All products used are Close to My Heart

The bicycle was cut on the Cricut with the Flower Market cartridge.

I hope you will visit Heart 2 Heart Challenges to see more "enchanting" ideas.  We will love it if you also link up your card, layout or paper project!  Remember to use at least one CTMH product.

Vines and Twines!

This week we at Heart 2 Heart invite you to participate in our Vines and Twines challenge.  Beyond the obvious, you may also choose to include flowers or maybe pumpkins on your project.  I used a fairly old stamp set called The Present. It does have several vine images, but I am most fond of the sentiment.

Products used are all Close to My Heart.  I used the Falling for You paper packet and White Daisy and Espresso cardstock.  The stamping is done with Almond and Espresso inks. The fiber is Flaxen Thick Twine and I added a little bling with Bitty Sparkles.

We would love to see your project at Heart 2 Heart.  Please click on this link Heart 2 Heart Challenges Vines and Twine to find more inspiration and learn how to link your project.  As always, for any questions, I am here to help.

My Blue Period...

I was drawn to the Color my Heart Color Dare Challenge using three shades of CTMH blues...Pacifica, Sapphire and Crystal Blue along with White Daisy and Black.  I am still plugging along finishing the album from last year's river boat cruise, so I decided to document our time on the Rhine.

Design credit to Sketchy Thursdays

All products are Close to My Heart.  The papers are from Fundamental collections; the Pacifica dotted paper is from the 2016-17 collection and the remaining papers are all current.  The little swans are unfortunately retired.  

For more "blue" inspiration, be sure to visit Color Dare Challenge 264

Stash Buster Card Class!

My stash (oh come on, you know you have one also!) is just getting out of control!  So I have decided my upcoming card class will be a Stash Buster.  Class will be held at my home on Tuesday, October 24 starting at 1:00 p.m. with the last start time around 6:00 p.m. Come and go as you please. This is how it will work:

• You will be able to make 10 cards for just $15.00.  Included will be all occasion cards and a few holiday cards. For this price, I will not include envelopes.
• The cards will be simple and will require minimal instruction. We will be working buffet style, so you can work at your own pace.  Beginners, don't feel left out...I will be there to help you get started and answer any questions along the way.
• I will be using still lovely retired papers (AKA the stash) along with current and retired stamps.  
• Prepayment is appreciated, but payment will also be accepted at class time.
• Yes, I will be offering a door prize again.  Extra chances for prepayment, bringing a friend and any order from the Close to My Heart catalogs.

So this is a win-win situation.  I will be thinning my stash a little and you will be taking home cards with simple basic designs that you will be able to duplicate at home with your own papers and stamps.  What is not to love?

So that I have time to prepare the kits, please RSVP by October 17.  I am looking forward to seeing you!

Sue

BeYOUtiful!

BeYOUtiful! What a great theme for this week's Heart 2 Heart Challenge.  I chose to highlight my beautiful granddaughter...she was so lovely the evening she attended a dance with her friend.

Design credit to Cheryl Even

All products used are Close to My Heart.  I selected a pretty print from the Falling for You paper packet and five (yes, count them) different shades of cardstock from the new Basics palette.  It always amazes me how well the CTMH colors coordinate and blend together.  The photo mats are Toffee, the long strip of gray is the light side of Pewter and the shorter strips the dark side.  The background wider strip is Nutmeg (actually a shade of purple and I love it) and the the light gray in the flower is Pebble.  The flower is from the Kansas set on the Hello USA Cricut set and is cut from Goldrush and the shiny side of retired Fundamental papers.  The title is from the Beautiful You stamp set and is heat embossed with gold.

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Basics Combo Pack

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My friends on the Heart 2 Heart Design Team have created some awesome projects using this week's theme.  I hope you will click on this link Heart 2 Heart Challenges BeYOUtiful to take a look!  While you are there, why not share a project of your own?  This can be done by linking to your blog, Facebook or Pinterest anytime before the end of the month.  You may be recognized as one of our Darlings or maybe the Sweetheart for the month!

Mad for Plaid!

Heart 2 Heart Challenges is celebrating plaid this week!  The paper I used for my card is from the retired Jack paper packet, but really, any plaid would work for this design.

I used a die from My Favorite Things to create the space for the sentiment. No die? No problem!  Just cut a nice curved line, separate the pieces and trim the top to fit your card. The sentiment was stamped with a stamp from The First Noel (CTMH)  The pine needles and snowflake were cut on the Cricut with Close to My Heart cartridges. I know the pine needles are from the Flower Market cartridge...not sure about the snowflake.

A simple enough card...selecting the Cricut cuts probably took longer than anything.  I hope you enjoy it!

For more plaid inspiration, be sure to visit Heart 2 Heart Challenges.  While there, why not link your plaid project?  A blog is not necessary...you can also link from Facebook or Pinterest! You have the entire month of October to do this...just remember to use at least one Close to My Heart product.

Click on this link:

Heart 2 Heart Challenges Mad about Plaid

Marker Madness!

It is all about markers at Heart 2 Heart Challenges this week.  Now let me tell you, I have nothing but admiration for those that are talented and artistic with markers.  Unfortunately, that is just not me! I do occasionally enjoy some simple coloring and that is what I have to show you here.

CTMH products used:
Christmas Tunes S1710 (the October Stamp of the Month)
Gingerbread Friends D1743
Beary Christmas Paper Packet X7225B
White Daisy and Cranberry cardstocks.
Various Shinhan markers.
Thin Foam Tape
The twine is from my stash.

For more marker inspiration, please visit

Heart 2 Heart Challenges--Mad about Markers

Cats and Bats

Hi!  Halloween is quickly approaching, so I thought I would share a layout I did highlighting my grandson's Trick or Treating experiences.  He is all grown up now and I am attempting to finish up the scrapbook that I prematurely gave him for high school graduation.  Instead of individual Halloween pages, I chose to make just one layout with special pictures from across the years.  Doing this can simplify your scrapbooking and the ever present problem of trying to "catch up"!

I love the Cats and Bats paper packet (X7224B) created this year by Close to My Heart!  The whimsical little critters are perfect for layouts and cards.

I am sharing this layout with the Color My heart Color Dare Challenge.  Please click on this link to see what the design team has created for your inpsiration!

Color My Heart Color Dare Challenge #262

It's all about the negative!

Ordinarily I do not not like to give importance to the negative, but when it comes to the negative space left by die cutting, I am all for it!  For my card created as a Design Team member at Heart 2 Heart Challenges, I used my Cricut to cut the maple leaf from the Art Philosophy cartridge.  I combined the yummy new color Espresso from the new Basics palette with Gold Rush and patterned paper from the Falling forYou paper pack. Some shiny accents are added with gold heat embossing and Gold Glitter Gems.

This is a new month for Heart 2 Heart.  You have until September 30 to create and link your "Negative Space" project.  Be sure to check in each Monday for more challenges!

Heart 2 Heart Challenges Negative Space

Anything Goes!

"Anything Goes...CTMH Style" is the challenge this week at Heart 2 Heart.  Every once in awhile, I get in a real creative funk.  So even with all the liberty afforded by the challenge, I was still in a dilemma.  Finally, I decided to use the September Stamp of the Month and Nutmeg, my favorite color from the new Basics palette.  Also, metallic accents seem to be trendy now, so there you go...I had the elements for my card!

I used Colonial White cardstock for the card base, the panels and the feather.  (Yes, it is retired, but you know that you have some in your stash!) I stamped the background with Nutmeg Ink.  The sentiment and feather were heat embossed with gold powder.  The mats are Nutmeg cardstock and Gold Glitter paper. I bumped up the feather with Thin 3-D Foam Dots and added some bling with Gold Glitter Gems.

September Stamp of the Month Feel So Blessed S1709

I hope you are inspired by this card...for more inspiration, be sure to visit Heart 2 Heart Challenges. While you are there, why not link up your project...remember, this week, as long as you use at least one Close to My Heart product, Anything Goes!

Heart 2 Heart Challenges--Anything Goes!

Bear Hugs

It is sketch time at Heart 2 Heart.  Haley Bell Dyer designed a sketch that is just asking for your interpretation!  I love the Jack paper set and the cute little bear included in the Jack Cardmaking Stamp set and Thin Cuts, so I found a way to make them work.  This was a fun card to make.  I hope you are inspired to link up your own take on this sketch!

 Here is the sketch...you have until the end of August to link your project.  Just click on this link to access the Heart 2 heart site.

Card Class!

Hello,

Here is more information about the card class I have planned for Wednesday, August 16th.  As I mentioned, this class will be "come when you can" during the hours of 1:00 to 8:00 p.m.  We will be making 5 cards, so depending how quickly you work, you will want to allow around two hours to complete your projects.

For this class we will be using some papers and stamps from the new Annual Expressions catalog as well as some oldies, but goodies.  The class fee is $15.00.  I will furnish everything you will need except for tape runners.  You will need to bring one or two with you.  I will also provide beverages and a snack.

Something new...I will be offering a stamp set as a door prize. There will be several ways to enter:
      1 chance for coming to class
      1 chance for prepayment (check or Paypal)
      1 chance for bringing a friend
      1 chance for placing an order for Close to My Heart products the night of the class.

So what do you need to do?  For sure, I need an RSVP by Sunday, Aug 13th so I will have time to prepare the kits.  Please, also tell me if you are bringing a friend.  While it will be helpful to know what time you plan on coming, it is not necessary. Prepayment is also welcome, but payment will be accepted at class time.

I have missed seeing you for card class and look forward to our time together!

Sue

Celebrating Friendship!

Hello Friends,

National Friendship Day will be celebrated next Sunday, August 6th.  So It is appropriate that Heart 2 Heart is also celebrating by challenging you to create a card or other project mentioning friendship.  I have chosen to create a card for my dear friend from nursing school.  We do not see each other often, but we have that kind of bond that allows us to easily pick up where we left off as if only a few days had passed.  I will be adding a birthday message to the inside of this card.

This was one of the designs we worked on during the creative sessions at the CTMH convention.  I guess I am pokey because I started several projects there that are just now getting finished at home.  A couple things to point out:

The patterned paper is from the new Whimsy Fundamentals set.  The papers in this set have smaller and more subdued designs and will be perfect as backgrounds for your designs. For cardstock, I used Flaxen, White Daisy, Sorbet and Sapphire. Did you notice the two shades of Sorbet and Sapphire? Our cardstock is now double sided, providing you with more color choices.  It is like having 40 more colors of cardstock available to you! 

New products from the 2017-18 Annual Expressions can be seen online on August 1st. Go to www.suebruch.ctmh.com and click on "products".

I will be on vacation this week and probably will not be posting, so to all of you...Happy Friendship Day!

Talk to you soon--

Sue

I will be unable to give you the direct link to this challenge until after vacation, but in the meantime please visit the main website:

Heart 2 Heart Challenges

Rose for an Anniversary!

Time again for the Color My Heart Color Dare challenge!  This week we are challenged to use Poppy, Tangerine, Willow, Glacier, Slate and White Daisy with gold being an option.  The rose on this card is kind of a sneak peek of a new set that will be available in the 2017-18 Annual Expressions.  This catalog will go live on August 1st and you will be able to see it on my website www.suebruch.ctmh.com.
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The rose from the Beautiful You set is stamped in three layers.  In order to stay with the assigned colors, I stamped the first layer with second generation Tangerine, the second with first generation Tangerine and the final layer with Poppy.  The leaves were stamped with Willow and the veins with Slate.  The sentiment from the Workshops Your Way Anniversary Cardmaking Kit is stamped with Slate. I used Gold Glitter Gems for the bling.  The Glacier patterned paper from the Prickly Pear set was die cut with a die from Lawn Fawn.

This card turned out clean and classy...and that makes me happy!

Be sure to visit the Color Dare site for more beautiful cards created with this color combination!

Color My Heart Color Dare #253

Later,

Sue

So Lovely!

I'll make this post short and sweet.  I was so happy with this layout I did today that I just had to share.  I think, mostly I am happy with the subject matter...my granddaughter's first prom and how beautiful she looked.  Her dress, her hair, flowers...everything was perfect for her.

A few design details:
Design credit to Cheryl Even
Used the Hello Lovely paper packet (retired)
Journaling block is a Picture my Life card
Used floral zip strips as accent
While not seen on the photo, I used the Shimmer Pen to accent the title
I had intended to use some Complements, but they would have made the layout too busy; used Gold Glitter Gems instead

Enjoy!

I will am posting this at Heart 2 Heart Challenges

Heart 2 Heart Challenges--Oh the Places You'll Go!

In Stitches...Old and New!

When I saw that our Heart 2 Heart challenge was In Stitches,  I  could not get the Stitched Together stamp set out of my mind. Because it is long retired, I combined it with current product to demonstrate how the old and new work together..  This pattern is from the Workshops Your Way Anniversary Cardmaking Kit (G1131). The sentiment is, strangely enough, from the Race Car Birthday Set (B1531). I used patterned paper from the Adventure Fundamentals set along with White Daisy and Sea Glass cardstock.  The stamping was done with Memento Black and Raspberry inks. The bling additions are Silver Shimmer Trim and Silver Sequins.

This is the card as created from the kit.  I love the Sorbet and Sea Glass together!

And this is the same card done with papers from the No Worries collection.  I love them all!

Be sure to visit Heart 2 Heart to see what the Design Team has created for you.

Heart 2 Heart Challenges--In Stitches

This card was also submitted to the Color My Heart Color Dare challenge.  You will also love the inspiration found there!

Color Dare #252 - Emerald, Sea Glass, Raspberry, White Daisy and Black w/Opt Silver

Heart 2 Heart...No Worries

The entire Design Team at Heart 2 Heart Challenges is coming together this week to challenge you with interpretations of No Worries. This may mean using the papers and/or the colors from the paper pack with the same name or it may mean creating a layout or card that reflects that feeling.  I can picture beach or picnic layouts, kids enjoying summer vacation or maybe just a floral card that invokes feelings of joy or peace.

I chose to use No Worries papers and the No Worries--Scrapbooking stamp set to create my card. This is the card I will be using as a swap at the Close to My Heart convention.  Actually, when you read this, I will already be home from Salt Lake City loaded with new ideas and projects that I will be able to share with you.  I am getting so excited!

So, keeping this short, I hope you are inspired by this card and will visit the Heart 2 Heart Challenge site to see what else the Design Team has created for you.  While you are there, why not link your project?  We love to be inspired!

Sue

Color Dare #248

This week Color Dare is inspiring us with some of the colors from the No Worries packet.  I chose to use a couple patterned papers from that set as well as Desert Sand, Sapphire, Glacier and White Daisy cardstock.  I stamped the sentiment with New England Ivy and added more green by using some bling from the retired Blue and Green Epoxy Gems.

This is the sketch that inspired me:

X7220B

For more inspiration, please visit:

Color My Heart Color Dare #248

Hugs and Kisses!

Our Heart 2 Heart Challenge this week finds us using Emojis as our theme.  How fun is that?  While Close to My Heart offers a darling Emoji stamp set, I chose to use a purchased cutting file to create my little guy.  My patterned papers are retired CTMH, the colors being Lagoon, Honey and Cranberry.  The cardstock used is White Daisy, Black and Cranberry...all current. The embellishments are from the Black and White Dots assortment. Enjoy!

Here is the Close to My Heart Emoji stamp set...

Emojis (C1669)

For More Fun Emoji ideas, please visit:
Heart 2 Heart Emoji