Love is in the Air!

Maybe this post is a little late for Valentine's Day, but the holiday is the first thing I thought of when I saw the theme for this week's Heart 2 Heart Challenge...True Love. This card is for my husband, so I tried to give it a masculine feel.

To create this Valentine card, I used Pattern 7 from Make it From Your Heart, Vol. 4, the newest instruction book from Close To My Heart.  It is dedicated to card sketches and artwork.  So anyhow, back to Pattern 7.  It is shown as a vertically oriented design, but I flipped it on its side to accommodate the embossing folder (Wood Slats--retired) and the Thin Cuts hearts. The patterned paper is from the Stargazer packet, the cardstocks are White Daisy and Pebble and the ribbon is the new Light Grey.

As I said, this is kind of late to be of inspiration for this Valentine's Day, so how about using your imagination...use a different sentiment that goes well with the heart, or switch the image completely...circles, stars?  Maybe a shamrock for St. Pat's Day

For more True Love inspiration, please visit Heart 2 Heart Challenges--Love is in the Air.  I am sure you will truly love (pardon the pun!) what you see. And we will truly love it if you take the time to link your project that reflects what you love!

Fine & Dandy!

The challenge for this week at Heart 2 Heart is literally Fine & Dandy. I had fun creating this layout celebrating my granddaughter's team win at the Conference Tourney.

This layout was entirely created with Close to My Heart products.  The layout inspiration comes from the left hand page of Pattern 22 in the Make it from your Heart Vol 3. I used patterned paper from the Stargazer paper packet as well as the retired Cats and Bats pack. I also used Black, Pebble, Poppy and retired Honey cardstock.  The Poppy enamel dots are from the Stargazer Dots set.  The title was stamped with a stamp from the Gimme Some Sugar--Scrapbooking set D1758.  One fun thing on this layout...I took a screen shot of a Tweet from our school principal and used it as a picture/journaling element...it kind of tells the whole story!

Stargazer and Gimme Some Sugar are two of the paper suites in the Seasonal Expressions 2 Idea Book.  If you have not yet had a chance to see the wonderfulness of this book, I invite you to visit my website, click on Products and then Idea Books.

For more  ideas be sure to visit Heart 2 Heart Challenges.  While you are there, I invite you to link your project.  We will love being inspired by what you find Fine & Dandy!  We ask only that you use at least one Close to My Heart product.

Got the blahs...

Winter blahs...it has been days since I have even thought about being creative. So I thought I would share my last project and maybe just talking about it will get me back in the mood!

I have previously shared how challenges spark some mojo with me.  I especially like the sketch and color challenges...they give me somewhere to start and from there I can usually add my personal touch.  Other challenges I like include themes or particular paper packets. The CTMH design books and the Idea books provide sketches and design ideas. Being on the design team at Heart 2 Heart Challenges has also been very inspiring.

So, with all that being said, let me talk about my latest source of inspiration.  I signed up for a monthly online layout class with Scrapbook and Cards Today.  The email I received included a picture of a completed project along with all the instructions (measurements too) and cutting files. Suggestions are also made for those that do not use a cutting machine.  Here is my interpretation of the January layout:

I used paper and Complements from the retired Hello Lovely packet and last year's Color of the Year, Sea Glass.  While I thought of using paper from the new Chelsea Gardens packet, this was the paper I have had in mind for these photos, so I went with it.

My new papers and supplies from Close to My Heart came the other day, so I hope to have some new projects for you to see really soon.

 Now if someone would just prod me into finishing my cleaning and sorting project in our home office...and cleaning kitchen cupboards...and cleaning the closets...

Fighting the blahs,
Sue

Picture Perfect!

How will you interpret this week's Heart 2 Heart Challenge theme?  Will you create a layout or card that is "Picture Perfect"?  Too much pressure there?  Well, how about using Picture My Life cards from CTMH to create your project?  Certainly you have someone in your life that is Picture Perfect, so you can do a project to honor that person.  Or you can do as I did and use an actual picture.  

I found a picture on my computer that pleased me (I took this one at Glacier National Park) and edited it in my photo editing software.  Really, all this photo needed was resizing and application of the Vignette effect. I printed it on a piece of textured watercolor paper I found hiding in my stash. It is stamped with one of the stamps from Inspired Words D1740 from CTMH.  I used a die from Lawn Fawn to trim it and then matted it onto Heather cardstock.

I created this card for a family friend that is facing some really tough times.  I love the peace and serenity it reflects...I hope he likes it also.

Please visit Heart 2 Heart Challenges for more inspiration. 

Until next time,

Sue

Something New!

It is a New Year and at Heart 2 Heart Challenges, we are celebrating "Something New".  Maybe you are creating with new supplies or tools, discovering a new technique, or maybe you are documenting something new in your home.  I was the lucky recipient of an Instant Pot this Christmas so I decided to document this new addition to my kitchen arsenal!

Design credit to bellablvd

All the supplies are from Close to My Heart.  The papers are from the Beary Christmas packet.  Because I did not want the layout to scream "Christmas", I used Poppy instead of Cranberry for the title.  You know that I have been trying to be more aware of my stash, so the zip strip, rick rack and the "something" were all found there.

I hope you will inspire us this month by linking your projects, starting with this one!  You have until the end of the month to submit your creation.  Click on this link Heart 2 Heart Challenges to find the link tool.

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.