A crop party is a modern quilting bee. A group of friends gather to have girl friend time, sharing joys and sorrows while preserving memories and creating a special keepsake.

Sunday, January 12, 2014

New Beginnings



The theme of this week's Heart 2 Heart challenge, "New Year, New Beginnings," could not be more appropriate.  Have you noticed the "Shop With Me" link below my profile?  That's right, I have signed up to be an Independent Consultant for Close to My Heart!  I welcome any tips or advice that my consultant friends would like to share.  In addition, while shopping in an eclectic neighborhood boutique, (you know, the kind where the owners actually talk to you), the subject of cards came up.  I referred them to my blog, which they checked then and there, and they would like to carry my cards on consignment!  Since people keep telling me I should sell my cards, I am going to give it a go.     

Now for the cards:  I used one of the stamps sets that came with my new consultant kit, "Swirls Around," and this sketch from Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenges to make three cards.



First I tried playing with Roxie which was retired a few years ago:

 


Along with my new stamp, this card features resist embossing done with a new twist for me.  I embossed on B&T paper so that a pattern shows though the stamped design and the sponging.  I used Smoothie ink because that is the featured color for this week's Color My Heart Color Dare.  I think there may be a bit of Tulip hiding in the plaid, but I hope Sarah will overlook that. I sponged the heart with black to help it stand out and popped it and the brad up with foam tape.  Here is the inside:



Next up I played with Laughing Lola to make a valentine(ish) card featuring nonconventional colors:



I popped the clear sparkle out of the flower and substituted a pink sparkle.  I also sponged the heart with black ink to give it some pop.  Here is the inside of this one:



Lastly I went back to resist embossing for this card which can be a friendship card or a birthday card:



I love the Base and Bling Floral Accents and am sorry to see they are going to be retired.  You had better believe I have stocked up on them just like I did with the colored sparkles that were retired with this catalog.  For the inside I tried one of the other stamps in the set:



This is a new year with new adventures waiting.  Thank you for stopping by!  Until next time, Hansi

Materials used, all Close to My Heart unless otherwise noted:
Paper:  Laughing Lola, Roxie (retired), Smokey Plum, Dessert Sand, and White Daisy cardstock
Ink:  Smoothie, Cotton Candy, Black, Buttercup, and Smokey Plum
Stamps:  Swirls Around, Love Doily. Fabulous You
Embellishments:  Base and Bling Floral Accents (to be retired January 31), Pink and Purple Sparkles (retired), Copper Designer Brad (retired)
Other:  Clear Detail embossing powder





25 comments:

  1. These are beautiful. Really like how you did these.
    Thanks for playing along with us at H2H

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  2. Very pretty cards, I would never have thought of using it this way. I love how you interpreted the sketch. Great job using it for both Atlantic hearts and Heart 2 Heart. Thanks for joining us at both!

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    1. Thank you ! I am glad I could give you another idea of how to use the Swirls stamp.

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  3. Beautiful cards! Welcome to CTMH!!! Thanks for playing along at H2H!

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  4. This is absolutely beautiful. I love the it. Congrats to you on becoming a consultant with CTMH and welcome. I have been one for a year, and I love it !! Thanks for sharing with us at AHSC, and for the inspiration. I am going to case this card, I hope that it ok with you. Thanks

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  5. This is absolutely beautiful. I love the it. Congrats to you on becoming a consultant with CTMH and welcome. I have been one for a year, and I love it !! Thanks for sharing with us at AHSC, and for the inspiration. I am going to case this card, I hope that it ok with you. Thanks

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  6. This is absolutely beautiful. I love the it. Congrats to you on becoming a consultant with CTMH and welcome. I have been one for a year, and I love it !! Thanks for sharing with us at AHSC, and for the inspiration. I am going to case this card, I hope that it ok with you. Thanks

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    1. Thank you! Case away! I am flattered. I have always felt that one of the purposes of these blogs is to give people ideas.

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  7. Absolutely wonderful card. I really enjoyed how you made it 3 different ways, very creative. Congratulations on joining the wonderful family of CTMH. Thanks for joining us at Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge.

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    1. Thank you! Sometimes I have more than one idea and cannot pick just one. Part of being scatter brained, I guess.

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  8. Love all your cards! I've always loved that swirl stamp set and you've given me lots of new ideas. Congrats on becoming a CTMH consultant and good luck in selling your cards on consignment. Thanks for playing along with us at Color My Heart Color Dare this week!
    :) Marie

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    1. Thank you! I am a bit nervous, but I love card making and CTMH, and when you are passionate about what you do you have a good chance of being successful. I love the swirls, too. One purpose of these blogs is to share ideas. I am glad you found one here.

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  9. Hansi, I can hardly pick a favorite! You are so talented at the emboss resist technique--and making me want to try it more often. I am so glad you made the leap into the CTMH world! I wish you a wonderful and successful start! :)

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    1. Thank you! I love your designs and would love to see what you do with resist embossing.

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  10. These are gorgeous! Welcome to the CTMH family and thanks for playing along at Atlantic Hearts!

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  11. absolutely love what you did here. Great. Thanks for sharing with us again at AHSC

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  12. Hansi strikes again! Each card is lovely because your design is so spot-on. I think my fave is the one with the Laughing Lola paper, just because the combo of plaid and swirl is so unexpected. Thanks for gracing Atlantic Hearts with your creations again this week.
    Big congrats on taking the plunge and joining CTMH! I joined as a hobby stamper (mostly for the discount) and have slowly gotten into doing card workshops, gathered a few regular customers and sold some cards, too. One way to find a group of stampers is to host workshops for Operation Write Home: pre-cut and prepare the materials for 3-4 card designs and invite your friends to be the elves. Great way to spend an evening, great cause, and you will definitely turn some of them into stampers!

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    1. Thank you! You are always so encouraging! Plaid is a little out of my comfort zone, but it is growing on me. An OWH workshop is a brilliant idea! Most of my paper crafting friends are already customers of my up line. (Seems weird to refer to my friend that way.) A workshop for a worthy cause may help some of my other friend discover that they like paper crafting, too. Thanks for the suggestion.

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  13. Hansi, these cards are so cute! Great inspiration (and I don't mind the small amount of Tulip). Good luck with your sales of these cards and your new business. Thanks for playing this week at Color My Heart!

    Sarah

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  14. Hansi, I love your variety of colors, stamps and papers. It's nice to see to see the same basic design with the different choices. Thanks for joining the Color Dare this week.

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  15. Hansi, absolutley beautiful! I love each card however the embossed resist may be my favorite. Thanks for joining us at H2H

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