A CAS Set to Help a Friend

A friend had an online auction to help mutual friend who spent her rent money to pay the veterinarian bill when her cat got sick, so I donated this CAS set.  I cannot believe someone paid $23!  I stamped the butterflies in pigment ink and then embossed them with clear detail powder so that I could color them with CTMH's new alcohol markers without smearing the ink.  Spring is the season for chasing butterflies, so I am entering this in the Heart 2 Heart challenge to "Spring Forward."  Thank you for stopping by, until next time, Hansi

Materials used, all from Close to My Heart unless otherwise noted:

Paper|: White Daisy, Twilight, and Sweet Leaf cardstock

Stamps:  Blessed (retired), Pemberly WOTG (retired), Petite Perks (retired)

Ink: Black Pigment ink, Creme Brulee, Twilight, Sweet Leaf, and Ruby alcohol markers

Other:  Clear Detail embossing powder, Cuddlebug Musical Flourishes embossing folder

Chocolate Bunny for Easter

Here is one last card for the Easter challenges over at Heart 2 Heart and Papercraft Star.  When I saw this card on Tracie Cassidy"s blog,  Cre8ing From the Heart, I just had to make a chocolate version of the bunny.  I mean, what is Easter without a chocolate bunny?

Here is the inside:



Thank you for stopping by!  Until next time,  Hansi

Materials used, all Close to My heart unless otherwise noted:
Paper:  Chantilly, Pear, Saddle, White Daisy and Crystal Blue cardstock
Ink:  Chocolate, Blush, Twilight, Buttercup, and Sweet Leaf
Stamps: Easter Eggs (retired)
Embellishments:  White grosgrain ribbon from the dollar store, button, green epoxy bubble
Other:  Cricut Art Philosophy and Artiste cartridges, Cuddlebug Floral Fantasy embossing folder





Heart 2 Heart Mustache Challenge

Personally, I do not get the mustache craze; however, that is the theme of one of the March Heart 2 Heart challenges, so in the interest of completing all challenges for the month, I gave it a go.  I found myself thinking about lolcats.  If you are not familiar with them, lolcats are pictures of cats with made up, humorous captions, often written with what appear to be spelling and grammatical errors which are actually part of "lol speak."  The kitten panel is popped up with foam tape.  Here is the inside:

Thank you for stopping by!  Until next time, Hansi

Materials used, all from Close to My Heart unless otherwise noted:

Paper:  Blue Denim, Champagne, and White Daisy cardstock

Ink:  Saddle

Stamp:  by Inkadinkadoo

Other:  Cricut Artiste cartridge



Chantilly Freshly Made

I ordered the Chantilly paper pack because I thought it would be good for little girl birthday cards, but didn't think I would have much use for it otherwise.  The joke was on me.  After making tow birthday cards, I made a welcome baby boy,congratulations and now two Easter cards, this one using this week's layout at Freshly Made Sketches:

I cased the egg from Fancy Melissa who made this wall art.



One of the things I like about Close to My Heart's acrylic stamps is that you can bend them, so I was able to make the sentiment follow the shape of the egg.  Here is the inside:

I am entering this card in the challenges at Heart 2 Heart and Papercraft Star where the theme is Easter.  Thank you for stopping by!  Until next time, Hansi

Materials used, all Close too My Heart unless otherwise noted:

Paper:  Chantilly, Pear, Crystal Blue and White Daisy cardstock

Ink:  Blush and Blue Denim

Stamps:  Easter Eggs (retired) and Say It in Style (retired)

Embellishments:  Bitty Buds Assortment (retired), Garden Wooden Shapes

Other:  Cuttlebug Geometric Rings embossing folder, Cricut Artiste and Art Philosophy cartridges







Unscripted Easter

Spring break did not coincide with Easter this year, and most of the college students I know are not coming home for the weekend, so today I put all the chocolate, Peeps and jelly beans that would fit in small "If it fits, it ships" boxes to send them along with a card.  I used this layout from Unscripted Sketches:

The theme for the challenges at Heart 2 Heart and Papercraft Star is Easter, so I will enter this in those challenges as well.  Thank you for stopping by!  Until next time, Hansi

Materials used, all Close 2 My Heart unless otherwise noted:

Paper:  Chantilly, White Daisy cardstock

Ink:  Sweet Leaf, Twilight, Blush, Blue Denim

Stamps:  Easter Eggs (retired), Say It in Style (retired)

Other:  Cuddlebug Floral Fantasy embossing folder, Cricut Artiste cartridge



Soaring on to Grad School

A college student from church has been accepted into her choice of grad schools.  Yay, Jessica!  I know I will be needing a graduation card for her, but in the meantime, congratulations are in order.  After embossing the circle, I used the flat side of a sponge to lightly wipe on some Buttercup.  I love the new epoxy bubbles!  Sometimes I want a peaceful glow rather than a sparkle.  Here is the inside:

 

 

 

 

Birds and college acceptance letters are a part of spring, so I am going to enter this in the Heart 2 Heart challenge to Spring Forward. Thank you for stopping by!  Until next time, Hansi

 

Materials used, all Close to My Heart unless otherwise noted:

Paper:  Chantilly, White Cardstock

Ink;  Twilight, Sweet Leaf, Pear, Buttercup, Blue Denim

Embellishments:  Green Epoxy Bubbles

Other:  Cuddlebug Musical Flourishes embossing folder





Believe For Always With Hollyock

With her children grown, a friend overcame her fear of math to pursue her dream of becoming a nurse.  Last night she graduated at the top of her class.  Way to go, Kim!  In my continuing quest to pair For Always with as many colors as I can, I have selected Hollyhock for her graduation card.  I don't know why I keep forgetting about Hollyhock.  It is a beautiful, deep, lipstick pink.  I sponged the flower petals with Tulip to give them depth and defined the edges with a bit of Black.  I love the sparkle flourishes, but you know that one large flourish that would go great on a scrapbook page but doesn't quite fit on a card?  That is why God made scissors.  Problem solved!  here is the inside:

 

 

 

I hand wrote "Believe and work your you know what off!"  Graduations and flowers are a part of spring, so I am entering this in the Heart 2 Heart challenge to Spring Forward.  Thank you for stopping by!  Until next time, Hansi

 

Materials used, all Close to My Heart unless otherwise noted:

Paper:  For Always, Hollyhock and White Daisy cardstock

Ink:  Tulip, Black

Stamp:  Dreams Come True (retired)

Embellishments:  Black Mini Medley (retired), Black Sparkle Flourish

Other:  Cricut Artiste cartridge





Remembering Kate and Juliet



As some of y'all know, my cats Luna and Phoebe AKA the Feline Moon Goddesses, have their own facebook page.  My introduction to the parallel pet facebook universe came though Kate and Juliet.  Known as The Grannies, they were two delightful 21 year old cats who were rescued by Amanda Cox after being sent to a high kill shelter when their owner died.  Amanda created The Grannies facebook page to publicize the need for and joy in adopting senior pets.  Soon after she founded The Grannie Project , a 501c organization devoted to the rescue of senior cats.  You can find out more about Kate and Juliet here

Sadly Kate went to the Rainbow Bridge a few months after her adoption, but I take comfort in knowing that her last months were filled with love and comfort and that she passed in the arms of someone who loved her.  Juliet continued to charm her fans until she joined her sister a year to the day later.  Juliet will always be the Goddesses' role model for when they get to be grannies.  Now grumpy Sir Toby and the effervescent Bunny continue the Grannies mission.  I thought of Juliet when I saw this stamp in Michael's, so I bought it to use on her birthday card when she turned 22 and, later, on the Goddesses' valentines in 2012.  Now it graces the card I made for Amanda for Juliet's one year and Kate's two year "angelversary" on March 26.  Juliet loved bumblebees, so I had to include some.  Here is the inside of the card:



I used the layout below from Freshly Made Sketches and plan to enter this card in the Heart 2 Heart challenge to Spring Forward as spring is when the flowers and bumblebees return. Thank you for stopping by!  Until next time, Hansi

Materials used, all from Close to My Heart unless otherwise noted:
Paper: White Daisy, Black, and Buttercup cardstock
Stamps:  Petite Perks (retired), Pretty Kitty by Paper Inspirations
Ink:  Black
Other:  Cuddlebug Simple Flowers embossing folder, yellow watercolor pencil



Color My Heart in Greens and Goldrush

This card combines the Color My Heart Color Dare to use Olive, Sweet Leaf, and Goldrush with the Heart 2 Heart Challenge to go green.  I used the Cricut Artiste cartridge to cut four leafy branches in different sizes, sponged them with Sweet Leaf and Olive, and then cut them and pieced them.  The flowers are long retired paper ones from Close to My Heart that I sponged and layered with an opaque.  Here is the inside: 

Thank you for stopping by!  Until next time, Hansi

Materials used, all from Close to My Heart unless otherwise noted:

Paper:  Florentine (retired), Sweet leaf, Olive and Colonial White cardstock

Inks: Goldrush, Sweet Leaf, and Olive

Embellishments:  Paper flowers (retired), Brown Opaques

Other: Cricut Artiste and Paper Lace cartridges









A Freshly Made Sketch in Green



After last week, I was (and still am) in desperate need of some paper therapy, so I used a Freshly Made Sketch to make a card for the Heart 2 Heart and Papercraft Star challenges to go green.  I had some leaves cut from Sweet Leaf cardstock that were leftover from a partially done card (which y'all will hopefully see tomorrow), so I dabbed them with Olive and Garden Green and then heavily sponged the edges with Olive.  To make the flower I cut the flower in three sizes, sponged the edges with Olive, curled the petals and stacked them.  I then attached the completed flower with a piece of pop up foam so that the flower would keep its 3D shape.

Here is the layout:

 

Thank you fro stopping by.  Until next time, Hansi

 

Materials used, all from Close to My Heart unless otherwise noted:

Paper: Stella, Sweet Leaf, Olive, Lagoon and Colonial White cardstock

Ink:  Garden Green, Olive

Embellishments: Brad from the Antiqued Gold mini medley

Other:  Artiste and Art Philosophy Cricut cartridges, scalloped edge punch from ek





Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Happy St. Patrick's Day, y'all!  What a week!  On Monday the gastroenterologist confirmed my daughter's diagnosis Celiac Disease which means she will be joining the ranks of the gluten free for the rest of her life.  You can learn more about Celiac here.  I have spent the week cleaning out the pantry, freezer and fridge, verifying the safety of every processed food.  This is the only card I made this week and it has taken me six days to get around to posting it.  Thank you to the talented Allisa Chilton who made this card and posted a tutorial which I adapted to make a shamrock.

Here is a close up of the shamrock:

And here is the inside: 

Fortunately the theme for the Heart 2 Heart and Papercraft Star challenges is green.  I wonder why?  This means I can enter this card.  Thank you for stopping by!  Until next time, Hansi

 Materials used, all from Close to My Heart unless otherwise noted:

Paper:  Flirty, Olive, Sweet Leaf and White Daisy cardstock

Ink: Sweet Leaf

Embellishment:  Green Epoxy Bubble











Kitchen Colors



The Papercraft Star challenge this week is to use the colors in your kitchen.  I think one of the reasons I like the Avonlea package so much is that except for the peach of my walls and the accent tiles, the colors are the ones in my kitchen and pottery collection some of which you can see here:

 

 

The teal comes from a piece of artwork on another wall.  I do not have any peach ink or paper, so I layered Colonial White over Smoothie when sponging edges.  The layout is from Freshly Made Sketches:

 

 

I am also going to enter this card in the Heart 2 Heart Spring Forward challenge as the flowers are inspired by my Lenten roses, the first flowers to bloom in my garden each spring.  Thank you for stopping by!  Until next time, Hansi

 

Materials are from Close to My Heart unless otherwise noted:

Paper:  Avonlea, Colonial White cardstock, Augusta Green cardstock from the Paper Company

Ink:  Smoothie, Colonial White, Chocolate

Stamp:  Card Chatter - Birthday

Embellishment:  Metal Brads

Other:  Cricut Art Philosophy and Artist cartridges





Color My Heart for Spring

 

 

I am combining the Heart 2 Heart challenge to "spring" forward with the Color My Heart challenge to use Lagoon, Blue Denim and Pear.  This would be very easy if I had the new Close to My Heart  Later Sk8tr paper pack, but I don't so...  The butterfly was cut using the Paper Lace Cricut Cartridge.  I sponged the Lagoon layer with a bit of Blue Denim and, after embossing the Pear layer, sponged on a little Pear ink to make it pop a bit more.  I used my computer to make the sentiment as I did not have one that fit what I had in mind:

 

 

 

 

I should also mention that some of the Design Team Members at Heart 2 Heart will be offering blog candy this month.  This week Tamytha is offering a chance to win some really cool prizes including paper!  Hop on over to her blog, Paper Heartist, to check it out.   Thank you for stopping by!  Until next time, Hansi

 

Materials used, all from Close to My Heart unless otherwise noted:

Paper:  Blue Denim, Lagoon, Pear and White Daisy cardstock, Dotty For You (retired)

Ink:  Pear, Lagoon, Blue Denim

Stamp:  Petite Perk (retired)

Embellishments:  Blue Green Sparkles

Other:  Artiste Cricut Cartridge, Paper Lace Cricut Cartridge (not CTMH), Cuddlebug embossing folders Leafy Branch and Paper Lace II





A Paper Quilt for Spring

The first challenge of the month over at Heart 2 Heart Challenges is "Spring Forward."  To me spring means flowers and more color in the garden, particularly pinks and yellows.  It also means the birthday of a dear friend and Godmother to my daughter.  Phyllis loves to quilt, so it was only natural for me to think of her when I saw this card by Shelly Nemitz.

 I used the Close to My Heart paper pack, Clementine, and embellished with layered flowers from the Color Ready Garden Wooden Shapes set.  I tried coloring the center flower with an alcohol marker in Sorbet but the color of the wood showed through enough to make the result too orange.  I then tried using Ruby on the flip side and ended up with a color that looks like Sorbet.  A brown opaque adds the finishing touch. 

I used this layout from Freshly Made Sketches rotated vertically:

  

I also plan to enter this card in the Papercraft Star Birthday Challenge.  Thank you for stopping by!  Until next time, Hansi

Materials used, all from Close to My Heart unless otherwise noted:

Paper: Clementine paper pack

Ink:  Twilight, Ruby marker

Stamp:  Card Chatter - Birthday

Embellishments:  Color Ready Garden Wooden Shapes, Brown Opaque









For Always With Petal

 

In my continueing quest to pair my current favorite Close to My Heart paper pack, For Always, with every color cardstock I have, this is it with Petal, a lovely purple that was retired recently.  I still can't get enough of January's Stamp of the Month!  This time I embossed it with silver which made it a challenge to photograph.  The ribbon rose is leftover from a package of embellishments meant for clothing that I bought years ago when my daughter was little.  It just goes to show that you don't have to limit yourself to the paper crafting section when looking for cool stuff for cards.  Here is the inside:

 

 

I used this layout from Freshly Made Sketches:

 

 

 

Thank you for stopping by!  Until next time, Hansi

 

 

Materials used, all from Close to My Heart unless otherwise noted:

Paper:  For Always paper pack, Petal cardstock (retired)

Ink:  Petal (retired), Black

Stamp:  Happy Valentine's January 2013 Stamp of the Month

Embellishments:  Slate Mini Medley, Purple Sparkles, black ribbon from Michael's, purple rose from a fabric store way back when