Mustache Treats

This week's challenge at Heart2Heart Challenges is anything to do with mustaches! I remembered these fun treats I made at Halloween and decided to share them.

I cut the mustaches using the Cricut Artiste cartridge, then taped each mustache to an individually wrapped Twizzler. They turned out so cute, and the trick or treaters LOVED them! I got some of the cutest reactions and giggles. These only took me less than an hour to put together and were so fun. Even the big "kids" I work with enjoyed the leftovers the day after Halloween!

For another idea, check out my mustache card here.

Countdown to Valentine's Day - Day 12: Chalkboard Technique

This one is getting in just under the wire! We're almost there - thanks for counting down to Valentine's Day with me! Today's project is not only my countdown project, but it also works for two challenges - Mojo Monday and the Heart 2 Heart Challenges Love Is in the Air challenge. 

I tried the trendy chalkboard technique. I used the CTMH Chalkboard paper (12 x 12) and White Daisy pigment ink to stamp the sentiments. I used the heat gun to set the ink a little, but I also wanted some smudges to look like erased chalk. (That's my story, at least - and I'm sticking to it!) I will definitely be trying this technique often.

LOVE

The challenge at Heart 2 Heart this week is to make something for the one you love. I've had these heart-shaped large bottle caps for quite a while and decided to use them to make a little wall hanging for over my kitchen sink. I love how it turned out!

It was very easy to make. I traced the heart shape onto a scrap piece of cardstock and cut out a template. Then it was easy to trace the pattern on the back of the lovely Lucy B&T paper and adhere the paper to the hearts. The letters were cut using Art Philosophy (of course!) and embellished with little pearls. So sweet and simple!

Products used:

Paper: Lucy Level 2 Paper Packet

Embellishments: Opaques Pearl Adhesive Gems, Colonial White ribbon

Other: Cricut Art Philosphy, heart bottle caps, Cropadile



Believe Christmas Card

I'm so excited to be able to make some new cards and projects! This card is for two challenges -  Mojo Monday (sketch) and Heart 2 Heart (inspiration photo). The oval image was cut using Art Philosophy. I love that cartridge! So many of our stamp images are designed to coordinate with the images on the Cricut cartridge. Super easy!

Items Used:
Believe Level 2 Paper Packet
Art Philosophy
Cardstock/Ink: White Daisy, Holiday Red, Topiary, Sweet Leaf, Gray Wool
D1492 - Christmas Love
C1469 - December 25th
S1110 - Holiday Magic
Sweet Leaf Stitched Grosgrain Ribbon
Designer Brads - Rhinestone
Bitty Sparkles
3-D Foam Tape

Here is the sketch and inspiration photo for the card:

I'm in the Top Ten!

I'm pretty excited to have my Father's Day card selected as part of the Top Ten entries for June on the Heart 2 Heart Challenges blog! Check out the blog every Monday for a new challenge. It's very fun to play along!

A Little Mojo for Father's Day

I'm combining challenges again (I love it when that happens!). This 5" x 7" Father's Day card follows the Mojo Monday 195 sketch. The other challenge is for Heart 2 Heart Challenges: create a background using ink to make a Father's Day card. Done! I used one of CTMH's wonderful background stamp sets to make the "wood paneling." Super easy!

Items used:

• Stamp sets: Universal Backgrounds (D1477); Enjoy Life (C1439); A Little Everything (D1408); Chairs to You (May SOTM)
• Paper: Lucky Level 2 Paper Packet
• Cardstock: Olive, Outdoor Denim, Kraft
• Inks: Cocoa, Outdoor Denim
• Embellishments: Kraft Color-Ready Borders; Wooden Buttons; Hemp; Twill; Metal Bitty Brads; distressing kit (sanding block); sponge; 3-D foam tape
• Other: Nestabilities Labels One

To give the cardstock an aged look, I sanded it with the sanding block then sponged on Cocoa ink. The chair was stamped directly onto B&T paper and cut out. I used Bitty Brads as the tufting buttons on the chair. Looks comfortable enough for Dad, right?

Update - My card was in the Top Ten for Heart 2 Heart Challenges! Thanks, ladies!

Bliss Wedding Card

"Mawage. Mawage is wot bwings us togeder tooday. Mawage, that bwessed awangment, that dweam wifin a dweam... And wuv, tru wuv, will fowow you foweva...So tweasure your wuv." - from The Princess Bride. (Any other fans of The Princess Bride?)

We have weddings on the brain around my house. My daughter is engaged, and the wedding is just about a year away. I'll be making her wedding invitations, but for now, I'm settling for making a wedding card. The card is for two different challenges: Mojo Monday 194 and Heart 2 Heart Challenges - Wedding.

Bliss Wedding Card - Front

Bliss Wedding Card - Inside

To make the card, I used the following materials (all from Close To My Heart):

• Stamp sets: C1444 - Precious Love; B1371 - Bliss; Gracious Greetings (retired)
• Cardstock: Sorbet, Chocolate, Vanilla Cream
• B&T Paper: Bliss (Workshop on the Go)
• Ink: Gray Wool, Sorbet
• Embellishments: Colonial White Mini Medley, Bliss Level 2 Assortment, Pearl Opaques Adhesive Gems, Sorbet Ribbon Rounds (retired)

The card follows the Mojo Monday 194 sketch:

Valentine's Day Countdown - Day Two - 5 x 7 Card with Sophia

This card serves a dual purpose: my entry for the Valentine's Day Countdown Blog Hop, and my entry for the Heart 2 Heart sketch challenge! I've also included a tutorial on how to make the flowers.

The card uses one of my new favorite paper packets, Sophia. I love the bright, cheerful colors! The butterfly was a happy accident. I was making the flowers and laid two of the striped pieces across from each other. I looked down and realized it looked like a butterfly. Inspiration comes in all kinds of places!

Items used:
Paper: Sophia Level 2 Paper Packet; White Daisy cs; Hollyhock cs
Ink: Hollyhock
Stamps: In the Month of February
Embellishments: Brads - Pink; Brads - Metal; Black Waxy Flax
Other: 1 1/4" punch; 2" scalloped punch

To make the flower, start by punching four scalloped circles using the 2" scalloped punch by CTMH.

Fold the circle in half, lining up the scallops.

Fold the circle in half again, also lining up the scallops.

Unfold the circle.

This part takes a little practice. You will bring two of the folded edges together, bowing the middle in. I have found it works best if I try to bring the points together.

Do the same thing with the other side.

This is what your "petal" will look like:

Punch a circle out of cardstock. I used the 1 1/4" circle punch by CTMH. Lightly mark the circle into quarters. It makes it easier to put the petals on evenly. Cover the circle with adhesive.

Here's what it looks like with one petal on the flower:

The finished product! It's really easy once you get the hang of it. You can also do this with a regular circle (with no scallops) for an entirely different look.

I hope you enjoyed learning how to make these cute flowers! Now check out what the other consultants have been up to on the blog hop:

Miracle card

This is a sneak peek at brand-new product available in the Spring/Summer 2010 Idea Book on February 1. The paper is called "Miracle," and the bird is from the January Stamp of the Month, "Find Your Style." I stamped the bird with brown Staz-On ink and sponged on some Crystal Blue ink, then cut the bird out and attached it with 3-D Foam Tape.

The stamp set and sketch worked perfectly for two challenges -- Mojo Monday and Heart 2 Heart. Enjoy!

Items used:
Paper: Miracle Level 2 Paper Packet
Stamp set: Find Your Style
Ink: Brown Staz-On; Crystal Blue
Embellishments: Sweet Leaf Designer Ribbon (retired); Colonial White Designer Ribbon
Other: Bulk Colonial White card bases; 3-D Foam Tape

H2H: Gifts!

'Tis the season of gift-giving, and the H2H Challenge Team has a challenge this week to showcase gifts. I have been making these little books to give to the nieces when we all are at Disney this Christmas. I thought they could use them for autographs from the Disney characters, or they can just have a little memory book of the trip. I used a board book and a Level 1 kit to make this sweet little book! (Product list after the pictures) I tried to keep it simple because I have a feeling the book will be handled a LOT! The 6x6" size is perfect for smaller hands. 

This page is a pocket page for autograph cards, ticket stubs, or other keepsakes.

Products used:

• My Creations Board Book
• Zippidee Level 1 kit
• Fancy Fuzz Zippidee Borders
• Zippidee Level 2 My Stickease
• "T" Dimensional Elements Monogram
• Stardust Flexi Labels
• Picture Perfect
• Thrill Ride
• Just the Ticket

If you're looking for more gift ideas, here are links to two previous posts with gift ideas:

Christmas card with detachable ornaments


Pop-top Surprises

All Things Girly ~ Heart 2 Heart Challenge

This week's Heart 2 Heart challenge is anything "girly" -- right up my alley! I thought right away of scrapbook pages I recently completed for a swap. The swap is to use up retired or retiring CTMH papers. I chose "More to Adore," some of my all-time favorite papers. The left page uses a Level 1 page base. The sweet baby in the pictures is none other than my now 21-year-old daughter, Kristin.

Heart 2 Heart - Let's Get Sketchy (Sketch 4)

I love a sketch challenge! It's always so fun to see what everyone does with a sketch. Some stick very close to the sketch; others take a lot of creative license. And both are okay! That's the wonderful thing about paper crafting -- creative expression.

This week's sketch for the Heart 2 Heart Let's Get Sketchy challenge inspired me to use brand-new products (available September 1). I had to use the new Dimensional Elements ornaments on this card. (Really -- I did!) The ornaments have a solid back and a cut-out overlay, so it's easy to make them as decorative as you'd like. I hope to hold a workshop this fall on making an entire set of ornaments. The paper used is Mistletoe, available in the Autumn/Winter Idea Book.

A close-up of the ornaments

I wanted the ornaments to be useable, so I attached each one with a Velcro dot. I attached the "soft" side to the ornament so it won't snap on anything it might be hanging on. Here is a peek at the ribbon I used for hanging. I love the new pewter snowflake brads. It seemed like the perfect touch to attach the ends of the cranberry velvet ribbon!

The sketch

Heart 2 Heart Color Challenge & Mojo Monday 149

Ahhh, challenges! I love 'em! I have been busy making cards and scrapbook pages for the upcoming Stamp of the Month blog hop (August 1!), so I'm giving you a sneak peek at the August Stamp of the Month on this card. Don't you love the beautiful flower? I can't get enough of it!

I have tied together two challenges again this week -- the Heart 2 Heart color challenge using Vineyard Berry, Blush, and Creme Brulee (quite a challenging little color combo!) and the Mojo Monday sketch. Hope you enjoy!

My Grandma's art

When I read the Heart 2 Heart challenge to incorporate a recipe into a project, I thought of the recipe card I have in my grandma's handwriting. It's not a recipe I make, but I treasure it because she wrote it out for me years ago. A page idea began to develop as I thought about how my humble little grandma showed her creativity in her cooking, sewing, and quilting. She passed away on July 4, 1994, and I miss her so much! This page is a tribute to how much she loved us and how she showed it.

The layout is based on the following Mojo Monday sketch: