Joyful Stars October Blog Hop

Welcome to the Joyful Stars October Blog Hop. This hop features Current Close to my Heart Products by 10 fabulous and talented Consultants.

If you've come here from Joyce's Blog you're on the right track. If you just happened upon my blog, that's fine, just continue from here and when you get back to me, you know you've seen them all.

Please leave us a little lovin' in our comments. We Love hearing from you! *Ü*

Stamp sets used are Yuletide Joy, the October Stamp of the Month, and Perfeect Pine.
Colors are Gold, Cocoa, Juniper and Sea Glass.

Now hop on over to Krista' Blog and see what awesome artwork she has to share with you.

Joyful Stars September Blog Hop

Welcome to the Joyful Stars September Blog Hop. This hop features Current Close to my Heart Products by 11 fabulous and talented Consultants.

If you've come here from Andrea's Blog you're on the right track. If you just happened upon my blog, that's fine, just continue from here and when you get back to me, you know you've seen them all.

Please leave us a little lovin' in our comments. We Love hearing from you! *Ü*

My card today uses the CTMH September Stamp of the month, Blessed Beyond Measure.

Colors used are Tangerine, Goldrush, Poppy, Sweetleaf, Fern.

I used the pail green ShinHan Alcohol marker also.

The leaves were cut out using the CTMH exclusive Cricut Cartridge, Artbooking. 

I stamped and used Gold embossing powder on the cluster of leaves in the upper right corner, Gold Sequins with a drop of gold glitter glue in the centers, and tan thread with gold threads in it. 

Now hop on over to Nicki's Blog and see what great artwork she has to show you.

Joyful Stars August Blog Hop

Welcome to the Joyful Stars August Blog Hop. This hop features Current Close to my Heart Products by 11 fabulous and talented Consultants.

If you've come here from Debi's Blog you're on the right track. If you just happened upon my blog, that's fine, just continue from here and when you get back to me, you know you've seen them all.

Please leave us a little lovin' in our comments. We Love hearing from you! *Ü*

Here is one of my class cards for this month. 
It uses the CTMH August Stamp of the Month, Purr-fect Halloween.

I layered it on three of the newest colors of Cardstock, Tangerine, Pansy and Willow. They were dry embossed with a cuttlebug embossing folder.  The image was colored in with ShinHan Alcohol Markers.

Now hop on over to Krista's Blog and take in the fabulous eye candy she always has to offer.  

Joyful Stars June Blog Hop

Welcome to the Joyful Stars June Blog Hop. This hop features Current Close to my Heart Products by 11 fabulous and talented Consultants.

If you've come here from Krista's Blog you're on the right track. If you just happened upon my blog, that's fine, just continue from here and when you get back to me, you know you've seen them all.

Please leave us a little lovin' in our comments. We Love hearing from you! *Ü*

My card today features the CTMH Stamp Set called "The Best Dad Ever".  
I used the Urban Paper Pack. The Hat and Bow tie were stamped in Sapphire ink and paper pieced. 
I also used the Bronze Shimmer trim and cut the mustache and dots at the bottom from retired Brown Glitter Paper. 

Now hop on over to Crystal's Blog to see her fabulous eye candy

Celebrate With Cake - CTMH May Stamp of the Month

This is the 3rd and last card that my May class made. 

I used the May Stamp of the Month, Celebrate with Cake. 

Colors are Glacier and Sweetleaf. Cake was colored with ShinHan Alcohol Markers.  The clear sparkles in the center of the flowers were also colored with the ShinHan markers.

I stamped the background paper by using the back of the clear stamp with Glacier and Sweetleaf, then flipped the stamp to the right side and over stamped with Whisper.  In between, I stamped the leaf using second generation technique. 

I did the same for the flowers on the cake, but I over stamped with black then cut the flowers out.

The cake stand and the banner were water colored with Sweetleaf ink.

Happy Times Thank You card

Here is the second card for my May card class. It used the Happy Times Stamp Set, only available until May 31st. With it I used Poppy Cardstock along with Poppy and Honey inks for the flowers.

The white portions were dry embossed. The top one with the Quatrefoil Embossing Folder. The bottom with the Dot Embossing Folder.

The Thank You is from a retired set.

Happy Times Birthday

Here is the first of three cards that my May card class made. We used the Happy times May Special Paper Pack and matching Happy Times stamp set. I Love this paper!!! The stamp set and paper are only available until May 31st. 

Curtain Cards

I forgot to post the other two cards that my classes made in April.  Her is the first one. It is a Curtain card using the Keep Your Chin Up stamp set from CTMH, and the Kaleidoscope paper pack.

After cutting the paper for the first curtain, I had the other piece of the paper left over. Since the paper is scored before cutting on the diagonal, I decided to flip the paper over, fold on the same score lines and make another card. Since this piece of paper was smaller, I made a vertical card with it using the Build A Cake stamp set.

Joyful Stars April Blog Hop

Welcome to the Joyful Stars April Blog Hop. This hop features Current Close to my Heart Products by 13 fabulous and talented Consultants.

If you've come here from Debi's Blog you're on the right track. If you just happened upon my blog, that's fine, just continue from here and when you get back to me, you know you've seen them all.

Please leave us a little lovin' in our comments. We Love hearing from you! *Ü*

My card today uses the Stuck on You Stamp set and Thin Cuts. This stamp set and thin cuts will be retiring at the end of this month. 

I started with white cardstock and the Floral Embossing folder. I used it along with the Square embossing diffuser. 
Then I used a square Spellbinders Die with the Embossing Mat. This just helps define the diffused area.

Now hop on over to Andrea's Blog to see her fabulous eye candy

Joyful Stars March Blog Hop

Welcome to the Joyful Stars March Blog Hop. This hop features Current Close to my Heart Products by 13 fabulous and talented Consultants.

If you've come here from Krista's Blog you're on the right track. If you just happened upon my blog, that's fine, just continue from here and when you get back to me, you know you've seen them all.

Please leave us a little lovin' in our comments. We Love hearing from you! *Ü*

My card today uses the CTMH March Stamp of the Month. I combined it with the Penelope Paper Pack 
Now hop on over to Betty's Blog and check out her eye candy.

Birthday Cheers

Here is the Birthday card I made for my Granddaughter, Mya, who turned 9. She is a Cheerleader for the Midget Football team at Blue Mountain so I had to make her a card using the new CTMH Stamp set called Play Hard - Cheer.

Rejoice - Easter Easel Card

Here is one of the three cards my card classes are making this month. I LOVE Easel Cards.

Easter will be here before we know it so my classes are focusing on Easter this month. 

I used the Rejoice Stamp Set from CTMH. I stamped the cross and sentiment in thistle Ink. 
The background was dry embossed with the CTMH exclusive Damask Embossing Folder on Thistle Cardstock.  I then rubbed my Thistle Ink pad lightly over the top for added dimension. 

The egg was cut from the CTMH Exclusive Art Philosophy Cartridge. 

The crystals on the cross started out as clear but I colored them with Shin Han Peony Purple Alcohol Marker.

Joyful Stars February Blog Hoop

Welcome to the Joyful Stars February Blog Hop. This hop features Current Close to my Heart Products by 13 fabulous and talented Consultants.

If you've come here from Krista's Blog you're on the right track. If you just happened upon my blog, that's fine, just continue from here and when you get back to me, you know you've seen them all.

Please leave us a little lovin' in our comments. We Love hearing from you! *Ü*

I needed a Birthday Card on Saturday so I used the February Stamp of the Month (SOTM), called Balloon Animals. I used the Monkey Balloon and stamped it twice. Once in Desert Sand and again in Champagne. I just trimmed out certain parts of the champagne image and glued it to the Desert sand image. Then I used the Cherry Pink Shin Han Marker and colored in the mouth area and drew on a mouth

The background was stamped with the ink blots stamp set, then dry embossed with the Arrow Embossing Folder. 

I punched a strip of white CS with the Chevron Border Punch and lined it with Red Shimmer Trim.

Now hop on over to Betty's Blog and check out her eye candy.

A Cricut Valentine

Here is my FIRST, All Cricut Cut Card. 

I'm a stamper and only used my Cricut machine for cutting mats when I was having classes. But after having a play date with some friends, who helped me set up my new Cricut Explore Air, I broke down and made this card with NO STAMPING. 
I liked how it turned out, but you may never see another card without stamping. Only because stamping is my passion. However, I will be using it more for parts my cards.

I think the cuts were from the Close to my Heart, exclusive Artbooking and Artisry Cartridges. With the exception of the Big Heart. That was from the free two week trial you get when you set up your machine for the first time.

Colors are Pixie, white and Poppy.

Challenges for this card:
Creative Craft Cottage - Release the Glitter
CCC Digi Creations - Use Die Cuts
Scribbles Designs - Have a Heart
Bastel-Traum - Valentine
Whimsie Doodle - Hearts a plenty
Hiding in my Craft Room - Embossing

Joyful Stars January Blog Hop

Welcome to the Joyful Stars January Blog Hop. This hop features Current Close to my Heart Products by 10 fabulous and talented Consultants.

If you've come here from Helen's Blog you're on the right track. If you just happened upon my blog, that's fine, just continue from here and when you get back to me, you know you've seen them all.

Please leave us a little lovin' in our comments. We Love hearing from you! *Ü*

My card today uses the "La Vie En Rose" Paper Packet for the background and the Enchantment Fundamentals for the small piece that the bow is attached to.

I used the ctmh Heart Embossing Folder on a strip of Pixie Cardstock. Thin swiped over it with Hollyhock ink pad.

The Rose and Sentiment are for the January Stamp of the Month,  Beloved Bouquet.
This stamp set is available until January 31st and can be purchased for only $5.00 with a qualifying purchase.

Now hop on over to Krista's Blog and see what outstanding artwork she has to share with you. If you would like more detailed instructions, see below.

Beloved Bouquet Birthday 2

Here is another Birthday card using the January Stamp of the month, "Beloved Bouquet". 

I used the smaller rose with this card and also one of the "Picture My Life" (PML) cards that is on one of the paper sheets that comes with the Charlotte Paper Pack. 

For all of you card makers, don't be afraid of these PML cards if you don't do scrapbooking. Just use them whole or cut them up and use them on your cards. They are so fun to design with.

The Butterfly is also from a new stamp set called "Your Beautiful Self".
The colors of ink are Sorbet, Slate and Whisper.
I also used Sorbet Cardstock with this card.

The Sentiment is from "Joyful Birthday" .

I added some hand stitching around the card with matching Embroidery Floss. 

Beloved Bouquet Birthday

I have so many Birthday's of friends this month. So, I really need to get busy on making the cards. Fortunately, CTMH has the perfect Stamp of the Month. It's so easy for me to make a slew of cards when I have a stamp set that I LOVE!!!

This card is made using the New CTMH  Charlotte paper pack as well as the January Stamp of the Month, "Beloved Bouquet".
I love the soft color in this paper. Perfect for any occasions.
I also used Sorbet cardstock, and sorbet, slate, & whisper inks.

I hand stitched around the card using matching embroidery floss and a chain stitch.

The inspiration for this card started with a sketch challenge from Atlantic Hearts.

Beloved Bouquet Wedding

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Well, it's that time of the year for new beginnings. And what better way to start then with a Wedding Card I made for our Niece who is getting married today. 

The paper pack and Rose Stamp I used are Brand New from the Close to my Heart, Spring Seasonal Expressions Book which you can order from as of Yesterday, until the end of April. 

The paper pack is called Charlotte. What an array of beautiful papers in this pack. 

The Rose and Leaves are form the January Stamp of the Month called "Beloved Bouquet". I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this stamp set. I can't wait to play and create more with this set this week. This set is only available from January 1-31, 2016.

I stamped the Rose in Sorbet Ink on Watercolor Paper and embossed it with Clear Detail Embossing Powder. I then used ink from the lid of the pad and colored in the petals with the water brush. I stamped the leaves on the same paper with Whisper Ink, embossed them, and used the ink from the lid of the whisper pad and water brush. 

The Doily was cut using a die and my Cuttlebug. 

I pulled out an old retired stamp set called "Precious Love" and stamped the Bride and Groom in the center with Slate Ink as well as the Sentiment. The cardstock I used is also slate. 

I then found embroidery floss in my stash that matched the Sorbet papers and did some Hand Stitching around the three sides of the card. It's been about a year since I did any Hand Stitching on my cards and I didn't realize how much I missed it until I did it again. I 

I then added some retired CTMH pearls to finish it off and some Clear Wink of Stella on the Rose, the dress and veil of the bride. 

If there is anything you see above that you'd like to purchase from this new catalog, the items available have links to them on my website for easy ordering. Or, just browse the online catalogs and see what's new.

Challenges with this card:
Crafting Musketeers - New Beginnings