Heart 2 Heart Challenge: Tag, You're It!

Another bright and cheery Monday morning to you!

Welcome to another weekly challenge from Heart2Heart!  This week we're going to play a little game of "Tag, You're It!"  We'd like to see all your Close To My Heart creations using tags...somewhere!  Be sure to visit the other DT members' blogs, their creations are just beautiful!

But before you go, let me share my "Tag" creation.  It's a layout of my boys when we visited Grandma this past Christmas.  Holy Cow was it cold!  At least, colder than these desert rats were used to!

Inks: Cashmere

Papers: Claire Reflections Kit, Kraft cardstock

Tools: Art Philosophy Cricut cartridge, ¹⁄₈ " hole punch

Accessories: Durables Round Studs, Colonial White Embroidery Floss

Ok, ok.  You may be wondering where my tag is.   Well, let me give you a closer look at that *ahem* awesome paper hoodie I made.

That little hood...took me some time to figure it out!  So where is this tag?

Here it is!

Ah, the ol' "Hidden-Tag-As-A-Journal-Spot" trick!  Pretty sneaky, Sis!  (Bonus points if you remember the commercial that came from!)

So why don't you play along with us this week and get those tags out!  Remember to use *mostly* CTMH product and link your post (not just your blog) to H2H!

Happy Crafting!

Happy Valentine's Day!

I hope everyone has something wonderful planned for today!  I'm...well, actually I'm still sitting here in my jammies wondering what to make for dinner tonight.

Ohh, was that out loud?!?

I'll have to get a move on and go check my pinterest boards for something yummy to make!  Then take a shower...get dressed...drive to the store...ugh.  If I cut them into heart shapes, do you think peanut butter and jelly can be a romantic dinner?

No, I don't suppose so.  But before I get my rear in gear let me share a photo of the new Canvas Workshop on the Go.  Isn't it beautiful??  I will have to add it somewhere in my home very soon.

So I'm off to get the day started, late I know!  Have a wonderful day!!

Heart 2 Heart Challenge: Home Decor

And a Happy Monday to you all!  That means it is time for another of the weekly challenges from Heart2Heart!  This week we want to see your Home Decor items.  Think frames, wall art, calendars, altered items...anything you use to decorate your homes!  Be sure to head over to the Heart2Heart blog to see all the creations from the DT this week, they are beautiful!

But before you do, let me share with you my creation for this challenge.  Valentine's Day is just around the corner and I must confess...I don't have many decorations for this holiday.
  
So I thought I would remedy that with a Valentine's Day Advent calendar.  Unlike my other calendars (you can see here and here), this one was much easier to put together!  Thanks to my Cricut and the My Creations Cubby!!

I've put little candies
love notes  ,
toys ,
even rolled up some and put in the little boxes.  (I'm trying to guess which one they're going to love the most...)

This is what it looked like at the beginning of the month.

Inks: Tulip, Olive

Papers: Stella Reflections Kit, Colonial White cardstock, Kraft cardstock

Accessories: Sparkles...lots and lots of Sparkles!!

Tools: Artiste & Art Philosophy Cricut cartridges, quilling tool, crimper

Each day when the boys' pull out a box and get the goodies inside, they turn the box around and put it back in it's cubby.  At the end of the 2 weeks this is what it will look like!

And what Valentine's decor would be complete without some roses...especially ones that are so fun to make!  Here is a close up of one of them.  It is from the Artiste cartridge, Accent 2 found on page 54. 

I cut all four roses at 5" from Colonial White cardstock.  I inked the edges with Tulip ink, rolled it up with the quilling tool and fastened it to the base with a glue dot.  I give the roses a couple of sprays with my Acrylix Spritz cleaner to relax the paper before I gently bend the edges down.  For the leaves, I just quickly cut some leaf shapes and folded them in half before running them through my crimper.  Then I inked the edges with Olive ink.  Super easy!

Well, I hope you liked my project for this week...I can't wait to see what you all come up with!!
Be sure to use *mostly* CTMH products and link your post (not your blog address) back to H2H!

Happy Crafting!!

My Engaging Artwork

It's time I share the art pieces featured on Jeanette's blog a couple of weeks ago!

Valentine's Day is just around the corner.
   (I know, I know!)

So now is a perfect time to get some of those more romantic memories scrapped and maybe use as gifts. 

Here is the story behind my "Engaging Artwork":

When Engineer and I were in college, we were big band geeks and were part of the marching band...Go Pride!  Anyway, one of the great perks about being in the band is travel.  Our last year had one amazing trip...to Europe!
One of the stops we made was in Paris.   We had been dating for just over a year and had decided that being in Paris was the perfect place to propose.  Only thing was...we had each decided to surprise the other with a ring!  We waited until we were at the top of the Eiffel Tower and we each brought out a ring to give to the other.  Talk about a romantic surprise!    Of course we both said yes and had lots of laughs and hugs with our friends that were with us.

Then I took out a pen and scribbled our names and date on the railing.  Yes, yes  I graphittied on an international landmark.  And yes, I did take a photo of it!

So while I don't have photos of us together on the Tower, or of that special moment, I do have these two photos that mean the world to me and take me back to that evening just as well as anything else.

Stamps: Jardin

Inks: Champagne, Cashmere, Saddle, Desert Sand, Archival Black

Papers: La Belle Vie Reflections Kit, White Daisy cardstock

Tools: cutting knife, micro-tip scissors

Accessories: Opaques Pearl Flourishes, Bitty Pearl Gems

So I hope you get inspired to scrap some of those extra special moments in your life.  It's the best way to relive them with your loved ones!

H2H Challenge: Fancy Fold Technique

Happy Monday and welcome to another Heart2Heart Challenge!  I hope everyone is enjoying the long weekend...I know my boys are as they get to play on the computer!

So back to the challenge...this week we want you to show us your fanciest of fancy card folds...other than the fold in the base that is!

Here is my submission for the challenge:

Closed

 

Opened

Stamps: Happy Valentine's (January 2013 SOTM)

Inks: Cashmere, Desert Sand, Cranberry Marker set, Olive Marker set

Papers: Pear & Partridge Reflections Kit

Tools: Cutting Knife, 2" Circle Punch

 



I thought I would be clever and make Engineer's Valentine's card early...I mean, nearly a month early is pretty good for me!  But alas, being that early always runs the risk of ruining the surprise...which happened as I was uploading my photos and he walked into my room.
Well, maybe by next month he'll have forgotten what it looks like!

Head over to the H2H blog and see the other creations from Team A, they are fantastic!  Then get yourself busy and create your own fancy folds to share!

Spotlight on Art

While my Dad may think this post is about him...his name is Art after all...it is about a lovely email I received yesterday from the CTMH offices.
 

Jeanette Lynton, the creative genius behind all that is Close To My Heart, has a special segment on her blog in which she features artwork from her consultants.  Last year I submitted some pieces and received word yesterday that I am being featured this week in her Spotlight on Art!

I feel very honored and quite frankly, am at a loss for words.
Except to say


If you'd like to visit her blog and see my artwork ( I will be sharing it on here as well very soon!) just click the icon here or on my sidebar!