Heart 2 Heart Challenge: Color Me Happy

This week at Heart 2 Heart we are all sharing our favorite colors in our projects.  Sounds easy, right?

Ha!

Asking a crafter to choose their favorite color or combo is like asking a parent to choose their favorite child!  And while I may have some children...COLORS...I meant colors,  that I like to create with more than others, I just couldn't pick one or two...or even three.

So my card has a whole subtle rainbow of colors!

 

Stamps: Card Chatter-Birthday

Inks: Black

Papers: White Daisy, Hollyhock, Ruby, Sunset, Honey, Topiary, Sky, Pacifica, Gypsy

Accessories: Sparkles

Tools: Art Philosophy Cricut cartridge, Piercer, Corner Rounder, 3D tape

 

I pulled this card together quickly with the AP cartridge.  The butterfly is found on page 41 of the handbook.  I cut one of each color + White Daisy at 1.25".  They are attached together at the body with a rolled up mini glue dot.  Each of the sparkles are colored with the coordinating marker, besides the three clear ones of course.  I did trace several "flutter" lines with a pencil until I was happy with the look.  I used the piercer along the line and place the colored sparkles as I went.

This may have to be a hand delivered card...there are 11 layers where that butterfly is!

Thank you for stopping by and playing along with BOTH design teams this week!  I'm sad to say this is the final week of my term on the team.  I've enjoyed being back and a part of the group.  And I hope I'll be able to keep up with the new ladies starting the second term!

If you want to play along, visit the H2H blog and get inspired by all the beautiful artwork.  Then get cracking on your own!  Just remember the few rules to play by:

1. Use CTMH products when you can.
2. Link your blog post (not just your blog) with the Linky found at H2H.
3. Share your favorite color or color combo!

Have fun this week!

Convention 2013, Here We Go!

Right about now we are on our way to Walt Disney World so I can attend the Close To My Heart 2013 National Convention with 2000 of my closest friends!


I wanted to make some special friends something to remember this awesome trip by so I put together matching bracelets for us all!

(Most of them are on their way as well so I know they won't be peeking at my blog any time today!)

I think we all like to wear some bling, so I made sure to choose super sparkly beads for us!


I'll try and share some of the great things we'll see in session, but if I end up having too much fun on the Pirates of the Caribbean it may have to wait until I get back!

Heart 2 Heart Challenge: Tool Time

Good morning and welcome to another weekly challenge from Heart2Heart!

Summer is upon us and that means one of two things. 
Either you are super busy with travel, swim lessons, backyard parties, and countless trips to the library...or you don't have kids.  Just kidding!  I have found that summer can be a hard time of year, you're either over run with activities or a total lack of energy to do anything.  And that my friends is where the wonderful world of tools come in!  Anything to make life easier, right?

My Mama (grandmother) told me once, and I'm sure we've all heard it at one time or another, "Oh you make the cutest things!  I could never do that!"  I told her anyone can do anything if they have the right tools.

And so for this week's challenge, we want you to share something you've created using your very favorite tool...or three if the case may be.

With Father's Day just around the corner, I made a little something for my Dad using my favorite tool, the Cricut!

Stamps: Perfect Fit-Dad

Inks: Barn Red, Outdoor Denim, Desert Sand, New England Ivy, Indian Corn Blue, Chocolate

Papers: Colonial White, Kraft, Outdoor Denim cardstock

Accessories: Brown and Tan Sparkles

Tools: Artiste Cricut cartridge, tweezers, micro-tip scissors 

The ties are found on page 75 of the Artiste handbook.  I cut them out at 3".  The circle is 2" and just the right size for the "award".


There were six of us growing up, hence the six ties for my dad.  Now all I have to do is be sure and get it in the mail!

So time to get creating!  Be sure and follow the guidelines...CTMH items, link to your blog post, etc.  You know the drill.  Have fun and be sure to stop by the other DT members' blogs and check out their favorite tools, too!

Heart 2 Heart Challenge: Nip and Tuck

Happy Memorial Day!

How about starting off the summer break with a new challenge from Heart 2 Heart!  This week's Nip and Tuck challenge calls for...no, not anything drastic like high priced cosmetic surgery!





Just simple stitches on your project!  Use a sewing machine.  Use embroidery floss, hemp, ribbon.  Use a piercer and marker to create faux stitches.  Use a stitching stamp set.  Combine all of the above!!

We just want you to put us in stitches!     So to speak.

*Disclaimer*  I did not make this, it was a gift from my upline's mom.

But awesome and I had to share it!

 

My upline Sue has an amazing mother.  She saw these little mug caddies at a craft fair and said what we all say to ourselves..."Oh, I can make that!"  Only she really did!  She took the new fabrics and created several variations of them.  This is the one I picked.

 



 

In case you've never seen these before, or are interested in making your own, I tried to find a free pattern online...anywhere, but couldn't.  It is Simplicity pattern #2450 and can be found in your craft stores, or from Simplicity here or downloaded here.  Unfortunately, it's about $10.  So if you're really clever, you can maybe make your own pattern.



Here is the caddy unfolded.  When she first gave me one, I wondered if it was some sort of unfinished pot holder! 

The black fabric is of course not part of the For Always collection.  But she had run out of the script print fabric and used something she already had.  Just use your imagination.  



This is the back of the caddy.

Fold it in half and it looks like this.

Place it inside a regular sized mug and attach the Velcro straps under the handle.

Now you've got pockets on the inside as well as on the outside!

A cute little caddy for all your most used crafting tools!

I love it!  It sits on my counter and keeps all my things within reach.
 

Well, not all my things.  I would need to use the 5 gallon bucket caddy for that!

Now be sure to visit the other DT members' blogs and see their fantastic creations for this week!  And then get started on your own Nip and Tuck project!

Just remember a few basic rules:

1. Use Close To My Heart products.  Your project doesn't have to be 100% CTMH, but you must use some.  After all, this is a challenge blog created and sponsored by CTMH consultants.
2. Incorporate this week's challenge...Nip and Tuck!
3. Link your project back to Heart 2 Heart from your blog or online gallery.  If you are linking from a blog, you must link directly to the actual post, not your entire blog.
4. You also need to mention Heart 2 Heart (H2H) in your blog post.  
5. Finally, we ask that you consider turning off word verification, as it makes it easier for the design team (and others) to leave comments.

Teacher Bracelets

Today is the last day of school!

And while I may have a change of heart in a couple of weeks with all the "I'm bored" comments that are sure to start, right now I'm just happy I won't have to be driving as much and can have help around the house during the day.

But I reserve the right to change my mind when cabin fever sets in and a trip to the craft store is in order!
 

A couple of weeks ago was Teacher Appreciation week as you may know.  I was hard pressed to get even a little something done for each day, for each teacher, for each boy.  So I decided, knowing their teachers, I would just make them all bracelets instead.
A girl has to have her bling, right?

I made two different styles according to school colors, the top for the elementary teachers and the bottom for the middle school teachers.

I think they turned out pretty cute and I know from the thank you cards the teachers really liked them!


Now I've got to run.  Even though it is the last day of school, the boys will all be done by 12 so that doesn't leave me much time this morning to get things done.

Have a great Memorial Weekend!

Heart 2 Heart Challenge: May Flowers

This week's challenge from H2H is May Flowers, as in April Showers bring May Flowers. While we don't have showers over here just yet, I'm always happy to make up some pretty flowers! And I couldn't do it without my handy dandy Artiste cartridge! Well, I could but it wouldn't be nearly as fun.

May always seems to sneak up on me. There are so many things going on this month...for everyone! Mother's Day is always a hard holiday for me. I love my boys and they're wonderful...but it makes me miss my own mom.

But luckily I have a fantastic step-mom and I knew I could use this challenge to make her something special! But you know how I was just saying May is so busy...well, I haven't got around to getting it sent to her yet!

So Diane, if you're reading this...STOP!



Ok, moving on.  I found a small grapevine wreath in my craft room and went to work covering it with flowers!

Ink: Saddle

Paper: Dakota paper pack, Olive cardstock

Tools: Artiste Cricut cartridge, quilling tool, hot glue gun

Accessories: Burlap ribbon

One piece of advice I have for anyone wanting to make something like this...glue your leaves down first!  Then layer your flowers on top.
I...did it the other way around.  
I don't know what I was thinking when I did that, but that's what happened.


So if you'd like to join this week's challenge, head over to the H2H Blog and check out the other DT members' creations for more inspiration!

Heart2Heart Challenges Rules:

1.Use Close To My Heart products. Your project doesn't have to be 100% CTMH, but you must use some. After all, this is a challenge blog created and sponsored by CTMH consultants.
2.Incorporate this week's challenge...May Flowers!
3.Link your project back to Heart 2 Heart from your blog or online gallery. If you are linking from a blog, you must link directly to the actual post, not your entire blog.
4.You also need to mention Heart 2 Heart (H2H) in your blog post.
5.Finally, we ask that you consider turning off word verification, as it makes it easier for the design team (and others) to leave comments.


Happy Crafting!