Mushrooms and Smiles

You are getting lots of little sneak peekies this week. I am so in love with all of the new kits and papers that will be released on September 1 in the new Close To My Heart Idea Book (which you will be able to see here on that day! WOO HOO!) and I just can't help using them RIGHT NOW! Today I am sharing two cards I have created using the Card Patterns sketch (#27) and some of the new CTMH papers and goodies. On my supply lists if there is a product that is not available until September 1st, I have noted that next to that product. Anything else is available to order now. If you want to take a peek at a current catalog/Idea Book, just click on the green one with the handsome hiker guy on the left side of my blog.

Product highlight and tip of the day: Colored Pencils...shade with them! I LOVE them! I used them to shade around the word frame and the mushroom. I also used them on yesteday's acorn card. I just cut those acorns right out of patterned paper and then shaded them with pencils. What a great way to add just a little depth. To get the best results, rub the tip of the pencil on a scratch sheet of paper until the tip is no longer sharp and it creates a flat edge. Use the flat edge to do your shading. Start where you want it darkest and push the hardest as you color and then work inward and press more lightly. It will create a beautiful, subtle shadow. If you want to get even more creative, try using more than one color on an image. I have included a photo of part of a layout here in which I shaded letters with colored pencils. They started out just being stamped in New England Ivy ink (Z2135) and then I shaded with 3 or 4 different colors from our Earth Pencils (Z920) to achieve this look. Don't be afraid to try lots of colors. I even used a gold pencil in the middle of the letters to get that great golden look.

Close To My Heart products used on the Mushroom Card: Twitterpated Level 2 Paper Pack (avail. 9/1, X7118B), Twitterpated Level 2 My Stickease (avail. 9/1, X7118C),Black Legacy Writers (4275), 3D Foam Tape (Z1151), Designer Ribbon Rounds Chocolate Collection (Z1127), Earth Colored Pencils (I shaded with these. Z920).

Close To My Heart products used on the Smile Card: April Word Puzzle Stamp Set (D1286), Sweet Home Level 2 Paper Pack (avail. 9/1, X7116B), Boom-Di-Ada Level 2 Paper Pack (X7095B), Top Coats Framed In Overlays (avail. 9/1, Z1211), Indian Corn Blue Stamp Pad (Z2130), Black Stamp Pad (Z2105), Love Letters Rubons (Z1098), Foundry Bookplates (Z1147), Pewter Designer Brads (Z1146), Just Blooms Autumn Sunflower Paper Flowers (Z818), Journey Journaling Spots (X1409), 3D Foam Tape (Z1151)

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