Rustic Snowflake

After yesterday's "What the Heck!" card, I decided I kind of liked these non-traditional colors for snowflakes. Here I go again.

This 5" x 5" card was inspired by this week's sketch as 2Sketches4You. The colors were again taken from Jeanette Lynton's Color Me Monday Combo on her blog this week.

Close To My Heart products used: Holiday Trinkets Stamp Set (D1366), Jingle Borders Stamp Set (D1225), Barn Red Cardstock (X5637), White Daisy Textured Cardstock (X5671), Dimensional Elements-Flurry (Z1225), Basic Buttons (Z1206), Barn Red Stamp Pad (Z2104), Cocoa Stamp Pad (Z2114), Olive Stamp Pad (Z2137), Bamboo Stamp Pad (Z2103), Natural Hemp (Z280), Round Sponge (Z697)

Non-CTMH products used: Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist-Pearl.

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Nature's Beauty

Hi again! This is my 2nd post today so be sure to check out the first.

This card was inspired by the sketch this week at Card Patterns (sketch #30). I had fun doing a little stitching with embroidery thread around my felt quail and his wing. It only took a second but still gave my card that hand stitched look, which I love. I also love the new "Wonder HeartFelt Die Cuts" (Z1210) that came out in the new Close To My Heart Idea Book on September 1. The quail is just one of many darling felt designs in 3 colors (twilight, olive, and chocolate) that are part of this collection.

The photo I took of the card was against a brand new Fall wreath my friend Chris C. made me. It is absolutely gorgeous. In fact it's so gorgeous I had to share it with you here. I helped Chris make a mini-book called "33 Reasons I Love You" for her husband a couple of weeks ago for their 33rd anniversary. This was my thank you gift. Gosh, Chris...do you need any more books made? {wink}. Anyway, back to the card...

Close To My Heart products used: Happiness Stamp Set (C1310), Grateful Hearts Stamp Set (C1372), White Daisy Cardstock (1385), Twitterpated Level 2 Paper Packet (X7118B), Boom-Di-Ada Level 2 Paper Packet (X7095B), Crystal Blue Stamp Pad (Z2117), Twilight Stamp Pad (Z2160), Versamark Stamp Pad (Z891), Buttercup Embossing Powder (retired), Heartfelt Die Cuts Wonder (Z1210), Heartfelt Die Cuts Whimsy (Z1145), Neutral Embroidery Thread Assortment (Z1096), Spring Harmony Brad Assortment (Z1212), Mini-Medley Winter Cozy Collection (Z1120).

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3 Cards and More Football

"Where's the artwork?" Remember the Wendy's commercial,"Where's the Beef?" If you were not an 80's girl, you probably don't. If that is the case, ignore my greeting and just be assured that there is some artwork in this post and that I am probably much older than you. Also, I made the photos a bit smaller than usual in this post so it wouldn't be too terribly long, so feel free to click on any photo to see it larger. You know the drill, right?

Firstly (probably not a word, but I'm using it anyway), I am sharing a card I made using Jeanette Lynton's Color Me Monday combo (CTMH colors: crystal blue, sweet leaf, tulip and white daisy) and the 2Sketches4You card pattern this week (#34). By the way, 2Sketches4You chose me as one of their Fab 5's last week for my Sunflower card. Woot!

Close To My Heart products used: White Daisy Cardstock (1385), Twitterpated Level 2 Paper Pack (X7118B), Jingle Level 2 Paper Pack (X7115B), Perrenials Dimensional Elements (Z1139), Winter Buttons (Z1284), Red and Pink Embroidery Thread Assortment (Z1092), Crystal Blue Waxy Flax (Z1247), Designer Ribbon Rounds Sweet Leaf Collection (Z1125), Spring Blossom Brad Assortment (Z1213)Crystal Blue Stamp Pad (Z2117), Sweet Leaf Stamp Pad (Z2153), Connections Stamp Set (D1330), Round Sponge (Z697), 3D Foam Tape (Z1151).

Secondly (I think that is a word. I know I've heard it used before): I am sharing 2 cards that arrived the past few days for my birthday. I love it when cards come a little late. It's so much fun to keep celebrating. Thank you, Marian Q (the flowers and balloon in a vase card) and Brenda R (the big flower pocket card) for your thoughtfulness. You are both dear, sweet friends! Both of these ladies are Close To My Heart consultants.

Marian's card below: Celebration Bouquet Stamp Set (C1313), Paper Garden Level 2 Paper Pack (X7094B), Sweet Leaf Stamp Pad (Z2153), Blush Stamp Pad (Z2106), Crystal Blue Stamp Pad (Z2117), Petal Stamp Pad (Z2161), Metal Brad Assortment (Z1217), Prisma Glitter (Z134), Round Sponge (Z697)

Brenda's Card below: Aspen Level 2 Paper Packet (X7103B), Designer Ribbon Rounds Creme Brulee Collection (Z1131), Botanicals Fancy Cuts Die Cuts (X1405), Lilac Mist Cardstock (1295)

Thirdly and lastly, Dawson's team won their football game agains Orem last night. Dawson played great and so did the rest of the team. They beat Orem 23-8. WOOHOO. Dawson is #19 in this photo because our dark uniforms got printed with another team's number list. They are making us new jerseys but they weren't done for this game. Hopefully he will be #10 again before we know it. D had 1 sack, 3 tackles for losses, several assisted tackles and a catch. You go, boy! Tannon plays tomorrow night against Riverton. Keep your fingers crossed.

Sunflowers

Alas, I decided it was time to move back to Summer. I've been posting quite a lot of Autumn and Christmas projects the past week or so with all of the fun new goodies that are coming out from Close To My Heart on September 1 (only 5 1/2 more days until the new Idea Book is RIGHT HERE on my blog!). I guess it's time to be 'present' and move back to Summer. I am excited for Autumn though. As much as I love the sunshine, I think I love Fall even more; the smell of the crisp air, the brilliant colors of the leaves in the canyon behind my house, the smells and tastes of pumkin and cider, and (I know you knew this was coming)...FOOTBALL! I digress. Back to Summer.

Jeanette Lynton's "Color Me Monday" combo this week made it easy to move right back to August with this beautiful color scheme (Close To My Heart colors: Sunflower, Indian Corn Blue, Olive and Desert Sand). The first thought I had when I saw it was "Sunflowers". So, to work I went. I used the 2Sketches4You pattern (Laura's sketch #33) as my guide and this is what I came up with.

Close To My Heart products used: Cottage Floral Stamp Set (B1306), Magic Moments Level 2 Paper Pack (X7101B), Tinkerin' Level 2 Paper Pack (X7109B), Back Country Level 2 Paper Pack (X7110B), Indian Corn Blue Stamp Pad (Z2130), Sunflower Stamp Pad (Z2150), Olive Stamp Pad (Z2137), Black Legacy Writers (4275), Corner Rounder (Z578), 3D Foam Tape (Z1151), Clear Buttons (Z1155), Colonial White Waxy Flax (Z1081).

Non-CTMH products: Offray ribbon

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Daci's First Football Game

I just heard this week about The Scrappiest, another sketch and challenge blog. CUTE sketch, right? Here's what I made using it as my guide. Have I mentioned how much I love being a grandma? Oh, yeah! I think I have! Rick and Kori decided to bring Daci to the pre-season scrimmage that both Tannon and Dawson were playing in on Aug. 15. Daci decided she likes football. It's a good thing. If she didn't I would be afraid she didn't really have Pedersen genes!

Close To My Heart products used: Black Cardstock (1388), White Daisy Cardstock (1385), Silhouette Level 2 Paper Pack (X7090B), Whoops-a-Daisy Level 2 Paper Pack (X7099B), Corner Rounder (Z578), Designer Ribbon Rounds Black Collection (Z1034), Bubblegum Gingham Ribbon (retired)

Non-CTMH products used: Martha Stewart Daisies, Making Memories Mini-Shimmer Alpha, Large Scallop Scissors (manufacturer unknown).

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I'm getting ahead of myself

I'm getting a little ahead of myself. I always seem to get excited about the next season before it even arrives. Why do we do that? Wish away what is? I don't know, but I did it again this morning. When I saw the Mojo Monday sketch (#101) I thought of a gorgeous new stamp set from Close To My Heart on September 1 called Many Thanks (D1371). Here it is 90 degrees outside in the middle of August and I have already moved on to Fall. Silly me!

Close To My Heart products used: Many Thanks Stamp Set (avail. 9/1, D1137), Back Country Level 2 Paper Pack (X7110B), Boom-Di-Ada Level 2 Paper Pack (X7095B), Goldrush Cardstock, Autumn Terracotta Cardstock, Chocolate Stamp Pad, Goldrush Stamp Pad, Autumn Terracotta Stamp Pad, Barn Red Stamp Pad,Watercolor Pencils (3505), 3D Foam Tape (Z1151), Black Legacy Writers (4275), Designer Ribbon Rounds Autumn Terracotta Collection (retired), Designer Ribbon Rounds Heartfelt Collection (retired), Rustic Edge Anchors (Z1287).

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Faster, Simpler, Easier

This is my 2nd post today of a football layout. This one is of my Tannon in his varsity pre-season scrimmage. I am feelin' the football!

This is a shaped layout. The grey you see behind the shape is the sidewalk I took the picture on. After I took the photo, I realized it could look like I matted the layout on a sheet of grey cardstock. Sorry! I should have photographed it on white.

Anyhoo, I used the Pencil Lines Sketch (#149). I also used the Game On collection from Close To My Heart. I love this kit...neutral color scheme goes with any team's colors. The patterns of stars, stripes, newpaper prints, and a very subtle tone on tone net print all work with just about any sport, and so do the matching MyStickease. It's a MUST for anyone with kids who play ball [Paper pack is X7097B, $12.95 for 12 sheets of two sided patterned paper (B&T duos) and 10 sheets of coordinating cardstock--22 sheets of 12 x 12 paper in all. My Stickease is X7097C, $8.95 for four 6" x 12" sheets of stickease]. Having a house full of boys who play both basketball and football, and who played baseball through Jr. High, I am a mom with TONS of sports pictures...and this kit was just the ticket. I can create many different looks with this one kit, add in a little color here or there to bring out their team colors, and let the neutral colors of this kit compliment the photos without overpowering them. Sport photos often have lots going on in them and so many of the athletic papers I see in the stores are just too busy and take away from the action in the photos.

This was a very fast layout that worked up in about 30 minutes. I LOVE the artistic release of being really creative, but every once in a while it feels good just to whip a layout up in minutes. This was one of those times. The only products used on this layout were paper, stickers and a little bit of black ink to distress with. No stamping, no metal, no sewing, no coloring. Just plain paper and stickers. One of Close To My Heart's taglines is "Faster, Simpler, Easier." This sure fit the bill!

Close To My Heart products used: Game On Level 2 Paper Packet (X7097B-GREAT kit for almost any sport!), Game On MyStickease (X7097C), Black Stamp Pad (Z2105), Black Textured Cardstock (X5747)

Non-CTMH products used: Creative Imaginations Football Stickers

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Football is Life

I decided to sit down on a quiet Sunday afternoon and scrapbook some photos I took of Dawson a little over a week ago in the Lone Peak Freshman Pre-Season Scrimmage. I was inspired by 2 sketches I saw this week and decided to use them both and do a 2 page layout.


The left page (pg 1) is done using sketch #28 from Inspired Blueprints (released on their blog on 8-16-09).






The right page (pg 2) is based on the Creative Scrappers sketch #66. You can click on any of the photos to see them larger.

Close To My Heart products used: Black Cardstock (1388), Colonial White Cardstock (1386), Bamboo Stamp Pad (Z2103), Dimensional Elements On Target (avail. 9/1, Z1226)

Non-CTMH products used: Patterned paper from Paper Loft, Basic Grey Adhesive Ribbon, Creative Imaginations Football Stickers.

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Home Is Where The Heart Is

One of the very cool things about being a Close To My Heart consultant is having access to the Stamp of the Month sets and some of the new papers and accessories earlier than the rest of the world at each new Idea Book release (the next one is September 1. Be watching the side of my blog that day for the link!).

When I saw this sketch at Card Patterns (#29) I knew exactly what stamp I wanted to use for the main image. It's part of the November Stamp of the Month set, "Around the Block." There is the cute little house outline and then several choices of doors, windows, window boxes, chimneys, roofs, shutters, sentiments, etc. to mix and match to make your home look just like you want. This set is available to order, earn at a discount, or even earn free during the month of November. I decided to use primary colors on this card because to me they felt happy and went with the "Home is where the heart is" saying. I also wanted to use this cute polka dot ribbon I just found and that way it matched (ribbon by Offray). I even covered my dimensional element heart with the ribbon and just cut around it. I like the way it turned out.

I decided to stamp my images in black and then color in with water color pencils, blend with a waterbrush and shade around edges with our grey flannel marker. Water color pencil tip: don't color in the whole area you want colored. Just use your pencil to color the parts you want darkest (like around the inside edges or just on one side) and use your waterbrush to pull the color from there into the rest of the area.

Close To My Heart products used: Around the Block (avail. 11/1-11/30, D1377), Sweet Home Level 2 Paper Pack (avail. 9/1, X7116B), Colonial White Cardstock (1388), Watercolor Pencils (3505), Waterbrush (1771), Dimensional Elements Fresh Shapes (Z1019), Black Stamp Pad (Z2105), Essential Brad Assortment (Z1219), Grey Flannel Marker (Z2324).

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Treasure

#6. No way! I think I've broken my own record with 6 posts in one day. That is scary! I promise this is the last one. Really.

This 4" x 4" card also features Close To My Heart's September Stamp of the Month (see "Trust Your Heart" post earlier today), Treasures. LOVE that stamp set! I also used sketch #148 from Pencil Lines as my inspiration.


Close To My Heart products used: Treasures Stamp Set (avail. 9/1-9/30, D1375. See "Treasure Your Heart" post earlier today to see how to get it FREE!), Grey Wool Cardstock (5571), Grey Wool Stamp Pad (Z2125), Sunkiss Yellow Cardstock (1240), Sunny Yellow Stamp Pad (Z2152),White Daisy Cardstock (1385), Crystal Blue Cardstock (1292), Crystal Blue Stamp Pad (Z2117)Twitterpated Level 2 Paper Pack (avail. 9/1, X7118B), Versamark Stamp Pad (Z891), White Daisy Embossing Powder (Z673), 3D Foam Tape (Z1151), Sunkiss Yellow Grossgrain Ribbon (retired), Winter Cozy Brad Assortment (Z1113).

Non-CTMH products used: large scallop scissors

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Merry Christmas

More "Jingle" paper from Close To My Heart. Yummy! I can hardly wait until September 1 when you can buy the "Jingle" products (to see another "Jingle" card, check out my #2 post from today entitled "Joy").

This card was created using Sketch #88 from "Got Sketch." Valorie Salmon always has the greatest card and layout sketches on her blog. This one was no exception!

Close To My Heart products used: Holiday Trinkets Stamp Set (avail. 9/1, D1366), Jingle Level 2 Paper Pack (avail. 9/1, X7115B), Jingle Level 2 MyStickease (avail. 9/1, X7115C), Black Stamp Pad (Z2105), Baby Pink Stamp Pad (Z2102), Juniper Stamp Pad (Z2165), Tulip Stamp Pad (Z2166), Creme Brulee Stamp Pad (Z2167), Pastel Pencils (Z922), 3D Foam Tape (Z1151), Black Legacy Writers (4275), Corner Rounder (Z578), Photo Hangers (Z293), Designer Ribbon Rounds Blush Collection (Z1138), Designer Ribbon Rounds Holiday Collection (retired).

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Friends

Post #3 today. I'm on a roll, baby! This layout kills two birds with one stone. What an ugly saying! I'd rather say "kills two flies with one swatter." I'd rather kill flies than birds anyday. OK, I digress. On with the art....

This layout was created using the sketch from Creative Scrappers (#65) and Jeanette Lynton's Color Me Monday combo from this week (Close To My Heart colors: Indian Corn Blue, Tulip, Creme Brulee, Cocoa). What a fun combo, doncha think?
Close To My Heart products used: Shining Star Stamp Set (D1320), Indian Corn Blue Cardstock (1284), Indian Blue Stamp Pad (Z2130), Creme Brulee Cardstock (X5754), Creme Brulee Stamp Pad (Z2167), Cocoa Cardstock
(X5642), Cocoa Stamp Pad (Z2114), Cocoa Marker (Z2314), Tulip Cardstock (X5753), Magic Moments Level 2 Paper Pack (X7101B), Free Spirit Level 2 Paper Pack (X7088B), Free Spirit Level 2 MyStickease (X7088C), On Target Dimensional Elements (avail. 9/1, Z1226), Color Ready Alphabet Oxford (X5749), Round Sponge (Z697).

Non CTMH products: EK Success Star Punch, Large Scallop Scissors

Click here to order from my website 24/7, even with your 'friends.' Be sure to check out my first post today (Delight in the Everyday) to see the great deal that is available right now with all orders.

Joy

Here's post #2 for today. I have been playing with some challenges this week so brace yourself. I feel several posts coming on today!

Here is a card I made this week using the CPS sketch (#129). Again, I'm using brand new paper from Close To My Heart that is available to the public on September 1. You can browse through the new Autumn/Winter Idea Book right here on my blog that day and then order from my website here. This paper pack is called Jingle, and as far as I'm concerned, it's another sure hit!

Close To My Heart products used: Holiday Trinkets Stamp Set (avail. 9/1, D1366), Friendship Alphabet Stamp Set (no longer available), Jingle Level 2 Paper Pack (avail. 9/1, X7115B), Baby Pink Stamp Pad (Z2102), Juniper Stamp Pad (Z2165), Tulip Stamp Pad (Z2166), Black Stamp Pad (Z2105), 3D Foam Tape (Z1151), Designer Ribbon Rounds Blush Collection (Z1138), Pastel Pencils (Z922), Corner Rounder (Z578), Black Legacy Writers (4275).

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