If you can read this, THANK A TEACHER!

Today's post is sadly my last one as a member of the Heart 2 Heart Design Team :(

It has been such a great experience to be in the company of such fabulously talented ladies for the past 6 months.  Each week the challenges have pushed me out of my creative box, and being on a Design Team with these gals has motivated me to bring my A game!  We've all become friends through our little chats behind the scenes, and I really hope to get to meet them all face to face one day.  I feel so honored to have had this design team opportunity!  If you get a chance this week, pop in to their blogs for a visit, and sign up to be a follower if you aren't already:
Debbie: http://www.scrapmyheartout.blogspot.com/
Haley: http://inkyscrapper.blogspot.com/
Jessica: http://www.jessicaspaperpetals.blogspot.com/
Jody: http://cre8nmemories.blogspot.com/
Karen: http://www.kdaycreations.blogspot.com/
Mary: http://www.mbryt1.blogspot.com/
Melinda: http://www.ifyoublingittheywillcome.blogspot.com/

I will continue to stalk their blogs on a daily basis :), but I will really miss being a part of this team.  However, our term is up and it's time to pass the torch on to some new talent!  Keep your eye on the H2H challenge blog for the new Design Team introductions, and please give the new designers a warm welcome.

Before I get all choked up, I better share the details of  this week's challenge.

This week H2H has a color challenge for us:

My kids have had really great teachers again this year, and today is the last day of school (Yay!...? This used to be such a happy day for me, before I became a Mom... just kidding...I think...)

 I wanted to include a little something to thank them for being a part of my kids' lives.  I made them each this cute bookworm card to go with a little gift:

Recipe: All product CTMH:

Stamps: B1380 Mayberry WOTG, C1322 Gratitude (Retired), and D1290 August Word Puzzle (Retired)

Paper: Bamboo, Barn Red, Blue from X7137B Lucky Paper Pack

Inks: Barn Red, Indian Corn Blue, Desert Sand, Sunflower

Z1371 Blue Button Assortment

Z906 Bamboo Waxy Flax

Z1099 Twill Ribbon (Retired)

and googly eyes from my stash :) 

Want to play along with us?  Now it's your turn to use these fabulous colors on a project.  Don't forget you must use some CTMH products...then link it up at H2H so we can all pop by for a peek.  Each entry has a chance to win a fantastic prize from our lovely sponsors, and a place in our Top 10 at the end of the month.

One last thing:

I want to share the inside of my card with all of you today:

Summer is always so busy for us, the kids are home from school, the yard needs maintenance, weekends are spent in our camper (with no internet), and just to make it extra crazy around here we've decided to begin a complete kitchen renovation.  I have no idea when I will get a chance to get into my craft room for the next few weeks, so I may not be posting to my blog very much this summer.  I will keep checking in with some of my favorite blogs that are in my Google Reader, and will try to leave some comments along the way.  Don't worry, I'm not abandoning this little blog...I'm just taking it easy where I can this summer, and am giving you fair warning that I'm gonna be a lazy blogger for a couple of months. 

A big THANK YOU to all my followers and to everyone who has taken the time to leave me a comment here. 

HAVE  A  GREAT  SUMMER!

Lorrinda

H2H BINGO!

Hi there!

Today the Heart 2 Heart Challenge blog is playing BINGO! 
We would love to have you come by and play:)


Here is the bingo card:

Draw a straight line in any direction, and use those 3 elements on your project this week. I had fun with this challenge :)

My bingo line goes through DOILY, FLOWERS, LACE:

After I posted the photo, I'm thinking that this card could have used some stitching around the edges...but I was too busy this week to get back into my craft room to add it. (Summer activities are gearing up and I don't have a lot of spare time to craft.)  So now this looks unfinished to me. Oh well, sometimes I have to remind myself that it's just a card and the recipient really won't care!  (I found a sign on Pinterest that says "Done is better than perfect", I think I need to make one for my wall.)

Here's a close up of the flower cluster, they are just simple rolled paper roses sitting on top of crochet lace flowers:

Stop by H2H to see what the other DT gals did with their bingo cards. Wanna play too?  Pick a bingo in a straight line in any direction on the card above, and create something with those 3 elements on it using CTMH products.  Post it on your blog and link it up at H2H so we can all pop by for a peek. Each entry has a chance to win one of the prizes donated by our generous sponsors, and we'll be picking our faves for the Top 10 at the end of the month.

Not only did I get to play bingo, but I got to finally use this stamp set to make a card for the Moxie Fab World "I'm Sew Excited" challenge.  (I love it when I can get one card to fit more than one challenge:)  But I still think I should have added some stitching...

Thanks for stopping by today!

Lorrinda

Recipe:

(All materials CTMH unless noted)

Paper: X7133B Miracle Level 2 Paper Pack

Stamps: C1442 Tailor Made, D1472 Simple Memories (Doily)

Ink: White Daisy, Desert Sand and Bamboo

Z1136 Crochet flowers from White Daisy Mini Medley

Z673 White Daisy Embossing Powder

Z1127 Stitched brown ribbon from Chocolate Ribbon Rounds Collection

Eyelet lace scrap and stick pins from my stash

ABC Challenge!

Happy Victoria Day!

If you live in Canada you get today off,  yay for long weekends!  I had to google it to learn that it was originally a holiday in honor of Queen Victoria's birthday (duh), but we now continue to celebrate our current Monarch's birthday on this day as well.  It is also the unofficial end of the winter social season and start of the summer social calendar.  I'm all over that. Notify my personal valet to bring 'round the WHITE town car, as I must consult Yves for a couture fitting  for the summer wardrobe as well as several new hats....um, not.

Guess how I spent my long weekend?  We had a pipe leading to an outside faucet burst, and got a minor flood in the basement.  It could have been much worse. At least it was clean water and we were home to catch it before it did any major damage, but the carpet and couch got soaked and there is some damage to the ceiling.   Best part? My 10 yr old son was sitting on the dry side of the couch playing on the xbox, totally oblivious to the sagging dripping ceiling or the splish splash of water dripping onto the soaked couch and carpet.  Seriously.  Yeah, color me impressed.  It's nothing we can't clean and repair ourselves, but not how I was planning to spend my long weekend! (And right at the start of the summer social season!  How will I ever explain this at the country club?  Oh my heavens, I feel positively faint, someone please pass me the smelling salts!)

I did make some time to create something for the
 Heart 2 Heart challenge this week,

which is an ABC or Anything But a Card challenge! 

Crafting really is a good way to de-stress :)

I made a mini journal. 

The finished size of this cute little notepad is just 3.5"x 4.5",

perfect size to keep in my purse or throw into the beach bag!

(I won't tell you the choice words I used this weekend

 to express myself! 

 Let's just say I threw 10 bucks in the swear jar.) 

The cover is made from one piece of cardstock, with a fancy fold to make a place to keep a matching pen. I fancied the front up with  some stamping, layering, and a bit of hand stitching:

I decorated the inside of the cover too:

Between the spring cleanup yard work and the stupid water leak in the basement, I didn't get a chance to make a template or a tutorial for this cute little notebook. I promise to get one done soon to share with you!

For some more Anything-But-a-Card inspiration, check out what the rest of the H2H design team has whipped up for you this week!  Then go and create you own project that isn't a card, and link it up at H2H so we can all admire it:)  Remember, to be eligible for prizes you must use some CTMH product on your project, and you have until this Saturday to play along with all of the challenges from this month! 

Thanks for popping by today!

May your basement be dry and your social calendar be full :)

Lorrinda

Recipe:

All product CTMH unless noted.

Paper: Z1375 Kraft Cardstock, X7137B Lucky Level 2

Stamps: B1376 Wings WOTG, D1477 Universal Backgrounds, D1495 You and Me (May promo)

Inks: Z2140 Outdoor Denim, Z2118 Desert Sand

Button Assortments: Z1371 Blue, Z1372 Green, Z1387 Wood

Z280 Natural Hemp

DMC Floss #3750

Techniques: piercing, stitching, distressing

What's YOUR Favorite Technique?

It's Monday again!  Is it just me or does time move faster as you get older?  I was so busy last week, spring cleaning and getting the yard ready for summer and cleaning out the camper...whew!  The weather has been warm but very windy, so I was glad to retreat into my craft room to create my project for this week's Heart 2 Heart challenge....which is show us your favorite technique!

I love to use fun and interesting techniques on my paper crafts, there are so many it was tough to choose just one, but if I have to pick I'd say embossing!  I love dry embossing to give a raised texture, and I love to watch embossing powder melt with a heat gun.

Here's my card featuring these 2 embossing techniques:

I had planned to do a tutorial for you, but the week just got away from me!  So I'll tell you what I did:

The background layer is embossed using my Cuttlebug and Oval (from Heritage Set) embossing folder.  I then sanded the raised image to reveal the white core of the CTMH cardstock.  I cut out another oval to fit so the center panel could be popped up.  I then stamped the image from CTMH D1455 Blessed stamp set using Versamark ink, used white embossing powder, and heat set it.  The sentiment from D1476 Card Chatter-Sympathy set was done the same way.  I thought it need a little wash of color, so I colored the bird and flowers using CTMH markers. Added white grosgrain ribbon and some half pearls to dress it up a bit.  So, this card is only 2 layers, but the embossing adds so much texture and dimension!

This week, we want to know what YOUR favorite techniques are!  Need some ideas?  Check out what the talented gals on the DT have to share with you.  They are always full of great ideas! 

Don't forget you must use some CTMH product on your creation. Link up your project to H2H for a chance at some great prizes from our generous sposors, Angel and Sharon at the end of the month, or possibly a spot on our Top 10, where you may get chosen to join us as a future Guest Designer!

Thanks for popping by today!

Lorrinda

Recipe:

All product CTMH

stamps: D1455 Blessed and D1476 Card Chatter-Sympathy

cardstock in White Daisy and Garden Green
Z1294 Sanding kit
Z673 White Daisy embossing powder
Z555 Craft heater
Z270 White Daisy Grosgrain ribbon
markers in Baby Pink, White Daisy and Desert Sand

Other product:
Provocraft Cuttlebug and embossing folder (Heritage Set-Oval)

Bling on the Buttons!

It's Monday again, where did last week go?

I hope all you Moms got spoiled yesterday.  For a funny look at what my Mother's Day usually is like, check out my post from yesterday.  No Hallmark commercial soundtrack, just...Real. Life. Wouldn't want it any other way.  You Moms know what I'm talking about :)
I got to spend the afternoon/evening with my Mom, the gang took us out for supper. Always a treat! She lives just 20 minutes away, so we get to see each other often. As a teenager, I never thought I'd enjoy spending extra time with my Mom, but the older I get, the smarter she is. Funny how that happens...


Today Heart 2 Heart has a new challenge for you...use BUTTONS on your project! 

I love buttons for paper crafting, but I have a problem with naked buttons (you know, where there is no thread or string in the button holes?) Is it just me?...I love looking at all the pretty projects with buttons on them, but when I go to make one I just can't leave the holes empty.  I'm obsessed, and that is why my simple card today took longer than 10 minutes to make:

See what I mean?  I had to compulsively fill all the button holes with something, and I'm glad I had CTMH waxy flax to match.  If you've never used waxy flax, you must try it! It is like a fine hemp string, but it has a waxy coating on it to make it sort of stiff and moldable. It is stiff enough to poke through button holes easily, and the waxy coating means you can just tie it once and it won't come undone.  Love this stuff so much I have it in every color:)  After I had all the buttons threaded, I just stuck them to the image with mini glue dots.  So, except for threading all of the buttons, this card would have taken just 5 min to make.  Doesn't this image just make you wish it was SUMMER already?

For some more fabulous ideas to use buttons on your projects, please check out what the talented gals on the H2H DT have for you this week!  I just love being on a design team with these gals, they blow me away every week!

We'd love you to play along with our button challenge :)  Just create something with buttons on it, post it to your blog or an online gallery where we can leave comments, and link it up at H2H!  You have until the end of the month to play along, and we have some awesome prizes up for grabs this month from our sponsors Angel of Angel's Moments and Sharon of Tucker Lover. Please take a moment to visit their blogs and leave them some love for offering up such wonderful prizes!

Important: This is a Close To My Heart challenge blog, so your project must include some CTMH products to be eligible for prizes. (It does not have to be 100% CTMH) Recently we've had several entries with no CTMH on it whatsoever, which is not following the rules, so they have been deleted.  We hate doing that, but it's only fair to those players who ARE following the challenge rules. 

If you have been living under a rock and don't know what CTMH is, you can view our current Idea Book online to see all that CTMH has to offer.  If you are Canadian, feel free to shop on my website.  (If you are American, or want to find a consultant in your area, please go here and click on 'Consultant Locator' at the top of the page. )  Presently, CTMH products are only available in North America through independent consultants.

Want to become a CTMH Consultant? (If you sign up in May, you get the new consultant kit for 50% off!) Kit details are on my website under your opportunities or on page 128 of the Idea Book.  For more info, contact me through my website.

Thank you for visiting my blog!
Lorrinda

Recipe:
All product CTMH unless noted:
Stamp Set: D1467 Trees & Things
Pattern paper: X7134B Sweetheart Level 2 paper pack
Cardstock: Black and White Daisy
Inks: Desert Sand, Black, Garden Green and Topiary
Waxy Flax in Z1089 Black and Z1086 Cranberry
Red buttons from CTMH retired
Black button from my stash/unknown
Green plaid ribbon from Really Reasonable Ribbon

H2H #54 Mother's Day!

Happy Monday!

Time for another Heart 2 Heart challenge...this time it is Mother's Day! 

If you're like me, you wait until the night before you need the card, then scramble to get it done.  This challenge will get you motivated to have your Mother's Day cards done with time to spare this year!

For the border, I stamped the roses in Vineyard Berry ink.  The dark ones are 1st generation stamped, and the lighter ones are just stamped a second time without reinking. I trimmed them with micro-scissors, then glued them to the card base.  Then I trimmed around the roses and the base together to get the pretty cut out edge, allowing the inside edge of the card to show through when it's closed.  Leaves were 1st and 2nd generation stamped with Juniper ink.  A bit of fussy cutting on this card, but other than that it is pretty simple.

Pop on over to H2H to see what the rest of the Design Team has created to inspire you this week! 

Sadly, this is the last challenge that Lisa and Corina will be on the DT for...but they have a really good excuse for leaving...they were both chosen to be Extravaganza instructors at the CTMH Convention this summer!!! Corina and Lisa, I will sure miss having you both on the team, but hope to catch you playing along with us once in a while.  I'll be keeping up with you on your blogs, so I won't say goodbye:) 

I want to welcome our new DT members, Jody Gustafson and Haley Dyer, and our Guest Designer joining us for May is Joelle H.  You may recognize these names as they are all super talented and are frequent H2H challenge players. Be sure to check out their blogs and leave them a warm welcome.

We also have 2 new prize sponsors this month, Sharon Holmes and Angel Shifflett.  Link up your Mother's Day card to H2H this week, and be sure to play along all month for more chances to win yourself a fabulous prize!  You could also end up in the Top 10 for a shot at a future Guest Designer spot on our DT.

Thanks for popping by today!

Lorrinda

Recipe:

All products CTMH unless noted:

Stamps: D1470 Dreams Come True, E1019 Bohemian Alphabet

Paper: Colonial White and Juniper cs

Inks: Vineyard Berry, Juniper

Z1336 Pearl Opaques

Spellbinders Nestabilities petites scalloped ovals large dies

Sympathy Card for Mary

Hello bloggers. 
If you are following my blog, then you know that Mondays are usually Heart 2 Heart challenge day.  The design team and I are all heartbroken, as our wonderful host Mary lost her infant granddaughter last week.  We have decided to take the week off in support of Mary, and to honor sweet baby Liberty.  If you would like to show Mary some support, you can leave her a comment on the H2H blog HERE.  I'm sure she will appreciate it.

Instead of a challenge card, I am posting the sympathy card that I am sending to Mary:

I have a tough time making sympathy cards when I need them, and making a card for the loss of a baby is especially difficult.  I found this poem, that expresses such a pretty sentiment, and it inspired my card.

As a butterfly graces our lives with one moment's fragile beauty, so too has your baby's presence blessed you, and those that surround you with her short life, and unique spirit. May you find peace, and joy with each butterfly that passes, knowing that your baby lives on in the hearts of all she touched.

Mary, please know that we are all thinking about you and praying for your family, and even though we never met Libby, she has touched all of our hearts.

Hugs;

Lorrinda

Recipe:

Stamps: D1452 Find your Style, D1217 Free Spirit, D1476 Card Chatter

Paper: Smoky Plum, Pansy Purple, White Daisy

Z678 Silver Pearl Embossing Powder

Create a shade Pearl Paint

Z1336 Pearl gems

Martha Stewart lace edge punch

Fine wire

White satin edge ribbon

H2H Bunny Hop!

Welcome to our Heart 2 Heart Bunny Hop! 

Every other month we have a From Our Heart to Yours challenge. Well this time around, we want to share a blog hop with all of you!!  Today is our first blog hop - the H2H Bunny HOP sponsored by the DT for all of our CTMH fans!  The challenge was issued last week, make a project for Easter or Spring using CTMH products, and link it up today between 8 am and 8 pm EST at H2H.  Then, hop along to visit everyone's blogs to see what creative ideas everyone came up with.   We'd love you to hop along with us!

HIPPITY! HOPPITY!

You've hopped here!

For my project, I made an Egg Basket!

 

I'm so happy I finally got to use this adorable stamp set on an Easter project!

Isn't this sweet?

The bunnies are from CTMH stamp set D1454 Sensational Season, which was the March Stamp of the Month.

The first time I saw this set, it reminded me of the illustrations in the Beatrix Potter books, so when I colored this I tried to keep the colors soft and vintagey (I just made up a word, but you know what I mean). 

Images were stamped in Desert Sand Ink onto Colonial White cardstock. 

Coloring was done with a combo of CTMH watercolor pencils, blender pen, and markers.

The little bunny clothes are stamped onto pattern paper and cut out/paper pieced onto the stamped image.

I made the basket with Heavenly Blue cardstock, and dressed it up with X7133B Miracle pattern paper.

The handle was edged with a Martha Stewart lace border punch, and I added a Kraft border as well that had been sponged with Colonial White ink to soften it. 

I embellished with a scrap of lace, some paper flowers and a button.

The sentiment on the tag is from B1351 You're Sweet stamp set. 

Then I just filled the basket with a shredded brown paper bag and some candy coated chocolate and malt eggs. (The little suckers kept disappearing while I was trying to take a picture.  Honestly, I have no idea where they went.)

If you've been following me at all, you just know I'm going to

share the pattern for this egg shaped basket

so you can make your own! :)

Right click on the picture below, and save it to your computer.

Then you can print this out at 100% onto 8.5"x11" cardstock,

and cut it out to make a reusable tracing template. 




Thanks for HOPPING by today!

Now, hop back to the Heart 2 Heart challenge blog for the next link along the bunny hop. I hope you've been leaving some love in the comments as you hop along...
Remember this hop is open until 8pm EST, so there is still time for you link up your project!  One random participant will get a prize, so you want to play along! Remember, projects must include some CTMH products or the link will be deleted.  Also, make sure to check back throughout the day so you don't miss anyone!

Lorrinda

H2H is having a Bunny Hop!

Every other month we have a From Our Heart to Yours challenge. Well this time around, we want to share a blog hop with all of you!! On April 18, we will be sponsoring our first blog hop - the H2H Bunny HOP and we want you to play along.

Here are the details: Before Monday, April 18th, create something Easter or Spring themed. Post it to your blog. Then on Monday April 18th, add your link to our Mister Linky on the H2H blog. You can ONLY post your link between 8:00 am EST and 8:00 pm EST on that Monday!! After 8:00 pm, the link list will be closed and no other entries will be added through the week. You also MUST include CLOSE TO MY HEART products or your link will be removed. Then through out the day, you can bunny hop among the links to see what everyone has created.

We would love to see a big turn-out for this hop so spread the word! There will also be one random blog hop participant chosen to win a prize so you want to play along!!
 
Here is a badge you can place on your blog post to advertise the hop. Be sure to add the blog address as well: http://heart2heartchallenges.blogspot.com/
 
 

So hop to it and plan on participating in the Bunny Hop! See you then!

One Person's Trash....

Happy Monday! Birds are singing, sun is shining and the snow is melting (finally!)
Time for a new challenge at Heart 2 Heart! This week we have an early Earth Day challenge for you...reuse or recycle something on your project.  You can recycle something to use on a new card or layout, or raid the recycling bin to find something that can be re purposed.....save something from the landfill and give it a pretty new life!

I chose to recycle something that I know you all have....

empty ribbon spools!

I don't know about you, but I have a bag of these things in all sizes that I just can't bring myself to throw away. I knew there must be something they'd be good for, but I needed this challenge to kick me into gear and git er done! I picked out a few 2 1/2" diameter cardboard spools with nice 1" wide centers.

Here's what I transformed them into:

Pretty little Trinket Boxes!

These would be perfect for a small gift or party favor,

or just to keep trinkets in. (duh)

I made the pink one for my daughter to keep her guitar picks in.

Here are some close-ups for you:

Used CTMH X7133B Miracle Level 2 Paper kit and leftover Z1354 Miracle Irresistibles chipboard elements, bead and ribbon handle and trim from the scrap bin. Wanna know how I got that ribbon through the bead? I used a dental floss loop to pull the ribbon through the tiny bead hole. (I'm a dental hygienist, I got a million uses for floss!)

Used CTMH X7131B Sophia Level 2 Paper kit and repurposed a fabulous scrap of embroidered rose trim that I saved from a cute little sundress my DD wore when she was 4. (Yep, it's been in a ribbon scrap box for 8 years, I never throw away anything crafty)  Added a bead to anchor the CTMH crochet flower and paper flower together.

Covered this one with CTMH X7135B Wings Level 2 Paper kit,

rose made of Vineyard Berry cardstock from the scrap bin

and black ribbon remnants.

Google rolled paper roses to make these flowers,

there are a ton of video tutorials on YouTube.

Because I know you wanna know, I snapped a few pics to show you how I made these.  There are several tutorials out there in blogland, but I wasn't keen on the lid part on any of them, so I came up with a top that fits inside the trinket box to open and close easily.

First, carefully pry the top and bottom off of the ribbon spool,

I had to use a craft knife on a couple of them.

I salvaged a TP roll from the paper bin,

and found that it fit perfectly inside my ribbon spool tube:

So I sliced off 1/2" to use for my box top:

You now have all the parts needed to make the trinket boxes! 

I didn't take pictures of the decorating part, but here's what I did:

1. Cover the insides and outsides of the tubes, and both sides of the circles, with coordinating pattern papers. (I used CTMH Bonding Memories liquid glue so I would have a bit of play time before it dried to get the strips of paper lined up with the tubes.) Allow glue to dry.

2. Sand all the edges to get them nice and even and smooth, ink them too if you want to to hide the cardboard.

3. Poke a hole through the lid circle, and embellish the top with a ribbon handle knotted on each side of the hole to give it some strength. Don't want it pulling out!

4. Glue the narrow tube to the top circle, and the wide tube to the bottom circle. (I used CTMH Liquid Glass for this because it is super strong and easy to get a narrow bead on the cardboard edge.) Allow glue to dry.  Here's a pic of the insides:

5. You may want to give this a good coat of ModPodge or an acrylic spray sealer at this point to make it durable.

6. Trim with ribbon, beads, bling, and buttons...whatever floats your boat!

Surprisingly, these come together pretty quickly. I sat down to watch Survivor, and had one done before the show was over, so I kept going and made all three trinket boxes in 2 hours. I don't feel like such a big couch potato if I do something else while I watch TV:)  Recycling, crafting, photography and watching my shows all at the same time....it was a productive evening!

We want to see YOUR projects with re-used or recycled materials! Use your imagination, I'm sure you can find something in the trash that needs a new purpose. 

Need some inspiration? 

Check out what the H2H DT has to offer this week! 

These gals ROCK at turning trash to treasures!

Link your artwork up to H2H to play along.  Remember it's a CTMH challenge, so please try to use some CTMH products on it to be eligible for the Top 10 and prizes from our generous sponsors,

Michelle Zimmerman of Life's LITTLE Things and

LeAnne Dudley of Dudleychick Designs. 

**Heads up! Next week, on April 18,  Heart 2 Heart Challenges will be hosting our first ever Bunny HOP! We're looking for Easter or Spring themed projects.  Check out H2H for details if you would like to bunny hop with us!

Thanks for visiting my blog today!

Please leave a comment so I know you stopped by :)

To celebrate my birthday this Wednesday(or as I prefer to call it - my 14th anniversary of the day I turned 29 -having to do math distracts people from actually counting the candles ;), and to celebrate reaching 300 followers this past week, I'm going to give the Wings black/rose and Miracle blue/green trinket boxes to one lucky commenter. Open to all my fabulous followers, so if you've just been getting this feed in Goggle Reader click on over and sign up!  Please leave me a blog link or email (sally at gmail dot com) in your comment so I can contact you if you win.

Lorrinda

Rockin' Sketch

Heart 2 Heart is having a SKETCH CHALLENGE this week.

Your choice, round or square.

Check it out:

I'm not into round cards. I mean, they look great, but I like my cards to stand up all by themselves. I'm weird that way.  So I chose to do the second one, with the circle element on a standard card.

Recipe for 6x6"card:

Paper: X7138B Fanfare Level 2 Paper Pack

Stamps: D1432 X-Treme, D1283 Say it in Style

Inks: Pacifica

Cranberry Brads

All product CTMH

Check out what the gals on the DT have come up with this week! You are sure to be inspired!

Get out your crafty supplies and play along with us!  Create something based on the sketches, then link it up to H2H so we can all see!  Remember, the H2H challenge requires that you use mostly CTMH products, and you have the whole month to play.  We have some new prizes for April from our very generous sponsors, and we're looking for some talent to join us as a future Guest Designer...could it be you?

Thanks for visiting my blog today!

Lorrinda

Baby, Baby, Baby

Have I got you all humming Justin Bieber songs now?  For some reason 'Baby' keeps playing in my head...Yes, I have a pre-teen daughter, why do you ask? Sorry for the ear worm, but it's a catchy song and now it's stuck in your head too.  Just be glad I didn't put it on an instant music player on my blog to annoy you :) You're welcome.

This week at Heart 2 Heart, it's a BABY challenge! Make a card, gift item, scrap page...anything baby-related, as long as it includes mostly CTMH products.

I chose to make a card:

And a girly one too:

These cards were inspired by this card from the talented Deneen Treble at A Path of Paper.  Hi Deneen!  I just loved the little dresser on her stair-step card, and thought a big one the size of the entire card would be cute too.  What do you think?

The scalloped edges were cut with my Cuttlebug and Nestabilities Labels Four die.  Pieces were layered to create drawers, and a couple of them were popped up on foam dots to appear open. On the blue card I sanded all the edges to reveal the white core in the cardstock, and on the pink card the edges are inked. The baby items are from CTMH D1266 Baby Steps, and the teddy bear is from a Christmas stamp CTMH D1443 Share the Magic.  To make the drawer handles, the blue card has a brad inserted through an eyelet. The pink card's pretty knobs are little flower brads from a retired CTMH Mini Medley pushed through punched flowers. The only pattern paper used was scraps to make the little onesies, I used Miracle paper for the boy's and Sweetheart paper for the girl's.  The only non-CTMH item on these cards is the cute little wire hangers, I "borrowed" them from one of the many Klutz Paper Fashions craft kits that my daughter has. She has about 100 of these hangers, so I hope she won't miss 2.

Oh Baby! Check out what the fabulous H2H DT has to offer this week! Their blog links are also over in my sidebar.  Play along with us, and link up your baby creations to the H2H Challenge blog.  Remember that you are required to use mostly CTMH products. You have until the end of the month to play along,  there are prizes to be won (from our generous sponsors Lori Brown and  Angie Parchey), and one lucky person will be invited to be our Guest Designer next month! 

Thanks for visiting my bog today,

Lorrinda

Recipe:

CTMH products:

Cardstock: Sky, Baby Pink

Pattern Paper: Miracle, Sweetheart

Stamps: D1266Baby Steps, D1443Share the Magic

Various markers, Inks and watercolor pencils

White Daisy eyelets, brads and flower brads

Non-CTMH product:

Mini hangers from Klutz Paper Fashions kit

Nestabilities Labels Four

Cuttlebug



Designer Tissue Boxes

This week at Heart 2 Heart, we are having a "From Your Heart to Ours" challenge.  It's "Show and Tell"!  We want you to show us something you've created for your home or a home decor item, and tell us what you love about it!  This can be something new you create, or something you've already made...but it must include mostly CTMH products.

I have many home decor items made from CTMH products, but I'm going to share a couple of my tissue box covers because these haven't made it to my blog yet:

This one was made using G1022 CTMH Mayberry Workshop kit, which includes the fruit and flowers stamp set!  This box cover is in my kitchen, and it's my way of injecting a little bit of spring into the room :)  Don't you just love these spring colors?

This one is in my family room, and I love the rich colors.  It matches my furniture.  It's made using X7128B Olivia Level 2 Paper Pack, and D1436 The Present stamp (one of my faves). 

I'm not sure if one can call tissue box covers 'home decor', but I like them because I can make them to match my rooms, and I buy whatever tissue is on sale to refill them instead of trying to find tissue boxes that aren't hideous.  I need to make a few more... the sky's the limit when decorating these! 

Here are a couple of tutorial links for you:

There is a tutorial available at Splitcoast Stampers that is very helpful to make small square tissue box covers, and you can go to ehow for instructions to make any size box and decorate it as you want.

You have to check out what the awesome gals on the design team have made to inspire you!  These gals amaze me every week, and I am thrilled to be on a DT wth them. Their names and blog links are listed on my sidebar, and are also at H2H.

So, we want to see some fabulous CTMH home decor items that you've made!  Tell us what you love about them!  Link up your pics at Heart 2 Heart.  You have until the end of the month to play along.  The more you play, the more chances you have to win a fabulous prize from our sponsors Angie Parchey and Lori Brown.  Remember, your project must include mostly CTMH products, and please link to the page of your project (not to your blog home page) so we can find it!

Here are some past items I have posted that I would also call home decor.  You can click on the caption under the pic to go to the post if you want the details.

This first one is from the VERY 1ST H2H Challenge, I'm so happy this challenge has caught on and is growing every week :)

BIG hugs to Mary for hosting the H2H Challenge Blog!

Hanging Birdhouse

 

Wine Glass Candle Shade

  

Wildlife Shadowbox



Desk Calendar




Topiary


  


Thank You Boquet





Thanks for stopping by today!

Lorrinda

Recipe for Tissue Boxes:

1. CTMH G1022 Mayberry Workshop kit, includes B1380 Mayberry stamp.

   CTMH Just Blooms flowers in Whie Daisy and Summer Posies(leaves, retired)

   CTMH Inks: Cocoa, Desert Sand, Olive, Garden Green, Smoothie, Sorbet, Honey

   1/4" coral satin ribbon from my stash

   Tools: Coluzzle to cut oval on top 

2. CTMH X7128B Olivia Level 2 Paper Pack

   CTMH D1436 The Present stamp set

   CTMH Ink: Cocoa

   CTMH Antique Bronze brads

   Rust paper flowers, 1" rust ribbon,  peach ric rac ribbon all from my stash