Pretty in Blue!

I LOVE flowers but I just don't have much of a gardener inside me. BUT, I can make pretty flowers this way instead. The sketch comes from Freshly Made Sketches and I love their challenges. The sketches have a nice simple design and to me that makes the elements really stand out. 

I started with the Love The se People stamp set. It's our April Special and has so many lovely images and papers! Click here for a link to the entire collection. I know you'll find lots of things you can add to your stash but remember it's only until the end of April which is coming up fast!

Her sure to check out all the other specials this month, too! Click the PROMOTIONS tab to see them all!

Based on the sketch I stamped one of the flowers directly onto the white cardstock and two on another piece to be fussy cut. To color the flowers I used two of our ShinHan markers. These markers have three shades of the color all in the same marker making it easy to blend and shade. First I used the lightest color all over the flower. Next was the medium shade where the flower would be a bit darker or in the shade. The darkest shade was used for the shade the petals would cast onto the other petals. After that I used the lightest shade again to color over the entire flower. This last step is important for getting a nice blend of color overall. After I had all the pieces glued to the card front I added some pretty Stickles on the flower centers and around them because you always need at least a little sparkle!

Freshly Made Sketches #431

Love These People stamp set

These Are My People Paper Pack

Say It in Style stamp set

Other Close To My Heart products used on this card

• White Cards and Envelopes Value Pack
• Cardstock: White Daisy 
• Exclusive Inks: Intense Black, Bluebird
• ShinHan Markers: True Blue, Light Green
• Stickles: Waterfall

Let's go shopping!

If you need a consultant I'd be happy to help.

If you'd like to BE a consultant I'd love to have you on my team!

I hope you enjoyed your visit. Be sure to follow my blog or click the tab at the top for following me on Facebook or Pinterest. 

Thanks for stopping by!

Michelle

#showandtellwithmichelle #ctmh #cardmaking #freshlymadesketches

Happy Card ~ Freshly Made Sketches Challenge

When I saw this sketch from Freshly Made Sketches I new I had to make some time for my craft room. You can use it in so many ways and I chose to turn the design and  make a top fold card.

The stamp set is one of our current specials for April called Love These People. There are many different bundles that are part of the special, too. Click here to see the collection. Be sure to check it out!

I used a piece of the paper with the black stripes because I knew I wanted to keep with the pink and black color theme. There are even little dots of pink on the paper! I added a black piece of cardstock to finish that edge and to make the pink flowers stand out even more. Some splashes of shimmer on the top add a nice touch as do the black dots. The sentiment was stamped on white with the top edge rubbed on the stamp pad for an edge. The bottom was stamped.

The flowers were colored with our TriBlend Markers. These markers come with 3 saves of one color which make blending a breeze! I started the flowers with the light color, added some highlights with the medium color and just a bit more highlight with the dark color. Then to blend all three colors together I colored the flower all over again in the light color. The flower centers were done with Stickles. The center flower is popped up a bit with some foam tape.

Freshly Made Sketches #420

Close To My Heart products used for this card

• Stamps: Love These People, A Little Sentiment, Sentiments & Stitches
• White Cards and Envelopes Value Pack
• Paper Pack: These Are My People
• Cardstock: White Daisy, Black
• Exclusive Inks: Intense Black, Sage, Pixie
• TriBlend Markers: Bright Pink, Light Green
• Embellishments: Black & White Dots
• Tools: Raspberry Shimmer Brush, Black Diamond Stickles, Thin 3D Foam Tape

Let's go shopping!

If you need a consultant I'd be happy to help.

If you'd like to BE a consultant I'd love to have you on my team!

So if you're inspired to create with this sketch go for it! It's easier when you already start with a design! Have fun.

Be sure to sign up to my blog, facebook page, pinterest, etc. Click on the tab at the top of the page for those links. You know you don't want to miss any great ideas!

Michelle

#showandtellwithmichelle #ctmh #cardmaking #sketchchallenge

Cute Owl Card

This card was inspired by a sketch from the Freshly Made Sketches group. As soon as I saw the sketch I knew what stamp set I wanted to use and what colors. It doesn't usually happen that quickly!

I pulled out my Operation Smile stamp set called You Make Me Happy. With the purchase of this set Close To My Heart donates $7 of the proceeds to Operation Smile. This is a charity that goes around the world doing facial surgeries for children. This is a life changer for these children and their families.

For my card I decided to use the cute little owl. I stamped and then colored with markers. The circles were cut using our Thin Cut dies. The plaid paper is from our These Are My People paper pack. This is part of our current special and features paper, stamp set and bundles. Click here to see the full collection.

I added some Gold Thread and some stamped flowers around the card to finish it off. It really came together in about 30 min. start to finish.

You Make Me Happy (Operation Smile stamp set)

Freshly Made Sketches 427

Close To My Heart products used for this card

• Stamp Set: You Make Me Happy
• White Cards and Envelopes Value Pack
• Paper Pack: These Are My People
• Cardstock: White Daisy, Green Apple
• Exclusive Inks: Intense Black, Green Apple
• ShinHan Markers: Earth Brown, Gold Brown, Lt. Green
• Thin Cut Dies: Stitched Circles, Scalloped Circle (retired)
• Gold Thread
• Thin 3D Foam Tape

Let's go shopping!

If you need a consultant I'd be happy to help.

If you'd like to BE a consultant I'd love to have you on my team!

I hope you enjoyed my blog. Be sure to sign up to follow me by blog, Facebook or Pinterest so you don't miss any great ideas. Click the tab at the top to link to these places.

Have a great and creative day!

Michelle

#showandtellwithmichelle #ctmh #cardmaking #freshlymadesketckes

Cabin Notecard

Sometimes you just need a notecard and this is what I made today. I used the sketch from Freshly Made Sketches to get started. Looking through my stamps I decided to use my 2nd favorite stamp set of all time, Spruced Up - Scrapbooking. What's the 1st all time favorite set you ask? Spruced Up - Cardmaking! Check them out here.

There is a paper pattern in the Spruced Up Suite that was perfect for the idea forming as I created. I turned the sketch on the side and envisioned sky at the top with this rolling trees paper below. Then I got to work with the cabin stamp and coordinating Thin Cut die. I gave some color with our TriBlend Blend markers, too. I also added 2 of the leafless trees. Before putting these stamped images on the card I got out my Texture Paste in Opaque Matte and got to work creating some snow. Once done I placed the cabin in the snow and used some Thin 3D Foam Tape behind the top portion so it was balanced. I tucked in the two trees and used our Clear Shimmer Brush to add some frosty sparkle to the trees and snow. You can see the shimmer in the close-up photo. The card base is from our Cards and Envelopes Value Pack.

Freshly Made Sketches

Let's go shopping! 

If you need a consultant I'd  be happy to help.

If you'd like to BE a consultant I'd love to have you on my team.

If you want to stay up to date with great ideas be sure to follow me by blog, Pinterest or my Facebook Business page.

Have a great day!

Michelle

#showandtellmymichelle #ctmh #cardmaking

Merry Christmas Tree Card

I need to stop making Christmas cards and get busy mailing them but it's just so much fun to make them! This card was inspired by the group at Freshly Made Sketches. It's a simple sketch leaving a lot of space for creating.

I used our Merry Christmas Tree stamp set that has two tree images that work together to create tones of green in the tree. I decorated the tree with one color of ornaments but I stamp rolled them two you do see a light and dark tone. I also painted the tree branches with a shimmer brush because well....it's the way to go at this time of year! The rest of the card came together easily due to the sketch.

This card is being shared at Double Trouble and ArtsyStamper. Be sure to check them out!

Close-up of ornaments and shimmer on the tree

Freshly Made Sketches

Merry Christmas Tree                                      Holiday Trimmings

Other Close To My Heart products used for this card

• White Cards and Envelopes Value Pack
• Paper Pack: Cedar and Pine
• Cardstock: White Daisy, Sangria
• Exclusive Inks: Evergreen, Sangria
• Embellishments: Gold Shimmer Trim, White and Gold Ribbon, Clear Shimmer Brush

Let's go shopping!

If you need a consultant I'd be happy to help.

If you'd like to BE a consultant I'd love to have you on my team.

Thanks for stopping by! Be sure to sign up for updates to my blog. I'm also on Facebook and Pinterest, too!

Michelle

#showandtellwithmichelle #christmascards #ctmh #cardmaking

Quick and Easy Card

Today I want to show you how to make a quick and easy Christmas card that still has a nice look to it. I started with inspiration from Freshly Made Sketches #413 for the design. After that it was easy to choose what I needed to make this card.

I rotated the sketch and used my Julep Shimmer Brush to make the tree. I just swirled a line down the cardstock and honestly, I didn't expect to nail it on the first try! I added ornaments using my Christmas Red Stickles and a star with Golden Rod Stickles. The sentiment was stamped in Candy Apple Red and the Clear Shimmer Brush used at the bottom for snow.

close-up of the shimmer

Other Close To My Heart products used on this card

• White Cards and Envelopes Value Pack
• Cardstock: White Daisy, Candy Apple Red
• Exclusive Inks: Candy Apple Red

Let's go shopping!

If you need a consultant I'd be happy to help.

If you'd like to BE a consultant I'd love to have you on my team!

Be sure to check out Freshly Made Sketches! Thanks for stopping by!

Michelle

#showandtellwithmichelle #ctmh #cardmaking 

Plaid Christmas Card

Here is a card I made for the Freshly Made Sketches #408. It's a very simple design and I had one piece left from another project I wanted to use that was perfect for this sketch! Don't you love it when it all comes together!

The plaid piece on my card was stamped with our Build a Plaid stamp set. I LOVE this set and have had a lot of fun with it.  I line up the edge of the block to the side of the cardstock and stamp across it. Then I do the same for the other direction. Fill in with other colors if you like. Here I did mostly black on red cardstock and used just one image in red to complete the plaid. The holly and berries were stamped then painted in shimmer brush for a bit of sparkle on the card.

Cedar & Pine Scrapbooking 

Build a Plaid

For the Tree

Other Close To My Heart products used for this card

• White Card and Envelopes Value Pack
• Cardstock: Black, Candy Apple, White Daisy 
• Exclusive Inks: Intense Black, Candy Apple, Evergreen
• Shimmer Brush: Red, Julep

Let's go shopping!

If you need a consultant I'd be happy to help.

If you'd like to BE a consultant I'd love to have you on my team!

Be sure to check out the sketch challenge at Freshly Made Sketches. Thanks for stopping by!

Michelle

#showandtellwithmichelle #ctmh #freshlymadesketches #carmaking

Freshly Made Sketches Challenge

Today I'm sharing my project inspired by a sketch from Freshly Made Sketches. The sketch is presented with cards in mind but I love showing how you can take the same idea and make it into a layout!

I love this photo of my granddaughter! Her personality shines through so I wanted to keep the rest of the layout clean and simple. Soft colors for the flowers taken from the colors in her clothing accent the photo just right. a few sparkles sprinkled about the layout are a nice touch, too. 

Close To My Heart products

• Stamp Set: Bunches of Love
• Cardstock: White Daisy, Black
• Exclusive Inks: Peach, Smoothie, Pebble, Charcoal
• Paper Pack: Boutique, Hello Pumpkin
• Embellishments: Mink Twine, Clear Sparkles, Bitty Sparkles

Let's go shopping!

If you need a consultant I'd be happy to help.

If you'd like to BE a consultant I can help with that, too.

Thanks for stopping by. Be sure to check out Freshly Made Sketches. They have a lot of great sketches to get you started with your projects!

Michelle

#showandtellwithmichelle #scrapbooking #ctmh

Boutique Card

Today I'm playing along with Freshly Made Sketches. Its a very nice sketch that lends itself to easy card making. I decided to use my Boutique paper pack since I haven't used it in a while. I love the colors in this pack! There is no stamping on this card because I made use of the Compliments that coordinate with the papers.  It was a quick card to make and I love how it turned out.

Close To My Heart products

• Boutique Paper Pack and Compliments
• White Cards and Envelopes Value Pack
• Cardstock: Sugar Plum
• Specialty Paper: Sugar Plum Glitter Paper
• Sugar Plum Glitter Gems

Let's go shopping!

If you need a consultant I'd be happy to help.

If you'd like to BE a consultant I can help with that, too.

Thanks for stopping by. Come back often.

Pssst....... Cyber Monday Sale starts at 1:00am CDT for 24 hrs.

Shop on my website for great deals!

Michelle

#showandtellwithmichelle #cardmaking #ctmh 

PML Birthday Card

This is a last minute card for Freshly Made Sketches. I love the sketch but just didn't get around to making a card until now.

Since I was crunched for time I went with the PML cards (Picture My Life). It makes it fast and easy to create whether you're short on time or have all day to create! There are two sizes of PML cards in the pack and all have designs on both sides....one vertical and the other horizontal. 

Close To My Heart products

• Picture My Life Cards: Birthday Cheer
• Stamp Sets: Birthday Sparkles, Splash of Color
• White Card and Envelopes Value Pack
• Thin Cuts: Ribbon Border
• Gold Glitter Paper
• Exclusive Inks: Glacier, Pacifica
• Gold Glitter Gems

Let's go shopping!

If you need a consultant I'd be happy to help.

If you'd like to BE a consultant I can help with that, too.

Thanks for stopping by!

Have a great day

Michelle

#showandtellwithmichelle #cardmaking #closetomyheart #FMS342

Challenge card

This card came about because of a new challenge blog and a nice card sketch. I love it when you can multi-task! The inaugural  Double Trouble Challenge is to use 2 or more pattern papers. I'm also using sketch 338 from Freshly Made Sketches. 

The colors from Beautiful Friendship are so pretty  and seemed a good choice for this challenge. I've used a total of 4 paper patterns on this card. Can you find them all? Three are from papers and one is a Zip Border. I also added some glitz with the flowers to sparkle them up.

Be sure to check out both blogs and join the fun!

Close To My Heart products

• Beautiful Friendship paper pack
• Stamp Set: Beautiful Friendship - Scrapbooking
• White Cards and Envelopes Value Pack
• Cardstock: White Daisy
• Exclusive Inks: Pixie, Sapphire, Juniper
• Embellishments: Clear Sparkles, Clear Shimmer Brush
• Tools: Thin 3D Foam Tape

Let's go shopping!

If you don't have a consultant I'd be happy to help.

If you'd like to BE a consultant I can help with that, too.

Thanks for stopping by!

Michelle

#showandtellwithmichelle #cardmaking #closetomyheart 

Freshly Made Sketches Card

Today I decided to give the sketch at Freshly Mades Sketches a try. It's a fun sketch and easy to come up with your own interpretation.

I pulled out my Make Waves papers because they are just SO pretty! The Make Waves Compliments came into play in place of stamping on the card front. The stripe border on the right is a piece of a Zip Border.

Inside of card

All products are Close To My Heart

• Stamp Set: Birthday Sparkles
• Paper: Make Waves
• Make Waves Compliments
• White Cards and Envelopes Value Pack
• Exclusive Inks: Pansy, Emerald

Let's to shopping!

If you need a consultant I'd be happy to help.

If you'd like to BE a consultant I can help with that, too.

Have a creative day!

Michelle

#closetomyheart #showandtellwithmichelle #cardmaking

February 2018 Stamp of the Month: Sunny Thoughts

Time sure flies! It seems 2018 just started and now we're already into the second month! That also means it's time for the February Stamp of the Month and it's a great one! If' you've come from Darlys Recker's blog you're on the right path. Since this is a blog hop you just keep clicking on the links in each post to go to the next blog. You're going to love all the ideas for this stamp set!

Sunny Thoughts is a stamp set you'll use over and over again. It has great sentiments and pretty accents in various sizes. Take a look below to see all the images. Because Sunny Thoughts is a Stamp of the Month that means it's only available February 1-28, 2018. That's it....just 28 days. You can buy it outright for $17.95 OR get it for only $5 with a qualifying purchase. Details are on my website.

For my card I used a previous sketch from Freshly Made Sketches. It's a simple design and easy to make. See the sketch below.

I decided to go with a monochromatic look. This is Sapphire and White Daisy. The medium circle is the lighter side of Sapphire.

All products are Close To My Heart:

• Stamp Set: Sunny Thoughts (only available Feb.1-28, 2018)
• White Cards and Envelopes Value Pack
• Cardstock: White Daisy, Sapphire
• Exclusive Inks: Sapphire
• Thin Cut Circles 
• Clear Sparkles

Let's go shopping!

If you need a consultant I'd be happy to help.

If you'd like to BE a consultant I can help with that, too.

Now it's time to hop over and see what Tammy Lubick has to inspire us. Enjoy the hop!

Have a great day!

Michelle

#closetomyheart #stampofthemonth #cardmaking