Time Marches On ...

The start of a new year always reminds us that "time marches on" no matter what.  This week on The Friday Mashup (FM141) is a "time" theme along with a card sketch. On the Color My Heart blog, Color Dare #75 specifies three shades of blue:  Pacifica, Sky and Lagoon.

Combining these two challenges, I created a fun birthday card using a clock cut using the Artiste Cricut cartridge to represent "time."  The witty sentiment is found in the Just A Number stamp set.  A bit of Lagoon houndstooth Washi Tape adds a bit of contrast along with some Aqua Dots embellishments.  

Adding a strip of the houndstooth Washi Tape inside the card gives the card a finished look.

UPDATE:  This card was chosen as the Diamond winner for Color Dare #75! 

All papers and stamps are from Close To My Heart (CTMH).

	Sheila Bennett Close To My Heart Independent Consultant (913) 485-4355

Card Café from Creative University

For the fifth straight year, I have enjoyed a snowy February weekend at Creative University in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho.  It is a fun-filled four days of creating and enjoying time with fellow crafters.  


This year, Tresa Black asked me to design and teach the Card Café.  At the Card Café, there were stations set up for each card where CU students could work at their own pace to learn some new ideas while creating four birthday cards using a variety of papers, stamps, and card designs.  All four cards use the new CTMH Just A Number stamp set, along with other stamps and embellishments.  Coordinating envelopes complete each card.

Based on comments from fellow CU students, the favorite card was definitely this fun one using papers from Footloose and the cute Under the Sea stamps.  There are actually two flaps on the front of the card - the piece with the whale opens and then the Creme Brûlée piece also opens from the opposite direction.  There is a birthday greeting under the Creme Brûlée flap.  A Bitty Sparkle is added for the eye of the whale and some Glitz Glitter Gel to add sparkle to the water bubbles. 

For more of an elegant look, papers from the retired Bliss kit were used along with Taffy card stock for a bit of color.  The hearts were cut on the Cricut using the Art Philosophy cartridge and then run through the Cuttlebug with the D'vine Swirls embossing folder for some texture. Using a sponge dauber, Grey Flannel ink was added to the edges of all of the papers and to the embossed swirls to make them more prominent.  As a finishing touch, Bitty Opaques were added to the tips of the swirls on the hearts. 

Patterned paper with stripes and with stars from the Superhero paper packet are just right to create this fun card.  The pinwheel is made using 1"x1" squares that have been cut in half diagonally and then a corner rounder used on one corner.  Simply adhere the triangles to a piece of card stock, and add a button in the center.  

The beautiful striped paper from the Florentine kit is accented with a flower cut on the Cricut using the Art Philosophy cartridge and stamped using the Just For You stamp set.  Even if your stamped images do not line up perfectly, adding a Designer Brad to the center of the flower does a good job of disguising it.  




   

Just A Number – Birthday Card workshop

Do you need to replenish your stock of birthday cards?  If so, this workshop is for you.  You will create four cards each of three different designs.  The cost of the workshop is only $10, and you will have a stack of twelve birthday cards to give to someone special.  All of the cards for this workshop use sentiments from the Just A Number stamp set,  which will be available from Close To My Heart beginning February 1.

A “fashion forward” gal from the Fashionista stamp set is used along with papers from the Stella kit.  A notched image cut using the Art Philosophy cartridge is perfectly sized for a sentiment from the February stamp-of-the-month, Thoughtful Tidings.  Inside of the card is complete with a ‘happy birthday’ sentiment and a row of shops stamped along the bottom.     

For a more masculine look, an argyle print from the Cruisin paper is used with a sentiment from Just A Number and frame from 10 Things.  A piece of Juniper cardstock was embossed using the Cuttlebug Argyle folder to coordinate with the printed paper.   

Actually very little stamping on this card.  The bird and the frame are cut using the Art Philosophy cartridge.  Some Bitty Opaques and a Bitty Sparkle are added for a finishing touch.  The flourish is from The Present stamp set and this card also uses a sentiment from Just A Number.  Thanks to CTMH consultant Christine David for the inspiration for this card.      

February’s “Just A Number” Birthday Card workshop will be offered on two weekends - February 3 & 4 and also February 10 & 11.  The Friday evening classes will start at 7 pm, and there will be two sessions on each Saturday.  One starting at 9 in the morning and the second one at 1 in the afternoon.  You will create four of each of the three projects (total 12 cards and envelopes) for a workshop fee of $10.  Allow approximately two hours to complete your projects.  Please be sure to bring your favorite adhesive.  All other supplies are provided with the workshop fee.  All stamps and papers used are from Close To My Heart (CTMH).

Everyone who attends will also receive a FREE copy of the brand-new Close To My Heart Spring/Summer Idea Book.  As an added bonus, if you place a $50+ order, your workshop fee is waived. 

Please let me know if you would like to attend one of the Birthday Card workshops.  Feel free to leave me a comment on this blog, send an email to sheilabennett@comcast.net, or call 913-485-4355.