Chevrons and Circles and Hearts ..

Combined three blog challenges for this card with a trio of patterns: chevrons, circles, and hearts.  CAS(E) this Sketch (CTS96) provided the basis for the card along with colors from the Heart 2 Heart Challenges Color Challenge.  And the birthday theme fits for Seize the Birthday Anything Goes Birthday linky party.   

A simple birthday sentiment from the Belated Birthday stamp set was embossed in white on a base of Desert Sand cardstock.  Circles of Goldrush and Cranberry cardstock, along with chevron cork circles from the Pathfinding Assortment, Aqua Dots and Sparkles, create some detail along a strip of Lagoon Washi Tape.  

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

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

Birds in a Tree

Love this tree cut using the Artbooking Cricut cartridge, and used it to create a birthday card.  Color My Heart's Color Dare #84 inspired the Sky, Topiary, and Sweet Leaf cardstock with a simple sentiment from the Belated Birthday stamp set.  For the tree trunk, an embossed piece from Paper Fundmentals was used to add a bit of texture.  Naturally, a couple of birds from the Trinkets Wooden Shapes flocked to the tree.  

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

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

Chocolate Birthday Cake [CTMH Blog Boosters]

The new Spring/Summer 2014 Idea Book from Close to My Heart is now available.   In order to introduce some of the new products, a select group of Close To My Heart consultants will be sharing their creations in this CTMH Blog Boosters Blog Hop.  A thumbnail of each participant's creation is shown in the Linky list below.  Simply click on a thumbnail to go to their blog post with detailed information. 

And we all LOVE to read comments about our work, please 'give us some love' by leaving a quick comment telling the artist your favorite part of their project.

The fun striped paper on the background is from the new Paper Fundamentals Basics Assortment.  These double-sided sheets have the same design on both sides, one side with glossy resist pattern.  The card sketch is 'City Scape' from the Wishes Card Confidence Program.  Several images from the Belated Birthday stamp set are used, with the cake stamped three times so that two different colored layers could be cut and placed on the base image for a colorful frosted cake.  A strip of Washi Tape adhered to White Daisy cardstock and then placed on the card provides a pop of texture and color.  

Be sure to visit all the blogs to get some great crafting inspiration and other fun ideas! 

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

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

Creative University ~ Roomie Gift

Fortunate to be enjoying my seventh year attending Creative University, which is hosted by the Fabulously Artsy Tresa Black.  Since our sleeping quarters are cabins, we have roommates and it is traditional to give each one a little "roomie gift."  

Instead of the usual lotions, chocolate, and candy, this year my four roomies received a kit so they can create 18 birthday cards. It is always nice to have some handmade cards available to send to friends and family.

Using 12" strips (cut in various widths) from both the Buzz & Bumble and Huntington paper kits, adhere them to a 12"x12" piece of paper.  Allow the adhesive to dry, and then cut 2" wide strips which you then cut into thirds, so the result is 18 pieces of unique patterned paper, each 2"x4".  This is a great way to use scraps from different paper packs.  The colors I chose are very gender-neutral and great for birthday cards.  Use this technique to create a stack of Holiday cards or party invitations, using any color combo.  

To complete each of my cards, a sentiment from the Belated Birthday stamp set was used.  The cupcakes were cut using the Artiste Cricut cartridge.  To add a bit of dimension to the 'frosting,' it was embossed using the d'vine Swirl folder.      

This wonderful idea was one of the lessons in the Create & Share Cardmaking class offered at Big Picture Classes.  

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

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

Shimmer, Sparkle, and Shine ~ Stampers With An Attitude (Blog Hop)

This month, the "Stampers With An Attitude" blog hop participants are going to Shimmer, Sparkle, and Shine!        

If you have come here from Pamela's 'Reflections of My Art & Soul' blog, you are on the right path!  Blog Hopping is simple to do - just click on the link at the end of the post on each blog to move to the next one!

If you miss someone's birthday, adding some "Shimmer, Sparkle, and Shine" to a belated card should make up for the oversight.  A fun animal print from the Laughing Lola kit is used as a background for a sentiment from the Belated Birthday stamp set.  A piece of Black Glitter Paper is used to mat the sentiment and new Purple Shimmer Trim  adds a pop of color.  For even more shine, a Black Sparkles Flourish was added along with purple sparkles on the sentiment tag.   

The inside is finished with a strip from Laughing Lola and a sincere sentiment from the Belated Birthday set. 

Now "Hop" on over to 'Barbi's Paper Creations' to see how she "simmers, sparkles, and shines." 

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

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

Feathers (New Product Blog Hop)

Welcome to our New Product Blog Hop, brought to you by the same ladies who participate in the monthly Stamp-of-the-Month Blog Hop.  To show how versatile they are, this card uses the same two stamp sets which are used in my "A Feather Wish" blog post.  The different colors and papers create completely different looks. 

If you arrived here from Wendy's 'My Scrapbooking Blog,' you are hopping through our circle of more than 20 Close To My Heart consultants sharing their projects using new papers, stamps, and other produced just introduced in the CTMH Spring/Summer Idea Book. 

Soft colors in the Balloon Ride papers create a soothing look.  Two of the images in the Feathers stamp set were each inked with Crystal Blue and then 'rolled' in Saddle ink for some dimension.  A masking technique was used to create the illusion that one feather is behind the other.   

A two-part sentiment in the Belated Birthday stamp set is used on the front of the card and completed on the inside. 

Please visit the 'HeatherJaneDesign' blog to continue along our Blog Hop featuring new products in the Spring/Summer Idea Book. 

List of participants

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

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