Jeanette's Good Enough to Eat Colors

Finally! My shoulder has healed enough that I can slowly return to crafting and blogging! It's Monday and when I stopped by Jeanette Lynton's blog she posted a yummy color combination and a tip for stamping on chocolate! Today's colors are Chocolate, Hollyhock, Blush, and Parchment. (Instead of Parchment I used White Daisy.)

I need to start making Valentines so made a card I'll most likely give to my parents! The card design comes from the 2009 - 2010 Stampin Up catalog. I really like the highlighting behind the crocheted flower. It’s easy to do by sponging ink on the paper beneath it.

Close To My Heart products used: More to Adore Level 2 Paper Packet, More to Adore Stickease, Mini-Medley Accents White Daisy (flower), Brads Basic Assortment, One of A Kind Stamp Set, Hollyhock Ink, Chocolate Ink, Piercing Tool, Foam Tool

You're sweet!

Well it's Monday (sigh). I had a great weekend. On Saturday was my team meeting of Close To My Heart consultants and Sunday was an exciting quarter auction. Then whenever I found a spare moment I read the Fred the Mermaid trilogy. It was lightweight reading and fun. The dialogue MaryJane Davidson writes is smart and funny. I do like the Betsy the Vampire books better though!


Here is the project I made at my team meeting.

It's a cute little holder for one Hershey nugget. The idea comes right from Close To My Heart's Spring 2010 Idea Book and Catalog on page 36. This project features the new paper packet Topstitch and an old wood stamp set that I think was called Sweet Talk. This was the first chance I had to use the new paper, but I got my shipment of new things today and can't wait to play! Unfortunately I'm suffering from an occurrence of bursitis in my shoulder. So hopefully with a couple of days of rest I'll be back to 100%.

Weekend Reading

I created this blog to share my passion for papercrafting and other things. Today instead of papercrafting I'm going to share one of those other things: reading! Over the holidays I was introduced to MaryJanice Davidson's Undead series and loved it. Her sense of humor and writing style appeals to me. Now I want to read everything she's published! She has a series about Fred the Mermaid. Today I picked up the first book at the library. So it's Friday night, and I'm eager to spend some time relaxing with a good book!

Mojo Monday Sketch 120

In my exploration of blogs I see a lot of people participate in Mojo Monday's Sketch challenges and contests. In effort to do more crafting in 2010 I decided to give it a try! Here is the sketch.

This is my card using the sketch.

The first thing I decided to do was use scraps from a card I made earlier in the week. There's no doubt I love Close To My Heart paper and products, or I wouldn't be a consultant. However, I also have a weakness for the Basic Grey line! The pattern paper works great with the Close To My Heart cardstock colors.


Close To My Heart products used: Indian Corn Blue cardstock, Lilac Mist cardstock, Gracious Greetings stamp set, Pansy Purple ink

Other product: Pattern Paper (Basic Grey Wisteria Collection), Purple Cardstock (Bazzill's Coordinating Collection with Wisteria), Ribbon (unknown), Dewdrops Silver Bells (The Robin's Nest), Cuttlebug: Argyle embossing folder, Scallop Punch (Martha Stewart)

Hey There Cupcake!

Close To My Heart's Memory Keeper Boxes are so useful. This project is "cupcakes in a box". The recipient will have everything they need to make a batch of cupcakes. Here are the basic supplies:

Next decide on a Level 2 Paper Packet. For my box I choose Animal Cookies. Then of course, I had to use the stamp set Cupcake Sprinkles! I was a little disappointed that the can of icing I picked up at the store is too tall for the box! If I make another "cupcakes in a box" I'll have to try something different. Here is my finished project:

Dry Erase Board

Every month I get together with my Close To My Heart upline and other consultants on the team. Last month was our Christmas party and today I want to share the awesome gift I got in our gift exchange. It was made by the talented Stacy Stokes. It's a dry erase board!

The concept is fairly simple. Dry erase markers work on glass so just purchase a frame. This frame accommodates a 12 x 12 layout, but you could purchase any size and cut the paper to fit. Stacy included 6 layouts with her gift so if I want to I could change them seasonally. I love this one best made with the Notebook Level 2 Paper Pack. It's perfect for jotting down the things you would put on a dry erase board. For the other layouts Stacy followed the Pattern Main Frame - Quilt Blocks from Close To My Heart's book Reflections (page 62!) Here are the rest...

Jeanette's Embracing January Colors

Jeanette Lynton, the CEO and founder of Close To My Heart features a color combination on her blog every Monday. Today's colors are Indian Corn Blue, Lilac Mist, Sweet Leaf, and Vanilla Cream.

I need a birthday card for a friend (who is also my boss!) this week. So I decided to put this color combination to work with the book Wishes and make a beautiful card. The card pattern from Wishes is Medallion.

Close To My Heart products used: Vanilla Cream cardstock, Indian Corn Blue cardstock, Lilac Mist cardstock, Gracious Greetings stamp set, Elegant Floral stamp set (retired), Indian Corn Blue ink, Lilac Mist ink, Sweet Leaf ink

Other product: May Arts ribbon, dewdrops, Cuttlebug: Swiss Dots embossing folder

Birdhouse

On Christmas day I looked out at our birdfeeder and saw activity. I quickly grab my camera to shoot what we thought was a flicker, but after some research I found out this is a Red Bellied Woodpecker. There's something peaceful about watching the birds in our backyard! We always make sure there is a birdfeeder hanging in the tree. In the summertime it's filled with juice to attract hummingbirds.


Last year I went on a retreat in February where my upline challenged us to use the My Creations Cube for a project. I had the Hello Birdie Card Kit with me and immediately went to work to create a "birdhouse". It's almost a year later and I finally finished it. Now I can enjoy bird watching without scaring them away!

Close To My Heart products used: My Creations Cube, Emporium Level 2 Paper Packet, Hello Birdie Card Kit, Waxy Flax


Other product: Cardboard

Winter Wreath

Happy New Year Everyone! Yesterday I was at my local Walmart picking up New Year's Eve snacks, and I walked through the craft aisles, of course. It wasn't on my shopping list but I found a pine branch punch that I've been wanting for a few weeks. It made a perfect accent to this winter wreath I made. The wreath is going to be a door prize at a Quarter Auction later this month.

Close To My Heart products used: Jingle Level 2 Paper Packet, Flurry Dimensional Elements, Sparkles, Juniper Ink, Ribbon from Animal Cookies Creative Basics

Other product: Stickles (glitter glue), Martha Stewart punch
 
Here are the details of the auction if you are in the area!