New Card Design: 'Congratulations on your achievement' featuring Grateful Heart Cardmaking stamp set

New Card Design: 'Congratulations on your achievement' featuring Grateful Heart Cardmaking stamp set

This month, Close To My Heart released the brand new 2018 Holiday Expressions catalog. You can view the entire catalog online here. Also, if you place an order of any size, Close To My Heart will send you a catalog for free. Just look for the spot to add it to your order. I love using the photos in the catalog to inspire my own creations. 

Today's design features our Grateful Heart - Cardmaking stamp set, the stamp set from Artfully Sent Cricut Collection and our Boutique Paper Packet. Here's a look at these three items:

Grateful Heart - Cardmaking stamp set

Cricut Collection: Artfully Sent

Boutique Paper Pack

My design:

For this design, I started with the gorgeous butterfly stamp. I inked it up in Archival Black, colored it with watercolor pencils, used a waterbrush to blend the colors, embellished with my clear Shimmer Brush and then heat embossed it with clear embossing powder and Versamark. I inked the flowers along the bottom in Nectarine and the leaves on the side in Glacier. I added a fussy-cut strip of the patterned paper so two lines of text would show above and below the black/gold ribbon which I attached using mini staples. The final touches were one black enamel gem on the butterfly's head and three gold glitter gems. For details on specific products used, scroll past my signature line.

I am also submitting this card to the following design challenges:

1. Double Trouble Challenge #10 calls for three colors and a stamped image. 
2. The Double Trouble #10 optional challenge calls to enter the design into the Brown Sugar Challenge #282: "All Creatures Great and Small"
3. One of this month's Heart2Heart Challenges calls for ribbon so this card will fit right in.

Well, that's what I have for today. I hope you enjoyed reading about my design process. Stay creative and continue to share kindness along the way,
Kimberly

Close To My Heart products:

• Stamp sets: D1629 Stamp Set in Cricut Collection: Artfully Sent (sentiment), Grateful Heart - Cardmaking (butterfly, leaves), Documented - Cardmaking (in 'Going Soon' section of website: row of flowers)
• Exclusive My Acrylix Inks: Nectarine, Glacier and Archival Black
• Embossing: Versamark Ink and Ranger Clear Super Fine Embossing Powder
• Paper Pack: Boutique
• Embellishments: Gold Glitter Gems, and Black and Gold Ribbon

Other Close To My Heart supplies used:

• Bone Folder (to fold card, and press foam tape down)
• Bonding Memories Dual Action Glue Pen
• Duck Easy Stick permanent adhesive tape runner
• Thin 3-D Foam Dots
• Micro-tip Scissors
• My Acrylix Spritz Cleanser and Stamp Scrubber (care and maintenance of stamps)
• Tweezers (to place small pieces/embellishments on card)
• Mini Stapler (to attach ribbon on card)
• White Cards and Envelopes Value Pack 

Want to make this? Let's go shopping! Want help with assembly? Let's do a Facebook Live! Just let me know.

If you are not already working with a consultant, I'd be honored to earn your business. If you'd like to enjoy the added privileges of being a consultant, I can show you how. Check out the labeled tabs for more details. You can also contact me via comment or email.

Free Handmade Card Offer (August) of New 'Encouragement' Card designed by Kimberly Bower

New 'Encouragement' Card
Design by Kimberly Bower

New Card Design for Challenges:

Color Dare #303,
Heart2Heart Challenge: Duly Noted, 

Double Trouble #6,
Calling All Sistahs #15,
and Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge #275

This post shares a new card I designed for five challenges. First, the Color Dare Challenge #303 calls for the use of Central Park colors. Bingo! I was able to use all colors except for the black. Aren't they pretty together? 

Next, the first Heart2Heart Challenge for August has a theme of Duly Noted. I believe that we should always be encouraging of one another and sharing a card with a friend can be just the thing to let them know that you see them and that you care. Being present and noting things happening in the lives of others is important. Wouldn't you agree?

Third, Calling All Sistahs Challenge #15 provides this photo for color and/or photo inspiration. I was inspired by the both the colors and the round shape of the balls in my design.

Fourth, Double Trouble issues the "Something Anything Everything" Challenge. By the way, I don't think it was coincidence that the wandering dog had "trouble" on his name tag, do you? Thing 2 suggests a link back to a Heart2Heart, Color Dare, Three Amigos and/or Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge. I linked this project all four! Done, done, done and done!

Finally, Atlantic Heart Sketch Challenge #275 provides the following sketch for inspiration:

Special offer for August: Do you know someone who needs this card? Here's my private August offer: Place a $25 order (before shipping/handling) on my website during the month of August and I will mail this card to you complete with a stamped envelope for you to forward to the friend you wish to encourage. Questions? Just ask!

Here are the Close To My Heart products I used to create this card:

• Central Park Paper Packet (Mink: map print card overlay, Bashful: house (fussy-cut)
• Be You ('Be Bold, Be Brave, Be You' sentiment)
• Doily Wishes (B1593: Hostess Rewards Stamp Set)
• Bone Folder (to fold card, and press foam tape down)
• Bonding Memories Dual Action Glue Pen
• Micro-tip Scissors
• Acrylix Exclusive Stamp Pads in Poppy and Pacifica
• My Acrylix Spritz Cleanser and Stamp Scrubber (care and maintenance of stamps)

Want to make this card? Let's go shopping! Want help with assembly? Let's do a Facebook Live! Just let me know.

If you are not already working with a consultant, I'd be happy to help. If you'd like to enjoy the added privileges of being a consultant, I can show you how. Check out the labeled tabs for more details. You can also contact me via comment or email.

Be sure to check out the challenges at Color Dare, Heart2Heart, Double Trouble, Calling All Sistahs, and Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge.

Stay creative and continue to share kindness along the way.
Kimberly

New Card Design for Color Dare #302, H2H Duly Noted, Double Trouble Challenges

New 'Congratulations On Your
New Home' Card Design by
Kimberly Bower (@gladeslibrarian)

 New Card Design for Challenges:

Color Dare #302,
Heart2Heart Challenge: Duly Noted, 

and Double Trouble #6

This post shares a new card I designed for three challenges. First, the Color Dare Challenge #302 calls for the use of Glacier, Mink and Bashful. Aren't they pretty together? Next, the first Heart2Heart Challenge for August has a theme of Duly Noted. I believe that life transitions can be celebrated with keepsakes like a special card celebrating a new home. Wouldn't you agree?

Third, Double Trouble issues the "Something Anything Everything" Challenge. By the way, I don't think it was coincidence that the wandering dog had "trouble" on his name tag, do you? Thing 2 suggests a link back to a Heart2Heart or Color Dare Challenge. I linked this project to both! Thing 3's optional addition suggests decorating the inside of the card. To meet this part of the challenge, I used the cactus and scalloped border from a set of CTMH Prickly Pear Complements to frame the inside of the card. Done, done and done!

Here are some additional photos showing the full frontal view of the card and the card's interior. I made sure to leave room for the sender to document their excitement on the news of a friend's new home.

Full frontal view of card
design shown on CTMH mat

There's a little bit of
#ThrowbackThursday
in this photo showing
Prickly Pear Compliments
on the interior of the card.

Here are the products I used to create this card:

Close To My Heart cardstock colors used:

• Central Park Paper Packet (Mink: map print card overlay, Bashful: house (fussy-cut)
• Central Park Coordinating Cardstock (Mink: tags on card and frame behind house, Glacier: card overlay and tag frame, White Daisy: card base)

Other Close To My Heart supplies used:

• I Made This stamp set (Congratulations sentiment)
• Coordinating Thin Cuts - Basic Tags (retired)
• Many Congratulations stamp set ('on your' and 'new home' sentiments)
• June SOTM: Classic Summer Bash (dotted lines on top of card) Suggested alternate: Marvy® Uchida® LePen™ Journaling Pen
• Documented Dots (Bashful dots on tags, door, and cactus flower)
• Prickly Pear Complements (Cactus on front and inside of card, border on top edge inside card. This item is on Clearance for $1.75 at time of posting)
• Thin 3-D Foam Tape (behind the sentiments on card front)
• Bone Folder (to fold card, and press foam tape down)
• Bonding Memories Dual Action Glue Pen
• Micro-tip Scissors
• Acrylix Exclusive Stamp Pads in Charcoal
• My Acrylix Spritz Cleanser and Stamp Scrubber (care and maintenance of stamps)
• Tweezers (to place embellishments on card)

Want to make this card? Let's go shopping! Want help with assembly? Let's do a Facebook Live! Just let me know.

If you are not already working with a consultant, I'd be happy to help. If you'd like to enjoy the added privileges of being a consultant, I can show you how. Check out the labeled tabs for more details. You can also contact me via comment or email.

Be sure to check out the challenges at Color Dare, Heart2Heart and Double Trouble.

Stay creative and continue to share kindness along the way.
Kimberly

'Thank You' Card for CTMH Fresh Air Fun Challenge Entry and Collage Photo from July Workshop

Thank You Card using Fresh Air
papers and embellishments

'Thank You' Card for CTMH Fresh Air Fun Challenge Entry

and Collage Photo from July Workshop

First, this post shares a Thank You card for Heart2Heart's Fresh Air Fun Challenge. The succulent is the only item that is not CTMH as it was a Cricut 'print and cut' design. I think it goes well with these colors, don't you? This is an A2 card. The papers I used on the card base from top down are 4" x 1.25" (treetops); 4" x 1.5" (light wood grain with arrow); and 4" x 2.5" (horizontal logs).

I have been having so much fun with the Fresh Air papers and embellishments. This card is made from bits and pieces left over from my scrapbook and card-making workshop earlier in the month. I love that you don't have to waste any part of your Workshop Your Way kits. You can just keep creating beautiful things until they are all used up.

Second, here is a collage of some of the scrapbook pages and cards made during the workshop:

Here are the products I used to create this card:

Close To My Heart cardstock colors used:

• Fresh Air Paper Packet (card background layer)
• White Daisy (card base)

Other Close To My Heart supplies used:

• Bone Folder (to fold card, and press foam tape down)
• Bonding Memories Dual Action Glue Pen
• Micro-tip Scissors
• Fresh Air Stamp + Thin Cuts - Cardmaking (sentiment)
• Acrylix Exclusive Stamp Pad in New England Ivy (sentiment)
• New England Ivy Burlap (embellishment)
• My Acrylix Spritz Cleanser and Stamp Scrubber (care and maintenance of stamps)
• Tweezers (to place small pieces/embellishments on card)

Also used:

• Cricut Paper Trimmer
• Cricut 'print and cut' design (Magenta Succulent)

Want to make this card? Let's go shopping! We can even make it together on a Facebook Live, if you'd like. Just let me know.

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

If you'd like to enjoy the added privileges of being a consultant, I can show you how. Check out the labeled tabs for more details. You can also contact me via comment or email.

Be sure to check out this and other challenges at Heart2Heart. I'm still new to participating in design challenges and I know I've gotten a lot of great ideas from checking out the other entries and also the past challenges.

Stay creative and continue to share kindness along the way,

Kimberly

Christmas in July Card for Heart2Heart, Double Trouble and SAS4Kids Challenges

Christmas in July Card

Christmas in July Card Challenges:
Heart2Heart: Christmas in July 

Plus Double Trouble Challenge #6

Plus SAS4Kids: Christmas in July

This post shares a three-for-one challenge entry. First, the Heart 2 Heart Challenge: Christmas in July calls for the use of any crafty Christmas supplies and also challenges us to pair up this entry with an entry at Double Trouble's blog. Challenge met!

Second, Double Trouble issues the "Something Anything Everything" Challenge. By the way, I don't think it was coincidence that the wandering dog had "trouble" on his name tag, do you? Thing 2 suggests a link back to a Heart 2 Heart Challenge. Thing 3's optional addition suggests decorating the inside of the card beyond just the sentiment. To meet this part of the challenge, I used my Cricut Cuttlebug and cut the word 'wonderful' out of a piece of Central Park paper that matches the background paper on the card front. Done, done and done!

Sentiment inside card says 

'Have a wonderful Christmas' 

with the word 'wonderful' 

cut out of CTMH Central Park 

paper using Cuttlebug

Third, Send A Smile 4 Kids Blog is also having a Christmas in July Challenge. I wanted to make a Christmas card that a preteen girl would like so I used my CTMH Rain or Shine Doll Stamp + Thin Cuts to make a girl dressed for a holiday party. The sentiment stamped in the color Glacier on the front of the card says 'All that glitters is snow!" so I wanted to add some glittery elements that would be fun for a young girl. Here's another photo of the outside of the card at another angle so you can possibly see the glittery embellishments in her hair, on her buttons, and representing snow with a blue 'snowflake' flower and silver gem wisps representing the snow's path into her hand.

Here are the products I used to create this card:

Close To My Heart cardstock colors used:

• Central Park Paper Packet (card background layer)
• White Daisy (card base)

Other Close To My Heart supplies used:

• Rain or Shine Paper Doll Stamp + Thin Cuts (doll, dress)
• Gold Glitter Gems (buttons) 
• 3-D Foam Tape (behind the sentiment on card front)
• Bone Folder (to fold card, and press foam tape down)
• Bonding Memories Dual Action Glue Pen
• Micro-tip Scissors
• Acrylix Exclusive Stamp Pads in Charcoal (doll), Glacier (sentiments), New England Ivy (dress)
• Clear Shimmer Brush (in hair)
• Corner Trimmer
• My Acrylix Spritz Cleanser and Stamp Scrubber (care and maintenance of stamps)
• Tweezers (to place 'wonderful' over stamped sentiment)

Also used:

• Watercolor pencils (hair, skin, shoes)
• Recollections Bling Stickers
• Fiskars Many Thanks Stamp Set (sentiment on card front)
• Hero Arts Stamp & Cut Set (sentiment on inside of card)
• Cricut Paper Trimmer

Want to make this card? Let's go shopping! We can even make it together on a Facebook Live, if you'd like. Just let me know.

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

If you'd like to enjoy the added privileges of being a consultant, I can show you how. Check out the labeled tabs for more details. You can also contact me via comment or email.

Be sure to check out the challenges at Heart2Heart, Double Trouble and SAS4Kids. You might enjoy checking out the other entries as well. I'm still new to participating in design challenges and I know I've gotten a lot of great ideas from checking out the past challenges.

Stay creative and continue to share kindness along the way,

Kimberly

'Relax and Enjoy Your Day' Card for Design Challenges With Video of Starfish on Naples Beach, FL

Relax and Enjoy Your Day
Card Design

Today's post is an entry to the 'Unwind & Relax' CTMH Challenge at Heart 2 Heart Challenges and 'Machine Die Cutting' Challenge at Three Amigos Blog Hop Challenges. Here is the Heart 2 Heart challenge:

To answer these design challenges, I used all CTMH products with the exception of the one blue watercolor-effect paper and the bronze glitter. I used the Scallop Border Thin Cuts for the edge along shoreline, Fresh Air Stamp and Thin Cuts for the sentiment, and No Worries Stamp and Thin Cuts for the umbrella, chair, sand detailing and starfish. Then I used the gold shimmer brush to add highlights on the sand, and the bronze glitter to make the starfish really sparkle. 

Close To My Heart products used:

• Thin Cuts: Scallop Border
• Stamp + Thin Cuts: Fresh Air Cardmaking
• Stamp + Thin Cuts: No Worries Cardmaking (retired)
• Cardstock: White Daisy, Fresh Air Coordinating Paper Pack (Toffee)
• White Cards and Envelopes Value Pack
• Tools: 3-D Foam Tape, Bone Folder, Adhesive Runner, Bonding Memories Dual Action Glue Pen, Micro-Tip Scissors, Tweezers, Liquid Glass, and Shimmer Brush - Gold

Other products used:

• ColorBok 75386 Spray Paint Cardstock Paper Pad 12" x 12"
• Recollections Glitter Set (Bronze), on hand

Want to make these cards? Let's go shopping!

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

If you'd like to enjoy the added privileges of being a consultant, I can show you how. Check out the labeled tabs for more details. You can also contact me via comment or email.

Be sure to check out the challenges at Heart 2 Heart and Three Amigos. You might enjoy checking out the other entries as well. This is my first month participating and I know I've gotten a lot of great ideas from checking out the past challenges.

Three Amigos Blog Hop Challenges

Heart 2 Heart Challenges

Stay creative and continue to share kindness along the way,
Kimberly

P.S.: Today's the last day to pick up (1) June Stamp of the Month, (2) Dad is Rad Workshop Kit, and (3) 25% discount on Create The Rainbow cardstock. Want to check them out? Click the pictures for a direct link to each item:

June Stamp of the Month: 
A Bushel and A Peck

Create the Rainbow

Dad is Rad

Here's a short video of a starfish on the beach in Naples, Florida. The music is relaxing too. Enjoy!

'Let's Be Copycats' Card Challenge

'Let's Be Copycats' CTMH Card Challenge,
June 2018

Today's post is an entry to the 'Let's Be Copycats' CTMH Challenge at Heart 2 Heart Challenges. Here is the challenge:

To answer this call, I went to Page 27 of Close To My Heart's Seasonal Expressions 2 Idea Book. There I found a card using Fresh Air papers and the Fresh Air Cardmaking Stamp. It's the first picture on the left. I've posted that photo alongside my entry for your ease of viewing.

Fresh Air Card from SE2 next to my
June SOTM Copycat entry

I used the same size papers, but switched it up and used the Postcard Perfect paper and the June Stamp of the Month girl and sentiment. I stamped the girl using Archival Black so the color would be set when I went over the colored pencils with the waterbrush. I also used some alcohol markers I had on hand for the deeper coloring. I didn't care for the amount of white card showing in the background and felt it draw my eye away from the central focus of the girl, so I used one of the flower stamps from Postcard Perfect that matched the paper to stamp the background using Charcoal ink. For the embellishment, I used bronze sequins.

Close To My Heart products:
Stamp set: Postcard Perfect (retired)
Stamp set: June SOTM - A Bushel and A Peck
Exclusive Inks Stamp Pad: Charcoal, Archival Black
Cardstock: White Daisy, Charcoal, Postcard Perfect Paper Pack
Embellishments: Bronze Sequins
White Cards and Envelopes Value Pack
Tools: Waterbrush

Want to make this card? Let's go shopping!

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

If you'd like to enjoy the added privileges of being a consultant, I can show you how. Check out the labeled tabs for more details. You can also contact me via comment or email.

Be sure to check out the challenge at Heart 2 Heart. You might enjoy checking out the other entries as well. This is my first time participating and I know I've gotten a lot of great ideas from checking out the past challenges.

Stay creative and continue to share kindness along the way,
Kimberly

June Stamp of the Month:
A Bushel and A Peck