Monday, June 24, 2013

Atlantic Hearts Sketch #9: Hooray for you!

As you read this, I've left for Close To My Heart's Annual Convention.  This year it's in Disney World!  While you drool over all the artwork that the design team has created, I'll be riding coasters, meeting Mickey, and learning about all the brand new products in the Autumn/Winter 2013 Idea Book!  Don't worry, I'll be sure to give you some sneak peeks as soon as I can.

Now, on to the Atlantic Hearts Sketch.  Boy, this was a hard one!  Here it is:


I looked and looked at this sketch and all I could see were those blocks.  It's a great grid and I kept thinking of bricks.  Unfortunately, I don't have a good brick stamp image, at least not a big one.  Then I thought it would be perfect for a gradient or rainbow of colour.  So I dug into my scraps and played with different blocks and came up with this:


I started on the bottom right, with the darkest green and worked my way up and to the right from there.  One of my colours is Sunflower, now retired.  Turned out my card base was 1/4" too big, so instead of cutting more blocks of paper, I just trimmed it off, so it's 4 1/4 by 5 1/4 now!  There's no mistakes, just creative solutions, right?  :)  I found it helpful to use removeable adhesive to put the pieces down as I was working.  Then I went back and sponged them.  Once they were all attached for good, I stamped my sentiment.  I took another look at it and thought, those would make cute lego blocks!  But, I didn't have the right size hole punch and the pieces aren't all even, so they wouldn't have all matched up nicely according to the number of circles needed.  It would have looked like I had different sizes of lego pieces, like the ones for big kids right along with the ones from little guys. I decided to let that idea go by the wayside.  But ... if I were doing this card again, I would definitely make them lego blocks!  Instead, I added some bling.  ;)  
Here's my supply list:

   
     
   
   
I gave this card to my little guy, who graduated from Senior Kindergarden on the 14th.  I can't believe he's old enough for Grade One in September!

Okay, back on task.  Pop on over to Atlantic Hearts and create a project with this sketch.  Remember, it doesn't have to be a card.  It can be a layout or even a home decor item.  And you have lots of time still, just link up before Sunday at midnight.

Happy Creating!


Thursday, June 20, 2013

The Retiring List is Out!


Another sign that a brand new catalogue is around the corner is here!  The list of items that will no longer be available in that new catalogue is now listed on my blog.  These items are "while supplies last", so when they're gone, they're gone ... and some of them go ... really quick.  If I get enough orders before Friday at 8pm, I'll put the order through before I leave for convention on Monday.


I can't wait to share some new product sneak peeks with you in the coming few weeks.  I'm sure Close To My Heart will knock your socks off, yet again.  :)

Monday, June 17, 2013

Atlantic Hearts Sketch #8: I'm Your Biggest Fan

It's time for another Atlantic Hearts Sketch!  This sketch is so fun.  I know, I say that a lot.  :)  Here it is:


Fun, right?  That chevron pattern on the sketch inspired me.  I dug into my small non-CTMH paper for a fun chevron paper from Canvas Corp.  I got this in a crop goodie bag and I've been waiting for the perfect project.  This is it!  Here's my card:


I love this new Puns stamp set!  I stamped it with our Black Pigment ink.  After colouring it with our alcohol markers, I popped up the main image and slid some small Slate banners underneath.  Added some grey sparkles and I was done.  I love the pop that chevron paper gives this!
Here's my supply list:

   
     
   
   
So, what are you waiting for?  Get creating with this fabulous sketch and maybe you'll make the top three!  Be sure to link up your creation on the correct post.  We'd love for you to share the sketch challenge with your crafty friends, too.  

Happy Creating!




Monday, June 10, 2013

Atlantic Hearts Sketch #7: Anniversary Card

Welcome back to another Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge!  The sketch this week is such a fun one.  I had a lot of ideas floating through my head for this one, but I needed to make an anniversary card, so that's what I settled on.  Here is the sketch:


And here is my take on it:


I stuck pretty close to the sketch and since I'm going to get all sorts of brand new product at our convention in a couple weeks, I dug into my old paper to use some of it up.  This paper is from Paper Garden.  The big brad in the middle of the flower is Smokey Plum and the little ones are a retired colour called Petal.  I chose these purples because the couple who will get this had a purple pretty close to Petal for their wedding.  (I wonder if they will realize it's for them.  Hee hee.)  The flower is cut with Art Philosophy (Yes, you've seen this type of flower from me recently. I love it!) and the leaves from Artiste.  The sentiment is stamped in Smokey Plum, with a retired stamp set, Say It In Style.  I keep going back to it, just love the fonts and sentiments.  The card base and extra piece on the front are Colonial White.  I added that extra layer so there won't be any brads showing through on the inside.  Everything is sponged with Smokey Plum.  I don't have a special supply list this week because I've used too many retired items!  

This sketch is so simple to create with!  Feel free to replace that flower with pretty much anything.  Hop on over to the Atlantic Hearts blog to see the rest of the design team creations and then get crafty!

Happy Creating!


Monday, June 3, 2013

Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge #6: JK Layout

It's time for another Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge!  This week's sketch is so fun.


Isn't it great?  I love the possibilities with this one and I can't wait to see what you do with it.  

For my project, I went a little different, with a layout!


This layout came together in about an hour.  I used only stickers, washi tape, paper and epoxy bubbles, along with a bit of ink for edging.  You can see my supply list below, although I don't know where I got the green polka-dot washi tape.


The photo above shows my little journaling tag that hides behind the photo.  The photo is popped up with 3-D Foam Tape to create a pocket.


And here is a close up of the "circles" or gears from the Later Sk8r My Stickease.  Isn't that journaling just perfect?  It fits Nathaniel very well.  I love how this turned out.

Here's my supply list:




Want to join in the fun?  Just hop on over to Atlantic Hearts.  Create something with the sketch, link it up and you could be chosen as a top 3!

Happy Creating!