Hello There

Happy Monday!!!  Are you ready for the holidays?  I admit I have a few gifts still to figure out but for the most part, I'm ready for Mr. Santa to arrive. 

Michelle has another great sketch for us this week at Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge.  I decided to play with a fun stamp set and the fundamental papers.

The elephant is so sweet holding his balloons to welcome a new little one.   The coordinating stamp and thin cuts from this set (Sweet Baby) make it easy to create whatever look you would like. 

The elephant is cut from basic fundamental paper and stamped in heather ink.  I added a pop of colour to the cheeks using my watercolour pencils. 

The balloons are stamped in sweet leaf in with clear shimmer brush on top for more sparkle.

The patterned paper is from whimsy fundamental paper collection, backed with sweet leaf cardstock. 

Don't forget to use both thin and regular foam tape to create added dimension to your projects.

I do hope you'll join us at Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge and add your project by clicking on the link.

Enjoy,

Jennifer

Mix it Up....

I've said it before and I'll say it again... One of the things I love the most about Close to My Heart is the colour coordination between items.

For this week's Atlantic Hearts Challenge sketch I've used pomegranate for the main colour.  I pulled the polka dot background paper from the Fundamental line and the glitter paper from a retired embellishment package both noted as pomegranate.  The Merry Christmas panel is cut from the PML sheet in the silver & gold paper package.  The white star embellishments and vineyard berry ribbon are retired products from my stash.

So go ahead - mix it up - - pull from here and there and everywhere!!!  It's OK - you do not have to keep paper packages together.

I hope you'll join us at Atlantic Hearts Challenge with your project this week.  Simply click on the link and add your creation.

Enjoy,

Jennifer

Santa with Atlantic Hearts

Happy Monday!!!  We received our first snowfall yesterday - - enough to skiff the ground anyway.  It's that time of year when the weather changes, the pace of life picks up and we're all anticipating someone's arrival......

Little Saint Nick is the stamp set I wanted to ink up for this week's sketch.  He is so adorable and fun to colour up. 

It's hard to see in the photo but I also used some fun flock to add texture to his hat!!!

The white daisy background is stamped in mink ink using a retired stamp set - I wanted to add some visual interest to the blank slate.


Merry Christmas is stamped in charcoal ink using the Noel stamp set. 

Ruby cardstock and basic fundamental paper form the base of the card.  Lastly, a few sparkles glitter the card up!!!

I hope you'll join us this week at Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge.  Simply add your project by clicking on the link.

Enjoy,

Jennifer

Beary Christmas with Atlantic Hearts

It's time for another sketch at Atlantic Hearts Challenge and the sketch was so good I followed it exactly, right down to the diagonal paper.

I used the diagonal patterned paper from the designed Christmas collection - Beary Christmas in a non-holiday themed card. 

The sketch shows a row of flowers - so I pulled out some white paper flowers and layered them with red enamel gems.  The leaves are stamped in fern ink and fussy cut, layering them in among the flowers.

A simple sentiment in the lower right corner finishes off this clean and simply card.

So, have another look at your papers, and think outside the designated theme. Join us at Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge and link up your project by clicking  here.

Enjoy,

Jennifer

Shake your Hair

Welcome to another week at Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge.  This week I inked up a new stamp set from Your Next Stamp for my project.  I know, I know - it's not CTMH but sometimes I have to have something.

If you've watched the movie, Trolls, you know that Poppy loves to scrapbook - so it is an appropriate purchase.

The little "Poppy" image is so cute.  The stamp set comes with coordinating die cuts to make fussy cutting a breeze.

I used fundamental papers from the whimsy collection in pink & blue backed onto black cardstock to really make the sentiment and image pop.  Add a few black & white enamel gems, and foam tape to pop up Poppy & tah dah - birthday card done.



Please join us and link up your project by clicking here.

Enjoy,

Jennifer

Happy Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving!!!  I hope everyone had a wonderful weekend - and is enjoying this beautiful time of year.

Michelle at Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge has another great sketch for us this week.  I have been wanting to get some poinsettias onto a card and this week was the perfect opportunity.

 I have been trying to use some of my "stash" along with new treasures.  It is always such fun to discover long lost favourites and put them to use.

For my card I used two poinsettias from a very old embellishment package, offsetting them and inking the edges with cranberry.  I then used leaves from another retired embellishment collection to add some additional colour.

The wreath is from the Flower Market cricut collection using pewter cardstock.  Patterned paper is the lovely Silver & Gold paper collection.  To finish off a bit of silver glitter paper and sparkle gems.


Please play along with us at Atlantic Hearts and add your project by clicking on the link

Enjoy,

Jennifer

Cats & Bats

Welcome to Fall!!!

Have you noticed what's in the stores - no not the winter snow suits - the other costumes!!!  Halloween is around the corner and the scary costumes, decorations and yummy treats are out in full force. 

I have been working with a new paper collection from Close to My Heart - Cats & Bats.  I have decided to show a different take on this spooky paper - still involves a costume & is still kinda scary.

The patterned paper and complements highlight my goofy son at his brother's wedding rehearsal dressed in a blue man suit (yes I know it's green).   Practical jokes and a sense of humor are common between these two brothers.

Take another look at the patterned papers in the Cats & Bats collection,  with a fresh eye for non-Halloween layouts.


Now, of course, I'll use the collection for Halloween layouts and can't wait to see Gaius celebrate his first Halloween.  No natter what he wears he won't be spooky at all.


Enjoy,

Jennifer

Flowers & Polka Dots

Happy Monday!!!  I'm ready for another sketch from Michelle @ Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge Blog and I hope you are as well.

The sketch for this week is right up my alley - clean & simple.  I'm using up the balance of my Falling for You paper and some oldie but goodies from my stash.

For the new - Falling for You polka dot patterned paper and espresso cardstock form the base of the card.  The sentiment is stamped using espresso as well.

For the from my stash - the flowers!!  I love the colour of the blooms and added an over size brad to the centre.  The tiny flowers and leaves finish up the bouquet.

Add a few bitty sparkles and a twine bow and done!!



I hope you'll play along with our sketch this week.  It's easy - just link up your project by clicking here.

Enjoy,

Jennifer

Falling for You

I'm in love with the new paper collections in the Holiday Expressions catalogue from Close to My Heart.  All of the four collections have something for everyone and we'll all be creating some fabulous artwork with them.

Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge for this week, I used the new Falling for You paper collection, along with the September Stamp of the Month, Feel So Blessed.

I chose to use the big flower pattern backed on fern cardstock for the base of my card, and layered up the centre focal point with fern and goldrush cardstock,

The gold glitter heart border is from the Happy Moments complements.

The sentiment "thanks" and "feel so blessed" are gold heat embossed.  I added gold glitter gems, and fern thick twine to finish off my card.


Come and play along with us and link up your project by clicking on the link

Enjoy

Jennifer

Just add Glitter

Happy Monday - time for Atlantic Heart Sketch Challenge #227.

I have been working with the Basic Fundamental paper collection a lot and it again jumped out to me for today's sketch.

I used the polka dot charcoal patterned paper as the base of the card, ink distressing also with charcoal.  

This is the first time I've used the new colour of the year glitter paper, Bashful.  It certainly won't the last - it is so pretty.

The sentiment is from a retired set in my stash which I also ink distressed with charcoal.


I added some fun pieces from the matching complements from the Better Together collection.  I added a bow using white twine and a few bitty sparkles to finish off my card.

Thanks Michelle for another great sketch.  I hope you'll play along with us and link up your project by clicking here.

Enjoy,

Jennifer

Anything but basic!!

I am in love with the new Basic Fundamental paper collection released August 1st, 2017 from Close to My Heart.

As an attendee at annual Convention, we were able to create with several layouts using the basic collection, along with the Better Together Complements.  When paired with the new 2017/2018 colour of the year, Bashful, the neutrals come alive.  Add in some bling (bashful pearls) and you have a stunning layout.

 The basic colour palette has changed to 10 new amazing neutrals.  In the grey tone, charcoal, pewter, pebble, linen, mink and heather and in the brown tone, espresso, nutmeg, toffee and almond.

The basic collection is anything but basic and will come alive with any colour you choose to pair it with.  With the new two toned cardstock, you've got double the options for your choosing.

Get your basic on and have fun with neutrals.

Enjoy,

Jennifer

Spit Happens

Welcome to another Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge design.  Michelle & the design team have great projects for you, and we'd like to see what you come up with.

I came across one of my favourite (I say that about all of them) stamps  - Spit Happens by Mo Manning.  This is such a sweet stamp with a perfect wee face on the little guy.

I coloured the image using Copics keeping the shading pretty basic.  The image is fussy cut and then popped on the background with foam tape.



As I've done in the past, I used some of the Picture My Life cards from a retired cut above kit to make the background - they are great to use for cardmaking!!!  A few white embellishments and done.

I do hope you'll join us at Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge this week.  You can click on this link and add your project.

Jennifer

Teddy Bear Picnic

Happy Monday!!!  Wow - last day of July, and time for another sketch for Atlantic Hearts Design.

 As always, we have a great sketch to work with.

I don't know how she does it but Michelle always seems to come up with great designs.

I was cleaning up some in my scrap closet and came across an old stamp set that was calling for some ink!

When I was deciding what to do with this cute teddy bear image, I pulled out the whimsy fundamental paper package and tah dah - finished product.

The bear is stamped with London Fog memento ink, coloured in with Shin Han markers.   The image is popped up with foam tape.     

The sentiment is also from this retired set, and stamped in slate.   (I actually think this stamp set was a bring back set from a few years ago from the original wood block set.)

I added some glitter to the bow with the clear shimmer brush, a touch of silver glitter tape and clear shimmer gems to finish off the card.  

I hope you'll play along with us this week and link up your project here.

Enjoy,

Jennifer

Canada 150

I'm excited to be back into the routine of crafting and excited to be a part of Atlantic Hearts Design Team!!

Michelle challenged us with the sketch this week, but I was ready for her.  I pulled out the new Canada 150 stamp set (official design sanctioned by Canadian government) and inked that baby up!!

Woot, woot - proud Canadian here!!

I kept the design simple, highlighting the image only.  The card uses only white daisy, cranberry and black.  The ribbon fringe is created with small bits of various ribbon and white shimmer trim, and topped with red & white ribbon.

I'll use this on my Canada Day in Utah photos.  I may have to use a flip flap or two I have so many pictures.



Join us this week at Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge and link up your project here

Stay tuned for my convention layouts!!!

Enjoy

Jennifer

Canada Eh!!!

Wowzers - this summer is flying by!  Our weather hasn't been the best here in Southern Ontario (Canada), cooler and rain - such a change from last year.  Fortunately, I experienced a Salt Lake City, Utah week in summer and made up with some wonderful heat!!!  Salt Lake City didn't disappoint; it was truly a great week full of adventure.

What was I up to in Salt Lake City???

 1.  Zip Line Utah - 3800' over open water, reaching speeds up to 65 mph!!!

Yikes - yep I did that - it was a blast and the view was spectacular!!  I had to, of course, make the decision to take that first step which I admit took a few minutes!!!  (OK more than a few!)

 2.  Visit to Park City Utah to see the Olympic site.  This was awesome & hard to believe you could pack so many people into what appeared to be a small area.

We watched the acrobatic ski jumpers practice double jumps into the swimming pool!

3.  Utah Bees - AAA affiliate of the Anaheim Angels.  This was a super last minute, turn here kind of decision.  We lucked into driving past the stadium and decided to see if we could get tickets to a game that night.  I wore my Blue Jays shirt and may have gotten a few looks!!  We had a terrific night enjoying the beautiful weather, fun atmosphere and 2 for $2.00 Taco Tuesday.

 4.  Close to My Heart - the highlight of the trip may have been the opportunity to visit and tour home office.

This is a beautiful building and we were fortunate to have an inside glimpse of what goes on within the walls.

I'm not sure how the employees can get any work done with the gorgeous scenery.

5.  We wandered around temple square and had the opportunity to listen to the Mormon Tabernacle Choir practice.  Amazing acoustics inside a quaint intimate 21,000 seat facility.

6.  Canada Day!!!  I cannot express how this picture makes me feel.

The Canadian consultants gathered on the stairs for a group photo, proudly wearing our red & white.  Someone began to sing our national anthem. It quickly spread up the stairs and increased in volume.

There were a number of consultants milling around who stopped to take photos and listen, consultants came out of the ballroom to the sounds of Oh Canada and many on the 2nd level mezzanine stopped and watched!!

When the anthem finished many of us sheepishly turned to each other with tears in our eyes, rubbing our arms raised with goosebumps, sharing our joy in being Canadian!!!

Last but certainly not least are the wonderful women I get to spend a week with once a year.  We are spread across Canada (well BC to Ontario) and do not have the opportunity to visit in person.  These ladies are not only fellow consultants, but friends - no they are family!!!

Enjoy,

Jennifer

No worries with AHSC

One of the newest paper collections from Close to My Heart is No Worries.  I quickly fell in love with it and can't wait to get all my vacation pictures onto these cute papers.

Michelle has given us a fun block sketch this week at Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge.  I pulled out my No Worries paper and off I went.

For my card I used the word collage, barnboard, lagoon and basket weave patterned papers cutting them into the blocks.

Each square is inked in whisper ink and applied to a 4 1/4 x 5 1/2 lagoon cardstock base.   For the embellishment cluster I pulled the chair, starfish and "unplugged", using foam tape to pop some up.

To finish off I added new white twine and antique gold brads from my stash.  It's great to put the old with the new.



I haven't added a sentiment yet thinking it might be a great retirement card.  Or maybe a birthday card...

Join us over at Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge and link up your project by clicking here.

Enjoy,

Jennifer

Pretty Pockets with H2H

Happy Monday!!!  We are finally getting some summer weather and I'm loving it.

The challenge for this week at Heart 2 Heart Challenges is "pretty pockets".   Isn't this a great challenge?  I can't wait to see what everyone comes up with.    One of the many things I love about Close to My Heart is that all the products go together - so go ahead and mix it up.  I decided to combine some treasured favourites from my stash with some new favourites!!

The cute heart pattern from Little Dreamer paper collection formed the basis for my card design.  I then pulled the pocket from retired stash, along with the sorbet flowers, and white butterflies.

I added the new white burlap ribbon (which I love) to add some texture to the card.

Gold glitter gems top the flowers to finish off the card.


So go ahead, mix up your collections, and join us with your pretty pocket at Heart 2 Heart Challenges.  Simply click on the link and add your project.

Enjoy,

Jennifer

Sketchy with Thistle

Wow - we're into the first full week of June.  I wish the weather would start to act like it's June.  We couldn't get rain last year and this year we've had enough......

Michelle has another great sketch for us this week at Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge.  I decided to do a monochromatic card in thistle.

I used the cross hatch and striped thistle patterned paper from the Whimsy Fundamentals paper collection.  The sublet patterns are perfect to use together in projects.

I also backed the pattern paper in thistle cardstock - popping the layers to add dimension.

The centre oval is cut with the new oval thin cuts and make a perfect window for the sentiment.

The sentiment is from Heartfelt Thoughts and the sprig is from Good Thymes (retired) stamped in whisper ink.

The butterflies are from my stash of retired CTMH project. White twine finishes off the card.

Come & join us at Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge and link up your project by clicking here.

Enjoy,

Jennifer

Colour Challenge with H2H

This week at Heart 2 Heart Challenges it's a colour challenge - blossom, lemon and emerald.  These were three of the new colours introduced in the 2017 Annual Inspirations.

I decided to create a garden using the flower  & leaf stamps from the May Stamp of the Month - Live, Love, Laugh.

The flowers and leaves were coloured in using the blending pen and blossom, lemon and emerald ink pads.

I used the Artbooking cricut cartridge to cut the fence from cocoa and the grass from emerald cardstock.  

To finish up, I added large and bitty sparkles to the centre of the flower  and a touch of shimmer pen.

The card is backed on the barnboard patterned paper found in the No Worries paper collection, and then onto cocoa cardstock.

I hope you'll play along with us at Heart 2 Heart Challenges and link up your project here.

Enjoy,

Jennifer

Camping Life with AHSC

Happy Monday!!!  It's sketchy time with Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge.

Michelle has given a very clean and simple sketch for this week.

If you've played along, you know that clean and simple doesn't always mean easy!!

What will you come up with?

I decided to flip the sketch 180 degrees and used the cloud cuts from Flower Market cricut cartridge for the shape.

The patterned paper is from the new paper collection, Jack which is one of my new favourites!!!  It has great patterns of lumberjack plaid, axes, trees, lumberjacks, and more.

The sentiment is from a great new stamp set, Camping LIfe.  This set has a cute VW camper, mountains, tents, smores, and compass to name a few.

I stamped first in cocoa and then again in fern, cutting out the trees and popping up with foam tape.


I hope you'll play along with the sketch and link up your project here.

Enjoy,

Jennifer

Everyday Life with H2H

It's Everyday Life time with Heart 2 Heart Challenges this week.  It's up to you how to interpret this challenge.

Close to My Heart has a fantastic line of #Life cards and overlays and I decided to use one of these little cards in my project.

This simple little 2x2 card from #Life Cards - Enjoy was the jumping off point for my card.   I love the clean and simple black & white words with a single pop of red.  I popped the card off a double mat of white daisy and black with foam tape to give it more dimension.  One single layer of cranberry cardstock, with white daisy and black continued with the theme of the #Life card.  Keeping the colour theme I used white twine and black dots to finish off the card.

This card is off to my nephew - perfect graduation card!!

Play along with us at Heart 2 Heart Challenges and link up your project here.

Enjoy,

Jennifer

May flowers with AHSC

Happy Monday!!!  Wow we have been having a lot of rain this past week - I'm starting to see animals walk by two by two.....

The sketch this week from Michelle at Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge is so pretty.

The sketch looked very delicate to me which is what I tried to follow with my card design.

I have been working with the You & Me Complements and thought the gold shimmer wreath worked perfectly in the design.

Once I decided on the wreath I pulled the gold stripe paper from the Rustic Fundamentals and backed with my favourite seaglass cardstock.

To continue to tie in the gold I used the white & gold ribbon and added a couple of gold shimmer dots for embellishments.

The pink flowers added a bit of colour and are from my stash!!

I hope you'll play along with the sketch this week.  Simply follow the link and add your project.

Enjoy,

Jennifer

Teeny tiny with H2H

We are going teeny tiny this week at Heart 2 Heart Challenges this week.  Isn't this a fabulous challenge?

For my project I decided to use the love script paper from Whimsy Fundamentals collection.  This collection offers so many options for all your papercrafting fun. I backed the patterned paper with juniper cardstock. The four teeny tiny squares are stamped in whisper ink using the retired stamp set "Little One".  Again the squares are backed with juniper cardstock.   To finish off my card I added four bitty sparkles for a bit of bling. 

Join us with your teeny tiny inspired project simply by following the link

Enjoy

Jennifer. 

Sketchy with Atlantic Hearts

Wow!!!  I have had a whirlwind few weeks.  I'm excited to introduce you all to the most wonderful new little guy in my life.

 

Gaius George Robert arrived April 15th, and has me wrapped around his little finger already.  I  can't wait to spoil him.  Stay tuned for lots of baby layouts!!!!

Thanks to a weekend away at a scrapbooking retreat I was able to get some crafty time in and get my project finished for Atlantic Heart Sketch Challenge #209.

When you have limited time, and creativity block, the card pieces from the picture my life pages are perfect to get you going.  For this card I turned to the Dreamin' Big paper collection.  The background piece is trimmed to 4 x 5 1/4 (from 4 x 6) and the sentiment is trimmed down from a 3 x 4 piece, fitting in to the sketch.  The little lady bug and flower from the complements are popped up with foam tape with black dots added to finish off the card.

Play along with us this week and link up your project by clicking on the link.

Enjoy,

Jennifer

What a Wonderful World

What a wonderful world is the theme at Heart 2 Heart Challenges this week.  I decided to use Some Kinda' Wonderful collection for my project.

This card just makes me smile.  A fellow consultant put cute faces on her paper and I thought it was wonderful.

I pulled one of the picture my life panels from the page, to layer onto the people paper.

The black shimmer hello, hash tag and triangles are from the complements and fit perfectly with the paper.


I hope you'll join us at H2H this week by clicking on the link and adding your project.

Enjoy,

Jennifer