I'm coming back...

You might notice some changes happening on the blog, and that means, I'm coming back.

I am in the process of completing some changes to my branding - a refresh to get things going again.  I've missed blogging and sharing more about my paper passion and all things Close to my Heart. 

I'm happy you've stayed with me and would love if you let your friends know about the blog.  You can also find me on facebook https://www.facebook.com/PaperTraditionsJenniferKelly/, instagram https://www.instagram.com/paper_traditions/ and pinterest.  I may even pop up on youtube. 

So stay tuned, great things are coming.

Jennifer

Make Waves

Hey all - - - welcome to this weeks sketch at Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge Blog. 

I happened to have a little Make Waves paper on my scrap desk this week and that's where this weeks inspiration came from.

 The striped background paper is so much fun - you could choose several colours to complement.  I used lagoon cardstock, with the pansy and blush from the patterned papers for the banner.  The sentiment "Happy Birthday" is stamped using Pebble ink.

The pretty mermaid and flowers are cut from the patterned paper and popped up with thin foam tape for added dimension.

To finish I added some sparkle bling to the flowers and tah dah - all done.

I hope you'll join us at Atlantic Hearts this week and link up your project by clicking here

Enjoy,

Jennifer

Free Cake

I'm back - wow February passed by in a blur - - time certainly does fly by when you're having fun.  I was having fun travelling but now back to business!!!

Michelle has a great sketch for us this week at Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge.  It's right up my alley - clean & simple.

 I wanted to ink up the cute M size stamp set Free Cake - this little cutie is perfect for a focal image.  I coloured the cake with shin han markers and the new Bashful glitter brush. 

The patterned paper is actually from a holiday collection - Silver & Gold.  I backed with raspberry to provide that perfect pop of colour. 

I love ribbon and had hoarded the grey & white polka dot (now retired).  It worked perfectly on this card.  The border is simple white daisy cardstock with a punched scallop edge. 

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

Enjoy,

Jennifer

Stargazer

Another wonderful paper collection from the new Seasonal Expressions 1 is Stargazer.  This collection is so much fun.  The patterns and colours are vibrant and, of course, a joy to work with.

The fun astronaut characters, telescopes, stars, and rocket ships come alive when paired with canary, goldrush, pacifica, pewter, ruby or sapphire cardstock. 

Imagine all the paper projects... the possibilities are endless.

Michelle provided the perfect sketch for Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge this week for this fun card.

I used the astronaut and pebble patterned paper and backed with pacifica and cranberry cardstock for my card.  The panels seem to fly off the card to wish a little guy a Happy Birthday.

The sentiment is from the Stargazer cardmaking stamp set shown below.  The ribbon is the new light grey grosgrain which was lovely to tie into a bow.  Add a few of the new Stargazer enamel dots in blue to finish off the card.


I do hope you'll join us at Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge this week and add your project by following this link.

Enjoy,

Jennifer

Chelsea Gardens

Happy New Year!!!! 

I'm excited to share a card with you created with the new paper collection Chelsea Gardens.  This collection is so pretty - It's featured on the front cover of the new Seasonal Expressions 1. 

Michelle at Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge provided the perfect sketch to get things rolling for 2018.

I used the beautiful foliage patterned paper along with charcoal cardstock as the focal squares, inking the edges with pewter ink.  Complimenting cardstock is heather and twine from whimsy fundamental ribbon pack.

The sentiment is stamped in pewter ink using the new Chelsea Gardens cardmaking stamp set.


I hope everyone has a wonderful 2018.  Cheers to new artwork and crafty fun.

Enjoy,

Jennifer

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