Heart 2 Heart Challenge 9 - Hey There Cupcake

Over at Heart 2 Heart Challenges, they post weekly challenges for papercrafters using CTMH products.  I have always been inspired by the wonderful cards the design team and other participants create.  I usually check out the challenges too late in the week to participate. This week I wasn't too late!  The challenge this week was to use this sketch.

I was instantly inspired after looking at some of the design teams designs and hopped straight up from my computer to go craft a card.  I considered a layout at first but I actually wanted to get a project done in time!

I knew that I wanted to use the Cherry-O paper pack because I am in love and can't stop working with the paper in this pack.  I also didn't have to even think about what stamp set to use.  I had used the Cupcake Sprinkles stamp set earlier today on another card I made and I pulled it right out.

Now I will let you in on a little of my creative process.  Just look at the pretty pictures if this doesn't interest you!   I first started out with the non-cherry paper from the paper pack.  I had a vision from the start and cherries weren't part of it.  I laid out the papers in the pack overlapping each one to get an idea of which paper would be which stripe.  (I already knew that the end piece would be chocolate cardstock).  I then cut out the stripes with 2 of each paper ( I originally was going to make 2 cards while I was at it.)  Then I started laying out the background for the card.  I first used all 4 papers but it wasn't quite gelling with me.  After calling over my husband several times for consultations (Poor him) I decided to only use two of the papers.  With that decided, I placed them on the card base using a re-positional glue stick. 

I never stick anything down permanently until I have created/stamped all the elements and dry placed them.  Many times my initial creative vision doesn't pan out quite the way it I wanted it to and this saves ALOT of paper and time recreating elements.  See that picture right there?  On the right of the unfinished card is my first attempt at the frosting and my second attempt at the cupcake liner.  After the background was decided on, I started stamping the images.  I did some plain jane stamping but the cupcake wasn't  really popping off the card.  I then got it into my head to use some SHIMMER MIST.  Yee haw!  It is really simple to create using CTMH reinker, Create a Shade Pearl Paint, and rubbing alcohol.  Mix it all together in a misting spray bottle and go to town.

While the new frosting was drying (it only takes a minute or two (that is why you use alcohol and not water)), I was looking at the background and thought it needed something.  That is when I decided to use the stitching stamp for around the edges.  When I was done with the stamping, I laid out my card again.  It was still missing something.  I really decided to go crazy with the shimmer mist.  I embossed the white lines on the cupcake  liner with clear embossing powder and then used chocolate shimmer mist on it.  It turned out well just a little too shimmery for my taste.  We aren't going to discuss how I ended up with chocolate shimmer mist all over the place while mixing it.

In the end I decided to just stamp the cupcake liner with chocolate ink and added a few Bitty Sparkles to bling it up.  I needed something to draw attention to the sentiment so I broke out my Dimensional Elements: On Target and sponged it with Tulip ink.   Once again I laid out my card with all the elements.  I needed something on the line between the cardstock and broke out the Colonial White Organdy ribbon to fulfill that need.  Now it was time to permanently adhere everything!  Right before I stuck it down, I was re-arranging all my elements and decided to flip the sketch on its side.  It was like Feng Shui for cards.  It just plain ol' looked better.  I stuck everything down using TomBow adhesive and pop dots and TA-DA finished card!

I left some stuff out like how I sponged all the edges to soften things up and give them depth but I have been too long winded anyways.  Have a question on my technique?  PLEASE leave a comment!  I live for comments!

Supplies Used:

• Paper and Cardstock:  Cherry-O Level 2 paper pack
• Stamp set:  Cupcake Sprinkles
• Inks:  Chocolate, Crystal Blue, Tulip
• Embellishments:  Bitty Sparkles, Dimensional Elements: On Target, Colonial White Organdy ribbon, Create-a-Shade Pearl Paint
• Tools:  TomBow adhesive, EK Success 3D-Dots

Big News Giveaway Candy by Make It Crafty

So I have about 40 different papercrafting blogs that I follow and read regularly for inspiration (sometimes I just flat out copy them).  One of them posted the news of this giveaway.  Following the links to the blog, I fell in love.  Zoe is a GREAT designer.  All her projects are beautiful.

Following the rules of her giveaway though, I have to pick just one project that I liked the best. 

Well it would have to be the Pop-Up card.  That thing is awesome.  The detail on it is so intricate.  I wish I could color like her!

So if you have your own crafty blog, I would recommend following the instructions and entering yourself for this totally cool blog candy.  How can you go wrong with Copics?

5-in-1 Workshop

Sorry for not posting so long.  Have no fear though as I have still been papercrafting, scrapbooking even. 
Today I would like to share a 2 page layout I have made.  This is the first in a series of five 2 page layouts using a workshop template designed by another CTMH consultant, Lara Main.  All the layouts are from the Cherish and Imagine How-To program books and are made from one paper pack with the addition of 6 pieces of cardstock for bases.

I can't say how much I absolutely love this workshop.  With the cutting instructions, you get the most out of your paper pack and have these lovely layouts that just need photos and embellishments. 

The pattern is from the Imagine book and is called Subtitles.  It can be found on page 94.  I used the Animal Cookies paper pack and StickEase with the addition of some Autumn Harvest brads.  The layout that you are seeing is not my completed layout.  I took pictures before I added the journaling in order to protect my son's privacy. 

In the large white space at the bottom, I used my CriCut to cut out his name in Clover Green cardstock and hand-wrote his birth stats around the first letter in each word.  I also put his birthday in white ink on the little heart paper in the top right corner.  The finished layout looks superb. 

I chose not to use any distressing techniques on this layout because I wanted it clean and fresh.  I love to sponge the edges of paper but it didn't fit with the subject.  I used pop dots to elevate the Stickease and some of the photos to give them a little more pop.

I didn't use any stamping techniques or even any ink in this layout so this is perfect for beginning scrappers.  You can do this layout with a minimum of supplies all you need is the paper pack, StickEase and some brads.  That is why I love Stickease!  You can use it for all your embellishing need and not worry about getting inky fingers (even though I love my inky fingers every time I papercraft). 

I can't tell you how much CTMH has improved my scrapbooking.  I took a few minutes to look at my old layouts from when I first got serious about scrapbooking.  It is a huge difference in skill and just general design aesthetic.  Don't believe me?  Check this old 1 page layout.

Supplies Used:

• Paper:  Animal Cookies Level 2 paperpack
• How To Book: Imagine
• Embellishments:  Animal Cookies Stickease, Autumn Harvest brads
• Adhesive:  TomBow, 3D Popdots (non-CTMH)

Bella Box with Cards

Argh!  I am totally not keeping up on my blog like I want to.  I promise I am going to try harder!  So today in the interest of putting something up, I am posting about a gift I made a couple of months ago.

This was for my friend Sharon.  I took one of the awesome small boxes my hubby brought me home from work and covered it in paper from the Bella paper pack.  I then made a set of 20 cards to go in the box with the workshop instructions from the Wishes book.  I only used 20 card bases and 3 sheets of B&T duos to make all 20 cards.  I love the Wishes book for just this reason.  It constantly inspires me and I can do many cards efficiently.

I used two different stampsets for this project.  The first was Dainty Thoughts.  It has a ton of different sentiments and is great for making a greeting card set and keeping everything consistent.  The second set I used was Friendship Blessings.  This has definitely become my go-to stampset.  I use it on everything.

Supplies Used (All CTMH unless otherwise noted):

• Book:  Wishes - I can't say how awesome this book is.  If you are into cardmaking, get it!
• Stampsets:  Dainty Thoughts, Friendship Blessings
• PaperPack:  Bella
• Inks:  Smokey Plum, Hollyhock, Creme Brulee, Olive
• Embellishments:  Clear Sparkles
• Tools:  Martha Stewart Lattice Arch border punch, Sponges, Tombow Adhesive, 3D Pop Dots

 Hope this inspires you in your creations.  If you want more info on any of the products used here, please email me at angie v crafts at gmail dot com.