Not a Scaredy Cat; A Scary Cat - BLOG CANDY

Are you getting ready for Halloween? 
Is your local craft store full of Halloween decorations?
Last night when I went to the craft store, there was an entire display of Halloween supplies. 

For this project, I found inspiration in my CTMH stash. 

I had purchased CTMH's Scaredy Cat paper, embellishments, and coordinating stamp sets for my Halloween projects this year. I love the variety of patterns and the bold colors. Notice how the pattern I used could be used for just about any project. It isn't Halloween specific although the colors are often used with Halloween projects. 

I love the metal accents that come in the embellishment pack. I added both the moon, bats and cat from CTMH's Artbooking cartridge. Using Cricut in my designs is my go-to. I love the CTMH cartridges. 

Do you want the cutting file? Follow my blog and send me an email. I'll send it to you. 
Need supplies? CLICK HERE.

Ready for some blog candy? 
First, Follow my blog, and leave me a note in the comments. 
A random winner will be posted two weeks from today. 
Your prize, a set of Cricut Explore or Circut Expressions markers. 

Challenges Entered

Heart 2 Heart Challenges: Favorite Tool (Cricut)

Squigglefly: Orange, Purple, or Black (all three colors are in the pattern)

The Shabby Tea Room: Colors and Pumpkin (Pumpkin face in metal)

Craft for the Craic: Circles (pattern, pumpkin, moon)

4 Crafty Chicks: Fall

Crafting for All Seasons: Fall

The Male Room: Metal (pumpkin is metal)

Harvest Happiness

Do you craft based on the seasons? 

Are you starting to think about fall cards, and getting excited about Halloween cards? 

I opened up my new CTMH Pathfinding kit and got to work on my first fall/autumn card. The leaf pattern is bold and beautiful and includes BLUE! It's just a fun color to add to the fall palate. Contrasting that bold pattern, I cut the soft cream and orange design using a die cut. Then, I added the chip board sunflower to the center. The sentiment, Harvest Happiness, is from the stamp set, Thankful Heart Holiday (B1463). I used Ponderosa Pine ink. Finally, I added a the ribbon and gem (Skittle). And, DONE. Super easy with a very classic design. 

This card is going into my box of cards for Operation Write Home. It is a great cause. Check it out: HERE

Want these supplies, click HERE. 

Challenges Entered

Die Cut Divas: NEW

The Corrosive Challenge: Autumn/Fall

Stars and Stamps: Fall Colors

Simply Create Too: Fall/Autumn

Sweet 16

A very close family friend asked me to make a Sweet 16 card for her granddaughter, but she couldn't think of what she would like the card to look like. I asked her what her granddaughter likes, and she said BOYS! I thought that was hilarious, but it wasn't going to help me design a card. She knew what she didn't want: nothing frilly. It's a good thing I had my CTMH Chalk it Up paper and embellishments. 

I absolutely love this teal circle paper. It's so bright, but in a cheerful way, and it is super versatile. I would use this on a summer card to represent water from a beach or pool or the background for spaceship (for my nephews). The possibilities are endless. All of the embellishments are from the CTMH Chalk it Up kit, including the small star stickers. I used handy CTMH Cricut Artbooking cartridge cut the numbers and basic Cricut circle shapes. 

I'm so pleased with this card because the Chalk it Up kid made it easy to put together.

The question is - will my friend like it!

Think, Grow, Learn

Where did the summer go? It's mid-September, and I miss everything from the pool to the lighter summer traffic. The kids have been back to school here in Georgia since the beginning of August, and hopefully they are adjusted and enjoying it (kids enjoying school - am I kidding myself). 

I decided I wanted to send a family friend in college a little pick-me-up, and made this "Think, Grow, Learn" card using the CTMH Chalk it Up paper and embellishments. The sentiment is from the CTMH Cricut Artbooking cartridge. This was a dream to put together. I love the chalk embellishments and the variety of color. This paper reminds me of my old school notebooks and locker. Now, it could be a laptop skin or more. I love the font on the word History and the green globe just above it. 

Chalk it Up is extremely versatile with lively colors and great patterns. I have one more piece of the graffiti style paper, but the flip side is a gorgeous gray/black colored with small multi-colored stars. I plan to take advantage of that. I can almost envision that as a back drop for a Halloween card.... 

Challenges Entered:
Freshly Brewed Challenges: School
Through the Craft Room Door: Anything Goes
The Paper Girls Challenge: School
Crafting At the Weekend: Anything Goes
Kitty Bee Designs: School

Take Ideas Challenge 3

Can you believe it is time for Challenge 3 at Take Heart Ideas, and we have a fabulous prize waiting for the winner, so get out your CTMH products and start playing. Remember, Take Heart Ideas requires you use products from Close to My Heart, and you can include CTMH Cricut cartridges as products if you would like. We are going Back to School for this one. The challenge starts today, August 27, and ends on September 21th.

For this challenge, I used the new Chalk It Up kit with matching embellishments (X7184B) and the the stamp set LOL. Everyday Life (A1159). The paper made me think of decorating a locker, both inside and outside, or decorating a notebook... and then moving along to social media. I stamped in and around the background, which go with the theme and mix in really well. Then, I added one more element, the base of the card is folded so the card stands on its own, and "star student" is the focus. (Dimensions at the bottom)

I've been playing with this folded card technique since I learned it from Mary at Cardz TV. She has a fantastic video on her site. Here are the basic directions for this fold. 

Start with a base of 8 x 5 1/2.

Next, score at the 2 inch, 3, 5, and 6 inch.

Now, fold using a valley/mountain fold where you scored. 

Your base is complete!

Challenges Entered
Scrap Creations - Back To School
Creative Crew - Chalkboard
Crafting from the Heart - Anything Goes
Crafting When we Can - Oodles or Doodles

What, no stamp?

I know you are thinking I must be crazy, making a card using Close to My Heart products without using a stamp. Who does that?

CTMH papers and cardstock are the best to work with. Having coordinating cardstock at my fingertips is a joy. No more rummaging through the scrap box looking for just the right green. The patterns are so versatile. Even patterns that are meant for a certain theme have elements that can mix and match with other patterns. 

My main addiction to CTMH are the Cricut cartridges. It is a really serious addiction. I rarely make anything without my Cricut. 

So today, I was playing around with the papers from Ivy Lane (now discontinued), and I knew exactly what cuts on CTMH's Artiste cartridge to use to make this Girly card. Since I'm usually making masculine cards for my 5 nephews, this was a chance to make something nice for my niece. I let the patterns and matching cardstock do the work here. I took the bold pattern and used it as the dress so that the dress would pop off of the page on the soft pink. I used coordinating pink and purple to cut the accessories and the title. This is super easy to recreate with any patterns or colors that you have. (I happen to LOVE pink and green together, so this was the patten I wanted to use.)

Want the Cricut Design Space cut file? Simply follow my blog and leave a note in the comments. 

Need products, click HERE.

Challenges Entered
{PIN}spirational Challenges: Anything Goes
Die Cuttin Divas: Color Combination
Sister Act Card Challenge: Anything Goes
Suzy Bee's Bloomin' Challenge: Anything Goes 
Paula Holifield Crafts: Sew What? 

Hello Wonderful

It's that time for me...  realizing that some of my favorite papers from Close to My Heart are being discontinued. I have some papers left from the Skylark collection and the Ivy Lane collection. 

These papers are just gorgeous, and I didn't realize how well they worked together. Immediately, I knew I wanted to make a card for my husband. I like to sneak cards into his briefcase every now and then. 

My inspiration came from this fantastically versatile sketch from the Fantabulous Cricut Challenge Blog. The cupid die cut in the center of the circle is from the CTMH Cricut cartridge, Artbooking. These beautiful glossy 3D flowers are also from the Ivy Lane kit. I used the CTMH stamp set, Hello Wonderful Flair, B1443. Get it HERE.

This design is easily recreated with any papers.
Want the Cricut Design Space file for this design? Just follow my blog and leave me a note in the comments section. 


Challenges
Fantabulous Cricut Challenge Blog: Sketch
Glitter and Sparkle: Love or Wedding
Pals Paper Arts: Color Challenge
My Craft Spot: 3D flowers
The Crazy Challenge: Love and Marriage