Get Well Wishes

Today's card features the subtle patterns from the Penelope paper collection as well as a sneak peek at a soon-to-be-released Seasonal Expressions 2 new product.  Can you spot what it is??

Supplies used:

*Artistry Cricut collection
*Penelope paper packet
*Gold glitter paper
*12" x 12" Kraft cardstock
*12" x 12" White Daisy cardstock
*Kiss It Better stamp set
*Glacier Exclusive Inks stamp pad
*Black Memento ink pad
* Enamel & Glitter Duos Blue Dots
*White twine

To order these or any of our other fabulous Close to My Heart products, please visit http://jddesigns.ctmh.com.

Until next time, design with {heart}!

Thinking of Penelope

Ever get to the end of a paper collection and not know what to do with those last few scraps?  You know, the ones that are big enough you don't want to just toss them, but aren't really big enough to create much of a project?  If so, then today's project is for you!

To create the card below, I used a 1" square punch to punch out several squares from leftover Penelope B&T and backed them with 1-1/4" punched squares of White Daisy cardstock.  Then, I added them to my card base with foam tape, slid the Vine B&T banner piece along the right side, and stamped a simple sentiment beneath the squares.  I topped it all off with a single sparkle butterfly from the Playful Puffies assortment.  And voila!  A simple, classic, happy card to send to a friend or loved one.

Supplies used:

*Penelope paper packet
*12" x 12" White Daisy cardstock
*5 1/2" X 4 1/4" white cards & envelopes, value pack
*Say It All stamp set (Hostess exclusive)
*Slate Exclusive Inks stamp pad
*Playful Puffies

*square punches

To order these or any of our other fabulous Close to My Heart products, please visit http://jddesigns.ctmh.com.

Until next time, design with {heart}!

March Showers Bring Birthday Flowers

Over the weekend, we celebrated the March birthdays in our family.  My sister-in-law loves Jelly Bellies, and I had a bag to give her.  But of course, it's no fun to just give someone a bag of candy; I had to scrap it up.

To make this fun candy jar, I first went to my basket of jars to upcycle and found an old salsa jar.  I then used washi tape to cover the writing on the sides of the lid and cut/decorated a circle to fit inside the top of the lid.

To make the flower on the front of the jar, I cut several flower images from Artistry using the Icon feature starting with a 3 1/2" flower alternating between Pixie and Canary dropping the size by 1/4" in time.  I used a bone folder to curl the petals before assembling the layers with glue dots.  I finished the flower with a 3/4" Pixie circle and a silver sparkle flower from the Playful Puffies assortment.  I also cut the leaves from Artistry and scored them down the center for some added dimension. 

Hint -- pre-assemble panel flat before wrapping  it around the jar

 

Decorated Lid

Supplies used:

*Artistry Cricut collection
*Holiday Tags stamp set
*Penelope paper packet
*12" x 12" Canary cardstock
*12" x 12" Pixie cardstock
*12" x 12" White Daisy cardstock
*Pear Exclusive Inks stamp pad
*Silver shimmer trim
*Limeade washi tape
*Playful Puffies

To order these or any of our other fabulous Close to My Heart products, please visit http://jddesigns.ctmh.com.

Until next time, design with {heart}!

Spring Fever with Penelope

Out of the three collections included in the Seasonal Expressions 1 catalog, I will honestly say Penelope was my least favorite.  But as always, when I get the collection in my hand and begin playing with it, I quickly fall in love.  Maybe it's the time change... maybe it's the weather... but either way, I definitely have Spring Fever.  How about you??

I cannot wait to fill this pretty layout with pictures of my family outside enjoying the first days of Spring.  We've been cooped up all winter long and are ready to get out and play!

Supplies used:

*Artbooking Cricut collection
*Artiste Cricut collection
*Penelope Paper Packet
*12" x 12" Crystal Blue cardstock
*12" x 12" Honey cardstock
*12" x 12" Pear cardstock
*12" x 12" White Daisy cardstock
*Thistle Exclusive Inks stamp pad
*Thistle extra-thick twine
*Limeade washi pack
*Silver shimmer trim
*Playful puffies
*Diamond embossing folder
*Magic how-to program (book)

To order these or any of our other fabulous Close to My Heart products, please visit http://jddesigns.ctmh.com.

Until next time, design with {heart}!

Penelope, You Make Me Happy

Today, I will be sharing my last card in my jd designs spin on the Penelope Workshops Your Way card designs.  This seemingly simple design surprisingly gave me the hardest time of the three designs I shared this week.  When I struggle with a design, I set the project aside and walk away from my studio (typically overnight).  When I come back with fresh eyes and a clear mind, I am usually able to figure out the problem and move on.  That's exactly what happened with this card.  After a few hours, I went back into the studio, grabbed my stamp of the month set and finished this card in less than five minutes.  The bones were there, but I just couldn't figure out how to finish it.  Does this ever happen to you??

Supplies used:

*Sunshine Birdies stamp of the month stamp set
*Penelope paper packet
*12" x 12" Watercolor paper
*5 1/2" X 4 1/4" white cards & envelopes, value pack
*Canary Exclusive Inks stamp pad
*Pixie Exclusive Inks stamp pad
*Black Memento ink pad
*Silver shimmer trim
*Playful puffies
*Marvy Uchida LePen journaling pen

*Water brush

To order these or any of our other fabulous Close to My Heart products, please visit http://jddesigns.ctmh.com.

Until next time, design with {heart}!

Little Bundle of Joy

As I continued to play with my Penelope paper packet scraps and the Penelope Workshops Your Way card designs, I decided to make a baby card.  The subtle polka dot B&T pattern in this collection was just screaming to be made into a sweet baby card.

I love the Wild Wonders stamp set I used on this card.  This set is adorable and so much fun -- especially with the great coordinating giraffe and lion cuts on the Artbooking Cricut cartridge.  Note -- Wild Wonders is one of the stamp sets not currently shown in the Annual Inspirations Idea Book and will be retiring on July 31st.

Supplies used:

*Artbooking Cricut Collection
*Wild Wonders stamp set
*Just to Say stamp set (Artfully Sent exclusive)
*Penelope paper packet
*12" x 12" Crystal Blue cardstock
*12" x 12" Watercolor paper
*5 1/2" X 4 1/4" white cards & envelopes, value pack
*Canary Exclusive Inks stamp pad
*Crystal Blue Exclusive Inks stamp pad
*Thistle Exclusive Inks stamp pad
*Limeade washi tape
*Thistle diagonal striped ribbon
*Bitty sparkles

*Water brush

To order these or any of our other fabulous Close to My Heart products, please visit http://jddesigns.ctmh.com.

Until next time, design with {heart}!

Let's Celebrate with Sticky Boy

Back in February, I won a Sticky Boy stamp in Close to My Heart's Sticky Boy Valentine contest.  I was extremely excited as getting a Sticky Boy is on every CTMH consultant's bucket list.  My new friend arrived as I was battling the flu so I was unable to give him the official welcome he deserved.  This weekend, I decided to change that.

I have been playing with my Penelope 6x6 paper samples, and after completing a scrapbook layout for an upcoming post, I still had lots of scraps left.  Looking through the Penelope Workshops Your Way guide for inspiration, I decided to use the three card designs in the workshop and put my own spin on them.  I will be sharing my cards throughout the week.

Without further adieu, please allow me to introduce to you the newest member of the jd designs team -- the one, the only Sticky Boy!!

Supplies used:

*Penelope Paper Packet
*12" x 12" Pixie cardstock
*12" x 12" Watercolor paper
*5 1/2" X 4 1/4" white cards & envelopes, value pack
*Thistle Exclusive Inks stamp pad
*Crystal Blue Exclusive Inks stamp pad
*Black Memento ink pad
*Baker's twine neutral metallic assortment
*Mini stapler
*Bitty sparkles
*Diamond embossing folder

*Water brush

To order these or any of our other fabulous Close to My Heart products, please visit http://jddesigns.ctmh.com.

Until next time, design with {heart}!

March Spotlight Collection - Penelope

Spring is just around the corner, and you can't help but think Spring when you see this month's spotlight collection -- the bright and fun Penelope.  Crystal Blue, Honey, Pear, Pixie, and Thistle combine with the neutral White Daisy to put a little spring into your step and your crafting after the long winter.

 

To order these or any of our other fabulous Close to My Heart products, please visit http://jddesigns.ctmh.com.

Stay tuned throughout the month to my blog and my Facebook page for lots of fabulous Penelope inspiration.  And be sure to follow #ctmhpenelope and #ctmhwyw all month long for all the Penelope fun!

Until next time, design with {heart}!

Stamp of the Month Blog Hop -- Sunshine Birdies

Welcome to the March Stamp of the Month Blog Hop!

If you came from visiting Wendy Coffman, then you are in the right place.  If you just happened upon my little corner of the blog world, simply start here and continue hopping until you return here -- our fun hop is one big loop for your viewing pleasure. 

The month's featured stamp set is S1603 Sunshine Birdies (pictured below).  This set is only available until March 31st and is only $5 with a $50 Close to My Heart purchase.

For today's project, I pulled color inspiration from the Penelope collection as the Sunshine Birdies set simply screams Spring and Penelope is such a great collection for Spring.  To challenge myself on this card, I decided not to use any B&T patterned paper.  I used either solid cardstock, stamps, or embellishments to build my design.

First up, I wanted to use several of the stamps from Sunshine Birdies -- so I chose to random-stamp my own B&T paper.

To achieve the perfect "random" stamping pattern, you will want to...
1. Start with your largest image first and work to your smallest image.
2. Stamp in groups of 3 -- in non-perfect triangles.
3. Stamp off the page. If this scares you, stamp a large piece of cardstock and then trim to the size you need.
4. Don't overstamp your space.  Not every little white space needs to be stamped.  Learn to leave a little room.

Next, to add layers to the design, I chose to use the Limeade Washi Pack.  Tip -- if you don't want anything to show through your washi or you want to be able to punch it the way I did below with the scallop border, mount it onto strips of solid cardstock first.  Play with various colors of cardstock to change up the look of the washi.

The last technique of sorts that I used was cutting apart my sentiment stamp.  See that "you are my sunshine" sentiment?  Now look back at the stamp set image above.  The words are positioned differently.  One way to achieve this look is by masking -- covering part of the stamp or cardstock when stamping.  After trying that several times without being able to get the positioning I wanted, I took the more "extreme" approach -- I cut up my stamp.  Being extra super careful, I used my microtip scissors to cut between the words and separate the stamp into individual words.  If done properly (precise single cuts), you can always piece the stamp back together like a puzzle and use it in its original form/layout.

And of course, an adorable card would not be complete without a coordinating envelope...

Supplies used:

*Art Philosophy Cricut collection
*Sunshine Birdies SOTM stamp set
*12" x 12" Pear cardstock
*12" x 12" Thistle cardstock
*12" x 12" White Daisy cardstock
*White Daisy card bases
*Honey Exclusive Inks stamp pad
*Pear Exclusive Inks stamp pad
*Pixie Exclusive Inks stamp pad
*Thistle Exclusive Inks stamp pad
*Limeade washi pack
*Silver shimmer trim
*Bitty sparkles
*Scallops border punch

To order these or any of our other fabulous Close to My Heart products, please visit http://jddesigns.ctmh.com.

Thank you for visiting me at jd designs and for hopping with us on the Close to My Heart Stamp of the Month March Blog Hop!  Next up on the hop is Lisa Plummer. I hope you'll hop on over to her blog for more inspiration.

Until next time, design with {heart}!