Rose Blossom Blog Hop: On a Lark....

Hi All! Welcome to the Rose Blossom Blog Hop! If you've hopped over from Rose Blossom Legacies, you're in the right place. (Isn't Brenda Rose AMAZINGLY talented? I love going over to her blog for inspiration!)

So when I designed today's project, I had my poor, bare front door in mind. However, after the torrential downpour on Tuesday, I realized that it probably wouldn't hold up to DC spring weather. (If April showers bring May flowers, we're in for an unusually gorgeous May out here!) So, this little gem will be gracing my entry way instead:

I have to say that one of my favorite product suites that Close To My Heart carries is its My Creations Line. It really makes home decor projects so much easier to do. For this project, I started with the My Creations Bracket Frame and the Skylark Collection (my FAVORITE collection in the idea book ...and that's saying a lot because I like them all...). You can use the Art Philosophy Cricut cartridge to cut a shape that will cover the bracket frame beautifully. However, since I'm using a Cricut Mini these days, I covered the frame with paper and then used my Exacto knife to cut it out. (Still, all in all, a quick process.) I inked around the edges with Saddle Exclusive ink. 

For the inside of the frame, I cut a sheet of Lagoon cardstock at 8 13/16 inches square and layered it with patterned paper cut at 8 1/2 inches square. I added a piece of Burlap Ribbon to the center and layered it with patterned paper and a zip strip. The "H" is cut at 6 inches wide using the Artbooking Cricut cartridge. I cut it from patterned paper and White Daisy Cardstock and layered the two for a shadowed effect. (I also inked around the edges of the patterned paper with Saddle Exclusive ink to provide more contrast.) The monogram is popped up using dimensional adhesive.

After sliding the monogram into place, I went to work on embellishing the frame. The top flower is made using Base & Bling Adhesive Dots and Skylark textiles. I ripped off a strip of fabric and pleated it around the adhesive dot. I then finished it off with a small flower from the Skylark Assortment pack. A couple of leaves cut using the Artbooking project completes the look.

For the bottom embellishments, I created a flower-like bow using Burlap Ribbon, Skylark textiles and patterned paper. I added a large daisy from the Skylark Assortment pack to finish it off. I then stamped the "Welcome" sentiment, from the Balloon Talk stamp set, in Lagoon Exclusive Ink on White Daisy cardstock and cut it out. I used a foundry pin to attach it to the bow and added another little Skylark flower for texture and contrast.

Finally,  I inked up a couple of butterflies from my stash in Buttercup, Sweet Leaf, and Lagoon Exclusive inks and layered them for dimension. I added sparkles to the butterfly and Sparkle flourishes to the bottom of the frame and called it done....

Here's another look at the frame:

So, what do you think?

It's no coincidence that we are using Skylark and Cricut together this month because, for April only, you can get your choice of Cricut Collections for free when you sign up to become a Consultant with Close To My Heart. AND the consultant kit comes packed with Skylark!

Take a look:

All this plus YOUR CHOICE of one of the Cricut Collections for just $99. Pretty amazing deal! If you want to become a consultant or purchase any of the CTMH products used in this project, please see me here!

Now hop on over to These Eager Hands and see what the oh-so-talented Cathy Arbuckle has made to inspire you!

And here's the Hop List if you get lost along the way:

Brenda Rose

Kim Hill (That's Me)

Cathy Arbuckle

Tammie Chelburg

Kim Richardson

Marg Van Patten

Kristine Porter

Shelly Nemitz

Lynn Darda

Mary Newman

or you can hop back over to Rose Blossom Legacies, and Brenda will get you back on track! 

BLOG HOP TIME!

Hi All! Welcome to the Rose Blossoms Spring/Summer Idea Book Blog Hop! I am so glad that you have stopped by my blog along the way! You should have come to me from the incredibly talented Cindy Dale's blog, It's All In the Details. The rules for the hop are simple, but first let's take a look at this little Welcome Sign I created using the new Buzz & Bumble line.

For this project, I used a CTMH My Creations Bracket Frame, and covered it with Buzz & Bumble patterned paper. This can be done in a snap using the Art Philosophy Cricut cartridge. Just cut the bracket image at fit-to-page, and you're pretty much there. I added a little zest using strips of our new Glitter Paper! For the banner, it's Art Philosophy once again. These are cut at 1 1/2 inches. "Welcome" is from the Irresistibles Houndstooth alphabet, which I sponged with Sweet Leaf Exclusive Ink. The flowers are from our Just Blooms collection. While the Florets would go nicely, I chose to use Paradise. I fussy cut the bee and leaves from the Buzz & Bumble My Stickease Assortment. The "friends" pin was made using a sticker from the Buzz & Bumble Assortmentand a paperclip (you gotta use what you have, right?). The wooden flowers and bees are also from the Assortment. I used Dark Chocolate Striped Grosgrain Ribbon and a little Burlap Ribbon to make the bow and add a little accent to highlight the sentiment. Some Brown and Tan Sparkles, small Sparkle Flourishes, and retired Sparkle Brads add a little whimsical bling. The sentiment is from Home Sweet Home, the February Stamp Of The Month, and is stamped in Goldrush and Sweet Leaf Exclusive Inks.
Here are some close-ups:

I hope you enjoyed a little Spring Buzz.... Now on with the blog hop!

Now, here are the blog hop rules:

**Collect one word at each blog stop
**My word is "the". 
**Brenda is at the end of the hop, and you will write your completed sentence there. Don't worry that your comment doesn't show! Brenda has the comments hidden for the blog hop!
**The winner of the grand prize will be randomly selected from the completed sentences!

And what is that grand prize you ask? A Buzz & Bumble paper pack and Honeycomb Stamp Set!! With it, you could create a project like this:

Isn't this FANTASTIC? So be sure to get those sentences done!

If you are inspired here today, I would love for you to follow me and comment on my blog! Your next stop on the hop is the über-talented Kim Richardson's blog. Should you get lost along the way, here is the order:

Lynn
Kristine
Marg
Sara
Tammie
Cindy
Kim H (YOU ARE HERE...in the blogosphere anyway....)
Kim R
Crystal
Brenda