Shadows and Shades

Good Morning Everyone!

It's that time of the week -- a NEW challenge here at Heart 2 Heart Challenges!  This week our challenge was to create something using the theme/technique of "ombre".  What you ask is "ombre"?  Well, that's what we design team members wondered as well.  Basically it has to do with shadows and shades. 

Merriam-Webster defines it as:

having colors or tones that shade into each other —used especially of fabrics in which the color is graduated from light to dark

Huh??  Well here is another definition AND a pic to give you a better idea:

Spaces Design

Get it now?  What a challenging challenge this was for us all but I think you are going to LOVE what we came up with.  Here's our Guest Designer Hansi's beautiful card:

...And Team Twilight's twist on the ombre effect:

Carol

Kelly

Marie

Lucy

Haley

Brittany

So there you have it ... OMBRE!!

Can't wait to see what you can create using this technique!

Don't forget to read the guidelines at the top left and use the 'linky tool' below with a link that goes DIRECTLY TO YOUR H2H CHALLENGE POST!  You must use some CTMH products in your project or your link will be deleted.  Thanks for understanding!

NOTE:    Usually our challenges end at the end of the month but because that would leave us such a short week for you to enter, we have EXTENDED the deadline to enter this week's challenge until SATURDAY, AUGUST 3RD at MIDNIGHT!

Let's see what YOU come up with!

Lucy

Water, Water, Everywhere ....................

Hello everyone and thank you for joining us at H2H!  We love having you join us each week.  We have a great challenge for you this week.

Our challenge this week  is Water, Water, Everywhere. Use water - the ocean, a lake, or even a glass of water, as your inspiration  for your artwork.  I cannot wait to see what you come up with.  With summer so hot here in Memphis and with a lack of rain, I really enjoyed this challenge.

So are you ready to see our Design Team members' interpretations of our Water, Water, Everywhere Challenge to inspire you to join us in this challenge?  Please don't forget to click on the Design Team member's name under their creation to visit their blog and see additional photos and details and don't forget to leave them some love -- they just LOVE to read your comments:

Our Guest Design Team Member:

Hansi Brittain

And Design Team Sunset:

Paige Dolecki

Amie Kiger

Pam Korte

Shirley Ross

Katy Taylor

Melinda Everitt

Don't forget to read the guidelines at the top left and use the 'linky tool' below with a link that goes DIRECTLY TO YOUR H2H CHALLENGE POST!  You must use some CTMH products in your project or your link will be deleted.  Thanks for understanding!

Thanks for playing along...you'll have 'till the end of the month, July 31, to link up to ALL of the July challenges.  Thank you for participating in our Heart 2 Heart Challenge!

July's Guest Designer

It's no surprise that our Top Chicks each month are invited to be an upcoming guest designer, and Hansi Brittain has graciously accepted the challenge!  Haven't you loved her July contributions?

Here's what she has to say:
The creative process soothes my soul.  Who can think about the complications of life when you are creating?  I fell in with a group of amazing women who get together for fellowship, fun and paper crafting.   One day, a friend invited me to a monthly group to which she belonged ...just for fun.. .no need to buy anything…  Yeah, right!  I loved the Close to My Heart products and have been a very good customer ever since.  It was in monthly group that I discovered card making which has become both therapy and ministry.  After I get the pleasure of making something, I can brighten someone’s day by giving it away.  By participating in challenge blogs, I have learned so much from fellow crafters who share their work and techniques.  I am honored and humbled to be able to “play with the big girls” as guest designer this month.

Thanks, Hansi, for sharing your talent with us this month!

I Scream, You Scream, We All Scream for Ice Cream!

I LOVE ice cream! How about you? If you do, then please join Team Twilight for some yummy ice cream treats. After all, July is National Ice Cream Month and the third Sunday of the month, which is July 21, is National Ice Cream Day thanks to one of our former presidents - Ronald Reagan. Did you know that back in 1984, he proclaimed that ice cream should be celebrated since it is a fun and nutritious food enjoyed by 90% of the nation's population? I'm sure happy he made that proclamation, aren't you?

Take a peek at what the team has created for your ice cream pleasure this week. Be sure to click on their name to go to their blog for more details about their projects. I hope you enjoy them!

Guest Designer Hansi

Marie

Carol

Kelly

Lucy

Brittany

Haley

After seeing all the deliciousness shared by the team, my mouth sure is ready for some yummy ice cream. We'd love to see what you can 'scream' up for us to enjoy so be sure to read the rules first which are located on the left sidebar then start creating something pertaining to ice cream in whatever way you wish. Then come back here and leave us a link to your artwork. Happy National Ice Cream Month!

~Team Twilight

June's H2H Addicts and Top 10

June was a great month at Heart 2 Heart Challenges!  We want to recognize the fabulous ladies who participated in all four of June's challenges.  They are:
*Pam Korte
*Amie Kiger
*Kelly Brandt
*Pam E.
*Hansi
*LaJeania Hicks

The very talented Pam Korte has completed every single challenge for the first half of 2013.  Way to craft, Pam!  She loves H2H so much that she is now on the Design Team.  Please click on her name to visit her blog and leave her a little H2H love.

We are always so impressed with your crafty creations!  Our First Term DT had a difficult time choosing our Top 10 for the month, but they narrowed it down and finally selected...

If You Like Pina Coladas:

Violet B.

LaJeania

Tool Time:

Violet B.

Tina

Photo Inspiration:

Mary Gunn FUNN

Hansi

Color Me Happy:

Cassandra

Barb

Becca

LaJeania

Our Top Chick for the month of June is....

LaJeania!

Congratulations to our winners!  Please grab your blog badge from the sidebar to display with pride.  We are so happy you joined us.  There's plenty of time to play along with our July challenges, so show your CTMH pride and get inky!

Mix and Mingle with Team Sunset

It is my pleasure to introduce you to Team Sunset, and like the brilliant colors found in a sunset, our team of colorfully, creative artists are here to dazzle you.

For our second July challenge, we will be Mixing and Mingling by using either at least three different paper packs and/or at least three different stamp sets. Coordinating paper, ink, and stamps is one of the main reasons I fell in love with Close To My Heart. Whether a paper packet is current or several years old, the colors will coordinate beautifully.  You have all month to play along with any of our July challenges, and we're loving what you're sharing with us.

Speaking of sharing, our July guest designer Hansi has this lovely card for you:

Here is Team Sunset's Mix and Mingle projects-

Katy Taylor

Melinda Everitt

Pam Korte

Amie Kiger

Paige Dolecki

Shirley Ross

Now that you have enjoyed the wonderful creations of the Sunset Team, I hope that you will join us by sharing your Mix and Mingle creations. You have all month to link up your project.

Technique Time with Team Twilight!

First, happy holidays this week to our Canadian and American readers!  Did you know that Close To My Heart is expanding once more on the international scene?  G'day, mate, to our Aussie and Kiwi friends Down Under!  That's right, CTMH is moving into Australia and New Zealand, and we can't wait until we see our new friends crafting right here with us.  Of course, we're most excited to have you, our H2H fans, right here with us each week.

Now, you might be wondering about our teams for this design term.  Today, I'm going to introduce you to "Team Twilight," and you'll find out next week which color our other team has selected.  (As you can see, our new gals bring lots of enthusiasm to the blog!)  Since we've introduced our new DT members and they've taken off their masks (so to speak), we have a technique challenge for you this week: masking.  If you're unsure about the masking technique after seeing what our designers have to inspire you, be sure to google the technique and then try it yourself.

First up is our July guest designer, Hansi Brittain.  Isn't her card pretty?

Now, here's our Team Twilight masking creations:

Carol

Brittany

Marie

Haley

Our Design Team Twilight did a great job of showing you several different styles and kinds of masking techniques.  Now it's your turn to show us what you've got.  You've got the entire month to play along, so enjoy your holiday and then get crafting!