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!

Introducing Our New Design Team!

It is finally time to unveil the talented Close To My Heart consultants who are serving on the Heart 2 Heart Design Team for the last half of the year!  It is an honor to welcome them here, and I know you'll enjoy seeing their inspiration each week.

First, returning to the team are:

 Carol Labuski

Haley Dyer

Katy Donaldson Taylor

Lucy Kelleher

Melinda Everitt

Paige Dolecki

Shirley Ross

Now, what you've really been waiting for!  It's time to introduce our new talent!  You may know many of our new gals because they been playing along here for quite a while.  In fact, they love H2H so much they joined the DT!

 "Hi! My name is Amie Kiger (with an “ie”) and I was born and raised in the suburbs of Chicago. Now, my hubby and I are raising our three daughters here as well. I am a self-employed child care provider with a bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education and a Doctorate in the Close to My Heart Training Academy. ;) 

 

"My crafting craziness was set in high gear when my fabulous friend gave me my very first Cricut for Christmas one year. Once I set up a dedicated room for my scrapbooking, (thanks, honey!) I was hooked. I started my blog, Mimi, Myself, and I, in November of 2011 to post entries in different contests for the Cricut Circle. Soon, my obsession with all things Cricut led me to discover the Close to My Heart Art Philosophy Collection. I signed up with Close to My Heart three short months after purchasing the cartridge, and I am now in my second year as a consultant. I am definitely a scrapbooker-at-heart-turned-cardmaker and never imagined I would be so amazingly blessed to be able to turn my hobby into a business. Now, I am trying to do my best to use the ability that God has given me to make people smile and add a little sparkle to their day with cards and homemade gifts. My theme for the year is “Never Let Anyone Dull Your Sparkle.” Wherever there is shimmer trim or glitter paper, you will be sure to find me as well!

"I am so excited to be chosen for the July to December 2013 Heart 2 Heart Design Team! I cannot wait to get started!"

Brittany Sanfillippo

Hello! My name is Brittany, and I am excited to be a part of the design team at Heart 2 Heart Challenges. My mom, a former D.O.T.S. consultant, first introduced me to Close to My Heart at a young age. Many years later, when creating a service project for my college peers, I came across CTMH once again. I originally used their products to create cards for Operation Write Home, an organization that sends cards to our troops overseas. Falling in love with the projects and community of crafters, I quickly joined as a consultant. I haven’t looked back since! Along with being an avid crafter, I am also a teacher – a profession that gives me so much joy! I look forward to participating with you in our challenges through the end of 2013!

Kelly Brandt

 

Hi! My name is Kelly and I live in Kamloops, BC. My hubby and I have two great sons 19 and 22, and two great dogs. I am a Business Administrator by day and a paper a holic for life. I have a Doctorate in the Close to My Heart Training Academy.

 

My crafting craziness was set in motion when my friend forced me to do my first scrapbook, oh it was painful and I never wanted to do it. It was of my youngest son's hockey days. Well by the time that weekend was over, I was hooked and haven't looked back, five years now, thank you Sharon !. Next came a Cricut, a Big shot and a room dedicated to scrapping in the house. Now it is an obsession for sure, and a way of relaxing and having the feeling of being free from everyday stuff. I have sold CTMH for two years and have two groups of awesome ladies in my monthly clubs. I love to blog so I can share what I love, and hopefully instill this great craft in others.

 

I am thrilled to be a designer for H2H, as it is my favorite challenge out there!

"My name is Marie Flayer, and I have lived in NJ my entire life. Currently I am a retired teacher who is pursuing creative interests and the challenge of caring for a 3 year old grandson a few days a week. I have been a rubber stamp artist since 1992, a Close To My Heart consultant since 1996, cricut user since 2008 and a blogger for the past 3 years. I love to create cards, layouts and other projects using my stamps, papers and cricut machine. I am also on the Color My Heart Color Dare Design Team which also promotes the use of Close To My Heart Colors. I love using Close To My Heart products and am so happy to be on this Design Team to share them with you!"

"My name is Pam Korte, and I have been a Close to my Heart Consultant since August 2012. I live in Scottsville, New York outside of Rochester, New York in upstate New York.  I am a full time tenured professor of nursing and adjunct professor of psychology for a course on animal assisted therapy at the local community college, subject matter expert for a major textbook company, sister to the one that got me started in paper crafting six years ago, and mother to two rescued dogs India greyhound and Gina whippet. I have been rescuing greyhounds for over 20 years. My hobbies include enjoying the outdoors, reading and playing golf in addition to my love for paper crafting. I love to paper craft for relaxation and do it most evenings after work. I started paper crafting after my sister introduced me to a paper cutter and some paper. I love to scrapbook, make cards and make a variety of 3D mixed media paper crafting projects. I thoroughly enjoy introducing new people to the art of paper crafting through workshops and custom made project kits for individuals to enjoy. I love Close to my Heart because it is truly about the celebration of relationships through the discovery of one’s own creativity. I found myself expressing my love for God and life through my paper crafting endeavors and sharing that creativity with others through key moments in life. I am honored to have been provided with this opportunity to share my love of paper crafting with others. I am currently a member of the Color my Heart design team and now adding Heart 2 Heart design team. I am very excited about sharing this design team opportunity with others. I have won several national and international card challenges since January 2013 to the present.

"I wholeheartedly support the mission of Close to my Heart in helping people to learn and grow in their paper crafting skills. The mission of Close to my Heart is “We show you how to celebrate relationships through discovering your creativity, to preserve and share the moments that matter most.”

"My overarching goal in working with individuals in their paper crafting endeavors  is “And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” Colossians 3:17 I thank God every day for the skills to express so much through paper crafting."

Welcome to our new DT members!  Isn't their enthusiasm contagious?  Come back Monday, July 1, to see what we have in store for you.  It's such privilege to be a part of this fun, inspiring blog, but we couldn't do it without your players.  You are such inspirations to us!  Come back on Monday for our first challenge with our new DT.