“Me” Mini Album using *NEW* Cricut Artiste Collection & CTMH Avonlea Collection

I’ve been busy trying to finish up my create & take projects from the Close To My Heart convention this week. Here is a fabulous mini album we created using the *NEW* Cricut Artiste collection with the elegant *NEW* Avonlea collection!

I really love how this mini album turned out and especially love the little details of the Irresistibles Houndstooth Alphabet, Shimmer Trim, Sparkles, Just Blooms Floret Paper Shapes & Slate Satin Polka-Dot Ribbon.

The mini album itself is part of the Cricut Artiste collection. In your collection, you will receive the Dimensional Elements Album Pages and with just one key on the Cricut Artiste cartridge, you can cut all the shapes that fit perfectly onto the album pages!

I’m thrilled I took the time to finish this mini album up with pictures of myself at this time in my life! This will be something my family can cherish when I’m gone someday.

If you have questions about this project, don’t hesitate to contact me.

All the above projects mentioned will be available for purchase beginning August 1st! Click here then to get your hands on them or contact me to pre-order to save you some time.

***Visit this blog post to enter for your chance to win my Cricut Artiste giveaway***

Thanks for visiting my blog and have a great day!

CTMH June 2012 Stamp of the Month Blog Hop!!!

Welcome to the Close To My Heart Stamp of the Month Blog Hop!

This month we are featuring the June SOTM from the 2012 Spring/Summer Idea Book, which is S1206 Life Is Tweet…a set of 15 My Acrylix Stamps! 

Click Here is view the Stamp of the Month images.

If you have come here from Traci Godbee’s blog, you are on the right path! The blog hop is a great big circle, so you can start here and work your way all around.

This month we have over 50 Close To My Heart Consultants sharing their creations using this month's SOTM and other great CTMH products on their blogs. To join in the fun just click on the link at the end of the post on each blog to move to the next one!

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This month’s Stamp of the Month was really fun to play with, especially while making this scrapbook page! I signed up for a great class called Got Sketch Express 3 and this is the 2nd sketch that was shared in the class.

It’s pretty unusual for me to make only one scrapbook page, but I’ve been trying to do more of them. There are A LOT of sketches out there that are only one page and they are fabulous, so I might as well take advantage of them. I don’t always have enough pictures for a two-page scrapbook layout, so this is nice occasionally.

I used CTMH’s Footloose Paper Packet which is perfect for beach & pool photos, but as you can see, it’s not limited to that! I just love the colors in this kit…Lagoon, Sweet Leaf, Crème Brulee & Bamboo…with a hint of Smoothie.

I also used CTMH’s Paradise Assortment Baker’s Twine which coordinates perfectly with this paper packet!

For the sketch, I used my Cricut Art Philosophy Cartridge on the scalloped circle, circle, banners, pennant, journaling shape & the flower shape for the stamped ‘life is tweet’ flower.

Did you know that many of our My Acrylix Stamps have coordinating shapes that you can cut with the Cricut Art Philosophy Cartridge? No more cutting around all those funky shapes…just push a button on your Cricut and viola! Love it!!!

Speaking of My Acrylix Stamps…you can buy 2 My Acrylix Stamp Sets & get 1 FREE in June! Check out the details HERE beginning June 1st.

To purchase your June Stamp of the Month (only available June 1-30, 2012) and other CTMH products like our beautiful My Acrylix Stamps & Cricut Art Philosophy Collection…

Visit My Website to shop now!

or click here to contact me to place your order.

Well, that’s it for now…I hope you enjoyed your visit!

Now "Hop" on over to Tamra Pope's blog to see her fabulous works of art! Be sure to visit all the Consultants at their blogs to get some great crafting ideas and other fun ideas using this month’s stamp of the month!

Thank you for stopping by and have a blessed day,

Still Here Playin’ Around…

Well, I’m still around and still playin’ with my Dotty for You paper packet. I haven’t actually completed any artwork the past week or two except for some Studio J layouts…which I already shared. So, I thought I’d share a sneak peek of the two latest layouts I’m working on.

This one is directly from the artwork sheet that is included with the Dotty for You paper packet. Aren’t the colors fun!?! Be sure to get your order in for the Dotty for You paper packet by May 31st! Details below.

The one I worked on today, was inspired by the Got Sketch Express 3 class I signed up for. I broke open a new paper packet called Footloose today and I can’t wait to share the completed layout with you, but it will have to wait til next Thursday when the CTMH Stamp of the Month Blog Hop goes live.

Remember, celebrate National Scrapbooking Month in May by mixing and matching to your heart’s content with our new Dotty for You paper packet!

The trendy patterns on the front of the papers coordinate perfectly with the dots on the reverse side, giving you lots of options for crafting colorful layouts, cards, and other projects. Dotty for You includes 24 specially designed, coordinating B&T Duos^® sheets (2 each of 12 patterns) and an artwork idea insert to get your creative juices flowing.

There are three ways to get this exclusive Dotty for You paper packet, valued at $19.95:

• Place an order of $35 or more in products from the Spring/Summer 2012 Idea Book between April 17 and May 31, and add the Dotty for You paper packet for just $5*. Start shopping.
• Host a Gathering with a sales total of $400 or more (excluding tax, shipping/handling, and Operation Smile^® donations) between April 17 and May 31 and receive a Dotty for You paper packet FREE.
• Join Close To My Heart as a new Consultant between April 1 and May 31 and receive a Dotty for You paper packet FREE. Let’s get started.

Celebrate National Scrapbooking Month in May with the oh-so-cute Dotty for You paper packet.

*Taxes and shipping/handling may apply. Offer good during above-specified dates, while supplies last.

Love Your Layout ~ May 2012

Use Studio J® to create a beautiful layout in just minutes by watching this month's Love Your Layout(sm) video. You'll use toggle accents and My Stickease® images to help you preserve those special moments. Watch the video and then log in to Studio J to try it yourself!

May 2012 CTMH Stamp of the Month Blog Hop!!!

Welcome to the Close To My Heart Stamp of the Month Blog Hop!

This month we are featuring the May SOTM from the NEW 2012 Spring/Summer Idea Book, which is S1205 Friendship Bouquet…a set of 8 My Acrylix Stamps! 

If you have come here from Doreen Guilfoyle’s blog, you are on the right path! The blog hop is a great big circle, so you can start here and work your way all around.

This month we have almost 60 Close To My Heart Consultants sharing their creations using this month's SOTM and other great CTMH products on their blogs. To join in the fun just click on the link at the end of the post on each blog to move to the next one!

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I met my challenge of creating another scrapbook layout for the Stamp of the Month Blog Hop! I didn’t manage to get pictures on the layout yet because I’m planning to take pictures with my very dear friend and Pastor’s wife, Lori this upcoming Sunday. They have decided to retire and move back to their hometown to take care of elderly parents, so we will be hosting a farewell gathering & luncheon for them on Sunday. So, hopefully I’ll be able to share my layout with pictures, next week. Until then, here it is…

I had some fun incorporating the National Scrapbook Month special paper packet, Dotty for You, into this layout. The colors in the paper that I highlighted are Buttercup, Smoothie, Sunset & Sweet Leaf. I brought in a little hint of Chocolate as well.

I found this sweet poem, My Treasured Friend, that complimented the sentiments in the Stamp of the Month set and printed it directly onto the Sweet Leaf cardstock.

I took a very simple approach to coloring the sunflowers. I used sponge daubers and ink to color. All you have to do is gently swirl the inked sponge dauber onto the stamped image and add more color where needed to add depth…FSE {which stand for Faster, Simpler, Easier}!

Using the Cricut Craft Room, I was able to weld some shapes together from the Cricut Art Philosophy Cartridge together to create the shape of the Sweet Leaf cardstock and the Colonial White cardstock shape on the right page.

I used the My Acrylix Urban Alphabet for the ‘SISTERS’ title. After I took the photo, I added right below it, ‘in Christ’. Once I have my pictures, I will add them to the layout along with a few leaves for the sunflowers on the right page and share them with you.

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That’s it for now…I hope you enjoyed your visit!

Now "Hop" on over to Wendy Coffman's blog to see her fabulous works of art! Be sure to visit all the Consultants at their blogs to get some great crafting ideas and other fun ideas using this month’s stamp of the month!

To purchase your May Stamp of the Month (only available May 1-31, 2012) and other CTMH products like the Dotty for You National Scrapbook Month Special & Cricut Art Philosophy Collection…

Visit My Website to shop now!

or click here to contact me to place your order.

Thank you for stopping by and have a blessed day,

CTMH Cruisin’ with Chevron Tutorial

I learned a fun new technique this last week…how to make chevrons!

Here is a scrapbook layout I created of my son, who got his driver’s license not long ago, in his ‘new’ red Chevy pickup truck.

I wonder how CTMH knew I would be needing some fabulous new papers to scrapbook my son’s driving adventures!?! The Cruisin’ Level 2 Paper Packet and accessories are P-E-R-F-E-C-T!

So, I bet you are wondering how I made those really cool bold chevron patterns. Here is a short tutorial to show exactly how it’s done…

I started off with a 2” x 12” strip of paper.

Draw a line with a pen or pencil down the center lengthwise at 1”. Then draw lines at 1” increments widthwise all the way down the length of the paper. Next, I scored lines as shown below to create my chevron pattern.

You will then cut on the pen/pencil line down one side…every other line (begin with the bottom left line) and only cut up to the center line. Then rotate your paper and do the same on the other side (begin with the 2nd line)…every other line.

Now, fold in the triangles and use a bone folder to get clean & crisp folds. Once complete, you will want to use a strong adhesive of your choice to secure folds down.

Above is what it should look like. Below is a finished strip. If you need more of a visual, check out the great video tutorial over at Julia Stainton’s blog.

You can certainly create thinner strips by cutting 1-1/2” & 1” strips…drawing your lines at 3/4” & 1/2”, respectively.

I am hoping to share some samples using thinner strips in a few days using the National Scrapbooking Month promotion paper packet called Dotty for You, which becomes available to customers April 17th for only $5 with a $35 qualifying purchase.

I hope you have enjoyed this tutorial and I’d love to see what you create!

April 2012 CTMH Stamp of the Month Blog Hop!!!

Welcome to the Close To My Heart Stamp of the Month Blog Hop!

This month we are featuring the April SOTM from the NEW 2012 Spring/Summer Idea Book, which is S1204 You Are…, a set of 15 My Acrylix Stamps! 

 

If you have come here from Tamytha Jenkins' blog, you are on the right path! The blog hop is a great big circle, so you can start here and work your way all around.

This month we have over 50 Close To My Heart Consultants sharing their creations using this month's SOTM and other great CTMH products on their blogs. To join in the fun just click on the link at the end of the post on each blog to move to the next one!

***

I’m sharing ANOTHER scrapbook layout this month! I think I’ve decided to challenge myself the rest of this year to create scrapbook layouts for each Stamp of the Month Blog Hop. Gives me an incentive to get more scrappin’ done!

I’m also sharing a sneak peek from CTMH’s National Scrapbook Month promotion, which begins April 17th! Here goes…

I absolutely LOVE the colors in this new paper packet! I used three of the colors, Sweet Leaf, Sunset & Lagoon along with Crème Brulee & Chocolate.

The paper packet is called ‘Dotty for You’, thus the dotted paper. On the reverse side of each dotted paper are fabulous patterns such as plaids, butterflies, circles, stamped images & more. I can’t wait to share more with  you in the next couple of weeks!

Here are a few close-ups of the page elements…

You see I used some of our yummy baker’s twine…which just so happens to have THREE of the colors in the ‘Dotty for You’ kit, so it works perfectly.

I created the banner with the Cricut Art Philosophy Cartridge & My Acrylix Pennant Alphabet

I used the April Stamp of the Month ‘You Are…’ with Chocolate ink for the title and some accent borders.

Here’s a photo of a photo of a cupcake pick I made using the April Stamp of the Month too.

I love using little banner strips of different sizes right now to add accents where needed. I hear banners are a really ‘HOT’ trend right now…along with more of that yummy baker’s twine!

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That’s it for now…I hope you enjoyed your visit!

Now "Hop" on over to Sheila Bennett's blog to see her fabulous works of art! Be sure to visit all the Consultants at their blogs to get some great crafting ideas and other fun ideas using this month’s stamp of the month!

To purchase your April Stamp of the Month (only available Apr 1-30, 2012) and other CTMH products like the Cricut Art Philosophy Collection…

Visit My Website to shop now!

or click here to contact me to place your order.

Thank you for stopping by and have a blessed day,

4 Things We Love About You–CTMH Superhero Layout

They don’t call it an ‘Idea Book’ for no reason! I love ‘scraplifting’ ideas from the Close To My Heart Idea Books…even right down to the last brad!

This scrapbook layout is featured on page 48 of the Close To My Heart Spring/Summer 2012 Idea Book. Click here to see the original layout.

The pictures I got of my darling nephew at his birthday party this past Saturday were absolutely perfect for this layout…probably because his momma is now a Close To My Heart consultant and she ran with the ‘Superhero’ theme so she could coordinate all the goodies. =)

I used CTMH’s Reflections Scrapbook Program {FYI - retiring item and available only while supplies last} for the layout design…which gave me the dimensions of the paper to cut. I had to guess on the sizes of stars to cut, so I cut a 5” star, two 3” stars & two 2” stars using the Cricut Art Philosophy Cartridge.

The photos are cut at 3” x 3” & 3-1/2” x 5”.

I also used the Superhero Complements Rub-Ons, which are so stinkin’ cool! I rubbed them onto white cardstock and cut them out to make them more sturdy.

To duplicate this layout, here is a list of products that I used…

X7152 Superhero Paper Packet, X7152C Superhero Complements Rub-Ons, E1022 My Acrylix Hero Alphabet Stamp Set, Z2134 Moonstruck Stamp Pad, Z2105 Black Stamp Pad, StazOn Stamp Pad, Z1393 Black Mini-Medley Accents, Z1327 Blue & Green Sparkles Assortment, Z1326 Pink & Red Sparkles Assortment, Z1294 Sanding Kit, 4275 My Legacy Writers & Z1686 Cricut Art Philosophy Collection

If you would like to duplicate this layout, you can purchase the above products listed on my website HERE or just click on the items above and add them to your shopping cart.

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Don’t forget, during the month of March 2012, you can get a FREE Cricut Art Philosophy Collection when you decide to sign up to be a Close To My Heart Consultant! You to can design your next party around one of our fabulous kits! =) For more information, you can contact me or to sign up today, click here.

Well, that’s it for now. Make it a great day…with CTMH!