Pop and Twist Calendar 2017

I try to come up with a different calendar idea every year. This year a few pop & twist card ideas were trending on the internet, so it was fitting that I designed a similar concept for my calendar this year. I taught this as a class last week and it was a big success. Here are my calendar samples using the Swan Lake collection and a sneak peek at a brand new collection coming in January!

This one is already sitting at home in my freshly cleaned scrapbook room! This is a new paper collection called Dreamin' Big that you will see in the Winter/Spring Seasonal Expressions Idea Book. You can get your hands on this gorgeous paper starting January 1st.

Here are a few more of the calendars made by the ladies. Each kit was different and used various collections of paper and embellishments. Look closely as you may see a few more sneak peeks!

 

The total dimensions of this calendar is 5 x 7 so you can lay it down flat and place it in an envelope for easy mailing. To display you simply lift on the top piece, slightly twist and it holds in place by the post-it note pad and embellishments if desired. Here are some quick dimensions to get you started on making one of your own.

Base cardstock measures 5 x12, score at 7 inches. Then turn at a diagonal on you paper trimmer or score board and make a score line from the bottom corner to the top of the side that now measures 5x5, creating two triangles.

Place glue on the bottom triangle that gets folded and twisted up towards the base, not on both triangles! You will then place another piece of matching cardstock that measures 5x7 to the top where you placed glue, making certain to line up the top with the bottom piece.

 

All that is left is to decorate with coordinating patterned papers and embellishments. Don't forget your calendar and post-it note pad. {It is best to use red line glue to keep a secure hold as the calendar will be displayed somewhat vertically.} I get my calendars from Taylored Expressions. We also decorated a pen to match for writing down those important thoughts!

Thanks for stopping by. Let me know if you make a Pop & Twist calendar!

Hello with Feathers and Wood Grain

The sketch on Freshly Made Sketches is very clean and simple this week. I immediately saw a space on this card to use some leftover Charlotte feather stickers I had in my stash. I also wanted to add some wood grain texture for interest. It all came together in a very trendy, beautiful card.

Some Favorite Spring Stamps

There are only a few days left to take advantage of the Stampaganza sale! I just recently shared a few of my favorite stamp sets at a Spring Card Class. Here are the cards we made and the stamps I used. You can find all of these in the current Seasonal Expression 1 Idea Book.

This first card was inspired by another consultant Chris Lothian who posted on Instagram. I loved the combination of stamps to create an adorable scene. I used the Spring Critters stamp and the Stuck on You cactus set. These are both compatible with Thin Cuts which makes them even easier to stamp and color!

This card shows what you can do with just one stamp set. Woodland Romance is a beautiful stamp that allows all sorts of images to come together in a lovely romantic design. It especially looks amazing with the Charlotte papers and some diffused embossing!

Even though I called this a Spring class this card will get you in the mood for summer. I just love this octopus, he is so cute and ready to make a splash! Like the Woodland Romance stamp set several of these images can be cut on the Cricut. The crab is equally as cute and the banner with the sentiments are perfect for cards and scrapbooking pages.

Now you have a few more ideas for these awesome stamp sets. Which one will you choose to get for free?! Order online here.

Wedding Diamond Layout

I attended my cousins wedding last weekend and was just scrapbooking some of the photo's I took. There are just a few really good pictures from within the reception. Let's face it, sometimes your just having too much fun and forget to take pictures! I did get three that really captured the feeling in the room and includes a photo of the couple at their first dance. I am also entering this layout in the Three Challenge at Heart 2 Heart Blog.

I decided to layout the three photo's on this diamond design inspired from the Close To My Heart homepage and a layout that Jody Gustafson did here on her Cre8'n Memories Blog. Along with the gorgeous soft Charlotte papers I pulled in some yellow Georgie papers to match the theme of the reception.

I used a combination of stamps and embellishments from the Charlotte collection to finish the layout. Even with just three pictures I am able to still capture our memories from this special day.

Pink Elephants

Heart 2 Heart Challenges Blog is asking what is our favorite paper collection. It's difficult to pick only one as each collection can serve a different purpose... holiday's, outdoor, big and small celebrations! Sometimes a paper pack can be versatile, fitting many different themes. I have to say that I fell in love with Charlotte at first sight. I love the soft color combination and how gorgeous it looks with pops of gold. I also love the floral print, but appreciate the modern and trendy prints too.

On this card I used those more trending prints to create a cute card with the Stamp of the Month Balloon Animals. It can be a playful Birthday card or even a baby card.

You can get the Balloon Animals for only $5 this month with qualifying order. Add the Charlotte paper pack in your cart too, you won't regret it!

Charlotte My Dear...Deer?!!

Ah! The lovely deer has made its return! Back in December I shared some projects with deer images, from cards to the gift tags I adorned all of my Christmas packages with. Those projects were made with a cut on the newest Artistry Cricut cartridge. However, in the new Seasonal Expressions 1 book you can find a stamp set with a lovely deer image. That is what I used on this layout along with some floral images, paint splatters and the gorgeous Charlotte papers.

Here is the full image of the stamp set Woodland Romance {D1683}. How cute are these images and look how some of them can be cut on the Cricut for easy stamping! {indicated by the red outline}

Charlotte; My Type of Friend

I've been sharing information about the Charlotte Workshops Your Way all week. With this kit you will use several materials including the zip strips. I love that nothing goes to waste!

So this week for the Freshly Made Sketches challenge I reached for some more leftover zip strips to create my card. I also pulled out an older stamp set that just needed some more love!

 You can see just how awesome that zip strip is and the design of it really brings your eye to that cute sentiment. A little bit of water color and paint splatters makes the vintage typewriter stand out!

Charlotte Kit Cards

I've shared a couple of layouts that can be made using the Workshops Your Way kit. Today I would like to share the cards that you can create from the kit using the online guide. They use a mixture of papers, puffies, ribbon and sentiments, but what I really love is that you get to incorporate some water coloring with all three designs!

Take a closer look~

If your not a Scrapbooker, just imagine all the beautiful cards you can create with this workshop! You can order the Charlotte Workshop Your Way here and start creating!

Celebrate Charlotte

Yesterday I told you about the fabulous new Workshops Your Way. I showed you a layout that I created using the online guide. Remember that the guide will show you step-by-step how to create 3 layouts, a pocket scrapbooking layout and several cards.

Today I'd like to show you another layout from the guide. This time I put my own personal touch on the project. I changed the patterned papers to ones that appealed to me more and chose portions of the design to leave out or change.

Like the other layout I incorporated some chipboard embellishments, self sticking titles, gold puffies and pocket scrapbooking cards for journaling. I hope this layout encourages you to try a Workshop Your Way, because it can truly be created YOUR WAY!!

Charlotte Workshop Your Way

In the newest Seasonal Expressions Book you will find the brand new Workshops Your Way. This is a new program that will allow you to make several pieces of artwork with just a handful of supplies. They are perfect for traditional scrapbooker's, pocket scrapbooker's and card makers. A typical workshop includes a paper packet, complements and cardstock. Additional embellishments will vary from puffies, ribbon and washi tape. A list of additional project materials can be found on the same page as the WYW kit, this includes stamp sets, thin cuts, ink and recommended adhesive. A Workshop kit is priced at only $26.95. That is a fantastic deal when you consider that with the easy-to-follow online guide you can create 3 traditional layouts, a pocket scrapbook layout and multiple cards in various design options.

Here is just a sample page from the Charlotte collection. I simply followed the online guide to create this layout using just a fraction of the materials in the kit.

Where you see some blank spaces of cardstock is obviously where some photo's will go. You will also notice the use of chipboard embellishments, self sticking titles, ribbon, gold puffies and pocket scrapbooking cards for journaling. I love that you still incorporate some stamping and the guide uses every little piece possible including those awesome zip strips. You could further personalize this layout with more stamping, paper distressing or even some Cricut cuts.

Tomorrow I will show you another layout that was from the guide. I personalized it to my taste just a little bit, but I think you'll enjoy seeing the possibility these workshops have.

New Year, New Book and New Products!!

A brand new year means a chance to start fresh. Why not freshen up your scrapbooking supplies too! Having new papers, stamps and tools always fires up my creativity again!

The newest Seasonal Expressions catalog goes live today. It contains some brand new lines of products that Close To My Heart has never had before, plus they are introducing some gorgeous new lines of paper and embellishments that you know and love!

The Everyday Life Planner is an entirely new item for Close To My Heart. If you truly want to get organized in 2016 this planner will help you tremendously.

Plus, get these PML Live your Day cards only available this month. These cards coordinate perfectly with the Everyday Life planner or use them in your pocket scrapbooking pages.

Celebrate National Papercrafting Month with the exclusive Picture My Life™ Live Your Day scrapbooking program—available for one month only! This collection was designed to coordinate perfectly with the sensational Everyday Life™ 2016 Planner Pages and My Crush^® Everyday Life Pages, so you can seamlessly integrate pocket scrapbooking into your 2016 planner. Whether in the planner or on their own, these cards make it easy to preserve your everyday moments all year long. Get yours today for only $8.95 USD / $10.50 CAD before this offer is gone!

Dates: Offer valid January 1, 2016 (9:00 am MDT)–January 31, 2016 (11:59 pm MDT).

Want to instantly fall in love this year? Check out these amazing new paper collections.

Charlotte

 Penelope

Regatta

You will also find new Picture My Life collections, complements to the Base and Bling jewelry, a new Instalife album and some brand new Thin Cuts.

Looking for a good deal? You will find the Stamp of the Month collections for January, February, March and April in the back of the book. This month's stamp is the gorgeous Beloved Bouquet.

I will have lots more to show you in the coming weeks. Your going to love all the new choices in this book. If you want a Seasonal Expressions for yourself please contact me. You can also view the book online by clicking the picture located in the right hand column.