Live Beautifully Cut Above Kit

I can't believe we are already more than half way through May. Half way through National Scrapbooking Month! Have you explored the Live Beautifully collection being offered this month only? I was able to show some of my customers the new items especially focusing on the Cut Above Kit. Scrapbooking your memories doesn't get any easier than this! Check out a collage of the kit contents.

Hopefully you can see the mix of papers, embellishments and the how-to brochure included in the kit. Everything is pre-cut and the assembly is simple. Here are just a couple layouts I completed within only a few minutes. Maybe 12-15 minutes per layout after printing the photo's of course.

You can search more ideas with this kit on Pinterest or Instagram with #ctmhlivebeautifully or #Nationalscrapbookingmonth. I will show you a few more layouts here on my blog in the coming days as well! Happy scrapbooking!

Manly Thank You Box

Not too long ago I shared with you some cards I created with the guys in mind. The cards were masculine and would be great for a husband, brother or father. Shortly after my man themed card workshop, I was preparing for my nephew's graduation. I'm not a fan of just giving cash, although it is always well received,  I like to give a little gift that was handmade by me.

I decided to make a box full of some Thank You cards for my nephew to give to those in attendance at his graduation party or gave him a graduation gift. He could also use them to write a note to a teacher or mentor that was a great influence to him through his schooling years. Either way, I felt the cards needed to be simple and masculine.

The cards and box were decorated with the Urban paper collection. I used a couple of distressing techniques and adorned the box with some triangle studs. What's more manly than diamond plate and messy ink blots?!

Since I decorated a box to hold the cards I am entering this project in Heart 2 Heart's 3D challenge this week. The studs and chipboard "J" are also 3D on the cover of the box. {The J is for my nephew's name. He can store other trinkets in the box when all the cards have been mailed out.}

The card itself is a simple design with the center focus on a Cricut cut "thanks". I used just a bit of decoration on the envelope as well.

The Urban papers are essential for those manly cards or projects. Be sure to get them before they retire at the end of July!

Graduation Day Layout

I was able to get some of the graduation pictures scrapbooked this week. Not bad, considering it's still June...thank goodness for Summer vacation!!

These are some pictures of the graduation day...or should I say night ceremony! Our small town High School held the ceremony the old~fashioned way, out on their football field. It was a really hot day so we were worried about the sun beating on us while we waited for the ceremony to begin. Luckily by the time the ceremony began at 8pm the seating was really well shaded and temperatures fell quickly as the sun set behind the school. It was a wonderful ceremony! After the graduates received their diploma, they walked down the aisle and in front of the bleachers for all to see. As our son made his walk, we could hear his family members shouting & cheering for him! His Pa Pa loudly exclaimed "I love you, Alex!". {He's the one in the buttercup yellow collared shirt and dark blue hat}

 After the ceremony all the kids formed a big group and got to throw their caps in the air! This was also cool, because several schools have banned this action! After a big group picture the families were allowed on the field to take pictures. I knew we would have to be fast as my son is not a big picture taking kind-of guy!!

So here are a couple of good photo's I captured before the ceremony and after. I say "good" photo's because my camera does not take great pictures in football field lighting! :(

 I'm still using up some Free To Be Me papers. I combined them with an older paper collection and journaling pockets called Elemental. For my title I combined some AC Thickers with the E-sized Framework Alphabet. The pocket works well for holding the tickets. I have added some fun tags and embellishments of all kinds. I have yet to do the journaling, but I imagine it will be about what I described at the beginning of this post! :)

The following day we had a BBQ to celebrate...those pictures have yet to be scapped! Stay tuned!

Graduation Thanks!

The celebration around here has been ongoing, hence the absence of artwork lately!

My first baby has graduated from High School! You've seen the announcements and now I am busy making thank you notes for the many friends and family that have shown their love and support to our graduate!

I found a clean and simple sketch this week on Freshly Made Sketches to use and also found some older bulk papers (Typeset) that were perfect for a school event!

{ I made a few variations using different embellishments I had.}

{A family picture after the ceremony!}

 

I made a great little album for guests to sign at his party using the 8x8 Kraft album. Come back soon as I will post some pictures for you!