Christmas Card Buffet

I recently hosted my first ever card buffet. I created a dozen different Christmas cards with a huge variety of themes from reindeer to gingerbread men and even a VW bug!? The ladies had 2 hours to create and the more they made the more savings the earned per card. It was hit overall and everyone really had fun!

Here is a picture of the cards, minus one that was left out of the photo.~

This picture illustrates how the cards were set in crates or boxes with kits to make the card along with the materials needed to complete it. Most required a stamp set and inks, but others needed thin cuts, markers, craft heaters, embossing folders and more.

Here are the ladies having fun, but mostly getting to work....serious business you know!

One of the aspects that the ladies enjoyed the most is that all the ideas were already thought of for them. The could simply look at the master card and recreate it. I try to come up with interesting ideas and wanted to explore all sorts of stamp images as well as use a variety of papers. Sometimes the ideas came from strange items. Like the Merry VW bug card. On a recent shopping trip to Michaels I came across these adorable magnetic closing boxes for 50% off. The image of the little cars decked out for the holidays was my inspiration for this card. I think the post office should seriously make this a stamp design. I would buy it! None of these card kits were left in the box...well not many cards were left at all at the end of the night!

Happy crafting!

Click, Click!

Life in Pictures stamp set is fun for all types of projects. Here are a few more ideas for you!

You may remember when I used this triangle overlay for another card with Regatta papers and a boat image. I changed up the papers and added one of the vintage camera images from the Stamp of the Month. I placed the overlay on kraft cardstock which gives it more depth.

At a recent sneak peek of the new Seasonal Expressions 2 Idea book, I created a similar project for the ladies to make.

This time I placed the overlay on sturdy chipboard. The ladies picked from an assortment of patterned paper triangles from the brand new paper collections; Florence, Magical and Calypso. They mixed the colors randomly then adhered them. We finished the project with some white & gold ribbon so they could hang their signs on the doors to their craft spaces so that when others entered they would know they are entering the room of the Scrapbook Queens!

You will see more of these new papers and fabulous stamp set on May 1st when the Seasonal Expressions 2 Idea Book releases. However, If you wish to get the Life in Pictures Stamp of the Month you must make your purchase before the end of April.

Happy crafting Scrapbook Queens!

Keep my boat afloat!

I love those moments of instant inspiration! I recently got a sneak peek at the new Seasonal Expressions 2 Idea Book that goes live on May 1st. Inside the pages was a fabulous 12x12 layout that inspired me to create a smaller version in a card. I have combined the awesome overlay from the Artbooking cartridge with the Regatta papers, My Anchor stamp set and the Life in Pictures Stamp of the Month.

Isn't that overlay the best background! It can be cut to any size you want. Then just create smaller triangles in background paper and fill in wherever you like. I used the polaroid looking frame from the stamp of the month to create a fake photo. The cute sailboat image sits inside the frame perfectly!

The Regatta papers and the following stamp sets are only available until the end of April. Don't miss out on these gorgeous products, order online or contact me to place an order.

Are you curious about the layout that inspired this card or the SE2 Idea Book coming out in May? Contact me to get more information or ask me about my Spring/Summer celebration and Open House to see the newest products!

Wedding Love Jar

I used the Freshly Made Sketches design and the colors of a wedding invitation as inspiration for a wedding card I need this weekend. I love the soft gray & yellow colors together, plus that little Cricut cut jar is so pretty!

You can recreate this card with some Georgie papers and cuts from the Artbooking and Artistry cartridges.  Check out the FMS Blog for more ideas using this sketch!

Share the Love ~ Hello

Have you answered the call to Share the Love this month?

Just a reminder that Close To My Heart has a special stamp set available this month only. The D-size Share the Love stamp set (CC1060) is filled with adorable icons and loveable sentiments. Not only will you be getting a high-quality, swoon-worthy stamp set by taking part in this promotion, but Close To My Heart will also donate $7 USD of the proceeds from this stamp set to Operation Smile™, an amazing organization that provides surgeries to repair cleft lips and palates for children all over the world*! Check out our social media channels all month long to see this stamp set in action, and remember to post your own artwork using the hashtag #ctmhsharethelove to help bring attention to a wonderful and worthy cause. You will see more of my own artwork on Instagram that I have not posted here on my Blog.

Here is one last card that I will share here on my Blog. Please keep in mind that time is running out to make a cute card like this one.

For my card I cut a heart overlay out of the polk-a-dot La Vie En Rose paper on my Cricut using the Artbooking cartridge. Before adhering it to my card base I did just a bit of water coloring with the Pixie ink. I stamped the little telephone in Pixie ink also then stamped in black and cut out just the rotary circle piece. I also cut the stamped cord off completely and replaced it with some black and white twine.

Order this adorable stamp set soon online here. Thanks for stopping by and be sure to check out Instagram for more inspiration!

Trick or Treat Cutie

I saw this idea from another consultant Jennifer Bennett. I thought it was a darling card and using the Artbooking images in a mini version was such a great idea! I never would have thought to scale down an image for what is intended to be a page of a mini album. How cute!

Year>>Noted Desk Calendar

Yesterday I held a quick class to create this handy desk calendar. The ladies had the opportunity to play with the Year>>Noted papers and stamp set. I cut a notebook shape from the Artbooking cartridge and stamped it like a piece of paper to write down New Year's goals or resolutions. {A great reminder of your goals throughout the year!} I ordered the little calendar's from Taylored Expressions and think they are a perfect size and nice readable font. The calendar is finished with a little banner and a puffie bird!

Feeling Grateful

I feel that it would be appropriate to share some Thanksgiving/Fall scrapbook layouts today! I hope to take several pictures at our family gathering to fill them! I used the Pathfinding papers and complements to create these simple layouts. I had a little help from the Artbooking Cricut cartridge as well!

Give Thanks~

Oh-So Grateful~

I wish you all a very Happy Thanksgiving surrounded by family and friends. Remember to capture the memories!

Frightfully Cute Mini Album

This little mini album created from the Artbooking cartridge is hardly frightful. It is so cute and fun for the Halloween Holiday!

 

I used the Scaredy Cat papers and coordinating cardstock. Most of the images and sentiments on this album are from this cute set~

Halloween Greetings D1605

I also used the Hopscotch alphabet for the "boo" on the cover and stamped a couple of candy corn from an older stamp set.

The Graduation Keepsake Book

I decided to create a book for our son's graduation. I wanted to fill it with some older pictures that captured several different memories from our son's life. I also wanted to leave open spaces so that guests attending his graduation could sign it with a personal message. Here is the sign I placed on the table next to the book~

 I used the My Creations Kraft 3-Ring Album for my project. It is a great way to showcase photographs and guests are able to sign the pages still. The albums total measurements are 8 5/8 x 9, so the pages inside are 8x8. The 8x8 pages correspond with the Inspiration Mini-Album found on the Artbooking Cricut Cartridge pages 44 &45.

I ended up with a total of 14 pages {class of 2014}, but you could fit more pages inside this album!

I filled it with photo's of all sizes, flip flaps and several different cards from the Picture My Life Later Sk8r Scrapbooking Program.

My favorite aspect was that the different family members were able to find a special memory with them or their kids and that's where they signed in the book! For example, one of my son's closest cousins signed under a picture of the two of them together.

I was able to incorporate the small & big PML {Picture My Life} cards, as well as cutting out portions of the card like the "hero" sentiment on this page.

How cute is this "then & now" page. One of the most difficult challenges in creating this album is that at the time my son was young there were no such things as digital pictures or SD cards or hard drives that contained all my pictures. Oh no! I was digging through old Rubbermaid boxes searching for old photographs!! Thank goodness I always got double copies so that I had extras!

The last couple of pages are just for sister, mom and dad to sign. I'm wondering if I left enough journaling lines for myself...luckily with all our guests and excitement lately I have not yet let the circumstances truly sink in. There have only been little moments (like watching him walk down the aisle at the ceremony)  that I start to think of it and I come to just the brink of a tear.  Things are winding down now and I'm certain that when I finally sit to write the words my eyes will flood.

My Creations Kraft 3-Ring Album (Z1871) $5.95

 

Cricut Artbooking Collection (Z1906) $99

 

Picture My Life Later Sk8r Scrapbooking Program (Z1945) $24.95

This album is not only great for graduation, but would be awesome for a baby shower or wedding too! You can find these products or similar items on my website here.

Follow Your Happy ~ Mini Album

Today's little album was created all from one key on the Artbooking Cricut cartridge. You can set your dial size and just pick which pages and pockets you want to cut. I used some twine and needle and threaded directly into the spine to hold it all together. Then I decorated with some embossed cardstock, glitter paper, stamping, Washi tape and Lollydoodle Stickease!