Happy Wishes and Rainbows

Just a happy little card using the Oh So Happy papers and embellishments. I believe the rainbow was actually from the cut above page in the Crafting with Heart subscription. I did not want to incorporate it in the page as instructed, but did not want it to be forgotten! I repurposed it on a greeting card that will undoubtedly brighten someone's day!

Thanks for stopping by! I hope this card brightened your day!

Picking a Favorite Product

Perhaps you've had the chance to either look at the new Annual Idea Book in person or virtually flip through the pages online. Once you covered every page, does just one product stand out or have you chosen several favorites? Today, I would like to share just a few of my faves....of course I can't pick just one thing, its a big book!

I'm always excited to see what new Cricut cartridges we will get and this year is no disappointment. However, I'm a big fan of How-to Books and when I saw that we had a new one I was super excited. It's called Make it from Your Heart Volume 3. Yes, I already have the first 2 that were published and use them often for inspiration. This book is a little different than the other two as you can insert the 3 hole punched volume into your choice of Everyday Life Album. You can choose the classy black and white striped album or the new Bashful Album which happens to replace Sea Glass as the color of the year! I chose the pretty new pink!

The new Bashful color is also available in ink, re-inker, cardstock, glitter paper and pearls!

This publication includes 36 two-page layout patterns for standard photo sizes, plus it will give ideas for adding more photo's using the pocket scrapbooking cards and memory protectors. The index in the front is laid out so that you can choose a layout based on how many photographs you want to include. I love that each pattern gives you 2 different ideas of artwork with a variety of papers and embellishments. If you love having a guide to kick start your creativity, you are going to love this program. 

Here is the pattern in the book that I chose and my layout.

You may notice that I used some older embellishments on this layout, however that paper is brand new. Okay, Okay, another favorite product from the new Idea Book. Close To My Heart has updated all the colors in the Basics collection. I was immediately intrigued by them and having some fun getting to know all the new colors. I chose a few of the fantastic patterns from the fundamentals collection to complete this layout.

The names of the new colors are pretty clever, they are: charcoal, pewter, pebble, linen, mink, heather, espresso, nutmeg, toffee and almond. Did I mention that the cardstock is updated as well? A fun new feature of these lovely papers is that now you will find a slightly lighter shade of the true color on the reverse side. This will allow for easier color coordination on your projects.

Take another look at this fun layout with so many newly added products and inspired by the incredible Make it from Your Heart How-to Book.

You can shop all these new items online today! Oh yeah! Did I tell you which stamp set is my favorite in the new book? Oh no, well maybe next time!!

Just a Note >> I Love You!

This gorgeous Valentine card was inspired by multiple challenges! It's amazing how much we can push our creativity!

The sketch for my card comes from Freshly Made sketches this week.

As you can see I chose my shape to be a vintage looking typewriter, which happens to be a Stamp of the Month that will be available later this Spring!

For my base paper I chose the lovely Heartstrings paper in a Cranberry color. This is my favorite B&T paper currently in all of the paper collections. Using mostly cranberry in my card brings me to the second challenge over at Heart 2 Heart Challenges. Yep, I'm a September Birthday girl!

Finally, the last challenge was proposed on CTMH founder's Jeanette Lynton's Blog, Make It from Your Heart. An inspiration Bingo board. Close your eyes and let your finger land where it may. Then choose your direction.

I landed on "Use Shin Han Touch Twin markers" and could go vertical or horizontal. I chose to use the "O" column. Now some of these may need explaining!

The first Bingo box is to use stitching. This required getting my daughter's machine out, because I obviously work with paper and don't really sew. I did alright though and the contrast of the white thread with the cranberry paper is lovely.
 

The next challenge was to expose the white core of the paper. This was achieved by both tearing the edge of the paper and using a distressing tool on the edges. This sketch really lent itself to the torn paper!

Next was to frame a part of your creation. In a way the black cardstock frames the cranberry paper on the entire base of the card. This was also done by framing the stamped heart within the typewriter paper.

Now if you look closely in this next picture you will see where the PML card came into play. I stamped the typewriter paper on a For Always Picture My Life 3x4 card that contained some script. A little ironic I realize, but it's still super cute!

Finally, the box I landed on originally! To incorporate the Shin Han Touch markers I wanted to use a heart stamp for the center of the paper on the typewriter. The shape and size of this heart worked the best, but it was open in the middle. A quick fix was to color in the middle with the Very Cherry Shin Han Touch marker and then I blended it together with the colorless blender marker.

That was fun playing along with those challenges, you should try one, or two, or all of them....at the same time!! Thanks for stopping by...

Chocolate is good for you!

I was suppose to be doing some family scrapbooking yesterday, but that didn't happen. The Stamp of the Month was still sitting there on my desk and was begging to be inked up some more. So I couldn't resist creating a sweet set of cards using a variety of images and sentiments. Plus, they looked so darling combined with some Chantilly paper and textiles.

{Mmmm. liquid applique and some glitter make a scrumptious frosting}

 

 

{A real mini cupcake foil liner works perfectly on this card.}

 

 

 

Please keep in mind that this stamp set will only be available until August 31st. It's a great deal, so don't miss out on the opportunity to create your own sweet cards!

 

Also, in case you were wondering, all of the designs for my cards came from the new Make It from Your Heart Volume 2 How-to book. This little book is filled with so many creative ideas and will inspire you to tackle your layout projects or cards. You can order the stamp of the month or how-to books online here.

 

Now on to some family scrapbooking... although these cards could use a darling little box now to store them in?!

 



Family Adventure

Am I Artbooking or Scrapbooking? Both really!

 

These pages were so simple to put together. In fact I was able to create them while at a crop. The template for my layout came from the new Make it From Your Heart Volume 2 how-to book. I cut some overlay pieces from the Artbooking cartridge where some background texture papers would normally go. I also cut out a few title pieces I wanted to use. I brought along a few stamps and embellishments to add details. It all came together easily and the finished page is a great way to showcase some family vacation pictures.

 

I love this stamp set with the little spinner! It contains some great sentiments and adds lots of interest. The new red shimmer tape is so cool and so easy to add to your projects. That cute little bicycle paper clip was found while standing in line at Cost Plus World Market of all places!

Dream Pop Mother's Day & Top Chick!

I told you I've been getting some scrapbooking done this month for National Scrapbooking! I'm practically ahead of the game considering we just celebrated Mother's Day on Sunday and I already have my pictures scrapped! I used a pattern from the Make It from Your Heart book and several different papers from the Dream Pop kit. I also stamped some fun and whimsical images & sentiments, because our photo session that day was a little bit silly!

So many fun details in this layout. The Mother's Day title was cut on the Artiste Cricut cartridge, I simply just cut off the "happy" portion at the top. I used some twine, bitty sparkles and even stamped some faux washi tape with a background stamp.

This morning while checking my emails, I received some awesome news! I had some artwork selected in the Top Ten on Heart 2 Heart Challenges Blog. In additions to that, I was chosen as the Top Chick for the month of April!!! Woo Hoo!!! There is more exciting news, but I can't tell you yet!
You can see the winning entries here.

Lastly, I will leave you with a sneak peek at the "summer~time" project we will be creating this Saturday at my Summer Card Exchange. I will post the full project and the Summer themed cards for you here soon!

The Lovely Chantilly {Spring Open House}

I have some more artwork for you today from my Spring Open House. One of the prettiest papers in the new book is the lovely Chantilly. I was able to create a couple of layouts showing the papers versatility. It has lots of pinks and reds in it, but is not necessarily a girly paper!

Before I show you the pages, I want to share a card I made for the Paper Players challenge. This card definitely shows off the pretty, feminine side of Chantilly!

This first layout shows the "girly" side of Chantilly. It has pinks, reds, yellows and floral patterns. I created this one for my teen daughter that enjoys fashion.

Check out this fun embellishment created with the stamp included in the Workshop on the Go kit! The arrow can spin to indicate my daughter's fashion choice!

The little dress was cut on the Cricut Artiste cartridge then paper pieced!

Flip to the other side of the double sided paper and you get a whole new look of Chantilly! How adorable would this page be for a little boy or even your Easter celebration!

The recent trend of honeycombs is so graphic and fun! The little sentiment included on the stamp in the kit is just perfect for the shapes!

The fabric buttons are a quick embellishment anywhere on your project.

There you have it! The lovely Chantilly paper is pretty and oh so versatile! I would also recommend the Workshop on the Go kit so that you can play with not only the gorgeous papers, but the stamp, fabric buttons, glitter gems and instructional brochure. {G1053 $29.95}

DE Holiday ~ Joy

I absolutely love the little ornament shapes found on the sheet of Dimensional Elements Holiday chipboard. There are two, one that says Joy and the other Noel. For my card today I chose the Joy ornament and another design from the Make it from Your Heart how-to book.

I'm using up some more left over Pear & Partridge papers including that handy little zip strip. I did a bit of dry embossing on the cocoa cardstock and added just a touch of cranberry ribbon. All products are Close To My Heart!

Open House Highlights

Just a few highlights from my Open House & Ice Cream Social! The ladies had lots of products to check out and were introduced to several new items. It was a very "interactive" Open House! Guests were greeted by yours truly decked out with a mustache and they too were given their own 'staches. Pics were taken and then used directly on the "Create & Take" project. Even the kids got in on the action!

While the ladies started creating their page from the new how-to book Make It from Your Heart, I was busy editing and printing their photo's!

Just as they were finished with assembly, I had their photo ready to go on the page. The last detail was to add their own mustache they used in the picture to the layout. How fun is that?!

Here is one table filled with lots of new goodies and fabulous projects! I will show more details on each of the projects in upcoming posts.

In this area I displayed the new color families, National Stamping Month promotion, and the new Cricut Artiste Collection. All of the cards I pinned up use the new stamps in both of these collections. {close-ups of each to come}

I cut strips of cardstock and adhered them to clothespins. I then strung them on a 12x12 cork board Just a fun way to display the new colors!

I have so much more to share with you from this fun event, be sure to come visit again!