I {heart} Smash Book

Have you "smashed" yet? My daughter and I walked through a local scrapbooking store and saw the Smash Book from K&Company for the first time. Curious...We went home and researched on the Internet to find out what this smashing was all about. Curious yourself? Check out this video. {warning: the song is very catchy!}


Well, being a dedicated Close To My Heart gal, I was certain that I could create one of these books with the wonderful CTMH products. I happened to get one of these My Creations Journals before they retired. I like that it has a protected front cover and big spirals to allow pretty ribbons and expansion of pages.

I am entering this smash-tastic project in two challenges this week. First the Ribbon Carousel Challenge for it's colorful ribbon and sparkly swirls. I am also entering it in the Inspired By #11 Challenge. The colors of the photo are exactly what I was looking for. My little banner hangs cheerfully just as the frames in the photo as well!

This is the photo at Inspired By~

I love the idea of a Smash Book being sort-of whimsical and chaotic. It will contain a mish-mash of items and ideas and those will be written in my own handwriting which is pretty scary! What a fun journey this shall be!

I did break down and get the Smash pen. It's too cool not to use. It has a writing pen on one end while the other end has glue. I'm ready to smash anything in the book!! Awesome right!

Lollipop Watermelon

Do you recall when "lollipop flowers" were the hot new trend? Today I bring it back, not as a flower, but as a watermelon!

In July I am hosting a "food themed" card swap. The participants already have their assignments and possibly hard at work. However, if they don't have a variety of "food" stamps to use, this is a great alternative. Use the papers you already have and make it look like food. I will post more ideas all month long, so come back for more inspiration and in July I will post the cards from the swap!

I am also submitting this card into two challenges this week. The first is for Heart 2 Heart's sketch challenge. I really enjoy the simplicity of the sketch allowing the artists to embellish as they desire.

This is also for Ribbon Carousel Challenge this week. Anything goes as long as it contains some sort of fiber that comes on a spool! No problem!

My watermelon has 7 layers. I started with some Tulip B&T papers from a mix of paper packs. These make up the first four top layers. My next layer is from an old children's dictionary. I punched a section out and inked the edges lightly in green. {if you look closely you'll see that I used the section with the watermelon definition on it!} The final two layers are sweet leaf cardstock and clover meadow green B&T papers. By having that little bit of white paper it really makes it look like the rind of the melon. Finally, I added some little black seeds which were free hand cut from black cardstock.

Here's the sketch~

So many favorite products and techniques on this card. First, is the watermelon. Whether it's lollipop flowers or fruit, it's just a simple and fun edition to any project. I also love faux stitching. It really ties the base pieces all together. By removing the guard on the corner rounder punch you can create perfect scallops as I did here on the Tulip cardstock. I {heart} the new CTMH buttons and pearl opaques. My papers are all CTMH. Did you notice the lovely creme brulee paper leftover from the You & Me kit? My fibers include a stitched sweet leaf grossgrain ribbon from CTMH and Peapod green twine from the Twinery.

I'm a Top Spool

You may have noticed the new badge on the right side of my blog. I was chosen as a winner at Ribbon Carousel Challenges with my falling stars birthday card. I am truly honored and humble. I encourage everyone to play along and check out their blog if you get a chance!