Hello Calypso

The new Calypso paper is a happy, colorful collection of flamingo's and pineapples. This paper has a playful combination of bright colors with a black and white base. The images will certainly make you feel like a warm summer day! Take a look at a layout I created with these papers anticipating the upcoming summer break! {Only a few days away....I'm counting down the days!!}

 

  

On this layout I used a combination of the Calypso papers and the coordinating complements. I also added some stamp sets for the "hello" title, journaling lines and ink splatters. My favorite accessory has to be the flamingo Washi tape though, it's adorable!

See more of the Calypso papers online. You can also search #ctmhcalypso on Instagram or search for projects on Pinterest. Are you ready for some summer fun?!

She Is Extraordinary!

I made this "She Art" inspired card for my big Sis! She is officially retired today and I am so happy for her! She has put in years of dedication to her profession and I admire her strength and commitment. As this chapter in her life closes, I'm convinced that the next chapter for her will be extraordinary.

My older sister enjoys my handmade cards and especially cherishes the scrapbook pages I have created for her. My medium is definitely paper, but her craft is undoubtedly with fabrics. She is an extremely talented quilter and experiments with all sorts of fabric crafts. We love comparing how much the paper arts and fabric arts transition into each other often. Recently she shared a magazine with me that featured She Art using fabric and stitching. I showed her the canvas and paper She Art that I have created. So when I was making a card to congratulate her on retirement, I thought it would be fun to incorporate some She Art.

I used a Julie Nutting stamp to create the "She". Then I pulled in all sorts of mixed papers, washi tape, vellum and chipboard complements. I hope she likes her She Art card! I also wish her all the best in her future. I hope she gets to do something she truly loves and finds rewarding, especially since now she won't have such a highly demanding full-time job! Yeah Sis!!

Ice Cream Dream Complete Layout

You're probably thinking... "Why is she posting about the Ice Cream Dream stamp set, that was two months ago?!" Maybe you can think of it as a little Flashback Friday!! {tee-hee} Plus, I would hope that it still inspires you by the use of papers, the color combination, using some new and old stamp sets or simply the template (sketch) of the pages.

You will recall that I created a 12x12 page using the adorable Ice Cream stamp set in June. You can see the original post here. I had a couple ideas of possible pictures that I could place on it. I thought maybe we could visit our local ice cream shop this summer or perhaps there would be a chance to visit a favorite stop with my nieces in Lake Tahoe. I was so excited to get to do the second choice! The 45 minute wait in line at Camp Richardson is worth the memories!!

Now I had a main photo for the original page I created, but I couldn't leave out the individual pictures I took of my kids and my 2 beautiful nieces. So, I created a companion page. This page was so easy to put together and was inspired by a layout in the newest Idea Book coming in September!

I loved using the different blocks of paper and photo's to fill this page. If there was not a photo in a square then I used it to build clusters of stamped images and embellishments. This was inspired by the layout I saw in the new book as I mentioned earlier. The stamp set they used however is not brand new, in fact you may already have it in your stash. It's called Documenting Moments and is a super functional stamp set.

 Here are a few close-ups of the clusters in individual squares.

This cute camera is from the new stamp set found in the Zoe Workshop on the Go available now!

 This layout just makes me happy! I hope it inspires you to do some crafting today!!

You can find the products I mentioned in this post online here.

You...Make Me Smile

For the Freshly Made Sketches challenge this week I created 2 totally different style cards. The first one is what I first imagined in my mind. I wanted to mix some soft colorful flowers with bold black & white and just a touch of gold! Maybe it was a little better in my mind, but its still pretty!

Then, just for fun I saw a card on Pinterest that inspired me to get out the Confetti Wishes paper and the Operation Smile, Happy Everything stamp. After coloring the balloons I realized that I didn't have sequins that perfectly matched. No problem, I just colored some white sequin with the Shin-Han Twin Touch Markers! I finished with 3 MyStickease gift packages that were pop dotted.

Which card is your favorite?!!

Blossom Delight

Earlier this week I shared a layout I did using the new Blossom papers and complements. These products showcased my pictures of the tulip festival beautifully. I had a few more favorite pictures from the same event that I wanted to scrapbook. I carried over the same papers and embellishments, but this layout looks so different from the first. Check it out!

 In this layout I wanted to leave a cleaner, brighter base to allow the photo's to really be the center of attention. I pulled in some orange B&T papers, a fun section of zip strip, and a few more complements that were remaining on the sheet.

On this page I used a piece of the new Carnival Washi tape to add a sentiment to the left of the picture. Not to leave too much white space I created a stamped cluster of Shower Flowers in the upper corner and then lower corner on the adjacent page.

Just a few colorful sequins and a metal butterfly finish the pages wonderfully. I absolutely love this picture of my mom, she looks so beautiful. I also treasure this picture of my "little" brother and I. We aren't able to spend time together often, so I truly cherish these moments! {A great big thank you to my husband for thinking to snap our picture together!}

You can order all of these brand new products from the Seasonal Expressions 2 book online here.
Time is running out to get your Deal of the Day and the awesome Typed Note Stamp of the Month!
In just 6 days there will no longer be a deal so don't delay!

I Like These Cards a Latte!

Treats of Friendship is one of the newest stamp sets found in the Seasonal Expressions 2 book. (page 15) It features images of a coffee cup, donut and tea cup. I love the quirky sayings and am finding all sorts of possibilities to use it!

Today I'm sharing cards using the coffee cup image, I like it a latte! I will share cards with the other images later this week!

This first one is my favorite! I used the Blossom papers, some of the new Boardwalk Washi tape for the sentiment, and some Glacier thick twine as a "cozy" for the cup. Soooooo cute!!!

I love the thick chocolate grosgrain ribbon on this card. It makes me think it might be a mocha latte!

Some more Glacier twine, Carnival Washi tape this time and don't you just love the drip of coffee on the rim of the cup. This is from the Junebug Puffies in the SE1 book.

Finally, coffee comes best in pairs! I was using up some older Year>>Noted papers and loved the softer colors with the cups. Just colored in the coffee bands and added a bit of Washi tape.

 

 

The Treats of Friendship stamp can be your one regular priced item in your cart that would then qualify you for the Deal of the Day! (C1616) $13.95

Disneyland Birthday Confetti Wishes

My daughter wished to celebrate her 16th Birthday at Disneyland this year. She took her best friend who had never been to Disneyland before. They made some unforgettable memories and I had the task of preserving those memories!

I chose to use the Confetti Wishes paper and complements collection. All of the bright colors were perfect for the Disneyland rides and attractions. These girls are obsessed with social media like Instagram that I wanted to incorporate the same feel to the pages. I framed each photograph like an Instax picture. This allowed me to do several smaller pictures on one layout and also gave me little white spaces to journal. I used some of the complements to title and embellish. I also cut some new Washi tape and  used them like tags on the page. (you will see more of these in April!) I ended up using a total of 8 different stamp sets, new & old, to add little sentiments and images!

Peek~a~Boo Washi Tape

This card contains lots of on-trend products, especially the Washi tape! I made it in response to a creative challenge from the CTMH team to use Washi tape in a creative way. I liked the idea of cutting out a sentiment and having patterned paper and Washi tape peeking through from behind.

To make the banner I simply chose the shape on my Cricut and then in Design Space I chose my font for the hello and cut it out on the center of the pennant shape. For the background I chose random papers from various collections and grouped them with some gold dotted, lagoon heart and arrow Washi tape. Include the twine, gold shimmer trim and mini clothespin, this card is absolutely trendy!!

My Crush Goes Camping!

When our family goes on vacation in the summer we tend to be away for at least a week if not longer. I snap several pictures along the way and come home with a full SD card to download and then to scrapbook. It can be a little daunting to organize all the photo's and remembering every detail. Do you experience this also?

Wouldn't it be simple to scrapbook the pictures as you travel? That's what My Crush books are all about! My daughter and I recently put this concept into practice.

We did some camping at the Grand Canyon and Bryce National Park. My daughter took her Instax camera she received for her Birthday a couple years ago. I brought along a little canvas bag containing My Crush Bluebird Book with accessories, journal pen, washi tape and adhesive.

We explored our surroundings and snapped a few pictures here and there. The Instax camera is most ideal to use outdoors with bright lighting. However, if you prefer to snap pics on your smart phone there are several portable printer options on the market.

{photo's via Amazon}

Here are some shots of my daughter being a little photographer. {She captured the adorable domesticated Beagle in the wild! Oh My!}

Once we had a couple pictures, we took out all of our supplies and the My Crush book. My daughter sat at the little table in our camper and began to put together a couple of pages. She had a great view of the outdoors which helped inspire her creating and still had all the details fresh in her mind!

As you can see~

1. You don't need a big tote full of supplies.
2. Your workspace can be just a small table. {work on the bed or floor even!}
3. It doesn't require a lot of time taking you away from your vacation.
4. Your scrapbooking is complete when you get back home and the details recorded!

She also found some unique feathers while we were hiking. She added these to the book with some Washi tape. You can Crush most anything, not just your pictures!

The new Annual Inspirations book has added more My Crush books and accessories. See them all and order here.

Holiday Happenings

Wildwood

In The Pink

Try it for yourself! If you Crush it, you will Love it!

Summer Open House 2014

The brand new 2014-15 Annual Inspirations Idea Book will be released this week, Friday, August 1st. It is full of gorgeous new papers,  fun stamps, innovative tools and delicious embellishments!

I held my Open House to showcase just some of the fabulous new items. I called it a "Summer" Open House, because I will hold additional Open Houses later this year to truly show all the new items this book has to offer!

The new book will be available to view online this Friday and you may begin making purchases from the book then too!

{Welcome to my Open House}

 

One of the first "favorite" items is this red framed magnetic chalkboard. I love that Close To My Heart has introduced so many new home decor items. Several of these items have filled many walls and shelves throughout my home. This frame sits on a shelf in my dining room which already had red details in it so it was a perfect fit! It welcomed those ladies attending my Open House. I put some little bottle cap magnets on it just to show that it was not only a chalkboard. I'm excited to write messages on it or favorite quotes!

This is the my main table I had set up filled with lots of new goodies!

I wanted to show the new book, the 5 brand new colors {inks & paper}, a beautiful Seaside Workshop on the Go kit {it just happens to feature my own family pictures in it, woo~hoo!}, Picture My Life program and one of my absolute favorite items...the fundamental papers in the Whimsy color palette.

I showed a preview to a scrapbooking workshop using a gorgeous new paper called Brushed. This layout showcases a beautiful new stamp set and the cutest heart Washi tape in Lagoon! I also showed a level 3 layout using papers and embellishments from the Chalk It Up collection.
 

Finally I set up a display of the newest Base & Bling collections as well as a "try it" marker display. Yes, that's right, new markers and they are awesome!

I will have more detailed pictures of all these projects soon!

I also offered some handmade projects for sale. They included a mini album, 12x12 layouts and boxed card sets. I will have these posted in a "for sale" section on my Blog soon.

Be sure to stop back here at the end of the week! See the new book and be inspired by all the new products and the outstanding artwork. Want a new book in your hands? Just contact me and I'll help you with that. You can place your order for new products online here. Be sure to click on the JOIN button under my Inspiration 2014 gathering.