Happy National Scrapbooking Month!

Yeah, it's May! That means this month is dedicated to scrapbooking! Why do you scrapbook? What do you love about it?

I recently read an article in Women's Health about how our high-tech gadgets are erasing our minds. In one particular paragraph it referred to our love of Instagram and how we instantly snap our picture to share with our followers, but never recall it again. We are subconsciously counting on our camera/gadget to capture the moment for us. One of the suggestions to fix our memory is to first really take in the moment before snapping the picture. Ask yourself what you want to remember about the image and moment. Then take the time to organize your photo's and look at them again from time to time. Isn't that why you scrapbook?

I love looking back through my books and reflecting on a moment that has long ago passed me by. I like to remind my husband to take a look from time to time too. We both are always amazed about how far we've come (celebrating 20 years of marriage this September) and how much we've accomplished. I also shared with my children that they need to give my books special attention when I'm no longer around. I have hidden notes, stories and treasures throughout them, shoved between pages or tucked in little pockets. Sweet mementos that I have left behind for them.

So how do we celebrate National Scrapbooking Month and save our minds?! We celebrate with an amazing paper collection offered at a great deal for this month only!

You can get the Free to Be Me paper collection for just $5 with your qualifying purchase of $50. This collection is stunning and directly on trend with the market. You will receive artfully designed B&T Duos papers, a feather vellum, gold dot vellum and UV coated cardstocks as well. Plus, when you spend $50 and get the collection for just $5, you also qualify for the Stamp of the Month. Which is perfect because you can use it to create some wonderful cards in addition to the two-page layouts that you will be able to create from an instructional guide. {ask me for more details on instruction guide & workshop opportunities!}

Some product suggestions to reach your $50 purchase are~

Aqua dots, Z1853

My Acrylix Feathers, C1584

 

My Acrylix Marquee Uppercase Alphabet, E1029

 

Hopscotch Alphabet, E1028 {This was not suggested in the guide, but I used it on my layout and it works just as well. Come back soon to see the post of that layout!}

This Saturday, May 3rd, is National Scrapbooking Day. Will you be joining the fun? getting creative? capturing memories? Follow me on Instagram @amys_art or using "hashtags" #CTMHcreate or #nsd10k. {I know Instagram...how ironic?} Big Picture Classes and friends will be hosting the online scrapbooking event of the year. They hope to reach 10,000 layouts on Instagram! Don't miss it!

I will also be posting scrapbook layouts and other fun projects using the Free to Be Me collection all month long. Be sure to visit often!

Happy National Scrapbooking Month!!!

Graduation Announcements

My son will be graduating from High School this June. I have already began preparations for the big event and one of those tasks was to create his announcements. I chose not to purchase the standard school announcements, rather I wanted them to be personalized. I wanted them to represent my son, including the photograph...no faux tuxedo pictures for us!!

I figured that by making them myself it would give us the chance to save a little money too! I had most of the supplies already on hand, being a CTMH consultant was a big plus! With the few other products needed, photo paper and ink to print at home and postage stamps to mail them, my total cost was under $70! {I made 35 announcements} They included the graduation ceremony announcement as well as party invitation for the celebration to follow.

Once I had my idea and one test announcement created, I gathered everything I would need and formed an assembly line. My first tip~ have lots of adhesive ready to roll! {a little bit of chocolate nearby your workstation helps too!}

 

Don't panic when you don't have enough supplies, just get creative!! I selected some corrugated chipboard stars to use on the front of the announcement. I had about half of what I would need, but this was an older supply item and was no longer available. My solution was to cut the same size stars on Kraft cardstock using the Art Philosophy Cricut cartridge. Then I ran them through a Cuttlebug embossing folder to give them the same texture as the original stars. Worked perfectly!

 

 

Forming assembly lines is the easiest way to complete a big project like this. Cut all your cardstocks, stamp everything together, sand all your paper, cut out shapes on your Cricut, thread your twine and tie, glue, etc. etc.!! I worked on the announcements in blocks of time over the course of a couple days. I would run loads of laundry in between or get the oven warming before starting dinner. {always something else to be done right moms?!} In all, I logged 14.5 hours to complete them and get them all to the post office.

I loved the idea of a pocket on the inside. It would provide a little spot for the announcement as well as the party invite. I created the announcement using the PicMonkey photo editing online. I simply chose the fonts and colors and played around until I liked it and was able to print it at home.

For the party invitation I got to play with a brand new stamp set called Fancy Fair. I chose a chalkboard look which will later coordinate with some party decorations I plan to create. Combined with the ruby red and twilight blue, it represents our all American son and his graduation BBQ celebration!

I knew this would be a big project to tackle, but I really wanted to do it. It would have been much easier to just purchase the generic school ones, but that would not represent my son or myself. He is a one of a kind kid and deserved a one of a kind announcement. And even though it took many hours to complete, each hour was a moment for me to contemplate on his childhood, remember some cherished moments and think about how he has grown into a wonderful young man. It also helped me to let go a little bit more, accepting that he will begin his own journey soon. If you can make your child's announcements yourself, I say "do it"! It is truly a rewarding experience!

Happy Birthday & Many More!

Today I am playing along with the sketch at Freshly Made Sketches. I am using some left over paper and kraft cards from a recent BIG project I completed, my son's Graduation announcements! Pictures of those to come soon! I also got to play with some new Heidi Swapp products I purchased while on Spring vacation.

I used some older Later Sk8r papers, Heidi Swapp arrow and some negative cut chevrons from a background template cut on the Cricut.

 

 

Inside {I used the negative cut from the Cricut}

 

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!

Easter is on It's Way!

Easter will be here soon! Which means a break from school for me and my kids too! {Yeahhhhh!}

A quick and easy project for the kids on Easter Sunday are these little bunny boxes. They are cut out on the Artiste cartridge at 2 1/2 inches. I chose lots of retired pastel cardstocks and a simple egg stamp for the bottom of the box before I folded them up. They require no adhesive making it a fast project to do. These will look so cute scattered on the grass this Sunday!

Because I'm Happy!

What a fun song playing on the radio stations! It inspired the title of this Birthday themed layout.

 

The left page of my layout was inspired by the Spring Idea Book, page 126. I love the new fundamental papers with their trendy, glossy resist patterns. I was also captivated by the bright cardstock papers and Washi tape against the black chevron.

Instead of stitching, I opted for a Heidi Swapp color shine pennant. This addition allowed the left page to flow into the right page where I used Heidi Swapp color shine specialty cardstock. This time I flipped the balance of colors with the black, but kept the chevron pattern!

Crazy and colorful! Beautiful faces with great big smiles!! This layout makes me so happy!!!

Bag in a Box

This is a simple and cute project that I taught during my Spring card exchange. These darling little bags in a box were created using the We R Memory Keepers Envelope Maker. {Yes, I realize it's not Close To My Heart. It was a gift from one of my customers and I wanted to share some ideas using it....besides I used all CTMH papers and stamps to create them!!} A Cadbury crème or caramel egg fits inside perfectly so it's a great idea for Easter just a few weeks away! These would be awesome for little favors at a Birthday, Shower or Wedding too!

 

Beauty of the Ball

I can't get enough of these gorgeous Ariana papers. With just a few Stickease embellishments and the addition of some Timberline wood grain papers this layout came together beautifully!

The title "Beauty of the Ball" is for my daughter celebrating her very first Military Ball. These pages will be great for the pictures I took of her in her dress with her hair done up!

Balloon Launch

Our little town held their first Balloon Festival earlier this month. My husband and I woke early in the morning and headed to the park. We sipped our morning coffee while watching over 20 air balloons fill up and launch into the blue sky. It was truly amazing! Our town plans to make this an annual event, so I will be sure to mark my calendar every year!

I am submitting this layout in Heart 2 Heart's Triple Play challenge. The Balloon Ride papers are lovely and the resin embellishments {x3} are a great addition to the collection.

"New Product" Spring Card Exchange

Yesterday I hosted a Spring card exchange. Our theme was to create a card using something new from the Spring Idea Book. It could be a new stamp set, paper collection or embellishment, as long as it was fresh and new for Spring! Each and every card was completely unique and different, which was exactly my goal! I feel that each of us now have a new item, or two, on our "wish list" now that we've seen it used on one of the cards!!

Here is the card I made, using both a new stamp set {camper crazy} and the Skylark papers. I also used a new card design that I made on the envelope maker, an idea that I shared with the ladies after the exchange.

What once was old is new again! This stamp set is from Jeanette's stamp archive. {Happy Hive} How cheerful is this card?! and the bee's are sooo cute!

How clever is this little surprise of a card!? It lays flat and fits neatly in a standard envelope. Then when you open it.....

....an explosion of color and fun!

 This gorgeous card incorporates the new Balloon Ride papers and Give a Lift stamp set.

Fancy folds and striking blue Ariana papers make this card so beautiful!

That darling little Stamp of the Month Fox is the star of this card. He is just too cute...or should I say Foxy!!!

Finally, this last card features a promotion stamp and the very versatile Fundamentals Basic papers. The tiny heart pattern truly compliments the larger heart and "love you" sentiment.

Way to Go Kiddo!

Making some treats today for the kids I work with at school! They are always fascinated with my mechanical pencils, so I told a few of them that if they work hard for me I would get them one. Call it a bribe if you wish, but I think of it as a reward for the hard work they can accomplish. Some super cute packaging never hurts either!!

Celebrations Month!

Sorry for not posting in awhile! My schedule has been full and it is officially celebrations month. This week we celebrated reading week at school and I have been busy with activities and projects for various classrooms. It was also my father and my husbands Birthdays this week. But that's not all! I have been busy working on plans for my daughter's Birthday this weekend too!

Needless to say it has been crazy this week. However, when I saw the sketch at Freshly Made Sketches I could hardly resist! What a fun sketch and I do need a special card for my Birthday Girl!

I love the new embossing folders from Close To My Heart. I chose the chevron pattern for this card and peeking out beneath is the lovely Skylark papers. I also incorporated the new pink glitter paper as the band and pleated some gray grosgrain ribbon behind it. These colors are perfect for my fashionable teen and has layer upon layer of texture!