So Happy Layout

I'm working on some layouts featuring the little girl we fostered a few years back. She's the closest we got to having a daughter, so I decided to scrapbook the few months she was with us. It gave me an opportunity to relive some of the memories while using up some older supplies, plus I got to use glitter on a layout! It looks so pretty, but let me tell you, I hate cleaning up the mess afterwords. It doesn't show up well in my scan, but the center of the large flower is glittered, plus the whole yellow flower. Now I'm off to clean glitter off my scanner. LOL!



Recipe:
I Am stamp set
Tickled Pink Scrapbooking kit
Blush, Sweet Leaf & White Daisy cardstock
Crystal Blue textured cardstock
Hollyhock, Blush, Crystal Blue, Sweet Leaf & Sunny Yellow ink
Blush Ribbon Rounds
White photo hanger
Sweet Leaf & Blush Bigger Brads
Sweet Leaf & Crystal Blue brads
Prisma glitter
White Daisy Just Blooms

Week 31 Layout Linky - Video Pals

Another one of those "not sure I'm loving it" layouts, but I do love the photos, plus I used up more discontinued supplies, so I'm leaving it as is!



Recipe:
This Way stamp set
Tinkering Level 2 papers
Clover Meadow & Sunflower cardstock
Clover Meadow & Holiday Red ink
Kraft Color Ready Border
3-D foam tape

***If you are participating in the 52 Layouts Challenge, please use the link below to link your layout to this post. You have until Friday at 11:59PM PST to post your week 31 layout. The link will allow you to post a title and thumbnail that link to your site, where we can see the layout in all its glory! Note: please do not post from a password protected site that will require us to input a password before viewing.

Grateful Layout

I sometimes think my blog should be called Even More Photos, because I have a hard time restraining myself from piling lots of photos onto my layouts, but here I managed to hold back and only scrap one photo! I used the Juggling Act pattern from Magic, and finally broke out my Eclectic Alphabet Irresistibles, inked them up with desert Sand ink, and added them to the layout. I inked up the centers of the "g" and "a" plus one extra center and used them as design elements on the circles. The tag contains hidden journaling about why I was grateful that particular Thanksgiving.



Recipe:
You & Me stamp set
Grace Level 2 papers
Twilight, Barn Red, Bamboo & White Daisy cardstock
Twilight, Barn Red, Honey, Cocoa & Desert Sand ink
Twilight marker
Eclectic Alphabet Irresistibles
Spring Blossom Just Blooms
Craft buttons
Barn Red Bigger Brad
Cocoa grosgrain ribbon
Natural hemp

Week 30 Layout Linky - Sweet Fun

I just finished this fun layout that uses a pattern from Magic (the right hand page of Juggling Act) but with a twist: I added a 12" x 4" Flip-Flap panel to the layout. I included both views so you can get an idea of what it would look like closed and open. I added a word cloud (fun) that is only visible when the Flip-Flap is open.

Here it is with the Flip-Flap closed:


And here's what it looks like open:


Recipe:
Pennant Alphabet, Field Trip Alphabet, Hodgepodge Alphabet, Polka Dot Alphabet, Chocolate Alphabet Small & Alphabet Solo "F" stamp sets
Cherry-O Level 2 papers
Barn Red , Sweet Leaf & Colonial White cardstock
Barn Red, Chocolate, Sweet Leaf, Crystal Blue & Blush ink
Crystal Blue marker
Blush, Chocolate, Sweet Leaf, Crystal Blue & Colonial White craft buttons
Natural hemp
Barn Red Bigger Brads
Prisma Glitter
Liquid Glass

***If you are participating in the 52 Layouts Challenge, please use the link below to link your layout to this post. You have until Friday at 11:59PM PST to post your week 30 layout. The link will allow you to post a title and thumbnail that link to your site, where we can see the layout in all its glory! Note: please do not post from a password protected site that will require us to input a password before viewing.

Diana's Stamping Challenge #4 - Tradition Layout

On her blog, Diana's Stamping Challenges, fellow CTMH Consultant Diana challenged us to celebrate Christmas in July by making a Christmas themed project, so here is my layout. The design uses a sketch from the Nuts About Sketches blog. I cut out the title using my Wishblade. Merry Christmas, everyone!



Recipe:
Spot On Backgrounds stamp set
Jingle Level 2 papers
White Daisy & Creme Brulee cardstock
Juniper & Tulip ink
Tulip marker
Heartfelt Wonder & Heartfelt Whimsy felt shapes
Pearls
Sparkles
Juniper Photo corners
3-D foam tape
Creme Brulee ribbon

Got Water Layout

Another tidbit I learned at CTMH Convention was the slogan "Consume it, don't collect it." This layout is a perfect case in point. I finally used some paper that has been sitting in my paper stash since Spring 2007! Don't get me wrong, it's still cute paper and I think it looks great on this layout, but I'm glad to get it out of my stash so I can feel less guilty buying new paper. With CTMH's new, smaller (and less expensive) paper kits, you'll still get great paper with beautiful designs and colors, but you'll have a chance of using it all up before you're ready to move on to another kit. Enjoy the layout!



Recipe:
Down By the Sea stamp set
Ocean, Barn Red & Desert Sand ink
Desert Sand & White Daisy cardstock
DE Booksmart & Framed Fun
DE Monograms "G", "O", "T", "W", "A", "E" & "R"
Tan hemp
Barn Red Bigger Brads
Liquid Glass
Sketch 166 from Nuts About Sketches

Week 29 Linky - Sea World Layout

I learned so many cool thing at CTMH Convention, but one disappointing thing to me as a scrapper was to learn that CTMH will no longer be carrying all the colors of cardstock in bulk packs. At first, I was really upset since I use a lot of cardstock, but then I decided to see this as a challenge instead of a roadblock. This layout is a result of some creative thinking plus a technique I've used many times before: brayering. I created the background paper using White Daisy cardstock with Grey Flannel ink and touches of Lagoon ink brayered over it. The photo mat, paper strip, and all the bubbles were created using three layers of ink: Crystal Blue, then Lagoon, then touches of Pacifica. Don't you love how the brayering allows different layers of ink to show through, reflecting the shades of blue in the water? This is one layout that you will want to click on the image to enlarge so you can see the detail of the brayering!



Recipe:
Down By the Sea & Field Trip Alphabet stamp set
White Daisy cardstock
Crystal Blue, Lagoon, Pacifica, Greg Flannel, Black & Versamark ink
Clear embossing powder
Craft Color-Ready Borders
Blue Sparkles
3-D foam tape

***If you are participating in the 52 Layouts Challenge, please use the link below to link your layout to this post. You have until Friday at 11:59PM PST to post your week 29 layout. The link will allow you to post a title and thumbnail that link to your site, where we can see the layout in all its glory! Note: please do not post from a password protected site that will require us to input a password before viewing.

Autumn/Winter 2011 Idea Book

I'm back home from the annual Close to my Heart Convention for consultants in Anaheim, and I have brand new Autumn/Winter Idea Books to share! They feature larger print so it's easier to read, larger photos of the artwork so you can see more of the details, and - you guessed it - larger images of the stamp sets. The stamps will be shown at their actual size, so no more guessing on what size your stamps will be.



Some of our exciting new products:
* The NEW "Art Philosophy" Cricut cartridge that boasts 700 shapes, including stars, hearts, tags, banners, flowers, boxes, card bases, 3-D items, and much, much more! For just $99, this CTMH-exclusive collection also includes 3 D-size stamp sets as well as 3 sheets of dimensional elements that work with it (a total retail value of $124.69 for just $99!) Plus many of the other new stamp set images in our Idea Book coordinate and can also be used with it.
* NEW lower stamp set pricing (D sets went from $22.95 to $17.95, C sets from $18.65 to $13.95, B sets from $13.95 to $9.95, and A sets from $7.95 to $6.95)!
* 8 NEW re-configured paper packs include 2 sheets each of 3 B&T duos designs, with each side featuring a unique design, and 6 sheets of cardstock for $9.95.
* A large variety of NEW embellishments in felt, metal, corrugated chipboard, and more.
* 6 NEW Stamps of the Month that you can now purchase for just $5 with a $50 purchase or purchase alone at their new retail price of just $17.95.

All products from the NEW Idea Book will be available for you to start ordering from me on August 1st, 2011!!

Heart 2 Heart Sketch Challenge #6 - Car Wash

I've had this layout done for a while, but I had to wait until today to post it because it's for the Heart 2 Heart blog sketch challenge for this month. Mary very kindly invited me to join the design team as the sketch challenge gal, so here's my first sketch! Featuring four uncropped 4" X 6" photos and three 3" x 4" photos, this sketch is great for photos that you already have printed or for times when you can't print out odd size photos. You can also add a Flip-Flap to one or both of the bottom photos on the right hand page if you need to include more photos. I cut my wavy border using the curvy cutter from CM, but you could combine several Color Ready Borders for a similar look. Hope you get a chance to try out the sketch. Remember, it's a starting place, so feel free to play with it until it fits your needs.

The sketch:


My Layout:


Recipe:
A Tulip & Notice the Details stamp sets
Fanfare Level 2 papers
Sky & Sunny Yellow cardstock
Pacifica, Cranberry & Black ink
Pacifica marker
DE Monograms "C", "A", "R", "W", "S" & "H"
Blue & Red sparkles
Cranberry ribbon
Liquid Glass

Close to My Heart Convention

Tomorrow morning I am heading down to Anaheim for the Close to My Heart Convention. The convention will be held at the Disneyland Hotel, so my hubby and kids get to go play at Disneyland while I learn about all the exciting new products that CTMH has in store for us! I don't know if I will be able to post anything until I arrive home on Sunday, so have a great weekend. I know I will!

Thinking of You Card

I needed to make a card that would hold 4" x 6" pictures, so I decided to use the "Ribbon Closure" pattern from Originals. The pattern actually shows the ribbon being tied above the top flap, but I realized the recipient would have to unthread the ribbon from the flap before opening the card. Therefore, I put my ribbon tie on the lower portion of the card. I'm still trying to use up the rest of my Perfect Day Level 2 paper pack, so I chose that plus a couple of older stamp sets.



Recipe:
Comforting Thoughts & Treasures stamp sets
Perfect Day Level 2 papers
Sorbet & Colonial White cardstock
Cocoa ink
Cocoa grosgrain ribbon
Spring Blossom Just Blooms
Tulip craft buttons
Colonial White embroidery floss

Week 28 Layout Linky - Play Time

Patti over at Split Coast Stampers posted this Thursday challenge, and I thought it would be fun to incorporate it into my layout:

"I love the summer time! I have a mile long list of what I enjoy about summer but for this challenge we will go with 3 of my favorites. I would like you to design your page around the following list.
• Lemonade....I love lemonade so lets make YELLOW the main color used in the page.
• Splashing in the pool what fun that is....so lets add some BLUE somewhere on the page too.
• and my favorite outfit for summer....a bathing suit, flip flops and sunglasses!
• If your bathing suit is one piece use one decorative edge, if your suit is a two piece use two decorative edges.
• Flip flops...use at least two pictures
• Sunglasses.. use ribbon someplace on the page.
Not too hard of a challenge but sounds like fun! Your page DOES NOT have to be a summer page just follow the recipe and make any type of page!"

I also used Got Sketch 118 for the design. If you are interested in doing Patti's challenge, just follow the Split Coast Stampers link and post your layout in the gallery.



Recipe:
Zippidee Level 2 papers & My Stickease
Black, Honey, Indian Corn Blue & Bamboo cardstock
Cranberry, Indian Corn Blue & Honey ink
Indian Corn Blue marker
Kraft Color Ready Borders
Cranberry grosgrain ribbon
Staple
Stickles (Ranger)

***If you are participating in the 52 Layouts Challenge, please use the link below to link your layout to this post. You have until Friday at 11:59PM PST to post your week 28 layout. The link will allow you to post a title and thumbnail that link to your site, where we can see the layout in all its glory! Note: please do not post from a password protected site that will require us to input a password before viewing.

Let's Get Peachy Challenge - Carnival Layout

The gals over at Let's Get Peachy issued a recipe challenge this month. We were supposed to pick at least four ingredients from a list and incorporate them into our layout. I chose 1. use a punch, 2. use bling, 3. do some tearing, and 4. use paint or mist. I kept going back and forth between bling and buttons, but the bling won! I almost always stamp on my layouts, but I decided to paint my title instead this time. I also painted the edges of the two large photos. The layout design is based on a sketch from the Nuts About Sketches blog.



Recipe:
DCWV Summer Stack
Sky, Honey & White Daisy cardstock
Blue Sparkles
Ocean Reef Blue paint (Delta Ceramcoat)
Star punch (unknown source)

Heart 2 Heart Color Challenge - Dino Days

Heart 2 Heart blog is having a color challenge this week, and the required colors seemed to go pretty well with these photos. Love it when that happens! For my blue, I chose Outdoor Denim. The layout design is based on two different patterns from Imagine: the left hand pages from Understudy and Rhapsody. Since CTMH doesn't have any dinosaur stamps right now, I found some dinosaur images on the internet and traced and cut them out using my Wishblade. I saved the file for future use, but hopefully CTMH will come out with a dinosaur stamp set soon - pretty please!!!



Recipe:
Lucky stamp set
Lucky Level 2 papers
Bamboo, Barn Red & Colonial White cardstock
Barn Red, Outdoor Denim & Desert Sand ink
Outdoor Denim marker
Tan hemp
Outdoor Denim Bigger Brads

Week 27 Layout Linky - Discovery Science Center

Wow, two posts in one day! That may be a first for me. I finished up two layouts today, so I want to share at least one. This layout uses the Small Packages pattern from Imagine. I cut out the "Discovery" part of my title using my Wishblade - love that machine!



Recipe:
Atomic Caps Alphabet & Gear Up stamp sets
Tinkerin' Level 2 papers
Sunny Yellow, Sunflower & Colonial White cardstock
Clover Meadow, Holiday Red, Sunflower, Twilight & Grey Wool ink
Sunflower Bigger Brads
3-D foam tape

***If you are participating in the 52 Layouts Challenge, please use the link below to link your layout to this post. You have until Friday at 11:59PM PST to post your week 27 layout. The link will allow you to post a title and thumbnail that link to your site, where we can see the layout in all its glory! Note: please do not post from a password protected site that will require us to input a password before viewing.

Mayberry Card Workshop

I don't have my layout ready, so I thought I'd share the Mayberry card workshop that I did in June. Using five different card patterns from Jeanette Lynton's books, I created ten cards. Hope you like!



Down the Middle and Winning Combination:


Sweet & Simple and Top Band (revised):


Medallion (revised):