CTMH Technique Blog Hop: Back to the Basics

This month's technique blog hop is to get back to the basics.  You are going to see so many variations on this theme, and you might learn a new technique or two along the way! (If you're already hopping, then you've probably arrived from Melissa's blog.  From here, you'll visit Miss Carrie's Creations next.)

My first "back to basics" is that I used the Hawthorn collection with a sketch from the (retired) Magic How-To Guide. 

 I used the October stamp of the month, Autumn Air, to accent my layout.

My next "back to basics" is rainbow inking, or inking up my stamps in more than one color before stamping.  NOTE: Always ink up with your lightest and then move to your darker colors.  For "Fall" I inked up the top half with Paprika and the bottom half with Sangria.  The small leaf was inked with Sage and I then rolled an edge in Paprika.

You can really see this stamping technique on the large sentiment square.  After lining up the two stamps onto my block, I inked up the top portion with Saffron and then the middle portion with Paprika, finishing with Sangria on the bottom.  (With a large image like this one, you might want to "huff," or blow some warm breath, onto your inked image to make sure all the ink is wet before stamping.)

Thank you for visiting!  Please leave a comment before you hop on over to Miss Carrie's blog to continue the Back to the Basics blog hop.

New Product Blog Hop: 2016-17 CTMH Annual Inspirations Idea Book

Have you had a chance to drool over the new Close To My Heart 2016-17 Annual Inspirations Idea Book?!?  (You'll notice that we don't call this gorgeous resource a catalog because it is so much more!)  This Idea Book has a core set of supplies that are available all year, with supplements of seasons products coming each quarter.  This New Product Blog Hop is going to give you all kinds of great ideas for what you'll find for the upcoming year.  {If you're already hopping, then you've arrived from Michelle R.'s blog.  From here, you'll visit Michelle L. next.)

For my project, I chose to create a back-to-school layout of my daughter's and my first day of school (yesterday!) with the new Enchantment fundamentals paper pack and School 7-12 complements.  This layout is a sketch from Magic.

The only thing that I added in addition to the paper pack and complements is a few blue epoxy gems.

Thanks for letting me share our first day of school with you.  Please leave me a comment before going to see what Michelle L. has to share!

Click HERE for all the hop participants and their blogs.

My Girls Layout

Rationally, I know that our girls should be growing up, but I can't believe how much they're growing up!  Our older daughter just turned 15, and our younger is already 12.  I just had to print and scrapbook a few of my favorite photos of us from a little earlier this year.

After I started cutting my Surf's Up paper for the layout (using a sketch from Magic), I was NOT loving it.  Fortunately, our B&T Duos are have two completely different patterns on each side.  Flipping a few of them really made this layout work much better.

Cutting some of the swirls out of the B&T Duos really helped me dig this layout even more.  For the journaling block, I decided to soften its starkness by stamping one of the Universal Background stamps in Bamboo.  It matches the linen look of the B&T really well.

The Bohemian alphabet made a pretty title, with the added bonus of a flower and a few swirls to tie everything together.  A little burlap ribbon and lots of bling (Mocha Opaques and blue Sparkles) made this layout really groovy.  What do you think of my girls?

Layout of My DD

Friends gave me this gorgeous Colorbok paper collection for Christmas, and I couldn't resist digging in while I'm on break.  I thought these pictures of our older daughter from our Fall Break trip to Chimney Rock State Park (NC) were a great match.

I started with a sketch from Magic and used some Close To My Heart White Daisy cardstock and (retired) Floral Tapestry B&T from my stash.  I also ended up embellishing the layout with CTMH White Daisy grosgrain ribbon and purple sparkles.  Everything else came from the kit.

Can you believe there is NO stamping on this layout?!?  No ink at all was used!  What has come over me? LOL

It is so hard for me to believe how big this girl is getting!  Since I've been really, really bad to make layouts and not get them into albums (another project to work on!), I started a high school album for her.  I decided to start NOW for current layouts and move forward, while still backtracking as I get other finished (and future) layouts in her older albums.  I also went ahead and started a middle school album for our younger daughter to keep me on track.  (I am more organized with her layouts and books for some reason.  I think it's because I was a serious scrapper by the time she was born, but just getting my feet wet with DD #1.)

Okay, I think I just shared a New Year's resolution with you!  We'll see how it goes. ;)  Thanks for stopping by! 

My family and I wish you the best in 2013!

CTMH Stamp of the Month Blog Hop: You Are... (April 2012

No foolin', it's time for the April edition of the Close To My Heart Stamp of the Month blog hop! April's stamp of the month, You Are..., is a great set to celebrate your loved ones and what they mean to you! (If you've started hopping already, you should have arrived here from the talented Wendy Coffman's blog. You'll head to Wanda Riley's blog next by just clicking on her name.)

Both of my projects celebrate a very special someone, my husband! (They use the Cruisin' paper pack with the April stamp of the month.) I am honoring my husband because he surprised me with a dinner party on Thursday for my 40th birthday! I made this card to tell him how much he means to me and how much I appreciate what he did!

Next up is a layout (from Magic, which is going quickly and won't be available any more!) to show how much we appreciate him. Yes, I snapped pictures of him mopping our kitchen! We joke that I think it's one of the sexiest things he could do. ;) LOL

What do you think of the splash of Cranberry? It is a subtle yet bright accent in the Cruisin' paper pack, and I love how it makes AMAZING pop.

Both of my projects use the cool new Durables square studs. They are self adhesive, so they are an easy, masculine addition to any project.

Thanks for visiting my blog. Be sure to talk to your consultant about getting your very own April stamp of the month for $17.95 (or $5 with a $50 minimum purchase). Don't have a consultant yet? Then I hope you'll consider me! Now hop on over to Wanda's blog to see her cool creation!

Remembering Melinda

Today is such a sad day. My heart is so heavy as I type. My dear, sweet friend Melinda Conley Young will be laid to rest this afternoon after losing her valiant battle with ovarian cancer (diagnosed in 2007). My heart is broken for her husband and most especially for their two little girls. Melinda was such an inspiration to those who knew her and to anyone who hears her story: her faith, her hope, her strength (Fight like a girl!), her determination, her kindness, and her compassion knew no limits. The list could go on and on! No matter how bad things seemed, Melinda and her family remained positive and faithful. (You can read her story on her blog if you'd like to know more.)
Pulling out photos of us at her wedding helped me smile through my tears. It was time to scrapbook them (finally!) and to create cards for her husband and daughters and for her mother. Though it was bittersweet, I am thankful to relive these happy memories with such a beautiful person. One day I hope to create a layout as a tribute to her and her valiant fight, but for this layout, I tried to remember the happiness then and the hopeful miles that stretched before us then.
Melinda, my dear friend, I thank God that you are at peace. You may be gone from this earth, but you will never be forgotten.
Adieu, ma chere amie. Tu me manqueras. Je t'aime!
Fight like a girl!!!









Now, go hug your loved ones, pick up the phone and call a friend, and remember how precious life is. Live each day to the fullest, because there are no guarantees.

More Rock the Block: Card & Layout

Here are two more project I've made with the fun January Rock the Block special. (It's only available for a few more days!

This card will especially make my family smile. On our cruise last month, the maitre d' would always say, "Have fun! Fun, fun, fun!" (After all, Carnival is the fun ships, right?) I used Olive, Lagoon, and Cocoa ink plus Olive and Cocoa cardstock. (I sanded the Cocoa cardstock before stamping in Cocoa to make that pattern pop a bit.) A button and some bling finish it off. Fun, fun, fun!

My second project is the layout that I taught at my recent scrapbook class. I was really happy to put together some photos of my hubby and me! Most (all?) of our layouts are about the girls or us as a family and not the two of us.

This layout is from Magic and uses the Roxie paper pack and various stamp sets, including the Rock the Block special and the Bohemian alphabet. The hearts are from December's stamp of the month, Mad About You.

Don't forget that you too can Rock the Block this month, getting a cool E-size stamp set and a set of nine blocks and tray.

I'm linking up my layout to the Heart 2 Heart challenge to create something for someone you love. :)

Rock on!

H2H Challenges: Time

This week's Heart 2 Heart challenge is to incorporate TIME into your project! I chose to create a layout showing the TIMElessness of sisters and their love. Be sure to visit the H2H blog to see how the Design Team interpreted this theme and of course to link up your own TIMEly project. (You still have time to participate in all of this month's H2H challenges! Remember to use some CTMH products in your creations.)

I flipped through my picture drawers to find several random- and favorite- photos of my daughters together through the years. Then, I browsed through the Magic how-to guide until I found the perfect layout sketch. At first, I was afraid this sketch wouldn't work because I had more photos than recommended. Adding a flip flap to extend my page was the perfect way to add those extra photos!

The Typeset paper pack was a great color palette for my photos. I used the lovely Key Moments stamp set (with its clock, keys, and lock), the Chocolate alphabet stamp sets (Large & Small), plus a sneek at the December stamp of the month. ;)

Here are close-ups of the right page first closed and then open.

These girls sure make my heart melt!

Now it's your turn: get your craft on and let us see your TIMEless creations! Check out the H2H Challenges blog for inspiration and to link up.

{Layout 2011 #73}

Sonoma Scrapbooking Class

This Sunday at 2 PM, you can create your own personalized version of this layout using the Sonoma paper pack, Workshop on the Go stamp set, September stamp of the month, and Bohemian Alphabet. Too girly for you? I've got some options for making it more manly too! You'll learn the art of clustering along with basic stamping, plus how to create a fun interactive element on your layout. I'll teach you how to make the flowers shown on this layout, plus the ones made from old book pages (like you can see HERE or HERE).





Please contact me if you'd like to attend or are interested in purchasing a class kit. Space is limited, but I'd love to have you!

This layout uses a sketch from the Magic how-to guide. Come to class to learn more!

{Layout 2011 #64}

Dance Layouts

My friend and customer Nancy loaned me her Aspire dance set, and I was on a roll making dance layouts! (I would say that I'm many years behind, but like Stacy Julian, I don't believe in being behind. I scrap what I want, when I want, and even "age" my photos too.) If it weren't for Stacy and her Photo Freedom book and class at Big Picture Classes, I would never have thought to combine three different years of dance photos onto one layout.

The idea struck me as I was rearranging this summer and noticed that our younger daughter had several years of pink dance costume photos. Ta da! Inspiration struck! Why not combine them all to show some of her progression? The Sweetheart paper pack (which will be retiring 7/31) was the perfect unifying factor. I used the "Out of the Hat" sketch from the Magic how-to guide but rotated both pages to fit my pictures. (The price of Magic will drop on 8/1! Yay, CTMH!)

I have to share an "awww" moment with you. For the journaling (tucked in behind the white square but in front of the black page base), I wrote about Macey following in her big sister's dance shoes. When she saw it, she said, "Mom, I wasn't following her, I was following you!" (Say "aww" with me now!) I made her journal that sentiment on the back of what I had written.

In addition, while my supplies were out, I made a 6"x6" layout for my little album of family professional photos.

The next set of dance layouts also went really well with the Sweetheart paper pack, but I focused more on the Tulip shade to coordinate with our older daughter's red and black costume. (I also included some retired Tulip heart paper from the Animal Cookies collection.) This layout sketch is called "Card Trick" from the Magic how-to guide.

In In case you were wondering, yes, that is me in my first dance recital after about a 20-year hiatus!

I think this layout qualifies for this week's Lasting Memories challenge, "all about the title." I stamped the first part of the phrase, "all she wants to do is..." in Tulip on the left page with the Chocolate Alphabet (Small). Then I stamped "dance!" with the Chocolate Alphabet (Large) on the right page. To create the shadow effect, I first stamped a letter in Tulip, then inked the stamp up in Black and stamped again, slightly offset.

As always, if you have any questions about anything shown here, leave me a comment and I will get back to you! (My laptop is still on the fritz, though, so please be patient with me. Thanks!)

{Layout 2011 #52-54}

Yankee Doodlebugs (Layout Share)

{Please pardon the poor quality of these photos; I am unable to work with my usual equipment right now!}

One of the things that I love about teaching scrapbooking is that it encourages me to get layouts made! This layout is based on the "Transfigure" sketch from the CTMH Magic how-to guide, and I taught it at my recent scrapbook club/class. We used the Fanfare paper pack and the July stamp of the month, American Celebration. In addition to basic stamping, we also learned how to paper piece an image (American flag), how to cut out stamped images as accents, how to use a punch, and how to make a pocket to hide journaling or extra photos.

I really have to thank Stacy Julian and her Library of Memories/Photo Freedom philosophy and classes for this layout idea! She encourages her followers and students NOT to worry about scrapbooking chronologically but rather based on more important connections. If it weren't for her, I probably never would have thought to combine patriotic baby photos from my girls (in 1998 and 2001) with an adorable photo of my nephews (from 2008). Doesn't they work well together though? The visible journaling on the far right of the right page reads "Doesn't Uncle Sam have the cutest nieces and nephews?"

For my hidden journaling, I wrote about how fast the kids are growing and that I hope they will grow up to be patriotic Americans. The title came last and is a play on my older nephew's nickname, Doodlebug. That led to the skinnier journaling tag where I share each of the kids' baby/childhood nicknames (Pooh, Piglet, Doodlebug, and Scooter). I am so glad that I am able to scrapbook non-chronologically and even share an extra little tidbit about these sweet babies (who are now 13, 10, 4, and 3!).

God bless the USA and scrapbooking! (If you have any questions about anything here, leave it in the comments, and I'll get back to you.)

Thank you to Scrap Our Stash for featuring my layout in their "red, white, & blue" challenge!

{Layout 2011 #51}

Best Wishes to the Mr. & Mrs.!

Today we are blessed to join my cousin Jason as he marries his beautiful bride, Meg. You may recall the opening layout of an album I made for them HERE. Here are the rest of the layouts I made. Two were from the (retired) Silhouette Level 1 kit, two were from the "Magic" how-to guide book (with retired Silhouette papers), and the final page is a pocket page with self-adhesive gems (for the Studio J layouts gift card) and the alphabet My Stickease from the Level 1 kit.




I'd also like to extend best wishes to fellow CTMH consultant, Katy D., who is marrying her sweetheart tomorrow.




Before I sign off, I want to add these to the Frosted Designs challenge, Black & White + One.




Best wishes to the Mr. & Mrs.!















{Layouts 2011 46-50}