Monday Sketch

Today's sketch is a card sketch from our now sold out Originals How-to Program. It was created using a retired My Reflections Kit called Sweet Home. I loved that paper packet.

Click HERE to download the sketch.

Dotty for You

CTMH Monthly Special - Dotty for You

I'm absolutely crazy about the fabulous artwork you can create with the Dotty for You paper packet during National Scrapbooking Month! Each promotional paper packet includes an insert with a picture of the artwork, a recipe, and a unique technique, to inspire your customers.

Sisterly Love Page

Polaroid Snapshot Technique


Create a Polaroid snapshot look by first cutting out a rounded-corner rectangle the size of your focal point. Then, cut a larger rectangle around the negative space, creating the look of a Polaroid. For example, if your subject is 3" × 2", cut a rounded 3" rectangle using the Cricut^® machine then discard the rectangle and keep the negative space, cutting that piece at 4" × 2½". Add journaling to the empty white space at the bottom and attach it to the layout at an angle using 3-D foam tape. You’ll now be able to create the Polaroid look for any kind of picture without needing a Polaroid camera!

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Kiss Page

Pin Flags Technique


Make a darling accent from your paper scraps by trimming a complementary banner and wrapping it around a pin from the Bling assortment (Z1466) to form a small pin flag.

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Surf Page

Stitch a Frame


Use dark thread and stitch around your layout’s focal elements to ground your page.

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Sweet Life Page

Making Embellishments Stand Out


Add a bit of white, solid space behind decorative elements, such as this baker’s twine bow, to help them stand out on busy B&T Duos^® papers, like this chevron pattern.

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R Card

Helping Adjacent Patterns Pop


To help two adjacent patterns stand out individually, separate them with a solid color in between.

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Simple Pleasures Card

Creating a Bohemian Look


Combine several paper patterns and colors to create a trendy bohemian chic look.

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Jen Box

Creating Visual Transitions


Carry the neutral foundation color, in this case Grey Wool, onto the other elements of your art piece to help the eye easily transition between elements, like the colorful chevron box top and the sides of the box.

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BONUS ART:

Good Luck Card

Neutral Inks for a Clean Look


To create a card with a clean, crisp look, use the dominant neutral color to stamp your sentiment.

Yo-yo Accent


Create a trendy yo-yo element by accordion-folding a long strip of cardstock every 1/4", adhering the two ends together to make a circle, stitching the center with thread all the way around, and pulling the ends of the thread taut to create a yo-yo. Secure the center with a button to keep your yo-yo flat.

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Kylie Banner

Paper Ribbons


Create your own ribbon from your favorite B&T paper. Cut a strip of paper a little less than three times the length you want your ribbon to be. Mark or score your strip in segments as follows: 1/2", 1", 1/2", 1", 1/2", etc. Starting at a 1/2" scored end, make two folds going away from you, then two folds coming toward you, then repeat until your ribbon is complete.

Ribbon Accents

Thread a long ribbon through the banner holes and then add some flair by tying small bows or knots to the ribbon in between each pennant using baker’s twine or Waxy Flax.

 A BONUS for YOU....

When you purchase your Dotty for You paper pack from my website this weekend (April 28-April 30) I will send you the Mini Banner as shown in the bonus project on my blog...FREE!

START SHOPPING NOW

April Magic Club

This month we used Close To My Heart's X7147B Stella My Reflections Kit.

Both layouts come from the Magic How-to Program.   The Magic book is in limited supply, so, if you'd like to order one, best do it now :)

Other items that were used to create these pages are:

Z1710 Just Blooms Paradise Paper Flowers
Z1338 Mini-Medleys Sunset Collection

If you would like to join the Magic Club, email me for all the info.

If you would like to order the Magic Club project with no commitment to a club, simply press the Buy Now button below.

Stack a Stack Club Cards

These are the cards that the Stamp a Stack club is creating in April.

This month we used the Close To My Heart stamp set C1483 Born to Ride. 
We used some retired papers in addition to papers from the new paper packet called X7154B Cruisin'.  I'm having a lot of fun using this paper pack.  Be sure to check back in May for the layouts I've created using the Cruisin' papers.



If you'd like more information about our Stamp a Stack Club, be sure to email me.

Also, I'm starting something new this month.  If you would like to order the Born to Ride kit with no obligation to sign up for a club, you may do so!  Simply click the button below.

Create a Card

  
D1504 Fashionista - CTMH

5 ½” x 8 ½” Sunny Yellow to create card base

4” x 5 ¼” Black card stock

3 ¾” x 5” White card stock piece with punched lace on bottom

1” x 3 ¾” Sunny Yellow card stock

Stamp image with Sunny Yellow.  Stamp sentiment with black.

Assemble card front and attach to Sunny Yellow card base.

Tie knot in black floral ribbon and attach to card front.  Attach yellow button to knot.

Monday Sketch

Today's sketch comes from the latest CTMH How-to-Book, Magic.  This book will be retiring at the end of the Spring/Summer Idea Book, unless it sells out before then.  Supplies are very limited, so, if this book has been on your "must have" list, better snag it quickly :)

This layout was created using Close To My Hearts My Reflections kit X7153B Florentine.
Click HERE to download the sketch.

Stencil, Sparkle & Shine

Need a little inspiration this season? You'll find it right here! Get amazing shading and dimension using the stamp stenciling technique. Save time and money making holiday creations using a circle punch and any one of a number of stamp sets. And trim the tree with beautiful Dimensional Elements Ornaments. It's all right here on Art & Soul®!

Stamp a Stack Club

For the March Stamp a Stack Club, we used D1504 Fashionista for our stamp set.

For the patterned papers we used X7140B Roxie papers and X7147B Stella papers.
If you'd like to join our Stamp a Stack Club, it's only $27 a month and you receive a stamp set, all the papers and embellishments that you will need, plus full color instructions.  Email me if you'd like more information.

Magic Club Layouts

For our March Magic Club, we used the new X7152B Superhero My Reflections Kit.

The CTMH Magic book is in serious short supply.  It could sell out any day, so, if you'd like to grab a copy, you should do it right away.  You'll notice the shine over the two cranberry photo mats on the second layout.  Those were created using Z4114 4" x 6" Memory Protector Flip Flaps.  They give you the opportunity to add more photos to your layout.  The way they are attached, you just have to flip up the flap to see more photos.

If you'd like to join our Magic Club, just shoot me an email.  I can fill spots as long as the Magic book is still available.

Dotty for You!

Celebrate National Scrapbooking Month in May by mixing and matching ’til your heart’s content with our new Dotty for You paper packet! The trendy patterns on the front of the papers coordinate perfectly with the dots on the reverse side, giving you lots of options for crafting colorful layouts, cards, and other projects. Dotty for You includes 24 specially designed, coordinating B&T Duos® sheets (2 each of 12 patterns) and an artwork idea insert to get your creative juices flowing.  This paper pack has so many different sheets of paper that you can create a wide range of cards, layouts, or whatever you choose and have a totally different look on each item!  This paper packet is available through May 31st, while supplies last.

How can you get this gorgeous paper pack? Easy!

•  It's only $5 with a $35 order placed from the Spring/Summer idea book from April 17 to May 31. 
• Hostess a gathering with $400 in orders and you can get it FREE!
• Become  a Consultant between April 1 and May 31 and get it FREE.

Taxes and shipping may apply. Offer good while supplies last.

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How-to Books are selling out

They are almost gone.  Currently, only Cherish, Imagine and Magic are left, and they are in very limited supply.

Monday Sketch

Acck!  I missed a couple of Mondays!  Crazy last couple of weeks!  Anyway, back to the Monday Sketch!

Today's sketch is Visual Texture from the Close To My Heart Cherish book.  Cherish is available for just a little longer.  It will be retiring at the end of the Spring/Summer Idea Book and when the current supply is gone, that's it :(

This layout is done using the new CTMH My Reflections kit called X7148B Pemberley.
Click HERE to download the sketch.

Button Up Card Set

Lovely, chunky, fashion-forward bling turns your cards from charming to oh-so-fantabulous. Learn the WOW techniques in this how-to video from Close To My Heart, and then send cards that people will be talking about.

Spring is in the Air

Want to add more "bounce" to your projects and have elements "jump" off the page or card? With Close To My Heart's new adhesive springs, you'll create projects filled with delightful surprises! In this video we show you how to create the card featured on page 72 of the Spring/Summer 2012 Idea Book, along with lots of other inspiring ideas to make your artwork "spring" to life.

Create a Card

D1491 Hooray Bouquet My Acrylix Stamp Set

4 ¼” x 5 ½” side fold card base

4 ¼” x 5 ½” CTMH Garden Green card stock

1 ¼” x 2 ½” CTMH Garden Green card stock

¾” x 4” CTMH Veranda Stripe B&T

4” x 5 ¼” CTMH Veranda Damask B&T

1 ¼” x 5 ¼” CTMH Juniper card stock

3” x 4” CTMH Juniper card stock

2 ¾” x 3 ¾” CTMH Colonial White card stock

1” x 2 ¼” CTMH Colonial White card stock

Stamp large flower with Juniper ink on Colonial White card stock.  Stamp another one and cut that one out. Flip the cut out flower and stamp the back again with Juniper ink.  Stamp sentiment with Garden Green. 

Layer Veranda Damask B&T to Garden Green card stock.  Attach Veranda Stripe B&T to Juniper card stock, and attach to card front 1 ½” from top of card front.

Attach stamped Colonial White card stock piece to Juniper card stock and attach to card front ¾” from top and 1” from left front.  Attach sentiment to Garden Green card stock and attach to card front 3/8” from bottom.  Attach cut out flower to stamped flower, as shown. Attach pearl to center of flower.

Monday Sketch

Over the next twelve weeks (started March 5) I'll be posting a new sketch every Monday.  Some Mondays it will be a scrapbook sketch and other Mondays will be a card sketch.  These sketches will be from the Close To My Heart How-to books.  Don't forget, these books will be retiring at the end of the Spring/Summer idea book.  They are now "while supplies last", so, if you've been wanting to order one of the books, it's best not to wait.  This card is from the Originals book.

Click here for the sketch.