Ready For a Good Laugh

There is nothing cuter than a baby laughing!  Just ran across this video and had to post it.



Enjoy!!

Guest Artist

I just have to say that I love this Guest Artist thing!! :)  I love to see how others create with the same materials.    The January Guest Artist is Julie Fiorito.  Julie used the CTMH workshop kit called Avonlea.

After finishing the main layout in the kit, Julie went on to create two more layouts using more of the items in her kit.

First, this St. Patrick's Day layout...

And, a gal after my Crusin' Buddy's and my heart...a layout using some of the memorabilia collected when visiting a location.

Thanks so much, Julie for participating.!!

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I Want You! to be my next Guest Artist!

How would you like to get some FREE Close To My Heart products from the new Spring/Summer 2013 Idea Book?  How you ask?  Become one of my Guest Artists.

Here's the details of the Guest Artist program.

1. If you would like a chance to be a guest artist, please send me a link to artwork on your blog, or, if you have no blog, email me pictures of some of your art. Put Guest Artist in your subject line.
2. On the first of every month, I will choose the guest artist for that month.
3. Upon choosing the artists, I will send you one of Close To My Heart's Workshop on the Go kits. You will need to create the featured layout in the kit (you may jazz it up or put your own spin on it). Then, with all the products left over in the kit, you'll make as many items as you can. You may choose to do another two page layout and some cards, or a one page layout & cards, only cards, or choose something of your own to alter.You will have until the 20th of the month to get all of this done :)
4. When you finish creating, you will send me photos of everything you've created so that I can post them on my blog. If you have a blog, you'll also post them there.
5. You'll get high praise and recognition on my blog.

Does this sound like something you'd like to do? If so, send me your blog link or photos of your artwork.

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 Pre-Order your Spring/Summer 2013 Idea Book

Eiffel Tower Calendar

Here's another page from the Eiffel Tower calendar I created for my Cruisin' Buddy. Man...we had so much fun on that trip! It truly was a trip of a lifetime!

The layout was created in Studio J® with the La Belle Vie papers.  Isn't the paper pretty?  Sadly, the actual paper pack has been sold out, so the only way to use this gorgeous paper is through Studio J®.

Happy Thursday!!

I whipped up a quick Studio J® layout this morning.  That's one of the great things about Studio J®...you can do some layouts quickly (especially if you're behind on your scrapping), or you can spend all kinds of time with one.  Either way is good!

This one uses a paper packet called True Friend.  It's one of the exclusively done designs just for Studio J®.  Hop on over to check the papers out.

Stop by and check out all the paper packets Studio J® has to offer.

Magic Club

Good morning! I think it's still morning here :) I'm sorry that I have been neglecting my blog lately. I need to get back into the swing of it!!  I will!

First thing today, I need to brag a bit. :)   For Christmas this year, I got a Roku box for my husband...see...I can't watch tv with him as he can't stay on a channel more than one minute at a time.  Drives me nuts!  I tell him he must have the strongest index finger in the world from all that button pushing :)  Anyway, he usually watches tv in the kitchen, so I got a box for that tv.  I scored one!  It's so hard to find something for him for Christmas, as it is for me, as we usually just buy what we want when we want or need it.  So, now that he's got the Roku box and there must be 1000 old time western movies, he's no longer interested in having cable.  It seems like the cable channels play the same things over, and over, and over again!  Take "The Green Mile" for instance, it's been on just about every day/night for as long as I can remember.  LOL! 

He had an epiphany and thinks we should cancel our cable, with the exception of the basic package that gives us local channels.  Me...I'm not so sure!  LOL!  I watch a number of shows on the USA Network, some on TNT, A& E, AMC and Lifetime.  Now..what can I do to watch these programs, yet save us $100 a month?  We just got a brand new 42" tv and now all I'll have is local programming.  LOL! That said, probably 80% of my tv watching is on local channels...but, I'm going to miss my DVR!!  I looked online to see how to hook my computer to the new tv and found out I already had the cable.  YEA!  Hooked it up this morning and it's looking pretty good.  Only problem was, the sound was still coming from the computer instead of the tv.  Off to Google again!  I found a couple of options...after spending about an hour trying to change settings on the computer.  Then off to the basement to see what other cables/cords I have that might work.  Found one, hooked it into the computer and the tv and we are rocking it!  Now I just need to figure out how long these channels keep their current episodes online.  My only regret is I'll have to watch commercials again, rather than fast forwarding through them :)  Of course, if that's all I have to worry about, I'm a lucky gal!!  So, that's my brag for the day!  :)


Here's another of our December Magic Club layouts.  We used the CTMH Pear and Partridge paper packet.  Also used are Z1772 Holiday Dimensional Elements.

Everyday Embellishing

It’s easy to incorporate chalk, metallics, and bling into your artwork with a few embellishments you can use on your everyday papercrafting projects. Let me show you how!



This Merry and Bright page uses dots created with the gold metallic marker to add extra sparkle around the edges of the page. Notice the scalloped accents with outlines in gold marker which adds dimension and draws your eye. The Close To My Heart metallic markers will make your artwork sparkle!


 Add heart to your art with an extra touch of bling—cover your Dimensional Elements with silver Glitz™ glitter gel, a clear Sparkle or two, or a touch of silver from the metallics marker! Your heartfelt messages will bedazzle your loved ones.



The chalk marker and 12" × 12" chalkboard sheet are a perfect pair for creating a unique project. Journal and embellish your memories with the quaint look of a chalkboard—minus the dust—and a lot of freehand fun, perfect to display in your albums or on your walls!
 


If you haven’t had a chance to scrapbook your Halloween photos yet, here’s a great idea for a spooky page. The Haunted assortment with its cute skull brads, spider badge buttons, and more, is the perfect go-to for scary Halloween memories. It also coordinates nicely with the Moonlight paper packet and Moonlight Complements Dimensional Elements.



Tell your story with papers and accents that complement your unique tale. The Memo assortment’s little note tags are great for embellishing and journaling all in one, and the tiny epoxy numbers mimic old typewriter keys. Pair the Memo assortment with our Scholastic paper packet and My Stickease^® assortment for your school-themed memories and more!



This elegant layout is tied together by antique elements from the Brocade assortment, Avonlea Complements canvas shapes, and the beautiful Avonlea papers. Add a timeless quality to your memories with graceful keys, broaches, and buttons from the Brocade assortment. Whatever your project, embellishing will bring your artwork to life.

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I Want You! to be my next Guest Artist!

How would you like to get some FREE Close To My Heart products from the new Spring/Summer 2013 Idea Book?  How you ask?  Become one of my Guest Artists.

Here's the details of the Guest Artist program.

1. If you would like a chance to be a guest artist, please send me a link to artwork on your blog, or, if you have no blog, email me pictures of some of your art. Put Guest Artist in your subject line.
2. On the first of every month, I will choose the guest artist for that month.
3. Upon choosing the artists, I will send you one of Close To My Heart's Workshop on the Go kits. You will need to create the featured layout in the kit (you may jazz it up or put your own spin on it). Then, with all the products left over in the kit, you'll make as many items as you can. You may choose to do another two page layout and some cards, or a one page layout & cards, only cards, or choose something of your own to alter.You will have until the 20th of the month to get all of this done :)
4. When you finish creating, you will send me photos of everything you've created so that I can post them on my blog. If you have a blog, you'll also post them there.
5. You'll get high praise and recognition on my blog.

Does this sound like something you'd like to do? If so, send me your blog link or photos of your artwork.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Whoo's Your Valentine?

It's not even Christmas yet, but CTMH is thinking Valentine's Day.  How cute are these?

Celebrate National Papercrafting Month with these cute candy holders. This cute kit, which retails for $40, can be yours for only $10 with a $35 order.  These are available from  December 13 through January 31, 2013.

This kit includes:

• 12 Die-Cut boxes (3 each of 4 colors: Blush, Hollyhock, Ruby, White Daisy
• 3 12x12 card stock sheets (Blush, Hollyhock and White Daisy
• 1 sheet Silver Glitter Paper - New product for Spring/Summer 2013!
• 12 Treat Tubes with Lids - New product for Spring/Summer 2012!
• 1 My Acrylix® Whoo's Your Valentine Stamp Set (D size)

Visit my website to see all the cute CTMH products.  Be sure to check out the "While Supplies Last" category for card stock at $2.50 and $3.00 and much more.  Check often, new items are added frequently.

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Stamp of the Month

How pretty is this stamp set?!  I absolutely love it.  It can be yours for only $5 with a $50 purchase, or you may purchase it outright for $17.95.

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Pre-Order your Spring/Summer 2013 Idea Book

Preorder your Spring/Summer 2013 Idea Book below.

Eiffel Tower Calendar

My Cruisin' Buddy loved her Eiffel Tower calendar!  I knew she would!  :)  For those just stopping by for the first time, I've been creating calendars using Close To My Heart's Studio J®.  Studio J® is a digital program that one can use for  scrapbooking or you can use it to create digitally a layout, then recreate it using your own paper.  After creating the pages, I purchase the JPGs for only $2.95 per double page layout.  I used Snapfish to create my calendar as they have the option of a 12x12 calendar.  After we finish using each calendar, we can cut the holes off and slide them right into a scrapbook.  Last year I did one with each page featuring one place my Buddy and I visited while on our cruise.  Just the other day when I took it down, I cut off the holes and slid it right into a spot in my album.  I was even able to use the same papers to digitally scrapbook the pages as I had started my traditional album with.  That's one of the things I love about Studio J...when the actual paper retires from CTMH, it's still available on Studio J®.

It just so happens that Snapfish is having another calendar special.  Go to Snapfish and when you order your calendar use code 40CALENDARS for a 40% discount.  I'm not affiliated with Snapfish...just a happy customer :)

If you'd like to see all the papers included in the paper version of La Belle Vie, just click here.  Such pretty paper!

Have a wonderful day!  The sun is shining and who could ask for anything more?!

Magic Club

I just realized I never posted the Magic Club layouts for December!  We used CTMH's Pear and Partridge My Reflections Kit.  Also used are Z1772 Holiday Dimensional Elements.

I really like this paper packet as it's close to traditional Christmas colors, yet can be used for so many other layouts.

Create a Card

Happy New Year, everybody!!  I hope everybody had wonderful holidays!  We sure did!!

Today's card features the popular starburst pattern.

The stamp set used was Close To My Heart's Sweet Music set.

4 ¼” x 5 ½” top fold card base

4 ¼” x 5 ½” Sunset card stock

4” x 5 ¼” Pear card stock

2 ½” x 2 ¾” Pear card stock

2 ¼” x 2 ½” Bamboo card stock

1 ½” x 5” Olivia Dot Background and Texture Paper (3)

1 ½” x 5” Olivia Flower Background and Texture paper (2)

Stamp image with Sunset ink on Bamboo card stock.  Ink edges with Pear ink.  Ink edges of Sunset and Pear card stock pieces with Pear.

Follow instructions below to create the Starburst at top.

 Use two of the Olivia Dot and two Olivia Flower Background and Texture pieces to create the starburst.  

 Cut each of the 1 ½” x 5” rectangles into triangles as shown below

 

Ink edges of all triangles with Pear ink. Attach to a scrap piece of card stock that is cut at 2 ¼” x 5”.

 

Trim around all sides to fit the scrap card stock that you adhered your triangles to.  Ink outside edges with Pear ink.

To finish your card, attach the starburst to the top of your Pear card stock.  Attach the Olivia Dot B&T to the bottom of the Pear card stock. Attach Pear card stock to Sunset card stock. Attach a Colonial White grosgrain ribbon across seam, leaving a bit unattached at left.  Tie knot around ribbon.  Attach your matted image ¾” from right side and ½” from bottom.

Have fun creating your cards!  If you'd like to send me pictures of any of them, I'd be happy to post them here on my blog!

And....speaking of starburst....here's the newest Close To My Heart Idea Book.

Preorder your Spring/Summer 2013 Idea Book below.

Here's a sneak peek :)