CTMH Picture My Life (PML)

Leave it to Close To My Heart to come up with yet another product that lives up to their mission statement, “…..preserve and share the moments that matter most.”  CTMH has developed a scrapbooking program called “Picture My Life.”


Picture My Life, or PML, is a program design to help you easily and creatively get those treasured photos off the phone or out of the box and onto pages that everyone can enjoy.  I’ve got to tell you, I hate when someone says to me “Here look at the pictures” and they had me their phone.  I can’t see it well and what the heck do you do if it rings? 


At first, I was a skeptic.  I don’t want to just shove pictures in pockets and intermix a few hokey pre-printed cards.  Then, I received the CTMH Balloon Ride (Z1948) Program.  OMG…I was enthralled, mesmerized and ecstatic.  The cards are high quality, varied and offer an opportunity to embellish and journal.  Here is what you will get in any of the 8 theme styled programs…
44 -  4 x 6 cards (portrait and landscape)
78 – 3 x 4 cards (portrait and landscape)
1 – 12 x 12 cover sheet to personalize (exclusive to CTMH)
10 – 12 x 12 Memory Protectors (styles include pocket sheets that have room for both landscape and portrait photos and cards.
And, the best part is you get all this for $24.99!  Wow…




So, if you are around my age, you have box after box of photos taken over the years.  In all reality, it is a pipe dream to think that you will ever get them scrapbooked.  Upon receiving my kit, I immediately set out to find a box to work with.  I knew what I wanted…those pictures taken in the “90’s” of trips taken with my Mom.  Several years in a row, we left the “boys” at home and headed out on a Mother Daughter adventure.  We saw such wonderful things and the pictures are just sitting in a box.
I am having such a wonderful time reliving those trips.  I was working with pictures that I hadn’t seen in years!

Here we are at the Grand Canyon.  Wow…  What is really nice about the program is that you are not trapped by just putting photos into pockets.  If you look closely at the middle row, the pictures on either end is actually one photo.  I cropped it down the middle to fit with the pockets and cards!

Here is another one…It is recommended that you use a 50/50 mix of photos and cards.  See how easily you eye moves around the page?  The possibilities are endless.  You could add embellishments on the cards, add a full page or do whatever you would like to create your book.


Now, many of us also have photos “stuck” on their phones and tablets.  Ugh, like I said earlier…how do you share them and is it really fun to just scroll on a tiny little screen?  There are several programs out there that you can use to print those memories.  I spent a little time researching the possibilities.


1.  There are apps that allow you send the photos to a printing site and they will send them to your doorstep.  There are even apps out there that for a small monthly fee, will allow you to mark a photo as a favorite and once a month you are sent printed copies.  No more excuses that you are too busy or you forgot!  Take a look at something called Picture Postie or Print Free.  I’ve not used them so I don’t know about the service but it is worth further investigation.


2.  Several Drug Stores and Big Box stores also have apps and programs that allow you to send the pictures to the selected store and then in an hour go pick them up.


3.  Or, you can do it the “old fashioned” way…the way I’ve done it.  I email the picture to my self, edit as I want and then print from my computer or take a thumb drive to the drug store.


So, if you’ve got this…

or this…

or so many pictures on your phone, take a look at CTMH’s Picture My Life Scrapbooking Program.  I am completely blown away by the possibilities and looking forward to doing so much more with my old photos.  Think about it, do you have photos “wasting” away?  Stop by my website to look at the other themes available.  For Now, Happy Crafting!

CTMH Artbooking, Baby Cakes and Kraft Album

Can I tell you how much I love the new Artbooking Cricut Cartridge???  :o)  I've mentioned that I was working on several major projects and I am here today to share one with you.

I just finished an 8 x 8 Kraft Album (Z1871) with a Baby Girl Theme.  I used the new paper packet called "Baby Cakes" (X7173B).  I will tell you that it is an odd color pallet, but is just so perfect.  Artbooking Cricket cartridge is mind blowing for working on scrapbook albums.  These is just so much...  images, a beautiful font, overlays and you can even cut out the actual pages to fit into the 8 x 8 album. Everything in this book is Close To My Heart, but I did use some retired stamps.  There is so much in it that I am just going to let you look and enjoy...

 

 

I've got to say that I really had fun putting this book together.  Artbooking is going to revolutionize scrapbooking.  :o)  For Now, Happy Crafting!

CTMH Laughing Lola Scrapbook Layout

Happy Labor Day!  Where did the summer go???  Well, I certainly been busy "laboring" on all kinds of creating.  Since my last check in I've created several cards, a couple new Layouts and even finished a Baby Book using the new Artbooking Cartridge.  Here I'm going to share one of the Layouts I completed using Laughing Lola.  This layout is for one of the projects that we will be creating at the Creative Scrapbooking class that I'll be teaching at the Main Line Night School later this month.

Laughing Lola (X7170B) is an adorable, playful paper packet that features bright colors.  It is perfect for so many types of projects.  Since this Layout was completed as a class project, we didn't do any stamping, but rather, used the Laughing Lola Complements Dimensional Elements (X7170C.)  I don't often use these embellishments, but I realized just how perfectly they coordinate with the papers and how simply and quickly a Layout goes together using them!  CTMH really does make it "faster, simpler, easier" to complete a terrific looking layout.

The class that we will be making this layout is called "Creative Scrapbooking" and it is being sponsored by the Main Line Night School in Radnor PA.  It is a two week class and we will be reviewing basic scrapbooking principles and techniques.  Visit the School's website for more information about the school.  Main Line has been sponsoring classes since 1938 and I am tickled to be an instructor with them. 

BTW, I realize that I owe a stamp give away.  I've not forgotten and will announce the winner soon.  Now it is back to creating and later off to work.  Yes, I must work on Labor Day.  For Now, Happy Crafting!

CTMH Joyful Stars Blog Hop

It's the Joyful Stars Blog Hop!  I am so happy to be participating in this hop for the second month.  This month, our goal is to share new anything new from Close To My Heart.  Oh my, with the new Fall/Winter Idea book now released, how does one decide?  :o)

If you've come here from Angelina's Blog you are on the right track.  And, here is what I have to share with you...

 

The paper is from one of the new paper packets called Huntington (X7174B.)  In the Idea Book, it is pictured with fall stamps, but as I studied it, I thought it would be perfect for heritage or vintage Layouts, too.  The Title, photo mats, flowers and leaves are all cut with the new Artbooking Cricut Cartridge.  What makes this cartridge so special is that everything is cut on the same key!  Yep, all the goodies on this layout are from the "D" alpha key.  All I did was use different functions.  Artbooking makes it so simple.  Just a sidebar...the photos are primarily my maternal grandparents, my Mom is there, too...the young teenager.    I am so lucky to have these wonderful shots.  That is my Grandmom on the left in 1900.  The windmill in the lower right is the family sawmill somewhere near Cologne Germany...photo taken circa 1890.  Believe it or not, my relatives still own the business today.

 

We are all so busy that finding the time to preserve our memories is difficult.  Everyone needs a little help getting the task done...please meet my assistant, Bombay.

 

So, where or not you are lucky enough to have an assistant, the Artbooking cartridge makes preserving your memories so easy.  Well, I am the last person on the hop list, so thanks for joining us...or if you came the our fun in the middle, hop on up to Joyce's blog to see what she has created for us!  For Now, Happy Crafting!







Another CTMH Scrapbook Layout

It is soon time for me to head out to work, but before I do, I wanted to share another layout that I recently completed for my CTMH Convention Album.

 

I actually completed it in May and didn't want to post it until after Convention which is why you see my old blog address.  Anyway, it is a combination of two paper packets...Clementine and Dakota.  That is one of the many great things about CTMH, it is so easy to create because everything coordinates so well together.  I don't know how well it shows in the picture, but the rainbow actually pops up as you turn the page.  Click on the picture and it will show better.  I took all three of those pictures...just in the right spot at the right time.

 

Scrapbooking with CTMH is just the best.  I love combining stamping, the Cricut Cartridges and Stickease on one layout.  And, with the terrific embellishments you can spice up your pages even more.  All while creating "faster, simpler, easier."  :o)  Well, off to work.  For Now, Happy Crafting!

CTMH Artbooking Cricut Cartridge

Oh, am I ever loving the soon to be released CTMH Artbooking Cricut Cartridge!  I spent some more time yesterday playing with it and it is really amazing.  Prior to the 2013 Convention, there was a post from Close To My Heart that indicated that something that was going to be unveiled at Convention was "ground breaking."  Well, let me tell you, it is this cartridge.  You know how so many times, you are working on a layout and you waste paper because you misjudged the size of your image or title?  Admit it, we've all done it... :o)  With Artbooking, you will no longer waste that time and paper!  Contained right on the pages of the booklet, are full scrapbook layouts with the mats, titles and embellishments designed to fit.  A few simple cuts and you have a layout.  There are also several mini books that are set up the same way.

I guess I am still on Convention mode, but this is a layout I did yesterday.  It features some fun pictures from Disney.  The best thing is that short of the stamped stitching along the sides (Stitched Together C1459) everything is done with the products contained in the Artbooking Cricut Package.  Even the title stamp and the stamped arrows are from the package.  How can you argue with that. 

Artbooking will be available to the general public in just a few days (August 1st.)  I know that everyone is going to love it as much as I do.  For Now, Happy Crafting!

CTMH Scrapbook Layout Featuring Claire Paper Packet

Alas, I have to work the Michaels Crop this afternoon, but before I headed out, I wanted to create something.  Not having much time, I needed to do something quick and simple and yet did my pictures justice.  This is what I love about Close To My Heart.  Everything coordinates...the stamps, the papers and the embellishments.  One of the new tag lines for CTMH is Rediscover Scrapbooking and that is just what I intend to do.

I was able to make this layout very quickly but it does include several techniques and elements.  I've tone on tone stamped in the corners and added just a touch of Prisma Glitter for some bling.  I also tone on tone random stamped the hollyhock strip down the middle for just a little movement.  And, I sponged all the card stock edges for depth.  The title was made using CTMH self adhesive Felt Letters.  Quick, easy and yet still celebrates the magic of Disney at night.

 

Just a quick list of the CTMH products I used...

Champagne, Blush and Hollyhock Card Stock

Hollyhock, Pacifica and Champagne Inks

Blue Sparkles

Prisma Glitter

Pacifica Mini-Medleys (retired)

Pacifica Felt Letters (retired)

Rock The Block Stamp Set (Retired)

May 2013  Stamp of the Month

 

I purposely used some retired products not to frustrate you if you liked them, but to show you that even though a product may be retired, it is still usable and coordinates beautifully with the current product.  When CTMH retires a product, they always seem to come out with something new that is even bigger and better.

 

Stop by my website to see the Claire paper packet along with all of the other fun products.  For Now, Happy Crafting!