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 Christmas Card

Well, forgive me for being absent for a few days.  Busy...so what else is new.  I've been preparing for an upcoming workshop and just had a terrific workshop last night.  In the midst of all of that, I was able to finish this card...

I made this card with one of my favorite new CTMH stamps called Classic Doily (B1424.)  To make it, I took a large piece of 140 pound cold press watercolor paper and made a wash.  I scribbled, yes scribbled all over the watercolor paper with different shades of blue and gray pencils.  Then, using my waterbrush, I wet the page to mix the scribbles.  When it was dry, I heat embossed the Doily image 3 times with gold powder.  I then cut out the layer, added some additional coloring with the pencils and a blending pencil and popped up the layers with 3D foam.  Last, but not least, "Joy" was heat embossed on a scrap piece of the water color paper.  :o)

The card also features the new Ruby Glitter tape.  A striking card, what do you think?  And, I just looked at the clock and I must head out to work!  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!







CTMH Home Decor and Frosted

Hold onto your hat, but I actually had a little free time to create today!  I know, I can't believe it either.  :o)  When we were at our Post Convention Team Meeting the other week, one of our creative projects was to make the make one of the CTMH My Creations Stars along with Karen (the PaperDolls fearless leader) teaching us to may a rolled flower.  Well, I never had the chance to make my star at the meeting, but it is such a wonderful project that I was determined to make one. 

Why is it so difficult to get a decent picture of the best things?  I used the new "Frosted" paper packet (X7175B) to cover the chipboard star (Z1803).  A template is available to use to cut out the individual "legs."  What I learned from this is when using 2 different papers, you need to remember to have the template facing the same way for 5 of the points and the opposite way for the other 5.  Otherwise, you will wind up with miss matched papers.  Not a problem, you just need to remember this.

Now for the Polka Satin Ribbon (Z1802)) Flower in the center.  When Karen taught us how to make the flower, she used the burlap ribbon (Z1760).  I looked at the satin ribbon and wondered would it work.  Well, it did!  :o)  Cut two pieces of ribbon...one to measure 12 inches and the other measuring 24 inches.  When using burlap, you only need 12 inches for each length.  Fold the lengths in half and glue the edge using a hot glue gun (don't burn yourself.)  Begin to roll the 12 inch length tightly and hold together with the glue.  You want a tight roll so feel free to add glue from the selvage to the top.  This is the center of your flower.  Next take the 24 inch length, attach to the base (salvage) edge of the flower center.  Make sure that you only glue the bottom portion.  Begin to wrap around the flower center and randomly pleat the ribbon so that it fans out to look like a flower.  When you are close to the end, fold in the edge to keep the ribbon from fraying. If you are using burlap, you may fringe it to give the petal effect.  This is why you need less ribbon when you are using the burlap...the fringing forms the petal look.  Cut two shorter lengths of ribbon to attach to the bottom to form your "leaves."  Very easy and a great effect.  What do you think?

I love these stars and can see me making several for Holiday Gifts.  For Now, Happy Crafting!

Fall Floral

This is just a quick post before I head off to work.  I think I've mentioned that I am the floral designer at my local Michaels.  Well, here are two items that I just made...what fall already?  :o)

Well, it's off to work.  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!