'tis the Season Layout

'tis the season to believe in miracles (and magic)!

This layout was created in my EXTRA Happy, Happy Christmas scrapbooking layout workshop.  You can recreate this layout using Happy, Happy Christmas My Crush and Happy, Happy Christmas Picture My Life cards, City Sidewalks complements and Oh Deer coordinating cardstock.

Elements of this design were suggested for the hinged display. Once I created all of my layouts in the Happy, Happy Christmas bundle I used remaining City Sidewalks complements, left over seaglass and white daisy cardstock to turn this into a two-page layout with picture my life spaces in the right.  

How cute is that Santa cruising in his car? 

Wishing you peace, love and happiness!
We believe!

Christmas Cards for Days!!

Receiving Chrstimas cards from friends and family is definately one of my most favorite traditions of Christmas.  My husband and I try to beat each other to the mailbox each day so we can open the mail first! If more than one card comes sometimes we'll share the joy of opening them... we love it!

What do you do with all of the Christmas cards that you receive? Do you display them? Keep them in a fun mailbox or container? What do you do with them when it's time to pack up Christmas or take down all the cards you have hung up?

I'm a Christmas card collector!  For sure.  Are you surprised?  In the 11 years that my husband and I have been married I have save each and every one.  We always put them up in a wall, door or some kind of display and then around February-ish I take them all down and put each on in our Christmas card scrapbook.

I have one (well just started our second last year) scrapbook for our Christmas cards.  Each year I create a one page layout with our card and include all the  cards from friends and family in layouts to follow. I generally carry thru one element from my main layout each year so i can easily tell which year cards are from.

This is my 2015 title layout, our card fit on the photo mat. This year was the first that I used PML memory pages to keep all the other cards in. This worked really well - I usually trim the cards down to just the main photos to make it all fit.  I also carried the element of the trees throughout the other pages.

This page was created using Rustic Home fundamental paper, City Sidewalks paper, City Sidewalks washi tape as well as white enamel dots. The trees can be created easily from rectangles. Make the rectangle the height you'd like the trees and the width you'd like. Once you have your rectangle, find the midpoint of the top, make a cut from that point to the bottom corner on each side. Hello, Christmas tree!

Wishing you peace, love and happiness!

Noel Scrapbook Layout

Don't you just love all these glacier patterns?! I created this layout using Happy, Happy Christmas My Crush papers, Happy, Happy Christmas Picture My Life cards and City Sidewalks complements. With a little slate cardstock this page is ready for any number of winter pictures!

Remember more picture can be added by simply using flip flaps!! A 6x12 flip flap would fit perfectly over the center photo mat strip and instantly you would have more space for so many more pictures or journaling.

Wishing you peace, love and happiness!

Wonderful Scrapbook Layout

It's the most wonderful time of the year!

Christmas Layout created using CTMH Happy, Happy Christmas supplies.

This layout was created at my EXTRA Happy, Happy Christmas scrapbooking layout workshop.  We created 8 layouts!!! We did all of that in just 3 hours!  It was so fun and so productive.  I cannot wait to add pictures from this year's Christmas time to my layouts.  It will be so slick.  The best part of layouts that are all ready done and they can be finished by quickly adding pictures and if you need more space for more pictures it's easy to add flip flaps or pocket pages plus to get a few more in!  

Oh! And... I can coordinate our outfits to match my pretty papers!  What?! C'mon, I know you do that too...

You can recreate this layout using Happy, Happy Christmas My Crush and Happy, Happy Christmas Picture My Life cards, City Sidewalks complements and Oh Deer coordinating cardstock.  Remember these supplies as well as all the other awesome product in Holiday Expressions retires December 31st!

Wishing you peace, love and happiness!

EXTRA Happy, Happy Christmas!

This layout was created in my EXTRA Happy, Happy Christmas scrapbooking layout workshop.  You can recreate this layout using Happy, Happy Christmas My Crush and Happy, Happy Christmas Picture My Life cards, City Sidewalks complements and Oh Deer coordinating cardstock.  This layout design was one of the layouts you could create using the November Happy, Happy Christmas bundle from CTMH. I added an additional My Crush page, brown floral pattern, to my layout to fit my tastes and photos. 

What's that?  You didn't get the the November special and it's December 20th?  No problem!  You can still purchase these papers and cards separately throughout the end of the month on my website!

Wishing you peace, love and happiness!

Oh Deer! Scrapbook Layout

It's Christmas week!!! Christmas means many different things to different people. I love Christmas time!  Every bit of it... the hustle and bustle, the glow of lights, the gatherings and celebrations, the magic, the hope and gift of love, Christmas Eve service, picking out the perfect gifts, taking time to smile on the memories I have of family watching down on us and think about the blessings in my life.

I take so many pictures during December to document our days and traditions and I look forward to documenting Christmas in my albums each year.  I have a layout ready to share with you each day this week to celebrate my favorite time of year! 

This layout was created using Oh Deer! papers.  I love this paper and love the natural look you get when using with with kraft paper.  However, you'll notice I added some gold glitter paper to bling it up!  The title Christmas is cut using the CTMH Christmas Thin Cut. 

 

 

 

Christmas Layout created using Oh! Deer paper collection

Wishing you peace, love and happiness!

City Sidewalks Layout

I am so in the Christmas mood!! I try to hold off until after Thanksgiving but I'm going with, "Really?! Why wait?"  It's getting chillier but we still have a brown ground.  My kiddos were hopeful we'd get our piece of the first snowstorm of the winter, but it missed us.  (I'm okay with that for now...)

What have you been working on lately?  Do you have any Christmas crafts that you're trying to get ready for the holiday season?

I have been busy working layouts from November's special Happy, Happy Christmas and am loving it!

In addition to these 5 layouts I have prepared an additional 3 two-page layouts for this workshop and will be offering an EXTRA Happy, Happy Christmas Layout Workshop December 6th!  If you're local and would like to attend, contact me!  If you are not local but would love the workshop we can make that happen too - contact me today! Here's a sneak peak at one of the featured layouts in the workshop!

EXTRA Happy, Happy Christmas Layout Workshop - Sign up today!

So how about City Sidewalks? Love all this Christmas paper!  I created this layout using extra complements from the workshop that I had left.  Isn't that car full of traveling family a fun image?   This layout also has white glitter paper snowflakes on it cut from CTMH Snowflake Thin Cuts.

Quick and easy, this layout is ready for holiday pictures!

City Sidewalks Layout featuring Snowflake Thin Cuts

If you need help recreating this layout or would like to attend my upcoming workshop let me know! You can find all the supplies for all of today's projects on my online shopping site!

Happy Crafting!

Sunday Paper: Autumn Splendor

This weather is GORGEOUS!!!  I am loving fall right now.  Seriously, November 6th is usually not shorts and t-shirt weather in Minnesota and we've been sporting them all weekend long.  Love it!

I thought I would share a layout with you that we created at a workshop back in August using Florence papers.  I love this paper for late summer, autumn projects.  It is rich in color - just beautiful. It was a paper pack featured in Seasonal Expressions 2 that retired August 31st, but... it's back!  While supplies last you can have your pick at the Florence paper, Florence complements and Florence Sequins.  Perfect timing to bring such beautiful paper back, in my opinion!

Layout created with Florence Papers and  Flower Market (Cricut).

To create this layout I used one piece of pattern paper and cut it diagonally to create the background. I used my Cricut Flower Market cartridge to create the title.  "Autumn" is a special cut on this cartridge that cuts proportionately to the banner.  "Splendor" is cut using the 2 fonts on the cartridge, a plain-slim font and a curly-slim font.  I also was able to cut the wheat from Flower Market.  The saffron pattern paper is also from the Florence paper and then I used peacock as an additional color. Add some sequin and... done!

If you'd like help recreating this layout or would like to create similar ones let me know! I'd love to have you join me for my next scrapbooking layout workshop!  Hop on over to my online shop and grab your Florence paper, complements or sequins while they are around.

Florence Paper

Florence Sequins

Florence Complements

Happy Crafting!

Jeepers Creepers! It's Halloween!

Hello, friends!!  I hope you have plans for a spooky fun day!  We have 3 little monsters (well... Waldo, Police Office and a "tree climber" aka Monkey) ready to enjoy their day and collect candy. As they collect their candy and bounce through their day with smiles and sugar I plan to collect memories - many of them! Ok... and a few pieces of their candy!

So, I thought I'd bee-bop in and share some Jeepers Creepers cuteness with you. Jeepers Creepers is the new adorably spooky CTMH Halloween themed paper suite.  Last month on my Close to My Heart site there were super cute ideas of how to create with the paper. I used it for inspiration and came up with these two layouts.

Layout created using Jeepers Creepers and Cricut Flower Market.

Layout created using Jeppers Creepers and Cricut Flower Market.

How fun is this paper pack?  The little monster and the eyeballs are on opposite sides of one sheet so I was able to created both of these layouts using one piece of pattern paper.  I marked my papers at 3 inches on one side and 9 inches on the other and then used two sheets of paper to form a long straight line to connect the diagonal line and trimmed away.  If you have a longer paper trimmer that would make your job a little faster. :)  The tangerine (new CTMH color this year!) is a trapezoid in the background as well.  Each of the two trapezoids were made from one 6x9 rectangle.  I marked on one of the longest sides at 3 inches and the other long side at 6 inches and then used my trimmer to make the diagonal cut.  Then it's just paper piecing. 

Have you had a chance to check out the new CTMH Flower Market Cricut Cartridge?  As with all of the CTMH cartridges it is a treasure chest FULL of a year's worth of themes and occasions.  The title, Halloween, for these layouts comes from this cartridge.  Love the font style of this! 

I embellished these layouts just enough to make it pop.  Depending on the layout I either used the Jeepers Creepers washi tape or the zip strip from the pattern paper.  Tip:  Make your paper go further!  Cut the zip strip behind the photo mat and leave a gap so you only have to use one zip strip as it's only 12inches long and the diagonal gets a bit longer.   The green washi tape on top of my 5x7 photo mats is from this suite as well.  I used the "berries" from the September SOTM to stamp the tangerine dots around the title.  I actually love how they reassemble the eyes in the paper in the second layout. Tip: Try not to limit yourself when working with your stamps... many stamps have many possibilities when you look at them from another angle! 

Finally, I got my shimmer on!! Tricky to see in my pictures but I used my shimmer brush on my title that was just black card stock to give it some great dimensions and shimmer.  Also, I added shimmer to eyes and monsters through the pattern papers.  LOVE THIS TOOL!!! 

If you're looking for a way to capture all the great Halloween memories you make today or from years past I'd love to help you!  You can click on any of the links throughout my post to find the supplies I used in my online shop.  

The Jeepers Creepers Workshop Your Way (WYW) bundle has all of the coordinating Jeepers Creepers goodness in one place for you, including a few extra pieces of cardstock to aid in creating layouts or cards!  

Jeepers Creepers Workshop Your Way

Happy Halloween, Happy Memory Collecting & Happy Crafting Ghouls and Goblins!!

Jeepers Creepers! Sunday Paper Delivery...

So... not to say I haven't been playing with paper and enjoying spending some weekend time or Sundays with my favorite paper, but... I may have been heading in this direction and that and not delivering.

Here we are, friends, Sunday morning and time to enjoy your favorite paper with your cup of coffee and pjs! Today I bring you a birthday card created using Jeepers Creepers.

Card created using Jeepers Creepers and Flower Market. 

I used the Jeepers Creepers washi tape to embellish the front of the card as well as my mini stapler and my favorite new tool... the shimmer brush!  It's hard to tell in the pictures but up close and personal many of the monsters have a little sparkle to them.  Monsters are less scary with glitter, right?!

I used one of the stamp sets that comes with the new CTMH Flower Market Cricut Cartridge to stamp my sentiments on the outside and inside of my card.  The monster that I stamped on the inside comes from a retired stamp set, Love Ya Silly.  There is a current monster stamp set, Monstrous Halloween, that would do the same trick; Monstrous Halloween also comes in a thin-cut bundle if you're interested in that!  Finally,  I used my Marigold ShinHan marker to color in the white polka dots of the monster to complement the tangerine paper on the outside. 

Jeepers Creepers doesn't have to just be Halloween paper.  There are definite themes of the CTMH paper packs, but taking a look from a different angle can give you a whole new purpose for the papers you love!

A closer look at the supplies used for this layout:

Jeepers Creepers Paper

 Flower Market Cricut Collection

Monstrous Halloween Stamp Set

Thank you for stopping by! I hope you have a blessed Sunday. 

Happy Crafting!

Sea Glass, Thin Cuts, Shimmer Brush, Oh My!

Hey!!!! Sorry for my absence. I've been crafting and posting on social media and my blog took a back seat this summer.  Ready for some new inspiration??

If you haven't gotten your hands on our new Annual Inspirations Idea Book you must do so ASAP!! You can contact me for a copy, throw a copy in your next online shopping cart or just check it out in at my online shop.  EYE CANDY!! Aside from the amazing product remember it is an IDEA BOOK!

Here to show you just what I mean is my first artwork post of the fall (Yes, it's here loving the cool breeze!).

This artwork is showcased on page 1 of the 2016-2017 Idea Book:

And, here is how I made it my own.  By doing so I also showcased SEVEN new amazing products!!

Layout featuring: Sea Glass CTMH Color of the Year, Sea Glass Glitter Paper,  Hello & Thank You
Thin Cuts, Happy Thoughts Embossing Folder, Glitter Brush, Stamp Sets: Capture This and
This & That

Can you pick out the new products?
1.  Color of the Year: Sea Glass
     I think you are going to find that this gorgeous color complements artwork of all seasons

2. Glitter Paper  (Sea Glass Glitter Paper)
    The new glitter paper packs come with 3 - 12x12 sheets and all 3 sheets are the same color!

3. Thin Cuts: Hello & Thanks
    My dream came true in Disney World this year at Convention! I was so hoping to get new thin cuts, but not just any thin cuts... words!  We got 'em!!! Whooo!! Hooooo!!

4.  Embossing Folder: Happy Thoughts
    Adorbs!

5.  Glitter Brush
    My favorite new tool.  Adds such a great element!  You can make any thing shimmer. So easy! You brush it on, applying as many coats (shimmer) as you want.  So amazing! (Or magic?)  So affordable!

6. Stamp Set: Capture This
   This stamp set is a great everyday stamp set to help make your scrapbook journalling and date keeping quick and easy with a trendy and cute font.

7. Stamp Set: This & That
   'This' stamp set 'makes me happy'! Look at all the phrases you can use, so many possibilities.

The Close to My Heart Idea Books are so great!  They are chalk full of inspiration.  And, you won't believe what happens tomorrow morning... The Holiday Expressions Idea Book releases! Halloween, Fall, Christmas... Oh My!!
Contact me today to get on my calendar to host your own crafty workshop to earn your favorite scrapbooking, stamping and paper crafting supplies FREE or Half-Off!

Happy Crafting!

June: CTMH Flash Sales!!

I'm so excited June is here!  Summer is my favorite.  I get to be home with my kiddos and enjoy our days together each day.  We are so looking forward to that and have started our 'Places to Go, Things to Do' lists!  4 more school wake-ups for us until Summer Vacation! :)

Bonus:  CTMH Convention is in June this year.  I get to go again and this year it's at Walt Disney World in Florida.  eeeeeeeeeeeee!!!! So looking forward to that!

What's on your summer-to-do-list?  I hope tons of things you enjoy!

THANK YOU!! Thanks to all of you who participated in my National Scrapbooking Month week event!  I had fun finding goo things to share, getting in my own scrapbooking  room and getting some challenges down myself and BINGO was a riot!!!  If you missed out mark July 17-25 on your calendar for Christmas in July!  ...more challenges, games, giveaways, fun and sneak peeks of new product coming in August!  You don't want to miss it!  If you're not on Facebook (to be included in the group) let me know and we'll figure out a way to stay connected!

FLASH SALE!!

CTMH is excited it's June too!  In addition to Convention this month they have a party for all of us all month long!  CTMH is having Flash Sales throughout the month of June.  They will be offering great deals on bundles of discounted Close to My Heart products every weekend!  You can find these deals on my Online Business Address (OBA) each Friday afternoon at 4pm CST.

There will be lots to choose from, but you'll need to snatch them up quick, because they're only available through the following Monday while supplies last!  Bundles will vary each weekend.  Some will have only new product, some will have only retired product and others will contain both!  CTMH will also be posting artwork on their blog (blog.closetomyheart.com) each weekend showing what you can create with some of the bundles offered for the weekend.

Bundles will be available at various discount levels and price points through the month, so check every weekend to see the new offerings.  They even have a countdown here!  hahaha! Remember, these discounts won't last forever, and some will be gone in a flash, so act quickly to score the best deals!

Stamp of the Month: The Long Way Home
It's traveling season!  This stamp set will compliment any of your destinations!! During June, you can get this SOTM set, The Long Way Home for only $5 with every $50 purchase!

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#AlltheAlbums Sale Continued
CTMH has decided to extend this sale and offer 25% off the retail prices of the remaining inventory of albums.  These albums will retire July 31st.  Act fast, some of these beautiful albums have already sold out with this great deal.  All albums available can be found on my OBA here.

Until next time... Happy Crafting!

National Scrapbooking Month!

Happy National Scrapbooking Month!!! 

May is flying by!! I hope you have been enjoying the beautiful weather and then when it's not so beautiful.... some scrapbooking time!!

Who's seen the new Idea Book?! the new Seasonal Expressions Idea Book went live May 1st! You can get a new Seasonal Expressions Idea Book either from me or add it to your next online order for free! You can also peruse through it on my online site, here.

Be sure to check it out if you haven't!! Three new paper packs -- bright summer colors, papers perfect for theme parks (think Disney!), Fourth of July ready, bold summer colors, flamingos and pineapples!  New watercolor brushes, new Picture My Life collections, fun stamp sets and Stamp of the Month sets through August! 

Let me know if you'd like an Idea Book and I'll get one to you!

National Scrapbooking Offers and Events through Ellie:

National Scrapbooking Month Event on Facebook 

Join me next week for a week of challenges, games and giveaways! I will set up a private group this wknd and you can join! If we are already "friends" on Facebook I'll invite you. I'll post a reminder on my Facebook Business page when things get started so leave me a comment (or email) if you'd like to be added!

Mystery Hostess!! 

Each person who places an order through me in May will qualify to be put in a drawing to be the Mystery Hostess of all May orders and receive the benefit of the free product and possible 1/2 off items!! Orders can be placed online (ellielundstrom.ctmh.com), be sure to join the "National Scrapbooking Month!" Party or you can place an order directly me! 

Wait! There's more...

Close To My Heart is Celebrating National Scrapbooking Month with a FREE Paper Pack this month!! 

Happy Times is a fun paper pack full of beautiful colors patterns and gold foil designs; I personally love the white wash wood and bright ombre sheets!  You can get the Happy Times paper pack for FREE with a qualifying purchase of $60.   You can also purchase this exclusive paper packet at full retail for $14.95 with no purchase requirement.  Additionally, there is a coordinating D-size stamp set, My Acrylix Happy Times,available for $17.95. Together this duo will create a beautiful space in your scrapbooks for you precious memories!

Also, when you make a qualifying purchase and get this paper pack for FREE or when you purchase this paper pack this month you will also receive from me instructions to create 3 beautiful two-pages layouts and instructions to create 12 awesome cards! 

#AlltheAlbums (All the Albums Promotion!)

Through the month of May, you can save 25% off the purchase of Close to My Heart's My Legacy albums!  That is a saving of over $8.50 per album!  Choose from our a gorgeous variety of colors and patterns available in both post-bound and D-righ styles.  This offer is while supplies last, so place your order soon to get the styles and colors you love.  They are built to last and are going fast -- order yours today!

​Celebrate with Cake (Stamp of the Month)

This month you can purchase this D-size stamp, Celebrate with Cake, for just $5 with a qualifying purchase of $50.  What a great stamp set to use with watercolors, pencils and markers! 

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Have a great weekend!! Squeak in some crafting time! 😉

~~ Ellie

When You're Playing with Paper

As the saying goes: Time flies when you're ... Playing with Paper!! :)

CTMH Paper Packs Featured: Charlotte, Penelope and Regatta

As April comes to an end many beautiful papers and stamp sets will be retiring.  I wanted to be sure you knew (or remembered) Seasonal Expressions retires in just a few days,  April 30th as the clocks strikes midnight *poof*! 

You can find this Seasonal Expressions Idea Book online here.

Paper Packs and Coordinating Embellishments

Charlotte

Layout created using Charolette Paper and Woodland Romance Stamp Set.

Charlotte Paper Pack

Charolette Complements

Regatta

Layouts created using Regatta papers, Regatta Complements and Beach Days Stamp Set.

Regatta Paper Pack

Regatta Complements

Penelope

Layout created using Penelope Paper and Zoe WOTG Stamp Set.

Penelope Paper Pack

Penelope Complements

Stamp Sets 

Reminder: The new CTMH stamp policy is that the sets retire with the Idea Book.  There are many cute sets in this Idea Book you can view the Idea Book, here, to see all the sets included.  Here are a few of my favorites from this book:

Beach Days (D1684)

Woodland Romance (D1683)

Kiss It Better (B1508)

Patch of Sky (M1136)

Pirate Birthday (A1186)

Picture My Life Products

All Picture My Life products in this Idea Book will also be retiring.  Do you have Love Your Selfie?  Cause..... you should!  :)

PML: Love Your Selfie  (Z3194)

  

Instalife Products

The new Black and White Instalife Album in this Idea Book as well as the Instalife City Limits Cards are almost gone...

Black and White Instalife Album

Instalife Cards: City Limits

Let me know if you have any questions!! 

You can get your favorite CTMH products while they are available anytime at my website: ellielundstrom.ctmh.com .  

Happy Crafting!