'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!

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!

White Pines Layout

So, this is Christmas...

You know I was singing this song in my head for hours after I created the title on this layout!  Sometimes songs just get stuck in your head! :)

Have you had a chance to check out the beautiful CTMH White Pines collection? It's available in the Holiday Expressions Idea Book but ONLY until December 31st!  It's gorgeous and perfect for a variety of creating.  The soft creams and browns pair beautifully for more natural scrapbook layouts and projects and the greens and reds scream "This is Christmas"!

At my last Layout Workshop all three layouts we created used this paper collection.  This layout was one of the layouts!  I'd love to have you join me next time and if you're too far to stop in and attend purchasing a kit on the go is also an option (please let me know if that is something you're interested in)!

In addition to the White Pines paper this layout also features an overlay cut from the new Cricut Artistry collection and embellished just enough with gold sequins for a clean look.  

Christmas layout featuring White Pines paper and Cricut Artistry overlay.

What have you been creating lately?  Are you planning on a crafty Christmas?  Remember to fill our your Santa wish lists and get them to me so I can help you out! If you would like a Santa list, contact me today!

Happy Crafting!

Falalalala Christmas Card

Anyone in the Christmas mood yet?  I so am!  I think it's because I've been preparing Christmas cards for my Christmas card buffet last month and have been playing with my papers of my upcoming layout workshop.  I certainly don't have my holiday shopping done! :)  Although, I have ideas swirling around... so I've got a start! :)

This Falalalala Christmas card was one of the cards that was available at my buffet in October.  

I have to say I love the simplicity of these trees and sentiment.  This card features 5 of 7 of the new CTMH colors that were introduced in September (saffron, fern, peacock, poppy and pomegranate). I have found myself creating a lot with these new rich colors.  They just look great, complementing each other well in multiple combinations and for many different projects!  

All the stamped images and sentiments come from a hostess rewards set available in Holiday Expressions, Festive Trees.  

Falalalala Christmas card featuring new CTMH colors!

 If you missed my workshop or are interested in hosting your own workshop contact me today.  I'd love to bring my workshop to you and a group of crafty friend or family members for a girls night out! 

All supplies used to create this card are available on my online site.  

Happy Crafting!

November News!

Hello!  Thanks for stopping by my little space to check out what I've got going on here and there. Today I've got the details of all the November CTMH (and Ellie) deals for you - check it out!

Scrapbookers, CTMHs November Constant Campaign has the perfect deal for you!!

Fundamental Scrapbooking Bundle!

​Experience the beautiful Simply Fundamental Scrapbooking workshop - available only during November!  This workshop has been created using all the items featured in our campaign exclusive My Legacy album bundles, available this month only for $71.80 each! 

When you purchase the album bundle, you will also qualify to receive a value pack (25 memory protectors) of side load or top load Memory Protectors FREE -- a savings of $19.95! 

Each bundle includes: 

1) One My Legacy Album (style and design of your choice) 

2) One Paper Fundamentals Enchantment pack

3) One Fundamental stickers Enchantment pack

4) One Peacock Fundamental assortment

5) Three sheets of White Daisy cardstock

** And Your FREE Memory Protectors!

You will then be set to turn these beautiful products into fabulous layouts using the new Simply Fundamental Scrapbooking workshop featuring five layouts you can make using all the supplies in your bundle.  The layouts are fun, versitile and available to you electronically upon purchase of this bundle!!

The gift giving season is upon us: This bundle could be just the perfect gift to yourself, for yourself or from Santa! It would also make a pretty swell gift for a crafty friend or relative!  

Shop for your Simply Fundamental Bundle anytime this month and get ready to have some FUN with FUNdamentals!

Piggyback Promotion: FREE Paper Pack of your Choice!

When you purchase your Simply Fundamental Bundle from me this month you'll also score your favorite paper pack from me for FREE!!!

More great paper = more great layouts for that new album your getting!! You can choose from any of the paper packs in Annual Inspirations (Zoe, Sangria, La Vie En Rose, Kaleidoscope, Georgie, Urban) or Holiday Expressions (Nevermore, White Pines).  

 

Sangria is my featured paper pack of the month.  Check back this month for artwork ideas
using these beautiful papers!

Stamp of the Month: Cheers

"Cheers" is available during November only - for just $5 with a purchase of $50 or more. Grab yours today! 

Holiday Wish List!!

With November here and December well... that'll be here before we know it!  It's holiday shopping time!  Keep me in mind for those crafty friends, family members, teachers, secret santas, etc. you're shopping for.  CTMH has many crafty gifts that are very reasonably priced.  I'd love to help you find what you're looking for.

But most of all....  I'm ready to help YOU get all the CTMH goodies you're hoping for!!!  :) I've got a Santa letter ready for you to fill out! Leave your information in the newsletter section of my blog and I'll get you a copy ASAP!  You can leave your list out for Santa to see - or better yet... email me/give me your list and your Santa(s) you'd like me to contact and I'll make sure you're on the nice list!! :)

I would like to place all holiday orders by Sunday, December 6th to be sure everything makes it here and under the trees in time!! So, get busy!  Fill out your list and send it my way so I can contact those husbands, parents, friends or family members for you!! :) 

Coming Soon!!!

If you're following me or CTMH on social media (Facebook Business Page) you've seen the sneak peek of the new Planner System CTMH is releasing December 1st!  There are multiple products releasing with this system from the Everyday Life binder to planner pages and a new roller stamp to washi tape.  I will post more details here my blog and will be sending emails as it gets closer to releasing so be sure you're on my newsletter list! 

The need-to-know is this... it's adorbs.  And, all the products will be available individually but also in a bundle deal. Perfecto! If you're planning on planning this next year plan on checking this out December 1st!

Upcoming Workshops:

Tuesday, November 17th, 6pm-9pm:  White Pines Layout Workshop at my house.

-- RSVP by Tuesday, November 10th please. 

Friday, November 20th and Saturday, November 21st: CTMH Live Creative Broadcast on CreativeLive.com

-- Join the event for giveaways and inspiration anytime during these two days.  CTMH has an event set up on their Facebook page with more details in you're interested!

Host a Gathering or Workshop!

Is your wish list getting long?  Host a party and get some of that for FREE or 1/2 off!!  If you're not on my calendar to host a party yet and would love to be let's get that planned!  I'm ready whenever you are!! :) 

 

Happy Crafting!

Halloween Layout

Things are getting spooky around here!

This layout was created using Nevermore paper, black glitter paper, my new favorite stamp set Ink Blot and Artiste Cricut cartridge. 

Layouts like this one can be created with me at my Layout Workshops! My next scheduled Layout Workshop is Tuesday, November 17th at 6pm. Mark your calendars! 

Happy Crafting!

Sunday Paper: Nevermore Layout with Flip Flaps

Where will you put all those cute pictures you take on Halloween?

I think I'll put mine here...

Guess what? I certainly WILL take more than 3 pictures ...and this layout will still work because of flip flaps!! There are 10 photo mats on this layout and I'm confident I could squeeze a few more flip flaps on if needed! :)

Here's the layout with the flip flaps 'opened' up.

I found inspiration for this page from Dana Kessler on Pinterest and made it my own. I also gained a lot of flip flap inspiration from many consultants at Convention this summer.  To create this layout I used Nevermore paper pack, Nevermore complements, Artbooking Cricut cartridge and Flip Flaps.  The complements in the new Annual Inspirations are a home run - seriously cute!

Remember, when you purchase your Nevermore paper this month I you will receive instructions to make this "Spooky Fun " layout and receive a cute Halloween card to add to your stash! 

Happy Crafting!

Happy National Stamping Month!

September is off to an exciting start!  The new Annual Inspirations Idea Book and the first Holiday Expressions Book are now live.  If you are still in need of your own copies of these Idea Books let me know and I can get a copy sent your way!

National Stamping Month Promotion: Hello, Life!
September is also National Stamping Month! To celebrate CTMH has release 3 exclusive stamps, available only during the month of September, to help every kind of papercrafter say a big "hello" to life!  These C-size My Acrylix Hello, Life! stamp sets can be purchased for $13.95 each!  Or, for an even better deal, you can purchase all three for only $34.95 - a savings of $6.90! 

Each stamp set is designed to fit with a specific type of papercrafting, whether that's scrapbooking, cardmaking, or pocket scrapbooking.  However, all the stamp sets coordinate with each other and can be used together to create dynamic artwork.  These stamp sets also coordinate with shapes from the new Cricut Artistry collection to help expand your artwork options even further. 

Remember, these stamp sets are available for one month only, so get your orders in for one stamp set - or all three - before these gorgeous stamps disappear!  Make certain to follow Close To My Heart's blog, Instagram, and Facebook page for artwork inspiration featuring these lively stamp sets all month long.  You can post your own artwork to your social media channels using the hashtag #ctmhHelloLife

CTMH Artwork created using exclusive National Stamping Month stamp sets, "Hello, Life!".

Stamp of the Month: Paper Garden
During the month of September you can purchase this exclusive D-Sized stamp set,Paper Garden, for only $5 with an order of $50 or more!

Paper Pack of the Month: Nevermore
Stay tuned to my blog, Facebook page and Instagram for Nevermore inspiration this month.  Nevermore will be featured in my artwork and at workshops this month.

Nevermore Paper Pack: X7198B

Nevermore Assortment (adhesive-backed, printed, faceted gems): Z3083

Nevermore Complements (coordinating stickers, Kraft Di-Cuts & Plastic Die-Cuts): X7198C 

I'd love for you to play with this paper collection along with me!  When you order your Nevermore paper pack during September you'll receive a fun Halloween card as well as instructions to create this exclusive scrapbooking layout.

Upcoming Workshops
Paper play dates are even more fun when spent with friends!  Be sure to mark these dates on your calendar!

September 20th: 2:00-4:00pm Kid's Club

September 22nd: 6:00-9:00pm Layout Workshop

October 10th: 9am-Midnight CROPTOBER FEST Crop

October 20th: 6:00-8:00pm Christmas Card Buffet

These upcoming workshops and classes are ones that I'm hosting at my house.  You are all welcome and invited to come!  Please call, email or text with your RSVP and I'll get you on the VIP list! :)

Finally, I am still take reservations for gatherings this fall!  As my calendar fills I want to make sure you are on it!  You can pick the type of party you want.  Just for hosting YOU get free product in addition to all the hostess rewards you will earn and EVERY party will have a free make-and-take project for you and your guests.

It's National Stamping Month! Keep Calm and Stamp On!

Happy Crafting!