I Heart Us Paper Collection Blog Hop

The I Heart Us collection is cheerful and fun!  Be sure to visit each blog on our hop to get some great ideas.  (If you're already hopping then you've probably arrived from Carol's blog, and from here you'll visit Debi's blog next.)

My first card uses the Year of Sweetness stamp set paired with I Heart Us paper and sequins.  I inked up my sentiment in Pixie and then the bottom portion in Raspberry.  For the cupcake, I stamped the wrapper in Mint, the frosting in Canary, and the sprinkles in Lagoon.

My second card uses the February stamp of the month, Heartfelt Sentiments.

Thank you for visiting!  I'd love a comment before you leave.  Now go see what DEBI has created!

Lovely Layers {CTMH Technique Blog Hop}

Lovely Layers is this month's CTMH Technique Blog Hop theme, and it can be interpreted in a variety of ways.  See what our talented consultant group has put together this month by hopping along.  (If you're already hopping then you've probably arrived from Michelle Johns' blog and from here you'll visit Debi McBain's blog next.)

For my "twist" on this technique theme, I am showcasing our fabulous flip flaps.  If you're not familiar with them, flip flaps are plastic pockets (in a variety of sizes) with an adhesive flap.  Any guesses as to where my flip flap layer is?

Here's a hint: it's on the right page.  (I did photograph my layout BEFORE using the flip flap, because the clear plastic glares a lot in photos.)

If you guess "door #6" then you were right!  Speaking of 6, the photo on the outside of the flap is the 6th layer of that stack (so the sticker 6 is the 7th layer?).

Here's a close up of the left page in case you're interested.  Can you tell that I used the Something Fierce collection?  Not a single dinosaur in sight...  (If you'd like to learn more about this layout and my second layout of our day in Berlin, feel free to click HERE.  If you'd like to see what I've scrapbooked so far from this adventure, click the Europe 2016 tab at the top.)  If not, I'd love a comment before you hop on over to Debi's blog to continue the Lovely Layers Technique Blog Hop.

February Stamp of the Month Valentine Cards

Happy Valentine's Day!  I had a great time using the February stamp of the month, Heartfelt Sentiments, to create Valentine cards for my three loves.

My first card got mailed Monday to our daughter in college.  I stamped the large sentiment stamp on a 4"x5.25" White Daisy panel with black ink.  I also stamped the banner portion of the stamp onto a piece of Candy Apple card stock and then cut out the banner.

Can you see how I colored the sentiment with Red and Black shimmer brushes?  This panel was glued to a piece of Candy Apple card stock and then mounted onto the front of my card.  White enamel gems completed it.

My second card, for my husband, is similar to the first but similar.  I used the red shimmer brush on this one and added a puffy heart from the So Much Happy collection.

My third and final card is for our younger daughter.  I love this piece of Sapphire with Lagoon hearts from the So Much Happy collection and knew it would be perfect for her card.  I stamped the sentiment panel in Sapphire and then the banner with Lagoon ink.  I colored the sentiment with Marine Blue and Peacock Blue Shin-Han Twin Touch markers, and the flowers with Turquoise and Vivid Green.  I also used my mint shimmer brush on the sentiment and some of the flowers.  (It is really hard to photograph the shimmer brushes!)

Do you like the aqua gems?  They are clear sparkles colored with the Turquoise Shin-Han Twin Touch marker!

Happy Valentine's Day to you and yours!

February Stamp of the Month Blog Hop: Heartfelt Sentiments

The Close To My Heart February stamp of the month, Heartfelt Sentiments, is absolutely gorgeous!  I'm really looking forward to playing with it this month- and beyond.  You're going to see many creative ideas along our stamp of the month blog hop.  (If you're already hopping then you've probably arrived from Jayma's blog.  From here you'll click on her name to visit Gina's blog next.)

The fun colors and patterns of the I Heart Us collection made me want to make a rainbow card.  I love this tile pattern from Make It From Your Heart, Vol. 1.  I also wanted to show how you could use this stamp set on a card.  Do you see the four stamped tiles that I made?  I clustered the small flowers and polka dot stamp onto my 2" block to stamp on each 1.25" square.

I stamped the cluster in Pixie, Canary, Lagoon, and Thistle to create my stamped tiles.  I stamped the banner in Carolina and the sentiment in Black.  I fussy cut the banner to go across the card and then sprinkled on a few I Heart Us sequins.

I think this card is going to send a lot of cheer to its recipients!  I'd love a comment before you hop over to Gina's blog.  Thanks for stopping by!  I'm so blessed to know YOU.

{Click HERE for all the hop participants and their blogs.}

Europe 2016: Day 7, Berlin

On our epic European adventure, we took an excursion into the city of Berlin.  I would have loved to have been able to spend more time there but am grateful for being able to see a few of the most important sites.

We bused into Berlin from our port and had a bus tour before we stopped in the center of town to take a walking tour. 

Can you tell that I used the Something Fierce collection for these Berlin pages?  Not a single dinosaur in sight...

We also had a little free time, so we did try currywurst.  I used a flip flap to journal about it.  (Not our favorite, but when in Berlin...)

Next are our photos of the Wall and the Holocaust Memorial.

I felt that it was important to keep this pages solemn and somber to focus on the photos and remember the history. 

More Europe 2016 Layouts: Day 6 (Copenhagen)

If you're new to the blog, the back story is that we were able to go to Europe for a month during the summer of 2016.  I am diligently working on getting my photos (finally) scrapbooked.  I was on a roll for a while and am excited to get back on track.  (You can follow my progress- and more importantly our trip- using the Europe 2016 tab, above).

On our final day in Copenhagen, my cousin dropped us off to wander Nyhavn ("New Harbor," established in the 17th century).  I paired these pictures with the (retired but still available on my website) Central Park collection. 

I used a flip-flap to be able to include all of my photos plus the all-important journaling about what we saw.

I've always had a love of churches and cathedrals and our visit included walking by the Russian Orthodox Church and the English Church.

This layout also uses the Central Park collection.

We had such a great time and took so many pictures during our six days with my cousin in Denmark that my layouts have filled an entire album!  Here's my closing page, a tribute to the iconic Danish Little Mermaid (with my adorable "mermaids").

Thanks for traveling along with us!  If you'd like to enjoy our trip, be sure to click on the Europe 2016 tab, above.  It is definitely a work in progress!

H2H Challenges: 18th Birthday

My gorgeous niece turned 18 today, and here is the easel card that I made for her.  I hope that she likes it!  I think this card fits the current Heart 2 Heart challenge, Creative cards!

I began with my  CTMH/You Are Here cartidge to cut the birthday border and the #18 from the From the Heart collection.

 I used my gold shimmer brush to highlight the cupcake.

The interior card sentiment "happy birthday" was stamped with Sapphire ink.

Won't you join me in wishing my sweet niece a very happy birthday?!?

Something Fierce Paper Collection Blog Hop

Have you had a chance to browse the new Seasonal Expressions 1 for 2019?  If so then I'm sure our gorgeous paper collections have jumped out at you!  This month we are spotlighting the Something Fierce collection, so hop around to see some great project ideas.  (If you're already hopping then you've probably arrived from Carol's blog, and from here you'll visit Debi's blog next.)

With its cute dinosaurs, this collection is fabulous for kids' projects, but I wanted to also show that it works for "big kids" too, like some of my high school senior's band pictures.  (You can read more about this layout HERE.)

Of course it was perfect for my cousin's first birthday, paired with the Year of Sweetness stamp set.  (Learn more HERE.)

Finally, here's another fun birthday card using the January stamp of the month, Card Captions, and that adorable dinosaur paper.  (Learn more HERE.)

Thanks for letting me share a few of my Something Fierce projects.  Please leave a comment before you hop on off to Debi's blog.  Thank you!

Tag, You're It! {CTMH Technique Blog Hop}

Tag, You're It!  Tags are so fun to use alone or layered onto a project.  You're going to love seeing all the possibilities along this month's CTMH Technique Blog Hop.  (If you're already hopping then you've probably already arrived from Michelle Johns' blog and you'll visit Debi McBain next.)

This layout is the title page for volume 2 of our epic European adventure in 2016.  (Yes, I am way behind on scrapbooking, and I am okay with that.  Don't judge. LOL)  I used the So Much Happy Workshop Your Way collection and my CTMH/Cricut You Are Here cartridge.

The top left tag is from the You Are Here stamps.  After cutting out the tag, I stamped the image on it with Lagoon.  Then I stamped the image again in Sapphire on scrap and cut out the "vacation" band.  The other tag is from the So Much Happy collection.

My photo mat is another tag from You Are Here, as is the yellow label and the "here we go" sentiment (stamped with Candy Apple ink).  Can you see all the adorable So Much Happy puffy stickers?  Aren't those clouds cute too?

Thank you for letting my share a little bit more of our trip and my girls, plus hopefully I've provided some tag inspiration.  After leaving a comment, hop on over to Debi's blog next!

Seasonal Expressions 1 2019 New Product Blog Hop

Have you gotten your hands on the new Close To My Heart Seasonal Expressions 1 Idea Book?  Better yet, have you gotten your new goodies to play with?  We're featuring our favorites from the new collections on this blog hop.  (If you're already hopping, then you've probably arrived from Melinda's blog.  From here, you'll visit Gina's blog next.)

The Something Fierce collection isn't just for little kids!  I used it to showcase some of my daughter's marching band pictures, and I love how they look with this color palette.

My layout design is based on the Make It From Your Heart, Vol. 3 Pattern 18.  (I am planning on having my daughter write her own journaling since this layout is going in her senior year album.)

In addition to the Something Fierce complements, I added some gray gems for a little subtle bling.

Here are two cards I've made with the Something Fierce collection:

You definitely feel the dinosaur jive with this birthday card featuring the January stamp of the month, Card Captions.  (Learn more HERE.)

My second card uses the Year of Sweetness stamp set and was given to my cousin for his first birthday.  (Learn more HERE.)

Thank you very much for letting me share some ideas with the Something Fierce collection.  Believe it or not, it's not even my favorite collection of this Idea Book!  I am really looking forward to playing with the other papers featured this quarter also.  Be sure to visit all of the bloggers on this hop for lots of inspiration.  Please leave a comment before going to visit GINA'S BLOG next.

{Click HERE for all the hop participants and their blogs.}

Years of Sweetness First Birthday Card

My cousin Ben turned ONE last month, so I created this card with the Years of Sweetness stamp set and Something Fierce paper collection.

The card is based on a pattern from Make It From Your Heart, Vol. 4.  After cutting out the cupcake image from the CTMH/Cricut Artbooking cartridge, I stamped it with Lemon, Carolina, and Willow.  The sentiment is Carolina.  Here's a peek at the inside (before personalizing it).

I think he liked his card (and he even toted it around for a bit)!  Isn't he adorable?

Here are some more ideas from the CTMH Corporate Artwork Staff.

Isn't this set cute for boys or girls?