Stamp of the Month Blog Hop: January's "Find Your Style"

Happy New Year!!! Welcome to the first edition of the 2011 Stamp of the Month Blog Hop! We've got some surprises up our sleeves this year (starting next month) so be sure to come back at the beginning of each month, if not sooner. ;) You can start anywhere on the hop and follow it along its path. (If you're already hopping, you should have come from Nancy Brown's blog and you'll go to see what Carla Creates next.)

The January stamp of the month, Find Your Style, is so beautiful! I absolutely love the sentiment I featured here on my cards, and of course I had to pair it up with the beautiful bird. I used the "Out of the Box" technique so that it appears the bird is flying off the focal piece. To make the flourishes (that I hope give a little movement to the bird), I inked up the antennae only from the gorgeous butterfly stamp.

What do you think of the gorgeous paper? It's called "Wings," and is available as a "sneak peek" this month from the Spring/Summer Close To My Heart Idea Book, which will be released 2/1/11. Did you notice the pleated ribbon in Vineyard Berry and Juniper? It too is a sneak peek. The best of all is that you don't have to be a consultant to take advantage of the January "Inspirations" specials. (Scroll down if you'd like to learn more!) As a finishing touch, I added a Licorice Opaque self-adhesive pearl to the birds' eyes.

Thanks for checking out my cards. Now hop on over to see what Carla Creates next!

Inspiration has Wings!

Close To My Heart has totally and completely outdone themselves for January! First, there's the beautiful stamp of the month, Find Your Style. Then, there's the gorgeous Wings collection. To top it off, if you purchase the Wings Workshop kit, you're eligible for some incredible savings! (I will be hosting a Wings workshop in February, so order your kit in January!)

Click HERE to go to the PDF of the Inspirations booklet. (This link has been revised so if you tried it before and it didn't work, please try again now. You should NOT have to log in to anything to view.)

{Scroll down for more recent blog posts. Thanks!}

Things We Do Layouts

One thing that I am striving to do as the family historian and scrapbooker is to document more of our day-to-day lives, not just the big, special events. Showing connections between family members is important to me too.


These layouts were a snap to create in Studio J. There is NO WAY I would have gotten so much scrapbooked if it weren't for this remarkable online scrapbooking program! (You don't need to download anything or pay to use it either.)

The layout at right uses an exclusive "paper pack" only found in Studio J. Fun, right?

The layout at left uses an exclusive "paper pack," Hippety Hop, that is only available to Studio J members. Though geared toward Easter, I used the flower My Stickease to make it "girly" and show my girls at play this summer.

This last layout is of our "new" pontoon boat that we bought this summer. It took some work to get it running, but it was fun to toodle around the lake. We really look forward to it next year!

{Layouts 2010 #77-79}

Sad News

My heart is so heavy with the loss of my uncle on Monday. He had a heart attack before Christmas and was in the hospital, but I really thought that he would pull through! My heart just breaks for my Aunt Nan (Mom's baby sister) and the entire family. My mom went down yesterday; my dad, brother, sister, and I will go down today. We will celebrate the life of this fine man and rejoice that he is now healed. I'm sure a few tears will be shed too as we remember his birthday tomorrow also.

I love you, Uncle Roger! Aunt Nan, Susanne, and Kimberly, may your faith keep you strong. I love you and your families too. See you tonight.

More Studio J Layouts

Studio J has really helped me get sooooo much scrapbooking done this fall! Log on, upload your photos (You don't even have to print them!), choose your layout style and paper pack, and then create!

These two layouts feature highlights from our camping trip to Vogel State Park this summer.

Here's our new kitten Remy and the story of his arrival, plus a page all about him and his "personality."

Halloween and Thanksgiving 2010

Can you believe that I already have this year's holidays scrapbooked before the end of the year? I am so excited! I only ordered one of each, but if I decide that I want them in the girls' albums, I can always order more copies of them.

{Layouts 2010 #71-76}

We Love To Read Layout/Quotes of the Week

Books are the quietest and most constant of friends; they are the most accessible and wisest of counselors, and the most patient of teachers.
~ Charles Eliot

“No entertainment is so cheap as reading, nor any pleasure so lasting.”
― Lady Mary Wortley Montagu

This layout, featuring photos from a span of years, went together in a snap using the Grace Level 1 layout. What is a Level 1 layout? It is a layout that Close To My Heart has preprinted for you! In fact, you get four preprinted layout pages (two two-page 12"x12" layouts), two sheets of coordinating patterened paper, two sheets of card stock, and two sheets of My Stickease self-adhesive artwork! Level 1 kits definitely live up to CTMH's motto, "Faster, simpler, easier!"

We three girls definitely love to read, and I'm glad to capture this important snippet of our lives. My goal currently is to scrapbook more of the every day, because time is certainly flying by. (Do you see Baby Ansley in the top left photo? The far right photos show her this summer. Where have the years gone?!?)

Make the most of your day today! I hope you get to do something that you enjoy. I for one will be glad when the library opens back up. :)

{Layout 2010 #66}

Macey's Eight/Olivia Workshop Layout #1

The instructions for this layout can be found exclusively in the Olivia Workshop Kit (available until 1/31/11 only). Though the brochure features a beautiful fall theme, I thought that these spring birthday pictures went well. Don't you love how you can customize your creations with stamps and ink?




The stack of (paper) presents on this layout was inspired by a card I saw awhile back on Vicki Wizniuk's blog. What a great way to use up a few scraps!

This "happy birthday" sentiment is actually one horizontal expression, so I just inked up each word separately to stamp them on the corner. With My Acrylix, placement is a snap! Of course I had to add a little bling with the Sparkles.

Right page & close-up

All supplies from Close To My Heart: Olivia Workshop on the Go kit; Friendship Alphabet Large & Small, It's Your Day, and Party Pennants stamp sets; Smoothie, Sorbet, and Pear inks; Smoothie and Pear markers; red and pink sparkles

{Layout 2010 #65}

Gifts Revealed!

Now that some of the Christmas hoopla has passed, I can share some of the gifts that I made. (We haven't had Christmas yet with the in-laws because we were snowed out! We all decided after Christmas brunch and togetherness at my house Christmas morning that we would have Christmas dinner and presents in a few days when the snow melts and driving is safe for everyone.)


Gifts for my parents are always a challenge. They are truly blessed to have what they need. As much as they love to travel, they don't need more "stuff" to haul around, so I decided to start a tradition that my friend Debora does: create a scrapbook and give them layouts as gifts.


Obviously this album is all about FAMILY. I thought that would cover a lot of ground! Since Mom's a scrapper, she can add to it herself too.


Here is the layout I made of my family (from our photo shoot in August). Using Studio J couldn't have been easier! I was able to use the Magnifique papers but customize the colors to better suit my photos. Very cool!


I asked my brother and sister for some of their favorite photos. Brian didn't come through in time (but his WILL get made!). Here are some of my sister's favorite family photos. (The bad thing is that I meant to order a layout for her too but only put one in my cart. I will reorder one for her as a belated merry Christmas.)









{Layouts 2010 #68-70}

Quote of the Week: Christmas

Love is what's in the room with you at Christmas if you stop opening presents and listen.

~Author unknown, attributed to a 7-year-old named Bobby

May your home be filled with love on this most holy day and always. Merry Christmas from my home to yours!

Here is what we'll be enjoying this morning: my annual Christmas Day brunch. Y'all come- AFTER 9AM! ;)

Recipes coming soon...

{Layout 2010 #68}

This Christmas...

Mend a quarrel.

Seek out a forgotten friend.

Write a love letter.

Share some treasure.

Give a soft answer.

Encourage youth.

Keep a promise.

Find the time.

Forgive an enemy.

Listen.

Apologize if you were wrong.

Think first of someone else.

Be kind and gentle.

Laugh a little.

Laugh a little more.

Express your gratitude.

Gladden the heart of a child.

Take pleasure in the beauty and wonder

of the earth.

Speak your love.

Speak it again.

Speak it still once again!

Merry Christmas!

~Author Unknown

Wishing you and yours a very merry Christmas!

O Christmas Tree (Layout)

O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree, how lovely are your branches!

Here are 13 photos on a layout of our Christmas tree in 2008. I don't plan to scrapbook our tree every year and am rather working on a "Christmas traditions" idea for a scrapbook. (For now, the layouts will go in our "Things We Do" scrapbook, but I can see creating a special Christmas album in the future.)

This festive layout uses the Magic how-to guide, 12" flip-flaps, the Mistletoe paper collection, and Dimensional Elements Ornaments. My scrapbook club was supposed to make this but we got snowed out! (Instead, they've got all the pieces to put the pages together at their leisure.)

To decorate the large Dimensional Element Ornament, I mixed Create-A-Shade pearlescent paint with Cranberry reinker. It looked like nail polish going on! Note to self: it dries lighter than the original mixture.

I used a picture on the base piece.

For the smaller ornament, I covered the base with the striped paper, stamped an ornament in the center, added a sparkle, and then painted the top piece with the Create-A-Shade paint (no reinker; just straight).

Here is the right page with the 6"x12" flip flap closed...

...and then with the flip flap open to reveal more pictures underneath. (The design under the flaps is my own and not from the Wishes book.)

Can you see how I distressed a lot of the edges with the Create-A-Shade paint for a shimmery, snowy finish?

A close up of the Sparkles on the tree from the Evergreen stamp set

All supplies from Close To My Heart: Timeless (Mistletoe Workshop on the Go kit), Evergreen, and Old World Alphabet stamp sets; Mistletoe My Reflections Level 2 paper pack; Mistletoe Creative Basics paper pack; Mistletoe accents; New England Ivy, Garden Green, Cocoa, and Cranberry ink; Cranberry reinker; Create-A-Shade paint; Dimensional Elements Ornaments; red and white sparkles; Wishes how-to guide

{Layout 2010 #67}

Whatever Wednesday

We interrupt our regularly scheduled holiday program to bring you the adorable Remy and his royal weirdness- he actually likes to drink water from the faucet! (This totally grosses out my husband, but it makes me laugh- at the cat and at hubby!)

Happy Birthday, Mom!

WE GOT YOU!!!! About a week ago, I got a call from our dear family friend, Joan, who was cooking up a surprise birthday party for my Mom, with my Dad's help. (Here she is greeting the birthday girl!) We all gathered at Dan & Joan's house Sunday evening for a divine dinner and evening of merriment.

Here are a few photos of the evening:
With friend Jennie

With daughter Amy (and hubby in the background)

With my hubby and me

With friend Janet

With friend Dinah and me

Friend Helen and hostess Joan

One of the two beautiful centerpieces

(Joan set up two tables to seat all 17 of us!)

Happy birthday, Mom! See you at lunch today and for dinner tonight for more birthday fun! We love you!

M&Ms Nativity

Here is a really quick, easy, and FUN little Christmas gift. I found the M&Ms Nativity idea and had to make it my own. I typed up the poem and printed it on cardstock, which I then folded in half to make a small card. I stamped a quick Christmas tree and "Merry Christmas" to the front. (They ended up fitting perfectly stapled to the front of small M&M packages!)

The girls and I passed them out to friends at school, and I am making up more to give to the kids after our Christmas Eve Christmas Pageant (5:00 PM Friday if you're in the area).

50 Card Workshop: All Occasion

This year's 50-card workshop was so much fun to create! At the last minute, I added an "all occasion" option instead of just Christmas, and boy was it popular! (If you'd like to learn more or order instructions and/or supplies, shoot me an email at haleyd@myctmh.com. I am planning on offering this workshop again in January to get your year started right.)

I think these cards would make lovely gift sets if you're needing any last minute gifts. They all use the Magnifique paper pack and a variety of versatile stamp sets. I had fun with the faux brad technique, glitz glue, and my circle punches!


This birthday card features the Party Pennants stamp set.

You can't have too many thank you cards, and this one shines with the Thank You stamp set.

The Present stamp set is so very versatile and heartfelt.

Have I told you how much I love the Circle of Love stamp set? That peacock is divine! Do you see all the glitz glue on that beautiful bird?

There are so many sentiments to choose from in the Tag the Occasion stamp set: Happy, Father's Day, Mother's Day, Birthday, Anniversary, Halloween, Congrats, Thank You, I love you, Get well, Be mine, and Merry Christmas, plus To & From to name a few.