Stamp of the Month Blog Hop: July's American Celebration

Welcome to the July edition of the CTMH Stamp of the Month blog hop! This month, we're getting patriotic with an American and a Canadian version of this stamp set! (If you've arrived from Fancy Melissa's fabulous blog, then you are hopping right along! From here, you'll want to head to Shannon Beck's blog.)

I decided to use CTMH's cool clear cards as the base for my two cards. (There are two styles of clear cards in the package, four side-fold with a scalloped edge and four top-fold with rounded corners; hence, the two styles of my card.) I used the Fanfare paper pack, layering a large piece of B&T on the very back, a piece of random stamped White Daisy card stock as the card base itself, accented with a strip of Fanfare B&T. The flag was paper pieced onto the very front, with a different piece of Fanfare paper behind it. (The flag is adhered to the front of the card, and the B&T was adhered to the inside of the card front so that the adhesive doesn't show.) Both cards were finished off with some embroidery floss and a red sparkle.

If you'd like to see another project I made with the July stamp of the month, a telescoping card, click HERE.

To all my American friends, I wish you a happy (and safe Fourth of July weekend! Thanks for stopping by! Now head to Shannon's blog to continue the hop and get lots of great ideas.

UCMS Dance/Sophia WOTG Layout & Cards Share

One of the many things I love about Close To My Heart is the "Workshop on the Go" kits. These kits always include a CTMH paper pack, an exclusive stamp set, embellishments, and instructions to create an exclusive layout and set of six cards. Since I love to make cards and scrapbook, these kits are perfect for me. They're also an awesome value: each kit is only $29.95 (plus S&H/tax). The instruction booklet also includes suggestions for more cards and another layout! I have found that I can easily make the two layouts and six cards with the materials in the kit, and I always have materials left over for more projects. Yay!

Here are my creations with the Sophia WOTG kit. The three cards you see at right were actually doubled: we made two of each design.


This completed layout is the one featured in the guide with complete instructions. I did add Tulip ink and my Friendship Alphabet stamp set, plus a few random flower embellishments. How could I not glam this up a bit?

Ansley wrote her own journaling with a Tulip marker.

{Layout #45}

H2H Challenge: Barn Red, Bamboo, Blue... and You!

Welcome to another Heart 2 Heart challenge! This week, we're using the Close To My Heart colors Barn Red, Bamboo, and a blue of your choice. Won't you take the challenge? Make your own creation with Barn Red, Bamboo, and your favorite blue, then link it up to the H2H blog (after posting your project online somewhere). Be sure to check out all the design team's work for more inspiration!

When the challenge was first issued, I knew that I wanted a patriotic theme. Twilight ended up being my blue of choice, like a comfortable pair of jeans. I had also just learned how to make a telescoping card (see below for a little tutorial), so it was easy to get to work. This telescoping card is a "sneak peek" at the July stamp of the month, American Celebration. If you like the July stamp of the month and want to see more, be sure to come back here on July 1 (and hop along a blog hop if you really, really, really want to see more!). Consider becoming a follower of my blog so that you won't miss a scintillating thing! LOL

I learned how to make the telescoping card with my subscription to Technique Junkies. If you like to learn new stamping tips and tricks, you should definitely check them out (and tell them I sent you).

1. Begin with three nested circles. The middle and largest circles need to be pretty flat so that the card will stay together when closed.

2. Lay the middle layer UPSIDE DOWN on top of the bottom layer. Pierce the top of the stack (as you're looking at it) and attach together with a brad.

3. Swing the card open so that the middle layer is right side up above the bottom piece (also right side up).

4. Lay the top piece UPSIDE DOWN onto the middle piece. Pierce through the top of the layers and attach together with a brad.

5. Open up the card so that all three layers are in a row, smallest to largest. They should also now all be right side up. Pierce the very top of the top piece and attach a ribbon loop with a brad. Now your card is ready to go! Fold it all back up, and the ribbon loop will let the recipient know where to pull. If you scroll back to the top, you will see my card closed, opening, and then completely open.

Remember, your H2H challenge this week is to use the CTMH colors Barn Red, Bamboo, and blue. If you don't have these colors yet, but sure to talk to your CTMH consultant! (Don't have a CTMH consultant? Talk to me and I can help.) You have until the end of the month to play along with us to be eligible for this month's fabulous prizes.

Our Church's Stained Glass Windows (Layout Share)

This layout of our church's stained glass windows is one that I truly wish that you could see in person. I was worried about adding Cranberry to the Bliss kit, but it turned out beautifully!

Did you notice all the Cranberry brads along the circle? I had to place each one meticulously. Thank heavens for copy and paste! Anytime you're doing difficult work in Studio J, be sure to zoom in so that you can really see what you're doing.

To continue the Cranberry addition, I also distressed many of the pieces with Cranberry "ink"- all virtually in Studio J!

I hope you've enjoyed all my recent Studio J layout shares. It's not too late to try Studio J for yourself!

{Layout 2011 #44}

Best Wishes to the Mr. & Mrs.!

Today we are blessed to join my cousin Jason as he marries his beautiful bride, Meg. You may recall the opening layout of an album I made for them HERE. Here are the rest of the layouts I made. Two were from the (retired) Silhouette Level 1 kit, two were from the "Magic" how-to guide book (with retired Silhouette papers), and the final page is a pocket page with self-adhesive gems (for the Studio J layouts gift card) and the alphabet My Stickease from the Level 1 kit.




I'd also like to extend best wishes to fellow CTMH consultant, Katy D., who is marrying her sweetheart tomorrow.




Before I sign off, I want to add these to the Frosted Designs challenge, Black & White + One.




Best wishes to the Mr. & Mrs.!















{Layouts 2011 46-50}

Our Trip to "Mayberry" (Layout Share)

It's obviously still "Studio J week" here at the Inky Scrapper! I absolutely love how easy it is to preserve my family's photos and stories with Studio J layouts. Have you tried it yet? Gotten that free JPG? Click HERE to give it a try! If so, I'd love to see some of your work!

These photos are from our trip to Mount Airy, NC, the birthplace of Andy Griffith and model for Mayberry. We had a great time!

{Layout 2011 #43}

Mother's Day 2011 Layout

More Studio J fun to share with you today!

Did you notice that these photos are from this Mother's Day? Woohoo for me! Thanks to Studio J, I can preserve my digital photos into layouts to share with family and friends just a few minutes after I've uploaded the photos to my computer.
This particular layout uses the girly Sophia kit. One of the great things about Studio J is that the company has preselected fonts to go with each kit, with an automatic default font. This means that every time you create a journaling box, the same font will be ready to go. Of course you can change the font to any of the Studio J choices that you like.



I've also entered this layout into the Studio J contest on Facebook, so please vote for me if you're so inclined! Thanks!

It's not too late to get your free Studio J jpg, so go give it a try! Just click HERE.

{Layout 2011 #42}

All-Time High

If I told you that I was going to create a layout about our lake, you probably wouldn't have chosen the Miracle kit, but doesn't it look great with these pictures?

We enjoy living on the lake, and this spring (and even now into the summer!), it has been kept at all-time record high levels because TVA is working on a generator at the dam. Yay for us!

I had to chronicle this excitement in a photo essay of sorts, which naturally turned in to a layout. Studio J make it so simple and easy! (There is no way that I would have the patience to cut out that gorgeous half circle scalloped edge myself. It's part of the layout template!)

If you haven't given Studio J a try, I encourage you to do so ASAP. This month only, you can create a layout and "purchase" a FREE jpg image of your layout (like I'm showing you here). Also, there is a Studio J app for iPhones, so what are you waiting for? Give it a try and let me know what you think. Just click HERE to get started!

{Layout 2011 #40}

Easter 2011 Layout

This week I'm focusing on scrapbooking with Studio J. After reading my post, go to the Studio J blog for five easy steps to getting started. Then, try it yourself and see what you think.

Here's another layout I made with the "Take the Cake" exclusive, members-only Studio J kit! I think it works so well with spring or summer photos, even though it was intended for birthday celebrations.

The flower My Stickease images were perfect with my photos. I just chose pieces of the kit that weren't birthday related.

Remember, if you haven't given Studio J a try, now's the time! This month only, you can create a layout and "purchase" a FREE jpg image of your layout (like I'm showing you here). Also, there is a Studio J app for iPhones, so what are you waiting for? Give it a try and let me know what you think. Just click HERE to get started! You may want to watch the Studio J video to help you get started first.

{Layout 2011 #41}

H2H Challenge: BINGO!

Do you like to play bingo? This week at Heart 2 Heart challenges, we're offering a "bingo" challenge! You don't have to sing that B-I-N-G-O song nor do you have to have a Bingo stamp set to play along. All you have to do is use the bingo card at left, and use any three-in-a-row items on your project. Of course, a requirement is to use some Close To My Heart products too! Be sure to visit the H2H blog to see all the design team members' creations and to link up your H2H bingo project!

Before I show you my completed project and which items from the bingo board that I used, I wanted to show you the {before} photo. My DD and I found this frame at our local big box store, and we decided that it would be a cute addition to a friend's birthday IF we dressed it up a bit. (I know, I know, I can't leave well enough alone!)

Here is our final frame (minus a picture of the BFFs):

Can you tell which row I used?

If you guessed the bottom row (gems, buttons, and rub-ons), then you're right! I added rub-ons to the glass and to some of the flower centers. A few words from the Nature's Ambience and Love Letters rub-ons were perfect for these girls. (You may be able to find these on your consultant's website or mine in the "While Supplies Last" section.) I used a pair of Just Blooms with a Pear button and Sparkle center. I added more clear sparkles and a few of the pale green sparkles to the frame to finish it off. You may need to click on the photo to see all the details.

Now it's time for you to play a little bingo with us. Choose your row, get busy, and then link up your project to the H2H blog. Don't forget that we have prizes for a few lucky winners! Good luck and have fun!

Happy Father's Day!

Happy Father's Day to two of the best dads I know, my Dad and my daughters' Daddy! May you both know how much we love you! Enjoy your special day!

If you need a very last minute, cute Father's Day gift idea, check out this Disney "Daddyland" coupon book that can be found HERE, printed, and stapled together in a snap.

4-H Cloverleaf DPA 2011

Here's more Studio J fun! Click on the layout to make it bigger and read the journaling (if you're interested). Be sure to check out our elder daughter sweeping up after the 4-H event (top right hand corner)!

I love, love, love Studio J!

{Layout 2011 #39}

7th Grade Band & Chorus

Here's another Studio J layout that was so fun to create! At first, I was having trouble matching my photos to one of the kits, so I decided to go with the black/white/neutral palette of the Game On kit. It looked a little plain until I added our school colors, purple & gold, in the form of Gypsy ribbon and buttons with Honey trim. To soften the brightness of the Honey title and journaling block, I layered a piece of "vellum" with the writing onto it. It is really easy to add elements to Studio J layouts!

You may notice that I didn't use any My Stickease art accents with this layout, because the sports-themed images didn't work well with my photos. I am really pleased with how I combined photos from all of her band and chorus concerts into one layout to celebrate the year. I mean, how many layouts do you want/need of each performance?

Another fun aspect of Studio J is that I was able to type journaling by most of the pictures to explain what each photo represents.


Speaking of funny, at the final chorus concert (at left with the purple background and cross), my four-year-old nephew was waving to Ansley as the kids entered the stage. He wanted to know which one she was, so I told him, "The one in the black shirt." He paused for a second, and then said, "Aunt Haley, they're all wearing a black shirt!" He quickly found his favorite biggest cousin. Do you think he's scarred for life?

{Layout 2011 #38}

CTMH Product Spotlight Blog Hop: RELAY RACE!

This month, we are having a blast hopping as a RELAY RACE! (If you've arrived from Adeline's blog, then you're not seeing double- you're in the right place!) If this is your first stop, then after reading this paragraph, you might want to go to Nikka's blog to "start" (or you can continue on to Corina's blog and circle back around).

For the relay race, we were sent an inspiration piece to use as our muse for our project. You can see Adeline's lovely layout at right. I was especially drawn to the purple, butterflies, flowers, and flourishes, so I began searching (high and low) for photos that would work. There was NOTHING in my stash that I liked, but because I had spring on the brain, I did find the photos from when my baby turned one.

I went with the pastel theme and used her general layout sketch to guide my layout:

Isn't she sweet? This layout will be the title page of her one-year-old scrapbook (which is mostly completed except for a few layouts here and there).

I had a blast with the clear and pink sparkles! (I had wanted to use the Pearl Opaques on the letters to match her pearl necklace, but I was flat out of the bitty ones!)

I also really liked how Adeline incorporated the Kraft border on her layout (under her photo), so I used one on my layout too. Can you tell that I wove a thin strip of cardstock through the border? I thought it looked a bit like a trellis.

I may have gone a little crazy with the flowers, but I like them!

Now, hop on over to Corina's blog to see what she created using my layout as her inspiration! Continue hopping around and watch the ideas evolve. Thanks for hopping by!

P.S. Here's that sweet little girl now!
{Layout 2011 #36}

Authentic Beauty Mini Album/13th Birthday

It's official! My husband and I are now the parents of a bona fide teenager! Our older daughter turns 13 today. (Happy Flag Day, by the way!)

To help her celebrate, I made her this mini album using a My Creations 3-ring binder. The cover says "Authentic Beauty comes from within." I got the idea from a class at Big Picture Classes called the Mirror Project. I was also inspired by my friend Tresa Black's mini album tutorials (which can be found on her blog.)

The quote on the inside front cover/dedication page comes from the class, as do many of the "Authentic beauty is..." statements.

I really hope that our sweet girl knows how beautiful she is, inside and out!

You will have to click on each photo to see them up close and personal if you'd like.

I used way too many CTMH products to name, but if you have any questions, feel free to leave them in the comments section. I'll answer them as soon as I can.

Thanks for looking! Wish us luck as we navigate this new territory!