Ringing in the New Year with the January 2013 Stamp of the Month Blog Hop!

HaPpY 2013!!!!  Of course I'm ringing in the new year with my craft on!  Close To My Heart has created a beautiful stamp of the month for January called Happy Valentine's, and you can see all kinds of gorgeous projects with this set on this first blog hop of 2013.  (You can view all the projects by clicking from one blog to the next.  If you're already hopping, then you probably arrived from "Stamp til Dawn."  After your visit here, click to view another inky gal, Georgia.)

Since Valentine's Day isn't the highlight of my year (and my Mr. Wonderful isn't oh-so-romantic), I decided to create a progression of cards.  These will be going to some of my Delta Kappa Gamma sisters, since our symbol is a red rose.  (DKG is an international teacher organization.  If you're an educator not familiar with it and would like to learn more, feel free to contact me!  I am our chapter's vice president for this biennium.)

For the first card, I started with a White Daisy cardstock base.  I arranged my flower stamps where I wanted them on the card, then picked them up with a large block because I knew that I was going to make several (almost) identical cards.  Then I inked up the flower stamps in Cranberry and stamped them at teh bottom of my card.  I stamped the sentiment (from the Card Chatter- Sympathy stamp set) in black.

For the second card, I actually stamped my card design on a White Daisy panel that I then adhered onto the Cranberry cardstock mat and then adhered that to the card front.

This 3rd card gets a little fancier with the addition of black sparkles and a Just Blooms butterfly.

My final card in the series gets even more elaborate with the addition of black cardstock mats, silver shimmer tape, and a silver metallic marker.

Which is your favorite?  I'd love to hear from you in the comment section!  I think this card style would be lovely in some other color combos too.  I want to try Blush & Slate (or maybe Chocolate) next.

Thanks for hopping by!  Happy 2013!  Now go see what Georgia has made with this beautiful set. 

Layout of My DD

Friends gave me this gorgeous Colorbok paper collection for Christmas, and I couldn't resist digging in while I'm on break.  I thought these pictures of our older daughter from our Fall Break trip to Chimney Rock State Park (NC) were a great match.

I started with a sketch from Magic and used some Close To My Heart White Daisy cardstock and (retired) Floral Tapestry B&T from my stash.  I also ended up embellishing the layout with CTMH White Daisy grosgrain ribbon and purple sparkles.  Everything else came from the kit.

Can you believe there is NO stamping on this layout?!?  No ink at all was used!  What has come over me? LOL

It is so hard for me to believe how big this girl is getting!  Since I've been really, really bad to make layouts and not get them into albums (another project to work on!), I started a high school album for her.  I decided to start NOW for current layouts and move forward, while still backtracking as I get other finished (and future) layouts in her older albums.  I also went ahead and started a middle school album for our younger daughter to keep me on track.  (I am more organized with her layouts and books for some reason.  I think it's because I was a serious scrapper by the time she was born, but just getting my feet wet with DD #1.)

Okay, I think I just shared a New Year's resolution with you!  We'll see how it goes. ;)  Thanks for stopping by! 

My family and I wish you the best in 2013!

CTMH Retiring List- While Supplies Last

You only have about a month- or while supplies last- to order Close To My Heart's retiring items!  Click HERE to download a 4-page PDF file of the retiring items, then feel free to click HERE to order anything you'd like.  (Also, feel free to add your order to Joy's party using the link at the bottom right- it won't hurt you in any way, and it will help her earn more hostess goodies!  Let me know if you'd like to learn more about hostessing a CTMH gathering, either in person or online.)

The following paper packs are retiring:
Flirty

 La Belle Vie

 Moonlight

 Pear & Partridge

and of course the four that came along from last Spring/Summer:
Stella

 Pemberley

 Victory

 Florentine

Get 'em before they're gone!  You can also take advantage of the adorable Whoo's Your Valentine kit and/or the December stamp of the month.  You can view both on the sidebar at right or on my CTMH website.

Photo Frame Gifts

Here are two gifts I made (or at least decorated) this year.  The first one was for my parents and featured some of my favorite (and handy) family photos.  I used the retiring Florentine paper pack, Timeless charms, and Durables studs to dress up the plain black photo collage frame.

 

The second one is for my brother-in-law's girlfriend, who has two daughters.  (I drew her name for our family gift exchange.)  I used the La Bell Vie paper pack and black sparkles, along with paper flowers from my stash.

We had a really fun Christmas with all of our favorite traditions.  Now I need to start cleaning up and undecorating before we go back to school next week.  I hope that you had a merry and blessed Christmas!

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas from my family to yours!

Whooo's Your Valentine? {National Papercrafting Month Blog Hop}

Close To My Heart is offering an adorable "Whooo's Your Valentine" kit for National Papercrafting Month in January, but the party is getting started early on 12/13!  Join me and my talented group of stamp of the month blog hoppers for this special mid-month blog hop.  (If you've arrived from Karen's blog, welcome!  Continue hopping on to Heather's blog next.)

With a minimum $35 qualifying purchase, you can order this sweet kit for only $10!  You get an exclusive stamp set, 12 die-cut boxes, three cardstock sheets, NEW silver glitter paper, and 12 NEW treat tubes with lids.  (Click HERE to learn more or to purchase yours.)  For my project, I wanted to show how you could use this kit for more than just Valentine's.

The sentiment "UR my favorite" really called to me.  Here's my first favorite daughter through the years.  (I will add journaling before I give the layout to her for her album.)  I added Slate cardstock and ink to the Blush, Hollyhock, and White Daisy combo.  (The Blush ribbon is retired.)  Rather than cut up the silver glitter paper- Yet!- I used the fabulous silver glitter trim.
 
I used a sketch from the Make It From Your Heart, Vol. 1 how-to guide.

To glam it up, I used some pink and silver glitter glitz gel plus clear sparkles.

Her name is stamped with the retiring Bohemian Alphabet and then accented with more silver glitter glitz gel.

Isn't that little owl cute?

 

 

This color combo is perfect for the current Dynamic Duos color challenge!  That's why I made my pink version first. ;)

On the right page, you can see the bigger owl too.  I accented both owls' eyes with more silver glitz gel.

When I complete my journaling on the White Daisy piece, I will probably add a strip of the silver shimmer tape to line up with the tape already on the layout.



Of course my other favorite daughter will be getting her own layout, but in her favorite color, blue.  (Come back so that you can see that one too!)

Thanks for hopping by!  Now go see Heather's adorable layout!

All supplies from CTMH: Whooo's Your Valentine kit; White Daisy, Blush, Hollyhock, and Slate cardstock; Blush, Hollyhock, and Slate ink; (retired) Blush ribbon; Silver glitter trim; Silver and Pink glitter glitz gel; clear sparkles; foam tape

Today is 12/12/12! Scrapbook It!

Today is 12/12/12!  I challenge you to scrapbook this day, because we won't have a date like this again until 1/1/2101!  (Yikes!)  Why not take 12 photos to commemorate your life right now?  Make a list of the "Top 12 of 2012" (or the "Top 12 of 12/12/12")?  Have fun with it, and let me know how you preserve this day. 

12 for '12: October Layout Share

This year, I am creating a "month in review" layout that I've nicknamed "12 for '12" to help me keep motivated and stay on track.  (I made my first "12 for..." album last year, and it is a tradition I plan to continue for years to come!)  Here are the highlights for October:

I've been making my "12 for '12" layouts in Studio J: it is so easy to use!  Just upload your photos and get scrapping!  (You can check it out HERE for free.  There is no software to download or anything; the entire program is web-based.)

I'm linking this layout up to the Lasting Memories's "Month in Review" challenge. Now I challenge YOU to create your own month in review layout!  You can do it!!  (Let me know if you need help getting started.)

SOS Challenges: Circle Around

This month's Scrap Our Stash Challenge is "circle around."  As St. Nick circles the world this month, we want you to incorporate circles on your layout!

Now, my layout has nothing to do with good ol' St. Nick, but I did use lots of circles!  Our older daughter is now a freshman in high school, so I recently scrapbooked the photos I took of her all dressed up and ready for Fall Ball, her first high schools dance.  For the layout, I used a sketch from Close To My Heart's Make It From the Heart, Vol. 1 how-to guide, but modified it to fit my photos.  I also dragged out my big Marvy circle and scalloped circle punches.

The retired Baby Pink and Grey Flannel cardstock and inks are a perfect match for her dress!  I also accented this layout with the retired Bliss pink & grey flower assortment.  Here's a close up of the title (Old World Alphabet) with that gorgeous silver shimmer trim self-adhesive tape:

Since it was her dance, I had her write the journaling for her layout.  I love how it all came together!

Now it's your turn!  Circle around with us at SOS!  All styles, products, and skill levels are welcome.  Scrap your stash and share with us!

H2H Challenges: Sketch #17

This week's Heart 2 Heart challenge is to use this sketch as the pattern for your project.

Since I do not yet have all my Christmas cards made, I decided to use the festive Pear & Patridge Workshop on the Go kit (papers, stamp set, and red sparkles) on my card.  I wanted it to be easy to mail, so I also added bling with Red Glitter Glitz Gel to add sparkle without bulk.

My three squares measure 1-1/4", and I stamped each of the three ornaments from the set in New England Ivy and Cranberry.  Instead of the sentiment on the right, I stamped one of the cute partridges in Cocoa, first on the card front and then on scrap that I cut out and glued.

Whenever you have a sketch, use it as is or feel free to tweak it to suit your stamps, paper, etc.

If you need more inspiration, be sure to check out all of our Design Team's creations at H2H.  Then, get crafty and upload your project too!

December Stamp of the Month Blog Hop: Year Round Cheer

Happy Holidays!  You are going to love the Close To My Heart December stamp of the month, Year Round Cheer!  Join me on this month's blog hop by clicking from blog to blog.  (If you're already hopping then you should have arrived from Nikka's blog.  Next you'll visit Michelle's blog.)

With all its adorable seasonal images, I had to create a set of standard-size cards for the year.  I used most of our current paper packs.  I kept them simple but glammed them up with various colors of our fabulous Glitter Glitz Gel.

This set is going into a decorated CTMH recipe box to be auctioned off Saturday to help raise money for the scholarship fund of my chapter of Delta Kappa Gamma, an international educators' honor society. 

Thanks for visiting!  Now spread some cheer and visit Michelle Loncar's blog.

Blue Christmas Challenges Card

Even though I'm feeling blue about the Thanksgiving holiday ending, I am getting very excited about Christmas!  While surfing some of my favorite challenge blogs, I couldn't resist combining a few to create this card for someone special.

 First, I began with the Navy & Silver palette at Dynamic Duos (challenge #30).  I used the (retired) Magnifique paper pack with Slate and Pacifica inks and the October stamp of the month, A Very Merry Christmas.

I also used the Retrosketches sketch #39 as my inspiration.  Can you see how I stamped the music staff from the Universal Backgrounds stamp set?

Self-adhesive silver trim is my favorite new embellishment!  I created the faux bow with seam binding and held it in place with a shimmer brad.  I think this qualifies for a Heart 2 Heart's BLING challenge, don't you?  I finished the card off with some silver glitter glitz gel too.

Have a blue Christmas!

Count Your Blessings

Happy Thanksgiving to all my American friends and family!  We are blessed to be able to spend this holiday at my cousin's home with extended family.  (We'll also celebrate again on Saturday with my in laws.)  Here is a simple gratitude journal that I made to take to my cousin.  I hope that it will become a treasured keepsake of memories.

I began by covering an inexpensive composition book with the beautiful (retired) Dreamin' paper.  I stamped the title square with Crystal Blue and Pacifica inks with The Works alphabet and the A Little Thanks stamp set.  The offset medallion was stamped in Goldrush and Chocolate.  I glitzed it up with Bronze and Almond Glitter Glitz Gel.

No matter where you live, take time to count your blessings!  Cultivate an attitude of gratitude.

 

I'm entering this gratitude journal at Tammy's Scrapin Corner Challenge #37: Anything Fall or Thanksgiving.

H2H Challenges: Christmas Is in the Air

It's once again time to get your Christmas craft on at Heart 2 Heart Challenges!  (I know, I know, here in America we're celebrating Thanksgiving this week, but as crafters we have to work ahead of schedule.  I am NOT a fan of Happy Hallowthankschristmasgiving! LOL)  Seriously, though, can you believe that Christmas is only about a month away?  We're trying to help you get ahead of the game.  My project this week is treat bags for my daughters' friends.

Don't tell the girls, but these were a cinch to make.  Last year, I stocked up on the lotion and emery boards in the after-Christmas half-off sales. ;)  Then, I found the mini nail polish- also on sale- and added it to my stash.  Hubby suggested adding chapstick, and DD thought candy canes would make them more festive.

The lotions themselves drove my non-traditional color palette of Pear and Cotton Candy, but it's a great combo for teens!  I created a simple square card (8"x4" base) of card stock.  I used the stamp set in the Pear & Partridge Workshop on the Go kit to stamp the presents in the corners and "Merry Christmas" on the back.  Then, I stapled the cards to the bags as bag toppers.  The center sentiment panels hide the staple (at least on the front).

To finish the bag toppers, I used Green & Pink Glimmer Glitz Gel to add some sparkly "bling."  The girls will be able to add a personal message to the back of each one and then give them to their friends this holiday season.

 

Now, go check out what our fabulous DT has to inspire you this week and link you your Christmas project to the H2H challenge blog.  Happy holidays!