September Stamp of the Month Blog Hop: Family Is Forever

The September stamp of the month is a great set to commemorate our loved ones.  Family Is Forever has other versatile uses that you'll see on this installment of our monthly stamp of the month blog hop.  (If you're already hopping, then you've probably arrived from Judy's blog and will visit Mary Eisen next.)

My card uses the pretty Pathfinding paper pack.  Now that school is back in session, my thoughts are turning to fall, so it seemed like a great choice for this set.  I began with an Olive card base.  I stamped the pretty tree in Chocolate onto Champagne cardstock.  I then used two strips of the pretty Pathfinding B&T and a strip of Bronze shimmer trim.  I stamped the Sweet Moments sentiment in Glacier onto Colonial White card stock that I cut with the CTMH/Cricut Artiste cartridge.  I wish you could see how pretty that metallic baker's twine is in person!  I did also distress the card stock pieces with Desert Sand and Chocolate ink.

Thanks for stopping in!  Be sure to visit all of the blogs on the hop to get tons of great ideas with the September stamp of the month, Family Is Forever.  If you get lost along the way or find a broken link, come back here and click on the blog hop badge.  Now go see what Mary has created.

Complete Hop List

First Day of School Layout

We have been in school for four weeks now and are all looking forward to the long weekend!  (It's going to be a busy one, starting with tonight's first high school football game.  Both girls are in marching band, and Hubby & I are chaperoning the trip tonight.)

Not long after our first day of school, I carved out a little time to create this layout using the new Chalk It Up paper pack and Assortment.  Those puffy stickers are a hoot, and certainly take me back to MY middle school days!  The School Years stamp set was the perfect compliment to the layout.  That pretty lagoon stripe is actually our new Lagoon heart washi tape.

Here is our older daughter, a junior.  I cut CTMH/Cricut Artiste speech bubbles for the girls' current signatures.  Our "baby" is an 8th grader this year, and I am starting my 21st year teaching.  (I am not sure how that happened!)

This layout is a sketch of my own design.  It just seemed to fit the photos.  Thanks for letting my show off my precious girls and for sharing in our back to school first day ritual!

I am linking this layout up to the Color My Heart Color Dare #108: Flaxen, Lagoon, and Sorbet

and the Fantabulous Cricut Back to School challenge.

Have a great long weekend!

#TBT #CTMHStyle

This layout was actually finished just recently using some golden oldies!  The layout itself had been made, but no pictures or journalling had been included.  I had even tucked Easter 2007 pictures in with the layout, so here you go!

The top photo has a Hollyhock card base that actually opens up to add more pictures and journaling.

 Here it is open.  I will be using flip flaps for the horizontal pictures.

Here's the right page.  The funny thing about this Easter was that it was COLD, so the girls didn't wear their pretty Easter dresses; instead we got out their corduroy jumpers and turtlenecks!

 To show off all of our Easter morning pictures, I am going to use two flip flaps.

Now where did the time go?  How did these little sweeties get to be so big?!?  Enjoy your time with your loved ones, today and always.

H2H Challenges: Inspired by... Food

The final Heart 2 Heart Challenges "Inspired by..." series is to use food as your inspiration.  I know it's only August here, but my October stamp of the month, Home for the Holidays, was sitting on my work table just begging to get inky!

Aren't those peppermints and candy canes cute?  I am loving the Snowhaven paper pack and look forward to creating with it- when it cools off a little more. ;)  This card sketch is from Make It From Your Heart, Vol. 2.  To create it, I cut the three pieces of Snowhaven B&T and adhered them to the card base after randomly stamping the candies in Ruby.  The tag is from the CTMH/Cricut Art Philosophy cartridge.  To make the Glacier ink/tag pop a bit more, I used a black pen to make some faux stitching.  I also stamped the tag image a second time in Ruby (with black ink on the star) and then cut out the circle to attach the tag.  The Ruby metallic baker's twine is part of the Ruby mini medleys assortment.  No Christmas card would be complete without some shimmer and shine, so I used my trusty Silver Shimmer Trim.

Are you ready to get crafty?  Check out the H2H blog for our DT's foodie projects and then link up your work their too.  You have until the end of the month to complete any (and all!) of the Inspired by... challenges.

What a Hoot Princess Card

The August stamp of the month, What a Hoot, is so much fun!  I had to use the crown stamp to make a little princess card.

 This card is similar to the other What a Hoot cards I posted (click HERE to see them), but I wanted to share a cool technique.  Did you know that you can color lots of our embellishments with our new Touch Twin markers?  That gives you about 24 different colors of embellishments!  The Peony purple is a great match for Thistle, so I colored a piece of silver shimmer trim to turn it purple.  (This works with our new white metal stars too!)  Do you see a rainbow of possibilities?

This card will probably be going to a certain little princess for her birthday at the end of the month.  She wants an owl party, so What a Hoot is perfect!

H2H Challenges: Inspired by... a Book

This week's Heart 2 Heart Challenge is the next in our "Inspired by..." series, and we are challenging you to use a book as your inspiration.  I am such an avid reader that I had tons to choose from, but this week I chose to immortalize my current obsession and favorite book series.

When I was little, I was introduced to the Ingalls family and the wonderful world of the Little House on the Prairie series.  (Thank you, Aunt Faye!)  A year or two later, another family friend introduced me one of her childhood favorites, the fantastical world of The Chronicles of Narnia.  (Thank you, Julie B.!)  Many other books and series have moved me, from Nancy Drew to Stephanie Plum to Harry Potter.  My current love, however, is hard to categorize: time travel, romance, history, adventure, suspense, and so much more rolled into the Outlander series by Diana Gabaldon.

This layout showcases all eight novels, the author herself, and pictures from the new Starz Outlander series.  This layout is totally digital: from pictures I swiped from the Internet to Studio J for my creative platform.  I used the Timberline collection so that I could use that handsome plaid paper.  (Speaking of handsome, doesn't Sam Heughan make a gorgeous Jamie?)

If you haven't read any of the books or started watching the show (only 2 shows have aired), I challenge you to voyage through Outlander with me.  You can actually watch the first episode for free HERE.  If you're already a fan, I'd love to know if you've read all the book yet and if you've watched any of the Starz TV series.

Of course this is a crafting blog, so be sure to check out all the H2H DT's Inspired by... a Book creations, and feel free to make and share a favorite book project there.  If you'd like to try Studio J online scrapbooking for yourself, click HERE.  Móran taing!

CTMH Technique Blog Hop: All Lit Up

This month's Close To My Heart Technique Blog Hop is focusing on the "All Lit Up" technique found on p. 88 of the Annual Inspirations Idea book.  (If you're already hopping along, then you've arrived here from Melissa's blog.  You'll click on over to Tonya's blog next.)  This is a really easy technique: use glitter paper (or shimmer trim) on your project to make it "all lit up!"

 My card has both silver glitter paper and silver shimmer trim.  Did you know that your Cricut can cut our glitter paper?  It cuts like buttah!  You might need a little more pressure, but I haven't had any trouble cutting it.  (I did end up dedicating a cutting mat to glitter paper because it will shed a bit, leaving a little glitter shimmer behind in places.  I had a spare mat, so it was no big deal to me.)

My card uses the Perfect Paisley stamp set, stamped in Glacier, Slate, and Black.  I've paired it up with pieces from the Seaside and the Snowhaven paper packs.  I did a lot of "rock 'n roll" stamping to ink up my images and sentiment.  (I love doing this!)  No glittery project would be complete without a few sparkles to light it up.

Thanks for hopping by.  I'd love for you to leave me a comment before going to see how Tonya is All Lit Up!

More Butterfly Cards

If you saw yesterday's Inspired by... a Song card, you have probably also fallen in love with the new CTMH stamp set, Your Own Kind of Wonderful, and the five beautiful new colors.  I began by creating a simple set of 4"x4" card with each of the new colors.  They are all embellished with Slate washi tape and silver shimmer trim, with the sentiments stamped in Slate.

Canary

Flaxen

Glacier

Pixie

Thistle

Then I started playing around with the colors, combing them together.

Glacier & Canary

Glacier, Canary, & Pixie

Glacier, Flaxen, & Thistle

All five new colors:
Glacier, Canary, Flaxen, Pixie, & Thistle

So which color is your fave?  Which combo do you like best?

H2H Challenges: Inspired by... a Song

Heart 2 Heart Challenges' "Inspired by..." month continues with today's challenge, Inspired by a Song.  I thought that this one would be so easy, but I really had a hard time narrowing down a song to use!  I ran out of time to create a layout about my "love affair" with my iPod.  If that isn't inspired by a song (or songs), I don't know what is!

Instead, I came up with this card, with strains of Louis Armstrong's "What a Wonderful World" in my head.  This new stamp set is called Your Own Kind of Wonderful, and I used all five of our CTMH's new colors: Canary, Flaxen, Glacier, Pixie, and Thistle, accented with Slate ink and card stock.  I kept it really simple to focus on those beautiful butterflies, embellishing only Slate polka dot washi tape, silver shimmer trim, and white epoxy bubbles.

Please flutter on over to the H2H blog to see how our DT is inspired by a song.  We can't wait for you to link up with us and share your musical creation.

World Traveler Cards

Traveling is apparently in my genes, and I am a sucker for great travel-themed crafty goods!  Of course I fell in love with Close To My Heart's new Wanderlust paper pack collection and the World Traveler stamp set.

My first card measures 8"x3.5" and uses a sketch from Originals.  How do you like the new Flaxen color?  I am seeing this shade pop up everywhere!  I am loving our new Black Arrow washi tape too!

My next card was super fun to make!  When I saw the "snap" stamp, I knew that I had to combine with the "Oh" from the sentiment!

For this card, I stamped "Oh" and "Snap" in Honey.  I hope that you can see the sparkle for the camera's flash and the silver washi tape.  The card uses a sketch from Wishes.  Here's a little close up:

Be sure to check out the tons of great ideas using NEW CTMH products in this link up!

Click HERE for great ideas!

Thanks for traveling by!

CTMH New Product Blog Hop

Have you had a chance to look at the new CTMH Annual Inspirations Idea Book yet?  If so, what is your favorite new product?  If you don't have a favorite yet, I'll bet you'll fall in love along this new product blog hop!  (If you're already on the move and hopping through, then you should have arrived from Julie's blog.  You'll go to Michelle Stewart's blog next.)

Check out the beautiful new Seaside collection: paper pack, My Stickease, and metal assortment!  My layout is based on a sketch from Imagine.

If you look closely at the background, you'll see that I made a "beach" by tearing a piece of the beautiful new Glacier card stock to mimic a wave crashing on the shore and then glued it to a Colonial White card stock base.

To make my title stand out a bit, I inked the edges with Desert Sand ink.  Also notice the nautical knots that I made with our hemp baker's twine.  

Don't you think those metal charms would look fabulous on some base & bling jewelry?!?

Complete hop list HERE

Thanks for checking out my layout.  I have lots more new ideas to post, so be sure to come back often.  Now hop on over to Michelle's blog!

*I'd also like to link this up to the Heart 2 Heart Challenges Inspired by Nature scrapbook challenge.

H2H Challenges: Inspired by... a Movie

All month long, Heart 2 Heart Challenges is using an "Inspired by..." theme.  This week's challenge is inspired by a movie, and you have all month to play along.

Can you tell what movie inspired my layout?  Here's a hint:

If you guessed The Wizard of Oz, you're correct!  "There's no place like home!"  While this might not be the "look" of the movie, it definitely uses one of its most famous quotes.  In case you're wondering, this layout is the base layout from the Picture My Life Avonlea kit.  Here's what it looked like out of the box:

Scroll back up to the top to see how I added an addition PML card, retired Slate ribbon, retired Avonlea Assortment metal embellishments (key), gray sparkles, and Durables triangle studs.

Now here is the original back of said layout:

 And the back again with journaling and embellishments:

I was also able to get my first page made.  I used three PML journaling cards and then cut faux cards with leftover pieces of the retired Avonlea paper pack.  Sorry about the glare from the page protector!
Front:

 And (unfinished) back:

If you're not inspired yet, be sure to check out all of the H2H DT's movie-inspired artwork.  You have all month to play along with each of our "Inspired by..." challenges.  Join us!

Finally, don't forget that CTMH is offering a Picture My Life special!  Order a kit and add on an extra set of page protectors for only $3.  Click HERE for more info!

Teacher Appreciation Card (*NEW CTMH Products!*)

As a teacher and mom of two students, I couldn't resist the NEW Chalk It Up paper pack and the NEW Teacher Appreciation stamp set!

Isn't that owl cute?!?  I had a lot of fun making this card!  I used the CTMH/Cricut Artbooking card to cut the focal image "spiral notebook" and the pretty Lagoon B&T paper.  I stamped the sentiment first in Sorbet and then the owl in Black.  Using a blending pen, I colored the owl with Cashmere ink (part of the Chalk It Up palette) and added Honey for the mortarboard tassel and owl beak and talons.  Lagoon was the obvious choice for the stamped paper lines, with thank you stamped in black.  Aren't those Chalk It Up embellishments fun?  Puffy stickers are back in style! ;)  I also added a white enamel star.  I love that all of these embellies are self adhesive.  Easy peasy!

Can you believe that today was our students' first day of school (and us teachers started on 7/24)?  Here we are this morning!  My principal wanted all of us teachers to wear a school spirit shirt today (and greet car riders/buses this morning) so my cute outfit is waiting for Monday. ;)

Thank you to the Fabulously Artsy Tresa Black for the great New Product Link Up Party!  Be sure to check out all of the amazing ideas with brand new CTMH products!

Click HERE for great ideas!

NEW CTMH ANNUAL INSPIRATIONS Idea Book!

The Close To My Heart Annual Inspirations Idea Book is available today!  Hip, hip, hooray!  Click HERE to browse its pages, and make plans now to attend my Open House next Sunday, 8/10 (drop in 2-4).

After you've had a look, please come back here and tell me what you're most excited about or what you can't wait to get your hands on.  I am loving all my new goodies, so I will have lots to share.