For All Occasions Sawyer Cards

The Sawyer collection is so pretty and spring-y!  I like how CTMH added some darker shades with the pastels to keep the collection fresh.  Both cards use Sawyer and the For All Occasions stamp set.

My first card uses a sketch from the Love Story cardmaking workshop.  I added Mulberry glitter paper and a little line of Mint stickles.

My second card uses a sketch from Make It From Your Heart.  The banner paper is pretty enough to stand alone, so I added the sentiment then decided to fill in "happy" with some Mint stickles.  Next time I want to make the stickles dots, I think I will actually use a hole punch to make cardstock circles then cover with the stickles.  

Remember, Sawyer is retiring at the end of the month, so be sure to get yours before this pretty collection is gone!

Love Story Scrapbooking Workshop Layout 2

The second layout that I made from this workshop collection started with the general idea from one of the instructions (the black & white torn side bars), but the rest was all me.

(BTW, the Love Story papers are available in our core catalog all year in Black, Mink, or Toffee, but only through the end of the month, Close To My Heart is offering cardmaking and scrapbooking workshop bundles!  Be sure to download the instructions HERE for both before they're gone!)

I used the Love Story Scrapbooking stamp set and Thin Cuts plus the Love Story black glitter die cuts to embellish my layout.  I love how they mimic the cool background in our pictures!  On my title banner, I used the back of the leaves to create the solid stamping, a black Thin Cut, and a glitter leaf die cut.  The "time" is from the stamp set, plus I added the Daisy Alphabet stamp set.

On the right page, I again added a flip flap so that I could share more of my photos.  I also added some black shimmer trim for more glit and glam.

My sister, my girls, and I had a great night getting dressed up for my niece's birthday party!  Love Story pairs so well with just about any pop of color you could want to add.

Love Story Scrapbooking Workshop Layout 1

The Love Story papers are available in our core catalog all year in Black, Mink, or Toffee, but through the end of the month, Close To My Heart is offering exclusive cardmaking and scrapbooking workshop bundles!  (Be sure to download the instructions HERE for both before they're gone!)

I made this layout pretty much exactly as the guide instructs (though the journaling strip is a little different.)  Our daughter was a bridesmaid for sweet high school friends.

This color scheme of Evergreen, Sangria, and Peach plus the black & white Love Story matched our photos beautifully.  I used stickers from the collection (colored with sponging and markers) and a few stamped, Thin Cut pieces from the Love Story- Scrapbooking stamp set.

On the right page, I will use a flip flap to be able to share more of our photos without taking up more room on the layout.

Remember, while the Love Story papers are available through August, these exclusive workshop bundles are only available through the end of the month.

Here's the Story Meets Love Story

The Love Story papers are available in our core catalog all year in Black, Mink, or Toffee, but only through the end of the month, Close To My Heart is offering cardmaking and scrapbooking workshop bundles!  (Be sure to download the instructions HERE for both before they're gone!)

I decided to make the first two cards in the workshop but paired them with the February stamp of the month, Here's the Story, instead of the Love Story Cardmaking stamp set.  I also added Black Onyx Liquid Pearls to embellish my cards.  The black acrylic hearts are part of the workshop collection or available separately.

For my first card, I added a thin strip of Papaya glitter paper instead of the recommended piece.  I used Papaya and Black ink.

The second card uses Evergreen and Black ink.

Be sure to grab your Love Story workshop(s) before they're retired!

Sweet As Honey Cards

For my January card class, I had fun making these cards live on Facebook using the Sweet As Honey collection!  (I can't believe that I didn't get them posted here in a more timely manner.)

How do you like the Sundance shimmer brush splatters?

Who knew florals could be pretty in shades of gray?

Get your Sweet as Honey products before they retire at the end of the month!

Salt Lake City Layouts

When I scrapbook, I like to let my photos drive my layouts, although I do sometimes create pretty layouts that I then have to try to find photos to match.  My photos from our visit Salt Lake City layouts were definitely the deciding factor in how I created my layouts.

I used a bit of As You Grow (Shortbread gingham), Wood Grain collection, and Bluebird cardstock (all from the core catalog),  plus elements of Sweet as Honey (only available through the end of the month).

The Party Alphabet makes a really fun title.  You can use the outlines, the solids, or both as I did here.

On the left page, I added a top-fold "card" to add more photos and journaling.

I think all of the elements ended up working well together!

I also made 6"x8" layouts for my daughters' travel albums.  (The journaling is blank for them to tell their stories rather than mine.  Same trip, different perspectives- sometimes greatly different! LOL)

Don't be afraid to mix and match collections!

H2H Challenges: Sponging

The second February Heart2Heart Challenge is a technique challenge to use sponging, which was the perfect way to add a little interest and dimension to this layout. (Who knew that Sweet As Honey would work well with travel pictures?  I chose this collection because the colors matched my photos well.)

I cut this honeycomb stencil from my CTMH/Cricut Artbooking cartridge and then cut off a few of the honeycombs to give it an irregular edge.  I sponged Shortbread and a little black through the cardstock stencil on the top left and bottom right of my layout.

I used the same stencil on this card.  If you'd like to know more about it, click HERE.

Be sure to check out H2H Design Team's sponging creations and join us for either of our February challenges!

Love Story Blog Hop

This month only, Close To My Heart has put together special Love Story collections in addition to the products available all year in the core catalog.  This blog hop isn't an actual hop this time, as you'll see below.

I started by making two cards with scraps and the black Love Story Scrapbooking workshop paired with the Love Story Scrapbooking stamp set and Thin Cuts in shades of Peach, Papaya, and Sage.  The first card follows the Make It From Your Heart, Vol. 4 pattern 1 and the second card uses pattern 3. 

I began with a (light side) Sage cardstock base and then added the various banners.  I did add a piece of Papaya shimmer trim (not included in the collection).  I used the coordinating Thin Cuts to cut the flower in Peach (stamped in black), the spray in White Daisy, and the leaves in Sage.  If you look closely, you can see the Sage dots I stamped on the background.  The little black glitter heart is from the die cuts included in the workshop.

My second card just uses Peach cardstock, ink, and Black ink in addition to the Love Story Workshop.  The glitter die cut leaves are such a pretty embellishment!

Now, instead of hopping, enjoy our guest designers' projects featuring Love Story.  (Please click on their names to visit their blogs to leave them some love!)

Melissa

Show & Tell with Michelle

Darlys

I hope you've enjoyed seeing some pretty projects with the Love Story collections.  Remember that these collections are available in Black, Mink, and Toffee.  The current Love Story workshop collections are only available to the end of the month, so be sure to order yours ASAP.  I also encourage you to download the workshop instructions even if you don't buy the kits because they serve as great model projects for other papers.  You can find them all HERE.

February Technique Blog Hop: Stunning Stencils

Stencils are a fun way to add dimension to your projects!  See all kinds of creative ways to use them (and even make them) on this month's technique blog hop.  (If you're already hopping, then you've probably arrived from Maz's blog.  From here, you'll visit Scrappin Katy's blog.)

This card was really fun to create!  I knew that I wanted to use the honeycomb stencil that I had cut for another project on a card (cut using my CTMH/Cricut Artbooking cartridge).  I wanted the edges to be more irregular than the original cut, so I cut off a few of the hexagons.

After placing my cardstock stencil on my slimline (8"x3.5") card base, I sponged Shortbread across the entire stencil and then added Sundance sponging to give it more dimension and "pop."  (Sorry, I didn't take a picture before I stamped my sentiment and accent images!)

I thought it would be fun to play on the "bee" them, so I stamped BEE with the Daisy Alphabet, then happy and day from the For All Occasions stamp set.  (They day was part of the Mother's Day stamp; I just inked up the word I needed.)  All the other stamped images came from the Sweet As Honey cardmaking stamp set.  I colored the two larger bees with Sundance shimmer brush and added a black acrylic arrow.  (I also used black shimmer trim and a piece of honeycomb paper from the Sweet As Honey collection.)

As you can see, you can cut your own stencils, or you can use some of the fabulous reusable stencils CTMH offers to add some fun dimension to your crafty projects.  Please leave me a comment before hopping on to Scrappin Katy's blog to continue the February Technique Blog Hop.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Happy Valentine's Day!  I've had fun making cards for my three loves using the February stamp of the month, Here's the Story.  My third card uses the fun pennant patterned paper from Sawyer for our youngest.

I stamped the frame with Harbour and the sentiment with Grape ink.  After fussy cutting, I added some dots of Mint Stickles.

Whether you celebrate Valentine's Day or not, I hope you have a wonderful day!

February Stamp of the Month Blog Hop: Here's the Story

Happy Lunar New Year and the first day of February! ( I'm not sure where January went, even if it is the longest month of the year.)  It's time for the February 2022 stamp of the month blog hop featuring Here's the Story.  (If you're already hopping, then you've probably arrived from Show and Tell with Michelle's blog.  From here, you'll visit Darlys next.)  Each month, I challenge to use the stamp of the month by itself, without the addition of other stamp sets.  Because this stamp set lends itself well to scrapbook pages, I challenged myself even more to try to create cards with this exclusive set.

As I looked at the different frames, I wondered if I could create a pleasing pattern with them.  

My first card will be my husband's Valentine, so I was channeling a little more masculine look.  I stamped the frame in black on Candy Apple cardstock, overlapping the images in a sort of trellis pattern.  I absolutely love how easy it is to see where you're stamping with our clear My Acrylix stamp sets and blocks!  I fussy cut the focal frame and sentiment after stamping in Black on White Daisy cardstock.  The sentiment itself was stamped with Candy Apple ink.  Black shimmer trim and enamel dots finish off this card.

My second card will be my firstborn's Valentine.  Pink is her favorite color, so I selected Flamingo and Charcoal.  I first cut the Flamingo cardstock to fit a standard A2 card and then stamped the frame in the bottom right corner as a guide.  Next, I cut the panel at an angle to eliminate the bottom portion.  I stamped the oval frame as chains across the panel.  To put this card together, I cut a piece of Charcoal cardstock for the bottom portion (using the lighter shade) then adhered the Flamingo panel on top.  I fussy cut the oval frame (stamped in Charcoal with the sentiment in Flamingo).  I added silver shimmer trim and glitter dots to finish off this card.

Now I still need to make our younger daughter's Valentine, because honestly, I love all three of them the most!  What will you make with this set?

Hopefully my cards have inspired you to look at the February stamp of the month, Here's the Story, in a new way.  Please leave a comment before continuing the hop by visiting Darlys's blog next!  

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