Smarty Pants Layout

Close To My Heart is offering two fun workshops featuring the Smarty Pants collection in the core catalog (available through August; learn more HERE).  While my layout doesn't use the workshop, I did have a lot of fun with this collection to preserve my big job change this time last year.

This layout is of my own design, and I wanted to share some design tips with you.  I knew that I wanted to use some 4"x4" photos and 4"x6" photos so I started with the "handwriting" paper that was cut at 5" to give my a 5"x12" strip and a 7"x12" strip.  I also wanted to use the "best teacher ever" pattern but knew that I needed some solid cardstock to give the layout (and my journaling) a place to rest.  The fun stripes zip strips helped to anchor my photos and to separate the patterns.  I had fun picking out out a few stickers to embellish my photos.

On a personal note, you'll also notice that I had a LOT to say since this move was a big one!  I wasn't just moving my classroom, but my job changed also.  (I am now an academic or instructional coach rather than a classroom teacher, so I work directly with teachers and less directly with students.)

Finally, if you're wondering about the 4"x4" photos, check out the Persnickety Box subscription.  (No, I do not have a partnership with them nor do I receive any compensation from them; it's just something that I like!)

Tutti Frutti Birthday Layout

The Tutti Fruitti collection is a refreshing summer theme!  I love the color combo of Flamingo, Grape, Capri, Mint, Lemonade, and White Daisy.  Here is the layout that I made for my June scrapbook class and to celebrate our daughter's birthday last June.

The fun strip of glasses was actually an accident- I had originally planned to use the other side of the paper, but the glasses are perfect for her!  Originally, I was going to make the circle a shaker window but then decided that it wasn't really necessary and that my scrapbooks probably should be shaken up.  I used the June stamp of the month, I Heart Summer, on the bottom strip and added the small title with the For All Occasions stamp set.  

Please look closely to see how I used shimmer brushes to splatter the background of both pages.  I think they kind of look like sprinkles, and they definitely amp up the fun element.

I finished off the layout with Lemonade dots (leftover from the retired Cake Day collection) and shimmer trim.  (I still need to add journaling on the Flamingo rectangle to finish this layout.)

Be sure to check out the Tutti Frutti collection and the June stamp of the month before they're gone at the end of the month!

Fresh Paint Cards

All three of my cards use the Fresh Paint Scrapbooking stamp set & coordinating Thin Cuts, but the second one has a bit of a twist.

The star is adhered with 3D foam tape so that it (and the awesome sentiment) are popped up off the card front.

The twist with this card is that I used Grape cardstock to make this card for a recent graduation.  Our school colors are purple and gold.

I think this card would be fun for anyone who likes cars or racing of most any kind!

What do you think?  Which card do you prefer?

You can find all the Fresh Paint products HERE, but only until the end of this month!

Fresh Paint Layout #3

The fun Fresh Paint collection is only available through the end of the month, so be sure to grab yours if you haven't yet!

I really like how fun this layout is and how I was able to scrapbook four different, somewhat random, photos of our daughter at different events this spring.  If you'd like to try to recreate this layout, the strips of paper are all 10" tall and are 2"-3" wide (with some strips in between).  Notice how I sponged areas of the background and used combinations of stamping, stickers, and embellishments.

Check out the entire Fresh Paint collection HERE!  Please leave a comment before you go.

Another Shaker Birthday Card

 Recently we celebrated both our nephew's and our daughter's June birthdays.  I made this fun little shaker card for him.

I used the fun shoe paper from the Smarty Pants collection, Candy Apple cardstock and ink, and Sapphire cardstock.  I used the medium stitched rectangle Thin Cuts and foam/acetate window plus retired sequins and acrylic shapes from the Fresh Paint collection inside the window.  I think that he liked it!

I'm adding this to the Heart2Heart Thin Cuts Challenge currently available until the end of June. 

H2H Challenges: Thin Cuts

Thin Cuts are Close To My Heart's exclusive die cuts and this week's Heart2Heart Challenge.  I've had a lot of fun recently making shaker cards with our Thin Cut dies and foam/acetate windows.

I used my largest stitched rectangle Thin Cuts and (retired) numbers to make this shaker card to celebrate our daughter's 24th birthday.  I stamped some circles from the Embroidered Circles stamp set in Wild Berry, Black, Lemonade, and Candy Apple in opposite corners of the card base and the sentiment in Wild Berry with the For All Occasions stamp set.  Can you see how I colored and fussy cut drink images from the June stamp of the month, I Heart Summer?

I added Wild Berry sequins to the shaker window.  It's a really fun card that she has enjoyed!

Be sure to visit Heart2Heart Challenges to see our design team inspiration and to add your own Thin Cuts submissions!

Fresh Paint Dance Recital Layout

Those of you who know me know that I have taken adult tap classes as often as possible.  (Some years. including the recent ones, we sadly haven't had enough participation to keep a class going.)  Yesterday was the ten year anniversary recital of the studio where I've danced, so now is a perfect time to share my last dance recital layout.

This layout uses just about everything available in the Fresh Paint collection: paper pack, stickers, Scrapbooking stamp set & Thin Cuts, and acrylic shapes.  I also added details with our white gel pens.  (They work so well!  I love them.)

Here's a little tip:  Do you see the rectangles of the paint splatters paper on the black background?  They are four small rectangles very carefully aligned rather than two large pieces that are then covered up with the Capri cardstock.

Thanks for letting me share a piece of my life with you!  What memories would you scrapbook with the Fresh Paint collection?

Fresh Paint Layout: She's Off!

Last month, we took our younger daughter to the airport to send her to Paris to study abroad.  (So far, so good!)  I decided to use the Fresh Paint collection to scrapbook this pivotal moment.

I had lots of fun using both the Fresh Paint Scrapbooking stamp set and the coordinating stickers to embellish the layout.  I also added Fresh Paint acrylic shapes to give the layout a little dimension.

Thanks for letting me share this moment with you!  As parents, pieces of our hearts are always walking outside our bodies, but this time pieces flew far away.  I have to remind myself that we give them roots but most especially wings.  Fly, baby girl, fly!

Heart2Heart Challenges: How Sweet It Is

The June stamp of the month, I Heart Summer, is sweet enough to use with the Tutti Frutti collection for the first June Heart2Heart challenge, How Sweet It Is!

This card is based on similar ones I made last summer with last year's June stamp of the month, Outdoor Borders, that you can find HERE.  For this year's card, I used the light side of Flamingo, Lemonade, Mint, and Grape cardstock (with the corresponding ink colors for the stamped borders) plus two stripes of Tutti Frutti patterned paper.  I made the two banners with White Daisy cardstock and stamped my sentiment with the For All Occasions stamp set in Capri and Grape.  Two Lemonade dots finished it off.

Be sure to check out the H2H Design Team inspiration and join us with sharing How Sweet It Is!  Please leave a comment before you leave!

June 2022 Close To My Heart News

 June Stamp of the Month: I Heart Summer

Stamptacular Celebration!

Learn about exclusive stamp sets HERE and amazing stamp set & Thin Cut specials HERE!

Hope & Kindess

You can find all these great offers and more right HERE!