Scrapbooking Global Blog Hop: Use Flip Flaps

Welcome to the Scrapbooking Global Stampin' Up! September Blog Hop!  I'm excited to be part of this group!  If you're already hopping, then you've probably arrived from Michelle's blog.

This month we are highlighting a favorite product of mine, flip flaps!

On the left page, I used a 4x6 flip flap to reveal a smaller photo and hidden journaling.  (The large journaling box actually has a lot of journaling, including our daughter's new address that I didn't want to share publicly.)

I used the Make a Memory scrapbooking kit with a few additional supplies like Pretty Peacock & White Willow cardstock and Petal Pink DSP.

Here are a few more flip flap projects I've made and previously shared:

They can also be used to make a quick shaker card!

Thank you so much for hopping by!  Please leave a comment and then go visit Julia's blog next!

National Scrapbooking Day Blog Hop

Don't let the title fool you!  Today isn't National Scrapbooking Day!  This blog hop is featuring projects made with the cool product bundles available to order NOW to get ready for lots of Close To My Heart fun on Facebook on National Scrapbooking Day.  (If you're already hopping, then you've probably arrived from Darlys's blog.  From here, you'll visit Katy's blog next.)

I made this layout after creating the two layouts from the Good Vibes scrapbooking kit.  I had to add some White Daisy cardstock, but I always have that in stock.  I used my Daisy Alphabet stamp set to create my title piece.  I plan to journal on the other block on the left page.  The stickers and wooden flowers were all "leftovers" from the original kit.  I did fussy cut the camera out of the patterned paper to create that little piece.

Don't be afraid to use the scraps from your projects!  I plan to make some cards with the small pieces that are left.

Please leave a comment before hopping next to Scrappin Katy's blog!

{Click HERE for all the blog hop participants' links.}

April Stamp of the Month Blog Hop: Message in a Bottle

Happy April Fool's Day!  You won't find any tricks here, just treats, as we showcase the April stamp of the month, Message in a Bottle, on our monthly blog hop.  (If you're already hopping, then you've probably arrived from Darlys's blog.  From here, you'll visit Show and Tell with Michelle next.)

I created two cards using patterns from Make It From Your Heart, Vol. 2, the In Full Bloom paper collection, Intense Black ink, and Liquid Glass (with Black & White Dots as my simple embellishments).

For my first card, I stamped the bottle with Intensive Black ink only Glacier cardstock and then fussy cut it out.  I also stamped the heart stamp in the bottle.  I used one of my aqua Spectrum Noir Tri-Blend markers to add some shading to the heart.  I then applied Liquid Glass over the entire inside of the "bottle."  I love how it literally makes my stamped image look like glass, and I also love how these alcohol-based markers don't bleed!

For my second card, I stamped the bottle on Avocado cardstock and then stamped the note inside.  I stamped the note a second time on the lighter side of a scrap of Avocado cardstock, fussy cut, and then stamped the sentiment inside.

Before applying the Liquid Glass, I colored the cork with my Gold Brown Spectrum Noir Tri-Blend marker.  (I can't express enough how much I love that they don't bleed under the Liquid Glass!  They will bleed through cardstock so be sure to add a layer under your coloring.)

This pretty stamp set has a variety of bottles and sentiments to choose from.

Please leave a comment before continuing the April stamp of the month blog hop by visiting Show and Tell with Michelle next!

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

March/April Catalog New Product Blog Hop

Close To My Heart has released yet another fabulous two-month supplemental Idea Book!  This blog hop is featuring new products from the new March/April catalog!  (If you're already hopping, then you've probably arrived from Darlys's blog.  From here,  you'll visit Gina Brandstetter's blog next.)

I wanted to share the Cake Day paper suite and scrapbooking stamp set plus Thin Cuts, which were a great match with pictures from my niece's 21st birthday celebration earlier this year!  I ended up using a sketch from Make It From Your Heart, Vol. 3.

It's hard to tell, but the 1/2" black border strip is actually black shimmer trim.  I used my favorite Daisy Alphabet stamp set for the #21 tag.  I also have a funny picture of the girls under the bottom right photo.  I will use a flip flap to flip up the top photo and add more journaling underneath to tell a little more about our night and to make sure that future generations recognize my brother, his wife, my niece, my sister, my girls, and me.

I had lots of fun creating the B-Day Bash cake.  I inked the candles in Lemonade and the cake stand in black and then stamped the partial images onto the White Daisy Thin Cut outline.  Next, I stamped the center portion of the stamp in Green Apple on scrap White Daisy.  I fussy cut this sentiment then adhered this piece onto the Thin Cut piece.  I stamped the tiny accent stamps from the stamp set in 
Wild Berry and added some Lemonade dots from the matching collection.

I finished off my layout with gold Stickles on the candle flames.

Thanks for letting me share this layout of an amazingly fun evening with you!  Please leave a comment before hopping on to Gina's blog!

March Technique Blog Hop: Creative with Cardstock

With the amazing Close To My Heart Cardstock Carnival Celebration, this month's technique blog hop is featuring are beautiful cardstock.  (If you're already hopping, then you've probably arrived from Lauren's blog.  From here, you'll visit Wendy's blog next.)

I had fun with the (recently retired) Kaleidoscope embossing folder and my circle Thin Cut die cuts to make two 5"x7" cards.  I used the Cake Day color palette as my inspiration: Wild Berry, Lemonade, Glacier, and Green Apple.  I used my For All Occasions stamp set for the sentiment and accented with black bursts.

For my second card, I fussy cut elements from each colored cardstock panel and adhered to my White Daisy base.  After I started outlining some of the circles with a black marker, I'm not sure it was such a great idea, but here we are anyway. LOL  I embellished the card with black enamel dots.

Be sure to take advantage of CTMH's cool Cardstock Carnival special offer this month!  Please leave a comment before you hop on to Wendy's blog next!

March Stamp of the Month Blog Hop: You're the Goat

The March Close To My Heart stamp of the month, You're the G.O.A.T., is so much fun!  I love a good pun (and I don't care if you judge me for that or not)!  Join me and our group of talented CTMH makers for a fun blog hop featuring this punny stamp set.  (If you're already hopping, then you've probably arrived from Show and Tell with Michelle's blog.  From here, you'll visit Darlys's blog next.)

I had a blast creating a set of four 3"x3" cards with the NEW Cake Day collection paired with You're the G.O.A.T.  (I love the tiny size of these cards because I often don't have a lot to write but want to give a heartfelt, handmade card.)

My first card features the cute frog in Candy Apple with the sentiment stamped in black.  I added Black Onyx Liquid Pearls to the eyes and as "gems" on the banner.

My second card uses a cute pattern from Originals.  (This sketch was actually from the second book, not the first.  Does anyone else remember the fab how-to guide, Originals?)  Again, I used Black Onyx Liquid Pearls to accent the eyes of this cool cat.

My third card uses another cute sketch from Originals.  I accented it with Wildberry glitter gems.

My finally card is another quick & easy card with the frog (or toad?) and sentiment stamped in Candy Apple, a zip strip, and black enamel dots.

Thanks for letting me share these fun and easy 3"x3" cards with you.  Please leave a comment before hopping on to Darlys's blog next!

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.

January/February 2022 New Product Blog Hop

Close To My Heart keeps cranking out amazing products with each of our idea books, and the January-February idea book is no exception!  Everything featured on this blog hop is available for this two-month cycle, so be sure to grab your favorites before they are gone!  (If you're already hopping, then you've probably arrived from Kim's blog.  From here, you'll visit ScrappinKaty's blog next.)

When I saw the Sweet as Honey collection, I knew that it would be perfect with our daughter's college graduation photos!  She got her cap and gown and diploma in the mail in May of 2020, but Oglethorpe held a graduation ceremony for her class the day after the in-person graduation for the Class of 2021.  She was very excited to get to walk across the stage and receive her hood!  We are so very proud of her!  (After working for a year as planned, she is now in graduate school working on her Master's degree.)

Here's a close up of the left page.  I based my layout on one of the layouts in the current Smitten workshop guide.  All of the papers are from the Sweet as Honey collection.  I did spritz the background of both pages with Gilt gloss spray.  I actually made two almost identical layouts- one for her and one for me.  Her layout says OU 2020 with the white alphabet foam stickers, but mine is a little shorter because I ran out of 2s.  I created the mortarboard out of cardstock of my own design then added gold embroidery floss for the tassel.  I embellished the page with black enamel dots, black acrylic stars, and black acrylic arrows.  I also used a white gel pen for the faux stitching.

My photos definitely determined the layout of the right page.  In addition to the aforementioned supplies, I also added a Sweet as Honey sticker embellishment.

I had so many photos that I will be using a flip flap to show them all- which also gives me a journaling spot to write a bit about her special day.  (I need to remember to add that the photos of her receiving her hood were actually from my parents, who were watching the livestream feed from home!)

Thank you for letting me share a Sweet as Honey layout minus the bees to commemorate our daughter's graduation.  Please leave a comment before you hop to the spectacular ScrappinKaty's blog next to continue the January/February 2022 new product blog hop!

January Technique Blog Hop: Let's Get Geometrical

The January Technique blog hop is getting geometrical!  We are going to have lots of fun with cool shapes.  (If you're already hopping, then you've probably arrived from Kim's blog.  From here, you'll visit Darlys next.)

I was inspired by a card from last month's Craft with Heart subscription, so I recreated the general layout with color inspiration from Smitten (Raspberry, Capri, Flamingo, and Lemonade) and the January stamp of the month, Sweet Little Things.  I had fun with the rectangles and circles for this geometrical card.  I used several Spectrum Noir Tri-Blend markers and a white gel pen to color my images.  I added a bitty sparkle to the focal flower center for a little sparkle in addition to the Capri glitter paper.

Please leave a comment before you hop on to Darlys's blog next!  Thank you!

I'm also linking this card up to the Double Trouble Challenge #100 to use layers and dies.