Cutie Patootie Layout Share

The "cutie patootie" in this layout is now 11 years old and did NOT want me to share! Obviously I couldn't resist though. ;)  For whatever reason, these pictures didn't get scrapbooked when she was younger, but they were tucked into a page protector in her album where they should go.  The (retired) Topstitch level 1 kit was perfect to preserve these photos and some memories associated with them.  (You can still find Topstitch in Studio J if you'd like to scrapbook with these beautiful papers too.)

I did use my photo editting program to blur out her cute little hiney in these pictures of the layout to post online.

The large strip on the left will actually go in the album behind the layout (with the tab at the top as a nudge to pull out). I recorded my thoughts on patting hineys, a tradition/habit that I got from my mom. I'm really glad that I was able to go even deeper than the actual photos on this layout. I encourage you to try that sometime!

Hope you have a great Monday and a great start to your week!

Life Is Tweet Sunburst Card

Have I told you how much I love the June stamp of the month, Life Is Tweet?  This sunburst card was fun to make!  First, I started with the sun print from the Footless paper pack and cut it to fit my card front.  Then, using my paper trimmer, I sliced it into pieces and inked the edges in Cocoa ink.  Before reattaching the pieces in order on the card front, I stamped the border in Creme Brulee onto each "ray."

The circle "medallion" is the Life Is Tweet stamp that I stamped in Creme Brulee and then stamped again in Cocoa, turning it just a bit so that the curlicues fit more or less in between each other.  A button covered the now "ugly" center since the words looked pretty funny.

I hope that you're having a day filled with sunshine!

Life Is Tweet 3"x3" Card Set

This card set is based on the 6"x6" card workshop in the Wishes how-to guide, but I halved all the measurements to make twelve 3"x3" cards instead (two each of the six designs).  I used the Footlose paper pack, Life Is Tweet stamp set, Cocoa and Sweet Leaf ink and markers, Mocha Opaques, Paradise Just Blooms, and Baker's Twine.  They were fun and easy to make!

The Wishes how-to guide won't be around for much longer, so order yours today!

Heart 2 Heart Challenges: Black & White Plus a Pop of Color

Our first Heart 2 Heart Challenge for June is to create with black and white plus a pop of color.  Can you guess which color I used?  It's one of my favorites!  If you guessed Lagoon, you're right!

I began with a standard top-fold card base and then added the black panel to it.  The white panel measures 4"x5.25".  I stamped the roses from the Card Word Puzzle stamp set in kind of a diagonal pattern to cover the bottom right half of the card.  I colored in the flower centers with my Lagoon marker and then used Stardust Glitter Glitz Gel over them.  I love the shimmery, sparkly effect!  After cutting a piece of Lagoon card stock in the banner shape, I pleated it a few times then adhered it to the front.  I stamped the "For You" sentiment in black on white, and then popped the edge with some Licorice Opaques.

Now it's your turn to show off your black & white plus one CTMH creation!  Just visit the H2H blog to link up your project.  You have until the end of June, so please play along with us.  You can also check out our Design Team's gorgeous inspiration pieces if you need a few ideas (or just like to look at paper crafted projects like I do).  Happy June!

"Just Us Girls" Sketch Challenge #139

Isn't the JUGS Sketch Challenge 139 a nice and simple sketch?  Lots of possibilities there!  I couldn't resist playing along using the Close To My Heart June stamp of the month, Life Is Tweet, and the Footloose paper pack.

A few techniques I used on my card were scissor and ink distressing the edges plus paper piecing the bird.  If you look closely at the bird's wing, I used an exacto knife to cut it and then curl it up a bit.  The paper pieced bird body layer was attached with foam tape so that it has some pop.  I also added a tiny Mocha opaque to give its eye some dimension.

All supplies from Close To My Heart: Life Is Tweet stamp set; Footloose paper pack; Cocoa ink; Green button collection; Sweet Leaf ribbon; Mocha Opaques; 3D foam tape

CTMH Stamp of the Month Blog Hop: Life Is Tweet (June 2012)

Welcome to the June CTMH stamp of the month blog hop!  A little birdie told me you'd be flying by.  The June stamp of the month, "Life Is Tweet," is probably my favorite stamp of the month in the current catalog!  (If you're already flapping, I mean hopping, then you should have arrived from the talented Michelle Loncar's blog and you'll visit Teresa Scrivens next and then Wendy Coffman.)

I love this set so much that I've already made several fun projects with this stamp set.  (You can see two cards HERE if you'd like to peek.) 

This particular project is a diagonal double pocket card that I made using a sheet from the Stella paper pack.  (If you'd like to learn how to make your own diagonal double pocket card, click HERE for a great tutorial.)  I had a blast stamping on the card with Tulip, Cocoa, Lagoon, and Sunset inks.  I paper pieced the bird (stamping her once in Cocoa on the card itself so you could see her beak and legs, and then again on a piece of that pretty patterned Stella paper, which I then cut out and adhered over the original).  The sentiment was stamped on a piece that I cut with the Cricut Art Philosophy cartridge.

The two tags are the only non-CTMH parts of this project.  They're just regular old office supply tags (but you could easily cut your own or use the Cricut to make them); I just have a bunch on hand.

One of the great things about this card is that it's easy to add the ever-popular gift card to the lower pocket, making it a card and a gift in one. ;)

Thanks for flapping by!  Please leave me a little tweet, and then fly on over to see Teresa's creations next. 

Supplies from Close To My Heart: Life Is Tweet stamp set (June 2012 stamp of the month); Stella paper pack; Tulip, Cocoa, Lagoon, and Sunset inks; Cocoa ribbon; Mocha Opaques self-adhesive pearls

Non-CTMH supplies: tags from office supply store

A Few Reminders & Upcoming Events

Tomorrow is your last chance to get the fun and funky Dotty for You paper pack and/or the May stamp of the month, Friendship Bouquet.  Please visit my website to purchase yours before you run out of time!  You can also find links to some great project ideas and how-to videos there!

Here's the peek now at upcoming events and CTMH specials:

If you're not already receiving my Close To My Heart newsletter (or another consultant's), please be sure to email me to sign up.  (I promise not to spam you or sell/give away your personal info!!)  Drop me an email at inkyscrapper@gmail.com.

On June 10, we will be creating this beautiful layout and a companion 12"x12" page.  I have limited seating still available, so email me today to reserve your spot!  Can't attend?  You can purchase a kit that will have all the pieces precut/prestamped and ready for you to assemble (with complete instructions).   (The $15 fee includes all materials and shipping directly to you.)  Just click the Paypal button below.  In the text field, please let me know whether you want to use the word "Family" or your family name (please spell it for me).

Kits will ship starting 6/11 and must be purchased by 6/8.

Family LO Kit Personalization:

CTMH/Cricut Blog Hop Meets Play Date Cafe

Welcome to a fun blog hop featuring the Close To My Heart/Cricut Art Philosophy cartridge!  (If you've already started hopping, then you should have arrived here from Addie's blog, and you'll head to Alice's blog next.)

I wanted to make a patriotic banner to display in my home this summer.  I started with three leftover pieces from a My Creations Banner.  I used the Superhero paper and used the Cricut to cut the triangles (I believe at 7") and ALL the shapes you see here.

I decorated several of the stars with the Universal Backgrounds stamp set.  (I'm not sure which set the little star came from.)

Red and blue Sparkles were fun to use to decorate various stars.

A toothpick is a great tool to spread around the red Glitz Glitz Gel!

All the ribbon is all CTMH (except the large red ones on the end, which is upcycled from a birthday present), but most of it is retired.  It was fun to use up my stash.   

The current Play Date Color Cafe color story PDCC133 came at the perfect time for my patriotic project!  The corresponding CTMH colors that I used are Sky, Outdoor Denim, and Cranberry. 

To continue on the CTMH/Cricut blog hop, head to Alice's blog after leaving me a comment. 

Happy Memorial Day weekend!  Please remember the servicemen and women who have fought for our country to preserve the freedoms we enjoy today.  God bless America!

Teacher Thank Yous

Today is the last day of school!  Every year, I have a hard time believing that the end is really here.  This year is particularly bittersweet.  I've had a great class, and I'll hate to see them go!  Also, our school system cut ALL teacher workdays (and of course our pay), so we are trying to get everything done before the kids leave because today is our last day too.  You would not believe the amount of work that goes on "behind the scenes" to wrap up a school year!

I am pleased to report that both girls have had really good years.  I am in a total state of disbelief (and shock?) that our big girl will start high school in a few short months while her little sister will start at the middle school.  Not having one of my girls at my school (practically next door this year) is going to be really hard on this momma for sure.

We made sure to make thank you cards to show our appreciation to our teachers for a great year.  Because I had eight to make, I kept them fairly simple.  The girls wrote their own messages of gratitude on the inside.

(On a side note, I am also sad to see a favorite student graduate this year!  He has come to visit me every Christmas and end of the year since he left me in fifth grade.  It means more than he will ever know that he has taken the time to show me, year after year, that I made a difference in his life.  That is absolutely what it's all about, dear readers!  Go thank a teacher today yourself, because you know there's at least one out there who greatly impacted your life.)

The card for the academic teachers includes a panel from an old children's novel that had seen much better days.  (I promise it was already falling apart.  No books were harmed in the making of these cards!)  The two music teachers' cards feature the music stamp from the Universal Backgrounds stamp set.

I created these thank you cards with two challenges in mind:

1. The Cupcake Craft Challenge 193, Book Lover, to use a book image or text on your project (I used pages from an actual children's book, plus I think a lot of book lovers also love to play Scrabble, hence the other patterned paper.)
2. The Dynamic Duos #3 Black Tie Week, pairing black with Daffodil Delight (or in my case, CTMH's Honey)

Thanks for looking!  Now let summer officially begin!

Heart 2 Heart Challenges: Distressing

This week's Heart 2 Heart challenge was an easy one for me!  I love to distress most of my projects!  You can too; it's easy.  (Once you've gotten your stress relieved with some distressing techniques, post your project over on the H2H challenge blog.  We love to see your work!)

For my card, I started with an Olive standard-size side-fold card base.  I used some sandpaper to distress the card front.  I sanded first diagonally one way and then diagonally in the opposite way.  I think this technique gives the base a linen or denim look.  (Enlarge it to see what I mean.)

Next, I stamped the sunflower image from the May stamp of the month (Friendship Bouquet) in Chocolate onto the Colonial White square.  Then, I used the direct-to-paper inking technique to distress the edges.  (I also used this same technique on the sentiment plaque, cut with the Cricut & CTMH Art Philosphy cartridge.)

To distress the Chocolate panel, I pulled out my trusty scissors and ran them along the edge to expose the white core.

Finally, I used a sponge to color the sunflower quickly with Honey ink.  A sponge is another great distressing tool!  I finished off the card with a wooden button, some hemp, and two Mocha Opaques.

Now, go check out what the other H2H designers have in store for you this week.  You've got all month to play along with any of our May challenges, so get cracking and get crafty!

Black & White Wedding

Today, my flower girl is getting married!  This sweet little girl has grown into a beautiful young lady.  We wish her the very best as she begins her new life with her handsome, kind groom.

Here is the 5"x7" top fold card.  It's a white card base with a 5"x7" black panel and then the white panel.  I used the Card Word Puzzle stamp set and a retired sentiment. 

Best wishes to the Mr. & Mrs.!  Here is the opening page of the scrapbook that I made them.  All of the pages are White Daisy and Black with Grey Wool patterned paper from the (retired) Bliss paper pack.  Everything is from Close To My Heart except the ribbon (scraps from my stash).

All of the rest of the layouts are based on sketches from the "Reflections" how-to guide. I used the Old World Alphabet and Card Word Puzzle stamp set.  The music notes are from the Universal Backgrounds stamp set.

 The bling flourishes are the beautiful Sparkles Flourishes.

 Here is my favorite layout of them all:

 I used three roses to make this one by layering the centers taht I fussy cut.

In addition to the album and these pages, I also gave them a pair of Studio J gift cards so that she can upload their photos and create her own layouts to fill up her album. 

Best wishes, Megan and Ralph!  We love you!

(I'd like to link these projects up to the Anything Goes Challenge Blog #67: Black with One Other.)

Birthday Recap (Part 2)

You cannot imagine my surprise and delight when I came home a few weeks ago to find this beautiful scrapbook layout- complete with pictures and all- waiting for me!  My dear friend and CTMH downline, Debora, made me this layout with a few of her photos from my surprise party.  Isn't it lovely?

One thing I love about this "work of heart" is the old paper packs that circle the focal photo on the left and continue on to the right page.  She wrote, "Like these papers, you are an oldie but goodie!"

Thank you, Debora, from the bottom of my heart for my beautiful layout, but most especially for your friendship.  You and your family mean so much to me and are such a blessing!  I'm so glad we started stamping and scrapping together.