Miracle Kit: Layout #2

In just a few more days, the beautiful Miracle kit from Close To My Heart will be available for purchase! Here is the 2nd layout featured in the guide that comes with the kit.

I'm continuing my Spring Break '08 trip theme with these layouts, also of Callaway Gardens. Everything you see here comes with the Miracle kit, except for the Blush ink. (Of course I also used my basic tool kit: trimmer, scissors, and adhesive.)

{2010 layout 21}

Quote of the Week

“A positive attitude may not solve all your problems, but it will annoy enough people to make it worth the effort.”

~Herm Albright

This just may be my new motto! Dad, what do you think? (I may not feel chipper at 5:45 when my alarm goes off this morning, but spring break sure has helped rejuvinate me!) Did you know that my dear friend and co-teacher Traci calls me "Pollyhaleyanna?" Her nickname is Eeyore, BTW.

Mini-Medley Accents {Tip}

Our Mini-Medley Accents are the perfect embellishment collection for so many projects! The Colonial White set comes with the Miracle kit, but they can also be purchased separately. Here's a quick tip:

Cut the flap between the segments so that you can open only one segment at a time. (See where my scissors are in the picture to help guide you?)

Yesterday we went to my friend Star's wedding. I can't wait to share photos with you soon! Today is my MIL's birthday too. It also marks the end to our spring break. It's been a good one!

Miracle Kit Layout #1/Irresistibles {Tip}

This layout was so easy to make, and I love how it turned out! I followed the directions in the Miracle kit to create the "Celebrate" layout to celebrate our trip to Callaway Gardens in 2008.

Here are a few hints:

Create the left page first, working from the bottom up. I found it was easier to glue on the die cut at the bottom and then build from there. Next, I lined up the pieces to my left page once the right page was glued down. That way, I didn't have to measure and my pages line up beautifully. Since I did not have an 8"x8" photo to fill that large photo square, I cut four photos down to 4"x4" each.

(Sorry I forgot to take close ups of the 2nd page!) The pictures of the girls are in the cool Flip-Flaps that come with the kit. The brochure even explains how to use them. I slipped my pictures into the flaps, and then placed them over my layout (without adhering them yet). That way I could see where to stick the bottom set of pictures, directly on my layout (so that they wouldn't show around the edges of the flip-flaps).

Finally, this kit includes the most adorable chipboard Irresistibles! What are irresistibles? CTMH has a new line of alphabet stickers and chipboard shapes that have preprinted clear designs (polka dots on the alphabet, for example). It's like they've been clear embossed before coming to you. Then you can sponge color onto the Irresistibles and the white base shows through. How cute is that?

Tip: Swipe the Irresistibles with the sponge instead of pouncing. I found that I could add color more quickly and more richly by swiping or burnishing it on. (Burnishing is basically rubbing the sponge around in a circular motion.)

{2010 layout 20}

We Interrupt Our Regulary Scheduled Program for a Studio J Update

This just in: My Studio J order arrived last night! Here is what was waiting for me on my couch when I got home from dance class.

Now, I know I said yesterday that I would share some more of my Miracle kit creations, but that is just going to have to wait and you are going to have to be patient. This Studio J scrapbooking is just way too fun!!!

I didn't print a single one of these pictures. Studio J did it for me! I didn't cut a single piece of paper or ribbon. No brads or buttons were harmed in the making of these layouts. (Best of all, I still have "real" paper, ribbon, and embellishments in my stash to play with.)

The Sweet Pea kit is retired but available exclusively in Studio J.

Ditto for this Halloween paper, and I was able to order two copies of this layout, one for each girl. I could have created the first one, copied it, and then changed it a bit to personalize it if I had wanted to.

I have one more Studio J layout to share sometime soon, but since it is a gift it will have to wait. Patience, remember?

{2010 layouts 15-19}

A Miracle Awaits You: National Scrapbooking Month

Here is a sneak peek at the exclusive Miracle kit available from Close To My Heart for National Scrapbooking Month (a.k.a. May in some circles). At right is one of the layouts you can create, and below are pictures I took of my entire kit before I dove into it. (Read on to find out what's included and how to get your very own, beginning 4/15.)



If you're not a scrapper, you can use the pieces to create whatever your heart desires! I'll be sharing my artwork tomorrow.


One great feature of this kit is that it includes the colors Crystal Blue, Sweet Leaf, and Olive, but it encourages you to accent your layouts with additional colors of ink.


Kit contents:
5 Colonial White cardstock
1 Bamboo cardstock
1 Floral B&T Duos
1 Stripe B&T Duos
1 Crystal Blue B&T Duos die cut
1 Sweet Leaf B&T Duos die cut


6"x9" My Stickease assortment
6"x9" Irresistible Chipboard die cuts

1 Mini-Medley Colonal White collection

12" Colonial White waxy flax
3 Flip Flaps (4"x6")

2 sponge wedges
1 instruction brochure

You can purchase this kit outright for $19.95 (4/15-5/31/10 or while supplies last), place a minimum $40 order and purchase the kit for $10, or place a minimum $60 order and purchase the kit for only $5.* How fun is that? I had a blast playing with my kit at my Spring Break crop Wednesday, so come back tomorrow to see what all I made. (OK, how "country" does that sound? LOL)

*Tax and shipping/handling apply; minimum qualifying order does not include shipping/handling and tax; minimum purchases not applicable to Studio J orders

Studio J Update

You may remember my post about Studio J scrapbooking. Well, I created 7 layouts last month that I can't wait to share with you! I am not-so-patiently waiting for them to arrive! (CTMH was offering a great incentive for consultants to use Studio J and order their layouts.)

My first layout used pictures from last year's Fourth of July festivities. You can read more about it HERE. Now you can see the layout I created with those pictures. The really cool thing is that I didn't order or print the pictures; they will be printed directly onto my Studio J layout.

I will be sharing more about Studio J in preparation for its launch to customers this Spring.

Also, I found out yesterday that I was not selected to teach at the CTMH Convention this summer. :( Sure I'm disappointed, but I knew that I would regret not even trying! Now I will go and enjoy without any stress! It is going to be soooo much fun!!!

{2010 layout #5}

Easter '09 Layout

My brother is such a great uncle, and these photos from Easter last year really show how good he is with kids. It's too bad he doesn't have any of his own, although he may disagree with that statement. LOL


This layout celebrates his relationship with his nieces and nephews. I used the Imagine "Understudy" sketch that is suggested in the Topstitch Workshop on the Go Kit. I accented this layout with the February '09 stamp of the month, Easter Eggs (no longer available). Just Blooms, brads, and buttons completed the embellishments. This layout will go in our "People We Love" album rather than the "Things We Do," because I am trying to focus on their relationship instead of the Easter egg hunt.


All supplies from Close To My Heart: Topstitch paper pack; Easter Egg (no longer available), Chocolate Large, Friendship Alphabet (no longer available), and Love Is In the Air stamp sets; Heavenly Blue and Chocolate inks; Chocolate marker; Spring Harmony Brads; Spring Craft Buttons; Just Blooms paper flowers

{2010 layout #14}

Blog Candy from Jessica

Woohoo! I won Jessica Booth's blog candy, a calendar she decorated with the April stamp of the month. Thank you, Jessica!

Easter Highlights

Here are a few highlights from our Easter celebration. It was a blessed day indeed!

Loot after the Easter egg hunt

(Ansley is getting used to her new Transitions lenses.)

The Grands

Uncle Brian (who along with Uncle Reid and Daddy hid all the Easter eggs for the hunt in the garden)

family friends Dan & Joan, who my parents have known since B.C. (before children), so that's a REALLY long time!

Macey had to take her shoes off outside because they were slowing her down during the hunt. She has totally ruined those brand new tights!




Grammie

Our priest Jim+ and Grumps

Happy Easter!

The girls were thrilled to find that the Easter Bunny visited them! Here they are holding up their favorites from their loot. They can't wait for the Easter egg hunt after church today!

We are all looking forward to the Easter church service, egg hunt, and Easter feast (all at our church). Happy Easter to you and yours! How will you be celebrating Easter today?

Jesus Christ is risen today, alleluia!

Quote of the Week: Easter

"Easter spells out beauty, the rare beauty of new life."

~S.D. Gordon

We are enjoying a glorious spring day! Mom and I went shopping this morning to two different open houses, and I found a birthday present and a Christmas present! How's that for shopping early? The Christmas gift is absolutely perfect for the recipient (and no, I'm not spilling the beans).

We had lunch with Logan's family today at the Resort for their yummy soup, salad, pasta, and dessert bar to celebrate his Mom's birthday and mine. (I hope to add pictures later.) It was such a nice time together!

The Easter eggs are now dyed, laundry is going, and I will be ironing our Easter frocks soon. Life is good!