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How to: Step by Step Basics

How to: Personalize Your Layouts

How to: Focus on Your Photos

How to:  Photo Editing Tool

How to: Perfect Placement

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This was the journal that I was talking about a couple days ago.  It was a gift for my 5th grade daughter’s last minute gift exchange for a girl.  This was the easiest one I’ve made yet because of the paper my daughter picked out for it.  The back is a solid of the pink paper.  I didn’t plan to add the tab but the paper was hanging over a bit so in my attempt to fix it I made a bigger problem when I cut the notebook.  The tab was my solution and I thought she could put her name on it.  We made due with what we had for this gift, filling a bag with this journal, the decorated paint can that I posted a couple days ago, and some lip gloss.  I wasn’t sure about it but it was what we had.  Stephanie came home and said the girl that got it loved it so I guess it was okay!

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I just love adding my own little touch to things.   This is just a plain coaster set but I added rubons to give them some extra flair.  It’s very simple to do to make change something from ordinary to extraordinary.  These were a grandparent gift for Christmas with pictures of the new babies.  I had to get a little creative to come up with an idea for the fourth coaster since there were only three babies.  I like how it turned out as a complete set.  Scrap supplies are DCWV vellum quote matted on cardstock, and misc. rubons from my stash.

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I got these mini paint cans at the Target Dollar Spot and knew I would have a use for them.  The top one was used for a teacher’s gift.  The second can was part of a gift exchange for my daughter’s 5th grade girl gift.  We also made a journal which I will post in a couple days.  These are Christmas, but you can decorate them for any occasion.  All supplies are from my stash and I used the CTMH Cricut Art Philosophy cartridge for my diecuts.  I also added a tag with ribbon to the handle of the can.

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The girls and I made these cute little gift bags for teacher gifts this year.  They were quick and easy to make the girls had fun helping.  I think the paper is DCWV.  All the embellishments are just misc. from my stash that I’m working to use up.  I used the Tags, Bags, Boxes, and More Cricut cartridge.  I cut the gift bag on p. 115 at 5 3/4 (the largest it would cut).  It wouldn’t cut 2 on one sheet but you can trick it by cutting one, then reinserting the mat so the paper is switched around and cut it again.  As long as you have 6″ of paper you are good.

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Elemental Level 2 Paper Packet ($9.95)
My Acrylix^® Elemental Workshop ($13.95) (stamp set is exclusive to this workshop kit)
Just Blooms^® Flutter Paper Shapes ($5.95)
Antiqued Copper Designer Brads ($3.95)
Colonial White Cardstock (2 sheets) ($.98)
Workshop Guide ($1.00)

For the bonus project below, I didn’t want all the journaling so I used extra cardstock to make photo mats for each page.  You can see the brads that I used…I would recommend using the bare minimum for embellishments and keeping them flat.  These worked in the small amounts that I used but if I did it over again I would leave them off.  Also, I would complete all the pages before adhering them in the book.  And use Mod Podge or another strong adhesive.  I used my ATG gun and it is not holding the binding after the book has been used (open and closing).  I have to say it’s the first thing that my ATG adhesive hasn’t held.

Add these items to your order to create the workshop bonus project:
My Creations Board Book
Color-Ready Alphabets Cork

Go to yesterday’s post to see the layouts created with this Workshop Kit.

This kit is available thru January 31, 2012 and February 29, 2012 (while supplies last).

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Elemental Level 2 Paper Packet ($9.95)
My Acrylix^® Elemental Workshop ($13.95) (stamp set is exclusive to this workshop kit)
Just Blooms^® Flutter Paper Shapes ($5.95)
Antiqued Copper Designer Brads ($3.95)
Colonial White Cardstock (2 sheets) ($.98)
Workshop Guide ($1.00)

Here are my pages:

Come back tomorrow to see the bonus project that can also be made with the Elemental Workshop on the Go Kit.

This kit is available thru January 31, 2012 and February 29, 2012 (while supplies last).

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Supplies used are all Close to My Heart unless otherwise noted: My Creations Collage Cubes, Art Philosophy Cricut Cartridge by CTMH, Provocraft Cricut George Cartridge, Hot Diggity stamp set, Little Boys stamp set, Birthday Boy stamp set, Chairs to You stamp set, Daydream stamp set, Wonderland stamp set, Baby Impressions stamp set, Christmas Greetings stamp set, Harvest Happiness stamp set, Aspiration stamp set, Pair-a- Phrase stamp set, Fun Times stamp set, In the Wild stamp set, Life’s a Jungle stamp set, Ink (Smokey Plum, Cranberry, Baby Pink, Heavenly Blue, Outdoor Denim, Petal, Smoothie, Olive, Grey Flannel, Holiday Red, Sky, Brown Bag, Indian Corn Blue, Cotton Candy, Goldrush, Grey Wool, Topiary, Chocolate, Sorbet, Autumn Terricotta, Pear, Pacifica, Sunny Yellow, and Lagoon), White Daisy cardstock, Tulip cardstock, multiple colors of cardstock from my stash of scraps, Splendor Paper Packet, and Mod Podge by Plaid.

When I saw these fun blocks, I knew I wanted to make a set for my one-year-old.  It was just a matter of coming up with different things to put on it.  You can see from the pictures what I chose.  Other options would be….picture of baby and family/friends/pets….since there are (9×6) 54 sides you could use 26 for the letters of the alphabet, 0-9 for numbers, 9 for shapes, and 9 of anything else of your choice.  I am looking forward to doing another one of these with photos!

I started off by first sponging the all the cubes and the tray with Pacifica ink (yes, a very messy job!).  When I used the Mod Podge on the inked surface the color came off onto my brush.  I tried putting a coat of Mod Podge over everything before moving on.  It helped, but not completely.  I would recommend not using ink to sponge your blocks.  If I had it to do over again I would have left them white or used acrylic paint.  So, lesson learned and passed on to you.  Doing it over again, I also would not stamp all the images.  I like to Mod Podge overtop of projects like this and some of the ink smeared because I used dye-based inks.  You can see this on the turtle and the mittens.  So….I’d recommend using pigment inks or I’d use stickers or diecuts.

Decorating these cubes made me want to pull out a bunch of others that I have sitting around that I haven’t gotten to working with yet.  Now that I’ve learned some things the next set should be easier.  I’m going to put more of these on my to-do list for the new year.

Thanks for stopping.  Now, move on to Michelle’s Blog!

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Helen Onulak
Kathleen Androlewicz
Traci Godbee
Georgia Hauglid
Lori Brown
Sheila Bennett
Susan Brooks
Mary Eisen
Gina Brandstetter
Krista Hershberger
Jennifer Rubio
Jean McNulty
Elizabeth Mindemann
Teresa Scrivens
Diana Soling
Wendy Kessler   <--- You are here.
Michelle Loncar
Amy McVey
Angela Garcia
Wendy Coffman
Karen Fullam
Allisa Chilton
Nikka Geers
Angel Sawyer
Vicki Price
Rachel Ventura
Lalia Harris
Cecilia Marsh
Shirley Ross

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Beginning December 18, 2011 – January 31, 2012, when you place a minimum order of $25 from the Autumn/Winter 2011 Idea Book you can get two new products for just $15!  The My Creations Collage Cubes and the exclusive My Acrylix Rock Around the Block E-size stamp set.  That’s a retail savings of almost $30!  The My Creations Collage Cubes is a sneak peek from the 2012 Spring/Summer Idea Book.  The Rock Around the Block stamp set is an exclusive that will only be available for this promotion.  Both products work together for interactive, 3D fun!

Here’s a picture of the stamp set and scroll down for a video.

Come back on December 19 (just 2 days) for a blog hop featuring this great special!

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If you are looking for the TECHNIQUE Blog Hop, click here.

If you are looking for the SHARING FROM THE HEART Blog Hop, click here.

Coming soon – the Rock Around The Block Blog Hop – come back on December 19th!

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This blog hop is a circle so you can start wherever you want and continue through to see all the fabulous artwork incorporating this technique.  If you are coming from Tonya’s Blog, you are on the right track!

Supplies are all Close to My Heart:  Sophia Level 2 Paper Packet, Sophia Workshop Stamp Set, Stardust Glitter Glitz, Goldrush, Hollyhock, and Pear inks, and Mini-Medley Pear (Buttons).

Closeup:

First I just have to say that Glitter Glitz is one of my favorite products.  Close to My Heart currently has four different colors available – Stardust, Bronze, Silver, and Red.  It is so versatile and can be used to sparkle-up anything including stamped images, ribbon, flowers, buttons, and more.  You can also use it for doodling or accents.

Now to my layout…it is made from the Sophia Workshop on the Go Kit and I made it my own by adding some Stardust Glitter Glitz.  I love the fine-tipped applicator!  It makes it so easy to control for making thin or thick lines.  I added glitter to my stamped images, to the pattern paper, and along my scalloped border.  I also put some around the edges of my flower.  The middle of my flower is a pear-colored button.  I added the Glitter Glitz to the middle and around the edge.  Once that dried, I poked a tulip-colored brad through the button holes for extra detail.

Thanks for stopping by!  Please continue on to Melissa’s Blog where you will find some additional artwork highlighting this technique!  Be sure to leave a comment and let me know what you thought of my variation and happy hopping!

For a list of all the blog hop participants, go to the previous post.

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Debi
Michelle
Judy Faye (no post)
Shirley
Tonya
Wendy   <— You are here.
Melissa
Cherri
Rachel
Tabbi
Sheila
Tracey

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This blog hop is a circle so if you are just starting, continue until you make your way back here.  If you are coming from Carol’s Blog, you are on the right track!

Supplies used are all Close to My Heart: Splendor Paper Packet, Splendor My Stickease, Liquid Glass, Stardust Glitter Glitz, and Brads Metal Assortment.

My Stickease are a quick way to create a fabulous layout.  To add some extra pizzazz to my layout I added antique brads to the flower centers, Glitter Glitz to border my title, and Liquid Glass to the “brads” in the lower right corner.   This layout can be filed this under the “30 minutes or less” category!  I used the 8 1/2 x 11 horizontal Dec. 2011 Page Map as inspiration.

Here is a list of some things you can do with My Stickease:
apply baby powder to the back and use 3D foam tape to add dimension
add sparkles (rhinestones or gems)
add gems/pearls
add flowers
add buttons
use Liquid Glass
use Liquid Applique
use Glitter Glitz or glitter
add brads
add eyelets
add ribbon

Thanks for stopping by!  Your next stop is Haley’s Blog!

For a list of all the blog hop participants, go to the previous post.

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Wendy K.    <--- You are here.
Haley D.
Terry Metzger
Melinda Everitt
Jenifer B
Laurie Flannery
Luisa Morgan
Diana Soling
Carol Horton

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You can use the code local30 at checkout for an extra 30% off which brings it down to $21.

If you are new to Plum District, you will get a $5 credit.  With this and the above code you can get it for just $16!!

CLICK HERE to view this great deal!

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This month’s theme choices were: SOTM, Christmas card, and/or New Years.

I chose the Christmas card theme.  Since I have used up all of the paper from the current Believe Paper Packet, I pulled out an older one for this project.  I had scraps left from the Mistletoe Paper Packet and decided that I would make cards until it was gone.  Then I dug into my stash of Christmas embellishments to see what I could use up there.  It’s amazing how far scraps can go!

Supplies used: Close to My Heart Mistletoe Paper Packet, Holiday Time stickers by Walmart, Stampin’ Up! grosgrain ribbon, CTMH Twinkle Brads – Jolly, decorated slide mount from a swap, printed ribbon from my stash, Kaiser Pearls, Teresa Collins for Junkitz Holiday Tilez, and CTMH Cranberry Ink, and CTMH Colonial White Value Pack Cards & Envelopes.  Card inspiration from Page Maps.

All the cards:

Your next stop is Jody’s Blog.

If you get lost along the way, there is a list of all participants HERE.

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Supplies used: Papers by Close to My Heart, Daisy Hill Metal Accents, Making Memories Charmed Photo Corner, unknown alphabet stickers, Making Memories charms, CTMH hinge, CTMH brads, and Bazzill Ribbon.

The Scrap Our Stash Challenge this month is to do ANYTHING!  I learned that with the business of the holidays that is exactly what we should strive for, just get done whatever you can and consider it an accomplishment!  Go check it out and take the challenge for yourself.

It’s hard to believe that Miranda will be one year old soon.  She was the only child of ours who sucked her thumb and it was just so stickin’ cute!

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