The Close to My Heart April Stamp of the Month is You Are…   This versatile set can be used for any project!  Spend $50 and get this stamp set for just $5!  Available April 1-30, 2012.

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If you are a regular Studio J user, you may have noticed some recent improvements.  The most exciting changes give you the ability to:

• Move, crop, resize, and rotate the pre-placed toggle accents
• Send backward and bring forward using new buttons on the toolbar
• Select multiple items and send backward or bring forward as a group
• Add distressing directly to photos

These new improvements make the Studio J creative process even easier and quicker than it was before.  Log in to Studio J to try out the new functionality!

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I think this is my final quick layout and I’m going to have to do a bit more work on future projects.  The picture is of my daughters with their American Girl dolls after they put on a fashion show.  The paper is from the same stack I’ve been using lately with a Michael’s rhinestone flourish, stash ribbon, a bigger brad (Basic Grey?), Studio 18 rhinestones, and Technique Tuesday Technique Tiles Scalloped Baseboards added for embellishing.  Notice that I used a cutting knife to cut the details surrounding the photo mat and tucked my photo underneath.

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Here’s another layout I pulled out that just needed photos added.  Who knows why it has taken so long because I love the paper.  It’s from an old CTMH Workshop Kit.  Instead of a circle photo on the first page in the flower, I rounded the corner of all my photos and added the date in the space of the flower.

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I pulled this out of my almost-finished layouts pile and added the Kaiser rhinestone title and the Best Occasions rhinestones in the corner.

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Here is another layout using that K & Company (I think) paper stack.  Simple with just the added Kaiser Rhinestone title and American Crafts glitter brads.

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B1402 My Peeps

Supplies used are CTMH unless otherwise noted: Lucy Paper Packet, My Peeps stamp set, Sweet Leaf Stitched Grosgrain Ribbon, Sky/Outdoor Denim/Petal inks, Sweet Leaf/Cotton Candy/Sky/Petal/Creme Brulee Markers, and Kaiser Pearls.

I started with a sketch from Magic.  It was a fun one because of all the pictures that I was able to add.  I have a few more so I will be adding flip flaps over the bottom left photo.  This is a great stamp set for Easter.  I used all of the images.  The eggs were fun to color and added a lot of color to the layout.  This set also works great with the adhesive springs for an added playful element.  I didn’t use them on this layout but I have used them on a milk carton that I’m almost finished with and will share soon.

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I am pretty sure this paper was from a K & Company stack.  I just love the bright colors and how easy it is to use for a quick and simply layout.  I just added my picture, a CTMH Sparkle Flourish, and Kaiser Rhinestones.  Done!

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Watch this month’s Love Your Layout video for instructions that will show you a cleaver way to and your title and also play with the stitching tool.

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This layout was created for the Use it or Lose it Challenge.  The challenge this time is Paper Piecing.  I used to do paper piecing all the time.  It’s a lot easier now that we have the Cricut but I still just haven’t used this technique much.  It is a bit time consuming but always worth it in the end.

For my layout I pieced together some stamped images as you can see in the closeup picture above.  My base was created using an image from the Life’s Creation stamp set (retired).  I stamped and cut out the image 3 times and placed them in a circle.  My next layer is a flower from the Sweet Home Workshop-On-The-Go stamp set (retired) and the top flower is from Life’s Creation.  Paper piecings look even more amazing if you add some type of embellishment to them like I did with the Opaque Pearls.

Supplies used are all CTMH unless otherwise noted: paper, Life’s Creation stamp set (retired), Sweet Home stamp set (retired), Colonial White Ribbon, Opaques Pearl Adhesive Gems, Irresistibles Eclectic Chipboard Die-Cuts Alphabet, Chocolate/Juniper/Tulip/Sunset inks, and Zig marker.

The layout was one I received in a swap at convention a couple years ago, created by Anna Peterson.  I added the title, journaling, and stamped embellishments.

To join in on this challenge visit Use it or Lose it Challenge.

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WELCOME!  I’m so glad you are joining us for our “Use Your Stash Blog Hop”.  If you have already started, you should be coming from Judy Faye Garner’s Blog.  If this is your first stop, continue through until you make your way back here.

This month we are all using Dimensional Elements (chipboard).

Supplies used are all CTMH unless otherwise stated: Florentine Paper Packet, Family Love stamp set, Timeless Charms, Art Philosophy Cricut cartridge, Dimensional Elements Mixed Shapes, Cocoa Collection Ribbon(retired), Opaques Pearl Adhesive Gems, Olive and Chocolate inks, and Zig marker.  Sept. 2011 Page Map.

Well, I’m struggling with my mojo today so I wasn’t very creative when it came to using chipboard.  The only piece I used was the piece for the title.  I have to say that I do love how these dimensional element (chipboard) pieces coordinate with our Art Philosophy cartridge.  I just cut the shape I need (in the size indicated on the dimensional element packaging) and it fits perfectly.  This makes it super easy to add paper to the top of the chipboard.

The Family Love stamp set is a new one for me and you will be seeing more of it.  It is great for those family pages and has some nice decor images too like the one in the corner of my page.  I first inked my stamp in Olive, then I used a sponge dauber to add Chocolate ink to the center.  It was a simple way to add multiple colors to the stamped image.

Now hop on over to Shirley Ross’ Blog for more ideas on using up your stash.

If you get lost along the way you can see the entire list of hoppers on my previous post.

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Rachel Ventura
Joy McHargue
Michelle Gauci Battitori
Bethany Harlan
Terry Morrow
Michelle West
Judy Faye Garner
Wendy Kessler   <—You are here.
Shirley Ross
Debi Barber
Tonya Whitehurst
Tabbi Fritz

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to this:

Here is my solution:

I got this spice rack from my mom.  I wanted one for my scrapbook room for embellishments but I wasn’t exactly sure how I would use it.  This was the perfect idea!  I have eliminated all the excess packaging and it will be much easier to find what I need to add flair to my projects.  My plan was to decorate the jars so they were pretty in my room but for now the labels are more practical.  I’m feeling more like organizing than creative today.  Maybe I’ll decorate them another day.

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S1203 Potential Stamp Set (March 2012 Stamp of the Month)

My card:

Pin It

Supplies used: CTMH Potential stamp set, CTMH Grace Paper Packet (retired), CTMH 1/4″ Colonial White Crocheted Ribbon (retired), Gin-X Coasters, CTMH Antiqued Copper Designer Brads, and CTMH Cocoa and Garnet ink.

I am very tired tonight so I ended up with this simple card using the current stamp of the month.  It would work for just about anything….sympathy, thank you, masculine birthday, etc.  I lined up four rows of the ribbon for a wider appearance.

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ALERT: As previously mentioned, the CTMH How-To Books will be retiring and are on a while supplies last status. If you want these books, now is the time to buy – do not wait!  Currently, Reflections is out-of-stock, Originals will be unavailable soon and the remaining How-To Books are quickly approaching run-out levels.  You can order these today from my website.

For cardmaking:Originals was the first card book and has a lot of traditional size card ideas and includes a template CD.

Wishes is the newest card book with more circle and square card ideas, card workshops, and also includes a template CD.

For scrapbooking:

I find myself using Cherish the most out of all the books.  I think it’s because I do a lot of 3-photo layouts.

Imagine is a great way to combine papers.  There is a lot of cutting involved but it leads to beautiful, detailed pages.

Magic is the most recent How-To book released.  It offers ideas on creating interactive pages but can also be used the same as the other books without the interactive element.  Includes a DVD.

I really can’t say enough about these How-To Books.  They are all amazing!  If you have to choose, hopefully I have shown you the differences between them to find the right fit for you.  I really can’t stress enough that if you want them, order now because they will all be gone soon!  They really are that wonderful!

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Welcome to our Technique Blog Hop!  This month we are highlighting the B&T Duos Designs as Embellishments  Technique as shown on page 21 in the Spring/Summer 2012 Idea Book!  Cut portions of your B&T paper and use as embellishments on your project.  This is something I love to do!

This blog hop is a great big circle so you can start wherever you want and continue through to see all the fabulous artwork incorporating this technique.  So if you are starting here, just continue until you make your way back.  If you have already started, you should be coming from Joy’s Blog.  If you get lost along the way, go to my previous post for a list of all participants.

Supplies used: Florentine Paper Packet, Opaques Mocha Adhesive Gems, 3-D Foam Tape, Bronze Glitter Glitz, and Graphically Speaking Cricut cartridge.

I used this March 2012 Page Map sketch:

This is one of my favorite techniques!  There are so many beautiful papers and turning them into even more beautiful embellishments to accent your page is so much fun.  I cut all the flowers, large and small, from two different Florentine papers.  A trick to cutting is to be sure to use a good scissors and when cutting move your paper (not the scissors) especially when cutting circles or curves.  I embellished my cutouts with glitter glitz and added pearls.  I used the 3D foam tape to add some pop to my page.  You can see the details in the first picture at the top of this post.  There are so many other things that you can do…you can cut borders, add Liquid Glass, Sparkles. buttons, brads, the list is endless!

We would love to see what you’ve created using this month’s technique, please visit Technically Terrific where you can share your project and be entered in a chance to win great prizes.

Thanks for stopping by!  Please continue onto Tracey’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!

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Visit Technically Terrific to join in this challenge!

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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 Adeline’s Blog, you are on the right track!

Supplies used: My Creations Milk Carton, Florentine Paper Packet, Colonial White cardstock, Pansy Purple ink, Embrace Life stamp set, Pansy Purple marker, and Cocoa ink.

There are so many My Creations projects that I want to do that it was so hard to pick!  Then, I thought I should make these cute little milk cartons and fill them with candy for Easter.  (Now Christine I know you are going to read this so you have to act surprised!)  The My Creations Milk Cartons come two in a pack and they come with the clip for the top.  They are white but I inked my with Cocoa ink.  I started my paper in a corner and just wrapped it around the carton.  Be sure to keep it tight and a 12″ strip will fit perfectly.  This will make a cute little gift and it didn’t take much time.  I wanted this to last past the Easter season but it would also be really cute using the My Peeps stamp set too.

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

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

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