C1459 Stitched Together

Here’s another altered notebook.  Once again, I have specified it to the interests of this particular girl per my daughter’s request.  I used the Cricut Create-a-Critter cartridge (so super cute!), Close to My Heart papers (grey wool and grey flannel) and inks (black and grey flannel).  I used both the images and borders of the Stitched Together stamp set.  I’ve been doing a lot of tone-on-tone stamping for backgrounds lately!  The name is stamped with the new Urban Alphabet stamp set, which is becoming a favorite of mine.  It’s just the perfect size for so many things!

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Don’t for get about our sensational new Express Collections that make it even easier for you to save time and complete even more layouts!

Take me to Studio J^®

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If you are coming from Bethany’s Blog, you’re in the right place.  If this is your first stop, you can go to the beginning at Lucy’s blog.

Here’s my layout:

Supplies used are all Close to My Heart unless otherwise noted: Moonlight Paper Packet, Damask stamp set (retired), Smokey Plum ink, Opaque  Pearl Flourishes, Opaque Pearls, and Graphically Speaking Cricut cartridge.

I used a Becky Fleck sketch for this one.  Who would have thought that these were “Halloween” papers?!  I just love Close to My Heart’s double-sided B&T Duos Paper Packs!  The strip is cut from the top of the paper.  This is a great feature that they’ve added over the last year, in addition to the paper being a thicker, cardstock quality.  To overlap the pearl flourish from one page to the next, I first cut it on the transfer sheet, then applied each section, matching up the one on the second page with the one already attached on the first page.  The photo corners are stamped with the same damask stamp that is on the page.  I cut the squares in half to create the triangles for corners.

The next stop on your moonlight walk is Stephanie’s Blog.

Here is the list of all the talented consultants who will lead you down the moonlight path:

Lucy
Darla
Deanne
Bethany
Wendy
Stephanie
Erin
Maria
Carolyn
Joanne
Julia
Theodora

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On November 3 @ 6:00 – 9:00pm, we will be creating the Pear & Partridge Cardmaking Kit with a Mystery Hostess.  If you order for this kit or place an order of $29.95 or more, your name will go into a drawing for the hostess rewards earned on this order.  You need to order by Oct. 13 by contacting me or joining the correct gathering on my website to qualify and receive it by the scheduled workshop date.

The Pear & Partridge Cardmaking Kit includes:
My Reflections Clementine Paper Packet (X7156B)
My Acrylix Pear & Partridge Cardmaking Workshop Stamp Set (C-size) only available with this workshop
Pear & Partridge B&T Duos^® Papers (2 sheets)
Cardstock (4 sheets, various)
Colonial White Cards & Envelopes (15 each)
Red Glitter Gems (108 gems) only available with this workshop
Tan Twill Ribbon (5 yards) only available with this workshop
Instruction Brochure

Required Tools: (if you are attending, I will have these available for your use)
Z2114  Cocoa Exclusive Inks^® Pad  $5.25
Z2116  Cranberry Exclusive Inks^® Pad  $5.25
Z2137  Olive Exclusive Inks^® Pad  $5.25
Z697  Sponge  $1.25
Y1000  1″ × 1″ My Acrylix^® Block  $3.95
Y1002  1″ × 3 1/2″ My Acrylix^® Block  $5.95
Y1006  3″ × 3″ My Acrylix^® Block  $8.50

Not provided:

Z1151  3-D Foam Tape  $5.95
Z341 Memory Book Mini Glue Dots^®  $7.50

Coordinating products:
Z1326  Red, Pink, & Purple Assortment  $2.95
Z1204  Bone Folder  $4.95
Z1484  Red Glitz Glitter Gel  $2.75
X1410  Colonial White Cards & Envelopes Value Pack $14.95 (15 included in workshop)
Z1738  Colonial White Die-Cut Cards & Envelopes  $6.95
B1403  To You and Yours stamp set  $9.95
D1388  Card Chatter – Christmas stamp set  $17.95
D1492  Christmas Love stamp set  $17.95

Colors (for cardstock, inks, and markers):
Cashmere, Olive, Cranberry, Desert Sand, Colonial White

The Stamp of the Month is:
(September) Fall Favorites
(October) Very Merry Christmas
*The Stamp of the Month may vary depending on your purchase date.  If you order online, it will be the month in which you are purchasing.  If you order by contacting me, it will be (October) Very Merry Christmas.

The current Constant Campaign is:
(September) Celebrate your everyday moments with the My Acrylix^® It’s Your Day double stamp set. Get it for just $5 when you place a minimum order of $35 in full retail products from August 15 through September 30, 2012.
(October)  Buy 9 Studio J layouts, get the 10th one free.

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On November 9 @ 6:30 – 9:00pm, we will be creating the Pear & Partridge Scrapbooking Kit.  If you are in Club, this is the time to order.  You need to order by Oct. 5 by contacting me or joining the correct gathering on my website to receive it by the scheduled workshop date.

The Pear & Partridge Scrapbooking Kit includes:
My Reflections Pear & Partridge Paper Packet (X7162B)
My Acrylix Pear & Partridge Scrapbooking Workshop Stamp Set (C-size) only available with this workshop
2 – Colonial White Cardstock Sheets
Pear & Partridge Complements Glittery Rub-Ons (X7162C)
Sparkles Red, Pink, and Purple Assortment (Z1326)
Instruction Brochure

Additional Layout: (directions on my website)  Correction on cutting guide…red cardstock should be two 3 1/4″ x 4 1/8″ NOT 6 1/4″

Bonus Project: (directions on my website)

Add these items to your order to create the workshop bonus project:
Dimensional Elements Ornaments (Z1761)
Red Glitz Glitter Gel (Z1484)
Baker’s Twine Harvest Assortment (Z1751) 

Required Tools: (if you are attending, I will have these available for your use)
E1021  My Acrylix^® Trinity Alphabet  $29.95
Z2175  Cashmere Exclusive Inks^® Pad  $5.25
Z2116  Cranberry Exclusive Inks^® Pad  $5.25
Z2137  Olive Exclusive Inks^® Pad  $5.25
Z697  Sponge $1.25
Y1000  1″ × 1″ My Acrylix^® Block  $3.95
Y1002  1″ × 3 1/2″ My Acrylix^® Block  $5.95
Y1009  2″ × 3 1/2″ My Acrylix^® Block  $7.50
Y1010  2″ × 6 1/2″ My Acrylix^® Block  $9.95

Not provided: Z1151  3-D Foam Tape  $5.95

Coordinating products:
Z1743  Festive Velvet Rub-Ons  $4.95
Z1772  Dimensional Elements In Color – Holiday $5.95
Z2502  Enchantment Exclusive Inks Mini Pigment Pads Set  $19.95
C1510  Merry & Bright stamp set  $13.95
C1520  Christmas Joy stamp set  $13.95 

Colors (for cardstock, inks, and markers):
Cashmere, Olive, Cranberry, Desert Sand, Colonial White

The Stamp of the Month is:
(September) Fall Favorites
(October) Very Merry Christmas
*The Stamp of the Month may vary depending on your purchase date.  If you order online, it will be the month in which you are purchasing.  If you order by contacting me, it will be (October) Very Merry Christmas.

The current Constant Campaign is:
(September) Celebrate your everyday moments with the My Acrylix^® It’s Your Day double stamp set. Get it for just $5 when you place a minimum order of $35 in full retail products from August 15 through September 30, 2012.
(October)  Buy 9 Studio J layouts, get the 10th one free.

Here are my layouts:

One problem I have is that when I order my pics online they are not truly 4×6; they are a hair shorter.  This can be a problem when creating layouts that are measured out specifically for 4×6 photos.  Here is one solution (this also works if you haven’t lined things up straight or cut straight): I make a photo mat that overlaps all the imperfections as you can see with a couple of the photos in this layout.  I always have a ton of Christmas photos so I will be using 4×6 flip flaps to add the rest of the photos to my layout on both pages.  I was cutting the very last curly-q of that Christmas tree when I realized that I could have just cut the ends off and made them pointed.  So if cutting isn’t your thing that would make it easier to reshape the tree instead of cutting around to the inside of those tips.  I could not get the second generation stamp (on the Christmas tree) to show up so I just stamped it in the solid ink color and I think it’s better.  My last comment on this layout is that I really dislike those small stamp letters but I think they were worth the hassle for this one.  (only for the first page though!)

Not sure if this is an error or not….I would not have had enough red cardstock to cut mats for all the photos….but it seems that the mat for the larger one does not appear on the cutting guide.  If you want the red mats I would suggest more cardstock or just using some of the red patterned paper (you will have extra).  As far as my other changes…I rotated the first page to accommodate my picture.  I skipped the mats on the second page and used 4×6 photos.  I resized piece E to 7″ x 10″ instead of 5″ x 9″.  However, if you want to keep the journaling spot free you could fit two 4×6 photos within that area.  I just don’t  journal much on my layouts and I wanted to add a bit more color/pattern.  When cutting the Christmas tree fo this one, I did cut off the curly ends.  Something else that is on the layout that I didn’t notice instructions for is the small border strip.  This can be cut from the striped patterned paper.  I am so mad at myself.  I did not realize until I was completely finished with this layout and put the pages side by side that I mixed up the background paper with the tan that was meant for matting the photos!  I guess it’s not the end of the world.  Frustrating, but I a certainly not going to redo it.

Finally a note on the rubons.  Once again these are high-quality and easy to apply.  I did notice that if they have glitter you need to rub them a little more but they still turn out well.  I haven’t found many that so easily rub over layers of photos as you can see on my first page.  I even used the rubon underneath the top of the cutout tree and it is holding down the tip (tree was attached with 3D foam tape).  I added a few extra rubons and sparkles to my layout.  I cut the one rubon to transform it into a corner.

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NEW, NEW NEW!!  The recent enhancements to Studio J® make it a whole new tool for you. It is now faster and easier than ever to get professional results from your digital scrapbooking using the new Express Collections. Go to Studio J and try them out for yourself!

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Supplies used: Composition notebook, Cricut Create-a-Critter cartridge, CTMH Cricut Art Philosophy cartridge, CTMH Gypsy cardstock, CTMH Grey Wool cardstock (retired), CTMH Grey Flannel cardstock (retired), CTMH Baby Pink cardstock (retired), CTMH Circle Around stamp set (retired), and unknown rhinestones from my stash.

My daughter had THREE birthday invitations this week!  This means that this is one of a few altered notebooks that I will be making.  I’m sure glad I dug through the clearance a couple weeks ago and picked up some extras.  Back-to-school time is when I usually stock up.  I’d be even smarter if I made them ahead of time but we usually make them specific to a what the birthday girl likes.

The Create-a-Critter cartridge has some super cute animals on it but I have to admit it makes me frustrated because I am so used to the Close to My Heart cartridges with marked keypads in the booklet, so much easier to find the images!

I’ve been doing a fair share of random stamping lately.  I really have a hard time settling with plain paper anymore.  I stamped the purple cardstock wtih the same color ink for a tone-on-tone look that adds a fun pattern.

My tips for random stamping:
1. choose 3 stamps (one large, one medium, one small)
2. start with the largest stamp, stamping in a somewhat triangular pattern
3. fill in with the medium and then the small stamp

Important key: Make sure when you stamp that you have a scrap paper underneath and stamp over the edge of your paper.  This will make it look like real patterned paper. And try not to think about it, it’s supposed to be random!

Here’s the back:

I usually do the back in the same main patterned paper as the front or if I only have one sheet of that paper then I will choose a coordinating color of cardstock.

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We want to go to Walt Disney World this year for a vacation.

I make birthday and anniversary cards for my family and try to send them out at the beginning of each month.  I also make calendars as Christmas gifts.  Here is my checklist for these things as well as some other things I would like to get done like backup my photos.

Oh blah, cleaning…it looks so simple on paper, sure takes me a lot more time than looking at it!

Once-a-year and twice-a-year cleaning checklists.  These won’t be so bad because they don’t need to be done as often but makes me feel good when I do them.

This is where I will keep new recipes that I have tried throughout the year that are keepers.

Recipes I want to try.  Obviously need to come up with some but I have to wait to fill this out or I will want to do them right away.

A place for more new recipes with a focus on quick and easy meals.  With so many activities for the kids are evenings can get quite chaotic.

This page I’ve left as is to add motivational quotes and notes to self throughout the year.

Back inside cover.  This is a pocket where I plan to store printed recipes that I want to try.  Note that there is a place for the marker/glue pen that comes with the book.  This will be great to have with it at all times because it will get used a lot throughout the year.  I did a lot of writing in this book and pen has lasted well.  I love the fine tip and how smooth it writes!

This concludes the showing of my SMASHBOOK.  I hope you have enjoyed it.  Once again I want to send a big shout out and thank you to Crafter Mania and EK Success for this awesome kit!  I can’t wait to start using my completed book!  If you are just tuning in, you can see the other parts of this by scrolling down or going to the following posts:
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3

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Update 1/29/13: I am disappointed that Crafter Mania decided to not use my book as planned and never informed me.  I spent many hours on this project and was not reimbursed as per our agreement.  I was also looking forward to using my smashbook this year and still have not received it back as promised.  I will not do business with them again and do not recommend them.

Update 2/15/13: Received my smashbook.

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Ways to be more active.

My weight loss goals and motivation.

Motivational quotes with room for more.

To be completed when I reach my weight loss goal (yeah for me!)

Gotta love this one, my honey-do list.

Healthy, low-point snacks I like.

Motivational quotes with a little room for more.

This starts the family section with things to do as a couple.  This paper so reminds me of doodling in school (not that I wasn’t paying attention!).

I have my older girls (ages 13 & 11) each a page to do.  Christine’s “take driver’s ed” scares me!

Of course, my toddler needed her own page too!

Games are very popular at our house.  I love board games and think they are a great way to spend time as a family.

More family-time ideas, need to come up with more.

Come back for the final of my book.  If you missed some of it, you can scroll down for Part 1 and Part 2.

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Scrapbooking embellishments that I tend to hoard and creative ways to use some of them up.  I love the little clips like the one I have on the top of this page.  I used them to mark the pages that I will be referring back to often throughout the year.

Ideas out of my (former, so sad) favorite scrapbook magazine Scrapbooks, Etc.  Room to add a few more things here.

Goals and ideas for right here at My Scrapbooking Blog.  The funky paperclip is another item I used to mark pages.

More ideas from magazine clippings.  The clear/decorative ziplock baggies are great for so many things!

Things I’d like to get done around the house.  I will admit this page is the least likely out of the entire book to get done but I’ve got a whole year.

Quotes I want to use on my scrapbook pages.  With three girls a lot of them are sister quotes.

Motivational quotes.

Scrapbook Titles I want to use.

More creative things to make.

Cool ideas I like or want to try.

More cool ideas I like or want to try.

Come back to see more!  In case you missed it, you can scroll down for Part 1.

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Update 2/15/13: Received my smashbook.

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I want to give a big shout out and thank you to Crafter Mania and EK Success for sending me this package to try out.  Its a SMASHBOOK and a bunch of coordinating embellishments that go great together.

Some pretty awesome stuff, huh!?!

I had a lot of fun with this book.  I used it to create a motivational To-Do 2013 Book.  It contains ideas and goals for my scrapbooking, weight loss, family, and home life.  I will be using the stamper to date things as they are completed throughout the year.  There are SO many pages in this book and so many things that you can do with it!  I think I will get another one and just SMASH in all the stuff that I have in one of my file drawers….ticket stubs, kid’s programs, etc. that didn’t make it in my scrapbooks or that I don’t have pictures for.  It will be a great way to get it done.

I will share the entire book with you but I’m going to break it down into multiple posts because it is so awesomely huge!  I will also say that this is the first Christmas gift I have done this year and it is a gift to myself!  How awesome is that!

Here we go!  Part 1 – Scrapbooking & Me Time.

I’ll start with the front cover which has a beautiful embossed design.  Of course, I had to personalize mine a bit by adding some color and bling.  I used colored pencils and Stickles.  You could use anything you have on hand in your stash (markers, glitter glue, rhinestones, etc.)

Before:

After:

This is the inside cover.  It’s pretty bare now and I like it that way but may add more to it throughout the year.

A cool first page and I’ve left it as is (unless you can notice where my toddler got a hold of my pen)

My reason for creating the book and motivational quotes.  My favorite is: “Either you run the day or the day runs you.”  (Jim Bohm) This is so true!

Some of my scrapbooking goals (room for more)

Scrapbooking and craft projects (I am always adding to this list)

Ways I like to spend time relaxing.

Quotes on making time for me.

Motivational quotes.

Be sure to come back and see the rest of my book over the next couple days.

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D1476 Card Chatter – Sympathy

Supplies used are all Close to My Heart: Card Chatter – Sympathy stamp set, Grey Wool ink (retired), Avonlea Paper Packet.

I am very pleased with how this card turned out, especially since I was having trouble getting creative today and then Miranda woke up early so it’s luck that this is making it up today.  I used the small flower to create the border, definitely going to do that again!  I had a hard time not adding glitter or sparkles to those flowers but I thought it was best to leave it simple.  I used this Clean & Simple card sketch.

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Use Close to My Heart’s online scrapbooking software, Studio J®, to create a beautiful layout in just minutes by watching this month’s Love Your Layout video. You’ll learn creative techniques, including how to create a journaling box with a photo background. Watch the video here and then log in to Studio J to try it yourself!

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Welcome to our September ARTISTE Blog Hop!  Each month we are showcasing the amazing, exclusive ARTISTE Cricut cartridge which can be purchased on my Close to My Heart website.

We don’t want to scare you but Halloween is a little over a month away and we know you have to be thinking about what YOU are going to create for this spooky holiday! We decided to show you all the creative projects you can make using our exclusive Artiste Cricut cartridge. You will be hopping along our haunted trail of creativity – you never know what you will see next!

If you are coming from Julia Hammond – You Can Create, you are on the right track.  If this is your first stop, you can go to the beginning at Lucy’s blog.

Also, to help you get ready to start making your own Halloween projects Lucy has some blog candy for you! She is giving away a Moonlight Complements Dimensional Elements pack!  That’s two (2) sheets of Printed Dimensional Elements that you can use to create your own Halloween project! There is a picture of the blog candy on her blog. All you have to do to be eligible to win is to leave a comment on everyone’s blog AND become a follower of Lucy’s blog.  (If you are already a follower, just let her know in your comment.)

Here’s my project:

Supplies used are all Close to My Heart: Spellbound Papers and stamp set, Artiste Cricut Cartridge, and Black Tulle Ribbon.

I don’t have much for Halloween pages and the ones I do are not usually in the traditional orange and black holiday colors so I have made another treat bag.  I used the 3D object on page 33 of the instruction booklet.  You can go to this post to see a Halloween pillow box I made that will also be great for treats.

The next stop on the haunted trail is Pam Stewart - I Candy Scraps.

Here’s the entire blog hop lineup in case you get spooked along the way:

• Lucy – Love 2 Create
• Darla - Caution Crafting is Contagious
• Diana - Dianas Free Moments
• Carolyn – Nuts 4 Scrappin’
• Julia Hammond – You Can Create
• Wendy Kessler – My Scrapbooking Blog   <—You are here.
• Pam Stewart – I Candy Scraps
• Carolyn Mendoza – Crafting With Carolyn
• Jennifer Kramer - 4 Hearts Scrapbooking
• Maria Woodworth - Maria’s Paper Craft Place
• Kindred Hearts – It Makes TOTAL Cents
• Ginger Morriello – Ginger’s Creative Cottage 

Thanks for stopping by for some Halloween fun — hope we didn’t scare the creativity out of you! Muah-ha-ha!

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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 Rachel Ventura’s Blog.  If this is your first stop, continue through until you make your way back here.  This month we are using embossing powders.  Embossing is a technique that I don’t use as often as I should.  It is so pretty.

Supplies used are all Close to My Heart: Adore stamp set, Cotton Candy pigment ink, Clear Embossing Powder, Sweetheart Paper Packet (retired), Grey Wool cardstock (retired), Unity stamp set (retired), and Black & Grey Sparkles Assortment.

Overall, I am not a big fan of pigment inks, however they are the go-to when it comes to embossing.  If you are new to stamping, I consider this a more advanced technique.  If you start out with pigment inks and embossing you may very easily be disappointed in the results.  I do love the look of embossing though, and should really do it more often.  It just takes a bit of practice.

I don’t know if it is the difference in ink or the added embossing but I was surprised at the difference in color I ended up with.  I like the brightness of the Cotton Candy color but the pigment was much softer, closer to Blush.  Here is the dye ink and then my embossed pigment of the same Cotton Candy side by side:

Now hop on over to Judy Faye Garner’s Blog for more ideas on using up your stash.

Here is a list of participants:

1. Shirley Ross
2. Joy McHargue
3. Rachel Ventura
4. Wendy Kessler
5. Judy Faye Garner
6. Tabbi Fritz

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D1195 The Works Alphabet $17.95

Supplies used: CTMH The Works Alphabet stamp set, Die Cuts With a View papers, CTMH Pacifica ink, Making Memories felt flowers, and American Crafts Elements Medium Glitter Brads.

This is a great size alphabet set for longer titles, subtitles, or when you only have a small space on your page.  I also love that it includes uppercase, lowercase, numbers and punctuation for just $17.95.

I have to admit that I started the title on this layout straight and for some reason couldn’t see the letter “o” correctly.  So I’m sharing a secret with you…even though the clear stamps are AWESOME for lining up exactly where you want them, sometimes that doesn’t work or we are plain lazy.  I love to move my letters around so they are intentionally not straight.  That way there is no messing up and look how cute and playful it looks on this layout!  It is also a good option if your title is a tight fit on the page because you can arrange the letters to take up less room.  Note that I stamped on textured cardstock and it stamped very clear, just make sure your ink pad is not dry so you get the good coverage.

This was actually a 4-page layout.  This is something I will do when I have a lot of pictures for a particular event.  I will scrapbook them in the same papers/embellishments so they are easily recognized as one event.  Here are the other pages:

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Z1708 Sparkles Flourishes $4.95
3 assorted flourishes, clear, 3½” – 6″.

Z1745 Sparkles Black Flourishes $4.95
3 assorted flourishes, 3″ – 6″.

Z1744 Opaques Pearl Flourishes $4.95
3 assorted flourishes, 4″ – 6″.

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This is a very simple layout that I’ve had from way back when.  The doghouse is Jolee’s, the paper is old Close to My Heart, and the alphabet stickers are unknown from the bottom of my stash!

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Visit my website to check out all the different acrylic stamp sets that Close to My Heart has available.

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