Welcome back to the Use Your Stash Blog Hop.  This month we are focusing on Metal Embellishments.  I bet you have a lot of those sitting around just waiting to be used.  If you are just starting, you can just continue until you make your way back here.  If you have already started the hop, you should be coming from Rachel Ventura.

For both of these layouts I pulled out some OLD supplies!  The paper and My Stickease ares CTMH but I couldn’t tell you the name.  I used glitter brads on the first layout and silver metal brads on the second layout.  I really love using brads because they are so easy to incorporate.

Now hop on over to Joy McHargue to see what she has done with metal!

Here are a list of Participants:

• Joy McHargue
• Nikki Forte’ DeWitt
• Tabbi Fritz
• Janet McCormick
• Shirley Ross
• Judy Faye Garner
• Rachel Ventura
• Wendy Kessler

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Supplies used: CTMH Hooligans Paper Packet, Recollections Glitter Tape, American Crafts Elements Clear Mini Jewel Brads, Prima Black Rhinestones Flourish, and Making Memories Simply Stated Hand-Lettered Rub-on Words (Expressions).  I used a sketch from Sketch Savvy.

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Supplies used are all Close to My Heart unless noted: Clementine Paper Packet, Twilight Cardstock, Burlap Ribbon, Basic Brads (retired), and Michael’s Paper Flowers.

This was a layout I finished at the end of February. One of my goals for the month was to finish up the Clementine Paper Packet.  I’ve decided that I am going to continue with that as a monthly goal…to use up a paper pack (or at least to the point of a few scraps to go in my cardmaking scrap bag).

I used this sketch from Sketchabilities:

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For the (retired) Superhero Workshop on the Go Kit, the bonus project was party decorations.  They were really cute but I didn’t have a use for them.  So I used the pieces on these “cards”.  But they are not tradition cards that you open.  It is a standard card size but only the FUN-COOL-WISH parts open up for a saying.  I will most likely sign our names here as well or I could write something on the back.  Have you ever done something like this?  It’s a first for me.  The WISH one is by far my favorite.  I would have done them all like this but I was trying to be creative.  Not sure I will make anything like this again but it was a good way to use up some supplies that I had.

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Supplies used: Making Memories Printed Blossoms, unknown papers, and Jest Charming Burlap Ribbon.

I really dug deep in my stash for this one!  I found these blossoms to start my layout, then I found the tag (from a swap years ago! Thanks Kessie Glass!).  The tag gave me a focal point and added detail to the layout.  It’s pretty simple but not bad for one I was struggling with.  I like the burlap ribbon on this layout….not sure if/how I would have used it otherwise.  Now that it’s finished, the only thing I wish I had done differently is sprayed the blossoms with some glitter mist.

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Supplies used are all Close to My Heart: Superhero Workshop on the Go Kit (retired), Believe Paper Packet (retired), Black Baker’s Twine, Cranberry Grosgrain Ribbon (retired), Black ink, and Black Button Brads.  Mojo Monday #274

With the start of a new year, I decided to do some cleaning in my scrapbook room.  It’s really amazing what you can find sometimes!  I found these embellishments that I had made and hadn’t used yet.  Then I saw the Mojo Monday sketch and thought I would just use them up right away instead of stashing them away!  For that last card, I needed some more color than the scraps I was working with and couldn’t find (or don’t have any more) of the Superhero papers.  You will never guess where that tiny piece of Sky-colored star paper came from!….the Believe Christmas paper!!  I just love Close to My Heart’s double-sided paper for reasons like this.  It was just what I was looking for!

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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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Supplies used: DCWV paper, American Crafts Thickers Chipboard Alphabet Stickers, Baby Blue Stickles by Ranger, unknown brads.

This layout is for the September Challenge at Scrap Our Stash.  It’s Back To School but not the theme as it implies.  Instead, you choose your own B, T, and S.  For example, my challenge was B =Brads, T = Thickers, and S = Stickles.  I just love the colors of this layout!  And this DCWV paper is so easy to create a quick layout.  I use the Stickles to add some sparkle to the paper in the flower centers.  The brads are added to the flower centers on the middle right of the page, and I had to add a bit more Stickles to this area as well.  Last, the Thickers are used for the title.  I have such a hard time coming up with titles.  I found this one at The Perfect Title, my favorite place for ideas!  Here’s a closeup of the Stickles:

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Here’s another older layout that just needed pictures.  It’s from a Close to My Heart Workshop Kit, love these!

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D1386 Save the Date – English

This is a layout from an old paper stack that I had pick together years ago.  I’ve finally added pictures and today I was able to complete it with journaling and embellishments.  When I first see this Save the Date stamp set I think of calendars but it can also be used on layouts.  I used the word “summer” to add to my border by stamping it at the top and then twice more before re-inking.  I really don’t do much for journaling so this is a great stamp set to use to add a date to my layout.  I had to dig for the Karen Foster sparkle burst brads.  I knew I had a some left from a previous layout and knew they would be perfect, luckily I found them.

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Supplies used: Unknown papers, Karen Foster Sparkle Burst Brads, Basic Grey Bling It Rhinestones, and Plantin SchoolBook Cricut cartridge.

I really like the colors of this layout and the bling brads were a perfect match!  I wonder if I have another page that is similar to finish the pack of brads with…

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Welcome to the July 2012 Close to My Heart Spotlight Blog Hop!  This month we are spotlighting the different tools that can be used for distressing.

Distressing is a very popular scrapbooking technique.   Close to My Heart offers many tools to help you to create the effect you are looking for.

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 Lori Brown’s Blog, you are on the right track!

Supplies used are all Close to My Heart: Superhero Paper Packet, Happy Clusters stamp set, Moonstruck & Black ink, Edge Distresser, Sanding Kit, unknown black brad, and Black Hemp.

I am surprised to see this stamp set on the retired list already.  I’ve used many different distressing techniques on this card.  I used the edge distresser on the dark blue cardstock.  I embossed with my ScorePal on the light blue cardstock and used the Sanding Block to distress, bringing out the white core in the cardstock.  Then, using the stipple brush and black distressing ink, I added more to this piece, and finished it with the stamped image.  I used the Distressing Tool on the edges of the star too but did it lighter so they were not ‘roughed up’ as much.  I added stamped stars to the red paper by lightly tapping it on my ink pad so it wasn’t completely covered with ink for a more distressed look.

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

Here is a list of participants:

Wendy K.
Haley D.
Lori Brown

Here are some wonderful tools for distressing by Close to My Heart:

Z1294 – Sanding Kit - Use to sand your overall paper or just the edges.  This works great with our cardstock which all has a white core.

Z1296 – Distressing Inks - Includes one Black and one Chocolate.  These are wetter than a regular ink pad.

Z1297 – Edge Distresser - Great tool for roughing up the edges of papers.

Z1298 – Texture Tools - Set includes one foam brush, one sea sponge tool, one black stubble tool, and one stipple tool.  I love the flat bottom design of these brushes so they stand up between uses.

Z1039 – Create-a-Shade Pearl Paint - Can be mixed with reinker for any color.  Also works in the Spray Pens.

Z1380 – Spray Pen - Mix water and reinker for a spritzer.  You can also add Create-a-Shade Pearl Paint for some shine.

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(C1486 Lucy ) This set is sold exclusively as part of the Lucy Workshop on the Go.  I really love these workshops.  They come with all coordinating products (a paper packet, a C-size stamp set, and embellishments as well as an instruction booklet.  After you have used the workshop to is max, you will still have the stamp set forever to use on many more projects.

I just love the girly pink colors of this paper but I wanted to show you another look with the same stamp set.  I really liked this card from Jeanette Lynton’s blog and changed it up to make it my own.

Supplies used are all Close to My Heart unless noted: Lucy Workshop on the Go stamp set, Baker’s Twine, Art Philosophy Cricut Collection, Lagoon ink, Sunset ink, Liquid Glass, Dotty For You paper packet (June special), DCWV Baby Boy Jumbo Brads, and Creative Memories cutting system.

I had to get my Creative Memories cutting system out for this one.  It’s been forever since I’ve used it but it sure made it easy to create this window card.  I also forgot just how much Baker’s Twine comes on one card.  I’m going to have to use this more often.  I was going to add some sparkles to this card and was looking through my box of rhinestones and found a package of brads (not where they were supposed to be) that I liked better than my original plan.  I used Liquid Glass to attach the stamped butterfly to the twine so that it won’t come off but will still have movement.  I think this card will make a nice non-traditional baby card or a birthday card for a little one.

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C1440 Take a Picture

Supplies used are all CTMH unless noted: Take a Picture Stamp Set, Topstitch Paper Packet (retired), Heavenly Blue ink, Baby Pink ink, Chocolate ink, Cocoa Ribbon (retired), Basic Brads Assortment, Designer Pewter Brads, Brown Stazon ink,  and Petaloo Color Me Crazy Flowers.

I thought of this stamp set right away when I pulled out this picture!  It was the perfect match and lots of fun to use with many different options.  I used it for the title, journaling, corners, and embellishing.  My favorite part of this page is the stamping on the flower.  I used the small flourish in the set and it was the perfect touch to the plain flower.

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Supplies used: Unknown papers from my stash, Petaloo Flowers, CTMH Keepsake Alphabet, CTMH Cotton Candy ink, CTMH Cocoa ink, CTMH Twinkle Brads (retired).

I created the two-tone title by first inking the letter with Cotton Candy ink, then I used a sponge dauber to apply Cocoa ink to the bottom part of the letter, then stamped.

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Supplies used: Unknown paper from my stash, CTMH Flower Brads (retired), and Paper Studio Flocked Alphabet Stickers.

All of the layouts that I am posting this week were done at a scrapbook retreat last weekend.  Some I really like, some not so much…but all are finished pages!

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Supplies used: Splendor Paper Pack (retired), Splendor Stickease (retired), and Autumn Harvest Brads (retired).

I just love this layout!  Using a sketch from Cherish and coordinating papers and stickers made it come together perfectly.

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There are so many things you can do to alter paper.  Here are some ideas:

• if it is double-sided, flip it over and use the back.
• break it up into smaller pieces.  I don’t care for busy patterns but they are better in smaller doses.
• Stamp on it to add design or color
• use a sketch you love
• add embellishments that you love.
• emboss it (dry or wet)
• distress it by sanding or with ink
• add glitter or liquid glass

The thing that works best for me is to mix something I don’t like with something I really do like (sketch, color, embellishments, etc) to balance things out.

Here’s my before paper:

And here’s the layout that I came up with:

Supplies used: CTMH Paper Pack, CTMH Cotton Candy cardstock, CTMH Cotton Candy ink, CTMH So Blessed stamp set, CTMH Playful Flourishes stamp set, DCWV alphabet stickers, Versamark ink, CTMH brads, K & Company Grand Adhesions, and Heidi Grace Velvet Borders.

I did a few things to change the papers.  First, I randomly stamped the pink butterfly onto the patterned paper.  This added more color.  I always like pink and the original shades of color were too pale for my taste.  I also added a few pink brads to this paper.  The green striped paper I used the back side and stamped flourishes with Versamark ink which gave it the look of a watermark.  This is a great way to add a subtle pattern without overpowering your layout.  Another way to do this is to stamp tone-on-tone by using the same color ink as your paper.  You will get a similar effect.  The blue paper is not included in my before photo but it was polka dot in the same colors and again I used the back side.  I really don’t like using solids anymore so to add a bit to this paper I embossed it with my scoreboard.    Overall the layout still seems a bit plan to me but I think it’s the solid background that I chose so I’m just letting it be.

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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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