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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Welcome to our May Art Philosophy/Artiste Blog Hop!   As you know, both the Artiste and the Art Philosophy cartridges are available exclusively through a Close to My Heart consultant.  If you don’t already have a Consultant that you are currently working with, please contact one the Consultants in our hop with any questions you have!

If you have just hopped onto my blog, please start at the beginning at Lucy’s blog – Love 2 Create.   If you came from Theodora ~ Celebrate Crafts then you are in the right place!

Our challenge this month features not only one of these amazing cartridges but we also have a Wedding  theme.  There are so many weddings this time of year!  Do you have any weddings coming up?

Supplies used are all Close to My Heart: For Always Paper Packet, Art Philosophy Cricut cartridge, Artiste Cricut cartridge, For Always My Stickease Assortment, Sparkles Clear Assortment, and Bitty Sparkles.

Your next stop on our “Happily Ever After” hop is Michelle ~ My Flights of Fancy.

Here is the complete lineup in case you get lost along the way:

1. Lucy ~ Love 2 Create
2. Theodora ~ Celebrate Crafts
3. Wendy ~ My Scrapbooking Blog
4. Michelle ~ My Flights of Fancy
5. Jennifer ~ 4 Hearts Scrapbooking
6.  Michelle ~ My Creations with Michelle
7. Traci ~ Paper Crafting 101

Thanks for hopping along with us – we hope we were able to inspire you in creating your own wedding themed projects!

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The May Challenge at Scrap Our Stash is a Patterned Paper Party!  Create a layout using THREE or more patterned papers from DIFFERENT collections.

Here is my layout:

Supplies used: EK Success Overton House Designs paper, Heidi Grace Designs paper, unknown stack paper, Making Memories Simply Stated Heidi Large White Alphabet Rubons, Stickabilities Alphabet Stickers, Prima Flowers, Michael’s rhinestones, and ribbon.  Sketch from Imagine by Close to My Heart.

At first I thought it was going to be difficult to mix patterned papers because I have switched to buying packs because they are so much easier to coordinate.  But what do you know…I have some really old paper!  This challenge was a good thing because these papers would normally be my last resort.  So single sheets here I come and this is what I came up with.  The best way for me to mix pattern papers is to choose one multi-colored paper as a starting point, then find mono-toned or less busy papers to go with it.  You can see this from my layout.  I have the striped paper and polka dot papers (mostly covered) as my busy, multi-colored sheets.  Then I added the pink flowered sheet, brown flowered sheet, green polka dots, and pink/green flowered sheet.  I have a large supply of Making Memories alphabet rubons making those the first that came to mind.  Even though I have a large stash, I do use them often.  They are good quality and make a quick way to add a title, similar to alphabet stickers but with more letters to use.

Now I will share the funny part of doing this layout.  I was as far as the pictures on the paper, just had to add a title and embellishments, when I realized that these are Christmas pictures – not birthday.  I certainly wasn’t going to start over at that point.  I decided that I did use pink and green so that’s close enough to Christmas colors.  I was just focused on how well the paper matched her outfit and I guess that’s what happens when your child has a birthday so close to Christmas.

What will you create? Go to Scrap Our Stash to submit your own layout.  You have until May 29th.

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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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Here’s my layout:

Supplies used: Close to My Heart Buzz & Bumble Paper Packet, Close to My Heart Color-Ready Cork Alphabet, Making Memories buttons and flowers, and other Close to My Heart misc. retired embellishments.

I had a little trouble with the circle on this one.  I used the outside of a bowl to place the buttons but next time I will draw a line with pencil and then place the buttons.  Because of the different sizes, they didn’t line up as nice as I wanted them to.  This is a very different layout for me because of the colors but they worked well with the photos and I’ve almost used up this paper packet now.

There is still time to submit your layout at Scrap Our Stash.  You have until April 29th.

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Supplies used are all Close to My Heart: Sophia Paper Packet (retired), Sophia My Stickease (retired), Clear Sparkle Flourishes, Sweet Leaf Ribbon (retired), Green Glitter Glitz, and Stardust Glitter Glitz.

The Sophia Paper Pack was one of my favorites.  I still had some left along with the coordinating Stickease so I decided to use them for this challenge.  These are both retired but I also added in some current product.  The most common things I do with My Stickease is add 3D Foam Tape to add dimension, and add more embellishing to them in some way.  You could use brads, ribbon, sparkles, or my recent favorite – Glitter Glitz.  On my layout, I used Sweet Leaf Ribbon (retired), Sparkle Flourishes, and Stardust Glitter Glitz.  I also used Green Glitter Glitz to add some color and sparkle to the scalloped paper at the top of the page.  One more secret was the placement of the Stickease “buttons”… the scallop was a scrap that I had with my papers and it was a tad bit shorter than what I need for the page.  I used these button stickers to fill the gap!

Here’s a closeup:

Your next stop is Shirley’s Blog!

List of Participants:

1. Stephanie Chumbley

2. Wendy K.

3. Shirley

4. Tabbi Fritz

5. Melinda Everitt

6. Judy Faye Garner

7. Joy McHargue 

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Here is my layout:

Supplies used: CTMH Life Delights paper (retired), DCWV Alphabet Stickers, 7 Gypsies Pink Posy Velvet Flowers, CTMH Opaques Pearl Flourishes, Hero Arts Pearls, K & Company Life’s Journey Clearly Yours Alphabet, and CTMH Dark Chocolate Striped Ribbon.

I wasn’t sure about the letters on this layout at first.  I left it and came back the next day.  Funny thing is that I liked it right away.  I dug deep in my stash for most everything on this layout.

There is still time to submit your layout at Scrap Our Stash.  You have until March 29th.

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This hop makes a circle so you can start and end where you like.  If you have already started,  you should be coming from Janet McCormick’s Blog.

There has been a lot going on at our house lately and I haven’t had much time to scrap.  This is a project that has been sitting on my desk for a long time and I am happy to have it done.

Old: Parlor Velvet Rubons, My Creations Recipe/Photo Box, Art Philosophy Cricut cartridge, and Grey Wool cardstock.
New: Avonlea Paper Packet, My Creations Recipe/Photo Box, Cricut Craft Room, and Black/Grey Sparkles.

These My Creations Recipe/Photo Boxes now hold our 2012 vacation photos.  We took a lot of pictures that I wanted to print but I didn’t want an entire album of pages.
I consider the My Creations Recipe/Photo Box both old and new because I have had one for a very long time. They are still available and I ordered a second one when I got my pictures and realized there were more than I thought.  The Art Philosophy Cricut cartridge is also still available but I have used it so much I consider it and oldie.  I used Cricut Craft Room to create the tabbed index cards.  These separate the different places we went and I plan to journal on the front of each card.

Here’s what the tabbed cards on the inside look like:

Joy McHargue’s Blog is your next stop!

List of participants:

1. Shirley Ross
2. Judy Faye Garner
3. Cherri Hardcastle
4. Janet McCormick
5. Wendy Kessler
6. Joy McHargue
7. Rachel Ventura

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There is new ownership over at Scrap Our Stash.  Come see the changes and check out the new challenges!  Our first one is Kraft It Up.  Create a layout using 50% kraft (paper, embellishments, etc.)  The stash buster is metal.  Use at least 3 pieces of metal embellishments (eyelets, brads, gears, hinges, etc.) on your layout.

Here’s my layout:

Supplies used: Close to My Heart Kraft Paper, unknown pattern paper from my stash (it’s from a stack), Close to My Heart Artiste Cricut cartridge, Creative Memories Circle Cutter, mulberry paper from stash, Making Memories Charmed Photo Corners, Making Memories Metal Flowers, Making Memories Metal Word, and Close to My Heart Milepost Shapes (retired).

First of all I have to say that I recently bought some Kraft paper because I see it everywhere and honestly…I hate it.  So this was a true challenge for me!  In an attempt to use up some of my kraft paper, I used it as the background of my layout.  The decorative circle is cut from the Artiste cartridge (p.60 – Accent 4 – Shift – Fit to Page).  I took the scraps from the inside of this circle image and flipped them around (double-sided paper) and used them to create the flower.  I added another circle of mulberry paper that was buried deep in my stash.  Do you remember this stuff?  I even used my Creative Memories circle cutter.  The shapes in the corners of the layout are layered metal pieces, 2 photo corners topped with the flower.

Now head over to Scrap Our Stash and submit your own layout.  You have until March 29th.

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Supplies used: Scrappin’ Sports & More paper, CTMH Slate Polka-Dot Washi Tape, CTMH Game On stamp set, CTMH Adhesive Spring, and Scrappin’ Sports & More Rub-ons.

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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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Supplies used: Flaire Designs All Star Collection Paper, Scrappin’ Sports & More Volleyball Rubon-Ons, CTMH Button – Black Assortment, CTMH Slate Polka-Dot Washi Tape,  CTMH Game On stamp set, CTMH Whisper cardstock, and CTMH Slate ink.
Challenge: Scrapbook.com – Page Maps Sketch Challenge

I used this sketch from Sketch Support:

What started out as a dreaded layout turned into a happy ending.  I think the sketch was what did it for me.  It is very hard to get good sports (action) photos and the smaller photos suggested on this sketch made me “zoom in” on the action and really focus on my daughter.  I have to say that this is my first use of Washi Tape and OMG I am in love – very cool stuff!  I have to also say that these rubons are wonderful…you will be seeing them in the near future as I finish a couple more volleyball layouts.

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Supplies are all CTMH unless otherwise noted: Clementine Paper Packet, Color-Ready Cork Alphabet, Burlap Ribbon, Milepost Shapes (retired), Juniper Marker, Dimensional Elements Awards, Brown Bag ink (retired), Brown Bag cardstock (retired), Basic Grey Pearls, and Prima flowers.  Challenges: Scrapbook.com – Page Maps Sketch Challenge

I used this Sketch Thursday sketch by rotating it and using one photo instead of two:

I am really happy with this layout.  Cork, burlap, and corrugated items are not what I typically use and these items are bound to end up buried in my stash.  So I am proud to have used them and I think I like it because I mixed them with other things that I do enjoy using, like flowers and pearls.  I used the new CTMH Alcohol Markers to color the cork letters.

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Supplies used: CTMH Clementine Paper Packet, CTMH Cricut Art Philosophy cartridge, CTMH Almond Glitter Glitz, Making Memories paperie greenhouse stickers, and Kaiser Pearls.

One of my goals this month is to use up my Clementine Paper Packet so you will see a bit more with this paper and then I will be done!  For this layout I took two of the zip strips that were cut from the tops of the papers and put them together to make the decorative border in the center.  I used Glitter Glitz to the edges of the scalloped circles to add some sparkle to the page.  I used this sketch from Inspired Blueprints.

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Supplies used: Echo Park Summertime papers and stickers, Basic Grey Rhinestones, CTMH Hello Blooms stamp set, and CTMH Lagoon ink.  Challenge: Scrapbook.com – Page Maps Sketch Challenge

I used this Page Map sketch, making it 12×12 page:

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Welcome to our February Art Philosophy/Artiste Blog Hop!   As you know, these cartridges are available exclusively through a Close to My Heart consultant.  If you don’t already have a Consultant that you are currently working with, you can search for one in your area or contact me (visit my website).

Our theme this month features not only one of these amazing cartridges but also a brand NEW paper pack from Close to My Heart – “For Always”.   In this hop, you will see projects featuring one (or both!) of our versatile Cricut cartridges with this paper pack from many talented crafty ladies!  Enjoy our blog hop!

If you have just hopped onto my blog, please start at the beginning at Lucy’s blog – Love 2 Create.   If you came from Priscilla’s Paperie then you are in the right place!

Supplies used: CTMH For Always Paper Packet, CTMH For Always Textiles, CTMH Artiste Cricut cartridge, CTMH Sunset cardstock, Ranger Black Diamond Stickles, and CTMH Black and Grey Glitter Paper.  Challenges: Scrapbook.com - Cricut, Scrapbook.com - Sketch.

I started with this sketch by Julie Bonner:

I used Cricut Craft room to create the flourishes and other diecuts from the Artiste cartridge.  I found it was easier to visualize this way.  I flipped the sketch and turned it into a 2-page layout.

Your next stop on our “For Always” hop is Stephanie at The Quilted Scrapper.

Here is the complete lineup in case you get lost along the way:

1. Lucy ~ Love 2 Create
2. Darla ~ Caution: Stamping is Contagious
3. Theodora ~ Celebrate Crafts
4. Michelle ~ My Creations With Michelle
5. Priscilla~  Priscilla’s Paperie
6. Wendy ~ My Scrapbooking Blog
7. Stephanie-The Quilted Scrapper
8. Michelle ~ My Flights of Fancy
9. Ellen ~ CardMonkey’s Paper Jungle
10. Melissa Lind~ MyWatermelonMoon
11. Jennifer ~ 4 Hearts Scrapbooking

Thanks for hopping along with us – we hope we were able to inspire you.

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Throughout this hop you will see My Stickease and/or Rubons used on all of the projects.

You can start the hop here and continue until you make your way back.  If you have already started, you should be coming from Shirley’s Blog.

Supplies used are all Close to My Heart: Sophia Paper Packet (retired), Sophia My Stickease (retired), Felt Alphabet Stickers – Keepsake,   Clear Sparkles, Bitty Sparkles, Bling Assortment (retired), and 3D Foam Tape.

I just love how My Stickease make pages come together so quickly!  And it’s fun to add a little bit of other embellishments to make them pop.  I wanted to add journaling but didn’t know where to put it and was happy when it turned out so well by writing on the dull area of my photo!  I also love sketches and used the this one by Ashley Horton.

Now hop on over to Tabbi’s Blog!

Here is the list of participants:

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

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Embellishments used on the cards are: Special Moments Scrapbooking Embellishments, K & Company Wedding Collection Grand Adhesions, Marcella Dimensional Flowers, O’Scrap Stick Its, Stampendous Diamond Dot Stickers, Memories Complete Sticker Patches, Autumn Leaves Pretty Poppies, This & That Tags & Things Yellow Plaid Wood, Forever in Time Sheer Dragonflies, Recollections Butterfly Embellishments, Fashion Stickers, Close to My Heart Blush Polka Dot Ribbon, and K & Company Smitten Grand Adhesions.

More to come!

Using Up Scraps for Cards#2
Using Up Scraps for Cards #3
Using Up Scraps for Cards #4
Using Up Scraps for Cards #5

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The hop is a circle so if you are starting here, just continue until you make your way back.  If you have already started, you should be coming from Heather’s Blog.

The product I chose to feature today is the My Creations 6×6 Canvas Display.  It is a 6×6 canvas sheet mounted on a wood frame and has a sawtooth hanger.  I challenged myself with this project because I have never worked with canvas before.  At only $4.95, this is an inexpensive project to make for yourself or as a gift.

Supplies used: 6×6 My Creations Canvas Display, D1506 Family Love stamp set, C1503 The Best Things stamp set, Indian Corn Blue pigment ink, Black Pigment Ink, Color-Ready Trinkets Wooden Shapes, Ruby Pigment Ink, Smokey Plum Pigment Ink, Flutter Paper Shapes, Clear Sparkles, Bitty Sparkles, Black & Grey Sparkles Assortment, For Always Textiles.  I also added a pin from the Bling Assortment which is retired.  I just couldn’t resist but it could easily be left off or add one from the For Always Assortment.

Things I learned from this project:
* I put an acrylic block under the canvas when I stamped so I’d have a solid surface.
* If stamping, use images that are forgiving (not small words).  I figured this but had to try it and see.  The flourishes stamped pretty good but there seemed to be an area around the wood that I just wasn’t able to press the image enough to get it to stamp onto the canvas.  I covered this up on the right corner with the butterfly.  You could still use words like I did but stamp them first to cardstock so you have a nice clean, crisp image, then attach to the canvas.
* I used Liquid Glass as my adhesive.  The fabric is thin so if you use a liquid adhesive, do so sparingly.
* I used pigment ink for the entire project.  It dried well on the canvas, probably because it could soak in.  I was lazy and left the wooden pieces overnight to dry but they didn’t.  Even heat setting them took longer than normal.  So just be aware of this.  You could use the dye inks for the wooden pieces however I wanted the bright, vibrant colors that the pigment inks provide.

Now hop on over to Beth’s Blog to see her wonderful creation!

Here is a list of all the blogs in the hop:

Helen Onulak
Kathleen Androlewicz
Lucy Kelleher
Maria Myers
Joy McHargue
Maureen OSullivan
Jen Patrick
Traci Pasqualone
Melissa Robinson
Priscilla Gotham
Judy Faye Garner
Haley Dyer
Heather Schmuckal
Wendy Kessler   <-- You are here.
Beth Naumann
Allisa Chilton
Pamela Ellison
Jody Gustafson
Terry Ann Diack
Tamytha Jenkins
Georgia Hauglid
Krista Hershberger
Dawn Ross
Wendy Coffman
Laurie Newton
Traci Godbee
Elizabeth Mindemannn
Mary Eisen
Melinda Everitt
Michelle Johns
Nikka geers (no post)	http://Nikkageers.blogspot.com
Michelle Loncar
Gina Brandstetter
Sheila Bennett
Misty Jackson

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Supplies used: CTMH Cruisin’ Workshop on the Go Kit (retired), and Letterman Thickers Flocked Chipboard Alphabet Stickers by American Crafts.

What a fun challenge we have over at Scrap our Stash for February – Anything Fuzzy!  I was surprised that it didn’t take much digging for me to find some things (brand new at that!) that fit this challenge.  I have been carrying this layout around in my to-do bag for a very long time so it is great to see it completed!  I also used 4×6 flip flaps to add more photos to my page at the upper right.

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