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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Supplies used: Sophia Paper Packet (retired), Cricut Art Philosophy cartridge, Chantilly Textiles, Harvest Baker’s Twine, Felt Alphabet – Keepsake (retired), Sparkle Flourishes, and Bitty Sparkles.

I have to admit when Close to My Heart came out with these fabrics I really wasn’t sure what to do with them.  It’s great that they coordinate with different papers but I have a feeling they will last me a very long time.  For my layout I used the fabric to create the butterflies and flowers.  The butterflies are roughly 2″ squares of fabric cut with pinking shears on the sides.  To create the flowers I first cut a long strip (about 1/2″) of fabric.  Then I twisted it so the pattern was mostly on the outside and from there I twisted it further into a circle.  As I did the final twisting, I used 1″ glue dots to adhere it to my paper flower.  The inside of the small flower is a strip of fabric tied in a loose knot with the ends cut off.  At first, I planned to use knots with the ends but I didn’t like it so I used those (they look like little bows) in the upper corner of my layout.  I used this sketch from Scrappy Sketches.

And here are some closeup pics:

Your next stop is: Judy Faye !

Participants:
Debi
Tabbi
Stephanie Chumbley
Wendy K.
Judy Faye
Shirley
Joy

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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 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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The April Challenge at Scrap Our Stash is Dots and Stripes with Birds, Butterflies or Bees from your stash.  Create a layout using at least one polka dot and one striped paper and either birds, butterflies, or bees.

Here is my layout:

Supplies used: Echo Park papers and stickers, Studio18 Rhinestones, and unknown flower rhinestones.  Sketch by Liz Qualman – My LIttle Sketch Book:

This was a pretty quick layout because I used a sketch and a paper packet.  It really doesn’t get much easier than that!

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

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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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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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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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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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Welcome to our Technique Blog Hop!  This month we are highlighting the use of RIBBON in unique ways.  There are some great samples in the Autumn/Winter 2012 Idea Book.  On page 17, they show you how to cut banners out of your ribbon and on page 73 is an example of ribbon used as an entire background of a scrapbook page.  You can pretty much do anything and everything with ribbon.  Hopefully you will find something new in this hop or maybe it will inspire you to try something new or give you a creative idea.

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.  So if you are starting here, just continue until you make your way back.  If you have already started, you should be coming from Debi’s Blog.

Supplies used are all Close to My Heart: Sophia Paper Packet (retired), Sophia Stickease (retired), Sweet Leaf ribbon, and Designer Ribbon – Pink Collection.,

I did a few different things with ribbon on this layout.  First, I used the Sweet Leaf ribbon to create flowers.  This is a technique I’ve seen before but haven’t done.  I for get that with a stitched ribbon you can just pull on one of the stitched strings and it will bunch up, very quick and easy.  Then I used a 1-inch glue dot to attach.  For the center of the ribbon flower I used more ribbon.  It is the Blush Pompom ribbon wrapped in a circle to create a cute bubble center.  I really like this!  Then I went back to the Sweet Leaf ribbon, tied it into a tight knot, cut off the ends, and used it for the centers of the other flowers.  I’ve done this before but have never cut the ends off completely and it’s a cleaner look.  It was fun to experiment with ribbon!

Thanks for stopping by!  Please continue onto Tabbi’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!

Here is a list of participants:
Debi Barber
Wendy Kessler
Tabbi Fritz
Judy Faye Garner
Shirley Ross
Joy McHargue
Kindred Hearrts

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This was a layout from the Superhero Workshop on the Go Kit.  You will see a theme in my upcoming posts; I am trying to finish up some layouts before my new product comes!

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Supplies used: Echo Park Little Girl papers and stickers, Doodlebug Designs stickers, CTMH cardstock (retired), and CTMH Stardust Glitter Glitz Gel.

For the white glittery border strip, I “painted” white cardstock with the CTMH Stardust Glitter Glitz Gel, let dry, and attached.  This is a great way to add glitter!!

I used this sketch from Scrapbook Generation:

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I used used Echo Park paper and stickers for this layout with some added Studio 18 rhinestones.  I used a sketch from Let’s Scrap.

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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.  So if you are starting here, just continue until you make your way back.  If you have already started, you should be coming from Amy Kaminski’s Blog.

Supplies used are all Close to My Heart unless otherwise stated: Die Cuts With a View paper, Twilight Marker Set, Clear Sparkles, Bitty Opaques Pearl, Just Blooms Flutter Paper Shapes, and DCWV alphabet stickers.

I took a different approach to the technique this month.  I am showing some of the things besides stamped images that you can color with the new Close to My Heart alcohol markers.  I used both colors that come in the Twilight set but for the most part I did not notice a difference in color. I did like the lighter color for the butterflies but I did one with each and you can see there is not much of a difference, if you can tell at all.  The sparkles are a very light color with they are finished.  My favorite coloring was on the pearls.  They took the color very well and are beautiful!  I would recommend either heat-setting the pearls and sparkles or letting them out to dry.  After 10 minutes, my pearls were still wet to touch but they were dry overnight.

Other items that would be good to color: Color-Ready Wooden Shapes, Color-Ready Alphabets, ribbon, any of the Just Blooms, cork, chipboard, etc.

Thanks for stopping by!  Please continue onto Joy McHargue’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!

Here is a list of participants:

1. Judy Faye Garner
2. Michelle West
3. Rachel Ventura
4. Shirley Ross (no artwork)
5. Amy Kaminski
6. Wendy Kessler
7. Joy McHargue

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A1123  Adore  $6.95

Supplies used: CTMH Adore stamp set, unknown papers, ScrapWorks Tailored Letters, CTMH Cotton Candy ink, CTMH Buttons, and Rangers Cotton Candy Stickles.

The letters I used are really cute but I have to say you sure don’t get much in a package.  I opened this and had to make the second “o” from the “q”.  It worked but not exact.  I think this is such a beautiful stamp set.  I’m also going to make some “love” cards with it as well.  Then, because I don’t care to thread buttons but I like the finished look, I tried something new.  I added Stickles to the middle of my buttons.  And I like it!!  I just filled in the holes but I’m sure you could add more across the middle to appear like a stitch.

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Supplies used: DCWV paper and alphabet stickers, and unknown buttons.

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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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