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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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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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, 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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Supplies used: K & Company paper, Studio G Glitter Glue, Rangers Cotton Candy Stickles, and

I have really been in the mood of adding glitter glue/stickles lately.  After using a few different kinds, I’ve learned I don’t care for the Studio G Glitter Glue.  It was very difficult to make the dots along the left side of this page and you can tell.  It didn’t want to let go when I lifted the bottle and I would have a stream and then pull up straight hoping that it landed right to make a good circle.  The Stickles was so smooth and easy after this frustration.  I’d say that the CTMH Glitter Glitz is a bit in the middle, usually pretty easy to use too but not quite as slick as the Stickles.

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I just love these quick layouts!  The paper is K & Company and the only thing I added was a bit of sparkle with Ranger’s Cotton Candy Stickles.

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Supplies used: CTMH Topstitch Paper Packet, CTMH Topstitch My Stickease, CTMH Colonial White Mini-Medley, and Baby Blue and Cotton Candy Stickles.

This was an easy layout because I used the example on the back of the My Stickease.  I added Stickles to the flowers on the B&T paper and to accent the My Stickease.

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Products used: Autumn Leaves Rhonna Farrer heart and starts stamp set, Fiskars border punch, Colorbok glitter paper, Target Dollar Spot pattern paper, Ranger Stickles (cotton candy), Doodlebug Design sugar coating glitter, CTMH bubblegum marker, CTMH ink (ocean & bubblegum) and unknown ribbon.

Challenges:
Inspired Blueprints Card Sketch #39
Simon Says – Punch It!
Belli Challenge #83 – Hearts
Crafty Creations #51 – Valentines or Hearts
Pretty Pink Papertake
Creative Card Crew – Punch It
Inky Impressions Challenge #28

I found this stamp set in my stash (twice!) so I thought it was a good starting point.  I outlined the inside of the small hearts with a marker before adding the stickles.  This seemed to change the color a bit for more contrast which turned out better.  Since you can’t have too much glitter I added more to the top of the stickles.  I had fun making this glittery card!

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