Another album for my friend!

This one took quite a long time, not because it was hard, but because I had a LOT of things happen around the same time she had asked me to make this album.  Again and again, I need to apologize for the very poor quality of photos.  I had just moved into my new house so the lighting is very bad PLUS I couldn't find my camera AND I always have my phone on me... So after almost a year, here is the final result...

Her & her husband went to New Orleans; Biloxi, Mississippi & Pensacola, Florida.  For the front page (which is usually the hardest page for me to put together), I took left over papers that I used throughout the album, tons of business cards that she brought back, along with some post cards to create a collage affect displaying all the places they traveled.

I'm not sure if these were all taken the same day, so I gave it a generic title (knowing that all the pictures were from the same city) and numbered each photo along with the journaling spot for her to document and maybe date each one.

She specifically labelled these pictures as their first night out.  The photos themselves were very busy, so I decided to use a pattern paper by House of 3, that had embellishing printed on it.  Tucked in a few spots for her to journal on and this page was complete.

The little tug boat  and anchor are from the Mickey & Friends cart (Donald's House - so cute!). 

Who can go to New Orleans without checking out the Voodoo Museum?  My friend brought back loads of stuff about the priestess at the museum so I wanted to make sure it all found it's way into the album.  By using CTMH's large flip-flaps, I was able to add the info without having to do more than one layout.   You can kind of see it on the left side of the layout - the flip-flaps attach to the page protectors, not your pages.

The tombstones on this page are from the Over the Hill cart.

I love doing aquarium photos - so bright and colorful.  Here I used the Art Nouveau, CM Traveler & Life's a Beach carts.

This was another hard page for me to work with.  The only info she gave me about this church was that it was Catholic.  OK...so I kept the page very plain giving her plenty of room to journal about it.

This page was fun!  All the signs are from the CM Traveler cart.  On the red arrow I added some washi tape I picked up from Michaels.  

Here is another page that I had used a large flip-flap on.  This one is on the right and it holds the brochures and maps that relate to these specific pictures.  I also incorporated the wristbands they wore onto the layout.

I think this layout is my favorite.  I was going to leave the light house and title as the only embellishments.  Until I ended up with some extra "waves" that I thought I was going to use on another layout.  The first thing that I think of when I am at the docks are the seagulls.  So I cut out the three flying gulls from Life's a Beach and the perched gull from Pack Your Bags...and the page came together (I think) beautifully.

Another fun layout!  As soon as I saw this title from CM Traveler cart I knew I had to use it.  A few more random cuts from Pack Your Bags and the layout was complete.

Another title from CM Traveler.  The other cuts are all from the Summer Vacation cart.

I love how this layout fell together.  My friend brought back TONS of brochures, business cards, post cards & restaurant memorabilia.   I wanted to make sure I crammed as much of it as I could throughout the album.  Well, here was a perfect opportunity.

These "stamp" images are from the Pack Your Bags cart.

Another title from CM Traveler cart.

As usual, I started out with my favorite sketches from my favorite gals at Scrapbook Generation.  Some of the papers used are from House of 3, Creative Memories and DCWV.  For most of the written/typed out titles, I used the Type Candy font cart.  Throughout the album I used 4x4 & 4x6 flip-flaps to add more photos.  Hope you enjoy the album as much as I do.  Almost didn't want to give it away...

A quick little share

Good morning All!

I just wanted to share something that (of course) I found somewhere out in the great wide web.  Unfortunately, I can't find it again to share the original post with you :(  But I can guarantee you that I DID NOT come up with this idea.  I found it searching on Google for something and had to scrap-lift this idea.  And again, I took the pics with my phone because I wanted to make these for all the girls that were signed up for my all-day crop.  Ok, here goes....

These are CTMH's grid paper that can be purchased through a consultant.  On the right hand side (originally) is a place where the consultant can put their contact info, a wish list can be made and a small spot for notes.  I found (somewhere out there) where some GENIUS took pretty papers and personalized the edges of the grid paper.  So that is what I did.  I made 12 - all different, but of course I didn't take a photo of each design.  I also added their names to make them feel as special as they are :) 

Then I took it to my local Print N' Copy and had them laminated.  Now they have a personalized "mat" to work on over and over again!

Wasn't that the neatest idea EVER!  What a thoughtful gift!  Thank you so much for whoever originally thought of this marvelous idea!  If you know or have come across the original post, please - please - please share it with me.  I would LOVE to give credit where credit is due!

Buzz & Bumble Projects

Good almost-afternoon!

Today I thought I'd share the projects that I put together for one of my workshops made with CTMH's Buzz & Bumble paper pack, Brown Glitter Cardstock and coordinating embellies.  Most of the projects are inspired by photos I found on Pinterest.  I LOVE Pinterest!!

I absolutely loved working with this paper pack.  To be honest, I was shocked that it didn't carry over into the new Idea Book.

Another layout design by the WONDERFUL sketch team Scrapbook Generation.  I tweaked it a bit by making all my photos 4x6.

The title is from the Just Because Cards cart (real dial size on).  The bee is cut from the Art Nouveau cart. 

The hexagons were stamped using the Honeycomb stamp set and then cut out.  Some were attached using 3-D foam.

These were the cards that I came up with with the help of my Pinterest finds.  If you click on the link, see if you can find which cards I used as my inspiration. 

This little box was a very happy mistake.  I created the box to originally be a gift box.  Except that I had cut the lid a little too small.  I didn't want to waste any paper, so I decided to turn my "gift box" into a mini scrapbook that would expand once opened.

I just cut the bottom of the box 2 more times each 1/4" smaller than the original cut.  This adorable cut can be found on the CTMH Artiste cart.  For the base cut I just used my fit to page button on my Cricut Expression.  Then I cut the lid at the same size (I think it was 5.5) which, if making a true gift box I know now it has to be cut a hair larger.

Thank you for stopping by and checking today's post out. I'd love to read what you think.  I'd love to read where you get your inspiration.

My take...

Good morning all!  It is Labor day weekend and I thought I'd use this wonderful, relaxing weekend to catch up on some LONG over due posts.

Today I wanted to share with you my take on that beautiful frame that was featured in the Spring/Summer 2013 Idea Book .  My attempt was to use all CTMH products.  Except that I chose to use a rustic, burlap ribbon from JoAnn's.

I cut the flowers from CTMH Art Philosophy & Artiste Cart.  I rolled them using my quilling tool and used hot glue to put them together.

I chose to use CTMH's bracket frame (which was quite smaller than the frame used in the idea book...)

I placed all my flowers where I wanted them before gluing.

After I had glued all the flowers down, I added leaves (cut from CTMH Art Philosophy cart), wooden flourishes & fabric covered buttons.  I also added some gems to the center of all the flowers.

Here is the completed frame.  The banner was made from CTMH Artiste cart and the wooden flourish embellishment pack.

I hope you all like my take on this frame.  I had a blast making it.  Once the flowers were all assembled, it came together fairly quickly.

(Sorry about the poor quality pictures.  As I was making this frame, I was taking pictures of the process with my phone.  After the frame was completed, I had given it away to a friend before I had a chance to take any pictures of it.  The last picture was taken at my friends house.)

For Always Projects

Good Morning!

I'd thought I'd share some projects that I made for the For Always Workshop.  The first project I had found on You Tube by Lisa Stenz.  She made a wonderful 3-D cake using the Art Philosophy cartridge.  So I thought I'd give it a try.

The 3 tiers are made using the pillow box shape in 3 different sizes.  I used glitter cardstock by DCWV and the strips from the tops of the For Always papers.

                                                

I inked the chevron patterned paper with Honey before I cut out the flowers.

With the flowers all assembled, I started placing them on the "cake".

I added some swirls in Pear cardstock from the Art Philosophy Cartridge, a banner and coordinating stamp saying and some buttons as "feet" for the finishing touches.

All the dimensions for the beautiful cake are on Lisa's video.  I had so much fun making this, now I have to decide what to do with it....

My next project, of course, is a 2-page layout.  I decided since the For Always paper pack comes with three different colors to work with; Lagoon, Honey & Ruby, that I would make each project using a different color.  As always, the sketch I used for this layout came from my favorite sketch design team Scrapbook Generation.

To finish these pages off, I added CTMH glitter ribbon (LOVE that stuff), coordinating For Always My Stickease, Title and flowers cut from the Artiste cartridge and some sparkles in grey and black.

And last, but not least, I create some cards using the Ruby cardstock, both CTMH cartridges and some random stamps.

This card was made from the You Tube tutorial by Lisa Stenz.  I added some bitty sparkles to give it some dimension.

This card was made using the Artiste cartridge, some sparkles in grey and a few stamp sets.

This card was made using some leftover papers, the Art Philosophy cartridge and coordinating stamps.

That's all the monochromatic projects I have for today.  I am really in the mood to make a project or even a layout using all the colors combined....
Hope you liked the projects and thank you all so much for stopping by!

Mini Album!

And here is the post that was really supposed to be for today!!

This mini album was made using the Tommy paper packet and embellishments from CTMH and the Artiste Cricut cart also from CTMH.  The album pages were cut @ 4 1/2" using the Artiste cartridge.

I cut the coordinating stickers to create the "My" in my title.  The embelli cluster was made using some cuts from the cartridge that were just too small, but I didn't want to throw them away, along with some coordinating stickers and the coordinating assortment collection.  The pattern papers were cut down 1/4" and inked with outdoor denim.

Pages 1 thru 4 are decorated with a few of the coordinating stickers.

Page 5 was decorated using a folder cut from the Artiste cartridge @ 3" along with a few coordinating stickers and papers.  There is also a tag tucked behind the flap of the folder with a star sticker attached to the top for a pull. (sorry for the blurry pic...I took these using my iPhone and have no clue what happened to this one, it looked just fine on the computer till I uploaded it to here)

These are a few more of the coordinating stickers...

The red bracket at the top of page 9 is a cut from the Artiste cart @ 1.5".  Oh and look!  More stickers!

Surprise!  Stickers!

And of course stickers were used to decorate the last pages.  The back page has an envelope cut @ 4" from the Artiste cartridge with a tag inside also cut @ 4" with a star attached to the top for a pull.  I still don't think I used all the stickers...I'll have to work on that.

I hope you liked my mini album.  Thank you for stopping by!

Album for Melis!

Good morning Everyone!

Today I wanted to share an album with you that I had made last year of one of my good friends' vacation to Arkansas.  I had so much fun designing these layouts.  All of the layout sketches came from Close to my Hearts' idea/sketch books: Cherish, Imagine & Magic.  All of the paper embellishments came from MULTIPLE Cricut cartridges.  I had used my Gypsy to weld & reshape some of the cuts.  The papers used were the Veranda & Olivia paper packets which are from Close to my Heart along with all the ribbons, pearls & various metal embellies.  I had used stickles randomly throughout the album as well.  

The cartridges used for this layout were CM's Reminisce Accents & Robotz for the font.

The cartridges used Home Decor, CTMH's Art Philosophy and Home Accents (welded together) & Robotz for the font.  I had also used a scalloped punch from Stampin' Up! around the large photo mat.

The carts used for this layout were Boys will be Boys and CM's Traveler.   I used foam dimensionals under the tips of the arrows to give them a feel of movement and add some dimension to the page.

I used Wall Decor & More and Robotz for the font on this layout.

The large flourishes are from CM's Reminisce Accents, the  journaling spot is from Lacy Labels along with all the other flowers throughout the pages.  The font was a mix between Robotz and Opposites Attract.

These journaling spots were made with the Gypsy using an image from the Elegant Edges cart.   The borders are from CM's Reminisce Accents (I used the negatives as well as the positive images).  The leaves are from CM's Traveler cart.

This was one of my favorite weld jobs: the oval and flourish are from CTMH's Art Philosophy and they were welded with a scene from Campin' Critters.  The sign is also from Campin' Critters and the font is from Robotz.

The carts used for this layout were Lacy Labels and Opposites Attract for the fonts.

CM's Reminisce Accents and Traveler were used for the flourishes, title and "Photo Op" saying & Elegant Edges for the journaling spot.

The Lacy Labels cart was used for the journaling spot and I honestly cannot remember which carts I used for the border or the title (I thought they were cake carts, but I couldn't find the exact images).

Most of the images used on this layout were from the Ornamental Iron cart.  I welded a shadow to the middle of the gate and added the wording in the center; then used the hide/contour feature to create a blackout for the title gate.  The journaling spot was created using the shadow feature of the title gate and another fence.  The tombstone labels were created using an image from the Elegant edges cart and Lyrical Letters for the font.

I hope you enjoyed these layouts as much as I enjoyed creating them!  Thanks for stopping by!

Editors note:  I went to create a new post today and realized that this post had not been published yet!!  The writer of this blog should be fired!