Yippee! I did it!

Ok, so I might be a little bit too excited about getting a layout done...but this Monochromatic Challenge over at Let's Scrap was a little too challenging for me as it has taken several days and several layouts later to actually do it!

Now trying to find paper that all works together in the same tones of one colour sounds easier than it was for me!

 After looking through my stash I found some really old Little Yellow Bicycle, My Mind's Eye and Bazzill cardstock that all worked together...I also found some BoBunny chipboard for my arrow and flocked brads and epoxy chipboard buttons from LYB.

I pulled out my favorite stamp set with Close To My Heart called 'Enjoy Life' for the swirly flourishes and the 'Boys at Play' for the Full Speed Ahead sign. 

Now for the required handmade embellie part of this challenge, I happened to come across the PERFECT colour match in fabric, some scraps from a project my girls were working on and so I cut three circles and layered it with a button and an arrow!

Alphabet letters are from Jillibean Soup (corrugated), Cricut and punch for the splash letters and splash( I added some Glossy Accents to these) and Thickers (glossy green)

So now that I know I can handle even the toughest challenges for me...I'm off to work on yet another one...stay tuned!

Monochromatic Challenge anyone???

Well, I'm trying to do a Monochromatic Challenge over at Let's Scrap for their month long challenge...click on Elizna Parsons Month long challenge here for rules etc.


Basically you need to use this sketch:

and you also need to:

• choose one colour (varying shades are good)
• use a large title
• use a stamp
• use a handmade embellishment (made by you) that matches your papers/layout/style
• use your STASH, no new items

Anyways...I started one layout and I got a little side tracked because as I was trimming my photos and looking for paper I got on a roll...and in the end I can up with this:

Love how this turned out in the end even if I failed at the challenge :)
I still got 2 pages scrapped!!!

I added 3D foam to every other letter to add dimension and also to be able to fit this huge title on the right page :)

These were stickers I purchased to match this paper...I wanted to pop these off as well so I mounted them onto some patterned paper and inked the edges in Brown Bag ink

I wanted to add this title but it was lost on this patterned paper, so I chose another sticker from my sticker sheets and mounted these great alphabet letters to it :) 

More stickers...so glad to be using this old stash up! 

As you can see, I have one large title (check) and the basic sketch design is there...the papers are not Monochromatic (oops) and I used papers and embellies from my stash (check)...kinda made my own embellishments...I layered the stickers onto cardstock...not really handmade as per the challenge BUT this is a perfect example of how I got a double page layout completed using this challenge as a starting point...because in the end it really only matters that you are getting something done and using up your STASH :)

Quick and Easy layout!

March challenges are all around me!!! Now I'd like to share those with all of you...hopefully you can play along this month!

Here is the H2H Scrapbooking challenge for February, I know it's March now, but what better way to showcase some Love...use this layout sketch to get 7 photos onto one page and use this heart as a fantastic background for your love of something :)

and this is what I did with this layout sketch :)

Products Used: CTMH Lagoon CS (giant heart), Magnifique PP, Grey Wool CS (scalloped border), Eclectic Alphabet inked with Lagoon ink, sewing machine and misc ribbons

As you can see I've matted my photos on white paper, but for a great tip, use printer paper instead of card stock as it is so much lighter and you really only need the white to off set your photos and create separation between them. 

I wanted to add a splash of colour! this striped ribbon from my bucket of ribbons worked great to do just that, I also wanted some more white and this unusual ribbon/yarn type thing was what I liked...it made me feel like it was mirroring the splash of water in the photos :)

If you like the simplicity of this layout then grab a couple scraps of paper and two sheets of cardstock and get going! This was super duper easy and fast...I just cut my heart out with the Cricut Art Philosophy cartridge (heart1) at 10½" and away I went!

Frosted Designs challenge blog

Back again with another challenge blog I have stumbled across...this one is called Frosted Designs and they offer up three challenges a month, all due at different times through the month if you are wanting to participate in their contests to win stuff!!!

This is their Fabulous Friday Challenge from March 2nd:

Incorporate Numbers any way you'd like on any type of project...this is what I've done with their challenge...what will you do?


LAYOUT #1

This page was created using bits and pieces left over from past projects and I've used a sketch from Let's Scrap :) The creme coloured numbers on the black banner on the RHS is actually an overlay on top of some PP...just bits I had left over :)

I've used papers and these cardstock stickers from Bo Bunny and a mixture of old stuff from my never-ending stash :) 

The corrugated shapes are from Close To My Heart, star brads and document tag are from ??? in my stash and the bingo card is from Jenni Bowlin.

The base pages are Basic Grey's Neutral collection and the title is from American Crafts (super old foam stickers...they were all un-stuck from the sheet and I had to glue these babies onto my page!)

LAYOUT #2 

I started working on this layout at a '20 Layouts' Class taught by Jennifer Edwardson at Cherish the Thought (LSS)...check out her blog HERE...the concept behind her class is to use up your scraps...so most of her layouts are designed around using 3-5 pieces of leftover PP's and CS...except you don't see what it will look like until you get to class...she just sends you what you need for each kit/layout...very cool concept and a very FAST paced class...you get about 20-30 minutes a LO and if you are lucky and super fast and organized, you might even finish it in class!

ME = not so much...all my layouts are in the to-be-finished pile and I am plugging away at them :)

The kraft border bits you see are all Close To My Heart and the 'hi', screw top brads and tag are from the bin in my room and I have no idea where I got those guys from :)

I cut the male/female image from my PP...the tag was a great find and very fitting seeing as it was extremely hot for these boys to be playing Baseball mid-day or 'High Noon' as the title tells...I went into the Farmer's Almanac site and looked up the temperature in this area on this date in 2009! Cool huh?!!! and of course I always have extra photos I can cut up of any given event, so the tiny picture on his Press Tag :) was just cut down from a 4X6 photo

LAYOUT #3

You got it! My son was pitching in the first inning of the Semi-Final Provincial Championship game and was hit by a line drive to the head! Pretty freaky, but being the quick thinking Mom that I am, and knowing that I wasn't allowed on the field anyways, I grabbed my camera and took a picture!!!

Now if I looked on the back of this tag before adhering it, I could tell you who's it is...my guess is that it is from My Mind's Eye...but it was the perfect backdrop for the title...the folded ribbon, kraft zig zag strip and corrugated stars as well as the pewter brads are all Close To My Heart.

You can see the sheen on this clear overlay by ???...as I said earlier...I'm using up my stash and can't see anywhere who's paper this is...all I know is that the distressed red is BoBunny :)

the numbers are from Jillibean Soup, kraft paper from CTMH and the black base is Bazzill

Thanks so much for hanging out with me...I hope you dig into your stash too and create something from this great challenge like I did!

Cool *new* Challenge Blog!!!

So in my constant mission to find cool things on the web...I've stumbled across a great new blog called 'Use It or Lose It'.

 Nikka Geers, a fellow Close To My Heart Consultant, has created this blog with the hopes to get some of us CTMH fans to join along in the challenges...

you guessed it, to use it or lose it!

Now if any of you are like me, I love a challenge and often it is just what I need to get the ball rolling and to jump start my creative Mojo!

As you can see by this gorgeous photo, we are to take what we see in this picture and try to create our own artwork using this as inspiration...with the current snowy/wet conditions here on the West Coast in British Columbia, these colours are making me feel happy and creative!

This is what I've created from this piece of inspiration...forgive the colour...photos were taken this evening and they are truer to the inspirational photo than they look :)

White Daisy, Black, Lagoon and Pear Cardstock from Close To My Heart
Patterned piece is from the Magnifique paper collection
(Mojo Monday sketch)

One of my all time favorite stamp sets is the Enjoy Life set which is where the clock comes from and the sentiment is from the Card Chatter-Sympathy set...however, I think that this sentiment could work for any occasion as the sentiment does say 'happy thoughts' on the front and on the inside it says 'coming your way' so I'll probably use this for any number of events :)

Now how about you? Have an urge to play along? 

Check out this great new Challenge Blog 'Use It or Lose It'

March's SOTM Blog Hop!

Welcome to another fantastic SOTM Blog Hop 

featuring 'Potential'...March's Stamp of the Month!

Well, I thought I was in this month's Blog Hop, but now after looking at the line-up, I can see that I never signed up!!!

I will add the SOTM Blog Hop link at the end of this post so those of you interested can click onto that link and see the over 50 talented Consultants' artwork. Remember that this stamp set is available for this month only!

White cardstock base, Tulip and Sunset cardstock and Stella PP...

I stamped this image in Sunset ink and then rolled the outside edges in Tulip ink...matted on Tulip cardstock and popped up with 3D foam tape over our new Baker's Twine (Paradise Assortment-Z1702)

Thanks so much for stopping by!
Here is the link to the SOTM Blog Hop :) Enjoy!

Phew...what a month!

Well March is almost behind us and I've been super busy :) Spring break ends today, sorry kids...but I'm OK with returning to some routine...all three are safely on their way this morning as no one missed their bus today!

I had a fantastic time at the Timberline Retreat and connected with some great ladies! We enjoyed many classes, one of which was the Lucky two page layout and we also played with the 3x3 kraft mini album using the Mayberry paper collection.

The countdown has begun for the 19th Annual Sewing and Crafts Expo at the Abbotsford Tradex this Friday and Saturday (Apr. 1-2) I was fortunate enough to be invited to represent Close To My Heart and will have a booth there to feature all things CTMH...come by and see me at Booth #519.

If you are interested in participating in some Make & Takes or classes sponsored by Canadian Scrapbooker Magazine...then follow this link to register for the classes...or stop by the Make & Take Loonie Bar tables during the event for some great projects.

HOT NEWS:

Close To My Heart has created a exclusive stamp set called 'Hope For Japan'...I know that you are probably thinking of all those people that have been terribly affected by the recent earthquake and tsunami that hit the shores of Japan and wondering what you can do to help.

The Hope For Japan A-size stamp set is available for a special price of $5.00 with 100% of the profits of the sale of this stamp set going to the American Red Cross efforts in Japan.

This set is available now until the 30th of April...please consider supporting this worthy cause.

Timberline Class

Just thought I'd post my Timberline 'Lucky' layout class...I really love how this turned out...not sure yet what I'll use for pictures but it's ready for when I finally decide :)

I'll update the products used when I'm at my retreat this weekend...I'll probably have a bit more time...I've still got to pack up to go! The challenge with this class will be getting it completed for everyone in 1 hour!

Have a great weekend!

Close To My Heart is offering FREE My Acrylix® blocks!!!

Close To My Heart is offering FREE My Acrylix® blocks!!!

Throughout March, when you buy $30 in My Acrylix® stamps from Close To My Heart, you will receive

a free My Acrylix® block. 

{Your choice of either 3" x 3" (Y1006)

or 2" x 6 1/2" (Y1010).}

Limit one free My Acrylix® block per order per customer. Qualifying stamp purchases include A-, B-, C-, D-, E-size stamp sets, and Stamp of the Month sets purchased at full retail or at a discount. K-size stamp sets, Stamp of the Months earned for free, and Workshops on the Go™ are excluded. Tax and shipping/handling may apply.

OK...EWWW

Well the sun was shining...ever so briefly here...but as I go from room to room to deliver folded laundry and pick up the odd glass or water bottle..I'm realizing firstly that it is time for wrapping my head around Spring-Cleaning! Secondly, I hate Mess!!!

Beware of thermos bottles lying within the depths of your teenagers' rooms...when you open them up and some sort of SLIME pours out...followed by a tea bag! I wouldn't think that a tea bag and water would produce such a substance...but it did! Yuck

I feel like I've loaded and unloaded the dish washer twice today...hand washed a sink full of dishes three times today and delivered four baskets of laundry today...wait a minute...I Did :)

Oh well, such is my life...as I do love it...sometimes I don't like it though...hope you are enjoying yours!

Stay tuned for next weeks March Workshop projects...there's loads of them as each group is working on different ones! TFSB