2 photos...1 sketch

Happy Monday! Ha you say...well with it being Exam week here for my High School kids, it has been a rather laid back day :)

Every Monday we release a new sketch from Scrapbook Challenges and of course I have created a couple layouts with today's sketch to share as well!

If you didn't already know that I have a great love of Kraft paper! I DO! but now with the pending release of our newest Close To My Heart catalog (February 1st) we also have LOADS OF NEW PRODUCTS!!!! One of which I've used here...Kraft tiny type alphabet stickers!!! What an awesome product!

Hopefully you'll also notice these adorable tiny type epoxy letters and numbers (I've created the date with the numbers) also available in our newest Spring/Summer 2103 catalog...let me know if you need your own copy!

I had so much fun with this sketch I decided to create another with the same papers and slightly different embellies...These layouts will go into different albums so I'm not the least bit concerned that they are the same looking :)

I really enjoyed working with all my assorted tiny type alphabet stickers, a definite staple for scrapbooking!

Now in case you only do double-pagers...you know who you are!!!...here's our double sketch design...I hope you get crafty this week, even if only for a short time...cause this sketch is super simple and everyone has two photos that they want to scrap! Thanks for stopping in today!

Let's Scrap with Chantilly and CTMH!!!

Hello! So glad you've stopped in today...it's always fun to start with a sketch...whether it's a card or layout sketch, whatever gets you creative and creating!

It's Wednesday and so that means it's time for a new sketch at Let's Scrap, this week is the third Wednesday in the month so that means a Card Sketch! As you can see, I created a layout instead!

So in case you haven't been following along, it's also time for a new Close To My Heart catalog! (contact me if you need one!) So of course with a new catalog, Consultants get to order from it one month before it goes live to customers, a great perk for us, and I ordered!!!

Now in case you've noticed, that lovely little fabric brad is from our *New Chantilly Assortment...and there are 9 adhesive backed ones in each package for $5.95...so they aren't really brads but they look like them! I've tucked this wee birdie onto a flower from the Paradise Paper Flowers and the Colonial White Rosette Ribbon  from last catalog! These lovely papers are from the *New Chantilly paper Packet and those FANTASTIC kraft mini-alphabets are NEW from CTMH too! So excited that we finally have some mini-alphabet stickers and even more excited that they are in my favourite Kraft!!!

Now a heads up...we are offering FABRIC to coordinate with two different paper collections and Chantilly is one of them...this bow coordinates with the paper collection  and all of the items in the artwork below are from our new catalog!

Here's the sketch!

Thanks so much for taking a moment today to check out my post, I love that you stop by and I hope you have a chance to get busy with paper, scissors and glue!

Spring Cleaning anyone?

Good Morning!

I always feel a little excited when I start cleaning up after Christmas, packing away those pretty treasures and cleaning the house after the tree mess and dust is uncovered on the furniture! 

Perhaps I'll re-arrange the odd Chatchki {nick-nack} and give it a new home around the house, I may even make a visit to HomeSense for a new toss cushion...If you know me at all, you'd know that there are at least 3 toss cushions in every space in my home! Maybe one day I'll post a photo to show you how crazy obsessed I am with toss cushions :) I feel a layout coming on...

In my need to organize every January, it also means it's time to re-cycle, donate or just plain 'ole throw out some stuff! 

So that being said, I'm taking photos of and listing LOTS of my Scrapbooking and Stamping goodness on my Blog here...Make sure you head on over to my STAMP SALE page...you see that tab above this post...yeah, well that's where you will find 37 used stamp images and 13 new ones...I will be adding at least 25 more later tomorrow even! It is a time consuming process to photograph and tag each one, but hopefully those stamps that were well loved with me can be well loved at their new homes too!

I will be creating kits of products and offering them up on the Products for Sale tab above, so check back often to see what's newly posted...I will give discounts for multiple purchases of stamps and product as well as FREE shipping for purchases over $75.00

Thanks for stopping by today and if you have big Spring Cleaning plans yourself, please let me know by leaving me a comment !

Whoo's Your Valentine ?!!!

Well now that I've just teased all of you with the release of the new Spring/Summer 2013 catalog...I wanted to take a moment to showcase this month's special!

It's National Paper Crafting Month...did you know that? Well at CTMH, we are offering a super exciting kit to those customers that make a qualifying purchase of $35.00 from the Fall/Winter 2012 catalog! When you order $35.00 of product from our Fall/Winter 2012 catalog you are eligible to get this fantastic "Whoo's Your Valentine" Kit for just $10.00...you heard me, just 10 bucks!!! 

You will see that we have featured a couple of new Spring/Summer products in this great little kit too, Glitter paper and clear treat tubes as well!

If you need some help deciding...remember that not all the products from the Fall/Winter 2012 catalog will be available once the new catalog goes live...paper packs like La Belle Vie, Flirty {my favourite}, Moonlight and Pear & Partridge will not be carried forward so your only chance to get them and some of their coordinating embellishments will be during this month only!

Each Kit includes:

• 12—Die-Cut Boxes (3 each of 4 colors: Blush, Hollyhock, Ruby, White Daisy)

• 3—12" x 12" Cardstock Sheets (Blush, Hollyhock, White Daisy)

• 1—Sheet Silver Glitter Paper—new product for Spring/Summer 2013!

• 12—Treat Tubes with Lids—new product for Spring/Summer 2013!

• 1—My Acrylix®Whooo’s Your Valentine Stamp Set (D-size)

The perfect thing about this kit is that you can personalize these treats any way you'd like...the only thing pre-cut is the boxes, you can choose your sentiments and cardstock to personalize this how you'd like...I'm working on mine now and will link back with my creations :) I'm also excited about using this stamp set on other projects especially my Project Life pages as the size of these sentiments and images are perfect for that and cards too!

Make sure you contact me soon if you want to take advantage of this kit as they are only available until January 31st OR until supplies last !

New Close To My Heart Spring/Summer catalog!

Yes, it's the moment we've all been waiting for...the release of the 

Spring/Summer 2013 Catalog!!!

I have catalogs, if you are interested in flipping through one of your own, please contact me HERE

Consultants can order from it January 1st...if you have been considering becoming a Consultant or used to be one, please be sure to contact me for more information and to answer any questions you might have as I would love to have you join my team...and now is a fantastic time to join when you can receive some of the new products in your Consultant kits...there is lots of info HERE on my Blog :)

All customers looking to order will have to wait until February 1st...make sure you are saving up because this one is full of so many little treasures and goodness, you are going to be itching to get your hands on all of it!!! 

Stay tuned for some artwork as I've been playing with some of the new items and you are going to LOVE it :)

Still here...?

Yes, I am still here :) 

Ok, so the whirlwind trip to Hawaii has come and gone, spending time away during Christmas and New Year's isn't for everyone, but for the past couple of years we've enjoyed the change thoroughly!

I still have Christmas set up all over my house and I'm loving it! All the pretty things I've collected over the years...just looking at them gives me happy feelings that I don't want to rush to sweep away into a box...of course being away for so much of December makes it that much easier to enjoy all the pretty things for a little while longer!

Now it's 2013 and with a New Year, usually comes some New Year's resolutions...huh? What have you got planned?

I am going to take a suggestion from the lovely Davinie Fiero...I'm going to write myself a letter, just for my eyes only, to be opened on 12*31*13...and I'll scrapbook this just like Davinie did!

Check out her Blog! It's full of wonderful inspiration whether you are a scrapbooker, Project Life'er or as you will read on her Blog a Project 12'er

This year's Resolution for me is to take time to enjoy life's moments and try at the same time to document those moments! Whether I'm using traditional scrapbooking, Project Life or Project 12 techniques, the stories will still be recorded...

Stay tuned for some fun challenges this week and later this month at Scrapbook Challenges and Let's Scrap AS WELL AS loads of new goodness with Close To My Heart as we have just released a new catalog and there are so many yummy things in there you won't be able to resist playing with paper, scissors and glue!!!

and FINALLY on the 11th and 12th Day of Challenges...

Over at Scrapbook Challenges we are hosting 12 Days of Challenges. We started on December 1st and will post a challenge a day until the 12th...you can join in and do each challenge individually OR you can do what's referred to as a 'progressive' challenge, where you add each element to your layout each day...

~ On the 10th day of challenges I challenged you, to use a silly photo...as you can see from my layout below, I was able to add that!!

~ On the 11th day of challenges Zoe challenged you, use this title prompt...'Always'...You can make any title you wish, with the word 'Always' in it. Some examples with a Christmas theme are: We Always make Santa Cookies, 'Always singing', 'Always happy', 'Santa Always Comes to our house' - the ideas are endless!!

Easy enough right?! Here's mine:

~ On the 12th day of challenges Tabitha challenges you, use something sparkly...Hello ladies today is the last day of our Twelve Days of Challenges. What's the holiday season without a little sparkle?!

So as you can see by my final layout, I added lots of sparkle when I did my new technique challenge but I thought I needed some extra sparkle in my title...so I added some Glitz Glitter Gel from Close To My Heart in red on top of my foam Thickers :)

Well as much as I got a little off track with day by day scrapbooking of this Progressive Challenge over at Scrapbook Challenges, it was still fun to follow a list of items to add and I did get a layout done in the process! Thanks for stopping by and following me in this fun challenge, hopefully you've been inspired to do a little scrapbooking over this past week and a half!

on the 6th Day of Challenges...

Over at Scrapbook Challenges we are hosting 12 Days of Challenges. We started on December 1st and will post a challenge a day until the 12th...you can join in and do each challenge individually OR you can do what's referred to as a 'progressive' challenge, where you add each element to your layout each day...

Note*** Life has gotten away from me this week and unfortunately I have to play catch up so with that being said here's the 6th, 7th, 8th and 9th Day of Challenges!!! Which I know are from days ago, before I posted my 10th Day of Challenges...teehee

~ On the 6th day of challenges Charlene challenged you, include this color pop...basically you want to add a complimentary colour that will 'pop' off your layout.

Seeing as my layout is kinda neutral'ish I decided to add more bright red...and I added it as matting for my oval sentiment, which I wouldn't technically have known about if I wasn't behind!!!

~ On the 7th day of challenges Nanette challenged you, to make a mess...but I have to confess that this step messed me up! In the forum post you could make a mess or make a doodle'y mess...which I just could not do! Just didn't go with the style of this layout so I skipped on over to:

~ On the 8th day of challenges Lee-Anne challenged you, to use an oval...so as you can see in my photo above, I added the sentiment 'Tis the Season, with this month's Close To My Heart Stamp of the Month stamp set!!!

~ On the 9th day of challenges Janet challenged you, to stitch around the edges...so that I was able to do quite easily as it is something I LOVE to add to my pages :)

I hope you are still following along with these fun daily challenges, if you're joining late, don't worry, just follow the steps before and catch up! Or do a layout based on the individual challenges...either is great and you'll have a few more layouts completed in the process :) Thanks for stopping in today!

on the 10th Day of Challenges...

On the 10th Day of Challenges, I have challenged you, to add a silly photo...often we take our scrapbooking entirely TOO seriously! So use a silly photo, or two...

This is just a sneak peek of my layout, head on over to the Scrapbook Challenges Forum to see my hosted challenge today and see my silly photo layout! It is a different one that I created just for an individual challenge to include a silly photo...a special RAK will go out to the randomly drawn winner that participates in my silly photo challenge!

on the 5th Day of Challenges...and a tutorial!

Over at Scrapbook Challenges we are hosting 12 Days of Challenges. We started on December 1st and will post a challenge a day until the 12th...you can join in and do each challenge individually OR you can do what's referred to as a 'progressive' challenge, where you add each element to your layout each day...

~ On the 5th day of challenges Chanell challenged you, learn a new technique...How many times do we spot awesome ideas in the galleries or on Pinterest...and never try them out? Well, here's your chance! For this challenge, pick any new technique you like and go for it!

I was really trying to look online to find something I hadn't done before but after looking at my plain stamped snowflakes and tree, I thought to myself how I wished I could add some glitter to them. Then I remembered that I had an Adhesive Stamp pad!

I started by re-inking the glue to the pad to freshen it up with adhesive for my stamp...

Then I pounced my stamp into the glue pad...

I stamped onto my cut out stamped image...

this is what it looked like when I gently removed the paper from my stamp (I had to pull it away because it's an adhesive remember and as such it's tacky and sticks to the stamp)...

then I quickly put the stamped piece into a tray of fine glitter...I actually flipped it over so the adhesive was facing downward into the glitter and used my finger to gently press the paper into the glitter...just to ensure I got the best adhesion to my glue-stamped image.

For the other snowflakes I thought I'd add another colour...

Here's my finished snowflakes...I repeated the process with my tree as well. 

This is the glue-pad I used...it worked great and because I've stamped my stamp into this and I can see where I'm stamping with my clear Acrylic stamps...I was able to match my image up perfectly and get the glitter onto the exact stamped image...you could get the same effect with embossing, but you need to use embossing powder and heat set it...this was fast and easy and I hadn't used it before!

Join me tomorrow for my 6th Day of Challenges to see what I'm up to next with this layout...thanks for following along, I hope you're having fun with me :)

If you want to join in this challenge but you're joining late, don't worry, just follow the steps before this one and catch up! Or do a layout based on the individual challenges...either is great and you'll have a few more layouts completed in the process :) Thanks for stopping in today!

on the 4th Day of Challenges...

Over at Scrapbook Challenges we are hosting 12 Days of Challenges. We started on December 1st and will post a challenge a day until the 12th...you can join in and do each challenge individually OR you can do what's referred to as a 'progressive' challenge, where you add each element to your layout each day...

~ On the 4th day of challenges Cathy challenged you, with 4 pretty ribbons...I bet we all have a HUGE stash of ribbons... well my challenge to you is to use FOUR different ones in anyway want.... on a card or layout.

Here we go with where I'm at now...

on this paper grouping I've added a lace ribbon and then topped it with a ric-rac ribbon in Colonial White...

and this bit of paper has some Tulip velvet ribbon added to it...so right now I'm at 3 different ribbons...I plan to add another Colonial White organza ribbon to my title area...but I haven't got there yet :)

These ribbons work well with my layout and papers...and I love that they add some texture to this too! See you tomorrow for the 5th Day of Challenges!

I hope you are going to join me with these fun daily challenges, if you're joining late, don't worry, just follow the steps before and catch up! Or do a layout based on the individual challenges...either is great and you'll have a few more layouts completed in the process :) Thanks for stopping in today!

on the 3rd Day of Challenges...

Over at Scrapbook Challenges we are hosting 12 Days of Challenges. We started on December 1st and will post a challenge a day until the 12th...you can join in and do each challenge individually OR you can do what's referred to as a 'progressive' challenge, where you add each element to your layout each day...

On the 3rd day of challenges Emilia challenged you, alter the color...

I'm working on a 'progressive' layout and here's where I'm at today...the challenge was to alter the colour so I've added some paint to the edges of my cardstock piece...

I wanted to add some pink to match my background base piece and after painting the edges decided to add a bit of Cranberry ink to deepen the colour a bit around the edges...

It's difficult to get a photo of this and actually show you the true colours, as taking pictures inside without a flash isn't the greatest, but you should be able to get the idea of where I'm going with this :)

Now lastly, I've attached my piece to my background base and I'm ready to start putting this together...see you on the 4th Day of Challenges to see what we need to add next!

I hope you are going to join me with these fun daily challenges, if you're joining late, don't worry, just follow the steps before and catch up! Or do a layout based on the individual challenges...either is great and you'll have a few more layouts completed in the process :) Thanks for stopping in today!

Merry memories with SBChallenges..

Good Morning and Happy December and the beginning of Holiday Cheer for those of you that celebrate Christmas!

I always seem to have plenty of photos already printed from years past and I actually like to go back and pick a couple to scrapbook...this layout is a couple of snapshots that I took of my front porch from a few years ago...I love the bright colours and birdies and have added to them over the past few years but I have to say that decorating my front porch is like spreading some Christmas/Holiday Cheer to the neighbourhood and I love to be greeted into my home with all the pretty decorations on my trees!

I've cut all my snowflakes from Martha Stewart punches and added some Close To My Heart Bling gems to the centres...the title is a clear overlay (which I've backed with some white paper) from Little Yellow Bicycle from many years ago...

How many of you have hundreds of papers and embellishments for Christmas? I have at least that many as when I see a collection I LOVE, I buy it! and of course the embellishments that go with it! Even though I don't scrapbook ALL of my Christmas holidays I just seem to WANT to have the products! I know...I have a problem...but at least I'm using some of it up now :)

LOVE these Bling Gems from CTMH because they are pretty flat and that is a great feature when trying to minimize the bulk in your layouts! All the patterned paper is from Basic Grey :)

Thanks so much for stopping by today, I love having visitors and I hope you find some inspiration here and enjoy the sketches each week!

Here's the single and double page sketches from Scrapbook Challenges for this week: