Monday, January 30, 2012

Magic – Close To My Heart Sketch Book

_B105834 painted toenails (Medium)

I used the Close To My Heart Magic book and the Raise the Curtain sketch for this layout. This is a pretty simple layout to do, just a few simple cuts of the paper. One of the things that make this layout unique is the photo mat for the main photo on the right hand page. I staggered the blue mat a ¼ inch down then the photo another ¼ inch leaving no mat on the bottom right corner of the photo. I added some cute little embellishments and some stamping and the layout was complete.  You can see the Magic Sketch Book here.

All supplies are from Close To My Heart unless otherwise noted:

Magic Raise the Curtain Sketch

Miracle paper X7133B

Do Nothing Stamp Set D1143

Crystal Blue Ink Z2117

Crystal Blue Waxy Flax Z1247

Olive Connections Club Rewards W622

Olive Mini Medleys Z1489

Paper Flowers Unknown

Martha Stewart Eyelet Lace Border Punch

 

Thanks for stopping by…

Laurie

Friday, January 27, 2012

Scrapbooking with Stamps

_C286400 Ribbons and curls sweetheart paper (Medium)

I am not a big fan of placing a lot of photos on a layout. I pick out 2 or three of the best photos and use them. Too many photos in my opinion clutter the layout and the photos will get lost amongst them. Instead I use stamps to “fill” up some space. Strategically placed, they bring the layout together.

One of the best stamps to do this is the Love Life stamp set. It has one of the most awesome curly flourish. You can place just about anything alongside to enhance it. I used ribbon, flowers with brads and buttons, but you can also use sparkles or pearls too.

The stamp set also has a smaller flourish, some flowers, stars and hearts in different sizes that can be placed along the flourish as well. The triple dot rainbow is great for placing on a layout as well. It would be great to top a tag with. The stamp set also has some saying too. You can view the stamp set on my website here.

All supplies are from Close To My Heart unless otherwise noted:

X7134B Sweetheart paper packet

Baby pink and White Daisy textured cardstock

Cotton Candy cardstock

Cotton candy ink

D1482 Love Life stamp set

Z1370 Pink buttons

Pink Ribbon

Pink Waxy Flax

Pink brads

Just blooms autumn Daisy Flowers

Just Blooms big pink flowers

Prima flowers

EK Bracket border pinch

Glue dots

 

Thanks for stopping by…

Laurie

Monday, January 23, 2012

Winter Paper used for Summer layout

_C036035 swimming with the dolphins (Medium)

 

I like to think outside the box sometimes. I like to show you how to use your supplies for uses other that the “Normal”. That is why I choose the Wonderland Paper to make a layout about swimming with the dolphins. Wonderland paper can be used for layout other than winter. So next time you reach for paper, try and think of uses other than Normal.

All supplies are from Close To My Heart unless otherwise noted:

X7146B Wonderland Paper Packet

Colors are Chocolate, Twilight and Colonial White

D1386 save the date Stamp Set

Z1377 Color Ready Kraft Borders

Z2111 Chocolate Ink

Chocolate Brads

Twilight and Colonial White Embellishments

Flowers (unknown)

Thanks for stopping by…

Laurie

Thursday, January 19, 2012

Art Philosophy Layout

_B105830 cuba horse and buggy (Medium)

I really like this layout. It is not cluttered, has some simple lines and yet looks superb!

For the bracket I used the Art Philosophy cricut Cartridge that is exclusive to Close To My Heart. I cannot seem to say enough about this cartridge. There are 700 different images on it. Couple that with 6 different functions and many, many sizes you end up with thousands of images!  You can purchase the Art Philosophy Here

To make the bracket I used a sheet of 12x12 Pacifica Cardstock and the Square3 button on page 43 (or C3...third image on the third row). I cut this at 10 ¾ inches. I then cut another one using Colonial White cardstock and at 9 ¼ inches. I then layered them and attached them to the layout.

For the Flowers I mixed up a little bit of Sorbet reinker with pearl create a shade paint and painted it on my white flowers.

All supplies are from Close To My Heart unless otherwise noted:

X7141B Elemental Paper Packet

Colors are Pacifica, Sorbet desert Sand and Colonial White

X7141C My Reflections Elemental Compliments Shapes

D1386 Save the Date stamp Set

Z2118 Desert Sand Ink

Z1039 Pearl Create a Shade Paint

Z2264 Sorbet Reinker

Sorbet Ribbon

White Daisy Flowers

Glue Dots

Prima Flowers

Thanks for stopping by...

Laurie

Saturday, January 14, 2012

January Spotlight Blog Hop…Scraps

Welcome to the January spotlight blog hop. If you have come from   Nikki Geers Blog you are on the right track, unless you start here.

_C286409 maddison riding car (Medium)

This month we are spotlighting scraps. Scraps can mean a bunch of things when it comes to scrapbooking but I am going to focus on using the little bits of scrap paper left over from a favorite kit.

For this layout I used a 1.5 inch strip of cardstock and on it placed 1.25 inch squares of different papers that were in my Sofia paper kit to form a focal point across the layout.

One other thing I did was use a scrap of paper that was left over from a class I did. One of the ladies stamped the inside saying of her card in the wrong orientation (horizontal instead of vertical) so instead of throwing out that paper I used the other side to make a mask for my spritzed leaves. To do this I cut out the Leaves from my Art Philosophy Cricut cartridge on the messed up cardstock. I used the negative space for my mask and spritzed it with sweet leaf reinker mixed with rubbing alcohol. So, another great way to use up your scraps.

And another thing I do with any leftover little bits of paper I have is I either cut something out of it using the Art Philosophy Cartridge or I use my punches to punch out a shape. I have these left over images stored in a little sand pail at the moment. I may find a better place for them sometime but the sand pail works for now.

 

_C166092 maddison riding car blog hop (Medium)

All supplies are from Close To My Heart

X7131B Sofia Paper Packet

White Daisy, Hollyhock and Pear Cardstock

Z2197 Pear Ink

Z1686 Art Philosophy

D1482 Love Life Stamp Set

D1386 Save the Date Stamp Set

Z1370 Pink Buttons

Z1336 Cream Pearls

Z1092 Pink Embroidery Floss

Z817 Just Blooms Flowers

Now you can continue on your hop by going to  Wendy’s  BLOG.

 

Thanks for stopping by…

Laurie

Monday, January 9, 2012

Another Sketch from the CTMH Magic Book

 

_C286403 Sofia Tilted layout (Medium)

I followed the Magic How to sketch - Out Of the Hat – for this layout. I cannot say enough about the sketches in the Close To My Heart sketch series. They make scrapbooking faster, simpler and easier for sure.

Each sketch has:

A full color photo showing a completed layout with photos and embellishments

Cutting diagrams for easy to follow paper sizes

Blueprint showing paper placement

Shows photo suggestion sizes

Suggested title placement

Suggested journaling placement

Tips or techniques to enhance the layout

So you see these sketches gives you complete directions while still leaving plenty of room for your own creative talents to shine. You can purchase this Sketch book here

All supplies are from Close To My Heart unless otherwise noted:

Magic book – Out of the Hat Sketch

X7131 Sofia Paper Packet

Textured Cardstock in Sweet Leaf and White Daisy

Cardstock in Blush and Hollyhock

D1482 Love Life Stamp Set

Z2153 Sweet Leaf Ink

Sweet Leaf Buttons

Sweet Leaf Ribbon

Just Blooms Autumn Daisy Flowers

Just Blooms baby Pink Flowers

Blush Waxy Flax

Sweet Leaf Brads

Pink Sparkles

EK Scalloped Scallop Border Punch

Thanks for stopping by…

Laurie

Thursday, January 5, 2012

Winter Wonderland

 

_A185727 always believe (Large)

 

Did you know that you can add a little bling to the My Stickease? You sure can. You can alter them too.

For this layout I used the Wonderland Stickease that matched the Wonderland paper. Just one more reason I LOVE Close To My Heart…they make everything match! For the border along the top Right hand side and bottom left side I cut the border strip to the length I wanted then attached it to Grey Flannel cardstock. It makes it stand out just a little bit more. And I dressed up the snowflake Stickease with Silver Glitter Glitz in the centers. Also on the snowman and kids Stickease I accentuated the fur and top hat with the Silver Glitter Glitz as well. Something as simple as that adds quite a bit of bling.

I also used our NEW Clear Ruler to add some Designer Brads along the border on the left page. Our ruler comes with grid marks and guide holes to make placement evenly spaced. You will never have any more crooked brads! Just use your piercing tool in the guide holes and you have marked where your brads should be. These holes are also great for stitching, button placement and many other uses. Get one today and try it for yourself. You will not be sorry.

All supplies are from Close To My Heart

X7146B Wonderland Paper

X7146C Wonderland Stickease

Z1349 Designer Brads Shimmer

Z4168 Top Coats Icing

Z1482 Glitter Glitz Silver

Z1471 Clear Ruler

Z2124 Grey Flannel Ink

Z726 Sponge Dauber

 

Thanks for stopping by…

Laurie

Monday, January 2, 2012

Happy New Year and a Christmas Layout

_C036041 Christmas Time Believe WOTG (Large)

I hope everyone had a fabulous Christmas and New Years!  I know I did.  I also enjoyed this fantastic weather we are having.  I did get to make a few layouts during the holidays too! 

I like the straight simple lines of this layout. Sometimes layouts get too busy and have too much going on and take away your attention on the photos. After all, we scrapbook to showcase our photos and story. So this layout keeps your attention on the photos first, then on the design of the layout. I will add my photos as soon as I get them back from the developer. 

Here are a few things I did on this layout:

· I stamped the Santa Image onto the layout with Archival Ink and then colored it in using my water brush and Holiday Red ink and Topiary Ink. My water brush was on the dry side so the archival black ink did not run.

· I traced the Dimensional Elements Stars onto my patterned paper, cut them out then used liquid glass to adhere the stars to the paper. I sanded the edges with my finishing files then finger daubered ink around the edges.

· I cut out my title on my cricut using the Art Philosophy Cartridge. Size was 1 inch.

· I placed the frame around the present.

· I inked our Color Ready Kraft Borders with New England Ivy Ink and attached them to the layout.

 

Supplies are From Close To My Heart unless otherwise noted:

X7145B Believe Paper

Believe WOTG Stamp Set

Z1377 Color Ready Kraft Borders

Z1489 Olive Mini Medley Accessories

Z1680 Dimensional Elements Stars

4475 Archival Black Ink

Z2135 New England Ivy Ink

Z2155 Topiary Ink

Z2127 Holiday Red Ink

Z1686 Art Philosophy Cricut Cartridge

Others: water brush, Finger daubers, adhesive, glue dots, finishing files, liquid glass, paper piercer,

 

Thanks for stopping by…

Laurie