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    Seas The Day!

    April 11, 2020 /

    Every year we escape to the coast. We are fortunate to only live a few hours away so we can make it a day trip. Growing up my parents took us annually to visit Fitzgerald Marine Reserve to explore the tide pools. The ocean always mesmerized me. I love everything about it, the sounds, the salty air, the refreshingly cool breeze and even the seagulls! I could explore the tiny underwater world captured in tide pool for hours. If you have pictures from an ocean or beach adventure, this Seas The Day collection is perfect to tell the story behind those pictures! Check out the process video below to see it come together

    To create the embellishment cluster above, I combined elements from the sticker sheet, chipboard die-cuts and fussy cut pieces from the patterned paper. Below, I used leftover scraps and trimmed them into little pennants. Having them create a gently swooping banner helps to break up the hard lines of the squares and rectangles. Tiny enamel dots finish the look and add interest.

    There are so many different ways you can add this kit to your crafty stash. There is an entire scrapbooking workshop, a Seas The Day card kit and of course, all the pieces individually. Below you can see everything I incorporated into my layout.

    Thank you so much for stopping by! I hope you have found some inspiration and new ideas to try. Happy crafting my friends!

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  • Card Making,  Inspiration,  Scrapbooking Layouts and Projects,  Uncategorized

    These Are My People Scrapbook Layout & Cards

    March 28, 2020 /

    We all have special people in our lives. Those of us that scrapbook and memory keep, we like to record these special people in our albums, while we cardmakers like to send happy mail to those special people. CTMH has just perfect collection to help record your memories. It is a new special called These Are My People and I thought it would be perfect to showcase this photo of my sister in law and my nieces and nephew.

    I purchased the scrapbooking workshop option which includes materials to create four 12×12 layouts and five cards. You can get the collection with or without the coordinating stamp set. There is even a PRE-CUT option to create a 6×8 mini album. All you have to do is put the pieces together following step by step instructions. What a great gift idea for mother’s day right around the corner, don’t you think? I have included the YouTube tutorial below if you prefer to watch the process unfold.

    In my video, I show how I created this stamped floral border along the bottom of my layout. I added a soft touch of color by sponging Ballerina ink to the flower centers with a sponge dauber.

    I have created a visual embellishment cluster by layering different elements. I began with stamping then overlapped paper, tabs, and some floral stickers.

    Below is a look at all the cards I created with leftovers. Two of the cards were pre-designed by CTMH while I designed the other three

    I stamped the larger flower from the Love These People Stamp set using Intense Black Ink. I colored them in with the Pale Pink and Dull Green Spectrum Noir Triblend markers. Having three shades in one really takes the guesswork out of shading and coloring. I did add a touch of Almond cardstock from my scraps to create these two cards.

    This card came together quickly. I embossed the Carolina Blue cardstock with a retired floral embossing folder to add some texture to the background. Using my middle Stitched Frame Die I die cut the striped paper. by turning the stitched frame portion over, I can highlight the Pink patterned paper on the opposite side. The majority of my sentiment came from the Say It In Style stamp set posted further down.

    To create these two cards I simply followed the step by step instructions. Anyone can create beautiful artwork because CTMH makes it so simple. How fun it is to send a handmade card to brighten a friend’s day.

    Along with all the goodies pictured, you get two digital cut files to incorporate into your projects. I have seen others cut these from vinyl and adhere to their album covers. You can also cut from paper and make a great page title.

    This “Say It In Style” stamp set is from the core catalog. If you are building your stamp collection, or want a go-to set, this is perfect for cardmakers and scrapbookers alike. There is a sentiment for darn near every occasion!

    Below is a look at the projects you can easily create with the scrapbooking workshop. CTMH gives you step by step instructions to put all these layouts together along with 5 beautiful and uplifting cards.

    Thank you for stopping by. Hop on over to my YouTube page and leave me a comment or question. I do appreciate your support. Happy crafting my friends!

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    “Stitched” Double Framed Springtime Easter Card

    March 25, 2020 /

    Springtime is here! The world seems a bit chaotic at the moment but I still find joy in my garden where the flowers continue to bloom dazzling us with their showy display of springtime cheer! I was inspired to bring this happy display of color into my craft room and create this card to share with you.

    This lovable bunny stamp was a must-have for me. He is a handsome fellow and makes a lovely card or embellishment for my scrapbook layouts. I have created a few of these cards changing up the sentiments from “Happy Easter” to “Just Because”, “Thank You” or “Happy Birthday”.

    If you have been watching my tutorials for a while, you know how much I love those Stitched Rectangle Frames. They are probably my most used die. In fact, I have a video coming out next week on how to utilize scraps featuring this very die. To see how I stamped and colored this beautiful frame in today’s project, you can watch the youtube tutorial below for a few tips and tricks.

    I hope you are feeling inspired to create this cheerful Springtime card. Leave me a comment here or on my YouTube channel to say hello. Happy crafting my friends!

    To create this project:

    • Begin with a sheet of White Daisy cardstock cut slightly larger than 5.5 x 4.25″ (Your finished card will measure 5.5 x 4.25″)
    • Stamp your floral images around the outside edge of your paper
    • Color stamped images using your Spectrum Noir TriBlend markers
    • Using the larger two of the Stitched Rectangle Frames, attach to your stamped cardstock with removable post-it tape and run through your die-cutting machine
    • Use foam tape to pop up the inner portion of the frame and liquid adhesive to adhere the outer stitched frame.
    • Cut a section of patterned paper using the medium stitched rectangle, and center on your card.
    • Stamp and fussy cut your bunny image and embellish card front as shown.
    • Mail to a friend to brighten their day.

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    “Seven Outlaws” Crafting Through Covid-19

    March 19, 2020 /

    Everyone is feeling the effects of the unprecedented Coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic. Many towns and cities have issued quarantine orders while citizens have implemented social distancing. It’s easy to feel the negative effects, fear, and worry generated from the daily reports on the social and economical impacts caused by the virus. I pray for all who have been adversely affected and am thankful for all the healthcare workers showing up day after day to care for those in need.

    So many activities have been canceled and morale is down. It is so important to take a break from the worry and do something that brings joy to your heart. I believe there is healing power in creating. That may look different for others, painting, journaling, music, etc. For me, it is scrapbooking and the good news is that has not been canceled! I’ve been crafting my heart out taking breaks to walk the dogs with my family or play a game of chess with the boys. Not only is Scrapbooking a creative outlet but the photos themselves remind us of happy moments frozen in time. They evoke memories that bring joy and togetherness.

    I created this layout with the Yesterday & Today collection available in the March and April catalog from CTMH. It is designed as a heritage collection but can really be utilized for so much more. I thought it was perfect for this Old Time photo of my best friend and I along with our herd of teenage boys! I created an embellishment cluster with items from the workshop along with the vellum and foil die-cuts.

    I designed my title in the Cricut Design Space cutting it in both Vanilla and Espresso cardstock. Check out the YouTube video below to see how this layout came together.

    CTMH offers this collection with several options. You can get the pieces ala’ cart or an entire workshop to create six 12×12 pages complete with step by step instructions! This ought to keep you busy while you are holed up in the house. Below is a look at the predesigned layouts or you can always use the kit to create your own work of art.

    Yesterday & Today Workshop

    Stay safe, stay healthy and please take time to make the most of the moment! Happy crafting my friends.

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    Life is a Grand Adventure Tri-Fold Shutter Card

    March 6, 2020 /

    I am excited to share this fun Fancy Fold card project with you. These Tri-Fold shutter cards have been around for a while but they still amaze me and I love to create them. I envisioned this card for my son’s upcoming 8th-grade graduation. Yes, it’s not until June but do you know how good it feels to be ahead of the game and not sliding in sideways disheveled in a desperate attempt to get things done? Pretty darn good 😂

    I combined the Dreams Take Flight stamp set with the beautiful Yesterday and Today paper collection. These products play so well together! I thought this set would make an excellent graduation card because of all the inspiring sentiments. I can see this as a retirement card, new job congrats or you can switch up the sentiments for a birthday card.

    Below is a detailed diagram on how to cut your cardstock to create this project. Begin with a piece trimmed to 12″ x 5.5″ then score and cut on the lines shown below. Only cut on the red lines. You can use an X-Acto knife or a paper trimmer like I did . I recommend watching the youtube tutorial for step by step instructions. Your finished card will measure 5.5 x 4″, slightly smaller than a traditional A2 card.

    Each area Is decorated with patterned paper. I decided to carry the clouds across the design popping them up with foam tape to help them float as a cloud should. I included every sentiment from the stamp set because they were all to perfect to be left out. A few gold foil stars add a pop of fun to the finished design.

    I used the Stitched Bracket Thin-Cut to add layers and help the airplane take center stage. I’ve inked up my clouds with Pewter ink while the plane and sentiments are stamped in Black.

    This card design stands nicely for display and makes a temporary decor piece. I chose to write my personal sentiment on the back of the card for this reason.

    If you haven’t attempted a tri-fold shutter card before then give it a go. You won’t be disappointed! Thanks for stopping by and I will see you next time. Happy crafting!

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    Birthday Cards with Celebrate Today

    January 24, 2020 /

    I have some more birthday cards for you today! I was completely inspired by the “Celebrate Today” paper collection. It is so fun and vibrant it just makes you think confetti and cake sprinkles, and who doesn’t love that?

    I always find it easier to watch a project in action rather than read the directions. So if your like me I recommend watching the YouTube tutorial to see this project come together. You can check it out below.

    Recipe for card #1:

    • Begin with a blank white card and envelope from the value pack
    • Adhere Ballerina cardstock piece (5.25″ x 4″)
    • Trim the sprinkled patterned paper to 5 x 3.75″ and layer onto Ballerina as shown
    • Trim your banner piece to 3.5 x 1.5″ and dovetail one end.
    • Run a piece of White Daisy cardstock through your die-cutting machine with the medium-sized Stitched Rectangle Frame thin cut.
    • Stamp the Happy Birthday sentiment as shown in Black ink
    • Wrap twine around the bottom of your sentiment 3 times and tie a bow
    • Using the Balloons from the coordinating sticker sheet, attach to card face with foam adhesive.
    • Send to a friend to make their birthday special!

    Recipe for Card #2

    • Begin with a blank white card and envelope from the value pack
    • Adhere Mint cardstock piece (5.25″ x 4″)
    • Using the Pixie patterned paper from the collection, cut a piece with the largest Stitched Rectangle Die and layer over Mint
    • Cut 3 circles from your scraps of patterned paper. Since its a collection, they are all likely to look great! I used the 2 middle-sized Stitched circle thin cuts.
    • Cut Mint cardstock with the large Stitched Bracket Thin Cut
    • Stamp your sentiment onto White Daisy cardstock. Here I used retired stamps from my stash. I’m willing to bet you have some birthday stamps lurking around somewhere.
    • The candle strip is cut from the info strip at the end of the 12×12 paper.
    • Adhere all pieces as shown
    • Add sequence with micro glue dots
    • Enjoy!!!

    Recipe For Card #3:

    • This card is my favorite because let’s face it, who doesn’t love shaker cards?
    • Trim your background paper to 5.25 x 4″
    • Cut a 2 x 5″ strip from the floral patterned paper, dovetail one end and attach centered on your card front.
    • Using the shaker window die cut a circle from White Daisy cardstock.
    • Attach circle to the card, apply foam dimensional ring and fill with sequence.
    • Layer your acetate circle and then finish off with the Happy Birthday Thin cut in Ballerina.
    • I fussy cut the yellow flower from the patterned paper however there is a coordinating stamp set with dies available.

    Thanks so much for stopping by. Leave me a comment to say hello and let me know what you think of the cards. Happy crafting my friends!

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    Holidays Reimagined

    January 11, 2020 /

    Hello and welcome! As part of The Creative Design Team, I was challenged to take any holiday product and turn it into something completely different. I decided to use a Christmas layout from the Complete Creativity Cricut Collection and turn it into a Valentine-themed scrapbook page. And just like that, the holidays have been reimagined!

    Below is a look at the Complete Creativity layout I started with. You can see I incorporated the wreath, scalloped photo mat, scalloped border and the word “Love” ❤️ from the title. Be sure to see all the amazing projects included with the Complete Creativity Cricut collection. The possibilities are endless!

    I have a few tips and tricks to share in my YouTube tutorial. To watch this layout come together check out the video below. To see all the talented ladies in this hop you will have to go visit my Youtube channel

    I had a lot of fun pulling elements from my crafty stash to embellish this layout. The vellum leaves, from the Every Little Thing Collection, added so much presence to the wreath. I love the layered look. I am inspired to pull out my Stazon ink and stamp everything on vellum. It’s such a neat look.

    The title was originally Peace, Love, Joy. By isolating the word Love, I have a whole new title option from the original layout. Since our cardstock is two-toned, I cut the heart image in the title from each side of the paper to add contrast. I then sanded the edges to give it a distressed feel.

    The large red hearts were basic heart shapes added in the design space. I cut them in Ruby Red cardstock then sanded the edges to give them contrast. I wanted to add some additional hearts to my layout using the Stitched Heart Thin-cuts. By adding patterned paper and various sizes of the hearts it really upped the wow factor! All the patterned paper I used to create this layout came from retired Mix-In paper packs. Every catalog features a new mix-in collection to compliment the current paper suites. But really it can be a stand-alone kit!

    Thanks for stopping by. I would love if you left me a comment to say hello!

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  • Cricut Projects,  Inspiration,  Scrapbooking Layouts and Projects,  Uncategorized

    Snow Fun

    November 24, 2019 /

    Hello there! I took a break from all the Christmas card projects to share this fun winter layout I’ve titled Snow Fun! This layout is part of a collaboration I did with Jayma Malme. The challenge was to create a new project by combining two or more existing projects from the Complete Creativity collection. I got a little carried away and combined elements from five different projects and here is the 12 x 12 layout I came up with.

    I really enjoyed working in the Design Space. It was fun to pull an element from here or there, move things around to my liking and then cut it all out on my Cricut Explore Air 2. From there this layout came together quickly as it was a matter of piecing the parts together.

    To add more color I incorporated a few pieces from the Holly Jolly paper collection. I used some of the patterned paper and a pink pine tree sticker from the coordinating sticker sheet. I used the pink elements on this layout to create a visual triangle that carries your eye around the page and add a pop of color. For a finishing touch, I used the Clear Shimmer Brush to give sparkle and shine to my snowflakes.

    To see this layout come together and the projects in the Complete Creativity I utilized, check out the youtube tutorial below. Thanks so much for stopping by. I hope you enjoyed this project and are inspired to give it a try. Happy crafting!

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    The 12 Days of Christmas Cards Day 9

    November 22, 2019 /

    Hello and welcome to day nine of The 12 Days of Christmas Cards! I am having such a good time with all this cardmaking. So many of you have shared your cards with me and it is great to see the different versions come to life. I love today’s card because I just can’t get enough of that red buffalo plaid. I used the same Build-A-Plaid stamp set from day 5’s Christmas card but gave this one a completely different look by changing up the embellishments.

    I combined Cricut images from different cartridges to create this fun card. The poinsettias and greenery are from the Complete Creativity Collection while the buck silhouette is from Artistry. It is fun to pull images from different projects and create your own. There are so many creative possibilities! Below is a look at the layout I borrowed the poinsettias from. To see more of the Complete Creativity Collections click here.

    The stitched rectangle die makes a perfect background to highlight the deer silhouette. I chose Vanilla cardstock rather than White Daisy for a softer look. Since I have a layer of Kraft cardstock matting my buffalo plaid, I wanted to repeat that color elsewhere. The second layer of the poinsettias was a good choice to tie the kraft color in. It breaks the color up against the red plaid background helping them to pop. I inked the edges with a black shimmer brush and then used Clear Shimmer to add sparkle and shine to the red layer of the flowers.

    The gold sequins are the perfect embellishment for my flower center! For my sentiment, I chose “Warm Wishes” from the Traditional Holiday stamp set. I really like the scrolly banner element of this particular sentiment. This stamp set is part of the Holiday Cheer promotion and is only available through the month of November. Be sure to check it out.

    Having used black cardstock for my card base, I needed to add a place to write a sentiment. Using the large stitched rectangle die and Vanilla cardstock I mimicked the rectangle on the front. Adding a poinsettia to the inside gives this card a special touch. To see this project come to life check out the youtube tutorial below.

    Thank you for stopping by. Stay tuned for Monday’s Christmas card and as always, happy crafting!

    Project Details:

    • Black cardstock base measures 4 1/4 x 5 1/2 and opens vertically
    • Kraft layer cut at 4 x 5 1/4″
    • Candy Apple Red cut at 3 3/4 x 5
    • Stamp red cardstock as shown in the video with Black Ink using the Build-a-plaid stamp set
    • Use the medium stitched rectangle die to cut a rectangle from Vanilla cardstock
    • Attach Kraft, Candy Apple Red, and Vanilla layers as shown.
    • For embellishments: The deer silhouette is sliced from the Artistry collection. He measures approx 3″ tall and is cut from black cardstock. The poinsettias are 1.2″ squared and cut from both Kraft and Candy Apple Red.
    • Using liquid glue attach embellishments as shown in the video tutorial. I recommend micro glue dots to adhere the sequins.
    • Stamp Warm Wishes sentiment onto Kraft cardstock and trim with your Microtip scissors. Adhere to project with dimensional tape.
    • For a detailed tutorial, you can watch me create this project in the video link.

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  • Card Making,  Inspiration,  Uncategorized

    The 12 Days of Christmas Cards Day 8

    November 21, 2019 /

    Hello and welcome to day eight of The 12 Days of Christmas Cards. Today’s card is a fun whimsical design. I’ve incorporated stamping, the Holly Jolly paper pack, and a few Cricut cuts from the Complete Creativity collection to create this joyful card. Just look at this cheerful little guy!

    Below is a closer look at the Whimsical Holiday stamp set. This stamp is a part of the Holiday Cheer promotion and is only available through the month of November so be sure to check it out. The snowman is perfect for the cheerful holiday scene on today’s card. He is such a happy little guy! I gave him a bit of color using Spectrum Noir Tri-blend markers and the Clear Shimmer Brush.

    The snowflake background paper, along with the pink trim, is from the Holly Jolly paper collection. I cut the trees from the Adventure layout in the Complete Creativity collection, altering the size a bit to fit my card front.

    The snowflake embossing folder adds texture and interest while the sequins bring life and movement to the design. Everything works together to create a cheerful little card bound to bring joy to the recipient. You can watch this project come together in the Youtube tutorial below.

    Thank you so much for stopping by. I hope you enjoyed today’s project and I will see you on Friday. Happy crafting!

    Project Details:

    • A2 Card base measures 4 1/4 x 5 1/2″ folded
    • Cut Glacier Snowflake patterned paper to 4 x 5 1/4″
    • Cut White Daisy cardstock at 3 3/4 x 5″
    • Use the large circle die to cut a circle from the right side of the White Daisy piece as shown.
    • Emboss White Daisy piece with the Snowflake embossing folder
    • Line layers up then stamp JOY sentiment onto center of the circle
    • Using the adhesive foam circle and acetate window, create your shaker
    • Adhere White Daisy piece to snowflake patterned paper with dimensional foam.
    • The tree images are cut from the Adventure Layout in the Complete Creativity Collection. The tree with the striped overlay measures 3 1/2″ tall and the “Charlie Brown tree is 2 1/2”.
    • Embellish card front as shown using liquid glass to glue detailed embellishments.

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