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You Are Enough
Close to My Heart has released an amazing new special for National Scrapbooking Month and it is so pretty! I must say it is different than their norm and the response indicates it is a hit. I know I love it! In this first layout, I used the title element, Create, to tell the story of how and why I began my youtube channel. I had a lot to say so I created a hidden journaling pocket to conceal the story. You can check out the video to hear a bit of that story and see how I created the hidden journaling pocket.
Having boys I wanted to challenge myself to create a layout with this collection. By narrowing down my focus it was easy to achieve. I selected patterned papers in the blue tones and added black cardstock. The Stitched Hexagon Thin Cut dies are one of my favorites for creating easy backgrounds with a lot of interest. The gold foiled element mimic metal which is a great addition to any teenage boy layout.
I have a YouTube process video for this layout as well. Watch to pick up a few tips for aligning hexagons in different sizes and making the most of the coordinating sticker sheet.
Check out the gallery below to see how versatile this collection is and additional layouts created by CTMH. I’ve also included pictures of all the items available in this collection. The butterfly thin cut dies are amazing!
Thank you for stopping by and visiting. I hope you are as inspired by this collection as I am. Visit my online store to see the different You Are Enough bundle options available. Thanks again and happy crafting!
Supplies:
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Happiness Lives Here
The Happiness Lives Here collection is truly a ray of sunshine. The cheerful Canary yellow and gorgeous Blue Belle blue is a color palette to swoon over! I have created several layouts with these papers but this one is my favorite. I absolutely love visiting the ocean so naturally, I am excited about the pictures. The Sunshine title is from the coordinating sticker sheet as well as the other embellishments on the page. I did fussy cut a few of the Picture My Life cards to add to the mix.
I love layering stickers to create embellishment clusters to complement my photos. The cute circular sticker was perfect because the sun rays mimicked the sunburst stenciling radiating out from the title. Little details working together is scrapbooking bliss. Check out the youtube video below to see this layout come together.
Below is a closer look at all the pretty patterned papers in this collection along with the coordinating sticker sheet. I have become a big fan of the stickers because they make for super quick yet stunning layouts. I always add in the Picture My Life cards (PLM) as well. They can be used for layering elements behind the photo, title options, or fussy cut and used as embellishments.
Here in the gallery below are pictures of another fun layout I created from this collection. A double page spread featuring family game night snapshots. You can see I was able to capture an entire different look on this layout. I have always loved the versatility of these paper packs. If you don’t particularly care for one pattern or color, flip it over and you have another choice. Who doesn’t love options?
Thank you so much for stopping by and visiting my website. I hope you found a little inspiration in today’s layouts and set aside some time to get crafty. Have a wonderful day!
Supplies for Sunshine Layout:
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The Happiest Place!
Hello there! I have been having so much fun documenting a Disneyland trip from years ago. It’s wonderful to revisit these early memories. My boys were so little! We are definitely overdue for a Disney vacation and I can’t wait to visit again. Close To My Heart’s new collection, Happiest Place, rocks the perfect Disney vibe. I did add the mouse ears from my stash but everything else included on this layout is from the kit and 100% fun!
I always recommend checking out the youtube process video below to see this layout come together and pick up a few design tips and tricks.
The coordinating sticker sheet is loaded with silver glitter foil accents! Who doesn’t love a little something sparkly? You can see the shine in my roller coaster image below. There is even silver foiled cardstock! Whoop, whoop! I was pretty happy with how the balloons pop with the Happy title. The yellow color really helps to lead your eye around the page.
My title, Happy Magical Place, came together easily by combining the phrase “Happy” from the sticker sheet along with “Magical”, a coordinating black acrylic accent. I like to mix fonts and different elements to create a more visually interesting title.
The Black Acrylic Accents are perfect for adding a new texture to your page. I’ve scattered black stars around my embellishment clusters to tie in with the word Magic and reinforce the silver foiled stars on my background patterned cardstock. The little Ferris wheel embellishment couldn’t have been more perfect for these photos with the Ferris Wheel ride in the background. I love it when things come together so well.
This Happiest Place special is available through the end of August while supplies last. Be sure to grab your while you can. Check out all the goodies in this line including a custom Cricut collection. Thanks so much for stopping by, I appreciate you!
https://erinjacobson.closetomyheart.com/retail/product.aspx?sku=CC7206 
https://erinjacobson.closetomyheart.com/retail/product.aspx?sku=CC7201 
https://erinjacobson.closetomyheart.com/retail/product.aspx?itemid=13923 https://erinjacobson.closetomyheart.com/retail/product.aspx?sku=CC72011 
https://erinjacobson.closetomyheart.com/retail/product.aspx?itemid=13924 
https://erinjacobson.closetomyheart.com/retail/product.aspx?itemid=13950
Supplies:
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“Seven Outlaws” Crafting Through Covid-19
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.
Supply List
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You Captured My Heart
Hello and welcome! Today I am sharing a layout featuring the Mix In paper collection from CTMH. These mix-ins are designed to complement the existing paper suites but can be used as a stand-alone pack.
This kitty layout caught my eye on Pinterest. I knew I wanted to create this project and that the Mix-Ins would be perfect! Sometimes it is fun to scraplift a layout. It is a great way to try new techniques and develop your crafting skills. If you’d like to check this pin out for yourself, here is the link https://pin.it/c5gb3chx4ln7hw
Since I loved the original layout I followed it pretty closely. Although I might vote that my son, with the two baby goats, is cuter. But hey, I am biased. I did include some Nectarine cardstock for a bright pop of color and silver brads to add interest. You will notice I doodled lines around the edges of all the layered papers for a fun carefree vibe. I sanded my thin-cut hearts and love the look it gives with the white cardstock core revealed.
I didn’t have the measurements from the original project so I just eyeballed it. If you’d like to know any of the measurements from my layout, leave me a comment and I’ll be happy to get that for you. Below is a closer look at the bright colors and fun patterns included in this paper pack. Available through February, however always check the online-only section after the date passes. You can often goodies there past the catalog date! Yay!
Thank you for stopping by! See you soon.
Supplies:
- Mix In Paper pack
- Teeny-Tiny Type Stamp set
- I Chews You Stamp Set (Heart Thin-Cuts)
- Cricut Explore Air 2
- For Embossing: Heat Gun, White Embossing Powder, Versamark ink
- Julep Shimmer Brush
- Silver Brads
- Orange Twine (from my crafty stash)
- Tombo Mono Liquid Adhesive
- Tombow Tape runner
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Christmas Blessings
I am so happy I was able to escape into my craft room for a little creative time. The hustle and bustle of the holiday season have kept me on the move! When I saw the Cedar and Pine paper collection, I knew I wanted to scrapbook this photo of my husband and I! The classic feel of this collection, with its traditional color palette, is perfect!
This photo was taken of us at my husband’s holiday work party. Every year we get all dressed up, have a delicious dinner then dance until our feet hurt. The chipboard tag “Christmas Blessings”, made a perfect title. For the two of us to be able to slip away is truly a Christmas blessing! I wanted to add more red to the layout so I opted to create an embellishment cluster centered around the poinsettia. I used the Complete Creativity collection to cut the poinsettia, greenery sprigs and vellum leaves. You will notice I placed three embellishments clusters around my photo in a triangle shape to achieve a sense of balance. This is reinforced with pops of red in each cluster.
To dress the layout up a bit, I added shimmer to the poinsettia with my red shimmer pen. It’s difficult to see in the photo but trust me there is a ton of sparkle. I also used black shimmer trim to anchor my photo and compliment the sparkle in my dress.
I felt the vanilla cardstock needed a little something to finish it off. By tapping my Black Shimmer Pen, I added splatter to the background giving it a bit more detail. These gold glitter gems add to the poinsettia nicely. I love the glittery finish and detail they add to the design.
Above is a closer look at all the gorgeous patterned papers and sticker sheet included in this collection. Pictured below is the coordinating chipboard compliments. These are perfect for titles and creating embellishment clusters.
To see this layout come together, you can check out the process video below.
Supply List:
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“A Friend Like You” featuring the November SOTM
Hello crafty friends! Today’s layout was a dive into your scrappy stash and see what I can create kind of day. I blended 4 different collections including Every Little Thing, Craft On, I ❤️ Us, and Complete Creativity. I love being able to mix the old with the new and use up scraps and create something beautiful! This layout literally began with a pile of chevron strips leftover from another project. Since they were already cut in the Glacier cardstock, I found this photo to match my color scheme. Normally I start with the picture for my inspiration but this was a fun challenge to work backward.
The majority of my embellishments were created from the November stamp of the month pictured below. You can get this stamp set for only $5 with your purchase of $50. Just remember the “Family Time” stamp set will be available for November only. To create my embellishments I stamped the flowers in black pigment ink and then embossed them with clear embossing powder. This gives them a shiny finish. I used Thistle ink for the purple flowers and then stamped a second layer to the image in black. Silver glitter gems add a finishing touch when placed at the center of the flowers.
This stamp set is perfect for family layouts as well as Thanksgiving, Fall or even greeting cards. I can see the “hugs to you” on a fun handcrafted card for sure!
To round out my flower cluster I added stamped hand-trimmed floral sprigs. To add a bit of interest and texture, I tucked a few vellum embellishments from the Every Little Thing collection. The frame I cut with the stitched rectangle dies from Glacier cardstock. I like using the frames along with solid rectangle shapes to mat my photos. The frame allows the pattern paper to peek through while providing a home to showcase the pretty stamped flowers.
To watch this layout come together you can check out the Youtube video below.
Thank you so much for stopping by! Leave me a comment to say hello and as always, happy crafting!
Supply List:
- Complete Creativity (Chevron Strips)
- Family Time November SOTM
- Cardstock Colors: White Daisy, Glacier, Black
- Inks: Black pigment ink, Thistle
- Embossing tools: Clear embossing Powder, Heat Gun, Versamark ink
- Silver Glitter Gems
- Liquid Glass and Fine Tip Applicator
- Stitched Rectangle Dies
- Stitched Heart Dies
- Retired product from my crafty stash: paper packs – Craft On, I Heart Us, Every Little Thing Vellum Compliments
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“Autumn Air” October Stamp of the Month
Hello my crafty friends! It is fall time and yes, just like that, summer turned into fall 🍂!!! Welcome to the Stamp of the Month Blog Hop! We will be featuring October’s SOTM, Autumn Air. If you have come here from Ramona’s Blog, you are on the right path! The blog hop is a great big circle, so you can start here and work your way all around. If you get lost along the way, you’ll find the complete list of participating consultants on Melinda’s Blog.
This month we have approximately 29 Close To My Heart Consultants sharing their art work using this month’s SOTM and other great CTMH products on their blogs. This is simple to do – just click on the link at the end of the post on each blog to move to the next one! Here we go!
I created this fun layout featuring several CTMH products available in the current catalog. My title, “I Love Fall Most of All” is one of several title options from this fall inspired stamp set. I began this page with the “distressed chalkboard” paper from the mix in paper pack. There is so much fun detail in this background paper I didn’t want to cover it up! I kept my layout simple matting my photos on White Daisy card stock and then bordering one with a Hawthorn picture my life card to add a pop of saffron. To make my title stand out, I embossed the sentiment with white embossing powder. I gave it presence by adding a frame which I cut using our stitched rectangle thin cuts.
The fun banner I created with my Cricut. I cut several triangles from scraps leftover from both the Hawthorn and Mix-In paper packs. The larger triangles measure 1.25″ and the smaller at .75″ I love the look of both the plaid and text patterned papers! The sunflower is from the new Sunflower Sympathy stamp set and the white leaves I punched out of the Hawthorn workshop kit. This layout came together very quickly. The black, white and Saffron color palette makes me happy!
For my second project I again used the SOTM to emboss my title. You will notice that although the word Fall is the same, the rest of my title is different. I love that you can switch the stamp set up to change the look. You could also use Autumn 🍂 in place of Fall.
This layout was created with leftover scraps from the Hawthorn workshop. I did add a sheet of Sapphire card stock as my base and sanded around the edges to reveal the white core. Also from my stash, I added the kraft colored card stock behind my photo. I gave it a torn edge to add texture and interest.
The leaf 🍁 cluster I layered together with leftovers from the Hawthorn Kit. I love how there are so many different types of leaves! The outlined leaves contrast beautifully with the solid, text and stamped images. So pretty!!! Lastly I added a few amber colored rhinestones from my stash. To see this layout come together, and for a tip on adhering your embellishments all at once, check out the YouTube process video below.
Thank you for stopping by! Be sure to keep hopping around this blog hop to see more artwork. Click here to visit Lauren’s blog next!
Supply List: Autumn Air SOTM, Mix In paper pack, Hawthorn Workshop, White Daisy card stock, Sapphire Card stock, Saffron card stock, Kraft Card stock, Hawthorn Picture My Life cards, Sunflower Sympathy stamp set, Stitched Rectangle Thin Cuts, Gold Embellishing Thread, VersaMark ink pad, White Embossing Powder, Anti Static Pouch, Amber Rhinestones
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Summer Memories
Hello there friends! Today I’m sharing the first layout I created with the Sweet Girl paper collection. Yes that is correct, I said sweet girl. You are probably a bit surprised as my layout is rather boyish in nature and definitely outdoorsy. Being a mom of two rough and tumble boys I have had to train my eye to look past all the pinks, lace and florals that flood the scrapbooking industry. Don’t get me wrong I do love the look but it doesn’t always work well with my photos. When you look past it’s initial feminine appearance you see blues, greens, plaids, a bug patterned paper and even a wood grain paper! Super easy to pull off an adventurous boy page with these options. Be sure to scroll all the way down to see the video on how this all came together and to check out the Sweet Girl kit and coordinating embellishments! I’d love to hear from you so leave me a comment at the bottom of this page.
As you can see here, the little fly like insects are perfect for these fishing photos. I have layered up patterned paper and cardstock to highlight my main photo. The little banner adds a touch of carefree fun to the layout. What is nice about this is that I used a stamp to create the look. You can reuse this idea on other layouts and cards adjusting the ink color to suit your needs.
Here is a look at the Summer Memories stamp set. I used the phrases Summer and Memories to make a quick title for my layout. You will also notice I utilized the Sunshine and Blue Skies sentiment as well as the word This to start my journaling. For my banner I only selected the sun and star banner shape omitting the moon as it did not jive with my layout.
I thought it would be fun to add a pop of color and texture with some tangled thread. It evokes memories of constant tangled fishing line from my young fishermen and also making the perfect nesting spot to highlight this fly fishing embellishment I created from a retired stamp set.
Starting with White Daisy card stock I cut the circle with the Stitched Circles thin cut. The stitched marks around the border really add a nice finishing touch. The sentiment is stamped in Sapphire and then to add dimension I adhered the embellishment with foam tape. I anchored everything by creating a cluster with the added thread, star and little fishy character. Watch the video below to see how this layout came together and hear the story.
Pictured above is the Sweet Girl deluxe kit you can order here. The Summer Memories stamp set is included in the deluxe version. If you opt to get the paper kit or basic workshop you can purchase it separately here. Be sure to check out all the options for this collection and coordinating embellishments too! Thanks for stopping by! If you are veiwing this on ypur phone or tablet scroll down to see the awesome stamp of the month promo going on!
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The World is Yours cut above kit
Hello! I have been having so much fun creating with this kit Close to My Heart designed for national scrapbooking month. Today I’m sharing one of the cut above the layouts. I will admit that at first I wasn’t all that interested in the Cut Above scrapbooking kits. I was worried it would stifle my creativity and limit my flexibility because so much of it is done for you. I thought they would be good to teach beginner scrapbookers but I quickly discovered they are good for so much more!
I was inspired by what other scrapbookers did with these pre-design layouts. People view things differently and it was fun to see all the beautiful design variations! I found myself thinking oh wow, why didn’t I think of that? They are also perfect if you like to get together with friends while you craft. You can grab these ready to go kits, add a few extra items and off you go without having to pack your entire scrapbooking arsenal.
For this layout I used pictures of my son and I. We headed out to the lake for some mountain biking. It was such a lovely impromptu day. I snapped a few pictures with my phone to capture the memory. When I saw the bike themed embellishments included with this kit I knew it would be perfect!
I kept pretty true to the original layout simply adding a few strips of paper and swapping out the scooter for a bicycle to make it coordinate with my photos. I already had the World is Yours paper pack and stamp set so I could incorporate them easily into this layout. I highlighted the title with different shades of ink to give it more presence. Under the bicycle are two zip strips trimmed from the card stock on the coordinating paper pack. With all the soft lighter colors I felt the darker Coco Brown added some depth. Lastly I added some tangled thread to add some texture to this layout.
Check out the YouTube process video below to see the layout come together
Unfortunately this is a promo for the month of May but if you’d like to check out other awesome kits visit my online store here. You can buy one month at a time or subscribe for 4 months or the entire year! Thank you for stopping by! Leave me a comment to say hello and let me know what you think. See you next time!
