Well, officially I am a couple of days late with this wish, hahaha...but when you get busy crafting, you are sometimes late. ;)
I got together with some old and new customers at my friend's house to create this easy-peasy layout inspired by the Close to My Heart Seasonal Expressions Idea Book...
I just love that I can use the layouts featured in our catalogs to create a bit faster and easier...
I also ADORE the new Worshops Your Way instructions that include ways to add more photos to your layout with these new page protector sizes!
Using Thin Cuts is just one way to create some easy embellishments on pages...
Zip strips are another way to add some coordinated pattern and color...did you know they come on every 12 x 12 pattern paper in the paper suites? They do!
I used the following Close to My Heart supplies for this page...
You can STILL get this amazing paper wreath project for FREE on my website for two more days! Just fill your cart with $60 of products from your wish list, and then you will be prompted to add it for FREE!!! You can buy as many as you want for just $18.95 too! :)
The whole reason I purchased the Cricut Explore when I already had a perfectly good Expression 2 (and others, lol) was to be able to upload cut files other than those on Cricut Cartridges.
AND I finally used one on a scrapbook layout! :)
My crafty friend, Kelly, was INSTRUMENTAL in getting me through this process...she makes the BEST process videos and made THIS ONE that explains how to use a cut file from The Cut Shoppe. It is at the end of her blog post, so scroll on down after you follow the link. ;)
ANYhow...as you can see in her video, it's pretty much a process of slicing and duplicating images over and over so takes patience at first to get the hang of it. I used some of her tricks to make the title in White Daisy, Peacock, and Sea Glass CS from Close to My Heart...
I really love to use my scraps, and did I EVER come up with a clever way to use my glitter paper die cut leftovers...as icicles!
I used another TCS file to make the bottom border of trees and mountains...adding some Emerald CS, All Together Complement bits, and leftover cricut scraps from the snowflakes! ;)
My journaling is pretty limited sometimes, but I always make sure to include a date and names!
This was a super-fun intro for me into the world of cut files...and I will be posting something up on my Instagram to play along with the new CUT IT OUT challenge! I can't wait to have time for more! Are YOU scrapping with cut files?
I am LOVING this system to store my stand alone Thin Cuts!!! I store the Thin Cuts that coordinate with any stamp sets WITH the stamps in the envelope. Hope this helps you in your storage resolutions this year!
I am SO glad you stopped in today because DO WE ever have a treat for you!
The ladies over at Blog Hops with Heart are ringing in 2017 with a little bit whole lot of Sparkle!
Let me say, that pictures can not do this little piece of work justice! I tried in several different settings and lighting, and could not get a shot that I loved. I hope you can imagine how much it really shines!
I am not a resolution girl at all...so I have taken a more "thematic" approach to my New Year. I have been told I have a sparkly personality, and I have amazing strands of glitter sprouting in my hair, let me tell you. I think this theme is really going to suit me...
The highlight of the project is definitely the Sparkle shaker. This die cut comes in the brand NEW My Girl Complements from Close to My Heart. I used a combination of elements from the Papertrey Ink Kit, random sequins from my stash, and some stitched rectangle dies from My Creative Time to fashion the shaker element.
My theme inspiration hangs perfectly meshed on my picture wall in the foyer. Hopefully this little reminder leads me to calmly sparkle my way through 2017!
Thanks for sticking with me through all those pics! Now follow the trail of glitter to Becca's Blog for some more sparkle and shine! Happy New Year!
I was sooooooo happy to ring in the new year with a new Mojo like this, and hope she loves it!
If you are a crafty peep with birthday cards laying around, why not send one off to her today (read the story in my link at the beginning if you have no idea what I am talking about...?) I bet you have a stash ready to go! :)
Welcome to 2017...and welcome National Papercrafting Month!!!
I briefly introduced you to this GEM of a kit that you can actually get for FREE this month! It is called the Welcome Home Wreath Kit from Close to My Heart. Here's mine all finished...
I absolutely love it sooooooooo much more than I ever thought I would! It was super easy to punch out the floral parts and assemble it with my trusty Liquid Glass. No hot glue gun required, so no worries!!! Here are a few close ups...
I added a new Gold Glitter Gem to the center of each rose and on each side of the "Welcome" banner.
Sea. Glass. Glitter. Paper. Boom.
Now for some tips and tricks to use if you want to assemble one of these beauties yourself!
1. It took me a good 4 hours to really personalize mine the way I wanted. I inked the edges of most of the papers. Do it! If you do--ink everything FIRST! I used Topiary Ink on the truest green leaves and petals,New England Ivy on the rose leaves, and Fern Ink on the rest of the greenery. The blue flowers petals I edged with a light hand in Peacock Ink--yep I know, pretty dark! I love the contrast, but you could go lighter with Glacier for a more subtle effect. Your fingers will be very inky, so wash your hands really well before assembly too--do NOT touch those white roses after inking--curl them FIRST and hide them, lol, or make sure your fingers are good and clear of smudging ink on them. Actually, just roll them first!
Look at the difference in the petals of the succulents both inked and non...
2. Add glitter if you like! I ended up adding layers of my gorgeous Sea Glass glitter paper to the blue flowers...and it was super easy! I just used the empty punch outs as a stencil to trace on the back side of the glitter paper...then cut them out! These cuts are also available on the Flower Market Cricut Cartridge, but I only wanted to cut a few, so this was way faster and conserves the glitter paper.
The glitter paper is pretty thick, so I peeled off that back layer to let the petals curl more easily later...
3. Add the twigs and leaves as you go...not at the beginning! Better yet, lay it all out like I did before you start gluing anything to the hoop...flowers first, making sure you know which ones are layered over others, then see where you want to add the other greenery and twigs. Place your banner so you know where you would like it to be as well--before you attach anything! After I knew I liked the arrangement, I took a picture for reference. I glued the large white rose on first and kind of made my way out from there.
If you can't wait to get your hands on one of these kits there are 4 great ways to do that! Three of those ways get it to you FREE!!!! You can purchase the kit on my website for just $18.95. You can get it for FREE along with a $60 order, OR earn it free as a Hostess when your party reaches level 2 in sales, OR you can get one FREE when you join my team this month!!! Now the only question left is, how are you going to snag one? :)
Here is a GREAT little video to show you the kit assembly!
