Happy Times at LAST!!!

I finally got to sit down and chop up the new Happy Times Paper Pack from Close to My Heart this weekend!  This paper pack is offered this month as a celebration of National Scrapbook Month--and you can get it for FREE with a $60 purchase on my website! 

I paired the papers up with one of the Watercolor--Gold Picture My Life cards...

Ready to see it?  OK!  The ombre 12 x 12 paper matched my kiddo's Dora the Explorer costume SO perfectly.  I broke it up with that fabulous woodgrain and used a few of my favorite patterns from Happy times as banners. I even manages to slip in a leftover Cricut negative cut!  :)

Zip strips are SUCH a perfect addition to any page!  These half-inch wide strips of pattern come attached to each My Reflections Paper from Close to My Heart.  Just trim it off to use!  There are two in the layout below--yellow with white polka-dots, and pink with gold ones...

I didn't even think very hard while painting this...just brushed strokes of the three watercolor paints across the PML card.  Once it dried, I cut out the part I wanted to use as a banner...

These gold foil alpha stickers are in the Fundamentals Basic Stickers.

This awesome flower was attached to the packaging of some chocolate truffles I bought for Mother's Day--isn't it perfect!?  (Don't judge! I bought them for someone I didn't end up seeing--and won't see for a while, so had to take one for the team and eat them myself, lol! It WAS sort of meant to be, eh?)

Bling comes in all shapes and sizes!  Here I used the Florence Sequins and Gold Bling Gems.

Now, there is also a matching stamp set to go along with Happy Times...and you can snag it or the paper this month for HERE.  My next project uses some of these SWEET flowers.  Not sure when I can finish it up, so stay tuned!  Have a SUPER week!

Mixing and Matching Magic Part 2

I apologize for the delay in getting this layout posted!  I took my hubs to have a hernia repaired today, and didn't quite get this written up before we left.  He is doing great, and I just might have a crafty day tomorrow while he heals up!  :)

Here is my Easter layout featuring not 1, not 2, but THREE different Close to My Heart My Reflections paper packs! Mixing and matching papers is a bit intimidating at first, but once you start, the possibilities are endless!

I started off interestingly enough, with the title word, "happy" in the Penelope Complements.

I cut this half of my title on my Cricut Explore with the Artistry Cartridge.  I love the little patterns in the Fundamentals Papers...this one is Canary in the Whimsy Collection.

I colored my silver sequins with the ShinHan Alcohol ink markers to match!

I had a couple of obstacles to overcome when putting this layout together...one of those being my complete lack of knowledge as to when this particular egg hunt took place, lol.  That was easy enough to remedy by using the Fundamentals Stickers for the year...I just left the last number off for when I can find the date...and a blank journaling box.

These eggs were cut on my Cricut in a pattern from the Kaleidoscope Paper Pack.

The second issue I dealt with was my kiddo's choice of "Easter" egg hunt clothing, lol.  She is a die-hard Chicago Bulls and Blackhawks Fan, so her wardrobe is HEAVILY red.  My Penelope Paper is PERFECT for this with that touch of red in the PML card sheet, but I needed to pull in a strip of Ruby from the Regatta Paper Pack to add a bit more...

LOVE these glittery Playful Puffies!

I adore how this grass turned out!  I used the Limeade Washi stuck to White Daisy CS and my Fiskars grass border punch to create a little border on two photos...

Did you notice one of my favorite features of CTMH paper packs?  That yellow woodgrain pattern is a ZIP strip! What is a zip strip?  It is a 1/2 inch strip of paper along the side of each of our 12 x 12 pattern papers--once you cut it off there is a true 12 x 12 paper left, plus you have another embellishment that coordinates with your papers!  :)

Many of the supplies I used are available in the Workshops Your Way Penelope Scrapbooking Kit.
This makes it super-easy to have embellishments that coordinate with your papers.  It also provides you with a download that gives you directions for making three layouts and even some cards!  Most of the products I used are not available after April, so be sure to check them out soon!

Only in April!

PLUS, earn a FREE Cricut Collection!  Only in April!

Balloon Animals Zoo Layout

I showed my Facebook followers a little peek at this layout title over the weekend, so I can't keep them waiting much longer, lol...

Speaking of Facebook...how many of you utilize it for keeping track of WHEN your pictures were taken?  I seriously blanked when the time came to date these pics, but Facebook came to my rescue...since I had posted them on the day of the event!  :)

The lettering is from the Cricut Artistry Cartridge and I just elongated it on Design Space before I cut it out on my Explore.

The framed image on the Close to My Heart Balloon Animals Stamp of the Month serves as a great little frame for the letters in my layout title!  I stamped in Sapphire Ink on Crystal Blue CS. The shapes are cut from the Artistry Cartridge on my Cricut Explore where I was able to tweak the size a bit for the inner white shape in Design Space.  It was then that I discovered my carrier sheet has incorrectly listed the size to cut in order for the stamped image to fit.  It should be a height of 1.25 inches, NOT the .75 it has listed.  Does anyone else have that issue?

I stamped this little guy in Eggplant Ink.

I used the super-springy Penelope Papers for my background.  Some Fundamentals Stickers and Silver Sequins round out my embellishment clusters for a quick and easy layout!  :)

Time is quickly running out to get your Balloon Animals Stamp set!  February is just about history!

You can still Share the Love with this special My Acrylix stamp AND donate $7 to Operation Smile! 

Fundamental Friday Returns!

Yes, it HAS been a while since I have shared a Fundamental Friday layout featuring the fantastic Close to My Heart Fundamentals products...so here you go!

I had SUCH a fun time making an album for my daughter full of pics from her first year of college.

For this page I used the Paper Fundamentals Basics in Black for the base and spruced it up with a title made from stickers included in the Adventure and Enchantment packs.  A sprinkle of White Enamel Gems rounds out this simple styled layout.

As you can see, it is FUNdamentally simple to put together fabulous layouts with these coordinating products!  They truly make scrappin' your pics FUN and easy!  :)

Only in February!

Only in February, too!

A Zoo Layout with Balloon Animals

It has been snowing here, so I am happily scrappin' in my craft cave!

Here is a super fun layout I threw together using the Close to My Heart Penelope paper and compliments as well as the Balloon Animals Stamp of the Month for February...

Of COURSE I used Penelope zip strips at the bottom!  :)

I can thank my friend (and fellow CTMH scrapper) Shelly for the following trick using the Fundamentals Sticker Assortments.  Just trim the extra sticker packaging around the letters for a second use!  :)

These silver foiled vellum clouds from the Penelope Compliments are now my favorite embellishment EVER!!!

These little balloon animals are SO versatile!  I have seen them in layouts, baby cards, birthday cards, birthday decor, and cards for other occasions too!  I rock and rolled mine in Canary and then Sorbet Ink.

If you like these guys as much as I do, don't wait because this My Acrylix set is only available for purchase on my CTMH website in February!  :)

Close to My Heart Focus on Fundamentals: A Closer Look

Did I ever tell you how much I ADORE the new Close to My Heart Paper Fundamentals line of coordinating products???  Oh, yeah, I sure DID!!!

It is Fundamental Friday on my blog today, so I wanted to share my latest layout...

I really love to use the Fundamentals Papers as backgrounds for my layouts...

You can't see it terribly well in the pic, but the title starts with the word, LIFE on the left of the pic...

I used a variety of letters from the Fundamentals Stickers...AND this super-cute sparkly heart from the Purple Enamel and Glitter Duos.

These stickers are absolutely the BEST thing!

Take a better look at the entire line of Fundamentals Products in this video!  Check out that layout on the left when you watch the video--it's my daughter!  :)

Fundamental Friday AND a Makeover!

I created this layout using the gorgeous artwork created by CTMH corporate as my inspiration.  It is actually the very layout they used to feature my daughter's senior pictures...

I don't have those actual pics printed in the same sizes, so I created a totally new twist on the layout...

I used a variety of colors from the Paper Fundamentals Packs...New England Ivy, Sapphire, Fern, and Whisper.  The colors complemented my assorted pics SO well, and I just can't get enough of the pop of white matting!

I just LOVE using the Mini Stapler to attach elements of a layout.  It is a super alternative to adhesive!

The variety of colors in the Fundamentals Stickers will allow you to find just the right combination for your layouts...

Another new addition to the Fundamentals line--Assortments...I used the Gold to add a great little bow and glittery hearts...

The wooden heart embellishment is ALSO included in the Fundamentals Assortment!

This was one of the most fun layouts to put together lately, but it could be the excitement and fun of the subjects at college, lol!  Have a FANTASTIC weekend, my friends!  Remember...

Twinkle is only here for ONE month!