You'll Flip for the Flip Stand Album!

Ready for more Close to My Heart Flip Stand ideas?  Great!

This page was actually the very first one I created...because I loved the cover of our Spring and Summer Idea Book so much!

Since the Flip Stand pages I am making have a base of 5.5 inches by 6 inches, I had to make a smaller version of the 12 x 12 layout it features.  I used most of the same elements for mine...

I used papers from the Balloon Ride, Timberline, and Skylark Paper packets. 

The True to Life My Acrylix set is a GREAT neutral gender choice for scrapbooking.  None of the images scream "boy" or "girl" so you can use whatever ink colors you like to make it lean either way...or none at all like this cover page!

I accented the stamped images below with the Baker's Twine Neutral Metallic Assortment and a Grey Epoxy Bubble.

Isn't that wood grain paper from Timberline a fun print to tear?  This tab and the tag shape that go along with the True to Life images are cut from the Cricut Art Philosophy Cartridge exclusively available through Close to My Heart.

See those cute feathers?  They are stamped with the brand new Feathers My Acrylix.  I love the versatility of these great on-trend embellishments!

These alphabet stickers from the Keyboard Kraft Alphabet are one of my favorite things to use on layouts for labeling and journaling.  

Do you ever use the projects from the Idea Book to create your own pages?  We absolutely encourage you to!  It is a fantastic resource for your scrapbooking and cardmaking, so be sure to ask your Close to My Heart consultant how to get one today!  If you don't have a consultant, you can purchase one on my website along with any of these products featured in my layout here on my website:

 mimimyselfandi.ctmh.com

Cricut Artbooking Layout for the Seeing Red Challenge

Hi everyone!  Happy Friday!

I took some time out from packing for a weekend crop today (lol, I leave tomorrow) to make this layout that popped into my head.  Listen, when a layout calls, I listen!  ;)

This one is for the Fantabulous Cricut Challenge Blog, and as far as I can recall, it's my very first time playing along over there.

I used the Close to My Heart Artbooking Cartridge for all the Cricut cuts on my layout.  The CS is from Close to My Heart in White Daisy and Ruby, and the wonderful woodgrain pattern paper is from the brand new Timberline Paper Packet.

I adore the over lay key on this cartridge!  I used it to cut the conjoined hearts background.  The heart banner and LOVE photo mat are all on this same key (I will post the page up soon!)  I used red shimmer trim between two cuts of the banner to accent the hearts.

This photo mat is cut at 6.25 real dial size to fit my picture and then layered with a piece of CS that I trimmed one edge of with my Scallop Border Punch.  I added the Keyboard Kraft Alphabet to make a cute title.

This cluster took a lot out of me, lol!  I played around a bit until it struck me, so I love it even more!  I used the Mini Medley Accents Ruby Collection, Marquee Enamel Shapes, Red Shimmer Trim, and Midtown Cork Shapes.

This was a fun layout to put together!  The pictures show us at the zoo on a COLD day for a school event.  The kids loved hanging out with their friends, and this picture of them snuggled up warm in the kangaroo's pouch was an awesome photo op!  ;)

I am also linking this up with Heart 2 Heart's February Scrapbooking Challenge to show a cuddly cozy moment.  I did it!!!  :)

Now I am off for the weekend, so see you soon!  Take a peek at these February specials from my website!  

Happy Birthday, Daddy! Bazinga!

Hi there!  I have a fun and trendy birthday card to share with you today!  I apologize profusely for not knowing any better, but my father LOVES the show Big Bang Theory.  I, however, have never even seen it!  Oooops!  I googled his favorite character, Sheldon, and all I could find was this word-- BAZINGA!

Well, there was only one thing to do!  Phone a friend!  Hahaha, I did, and thankfully she is a fan of the show too, so sent me the link to a great little Bazinga-fest on YouTube.  Thank you, Beth!

I decided I had only one choice....go BAZINGAS!  ;)  Here is the final crazy card I made for my daddi-o's birthday...

Lots of hip and happening stuff going on here!  Arrows are hot right now, so I had to use them.  One of the trendsetting new My Acrylix in the Autumn/Winter Close to My Heart Idea Book is One Way Borders.  I stamped one of the arrow themed borders in Whisper in both on the front of the card and on the inside to tie them together.  Also, I had recently invested in some sequins to expand my sparkle inventory--SO excited to use them!!!

Here is a quick tip for lining up your lettering...use a sticky note!  This totally works, trust me!

There is a pretty nifty "dirty" stamp in the Laughing Lola Workshop on the Go Cardmaking Kit.  I really like the added grunge to this card when I stamped it in Whisper Ink.

How do you like my Twist Tie lightning zig-zags?  I loved combining all the different elements into a totally new look for me!  The cork shapes are in the Color Ready Midtown Cork Shapes.   I just left them cork color.  ;)

  Just as I did on the front of the card, I used the Kraft Keyboard Alphabet to make the sentiment on the inside.

I hope he had one BAZINGA of a day!  :)

Using Close to My Heart's NEW Artbooking Cartridge in a Stampless Layout

Wow, I guess that was a looooong title for this post!  This simple, yet tasteful layout sure didn't take that long though!  I used this quick layout at my Idea Book Preview Workshop, and everyone loved it!

(Sorry for the glare--I was pressed for time, so just had to take it in the page protector.) 

Anyhow, let me walk you through how I made this one with my CTMH products--it won't take long!  This layout is on page 72 of the Artbooking handbook.  I cut the overlay in Chocolate CS at a RELATIVE dial size of 11 on my E2.  Then I used the leaf cut-outs from that to trace on the back of my glitter paper and hand-cut them to add some popped-up leaves to the page.

I then changed the dial size to 10 to cut the photo mat in Colonial White and the word "grateful" in Outdoor Denim.  You do NOT have to change the dial size at all when cutting the pieces for your layout if you would like to make the page as pictured in the handbook.  My creative nature forces me to not conform, however, lol, so I make things more difficult on myself all the time.  Sheesh!

I found the sweet parenthesis on page 81 and set the REAL dial size to 4 to cut it on New England Ivy CS.  I let the ladies at my workshop use the Keyboard Kraft Alphabet stickers to add their own personal touch.

Some of the ladies found ways to add their own unique style to the page and made it their own!  One of my friends decided to wait to add the leaves because she wanted to put pics of her kids in the negative spaces of the leaves!  How brilliant is that?!  I love when my customers knock it out of the park!  :)

SO, did you notice what is missing from this page?  In a previous post I asked this question and nobody ever answered correctly, lol!  INK!  There is absolutely NO STAMPING on this layout!  You could absolutely add some awesome touches if you want, but it isn't necessary with the Artbooking Cartridge at all!  The cardstock can stand entirely on its own very nicely.  Did I ever mention how much I am loving this new CTMH Cricut cartridge?  I did!  TODAY is your last chance to PRE-order this fantastic new collection and be one of the first to get you hands on it!  Click here to see what you might win if you do!  :D

Tag, You're It!

I recently discovered that I LOVE making gift tags!  The only problem is that I rarely need to give a gift, lol, so I have a growing collection of tags.  ;)

This one is specially made to enter the Heart 2 Heart Blog Challenge, Tag, You're It.

I started off with this one thinking about woodgrain, so wanted to use the Dakota Paper Packet.
Instead of the woodgrain paper, though, I made my own with some Kraft Cardstock, Saddle Ink, and the wood stamp from the Universal Backgrounds My Acrylix.  I attached this paper to a tag shape that I got from the Dimensional Elements Tags set and covered with Colonial White Cardstock shapes cut to match the tag exactly from the Cricut Art Philosophy Cartridge.

The flower incorporates both sides of one sheet of B&T Duo paper.   I inked the edges with Outdoor Denim Ink to give each layer some definition.  Yep, it was messy, but oh, so worth it!   I LOVE the way it turned out!!!  The leaves are made of Olive ribbon from the retired Designer Ribbon Green Collection.

I used the flower cut on page 54 of the Cricut Artiste Cartridge which I cut at 1.75, 1.5, 1.25, and 1 inch on my E2 cutting machine to form the layers of the flower.

At the center of the flower is a tiny button from the Buttons Basic Assortment that has a thread of the burlap ribbon tied in the center.  I used one that I had carefully pulled from the edges of the ribbon to make it fray a bit.

I selected a versatile THANKS sentiment for my tag that I fashioned with the brand new Keyboard Kraft Alphabet stickers from Close to My Heart.  I also added a houndstooth pattern Irresistibles Frame to ground my embellishments.  The Hemp Bakers Twine that I used as the tie of the tag is in the Mini Medley Accents Wooden Collection.

Do you like to make gift tags?  Have you ever tried one?  Now just might be the time to give it a go and link your creation up with the Heart 2 Heart Challenge!  You have until the end of the month to enter.  :)