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!

Mixing and Matching Magic

How many of you are completely intimidated by mixing and matching papers?  I am raising my hand (and waving it frantically) over here, so don't be shy!

Actually one of the MANY reasons I love Close to My Heart is the very fact that ALL of the mixing and matching is done FOR me...the patterns and colors are chosen to coordinate beautifully in each of the My Reflections Paper Packets.  I don't even have to guess to match solid colors either--our inks and cardstock come in colors to match, and did you know the matching colors are listed on the handy dandy zip strip on each patterned paper!?  They sure are!

Anyhow, I totally start to sweat  sparkle when I think about, gasp, MIXING paper packets.  Here is a super-sneak peek at an Easter layout I am working on with the Penelope and Regatta Papers...

I'll share the finished layout at the end of the week!

Until then, take a look at these FABULOUS paper combinations over on the Close to My Heart Blog!

Zoe meets Georgie

Zoe, Georgie, Kaleidoscope and Urban

Get this one before April is over!

Sending Prickly Hugs!

Happy St. Patrick's Day!!!  I'm a bit 'o Scot-Irish, so I have decked myself in green today, how about you?  Now let's get CRAFTY!!!

This new Close to My Heart My Acrylix stamp set has been one of my FAVORITES lately...

C1643 Stuck on You

One of my favorite things about it is that it happens to have a matching set of die cuts that you can use in any of your embossing machines!

Z3200 Stuck on You Thin Cuts

I had TONS of fun creating this little card with them last week along with a few other crafty faves...

I have been absolutely drooling over this Mama Elephant window die...

I colored my cute little barrel cactus with my ShinHan Alcohol Ink markers...

After embossing the rustic bricks from my Tim Holtz folder, I inked it up with Desert Sand Exclusive Ink.

 I LOVE the brick embossed on this card!!!  I think it looks like a little Italian building window...

Doesn't this stripey pattern from Penelope make a GREAT wallpaper?

I didn't take a pic, but the sentiment inside reads..."sending you a prickly hug!"  In case you didn't hear, the Thin Cuts are a HUGE hit and are selling like hotcakes!  The problem is that since they are SO new and impossible to guess on how to stock them, we have already run out of the floral set, Springtime Wishes!  If you are interested in any of the three remaining sets, I would scoop them up soon.  You could even buy two of the coordinating stamp sets and get the third one free with the Stampaganza sale going on NOW!!!

Hoppy Monday!

How cute is this little frog?

I just adore the little critters with banners on the Spring Critters My Acrylix from Close to My Heart.

There are so many fun sentiments to choose with this set.  AND just in case you were oogling my amazing cutting finesse, those blue lines around the images indicate there is also a matching Thin Cuts die available!  I used mine on my Sizzix Big Shot.  You can see how they work in the video below...

I matted this little Penelope patterned paper square on Canary CS and popped a Ghiradelli Square on the back as a little thank you treat. The frog pops with a little bit of foam tape.

NOW is THE perfect time to pick up this fab little size C stamp set...because when you buy 2 My Acrylix stamps from Close to My Heart, YOU GET ONE FREE!!!  Yes!  We have four sets available that coordinate with a matching Thin Cuts, so you could have loads of fun with them!  HERE are all the important details!

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! 

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!  :)

Balloon Animals are Stuck on You Again!

OK, yes, I did get that Balloon Animals card from THIS POST finally finished and out for delivery by my deadline.  Yay me!

Want to see how I upgraded it?  Here you go!

BEFORE...

AFTER!

I added another prickly cactus from the Stuck on You My Acrylix and some Red Enamel Hearts to liven it up a bit.  Check out all the rest of the products I used HERE.

What do you think?

Right now is the PERFECT time to pick up the Balloon Animals Stamp of the Month...and you can also take advantage of TONS of CLEARANCE items!  I cannot believe the prices are slashed so much!  You can get Picture My Life kits for less than $3!!!  Washi tape for under $2!!!  Embellishments for as low as $1!!!  Green Glitter paper tooooooo!  Go check it out on my website HERE!

Balloon Animals are Stuck on You

It felt so good to finally get crafty this weekend.  This card was particularly fun to make!  I was inspired by Melinda over at If You Bling It with THIS colorful creation of hers.  Here is my translation of her idea...

I completely threw this one together JUST as the National Anthem was being played on Sunday before the Super Bowl, so I still want to add some embellishments to the somewhat naked card before Valentine's Day.  I hope to get it out by Wednesday in the mail, so I'll repost it when I am finished.  I just really couldn't wait to share the idea with you so you can pick up this crazy fun Stamp of the Month soon!  :)

I used the Balloon Animals Stamp of the Month, Stuck on You My Acrylix and Thin Cuts, ShinHan Alcohol Ink Markers, and the Penelope Paper Packet.  The cloud background is actually found on one of the 4 x 6 PML cards in the pack!  I love how it creates an instant scene.  :)

Buy it in February for $17.95 OR get it for just $5 with a $50 order!  :)

Support Operation Smile today!

Thanks A Minion!

My school is participating in "kindness week" along with thousands of schools across the country.  To a paper crafter, this is an open invitation to GO MAKE SOMETHING!!!  :)

Well, I made MINIONS, lol!!!  (My CTMH website is undergoing maintenance as I type this, so I can't add the links with product names yet, boo!  I will get them added asap tomorrow!)

I used the New CTMH Paper Packet, Penelope, for the stripey background paper on this super-cute 3x3 thank you card.   HERE is the link to find directions on making these adorable Minion clips.  I found a really easy (and sparkly!) way to attach them to a card with my Shimmer Trim...

Looks like it is time for a new blade on my trimmer!  ;)

I used the A Thousand Thanks My Acrylix and a brand new Alphabet stamp set called Block Uppercase to create a custom sentiment for my card...and I eventually found the combination of Pacifica and Canary I liked the best.

I popped the letter "A" up on a simple punched shape.

These are such a great RAK gift!!!  I hope the ladies in the cafeteria like them!  :)

Don't forget to check the CLEARANCE section on my website today--they just added TONS!!!  Paper packets for $3 and $6 along with embellishments for less than $3!!!!  You can even search by category now!  :)