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! 

Washi Wednesday Meets #jrlcreativechallenge

I am so excited to share this washi project today...It has been on my brain's backburner FOREVER, but I finally got motivated and actually made it with the latest #jrlcreativechallenge -- getting creative with WASHI!

Washi is a super thin tape, so it doesn't add much bulk to your paper.  That means it will ALSO run through your Cricut machine stuck to CS!  :)

My first step was to design my cuts in Cricut Design Space so I could see exactly where on my paper to put the washi tape.  I used the following images from the Close to My Heart Artfully Sent Cartridge: the Celebrate Card (M10113C) sized at a 5 inch height, Pocket Card (M100F7D) sized at a 6 inch height, and Envelope #11 (MEF85D) sized at an 8.65 inch height.

After you save your design, click the GO button to view your mats.  This will show you exactly where to place your washi on a piece of CS.  In this case, I decided to go all out and washi the whole 9 x 12 CS!  :)

Here's a quick tip--go slowly when unrolling washi!  It is super-thin, so likes to come off before you are fully ready for it to rip sometimes.  Luckily, it is also easy to piece back together--bet you can't tell very easily where I had to!  ;)

I used my Non-Stick Micro Tip Scissors to trim the washi.

Next, place your CS on the cricut mat and cut away!

Another use for washi!  Holds your CS to your mat!  ;)

I decided to use just the letters for my first project.  I placed them roughly in the same places as they were on the cutting mat to align the washi lines...the black CS really made the colors POP!

A few silver sequins as embellishments, and I was done!  :)

Be sure to come back tomorrow to see what I did with the rest of the washi cuts!  :)

Here is a list of all the CTMH washi I used...

Honey Triangles
Silver Geometric
Ruby Chevron
Topiary Striped
Lagoon Hearts (cut in half lengthwise)
Sunset Chevron (cut in half lengthwise)

Stamp of the Month--last week to get yours!

Only a few more days for BOGO 50% OFF! 

Makeover Monday for My Creative Time!

I LOVE looking forward to Mondays, and Makeover Mondays are always something to look forward to!  :)

On Friday I shared this little PML card I made for my 2015 album...

 and I knew just how to spruce it up for my post today, and for the challenge Emma is having over at My Creative Time this month.  I used her amazing dies to create the perfect embellishments!  Here is the color inspiration...

Creative Challenge

Now, check out my PML card makeover!

LOVE the silver sequins.

You guessed it--it's been a pretty snowy winter near Chi-town!  :)

LOVE Emma's stitched flat-bottom clouds!

I used the MCT snowflake and stitched cloud dies, Close to My Heart Hopscotch PML cards, and an image from the Stamp of the Month shown below for the "sun."  The snowflakes are cut on a pattern from the Wanderful Paper Packet.

HUGE thanks to Emma for posting her challenges on the side of her blog now--SO easy to find!!!  :)

A Happy Hello!

BOGO Half-Off!

Washi Wednesday--Where's the Washi?

Welcome, welcome!  I have a GREAT little double page layout for you today, so come on in! 

If you are here for the first time, you picked the PERFECT day to drop in.  If you came from Katy's Blog, YOU are sooooo welcome here!  My fellow blogger and CTMH consultant friend nominated me for a very special Creative Blogger Blog Hop (read more about it on her blog.)  Katy, can you feel my hugs!?  Ooops, not so tight?  ;)

The idea for this one popped RIGHT into my inbox, believe it or not!  The link to this blog post over on Doodlebug Designs was JUST what I needed for a two page layout class coming up...I showed my Facebook followers just a sneak peek last week, so here is the entire thing!

BUT!!!  I sure didn't use washi, lol!  I used one of my most FAVORITE new products in the Annual Inspirations Idea Book from Close to My Heart--the Paper Fundamentals in both Whimsy and Basic Assortments.  The paper comes in a range of colors in each pack with a super pattern on one side and an embossed shiny pattern on the other...

I paired them up with the Confetti Wishes Complements and Silver Sequins for a super birthday layout!

I think the little strips of paper look just like a bunch of candles...

I will be teaching this layout and all the little tricks and tips at Scrappin' with Grace on September 27th.  Message me for more details at mimimyselfandi@outlook.com!  :)