Second Chance Challenge at Sketchy Thursdays

So I decided last minute to enter this challenge at Sketchy Thursdays, and this is the card I came up with. Can you believe I only used white cardstock? No patterned paper! This must be a first for me. I also tried working with a new size- 3.5 x 8. I really like the results! Oh yeah, I also used a colour combo from Jeannette Lynton's blog, posted a few weeks ago on December 7. The colours are Sorbet, Crystal Blue, Cocoa, and Outdoor Denim. The brads are silver, so I'm not sure why they turned out looking brown- must be the flash. Happy New Year, and thanks for looking!

Supplies (all CTMH): White Daisy cardstock, Exclusive Inks stamp pads in Sorbet, Crystal Blue, Cocoa, and Outdoor Denim, Friendship Word Puzzle and Intrinsic Backgrounds My Acrylix stamp sets, Bigger Brads in Silver, and White Daisy embossing powder

Other: clear embossing powder, Versamark Ink

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Finally finished!

I've been working on this mini album for a while, and I finally finished it! Yay! The fun part was getting rid of some scraps that I'd been hoarding. I sure like that feeling, so maybe I'll try to get rid of some more on my next projects. It was also fun to use Close to My Heart's Memory Protectors Flip Flaps. These allow you to overlap photos or journaling blocks to fit more on a page. In this case, I used them to hide some gratuitous nudity (from my husband, not me!). Not full frontal or anything too obscene, but still, not appropriate for a family friendly blog site, tee hee!

Supplies (all CTMH): My Creations 3-Ring Binder, Delightful Alphabet, Campin' Fever, and Picture Perfect My Acrylix stamp sets, Exclusive Inks stamp pad in Desert Sand, Memory Protectors Flip Flaps, Natural Hemp

Other: cardstock (various), patterned paper from Basic Grey, Scenic Route and Doodlebug Designs (flocked), journaling spots from Prima, Heidi Swapp, and Little Yellow Bicycle, stickers from 7 Gypsies, acrylic paint from DecoArt

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Check out this card!

This card is inspired by Michelle Zindorf, and I just love it! Can you believe this was once a 4.5 x 4.5 inch piece of white cardstock? Anyway, if you have never seen or tried one of Michelle's tutorials, you should really check them out. This one was a lot easier than it looks.

Supplies (all CTMH): White Daisy, Black, and Smokey Plum cardstock, Exclusive Inks stamp pads in Black, Blush, Hollyhock, and Smokey Plum, Hearthrob and Key to My Heart My Acrylix stamp sets, sponge

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Mojo Monday Week 118

I liked today's Mojo Monday sketch when I first saw it, but it took me a bit of reworking to get this card made! At first I had a circle accent that I was going to put a blue button in the center of, then I was going to use twill ribbon, and then I didn't know how to get a sentiment on there (I was going to stamp one on the twill). Finally, I saw this One of a Kind sticker that seemed to match perfectly, and I'm pretty pleased with the results.

Supplies (all CTMH): Colonial White card base, Tulip cardstock, patterned paper (backside) from Life Delights Level 2 paper pack, patterned paper (stars) from Stardust Level 2 paper pack, sticker from Perfect Day Level 2 My Stickease

Other: patterned paper (rose patterned) and ribbon

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Boat Fever!

Here's another layout I finished quite quickly using Close to My Heart's book, Reflections. It's about my son last year, and how crazy he was about boats. He used to look at the brochures for hours, choosing the boat that was right for him. I think this was the second time he fell asleep looking at the brochure, and we decided to have a little fun with him by putting on the fireman's hat. Poor little guy, he just had no concept of money whatsoever. Still doesn't, really!

Supplies (all CTMH): patterned paper from Rough 'n' Tumble Level 2 paper pack and backside of Life Delights Level 2 paper, White Daisy and Clover Meadow cardstock, Giggle Caps My Acrylix stamp set, White Daisy embossing powder, Reflections pattern "Bottom Border-Title" (rotated 90 degrees)

Other: Versamark ink, green fine-tip pen from Creative Memories

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Sketchy Thursdays Challenge 12.17

I've been meaning to enter a Sketchy Thursdays Challenge for a while, but something always prevents me. Not this time! I love how this layout turned out, and it took next to no time. The hardest part was choosing a background paper. Don't you love this one from the Twitterpated pack? The journaling talks about how my son has always loved anything noisy or with a motor. Luckily this one time he tried my blow dryer didn't turn into an obsession!

Supplies (all CTMH): patterned paper from Twitterpated and Notebook Level 2 paper packs

Other: fine tip black pen from Creative Memories

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SPCC #28 and Sketchy Thursdays

Would you send this picture with your Christmas cards? At first I thought no, I shouldn't, but you try getting a photo of all four of us and see how much luck you have! So, this is it. I got 25 copies made, and they're being mailed as I write this. I think anyone who knows us will realize, this is pretty much what we're like!

I decided to use the colour combo from this week's SPCC challenge: Pumpkin Pie, Bordering Blue, and Almost Artichoke. I did my best with matching these colours with supplies from my stash, and had fun with all the painting. Kind of a departure from my usual style. I was surprised at how well these colours went with my photo. Definitely a combination I would never choose on my own. I also used a sketch from Sketchy Thursdays, although I was just a bit late to enter the contest. Oh well, love the sketch, and the results! Thanks for looking.

Supplies (all CTMH): White Daisy cardstock, patterned paper (reverse side) from Life Delights Level 2 paper pack, Intrinsic Backgrounds My Acrylix stamp set

Other: journaling spot and ghost letters from Heidi Swapp, lace from Prima, Rainforest Green and Squash Blossom acrylic paint from Deco Art, olive bold-tip pen from Creative Memories, photo corner

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Mini Baby Album

This was a relatively quick project that I finished just in time for Christmas. It's for one of my best friends, who had a baby boy at the end of October. She doesn't scrapbook, (even though she should!) so I thought this would be easy for her to just fill in with 4x6 photos whenever she can. It's got space for a picture for each of the first 12 months, plus an intro page and a birthday page. I hope she likes it!

Supplies (all CTMH): My Creations Display Album, patterned paper and cardstock from Animal Cookies Level 2 paper pack, Exclusive Inks stamp pad in Tulip, The Works Alphabet My Acrylix stamp set, embossing powder in White Daisy

Other: Versamark ink

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2010 Layout Challenge

Some other Canadian Close to My Heart consultants and I have decided to take part in a challenge for 2010. I have set a goal to complete 120 layouts in the next year, so that works out to around 2 per week, which I think is manageable. (Actually, if I'm on mat leave, maybe I'll be able to do more, or is that just wishful thinking?) Check out the side bar, where you can link up to any of the ladies taking part in the challenge and see what they're up to as well.

Anyway, one of my strategies to get more scrapbooking done will be be to do what you see above: pre-making a whole bunch of layouts using one of CTMH's design books in advance, and then filling in the photos and journaling later. As you can see, I'm still not finished all of the journaling, but I am quite pleased with the results. Much thanks goes to Amy Hervey, a CTMH consultant, for developing this workshop, which is a Cherish 10-from-1 workshop (meaning you can make 10 pages from 1 Level 2 paper pack).

Supplies (all CTMH): patterned paper and cardstock from That's Amore Level 2 paper pack, Chocolate Alphabet Large and Small, Moments in Time, Key to My Heart, and Reminisce My Acrylix stamp sets, Exclusive Inks stamp pads in Cocoa and Tulip, Exclusive Inks marker in Cocoa, patterns from Cherish

Other: flowers from Prima, brads

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SPCC #27 and Mojo Monday #116

I have been so busy scrapbooking that I haven't made any cards in a while. Not sure who will get this one, but I love the two-tone blue mixed with the brown of the Kraft cardstock, so I guess it should go to someone special.

Supplies (all CTMH): White Daisy card base, patterned paper from Sweet Home Level 2 paper pack, Exclusive Inks stamp pads in Indian Corn Blue, Crystal Blue, and Desert Sand, stamps from Holiday Warmth My Acrylix stamp set, Natural Hemp

Other: Kraft cardstock

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My First Baby

At the craft day on Saturday, I finally got to play a bit with my Felicity pack. This is an exclusive paper pack and stamp set from Close to My Heart that will be available for free or purchase in January, so stay tuned for details. I thought these colours would work well with the orange-ish coat of my poor old cat. Zeus last year came to greet my dad, then jumped out of his arms and took off to the farm below our property (very unlike him to jump away when he was being cuddled). He never came home. We figure he just went off to die alone. He was such a good cat, and truly my first baby.

Supplies (all CTMH): patterned paper and stamps (alpha and argyle) from Felicity pack, Colonial White textured cardstock, Exclusive Inks stamp pad in Olive, Reflections pattern Half and Half-Balanced

Other: Olive bold-tip pen from Creative Memories

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Happy Birthday, Papa Toots!

I went to a craft day at my husband's office on Saturday, and it was a lot of fun. I met some really nice ladies, nearly all of whom were quilting. It's probably a good thing I don't sew, because it would be hard to find time to scrapbook and do a hobby like that on top. I always think I'm going to do soooooo much at a crop, and then I'm lucky to get a couple of pages done. This is the one I made for my hubby for his 37th birthday. It tells how he's making me old by making me worry about all of his injuries. This was a knee injury, but he tends to get things in his eyes (wood, metal, popcorn) and then there was the time he almost cut his finger off with an axe...

Supplies (all CTMH): patterned paper from Animal Cookies Level 2 and Back Country Level 2 paper packs, White Daisy and Indian Corn Blue cardstock, The Works Alphabet My Acrylix stamp set, White Daisy embossing powder, Front and Center-Space page design from Reflections

Other: Versamark Ink, Uniball Signo white pen, Creative Memories navy bold-tip pen and black fine tip pen

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SPCC #26

I found this quiz I gave my kids ages ago on this computer a while back. Good thing I saved it! I love looking back and remembering what they were like, even a year ago. They change so much so fast! At first, I wanted to use my CTMH Aspen paper pack, because it's so wintery, but when I saw the colours for this weeks SPCC challenge, I thought, "Ailis has a purple coat, Nolan's wearing red mitts, the snow is white, why not?" So I worked on the layout all week, using a very balanced design from Reflections called "Front and Centre-Trio", and finally finished it last night. I was ready to post it to my blog and enter it in the challenge, and wouldn't you know my husband just HAD to watch the newest episode of Dexter online. I decided to oblige, seeing as it was his birthday. (As an interesting aside, I used to watch Dexter with him, until one of the characters badmouthed scrapbooking. How dare she? Turned me right off!) So I missed the deadline for the challenge, but what the heck, I'll post my page anyway.

Do you think it needs something in the bottom centre section? I think it looks a little bare. I am open to suggestions!

Supplies (all CTMH): White Daisy and Tulip cardstock, patterned paper (back side) from Life Delights Level 2 paper pack, alpha stamps from Felicity pack, White Daisy embossing powder

Other: Versamark ink, Arial font, Uniball Signo pen, Creative Memories album

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Luau Girl

Aren't these photos adorable? My little girl Ailis loves to dance and dress up, and so of course I had to buy her this hula outfit when I was in Hawaii. Once again, though, it took me forever to print out these photos and get them on paper, but I sure love the way this layout came together. Although it did feel a bit strange to be working with summer photos in the middle of this cold snap...

Supplies (all CTMH): Vanilla Cream and White Daisy cardstock, Key to My Heart, Giggle Caps Alphabet, and Picture Perfect My Acrylix stamp sets, Exclusive Inks stamp pad in Olive, Watercolour pencil in Olive, Cherish pattern "Dramatic Fashion"

Other: patterned paper from Scenic Route Paper Co., Bazzill Basics green cardstock

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Twitterpated Layout

Close to My Heart has a very active online community, and on our Bulletin Board, we have a section where consultants can post their artwork. Well, one consultant started a challenge where she chooses a design from either Imagine or Cherish, CTMH's wonderful scrapbooking design books, and people can post the layouts that they finish using the same blueprints. It's pretty cool to see the different looks that can be achieved just by using different paper packs and embellishments. Anyhoo, this is the layout I finished using Cherish's "Balanced Blocks". I haven't used any prisma glitter in a while, so it was fun to get that out on the little acorn and mushroom felt accents. But, I do realize that I need to get a craft tray, because I end up with glitter all over the place!

Supplies used (all CTMH): patterned paper and cardstock from Twitterpated Level 2 paper pack, Heartfelt Wonder die cuts, liquid glass, prisma glitter, Hello There and The Works Alphabet My Acrylix stamp sets, Exclusive Inks stamp pads in Cocoa, Chocolate and Sweet Leaf, Ribbon Rounds Chocolate Collection

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I Won!

I entered a couple of cards to SPCC's World Card Making Day colour challenges a while back, and my name was pulled randomly as a prize winner! Samantha Strachan, SPCC's owner, sent me a prize package, all the way from Tennessee, and these are some of the cute papers that were inside! It's hard to tell from the pictures, but some of the papers are very sparkly- love 'em! Thanks, Samantha!

Supplies (CTMH): White Daisy and Colonial White cardstock, For Every Occasion My Acrylix stamp set, Wishes book (patterns used are Simple Statement and Right Away), Exclusive Inks stamp pads in Sweet Leaf, Blush, and Crystal Blue, sponge

Other: patterned paper (?), Versamark ink, clear embossing powder

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A Masculine Birthday Card

I was browsing through my old CTMH Idea Books, and I saw this card pattern used a couple of times, and thought I should give it a try. I like the three squares and how balanced it all looks. The pattern is called "Three is the Charm" and it's a 5x7 design from Originals. I knew I wanted to use up some of my Simple Pleasures scraps, and I also wanted to try using some of my knew felt shapes. Whaddaya think?

Supplies (all CTMH): patterned paper from Simple Pleasures Level 2 paper packet, textured cardstock in Bamboo, felt shapes from Heartfelt Wonder, liquid glass (as adhesive for felt), Exclusive Inks Stamp Pad in Cocoa, For Every Occasion My Acrylix stamp set

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Another Back Country Page

I finished this page in next to no time. Don't you love it when that happens? This time I used a pattern from Cherish (an awesome resource book from CTMH) called "Rise to the Occasion", only I just used the left side and rotated it 180 degrees. The designs in this book (and all three of the books) are so versatile, and so easy, because the cutting diagrams and dimensions are all there. So nice for when you just want to finish a page and get the photos scrapped.

Supplies (all CTMH): patterned paper from Back Country Level 2 paper packet, White Daisy, Garden Green, and Barn Red cardstock, Barn Red die cuts from Dazzling Die Cuts, Exclusive Inks Marker in Cocoa, Exclusive Inks Stamp Pad in Crystal Blue, Bigger Brads in Antiqued Copper

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Back Country

I finally got these photos printed from over a year ago. That's one thing I hate about digital photos- they just get stockpiled on the camera, or in a jumbled mess on the computer, until one day I get fed up and order a whole schwack of them. That never happened with film! I always got them developed as soon as the roll was done. Of course, now I have boxes of unscrapped photos from years ago...

At first when Close to My Heart put out this paper pack, Back Country, I didn't like it. When I realized how many photos I have from various walks and camping trips, though, I figured I better get it. It is quickly becoming my go-to pack!

Supplies (all CTMH): patterned paper and cardstock from Back Country Level 2 paper pack, stickers from Back Country Level 2 My Stickease, Natural Hemp

Other: album and album pages from Creative Memories

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