A scrapbook page of me and my sis....

Yesterday I pulled out some photos of myself when I was little.  There are only a handful of pics of me when I was little as my parents did not have a camera at that time.  And of course, because they are almost 40 years old, they are discolored and fading.

I set out on the small task of scanning each one and enhancing them with the software on my Mac Laptop. For the most part, they turned out awesome!  I think though that with a bit more tweaking I can make them even better.

The photos on this page are not the originals as I was afraid to adhere them to my page.  So, I scanned and fixed them and then "antiqued" them.  LOL  The originals are black and white, but they did not look right with the papers that I chose.  Sounds funny to "antique" photos that I am trying to fix!  LOL

ANYHOO......here is the page and a couple of close ups.....

I used papers from 2 different paper packs, which is a personal challenge for me.  If you are anything like me, you "collect" paper and scrapbook accessories.  I find that when I use a paper pack for my scrapbook group that I am just plain tired of looking at the papers by the time I have created 6 pages plus cards and such from the same 6 patterned papers.  So, I am trying to not only use what I have, but mix up what I have and use it in a different way than before.

The letters that I used to create the word SWEET are from the Dimensional Elements Monograms.  I LOVE these letters as I can mix and match my letters to create a dimensional hodgepodge of letters.  Funny thing is, I was running out of E's, so these were my only 2 choices......gotta use what I have.....but I think that they worked PERFECT to create this title!!

When I first started this blog, I would give you a supply list of products used.....I think that I am going to go back to doing that at the end of each post.....

Thanks for stopping by!!

I hope that I have inspired you to get out and use what you have!  Mix and match your papers.  You might be surprised at what you will come up with!!

Supplies used:  All Items CTMH (unless noted)

Paper: Silhouette and Notebook
Stamps: Playful Flourishes
Embellishments: Brad Assortments; Metal and Winter Cozy, Colonial White Ribbon, Big Blooms, Filigree Charms, Dimensional Elements Monograms letters; S, W, E, T

To purchase any or all of the above items, visit my website or purchase from your favorite consultant!

Happy Scrappin' and Stampin'

Jen

Scraplifted card from the new Summer Idea Book.......ssshhhh

Just a little tease!  LOL  And not of any new products, but new art using old products!!  So, as soon as I get my hands on the new Idea Books, the first thing that I do is go through the WHOLE Idea Book and search out ALL the new stuff.  The second thing that I do is go back through to make sure that I did not miss any new stuff the first go round!  LOL 

The third and final thing that I do is go back through ALL of the new art that is displayed using ALL products in the Idea Book.  I almost always find a card, LO or dimensional project that has used a stamp set or paper pack that I had previously over looked or owned but had not thought to use it that way. 

That is what happened as I was going through the soon to be released (May 1st) Summer Idea book.  I found 3 cards using 2 stamp sets and papers that I already owned, but had not thought to use them together.  So, I took 2 of the cards and combined the ideas and came up with this card.......

I was pretty tickled with the way this turned out.  I used CTMH papers You Rock and the stamp sets are  Cottage Floral and Cocktail Alphabet (for the thanks).  I stamped the flower in Sunflower and the inside of the flower is Smokey Plum.  The White Daisy Ric Rac is from the Ric Rac collection and the Outdoor Denim ribbon is from the Outdoor Denim ribbon collection.

HHMMM maybe I will re-create the other 2 cards and post them here to show you how I came up with this card.......I will put that on my 2 do list for next week!  Stay tuned!!!

Thanks for stopping by!!!

I hope that this has inspired you to take a card, LO, or other project that you LOVE and re-create it to make it all your own!  I have faith that you can do it too!!!

Jen

Tutorial for Memo "Purse"......

I have had a few questions creating this little "Purse".  Since I am a visual learner, I thought I would post a tutorial for those who like me learn better with picutres!  Hope this helps!! Let's see if I can get all the pictures in order now......

Start with a small 3 1/4 x 4 1/2 Memo Notebook(or other small notebook)

Cut corners off a 3 1/4 x 4 1/2 piece of cardstock to make a template.

Place template on top of notebook, mark and trim off corners.

Once you have your corners cut, start cutting the rest of the papers to match corners.  I found it easier to go about 5-10 pages at a time.  I also used a larger pair of scissors than I normally use for my paper crafting.  It sounds like it would take a while to cut 160 pieces of paper, but it goes pretty fast.

Once all the papers are cut, you can start decorating! 

Thanks for stopping by!!

I hope that this has inspired you to go ahead and start making up these sweet little Notebook Purses!!

Happy Scrappin' and Stampin'!!

Jen

Welcome Stacey, to my team "Creativity in Motion"!!

Towards the beginning of April, Stacey joined Close to my Heart and my team "Creativity in Motion"!!  We have not met in person YET as we have both had schedule conflicts since she joined.  BUT tomorrow we are going to meet for lunch and I can't wait!  Stacey has been a consultant with Close to my Heart before, but she picked me to be her upline this go round......Thanks for giving me the opportunity! 

I created this altered notebook to give to her tomorrow and I wanted to share with you all.  I have posted an altered notebook last year when my downline Deb signed up.  This one is similar to the one before, just changed up the papers, ribbons and embellishments.

I thought I would share with you the first version of  the notebook and then the 2nd and final version.  After taking a photo of it to upload here, it looked like it was missing something.  Maybe a flourish or something to fill in the space that was bugging me.  Then I remembered that I had purchased the Primavera Rub-Ons from the Spring Idea Book!  And there it was, the most perfect sized flourish AND a little scalloped edge for the "stacey's notes". 

After adding rub-ons I even changed the background of my photo to chocolate.......silly I know.....but I think it made a bit of a difference in the way it photographed.  Made it not so bright.....

If you don't know by now the name of the paper pack that I used, I will tell you once more...LOL  It is Topstitch.  The alphabet that I used is Cocktail and I LOVE it!!  The only 2 things that cannot be purchased through CTMH are the spiral notebook and the punch that I used for the edge of the Crystal Blue paper.  Everything else can be found and purchased on my website http://www.lovinscrappin.myctmh.com/.

The dimensions for my notebook are 8 x 10 1/2.  I unwound the spirals from the original cover, measured the cover and cut my Chocolate Cardstock to match.  I then lined up my Chocolate CS with the original cover and marked where all the holes are and punched them out.  After that I decorated at will!

Thanks for stopping by!!

I hope that I have inspired you to create your own Altered Notebook! 

Happy Scrappin' and Stampin'!!

Jen

16 years have gone by WAY too fast......

SOOOO, my sweet daughter Rachael turned 16 today!! Of course the first thing that she wanted to do was get her drivers license........She kept telling herself that she was NOT going to pass the driving test so she would not be disappointed if she did not pass.....Well, she passed and I passed out! LOL

I just had to share the pages that I made using a NEW kit that Close to my Heart has put together to celebrate National Scrapbooking Month in May.  The kit is called "Miracle" and will be available April 15th - May 31st (while supplies last). 

So, I was sitting down this morning working on putting the pages together to display, but was not sure which photos I was going to use with them.  That was until I took pictures of Rachael right after she got her drivers license.  I thought that the shirts that Rachael and Mariah wore today were PERFECT for these pages!!  I honestly did not plan for the colors to match the papers as well as they do!  I LOVE the way these turned out!!! I do need to still journal.....that may be what I use the flip flap for!

Make sure to check out the kit when it becomes available for purchase on the 15th!!  I will post a reminder, just in case you forget!  You can purchase this from your favorite CTMH consultant, or from me just by visiting my website and shop online......

Thanks for stopping by! 

Hope this has inspired you to feel the NEED to purchase this GORGEOUS kit when it comes out!  LOL 

Happy Scrappin' and Stampin'

Jen

TFL!! Wish me luck.....I may need to start a new hobby that includes tequila now that I have a 16 year old driver......

Memo Notebook "Purse"

About 6 months ago I attended a friend's workshop where we made these sweet little "Purses" from a 4 1/2 x 3 1/4 inch Memo Notebook.  Right after the workshop I went and purchased several of these little notebooks so I could recreate these using Close to my Heart products.  Well, I finally got around to making one this weekend and I wanted to share it with you all!! 

For mine, I used all cardstock since I did not have a patterned paper that used all the colors that I wanted to use for this project.  For the "patterned" paper on the front cover, I random stamped images from CTMH's "Smiles" stamp set in Bubblegum, Citrus Leaf, Ocean and Orange. 

I can't remember where I found the tutorial for the flower, but all I did was use 2 scalloped circles and 2 regular circles, inked the edges, put them all together from large to small, put a paper piercer through the center and scrunched them around it.  After that I glued them all together and put the sparkle in the center.

This is the inside of the purse.....just plain lined paper.  But looking at it from the outside you would never know! 

Thanks for stopping by! 

I hope that I have inspired you to create one of these little notebooks!  I will be putting mine in my purse and taking it with me so I have something to write on at all times.  Not to mention, what a great way to show off the amazing products that Close to my Heart carries!!

Jen

April Stamp of the Month "Flower Pot"

Sometimes we get into a rut of using colors that are popular and current.  For me, I have a hard time putting colors together.  Not that I am not capable, but it is SO much easier to have the professionals do it....like when I browse through CTMH's Idea Books, the color combos are already put together for me and I KNOW that they look good cuz there is a sample right there using them!  LOL 

So, my upline Shari and I were talking about how some of the bright colors have not been used in a while in the CTMH Idea Books.  I am sure that is because maybe they just are not the "IN" colors at the moment.  BUT with Spring and Summer approaching and the flowers are starting to come up and bloom, it is hard NOT to think BRIGHT!!

With that said......I sat down while the hubby was out golfing and created a card using the April Stamp of the Month "Flower Pot".  The colors I chose to color the flowers and leaves are: Bubblegum, Orange, Sunflower and Citrus Leaf.  The sky is sponged Crystal Blue and the ground is sponged Topiary.

The Emboss Resist technique was inspired from the Art and Soul episode where they demonstrated the technique.  For my card, the flowers were stamped in White Daisy pigment ink and embossed with clear detail embossing powder. I then colored in each flower and used a Versamark marker to color over each petal, added clear embossing powder and embossed again. I then sponged the sky and then the ground. 

Well, I am off to go take my sweet little Sadie for a walk and enjoy the awesome weather!!

Thanks for stopping by!!

I hope that I have not only inspired you to get out those BRIGHT, CHEERY colors and create something fun, but to also to try the Emboss Resist technique!!  Check out that episode above from Art and Soul and you will find an AWESOME demonstration of how to do it. 

Jen

April 16th 3rd Friday Scrapbook Group Pages......

I am pretty tickled with the way these pages turned out this month!  I REALLY love Close to my Heart's Caboodle papers!  They are so stinkin' versitle.....For my pages, I used pics of my nephew, pics of World's of Fun and pics of Ocean's of Fun.  The colors really lend themselves to quite a few different events.

Each month group meets on the 3rd Friday at 7pm and we create 6 pages from a kit for $20.  There is always paper and embellishments left over, after the 6 pages are complete that you could use to create more pages or maybe throw a few cards together! 

In addition to the paper necessary to create the pages and what is left over, the April kit contains matching Caboodle Stickease, 4 Tiny Tabs and a yard of Sorbet dash ribbon.  I supply the inks and stamps that I have used on the pages. 

If you do not live in the area, but would like to create these pages, contact me to have a pre-cut, pre-stamped kit sent to you for the same cost as club.  For just $20 (plus shipping to you) you will have everything needed to create all 6 pages with extra paper and embellishments left over for other pages or maybe even cards.

If you notice that there is no journaling on these pages.....that is because it is always the last thing that I do.  Have no fear, they will be journaled on!!

Thanks for stopping by!! 

I hope that I have inspired you to pull out your Caboodle papers, or purchase them from your favorite CTMH consultant and get some scrapbooking done!  If you would like more details on which LO's I used from Imagine and Cherish, visit my website at http://www.lovinscrappin.myctmh.com/ and go to My Art. 

How would you like to hold your OWN scrapbook groups each month?  Contact me to find out how fun and easy it really is!!  I look forward each month to my Friday night scrapbook group and I would not know what to do without my peeps!

Jen