The Stars Shine Bright ...

We'll be deep in the heart of Texas for the 2012 CTMH Convention. I can hardly wait to go! Some of the fun of going to Convention is participating in the contests. One challenge is to make a scrapbook page featuring the Convention postcard sent to all consultants. Three winners will be selected, and I'm hoping to be one of them! My page will be the title page for my Convention album. The postcard is in the bottom right corner. I tried to incorporate stars throughout the page. I placed Dimensional Elements stars under the cardstock and sanded to reveal the white core of the cardstock. I also used the Bronze Glitz Glitter Gel on several stars. The letters in the title are Dimensional Elements that coordinate with the alphabet on Art Philosophy. I offset the Chocolate letters to mimic the font on the postcard. This was so fun to make! I can hardly wait to make more pages to go with it!

Here is the 6x6 flip flap opened to reveal the backside of the postcard. I copied the postcard and cut out around the white border to make a template. I used the template to make a cutout on the 6x6 piece of Kraft cardstock. I wanted to be able to see the back of the card. I then stitched around the shape using hemp. The little pocket on the left will hold my name badge after Convention. As a placeholder, I used my name badge from the Regional Celebration. I left a space for a picture of me at registration.

The tip of the star holds closed the flip flap:

All I can say is - Yee-haw!

SOTM Blog Hop - Friendship Bouquet

Thanks for joing us for another Stamp of the Month blog hop! This month, we are featuring the May Stamp of the Month, Friendship Bouquet. I love the cheerful flowers! If you came here from Terry Ann Diack's blog, you're on the right path! To keep going on the hop, click on the link at the end of my post to go on to the next blog.

I decided to keep my card simple this month. With a graduation and a wedding in the next couple of months, we need a lot of thank-you notes around here! I have been trying to make some cute cards that will mail easily. I added some sparkle to the card using Stardust Glitz Glue. Of course, because I'm crazy about this paper, I used Dotty for You.

CTMH Materials Used:

Dotty for You paper packet

May SOTM - Friendship Bouquet

White Daisy value pack cards and envelopes

3-D Foam tape

Glitz Gel Glue - Stardust

Now hop on over to Rachel Ventura's blog to see her beautiful artwork! If you get lost along the way, you can find a complete list of hoppers {here}.

Studio J Saturday: Using the Stitching Tool

Mojo Monday meets Dotty for You

When I saw the sketch for Mojo Monday this week, I knew exactly which paper I'd use - the big dots from Dotty for You. I also used the April Stamp of the Month, You Are... . I love the result!

You can purchase the Stamp of the Month for $5 with a qualifying purchase of $50. The purchase may also qualify you to receive the Dotty for You paper packet for $5 ($35 order from the Spring/Summer Idea Book).

Items used:
You Are...
Dotty for You paper packet
Grey Wool cardstock
Baker's Twine Neutral Assortment
Sparkles Blue & Green Assortment

  

Dotty for You Purse

This sweet little purse was super easy to make! I found the inspiration here, which includes a great tutorial. I love the dotted side of the Dotty for You papers - it makes such a nice complement to the pattern. I prettied up the purse with a bling brad. The finished size is about 3 x 5 and would be perfect for some small cards.

Items used:

Dotty for You papers

Rhinestone Designer Brads

Sweet Leaf Stitched Grosgrain Ribbon

EK Success photo corner punch

You know you're a scrapbooker ...

when your first thought while looking at youngest son's prom photos is how the pictures will look great with the Stella papers.

But they really will!

Studio J Saturday: Cropping My Stickease

Celebrate National Scrapbooking Month by going Dotty!

I'm in stitches over the Dotty for You papers!

As I thought of ways to use the Dotty for You papers, I realized they would be perfect for some of my daughter's engagement pictures. Kristin and Mike have so much fun together that the fun, whimsical paper suited them and the pictures! When I saw that the Heart 2 Heart challenge this week is stitching, I was all set!

The layout is from Magic (Enchantment) and uses four 4 x 6 photos. I used my wonderful CTMH ruler and piercing tool to make the even holes to stitch with Smoothie Baker's Twine. The ruffle was made by pulling the stitching along one side of the Sweet Leaf Stitched Grosgrain Ribbon. So sweet - just like the kids!

Items used:
Paper: Dotty for You, Gray Wool and Colonial White cardstock
Embellishments: Just Blooms Paper Shapes: Paradise and Petals, Sweet Leaf Stitched Grosgrain Ribbon, Smoothie Mini Medley, Baker's Twine - Paradise, Felt Alphabet - Keepsake
Other: Ruler, piercing tool, Magic

Dotty for You Blog Hop

We're going Dotty with a fun blog hop! Join me to see fun, creative projects made using the Dotty for You papers. The hop is a circular hop, so you can start anywhere. If you arrived here from Judy Faye Garner's blog, you're on the right path! The link to the next blog will be at the end of my post. Enjoy!

The Dotty for You paper packet has 12 different patterns (2 sheets of each pattern), PLUS the reverse side is dotted paper in different colors! Fun! I used the dotted side to make this little quartet of cards. I cut the cards using Art Philosophy and kraft cardstock. (Card - , cut at 4"; front: Layer - , cut at 3.5") Super easy!

To make things even more fun, I also made matching envelopes (Font layer - Shift - , cut at 4.25" for the envelope and 4" for the liner).

To make the cards, you will use the following items:

Papers: Dotty for You, Kraft and Colonial White cardstock

Stamp sets: 4 My Friend, Diverse Backgrounds

Embellishments: Just Blooms Paper Shapes - Paradise, Baker's Twine Paradise Assortment, Brads Basic Assortment

Other: Art Philosophy, 3-D foam tape

Now hop on over to Michelle Loncar's blog to see her cute project!  If you get stopped along the way, click here for a complete list of hoppers.

Dotty for You!

Celebrate National Scrapbooking Month in May with the oh-so-cute Dotty for You paper packet. There are three ways to get this exclusive Dotty for You paper packet, valued at $19.95*:

• Place an order of $35 or more in products from the Spring/ Summer 2012 Idea Book between April 17 and May 31, and add the Dotty for You paper packet for just $5.
• Host a Gathering with a sales total of $400 or more (excluding tax, shipping/handling, and Operation Smile donations) between April 17 and May 31 and receive a Dotty for You paper packet FREE!
• Join Close To My Heart as a new Consultant between April 1 and May 31 and receive a Dotty for You paper packet FREE.

 I'm having so much fun with this paper, so be watching for new projects. Get your Dotty for You paper packet today!

Studio J Saturday - Rough 'n Tumble Layout

Here's another great retired paper packet that is only available in Studio J! Rough 'n Tumble is great for boy pages with the bright primary colors.

Studio J Saturday: Journaling over Photos

Studio J Saturday - Fanfare Layout

This simple layout uses Fanfare with its bright colors to focus on the sports theme.

Studio J Saturday: Colorizing Toggle Accents

Tag Album

It seems like we've had a lot of momentous occassions at work lately. This week, we said good-bye to a co-worker who is moving on to another position within the company. She was a mentor to me when I started in the department, and I wanted to give her a little something to remember us by. I was inspired by this accordian album created by Terry Ann Diack. She has a great tutorial on her blog on how to make this album using the Decor Journaling Spots.

I used the black, gray, and cranberry tags. I printed wallet-sized photos that I had taken of members of our team and included them in the album. The whole project only took about an hour and turned out really cute!

April Stamp of the Month: You Are...

Make fun cards, scrapbook pages, and other projects using the April Stamp of the Month You Are. This is a really versatile stamp set and one you will want to have for your collection. You can purchase the SOTM for $17.95, or you can purchase it for $5 with a $50 qualifying purchase. Available only April 1 - 30, 2012.  

Goin' to the chapel ...

and we're gonna get married ... (feel free to sing along!)

We've been busy at my house, preparing for my daughter's June wedding. This week, the focus is on wedding invitations. I've been working on a little assembly line, trying to focus on one part at a time so it's not quite so overwhelming. The floral medallions for the front of the invitations are complete, and all I can say is - thank goodness for my Cricut and Art Philosophy! (The stamp set is the retired "Love Always" set.) 

That machine got quite a workout last night, and the fun is far from over.

Next step - assembling the invitations.