Christmas Card Album

Happy Snow Day!!

I tried and made good creative use of my snow day today but I didn't get anything finalized.  :(

However, I thought that I would share photos of my Christmas Card Album with you.  This is made using the CTMH Pocket album (Z1870) and some scraps of the Pear and Partridge paper that I had lying around.

 

LOVE the cover!  I added accents in white daisy, cranberry, topiary, and honey.  On the inside I placed all the photo cards that we received this year.  My ultimate plan is to make a page per family and then add the cards as they come in each year.  This will let us see how their families grow and keep the Christmas letters all in one place.

 

I haven't yet but you could decorate the outside of each pocket with something that reminds you of each family and with their family name and the years of cards that are there.  Maybe even return addresses in little pockets outside of the big pocket.  The options are endless.

 

Happy Crafting!!

Christmas Trees

Happy Thanksgiving, Everyone!

I hope that you are looking forward to lots of turkey and fixings tomorrow, and that you are lucky like me and someone else likes to do the cooking.  I have several things for you today.

First, I have updated my classes for December, please check them out on the Classes tab.

Second is a reminder to order your goodies out of the holiday catalog soon because you can only order through the end of December.

And Third, I have a quick rundown on how I made this fabulous tree featured on the front of the new catalog.  Warning:  this isn't an in depth tutorial!

 



Basically I followed the tutorial here with minor changes.  I used my Cricut Craft Room to cut down the width of all the pieces instead of doing it by hand.  I have the CCR file if you would like it.  Then I used the CTMH sparkle paper to do the snowflakes, and I made the star with washi tape and some stamping.  A foundry pin clip is holding the star on.  Here is a close up of the star. 

It takes a full 3 sheets of the sparkle and shine paper and 1/3 sheet of the sparkly paper and a sheet of white daisy.

I hope that your Thanksgiving is full of food and Family and time for Crafting!!!

New Constant Campaign

Hello!

It has been a busy month!  And I have done a lot towards the album I am working on but I haven't had time to get pictures taken so you will just have to imagine the fabulousness of the layouts  :)

I also found time to make the invites for Son's 4th birthday and I did take pictures, but my New (less than 1 year old) computer had to go on a trip to get a new motherboard.   So I will post them later when I have access to the pictures.  Oops!

I have posted new classes for November.  Please let me know ASAP if you would like to join me.  Lots of Holiday joy in the making!

Close to My Heart has a new incentive for anyone willing to join my team.  Sign up to be a new consultant this month (until December 15) and you get a great new product for free that is not even available to ME! until January. 

 

 

Lastly,  I wanted to share the news with you now that we are 1/2 way there.  The family and I are expecting a new addition in March.  I am 20 weeks this week and we have just found out that it will be a boy!  We are very excited.  So if you have been wondering why I have been out of the loop it isn't just school work that is keeping me busy, I have been really tired with this one!  I view it as another excuse to scrap baby pictures.  :)

 

Happy Crafting!!!



Halloween Mini-book

Hello All!

I just completed my first Artbooking project and I am impressed by the results.  I created a Halloween Mini-book!  I used the two mini-book keys and some titles and photo frames from the scrapbooking layout.  I really like the way that I do not have to search for images, it is all right there on one key.  Here is how it turned out!

The cover

Page 1 and 2.  I left the frame open on two side so that I could slip in a picture later.

 

Pages 3 and 4.  I really like the way that the layered grave stones came out.  Found out that glue pen glue does not like to stick to the glitter paper.  :)

Pages 5 and 6.  Again left the frame open to add pictures.

The back.

All ready for this year's photos!  I may add more pages but it will depend on how many pictures I end up taking while sneaking candy from the kids stash.  If you would like to make your own contact me for the materials list or you can join me for the workshop on Tuesday!  Just let me know you are interested in coming ASAP!

Happy Crafting!

ps check out Google+ for Sarita layouts.

October Classes and more layouts from the past.

Hello Everyone!!

I have posted new classes for October.  Check out my classes page for more details.

Also I am still working through my stash and have finished the WOTG for the Pear and Partridge paper pack from last year.  Here are my layouts.

Also the new Holiday guide is here and My Oh My am I excited!!!!  November is going to feature some great projects using the materials to be found in this wonderful guide.  Keep on the lookout for classes coming soon!

Sarita Layouts coming soon!

Happy Crafting!!

National Stamping Month

Sorry that it has been so long but it was a buy end to the summer and school has officially started!

I am working on some layouts to show you but they are not quite ready, so to tide you over let me tell you about this month's Constant Campaign.  This month you can get a set of three fabulous stamps (including an alphabet stamp) for $10 when you spend $50.  Normal retail value is over $40! 

 

 

And if you are also interested in this month's Stamp of the Month then you can get 4 great stamps for only $15 (with a $50 purchase).

 

 

Finally, if you would like to join us for some workshops this month you can find new class information under the Classes tab above.

 

Happy Crafting!!



Laughing Lola

It is August!  Only a few weeks left until school starts and the new catalog is available for ordering.  I still have several classes in August including an open house explaining all the new and wonderful things in the new catalog.  Please check out the classes tab and then email me or comment to let me know you are coming.

Speaking of classes I am ahead of schedule and have completed the Lola Layouts that we will be doing in the workshop.

 

Sorry the color is a little off for the first two!  I need to remember to change my white balance before I finalize the pictures.

 

This last one I think is my favorite!

 

Also CTMH is running an extra special promotion this month.  Usually when you want the stamp of the month you can pay $17.95, or order $50 worth of stuff and buy it for $5;  but this month you order $50 worth of stuff and you get it for FREE, yep $0!

 

 

Happy Crafting!

 

Emily

Mini-Album

Wonderful Wednesday!

Hello everyone!  This week the kiddos have been in camp so I have accomplished much in my craft room.  The first project that I want to share with you is my very first Mini-album.  I am usually a double page spread girl, however I thought that I would give the mini version a try.  I went into this not knowing what I wanted to put into the mini but decided to do the time I spent in the hospital with daughter right after she was born.

 

I used the Dream Pop paper that I had left over from our May Constant campaign.  I first set up a project in Craft Room and decided on a size for the album.  I then made 9 layers and in each layer I had a variety of shapes that I wanted to be part of my album.  If you would like a copy of the Craft Room file just email me and let me know.

 

Then I cut out all my layers, each layer in a different B&T or cardstock sheet from Dream Pop.  Then I scored each piece that was going to become a page where I wanted it folded, not necessarily in the middle.  Layer 1 and 2 are the cover they need to be in the middle.  To get the ribbon secure, I used liquid glass and sandwiched one length of ribbon in between the two layers.  Then I layered my pages in the order that I wanted making sure the I assembled the envelope for the middle of the album first. 

 

Next, I clothes pined the layers together to help them from shifting as I sewed the album together.  Then using my stylus and pad and a tapestry needle and grey bakers twine I sewed it together.  The trick is to punch the hole and then take the stitch, then punch the next hole - next stitch;  you get the idea.  See below!

 

 

 Once I was all the way across I tied it off and left a short tail.  Then I glued in some of the other shapes and put the whole thing closed under some heavy books overnight to fully dry.

The next day, I picked my pictures and placed them in the album embellishing as I went.  I also went back to Craft Room and designed the title and some letters and dates for the inside.  Done!

 



I really like the result and it will be nice to look at with Daughter.

 

Here is the middle with the envelope closed, I used hook and loop dots.  Inside is a larger picture and some journaling.

 

For my workshop and if I decide to do another in the future I think that I will use either narrower ribbon or cut the ribbon I used in half so that the bow is not so overwhelming.

 



If you would like to make your own let me know and I will show you how!

There are also new classes posted here.

Happy Crafting!

Emily

Canvas Art Workshop

Hello,

I hope you are in a part of the country that is starting to cool down.  The kids were actually able to play outside for a little while this morning.  After the rough last week, I/we are doing much better.  I got some time this week to complete another older WOTG layout and the art canvas workshop that is on special for July only.  Check out the post here.  First the layout:

 

This is the main layout from the Clementine WTOG.  I didn't really like the alternative layout so I am looking for suggestions, just comment below with a link.

 

I also had time to complete the Art Canvas workshop, mostly because it only took me about 15 minutes to do.  The directions were great and what took the longest was picking out the pictures and fighting with my liquid glass that seems to always clog when I need it.

 

Just a couple of notes:  The direction say to use the pigment ink, I didn't have any and so I used the regular chocolate ink pad and really like the result.  I also used only liquid glass although the directions do say that you can also use foam tape too.  Finally, it is easier if you have your pictures picked out because of the way that it goes together, but if you wanted to have interchangeable pictures I would use the foam tape on the frames and slip the pictures in behind after the fact.

 

If you would like to make your own just click here, and join the monthly workshop to order your own kit for $19.95 plus S&T.

 

Happy Crafting,

Emily

Welcome Home!

Here we are half way through July, half way through the summer, and with almost nothing to show for it.  :)

Well, not nothing, we have been on two vacations.  I have cleaned the house top to bottom (although it needs it again).  But we haven't been to the pool yet and more importantly I have not finished one layout for Son's baby book!  And today was not a good day, so instead of working on a layout I read through the longest nap time ever!

Here is a synapsis of the past horribly busy week.  On Tuesdays I try to recapture my youth and love of horses by taking riding lessons at a local barn.  Last Tuesday I fell off.  Not that this is NOT un-common, in fact for a while there it has been very common place for me to come home covered in sand from taking a fall in the arena.  I usually ride a very nice sweet guy that is young and slightly green!  Meaning that we are scared of everything.  He is also stubborn so we lock heads a lot.  Anyway.... Last Tuesday I came off again and landed on my elbow.... it hurt!  On Wednesday I found out the I cracked my humorous and have to be in a sling for 3 weeks.  Then we headed off to visit my parents and I dealt with the disappointment with lots of Advil and naps. We drove back yesterday and got home just in time for a pizza dinner.  Then Husband who had to work early this morning goes to take a shower and ..... NO HOT Water and the water heater is leaking!!!  Oh No!

So today I have waited around for the "Men" to take out the old broken one and install a new one.  Then I took Daughter to her 5 year check up and the big dog to her annual check up and then finally got to get the food shopping done and started the laundry.  What a welcome home!

On a better note, my preview order from the new catalog arrives tomorrow and I am extremely excited!!!!  Want to know more... Contact me!  Until then here is a great video about the state of CTMH from headquarters.

 

Happy Crafting!!!  Hopefully the rest of the week will find me more creative!

Emily

Working through my stash!

Happy Monday!

First off I have posted new classes on the classes page so please stop by!

Second I have been working through the older WOTG that I have lying around and I thought I would share with you the ones that I have completed so far.

The first two are from Buzz and Bumble:

And then Dakota.  I didn't like the additional layout so I am looking for a replacement or two if anyone has any ideas.

 

I know you are probably thinking:  Where are the pictures?  Well I have found that when I only have a hour or so to work that I am much better creating from a template like the WOTG or adding pictures to a layout that is practically finished.  However, I will create my own originals if I have more time in a single sitting or over many shorter sitting all in a row.  However until next week neither one of those is going to happen!  :)

 

Emily

New Catalog and July Constant Campaign!

  I know two posts in one day, *GASP*!  The Fall / Winter Catalogs showed this morning while I was out getting fabric for the other post of the day.  I have already gone through and am really excited to share some great projects with you.  However you will have to wait until August 1st to order, but keep checking back in the next couple of weeks for some great new crafting ideas.  And keep reading for a sneak peak into the new catalog!  But first, during the month of July you can get the Canvas Art WOTG for 50% off!  That's only $19.95!

   

Now the new Idea Book/ Catalog! 

There are so many new things to talk about!  Six great new paper packs!  Chantilly, For Always, Tommy, and Surfs up are the carry over packs.  But there is no "school" themed pack this year so if you need some get your scholastic while you can!  There are fabulous new WTOG kits, along with two great card kits, and one Décor kit (shown below).

    

There are also some new stamps, new accessories, and new textiles.  And the new jewelry!  Yep now you can use sparkles and the textiles to make your own jewelry. There is also a new cricut cartridge, Artbooking!  And if you like to SMASH!  you will love the new My Crush collection.
There is so much more!

 

Keep a look out in the next week for a post about an open house to go over all the new stuff in the Idea Book.  Please let me know if you are interested.  Or you can shop online after 8/1/13 here.

Emily

Father's Day Cards!

This is a little late but there are people who received these cards that read my blog.  I had a workshop in late May to make Father's day cards and this is what we created:

This first one is from the CTMH Artiste Cricut cartridge.  I cut the shirt out of the Chantilly B&T Duos and the tie from Honey.  I stamped the sentiment in Hollyhock ink. 

 

This second one was inspired by Pinterest taken from the CTMH boards and Jeanette Lynton's Blog (here).  I took a white daisy card, and layered with lagoon, ruby, and white daisy.  Plane is stamped in outdoor denim, the banner is surrounded by hollyhock and sentiment is in desert sand.  "dad" was cut from the Artiste out of craft cardstock.  Clouds stamped in sky.

The third was also inspired by Pinterest, a fellow consultant at Playing with Paper (here).  I made a template and cut out the shape from a white daisy card. Then using another template, cut out the patterned paper.  The spatula was made from a 0.25" Art Philosophy tag on the shimmer paper and the glove is actually a mitten from one of the two CTMH cartridges but I can't remember which one, in craft.  The tag in the pocket is black and ruby and stamped in black.

 

I hope that these inspire your creativity!

 

Emily

Mother's Day

Sorry this is late but my mom didn't get her package until Tuesday and then it is the busiest time of the year for me.  But I thought that I would share the gifts that were given to both Grandmas for Mother's Day.  There is a short story behind this:  After we had Daughter we would give the grandparents a year in review photo book.  However, they are expensive and repetitive.  So about a year ago I decided to give them a one page layout in a frame.  Then for Christmas they each got 2 more layouts and an album.  So that they could pick a layout and replace the one in the frame and add the old one into the album.  The idea is that when the kids are all grown they will have a complete album and they can display the grandkids current pictures and will get a new layout about every 6 months.  They LOVE it!

Here are the current layouts:

 

They were both made with CTMH Chantilly and the same set of pictures.  I do not usually journal but I do add the month or season and the year.  The one above was a layout from the WOTG the one below was from the idea book.

 

I hope that your Mother's Day was as relaxing as mine.  I will try to post the project that I finished sometime this week I need pictures.

 

Emily

Teacher Appreciation Week!

Happy Friday!

It has been a very busy week... It was the first week of SOLs and it was also teacher appreciation week and with only 4! weeks left we are trying to get through all the information that is left to cover.  And although I am exhausted from the week, I had a great, GREAT, day.  I got one of my team teachers to cover my 6th block class today so that I could attend a Mother's Tea at Daughter's school.  It was the cutest thing ever and I am so glad that I made the effort to go. 

While there I finally delivered the teacher gifts that I had done for appreciation week.

Here are all 4 of them!  The pencils wouldn't fit inside so I attached to the outside with tape.

I used the Kraft container and the Dream Pop May special paper pack from CTMH.  Here is one up close.

Filled with chocolate, hand lotion and sanitizer, tic-tacs, post-its, and mini markers.

Close up of the tag.

 

You could change the theme for any occasion.  If you want to make your own just ask and I will show you how!

 

 

Emily

Dream Pop!

Well it is early May and I can't wait for the next month to pass quickly.  I have a Summer To Do List as long as my arm.  Also, this week is a very important week for many people that I know.  First it is Teacher Appreciation week and then Mother's day is on Sunday.  So not only am I excited about what goodies are in store for me but I also have to think of gifts for teachers and mothers. 

So while I have been busy crafting up these things I am not going to share them until they reach their intended recipient.  However, I will tell you that one of the gifts that I have been working on features the May Constant Campaign, Dream Pop!  This is a limited time offer for May only.  If you order $35 in products you get the Dream Pop paper for just $10!  I am really excited about this paper pack 24 sheets of patterned paper.  The ladies over at CTMH will tell you all about it.

 

Have a wonderful Day!

 

Emily

Tommy Workshop

Where did the weekend go?  Wasn't yesterday Friday?

It seems that I get out of school on Friday afternoon and I wake up the next morning and it is Monday already!  Too much to do!  However, in-between ballet and shopping for the week, Mother's day workshop with some wonderful ladies and cleaning the house, I did get the layouts for Friday's Tommy Scrapping Workshop done.  I decided to change things up and went for a boyish feel instead of the nautical theme that the papers are geared for.  And while these pages are missing pics and titles, I think that I have been successful in my endeavor.  Now for the reveal:

Layout 1 (the Alternative Page from the WOTG)

 

Layout 2 ( Tommy Studio J layout from the Spring 2013 Idea Book)

 

Layout 3 (Tommy paper pack Layout from the Spring 2013 Idea Book)

 

I hope that your weekend seemed longer than mine and that you were as productive as you wanted or needed to be!

 

On a side note, I am working on Mother's day layout pages for the Grandmas.  I will post pictures after the grandmas have opened their presents!

 

Emily

New CTMH Video

Hi All,

The ladies over at CTMH have another movie for you to enjoy!  This one talks about gift ideas.  I can show you how.........

 

Also check out the Out and About page for the layouts that I completed during the LVCC Cropical Paradise!

 

Emily

Back In Time!

Today was a good day! 

I was off from school today because my Daughter had a field trip today.  It was a nice little trip and even though she was standoffish and non committal when we were there, when we got home she was gushing to her brother about how much fun it was. :)  4.5 year olds... Go figure!

Anyway, since Whitney, the most awesome-est Nanny ever, was here and I didn't have to go in to work, I got some scrapping done.

I have all the WOTG kits for the last book and I have made maybe 1.  In fact, I believe that I have more WOTG layouts done for the Spring/Summer book, than the Fall/Winter book.  :(

Well today I worked on changing that!  Last week I started working on the Belle Vie WOTG but I do not have the additional layout done yet.  Here is the first layout.

 

The additional layout will be posted when I finish.  So today I decided to do the Moonlight WOTG, with great success!  Here is the first layout, all I need to add are the pictures and finishing touches.

 

And the Additional Layout, again missing photos and finishing touches.

 

 

 

I hope that your Wednesday was as productive as mine, because I also got some papers graded and registered Daughter for Kindergarten (I will post about my feelings about this once I come to terms with them)!

 

Emily



Cricut Tips and Stamps

Oh Monday, how I love to hate thee!

New video from the awesome ladies at CTMH!  Some favorite stamp sets and tips and tricks for the Cricut.  Of course if you use the Expression 2 or the Craft room there are other work arounds, but some really good tips on fitting the stamps to Cricut shapes.

Let me know if you would like to make any of the projects shown!  I would be happy to show you how!

Happy viewing!

Emily