Holiday Layouts Galore!

Hi Girls!

It's the Holiday Season and that means a ton of pictures! And what better way to display them in your album than by using flip-flaps! These flip-flaps allow you to fold out a scrapbook page into a larger page, displaying all your Holiday photos. We'll be using the Pear & Partridge paper pack this month and the cost for the workshop is $16.50. We'll meet at my house at 7pm on Wednesday, December 12th.

Here's what the "outside" of the layout looks like.

And when you open it up, Voila! Extra room for more pics.

An additional layout that I did.

And I couldn't resist just one more Holiday layout. All the papers in this pack are so gorgeous!

If you would like to join us for this workshop, please let me know. You can reach me at 763-234-4423 or andrea.little@gmail.com

We're Scrappin' on a Monday night this month!

Hello ladies!

This month's layout workshop will be at my house on Monday, November 19th at 7pm. And it's a short week so it won't even feel like a Monday! Here's the info you need. The cost for the layout is $12 and includes a bit of Magic, a full set of Flirty Complements, and page protectors. Here's some pics of our project.

This is the full 2-page layout. Since you're receiving a full pack of the Complements, you'll be able to decorate your layout any way you want! Although, I think the tree is just the cutest thing! The upper right side of the layout has the Magic, a waterfall of pics! It's hard to tell from any of these pics, but you pull the tab at the right and the photos just flip over one by one. It's great for those action shots - I'm thinking little ones throwing autumn leaves in the air, or choosing their favorite pumpkin. It's your choice which photos you want to use, but the waterfall idea is fabulous!

Here's a close up of the waterfall.

And here's I've tried to show you what it looks like in motion, but the pictures really don't do it justice.

As always if anyone would like to join us this month, just let me know! You can reach me at andrea.little@gmail.com or 763-234-4423.

This Month's Card Workshop

Hello ladies!

This month I've got 3 fabulous cards for you, and here's the info you need for this workshop! The cost is $5, which includes envelopes, and it's being held at Shirley's house in Blaine this Saturday, November 17th at 9:30am. Check out the pics below!

 

We've got our first Holiday card of the season using the Pear & Partridge papers, and a couple of thank you cards that are good any time of the year.

Here's a close up of the coffee card showing the embossing done on the chocolate background, as well as the little "I love you a latte" cut out popped up using 3D foam tape.

For this card we stamp the image twice in Smokey Plum, trim the first one completely and adhere to the base, and then cut just the center of the second one and adhere that on top of the first using 3D foam tape. You could also alternate colors throughout the layers, and add another layer or two if you wanted.

As always, if anyone would like to join us, you are more than welcome! Let me know and I'll give you directions and make sure I have extra cards for you. If you have questions, let me know at andrea.little@gmail.com or 763-234-4423.

November Stamp of the Month

The November Stamp of the Month is here! And it's yousr for just $5 with any $50 order. And look at the beautiful artwork CTMH created using this stamp set! I definitely need to borrow some of these ideas! You can view the stamps in this set here.  And you can place an order either through me, or shop online at andrea.ctmh.com.

Handmade Holiday Cards Anyone?

It's November already! Where did the time go? It's time to start thinking about the Holiday Season and that means sending out cards. This year, make your own Holiday cards - in one day! Here's the info you need. The workshop is on Saturday, December 1st, 10am, at my house.  There are 3 card designs to choose from, and you can pick how many of each card you want to make! Make them all the same, or pick a few from each design, the choice is yours. And there's no limit to how many you want to make. If you need to make a lot of cards, you can prep them the day of the workshop - stamping, cutting, edging, etc., then bring them home for assembly. Otherwise, you should finish in a single day. Cards are $1 each if you RSVP by November 16th. After that entry to the workshop depends on supplies left. Check out the 3 designs below and let me know how many of each you want to make! Everything is included, just bring your favorite adhesive. Smiles!

 

You can RSVP at andrea.little@gmail.com or 763-234-4423.

November Blog Hop

I'm so glad you stopped by to see what I've created for this month's Blog Hop. Our little group of CTMH Consultants are so excited to be able to show you a variety of ways to create the same layout. I hope you have fun as you check out everyone's work. If you're starting the Blog Hop here, or you've arrived here from Carol's page, check out the project below and poke around my blog a bit, and when you're ready to move on to Deb's page, just click here.  Have fun and feel free to leave comments.

 The pattern for this layout comes from our new how-to book, Make It From Your Heart, Volume I.  I used the Flirty paper pack and some of our Opaques and Sparkles to add some bling. I also used our newest Cricut Cartridge, Artiste, to cut the large flowered shape behind the main photo. The Cricut Cartridge, Art Philosophy, was used to cut the flowers. I used the Opaques and Sparkles inside each of the flowers, and then a few more above the title, and below the yellow patterned strip running across the layout. The overall effect made for a nice, clean layout that doesn't detract from the photos, and I didn't feel like I needed to fill up the entire page, as I often do!

Here's a close up of the flowers. I cut the same flower in 3 different sizes, each a quarter of an inch larger than the one under it, layered them, and then "fluffed" their edges. The bling in the middle really sets off the flowers. Some other options could have been to ink the edges, distress them with our edge distresser, or curl them. I could have also changed the color of the layers to add a more varied look. So many choices - it was hard to choose!

The card pattern also came from the Make It From Your Heart, how-to book.  I used the same layered flower look, but this time used two different papers to complement each other, and a larger size difference between the layers. I added  bling to the flower and that really jazzed it up. I did not add a sentiment to the outside of the card. Instead I'll add something to the inside later when I need to. This way, the card can be used for almost any occasion. I just need to pull it out of my card box, add a sentiment, and voila!

Here's a supply list of what I used. If you're interested in ordering any of these supplies, click on the "shop" link above, or see your Consultant for ordering. If you have questions or comments, let me know. I'd love to hear from you! Now hop on over to Deb's blog and she what amazing project she's got for you this month.

Layout
Flirty Paper Pack   X7160B
Sparkles, Red, Pink, & Purple Assortment   Z1326
Bitty Opaques Pearl Adhesive Gems   Z1707
Opaques Pearl Adhesive Gems   Z1336
Cricut Artiste Collection   Z1790
Cricut Art Philosophy Collection   Z1686
Make It From Your Heart, Volume 1  9035

Card
Flirty Paper Pack   X7160B
Cricut Art Philosophy Collection   Z1686
Opaques Pearl Adhesive Gems   Z1336
Bitty Opaques Pearl Adhesive Gems   Z1707
Make It From Your Heart, Volume 1  9035

New Storage Cabinet

So it's time to finish construction in the basement, which means a big, big mess in my house. We've had construction companies coming through to give us quotes to finish the bathroom, all outrageously high, plus we've started work on the things we can do ourselves. I didn't think we had a lot left to do, but once you start writing a list, it sure looks endless! Replace the floating floor and remove ceramic tile by patio door; install 3 doors; trim doors and windows and baseboards; paint everything; and then there's the bathroom. That needs everything! So we finally found a plumber who can help us (yeah Ron!) and he knows an electrician who can maybe help us, too, so we're on our way.

One of the things we needed to do was to move a storage cabinet from the laundry room into the family room. It's one of those white laminate things you buy at Home Depot. Not so pretty to look at, but it's got a ton of room for storage, so I can't let it go. So here's what I did to spruce it up enough for it to live in the family room. I think it turned out great!

I used a wall decal from StickerBrand (through Amazon), in a silver color, since the walls will eventually be painted a soft purple color, and it was so easy to apply! I think I might have to add another one to the bottom of the cabinet, and then I might go a little crazy and start adding them all throughout the house. The large wall in the stairway, the master bedroom, .... StickerBrand had so many images to choose from, in a great variety of sizes, and their pricing was amazing. I'm so happy with the finished product.

Card Class Was a Spooky Time!

The card class met this last Sunday (October 21st) and we had a really fun time making these cute Halloween cards.

 Here we played around with the idea of stamping and embossing an image, and then cutting it into 3 equal pieces, highlighting each with a contrasting color. It sort of looks like you're looking out your window on a spooky Halloween night, doesn't it? The new Cricut cartridge has some fabulous phrases ready to cut, including this one, which added a nice touch.

For this one, we embossed the cobweb in the corner, added 3 rows of scalloped edging along the bottom, with a little bit of silver sparkle to highlight the black on black look. This makes the goofy skeleton and headstone really pop off the page.

Here's my take on a card originally created by CTMH Consultant Stacy Burch. Thank you Stacy for the wonderful idea! We used the same leaf stamp in a variety of colors and second generation stamping to create the background. We then used some 3D foam tape to pop 3 off the leaves off the card, along with the acorns. This card would work well for almost any occasion that falls during the fall season - birthdays, weddings, etc. Just swap out the sentiment stamp for the one of your choice.

La Belle Vie Layout

It's time to get together and make a beautiful layout! And giggle, gossip, and have lots of fun, too! So here's the info you need. Our workshop will be at my house on Friday, October 26th at 7pm. The cost for the layout is $14.50, which includes the papers, embellishments, page protectors, and a little Magic. If you know someone who would like to join us this month, let me know! I have a few extras.

Here's the layout. The La Belle Vie paper pack is so pretty, and these pics definitely don't do it justice. Come see the papers in person and you'll fall in love. You can see we're using an entire pack of the black flourishes. The black on black look adds a really nice and elegant touch.

Here's a close up peek at a bit of embellishing. We've got the black flourishes, black tulle ribbon, and 3 different stamps!

And then there's the Magic. This little pull-up photo is a nice way to highlight that special picture on your page. You can also hide journaling, or another photo, underneath.

So we'll see you on Friday, and if you want to come and hang with us, just let me know. We're happy to have you!  My phone is 763-234-4423 and my email is andrea.little@gmail.com.

October Stamp of the Month

Christmas in October? You bet! October's Stamp of the Month is "Very Merry Christmas" and what better time of year to complete those Holiday layouts than October? And if you look closely at the layout, can you tell which paper pack was used? Hint:  It wasn't our Pear & Partridge paper pack! Leave a comment or send me an email with your guess, and if you're right, I'll enter your name into a drawing for FREE shipping on your next order. But you've got to follow a few simple rules:  1. let me know by October 31st which paper pack you think was used; 2. if you win, you must place your order by the end of 2012; and 3. if you win, you must place your order with me, not online at my store.

The Blog Hop Is On!

Welcome to this month's Blog Hop! We are a group of scrapbookers who want to share our works of art with the world and inspire everyone to try a little scrapbooking of their own! Whether you are starting here at my blog, or have arrived here from Carol's blog, welcome! Take a look around my blog and check out this month's blog hop project. I've made a beautiful card and 2-page layout using the patterns found in CTMH's newest how-to publication, Make It From Your Heart.  The supplies I used are listed below. So please, enjoy my blog, and enjoy your time spent checking out everyones work. Feel free to leave a comment as you hop your way through this month's blog hop. When you are finished here, you'll be moving on to Deb's blog at http://paperhugz.blogspot.com/.

This cute little card was made using the Florentine paper pack, plus some cocoa cardstock. I used the cocoa cardstock to create a sharp contrast between the blue background paper and the golden striped paper strips. I also used it to outline the banner. By varying the  length of each of the four columns, I created some nice visual contrast, and it allowed a little extra room at the bottom of the card for an additional sentiment! I also used the edge distresser to roughen up the edges of the pieces, which I think gave the card more depth and texture. A few sparkles completed the look.

This is the 2-page layout I did. Fall is in the air and on my mind, so I wanted to incorporate a fall like theme in my layout using leaves and flowers and a bit of fall color. I've made several other layouts featuring my daughters, Sheridan and Aiyana and their cousins, and I find that family makes the best friends. These pics were taken over the course of a couple of years at various family events and the girls always get along so well - friends as well as cousins.

I think the journaling spot added a nice little touch to the layout. I used the Cricut and our new Artiste cartridge to cut the number four, and adding some fun fall flowers tie it into the rest of the layout.

By using the Color Ready Garden Wooden Shapes across the horizontal and vertical strips of paper, I connected the two pages together, while leaving plenty of room for photos and journaling.

Journaling is not my favorite thing to do, so summing it up with a few well chosen words is definitely the way to go! While I chose to hand write my thoughts about these photos, I could have just as easily used stamps, my printer, or the Cricut to journal. The possibilities are endless!

I hope you've enjoyed your time here, and after seeing all that our blog hop has to offer, find yourself inspired to dig out your own supplies and finish off a page or two! When you are ready, click here to move on to Deb's blog. Happy hopping!

Supplies used for layout:

Stella Paper Pack X7147B
Artiste Cricut Cartridge Z1790
Bohemian Assortment Z1687
Opaque Adhesive Gems in Mocha Z1333
Waxy Flax in Chocolate Z1088
Cocoa Ribbon Collection Z1316
Paradise Paper Flowers Z1710
Decor Journaling Spots Z1461
Color Ready Accents Garden Wooden Shapes Z1718
Dimensional Elements Monograms in E, V, & R Z1658, Z1675, & Z1671
Beautiful Friendship Stamp Set B1400
Colonial White Inkpad Z2168
Olive Inkpad Z2137
Chocolate Inkpad Z2111
Sponge Daubers Z726
Make It From Your Heart Volume 1 9035

Supplies used for card:

Florentine Paper Pack X7153B
Florentine My Stickease Assortment X7153C
Cocoa Cardstock X5642
Liquid Glass Z679
Sparkles in Blue & Green Assortment Z1327
Cocoa Inkpad Z2114
Edge Distresser Z1297
3-D Foam Tape Z1151
A Little Thanks Stamp Set D1444
Make It From Your Heart Volume 1 9035

And the winner is!...

Thanks to everyone who took the time to sign up for the email notifications! This means that every time I post something you'll see it in your inbox. No need to remember to come visit my blog because I will do the remembering for you!  Eveyone's name was entered in a drawing and the winner is Gwen K! I even took a picture of her receiving her prize. :) Now I need to go think of more great ways to giveaway CTMH's awesome product.

September Card Making Workshop

Hello ladies! Here's the info for the September Card Making Workshop. We will be making these 3 beautiful cards! Two are standard size, and one is a larger 6"x 6" card. The cost for this workshop is $6 and we will be meeting at Shirley's house on Saturday, September 29th at 10am.

As always if anyone would like to join us, they are more than welcome! Just let me know at 763-234-4423 or andrea.little@gmail.com.

September Scrapbook Workshop

Hello ladies! Here's the info you need for this months Scrapbook Workshop.  We will meet at my house at 7pm on Thursday, September 27th. We'll be using the Scholastic Paper Pack and a layout found in the Idea Book (p. 92) with some modifications and a little Magic to go with it.

Here's a close up look at the Magic we'll be doing. There's a tab on the left that you pull out to reveal a space to the left of the main photo for journaling and a space to the right for another picture. How cool is that!

As always this workshop is open to anyone who would like to join us. If interested, let me know at 763-234-4423 or andrea.little@gmail.com.

My Craft Channel and Close To My Heart

CTMH released their first episode on My Craft Channel, and I loved it! It's amazing what you can do with our acrylic stamps. Click here, and Voila! Instant video! It will really inspire you to try new "bends and curves" with your stamps. When you're done playing around with this new technique, let me know! Leave a comment, post a pic of what you've done, link us to your page, or send me an email and I'll post your artwork for you! Now, go play with your stamps!

CTMH Artiste Cricut Cartridge

Here's a nice video showing some of the features of our newest Cricut cartridge, Artiste.

Busy Retreat Weekend!

I just got back from a great scrapbooking retreat, where I got a couple of projects completed and started lots of others. The food and company were fantastic and it ended all too soon. Let's do it again as soon as possible! Here's a couple of pics of a finished project. I decorated our new 3D star with the La Belle Vie paper pack, black flourishes, and La Belle Vie complements and I think it's just stunning. I think I'm going to hang it from the ceiling above my workstation, and if I get around to it, I think I'll add a couple more.

August Card Workshop

Hi ladies!

Here's the info you need for our August Card Workshop. We'll meet at Shirley's house at 9:30am on August 25th.  I've got 3 cards for you and the theme this month is Masculine Cards. As you know, I find making cards for the guys in my life very hard, so when I found myself making not one, not two, but three cards all with a masculine feel to them, I knew I hard to share them! If only I could tap into that creativity any time I want. The cost for the workshop is $5. And here's a photo of our projects. We'll see you on the 25th!

If anyone would like to join us for this workshop, just let me know. The more the merrier! We laugh, and giggle, and gossip like teenagers and have the best morning of the month! Let me know you want to join in the fun at 763-234-4423 or andrea.little@gmail.com.

August Scrapbook Club Layout

Hi Girls!

Here's the info you need for this months workshop. We'll be meeting on Wednesday, August 29th at 7pm at my house. Stella is our paper this month - and it's bright and happy and oh, so beautiful! The cost for the workshop is $9. Check out the photo below and see if you can find a bit of Magic in this layout. I think you'll like it. I've also posted pics of a couple of additional layouts I did using the same paper pack.

The above pic is the layout we'll be doing at the workshop.  See the brown button in the middle of all that green? It's Magic!

Additional 2-page layout.

I really like how this 1-page layout turned out.

And another pretty 1-page layout.

If you are not a regular member of this club and would like to join us this month, just let me know. You can reach me at 763-234-4423 or andrea.little@gmail.com.

It's Finally Here! The New Idea Book Is Live!

And it's filled with the most amazing artwork! Scrapbook layouts, beautiful cards, and all kinds of altered items to inspire you to make something beautiful for yourself, your home, or someone you love. All this, plus our most amazing products FREE just for letting me know you want a copy (shipping charges may apply). Just email me at andrea.little@gmail.com or give me a call at 763-234-4423. You can also view a digital copy of the Idea Book at http://andrea.ctmh.com/.  Happy Creating!

Dotty for You

     When you place an order of $35 or more in products from the Spring/Summer 2012 Idea Book between April 17 and May 31, you may add the Dotty for You paper packet, valued at $19.95, for just $5. Dotty for You includes 24 specially designed, coordinating B&T Duos^® sheets (2 each of 12 patterns) and an artwork idea insert to get your creative juices flowing. But that’s not all! There are two ways you can get this darling paper packet FREE!

     Hostesses will receive a free Dotty for You paper packet when their Gathering sales total $400 or more (excluding tax, shipping/handling, and Operation Smile donations).

     New Consultants who sign up between April 1 and May 31 (two full months!) will receive a free Dotty for You paper packet with their kit.

      To purchase, just head over to my new website, http://andrea.ctmh.com.  Happy scrappin'!

My 1st Annual Crop for a Cause

Pack up your scissors, papers, stickers, stamp sets, and all things crafty and come spend 2 days scrappin' with me! And help a local Girl Scout Troop, too! There will be prizes, giveaways, make and takes, a CTMH store, and plenty of space for you and your friends to catch up on all those projects.  You can find the RSVP form here