from summer sunrise to sunset

I love summers, and wish that summer would BE endless!

Though we're in the dog days of summer now with 

the thermometer reading near 100 degrees F each day,

I'd much rather be warm than cold!

And we always find a pool or a clean Missouri lake

where we can be refreshed.

I'm going to have to do a layout just showing our little "Goggles Girl."

She does everything in her hot pink goggles--eat breakfast, ride in the van,

play with her dolls, and even color and craft with me.

(I combined Surf's Up with Dream Pop papers

because of the great pops of color in the pinks and sorbets!)

These are my first attempts using the NEW CTMH Cricut Artbooking cartridge

for the layout title and overlays.

This new product provides 700 different patterns for titles, page overlays,

memory book page patterns, borders, and icons!

You can find it in the new Autumn/Winter Idea Book HERE.

 Journaling across the top in black marker reads:

"from summer sunrise to sunset, 

we're so happy to be playing in the lake or pool water together" 

I like to write memories by hand so that those browsing memory books in the future

will see my handwriting and read my impromptu thoughts.

Layout Left Side

Layout Right Side

I used:

Surf's Up! paper packet

Surf's Up wooden button embellishments

Dream Pop paper packet

CTMH Cricut Artbooking cartridge for title & overlays

"My Sunshine" -- April Stamp of the Month 
(for the sunshine words on the sun overlay and for the sunset)
Sorbet Ink

I {Heart} Flip Flaps!

Laughing Lola Layout with Flip Flaps on left, top, and right
(After taking the photo, I moved the top Flip Flap to the right so it was even with the layout page.
Photos were taken with the Memory Page Protectors on, creating a slight glare.)

 

Left side, Flip Flap closed

Right side, Flip Flap closed & top, Flip Flap down

Right side, Flip Flap open

Look! Look and see!

Look and see how Flip Flaps can add photo space to your layout!

Here's my original two-page layout where I used only two photos.

By using three of the 6 x 12 inch Flip Flaps,

I was able to add SEVEN more photos and areas for stamping!

I have SO much more fun scrapbooking memory album pages

with the help of Close To My Heart's Flip Flaps.

They're available in a:

*  Small Assortment (4 each of the 2 inch square; 3 inch square; 3 x 4 inches; and 4 inch square)

*  Ten-pack of 6 inch squares

*  12 Inch Assortment (4 of the 6 x 12 inch, 2 of the 4 x 12 inch, and 2 of the 8 x 12 inch)

*  Photo Size (15 of the 4 x 6 inch)

 You can find Flip Flaps in the NEW Autumn/Winter Idea Book on page 135. 

It's simple to slide your photos and artwork into the pockets,

and attach the Flip Flaps to your Memory Page Protector with the adhesive strips.

Click here to begin!

I'm laughing and flipping over Laughing Lola papers and these great Flip Flaps!

Hahahahahaha! My Laughing Lola Layout!

What's purple, green, turquoise, and paisley,

and makes you feel happy?

Laughing Lola!

(It's one of the NEW paper packets from Close To My Heart!)

Hahahahahahahahaha!  

You truly have to see these papers in person 

to appreciate the gorgeous colors and patterns.

The laugh is on me!  Until I saw them IRL,

I didn't think they'd be for me.

Hahahahahahahahaha!

Look how great they look with my photos!

Is this little satin bow clip cute, or what?!

Just a little girly touch for the photo corner.

Hahahahahahaha!

Can you tell where my pull-out journaling is on this second page?

Look closely!

I like to hide journaling to keep the layout very simple,

and then cut a slit into the memory page protector

to be able to pull out a piece of cardstock

on which I've written something special.

On this page, I've written how much I love these grand-girls,

and also how much Jesus loves them--

so much that He died on the cross to take away all our sins--

so much that He came alive on the first Easter,

so that someday we who believe in Him can live with Him in heaven!

This journaling is part of my "faithbooking" habit--

to share my faith, Scripture verses, inspirations,

encouraging words from The Word,

and to tell generations after me what I believe and why.

Telling HIS-story is vitally important to me!

How do you tell your story?

I used:

Close To My Heart's NEW My Reflections Laughing Lola paper packet

Laughing Lola Assortment of Embellishments (satin bow clip; multicolor gems)

Sparkles

Shimmer Trim
Washi tape

Dazzling Die Cuts in Spring Harmony & White

The "Backstage" pattern from the book Magic by Jeanette Lynton (CTMH CEO)

Have some GREAT laughs and get yourself creating with Laughing Lola!

A Huntington Sweet Treat

Sweet!

Almond Nuggets inside a My Creations Kraft Container = 

a sweet thank-you gift for a friend's help with making all the wedding bouquets!

Who doesn't like to get chocolate?! 

I used:
Close To My Heart MyCreations Kraft Container
Huntington Paper Packet (NEW!)
Huntington Workshop On The Go Stamp Set: Sweet (NEW!)
Burlap Ribbon
Barn Red Ink
Brown & Tan Sparkles (NEW!)
(I used the B&T paper border on top of the burlap ribbon. Love those borders!) 

Want to see all the new Close To My Heart products?
Click HERE! 

A Mix of Old and New

The more I use CTMH's new Glitter papers, the more I LOVE them

and the way they make a project POP!

Here's a strip on the front and on the inside of a birthday card

combined with some retired Roxie papers

to give this some glitz and glam

for a special lady.

I like how the Glitz Glitter Gel in Almond

perfectly coordinates with the glitter paper too!

Now go and put some glitz into your scrapping soon!

Getting Our Ombré On!

Six Close To My Heart friends & neighbors got together yesterday afternoon

to see the recent Extravaganza Art CD from Convention,

thanks to Rebecca Brown of Show Me Scrapping!

She showed us the Cricut Craft Room and we each cut

a cute Halloween album using the new Artbooking cartridge.
Oh, what a product that is! I can't wait to make more mini albums!

(I'll post later this week more about that project.)

Everyone got to show and tell some items we've been working on

using some of the new products from the Autumn/Winter Idea Book.

AND

We tried the Ombré technique showcased in CTMH's video

using Liquid Glass, drops of re-inker, the bone folder, and chipboard shapes.

It was a good learning experience,

and we found that by adding Create A Shade paint to the mixture,

and by using a small paint brush,

it was so much easier to apply and it looked great on our third attempt.

Which reinforces the saying, "Practice does make perfect!"

We'll definitely be trying this again with different color hues.

We began with these materials. 

From left to right: Our 1st, 2nd, and 3rd attempts

with Outdoor Denim, Twilight, and Pacifica.

(Colors in the Caribbean!)

Then I showed the group a sample "ombré" card I made using paper strips:

 The "Claire" paper packet

(Claire card inside)

And a third "ombré" technique

using the Houndstooth alphabet, finger daubers,

and inks: Clover Meadow, Pear, and Key Lime.

(If you do this on small pieces, hold your finger dauber at an angle

and sponge "in thirds" visually. I did it from dark to light, left to right.
Larger chipboard shapes are much easier to ink with this method!
I do love a challenge!
And I planned to use this word PEAR on a future layout, so
there IS a method to my madness...)

I can't wait to see some of the projects you've made

after getting YOUR ombré on!

So glad you stopped by!

A Mix of Huntington, Glitter, Kraft, and Sparkles

Here's my first creation using CTMH's new Huntington papers.

The colors and patterns are so rich and yummy 

and I combined the patterned piece

with a Kraft card and some strips of the new Glitter paper too.

"CHOCOLATE tastes as good as skinny feels"

is just one of the stamp variations

in the August SOTM (stamp of the month) set.
With a $50 order, you'll receive this stamp set FREE! 

A few brown and beige Sparkles and a little bow later

(I cut the CTMH brown/white stripe ribbon in half)

and VOILA! 

A little card that has made me crave a bit of chocolate...

now if I could just find some!

(Did you know that my DH and I hide chocolate from each other? The last time I found a big bag of peanut M&M's I had to get a ladder to reach between the joists in the basement. No joke!)

A little peek at more Huntington papers from the Workshop on the Go...

Want to Experience a Chocolate Affair?

"A Chocolate Affair," the August stamp of the month, is FREE if you order $50 during August!

Who wouldn't want to experience this?! It's making me hungry ... and I'll provide a "no calorie wand" for you to wave over these little delicious pieces too.

You could use these stamps for gift containers, cards, layouts, banners, and more!

(Usually the CTMH Stamp of the Month is just $5 when you place an order of $50 or more. 

In August, we have this extra SWEET offer -- a full size D stamp set FREE!)

The 2013 Fall/Winter Idea Book is available now!  

Your Idea Book is FREE with a $30 order -- simply order online through my web site or email/phone me your order. As you browse the new Idea Book, you'll find CTMH's new, exclusive Cricut "Artbooking" cartridge with a huge variety of ways to make layouts and mini-albums! You'll see new ideas for making Autumn decorations as well as Christmas gifts and greeting cards. And MUCH more!

Head on over to the Idea Book and take a peek -- and make your wish list to give to your spouse, bestie, family members, or kids -- and shop for your friends too! Wait 'til you see all the stocking stuffers and cute gift ideas!

A heads-up!!! Christmas and gift-giving time is only 100 plus days away!