Sand Cake

 Playing in the sand is a favorite activity & 

one of our best playgrounds

 is in the shade.

The grand-girls like to play outside the box much more than inside it!

Their favorite thing to make is sand cake. 

The "carrot cake" was delicious. 

I was thrilled that the afternoon temperature was only 90 degrees 

and

we enjoyed a breeze too. 

They made sand cakes, climbed on jungle gyms,

slid on the slide, and went on a bear hunt.

We always take big water bottles along.

"I don't want to leave!" "Wahhhhh!"

That's music to my ears, 

knowing they'll be so happy to go back to play again.

 I used CTMH's "Cherry-O" papers that coordinated
with B's cherry summer sundress.
I inked the Irresistable Letters in Garden Green and Tulip
for the layout's title.

The photo on the left side is 8 x 10 inches,
and I gave all the sandbox photos a vintage effect
by using PhotoShop.
Photos on the right side are 4 x 6 inches.

StickEase makes embellishing a layout so super easy and pretty!

I put Liquid Glass on the StickEase and also on the cherries 

in the printed paper.

It can't get any easier or more fun.

Using Flip Flaps on top of the Memory Protector 

(right side, vertical photos)

is a great way to add extra photos and tell the story too--

I always include a journaled section to tell about the activity.

Happy memory-making!

Sweet B & Family-Wings Layout

CTMH's January Inspirations that includes "Wings" papers and coordinating Stickease made this two-page layout faster, simpler, and easier! The Close To My Heart motto couldn't be truer!

I used the layout cutting instructions for "On with the Show" in Jeanette Lynton's book, Magic (pp 62-63), adapting the strips' sizes slightly for page 2.

On page 2, I included two journaling cs pieces, one behind each of the photos. The Wings Stickease decorates each edge of the ivory cs journaling strips, with Liquid Glass enhancing the dots.

Here's page 2 with the journaling sections pulled out.

Someday Beatrice will be able to read about these three photos, taken of her at 6 months, 9 months, and 11 months old.

Liquid Glass is a great product to enhance papers, Stickease, and even photos. Here I used it to give shine to the Stickease butterfly's wings. I added medium and small Licorice Opaques to make the butterfly's body "pop." The butterfly is attached to the page with adhesive foam squares cut in half.

CTMH's new Bohemian Alphabet stamp set (E1019) was a perfect fit for this layout. Notice the swirls, flowers, and leaves on each letter & symbol. It brings back the 70s for me -- I'll always be a flower child.

The January Inspirations products are available only SIX more days! If you love these colors and combinations, click on the Inspirations badge in the right sidebar for more information! Don't miss out!

I used all Close To My Heart items:

Magic by Jeanette Lynton

Wings Level 2 paper packet

Wings Stickease

Bohemian Alphabet stamp set

Vineyard Berry and Black inks

Licorice Opaques

Black Pleated Ribbon

Black Mini Medley metal tag, buttons, striped ribbon, and brad

Black marker

Liquid Glass

Thanks for stopping to look at my paper art!

As this card features all new products, I'm linking it up to Erin's CTMH New Product Linky Party! Check out all of the gorgeous work & inspiration with the new goodies below!!

Valentines by Cuttlebuggin'

How fun to use the Cuttlebug to emboss the CTMH clear acrylic cards and the papers too!

I used some Elegant Bouquet paper scraps and its coordinating Stickease. It's so super easy to line up those Stickease items on an acrylic card. FUN, simple, easy, and did I say fun?

And one more with a Cuttlebug swirl:

We're having a "snow day" today, a great time to watch the cardinals, woodpeckers, blue jays, and nuthatches at the feeders and make homemade soup.

Thanks for looking! Keep your hearts and homes warm and safe!

(White ribbon & silver embellisments are from my non-CTMH stash.)

A Dog and His Boy

This photo depicts Bryan and Torrie's "BFF" -- they are Buds --

nothing compares to a boy and his dog-love.

Bryan is off to college now, studying to be a physical therapist.

I've never met a more caring, kind, compassionate young man.

He spends time with his neighbors, and during his summers,

he gives of himself by doing mission work

and rebuilding projects in the storm-stricken south.

My parents are so blessed to have known Bryan since his birth

and to have him and his parents for their neighbors.

Now they just don't get to see Bryan often enough.

But Torrie does come by for her treats.

Twitterpated Display Album

I've been working on a Close To My Heart display album for a baby shower gift. I'm using Twitterpated paper packets and the coordinating Stickease,

along with coordinating ribbons--a natural pick

for the nature-loving family.

This matches the "for baby" card posted previously.

Here are some sample pages.

The album begins with "The Day You Were Born"

and then each following page is a designated "month" milestone,

ending with the 12 month "happy birthday" page

on the back inside cover.

The parents can add their baby's milestone photos

and their comments/memories to the monthly pages that flip.

A new baby is always God's sign that He wants His world to continue!

This baby has been anxiously awaited and will be dearly welcomed.

Her parents will teach her of God's love and of the importance

of caring for His beautiful world.

I'm looking for a special verse for the back of the album.

So...there's always more work to do, a happy, fun work,

from my heart to your hands.

A photo of the finished product is to come,

bedecked with lottsa ribbons along the top!

A girl hasta have some ribbons!

So please check back in a few days!

Twitterpated For Baby

A friend's daughter's baby shower is coming up.

This is the card in earthy colors since they are her choice for the

"nature lover's nursery." The display album for the new little baby girl's

first year of photos will showcase these papers too,

along with rabbits, deer, owls, and more mushrooms.

I LOVE new babies! AND new grandmas too!

Thanks for taking a look!

I used:

Twitterpated papers & Stickease; CTMH inks; Liquid Glass; Sorbet ribbon

Not CTMH: MS border punch & pink paper

Merry Christmas in August!

It's "Jingle All the Way" as the Christmas music plays here.
Today I got to play with the '09 CTMH Christmas papers called "Jingle" and I finished two 2-page layouts using our 2009 family Christmas photos.

It made me feel at least 10 degrees cooler.

I used:

CTMH Jingle Paper Levels 1 & 2

and Stickease

Juniper Grosgrain Ribbon

Dimensional Element Stars & Snowflakes

Prisma Glitter

Liquid Glass

Sheer Ribbon

Sparkles and Itty Bitty Sparkles

(aqua jewels not CTMH)

Flip Flaps (not pictured,

but I layered a few on each Memory Protector Page)

Layout 2, Page 1 needs something across the bottom--

I may journal on vellum here.

If you have a good idea for me, please chime in!

This is my second post today,

so please scroll down for "Olivia."

Thanks for looking & leaving some love.

Playing with Olivia Papers

"In everything, give thanks..."

That's so true!

It's another hot day in the Lou, and I'm spending it

in my Stu-di-o!

The Olivia papers are new in Close To My Heart's

Fall/Winter catalog -- what rich colors!

(This design and three more new designs

will be available to customers on September 1.)

They went well with the photos I used of Beatrice and me.

One of her many nicknames is Beaz Louise.

It's special that we share middle names.

I used:

CTMH Olivia Paper Packets Level 1 (background)

Level 2 for additional patterned paper pieces

Level 1 Stickease for title

Metal Foundry Flourishes (bronze flowers)

Colonial White buttons & ribbon

Sorbet Ric Rac

Pretty Pin

Computer journaling with Typewriter font

(Flip Flaps have since been added to the Memory Protector.

I can't live without 'em.)

Thanks for visiting and leaving some love!

Art Keeper Box

It's sturdy! It's stackable! It's colorful! It's personalized!

It's an art keeper box!

This one will hold all the special projects Ella makes for our frig display--her Winnie the Pooh pages and little love notes.

The dimensions are 13.5 x 14.3 inches, so it holds nice sized papers and items.

Let me know if I can create a special art or memorabilia keeper box for someone you love...a soldier's family, a preschooler (or kid of any age), a sports enthusiast, grandparents, teacher, pastor, and more.

I used Close To My Heart:

Magic Moments papers & Stickease

Pop Dots

Liquid Glass

and a chipboard box with lift-off lid from LSS