Annual Inspirations New Product Blog Hop

Welcome to the Annual Inspirations Blog Hop! This hope we have 26 fabulous creations using the new goodies from the new Annual Inspirations Idea Book. You may be arriving here from ALYSON'S BLOG, and you'll find a link to all the blogs on the hop HERE.

I chose to play with the new Whimsy Fundamentals Line. The line features a paper packet in pretty pastels which I paired with the Inspire Complements. I also added some of the new Color of the Year cardstock, called Bashful. I'm linking this project up to the Paper Issues Take 5 Tuesday Challenge (Cardstock, Patterned Paper, More than 1 photo, Sticker, Diecut). 

I love the white glitter chipboard accents from the Inspire Complements pack. I combined the SPARKLE piece and a heart image with my title cut using the new font in the You Are Here Cricut cartridge. You also can spy a few of the hearts from the new Thin Cuts - Heart Border Die, which is literally probably my most favorite new thing. Here I trimmed out individual outline hearts from the border to add a delicate touch to my clusters. Both shades of pink cardstock you can see here are from the same sheet of Bashful cardstock - totally loving the new doublesided cardstock! One side is the full shade, and the backside is a lighter tone of the shade. Our color choices just doubled (yay!) but we still have the same lovely white core perfect for distressing and paper tearing.

I am still adoring my watercolor paints, too, and I'm still using the same pan from last year. Hooray for long lasting supplies! I laid down a patch of water before dropping in the colors and let them move naturally. I came back after it was dry to add a few speckles too. That Sunshine elements came from the Inspire Complements, and I just trimmed off the yellow sun part to tuck the edge under my photo mat. Then I popped the center part of that sticker up with foam tape above my photo mat and now it will be so easy to slide in my photo!  

Next up on the hop is GINA'S BLOG. Check out all the new Annual Inspirations goodies online here, or ask your consultant how to get a copy of your very own. Happy hopping!

Live Beautifully in May

Our National Scrapbooking Day crop is coming May 6th, and I cannot wait to scrap with my local Stampin' Friends that day!

This is one of 5 beautiful layouts from the Live Beautifully Scrapbooking Workshop we will be doing that day.  I especially love all the gold foil embossed roses on the background. 

If you want more kit details, join my VIP Monthly Memories Facebook Group or contact me for all the scoop!

Live Beautifully Workshop Coming in May!

Did you know that May is National Scrapbooking Month? I'm super excited this year, in part because I'll be hosting a crop on May 6th with my local Crafty Peeps, and in part because we will be making up this stunning Live Beautifully 10 page Scrapbooking Workshop!

Below is my favorite of the gorgeous 5 double page layouts included - each kit includes preprinted bases, precut papers, diecuts, and stickers with gold foil accents. I whipped up this special kit today, adding just a few extra goodies, like a bit of washi tape, Gold Glitter Gems, and adorably teensy gold sequins. I can't wait to get my pics onto these beautiful layouts!

If you are interested in creating this amazing kit in May, I've got the full pages (with my twist on the basic kit) loaded to my VIP Monthly Memories Facebook Group. Let me know if you'd like to join! That's where I share all my upcoming classes and organize our twice monthly crop days. I offer both in person and To- Go kits shipped right to your home. Contact me if you have any questions or want to reserve your kit!

Monthly Memories Sugar Rush Layouts

Do you ever feel like you are so far behind you cannot even begin to find your to-do list? I feel like it's been ages since I've created a Monthly Memories Kit on time, and this kit is probably still too late for this idea book cycle. The new idea book goes live in just a couple of weeks (yay!). However...this Sugar Rush paper is seriously too cute to skip over. 

The ice cream and donuts theme is completely adorable, even though we are gluten free so therefore donuts and cones are not normally on the menu for my kiddos. It's such a big deal to find those items gluten free that I do actually have donut and cone pics of them to add! 

The gold accents are so trendy and sweet!

I think the Complement titles are perfectly sized. These Complements come with both sticker and chipboard pieces. 

You can find the "Bring List" for this kit HERE. Sadly I believe the I Want It All kit may be Sold Out now, but the papers, complements, and washi are still available. If you love this kit as much as I do, don't wait. It's breaking my heart to know that it will be completely gone so soon. I am working on my next kit already, though, and the creative process feels amazing. I'll share it with you soon, Stampin' Friends. Thanks for still being here. XOXO! 

So Happy Hungry Caterpillar Layout

Happy Valentine's Day, Stampin' Friends! Today I'm sharing a sweet and scrappy project featuring my littlest dude. When I saw this sketch from Stuck Sketches, I immediately remembered these sweet pics of Max taking home his classroom caterpillar. I only had three pics, and my favorite one is kind of blurry, but I couldn't let sleeping caterpillars lie...

 I used papers from the Dreamin' Big line. I just love this woodgrain! I drew and trimmed out my rustic star. The edges of all the pieces are scissor distressed. 

Most of the embellishments came from the coordinating Complements. Some are cardstock weight stickers, but then there are these super cool acrylic pieces! I added black acrylic dots to the flower stickers.

This is my slightly blurry favorite picture. He gets that look when he thinks he's being funny or getting away with something, and he's had it since he was a tiny baby! to me, this is so Max. Also, can I just point out the ladybug? I mean, seriously. {Double heart!} Am I the only one with a thing for ladybugs? 

In honor of the sweetest day of the year, CTMH is offering an awesome flash sale from 2 p.m. on February 14th through 2 p.m. on the 15th. To see which items will be discounted during the sale, visit my shopping website at any time during the sale—the Sweet Sale items will be listed on that page. All the items included in the sale are only available while supplies last, and there is no grace period for placing orders, so be sure to get your orders in before the sale ends! 

Check out the goods starting at 2 p.m. PST on my CTMH website. Have a sweet day!

Monthly Memories Swan Lake Kit

Friday night is the night! My Stampin' Ladies are coming over for our monthly scrapbooking night and we are making these beautiful Swan Lake pages. We will eat yummy things, scrap, chat, and have a fabulous night out - it's my favorite night every month!

Our kit this month will make 6 pages and 8 cards. Everything you need to make the pictured projects is included (except the blank card bases). These kits are an amazing deal!

You can also swap out any of my page or card designs for the original CTMH designs made for this kit. So you've got 6 double page spreads to choose from to coordinate with your personal family memories.

I cannot wait to get my kiddos Thanksgiving gratitude lists scrapped onto this page. 

I used the Get Better stamp set for my version of the included card designs instead of the Thankful for You set (with matching die cuts!) that CTMH chose. There are enough card pieces cut in the kit for you to make all 8 cards if that floats your boat. Or you can easily substitute your own favorite stamp set!

You can download the CTMH version on this kit HERE for free! Or you can place your kit order here and I will email you my full color instructions for my version of these projects complete with cutting guides, lots of pictures, and step by step instructions. If you are local to me, your kit purchase scores you an invite to our monthly crop night, where we create our kits together. Dinner is included, just bring your kit and favorite adhesive to join in the fun! 

You can also complete these kits at my monthly crop day (which is November 27th this month) or as a To Go Kit wherever you like to crop. If you are planning to hang with us, I want to be sure to have enough space and dinner for all...

So PLEASE RSVP to reserve your spot at the crop!

November 4th Monthly Memories Bring Lists:

SWAN LAKE I WANT IT ALL KIT 

(about $27, everything you'll need to complete as shown):

G1112 Swan Lake Workshops Your Way Kit

Includes Swan Lake Papers and Complements, 

4 sheets of cardstock (1 Peacock, 2 Whisper, and 1 White Daisy), 

Grey Enamel Gems and Black Shimmer Ribbon

Optional Stamp set: Get Better If you are attending in person you can borrow my stamps!

SWAN LAKE BASIC KIT 

(about $15, very basic pages to add your own cardstock and embellishments):  

X7212B Swan Lake Paper Packet

X7212C Swan Lake Complements

You'll need to add 2 sheets of Whisper CS, 1 Sheet of Peacock, and 1 Sheet of White Daisy Cardstock to complete the pages as shown. 

If you are attending in person, you can buy CS by the sheet from my Cash & Carry.

Summer's End Blog Hop

Welcome to the Summer's End Blog Hop! You might be arriving here from STEPHANIE'S BLOG. Let's Hop!

I've been wanting an excuse to put aside everything I'm working on and make something fun using my pile of new goodies from Convention. On this page I combined Sea Glass Cardstock and Glitter Paper, an Uptown Gold Foil Vellum dotted overlay, and some of the new Whimsy B and T. I added lots of bits and bobs from the You and Me Compliments, and a few cards from Hello Gorgeous. Plus lots and lots of hand stitching, since I was inspired by this sketch from Stuck Sketches.  

This summer one of our favorite special places to take our family and friends who visit from out of town is Kyra's Bake Shop in Lake Oswego. It's a 100% gluten free establishment that gluten lovers will still love because everything is so delicious! Kyra has won Cupcake Wars multiple times with her gluten free cupcakes, so that should give you a clue as to how amazing this place is. If you go, get the tomato soup. It's seriously the best tomato soup I've ever had, and even my veggie hating ten year old scarfs it right down. 

Next up on the hop is KATY'S BLOG. Happy hopping!

Birthday Cheer Cards

So I got craft-stracted and I never finished sharing the cards I made to go with my Magical Workshop next month. My version of the Magical kit makes 6 pages (3 double page layouts) and 9 cards.

I love how the bright blue of these sequins pops against the Magical papers. 

I actually made three versions of this design, one with a hot air balloon,  one with the airplane from Lifting Spirits, and one using the balloon stickers left over from the scrapbooking pages. 

I just love the little fluffy clouds! And it was fun to see how many different looks I could get using the same pieces in the same design with the same papers. On this balloon version I just used a journaling pen to outline the top of the card and add the balloon strings. Easy peasy!

The next Monthly Memories Scrapbook crop is Friday, September 9th, and we will be doing either Magical or Calypso, scrapper's choice! Space is limited (though anyone can order a To-Go Kit), and if you attend in person, dinner is included. Check out the details HERE and RSVP to save your spot! 

Sending You Happy Thoughts Card

So the Magical Workshop I posted yesterday has instructions for three card designs. There's enough pieces to make 3 each of the 3 designs, but I didn't necessarily have a lot of use for the mildly Disney-esque cards originally in the kit, so I altered the cute card designs with one of my favorite stamp sets, Lifting Spirits. 

I stamped the images onto White Daisy CS and colored them with Shin Han alcohol markers. I did cut out an extra cloud and let that guy hang over the edge of the card element.

I kind of thought if you turn the heart print sideways that it looks like arrows. I also added a wash of shimmer pen to the clouds.

This is the original card design set from this kit, and the card I made used the pieces from the Castle card. Check out all the info on this Magical Workshop HERE. Don't forget to stop by my Open House on Sunday to see Magical in person, make a quick card, and check out my fall class schedule. Contact me for the address! Hope to see you there!

Monthly Memories Magical Scrapbook Kit

I can't believe there are just a couple of weeks left to order from the current Seasonal Inspirations book! I just finished the instructions for this Magical Scrapbooking kit. I am going to miss these papers, especially that adorable mini heart print!

CTMH is offering a new style of Scrapbooking kit called Workshops Your Way. It's such a good deal - paper, extra cardstock, lots of embellies all bundled together with a free workshop guide that makes 6 pages (three 2 page layouts), a 2 page pocket scrapbooking layout, and 3 card designs to use up the rest of your scraps. The pages, while cute,  were a bit too simple for my layer loving, banner addicted, extra sparkly crafting soul, so I took the CTMH Magical workshop and created an alternate workshop kit that plays off their same cutting guide but fits my scrapping style better. 

I did add a couple of extra pieces, but only using the scraps from the original workshop cutting guide so if you love one of the original ideas better than my version, you absolutely can still make it. 

I made sure my favorite little heart print got some time in the spotlight. If we could buy it in bulk I know I'd hoard this one print like nobody's business.

To make life easier, the Monthly Memories instructions for these pages include updated cutting guides with my changes so you don't have to flip back and forth. You can download the CTMH instructions here for free. Or you can place your kit order here, and I will email you my full color instructions with complete cutting guides, lots of pictures, and step by step instructions. This is a great fast-and-easy kit for a crop day or an evening of scrapbooking! 

If you are local to me, I'm hosting a Monthly Memories Crop on September 9th at 6 p.m. so we can craft our Magical kits together! Just order your kit here,  then RSVP to reserve a spot. Bring your kit and adhesives that night. I'll provide dinner, tools, and the crafting space, no additional fee! 

Please RSVP to reserve your spot! 

I want to be sure to have enough tables and dinner for all!

Monthly Memories Bring List:

MAGICAL I WANT IT ALL KIT (everything you'll need to complete as shown):

G1108 Magical WYW Kit

Includes, Magical Papers, Complements, 

4 sheets of cardstock (3 White Daisy, 1 Sapphire), 

White Twine and Magical Sequins

MAGICAL BASIC KIT (you'll have to add cardstock, very basic pages):  

X7209B Magical Paper Packet

X7209C Magical Complements

You'll need to add 3 sheets of White Daisy and 1 Sheet of Sapphire Cardstock to complete the pages. If you are attending in person, you can buy CS by the sheet from my Cash & Carry.

Optional Tools:

Black Journaling Pen

Thin 3-D Foam Tape

Liquid Glass

I'll be sharing what I did with the three card designs later this week. You can stop by my Open House on Sunday to see Magical in person, make a quick card, and check out my fall class schedule. Contact me for the address! Hope to see you there!

Georgie Layouts

Oh my, how the time flies this year. Tonight is the very last night for the current Annual Inspirations book. Time to say goodbye to some many awesome things, including this adorable Georgie paper that I've been messing around with for entirely too long as life had other plans for me. I'm super excited about the new goodies available starting August 1st, but this GOING SOON list breaks my crafty loving heart just a bit.  

I love the details in these pages - the sweet semi-transparent florals, the chipboard hearts and stars, and the super adorable little elephants.

I've got a watercolor hot air balloon going on here - so soft and pretty.

I just love a punny title, and those elephants just tug at my heart. 

If you want my instructions for these pages, I'm going to offer them for free - just contact me and give me your email. I'm super sad to not have finished before this idea book ended, but I do love how they turned out, even if the selfie camera only photography isn't as nice as I'd like. My new phone/camera arrives Wednesday and then I'll be back in business!

You Are My Home Layout

It's time for another Sketchy Friday over at Scrap Much?.  

I grabbed one of my favs, Simple Stories You and Me to play with this week's sketch. I wanted to use that heart print as a background because it's just so pretty. I splattered on a bit of watercolor before layering on the pretty papers and my big doily. I stitched around the edges with silver thread for some shimmery definition.

My title is a combo of the coordinating Simple Stories stickers and leftover grey Webster's stickers. I added a lot of the Simple Stories stickers, a couple types of washi, and a sprinkling of silver sequins, sparkly rhinestones and bitty sparkles to finish my layout. I hope you'll hop over to Scrap Much? to play along this week!