Noreen's Scrap N Chat

Thursday, March 6, 2014

CTMH Artbooking: Hello World

On the Cricut Artbooking cartridge, we have 2 themed keys for Nursery Layouts. These are the keys used for this layout, but notice how changing the colors can make use of these same cricut cuts without it necessarily giving a “baby” or “nursery” feel to the layout!

I am sooo in love with the Close to My Heart Shimmer Trim!! We now have it available in 6 colors!!! Red, Bronze, Black, Silver, Teal and Purple

Notice the scallops on the Bronze Shimmer Trim! We used the CTMH Scallop Border Punch (Z1851) to punch the scallops on the shimmer trim! Super easy to do! Quick tip, place the shimmer side down when punching for a cleaner cut!

Also, to reduce the “white” and add a little dimension and color to a base page, add a little reinker with water in your Spritz Pen and spray the edge of your base page! This, along with 3D Foam Tape, allowed the “white on white” title to pop on this layout!

I decided to go retro, and pulled out some "older" pics of me as a baby and little one! I used our 3x3 Flip Flaps from the Small Assortment (Z1747) to allow me to incorporate a few extra pictures on the page! (Guess this is my tribute to Throw-Back Thursday?!)

Stamp Set: C1561 One-Way Borders

Cardstock colors: White Daisy, Whisper, Lagoon and
Goldrush
B&T Patterned Papers: Huntington (Hexagons)

Tips/Techniques:
- Create entire layout from two themed keys
- Look at themes in new ways; notice how this nursery layout
uses colors not typically associated with babies
- Shrink overlay to use as an accent on a page
- Scallop Shimmer trim with scallop punch
- Create dovetailed tags with washi tape
- Stamp on cork pieces to add variety
- Leave white space for a cute and trendy look—less is more

Wednesday, March 5, 2014

CTMH Wild About You and Embossing

For some reason this didn't post last week…so a little late, but still wanted to share, as I think this set is sooo cute! I've got a few extras of the Wild About You Stamp set if you find you need it!! Just place your qualifying $50 order on my site (feel free to order the March SOM if you'd like), then email me and I'll mail you the Wild About You stamp set as my Thank You!!
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There's only a few days left in the month to take advantage of two of our February specials!!!

The Embossing is Boss special and the Wild About You Stamp of the Month!!

For only a few more days, you will receive your choice of a new embossing folder FREE (a savings of $8.95!) for every 2 packs of our exclusive single color or combo packs of cardstock you purchase!!

Choose from our 5 new folder designs: dot, chevron, quatrefoil, damask, or stripe!! This is a great time to stock up on your cardstock and receive the embossing folders FREE...order today!

PLUS, when you place a $50 order, you'll qualify to purchase the Wild About You stamp set for only $5 ($17.95 retail)!!

The Wild About You stamp set is super cute and coordinates with our Cricut Art Philosophy cartridge... don't miss out…this stamp is gone March 1st!!

Here are some cards I made while playing with this adorable set and our new embossing folders!! This first one is using the Quatrefoil embossing folder (my favorite!!) and our Skylark papers! I love how the papers and the embossing plate coordinate so beautifully!!

I'm also using the retired 6x6 Kraft Die-Cut Cards & Envelopes (Z1474) that are currently available on my website under WhileSupplies Last for ONLY $2 for a pack of 10. I'm sooo in love with these cards and you just can't beat that price!! Be sure to stock up today, as I expect they'll be gone very soon!!!

This 2nd (and 3rd card) were designed using the Timberline papers and the Dots embossing folder. I made it for my dear hubby! He helped me sort 100s of sheets of paper this month for a team card stock swap, and while stacking papers, he decided he liked the Timberline papers and the Twilight card stock...so I put them together for this card!!

The first card was my "planned" design...but when I finished gluing everything down, I realized I had forgotten the 4 1/4" x 5 1/2" Timberline woodgrain paper, doh! I think both cards look cute...which is your favorite?

Dot Embossing Folder (Z1924)	Chevron Embossing Folder (Z1925)	Quatrefoil Embossing Folder (Z1926)	Damask Embossing Folder (Z1927)
Stripe Embossing Folder (Z1960)

InLinkz.com

Wednesday, February 19, 2014

CTMH Embossing Folders Album

Close to My Heart has just added Embossing Folders to our product line-up! We now have 5 folders with versatile designs that will work with all of your projects!!

As an added BONUS, in February you'll receive an embossing folder FREE for every 2 packs of bulk single color or combo colors of card stock you purchase!! Hurry, this special is only good through February 28th! Shop Today!!

The CTMH embossing folders are unique with their open top, allowing you to choose the length of paper you want to use!! Check out this video to learn some great tips and ideas for embossing and how to find the grain of your cardstock!!

Inspired by fellow CTMH consultants Roberta Stafford and Debbi Fournier, I created an Embossing Folders Binder album (My Creations Kraft 3-Ring Album Z1871 $5.95) to store my folders in. I opted to use solely cardstock to create my project (vs adding in patterned paper) and stayed with my FAVORITE CTMH colors Hollyhock and Outdoor Denim…so LOVE, LOVE, LOVE that color combo!! I popped in some Desert Sand to tie it all in with the album and I really like how it turned out!!

I used the Cricut Artbooking Collection and Cricut Craft Room to design the pages and titles, then just used scraps to finish up the cover of the album! Download the Cricut Craft Room file so you can create your own Binder Album!

For the pockets, when I glued the first one down, it was a little too big/loose for the folder, so I added an inch of glue down both the left and right sides of the pocket to firmly attach it to the page and also reduce the size of the pocket opening, keeping the folder firmly in place! I spiced up the cover with the Outdoor Denim bling from our Green & Blue Epoxy Bubbles (Z1806)!

I really like how the album turned out, and have to pat myself on the back since I got this idea last night at about 6pm and had it created and photographed before I went to bed (although I am a bit of a night owl!)

CricutArtbookingCollection(Z1906)	Dot Embossing Folder (Z1924)	Chevron Embossing Folder (Z1925)	Quatrefoil Embossing Folder (Z1926)
Damask Embossing Folder (Z1927)	Stripe Embossing Folder (Z1960)

InLinkz.com

Thursday, February 13, 2014

CTMH Artbooking: Today is a Good Day

This layout was a great opportunity to capture the beautiful day we spent celebrating Mothers Day! It was a gorgeous day and we enjoyed exploring the shops of Gruene, Texas, topped with a fabulous meal at the Grist Mill, yummm!

The Album Retreat version of this layout used floral stamps to random-stamp behind the chevron overlay. I’m not much of a floral print kinda gal, so I switched it up and grabbed a different stamp set to play with…opted for the arrows!

Notice the Bronze Shimmer Trim…it adds just the right pop to give all these neutral colors a little zing!

Disclaimer: The kids are all drinking Root Beer! <smile>

Stamp Set: C1561 One-WayBorders

Cardstock colors: Desert Sand, Colonial White, Honey,
Goldrush and Outdoor Denim
B&T Patterned Papers: Sarita (Outdoor Denim dots)

Tips/Techniques:

· Randomly stamp the base cardstock to create unique patterns

· Use Cricut® Craft Room to adhere letters together and size them smaller for a longer title

· Use the negative pieces of the overlay to create a border on the journaling tag

· Combine multiple overlays cut into pieces for added dimension

· Layer different colors of cardstock under the overlay to add detail to the background

· Sponge over cork shapes to color them

· Use 3-D foam tape to make photos stand out

Cricut Artbooking

Bronze Shimmer Trim

InLinkz.com

Tuesday, February 11, 2014

CTMH Artbooking: On This Day

I love how this layout has a border on 3 sides, giving it a full spread look! I rarely think to do this myself (partly because it ends up using 2 full sheets of paper more and I tend to be more economical), but it really makes a difference, so I’m going to have to start using this approach a little more regularly!!

We’ve used several pieces from the My Crush Best Day Ever assortment to add pops of color and different “papers” to the layout without breaking out with another paper pack! This allows for different patterns, color and even journaling spots on your layouts!!

I decided to use this layout to capture some of our “through the years” photos of John and me…man we look young in some of those!

Stamp Sets: D1559 Geometric Backgrounds and B1431

Reel Life

Cardstock colors: Sky, White Daisy, Whisper, Kraft, Pear,
Smoothie and Lagoon
B&T Patterned Papers: My Crush Best Day Ever
assortment

Tips/Techniques:
- Use pieces of the My Crush Best Day Ever assortment to
accent pages and for additional
journaling spot options
- Use smaller-sized borders as accents
- Scallop Shimmer trim with scallop punch

Scallop Border Punch

Cricut Artbooking

Best Day Ever Assortment

Bronze Shimmer Trim

InLinkz.com

Thursday, February 6, 2014

CTMH Artbooking: Hello, Hello, Hello

The title for this layout, 3 Hellos, made my think of my 3 little ones! Okay, maybe they’re not so little now…but you know they’re always babies in our eyes! So I grabbed some of my favorite pics of my 3 when they were little ones! So stinkin’ cute!!

Notice the lagoon washi tape is in several spots. Sometimes it’s just placed straight down, other locations it’s placed on a scrap of white cardstock so it’ll “pop” and we’ve even folded it in half lengthwise to loop through the heart image like a piece of ribbon!

Stamp Sets: C1561 One-Way Borders, D1559 Geometric Backgrounds, D1555 All the Details and D1572 My Life (from Cricut Artbooking Collection)

Cardstock colors: Kraft, White Daisy, Ruby, Lagoon and Whisper

B&T Patterned Papers: Sarita (Outdoor Denim dots) and Sparkle & Shine (Stripes/Dots)

Tips/Techniques:

- Create unique journaling spots using Cricut® cuts

- Cut same title or shape in multiple sizes to create visual

interest

- Scale down borders to use as accents

- Match stamp sets with Cricut® cuts for perfect cut-and-

stamp combinations

- Create your own washi tape with stamped backgrounds on

trimmed cardstock

- Layer background stamps, Cricut® shapes, popped stamp

sentiments, and washi tape to create trendy layered focal

points

Cricut Artbooking

Lagoon Houndstooth Washi Tape

Aqua Dots

InLinkz.com

Wednesday, February 5, 2014

CTMH Artbooking: Looking for Adventure

Isn’t this why we join the military? Looking for Adventure!! The colors in this layout worked perfectly to capture some of my military career! Front and center is my favorite photo…our family at the retirement ceremony!!

I used some of our small 2x2 flip flaps to incorporate some extra photos I didn’t want left out…and to capture all my “variety” of uniforms.

Notice the sky polka dot paper, with the Best Day Ever journaling block, the lagoon “distressed” paper and the chevron paper in the upper right corner…these are all pieces from the My Crush Best Day Ever assortment! I LOVE that the My Crush assortments are all sized perfectly to fit within the Flip Flaps Small Assortment! Gives you so many possibilities to work with!! Not just within your Crush books…but also as parts of layouts, on cards and any papercrafting project!!