CTMH Animal Cookies Creative Basics, You're a Hoot stamp set

Here is a sneak peek at the new adorable Animal Cookies Creative Basics kit! This card was made for a business builder swap I participate in and features our new Dimensional Elements Borders (very fun - it includes those cool buttons too) and the new stamp set "You're a Hoot". The stamp set is way up there for my all time favorite stamp sets and my daughter can't wait to play with this one too!

Products used: Paper: Animal Cookies Creative Basics, Stamp: You're a Hoot, Class Mate Alphabet (for sentiment)

Inks: Desert Sand, Tulip, Dutch Blue, Clover Green Marker

Other: Dimesional Elements Borders, Liquid Glass, Watercolor Pencils

CTMH Tickled Pink Layout with CTMH Boom Di Ada and random stamping

Here is a random stamped layout I created using the Tickled Pink stamp set from the upcoming April 15-May 31 National Scrapbooking Month promotion. I've used the colors from the Creative Basics Boom Di Ada (still available and comes with 8 yards of Hollyhock ricrac). This is a terrific set for random stamping as there are three sizes of the daisy-like flower plus that gorgeous giant zinnia. I'm having lots of fun with this kit! I finished the layouts as shown in the brochure you get with the kit (using the cool glitter paper that comes with) but haven't put pictures in yet (Spring Break has put a dent in my scrapping time!). Once I get the photos on I'll share! This kit is $34.95 to buy outright or free with a $60 My Acrylix stamps purchase (PLUS you get minimum half off the Stamp of the Month!). The Boom di Ada colors are up there for my all time favorite color combination - totally me colors! My family room was painted Sweet Leaf green about 3 years before I discovered Close to my Heart.

Join me for an "Unforgettable" Workshop!

Date: Tuesday, 28 April from 9:30AM-12PM
Friday, 1 May from 7-9:30PM

Orders Due by: Wed 15 April (Tickled Pink Promotion can be added to your order!)

Come join me for this 2 hour workshop (there is a little extra time built in at the end for people who want to cut the additional layouts). We will create this gorgeous layout that is perfect to commemorate your Mother's Day photos using CTMH's Unforgettable paper pack and a few coordinating accessories. These workshops are designed to teach new techniques and the workshop guides as well as LOTS of leftover paper and accessories are yours to keep! This is a great low-cost girl's night out for you and your friends. To signup, send me a note at paigedolecki@yahoo.com. If you are out of my area or if you are unable to make it during these dates, I'll walk you through how you can join in the fun by making this workshop in your own home!

MATERIALS LIST
Basic Workshop:
X7106B - Unforgettable Level 2 Paper Pack $12.95
X7106C – Unforgettable My Stickease $4.95
Z1147 – Foundry Bookplates $3.50
Exclusive Workshop Guide (Provided by Consultant) $1.00
34” Sorbet Ribbon (Provided by Consultant) $0.47
Product Total: $22.87

See my website here:
http://paige.myctmh.com/MyCTMH/Events.aspx?PageID=183&eID=511929
for information on additional coordinating accessories.

Hope you can join us!

CTMH Altered Composition Book, Coaster Post-it Holder, Happy Endings stamp set

About a year and a half ago a good friend invited me to a Close to my Heart gathering at her house. My youngest son had recently been diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor and I was looking for a way of coping with the stress and uncertainty upon us. I knew I wanted to start scrapbooking so I could document our lives and really capture the essence of what makes my family unique - the love my kids have for eachother, what good friends they are to each other, the fun we all have together as a family and in general the deep unconditional love I have for my mad monkeys. Long story short - I fell in love with Close to my Heart products and their how-to books and philosophy. A couple of months later I became a consultant and I've been having fun and relieving stress ever since! There are three things in life that keep me sane - friends and family, paper crafting and Tae-Kwon-Do (terrific stress reliever).

So anyways, this friend who started me on my journey with CTMH has a daughter turning 7 and asked me to come to the party and lead a group of 7 year old girls through a couple of projects. Yes, these are all simple projects - I have a 7 year old so I know what their attention spans are like!

I've pre-embossed the girls names on their journals and I'll let them stamp as many butterflies as they want on the front and back covers. This one was done by my 13 year old - I think she liked that blue color - what do you think?










Then we'll do the frog and heart treat bag (kind of a princess theme going here) using the Happy Endings stamp set from CTMH. I've pre-made the tags so they can write their names on them to keep track of their stuff.




















After that we'll do the super simple post-it holder using the Daydream Level 2 paper pack from CTMH (covered coaster with a clippy) and then a very simple book mark using that terrific stamp set again. My daughter is totally out of the little girl princess stuff but I couldn't resist getting this too-cute stamp set. It was the frogs....I have a thing for really cute frogs.... I'll be curious to see how long these projects take. I have about a hour for the paper crafting part. Who thinks I'll only be getting through half the projects????





One of the things I adore about stamping is that you can use your stamps for so many different things! Its not just about layouts and cards - its about lunch bags and candles, journal covers, post it holders, pencil cups, etc. I have to admit I am nuts about our stamps and THANK GOODNESS they are acrylix on the carrier sheets. Because of this I can store my 300+ stamp sets in two 8" wide and 40" high towers instead of an entire bookcase. Yes, I am totally addicted to CTMH stamps. I guess I'll have to join a 12x12 program (budum-bum-bah!)

Products Used: Paper: White Daisy Cardstock, Hollyhock Cardstock, Daydream Level 2 Paper Pack
Stamps: Happy Endings, Butterfly Wings (March SOTM)
Inks: Cocoa, Blush, Topiary, Sweet Leaf, Heavenly Blue, Spring Iris
Other: Colored Pencils, Hollyhock RicRac (from Boom Di Ada Creative Basics Kit), White Daisy Grosgrain Ribbon, Gold Embossing Powder
Non-CTMH: Coasters, White lunch bags

CTMH Altered Mini Legal Pad with Heat Embossing

Here is the hostess gift I made for my dear friend Tracy who recently held a Close to my Heart party with me. I've known Tracy for a couple of years - my youngest boy had pre-school with her youngest. We hit it off instantly as she is such a down to earth, honest and dependable person. We used to take our boys to McD's for lunch after school and sit and talk for hours. She is another of my blessings - supporting me through good times and bad.
I like making these mini legal pad holders - there is a slit to hold the cardboard backer so you can switch out the pad when you are done with it. The butterflies are from the Butterfly Wings March Stamp of the Month from CTMH - the big one is embossed with Vineyard Berry and the little ones in Heavenly Blue. I used Gold embossing powder for the name in Giggle alphabet stamp set and a border stamp for the top and bottom. The paper started off as White Daisy but I had fun with the brayer and it turned into Sweet Leaf. This was one of those projects I had to play with for a while to get the look I was going for. Sometimes things flow and sometimes you have to keep adding until they look right!
Here is the inside - there is a slit cut for the ribbon that his sandwiched between two pieces of White Daisy to make it into a pen holder.

Paper: White Daisy Cardstock, Emporium Creative Basics
Inks: Sweet Leaf, Heavenly Blue Marker, Sweet Leaf Marker, Vineyard Berry Marker
Other: Vineyard Berry Embossing Powder, Heavenly Blue Embossing Powder, Gold Embossing Powder, Rubber brayer, Ribbon from Emporium Creative Basics kit

CTMH Paper Garden Level 1 and Level 2 Layout with Butterfly Wings Stamp

Here is a sweet Easter layout I made with a bunch of terrific women at an all day crop fundraiser for a local Girl Scout troop. I had a terrific time meeting a bunch of women who enjoy paper crafting AND supporting a good cause! My good friend Kimberly H. came with me - because, well - SHE ROCKS! Kimberly is the kind of friend you can call up and ask "will you do this with me" and she just says YES. She is definitely one of my blessings.
This layout uses Paper Garden from Close to my Heart - both Level 1 and Level 2. Level 1 is the left side - it means the page with the exception of the corners and journaling tag is pre-printed. We used the Journaling Jots stamp for the tag along with second generation stamping with the butterfly. The right side is a Level 2 page (cut paper from a Level 2 kit) and we used Eastertime stamp set and the March Stamp of the Month Butterfly Wings. I love the variety of butterflies in that set!

Products used: Paper: Paper Garden Level 1 (left page), Paper Garden Level 2
Stamps: Journaling Jots, Eastertime, Butterfly Wings March SOTM
Ink: Blush, Petal, Sweet Leaf
Other: Colonial White Grosgrain Ribbon, Copper Brads