Out of My Comfort Zone!

You probably heard my moans and groans this morning as I was looking at this week's Mojo Monday sketch.  Now I am entirely linear in my layout style.  I mean a ruler is my best friend as I attempt to straighten something that is a 32nd of an inch off square.  So imagine my angst when I saw the large rectangle element sitting at an angle!  Agh!

However, I have vowed to work with some online sketches even if I have to take those dreaded steps out of my comfort zone...so here is my project for this week.

I used two of the Picture my Life cards included in the Florence paper packet (X7208B).  These cards, intended for use in pocket scrapbooking projects, also work wonderfully on cards like this one or journaling blocks in your normal scrapbooking. The large embellishment was cut with the Ornate Blossom Thin Cut ((Z3227) and stamped with an image from the Ornate Blossoms stamp set (D1687).  

Other Close to My Heart products used include:

White Daisy cardstock (1385)

Shinhan markers (Carmine, Peacock Green and Marigold--although I think I should have used Golden Yellow)

Say it All stamp set (C1632).  This is a hostess only set available until July 31st.

Florence Sequins (Z3213)

Momento Black Ink

Just for fun, here is another card I made with the stamp set.  Reminds me of the coloring books popular right now.

For more creative inspiration, please visit the Mojo Monday Blog:

http://mojomonday.blogspot.com/2016/07/mojo-monday-456.html

Good Day, Sunshine!

Here I am with my offering for Mojo Monday #455.  This week I chose papers from the Calypso paper packet and a stamp from the Beach Life set.  I love the fun summery colors of Calypso and the Beach Life set works beautifully with these papers.  Both the paper and stamps are from the CTMH Seasonal Expressions 2 catalog and are available through August 31st.

Close to My Heart Products used on this project:
Calypso Paper Packet X7210B
White Daisy Cardstock 1385
Honey Cardstock X5668
Canary Cardstock X5772
Black Momento Inkpad Z899
Beach Life Stamp Set D1691

Please take the time to visit the Mojo Monday blog for more ideas using this sketch:

Once Again---Missing in Action

A three-way Messenger conversation with my friends and CTMH co-consultants, Lori and Pam, inspired me to come back to blogging. I am not sure why I keep straying away, but once again here I am with good intentions.  For one thing, I have discovered Mojo Monday, a site that offers card sketches each Monday and invites participation by linking one's blog.  Well, I like that idea! With that kind of inspiration and schedule, I just might be able to do this!

So here is my first offering for the Mojo Monday Challenge:

Close to my Heart products used on this project include:
White Daisy Cardstock 1388
Black Cardstock 1386
Lagoon and Cranberry papers from the Adventure Fundamentals Pack Z3125
Honey and white polka dot from Magical Paper Packet X7209B
Beyond Awesome Stamp Set C1644
Magical Sequins Z3214
Thin 3-D Tape Z2060
Cranberry Ink Pad Z2116
Momento Black Ink

I hope you are also inspired to create something awesome with this sketch!

Missing my craft room!

I am spending most of a month away from my home and the thing I miss the most (other than my hubby) is my craft room.  So what am I doing to compensate?  Planning!  I have my laptop with me and am deciding on layouts, editing the pictures I need and deciding on papers I may use.  I have also been organizing my digital photos so they are easy to locate when I am ready to scrap.

I am looking forward to getting back to that craft room and seeing the results of my planning and preparation.  I will be sharing with you just as soon as I can!

In the meantime, Happy Crafting,
Sue

Backstage!

I love scrapping my grandkids' activities...I am so proud of them! And I love the instruction books from Close To My Heart that make it so easy to create beautiful layouts! Everything is there for you...cutting directions, the layout design and a color picture to provide inspiration for your scrapbook pages.  This layout was inspired by the Backstage pattern found in Magic, one of several available books.

Visit my website for ordering information or give me a call!

New for 2016!

The holidays are behind us, the lights and decorations are back in the Rubbermaids, and I, for one, am ready to get back to my scrapbooking and card making.  For inspiration, I have turned to the new Seasonal Expressions 1 for 2016.  There are three new paper sets with coordinating stamps and embellishments.  New in this book are Thin Cuts dies that coordinate with our stamp sets.  They come packaged on magnetic sheets and  are nicely priced starting at $13.95 for a complete assortment.  Also new are Workshop Your Way sets that are replacing the Workshop on the Go sets...more paper with matching embellishments.  When you go to my website, you can download cutting guides and layout instructions for three layouts and 2-3 cards.

Today, I worked with new Charlotte Workshop Your Way.

I chose one of the three layout designs available for download.  This is how it is shown in the instructions:

You know by now that I can't leave well enough alone.  While I loved the layout and followed the design to the letter, I changed out some of the elements.  Some of the items just didn't go with the theme of my pictures. Here is my layout:

As I usually do, I left a thin white border on my pictures and then matted them on Whisper cardstock. Instead of using the zip strips, I cut 1/2" strips of the black floral paper.  I created my own title card with my Cricut instead of using the card from the Picture My Life sheet included in the paper set.  I did use the card with hearts on it, but only as a base for my computer journaling.  I also used the "Love" instead of the "Today" from the included sticker sheet.  As I have shared before, patterns are there for our inspiration, and goodness knows I couldn't be very creative without them.  But never be afraid to change things up to make a layout your own!

So with all this being said, I invite you to take a look at the new Seasonal Expressions on my website www.suebruch.ctmh.com.  While you are there, take a look at the Workshop Your Way sets and the downloadable instructions and cutting guides for the three new papers.  You will be seeing more from me in the next couple weeks as I share more projects.

Happy paper crafting,
Sue

More Urban!

Urban...my favorite masculine look paper in a long time.  Here is another layout using these awesome papers.  My grandson is a proud FFA member and I created this layout to document the awards night his Junior Year. I found my inspiration in Make It from Your Heart, Volume 2, one of the instruction books available from Close to My Heart.

The background is Colonial White card stock shaded with bamboo. The "ink splatters" are stamped with Whisper ink using the Ink Blot stamp set (D1660).  The gears are cut with the Artiste Cricut cartridge using Sapphire, Saffron and Slate card stock.  No Cricut? Try some circles or maybe hexagons. The FFA logo is stamped with a stamp I picked up at the state fair, but there are logos on the internet that could be printed and fussy cut for your personal use.  I cut the title on the Cricut. You could also stamp or print it.

I share projects for you to use as inspiration...never be afraid to venture out and make your artwork your own.