Christmas is over and for me that means I have some time to get back to paper crafting and creating new projects.  Be watching for examples from a new card kit and new layouts that I am working on.  In the meantime, please enjoy this video from Close to My Heart showing you how easy it is to create beautiful celebration layouts.

Subway Art with Close to My Heart

What a great idea!  Learn how simple it is to create subway art using supplies from Close to My Heart!

Win a Workshop on the Go!

All Play and No Work!  Workshop on the Go Kits make it easy to created stunning layouts and cards--it's all there--paper, stamps, embellishments and a detailed instruction pamphlet. For most kits, all you need to add are inkpads and adhesive.  Watch this short video to see how you can win a kit of your own.

Ideas for Christmas Layouts

Mini Keepsake Album

Good morning!  Sorry for my absence...I was on a vacation with my son's family and away from papercrafting!  Until I get my creative mojo going again, I hope you will enjoy this video showing ways to embellish the Kraft Pocket Album from CTMH.

Freedom!

Here are some wonderful ideas for your layouts celebrating our Freedom...just in time for Veterans's Day!  She also shows you how to adapt "Freedom" elements to create everyday pages.  Just another way Close to My Heart makes it so easy to create beautiful layouts!

Trim the Tree!

The inspiration for these cards was the card shown on page 12 of the Holiday Gift Guide. They feature the Sparkle and Shine paper packet and the Trim the Tree stamp set.  I changed them up a little bit, using silver shimmer tape instead of the hand stitching and red bling I found in my stash.  The card on the left uses the Sparkle Holiday Shapes for the bling on the trees, while the one on the right uses more economical Glitter Gel.  It gives the same look and will be easier to mail. The "Believe" was cut on the Cricut using the Artbooking cartridge.

Enjoy!

How much Fun is This!

Holly Jolly!

Yet another card using the Sparkle and Shine paper!  My inspiration came from Pattern 27 in Make It from Your Heart, Volume 1 from Close to My Heart and the stamp set is from the Frosted Workshop on the Go cardmaking kit. Substitute any paper and sentiment for a quick card anyone would be happy to receive.

Too Much Time on my Hands!

I must have had too much time on my hands when I created this patchwork card.  Quite honestly, I just love the Sparkle and Shine paper, and am trying to use every bit of it!  To do this yourself, cut a bunch of 1 inch squares, glue them to your card, and trim off the excess! The red and white herringbone is CTMH washi tape on white paper and sequins are added for bling. Easy Peasy!  Hope you have fun with this one!

More Sparkle and Shine

I love the wreath on this card.  It is from the Remarkable Wreath stamp set (C1473) from the Autumn and Winter Idea Book.  The little bird and the sentiment are from a set called Merry and Bright, but the bow that comes with the wreath set and any Holiday sentiment will work equally as well on this simple and yet stunning card.  The pretty green paper is from the Sparkle and Shine paper packet from the Holiday Gift Guide.

Artbooking Made Easy: Everyday Layouts

Peace and Joy

Here is a simple card using the Sparkle and Shine paper packet.  The oval cutout is stamped with the Frame It Up stamp set shown on page 96 of the Autumn and Winter Idea Book and the stamp set that is included in the Workshops on the Go Frosted Cardmaking Kit.  I tried both the Silver and Red Shimmer Trim and like the Silver better.

This design will work perfectly with any sentiment and paper selection.  Below is a repost showing the card in For Always. There is no limit to the possibilities!

 

Sparkle and Shine!

I am excited to show you some of the projects I have done with the Sparkle and Shine paper packet from the Holidays from the Heart Gift Guide from Close to My Heart.  I love the fresh non-traditional colors and the simple designs.  Today's card also uses the Santa's Greeting (M1028--only $2.95 in the Autumn and Winter Idea Book).  The latest Paper Crafts magazine showed sequins on many of the projects.  I like the look of them on this card and I think, because they are flatter, the card should mail without any problem. The blue paper used here did not photograph well.  It is actually Twilight, a pretty blue/green.

green

To see the entire Holiday Gift Guide, visit my website www.suebruch.ctmh.com.  Stop by here frequently to see more projects!

Warm Winter Wishes!

I lifted the design for this card from the Autumn and Winter Idea Book from Close to My Heart.  The stamp set is called Wintry Wishes (C1560) and is a Hostess Only set.  The snowball garland was cut with the Artbooking Cricut Cartridge from CTMH.  Contact me to learn more details about both of these items.

Da Bears--Two Ways!

Being a Bears family, it is a given that I create Bears layouts.  For the layout about Ron and his brother Gary's opportunity to be on the field at Soldier Field to carry and unfurl the 4th Phase flag, I used the Sarita paper packet from Close to My Heart. The Lagoon and Gypsy accents in the patterned paper were perfect for the colors in my pictures.  Design credit goes to Jennifer Larson. "Scenic Hike", Scrapbook Trends, July 2012.

The second layout is a single page layout of my own design.  Because the Bears design was already printed on the paper, I was able to quickly mat the pictures and add them to the design.  I was literally done in about 15 minutes!  Now let me say something about this paper.  I picked this up in an independent scrapbook store in suburban Chicago.  This shop stocked papers from all the major Chicago sports teams as well as the local high schools and colleges.  So, yes, I use mainly Close to my Heart products, but love to support independent stores as well.  I always find something unique that I can use in my paper crafts.

Happy Crafting and Go Bears!!

Halloween Mini Album with Artbooking

Mixing it Up!

One of the great things about Close to My Heart is the Exclusive Color Palette that makes it impossibly easy to mix and match papers from different packets! With matching inks, cardstock, and embellishments, the guesswork is eliminated and you can create stunning layouts and cards every time!

This layout is created with papers from three different packets and they go together beautifully.  Of the three, only the gray is current--it can be found in the Huntington packet.

By the way, I have finished my Cruise album and this is the last picture I will be posting from our vacation. Aren't you glad?  Even I am tired of it...feels like I was on this trip for months!  Be watching the blog for card ideas and decorative items for your home--time to mix things up here too!

Nautical appeal of Tommy!

The nautical look of the Tommy paper packet is perfect for your layouts about time spent on or near the water, be it a cruise, time at the beach or maybe your kids at the pool.  The bright primary colors also lend themselves well to masculine cards.  On this layout I have used Pattern 09 from Make It from Your Heart, Volume 1, from Close to my Heart.  Not usually one to use stickers, I really do like the look and texture of the canvas embellishments that coordinate with the Tommy packet.  How will you be using this fun paper in your layouts?

Great Artwork with Background Stamps

A background stamp is a perfect tool for creating your own accents and embellishments.  Take a look at this video to see how easy it is!

Eight Great How-to-Helps for your Scrapbooking and Cardmaking

Multiple Pictures on a Single Page Layout

I was working on the last few layouts for my vacation album and found I had ended up with a space for a single page layout.  With several pictures of Catherine's Palace I wanted to use, I found myself in a dilemma.  After a search through my infamous stash, I found my Flip-Flops, clear pockets with an adhesive edge from Close to My Heart.  I actually completed the layout and then put it into a Memory Protector.  I stacked up five Flip-Flops on top of the Memory Protector directly over the same size picture on the layout and hid the adhesive strip with a piece of Bronze Shimmer Tape.  Below are pictures showing how the Flip-Flops work.  They are available in several sizes from Close to My Heart.

Artbooking Made Easy: Spooky Halloween Layouts

Oh my!  How fun is this?  Contact me or visit my website www.suebruch.ctmh.com to see all the creative things you can do with the Artbooking Made Easy Cricut cartridge from Close to My Heart.

Bier Bitte!

Who says my husband doesn't have goals?  One of his goals is to have a beer in every country we visit!  We have sampled some great local beers and have had lots of fun!  This layout is to commemorate his quest on our recent Scandinavian trip.  I used the Buzz and Bumble, a retired Close to My Heart Paper Packet and stamps from the assortment that comes with the Artbooking Cricut Cartridge bundle.

Artbooking Made Easy!

Laughing Lola!

When I first saw the Laughing Lola paper packet in the Autumn and Winter Idea Book, I thought "Whoa!".  However, I ordered it anyhow thinking I could make it work for some of the St. Petersburg pictures.  I am so glad I did.  I am loving the rich colors of Laughing Lola in this layout.  I stuck with the smaller prints in the packet and chose to embellish minimally.  I think it is quite elegant.  What do you think?

Clearly the Best

Loving Cardstock

Once in awhile I just can't decide on a patterned paper and will use plain cardstock to create a layout.  By adding some stamped backgrounds and embellishments, I can create a beautiful layout. I shamelessly scraplifted this design from the Make It from Your Heart, Volume 2 idea and pattern book from Close to My Heart.  This book has full color pictures of layouts as well full cutting instructions.  It is only $7.95 and is a wonderful book for inspiration!  

Products used:

Cardstock in Outdoor Denim, Champagne, Smokey Plum, Sorbet, Whisper and Twilight

Stamps:  Sightseer (C1534), Distressed Backgrounds (D1544) and Wheel of Life (D1545)

Keyboard Kraft Alphabet (Z1825)

Slate Polka-Dot Washi Tape (Z1817)

Artbooking Made Easy--Getting Started with the Cricut Artbooking Cartridge

As the Wind Blows

I had so much fun creating this layout.  I pulled out my Dream Pop paper from earlier this year and chose the green print and the coordinating embossed cardstock.  I added slate cardstock for the matting and the title (cut on the Artiste Cricut cartridge).  The most fun was using the Irresistibles Hexagons (page 123 in the Autumn and Winter Idea Book).  Ink is applied with a dauber to the chipboard and the raised embossed pattern resists the ink!  Like magic!  So maybe I'm getting too excited here, but I truly love how they turned out. 

Washi Wonder!

I am loving the Washi Wonder stamp set, one of the new hostess only stamp sets in the Autumn and Winter Idea Book.  I can get the look of Washi in absolutely any color that I choose.  What fun!  Not sure of a color combination for this layout, I took a look at my table and saw the scraps from the Frosted Cardmaking Kit (see earlier post) I had just completed.  Turns out, the colors were perfect.  I chose four stamps from the set, and using the four colors of ink, stamped completely around the border of the layout.  Then I used matching cardstock to mat the picture, added a title (cut on the Gazelle) and journaling done in Word.  I love the Colonial White background and the clean uncluttered look of this layout.

What's New in Stamps?

Join Kristine as she shows what is new in Close to My Heart Stamps.

Getting a head start on Christmas with the Frosted Cardmaking Kit

I was fortunate today to paper craft with some very creative ladies!  What fun!  I was happy to complete the Workshop on the Go Frosted Cardmaking Kit from Close to my Heart and was very pleased with the cards.  This kit has everything needed, except the acrylic blocks for the stamps and inks, to make 15 cards:  cards, envelopes, paper, stamp set, and embellishments. All this for $24.95 (a value of $36.78!) 

To order this fun kit, contact me or visit my website www.suebruch.ctmh.com

Something old...

Well, here is a layout created with Close to my Heart papers that I pulled from my stash.  I need to share something.  When I started paper crafting I said to myself, "I will not have a stash...I will buy only what I need at the time and then use it up".  Ha!  So that didn't work out so well!  I have recently separated my stash of paper into color groups and regularly turn to them to find "something old" to complement my pictures.  Does that mean I don't buy new papers?  Not a chance, but I am enjoying rediscovering the old!

I love the happy colors and design of the papers used for "Scenic Route".  The title was cut with the Cricut using the Graphically Speaking cartridge.  The arrows on the right side of the layout were cut with the Artbooking cartridge from Close to my Heart, stamped with the accompanying stamp set and glued to dimensional elements.  Notice how the arrows allow your eye to walk through the layout...just like you are on a scenic route!

Design credit goes to: Samantha Taylor, Creating Keepsakes, July/August 2013

Huntington

This is the first of many layouts that I will be creating from my recent vacation pictures.  Some will be done with new papers from the Autumn and Winter Idea Book and others will be featuring older papers from my stash.  You might even see some non Close to my Heart papers (Gasp...yes, consultants are known to buy other products!!).  I hope to show you a variety of layouts and techniques that you will be able to adapt for your scrapbooking.

This layout about the St.-Marien-Kirche (St. Mary's Church) in Rostock, Germany features the new Huntington paper packet, the Brown and Tan Glitter Paper and the Bronze self-adhesive Shimmer Trim.  I cut the embellishment with the new Artbooking Cricut cartridge from Close to my Heart and added a little bling with the Clear Assortment Sparkles.

Design credit goes to designstudioL from a pin on Pinterest.

I'm Back!!!

 After a great vacation and a busy week with my grandchildren I am looking forward to getting back to sharing paper crafting projects with you.  The new Autumn and Winter Close to my My Heart Idea Book goes live tomorrow (August 1st) and I am excited about the great new products shown within its covers.  Visit my website www.suebruch.ctmh.com to view the book and then contact me for your own copy and/or to schedule a gathering. 

This little card was created with the new Cricut Artbooking Cartridge offered exclusively by Close to My Heart.  Check my blog often to see more projects that you can duplicate with your Cricut!

Using Background Stamps

Hostess only stamp sets!

More rewards for Hostesses!  Hostesses get more savings with the My Acrylix hostess rewards stamp sets.  Use your select product credit earned from Gathering sales (online or with guests in your home) to save more on exclusive stamp sets that are only available through January 2014!  These sets are priced below the ordinary prices.  For example, a hostess  can redeem $10.00 of her credit for a set that has a value of $17.95.  It is a win-win!  Contact me today to schedule a gathering!

ProPlayer!

Perfect for all your sports and gaming pictures!

Sarita!

Just can't help it--I see Chicago Bears and Fighting Illini layouts with this packet!

Laughing Lola!

What a fun name for a fun paper packet!  Available August 1st!

Time for Cards!

I hope you have enjoyed seeing some of the new products that are coming available in August.  However, I want to emphasize that Close to My Heart remains committed to Stamping and Scrapbooking!  I know some of you are mainly card makers and I am excited to show you two card making kits you will love.  Both kits make 15 cards with envelopes and sell for $24.95.  Each kit comes with all the necessary papers, stamps and embellishments.  Not included are ink pads, adhesives and basic supplies.  Book a class with your friends--they purchase the kit--I provide the ink pads and instruction.  It is a lot of fun!

Designed Decor!

Home Décor with heart--frames available in two styles--black frame with decorative clothesline wires and a Colonial White frame with honeycomb wire.  Use the Mini Clothes Pins or the new Hook Clips to add pictures and memorbilia to add instant charm to your home.  Both are available for order on August 1.

Find it! Crush It! Love it!

Two new My Crush books are on their way from Close to My Heart and will be available to order on August 1.  Similar to the popular Smash books, these 10 x 7" wire bound books are perfect for storing memorabilia and on the go memory keeping.  Add one or all of the four My Crush embellishment assortments for a perfect gift or for your enjoyment!

Base & Bling!

Jewelry--one of the new product lines from Close to My Heart--available to order on August .  Try out your skills with the Fabric Necklace Kit available for $14.95 and then choose from the many components t!o expand on your creativity

Artbooking with your Cricut!

If you are a Cricut user (or thinking of purchasing one soon), you will simply love Artbooking,
the newest Cricut cartridge from Close to My Heart.

In addition to single images, you will find overlays, perfectly proportioned complete layouts, and so cute themed mini albums.  With your Cricut and this cartridge the possibilities are endless. This cartridge is bundled with 3 exclusive My Acrylix D-size stamp sets and coordinating Dimensional elements. 

This bundle, valued at $125.00 and priced at only $99.00 is in the Autumn and Winter Idea Book and will be available for purchase on August 1.  To receive a copy of the Idea Book, comment on this post or email me at www.suebruch47@gmail.com.

Thanks to fellow consultant, Paige Dolecki, I am able to share the entire Artbooking handbook with you!   Get ready to start drooling---