Chalk it Up Layout

This is the first layout that I have done with the Chalk it Up paper packet..  Some of the papers in this set have a chalkboard appearance, but this one is just fun and is perfect for my grandson's final day of  preschool last year.  I also used Lagoon, Flaxen, Smoothie and Black cardstock.  The title was done on the computer and the cutouts were done on the Cricut machine. 

Chalk it Up Paper Packet X7184B

Chalk it Up Complements X7184C

Chalk it Up Workshop on the Go G1081

More Cut Above

When you want to create some gorgeous cards with a minimum of work and time, turn to the Cut Above kits.  I have previously shown you the Christmas kits and today I am showing you one of the everyday kits.  With all the papers precut, you can honestly create the 10 cards in just a few hours.  In addition to the kit, you will also need the accompanying stamp set, White Daisy Pigment Ink and a My Acrylix block.  Contact me to see how you can order yours.

Yuletide Carol

As I mentioned last week, Christmas is coming up and it is not too early to start your paper crafting plans.  I have done a layout from the Yuletide Carol Workshop on the Go showing family pictures from last year.  I love the WOTG kits because everything is there...paper, stamps, embellishments and detailed instructions!  I would never think of all the great creative ideas given in the instructions!  This layout uses several Cricut cutouts, but there are instructions on how to create an equally gorgeous layout with regular manual cuts.

Scaredy Cat!

I love the Halloween themed paper offered by Close to My Heart this fall.  But if you look closely you will see that the small patterns can be used for many everyday projects.  Today I am showing you three cards for Halloween.  The two on the outside use Scaredy Cat and the Halloween Greetings stamp set.  I also used Black Shimmer Trim and an assortment of embellishments from CTMH.  The middle card was cut with Artfully Sent, our newest Cricut cartridge. It is geared towards the card maker and is loaded with possibilities!  I hope to see you at my Open House on Wednesday where I will be showing even more creative projects.

Base and Bling

A friend asked about the Base and Bling jewelry line, so I thought I'd show you the necklace I made for myself.  It was so easy to create this fun and stylish accessory with the assortment of charms, pendants, chains available from Close to My Heart.  To see more items in this line, check out pages 164-167 in the online Annual Inspirations catalog.

For my necklace, I chose a background sticker of music and scissor and camera charms.  These are all things that reflect things that I love.  I added a rhinestone charm just because a little bling is fun!

 



 

 



 

Snowhaven Cards

As promised, here are a few cards created from the Snowhaven paper packet.  I have chosen to use Christmas as my theme for these cards.

The first card uses the Mary and Babe stamp set (C1562) located on page 72 of the Annual Inspirations book.  I followed the basic pattern shown there. Not having all the colors in our Shinhan marker line, I chose to just stamp the image in Slate.

The second card highlights one of the very cute stamps in Home for the Holidays, the October Stamp of the Month (S1410).  It is a wonderful set that will be perfect for your Christmas cards, tags and layouts.  It will be available in October for $17.95 or just $5.00 with a $50.00 purchase.

 

 

Lastly, this card is created from Sing Glory (C1587), a set available only to our wonderful hostesses.  It can be purchased for only $8.00 with hostess dollars!  Contact me to see how you can earn your own.

 

Design  credit goes to CTMH Annual Inspirations, page 7



I used Snowhaven patterned paper and White Daisy, Slate and Cranberry cardstock to make these cards.  Inks included Glacier, Slate and Cranberry. I also used some Sliver and Teal Shimer Trim and Silver Geometric Washi Tape, Silver Sequins and Clear Sparkles.

 

I hope you are inspired to start creating your own Holiday cards!  Talk to you soon!

Snowhaven

Here is a layout using Snowhaven, another of the new paper packets from Close to My Heart.  In the catalog it is shown mainly as a Christmas paper.  Well, sure, it will work beautifully for that purpose, but here is how my mind works:  Snow can turn into ice and ice can turn into glaciers...you get the picture!  Besides that, it matches the red jacket I had on that day!  I hope you enjoy this layout and check back in a couple days for a look at some Snowhaven cards and a sneak peek at the October Stamp of the Month.

 

Snowhaven Paper Packet X7188B

Snowhaven Complements X7188C

Snowhaven Workshop on the Go 1085

Check my website www.suebruch.ctmh.com for coordinating stamp sets and creative ideas for layouts and cards!

More Pathfinding!

I am thinking Pathfinding might be my favorite paper packet in the new catalog, but I will probably say that about the next one I use too!  Truth is, the paper choices in this catalog are just awesome!  So anyhow, here is another layout using Pathfinding. This time, I highlighted the print with the Olive background.

The patterned papers and the Champagne cardstock came from the packet.  I added a sheet of Chocolate for the matts, etc.  The background behind the titles was stamped with Distressed Backgrounds (D1544) in Goldrush ink and the wood embellishments came from the Pathfinding WOTG or from my stash.  The washi tape is also from my stash. The titles and the die cuts were cut on my Gazelle Die Cutter. 
While I had already decided on my basic layout, I was inspired by Becki Adams' title on this layout. Thanks, Becki!

Pathfinding

 

 

Pathfinding is one of the great new paper pack selections in The Annual Inspirations Catalog.  Most of the examples have a Fall theme and while I think they are gorgeous, I decided to use the papers to document our visit to Theodore National Park.  The design inspiration is from Creative Sketches, Volume 2 by Becky Higgins.  The journaling and title were done in my Word software.  All the papers are Close to My Heart and the embellishments are from my local store.  CTMH carried the wooden accents in the past..maybe you still have some on hand.

 Pathfinding is available as a paper packet, a Workshop on the Go and a Workshop on the Go Card Kit.  Take a look at the catalog at www.suebruch.ctmh.com to see embellishments and coordinating stamp sets.

 

National Stamping Month!

Right after returning from vacation, my laptop decided to quit...and I mean QUIT! The mother board was bad and the hard drive corrupt.  While I had most of my pictures saved to an external source, I still lost quite a bit.  Unfortunately, most of the scans I had done of old slides, etc. are gone.  Staples is still trying to get more data off the drive, but I don't have much hope!  My advice:  back up every day!  Live and learn!

So I have a new computer and have been busy installing programs and loading data.  I have done a couple layouts and cards and will get them posted soon.

In the meantime, I want to share the September Constant Campaign with you.  Click on this link for more information;

Post by Sue Bruch-Close to My Heart Independent Consultant.

Vacation Time!

It is vacation time for me (yes, again!  Retirement is wonderful!).  So I will be back in a couple weeks with a ton of pictures to scrap and I will be sharing with you!  Talk to you soon!

Confetti Wishes

Today is the reveal day for the new Annual Inspirations idea book and catalog and I think that Confetti Wishes is the perfect paper packet to celebrate!  For those of you that have have been following me, you know that I am plodding along with my attempts to finish scrapbooks for my grown children.  The pictures from so long ago have been scanned from slides or not so great photos.  However, with the gorgeous papers and embellishments from Close to My Heart, even poor quality photos can be part of a stunning layout. Take a look at this one:

I have used the Confetti Wishes packet (X7189B) which features two of the new colors in the palette, Thistle and Canary.  The photo misrepresents the Thistle as it is more red-purple.  However the Canary is pretty true...it is a brighter yellow with a really pleasant softness to it.  The design credit goes to Scrapbook.com.  I cut the circles at 2" with the Art Philosophy cartridge and the white circles at.2.2".  After layering them, they were cut in half and used as the border.  Finally, the puppy, etc. were stamped with a new stamp set, Puppy Party (B 1464).  The puppy and birthday hat were fussy cut and layered.  I added color to the eyes and the collar with our new Shinhan alcohol based markers. 

I am happy to be joining a very talented group of Close to My Heart consultants on a New Product Blog Hop.  Please take time to see what they have done and then offer your comments.  We all love a virtual pat on the back now and then!

Christmas in July!

These two Christmas cards are made with the new Cut Above kits, available August 1st.  Everything is cut and ready for you to create 10 5x7 cards with matching envelopes.  To complete them, you will also need the coordinating stamp set (Merriest Christmas B1468) the appropriate acrylic block, ink and adhesives.  I made all 20 cards in about 3 hours (in between doing the laundry) and couldn't be happier with them! They are so cute!

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These card kits are two of the four Cut Above Card Kits offered in the new 2014-2015 Annual Inspirations.

August 1st is the day that this new Catalog and Idea Book will be live on my webpage, www.suebruch.ctmh.com.  You will love what you see!

Back to School!

Here's another sneak peek for you!  The Chalk it Up  paper packet, Workshop on the Go, Picture my Life set and accompanying stamp sets will be perfect for your school related scrapbooking and card making.  It features one of the CTMH new colors, Flaxen along with favorites, Lagoon and Sorbet.  A couple of the papers have the aged blackboard look that is popular right now.  So if you have kids or grandkids going back to school or you want to scrap some school event, this is the packet for you! These items will be available on August 1st.

Each paper packet come with 6 sheets of B&T Duos and six sheets of coordinating cardstock.

All this comes with the Workshop on the Go!  You will get paper, a stamp set, full size embellishments, and an instructional brochure with cutting guides.  All for $29.95!  It is an awesome deal!

Geek is Chic!  One of the coordinating stamp sets

Check back in a couple days...I will be showing you Cut Above holiday card kits that are so cute and so easy!  I think you will love them!

Sneak Peek!

I promised you some sneak peeks, so let's get started!  Today I am showing you the August Stamp of the Month, What a Hoot!  During August, it is available for $17.95 or just $5.00 with a $50.00 purchase.  It is so cute and useful for your fall and Halloween projects.  Also shown are a couple paper packets, Scaredy Cat and Pathfinding.  Both will work wonderfully with this stamp set.  All these new products will be in the Annual Inspirations book available online August 1st at www.suebruch.ctmh.com.

So how about it?  Does this get your creative wheels turning?  Check back in a couple days for more sneak peeks!

Sue

More Timberline

Head to your stash!

Here I used scraps of the Timberline papers (Scroll down to see all the papers in the packet) and scraps of retired paper and odds and ends of embellishments.  I always get a sense of satisfaction when I can use up products.  Take a look at your stash and see what you can come up with!

Remember, Timberline, along with all the current patterned papers will be expiring July 31.  Come August 1, the new Annual Inspirations catalog will be live on my website, www.suebruch.ctmh.com. Be watching my blog later this month for some sneak peaks!

Balloon Ride!

Here is another paper packet that will be retiring in just a couple weeks!  It is so pretty...soft pastels that will complement your baby, little (and big) girl and even travel pictures.  Be sure to check out the Balloon Ride Picture My Life cards that will simplify your scrapbooking in the most beautiful way!

Balloon Ride Paper Packet X7180B

 

 

Picture My Life Scrapbooking Program Z1948

 

 

 



 

   This card  features the B&T print with balloons.  I used the zip strip on the vertical piece and added Bronze Shimmer Trim Z1849 and a sentiment stamped with Joyful Birthday Occasions B1419.  Design inspiration is from Pinterest, but unfortunately, I was unable to locate the name of the designer to give appropriate credit. 

 

 

 I love this layout.  All the papers are from the Balloon Ride packet, but I ventured out and used embellishments I spied at Archivers before the doors closed.  I love my CTMH, but once in awhile I find things that just add something special to my projects.  The title was cut with my Gazelle machine using the Grand Hotel font.  I downloaded it free from the internet. Design credit goes to Becky Higgins, Creative Sketches, Volume 2.

 

So here's your challenge:  Pick out a Close to My Heart paper packet that complements your photos and then invade your stash (I know you have one!) of embellishments you have collected and create something fabulous!

 

'Til later,

Sue