Another cruise project...mini scrapbook!

Every day on our Alaska cruise, we did a project.  One day we used the Tommy Paper Pack (X7169B, $9.95), Tommy Complements Canvas Shapes (X7169C, $5.95) and the My Creations (chipboard) Bookmark Album (Z1740, $8.95).

It was fun!  AND when you finished your project, you had a little scrapbook for your Alaska cruising memories!  I gave mine to my parents (who also went on the trip) as a memento.  I think they liked it.

What I especially liked was the canvas Tommy Complements (coordinating stickers).  At the end of the post are some tips for completing the project.

The cover flap (on the right) has a magnetic closure/clasp.

This is our ship, the Norwegian Jewel

The family in Ketchikan

Me at the Hubbard Glacier.  Wow, that was an amazing sight.

That little dark spot in the water is a ship.  The mountains were amazing and huge!

You can't tell, but this was a roast pig stuffed with roast pork and sausage.
I love meat, but this was a little too much for me.

My cute parents.

My cute in-laws.

Me.

Just sitting around in the bar passing the day...

The glaciers were breathtaking!

I had gotten some tips from my CTMH sisters, which were extremely helpful when working with this chipboard album:

1.  Buy some larger rings for the album.  I took out the ones that came with the mini-album and replaced them with 1" rings that I bought at Staples.

2.  Use Finishing Files (Z1091, $5.95) on the swirly shaped "pages" to trim the cardstock to the shape of the chipboard.  You can also use sandpaper or ink (and a sponge dauber) to edge distress each of the pages.  I was too lazy to do this.  : \  It seemed to work well when people traced the shape on the card stock, cut out the basic shape, glued the shape to the chipboard "page" and then used the finishing files to make the edges look weathered.

3.  It was mentioned that the magnetic front flap doesn't allow much room for expansion in the album.  (So if you cover your pages and put pictures in the book, you will have difficulty closing it.)  I cut the half-circle flap off of the back piece and made a new "hinged flap" (the red anchor paper) out of B&T (patterned paper).  That way the hinge would be larger and I could accommodate a really thick book.

4.  The inside of the magnetic front flap thingy and the front cover both have magnets in them.  But the magnet isn't super strong.  In order to minimize the layers of paper between the two sides of the magnet, I only put paper on the front cover.  The inside of the flap cover is white, like the entire mini-scrapbook, but I wanted to color it.  I used a sponge dauber and Outdoor Denim ink to color the inside of the flap.

5.  If you want the word "AWAITS" to fit on your cover and be readable when the book is closed, start with the letter "S", put it near (but not below) the flap with the magnet, and work backwards.

6.  To re-punch the holes on each page, I used a 1/4" single hole punch (like the kind you get in school).  I would put the paper on one side of the page, re-punch the holes, then cover the other side of the page.  Sometimes you had to jiggle the punch to get exactly into the hole.

Other stuff:  

     You could decorate the rings with a bunch of different types of ribbon (that match).

     I used the Outdoor Denim Chevron Ribbon (Z1808, $6.95) and Colonial White Waxy Flax to decorate the tag.

     You could combine TWO mini-albums and put them together.  You would definitely need larger rings for that.

I hope you get a chance to make some mini-albums of your own!  (Check out the SHOP link on my website - plus there's always great "While Supplies Last" items to see...  Have a sunny day!

Lisa

Why I make cards...

"If you could only sense how important you are to the lives of those you meet; how important you can be to the people you may never even dream of. There is something of yourself that you leave at every meeting with another person." ~Fred Rogers


I love Fresh Ideas from a Fresh Perspective, put out by Lyn Conway, a direct sales coach I met at a Close To My Heart convention a few years ago.  She publishes uplifting and encouraging quotes every day.  This one seems particularly relevant to my business of connecting people...friends, loved ones and generations (in the case of a scrapbook).

On our recent Alaska Scrapbooking Cruise, we made 6 cards with one piece of Claire card stock, and 6 card bases.  Easy, and a great way to use up your patterned paper...and to help you connect with other people.

I tried and tried to rotate these other card pictures, but with no luck!  :(

They're still cute, though, even though they're sideways.  :)
I used Outdoor Denim and Sunset inks.
Stamp Sets:  4 My Friend (D1510, $17.95) and Joyful Birthday (B1419, $9.95)
Other:  Foam Mounting Tape, Glitz Glitter Gel

June Stamp of the Month Blog Hop

Hello!  Happy June!  If you know me, you know I love flower stamps.  Lucky me, June is a flower stamp set!

Welcome to the June Stamp of the Month Blog Hop.  If this is your first time hopping, you read the blog posts and at the end of the post, there is a link to the next blog.  You can go around until you hit all 60+ ladies.  It's very fun to see what the different consultants have created with the same stamp set.  This month the Stamp of the Month is called A Flowering Bunch (S1306).

If you've arrived here from Krista Ritskes's Blog - welcome!  If you're just starting here, check it out, leave a comment if you like and have fun hopping around the blogs.  

My first thought was to stamp the word "Thanks" on top of the flowers in the same color (I used Topiary).  

I thought that looked kind of cool.  Then I colored in the flowers with the water color pencils and used different colors of Glitz Gel on the flower centers.

I used Topiary Ink, Cotton Candy Card Stock and B&T (patterned) paper from the Chantilly paper pack (X7163B).  I also like to use colored paper clips.  Lucky I had a Cotton Candy colored paper clip to tie my grosgrain ribbon on!

On this card I stamped the swirly flower design in Pacifica, then used the BACKSIDE of the same stamp and used it as a fill-in stamp...in Sky.  That was pretty fun -- no coloring!!  I did use a Sky marker to make some swirlies on the petals.  I think gel pens would work great there, too.

I used a 3/4" punch with Buttercup card stock for the flower centers.  I tried the Gold Glitz Gel on some of them (didn't like it very well).  I did like the Goldrush sponged around the edges of the other centers.

I think it will look more finished with a Pacifica border....like this.

Then I stamped the "Thanks a bunch" in Pacifica in the empty spots.  I actually think the words would have been better curved.  More fun...what do you think?

I also used a green and orange gel pen on this version of the card.  You can't tell in the pictures, but the subtle glittery ink is a nice effect.  Actually, Glitz Glitter Gel would be good here, too!  (can't have enough glitter, I always say...)

If you want to buy any of the goodies shown here, check out my CTMH website - you can even find some great deals under Shop and  "While Supplies Last."

If you want to hop onto the next blog - click here to go onto Kami Welter's Blog.  Happy Hopping!

Lisa

I just got back from my Alaska Scrapbooking Cruise - so much fun!

I just got back from a week of crafting on my Alaska Scrapbooking Cruise!  It was so much fun!  (Actually, the best cruise I've been on in a long time.)

We ate, we drank, we crafted, we laughed.  All in our 24/7 dedicated scrap room!  :)  Fabulous!!

Every day we did a craft project.  Here are some of them

This is Close To My Heart's My Creations Craft Container.  I love how the Chantilly Cricut Flowers make it beautiful!

Supplies Used:  My Creations Craft Container (Z1833, $3.95), Chantilly paper pack (X7163B, $9.95), Chantilly Textiles (Z1819, $8.95), Cricut Art Philosophy Cartridge (Z1686, $99, stamp sentiment is included with the Cricut Art Philosophy set), Hollyhock stamp pad, round sponge, Liquid Glass (for adhering the flowers together), Pearl Opaques (Z1336, $2.95), Glitz Glitter Gel (Stardust).  

Other:  Terrifically Tacky Tape

We did a 6-card workshop from 1 piece of B&T (Claire Paper Pack - X7166B)) patterned paper (plus a container for your finished cards).  I also used a Slate stamp pad. round sponge and Pearl Opaques (Z1336, $2.95)

We also made a little decorated post-it note cover.  I love making these at Christmas time for teacher gifts.

More soon!  We also made two mini-scrapbooks!

Love the new Dream Pop paper for National Scrapbooking Month!!

I absolutely LOVE the Dream Pop Paper Pack that Close To My Heart is doing for National Scrapbooking Month (which is happening NOW).

The bright colors - tangerine, banana, mint, grey, raspberry, strawberry (are you getting hungry??) are all really beautiful!

I was inspired by my downline Michele, who showed me this fun diagonal-foldy card style.  I decided to create a card with the Dream Pop and Pinwheel Stamp of the Month stamp set.

Take a 4"x11" piece of paper and score it diagonally (upper left to lower right corners).  (If you fold the opposite way, from right to left, the card doesn't work right.  Do a test run first on crummy paper before using your nice paper.)  

Then fold the card in half to form a 4" x 5 1/2" card (approximate).

I wanted to use Dream Pop paper for the solid sheet, but with the varnish on the page (makes it shiny), it was very difficult to score and fold.

I love how easy it is -- AND you could use up all your extra paper up this way!

I decorated it with the May Stamp of the Month's Pinwheels.  Love that stamp set.

The folds you create in the card make great pockets, too.  You could tuck some money or gift card in the inside pocket.  (I put a Glue Dot in the front side pocket, just to keep it together...so it doesn't open.)

The green circle on the front is made with the Irresistibles (Frames).  I sponged with Pear.

All in all, a great, easy card to make (that uses up a lot of paper).  LOVE IT!

If you want to get your own pack of Dream Pop Paper, click here, start shopping and place at least a $35 order.  Did you know if you ordered $40 in (other) stuff, you could get the Dream Pop for just $10 AND you could get the Pinwheel Stamp of the Month for just $5

Supplies Used:
Cricut Art Philosophy & Artiste Cartridges (pinwheel and tags and stamp sets)
Dream Pop Paper Pack (only available until May 31) - Place a $35 order and get the Dream Pop pack (24 sheets of paper) for just $10!

Card Stock:  Lagoon, Pear, White Daisy, Creme Brulee
Inks:  Lagoon, Pear, Sunset, Slate
Irresistibles, Frames (Z1843, $3.95)
Brads:  Silver, Pear (retired)
Other:  Glitz Glietter Gel, Ric Rac, Toothpick, Sponge Dauber

May Stamp of the Month Blog Hop!

It's that time again!  The Stamp of the Month Blog Hop!  If you've just arrived here from {Maria's Blog}, welcome! 

If this is your first time on the Blog Hop, you hop from blog to blog, checking out what 50 talented Close To My Heart Consultants have done with the same stamp set.  It's very inspiring!  At the end of this post will be a link to the next blog.  Happy Hopping!

This month's Stamp of the Month is called Pinwheel, and is very cute!  If you haven't seen the stamp set yet, here it is:

It reminds me of summer and pinwheels we made from paper and a straw

Here's my one of my creations with this stamp set.  It's a 6x6 card.  The big green pinwheels are Cricut Artiste shapes.  The smaller pinwheels I cut out by hand.

I cut out two of the 'fins' on the blue pinwheel.  It makes it look different.  I like it with more of the green showing through.

The "thanks" are cut with the Cricute Artiste, using Clementine paper.  I love that paper pack. 

I also used a lot of Foam Mounting Tape - under pretty much everything.

If you want to get your own Pinwheel stamp set - you can buy it for $17.95, or get it for $5 with your $50 order.  Did you know May is National Scrapbooking Month?  There's a great special, check out my website for details on how to get your hands on some gorgeous paper during May with your qualifying order.

Supplies Used:
Pinwheel Stamp set
Card Stock:  Kraft, White Daisy
Paper Pack:  Clementine
Ink Colors:  Pear, Lagoon, Smoothie
Accessories: Mini Brads (copper), Glitz Glitter Gel - Pink
Foam Mounting Tape

Now hop on over to {Judy's Blog} to see her beautiful creations with this stamp set!

Later Sk8tr Birthday Card

I love the LATER SK8R paper pack.  It's the "boy" one in the Spring/Summer Catalog.

I was inspired by Christine Adams's card.  I love the little touches she includes - the Epoxy Bubbles on top of the poles...

Recently I stopped making so many bumpy cards.  As much as I love bumpy embellishments (like the Green-Blue Epoxy Bubbles (Z1806, $3.95 for 108 bubbles that Christine used),  the post office is so fussy now about what they will send through the mail, the cards don't always arrive intact.  I've been using less of them, but haven't eliminated bumpy all together.  This is my variation.  I used a lot of Foam Mounting Tape.  

We're making this "Oh Happy Day" card this month (Thursday and Friday, April 25 & 26) at card class.  Let me know if you want to join us!

Here's the layout that CTMH designed.  

Stamp Pads:  Lagoon and Pear.
Card Stock:  White Daisy and Outdoor Denim
Stamp Set:  Included with Cricut Artiste Cartridge.

Hope you make something fun with this paper pack!