Project Life: Week 1

I feel like I'm playing a little catch up with weeks 1 and 2 of my project life adventure. Both weeks are finished and today I'm sharing week 1 (week 2 will be posted in the next few days).

All the comments and advice from fellow Project Lifers say to be organized and have a plan. Well, I'm still figuring out the organization part but I do have a plan! To keep things simple I'm planning on using one paper pack a month. I figure it's a great way to use up any leftovers (including embellishments) from previous projects.

Week 1

Week 1 - Left Page

Week 1 - Right Page

For January, my paper packet of choice is Avonlea. My embellishments of choice are the Avonlea Compliments, opaque gems, and rub-ons . Of course I will continue to use my stamps to embellish journal cards!

Using Stamps to accent journal cards

Some people think Project Life restricts your creativity. I thought the same thing myself. In actuality though I'm finding I feel more creative. It's actually kind of liberating only thinking about decorating a 3" x 4" or 4" x 6" area. Yes, I'm trying to coordinate the entire page but I'm not worrying about placement nearly as much as I would on a 12 x 12 layout.

Using Rub-Ons and Avonlea Complements for Embellishments

I'm also continuing to use my How-To and Make It From Your Heart books. I decided my week cards are going to be based on card sketches. Why not use them?? They have measurements, placement and examples to jump start my creativity. It's perfect and I love it!

Week Card

With it being the New Year I figured I should include our resolutions into my Project Life album. I decided to do so as an insert page to week 1.

Week 1 Insert: Resolutions

I kept the design pretty simple and created resolution cards for each family member to complete. I love how the kids wrote it themselves!

I'll be sharing my journal template on my facebook page soon so keep checking back!

Sympathy Card & FMS#70

I kept it simple and used Freshly Made Sketch #70 to create this sympathy card. It's hard to tell in the photo but the butterfly was painted with Create-A-Shade Pearl paint. In real life there is a beautiful shimmery contrast in colors. It's really quite lovely.

Thank you Rita for a fabulous sketch!

Supplies used (all CTMH unless otherwise noted): 

Paper: La Belle Vie, Kraft Cardstock, Colonial White Cardstock

Stamps: Treasure Life (D1306), Card Chatter Sympathy (D1476)

Ink: Black, Pansy Purple, Petal

Other: Opaque Pearls, Paper Shapes - Flutter, Create-A-Shade Pearl Paint, Scallop Border Punch (SU), 3D Foam Tape, Butterfly Punch (Martha Stewart)

A New Scrapbook Adventure...

2013 Album Cover

Last year as I was flipping through my scrapbooks I realized I was missing details of our everyday family life. I'm really good at documenting the big events like holidays and birthdays but when it came to recording the little things our family did throughout the year I was definitively lacking.  So, this year I decided to give Project Life a chance.

The basic concept of Project Life is to record everyday moments through photos and journaling. It gets back to basics using photo sleeves instead of elaborate layout constructions. It was created by Becky Higgins (visit her post here for more info). Don't get me wrong, I will always continue to create "traditional" scrapbook layouts. But this year I'm experimenting and giving this concept a chance. Of course I will continue to use Close To My Products...they really are my favorite and there is no sense buying a kit when I have all the supplies to make my own!

Here are some detail shots of my cover page.:

I used my monogram stamp to set the stage for my cover. The shape was cut with the Cricut Art Philosophy Cartridge and stamped with one of the many coordinating stamp sets.

 I trimmed  Opaque Flourishes to cross multiple panels and a butterfly which I colored with my inks and sponge daubers. The family sentiment was heat embossed with white powder.

I created my own tags with stamps. This one is a sneak peek of February's Stamp of the Month!

 

I colored Irresistibles Houdstooth numbers with ink to make the year pop

 

I hope you'll join me on my journey this year. I'd love to show you how you can incorporate your products into a family scrapbook without the hassle of agonizing over embellishments and layout design. If you are already a Project Life enthusiast please leave me a comment with your blog or site info and I'd love to check it out!

Supplies used (all CTMH unless otherwise noted): 

Paper: Pemberley, Outdoor Denim Cardstock

Stamps: Home Sweet Home (Feb SOTM), Family Love, Perfect Fit Frames

Ink: Outdoor Denim, Bamboo, Versamark

Other: Irresistibles Houndstooth Alphabet, Burlap Ribbon, Paper Shapes Flutter Butterlies, White Embossing Powder, Cricut Art Philosophy Cartridge

Superhero Birthday & Mojo Monday Sketch #276

This weekend we have the pleasure of celebrating our son's 3rd birthday with our friends who also have a son with the same birthday! Our little friend, Eric, is turning 5 and is totally into superheros so of course I needed to make him a super special birthday card!

I used Mojo Monday Sketch #276 and retired CTMH paper's for this card. The speech bubble is from Noted Canvas Shapes and I used alphabet stamps for the greeting. The superhero was colored with my new favorite markers...CTMH alcohol markers!

The card measurements are as follows:

• Cardstock: 1 3/4" x 4"
• B&T Paper: 2 x 3 1/2" (cut 2)
• Black Cardstock: 1" x 4 1/4"
• 2 1/2" Circle
• 2 3/4" Scallop Circle

Supplies used (all CTMH unless otherwise noted):

Paper: Colonial White Cardstock, Black Cardstock, Superhero (retired)

Stamps: Superhero WOTG, Super Powers (C1485), Look Who's... (D1502)

Ink: Black, Crystal Blue, Ruby Marker, Indian Corn Blue Marker, Honey Marker

Other: Cricut Art Philosophy, Noted Canvas Shapes (Z1773), Scallop Border Punch (SU)

Engagement Congratulations Card



Click photo to see larger

I used Freshly Made Sketch #68 and the January Stamp of the Month to create this engagement card for my cousin and his new fiance!

I kept this card very simple and only added a few Opaque Pearls to the center of the flower. I think it adds a perfect touch of elegance to this fantastic sketch.

Supplies used (all CTMH unless otherwise noted):

Paper: La Belle Vie, Kraft Cardstock, Colonial White Cardstock

Stamps: Happy Valentine's (January SOTM)

Ink: Plum Alcohol Markers, Olive Alcohol Markers

Other: Opaque Pearls

Here is the stamp set I used:

 It is only available through the end of January and is regular $17.95 or $5 with a purchase of $50.00

Mojo Monday #275 Card

I found a lot of inspiration in this weeks Mojo Monday #275 sketch.

To make this card I scissor distressed the edges of the pattern paper. The multi-color butterfly was created by using my inked sponge daubers directly on the stamp and then stamping directly on paper. 

It's hard to tell in the photo but I also stamped part of the image directly on Colonial White Cardstock. In person it gives the butterfly a shadow and makes it look like it's floating.

I love the way this card turned out and hope you do too! Thanks for checking it out!

Supplies used (all CTMH unless otherwise noted):

Paper: Flirty, Colonial White Cardstock, Flirty Yellow Cardstock

Stamps: Find Your Style (retired SOTM)

Ink: Hollyhock, Sunset, New England Ivy, Grey Wool

Other: Sponge Daubers, Opaque Flourishes, Adhesive Pearls, Scissors, 3D Foam Tape, Flirty Complements

FMS#67 & Color Challenge

I had so much fun making this card! I used one of the brand new, not yet released, Stamp Of the Month's from CTMH to stamp the hot air balloons.

The hot air balloons were cut with the coordintng shape on the Cricut Artiste Cartridge. The Olive scallop border was cut using the Cricut Art Philosophy Cartridge set at 1". To add some extra depth I used my Cuttlebug Swiss Dots folder on Crystal Blue Cardstock and finished it off with some Silver Shimmer Trim. I also added Licorice Gems to the front balloon for some extra bling!

The card design is based on Freshly Made Sketch #67 and the color combo is courtesy of Create: Cards Blog Challenge.

Supplies used (all CTMH unless otherwise noted):
Paper: Colonial White Cardstock, Olive Cardstock, Grey Flannel Cardstock, Olive Cardstock
 Stamps: Party Pennants, My Sunshine (April 2013 SOTM)
 Ink: Olive, Crystal Blue, Grey Wool, Black
Other: Shimmer Trim, Licorice Opaques Gems, Cricut Art Philosophy, Cricut Artiste, Cuttlebug Swiss Dots Folder, Sizzix Big Shot, 3D Foam Tape

2013 CTMH Retiring List

Next month the Spring/Summer 2013 Idea Book goes live! There are TONS of new items which means we need to say goodbye to some of the other items we've come to love.

One of the many benefits of being a consultant is that I have the utmost pleasure of previewing the new Idea Book and products a month before go live! I love the direction CTMH is going and am anxious to get my own order in so I can start playing!

Here's the current list of items retiring. They are available while supplies last so if you've been thinking about getting them now is the time:

Autumn/Winter 2012 Idea Book

Item # Item Description Page #
Z1349 Shimmer Designer Brads 127
Z1360 Rhinestone Designer Brads 127
Z1361 Brads Red Assortment 127
Z1362 Brads Pink Assortment 127
Z1363 Brads Blue Assortment 127
Z1364 Brads Green Assortment 127
Z1365 Brads Basic Assortment 127
Z1387 Wooden Designer Buttons 125
Z1391 Buttons Clear Assortment 125
Z1395 Irresistibles™ Eclectic Chipboard Die-Cuts (the alphabet) 130
Z1465 Irresistibles™ Make-It-Count Numbers 130
Z1681 Dimensional Elements Numbers 131
Z1761 Dimensional Elements Ornaments 131
Z1762 Dimensional Elements Snowflakes 131
Z1765 Color-Ready Arbor Wooden Shapes 130
X7147C Stella Complements Canvas Shapes 68
X7148C My Stickease® Pemberley Assortment 68
X7150C My Stickease® Victory Assortment 69
X7153C My Stickease® Florentine Assortment 69
X7158C La Belle Vie My Stickease® Assortment 38
X7160C Flirty Complements Dimensional Elements 50
X7161C Moonlight Complements Dimensional Elements 56
X7162C Pear & Partridge Complements Glittery Rub-Ons 62
Z1464 Milepost Shapes 128
Z1466 Bling Assortment 128
Z1695 Urban Felt Alphabet 130
Z1696 Keepsake Felt Alphabet 130
Z1709 Just Blooms® Petals Paper Flowers 129
Z1460 Foundry® Ribbon Slides 126
Z1711 Foundry® Binder Clips 126
Z1712 Foundry® Number Plates 126
Z1461 Décor Journaling Spots 129
Z1687 Bohemian Assortment 128
Z1689 Timeless Charms 128
Z1692 Tough Tags 128
Z1694 Bouquet Assortment 128
Z1741 Haunted Assortment 128
Z1749 Autumn Lane Assortment 128
Z1763 Boutique Assortment 128

Z1772 Dimensional Elements In Color—Holiday 128
Z1393 Mini-Medley Accents Black Collection 126
Z1316 Designer Ribbon Cocoa Collection 124
Z1385 Designer Ribbon Blue Collection 124
Z1615 Designer Ribbon Red Collection 124
Z1616 Designer Ribbon Green Collection 124
Z1388 Newsprint Rub-Ons 130
Z1700 Dark Chocolate Tapestry Velvet Rub-Ons 126
Z1733 Black Tapestry Velvet Rub-Ons 126
Z1743 Festive Velvet Rub-Ons 126
Z1742 Parlor Velvet Rub-Ons 126
Z1407 6" x 6" Olive Quick Pic™ Album 122
Z1408 6" x 6" Pansy Purple Quick Pic™ Album 122
Z1054 My Creations® Display Album 132
Z1378 My Creations® Banner 132
Z1614 My Creations® Memory Game 132
Z188 Craft Jars 120
Z1352 4 1/2" Colonial White Circle Cards 123
Z1353 4 1/2" White Daisy Circle Cards 123
Z1731 My Originals® Sweet Surprises Card Kit 123
X7147B My Reflections® Stella Paper Packet 68
X7148B My Reflections® Pemberley Paper Packet 68
X7150B My Reflections® Victory Paper Packet 69
X7153B My Reflections® Florentine Paper Packet 69
X7158B La Belle Vie Paper Packet 38
X7160B Flirty Paper Packet 50
X7161B Moonlight Paper Packet 56
X7162B Pear & Partridge Paper Packet 62

Z1252 Cutting Knife 135
G1041 Workshops on the Go® Avonlea Cardmaking Kit 22
G1043 Workshops on the Go® Pear & Partridge Cardmaking Kit 66
G1040 Workshops on the Go® Spellbound Cricut® Kit 14
G1042 Workshops on the Go® Scroll Album Kit 23
G1044 Workshops on the Go® Advent Calendar Kit 67
G1045 Workshops on the Go® Avonlea Scrapbooking Kit 21
G1046 Workshops on the Go® Clementine Scrapbooking Kit 29
G1047 Workshops on the Go® Dakota Scrapbooking Kit 35
G1048 Workshops on the Go® La Belle Vie Scrapbooking Kit 41
G1049 Workshops on the Go® Scholastic Scrapbooking Kit 47
G1050 Workshops on the Go® Flirty Scrapbooking Kit 53
G1051 Workshops on the Go® Moonlight Scrapbooking Kit 59
G1052 Workshops on the Go® Pear & Partridge Scrapbooking Kit 65

Spring/Summer 2012 Idea Book

Item # Item Description Page #
A1104 A Tweet 90
A1111 A Tulip 68
A1116 A Melody 94
A1122 Bravo 92
A1128 Quick Cards—Shell 80
A1129 A Rainbow 85
B1365 Spring Up 71
B1369 Rosy Regards 67
B1374 Bee Happy 83
B1397 He Is Risen 74
B1402 My Peeps 72
C1439 Enjoy Life 95
C1440 Take a Picture 93
C1442 Tailor-Made 94
C1450 Eclectic Edges 99
C1452 Delight 71
C1455 Aspire 96
C1456 Heartfelt Treasures 68
C1457 Happy Camper 84
C1458 Paper Lantern 90
C1473 Remarkable Wreath 70
C1474 10 Things 105
C1485 Super Powers 47
C1498 Country Life 82
C1499 Perfect Day 80
D1195 The Works Alphabet 117
D1222 Tiny Typewriter Alphabet 117
D1296 Chocolate Alphabet Small 114
D1301 Hodge Podge Alphabet 114
D1303 Classmate Alphabet 114
D1462 Splendid Day 77
D1464 Card Chatter—Love 106
D1467 Trees & Things 76
D1472 Simple Memories 66
D1478 Bingo Alphabet 113
D1505 Roar! 89
D1508 Diverse Backgrounds 102
D1509 Magic Adventures 78
D1511 Kick Back 81
E1013 Field Trip Alphabet 114

Updated 12/4/12

Don't forget to get your favorites before they are gone for good!

Mojo Monday 274

I used this week's Mojo Monday sketch to create my card. The card base was cut with the Cricut Art Philosophy Cartridge and the background was stamped with two of the images from the Universal Backgrounds stamp set. The owl was stamped with one of the owl images found on the Whooo's Your Valentine stamp set.

I chose to leave a sentiment off and add it when I need it. The finished size of the card is 4 1/4" x 4 1/4" and fits perfectly inside an A2 envelope.

Supplies used (all CTMH unless otherwise noted):
Paper: Brown Bag Cardstock, Grey Flannel Cardstock, Blush Cardstock
Stamps: Universal Backgrounds, (D1477), Whooo's Your Valentine
Ink: Black, Grey Wool, Blush
Other: Cricut Art Philosophy, Hollyhock ribbon, White Daisy Flower, Pink Button, Glue Dot, Colonial White Waxy Flax

Christmas Day Layout

Yesterday I showed you the main layout from the Pear & Partridge WOTG kit. Today I focused on a layout from the Make It From Your Heart (Volume 1) book. This book contains 30 sketches for both scrapbook and card layouts. Like the CTMH How-To Books, the Make It From Your Heart book includes cutting diagrams, full color examples and expert tips and techniques to help take your creations to the next level!

To create the title I masked part one of the images on the WOTG Stamp set as well as colored some Cork Alphabet with my Ruby Red alochol marker.

The branch and leaves was cut with the Cricut Art Philosophy Cartridge. I used some retired flowers and the Pearl Badge Buttons to accessories my branch.

One of my favorite elements of this layout is the burlap ribbon. I've been hoarding it since the F/W 2012 Idea Book release (almost 6 months ago) and this is the first time I've put it to use. It adds a lovely depth and dimension paper to this layout.

Thanks for checking it out!

Supplies used (all CTMH unless otherwise noted):
Paper: Pear & Partridge Level 2, Cranberry Cardstock, Colonial White Cardstock, Olive Cardstock
Stamps: Pear & Partridge WOTG
Ink: New England Ivy, Brown Bag
Other: Burlap Ribbon, Cricut Art Philosphy, Flowers (retired), Color Ready Cork Alphabet

Santa 2012 Layout

To showcase our yearly visit to Santa I used the Pear & Partridge WOTG kit. The kit gives you enough supplies for 2, two page layouts plus leftovers for a fun bonus project. I opted not to do the featured bonus project so I could make several scrapbook layouts...you'll see those another time.

The kit includes a full level 2 paper pack, a full package of red, pink, and purple sparkles as well as the beautiful Pear & Partridge Complements Glittery Rub-Ons. I don't think my photos do the rub-ons justice...they truly are spectacular in person! The best part is that they are really easy to rub off too!

This kit is retiring at the end of the month so if you are still looking to record your holiday memories I encourage you to take a look and order today!

Supplies used (all CTMH unless otherwise noted):
Paper: Pear & Partridge
Stamps: Pear & Partridge WOTG, Trinity Alphabet
Ink: Brown Bag, Ruby, Olive
Other: Pear & Partridge Complements Rub-Ons, Red, Purple, Pink Sparkles, 3D Foam Tape