Be Inspired!

I love flipping through the Idea Book because it is full of beautiful pictures with ideas to take inspiration from. (Because it's an Idea Book, right!)

CTMH artwork pg. 126 of
Spring/Summer 2014 Idea Book

The layout on page 126 is one of my favourites and I'd been day-dreaming for a while as to what I could do along similar lines. There's lots to take inspiration from! The bright colours against a black background. The stitching. The shapes. The different uses of washi tape. The trims and dots. It's a simple page, but so crafty!

This page uses what I see as the best-kept secret in the Idea Book: the Paper Fundamentals Basics Assortments. This collection of 20 double-sided 12" x 12" sheets (2 each of 10 designs) have the same design on both sides, but one side has a glossy, resist pattern. It's great to use in smaller pieces as patterned paper, or a whole sheet as a background piece. The patterns are great too! Chevrons, hearts, houndstooth, stripes, quatrefoil--they're all right on trend.

The page I made uses the same black chevron background and bright colours (from the Dotty For You paper packet). I also stitched circles using the very handy Stitch Guide and brightly coloured embroidery floss. The banners are Dimensional Elements Banners dressed up with Lagoon Houndstooth and Gold Polka-Dot Washi Tape. Some Teal and Silver Shimmer Trim add sparkle to the page along with Durables Triangle Studs. The title picks up the bright colours. I used Lagoon and Hollyhock inks, stamping the title with Marquee Uppercase as well as a smaller alphabet.

I'm so pleased with the results! The colour contrasts really make the page pop!

Have you been inspired by something you saw in an Idea Book? Share it! Just head over to my Facebook page and post it on the time line. Remember to mention which Idea Book the inspiration came from and what you liked about it.

Merry & Bright!

You may remember, when I first signed on as a CTMH Independent Consultant, I became enamoured of Studio J--CTMH's online scrapbooking tool. I still love it. At the time, I was years behind in my scrapbooking and challenged myself to complete two albums: one in Studio J and one in traditional paper. Well, it's been 22 months and I've finally completed the traditional paper album!

Last page for my 2010 album.

Of course, the Studio J album (2011) was completed much more quickly. That one took about nine months. It was fast, easy and fun and I will keep going back to Studio J, but I'll never give up traditional scrapbooking.

So, what's next? I've been working on my 2012 and 2013 albums in Studio J on and off for a while, but now I think I'll turn my attention back to my heritage album. It has sat on the back burner for a long while--in fact, I don't think I've done one page for it in the past year. But then I've got to get cracking on my yearly albums again--I don't want to fall so far behind again.

There are a few things worth mentioning about the Merry & Bright layout above:

• I didn't follow a sketch! You know how much I love my sketches, but after spending some time looking for a double-page layout that could handle several 4" x 6" photos, I gave up and decided to "wing it"--so many double-page layouts today rely on small photos. It was fun, and easier than I thought it would be, to get my creative juices flowing once, I'd figured out the layout for the photos.
• This layout is made of scraps! I used the leftovers from my Sparkle & Shine kit, but I never had to cut into a new sheet of paper. The scraps I'd saved from previous layouts made with this kit (four and counting) were enough to add colour and interest to this page.
• Bling! Bling! I got out my new Shimmer Trim, in red and silver, to add sparkle and shine. I love this trim! It's as sturdy as glitter cardstock, has a strong adhesive backing (which isn't difficult to remove) and the glitter stays on the trim--it doesn't rub off on your fingers! I also added some rhinestone gems and Bitty Sparkles. (I find myself using Bitty Sparkles on everything these days--pages, cards, tags, everything!)
• I dusted off my Silhouette. I haven't used it in a very long time, but my love for die-cuts is ramping up again. Die-cuts are a great way to add fun titles and shapes to a project. Once I start merging die-cuts and stamping, watch out!

Looking ahead, I already have a few pages completed for 2013 (as well as 2012). It's going to be a great scrapbooking year!

Opening and closing pages of my 2013 album done using Studio J.

Happy October!

October is my favourite month of the year! There's lots to celebrate this month. Birthdays, Thanksgiving, Halloween, fall festivals and it finally begins feeling like autumn weather. I love crunching through the fallen leaves, watching the salmon run and taking advantage of the cool, crisp weather to get the last of the year's gardening done.

Though I'm delighting in picking pumpkins and decorating with corn stalks, in my scrapping life, I begin to think about the next big holiday: Christmas!! Now is the time to get Christmas cards, home decor, scrapbook pages and hand crafted gifts ready for the most wonderful time of the year.

This year, start your Christmas crafting with a bang using October's Stamp of the Month: Scandinavian Wishes. This gorgeous stamp set reminds me of warm woollen sweaters and cups of hot chocolate. Perfect for cards, pages and gift packaging, this will be a stamp set you come to again and again over the years.

To start making  your own Scandinavian Wishes, simply place an order of $50 or more in regularly priced product and add the Stamp of the Month for only $5. Aren't placing a qualifying order this month, but still want the stamp set? Scandinavian Wishes is available at the regular price of $17.95, but only in October.

Want to make the items seen in the photo? In addition to the October Stamp of the Month, you'll need Frosted Paper Packet, Frosted Assortment, Baker's Twine Harvest Assortment, Bronze Shimmer Trim, Stitch Guide, Scallop Border Punch, Cricut Artiste Collection, and of course inks!

THE BIG REVEAL!!

The wait is over! Go to my website to view the new Autumn/Winter 2013 Idea Book online. Of course, you want your own hard copy, so contact me to get one!

The Idea Book is chock full of great products. If you've been following my blog over the past ten days, you've seen a few of them. Here are my Top Ten Must Have items from the new Idea Book.

Make It From Your Heart Volume 2

10. Make It From Your Heart Volume 2
Includes 16 two-page layout patterns, two single-page patterns, and 12 different card patterns. $7.95

9. Pigment Inks Foam Insert
Fits inside the small organiser to snugly hold 40 pigment ink pads. $14.95

8. Punches
Scallop Border Punch creates 3/8" scallops quickly and easily. $17.95
1 1/4" Circle Punch $12.95

7. My Creations Kraft Pocket Album
A mini-album with eight pages plus front and back covers. 18 pockets total. $6.95

6. Ribbons and Trims

Stitch Guide

Jute Ribbon $7.95
Ruby Chevron Ribbon $6.95
Shimmer Trim in Red and Bronze $4.95 each
Lagoon Houndstooth Washi Tape $4.95

5. Stitch Guide and Foam Mat
Use the Stitch Guide with the piercing tool for creating various stitch patterns, border, and shapes. $12.95
Use the Foam Mat with the Stitch Guide and Ruler to protect your tabletop. $4.95

Pick a Posey (Archive Stamp Set)

4. Archive Stamps
These stamps, hand drawn by Jeanette herself, were originally offered in rubber on wood blocks but are now available in clear My Acrylix polymer for a limited time. $6.96-$9.95.

3. Minis
Eight single 2" stamps that are cute and perfect for creating cards, tags and embellishments. $2.95 each.

2. Stamps of the Month
I want every single one of them! With seasonal and general themes, you'll want them all too! $17.95 or $5 with qualifying purchase.

Framework Alphabet

1. Framework Alphabet
One of two new E-size alphabets. $29.95