August 2011 CTMH Spotlight Blog Hop Featuring Circle Cards

Welcome to the CTMH Spotlight Blog Hop featuring Circle Cards.  If you've arrived from{Luisa's} blog, you are on the right path.  If you are just starting here, welcome to our circle hop.  Simply click on the link at the end of the post, and it will take you to the next blog in the hop.  Once you get back here, you've completed the hop!

Circle cards can be unique and lots of fun, but they can also be a hassle.  Trying to cut your circle just right, trying to find an envelope to fit it...ugh!  But, Close To My Heart has made it easier to make it from your heart with Circle Cards.  They are available in Colonial White (Z1352) or White Daisy (Z1353), and they come with matching envelopes.

I made this card using they Key To My Heart paper pack (a special from a few years back).  I matched the paper up to the card, and using the card as my template cut out a piece for the front and a piece for the inside.  After gluing on the paper and letting it dry, I added some Sorbet buttons, Juniper ribbon with Juniper Bigger Brad, and used 3-D Mounting Foam to mount the sentiment, which is from Salutation Seals and was stamped in Sorbet ink on Colonial White cardstock, and I used a Marvy Uchida punch for the circle.  The buttons were adhered with Liquid Glass, and my Circle Card is cute, coordinated, and quick!  

Circle Cards are a cute and fast way to make cards and their size makes them convenient to help you use up your scraps.

Now, hop on around to {Adeline's} blog to find more inspiration!

CTMH Spotlight Blog Hop Featuring Buttons

Welcome to the May 2011 CTMH Spotlight Blog Hop featuring buttons.  If you've just arrive from {Luisa's} blog, you're on the right path.  If you are just starting here, you can still enjoy the whole hop.  Our hop is a circular hop, so just click on the link at the end of each post to take you to the next stop on the hop.
 

One thing I love about CTMH is that the accessories and embellishments match the inks and papers perfectly.  However, sometimes you want to do something a little different.  I wanted to incorporate a patterned button into my card, so I made my very own designer buttons using a patterned paper, Liquid Glass, and a few clear buttons.

 To do this, simply cover the back of your button with Liquid Glass, then place it on the paper.  Press it down to ensure no air bubbles, and every few minutes press down again to ensure it stays even (notice the one on the paper is raised up on one side, you don't want your final product like that).  Once it is dry, cut around the button, sand the edges if necessary, use your Piercing Tool or Embossing Stylus to poke through the holes, and then attach to your project.

I made my card following Mojo Monday Sketch 190, and the H2H Challenge (All Buttoned Up).   

 Now hop on over to {Nikka's} blog to see what she's put together!  If you find any broken links along the way, Wendy has the complete list of hoppers here.

March 2011 CTMH Spotlight Blog Hop

Welcome to the March 2011 CTMH Spotlight Blog Hop.  This month we are featuring scrapbooking techniques.  If you just arrived from {Haley's} blog, you are on the right path.  If you're just starting here, you can enjoy our hop by simply clicking the link to the next blog at the end of the post.

I decided to feature Studio J layouts, specifically using them in interactive layouts.  I have printed several Studio J layouts that I intended to add something to after I received it.  In some instances, it was a picture that I didn't have electronically (a copyrighted photo from an event, for instance).  Other items have been pressed pennies, tickets, and in today's example, bib numbers from races.

There are a lot of great ways to add interactive elements to your scrapbook layouts.  One of the easiest is to use Memory Protector Flip Flaps.  But the technique I am going to show you today is ideal when the interactive item is an unusual size.  My bib number was 8 1/4" X 8 3/8", so instead of a flip flap, I used a piece of transparency film (yes, those same sheets that you remember from elementary school, which you can buy in your local office supply store).  I cut a piece of transparency film 5" X 8", and scored it down the length.  Next, I used a bone folder to sharpen the crease (hint:  if you don't have a bone folder, the My Acrylix® blocks can be used to serve the same purpose).  You really want to create a sharp crease so your interactive portion will lay flat when closed.  Next, I attached the transparency to the back of the layout using Terrifically Tacky Tape.  When you are using the transparencies, you need to use a really heavy-duty adhesive, because the slick material doesn't hold adhesive well.  Also, you'll want to make sure to NOT put the layout or the materials you are attaching all the way up into the crease.  If you don't leave a bit of space at the crease (really, you don't need much), your interactive flap won't lay down flat when you are finished (see the layout below, from the first time I did this technique.  All except the bottom right photo were mounted using this technique-except through the page protector.  Notice how the top left photo on the right page isn't laying flat.  That's because I put the pieces all the way up into the crease, so it didn't have room to close flat).  

After attaching the flap to the back of the layout, I prepared my two pieces for the outside of the page protector.  One is the race number, the second is a piece of cardstock that I cut to match the size of the race number and used for journaling.  Be mindful of how the viewer will look at the items when you mount them.  Because I was using two items, I sandwiched the outer piece of transparency between them, once again using Terrifically Tacky Tape.  I adhered the cardstock and race number to each other using my regular adhesive (only part of each is attached to the transparency).  Then I simply lifted my "flap" and slid the page into the page protector, then laid the flap down on the outside of the page protector.  The race number is made of Tyvek, so I wasn't really concerned about it not being protected.  If you are using something that is paper, laminate it before attaching to the transparency (that is exactly what I did the first time I used this technique, and is how I discovered Terrifically Tacky Tape, as none of the other adhesives I tried would keep the laminated item attached to the transparency.

I hope I've given you some ideas for your scrapbook pages, and helped you to see how you can incorporate items into your layouts to make them interactive.  Now hop on over to  {Adeline's} blog to see what she's created.

If you find any broken links along the way, Wendy has the complete list of participants on her blog.

CTMH Spotlight Blog Hop Featuring Color Combos

Welcome to the February 2011 CTMH Spotlight Blog Hop featuring color combos.  If you've just arrive from {Adeline's} blog, you're on the right path.  If you are just starting here, you are in for a treat.  Our hop is a circular hop, so just click on the link at the end of each post to take you to the next stop on the hop.

The CTMH Idea Books are much more than just a catalog.  They are full of great layouts, cards, and projects that you can look back on for inspiration.  I have all of my Idea Books going back to the first CTMH gathering I attended in 2006.  One of the great inspirations to be found in our Idea Books are the color combos.  I always love getting to the My Acrylix stamp section to see the artwork created using interesting color combos.  The color combo I'm using comes from the Autumn/Winter 2007 IB and features three colors that debuted in my first IB (A/W 2006).  The colors are Cocoa, Honey, Petal, and Twilight.  And since (with the exception of Cocoa) I'm pretty sure none of those colors has been with another in any CTMH paper pack, that left me to my cardstock and embellishments.  But never fear!!!  CTMH colors are easy to match with our Exclusive Inks and Re-Inkers.

This is just a "Fat Lil' Notebook" that I'm embellishing so there is no confusion as to whom it belongs.  First I took out the spiral, and then covered the front and back cover with cardstock.  One thing I love doing with my cardstock is ink distressing with the matching ink.  That gives the oomph of the technique without making it too busy.

But then I realized that there is no ribbon in Twilight, Honey, or Petal.  Never fear, there are several ways to get a perfectly-matched ribbon.  For the Twilight organza ribbon, I cut a length of White Daisy organza and put it in a sandwich bag (the zipper type), making sure to push it toward the bottom.  With the bag lying on its side, I dripped about 15 drops of Twilight Re-Inker into the bag near the top.  Then I carefully closed and zipped the bag, and smooshed the Re-Inker across the width of the bag.  After it seemed to be fairly evenly distributed, I pushed the ribbon up into the ink and rubbed the bag around.  Once it appeared to have good coverage, I unzipped the bag and pulled the ribbon out to dry.  There were a few spots with too much ink, so I patted the ribbon with a paper towel.  And since I did this inside a zipped baggie, no inky smudges on my fingers (I removed the ribbon from the baggie using tweezers to keep my fingers clean)!

The Honey ricrac was colored in a different way, since I don't own Honey Re-Inker.  I simply opened up my Honey ink pad and set it on a plastic grocery bag.  Next, I took my length of ribbon, and starting at one end laid it on the surface of the ink pad. Then I used an edge of the plastic bag around my fingers while I pressed the ribbon into the ink pad, making sure to get both sides of the ribbon.  After the first pass, there was a pretty cool pattern showing white through the Honey, but I decided to go for a solid color.  So, second pass entailed pressing the ribbon into the surface of the ink pad while pulling it through for full coverage.  A few spots looked a bit more color-saturated than the rest, so I blotted them with a paper towel.  Voila!  MORE perfectly-matched ribbon!!!

So, I challenge you to find some color inspiration, and don't let your options be limited by how things are.  Use inks, Re-Inkers, and markers to get things just the color you want!

Now hop on over to {Wendy's} blog for some more color inspiration!

January 2011 CTMH Spotlight Blog Hop

Welcome to the January 2011 CTMH Spotlight Blog Hop!  This month our hop is featuring Valentine's ideas.  If you have just arrived from {Debbie's} blog, you are on the right path.  If you are just beginning here, you won't miss any of the action, as our hop is a full circle.  Just click on the link at the end of each post to take you to the next blog in the hop.

My project is a Valentine's box.  This box actually has multiple uses.  It could be placed on the desk to receive Valentines in, it could be given full of chocolate kisses, or it could even be used to hide a jewelry box.  The box came from the dollar bin at Target, and all other items are CTMH (unless noted).

  

 

Papers: CTMH cardstock in Blush and Garden Green, CTMH That's Amore
Inks: CTMH Chocolate and Tulip, StazOn Timber Brown (to color the Colonial White Bigger Brads), CTMH Re-inker in Blush and Tulip
Tools and Techniques: CTMH ribbon(Cocoa Collection), CTMH Bigger Brads (Colonial White), Sponging (to color the Colonial White Bigger Brad and the cardstock on the flag), White Daisy Crochet Flowers (from Mini Medley Accents Collection), Mod Podge
Stamp Sets: CTMH Amore

Two outside of the ordinary things I did for this project:  I used alcohol mixed with Re-inker to color the crochet flowers, and I coated the completed box with Mod Podge to give it extra durability.

I hope you're inspired to create a fun Valentine project of your own.  Now hop on over to {Vicki's} blog to see her creation.

November 2010 CTMH Spotlight Blog Hop Featuring Christmas Stamps

Welcome to the November 2010 CTMH Spotlight Blog Hop.  This month we are featuring Christmas Stamps.  If you've just arrived from {Jenifer's} blog, you are on the right path.  If you are just starting here, simply click on the link at the end of the post to go to the next blog on our circular hop.

I am simply ADORING the cute little "A" stamp sets.  Firstly, the prices were recently reduced, and I can't resist a bargain!  But most importantly, they are fantastic little sets in a cute little package.  For this month's project, I used A Timber, which features a flourished Christmas tree, a few additional decorations, some flourishes, and the "Happy Holidays" sentiment.  I also broke out my package of Colonial White Circle Cards and the Mistletoe Creative Basics pack.  I stamped the cute flourished tree in New England Ivy on Garden Green cardstock, then cut it out.  The card front was covered with the patterned paper, the sentiment was stamped on a chipboard ribbon slide (which was sponged with Bamboo ink), and then the chipboard was slid onto the gold ribbon from the Creative basics pack.  Some 3-D Mounting foam to attach the tree to the card front, a few CTMH Sparkles, and there we have an adorable little card.  Little does NOT have to equal boring! 

I hope you're inspired to use one of your smaller stamp sets to create something fun!  Now hop on over to {Chris'} blog for some more Christmas project inspiration.

If you find any broken links along the way, Wendy has the complete list of hoppers on her blog.

October 2010 CTMH Spotlight Blog Hop

Welcome to the October 2010 CTMH Spotlight Blog Hop.  This month we are featuring Christmas Projects.  If you've just arrived from {Nikka's} blog, you are on the right path.  If you are just starting here, simply click on the link at the end of the post to go to the next blog on our circular hop.

My project is a My Creations Memory Keeper inspired by the talented Lisa Stenz.   You could make a box like this to keep the holiday cards and pictures you receive from family and friends this year, or make dividers from cardstock and use it to house special ornaments or decorations, or you can do like me and use it to store the Christmas cards that you make throughout the year (because we have all been so diligently working on our Christmas cards since January).  This box was decorated with cardstock and the lovely Evensong Creative Basics paper (which, I'm sad to say, is retired).  For the top of the box, I covered some chipboard letters in Evensong papers, and then used the Finishing Files to clean up the edges before using white paint along the edges of the letters (because unlike the wonderful CTMH Dimensional Elements letters, which are white, the chipboard I used was that oh-so-attractive blah gray-brown color).  For the letters that were stacked, I used 3-D Foam Squares (which I cut in half through the height so they wouldn't pop up too much).  I added snowflake brads to the corners, and now I have a great place to keep the Christmas cards I make throughout the year.  (No, really.  I really DO start my Christmas cards in January.  Last year I even had them finished by early December.  Mailing them, however, was a different story.)  I've had a box like this for a while, and one thing I would do different is use glue instead of adhesive runners to attach the papers, especially to the top of the box.  After some time, the papers on the top of the box that I used adhesive runners on isn't as smooth as I would like.  This is a project that you can make multiples of:  one for Christmas cards, one for Birthday cards, one for Thank You cards, one for gift card holders, the possibilities are limitless.  These would also make great memory boxes for newlyweds, new parents, or grandparents.  Heck, you can make one to give as a gift and one to keep for yourself.  Those are the BEST kind of projects!

Now hop on over to {Traci's} blog for some more Christmas project inspiration.

September 2010 CTMH Spotlight Blog Hop

Welcome to the September 2010 CTMH Spotlight Blog Hop.  This month we are featuring Dimensional Elements.  If you've just arrived from Chris' blog, you are on the right path.  If you are just starting here, simply click on the link at the end of the post to go to the next blog on our circular hop. One of the purposes of our Spotlight Blog Hop is to give you ideas to use up those items in your stash.  That is definitely something I need to work on (and, as I posted at the beginning of the year, is one of my scrapping goals for the year).  Hopefully you will find some great ideas to inspire you to use up some of YOUR stash!

My project is a My Creations Display Album (yep, in my stash!).  I covered the chipboard cover with CTMH Expedition paper (now retired).  The Dimensional Elements used are from Classic Alphabet (retired) and On Target.  Before adhering the paper to the DE, I used the CTMH Finishing Files to clean up the edges (particularly where they had been connected to the DE sheet).  I used Mod Podge as my glue, and after it dried I trimmed with my Cutting Knife.  I once again put the Finishing Files to use to clean up the edges.  I then did direct-to-paper ink distressing with Chocolate ink, using a Sponge Dauber (which, by the way, my *frugal* butt washes and re-uses!) to ink the inner part of the circle.  I cut a piece of Chocolate cardstock to back the letter (to help it stand out better against the green background), and attached with Liquid Glass.  I cut out the picture using my (now retired) Coluzzle Circle, and adhered that to the DE circle with Liquid Glass as well.  Just a few Basic Craft Buttons (also from my stash), and my cute little display album is complete.

I hope you enjoyed my project, and were inspired to use up some of your own stash!  Now hop on over to {Tracey's} blog for more inspiration.