Materials:

• Elemental paper packet
• Say It In Style stamp set (sentiment)
• Cranberry Exclusive Inks stamp pad
• Desert Sand Exclusive Inks stamp pad
• Kraft Die-Cut Card & Envelope
• Basic Button Assortment
• Spring Blossom paper embellishments (flower, butterfly)
• Edge Distresser

Techniques:

To give the card a bit more texture (like the patterned paper isn’t enough texture), I distressed the edges of the blue square and sponged the edges of the card with Desert Sand ink.

The original pattern calls for a tab that you insert into a slit in the card, sort of like a wallet.  Instead of doing that construction, I decided to use the die-cut card with flap.  It gives you the same effect as the tab–lifting the Pacifica blue square will unveil what’s on the inside of the card.  Pretty slick, eh?

Jeanette Lynton – Spotlight on Art: Mix and Match
CTMH CEO Jeanette Lynton shows you how to mix and match patterned papers from different paper packs.

Simple Scrapper – How To Decide Which Photos to Print
Stuck on which photos belong on your layout?  Learn a “work-backwards approach that will help you more quickly decide which photos to print.”

Creating Keepsakes – Create a Mini Album with Calendars
Designer Mou Saha examines the trend of using various calendar products as part of your scrapbooks.

• Here are some CTMH products that would work nicely with this project idea:

• Save the Date stamp set
• Blank Monthly Calendar
• January Stamp of the Month (available until Jan. 31, 2012)

ScrapScene – How to Make Faux Photobooth Strips
If you use Instagram, here’s a tutorial on how to make photobooth strips.  I think these would make cute bookmarks.

Fabulously Artsy – Faux Stitching with the CTMH Paper Piercing Tool
Fellow CTMH consultant Tresa Black shares a simple way to affect stitching on your projects.

Enjoy!

Love Life stamp set

If you’re looking for a stamp set with some decorative shapes and swirls, you can’t pass up the Love Life stamp set. On the card below, I stamped the set’s dotted circles three times to create a repeating background design.
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Materials: Elemental paper packet, Typeset paper packet (border strip), Love Life stamp set, Lagoon Exclusive Inks stamp pad, Cricut Art Philosophy Bundle (sentiment, rose), Pearl Adhesive Gems

For the next card, the sentiment was created by stamping and combining three different images from Love Life. I also combined images to decorate the circle in the center of the card.  (It’s leaning on its side because it’s too bumpy to stand straight).  Love Life has images that coordinate with shapes on the Cricut Art Philosophy cartridge.  The Chocolate scalloped circle is one of those images.
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Materials: Elemental paper packet, Love Life stamp set, Cranberry and Desert Sand Exclusive Inks stamp pads, Cricut Art Philosophy Bundle (card base, doilie), Pearl Adhesive Gems, ribbon. Card pattern from Paper Crafts Card Ideas for Paper Crafters.

January 2012 Stamp of the Month – Little Reminder

Another stamp set to check out is Little Reminder, the January Stamp of the Month, which is perfect for cards and invitations like the one below.  This set also has images that coordinate with shapes on the Cricut Art Philosophy cartridge. I cut a circle from Cricut and then stamped the date images on it.
Pin It


Materials: Elemental paper packet, Little Reminder stamp set, Pacifica and Desert Sand Exclusive Inks stamp pads, Cricut Art Philosophy Bundle (circle)

You can get Little Reminder for just $5 if you spend $50 or more in my CTMH shop.  It’s available through January 31, 2012.

Decor Journaling Spots

If you like tags and hidden journaling, then Decor Journaling Spots hit the spot!  They come in a variety of colors and designs that coordinate with different CTMH paper packs.  If you look closely, you’ll see I snuck in some stamped images from the January Stamp of the Month and Love Life.

Here’s a close up of the journaling tag.

Materials: Elemental paper packet, Little Reminder stamp set, Lagoon and Chocolate Exclusive Inks stamp pads, Cricut Art Philosophy Bundle (letters, circles), Lagoon Mini Medley Assortment (photo clips, brads, button), Red Button Assortment (Sorbet flower button), Pattern – Imagine, “Monologue”

That’s my hot list for January.  What do you think?  Have you used any of these products?  What’s on your hot list this month?

Materials:

• Elemental paper packet
• Rock the Block stamp set (flower)
• Say It In Style stamp set (sentiment)
• Lagoon Exclusive Inks stamp pad
• Chocolate Exclusive Inks stamp pad
• Lagoon Mini Medley accents (ribbon, button)
• Colonial White Waxy Flax
• Foam tape

The neat thing about the Elemental paper packet is the variety of looks you can get.  This card reminds me of summer because of the Lagoon, Creme Brulee and Sorbet color scheme.  Tune in to the blog this Friday for a new series, “What I’m Diggin’,” where I’ll show you what other designs you can get from Elemental.

Don’t forget that the deadline to sign up for the Spring/Summer 2012 Papercrafting Club session is January 30, 2012.

Club members:

• Earn at least $25 in FREE scrapbooking products
• Get monthly members-only project ideas
• A special gift for signing up

If you refer a friend and they sign up too, you’ll get $15 in FREE products of your choice from the Spring/Summer 2012 Idea Book!

Need more details?  Here’s ya go!

Sign up today and reap the rewards!

Projects

Using the workshop guide included in the kit, I created this layout highlighting a friend’s Christmas party.  The original workshop pattern focused on snow, but as you can see, I switched it up to suit my own needs.

I also created a few cards.  These two are my favorites.  The first one features the cute mittens that are part of the stamp set included in the kit and a Top Coats Icing Overlay (“Wonderful”).

I adapted the second one by using a clear card along with the Top Coats.

The Wonderland Workshop on the Go kit includes:

• Wonderland paper packet
• My Acrylix Wonderland stamp set
• Clear Sparkles
• Foundry Pin Clips
• Instructional Brochure

To create the cards, you can add:

• White Daisy Die Cut Cards and Envelopes
• Silver Glitz Glitter Gel
• Top Coats Icing Overlays

The Wonderland kit is just $29.95 and is available through January 31, 2012 while supplies last.  Get yours today!

Materials:

• Elemental paper packet
• Kraft cardstock
• Rock the Block stamp set
• Cranberry Exclusive Inks stamp pad
• Desert Sand Exclusive Inks stamp pad
• Blue Button Assortment
• Colonial White Waxy Flax

Techniques:

• This card has a pocket and tag where you can add your sentiment.  I created the pocket and decided to slip in a gift card in place of the tag.  I used a corner rounder on the bottom of the pocket and glued the pocket to the front of the card (sides, bottom only).
• I stamped “Fun” from Rock the Block, trimmed it, and adhered it to the pocket with foam tape to make it stand out.
• I inserted the waxy flax in the button holes and then added them to the pocket with glue dots.
• I added a “zip strip” from the top of one of the Elemental patterned cardstock sheets to the edge of the card base.  Then I sponged all edges of the card with Desert Sand ink.

Only four cards left in the Wishes Card Challenge!

Saturday, February 11, 2012
1:00 – 6:00 p.m.
Alexandria, VA (address provided upon RSVP)

• See samples of new paper packets, embellishments and tools from Close To My Heart
• Place orders of new products
• Participate in demonstrations and Make ‘n’ Takes
• Sign up for upcoming classes
• Win prizes
• Get your own copy of the Spring/Summer 2012 Idea Book
• Snacks provided

RSVP by Friday, January 27, 2012 via e-mail.

See you there!

Join the craze! When you place a minimum order of $25 from the Autumn/Winter 2011 Idea Book, you can get two new products for just $15: the My Creations® Collage Cubes (a Spring/Summer 2012 sneak-peek product!) and the exclusive My Acrylix® Rock the Block E-size stamp set. That’s a retail savings of almost $30! Offer valid through January 31, 2012.

You’re going to love the Collage Cubes and the Rock the Block stamp set, which work together for interactive, 3-D fun.  Check out this video for project ideas.