Back To School

I can't believe that school is starting tomorrow!  Okay...where did our summer go?  In Montana, our summers seem to start late and then winter is soooo long!  I demand more summer!

 My oldest is starting 3rd grade.  I know that he is excited about seeing all of his good friends again, but I know that it is going to be a tough 6 months.  His sweet Daddy will be deployed all winter and that means, I am going to be busy with my 3 kids.  I need to find special time with my oldest to get him to read to me more.  He is so stubborn when it comes to school work and reading.  We'll get it done! ;)

I wanted to make his new teacher a little welcome back to school gift.  I found these cute notepads at Walmart and had to make something to corrdinate with them.  This is what I came up with.  I stubbled on to Use it Tuesday blog and thought I would play along with their challenge.  I used up some really old paper and used a Cricut cartridge I bought last year and only used maybe once.

All supplies are CTMH unless otherwise noted:  Papers: School Zone Level 2 (retired); Cardstock: Moonstruck, Dutch Blue, Colonial White, White Daisy, Clover Meadow (retired), Black, Autumn Terracotta; Ink:  Black, Moonstruck, and Cranberry; Stamps:  C1418 In the Month of August (retired) and C1362 You're a Hoot; Accessories:  Cranberry grosgrain ribbon; Tools:  Give a Hoot Cricut Cartridge (Prove Craft), sandpaper, pop dots, sponge dauber.

Mojo Monday 205

Mojo Monday?  No...It's Mojo Sunday!!  Just squeaking in on the deadline for this week's sketch.  My sweet husband has been home on leave from deployment, so my time in my craft room is not as important to me right now.  I love making cards and crafts, but spending time as a family is much more important.  I love Mojo Monday, so while my husband played with the kids, I made this fast card.

All supplies are CTMH unless otherwise noted:  Paper:  That's Amore Level 2 (retired); Cardstock:  Colonial White, Chocolate, Tulip, Garden Green, Blush; Accessories:  Chocolate ribbon, Chocolate Waxy Flax, buttons, That's Amore Stickease; Tools:  Art Philosophy Cricut Cartridge, Border Punch (Stampin' Up), sandpaper. 

Mojo Monday 204

It's Mojo Monday time!  I look forward to seeing the new sketch on Monday.  I started in on this card yesterday, but kids and things happened and I had to set it aside until I could work on it again today.  I like how this one turned out.  I am slowly growing as a card maker.  I stalk many blogs and I am in awe at a lot of the talent out there and hope someday that I will be has good as they are.  Someday! :)

Using up old paper and old stamps.  It makes me feel good to use old stamps.  I hate to have them sit there so long and not be loved. ;)

All supplies are CTMH unless otherwise noted:  Paper: Free Spirit Level 2 (retired); Cardstock:  Colonial White, Indian Corn Blue, Honey, Cocoa, and Autumn Terracotta;  Ink:  Cocoa, Indian Corn Blue, and Autumn Terracotta;  Stamps:  D1227 Legendary Moments (retired) and D1262 Express Postage (retired); Accessories:  Pewter Brads; Tools:  Art Philosophy Cricut Cartridge (Fleur de lis and corner), sand paper, pop dots, and edge distressor.

Card Patterns Sketch 128

Hello again, friends!  I quickly put this card together.  I think it will make a good birthday card.  I will stamp a birthday sentiment inside when need be.

I submitted this on the Card Patterns blog for their sketch challenge for the week.  With this particular card, I just wasn't feeling it.  I don't know, I don't think I am the only crafter out there that feels this way sometimes about a project they are working on.  It just didn't flow creatively for me, but in the end...I went with it and finished it.  It may not be the best looking card I have made, but I think it is worthy of someone special. ;)

All  supplies are CTMH unless otherwise noted:  Paper:  You Rock Level 2 (retired); Cardstock:  White Daisy, Indian Corn Blue, Sunflower, Outdoor Denim, Olive, and Smokey Plum; Ink:  Outdoor Denim, Sunflower, and Indian Corn Blue; Stamps:  D1237 Star Struck (retired) and D1212 Playful Flourishes; Accessories:  Blue ribbon (Offray); Tools:  Art Philosophy Cricut Cartridge (stars), Corner rounder, pop dots.

H2H Challenge: Hot! Hot! Hot!

I love a good challenge and this one was a lot of FUN!  Right away when I saw this on the H2H blog, I knew excactly what paper I would use.  I have been saving this paper (for a long, long time!) for a vacation album.  We went to Cancun, Mexico in 2006 and 2008.  I have done some pages, but it is a work in progess.  The paper pack is called Laid Back and was introduced in the CTMH Summer 2006 Idea Book.  I wish I could be laying underneath those palm trees and listening to the ocean crash up along the shore.  Wouldn't it be nice?!

I also got some inspiration for this card from a sketch on Jen Del Muro's blog.  It is called Sketch For You To Try (SFYTT). 

All supplies are CTMH unless otherwise noted:  Paper:  Laid Back Level 2 (retired); Cardstock:  White Daisy, Vineyard Berry, Sunflower; Ink:  Vineyard Berry and Black;  Stamp set:  C1233 Hang Ten (retired);  Accessories:  Black Brads;  Tools:  sandpaper, popdots, sponge dauber, edge distressor.

Mojo Monday 203

Another week has past and it's Mojo time!  I never thought I would look forward to Mondays! :)  I really liked this sketch designed by fellow CTMH consultant, Debbie Carriere.  You can see the sketch here. 

One of the hottest scrapbooking items right now is corragated chipboard embellishments.  Close To My Heart has some available in the new Autumn/Winter Idea Book called Milepost Shapes.  They are super cute.  I ordered some for my next hostess club layout, but I only ordered stars.  Consultants can get certain items in bulk.  Since I didn't have a wide variety of shapes, I made my own.  Visit Dawn McVey's blog and you will see where I got the inspiration to make my own.  I was pretty excited to blow the dust off an old tool that I haven't used in years.  I knew I kept my old cripper in my scrapbook cabinet for a reason! ;)

Again, I used some older paper for this card.  Veranda is a beautiful paper and this card will be set aside for my Mom's birthday next week.  I hope she likes it...I do! 

All supplies are CTMH unless otherwise noted:  Paper:  Veranda Level 2 (retired); Cardstock:  Colonial White, Cocoa, Creme Brulee, Garden Green and Kraft; Ink:  Cocoa;  Stamp set:  C1429 Party Pennants;  Accessories:  Veranda Stickease Assortment, Creme Brulee ribbon, Green Assortment button, hemp, stick pins (unknown source);  Tools:  Corragator (Fiskers), Corner punch, Art Philosophy Cricut Cartridge (flower and leaves), glue dots, sandpaper.

H2H Challenge

Good Times!  The challenge over at H2H blog is to make a kid's birthday themed project.  I am always in need of birthday cards.  I seem to be gravitated to making more feminine cards, so I made sure to make a boy card for this challenge.

 I was hopping around to my favorite blogs and stopped on Jeanette Lynton's blog and found some inspiration here.  The card is the fourth picture in her post.  And of course, I have some older paper to use.  Good Times is a paper pack that doesn't age and is so fun to use for boy birthdays.

All supplies are CTMH unless otherwise noted:  Paper:  Good Times Level 2 (retired); Cardstock:  Colonial White, Chocolate, Twilight, and Sweet Leaf;  Ink:  Chocolate;  Accessories:  Good Times Stickease Assortment (retired), Chocolate polka dot ribbon, Twilight brads;  Tools:  Art Philosophy Cricut Cartridge (scallop border), Scor Pal (by Scor Pal), pop dots, sand paper, hole punch.

For a Special Someone

I can't believe it!  I am using new paper!  Okay...I went ahead and bought new CTMH paper.  I know...I couldn't resist.  The paper in the New Idea Book is AWESOME!!  Well, I actually had to buy some new stuff because I signed up in a Team swap.  The requirements for the swap are to use new paper and new stamps....so, I guess a little new stuff in my stash isn't the end of the world! ;)

If you haven't seen the new Idea Book for CTMH, check it out here.  The lastest and greatest new product is the Art Philosophy Cricut Cartridge exclusively for Close To My Heart.  It is the best and most versatile cartridge that I now own.  There are so many possibilities, actually there are 700!  If you are interested in knowing more.  Contact me on my website. 

The card I made here is for the swap.  I will be making 18 or so of these beauties...so I will be pretty busy!  To make the pleated flower visit Lisa Stenz's blog here.

All supplies are CTMH unless otherwise noted:  Paper:  Typeset Level 2 and Game On star paper (retired); Cardstock:  Colonial White, Black, Vineyard Berry, and Creme Brulee;  Ink:  Black, Versamark and Desert Sand;  Stamp set:  D1496 (available only with AP Cricut Cartridge);  Accessories:  Black buttons (unknown source) and Juniper ribbon;  Tools:  Art Philosophy Cricut Cartridge, sand paper, sponge dauber, and black embossing powder.

Celebrate!

I am still figuring out this blog thing.  Whenever there is an update...I have to learn things all over again.  I figure out things eventually.

This card is a sketch challenge over at the Card Patterns blog.  It seems lately, that I have to go out and search for a sketch to get me motivated to make a card.  This was an easy one to put together.  I love simplicity.  I can't spend too much time on a card.  With 3 kids...I don't have a whole lot of time to devote to just one card.

I used some new tools for this card, but stuck with some old paper.  This paper dates back to the Summer 2008 CTMH Idea Book.  I have sooo much OLD paper.  I have to use it up.  I can't justify buying more new stuff if I have a ton of old stuff laying around.  I am sure a lot of you can relate. ;)

All supplies are CTMH unless otherwise noted:  Paper:  Sarsaparilla Level 2 (retired);  Cardstock:  Colonial White and Black;  Ink:  Black;  Stamp set:  D1497 (available only with Art Philosophy Cricut Cartridge);  Accessories:  Black stitched ribbon, Cream Pearl Opaques, Milepost shape (corrugated star chipboard), and Black Bigger brads;  Tools:  Art Philosophy Cricut Cartridge, ScorPal, sand paper, and pop dots.

Mojo Monday 202

I think I must be in a Cherry-O mood, because I am using this paper again.  It is just so summery and I love the color combo of pinks and browns. 

This sketch challenge on the Mojo Monday blog was a little bit of a challenge for me.  I think I might try making another card using this sketch and different paper.  We'll see if I get to it.

All supplies are CTMH unless otherwise noted:  Paper:  Cherry-O Level 2 (retired) and Cherry-O Creative Basics (retired);  Cardstock:  Colonial White and Chocolate;  Ink:  Tulip, Sweet Leaf, and Chocolate;  Stamp set:  B1348 Bowl of Cherries and Sentiment from Art Philosophy stamp set D1497; Accessories:  Tulip ribbon and pink sparkles; Tools:  Cricut cartridge Art Philosophy (only available through CTMH),  sandpaper, and sponge dauber.