Friday, May 27, 2011

My New Favorite Scrapbook Pages


This is by far one of my favorite layouts using the Miracle Paper Kit. I usually have a very hard time with angling photos & paper but this just came together like "Magic!" (No pun intended! Look on pages 62 & 63 for the sample pages & template) the left page is pretty much the same as the template but on the right page I used the template as a guideline & took a little artistic detour and added a chipboard butterfly & journaling strips on the upper corner & the matching Kraft Color Ready Border (I love these) on the right side instead of the left as in the book. I also carried the 2" (1 & 1/2 in the book) border to create movement across both pages it adds a subtle line to ease the eye to read from left to right & encompass both pages comfortably while taking in the creative details in the embellishments and not taking away the focus of attention to the photos (which are not there yet!). In the "Magic" How to Book the title is curved around the circle mat. I think that is where I will put mine once I chose the photos & have a topic!
Miracle Color Ready "Irrisistibles" Dimentional Elements
(Chipboard) 







As you all know I love chipboard! Especially Close to My Heart's as it is "Color Ready" so when you apply your medium with sponges, brushes, markers or direct to ink contact they accept it beautifully. Most chipboards are grey or brown like the back of a legal pad & are hard to get the right color because of the base. You either have to paint it white to start with or cover them with paper. Some are white but have a shiny surface which changes the color of the ink & can be difficult to add ink to because the surface is non-porous & the inks won't dry.With ours there are so many more options because they truly are "Color Ready" and take the ink the same way a piece of our White Daisy cardstock would.

The leaf & flourishes (did I tell you how much I love Flourishes!) under the the large flower were one piece that I cut. I used a sponge & inked it with Sweet Leaf. then take a clean paper towel & rub the ink off the "resist" area & it pops with an awesome design. Look how pretty the butterflies turned out! I love the flourishy (hmm... is that a word?), swirly pattern in the wings!
Add a few pearls or glitter glue for the body of the butterfly. Apply beads or sequins. Again because you are starting with a white color ready background you can add what ever color goes with your paper & watch the details on the chipboard come to life! For these butterflies I started with sunny yellow in the middle & worked my way out with Sweet Leaf next, Heavenly Blue, Crystal Blue & finally I tipped the edges of the wings in Dutch Blue.  You don't have to use all the inks but I think it adds depth the the butterfly &  gives a stunning effect. 
 The flowers are made with our new Scallop Punch. There are 3 layers of our B & T Dous (2 sided pattern paper) in the flower to the right. Crinkle each layer into a little ball & then smooth out, lightly add a little desert sand ink to each piece with a sponge & it will enhance the wrinkles and give a subtle distressed look. Add a glue dot to the center of the scallops to put it together. The top layer is cut down to a smaller circle. Vary the designs & colors you use in the layers for whimsical look. The center is a large pearl with little pearls surrounding it. Very Shabby Chic!

 This flower also uses the Scallop Punch. There are 5 pieces of Crystal blue cardstock & the bud uses 4 punched pieces of our B&T Dous (2 sided paper).  The 4 petals are folded creatively & attached to a cardstock scallop to make the bud. I could have stopped there but I wanted the flower to bigger so I added 4 more scallops of cardstock (sanded the edges & curled) & glued it all together with glue dots & added the chipboard leaf & swirl from the Miracle "Irresistibles" Dimensional Elements. All the circles are part of the same package as shown above. Gotta love that chipboard with the resist patterns!

   
We reproduced these pages at my WOTG class last month. The girls loved learning how to create the flowers & how simple they were to make. I think my love for chipboard is spreading! They were amazed at how easy they are to color & how much they bling up a page!                                                                          

Tuesday, May 17, 2011

Prom Night for my son Nick & his sweet girlfriend Mel.

I'm so excited & I have to share! I just finsihed editing some of the prettiest pictures of my son & his girlfriend Mel. They went to prom last weekend & they looked so great together in their prom outfits! That's the first time I've seen my son Nick in a tux. Oooh when did he turn into a young man? He looks so handsome & Mel in her beuatiful purple gown. Eeek I'm getting teary! But here's the proof of what a good looking couple they are.
Are you singing "It's Prom Night, Prom Night" yet! Becareful cuz it gets stuck in your head.

A couple of more "Miracle Kit" cards

I guess I just can't get enough of this paper! It's very pretty & seems to work with any theme. Both of the patterns for these cards came from MOJO Monday. I completed them to late to enter in their contest & links, but I do love the way they turned out. I seem to always step it up a notch when "Mojoing!" (Is that a word??!)
The large flower is a rolled rose. I started with a ripped piece of colonial white & edged with Sky ink. I also curled the ripped side of the paper. The rose adds beauty & charm to the card with a rhinestone in the middle. The light blue scalloped edge is one of the patterns from our "Kraft Color Ready Borders" I put Heavenly Blue embossing powder on the sticky side of the scallop & heated it. I love the crackled effect it created.
This is one of my favorite cards! I made the flower with our 2" scallop punch & a folding technique. The flower center is one of our colonial white designer brads with our small pearls surrounding it & one in the middle of the brad. The flower wasn't as big as I wanted so I punched out 4 more Chrystal blue scallop circles & distressed them by sanding & curling the edges & placed them around the underside of the flower to create larger petals & more of a dramatic look. I wanted the flower to be the focal point of the card. The leaves are free handed with dry embossing, wrinkling & sanding so they look more realistic, they are edged with a touch of dessert sand ink. We can't forget my favorite embellishment...chipboard! Especially our "Miracle Dimensional Elements" with an resist pattern already on them, just add coordinating ink and Wallah" you have a beautiful matching 3 dimensional embellishment. (I also added pearls to it for the body) The scallop border is from our "Kraft Ready Borders." this is the first time & tried the wrinkle technique with the ribbon. It's so easy; tie your bow & gently & slowly heat it with your heat gun & it will shrink irregularly adding a shabby chic look to it. I can't wait to give these cards to graduating seniors this year!

Wednesday, May 4, 2011

May Special!! You & Me Scrapbooking Kit

During our May Celebration you can get the exclusive “You & Me Scrapbooking Kit” at a fabulous discount or even FREE! It’s a charming kit you are sure to love. Here’s How:
• Purchase the kit outright for $34.95
• Acquire at a discount of more than 50% when you place a minimum order of $50. purchase price of the kit will only be $15!
• Become a Close to My Heart Consultant during the month of May and it will be included for FREE in your New Consultant Kit.

Watch this video to view the kit & see everything that is included! Look at how easy it will be to create gorgeous pages in Minutes with everything you need included in this kit!

I can't wait to get my hands on this kit! The tranquil muted colors & classic paper designs make this kit a "Must Have!" You'll be able to use it with any theme & with boys & girls. Love, love, love the ribbon, stamp set & of course the new chipboard that comes with it. Here's a list of what it includes:


  • My Acrylix "You & Me" D size stamp set {$22.95 Value}

  • 1 12x12 White CS

  • 6 12x12 B&T Duos Papers {New Cardstock Weight}

  • 6x9 "You & Me" Irresistibles Chipboard Die Cut Sheet

  • 1 Yard Chocolate Stripe Ribbon

  • 1 Package Mocha Opaques Pearls

  • 1 Full Color Instruction Guide

Featured colors: Chocolate, Creme Brulee, Olive & Smoothie


Hurry to Order this kit is only available through May 31 or While Supplies Last!


Miracle Scrapbook Pages & More


Our Corporate Artists are so talented! I'd like to share some of their creations with you. I guess I can't get enough of the "Miracle Paper Kit." I especially love how they incorporated our new Canvas Buttons, Kraft Borders & Miracle Chipboard into these amazing layouts & cards.

The pinwheels are adorable. Stamp them with the exclusive B-size set that comes in the WOTG (Workshop on the Go) Kit. Then cut & fold. Easy Peasy!

Tuesday, May 3, 2011

Here's the promised artwork with the "Miracle" Paper Kit! Such pretty blues & greens. I've paired the paper with one of our newer stamps sets "Dreams Come True." Of course I like it because it has a Great(!!) Flourish! (Used behind the chipboard flower)I'm also very pleased with the sentiment & font chosen. I added Crystal Blue ink onto the chipboard "Irresistible" then edged it with a sponge & Desert Sand ink. It's finished off with a sparkle. Gotta love the bling! The white flower & stitching on the chipboard are part of the resist technique that make these "Irresistible" Dimensional Elements so much fun to work with, you just rub color on with a sponge & ink & wipe of the resist area clean & Ta Da it adds instant visual "Pop" to your piece. These 3"x 3" cards are the perfect size to accompany a small gift or fit into a gift bag. Quick & easy to make to show your appreciation to that someone special in your in your life.





I wish I had a better picture of this card. It is so much prettier than it looks. The design is from "Mojo Monday."(turned sideways) I second generation stamped in the circle very lightly with the large damask stamp from the Feb. SOTM set & then stamped my sentiment (from the Card Chatter-Sympathy set) over top. It's matted with Sweat leaf & Heavenly blue CS & then I ruffled paper under it & added pop dots.