Find Your Style - January 2011 Stamp of the Month---Batch 2!

I am definately enjoying this set!! The new Wings Paper Packet is so pretty too!!! Since this is such an eclectic set I thought I could sneak in a few bejeweled four leaf clovers to "Irish" it up a bit for March. The clovers are from an upcoming Stamp of the Month; Jubilation which will be available during the month of June.

Find Your Style - January 2011 Stamp of the Month

I just LOVE this stamp set. I looks great with the new Wings Paper Packet but I wanted to make something completely different and it was begging to be shown off using the Retiform technique. The Close to My Heart colors I used were Sunset, Creme Brulee, Tulip and Sweet Leaf. The layers are distressed with our round distressing tool.

My Album of Choice - Classic Black

Some time ago I decided to start using only classic black albums; CTMH has a very affordable faux leather album that is simple and elegant. Here are some of my favorite things about them-

• Subtle black stitching that never goes out of style.
• Easy clean Faux Leather looks nice on any shelf in any room, or the coffee table.
• Affortable $25 price tag---ask me how to get one for 1/2 price!
• High quality affordable easy to find (order from me!) memory protectors.
• Easy to expand with extender posts.
• Look great with our pewter label holders on the spine to identify contents.

Game On...almost gone!

Tonight was another "crave to create" night....I just HAD to make something. I pulled out these pictures and FINALLY scrapped them. I used the CTMH Game On paper packet; Game On is still available but only the Stickease and the Level I packet is left. It's my first Magic layout, gosh I love our How to Programs!

December Stamp of the Month - Amore

I used Jingle and Magnifique Lvl II paper, Twinkle Brads, Tulip & Sky Ink, White Daisy Ribbon and Cardstock.

January & February Year of Memories Club Pages

In December my Year of Memories Clubs will be making their Feb. 2011 layout because the Stamp of the Month, Amore, is just perfect for it. So happy that I resisted the temptation to play with something else today; I actually made a second sample layout for January and February. I used Jingle and Magnifique paper packs. I really wanted to do a pink & blue combo instead of just pinks &/or reds plus thought it would be nice to use some Magnifique paper to transition easily from the January layout.

Got a little crazy with the Sparkles on my first layouts and used all the ones out of the packs that were the right color, there's lots more Sparkles left just not more of the colors I want for these projects. It's kind of good to see them with and without anyway. Here it is w/o Sparkles...


And here it is with....oh yes and on the top one, (which was actually the second one I made) I added some stamped cutouts, I will add those to this one too... since I'm calling the technique for this workshop Luscious Layers we may even add a couple more.

This is the page my Clubs will make for January 2011 (stamp set is Circle of Love) without Sparkles...

With Sparkles...

The monthly titles haven't been added yet because I was going to use the Field Trip Alphabet but, I changed my mind after I previewed the January Inspiration brochure. There's a new set called Bohemiam Alphabet that I can hardly wait to get my hands on....it's so perfect! It will be available as part of a very special deal in January too!!

The technique featured for the January page is embossing. We will stamp the peacock in Chocolate, stamp over it again with embossing ink, use clear embossing powder-then sponge some Pacifica & Lagoon over it. Our wonderful clear stamps, eliminate the need for so many different colors of powder - isn't that great?!

Introducing Norah....

Norah is my new little granddaughter, she was born on 11/16. Just when you think life couldn't possibly be more busy...IT IS! But in oh such a wonderful way. Praise the Lord for this beautiful baby girl! Here is a pic of her with my daughter on Thanksgiving.

And here is one with her sweet daddy a couple days earlier, the morning he had to go back to Iraq.

Waiting for Norah

Well I really thought our little Norah would be here on or before today. Since she's not here yet I finished up the first layout that I have made for her. Actually the one that say's "Who's so Cute?" is what I made from memory of this little outfit; THEN I decide to get the outfit to see and whoa, figured I could match it much better than I did, so that is why I made the layout that says "Love who you are" a much better match and that is the saying on the outfit, shows how short my memory can be. I'm very happy with the results...used my little Cricut with the Create A Critter cartridge (long awaited for and so worth the wait I LOVE it), and yes I really did sew on the Love tag too! Colors for the top page are Close to My Heart, Grey Flannel, Colonial White, Pansy Purple, Amethyst, and Cocoa.

December Layout

I love the Mistletoe paper and embellishments, it has a very balanced color scheme (as do all of our paper kits) to enhance photos. I may just have to pull out more of my photos from last Christmas because it's so hard to wait over two months before I can add pics.

October Card

Here's that beautiful Olivia paper again! This is a fun card featuring a rosette for dimension and flair.

November Layout

Our new Olivia paper packet is so pretty and I will never tire of the Flourished Blessings stamp set!

October Layout

Here again is the Hooligans paper, this is embellished with the Sunset Mini Medleys and the September Stamp of the month. I decided to add the optional Hooligans Felties after the first photo.

Hooligan!

This layout and the heart card were made using the Hooligans Level I kit. For the tall card I added Lagoon cardstock.

September Layout

This layout is made using Zippidee and Passages Level II Paper Packets and Imagine: Grand Finale, you can also see another version of the same layout on page 64 of the Summer Idea Book.

August Layout

Layouts always look so much better with pictures...nevertheless here is the layout that my clubs will be doing for their August photos. I'll try to post it again after the pics are added. This was made using the Splendor Lvl II Paper Pack & Designer Brads, along with Goldrush & Moonstruck Ink Pads and Markers. I used three stamp sets; Chocolate Alphabet, A Flitter and Card Commentary.

This layout really looks better in "person" I just stuck some pics from last 4th of July to get an idea of how it will look, I'll replace them with new ones asap. There is quite a bit of "white" space but some of it will be used for journaling. The design is from Imagine page 30, Timeline. The photos should really be 3 x 3 but mine are a little different, these sizes were quick to print and I didn't want to spend much time since they're temporaries. I love the Live Inspired stamp set, it has another bird in it on a branch that I can hardly wait to use. The paper is from the Zippidee Lvl II packet which is obviously made with the Disney/Amusment Park theme in mind but I really like challenging myself to come up with something different. The Dimensional Elements Stars are only $3.25 and you get a total of 25. This layout is one of the things my Hostess Club participants will be making in July.

This card and milk carton were made using the CherryO Paper Packet , and our new Clear Cards, I love embossing them with my Cuttlebug.

Father's Day Card

Shhhhh....here's my hubby's Father's Day card. I used the June Stamp of the Month "Wonderful Friend", Passages Paper Pack, Tan Hemp, Cocoa and New England Ivy ink. You can order those items and more by contacting me direct or visit my web site at http://pattir.myctmh.com/ For instructions to make the shirt visit- http://www.marthastewart.com/article/folded-shirt-card?backto=true&backtourl=/photogallery/fathers-day-cards#slide_1

Arrrghh, I'm just not good yet at photographing layouts. These are made with the Miracle kit that is the special for National Papercrafting Month. It starts 4/15 and ends 5/31. If you would like to know more just click on the link on your right for more info or to purchase from my Close to My Heart site. Thanks for looking!

Flower Pot - Center Stage Card

I don't usually spend quite so much time on a card but one of my groups reguested a Center Stage card. They saw a class for this type of card priced at $15 so I went and took a look. I didn't use as many embellishments as that class sample but LOTS of stamping, coloring and cutting. I must say I'm pretty darn happy with how it turned out. I added the top picture to show you that I ended up coloring over the shutters with a Brown Bag marker the Petal was just bugging me...ever have that happen to you?

Here we go again, and I'm still on a roll with "Piece of Cake" this is using Topstitch Level II paper again and I also added a stamp from "Love is in the Air" as I mentioned below.

Ok, so you get a break from "Piece of Cake" today, but I'm warning you it won't be for long! These cards were made using the Topstitch Kit, it includes this exclusive set called "Love is in the Air". If you would like to know how to purchase it just email me at pattirmail@yahoo.com. There's also a link to your right to my Close to My Heart site to see more of our wonderful products.

Here are three more cards using "Piece of Cake", this time they're all done with Topstich Level II paper. Hmmm, something tells me you will be seeing more cards with this set again real soon!

Ohhhh coloring is SUCH good therapy! This is my first batch of the February Stamp of the Month "Piece of Cake" cards. I just love it!! I have stamped with every piece of cake in the set and it's so fun. I can't wait to show you the other batches in the next couple of days.

A Caboodle of Caboodle Stuff II

Here they are my adorable grandsons and a caboodle of Caboodle layouts! The first is the one I made for myself, then I made one for each of the boys' books, I'm trying to do several layouts each year for them. I really wasn't thinking and I used Heavenly Blue paper when really the color with the paper is Crystal Blue, but I think it looks fine...what do you think? The bottom layout was made literally with scraps as they just as they were cut from making the other layouts.