Simple Kid's Valentines

My daughter and I made 23 of these little cuties for her to hand out to the kids in her class.  Super simple & easy to make (perfect for bulk cards!).  The inspiration for these great little 3x3 Valentines came from the very talented Vicki Wizniuk.  (Be sure to check out the great variety that she created!)

Materials Used (All Close to My Heart):

• Thoughtful Seasons Acrylic Stamp Set
• Holiday Hoopla Acrylic Stamp Set
• Cardstock: Cranberry, White Daisy
• Inks: Cranberry, Black

CTMH Grace Valentine for my Hubby

Great sketch over at Get Sketchy this week . . .  This also fits several more of this week's challenges that have a 'seasonal' flavour!  Tthis week's challenge over at Frosted Designs to make a valentine without pink or red (burgundy doesn't count as a red, does it?!?), the challenge at Raise the Bar is to use hearts on your card, and the Crazy 4 Challenges challenge is to create a Valentine themed project.

inside of the card:

 

Materials Used (all Close to My Heart):

• Grace Level 2 Paper Pack
• State of Mind Acrylic Stamp Set
• Childhood Portrait Acrylic Stamp Set
• February Word Puzzle Acrylic Stamp Set (retired)
• Dimensional Elements - Hearts
• Cardstock: Bamboo, Twilight, Colonial White, Cocoa

CTMH Sweet Home - My Least Common Layout

This is my first assignment for my Library of Memories class . . .

I had to create my 'least common layout'.  The assignment involves going through the completed layouts you have in your scrapbooks and figuring out 'what's missing'!   The idea is that your layouts tell your stories.  Are you missing the stories about "Us", "Places", "People" or "Things" in your life?  And when you document a story on your layout through journalling, which of the 5 "W's" do you omit most often? 

Turns out for me, I am missing the stories about "People", meaning the people outside of our immediate family that we associate with and love.  The reason I'm missing out on these stories is because I tend to focus my layouts on "Us" - meaning me, my husband, and our kids.  But without including our extended family and friends in my scrapbooks - I am not telling the whole story.  And the "W" that I miss most often in my journalling is the "Why" - why is the event or story significant? 

So - I set out to complete the assignment by creating a layout that included my least common elements - "People" and "Why".

I was flipping through photos and found these pics taken of my grandparents (my childrens' great-grandparents) at Christmas in 2008.  I was immediately inspired (even though the photos are not great) to create a layout about 'why' they are so special to us and how blessed we are that my kids get to know & love their great grandparents!  (My great grandmother is actually still alive, as well - she turns 100 this year - I'll have to do a layout about her too!!)

I used this week's sketch from the Design Dollies for my layout.

(sorry about the flash reflection on the photo.  if you want to enlarge - just click on the image)

Materials Used (all Close to My Heart):

Sweet Home Level 2 Paper Pack
Frame of Mind Acrylic Stamp Set
White Daisy Mini-Medley embellishment pack
Pewter Brads
White Daisy Cardstock
Barn Red Ink
My Legacy Writers Pens
(title cut with my Cricut "Calligraphy Collection" cartridge

CTMH More to Adore Simple Valentine Card

Had a little time to play today . . . I love starting with the Clean & Simple sketches to get me back into 'creative mode'.  Here is my take on Natasha's Fall-To Layout #76.

 

 

Materials Used (all Close to My Heart):

• More to Adore Level 2 Paper Pack
• Love Always Acrylic Stamp Set (Dec 08 Stamp of the Month)
• Blush Textured Cardstock from the Winter Cozy Combo Pack (Currently on sale Buy 1, Get 1 Free - until Feb 28th!!)
• Dimensional Elements Hearts
• Hollyhock Organdy Ribbon (retired)
• Foam Tape

More Treat Boxes!

I just love this template!! So easy! These cute little birthday versions will be the make & take project at my next workshop night.  Don't have an embellishment in your stash to match your project?  Make your own by backing Clear Buttons with coordinating paper! 

Materials Used (all Close to My Heart):

• More to Adore Level 1 Paper (girl version)
• Bella Level 2 Paper (to back button on girl version)
• Game On Level 2 Paper (boy version)
• Stardust Level 2 Paper (to back button on boy version)
• Family Ties - Children Acrylic Stamp Set
• Happy Birthday Acrylic Stamp Set
• Clear Buttons
• Colonial White Waxy Flax
• Colonial White Ric Rac
• Inks: Chocolate, Hollyhock, Blush, Black, Desert Sand, Moonstruck
• Cardstock: Colonial White, Black, Chocolate

CTMH February Stamp of the Month Blog Hop

Glad you could join us for this month's Close to My Heart Stamp of the Month Blog Hop!  We have dozens of talented consulants who are sharing their creations with the February Stamp of the Month set "A Piece of Cake".  To continue along the hop, just follow the link at the end of each post to go to the next site.   We hope that following the hop will give you lots of inspiration and ideas for using your "Piece of Cake" stamp set, as well as the many other great CTMH products you'll see in each post. 

My creation today is a Mini Pizza Box.  You can find the instructions for making this box here.  This little box is the perfect size for holding gift cards, jewellery, treats or candy.

Materials Used (all Close to My Heart):

Topstitch Level 2 Paper Pack
Piece of Cake Acrylic Stamp Set (February Stamp of the Month)
Colonial White Designer Ribbon Rounds
Liquid Glass
Foam Tape
Cardstock: Baby Pink, Chocolate, Colonial White
Ink: Blush, Baby Pink, Chocolate, Heavenly Blue, Sunny Yellow

Thanks for visiting!  To visit the next stop on the hop, please visit Amy's Paisley Playhouse. 

If you get lost along the hopping trail, or come across a broken link, please feel free to refer to the entire list of this month's hop participants Here. 

CTMH February Stamp of the Month Blog Hop Participants

It is time again for the Close to My Heart Stamp of the Month Blog Hop.  For February we'll be featuring the fabulous new "Piece of Cake" stamp set.    Our hop will go live at 7pm (Mountain Time) tonight - so be sure to check back to see lots of great artwork with this set. 

If you get lost somewhere along the hop or find a broken link along the way, feel free to refer back to this list at any time.

Jena DeVries
Helen Onulak
Haley Dyer
Lori Miller
Jill Lucas
Laura Dame
Carla Ironside (YOU ARE HERE)
Amy Edwards
Deb Young
Barbra Otten
Jamia Bankhead
Chris Shouse
Debra Van Patten
Jessica Booth
Jen Patrick
Melissa Laverty
Jody Gustafson
Katy Donaldson
Kathleen Androlewicz
Shirley Ross
Laurie Levnik
Laurie Newton
Mary Eisen
Sarita Schraeder
Cibele Glazer
Adeline E. Brill
Jenifer Benner
Wanda Riley
Sylvia Jacquot
Amy McVey
Dawn Ross
Nancy Brown
Susan Brooks
Latisha Haag
Cindy Leek
Judy Burger
Nona Davenport
Kim O'Rear
Kristie Herdener
Karen Norman
Carol Loftus
Lori Leng
Michelle Nist
Lori Brown
Kimberly Smith
Tanya David
Krista Ritskes
Traci Godbee
Kami Welter
Beth Naumann
Brenda Harmless
Sheila Bennett
Melissa Burch
Jen Rubio
Tammy Lea Pinchard
Terrie Dodd
Dawn Heuft
Brae Montgomery
Pamela O'Connor
Angela Tutton
Shannon Pelletier
Alison Mullen
Laura Petruso
Carol Horton
Georgia Hauglid
Michelle Loncar
Shannon Buck
Danielle Chapman
Annette Green

CTMH Caboodle Cards

Just a quick post tonight to share more fun projects with you from the CTMH Caboodle Workshop Kit  . . .

I apologize for my infrequent posting this week.  It is a crazy busy week for me . . . I've had absolutely no time to spend in blogland!! Things should settle down a bit after this weekend & I look forward to visiting all my regular spots again then (and playing along with some of my favourite challenges)!  Thanks for stopping by & be sure to check back on Monday for February's Close to My Heart Stamp of the Month Blog Hop featuring the stamp set "Piece of Cake"!

CTMH Caboodle Workshop Feature Layout - Golf Day

I put together this layout using the Close to My Heart Caboodle Workshop on the Go Kit.  Click on the photo to enlarge.   The layout sketch, as well as additional artwork project suggestions, come in the kit!  The chipboard pieces I have used are also included!
I think the Caboodle paper coordinates well with outdoor pics - sky and grass are perfect with Crystal Blue & Sweet Leaf!  My take on this workshop layout features a 'golf day' spent with my husband, my sister & her husband.  Every year the 4 of us try to get away for a day or a weekend to do some golfing.  We always have lots of laughs & I look forward to our 'golf day' each summer! (I added my journalling to the layout after I took the photo). 

Materials Used (all Close to My Heart):

• Caboodle Workshop on the Go Kit (kit available until May 1st, 2010) - includes Caboodle Level 2 Paper Pack, Dimensional Elements Booksmart, Exclusive "This Way" Stamp Set, and a full colour artwork brochure.
• Sweet Leaf Designer Ribbon Rounds
• Tiny Tabs
• Ink: Sweet Leaf, Sorbet, Crystal Blue

Thanks for stopping by today - have a great week!

CTMH Twitterpated & Unscripted Sketches #38

A little card "just because" . . . The sketch is #38 from Unscripted Sketches.

Materials Used (All Close to My Heart):

• Twitterpated Level 2 Paper
• Whoo Loves You Acrylic Stamp Set
• Grown with Love Acrylic Stamp Set
• Ribbon - Chocolate Grosgrain layered with Sorbet Dash
• Other - Liquid Glass, Colonial White Bitty Brads
• Cardstock: Sorbet, Colonial White
• Ink: Sorbet, Chocolate, Desert Sand

CTMH Felicity You're Special Card

Loving this Felicity kit!! I used this week's sketch from Clean & Simple Stamping.

Materials Used (all Close to My Heart):

• Felicity Collection Paper & Stamp Set
• Enjoy the Journey Acrylic Stamp Set
• Metal Brads
• Cardstock: Barn Red, Colonial White
• Ink:  Autumn Terracotta, Barn Red

CTMH Caboodle Made for Each Other

Love this new stamp set!!  A quick card today for the Stamps & Smiles Sketch Challenge over at Our Creative Corner.  I also incorporated the Frosted Designs challenge to use eyelets!  And finally the Raise the Bar Challenge to use something you haven't used before - which in this case is the stamp set "Love You Forever".

Materials Used (all Close to My Heart, except as noted):

• Caboodle Level 2 Paper Packet
• Love You Forever Acrylic Stamp Set
• Chocolate Soft Set Eyelets
• Ribbon from the Designer Ribbon Rounds Chocolate Collection
• Chocolate Waxy Flax
• Tag from my stash
• Cardstock: Crystal Blue, Vanilla Cream
• Ink: Chocolate, Sorbet, Crystal Blue, Sweet Leaf

We had an exciting morning here today.  The family & I got into the Olympic spirit and went & watched the Olympic torch relay as it passed near our community here in Calgary!! It was a lot of fun & maybe a 'once in a lifetime' kind of thing - so glad we went!  Can't wait to cheer for Canada at the Olympics in just a few weeks!!  Here is a photo of the 'passing of the flame' which was done right in front of our 'roadside' spot!