Just Because Challenge #3

Today’s marks the third project in my “Just Because Challenge” series. These challenges came from an online Pajama Party on May 30^th. Did you realize that the next online Pajama Party, hosted by Big Picture Scrapbooking and featuring a Cricut® “Artbooking” project from Close To My Heart, is TONIGHT at 9pm EST?! Be sure to click THIS LINK to register if you did not participate in the last one!

I am really enjoying these challenges because they’ve got me doing things that I wouldn’t ordinarily do. Take the next slip I pulled from my “Just Because” container: “Use the photo pocket pages to create a layout – Add photos in some spaces and a decorative title/journaling into the other spaces.” I wasn’t even sure I had any Memory Protectors® Photo Storage Pages (their official name)! Ends up I did – they hold six 6” x 4” photos. Ends up I also had just the photos to put in it!

Right after the kids got out of school for the summer, we traveled down to Myrtle Beach, SC, to visit with my parents. While there, my parents had a visitor to their bird feeder – a raccoon! So right away, I decided I wanted to use the “woodsy” colors of Chocolate and Sweet Leaf, and some left-over paper I had from the “Cherry-O” Creative Basics Paper Pack (who remembers that one?!).

The arrows I cut & stamped are from CTMH’s BRAND NEW “Artbooking” Cricut Collection – available TOMORROW on my website! Click on any “SHOP WITH ME” link on the right side of this page!

I can’t believe how quickly that “page” came together! I just might have to do pages like that more often. If you’re wondering, CTMH also sells Photo Storage Pages with six vertical pockets. This is really fun – I can’t wait for the next challenge! See you all at the Pajama Party tonight!

Just Because - Challenge #2

Welcome to the next installment of my "Just Because Challenges". The second challenge that I pulled from my Kraft Container was this: "Cut a 3" circle from cardstock and layer with random embellishments to create an eclectic cluster to add to a page or the center of a card." Well, that's interesting. I can't say that I've ever done that before - but that's what these challenges are all about, right?! So, I cut my 3" circle from a piece of clear embossed grey cardstock from the Dream Pop Paper Pack. Then I just grabbed a bunch of random items from my stash that I had not previously used:

I grabbed a lot, and 3" really isn't a lot of real estate, so I dwindled it down to the following embellishments:

I used the "My Stickease - Pemberley", "Glamour Glitter Alphabet", "Color-Ready Evergreen Cork Shapes", "Button Assortment - Black", and a left-over frame from the "Workshop on the Go - Advent Calendar" (Autumn-Winter 2012 Idea Book). Here's what I ended up with:

Now all I had to do was figure out how to use it on a card. SO, I grabbed my handy-dandy "Wishes Card Confidence Program" and perused the "quick reference" to try and find a pattern that might use a 3" circle. Low & behold, there was one - the "Medallion" pattern on page 52 was just what I was looking for. After following the pattern and accompanying full-color photograph, I created this:

Since I had used the "Pemberley" My Stickease, I used a patterned paper from the Pemberley Paper Pack in the background. Some black, Ruby, and Saddle cardstock later, along with a touch of Black Shimmer Trim, and voila - an "eclectic" card! Fun! Tune in next week for some BIG reveals from the BRAND NEW Autumn-Winter 2013 Idea Book!!! I can't wait to show you!!!

Just Because

Today’s post begins a series that I’m calling my “Just Because Challenges”. The reason for this is that when I created the My Creations Kraft Container during the online Pajama Party on May 30^th, I used the sentiment “just because” on the front (mainly because I didn’t have the stamp set that they were using!). During the Pajama Party, they gave us a PDF file that had 3 pages worth of idea prompts on it to print, cut out, and put inside the Kraft Container. Then, when you’re in a slump or at a loss for a creative idea, just pick a prompt out of the container – and do it!

So, I decided to take the challenge and post my results. The very first slip of paper I pulled out read, “Create a page of WHY you are a CTMH Consultant!” Wow. Already this was going to be interesting for me because I do all of my scrapbooking with Studio J online – creating a page with paper and printed photos is something I haven’t done in a long time. I guess that is the point of these prompts! Therefore, after thinking about my “why”, the first thing I did was break open CTMH’s “Make It from Your Heart – Volume 1”. I found just what I was looking for on page 29 – the “In Focus” layout pattern. Since I was only doing a one-page layout, I used the left side of the pattern. Then I pulled out my “For Always” paper pack because I knew my photos had some bright colors in them, and “For Always” is all black & white.

From that point on, it was just a matter of following the diagram in the book! It came together really quickly. I embellished with some white paint brushed onto the edges of the page, some Opaques Pearls, and the corner of a frame from the “Life’s Framework” stamp set stamped in White Daisy. I really like how it came out! And I just love the photo of me and my upline, Linda, from last year’s Convention – it was such a blast! Here’s my finished page:

Journaling: “I originally joined the Close To My Heart family because I couldn’t find inks to match the colors of my papers. I had been to a CTMH party, and knew that their papers and inks all coordinated, so I bit the bullet and ordered a ton of inks. The consultant that I ordered them from suggested that I become a consultant to get the discount, if I was going to be ordering a lot. So, being that I was now at home with my 1-year-old son, I did it - I signed up. Three months later, I went to my first Convention in Salt Lake City. It’s been 11 years and 5 Conventions later, and I still love it. I am a CTMH consultant for the products (and discount!), the artistic outlet, the friends I’ve made, the excitement I feel when introducing new products and artwork and teaching new techniques, and Convention! It is just so much FUN, I wish I could go every year!”

That was fun! I can’t wait to choose my next challenge! If you’d like to join in the fun, here’s where you can find the Creative Prompts file: CREATIVE PROMPTS

Give Me Liberty, or Give Me...More Cards!

As promised, I have a few more cards to show you that I created with the "Home of the Brave" stamp set - which is STILL AVAILABLE, by the way! I hope that after seeing all of the fun ways you can use it, you will decide to purchase a set for yourself. A portion of the sales of this stamp set go to the USO supporting our troops. Head over to my website to order one today! Ok, here's what I've got for you today:

I really like the way this one turned out. I used patterned paper from the "Tommy" paper pack (red w/anchors) and the "Dakota" paper pack (blue pin-stripe). I stamped the card base with "We The People" in second-generation Outdoor Denim ink, and also stamped the stars onto the red border strip. The "Pieced Together" pattern for the card came from the "Wishes" Card Confidence Program (pg.34).

I just HAD to do a circle card, because I LOVE circle cards! This one is also from "Wishes", called "Simple Statement" (pg. 11). I used Smokey Plum, Topiary, and Outdoor Denim for colors, and accented the fireworks with a bit of Stardust Glitz Glitter Gel. Fun!

I really love the Statue of Liberty image - it's so iconic. So, I used it again for this card - the modified pattern for which came out of the "Originals Card Confidence Program", entitled "Tag Trio" (pg. 108). I stamped the Statue image three times - without reinking my stamp. The result is three images in a progressively lighter shade - referred to as 1st, 2nd, and 3rd-generation. I also added some Opaques between each matted image.

I hope this inspires you to use your "Home of the Brave" stamp set - or to purchase one if you haven't already! Next week, I am beginning a series based on the Big Picture Scrapbooking Pajama Party project - do you remember it? We decorated a My Creations Kraft Container, and filled it with idea inspiration provided by Big Picture Scrapbooking. If you didn't get them, here's a link to the PDF: IDEA PROMPTS
Just print them out, cut them up, and place them in the container. Then draw one at random and do what it says! I will be starting that next week. Until then, stay cool & keep stampin'!

Happy 4th!

I apologize for not posting last week - and for being a day late this week. My family and I drove to Myrtle Beach, SC last Tuesday, and returned home this past Tuesday...at 1:30am. It took me a couple of days to "regroup", and being that my husband is still on vacation, and the kids are out of school, my internal clock is still a bit messed up!

So, I am posting my "Home of the Brave" card today in honor of our nation's birthday. This card came together very quickly using the "Home of the Brave" stamp set from Close To My Heart. I used Pacifica and Cranberry cardstock, along with Pacifica, Cranberry, Black, and Topiary inks. The finishing touches were the silver and black Shimmer Trims and a sprinkling of Bitty Sparkles. Nice & easy! That's what I like!

I will be creating more cards with this set for next week. This set, along with "Courage", is still available WHILE SUPPLIES LAST until the end of the month! Visit my website HERE to get yours! Happy 4th!