May Flowers Blog Hop

I have several other Ariana layouts to share with you, but they will have to wait until after the holiday weekend, I'm afraid. 

I am part of a "Use Your Stash" blog hop this month, and the theme is "May Flowers". If you have arrived here from Janet's blog, you are on the right path.

This is one of those layouts where I started with the basic sketch, but then stalled out. I can't count the number of hours I spent looking through old idea books for inspiration, and even Jeanette Lynton's blog to see how the CTMH artists would have clustered these Ariana complements. I will admit that dimensional elements are not my favorite. But I was determined to give this particular kit a try since a fellow consultant sent it to me as a "gift". So I stepped away from it for a couple of days, and when I came back to it, everything clicked.

Recipe:
Paper: Ariana, Ariana Coral CS, Ariana Green CS, Outdoor Denim CS, White Daisy CS (CTMH)
Stamp: Ivy Lane WOTG (CTMH)
Ink: VersaMark
Tools: Gold Embossing Powder (retired), Heat Gun, Craft Tray, Micro-Tip Scissors, Scallop Border Punch, Paper-Piercer (CTMH)
Other: Olive Mini-Medley Assortment (retired), Smoothie Brads (retired), Antique Copper Brads (retired), Ariana Complements, Bohemian Assortment (retired), Paradise Paper Flowers (retired) (CTMH)

I am waiting to add pictures until I figure out which ones I want to print. I am happy with how this layout turned out. Did you notice all the different retired embellishments I used?

Thanks for stopping by. Please be sure to visit Theresa's blog next. If you get lost along the way, please check out Katy's blog for a complete list of hoppers.

I wish you all a safe and happy Memorial weekend. God bless.

Casandra Bennett

Magic Beans Layout

Yesterday, after my kids got home from school, they settled in for a snack at the counter. While snacking on some of their leftover Easter candy, they thought up a "magical idea" to plant the rest of their jelly beans in the ground. Izzy wants to grow a "bean tree".

I quickly ran to get my camera as the kids gathered up a couple of shovels and a watering can. I had already pinned the perfect sketch earlier in the day from Let's Get Sketchy. This is probably the fastest turn around time I've ever had with a layout. Love it! Sometimes, you just have to be in the moment and capture it quickly. A couple of cute kids and some magic jelly beans comes just in time for the Heart2Heart Magical May Challenge, too!

Recipe:
Paper: Hooligans (retired), Lagoon CS, White Daisy CS, Pear CS (CTMH)
Stamps: Field Trip Alphabet (retired), Keyboard Uppercase Alphabet, Grown With Love (retired), A Hop (retired), Lifting Spirits, It's Your Day (retired), True To Life (CTMH), Sugar, Sugar (The Cat's Pajamas)
Inks: Black (VersaFine), Gypsy, Pear, Lagoon, Chocolate (CTMH)
Tools: Micro-Tip Scissors, Liquid Glass, Glue Pen, Watercolor Pencils, Sweet Leaf Alcohol Marker, Crystal Blue Alcohol Marker (CTMH)

I looked through my stamp collection and the closest image I could find that resembled a jelly bean shape was actually the bunny nose from a stamp set I won a couple of years ago. I added some liquid glass to give them a jelly bean shine. What do you think?

I love this layout. It is so happy and cheerful and makes me smile. Hope you have a fantastic week!

Casandra

Artbooking Snapshots Mini Album

I actually have been working on projects, but haven't had much time to get them posted for you to see. Here's one that I just finished up today. 

I can't take complete credit for this design. I found inspiration from Stacy Julian's website.

Oh snap! (Sorry; couldn't help myself.) So, I made this album way more difficult than it had to be. I finally figured out on literally the last 2 pages that all I had to do was set my dial size to 8" because everything was already linked on the two buttons I used (buttons 3 and 4, pages 40-41). I kept thinking I needed to use the real dial size button and then set the dial at a certain number of inches. I went through about 5 pieces of cardstock before I finally figured out what I was doing wrong. 

If you choose to create this album at home with your very own Artbooking cartridge, remember to set the dial at 8" and keep the real dial size button OFF. It will cut everything to size just for this album. (Side note: I laughed myself silly when I set the my favorite photos cut to 1". Teeny, tiny!)

Recipe:
Paper: Elemental (retired), Olive CS, Lagoon CS, Sorbet CS, Buttercup CS, Bamboo CS, Colonial White CS, Desert Sand CS (CTMH)
Stamps: It's Your Day (retired), Marquee Alphabet, Keyboard Uppercase Alphabet, Canvas Art Workshop (retired), Hello Summer, True To Life, Artbooking (CTMH)
Inks: Sorbet, Lagoon, Olive, Desert Sand (CTMH)
Tools: Cricut Artbooking, Journaling Pen, Paper-Piercer, Micro-Tip Scissors, Glue Pen (CTMH)
Other: Aqua Dots, Brown Shimmer Trim, Lagoon Houndstooth Washi Tape, Lagoon Baker's Twine, Green Button (CTMH)

Don't forget: I am celebrating 3 years with Close To My Heart, this month. Please read previous post (scroll down) to see my fabulous deals. 

Have a happy day!

Casandra

Third Anniversary Celebration

Good morning! Today, I am celebrating 3 wonderful years with Close To My Heart. I have enjoyed getting to meet new people and build relationships within the papercrafting world. I want to take a moment to say thank you to everyone that has followed my blog or supported my business in any way. I appreciate all of you.

I love it that my anniversary happens to be on the same day we begin National Scrapbooking Month. Check out this sweetheart of a deal.

CC1027 Free To Be Me Paper Collection

With a qualifying purchase of $50, you will receive this beautiful paper collection for just $5!

But, that's not all! Close To My Heart has paired this promotion up with the current May Stamp of the Month "You've Got A Friend". Also, with the same qualifying purchase of $50, you will receive this fun stamp set for just $5.

S1405A You've Got A Friend

Both of these promotions have a retail value of $17.95, so that is a great savings!

So I've shared with you the two Close To My Heart sponsored promotions we have going on through the month of May. I would like to sweeten the deal as my personal thank you to each of you for supporting my business these past 3 years.

If you purchase $50 in product, you will receive a *free ink pad of your choice ($5.25 retail value). It's crazy math, but if you purchase $50 in qualifying product, add in the Free To Be Me promo, the You've Got A Friend promo, plus the free ink pad, that is $31.15 in savings.

For those of you deciding to stock up on your favorite crafting supplies before they're gone, a purchase of $100 in product, will net you a *free Level 2 Paper Packet of your choice ($9.95 retail value). 

If you live near or far (from Northern Michigan), you can place your orders through my **website: http://scrappinbliss.ctmh.com/

I can't think of a better way to celebrate my anniversary than this. Thank you!

Casandra

*Free Ink Pad and Paper Packet are available exclusively through me.
**If you place an order directly from my website, please contact me with your choice of free qualifying item so I can ship it to you separately. Thank you!