H2H Tutti Frutti Layout

It's hard to believe our year has gone by this fast that we are, today, observing Memorial Day. I am so grateful to those that serve our country, both past and present. Freedom isn't "Free". 

Today, is my last day as guest designer for Heart 2 Heart Challenges. Thank you, H2H, for the honor. I've enjoyed my time with you. This week's challenge is "Tutti Frutti", and I think it's perfectly paired with Close To My Heart's exclusive Taste of Summer paper pack.

One of my fellow Close To My Heart Consultant's, Karen Pedersen, generously designed and shared her cutting guide/artwork from this paper pack. I made a few minor modifications.

Recipe:

Paper: Taste of Summer, Whisper CS, White Daisy CS (CTMH)

Stamp: Taste of Summer, Marquee Uppercase Alphabet, Handwritten Print Alphabet (CTMH)

Ink: Sunset (CTMH)

Tools: Paper-Piercer, Micro-Tip Scissors, Journal Pen, Scallop Border Punch (CTMH)

Other: Slate Stripe Ribbon, Silver Sequins, Glue Dots (CTMH)

I am so pleased with how this layout turned out. Thank you, Ms. Pedersen.

Have a wonderful week, my crafty friends. 

Casandra

UYSBH If You Stamp It Blog Hop

Welcome to the Use Your Stash Blog Hop. This month's theme is "If you stamp it, they will love it". If you have come here from Marie Flayer's blog, you are on the right track.

I often get excited about a new stamp set, and quickly order it. But then, when it arrives usually about a week later, suddenly my perfectionism takes over and I put off using it. Am I the only one? Surely not....

My daughter just turned seven, and we threw a tea party birthday for her special day. I made 25 birthday invitations, my first party banner and even used the birthday treat bags we have in the while supplies last section. Alas, I never got pictures of the packages before the girls devoured them. LOL

Recipe:
Paper: Ivy Lane (retired), Ivy Lane Purple CS, Hollyhock CS, White Daisy CS (CTMH)
Stamp: Tea Time (retired) (CTMH)
Inks: Pixie, Smokey Plum, Desert Sand (CTMH)
Tools: Paper-Piercer, Micro-Tip Scissors, Art Philosophy Cricut Cartridge, Artiste Cricut Cartridge, Glue Pen (CTMH), One-Hole Punch (Fiskars)
Other: Baby Pink Brads (retired), White Daisy Brads (retired), Thistle Ribbon (CTMH)

I scraplifted this idea from one of our previous Idea Books. This banner, with the help of Cricut Craft Room, came together a lot faster than you would think. I believe I had a total of 2 hours into it. Not too shabby. Thank you for stopping by today.

The next stop on this hop is Nicole Schuette's blog. Hope we have inspired you to use your stamps. Have a great day!

Casandra

H2H Extra Extra Read All About It

Greetings! I am so excited to continue as the guest designer over at Heart 2 Heart Challenges. This week's challenge, if you choose to accept it, is "Extra, Extra! Read All About it!"

I had a couple of ideas spinning around in my head, but decided there was no time like the present to complete my daughter's birthday layout from last weekend...you know, while the memories were still fresh. We had a tea party theme, and I'd love to say I got tons of great pictures, but with 13 children all together, and me being the only person in the bunch that they all knew, I was on my feet and moving the entire time. It was great fun, and the girls are still talking about it a week later. I call that a success!

Without further ado, here is my layout:

Recipe:
Paper: Brushed, Buttercup CS (retired), Pear CS, White Daisy CS (CTMH)
Stamps: Friendship Alphabet - Small (retired), Trinity Alphabet (retired), Tea Time (retired) (CTMH)
Inks: Pixie, Buttercup (retired), Hollyhock, Slate (CTMH)
Tools: 2" Scallop Circle Punch (retired), Paper-Piercer, Foam Mat, Micro-Tip Scissors (CTMH)
Other: White Embroidery Floss (retired), Pink Buttons (retired), White Enamel Stars, Glue Dots, Foam Tape (CTMH)

According to Wikipedia, "Hear Ye, Hear Ye" translates to "Listen up!" In England, town criers were the means of communication with the people of the town since many people could not read or write. Proclamations, local bylaws, market days, adverts, were all proclaimed by a bellman or crier. 

Before I go, I wanted to share a piece of advice with you. If you don't currently have good storage for your embellishments, I urge you to make that your next purchase. It doesn't have to be anything fancy, so long as you can see what you have so you use it. I bought a medium organizer from Close To My Heart to store my embellishments in. Now, I know exactly what I have, and that means that I will remember to use it. Use it or lose it. :)

Have a wonderful day!

Casandra

Jackson Rainy Day Blues Layout

Good morning. I am enjoying the sunshine today.

I forgot to add the last layout that I created with my Jackson kit. Oops. Life has been busy.

Recipe:
Paper: Jackson, Glacier CS, Juniper CS (CTMH)
Stamp: Trinity Alphabet (retired) (CTMH)
Ink: Barn Red (CTMH)
Tools: Paper Piercer, Micro-Tip Scissors (CTMH), Hexagon Punch (Fiskars)
Other: Jackson Assortment, Jackson Complements, Brave Embellishments, Boardwalk Washi Tape (CTMH)

Did you notice the title? I used the ink swiping technique on it. Simply ink up your stamp, then smear (or swipe it) down the ink pad. The beauty of our clear stamps means you can see the ink coverage you have before you stamp it on paper. Awesome, right? I see mud but my Jackson thought it looked like wood. 

These pictures were taken about five years ago. Can't believe how much my babies have grown since then. For the next couple of weeks, I have a seven and eight year old. Time flies....

Casandra

H2H Game On Layout

Good morning. I hope you all had a wonderful Mother's Day weekend. Mine was extra busy. We celebrated my daughter's 7th birthday on Saturday with a Tea Party and 13 kids. The irony of the situation was that the children must have misunderstood and tried to recreate a "Boston Tea Party" instead of a "Royal Princess Tea Party". They were running and screaming and the Mother's Day cards I had planned to have them create at the party were forgotten in the melee. 

Best part of the afternoon was when the house was clean again and I could put my feet up, my son traded a foot massage for tv time. Gosh, I love that little guy. He has been such a help this entire week. So this next layout is just for him.

Recipe:
Paper: Jubilee (retired), Indian Corn Blue CS, Topiary CS, White Daisy CS (CTMH)
Stamps: Varsity Alphabet (retired), Friendship Large Alphabet (retired), The Authentic Life (CTMH)
Inks: Cranberry, Topiary, Outdoor Denim (CTMH)
Tools: Paper-Piercer, Foam Mat, Micro-Tip Scissors (CTMH)
Other: White Daisy Embroidery Floss (retired) (CTMH)

Here's the story on the ribbons: Jack brought home some ribbons last year from Track & Field Day. Since the length was 8", I puzzled over how to include them in this layout. I went back and forth about cutting them, overlapping them, not using them at all, and last night I had an idea to color copy them on cardstock and cut them out. This way, he still has his ribbons to enjoy. Jack loves it.

I created this layout for the "Game On" challenge over at Heart 2 Heart Challenges. You have until the end of May to participate. Hope you will join in on the fun. 

Casandra

H2H Mum's The Word Layout

Good morning, and Happy Monday to you! This month, I was asked to be a guest designer for Heart 2 Heart Challenges.

This week's theme is "Mum's the Word". I decided to create a scrapbook page that I will put in a 12x12 shadow box frame as a gift for my mom.

Recipe:
Paper: Seaside, Daydream (retired), Wings (retired), Colonial White CS, Black CS (CTMH)
Stamp: Just Sayin' (CTMH)
Inks: Black, Hollyhock (CTMH)
Tools: Paper-Piercer, Foam Pad, Micro-Tip Scissors, Cricut Art Philosophy (CTMH)
Other: Black Embroidery Floss, Chantilly PML Cards, Sparkle Flourish, Foam Tape (CTMH)

You might not initially think these papers would go together, but green and pink compliment each other well...add in neutrals like white and black, and they actually do work well. Even though it's a small part of the photo, my little girl was wearing butterfly leggings, so I decided to play off the photo when picking papers. 

My son actually helped me stitch this layout. He loves to sew now, and is forever asking me to pierce paper so he can stitch. Cute, huh? He's 8, btw.

You have all month to play along at Heart 2 Heart Challenges. Thanks for stopping by.

Casandra