Artbooking In August #4

 Week #4, the last week of the hop and I am very late posting. I am on vacation and the first two days have been filled with family functions and I didn't get done what I should have. Plus we had two days travel. Sorry about messing up the flow of this hop.
I hope ya'll have enjoyed this month long hop as much as I have.

  This challenge was to create 4 different projects using the Cricut Artbooking cartridge and any CTMH paper pack.  Our mission is to design each of the following:

1. 2 page layout 
2. Card
3. Mini Book 
4. Home decor or 'giftable' 

  We are able to choose what to make and when to post it. AND if we want to add stamps to our designs, that is OK. 

 My last project to showcase is the mini album and I kinda cheated on this one. I had an original started but didn't get it done before I left for vacation and so grabbed the mini that we got to make at convention this year. I didn't have it done either, so I finished it up on the trip up. I am sure that some of you haven't seen this and will enjoy seeing the tons of cuts that they put together for this mini. It is packed with a wide variety of the cuts that are available on the Artbooking cartridge. Sorry to those who were there and made their own.

We came to Indiana to see a new granddaughter and most of our family and all of our grandchildren are here and that is my excuse. Why didn't I get it done before since I knew I was coming? Because of a ton of other things that needed to be done before we left!  So those are my excuses and I'm sticking to them! :)

Remember this is a circular blog hop and if you get lost or confused along the way, the list is posted on Adeline's blog HERE.

If you came here from Jami's blog then your on the right track.

Here are some of the inside pages. This thing is packed with all kinds of cuts.

Pockets with tags.

And tags to fit inside the file folder pockets. I used some of the negative punchouts and put them in other places for added decorations. The punchouts from the arrow tabs are on the notebook page at the top and the hearts from the file folder page I glued on the tag.

This mini album also used some of the Laughing Lola complement pieces and a few pieces were stamped using theGeometric Background stamp set. But this is a really good example of all the things you can do with just this one cartridge. The pages were also all cut from this cartridge. And it is tied together with our Baker's Twine. I think I will end up punching some holes in the spine and tying it in like that for a better hold.

 Now your ready to hop on and see what Betty has created this week.

I hope you all have enjoyed this months Artbooking showcase and that your filled to the brim with creative ideas. I know I am! I just need to get back home to my craft room and get busy, but first I am going to enjoy a week with my kids, grandkids and lots of other family.     Blessings to you all,    Polly

Artbooking In August #3

   

 Here we are again for week #3! I hope ya'll are enjoying this month long hop as much as I am! There are some very talented ladies out there! If you just happened to run across this, this week, you will need to go back and check out the previous two weeks of Artbooking hopping.

  This challenge was to create 4 different projects using the Cricut Artbooking cartridge and any CTMH paper pack.  Our mission is to design each of the following:

1. 2 page layout 
2. Card
3. Mini Book 
4. Home decor or 'giftable' 

  We are able to choose what to make and when to post it. AND if we want to add stamps to our designs, that is OK.  This week my project is the giftable item. In the previous weeks I've done the card and the 2 page layout already.

Remember this is a circular blog hop and if you get lost or confused along the way, the list is posted on Adeline's blog HERE.

If you came here from Jami's blog then your on the right track.

  I wanted to use the Kraft container that we have and decorate to hold a baby gift. I also, was wanting to do something with the Babycakes paper. I love that paper! I am thinking a couple of onesies and then socks stuck in to look like a cherry on top. I will, also probably stick in a gift card. 

Above the striped paper on the main part of the container are two of the zip strips that come in the Babycakes paper pack and then I used Bronze Shimmer trim at the top and the bottom to finish it off. I plan to put the baby's name on the lid where the striped paper is. I will probably cut the name using the Artbooking cartridge.

Products I used:
      Babycakes
   cardstock:
      Chocolate, Sunset, Buttercup
   Natural Hemp
   Bronze Shimmer Trim
   Bakers Twine- Paradise Asst.- Creme Brulee
Ink:  Slate

 

   Then to make this container more than just a gift package, I also cut a slot in the top so that it can be used for a coin bank later.

  My cuts were all taken from page 50, the "E" key and I used the Real Dial size key too. I cut the giraffe at 2" . I cut an under layer in chocolate cardstock and in sunset. I trimmed the nose off the sunset layer and glued it on top of the buttercup layer. I trimmed the chocolate layer so that just the mane and ear showed.  For the tag use the Border key, then Shift. I cut it at 1 3/4" in Sunset cardstock. "Oh Baby" was cut at 1/2"  in Buttercup cardstock. I, of course, only used the baby part. Then instead of using the word "for", I cut the number 4 using the 4 key of course! I cut it at 3/4" in Real Dial size and in Chocolate cardstock.
   Here are some close-ups.

   And here it is stuffed full.

   Now your ready to hop on and see what Betty has created this week.

   So glad you stopped in and I'd love to get a reply from you. May you have a blessed week,   Polly

Guest Designer on Color My Heart - Color Dare #56

  A couple of weeks ago I won the Color Dare and I was very surprised, especially since the colors we had to use were not something I would have put together and I struggled to get the combinations right. How funny to win with one that you just aren't sure about. Although I will admit that the next day when I came back to it it looked much better than when I left it that evening :) So then, even more to my surprise, they ask me if I would consider being a guest designer!
   This is my first time to ever be a guest designer and I managed to even mess that up! LOL   I made the cards and pre-wrote most of the post a couple of weeks ago, but didn't add the pictures because at the time I hadn't taken them. So, Fri and Sat are extrememly busy and I forgot that the post wasn't completely ready! I remembered that it was going to post, but didn't go do a final check to see if all was ready. :( it wasn't. Sorry about that.

  Color Dare Challenge #56 uses the colors: Lagoon     Pear     Buttercup

   I ended up making  two cards. This card has the leaf overlay from Close To My Heart's newest Cricut cartridge "Artbooking". It can be found on page84. Use the Overlay key, shift key and then the hello World key. I also, used the Real Dial key and set the size at 2 3/4". That was still a little long so I trimmed it down. I should've went to Cricut Craft Room and set it  exactly the size I wanted, but in this case it worked fine this way. The print paper is from the retired Chantilly paper pack. For the "happy birthday", I cut out the words using the Artbooking cartridge again. Page 86. I wanted the negative space and I trimmed out the flag shapes by hand. Ribbon is Bias Seam binding that I spritzed with Pear reinker..

   The second card is made using one of Close To My Heart's new spinner cards. These cards have so many possibilities.A package has 10 (5" x 7") cards and envelopes. The patterned paper came from the same paper pack as above. There are a whole collection of stamps that work perfectly with these cards and I used the "gift" one to stamp on both sides of the spinner part of the card. I used another of those stamps on the inside, "happy birthday". These stamps are quite the bang for their buck at only $2.95 per stamp. The "Let's Celebrate" stamp was a Stamp of the Month. And I had to use the "Artbooking cartridge again! I am in love with it. The cupcake is on page 87. I had to alter it a bit because I needed two candles on it. I used Rosette Ribbon for the frosting and some sparkles. Added some Glitter Glitz on the candle tips and stars.The banner across the top was also cut using the same cartridge. Found on page 63, the border cut. I used Real Dial Size again and cut it at 1/2". Here is the inside and showing the other side  of the spinner.

Hope you have a blessed week,     Polly

Artbooking In August #2

 

Well, I hope ya'll had a good time traveling through the hop last week and you were inspired to get creating. And if by chance you don't have the Artbooking cartridge and weren't quite sure you wanted it, I bet you've changed your mind by now. If not......then check out another week of inspiration.

Welcome to Week #2 of the Artbooking in August Blog Hop. Last week's artwork was so phenomenal and this week over 35 creative consultants are at it again!

  This challenge was to create 4 different projects using the Cricut Artbooking cartridge and any CTMH paper pack.  Our mission is to design each of the following:

1. 2 page layout 
2. Card
3. Mini Book 
4. Home decor or 'giftable' item 

  We are able to choose what to make and when to post it. AND if we want to add stamps to our designs, that is OK.  This week my project is a 2 page layout.

Remember this is a circular blog hop and if you get lost or confused along the way, the list is posted on Adeline's blog HERE.

Last week we had some bumps, but hopefully this week we'll be experts at this.

If you came here from Jami's blog then your on the right track.

I used the Nursery Layout on page 84. With a few changes.  This cartridge takes all the work out of making a 2 page layout! Set your machine to cut at 11" and cut any of the pieces that are shown for that layout and they will all come out proportioned for a 12" x 12" page! Is that not cool?! Saves a ton of paper. You can have a whole layout done in minutes or you can add your own creative twists if you want. I love the option to do that too.

Please excuse the lighting it is aweful. I will see if I can get better pictures up tomorrow. That's what happens when you try to do your project on the last day :(

Here are some detailed shots. I used the negative pieces from the overlay, or least a few of them, to make flowers and even some pink leaves on the tree branch!

I used Cricut Craft Room and joined the letters together from the Artbooking cartridge. And then I was able to size them to the size I wanted. Cricut Craft Room is free and your imagination is the limit of what you can do there!

Other products used:

Paper:

   Hollyhock, Blush, Slate, Chocolate cardstock

    Claire B&T retired

Inks:

   Slate and Sunset

Stamp sets:

    Babycakes WOTG D1569

    My Life D1572  comes with the Artbooking Cricut bundle

   Sweet & Lovely D1571  also comes the the Artbooking bundle

   Welcome Baby  B1325  retired- used "baby" stamp

Other:

   Paper Pouch large- retired  (used behind picture to place journaling)

   Floral Accents Z1883

Now you can travel on to see what Betty created this week. 

Thanks for stopping by and hope you were inspired. If you'd like to purchase any of these products just go HERE or if you have any questions just email me. 

I love to hear your comments. Have a blessed week,     Polly

Color My Heart Color Dare #54 and Cas(e) This Sketch #39 card

   I needed a birthday card for one of my grandson's and so these two challenges worked just perfect for what I had in mind for him.
   Here is Sketch #39.

   And then for the Color My Heart Color Challenge this week we have:  Cashmere, Champagne, and add a color.

    This was a fairly fast card.And it has a fun interactive slider. The truck will slide across the card.  The fussy cutting was the time consumer, otherwise it's very simple. 

   So there you go. Hope you enjoy.     Blessings,  Polly

Artbooking In August # 1

  

Are you wondering what all can be done with the newest Close To My Heart Cricut cartridge called "Artbooking"? Well, I can tell you, there's a ton that can be done! And thanks to Adeline Brill who's put in lots of time to set up all that needs set up in order to run a hop, your going to be able to see lots of talented ladies share their artwork that they've created using Artbooking cartridge. This hop will go all through the month of August so you'll need to check back frequently. There are 4 categories: cards, 2 page layouts, mini albums, and 3-D items. Those of us sharing can showcase whichever of those items each week that we want on any given week, so it won't be Week 1 is card week and Week 2 is 2 page layout week, but will be mixed up.
  So come join us and check out a ton of lovely creations all through the month of August! We will be linked up for easy following.
  Whoot whoot to Adeline for putting this together!
   If you arrived here from Jami's blog then you are on the right track. This hop goes in a circle so you just continue down the line til you arrive back to wherever you jumped on.

  This card is a 5" x 7" size. One of the amazing things on this cartridge is the overlays. They are sized for  layouts and also for cards. But you can set the size you want by using the real dial size.Or for more creative options go to Cricut Craft Room and your imagination is the limit!
  For this card I used the real dial size and set it at 4 3/4". This overlay design is found on page 46 and it is actually for a page for the 11" x 8.5"Elegance mini album, but worked great for this card. A couple other cuts used is the sentiment label and its found on the same page right above the overlay using the Icon key. I also used the real dial size to cut this to the size I wanted. The last cuts are the flowers and they're found on page48 using the Icon key and shift key. These were cut in 1", 3/4", and 1/2" cuts. I ink distressed the edges and then spritzed them with a little water. Then using a mouse pad and a dry embossing stylus I formed them into more real looking flowers. Set aside to thoroughly dry and then glue together however many layers you want.
Other products used:
   Smoothie cardstock
   For Always paper pack
   Black Opaques gems
   black tulle which has been retired
   C1088 Comforting Thoughts stamp set (also retired)

Continue from here to Betty's blog, enjoy the show!     Blessings, Polly

Close To My Heart new product Blog Hop!

  Today is the day! Close to my Heart's Autumn/Winter catalog is here! And thanks to Tresa Black for setting up a blog hop for new product. What a way to get inspired!

  I chose to do a 2 page layout using Frosted paper pack and Huntington paper pack. They are both so beautiful., Frosted is monochromatic and wintery looking, but can used for other themes as I have done and is open to adding other colors. Huntington- well....I just love it too. Think fall or elegant or heritage or this layout. I used the neutral damask design in that set of papers.

   I used the Huntington Workshop on the Go layout design and changed it up somewhat. Like a 4 x 6 photo on the right side instead of  2-4 x 3's. I even turned it into a small album and used a Flip Flap to get a few more photos on the page. I liked the chevron print from Frosted and thought it looked good with the Barn Red.
   The blue and grey in the Frosted paper pack are specialty seasonal colors and so when I stamped the "Good" stamp I tried to come up with a close match. I first stamped with Sky ink and then second generation stamped with Champagne ink over the Sky ink. I actually added a layer or two of second generation Champagne ink to get it dark enough, but not to dark.The same technique was used on the chipboard shape that says "HERE." That shape is a new chipboard shape that comes with the brand new Cricut cartridge, "Artbooking"!!!! Another new cartridge from Cricut and Close To My Heart! The "HERE" arrow stamp used on the chipboard element, is a stamp that comes with that cartridge. Remember, Close To My Heart's Cricut cartridges come loaded. Not only do you get the cartridge that is loaded with over 700 cuts, but you get three D-size stamp sets that coordinate with cuts and three sheets of chipboard elements to fit the shapes! That is sooooo cool!
   Some of the cuts I made using the cartridge are the arrow on the  slide picture, the "this week" which also has a coordinating stamp and inside the mini album the notepaper with coordinating stamp, the "notes" and the "classified". This cartridge is loaded with mini album pages and two page layout pages, all with coordinating photo mats and other fun elements. Loads of phrases, overlays, cool photo mats, and so much more, plus a new font. One of the features of this cartridge is that all cuts are linked to a mini album or layout are sized for that particular project so if you want to cut items for a separate project like I did for this layout (it is not a layout on the cartridge you must remember to use the Real Dial size on your machine. Otherwise, if you are doing a  layout or mini album this is on the cartridge you set the Size Dial to the size you want your page or album and all the cuts for that project are linked and will cut to proportioned size! No more guess work!
   A couple of other new products I used are the Aqua Dots Z1853. I am seeing those used all over scrapbook land. And some of the Babycakes Assortment wooden button like things Z1869. These goes with the Babycakes paper pack, another very cute set of papers for babies especially. I used stamps from two of the Artbooking stamp sets and also the stamp set that goes with Huntington WOTG.
   Here are some close ups of new product and Artbooking cuts.

I need to add my journaling still.I will write it crosswise on the paper. I am not sure I like the bright jungle gym pictures with this layout the best, but I wanted them all on one page and so I went with them anyway.
   So get to hopping all over this hop and find lots of inspiration. You can order any of these things and so much more by going to pollylewis.ctmh.com

    "This blog hop is open for members of the CTMH Blog Boosters. Please do not enter if you are not a member of the group.

  

Close To My Heart New Product Blog Hop! coming tomorrow

Tomorrow is THE day!!!! Close To My Heart's Autumn/Winter 2013 catalog goes live! And it is loaded with lots of new, fun, beautiful product waiting to help you create beautiful things! One of the biggest creative tools is the brand new "Artbooking" Cricut cartridge. It is loaded just like the other CTMH cartridges are. I have been playing with it and have so much I want to create still. I am sure this blog hop will be filled with inspirational ideas using this cartridge and so much more concerning all the new products. There are some extremely talented ladies on this hop. So be sure to come check us out!

And here is the new catalog. Be sure to have a look through by going to scrapinmolly.blogspot.com. or you can also shop by clicking the button on the right that says shop with me. For sure you are going to want to shop once you see all the creativeness that is about to explode on this hop!

 

And when you place an order this month of at least $50 in product you can get the chocolatey goodness August Stamp of the Month for FREE!!!!!!

Have a blessed day and get geared up to hop around all day tomorrow! I think you'll need some chocolate for the energy to do all that hopping  :)          Polly

Sympathy card - H2H and CAS(E) sketch challenges

  I barely jump back into the challenges that are out there in creative land and I am a winner already! I won over at Color Dare for the card that I created in my last post. These challenges really help me to think outside the box, to grow, and stretch.
  So here I am back again today with another card. I have several birthdays in the next couple of weeks that need cards to be made and some sympathy cards too. So what an opportunity to also join these challenges. Today I am entering this card in heart 2 heart challenge this week using "ombre" on a project. What's the you say? I will  just copy their explanation and then be sure to go over and check out some of the fabulous examples that they have there.

  I am combining that with  CAS(E) sketch # 38. I have just discovered this blog. A wonderful place to get ideas for a (C)lean (A)nd (S)imple card. So be sure to check them out HERE.

  Not much explanation needed here I don't think. I used Close To My Heart cardstocks in Hollyhock, Smoothie, and Blush. The shape was cut using the new (going "live" this week!) Artbooking Cricut cartridge. It's found on page 51. A border. I cut it at 2 1/2", 3 1/2", 4 1/2". The label for the Sentiment was cut using the Artiste Cricut cartridge. It's the 3-D Object key on page 36 and cut at 1 1/2". I used the following stamp sets. D1476 Card Chatter-Sympathy and D1088 Comforting Thoughts. The last set was the sentiment I stamped inside and it is a retired stamp set. I did emboss the card base using Cuttlebug Floral Fantasy embossing folder.

  Have a blessed day, Polly

My first cut on our new "Artbooking" Cricut cartridge!

  This might be my first cut, but I have so many ideas and things I want to do with this that it definitely won't be my last. I just need to hibernate in my craft room for at least a month! I could maybe get somewhat caught up! I created this card for two Close To My Heart challenges. Heart2Heart challenges this week is to use water as our inspiration. And Color My Heart color dare is to use Olive, Twilight, and Ruby. So I thought I would combine the two. Red and Blue always go well with a water theme, but I would not have put Twilight and Olive together! That's one thing I like about these color dares, especially since it is using Close To My Heart's colors. I am not an expert in color and  I can learn a lot by participating in these dares. I had to play with this some to get something that I liked and then I still wasn't sure. It helps to walk away from a project and when I come back I see it in a different light. I think the struggle to get something to come together sometimes causes you to not like it so much until you give it some time. I was dying to use the new cartridge and I have a bunch of cards that I need to make so I wanted to kill several birds with one stone. Here's what I came up with:

  I don't always get the insides decorated, but this one I did and I really liked how it turned out. This one will probably go to a son or grandson. So here is the inside:

Supplies I used:
  Card inspiration:  Make It From Your Heart Vol 1, card #24 page 44
  White Daisy cardstock
  Twilight cardstock
  Artbooking Cricut cartridge  overlay>shift  page 78 set dial at 4.25"
  Stamp sets:
               Tommy WOTG  C1546
               Just a Number D1514
 Inks:
       Twilight
       Olive
       Ruby
       Black
Harvest Bakers Twine: Olive
Foam tape

And BTW, when I came back to it, I did like it! Especially after I did the inside.

            Have a blessed day,  Polly

 

Artiste card

  For July's card class I decided to cut my card base and the inside pop-up using Close To My Heart's "Artiste" Cricut cartridge. I hadn't cut one of those yet. I used the card on page 51. It turned out really cute and is very quick. I set the measurement dial at 5.5" and let the machine do the work. I used Pear cardstock for the base and I stamped with the new cat's eye background stamp ( D1559 Geometric Backgrounds) with Pear ink to create the band across the front. My label was cut with Close To My Heart's "Art Philosophy" Cricut cartridge and we also have a stamp set that coordinates with that cut. ( D1524 Frame It Up.) Very handy I say. I used Smoothie ink. The flower I created using another cut from the "Artiste" cartridge. On page 44, Accent 1, shift. I started with a 2.5" cut and then kept going down in quarter inch segments. I cut 4-5 layers of one paper and then cut 2 smaller in a yellow paper for the center. Both papers are from the Dotty For You paper pack. I ink distressed the edges of all the flower pieces and then laid them out on my Versa Mat and misted them a little and crumpled them up into a ball. Then uncrumpled them some and left them to dry. Once they were dry I took the largest one and put a dab of Liquid Glass in the center and laid the next smaller one on top making sure the petals were staggered. I continued that process until all petals were glued together. You can then ruffle up the petals and get the look you want. Next I threaded some Bakers Twine in Smoothie through the button. I was shown by a friend a really cool trick to threading twine or other threads, especially if they are thicker and the holes are small.
   The blue thing is for cleaning teeth (found in the toothpaste, floss isle.)

   Thread twine through the blue cleaner thingy. Then thread blue thingy through one of the holes of the button.

Pull twine through the hole making sure you don't pull it all the way through or you start over. Pull only one end of the twine all the way through. Loop that end through the blue loop again and thread the blue thingy down through the next hole.

   Is that not the coolest?!
 

  Here is what the front of the card looks like. Oh, and I added some Glitter Glitz Stardust to the flower after I had it glued  on the card front and when I had the inside complete. You could also add the Glitz to the flower and set it aside to dry and then attach it to the card when it is dry. 

  The inside pop-up part was cut with the fantabulous embossed cardstock from the Dream Pop papers. I love that paper pack! I would hoard this paper, but I got more than one so that I can cut up parts and pieces of one pack and the other I can save to use for bigger cuts and whole page layouts. I am trying to get past saving paper cause I like it so well and don't want it to be gone. I tell myself that there is always paper coming  out that I like as well or better! No need to worry that I will run out of paper that I like and have to quit scrapbooking and card making. LOL

I added a strip of the patterned paper  to the top of the pop-up to add some dimension/texture. I used my corner rounder to create a scalloped border. This is a pretty quick simple card, but cute.
I am entering this in the Anything Goes Challenge.
                                 Have a blessed day,   Polly