Project Life Divider Tabs

When I first saw the divider tabs for this years Project Life kits I was a little sad. After last years with the wonderful and colorful designs on them I was just a little disappointed that they were blank. Although I understand why..so they will be universal for all the kits, still I was sad. But then my mind started working, how could I dress them up. Of course then I was happy!!!! I can stamp my own design on them and customize it for me!!! Plain is just not my style!
Above you can see the before and after. Below is a close up.
NOTE: to stamp directly on the dividers you will need to use a solvent ink (like Staz-on) that will work on slick surfaces. Currently I only have Black and Brown, but I may need to add to my stock of Staz-on so I can add more colors to the divider tabs. I used the Rock the Block special stamp on this tab as well an older CTMH calendar stamp.

Book Review: Before the Season Ends

A couple of weeks ago, Amazon sent me an email telling me I could get this book for
FREE on my Kindle-so of course I downloaded it. It's a great story of a young country girl, who is sent to the city for find a husband. She is for sure she must marry a man of God, but falls in love with a man she is not so sure has a relationship with God. The man she falls in love with has a dark past, that makes him cranky at times to say the least, but underneath all that he does know God. It's a great story with a wonderful ending! If you are a Jane Austen fan, then you will love this book!

Project Life Cover Page

I love the fact that if you choose to use Project Life just as it is then you will have all that you need to make a great album. I also love that the "scrapbooker" in me can add to my album to customize it to my personal style. Here is my cover page for the album. Below you can see that I used the inserts from the kit, but add some decor to them. For starters I cut a star on the cricut, used the sewing machine to sew it on and then stamped a great sentiment from an older CTMH stamp on it. I also added a corrugated star and some glitter glue.
Here you can see that I personalized this insert by creating a faux stamp (also cut from the cricut) and used the CTMH Caio stamp to add the postage mark. I added more glitter glue for some sparkle.
Paper butterflies, stamping and more sparkle!
I filled in this heart with glitter glue
Lastly I added some cork letter stickers for the year and some liquid glass from CTMH to the face of the clock to give it some shine.
Up next for Project Life see what I did to my dividers!

Flower Thank you

Now that Christmas is over it is time to think about Thanking all of those people who gave this year... from gifts to being invited to parties. I used the Rock the Block stamp to create this great Thank you card. I was inspired by this card and it's wonderful colors.
If you would like to get this great E SIZE STAMP below for just $15 head over to my website to find out all the details.

Elemental Cards and Scrapbook Class RSVP

Saturday, Jan 7, 2012

Elemental Workshop on the Go Class
Time: 9:30 am
Place: My House
Please RSVP & Pre pay by Dec 26th
*Please bring standard class tool kit – Paper Trimmer, Scissors, and Permanent Adhesive
Cost: $29.95
Elemental Level 2 Paper Pack
Elemental stamp set
Just Blooms Paper Butterflies
Copper Designer brads
Workshop booklet and card instructions
($35.00 including tax and shipping)

Add On Suggestions: Cork Alphabet (z1450) Board Book (z1310) Love Life Stamp Set(D1482) Total $60.80(total including shipping and tax $70.97)

Purchase all of the above and earn the stamp of the Month for only $5.00 more.

Merry Christmas to you!

Merry Christmas to all of you! Enjoy this special time of year!

LOVE with Rock the Block

As crafters, most of us have moved on to the next big holiday-for me that is Valentine's Day. I used the new Rock the Block Special to create these LOVE cards. You might also notice that I used some paper from the CTMH Halloween paper pack Mischief....yeap, Halloween paper! Pink and Black make a great combo for Valentine's Day cards.
Here you can see that I used the felt fence from the Mischief compliments collection upside down and add a bit of pink lace to the card.
Of course you can't go wrong with bling on a Valentine's Day card, so I add one of the bling buttons to the center of this flower. This is stamp so so great, and can be yours for just $15 with a purchase of $25, what a deal! Head over to my website to get yours!

2012 is almost here

For the remainder of my blocks I choose to create a 2012 shelf set. I cut the numbers on the cricut with the CTMH art philosophy cartridge as well as the stars. I used some really sparkly silver glitter from Martha Stewart to cover the numbers. For the stars I used some CTMH glitter glue to outline them. To attach the stars to the block I choose to CTMH pin clips poked right in the top of the block. If you are interested in your own set of blocks, head over to my website and place your order today!

Project Life Set Up

Today I thought I would take a break from the Rock the Block and show you my set up for Project Life. (This is for 2012, a new system for me that I think will work well) This year Project Life has lots of new features/products, so here is how it will work for me. In the past there was only one design of page pages, but NOW we have choices! I love that Becky Higgins has created several different designs. But because of that I needed something that would give me easy access to all the pages. I found this hanging file folder box (It's called"Really Useful Box"and I got it at Office Depot) In the box I have all the different design of page protectors, the Clementine cardstock and a few other things as well. The file folder box and core kit fit right under my work table, the only thing not there is the album(I keep that on the coffee table in the living room for anyone to look at)
Here you can see the cute little box for Clementine, my choice for 2012. All of the journaling cards and decorative inserts are here. This little box is new, and I love it! Everything together!!
Here you can see I have the first set of cards in the page protector already ( I will be showing you this in detail next week)
Here is a view of the inside of the box. Each of the hanging folders contains 1-2 of the different designs of the page protectors. I used the card board that came with them to divide them even further in the file folder. (Note-I did have to cut the cardboard down some with the craft knife so they would fit. All of the pages fit perfect, only the cardboard needed trimming)
Here you can see the trimmed cardboard.
I also got a package of the 12x12 envelopes-these will be so useful for Birthdays when there are lots of cards to keep
I also keep the extra matching Clementine cardstock in here. Separate from my CTMH cardstock
In the very front pocket I keep some assorted size page protectors.(8 1/2 x 11, 6x6 and other sizes that I have found useful in the past) I also keep CTMH flip flaps in here, these things saved me last year! They are great when for when there was just too many pictures for just one day. Like a birthday party or 4th of July!
Some of my favorite features of the core kit are the "day" stickers--I use these like crazy!
Also these are the folding journaling cards-great for those long winded stories! What I love about this year's design is that they don't have that tab at the top, so you can use them just as a 4x6 card and wouldn't have to fold them. So that's it! I will be back next week to show you how I decorated the cover page for the album.
More Rock the block in the morning!

Rock the Block Video

Below you can watch a great video provided by Close to My Heart showing how you can use the Rock the Block special to make a great photo display. I wanted to show you some things that you can do with the stamp! Of course I love to make the cards, so here a couple featuring the stamp set. For the center of the yellow flowers I used a chocolate button and a pearl gem in the center. I added some yellow ribbon to the side of the card to finish it off. This small 3x3 card has a great flower on it using the 3d feature on the CTMH Cricut Cartridge.
Here is a picture of the stamps you get-That's an E size stamp THE BIG ONE! Value of $34 bucks!
Watch this great video by Close to My Heart!

Rock the Block

Look how cute these blocks are!! This new special "Rock the Block" from Close to my Heart is wonderful! I have several project to show you using the Rock the Block stamp set and these wonderful set of Blocks. First up I created this set of Love blocks for my Mantel. My mantel is the focal point for all of my holiday decor, no matter if it is Christmas, St. Pat's Day or Valentines if I have some decor they go up there for sure. For the Love blocks I cut the letters and the branch using the CTMH Cricut Cartridge. I then used the stamp to add some additional decor to the blocks.
Check back in the morning and I will have a video to show you as well as an additional project.
To get this great stamp and set of blocks visit my website and place an order of $25 or more.

Baby's First year Journal

This journal seems to be my baby gift "go to" right now. Because I use Project Life by Becky Higgins for my everyday scrapbooking, I think it is so important to keep records of the everyday little things, and for new parents this is just the thing. All they have to do is write down a few words everyday, stamp and maybe add a picture. It will something so wonderful to look back on.
Speaking of Project Life, I am a firm believer in the "easy route" when it comes to keeping a scrap book, in 2012 I will be show you my Project Life album every month. I already have a set up for 2012 and will show you how everything works for me.
I highly recommend that you read up on Project Life and include this simple process in your scrapbooking.

Thanks for Everything

I needed a quick Thank you card for someone. Banners are so popular right now. I can't seem to get enough. I like the look of all the different patterns for the banners. I also have lots of older metal pieces, like this black spiral that I need to be better at using. You may start to see more of some older things as I try to use them up.

Wild Thing

While working on a baby gift I will show you a little later, I decided that this cute little lion from the CTMH stamp Zoology would be great on a Valentine card. Below you can see that for the ticket number I used the date for Valentines day. I also used some super cute straight pins from JoAnn's that have hearts on the top. They came in so many colors!!

Book Review-Wildflower Hill

Such a wonderful story, I highly recommend this book! You can read all about it here. The story skips back and forth between a grand-daughter and a grandmother. The grand daughter, Emma has inherited the grandmothers old farm house and is sifting through her belongs to sale the place, but instead finds herself discovering the mysteries of her grandmothers past.
I loved this book!

Nothing better than Coffee

Like most people, my morning can't even get started till I have had my 1st cup of coffee. I roll out of bed and head strait for the coffee maker. I then sit on the couch sipping until I have gained all of my senses! When CTMH came out with a new coffee stamp in the Wonderland Workshop on the go, I knew I would be making some coffee cards.
For this card I used some vintage trim from the thrift store to add to the edge of the coffee mug.