Calypso for Summer!

My daughter just reminded me that school starts in two weeks. Two weeks folks! Since the Olympics is in full swing and I have a tendency to get swept up in the games, that two weeks will go even faster than expected.

Along with the passing of August will be the end of the most recent Seasonal Expressions. If you missed out on some of your favorites from the last Annual Inspirations catalog as it retired, don't miss out on some of your favorites from this seasonal catalog. And that includes Calypso.

This paper packet embodies summer! It makes me wish I were sitting on a beach somewhere. I need a last minute summer vacation just so I can get the perfect photos for these pages.

These is one of the three layouts featured at my Cherish Your Memories August workshops. Interested? Order the workshop your way from me and I'll provide you the cutting guide.

Happy Summer!

New Catalog! New Papers! New Stamps!

It's that time of year again. A brand new Annual Inspirations is now available. As of August 1, you can order from this lovely new catalog with all of its new toys.

As a consultant, I get an early product preview so I had some time to play with some new stuff before August 1st. If you love color and pattern then you are going to love the new Fundamental paper packets and coordinating complements.

I played first with the Adventure Fundamentals packet.You can check out all of the Fundamental packets at my website, blythe.ctmh.com. Look at these great patterns. There are new colors introduced in this catalog as well.

Here's a close up. I love these gold accents in the Good Life complements.

Here is the second page of my layout. The pictures don't do justice to the colors.

And more of those gold accents.

 

I can't wait to play with more of the great new product in this new catalog! I hope it inspires you as well.

Magical Pocket Scrapbooking

I'm a decorative scrapbooker. I like cutting paper and embellishing the heck out of a page. But I do see the merits of pocket scrapbooking too and I am becoming a big fan.

I love that the Workshop Your Way kits include 4x6 and 3x4 cards, perfect for pocket scrapbooking. So when you've created your layouts and still have more photos left over, you can pull together a fast, simple, and easy pocket page or two.

You can even embellish the cards up a bit if you wish. 

I LOVE Disney. Can I go back this weekend?

 Happy Crafting!

Magical Layouts

 

This month's Cherish Your Memories workshop is Magical. Oh, how I love this paper! I have lots of Disney photos so these were easy for me. But I did try to make generic enough layouts that they could be used with any theme park, state fair, or other occasion too.  This first layout was inspired by Janel Brinkerhoff.

 

Here's the second layout. This one was all mine. No stamping involved on this one--just using the complements.  (Sorry for the glare on the photos--still trying to figure out how to get good photos in my light box without that glare. Any suggestions?)

And this is layout three, inspired by Amber Filingim. I love having creative friends. We all keep each other inspired. 

The great advantage of the new Workshops Your Way is that you can get so many layouts out of one packet. I love it! You can always buy the paper and complements and sequins separately if you prefer.

This kit retires at the end of August so get yours now! If you don't live locally to join my Cherish groups, buy from my website and I'm happy to send you the cutting guide. 

Happy Crafting!

National Scrapbook Day!

It's National Scrapbook Day! I would love to say I scrapbooked today but I really didn't. But I did take a minute to look through some of my favorite memories. And that is what scrapbooking is about -- preserving those precious memories to enjoy another day. 

Close to My Heart is celebrating National Scrapbook MONTH and you benefit. The Happy Times paper kit and stamp set are available only during May ( while supplies last). 

Pick up this fabulous paper packet with beautiful gold accents for $14.95 and the coordinating stamp set for $17.95. OR earn a free paper packet for every $60 in product purchased. Stay tuned because I am going to be playing with this happy paper and can't wait to share with all of you!

Penelope

Wow, February has flown by. It's already time to promote my March Cherish Your Memories Class Penelope. Once again this Workshop Your Way comes with everything you need to make three layouts and a Picture My Life layout.

This kit is just in time for spring. And those little birds are so cute!

I dug into the archive for some of these photos. Sid was just 7 at this birthday party. Now she's 16! It's good to go back and remember, isn't it?

The kit includes the Penelope complements, limeade washi, and silver playful puffies. And you have LOTS of leftovers.

And, as I mentioned earlier, you have two sheets of Picture My Life cards so pocket scrapbooking, horizontal on one side, vertical on the other. You use some on the layouts but you have a full sheet and some left over.

And of course, you can make cards with your leftovers. The cutting guide includes all the cuts! Spring Critters, which have thinlets to make for easy cutting, is the stamp set used for the leftover cards.

The beauty of this kit is that the cutting guide is available online so you can purchase this and work on it at home or contact me to join one of my Cherish Your Memories classes and make it in the company of friends.

Happy Memory Keeping!

Charlotte Workshops Your Way

The majority of the time, I design my own layouts for my Cherish Your Memories monthly classes. Close to My Heart has always offered beautiful workshops, but they haven't quite fit my style or utilized as much of the paper or as many accessories as I like. However, for the February Cherish Your Memories classes, I'm going with CTMH's designs. They have revamped their Workshop on the Go to make Workshops Your Way, and when it comes to the Charlotte Workshops Your Way packet, I'm all in.

These colors and patterns perfectly complemented my family photos taken last summer (photo credit to the very talented D'arcy Benincosa).

There is enough paper in these kits, if you follow the online instructions, to make THREE layouts (I typically have done two in the past).

And it comes with all the accessories your heart could desire!

There are chipboard and stickers, as well as these gold Treasured puffies!

There is a whole roll of ribbon as well.

And in addition, you get two sheets of Picture My Life cards. Some of them you'll use on the layouts but you'll still have several left over to use for pocket scrapbooking.

The Picture My Life cards are vertical on one side and horizontal on the other so they will work for the orientation that best suits your photos and design.

And you know what else? You have paper left over to make cards!!!!

The cutting guide includes designs for three cards and you have left over paper to make more if you would like. (The stamp set, Springtime Wishes, is purchased separately).

The paper and accessories can all be purchased individually but bundled together as the Workshops Your Way is the most inexpensive way to go.

So join me for my February Cherish Your Memories classes or order your own Charlotte Workshops Your Way and print the online guide. And never fear, I did make a layout and a few cards of my own design that I'll be featuring later on on the blog.

Happy Memory Keeping!

A Disney Page

This one is a blast from the past. Occasionally, I pull out some layouts I use for classes and FINALLY get photos on them. Because I had created a Disney page earlier in the month, I flipped through my Disney album and realized I had a layout I had created a few years ago missing photos. I have a lot of Disney photos so that was easy to rectify.

These are not the best Disney photos I have but this is one of my favorite memories. We went to Goofy's kitchen for the first time. My oldest was 6, my middle son was 3, and my daughter was about 6 months. It was magical for them and the characters were so wonderful! Spencer, my 3 year old, really got into it. And when Christian, my six year old, hurt his leg and started to cry, Goofy came to the rescue. I can't believe I hadn't scrapped these yet! 

I tucked the journaling behind a photo. This is one story I don't want to forget. I miss my little ones. But then that is why we preserve our memories. So we don't forget memories like these.

Happy Paper Crafting and Memory Keeping!

And one more La Vie en Rose layout!

Here's the third layout that my Cherish Your Memories class will be making with La Vie en Rose. Bet you didn't think about a Disney inspired layout with this paper? Actually neither did I. I took my inspiration from a layout that Sue Nielsen did and adapted it. And look at how perfect it is for Disney!

I love Mickey Mouse,and Disney, and Disneyland, and Disney World! And I had so much fun there last summer at the Close to My Heart Convention (we're going to Disney World for convention this summer). 

Here's some close ups of some of the details. 

Remember, if you order the La Vie en Rose paper from me, or join my Cherish your Memories group, I'm happy to share the cutting guide for all of these pages with you. 

Happy Scrapping and Paper Crafting!

More La Vie en Rose

I promised you more layouts and here is Layout #2 featuring La Vie en Rose.

This was inspired by Renae Fennema, one of my creative friends. I simplified hers a bit in the effort to get more layouts out of one packet of paper.

The Just Be and the U are cut from black glitter paper using a cricut machine and Cricut Craft Room to meld the letters. Here is a close up. 

This page can also easily be adapted by substituting Lagoon cardstock for the Pomegranate cardstock. 

Love it!

Check back in a couple of days for the third layout!

Happy New Year! La Vie en Rose

It's a new year! And I am looking forward to it. Last year was a very hard year and a good year rolled all into one. I learned a lot and am still trying to implement some of those lessons in my life. I am looking forward to this new year and what it may bring.

And so with that, let's look at life through rose colored glasses! This month for my Cherish Your Memories classes we will be using La Vie En Rose paper packet. I LOVE this paper. It looks like it should be all rosy and sweet and pretty. But it can be so much more. Check back during the week as I am going to be featuring three different layouts using this paper. You can get all three layouts that I will show you from one packet. Order the paper from me and I'm happy to share the cutting guide. Or if you're local, join my Cherish Your Memories monthly classes!

Here is the first take. Typical--using that pretty rose. I mixed in some old product because one of my plans for the new year is to use up some of my old product and make some room in my craft room (for all the cool new stuff!).

I love the color of that poppy cardstock. And that Love stamp? It is from one of the cricut stamp sets that comes with the new Artistry cartridge. 

Check back in a couple of days for layout #2!

A little Halloween scrapbooking

Just a little Halloween scrapbooking! Making sure I'm all ready to document the festivities. 

This month's Cherish Your Memories group kit featured Nevermore and the Nevermore complements. I love that silhouette of the trick or treaters. I love the vintage feel of it. 

Happy Halloween!