September Paper Trail

Welcome to the first edition of the Paper Trail blog hop! We are a group of Close To My Heart consultants working together to bring you cards, layouts, and other art featuring a different Close To My Heart paper packet each month. If you arrived here from Erica's blog you are on the right trail!

This month's featured paper packet is Hooligans, a bright and festive paper packet that is perfect for Halloween. I made a little 4x4 wallet album that is perfect for all your hooligans' little Halloween photos.

I couldn't decide what stamps to use so I used everything I have!

The Boo Crew - C1421

Party Animal - D1437

Fright Night - B1359

Childhood Portrait (tree) - D1373

Thanks for stopping by. You're on your way to Mary's blog now for some more great ideas. Just click on her name.

This blog hop is scheduled for Sept. 15th - if all have not posted yet, please check back.

"Bricks Along the Journey"

Bricks Along the Journey is a silent auction to raise money and awareness for breast cancer. Artists in the greater Cincinnati area receive bricks to decorate in any manner they want. These bricks are then auctioned off raising money for various, local Breast Cancer agencies.

This is the brick I created, using paper as my medium of choice. I created a shabby chic flower and filled the center with seed beads. Twisted paper creates the vines to which I attached leaves and butterflies of vellum.

Each entry must have a pink ribbon somewhere on it. I used one of the pink ribbons we made into pins for Harriett's funeral.

This brick was created by my daughter, Kristen, who had a very special bond with Harriett. When we first moved to Kentucky we fell in love with the cardinals and Harriett chose to sit in our sun room where she had a wonderful view of all the birds and animals that visit our yard daily.

Our bricks honor our friend/sister/mother Harriett Milburn, Nov. 10, 1949 - June 19, 2009.
**Click the link to Bricks Along the Journey to read more about the history of this auction. You can also see bricks auctioned off in the past and some of the current bricks to be auctioned this October.

Loving Olivia

Now that I finally have all the new paper packets I've begun creating with them. Hm... creating isn't quite the right word because what I made is entirely by the directions that came with the Workshop On The Go kits. I'm going to share with you anyway because they are so so beautiful!! Instructions for these three cards are in the kit.

The WOTG kit comes with a complete Level 2 paper packet, an exclusive set of stamps, a full set of designer embellishments and color directions for making a 2 page layout and six cards (2 each of 3 designs). When you are done making all those items you still have at least a half packet of paper to create more with. I love these kits.

I haven't completed the 2 page layout because I really need to decide what photos to add before I finalize with a title and the remaining embellishments. But I had to show you anyway. I simply adore these colors. I can't describe the pleasure I feel when looking at them.

Thanks for stopping by. I'll post the layout again at a later date when I decide what photos to use and complete it.

Triple Play

I've made up one of the mini albums from the National Stamping Month Triple Play by CTMH. This kit includes EVERYTHING!! Pages for three mini albums, die cuts, inks, stamps ribbon and a complete color instruction booklet. It's in there! You have to love when the die cuts match the stamp - no cutting!! The kit can be yours for as little as $5 with a qualifying purchase on my website.

These are pics of my first mini put together with photos left over from the convention albums I made for roomie gifts. I haven't done the journaling yet, still looking for a pen.

Metal Embossing/Embellishing

A couple of weeks ago I took at class at the Stamp-a-way Convention in metal embossing. I have to say I fell totally head over heels in love with this craft!! The teacher grew up in Mexico City where her mother started their business. She has written a book, which I purchased and had signed, and is so knowledgeable. She was so patient with her group of students and it's no wonder I fell in love with a new art!

I won't even tell you what I spent in her booth that night {wink-wink} but I am ready to play some more!!

In class we made a journal cover. I wasn't able to put my hands quickly on the correct size that we made the cover for, so I adapted mine to a larger book. I used some retired CTMH papers that I felt accented and enhaced the piece and.... ta-da!! I may have to go back and add some ribbons... Her sample covered the entire front of a small journal.

Pizza Tonight?

This magnetic memo board was inspired by a similar one seen at convention in July. It's pretty quick & easy and fun to use and display.

The base of the memo board is a pizza pan! I found a set of two at Ollie's for somewhere in the $5 range. You can't find a memo board for that little, much less a really sweet one like this!

This next photo is a close up of the hanger as it's attached to the front. The pizza pan is designed with a pattern of 1/4" holes punched through it. I threaded the ribbon through one of those holes from the back of the pan and then through a button on the front side. The tension of the ribbon through the button holes is enough by itself to keep the ribbon in place. Repeat on the opposite front side with the other end of the ribbon.

The letters were cut on my Cricut and then "fussy glued" which is a technique I learned from this blog: The Craftiblog. (you'll want to peruse her blog and probably bookmark it while you are there!) The top layers of the letters are offset on purpose to contrast the green & blue.

This close up shows my magnets covered with co-ordinating paper & a layer of Liquid Glass. You can also see the details in my seams, the border punch used on one seam and rough-ruffled paper ribbon on the other. The papers used for this project are all from the Emporium Level 2 packet.

My August Yoga Class

These are the two cards I am teaching for my August Yoga Class. Enjoy!