Joyful Stars Blog Hop: Sarita Layout

Hello and welcome to the October Joyful Stars Blog Hop featuring new products from the Autumn/Winter 2013 Idea Book. 

If you came here from Lori's Blog  you're on the right track.  It's a circular hop, so if you're starting out here  you can keep going 'round till you come back again. 

Today I'm going to share with you one of the layouts I made using the Sarita  paper pack. This was a fun pack to work with because it stretched my imagination. The patterns are very new to me trend-wise so it took a little concentration and research to design layouts I would really like. While I liked all the colors possible in this paper pack, I found I stuck with the yellows and blues because I knew I would find pictures that would work well with them.

CTMH Sarita Layout by LavendersageDesigns.blogspot.com

CTMH Hemp Twine on a Sarita layout

Fun wooden accents from CTMH

Now you're off to Cindy's blog! It's a circular hop so you can pick up anywhere but for a full list of participants, check out Joyce' blog.

Lookie what I made!

I do have a lot of scrapbooking and cards to post but instead I'm going to share with you something new. Something fabulous. Something *I* made.

I know. I show you stuff I make all the time but this time... well, it's different!

Since our town's Farm Show is starting next week and the Mr and I have other plans for the weekend, I had to make the kids' outfits for the Baby Parade today. The bigger kids can deal with an adult sized tshirt. The baby can't. I attempted something today that concerned me but I did it anyway. And I really can't believe how well it turned out!!!!!

I took an adult sized tshirt and made a toddler sized tshirt from it!!! If you know me, I don't sew. I'm learning but there are things (like clothes) I have not attempted. Bean bags, yes. Actual clothing, no.

Here is the result....

Before and after: toddler shirt from adult tshirt

After: toddler tshirt from adult tshirt

Here is the part that made me cry - the underarm sleeve seams line up!!!!! I was literally crying when my husband came downstairs... he thought I was even crazier when I told him why! But when it was all said and done, he said he loves that his wife can sew. Which is a huge complement, because in reality, I can't. :)


{Now, a shout out to Delia Creates. She doesn't even know who I am but I have been stalking her blog forever and because her tutorials look so easy I had the confidence to try something like this. If you are even interested in sewing, I ask you to check her out!}

Joyful Stars Blog Hop: Base & Bling

Hello and welcome to the September Joyful Stars Blog Hop featuring new products from the Autumn/Winter 2013 Idea Book. 

If you came here from Krista's Crafty Corner you're on the right track.  It's a circular hop, so if you're starting out here  you can keep going 'round till you come back again. 

I used our new Base & Bling collection to make headbands for me to wear. I bought a pretty fall cardigan in a color I would never pick out for myself except I saw it on a friend of mine and loved it. Once I got it home I realized I had no accessories to go with it, so I headed to my scrapbooking room to solve my problem. 

I used the Chocolate Striped Ribbon, the Honey fabric from the Sarita Textiles and a glitz button from the Babycakes Assortment.

Using a needle and thread, I made a running stitch along one side of the ribbon cut to 18". Pulling both ends of the thread curled the ribbon on itself to make the flower. I tied the thread to keep it together. Then I did the same thing with the Honey fabric cut to 1" x 12". Going through my Babycakes Assortment I wanted to use a button with a Slate jewel and chocolate button but I didn't find one (or I used it on another project) so I colored the wood button with the chocolate marker. I then hot glued the ribbon, fabric and button together and let it cool. Once cool, I used an adhesive jewel dot to attach to the headband. 

All together, the project took me about 20 minutes to figure out and assemble (I'm learning the sewing stuff as I go so you'll be quicker than I was!) and it looks so adorable on! 

I'm making more, one for each outfit! It's a quick and fun way to use up my scrapbooking supplies!

Now you're off to Helen's Blog!

September is National Stamping Month

September is National Stamping Month

and Close to My Heart has a fun treat just for you!

This exclusive triple stamp set is yours for just $10 with qualifying order in September. Join the September Mystery Hostess on my website to be entered to win the Hostess Rewards (if all orders together earn them).

Did you notice there's something "missing" from the latest Idea Book? Close to My Heart has a special treat for the holidays this year - a special mini book stuffed full of holiday goodies! You'll be hearing more about this book in the weeks to come so stay tuned for sneak peeks!

Joyful Stars New Product Blog Hop: Babycakes

Hello and welcome to the August Joyful Stars Blog Hop featuring new products from the new Idea Book. 

If you came here from Nickie's blog you're on the right track.  It's a circular hop, so if you're starting out here  you can keep going 'round till you come back again. There is a list of participants at the bottom of the post if you want to skip ahead. 

I've been working on this layout in my head for awhile because I started with the right page from the Idea Book but since it's from the Reflections How-To Program book and doesn't suggest a left side page design, I had to work on it myself. *sigh* I really like how CTMH does all the planning work for me, so having to design something myself is time consuming... but I suffered through and after about the third sit-down, I finally have something I like. 

I wanted to use the same pattern but vary the sizes of the squares to make it stand out but it wasn't until I decided to use an 8x10 photo mat did the layout come together.

I enjoyed using some of new Irristables Hexagon shapes, very easy to ink up and stick to the page.

The new cork shapes are fun to use, they come in lots of shapes and sizes and given that they already have adhesive makes it super easy. Just peel and stick!

I also tried a new-to-me technique - sewing! I finally got my sewing machine fixed (okay, the problem was really the user but I got that fixed but finding a good instructor!) and I've been playing! I am thrilled with how easy it is to add a little panache to the page with some stitches. I will be experimenting with some of our stitches stamping sets so stay tuned for some more on this topic!

The blank spot on the left side is where I will place the date of the photos when I finally decided which ones to use. For now, my scrapbooking style is to make the page then find photos to fit. I have so many photos to preserve from the last many years that I can't work in any order at this point. 

Now you're off to Hellen's blog!

Here is a list of participants  so you can pick up anywhere. These are direct links to their blog hop posts (unless noted) so if you're tuning in late, you'll be on track. Feel free to visit each blog and check out all that they have to offer!

Joyce Houck

Nancy Brown

Lori Meadows

Heather Flaherty (link to blog home)

Krista Hershberger

Nickie Hoffer

Stephanie Huber

Hellen Gullett

Elizabeth Mindemann

Betty Locco

Jean Murphy (link to blog home)

Cindy Leek

Fall/Winter 2103 Idea Book is now available to order!

Have you heard about any of the new products coming in the new Idea Book? No more waiting!! It's here!!!!

Check out my website to see all the new goodies for yourself!!!!

Here are some links to my favorites so far:

Huntington paper pack and accessories (this layout features my friend Elizabeth and her family!!)

Make it From Your Heart vol. 2

and of course the Artbooking Cricut collection:

Want to see the goodies in person? Come to my Open House on Friday, August 9th from 5-7pm. Email me to save your spot!

Other classes are:

August 23: Base and Bling Workshop - Necklace Kit RSVP by 8/12. Cost is $18pp. Perfect for mother/daughter, sisters or best friends to make together! 

Christmas Card Workshop 9/28 from 9am-4pm in Martindale. Cost is $35 RSVP & early bird discounts available. Email me for your application. 

Artbooking & My Crush workshops available, please contact me if interested!

For more inspiration from the new products in the Fall/Winter 2013 Idea Book, check out the blog hop I'm participating in. I will have another hop on August 10th so check back then too for more goodness!

CTMH New Product Blog Hop: Babycakes card

I am so excited for the new Idea Book and have been devouring it for the last few weeks (consultant perk- yea!!) but since it's new to you, I thought I would participate in a new product blog hop to make it easy for you to browse lots of consultants favorite new products, all of which are available TODAY!!!!

Not sure what a blog hop is? At the bottom of this post, you will see a list of blogs. Click on each one to view their artwork then click on the next link and so on. Lots of inspiration in a short time. Grab a cup of coffee and enjoy!

Babycakes Card

I could not wait to use this cute paper! Since I'm still working on Grace's baby album (gasp!) I will be using this paper a lot in her album. I love the yellow and gray together but the orange and brown really settle it down to be more versatile than just for babies. This would be a great paper pack for fall, back to school, farm life or anything outdoorsy. 

I chose "Love This" stamp set (featured with the My Crush Bluebird set, available end of August) to use because I wanted to feature the butterfly with Buttercup and Sunset alcohol markers. I also used the alcohol markers to color in the bitty sparkles so they wouldn't get lost on the page by being clear.

Here's a list of the products I used in this card: Swing Card set, Babycakes paper pack, Babycakes Assortment, Whisper cardstock, Love This stamp set, Buttercup alcohol markers, Sunset alcohol markers, Chocolate stamp pad, Whisper stamp pad, 2 1/2" scallop circle punch (retired).

Now you can begin hopping! Enjoy!

"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."