Bang For Your Buck - Got an Extra Dollar?

For this month CTMH is offering a fantastic deal! If your order from the current catalogue (Spring/Summer 2011) is 50$ or more you can add a bonus item, valued anywhere from $10.95 CAD and up for only 1$! Now that's a coin I wouldn't mind digging out of my sofa. All prices quoted are in CAD.

Bonus dollar items to select from are listed below:



* Mistletoe Collection (original price $10.95)
* Animal Cookies Collection (original price $10.95)
* Bits & Pieces Card Kit (original price $15.50)
* It's your Day Card Kit (original price $15.50)
* Around The Holidays Card Kit (original price $18.95)

It's that time of year where the catalogues turn over and they retire items from the list! All items in the Spring/Summer 2011 catalogue are available to order until July 30 so if you're interested in getting anything from this catalog, let me know.

It's my birthday month! I had alluded to doing something special to celebrate it. All orders for the month of July, as well as any new followers can win a cute little Petite Perks set. I've got four to give away and will make the draw at the end of July! It's super cute - I used it on this teeny card here.

Just leave me a comment on my blog that you are following and an inspirational quote for all us scrapbookers. :)

Of course, I couldn't just leave without showing you July's fun stamp of the month! It's perfect for Canada Day or any other celebratory-style cards you may make. Fireworks, stars, what else could you ask for?



Contact me to find out how you can earn a discount or even better yet, get this stamp set for free. Happy Canada Day everyone!

Four squares and one Inspiration

I'm really enjoying playing with all these scrapbook challenges. It actually gives me a reason to get further and further ahead with my wedding scrapbook, and everyone each time submits such amazing samples. Sketches in Thyme has one last challenge for the month of June, and it's an open one!

Today's inspiration is from PageMaps. It is the very first one on their June 2011 Pagemaps post.



Cardstock:
* Creative Memories
* Local craft stores

Embellishments:
* Vellum Quote: Creative Memories
* Embossing powder: my stash

CTMH:
* You and Me (June promotion... only a few days left!)
* Bliss (Bliss Workshop Kit, G1020)
* Kraft Color Ready Borders (Z1377)
* Cranberry Ink (Z2116)
* Desert Sand Ink (Z118)
* Versamark Ink

More Father's Day...

... as it were we celebrated early, so a CM consultant and I decided to sit down and have a go at cardmaking/scrapbooking on actual Father's Day. I hadn't seen her in a long time, so it was a good greetup, and I actually finished two layouts of which one is featured below, and three cards. All Father's Day Themed, of course.

My old pace used to be 3 hours on one card, but let's say back then I was on a mission.

Could someone help me out? I know this layout is from the Originals book, but I cannot for the life of me remember it's name. This is the Cubes and Colors Layout from Originals.



I'm getting one year ahead of myself because I borrowed her Originals book and just had to try out a few layouts. And I had a quote in mind to use so I figured I'd just write it on. It looks really personalized that way.

Cardstock:
* Local craft stores

CTMH:
* Horizons (C1454)
* Cranberry Ink (Z2116)
* Garnet Ink (Z2121)
* Chocolate Ink (Z2111)

Text:

Scalloped Borders

I really loved the scallop border on the second sketch from Sketches In Thyme, so much that I thought it would be an excellent partner to the one showcased in "I love circles".

This time I didn't need to use dinner plates :) but I certainly got to try out some of the newest brads that resemble buttons from CTMH. I love them!

Today's inspiration is Sketches in Thyme Thursday Takes #50



I'm still a bit new at taking photos of layouts ... any advice would be appreciated!

Cardstock:
* Local craft stores

CTMH:
* You and Me (June promotion)
* Soul Mates (D1254)
* Mini Medley Accent Collections, Black (Z1393)
* Chocolate Ink
* Sorbet Ink
* Garnet Ink

Cute and Simple

I saw this template in Wishes and was inspired to try it out. It's a tiny little 3x3 card but sometimes the smallest things are the most precious. On the inside, it says 'Father's Day' as the Happy in my 'A Little Everything' set was too big! Today's idea is inspired by Heart 2 Heart's latest challenge, background stamping.



I'm not sure which one of my Dads (my FIL or my Dad) will get this, but next year they will :)

Cardstock:
* Local craft stores

CTMH:
* You and Me (June promotion)
* Enjoy Life (C1439)
* Spring 2011 Petite Perks
* Chocolate Ink (Z2111)
* Olive Ink (Z2137)

I love circles.

To me anything but squares are a challenge. I can cut smaller circles with a Fiskars Shape cutter but anything large, like this particular layout requires some innovative thinking.

Today's inspiration for my wedding album (yes, a scrapbook several years in the making now) was Sketches In Thyme Thursday Takes #49.

Two dinner plates, one of them from my bone china collection plus a pencil equated to two almost-perfect circles of the right size.



You'll notice that I used two techniques here: masking and double-inking.

Cardstock:
* Local craft stores

Embellishments:
* Dollar store finds

CTMH
* You & Me (June fundraiser)
* Soul Mates (D1254)
* Smokey Plum Ink (2147)
* Chocolate Ink (Z2111)
* Sorbet Ink (Z2164)

Sympathy

During one of my meetings at my day job last week it was announced that a mother of a coworker had passed away. My boss was a little uncertain as to what to do, but I thought the very least we could would be to sign a card showing them that we are thinking of them and that we care.

It also highlighted the fact that I don't have a stamp set with Sympathy words on it but I improvised; with some vellum, my printer, and Googling I was able to add some text. Next order I guess...

Using the layout 'Patriotic' from Wishes (9033):


Cardstock:
* Local craft stores

CTMH
* You and Me (June fundraiser)
* Rosy Regards (B1369)
* Bliss (Bliss WOTG - G1020)
* Moonstruck Ink (Z2134)
* Smokey Plum Ink (Z1247)
* Cranberry Ink (Z2116)
* Olive Ink (Z1237)
* Opaques Pearl Adhesive Gems (Z1336)

A reason to try something new

Most of my cards were made with the typical 4 1/2 x 5 inch card base that I picked up from Michaels. However, this week's Mojo Monday had me inspired; I had another baby card to make for a coworker who is expecting her first in October and this particular sketch was quite easy.

Plus I was dying to try out the Folded Focus template in the book Wishes.

Today's template is MOJO193 by Mojo Monday.

My take on the sketch:


My favorite part about this card is how the green pops out so lively from the more modest oranges and yellows. It honestly was not planned!

Cardstock:
- Local craft stores

Embellishments (ribbon, eyelet)
- Local craft stores, dollar store finds

CTMH:
- Baby Love Stamp Set (B1368)
- Olive Ink (Z2137
- Desert Sand Ink (Z118)

Storm Survivor Benefit Campaign

The amazing thing I love about CTMH is all the support they give to those in need. On the heels of Hope For Japan's campaign is the You And Me: Stronger Together Storm Survivor Benefit Campaign to help those affected by recent severe weather in the US.



During the month of June, order a You and Me Kit as pictured above for only $16.50 CAD (with a retail value of $38.95) and a portion of the proceeds will be donated to the America Red Cross 2011 Floods and Tornadoes relief operations. This will be available until June 30, 11:59 MDT or until supplies run out.

This photo I took of the kit shows the stamp set in greater detail. It's a gorgeous stamp set and usable for all sorts of occasions.

Discover Studio J for yourself alongside June's SOTM

This month there is a fabulous promotion from Close To My Heart for those of you who haven't yet tried digital scrapbooking. I confess, I haven't either because I'm a die hard traditionalist scrapbooker. There's just something comforting and relaxing in cutting, stamping, fiddling, and gluing.

I admit though that I decided to play in it one afternoon and was so amazed at how easy it was.



However, for this month only everyone can get a free Studio J jpeg file! Create an account or log on with your existing CTMH login at studioj.com, create a layout with some pictures (how about that awesome camping trip you were on?) and then order the layout you made. Then download, save, post, or print! Go play - you won't regret!

I couldn't leave this post without mentioning the stamp of the month, of course. This month's set is named Jubilations and is perfect for just about any holiday that comes to mind. Even better yet, the larger circles fit perfectly in the 1 1/4 circle punch sold by CTMH.



I think this set is perfect for making embellishments, stamping backgrounds, and giving your card or layout that extra joie-de-vie.

Carla shows that you don't have to pay up the nose for embellishments on a classy layout by having a lovely little row of flowers along the bottom; and on the same blog hop, Tamytha showcases some lovely cards!

For more details on how to earn this stamp set for free or purchase it at a discount, drop me an email today.