Cricut Artiste-The Father's Day Key on the Paper Cupcake Blog Hop

Welcome to our Paper Cupcake Blog Hop on which this month we are featuring the Father's Day key from the Cricut Artiste cartridge. If you have arrived here from Heather's blog, you are on the right track although it is, of course, a circular blog so you can go round and round to enjoy each of the featured ideas!

The project that I designed for you this month can be made in the blink of an eye and provides you with a fun gift just for Dad! It features one of our clever little My Creations Kraft Containers along with papers from the Later Sk8r collection. At 3" wide and 5-3/4" tall, there is plenty of room to fill it with any number of Dad's favorite things.  It is simple to cut pieces to wrap around the cylindrical container and its lid. Do you see the fun little strip of words? That is just the "zip strip" from the top of one of the sheets of patterned paper!

Now you're ready for the fun! Using images featured on the Father's Day key, I cut the classic plaid shirt along with tie, pocket, and #1 Dad. The shirt is intended to be a card, so I folded it as usual and then adhered the back and front together before adding it to the front of the container. Check out the pattern on the tie! The tie is cut from Outdoor Denim cardstock that I ran thru my Cuttlebug using the Little Bubbles embossing folder. Just a bit of sanding resulted in a fun design just right for a stylish Dad!

I layered the #1 Dad sentiment on White Daisy and Pear cardstock and then popped it onto a Foundry Pin Clip that has been attached with glue dots to the inside of the pocket.  Just a bit of 3-D foam tape keeps the sentiment in place.

Here's a peek at all of the images available on this key.

What if you have a Dad who loves to stand out in the crowd? Check out the same project made with the  Dream Pop paper collection, available only during the month of May for National Scrapbooking Month! Get this fabulous 24-sheet collection for just $10 when you spend $35. You'll get retro prints in a variety of cheery colors and cardstock that is plain on one side and embossed with shiny designs on the other!

All that's left for you to do is to decide what you will put inside your container! A traditional tie or pair of socks would fit nicely but so would favorite candy, small tools, a gift card or two, fishing lures, a special coffee, or even desk accessories. You could even fill it with coupons for things to do for Dad such as washing his car or taking him to a movie. Use your imagination!

Now hop on over to Patty's blog to see what she has in store for you this month!

See You Later Sk8r on the Paper Trail

Welcome to this month's Paper Trail Blog Hop! If you have arrived here from Vicki's blog, you're on the right track though with it being a simple circular blog, you can start anywhere! 

This month, we invite you to enjoy the cool blues and greens of the Later Sk8r paper collection. I'll admit that I have a soft spot for the color blue and with so many variations of the color in this paper, it was inevitable that it would be one of my favorites in the current Idea Book.

I kept it simple by featuring the fun images in the May Stamp of the Month-Pinwheel and had such a good time pulling out a bit of this and that to make the card sing! It probably helped that at the time I was creating, I was nestled in the mountains of Virginia with a group of friends and had all the time in the world to play with paper and ink!

Outdoor Denim, Pear and Lagoon inks bring the pinwheels to life as they are grounded on a background of Pear cardstock along with a classic plaid. Even the hints of Slate in the paper are reinforced with a sliver of matting and some bits of trimmed polka-dot washi tape. Add a bit of sparkle with a few lines of Green Glitz Glitter Gel and the card is ready to brighten a special friend's day!

Ready for more? Hop on over to Tracey's blog to see what she has to offer. Enjoy!

Cricut Artiste- The Mother's Day Key on the Paper Cupcake Blog Hop

Welcome to our little blog hop featuring the "Mother's Day" key from the Cricut Artiste cartridge. This versatile cartridge is one of two currently available exclusively through Close to My Heart. If you have arrived here from Patty's blog, you're on the right track. It is, however, a circular blog, so you can continue on around as many times as you like as you enjoy all of the ideas.

One of my strengths in teaching scrapbooking classes is to show you how to create a number of different looks with papers from one paper collection. Let's dig a little deeper.

First of all, let's take a closer look at the Chantilly paper packet.  At first glance, our eye is drawn to the pastels featured in the papers. Upon closer inspection, however, we find Buttercup, Champagne, Cotton Candy, Outdoor Denim, Pear, Ruby, Sunset, Twilight. (Did you know that all of the colors featured in a paper packet are listed on the "zip strip" of the patterned paper? Brilliant!) Outdoor Denim? Ruby? Twilight? Those colors are definitely other than pastels! In examining the papers, however, we find that, sure enough, there are bits of each of those colors woven into the designs!

With a couple of pieces of patterned paper, some Ruby cardstock, and a bit of Black Glitter Paper I set out to create a look that was much different from pastel. Here is what I designed:

It was simple to go from pastel to powerful just by using one of the deeper colors from the collection. Now let's see where the Cricut shapes came into play. 

First, check out the designs that can be created all from this one key (right). In the top right hand corner, you can see the shapes that I used for this layout. Using the tuiip key, I cut 3 different colors for each tulip to give it a stronger presence on the page.

Each tulip includes ruby, cotton candy, and blush cardstocks. Swirls cut from the black glitter paper serve to ground the tulips in the design. Sanding the edges of the tulip shapes and adhering them in a fan shape balances the entire featured element. Complete the look with a few of the Chantilly Assortment embellishments along with some sparkles and your page comes to life! (see detail on left). Once my photos and journaling are added, I will have a rich layout chock full of personality. Enjoy!

Now hop on over to Rosie's blog to see what she has created.

Paper Trail- Flipping for Claire

Welcome to the April edition of the Paper Trail blog hop! This month, we are featuring the crisp spring colors from the Claire paper packet. If you have come here from Karen's blog, you're on the right track. Of course, with it being a circular trail, you can start anywhere you like! Once you've perused my projects, check for a link to the next stop on the Paper Trail.

My projects begin with a layout simply created and simply embellished. Notice how easily the Hollyhock (pink) and Sunset (orange) stand beautifully together, enhanced with a splash of Outdoor Denim (dark blue).

Top Left-hand Cluster

The chosen embellishments include the Claire canvas complements clustered with Irresistible Chipboard frames, some inked paper butterflies, a couple of fun little acrylic flowers and a few sparkles.







The chipboard frames are just a terrific accessory to have on hand as they can be sponged

Bottom Right-hand Cluster

 with any ink color. They include a variety of designs that appear as the resist works its magic!











Now let's take a look at another project using a different selection of papers from the Claire collection. You're just going to flip over this layout!

Layout with Flip Flaps Closed

Take note of the fact that while this features different papers, the pattern is the same! Can you believe how different it looks? The best part is yet to come! This layout uses Flip Flaps, differently-sized page protectors that can be adhered to the outside of your regular 12"x12" protector to allow for plenty of extra space for more photos or special journaling. Watch closely as we check out the pages with the flip flaps open.....

Layout with Flip Flaps Open

Look at all of the additional space that awaits your photos and stories! It is truly remarkable!

Are you ready for even more Claire creations? Hop on over to Tracey's blog to see what she has to offer!

Look What's Buzzin' on the Paper Trail

Check out what's buzzin' on the Paper Trail this month! If you have arrived here from Amy's Blog, then you are on the right track. Of course, it is a circular hop, so can simply start and stop anywhere along the way! 

This month, we have chosen the playful designs and colors of the Buzz and Bumble paper collection. Featuring bumblebees, stripes, and a variety of textures and patterns, there are wonderful choices for your creative projects. Check below for a glimpse at all of the papers included in this collection.


I have been having such fun playing with our new My Creations Kraft Cylinder that I decided to feature one made with these fun papers! The cylinder is a generous 3" wide and nearly 6" tall which gives you plenty of room to fill it with gifts or goodies galore.

Look closely and you will see the houndstooth strip at the top of the lid. It started life as a zip strip on the top of the sheet of patterned paper. The glittery strip just below the lid is none other than our Silver Shimmer Trim colored with one of our alcohol markers! The fun burlap knot and flower cut from our Cricut Artiste cartridge combine to give it a bit of a shabby, chic look and it's ready to go.

With bees on the outside, the inside might hold a selection of teas and a honey dipper or a little first aid kit to "bee" prepared. Choose another paper for a quick change of themes be it juvenile, formal, or playful. Think about birthdays, Mother's Day, and even teacher gifts. It is affordable and fun to fill. Enjoy!

Now hop on over to Karen's blog to see what's buzzin' there!

Buzz and Bumble Paper Packet

 

Paper Trail Blog Hop with La Belle Vie

Happy New Year to everyone! My wish for you is that you enjoy a healthy, rewarding year, chock full of paper crafting projects! If you have arrived here from Mary's blog, you are on the right track. Of course, as a circular hop, you can start anywhere. Jump right in and start the new year right with paper!

To welcome 2013, we have chosen the La Belle Vie paper packet. Pairing neutrals of Black and Bamboo with kit-exclusive colors of La Belle Vie Mauve and La Belle Vie Pink, and featuring classic prints, the papers stand ready for valentines, traditional gifts, and gorgeous vintage pieces.

La Belle Vie is one of the paper packets that is enjoying its last month of availability as we prepare to welcome new papers for the spring and summer. If you love it as much as I do, NOW would be the time to order a pack (or even more) to make sure that you have all that you want for upcoming projects!

My simple offering this month pairs the La Belle Vie papers with the January Stamp of the Month to make a valentine with a bit of classic flair.

The rose was embossed in black and shaded just a bit with our alcohol markers. Matted on a scalloped heart cut with the Cricut Artiste cartridge gives it more presence as the focal point of the card. Add a sentiment stamped and matted on shapes cut from the same cartridge and you have a piece with plenty of interest.

Add a bit of distressing by sponging with ink and include multiple layers and you have a card worthy of your very favorite valentine!

You can see that all of the papers in this collection feature the same gentle prints and classic color combinations!

 

Now hop on over to Amy's blog to see what she has to offer! Happy New Year!

Cricut Artiste- "8" Key Blog Hop

Welcome to our blog hop featuring the "8 Key" from the Cricut Artiste Collection, available exclusively through Close to My Heart. If you have arrived here from Karen's blog, you're on the right track. It is, of course, a circular blog, so you can even start here and continue along the trail.  

With the New Year being right around the corner, I thought that I would focus on your holiday party by making up a couple of fun favors, both of which are pictured in the photo below. One is a simple box made using the 3-D object on this key. It is the cutest little cube box that could hold any number of goodies for your guests.

Scholastic Papers for the new year!

It is the second favor that conjures up terrific memories of my childhood. While having a babysitter was something that happened only once in awhile, it was something we looked forward to as we always were left with a special treat. Do you recognize the special treat that is now a New Year's favor? That's right. It's Jiffy Pop! We thought that this was such a fun way to make popcorn!

It is simple to make this treat into a colorful favor. You could even "pop" it in the mail to send a unique  new year message to an appreciative friend. I used a B&T paper from the Scholastic Paper Packet 

to cut a circle as the base for my project. Turning to the "8" key, I cut a clock (how appropriate!), added the hands (set at midnight of course) and then popped on a few Mocha Opaques for a little bling! Black Striped Grosgrain Ribbon adds just the right amount of pizzazz to both projects.

Both of these projects are so easy to "pop" together and will assure that you have a successful celebration to ring in the new year!

Now, would you like to see why we call it the "8" key? Take a look at the picture below and you will see that the main image available on this key is the number 8. You will see that the other images I used are right at my fingertips including the clock base, clock face, the cute little cube box and even the Roman numeral border used to embellish the box! Enjoy!

Now hop on over to Tasha's blog to see what she has in store for you!