July Flavors of the Month kit~ Carta Bella Summer Splash!

Happy Monday!  The weekend sure seemed to fly by didn't it?  This week we are expecting record breaking heat in Texas, so I thought this layout was appropriate to share today! 😊 Today I'm using the fun Carta Bella Summer Splash line from the July Flavors of the Month kit!  

Here is the kit:

 Here is my layout using this fun kit:

 Supplies Used: cardstock: white-from the kit and ivory- from my stash; Patterned Paper: Carta Bella Summer Splash-from the kit; ephemera: Carta Bella Summer Splash- from the kit; chipboard: Carta Bella Summer Splash-from the embellishment kit; letter stickers: Paper Trunk & October Afternoon-from my stash; enamel dots: from the kit.

I love the vintage feel to this kit!  The cut apart blocks were my favorite- the More Beach Please & Eat, Beach, Sleep, Repeat made super fun embellishments with just a few snips of my scissors!! This line is perfect for your swimming, pool or beach pictures!  I didn't have any beach pictures but there is a little "fake" beach at our local waterpark so I used pictures from there and I think it looks great!  We always enjoy visiting there each Summer and dreaming that we are at the real beach!!  

Here is the fun embellishment kit that I got the chipboard turtle & palm leaf from:

Make sure and visit the ScrapRoom blog to check out the other amazing double page layouts the DT created with the fun July Flavors of the Month kit!  And if you would like your own kit visit the ScrapRoom store to reserve yours today!  Happy creating friends!

Atlantic Hearts Sketch challenge - #272

Happy Sunday!  I had a fun creative day yesterday creating some cards and scrapbook layouts!  Some of the things I created I will be sharing in upcoming weeks but one card I created for fun!  Working towards my goal to participate in 3 fun challenges each month!  I participated in the Atlantic Hearts Sketch challenge last month and loved it! I've been following along with their sketches and dreaming of playing along since the beginning of the month and finally found time to do it!! Yay!  Here is the sketch (#272):

Here is my card using this fun sketch:

Supplies Used: Card stock: CTMH- daisy white & Canary; Patterned Paper: CTMH Beautiful Friendship; Ink: CTMH Sapphire; Stamp set: CTMH Documented; dies: square- Stampin' Up & CTMH thin cuts- Documented; bow: CTMH Beautiful Friendship; enamel dot- My Mind's Eye

Don't you love this beautiful paper????  This line is super cute and will retire at the end of August, so if you would like it you may want to go ahead and get it now instead of later!  You will be seeing many more amazing projects using this beautiful line soon!  Here is the link to purchase it if you are so inclined!  This sketch is SUPER versatile and I know I will be using it again and again! I also must point out this stamp set DOCUMENTED, is SOOO fun!! I love the sentiments included and this one is my favorite!! I will be sending this card to a long time friend who is celebrating her birthday this month and I know it will give her a chuckle!!  I went ahead and got the matching thin cuts to this stamp set as one can never have enough flowers!!! The perfect accent!  I hope you will hop over to the Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge blog to see all the wonderful work the ladies have done with this versatile sketch!  Happy creating friends! 

Sketch N Scrap's Red, White & Blue crop!

It's the weekend!! Do you have any big plans for today?  It's going to be hot again here in Texas so I'm planning to stay in most of the afternoon and get creative!  Our Red, White & Blue crop is in full swing over at the Sketch N Scrap Facebook page and today I am hosting Challenge #2!  Today's challenge is to create a card based on this fun sketch:

Here is the card I made using the sketch:

Supplies Used: Cardstock: White, Bashful- CTMH; Patterned Paper: CTMH Documented Paper Pack; Stamps: CTMH Documented; thin cuts: CTMH Documented; enamel dots: CTMH Documented; inks: Memento Black; Markers: ShinHan Tender Pink, Peony Purple & Golden Yellow.  

I just adore this set!! It has be most fun sentiments in it and the paper colors are much better in real life, they are so vivid and brilliant!! LOVE THEM!  I will be sad when this amazing line retires on August 31st 😪  You can purchase this set, paper or any of the accessories on my website: https://www.closetomyheart.com.   I hope you will be able to come crop with us this month!  The crop is going on from now until the end of the month, so plenty of time to play along! Hope to see you at the crop!!!

July's Freaky Fast Formula Inspiration- Simple Stories Hello Summer!

TGIF!!!  Today I am sharing my layout created using Freaky Fast Formula at The ScrapRoom!!  This is such a fast way to create a layout...if you haven't played along yet please give it a shot, especially if you are lacking inspiration on this Friday the 13th!!  Here is the formula for July:

Here is my layout using this fun formula!

 Supplies Used:  Card stock: white- from the kit & black- from my stash; Patterned Paper: Simple Stories Hello Summer- from the kit; ephemera: Simple Stories Hello Summer- from the kit; sticker: (sunglasses)- Simple Stories Hello Summer- from the embellishment kit; circle die- CTMH- from my stash.

I ADORE this line, well, really I adore anything Simple Stories!  I had a bit of trouble at first with this formula trying to find a place to put the circle, then my word "CHILL" accidentally dropped on the circle and I was like...YES!!! How cute, then I added the word Summer and the sunglasses to make it a cute little title block and I love how it turned out!  These formulas (even those that have a element that kind of stumps you for a bit) are a sure fire way to jump your creativity!!  Here is the kit I used to create my layout:

Here is the entire July Flavors of the Month kit:

 Here is the embellishment kit where I got the sunglasses from:

Make sure and visit the ScrapRoom blog to see what other inspiring things the DT did with this kit and with the FFF!!!  If you would like to get your own kit make sure and visit The ScrapRoom store!!  Happy creating friends!

Card Sketch #125

Happy Saturday!! I hope your weekend is off to a good start!  Today I am sharing my card created with Sketch N Scrap's July 5th card sketch by Heather!
Here is the sketch:

Here is my card using the sketch:

Supplies Used: Cardstock: kraft, basic black & whisper white- Stampin' Up' Patterned Paper: Stampin' Up; dies (thin cuts)- Close to My Heart; Stamps: Close to My Heart- Chelsea Gardens & Sunny Thoughts (border); Ink- Memento Black; Ink: Pool Party- Stampin' Up; watercolor brush

I'm still working on using up my stash and this paper is included in my 100 patterned paper stack!  I actually used up one sheet of the floral paper by making 4 of these cards!  I love the angles of this card, so fun and different from the normal straight lines I use!  I love the colors in this card as well and hope the recipients do too!  I hope you will find time to play along with the sketches at Sketch N Scrap this month!!  There is plenty of time to play alone as you have until July 31st at 9:55 pm CST to enter for a chance to win our fun prize for the month!!  Check it out and see what amazing cards the other DT members have made!!  Happy creating!! 

June 100 Patterned Paper & Goals Update!

Whew! Another month in the books!  Time for my monthly update on my progress towards using up 100 patterned papers and some of my older stash for this year!  Summer is a busy time of the year & it's been a hard month to keep up with my goals...😵 So how did I do on my monthly goals?  Well, let's take a look:

1) Use 7 patterned Papers- ✅✅✅✅✅✅✅ SUCCESS!

2) Use 10 Bashket items- ✅✅✅✅✅✅✅✅✅✅  SUCCESS! 

3) Use washi on 3 of my projects- ✅ ALMOST!

4)  Participate in 3 online challenges - ✅ Close!
5) Do all 4 weeks of the FLC challenges - OOPS!
6) Refresh 100 papers w/ Summer options - ✅ SUCCESS!
7) Enjoy one in person crafty girls get together- ✅ SUCCESS!

I may have set a few to many goals this month, but I was SUPER busy as we were out of town for 2 weekends and I didn't take that into account! I did have a lot of success. I really enjoyed my crafty friends get together, it was so fun and much needed!  I made a small dent in my stash again this month! I failed at my washi challenge & doing the FLC challenges AND the one online challenge I completed I did not upload the project by the deadline but since I actually got another card made based on that challenge I'm counting it!!! 😝  So July is here and I am ready to get started on this months goals...here is my July planner calendar and it's another busy month!!

Here are my July monthly goals:

1) Use 7 pattern papers from my 100 paper pile

2) Use washi tape on 3 of my projects

3) Use 10 Bashket items

4) Do all 4 weeks of the Faithful Life Club Challenges

5) Host a crafty garage sale to purge some stash I no longer want!

WOW! This is going to be a PACKED month but a lot of FUN!!  I am super excited for all the fun!

Here is a recap of my 100 paper challenge year so far:

 Tally so far is: 

January: Embellishments = 10  Papers = 5

February: Embellishments = 5 Papers = 6

March: Embellishments = 7  Papers = 4

April: Embellishments = 6 Papers = 4

May: Embellishments = 10 Papers = 5
June: Embellishments = 10 Papers = 7

To learn more about my 100 paper challenge you visit this blog post.    So is anyone else in this with me?  I think I would do better with a partner!!  I did not buy a single thing in June either (well, scrappy related) so I am sticking to my no buy policy BUT I am still drooling over the Doodlebug HELLO collection I'M IN LOVE with this collection!! 💗💖  Since not all my goals were met I am still not able to get it 😭 I hope I have set my goals better this month...that collection is calling my name!! I will check back in August for another update!  Wish me well!  Happy stash bashing friends! 

Photo Play Red, White & Blue - July Flavors of the Month kit!

Happy 4th of July!!🎆 I hope you will be enjoying some good food, fun time with family & fireworks today!!  We celebrated on Saturday since I had to work today, but I am sure I will hear fireworks going off tonight!!  Today I'm sharing my second layout of the month with you using the July Flavors of the Month Kit!  Here is the full kit:

 Here is the mini kit featuring the Photo Play Red, White & Blue line:

Here is my layout using this fun line:

Supplies Used: Card stock: ivory- from the kit; red & blue- from my stash; Patterned Paper: Photo Play Red, White & Blue- from the kit; stickers: Photo Play Red, White & Blue- from the kit

This layout was so fun to put together and came together quickly using this amazing kit! I only used a few pieces of card stock from my stash to mount the picture & some of the papers on to make them pop off the page more!  When I found this picture of my son from almost 18 years ago that I hadn't scrapped, I knew this paper was a perfect fit to document it!! I added some journaling on the back as the papers were a bit busy and the journaling didn't show up on the patterns very well.  Make sure and head over the the ScrapRoom blog to see what other awesome layouts the DT created with this kit!  Happy creating friends!!!

July Flavors of the Month kit~ Illustrated Faith All People All Nations!

Happy JULY!!!  I am so excited about this month's Flavors of the Month kit at The ScrapRoom!  It is another awesome kit that will inspire you to get more pages created!  Here is the kit:

Today I am sharing a layout I created using the Illustrated Faith All People All Nations line included as part of the kit.  Let's just say I love EVERYTHING Illustrated Faith!!! This line is spectacular!

Here is the part of the kit I used for today's layout:

Here is the layout I created using the kit:

 Supplies Used: Patterned paper: Illustrated Faith All People All Nations- from the kit; ephemera: Illustrated Faith All People All Nations- from the kit; stickers: Illustrated Faith All People All Nations- from the embellishment kit; enamel dots: Paper Studio- from my stash; Letter Stickers: Echo Park (small blue) & American Crafts Thickers (gold)- from my stash

I love how this layout turned out! This line is so eclectic and fun I immediately thought of this group picture of our "Glampers" from a recent Glamping retreat I went on in March with The Reset Girl and Crafty Destinations!  This retreat was so much fun and was held at The Lone Star Glamp Inn in Roundtop, TX.  We were a bunch of Jesus loving crafty girls and even though I had never met any of them before that time I felt as if we were old friends!! I wanted to make sure and scrap all my pictures from the event before I return in November for our second meet up of this year so that I can share my layouts with all my new friends.  This line is so eclectic and fun just like my "Glamping Babe" friends so I definitely had to use it to scrap this picture! 

I also used a number of the stickers from the sticker sheet included in the embellishment kit!  Here is the embellishment kit:

Make sure and hop on over to the ScrapRoom blog to check out all the amazing layouts from the creative DT! If you would like to purchase your own kit head over to The ScrapRoom store to get yours before they sell out!  You will love creating with this kit!  Happy crafting!