People Say I'm Crazy!

We have a new song on our October playlist at Scrap it with a Song today - - the spooky 80's tune "Somebody's Watching Me" by Michael Jackson & Rockwell.

I took a line from the lyrics for my title and had the perfect photo to work with!  Sketch design is #153 from Let's Capture These Sketches:

I used a hodge podge of supplies on this layout:
CTMH patterned paper: Backcountry (retired)
CTMH Cardstock: Kraft
CTMH Adventure Rubons (retired)
AC Thickers
CTMH Scroll Album workshop stamp set
CTMH Circle Around stamp set (retired)
Fancy Pants "Father & Son" Sticker
Ink: CTMH Brown Bag & Outdoor Denim

Hope you'll stop by Scrap it with a Song - - the Rock Chicks and our two fabulous October guest designers have come up with some fabulous inspiration for you this week!  We'd love for you to play along!  

Handsome with CTMH Backcountry

We have a brand new sketch for you today at Let's Get Sketchy!

This one was so much fun to play with!  Here is my take:

I used a combination of old & new on this layout - - the paper is an oldie - CTMH Backcountry (retired).  I embellished with the awesome Tapestry velvet rub-ons and some CTMH buttons from my stash.   All circles cut with the CTMH Art Philosophy Cricut cartridge.    Alphas are AC Thickers.

Hope you'll play along this week at Let's Get Sketchy!!  Let a sketch jumpstart your creativity!!

Studio Sunday

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A little Studio J scrappin' for you today!!

This fun layout uses the CTMH "Backcountry" paper pack - which, of course, is retired in the paper form - - but can still be found digitally in Studio J!  Love that!   These pics were taken back in August when my hubby surprised me with a ziplining adventure in the Rocky Mountains for my birthday!  So much fun!!  And yes - - that helmet is super sexy!! LOL! (Click on the layout to view it larger)

You can try Studio J scrappin' for yourself & see just how easy it is HERE!  Enjoy!

Thanks for checking in with me! Hope you are having a great weekend!

Woohoo!! It's Official!

The Summer issue of Canadian Scrapbooker magazine arrived in my mailbox today!
So excited to see my first published layout!  Seriously a dream come true!

The kids and I raced home to open it and madly flipped through the pages to find what we were looking for!!

It will be in stores June 1st - - check it out!! I'm on page 51!

Materials Used (all Close to My Heart):
The layout was picked for a feature article on the colour orange.  I love this orange (Sunset) paper from the Hooligans paper pack.  I combined it with a navy (Outdoor Denim) patterned paper from the retired BackCountry line.  The stars are chipboard and I stamped them with the Spot on Backgrounds stamp set (retired) in Sunset ink.  The title is Posterboard Alpha (one of my faves).  The accents are CTMH brown felt accents (bracket and photo corners), chocolate ribbon, and great orange accents from the Sunset Mini Medley.  And I added a little rub-on sentiment to the metal tag from the Adventure Rub-Ons. I was so happy with this layout when I did it and I'm so happy that Canadian Scrapbooker liked it too!!

Now I'm off to check out the rest of the magazine!!  So much great artwork!!

End of Summer on the Canadian Paper Trail

I created a layout with a "Back to School/End of Summer" theme.  My layout is featured today on the Canadian Paper Trail, a new blog featuring Canadian paper crafters from across the country. 

At the end of every summer - my hubby & I get away for a few days (usually golfing) while our parents watch the kids.  Having even just a few days with just the two of us is the best way to 'reconnect' and I look forward to our getaway all summer long!  This layout features photos taken last summer in Canmore, Alberta.   The layout design is the Scrappiest Sketch #74.

Materials Used (all Close to My Heart, except as noted):

Back Country Level 2 Paper Pack (retired)

Rustic Alphabet Acrylic Stamp Set

Dimensional Elements in Color - Adventure

Autumn Craft Buttons

Journey Journalling Tags

Colonial White Waxy Flax

Outdoor Denim Twill Ribbon

Cardstock: Barn Red, Autumn Terracotta

Ink: Barn Red, Outdoor Denim

Other: Mini Alphas from my stash

After completing this layout - I still had more photos from the trip, but I didn't really want to do another layout.  The perfect solution: photo storage pages!  I love these!  I can keep all the photos from my trip together in my scrapbook album - but I don't have to do layouts for every single picture.

Here a few of the additional photo pages I filled with more snapshots from last year's anniversary getaway (sorry about the photos, difficult not to have a glare when photographing page protectors!):

Thanks for stopping by today! Enjoy the last few days of YOUR summer!

CTMH Backcountry Fathers Day Card

Lots of Father's Day related challenges out there this week, so I thought I'd play along.

The challenge over at Heart to Heart Challenges is to create a Father's Day card using scrap paper.
Stampin' Royalty challenged us to create a masculine themed project this week.
And finally the Cupcake Craft Challenge this week was to create "One for the Boys".

My card design is from the CTMH book "Originals" and is called "Triple the Fun".

Materials Used (all Close to My Heart):

BackCountry Level 2 Paper Pack

June 2010 Stamp of the Month - Wonderful Friend

Heartfelt Whimsy felt die cuts

Outdoor Denim Twill

Outdoor Denim Bitty Brad

Natural Hemp

Cardstock: Barn Red, Colonial White

Ink: Outdoor Denim

CTMH Back Country & May SOTM

While hopping through the CTMH Stamp of the Month Blog Hop for May the other day, I came across a great card from Sheila Bennett.  I was inspired to make something similar!   The card design is "Corner Shop" from the Wishes Card Confidence Book.

I'm always short on masculine cards - so I'm happy with how this turned out & think I'll make a few to have on hand!

Materials Used (all Close to My Heart):

Back Country Level 2 Paper Pack

Cherish the Moment - May 2010 Stamp of the Month (available at a discount or FREE with purchase this month!)

Pewter Brad from Metal Brad Assortment

Outdoor Denim Twill from Outdoor Denim Ribbon Collection

Cardstock: Barn Red, Goldrush, Colonial White

Ink: Barn Red

CTMH BackCountry Layout - the Ironside Men

My take on Sketch #84 from Creative Scrappers.  I love this pic taken of my hubby, his brother & his dad (over 14 years ago!!) 

 

Materials Used (all Close to My Heart):

• Back Country Level 2 Paper Pack
• Rustic Alphabet Acrylic Stamp Set
• Dimensional Elements Borders
• Dimensional Elements On Target
• White Love Letters Rub Ons
• Cardstock: White Daisy, Outdoor Denim, Crystal Blue
• Ink: Outdoor Denim
• Other: Stars are Dazzling Die Cuts (a 2008 promo pack - no longer available to order)

Be sure to check back here on January 1st for the CTMH January Stamp of the Month Blog Hop  . . . tons of artwork ideas for the "True Friends" stamp set!

CTMH Back Country Golf Layout

My 2nd post for today!! Here is one of the layouts I did over the weekend. The pictures were taken on my husband's stag a few weeks prior to our wedding back in 2001. (Yes - I am still working on the 'wedding album'!!) We spend a lot of time in the mountains - the Back Country paper is perfect for this kind of setting! And I finally broke open my package of new felt die-cuts!! Love them!!

The layout design is "Quartet - Offset" from the CTMH How-To Program Book Reflections.
Materials Used (all Close to My Heart):

• Back Country Level 2 Paper Pack
• Cobblestone Alphabet Acrylic Stamp Set
• Back Country Stickease Assortment
• Heartfelt Wonder Die Cuts
• Mini Medley Accents Shades of Chocolate Collection
• Brads - Winter Cozy Assortment
• Legacy Writers Black Pen Set
• Other - Edge Distressor Tool, Glue Dots

CTMH Back Country Level 1 Cards

Close to My Heart's Level 1 Scrapbooking Kits are obviously a great tool for your scrapbooking pages - QUICK, EASY and BEAUTIFUL pages every time! But have you tried using your Level 1 preprinted layouts for something other than a scrapbook page? Some amazingly talented CTMH consultants have done some amazing things with Level 1 kits - check out Lisa's Creative Corner for some great ideas!

Another consultant who has also done some amazing work with Level 1 kits is Lori Miller. I absolutely loved a set of 16 cards Lori did a while back using the Level 1 Backcountry kit - and I just had to recreate it for myself!

I changed up a few stamps and sentiments - but the card designs, etc. are almost exactly as Lori did them. Thanks Lori!!

I love how these turned out - - I'm always in need of more masculine cards and these are just perfect!! And by using a Level 1 kit - you save time and paper - but still get fantastic results!

Give it a try - - challenge yourself to see what you can do with a Level 1 Kit - - and if you do, be sure to post a link here to your creations - I'd love to see them!!

CTMH Back Country meets Disneyworld!

This is one of my favourite pictures! Every time I look at it - it makes me laugh! My husband and I are the two people at the front of this roller-coaster car and, as you can see, I was terrified!! This was taken on the "Expedition Everest" ride in Disneyworld - seriously one of the best rides I have ever been on! Despite my terror - it was great!! Quite the thrill!

When I sat down to scrap this pic - I thought the Back Country papers worked perfectly with the colours in the photo & I'm happy with how the layout turned out.

Here's a close-up of the terror on my face - I didn't know whether to laugh or cry:

The layout is "Main Frame - Portrait" from Reflections How-To Program Book.

Materials Used (all Close to My Heart):

• Back Country Level 2 Paper Pack
• Cardstock: Crystal Blue
• Hodge Podge Color Ready Alphabet Stickers
• Pewter Brads
• Other: Arrow is from the Dazzling Die-Cuts Promotional set from last fall (no longer available)

CTMH Fathers Day Inspiration

Have you seen May's episode of CTMH TV yet?

If not, it is worth taking a look! This month's episode is all about celebrating the men in our lives. With Father's Day coming up - this is the perfect time to create something special for your dad, your Grandpa or your boyfriend or husband! I often find that it is hard to find inspiration for artwork that is 'masculine' enough for male gift giving! The featured project on this short video tutorial is absolutely perfect! The fabulous ladies from our CTMH Corporate office will walk you through making a great photo wallet featuring our Back Country paper - what an awesome idea for Father's Day! Take a look and be sure to check in each month for a new episode featuring new techniques, products and project ideas!

Click here to watch Mementos for the Man in Your Life on CTMH TV!