A Banner Year...

2012 is gone, and good riddance, the year was one disaster after the other for us, a bunch of hospital/Doctor/Dentist visits,more than any in my life. Despite all the awesome travel we got to do, we are looking forward to a calmer year. And to start the year off right it is my oldest daughters birthday in January, last year we had a princess themed party complete with all the Disney fixin's, this year we are amp-ing it up with a Rock Star theme. However, with 5+ birthdays in my family in January I think we shall have to theme this month for banners. All kinds of banners and pennants. First up is last years birthday banner for my daughters birthday, all princessed up.

I used my handy Cricut Expression to cut all the banners from Close to my Heart's Art Philosophy along with thier decorative elements at 5.5". The paper was Close to my Heart cardstock and Disney Mega Pack from EK Success. The letters were cut out of Colorbok glitter cardstock with the Cricut Paper Lace cartridge which has an awesome font on it. String it up with a fancy ribbon and we are ready to party!

Swirly Thank You

A classic two tone Thank You card. Not sure if the paper is Heidi Swapp or not, I have had it that long,but the cardstock is Close to my Heart's Cocoa color. Some swirly stamping on the cardstock and fun elements as a whole.

I cut the plaque with Cricut - Art Philosophy, then used the layer function and cut the 'Bamboo' color. Used a piece of Bamboo to showcase the Basic Grey RubOn and embellished with Close to my Heart's Opaque pearls.

To finish the card we used the negative from the Bamboo layer on the inside so people could write thier names and it's stylish!

Grace-ful Thank You

I love the bold colors in this card, the paper is Close to my Heart as is the cardstock stickers, stamp and embellishments. I also used Close to my Hearts Cricut Cartridge - Art Philosophy for the great layered tag in the center.

I first started by distressing the background, using the CTMH sanding paper, I distressed all the paper. It creates the great denim, rough feeling which goes with the rich fall colors of the paper.

Close to my Heart usually has coordinating cardstock weight stickers along wth other coordinating products. Here I used the coordinating cardstock stickers and Antique Copper Brads to punch the rough, mascuine feeling in the card.

Here is where the masuline feeling gets thown out the window with this great cardstock weight Heart sticker, so cute, I just couldn't resist.

And we fnish it all off with the inside of the card, a great blue (Twilight Blue), with cardstock sticker and Close to my Heart stamp in Cocoa Brown.

Framed Thank You

This next Thank You Card is part of a Heidi Swapp design paper. I took my favorte element on the page and used it the main focus on the card.

This stripey grey and the off white/ivory/gold shiny ribbon and Rhinestones seem to be the trend lately, unusual color combinations. I also used a Basic Grey Rub On for the Thank You, relatvely simple but kinda elegant.

Let's see what the next card has to offer..

Fully Thank{Full} Card

Thought this monthe I would do a series of just Thank You cards. I had fallen in love with Basic Grey's Mellow Collection, with the colors, images, design, everything. So when I had some pieces left over I decided to make a great card.

I had just enough cardstock to do a long side fold card, I also purchased the coordinating die cuts, so I punched out the flowers on the sheet. Layering the flowers and popping a brad in the middle, I misted them with water and started squeezing and pushing the petals into place, the out come is this great 3D flower on the front.

In my stash was some random Creatve Memories stickers and there I found the perfect sentiment. I finished the card front with some cute amber jewels highlighting the great images in the paper.

Lately, for me, a card is not complete without some paper on the inside too. It uses up the extra pieces I would have normally thrown away and it looks pretty.

A success I think, I just wish I had more of that paper...

Rylie Nola - More to Adore Layout

I have started up my scrapbook classes again here in Yuzhno and for the second class we did a really sweet layout using Close to my Heart's More to Adore discontinued paper pack. My daughter Rylie was born in 2010 and I had yet to scrapbook her pictures, I know, bad me! But I fixed up my pictures and changed them to sepia toned which suited the paper pack perfectly.

I used my Gypsy to cut out the letters, Gypsy Font I used, then I welded the letters together so they would cut as a single piece. I inked every single piece of paper and placed my pictures down, then I cut out a locket from ...well, I can't remember. But it all turned out very sweetly if you ask me. I cut the paper for next class already so stay tuned for the next awesome layout.