Hello card

My card... sigh, I admit, I copied this from the self -proclaimed ctmh Stamp Goddess, Tresa Black. Ok , well she inspires me, what can I say? I fell in love with her art and soul album. She tells the whole story of how her parents and family inspire her love of art.

Here is Tresa's original:

http://thestampgoddess.myctmh.com/WebSites/Templates/MyCTMH/Template1.aspx?PageID=53&HighlightID=228152

I copied the colours and design but used a scallop flower instead of the chipboard ones Tresa used, and used brads instead of rhinestones.

What inspired me about Tresa's card was the effect of the white circles sanded under the cranberry CS . We placed paperclip swirls underneath our CS and sanded the paper with the new sanding block from the distressing kit and voila - that white core is revealed in the shape of the swirl underneath.

Find Joy in the Little Things

Cathy's card uses paisley stamps... who doesn't LOVE paisleys? We got to use the cutest tiny reverse corner rounder punch. I love the metallic ribbon, twill ribbon, and hemp ... such a variety in texture. We used a sea sponge and chocolate ink on the top of the card . I might go over my paisleys with a water brush tonight.

more dresses

I had to show Lisa Stenz' 2 dresses.

CTMH Blush CS is featured with the patterned papers.

these both just lift my spirits.

Welcome Little One

Jen B shared this sweet and simple card. Never before have I seen this card design... a baby romper... I need to make 3 more in pink and 3 more in blue, and maybe a few in vanilla cream!

It was so easy to make with a coluzzle circle template and a scallop flower punch. I couldnt resist adding some stickles to the tiny diaper pin.

Here is a baby dress that is similar... on Chia's template website:

http://houseofstirfry.com/chia/templates/dress.html

you might enjoy browsing the many templates there as well.

Hello !

Jen R. created the branches of the tree for our birdie to perch on by stamping and extending a swirl pattern from the ctmh acrylic Doodle alphabet . Lots of rich layers, distressing, inking, and fab colours. I love the little white ribbon under the brad... so dainty.

Would you believe that Jen is NEW to paper crafting??? She started in September at the Sarnia Scrapbook Show. She has great taste and a real flair for design.

Karine's criss-cross card

Karine whipped this up at the last minute, filling in for Peggy N. Karine used star and tab punches to create the elements on her card. It can be used for a recipe, a photo, or another smaller card. The other ladies told me to add a thin line of glue to the bottom. I never realised I was supposed to!

The funny story about Karine, is that she just signed up as a ctmh consultant and will be my downline, but I had never met her ! Then, when I looked up her address and personal info, I discovered that her birthday is also OCT 16!~! So we are SISTAZZZZ.

I also have a sistah at work, Beth Wilcocks. She is going to be a principal and teaches French Immersion.

Thanks for the useful card, Karine.

here are directions for a crisscross card at spljt coast by Beate Johns:

http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/ee/index.php/resources/tutorials/criss_cross_card/

Card Swap

At last! Our ladies' card swap took place at the Studio! Jen R, Jen B, Cathy K, and Karine H dropped over Thursday evening , each with a kit of pre-cut cards for us to make along with all the stamps, inks, ribbons, brads, eyelets, fibres.

We spent 2 hours sharing ideas and teaching each other . I liked the fact that I was listening and getting instructions from other talented artists..... yes I said, artists. It is more than a craft, it is a passion for colour, texture, detail, design and form, all wrapped up in a small package.

Elsie Flanigan... someone I admire

She pretty much goes out of the box and delights the senses with her whimsical layouts. Her photography is great. Elsie is very comfortable with herself and her unique look. I purchased her layout book 52 scrapbook challenges a year ago and it is very ARTY ... I found it inspirational and very unordinary . Drop by the studio and take a look at it anytime. Elsie likes a very primitive and heavily textured FUN look to her pages. (as opposed to refined, elegant, symmetrical ) but yet somehow her style manages to look still very enchanting and pretty . She makes embellishments like buttons, for example, out of clay, that are uneven and rugged looking and cuts out her own flowers. . I saw on her website that she now has her own line of co-ordinating scrapbook products for those of us less able to spend time being that creative.
Check out Elsie,
see if you are inspired. Her website is aptly named a beautiful mess.
http://www.abeautifulmess.typepad.com/

LOVE MONTH

Love is all emcompassing and touches all the aspects of my life, mental , physical, spiritual, emotional. The older I get, the less selfish I become and the more able to give love to those I nurture. My students, my children, my family, my partner, myself. I have been reading and meditating on love all month.

Rick gave me these beautiful roses last Thursday, with petals like velvet. They represent the two of us. Whenever I see them I am thankful.

relatively speaking

George and Natalie are my aunt and uncle. They always offer a place to stay when we are in Toronto. I had some other photos 0f my brother and his wife taken during the same week in Toronto after Christmas during the Marlies tournament that I wanted to include, but I wasn't sure what background papers to use. I was pretty tired, at Lasting Impressions in Sarnia with Peggy and Cathy 9 pm on a Friday night, but I went out on a limb and simply revamped an old ctmh album retreat layout from Oct 2005 that was sitting unused , without photos, by adding some up to date accents and VOILA! I also got my white creamcoat paint and a sponge tool and painted the edges of the cocoa cardstock for added oomph.

So now I have scrapbooked all 10 of my album retreat layouts from the 2006 retreat in Utah, exept one (winter) . I might be able to work it in soon. And my 2007 album is done.

LOVE that white stickease lettering. (catchy title , yes?)

The papers are ctmh simple pleasures .

hockey hall of fame layout

Rick, Colton and I had some time to kill in Toronto during the Marlies AAA hockey tournament Dec.28-30 . Neither Colton or myself had visited the Hockey Hall of Fame on Front and Yonge St. Rick didnt mind giving it a third (fourth?) visit and posing in front of Raymond Bourque's and Bobby Orr's showcases for some photos. I was surprised that the Stanley Cup didnt have glass around it. People were lining up for photos with the cup, and posing while kissing the cup. The mall entrance to the Hall of Fame had amazing indoor architecture with lighted flooring tiles, 3 story arches, and sparkly ceiling lights.

Cathy at Lasting Impressions had created a boys layout for her customers using concentric circles and patterned papers with stars. I immediately saw how easily I could use our new Good Times Kit with sweet leaf, twilight, buttercup, and chocolate, and stars along with my Star Struck acrylix. This has to be one of my most versatile stamp sets. I use the arrows as journalling spots, and I love the circles and stars. The numbers in the Good Times Kit worked well with the theme of Sports . (Number four - Bobby Orr)
Right now my favorite CTMH cs colours are cranberry, twilight, new england ivy, garden green, chocolate, sweet leaf, petal, buttercup, vineyard berry, bamboo, olive and garnet. So I am definately a fall/winter palette person. Birthday October 16 might be an influence. If I had to choose a favorite pink it would be hollyhock. I also like Vanilla Cream and Colonial White and am considering buying the timeless basic combo in 8 1/2 by 11 for cards. the next paper kits I purchase will be Silhouette, Caprice, and Simple Pleasures. Lots of warm tones, blues and browns for my March trip to MEXICO. I think the Goldrush from my Free Spirit Kit will work in well with all of this.
My 2008 album will feature all of the above colours and kits. It will have a non gender feel to it. I want to incorporate more Chipboard into my titles. I also think the foundry frame plates will adhere to my album covers. I will try it out and post a pic if it works. Stazon ink is recommended on the metal surface.
Off to get Superbowl goodies... more later today!!