Love is in the Air - Part 2

Hello and welcome to Day 2 of the Love is in the Air blog hop!  If you've arrived here from Nicolette's Beyond Scrappin' blog, you are in the right place! If you are just joining the hop and wish to start from the beginning, please visit Lisa's blog.  In case you get lost along the way, the complete blog hop lineup is at the bottom of this post.

Each blogger participating in this hop is featuring a project having to do with Valentine's Day or Love. This super-fun hop will be showcasing cards, layouts and projects that feature anything and everything to do with LOVE since that is what Valentine's Day is all about right!! You'll find an array of ideas throughout this hop. From decorations to gift ideas and more, we hope you'll enjoy each and every project along the way!! Be sure to leave a comment at each hop stop to show all the participants a little love. 

 For today's project, I'm showcasing an unusual color combination for my Sugar Shock Valentine's Day layout (and I apologize in advance for the slightly gross photos, lol).  I think it's great fun to add a bit of the unexpected to our layouts, especially when it makes our photos pop.  In this case, I latched onto what was a small bit of color in the photos, but the main topic of my layout, and made it stand out.

 

Yes, my odd children all have blue/green tongues - thanks to Valentines with Fun Dips in them. (You can click on the photo to make it larger and see the details and patterns on the paper more clearly.)  As usual when it's too quiet in the house, I found this disturbing scene: the "sharing" of the Fun Dips by pouring them in a pile on the kitchen table and taking turns licking.  I'm so glad they seem to have outgrown this phase; it's been a few years since this incident and I can just now bring myself to scrap it!

I started with the more traditional (and a little "wild") Valentine colors in the Roxie collection from Close To My Heart, and added some Lagoon cardstock for the base.  The title is cut using my Cricut - "sugar" is from the Nursery Rhymes cartridge and "shock" is from the Cuttin' Up cartridge.  I added a shadow to the "shock" also in Lagoon.

I cut hearts and the bracket shape in my title from the Art Philosophy Cricut cartridge collection.  I stamped on a few small ones with a coordinating heart stamp, and two pink ones with the "You're Sweet" sentiment.  I colored in the open parts of the sentiment with a Tulip marker to coordinate with the papers.  I attached bling buttons to the small stamped hearts, then adhered all of the hearts to the edge, popping some up with foam adhesive tape.  Finally, I stamped the "You color my world" sentiment on the heart in the center, and again colored in the open letters with the Tulip marker.  (Note: the stamps I used are no longer available, but the technique works for any sentiment with open letters.)

All of the products used in this project are from Close To My Heart.  If you don't have a consultant, I would love to add you to my newsletter list (above left), and invite you to shop on my website 24/7.

Thanks for stopping by again today!  I invite you to become a follower or follow by email (above right).  Make sure you hop on over to Jamie's My Amusing Life blog next to see what she has to share with you! 

The complete blog hop lineup is as follows: 

Lisa Pontious - http://honeybearzdesigns2011.blogspot.com/
Kristy Asche - http://scraptasticalkreations.blogspot.com/
Doris Parker - http://mybugandmecreate.blogspot.com/
Nicolette Simpson- http://beyondscrapin.blogspot.com/
Lori Brown - http://savingmine.blogspot.com/ - YOU ARE HERE!
Jamie- http://myamusinglife.blogspot.com/
Scraps To Treasures - http://scraps2treasure.blogspot.com/
Ashley Townsend - http://theglamoroussideofscrapping.blogspot.com/
Beckie - http://justbcreativecrazy.blogspot.com/
Janet Royer- http://janetscreativeworld.blogspot.com/
Jessi Buehrle- http://mylifeinartscrafts.blogspot.com/
Angela Urell- http://creativecraftin.blogspot.com/
Kimi and Pamela - http://lovebugcreations3.blogspot.com/
Christina - http://cema1cema.blogspot.com/
Mindy - http://papercreationsbymindyblog.blogspot.com/
Janet Smith - http://www.ladyluvbug.blogspot.com/
Erica - http://mycricutcraftroom.blogspot.com/

Love is in the Air - Part 1

Welcome to Day 1 of the Love is in the Air Blog Hop! If you've arrived here from Nicolette's Beyond Scrappin' blog, you are in the right place! If you are just joining the hop and wish to start from the beginning, please visit Lisa's blog.  In case you get lost along the way, the complete blog hop lineup is at the bottom of this post.

Each blogger participating in this hop is featuring a project having to do with Valentine's Day or Love. This super-fun hop will be showcasing cards, layouts and projects that feature anything and everything to do with LOVE since that is what Valentine's Day is all about right!! You'll find an array of ideas throughout this hop. From decorations to gift ideas and more, we hope you'll enjoy each and every project along the way!! Be sure to leave a comment at each hop stop to show all the participants a little love. 

There will be another round of great projects tomorrow, so  be sure to come back!

We have three kids, and I always get them a little something for Valentine's Day.  So, my project for today is a gift pocket for each of them where I can tuck their gift.  My kids are all very different, so of course I chose to make each pocket different.  And what better way to do that than to make each one with one of my three favorite paper brands?  So, I have one pocket each made with Graphic 45, Echo Park Paper, and Close To My Heart.

Here are the details on each one. (You can click on the pictures to see them larger.)  All of the heart pockets were cut with my Cricut, using the Art Philosophy cartridge exclusive to Close To My Heart.  They were cut at 11.5", and adhered after decorating using Scor Tape.  First up, for my 7yo son.  He hates anything that might be even remotely "girly", so I immediately thought of this cool "tin man" paper from Graphic 45's "The Magic of Oz" line.

I decorated the front of the pocket using popped up layered hearts of Grey Wool CS (CTMH), and the opposite side of the tin man paper, each edged with a black alcohol marker.  I added some chipboard tags from the same line, tied with baker's twine (CTMH), and a keyplate (G45 Staples).  For final touches I added a cardstock key cut using the Cricut and the Art Philosophy cartridge (due to size, I used the hid countours feature on the Gypsy to hide some of the smaller details), and the "hugs" and "kisses" labels made using an old school Dymo label maker.  (He probably won't like that part, lol.)  I used a simple cardstock strip for a hanger and attached it using oversized brads.

Next up, a sweet girly pocket for my almost 9yo girly-girl.  This one uses the Yours Truly collection from Echo Park Paper.  The grown-up and "fancy" feel of this collection just had her name written all over it!  I used the "Sweetheart" paper to create the pocket.

I again decorated the front of the heart using popped up layered hearts, cut from Cranberry CS (CTMH) and the back side of the "Rose Blossom" paper in the collection.  I again edged them using a black alcohol marker.  I added details using various stickers from the collection, including the alphabet, hearts, sentiment, and top hat.  Finally, I added a hanger of American Crafts ribbon, with the backing trimmed down close to the flowers in the ribbon.

Finally, the pocket I made for our 10 1/2 yo daughter.  She's our fun & funky tweenager who thinks she's too cool for any kid stuff, and definitely not the girly type.  So of course I had to go with the wild "Roxie" collection from Close To My Heart.  

I kept it simple and "mature" with popped up layered hearts using black CS and leopard print paper wrapped in bakers twine (CTMH).  I added a couple of smaller hearts cut from the zebra print and the tone on tone flower print.  I then stamped the sentiment using the Thoughtful Tidings stamp set - February's stamp of the month set from CTMH, and added a photo turn to the zebra heart.  Finally, I added a hanger of gold ribbon from my stash, and oversized Shimmer Designer Brads in gold (CTMH).

Thank you for stopping by my blog today!  I'd love it if you decide to become a follower, or follow by email (above right).  And if you don't currently have a Close To My Heart consultant, I'd love if you signed up for my email newsletter (above left).  Please hop on over to Jamie's My Amusing Life blog next to see what she has to share with you!  And don't forget to come back tomorrow for more - I have a fun & unusual scrapbook layout to share with you...

The complete blog hop lineup is as follows: 

Lisa Pontious - http://honeybearzdesigns2011.blogspot.com/
Kristy Asche - http://scraptasticalkreations.blogspot.com/
Doris Parker - http://mybugandmecreate.blogspot.com/
Nicolette Simpson- http://beyondscrapin.blogspot.com/
Lori Brown - http://savingmine.blogspot.com/ - YOU ARE HERE!
Jamie- http://myamusinglife.blogspot.com/
Scraps To Treasures - http://scraps2treasure.blogspot.com/
Ashley Townsend - http://theglamoroussideofscrapping.blogspot.com/
Beckie - http://justbcreativecrazy.blogspot.com/
Janet Royer- http://janetscreativeworld.blogspot.com/
Jessi Buehrle- http://mylifeinartscrafts.blogspot.com/
Angela Urell- http://creativecraftin.blogspot.com/
Kimi and Pamela - http://lovebugcreations3.blogspot.com/
Christina - http://cema1cema.blogspot.com/
Mindy - http://papercreationsbymindyblog.blogspot.com/
Janet Smith - http://www.ladyluvbug.blogspot.com/
Erica - http://mycricutcraftroom.blogspot.com/

Still Time to Get Mad About You!

Check out this sweet banner I made with the Mad About You stamp set and my Cricut:

There are 4 stamps marked on this set with their compatible sizes on the Art Philosophy Cricut cartridge, but of course I'm sure you can find more great shapes on the cartridge to use with the sentiments.  Don't have the cartridge?  You can still cut the shapes by hand like we've been doing for years. I also cut my letters from the same cartridge.

If you haven't yet placed your order for December's stamp of the month, Mad About You, there's still a little time left.  This stamp set goes away after 12/31, but if you contact me via email or phone I am still able to order it a few days after that.

If you'd like more ideas using this awesome stamp set, you can check out our blog hop from the 1st of the month!

Supplies used in this project are available from Close To My Heart:

• Mad About You, December stamp of the month
• Roxie Level 2 paper pack
• Ink pads in Black, Tulip, and Smoothie
• Sponge daubers
• Bonding Memories glue pen (mine in the photo is an old style, so it's bigger than the current one)
• Designer Ribbon Red Collection
• Stamping blocks, 2"x2" and 3"x3"
• Art Philosophy Cricut Cartridge

I also used a 1/8" hole punch so I could string my ribbon through the hearts.

Birthday Party with Art Philosophy Cricut Cartridge - September Product Spotlight Blog Hop

Welcome to our Close To My Heart Product Spotlight Blog Hop! This month we are featuring our brand new exclusive Cricut cartridge, Art Philosophy. If you are just starting out, or have arrived here from Carol's blog, you're in the right place. When you're done here, you will head over to Jena's blog and see what she has created for us.

Using the Art Philosophy cartridge, Roxie papers and coordinating cardstocks, and only those stamp sets that come with the cartridge, I created the basics of a birthday party that any Teen/Tween girl is sure to love.  (Psst, this 41-year-old Mom loves it too - too bad my birthday is past!)  I also added some Opaques in Pearl and Licorice, and Glitz in Stardust.

 

There are even more great stamps and cuts included in the collection to add more to this party!  There's a great banner you can cut in a large size along with the included font, and a coordinating stamp for cutting a smaller size that would look great decorating the side of a cake or on a scrapbook page of the event!

Here's a fun invitation made with a cartridge cut that has an opening cut into the front.  The details are stamped on the inside of the card.  With this card cut at 8.5" wide, it's a perfect invitation size, AND it happens to fit the invite stamp perfectly.  I kept the embellishments simple to make it easier to mail.

Of course a birthday wouldn't be complete without a card for the birthday girl.  This is made with the same cut as the invitation, but in a larger size.  This is an approximately 5x7 card, with the opening cut the perfect size for the larger shaped stamp.  All of the roses are from the cartridge as well, and super easy to roll up!

I thought this cute little box would make a nice take-home for an extra cupcake.  Now, if you buy big bakery cupcakes, you're going to have a problem with the icing.  But if you go for the homemade variety they should fit fine.  Otherwise, for sure a couple of minis should squeeze in there nicely.  The ribbon ties it closed and makes it quick to open as soon as the snack attack hits.  This ribbon is from the Designer Ribbon Pink Collection.

This is my favorite part!  Can you just see this sweet little bag filled with lip gloss, nail polish, and other assorted girly treats?!  And I just love the way that pleated ribbon looks on there!  This one is from the Designer Ribbon Red Collection.

If you're ready to move along, head on over to Jena's blog any time!  Before you order, be sure to drop me an email - I'd love to help you get some things free, and maybe even get your Art Philosophy cartridge at half price.  My recent hostess took online orders only, received $120 in free product, and got three items (including her Art Philosophy cartridge) at half-price.  Let me show you how!

Thanks for stopping by - I'd love to hear your comments.  If you like what you see here, I'd also love it if you became a follower or email subscriber.