March Scrap Class Kits Still Available

There are a few Scrap Class Kits still available from March.  Hop on over to the Scrapbook Garden in Saranac to snatch yours up!  Kits are $15, and include everything you need to make these gorgeous two layouts.

Layout #1

Layout #2

April Scrap Class at the Scrapbook Garden

 April's pages are now available to purchase at the Saranac Scrapbook Garden.  Come join us Thursday, April 18th at 1:30pm or at 6:15pm to make these two layouts for $15.  You can also purchase your kit and complete at the store or at home. For more information contact me (kelly.m.maatman@gmail.com, 616-406-8312).

Layout #1

Layout #2

Close Up of Layout #2

These classes are held the third Thursday of each month at 1:30pm and 6:15pm.  Kits are limited, and sign ups get an early preview of next month's class. To be guaranteed a kit sign up early!

Sail Away with Tommy

So, I'm having trouble today with my google+.  It seems that when you update your Flash player, all hell breaks loose. So, please excuse my terrible pictures today.

Anyways...Onto the fun stuff!

I love the Tommy papers in the new Close to my Heart Idea Book. Living on a a lake provides ample opportunity for water sports of all types, especially sailing.  This little butterfly was given to Mark by his parents.  So, on the days that are windy, and waterskiing is impossible, my husband releases his stress by sailing away...

for a little while anyways:)

 The Mini-Medley Accents Wooden Collection add such a great feeling of texture to this layout.  I love how the swirls look like waves on a windy day.

CTMH Supplies Used:
G1058 Workshops On the Go Tommy Scrapbooking Kit
Z1837 Mini-Medley Accents Wooden Collection

Scrapbook Classes Coming Soon to Scrapbook Garden

I was asked by a local scrapbooking store, Saranac Paper Garden, to teach a scrapbooking class.  Since I love creating scrapbook pages, and I love teaching too, I jumped at the chance and whipped these pages up!  

These papers are from the retired line, Sonoma, by Close to my Heart. The charms and My Stickease are coordinating accessories that were also available with the kit.  

It's sure to be a fun time learning new techniques, getting some pages done, and meeting others whom love to papercraft as much as I do!

Layout #1

Layout #2

If you'd like to create these pages or find out more about the monthly Layout Class, contact me (kelly.m.maatman@gmail.com, 616-406-8312) or contact the Scrapbook Garden for any questions.

These classes will be held monthly on the third Thursday with two time slots 1:30pm and 6pm.  Space is limited and so is kit availability, so sign up soon because it's filling fast!

Dakota Darling

I love the papers in the Dakota collection.  Here are a few layouts we did in Ladies' Lounge.

Layout #1

Layout #2

Layout #3

Close up Layout #1

Close up Layout #2

  

Those Precious Few

You ever have those special pictures that you want to scrapbook, but your afraid you won't do it justice? So, they sit.  Collecting dust.  Away where no one can see how amazing they are.

That's me.

I have those few special pictures awaiting their turn to shine on a page full of just the perfect amount of embellishment and pop.  However, I'm not perfect at anything, and why should my scrapbooking be any different?  Sometimes you just have to do it, knowing it may not be perfect. Will I change or add something to this? Probably.  But that shouldn't stop me from starting.

This was taken while watching a waterskiing competition.  I had just come back from getting something from the car and was waiting for my son to notice I had returned.  There are few things that fill me with delight like seeing the expression on his face when he sees me again.  It doesn't have to be 5 hours or even 5 minutes apart, his reaction is always the same.  And so I'll always keep waiting...

 





Supplies:
Cardstock is Core'dinations Black Iris and Buttercup
B&T, Banner, camera are cuts from Echo Park
Jumbo Brads from Making Memories
Blue B&T cloud from Paper Adventures
SMILE alpha chipboard from Cosmo Cricket Snorkel Collection
Balloon Stamp, ink, bling, and Baker's twine from CTMH

It's 83 degrees, and snowing in here!

I had a wonderful time attending a scrapbook weekend put on by a local church and stocked by our local store the Saranac Scrapbook Garden.  It gave me some time to get a few layouts done and meet a whole bunch of great gals.  I wasn't able to attend the entire event, but here is a taste of what I did in the time I had.  

So, as I mentioned a little bit ago, I have more layouts to share using the papers from Close to My Heart called Wonderland.  (These are the last of them, I swear!)  I really had a fun time with just using the blues and grays in the paper and adding my own pop of pink.  

I was really struggling with the title, because I lot of time I have long quotes or saying that I fall in love with, and one word titles just doesn't express the overall feeling of the layout.  Then I got a tip from Jeanette Lynton's Blog about using hand stitching for titles, and I knew exactly what I wanted to do.  Don't be afraid to mix up your typography and use up random alpha stickers.  You'll love the results and get more out of your stamps and stickers.

 The stamp set is from the Wonderland Work Shop on the Go, and the snowflakes are from Martha Stewart Crafts 3in felt snowflake ribbon.  I didn't like how three inches wide of snowflakes overpowered my soft layout so, I cut them apart and added some bling.  Bling makes all things better!

 This "brr..." layout is from the WOTG template.  I loved how it looked, but I wasn't feeling the title.  My son didn't like the snow and so the trepidation on his face is genuine.  I wanted to capture that in the title and used a hodge podge of chipboard, rubons, and epoxy alphas.

The folded paper gives great texture and a ribbon like feel.  It was such a fun and easy technique to do that I incorporated it into my companion layout.

Whenever I create more than one layout for the same event I always try to be consistent with colors and techniques.  It makes them cohesive and complete.

Now to create some fun stuff for the 80 degree weather in March we are experiencing...wonders never cease.

Wonderland Nostalgia

My close friend and CTMH consultant, Jolene, has a monthly scrapbooking workshop where we create two layouts with her product that are NOT the Workshop of the Go layouts.  Where our motto is: "It's good enough for the men I date." and chocolate is an endangered species.  I love it.

Last month we used the beautiful Wonderland kit from CTMH. Which is discontinued:(   And we weren't able to use the Icing Overlays, because the company ran out before the launch of the new catalog:(  However, with a snowflake stamp set and our Art Philosophy cartridge we were able to knock out some beautiful pages.  The left page of the layout was CASED from the Autumn/Winter catalog and she created a companion layout to match.  (I don't care that she copied it, I do the same thing.  Love a resourceful woman).  The title was supposed to be different, but I had this great silver/blue swirled and stitched title from Sticko that I've owned for years (8 to be exact).  It had extra snowflakes that I scattered around to blend in with the rest of the layout.  I'm pleased with how it turned out.

(The second layout Jolene created didn't fit my personal style, so I chopped it up into a few different ones)

A sepia tone with 74% opacity was applied to the photos to tone down the colors and blend with the papers.  This is one of my favorite techniques to use with winter layouts.  It really softens the look.

All these photos were from years past, because, well, winter seems to have skipped us this year.  I'm not complaining, nor am I happy about it either.  I love winter.  So, this year has given me a chance to catch up with my layouts and use up my paper.  In an earlier post I showed another Wonderland layout, and I I actually have a few more coming your way.  When it's all said and done, I will have six layouts from one, yes one, paperpack. So excited to share, and so sick of Wonderland papers!

If you like the layout, leave a quick comment!  I know your busy with blog hopping, but I've love to hear your thoughts.  Thanks!

Easter Delight

I love Easter. *Sigh*  So, much so that it seems I created these layouts...and forgot to add my pictures.  I've been organizing my craft room (an affliction that doesn't seem to go away) and found these in my stash.

How cute is this layout!?  I think it's all CTMH products.  Yeah, I know what your thinking, but you have to understand that I used to be consultant for a little bit and I have lots of stuff.  Don't worry, I've been checking out the CHA videos this past winter and I've got my eye on My Mind's Eye line coming out.  Time to branch out.

Banners are all the rage and I got THREE on this layout.  So, there.  I'm caught up with the rest of the trendsetters.  I love how the paper pieced rabbits came out.

The paper pack is Mayberry, which I wasn't a big fan of when it came out, but I made it my own.  Literally.  I added strips of light blue to the striped paper and BAM! It's workable for boy layouts.  I have to do that a lot it seems.  If you have a girl, your all set for scrapbooking supplies.  Throw some flowers and rhinestones on those scraps and your good to go.  With a boy it's different.  Things are getting better out there,but I'm sick of buttons.  Buttons, really?! Don't get me started.

I'm just going to take a minute and look at these cute layouts and let my rant dissipate...ok, I'm good.

Leap Year Traditions

 It's really been a mix of summer and winter here this year.  I've never experienced a February like this.  Braam and I went for a walk in his wagon yesterday and while our cheeks and noses were pink, I was thinking about how much fun summer is going to be this year with a two year old.   There are so many things I want to expose him to, and watch as he experiences them for the first time.

It made me think of a layout I did earlier in January.  We, as parents, always have the best intentions, but our plans can sometimes go amiss.  Case in point: Labor Day Parade 2010.  It started late.  We arrived early.  It rained.  We got wet.   It was cold.  I dressed everyone is shorts and tees.  It was loud.  Braam cried.

We'll try again next year.

Supplies:
CTMH Fanfare paperpack
CTMH stamps

Another example: Winter Lake Walk.  Every year I love to go for a walk on our lake when it's frozen over.  Little problem: it hasn't completely frozen over yet this year!  Now, I like to call myself adventurous, but not with the half frozen lake thing.  And I don't care if the lone fisherman thinks it's just fine.  YOUR ALONE, CRAZY!!! Take a hint.  So, I did this layout of last year's walk and hope that the annual tradition just has this one leap year.

Supplies:
CTMH Wonderland papers, Flurries DE, rubons, buttons
K&Company purple letters
Twine

Remembering Busy Times

Oh my, I remember this day! Mark and I were in the process of moving from Pontiac, IL to back home. Things were so hectic. Mark was starting a new job in January, we were selling our house in Pontiac, there was the actual moving (in a blizzard by the way), it was the holidays, and Mark, our niece Julia, and Mark's dad Jim all have birthdays close together. We were unable to make Julia's birthday and couldn't come up for Mark's, so we did it on the 22nd of December. We gave Julia her gift then as well and she seemed to think we were celebrating her birthday, not "Uncle Mark's". It was so cute! And, as you can tell from the pictures, the pony present went over very well...even with Mark's brother Matt!

There was so many funny things that happened at that "belated birthday" party. Julia decided to decorate her brother Dustin with ice cream and the actual cake was a pumpkin pie! Mark has a thing for pumpkin pie, and whatever you want for your birthday dessert you get! And, with the help of Flip Flaps, by Close to My Heart, I was able to include all those memorable photos on one layout. These things are so great! I even did a beautiful technique on the title. It is very shimmery and sparkly from using a little bit of water mixed with CTMH's Create-A-Shade Pearl paint. What a pretty way to dress up a little girl's layout!

Close to My Heart product used: Jimgle Level 2 (X7115B), Create-A-Shade Pearl Paint (Z1039), Prisma Glitter (Z134), Twinkle Brads Jolly Assortment (Z1220), Flip Flaps (Z4114), and It's Your Day (SOTM August 09).

You can create your own great layouts with the products mentioned above by visiting my website 24/7 to shop to your heart's content.

Kids @ Play

Last month at our unit meeting I chose to use the paper pack Tinkerin' from Close to My Heart. I have a little bit of a hard time with bright colors, but with this paper the creativity overflowed! Aren't my niece and nephew precious?! Yeah, they fool me too...love 'em though.

Close to My Heart product used: Tickerin' Level 2 (X7113B), Simple Alphabet lowercase (Z1048), Summer Craft Buttons (Z1282), Summer Carnival Brad Assortment (Z1214), and sponge (Z697).

You can order any of these products online at my website. Just click "Shop Online" and have fun playing!

A Fine Beer...

This was one of the first layouts I ever created using Close to My Heart products years ago. Now, you have to remember that I don't have kids, and while living in Illinois at the time there were many beer specialty stores. This layout reflects or interests at the time. An interest, I admit, we indulge in still every now and then. My husband, Mark, considers himself somewhat of a connoisseur of beer and caffeinated beverages. I never knew what we would be in the glass, and it became a type of game to figure out what type of beer it was and who brewed it. Let me say I learned to fear the darker brews. More than once, I'd take a small sip and beg for mercy. Yuck! But other nights, like the one I scrapbooked above, I would be pleasantly surprised by the flavors. Cheers!

Close to My Heart products used: Sarsaparilla (X7098B), Simple Alphabet lowercase (Z1048),

If you'd like to purchase these products for yourself just visit my website, click on "Shop Online" and away you go!

i am...

Back in May, Close to My Heart offered this wonderful kit called Tickled Pink, and I absolutely fell in love with it. Even though it's no longer offered, I wanted to share the layouts I created, because they express so much of who and what I am. With our busy lives, and being positioned usually behind the camera we forget about ourselves. Our families are so important to us and joyfully take priority. But we are important to them also, and it's important to scrapbook ourselves for future generations. So, the next time you scrapbook, share a little more than your artwork, share a piece of yourself.

Close to My Heart product used: Tickled Pink paper pack (no longer available), White Daisy Mini-Medley Accents (Z1136), I am stamp set (no longer available).

Visit my website and shop 24/7 for any available products. If you are interested in a stamp set or paperpack that is no longer available be sure to email me, I sometimes have an extra or two.

Into the Blue

I love this layout of my husband and his friend Jared. They are such Beach Hotties! The muted blues and browns reminded me of the cloudy day we spent at the beach and I love the blue hibuscus. They may be flowers, but the color is what makes them perfect for my masculine page. So, don't be afraid to put your own spin on stamps and papers. It's amazing what your imagination will come up with.

Close to My Heart product used: Moon Doggie Level 2 (X7111B),

Extreme Happiness (C1356), Surf's Up (C1358), Vintage Postcard (D1207), and Liquid Glass (Z679).

Enter my website here and then click "Shop Online" to order any of the products used here, or to browse other available products from Close to My Heart.