Monsters

This is a single page layout which I made which features the textured cardstock.

The background tire marks were made using one of the boys toy monster trucks - I ran the wheels of the toy over the desert sand ink and then ran the truck over the cardstock :O)

I trimmed a 12x12 piece of white textured cardstock to 8.5 x 11 and printed my photos onto it. I then mixed a tiny amount of desert sand re-inker into a little puddle of white paint & dry brushed this onto the photos.

The paint really high-lights the texture of the cardstock and gives it a really distressed look.

I used 3D foam tape under some of the letters which I had stamped and cut out. Heavy ink distressing on the journalling block & natural hemp & an outdoor denim button give a fun texture to it. Every other element on the page was heavily scissor distressed :O) Hope you like it x

Mud Puppies - 3x3 Mini Album

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This is a mini album I made using the same 'mud puppies' photos featured on the double layout which I posted a few days ago. 

I used the 3x3 Mini album and used different Dimensional elements on the pages. I used liquid glass over letters and as rain on the first page.

I also added Twill ribbon and blue and green embroidery floss for texture - Hope you like it :O)

Bella 6x6memory Showcase Album

This is another 6x6 memory showcase album - I love the Bella paper and stickease - so pretty :O)

 

The stickease in the Bella pattern are so pretty - the bees added a fun touch to it :O)

I was thrilled at the way it turned out - I hope you like it too :O)

Happy Christmas Everyone

Just a quick  note as I sit here next to the Christmas Tree listening to Christmas Carols on the CD Player. It makes me realize just how blessed I am to have the life I have. A wonderful husband, 3 healthy children and a job which I LOVE. I am so lucky to have customers who have become such good friends and still stay in touch even though they are no longer in the USA and are scattered about the world.
I am so grateful for the friends who are also consultants who share a bond started though our love of CTMH but have become so much more.
I send you best wishes for a wonderful Christmas and hope you have a fabulous day wherever in the world you are.xx

Another fun 6x6 memory showcase workshop :O)

2 weeks ago, I taught another workshop for the 6x6 Memory Showcase. Machiko was kind enough to let us use her house and we had so much fun. Here you can see us all with the finished projects.

Home safely :O)

Okay I'm awake for more than 10 minutes at a time LOL. I had to have 2 needle localizations before surgery which was a little stressful as you can imagine - then to the OR. They found 2 lumps which they removes & I should get the results next week. So apart from feeling like I've been hit by a MACK truck & having to wear the most unattractive surgical bra on the planet - I'm doing okay. I'm so blessed to have so many people who care about me :O) Love to everyone xx

Missing In Action.................

Hi everyone
Sorry I haven't posted for a couple of days - it has been absolutely manic around here - my daughter Robyn is moving to her new house and I have been trying to get everything wrapped up (literally) as I am having surgery this morning - Hopefully I will be feeling better in a day or so and will post more artwork for you :O)

My name is Mud around here.....

Here is a double layout which I submitted to a competition. Didn't win but that's okay - I LOVED the way it turned out :O)

These are somephotos taken back in2007 when my son Elliott decided to play in the mud - below is a close up of the journalling :O)

I used the Heartfelt Die cuts for texture and accented them with antique copper brads. The paper is from the Aspen level 2 paper pack. The font is from the CTMH Expressive Font CD

Hope you like it :O)

Disney Fold out Album

Good morning everyone :O)

Here is a fun album which I made and finally finished last night - woohoo :O) It started out with an undecorated album which I had picked up at a craft fair some time ago. I used the CTMH Giggles and Grins paper and stickease,and the matching stamps to decorate it. I did add a few embroidered Mickey piece which I bought at Magic Kingdom. The entire inside section folds out which I then decorated and made interactive.

As you can see I added flaps and fold outs to it to add more photos :O)

This is the other side of the fold out piece.

 

Again I added more pockets and tags.

Sorry this is a little blurry - I was standing on a chair to be able to get it all in LOL.

This was our first trip to Disney - we had so much fun.

Hope you like it :O)

Today is the last day of the Close To My Heart clearance sale........

...............so you have until midnight to order online and make the most of those reduced items :O)

An afternoon of fun at the zoo......

This altered album was made out of a children's chipboard book. I'll give you 3 guesses what it was about with this shape LOL. I sanded all of the pages as the printed made them very glossy then added the paper and cardstock. The sanding was the worst part and a little messy. But totally worth it :O) I did use a UHU glue stick as this works the best. then use sanding files to make sure you get nice clean edges of the pages. The best place to get these kind of books (if you don't have young children of your own) is the Salvation Army. Doesn't matter if the pages are drawn on as you are going to cover them up - you can get some really interesting shapes.

As usual, I made the pages interactive so the 2 photos on the left open up like a book and the bottom photos on the right lifts up.

 

 

Again the 2 photos on the right open up for more space and for journalling. Elliott was so thrilled that the lion had his name - usually Lions are called Leo (my son Leo is rather smug about this) So it made it even more special for Elliott - AND he spelled his name the same way. Elliott's day was totally perfect :O)

Hope you like it - find yourself a book and go and have fun :O)

Unit meeting

I had to post this photo although my friends will probably murder me for this one :O) This was a joint unit meeting that I held with my fellow consultants Victoria and Pam. We had a tropical theme and it was SO MUCH FUN. Oh my goodness we laughed so hard at ourselves in those hats. Victoria and I are at the front - in the hats - and Pam is standing at the back - in the hat.  We had lei's and palm trees to decorate. We made a cute mini album.
Next unit meeting is Jan 3rd - if you are interested in becoming a CTMH consultant - let me know and come and join the fun :O)

Close To My Heart Display Album Calander.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here is a display album which I taught as a class earlier in the year.We added the calendar pieces but that is an optional.  We used the Emporium Level 2 paper pack and matching My Stickease. I added the Sweet Leaf Ribbon Round and distressed some of the pieces in crystal blue ink. It was a fun item to make - my apologies that some of the photos are a little blurry.
Hope you like it :O)

Baby Wall Hanging & Door Sign

Some of you saw this at Convention in 2008 when I taught a class on how to use CTMH items around your home. The bases of these are both wood and came from my local craft store - with the Baby sign - I colored in the edge of the sign with a sweet leaf marker and then dry brushed the pearl paint over it. With the door hanger I just colored in the edge with the marker. On both items I then attached Spring Iris cardstock whcih I had dry embossed in a diamond pattern and then dry embossed. Summer Posies mini flowers were added with a clear Sparkle in the center. I added paper to the Dimensional Element letters and attached them using 3D foam squares.  Finally - Sassy strands and ribbons added the hanger to the wall hanging and some texture to the door hanger. Hope you like it :O)

Diva picture frame.

I made this cute wooden photo frame using the retired Stylin' paper which I absolutely love.

Here is a photo of me having afternoon tea at the Ritz hotel in London

I was so surprised when they brought me a mini cake with a candle on it.

Hence the look of surprise on my face.

The 'belt' buckle on the black ribbon is actually a ring pull from a coke can :O)