Ivy Lane Card Class

Here is a pretty card using the Ivy Lane Paper Pack and C1581 Inspiration Flourishes stamp set.

The top card has a flower cut using the Cricut Art Philosophy cartridge. 

On the bottom card I used the reverse side of the paper and left the flower off it 

to give a different look to it.

I used a narrow piece of the Pink Glitter Cardstock and then added a piece of the new

 Gold Shimmer Trim which is available in the Ivy Lane Card Kit WOTG.

I used Pear and Hollyhock inks to stamp the image and used Smokey Plum ink and a Direct to cardstock technique on the Smokey Plum cardstock.

Hope you like them :O)

Love Sara xxx

Ivy Lane Workshop on the Go - Scrapbook layout

I have to confess to loving this paper pack - it reminds me of Laura Ashley style designs.

I love the pinks and greens together - I can imagine spring gardens - love it :O)

On this particular layout I used quite a few of the matching Ivy Lane Stickease and the matching embellishments from the Workshop on the Go. I also added some accent pieces using the new Pink Glitter cardstock along the top and bottom sections of the pages.

I stamped the words 'Pure Joy' from from the WOTG stamp set in Smokey Plum ink which co-ordinates beautifully with this paper, and used the same color ink for the 

'Pure, simple, wonderful you' stamp.

The swirls from the C1581 Inspiration Flourishes stamp set were stamped in Hollyhock ink 

onto theHollyhock cardstock bases.

I stamped the flower shapes in Bamboo ink onto the Bamboo pieces.

I do love the fabric and resin flowers from the Ivy Lane Assortment and here I added a 

Purple Glitter Gem to the center of the fabric flowers for some added bling.

I used the Zip-strip on the Ivy Lane Green cardstock and loved the finished result.

Hope you like it too :O)

Love Sara xxx

Happy Place - Stamp of the Month Card

Here is another card made with the adorable Matryoshka Doll Stamp of the month stamp set.

This time I used the hearts along the edge of the card and then cut around the

 edge of them to make a fun scalloped edge to the card.

I used Topiary ink for the Direct to Cardstock ink distressing technique which give a 

Woodgrain effect to the matching cardstock.

I added a thin piece of the new Pink Glitter cardstock to accent the 2 smaller dolls.

I added Pearls to the centers of the hearts and to the center of the tummy of the smallest doll.

Hope you like it - Love Sara xxx

Costa Rica Luggage Tags

I made more gifts for this trip - this time one for me - one for my BFF Victoria 

and one for my friend Dana.

I found these adorable wooden flip-flop pieces at Michaels 

and thought they would make great luggage tags. I found the small wooden letters too so was able to personalize them :O)

I stamped the little pink hearts in Hollyhock ink (to represent Close To My Heart ) and then used the markers to color in the bands on the front of the flip flops and the flower on the front. 

I added liquid glass to the center of the flower and heaped on the Prisma Glitter.

I stamped the little lizard from the Costa Rica Incentive Trip stamp set  in Timber Brown Stazon (yes I know it looks really reddish but I think that is the effect of the wood and the liquid glass).

I inked the wooden letters with the Hollyhock marker and then stamped the design in the Timber Brown Stazon and attached them with Liquid glass.

I then went over the whole thing with Liquid Glass. "That's a lot of liquid glass" I hear you say. 

You better believe it - I used a bottle and a half to cover these !!!.

Then I decided I would add more Prisma glitter - this time to the initials - but I wasn't sure what it would look like so I just did it to mine. I was a little disappointed with it because it hid a lot of the pattern underneath which is why only mine has the glitter on it.

I finished them off with some Ruby Chevron ribbon. 

I loved the way they turned out and so did Victoria and Dana.

They aren't really sturdy enough for suitcases but perfect for hand luggage :O)

Hope you like them

Love Sara xxx

Good Times mini album

 I really do like the CTMH Cricut Artbooking cartridge - not only does it give you options for page layouts - there are also the patterns for 10 different sized mini albums.

This one is the Summer mini album.

 These mini albums are so cool as they have many themed images which you can add if you want too. I particularly love the beach umbrella below :O)

 All the way thought I have added the tan glitter paper and burlap ribbon.

 the page about with the masked character actually opens so the journalling is under the photo.

Hope you like it :O)  Love Sara xxx

Costa Rica friends gifts

When I earn at trip through Close To My Heart I make a point of making hand made albums for the Executive team, Monica Wihongi, Kristine Widfeltd and Brian Holman and of course one for the CEO and owner Jeanette Lynton.

This trip was no exception and I used the new Balloon Ride Level 2 paper pack.

The base was a True Fit File Folio and had all sorts of pull out tags and waterfall photo features.

 I used Creme Brûlée and Sorbet inks to give the butterfly the 2 tone image.

I also added the Brown/Tan Glitter paper to add some *Bling* (of course I did LOL)

You can see the 2 additional photo mat tags peeking out of the side pocket on the left and the top pocket on the right.

 On the last page you can see the 'Waterfall' photo feature which allowed me to add 

4 photo mats to a very small space. By pulling on the tab at the bottom the photos fold up 

and allows you to see the one below it.

Again there is another tag which can be pulled out of the top of the left hand section 

and the final tag is pulled out from the side of the final section.

 This shows the 'Waterfall" partially opened.

Well I hope you liked it  as much as they did :O)

Love Sara xxx

Sweet Moments Mini Album in a Box

 I am sad not to be able to get any more of the My Creations Recipe Boxes -I used them for so many things - should have stockpiled them LOL. I chose the check paper from the Laughing Lola paper pack as this - along with the gold patterned paper made me think of picnic baskets.

For this project I turned the box on its side so that and then used the Laughing Lola Dimensional Elements along with paper flowers cut with the CTMH Cricut Art Philosophy cartridge and the flourish from the Wooden Mini Medley and Burlap Ribbon to decorate the lid.

 Inside I made a concertina style mini album from lengths of 4x6 black cardstock and then glued the flip flaps to the back - I think it is easier to see what I mean from the photos than trying to describe it lol.

The photos were taken by my super talented friend Jenner from JLCashin Photography -Facebook.com/jlcashinphotography 

If you live in the area make sure you check her out - her photography is fabulous.

 On some of the sections I used either the Wishes or Originals card confidence programs and chose card designs to decorate these areas.

Hope you like it as much as I do - Love Sara xxx

I'm Back from Costa Rica :O)

Hopefully you didn't miss me as I kept my blog up to date with posts while I was gone - thats a first I hear you say hahaha :O)

I had a wonderful time in the Guanacaste Region of Costa Rica on the Incentive Trip which I earned through Close To My Heart.

94 degrees - beautiful sunshine - fabulous all inclusive hotel - amazing friends - lots of smiles - it doesn't get any better than that !!

SO here are a few photos of the trip :O)

This was the beach just outside the hotel grounds - it was lovely - a beach covered in shells at the one end - and you KNOW I brought some back to add to my scrapbook lol

 This was a the view of the pool - it was gorgeous and had a swim up bar :O)

 Here I am with my best friend who I took on the trip - Victoria (in the pretty red dress) along with 2 fellow consultants from here in Michigan Dana and Holly xxx

 I know this is a little hard to see but this is a 4 foot long Iguana who was in one of the trees by the river. We took a cruise on the Tempesque River through the Paolo Verde National Park - it was a great trip and allowed us to see so many animals and birds.

 Victoria and I on the river cruise boat.

 And one last one of me by a beautiful bougainvillea tree at the hacienda that we stayed at for lunch after the river cruise.

Well I hope I haven't made you too jealous of the trip - you know that you can come with me on the next one to Hawaii :O)

Follow your heart corner bookmark

Here is a quick and easy project which will take you just a little while to complete and is so stinking cute :O)

I used a couple of the larger Laughing Lola Dimensional Elements and added flowers cut using the CTMH Cricut Art Philosophy cartridge. Pink sparkles in the center added more bling. I did a a piece of cardstock to the back of it so that it fits over the corner of a page.

I colored the ribbon using the Gypsy ink and a sponge. I added prism glitter to the heart and then a layer of Lqiuid glass to keep it in place and not in your books :O)

A black button from the Black mini medley and a large clear sparkle in the center finished it off.

Hope you love it - Love Sara xxx

Pura VIda Scrapbook Layout

Today is the last day of my trip here in Costa Rica and here is the final layout given to my by CTMH - Love this one the best I think.

I used the honey ink pad directly on the honey cardstock for a woodgrain effect and stamped the leaf stamp in shades of Pear and Sweetleaf. I then cut them out and attached them to the 

side of the photo mats.

I can't wait to get back home to see my boys and my husband - and to print out the photos from this fabulous trip.

Love Sara xxx

Fun and Sun Scrapbook Layout

Oh my goodness - I love the lizards haha :O)

I have them running across my page in all directions.

I know I will come back from this trip with many pictures so this layout is perfect for those photos where you have close ups of items or people and the background can be cropped out.

Fun and Sun is a great title for this page and it also has a nautical feel to it so you could use it for an occasion like that :O)

Love Sara xxx

Fun Scrapbook Layout

This is such a pretty layout - I was really pleased with the way the buttlerlies turned out. I stamped the darker ones in Lagoon ink and rolled the edges of the stamps in Outdoor Denim ink and the light one I stamped in Pear ink and rolled the edge in Lagoon ink.

The three patterns of paper from the Skylark paper pack add just the right amount of pattern without it being distracting from the stamped images.

We are off to spend the day in the National Park so I know I will get many great photos which will fit on this layout :O)

Love Sara xxx

Explore Scrapbook Layout

I just love the colors of this layout and I already know what photos I am going to put on this when I get back from my trip

The Lagoon cardstock gives it the feel of water and I know that today I will be sailing and snorkeling so photos of todays trip will be perfect to go on here. The Teal Shimmer Trim is just perfect with this paper and cardstock and you know I like anything sparkly :O)

These layouts are lovely and I am looking forward to putting photos on them and making more - because you know I will have lots of photos.

Love Sara xxx

Skylark Incentive Trip layout

I am away in Costa Rica this week taking photos to put on this layout :O)

Yes I managed to complete this one before I went and again - I didn't put the layout title onto it. When I am ready to add my photos then I will decide on the title.

I used the large butterfly stamp with a tone on tone stamping technique on the Sorbet cardstock.

I used Sweetleaf ink on the top of the Sweetleaf cardstock page bases to stamp a leaf design - I know its a little difficult to see unless you zoom in on the photo.

I really like the technique of cutting the ends of the paper and cardstock pieces to make them look like ribbons.

Hope you like it too - Love Sara xxx

Land Tour layout

I really like the way this layout turned out - as usual I didn't follow the instructions  (why does that surprise you hahaha)

I ink distressed the Bamboo cardstock with the Bamboo ink to make it look like woodgrain

- I inked the Costa Rica title stamp in Sorbet ink and then stamped it again in Pear ink and cut the tiny frog out and layered the 2 images together.

I stamped the lizard in Pear ink on the Sweetleaf cardstock.

I do like the way that this layout from the Make It from Your Heart Vol 2 can be altered - we can switch the 2 pages around so that the left page becomes the right page and it gives it a totally different look. Anyway - I like it this way round - so hope you do too :O)

Love Sara xxx

Picture My Life - Scrapbooking

Imagine your dreams becoming reality

Imagine Your Dreams Becoming Reality….

Imagine owning your own scrapbooking company,

one that has an entire creative research & development team working for you.

one that has an entire staff of talented artists working for you,

one that hosts an entire website for you and has an entire I.T. team to back you,

one that has company meetings & yet does not expect you to attend them,

one that has a bank of lawyers to keep things running right,

one that has a complete publication & marketing staff to help you succeed, 

one that has daily office hours, yet it’s cool if you stay home,

one that has an entire events department to support your team,

one that wants YOU to decide how much, how little & when you work,

one that let’s you plan around your family commitments first,

one that wants you to be able to work faster, simpler, easier.

Imagine your dreams.

Imagine looking forward to getting a discount on the best 

scrapbooking & stamping products available?

Imagine waiting for your first kit to come?

Imagine how you are going to spend your first check?

Imagine how fun it will be to hear, “I’ll have a party or I’d like to order directly from your website, or could you give me information about becoming a consultant.”

Imagine your dreams.

Imagine taking it to the next level, with a team of your own.

Imagine all of the friends new and old that you can strengthen relationships with.

Imagine earning Free Trips and Vacations.

Imagine being recognized for your own accomplishments.

 Close To My Heart  here, better than ever, with new programs that deserve a look.

Your upline is here, wanting to help you achieve whatever level of success you want.

Let’s get together as soon as possible and talk about fanning the spark of your imagination into reality, by becoming a

Close To My Heart Consultant.

Email me at batabode@comcast.net or click on the link below to take you directly to the Close To My Heart sign up page 

Made Just For You 'Spa in a box'

This is one of my favorite pieces from teaching my class at Extravaganza last year.

I used the My Creations recipe box as the base.

I took the mask which I had made  using the CTMH Cricut Artbooking cartridge and sponged Gypsy ink onto the Gypsy cardstock to make a patterned background.

 I love the Laughing Lola paper as it has just fun colors in it. I decided to make a 'Spa In A Box" and use all Lavender smelling items in it.

I used the CTMH Cricut Art Philosophy to cut the flowers.

I used D1542 For A Friend to stamp the sentiment on the lid of the box ink Gypsy ink and then stamped the same image onto the My Creations Muslin Bags - this time using Smokey Plum Pigment ink. You have to use the Pigment inks on fabric otherwise the color spreads and you don't get a crisp image.

I used the watercolor pencils to add color to the image on the bags.

I filled them with dried lavender - they smelled lovely :O)

 I bought a bar of Lavender soap and the travel sized bottle of Lavender shower gel and hand lotion and wrapped the paper around them and tied them with the Color Ready Ribbon which I had colored by sponging Gypsy ink until I got the depth of color I wanted.

I was thrilled with the finished result and hope you like it too :O)

Love Sara xxx