Craft with Heart

My Craft with Heart subscription arrived today.  How exciting!

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Album Retreat 2017

Close to My Heart hosted an Album Retreat (my fourth) in Scottsdale, Arizona, this weekend.  I met these wonderful ladies at my first Album Retreat when they were kind enough to welcome me into their circle.  We keep in touch throughout the year and try to visit with each other when we can, but we REALLY look forward to when we can all gather together.

In addition to spending time with great friends, we also get to make some beautiful layouts, often learning or at least practicing new techniques.

And of course there's always time for some photo ops!

You Make My Heart Smile Magic Layout

For the 2017 Close to My Heart Convention, I entered the layout contest.  The theme for Convention was "Who Tells Your Story".  I used the Magician's Choice sketch from the Magic Scrapbooking Program to show photos of my furkids both happy and during a struggle each experienced, along with journaling my experiences with each of six dogs. 

This element on the top of the right page is held closed with a ribbon but opens out to an accordian "mini-album" full of hidden journaling and photos.

Supplies: 

• No Worries Paper Packet (X7220B)
• No Worries Complements (X7220C)
• No Worries Coordinating Cardstock (X7220D) 
• No Worries Sequins (Z3322)
• White Burlap Ribbon (Z3323)
• Magic Scrapbooking Program

Tokyo DisneySea Little Dreamer Magic Layout

Last December I had the (brief) opportunity to go to Tokyo DisneySea, which was celebrating its 15th (crystal) anniversary.  The color palette for Little Dreamers worked fabulously with my photos.  I used a Magic layout in order to maximize photos but also allow for journaling.  All of the photos lay flat

but two of the photos slide up to reveal journaling.

Close-ups of the sliding elements:

The Magic layouts can be used without the Magic elements, as shown here.

Supplies:

• Little Dreamer Paper Packet (X7219B)
• Little Dreamer Coordinating Cardstock (X7219D)
• Little Dreamer Complements (X7219C)
• Little Dreamer Glitter Gems (Z3321)
• White Shimmer Trim (Z3024)
• White Daisy Cardstock (1385)
• 3-D Foam Tape (Z1151)
• Magic Scrapbooking Program

Sweet Pupcake Birthday Magic Layout

Scrapbooked my little pupcake's birthday celebration using the Sugar Rush collection and the Showtime sketch from the Magic Scrapbook Program.  The "Birthday Girl" photo on the upper left conceals flaps that open to allow for up to an additional eight (8) photos.

Supplies:

• Sugar Rush Paper Packet
• Sugar Rush Complements
• Magic Scrapbook Program

Best Day Ever Parlor Layout

I’ve used the Enchantment paper and the Parlor sketch from the Magic Scrapbook Program (without the Magic) to remember a seemingly ordinary moment of my dogs hunting chipmunks on our morning walks.  They do this most mornings, but it’s something that’s entertaining for all of us and that I won’t want to forget. 

  

The rich saturated colors of the Enchantment palette offset the neutral tones of Comet, Halley, and the field, allowing the photos to pop out.  I cut apart some of the Complements to make the title.  Even though the Complements are school-themed, they can be applied to non-academic layouts.  

Supplies: 

• Enchantment Fundamentals Paper Packet (Z3254)
• Fern Cardstock (X5777 or X5781)
• School 7-12 Complements (Z3266)
• Magic Scrapbook Program (9040)

Check out the Magic version of this layout in the Pemberley Magic Layout from May of 2012.  

Adventure Fundamentals Magic Layout

I made this layout as the Grand Prize for my Fundamentals Facebook workshop.  It's the Charmed layout from the Magic Scrapbook Program.  The four photo blocks on the right page actually open up to allow for eight additional photos.

I used the Adventure Fundamentals paper and a bit of the Rustic Home Fundamentals.  This layout also includes embellishments from the Good Life Complements and the Adventure Fundamentals Ribbon Pack.  The tabs for the photo flaps are made with glitter cardstock pennants from the Good Life Complements and ribbon from the Adventure Fundamentals Ribbon Pack.  

Supplies: 

• Adventure Fundamentals Paper Packet (Z3253)
• Rustic Home Basic Fundamentals Paper Packet (Z3262)
• Good Life Complements (Z3264)
• Adventure Fundamentals Ribbon Pack (3286)
• Bamboo Cardstock (1301 or X5922)

Pocket Scrapbooking

I made this layout for my first Facebook event.  These photos are from our excursion aboard the Margaret Todd while we were staying in Bar Harbor, Maine. I used ink daubers to apply ink to the Watercolor and Journaling cards.  (Never having been particularly "artistic", I'm still struggling with the watercolor paints.)  I did cut a couple of the "cards" from the Florence scrapbook paper, so if they don't all look like the PML cards in the paper packet, that's because a couple of them are just a 6” × 4” and a 4” × 3” piece of scrapbook paper.    

Remember to apply embellishments in odd numbers to make them more visually appealing.  I was concerned that all of the flowers might make the layout too girly for my handsome puppy, but fortunately that doesn't seem to be the case.

Supplies: 

• Florence Paper Packet (X7208B)
• Florence Complements (X7208C)
• Florence Sequins (Z3213)
• Picture My Life™ Overlays – White Frames (Z3283)
• Picture My Life™ Watercolor Cards – Clear (Z3221)
• Picture My Life™ Watercolor Cards – Gold (Z3217)
• Picture My Life™ Tabbed Journaling Cards (Z3278)
• Poppy Exclusive Inks™ Stamp Pad (Z2652)
• Peacock Exclusive Inks™ Stamp Pad (Z2649)
• Flaxen Exclusive Inks™ Stamp Pad (Z2642)

Florence Magic Layout

I made this layout as the Grand Prize for my first Facebook party.  It's the Enchantment layout from the Magic Scrapbook Program.  There are two "file folders" that will allow you to add four hidden photos or journaling blocks.  

I love that the B&T papers have both subtle and bold patterns - this layout incorporates five (5) of the patterns in the Florence Paper Packet.  I used the cardstock for the file folders as well as photo mats, especially since I was giving this layout away.  (I wanted to make sure they knew where the photos were intended to go.)  

Supplies: 

• Florence Paper Packet (X7208B)
• Florence Complements (X7208C)
• Florence Sequins (Z3213)
• Poppy Cardstock (X5779 or X5781)
• Peacock Cardstock (X5776 or X5781)

Scrapbook Style: Distressed - Clementine Layout Workshop

With the new Autumn/Winter Idea Book, I revised my basic layout classes to focus on different styles and techniques.  We started with the distressed style, incorporating crumpling, sanding, and inking, utilizing the Clementine paper and embellishments on the

The Saddle cardstock pieces were dampened, crumpled, straightened, dried, sanded, and inked with Saddle ink.  The Sorbet B&T paper pieces and the Twilight cardstock pieces were all sanded.  The Twilight cardstock was inked with Twilight ink.  The Flowered B&T paper pieces were inked with Saddle ink using the Sea Sponge Texture Tool.

Supplies:

• Clementine Paper Packet
• Clementine Complements Canvas Shapes
• Twilight Cardstock
• My Acrylix Casual Expressions
• My Acrylix Buttons, Bits, and Bobs
• My Acrylix Cocktail Alphabet
• Cricut Artiste Cartridge
• Sanding Kit
• Texture Tools

Cruisin' Magic Layout Club

For July, we used photo page protectors hinged onto our layout to add more photos.  This layout incorporates the Cruisin' paper and embellishments for the Out of the Hat sketch from the Magic How-To Scrapbooking Program.

Here's the right page with both flaps open.

Here's the reverse side of the bottom flap.

And the reverse side of the top flap.

Supplies:

• Cruisin' Paper Packet
• Cruisin' Complements Silver Foil Images
• Bottle Caps
• My Acrylix Cocktail Alphabet
• Memory Protectors Photo Storage Page
• Hinges

Sonoma Layout

This layout was done for the Sonoma Layout Workshop and utilizes the Safe & Secure sketch from the Imagine How-To Scrapbooking Program.  I printed out the photos in monochromatic sepia and purple tones.  I still need to finish the journaling and find a photo of Oslo, our dog growing up...

Supplies:

• Sonoma Paper Packet
• Sonoma My Stickease Assortment
• My Acrylix Bohemian Alphabet
• Colonial White Designer Ribbon Rounds

Typeset Layout

Here's the layout I did for the Typeset Layout Workshop.  It's the Up the Tempo sketch from the Imagine How-To Scrapbooking Program.

Supplies

• Typeset Paper Packet
• Typeset Complements Canvas Shapes
• Milepost Shapes
• My Acrylix Pennant Alphabet

Superhero Magic Layout

Oops.  Guess I'm a bit behind in posting projects.  The June Magic layout utilized the Superhero paper packet and embellishments and the Hocus Pocus sketch.  

The film strip elements include some hidden photos that are revealed via pulling the tabs on each page (below).

Supplies:

• Superhero Paper Packet
• Superhero Complements Rub-Ons
• Comic Badge Buttons
• My Acrylix American Celebration
• My Acrylix Hero Alphabet 
• My Acrylix Hodge Podge Alphabet

Victory Layout Workshop

I decided to offer a monthly non-interactive layout workshop.  (The layout's not interactive; the class is very interactive!)  My first one is this week.  Here's the layout.

I used the Victory paper and embellishments and the Fiesta sketch from the Imagine How-To Scrapbooking Program.

Supplies:

• Victory Paper Packet
• Victory My Stickease Assortment
• Tough Tags

Florentine Magic Layout

May's Magic Layout used the Florentine paper and embellishments and the Magician's Choice sketch.

The bow contains an expandable "mini-album" that accommodates up to thirteen (13) additional photos.

Here is the mini-album opened,

 

the back of the right side,

and the back of the left side.

Supplies:

• Florentine Paper Packet
• Florentine My Stickease Assortment
• Timeless Charms
• My Acrylix Family Love
• My Acrylix Trinity Alphabet 
• My Acrylix Hodge Podge Alphabet

LeaderShare Studio J Experience

I attended my first Close to My Heart event in late April.  In addition to all of the great training, we were given the opportunity to create five Studio J layouts, making sure to utilize a variety of tools and techniques.

Layout 1 - Florentine Kit

In the first layout, which uses the Florentine kit and the Sidebar - Original Sampler - Photo Checkerboard sketch, we used multiple photo wells for one picture (the lower four on the right page).  We also changed out some of the B&T paper and swapped one of the solid cardstock colors for B&T paper.  The title incorporated two different fonts.  We used the square-box stitching template for the four boxes on the right page as well as running-stitch stitching on the title block on the left page.  The flower at the top of the left page is actually two resized and layered My Stickease images.  There's direct-tool distressing on some of the cardstock, with the intensity adjusted to 50%.

Layout 2 - Superhero Kit

This layout uses the Superhero kit and the Front and Center - In the Middle/Sidebar - Main Frame sketch.  We added a pattern using journaling boxes - the stripe pattern on the bottom of the left page was made copying and pasting the same size journal box across the Cranberry paper.  The suggestion had been for an argyle pattern using squares and Xes stitched across them, but the stripes better fit my layout.  We also changed one of the cardstock colors and swapped one of the B&T papers for solid cardstock.  The title uses the same font but in different colors, sizes, and orientations.

Layout 3 - Cruisin' Kit

In the third layout, we used the Cruisin' Kit and the Up the Tempo sketch (which is the same as I used for my This is Me! layout).  The alphabet border was created with the alphabet stickers iin the Quick-Title Tool.  My Stickease images are layered on both pages.  Cross stitching was added to both pages and direct distressing was added.

Layout 4 - Stella Kit

This layout uses the Stella kit and the Abstract sketch.  The Olive and Colonial White cardstock colors were switched.  The main focus of this layout was using stitching to frame the photos.  My Stickease images and stitching shapes were resized and clustered.  Direct distressing was applied to the cardstock.

Layout 5 - Pemberley Kit

The last layout used the Pemberley kit and the Monologue sketch.  We split My Stickease flower images across the two pages.  Six folded clasps and brads were used to create a border at the top of the journaling box.  Text boxes were sized and placed over the photos to enable distressing the photos.  A space is typed in the text box to remove the reminder text, and "None" is selected for the background.