CTMH Miscellaneous Scrapbook Layouts

It's About To Get Wild, Baby!

We recently celebrated the upcoming birth of a co-worker's first child.  She's having a little boy.  As a fellow boy mom myself, I wanted to give her something special.  As I said, I have a little boy myself and in addition to all the typical baby stuff, one of my favorite things I have for my son is a journal I keep on my bedside.  I don't use this journal to record milestones or to document our days -- I have his scrapbooks for that.  Instead in this journal, I write down all the funny / crazy things my son says and does.  If you are a fellow boy mom, I'm sure you know what I'm talking about.  Boys get into all sorts of craziness and come up with some of the funniest things to say.  Nothing against girls, but I just don't remember my sisters (9 & 12 years younger than me) doing/saying anything like my son does.

Anyways, back to the gift.... I bought my co-worker a cute journal and pen to keep by her bedside for documenting her son's adventures.  In the card, I shared my thoughts on writing down the things that make her smile or laugh as it's too easy to forget those little moments as life is flying by.

I added a small cardstock "bookplate" to the first page in the journal so she could write her son's name in her own handwriting.

Supplies used:

*Georgie paper packet
*12" x 12" Canary cardstock
*12" x 12" Champagne cardstock
*12" x 12" Sapphire cardstock
*12" x 12" Whisper cardstock
*12" x 12" White Daisy cardstock
*5 1/2" X 4 1/4" white cards & envelopes, value pack
*Wild Wonders stamp set
*Slate Exclusive Inks stamp pad
*Black Exclusive Inks stamp pad
*Grey Enamel Gems

To order these or any of our other fabulous Close to My Heart products, please visit http://jddesigns.ctmh.com.

Until next time, design with {heart}!

2016 CTMH Retiring Lists & Dates

The 2016 Annual Inspirations Retiring List is here!

Every year CTMH retires older products in order to make way for new and exciting products that will be coming out in the next idea books. The list of products from our 2015-2016 Annual Inspirations catalog that will be retiring was released last week.  These items will no longer be available after July 31 and are available while supplies last.  As you look through the list, you will notice CTMH is retiring three of our beloved Cricut® collections, as well as our incredible rolling tote.  If you would like to earn any of these items at half-price, contact me today!

* * * * * * * * * *

DATES TO REMEMBER

- July 31 --

2015-2016 Annual Inspirations Idea Book & Products RETIRE

-- August 1 --

2016-2017 Annual Inspirations Idea Book & Products  RELEASE

-- August 31 --

2016 Seasonal Expressions 2 Idea Books & Products RETIRE

* * * * * * * * * *

And now for the lists....
(Please note -- you can click on any image to enlarge the list to make it more readable.)

Also, remember according to the new CTMH policy, all stamp sets will be retiring along with the Idea Book they are released in -- including any Cricut Compatible sets.  That said, CTMH reserves the right to "save" sets from retirement and this go-round, they plan to do exactly that.  Below are the lists of stamp sets that will not be retiring July 31st.

To order these retiring items or any of our other fabulous Close to My Heart products, please visit http://jddesigns.ctmh.com.

Until next time, design with {heart}!

Georgie Picture My Life Bundle PLUS **FREE** Gift

In honor of this month's spotlight on Georgie and the 25% off special on My Legacy albums, I've put together a fabulous product bundle with a FREE gift. When you purchase (1) Picture My Life Georgie Scrapbooking Program, (1) My Legacy Slate Circles D-Ring Album, and (2) Memory Protectors Variety Packs from my online store (jddesigns.ctmh.com) before May 31st, I will send you a FREE Marvy Uchida LePen Journaling Pen!!

PLUS by purchasing these items, you will qualify to add Celebrate with Cake (May Stamp of the Month) for $5 AND if you add the SOTM, you will qualify to receive the National Scrapbooking Month exclusive paper packet, Happy Times, for FREE!!

All of this for only $60.06 -- plus I will send you a FREE journaling pen!!

**Prefer a different album, PML program, or Memory Protector pack?** 
I will honor substitutions of equal value.

To order these or any of our other fabulous Close to My Heart products, please visit http://jddesigns.ctmh.com.

Until next time, design with {heart}!

May Spotlight Collection -- Georgie

This month's spotlight collection is the sweet, subtle Georgie.  While this collection is absolutely perfect & adorable for beautiful baby projects, much of the collection is not baby-specific.  In fact, with the exception of the elephant B&T, the paper packet is full of fabulous patterns that would work for almost any occasion!  Honestly, I first bought this collection because I was so excited for baby-themed paper/embellishments, but I've created more non-baby artwork with it than baby-artwork so far.

And if this collection couldn't get any sweeter, it also has a coordinating Picture My Life collection.  Now the PML set is definitely baby-specific, but what mom would love to receive this set along with a My Legacy album and some pocket Memory Protectors for a baby gift??  I wish this set had been around when my son was born!

To order these or any of our other fabulous Close to My Heart products, please visit http://jddesigns.ctmh.com.

Stay tuned throughout the month to my blog and my Facebook page for lots of fabulous Georgie inspiration.  And be sure to follow #ctmhgeorgie all month long for all the Georgie fun!

Until next time, design with {heart}!

Stamp of the Month Blog Hop - Celebrate With Cake

Welcome to the May Stamp of the Month Blog Hop!

If you came from visiting Marie Flayer, then you are in the right place.  If you just happened upon my little corner of the blog world, simply start here and continue hopping until you return here -- our fun hop is one big loop for your viewing pleasure. 

The month's featured stamp set is S1605 Celebrate With Cake (pictured below).  This set is available until May 31st and is only $5 with a $50 Close to My Heart purchase.

For today's project, I decided to scraplift myself.  Strange, I know... but I loved this card I made and shared last week using the now-retired Regatta collection so I just had to make another one.

This time, I used the May Spotlight Collection -- Georgie.  While this collection presents itself as a "baby" collection, I've found it it truly anything but.  Yes, the elephant B&T as well as the coordinating complements make Georgie a great baby collection, but the rest of the B&T designs as well as the color combination are simply fabulous for almost any theme.

Because I loved playing with Celebrate with Cake so much, I have a special bonus project for you today!

Supplies used:

*Celebrate with Cake stamp set (May SOTM)
*Georgie paper packet
*5 1/2" X 4 1/4" white cards & envelopes, value pack
*12" x 12" White Daisy cardstock
*12" x 12" Canary cardstock
*12" x 12" Slate cardstock
*12" x 12" White Daisy cardstock
*Bitty Sparkles
*Make It from Your Heart™ Volume 1
*Make It from Your Heart™ Volume 2

To order these or any of our other fabulous Close to My Heart products, please visit http://jddesigns.ctmh.com.

Thank you for visiting me at jd designs and for hopping with us on the Close to My Heart Stamp of the Month May Blog Hop!  Next up on the hop is Darlys Recker. I hope you'll hop on over to her blog for more inspiration.

Until next time, design with {heart}!

Why I Became a Close to My Heart Consultant Blog Hop

Welcome to the Why I Became a Close to My Heart Consultant Blog Hop!

If you came from visiting Melissa Robinson, then you are in the right place.  If you just happened upon my little corner of the blog world, simply start here and continue hopping until you return here -- our fun hop is one big loop for your viewing pleasure.

This month, in place of an additional customer special, Close to My Heart is offering a fabulous special for anyone who wishes to join our CTMH family as a consultant.  And we truly are a family... we love, we laugh, we help each other, and we even disagree from time to time... but at the end of the day, I know my CTMH sisters (and brothers!) are always there for me -- in the papercrafting world and beyond!  To learn more about the "Baby I'm Worth It" New Consultant Campaign or on joining my CTMH team, check out my April specials blog post or head directly to my CTMH website for all the details.

In honor of the "Baby I'm Worth It" campaign, today's hop is a little different than our typical specific-product-focused hops.  We will all be sharing our CTMH story -- why we chose CTMH and why we became a consultant -- as well as a project relating to those reasons.  

For me, my CTMH journey started about 5 years ago.  A good friend met a local CTMH consultant at a vendor event, and knowing we both love papercrafting, my friend signed us up to attend the consultant's monthly club nights.  After the first night, I was hooked.  I loved CTMH's products (especially the Cricut collections and Workshops on the Go) and its focus on documenting your memories.  CTMH has always offered a good balance between cardmaking and scrapbooking with other types of papercrafting mixed in for fun.  I quickly became addicted, and as many in our digital world do, I began searching online for ideas and other CTMH crafters.  Then in April 2014, CTMH offered an unheard of special -- join the CTMH family and receive a FREE Cricut collection.  As a busy mom on a tight budget, I couldn't resist -- a kit full of products, a free cartridge collection, and a discount on all future orders... for a one-time cost??  I was in!  I knew I could maintain an active status just as a hobbyist with my friends and hopefully grow my hobby into a business that would fit my life and my family.  Last week, I received an email from CTMH congratulating me on my second anniversary with the company.

Before I show you my project, let me break down my reasons for joining CTMH...
>> Focus on documenting memories
>> Fantastic products -- including Cricut collections and Workshop kits
>> Great quality at reasonable prices
>> "Let Me Show You How" motto & philosophy

And just for fun, here are the reasons I have stayed (and will continue to stay) with CTMH...
>> Family atmosphere -- within my team and throughout the company as a whole
>> Amazing customer service
>> CTMH takes great care of its consultants
>> Extra income to take care of my family
>> Plus all the reasons why I signed on in the first place

Supplies used:

*Artbooking Cricut collection
*Georgie paper packet
*12" x 12" White Daisy cardstock
*12" x 12" Juniper cardstock
*12" x 12" Canary cardstock
*12" x 12" Whisper cardstock
*Georgie complements
*White shimmer trim
*Carnival washi tape pack (retired, but still available online)
*Grey enamel gems
*Make It from Your Heart™ Volume 2

To order these or any of our other fabulous Close to My Heart products, please visit http://jddesigns.ctmh.com.

Thank you for visiting me at jd designs and for hopping with us on the Why I Became a Close to My Heart Consultant Blog Hop!  Next up on the hop is Tammy Lubick. I hope you'll hop on over to her blog for more inspiration.

Until next time, design with {heart}!

Focus on Stamping Techniques Blog Hop

Welcome to the Focus on Stamping Techniques Blog Hop!

If you came from visiting Michelle Jones, then you are in the right place.  If you just happened upon my little corner of the blog world, simply start here and continue hopping until you return here -- our fun hop is one big loop for your viewing pleasure. 

On today's hop, we will be featuring a variety of stamping techniques.  While it is quick and easy to simply grab a stamp pad and use your stamp to apply ink to paper, there are so many fun, different techniques you can use to really step up your stamp -- including embossing, emboss resist, masking, two-step stamping, coloring on your stamps with markers, rock and roll, random stamping, generational stamping, watercoloring, and so, so many more! 

I decided to work with the watercoloring technique.  There are many ways to color your stamped images -- markers, watercolor paints, reinkers, or my go-to method, using your stamp pads.  To use this technique, you will need whatever color stamp pads you want and a water brush or blending pen.  First, you will want to squeeze your stamp pad gently in the middle (allowing the actual pad to touch the inside of the lid).  This will transfer some of the ink to the inside of the lid; thus creating a palette for you to draw color from.  Use your blending pen to pick up a small amount of the ink -- the more ink you grab, the more intense the color will be.  Then simply color your image as if using a paint brush.  The intensity of ink will fade as you color so you can either pick up more ink or use the faded color to create a shading effect.

You will notice shading variations in my flowers below.  I am not a coloring expert so my shading doesn't look very true to life, but I like the texture it gives to the image.  To create the swirl-y effect in the water in the bottom of the jar, I chose not to blend my coloring together too much.  I let the brushstrokes stand out more to give it some dimension.

Supplies used:

*Candlelight Garden stamp set (December SOTM)
*Georgie paper packet
*12" x 12" Canary cardstock
*12" x 12" Slate cardstock
*12" x 12" White Daisy cardstock
*White Daisy card bases
*Slate Exclusive Inks stamp pad
*Juniper Exclusive Inks stamp pad
*Champagne Exclusive Inks stamp pad
*Canary Exclusive Inks stamp pad
*StazOn Jet Black stamp pad
*Blending Pen
*Grey Enamel Gems
*Make It From the Heart, Volume 2, How To Program

To order these or any of our other fabulous Close to My Heart products, please visit http://jddesigns.ctmh.com.

Thank you for visiting me at JD Designs and for hopping with us on the Close to My Heart Focus on Stamping Techniques Blog Hop!  Next up on the hop is Kathy Burrows. I hope you'll hop on over to her blog for more inspiration.

Until next time, remember to design it with {heart}!

Stamp of the Month Blog Hop -- Candlelight Garden

Welcome to the December Stamp of the Month Blog Hop!

If you came from visiting Angela White, then you are in the right place.  If you just happened upon my little corner of the blog world, simply start here and continue hopping until you return here -- our fun hop is one big loop for your viewing pleasure. 

The month's featured stamp set is S1512 Candlelight Garden (pictured below).  This set is only available until November 30th and is only $5 with a $50 Close to My Heart purchase.

As soon as I saw this set, I was in LOVE.  That mason jar is simply adorable!!  And those flowers... how fun to color either with ink or watercolors.  And that candle... you can make any color candle you want/need with a little ink or watercolors.  How cool!!  I don't make a ton of friend cards, but can see myself mixing this set up with other sentiments from my collection.

For today's card, I combined Candlelight Garden with the Georgie paper packet -- another LOVE!  While this paper packet is deemed a "baby" collection, don't let that fool you!  Only one pattern of the six on the B&T's is really baby-ish.  The rest are simply soft, beautiful patterns in a semi-neutral pallet.  I absolutely love the combination of the Juniper, Canary, and Slate / Whisper.  

Supplies used:

*Candlelight Garden stamp set (December SOTM)
*Georgie paper packet
*12" x 12" Canary cardstock
*12" x 12" White Daisy cardstock
*White Daisy card bases
*Slate Exclusive Inks stamp pad
*Canary Exclusive Inks stamp pad
*StazOn Jet Black stamp pad
*Blending Pen
*White Shimmer Trim
*Grey Enamel Gems
*Make It From the Heart, Volume 2, How To Program

To order these or any of our other fabulous Close to My Heart products, please visit http://jddesigns.ctmh.com.

Thank you for visiting me at jd Designs and for hopping with us on the Close to My Heart Stamp of the Month December Blog Hop!  Next up on the hop is Carol Taggio. I hope you'll hop on over to her blog for more inspiration.

Until next time, remember to design it with {heart}!