Heart 2 Heart Challenge - Card using Scraps

This weeks' challenge at Heart 2 Heart is to use up some of your scraps. I have SO many scraps in my scrap bin, it's not even funny! I decided to use the Pemberley colours for my card today. It's not a complex card - just some layers with a wooden branch. I wish there were more branches in those Garden Wooden Shapes - I always use them up first! 

Enjoy, 

Alyson

Products are all Close To My Heart

Paper: Pemberley Paper Pack, Honey Cardstock, Creme Brulee Cardstock, Kraft Cardstock, Outdoor Denim Cardstock, Colonial White Cardstock

Stamps: 4 My Friend

Inks: Desert Sand

Accessories: Art Philosophy Cartridge, Garden Wooden Shapes, Foam Tape

Album Contest - Layout #5

My final layout for the Album Contest is titled "Maxwell Beech's Second Chance". Now who on earth is Maxwell Beech, you ask? To make a long story short, this was a local story published in the Toronto Star last January. Maxwell Beech is a man who was charged with gun and drug offences and was facing many years in prison. Between his capture and sentencing, he became a Christian and a changed man. He told this to the judge and he was also raising an infant boy alone without any involvement from the mother. The judge was kind enough to allow Beech to serve a reduced sentence on weekends only 

so he could be with his son. 

After Beech had served his full sentence, he wanted to go back and thank the judge but he didn't have the judge's name or a way to contact him. He accidentally ran into his lawyer at the courthouse one day and asked if he could get in to see the judge and he was allowed into the courtroom to speak to the judge. He told him how thankful he was for the sentence and how he had completely changed his life because of him. The judge was in tears as was everyone in the courtroom. Beech has since been asked to speak to several youth groups, troubled teens and school groups. He is truly a success story in our troubled world. 

I couldn't find paper that fit the colour scheme I was looking for so I created my own. I created the shaded yellow/orange paper and then stamped stars on it and covered part of them with liquid glass for a dimensional effect. The Milepost stars were painted with Honey or Indian Corn Blue reinker and Pearl Paint. The entire story is told using flip flaps.

Enjoy, 

Alyson

Supplies used are all Close To My Heart

Paper: Typeset Paper Pack, Pemberley Paper Pack, White Daisy Cardstock, Autumn Terracotta Cardstock, Goldrush Cardstock, Indian Corn Blue Cardstock, Outdoor Denim Cardstock, Bamboo Cardstock

Stamps: Vintage Type Alphabet, Victory WOTG, Love Life

Inks: Honey, Goldrush, Autumn Terracotta, Indian Corn Blue, Outdoor Denim, Colonial White, Desert Sand, Indian Corn Blue Reinker, Honey Reinker

Accessories: Art Philosophy Cartridge, Milepost Shapes, Pearl Paint, Corner Rounder, Liquid Glass, Sponges, Durable Studs - Round, 6x6 Flip Flaps, Designer Ribbon - Blue Collection

Album Contest - Layout #4

This layout is titled "My Mom - My Shining Star". My mom has been an incredible influence in my life. She has been behind me every step of the way, encouraging me, cheering me on, and crying with me during the rough times, just like a mom should do. She grew up during some very difficult times and she is such a strong, independent person because of it. I admire her in way that she will never know and in ways that she cannot even imagine and this layout is a tribute to her. She truly is my "shining star". 

I used a Spray Pen on a Cricut cut White Daisy doily on both pages to create a lighter turquoise background with a bit of shimmer. The butterflies are covered with Liquid Glass to add dimension. The letters are stamped and painted with Pearl Paint and the exterior of the layout is hand stitched, alternating stitches every few inches for variety. 

 

Enjoy, 

Alyson

Supplies are all CTMH

Paper: Dotty Paper Pack, White Daisy Cardstock, Smoothie Cardstock, Lagoon Cardstock, Buttercup Cardstock, Pear Cardstock, Black Cardstock

Stamps: Trinity Alphabet, Heartfelt Treasures

Inks: Black, Lagoon, Hollyhock, Buttercup, Lagoon Reinker, Olive Marker

Accessories: Art Philosophy Cartridge, Pearl Paint, Spray Pen, Paintbrush, Baker's Twine - Paradise Assortment, Baker's Twine - Neutral Assortment, Buttons - Clear Assortment, Edge Distresser, White Embroidery Floss, CTMH Ruler, Piercing Tool, Silver Glitz Glitter Gel, Liquid Glass, Paradise Paper Flowers, Foam Tape, Eyelet Punch, CTMH Computer Font

Album Contest - Layout #3

This layout is titled "The Puzzle of Me - My Star Qualities". Doing a layout like this is difficult because it really makes you think about the positive qualities in yourself and for someone like me who does not accept compliments well and does not like to think of myself in a positive light, this was a real exercise for me. I spent a lot of time on the internet, looking up positive qualities to find positive words for each letter. Then came the stamping - I stamped each and every word and letter on the Mini-Banner and that took an enormous amount of time. I purposely cut my portrait into pieces to represent a puzzle because all humans are like a puzzle - we don't fit a mold. Anyone who knows me knows that turquoise is my favourite colour so I chose to use a lot of turquoise on this layout.

Enjoy, 

Alyson

Supplies are all Close To My Heart (unless unavailable)

Paper: Footloose Paper Pack, Cocoa Cardstock, Pear Cardstock, Creme Brulee Cardstock, Lagoon Cardstock, Sweet Leaf Cardstock

Stamps: Bingo Alphabet, Tiny Typewriter Alphabet

Inks: Cocoa, Lagoon, Sweet Leaf

Accessories: Art Philosophy Cartridge, My Creations Mini-Banner, Colour-Ready Seam Binding, Sponge Daubers, Sweet Leaf Stitched Grosgrain Ribbon, Baker's Twine - Paradise Assortment, Paradise Paper Flowers, Clear Sparkles, Sparkles Flourishes, Foam Tape, Bling Assortment, Turquoise Sharpie Marker (not CTMH)

Album Contest - Layout #2

This was my second layout for the Album Contest. I titled it "Keeper of the Stars". The gorgeous photograph was taken at twilight one evening when we had a tremendous snowstorm. The snow was just ending and the stars were just coming out at the same time. I opened the sliding doors on our back deck and aimed our little point-and-click camera at the backyard. I could never reproduce this shot again in a million years - it was a totally lucky shot! 

That year, this snowfall happened in November and the snow remained on the ground until May - it was a very long winter for us!  

I created the background by stamping the flourishes in Moonstruck ink, then stamping them again in Versamark and covering them with a mix of Clear Detail Embossing Powder and Glitter and heating setting them. You can enlarge any photos by clicking on them.

Enjoy, 

Alyson

Products used are all Close To My Heart

Paper: White Daisy Cardstock, Moonstruck Cardstock, Desert Sand Cardstock, Cocoa Cardstock

Stamps: The Best Things

Inks: Moonstruck, Versamark

Accessories: Art Philosophy Cartridge, Baker's Twine - Neutral Assortment, Buttons - Basic Assortment, Clear Detail Embossing Powder, Prisma Glitter, Liquid Applique, Heat Tool, Dimensional Elements Monograms - K E P R S T A, Hinges, Brads - Basic Assortment, White Embroidery Floss, Foam Tape, Pearl Paint, Designer Ribbon - Cocoa Collection - CTMH Computer Font

Album Contest - Layout #1

I decided to try my hand at the Album Contest this year at Convention. Unfortunately, I did not make the Top Ten, which was my goal, but at least I have five extra special layouts for my own album now! I intend to try again next year, though. 

This first layout is titled "Reach for the Stars" but the story behind it is anything but simple. The initial journaling begins to tell the story and the rest of the journaling is found behind the second page. To make a long story short, I suffer from major depression and anxiety and although it wasn't diagnosed until many years after I completed university, when I look back to my first degree, I can now see the symptoms were starting to show up at that time. I tried to hide them from my family because I was so close to dropping out of school in my second year but my father saw right through me. I expected him to blow up at me but he didn't... instead he told me that even if I dropped out at that point, I will have learned something and that was enough for him. I was totally caught off guard but his words stayed with me and helped to give me the strength I needed to complete my two degrees. I have included the hidden journaling if you wish to enlarge it to read the full story. I cried so much as I was writing this as it brings back so many memories of my father and how much of an influence he was in my life. I can only hope and pray that others are lucky enough to have someone like that in their life.

Enjoy, 

Alyson

Supplies used are all Close To My Heart unless otherwise noted: 

Paper: Lucy Paper Pack, Sonoma Paper Pack, Black Cardstock, White Daisy Cardstock, Olive Cardstock, Pansy Purple Cardstock, Smokey Plum Cardstock, Baby Pink Cardstock, Grey Wool Cardstock

Stamps: Polka Dot Alphabet, Stitched Together, Lucy WOTG, A Blossom, The Best Things, Universal Backgrounds

Inks: Olive, Cotton Candy, Pansy Purple, Blush, Versamark, Olive Marker

Accessories: Art Philosophy Cartridge, Pink Button Assortment, Designed Rhinestone Brads, Sparkles - Red, Pink and Purple Assortment, Blush Waxy Flax (ret.), Bling Assortment, Foam Tape, Liquid Glass, Designer Ribbon - Pink Collection, Sparkles Flourishes, Clear Detail Embossing Powder, Prisma Glitter, Eyelet Tool, Heat Tool, CTMH Computer Font, White Embroidery Floss, Green Thread and Sewing Machine (not CTMH), Purple and Pink Sharpie Markers (not CTMH)

Extravaganza - Mini-Albums

Finally - this is the LAST post with my Extravaganza artwork! I thought I would never get through all of it! 

Before I get to the description of the last two items, I hope you have enjoyed all of my Extravaganza artwork. I had fun creating it and I certainly learned a lot! Tomorrow, I will be posting my album contest entries and then I will be back to posting my regular artwork once again. 

-----------------------

These two little beauties sat on my table with me. They were both made using the Dimensional Elements that come as part of the Cricut Artiste Collection. For this two page one, I chose the two shapes closest to a square. It is just a little mini-frame for two of my favourite photos of me and my husband. 

The second album used the other four chipboard pieces to form a mini-album. I used only the brown papers from the La Belle Vie kit and this time, and I paired them with some blues to show that if you take out the pinks and purples, this kit CAN work for masculine purposes. I inserted some of my favourite canoe tripping photos and it certainly doesn't look like a feminine set of papers any longer!

Enjoy, 

Alyson

Supplies are all CTMH unless otherwise noted. 

Two-Page Frame

Paper: La Belle Vie, Sweet Leaf Cardstock, Black Cardstock

Stamps: None

Inks: Smokey Plum, Sweet Leaf, Black

Accessories: Cricut Artiste Cartridge, Cricut Artiste Dimensional Elements, Colour Ready Seam Binding, La Belle Vie Stickease, Boutique Assortment, Glamour Glitter Alphabet, Small Binder Rings (not CTMH)

Mini-Album

Paper: La Belle Vie, Sky Cardstock, Black Cardstock

Stamps: Love Life

Inks: Desert Sand, Timber Brown Staz-On, Black

Accessories: Cricut Artiste Cartridge, Cricut Artiste Dimensional Elements, Blue Button Collection, Blue Ribbon Collection, Glamour Glitter Alphabet, Bamboo Waxy Flax, Garden Wooden Shapes, Posh Journaling Spots, Binder Rings (not CTMH)

Extravaganza - Wreath and Banner

The wreath below was quite simple to create but it makes a big statement, mostly due to the size of the bird.

To stabilize the bird, I cut out the bird in White Daisy cardstock about 6x before making a single cut out of the B&T paper for the top piece. I just glued together all the cardstock pieces to make it nice and thick. To get the wing to stick out, I used a hot glue gun to hold the wing in place. 

The burlap flower was made by rolling and turning out the edges as it was rolled. It was then hot glued at the end to hold it together.

The banner was a bit difficult to read under the lighting in my Extravaganza booth but it 

does read "BONJOUR".

Enjoy, 

Alyson

Supplies are all Close To My Heart unless otherwise noted. 

Wreath: 

Paper: La Belle Vie, Colonial White Cardstock

Stamps: None

Inks: Desert Sand, Blush

Accessories: Cricut Artiste Cartridge, Bitty Sparkles, Striped Black Grosgrain Ribbon, Burlap Ribbon, Glamour Glitter Alphabet, Licorice Opaques Adhesive Gems, Hemp, Black Tulle, La Belle Vie Stickease, Grapevine Wreath (not CTMH)

Banner: 

Paper: La Belle Vie, Colonial White Cardstock

Stamps: None

Inks: Desert Sand, Smokey Plum, Blush

Accessories: Cricut Artiste Cartridge, Cricut Art Philosophy Cartridge, Mini Banner, Pixie Glitter Alphabet, Prisma Glitter, Black Tulle, Licorice Opaques Adhesive Gems

Extravaganza - Display Tray

The Display Tray is a brand new home decor item from Close To My Heart. Although it comes in black, it could very easily be painted any colour to match a specific decor. I chose to leave mine black. 

Rather than using just the La Belle Vie paper, I used the browns from that paper pack and I also used the Florentine papers to show that the browns from the La Belle Vie paper can be integrated with various other colours. 

I created mine using a family theme.

Some details about what I included in the tray: 

• If you look closely, in the 2 boxes with the photos of my parents, I used pages from my mom's 1960 passport. My father was a World War II Army Veteran and I wanted to highlight that by using the "Canada" page from the passport. The background page behind my mom's photo has her maiden name on it. 
• The significance of the buttons is that both my parents used to darn socks - it seemed as a kid that all my socks always had either holes or big darned sections in them.
• The #181 on the house represents the number on the house where I grew up in Winnipeg. 
• On the bottom row, there is a picture of Prague, as my mom is of Czech descent. 
• The little pocket watch represents the fact that my family was always punctual for everything.
• The rolled flowers and leaves represent the fact that my mom is an avid gardener.
• The other symbols represent love, my siblings, and my family in general.

Supplies are listed below the photo. 

Enjoy, 

Alyson

Supplies are all Close To My Heart unless they are found objects or not available through CTMH.

Paper: La Belle Vie Paper Pack, Creme Brulee Cardstock, Twilight Cardstock, Olive Cardstock, Colonial White Cardstock, Black Cardstock, Bamboo Cardstock

Stamps: None

Inks: Desert Sand, Black, Twilight, Olive, Creme Brulee, Olive Marker

Accessories: Cricut Artiste Cartridge, Cricut Art Philosophy Cartridge, Burlap Ribbon, Striped Black Grosgrain Ribbon, Glamour Glitter Letters, Bitty Sparkles, Timeless Charms, Adhesive Springs, Foam Tape, Black Sparkle Flourishes, Green Button Collection, Black Tulle, Bamboo Waxy Flax, Bling Assortment, Wooden Garden Shapes, Black Thread and Sewing Machine, Black Sharpie Marker, Passport, Pocket Watch

Extravaganza - Jewelry Box and Jewelry

This item for Extravaganza was one I knew I wanted to do as soon as I knew we had access to a new Cricut cartridge. I had many questions about it - most of the jewelry inside is simply made from Cricut cut-outs. There are no shrinky-dinks involved. All I did was cut out shapes from the Artiste Cartridge, cover them with Liquid Glass and let them dry. In one case, the necklace is a stamped image, done with Black Staz-On ink. In other cases, coloured Sharpie markers were used to add colour to our Rhinestone Brads. Nothing was overly complicated. The bracelet with all the paper pieces is simply that - paper pieces cut from La Belle Vie paper, mounted on Black cardstock and covered with Liquid Glass. So simple, yet so eye-catching! 

Enjoy, 

Alyson

Extravaganza - Wedding Items

The following items are those that were prepared as part of a wedding theme. The La Belle Vie paper lends itself perfectly to weddings and anniversaries and I simply couldn't leave that out of my display! 

One of my display boards was dedicated to wedding items although these photos were taken before the items were mounted to the display board. The 3-D items were laid out on the display table.

Candle Holder with a Bible and Napkin Rings

Formal Invitation and Reply Card

Dinner Menu

Place Cards

Wedding Stationery

Enjoy, 

Alyson

Supplies used are all Close To My Heart unless unavailable. 

Paper: La Belle Vie Paper Pack, Colonial White Cardstock, Thin Off-White Stationery

Stamps: Jardin

Inks: Timber Brown Staz-On, Smokey Plum

Accessories: Black Striped Grosgrain Ribbon, Boutique Assortment, Artiste Cricut Cartridge, Black Tulle, Burlap, Bitty Sparkles, Black Tapestry Velvet Rub-Ons, Plastic Plate, Computer Font

Extravaganza - Layouts

These are the layouts that I had on display at Extravaganza. Only one is a traditional paper layout - the rest were created in Studio J. Because we had access to Studio J ahead of time, we did not receive the J-Pegs for these layouts, so they are photos of the layouts. For the paper layout, I have shown the full layout plus photos of each page as well, so you can get a closer look. The supply list is at the bottom of the page. You can always double click on any item to get a closer look.

Traditional Paper Layout

Studio J Layouts

Enjoy, 

Alyson

Supplies used are all Close To My Heart unless not available from CTMH

Paper: La Belle Vie Paper Pack, Sweet Leaf Cardstock, Black Cardstock

Stamps: None

Inks: Olive Marker

Accessories: La Belle Vie Stickease, Artiste Cricut Cartridge, Glamour Glitter Alphabet, Art Philosophy Cricut Cartridge, Mocha Opaque Adhesive Gems, Sparkle Flourishes, Boutique Assortment, Posh Journaling Spots, Black Embroidery Floss