Who knew it would take more than a month to design my birthday girl companion page? First I had to wait for paper, and then wait again! Oh! Did I mention the die cut? We are featuring another new Elizabeth craft diecut – this cupcake has candles! Perfect for a boy page. Though there are many similarities to the girl page, there are distinct differences like color, layout, etc. The black area represents photo placement, but is totally dependent on the pictures you have. I used a Hero Arts stamp set which has been discontinued. I have 25 stamps that should arrive before February 21^st. When that stamp is no longer available, I’ll be using an Impression Obsession "Happy Birthday" stamp. I used Memento Bahama Blue ink to create the background, the new Elizabeth Craft Designs cupcakes diecut to create the embellishments, my Pazzle to generate the title, and The Paper Cut Lunar,  Celestial Blue, Black Licorice and Sweet Tooth papers. Making the cupcakes was a blast with my Copic markers and SparkleNSprinkle glitter. This kit is jam-packed with product and is selling for $25 with the stamp and $13 without. If you’re interested in purchasing this kit, email me at diane@scrappigators.com. By the end of next week, you will be able to order on my website.

 

Birthday Girl

Isn’t it amazing how a casual comment can turn into something exciting? That was the case with this layout that is the first of my Scrapbook in a Year program. I used a Hero Arts stamp set and Close To My Heart Cotton Candy ink to create the background, the new Elizabeth Craft Designs cupcakes diecut to create the embellishments, my Pazzle to generate the title, and Paper Cuts Pink Lemonade, Razzleberry, Black Licorice and Sweet Tooth papers. Making the cupcakes was a blast with my Copic markers and SparkleNSprinkle glitter. This kit is jam-packed with product and is selling for $25. If you’re interested in purchasing this kit, email me at diane@scrappigators.com. By the end of next week, you will be able to order on my website (www.scrappigators.com).

Whale Under the Sea Tutorial

 

This is the first of about six stamps on the Close to My Heart Under the Sea stamp set (C1500). My focus on this tutorial is on the coloring techniques. I kept the card construction rather simple. I made the card using scraps from my Pemberly Workshop on the Go kit. I used embellishments from the CTMH’s Mocha Opaques Adhesive Gems (Z1333). You can order this sweet little stamp set from my CMTH website: http://dianecook.myctmh.com.

I used the following Copic markers:
0 – Colorless Blender
B0000 – Pale Celestine
B02 – Robin’s Egg Blue
BV20 Blue Lavender
BV23 – Grayish Lavender
BV25 – Grayish Violet

I also used Memento Tuxedo Black Ink, Tombow adhesive, and foam strips. I stamped my whale image on Copic Express It cardstock.

Step 001 * BV20 - After applying a base coat of 0 –Colorless Blender, then, using a circular motion, color the entire whale with BV20 – Dull Lavender

Step 002 * BV23 - Using circular stroke along Whaley’s perimeter, color with BV 23.

Step 003 * BV20 - Using a circular brushstroke, use BV20 to blend the darker color into the rest of the whale. As you blend, feel free to leave a small area in the center of your image lighter.

Step 004 * BV23 - Now apply a second coat you BV23 inside your first coat of the darker color.

Step 005 * BV20 - Again, blend over with BV20. You will see Whaley darkening with the exception of the center light spot.

Step 006 * BV25 - With a small, circular brush stroke, edge Whaley’s inside perimeter with BV25

Step 007 * BV20 - Soften with BV20

Step 008 * B0000 - Apply base coat of B000 to waterspout

Step 009 * B02 - Accent with B02.

Sep 010 * Assemble your card as you desire. I used scraps from my Close to My Heart Pemberly set. I cut my wave with a Creative Memories border punch. I cut my Whale image to 3”x3” and graduated the matting sizes by either ¼” (for a 1/8” frame) or ½” (for a ¼” frame). I also used a foam strip t pop the waves.

Our Beginnings

This is the second Avonlea layout which is finished except for the journaling. I'm in the middle of a computer crisis at the moment with my desktop CPU downstairs next to my husband's desk. It's searching for a driver for its new motherboard. So I'm working off my laptop.

 

The good news is that I finally found my Avonlea pages which you didn't know were lost. That's another story. Nevertheless, both the first and second layouts are now safely secured in my green CTMH scrapbook. Now that I've given you far more information than you wanted to know, let me tell you about these pages.

 

I'm using the autumn/winter book layouts to share a bit about our history/memories/stories that David and I share. This layout is a reversed version found in Jeannette Lynton's Imagine book and it works quite well for these pages.

 

This is the bonus project that you can complete with the remaining product in the Avonlea Workshop on the Go. 

 

 I found the suede rub-ons most interesting to use and liked highlighting them with cocoa markers. I would love to do a slightly blinged up version substitutie opaque pearl flourishes for the suede which would open up a whole new dimension. Don't be surprised if I add some more Avonlea later in this heritage book.

 

Regardless, I found the Avonlea look to be quite exiting. If you like it too, pop over to my website (http://dianecook.myctmh.com) and order yours today.

 

Next up is Clementine.

 

Avonlea -- Our Wedding

 

When the Autumn/Winter 2012 Close To My Heart Idea Book came out, I decided to use our eight new Workshops on the Go as a launch point for my long-awaited heritage album. I started by scanning our wedding photos into my computer and selected the Avonlea workshop as the backdrop for our wedding. My only significant change in this layout is in the alphabet font -- I didn't have the Keepsakes Alphabet, so I substituted with the Field Trip design. I will be doing the additional layout with the remaining Avonlea products.

I ordered an extra Avonlea Paper Pack because I want to redo this layout with some distinctive changes, which I will share in another post. Since I still have the stamp set and instruction, I only needed to order the Avonlea paper pack for my redo. Of course, I let my fingers do the walking through the accessories pages of our Idea Book..

The Avonlea WOTG includes the Avonlea Paper Packet, My Acrylix Workshop, Colonial White Cardstock, Parlor Velvet Rub-Ons, Opaques Mocha Adhesive Gems, and an Instructional Guide. Additional required tools are: E1024 My Acrylix Keepsakes Alphabet; Z2111 Chocolate Exclusive Inks Pad; Z2137 Olive Exclusive Inks Pad, Z2434 Chocolate Exclusive Inks Marker, and Z697 Sponge.  Visit my website (http://dianecook.myctmh.com) to place your order today.

 

 

CELEBRATING THE HARVEST WITH AN ARTISTE HARVEST BOX

 

PRODUCTS:

*  B1395 My Acrylix So Grateful Stamp set

* 1245 Olive Cardstock

* 1388 Colonial White Cardstock

* X4928 Saddle Cardstock

* Z2123 Goldrush Exclusive Inks Pad

* Z2137 Olive Exclusive Inks Pad

* Z2171 Saddle Exclusive Inks Pad

* Z1088 Chocolate Waxy Flax

* Z1743 Sparkles Brown & Tan Ass’t

* Z1790 Cricut Artiste Collection

* Z679 Liquid Glass

Take a favorite stamp set, mix in custom-designed shapes from CTMH Cricut Artiste Collection and you have a perfect gift box to fill with goodies for those special people in your  circle. I got the idea from page 74 in our current Fall/Winter catalog and proceeded to put it together in a matter of minutes.  Feel free to order your products from my CTMH Website (dianecook.myctmh.com).

Getting Ready for Christmas

 

 

Christmas will be here sooner than you think, so I planned my first CTMH Christmas Card Workshop on the Go for September 18th in Lewes, Delaware and on September 23rd at our studio in Dover. This is a three-hour class and is well worth the time. I also plan to offer it again in October. I've added this sweet cardholder from our new Cricut Artiste cartridge which is a great use for the scraps. Of course, I wanted to see if I could get all the cards to fit . . .and they did! All 15 of them!!! So now all I have to do is address them. I have more class details on our website (www.scrappigators.com) or if you wish to tackle the workshop on your own, you can order G1052 at my CTMH website (http://dianecook.myctmh.com). To round out your purchase, consider the Cricut Artiste Collection (Z1790) which includes the cartridge with 700 images, My Acrlyix D-size stamp, and 12" x 9: Dimensional Elemings in coordinating shapes.

 

Also, we're hosting our first day crop on October 13th at the Kenton Ruritan Clubhouse in Kenton, DE. The $30 fee includes a salad and sandwhich bar for lunch, snacks, beverages, free make-and-takes and door prize drawings. We'll have vendors from Close to My Heart (me), Christian Lifestyles Scrappigators (my friend Melissa and me), Stampin Up (Laura Barthlemeh), and Creative Memories (Catina Bright). Visit our scrappigators website for more information about our Scrappigators Love to Crop day crop.

 

Finally, if you want to see a totally cute Christmas card featuring Copic products, pop on over to our scrappigators blog (http://scrappigators.blogspot.com) for a quick look-see.