Simplify....

I see this word in all kinds of places these days....cute decorative wall hangings in peoples' homes, on display at my local craft store and I wonder....what exactly does this mean?

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I make a lot of my cards for my enjoyment only...yes, I send some out to friends and family as well, but not nearly as much as I should. I think it's because I put all my heart and soul into each card that I'm afraid to let it go...kinda like a child I guess. I think it up...give it a name...make it "prim and proper"...take pictures of it...show it to my friends...and sit back and think "I made this!!!" and it makes me proud to hear how lovely it is and how everything is in its place as I would hope people comment on my children.

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Anyways....back to "simplify"....I needed to make some cards for some of QT's co-workers and since I don't know whether they will enjoy them or look at them and throw them in the trash, I decided to "simplify" my card-making. After I was done...I stepped back and thought to myself that these cards are just as pretty as my other ones but with less glitter and glam. They still serve their purpose...to say "thank you" and "I'm sorry for your loss" just in a simpler manner.

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I think I'll go to my local craft store and now purchase the "simplify" sign since I know what it means and I'll hang it in my scrapbooking room to remind me to make more cards and share them with family and friends!!!

Thank You card using Emporium Paper Packet

(becoming one of my FAVORITES!!)

Sympathy card using March SOTM, Butterfly Wings, and Perfect Day Paper Packet

Close-up of butterfly detail....

Products used are all CTMH:

Paper Packets: Emporium & Perfect Day

Stamp Sets: Butterfly Wings (March SOTM), Argyle Backgrounds,

November Word Puzzle & Friendship Word Puzzle

Ink: Juniper, Tulip, Sorbet & Cocoa

Ribbon: Sorbet Ribbon Rounds

Paper Piercer

Prisma Glitter & Bonding Memories Glue Pen

Tombow

More Good Times...

This stamp set is SO MUCH FUN and not to mention the pairing up with the Daydream Paper Packet....can somebody say it with me....WOWZERS!!! Can you imagine if I had little girls to adorn these layouts....endless possibilities!

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The first is my sneak peek I gave you earlier...a 3x3 circle card (which is always fun and different). It's the perfect size to attach as a gift bag tag or a little something for a coworker's desk.

Inside of 3x3....

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This one measures 6x6 and is definitely a birthday or congrats card and with all the Lilac Mist, it can be for a boy or girl.

Inside of 6x6....

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Here is the 12x12 layout I promised with my dear SON crying at his 1st birthday party. I stayed up quite late the night before making his party hats and he absolutely detested wearing it. Oh well...I guess if he liked it, I wouldn't have this wonderful layout to share....not to mention the catchy title.

Close-up of title - I used CTMH's Color Ready Alphabet (Oxford), "Party" is from Good Times stamp set and the rest is free-handed....

Close-up of side bar (Prisma Glitter on the cupcakes as well as the presents).....

Close-up of TK crying....if you'll notice, his party hat has a frog on it. I can't wait to incorporate the Daydream PP frogs on some of my other layouts!

Products used are all CTMH:

Paper Packet: Daydream

Stamp Set: Good Times (only available for 5 more days)

Ink: Spring Iris (color in the pp is actually Lilac Mist but I like the darker SI),

Blush, Sweet Leaf & Black

Color Ready Alphabet: Oxford

Ribbon: Blush Ribbon Rounds

Bigger Brad: White

Prisma Glitter & Bonding Memories Glue Pen

Corner Rounder (for scalloped edge)

Sponge Dauber

Stylus & Sandpaper

Tombow

Good Times Tiny Cupcake

This card is a 3x3 card using one of CTMH's NEW Paper Packets....Daydream...and their 25th Anniversary FREE stamp set...Good Times.

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Cupcakes have been HOT this year and I'm so happy that CTMH now has TWO versitile stamp sets featuring these yummy snacks!

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This is only a sneak peek to the artwork I've created to promote Good Times (which is only available for 5 more days) and I will posting more in the next couple of days.

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If you want this set as much as I think you do, click here to order or contact me and I'll get it for you.

Inside of card....

Products used are all CTMH:

Paper Packet: Daydream

Stamp Set: Good Times

Ink: Sweet Leaf, Blush & Spring Iris

Coluzzle: Big Circles (NEW) and Circles (the petals of the flower)

Ribbon: Blush Ribbon Rounds

Prisma Glitter and Mono Adhesive Glue Pen

Microtip Scissors

Tombow

Club Layouts - Before & After

BEFORE

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AFTER: You Make Me SMILE....

Layout 1...
Close-up of the border with Prisma Glitter and a strip pop-dotted to add dimension...
Layout 2...

Journalling...

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Layouts 3&4 which don't have pictures on them yet....

Products used are all CTMH:

Paper Packet: Emporium

Stamps: Rustic Alphabet & September Word Puzzle

Ink: Vineyard Berry, Sweet Leaf & Cocoa

Ribbon: Colonial White Grosgrain

Circle Window Charms

Pewter Designer Brads & Pewter Brads

Dimensional Elements: Bookplates, Fresh Shapes (arrow) &

Basic Shapes (discontinued)

3-D Foam Squares

Bonding Memories Glue Pen & Prisma Glitter

Stylus & Sandpaper (layouts 3&4)

Blending Pen (layouts 3&4)

School Zone

This is a peace-offering card of sorts made for my son's teacher. You see...I gave her a clipboard for Christmas (click here to see) complete with several organization sections including a calendar. It was my first time using the Moments In Time stamp set from CTMH (January SOTM) and I was concentrating so hard on getting the correct month name with the stamp that started on the right day that I totally forgot to blackout (or mask) the days that some months do not contain...example...all stamps have 31 days on them but, obviously, February, April, June, September & November do not have 31 days so you are supposed to mask or blackout those days to make it correct.

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I intended to give the correct months to her BEFORE February 1st but I'm late, as usual, so she's getting them tomorrow. I made her this card so she won't think my son's mother is a total idiot.

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I freehanded the apple and cut it out of Cranberry Cardstock and used the backside of one of the B&T's for the stem and leaf. I then stitched (not very straight as you might see) around the apple a couple of times for no apparent reason other than to use my sewing machine again (haven't used it in months!!!) I used the anywhere hole punch for the "worm" hole and couldn't come up with a cute worm so I decided on the "take time to" sentiment. It needed something at the end so I added the tiny bow using Outdoor Denim gingham ribbon (retired).

All products CTMH:

Paper Packet: School Zone

Stamp Set: September Word Puzzle

Ink: Outdoor Denim & Cranberry

Ribbon: Outdoor Denim Gingham

3-D Foam Squares

Sandpaper

Hole Punch

Tombow

Stitching with white thread on apple

Whoops-a-Daisy!!!!

I've always found that saying to be so....cute! CTMH came out with this paper packet several Idea Books ago but this is my first time getting to play with it. It doesn't exactly lend itself to three boys....

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I made these Thank You cards for my mother to use for various gifts she recieves. They are super simple and the textured cardstock adds the little extra dimension that sets it off.

Products are all CTMH:
Cardstock: White Daisy, Textured White Daisy

Paper Packet: Whoops-A-Daisy

Ink: Hydrangea & Watermelon

Stamp Set: Rustic Alphabet

Sponge Daubers & Tombow

Teacher Gift That's Amore

Here is the boys' teacher gifts. The little box holds a box of conversation hearts and a pack of gum. The heart box is just a chocolate box bought at Wal-Mart and covered with That's Amore Paper.

Products used are all CTMH:

Paper: That's Amore

Stamps: Rustic Alphabet

Ink: Blush & Tulip

Chocolate Grosgrain Ribbon

Corner Rounder & Hole Punch

Edge Distresser

Stylus

Tombow

You make my heart......

FLUTTER

Happy Valentine's Day!!! The day of LOVE....the day of red silk pajamas and rose petals....the day of eat all the chocolate you want and don't think about it tomorrow. The day that SHOULD happen more than once a year :0)

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This is a card I made for my little QT (get it...cutie?!?!). Anyways....he's been my faithful Valentine for the past 10 years and it never gets old. He truly makes my heart flutter....

The saying behind the heart slides from side to side to reveal the second part of the message

Products used are all CTMH:

Cardstock: White Daisy, Black, Baby Pink & textured Watermelon

B&T: Retired Baby Pink

Stamp Sets: Butterfly Wings (March SOTM) & Priceless Love

Ink: Black

Rub-ons: Nature's Ambiance (black)

Embellies: Black Organdy Ribbon, Black Bigger Brad, Heart Dimensional Elementj

3-D Foam Squares

My Legacy Writers

Tombow adhesive