Got Candy? - Anything Goes with H2H...

Sooooo much going on today and tomorrow...I am SO EXCITED!!!

First let's start with THIS PAST WEEKEND and TODAY! I was a guest on the NEW Crafty Game Show - CRAFT ROULETTE! You guys HAVE TO GO check it out...every Friday night over on FB! You can catch the replay of my episode {{{here}}}.

So TODAY, I can share the card I made during that show as part of my entry for the H2H Challenge - Anything Goes!

This card features the GOT CANDY? Special that is going on RIGHT NOW on my website! If you aren't a Halloween person, never fear....most of the patterns can be used for other occasions, like I did here several years back with the Hello Pumpkin papers {{{here}}} and {{{here}}}! 

Thanks for stopping by! 

Head on over to the H2H Challenge Blog and see what the other DT Members have to share and don't forget to play along with us - you have the WHOLE MONTH of September!

CTMH Kids Crafts - Born to Shine...

shared from ctmh's blog...

Kid Crafts with Maya!

As any avid scrapper knows, crafting can be a great way to learn more about yourself and embrace all the things that make you special. Sharing this opportunity for self-discovery with the kids in your life is a great way to show them how much you care about them, while also introducing them to the joys of paper crafting and scrapbooking!

We’re excited to announce a new series of virtual events, specifically geared toward a younger audience. Introducing…CTMH Kids Crafts! These special virtual events will be hosted by Close To My Heart President Monica Wihongi’s nine-year-old daughter, Maya. Kids will love crafting along with Maya as she shows them how to create fun, personalized projects, just for them!

During our first CTMH Kids Crafts event, Maya will take kids through each step of creating the fun Born to Shine album! With an adorable 4″ x 4″ mini album from the Story by Stacy™ collection and some too-cute Picture My Life™ pocket cards from the Summer Vibes collection, the Born to Shine album is a perfect starting point for any kid to begin their crafting journey!

This first CTMH Kids Crafts event is taking place on August 21, starting at 4:30 p.m. (MDT). If you are planning to create along with Maya, you will need a Born to Shine album kit, which comes with one 4″ x 4″ mini album, one pack of Summer Vibes Picture My Life™ pocket cards, 4″ x 4″ sheets of white cardstock, the exclusive My Acrylix® Born to Shine stamp set, and a 2″ x 3½” ¼” stamping block. Apart from this handy kit, all that you or your kids will need to complete the project are a paper trimmer, an ink pad, some adhesive, and a journaling pen!

This project can be a great way to introduce kids to stamping and crafting, but it’s also an excellent opportunity to introduce them to the art of memory keeping, as they’ll get to select their own photos  and decide what stories they want to tell.

The Born to Shine album is simple and fun to create, with some minimal cutting. Since paper trimmers or scissors will be involved, we recommend that any child who participates be supervised by an adult. (Each page in the Born to Shine album is made from trimmed down pocket cards and 4″ x 4″ cardstock.)

Every one of the layouts in this album your kiddos will make with Maya include fun, positive sentiments from the stamp set specially designed to celebrate their best qualities. At Close To My Heart, we want every kid to realize that they are special, and we’re so excited to help them embrace the things that make them great!

Just a few days ago, Maya and Monica went live on Facebook and they eagerly shared more about this brand-new series of events and the Born to Shine album. Take a look!

The CTMH Kids Crafts: Born to Shine virtual event is free to attend (watch), and as Maya says, this project is great for “every kind of kid!” Even if your kids aren’t little anymore, you can still share this event with grandkids, cousins, nieces, nephews, friends, or any other kid in your life! To make things even more exciting, we’ll be doing some fun giveaways during the live event, with tons of opportunities to win! In order to be eligible to win any of these prizes, make sure to mark yourself as “GOING” on the Close To My Heart (Official) Facebook events page. We can’t wait for you and your kiddos to join us for our inaugural CTMH Kids Crafts event and the many more to come!

Walk on the Wild Side with H2H...

Boy do I have something WILD to show you today for the H2H Walk on the Wild Side Challenge.

Here is a look at my card...using the NEW Special for National Scrapbooking Month - Creativity in Motion...

Doesn't look wild right now, does it...well aside from the butterfly behind a striped piece of acetate...well, check out THIS VIDEO that will explain it!

Don't forget to check out the other H2H DT Members and PLAY ALONG with us. All you have to do is submit your project (has to have some CTMH goodies on it) before the end of August and you could be chosen as an H2H Challenge WINNER!!! We would LOVE to have you!

Technique Blog Hop - Use Your Scraps...

If you're like me, you have LOTS of Scraps...I just can't bring myself to throw them away.

THIS BLOG HOP will show you various techniques on how to USE YOUR SCRAPS!!!

If you've come from Brandi's Blog, you're on the right track...keep on hopping all the way around until you get back to where you started. If you're starting here, WELCOME!!!

I chose to USE MY SCRAPS from my Summer Vibes Scrapbook Workshop to make a cover page for our vacation album! Here's a look...pay close attention to all the little strips, squares, rectangle paper pieces as well as my scrap embellishments form the Kit.

Thanks for stopping by! Don't forget to head on over to Cat's Blog and see what she has to share using her scraps!!!

Creative Ways to Use Vellum | Creative Design Team...

I don't know about you but I LOVE VELLUM!!!

It adds so much softness and dimension to any card, layout or papercraft project. 

Here are some examples using various methods (don't forget to scroll to the bottom and watch my process video)

NUMBER 1: Cut with the Cricut

I used the Flower Market Cricut Collection and Vellum for the jar to add a softness, much like actual glass would (funny story...I took the time to cut those stems thinking the curved part of the glass was the FRONT of the jar but my hubby pointed out that he perceived it as the BACK of the jar...funny what your eyes will do...lol)

NUMBER 2: Dry Emboss

The bottom portion of this card was embossed with one of our Embossing Folders (retired) and then I added the Gerbera Daisy from the Flower Market Cricut Collection...I LOVE the softness!

NUMBER 3: ThinCuts 

Use ThinCuts of various shapes to add subtle coordinating pieces to your layouts (you could also do this with cards)

NUMBER 4: Print on for journaling

I LOVE to use Vellum to print on...you can layer on top of some busy patterned paper to tone it down a bit OR you can layer over a photo, like I did here.

Extend-a-Story Challenge with Stacy Julian and CTMH...

SHARED FROM CTMH'S BLOG...

Extend-a-Story Challenge from Stacy Julian

Did you know that Stacy Julian used to be an Independent Consultant with CTMH (back then it was D.O.T.S.) AND that she has an EXCLUSIVE product line on my website...STORY BY STACY!

Check out the post below where she challenges you to EXTEND YOUR STORY with her FABULOUS products!

As you likely know, I’m in LOVE with the idea of stacking memory protectors to create the room you need to incorporate MORE photos and MORE story into (on top of really) a foundation 12″ x 12″ layout. This approach is something I call Extended Story and the Close To My Heart Storyteller products make it so EASY!

But, did you know you don’t have to start from scratch with all these layers every time?

Using an already completed layout from one of your albums, you can simply add to it! That is precisely what I’m challenging you to do today!

The Extend-a-Story Challenge

I created this layout many moons ago to document everyday fun with my little boys. I adore the simplicity of a grid design and the colorful stickers still make me happy, but there is no journaling and so much more to say!

As I flipped through my albums, I chose this page as my foundation. In the midst of this crazy pandemic, I am realizing how important it is to create FUN at home with the people you love most. I will now be able to add a fun sister to this mix of brothers and bring this story up to date!

And, I’m excited to write from my current perspective—I even have an EXTRA FUN element that I want to add to my story AND share with you. A page about FUN should be FUN to discover—right?

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Select a 12″ x 12″ page or layout from the past. Look for a topic or theme that you can build on with more experiences and detail from your current perspective.

2. Locate and print additional photos that add to your original story. I like to start by adding photos to the 3″ x 4″ and 4″ x 6″ pocket pages that come in the Memory Protectors™ Combo Pack.  I also love to incorporate insert cards from the Storytelling Pack and the Story FYI stamp set.

3. Select pattern papers that coordinate with colors on your original layout—and remember, close is good enough! NOTE: I am particularly proud that I was able to use the new Happiest Place papers on this layout that is not about an amusement park, but FUN at home!

4. Think about an aspect of your topic that is different today (or one that is still the same) and design a new 8½” x 11″ or 6″  x 6″ page to highlight it. I like to ask myself questions like: When did we start doing this thing? or Who else is important to this topic? What are some specific examples or details that someone outside our family would not know? What has changed about how we do this thing today?

5. You now have plenty of room to journal, so if you didn’t have journaling—or not enough journaling—on your original page, you can add it now! Decide where and how to include these extra words.

6. Imagine how you want someone to experience this story—how do you want to introduce it? Pretend you’re building an open-face story sandwich—where the original 12″ x 12″ layout is the bread. Now, how will you stack the lunch meat, cheese, lettuce and tomato?

How My New Updated Extended Story Stacks Up!

First layer, 6″ x 6″ (front & back):

 

Second layer, 8½” x 11″ (front & back):

 

Third layer, 3″ x 4″ pockets (front & back): 

 

Fourth layer, 4″ x 6″ pockets (front & back):

 

Final layer or foundation, 12″ x 12″ (original) + 12″ x 12″ (bonus)

 

All these layers create a very cool and FUN extended story!

In my process video above you saw how I incorporated FUN emoji journaling in two places of my story. Feel free to borrow this emoji alphabet and the key to cracking it for your own using!

If you would like to add a secret emoji code to a page, or card, click here to download a printable PDF. If you download this PDF, you’ll be able to either screen shot the code breaker, or print the PDF and cut it out to tuck behind a photo to be discovered and used later!

IF you made it this far, you deserve a FUN 🎟🌈🍪🍓🎟 (that’s written in secret code of course!). May I suggest some FUN Storyteller products from Close To My Heart?! 😀

This is my daughter, Addie, cracking the secret emoji code.

As I was typing my journaling, I used the insert feature in my word processor and then scrolled down to Emojis &  Symbols menu. From here you can select or search for the emoji you need and insert it into your document.

Be sure to print a copy of the  emoji code breaker to tuck behind a photo or somewhere else in your pages. This creates a FUN and interactive way to send a special message and have more FUN!

I can’t wait to SEE what you do with this challenge. Be sure to tag me on Instagram or Facebook using the hashtag #storybystacy ❤️

Love,
Stacy