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I am having so much fun travelling cross-country with two of my three boys – Robert & Kenneth.  We’re driving Robert’s car out to Washington…state that is…for college.  One of the highlights of our trip – a stop at one of Rick Bayless’ restaurants, XOCO (pronounced cho-ko).

I used a set of Reflections patterns found in Studio J – this is something new that’s been recently added…so exciting!  These are the Sidebar – Photo Accent and Sidebar – Balancing Act patterns.

A couple Studio J tips for you:

• You can resize an object, then use copy & paste to use it over and over again.
• You can change the color of your text to match your papers.
• You can use coordinating colors of cardstock and embellishments that aren’t in the featured kit — like the Bamboo cardstock for my bases & the journaling block.
• And…you can change a journaling spot to a photo – I did that to be able to use the XOCO awning as my title for the website.

Do you like using page maps or page sketches…email me for free sample PDFs of the CTMH How-To Books to try. And…if you’re big into card making, there are how-to books for that too!

You can recreate this layout using the Magic Moments level 2 paper pack and My Stickease, plus Sweet Leaf ribbons and assorted color brads.  Or…just play in Studio J!

Speaking of Studio J…starting September 1st, you’ll be able to get discounted layouts with a Studio J membership.

Question for you…I’m looking into hosting an online class for using Studio J – would you be interested?  Please leave me a comment about what you’d like to learn.

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Pull out some OTHER papers and see what YOU come up with using this pattern. Have fun playing with this layout. I’d love to see what you create!

1.Post the photos on my Facebook Fan Page – you can upload them into the photo album there.
2.Post the photos on your Facebook Wall or in your Facebook Photo Album – friend me so I can see them. In the description, put a link to the scrapbook challenge.
3.Post on a public blog, and link here.
4.Post them on Splitcoaststampers (SCS). For the keywords, please put: HOSSC74 and CTMH.
When you leave your comments, make sure you let us know where we can see YOUR creation!

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Contact me if you’d like to know more about my no commitment Kit of the Month or my Get More Done Club where you can earn added perks!

You can purchase any of the products you see here or find out more about becoming a CTMH Consultant and a member of my team, the Smile Patrol on my website:http://heleno.myctmh.com.

There’s nothing more exciting then opening a new Idea Book and seeing all the new products…wait, there is something more exciting…seeing all those new products used in fabulous artwork!  We’re celebrating the Autumn/Winter 2010 CTMH Idea Book with a bang – a New Product Blog Hop.  If you came from my friend Georgia’s blog, you’re on the right track!  If you’re just joining in…grab a cup of your favorite beverage, a notebook & pen (so you can jot down your wish list)…then, sit back and savor the eye candy!

I love cute monsters…I do…really, I do.  Maybe it’s because I have three boys?!?  Anyhow, there’s a absolutely adorable monster set that I just had to play with.  Isn’t he precious?  This also uses the new papers from the Hooligans Level 2 Paper Pack and the Pear Mini-Medley Accents Collection.

With the Autumn/Winter Idea 2010 Idea Book, CTMH is introducing 8 new colors in the Summer Pallete: Smoothie, Gypsy, Pear, Lagoon, Pacifica, Sunset, Sky and Cotton Candy.

Here are three of the new colors that I’ll be using for this project.

Using the edge of the ink pad, swipe stripes of color in small patches on a piece of Pear cardstock.

Repeat using Gypsy and Lagoon.

Now…use that for the base of the card.

All pieces are edges using Gypsy ink.

Stamp the monster using Black ink on a scrap of White Daisy cardstock.  Using a Blending Pen, pick up color from an ink pad…or squish the ink pad lid to the pad (it’s flexible so you can do this), and then pick up the ink from the lid.  Cut out the moster.  Attach to card using 3D Foam Tape.

Materials:

• Party Animals Stamp Set D1437
• Hooligans Level 2 Paper Pack X7129B
• Pear Mini-Medley Accent Collection Z1339
• CTMH Inks: Gypsy Z2190, Lagoon Z2195, Pear Z2197, Sunset Z2191 and Archival Black 44751
• CTMH Blending Pen 3174
• CTMH 3D Foam Tape Z1151
• CTMH Wishes How-To Book 9033

I know, at this point you’re saying – Helen, we know you LOVE the products…PLEASE …tell us how to get a new Idea Book!  Simple – just email me for information on how to purchase or get one free.

Now…hop on over to Beth’s blog to see what she’s come up with!

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A few friendly reminders:

• The Triple Play mini album kit is still available.
• If you have many items on your wish list…let’s get together with your friends to paper craft & give you an opportunity to EARN FREE products…including earning the Triple Play mini album kit free.
• Email me to get your CTMH Autumn/Winter 2010 Idea Book.

One of the things I love about being a CTMH Consultant is how willing other consultants are to share their ideas, their talents and their artwork.  On the CTMH bulletin boards, Connie Macfarlane of Canada shared how she used the Triple Play album pages to make a scrapbook layout – what a brilliant idea!

I used the Magician’s Choice pattern on page 117 of the new Magic How-To book.  This layout has lots of 3″ x 3″ pieces, perfect for using the pages from the Triple Play mini album kit, since those pages are 4″ x 12″.  I added were the two sheets of Colonial White for the bases, two sheets of Indian Corn Blue for the 2nd layer, a 5.5″ x 2.5″ piece of Colonial White cardstock for the journaling block and 3D Foam Tape to pop a few of the die-cuts.  Everything else you see comes in the Triple Play mini album kit.

Here are a few close-ups…top right corner of the left page.  The center of the large flower and the smaller flower are popped.

Title area…the scallops were cut just following the scallops on the scraps.  Tip: Use two scallop sections, and cover where they meet behind the flower…that’s a great way to stretch your papers further. The center of the large flower and the small flower are popped.

Top left corner of the right page.  Note: Use the little button stitch stamp to add “stitching” in various places around the patterned papers & photos. The center of the large flower is popped and the arched section is from the front cover piece, folded to create a pocket!

Do you like using page maps or page sketches…email me for free sample PDFs of the CTMH How-To Books to try. And…if you’re big into card making, there are how-to books for that too!

For those in my Get More Done club or who have done my Passages Scrapbook Workshop, you can recreate this layout using the patterned papers left in your kit – you will need additional solid cardstock.

Materials:

• CTMH Triple Play Mini Album Kit
• CTMH 3D Foam Tape Z1151 – to pop some of the die-cuts

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Triple Play – the ins and outs…

I put together this video to show you everything that comes in the kit and how easy it is to put together.  You’ll get some tips & tricks along the way – I hope you enjoy joining me in my craft studio!

Triple Play is available August 15 – September 30 or while supplies last…best of all…you can purchase this outright or get it at a discount or even FREE!  Call me to schedule your September date.  Read more about Triple Play here.

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Pull out some OTHER papers and see what YOU come up with using this pattern. Have fun playing with this layout. I’d love to see what you create!

1.Post the photos on my Facebook Fan Page – you can upload them into the photo album there.
2.Post the photos on your Facebook Wall or in your Facebook Photo Album – friend me so I can see them. In the description, put a link to the scrapbook challenge.
3.Post on a public blog, and link here.
4.Post them on Splitcoaststampers (SCS). For the keywords, please put: HOSSC73 and CTMH.
When you leave your comments, make sure you let us know where we can see YOUR creation!

***

Contact me if you’d like to know more about my no commitment Kit of the Month or my Get More Done Club where you can earn added perks!

You can purchase any of the products you see here or find out more about becoming a CTMH Consultant and a member of my team, the Smile Patrol on my website:http://heleno.myctmh.com.

Today my darling, niece, Shawna, turns 16!  I love creating birthday cards for her, as she just LOVES them…watching her face light up when she sees it is more exciting than when she opens her gift.

For Shawna’s Birthday Card, I used the Heart 2 Heart Challenge Sketch.  I love Sketch Challenges…they really help me stretch and think outside the box.

I wanted to play with my new Nestabilities, Labels 2 that I picked up at the Scrapbook Expo.  I’ve seen so many cool things done with Nestabilities….or as they are frequently referred to Nesties…that I just had to get some to try.  So, I replaced one of the circles with a Nestie cut-out…what do you think?

Directions:

1. Using Goldrush ink and a Sponge Dauber, edge a 5.25″ x 4″ piece of the Large Floral pattern paper from the Splendor Level 2 Paper Pack.
2. Attach centered on the front of a Colonial White card base.
3. Using the Nesties Label 2, cut the image panel out of a scrap of Colonial White cardstock.  Flip and emboss the edge.  Leaving the Nestie in place, using Goldrush ink and a Sponge Dauber, ink the edges of the raised panel deeper and then pull ink into and across the front of the panel.
4. Using Heavenly Blue ink the Butterfly stamp.  Using Moonstruck ink and a Sponge Dauber, add deeper color to the edges of the wings and the center body.  Stamp.  Cut out.
5. Using 3D Foam Tape, apply 2 layers of tape under the top wings and one layer under the bottom wings.  Attach to the Nestie cut-out.  Add dashed lines using the 0.1 My Legacy Writer in Black.  Mount the whole panel on the card with 3D Foam Tape.
6. Using Goldrush ink and a Sponge Dauber, ink a scalloped flower from the Irresistibles Pizzazz Chipboard Die-Cuts.  Tip: It’s best to start light and add more color as you go.  I left the center a bit lighter.  Also ink the edges of the chipboard to blend in. Pierce a hole in the middle of the chipboard flower.  Add two Colonial White Just Blooms flowers and add a Splendor Designer Brad in the middle.  Using 3D Foam Tape, attach to the card front.
7. Using Colonial White pigment ink and the Stipple Brush, add ink to the lower right for stamping the sentiment.  Note: I tried adding a piece of cardstock, a ribbon, and various other things here…I wanted something a bit more subdued and went with this option. Allow the Colonial White ink to dry.  Tip: You can use a heat tool to speed up the process. Using Goldrush ink, stamp the sentiment…oooo…this is a sentiment from a NEW set that will be available on September 1st!

Materials:

• CTMH Embrace Life Stamp Set C1391
• CTMH Field Trip Alphabet Stamp Set E1013
• CTMH Unity Stamp Set C1422 – available September 1st!
• CTMH Splendor Level 2 Paper Pack X7124B
• CTMH Irresistibles Pizzazz Chipboard Die-Cuts Z1307
• CTMH Splendor Designer Brads Z1317
• CTMH Inks in Goldrush, Heavenly Blue, Moonstruck, Topiary and Colonial White
• CTMH Sponge Daubers Z726
• CTMH Texture Tools Z1298 – Stipple Brush used
• CTMH My Legacy Writers 4275
• CTMH Colonial White Cards and Envelopes Value Pack X1410
• CTMH 3D Foam Tape Z1151
• Nestabilities Labels 2

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Are you inspired by this blog? One of the ways you can help support this blog is by ordering your Close To My Heart products through me. You can order from me 24/7 at: http://heleno.myctmh.com or email me athelen@hookedonstamping.com.

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Jump on over to the Heart 2 Heart Challenges blog and you’ll find all the rules for playing along!