We meet at my home near Red Rock (in Las Vegas, NV) every 2nd Friday of the month for some casual scrapbooking. If you're a planner, we order the supplies the month before. If you're someone who just wants to come and hang out with us while you make a project, that's okay too. You can bring your stuff along or make yourself at home with stuff in my studio - I'll always have a project on display if you're looking for inspiration. Wanna see the catalog or go shopping? Visit my website: dianecrawford.ctmh.com

January 2014 - Make a resolution to play with washi tape!

Hopefully, you've arrived here from Sheila Bennett's blog.  I love to see all the ideas people come up with.  Especially this month because January's blog hop concentrates on using Washi tape which is all the rage in the scrapping industry.  Close to My Heart carries this trendy product in a variety of designs and colors.  Wanna see some examples of how to use it?  Well, that's exactly what bloghops are for, right?

My day job is showing in the simplicity of this project with washi tape. (I'm an elementary school teacher.)  So what are the materials?

I used our slate polka-dot washi tape (Z1817).  It's 15 yards for $4.95.

You can barely see the paper from the Laughing Lola collection (X7170B). 

Can you tell I made a little medallion in the center of the flower that I cut with our exclusive Artiste cartridge?  Washi tape makes little projects like this super easy because it'll stick but it also forgives you and lets you remove it if you didn't get it right where you wanted it the first time.

The itty bitty heart is from the "Lift Your Spirits" stamp set from the Holiday catalog.  

The serious professionals are looking at the embossed element behind it but that's because I just taped it to a frame.  (Close to My Heart has embossing folders coming out next month!)  But I didn't emboss.  The card has a larger back and then the "tent" of the white part with love is mounted inside. Because of this, it doesn't just sit like a typical display and I wanted you to see the bottom part.  So ... sorry if you got confused; consider it artistic license.

Where are you going next on your washi tape bloghop using Close to My Heart?  Next, we planned for you to visit Pamela O'Connor's blog and be amazed.  This girl is busy in her studio everyday.

 Thanks for stopping by!

In case I've messed up somewhere and sent you astray, here's the list of all 11 of us participating this month.  Enjoy!

1. 
   Hilary Reynolds~ https://stampcraftyreader.blogspot.com/b/post-preview?token=ea-Ge0MBAAA.1LZiohpN-aiJO9IhG34MDw.zV88qLZCbI8Sfbr9NgR47A&postId=5933047251893931747&type=POST
2. Melinda Everitt ~ http://ifyoublingit.blogspot.com
3. Becky McClain ~ http://beckysstudio-cards.blogspot.com
4. Sheila Bennett ~ http://sheila-bennett.blogspot.com
5. Di Crawford ~ http://scrapwithdi.blogspot.com
6. Pamela O'Connor ~ http://reflectionsofmyartandsoul.com/blog
7. LaJeania Hicks ~ http://scraptilyoudrop.blogspot.com
8. Denise Elliott ~ http://inspiredbyd.blogspot.com
9. Catherine Nowak ~ http://catscrapbooking.com
10. Jen Patrick~ http://roxybonds-scrappin.blogspot.com
11. Barbi Kelley ~ http://barbispapercreations.blogspot.com

Welcome to the latest bloghop using Close to My Heart products.

For this project, we're highlighting Flip Flaps.  I thought it might be fun to

lift the flaps on this page to reveal each person's resolution for the new year.  

My teenagers get to keep a little privacy that way.

Goodness knows I didn't give them any when they were young. 

 

Welcome to the Stampers with an Attitude Blog Hop!  The blogger in front of me is

Jen Patrick who always impresses.  Thanks, Jen!  

 The Stampers with an Attitude are excited to show how you can use 

Flip Flaps in  your next project, so here we go.

If you're already an afficianado of Close to My Heart, you'll recognize the houndstooth design from the Sparkle and Shine paper pack.  

But did you also notice the little round letters of the Tiny Type Epoxy Alphabet?  

November's Stamp of the Month, "Illuminate" adds a nice touch 

(coupled with Buttercup paper and ink) 

for looking ahead to our bright future in the new year.

Happy new year, Scrappers!

The next blogger on the hop is Pamela O'Connor, 
who amazes me every day with her creations. 
Enjoy!

Okay, so my sweet husband took this picture and

strongly suggested that I share an idea I'm using this year.  

These fun mugs are filled with bath salts and a scrubbie 

but they're disguised as a frothy winter drink.  

There's a razor hiding in there to simulate a straw 

and a yummy looking cookie sits on top.

But don't be fooled: that cookie is not for your tummy;

 it's an ornament for the tree.

You can use cinnamon and glue to make dough and roll out 

just as if you were making sugar cookies.

Use your favorite cookie cutters and embellish as you like.

You can add "candies" that are really beads and buttons.

They'll smell good for years to come.  And they make great gifts.

These particular ones are going to the amazing ladies who help run the office at school.  

Get ready for the luckiest Friday the 13th of the year, my friends.  

This is the project we'll do in January; 

I like showing you before the event happens so you can plan ahead.  

Bring your photos so you can go home in January with a finished project, 

complete with all your family pics from the blessed holiday.  

You'll be getting the cutest paper pack and embellishments:

Sparkle & Shine Paper Packet (X71716B) for $9.95

&

Sparkle & Shine Assortment (Z1860) for $5.95

Ask Tami Buechler, there will be tons left over for other projects, too.

Blog Hop with Stampers with an Attitude

November's blog hop is themed "Gratitude with Attitude".

Many of you will quickly recognize Huntington papers (and the zipstrip along the side.)

I used September's Stamp of the Month, "Poster Tidings", because I love the whole 

subway-art-&-text look.  I stamped onto the same B&T paper but used different inks.

Then I cut sections from each of the different colors and put them together.

 The blogger in front of me is a creative genius, Hilary Reynolds.  Isn't she talented?  To see more talent, using Close to My Heart supplies, continue the bloghop by clicking on Pamela's site:     

1. Pamela O'Connor ~ http://reflectionsofmyartandsoul.com/blog
2. LaJeania Hicks ~ http://scraptilyoudrop.blogspot.com/
3. Melinda Everitt ~ http://ifyoublingit.blogspot.com
4. Angela Garcia ~ http://angelascraftcloset.blogspot.com/
5. Becky McClain ~ http://beckysstudio-cards.blogspot.com
6. Sandra VanWoerden ~ http://OhMyScraps2U.blogspot.com
7. Catherine Nowak ~ http://catscrapbooking.com
8. Barbi Kelley ~ http://barbispapercreations.blogspot.com
9. Melissa Robinson ~ http://mlisrobinson.blogspot.com
10. Jen Patrick~ http://roxybonds-scrappin.blogspot.com
11. Sheila Bennett ~ http://sheila-bennett.blogspot.com
12. Hilary Reynolds~http://stampcraftyreader.blogspot.com
13. Di Crawford ~ http://scrapwithdi.blogspot.com

"Huntington"

Here's our next layout, scrappers!  See the bottom right corner?  When you untie the square, it unfolds like the old fashioned wallet photos so you can include more pictures or journaling.  Who's in?

Stop sometime during the Thanksgiving feast and take some photos.  Oh, and get in front of the camera at least once.  You'll thank me ten years from now...  you know you will. 

Join us the second Friday of the month.  This project will be done on December 13 at my home.