January Scrapbook Club: Laughing Lola

Our Scrapbook Club meets once a month on a Friday evening, and each month we made three two-page layouts.   January's layouts will be made with the Lola papers, and they have been fun to work with - love the colors!   Laughing Lola has two exclusive colors of card stock you can only get with the paper pack or workshop kit, Laughing Lola Gold and Laughing Lola Purple, and I'd love to be able to get my hands on extra Lola Purple; it's so bright and colorful!

This first layout shows off that gorgeous Laughing Lola Purple (I would call it fuchsia or magenta!

This layout is straight by the book - it's the Lola Workshop Kit layout and using the stamp set.  The colors in this photo aren't true, but we stamped with black on the Lola Gold paper for the "U R" and "Amazing" title.

This layout is vivid and cheerful.   I added Lagoon and Gypsy card stock.   It was inspired by CTMH Consultant Famida Ahmad.

Products used:

Laughing Lola Papers and Stamp Set
Laughing Lola Complements
Black Stamp Pad
Laughing Lola Assortment
Teal Base and Bling Jewels
Make It From Your Heart Volume 2
Magic
Lagoon and Gypsy Card Stock
Black Hemp
CTMH Artbooking Cricut Cartridge

Shop for all these products on my website!

Contact me if you'd like to join us for January Club to make these pages:

Baked Potato Soup - Perfect for Chilly Days

I served baked potato soup at my Sparkle & Shine Workshops, and I've had requests for the recipe - here it is:

Baked Potato Soup - Customers' Favorite!

6 large baking potatoes, baked
1 cup butter or margarine
1 cup flour
9 cups milk (I use skim, the original says whole)
3/4 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp pepper
3 cups grated cheddar cheese
18 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled
1/2 to 3/4 cup diced onions
12 ounces sour cream

Scoop pulp out of baked potatoes and set aside, throwing away skins.   In a large pan, melt butter on medium heat.   Whisk in flour until smooth, then slowly whisk in milk until it's smooth.   Stir continuously on medium heat until thick and bubbly.   Add the potato pulp, the cheddar, bacon and onion, plus the seasonings.  Stir until the cheese has melted and the soup is warm.   Add the sour creem and stir.  Transfer the soup to a crockpot.   This recipe fills a 6 quart crockpot.   Yum!

December Scrapbooking: Frosted

Oh, how I love the Frosted papers!   The colors and patterns are so gorgeous.

Here's a layout created by Michelle Johns and Stephanie Wagner.   It features 3 sizes of flip flaps added.   They used Kraft paper to add to this paper pack for a old-fashioned look.   Flip flaps are added on top of the page protector (so they can flip!) so I apologize for the glare in this picture.

This layout is my favorite, all blinged and sparkled up with the Frosted Assortment, Silver Shimmer Trim and Sparkle Flourishes, as well as the Frosted Stickease.

Here's a detail shot - aren't the flowers beautiful?

This layout was inspired by Lisa Stenz, CTMH Consultant.    It's so pretty, and I love the way she added the torn snow banks inked in Crystal Blue.

December Scrapbook Club is meeting Friday December 6th if you'd like to join us - contact me for a complete product list, to order a kit, or order directly from my website.

Sparkle & Shine Layouts

Here are the three Sparkle & Shine Layouts Scrapbook Club will be creating in November.   The first layout, Merry & Bright,  is the 2nd layout from the Workshop on the Go with some tweaking.  That is Layout 13 from Make it from Your Heart, Volume One.  (Try to imagine it without the black round magnets!)  This layout features a stamped title, along with the Complements, Washi Tape and Assortment.   Cricut cuts were made using CTMH Art Philosophy.

This Noel layout features the Sparkle & Shine Chipboard Complements, the Sparkle & Shine Assortment, Small Sparkle Flourishes and Sparkle & Shine Washi Tape.   I also used some Licorice Opaques.   This layout is from MIFYH Volume 2 Layout 11.

My third layout, The Most Wonderful Time of the Year, uses the same products as the first two layouts.  Check out the Washi Tape in the top left corner of the left page - it's so fun to use!   I also love the chipboard (Dimensional Elements) printed trees.  This is layout 14 from Volume Two of MIFYH.

Artbooking Made Easy: Getting Started with Cricut Artbooking

Artboooking Made Easy: A+ School Layouts

Cards with Karen - September

For September Cards with Karen we'll be making four cards with the Huntington papers, and various stamp sets.    Here's one of our cards - this one is made using the September Stamp of the Month, Poster Tidings:

Here's the schedule for September Cards with Karen:

Monday September 9th 4:00 & 6:00  - Gresham, 522 SW Lillyben
Tuesday September 10th 4:00 & 6:00 - Gresham, 522 SW Lillyben
Thursday September 12th 6:00 - Gladstone, 8360 Cason Rd (Somerset Community Room)
Monday September 30th 4:30 - Salem, 5210 N River Rd (Avamere Craft Room)

Cards with Karen is $8 or free with a $15 order.   Please RSVP so I have enough materials prepared for you.

During September with a $50 order, not only can you get the Stamp of the Month for $5, but you'll get You Are My Happy, a TRIPLE stamp set for $10.   Here it is:


Get an exclusive You Are My Happy stamp set trio in celebration of National Stamping Month! During the month of September, when you make a purchase of $50 or more, you qualify for this whimsical stamp set trio for only $10. You’ll love the whimsical alphabet, light-hearted sentiments, and fanciful images for a variety of occasions to give a cheerful touch to your projects, with a full retail value of $47.90.

8/4 Create with Karen August Special

You already may know (see previous post) that in August you can get the SOTM free with a $50 purchase.  To make the deal really sweet, I'm offering a Cricut Deal in conjunction with CTMH's special.

Buy any of our three Cricut Bundles for $99 and you will not only get the SOTM free, but you will get either:

• Any C size stamp set in the Idea Book FREE
• Any paper pack in the Idea Book FREE    OR
• $14 of select hostess credit FREE

This means that you can get your inky paws on some of our great new Hostess only stamp sets!   I love these new stamp sets and they are offered to hostesses at a great discount!

Several ladies are taking this one step further....   (because it's a new catalog after all, and the wish lists are loooonngggg!    If you do a $150 order you will qualify for $25 of select hostess credit - yes, ma'am!

Call or e-mail me for details or if you have questions!

8/3 Sweetening the Deal!

What a sweetheart of a deal!   This month with a $50 order you can get the August Stamp of the Month, A Chocolate Affair, FREE.   This is the cutest doggone stamp set I've seen in a long time.   I think my favorite sentiment is "Chocolate Understands"!   Check my 7/31 blog post for my workshop using this stamp set!

My Amazing Customers!

At my open house yesterday we rased $85 for Operation Smile!  I still have some cute M size stamps left -- yours to take home with a $5 donation....

New Product Blog Hop: Huntington

Many thanks to Tresa Black for hosting this CTMH New Product Blog Hop!  Enjoy the amazing art you will see as you hop around consultants' blogs!

 For my entry I made two cards with CTMH's NEW Huntington Paper Pack.   Isn't this paper gorgeous?   This first card is made using the September Stamp of the Month, Poster Tidings.   I chose to stamp half of the image on one square of card stock, and half on the other for a different look.

Then I highlighted the word "gratitude" by stamping it on the Huntington Cashmere print, cutting it out and 3-D taping it on top of the original word.   I added our new Bronze Shimmer Trim (LOVE it!!!) and some self-adhesive bronze bling from our NEW Rosewood Mini Medley (beautiful mini medley!). Everything is inked in Cashmere.  Stamp pads used are Autumn Terracotta, Olive, Barn Red and Cashmere.

Here's another card made with Huntington and the Rosewood Mini Medley again.   This time there is no stamping, but I used a sentiment from the Huntington Stickease.  I distressed paper edges with our edge distresser, and popped up the stickease and it's Cocoa mat.  A simple, ten minute card!

A closer shot showing the details:

Thanks for looking at my cards -- enjoy the rest of the hop!



This blog hop is open for members of the CTMH Blog Boosters. Please do not enter if you are not a member of the group.





Karen

7/31 August Workshop: All About Chocolate

Oh, the fun I had putting this workshop together for you!   (I only snuck a few chocolates..)   Our August Stamp of the Month is called A Chocolate Affair, and it is the cutest stamp set I've seen in a long time!   It's all about chocolate, ladies, so what's not to like?

Scroll to the bottom of this post for details on how to get all the instructions and cricut files!

First, let me tell you that Close to My Heart has an awesome August special:   when you make a $50 purchase you will get A Chocolate Affair FREE!   This workshop will show you just some of the ways you can use your stamp set.  I used the NEW and adorable Babycakes papers, Babycakes Assortment, various ribbons and embellishemnts and some NEW treat holders as well as some familiar friends.   All boxes are cut from Cricut Artiste, tags are cut from Cricut Art Philosophy.   All of the cute boxes are sized to perfectly fit four chocolate nuggets (wrapped in Babycakes papers of course!).  The bags have chocolate kisses, the pillow box has yummy chocolate covered mint candies, the tube has mini oreos, and the flowers have reese's pieces and sixlets.

Here's the whole kit and kaboodle:

 Here's the super cute flowers with our treat cups.  I double cut the flowers and leaves to make them sturdier, and they are closed with a velcro dot.  The leaves pivot on the slate mini medley brad to open for eating (and refilling of course).

Cute pie boxes with our clothes pins and baker's twine:

 Another Artiste box.  I used a piece of our nice and sturdy sheet protectors for the "window".   Note the cute little wrapped nuggets!

Adorable candy box with a tag and Babycakes assortment topper.

One of my absolute favorite NEW products:  burlap bags!   I decorated this one with more of the Babycakes assortment, rosette ribbon and tan sparkles. plus the brown striped ribbon and our new bronze shimmer trim.  And a pink glitter gem cupcake topper!  The ribbon is firmly attached with our new very strong adhesive strips - love 'em!

 Hershey's candy bar holders with a magic pull string and more bronze shimmer trim.   I have to order more, my first roll is almost gone!

Cute, cute little purses with four nuggets.

 Our muslin bag with ribbon, babycakes assortment and more shimmer trim!  I paper pieced the strawberry - yummy!  Next to it is a treat tube.  Mini oreos fit perfectly inside!

 A pillow box filled with yummy mint chocolates...

I love the gable boxes you can cut on Artiste!

 Another purse - closed with velcro and a babycakes assortment clasp.

If you'd like to get the instructions for all the perfectly sized Artiste and AP boxes and tags, go to my website, "join" the EZ Invite All About Chocolate order, order $9.95 of any product and I will send you the Cricut Craft Room files and instructions for making all 22 treat holders.   Your order will ship directly to you and I will e-mail all files within 24 hours of your order.   E-mail me if you have questions!  If you haven't used Cricut Craft Room yet, I promise you, it's very user friendly.

Items needed for this workshop:

Babycakes Paper Packc X7173C
Babycakes Assortment Z1869
Mini Clothes Pins Z1815
Muslin Bag Z1822
Burlap Bag Z1872
Pillow Box Z1840
Treat Tube Z1823
Treat Cups Z1778
Chocolate Card Stock (included in Babycakes paper pack)
Sunset Card Stock (included in Babycakes paper pack)
Buttercup Card Stock (included in Babycakes paper pack)
Pear Card Stock Z2197
Colonial White Card Stock 1388
Baker's Twine Z1702 and Z1701 (any combination of colors can be used)
Bronze Shimmer Trim Z1849
Chocolate Striped Grosgrain Ribbon Z1617
Adhesive Strips Z1904
Chocolate Stamp Pad Z2111
Cranberry Stamp Pad Z2116
Topiary Stamp Pad Z2155
Hook and Loop Dots Z1805 (you need just 2 dots)
Rosette Ribbon* Z1800
Brown & Tan Sparkles* Z1753
Pink Glitter Gem* Z1807
Slate Mini Medley Brads* Z1787
Various candies

(*For these items you will only need one to three and of course bling can always be changed around to use what you have on hand.)

New Product Blop Hop Coming!

Join some amazing CTMH Consultants and hop around our blogs on August 1st (or after) to see oodles of projects made with Autumn Winter CTMH products!

You can start at my blog and hop your way around.   I love blog hops because there are so many amazing ideas shared.

7/27 ProPlayer Layouts for August

Here's some great paper called ProPlayer.   It's done in Pacifica, Ruby, Slate and Black with Creme Brulee added.   Great colors; very versatile.  

For this first layout, I used Artbooking, our NEW Cricut Cartridge!   I'm not showing anywhere near the full potential here, but I wanted to use just the star overlay, plus the stars from the overlay.   The overlay is cut from black card stock at 10", one for each page, then the stars are scattered around outside the overlay.   What do you think?   Come to my Open House on August 1st and see more examples done with Artbooking.  I have a super duper special in August:   buy the Artbooking Bundle which includes three D size stamp sets and three sets of chipboard, and you will get the adorable August SOTM free (CTMH's August Special) PLUS from me you will get a free C size stamp set or free paper pack!

Back to our layout:  I took these photos when we surprised Megan last December.   Scott was able to make it up in time for his Christmas visit to catch Gresham High's choir concert at the Grotto.   We had told Megan that Scott was coming the next afternoon!    David and Keary were able to go too, so we were all there to see her.   I used our new black mini medley on this layout.  (Now I notice that one of the sparkles slipped over there on the left - oops - rebellious little thing!  Just imagine that it's on the edge of the swag!)   I also used black shimmer trim, black glitter paper and I cut out the word Celebrate with silver glitter paper and the Artbooking cartridge.   It has lots of great titles too.

 Okay, I've shown you ProPlayer can go fancy, now let's see a great layout done with the ProPlayer Assortment, our new Twist Ties, and --- ta da! --- new hexagon irresistables!   They come in three sizes and I love 'em!   (That corrugated hexagon is part of the ProPlayer Assortment.)

 Here's a close-up of those little guys!











This layout doesn't have photos yet, but I plan to put some vacation pictures on these pages.

For the third layout, we have the Workshop on the Go layout.   Again, notice the great stamped title - very fun and easy to do.  This layout is going to get pictures of one of our famous game nights, maybe from New Year's Eve.   Oh, for more hours in the day....    Contact me at kvarcoe@aol.com to order a kit!

7/27 Babycakes Layouts for August

I had SO much fun with this paper pack and embellishments!   And, in spite of the name, it's definitely not just for babies!

Here's the Workshop on the Go Layout, and I used it for photos of Megan.   Just need to add some journaling to that cute mat.   I am really enjoying the new D size stamp sets that come in our WOTG now.   They are perfect for stamping titles.

 Here's a close-up of the NEW Bronze Shimmer Trim and Babycakes Assortment.   For the bow, the instructions had us leave the adhesive backing on - isn't it cute?

 Here's a close-up of one of the stamped titles:

Here's a family reunion layout.  A PERFECT chance to use one of our new Hostess Stamp Sets!

Notice our new Jute Ribbon - very easy to work with and it adds great texture.   The canvas stickease for Babycakes includes the letters for the word NAPTIME, but I wanted to use those letters another way:   In the photo below I used the letter I combined with the heart and smiles stickers.   In the layout above, I used other letters from naptime and made the word TEAM, then cut out the letters for our last name from the alphabet paper that's on the back of this polka dot paper.

Here's a shot that shows the Babycakes Assortment, the Canvas Stickease and one of those Hostess stamps "Awkward Family Photo"   The layout above has another classic:   "We put the fun in dysfunctional."   Told you it was perfect!   Every time my husband and his four siblings all get to the family reunion they reenact a photo taken some 50 years ago.   This is the first time I've seen them forget where they were supposed to sit!   (That's the picture of them all wandering around looking at the ground.... so sad..... (grin)

I'll finish off my Babycakes layout trio with a baby layout!   Here's the newest addition to Keary's family:  Kennedy was born in April and he was at the reunion also.   Just need a couple more photos of the little guy to complete this layout.   I added our tan and brown sparkles and that great bronze shimmer trim again, as well as the canvas stickease and jute ribbon.

If you like these layouts or the ones done with ProPlayer, contact me for a kit to join us for August Scrapbooking.