"One" Challenge at H2H

The first challenge of 2016 over at the Heart 2 Heart blog is, appropriately enough, entitled "One."  As we get closer to February, I was looking for a new hearts and love themed display for the shelf above my craft space and I came across this photo I've had for ages.  I am guilty of never liking to see photos of myself but this one still manages to make me smile.  It was taken by a dear friend when my husband and I got to spend an evening out without the children, which was quite a rare treat considering one child had severe epilepsy and cerebral palsy and the other had life threatening food allergies.  Anyway, we all had a great time that night and I couldn't think of a better photo to use for a Valentine display and, coincidentally, this is the first layout I've completed in the new year!
details:  The background paper is from the La Vie En Rose paper pack.  I used the Artbooking Cricut cartridge to cut the photo mat in Pixie CS and added the Ruby colored hearts from the retired Stuck On You Puffies.  I also used Artbooking to cut both sentiments twice, once in the older version of CTMH's Fundamentals as the Ruby color had a clear embossed heart pattern on it, and I cut another layer in Black CS for a shadow layer.  I then used the Designed Decor Black Shadow Box Frame which is turning out to be my go-to for displays.
Note:  This smaller picture was my first version in which I used Ruby for the photo mat and Pixie for the title words, but I was disappointed in how much the words blended in with the background and essentially got "lost," so I just thought I'd share in order to encourage newer scrappers to take time to play with color and various options because sometimes a really small change can make a big difference!
And that's all there is to this one.  Thanks for stopping by and happy crafting!  ~~  Annette

Nautical theme for Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge

Hello, crafty friends!  I was really inspired to make a card based on this week's sketch at Atlantic Hearts sketch Challenge but some weeks are crazier than others.  I had a crafty Sunday all planned with plenty of projects, starting with this card, but a young friend came over for some scrapbook lessons and since one of the things I love most about being a consultant with CTMH is teaching people the joys of memory keeping, I decided real life came first.  So, I actually missed the deadline for the challenge BUT I've had this card on my mind all week and I wanted to make it for my hubby's valentine, so I made it anyway.  He wasn't in the Navy nor does he own a boat, but he absolutely loves the water and this sentiment couldn't be more true, he really IS my anchor!  We've been married 29 years and in that time we've had our share of "rough seas" but he always keeps my spirits "afloat."  I think that's pretty important in a mate!

details:  I ended up using all retired products for this one.  CTMH has a lovely new nautical themed paper called Regatta but I didn't have any on hand yet, but I still had some of this lovely Tommy paper, and all the papers I used are from that kit.  I fussy cut the anchor from one of the pages and used a punch to cut another one and layered them before popping the image up with 3-D take and using the natural colored decorative hemp CTMH carried several years ago for the "rope."  I created my own sentiment using the Keyboard alpha in Outdoor Denim ink.

 A note about the inside:  One of  the reasons I wanted to use this paper was because I'd created most of these elements from it for a card last year but that project just never came together.  However, I really liked that curvy arrow (from the Artbooking Cricut cartridge) and the little "scroll" that I originally cut with the Art Philosophy cartridge and rolled and distress inked with Brown Bag.  The little compass is stamped and cut from an old monthly special set called, "Pair A Phrase," which was the cutest set and one I continue to use quite often.

And that's it for now.  Thanks for stopping by and happy crafting!  ~~  Annette

CTMH Featured Products Blog Hop featuring Puffies!

Welcome to this installment of our exciting CTMH Featured Products blog hop where we are currently featuring Puffies! Blog hops are circular so you probably found your way here from Corinna's blog but you can jump in anywhere along the line and just keep following the links for lots of fun and inspiration.
I've found that I tend to focus on the bare bones of scrapbooking or card making, occasionally adding some bling but even then I seem to stick to the same few items despite having LOTS of unused goodies lying around.  So lately I have challenged myself to try new embellishments, especially those I get in my CTMH kits, and I'm so glad I gave these lovely little gold Treasured Puffies a try, I love them!  I got mine as part of the Workshops Your Way event CTMH held for us consultants and once I finished my layouts I had a few to spare, and I also won the Beautiful Blossoms Cut Above card kit and I thought I would try making one as shown and then add a little extra bling to another one using the puffies.

So the first picture is how the card is shown in the catalog but the bigger picture to the left is what I created using the Cut Above card base and the pieces I had left over from the complements for the new Charlotte kit and substituting a black banner.  The picture to the lower left is the inside of my card, but  I haven't quite settled on a sentiment for this one yet.

In case you are curious, I have included photos of the 3 layouts we created from the Workshops Your Way Charlotte kit.  The pictures in the catalog just can't do justice to the lovely colors and the gold Puffies, accents and ribbon, there is so much creative possibility with this kit!






Thanks for joining our hop and don't forget to head on over to see what the talented Kirsten has in store for you.
Happy crafting!  ~~ Annette