Thoughtful Thursday

 

...and my scrapbooks would be bare!

Here is a recent picture of me with my boys: 

(Love them to the moon & back)

Mojo Monday 255

This card just makes me want to say Yee Haw! The style is really out of the box for me and that is what I love about Mojo Monday sketches, they take me out of my comfort zone and help me create one step further than I typically would.

The paper is from Close To My Heart's Dakota paper pack. It's not something I would usually go for, only because if I were to use it for scrapbooking, I wouldn't have any pictures to go with it. The more I thought about it and used it, I fell in love with it and think it goes with any masculine-themed pictures. It will be adorable to use on pages for my boys. I think our burlap ribbon is a perfect fit as a compliment to any project you use this paper on. The patterns of the B&T paper really go well together and made this sketch quite easy to put together. I edged all the papers by distressing them with black ink. I had an afterthought to stitch, but everything was already taped down, so I took a black marker and drew in stitch lines on all the edges. Instead of a scalloped border, like the sketch shows, I made little banners and glued them down under the strip of paper and alternated popping them up, every other one. I was inspired by the Dakota WOTG for the trim that looks like barbed-wire. I used black hemp to mimic the wire and finished the two ends with Durable Round Studs. The saying is from Casual Expressions stamp set and stamped in Pacifica on a shape cut on the Artiste Cricut cartridge.The little star is stamped in Barn Red and cut out by hand.

*All products can be purchased on my website http://clearlycreativepam.ctmh.com/Retail/Category.aspx

Thoughful Thursday

I had an idea that I would start a new feature here and call it "Thoughtful Thursday." Once a week (hopefully) every Thursday, I will post a quote, reflection, inspiration or thought that strikes my fancy that week. You are welcome to comment or add to what I have to say. I look forward to hearing from you.

Here is the thought for this Thursday:

Sometimes your joy is the source of your smile, but
sometimes your smile can be the source of your joy.
                                                  - Thich Nhat Hanh

Celebrate National Stamping Month

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Mojo 253

It's that time of year again...back to school, so I thought it was appropriate to make a card acknowledging those going back to school. I used new product from the Close To My Heart Autumn/Winter catalog, specifically the Scholastic Workshop on the Go paper, stamps, and embellishments. I added the CTMH binder clip as well. 

At first I was a little challenged by this sketch, but once I started layering pieces, it came together rather quickly. I have to say that the CTMH Artiste Cricut Cartridge made the layers fun, starting with the "Rolodex" shape. 

 

All products used can be ordered off my website www.clearlycreativepam.ctmh.com

Scholastic WOTG

Binder Clips

School Is Here Acrylix Stamp Set

Saddle Ink

Outdoor Denim Ink

Cranberry Ink

Mr. & Mrs.

The Art teacher I work with asked me to make some cards for some special people involved in her wedding this summer. I was so honored to be asked to create something so personal for her big day. Her specifications were that she wanted them to have the colors of her wedding (blue and gray) and have a shabby-chic look to them. I was a little nervous at first when I delivered  them to her because I was concerned that I hadn't created what she had envisioned. Melissa is the sweetest person in the world and would have said she liked them even if she hadn't, but I knew I'd be able to tell by her reaction. A sigh of relief went through me when she shrieked with delight and hugged me tight after seeing them.
Before I post the pictures of the cards, I want to show you the happy couple, Matt & Melissa. Aren't they just adorable? They were married in Arizona...what an awesome backdrop!

 I love this next photo as well, the view is amazing, but right away your eyes are drawn to the bride and groom.

On to the cards:

The card you see above is a thank you for each one of her bridesmaids. Below is a picture of her and the girls in her wedding:

 

Below is a card that she wanted for each one of the mom's. I thought that it was a sweet idea to give a special thank you card to both her mom and future mother in law.

Although her colors were blue and gray, I used some brown in the cards too because I had this paper in mind when she was describing what she wanted. It is called Caprice and is a retired paper from Close To My Heart (still available on Studio J layouts). It was a perfect fit with the crystal blue colors and shabby-chic look I was looking for. I colored all the embellishments with Crystal Blue reinker to match.

Next (below) is my personal favorite. She wanted a thank you card for her grandmother. I love all the details.

Below is a card I made for both sets of parents. I started with a clear card base and kept it a little more simple. 

 

Finally, this is a card Melissa asked me to make for her future husband. I wasn't sure how it would turn out, but I was happy with the results. It is a multi-paneled card that I used the 10-things pocket on. I didn't use the actual pocket, but arranged the numbered strips through-out the card for her to fill in. She had seen the idea in the CTMH catty and loved it. This is the card I was most nervous about, but ended up really liking the results in the end. I used the B&T blue paper from the Caprice paper pack and was able to use grey cardstock to pair with it to get her true wedding colors.

Below are the inside pages of the card:

I have one last photo of the bride and groom. Isn't this picture sweet? Congrats to Melissa & Matt! Best wishes and many blessings to you ♥