Masculine Birthday Card with Distress Inks and Stenciling

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This card was fun to make - it was my first time using Texture Paste with one of my Tim Holtz stencils.   My hubby is a car guy and I'm always looking for craft supplies that I can use on his birthday cards or scrapbook pages.  This Tim Holtz Treads stencil is perfect!

I started with a light gray cardstock and tinted the Ranger Texture Paste with Hickory Smoke Distress Ink.  I laid the stencil on a diagonal across my cardstock then filled it in with Texture Paste. 

Once it was dry, I started distressing the cardstock with more Hickory Smoke Distress Ink. 

I went over it a few times so I could get a lot of colour in between the tire treads. 

I blended the Hickory Smoke Distress Ink all around the edges of the cardstock.  Then I added a bit of Stormy Sky Distress Ink - the ink pad was really wet compared the rest that I bought (leaked in packaging), and it went on heavy so I blended it out as best as I could.

I used my CTMH Ink Blot Stamp set (retired) with Hickory Smoke Distress Ink and Faded Jeans Distress Oxide Ink and stamped randomly over the top and bottom.   

 I added some Black Rhinestones and stamped the Happy Birthday (retired) with Ranger Black Archival Ink. 

Inside I stamped another sentiment and the Hot Rod is from CTMH Maximum Power stamp set (retired).

Bash My Stash: Red & White Birthday Layout with Scrapbook Paper from Michaels

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Another layout using up my stash of scrapbook paper from Michaels. I kept it simple with a Red & White theme and added a little contrast with a pre-cut zigzag border from an old kit in my stash.

Supplies Used:

• Birthday Scrapbook Paper - Michaels
• Red Embossed Cardstock - Michaels
• Yellow ZigZag - Die Cut Kit
• Red Glitter Paper - American Crafts
• Recollections White Cardstock
• Carousel Cricut Cartridge - Balloons
• Close To My Heart Artiste Cricut Cartridge - Birthday Boy Title

Bash My Stash: Using Up Really Old Scrapbook Paper (1997)

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I'm not sure when I bought this scrapbook paper but the tear off strip has 1997© on it.    Since my goal is to use up as much of my stash this year as possible I decided to use it for this layout of our front door renovation.

I used a sketch from the Scrapbook Generation e-book:  Simply Sketches Ebook: 4x6 Only (One-Page Layouts)

Supplies Used:

• Tool Scrapbook Paper - Design Originals
• Recollections Solid Cardstock
• Recollections Brads
• Handy Man Cricut Cartridge - Fixing Up The Place Title
• Ribbons & Rosettes Cricut Cartridge - Stamp Border

Bash My Stash: Layout using SU Razzleberry Lemonade DSP

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Working my way through my pictures from 2002 and bashing as much of my paper stash as possible.  I've been going to the paper holder with my old Recollections and Stampin Up papers before looking at anything newer.    The Razzleberry Lemonade DSP has always been one of my favourite SU products. I love the vibrant colours.

I used a sketch from the Scrapbook Generation e-book:  Simply Sketches Ebook: 4x6 Only (One-Page Layouts)

My daughter with her pet rabbit, Chocolate. 

Supplies Used:

• CTMH White Daisy Cardstock
• SU Razzleberry Lemonade DSP
• SU Rich Razzleberry Cardstock
• Recollections Solid Cardstock (Pink & Yellow)
• Recollections Enamel Glitter Gems
• Kate's ABC's Cricut Cartridge - Adorable Title
• Creative Cards Cricut Cartridge - Flowers
• Elegant Edges Cricut Cartridge - Circle Scallop Doily
• Cricut Basic Shapes (included with Design Space) - Circle 
• Bits and Pieces Cricut Cartridge - Banner
• Giraffe Font - Cricut Access

Bash My Stash: Christmas Layout using Scrapbook Generation Sketch

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I love the Sketches by Scrapbook Generation.  I found myself constantly pinning their layouts so I decided to buy a few of their e-books earlier this year and I find I am using them a lot.

I'm working on older albums and my pictures are all printed in 4x6 format.  I've been scanning the pictures with my Photomyne app before scrapping so I have a digital copy in addition to the original negatives.

I bought a couple of the 4x6 SG Sketch Books and recently added the 6x6 Paper Pad Class to my collection.   I have a bunch of 6x6 samplers left over from when I was with CTMH and I figured the layouts would probably work with almost any paper that I have in my stash too.

This layout uses one of the 6x6 paper pad sketches.   I used up some of my 8-1/2 x 11 cardstock from Michaels (comes in those multi packs that always go on sale each month).

My journaling circle was inspired by some layouts that I saw on YouTube by ohMamarazzi Scrapbooking.   I cut the circle and the mat on my Cricut.

The Holly was cut using the CTMH Artistry Cricut cartridge - I backed it in white and brushed over it with my CTMH Clear Shimmer Brush for some sparkle - to go with the white accent on the Holly on the cardstock.
The titles were cut with my Cricut using the Augenblick font.

I embellished with some CTMH White Shimmer Trim, Whisper Twine and Black Sparkle Flourishes.
I'm trying to use up as much of my stash as possible before buying anything new.  It's fun rediscovering things that I've bought over the past few years.

Bash My Stash: Layout using Recollections Giant Paper Pad

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Another layout using up product from my paper stash.   My goal this year is to keep up a steady pace so I can get my older albums completed and use up as much paper and embellishments that I already own instead of purchasing more.

It's been easier than I thought and with my husband being on strike the past couple weeks I have been able to complete a bunch of layouts without spending a dime.

I love using my Cricut to create custom titles and embellishments instead of having to buy stickers for each layout.


Today's layout is inspired by a sketch that I found on Pinterest by Basic Grey.   I placed an extra photo on top of another before taking the picture of the layout.  Once I slide the layout into a page protector I will be adding a 4x6 Flip Flap to it with the photo on the bottom left in it.

Supplies Used:

• CTMH Kraft Cardstock
• Recollections Patterned Paper 
• Recollections Spice Market Solid Cardstock
• CTMH Hemp Ribbon
• CTMH Artistry Cricut Cartridge - Leaf Border
• CTMH 4x6 Flip Flap
• Cedar Font - Title

New for August: Bookworm and Go! Fight! Win! Collections

On Monday, Creative Memories released the new products for August.  Two new Collections for scrapbooking plus new Tools and Digital Artwork.

Back to School time is near and the Bookworm Collection is perfect for scrapping the school year. 

Coverset, Papers, Stickers, Embellishments and Mat Pack make up this school-themed collection.  

Here's a video by Creative Memories using the new Bookworm Collection. 

Instructions for this project are available on the CM Blog

The Go! Fight! Win! Collection has everything you need for documenting your child's extra-curricular activities.  Sports-themed Paper, Stickers, and Album Coverset make up this Collection.  

I was impressed by how many different activities were included in the sticker pack. 

You can see all the different activities in this video from Creative Memories.  Stay up to date on new products and instructional videos by subscribing to the Creative Memories YouTube channel. 

The Dancing Daisies Border Maker Cartridge is the latest addition to the Border Maker System.

Here are all the Border Maker Cartridges that are currently available.  They do retire the cartridges as more are added so make sure to order early to avoid disappointment.  

Once put on the Going, Gone list they are usually out of stock within hours due to the popularity of the Border Maker System.  

Here are all the new products that were released on Monday.   The Crop Caddy will be available to order towards the end of the month, unfortunately, there was a delay with the shipment.

The new products are all available to order now through my CM Website (with the exception of the Crop Caddy).

Not in Canada?  Check out the Advisor Locator on the website to find a CM Advisor near you. 

The new paper packs and embellishments are also in available in digital format.  

I use My Memories Suite software for my digi-scapping.  

Download a free trial from the My Memories website or use code STMMM3762 for $10 off your software purchase and a 10% discount off of photo books or giftware purchase.