After a very long break from crafting I am happy to announce that I have just joined Stampin' Up. 

I look forward to posting some new layouts here very soon.  

Baby Album Title Page with CM Woodland Whimsy

I finally had some time this week to get back into the craft room.

I have been working on some pages from my son's baby album, in no particular order, but want to start assembling it.  So I decided I would do my cover page before anything else.

I found this 5x7 photo sketch on Pinterest and recreated it using Creative Memories Woodland Whimsy Collection (retired).

I really love the non-traditional colours in this collection, and the adorable woodland creatures.

I popped up the squirrel sticker with some foam tape and added a little bling to the heart with a CTMH Bitty Sparkle.  And yes, I am really far behind with my some of my albums!  I thought that I had already finished a baby album but then my son mentioned it and when I checked my albums I didn't have one for him just his sister.  

How adorable is that fox!  I cut the title on my Cricut using the Starfish font.  

I used the Picket Fence Border Maker Cartridge along the edge of the orange paper and threaded some Stampin' Up Early Espresso Ribbon through it. 

I usually will cut page titles with my Cricut but decided to use the pieces that came in the embellishment pack instead.  

Products used in this layout:

• Creative Memories Woodland Whimsy Paper Pack (retired)
• Creative Memories Woodland Whimsy Embellishment Pack (retired)
• Creative Memories Woodland Whimsy Sticker Pack (retired)
• Creative Memories Border Maker System
• Creative Memories Picket Fence Border Maker Cartridge
• Stampin' Up Early Espresso Ribbon
• Recollections Dark Brown Cardstock (Photo Mat and Baby's Name)
• Close To My Heart Bitty Sparkles
• Close To My Heart White Daisy Cardstock
• Starfish Font

You can order Creative Memories Products in Canada on my CM Website or use the Advisor locator to find an Advisor near you.  

Decorating Wineglasses with Cricut Adhesive Foil

**This post contains affiliate links and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking through my links. 

My daughter got engaged this summer and was wanting to make Bridesmaid boxes.   These glasses were really fun to make and inspired me to try something new with my diecutting machine.

I love that I can design in Silhouette Studio Business Edition and save as an SVG file.  I find that when you are working with fonts that Studio is much easier to work with than Cricut Design Space.  I wasn't sure about how well the foil would cut with the Silhouette Portrait though, so I uploaded the finished file to Cricut Design Space and cut on a 12x12 mat with my Cricut Explore.

We did four glasses - one for her plus the Maid of Honour and two Bridesmaids. 

The font is Magnolia Sky

The Cricut Metallic Adhesive Foil can be tricky to work with.  It does not like to stick to the transfer paper.  I had to gently pull off the backing and push the letters onto the transfer paper to get it stuck down.   The back of the foil is really sticky, so you need to know exactly where you want it before letting it touch the surface or it may rip if you try and move it.

I had watched a few videos before cutting it.  I was much easier to get it around the glass with the slits cut into the paper.  And the wings on the sides gave me something to hold onto without touching the sticky backing on the letters.

I cradled each glass on a pillow, which kept it from rolling around while I was attaching the words.

Not quite finished here -  we had ordered photo boxes from Amazon and cut out each person's name with the Rose Gold Foil and attached to the box lid.  My daughter wanted to make sure the boxes would be deep enough before adding in more tissue paper and gift items.  I didn't get to see them when she was done but she said they turned out great and everybody loved them.  

 We had lots of foil left over and I'm looking forward to making more items for her wedding. 

Layout using new CM Sunburst Recipe Template

I finally got to try out my new Creative Memories Sunburst Recipe Template this weekend.   

I really like how this turned out even though I am not very good at freehand cutting when my hands are sore.   Usually, I would try to cut something like this with my Cricut instead.  

The patterned cardstock is from an Amy Tangerine paper pad that I got at Michael's a few years ago.

The paper is so bold that I haven't added any embellishments yet, but might look at my stash and see what I can find that would coordinate without being too fussy.   

This video from Creative Memories shows a few ways that you can use your template to get a completely different look and features a tutorial showing how to create a layout with the Sunburst Template.

Save $15 off your Creative Memories orders when you use the coupon code AWESOME15 (ends June 29th at noon CT).  Coupon code can be used on more than one order.

New for April: Creative Memories Little Lamb Collection

Getting caught up finally after getting over the flu - it's been 3 weeks since I first came down with it and I was able to get back to most of my normal routine this past week and I started a new part-time job last week too.  

I'll start with the mid-March launch,  this quarter's 8x8 Album Coversets were released.  They are only available until April 10th.  The pages and protectors are available for purchase year round. 

We also now have a new addition to the Imagine Collection - a 12x12 Fast2Fab Album! 

I was really happy to see this!  I had originally wanted to buy the 8x8 Fast2Fab but realized I had so many pictures from our WDW trip.   I did buy my 12x12 Coversets and now I can purchase the Fast2Fab pages to match.   

If you like grid layouts you are going to love the new CM Wildflower Recipe Template.  So many different layout options!  Check out this YouTube video to see step-by-step instructions:

Mid-March Flyer showing all the new products:

Now for April,  a beautiful new Baby themed collection called Little Lamb.
I am loving the soft colours in this collection.  This collection includes new albums, Fast2Fab sets, paper, stickers and mat packs.    Digital files are also available for use in your favourite digital scrapbooking or die-cutting software.

There are also some new tools included in this launch.   There is a new 4-way Hearts and Stars Corner and Hole punch along with a Double Heart Punch and a new Double Wave Tearing Tool.  If you missed out last fall the Rolling Tote is now back in stock.

You can view all the latest products in the What's New section of my Creative Memories website.

Little Lamb Girl Fast2Fab Bundle Video

 Little Lamb Boy Fast2Fab Bundle Video

April Flyer with new products:

All these products are now available for purchase on my Creative Memories website.

Looking for a digital scrapbook program?  All of the digital kits from CM work in many different programs including My Memories Suite Version 9.  Use code STMMM3762 for $10 off software and 10% off photobooks and giftware.

Bash My Stash: Rollerblading Layouts

Here are a couple more layouts from the Summer of 2000.  I had finished this album over a year ago but then came across a few more prints a couple of weeks ago.  Easy enough to add them into my album, that's what I like best about using side-loading pages. 

I'm still working on bashing my stash and was able to find two different lines that went nicely together.  I really like the bright colours in the Bella Blvd Molly Collection with the CTMH Taste of Summer papers.  Great for children's pictures.

I found these rollerblade stickers in my stash and started pulling paper and embellishments that matched.   I'm pretty sure that I've had these stickers since the early 2000's.

I used a sketch from CTMH Stargazer WYW kit (free to download on their website until the end of April) for this two page layout.  

For this page I used a sketch from a Scrapbook Generation e-book:

Simply Sketches 20 One-Page Sketches using only 4x6 photos

 Products Used:

• CTMH Taste of Summer Papers (pink and purple patterned paper)
• CTMH White Daisy Cardstock
• CTMH White Shimmer Trim
• Recollections White Glitter Enamel Gems
• Recollections Black Cardstock
• Bella Blvd Molly Collection (stars and camera prints, title stickers)
• Bella Blvd Color Chaos Blueberry Strandz (navy stripes)
• Mrs. Grossman's Rollerblade Skates Stickers

New for March: Creative Memories Black & White Collection

Monday was Launch Day and once again Creative Memories did not disappoint.  

This month we have the new Black & White Collection which includes a paper pack, mat pack, stickers, album, Fast2Fab pages and an Album Bundle. 

Here are all of the new products for March, you can find them on the What's New page on my Creative Memories website. 

In addition to the Black & White Collection, we also have a new Double Chevron Border Maker Cartridge and a Starburst Punch.  Be sure to check out the Going, Gone Section this week, a couple of the Border Maker Cartridges will be discontinued when sold out. 

We have quite a few alphabet stickers available in classic Black & White.  Perfect for all occasions. 

Check out these videos for a closer look at some of the products in the new Black & White Collection:

Paper Pack

Sticker Pack

Black & White Mat Pack, perfect for using in Creative Memories Pocket Albums or as an accent on a traditional scrapbook layout. 

Digital versions of the new Black & White Collection along with the newly released National Scrapbook 2018 Kit are also now available for purchase.  Use with your favourite digital scrapbook or die cutting software. 

Here's a closer look at the new Fast2Fab products, available as a Bundle or also sold separately. 

Check out this video for a closer look at the new Black & White Fast2Fab pages and White Embossed Album Cov.  

The new Stone, Cloth, and Timber paper packs were released mid-February. 

Also available in digital format. 

I love the texture in these new packs,  they remind me of the Adventure pack that was released last year. 

Cloth Paper Pack

Stone Paper Pack

Timber Paper Pack

All these products are now available for purchase on my Creative Memories website.  

Looking for a digital scrapbook program?  All of the digital kits from CM work in many different programs including My Memories Suite Version 9.  Use code STMMM3762 for $10 off software and 10% off photobooks and giftware.

Layout using CM Adventure Collection with Go! Fight! Win! Project Recipe

I use a lot of sketches when scrapbooking and love that Creative Memories creates a Project Recipe to go with each new paper collection.

For this layout, I took the Go! Fight! Win! Project Recipe but used the Adventure Collection to scrap my camping pictures.

The Project Recipe used the Border Maker System but since I don't have many cartridges yet I decided to create my own in Design Space using the campfire image from the CTMH Artistry Cricut Cartridge.

Always have to have a bit of sparkle on my pages so I cut a strip of CTMH Bronze Shimmer trim in half lengthwise and used it as a border along the CM patterned paper.

My title is from Miss Kate Cuttables, cut mostly from Recollections cardstock.  

It was pretty easy to find colours that coordinated well with the CM Adventure patterned papers. 

Products used in this layout:

• CM Adventure Paper (retired)
• CM Adventure Stickers (retired)
• CM Beige Cardstock
• Recollections Cardstock
• CTMH Artistry Cricut Cartridge
• CTMH Bronze Shimmer Trim

 The Adventure Collection has now been retired but the Digital Kit is still available for purchase on my CM website and can be used in your favourite digital scrapbooking or diecutting software.

Bash My Stash: Christmas Tag Gift Card Holder Freebie

**This post contains affiliate links and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on my links.



I'm finishing up my holiday preparations and quickly put together a couple of the Christmas Tag Gift Card Holders by Printable Cuttable Creatables.

I imported the file into Cricut Design Space and resized it to make a large tag.  I have a couple of certificates that aren't standard gift card size.  The finished tag is approximately 6" tall by 3" wide.  I added the rectangle so I would have a piece to stamp on since the Recollections patterned paper is very busy.

Since I am still working on bashing my stash, I used an old stamp from SU All Year Cheer II and some stickers that I have had since the early 2000's. I also used up some old embossing powder that I've had for at least 15 years, not my favourite as far a quality goes but the colour was right for this project.   The ribbon is SU Whisper White.

These will hang from the tree until my kids get here to open gifts on Christmas Day.

I might even make a couple more in a standard gift card size if I have time - they are perfect for gift card giving year round.

This SVG file is currently available for free on the Printable Cuttable Creatables website.

New For December: Creative Memories Imagine Collection

I'm in love with the latest collection by Creative Memories. Released earlier this month, this collection is perfect for all sorts of layouts, and the collection is also available in digital format for use with your favourite software.

The primary colours are great for children's layouts, and the patterns are easy to mix and match for any occasion. 

I know I am going to be using mine to finish up some of my Florida vacation layouts.    

Check out this Album Cover, isn't it gorgeous?

And with this 8x8 Fast2Fab Album you can finish your album in an hour or less.  

Just grab some photos, adhesive and a few embellishments...

then add your journaling and slide on the included page protectors.  Page refills are also available.

Here are all of the new products for December, you can find them on the What's New page on my Creative Memories website. 

Early Black Friday: Cricut Access Members Exclusive 2 Day Sale

**This post contains affiliate links and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on my links.

Cricut is offering Access Members an exclusive Early Black Friday Sale!

• Access-Exclusive: Cuttlebug accessories starting at $0.99 and $30 off Cuttlebug machines!
• Access-Exclusive: 50% off supplies (excludes new, bulk, and bundles)

Plus:

• Free shipping on orders $75 or more with code FREESHIPNOV
• Maker + Essentials Collection: $459.99 ($591.91 value)
• Maker + Everything Materials Collection: $459.99 ($591.80 value)
• Cricut EasyPress - available for only $149.99
• Cricut Explore Air™ 2 Sky Machine available for $229.99!

All Access-exclusive offers above are valid November 15th & 16th ONLY; you must be logged in to your Access account in order to see the promotions.

New For November: Creative Memories Birthday, Glacier Collection and More!

This week we are celebrating 3 years of the new Creative Memories with the launch of some great new products, a free shipping offer and a chance for you to win one of the new Rolling Bags and a $200 Spree!

 This week only, enjoy FREE SHIPPING on orders of $95 or more (includes surcharge areas!). 

Offer ends at 3 pm CT on Friday, November 10th.

Check inside your order for a Golden Ticket, 20 lucky winners* will receive a Golden Ticket in their order, which allows them to earn a FREE Rolling Bag!

1 lucky winner will receive a Platinum Ticket in their order when it arrives, which gets them the  FREE Rolling Bag plus a $200 Shopping Spree!  

*One chance to win each day per name and mailing address.

Visit my Creative Memories website to see all the new products listed in the What's New section.

Bash My Stash: O'Keefe Historical Ranch Clean & Simple Layouts

Getting close to the end of this album, I only have a few more layouts to do of our tour of the Historic O'Keefe Ranch in Vernon, BC.

For this set of pages, I wanted to highlight the heritage features of the buildings so I kept my layouts simple by matting my photos on black cardstock and using the same woodgrain chevron pattern cardstock on all three.  My only embellishment is a strip of Shimmer Trim that I cut in half lengthwise and used as a border along the edge of the cardstock.

Schubert House - this house was smaller, but the trim work inside the house reminded me of the heritage house that my family had owned.

These are my favourite pictures from this tour and the reason that I decided to stick with very simple layouts.  I really wanted the pictures to stand out on these pages.  

I love all the old products in the General Store.  I was a Watkins Consultant for many years and spotted a few Watkins products on the bottom shelf.

I found a map online and printed it out and added to one of the layouts.   So glad that everything is online to reference since these photos are from 2002 and I couldn't remember the names of all the buildings. 

These layouts were so easy to put together - unlike the rest of my album where I used sketches, for these layouts I was inspired by the Power Layouts method.  I laid my pictures out on each sheet of cardstock and set aside.  When it came time to adhere I just quickly matted all the pictures at once, cut the two sheets of wood grain cardstock and the embellishment strips, adhered everything, journaled and just like that I was done.  

So fast and easy!  I love decorative scrapbooking but I have quite a few albums to do so I am trying to keep it as simple as possible. After I do the last three layouts from this trip I will have completed three albums this year.  The first album took the longest (started a couple years ago) because it is all decorative layouts.  The last two are fairly decorative but I planned differently and they went a little quicker - better use of my time and supplies.   I will be ordering one (or two) of the re-released Power Layout kits from Creative Memories and pre-sorting my layouts so the box is ready to grab and go when I find I have an extra few minutes. I will still do some decorative layouts - I'll just add a post-it note to the guide to reference which sketch I want to use for that page.  

If you aren't familiar with this sorting method check out this YouTube video - it's from 2010 but

explains very well how this method works. 

I wish this method had been around back when I first started using CM products in the mid-90's.  I probably would have completed more albums.  I really like that you know what will be on the back of the right-hand page.  I love the quality of the CM pages with the jeeping but was always concerned that I would mess up and put the wrong pictures on the back.   By using the guide to represent the back of a page I can rearrange and have everything exactly as I want it before adhering.  

You can find the Power Layout Kit under the Tools section of my Creative Memories website. 

Supplies used in these layouts:

• CTMH White Daisy cardstock
• Recollections Black cardstock
• CTMH Fundamentals Wood-grain cardstock (retired)
• CTMH Bronze Shimmer Trim

Masculine Birthday Card with Distress Inks and Stenciling

**This post contains affiliate links and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on my links.

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

**This post contains affiliate links and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on my links.

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)

**This post contains affiliate links and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on my links.

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

**This post contains affiliate links and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on my links.


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

**This post contains affiliate links and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on my links.


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

**This post contains affiliate links and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on my links.


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