Enchantment School Layouts

Close To My Heart really changed their Annual Inspirations book this year. Instead of having a lot of themed papers, they went with color combinations in our new Fundamentals collections. I love all of the papers, but the Enchantment Fundamentals have gorgeous jewel-toned colors and are perfect for my school layouts.

I used the Cricut Artbooking cartridge to cut out First Day, the apple and the binder paper. I used the retired Cricut Art Philosophy cartridge for the penant banner. The stars were cut using our new Thin Cuts Stars in White Glitter paper and then I used our Shin Han markers to color them. So easy to personalize! I made these layouts with my Scrappy Gals after school program group and they were a big hit!

Claire Scrapbook Layout

I just finished teaching a six-session scrapbooking class to the most amazing girls.  They were in second-fifth grade and not only were they creative and artistically talented, they were just the sweetest, most fun group of girls, too!  What a blessing to get to share my passion for scrapbooking with them.  Here we are on our last day:

Each week, I created a different themed layout, using CTMH papers and accessories, naturally!  For the last class, I used the Claire Paper Packet and the Girls Rock stamp set.  I just love the flowers and border stamps in this cute set!  I also used the Chocoate Alphabet Stamp to create the "epic" title.  Did you know that "epic" is the new "awesome" or "cool?"  I didn't until a former scrapbooking student let me in on "what the kids are saying these days!"  Ha!

Using my Cricut Art Philosophy Cartridge, I was able to cut out shapes that perfectly matched the flower shapes.  This awesome cartridge easily cuts out flower shapes from our new Glitter Paper, too.  Then, a little of the Silver Shimmer Trim (LOVE that it's self-adhesive!), a few buttons from the Buttons Pink Assortment and voila...one cute layout!

I focus on a different technique or two each week with my Scrappy Gals.  This week, we did border stamping, rock'n'roll stamping and second generation stamping.  Check it out:

It was amazing to me that each girl put her own spin on the layout.  Almost nobody ever copied my layout design exactly.  It just shows the artistic flair inside each one of us when we're encouraged to let our creativity shine!

Six Weeks of Halloween - Week Three

Just 28 more days until Halloween (so say my Halloween Countdown Blocks), and today is the first day of my after school program, Halloween Scrapbooking.

I'm excited to teach nine elementary students (I have two boys in my class this time, hooray!) how to cut, stamp and embellish their way into the art of scrapbooking.  And, with this sweet little Halloween Mini Album, they'll enjoy their work for years to come.

I used Close To My Heart's Quick Pic Album (Z1407) for perfect 6x6 layouts.  I also used some retired products that I gobbled up last year from the Hooligans paper pack.  Each student will get a Hooligans Level 1 Scrapbooking Kit that includes four preprinted pages, two B&T Duos, two Cardstock Sheets and two My Stickease Adhesive Sheets.  They'll also get the My Stickease Hooligans Assortment, Boutiques Monster Mash (those adorable felt monsters with googly eyes) and a package of Mini-Medley in Pear.  Check out their stash below:

 

                               

 

I can't wait to see what they come up with!  And, I can't wait to see what YOU come up with, either.  I have four of these kits (album in olive green or pansy purple, the paper, stickease, and all the embellishments) available for just $30!!!  Leave me a comment or email me here if you're interested!

 

Want one of these albums for yourself?  Like my facebook page and on October 31st I'll pick one lucky winner to receive a completed Halloween Mini-Album, sent to them FREE!  Head over to my facebook page and Like it now!

Paradise

It's officially the unofficial start to summer!  Happy Memorial Day weekend everyone!

Are you at the beach?  Planning a picnic or BBQ?  I've been feeling very beachy lately and wanted to share a layout I created and taught to my after school scrapbooking class girls.  Using CTMH's Footloose paper pack and a few embellishments, I came up with this fun layout.

The girls loved using the Crop-a-dile to set the eyelets!  I also taught them the "Rock and Roll" technique to add multiple colors to their fish, turtle and seahorse.  I love the colors of this paper pack: Lagoon, Pear, Olive and Creme Brulee.

I'll be hosting the Footloose WOTG on July 25th.  If you want to order the kit now, go to my CTMH page: http://michellejonesva.ctmh.com/ and click on the 3 for 2 party on the middle/left hand side!

Super Hero Fun

The last six Tuesdays, from 3:15-4:15, I've been in the adoring company of seven beautiful males.  I know, jealous aren't you?

Here they are:

I had three sets of brothers and one boy whose sister takes my scrapbooking class.  All of their mothers are dear friends on mine and I just loved every second with this boisterous group.  We played games like: Pin Spiderman on the Web, Kryptonite Toss and Batplane.  They created their own superhero identities, made crafty spiders, superhero emblems, milk carton "kryptonite" boxes and bookmark albums featuring the Superhero paper pack, Superhero Rub-Ons and Comic Badge Buttons, all from Close To My Heart.
They really created some amazing final products.  Here are a few:

Clay Emblems

Alex's unfinished bookmark album.

Joshua's favorite bookmark album page.

The best part of the class was spending time with my two wonderful, sweet, creative boys and their friends.  What a blessing to get to share my passion for paper crafting with this awesome group!

After School Friends

For six weeks, I had the privelege of teaching scrapbooking to a group of 15 young women from my sons' elementary school.  Each week, I designed a new layout featuring an awesome paper pack from CTMH.  The girls used the precut papers to either follow my example, or use their individuality to create their own layout.  We had so much fun stamping, adding embellishments and using lots of different tools and techniques.

The girls learned so much and even designed their own layouts for the last class.  They were such a wonderful group and I'm going to miss them!

Be Mine

Teaching a group of 15 young women about scrapbooking has been such a joy. The girls, grades 1-5, are so full of enthusiasm and creative energy that I think I learn more from them than they do from me.  Each week, I demonstrate a new technique.  This week, I introduced the girls to Close To My Heart's Spray Pen as we completed a Valentine's Day layout.

I had to refill the pen several times as they decided to spray just about everything, not just the heart title!  But, what a great example of how to take a few tools (water, CTMH re-inker and Pearl Paint) and combine them in the spray pen for a cool effect.

If you don't have a Spray Pen yet, you need to add it to your "must have" tools list.  Contact me today to order one and I'll give you a free "mixture" of product to try it for yourself.

Let It Snow

As a former third grade teacher, I sometimes miss being in front of a group of kids teaching.  I also love sharing my passion for scrapbooking.  Thankfully, I'm fortunate enough to teach an after school class to a group of girls from first through fifth grade at my boys' elementary school.

Registration is next Tuesday night and I wanted to showcase at least one layout the kids would complete.  I chose the Wonderland paper pack and the title Let It Snow, in hopes that we might inspire Mother Nature to dump a bit of the white stuff on Leesburg.

Here's the layout:

Close up of the corner with Designer Brads - Rhinestone

I love how the layout turned out!  It's simple enough for these elementary students but still impressive.  And, I know they're going to love the Sparkles and Rhinestone Brad.  I love CTMH's zip strips (the arch showcased in the close up photo above), so easy but adds a great touch!  Here's a list of my materials:

• White Daisy cardstock
• Twilight cardstock and ink
• Gray Flannel cardstock and ink
• Wonderland paper
• My Acrylix Friendship Alphabet
• My Acrylix Wonderland WOTG
• Bulk Sparkles
• Designer Brads, Rhinestone

If you have a daughter at BBES in grades 1-5, I hope she'll consider joining me for a great after school class!