I will not be selling CTMH much longer because I have chosen to sell Stampin' Up. Although I do adore many of CTMH products, I feel like there has been a stop point to where Stampin' Up seems to always have something new. I apologize to all my CTMH fans, and do not discourage you from CTMH, but will show you TONS of new ways to use Stampin' Up!

What you will need:

8 1/2 x 11 piece of cardstock

Paper Trimmer

Scallop Punch

Piece of ribbon and/or hemp

Embellishments

Patterned Paper

Ink and Stamps

Order the Paper Trimmer and Corner Rounder Used in this tutorial together and save on shipping and handling! Your total cost will be $37.90. Email me at tahorton@myctmh.com if you want to place your order today! I accept credit cards!

Step One: 

You are first going to score at 1/2, 3 1/2, 5 3/4 and 8 3/4 on the 11 inch side

Step Two:

On the 8 inch side, you are going to score at 3 and 6 1/2.

Step Three: 

Place your paper with the 11 inch side across the top.  Cut from the bottom up to the score lines on all the score lines on the bottom.  Do the same for the top.  After that, cut the tab on the top and the tab on the bottom leaving only the middle on the far side (the littlest tabs)

Step Four: Simply roll the box together and glue your tabs together. 

Step Five: Scallop punch the two tabs on the top that you are going to use for your handles

Step Six: Decorate! Cut two holes where you want the hemp to go! Also round the corners of your handle with the CTMH corner rounder!

Why is it important to journal?

There are many important reasons why its special to incorporate journaling into your scrapbooking.  The most important reason is to tell a story for the generations to follow.  The reason we take pictures is not only for our memories but for future generations to come.  We want to be able to pass on personal thoughts, insights, and jokes to our children, their children, and so on.  Including fond memories and inside jokes that you cannot portray in the photos is a good way to enhance your pages and tell your story effectively.  Capturing exact feelings, moods, and emotion can also be an effective way to journal your memories as well.  Leaving a sampling of your handwriting can be a good indication of how you were feeling as well as what type of person you are. Handwriting can tell a lot about a person!

Who reads your journaling?

There are many people who will read your journaling in your albums.  Of the priority are your children, your immediate family your spouse, your grandchildren, your great grandchildren, friends, friends of your children, and so on.  It's important to journal so you don't leave those loved ones with questions that you could have answered by simply adding that small touch to your page.

When should you journal?

Small details don't stay in your memory for long so its important to jot down notes or stories just as they happen.  Sometimes keeping a journal by your bedside can help with jotting down mrmories each night.  You can also keep notecards in your purse to help jot down important details during the day.  Decorate a notebook with your favorite scraps to keep in your vehicle so you can write down important details,  or Close To My Heart has a memory recorder that you can also purchase, all you have to do is talk!

What can you use as guides to journal?

Brainstorm ideas

Fill in the blanks

Gather memorabilia

Quotes, sayings, song lyrics

Group journaling

Word journaling

Use an actual journal

Save emails

Copy pages in your planner

Use who, what, when, where, why

Use your senses

Make a list

Pick a color

Associate

Free write

Look for inspiration on the web

Carry index cards

I just used who what when and why for my beginnings of each section and didn't even know it!

Now we are going to make AN ADORABLE yet simple Tic Tac holder which is absolutely PERFECT if you ahve tiny scraps you want to use up. The first step is going to be to cut a piece of cardstock 4 5/8 x 3. You will score at 2 and 2 5/8. After that, you will use your corner rounder and round the corners.





Now, cut a piece of patterned paper at 2 7/8 and 1 7/8. This will be your front. Decorate your front.

Afterwards, glue your Tic Tacs on the inside, and using a piece of 1 1/2 x 2 1/2 piece of cardstock, you are going to decorate a cover for the tic-tac container.

So simple, so easy, so fun and GREAT FOR GIFTS! I actually cut two small holes and used ribbon to adhere the front and back into a bow so it had a little bit more style! Show me what you can come up with!!!

Today we are going to make a Notecard Purse Holder. Your first step is going to be to cut a piece of cardstock 5 1/2 by 10 1/2.


Then, hot dog way you are going to score 4 1/4 from each side. Hamburger way you are going to score 1 1/4 from each side. Then you are going to cut the four slits in the middle, see pictures.

Then, you are going to cut four pieces of patterned paper. Two are going to be 2x4 and the other two are going to be 3x4. Then, using the edge distresser, you are going to distress the edges. You can also use a sander to distress even more!


The very last step is going to decorate your purse and your notecards. My notecards are 3x5. I cut a 1x3 strip for the top and then punched a scallop and put "to do"

Products Used:
Caprice paper {Not in catalog}
Brown Cardstock
Stamps: Noteworthy {D1329} -HOT! Journaling Jots {Unknown}
Chocolate Brown Ink {Z2111}
Edge Distresser {Z1297} -HOT!
Sanding Kit {Z1294} -HOT!

One of the reasons I choose to scrapbook with Close To My Heart products is because of how safe there products are for preserving my memories.  Safety is the key when scrapbooking your memories because the whole reason for Scrapbooking is to pass down our stories for generations so that other can reflect on us.  We want to be sure our Scrapbooks last the longest possible.  Here are some tips on keeping it safe!

pH Factor:

Its very important to keep this in mind when choosing products that come in contact with your photos {pens, papers, stickers, stamp ink, etc} The pH scale runs from 0-14 and the lowest the pH factor the more acidic the product is.  You want to keep it somewhere between 7 and 9.  Just because something says that it is Acid Free does not always mean it is the best for your photos.  Close to My Heart has a wonderful line of products that have been scientifically tested for safety!

Lignin- 

Lignin can cause your photographs to turn yellow and become brittle over time.  Its important to choose products that are lignin free. Close to My Heart Products are lignin free.

Buffered:

 Paper that is buffered is less likely to break down when exposed to acidic memorabilia.  

Well, you have been educated on keeping it safe! 

When you think of scrapbooking, it can be overwhelming.  You have been wanting to dig those old photos out and do something with them but haven't found perhaps the time, the money or the motivation.  This article is designed to help kick yourself into gear and get organized because the first step to scrapbooking is ORGANIZATION! 

Before your purchase scrapbooking supplies, the best place to start is with your photos.  You are going to want to separate all of your photos into categories.  Try these for starters:

---Holidays

---Subject

---Vacation

---Person

---Event

---Year

---Theme

Then, you are going to start with each category and start organizing them into chronological order.