Heartfelt Sentiments August Paper Focus Blog Hop

Welcome to a our first blog hop for the brand new Close To My Heart Annual Inspiration Ideabook.
If you are coming from Melissa's blog then you are on the right track!  Be sure to visit all of our designers for some great inspiration this month using the Chalk It Up collection of paper and accessories.
Some of the pieces of this collection can be a bit busy, but not this piece of black paper.  It's subtle pattern is perfect for building your layout on.

I used strips of the busier paper as well as some of the zip strips on the layout.  For embellishments I chose a couple of the Compliments images and the Chalk It Up Assortment.  I'm saving the photo spots for baby pictures later this year.
Thanks for stopping by, now hop on over to Tonya's blog and see what she's created for you.  Visit my website to order your collection of the Chalk It Up line.  While you're there, check out the great Picture My Life special for August.  There's even a Chalk It Up PML collection to add to your layouts and projects

This just in

Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome the new Annual Inspirations idea book! Enter a new world of crafting possibilities with the launch of our latest idea book. After months of anticipation, Annual Inspirations has arrived at last. The art-filled pages are now available for your viewing pleasure! Peruse the gold mine of new products, ranging from the new Cut Above™ line to the ShinHan™ Touch Twin™ Markers, and admire the gorgeous artwork that dances across the pages. With additions such as 5 new colors and 9 new My Reflections™ paper packets, this idea book is overflowing with artistic inspiration and surging with products fit to make any crafter’s heart swoon. So go ahead, fall in love with the new idea book. We promise the plunge will be well worth your time. Check out the idea book » August Stamp of the Month: What a Hoot Prepare for “owl” the fall festivities with this hoot of a stamp set. Fall will be swooping in before we know it, and there is no better way to welcome in crispy breezes and falling leaves than with the August Stamp of the Month, What a Hoot! When you place an order of $50 or more, these festive fowl can join your aviary for only $5! The quirky owls in this adorable stamp set will add an endearing element to any craft. You can even dress them up in costumes and wish your friends a “Happy ‘Owl’oween”! Whatever the occasion, these feathered friends are sure to make a hoot in your neck of the woods. See the stamp set » August Constant Campaign: Picture Perfection! Save big on Memory Protectors™ with Picture My Life™ scrapbooking programs! We know that, as a crafter, your chief mission is to preserve and protect the images and memories from your life that you hold most dear. To aid you in this quest, we’re providing you with a hot summer deal! During the month of August, when you purchase any of the 13 available Picture My Life™ scrapbooking programs featured in the Annual Inspirations idea book at their full retail price of $24.95 USD / $27.50 CAD, you are eligible to add your choice of 1 of 8 qualifying Memory Protectors™ 10-packs for just $3 (USD & CAD)! Each Picture My Life scrapbooking program already includes a coordinating 10-pack of Memory Protectors, so when you add your additional 10-pack for only $3, you will be well on your way to your own picture-perfect pocket scrapbooking adventure. You’ll be able to preserve double the memories in half the time! Check out our 5 new Picture My Life scrapbooking programs in the new idea book, or choose from the 8 existing programs. There’s a theme for every season of life—find yours! *Offer valid August 1–31, 2014, while supplies last. No tax will be charged on the free item(s). Shipping/handling is calculated based on the full retail price of the free item(s) ($9.95 USD / $10.95 CAD).  Peruse the programs »

Technique Blog Hop - Sneak Peek

Welcome to July's edition of our Technique Blog Hop.  This month we would like to surprise you with some sneak peeks of our upcoming Hops featuring techniques from the 2014/2015 Close To My Heart Annual Inspiration Ideabook.  Each designer chose a different technique featured in the book to highlight.  We will revisit each technique as a group throughout the year so keep checking in with our designers to get some great inspiration on your favorite technique.  If you are coming from Tonya's blog then you are definitely on the right track!  Our hop is a gigantic circle so keep on going until you've reached your starting point.  If you get lost along the way, or perhaps would like to refer to a certain blog you will find a complete list of our designers this month at the bottom of my post!

Now to begin my sneak peek.......

The technique I've chosen is Handmade Hues.  A really great way to turn your stamped images into beautiful colored embellishments for your projects.  The colorful star images on my layout is an example of this technique.  The stamped image is an outline stamp which leaves you tons of room to add your own creative touch to it.

Everything you see in my layout is from the upcoming Annual Inspiration Ideabook.....can you guess what the images are colored with?  I am really excited about this new product. Leave me a comment with your guess and you will be entered in a drawing for fresh new product coming August 1. Coloring is one of my favorite pastimes - I can't wait to share with you more examples and finished pieces.

Hop on over to Shirley's blog now to see what she's picked to share.  Thanks for stopping by!

debi

July's designers:

debi - http://debiistheothersister.blogspot.com 

Shirley Ross - http://momnmescrap.blogspot.com/2014/07/technique-blog-hop-sneak-peek-new.html 

Sheila Bennett - http://sheila-bennett.blogspot.com

Michelle Loncar- http://michelleloncar.blogspot.com/2014/07/technique-hop-annual-inspirations-sneak.html 

Haley Dyer  http://inkyscrapper.blogspot.com

Melissa Robinson  http://mlisrobinson.blogspot.com 

Tonya Whitehurst http://heartandsoulscrappers.blogspot.com