Throwback Thursday!

   Last month I didn't get a chance to post as many projects as I wanted to share with you all! So today I am going to throw it back to show you an awesome layout I scraplifted from the very talented Karen Pederson using last month's exclusive paper pack: Live Beautifully!

   If you remember, last month was National Scrapbooking Month, and CTMH really outdid themselves with the release of this exclusive collection! Karen Pederson was very generous to share her workshop with all of the CTMH consultants, so I took her workshop and decided to make it my own using my favorite papers from this kit!

   The colors in my photo do not do this layout justice! It's so beautiful with the Seaglass tones, gold foil accents, and black glitter hearts. I love how this turned out!

   Some of the hearts came from the You & Me Complements (which is now sold out), but the other couple I punched out of Black Glitter paper with a couple heart punches I had on hand! I also decided to wait on titling this layout until I pick out my pictures, but the little section between the hearts on the right page is reserved for titling/journaling.

   Did you get your hands on this paper pack last month?? How about the Cut Above Kit?? I really had fun scrapping some photos from the parents' wedding 11 years ago using those layouts!

   Well I hope you're having a great week, and I hope you enjoyed checking out some more artwork from me! Have a great weekend, and until next time:

Here's to life, love, and creativity!

Make It Monday!!

   I'm sorry it has been so long since I have updated or posted. Time really has flown by already this year, and I found it hard to keep up with my blog with everything else my family had going on. I am hoping I can get back to posting regularly for you, though! I miss showing you all the fun things I have going on!

   Today I want to bring back my "Make It Monday" posts for you to show off some artwork and fun things that I have been creating lately! Today's artwork is from the new Seasonal Expressions II Idea Book! This book just went live May 1st. So you can see it online now or you can contact me to get a copy for yourself! 

   I love the collections in this idea book, and I think you'll love them too after seeing all the cute ways you can use them! The first collection I am featuring this month is called "Little Dreamer", and it is perfect for birthday celebrations, little girl pages, and summer fun projects!

   I started using this collection for my niece's 2nd birthday party pictures. The colors in this collection matched her outfit perfectly, and I thought it was the perfect bright and cheery patterns to show off her cute little personality in these photos!

   I stamped the banners portion on top using the "Way to Go" stamp set in Glacier, Thistle, Canary, and Whisper inks. The journaling card came from the retired "Beautiful You" Picture My Life set, and I used a mix of embellishments to finalize the look: White & Gold ribbon from the Little Dreamer collection, the Little Dreamer Complements, My Girl Complements, and the Gold foil dots came from the alphabet sticker sheet out of the retired January campaign: Welcome Home Wreath. 

   All of my pictures are 4x6 photos so I didn't have to do any trimming or re-sizing. The purple strip on top of my photos is the zip strip from the paper I used! I love that CTMH gives us extra border pieces to use with each paper in the collection! 

   This is the layout we are making at my in-home workshops this month! If you want to host one to make this layout yourself, contact me today! I would love to come show off the new products for you and your crafty friends! 

   I hope you have a great week! Enjoy the sunshine, and I hope you are able to get some crafty time in! Until next time:

Here's to live, love, and creativity!

   

Artwork Spotlight: Jackson Layout

   It's the last day of National Scrapbooking Month! Didn't this month go fast?? To finish off the month, I want to share with you one last layout I made using the Jackson paper pack! I used a sketch from a "Scrapbook Generations" sketches book, and then modified it to use up my Jackson Complements and make a two-page spread!

   I also used some retired CTMH washi tape (Lagoon Houndstooth, Slate Polka-dot, and Woodgrain), the "Feathers" stamp set, and the Brave enamel shapes for this layout!

   This layout was perfect for using up all my little pieces of scrap papers and zip strips! All the strips seem to appear to span underneath each photo space, but in reality I used small scraps on either side of the main photo space! It stretched my papers out a little further, and created a fun pattern when cut at different sizes and lengths!

   That's it! That's the last of my projects for National Scrapbooking Month! I hope you enjoyed getting peeks all month long of the Jackson projects I was working on! Don't forget to take advantage of May's specials by midnight tonight, though! You don't want to miss out on the Exclusive NSM paper pack, Taste of Summer, the matching stamp set, the super cute May SOTM, or my May special for the mystery hostess drawing!  Get all these goodies and more by shopping my Online Site or placing an order with me directly!

**Don't miss out on these specials this month! It's a great month for awesome steals and deals!!!**

 

   I'll see you back here tomorrow for some new monthly specials and deals for June! Enjoy the rest of your long weekend, and until next time:

Here's to life, love, and creativity!

Artwork Spotlight: Jackson Layout

   Happy Memorial Day weekend to you all! I hope you're enjoying some family time and relaxation this weekend while remembering those that served and protected our country. I have a lot of service members in my family, and am thankful every day for the sacrifices they all made for our freedoms. I take it for granted all the amazing things I get to do each day because of the freedoms we are allowed in this country. It really can be humbling when you think about it. 

  On a completely different note...I cannot get enough of the Jackson paper pack this month (if you can't tell by now!!). The colors are so much fun, and the patterns are swoon worthy as well! With that said, I have another Jackson layout to share with you all today!

Layout featuring the Jackson paper pack and "The Authentic Life" stamp set from the SE II Idea Book!

   I had a ton of fun creating this layout! It was really easy because I simply scraplifted it from the Seasonal Expressions II Idea Book (page 22). You can get the "recipe" to make this layout for yourself on my Online Business site and in the "Make It From the Heart: Vol 1" How-to book!

   When you're on my online site, you can find recipes for all the projects from the idea books by clicking on Idea Books > Recipes (link under each individual Idea Book).

   The only difference on my layout is that I didn't sew the Barn Red X's on my pages. Instead I used the lower case x from the Artfully Sent alphabet stamp, and stamped the faux stitches in Barn Red on my layout.

   If you have any questions about this layout or the products I used, please let me know! Otherwise I hope you are having an awesome weekend! Until next time:

Here's to life, love, and creativity!

Artwork Spotlight: Jackson Layout

   It's another Sunday Funday day featuring the Jackson Paper Pack! Today I want to share with you one of my favorite layouts using this paper! This layout was designed by a fellow team member and consultant, Dana Kessler! I loved her design so much I had to scraplift it immediately!

Jackson layout designed by Dana Kessler of Scraptabulous Designs

   This layout is a perfect addition to the WOTG layouts I shared earlier this month! I will be adding more of our "up North" trip pictures to this once I print them all!

   To complete this layout I used the Jackson paper pack, matching Complements, and the Brave Enamel Shapes all from the Seasonal Expressions II Idea Book! I free handed the paper triangle shapes from scrap papers, and cut the arrow shapes for the sides using Cricut Craft Room and the Artbooking Cricut Cartridge. I didn't do any stamping on this particular layout, but love the look of all the layered Complements as embellishments.

   The Jackson paper pack is the May paper pack-of-the-month on my blog and in my workshops! If you want to play along and get this amazing collection for yourself, order yours on my Online Site today! I will have lots of additional artwork and tips to share with you as the month goes on! So you don't want to miss out!

   I hope you are getting some crafting time in during this National Scrapbooking Month! Have a wonderful week, and until next time:

Here's to life, love, and creativity! 

Artwork Spotlight: Jackson Layouts

   Good Morning, everyone! I hope you are all enjoying your Sunday so far! I have some artwork to share with you today to help kick start May's National Scrapbooking celebrations!

   I absolutely fell in love with the Jackson collection in the Seasonal Expressions II Idea Book! The colors, patterns, and amazing images were all a must have for me when I first saw it! I quickly started playing with the Jackson papers, and have already used up my entire WOTG pack, complements, and assortment! Oops!! Guess I might need to get more!! ;)

   Today I want to share with you the two layouts that are demonstrated in the WOTG instructions and kit. These two layouts were super easy and fun to put together, and I cannot wait to put some of my pictures from last year's North Shore trip on these pages! Here are my versions of the WOTG layouts:

This is the main layout featured in the WOTG kit! This layout was made using the Artbooking Cricut cartridge in addition to the Jackson WOTG kit! If you don't have this cartridge yet, that's okay, too! CTMH provides alternate instructions for completing the layout without the Cricut cuts! You can access these instructions on my Online Site under "Workshops On The Go"! I paperclipped my title die-cut to my page so that I can add it later after I add my photos!

This is the alternate layout that you can make using your leftover papers from the WOTG kit! The cutting instructions for this layout can also be found on my Online Site as well! I love the ombre effect stamping that these WOTG layouts taught on a couple of the pieces! It's such a neat technique, and definitely worth checking out!

   The Jackson paper pack is the May paper pack-of-the-month on my blog and in my workshops! If you want to play along and get this amazing collection for yourself, order yours on my Online Site today! I will have lots of additional artwork and tips to share with you as the month goes on! So you don't want to miss out! I hope you enjoyed checking out these layouts from the Jackson WOTG! Have a wonderful first week of May, and until next time:

Here's to life, love, and creativity!

Happy May Day!!

   It's already the first day of May! Goodness where is the time going! I'm loving this nice weather we're having this week, though!

   Did you know that today kick starts National Scrapbooking Month?? Yep, and CTMH is celebrating with some amazing steals and deals for you this month!

   I also have an exclusive deal for you to take advantage of during this month of celebration! How does FREE CTMH product sound?

   You can get all the details and information in my monthly newsletter today! You can check it out by clicking the link below:

Candid Correspondence: May Newsletter

What do you think? Pretty awesome month, right?? You can start shopping and taking advantage of these deals now on my Online Site! I also hope that you'll join me May 16th for my "Scrap Your Stash" all day crop! I will have special prizes and projects available to continue the celebrations for National Scrapbooking Month! 

   Have a great start to your month, everyone, and I hope you have a great weekend as well! Until next time:

Here's to life, love, and creativity!

Recent Projects

   Good morning, paper crafting world! Did you all have a wonderful Memorial Day weekend? I was able to get outside and start working on my garden for the year as well as some much needed yardwork! I'm still not done, but at least I got some stuff started! We also pulled all our carpet and padding up out of the office, pulled all the carpet nails, and patched the holes in the walls! So now I just need to get up there and get painting! Hopefully today will allow me to get all the painting done without too many hiccups!

   I will be posting pictures of the office makeover soon, but first I wanted to share some of my recent projects that I have been working on this month! Have you seen the pictures of May's new layouts? I'm so excited for how these turned out! I decided to do something different than the usual LOTM. This month I wanted to show what all you could make for less than $10! During the month of May, if you purchase the Timberline paper pack, you will get all the cutting and assembly instructions to make all 3 layouts and all 3 cards! :) It's a new layout/month program! Instead of just 1 LOTM you get 3 plus cards! Plus, I still have a ton of scraps and papers leftover from my one Timberline kit! So I can still make more fun projects with this awesome paper pack! Check out May's LOTM kit:

   I told you these turned out awesome! I'm just sorry it took me so long to get them uploaded on here for you all! You still have time to get your own Timberline paper pack, though, and make these fun projects for yourself!

   I also have been working hard on the next couple workshops! I put up some sneak peeks of this week's Workshop Wednesday, WAH Club project, and June's Workshop Wednesday! You can check out the sneaks, and let me know if you would like to attend any of these upcoming workshops!

   Also, don't forget that June 11th is my last Workshop for the summer! I will not have another workshop until August, but I will have a preview party in July for the new Idea Book release! So make sure and check back here for all the information on that! I also will be updating you from the Annual CTMH Convention at the end of June, too! So you're going to want to follow my blog and Instagram accounts to get all the updates straight from the biggest CTMH party of the year!

   Now for more projects! Have you had a chance to see the new "Free to Be Me" papers in person yet? I love this promotion for the month of May! I received my May SOTM just a couple weeks ago, so I finished up my "Free to Be Me" cards that go along with the layouts I posted toward the beginning of the month! Remember, the "Free to Be Me" paper pack comes with a workshop that gives you cutting and assembly instructions for 2 layouts and 3 cards! Here are the cards:

   I altered the cards just a little to reflect my style, but I love this paper pack! You can get the "Free to Be Me" paper pack for only $5 with a qualifying purchase of $50 or more during the month of May! So get yours today!

   Would you like to see more? I have a lot more to share! :) I also want to share a project that I made for my mom and mother-in-law for Mother's Day this year! I used CTMH's Hip Pics album, Skylark papers, and My Crush Memories Assortment! I scraplifted the idea from CTMH's Rediscover Event that I went to in Bloomington at the end of April! I think you'll love this! It was so easy and fun to make! Here's how it turned out:

   I loved these so much that I'm going to make a replica for myself! If you have any questions on supplies used or products seen, please let me know!

   The last big project I have to share with you today is my recent "Crafting with Cricut" class project! A couple weeks ago I had my Cricut ladies over to start exploring Cricut Craft Room and CTMH's Artbooking Cricut Cartridge! It was a huge hit! Everyone had a great time, and loved making the fun mini album! I did not do a lot of embellishing or stamping on this mini album because I wanted to focus more on the Cricut die-cuts and using CCR during the class! Here's the project we made:

   What do you think? I've been busy, right? Yeah, but this was the fun stuff at least! I hope you all enjoyed my projects from May! I will have more to share with you after my workshops this week! Enjoy the rest of your week, and until next time:

Here's to life, love, and creativity!

More of May please!!

   I definitely need more days in May! I cannot believe that Memorial Day is this weekend already! My mom was up visiting for a belated Mother's Day weekend this last week! She was able to attend one of my workshops and then we enjoyed the beautiful weekend shopping, enjoying the weather, and playing with paper! It was really nice to have her up, but I wish we could have had a couple more days to get things done! She was helping me finalize some plans for my new craft room/office, plan out my garden area , and give me feedback on upcoming workshops and classes! However, I still have a bazillion things to do! Eeeek!

   Before I can start posting recent projects and layouts, though (which will happen this week....I know I know...I always say that), I wanted to update you all on some important announcements from CTMH! As of today, the only Faux Leather Album in stock and ready to order is the Hollyhock Album. CTMH is completely sold out of the Faux Leather Dark Cranberry Album, the Faux Leather Black Album, and the Work-in-Progress Album. However, the Outdoor Denim and Dark Chocolate Albums are backordered until June 4th! So you can still get the Outdoor Denim and Dark Chocolate colors, but there is a waiting list until then!

   Other products that are sold out or backordered are the following:

• Exclusive Inks Markers: Honey is completely sold out
• 12 x 12 Flip Flap Assortment is on backorder until June 9th
• Watercolor pencils are temporarily unavailable until further notice
• Spring/Summer Idea Book 2013 is on backorder through corporate, but you can still get a book through your CTMH Consultant

   Now for some heartbreaking news......I received an email yesterday from CTMH Corporate that the brand new Canvas D-ring Albums are on temporarily unavailable again. There have been some issues with the ring mechanism not closing tightly during the quality control checks. CTMH is working very closely with manufacturing to remedy this slight set back in order to provide you and I with the best products possible! I am so sorry to have to deliver this information to you. I am just has bummed as you all are! I cannot wait to get one of these new albums in my hands, but I will just have to anxiously await a little longer!

   CTMH has not said too much more about the official release of the post bound albums, but last I knew they were hoping to have the Canvas Post Bound Albums ready for ordering at the beginning of June. I will keep you all updated as I learn more!

   I have a busy day ahead trying to catch up on everything I wanted to get done in May! I will be working in my yard, running errands, starting to paint the craft room/office, finalize some upcoming projects, take pictures, and post them for you all to view, and get some housework done (the usual...laundry, dishes, cleaning, organizing, etc.).

   If you have any questions or need to place an order for any of the amazing deals that CTMH has in May, though, I am around to help you out! You can shop my online site any time or contact me when you're ready to get your awesome goodies!

   I hope you all have a wonderful Wednesday, and I will talk to you soon! Until next time:

Here's to life, love, and creativity!

National Scrapbooking Day is tomorrow!!!

    Tomorrow is the official National Scrapbooking Day for the month of May! Are you going to be doing any scrapbooking to celebrate? Why not play with paper and have a chance to win amazing product??!?!?!? Check out the event that Big Picture Classes is putting on all day tomorrow:

    Did you see that Close to My Heart is one of the sponsors for prizes? I don't know what they'll be giving away, but I'm sure it will be good! This is a FREE event, so register tonight and check in tomorrow to play along with all the festivities! Have a great weekend, everyone, and until next time:

Here's to life, love, and creativity!

Happy May Day!!!

    Happy May Day, everyone! I hope this finds you all doing well and having a great week so far! May is going to be an amazing month! May usually brings more sunshine, longer days, and, of course, National Scrapbooking Month! I told you it was going to be a good month! I have a lot to share, so I better not delay!

     Let's start with all the new specials and promotions during the month of May! A new month means a new stamp-of-the-month! May's SOTM is a very fun one called "You've Got a Friend"! I love the font style on this stamp set! It reminds me of cafe or bistro writing, so I cannot wait to try these images out using chalkboard paper and white daisy ink! Check out these fun phrases for yourself:

    You can get this awesome stamp set for $17.95 or, during this month only, you can get this set for $5 with any qualifying purchase of $50 or more! So make sure and get yours this month! You do not want to miss out on this cute set!

     A new month also means a new featured paper pack-of-the-month! During the month of May I will be featuring Timberline during my workshops, classes, and on my artwork this month! If you remember my post from February, I mentioned Timberline as one of my favorite products that caught my eye when the Idea Book was first released! The colors of this paper pack are amazing! Plus I love that these papers can be used for outdoor themed projects, masculine projects, or rustic themed projects! It's so versatile and fun, and believe me when I say that the pictures in the Idea Book do not do this paper justice! It's much more vibrant in person!

Timberline layout featured in the Idea Book

Timberline Level 2 layout using the Timberline Complements set

Another Timberline Level 2 layout featuring the Timberline complements set

     This also means that the new layout-of-the-month features the Timberline paper pack and the Artbooking Cricut Cartridge, too! I hope you all enjoy this LOTM as much as I loved making it! 

**Picture of the May LOTM will be uploaded later today**

    You can make this LOTM for yourself as well! All you have to do is purchase the Timberline Paper Pack or Timberline WOTG from Candid Captures during the month of May. Then you will receive the die-cuts, stamped images, and assembly instructions for FREE! It's a fantastic deal, and a great way to kick start your scrapbooking pages!

    If you have been following along with my LOTM promotions, this is already layout #4 for the year! We're a third of the way to a year's worth of layouts complete! So make sure and get your paper pack today so you can craft along with me to get your layouts completed!

    A new month also means that CTMH has released a new Rediscover download! This month the theme is "Rediscover Beauty", and the FREE download features watercolor, brush-font cards! These are so cute and trendy! The brush-font has been showing up everywhere in the papercrafting world, so I love that CTMH is offering these card versions for free!!! I cannot wait to print these out and use them on my Picture My Life pages, as title cards on my scrapbook layouts, and on the front of some greeting cards! Check them out:

  
    You can download this FREE, printable card set on my online shopping site, Candid Captures Shop! Make sure you get yours downloaded and saved before it expires at the end of the month, though!


    Now for the brand new promotion you all have been waiting for! It's that time of year again! May is National Scrapbooking Month, and CTMH is celebrating by offering a brand new paper pack called "Free to Be Me" for only $5 with a qualifying purchase of $50 or more during the entire month of May!

    This paper pack is amazing! It comes with:

• 6 sheets of B&T Duos Paper (2 of each design)
• 6 sheets of coordinating UV-coated cardstock papers (2 of each color)
• 2 printed vellum sheets

     That's not all either! This amazing paper pack comes with a workshop guide and assembly instructions for 2 double-page layouts and 3 cards that also utilize the May SOTM, You've Got a Friend! This is what my two layouts looked like when I put my kit together:

"Free to Be Me" workshop layout #1 featuring the "Feathers" and "True to Life" stamp sets!

Close up of page 1 of the main layout. The teal cardstock is UV-coated to give a resist sheen to it! You can see the gold polka dot vellum paper, too!

Here is a close up of page 2 from the main layout! I love these colors together! It's so fun and vibrant!

"Free to Be Me" layout #2 from the workshop guide! This layout features the "Feathers" and "True to Life" stamp sets as well!

Here is a close up of page 1 from the 2nd layout. You can see a little bit of the feather printed vellum toward the bottom of the picture!

Here's a close up of page 2 from the 2nd layout! In this picture you can see the UV-coated sheen on the green cardstock, as well as the sheen dots on the red cardstock (matting in this picture)!

    Don't you just LOVE this paper pack? These colors, the patterns on the papers, and the printed vellum......oh goodness! LOVE LOVE LOVE!!! I will be posting pictures of the cards from the workshop guide as soon as I receive my May SOTM!

    Here's another awesome thing about this paper pack promotion! If you spend $50 or more in the month of May, you can get the May SOTM and the "Free to Be Me" paper pack for only $10 more! That's a 67% savings (retail total of $29.90)! If you spend $100 or more in the month of May, you have the opportunity to get 2 packs of the "Free to Be Me" paper packs and 2 May SOTM sets for only $20 more! It's the perfect deal to stock up on these amazing products!

    A new month also means new workshops and classes with Candid Captures! The new Crafting with Cricut class is coming up on May 16th from 6:30-8:30pm at my house in Hastings, MN! We will be exploring Cricut Craft Room online and CTMH's Artbooking Cricut Cartridge! We will be making a mini album using Timberline papers, Timberline Complements, and Artbooking die-cuts! More information and pictures will be posted under the Events Calendars and Sneak Peeks tabs!

    The next Workshop Wednesday will be May 28th at my house in Hastings, MN from 12-2pm and again from 6-8pm! Soon you will find more information about this amazing, new workshop under the Events Calendars tab on this blog!

    If you have any questions about any of these new promotions, specials, or workshops, please let me know! I would love to assist you with what you need! I hope to see you all at one of my upcoming events, and until next time:

Here's to life, love, and creativity!