Friday, September 24, 2021

We Love You Fall


It was 59 degrees this morning here in Fort Worth. When I left the house on an errand, I almost turned around to get a sweater. Fall is my most favorite time of the year. I love fall decorating with scarecrows and pumpkins, watching college football, and wearing long sleeves. 

When I saw several of the new fall stamp sets in our current September/October mini catalog, I could not wait to get creative and make a few cards. For my card today, I used our September "Grateful For This Life" Stamp of the Month, our "We Love Fall" stamp set, and the "Pumpkin Spice Scrapbooking Stamp & Thin Cuts". I layered these stamps and dies on a nectarine plaid paper found in our "Boo Crew" paper packet. Wednesday was the first day of Fall and I thought this card was perfect for this week. Enjoy!

I am a Close To My Heart Maker. If I can be of service to you, please don't hesitate to contact me. 

cherylarbo.closetomyheart.com

Happy Scrappin and card making!

Cheryl



Thursday, September 23, 2021

A 2013 Card Challenge

I made this cute card to participate in someone's card challenge back in 2013. The only way I can remember it was a card challenge was because it came up in my Facebook Memories online today. This is an old, retired Close To My Heart stamp. It is another one that if you are fortunate to have in your stash, it is a keeper. I had made a note at the time back then on why I made the card. This shows how important journaling is. I am a huge journalist. I believe journaling sometimes is more important than a picture. I do not remember who's challenge it was. Maybe it was a local challenge here in Fort Worth since I was living here back then or if it was an online challenge. Either way, this was my first attempt at sponging a background image and I totally loved and enjoyed doing it. I have made a few cards using this inking method  over the years. I need to do more. It is very relaxing and fun to do. Sponging a background has a big impact on a card. Someone may think it is difficult or too much trouble, but it is a very simple and easy technique that has a huge "wow" impact on a card. Enjoy!

I am a Close To My Heart Maker/Consultant. If I can be of service to you or if you would like to attend my local monthly card classes in Fort Worth, please don't hesitate to reach out to me. cherylarbo.closetomyheart.com

Happy scrappin and card making!

Cheryl



Tuesday, September 21, 2021

Day Five of my "31 Days Of Halloween"

Today is day five for my treats I am making for my two Grands.  Each day in October they will both take a small treat to pass out among their classmates at school. I have been wanting to attempt something like this since May when the two Littles got out of school. There are so many wonderful crafty ideas found online, it makes my job easy. I am almost certain I will do this again in December for Christmas. I have had lot's of fun making these. It's a good thing I have lot's of stamps to play with. Crafting for almost twenty five years I have one or two in my collection! 

When I shopped at Sam's for a variety of snacks for my treat boxes a few weeks ago, the shelves were full. I went back last week and there was only a small selection to choose from. I know they will restock, but I sure wanted to make sure I had what I needed for class. 

Today's treat holds the cutest little bag of Mini Cheese Balls. The large box has a mixture of thirty-two little purple and orange Halloween bags of chips. Perfect for what I was needing for today's project. I forgot to save the receipt, but I believe the cost was around $8.00, so my cost was around $.25 per bag. Not bad at all. Enjoy!

I am a Close To My Heart Maker. If I can be of service to you, please don't hesitate to contact me.          cherylarbo.closetomyheart.com

Happy Scrappin!


Cheryl




Monday, September 20, 2021

Cats and Bats Card

I was looking at my Facebook Memories tonight and this cute card I created back in 2017 came up. I loved using our Cats and Bats collection of papers, stamps, and dies. 

Happy Scrappin! 

Cheryl



Saturday, September 18, 2021

Day Four of my "31 Day's of Halloween"

Today, for my next October school treat, I found an adorable triangle box to make... once again from the generous crafters on YouTube. I started off  making a slightly larger box, but it was just too wide for the candy I was using, so I had to make some minor adjustments to a slightly smaller cut of paper. Inside are two SpongeBob Squarepants "Krabby Patties".  All of my Grands LOVE these candies. I have never had one, but I don't want to take a chance of trying one and loving them too. The paper I used in today's project is from our retired  "Jeepers Creepers" collection. The stamps are also from the same collection and are called "Monstrous Halloween". They also have a coordinating die set. This assemble is adorable with several fun cute little monsters without being scary. If you are lucky enough to own these papers, stamps, and dies, it is one you will want to keep in your stash and continue using over the years. 

I am a Close To My Heart Maker/Consultant. If I can be of service to you, please let me know. My website can be found here; cherylarbo.closetomyheart.com

Happy Scrappin! 

Cheryl








Tuesday, September 14, 2021

Day Three of my "31 Day's of Halloween"

Today is my day three of my "31 Day's of Halloween". I was wanting a non-candy treat for my two Littles classes. After going to the Dollar Tree and searching through their Halloween goodies, I picked up a couple packs of cute Halloween pencils. From there my next stop was the school supply isle. That is where I saw sets of blue and pink decorated pencils. They were so cute and could be used all year and not just for the fall holiday. They did not coordinate with the Halloween papers I used, but I loved knowing these pencils were not Halloween themed. From there I came home and did a Google search for a pencil treat box. Thankfully again, there were several videos to choose from. These cute treat boxes were perfect for helping me use my numerous paper scraps and any stamp or die I have in my craft room. For all twenty of the pencil boxes, my cost was only $.25 per child. Not bad at all! 

I am a Close To My Heart Maker/Consultant. If I can be of service to you, please don't hesitate to let me know. My website is cherylarbo.closetomyheart.com

Happy Scrappin!
Cheryl






Sunday, September 12, 2021

Day two of my "31 Days of Halloween"

I am excited about making my "31 Days of Halloween" projects. I don't know of a better way of using my tub of paper scraps, retired card stock from Close To My Heart, along with tons of other papers I have collected over the years. Making these Halloween projects are also a great way to use my numerous stamps, dies, and punches. 

Okay.... I know. There are tons of cute Frankenstein projects out there. I have made a few in years past. They are quick, simple, and oh so cute to make. Again, search YouTube for Halloween Frankenstein projects and you will find dozens of them. The one I made holds a single full size candy bar. I bought four packages with six bars in each box at Walmart for $3.48. This project used my recently retired Sweat Leaf card stock from Close To My Heart, a few colors from my scrap bin, and only cost $.58 per child. Not bad at all! 

My husband retires next July and we are hoping to move either outside the Fort Worth area or back to Alabama. I have more paper and stamps than Carter has liver pills..... one of my Momma's favorite expressions! I am planning a home scrapbook yard sale next month on Saturday, October the 16th. Time to lighten my load. So come on over and help me out!

I am a Close To My Heart Maker/Consultant. If I can be of service to you, please don't hesitate to let me know. My website is cherylarbo.closetomyheart.com

Happy Scrappin!

Cheryl







Friday, September 10, 2021

Day One Of My "31 Days of Halloween"

I am feeling ambitious and inspired by sooooo many cute 3D projects I am seeing on YouTube. I want to make THEM ALL! I am not a 3D project creator. I can create some pretty cards, but my brain does not comprehend the mathematics on how to create 3D projects, so I copy, copy, copy. I LOVE 3D projects. If it was up to me we would make two 3D projects and one card in class instead of two cards and one 3D project. 

Anyway.... back in either July or August I decided to do a "31 Days of Halloween" for my two Littles. They will pass out one treat each day in October to their classmates and teachers at their school. They only attend school Monday through Thursday, so in the end that makes seventeen projects. Plus at this time there are only six kids and one teacher in Ella's class and nine kids and two teachers in Jameson's class. I am making a total of twenty of each project, just in case the student numbers change or I want to leave something cute for my mailman or give a treat to a neighbor. Now, I am on a mission searching Sam's, Kroger's, and Walmart's for anything I can put in a small box or pouch to hold a treat. I cannot wait to see what cute fall snacks I find and what treat boxes I recreate for the kids. 

Here is my first finished project. It is a cute Tootsie Pop sucker holder. I found this idea on YouTube. If you do a YouTube search, you will be amazed by the dozens of videos that pop up. I love these crafters that generously and kindly share their work. I bought two bags of suckers at the Dollar Tree, so far this project cost just $2.00, which is $.10 per student along with using my leftover card stock that is piled up in my scraps bin. A win-win for me. Also, I am using anything and everything in my craft room. I am knocking the dust off my non Close To My Heart stamps, dies, and papers that have been sitting on a shelf or in a box. You will see a mixture of products used to make these cute projects.  Enjoy!

I am a Close To My Heart Maker/Consultant. If I can be of service to you, please don't hesitate to let me know. My website is cherylarbo.closetomyheart.com

Happy Scrapping!
Cheryl

















Thinking of You Card

Today I am posting a card that I created late last night when I should have long been in bed. It's crazy how your mind picks the oddest ...