Close To My Heart Autumn Album Retreat -- Today Is A Good Day Layout

My kids have loved dressing up and pretending they were Super Heroes from the very start.

They have awesome imaginations and play so well together when they are in character...now why can't they get along that good ALL the time??  LOL.

They chatted it over and knew right away that they wanted to be Super Heroes for Halloween in 2012.

They had it narrowed down to Superman / Supergirl 

and Batman / Batgirl.

Morgan made the final decision based on the bright red shiny skirt.  

HA HA HA.

I'm not gonna lie...the Cricut Artbooking Overlays are AWESOME...but they are time consuming too.

I love the added detail they give to a layout...FUN...FUN...FUN.

Tips & Techniques for This Layout: 

* Use Cricut Craft Room (CCR) to adhere letters together and size them smaller for a longer title

* Use the negative pieces of the overlay to create a border on the journaling tag

* Combine multiple overlays cut into pieces for added dimension

* Layer different colors of cardstock under the overlay to add detail to the background

* Sponge over cork shapes to color them

* Use 3-D foam tape to make photos stand out

Close To My Heart Products Used in This Layout:

 Artbooking Cricut Collection (Z1906) -- $99.00

Sarita Paper Pack (X7171B) -- $9.95

Geometric Backgrounds Stamp Set (D1559) - $17.95

One-Way Borders (C1561) -- $13.95

3-D Foam Tape (Z1151) -- $5.95

Color-Ready Midtown Cork Shapes (Z1863) -- $4.95

Bronze Shimmer Trim (Z1849) -- $4.95

Baker's Twine Neutral Assortment (Z1701) -- $4.95

Cardstock Used -- Desert Sand, Colonial White, Honey, Goldrush, Outdoor Denim and Kraft

Inks Used -- Desert Sand and Outdoor Denim

Previous Autumn Album Retreat 2013 Layouts:

Cover -- Capture the Details

1st Layout -- Hello World

2nd Layout -- The Sweet Life

3rd Layout -- Real Life Story

4th Layout -- Just Chillin'

To Purchase Any of These Great CTMH Products
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Close To My Heart Autumn Album Retreat -- Real Life Story Layout

This is one of my favorite layouts of all time for many reasons!

Again...I LOVE CIRCLES!

I LOVE THE JOURNALING!

I LOVE THE FLOW!

I LOVE FISHING IN CANADA WITH MY FAMILY!

There is not a thing that I don't LOVE about this layout!

I have been going to Canada fishing with my family since I was 2.

That is almost 35 years of fishing trips.

My parents have always taken my sister and I up to the same resort around the same time of June every year.

There is no TV or Internet.

We fish, play cards, read books, play board games and get to enjoy each other's company for a full week.

I look extremely forward to this trip EVERY year, and now it is EXTRA SPECIAL because I am able to share this experience with my kids.

They, too, LOVE going up to the cabin at Pine Point Resort in Upsala, Ontario!

IT'S JUST TRADITION!

Tips & Techniques for This Layout: 

* Use a base page of a mini album for journaling on a 12" x 12" layout

* Add in simple circle shapes to give layout variety in flow and form

* Look at photo mats from various themes and use them thoughout projects; many photo mats, overlays, and elements live on a theme-specific key, but are basic and can be used on anything

* Repeat the same shapes in different papers and sizes to create a cohesive look

* Use Cricut Craft Room (CCR) to create mats in sizes that fall between measurements in real dial size

* Use a stamp to create your own background & texture paper

* Create a cluster using different elements, paper, fibers, and embellishments

* Cut one overlay in half and use a piece on each page

Close To My Heart Products Used in This Layout:

 Artbooking Cricut Collection (Z1906) -- $99.00

Frosted Paper Packet (X7175B) -- $9.95

Sarita Paper Pack (X7171B) -- $9.95

Reel Life Stamp Set (B1431) -- $9.95

All the Details Stamp Set (D1555) -- $17.95

3-D Foam Tape (Z1151) -- $5.95

Lagoon Houndstooth Washi Tape (Z1850) -- $4.95

Mini-Medley Accents Black Collection (Z1862) $5.95

Baker's Twine Neutral Assortment (Z1701) -- $4.95

Mini-Medley Accents Ruby Collection (Z1861) -- $5.95

Sparkles Clear Assortment (Z1752) -- $2.95

(Sparkle & Shine Paper Pack -- Now Retired)

Cardstock Used -- Whisper, Smoothie, Ruby, White Daisy, and Black

Inks Used -- Black and Whisper

Previous Autumn Album Retreat 2013 Layouts:

Cover -- Capture the Details

1st Layout -- Hello World

2nd Layout -- The Sweet Life

To Purchase Any of These Great CTMH Products
Click on the Shopping Cart!

My California Retreat Layouts

As you may have read in some earlier blog posts. I went to a California Beach House Retreat the end of January. I ended up with Bronchitis and an Ear Infection and had to go to Urgent Care so I didn't get nearly as much done as I wanted to. Here are the LO's I was able to complete.

CJ - Madison, WI

I, along with 4 other ladies, belong to a Circle Journal Group. You pick a theme for your journal and add your cover page, sign-in page, directions and then do your first page with your theme. Then you send it along to the next person in the group who will pick a topic to do a page or two on and then send it along. We are doing three rounds as there are only 5 of us in it. I wish I had taken a picture of my journal before I sent it off, but will make sure to post pictures once I receive it back.
Here is the first circle journaling pages I did. I was suppose to do my layout on places/buildings in the town I live in. I added pictures of Camp Randall and the Capital.