Tuesday 3 December 2013

December Deals!

Only 22 shopping days until Christmas! Close to My Heart is a great place to shop for the crafters on your list.

The December Stamp of the Month features adorable "Special Care" labels which can be cut with the Cricut Art Philosophy Cartridge. These stamps are perfect for cards, scrapbook pages, gift tags and anything you'd like to add a message of of love to.


This stamp set is available until December 31st only. With a purchase of $50 or more, you can have this stamp set for only $5! (Regular price: $17.95)

Remember, the products from the Close To My Heart Holidays from the Heart Gift Guide are still available, until December 31st, and have great products for all kinds of projects: cards, scrapbook pages, mini-albums, tags, bags and more!


There's still time to host your own Gathering in December too! This time of year is so busy, but you can invite friends and family to shop through your Online Gathering and earn free Hostess Rewards for yourself! Contact me today to set up your own Gathering!

Note: To guarantee delivery before Christmas, place your order or host your Gathering no later than December 9th.

Thursday 21 November 2013

Inspired by Artbooking

I don't have a Cricut (yet), but I love the artwork I've been seeing using CTMH's Cricut Artbooking Collection. CTMH posts a new video every week with ideas and how-to for Artbooking projects. Follow me on Facebook to see them.

The Artbooking look is very heavy on intricately cut backgrounds. For my Artbooking inspired layout, I turned to my Silhouette and cut a 8" x 11" herringbone background from Cocoa cardstock as well as the title. At first I thought I'd add patterned paper or cardstock strips behind the open areas of the herringbone pattern, but decided that would take way too long--this page was a 30-minute project.

Instead, I repeatedly stamped flower images from the Happy Autumn stamp set, using Crème Brulee, Goldrush and Olive inks, onto a 8.25" x 11.25" piece of Champagne cardstock. The affect reminds me of looking through a window, which is what this page is about.

The page is finished off with Huntington My Stickease (border, tab and banners) and canvas stickers and wooden button from the Huntington Assortment. The gems are from the Sparkles Brown and Tan Assortment leftover from my Huntington Workshop on the  Go Kit, but can also be bought separately.

This page came together very quickly and is a great example of how you can create beautiful pages with a lot of style without using patterned paper!

Monday 4 November 2013

Merry & Bright!

You may remember, when I first signed on as a CTMH Independent Consultant, I became enamoured of Studio J--CTMH's online scrapbooking tool. I still love it. At the time, I was years behind in my scrapbooking and challenged myself to complete two albums: one in Studio J and one in traditional paper. Well, it's been 22 months and I've finally completed the traditional paper album!

Last page for my 2010 album.
Of course, the Studio J album (2011) was completed much more quickly. That one took about nine months. It was fast, easy and fun and I will keep going back to Studio J, but I'll never give up traditional scrapbooking.

So, what's next? I've been working on my 2012 and 2013 albums in Studio J on and off for a while, but now I think I'll turn my attention back to my heritage album. It has sat on the back burner for a long while--in fact, I don't think I've done one page for it in the past year. But then I've got to get cracking on my yearly albums again--I don't want to fall so far behind again.

There are a few things worth mentioning about the Merry & Bright layout above:
  • I didn't follow a sketch! You know how much I love my sketches, but after spending some time looking for a double-page layout that could handle several 4" x 6" photos, I gave up and decided to "wing it"--so many double-page layouts today rely on small photos. It was fun, and easier than I thought it would be, to get my creative juices flowing once, I'd figured out the layout for the photos.
  • This layout is made of scraps! I used the leftovers from my Sparkle & Shine kit, but I never had to cut into a new sheet of paper. The scraps I'd saved from previous layouts made with this kit (four and counting) were enough to add colour and interest to this page.
  • Bling! Bling! I got out my new Shimmer Trim, in red and silver, to add sparkle and shine. I love this trim! It's as sturdy as glitter cardstock, has a strong adhesive backing (which isn't difficult to remove) and the glitter stays on the trim--it doesn't rub off on your fingers! I also added some rhinestone gems and Bitty Sparkles. (I find myself using Bitty Sparkles on everything these days--pages, cards, tags, everything!)
  • I dusted off my Silhouette. I haven't used it in a very long time, but my love for die-cuts is ramping up again. Die-cuts are a great way to add fun titles and shapes to a project. Once I start merging die-cuts and stamping, watch out!

Looking ahead, I already have a few pages completed for 2013 (as well as 2012). It's going to be a great scrapbooking year!
Opening and closing pages of my 2013 album done using Studio J.

Thursday 3 October 2013

Circle Journal: Angie


I often have much to say on the topic of scrapbooking, but when it came time to do Angie's Circle Journal, I was at a loss! Her topic was Tips, Tricks and Techniques. The idea is that she'll have a reference book to help her with her scrapping.

There were already entries about sewing, embossing, patterned papers and even "naked" scrapbooking. I really wasn't sure what I could contribute.

Then I thought along the lines of design. The Rule of Thirds is design rule that has helps organize elements on a page; everything from photo and embellishment placement to colour and pattern.

Here's what I wound up including in her book:

While there are no hard and fast rules when it comes to scrapbooking, putting some thought into the design of a page can take your scrapbooking to the next level in several ways. It can spark creativity and inspire pages that are pleasing to the eye. It can organize your photos and thoughts to tell your story more clearly or thoroughly. It can also make scrapbooking a little easier (and more fun) when you have a plan for your pages—you won’t be scrambling to pull elements together because before you begin, you’ll have an idea of how the page should look.

The Rule of Thirds is a design idea that can be applied to various design elements. Here, I’ll focus on four elements important to scrapbooking: page layout, colour, pattern and embellishments.

Don’t feel like you need to apply the Rule of Thirds for every page or every element on your page. Use it as a general guide to bring order and balance to your pages.

And always remember, sometimes,every rule should be broken.

Page Layout: Use the Rule of Thirds to determine where the focal point of your layout should be placed. Imagine a grid on your page (like a # symbol) that splits the page into thirds vertically and horizontally. The places where the lines intersect are where people’s eyes are naturally drawn. Put your focal point on one of these spots. The Rule also applies to blank space on the page. Use 2/3 of the total page for pictures, journaling or other large items. The blank space will give the eye a place to rest. An easy way to create a balanced double-page layout is to arrange elements according to the Rule on one side and do the mirror opposite on the other.

Colour: The simplest way to remember the Rule of Thirds when it comes to colour is this: Gallon, quart, pint. Use a gallon of the main colour (i.e. it will be the base colour of the page). Gallon colours are good for the background page. Use a quart of the secondary colour (i.e. it will be the focus colour of the page). Quart colours are good for patterned papers and titles. Use a pint of a highlight colour (i.e. it will be the “pop” of colour on a page). Pint colours are good for photo mats and embellishments. Remember, using contrasting colours will add energy and vibrancy to a layout, whereas analogous colours will create a calmer layout.

Pattern: The Rule of Thirds as it applies to patterns tells us to be mindful of the amount and type of pattern on a page. Generally, use one stripe, one floral and one dot pattern per page. Also generally, use one large pattern, one small pattern and one linear pattern per page. Pair the rules for pattern with the rules for colour to mix and match papers. For example, use a large floral paper in the gallon colour, a chevron paper in the quart colour and a small dotty paper in the pint colour. Don’t be afraid to mix patterns. All patterns “go” together—the key is to keep them from overwhelming each other. Try sticking to 3 or fewer patterns per page. And remember, flat and textured cardstock is a pattern! (Or absence of one at least.)

Embellishments: When it comes to embellishments, the Rule of Thirds tells us to keep it in 3’s. Use 3 brads in a line. Use 3 flowers clustered together. Use 3 rhinestones in a spray. You can also imagine triangles (a three pointed shape) across you page for placing the embellishments. Remember the grid of your page layout and find triangles around your focal points. Place embellishments at the three corners of the triangles—in threes of course. Create embellishment clusters by using three elements together. For example, layer a flower and a button on a tag. Or place a ribbon, brads and a bow together. You can also use multiples of three for larger embellishment scapes. 

Can you spot all the ways I used the Rule of Thirds on Angie's page?

Tuesday 1 October 2013

Happy October!

October is my favourite month of the year! There's lots to celebrate this month. Birthdays, Thanksgiving, Halloween, fall festivals and it finally begins feeling like autumn weather. I love crunching through the fallen leaves, watching the salmon run and taking advantage of the cool, crisp weather to get the last of the year's gardening done.

Though I'm delighting in picking pumpkins and decorating with corn stalks, in my scrapping life, I begin to think about the next big holiday: Christmas!! Now is the time to get Christmas cards, home decor, scrapbook pages and hand crafted gifts ready for the most wonderful time of the year.

This year, start your Christmas crafting with a bang using October's Stamp of the Month: Scandinavian Wishes. This gorgeous stamp set reminds me of warm woollen sweaters and cups of hot chocolate. Perfect for cards, pages and gift packaging, this will be a stamp set you come to again and again over the years.

To start making  your own Scandinavian Wishes, simply place an order of $50 or more in regularly priced product and add the Stamp of the Month for only $5. Aren't placing a qualifying order this month, but still want the stamp set? Scandinavian Wishes is available at the regular price of $17.95, but only in October.

Want to make the items seen in the photo? In addition to the October Stamp of the Month, you'll need Frosted Paper Packet, Frosted Assortment, Baker's Twine Harvest Assortment, Bronze Shimmer Trim, Stitch Guide, Scallop Border Punch, Cricut Artiste Collection, and of course inks!




Thursday 26 September 2013

Sweet and Simple

If you're like me, in the autumn you like decorating with pumpkins, cornstalks, chrysanthemums and sunflowers. Take your usual seasonal displays up a notch with simple embellishments from your stash.

Dress up pumpkins with some Burlap Ribbon. Add a stamped tag with Baker's Twine. This pumpkin looks adorable sitting on a mantle or as part of a table centrepiece.

Create a spooky pumpkin with Moonlight Felt Shapes and Bitty Sparkles. A little bit of Black Tulle Ribbon and pins from the Bling Assortment finish off this pumpkin. For a little more ambiance, display with a chipboard sentiment.

Most of these items are no longer available, but if they're not in your stash, stock up on some current items to create the same look. Try Opaque Licorice Gems, Black Shimmer Trim, Black Striped Grossgrain Ribbon, Mini-Medley Accents Black Collection, or Base & Bling elements like Base & Bling Floral Accents and Base & Bling Black Jewels.

These mini pumpkin projects only take minutes to make and add a lot of impact to your display!

If you have a little more time, get out your My Creations Mini-Banner (you know, the one you received for free a few months ago and haven't gotten around to using yet), the new Huntington Workshops on the Go kit and some more of your favourite stamps and embellishments to create a Give Thanks banner.
To create this banner, I began by inking the entire surface of the mini-banners with Cashmere ink then stamping with the chicken wire stamp from the Distressed Backgrounds Stamp set in Cocoa ink. Next, I added a scalloped circle punched from Huntington papers to each banner. I dressed up each circle with assorted stamps, rub ons and corrugated shapes from my stash. The sentiment, Give Thanks, was stamped in Goldrush, Autumn Terracotta and Cocoa inks with the Token Alphabet stamp set. To make the letters look like epoxy buttons, I covered each with a thick layer of Liquid Glass. I tied the banners together with White Hemp Twine and Burlap Ribbon.

This easy project only took a couple of hours to make and I'll have this beautiful banner on display for Thanksgiving for many years to come.

Visit my website for more ideas on Home Decor and project items you can create easily and quickly. The Project Inspiration area has videos to inspire you to create special, personal projects for yourself.

Thursday 15 August 2013

A Joyful Noise

Is it too early to start thinking about Christmas? Probably not.

I usually find myself scrapping Christmas photos in the fall, but this year, thanks to Studio J and more time for scrapping, I'm a little early.

This page presented a bit of a challenge. It's about my son's class trip to a seniors' residence to sing carols. I didn't have many good photos to use and the few that I did had lots of children crowded around.

To tell the story, I decided to focus on the best photo which shows my son holding the music and singing. The background (other kids and an ugly wall) was too distracting, so I just trimmed tightly around the image of my son and matted it on a 6" x 4" piece of cardstock.

To drive home the singing theme, I stamped sheet music (Universal Backgrounds) on the mat. It think the effect is great! The photo takes up the same visual space it should as per the sketch, without any of the clutter in the original photo.

Speaking of the sketch, this layout is based on the sketch for the Purple Pumpkin August Sketch Challenge. I really like the sketch and can see how it would be great for cards and other layouts as well. I think this is one I'll be visiting more than once.

This layout is also a good example of how CTMH products mesh well with product from other companies. This layout includes products from S.E.I., Stampin' Up, American Crafts and Colorbok as well as Close To My Heart. Does that seem like a lot for such a simple layout? Would you be surprised to learn SIX different Close To My Heart products were used on this page? Yes there were!

Just for fun, here's a little challenge: Name at least four CTMH products used on this page. The first person to correctly post four products will win a little prize! You have until September 3rd to figure it out. Good luck!!

Monday 12 August 2013

Circle Journal: Mandy and Heather

Here are the next two pages for the Circle Journal project.

Based on a sketch from Make It From Your Heart Volume 2
Mandy's scrapbook centres on her children's school days. I had the honour of making her daughter's Grade 1 page. This was a real treat for me as I don't often have the opportunity to do girl pages!

This page is an example of how you can use off-theme products on a page. I did use a stamp set from the Scholastic Workshops on the Go kit and Varsity Alphabet stamps, which are both school themed. But the paper line is La Belle Vie and I also  used additional off theme stamps: the chicken wire stamp from the Distressed Backgrounds set and a sentiment from Sweet Moments.

The lined paper from La Belle Vie gives the page a notebook feel and provides a spot for journaling.

Instead of using primary colours, which are a mainstay on pages I make about school days, I made La Belle Vie Pink, Outdoor Denim the stars against the neutral backdrop of Saddle cardstock.

With the help of a little bling, because it is a girly page after all, and Tiny Type Epoxy alphabet, the page was finished off with those small details that bring memories to life.

Sketch from Even More Scrapping!
The theme for Heather's book is places to visit in Durham. She asked for a page about an interesting place with spots for photos to be added later. Her intention is to visit all the places and add her own photos. What a great idea for this project!

The place I selected was the Bowmanville Valley. It's one of my favourite places in the autumn when the salmon are running.

The first think you'll likely notice about this page is that it doesn't feature CTMH papers. The papers are from Crate Paper and the cardstock for the photo mats is Bazzil. But the background cardstock is Desert Sand and the yellow cardstock is Crème Brulee. This is a perfect example of how CTMH colours coordinate with paper lines from other companies.

I've been waiting for a special page to use my Arbour Wooden Shapes and was so happy to finally open the package. I found the wooden shapes took the inks very easily--I just swiped them with my ink pads (Barn Red and Autumn Terracotta)--and dried fairly quickly. To create a two-tone effect on the maple leaf, I first swiped the entire leaf with Autumn Terracotta and while it was still wet, swiped the edges with Barn Red. The red bled into the orange a bit and gave a nice look to the leaf. I finished it off by colouring the stem with a New England Ivy marker.

Here's a tip: When adhering wooden shapes to each other or to your layout, use a strong adhesive like Liquid Glass.

Keyboard Uppercase is one of my favourite letter stamps and is excellent for creating subtitles, like the one on the edge of the small journaling spot. The main title was created with Old World Alphabet.

Again a little bling and a Canvas Badge Button (stamped with an image from the Honeycomb stamp set) finish off the page.

My scrapbook club is about halfway done the Circle Journal project and we're having so much fun with it, we're already looking ahead to the next one!

Watch for the next Circle Journal blog post--it will be on Scrapbooking Tips and Techniques!

Thursday 1 August 2013

THE BIG REVEAL!!

The wait is over! Go to my website to view the new Autumn/Winter 2013 Idea Book online. Of course, you want your own hard copy, so contact me to get one!

The Idea Book is chock full of great products. If you've been following my blog over the past ten days, you've seen a few of them. Here are my Top Ten Must Have items from the new Idea Book.

Make It From Your Heart Volume 2
10. Make It From Your Heart Volume 2
Includes 16 two-page layout patterns, two single-page patterns, and 12 different card patterns. $7.95

9. Pigment Inks Foam Insert
Fits inside the small organiser to snugly hold 40 pigment ink pads. $14.95

8. Punches
Scallop Border Punch creates 3/8" scallops quickly and easily. $17.95
1 1/4" Circle Punch $12.95

7. My Creations Kraft Pocket Album
A mini-album with eight pages plus front and back covers. 18 pockets total. $6.95

6. Ribbons and Trims
Stitch Guide
Jute Ribbon $7.95
Ruby Chevron Ribbon $6.95
Shimmer Trim in Red and Bronze $4.95 each
Lagoon Houndstooth Washi Tape $4.95

5. Stitch Guide and Foam Mat
Use the Stitch Guide with the piercing tool for creating various stitch patterns, border, and shapes. $12.95
Use the Foam Mat with the Stitch Guide and Ruler to protect your tabletop. $4.95

Pick a Posey (Archive Stamp Set)
4. Archive Stamps
These stamps, hand drawn by Jeanette herself, were originally offered in rubber on wood blocks but are now available in clear My Acrylix polymer for a limited time. $6.96-$9.95.

3. Minis
Eight single 2" stamps that are cute and perfect for creating cards, tags and embellishments. $2.95 each.

2. Stamps of the Month
I want every single one of them! With seasonal and general themes, you'll want them all too! $17.95 or $5 with qualifying purchase.

Framework Alphabet
1. Framework Alphabet
One of two new E-size alphabets. $29.95

Sweeten The Deal!

A delicious treat is in store for you! Place an order of $50 or more during August and 
receive the August Stamp of the Month set, A Chocolate Affair (S1308A), FREE! This 
D-size stamp set with a retail value of $17.95 includes 16 images and sentiments that 
will have your friends salivating over your chocolatey layouts and cards. Make every 
project a delight with this must-have set!

Visit my website, or contact me to place your order!

Wednesday 31 July 2013

Sneak Peek Day 10

Quite possibly my favourite CTMH product is the Workshop on the Go Kit. WOTG comes with everything you need to create two double-page layouts: a paper packet, cardstock, D-size stamp set, embellishments and instructions.There are always lots of leftovers for cards, mini-albums and other projects. Best of all, buying the kit saves you about $10 compared to buying the products individually.

WOTG stamps sets are exclusive--only available with the kit. And they are some pretty awesome stamps!

Here's a look at the WOTG in the upcoming Idea Book:


Laughing Lola

.
Sarita

Pro Player


Babycakes

Huntington



Frosted


For a more detailed look at the papers, check out the Days 6 & 7 blog.

And remember, any of these kits is a great choice for your Home Gathering. Select your favourite kit and I'll provide the additional supplies (like inks and stamps) to bring these pages to life! Your guests will love completing one or two double-page layouts to go straight into their scrapbooks. Just contact me to set you your Gathering!

Come back to my blog tomorrow for THE BIG REVEAL! You'll see my Top Ten Must Have Products and will be able to browse the Idea Book online.

Tuesday 30 July 2013

Sneak Peek Day 9

Earning Hostess Rewards at your Gathering is a great way to shop! With as little as $150 in sales, as the Hostess you'll receive $25 in free product credit to spend on stamps, papers, inks, Studio J and much more. 

Did you know CTMH has come out with a new series of exclusive stamps available only to Hostesses? Read my Sneak Peek Day 1 blog for all the details.
Exclusive Hostess Stamp: Friend

Hostess Rewards also  include deep discounts on product. With  only $250 in sales, you earn $40 in free product credit PLUS 50% off any one item in the Idea Book. You can use your 50% off on accessories, tools, organisation--ANYTHING in the book.

But even better, you can use your 50% off to purchase a Hostess Collection. These Collections are only available to Gathering Hostesses and contain selected products and supplies--think of it as an exclusive kit club! The collections feature new products and include everything you need to create multiple pages, cards and more.

Collection One: Laughing Lola
Collection One includes a My Reflections Laughing Lola paper packet, Laughing Lola Complements Dimensional Elements, Laughing Lola Assortment, Mini Medley Accents Rosewood Collection, Scallop Border Punch, My Acrylix Citsyscape Stamp Set, My Acrylix Paisley Perfect Stamp Set, My Acrylix Framework Alphabet Stamp Set and a Gypsy Exclusive Inks pad. Combined, the retail price is $107.85, but with the 50% discount, Collection One only costs $53.93!

Collection Two: Sarita
Collection Two includes a My Reflections Sarita Paper Packet, Sarita My Stickease Assortment, Sarita Assortment, Sarita Textiles, My Creations Burlap Drawstring Bags, Lagoon Houndstooth Washi Tape, My Acrylix In the Moment Stamp Set, Color-Ready Midtown Cork Shapes, Lagoon Exclusive Inks Pad, Goldrush Exclusive Inks Pad and a Stitch Guide. The retail value for this Collection is $96. After the 50% Hostess Discount, the price is only $48!

Collection Three: Pro Player
Collection Three includes a My Reflections Pro Player Paper Packet, Pro Player My Stickease Assortment, Pro Player Assortment, Designed Decor Flip Stand Album, Mini-Medley Accents Ruby Collection, Ruby Chevron Ribbon, My Acrylix All the Details Stamp Set, My Acrylix Tech Speak Stamp Set, Pacifica Exclusive Inks Pad and a Ruby Exclusive Inks pad. The retail value for this Collection is $89.10. With the 50% discount, it's only $44.55!

Collection Four includes a My Reflections Huntington Paper Packet, Huntington My Stickease Assortment, Huntington Assortment, My Creations Kraft Pocket Album, Jute Ribbon, Bronze Shimmer Trim, My Acrylix Happy Autumn Stamp Set, My Acrylix Swirls Around Stamp Set, Olive Exclusive Inks Pad and a Champagne Exclusive Inks Pad. The retail value for this Collection is $87.19, but with the 50% discount, the price is only $43.55.
Collection Four: Huntington

CTMH offers great free products and discounts for Gathering Hostesses. The more you sell at your Gathering, the more Rewards you can earn! Book your Gathering today!

Monday 29 July 2013

Sneak Peek Day 8

Calling all cardmakers! CTMH has lots of fun new products to take your cardmaking to the next level.

Workshops on the Go Laughing Lola Cardmaking Kit
There are two new Workshops on the Go Cardmaking Kits! Use the materials, kit-exclusive accessories, and instructions to create 15 beautiful cards (five cards each of three designs) inspired by Jeanette Lynton!

The Laughing Lola kit comes with My Acrylix Laughing Lola Cardmaking Workshop Stamp Set, Laughing Lola papers, five cardstock sheets, 15 White Daisy cards and envelopes, Whisper, Black and Silver Baker's Twine (10 yards), Purple Gems and instructional brochure.

The theme of this set is love and support.Whether you're creating a get well card, sending a little something to cheer up a friend or making a sympathy card, this kit makes cards that are stylish and heartfelt.

Workshops on the Go Frosted Cardmaking Kit
The Frosted kit is perfect for conveying your Warm Winter Wishes. The D-size stamp set is one you'll turn to over and over again, not only for cards, but for scrapbook pages, holiday projects and even tags and packaging!

The kit comes with a Frosted Cardmaking Workshop Stamp Set, Frosted papers, five cardstock sheets, 15 Colonial White cards and envelopes, Champagne, Colonial White and Silver Baker's Twine (10 yards), Silver Glitter Gems and instructional brochure.

These kits are only $24.95! That's only $1.66 per card! And represents a savings of $11.83 (the retail value of the individual pieces is $36.78).

These card kit are also excellent projects for Home Gatherings! Split a kit among your guests and each can create and take home three beautiful cards. And of course, your guests will love the cards so much, they'll want their own full kits! It will be easy to earn free Hostess Rewards when you host your own Workshop Home Gathering!

In addition to these kits, CTMH is offering a new My Originals Polar Pals Card Kit. Following up on the popularity and ease of the My Originals Matchbook Card Kit, Polar Pals is an easy to assemble kit for cardmakers of any skill level. The kit consists of 12 tri-fold pop-up shaker cards for sending holiday and wintery greetings to friends and family. The tri-fold cards hold photos and gift cards perfectly. In addition to the cards, the kit includes a sheet of stickers, 12 Shaker Bubbles, 12 adhesive springs and 12 coloured envelopes. These cards are perfect for all the little gift cards given out over the holidays--to teachers, co-workers and as stocking stuffers.

CTMH has also added a new style card to its card family: White Daisy Circle Spin Cards and Envelopes. The focal point of these cards is a die-cut circle that spins! Just the right size for adding a sentiment or spectacular stamp, these cards make a strong statement!

October and November are great for hosting a Home Gathering and choosing a cardmaking project as the theme. At this time of year, people are looking to get into the holiday mood with crafty projects and it's just the right time to start holiday shopping! But you don't have to wait to book your autumn Gathering! Contact me today to get your preferred date!

Sunday 28 July 2013

Sneak Peek Days 6 & 7

Sorry for dropping the ball there...life gets in the way of blogging sometimes....

But here's a double-dose of what you can expect from the new Idea Book: THE PAPERS!!

I know this is one of the first things people rush to once the Idea Book is in their hands. They must see what new colours, patterns and  combinations CTMH has come up with. The wait is over.

Laughing Lola is a fun, energetic mix of Black, Gypsy, White Daisy and three exclusive new colours: Laughing Lola Blue, Laughing Lola  Gold and Laughing Lola Purple.

Complementing the Laughing Lola paper packet are the Laughing Lola Assortment (four satin paper clip bows and nine printed gems in three sizes) and Laughing Lola Complements Dimensional Elements (two 12" x 6" chipboard sheets).

Laughing Lola can be described as  "a touch of class and a lot of sass!"--to quote the coordinating Paisley Perfect stamp set.


Sarita is a collection of striking patterns and colours including Colonial White, Cotton Candy, Goldrush, Gypsy, Lagoon and Outdoor Denim. For those of us who love bright colours and striking patterns, this is a must have.

The Sarita Assortment includes 10 etched wooden shapes and four embossed metal icons. The Sarita My Stickease Assortment has the same bold colours and patterns seen in the papers with two titles, journaling spots, borders and also includes pennants, flowers, arrows, feathers and more.

Pro Player is the paper packet I've been waiting for to document the techno-love in my home. The video game inspired papers feature Black, Outdoor Denim, Pacifica, Ruby, Slate and Whisper. With fun digitised patterns, Pro Player is excellent for documenting boys and their toys.

The Pro Player Assortment has 10 corrugated cardboard shapes and six metal-rimmed enamel badge buttons. The Pro Player My Stickease Assortment touches on all things digital--whether your techno-geek is a Guitar Hero,attached to their cell phone, or if you're an X Box widow, there's a fun sticker to tell your story.

Babycakes says it all. These papers are sweet and adorable, just like the new arrivals in your life. Cute giraffes, fun alphabets, soothing stripes and dots are perfect for pages, cards and mini albums about babies. The Buttercup, Chocolate, Colonial White, Slate and Sunset colour scheme is gender-neutral and great for childhood themes.

Babycakes Complements Canvas Shapes add texture to your projects along with cute animals, borders and popular titles. The Babycakes Assortment coordinates perfectly with the papers, but will find it's way into non-baby themed project too! You'll love them so much you'll want to use them on everything! These 12 wood-rimmed badge buttons are adhesive backed and come in three sizes.

Huntington embodies everything I like about autumn-themed papers: heritage, vibrancy and fall colours. The colours, Autumn Terracotta, Barn Red, Cashmere, Champagne, Cocoa, Desert Sand, Olive, and Slate, are the ones I go to again and again for all my pages. My favourite, pattern looks like a large damask, but has an unexpected, large, vibrant flower. It adds fun and whimsy to traditional patterns.

The Huntington Assortment includes four printed canvas shapes and six printed wooden spool tops. Texture and unique ephemera in one package.

The Huntington My Stickease Assortment plays up the vibrant reds and oranges of the colour palette along with the cooling green. Banners, pennants, flowers and leaves are all perfect for your autumn pages and cards.

Frosted isn't your typical Winter/Christmas paper. With cool tones and hot patterns, Frosted strikes and interesting balance of traditional and fashion forward. Champagne and Colonial White combine with two new colours, Frosted Grey and Frosted Turquoise in geometric circles, chevrons, diamonds and, of course, snowflakes.

The Frosted Assortment isn't theme specific, but combines with the papers beautifully. Six felt flowers in three colours (pink, dark grey, and cream) will add elegance and beauty whether you're doing a page about a December Rose or a Spring Bloom.

The Frosted My Stickease Assortment is what you'll turn to for Christmas cards and winter pages. Snowflakes, snowmen and winter images abound in this set of two sticker sheets.

In addition to the My Reflections products described above, each line comes with new My Acrylix stamp sets designed to coordinate with the paper themes. And of course, each has a Workshop on the Go, which includes the paper packets, exclusive stamp sets, embellishments and an instructional brochure all at a discounted price.

There's your first taste of the colours and themes in the new Idea Book. Keep visiting my blog this week for more glimpses at great new products and The Big Reveal on August 1st!

Thursday 25 July 2013

Sneak Peek: Day 5

If you have a Cricut, you're going to LOVE CTMH's new offering. If you don't have a Cricut, beg, borrow or steal one because you're not going to want to miss out!

Take your scrapbooking to never-before-seen levels with the new Cricut Artbooking collection! With oodles of images in each of 15 layout themes, you can create several coordinating pages for each theme using just two keys and one dial size. Images include accents, borders, titles, overlays, photo mats--in standard photo sizes!--and more.

The Cricut keys are optimised for creating 12" x 12" pages in a jiffy. You'll love creating ten themed mini books, also optimised for several different sizes using just two keys and one dial size.

Celebrate birthdays, new baby, vacations, friends, sports, Halloween, Christmas, and more. When you're finished cutting, use the coordinating stamp sets and Dimensional Elements shapes to add even more pizazz!

The Cricut Artbooking collection includes the Cricut cartridge with 700 images, font, mini books and layouts; three My Acrylix D-size stamp sets; and three 12" x 9" Dimensional Elements in coordinating shapes.

Cricut Artbooking Bundle
You'll find pages, cards and mini books throughout the new Autumn/Winter 2013 Idea Book featuring Artbooking die cuts. If you can't wait one more week until the new Idea Book comes online, check out my Close To My Heart Board on Pinterest. New images are being posted almost every day.

Not ready for Artbooking? CTMH has two other Cricut collections: Art Philosophy (basic brackets, frames, flowers and font) and Artiste (featuring themed projects, interactive cards and more). Whether you're a new or advanced crafter, there's a cartridge for you!

Did you know the Cricut collections are designed with CTMH stamps in mind? Whenever you see a stamp image outlined in red, that shape can be cut with one of the Cricut cartridges. Just refer to the note under the stamp to see which cartridge is needed. Also, on the stamp carrier sheet, you'll find the settings you need to cut the shape to exactly the right size. CTMH has made using the Cricut cartridges, coordinating stamps and shapes fast, simple and easy!

Wednesday 24 July 2013

Sneak Peek: Day 4

My latest home decor piece using the Display Tray.
I love seeing my scrapbooking around my house. Whether it's mini-albums in a basket, a favourite layout in a picture frame or a canvas on the wall, I get a lot of joy out of seeing something I've lovingly made, that's celebrating the people I love, displayed in my home.

The designers at Close To My Heart know exactly how I feel and have neatly organised several new products to make embellishing my home as easy as embellishing a scrapbook page. With Designed Decor (home decor with heart), crafters are encouraged to create artwork with substance.

Turn your crafting projects into enduring works of art with our new Designed Decor products. These art and memory displays are durable enough to last from your child's first finger paintings through junior high art class and beyond.

Designed Decor Black Frame
The mini clothes pins and hooks, sold separately, are ideal for clipping artwork or photos to our new wired frames.

Use the Designed Decor Black Frame, with five wires, to organise and display precious photos or important pieces of paper--like tickets, notes and business cards.

The Designed Decor Colonial White Frame uses honeycomb wire for displaying artwork, photos, accents and more.

Both frames come with sawtooth hangers on the back.

In addition to the Display Tray and the Hinged Display Tray seen in previous Idea Books, the Autumn/Winter 2013 Idea Book introduces the Designed Decor Flip Stand Album.. This clear acrylic stand has rings for displaying photos up to 6 1/2" x 5 3/4". The stand also has a slot for inserting a background image.
Designed Decor Frame Kit
 The Designed Decor Frame Kit comes with everything you need to create a stylish, decorative art piece to display in your home. The kit includes a Designed Decor Colonial White Frame, My Acrylix Frame Kit Stamp Set (B size), 33 Kraft Paper Die Cut Shapes, 6 Mini Wooden Clothes Pins and 1 yard of Baker's Twine Hemp.

This is an excellent project for a workshop Home Gathering! Your family and friends will love crafting this stunning frame to display in their own homes.

It's easy to set up your own Workshop Gathering. Contact me to select a date. Invite your family and friends. Confirm how many kits you need 2 weeks before the Gathering. Get your crafting space ready. On the Gathering Day, I will arrive with everything your and your guests need to create the project, including additional inks and stamps, and will provide instruction and guidance to help your guests create a special keepsake--and having fun crafting the whole time!

Contact me today to book your own Gathering with the Designed Decor Frame Kit!

Tuesday 23 July 2013

Sneak Peek: Day 3

Do you have a box of odds and ends that are sentimental to you, but you really don't know what to do with? I do. It's an old cigar box and has a few pictures from my childhood, foreign currency, ticket stubs and even one of those key chain photo things from Canada's Wonderland.
My Crush Modville

They're all special things I don't really want to part with, but not anything I'd want to make a full scrapbook or even 12" x 12" page with. Just small memory tokens.

Well, CTMH knows most of us have a little box, or envelope, or drawer of these things and has come up with a way for us to preserve these small memories in one place: My Crush.

My Crush is a memory keeping system that's fast, easy and convenient. Find it. Crush it. Love it.

My Crush books give you a safe place to quickly hold the precious everyday memorabilia while life is happening. Grab a glue stick, some tape, or a paperclip and attach your little things on the printed pages of these handy-size books. It's a way to capture your memories on the go.

The two new My Crush books each include sixty 10" x 7" full-colour, designed pages in a wire-bound, hardcover book. Adhere memorabilia and photos to the pages, write some quick journaling, and then close the book until next time.

My Crush Modville Book
Its small, portable size makes it easy to carry around in a purse or backpack so you can quickly memory-keep, even amidst the busyness of life. If finding time for traditional scrapbooking is a tricky thing right now, start a My Crush book and document life as it happens. No paper trimmer required.

My Crush Bluebird
My Crush comes in two fashionable designs: Modville and Bluebird.  Each also has two assortments to chose from. Add stickers, alphabets and envelopes to embellish and personalise you book You can also use the exclusive coordinating B-size stamp sets to take your book to the next level. Finish it off with your choice of embellishments, like Washi Tape and Shimmer Trim for even more flair!

Whether you want to use My Crush like a smash book, a journal or a mini-album, this is a must-have for creative crafters who want to document the special moments in life.