Cross Canada Blog Hop - April 2014 Close To My Heart

Welcome to our April Blog Hop featuring creations made with our latest Cricut Cartridge, Artbooking.  To purchase any of the items seen in our blog hop today, contact your local consultant to place an order.

We hope that you will take the time to leave comments on our posts, as we love to get feedback from our viewers....whether it was something that you really liked or some new technique that was used that you would like to learn how to do....by leaving us comments, we get to hear what you like, and what you want to see. Thank you… now on to our hop!

If you have just hopped onto my blog, you can start here as this is a circular hop, but if you want to follow us across Canada then please start at the beginning and join Michelle at http://mycreationswithmichelle.blogspot.ca/2014/04/cross-canada-blog-hop-artbooking-in.html. If you came from Nancy Klein of nancyklein.blogspot.ca/2014/04/close-to-my-hearts-cross-canada-blog.html then you are in the right place!

My April Cross Canada Blog Hop item is:

Timberline Mini-Album

This Mini-Album contains 10 pages, all bases cut from the Artbooking Cartridge, all the embellishments are hand made from the co-ordinating Artbooking Cricut shapes, Close to my Heart Stamp Sets, Close to my Heart Embellishments and the gorgeous Timberline Paper Pack.  The Album is held together on the mini-flip album base.  Using Cricut Craft Room, I've saved files of each paper so that all I have to do to re-create is place my paper and press cut for each colour. 

Products used:    Artbooking Cartridge ($99.00)
                           Designed décor Flip Stand Album ($12.95)
                           Timberline Workshop on the Go ($29.95)
                           Do your Best Stamp Set ($13.95)
                           Catch you later Stamp set ($17.95)
                           Shimmer Trim Teal ($4.95)
                           Gold Polka Dot Washi Tape ($7.95)

Check out the rest of the album pics below:

Thanks for looking.  Go play with your Artbooking Cartridge now!  Don't have one?  Guess, what?  Sign up as a Close to My Heart Consultant in April 2014 and you can get it for free!


Your next stop on the Cross Canada Hop is Candra Holmes of http://www.paperdragonfleur.ca/2014/04/cross-canada-blog-hop-april.html
 If you get lost along the way, you can head to Michelle's Blog,  http://mycreationswithmichelle.blogspot.ca/2014/04/cross-canada-blog-hop-artbooking-in.html, as she has the complete blog list.

1. Michelle ~http://mycreationswithmichelle.blogspot.ca/2014/04/cross-canada-blog-hop-artbooking-in.html
2. Nicky ~ http://timelesscottagenb.blogspot.ca/2014/04/april-cross-canda-blog-hop-artbooking.html
3. Arlene ~ http://arlenescreativespace.blogspot.ca/2014/04/cross-canada-april-blog-hop-artbooking.html
4. Krista ~http://simplycreatingtogether.blogspot.ca/2014/04/cross-canada-hop-focus-on-artbooking.html
5. Sheri  ~ sherisays-justscrapit.blogspot.ca/2014/04/cross-canada-hop-celebrating-cousins.html
6. Carol ~ craftycarol55.blogspot.ca/2014/04/april-cross-canada-blog-hop-artbooking.html
7. Lynette ~http://c1make1.blogspot.ca/2014/04/cross-canada-blog-hop.html
8. Brandy ~http://canadianscrappers.blogspot.ca/2014/04/artbooking-blog-hop.html
9. Terry Ann~ http://terryanndiack.blogspot.ca/2014/04/cross-canada-hop-april-artbooking.html
10. Janet ~http://worksofheart2011.blogspot.ca/2014/04/artbooking-in-april-cross-canada-blog.html
11. Kathy ~http://kathy-itsagirlthing.blogspot.ca/2014/04/artbooking-april-cross-canada-blog-hop.html
12. Chantal ~http://itsahootpapercrafts.blogspot.ca/2014/04/cross-canada-blog-hop-april.html
13. Nancy ~ nancyklein.blogspot.ca/2014/04/close-to-my-hearts-cross-canada-blog.html
14. Karen ~ clearyprecious.blogspot.ca /2014/04/cross-canada-blog-hop-april-2014-close.html
15. Candra ~ http://www.paperdragonfleur.ca/2014/04/cross-canada-blog-hop-april.html

Thanks for hopping along with us - we hope we were able to inspire you to get creative using some of the designs, products and techniques seen along the way. We hope you will join us again next month when we will be featuring Home Decor projects.  So mark May 15th on your calendars and hop along with us.

Close to My Heart March 2014 Cross Canada Blog Hop - Card Boxes

Welcome to our March Blog Hop featuring card boxes.  Did you know that you can create your own card boxes using CTMH products? Whether they are the My Creations Card Boxes, Journaling Boxes or cricut cuts, there is just so much more you can use these boxes for. To purchase any of the items seen in our blog hop today, contact your local consultant to place an order.

We hope that you will take the time to leave comments on our posts, as we love to get feedback from our viewers....whether it was something that you really liked or some new technique that was used that you would like to learn how to do....by leaving us comments, we get to hear what you like, and what you want to see. Thank you… now on to our hop!

If you have just hopped onto my blog, you can start here as this is a circular hop, but if you want to follow us across Canada then please start at the beginning and join Michelle at http://mycreationswithmichelle.blogspot.ca.  If you came from Chantal of http://itsahootpapercrafts.blogspot.ca/2014/03/cross-canada-marchs-blog-hop.html then you are in the right place!
 
Balloon Ride & My Creations Journaling Card Box

The first Card box I worked on was one to store a set of Picture My Life Journaling Cards in.  I am actually planning to give this as a gift to a friend expecting a baby.  I will put the "Babycakes" Journaling Cards inside.



Balloon Ride - Picture My Life journaling card box

 I decorated the box with Balloon Ride paper ($9.95/ pack), Believe in Yourself stamp set ($13.95 each) and some bling: Sparkles Flourishes ($4.95 ea) and some Rosewood mini-medley Accents ($5.95).  All the papers and the edges of the box were edge distressed with chocolate ink and our sponge dauber.  I also used the Cricut Artiste to cut out the Balloon shape.


Balloon Ride - Picture My Life Card Holder

 In this photo I have inserted a full "Surf's Up" Picture My Life Scrapbooking Program set. 

Balloon Ride Card Box - detail

 Here is a close up of the beautiful bling I used on this box.  I love using the Sparkle Flourishes . . . they make it so easy to add a perfect swirl of bling to your projects.

Ivy Lane & My Creations Card Box

For my second box I used our Ivy Lane paper ($9.95/pack), a tiny strip of our Brown & Tan Glitter paper ($5.95/3sheets) and the Black Sparkle Flourishes ($4.95 set) and a flower made with the Ivy lane paper and our exclusive Cricut Cartridge "Art Philosophy".  Instead of a card box, I made a jewellery or treasure box! Look how nice my Base & Bling Pendant necklace looks inside!

Ivy Lane Card Box

Inside of Ivy Lane Jewellery box

 I made the inside dividers with plain cardstock (that comes in the Ivy Lane paper pack), folded one way, with additional cross pieces slid over and held in place with a dot of Liquid Glass ($6.95).

Close up detail of Ivy Lane box cover

 When I first made this box, it seemed unfinished to me . . . actually, I wasn't going to display it!  But then, my Close to My Heart order arrived surprisingly early (in four days!!!) so I decided to add the black sparkle flourishes.  Considering it's a jewellery box, perhaps you'll forgive the extra bling?

The title was done using the Font on our Artbooking Cricut Cartridge.  Again, all edges were distressed with chocolate ink and a sponge dauber. And did you notice the big scallop edges?  This is the Art Philosophy scalloped rectangle Cricut Cartridge Shape.

Thanks for taking a peek at this months artwork!  See you next month!

Your next stop on the Cross Canada Hop is " name of person " of " name of blog with URL link ".
 If you get lost along the way, you can head to Michelle S Blog, http://mycreationswithmichelle.blogspot.ca, as she has the complete blog list.

Thanks for hopping along with us - we hope we were able to inspire you to get creative using some of the designs, products and techniques seen along the way. Join us again in April when we will be featuring creations from the third Cricut Cartridge, Artbooking. We hope you will join us again on April 15th, 2014.

1. Michelle ~http://mycreationswithmichelle.blogspot.com/2014/03/cross-canada-blog-hop-card-boxes.html
2. Arlene ~ http://arlenescreativespace.blogspot.com/2014/03/cross-canada-hop.html
3. Sheri  ~ http://sherisays-justscrapit.blogspot.com/2014/03/cross-canada-blog-hop-give-gift-with.html
4. Carol ~ http://craftycarol55.blogspot.com/2014/03/cross-canada-blog-hop-ctmh-gift-boxes.html
5. Terry Ann~ http://terryanndiack.blogspot.ca/2014/03/ctmh-cross-canada-blog-hop-card-boxes.html
6. Janet ~ http://worksofheart2011.blogspot.ca/2014/03/recipes-everywhere-and-no-place-to-keep.html
7. Famida ~ http://getscrappinfami.blogspot.ca/2014/03/skylark-card-box.html
8. Chantal ~http://itsahootpapercrafts.blogspot.ca/2014/03/cross-canada-marchs-blog-hop.html
9. Karen ~ http://clearlyprecious.blogspot.com/2014/03/close-to-my-heart-march-2014-cross.html

Happy Valentine's Day Paper lovers!

I totally stole this idea from my friend Carmen who made one in her SU card club. Yeah, I know.  I typed SU... But hey a great idea is a great Idea!

So I CTMH'ed that idea up with our new Ivy Lane paper pack, Feb 2014 stamp of the month and a bunch cricut cuts!  This is what I came up with:

 

And this is a pic of the co-ordinating envelope I made with my

 Envelope Punch Board and the closed card:

 

 

 

I was able to find a full template and instructions at: http://extremecards.blogspot.ca/2014/02/card-in-box-pop-up.html  she's done a great job of explaining how to create the base.  The colour, décor and theme are up to you.  I think, with a little play, you could adjust the size to fit a standard 4 1/4x5 1/2 envelope, or whatever size you like best!

 

My hubby really enjoyed this playful card.  It's now proudly displayed at his office.

 

You can expect to find some version of this as a make and take at one of my upcoming events!

 

 

Speaking of,  List of Upcoming Events:

 

Sat Feb 22, 2014 : Golden Ears Elementary Crop, Maple Ridge BC  10am -10pm

                         23124 118th Ave, Contact Pam Bagnall @ bagnallfamily@telus.net to register

                         $40 includes a large table, beverages all day, dinner, prizes and make & take

 

Fri / Sat March 7/8: Shepherd of the Valley at 72nd & 200th Langley 5-11 Fri, 9am-10pm Sat

                   $5 Fri only, $35 for Sat , contact Nadene Jung  @ thestampinchic@yahoo.ca to register

                   includes a large workspace, beverages and dinner on Sat.  Convenient location!

 

Sat / Sun March 8th&9th: Maple Ridge Elementary Crop, Sat 8am-10pm, Sun 9am-4pm

              $75 for both days or $45 Saturday only.  Includes dinner, snacks and drinks, prizes & M&T's

              contact Eleah McClenaghan @ eleahmcclenaghan@shaw.ca to register

 

Thurs-Sun April 10th - 13th: Loon Lake Ultimate Scrapbook Retreat - 2 or 3 night get-away

       this is the Ultimate get-away!  Go with friends or go alone.  Full on-site store, classes,  massage,

       mani / pedi . . . Fantastics, healthy meals!  Check out their blog for details:

       http://www.ultimatescrapbookretreats.blogspot.ca/  - these retreats are offered 8-10x a year, I am

       trying to go 2-3 times and offer classes when I do.

 

 

Give yourself a gift and join me at one or all of these events: all are run by experienced ladies who know how to do it right!

 

Card Class . . .best of 2013

 

This is a hard time of year . . . I have the new Spring / Summer Close to My Heart Idea Book.  I've had it for several weeks.  I am in love with it!  But I can't share with you . . .yet!

The new Idea book goes live Feb 1, 2014.  And while us CTMH consultants have been able to order a few goodies for ourselves to prep with, we can't sell the new stuff just yet!

So, I am going to be teaching some classes at the "Ultimate Scrapbooking Retreat" next weekend at Loon Lake, just north of Maple Ridge, BC.  I was challenged to come up with a new class but can't really use the new product just yet.  Boo!

Anyway, I took a look at my inventory and noticed I had several sets of the "You are my Happy" left from the Spring 2013 Campaign.  This is a 3 sheet set with an alphabet, card comments and images.  It is equivalent to 3 "D" size stamp sets valued at just under $54, and I'm selling them for $15.00 each.  So I designed a card class around this stamp set, using four of my favorite paper packs from 2013.

I was also able to snag a bunch of our craft paper envelopes that were recently on the "While supplies last" page, so I've incorporated craft paper into each card and used the cricut cartridges in each card too!

Participants will make two each of the following:

Huntington: (inspiration: http://www.frommybungalow.blogspot.ca/2013/09/you-are-my-happy-3.html)



 

 Sarita: (inspiration: Jodie Gustofson cre8nmemories@blogspot.ca)

 
 Pro Player (inspiration from Gina Brandsetter @ gmbscrapper.BlogSpot.com)

And Dream Pop:(inspiration http://brenbearcreations.com/category/friend/)

 

 

I will be teaching this Class Saturday afternoon at Loon Lake if you are interested in joining me.