Monday 10 December 2018

December Cross Canada Blog Hop - Oh What Fun!



Welcome to our December Blog Hop featuring artwork created using Oh What Fun! collection. 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 plus I am the first stop when hopping from East Coast to West Coast. If you came from Kristine's blog then you are in the right place! 


I just fell in love with this paper collection and the Ugly Sweater stamp set, I just couldn't get enough and designed 4 variations for my Christmas Card Buffets. My children couldn't get over that they are called ugly sweater's, they kept telling me that they were too cute to be ugly.  I pulled the colours for stamping from the paper collection, using Mint, Lagoon, Raspberry, Clover and Pixie.

Your next stop on the Cross Canada Hop is Diana

If you get lost along the way, you can come right back here, as I'm sharing the list of our hoppers:

Michelle YOU ARE HERE

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 artwork using Something Fierce collection. So mark January 10th on your calendars and hop along with us.


Always craft with  <3

Saturday 10 November 2018

November Cross Canada Blog Hop - Tis the Season

Welcome to our November Blog Hop featuring artwork created using 'Tis The Season collection. 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, I am also the first stop when hopping from East Coast to West Coast.  If you came from Kristine's Blog from then you are in the right place!



This first card I used the 'Tis the Season Cardmarking Stamp set, and the sentiment is embossed in Gold.  I used both the regular and stitches Circle  Thin Cuts.  I have some Prills that I added to the center of the poinsettia and I added some Gold Gems for a finish.


My second card is using the Wonder of the Season stamp and Thin Cut set.  The poinsettia is stamped on vellum and coloured using Shin Han Alcohol Markers.  I added doodling around the sentiment which is stamped in Candy Apple red, and to add some sparkle, I used Gold Shimmer Trim and Gold Gems.

Your next stop on the Cross Canada Hop is Dominique.

If you get lost along the way, you can come back here as I have provided the full list:

Michelle You Are Here

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 artwork using Oh What Fun! collection. So mark December 10th on your calendars and hop along with us.


Always craft with  <3

Wednesday 10 October 2018

October Cross Canada Blog Hop - Grateful Hearts/Hello Pumpkin

Welcome to our October Blog Hop featuring artwork created using either Grateful Hearts or Hello Pumpkin collection. 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, as it so happens I'm the first stop when you are hopping across Canada, East Coast to West. If you came from Kristine's blog then you are in the right place!


For my project I decided to use Grateful Hearts paper and the coordinating Stamp set.  I have fallen in love with Shaker Cards, and decided that I would use the heart confetti thin cut to create extra pieces for inside the shaker.  I used Pomegranate and Sapphire cardstock for this, and pulled some out to add embellishment for on the card.  I used the Gold sequins for the inside of the shaker as well.The outer ring for the shaker is also Pomegranate and the sentiment is stamped in the same color.  I also utilized the zip strip from the pattern paper.  The butterfly is colored with Golden Yellow and Marigold Shinhan Alcohol Markers. To finish off the sentiment, I dove tailed to create a banner and added some doodles.

Your next stop on the Cross Canada Hop is Sheena.

If you get lost along the way, you can come back here, I have provided the full blog hop list:

Michelle YOU ARE HERE!

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 artwork using Tis' The Season collection. So markNovember 10th on your calendars and hop along with us.


Always craft with  <3

Monday 10 September 2018

Holiday Expressions - New Product Blog Hop

Welcome to our New Product Blog Hop!

Image may contain: one or more people and text

We will be featuring all new Products from the Holilday Expressions Idea Book.  If you have come here from Catherine Nowak you are on the right path! The blog hop is a great big circle, so you can start here and work your way all around.  If you get lost along the way, you’ll find the complete list of participating consultants on Melinda’s Blog


This month we have approximately 20 Close To My Heart Consultants sharing their creations using all new CTMH products on their blogs. This is simple to do - just click on the link at the end of the post on each blog to move to the next one! Here we go!



For my project, I decided to play with the new Cricut Collection, Season of Joy(Z3296).  There are so many super cute images to choose from including lots of 3D items to make, like this set of figures.  They stand about 9.5 inches tall, and they are hollow, so you could totally fill them with Christmas candies.  Posted below is just a sampling of other images found on this digital collection.
Now "Hop" on over to Melissa Robinson to see her work! Be sure to visit all the Consultants at their Blogs to get some great crafting ideas and other fun ideas!  Contact your CTMH Consultant (or click here) to see how you can purchase any of the amazing new products seen throughout this blog hop!


Always craft with  <3

September Cross Canada Blog Hop - Boutique



Welcome to our September Blog Hop featuring artwork created using the Boutique collection. 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,and I am also the first stop on this hop moving across Canada from East Coast to West Coast. If you came from Kristine's blog then you are in the right place! 

My creation is using a faux watercolor technique and Bunches of Love Stamp Set (D1815).


To create this technique I first stamped the image in Linen Ink, it is really very pale and you can go over it with the waterbrush and inks creating the watercolor image.  To achieve this I inked up the stamp in SugarPlum, our new color of the year, and then using my waterbrush added just a little water, and stamped.  I did the same with the leaves, using Glacier ink.  The sentiment is stamped in Charcoal ink.  I fussy cut the flower bunch and layered in on White Daisy CS, the reverse side of the SugarPlum CS, the Boutique Pattern is matted ontop of the Darker SugarPlum.

Your next stop on the Cross Canada Hop is Sheena.

If you get lost along the way, just hop back here as I've provided the full list:

Michelle - You Are Here

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 artwork using Hello Pumpkin or the Grateful Heart collection. So mark October 10th on your calendars and hop along with us.


Always craft with  <3

Saturday 1 September 2018

September SOTM BLOG HOP - Just Treats

Welcome to our Stamp of the Month Blog Hop!


Image may contain: text

We will be featuring September's SOTM, Just Treats, a set of 22 stamps.  If you have come here from Wendy Kessler's blog, you are on the right path! The blog hop is a great big circle, so you can start here and work your way all around.  If you get lost along the way, you’ll find the complete list of participating consultants on Melinda’s Blog

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This month we have approximately 19 Close To My Heart Consultants sharing their creations using this month's SOTM and other great CTMH products on their blogs. This is simple to do - just click on the link at the end of the post on each blog to move to the next one! Here we go!




For this first card, I used memento ink to stamp the image.  I used the Carmine Touch Marker to color the letters, and I used the small water colorbrush to pick up New England Ivy ink to color the leaves.  I used some red stickles to create the berries.  I created the scallop piece from the zipstrip.  The pattern paper is from 'Tis the Season. I double matted, White Daisy on New England Ivy cardstock.  To finish off the design I added some doodling.


Doodling is a very popular trend right now, and I added it to this second card.  I used the Carmine Touch Marker for the letters and the mug.  The gold mat is made using Gold Embossing Powder, and I added some Gold Gems to finish off the design.


Now "Hop" on over to Catherine Nowak's blog to see her work! Be sure to visit all the Consultants at their Blogs to get some great crafting ideas and other fun ideas! Remember, the September SOTM is only available until September 30th!  Contact your CTMH Consultant (or click here) to see how you can get this stamp set at a discount!


Always craft with  <3

Thursday 16 August 2018

Bring Back My Pack Blog Hop - More Magical

Welcome to our Blog Hop!

Image may contain: 3 people, people smiling

We will be featuring the Bring Back My Pack Promotion which is featuring the updated Magical collection.  If you have come here from Melissa Robinson's blog you are on the right path! The blog hop is a great big circle, so you can start here and work your way all around.  If you get lost along the way, you’ll find the complete list of participating consultants on Melinda’s Blog


This month we have approximately 7 Close To My Heart Consultants sharing their creations using this fabulous paper collection and other great CTMH products on their blogs. This is simple to do - just click on the link at the end of the post on each blog to move to the next one! Here we go!



I must tell you how excited I am to have this paper collection back for 2 months.  We visited Disney in 2016, and I still have over 200 photos that I want to scrapbook, and I had almost run out of this paper.  I am so very excited to have it back. 

I used 5 different paper designs from this collection and 2 of the PML cards.  I created banners and added some White Enamel Dots for embellishments.  I can't wait to create more Magical scrapbook layouts to complete my Disney album.


Now "Hop" on over to Gina Brandstetter's blog to see her work! Be sure to visit all the Consultants at their Blogs to get some great crafting ideas and other fun ideas! Remember, this promotion is available until September 30th  Contact your CTMH Consultant (or click here) to see how you can get this paper collection for free!


Always craft with  <3

Friday 10 August 2018

August Cross Canada Blog Hop - Documented



Welcome to our Documented Blog Hop featuring artwork created using the Documented paper collection. 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, and I'm the first stop when hopping from East Coast to West Coast. If you came from Janet's Blog then you are in the right place! 


For my project I wanted to create something other than a card, which seems to be what I usually choose.  I had a stash of wooden picture frames from Michael's that had been sitting around since my daughter's craft party for her birthday.  I decided that I would cover it.  I used the flower pattern from the Documented Paper collection (x7234b) and the Documented wooded Titles (Z4171).  I wanted to create a title that would fit the photo of my children.  So using my craft knife I cut the word today, making 2 words, to and day.  This allowed me to create my title, Love to Smile.  I used Memories Bonding Glue to adhere the paper to the wooden frame, using my bone folder to smooth all the air bubbles out.  I then used some sand paper to smooth the edges around the frame.
product image  



Your next stop on the Cross Canada Hop is Sheena .

If you get lost along the way, you can come right back here, I've provided the complete list for this hop:

Michelle YOU ARE HERE



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 artwork using the new Boutique collection, it will be released in our new Holiday Expressions Idea Book on September 1st. So mark September 10th on your calendars and hop along with us.


Always craft with  <3

Monday 6 August 2018

Here's To You Blog Hop

Welcome to our Blog Hop!

Image may contain: text

We are featuring the Here's to You Promotion.  If you have come here from Kirsten Desorcy's Blog, you are on the right path! The blog hop is a great big circle, so you can start here and work your way all around.  If you get lost along the way, you’ll find the complete list of participating consultants on Melinda’s Blog.

This month we have approximately 15 Close To My Heart Consultants sharing their creations using this stamps, cardstock and other fabulous CTMH products on their blogs. This is simple to do - just click on the link at the end of the post on each blog to move to the next one! Here we go!



For my card, I started with a base Pacifica CS base, I then choose the darker side of the Bashful cardstock and used the Rose Embossing folder to give it the pattern.  I then inked the raised image using Pewter ink.  The sentiment in stamped on the vellum and heat embossed with Silver Embossing Powder.  I used the White Pearl gems at the corners where I placed some glue dots to secure the vellum to the Bashful cardstock.  I also added some smaller pearls to the swirls in the embossed image. 

Kit contents:
1 – My Acrylix® To You Stamp Set (B1597)
1 – My Acrylix® Wishing You Joy Stamp Set (B1596)
1 – My Acrylix® Flourishing Friendship Stamp Set (B1599)
1 – My Acrylix® Sending Sunshine Stamp Set (B1600)
11 – cardstock sheets (1 Bashful, 1 Glacier, 2 Juniper, 1 Lagoon, 2 Linen, 1 Pacifica, 2 White Daisy, 1 silver glitter)
1 – Vellum sheet 
1 – White Pearls (Z3370)
1 – Rose Embossing Folder (Z3343)
7 – white cards & envelopes
Use the materials in this kit to create one scrapbook page and seven cards.

Now "Hop" on over to Wendy Kessler's blog to see her work! Be sure to visit all the Consultants at their Blogs to get some great crafting ideas and other fun ideas! Remember, this promotion, Here's to You is only available until August 31st!  Contact your CTMH Consultant (or click here) to see how you can get this promotion!


Always craft with  <3

Wednesday 1 August 2018

SOTM Blog Hop - For the Love of Crafting

Welcome to our Stamp of the Month Blog Hop!

Image may contain: one or more people

We will be featuring August's SOTM, which is For the Love of Crafting, a set of 9 stamps.  If you have come here from Melinda's Blog, you are on the right path! The blog hop is a great big circle, so you can start here and work your way all around.  If you get lost along the way, you’ll find the complete list of participating consultants on Melinda’s Blog
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This month we have approximately 27 Close To My Heart Consultants sharing their creations using this month's SOTM and other great CTMH products on their blogs. This is simple to do - just click on the link at the end of the post on each blog to move to the next one! Here we go!


For my project I knew I wanted to go GOLD.  So I pulled out Gold Embossing powder, Gold Shimmer Trim and even some very retired Gold Glitter.  I used patterns from the Documented collection, and for the heart I decided to use the Heart Thin Cuts to cut the shape out.



Now "Hop" on over to Cat's blog to see her work! Be sure to visit all the Consultants at their Blogs to get some great crafting ideas and other fun ideas! Remember, the August SOTM is only available until August 31t  Contact your CTMH Consultant (or click here) to see how you can get this stamp set at a discount!


Always craft with  <3

Sunday 15 July 2018

July Cross Canada Blog Hop - Central Park

Welcome to our November Blog Hop featuring artwork inspired by the Holidays. 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, plus I'm the first stop when you Hop from East Coast to West Coast.If you came from Diana's Blog then you are in the right place!

For my project I decided to showcase the Card Workshop that was designed using the Central Park paper. 
It comes with everything pictured above. I also used the following: 
 Archival Black Exclusive Inks™ Stamp Pad (Z3271)
Poppy Exclusive Inks™ Stamp Pad (Z2852)
Watercolor Paints (Z3132)
Paintbrush Set (Z3188)
Thin Cuts—Basic Circles (Z3318)
Thin 3-D Foam Tape (Z2060)

This kit allows you to create 12 cards, 2 designs with 6 of each.



The instructions come with the kit, and explains how to cut the papers, and how to assemble the cards.  These kits make it so easy to have a great selection of cards for any occassion.

Your next stop on the Cross Canada Hop is Sheena.


If you get lost along the way, you can come right back here, I've provided the complete list

Michelle You ARE HERE

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 our Holiday Celebrations. So mark November 15th on your calendars and hop along with us.


Always craft with  <3

Friday 6 July 2018

Stampaganza 2018 Blog Hop

Welcome to our Stampaganza Blog Hop!


Image may contain: text

We will be featuring a variety of stamp sets from both the current annual and the Seasonal Expressions catalogs.  If you have come here from Catherine Nowak's blog, you are on the right path! The blog hop is a great big circle, so you can start here and work your way all around.  If you get lost along the way, you’ll find the complete list of participating consultants on Melinda’s Blog


This month we have approximately 12 Close To My Heart Consultants sharing their creations using this month's promotion and other great CTMH products on their blogs. This is simple to do - just click on the link at the end of the post on each blog to move to the next one! Here we go!

The first piece of artwork I want to share with you is using Fresh Air paper and Hunting for Words stamp set.  I created this Easel card and it was really quite easy to create, really need to make dimensional cards more often.




These next few pieces are artwork that I've created using various stamps throughout the past year.


Sweet Baby Stamp Set (D1726)


Beautiful You stamp set (D1741)


For You Darling stamp set (C1690)


Sweet Birthday stamp set (B1532)


Remember that these stamp sets will be retiring at the end of August, so now is the time to take advantage of the Stampaganza promotion, Buy 2 Get 1 FREE, of equal or lesser value.

Now "Hop" on over to Melinda's blog to see her work! Be sure to visit all the Consultants at their Blogs to get some great crafting ideas and other fun ideas! Remember, the next blog hop is August SOTM and is featured on the 1st of the month!  Contact your CTMH Consultant (or click here) to see how you can get this stamp set at a discount!


Always craft with  <3

Sunday 1 July 2018

July SOTM Blog Hop - Highlight Reel

Welcome to our Stamp of the Month Blog Hop!


Image may contain: 3 people, people smiling, text

We will be featuring July's SOTM, which is Highlight Reel a set of 23 stamps.  If you have come here from Cat Nowark's blog, you are on the right path! The blog hop is a great big circle, so you can start here and work your way all around.  If you get lost along the way, you’ll find the complete list of participating consultants on Melinda’s Blog

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This month we have approximately 15 Close To My Heart Consultants sharing their creations using this month's SOTM and other great CTMH products on their blogs. This is simple to do - just click on the link at the end of the post on each blog to move to the next one! Here we go!



For my card I used up some scraps of the paper Collection called Documented.  For the balloons I used colors as close to the those found in the paper and used the water colors and waterbrush to create this painted loook


Now "Hop" on over to Melissa's blog to see her work! Be sure to visit all the Consultants at their Blogs to get some great crafting ideas and other fun ideas! Remember, the November SOTM is only available until August 31st!  Contact your CTMH Consultant (or click here) to see how you can get this stamp set at a discount!


Always craft with  <3