Welcome to the Make-It-Crafty November SOTM and All- Things- Christmas Blog Hop

 This time 'round we're showing off our Christmas projects and those made with S1511- Cheers!,  the November SOTM (stamp of the month):

  If you've come from Dominique's blog- fun2cre8, then you're in the right spot.  We 'hop' in a big circle, so if you visit all the blogs, then you'll end up back where you started.  If you get lost, you can find the complete list of Hoppers in the Scrap Zone, with Julie.

This time, I've made several Christmas cards (a sneak peak into my 2 card classes, PM me for more).  As you can see, 3 are very easy (stamp and stick) and 3 are a little more involved. 

Here they are individually:

-I used papers from the White Pines ppk, as well as the WP Assortment.

-Bling includes the new Gold and Silver Foil tape, the new Green Triangle embellishments (Z3123), the new Red Gems (Z3090), as well as the Red, Green and Gold Shimmer Trim.

-Cards were colored using Shinhan Twin Touch markers.

-I plan my cards to be flat for sending thru the mail more easily so don't usually pop or 3-D much but I did pop both the sentiment on the second card and the small holly leaf on the third card.

-The inks included Tuxedo Black (my new go-to for all things black) and the new Fern, along with Chocolate.

 -I cut the sentiment mats on the first 2 cards using my Cricut and the Artiste and new Artistry carts.

 -Stamps used include: S1510- Twinkle (Oct Sotm), B1489-Joyful Garland (Hostess), C1627-Reindeer Bells, D1611-Frosty Fun, D1666-Believe in Christmas, D1676- White Pines Card WOTG ss, and D1678- White Pines Scrap WOTG ss. 


  Thank you for st(h)opping by.  Now hop along and visit  with Lisa, at Pretty Paperie Sweets.   
Don't forget to stop back this way mid- January when we'll be showcasing our Valentine's and National Papercrafting Month creations.  Til then, Happy Scrappin'!

Make It Crafty Blog Hop- Thanksgiving and Halloween

Welcome to the Second Round

 of the

  This month we're showcasing Thanksgiving and Halloween creations, or projects made with the October Stamp of the Month-Twinkle (D-1510). 

  As is usual for me, I chose to overdo and made a Halloween (or possibly birthday) layout using the new paperpack Nevermore  (found in the Holiday Expressions mini) and 2 cards- 1 Thanksgiving and 1 Just Because- with the new Sangria.    {I actually Oops'ed and made a card using the Sept SOTM- Paper Garden, instead of  October's Twinkle, but, oh well, it still qualifies ;) }

   The first card is a regular 4 1/4x 5 1/2", on a Colonial Wh card base (50 pk- X1410).  I used  Pattern 20 on page 42 of Make It From Your Heart Vol I.  I used Desert Sand as the mat, stamped in Cocoa.  The paperpack is Sangria.  I used both the orange Leaf Duo and (though it doesn't look it) the Pomegranate Duo (NEW COLOR!).  I stamped the wheat image in Saffron ink (NEW) on Champagne.  The stamp set is C1634- Blessings of Autumn, a Hostess set found on page 4 of the Holiday Expressions mini cattie.  (Though Blessings of Autumn is not for sale, you can earn it by holding a Gathering- ask me for details!)  A nice simple Thanksgiving card.

   My second card (the one I oops'ed on) is also made with Sangria, on a 7x5" Colonial card base.  This card is based on Pattern 30, on pg 47 of Make It From Your Heart Vol I.  I cut Cocoa to the full 7x5", but you could cut that down by 1/4" easily.  I used both the Chevron Duo and the Pomegranate Vines Duo.  I stamped the flower image and the sentiment in Cocoa, on Champagne (I debated embossing it- it is a lovely effect).  Then I finished it off with 3 Pomegranate Gems from the new Z3091 embellishment pack.  The flower image is from the Sept SOTM- Paper Garden D1509 and the sentiment is from C1632- Say It All, a Hostess set from the new Annual Inspirations.

   Finally, I used the new Nevermore paperpack to create a 2 page Halloween layout (or maybe birthday).  Though Pear is not one of the colors packaged with this ppk, it is one of the additional colors that goes with it (notice the little 'crayon patches' shown at the bottom of each page introducing a new paperpack, these are the recommended colors to go with the paperpack).  I modified the Chalk It Up WOTG layout from the previous Annual Inspirations for the template.  I used Black, Pear and the New Eggplant cs, as well as the Eggplant Spider Duo as photo mats.  I finished the page off with some of the new Nevermore Complements (both Kraft and Acetate).  Also used was the Black Shimmer Trim (right page).  I haven't stamped the title yet but I've left the space for it, over the tree and ghosts, left page.  I think this is just super cute, can't wait to get the photos in place!

   Well, that's all from me this month.  Don't forget to check back next month on Nov 7th, when we'll be showing off our Christmas creations and those made with the November SOTM.  Now, hop along to   Lisa's blog to continue the circle.  Remember, if you get lost you can find the master list with Julie in      
The Scrap Zone, here.

Happy hopping!

Welcome Back!

   Let me just say 'Welcome Back'.  Like many of you, I took the summer off from blogging and scrapping in order to make more memories to scrap.  The family went back to Nfld to reconnect with other family members, friends and places special to us.  Lots of pictures were taken and will have to be printed and scrapped.  We got back just in time to throw ourselves into the back- to- school chaos.  And then I thought it would be fun to change around about half the rooms in the house- that's on-going still. 

   Now I'm back and getting into the groove with the release of the NEW Annual Inspirations cattie and all the fab new paperpacks!  Look for my Make It Crafty hop projects in both October (the 3rd) and November.  I've already been playing with Nevermore, Sangria, Kaleidoscope and Urban (FAV!).

And, I'm working on a list of classes/ kits; that should be up and available shortly.

Thanks for sticking around, Pam

Make It Crafty Blog Hop- All things Summer, Cottage and Camping!

   Welcome to the last installment of our *First Ever* Make It Crafty Blog hop!  That's not to say our last ever, just the last of this first Round.  We'll take a couple of months off and come back as strong and crafty as ever, showing off items from the New and Upcoming Annual Inspirations 2015-16.
Oh boy, I can't wait!
    This month we're revealing our Summer, Cottage and Travel creations.  If you've come from Julie's  blog then you're in the right spot.  The Blog Hop is a great big circle, so you can start here and work your way around.  If you get lost, you'll find a complete list here, with Julie, in The Scrap Zone.
 

  I have been sooo looking forward to this hop!  I've been itching to pair some picts I have of my boys on their last trip to NFLD with the Jackson paperpack, from the current Seasonal Expressions.  I ended up not using much of the actual patterned paper but kept to the colors and used some of the Compliments and Assortment (LOVE LOVE).  I'm happy with the final product.  Oh, and I used FLIP FLAPS ;)- but don't I always?!

Here it is!

I love the colors of the Jackson ppk- Cocoa, Barn Red, Glacier, Juniper and Colonial White.  I actually used only 2 strips of the patterned paper and 1 piece for a picture matte.  You won't find any Juniper either (tho I love the color) because there's just so much green already in the photos.  The Compliments are great, I wish I could have used more of them but just couldn't fit them in.  And the metal Assortment  pieces are just perfect.  Here's a shot of a couple of them:

 Love the pine bough and cones- if you notice, I added a little dimension by putting the second pinecone on a piece of 3D tape.  I also used a couple of pieces from the retired Timberline Assortment.

  It was too hard to pick just a few of the pictures so I ended up doing what I love best- Flip Flapping!  Here's the left side- base page/ flap open:

You can't see it in the photo unfortunately but I used 2 of the Timberline wooden Assortment as page tabs on the flipflap, above- 1 on the outside (the moose) and 1 on the inside ('This is a good sign').

And right side- base page/ flap open:

  You'll also notice that I used a couple of the images from C1532- Camping Delights and 2 of the alphabets- D1206-Woodcut (retired) and D1250- Extreme Caps (retired).  I used just 2 colors of ink- Glacier and Barn Red.

  Now 'hop' along to Cyndy's blog, for the next installment of our Hop!

   Well, I've had a great time on this round of the Make It Crafty Hop;  I hope you have found it inspirational to your sense of craftiness.  I hope to see you back here in the Fall, following along for the next round of the Make It Crafty Blog Hop, as we create with products from the upcoming 2015-16 Annual Inspirations!  Have a GREAT summer! And don't forget to take lots of pictures while you're making fabulous memories.  Cheers!!

I'm Baaack!

   Hi there, I know I've been absent recently (think revolving door of colds and illness for the last 3 months) with the exception of my post for the Make It Crafty Blog Hop this month- but I'm ready to get back into things.

   A lot has been going on in the CTMH world, we're about to see the end of the Seasonal Expressions 1 cattie and the beginning of the Seasonal Expressions 2 cattie, on April 1st.  If there's anything in the SE1 marked by a little clock that you want, you have until the end of March to order, after that they are gone!!  Anything not marked with a little clock will continue to be available.

   I really think you'll like the  SE2 cattie.  It's got a couple of SUPER-cute papers, including a Boy ppk!!!!  Can you tell I'm a little excited by this?  While Blossom is a really nice paper and I know will be very versatile for both scrappin and card makin, I really LOVE the Jackson ppk!!  It's got blues and red- brown and blue-green and has a very masculine feel to it- and it's always hard to get a nice masculine ppk.  It just screams guys and camping and the cottage and outdoor pursuits.  I might have to redo my elder son's school photo- we had it taken w a forest background but I think it will really be set off  nicely by the Jackson colors and patterns.

   Speaking of my son's school photo, I have it already scrapped using the Chalk It Up ppk.  This is a layout I'd love to share with you in a class.  The class includes not only this layout but also one using the Seaside ppk- great for those Summer in the sun or beach picts (ribbon and Cricut cuts are included in the cost and Complements  and Picture My Life cards sets are available to order).  Dates and times- March 27, 28, 29 and April 10, 11 and 12- friday evenings, sat morning or afternoon and Sun morning or afternoon, your choice.  The cost for the 2- 2pg layouts is just $15.  I can send this out as a kit, but cost will be $15 + postage.  Please let me know asap if you're interested, I'm keeping it small, to just 4 per time slot. 

Here's picts of the layouts (I have pink paper covering my son's pict and his class photo, it's not part of the layout):
   Chalk It Up!

Seaside

See ya soon and keep scrappin'! 

Make it Crafty Blog Hop- Spring and Easter Creations

Hi there and Welcome to another

   This month we're revealing our Spring and Easter creations.  If you've come from Cyndy's  blog then you're in the right spot.  The Blog Hop is a great big circle, so you can start here and work your way around.  If you get lost, you'll find a complete list here, with Julie, in The Scrap Zone.

   We hope this 'Hop' will inspire you and put a 'Spring' in your craftiness! - I love bunny humor!

   This month I've returned to what I love best- scrappin' with the flipflaps!   I've used the somewhat 'girlie' Hopscotch paper pack (found in the Seasonal Expressions 1 mini) in a not-so-girlie way to showcase my not-so-girlie boys by using one of the 'auxiliary' colors (Indian Corn Blue) listed on the Zip strip.  I think it tones down the ppk overall, while keeping the brightness of the colors.  I plan on using this layout for the pictures I will take this Easter coming, thus no pictures present.
   This layout was inspired by a sketch I saw amongst the Creating Keepsakes Bonus Sketches of Oct 2011 (found on Pintrest);  I've switched it up a little bit by adding the flaps and using the Picture My Life cards (as photo mats and journalling cards).

I hope you like it!  Here it is:

(Sorry for the glare off the flipflaps)

Here it is with the flaps open:

                                           For a total of 15 photos on a 2pg, 12x24 layout!!

   And here you can see even the journalling card is hiding more space for pictures!

   And here it is one last time:

(The dark choc bunny is MINE!)

List of Products used:
Hopscotch paper pack (expires at the end of March so get yours NOW!)
Indian Corn Blue cardstock
Hopscotch PML cards- a selection
Cricut Artfully sent- the chocolate bunny images
D1454- Sensational Season (retired)- the basket image
Shinhan Twin Touch alcohol markers (to color the basket)
E1027- Framework Alphabet (stamped in ICB, for the title)
C1528- Advent Calendar Workshop (stamped in ICB, for the date)
Flamingo and Aqua dots, for the bunnies' eyes
Brother Scan N Cut (to cut out the title and date)

   Well, I hope you've enjoyed hopping along with me, as much as I've enjoyed creating for you.  I don't mean to 'egg' you on but it's time for you to hippity 'Hop' along to Sue's and see just how her project will inspire you!

   Don't forget to come back May 15 for our next Hop, when we'll be showing off our Summer, Travel and Cottage creations!

Picts of the 4 Layouts from 1 Paperpack Class

   Here they are!  I've used Wanderful- love the pop of purple and bright blue.  And I love the 'tube' paper!! But of course you can purchase any of the current CTMH paperpacks to make these layouts.  The pictures show only the bare bones of the layouts, remember that you also have the Complements to add to your layouts, and I've not done any stamping either, so they look a little bare.  I've intentionally left the photos off (almost 30!!), so as to not bias you.  That's what all those little pink pieces of paper are- the sizes and placement of the photos/ journaling/ title, etc.  And I still had enough left for a bunch of cards or maybe another layout! 

   So come on out and play!  Registration for my class is open until Feb 15, just $30, in Metcalfe, Ont.  Email or pm me.  Sorry, I won't be able to do kits- postage is prohibitive.  But you can buy just the cutting guide for $7 (That gets you a hard copy or a digital file) and you can purchase the paperpack and Complements thru my site (link at right).  See you soon, Cheers!

Class Announcement- Four 2 Page Layouts From One CTMH Paperpack

What we're doing- making 4- 2page layouts from 1 Paperpack and its Complements
Where- probably here at my house, Metcalfe
When- You're choice of:  Feb 27,   6.30-9.30pm  OR
                                        Feb 28,   9.30- 12.30  OR 1.30- 4.30  OR
                                        Mar 1,    9.30- 12.30  OR 1.30- 4.30.
Cost $30- this includes your choice of current CTMH paperpack and Complements, additional base    papers, cutting guide, and ME!
               * if you wish to bring your own paperpack, then cost is $15, for cutting guide (and me) but you are responsible for having the correct number of papers on hand.  I will have cs to purchase if needed.

Details:   Registration opens immediately and closes Feb 13th.  Full payment is due upon registration, so I can order the supplies.  If you've paid and can't make it, we'll make arrangements to either deliver the kit to you or make the kit together.

** Current CTMH paperpacks include:  Chalk it up!, Wanderful, Brushed, Seaside, Pathfinding, Scaredy Cat, Yuletide Carol, Snowhaven, Confetti Wishes, Heartstrings and Hopscotch.

Stay tuned for pictures of the layouts.

Don't Forget The Really Great Specials This Month!

1.   You're time to purchase the National Papercrafting Month's special paperpack Year>> Noted is almost up!!  It's such a great deal!  Pretty papers, coordinating cardstock, stamp set, gold foil Complements- all designed Exclusively for this month's special, with a very special price of just $5 (Suggested Retail Price of $27) with a qualifying purchase of $50.  Or, you can make it Extra special by adding the Kraft mini book- all for just $10 (SRP $37).  Contact me to place your order today!

2.   This month, CTMH has a promotion just for Hostesses:  Extra Extra Hostess credits!  With a minimum Gathering (parties of 1, EZ Invites/ online parties all qualify) of $350, you can get 50% More Hostess Credits!!  Instead of the sweet $60 Hostess creds you get for a $350 party, you'll get the Delicious $90 in Creds!! How sweet is that?!

3.   If you place an order to qualify for the Year>> Noted paperpack, then you'll also qualify for the super sweet Stamp of the Month-  This Moment, all great images to create something for your Sweetie.  But it's not just a 'Valentine's ' stamp set, there are many images that can be used for other things too.  Just take a look at my post for the Make It Crafty blog hop earlier this month.  A great little stamp set for just $5 (you can purchase it at it's full retail price of $19.75, +S/H, Tx)!

4.   It's hard to believe we're already halfway thru the run of the first Seasonal Expressions!  This cattie expires March 31st, along with many of the items seen inside.  Now's a good time to get those must- have items, before they're gone (they could sell out before the end of the cattie and won't be restocked).

5.   Find a link to the List of Retiring Stamp sets here.  They will be gone at the end of THIS month!

6.   My Own Special- I am a vendor at a local school fundraiser this month.  Place a qualifying order of $25 or more and your name will go into a draw to win $25 in Hostess Credits.  If I have the minimum to qualify for the Constant Campaign (see #2) then I will pick 2 names (or more, depending on the total!)  so it is possible to win credits equal to your purchase.  Can't make it but still want your name in the draw?  Contact me with your order and payment info or place an order online before Jan 26, 11.59pm;  be sure to 'join' the gathering listed at the bottom right of the page.

Stay tuned for more news on upcoming specials and classes.  Cheers!

Make It Crafty Seasonal Blog Hop- Cards and Valentines

    Welcome to the *Make it Crafty* Seasonal Blog Hop!  This time we're getting crafty with a Valentine's/ All Cards theme.  So,  I'll be showing off some of the cards I've made with the Heartstrings Cardmaking Workshop from the current Seasonal Expressions cattie.  If you've arrived from Julie's -  you are on the right path!  The blog hop is a great big circle, so you can start here and work your way around.  If you get lost, you'll find the complete list here, with Julie, in The Scrap Zone.

   This month a number of us Close To My Heart Consultants are sharing our creations using various CTMH products to inspire you into a  (romantic???) card-making mood!

   This time I've taken the Heartstrings Card WOTG (G1090) and changed things up a bit, using the designs and pieces cut for the WOTG to make cards for other events.  In some cases, I've moved a piece from 1 design to another or altered slightly the pieces given (mostly trimming and ribbon- cutting the ends).

Here's what the original Workshop cards look like:  (you make 5 of each design in the original kit)

 And here's what I've done with them:

Fr card Left

Fr card middle

Fr card right, Pict 1

Fr card right, Pict 2

Details:  Inside of Bullseye card reads "My aim is true", and the end of the You are So Totally Simply card reads  "Awesome ".  The pink rose on the Thank you card with the bow ties (2nd pict) is popped with 3D tape.

   So, as you can see, just by changing things up a little- arrangement and sentiment, you can turn a Valentine's card into a Birthday card or a Thank you card, or anything else you'd like.

Here's a list of the stamps and other products used:
Stamps- M1047, B- 1419, 1432, 1438, 1442, 1471, D1584.  Also used B1458 (Hostess stamp), S1501(Jan Stamp of the Month), C1617 (Current Operation Smile fundraiser)- available to the end of March) and M1038 (retires at the end of Jan).
Also used:
Silver Sequins, Red Glitter Gems, Slate Twist ties (Retired), Arrow Washi (ret), Grey dot Washi (ret)
Shinhan Twin Touch Markers- WG4, BG61, RP198
3D tape, Journaling pen
And, my new Christmas toy... The Brother Scan N Cut (CM550)!!!  I cut the pink roses, the arrows and the Thank You banner with the SNC as these are not Cricut- able images.

                                                         (No more fussy cutting!!)

   I hope you've gotten some inspiration from my cards.  Now, 'Hop' along to Wendy's blog to see more!
Don't forget to come back March 15th, when we'll be showing off Easter and Spring goodies!

NEWS FLASH!!- some Retiring stamps

Here's the latest news!  The following is a list of stamps that will be Retired FOREVER as of the end of January.  If you want ANYTHING on this list email me ASAP or place an order thru my website.  They do not appear in the current Annual Inspirations but can be found on the website.  Once these are sold out, they are GONE!!!!  (and don't forget- extra Hostess creds!)


A1124 A Tree
A1139 Congrats Graduate
A1141 Be Still
A1154 Friendly Thoughts
A1156 Flower Confetti
B1418 Love Doily
B1423 Hoppy Easter
B1439 Dreamer
B1440 Fancy Fair
B1441 Buggy Love
B1444 Greatest Love
B1445 Happy Hive
B1450 Owls
C1571 You're the Best
C1573 Do Your Best
C1574 Believe in Yourself
C1577 Mother's Day
C1579 Coming Up Roses
C1583 Robot Family
D1547 Paper Doll
D1579 Windy Day
M1035 Newlyweds
M1036 Perfect Polka-Dot Day
M1037 Balloons
M1038 Shooting Star
M1039 Good Job Stencil
M1040 Parasol
M1041 Hi
M1042 Colored Egg

New from Close to My Heart!

There is sooo much going on right now!

We have a new Stamp of the Month- This Moment- great for getting that special Valentine's card made, or that special layout done afterwards!

 

There's a new Constant Campaign for National Papercrafting Month - Year >> Noted :

During the month of January, with a qualifying purchase of $50, you are eligible to purchase the exclusive Year >> Noted paper kit (which has a retail value of $27 CAD!)  for only $5—that’s over 80% off retail! Or, for an additional $5, you can order the Year >> Noted paper kit with an accompanying My Creations™ kraft mini book. The paper kit for both options includes a C-size stamp set, stickers, cardstocks, and B&T Duos™ papers, all specially designed to coordinate with the My Creations™ kraft mini book. This means you will receive over $37 CAD worth of product for only $10 if you purchase the kit with the accompanying mini book! Remember, this deal is only available for January, so make sure to get your own Year >> Noted paper kit today for the perfect start to a crafty year! 

And a SUPER Extra Extra Special for Hostesses this month - for Gatherings reaching $350 or more in sales, the Hostess will receive 50% MORE in HOSTESS Credits!!  So, a Gathering of $350 that would usually get the Hostess $60 in Credits will now be $90 and a Gathering of $450 that would usually be $80 in Credits will be a Whopping $120, etc- so you could earn up to 

***!!! $230 in Hostess Credits!!!***

 Please contact me to place your order or set up your own Gathering.  It can be an 'in house' Gathering /presentation, or an 'in house' class- scrapbooking or cardmaking- your choice.  And don't worry, we can include your friends from away with an online option.  Please note tho, that the number of 1/2 price items will not change.

Also, several new items are starting to come available- the Rolling Tote, the matching Shoulder Tote, the new D-ring and post- bound Albums in Lagoon chevron and Ruby rose.  Let me know if you're interested- start a Gathering, order a couple of items and get EXTRA Hostess credits!

And don't forget the current Seasonal Expressions!  Many of these items- like the Hopscotch and Heartstrings paperpacks and their Workshops- are time-sensitive, available only until the end of March.  Order soon, before they're gone!!

More to come soon, so stay tuned!

Happy New Year!!

I'm still here; just getting over the Holiday craziness.  The kiddies go back to school tomorrow and then it's back to the grindstone for me!

What's coming up?
- there's a blog hop coming out on the 15th so keep an eye out for that. 
-then there's the classes I have to prep for and a couple that have been requested,
--  Guys and Geeks- cards for guys and nerds!  (3-4hrs)
--  Layouts- make several layouts from 1 paperpack, using Complements too  (3-4hrs)
--  Layouts- make 2- 2 pg layouts (2-3hrs)
-- Picture My Life-  learn to use up all those cards by making a 'pocket' layout, by using the cards on a conventional 2 pg layout, by making a few greeting cards and a gift-able mini album.
-and there's a 12 hour fundraising crop here in Metcalfe, at St Catherine's school on the 31st (contact   the school Parent Council @ stcatscouncil@gmail.com for info pls).  I am a vendor here and will probably have a mini class.  A percentage of all orders received for the crop and ttil the day after the crop count towards the fundraising. 

Stay tuned for more!!