Simple Valentine's Day Cards

They say that it's the thought that counts - so even a simple, handmade Valentine's Day card can show you care.

The CTMH Share The Love CC1060 stamp is featured for the month of February only. This D sized stamp features phrases and images that can be used to tell friends, family and other loved ones that you care.  As an added bonus, $7USD for each stamp sold is donated to the charity Operation Smile.  

My first two valentine's cards feature images and sentiments from this special stamp.

A mini card
Ink colour: Ruby
Embossing powder: Clear Z2088

The rest of the Valentine's Day cards feature the emboss resist technique using clear embossing powder (Z2088).

Floral image & sentiment from Someone Special C1607
Ink colours: Ruby, Lagoon and Pixie
Cardstock: White Daisy, Lagoon and Pixie

Image from Quick Cards: Butterfly A1120 (Retired)
Ink colours: Gypsy, Lagoon, Pixie
Cardstock: White Daisy, Lagoon and Pixie

Floral image from Someone Special C1607
Sentiment from Coming Up Roses C1579 - RETIRED
Ink colours: Ruby, Pixie and Black
Embellishment: White Shimmer Trim Z3024

Sentiment & images from To the Moon B1507
Ink colours: Sapphire and Twilight (retired colour)

Thanks for visiting, now follow this link to Heather's blog.

Sneak Peak of the Annual Inspirations 2015-16

Welcome to the Brae-er Team Blog Hop! 

This month we want to give you a preview of products from the 

new Annual Inspirations Idea Book 2015-16.

If you have come from Tamara's blog, then you're on the right track.  

If not, this is a circular blog and you can pick up anywhere and see all of the posts.

Inspiration is essential in any art form from painting to papercrafting and it is a fundamental quality of Close to my Heart products from the exciting papers to the beautiful ink colours.  With each new Idea Book, we are introduced to new sources of creativity.  I don’t know about you, but I feel like it’s Christmas and I’m sneaking a peak at my presents when I get to page through a new catalogue.  I make my wish list and can’t wait to buy all my new favourites.  

This month you also get a sneak peak of the new Annual Inspirations 2015-16 through the Zoe line of papers, accessories and Workshop on the Go kit. (All of which are currently available for purchase and will remain so until the end of August 2016.)

Zoe paper pack (X7197B)

Zoe Assortment (Z3082)

Zoe Complements (X7197C)

Figuring out what to make this month was quite easy.  I started with the Zoe paper and accessories, along with my chosen photos. In need of inspiration and speed, I turned to the How-To Foundation line of books.  With seven photos (six horizontal and one vertical), I turned to the “Easy Inspiration” layout in the Cherish book (found on pages 106-107).  It was a perfect fit for my photograph requirements, plus a great chance to use multiple papers and patterns from the new Zoe papers.

Supplies:

PAPER:

-          Zoe paper pack (X7197B) 

           Glacier cardstock (X5770)

-          White Daisy cardstock (1385)

ACCESSORIES:

-          Coral shimmer trim (Z3088) - currently available in the Zoe WOTG kit

-          Zoe assortment (Z3082)

-          Zoe complements (X7197C)

-          Black enamel stars (retired item)

HOW-TO BOOKS:

-          Cherish Scrapbook Program (9038)

-    STAMPS:

-          Handwritten Print (E1030)

INKS:

-          Sorbet (Z2164)

-          Sweet Leaf (Z2153)

Card Series

This series of cards uses the paper and colours of the Zoe paper pack and is inspired by the Wishes Card Confidence book.

 Card #1 – “Collage”

Collage design on page 97 – Wishes Card Confidence Program

Stamps Used: - “Thinking of You” from August Stamp of the Month: Framed (S1508)

-          Flower from September Stamp of the Month: Paper Garden (S1509)

Card #2 – “Card 3”

Card 3 design on page 23 -  Wishes Card Confidence Program

Stamps Used: 

- “For You” from August Stamp of the Month: Framed (S1508)

- Flower from September Stamp of the Month: Paper Garden (S1509)

Card #3 – “Card 3”

Card 3 design on page 23 -  Wishes Card Confidence Program

Stamps Used:

 - “Thinking of You” from Have a Happy Day (D1616)

-   Flower from September Stamp of the Month: Paper Garden (S1509)

Card #4 – Pinterest inspired

This card takes its inspiration from another source: Pinterest. The colours are inspired by the Zoe paper colours.

Stamps Used: 
- “Thinking of You” from Seaside Greetings (D1609)
-   Flowers from September Stamp of the Month: Paper Garden (S1509)

August 2015 SOTM - Framed (S1508)

September 2015 SOTM - Paper Garden (S1509)

Supplies:

PAPER:

-          Zoe paper pack (X7197B)
       Glacier cardstock (X5770)

-          White Daisy cardstock (1385)

ACCESSORIES:

-          Coral shimmer trim (Z3088)

HOW-TO BOOKS:

-          Wishes Card Confidence Program (9041)

STAMPS:

-          August Stamp of the Month: Framed (S1508)

-          September Stamp of the Month: Paper Garden (S1509)

-          Seaside Greetings (D1609)

-          Have a Happy Day (D1616)

INKS:

-          Sorbet (Z2164)

-          Sweet Leaf (Z2153)

-          Canary (Z2643)

-          Black (Z2105)

Benefits of the CMTH How-To Publications

-         -  Inspiration for proven effective scrapbook layouts (or card designs)

-          - Each sketch or design provides basic information: number of photos used, cut sizes             and layout

-          - Diagrams and instructions are easy to read and follow

-          - Offers suggestions for changing the photo numbers and sizes for other possibilities               using the same sketch

-          - Ease of use – can search sketches by number of photos used

-          - Great for beginners to teach the basics

-          - Great for experienced crafters to add to their repertoire

-          - Endless possibilities - each sketch design can be rotated or combined with other                   sketches to create new looks and options

-          - Layouts don’t limit your own personal creativity

-          - Many of the books also teach stamping or papercrafting techniques

-          - Quick, easy and beautiful layouts that can be used over and over again

Cherish (9038)

Wishes (9041)

        

For more information on any of these Close to my Heart products, 

contact your CTMH consultant,

or check out my website at kwregion.ctmh.com.

Now check out the next blog in our hop: Heather Steeves.

CTMH In My Home

Welcome to the Brae-er Team Blog Hop! 

This month we want to show you how CTMH products can be used in the home.  

If you have come from Tamara's blog, then you're on the right track.  If not, this is a circular blog and you can pick up anywhere and see all of the posts.

The beauty of Close to my Heart's distinct papers and colours aren't just for scrapbooking or cardmaking - they can be used in many different ways, in many different places.

My husband and I are excited about our upcoming Mediterranean cruise.  To keep that energy going until the day we fly away, I decided to make a countdown tool.  The flexibility and versatility of both magnets and chalk make the Designed Decor Red Magnetic Chalkboard the perfect base for this countdown.

Z2006 - $31.75

The map and headline pieces can later be used on my scrapbook pages to commemorate what will be a trip of a lifetime. I have used colours to coordinate with the Wanderful paper pack.

X7191B - $10.95

The map pieces were fussy cut from various cardstock colours (White Daisy, Crystal Blue, Smoothie and Gypsy).  The text was stamped using Handwritten Print (E1030) and Curlicue Alphabet (Cricut collection, D1630) with Black, Crystal Blue and Gypsy mini pigment inks.

 

For more information on any of these Close to my Heart products, 

contact your CTMH consultant,

or check out my website at kwregion.ctmh.com.

Now check out the next blog in our hop: Sheri Says Just Scrap It.

Taste of Summer - Team Brae-er Blog Hop

Welcome to the Brae'er's Blog Hop!

April showers bring May fruit?? Well not in this country! So instead we will be highlighting the May constant campaign Taste of Summer (I know some of you still will have snow but we will go with it!) 

If you have come from Sheri Ballantyne's Just Scrap It blog, you are in the right place!

The bright and cheery colours in the Taste of Summer paper package are great for all kinds of projects. Like all CTMH papers, they have prints on both sides!



CC1038 - Only $8.95 during the month of May. Each package contains two sheets of each design.



For this blog, I decided to focus on making scrapbook pages that do not require any stamping.  They can be enhanced with diecuts, other embellishments or if so desired, stamping. (CTMH even has a coordinating stamp that is available only during the month of May.)

CC1039 - D sized stamp set $19.75

The citrus slices are very versatile - depending on how you ink them they can be limes, lemons, oranges or grapefruits!

For inspiration I used the Reflections Scrapbook Program book (9037).  

Some quick, easy and effective layouts:





#4n: Main Frame – Wrap Around, page 65

 




#5c: Front & Center – Trio, page 70

 
 


#7i: Triple Play - Foundation, page 102

       

#7b: Triple Play - Tagline, Page 95

* not from Reflections book - sunburst pattern found on many intenet sites*



Sunburst pattern with photo





For more information on the Taste of Summer paper pack or stamp, or the Reflections book,

contact your CTMH consultant,

or check out my website at kwregion.ctmh.com.

Now check out the next blog in our hop: Lucy Imrie at Lucy's Creative Expressions.

Get it before it's gone - Seasonal Expressions 1

Welcome to the Brae-er's Circular Blog Hop!  This month we are focusing on the products we love from the Seasonal Expressions 1 Idea Book.  Many of the fantastic items in this book are only available to order until the end of March. Hopefully, you will be inspired by the blogs in this hop and get your Seasonal Expressions 1 items before they are gone forever!

There are so many great products to choose from: Heartstrings paper pack and accessories (it's one of my favourite CTMH papers ever), Hopscotch paper pack and accessories, You're The Bomb stamp set (which features many great sayings), the puffy stickers and so much more. 

The product I choose to focus on is the Hopscotch Picture My Life (Z3045). There are enough cards in one small pack to make so many things.  I made two My Creations Mini Books (Z3044 and Z3043).  (These Mini Books were introduced in the Seasonal Expressions 1 Idea Book but they will continue to be availalbe after March.)

One book is  an overview of the four seasons of 2014, while the other is more of a journal about me (my favourite things, friends, etc.)  Completing these two books took less than half the Picture My Life cards leaving enough to complete some standard scrapbooking layouts, Picture My Life pocket scrapbooking layouts and even greeting cards.  The possibilities for these cards are endless! Better still, the cards make projects so quick to complete. 

The Hopscotch paper and Picture My Life series are so bright and colourful - applicable to so many situations.  I also like that many of the PML cards focus on happiness -  a concept that should be celebrated.

Now all I need to do is add photos, stamps and other items to personalize my mini albums even further!

Here are a few of the pages:

Year in Review - The Four Seasons mini album

Layer two 4"x6"cards for the cover design

Add personal details to this card.  I am
going to add the numbers so that the card says Happy 2014.

Beside the winter themed card, add a 3"x 4" picture.

On the cloud and rainbow card you can add photos or journaling
to celebrate your Spring highlights.

Add a list of summer highlights to the flower card.

Add a fall themed photo to the ornate orange frame card.

All About Me mini album

For more information on Hopscotch Picture My Life or other Seasonal Expressions 1 products speak to your CTMH consultant or check out my website at kwregion.ctmh.com.

Now check out the next blog in our hop:Jessica Fenn Hill's Create by the Lake 

Team Brae-er blog hop - Year Noted

Time for another Brae-er Team Blog Hop: Year Noted

This hop was inspired by the January Close to my Heart promotion to celebrate National Papercrafting Month :Year Noted.  

If you have come from Heather Steeves  blog then you are on the right track.

*  *  *

To celebrate National Papercrafting month, the Close to My Heart Year Noted kit includes patterned papers, cardstock, foil stickers, a C sized stamp and the My Creations kraft mini book all for only $10!  So many possibilities - from the Year Noted mini book to scrapbook pages or cards.  The question was which project to focus on. (Especially since the kit contains seven different patterned papers (if you include the six 4x6 pieces. These 4x6 pieces are perfect for card making.)

I decided to make cards focusing on a Valentine's Day theme; however, the minty green and peachy orange colours could be used for so many occasions: birthdays, Mother's Day, new baby, spring, summer etc.

Card #1

The LOVE mask was created using the  Artfully Sent Cricut cartridge (page 35, Pocket Card option + shift). The flower petals were created using the Year Noted stamps. The center of the flower is a circle foil sticker from the Year Noted kit.  (The hearts stamped on the sticker were created using the brown Staz On ink, with the double heart stamp from the Forever in My Heart stamp set.)  The black arrows were created using the Black Arrow Washi Tape pressed on top of Year Noted paper.

Card #2

Cut the heart and arrow card from the Artfully Sent Cricut cartridge (page 36, Pocket Card option + shift). Back the die cut card with a piece of patterned paper from the Year Noted kit.  Use the gold foil stickers in that kit for the small heart and the arrows.  Using Juniper ink, stamp the "Love You" sentiment from the Happy to Be Friends stamp set on the bottom of the card.  Cut a square from another patterned paper in the Year Noted kit and place the die cut card on a diagonal on top of that square.  Create the card base using Kraft cardstock.


Card #3

Create card base using Kraft cardstock.  Stamp the heart image from the  Forever in My Heart stamp set on white cardstock and then fussy cut the heart shape. Stamp the arrow images from the Year Noted kit using Sorbet ink.  Stamp the square border (also from the Year Noted kit) using Sorbet ink along the bottom edge of the patterned paper.  Attach the heart to the rectangular piece of patterned paper using dimensional adhesive.

Clean your stamp and then use the square border with Juniper ink on the white cardstock rectangle. Attach the diamond patterned paper to the white cardstock. Attach this piece to the card base.  Finally, attach the rectangle with the dimensional heart on top.

Stamp a sentiment inside the card as desired.

Materials Required:
- Year Noted Kit
- Black, Juniper and Sorbet Exclusive Inks (plus brown Staz On)
- Stamp sets: Happy to be Friends (C1605) and Forever in My Heart (C1604)
- Artfully Sent Cricut cartridge
- Black Arrow Washi Tape (Z2003)
- kraft cardstock
- adhesive of choice

Thanks for visiting my blog!    

Darcel

For more information: contact me at closetomyheartkw@gmail.com

or check out my website at kwregion.ctmh.com.

* * * * * *

I hope you have enjoyed your stop here. Be sure to visit your consultant's website for more information about the fantastic January promotions. 

Now on to the fearless team leader Brae's blog

Enjoy the tour!