Category: Scrapbooking

Welcome to the Paper Trail Hop – Ariana

On By patriciamanhireIn Cardmaking, Close to My Heart, Crafts, Paper Crafting, Scrapbooking20 Comments

Hello and welcome to my first entry for The Paper Trail Blog hop.  I feel very honoured to have been asked to join in this very special blog hop – so a big thank you to Betsy Gully for the invitation.

If you have come from Tracey’s blog, The Paper Crafting Princess you are in the right place and if you have just popped in to visit then feel free to have a good browse.  The blog hop is circular so once you have visited everyone you will end up where you have started.

This month’s featured papers are the beautiful Ariana papers.  I love the contrast between the Ariana Green,  Ariana Coral and Outdoor Denim.  This time I have done some scrapbook layouts, rather than my usual cards – however, I might sneak a card in or two.

CTMH Ariana layoutThis is a layout that I have got through the Make It From Your Heart Volume 1.  I love these books as it is sooo easy to make fabulous layouts very quickly.  I have also used the edge stamp from the Sweet Moments stamp set to add some interest on the Ariana Coral cardstock and to tie in with the Outdoor Denim base card.  I have used the Ariana complements to decorate the page and also used the sentiments from the Sweet Moments stamp set to complete the page.  I got the idea for the butterfly from the Ideas Book and the  butterfly was cut from the Ariana patterned paper using my Artbooking Cricut Cartidge and then I placed a little ribbon bow from the Ariana Assortments on it.  Here is a close up of the butterfly.  How cute is that?

CTMH Ariana - close up of the butterflyHere is another  close up of the complements.

CTMH - close up of embellishments and stamping detailI was on a roll with these lovely papers and here is another layout again inspired by the Make It From Your Heart Volume 1.

CTMH Ariana layoutThis was so easy to do and once again I have mixed the contrasts of colours and used the Ariana Complements to complete the page.  I love how the glasses have made a cute frame for the photo mat.  Here is a close up of the mat.

CTMH Close up of Ariana layoutMy last layout ended up being a more masculine layout using the blues and just a touch of Ariana Coral from the paper packet and some accents from the Outdoor Denim ribbon.  Once again I have used the Make It From Your Heart Volume 1 book for the idea.  I have distressed all the edges with Cashmere ink – my new favourite distressing colour.  Again I have used the Ariana complements to finish off the layouts.  I have used the Art Philosophy cartridge to cut the banners out and have yet to decide what to put on the fronts.

CTMH Ariana Layout

I also managed to get some cards made and here are a few of what I have done:

CTMH Ariana card using Artbooking cartridge and the Sweet and Lovely Cricut bundle stamp set.
CTMH Ariana card using Artbooking cartridge and the Sweet and Lovely Cricut bundle stamp set and finished with a ribbon bow from the Ariana Assortments

 

CTMH Ariana card using the Artbooking cartridge and the Sweet and Lovely stamp set from the Cricut bundle
CTMH Ariana card using the Artbooking cartridge and the Sweet and Lovely stamp set from the Cricut bundle and the Holiday Tags stamp set and the Art Philosophy cartridge.  I have stamped the lovely doily image with Outdoor Denim on Ariana Coral cardstock.  I have popped up the sentiment with 3D foam tape.   All finished off with a ribbon bow from the Ariana assortments.
CTMH Ariana card made using the Artbooking cartridge to cut the butterfly and the Holidays Tag stamp set using the Art Philosophy cartridge. I have used Sorbet ink and Outdoor Denim for the sentiment. Finished with a ribbon bow from the Ariana assortments.
CTMH Ariana card made using the Artbooking cartridge to cut the butterfly and the Holidays Tag stamp set using the Art Philosophy cartridge. I have used Sorbet ink and Outdoor Denim for the sentiment. Finished with a ribbon bow from the Ariana assortments.
CTMH Ariana card inspired by the recipe from the Make It From Your Heart book Volume 1 page 42. I have used the Art Philosophy cartridge to cut the stamp shapes and the alphabet is from the You Are My Happy stamp set. Finished off with Outdoor Denim bakers Twine and a clear flower.
CTMH Ariana card inspired by the recipe from the Make It From Your Heart book Volume 1 page 42. I have used the Art Philosophy cartridge to cut the stamp shapes and the alphabet is from the You Are My Happy stamp set. Finished off with Outdoor Denim bakers Twine, blue epoxy bubbles and a clear flower.
CTMH Ariana card using the Art Philosophy cartridge, Holidays Tag stamp set, Sorbet and Outdoor Denim inks, Stitch Wonder stamp set and finished off with a ribbon bow from the Ariana assortments.
CTMH Ariana card using the Art Philosophy cartridge, Holidays Tag stamp set, Sorbet and Outdoor Denim inks, Stitch Wonder stamp set and finished off with a ribbon bow from the Ariana assortments.
CTMH Ariana card inspired by the recipe from the Made It From Your Heart Volume 1 page 45.
CTMH Ariana card inspired by the recipe from the Made It From Your Heart Volume 1 page 45.  Finished with a butterfly cut using the Artbooking cartridge and finished off with a lovely ribbon from the Ariana assortments.

Materials used:

Cardstock – Outdoor Denim, Ariana Green, Ariana Coral, White Daisy, Colonial White

Paper – Ariana Paper Pack

Inks – Outdoor Denim, Sorbet

Ariana Assortments

Ariana Complements

Stamp set – Sweet Moments

Outdoor Denim Chevron Ribbon

Outdoor Denim Bakers Twine

Cricut Cartridges – Artbooking, Art Philosophy

Stamp sets, Sweet and Lovely Cricut Bundle D1571), Holiday Tags (D1560) , Stitch Wonder (C1564), Sweet Moments stamp set, You are My Happy Alphabet set (NLA), 

3D Foam tape

CTMH Scallop edge punch

Blue and Green Epoxy bubbles

I hope you have enjoyed your visit here and seen how very versatile the Ariana paper pack is for both feminine and masculine layouts as well as cards.  Now hop on over to Linda’s blog The Paper Taylor to check out her fabulous creations.

Happy Crafting

Patricia

 

 

CTMH Stamp of the Month Australasian Blog Hop – Balloon Talk

On By patriciamanhireIn Close to My Heart, Cricut, Scrapbooking, Stamping11 Comments

10001517_10152327088764808_982230598_n Hello and welcome aboard our Stamp of the month Australasian Close to My Heart Blog Hop. If you have arrived here from Jen’s Creative Classroom,  then you are in the right place. If you landed here by accident, no problem, please join in by following the link at the end of this post.

Today, instead of my usual cards,  I would like to share with you a mini book which features the April Stamp of the Month Balloon Talk available exclusively throughout April for NZ$29 or for just $5 when you spend $75.

The Balloon Talk stamp set is really great to put little accents on scrapbook layouts and I have used them throughout the mini book. I have teamed up the Balloon Ride Papers with the Balloon Talk stamp set for the mini album.  I wasn’t sure about this paper range but I have changed my mind as the colours are so gorgeous.  I thought the patterns would be appropriate for a travel album.

My Cricut machine has been working overtime but I am so pleased with the outcome as I have never done anything like this before.  The Artbooking cartridge makes it so easy and all I had to do was to decide was what colour cardstock and papers I need to make my cuts. CTMH - Balloon Ride travel mini album CTMH - Balloon Ride travel mini album CTMH - Balloon Ride travel mini album CTMH - Balloon Ride travel mini album CTMH - Balloon Ride travel mini album CTMH - Balloon Ride travel mini album CTMH - Balloon Ride travel mini album CTMH - Balloon Ride travel mini albumHere is a close up of one page that I have put some of the Balloon Talk images on: CTMH - Balloon Ride travel mini album   The “Been There”, “Done That” stamps were really appropriate for this album as well. CTMH - Balloon Ride travel mini albumAs this album has been made to sell I have not added photos and I have used the sentiments on the tags of the pages as well as randomly throughout album. As I have said I have used the Balloon Ride paper pack with the titles and photo mats being in Colonial White.  The titles have been sponged with Cashmere to help soften them and stand out from the background cardstock or paper.

I do apologise for the quality of the photos but I think my camera needs to be looked at again.  I was thinking it was my eyesight but it could be the camera instead.

Materials used:

Cardstock – Crystal Blue, Saddle, Cashmere, Colonial White

Papers – Balloon Ride B&Ts

Inks – Cashmere

Cricut Cartridge – Artbooking

Stamp sets – Balloon Talk, Reel Life, Sweet and Lovely Cricut bundle

Bakers Twine – slate

Balloon Talk is only available until 30th April from your CTMH consultant here. ) I’d love you to leave a comment before heading off to the next stop,  Lauren’s Blog, CTMH Craftings. Happy Crafting Patricia

New Product Blog Hop

On By patriciamanhireIn Cardmaking, Close to My Heart, Cricut, Scrapbooking, Stamping17 Comments

1795209_10151786132052574_233543346_oHi There

This is the first time that I have participated in the blog hop so I hope that this works for me.  I was really excited to be invited to join this blog hop and hope to do a lot more.  It is a great way to see how many different ways that Close to My Heart products can be used and is a great source of inspiration for me.

The new Idea Book has been released by Close to My Heart and there are so many fabulous new products that I have had a hard time choosing what to get to start with.  I decided to go with Ivy Lane paper to finally finish off some scrapbooking some photos from Christmas 2012.  This one is for my album and is a layout of my family and I am really pleased with how it has turned out.  I don’t normally have a photo of myself as I prefer to be behind a camera.  I have put on a lot of weight over the last few years due to the medications I am on and I don’t recognise myself in the mirror.  But my daughter managed to get a nice photo of me and I decided to focus on that with smaller photos of my husband and children.

This layout is lifted from the Made It From The Heart Volume 1 No 2 page 8.  I have used my Art Philosophy cartridge to cut out the large shape and roses, my Artbooking cartridge to cut out the title and the journalling box, and Artiste cartridge to cut out the leaves.  The journalling tag was stamped with Cocoa ink and distressed with Desert Sand ink.

CTMH Ivy Lane layout

The materials I have used are:

Cardstock – Hollyhock, Colonial White, Pear, Sweet Leaf

Papers – Ivy Lane Paper pack

Stamps – Sweet and Lovely Cricut bundle

Embellishments – Ivy Lane Assortment

Inks – Cocoa, Desert Sand

Cricut Cartridges – Artiste, Artbooking, Art Philosophy

Just to finish off here are a couple of Valentine cards I have made with Skylark paper and the Artbooking cartridge.  I have reduced the size of the cuts to half to fit onto the paper and worked in with the lovely Skylark papers to highlight the birds.  The birds from the Artbooking cartridges fitted in really well with this paper.  I reduced the size of the cuts by half in order (6.5) for them to fit onto the card.

CTMH Skylark Valentines Day Card CTMH Skylark Valentines Day CardMaterials used:

Cardstock, Bamboo, Cocoa, Lagoon. White Daisy

Papers – Skylark

Embellishments – Skylark assortment, Slate Striped Twist Ties

Inks – Lagoon, Sweet Leaf

Stamp set – Holiday Tags Occasions

Cricut Cartridge – Artiste

I hope that you enjoy the new products and have as much fun playing with them as much as I have.

Thanks for stopping by the New Product Blog Hop! To view all the other entries and see more Close to My Heart new product inspiration.

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Happy crafting

Patricia

A Sad Farewell to Chantilly by Close to My Heart

On By patriciamanhireIn Close to My Heart, Crafts, Cricut, Paper Crafting, Scrapbooking6 Comments

Welcome back

Firstly I would like to apologise for not following other blogs and commenting on them as much as I would like but I have been very busy.  Earlier last year I told you about setting up Make Shift, well that unfortunately has popped down, so I have started up my own shop called Craft Hutt.  This is also an art and craft collective that focuses on selling hand crafted NZ made goodies.  Craft Hutt is still in it’s infancy so needs a lot of TLC to get established and I have been quite busy with manning the shop plus doing all my own crafting.   Once things settle down I will be keeping up with all that is happening around the world.  In the meantime check us out on Facebook.com/CraftHutt for all the latest news and information.

For this weeks post I have been doing some layouts using the last of my beautiful Chantilly papers.  This lovely paper is no longer available, but I am eagerly awaiting a delivery of the gorgeous new papers coming in the next catalogue.  I love using the Made it From Your Heart books Volumes 1 and 2 as it is quick and easy to make a fabulous 2 page layout.  All you need to do is sort out your photos.   I have left the photo mats blank as I am uncomfortable about putting photos of my family on the internet.

CTMH Chantilly double page layout

For this layout I have used the recipe from page 12 of the Volume 2 book.  This layout was also featured in the Laughing Lola WOTG and I love it as it is so easy to use either landscape or portrait photos.  I have distressed all the edges except for the white photo mats with Desert Sand ink and the flowers and leaves are from the Cricut Artiste and Art Philosophy cartridges.  I still have space to do some titles and I can use one of the photo mats for journalling as well.  I love the simplicity of the colour scheme, especially with the little pop of pink with the Hollyhock cardstock.

CTMH Chantilly Double page layoutFor this layout I have used the recipe from page 24 of the Volume 2 book.   I have cut out some flowers and birds from the patterned paper and adhered them to the page and also used the Just for You (B1398) stamp set to make a flower embellishment. The journalling shape has been cut out using the Art Philosophy Cricut cartridge.  For this layout I have not distressed the edges to keep it crisp and clean.  As you can see there is still some finishing to do with titles etc but that can wait until the photos are in place first.

These layouts did not take very long and yet are very effective.

Materials used:

Cardstock – Hollyhock, Twilight, Pear, Colonial White, White Daisy, Buttercup, Topiary, Desert Sand

Ink – Outdoor Denim, Desert Sand, Buttercup, Pear, Cotton Candy

Chantilly paper pack

Chantilly complements

Cricut Cartridge – Artiste, Art Philosophy

Stamp set – Just for You (B1398)

As I said before I am looking forward to getting my next order with a whole lot of new products from the next catalogue.  I am hoping to participate in a couple of blog hops to showcase the new items so watch this space…

I would like to remind people that there is only a few days left for purchasing any retiring items so please don’t delay and order your items now as these are available while stocks last only.

Have a good week and Happy Crafting

Patricia

Sparkle and Shine Double Page Layout

On By patriciamanhireIn Christmas, Close to My Heart, Crafts, Cricut, Holidays, Scrapbooking, Stamping5 Comments

Welcome back

I hope you all had a good Christmas and are now rested for the new year.  I would like to thank you so much for all the lovely get well wishes.  I am on the improve and am looking at getting back into crafting again which is always a good sign.

For my last post for this year I am finally using a scrapbook layout.  While I a primarily a cardmaker I do enjoy scrapbooking as well.  Close to My Heart has really made it a lot easier for me as well.  It is so much easier coordinating colours and papers to create fabulous layouts.

I am really enjoying using the WOTGs from Close to My Heart and also have found the “Make It From Your Heart” Volumes 1 and 2 books by Jeanette Lynton really useful to use for creating well balanced and interesting layouts for my scrapbooks.

I have loved using the Holidays from the Heart WOTG – Sparkle and Shine as the colours and papers are gorgeous.  I have completed the two double layouts that are suggested but as they have family members in them that are not happy about having their photos posted, I have used this layout with my cat, Sox, in it.  The photos are from last year’s Christmas and we had record high temperatures of 32 degrees.  Needless to say we were struggling in the heat and our poor Sox just did not know what to do with himself.  Plus, he had to be in the action and not miss out on the fun of opening presents!

For this layout I have used the recipe from page 32 “Make It From Your Heart” Volume 2 book by Jeanette Lynton.  I have found this particular recipe really useful as I can use landscape photos much more easily.  I have also used my Cricut to cut out the titles using Cricut Craft Room to make the letters weld together.

CTMH Sparkle and Shine double page layoutThese books that are available from Close to My Heart are great when you are struggling for inspiration.  There are layouts for all number of photos and the instructions are easy to follow.  Here I have added some extra embellishments and titles to help make it my own and kept it very simple to make the photos the focus of the pages.

The materials I have used are:

WOTG – Sparkle and Shine

Stamp set – Stitch Wonder Everyday Life

Cardstock – Slate, Ruby, Juniper, White Daisy

Inks – Slate, Ruby, Juniper, White Daisy

Sparkle Clear Flourishes – small

Cricut Cartridge – Art Philosophy

Make It From Your Heart Volume 2 by Jeanette Lynton

These products in the Holidays with Heart Gift Guide are still available through until December 31st while stocks last.   Orders totaling over $150 during the promotion can choose one starred item from The Holidays with Heart Gift Guide for free so it is an ideal time to purchase one of our Cricut Collections or our ink and marker organiser.

So be in quick as there are only a few days left before these products are no longer available.

I am hoping to get my creative mojo up and running in time to do the Australasian Blog Hop for the SOTM on 1st January which will be good.  There are some very talented ladies downunder and it is a real privilege working with them.

Enjoy the rest of the year and look forward to more creative gorgeousness next year.

Happy Crafting

Patricia

National Stamping Month with Close to My Heart

On By patriciamanhireIn Cardmaking, Close to My Heart, Scrapbooking, StampingLeave a comment

Hello there.

This month is National Stamping Month and of course Close to My Heart has to have a fabulous deal.  Spend just $75 on any Close to My Heart products and for just $20 you can get the Pinwheel Stamp of the Month Set and You are My Happy set. These 2 sets normally retail for $104. This is a great way to get started on your stamping journey.  For further information check out my website:
www.patriciamanhirescreatingwith.shopctmh.co.nz

Happy Stamping

Patricia

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Welcome to Close To My Heart (01) – YouTube

On By patriciamanhireIn Close to My Heart, Scrapbooking, Stamping2 Comments

Welcome to Close To My Heart (01) – YouTube.

What a special welcome to the Close to My Heart family we are receiving.

Happy Crafting

Patricia

The Final Countdown to Close to My Heart New Zealand

On By patriciamanhireIn Art, Cardmaking, Close to My Heart, Greetings, Scrapbooking3 Comments

Hello

I would like to welcome all my new followers to my blog and I hope that you enjoy coming on my creative journey with me.  I would also like to thank those who take the time to read my posts and also leave comments as well.  I really appreciate the feed back that I am getting.

I was very excited to receive an email this morning from Close to My Heart informing me that we are very close to the launch in New Zealand – the first week in September to be precise.  I can’t wait to start and am starting to de-stash in order to have space and money for my new CTMH products.  The Cricut cartridges look so awesome and I am very impressed with the cards and scrapbook layouts that are coming through from the Australian consultants.

In the meantime I have been doing some scrapbooking and cards.  I am getting through my son’s album and I am now up to his 3rd birthday.  I have used the It’s a Boy stack pack to complete his second year and I am waiting for the cricut cartridges to make some titles to complete them and then I will post a few pictures on here.  I love the colours of this stack pack and they went very well with the photos of James.  I am looking at doing his next album using the Pro-player WOTG kit.  The colours are great and I love the coordinating stamps and shapes that go with it.  It is more appropriate for an older boy as well.

I have also made some more cards for Make Shift.  I haven’t done many get well cards so I have made these using up some of my stash and am pleased how they have turned out.  I am a little disappointed in my Chloe die from Memory Box though.  The cut shape doesn’t seem to pop out quite as easily as my other dies.  I will keep persevering with it and see how it goes.  Anyway, here are the cards:

Get well card - love this combination of yellow and red Love the combination of red, grey and yellow Love this combination of yellow, white and dots Red and white simplicityMaterials used are:

Fiskars flower punch

Memory Box die – Chloe

Cuttlebug embossing folder – Swiss dots

Stampendous Get Well Stamp

Kaisercraft greeting stamp

Red and Yellow scrap cardstock

Stampin’Up ink – Real Red

Bling from the local $2 store

Marianne Creatables flower and leaf set – sorry I seemed to have mislaid the name of this die.

Coloured paper from my stash

I am pleased with the colour combinations and the simplicity of these cards and I hope that you like them too.

Have a good weekend everyone and Happy Crafting.

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A solution to the Creative Memories pages and protectors dilemma

On By patriciamanhireIn Close to My Heart, Crafts, Creative Memories, Photography, ScrapbookingLeave a comment

Welcome back.

This is a quick post is for all those people out there (like me) who have Creative Memories albums but not enough pages or protectors.  The very resourceful new CTMH Consultants in Australia have discovered a solution to your dilemma.  You can convert the CTMH page protectors to use in your CM albums and save a lot of money instead of trawling through Trade Me or Ebay and paying exorbitant prices.  It looks to be very easy to do and the CTMH pages are really good quality and will protect your photos in many years to come.  I am really hanging out until the time I can sign up as a Close to My Heart Consultant in New Zealand.  Hopefully it will be early next month.

Please check out this YouTube video for further information and details:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u5rIJlpQEpY&feature=youtu.be

I hope you find this useful during this transition from Creative Memories to Close to My Heart.

Happy scrapping

Patricia

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Digital Solution for Australia and New Zealand

On By patriciamanhireIn Art, Creative Memories, Digital Art, Photography, ScrapbookingLeave a comment

This is great news