Tag: Close to My Heart

Make Shift is all Go

On By patriciamanhireIn Cardmaking, Close to My Heart, Crafts8 Comments

Hi everyone

I am so excited to announce, after several months of hard work, we have finally managed to get a lease signed on a shop in Lower Hutt and Make Shift is now a real shop!.  We open the beginning of next month and we are in a great location with a wonderful shop layout with two workshop areas in the back.  I would like to thank my fellow Collective who helped to make this happen through lots of trials and tribulations.  They have been amazing and deserve to make a success of this venture.   So if you happen to be in Lower Hutt, Wellington make sure that you come and visit us.  The address is 8 Margaret Street, opposite Queensgate Shopping Complex.  We would love to see you there so please spread the word as we would really love to make this a success and a place for local people to sell their handcrafted creations.

I am also excited about getting my Consultants kit from Close to My Heart and my first order.   I am like a kid in a lolly store with so much to choose from lol.  And the papers (especially the Chantilly papers) are so lovely I didn’t want to cut them up to make cards.  But I did manage to steel myself to make the first cut and here is one of the first cards that I have made with my new products.
Chantilly card

Materials used are from CTMH (of course):

Chantilly paper

Chantilly Complements

Pink Glitter Gems

Sparkles Clear Flourish – small

Sentiment from the You are My Happy stamp set

Inks – Desert Sand for distressing and Cotton Candy for the sentiment

Cardstock – Bamboo

The You be Happy stamp set is an exclusive stamp set that is only available for this month and it is great value for only $15 when you spend $75.  This set has a retail value of $77 so it is great value and a good stamp set to get started.

I will be busy making more cards for Make Shift and will look at doing some workshops there for those who are interested in learning how to use these great products to make some amazing cards.  I am planning to do a chocolate themed workshop which should be a lot of fun.  I will keep you posted.

In the meantime I hope everyone has a great weekend.

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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The Wait is Over: Close To My Heart has launched in New Zealand

On By patriciamanhireIn Cardmaking, Close to My Heart, Crafts7 Comments

Hello

I am very excited to announce that Close to My Heart has arrived in New Zealand.  I am now an independent Close to My Heart Consultant and my new website is up and running at:

www.patriciamanhirescreatingwith.shopctmh.co.nz

Please pop in and check it out – you are able to purchase directly from the site. There is an extensive range of products with the promise of more to come in January with a new product launch guide.

A Christmas catalogue is due to come out shortly which should also be exciting.  I realise that the scrapbooking products are different, compared to what Creative Memories offered, and I will be looking to go around some craft fairs introducing the new products for you to touch and see.

There is only a couple of days left to receive the A Chocolate Affair Stamp of the Month set for FREE.  I can’t wait to get my set and can see some luscious cards coming up when I get my set.  Here is the link for more details:

A Chocolate Affair Stamp of the Month Set

This is such an exciting opportunity and I can’t wait to get started.

So happy crafting

Patricia

 

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Die-cut Butterfly Cards

On By patriciamanhireIn Cardmaking, Close to My Heart, Crafts, Die Cuts, Marianne Craftables, Marianne Creatables5 Comments

Welcome back to a short and simple post today.

The earthquakes have settled down and I have continued to make some more cards while waiting for the launch of Close to My Heart in New Zealand on the 1st September, and the opening of Make Shift.

Today my theme for cards is the lovely Marianne Craftables CR1205 butterfly.  I have tried to use a lot of different colours and techniques with these cards to show off the gorgeous butterfly.

Butterfly magic Butterfly magic Butterfly magic Butterfly magic Butterfly magicThe materials I have used here are:

Mariannes Craftables CR1205

Cuttlebug and embossing folder – Swiss Dots

Marianne Creatables Branches LR0151

Marianne Creatables LR0107

Fiskers small and medium flower punch

Creative Memories Custom Cutting System  – ovals

Kaisercrafts greeting stamps

Close to My Heart Pink Glitter Gems

Kaisercraft Blue Pearls

Metallic paper from the local Variety Plus shop

Bazzill Bling cardstock – Diva

Peelcraft stickers

Scrap paper and cardstock from my stash

Base cards from http://www.cardmakers.co.nz

Marianne dies from http://www.kalsbeek.co.nz

I thought I might leave a couple of cards without greetings so people can use the card for whatever reason they need.

I hope you enjoy my offerings.

Happy Crafting

Patricia

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Stay Calm and Keep Crafting!

On By patriciamanhireIn Cardmaking, Close to My Heart, Crafts, Greetings9 Comments

Hello there

I  felt this title was really appropriate after being shaken about over the last day or so.  We had another big earthquake – this time it was 6.6 yesterday afternoon and then we had a series of aftershocks of over 6 about 5.30 pm.  Very unsettling!  The aftershocks have continued today and although I don’t feel most of them there are still some good sharp jolts.  I am getting to know the light fittings in minute detail as they are a good indicator that we are having another shock.

However, we cannot live waiting for the big one to come so hence the mantra “Keep Calm and Keep Crafting”  so I have continued to keep crafting.  We are very close to making a special announcement for Make Shift so I have to keep working hard making cards.  Today I am going to focus on one card  and show you how I have made it.

Here is the completed card:

Elegant Anniversary Card

 

For the base card I have used a lovely cream linen finish card from www.cardmakers.co.nz.

I then embossed an A5 sheet of cream metallic cardstock with the Nellie Snellen embossing folder HSF005.

Embossed cardstock before trimming

 

The embossed card was then trimmed to  10 cms by 14.5 cms to fit onto the base cardstock with a small edge around it.  I find that my CM personal trimmer is great to get a good square cut.  The cardstock I buy from the Cardmakers is slightly larger than the A5 cards, which is good as I like the layered look of the embossed card over the base card.  It gives it an extra texture and dimension.

Trimmed embossed card on the base card

 

I then die cut the lovely oval frame from Marianne Craftables CR1204.  This is a beautiful frame that comes with a flower as well.  It sits in well with this embossed folder.

Die cut oval frame

 

Die cut adhered onto the card

 

I then die cut all the embellishments out of the cream metallic card.  I have found a heavier weight of card better for most of these embellishments.  I have used Metallic quartz board from Direct Paper 285 gsm for these die cuts.  For the roses I have used a lighter weight metallic paper from the local $2 store as this paper is much easier to roll up for the flowers.

Die cut embellishments for the card

 

The dies I have used are:

Marianne Creatables Branches LR0151

Marianne Creatables Ivy – LR0206

Marianne Creatables English Rose  LR0162

To adhere the branch I have used my CM adhesive pen as it has a fine nib but any good adhesive pen would work.

Die cut flourish with dots of glue on the back to adhere to the card

I trimmed the bottom of the branch and placed it to follow the curve of the oval frame.

Unfortunately the photo of this placed on the frame has been corrupted and I am unable to show you this step.

I then placed the ivy over the flourish and here you can see the flourish on the frame.

Ivy placed on the card

The rose leaves were then placed over the ivy and branch.

Rose petals adhered to the base of the card above the other die cuts

 

The roses were made by using my quilling tool to roll the die cut flowers into a rose shape and using a quick drying glue to hold them into place.

Die cut rosesThe roses were then glued into place over the rose leaves and ivy.  Here are some close up images.

Roses on the card Roses glued onto the card

 

To finish off the card I have placed a Peelcraft greeting on the oval.  Here I have used a ‘happy anniversary’ greeting as I need to make some anniversary cards to add to the range of cards for Make Shift.  But an elegant Happy Birthday would be lovely as well.

Once again here is the finished card:

Elegant Anniversary Card

 

Depending on the greeting used this card could be either a landscape or portrait card.

Before gluing everything together I played around with all the elements to ensure that I ended up with a pleasing arrangement.

I love the simplicity of the cream on cream and the metallic finish makes this card very elegant.  It could be suitable for a lot of occasions depending on the greeting and die cutting numbers in gold could personalise this even more.  (I am so looking forward to getting my Cricut and CTMH Cricut cartridges to add a greater dimension to my cards – couldn’t resist putting this in as we have a date to start on 1st September).

Here are another couple of variations including a cream and gold card using a gold base card:

Elegant Anniversary Card Elegant gold and cream Anniversary Card

The dies have been purchased through www.kalsbeek.co.nz.  They have a great range of the Marianne Creatables and Craftables products and many more products to make fabulous cards.  I have found their after sales service to be excellent.

Despite a couple of reasonable aftershocks I have finally managed to finish this post so I hope that you have found it useful and easy to follow.

So don’t forget to Stay Calm and Keep Crafting

Patricia

 

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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 whole new world coming to New Zealand with Close to My Heart

On By patriciamanhireIn Cardmaking, Close to My Heart, Crafts, Creative Memories9 Comments

Welcome

I have just been to the Close to My Heart Opportunity Event in Auckland last week and I am very excited about this opportunity.  The career pathway looks great and the products will allow people to be a lot more creative.  I have put a Cricut Expressions 2 on layby and can’t wait to get the cartridges from CTMH to play with.  They look so cool and it will be nice to be able to make my own embellishments to match my scrapbook layouts and cards.  I am also looking to the three dimensional elements on the cartridge and will be looking at doing some workshops at Make Shift when Make Shift gets established.  The other thing that is really cool is that I can just do parties online as well as doing parties with people.

We had a little play with some inks, papers and cute glitter embellishments and the papers and cardstock are lovely.  It took a while to work out how to use the ink pads, but I have got it sussed now.  The stamps are great and easy to use and I will be looking at building up my CTMH stamp kits.  I am also looking forward to playing with the alcohol markers as well.

Just as well I have joined a de-stash Facebook site to start clearing out some of my old stock to make room for Close to My Heart.

In the meantime I have got back to basics and will be teaching heat embossing at my card making class tomorrow at the Upper Hutt Library.  When I first started doing cards too many years ago to remember I started with heat embossing and I still have my heat tool as well (which is starting to get a little sick and I will finally get a new one once I sign up with CTMH).  I remember a lot of hit and misses then, but I have discovered using a embossing buddy (a kind of chalk in a bag) that helps with keeping the card clean and my endeavours are much more successful now.  Here are a few of the cards I have made with heat embossing:

Embossed flowers card Embossed flowers Embossed flowers Embossed flowers

 

I found some papers that I bought years ago as a 6 x 6 paper pack at The Warehouse and they matched perfectly with the pink cardstock from Stampin‘Up.  I also like the combination of gold and pink and the result is some very retro looking cards, but some people still like these classic cards so I will be putting them in Make Shift as well.  I have coloured the images using a watercolour pen and Stampin’Up inks.  I have also used my artist quality paints in the past with good effect as well.

The materials I have used here are:

Stampin’Up Cardstock – pink

Stampin’Up ribbon – Light Pink

Stampin’Up inks – Old Olive, Artichoke, Regal Rose, So Saffron, More Mustard

Kaisercraft stamps

Kaisercraft rhinestones

Peelcraft stickers

Creative Memories Custom Cutting System – ovals

Creative Memories Border Maker – Twinkle Chain Cartridge

Cuttlebug and embossing folders – Swiss Dots and Edges

Cuttlebug Die – Whimsy

For the heat embossing I have used a versamark ink pad and the powder is Ultra Detail Embossing Powder – gold.

I hope the ladies tomorrow get inspired to branch out and do more with their stamps and inks.

I am now going to look at doing some digital scrapbooking to get put onto canvases for Make Shift to sell.

Happy crafting

Patricia

 

 

 

Bi-Colour Cards

On By patriciamanhireIn Cardmaking, Close to My Heart, Crafts, Creative Memories, Greetings6 Comments

Welcome back.

I am looking through all my stash to try to either use it up or put it on a de-stash facebook page before I start with Close to My Heart.  I have a mix of different products from different companies and lots and lots of different papers so I will probably take some of these to use up at my Crafty Angels group when we do some papercrafts next term.

With these cards I have used a burgundy card from Stampin’Up (sorry I don’t know the name of the colour as it came in a pack that was on special – I have been told it is Rich Razzleberry by my Stampin’Up friend Julie Butler) and white cardstock and used embossing folders and Memory Box dies to create these cards. I even sneaked in some stamping as well.  I took these cards to the library where I take a card making session and sold a couple of cards before I could even get them put aside for Make Shift.

Here they are:

Handcrafted card Handcrafted get well card Handcrafted sympathy card Handcrafted sympathy card Handcrafted thank you card Handcrafted thank you card

Materials used:

Memory Box dies – Cherry Blossom, Phloe, Pippi Butterfly

Dienamics Die – Fancy Flourish

Stampin-Up Stamps – Cottage Garden

Creative Memories Custom Cutting System – ovals

Cuttlebug Embossing Folder – Elegant Frame, Swiss Dots

Peelcraft stickers

Purchased sympathy stickers.

White ribbon and button from my stash

I have just purchased a Cricut Expressions 2 and put it on layby so won’t be picking it up for a while.  I am not sure how long I can hold out with this as it is going to expand my creative horizons so much!   I have been watching videos on You-Tube and can’t wait to get started.  Next week I am off to Auckland to learn more about Close to My Heart and  get the chance to get my hands on some of the CTMH products which I am really looking forward to.  We have been really fortunate that we have got this opportunity to move forward with.  I really feel for the CM Consultants in Canada and the United States who may not have the same opportunities.

Have a good day and Happy Crafting.

Patricia

Photo of the Day – Paris Daisy

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

My photo of the day. These Paris Daisies are amazing. They have self seeded in my garden and have given such great colour and lots of inspiration for my photography.
I will also take the opportunity to update what is happening with Creative Memories and Close to My Heart as I have noticed that people are searching for answers about CM products in NZ. Brian O’Callaghan was on Facebook on Friday night (he was the MD of CM and is involved with setting up CTMH in Australasia) and stated that they are looking into trying to continue with getting the pages and protectors here, but there are no promises that they are able to procure them for our market.  There are issues with patents and copyrights with CM USA.  There are lots of products on Trade Me, but do be very careful as there are some price gougers out there asking for $150 or more for one set of pages and protectors.

I have no more information as yet regarding the launch of CTMH in New Zealand.  I am hoping to know more later in the week and will keep you posted here.  Their range of products look exciting and I can’t wait to see what is released Down Under.  I am particularly excited that there is lots of card making products.  I am busy making lots of cards for our shop and it will be great having a new range of products to play with.  So it is still a matter of watching this space…

I hope you are all having a safe and happy weekend.

Patricia

Wow – Great News

On By patriciamanhireIn Cardmaking, Close to My Heart, Crafts, Creative Memories, Digital Art, Photography, Scrapbooking2 Comments

Hello there

I have just received news that Creative Memories Australia and New Zealand has been bought out by Close to My Heart to  start their Australasian business.  I wasn’t really sure about Plan B, but I have had a look at the catalogue from America and it is amazing.  I love the fact that there is plenty of scope for my stamping and card making as well as for scrapbooking.  There is a lot more decorative products, plus there is also digital products as well.  It is also in a good financial position as well, which is very critical after what we have been through over the last few weeks. I still have a lot of questions about the structure and set up but I will now definitely be looking at this very closely.

So watch this space…

Happy Crafting

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