September Blog Hop

SEPTEMBER BLOG HOP:

 "COPY THIS"

Welcome to our September blog hop "Copy This"!  If you have come from Michelle's blog then you are on the right track.  

The new Close To My Heart Annual Inspirations is more than just a catalogue.  It is an ideas book with lots of inspiration for everyone. This blog hop is all about showing you how you can take a layout, card or other paper creation from the AI, and make it your own.  My layout was inspired by the layout on page 78 (see photo below).

I chose my photo and then the paper pack (Enchantment Fundamentals) to match my photo.  This is an old photo but it was a joy to scrap.  My white haired, blue eyed boy with a cheeky grin, is now a teenager.

The 'happy', 'hello' and the 'stars' are all thin cuts which you can use with any cuttlebug or sizzix big shot machine that you may have.  They are easily adhered to the page using the Bonding Memories Glue Pen.   For a bit of bling, I have added a few Gold sequins.

For some more "Copy that" ideas, hop over to Cindy's blog.

Have a great month!
Cheers,

Wendy

Annual Inspirations

AUGUST BLOG HOP: 

 "ANNUAL INSPIRATIONS" 

Welcome to this months blog hop featuring the new CTMH Annual Inspirations!   

As this is a circular blog hop, no matter where you start, you can view all our blogs within this blog hop. If you have come from Michelle's blog then you are on the right track.

 

Products in this new AI are now available and we are showcasing projects using products from this blog.  

The layout I created below, uses the new Rustic Home Fundamentals paper pack - in particular the gold striped vellum paper.  The layout also uses paper from a now retired fundamentals paper pack, showing you that the new papers co-ordinate very well with the papers from the past catalogues.  So you can still 'scrap your stash' and use new products at the same time.  I loved how this layout turned out.  Simple but stunning.

Don't forget that there is a special this month on the fundamentals paper packs.  During the month of August, when you order the Whimsy, Adventure, and Enchantment Fundamental papers, you can choose to get either the Rustic Home or Uptown Fundamentals for FREE! 

If you would like to check out the new Annual Inspirations products or the fantastic Fundamentals special running this month, just head to my website.

To see some more Annual Inspirations ideas, 'hop' over to Cindy's blog.

Happy crafting!
Wendy

Mother's Day

APRIL BLOG HOP: 

 "MOTHER'S DAY" 

Welcome to another blog hop!   No matter where you start, you can view all our blogs in this blog hop. If you have come from Cindy's blog then you are on the right track.

The theme for this month's blog hop is Mother's Day.  When I looked through my stack of photos not yet scrapped, I came across these from Mother's Day two years ago.  We had driven up to Mt Dandenong lookout for the day.

 

 

The autumn leaves in the tree and on the ground around our feet (in the photo on the left hand page) made me think instantly of the Charlotte Paper Pack in the current Seasonal Expressions catalogue.  Please note that most of the products in this SE are only available until the end of this month.  So if you want to order anything, let me know before they are no longer available.

 

   

The Charlotte is a lovely paper pack and comes with some great Complements and "Treasured Puffies".  I have also used a really thin line of Liquid Glass to adhere the Black & Gold Ribbon.  

 

The title was stamped using the Jennifers Hand alphabet stamp set.

I was amazed by how much my children had changed in two years.  That's one of the many reasons why I love to scrapbook.  Maybe we will go back to the lookout this Mother's Day to retake these photos.

Thanks for visiting my blog.  To see more of the Close To My Heart products, just go to my website www.wendywatson.ctmh.com.au. 

To see some more Mother's Day ideas, 'hop' over to Alison's Blog.

Happy crafting!
Wendy

 

MARCH BLOG HOP: 

 "EASTER TRADITIONS" 

Welcome to another blog hop! A "Blog Hop" is a circular link between a group of bloggers (in this case my fellow CTMH consultant team members).  No matter where you start, you can view all our blogs in this blog hop. If you have come from Julie's blog then you are on the right track.

The theme for this month's blog hop is Easter Traditions.  I have scrapped an Easter layout based on pattern number 6 from "Make it from your Heart Volume 1".  I love these CTMH "How to" books.  They make designing layouts so much easier.

The paper and complements used in this layout are from the gorgeous Penelope Workshop Your Way.  The paper, complements, washi tape and stickers can also be purchased individually, however are great value when purchased as the Workshop Your Way collection.

Here is a close up of one of the compliments used on the page.  Note that I have not added photos to this layout yet, these will go where the dotted paper is.  

I have been really excited about the this cuts that were introduced into the latest Annual Inspirations.  There are four new Thin Cut sets and matching stamp sets.  These are Springtime Wishes stamp and Springtime Wishes Thin Cuts, Spring Critters Stamp set and Spring Critters Thin Cuts, My Anchor Stamp set and My Anchor Thin Cuts and Stuck on You Stamp set and Stuck on You Thin Cuts.  

The Spring Critters is the one used on my layout and I have used the Shin Han markers to colour them in.  So cute.  To give some dimension to my layout, they have been raised up using some 3D foam tape.

Thanks for visiting my blog.  To see more of the Close To My Heart products, just go to my website www.wendywatson.ctmh.com.au. 

To see some more great Easter ideas, 'hop' over to Cindy's Blog.

Happy crafting!
Wendy

 

 

Feb Blog Hop: Back To....

February Blog Hop: 

 "BACK TO......"

Welcome to another blog hop! If you have come from Julie's blog then you are on the right track.

The theme for this month's blog hop is Back To.....   However, just to do something different from Back to School / Work / Routine, I have scrapbooked some photos that I took on a recent trip home to my parents farm where I grew up.  So for me, this blog is all about going "Back To The Farm" or "Back to where I grew up".

My inspiration came from the additional layout in the Urban Workshop on the Go, as well as Layout Pattern 08 on Page 20 of the Make it from your Heart Volume 1.

The Urban paper pack (one of my favourite paper packs) suits these photos so well.  The title is stamped in Saddle Ink using the Handwritten Print Alphabet stamp.

Embellishments used on the page were Whisper Thick Twine, attached to the page using the Mini Stapler.  (This is such a quick and easy way to attach Twine.  I love it!) As well as three Durables Triangle Studs.

The photos were mounted using Colonial White cardstock.  This was also used to stamp the title on.

Thanks for visiting my blog.  To see more of the Close To My Heart products, just go to my website www.wendywatson.ctmh.com.au. 

To see some more great ideas, 'hop' over to Cindy's Blog to see what she has created this month.

Happy crafting!
Wendy

Jan Blog Hop - Celebrating Summer

January Blog Hop:

"Celebrating Summer"

Welcome to another blog hop! If you have come from Michelle's blog then you are on the right track.

Now that Christmas is over, we are Celebrating Summer!

We all scrap the important events in life: weddings, holidays, Christmas, birthdays, etc.  However, the everyday events in our lives are also important.  So for this blog, I have scrapped some photos taken on a recent family bike ride.

The photos aren't the best, just snaps taken on my mobile midway through the 16.5km ride.  We had stopped to recharge and have lunch.  However, a family bike ride is something that we regularly enjoy doing together, especially in the summer school holidays.

The paper I have used is from the Workshops Your Way™ Regatta Scrapbooking Kit.  This kit is new in the latest Seasonal Expressions (now available).

The Workshops Your Way are a new product line to Close To My Heart.  They are similar to Workshops on the Go, however they include more paper and no stamp set.

The White & Gold Ribbon is included in the Regatta Workshop Your Way, however it can be purchased separately.

The above complement and sentiment sticker are from the Regatta Complements which are also included in the Workshop Your Way, however, these too can be purchased separately.

It is really important to document the everyday things we do, especially when they involve spending time with those we love.

Once again, thanks for visiting my blog.  If you want to see the more of the Close To My Heart products, including the products in the new Seasonal Expressions, just go to my website www.wendywatson.ctmh.com.au. 

Now, for more Summer celebrations, 'hop' over to Cindy's Blog to see what she has created this month.

Happy crafting!
Wendy

December Blog Hop:

"Christmas Gifts"

Welcome to another blog hop! A "Blog Hop" is a circular link between a group of bloggers (in this case my fellow CTMH consultant team members).  No matter where you start, you can view all our blogs in this blog hop.  If you have come from Julie's blog then you are on the right track.

This month we are showing you some ideas to use as Christmas Gifts.  The photo below shows the Christmas decorations I have made and will add to the presents I will give to my daughters teachers and other friends and family.  It adds a nice personal touch, and is something they can keep and bring out each year with their other Christmas decorations.

It might look difficult but it is really very easy.

Firstly cut a strip of patterned paper 12" long x 1" wide.

Using the Score board, score every quarter inch.

Next, concertina fold the strip all the way to the end.

Using liquid glass, stick the two ends together to form a circle.

Push the circle down flat.Put liquid glass in and around the center hole and adhere to a round circle of cardstock on the under side of the decoration (see below).

The size of my circle is 1 and a 1/2 inches and is cut from Cranberry cardstock.

The circle on the front is 1 and a 1/4 inches and I used the Red Glitter Paper to add some sparkle.  Adhere the circle with more liquid glass and hold the front and back circles for a minute to make sure they have bonded enough to sit aside.

The beautiful top on this decoration is our Base & Bling jewellery.  I have used the Gold circle pendant in the decoration above, but have also used the Silver circle pendant on others.   The Christmas designs in the middle are from the Base & Bling Jolly Holiday Style Sheet.  I finished it off with the Circle Glass Cover.

Rather than reinvent the wheel, I will redirect you to a CTMH youtube video which explains how to put together the Base and Bling pendant.

You will need to adhere the Base & Bling using more liquid glass.  Other bonding adhesives are not strong enough to adhere to the glitter paper.  This needs 10-15 minutes to properly adhere.

To finish off, use some Thick Twine (I used Fern, Poppy and Glacier) to be able to hang the decoration.

I think these decorations are beautiful and were very quick and easy to make.  I made them with customers at our recent Christmas workshop and they loved them.

Thanks again for visiting my blog.  If you want to view more of the Close To My Heart products, just go to my website www.wendywatson.ctmh.com.au. 

Now, for more great Christmas gift ideas, 'hop' over to Cindy's Blog to see what she has created this month.

Happy crafting!
Wendy