Close to My Heart Fall 2015 Classes

It's September and Close to My Heart has

 released two beautiful new Idea Books:

Annual Inspirations and Holiday Expressions

 Its been a long while since I've posted on my Blog.  What happened?  I went back to work, but after a year working retail, I knew I was ignoring my passion (sharing and teaching with Close to My Heart).  So I decided to quit my job and take the Summer off with my boys (now 17, 15, & 6).  I was also lucky enough to attend my first ever (in 8 years as a consultant) Close to My Heart Annual Convention!  This is where it really sunk in that I wanted to be doing more with CTMH.  I wanted a space where I could teach classes, outside of my home and be creative. 

It all came together when I was offered a space not far from home, at an affordable price.  So, I will now be able to offer weekly classes, open crop evenings, occasional Day Crops and more.

As you may know, I have been very lucky to be on the planning team for BC Crop for Kids.  This year is no different.  The 2015 BC Crop for Kids is Oct. 2-4th in Abbotsford.  Please click the link to check it out.  You can view the classes, sign up for the crop and/or classes.  You are also welcome to just come shop the vendors!  BC Crop for kids raises money for BC Children's Hospital.

 

My weekly classes in South Surrey will begin the first week of October and we will be featuring three new patterns this month: Zoe, Sangria and Nevermore.

 

 Zoe: 
October 6, 2015  7pm - 9pm
12x12 Layout Class - 4 pages (2 Double)

October 13, 2015 7pm - 9pm
Card Class - 12 cards w/envelopes (2 each 6 designs) these will be a mix of themes - birthday, thank you, blank etc.

  

Sangria:
October 20, 2015 7pm - 9pm
12x12 Layout Class - 4 pages (2 Double)
Sangria is a richly coloured paper that will be perfect for Autumn, Harvest and Thanksgiving photos.

Nevermore:
October 27, 2015 7pm - 9pm
12x12 Layout Class 4 pages (2 Double)

October 28, 2015 3pm-4:30pm
Kids Treat Bag Class
for kids 7+
Kids will create 30 Halloween goodie bags complete with nut-free treats. You may wish to bring a snack for the kids






Classes are $30 each, seating must be reserved 14 days in advance, Payment will reserve your seat, space is limited to 10 per class.  With the exception of the kids class, you will receive 1 whole paper pack in your kit, so you will have extra paper to play with on your own.  I will use a variety of exclusive CTMH stamps,embellishments and CTMH cricut cartridges for each class as well.

All classes will be held in the Club House at 16275 15th Ave in South Surrey.

I am happy to take suggestions and class requests.  Please don't hesitate to let me know what you want.

Thanks, and I'm happy to be back crafting with you all!

Karen

 

Cross Canada Blog Hop - April 2014 Close To My Heart

Welcome to our April Blog Hop featuring creations made with our latest Cricut Cartridge, Artbooking.  To purchase any of the items seen in our blog hop today, contact your local consultant to place an order.

We hope that you will take the time to leave comments on our posts, as we love to get feedback from our viewers....whether it was something that you really liked or some new technique that was used that you would like to learn how to do....by leaving us comments, we get to hear what you like, and what you want to see. Thank you… now on to our hop!

If you have just hopped onto my blog, you can start here as this is a circular hop, but if you want to follow us across Canada then please start at the beginning and join Michelle at http://mycreationswithmichelle.blogspot.ca/2014/04/cross-canada-blog-hop-artbooking-in.html. If you came from Nancy Klein of nancyklein.blogspot.ca/2014/04/close-to-my-hearts-cross-canada-blog.html then you are in the right place!

My April Cross Canada Blog Hop item is:

Timberline Mini-Album

This Mini-Album contains 10 pages, all bases cut from the Artbooking Cartridge, all the embellishments are hand made from the co-ordinating Artbooking Cricut shapes, Close to my Heart Stamp Sets, Close to my Heart Embellishments and the gorgeous Timberline Paper Pack.  The Album is held together on the mini-flip album base.  Using Cricut Craft Room, I've saved files of each paper so that all I have to do to re-create is place my paper and press cut for each colour. 

Products used:    Artbooking Cartridge ($99.00)
                           Designed décor Flip Stand Album ($12.95)
                           Timberline Workshop on the Go ($29.95)
                           Do your Best Stamp Set ($13.95)
                           Catch you later Stamp set ($17.95)
                           Shimmer Trim Teal ($4.95)
                           Gold Polka Dot Washi Tape ($7.95)

Check out the rest of the album pics below:

Thanks for looking.  Go play with your Artbooking Cartridge now!  Don't have one?  Guess, what?  Sign up as a Close to My Heart Consultant in April 2014 and you can get it for free!


Your next stop on the Cross Canada Hop is Candra Holmes of http://www.paperdragonfleur.ca/2014/04/cross-canada-blog-hop-april.html
 If you get lost along the way, you can head to Michelle's Blog,  http://mycreationswithmichelle.blogspot.ca/2014/04/cross-canada-blog-hop-artbooking-in.html, as she has the complete blog list.

1. Michelle ~http://mycreationswithmichelle.blogspot.ca/2014/04/cross-canada-blog-hop-artbooking-in.html
2. Nicky ~ http://timelesscottagenb.blogspot.ca/2014/04/april-cross-canda-blog-hop-artbooking.html
3. Arlene ~ http://arlenescreativespace.blogspot.ca/2014/04/cross-canada-april-blog-hop-artbooking.html
4. Krista ~http://simplycreatingtogether.blogspot.ca/2014/04/cross-canada-hop-focus-on-artbooking.html
5. Sheri  ~ sherisays-justscrapit.blogspot.ca/2014/04/cross-canada-hop-celebrating-cousins.html
6. Carol ~ craftycarol55.blogspot.ca/2014/04/april-cross-canada-blog-hop-artbooking.html
7. Lynette ~http://c1make1.blogspot.ca/2014/04/cross-canada-blog-hop.html
8. Brandy ~http://canadianscrappers.blogspot.ca/2014/04/artbooking-blog-hop.html
9. Terry Ann~ http://terryanndiack.blogspot.ca/2014/04/cross-canada-hop-april-artbooking.html
10. Janet ~http://worksofheart2011.blogspot.ca/2014/04/artbooking-in-april-cross-canada-blog.html
11. Kathy ~http://kathy-itsagirlthing.blogspot.ca/2014/04/artbooking-april-cross-canada-blog-hop.html
12. Chantal ~http://itsahootpapercrafts.blogspot.ca/2014/04/cross-canada-blog-hop-april.html
13. Nancy ~ nancyklein.blogspot.ca/2014/04/close-to-my-hearts-cross-canada-blog.html
14. Karen ~ clearyprecious.blogspot.ca /2014/04/cross-canada-blog-hop-april-2014-close.html
15. Candra ~ http://www.paperdragonfleur.ca/2014/04/cross-canada-blog-hop-april.html

Thanks for hopping along with us - we hope we were able to inspire you to get creative using some of the designs, products and techniques seen along the way. We hope you will join us again next month when we will be featuring Home Decor projects.  So mark May 15th on your calendars and hop along with us.

Close to My Heart March 2014 Cross Canada Blog Hop - Card Boxes

Welcome to our March Blog Hop featuring card boxes.  Did you know that you can create your own card boxes using CTMH products? Whether they are the My Creations Card Boxes, Journaling Boxes or cricut cuts, there is just so much more you can use these boxes for. To purchase any of the items seen in our blog hop today, contact your local consultant to place an order.

We hope that you will take the time to leave comments on our posts, as we love to get feedback from our viewers....whether it was something that you really liked or some new technique that was used that you would like to learn how to do....by leaving us comments, we get to hear what you like, and what you want to see. Thank you… now on to our hop!

If you have just hopped onto my blog, you can start here as this is a circular hop, but if you want to follow us across Canada then please start at the beginning and join Michelle at http://mycreationswithmichelle.blogspot.ca.  If you came from Chantal of http://itsahootpapercrafts.blogspot.ca/2014/03/cross-canada-marchs-blog-hop.html then you are in the right place!
 
Balloon Ride & My Creations Journaling Card Box

The first Card box I worked on was one to store a set of Picture My Life Journaling Cards in.  I am actually planning to give this as a gift to a friend expecting a baby.  I will put the "Babycakes" Journaling Cards inside.



Balloon Ride - Picture My Life journaling card box

 I decorated the box with Balloon Ride paper ($9.95/ pack), Believe in Yourself stamp set ($13.95 each) and some bling: Sparkles Flourishes ($4.95 ea) and some Rosewood mini-medley Accents ($5.95).  All the papers and the edges of the box were edge distressed with chocolate ink and our sponge dauber.  I also used the Cricut Artiste to cut out the Balloon shape.


Balloon Ride - Picture My Life Card Holder

 In this photo I have inserted a full "Surf's Up" Picture My Life Scrapbooking Program set. 

Balloon Ride Card Box - detail

 Here is a close up of the beautiful bling I used on this box.  I love using the Sparkle Flourishes . . . they make it so easy to add a perfect swirl of bling to your projects.

Ivy Lane & My Creations Card Box

For my second box I used our Ivy Lane paper ($9.95/pack), a tiny strip of our Brown & Tan Glitter paper ($5.95/3sheets) and the Black Sparkle Flourishes ($4.95 set) and a flower made with the Ivy lane paper and our exclusive Cricut Cartridge "Art Philosophy".  Instead of a card box, I made a jewellery or treasure box! Look how nice my Base & Bling Pendant necklace looks inside!

Ivy Lane Card Box

Inside of Ivy Lane Jewellery box

 I made the inside dividers with plain cardstock (that comes in the Ivy Lane paper pack), folded one way, with additional cross pieces slid over and held in place with a dot of Liquid Glass ($6.95).

Close up detail of Ivy Lane box cover

 When I first made this box, it seemed unfinished to me . . . actually, I wasn't going to display it!  But then, my Close to My Heart order arrived surprisingly early (in four days!!!) so I decided to add the black sparkle flourishes.  Considering it's a jewellery box, perhaps you'll forgive the extra bling?

The title was done using the Font on our Artbooking Cricut Cartridge.  Again, all edges were distressed with chocolate ink and a sponge dauber. And did you notice the big scallop edges?  This is the Art Philosophy scalloped rectangle Cricut Cartridge Shape.

Thanks for taking a peek at this months artwork!  See you next month!

Your next stop on the Cross Canada Hop is " name of person " of " name of blog with URL link ".
 If you get lost along the way, you can head to Michelle S Blog, http://mycreationswithmichelle.blogspot.ca, as she has the complete blog list.

Thanks for hopping along with us - we hope we were able to inspire you to get creative using some of the designs, products and techniques seen along the way. Join us again in April when we will be featuring creations from the third Cricut Cartridge, Artbooking. We hope you will join us again on April 15th, 2014.

1. Michelle ~http://mycreationswithmichelle.blogspot.com/2014/03/cross-canada-blog-hop-card-boxes.html
2. Arlene ~ http://arlenescreativespace.blogspot.com/2014/03/cross-canada-hop.html
3. Sheri  ~ http://sherisays-justscrapit.blogspot.com/2014/03/cross-canada-blog-hop-give-gift-with.html
4. Carol ~ http://craftycarol55.blogspot.com/2014/03/cross-canada-blog-hop-ctmh-gift-boxes.html
5. Terry Ann~ http://terryanndiack.blogspot.ca/2014/03/ctmh-cross-canada-blog-hop-card-boxes.html
6. Janet ~ http://worksofheart2011.blogspot.ca/2014/03/recipes-everywhere-and-no-place-to-keep.html
7. Famida ~ http://getscrappinfami.blogspot.ca/2014/03/skylark-card-box.html
8. Chantal ~http://itsahootpapercrafts.blogspot.ca/2014/03/cross-canada-marchs-blog-hop.html
9. Karen ~ http://clearlyprecious.blogspot.com/2014/03/close-to-my-heart-march-2014-cross.html

Happy Valentine's Day Paper lovers!

I totally stole this idea from my friend Carmen who made one in her SU card club. Yeah, I know.  I typed SU... But hey a great idea is a great Idea!

So I CTMH'ed that idea up with our new Ivy Lane paper pack, Feb 2014 stamp of the month and a bunch cricut cuts!  This is what I came up with:

 

And this is a pic of the co-ordinating envelope I made with my

 Envelope Punch Board and the closed card:

 

 

 

I was able to find a full template and instructions at: http://extremecards.blogspot.ca/2014/02/card-in-box-pop-up.html  she's done a great job of explaining how to create the base.  The colour, décor and theme are up to you.  I think, with a little play, you could adjust the size to fit a standard 4 1/4x5 1/2 envelope, or whatever size you like best!

 

My hubby really enjoyed this playful card.  It's now proudly displayed at his office.

 

You can expect to find some version of this as a make and take at one of my upcoming events!

 

 

Speaking of,  List of Upcoming Events:

 

Sat Feb 22, 2014 : Golden Ears Elementary Crop, Maple Ridge BC  10am -10pm

                         23124 118th Ave, Contact Pam Bagnall @ bagnallfamily@telus.net to register

                         $40 includes a large table, beverages all day, dinner, prizes and make & take

 

Fri / Sat March 7/8: Shepherd of the Valley at 72nd & 200th Langley 5-11 Fri, 9am-10pm Sat

                   $5 Fri only, $35 for Sat , contact Nadene Jung  @ thestampinchic@yahoo.ca to register

                   includes a large workspace, beverages and dinner on Sat.  Convenient location!

 

Sat / Sun March 8th&9th: Maple Ridge Elementary Crop, Sat 8am-10pm, Sun 9am-4pm

              $75 for both days or $45 Saturday only.  Includes dinner, snacks and drinks, prizes & M&T's

              contact Eleah McClenaghan @ eleahmcclenaghan@shaw.ca to register

 

Thurs-Sun April 10th - 13th: Loon Lake Ultimate Scrapbook Retreat - 2 or 3 night get-away

       this is the Ultimate get-away!  Go with friends or go alone.  Full on-site store, classes,  massage,

       mani / pedi . . . Fantastics, healthy meals!  Check out their blog for details:

       http://www.ultimatescrapbookretreats.blogspot.ca/  - these retreats are offered 8-10x a year, I am

       trying to go 2-3 times and offer classes when I do.

 

 

Give yourself a gift and join me at one or all of these events: all are run by experienced ladies who know how to do it right!

 

Card Class . . .best of 2013

 

This is a hard time of year . . . I have the new Spring / Summer Close to My Heart Idea Book.  I've had it for several weeks.  I am in love with it!  But I can't share with you . . .yet!

The new Idea book goes live Feb 1, 2014.  And while us CTMH consultants have been able to order a few goodies for ourselves to prep with, we can't sell the new stuff just yet!

So, I am going to be teaching some classes at the "Ultimate Scrapbooking Retreat" next weekend at Loon Lake, just north of Maple Ridge, BC.  I was challenged to come up with a new class but can't really use the new product just yet.  Boo!

Anyway, I took a look at my inventory and noticed I had several sets of the "You are my Happy" left from the Spring 2013 Campaign.  This is a 3 sheet set with an alphabet, card comments and images.  It is equivalent to 3 "D" size stamp sets valued at just under $54, and I'm selling them for $15.00 each.  So I designed a card class around this stamp set, using four of my favorite paper packs from 2013.

I was also able to snag a bunch of our craft paper envelopes that were recently on the "While supplies last" page, so I've incorporated craft paper into each card and used the cricut cartridges in each card too!

Participants will make two each of the following:

Huntington: (inspiration: http://www.frommybungalow.blogspot.ca/2013/09/you-are-my-happy-3.html)



 

 Sarita: (inspiration: Jodie Gustofson cre8nmemories@blogspot.ca)

 
 Pro Player (inspiration from Gina Brandsetter @ gmbscrapper.BlogSpot.com)

And Dream Pop:(inspiration http://brenbearcreations.com/category/friend/)

 

 

I will be teaching this Class Saturday afternoon at Loon Lake if you are interested in joining me.



Know your crowd . . .

I find that in papercrafting classes, much like comedy, its important to know your crowd!
 
Today was the last day of school before Christmas break, pajama day and it snowed for the first time this winter!  A Trifecta!  It was also Christmas craft day in the Kindergarten.

If you read my last post you will know that I planned to make Christmas Crackers with the kids.  Clearly - I didn't know my crowd.

So I had all the paper cut (I used bulk Sparkle & Shine and Bulk Frosted) all the sook wang applied, I had cut several wintery & Christmassy shapes with our CTMH Cricut Cartridges and then pre glued then using my Zyron Sticker makers (Love these BTW and need a wider size, like 5"??)  All the kids had to do was roll a 6"x12" piece of Cardstock into a tube, crinkle the ends, fill, tie and decorate.  I wound up doing all the tube rolling, all the pucker pinching and most of the ribbon tying.  However, we wound up with 19 Students eager to take these goodies home and pull the snaps!  But the finished products looked nothing like what I had imagined.  I'm a control freak.  However, none of the kids seemed to notice and all seemed quite delighted with their finished work.  So, I guess that's all that really counts.

This week has been so busy with Christmas activities, add a few unexpected emergencies (My husband, getting over Bronchitis, coughed while driving to work and he passed out - taking out 3 other cars.  Everyone is okay, no major injuries thank GOD, but at least 2 of the four vehicles were totalled - my husbands brand new Pick-up truck included.  Now he can't drive until the cough is totally gone,  Can't risk that again)... Anyway . . .I had planned to make Reindeer Nose treats for my sons classmates as Christmas gifts . . but ran out of time.  At 11:30pm last night I chose bed.  I stand by my decision.

On the bright side my son has a hockey team of 20 players . . . so tonight we sat down and made these together:

 

We used mostly CTMH product . . . with the exception of the googly eyes and the treats of course.

 

First I perused the cartridges to see what shapes I could use for the Reindeer head.  I chose the Owl from the Artiste Cartridge and the Antlers are actually snowflakes from the Artbooking cartridge.  Each snowflake did 3 reindeer.

I made the noses by taping two rows of our red glitter tape and stick to a left over backing from the chalkboard sheets.  These are great, because with normal cutting, the backing doesn't get cut, just the glitter tape.  So you can see a small line across most of the noses - this is why, its actually two pieces.  The nose size I made was 3/4".  I could have gone smaller, or bigger by added a row of tape, but liked this size. 

 

I used one of our discontinued journaling pens (please give us a replacement for journaling CTMH) to draw different smiles on each one.   Ryan glued all the eyeballs on, can you tell? 

I then stuck these all to the scalloped square card on the Art Philosophy cartridge.   Its had to tell from my terrible pic, but I used the bulk Frosted paper for this, its the neutral coloured snowflake side.  On the back is a sticker that says "Reindeer Noses", Merry Christmas from Ryan.

 

This was a far more appropriate craft level for a kindergartener.  He glued the eyes using glue dots, and he glued the heads to the card with a glue stick.  I then had him do the stickers on the back.  We were able to work side by side for over an hour doing these, with him staying on track with what I was doing.  Cutting, drawing, filling bags, stapling closed.  Ryan had so much fun, he was talking to the reindeer and playing with them as he worked. 

 

As the mom of three boys - craft time with my kids is not a regular occurrence.  Nice to be able to make something simple, homemade and far from perfect but made by a Kid.  I'm sure his team mates will agree!

 

Maybe next year I'll get smart and have the kids make these instead of crackers?

 

Merry Christmas Papercrafting Friends!

 

 

Dec. 2013 CTMH Cross Canada Blog Hop

Welcome to our December Blog Hop featuring creations  that we plan to give as gifts this Christmas.  To purchase any of the items seen in our blog hop today, contact your local consultant to place an order.

 

We hope that you will take the time to leave comments on our posts, as we love to get feedback from our viewers....whether it was something that you really liked or some new technique that was used that you would like to learn how to do....by leaving us comments, we get to hear what you like, and what you want to see. Thank you… now on to our hop! 

 

If you have just hopped onto my blog, you can start here as this is a circular hop, but if you want to follow us across Canada then please start at the beginning and join Michelle Stewart at http://mycreationswithmichelle.blogspot.ca/2013/12/christmas-gifts-blog-hop.html  If you came from Nancy Klein of http://nancyklein.blogspot.ca/2013/12/december-cross-canada-blog-hop-gift.html  then you are in the right place!

 At Christmas I love being able to create a few handmade gifts with just a few supplies.

 Here are two that I've been working on:

First: Christmas Countdown

Close to My Heart Products used: 1 Sheet Sparkle & Shine Paper ($9.95 / paper pack),  1 Sheet Chalkboard Paper ($4.95/ sheet), Chalk Pen ($2.95), Sparkle & Shine Washi Tape ($14.95 for 3 rolls), Glitter Tape ($4.95 / roll), Clear Sparkles ($2.95/ 108 piece set), Ruby Mini Medley Accents ($5.95/set), Embossing Stylus (this item is now disc, but a bone folder or ball point pen would work as well).

Plus: A 9"x12" canvas dollar store frame, edges painted with black acrylic paint and a "borrowed" piece of chalk from my son.

 

I have a chalkboard Art addiction.  I know I've discussed it on here before.  I love it!  And, creating a project like this is super easy with CTMH 12" x 12" Chalkboard sheets.  I simply create the basic design as a "word" document and print it.  I then trace over the text onto the chalkboard paper using the stylus, pressing hard.  You then go over the embossing on the Chalkboard paper with the chalk pen.  You tracing disappears and the whole thing looks hand done.  Then you can add a few hand drawn embellishments as you like.

 

I Matted this chalkboard sheet on Spark & Shine paper (had a tough time deciding which design as they are all so lovely).  Then I used washi tape and the bakers twine in the "Ruby Mini Medley" pack to create the banner.  I used the laundry clips to secure the banner ends.

 

Each snowflake has a sparkle in the middle.

 

All you have to do is erase the # each day and re write with real chalk.  Everything else is permanent so you don't have to worry about wiping away.

Second: Christmas Cracker

Close to My Heart products used:  Sparkle & Shine Paper ($9.95 / pack), Santa Claus Stamp set ($13.95, Black Glitter paper ($5.95/ 3 sheets), embossing stylus, Glue dots and disc. Black fishnet ribbon.

 

Non- CTMH: Snaps - Michaels, Various little gifts, joke and tissue hat

 

I love making Christmas Crackers - I make them with the kids and they love the "poppers" (I start looking for .as soon as Michaels puts out their Christmas as they always sell out, I usually buy several packs as they are only $2.95/ dozen).

 

Start with a 6"x12" piece of paper, using the embossing stylus, create a fold line 3.5" in from each short end.   Before rolling up, I attached the Ruby cardstock that I overstamped with the "Ho, Ho, Ho" in Ruby ink.  Then I rolled the paper up, securing the long edge with Sook Wang (or other really sticky tape).  Feed the "snap" through the tube and secure at one end with a glue dot.  using the embossed fold line as a guide, crunch the paper in and gather tightly, secure one end with ribbon.  Fill the cavity in the middle with goodies and then secure the other side with ribbon.   Now you may add any embellishment you like.

 

I am making these with my Sons kindergarten class next week.  Super easy and fun for the kids!

 

Thanks for taking the time to look at my projects.  I love your feedback!

 

Merry Christmas! 

 

Karen

Your next stop on the Cross Canada Hop is Candra Holmes of http://www.paperdragonfleur.ca/2013/12/cross-canada-blog-hop-december.html

 If you get lost along the way, you can head to Michelle Stewart's Blog, http://mycreationswithmichelle.blogspot.ca/2013/12/christmas-gifts-blog-hop.html, as she has the complete blog list.

Michelle ~mycreationswithmichelle.blogspot.ca

Carol ~ craftycarol55.blogspot.ca

Cheryl ~ scrappercheryl.blogspot.ca

Brandy ~ canadianscrappers.blogspot.ca

Janet ~ worksofheart2011.blogspot.ca

Kathy ~ Kathy-itsagirlthing.blogspot.ca

Chantal ~ itsahootpapercrafts.blogspot.ca

Nancy ~  http://nancyklein.blogspot.ca/2013/12/december-cross-canada-blog-hop-gift.html

Karen ~ clearyprecious.blogspot.ca

Candra ~ http://www.paperdragonfleur.ca/2013/12/cross-canada-blog-hop-december.html

Thanks for hopping along with us - we hope we were able to inspire you to get creative using some of the designs, products and techniques seen along the way. Join us again in the New Year when we will be featuring some of the products that will be retiring, so if you see anything you would like to create, this could be your last opportunity to purchase them.  We hope you will join us again on January 15th, 2014.