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

December Stamp of the Month:

"Candlelight Garden"

  

The Stamp of the Month for December is the beautiful "Candlelight Garden".

I really enjoyed using this stamp to make some cards.  These are my two favourites and my inspiration for them came from cards made by Denise Tarlinton and Wendy Coffman.

I stamped the jar and flowers on the right hand side of the front of the card, then fussy cut around the stamping to reveal about an inch of the inside of the card.  On the right hand side edge of the inside of the card I had adhered a strip of B&T paper from the La Vie En Rose paper pack.  

Using freehand, I drew a line around the front of the card using the Journaling Pen.  To colour the flowers and water in the jar, I used the watercolour paints that I featured in my last blog.    They are so easy and fun to use.  The three purple hearts under the "Thank You" sentiment, are from the Purple Hearts Enamel & Glitter Duos.

It is such a pretty stamp set and can be yours for only $5 with any order $75 or more, but only during the month of December 2015.

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

Happy crafting!
Wendy

 

November Blog Hop:

"Watercolours"

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 Michelle's Blog Michelle K Scraps then you are on the right track.

This month is all about using Watercolours.  The photo above shows the new CTMH Watercolour Paints, Watercolour Paper and the Paintbrush set.

My favourite use of the watercolours is to paint a background.  The tree on the below card is from the stamp set called "Always Grateful".  The sentiment is from "Sincere Expressions".  I let the watercolours dry before stamping the tree with Black Archival Ink.

On the following card, I used the same technique, only using different shades of blue for the sky.

I separately stamped the balloon (from the "Balloon Wishes" stamp set) and coloured it in using the ShinHan Markers.  After fussy cutting around it, I adhered it to the card using 3D foam tape.  This gives the card a bit of dimension and it look like the balloon is floating across the sky.

Here are two of my other cards.

Although using these products was a bit daunting at first, I can honestly say it was lots of fun experimenting with them.  My biggest tip - just have a go and see what results.

Thanks so much for taking the time to visit 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 ideas using the CTMH Watercolours, 'hop' over to Cindy's Blog to see what she has created this month.

Happy crafting!
Wendy

October Blog Hop:

"Enchantment"

The "Enchantment" range of colours has seven new shades.

So we decided to showcase this colour range in our October Blog Hop.

Hello and welcome to another Blog Hop.  If you have come from Julie's Blog Julie's papercraft then you are on the right track.

Below is the simple one page layout that I put together for this blog.

It is based on the layout on page 70 of the Annual Inspirations and uses the new Urban paper pack and new Fundamentals - Enchantment pack.

The photos below show the opposite sides of the Fundamentals- Enchantment papers.  One side has a subtle glossy resist pattern and the other side has the same pattern but in a bold white print.  My layout uses the bold print of the pomegranate shade (as the mat for my photo) and the glossy side of the fern and saffron shades (the 12" strips).  The gloss was hard to show in a photo but does look gorgeous when the light reflects off it.

 

My daughter has just returned from an exchange to America, so this photo (taken with her brother at the Melbourne airport before she left), also gave me the perfect opportunity to use some of the new travel stamps.  These included Here We Go (D1600), American Celebration (D1458) and Colorado (M1066).

 The Exclusive Inks used to stamp these were Fern, Pomegranate, Saffron and Sapphire.  These are four of the seven new colour shades and match the papers from the Fundamentals - Enchantment pack that I have used.

Thanks 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 'hop' over to Alison's Blog "Scissors Paper Heart" to see what she has created using the Enchantment colours.

Happy crafting!
Wendy