Cross Canada Blog Hop- September 2020 Featuring Bloom With Grace

 Welcome to our September Blog Hop featuring "Bloom With Grace" Creations. To purchase any of the items seen in our blog hop today, contact your local consultant to place an order. New core and season catty are out for September, so make sure you check all of them out!

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. You should be joining us from Michelle Stewart's blog, and if you get lost a long the way she also has the master list

So as much as I love sunflowers, and wished that last fall's sunflower set had coordinating die cuts I could not justify buying another set. We will see how long this strength lasts, since the sets are super cute! So this little card features last fall's sunflower set, so please don't be mad. I am still obsessed with hexagons, and sangria ribbon. I am not really ready to move on to fall colours from summer yet, but if I absolutely must, this desert rose is a pretty great colour. 

Product's Used

• Bloom with Grace Paper 
• Desert Rose Cardstock
• Fern Cardstock
• Sangria Ribbon
  
• Canary, fern, expresso and toffee stamp pads
• Stitched Hexagon Thin Cuts
• Wood Grain Embossing Folder

Your next stop on the Cross Canada Hop is Pam Furlong

If you get lost along the way, you can head to Michelle's blog 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. We hope you will join us again next month when we will be featuring projects created using the "Lovely" Collection. So mark October 10th on your calendars and hop along with us.

Bonus sunflower vacation selfie taken at "The Chuckwagon" in Orwell PEI. Listen, your burger was great, but that corn maze was intense. BRING BACK YOUR RIBS CRAZY PEOPLE!

Atlantic Hearts Sketch 380 Challenge

Hi Friends,

I had some issues with scheduled posts, and the post reverting to previous drafts so I thought I would run a little test post. Bear with me if anything strange happens!

I thought this week I would use a sketch for some inspiration, and I would love if people would join in playing. This one if from the Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge who post new sketches weekly to help people get crafty.

Since I already had some of Close to My Heart's featured paper pack of the month open on my desk (Timber), I thought I would use a little of it. If you would like more inspiration, stay tuned for this month's Cross Canada Blog Hop on August 10th. Also keep in mind that this is the last month for not only the current 2019/2020 Core Catty, but also the Seasonal Catty that this paper is from. Make sure you order soon if you have anything left on your wish list!

If you have been following me lately on Facebook/ Instagram (@colleenscraftyconstructions) you will probably have noticed that I haven't been into creating scrapbook layouts, so this is another card. It uses CTMH Value pack cards as the base, and then all sorts of flannel papers. Initially I had in some wood grain paper instead of the plain brown, but a little bit more texture was needed to balance out all the intense patterns. 

I wasn't super excited about this paper initially, so I didn't purchase any of the coordinating stamp sets since I couldn't see myself getting a lot of use from them. Instead I used the "Channel the flannel" sticker from the coordinating sticker sheet, so this card is pretty masculine but still suitable for a variety of occasions. 

Thanks for stopping by!

Stitched Together Cross Canada Blog Hop- June

Welcome to our June Blog Hop featuring Stitched Together Creations. To purchase any of the items seen in our blog hop today, contact your local consultant to place an order. This is the 4th of our new catalogs, with the new 2 month model.

Sorry I missed the past 2 hops, life kept getting crazy! I was super excited about Seas the Day paper pack, and I have barely played with it.

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. You should be joining us from Michelle Stewart's blog, and if you get lost a long the way she also has the master list

I wasn't super excited when I first saw this paper pack and I am not sure why. Once I actually had it hand it is actually really pretty, and my least paper is on the back of my fav! Happy coincidence. I challenged myself to make a more masculine and a feminine card, so here are 2 projects. Also know that BOTH projects were made with the leftovers from the National Scrapbooking Day layouts, so if you have some...

This first card uses the stamp/ thincut set I am most excited about from this catalog, which is the Stitched Together Cardmaking Set. I wanted to add some dimension so I actually stacked all sorts of the happy cuts on top of each other, and used some black velvet ribbon behind the "everything" sentiment. I stuck to the candy

My second card I did use the stiched square thincuts, and some lagoon ribbon from ages past (I admit, I didn't want to cut more lagoon paper, but it bothered me too much that it was the same height as the square!), and some candy apple enamel dots left over from the holidays! The stamp is Be Kind, which I think is so important to remember, especially right now. The embossing folder is the Flower Garden.

Your next stop on the Cross Canada Hop is our fearless leader, Brae Montgomery

If you get lost along the way, you can head to Michelle's blog 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. We hope you will join us again next month when we will be featuring projects created using the coming soon "Summer Vibes" Collection. So mark July10th on your calendars and hop along with us.

PS I have been playing in the scrap room a lot during quarantine, so here is a bonus weird card of SHARKS IN SPACE (All CTMH product!!). I am really obsessed with inking/ painting galaxy backgrounds, and if you have been around a while at one point we had a shimmer acrylic paint. The sharks are all cricut cuts, with Liquid Glass helmets, and everyone knows, their ship would be a submarine. It's just science (trust me I am a doctor... of engineering). I cut that out of the amazing holographic paper

June Stamp of the Month Blog Hop- A Bushel and a Peck

Hello and Welcome to this month's Stamp Of the Month Blog Hop. If you are arriving here from Gina's Blog, then you are in the right place! We have fabulous creations from 20 consultants to show you this month's featured stamp set: A Bushel and a Peck. As per normal, if you see something you like, please comment, and then contact your Close to My Heart Consultant to hook you up with that product! If you spend over $50 Canadian, this little cutie can be yours for just $6!!!

So now to get down to my creation. I did a fancy fold step card with a template I found on Pinterest.

I used our Shin-Han Markers to colour the girl and fruit, then fussy cut things out. I used some scraps from the Central Park Paper packet as I loved the colours.





Laying down flat, it does fit in a standard 4.25 by 5.5 inch envelop too!!!



When standing there are some bonus folds I decorated up for a little oomph  (Wowza, spell check did not like my initial go at that one!).

Now from the side, you can really see the folds.










From here, you are going to run off to check out the lovely Krista Hershberger! Thanks for stopping by. Hope you have an awesome June. Don't forget your sunscreen.

1. Catherine Nowak
2. Wendy Kessler
3. Melinda Everitt
4. Michelle Stewart
5. Melissa Robinson
6. Brenda Lapp
7. Michelle Loncar
8. Jean McNulty
9. Katy Taylor
10. Brandi Robinson
11. Darlys Recker
12. Michelle Johns
13. Gina Brandstetter
14. Colleen Dewis- HEY!! That's me!! You are already here...why not leave a comment?
15. Krista Hershberger
16. Haley Dyer
17. Shelly Mendenhall
18. Alayne Fleming
19. Kathy Burrows
20. Vickie ODell

May Cross Canada Blog Hop- Celebrating Relationships

Hello and Thanks for joining us on the Cross Canada Blog Hop

Welcome to our May Blog Hop featuring artwork inspired by Celebrating Relationships. 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. If you came from there, you are in the right spot!


I am loving the new SE2 papers, and the Documented line really seemed fit well with these pictures of my family checking out the "Gospel Brunch" at the Trailside Cafe in PEI. I liked the doors, bricks and muted flower colours really complemented the decor, and highlighted some of the colours in the artwork. All the bling and the wooden "smile" are from the Documented Workshop on the Go, although the New England Ivy Cardstock is from the Cardstock Compliments for the line. The layout itself is from Make it From Your Heart Volume 2.


Left Page



Right Page



Slightly crooked pages together. Notice how I took pictures of the outside sign and chalkboard to remind me where we were.

Your next stop on the Cross Canada Hop is Sheena at KanataNewf - Time Well Wasted

If you get lost along the way, you can head to Michelle S Blog,  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. We hope you will join us again next month when we will be featuring artwork . So mark June 15th on your calendars and hop along with us.

April Stamp of the Month "Colour Your Life" Blog Hop

Hi everyone. This is my first time joining the stamp of the month blog hop, and I managed to somehow delete the post I had ready to go up. This will be the abridged version! You should be joining me from Gina Brandstetter's blog so hopefully you are in the right place.

I am working on an album for an old friend who is getting ready to have her first baby. I thought the "Celebrate Life" stamp would make a lovely title page for that. I have combined it with the Whimsy Fundamentals and Cardstock, with some cricut cuts from both the Artbooking (border) and Flower Market (Wreath) cartridges. I thought that the triple stamping look of the flowers from "Beautiful You" would really add to that wreath, and to add an extra bit, some use 3d Dots, and have some of the shimmer brushed glitter on them.

From here you are heading over to check out what Michelle Johns has created for us. Enjoy the hop, and thank you for stopping by!

February Cross Canada Blog Hop- Love and Friendships

Welcome to our February Blog Hop featuring artwork inspired by Love and Friendships. 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 Creations with Michelle. If you came from there then you are in the right place!

I am not super into Valentines Day, but I am in to puns, so when I saw the "We Belong Together" Stamp set I was inspired. I will be totally honest, this was a 10 card set with 2 of each design. As you can see there are only 4 cards pictured. My desk ate 1 of the designs, and I only had time for a cursory clean. All of the card patterns are out of the new "Make it From Your Heart Volume 4" Card map idea book and use Enchantment Fundamentals and cardstock. Images were stamped in Memento Black in, then coloured with our Shin-Han Alcohol Markers. I added a little water colouring around the bees because I found the marker very harsh. The hearts are the "Basic Heart" dies, with a little bit of shimmer trim.

Your next stop on the Cross Canada Hop is Nicky  of  Simply Artistic.
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. We hope you will join us again next month when we will be featuring What we love about Spring. So mark March 15th on your calendars and hop along with us.

Cross Canada Blog Hop August- New Idea Book Products

Welcome to our August Blog Hop featuring artwork created from products found in the 2017-2018 Annual Inspirations Catalog. 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 which this month is Michelle. If you came from Michelle's "Creations With Michelle, you are in the right spot!


Well gang, here we are with a brand spankin' new Idea Book!!! IT'S SO PRETTY!!!! If you haven't checked it out yet, get at it !!

Are you back and ready for some inspiration? Ok let's go!! There are so many wonderful new items, I was a little overwhelmed as to where to start, but I thought about where I would tell people to start, how many pictures am I working with? From there I went to the brand new "Make it From Your Heart Vol3" to find a pattern that would work with that number (36 new patterns!!). 

 I chose pattern 35, and the new Whimsy fundamentals and 2 toned cardstock since they matched the pictures best. For accents I used blush ribbon, whisper twine, and then the phenomenal triple layer stamp "Beautiful You". 

I did cheat a little, if we are being honest, my title is the SOTM from last Seasonal Expression.. But doesn't it look awesome with the gold embossing over watercoloured background?? I used watercolour paper and a water brush, and pushed the inkpads to get ink on the lids where I could pick it up.

Your next stop on the hop is Dominique at "Fun2cre8" 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. We hope you will join us again next month when we will be featuring Projects inspired from the New Products from the New Holiday Expressions Catalog. So mark September 15th on your calendars and hop along with us.