Your Creative Journey with Marianne

05 February, 2016

How To Use Thin Cuts

Springtime Wishes Thin Cuts, this was a fun card to make inspired by Pinterest. Because my fussy cutting is not so good I love how easy it is to use these stamps & matching thin cuts, makes my crafting life easier when I can just use my big shot instead of scissors, although I also need my scissors.

The fundamentals paper packs make the card glossy, you get the same design on both sides but one side is glossy & the other is like a tone on tone, they give your projects a lift.

The Products I Used:

Paper Fundamentals Whimsy Z3127

5 1/2" X 4 1/4" White Cards & Envelopes, Value Pack X254

Springtime Wishes Stamp set C1641

Springtime Wishes Thin Cuts Z3201

Indian Corn Blue Ink Pad. (discontinued)

Indian Corn Blue Card Stock (discontinued)

Topiary Ink Pad Z2155

Silver Shimmer Trim Z1799

Bling Gems Gold Assortment Z2023

Sure Cut Craft Paper Cutter Z1783

E-Z Dots Adhesive Z3022

3D Foam Tape Z1151

Bone Folder Z1204

Watch this Tutorial video to see how easy it is to use these.

Close To My Heart’s new Thin Cuts make die cutting fun and easy! Use your favorite die cut machine to produce detailed shapes, and then use the coordinating stamp set to add color.

Products Used in this Video:

Stuck on You Tin Cuts Z3200

Stuck on You Stamp Set C1643

Chocolate Exclusive Ink Stamp Pad Z2111

Fern Exclusive Inks Stamp Pad Z2650

White Daisy Cardstock 1385

Big Shot Machine

If you would like information about anything you see or would like to place an order or even become a consultant & join my team - please don't hesitate to send me a message at mtlamont52@gmail.com, I will be happy to help you in any way I can or purchase directly from my Online Shop & have it delivered right to your door. I also offer scrapbooking, card making, base & bling & papercrafting classes......contact me to find out more.

09 January, 2016

Texturizing Techniques

Learn some new techniques to spice up your scrapbooking pages and cards. Jill shows you how to do fun things like embossing the non-traditional way, dynamic journaling, and plastic sponging.

Products Used: Versamark Ink Pad Z891, Ranger Princess Gold Embossing Powder Z2066, Honeycomb Embossing Folder Z1995, Watercolour Paints Z3132, Paint Brush Set Z3188, Smoothie Exclusive Inks Stamp Pad Z2196 & My Acrylix Spritz Cleaner 1778.

If you would like information about anything you see or would like to place an order or even become a consultant & join my team - please don't hesitate to send me a message at mtlamont52@gmail.com, I will be happy to help you in any way I can or purchase directly from my Online Shop & have it delivered right to your door. I also offer scrapbooking, card making, base & bling & papercrafting classes......contact me to find out more.

08 January, 2016

Collection Connection: Sangria

This little Thank You card is fun to make & show off all the papers that come in the Sangria Kit. I just loved how quick & easy this card was to make using just a sample of the Sangria B&T, the mini Thank You stamp. Coral shimmer trim & some coloured twine.

The earthy tones and bright colors of the Sangria collection make it perfect for any season.

The video above shows all the different ways you can use this beautiful workshop kit using the papers, embellishments & some stamping, you can't go wrong. This kit can be used for so many different occasions.

Products Used: Sangria Paper Packet X7199B, Sangria Complements X7199C, Sangria Assortment Z3084, Pink Enamel Gems Z3091, Designed Decor Shadow Box Z2015, My Acrylix Friend Tree D1677, My Acrylix For Family C1633, Cricut Artistry Collection Z3167, Cricut Artfully Sent Collection Z3168, My Acrylix Inked Alphabet E1033, My Acrylix Jennifer's Hand B1484, Coral Shimmer Trim Z3088, Poppy Thick Twine Z3094 & Fern Thick Twine Z3093.

05 January, 2016

Embossing Folders and Diffusers 101

Have you wanted to know how to use Diffusers with your embossing folders, then let Carly from CTMH show you how you can take your artwork to a whole new level.

Products Used: Confetti Embossing Folder Z3118, Confetti Stars Embossing Folder Z3119, Woodgrain Embossing Folder Z1996, Arrow Embossing Folder Z1993, Circle Diffuser Z3096, Square Diffuser Z3097, Poppy Exclusive Inks Stamp Pad Z2652, Round Sponge Z697 & Spray Pen Z1380.

04 January, 2016

Just Because Card

Using our prismatic Kaleidoscope Collection, Jill shows you how to create a card to give to someone special in your life. You’ll learn how to emboss a phrase, and then use watercolors over your stamped phrase. Measurements are shown at the end of the video.

Products Used: Kaleidoscope Paper Packet X7202B, Kaleidoscope Complements X7202C, Kaleidoscope Assortment Z3085, Enamel & Glitter Duos Purple Hearts Z3124, Silver Foil Tape Z3130, Diamonds are Forever Stamp Set C1629, Glacier Exclusive Inks Stamp Pad Z2641, Adhesive Z3022 & 3-D Foam Tape Z1151.

If you would like information about anything you see or would like to place an order or even become a consultant & join my team - please don't hesitate to send me a message at mtlamont52@gmail.com, I will be happy to help you in any way I can or purchase directly from my Online Shop & have it delivered right to your door. I also offer scrapbooking, card making, base & bling & papercrafting classes......contact me to find out more.

03 January, 2016

Brush Calligraphy With Watercolor

Let Jill from Close To My Heart show you how to combine the expressive medium of watercolor with the elegant form of calligraphy.

Products used in this video: Watercolour Paints Z3132, Paintbrush Set Z3188, Watercolour Paper Z3146 & White Daisy Cardstock 1385.

08 December, 2015

Owl Twisted Easel Card

I love the colour purple & I'm growing to like little owls. I thought this little guy was cute & my craft girls wanted to learn to do a twisted easel card so I decided to make them up as a kit for them.

I cut a 11"x 8.5" as the base card then scored it at 5.5" & again on the diagonal on the left 5.5" square. I used 4 of the Close To My Heart Cricut cartridges for the Owl, Fancy Square, Branch & the Happy Birthday. In the Cricut Design Space I laid them all out & cut the whole thing on my Cricut Explore. I'm learning the software so if I can cut it all out (including the base etc.) then that's more practice for me. The little Owl was all cut & then paper pieced together & I used 3d foam to build him up a bit & again for the Sentiment so it is then used as a stop for the card when opened. I had alot of fun doing this card, I wanted to do one with just cut files & no stamping, I inked around the Owl to make him stand out a bit more & inked over the little butterfly & finished him off with some bling, I had to get that in somewhere, I just love to put bling on everything.

The products I used:

Close to My Heart Artiste Cricut Cartridge Z3170.

Close to My Heart Artistry Cricut Cartridge Z3167.

Close to My Heart Art Philosophy Cricut Cartridge Z3171.

Close to My Heart Artbooking Cricut Cartridge Z3169.

Kaleidoscope Paper Packet X7202B.

Gypsy Cardstock X5757.

White Daisy Cardstock 1385.

Kraft Cardstock Z1375.

Topiary Cardstock X5635.

Black Cardstock 1386.

Plus I used alot of leftover scraps.

Eggplant Exclusive Inks Stamp Pad Z2647.

Gypsy Exclusive Inks Stamp Pad Z2190.

03 December, 2015

Seven Things You Can Do With Watercolour

Join Jill from Close To My Heart as she shows seven fun ways to use watercolors in your scrapbooking and cardmaking. From painting organic lines, splattering color, or shading a shape–we’re sure you’ll fall in love with this art form!

The products used in this tutorial are: Watercolour Paints Z3132. Watercolour Paper Z3146. Paintbrush Set Z3188. All-Purpose Mat Z2045, Cricut Artistry Collection Z3167. My Acrylix Ink Blot Stamp Set D1660. My Acrylix Miracle of Christmas Stamp Set D1656. White Pines Paper Kit X7200B.

02 December, 2015

Last Orders!

Last Chance to order from the Holiday Expressions Catalogue

December is the last month you can buy before this catalogue is retired for good, so don't miss out on ordering your favourite papers, stamps & embellishments.

07 May, 2015

Just Sayin'

BEAUTIFUL STAMPS, AMAZING DISCOUNTS

Each month you can purchase a new D-size stamp set, available for one month only, for just $5 — that’s over 70% off retail! When you place an order of $75 or more in Close To My Heart products (excluding purchases made in Studio J®), you qualify for this special Stamp of the Month pricing.

The May Stamp of the Month - Just Sayin'

is perfect for Scrapbook layouts with the quirky little titles and sayings.

Or if you are more of a card maker you can adapt the images from the stamp set to create some fun and funky cards too.

03 April, 2015

My Crush™ on Crafting

Close To My Heart’s My Crush™ books make great homes for your memorabilia! They come with a variety of beautifully designed papers and provide just the right backdrop for your keepsakes. See them for yourself! These little books are a great way to place all those memorabilia items you have collected & not have a place to put them, well now you do, so start your journey now!

13 March, 2015

Paper Patchwork: Making Your Scraps Work for You

It hurts our hearts a little to see the remnants of a beautiful cardstock page littered with cuts and holes that seem to render it unusable. It’s a crying shame. There’s so much paper leftover, and yet none at all! “Water, water, everywhere, nor any drop to drink.” (Thank you, Samuel Taylor Coleridge.) Potential appears to be squandered. Dreams run dry. Yet we still find ourselves clinging to these scraps, hoping someday we’ll find their purpose.

But there comes a point where a crafter can simply no longer endure anguish of this magnitude—something must be done about the scraps! So, in the spirit of this month’s theme of organization, we set out to find a purpose for these bothersome scraps that are so tantalizingly lovely in their brokenness. We were determined to use them, rather than stuff them away into that easily forgotten dungeon we call “the scrap box.”

And so we did! Want to see what we came up with?

#1) THE LAYOUT

This authentic and eye-catching layout is made with scraps from ELEVEN different papers! (Check the recipe at the end of this post to see which ones.) The best part about it is that, thanks to the Cricut® overlay, we only needed small scraps of the papers to weave into the layout. The different patterns and colors working as one make for a brilliant display that proves these paper scraps are better together than they ever were apart.

Other noteworthy things we love about this layout:

The White Daisy ink splatters against the kraft cardstock. We love the way this adds texture and life to the spread, encompassing the repurposed and artful utilitarian nature of this layout.

The way the journaling is seamlessly integrated into the flow of the layout. We’re just tickled over how the journaling blends so seamlessly with the layout that it’s become another artistic feature! It also adds a dose of personality and life to the layout.

The creative use of the Sparkle chevron shapes. Did you notice that the lines of sparkles stemming from the photo are actually cut from Sparkle chevron shapes? Cool, right? Just one more example of how to use bits and pieces to create something beautiful..........more

Here are samples I've made, there is so much more you can do.

Cricut Artfully Sent: Pocket Function

The Pocket function of your Close To My Heart Cricut® Artfully Sent cartridge will spice up so much more than just your layouts. See the possibilities in this video.

Learn to use Close To My Heart’s Cricut® Artfully Sent cartridge, it is packed with beautiful and inspirational card concepts, including the “pocket” function. You'll be blown away with what you can create using this cartridge.

08 March, 2015

Mosaic Card

I was looking through CTMH's Wishes book which has a 100 card ideas & came across a card on page 114. I liked the mosaic look & thought it would be a great way to use up some of my leftover scraps from the Heartstrings Workshop on the Go kit (retiring at the end of the month), but what started with a simple idea ended up looking nothing like the original design. Close To My Heart has 8 How-To Program books with 100's of scrapbooking & card making ideas along with cutting guides & fundamental design principles.

I had fun with the mosaic pieces & it's a good way to use up all your little scraps. The frame is from the March Stamp Of The Month "Choose Happy" & I used the Watercolor Pencils to colour it in then sponged around it & inside with the Glacier Ink Stamp Pad. The background stamp on the side is the Season of Thanks set, I used VersaMark Ink pad & embossed it with Ranger White Super Fine Embossing Powder, then I used Pixie, Glacier & Whisper ink stamp pad colours for the reverse embossing, I found these to go with the papers the best. The little border stamp is also from the March SOTM set along with the "you're special" sentiment.

Before I put it all together I used a double sided sticky sheet & put micro fine glitter over it & burnished until it smoothed out then peeled off the backing & used it as a sticker over the top of the mosaic pattern to soften it down, I was happy with the end result.

If you would like information about anything you see or would like to place an order or even become a consultant & join my team - please don't hesitate to send me a message at mtlamont52@gmail.com, I will be happy to help you in any way I can or purchase directly from my Online Shop & have it delivered right to your door. I also offer scrapbooking, card making, base & bling & papercrafting classes......contact me to find out more.

06 March, 2015

A Game of Hopscotch

There's only one month left to play with Hopscotch before recess is over!

https://blogctmh.files.wordpress.com/2015/02/unknown-13.jpeg

You’re just a hop, skip, and a jump away from a playful creative awakening when you get your hands on our fun Hopscotch Background and Texture (B&T) papers. Using the Hopscotch papers is more than child’s play—it’s carefree crafting at its finest.

There are hundreds of ways to transform the hopping hexagons, sprightly sunbursts, and other popping patterns on these papers into works of art. So what’s your game plan?

One of our favorite ways to use the playful papers is with the Workshops on the Go® Hopscotch scrapbooking kit!

If you’ve used our Workshops on the Go® kits before then you’re already acquainted with the joy that comes from piecing together a gorgeous, complete scrapbook layout or collection of beautiful cards. These kits give you everything you need to complete some of the loveliest pieces on the block—wherever and whenever you wish. The only things we don’t pack into our kits are the three things you provide: your trusty paper trimmer, your adhesive of choice, and your creativity.

We don’t like to play favorites, but if we did, the spunky Hopscotch scrapbook kit from Seasonal Expressions 1 would definitely be one of them. You can’t help but love its energetic papers and eye-catching patterns—and the stamp set scores a lot of points for positivity and sheer cute factor!

https://blogctmh.files.wordpress.com/2015/02/hopscotch-stamp-set.jpeg

So who’s in? There’s only one month left to get this goodie before it’s gone forever, so get yours from your Consultant before March is over and this game of Hopscotch includes.

03 March, 2015

Cricut® Artfully Sent: Sleeve Function

Layering is where it’s at! The Sleeve function of Close To My Heart’s Cricut® Artfully Sent cartridge holds dozens of options that will lend beautiful depth and complexity to your cards in a matter of seconds.

Learn to use Close To My Heart’s Cricut® Artfully Sent cartridge, it is packed with beautiful and inspirational card concepts, including the “sentiment” function. You'll be blown away with what you can create using this cartridge.

17 February, 2015

Cricut® Artfully Sent: Sentiment Function

The Sentiment function of Close To My Heart’s Cricut® Artfully Sent cartridge goes deeper than words. See for yourself what extra tricks are hidden within this fun function!

04 February, 2015

Cricut Artfully Sent: Scene Function

Learn to use Close To My Heart’s Cricut® Artfully Sent cartridge, it is packed with beautiful and inspirational card concepts, including the “scene” function. You'll be blown away with what you can create using this cartridge.

27 January, 2015

Choosing Paper Over Pixels: Why We Still Scrapbook

Originally posted on Make It from Your Heart: January 23, 2015

With the end of the old year and the dawn of the new year, I’m sure you’ve seen your fair share of “Year in Review” posts floating through your Facebook newsfeeds. Some people argue that things such as this have replaced scrapbooking layouts and albums. This is the new scrapbooking, they say. We no longer turn pages; we scroll them. So why then do some of us continue to use paper to preserve our memories? Is scrapbooking with paper still important? Well, let me tell what I think.

The things that pop up in our newsfeeds often become irrelevant within mere hours of being born. Their permanence is as fleeting as dust in the wind. People will click through maybe once or twice, but after that, few will even remember they were there. When we upload pictures to Facebook, it fails to leave us with the same sense of satisfaction that comes from the whiz of a paper cutter or the stickiness of fingers spotted with adhesives. And when we type out our words, we lose the intimacy of handwriting and the beautiful way a personality dances its way through the shapes of the letters.

This is why I love National Papercrafting Month. It’s a wonderful reminder at the beginning of the year of why I fell in love with scrapbooking in the first place. It reminds me why we still spend time preserving memories with paper in a world that is slowly turning into pixels.

Working with paper will ground you in reality and in the beautiful subtleties of our physical world, which is why I think the Year >> Noted kit is so nicely suited to this month. In the rush of a new year and the memory of an old year, it not only keeps me grounded, but also gives me a place to tether my dreams, making my big goals seem so much more in reach!

Life is a continual cycling of beginnings and endings—don’t get lost in the whirlpool. Take the time to write down those things within your heart that will one day become the whispers of your past. Ground yourself in paper. Because when you hold a real, finished project in your hands, the rush and the hurry fades away and the only thing you feel is contentment.

And trust me, when this new year becomes old and the time comes to reflect, you’ll be happy you have something real to hold and to remember. Let this kit become a time capsule filled with little pieces of who you are in this moment. I promise you that when you take the time to remember, your heart will fill with gratitude for not only who you are, but also for who you are becoming.

Happy scrapbooking!
from Jeanette Lynton

26 January, 2015

Cricut Artfully Sent: Pop-up Cards with Icons

Another card from the Artfully Sent cartridge, I was inspired by another card on Patricia Manhire's blog, she is a very talented consultant from New Zealand. I just had to make it, the cage & insert layer are found on page 13 of the Artfully Sent cartridge, I just love birdcages & flowers so this was fun to do.
The cage is cut from a colour in the Paper Fundamentals Whimsy Assortment pack, the flowers from the It's the Little Things stamp set are stamped tone on tone & colour on white, they are cut out individually & placed on top of each other some with 3-D foam tape so I could layer them. Inks I used are Canary, Pixie, Gypsy, Topiary (this is my favourite colour to use for leaves) & Glacier. For some added texture I embossed the Glacier insert with the Woodgrain Embossing folder. For the finishing touches I use Durables Artisan Studs on the feet of the cage & for some extra bling I used the Bling Gems Gold assortment & Bitty Sparkels on the flowers.

Take a look at some eye-popping cards made with the Pop-up and Icon functions of Close To My Heart’s Cricut® Artfully Sent collection.