Friday, September 21, 2012

Creative Talent Featuring Erica

I met Erica through my daughter, Shandel, a few years back. She has the most bubbly personality of anyone I have the pleasure of knowing. She is intelligent, hard working, honest, and has a keen eye for photography. Now, Erica was a self-proclaimed "non-crafty type person". She relayed to me that she didn't really care for anything girly and certainly was not a scrapbooker.I took her at her word and instantly loved her as part of my own "brood".

One weekend, Shandel was having a CTMH home gathering that always includes a small project and Erica decided to attend even though she was sure this was not her thing. Her loyalty of friendships is what bought her out that day. I am so thrilled to know that that event sparked something in Erica she never knew she had - a love of paper crafting. Since then, she has created many wonderful projects and her increasing "eye" for pattern and structure is awesome to watch.

I  have to share Erica's beautiful creations with you all.


Don't you agree that is is DEFINITELY not the work of a "non crafty type person"? I think there is an amazing amount of talent in this wonderful person known as Erica.

Sunday, September 9, 2012

Paper Play Party Reminder

Don't forget to mark your calendars for my Paper Play Party!!

 What is a Paper Play Party you may be wondering! It is a time to get away from the hustle and bustle of our daily lives and enjoy some down time. It is a means to relax, visit, craft, and get FREE stuff! Unlike the traditional "Club" where you are committed for a certain time and a set dollar amount, a Paper Play Party is a no commitment fun time to get away from it all. How can I get free stuff this way? Come and find out!

I'm opening my home to YOU on September 22 at 1:00 pm
9727 - 109 Street, Westlock

Our first project will be using the September Stamp of the Month - Fall Favorites S1209. Isn't he adorable?


Call me at 780-307-8586 or email me at mizzchristine@shaw.ca to RSVP

Tuesday, September 4, 2012

My Acrylix Stamp Sets - Clearly The Best!

Close To My Heart is online at My Craft Channel

Here is the first of a series of videos that will be available. This one shows you the advantage of using our MyAcrylix clear stamps. They really are "Clearly The Best"!!



Head over to the site and sign up for free!!

Monday, September 3, 2012

WOTG Kits Go A Looooooong Way!

Our Workshops On The Go (WOTG) kits are perfect for creating gorgeous pages in a minimal amount of time. Each kit comes with a full paper packet, an exclusive stamp set, at least 2 accessories, and full color instructions. In next to no time you have a 2 page layout ready to add your photos to. Pssst - don't forget to add journaling. Your ancestors will appreciate your words.

The Avonlea WOTG has a quick and easy layout, perfect for those few stolen moments of crafting time.
 Don't have the pictures printed yet or unsure just what event you want to highlight with this layout? No worries! Just cut scrap card stock to the picture sizes and adhere with re-positionable glue as I did in my sample above.

I used our Bonding Memories glue pen for this. This dual action glue pen is a must for your work table! Apply the glue and adhere your pieces immediately for a permanent hold. Let the glue dry BEFORE adhering your pieces and it becomes re positionable! One more tip before we move on - this glue is excellent to use on your worn out Cricut mats to make them sticky again. Simply wash your mat in warm slightly soapy water, rinse off and air dry. When dry, apply Bonding Memories Glue and let it dry. Viola!

Avonlea comes with our gorgeous Parlour Velvet Rub-Ons and Opaques in Mocha. My picture does not do justice to these products. It is soft, velvety and raised to add texture to your page while the opaques add a delicate shimmer.
 
 Now, I aways say that there are no mistakes in scrapbooking - only opportunities for creativity. My opportunity came when I glued down the first tiny strip along the top edge of the first page. I didn't measure quite right and ended up 1/2" too high. Nothing to fuss about! I just made sure that I lined up the strips on the right hand page to match and used one of the tiny stamps in the set to fill in the area. Tah-Dah! Looks like I did this on purpose. Shhhhhh I won't tell if you don't.



Also included in the WOTG instructions is a sample of a second layout and an extra project (not shown in this post). Here is the suggested second layout:
For the cutting instructions and directions on these secondary layouts, you will need our How-To books. Unfortunately we don't carry these books anymore - not that they weren't just the most amazing instructional books on the planet! CTMH only had exclusive rights for a certain amount of time and now you can find them at Chapters and Michaels.We have a new How-To book called "Make It from Your Heart" vol.1. This book is filled with all the primary WOTG layouts plus more!

When you are the FIRST person in any given month to book your WOTG  with me, you and your guests get an extra project just from me. It is my way of Thanking my Friends and also a way to show you how to get the most out of your kit. This month, Erica and her guests will be making this beautiful card.


Now, you are probably thinking that $29.95 is steep for a kit that makes only 2 2-page layouts. Think again! Here are the projects I created with my Avonlea WOTG kit:

Look how much product I have left over to continue to craft with:
2 Full sheets and 2 pieces of card stock; 2 full sheets and a pile of pieces of B&T paper; 3/4's of a pack of Opaques; 2/3's of a pack of Velvet Rub-ons; a C-size stamp set to use forever!!! This will keep me busy for hours. I say that this is good value for your money.





Saturday, September 1, 2012

Happy September Everyone!

Where has the summer gone? I know mine was spent doing a ton of visiting with family and friends. We tended the garden, made a couple trips out to the local lake, swam in our free pool - Thank You Keren! What better way is there to have time fly?

As I look out my window this morning I see a large patch of yellow leaves on the tree across the street. Sigh! Fall is creeping up on us with all it's natural glory. Crisp leaves will start to flutter off the trees, grass will crunch under our feet as we walk, and the final sign will be the honking geese flying to southern destinations.

I plan on celebrating this time of the year with some crafting and I want to invite YOU to join me! It is well time to have a Paper Play Party! Let's get together for some tasty beverages, good company, and fun paper crafts.

 What is a Paper Play Party you may be wondering! It is a time to get away from the hustle and bustle of our daily lives and enjoy some down time. It is a means to relax, visit, craft, and get FREE stuff! Unlike the traditional "Club" where you are committed for a certain time and a set dollar amount, a Paper Play Party is a no commitment fun time to get away from it all. How can I get free stuff this way? Come and find out!

I'm opening my home to YOU on September 22 at 1:00 pm
9727 - 109 Street, Westlock

Our first project will be using the September Stamp of the Month - Fall Favorites S1209. Isn't he adorable?


Call me at 780-307-8586 or email me at mizzchristine@shaw.ca to RSVP - I can't wait to get together!