Stitched Together

Posted on June 10, 2020 by
  • Blog Hop

Hello and welcome aboard our Stitched Together Australasian Close to My Heart Blog Hop. If you have arrived here from Lauren’s CTMHCraftings Blog then you are in the right place. If you landed here by accident, no problem, please join in by following the link at the end of this post. 

Today I would like to share with you a creation which features Close To My Heart Featured collection “Stitched Together”.

I created this layout for the participants at my June Virtual Workshop. I used one of my beloved books CTMH Make It From Your Heart Vol 2, Pattern 3. For this layout I used the paper packet and the sticker sheet, plus some blue dots I had in my stash (I think they were left overs from Seas the Day a few months back). Some stickers I have raised with thin 3D foam tape for a little bit of dimension.

As a kit for my customers they all got a share in a sticker sheet – so they may have had different stickers that shown here and the green and white 1/2″ strip is the zip strip. So each person got a different strip. But that is the beauty of our packs they all co-ordinate together so no mater what stickers or zip strip pattern they got it all still went together perfectly.

If you like this layout I still have three kits available at $15 each (which includes postage). You just need to supply the backing cardstock – which could be white or any colour. Just send me a message and I can sort out getting it to you.

One of my customers placed the pieces on a yellow background and because the papers are all double sided she flipped some of the patterns over to suit her photographs.

Here is some other great creations from the CTMH Art Studio using Stitched Together.

If you take a close look at the last three layouts (which are the Workshop Your Way Kit) you will see my beautiful family in the photos of the first layout.

This exclusive Stitched Together Range is only available until the end of June while stocks last. The Workshop Your Way collection can be yours for just $53 (without Memory Protectors, or $62 with Memory Protectors.  Individual components can be ordered from your CTMH consultant. If you do not have a consultant please contact me or place an order here.

I’d love you to leave a comment before heading off to the next stop, ArtyMAZ.

Until next time, Happy Crafting

Danielle

Posted in Embellishments, General, Scrapbooking, Workshops | Tagged , | 11 Comments

Colouring Techniques with Garden Tags

Posted on June 1, 2020 by

Hello and welcome aboard our June Stamp Of The Month Australasian Close to My Heart Blog Hop. If you have arrived here from Doreen’s Blog then you are in the right place. If you landed here by accident, no problem, please join in by following the link at the end of this post. 

  • Blog Hop

Today I would like to share with you some different colouring options which feature the Close To My Heart’s June Stamp of the Month “Garden Tags”.

The first step before colouring any stamp in is to choose and ink that suits your colouring medium. So you need to choose something that wont smudge or run. I choose to use the CTMH Intense Black Exclusive Ink. This ink is perfect for wet mediums and for alcohol markers. I do recommend that you stamp first and leave for an hour or so to set/dry completely. These tags also match perfectly with the Tags and Tabs Thin Cuts.

Alcohol Markers – Tri Blend Markers by Spectrum Noir.

I love these markers as you get three colour tones in the same marker. I have choose lighter colours, but in general markers give brighter more intense colours.

When working with the markers I use the darker tone first and add it to the areas that are the shadow areas (denoted by the use of hatching lines – short lines close together that suggest darker tones). I then blend over that the mid tones and finally the lightest tone. As each colour is added I colour over the previous colour and almost push the darker colour forward into the next space. You can also go back over lighter tones with the darker tones to create more distinct lines – see the large leaf.

Water Colour Pencils – DRY

These can be used dry or blended with water. Using them dry is just like using any normal coloured pencil. I personally colour with the light colours first and go back in dark or with a dark pencil in the shadow areas.

Water Colour Pencils – Wet

When I colour with water colours and know that I’m going to blend the colour with my small round water brush, I colour darkly in the shadow areas (picture above left). Then I use the water brush to spread the colour and make it softer in the highlights. Once dry you can also go back over with dry water colour pencil to add more precise details and shadows. CTMH offer a range of watercolour pencils.

Water Colour Paints

Again using the Small Round Water Brush, I mixed my water colour paints and painted the picture. I painted the background wash first and didn’t get worried if I went over some of the finer flowers and leaves. I let it dry before adding colour to the leaves and flowers.

The more water you add to a colour the lighter it gets. The drier your brush the darker the colour.

The beauty of water colour is that you can go back once dry and still add more colour or even take colour away with water.

Waterbased Inks

If you don’t have water colour paints don’t stress. You can create a similar effect using your waterbased inks.

I used the CTMH Waterbased Exclusive Inks and the Small Round Water Brush Again. There are 42 colours in the range.

To do this I squeezed the closed ink pad so that ink is deposited onto the inside of the ink pad lid. I then use the brush just like in my watercolour paints. So more water make the colour lighter, as less water makes the colour darker.

Shimmer Brush with Ink

Another option for the Waterbased Ink Pads is to use a Clear Shimmer Brush to paint the ink onto the paper. It gives you the colour of the ink whilst the shimmer from the Shimmer Brush.

I personally squeeze a drop of the shimmer brush into the lid of the ink pad. Mix it around with the ink and then use the shimmer brush like a normal paint brush. I dip it into the colour and the paint onto the paper.

Shimmer Brush – on its own.

There are currently 15 different Shimmer Brushes in the CTMH range. You can literally paint the colour onto the stamped image.

This exclusive Garden Tags Stamp of The Month is only available during June. It can be yours for just $9 with a qualifying order of $80 or for $34 if ordered separately from your CTMH consultant. If you do not have a consultant please contact me or place an order here.

I’d love you to leave a comment before heading off to the next stop Passionate About Pages.

Until next time – Happy Crafting

Danielle

xx

Posted in Colouring, General, Mixed Media, Stamp of the Month, Stamping | Tagged , , , | 14 Comments

Blue Skies

Posted on May 20, 2020 by

Hello and welcome aboard our Blue Skies Australasian Close to My Heart Blog Hop.  This paper collection is a special release for May – National Scrapbooking Month.

  • Blog Hop


If you have arrived here from Lauren’s CTMH Craftings then you are in the right place. 

If you landed here by accident, no problem, please join in by following the link at the end of this post. 

Today I would like to share with you a number of 12×12 layouts that I created using the pieces that I’d originally cut up to make a 6×8 album. I cut it up a while ago and had got interrupted and didn’t put it together. Then in the midst of a clean up in my craft room I found two other past 6×8 album kits that I hadn’t yet put photos on. So I decided this time to do something a bit different and turn these pieces into 12×12 layouts – as I have been working my way through photos from 2014.

I also added a few wooden embellishments that I had floating around. On a couple of these layouts I grabbed some extra left over pieces to fill spaces. But they are predominantly from the 6X8 kit.

Over the weekend I participated in a CTMH Virtual Album Retreat. For this event I pre-purchased the kit. This contained all the pieces pre-cut for twenty 12×12 pages, three stamps sets (one included thin cuts), a set of stand alone thin cuts, all the embellishments for the pages and page protectors. The layouts were made of a mix of the Blue Skies Papers and Stitched Together Papers. So I’m sharing with you the ones that are Blue Skies predominantly. (I’ll share the Stitched together ones next month.)

I love in this layout have the Diamond colour Stickles have been used – on the top of the white foam ABC stickers and as an edge to the clouds to add a cute extra detail.

Next I’ll share some of the beautiful art work created by the CTMH Art Studio. The first image is the 6×8 album pages that I modified.

During the month of May the Blue Skies collection can be all yours for just $139.50, while stocks last.  Individual components can be ordered from your CTMH consultant. If you do not have a consultant please contact me or place an order here.

I’d love you to leave a comment before heading off to the next stop, Passionate About Pages.

Until next time,

Happy Crafting

Danielle

Posted in Albums, Card Making, Cricut, Die Cuts, Embellishments, General, Scrapbooking, Workshops | Tagged , , , | 12 Comments

Aurora

Posted on May 10, 2020 by

Firstly, Happy Mothers Day to all the mothers out there. And special hugs to all during this time that are unable to spend this day with their family.

Welcome aboard our Aurora Australasian Close To My Heart Blog Hop. If you have arrived here from Lauren’s CTMH Craftings then you are in the right place. If you landed here by accident, no problem, please join in by following the link at the end of this post. 

  • Blog Hop

Today I would like to share with you a creation which features the Close To My Heart Featured collection “Aurora”. The layout that I have created is similar to the 4/3/2 layout method for those that are familiar – where you cut 3 different papers into 12″ strips that are 4″, 3″ and 2″ wide. And then you mix the papers up to have a 4″, 3″ and 2″ strip on each layout. These can then be placed vertically or horizontally on the page depending on your needs.

This time around I have use 11″ length strips that are a mix of 3″ and 2″ high. This just leaves a little bit extra white around the edges or in my case the other edge of each side of the layout. It’s a simple repeatable method that you can quickly create a number of layouts if you’re trying to get photos scrapbooked quickly. You can see this design in the Make It From Your Heart Vol 3, Pattern 3. My go to book when I’m needing a quick layout.

In this layout I’ve used the Aurora Papers and Stickers, an Aurora Picture My Life Card and some wooden shapes from a mix of the Wooden Arrows pack.

Here is some more Aurora creations from the CTMH Art Studio.

This exclusive Aurora Product Collection  is only available until the end of June, while stocks last.

The Workshop Your Way collection can be yours for just $AU62.  Individual components can be ordered from your CTMH consultant. If you do not have a consultant please contact me or place an order here.

I’d love you to leave a comment before heading off to the next stop, ArtyMaz.

Until next time,

Happy Crafting

Danielle

Posted in Embellishments, General, Picture My Life, Scrapbooking | Tagged , | 9 Comments

S2005 Time To Celebrate

Posted on May 1, 2020 by

Hello and welcome aboard our “Time To Celebrate” May Stamp Of The Month Australasian Close to My Heart Blog Hop.

  • Blog Hop

If you have arrived here from CTMH Craftings then you are in the right place. If you landed here by accident, no problem, please join in by following the link at the end of this post. 

Today I would like to share with you a creation which features Close To My Heart’s May Stamp of the Month.

For this Layout I have used the special National Scrapbooking Month papers “Blue Skies” and matching sticker sheet, the new Aurora acrylic shapes and the Stamp of the Month in Candy Apple Ink.

Overall a simple layout to put together – two 6×12″ strips (the lagoon pattern), two 3×12″ strips (the yellow sun pattern), and two zip strips. The photos themselves have been matter onto the Sapphire embossed cardstock that comes with the Blue Skies Paper. It has a beautiful UV embossed pattern. Even the matching sticker sheet has some UV embossing too.

I really love the variety of sentiments in this stamp set and the fact that you can tailor them to almost any occasion and any time of the year. Plus the heart and star icons are super cute too.

This exclusive Stamp of The Month is only available during May. It can be yours for just $9 with a qualifying order of $80 or for $34 if ordered separately from your CTMH consultant.

If you do not have a consultant please contact me or place an order here.

I’d love you to leave a comment before heading off to the next stop Doris’ Creative Inspirations.

Until next time,

Happy Crafting

Danielle

Posted in Embellishments, General, Scrapbooking, Stamp of the Month, Stamping | Tagged , , , | 10 Comments

Virtual Classes

Posted on April 23, 2020 by

With all the chaos that Covid-19 has bought our lives, I’m happy to see the strength of our crafting communities grow and adapt. Last weekend I ran my first virtual Retreat Weekend. Sadly it was suppose to be my real retreat weekend and I would normally share it with 40 or so crafty women. So instead I ran it virtually and was able to still give all the same types of challenges and activities for people to complete from the safety of their own craft space at home. It was a hit. I had 68 women participate from 3 countries (Australia, USA and Canada). From Australia we were from at least 3 states. We even caught up via Zoom to have a virtual face to face chat. I loved it.

So with the aim of continuing that crafty connection I will be running my usual Saturday Workshops in a similar format via a Facebook Event. I’d love you to join in our next one. It is FREE to join in.

I am also offering an optional kit purchase if you would like to follow along with one of the activities I’ll be offering during the event. The kits are mail order and you just need adhesives and your own backing cardstock. Everything else is provides – the cricut cut pieces and the embellishments.

Cost is $AU15 for one kit or $AU25 for both colour way options. This cost includes postage within Australia only. International customers needs to ask for a postage price.

If you ‘d like to order a kit please email me scrappychicksctmh@gmail.com

Stay safe at home. And have a happy crafty day.

Danielle

xx

Posted in Classes, General, Scrapbooking | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Cardstock Carnival

Posted on April 20, 2020 by

Hello and welcome aboard our Cardstock Carnival Australasian Close to My Heart Blog Hop. 

  • Blog Hop


If you have arrived here from ArtyMaz then you are in the right place. 

If you landed here by accident, no problem, please join in by following the link at the end of this post. 

Today I would like to share with you a creation which features Close To My Heart’s fantastic white core cardstock range.

Thanks to Covid-19 I have been unable to run my normal technique classes and thus these are some things that I shared via a virtual retreat this last weekend on Facebook.

The focus was looking at different ways to distress and or customize cardstock pieces. Normally each class we would work on a sheet like this together and then create the projects.

The Cardstock Carnival is on until the end of April and you can save 20-40% off cardstock depending upon which way your purchase it, with bundles saving you the most. If you do not have a consultant please contact me or place an order here.

I’d love you to leave a comment before heading off to the next stop, Doreen’s Blog.

Until next time,

Happy Crafting

Danielle

Note: Purchasing through links in this blog help support my home based business and are at no extra cost to you.

Posted in Card Making, General, Scrapbooking | Tagged , , , | 13 Comments

Seas the Day

Posted on April 10, 2020 by

Hello and welcome aboard our “Seas The Day” Australasian Close to My Heart Blog Hop. 

  • Blog Hop



If you have arrived here from CTMH Craftings then you are in the right place. 

If you landed here by accident, no problem, please join in by following the link at the end of this post. 

Today I would like to share with you a few creations which feature Close To My Heart’s Featured collection ‘Seas The Day”.

This layout is backed with sapphire cardstock and the netting looking pieces are from the Seas The Day Paper pack. I’ve used the zip strips and sticker sheet as well. Plus I’ve added in some left over Picture My Life cards (from the Seas The Day pack) to add extra blocks of colour, headings etc.

I also made some cards from the Picture My Life cards. I used some fairly as is, just trimmed to size. Others I fussy cut pieces out of. I’ve also used the Seas The Day Dots for extra embellishments. Not to forget a good dose of the Clear Shimmer Brush.

This exclusive “Seas The Day” Paper collection is only available, while stocks last, until the end of April.

This Workshop Your Way collection can be yours for just $53.  Individual components can be ordered from your CTMH consultant.

Contact your CTMH consultant to place an order. If you do not have a consultant please contact me or place an order here.

I’d love you to leave a comment before heading off to the next stop, Doreen’s Blog.

Until next time,

Happy Crafting

Danielle

Posted in Card Making, General, Picture My Life, Scrapbooking | Tagged , , , | 10 Comments

O-fish-ally Awesome

Posted on April 1, 2020 by
  • Blog Hop

Hello and welcome aboard our April Stamp Of The Month Australasian Close to My Heart Blog Hop. If you have arrived here from Doris’ Creative Inspirations then you are in the right place. If you landed here by accident, no problem, please join in by following the link at the end of this post. 

What a crazy time at the moment, But I’m totally grateful for my crafting habit and my stash of supplies. Today I would like to share with you a couple of cards which feature Close To My Heart’s April Stamp of the Month “O-fish-ally Awesome”.

This first card was inspired by the art work by the CTMH art studio, but I put my own spin on it as always. The background paper and the starfish at the bottom (and side of the shaker edge) are cut from some of the Seas the Day Picture My Life Cards. The outer rim of the fish bowl shaker is cut from the Dreamy Holographic Paper. The main colouring is done with the Tri-Blend Markers. However, the water and sand in the tank are done with watercolour pencils and then blended with the Clear Shimmer Brush to give the water more sparkle. The before assembly photo is on the left. I stamped and fussy cut some of the shells and fish etc. to add into the shaker with the Silver and Julep sequins.

This next card is a version of a tri-fold card that I created at a consultant day run by my friend Paula. The card base was made from a piece of cardstock. After folding the card base in half the front was placed inside the embossing folder, with the back under the embossing folder and run through my cuttlebug. This dry embossed the front. I then cut a circle out of the front. Inside the card a insert was stuck in which is where all the main stamping inside the fish bowl was done.

Tip: If you are colouring with markers then do this on scrap card and fussy cut and stick in. Otherwise it shows through the cardstock into the middle.

This exclusive Stamp of The Month is only available during April. It can be yours for just $9 with a qualifying order of $80 or for $34 if ordered separately from your CTMH consultant. If you do not have a consultant please contact me or place an order here.

I’d love you to leave a comment before heading off to the next stop ArtyMaz.

Posted in Card Making, General, Picture My Life, Stamp of the Month, Stamping | Tagged , , | 9 Comments

Family Legacy

Posted on March 1, 2020 by
  • Blog Hop

Hello and welcome aboard our “Family Legacy” March Stamp Of The Month Australasian Close to My Heart Blog Hop. 

If you have arrived here from Lauren’s CTMH Craftings Blog then you are in the right place. If you landed here by accident, no problem, please join in by following the link at the end of this post. 

Today I would like to share with you a creation which features Close To My Heart’s March Stamp of the Month – Family Legacy.

This layout has a base of French Vanilla Cardstock that I have then rubbed Mink Ink Pad over the surface to distress it a bit. The patterned papers are from the new “Yesterday & Today” paper collection, and the stars are from the “Yesterday & Today foil die cuts”.

Here is another version of basically the same layout, but with my fast becoming favourite mixed media style. Same papers, with the matching inks used to distress the background – in a similar style to my layout shared in a post last month.

This exclusive Stamp of The Month is only available during July. It can be yours for just $9 with a qualifying order of $80 or for $34 if ordered separately from your CTMH consultant.

If you do not have a consultant please contact me or place an order here.

I’d love you to leave a comment before heading off to the next stop ArtyMaz.

Posted in General | 10 Comments