Hi and welcome aboard our SOTM Australasian Close to my Heart Blog Hop.

If you have arrived here from Nell Ward’s blog, then you are in the right place.

If you landed here by accident, welcome, please join by following the link at the end of this post.

Thanksgiving is not a traditional celebration downunder – in fact, I’m sure there are many kiwis and Aussies who are not at all familiar with it.  After living in America for four years, and having US kiddies, it’s a ‘holiday’ we know well, and one that I think has so much merit in celebrating, whether or not it’s a tradition for you.  Sitting down with loved ones, sharing why you feel blessed and what you’re grateful for is a great way of putting some perspective into your life.  It reminds me of the saying below;

This months’ SOTM was obviously designed to decorate cards or pages with a Thanksgiving theme, but of course, there are some beautiful ‘generic’ messages on the stamp, that could be used in a range of mediums.

Today I’ve created a card to share with you, that is simply a thank you card – because I firmly believe that there is enormous power and pleasure in sending someone a card that says thank you.  And it’s a two way thing – I get so much joy creating a card for someone, and when I pop it in the post, I think of the joy they’re going to receive, when they see a nice envelope in amongst their mail – I mean who gets those these days??!  So I get a lot of pleasure out of the whole process, and I know as a recipient, it is SO nice to receive an unexpected card in the mail, and even nicer when it’s saying ‘you’re appreciated’.  I mean, who doesn’t like to be recognised?

I have to confess to ‘cheating’ on this card, because the idea for it was sparked by a very clever consultant on my team, Nadine Baker.  She created a version of this card that was her entry in a card swap held at my recent team retreat.  I loved what she did, but have modified it slightly to teach as part of my September card classes.

Along with our September SOTM, Feel So Blessed, I’ve also used CTMH’s new embossing folder, Leaves.  After embossing it on Sweet Leaf cardstock, I’ve sanded the top of it.  Our lovely white core cardstock, means that you get this fabulous effect when you sand it.  It really does bring a whole new dimension to it.  If you’re keen to re-create this look, make sure you order the sanding kit now, as it’s in our ‘going soon’ section.

Now as good as this card looks right now (!), check this out;

Cool huh?!!

A little fancy folding and voila!  What makes it even cooler is that it’s so easy to make.  I used an 8″ square to start, it’s then scored at halfway horizontally and vertically, and then once across a diagonal.  And that’s it! 🙂

I hope you’ve enjoyed my little creation, along with all of the others in the hop.  If you’re in NZ, and don’t have a consultant, you can order any products you need (or want!), from my website http://megan.closetomyheart.co.nz

And right now, carry on the inspiration by popping on over to Colleen at Colsie’s Scrappy Fusions

Thanks for stopping by,

Megan

Hello and welcome aboard our ‘Jack’ Australasian Close to My Heart Blog Hop.

If you have arrived here from Creating with Kara 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.

Isn’t it funny how you form an initial opinion on something – and then it can be completely changed?  That’s kind of my story with Jack – when I first saw ‘him’ I didn’t immediately fall in love – but then I started to see what all the clever people in the world created with him, and I fell! ♥

I have to say, it really was the same thing with the Jack bear!  (Part of the Jack Cardmaking stamp and thin cuts set).

I actually tried to resist buying him, but boy oh boy, resistance was futile in the face of all these amazing ideas created using him.  He’s such a good ‘dress up’ bear – I have literally seen it dressed as a ballerina, to a Christmas bear, and everything in between.  (If you’re part of my VIP group you’ll have seen many of these).

So it may come as no surprise then, that I’m going to share with you today, a card created with this gorgeous bear.

My inspiration for this card came from http://www.carlytee.com/2016_02_01_archive.html

It really is a simple card to create.  I’ve used watercolour card and paint to put the colour on the card.  I also used my paintbrush to give the ‘splatter’ affect on the background – this just helps soften the ‘whiteness’.   I have to say, I love the CTMH waterbrushes – I really like not having to worry about tipping over a dirty water cup.  (If you’re not familiar with the waterbrushes, they hold water in their tube.)

Medium water brush

It’s hard to see on the photo, but the heart has been given a little shimmer, the pink one with the clear shimmer brush, and the orange one with the gold shimmer brush – which works so perfectly with those tones.

Gold shimmer brush

Now, sadly Jack is reaching retirement age – in fact, he retires at the end of this month.  So if you’ve been inspired by all of the fabulous ideas you’ve seen whilst you’ve been ‘hopping’, make sure you order everything you need from your consultant now.  And if you’re in NZ, and don’t have a consultant, I’d love to help you out.  Here’s my website where you can shop to your hearts content http://megan.closetomyheart.co.nz

But your inspiration doesn’t stop there – we have lots of talented ladies who are sharing their ideas with you today.  So pop on over to Nell Ward – she always inspires me, so I’m sure she’ll do the same for you.

Thanks for popping by,

Megan

Shhh, this post may just contain samples of products not yet released (but not far away!).  On the other hand, it also includes products that are just about to retire, so I just had to share this now as I don’t want you to miss out on any of it.

Isn’t it funny how a deadline can propel you into action?!!  I’ve had the seed of this idea in my head ever since the ‘memo’ paper was released, but never quite gotten to creating this with it.

Then I was looking through one of our about to be released Cricut cartridges (shh, top secret!), and there was the last bit of inspiration I needed.

And here’s the result;

So this page is me getting ready in hopeful anticipation of an incentive trip to the Mediterranean that I’m hoping to earn with CTMH!!!  But it would make a great cover page for any of YOUR travel adventures, just swap out the heading of course.

Here’s a glimpse of the current (& about to retire) products I’ve used;

Memo Fundamentals

No Worries Scrapbooking Stamp & Thin Cuts

If you’ve been inspired by this page, order those things now, as they retire the 31st July.

But I do have another option for you – you can purchase this layout as a kit, all pre-cut and ready for you to stick down and add photos.  I’ll cut the title of your choice (in the colour of your choice).  The kit is just $10 and includes the ‘world’ cut from our map paper, 4 x polaroid cut outs in 2 sizes (yes, I’m throwing in an extra just in case you want to squeeze another photo on the page), a title cut from the CTMH coloured card of your choice, and a ‘cruise boat’ stamped die cut.    So order NOW!  (this offer ends 31st July).

Simply email me on megan@cropcraftcreate.com and let me know how many kits you’d like!

Personally, I can’t wait to add photos to the layout, because I know that’ll just finish it off beautifully.  (I also can’t wait to go on the trip!)

Happy memory making,

Megan

The great news about August is that we have an INCREDIBLE new book to inspire and delight you – and I don’t say that lightly!

However, sadly, plastic costs have gone up in the world, so many of our items that have some kind of plastic component will also face a price rise in the new book.

Luckily for you, I’m going to share with you here just what those items are, and the difference in price, so you can make an informed decision about buying them now.    In fact, why not get their purchase done and out of the way, and put those savings towards the exciting new products coming your way.  Shop online at http://megan.closetomyheart.co.nz

Pocket Memory Protectors – from $18, to $19
Value pack 12×12 memory protectors – currently $34.50, will be $41.50
Glitter paper – currently $10.50 (3 sheets/pack), will be $12
Make it from your heart pattern books- currently $14, will be $18
Spine expander (for post-bound albums)- currently $5.50, will be $8.50 (10 pack)
Reinkers – currently $10.50, will be $12
Watercolour paper- currently $12 (10 sheets), will be $14
Gems (gold glitter, red, grey) – currently $7.50, will be $8.50
Black&Gold / White&Gold Ribbon – currently $10.50, will be $12
Black and Blush Shimmer Ribbon – currently $8.50, will be $10.50
Watercolour paints- from $21 to $23.50
Sponge daubers- from $8 to $10.50
Sponge daubers value pack – from $29 to $32
Stamp spritz cleaner – from $8.50 to $10.50
Spritz cleaner refill- from $20 to $25
Bone folder – from $8.50 to $12
Rub & Remove Eraser – from $5.50 to $8.50
Tweezers – from $10.50 to $12
Versamat – from $26.50 to $28
Non-stick micro-tip scissors – from $25 to $28
Micro-tip scissors – from $18 to $21
Corner Rounder – from $14 to $18
Liquid Glass – from $12- $14
Workspace Wonder Stamp stack, marker stack and tool cubby- from $18ea to $19ea
Small tray – from $12 to $14
Large tray – from $23.50 to $26.50
Paper tray – from $32 to $34.50
My Acrylix Organiser – from $29 to $28
Mini organiser – from $23.50 to $23
Small organiser – from $29 to $34.50
Medium organiser – from $37.50 to $47.50
Large organiser – from $48 to $57
Tabbed dividers – from $8.50 to $10.50
Craft boxes – from $12 to $14
Foam inserts – from $15.50 to $18 & $26.50 to 28

If you prefer, I can place your order with mine (simply email me your order) or join my online gathering at http://megan.closetomyheart.co.nz

I also need to add that the Basics colour range is retiring (to make way for a new range of of Basics), so now would also be a good time to purchase re-inkers for any of those colours you have ink pads for, and of course, any cardstock in those colours you need to finish any projects with.

Plus, our ez dot adhesive is retiring – there is a replacement coming, but I LOVE my ez dot, so will be stocking up.  (I know I know, I’d never be able to buy enough, but having some to keep me going for a while will make me feel better 🙂 ).

Happy savings!

Isn’t this the most beautiful layout?!!  I’m SO in love with it.  It was created by one of my very clever team mates, Lynne Samkin.  And whilst she’s used her beautiful dogs in the pages, you’d easily be able to swap these out for outdoors / travel photos, or photos of the favourite man/men in your life.  (I have to say men, ‘cos now I’ve got 3 of them!  And before you start to wonder about me, no I’m not cheating on my husband, my boys have grown!!).

But do you want to know the best news about this layout??  If you visit us at SENZ this weekend, and purchase the Jack paper pack, we will give you the instructions to create this layout ….. AND …. we will make the cricut cuts for you on the stand (for just $1)!!!  How cool is that?!!

The paper pack is just $18, and the co-ordinating Complements (embellishments) are just $12.  The layout uses a mix of the paper, cricut cuts from the CTMH Flower Market cartridge, and the complements.

So, see you Friday at SENZ!

Jack Paper Pack $18

Jack Complements $12

From now until the end of the month it’s time to grab a cardstock bargain.  Our co-ordinating cardstock colours are an item you’ll always use.

The special is available on;

• Individual colours – that’s all 43!!  (24 sheet for 19.90)
• Co-ordinating Cardstock Combos (4 colours/3 of each for $13.50)  These combinations co-ordinate with our new kits in Jack, Prickly Pear, Little Dreamer and No Worries
• Seasonal Combo Collections (10 colours in each/2 of each for $18.90)  These are the Whimsy, Adventure, Enchantment & Basics found in the back of our annual catalogue.
• Our Essentials/Basic cardstock we use the most in 24 sheets/one pack – White Daisy, Colonial White and Kraft $12.75

You can order by emailing me, or directly on my website http://www.megan.closetomyheart.co.nz   If you’re ordering on the website, you’ll see the discount once you place the paper in the cart.

SHOP HERE NOW

And don’t forget, whilst you’re grabbing a bargain, there’s 25% off our album coversets until the end of the month also.

So there’s a really long list below – which might seem a little boring, but for some of you, it may hold ‘critical’ information.  Most of the items in our Annual Inspirations book will retire at the end of July.  My recommendation is your grab your book and a highlighter, and you mark off all the products that are going.  Then you’ll know whether there are things you need to get now, or you can wait (if your list is longer than your bank account that is).

For me one of the key items is the sea glass range. As our colour of the year, Sea Glass has been extremely popular – and if you want to carry on inking it, you’ll need to ensure you’ve got a re-inker.

So here’s the list;

2017-retiring-list

Now the good news is is that you’re getting a heads up.  The bad news is, is that if these items sell out before the catalogue ends (excluding stamps), then stock won’t be replenished.  Some items have already sold out (green shimmer trim, mini memory protectors, thin cuts hello and thanks, thin cuts hearts, you and me complements, my boy complements).

So, check it out now, and make sure you don’t miss out on the things you’ve been most coveting.

Welcome to the CTMH Australasian Little Dreamer Blog Hop.  This is a circular hop.  If you arrived from Nell’s Blog you are in the right place.  Simply read through this post and click on the link to the next blog at the end of it.  Keep reading and ‘hopping’ until you find yourself back where you started from.  Each blog will showcase a project featuring the Little Dreamer paper suite from Close To My Heart.

Today I have a little card project to share, via video!!!   It uses a little fold technique that one of my clever team mates (Victoria) taught us at our camp last year.   It’s very simple to do, but it does require the precision markings on the SureCut Deluxe Craft Paper Trimmer.  This is a Fiskars trimmer, and whilst Fiskars have a lot of different trimmers on the market, this is categorically the BEST trimmer I’ve ever used, for lots of different reasons.  So don’t be tempted to purchase just any trimmer, make sure this model is the one you get.

What you might not pick up on the front cover, is the strip of ‘white’ shimmer trim.  Is there anyone out there who doesn’t love shimmer trim???  It really is stunning in all the colours it comes in, but sometimes there might not be the colour you want available.  The great news is, is that you can colour the white shimmer trim – so you can totally customise your shimmer.  Just whip out your shin han alcohol markers, or your paint set.  On this card I wanted to recreate the ‘rainbow’ colours in the paper on the front, and used the watercolour paints to colour it.  Clever huh?!!  So make sure you always have a roll of white shimmer trim in your stash.

Now the entire Little Dreamer suite, and the white shimmer trim, are available to purchase from your consultant.  But if you don’t have a consultant, you can order through my website.

I’d love you to leave a comment for me.  And if you’d like instructions on how to create the card ‘fold’ send me an email at megan@cropcraftcreate.com and I’ll email them through.

And now, click on the underlined link and move on to the lovely Shaunna Richards, Passionate About Pages  to see the gorgeous project she has designed for you.

Enjoy your crafting adventure,

Megan

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Products used in this project:

X7219b Little Dreamer Paper Packet

X5782 Pansy Cardstock

Z2840 Thistle Ink

C1677 Little Dreamer – Cardmaking stamp set

Z3024 White Shimmer trim

Z726 Sponge Daubers

z1783 SureCut Deluxe Craft Paper Trimmer

You see this mantra everywhere, and now you’re going to see it even more, because it’s this months’ SOTM.

It truly is beautiful – there is so much that you can do with it – whether you stamp it and colour in the flowers, stamp it and colour in the background, or emboss it, it’s just beautiful.

And of course, you can ‘split’ the letters and make other words.  Now there’s a challenge for you – I wonder how many words you can make from these letters.  Shall we start a list in the comments below?!

You’ve already see a layout I’ve done using the stamp set, now I’ve added to my ‘art’ collection with a very simple frame.

To create this, I got a little ‘crafty’ with my watercolour paints – of course using watercolour paper.  Nothing too technical here – just lots of water, and the colours you want dropped into it.  But I did want all the colour in the centre, where I would be stamping.

You’ll need to let it dry overnight, and then you can stamp.  I used Momento black ink just because I wanted it to be very vibrant over the paint, and because I was going to be colouring in after.  I chose to ‘colour’ some of the flowers using my fine tip black pen just to give it a little more oomph.   Et voila – it’s that simple.  Then choose a frame, and pop it in.  I did also run my Shin Han black marker around the inside edge of the mount in the frame, again for just a little more definition and oomph.

What do you think?

If you haven’t yet got the SOTM, you can purchase it from my website.  It’s $30.50, or just $7.50 with a $75 order.

Yours in crafting adventures,

Megan

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