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

x

The scrapbooking world is in LOVE with CTMH’s Live Beautifully collection – and I can’t deny how beautiful the paper collection is.

However – as the tomboy mother of boys, the ‘flowery’ part of the paper pack (most people’s favourite papers), are a little too girly for me.

The clever clogs at CTMH must have known there were a few people out there like me, because along with the flowery papers, they put a range of black and white papers (me all over), and some great ombre.

Here’s what the paper pack looks like;

So I’ve taken a sheet of the ombre, and bizarrely, have ‘flowered’ it up with a little background stamping, using the flowers that come with the May SOTM.  Here’s the stampset;

Beautiful huh?!!  It’s a colourers’ dream!  We got a little taste of this type of stamp set last quarter with one of the Dreamin’ Big stamp sets – Hello.  It was very similar to this, and had the word ‘life’ just like the ‘together’ on this one.  So I combined both onto one page, and used heat embossing instead of colouring to keep the look simple (which as you know, is me all over).

Here’s the finished result;

What do you think?  I know, you can’t stop looking at the photo right?!!  🙂  What a handsome bunch of boys I have!

But what do you think of the layout??

Megan

x

If you’re new to album making, short of time, lacking a little creativity, or just like simple and stunning pages, then you need to check out the CTMH Cut Above kits.

These kits are incredible – everything is pre-cut and ready for you to piece together into two stunning scrapbook layouts, and 4 beautiful pocket pages.  And all of this in 15 or so minutes!!!  Just add adhesive, photos and your story.

These kits are truly fabulous, but this month, perhaps even a little more so.  Why you ask?  Because they’re 50% off during April.  You did read that right.  At $26.50 these kits are a great deal, but at $13.25 these are a ‘not to be missed’ kind a deal.  And not only are they awesome for you, but they are perfect baby and wedding gifts!

There are two kits to choose from – Little One and Forever & Always.  Now don’t let the names limit you – I’ve seen the Little One used for babies, toddlers and animals, and the Forever & Always can be used for anyone/anything you love – family, wedding, anniversary etc

So here’s what the finished Scrapbook layout looks like in Little One;

This shows you all the pieces you get;

Here’s what the finished layouts look like in Forever & Always;

Now check out my little video to see how quick and simple it is to create these pages;

So – you’d be crazy not to pick up both of these kits this month, click HERE to place your order, or simply phone or email (megan@cropcraftcreate.com)  me.

Our CTMH home office has on their blog today a very cool post about Flip Flaps.  If you haven’t yet seen our flip flaps in action, then you HAVE to check it out – because these are just the coolest additions to your page.  I mean, who doesn’t run out of room for photos on a layout right?!  Flip flaps allow you to add all of the photos you WANT on a page, so no sacrificing.  They come in a fabulous array of sizes, AND they’re cheap as chips!!  What’s not to LOVE?!!

I’ve never shared a blog post on my blog before, so I’m not quite sure how this will work, or indeed IF it will work, but hopefully it does!

Click on the link below to see exactly what flip flaps are, and just how cool they are.

https://blog.closetomyheart.com/2017/03/16/fun-with-flip-flaps/

Now I know once you’ve checked that out, you’re going to want to order some yourself.  So, either email me at megan@cropcraftcreate.com or pop onto my website to order.  Check out all the different sizes and prices HERE.

Enjoy!

x

I’m thrilled to say that next months’ speed kit is ready to order.  You can create your 4 pages in 1 hour (!!) in the comfort of your home (just order the kit), or join us in the class on the 31st March.

Click here to order.

CTMH’s 24 hour Sweet Sale – 30% discount on select products from our Annual Inspirations AND Seasonal Expressions.  Beginning now (11am), for one day only.  The offers are only available on orders through my website, so jump on, check them out, and go grab yourself a deal HERE

Enjoy!

There are many mums around NZ right now checking off lists as they prepare for kids heading to/going back to school.  For the first time in 15 years I’m not one of them :(.  It is hard to believe that both my boys are finished at school and are now at Uni.  Dean was deliberating about going to uni in Victoria, but I am very glad he has decided on Auckland – I’m not quite sure I’m ready for him to be leaving home just yet!!

Anyway, I digress.  If you do have children heading to school, it’s easy to get caught up in the stress/excitement of it all, and to forget about ‘recording’ those moments.  So I thought I’d share a few ‘photo’ tips to help ensure you capture all of the firsts and special moments in their school life.

Some photo recommendations;

First year of school;

• Purchasing their uniform – trying it on in the shop
• Class visits
• First day of school, all dressed and ready to go, waving goodbye from home, walking down the driveway etc
• One of the school itself

I really love this page below that I found on Pinterest – the photo is not a ‘posey’ shot but it has so much in it.  I love how big the backpack is in comparison to him – and this would be a good ‘comparison/measure’ each year.   And I love her journalling – it really tells the story (like all good journalling does).

I love this page also by Vicki Wizniuk from the Wizards Hangout.  Just like her, all through the kids school years we took a photo of them in their uniform outside our front door – one together, and then individually.  It is so special looking back through them, seeing when their uniform changed, how they grew, and now, it’s funny to look and see how small Dean was compared to Jackson  (our baby is now now 6’2″, the tallest in the family and still growing!).

Although on this next page the photo was taken the first day, the page has been created at the end of the year – the journalling tells the story of the year.  If you’re going to do your page like this, make sure you put notes in your diary as the year progresses, so it’s easy to remember the milestones and write that story!

Each year consider taking photos of;

• Get a programme of daily routines from the class, and take photos of your child participating in all of these, ie. classroom study, PE activities, morning tea, art, music etc
• Class trips
• Special events and sports days
• With school friends
• School assembly, and them achieving recognition
• Your child and their teacher
• As they grow make sure you include the subjects they study each year

Along with the photos, consider including these;

• Have your child do some writing in your album, alongside their photos.  At the very least get them to sign their name, that way you can see how it changes over the years.
• I also like to record pieces of information that I think will be interesting to look back on.  I ask them questions like;
• Why do they like their teacher?
• What’s their favourite lunch?
• Who are their best friends?
• What they like best about school?
• What’s their favourite music at exercise class?
• What they like to wriete their stories about?

Some people I know have a list of questions that they ask each year – so the same questions, asked annually.  It’s quite funny and really interesting to see how it changes.  These are questions like, what’s your favourite colour, what would you like to be when you grow up etc

• Their artwork.  Especially in their younger years, children create a prolific amount of artwork at school, and I know it’d be wonderful to include it all in an album.  For me that wasn’t practical, so I collected all my favourite pieces, and at the end of the year I put them all up on a wall, and took a photo of them.  That photo then went into the album.

Where and how do you store their report cards and certificates?

I like to store these in their albums, so everything that relates to school is together, is safely preserved, and I know where it is.

Depending on the format of the item, I find the CTMH flip flaps are great for adding memorabilia into my pages, that I don’t necessarily want adhered.

Have a great time recording your child’s life at school.  They spend a significant amount of time there, recording it will make you feel more a part of it (you’ll be surprised how much you learn along the way), and it will be a wonderful resource of memories that you’ll both have forever.

As you turn your photos into treasured memories, don’t forget that CTMH have some wonderful products themed to make accenting your school photos a breeze.  Here’s a few;

There’s a thin cuts that goes with this too

If you’d like to order any of these products, pop onto my website www.cropcraftcreate.co.nz

What else do you find has been an important ‘school’ memory?  Feel free to share your top tip, and if you have one of the ‘question’ lists, what are your questions?

Megan

x

I know I know, it’s only January 18th, but that means it is less than a month to Valentine’s Day, and wouldn’t it feel just so good to be organised early??!!

As much as I love all of the stamps on this months’ SOTM, I really really love the heart on it – it is so special, and oh so pretty.  So whilst I had lots of other ideas when thinking about creating a card, using the heart was at the forefront of those ideas, and  this is what I’ve come up with;

A simple but stunning card, featuring the CTMHJanuary 2017 SOTM, Adore You

Along with the SOTM heart, the other two hearts were created using Hello Lovely – Cardmaking C1670.

Now, if you’d like some further inspiration using the SOTM, you should jump onto my Pinterest board – Ideas using SOTM.  One of my favourites on there is a layout by Tamytha Jenkins – http://www.paperheartist.com

Isn’t that just so beautiful?!  She also created a stunning card – pop onto my page to check it out.

I hope you’re inspired to share a little love.

x

Next to my speed scrapbooking kits, CTMH Workshops Your Way are the best way to complete fabulous pages fast!

Each kit comes with everything you need to complete 6 pages (that’s 3 double page spreads).  But did you know that alongside the 6 scrapbook layouts, the kit also includes the  cutting guides and base materials to complete 9 cards, AND the inserts to fill a Pocket Plus page??!!  Now that’s value!   The instructions are online, and include a full cutting guide – so you simply sit down, do all the cutting as per instructions, then stick it all together.  So quick and easy, and you still have leftovers to create even further with.

This month I’m focusing on the Sugar Rush range, so thought I’d share with you here the pages you can create using the Sugar Rush WYW (Workshop Your Way);

But wait …. there’s more!  Here’s a sample of what you can do with pocket plus pages;

And here’s the card ideas;

Aren’t they fabulous?!  To download the instructions, click HERE – under the product description there’s a link called ‘download guide’.