The Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge is a great challenge blog, run by Canadians and inspiring creativity with a new card sketch every week.  This week, I am honoured to be the Guest Designer and have created some great projects using the assigned sketch.  It is a nice, clean sketch -- right up my alley -- and I had a lot of fun getting my "crafty" on.

Here is the sketch:



And here are two cards that I've made using this sketch.

The first card uses one of my favourite mini stamps "You are my Happy".  I am grateful for all the friends and family who are supporting me right now, and plan to use this stamp and card design for lots of cards in the future.


This card uses the black and glacier polka dot paper from "Snowhaven", glacier cardstock embossed using my Cuttlebug and one of our embossing folders, 3 colours of shimmer trim (silver, gold and teal), and a red enamel heart, along with the "You are my Happy" stamp.

As a special offer, if you purchase this "You are my Happy" mini stamp from me this month (November), I will donate 50 cents to Hearth Place, a cancer support centre here in Oshawa.  They do amazing work and provide some really valuable services, all free of charge to those fighting cancer.  Simply email me at justscrapit.ctmh@gmail.com to find out how to get yours.


The second card is more festive for the upcoming holiday season.

This card uses the glacier diamond paper from "Snowhaven" and Whisper cardstock.  The 3 pennants were made using Cranberry cardstock, a zip strip from "Snowhaven" and silver shimmer trim. A red enamel heart and black enamel star add a finishing touch.  I stamped and coloured the polar bear and sentiment from "Polar Bear Holiday".  The sentiment was stamped using both cranberry and glacier ink -- offset to create a shadow look.

Finally, I created a non-card project using this sketch.  That's what I love about sketches -- they can be used for so many things.  I posted this project yesterday, Remembrance Day, in honour of our soldiers who have fought and continue to fight for the freedoms we enjoy.  See this post for details, and take a look here:



Don't forget to visit the Atlantic Hearts blog and play along with this week's sketch challenge.

Remembrance Day isn't really a card-giving occasion.  But it's a day that we should all be encouraged to set aside a few moments and remember.

Remember those who died to keep our country free.

Remember those who put themselves in danger, here and around the world, so that we can be safe.

Remember those who hope to make a difference in the future.

I created this frame for my son Sam, who is a member of the RCSCC Whitby Sea Cadets.  He has gained so much from being a cadet, and has thoughts of making the military a career in the future.  Hopefully, he will post this in his room and always remember those who came before him.


I also wanted to honour my sister-in-law, Meghan, who is a member of the Canadian Navy and has been deployed several times into dangerous zones, fighting for our country.

Thank you.  I will always remember.


***************
This frame uses the following supplies:

• Atlantic Hearts Sketch (see more creations using this sketch tomorrow)
• Black, Whisper, Slate, Cranberry and White Daisy cardstock
• "Courage" and "It's the Little Things" (November Stamp of the Month) stamp sets
• Cranberry and Black CTMH Exclusive Inks
• Assorted black ribbon and adhesives
• Value black frame from Michaels

Washi adds fun and more shine.

Lines drawn with a journaling pen finish off this card.

Layers, stickers and bling, oh my!

So simple but so spectacular.

Vintage is a hot trend right now -- in fashion, in art, and in crafting.  This Yuletide Carol paper pack fits right in with its flourishes, traditional colours and images.  These layouts are perfect for family photos of the holiday season -- and they would even look fabulous with black and white photos.


Workshop on the Go kits are so easy to put together because they come with just about everything you need: the paper, the stamps, the embellishments, the instructions.  But you still have the ability to be creative by adding extra embellishments and Cricut diecuts -- or taking some away.

In this layout, I only did some of the smaller Cricut diecuts and added some Gold Bling Gems and embellishments from the Black Mini Medley assortment.  They really added sparkle and shine to the layout.



The second layout is just as lovely -- and it really shows off that vintage-y look while staying clean and simple.



Get ready for your holiday photos with the Yuletide Carol Workshop on the Go.  Email me at justscrapit.ctmh@gmail.com or shop online to get yours.  Or add yours to your Christmas wish list and hope that Santa brings it for you.

Yup.  It's that time of year again!  The weather is getting colder, and we're all getting busier, planning for the holidays -- gifts, family get-togethers, vacations.  There's so much to do.

You deserve a break this holiday season.  I know that you've been NICE this year.  And I know that you deserve to find something fun and colourful and crafty under the tree.

So let me help the Santa in your life get you just what you want to have some "me" time over the holidays and into the New Year.  Here's how:

STEP ONE:  Download my CTMH Holiday Wish List
STEP TWO:  Fill out the list with all the things you want -- from the current Annual Inspirations and from the Seasonal Expressions that goes live December 1st.  It is helpful if your list is prioritized with your favourite 'must-haves' first.
STEP THREE:  Give your list to your Santa OR to me.
STEP FOUR:  Have your Santa call or email me before December 5th and I will help him shop.  Your gift will be wrapped and delivered in time for celebrating.

Do you need to shop for a crafty someone special this season?  Stay tuned all month as I feature some great holiday gift ideas and stocking stuffers that you can give.  Come back often!

Happy November!  This is a really exciting month for me -- I love the lead-up to Christmas, but November isn't quite as busy, isn't quite as panicked, isn't quite as stressful.  We have time to be creative with our gift ideas and have fun with our shopping.  And we might even still have some time for ourselves!

Close to my Heart's Constant Campaign in November is designed to help you get creative if you want to make some of your gifts -- and maybe make something for yourself too.

Introducing Studio J's Lucky 5.  Studio J is our fabulous online scrapbooking system that helps you to create layouts (and other projects -- more on that later) with just a few clicks.  They look dimensional and they are printed on quality photo paper -- PLUS you get the jpegs so that you can share digitally too!

Lots of pictures, size them up or down, add your journaling, great embellishments, wide range of papers and themes -- even those old favourites that have been retired from traditional scrapbooking.

 If you haven't tried Studio J, NOW is the time to do it.  It's free to play and try it out.  Visit studioj.com today!


HERE'S HOW YOU CAN SAVE AND WIN WITH STUDIO J'S LUCKY 5

• Get Studio J 2-page layouts for just $5 -- that's a 35% savings off the regular price!
• Every 5th Studio J order will receive a FREE CTMH accessory -- a nice little bonus!
• Throughout the month, 5 "Golden Tickets" will be sent with Studio J orders, redeemable for a new D-ring album.
• Post your Studio J jpeg on Facebook (you get the jpegs free with your order) with the tag #ctmhlucky5 for a chance to win a new album!
• Post your Studio J jpeg on Instagram with the tag #ctmhlucky5 for a chance to win a new album!

Add journaling right on your photos.  Brads and embellishments look real!

BUT HOW DOES THAT HELP WITH MY GIFT GIVING?

Multiple Albums
Well, your Studio J creations don't have to be limited to scrapbooking layouts for your own scrapbooks.  With Studio J, you can create a layout once, and print twice, three times or more!  Create an album for each grandma, aunt, special friend without all the extra work!

Photo Collage
Create a gorgeous collage with photos from the past year and place it in one of our gorgeous shadow boxes ($31.75 each).  A great gift that turns your layout into home decor.


Calendar
Create a page for each month and add them to a monthly calendar ($8.75).  It's the gift that gives all year 'round.


Photo Christmas Cards
Like to send a photo of your family but tired of the cheesy layouts the department stores offer?  Create your own!  So each to make them personal and fun.



The only limit is your imagination.  What will you come up with?

Need help with Studio J?  Email me at justscrapit.ctmh@gmail.com with all your questions.  We can even set up a one-on-one session to help you get started.

Wishing you and all your ghosts, goblins, monsters and princesses a spooky and safe Halloween!

Inside, add some trim, some stickers and stamped images, and some extra cardstock to make this feel like a continuous piece.  Whatever you do, just have some fun!  And don't forget some spots for journaling!


Finish off the back cover with a spooky message!

And it's so affordable!  The Cut Above Treat bag kits are just $16.50 and you can make your mini album as big as you want -- or even make two!  These treat bags are now available for Halloween and Christmas, and coming soon for Valentines and Easter.

Ok.  I'll admit it.  I love the polar bear postage stamp in the October Stamp of the Month "Home for the Holidays".  That's why I had to make 2 more cards using this super cute stamp.


The first card stays traditional, combining papers from our Paper Fundamentals series and the "Snowhaven" paper pack.  Pear is one of my most favourite colours, and it really pops against the other colours.  A touch of black defines the images.

The second card "zags" by using "Seaside" papers and featuring another great colour, Lagoon.  The heart washi tape and enamel shapes add a loving touch -- and this card is perfect for someone who may not celebrate Christmas, but you want to send good wishes to.

Lastly, these designs are not intricate are involved.  It just shows you that some simple strips and a great stamp are really all you need to make some beautiful cards.




Want to make some fun cards this holiday season?  Get this adorable stamp set for just $5 when you place an order of $50 or more, only available in October!  Email me at justscrapit.ctmh@gmail.com or shop online!

I know Halloween isn't traditionally a card-giving holiday.  But this year, I want to send a little treat to each of my nieces and nephews and I've made some cute little cards to go along with it.

The trick to this card is the folding!


It's so easy to make, and so economical with the paper.  The black enamel stars are a great accent.

Who loves candy corn?

My older son is addicted to candy corn, and that inspired these little cards.



Great for using up little scraps, and again, the stars add some fun punch!  I could have coloured the stamped images, but thought that the black & white against the colourful background created more impact.  Aren't these stamps super cute?

Here's wishing you a spooktacularly sweet Halloween!

I love making Christmas cards.  And I can see myself playing with Close to my Heart's new Cricut Cartridge, "Artfully Sent" to make some great cards.

Here's one of them.  I used Artfully Sent, our Paper Fundamentals, and the October Stamp of the Month "Home for the Holidays".  I love the non-traditional colour combination!


This card came together so easily -- just one stamped image and some simple trim.  The Cricut did the rest.

October SOTM "Home for the Holidays" -- yours for just $5 with a qualifying purchase!

Welcome to this new monthly feature on my blog:  The CTMH V-Factor!  V stands for versatility.  We have so many wonderful products that can be used for more than one thing -- and this is the place where I'm going to show that off!

OCTOBER:  1 layout, 1 paper pack, 2 looks
This month, in honour of Halloween and the tremendous fun you can have being spooky, I have been featuring creative pieces using the "Scaredy Cat" paper pack.  BUT, I know Halloween isn't always a something you scrapbook.  So here are two layouts, both using the same layout sketch "Clear Dimension" from "Cherish" (one of CTMH's amazing how-to books) and both using Scaredy Cat papers, but to celebrate different memories.

Halloween Layout First


This layout is very Halloween and very fun, with lots of pop.  The colours and patterns work well to create a happy layout.  All you need is your photos!

Our new Cricut cartridge, "Artfully Sent" has some great accents and more that helped to add to this layout.  The spider and its webs are fun, and the Picture My Life pocket card made for the perfect title.  Embellishments, like sequins layered with stars, liquid glass, zip strips and stamps made for a spooktacular finish.


Many of the patterns in the Scaredy Cat paper pack are versatile and don't have to be used for Halloween.  I've pulled 3 different patterned papers and paird them with some basic cardstock to create this warm look.  I added some random stamping to emphasize the "love" theme.

Once again, I tapped into "Artfully Sent", my stamps and embellishments to add finishing touches.  Liquid Glass on the dots adds texture and shine.  And pairing the slate and thistle ribbons just made it feel girly and coordinated.

This year, CTMH is celebrating our 30th anniversary -- 30 years of great products, 30 years of consultant successes, 30 years of friendships ...  #30yearsofhappy !!!!

So, the Brae-er's team has chosen to share what has made US happy with CTMH.

If you're coming from Darcel's blog, you're in the right place!  This is a circular hop, so it doesn't matter where you start -- just keep hopping to see what makes us happy!  Please take a moment to leave comments along the way -- comments make us happy too!

My Happy is going to Hawaii!

Convention 2013 was a fabulous experience for me.  It was my first Convention, and it was where I won my first high profile award.  And it was where the motivation to take my business to the next level was born.  When they announced that Aulani, the Disney Resort in Hawaii, was the destination for our next incentive trip, I knew I had to go for it.  I may not make it, but if I really wanted to take the next step, this is what what going to get me there.

And guess what?!  I worked my butt off and I DID IT!  My hubby Matt and I are going to Hawaii with CTMH in February!!!!!!!!!!  The last few months have thrown some pretty huge challenges at my family, and having Hawaii to look forward to is definitely what will get me through.

I am grateful for all the help, support and encouragement I received from so many people, making my dream of Hawaii a reality.  So I've made some cards (and will be making more) to show those special people just how much they mean to me.


The Island Greetings stamp set was perfect for the cards I wanted to create.  And I played with our new Shin Han markers too -- colouring is so relaxing!



SUPPLIES:
Island Greetings Stamp Set
Shin Han Markers: R5, RP198, Y222, G46, WG4, Colourless blender
Brushed papers
Honey Paper Fundamentals
Cardstock: White Daisy, Ruby, Slate, Hollyhock
White Enamel Stars
Bitty Sparkles


Another thing that really kept me focused was the vision board I created.  I used our Surf's Up Picture My Life cards and our versatile Display Tray.  It came together very quickly and didn't need to be intricate or involved.  Just a little shimmer trim, some Lagoon bling and some Donald.  But every day, when I walked past it, it reminded me of my goals and kept me working hard to get there.


KEEP ON HOPPING!

The next stop on this Happy Hop is Christine's Creative Life blog.  Keep hoppin', and don't forget to leave us some love!

Giving adorable treats to your child's friends or classmates has never been easier!  Close to my Heart has introduced a new line of products called "A Cut Above".  These kits are so fun and come complete with just about everything you need to put together treat bags or cards.

Here are the ADORABLE Halloween treat bags!  No glue or ink needed.


This kit comes with the treat bags in two patterns, several sheets of spooktacular stickers, plastic bags and diecut circles. All you have to is add candy!  So fabulous, you'll be the mom everyone is oohing and ahhing over.  So easy, your kids can even help you!

The kit comes with enough supplies to make 10 bags.  Purchase multiple kits affordably to fill every treat bag in the classroom.

Simply email me at justscrapit.ctmh@gmail.com and get your Cut Above Halloween kits in, just in time for Halloween.

Happy October!  My nine-year-old is counting down the days until he can go trick-or-treating -- though he doesn't know what costume he'll be wearing yet -- and I'm really glad this fun holiday is on a Friday this year.  Now to just keep our fingers crossed for warm-ish and DRY weather conditions.

And when the photos are taken and the treats gobbled down, I have a great layout ready and waiting!


I love the colours and how it looks very Halloween-y without being dark.  It's bright and fun!

I have a very good friend who is an extremely talented cardmaker.  Karen -- you are awesome!  We had a fabulous visit recently and she gave me this gorgeous card, using the Pathfinding paper pack and the "You mean the World to Me" stamp set.


I love how she combined small pieces of different papers in the kit and the green dots just add the right pizzazz.  The stamp is so simple, but so meaningful.  It's just an awesome card.  Thank you Karen!  You can see more of Karen's work at Karen's Creations.