Celebrate Good Times

I have already had a lot of things to celebrate this year, including my Dad's 66th birthday at the beginning of January.

The new Celebrate Today collection was perfect for this layout as the blue and green tones just happened to match the photos from the day!

I paired Mint, Bluebird and Lagoon for this layout, and the patterned paper made a wonderful background.




I also added some fun stitched circle embellishments and some Celebrate Today Picture My Life Cards as well as a few stamped sentiments from the Birthday Joy stamp set.




I really like the clean and simple lines of this layout paired with the little details such as the die cut tree border and the stamped star circles.

If you've had something to celebrate recently, why not share it with us over at Heart 2 Heart? We'd love to see your project!

S1605 Celebrate Australasian Stamp of the Month Blog Hop

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

If you have arrived here from Wendy'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.

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

I paired this stamp set with the new Magical WYW, a fabulous boy paper packet with the most amazing sequins!

Here is the layout- unfortunately I printed my photos the wrong size so you will have to imagine my layout with the birthday photos!



I paired the 'celebrate' sentiment with one of the cute cameras from the Magical Complements and the blue paper. You can also see the balloons from the Magical Complements with the white twine to create a bunch of balloons on one of my squares.



I cut up one of the PML cards and stamped the candles down the red strip in black ink.



The PML cards were also great to add a journalling box and the large camera square. More complements, sequins and the 'happy birthday' SOTM sentiment are clustered around the journalling to draw attention to it.



This exclusive  SOTM is only available during May. It can be yours for just $10 with a qualifying order of $75 or for $33 if ordered separately from your CTMH consultant.

I'd love you to leave a comment before heading off to the next stop, Maz's Inky Fingers.

A Floral Birthday Card

Challenges have been helping my creative juices flow this week, and I thought that the Seize The Birthday floral topping would work well with the Color Dare this week!

I used a lot of different base and shade stamped flowers, then fussy cut them and placed them together to form a border. I then stamped some leaves behingd the cut out flowers. I added a strip of striped Thistle paper, and the bottom of the card is the Juniper Fundamental Paper.



The flowers are from Blossoming Expressions and Flowers for Mum, which I thought made a lovely combination for a floral bouquet.

The sentiment was stamped in White Daisy ink and cut from a piece of Thistle cardstock.

This card will be winging its way to my mother in law next week for her birthday!

October Newsletter

It's October, my favourite month! Christmas crafting is underway, I have my birthday coming up, and I get a long weekend for Labour Day.

October is a great time to be a customer- the Stamp of the Month is gorgeous and can be yours for only $10 with any $75 purchase.Have a closer look at Twinkle on my website, or come along to my Sunday workshop and see some of my creations with this stamp set in person.

It is also a great month to sign up as a Consultant. If you have ever thought about turning your hobby into a lucrative business, now is the time! Join my Team during October, and receive the SUPER cute 2015 Close To My Heart Convention bag FREE in your New Consultant Kit! Travel in style with this trendy and eye-catching cross body bag, perfectly sized for carrying layouts, paper packets, and projects that are in-progress. Along with all of the incredible items found in the newly revamped New Consultant Kit, this bag will help you start your business with confidence and flair!

Don't forget to enter my birthday giveaway! You can get up to two entries on my blog, plus you can receive extra entries by:

• Making a purchase in my shop
• attending one of my events
• Booking a Gathering for October to make a sweet holiday necklace

My upcoming events are as follows:

October Sunday Workshop

Sunday 4th October 10am-4pm, The Cashmere Club

Come and craft with us whether you haven't started or are a seasoned crafter - come and be inspired.
It is FREE to drop in at any stage OR book a workspace and stay for a full day of crafting.
This month we are featuring NEW Sangria Reflections Papers with papers, complements and Workshop on the Go Scrapbooking.
Everyone attending for the full day will receive a sheet from this new My Reflections paper pack and an idea sheet. There will be a prize for the best use of the paper on a page layout or a card.
We will be providing a demonstration and you can see the latest specials.
Tea, coffee and afternoon tea included.

RSVPs required by 3rd October.

Family Hinged Display Tray

Friday 16th October 7pm at my place

Get in early for those homemade Christmas gifts by creating a Family themed Hinged Display tray using the new Sangria paper packet, stamp set and twine. 

Cost is $45 per person- includes all materials, full instructions and supper.

RSVPs required by 4th October.

Sangria Flip Flap Layouts

Saturday 24th October 2pm at my place

Let me show you how to turn three double page layouts into one interactive layout with up to 35 photos!

This family themed workshop will give you enough layouts for a special occasion or everyday use, using patterns from our Ideas Books as well as flip flaps and the gorgeous new Sangria paper.

Each participant will receive to keep:

1 Sangria paper packet (pre-cut) 

1 Sangria Assortment

1 package of Memory Protector Flip Flaps 12" Assortment

4 Memory Protector Flip Flaps from the Small Assortment

Pre-cut piece of Poppy Twine

2 12" Clear Memory Protectors

4 12 x 12 Champagne Cardstock

1 Colonial White Cardstock

2 Pomegranate Cardstock

Cost is $60 per person for this afternoon class- includes all materials, full instructions, additional supplies required and afternoon tea.

RSVPs required by 4th October.

Christmas Card Workshop

Friday 6th November 7:30pm at my place

Need to make some Christmas cards? Let me show you how to make 10 Christmas cards in this exclusive workshop. You will make 5 each of two designs, and receive the following in your kit:

2 sheets of White Pines paper

1 sheet Colonial White cardstock

1 sheet Fern cardstock

1 sheet Slate cardstock

1 packet Red Enamel Gems

1 packet Fern Thick Twine

10 Colonial White Cards

10 Colonial White Envelopes

Cost is $50- includes above supplies as well as full instructions, additional supplies to complete the cards and a supper.

RSVPs required by 16th October.

November Sunday Workshop

Sunday 8th November 10am-4pm, The Cashmere Club

Come and craft with us whether you haven't started or are a seasoned crafter - come and be inspired.
It is FREE to drop in at any stage OR book a workspace and stay for a full day of crafting.
This month we are featuring NEW Urban Collection with papers, complements and Workshop on the Go Scrapbooking.
Everyone attending for the full day will receive a sheet from this new My Reflections paper pack and an idea sheet. There will be a prize for the best use of the paper on a page layout or a card.
We will be providing a demonstration and you can see the latest specials.
Tea, coffee and afternoon tea included.

RSVPs required by 6th November.

Reindeer Bells Bag, Tag and Card Class

Saturday 21st November 3pm at my place

Complete the perfect gift bag with tag and a matching card, perfect for gift giving this Christmas!

This kit is $45 and includes the following to make 6 cards, 6 bags and 6 tags

•(1) My Acrylix® Reindeer Bells stamp set (C-size)

•(6) Gift Bags (3 Topiary chevron, 3 Ruby polka-dot)

•(6) Die-Cut Tags 

•(6) White Daisy Cards and Envelopes 

•Pre-cut Patterned Paper, Ruby Cardstock, and White Daisy Cardstock

•Step-by-Step instructions

I will provide the other supplies required to complete the set. Please bring your own adhesive.

RSVP required by 8th November.

To RSVP for any of these events please RSVP via Facebook or contact me.

Check out my website for all your craft supplies and ideas http://www.laurenmoore.shopctmh.co.nz/

It's my birthday month- and YOU get the presents!

October is one of my favourite months- I get to celebrate my birthday along with my twin sister!



To celebrate, I am giving you the chance to win some birthday themed craft goodies.

You could win Little Presents and Gold Glitter Paper.

To enter-

• Leave a comment below telling me your best birthday present ever.
• Bonus point- am I in the blue or yellow headband? 

To gain extra entries, you can

• Make a purchase in my shop
• attend one of my events
• Book a Gathering for October to make a sweet holiday necklace

The winner will be drawn at 1pm on Sunday 1st November and winner will be notified immediately via my Facebook page and email. Good luck!

ABC Blog Hop- M

Welcome to the Everything ABC's Blog Hop!

For this hop we will be featuring the letter M. This may be the name of a paper, a stamp set or an embellishment. Whatever the crafter has chosen as their M element will be featured in their post.

If you came from Sue then you're on the right track!

I am trying out the cute Mini Banner I received in a recent prize pack, The chipboard backing is now retired, but these shapes are all still available to cut on the Cricut.



I used Confetti Wishes to cover the pennants, as well as some birthday themed stamps and gold embellishments. The font is Handwritten Print, which I stamped on 2" circles.



The ice cream cone is from the June SOTM, and fits perfectly with the party theme! I paper pieced the ice cream using Glacier cardstock and a piece of the Canary Whimsy Fundamentals paper packet.



Now this banner is ready to go for our upcoming birthday parties, and the Confetti Wishes paper is neutral enough for any party that my boys might decide to have.

Your next stop on our Everything ABC'S blog Hop is Linda of Scrappy Therapy.

In case you get lost along the way…go to Scrappy Therapy for a complete list of participants!

CTMH supplies used:
Cardstock: Glacier, Honey
Embellishments: Bling Gold Gems, Gold Sequins Assortment, Mini Banner
Ink: Pacifica
Paper Packets: Confetti Wishes, Whimsy Fundamentals
Stamp sets: Handwritten Print, Ice Cream Dream, Mini Birthday Gift, Perfect Fit-Birthday,

Happy Everything- Operation Smile

Operation Smile is a private,  not for profit organisation providing reconstructive surgery to children and young adults born in developing countries. Close to My Heart released our Seasonal Expressions Idea Book and on the back page of this Idea book you will find the D- sized, Happy Everything  stamp set. By purchasing this set at full retail price  of $33NZD you can help change the life of a child as CTMH will donate $US3 from your purchase to Operation Smile.

Today we will be sharing some inspiration using "Happy Everything". We hope you will be compelled to purchase this set and in so doing, contribute to the life changing work of Operation Smile.

If you came from Patricia's blog you are on the right track, otherwise follow the link at the end of this post to take you around the posts. I you get lost, a full list of participants can be found here.

I created a set of three cards, perfect for a birthday or just because.



The first birthday card is a base of the Blossom paper, with an extra flower stamped and fussy cut at the bottom. I have used a strip of glitter paper on it, and finished off my adding the sentiment in Sunset and Lagoon ink.



The second card uses the other side of the Blossom paper packet, along with a strip of the Paper Fundamentals. I fussy cut some more flowerrs and added them to the card, as well as two stamped sentiments and some Baker's Twine to finish.



For the third card, I random stamped the base of a card in Sunset pigment ink, then coated in clear embossing powder and heated to create a shiny finish. I then added the Pear leaves. Another strip of Blossom paper helped to anchor the sentiment, and I added some sparkle as well.



Here are the finished cards- I would love to know which one is your favourite!



Now hop over to Vandra's blog, Vandra's Virtual CTMH Classroom, to see what she has created!

Pop-Up Card fun with Artfully Sent

My son recently wanted to make a birthday card for his cousins, who both have birthdays on the same day but are from two different families. A boy card and a girl card were requested, and my 5 year old set to work looking through the Artfully Sent designs to create two cards.

The first one we created for my niece using the pop-up cupcake card. This is the front- the cupcakes were cut from Artfully Sent and the sentiment was stamped from an old Stamp of the Month.



The inside features three more cupcakes that pop up, plus a fun sentiment!



For the second one we got a bit more technical. We liked the alien, rocket and astronaut but not the sentiment featured on the pop up card, so we decided to use the pop ups but add something different to the front.



We cut the rocket sentiment at the same size as the pop up card and cut it down to fit the front of the card.



Here are the pop ups inside!



These are so cute- we cut them in three different colours but you could easily use the same colour.



These cards were so quick and easy to make, even my 5 year old could do them! I love that Artfully Sent provides you with all of the tools you need to make cards with the wow factor.

Artbooking In April- Party at the Zoo Layout

This is the last post for my Artbooking In April series- using the Cricut Artbooking cartridge to create paper perfection!

In case you can't tell from my mini albums, I love overlays, and they work so well with 12x12 layouts too. Here I used a birthday overlay and title, paired with some animal icons from the Baby Album as we had my nephew's first birthday at the zoo.



Thanks for stopping by, I would love for you to leave a comment. Don't forget to check out the rest of my Artbooking in April series too!

CTMH supplies used:
Cardstock: Bamboo, Desert Sand, Goldrush, Topiary
Embellishments: Durables Square Studs, Jubilee Complements, Timberline Complements

Brushed Birthday for Color Dare

I finally have had some time to play along with this week's Color Dare over at Color My Heart!

I have been wanting to scrapbook my mum's 60th birthday for a while, and I had the Brushed paper pack sitting in my stash, so this was the perfect prompt to get me started.

I used a strip of the brushed paper down the side as well as a strip down the bottom. I accented the white space with some Cricut shapes left over from a pop-up card I had made. It is always good to keep the leftover pieces from your Cricut projects as you never know when they will come in handy!

some faced blurred for privacy reasons

The pinks and Juniper went so well with the birthday cake, and I added some red, yellow and green accents as per the Color Dare. Some white cardstock and a black stamped sentiment at the top of the journalling box, as well as a red flower embellishment, and I had managed to get all the colours on one page! The red goes quite while with the photos, and my yellow matting stops the photos from getting overwhelmed by all the accents.

I have done some journalling on this page but took the photo before I wrote on the journal box to keep the details private.

One of the special photos of this page is my Nana and Mum looking through an album that my sister and I made to give to her. It was also special as some of my family members surprised my Mum by driving up and crashing the party! This is why I scrapbook- to remember these special moments and share them with my family.

Thanks for stopping by!

CTMH supplies used:
Cardstock: Canary, Juniper, Pear, White Daisy
Embellishments: Brushed Assortment
Ink: Black
Paper Packet: Brushed
Stamp set: Belated Birthday

Crazy for Checkerboard!

One of my favourite paper packs is Confetti Wishes, and I especially love the yellow paper. It goes extremely well with this week's H2H Challenge- Checkerboard!



My son had a Batman birthday with lots of black and yellow, so the yellow checkerboard paper was a perfect accent.



The left hand side featured some gold sequins, as well as a bat border I created using a Halloween stamp set. I think the stamped border coordinates well with the cake I made!



The right hand has the checkerboard strip, as well as a journalling box and some of my favourite photos. The Hip Hip Hooray banner was cut using the Cricut and then stamped in Canary ink.



We would love to see your checkerboard inpsired projects- link up here and join in the fun!

CTMH supplies used:
Cardstock: Black, Canary, White Daisy
Embellishments: Dimensional Elements- Quotes, Sequins Gold Assortment 
Ink: Black, Canary
Paper pack: Confetti Wishes
Stamp sets: Cricut Artiste Collection- Birthday, Halloween Greetings