Be Inspired!

I love flipping through the Idea Book because it is full of beautiful pictures with ideas to take inspiration from. (Because it's an Idea Book, right!)

CTMH artwork pg. 126 of
Spring/Summer 2014 Idea Book

The layout on page 126 is one of my favourites and I'd been day-dreaming for a while as to what I could do along similar lines. There's lots to take inspiration from! The bright colours against a black background. The stitching. The shapes. The different uses of washi tape. The trims and dots. It's a simple page, but so crafty!

This page uses what I see as the best-kept secret in the Idea Book: the Paper Fundamentals Basics Assortments. This collection of 20 double-sided 12" x 12" sheets (2 each of 10 designs) have the same design on both sides, but one side has a glossy, resist pattern. It's great to use in smaller pieces as patterned paper, or a whole sheet as a background piece. The patterns are great too! Chevrons, hearts, houndstooth, stripes, quatrefoil--they're all right on trend.

The page I made uses the same black chevron background and bright colours (from the Dotty For You paper packet). I also stitched circles using the very handy Stitch Guide and brightly coloured embroidery floss. The banners are Dimensional Elements Banners dressed up with Lagoon Houndstooth and Gold Polka-Dot Washi Tape. Some Teal and Silver Shimmer Trim add sparkle to the page along with Durables Triangle Studs. The title picks up the bright colours. I used Lagoon and Hollyhock inks, stamping the title with Marquee Uppercase as well as a smaller alphabet.

I'm so pleased with the results! The colour contrasts really make the page pop!

Have you been inspired by something you saw in an Idea Book? Share it! Just head over to my Facebook page and post it on the time line. Remember to mention which Idea Book the inspiration came from and what you liked about it.

Happy October!

October is my favourite month of the year! There's lots to celebrate this month. Birthdays, Thanksgiving, Halloween, fall festivals and it finally begins feeling like autumn weather. I love crunching through the fallen leaves, watching the salmon run and taking advantage of the cool, crisp weather to get the last of the year's gardening done.

Though I'm delighting in picking pumpkins and decorating with corn stalks, in my scrapping life, I begin to think about the next big holiday: Christmas!! Now is the time to get Christmas cards, home decor, scrapbook pages and hand crafted gifts ready for the most wonderful time of the year.

This year, start your Christmas crafting with a bang using October's Stamp of the Month: Scandinavian Wishes. This gorgeous stamp set reminds me of warm woollen sweaters and cups of hot chocolate. Perfect for cards, pages and gift packaging, this will be a stamp set you come to again and again over the years.

To start making  your own Scandinavian Wishes, simply place an order of $50 or more in regularly priced product and add the Stamp of the Month for only $5. Aren't placing a qualifying order this month, but still want the stamp set? Scandinavian Wishes is available at the regular price of $17.95, but only in October.

Want to make the items seen in the photo? In addition to the October Stamp of the Month, you'll need Frosted Paper Packet, Frosted Assortment, Baker's Twine Harvest Assortment, Bronze Shimmer Trim, Stitch Guide, Scallop Border Punch, Cricut Artiste Collection, and of course inks!

THE BIG REVEAL!!

The wait is over! Go to my website to view the new Autumn/Winter 2013 Idea Book online. Of course, you want your own hard copy, so contact me to get one!

The Idea Book is chock full of great products. If you've been following my blog over the past ten days, you've seen a few of them. Here are my Top Ten Must Have items from the new Idea Book.

Make It From Your Heart Volume 2

10. Make It From Your Heart Volume 2
Includes 16 two-page layout patterns, two single-page patterns, and 12 different card patterns. $7.95

9. Pigment Inks Foam Insert
Fits inside the small organiser to snugly hold 40 pigment ink pads. $14.95

8. Punches
Scallop Border Punch creates 3/8" scallops quickly and easily. $17.95
1 1/4" Circle Punch $12.95

7. My Creations Kraft Pocket Album
A mini-album with eight pages plus front and back covers. 18 pockets total. $6.95

6. Ribbons and Trims

Stitch Guide

Jute Ribbon $7.95
Ruby Chevron Ribbon $6.95
Shimmer Trim in Red and Bronze $4.95 each
Lagoon Houndstooth Washi Tape $4.95

5. Stitch Guide and Foam Mat
Use the Stitch Guide with the piercing tool for creating various stitch patterns, border, and shapes. $12.95
Use the Foam Mat with the Stitch Guide and Ruler to protect your tabletop. $4.95

Pick a Posey (Archive Stamp Set)

4. Archive Stamps
These stamps, hand drawn by Jeanette herself, were originally offered in rubber on wood blocks but are now available in clear My Acrylix polymer for a limited time. $6.96-$9.95.

3. Minis
Eight single 2" stamps that are cute and perfect for creating cards, tags and embellishments. $2.95 each.

2. Stamps of the Month
I want every single one of them! With seasonal and general themes, you'll want them all too! $17.95 or $5 with qualifying purchase.

Framework Alphabet

1. Framework Alphabet
One of two new E-size alphabets. $29.95