Hello from Michelle Stewart!
I’m a consultant with Close to My Heart all the way from Halifax, Nova Scotia and I’m so happy to be a guest blogger for Creative Scrapbooker Magazine. Today I want to share with you some cards I’ve made using 3 of the paper collections that are still currently available in our Seasonal Expressions 1 catalog.

This first card is created using the Dreamin’ Big Paper, and I love the color pallet for this paper collection.  I’ve used the Dreamin’ Big cardmaking stamp for this card and fussy cut leaving a white boarder.  I didn’t have sequins in the colour I wanted, but no big deal.  Just grab some alcohol markers and colour some silver ones to match.

For this next card, I used this pale pink patterned paper from the Hello Lovely collection. I wanted to create a soft feminine card so I used the flowers from the Hello Lovely scrapbooking stamp.  These flowers come in 2 layers, a base layer and a detail layer.  The base is stamped in what we call 2^nd generation using Sorbet Ink.  This is when you stamp off a layer of ink onto scrap paper before stamping onto your cardstock.  Then I added the detail by stamping in 1^st generation.  The leaves are stamped in fern and all images were then fussy cut.

My final card is featuring 4 different patterns from the Some Kinda Wonderful collection.  I’ve used a circle cut from Artbooking for the Raspberry colour pattern and cut it at 3.25” placing that onto the the paper with the eyelashes which I dove tailed for effect.  The Happy Birthday was cut using our Thin Cuts (die cuts, which cut just so smoothly) on the green pattern.  No stamping or fussy cutting needed.

Now, I’ve got a surprise for you, well actually 2 surprises.  The first surprise is using the Promotional paper for National
Scrapbooking Day, Live Beautifully.  This will be live for you to order on May 1^st, and will be around all month.  Not only is there a
fabulous paper collection, but CTMH has created a coordinating stamp set and a cut above kit. The Cut Above Kit allows even the most novice scrapbooker to create 10 stunning pages with ease.

I’ve created this simple 2 page layout using Live Beautifully paper collection some simple cuts from Artbooking and Artiste
cartridges and some compliments from the Springtime Collection.  The title, is cut in Slate and White Daisy cardstock and layered for effect.  I then added some shimmer by using the Shimmer Brush.  The flowers are stamped in Seaglass Ink and fussy cut.

And as we come to the end of one Seasonal Expressions catalog there is the excitement for what will be coming, surprise number 2.  I get to share a little taste of what is coming by showing you the cover of the NEW Seasonal Expressions 2!
If you don’t have a copy of the Close to My Heart Annual Inspirations catalog, or would like a copy of the upcoming Seasonal Expressions 2(mini catalog), be sure to contact your local CTMH Independent Consultant.  If you do not have a consultant and you live in Canada, let me know, I’d love to be your Consultant!
Michelle Stewart, Close to My Heart Independent Consultant, Halifax, Nova Scotia

You can find more of my artwork on my blog: http://mycreationswithmichelle.blogspot.ca, or on my facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/MyCreationsWithMichelle

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