Ring in the New Year

Happy New Year

I hope your 2018 was a smashing success, with goals achieved and wishes granted. If not, then I hope 2019 sets you on your way to meeting those dreams.

The last quarter of 2018 had me a bit under. I had a surgery that kept me away from my craft room and my main computer. I had pre-cut some cards and scrapbook pages, but it's a lot harder to craft in a recliner than I expected. haha. And blogging from a tablet, for-get that.

Thank you to those who stuck with me, and visited and showed me their crafted goodies. It was so nice to share your creativeness, even while my muse went on vacation.

News from the Close to My Heart scene - January brings a new catalog, new special goodies, and of course, new stamps. It's the beginning of the company's 35th year -wow. And my 5th (also wow).

January is National Papercrafting Month - and CTMH has put together a gorgeous Magnolia Frame Kit - it's designed to make a word frame, but you can add photos, art, whatever you want to frame-it-up.

In preparation for Valentine's Day - Happy Hearts abound.. a special heart and love themed scrapbook workshop kit - Heart Happy

And the Heart Happy Everyday Life Album kit

And don't forget the January Stamp of the Month - everyone should have this one:

Card Captions - with something for every card. 

Place a $50 order and you can add this on for just $5.

April snow squalls... bring... Fab Sales?

What a crazy winter we've had here in the northeast! It's the first week in April and we just had snow (with a little more expected next week!) I think the seasons are shifting on us.

Meanwhile, March roared in like a lion and passed so fast that I completely missed it. Maybe that's why it's still snowing.

Back to April, I hope everyone had a Happy Easter, filled with Family, Friends, bunnies, eggs, and most of all. memory making. I hope you took lots of photos, and I hope you will get them printed sooner than later! If you do not create your own scrapbooks, get them created via one of the online options (Persnickety Prints, Shutterfly, etc). As I read recently, no one is going to pass down a CD of photos. So get those albums made!

For those of you who enjoy creating your own scrapbooks, Close to My Heart is having a Friday sale every week in April. Called Fab Faves; select items will be offered at 25% off each week for 24 hours.

So mark this link, Fab Faves! and check back each week! 

Another Fab deal in April - if you have been considering joining the Close to My Heart team as a consultant... this is a Fab time to do it! The Fab Four  - in addition to the great consultant kit and the $50 in CTMH Cash that you get to purchase the supplies that work best for your business - if you sign up during April you will receive the next four Stamp of the Month sets FREE (a $71.80 retail value). Check out this link for more information.

Aren't the Stamp of the Month sets cute!! Gotta grab 'em all, and what an easy way? Join my team!

The New Seasonal Expressions catalog is here! Happy New Year!

The new Seasonal Expressions catalog is here, and with it come fresh papers, stamps, coordinating die-cuts, embellishments, complements, new organizational tools and a welcome breath of spring! (Something we could all use right now on these cold days) Check out this gorgeous cover art!

With every new catalog comes new papers: Let me make the introductions,

Chelsea Gardens - a pretty floral in soft greens and blues, perfect for those spring projects.

Making Waves - bright purple and teal with a mermaid theme

Stargazer - another bright theme, this time in blue and red.

Gimme Some Sugar - A fun theme in pinks and mints. 

All of these papers are available in paper packs, and Workshops for both scrapbooking and cardmaking. There are coordinating complements and ribbons as well as sequins or cork shapes or acrylic dots (depending on the kit). See the "Kits" section for more information.

In addition to the new kits and paper packs, Close to My Heart has re-designed it's traveling organizational system. Called Designer Travel, the system is modular, which means that the set-up is easier to lift than the previous one, and because it's modular, you can purchase the pieces as you need them, or only the ones you need. Though to be honest, if you attend crops, you will want them all.

There are inserts to hold paper, inks, markers, stamp sets, stamp blocks, and tools. You can use hostess rewards towards a special bundle of the set.

Speaking of hostess rewards, hostess only stamp sets are back! Hostess rewards start when your party reaches $150, and they just go up from there.

January's Stamp of the month - Bloom and Grow - is so pretty - it pairs beautifully with the Chelsa Gardens paper:

Each month you can purchase a new D-size stamp set, available for one month only, for just $5. When you place an order of $50 or more in Close To My Heart products, you qualify for this special Stamp of the Month pricing.

You can order any of the items listed above by clicking on the links listed, or by visiting my website here. Thank you for dropping by, I hope you will visit again. 

Let the Monsters Come!

Halloween is almost here! Do you have your scrapbook pages ready for those precious shots of your family’s costumes? The front porch all decked out with jack-o-lanterns and scarecrows?

Close to My Heart’s Cats N Bats paper pack is the perfect blend of spooky fun and colorful pop. Just look at the ideas below. Scrapbook layouts, party invitations, cards, décor… I’m sure you can think of more.

CatsN Bats Paper Pack - $9.95 – X7224B 

Cats N Bats ScrapbookingWorkshop Your Way kit – G1136 - $27.95 - includes patterened paper pack, coordinating cardstock, Cats n Bats complements, Cats n Bats Dots, and Black Shimmer Trim.

Happy 4th!

I hope you all are having a fabulous 4th of July (long) weekend!! If it's anything like around here, there are already fireworks (legal or not) going off all around your neighborhood. Stay safe!

My life in June was crazy, and I missed out on 2 specials at Close to My Heart. The Album special and the Cardstock special. I think that was the universe's way of telling me to use what I have before filling my shelves with more... pffft on the universe, what does it know about crafters? lol I did manage to get emails out to all my regulars, so that was something at least...

Now it's July... and there are things you Close to My Heart fans need to know, or be reminded of if you don't already know. July is the last month for the Annual Inspirations 2016-17 Idea book, and there is a Stampaganza going on.

So here's the skinny... a whole lot of the Idea Book is retiring at the end of the month (you can find out what's retiring by visiting this section of my OBA), after July, bye bye.

BUT.. on the flip side of that is... if there are any stamp sets that you wanted, this is the month to get them! For the entire month, buy any two stamp sets (M-, A-, B-, C-, D-, or E-size) at full retail price and get a third stamp set of equal or lesser value FREE! Add stamp sets to your cart and qualifying sets will automatically be free!

In addition - an exclusive stamp set of 22 stamps just for Stampaganza - the January Word Puzzle set, is available for $17.95. While it's hot and humid outside, you can be stamping with thoughts of cool January.

Don't miss this opportunity to nab those stamp sets you've had your eye on. Just like the fireworks on the 4th, July will be fleeting and so will this Stampaganza! 

Contact your CTMH Consultant if you have any questions. (or click here if you need a consultant)

FLASH SALE June 1-2

It's FLASH SALE Time! 

That's Right, get your mouse ready, because at 5:00 pm Eastern (4pm Central, 3pm Mountain, 2pm Pacific), selected products will be featured at 30% off their normal prices!

There will be products and bundles from the current Annual Inspirations catalog as well as from the Seasonal Expressions  2 mini catalog.

Sale prices will only apply to items ordered online at Close to My Heart, and are only good from the times listed above on June 1 - same times on June 2. I have no advance knowledge of the items that will be featured.

Happy Shopping!

Live Beautifully, Live positively...

A very quick update tonight - I'm about a week behind. There's a new mini catalog with so much to share, and I've been trying to create samples. Meanwhile, May is National Scrapbooking Month - and to celebrate, Close to My Heart has put together an absolutely lovely paper pack this year. Check this:

Look at this lovely paper pack! It's the limited edition pack for May ONLY to celebrate National Scrapbooking month. And not just a paper pack, but a precious stamp set as well, with gorgeous full bloom roses!

And... a Cut-Above kit, with everything pre-cut and ready for your photos, including page protectors! It will make 5 two page layouts, and comes with 6 page protectors.

Or... how about an album bundle? An album, page protectors, journaling pen, Cut-Above kit, and adhesive! Just add photos and your album is practically done!

So many Memories.... So Little Time....

We never seem to have enough time to capture our memories. Well, this month, Close to My Heart is making that a little bit easier for you. How about “15-Minute Memories”? Grab your photos, one of our Cut-Above® layout kits and create a beautiful 2 page scrapbook layout in no time (or less time than usual), plus 2 pocket pages.

And, for all of April 2017, they are half price!

Each layout kit includes two printed 12” x 12” printed base pages, die cut paper pieces (even photos mats), title and embellishment stickers, 12 pocket cards, 2 12” x 12” memory protectors, 2 pocket style memory protectors, and assembly instructions. That’s everything you will need other than your photos, journaling pen, and adhesive.

Watch this video to see how fast they go together! 

One more reminder: April is the last month for the Seasonal Expressions 1 items!

That includes all the items from the following collections:

Dreamin' Big Paper Pack

Some Kinda Wonderful Paper Pack

Hello Lovely Paper Pack

Sugar Rush Paper Pack

Some Items are already sold out (Dreamin’ Big Thin cuts bundle, Sugar Rush Scrapbooking Kit L ), so be sure to check soon if there is anything you want! It’s all “while supplies last” until April 30th.

You can order any of these things by clicking the links, or clicking here to go to my OBA and browsing the entire line of Close to My Heart products.

~ ~ ~

Have you ever thought about becoming a consultant? Whether you want to make it a business, or simply get a discount on your own purchases for your hobby, becoming a Close to My Heart consultant is extremely flexible, you can do a little or a lot. April is a fantastic month to join my team, You'll get all the fun of ordering from the Seasonal Expressions 1 catalog, plus the first look at Seasonal Expressions 2 (it will come in your consultant kit). A box filled with product and business starters, plus $50 in product credit for you to choose which products you feel will best help you grow your business. 

Dreamin' of Spring

Here in the Northeast, it feels like winter has been arriving a little bit later the last few years. As in, really kicking around mid-January. This winter has been no exception, we got some major snow-fall at the end of January and in the beginning of February.

I love the snow, especially sitting and watching it quietly snow and snow, on days when I can stay home from work, snug and warm. However, getting so many storms, so close together, tends to wear out its welcome very fast, and start many of us thinking about the spring thaw all too soon. (Which we won't see until late March)

With that in mind, I started playing with one of the paper packs from the latest Close to My Heart Seasonal Expressions mini-catalog. It's called "Dreamin' Big" and it's really cute. I'm not done with the whole layout yet, so I'm only going to give you a little peek. The rest will come later this week.

New Year! New (mini) Catalog!

Yes 2017 is finally here - and it's been a long while since I was glad to put a year behind me! I know many, many of us feel the same way! For lots of reasons.

Keeping to the subject of my blog - paper crafting - in 2017, I have plans. I have ideas. Ideas and Plans, yes. No resolutions. But lots of ideas, and plans. mhm.

Anyway - Close to My Heart has a new Seasonal Expressions catalog, it's full of new paper collections, some new stamp sets, and also full of ideas. (The difference, is their ideas have been acted on - mine are still in my head). It just breathes Spring!

Also, January is National Papercrafting Month - and Close to My Heart has a fantastic kit to celebrate this - You can purchase it for $18.95 or get it for FREE when you purchase $60 in other Close to My Heart products. (and you've also qualified for the gorgeous Stamp of the Month for only $5!)

It's really easy to put it together, I've added some photos below of when I assembled the wreath. There's NO cutting needed, and NO stamping if you don't want to (I added a little shading around the edges to add some depth to the leaves and change the color of two of the roses).

Here's the package as you get it, you can see a couple of the pages of leaves, ready to punch out.

 

This is a montage of the assembly process, Clockwise from upper-left: all the pages, plus a glimpse of the instructions; one of the roses, right after I had sponged all of the edges; a layered succulent, ready for curving the leaves; punched out leaves, ready for sponging the edges.

and finally, my finished wreath. This was a fun project, and there are enough gold letters to do just about any name, or saying. The flowers and leaves do not 'have' to be put right as the picture says, and I know mine aren't in the exact same place. I didn't sponge enough on my first rose either, but had already curled it up before I realized it. Oh well. 

To finish this project, you will need the following items: 

Liquid Glass (Z679 - $6.95) or other thick, quick drying adhesive. I prefer the Liquid Glass to anything else though - it dries right away, and it's got some other great uses.

Quilling Tool (Z1795 - $7.95) - you can use an embossing stylus (I did), or a bamboo skewer, but it's very difficult to hold the end of the flower on to get it started. I really wish I'd had the quilling tool this time around. (I will for the next batch of roses I make)

Inks and Sponge Daubers (Z726 $4.95) if you wish to edge the paper pieces as I did.

I used the color Fern and Sweet Leaf Exclusive Inks ($7.95 ea) for the different green pieces. I used those greens on the blue-ish leaves also, but I think Glacier or Juniper would be good if you wanted to be very precise. I used Canary on my roses (tip: if you are going to sponge your roses, you can do it before you punch them out, and sponge both sides of the paper, since both sides will show.)

This is such an easy kit, it would be a wonderful way to introduce paper-crafting to someone. Or a lovely project to take with you.

If you would like to order this kit, or any of the products mentioned, please visit my Online Business Address (OBA). I'd love to be your Close to My Heart Consultant. I'm happy to answer any of your questions about Close to My Heart or paper-crafting, Just leave a comment below and I will get back to you.

Don't you love surprises?

Well, we all love good surprises. And Close to My Heart has got a Great Surprise in store for us all!

Mystery boxes!

On Black Friday, for one day, and ONE day only, you'll have the opportunity to to get amazing crafting supplies at an amazing price.

Featuring themed mystery boxes filled with retired Close to My Heart products, all at a major discount!

These mystery boxes will have five different price points, ranging from $35 USD to $150 USD - some of those mystery boxes will be 50% off the retail value!

This starts at 12:am Mountain Standard Time Nov 25, 2016 for 24 hours ONLY, while supplies last. That means that once the boxes at any one price point sell out, they are gone. Gone, gone gone. 

So click here (after midnight MST) and grab a box for your stash fast!

Summer Time, Lemonade and Retiring Stamps... not your usual combo...

For a lot of us, July =  middle of Summer Time. The kids are out of school (well, mine are all grown, but the kids where I work are gone), the weather may have finally settled into a summery pattern of warmth for most days, and cooking outside is more usual than not. Iced tea and lemonade are drinks of choice around my house.

It's also the last month for the Close to My Heart 2015-2016 Annual Inspirations catalog. And... This time around almost all the stamps are being retired. To put it another way, it was shorter for me to post a list of the stamp sets that were Not retiring, than the ones that were, LOL.

In addition to the stamps going buh-bye, all the paper sets, except for the solid colors, are also going to be changing. So if you like the Fundamentals sets, I recommend picking some up before the end of July. 

Also, the following Close To My Heart Exclusive inks and re-inkers will be retiring: Gypsy, Topiary, Pear, Honey, Sunset, Cotton Candy, Hollyhock.

Along with most of the decor, albums, a couple of shimmer trim colors, and 3 of the Cricut cartridge sets. But I can promise, the things that are coming in August - will wow you! I can't reveal yet, but oh my, so much lovely!

Anyway, in the meantime - happy shopping the retiring items and here's the Stamp of the Month!

It's called "From the Notebook" and is available July only, for $17.95. OR, for $5.00 with a $50 or more purchase. Stop by my online page and check out the entire catalog. 

One last thing. For the Month of July, if you sign up to be a consultant, you'll have the Early Bird opportunity to get some of the incoming products free with your New-Consultant kit. For more information, click here, or contact me. I'd love to have you on my team.

National Scrapbooking Month

May is a big bright month. We're FINALLY seeing some regular sunshine and warmth here in the far Northeast, the days are longer so it feels like there's more time, and Close to My Heart just released not only the Seasonal Expressions 2 mini catalog, but May is also National Scrapbooking Month and that means that Close to My Heart has issued a special selection of papers and a coordinating stamp set JUST for May to celebrate.

the Happy Times paper pack is SO pretty, and so perfect for spring layouts, or cards (for us card-making folks). All pinks, and peachy corals, and florals. There are two ombre tones, one in greens and one in orange to magenta. The pack comes with 2 of each double sided paper, for 12 sheets of paper for $14.95. Or.... you can get this gorgeous paper FREE (with a $60 purchase).

The coordinating Happy Times stamp set is a D-size stamp set, and is $17.95. 

To help celebrate National Scrapbooking Month, and help you get those lovely papers, Close to My Heart is offering All of the My Legacy™ Albums for 25% off. At $26.21, that's a lovely deal. 

And let's not forget, there's a Stamp of the Month as always. This month's is called "Celebrate with Cake" and is perfect for coloring, or stamping on colored paper and cutting out. The cake layers are separated, so you can stamp a one layer cake, two layers, three, or let your imagination soar to the rooftops with a crooked cake of 10 layers! The Stamp of the Month is also a D-size stamp set, and available for $17.95 - or for $5.00 with a $50.00 purchase. (Which means, that if you qualify for the Happy Times above, you can have your cake and stamp it too!)

I don't have time today to get to the new products, but I will shortly. Very shortly - I'm already playing with the bright and cheery new papers. If you've been waiting for themes that included the Caribbean, Mediterranean, or a certain magic kingdom... wait no more! You can check them all out in the new Seasonal Expressions 2 now. 

If you'd like to order these or any other Close to My Heart products, please click on any of the links in this post, or go here. Thank you so much for supporting me, you all are a blessing and I appreciate every one of you. If you have any questions, please drop me an email, and if you would like to join my team, I'd certainly love to talk to you about it!

(Small update as of May 25 - CTMH has made some changes to the shopping part of their site, and some links in my older posts may take you to my order home page instead of straight to the product. I'm sorry for any inconvenience.)

Oh so Worth it.

First of all... the question on everyone's mind... who stole spring? Personally, I think Old Man Winter realized he kind of slacked off in some parts of the U.S and wants the chance to catch up, so he's blockading Miss Spring from coming on board. While that's a fun mental picture, this continued cold with teasers of nice weather is getting old. Fast.

Meanwhile, in my crafting world, Close to My Heart is offering a wonderful opportunity for those of you who have been considering joining the team (or even want to sign on to get the discount). Joining in April is only $75!  Just in time, as the New Seasonal Expressions catalog debuts next month. If you are interested in this opportunity, please contact me for more information. I'd love to have you on my team!

Of course, opportunities aside, Close to My Heart has another fun Stamp of the Month available in April. This one is really 'focused' on good times and great for scrapbooking.
It's called 'Life in Pictures'  - Here's a great piece created by one of the many talented people at the CTMH office.

So many great ways to use this Stamp of the Month Set! I've got plans to use that Polaroid stamp on some old scrapbook pages in some fun colors, just like the ones we could get back then. This IS a limited time set, and it's available for $17.95 (it's a D size set), or for $5 with an order of $50 or more. Click on the link above, and snap it up, then smile for the cameras!

Last, but certainly not least, April is the last month for the Seasonal Expressions 1 mini catalog.  Please do take a long look through, and be sure you've got plenty of any embellishments or papers that you fell in love with since January. Don't count on them coming up in the clearance section, if you love them, chances are, a lot of other people do too! We've already sold out of the Springtime Wishes thin cuts (at the end of March!).

Super Limited Time!

As a part of StampaGanza - the below stamp set is being offered - only until March 31!
It is So cute. I just got word of it, haven't even had time to order it myself, let alone make anything with it. I think it's just perfect for making vacation scrapbook pages. And that Hello would be great for cardmaking. It's called "Hello Paradise". It's a D-size stamp set, $17.95 USD and IS available during the Stampaganza promotion.

 

You can order this set or any others on my OBA. Remember, you only  have until March 31 to order.

A Cute little Sunday Card

I've been itching to play with this stamp set since I saw it in the Seasonal Expressions 1 idea book. It's the Stamp of the Month for February; an adorable set of Balloon Animals! A couple of folks I know are expecting babies soon, so this is a perfect set to make congratulations cards.

I knew as soon as I saw the stamp set that I would make the cards with one of the new bright sets of paper. I haven't received my Penelope paper pack yet, so I used some of my Kaleidoscope pack, along with Pear and White Daisy Exclusive cardstock.  These colors are brighter in person! And a bit of Gold Shimmer Trim for some shine. I used Gypsy ink for the saying and frame, Pixie for the balloon Doggie, and a combination of Pixie and second generation* Sorbet on the Monkey to get a deeper, but not too deep look. I decided to keep this card simpler; no extra embellishments. I want those cute animals to steal the show!

Look at the other animals in the set, so cute! Also, note that the frame can be cut using your Cricut (That's what the red line around any stamp image in the catalog means). That's handy if you are making a set of cards - no fussy cutting!

*Second generation stamping - for those of you who may not know, is when you ink up your stamp, then stamp it once on scrap paper, then stamp it again on your project, giving a lighter image.

This adorable stamp set is a D sized set and is available ONLY for the month of February, for $17.95 USD, or for $5 with a $50 order. Shop online with me and I'll send you the measurements for the card shown above as well as two other designs that are coming later this week.

Live Your Day - Good Advice

Happy New Year!~
I'm not usually one for resolutions, because like most people, after January, they get harder and harder to keep as every day life catches up. I don't think many of us make resolutions anymore, they are too finite. Instead, we set goals. They're in the same ball park as resolutions, but softer, more manageable, I think.

I have a few goals this year, and they are manageable. One of them is to be on top of getting birthday and anniversary cards in the mail on time. I feel so awful when I log into Facebook and the pop up comes up saying "Today is your nephew's birthday, send him a message!". Well darn it! I would rather have sent him a card!

I know, I hear you - there's an app for that. The thing is, I am not tethered to my computer, phone or tablet 24/7. I like a paper calendar, have used an appointment book or planner for years. Imagine how excited I was when Close to My Heart debuted theirs.

The planner line is called Everyday Life™ and I have been having fun, yes FUN, putting mine together. I've just gotten started with the birthday and anniversary stickers that came with the planner pages. It's going to really get fun when I start adding photos and memories.

That stamp in the corner is so fun! It has several different messages from To Do, and Shopping List to Birthday, Memo and Vacation. Twelve different options, one stamp, lots of different fonts. All designed to fit on the sticker banners that are in the coordinated planner set. Brilliant. Another brilliant thing is that this planner set is affordable and versatile. You say you don't need a planner, but miss our My Crush® books? Then get the My Crush® pages along with the cover set and some photo protectors and have fun! You can see the whole Everyday Life™ selection here. Happy New year, and happy goal planning!

~

January is National Papercrafting Month
This year's theme for National Papercrafting month is "Live Your Day", and Close to My Heart has come up with a beautiful pack of Picture My Life™ cards to help celebrate it! These cards coordinate wonderfully with the planner pages or the My Crush Everyday Life™ pages. They are available THIS MONTH ONLY, and they are only $8.95. Like all our Picture My Life cards, they feature the same image front and back, except that one side is vertical, and one side is horizontal, to better suit your needs. They fit in page protectors for the Everyday Life™ planner as well as the regular memory protectors.

 ~

Our Stamp of the Month program is alive and well in 2016, and this month's set is SO beautiful!
It's called Beloved Bouquet, and as always, it's available for $17.95 or only $5 with a $50 purchase

While this set has a Valentine's sentiment, it can be used for birthday cards, and that simple "Thinking of you" is good for those 'wish we didn't need them' sympathy cards. The blooms are nice and big, perfect for using on your photo pages as well.

~

Remember what I said back at the beginning about goal setting? I wish you all the best with any goals YOU are setting for 2016!

If you'd like more information about any of the products I've mentioned in this post, you can find out on my Close to My Heart shopping site here, or you can drop me a comment here, and I will be happy to answer you.