Monday, May 31, 2010

Busy, busy day...

I am so sorry that I haven't posted earlier. Today was a busy day. Not only are we having our annual Memorial Day block party, but it is also my 40th b-day. Woo-Hoo! I am starting a new decade today baby! I had great plans of posting a bunch of fun things for you today, but I keep getting pulled away by phone calls and crying kiddos. LOL! I did get a chance to go shopping by myself for a couple hours which was FABULOUS! But I didn't get a chance to post all my fun stuff for you.

Don’t forget that today is the last day to get the great Miracle Kit. It is also the last day to get it for free when you sign up to be a New Consultant. Click here for more info on the awesome New Consultant Kit and May's sign up specials.

I am off to celebrate Memorial Day and my B-day outside with our neighbors. I promise to post more this week...

Friday, May 28, 2010

June Club Projects - Paper Flowers

June’s Creative Club will be held on Thursday, June 17th. We will making these fun paper flower projects. There are so many different ways to make paper flowers. I will be showing you how to make these three. A special thanks to Cindy Baker for teaching us a few of these techniques at our Team Meeting last weekend.

To find out more about my monthly non-commit Creative Club, click
here. You do not need to be local to participate. The cost for the kit this month is $5 or free with a $25 order. (If you are not local, please add $5 for shipping.) Extra kits are $5.

Yellow Rose Box

Red Rose Triangle Box
Note:The box we will be making will use paper from the Cherry-O Creative Basics instead of the polka dot paper shown in the photo.

Red Flower Thank You Card
If you like these projects, click here for more details on my super fun club! Contact me at lisa@myctmh.com for more information, to sign up for next month’s class, or to order your own club kit(s).This month’s Club will meet at 7pm on Thursday, June 17th. Please contact me no later than June 7th if you would like to join us or order your own kit(s).

Monday, May 24, 2010

Birthday Blessings Thank You Card #5

Here’s another Birthday Blessings Thank You card. I am getting close to sending out my cards. Hopefully I will get them all done this week as planned. I have a few cards that I need to send to my previous bosses, my pastor, my brother, and a few other men, so I needed to create a more masculine card. I think I may use a different sentiment on the rest of them though. I love the Live Inspired and Happy Journey stamp sets that go with the new Passages paper packet. They are perfect for more masculine projects. I did add a flower from CTMH’s Big Pinks Just Blooms collection, but I stamped on it with a stamp from the Live Inspired set. The fun velvet ribbon came from the new Cocoa Ribbon Rounds. I have few more cards to post so stay tuned...

Thursday, May 20, 2010

Close to my Heart Consultant/Hobbyist Opportunity

I have to share a fantastic opportunity with you before the month is over. Close to my Heart is offering a free Miracle Kit to anyone who signs up as Consultant or Hobbyist this month.

In addition to a huge discount on the New Consultant Kit and the free Miracle Kit, there are so many other great reasons to sign up...

More benefits to ordering a New Consultant Kit today...
  • Get 22% - 34% discount on all of your CTMH products, every day!
  • Order new products before they are released.
  • Free online business, creative, and personal development classes.
  • Access to Consultant only bulletin boards, including artwork, templates, swaps, business, gathering, and more.
  • Your first 10 Studio J layouts are discounted to only $9.95 plus commission!
  • Opportunity to go to corporate sponsored events.
  • Opportunity to join my “Consultant-Only” monthly club.
  • Earn up to $125 in free products in your first 90 days with the Straight-to-the-Top Program.
  • Be your own hostess and earn hostess rewards as well as generous commissions.
  • Attend team training meetings.
  • Gain access to pre-designed workshops and tons of wonderful project ideas.
  • Participate in my team challenges and win prizes.
  • Get an extra free stamp set of your choice (only during May)
  • 10 extra entries into my May drawing for a $40 gift certificate (only during May)
  • and tons more...
There is a place for everyone on my team including...

Business Builder
– Work with customers to hold home gatherings, create clubs, have fun at weekend crops and host workshops. Make additional income to contribute to your family. Wake up with a purpose to your day – owning your own business!
Studio J Consultant – You have fallen in LOVE digital or online scrapbooking. The ease and timeliness of creating these Studio J layouts works with your lifestyle. Between you and your friends & family, you are creating about 10 layouts per month at a 22% discount.
Club Coordinator – You have a group of friends that love Close to My Heart as much as you do. Get 4 or more of them together once a month to create one of CTMH's Workshop on the Go and get at least a 22% discount on your purchases.
Personal Use Consultant – You and a couple of your friends really like CTMH's products. You submit $300 or more in orders per quarter and get at least a 22% discount on all your purchases.
Junior Consultant – You like CTMH's products and can't resist getting more than $300 for only $99. You might order a few things a year at a 10% discount.



Here are the details on the New Consultant Kit:
For only $99, you get over $300 worth of products including:

X7123A My Reflections Level 1 Kit: ‘Cherry-O’
X7123B My Reflections Level 2 Paper: ‘Cherry-O’
X7123C My Reflections Level 2 Stickease: ‘Cherry-O’
Cherry-O Workshop on the Go Guide
Stamp Set: ‘Bowl of Cherries’ (WOTG)
A1108 Stamp Set: ‘A Flitter’
B1351 Stamp Set: ‘You’re Sweet’
D1427 Stamp Set: ‘Tasty Treat’
C1414 Stamp Set: ‘Little Princess’
Z1320 Mini-Medley Accents: Tulip Collection
Z1139 Dimensional Elements: Perennials
Z1274 Designer Brads: Colonial White
Z280 Natural Hemp
Z1307 Irresistibles Pizzazz Die-cuts
Z1319 Opaques ‘Cherry-O’ Adhesive Gems
1385 12x12 White Daisy Cardstock
Y1002 My Acrylix Block: 1x3 ½
Y1003 My Acrylix Block: 2x2
Y1004 My Acrylix Block: 2 ½ x 2 ½
Z2106 Exclusive Ink Stamp Pad: Blush
Z2111 Exclusive Ink Stamp Pad: Chocolate
Z2153 Exclusive Ink Stamp Pad: Sweet Leaf
Z2166 Exclusive Ink Stamp Pad: Tulip
Z1322 My Creations Recipe/Photo Box
Z1163 Double Scrubber
1778 Spritz Cleaner
1512 Bonding Memories Glue (.85 oz.)
Z697 Sponge
Business Supplies –
Hostess Helps
Home Gathering Postcards
Brochure: ‘You are Welcome Here’
Brochure: ‘The Rewards Come Now’
Hostess Order Forms (25)
Customer Order Forms (25)
Cello Bags (25)
Customer Register Envelopes (25)
Idea Books: Summer 2010 (10)
‘Keynotes’ Newsletter
2010 Product Review
Incentive Stamp Set: ‘Beautiful Day’
Petite Perks Stamp Set: ‘Dreams’
B&T Duos Sampler
Connections Club Reward: Textured Stickers
Connections Club Cards
Color Swatches

You also have the option when you order your kit, to get one or both of the bonus add-on kits at an amazing 65% discount!


The Card Making Bonus Kit contains over $150 in products for only $50 and includes...
StudioJ
9030 ‘Imagine’ Scrapbook Guidebook X7125A My Reflections Level 1 Kit: ‘Zippidee’ X7125B My Reflections Level 2 Paper: ‘Zippidee’ X7125C My Reflections Level 2 Stickease: ‘Zippidee’ D1425 Stamp Set: ‘Thrill Ride’ E1015 Stamp Set: ‘Cocktail Alphabet’ B1354 Stamp Set: ‘Boom!’ Y1006 My Acrylix Block: 3x3 Z2116 Exclusive Ink Stamp Pad: Cranberry Z2130 Exclusive Ink Stamp Pad: Indian Corn Blue Z1312 Dimensional Elements: Stars Z1313 Glitz Stardust Glitter Glue Z1315 Fancy Fuzz: Zippidee Z1155 Clear Craft Buttons Z280 Natural Hemp Z1311 1 ¼” Circle Punch Z1310 My Creations Board Book Z1321 My Creations A-door-ables

The Scrapbooking Bonus Kit contains over $180 in products for only $60 and includes...
StudioJ
9033 ‘Wishes’ Card Confidence Program
X7124B My Reflections Level 2 Paper: ‘Splendor’
D1426 Stamp Set: ‘Over the Rainbow’
D1434 Stamp Set: ‘You’re Great’
D1431 Stamp Set: ‘Happy Holidays’
Y1008 My Acrylix Block: 4x4
Z2123 Exclusive Ink Stamp Pad: Goldrush
Z2155 Exclusive Ink Stamp Pad: Topiary
Z2118 Exclusive Ink Stamp Pad: Desert Sand
Z1309 4 ½” Clear Cards
Z1317 Designer Brads: Splendor
Z1102 Colonial White Grosgrain Ribbon

Ready to order your kit?
Does this all sound too good to be true? I know, but it is all true! Click here to email me if you have any questions and click here to order your kit and take advantage of all that Close to my Heart has to offer. But hurry, all of the extra freebies end on May 31st.

Wednesday, May 19, 2010

Birthday Blessings Thank You Card #4

Here’s another Birthday Blessings Thank You card. I love this flower in CTMH’s Smiles stamp set. I stamped it in Brown StazOn and colored it in with my Buttercup marker. The stem is made with the thank you sentiment in Papertrey’s Mega Mixed Messages set stamped with Sweet Leaf ink. The leaves are from CTMH’s Delightful Things. I matted the flower and border with Cocoa cardstock and used my scallop scissors for the Buttercup border and my Swiss Dots embossing folder for the background. (Can you tell I love polka dots lately?) Finally, I added some 3-D Foam Squares for a little dimension. Don’t sunflowers just make you happy? *Ü*
Stay tuned for more...

Monday, May 17, 2010

Birthday Blessings Thank You Card #3

Here is the next installment of my birthday blessing thank yous. You can read more about my b-day blessing thank yous here. These cards were inspired by a talented gal named Angie. (I follow her blog and am always inspired by her creativity.) For each card I used White Daisy and Chocolate cardstock, my Sizzix polka dot embossing folder, a large Prima flower, Close to my Heart’s Thank You stamp set and a Chocolate Button with Waxy Flax. The cards are 6"x6" and have plenty of room for me to write my messages inside. The flowers are pretty substantial so I actually sewed the buttons onto the flower and white cardstock instead of just using a Glue Dot like I usually do. I wanted to make sure those babies stay put! *Ü*
Stay tuned for more...

Saturday, May 15, 2010

Mother's Day Card

I forgot to post the Mother’s Day card that I made for my mom. In my usually style, is it pretty simple. I used my Birds and Swirls embossing folder on Colonial White cardstock and mounted it on Tulip cardstock. The flower was so fun to make. I got the idea from the one and only Jeanette Lynton here. The leaves are from CTMH’s Many Thanks Stamp Set. The sentiment on the tag is from Papertrey's Mega Mixed Messages set. Hope you all had a good Mother’s Day last week. We are off to celebrate today. We are meeting my Mom at a park and having a picnic. Have a great day!

Thursday, May 13, 2010

I need your help...

Close to my Heart just announced that they will be giving away an all expense paid Scrapbook Spa Getway to 8 lucky Consultants. The catch is that in order to be eligible I have to have a certain amount of sales this month and attend Convention in July. I am already registered for the Convention, now I just need to make sure I get enough sales this month to qualify for the drawing. I am shamelessly asking for help. I would be soooo grateful if you might be willing to help me qualify. Here's what you can do to help:

1. Place an order on my website for regular and discounted products here.
2. Place a Studio J order on my website here.
3. Host a catalog party that closes before May 31st. (Contact me for more details.)
4. Host a Home Gathering that closes before May 31st. (Contact me for open dates and details.)
5. Call or email me with an individual order.

I am having a special drawing of my own at the end of the month for all of my customers. If you would like more information on that, feel free to contact me and I will give you the scoop. So, if you place an order this month, you will be helping me reach my goal and you will be entered into my special drawing as well. It's a win-win situation! *Ü*

Thanks so much for your help and support!

Wednesday, May 12, 2010

Birthday Blessings Thank You Card #2



Here is my next card for my birthday blessing thank yous. You can read more about my b-day blessing thank yous here. This card was inspired by Alli Miles. I copied hers almost exactly. It was just so sweet and simple. It was totally my style. I used Papertry Ink’s cardstock and ribbon, Swiss Dots embossing folder, a large Prima flower, Close to my Heart’s Thank You stamp set and Blush Button with Waxy Flax. I will probably make a few of these in different colors. Stay tuned for more thank you cards...

Supplies used:
Stamps: Thank You
(CTMH)
Ink: Cocoa
Cardstock
: Cocoa (CTMH), Aqua Mist, Spring Moss, & Sweet Blush (PTI)

Other: Swiss Dots Embossing Folder, Scallop Edge Punch, Prima Flower, Blush Button (CTMH), Waxy Flax (CTMH), Sweet Blush Satin Ribbon (PTI), 3-D Foam Tape (CTMH)

Sunday, May 9, 2010

Join us on Friday for a fun time and a worthy cause...


Please join us for games, jumpies, food, silent auction and lots of family fun to help raise money for Abby, a 7 year old sweetie who was diagnosed with a Germinoma, non-operable cancerous brain tumor. Central Nervous System tumors are very rare, effecting approximately 38 kids a year in the United States. Abby is currently undergoing Chemotherapy treatments and will also require Radiation Therapy. With treatment, the cure rate of these types of tumors is high!
Girl Scout Troop 1526 is hosting a fundraising carnival in honor of Abby. We hope to see you there and help us raise money and support the Radke family.

Friday, May 14th
4:00 pm-7:30 pm
at Nicolas Valley Elementary School
39600 North General Kearny
Temecula, CA

I will be donating a gift basket and 20% of all sales that are made at the Carnival. I will also have a drawing for a great prize so be sure to visit the Close to my Heart booth! If you are not local but would like to place an order with 20% going to Abby, please contact me and I will make sure it happens. You can visit Abby’s blog here.

Thanks so much! Hope to see you on Friday! *Ü*

Thursday, May 6, 2010

40 Years, 40 Birthday Blessings


Last year I saw a wonderful post on Nichole Heady’s blog about celebrating her birthday by thanking those who had been influential in her life. She got the idea from Janelle Hayes who celebrated her 50th birthday by thanking 50 of her favorite people. Nichole turned 30 last year and sent out 30 thank you cards to 30 special people who had an impact on making her into the wonderful person that she is. As soon as I read her post, I thought to myself, “I am sooooo going to do this when I turn 40 next year.” Well, that time has come and on May 31st, I will be the big 4-0! So over the next few weeks I will be sharing some of the thank you cards that I will be sending out to 40 special people who have blessed me over the years and helped to make me who I am today. I hope Janelle and Nichole don’t mind me lifting the beautiful wording that they used. In addition to a hand written personal note, I will also include this on the inside cover of the cards:
"I guess turning 40 makes one reflective.

Many people have asked me how I want to celebrate this milestone. And after lots of consideration, I've decided that what I really want to do is thank 40 of the people who have been influential in my life and helped to make me who I am.

So, today is my day to honor and celebrate you! You're important to me.
You've had an impact on me and I'm grateful to the Lord for bringing you into my life."


Here is the first card that I made to send out. I used some new CTMH products including papers from the adorable Splendor paper packet and a flower from the new Pizzazz Irresistibles. The orange button in the center of the flower is actually a brad from the new Splendor Designer Brads. The leaves are from the Many Thanks stamp set and the sentiment is from the Thank You set. I added a little dimension with some 3-D Foam Tape under the grass and under the leaves.




I wish I could send a personal Thank You card to each one of you! I want everyone who takes the time to read my blog and post comments to know how much I appreciate you! Every comment and email I get from my readers, makes me smile and brightens my day! So a great big THANK YOU goes out to all of you! XOXO

Stay tuned for more Thank You card posts scattered throughout the month...

I'm in the Friday Five! Woo-Hoo!

I was so excited to receive an email from Mary today congratulating me for being in the Friday Five for last week's Heart 2 Heart Challenge. I am so honored and very humbled to be in the company of such fantastic artists! Be sure to check out the other Friday Five winners. They are truly fabulous!


If you have never heard of the Heart 2 Heart Challenge Blog and you {heart} Close To My Heart, then this challenge blog is for you!

There will be a variety of challenges posted and Close To My Heart products are required to enter. Don't have any CTMH products? Then Beg, Borrow or BUY from our fabulous roster of Consultants! (Of course you can always order from me here.)

Sponsored and created by Independent Consultants for Close To My Heart, all challenges will be posted on Monday mornings with the deadline to enter each week on Sunday at 10:00 pm EST.

Be sure to check out this weeks challenge. It’s all about Mom!

Thanks again for this great honor!

BTW, in case anyone is curious about the potential move to South Carolina that I mentioned a few weeks ago... We just found out that we are not moving! I am thrilled to be able to stay in my home state of California. (Although I do wish our state was not in such great debt!) There was something exciting about the possibility of moving to the South and starting over, but I am really happy that we will be staying put for the time being. *Ü*

Wednesday, May 5, 2010

Teacher Appreciation Card Set

Happy Cinco de Mayo! I can hardly believe that 10 years ago today my hubby proposed to me. Of course I said, “Yes!” Well, actually it was more like, “Yes! Yes! Yes!” LOL! Anyway, I just thought I would let you all know how much I love my hubby and how happy I am that he wanted to marry me! (Love you hunny!) *Ü*

OK, onto my creative project for the day... I wanted to make some Thank You cards for my son’s Kindergarten teacher since I know she sends out so many. She is the sweetest lady and such a FABULOUS teacher! I started out just making a boxed set for her and ended up need two boxes, so I cut my box in half and adhered it to a piece of cardstock to make a little book. It worked out great. I used my Sizzix dot embossing folder and some Rectangle Nestabilities with my Cuttlebug. I also added some small Prima Flowers to each one. I used the May Stamp of the Month on the cover with a tiny, square, clear Sparkle to make the “for everything” sentiment. They are very simple cards, but I think she liked them and will hopefully be able to put them to good use.

Supplies used:
Stamps: Cherish the Moment
Ink: Chocolate
Cardstock: White Daisy, Amethyst, Moonstruck, Crystal Blue, Sweet Leaf, Buttercup, Créme Brulee, Tulip, Hollyhock, Chocolate
Other: Sizzix Dots Embossing Folder, Rectangle & Scallop Nesties, Prima Flowers, Various brads, Pink Organdy Ribbon, Sparkles, Clear Boxes

Saturday, May 1, 2010

May Club Project - Card Box with Dividers

May’s Creative Club project will be a fun storage box with a magnetic closure to file your handmade cards. We will also be making dividers to go inside. You can also use it as a recipe box or to store your 4x6 photos. We will be using an awesome new CTMH product called My Creations Recipe/Photo Boxes that can be found here.

To find out more about my monthly non-commit Creative Club, click
here. You do not need to be local to participate. This month you will have the choice to make the Cherry-O box or the Splendor box. The cost for the kit this month is $10 or $5 with a $25 order. (If you are not local, please add $5 for shipping.) Extra kits are $10.

Splendor Box
Note: Splendor kits will come with a green button for the inside of the flower instead of the green brad as shown in the photo.
Cherry-O Box
If you like these projects, click here for more details on my super fun club! Contact me at lisa@myctmh.com for more information, to sign up for next month’s class, or to order your own club kit(s).This month’s Club will meet at 7pm on Thursday, May 13th. Please contact me no later than May 3rd if you would like to join us or order your own kit(s). Also please mention which kit(s) you would like to order.

The new 2010 Summer Idea Book is Here!

Boy oh boy are you in for a treat! The new 2010 Summer Idea Book is now available! Let me just tell you that this is one of the best Idea Books I have seen in a long time! There are so many great new papers, stamp sets, embellishments, and more! Just look at the darling cover. Is that cherry paper sweet or what?


You can get your very own copy of the new Idea Book. The cost is normally $3.95 plus $3 for shipping, but I am happy to send you a copy for free. Just pay $3 for the shipping. Email me if you would like to order your own copy. You can also see it online here.

Here are a few more great projects using all new products...


Do you like what you see? Is your wish list of new products really long? How about getting over $300 worth of new products for only $99? Check out all of the goodies you get in the New Consultant Kit...

acrylix

Plus you have the option when you order the kit to get one or both of the add-on bonus kits for over 65% off!

The Card Making Bonus Pack has a retail value of over $150, but if you choose to order it with the New Consultant Kit, it is only $50!
acrylix

The Scrapbooking Bonus Pack has a retail value of over $180, but if you choose to order it with the New Consultant Kit, it is only $60!

acrylix

Plus, if you sign up during the month of May, you will also get the Miracle Scrapbooking Kit for FREE! PLUS, you will also get 10 extra entries into my birthday drawing to win a $40 shopping spree! (Email me for details.) Now that is a GREAT deal!!

Whether you would love to start a business doing something that you love, or just want to get a discount on some great products for you and your friends, or simply just get a great deal of amazingly discounted goodies in the kit, now is a great time to order your New Consultant Kit!

I love having both business builders and hobbyists on my team.
Click here to order your kit or contact me for more information.