Saturday, April 30, 2011

Lots of happiness in one package...


My sweet friend Allyson sent me the most generous package this week. Just look at this card. I wonder if she knows that I love yellow because it makes me happy!


Look at the beautiful embossing she did! Plus, not only did she make me this one card... she sent me a package of a bunch of cards. (That’s a lot of happiness in one package!)



She also sent this amazing card and a great stamp set along with the package.

Thanks Allyson! You are a sweetheart and I am grateful for your friendship!

Monday, April 25, 2011

Sympathy Card for Mary


If you are a regular reader of my blog than you know that Mondays are usually Heart 2 Heart Challenge day. It is with a very heavy heart that I share the news that Mary, the wonderful gal who heads up the H2H blog, lost her infant granddaughter last week. The Design Team has chosen to not post a challenge this week, and instead use the time to remember sweet little Libby. If you would like to post a message to Mary, you are welcome to do so on the H2H blog here. I know any words of encouragement will be a comfort to her.

Instead of posting the challenge card that I had planned today, I will share with you the sympathy card that I am sending to Mary.

Our prayers go out to you and your family Mary. xoxo



All supplies used from Close to my Heart unless otherwise noted:
Stamps: Card Chatter - Sympathy

Paper: Bliss, Smoothie & Sweet Leaf CS
Inks: Cocoa
Other: Pearl Opaques, Sanding Block, Scallop Scissors

Saturday, April 23, 2011

Amazing 1/2 Price New Consultant Kit and FREE National Scrapbooking Month Kit!


I was going to wait until May 1st to share this amazing news with you, but I just can’t wait any longer. I am so excited to announce that during the month of May, the
Close to my Heart New Consultant Kit will be 50% off! PLUS it gets even better! (I know. You are probably thinking, “There’s more?”) Yes, there’s more! In addition to the 1/2 price kit, when you sign up in May, you will also get the beautiful National Scrapbooking Month Kit called You & Me (valued at $34.95) for FREE! That’s over $285 worth of goodies for only $64.50, plus tax and shipping! In addition to all of your basic business supplies, the New Consultant Kit includes three of the following “Choose Me” Options. (If you can’t decide on just 3, you can choose the extra 2 options as well for an additional $40 each.)
Choose Me Kit #2 – Includes a 12-month Studio J Membership.

Choose Me Kit #3 – Includes a Workshops on the Go™ Mayberry Kit (G1022), My Acrylix® Summer Days Stamp Set (B1375), Smoothie Exclusive Inks® Pad (Z2196), Olive Exclusive Inks® Pad (Z2137), Brads Pink Assortment (Z1362), and a 2" x 3-1/2" My Acrylix® Block (Y1009) (not shown).

Choose Me Kit #4 – Includes a Workshops on the Go™ Lucky Kit (G1018), Lucky Level 2 Assortment (Z1356), My Acrylix® Enjoy Life Stamp Set (C1439), Outdoor Denim Exclusive Inks® Pad (Z2140), Desert Sand Exclusive Inks® Pad (Z2118), Kraft Color-Ready Borders (Z1377), Sponge (Z697), Edge Distresser (Z1297), and a 2-1/2" x 2=1/2" My Acrylix® Block (Y1004) (not shown).

Choose Me Kit #5 - Includes a 12"x12" Dark Chocolate My Legacy® Faux Leather Album (Z1342), Outdoor Denim Quick Pic™ Album (Z1404), My Acrylix® Ciao Stamp Set (D1461), Chocolate Exclusive Inks® Pad (Z2111), and a 4" x 4" My Acrylix® Block (Y1008).

Choose Me Kit #6 - Includes a Double Scrubber (Z1163), My Acrylix® Spritz Cleaner (1778), My Acrylix® A Tulip Stamp Set (A1111), My Acrylix® Spring Up Stamp Set (B1365), My Acrylix® Bless This Nest Stamp Set (C1445), Tulip Exclusive Inks® Pad (Z2166), Garden Green Exclusive Inks® Pad (Z2120), and a 3" x 3" My Acrylix® Block (Y1006) (not shown).

~

Plus you will also get this super cute You & Me Scrapbooking Kit for FREE in your New Consultant Kit when you sign up in May.

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You & Me Scrapbooking Kit Includes:
1 – My Acrylix® You & Me Stamp Set (D-size)
1 – 12" × 12" Colonial White Cardstock
6 – 12" × 12" B&T Duos® Papers (New! Cardstock-weight)
1 – 6" × 9" You & Me Irresistibles™ Chipboard Die-Cut Sheet
1 Yard – Chocolate Stripe Ribbon
1 Package – Opaques Mocha Adhesive Gems
1 – Instruction Guide
Featured Colors: Chocolate, Crème Brulee, Olive, Smoothie

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If you have ever wanted to turn your hobby into a lucrative business...

or

If you have ever wanted to get a great discount on all of your stamping & scrapbooking supplies for you and your friends...

or

If you have ever thought about getting a Studio J Membership...

or

If you'd just like to get a great deal on a TON of fabulous products found in the New Consultant Kit...

May is definitely the time to do it!

Contact me if you have any questions. I will be happy to help you start planning, so that you can be ready to sign up first thing on May 1st and take advantage of this AMAZING deal!

You can click here to sign up as well.

Blessings,

Saturday, April 16, 2011

H2H Blog Hop


Welcome to the very first Heart 2 Heart Blog “Bunny” Hop.
Every other month we have aFrom Our Heart to Yours challenge, where the Design Team sponsors something fun for our Close to my Heart fans. This week we thought we would make it a blog hop. You have the entire day today, Monday, April 18th (but today only) to create something Easter or Spring themed. Post it to your blog. Then add your link to our Mister Linky on the H2H blog.


Here is my contribution. Remember the layout I posted a couple of days ago where I stamped on a coaster and cut out the triangles to make a banner? Well, I couldn’t resist doing it again for this challenge. I used the same Pennant Alphabet stamp set along with some Baby Pink, Hollyhock, and Pear inks. This time I used the polka dot pennant stamp for the background and the letters are stamped on top. This stamp set has so many options. *Ü*

I also used some self-adhesive Pearl Opaques in between. I pulled out my dusty little sewing machine and added a bit of stitching with some white thread. (I forgot how much I love to sew on my projects. I have never sewed any type of fabric, but love to sew my papers. How crazy is that? LOL!)


I added a little scallop edge to some Hollyhock cardstock on the top and bottom with my new Fiskars punch. Then I stamped the word “easter” using the Chocolate Alphabet Small set. I matted everything onto a piece of pear and white polka dot B&T from the Sophia Collection and added the entire thing to the front of an 8" x 3-1/2" White Daisy card base. I finished it off with some old Hollyhock ribbon knots on the top to “hold” my banner.

It is a fairly simple card, as are most of my projects these days, but the colors make me happy. *Ü*

Now it’s your turn. You can post your link on the H2H Challenge Blog anytime between 8:00 am EST and 8:00 pm EST today. After 8:00 pm, the link list will be closed and no other entries will be added through the week. You also must include CLOSE TO MY HEART products or your link will be removed. Then through out the day, you can bunny hop among the links to see what everyone has created.

Hoppy Easter! *Ü*

Friday, April 15, 2011

Baby Avery Layout


A friend of mine had her (5th) baby a few weeks ago. She had a full placental abruption which forced the doctors to do an emergency C-section when she was only 28 weeks along. Thankfully the baby (and mom) are doing ok, although he is still in the NICU at the hospital and will be there for another month or two. Her baby shower is this weekend and she is very sad that she won't either be pregnant or be able to have the baby with her since he is still in the hospital. So, she asked me to do a layout for her that she can have at the shower to help her feel like he is with her in some small way.

This is what I came up with. I used some retired Close to my Heart paper from the Topstitch Paper Packet along with some left over goodies from the National Scrapbooking Month promotion kit that will be available to order on May 1st. In fact, the layout uses one of the templates from the promotional kit. (You are going to LOVE this kit!)


The banner was made by stamping the Pennant Alphabet stamps onto some coasters and then cut out. I also used some Mocha Opaque Adhesive Gems between the pennants.


All supplies used at from Close to my Heart unless otherwise noted:
Stamps: You & Me (available May 1st - May 31st), Pennant Alphabet, Celebrate Life, Sweet Baby

Paper: Topstitch Paper Packet, Bamboo CS
Inks: Chocolate, Bamboo
Other:Mocha Opaques Gems, 3-D Foam Tape, Cocoa Grosgrain Ribbon, Sanding Block, Foam Tool

Sunday, April 10, 2011

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle - H2H Challenge

Before I get to this week's Heart 2 Heart challenge, I want to tell you about what will be happening next week. Every other month we have a “From our Heart to Yours” challenge. This time around, we want to share a blog hop with all of you! On April 18, we will be sponsoring our first blog hop - the H2H Bunny Hop and we want you to play along. Be sure to check out the H2H Challenge Blog for all of the details.


I love this week’s Heart 2 Heart Challenge! The challenge is to use something recycled on a project. Can you guess what two recycled items I used on my card? Would you believe that I used one of the green air pillow bags that come in our CTMH shipments and a CitiBank bill insert? To make the background, I popped one of the air pillow bags, scrunched it up, inked it with some Chocolate ink and pounced it onto some Kraft cardstock. I thought it made a neat texture. Then I took my “junk mail” and punched some scallop circles out if it. I crumpled up the circles and inked them with some Chocolate ink to make the flowers. Then I cut some tiny strips of the bill insert and inked them with Sweet Leaf ink to make the stems and leaves. (I’ll bet CitiBank never thought that their lovely “junk mail” would be used to make a card. LOL!) What do you think of the sentiment and the faux stitching? They are just a tiny sneak peek of the AMAZING National Scrapbooking Month Kit that will be available on May 1st. Stay tuned for more details on that. I'll have some fun artwork to show you soon using the kit.


Before you toss that junk mail, think about what you can make out of it.


This is what the air pillow bags look like. They are biodegradable, so once you use them to ink your project, you can feel good about tossing them in the trash. Or better yet, save them and reuse them the next time you package up something fun to send to a friend...


Be sure to check out the rest of the Design Team’s projects for some inspiration. Then, go find some junk mail, plastic wrap, toilet paper rolls, etc. and get creative! Then head on over to the Heart 2 Heart Challenge Blog and link your recycled creation for a chance to win some great prizes. Be sure to use CTMH products on your project as well, since H2H is a CTMH Challenge Blog after all. LOL!

All supplies used at from Close to my Heart unless otherwise noted:
Stamps: You & Me (available May 1st - May 31st)

Paper: Kraft, Chocolate, Colonial White CS
Inks: Chocolate, Sweet Leaf, Cocoa
Other: Edge Distresser, Mocha Opaques Gems, 3-D Foam Tape, Air Pillow Bag from CTMH Shipping Box, Bill Insert (junk mail)

Tuesday, April 5, 2011

April Creative Club - Miracle "Family" Layout


April's Creative Club will be held on Wednesday, April 20th and Thursday, April 21st. We will be making this fun layout. You will learn how to make cute pinwheels, pleated cardstock, and how to use our versatile Kraft Color-Ready Borders. Plus, everyone will get a full pack of the Kraft Color-Ready Borders and a full color step-by-step guide to take home in addition to the supplies to make this layout. (The guide will also have instructions for making three different cards. Supplies for the cards will not be provided in your Club kit.)

The cost for the April kit will be $15 or $10 with a $25 order. (If you are not local, please add $5 for shipping.)





Contact me for more information, to sign up for next month's class, or to order your own club kit(s). Please contact me no later than April 7th if you would like to join us or order your own kit(s).

To find out more about my monthly non-commit Creative Club, click
here
. You do not need to be local to participate.

Contact me if you have any questions or if you are interested in joining us.


Sunday, April 3, 2011

"April Showers Bring May Flowers" Card - H2H Challenge


The challenge this week on the Heart 2 Heart Challenge Blog is to create something with the theme “April showers bring May flowers.” What a fun theme! I just had to create a card with some daisies. Do you remember what Meg Ryan says about daisies in the movie You’ve Got Mail? She says, “Don’t you think that daisies are the friendliest flower?” I agree. I love daisies. They are a friendly flower indeed and they make me so happy!

I used the Enjoy Every Moment stamp set to make my card. I stamped the flowers on two pieces of White Daisy (appropriate name) cardstock. Then I sponged some Heavenly Blue ink on top of one of the pieces of CS and colored the leaves in with a Sweet Leaf Marker. I colored the center of the flowers with a Sunflower Marker on the other stamped image and then cut out the flowers using my Micro-Tip Scissors. (Yes, it took a long time, but it was worth it.) I adhered the cut out flowers on top of the stamped image with some 3-D Foam Tape. Then I matted the image with some Sunflower CS and tied a piece of organdy ribbon around it. I used the Fill in the Blank set to stamp the sentiment on a tiny tag and attached it to the ribbon.

I used my polka dot embossing folder with my Cuttlebug to add some texture to the background to finish off my “happy” card.


Be sure to check out the other Design Team Members challenge projects this week. They all made me happy too! *Ü* Then head on over to the H2H Challenge blog and link your “April showers bring May flowers” project. You may win a prize at the end of the month and may even be chosen as a guest Design Team Member!

Friday, April 1, 2011

Sweet card from a sweet friend

I just had to share this darling card that my friend Allyson sent me. Isn’t it sweet? Thanks Allyson!


Look at the yummy ribbon and the adorable little tag. I love how she attached it with a safety pin. Brilliant!


Can you see the sparkle and shimmer? I am thinking she probably used some Glimmer Mist. Love it!



Thanks my friend! Happy crafting!

Do you like a great deal?


Do you love a great deal as much as I do? Be sure to check out my website today as there are some new AMAZING deals in the “While supplies last section.” But hurry because they are only available while supplies last and they will go quickly. Plus, during the month of April when you spend $100 on my website, you will get a FREE Level 1 Kit of your choice!

Wondering what a Level 1 Kit is? My Reflections Level 1 kits are great for beginners to seasoned pros. The preprinted pages make preserving your fondest memories a breeze.


Now THAT, my friends is a deal! Click here to start shopping now.

We have a winner ...

Congratulations to Dina Swindler who is my Facebook referal contest winner. Dina referred 13 friends to my CTMH Facebook Page last month! Thanks Dina. Make sure to contact me at lisa@myctmh.com so I can get the $20 CTMH gift certificate to you.

Thanks to everyone who played along with this challenge. But just because that challenge is over doesn't mean you should stop visiting my FB page or referring your friends. I just may be picking random posters every now and then to win something fun. (hint, hint.) Visit my facebook page here.