Thursday, January 31, 2013

February Creative Club - 12" x 12" Canvas



February’s Creative Club will be held on Thursday, February 21st at 7pm. This month we will be making one of my most favorite Workshop on the Go Kits ever! It is a brand new 12" x 12" Canvas. The best part about this project is that you can finish it in less than an hour! Plus you get enough goodies in the kit to actually make more projects when you are done. You can make an other canvas (as suggested by my fellow Consultants Melissa Lavery and Dana Kessler), you can make cards, or even a scrapbook page with your leftovers.


The kit is $40 and includes:
  • (1) 12"x 12" pre-printed canvas display
  • (1) C-sized Canvas Art Workshop on the Go stamp set
  • (1) 1 yard of Cashmere Baker’s Twine
  • (10) Clear Sparkles (10mm)
  • (1) Sheet of Sparkles Flourishes
  • (2) 12" x 6" sheets of Dimensional Elements In Color - Art Shapes
  • Instructional Brochure
Add on an extra white 12" x 12" canvas for only $5 more!


Other supplies, not included, needed to complete the project:



ETA: Thank you for the wonderful response. 
This class is now full, and all kits are sold out. Sorry.

To find out more about my monthly “no-commitment” Creative Club, click here. You do not need to be local to participate.

Monday, January 28, 2013

Clean & Simple 2 Card Class - Day #1


Last year I took a great online card class called Clean & Simple. When I saw that they were going to offer a Clean & Simple 2 class, I jumped at the opportunity to sign up. The timing of the class is not great for me as I am working on some deadline projects that I need to finish before leaving on the CTMH incentive trip on Friday. However, one of the things that I love about these online card classes is that I can go back and take the class on my own whenever I want. The information is available forever to those who sign up for the classes.

So...with that being said, even though I should have been working on my deadline projects today, I really wanted to participate in day 1 of the Clean & Simple 2 class. This card was inspired by one created by Kristina Werner, one of my all time favorite paper crafters.


I used a couple of current Close to my Heart stamp sets (Salutation Seals and Keepsake Alphabet) along with a brand new set called Frame Flair that will be available on February 1st when the new catalog goes live.

It is hard to see in the photos, but the front of the card has been popped up with a layer of cardstock that was punched with a 1-3/4" circle. I masked the frame and sponged some Blush ink around the edges. I also added a few Bitty Opaque Pearls around the frame. To finish it off, I stamped a small “clean and simple” sentiment inside. 


Ok, now back to work on my other projects. I promise to post more of my Clean & Simple 2 projects when they are done, whether it be during the actual class or sometime after. *Ü*

Jeanette's Beautiful Studio


If you have ever wondered what a “dream studio” looks like, just take a peek at Close to my Heart’s founder and CEO, Jeanette Lynton’s, beautiful space. She posted some great photos of her home studio on her blog today. You can see them here. (But beware. You just may get a little “studio envy.” lol)

(The photo above is a picture of me with Jeanette a couple of years ago at the awards reception at the CTMH Convention.)

Friday, January 25, 2013

Buzz & Bumble Tag - New Catalog Sneak Peek


Here’s a little sneak peek at some of the new products in the 2013 Spring/Summer Close to my Heart Idea Book. One of my favorite new collections is called Buzz & Bumble. I created this tag with some papers and Stickease from that collection and another favorite new product—Glitter Paper! So much fun!


I’m not sure if you can see it in the photo but I used one of the six new colors of the Glitter Paper behind the first layer and then popped it up with some 3-D Foam Tape. The flower was made by cutting some paper from the Buzz & Bumble Collection with the Artiste Cricut cartridge. I cut 6 flowers and layered them together. The flower on page 32 of the Artiste booklet was cut at 1-1/2", 1-3/4", 2", 2-1/4", and 2-1/2". I crumbled them up a bit and inked the edges with Cocoa ink. I also slipped a piece of Black Tulle behind the last two layers. The center of the flower was cut at 2" with the 3-D flower shape on page 54 of the booklet. I inked the edges, rolled it with the quilling tool and adhered it to the center of the flower. I added a small Mocha Opaque Pearl in the very center.


I finished off the tag with a stamped image from the Crafted with Love set and a piece of Color Ready Seam Binding dyed with Cocoa Re-inker.

Check back on February 1st to see all of the wonderful new products in the new catalog including the Glitter Paper and the Buzz & Bumble Collection!

Tuesday, January 22, 2013

The ultimate compliment...

The ultimate compliment to me is when someone likes my artwork enough to want to re-create it. Today Nancy Ball, a wonderful artist and fellow CTMH Consultant, posted a couple of revised versions of my Whooo’s Your Valentine Christmas card. I loved them so much that I asked her if I could share them with you. She graciously agreed to let me share.

Here is the one that I created last month...


Here are Nancy’s versions...



Aren’t they darling? I love how she used the different colors and sentiment stamps to make a Valentine’s card and a friendship card. So cute!

It’s not too late to get the cute stamp set that Nancy and I used on our cards. In fact, not only can you get the stamp set, but the kit comes with 12 treat tubes, precut boxes, and glitter cardstock—all for only $10 with a $35 order! But hurry, quantities are running low and they are only available while supplies last.

Click here for more info on this great kit. Click here to order yours today.

Friday, January 11, 2013

Treat Cup Slider Card



This is a fun card that I shared at the Close to my Heart Convention last summer. It uses our treat cups to hold yummy little treats or small little gifts. What I love about this card is that it was soooo easy to make! I used two of the images on CTMH’s Artiste Cricut cartridge which made it even faster, simpler, and easier to create! I brought the images into Cricut Craft Room to add the small circle on the back and the larger circle on the front. The base of the card was cut at 5" (see page 69 of the Artiste booklet.) The large tag was cut at 3". (I provided a link to the .ccr file for you at the bottom of this post.)


The great thing is that when you lift up the tag from the inside of the card it exposes a small hole in the back so you can get the treats out without having to tear up the card. The recipent can even reuse the card if they wanted to.

I used the Simple Memories and Card Chatter — Love stamp sets that will be retiring at the end of January, so if you like them, make sure to order your sets now before they disappear. I also used the Magic Potions set which will be available through the next catalog cycle.


If you would like to download the Cricut Craft Room file that I created, you are welcome to do so by clicking here. (Note, you must have the Artiste Cricut cartridge for this file to work.)

Stay tuned for a video on how to make this fun little treat cup card...

All supplies used are from Close to my Heart unless otherwise noted:
Cardstock: Kraft, Chocolate
Stamps: Magic Potions, Simple Memories, Card Chatter — Love
Inks: White Daisy, Chocolate
Other: Treat Cups, 3-D Foam Tape, Artiste Cartridge, Cricut Craft Room, Hemp, Sponge Dauber

Monday, January 7, 2013

Whooo's Your Valentine Layout

I thought this adorable layout created by fellow Consultant Michelle Snyder was so cute that I just had to share it with you. She used the Whooo’s Your Valentine Kit to make it.


Look at the cute border she created with the stamp set that comes in the kit and the silver metallic marker.


I love the glitter frames she made using the glitter paper that comes in the kit.


You can get your own Whooo’s Your Valentine kit for just $10 with a $35 order. But hurry because they are only available while supplies last. Click here or on the image below to order your kit before they are gone.

Wednesday, January 2, 2013

January Specials and Promotions

Close to my Heart is kicking 2013 off with a bang! There are so many wonderful things happening this month that I can’t wait to share with you.

First is the beautiful January stamp of the month. You can get this beauty for just $5. See the info below for details. 

January Stamp of the Month 



Available January 1-31, 2013 only.

With a minimum qualifying purchase, get your D-size Stamp of the Month set for just $5.00 US / $5.50 CAN! Add the stamp set to your cart on this page at full retail price or, with your qualifying order, add it at checkout for the promotional price.

Spend:   $50.00  No purchase required
You pay only:   $5.00    $17.95 (full retail) 

Set of 7
Recommended My Acrylix® Blocks:
2" x 2" (Y1003), 2" x 3-1/2" (Y1009), 2" x 6-1/2" (Y1010), 4" x 5" (Y1012)

Click here to order your own Stamp of the Month 

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Next is the adorable New Consultant Kit that is now available. The kit includes brand spankin' new products that are not even released to the public yet.
 
New Consultant Kit Available


If you have ever thought about turning your hobby into a lucrative business or even just getting a great discount on your Close to my Heart products, now is the time to join. For a little as just $49, you can get all of the goodies in the photo above and start a new business!

Click here for more information on joining my team and to see everything that is available in the new kit!

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The sweet Whooo’s Your Valentine Kit is still available for just $10 with a $35 order! But they are only available while supplies last and they are going fast.

National Papercrafting Month Promotion
Whooo’s Your Valentine?




Celebrate National Papercrafting Month with an incredible deal—our Whooo’s Your Valentine kit for only $10! Combine your love of papercrafting with the contents of this kit to create personalized valentines—perfect for classrooms and other group settings. This darling kit, which retails for $40, can be yours for only $10 when you spend $35 or more in Close To My Heart product from the Autumn/Winter 2012 Idea Book. You’ll receive 12 die-cut boxes, 3 cardstock sheets, 1 sheet of silver glitter paper, 12 treat tubes, and an exclusive D-size stamp set created specifically for the kit.


This kit offers you a sneak peek at two new Spring/Summer 2013 products: the treat tubes and the silver glitter paper! Decorate the die-cut boxes with the stamp images, cardstock, and glitter paper. Then attach the clear tube and fill with treats for valentines in a cinch!

Watch this great video to see what’s included in the kit and how to put the cute projects together.


Shipping/handling may apply. Offer valid December 13, 2012—January 31, 2013. Maximum of one Whooo’s Your Valentine kit per qualifying order.

Tuesday, January 1, 2013

Happy New Year!


Thank you so much to everyone who helped make 2012 such a great year! I had an extraordinary year in both my personal life and my Close to my Heart “business” life. I am excited for all that 2013 has in store for me and can’t wait to share it with all of you!

Sending you all a great big New Years hug from this side of my creative corner!

Happy New Year!
xoxo