Friday, December 27, 2013

New Consultant Changes are Coming...

I am excited about some of the changes that Close to my Heart has announced for New Consultants who sign up after January 1st. Many of you have contacted me about signing up and wanting to wait until January 1st so that you can get the New Consultant Kit. I wanted to share the upcoming changes with you now in case you would rather sign up before the changes take effect. This way you have the option and can choose whether you'd like to sign up now or after January 1st.

The first change is that we will no longer be offering two kit options. Currently there is a $49 kit option and a $99 kit option. The new kit will be offered at $99 and will include over $300 worth of products and business supplies. (And let me tell you—it is super cute!)

The second change is with the Straight to the Top Program. This is an exciting change because with the new program, you can earn back the $99 you spent on your kit! With the new program, if you have $1,200 in sales (including your own orders) within the first 90 days, you will receive your $99 back, ultimately making your kit FREE! Also, as a special extra incentive from me, if you reach your STTT goal with the new program I will also send you a Workshop on the Go Kit of your choice absolutely FREE! (The current Straight to the Top program allows you to earn $25 in Select Product Credit when you reach $300 in orders in your first 30 days and an additional $75 in SPC when you reach a total of $1,200 in your first 90 days. So the main difference is that instead of earning product credit that can be used to get certain items, the new program will allow you to earn $99 cash back that can be used for whatever you like.)

Here are the current Consultant Kit options
(Visit my New Consultant FAQs page for more info on the current kit contents.)

$49 Kit (valued at $155) available through 12/31/13


$99 Kit available through 12/31/13
includes everything in the $49 kit plus these extras...


$99 New Consultant Kit (valued at $309) available January 1, 2014


For more information on the current New Consultant program, feel free to visit my New Consultant FAQs page here. I will update the page with the new changes on January 1st when they go into effect.

If/when you are ready to sign up, you can do so here. Feel free to contact me if you have any questions.*Ü*

Sunday, December 22, 2013

Free Printable Christmas Gift Tags


Close to my Heart has provided some fun printable Christmas gift tags for you to download. Just pop on over to my website here and download the file for free. They will be available to download through December 31st. *Ü*

While you are there, feel free to check out some of the great videos, browse through the online Idea Book, and even place an order if you like.

Tuesday, December 17, 2013

Quick and Easy Custom Canvas



Are you looking for a quick and easy last minute gift? This custom canvas was super easy to make and will make a perfect gift for my Mom for Christmas. In fact, I think I will make another one for my Mother-in-Law too.

I printed a family photo onto a piece of tissue paper and then used some Mod Podge to adhere it to a 6" x 6" Close to my Heart Canvas.


The video below explains in detail how to make the canvas. (Since I was all out of repositionable spray adhesive, I just used a little CTMH Bonding Memories Glue around the edges of the cardstock and let it dry for a few minutes before sticking the tissue paper to it. It worked perfectly.)

Friday, December 13, 2013

Washi Tape Christmas Card


I had fun making this quick and simple Christmas card using some of Close to my Heart’s new Washi Tape in a non-traditional color and pattern. I LOVE the pink polka dot Washi Tape and wanted to figure out a way to use it on a Christmas card. I covered the top of a piece of 4" x 5.25" White Daisy Cardstock with (3) strips of the pink polka dot Washi Tape from the Party Pack. (It almost looks like patterned paper.) Then I matted it to some Cocoa Cardstock and wrapped a piece of Cocoa grosgrain ribbon around the seam in the middle. I matted that piece to a card base that I made from a piece of 4.25" x 11" White Daisy cardstock.

I stamped the tree from the Always Grateful stamp set in Cotton Candy ink and then added some Stardust Glitz Glitter Gel to give it some sparkle, although it’s hard to see in the photo. I adhered it to the card with 3-D Foam Tape. I finished it off with a sentiment from the Yuletide Greetings stamp set. I will probably add a piece of the Washi Tape to the outside of the envelope as well.

I love using non-traditional colors and patterns on my cards (and it’s even better when it’s pink polka dots.) *Ü*

Sunday, December 8, 2013

December Creative Club - Christmas Kraft Container


Do you need a last minute gift for a teacher, neighbor, co-worker, or friend? This adorable, customizable kraft container is a perfect way to wrap a gift for anyone! Because it comes with an alphabet stamp set, you can stamp any name or sentiment on your container! The Christmas Kraft Container Kit (December’s Creative Club project) is now available to order. (There will not be a physical class this month.)


Stamp your teacher’s name, your co-worker’s name, your neighbor’s name, or just a friendly “Merry Christmas” or “Happy Holidays” sentiment on your container. The choice is yours since you will have the whole alphabet including upper case, lower case, numbers and punctuation! Then fill your container with whatever you like. (I will be putting some Dark Chocolate Almond Bark and a gift card in this one for my daughter’s teacher.)


Your kit will also come with enough pre-cut flowers and Sparkles to make (3) small and (1) large poinsettia that can be placed anywhere you like on your container!


Each kit comes with a pre-cut tag and Baker’s Twine to attach to the Cello bag which is also included. If you would like me to pre-stamp your tag with the “Happy Holidays” sentiment and the“To” and “From,” please let me know in the notes/comments section when you place your order. Otherwise your tag will come plain. (Although, the snowflake stamp is included in the kit.)


The project kit is $40 and includes all of the following:

Add additional kits including: (1) Kraft Container, all pre-cut pieces, metal flower, (4) Sparkles, Baker’s Twine, and Cello Bag for just $5 extra! (If you are not local, a flat $5 will be added for shipping no matter how many kits are ordered.) 

Framework Alphabet stamp set - included


Single Snowflake mini stamp set- included 


Additional products needed to complete this project:
Ink Pads: White Daisy Pigment Ink PadCranberry Ink Pad
TopiaryCranberry Markers
Holiday Tags Stamp Set

Thank you for the great response.
Kits are now sold out.

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

Monday, December 2, 2013

"Ho Ho Ho" Christmas Shadow Box


I have seen so many fun shadow box projects lately that I just had to try my hand at making one. I bought an 8" x 8" shadow box at Michaels. I think the box was regularly $9.99 and was on sale at 40% off. (Gotta love when things are on sale.) But even if it was full price, you could always us a coupon. I also bought two packs of mini ornaments (also on sale.) I have also seen some cute ones made with bells instead of ornaments. The amazing Melissa Lavery even made one using curled up paper that you can see here! Just make sure that whatever you choose to put inside of your shadow box, is small enough to fit.


Then I cut a piece of Close to my Heart Sparkle & Shine paper to 8" x 8" to fit inside. I put everything together and then measured the area that was not covered by the ornaments to figure out what size to cut my sentiment which ended up being 4". I used the Artiste Cricut cartridge to cut the fun “Ho Ho Ho” sentiment out of black vinyl. (Super fun and easy to do!)

I adhered the cut vinyl to the front of the glass and voila—a quick, easy, inexpensive Christmas gift was checked off of my list! I may add some ribbon around the frame with a big bow on top and attach a matching gift tag before I give it to the recipient.