Wednesday, October 27, 2010

Holiday Gifts to Warm the Heart - November Creative Club Projects

November’s Creative Club will be held on Wednesday, November 10th and Thursday, November 11th. We will be making some fun holiday gifts that can be given to neighbors, co-workers, teachers, Secret Santas, etc. Everyone will get an A Sip stamp set along with pre-cut cardstock and patterned papers to make a hot cocoa gift bag with matching tag, a tea bag card, and a coffee card made with real coffee grounds. *Tea bags, hot cocoa mix, marshmallows, and candy cane are not included.

This quick and easy bag in a box can hold just about anything.
Mine has two hot cocoa mixes, a bag of marshmallows, and a candy cane inside.


The tea bag card holds 2 standard sized tea bags
and has a sweet message to the recipient on the inside.

This card can be used as a coffee card or hot cocoa card.
We will use Liquid Applique and real coffee grounds for a 3-D effect.
The cost for the November kit is $15 or $10 with a $25 order. (If you are not local, please add $5 for shipping.) Additional kits without the stamp set are $5.

If you like this project, 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). Please contact me no later than November 3rd 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.

Tuesday, October 26, 2010

Virtual Garage Sale

I am so sorry that I have been MIA for a while. I was actually out of town at a scrapbooking crop in Las Vegas for a few days. My best friend (who is just learning to scrapbook) lives in LV and she called me a few weeks ago because she was invited to a crop. She had no idea what a “crop” was and asked me to “translate” the invitation for her. I had to laugh at the fact that she had never heard the terms "crop, Sizzix, Cricut, make & take" etc. It was like a foreign language to her. After I translated everything for her, I told her that I thought she should go because it sounded like fun. She said there was no way she was going alone, so I ended up going with her and having a lot of fun. I even won the grand prize which was a Cricut Expression! Woo-Hoo! Anyway, I have a few things that I worked on while I was there that I need to photograph and post for you. Stay tuned for that...

In the meantime, my poor Mac is on its last legs and I desperately need a new one. So...I went through my massive stash of new and used products and am hoping to sell enough to buy a new computer. I added a link at the top of my blog called “Items for Sale.” There were too many items to take pictures of everything, but if there is something in particular that you would like to see, just shoot me an email and I will be happy to take a picture of it for you. You can also see the massive list of items for sale here. Everything that is highlighted in yellow is either sold or pending. The prices listed do not include shipping. (I am hoping that you will want to buy a lot of stuff and I can put it all in a flat rate box for you. wink. wink.) Just send me an email with your zip code and let me know what you would like and I will be happy to figure out the shipping cost for you.

Happy Shopping...

Saturday, October 16, 2010

Passages Suitcase Box

Remember the mini album project I made here? Well, I had some left over Passages My Stickease and didn't want them to go to waste. So, I made this fun little box and decorated it to look like an old fashioned suitcase.

I used my Tags, Bags, Boxes and More Cricut cartridge to make a 6" matchbox out of Cocoa cardstock. Then I covered the box with one of the patterned papers from the Passages Paper Packet. Then I embellished it with more Cocoa CS for the straps and the corners and added some Stickease on the front. The handle is made using two Photo Hangers and some Cocoa Grosgrain ribbon. I added the hanging tag by threading some Waxy Flax through a tiny hole I made in another one of the Stickease. I am not sure what I will put in the box, but it does look kind of cute just sitting on my desk. LOL!

Tuesday, October 12, 2010

How would you like to get all of your CTMH products at a great discount?

Close to my Heart Consultant/Hobbyist Opportunity
Becoming a CTMH Consultant has been one of the most rewarding and fun things I have ever done. I have learned so much over the years and, in the process, made some wonderful friends all over the country! I would love to share the same opportunity with you. Not ready to start your own business? That's OK. You can just sign up to get the products at a great discount for you and your friends. This is known as being a Hobbyist. (Let me just tell you that CTMH loves their hobbyists just as much as they love their business builders!) Plus, the New Consultant Kit alone is worth the price of admission. LOL!

CTMH has a fabulous new Consultant Kit that is jam packed with great new products at an amazing price. In fact, you get to create your own kit by choosing 3 of the 6 different “choose me” options. For only $129, you get all of your necessary business supplies in addition to 3 of the following bundles. Want more than 3? No problem. Just pay $40 extra for any additional “choose me” options that you would like. Here's what you get...

All Kits include the following business essentials:
Open Me First Brochure
Current Idea Books and KeyNotes®
Product Review (W9924)
You Are Welcome Here Brochures (W1151)
The Rewards Come Now Brochures (W1150)
Customer Order Forms (W1101)
Studio J® Customer Order Forms
Studio J® 5-Pack Cards
Studio J® Membership Cards
Cello Bags (W1152)








Choose Me Option 1 ($155.40 value):

One-year MyCTMH® Website Subscription
(Laptop not included.)








Choose Me Option 2 ($99 value):

12-Month Studio J® Membership








Choose Me Option 3 ($66.30 value):

Workshops on the Go™ Magnifique Kit (G1015)
My Acrylix® Unity Stamp Set (C1422)
Pacifica Exclusive Inks® Pad (Z2192)
Lagoon Exclusive Inks® Pad (Z2195)
Sparkles Blue & Green Assortment (Z1327)
Memory Protectors® Flip Flaps™ 12" Assortment (Z1325)








Choose Me Option 4 ($66.30 value):

Workshops on the Go™ Mistletoe Kit (G1014)
4 1/2" x 5 1/2" Clear Cards (Z1323)
My Acrylix® Tag the Occasion Stamp Set (B1362)
Chocolate Exclusive Inks® Pad (Z2111)
Cranberry Exclusive Inks® Pad (Z2116)
Opaques Pearl Adhesive Gems (Z1336)








Choose Me Option 5 ($68.55 value):

12" x 12" Black My Legacy® Faux Leather Album (Z1345)
Shoulder Tote (Z4204)
Label Holders (Z4127)
1" Extender Posts and Screws (1010)
12" × 12" Spine Expanders (Z4120)








Choose Me Option 6 ($83.75 value):

My Acrylix® Organizer (Z1038)
My Acrylix® A Sip Stamp Set (A1109)
My Acrylix® Fright Night Stamp Set (B1359)
My Acrylix® Tannenbaum Stamp Set (B1361)
My Acrylix® Nature's Gift Stamp Set (C1424)
2" x 3 1/2" My Acrylix® Block (Y1009)
3" x 3" My Acrylix® Block (Y1006)

More benefits to ordering your 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.
  • 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.
  • and tons more...
As a Consultant, you get to choose what you would like to do with your business. Here are a few ideas...

Be a 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.
Be a 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.
Be a 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.
Be a 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 a minimum of 22% discount on all your purchases.
Be a 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. Everyone signs up as a full Consultant and if after one full quarter, you do not have $300 in retail sales, you will become a Junior Consultant. Juniors will bump back up to full status once they have $300 in sales in any given quarter!

Ready to order your kit?
Does this all sound too good to be true? I know it does, but guess what? It is true! My new Consultants even get some extra fun perks from me! Contact me today for more information or click here to order your own kit and take advantage of all that Close to my Heart has to offer!

Sunday, October 10, 2010

Card inspired by my new bedding

We got some new bedding a few weeks ago and every time I looked at it, I thought, “That pattern and those colors would make a pretty card.” So, I looked through my stash to see what I had and ended up making this card.

I trimmed some PTI Spring Moss, and CTMH Cocoa and Colonial White cardstock into little strips to make the striped pattern. Then I added a piece of scallop trimmed Cocoa cardstock to the edges. I stamped the leaves in Cocoa ink using a retired CTMH set called In Friendship’s Garden. The sentiment is from CTMH’s Happy Birthday set. I used a couple of Marvy flower punches and some CTMH buttons to finish it off.

This is what my new bedding looks like. (I wish I could say that this is a photo of my bedroom, but unfortunately it is the stock photo of the bedding from Bed, Bath, and Beyond.) The striped inspiration came from the small pillow in the middle and the leaves came from the bedspread.

What kinds of things have inspired you lately?

All Supplies used at CTMH unless otherwise noted:
Stamps: Happy Birthday, In Friendship's Garden
Paper: PTI Moss Cardstock, CTMH Cocoa & Colonial White Cardstock
Inks: Cocoa
Other: Scallop Scissors, Marvy Flower Punches, CTMH Buttons, Waxy Flax

New Blog Look

I have been playing around with a new look for my blog and would love to get your honest feedback. What do you think? Is it to busy? Is the background distracting? If you know me at all, you know that I tend to lean more towards clean and simple. This new design is a bit of stretch for me. So, what are your thoughts? Keep it or change it?

I’ll be back later with a little artwork for ya...

*Ü*

Thursday, October 7, 2010

Mini Gift Bag and Stamp Set

I like to surprise my monthly Creative Club members every now and then with something fun. This month we are playing a silly game before we start the project and the winner will receive this cute gift bag made from a tiny lunch sack. The bag will have a mini stamp set inside. Don't worry, everyone else who attends the Club this month, along with my long distance members, will also receive the stamp set for free! Want more information on my monthly Club? Click here for details.
To make the project, simply trim off the top of a mini lunch sack. (My trimmed sack measures 3-1/2" wide x 3-7/8" high.) Then cut two pieces of cardstock to 3-3/4" x 4" and 3-3/4" x 6-1/8". Score the 3-3/4" x 6-1/8" piece at 2" on long side. Adhere one piece of the CS to the front of the bag and the other piece to the back. Decorate as desired and then add a Velcro circle under the flap to keep it closed. These are great for holding all kinds of little treats and can be used as party favors or even as placecards.

All Supplies used at CTMH unless otherwise noted:
Stamps: Leaves & Things (special promotion set), Many Thanks
Paper: Olivia Paper Packet
Inks: Cocoa, Chocolate
Other: 3-1/2" x 2-1/4" x 6-3/4" Mini Lunch Sack (Walmart craft section), Watercolor Pencils, Blending Pen, Sponge Dauber, Fiskars Scallop Punch, Foam Tape