Close to my Heart

I just got home from the Close to my Heart Advisory Board retreat. Even though I already knew what a great company this was, after spending the week with the Close to my Heart Executive Team and the other Advisory Board members, I can tell you that it really is an AMAZING company and they really do have their Consultant's and customer's best interest at heart. I was so impressed by seeing things from an “inside” perspective this week. I am very proud to be a part of Close to my Heart!

Here we are at dinner on Thursday night. What can be better than eating great food with great company?

Kristina, Brandy, and I in front of the beautiful home where we stayed.

Karen and I on the front porch.

On that note, if you would like to join this fantastic company family, today is the last day to get the adorable exclusive tote bag with your new Consultant Kit. The bags are almost gone and will no longer be available after today. If you have any questions about becoming a CTMH Consultant, feel free to contact me or visit the New Consultant FAQ page here.

Today is also the last day to get the August Stamp of the Month and to enter my Artiste Collection giveaway. To enter the giveaway, visit the giveaways page here.

Dakota Monogram Card

I am in beautiful Utah right now at the CTMH Advisory Board retreat. We have had lots of productive meetings so far and LOTS of wonderful food. I had heard from past board members that when you go to the Advisory Board retreat to bring stretchy pants because CTMH feeds you well. They were right! It's 7:30 in the morning and I am still full from the yummy dinner last night. *Ü*

I thought I'd pop in to share a quick card with you this morning before heading into our next meeting. This is another version of the cards I designed for my September Club Kit. I wanted to show that the same stamp sets can be used to make both masculine and feminine cards. This one uses the exact same products except that I substituted some Dakota paper for the La Belle Vie paper.

Enjoy your day!

Utah, here I come...

I am so honored and so excited to be leaving this afternoon for the Close to my Heart Advisory Board Retreat in Utah. I have the privilege of spending the week with the most incredible, inspiring team including Close to my Heart’s Vice Presidents: Monica Wihongi, Kristine Widtfeldt, and Brian Holman and this year’s other Advisory Board Members: Karen Morris, Kristina Livingstone, Brandy Lees, and Jillene Moen! What an amazing group!

Looking forward to a fun, productive week!

September Creative Club Project - La Belle Vie Monogrammed Stationery Set

September’s Creative Club will be held on Thursday, September 20th at 7pm. We will be using Close to my Heart’s beautiful new La Belle Vie Collection to make a personalized stationery set that contains 4 cards, 4 lined envelopes, 4 envelope seals, a matching pen, and a mini magazine holder to hold it all. Your kit will also come with the new Perfect Fit - Frames stamp set and mini monogram initial stamp of your choice. This set makes a perfect gift or if you keep it for yourself, will look great on your own desk.  

You will learn how to use our new Artiste Cricut Cartridge to make the adorable magazine holder and the Art Philosophy Cartridge to cut the frames shapes! You will also learn how to line your envelopes with matching paper to create a sophisticated, coordinating look.

The project kit is $28 and includes all of the following: 

• (4) 4-1/4" x 5-1/2" Colonial White Cards/Envelopes
•  Perfect Fit - Frames stamp set
• Monogram stamp of your choice
•  La Belle Vie papers, Chocolate and Colonial White Cardstock for each card
• (4) Pre-cut frame shapes
• (1) Pre-cut mini magazine holder from the new La Belle Vie Collection
• (8) La Belle Vie Pink cardstock scalloped circles
• 30" of Dark Chocolate Striped Ribbon
• La Belle Vie paper to line envelopes
• (1) Pen
• Long distance kits also come with step-by-step instructions.

Add the 1-1/4" circle punch for only $12 more!

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

• 1-1/4" circle punch (or add it to the kit for only $12)
• 3-D Foam Tape
• Chocolate ink pad
• 3" x 3" block
• 2" x 2" block

Your completed stationery set will fit inside the adorable mini magazine holder. Everything will be at your fingertips when you are ready to send out a quick card.

This is an example of one of the four cards.

Use a little 3-D Foam Tape to add dimension to your cards.

You will learn how to line your envelopes and add a monogrammed seal to complete the sophisticated, high-end look.

 

You will receive all of this in your kit for only $28!

Due to popular demand, these 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!

Still time to join CTMH for only $49 and get a FREE tote!

Have you ever thought about turning your hobby into a lucrative business? Or maybe just getting Close to my Heart products at a great discount for you and your friends? August is the PERFECT time to sign to up. Not only do we have a new $49 kit, but if you join my team this month, you can get this adorable exclusive tote bag for FREE! (The totes are only available while supplies last and CTMH just informed us supplies are running low.)

You can choose to order the $49 New Consultant Kit and get $130 worth of brand new CTMH products shown below! (Or choose the $99 kit and get $280 worth of new goodies!)

Remember, the tote is only available while supplies last, so sign up now to make sure you get yours before they are gone.

Have questions? Feel free to contact me or visit my New Consultant FAQs page here for more details.
 

Sign up using the quick and easy online form here.

Win a FREE Artiste Cricut Collection!

Have you seen Close to my Heart’s new Artiste Cricut Collection yet? It is amazing! I thought I‘d share this great video with you that explains how both of the included booklets work together to help make your crafting faster, simpler, and MUCH easier!

Click here for more information and to see all of the images available in this incredible collection.

Would you like to win a FREE Artiste Collection valued at nearly $125? Hop on over to my giveaway page here and enter to win. The winner will be announced on September 1st.

If you can’t wait to see if you are the winner, feel free to order the collection here now, and if you end up being my winner, I will either reimburse you for the full price you paid for the collection or you can choose $99 in any other products. *Ü*

La Belle Vie Friendship Card

You may recall the Friendship card that I posted here. I thought it would be fun to make the same card using different papers, and thus the pink version was born...

I used the pretty La Belle Vie Collection for this one and really like how it turned out. The dimensions and cutting guide are in the Make It From Your Heart book. I also used one of the pinwheels from the new Artist Cricut cartridge which I LOVE! (Did you know that in addition to 693 other unique images, there are seven different pinwheels on that cartridge? So cool!) I added a pearl badge button to the center of the pinwheel to finish it off.

Stay tuned for more La Belle Vie projects...

You're Sweet Cupcake Card

I LOVE Close to my Heart’s new Pun Fun stamp set and couldn’t wait to use it on this card. (You will find this card and the pattern to make it in the new Make It From Your Heart publication.) I also used the new Perfect Fit - Frames stamp set which coordinates with the Art Philosophy Cricut cartridge. The pattern stamped at the bottom of the card is from the Love Life stamp set.

I used some paper from the Stella Collection on the cupcake and for the polka dots. (The polka dots were made using circles cut from the paper and then glued onto the card.) CTMH’s 3-D Foam Tape helped add lots of dimension. I added some Cranberry ribbon and a little red stitching with my sewing machine around the border to finish it off.

Celebrate National Stamping Month with a great DOUBLE stamp set for only $5!

Life is made up of simple, everyday moments worth preserving, by the day, week, or month.

To celebrate National Stamping Month in September, Close to my Heart is offering a new double stamp set! You can get the exclusive My Acrylix® It’s Your Day double stamp set for just $5 when you place a minimum order of $35 in full retail products from August 15 through September 30. You’ll love this double set—two D-size sets in one envelope—with trendy images that capture the flavor of your day-to-day activities, errands, and musings—the little things that make up who you are and are worth remembering and sharing! With a retail value of $35.90, this set drastically increases the value of your qualifying purchase. Have twice the fun stamping during National Stamping Month with our new It’s Your Day double stamp set!

Many of the images on this stamp set coordinate with the new Artiste Cricut cartridge as well!

Watch this great video to learn how to celebrate the everyday moments with the It’s Your Day double stamp set for National Stamping Month. You can create cute projects with nearly 50 adorable stamps!

Click here to shop online.
 

Offer available August 15–September 30, 2012. Tax and shipping/handling charges apply. Limit one promotional item per qualifying order.

Make It From Your Heart "Hugs" Card

Here is another card that I made for the new Make It From Your Heart publication. I used the red patterned paper from the Stella Collection and stamped the polka dots on white cardstock using the Diverse Background stamp set using Honey and Lagoon ink.

The bracket shapes are from the Enjoy! stamp set and the letters are from the Token Alphabet set. I did a little masking with these two stamp sets in order to get the finished look.

The grey stripes in the center of the banners were created the same way that I created the chocolate stripes on this layout. I simply used my ruler and a grey marker.

The “I love you” on the little tag is from the Keepsake Alphabet set and tied on with some Lagoon Baker's Twine from the Paradise Collection.

If you are interested in getting your own copy of the new Make It From Your Heart “How-To” publication, click here. (That’s a lot of happiness for $7.95!)

Recruit for Loot Winner

Close To My Heart offered an incentive to reward one lucky consultant for their great recruiting and mentoring efforts! At our convention, the winner was drawn and announced - Noreen Petty!

Noreen is a firecracker and an amazing woman! Wait till you see what she won! A 3 minute, timed shopping spree in the Close To My Heart warehouse! She got to keep all she could grab in that time! Check out the uniform she designed, complete with jumbo pants to stuff products in!

 

 

Check out this video! I love how Close To My Heart goes above and beyond to pamper us and create amazing experiences! Way to go Noreen!

Make It From Your Heart "Smiles" Layout

As promised, I have another layout from the new Make It From Your Heart publication to share with you today. Remember the layout that I shared here a few days ago? This layout uses the same pattern, but it is rotated. Did you know that you have hundreds of other options when you rotate the patterns?

Instead of using the square shapes shown on the pattern, I used a bracket shape from the Art Philosophy Cricut cartridge.

I used papers from both the Clementine and Scholastic Collections on this layout. (Don’t you just love mixing papers from different Collections?)

The banner title was made using the Art Philosophy Cricut cartridge as well. I wanted it to coordinate with the large Chocolate Striped Ribbon I used on the layout, but since I didn’t have any smaller ribbon to match, I used my Chocolate marker and a ruler to draw stripes on some white cardstock. I trimmed the cardstock and added a strip to each pennant. Some Mocha Pearls and Embroidery Floss tie it all together.

The flowers and leaves were also cut using the Art Philosophy Cricut cartridge. I inked the edges before rolling them to give them a little dimension. I finished them off with some Adhesive Pearls.

This great How-To book includes 16 two-page layout patterns, 2 single-page patterns, and 12 card patterns all for only $7.95! Are you convinced that you need to order the Make It From Your Heart publication yet? If not, stay tuned. I have even more projects to share that might convince you...

Create a Space Themed Party with the new Artiste Cricut Collection

Create a space-themed party for all the little astronauts in your life. It's simple using Close To My Heart's new Cricut® Artiste collection and the My Acrylix® Outta This World stamp set!

You can make space-themed invitations, hats, party favors, and more for a party that will be memorable for eons to come!

Don't have the new Artiste Collection yet?
Feel free to enter my giveaway for a FREE Artiste Collection here. 

Make It From Your Heart "Family" Layout

This family-themed layout is on page 23 of the new Make It From Your Heart Publication. I loved the photos that my friend sent me of her family and couldn’t wait to use them with this layout pattern. I used the new Pear & Partridge paper for the background and matted it on some Ruby cardstock.

The sentiments in the upper left corner and the lower right corner are both from the Family Love stamp set.

I cut some butterflies with the Art Philosophy Cricut cartridge from Cashmere cardstock and added some Opaques Mocha Adhesive Gems and Sparkle Flourishes as a “trail.” The edges of the butterflies are inked with a Ruby Marker.

The title is made with Dimensional Elements Monograms covered with Cashmere cardstock. I colored the edges of the chipboard letters with a Ruby marker and stamped some small flowers from the Remarkable Wreath stamp set. I also added some Bitty Sparkles to the center of one flower on each letter. I finished off the layout by adding some brown stitching around the edges with my sewing machine.

Stay tuned for another layout using the same pattern, with a twist, from the Make It From Your Heart publication...

Make It From Your Heart Friendship Card

Here is another project that I created for the new Make It From Your Heart publication. I love that this publication has patterns for both scrapbook layouts and cards! The great thing about the patterns is that you can use them exactly how they are shown or just as a guide and add your own flair.

I used some paper from the Stella Collection for the pinwheel and added a Filigree Charm in the center. I also stamped some Bamboo cardstock with a background stamp from the Diverse Backgrounds set in black ink. The sentiment is from the Beautiful Friendship set. I added a little stitching around the edges to finish it off.

Stay tuned for more projects from the new Make It From Your Heart publication...

The New 2012 Autumn/Winter Idea Book is here!

It’s here! It’s here! The Close to my Heart 2012 Autumn/Winter Idea Book is here! I know I have said this before, but I honestly think that THIS is the best Idea Book I have seen yet! I am so excited to share it with you. It is jam packed with incredible new products including 8 new paper packets, 13 new Workshops on the Go Kits, an INCREDIBLE new Cricut Collection, tons of new stamp sets (many coordinating with the new Artiste Cricut Collection), a great new How-To Publication, lots of fantastic new accessories and embellishments, and so much inspiring artwork that it’s sure to get your creative juices flowing!

A few of my favorite new products include the Make It From Your Heart publication, the new Avonlea and Pear & Partridge Card Workshop Kits, and the super cute Advent Calendar Kit. I also love the new mini monogram stamps, and the versatile Display Tray (see my August Club project for an example of what you can do with it.) I have so many more favorites that I just can’t list them all!

Here are a few photos of some of my favorites...

 Advent Calendar Kit

Avonlea Card Workshop Kit

 

Scroll Album Kit

3-D Bracket Frame covered with Avonlea Paper

The new How-To Book — Make It From Your Heart

 And of course, my absolute favorite — the new Artiste Cricut Collection 

You can view the new Idea Book online here or contact me to get your own free copy. I just ask that you pay the $5 shipping fee. However, I will include a $5 gift certificate to be used on your next order.