5/31/2011

Join Us at the CTMH June SOTM Blog Hop!

If you have found yourself here from Haley Dyer's Blog, then you are in the right place.  This month we have over 50 Close to My Heart Consultants for the June Stamp of the Month Blog Hop.  

The June Stamp of the Month is entitled Jubilation (Set of 24).  What a useful for any occasion stamp set.  A bonus is that it will perfectly stamp on our new Canvas Badge Buttons (Z1397).  Now now fantastic is that?    Here is a picture of the June Stamp of the Month:



I just love the selection in this stamp set, but the little bat caught my eye and I just had to pair it with our Hooligan's Level 2 Paper Pack (X7129B).  I had just seen a tutorial on making a Spinner Card here and decided to try my hand at it.  Paired with the scary scene from Captured Moments (C1423), here is what I came up with:
The bat image is embossed with clear detail embossing powder with black ink on Sunset Card Stock.

This stamp set can be purchased or you can even get it for free only from June 1 - June 30, 2011.  If you do not have a Close to My Heart Consultant, you can purchase this stamp set on my website.

So off you spin to the next stop, Lisa Sargent's Blog  and see what she has created for you!

5/29/2011

Try Our Sketch Challenge at H2H this week!

Welcome to my blog and another challenge with Heart 2 Heart Challenges.  This week is a sketch challenge.  Aren't you excited?  Drum roll ........... Here is the sketch that we are using:
Interesting sketch, huh?  Don't ask me why, but what came into my mind was a quilt card.  I googled quilt patterns and found one I liked:
Using the Miracle Level 2 Paper Pack with a hint of the pink patterned paper from the Sweetheart Level 2 Paper Pack, this is what I came up with:
My stamped image is not real big like in the sketch but I wanted to let the pattern speak for itself.

Please check out the other design team member's projects:

and then create your own project featuring this gorgeous sketch!  Your projects must include CTMH products, but do not have to be 100% CTMH.  If other products are used, a list or description of what was used would be appreciated. Remember to post it on the Heart 2 Heart Challenges Blog.  You could win some fantastic prizes from our June Sponsors, Michelle Owen and Romaine Rancier.

5/23/2011

A, B, C Anything but a Card at H2H!


I am glad to be back.  Did you miss me?  This week Heart 2 Heart Challenges is featuring A, B, C Anything But a Card!  That means that you can make any artwork with any Close to My Heart Product but it has to be something other than a card.  My project is the My Event Calendar found on page 120 of our current Catalog.  It is a calendar in a sense but it can be used year after year.  You just jot down your important events such as birthdays and anniversaries and then when you get our your new calendar each year, you have all your important dates right in front of you on the My Event Calendar to write down in your new calendar.  



This was the first project that I made when I went to my first Close to My Heart Workshop.  Boy have I changed it up and made it current.  Most of the artwork is purely designed by me.  Though I did CAS Jen Rubio on the August artwork.  Those flip flops are just too darling!  So here it goes.
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December
And here are the close ups of each of the main images.
Close Up of January
Close Up of February

Close Up of March
Close Up of April

Close Up of May
Close Up of June
Close Up of July
Close Up of August (CAS'd from Jen Rubio)

Close Up of September
Close Up of October
Close Up of November
Close Up of December
Please check out the other design team member's projects:

and then create your own project featuring anything but a card!  Your projects must include CTMH products, but do not have to be 100% CTMH.  If other products are used, a list or description of what was used would be appreciated. Remember to post it on the Heart 2 Heart Challenges Blog.  You could win some fantastic prizes from our May Sponsors, Angel Shifflett and Sharon Holmes.

5/22/2011

MOJO Monday 191 Graduation Card

Whew!  It has been a rough couple of weeks for my family and I lost my mojo.  So to get it back, I decided to participate in Mojo Monday.  I absolutely loved the sketch for this past Monday and I had a card I needed to make.  I also wanted to let my fellow Heart 2 Heart Challenge Design Teammates that I appreciate their patience with me.  I wanted to enter this card in the technique challenge since I did not get to participate as a Design Team member.  The techniques used included sewing, second generation background stamping, embossing, coloring images in with blender pen and reinkers, and coloring the embroidery thread with a marker.  So, here is the sketch:


This is such a useful sketch - so easy to do.  Despite that it took me a few hours to make this card.  My friend just graduated from University of Memphis.  She worked so hard and I wanted to make her a special card.  Their colors are a kind of Royal Blue and Gray.  In Close to My Heart colors, I found that Moonstruck was a close match and then I spent an hour looking for patterned paper in Gray Flannel.  I pulled out my old retired papers trying to find something that would work.  And then I remembered (brain dead here, LOL) that one of our new paper packs, Bliss, has some perfect Gray Flannel papers.  I used the stamp set, You Did It (C1351) for the stamped images.  Check out my card:


Well, what do you think?  Has my MOJO returned?  I even sewed on this card.  Check out the tassel I made on the mortarboard!  I didn't have any gray embroidery floss so I colored white embroidery floss with a Gray Flannel marker.  It looks a little more gray in real life.
I am done for the night and will finish the inside of the card in the morning and get it out in the mail.  Thanks for being patient with me and I am hoping to get some more artwork out there this week.  

5/08/2011

Button, Button Whose Got The Button at H2H!


When I heard about this challenge at Heart 2 Heart, I kept thinking, Button, Button, Whose Got the Button.  Made me laugh!


I have worked two craft fairs in two weeks and my daughter-in-law and I have been in super work mode to get some crafts ready to sell.  I had tons of chipboard coasters from an old workshop that I taught a couple of years ago so I set my daughter-in-law to work and she made some adorable frames.  I decided to take the same pattern to make one for this challenge.


I visualized this frame before I made it and it came out even better than I thought it would.  I love the random placement of our incredibly awesome buttons from Close to My Heart.  The buttons that came out with this latest Idea Book are gorgeous.  I bought all of the colors in my first order and you should have heard the oohs and aahs from my customers when they arrived.  You would have thought that we were looking at precious gems!  So, onto my frame.


I used the Miracle paper pack because I love the calming feeling of the light blue and green.  Goes well with the green and blue buttons.  The flower shaped button on the bottom left is actually a clear button painted with Liquid Glass mixed with Crystal Blue reinker and then sprinkled with Prisma glitter.  The flower on the top right is painted with the Liquid Glass - Crystal Blue reinker mixture and then I added some of our Sparkles in the center while the Liquid Glass was still wet.  Now the sparkles will stay put forever!  All of the buttons are adhered to the frame with Liquid Glass, which is the coolest product!


These buttons are totally randomly placed.  Do you know how hard that is to do?  My mind kept trying to "fix" them into a pattern and I had to fight the urge.  I added the Opaque Pearls here and there to take up some of the open space and it turned into a good addition.


This frame can accommodate a wallet sized picture if you want instead of the saying but I really like this saying.  I may keep this one myself!  (By the way, whoever has the greatest amount of their artwork covered with buttons on their artwork wins!)  I think I might be the winner!  (Not really, but I will be hard to beat!)

Products Used
  • Stamps:  Tickled Pink (retired) (D1368) 
  • Paper:  Miracle My Reflections Level 2 Paper Pack (X7133B)
  • Inks:   Crystal Blue (Z2117), Heavenly Blue (Z2126), and Black (Z2105) 
  • Reinker:  Crystal Blue (Z2217)
  • Embellishments:  Opaques Pearl (Z1336), Bitty Sparkles (Z1263), Buttons, Blue Assortment (Z1371), Buttons, Green Assortment (Z1372), Buttons, Clear Assortment (Z1391), Assorted Ribbons, Prisma Glitter (Z134), Crystal Blue Waxy Flax (Z1247), and Sparkles, Blue and Green Assortment (Z1327)
  • Other Products:  Liquid Glass (Z679), Nestabilities, Cuttlebug, Adhesive and Sponge Dauber (Z726)
Please check out the other design team member's projects:
and then create your own project featuring buttons!  Remember that it does not have to be a card.  We love to see anything that you make. Your projects must include CTMH products, but do not have to be 100% CTMH.  If other products are used, a list or description of what was used would be appreciated. Remember to post it on the Heart 2 Heart Challenges Blog You could win some fantastic prizes from our May Sponsors, Angel Shifflett and Sharon Holmes.  This week Angel is joining the Design Team with her own creation!

5/03/2011

1/2 Price New Consultant Kit! Now is the time to become a Close to My Heart Consultant!

National Scrapbooking Month is a great time to kick off your new career as a Close To My Heart Consultant.  For the month of May only, the New Consultant Kit is 1/2 price.  Instead of paying $129, you will only pay $64.50.  


When you join my Team, The Bling Team, in May, in addition to all the wonderful business supplies and products included in your New Consultant Kit, you will also receive a National Scrapbooking You & Me scrapbooking kit for FREE! That’s an extra $34.95 in value just for joining in May. It’s all part of our National Scrapbooking Month promotion. The total value of this package is $287.50.  Cost to you is only $64.50, but only during the month of May!


As a Consultant, you’ll love being your own boss, working your own hours, meeting new friends, showing people how to preserve their memories, making money doing what you love, and being part of a fun-loving community of Consultants. I love being a Consultant and I know you will, too!

Look at what you get in the New Consultant Kit.  You choose 3 of these "Choose Me" Collections for the fantastic price of $64.50!

"Choose Me" #2
12 Month Studio J Membership
$99 value



"Choose Me" #5
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)
$73.60 Value

Choose Me #3
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)
$66.85 Value


"Choose Me"  #4
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)
$78.55 Value


"Choose Me" #6
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)
$75.05 Value

And then remember that you also receive the You & Me Scrapbooking Kit with a retail value of $34.95!

Can't decide which "choose me" option to pick?  No problem, you can add additional options at a discounted price of $40 each.

I am building my team and would love to have you join The Bling Team.  You will receive the training and support from me that you need so that you can  be successful as a Close to My Heart Consultant. 

Close to My Heart has the best acrylic stamps on the market.  I have found that if someone uses the stamps, they buy them.  When I first became a Consultant, it was purely to get the 22% Discount that a Consultant gets.  The quarterly minimum was easy to make, especially with my daughter purchasing from me.  As my enthusiasm grew from working with our fantastic Close to My Heart products, I took my projects to crops.  The people around me asked me about the products and I showed them how to use them.  Can you say, "Customers for life?"  It was that easy.  I started out for the discount and last year I was #5 in sales on my Upline's team.  Who would 
have guessed that it was that easy?

Let Me Show You How!

I would love to talk to you about this wonderful opportunity. It doesn't matter whether you want to join for the discount like I did or to be a super seller, this is a great opportunity for you.  Email me with your questions  or if you are ready to sign up, sign up here.
And Welcome to The Bling Team!

5/02/2011

Sign Up for My CTMH May Workshop

Look what we are making for our May Workshop!  It is called an Event Calendar and you can keep track of the recurring important events in your life with this cute calendar.  You use this calendar year after year so it is a great bargain.

 I had tons of fun making the little stamped images at the top of each monthly page.  At the May Workshop you will be making one of the calendars pictured below.

Workshop Dates:  May 14th from 10 am - 3 pm or May 15th from 11 am - 4 pm

Cost:  $17 which includes lunch

RSVP here by May 8th to hold your spot.

You & Me National Scrapbooking Month Promotion

Check out our wonderful National Scrapbooking Month Promotion called You & Me.
WHEN YOU PLACE A MINIMUM ORDER OF $50 IN CLOSE TO MY HEART PRODUCTS IN
May, you can get the exclusive You & Me scrapbooking kit for the discount price of
just $15—that’s more than half off the retail value! You’ll create two fully embellished
two-page layouts using the new cardstock-weight B&T Duos® papers, D-size stamp
set, accessories, and instructions. You can also purchase the kit at full retail for
$34.95 with no minimum purchase required. Become a Close To My Heart Consultant
during May and we’ll include a You & Me kit for free as part of your New Consultant
Kit. Contact me today to get the celebration started.

Here is a better look at the kit.


The 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


 Aren't these layouts incredible?  And can you believe all that comes in this classy kit?

I also wanted to share with you a video with more information about this promotion.




Contact me if you have any questions or if you would like to order this promotion.  You can also order it  online here  and have it sent directly to you.

This special also offers the New Consultant kit at 50% off.  I will cover that in my next post.