Halloween Fun

It's always helpful to have your photos when you are working on your layout, but that doesn't stop me from completing layouts.  The finished blanks go into a book and wait for the right pictures.  Not only does this make finishing a page super easy when the photos do come along, it also helps keep my stash down to a reasonable level!

This layout I did have photos.  I used two different years but they went really well together.  I also added some of the eyeball puffy stickers to the pumpkin stickers for more dimension.

Halloween 2002

How's this for a throwback?  Now that the kids are older they are not in as many pictures.  I will slowly be making my way through the old slide in photo albums and turn them into my scrapbook masterpieces!

The colors for this worked perfectly for Hurricane's costume, even though there is nothing Halloween-y about this layout except for the colors, one zip strip and the title.

This is one of the layouts in the Jeepers Creepers Workshop your Way kit.  Wasn't she cute!

What's in a Crop

The verb to crop is what you do to your photos, when you adjust their size to get only what you want.   The noun crop is what I call a day full of scrapbooking. 

My Saturday crops are just time to bring your own stuff and work on your scrapbooks or other paper crafting projects. I have nice space for 10 ladies to work.  You are welcome from 9am until 9pm or anytime in between.  Lunch and drinks are provided and you may bring a snack for sharing, but it’s not required.  At my house, you have access to an Expressions Cricut and all the CTMH cartridges, as well as a large selection of stamps and inks, Wi-Fi service and a color printer. I stock and sell single sheets of cardstock for $.50 each.  It’s also a great opportunity to check out an item you might be considering—chances are I have one!

This is a perfect day to complete a Workshop your Way kit.  It’s very easy to complete the entire kit during a crop day and walk away with 3 completed double layouts.

I do charge $5 for the crops, or it’s free if you order $10 or more.

 

Bells and Whistles

Beginning in September, I will be holding a Bells and Whistles class.  This hands-on class is designed with the advanced scrap booker in mind.  The Close to My Heart Workshop Your Way kits are a great way to whip out three complete and excellent double layouts, but they no longer incorporate stamping or Cricut cuts.  The Bells and Whistles class adds those elements back into one (1) double page layout.

The Bells and Whistles class will be on the last Friday of every month.  For September, this will be September 30th, from 7pm until 9pm, at my house.

Cost for each class is $10 and includes precut papers and embellishments, access to inks and stamps. You will need to bring your scissors, tape and foam tape.  There will be a limited number of kits, between 7 and 10.  If a layout is popular and I have multiple RSVP's more than 10 days in advance, this number can be increased.  I need the 10 days in order to have enough supplies.

The double layout for each class will consist of:
     several layers of paper
     wells for 4 to 12 photos
     stamping
     Cricut cuts
     multiple embellishments
     a technique of some kind (could be new or tried and true).

There are no surprises for this class.  A photo of the layout will be posted at least two weeks prior to the class.  If you like the layout and can attend, please RSVP early.  If your decision to attend is made less than 10 days before the class, please call or text to make sure there is a spot (kit) available.

Any unused kits will be available for sale, on this blogsite, after the event.

The layouts will be using the paper packs for the featured kit of the month.  September's featured kit is Jeepers Creepers.

Hurricane was born on November 2, the Day of the Dead.  My layout pages will be used to record her 18th birthday party.  Your kit will include a Halloween title. 

If you love the colors but not the skulls, they can be left off, or replaced with some other embellishment from your private stash.  The technique used for this layout is simple - a tear, roll and distress touch to the pages.

Trick or Treat!

So it's just September.  But the Halloween candy is already in the stores, so why not get a jump start (or play a little catch up) with  your Halloween memories?

Catch up is what I did here, pulling photos out of old photo albums for this great layout.  The little monsters paper is just soooo cute!  While I didn't use it, there is a little monster on the Artistry cartridge, page 43.

Loving these bright bold colors but not into Halloween?  The right title can turn this monster paper into decorative layouts for other types of memories.

Cookie Monster
Monster Meltdown
My Little Monster
Monster of a Mess
Monster-ous Fun

And that little garden fairy is a one year old Hurricane, who just moved out into her first apartment last month! Big Sis was still a big part of her life in those good ol' days!

Creating Kindness

Create Kindness is the theme this year for Close to My Heart's National Stamping Month's special.  In the spirit of kindness, I'm turning the Thursday night card class into a party! 

How is a party creating kindness?  By giving away stuff!  But it's not just me giving away stuff - it's you too!

On September 22, from 5:30 to 7:30, come join me for games, food and make and takes.  If  you have purchased the Create Kindness kit, it will be a perfect night to whip out all 24 cards.  If not, you can participate in making some 3x3 cards at the event (10 cards for $5). 

In addition to these normal activities I invite you to help me stock the Lee High School Pantry.  The teachers at Lee High School have noticed a need in some of their students, as well as greater needs in some of their homeless students.  They have set up a 'pantry' to be stocked with donated items that will help these students. For every five items you bring to this Create Kindess event, you can select one item from my goodie box (filled with retired stamp sets, ink pads, paper packs and embellishments).  Needed items include:
pens
pencils
notebook paper
backpacks
canned goods
non-perishable food items
soap
shampoo
deodorant
toothpaste
toothbrushes
clothing (new or used)

So come join me on Thursday, September 22nd, to create some cards, some conversation and a little kindness!

Jeepers Creepers!

The featured kit in September is Jeepers Creepers!  This is a really fun set with brightly colored papers.  The Workshop Your Way includes the paper pack, the compliments, the assortment and the washi tape and 5 sheets of cardstock (1 Pansy, 2 Whisper 2 White Daisy) .  You can now also add on a Jeepers Creepers Coordinating Cardstock pack of 12 sheets of cardstock, 3 each of Black, Lagoon, Pansy and Tangerine. 

Paper Pack, $9.95 X7211B

Compliments, $6.95, X7211C.  (the black cutouts are glitter paper!)

Assortment, $3.95, Z4009

Washi Tape, $3.95, Z4010

Jeepers Creepers its the Saturday Crop!

Open crop at my house on Saturday, September 10th, from 9AM until 9PM.

Cost is $5 or free with a $10 order. 

These crops are simply time for you to work on your scrapbook and paper crafting projects in a nice space in my home, with other like minded ladies.  Several of us will be working on the Jeepers Creepers Workshop Your Way.

You will have:
Space to create
Access to a Cricut and all CTMH cartridges (among others)
Access to hundreds of stamp sets and all the CTMH inks
Lunch
Drinks
Conversation
Helpful opinions about your layout when requested
Admiration for your work from others who UNDERSTAND!

National Stamping Month

September is National Stamping Month!  Close to My Heart is offering this neat little package for $46.95!

It includes
Mini stamp organizer (yes, it all comes in the box you get to keep!) ($12.95)
24 3X3 envelopes, 3X3 printed cards bases, 24 white daisy circles ($9.95)
2"x2" block ($6.95)
Mini Archival black ink pad
8 M sized stamp sets ($2.95 each)

The M sized stamps are available individually but you save $6.50 by ordering the kit!

 




These stamps are only available during the month of September!  You can add a roll of shimmer trim to add a little sparkle for $4.95, to bring your total to $51.90, and your order qualifies to add the Stamp of the Month for just $5!  This Blessed Beyond Measure stamp set can also be purchased individually for $17.95, but again only in the month of September.

Big Smiles

So, the Magical papers are ALL SOLD OUT! But I still wanted to post this layout I did using the Magical papers, and a little strip of willow from the Adventure Fundamentals pack, in a non-Disney layout.

August Constant Campaign

Want all the great new papers NOW?  Check out the August special!

During the month of August, when you order our Whimsy, Adventure, and Enchantment Fundamental papers, you can choose to get either the Rustic Home or Uptown Fundamentals for FREE! Both of these Basics packs feature foil designs and specialty materials for making your artwork unique. Yep, this deal is basically the best!

2015-2016 Annual Inspirations

The 2015-2016 Annual Inspirations catalog (the big white one) expires at the end of this month.  There are about 30 stamp sets that will stick around.  All of the M sized state and country stamps, and this list:

A1180	Safari Ballet
A1182	Etched Alphabet
B1480	Diploma Day
B1484	Jennifer's Hand
C1585	Australian Salutations
C1586	Australian Thanks
C1605	Happy to Be Friends
C1608	Brushstrokes
C1612	Shower Flowers
C1619	So Many Smiles
C1631	Birthday Princess
D1596	Outback Adventures
D1597	Hoppy Birthday
D1598	Aussie Praises
D1601	Celebrate New Zealand
D1640	Celebrate Australia
D1641	New Zealand Greetings
D1642	Cute Koalas
D1643	Cricket
D1646	Finding the Words
D1660	Ink Blot
D1667	Balloon Wishes
D1668	Charming Cascades
E1027	Framework Alphabet
E1030	Handwritten Print
E1032	Typography
E1033	Inked Alphabet

There are 7 ink colors retiring - gypsy, topiary, pear, honey, sunset, cotton candy and hollyhock. These are from the Adventure series.  Ink stamp pads go up $1 starting August 1st.

There are also several items that are completely sold out!  If there is anything else you would like from the white catalog, don't wait too long to order!  If you place an order by July 25, then you will be entered for chances to be the Mystery Hostess.  Just choose that party when you order.  Here is a list of items that are no longer available as of today:

Z1937	Scoreboard
Z2094	My Legacy Black Post-Bound Album
Z1477	5" X 7" White Daisy Envelopes
Z2092	Lagoon Chevron Post-Bound Album
Z1996	Woodgrain Embossing Folder
Z1475	3" X 3" White Daisy Envelopes
Z1934	Flamingo Dots
Z1998	Chevron Border Punch
Z3025	Blue Shimmer Trim
Z2090	Lagoon Chevron D-Ring Album
Z1752	Sparkles Clear Assortment
Z1991	Teal Glitter Paper
G1103	Urban WOTG Scrapbooking Kit
Z2501	Adventure Pigment Pad Set
Z3079	Urban Assortment
Z2016	Colonial White Shadow Box
Z2093	Ruby Floral Post Bound Album
Z3126	Enchantment Paper Fundamentals
Z1851	Scallop Border Punch
Z1325	Memory Protectors Flip Flaps 12" Assortment
Z3092	Georgie Assortment
X7203B	Georgie Paper Packet
X7204B	Urban Paper Packet
Z1705	Durables Square Studs
Z1726	Memory Protectors Flip Flaps 6" × 6"
Z3228	Tickled Pink Thin Cuts

The other styles of canvas albums, not mentioned above, are still on sale for 25% off, as supplies last!

Contact me if you have any questions!

Becoming a Consultant

Get new products FREE by signing up as a Consultant!

Join the Close To My Heart family as a Consultant this month and get

your choice of a FREE Fundamentals paper packet* and its coordinating

Complements. These brand new products won’t be released to the

public until August, so joining today is your chance to get them first!

When you sign up, you’ll also get $50 in Select Product Credit to spend

on more new products, including the newest stamps, paper packets,

and cardstock colors.  All this and more for the signup cost of $75!!

What does it take to become a consultant?  $75!  What does it take to stay a consultant, and get all your products at a discount?  Just $300 worth of retail orders every 3 months (quarterly).  That's it!  Please contact me if you have any other questions.  You can click here to see what all you get with your $75 kit and to sign up today!

* Choose from Whimsy, Adventure, and Enchantment Fundamentals. No tax is charged

for free items. Standard New Consultant Kit shipping rates will apply. No additional

shipping/handling will be charged for this promotion.   

July Mystery Hostess

Hello everyone out in Blogland!

I am on a streak of vacations - I just can't seem to stay put!  Between convention, Hubby's 50th birthday, and Hurricane moving out (and all that involves), my time is a little on the sparse side this July.

Sooooooooo,
I'm holding an online Mystery Hostess gathering.  There is nothing more to it, than placing an order through my online business address (OBA), click here to go straight to it!  Just make sure you join the July Mystery Hostess gathering.

For every $5 you spend, I will put your name on a ticket.  Winning ticket wins the entire hostess credits!  I have $117.15 worth of orders already, so just another $32.85 puts some lucky woman in the position of winning $25 worth of free products!  This could easily grow into $40, $60, $80 or even $100!

The July Mystery Hostess party will end on July 25.  On the morning of July 26, I will draw a ticket and contact the winner, for their wish list!  Keep an eye on the Facebook page, if you would like to see how the party total and your potential hostess credits grows!  And thank you for your order!

Page 18

I've had a request on how to complete the project on page 18 of the main catalog.  Close To My Heart provides a list of all the supplies used for all the artwork published in their catalogs - so you don't have to struggle too hard on trying to recreate an idea you love!  This is the list for the idea on page 18, pictured here.

 

 

12" x 12" Daddy Page
 
B1484 My Acrylix® Jennifer’s Hand

D1661 My Acrylix® Crazy Good

E1032 My Acrylix® Typography
 
X7197B Zoe Paper Packet
 
Z2173 Slate Exclusive Inks™ Pad

Z2641 Glacier Exclusive Inks™ Pad
 
X7197C Zoe Complements
 
Z3082 Zoe Assortment
 
Z3123 Enamel & Glitter Duos Green Triangles
 
Z3088 Coral Shimmer Trim
 
Z2027 Mini Stapler
 
Z3167 Cricut® Artistry Collection
 
Thread
 
Cricut® Shape:
Artistry 
9" Background <,> (p. 6)

May Card Class

May's card class is going to be a tag.  Tag's are great!  You can use them as a tag on a gift, attached them to the front of a card base for an instant card or use them as an embellishment on a page.  This month's tag is made using the colors for the Calypso paper pack.  You can make it with or without the flamingos, both are great, but have a very different look.

Finding Nemo

I love the underwater ride at Disneyland!  It's called Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage and I was happy to find it.  They closed the 10,000 Leagues under the Sea at Disney World several years ago.
The giant porthole is cut from Lagoon cardstock, the circle from the Art Philosophy cartridge (page 21, Layer) at 11" and again at 9 3/4".  I used the Ink blot stamp set and Sunset ink to 'tarnish the brash', the finished by sponge daubing the edges in saddle.  The rivets are sticky back studs from a friend's stash, but brads would work just as well.  The circle behind the porthole is from the retired Seaside paper pack, cut at 10 1/2" (I think, I didn't write that one down).

I finished up by adding a pack of Finding Nemo stickers acquired at the local craft store.

All Smiles

This is another Penelope kit layout.  Maybe your kids are the opposite - dark hair and bright clothes?  I credit the hair to her artistic nature, but it SO works with this paper!

The Early Bird

I don't take a lot of Easter pictures anymore, but the Penelope paper worked GREAT with Hurricane's colorful summer hair.  I played on the Easter chicks by titling my pages "The Early Bird".  These new Workshops your Way are so super quick and look wonderful.  If you like bright colors, this is the kit for YOU!

Make a wish, Take 2

Here's another birthday card with the Make a Wish stamp (only $2.95!)  I also used the Brushstrokes stamp set, and the Play Day set.  Wouldn't he look good in the corner of a scrapbook page too?

Make a Wish

Here's another birthday card.  I used the Zoe papers, Lagoon cardstock, Feathers stamp set, and a cut feather from the newest cartridge, Artistry, page 45.  I didn't note the size of my cut from glitter paper, but try fit to length using the measurement of your stamps.  I added the extra texture/distressing with the Ink blot stamp set.

 

We're all mad here!

Ever have those pages you just think are perfect?  This is one of mine.

The tea cups are out of white cardstock, then stamped, papered and glittered up.  The teacups are from the Artistry cartridge, page 21, 2".  Some of the stamps sets are retired - just grab your favorites out of your stash.  The paper is from the Penelope pack, leftovers after making the 3 kit double layouts.

Here a month....

Here a month, there a month.....  Okay, so I'm not the most consistent blogger but I eventually make my way back to showing off some artwork.

Here's a little birthday card I made using the Penelope paper pack and the Birthday Princess stamp set.  The hair and dress are colored from stamping on printed paper, then cutting them out.

Whale, Hello There!

This is my last Workshop Your Way card that I changed up.  I really love the little birds in the My Anchor stamp set, but on this one, I paired it with the whale and words from the Animal Greetings stamp set (on the back of the white catalog).  I stamped him on Glaicer paper then cut him out and used clear Stickles for his spout of water.  The birds and words are in Sapphire. 

 

 

Nothing Better

This double layout is my creation.  It's just a sheet of Sapphire cardstock, a little sprayed ink, the Beach Days stamp set and a bunch of the leftover from the Regatta kit.