January Stamp of the Month

Do you love making cards?  This single Card Captions stamp set can help you make cards for almost every occasion!  Get yours for $19 or just $5 with a $50 order.  This set is only available during January.

February Bells & Whistles

The February Bells & Whistles workshop is February 8th, at 6:30.  Cost is $10.
This is a sports day layout, good for your kids sports hobbies or a sporting event you attended. Instead of your team colors, I pulled from the sun, the sky and grass, using the Something Fierce paper pack.

There are a variety of sports types available for you to choose from.  I used football in the sample, but you can choose from

• baseball
• basketball
• hockey
• football
• volleyball
• soccer

These M sized stamps are just $4 each!  They make it easy to turn any layout into a sports page by using them as accents or as a background stamp. Stamp them in a light color for a subtle background, or in your team colors for more pop!

Alphabet Stamps 35% OFF

In celebration of 35 years, Close to My Heart is offering 35% off of alphabet stamp sets in January.  Choose from the following styles!

Stitched

Modern Typewriter

Brushed

Morgan's Hand

Erin's Hand

Simply Said

Solid Classroom

Outline Classroom

Scrap with Ease - Cut Above Workshop

Scrapbooking has evolved from the easy days of a photos and stickers on a pretty piece of paper to elaborate pages using all kinds of materials and embellishments, sometimes with only a single showcased photo.    Scrapbooking is about the photos and stories you want to tell, with whatever level of creativity you want to give it.  Many of us have been scrapbooking for 20 years, and with practice comes ease at using all the fancy techniques, tools and complicated layouts.
But Close to My Heart offers super easy kits called Cut Above that take you back to the basics - paper and stickers to go with your photos.  As the name implies, these kits are a Cut Above your basic layouts from 20 years ago - still amazingly easy and quick.  These Cut Above layouts are available through a subscription service (easy to sign up, easy to stop).
On February 9, from 1-3PM, I will be holding a Cut Above workshop for you to get a hands on sampling of the Cut Above kits.  There will be a wide variety of layouts from you to choose from.  Each kit includes everything you need to complete a double layout, including a page protector.  Bring 6-8 photos you would like to use and complete a double layout in less than 30 minutes.  (Warning -socializing could double this time!)
This is a great opportunity to try before you buy, to get a little tutorial if you are new to scrapbooking or to quickly finish a layout!
This is my sample - but all kits I have available for this workshop are unique.  You will pick yours when you arrive.  I have over 20 to choose from.

Cancellations

My day job has thrown me a curve ball and I need to cancel the card class and Bells & Whistles workshop in January.
I apologize for any disappointment and hope to be up and running well again in February.
The FETCH event is still happening.  I have 9 spaces open, if you know someone else who would like to come.

Baby Animal Doodles - Penguin

I've been playing with the Baby Animal Doodles again and this is what I've come up with using the penguin.  All patterned papers are from my scrap pile.

I printed these words on the computer.  The red stripes are washi tape and I wrapped some of our silver thread around them.  The black penguin was embossed and I used the Art Philosophy cartridge to cut his white belly, 1/4" oval.

I used a snowflake die for the giant snowflake, words are printed from the computer and the snowflake paper is from 'Tis the Season. 

 

I saw something similar to this on Pinterest.  The sentiment is from a retired Christmas set.  These penguins were embossed with our new silver embossing powder and have silver glitter paper bellies.

 

The words were printed on the computer, and the paper is from 'Tis the Season.  Probably a better title for a snowman page, but there is a little snow on the background in the window.

 

I used the Watercolor Impressions stamp set in Pear and Lagoon for these colors with the little spots and words in Outdoor denim.  The sentiment is from an older CTMH penguin set and stamped before I used the texture paste.  I used our stencil papers to make a "ice cube" background from the Artbooking cartridge, then covered the watercolors with clear transparent texture paste before adding the penguins.  

Inner Elf - Scraplift

I would like to thank fellow CTMH consultant Andrea Sherman for her permission to scrap lift this layout for my own workshops.  I came across it on her blog (click her name to see her version) and wanted to recreate it!  Such a super CUTE page for your little elves, your mischievous Christmas side or some Elf on the Shelf antics!

You can recreate this yourself with a few simple items:
'Tis the Season paper pack
Candy Apple cardstock
New England Ivy cardstock
Gold glitter paper
Season of Joy Cricut cartridge
Or you can purchase a kit from me for $10. 
My sample above uses the snowflake pages from the 'Tis the season pack, but the kits will include two cardstock sheets with stamped snowflakes.

The red 'brick' paper is cut to the right size, but once you glue the gray brick overlay to the red brick paper, you will need to trim the four corners to match. Do all this, and then cut the 'chimney' where you want to divide it for the two pages.

Match up the elf feet anyway your like and pop the shoes on the legs with foam tape.

The kits include a sheet of Candy Apple or New England Ivy card stock (your choice) for matting your photos.

Doodle Bugs

One of the cutest sets Close to My Heart is offering right now is the Baby Animal Doodles.  It comes with a matching set of dies.
Here are some cards I did using the lady bug from the set, to help break out of the mold that these doodles are just for baby cards/pages. All the papers are from my scrap pile, except for some white card stock.

For this card I cut the wreath from the Flower Market cartridge in the size that fit my scrap, which was 5".  The watercolor is from the Watercolor Impressions stamp set, in fern, both first and second generation.  The words are from two different retired stamp sets and luck was from an alphabet set.

I printed the sentiment on my computer, using the Harrison font. To get the words in the right place, I cut Daisy cardstock to 8.5"X11", then placed the words where I could cut out the white block I needed for the cards.  I used our Carmine Shin-Han marker to color them in.

 

The sentiment is computer printed again.  I used an old clear bag to make the clear layer for the shaker, and thick foam tape to make the sequin well.  The hearts are cut using our stitched heart dies.

 

This one uses the May 2018 stamp of the month, and the Watercolor Impressions stamp set.

 

This one uses the Watercolor Impressions stamp set for the clouds and the Decorative borders dies for the green hills.

 

Computer printed words, bugs colored with the Shin-Han markers

 

Watercolor Impressions stamp set, and a scrap leaf from my leftover cut pieces box. The color I used here was Carolina, but managed to get a little fern green on the edges because I didn't clean my stamp after using it to make the Christmas luck card. I really like the effect, but haven't tried to duplicate it on purpose!

 

The X is from an alphabet stamp set, the words were printed on the computer.  The ribbon is just taped down on the backside. This layout is from the Make it from your Heart Volume 4.

2018 Week 33

This layout is one of the 3 included in the instructions with the Grateful Heart scrapbooking kit.  I modified picture layout a little from the original, but it's pretty close.

2018 Week 32

This is another college layout using a lot of retired stuff.  I managed to use up the last of this kit while I was at it!

2018 Week 31

These papers are from one of the Cut Above Create from the Heart subscription sets.

Click here to see the suggested version.

 

The Boutique papers are great for the Venetian décor.

2018 Q4 Frame It

This is the layout for the next Frame It workshop on November 8, 10AM.  Cost is $10 or $25 with frame.

Supplies used:
Tis the Season Paper pack
Cardstock - candy apple and New England Ivy
Rustic Home (retired) for the deer.
Gold glitter paper
Red Pearls
Gold flecked Gems
Artistry Cartridge
Season of Joy Cartridge
Rustic Home ribbon (retired)
foam tape
adhesive
snowflake die set (retired)

Here are a few tips if you are looking to recreate this at home.
*Cut the 1/2" off the bottom, leaving the zip strip on the top of the garland paper.
*Cut the tree from the Artistry cartridge, page 48, 9".  Cut the tree out of the garland paper from the Tis the Season paper pack, but position the cutter 2.5" down and 1/2" in from the left.  Make sure you position the paper so the tree cuts in the right direction.
*Use a 6X12 piece of the fern words paper for the back of the tree and pop the two levels using foam tape (the middle of the shaker card foam worked great here).
*The ribbon is retired from the rustic set and just curls like that straight off the spool.
*The gold star is a square, which I penciled a line needed to make the tip of the tree and hand trimmed the one point.
*The giant snowflake is gold glitter paper and from the retired snowflake die set. You can always find a good snowflake on the cricut and cut it about 3".
*The Jingle all the way is from  New England Ivy and Candy Apple cardstock, using the Season of Joy Collection, cut at 3".  The deer is part of the cut, but I recut that piece using the retired rustic home paper pack.
*The poinsettia is fussy cut from a PML card from the paper pack.

2018 Week 30

So I tried to practice what I preach this year - that spending a little time each week completing one double layout will get you 50 completed DLO's for the year and let you scrap all year long.

Blew it big time.

But sometimes reality isn't the same as theory. So my "little bit every week" theory is extremely flawed for anyone with an active life.  But I'm still going to work on getting 50 DLO's posted here for inspiration by the end of the year!  And I'm labeling them by week, even though I have played catchup - either in scrapping or in posting - this year.

This page uses a retired CTMH Thanksgiving set - the one with swans, and the Art Deco Cricut Cartridge.  I mean, how often do you get to put flappers on your scrap pages?

November Card Workshop

The November card workshop will be the final one for 2018.  Cost is $5, Thursday November 8, 5:30-7:30PM. 
We will be making some red and green STUFF!  Not just cards this time but one card

one treat topper

one shaker gift tag

and one 3X3 folded gift tag.

There are 10 slots available!  And if the treat topper is not something you will use, I can show you how to turn it into 2 cards with just a little of your own supplies.

January 2019 FETCH

Gather your paper, embellishments and pictures!
Another FETCH is in the planning!

Forty

Eight

Total

Cropping

Hours

 

Starts Friday, January 18, 2019 at 5:00PM

Ends Sunday January 20, 2019 at 5:00PM

Located at Rainbow Subdivision Clubhouse, 101 Rainbow Glen Circle, Madison, AL

Cost is a $50 or $60* – details below.   *plus tax and shipping

 

Registration for the event will happen in two phases -
Early registration - November 1 - November 14, 2018
Late registration - December 20, 2018 - January 16, 2019


I am opening the registration up at two different times, so you can order from the Sept-Dec 2018 catalog before items start becoming unavailable, as well as the new January-April 2019 catalog.  If ordering from the 2019 catalog (available online January 1st), please be aware your order is unlikely to arrive before the event.

There is a space limit of 24 scrappers.  Your paid reservation guarantees you a spot, regardless of your arrival time.  If you find you will not be able to attend, please let me know, so I can open your spot to another scrapper. 

 

Sleeping arrangements are not included in the crop.  The nearest hotel is Holiday Inn Express & Suites, 2600 Old Fairway Road, with a nightly rate of $95.  If you are interested in booking and sharing a room, I can help co-ordinate the logistics.  Going home is also suggested.  Your supplies will be safe until your return.

 

Simple meals are included (bagels, soup, sandwiches).  We are near several fast food restaurants if you would like to take a break and eat out.  Shared snacks and desserts are always welcome.  Please bring your own drinks; soda, coffee, wine, etc. 

 

We are scrapping the weekend away – comfortable clothes are part of the package!  Pajama’s and all forms of comfortable clothes are welcome.  The chairs are of the foldout type.  A cushion is recommended for comfort.  The facility does have Wi-Fi.  The lighting is dim in the evenings; you will need to bring your own desk light.

 

There are two ways to register.

• Log onto my website during the set times and order $60 (plus tax and shipping) of products under the gathering called FETCH.  There is no other fee for the event, just the minimum order amount.  Because you are receiving supplies for your money, there are no refunds if you are unable to attend.
  • https://decoratingthedaysofourlives.closetomyheart.com/
• Visit my blog and pay $50 via PayPal.  This option is available for scrappers who do not want any additional supplies, but would like to participate.  This option is available at anytime.

A tidbit about subscriptions

The subscription program - to have layouts delivered to your door - cost $7.18, $8.69 or $11.45 (plus tax) per double layout, depending on how you order. 
When you order the subscription, it is separate from all other sales.  You manage the subscription online. I cannot order it for you, but I'm happy to help if you need it.
Because it is a separate program, the subscriptions do not count towards anyone's party; you do not get hostess credits.  CTMH could have let the orders count towards a party - but instead, chose to give you that credit immediately, in the form of a lower cost. 





All the current period layouts are shown online, prior to ordering - no surprises!  You will also receive an email before your next charge, and can cancel anytime between payments. 
If you would like to see what comes in a pack before you actually order, my subscription should be here next week.  Pop over on October 20, at my next crop, to get a hands on look for yourself.  Or click here to get started!
Happy scrapping!