March Card Class, Dreamin' Big

March card class is on Thursday the 9th, from 5:30pm until 7:30pm.  It doesn't take two hours to complete the cards, but the window is open that long for you to drop by when it best works for you.

We'll be making 3 cards, straight from the Dreamin' Big kit instructions.  Join me to get some hands on time with the Dreamin' Big stamp set and dies.  Cost is $3.  We'll be using the rock and roll method to stamp, but other than that, it's a simple class to create a few thinking of you cards.

Please RSVP if you are attending.

Consultant Option

New Consultants who join Close To My Heart in February will get the February, March, and April Stamp of the Month sets for FREE! That’s an additional $53.85 in retail value added to the already incredible value of the New Consultant Kit!
For our former Close To My Heart Consultants, we will also offer a lower-priced, no-kit enrollment option that will allow former Consultants to sign up for just $50! They will still receive $50 in Select Product Credit to spend on products of their choice, meaning they basically get to sign up for free! PLUS they’ll get the February, March, and April Stamp of the Month sets for FREE!

Building a Tower

I am hearing a lot of positive feed back on the new ink pads.  The open easily and completely, with a magnetic closure, instead of the pop and twist.  While I did add a black to my collection, I will probably only build a complete set as the old colors retire and the new ones come in. They are priced at $8 each. I can say that so far, I am happy with the Workspace Wonder stamp pad stack ($10).  I only have the two, but they are very durable plastic and stack together nicely. In the catalog, it appears that the name is not on the side of the ink pad, but it is.

Chocolate!

What scrap day is complete with out a little chocolate!  For those of  you locals that don't already know, there is a Russell Stover's outlet in Athens.  This outlet has all the  traditional candies you can find in your local stores for about the same price, but it also has the seconds or bloopers that are much cheaper - 3lbs for the price of 1lb.  And some out of season candy, like these gems for just $.10 each.  I've lived in Madison for 5 years, and only went in for the first time in January.  Maybe that's a good thing considering how much of it I've eaten since then!

Scrubbing It Clean

I love our new scrubber.  I guess it's not really new anymore, it's been around for 2 or 3 years I think.  The scrubber is $13 and the Spritz cleaner is $5 (big bottle refill - $11.50)

A couple of handy tips:

• Rinse your scrubber out occasionally.  The ink does transfer from the stamps to the scrubber, but it will stay with the scrubber until it's cleaned.  Just occasionally works, depending on your use level.  I do it about once a month.
• After cleaning your stamps, stamp the cleaned stamp on a piece of paper.  This will  help remove any cleaner.  When you let the cleaner dry on the stamp, it can affect how well the stamp picks up ink next time you go to use it.

For a long time, I cleaned my stamps with wet wipes.  That works great, until your wet wipe dries out a bit and you get a fuzzy layer on your stamp.  This scrubber gets rid of that fuzz layer lickety split.

Background Cuts Please and Make it Super Sized!

 

Today I have a few tips about Cricut mats.

• I buy the 12X24 mats, when they are on sale, and cut them in half.  24" is way longer than I need, but the price is much cheaper to make your own 12X12's from the 12X24 size.
• When using the cut in half mat, sometimes you need to flip the mat around, to use the less used, more sticky side.  Remember to drop your paper down one inch when rotating your cut mat.  The machine needs that first inch just to hold the mat.  Don't worry about the paper not sticking to that final inch of the mat.  I haven't ever found this to be an issue.
• The CTMH Cricut cartridges have some great full page backgrounds for your 12X12 layouts.  Many times, it won't cut a shape larger than 10 3/4" or 11", and you might want to cover a bit more of your 12" layout.  Try telling the Cricut that you have a 12X24" mat.  It will still only allow you to get 12" wide, but usually I can get the cut a bit bigger with this minor fudge.  It will cut off the page just a bit, but that might be okay, depending on your purpose.

These are cuts I did from the Art Philosophy cartridge as the page kit for the Fundamentals retreat (in 9 days!).  Telling the machine I was using a 12X12 would only allow a 10 3/4" shape. Telling the machine it was 12X24 and I got 11 1/4 " shape.  It helped fill my page top to bottom.  Left to right, I already wanted the off the page effect, and actually cut a little more off the side than the machine did.

Quick and Easy Layout

CTMH has had quick and easy precut cards for a while now.  In the latest catalog, they have introduced  Cut Above scrapbooking layouts for $15.  This kit includes all the stuff you need to create this layout.  I loved the B&T paper for they have for the background and that is why I got this kit.  Anyone can do this kit; it was designed for the beginning or even non-scrapper.  You don't cut the papers, you punch them out, tape them down and add stickers.  And you still end up with this super cute page.  My baby is 19, but I didn't start scrapping until she was 6.  I have pulled pictures from the old photo albums and scrap them when the right layout comes along.

 

 

The kit comes with two page protectors for this double layout - as well as two divided pocket page protectors and 12 4x6 Picture My Life pocket cards. This is another super simple and fast way to get your photos where you can enjoy them - with journaling!

 

Hello Lovely kit, Casa de Suenos

I used the last kit layout from the Hello Lovely kit to showcase the lovely bed and breakfast we stayed at in St. Augustine, Casa de Suenos.  I always take pictures of the room, including the bathroom and the room number, in this case, the room name.  I love the little plastic sticky embellishments that came with this kit - here your can see the hearts.  They are a matt gold color and quite thin so there is no bulk on the pages.



 

If you follow the instructions and do all the kit pages and cards, you don't have a lot of extras to work with.  I love this, as I have a huge stash of papers.  I feel good when I use up a kit.  If you like to stretch your papers, you can use cardstock as your bases instead of the B&T papers, as two of the layouts suggest.  Consider adding the coordinating cardstock pack if  you like this option.

Hello Lovely Kit, PineWood Estate layout

The Hello Lovely kit has a art deco style to many of the paper designs.  I really like the designs, as some of them are more artistic than simple patterns of dots and lines.
I used another of the kit pattern layouts for pictures of the Pinewood Estate.  This building is located on the Bok Tower Garden grounds.  Mike and I decided we could retire in a place that size in sunny Florida, so even though we didn't tour the inside, the Estate made it into my scrapbook.

Hello Lovely Kit, Bok Towers Layout

 

This month I've been working with the Hello Lovely kit.  When looking through the catalog, this is the paper pack to go with your wedding photos.  Lots of pinks and greens and flowers.

 

I do not have wedding photos to scrap.   I have travel photos that need scrapping.  So how did I use this kit to that end?

 

We (I) like to tour gardens when we go places, as well as the Huntsville Botanical Gardens locally.  In October we visited the Bok Tower Gardens, a lovely place in South Wales, Florida.  The towers themselves are actually from pink and green stone.  It always amazes me how the colors of the CTMH packs manage to go with my pictures. 

 

 

This layout is one from the kit.  I adjusted the pictures sizes a little to accommodate my brochures.  The kit instructions include this layout plus two others.  There are no stamping instructions in these kits for the layouts - just quick and easy paper cutting and embellishments. 

January Card Class

January Card Class is Thursday, January 12, 5:30-7:30pm.  3 cards, $3.  Please RSVP if you are attending!  In this class we are using Hello Lovely papers, Hello Lovely - Scrapbooking stamp set, and a retired sympathy stamp set.  If you are in need of sympathy sentiments, Heartfelt Thoughts is available (C1661, $13.95).

Free National Papercrafting Month Paper Wreath

Every January, CTMH celebrates National Papercrafting Month as a way of acknowledging the pure joy of playing with paper! We scrapbook with it, we make cards with it, we decorate with it—in short, we craft with it! This January, we’ll be celebrating the joys of paper-crafted home décor with the beautiful Welcome Home wreath kit. This kit comes with pre-cut pieces you can simply pop out, shape and attach to the sturdy chipboard wreath base, making a welcoming décor piece for your home.

How can you get it?

Purchase the Welcome Home wreath kit outright for $18.95 with no qualifying purchase, OR earn it FREE with a qualifying $60 purchase!

And the winner is.....

SHERRY COOK!


December's mystery hostess party had eight scrappers who ordered a total of $360, which gives Sherry $60 worth of free products and (1) half price item!


While the mystery hostess gathering is closed, there is still time to order from the Holiday Expressions catalog.  The Thin Cuts Snowflakes (page 57) and the City Sidewalks digital collection (page 43) are sold out. 

Free Products for Club Members

Hosting a gathering is the best way to earn free products.  You and your friends will create a make and take, place an order, and you earn free products!  If location is a concern for you, my house is always open to host your gathering.
If inviting friends just isn't your thing, then consider earning the same free products all by yourself.  Instead of just ordering products, consider joining a club to earn some free stuff! 
Check out the tab across the top called Clubs for more details.
Also, all events for 2017 have been posted in the Calendar tab.

What I want for Christmas...

Merry Christmas!   Do you have a CTMH Christmas Wish List?  As your consultant, I'd love to help put those items under your tree!


The steps to do this:


1st - Share my information with your family!  You are my only advertisement, and they have to know where to find me, in order to surprise you!


2nd - Make a list!  You can give this list to your family or you can give it to me.  I just need a product number and a short description.  I like the description because occasionally numbers get transposed and I want to ensure it's what you really wanted.


3rd - They buy a gift!  Either a particular item from your list or they can give me a dollar amount and I can fill it from your list.  (I also issue gift certificates.)


4th  - I wrap and deliver the wrapped gift to the buyer (local deliveries - Madison, Huntsville, Harvest, Hazel Green, Owens Cross Roads, Decatur, Lacey Springs and thereabouts.  Sorry, Cairo Ladies, you are a bit far for personal wrapped delivery, yours will come via the mail). 

I have this form in Excel format, if you would like to request it via email!

My Christmas Wish List
These can be ordered through
Dawn Cortner, Independent CTMH Consultant
website: http://decoratingthedaysofourlives.closetomyheart.com/
email: decoratingdays@gmail.com
phone: 334-695-2448
Product Number	Description

Small Gifts of Big Memories

 

Adorable mini albums for celebrating the little things you love!

 

 

 

So often it’s the little things that matter most—and what better way to celebrate the little things in life than with adorable mini albums?

 

Whether looking for a meaningful gift idea or a treasured keepsake, these mini albums are a fast and easy option, and this month you save

 

30%-off the retail price of the products you need!

 

 

* Offer valid December 1–December 31, 2016, while supplies last. Normal shipping/handling & tax apply.

 

 

 

Blue Jean Mini Album Bundle | CC1197

Instalife™ Album—Blue Jean

#Life™ Cards—Enjoy 

#Life™ Overlays—Black

Memory Protectors™ Mini 4" X 4"

Memory Protectors™ Mini 2" X 2"

Retail Value: $27.75

Your Price: $18.95

 

Blush Mini Album Bundle | CC1198

Instalife™ Album—Blush

#Life™ Cards—Hello Gorgeous

#Life™ Overlays—Gold

Memory Protectors™ Mini 4" μ 4"

Memory Protectors™ Mini 2" μ 2"

Retail Value: $27.75

Your Price: $18.95

 

 

Adventure Mini Album Bundles | CC1200

Everyday Life™ Album—Stripes

My Crush® Adventure Calls

Memory Protectors™

Choose 6" X 8" (CC1199), 4" X 6" (CC1200),

or 3" X 4" (CC1021))

Retail Value: $29.85

Your Price: $19.95

 

Mystery Hostess and Thin Cuts Snowflakes

December has arrived! And with it, the Holiday book will be going away at the end of the month.  I am holding a Mystery Hostess Gathering this month.  For every $5 worth of products you order, you will receive a chance to be the hostess.  The last time I did this in July, the lucky hostess received $80 in free products and one half price item!


If there is anything in the Holiday book, the sooner you order the better it is.  As of today, the Thin Cut Snowflakes are sold out - completely unavailable.  As the month goes on, more items will follow. 


The stamp sets are made in house at Close To My Heart's home office in Utah.  They will not become unavailable before the month is over, but all stamps in the book will retire at the end of the month.

More Thin Cuts!

More of your favorite stamp sets now have

coordinating Thin Cuts

Love our Thin Cuts? Then you’re going to love this special,

limited-time offer! We now have coordinating Thin Cuts for the

following stamps sets found in our Annual Inspirations idea book:

My Acrylix® Swirly Seashells (C1664) Thin Cuts CC1155 $18.95

My Acrylix® Sweet Birthday (B1532) Thin Cuts CC1156 $9.95

My Acrylix® Wreath (A1193) Thin Cuts CC1157 $10.95

My Acrylix® School Kids (D1706) Thin Cuts CC1158 $15.95

Subject to availability, through July 2017.

Swan Lake Bells & Whistles workshop

The Bells & Whistle workshop for October is this Friday.  You will be making this layout, which highlights the Swan Lake paper pack.  Can't make it?Check back after Friday to see if there were any leftover kits for sale!

Planning with Creativity

Limited-time Constant Campaign

Discover your inner artist while staying on top of your schedule with our new 2017 planner system. Featuring seasonal designs you can color by hand, this exclusive planner system combines the worlds of work and play to give you a planner you can truly make your own. Choose a bundle with either the Everyday Life™ Sea Glass or stripes album, or purchase just the planner pages if you already have an album—the choice is up to you! The day planner pages are available while supplies last, so don't delay!    
     

Everyday Life™ Sea Glass Album & Planner Pages Bundle

              CC1177 $31.90

Everyday Life™ Stripes Album & Planner Pages Bundle
                 CC1178 $31.90

Everyday Life™ 2017 Planner Pages (no album)

                   CC2017 $16.95

Scrapbooking Retreat

I host two retreats during the year.  The first is the Fundamentals retreat in February, Feb. 9-12 in 2017.  The second is the Put it on a Page retreat in June, Jun 1-4 in 2017.  I have one opening for February and five openings for June.

The retreats are held at The Scrapbook Playhouse in Guntersville.  Cost is $110, plus one meal.  We each provide one meal for all 8 scrappers, then enjoy someone else cooking the others. You will also need to bring your own drinks.  Snacks and snacks to share are optional.

The Scrapbook Playhouse is unique in their Swap Room.  If you need something, or just like something there, you can swap something from your stash for something in their stash.

You have access to a Cricut, multiple cartridges, stamps, punches, a computer with printer and internet. You will need to bring your own Cricut mat.

You can reserve your spot at a retreat by making a deposit of $35.  The balance of $75 is due 45 days before the retreat.

For more details on The Scrapbook Playhouse, you can check out my blog (look for the Scrapbooking Retreat tab) or Google their site.

 

School Pages with Enchantment

School started over a month ago, and with it the memories.  First day of school, projects, events and sports are all underway.  The Enchantment Fundamentals is very school page friendly with it’s grid lines and letters.  The colors are in the darker earthy palette, perfect for fall school days.

There are two sets of compliments that go with the Enchantment Fundamentals paper packs, one for grade K-6 and one for grade 7-12.  Also available is a set of 5 matching ribbons to further embellish your pages.

And check out this CUTE stamp set!

 

Matching Cardstock for your Kits

Something new in the Holiday Expressions catalog is the coordinating cardstock  packs.  With each Workshop Your Way kit, you can separately purchase 12 sheets of matching cardstock for $9.95! 

The coordinating cardstock  (X7212D) for the Swan Lake papers contains 3 sheets each of Black, Glacier, Peacock and Poppy.  You can use these as bases for more pages, matting your photos, or cutting titles. With a kit, an extra paper pack and this coordinating cardstock pack, you could easily stretch your favorite Workshop to complete a fully color matched small album.

If you find yourself choosing a particular color over and over again, you can also purchase a full pack of a single color.  Each color is available in a pack of 24 sheets for $14.50.

 

Class of 2016

This layout uses papers from several of the Fundamental packs.  I used strips from Whimsy, Enchantment and Rustic Home.  Behind the pictures are more squares from Whimsy and the gold polka dot from All About the Gold.  The base sheets are from Memo Fundamentals.

The flowers are from the Flower Market cartridge, and cut from Sea Glass, Gold and White glitter paper.

Free Scrapbooking Products for sending me to Thailand!

My big news of the month is that I REALLY want to go to Thailand.  On an all expense paid vacation.  Courtesy of Close to My Heart.  Each year, Close to My Heart offers an incentive trip to all consultants.  Earn enough points between October 1st and September 30th, and you get to go!

I get points by attending Convention, signing up new consultants and sales. But it takes a LOT of sales to earn these trips.  I have not come close in the past, but I am going to give it my best try this year, because it’s Thailand!!

The trip is an incentive for me.  As an incentive for you to help me, I am offering an additional $20 worth of free hostess credits when you hold a party between October 1, 2016 and  September 30, 2017.

One little catch for the extra credits—you need to reserve your date in the month of October.  You can hold an in home, online or Face Book party any day between October 1, 2016 and September 30, 2017, but you must reserve the party date in the month of October 2016 to get the extra free credits.

I realize plans can change overnight.  If you book far in advance and as the date gets closer, something causes your plans to change, you are free to adjust your date.  If you cancel then rebook after October, the offer ends with the cancellation.

This is an offer from me exclusively, as an independent CTMH consultant, and is not available from all consultants.