CTMH White Pines Holiday Layouts

Using the new White Pines paper collection from Close To My Heart, along with the matching complements and assortment, I created these two 2 page layouts.  

Be Merry, Be Bright

Believe

I then taught the wonderful ladies in my monthly scrapbook club how to make them for our October meeting.  It's great to get a jump on the holidays and have pages ready to put our photos from Christmas gatherings.

2 Scrapbook Layouts Using the CTMH Nevermore Paper Collection

I wanted to share the 2 layouts that I made using the new Nevermore paper collection from Close To My Heart.  These papers are saturated with color as well as trendy.  Look carefully at some of the patterned paper and you will see Steampunk images!

Both layouts were created using:

Nevermore Paper Pack
Nevermore Complements
Nevermore Assortment
Frightfully Fun stamp set

As well as images (titles and overlay) cut from the CTMH Cricut Artbooking cartridge.

CTMH Inks - What's the difference and which type should I use for my project?

As paper crafters, inks are an important part of our art.  Did you know that every ink is not created equally? It's true!  Different projects may require different types of ink.  A scrapbooker may wish to ink the edges of their layouts or stamp images as a background and will need a water-based ink.  Whereas a card maker that uses alcohol pens or water colors to color their images will want to use an archival ink that will not bleed.

Close To My Heart knows that all inks are not created for the same purpose and carries all types for all projects.  They have created this guide below to help you decide which is best for the artwork that you are creating. 

Exclusive Inks™ stamp pads: Our Exclusive Inks™ stamp pads, including our Black Exclusive Inks pads, are water-based dye inks. The dye ink absorbs directly into your paper and allows the colors to blend easily with the material. They dry quickly and blend easily. These inks are recommended for most stamping projects, but not for projects where you plan on using watercolors or coloring with alcohol markers after stamping the image.
 
Archival Black Exclusive Inks™ stamp pad: Our Archival Black Exclusive Inks™ stamp pad is our archival ink offering. This pad quickly sets an image that you can then color in using watercolor pencils, watercolors, or water-based inks with the blending pen.
 
Exclusive Inks™ Mini Pigment Pad Sets: Pigment inks behave differently from dye inks, in that they settle on top of your material rather than soaking into it. This allows you to stamp lighter colors on darker materials and to keep the true color of the ink pad when stamping on another color. Though they take longer to dry, when dried, they work well for coloring in with your markers or watercolor inks, as the pigment inks will form a permanent bond and will resist blending when you color over them.

StazOn™ ink pad: StazOn™ is specifically formulated for stamping on non-porous materials. Because StazOn is solvent-based, this ink works well when stamping an image that you will later color over with watercolors, but it is not ideal for use with alcohol markers.
 
Memento™ Tuxedo Black ink pad: The Memento™ ink pad gives you another archival quality ink pad that works for any stamping project and can be used with alcohol markers, watercolors, or any of our other coloring options.

See the variety of colors to choose from on my website at: Create With Care

Say Hello to Zoe from Close To My Heart!

Hello, Zoe...Hello, Gorgeous!!

The new Annual Inspirations Idea Book will go live on September 1, 2015.  To get everyone excited and to start the fun, Close To My Heart has released the first paper collection, Zoe, for immediate sale!  I am in love with this paper! The featured colors in the palette are Canary, Glacier, Slate, Sorbet, Sweet Leaf, Whisper and White Daisy.  Honestly, the Sorbet really spoke to me.  It just popped out of the pack and became the focus of these cards for me.

I pulled in the Slate and Sweet Leaf as accents when I stamped my sentiment, but again, Sorbet became the focal color as I used it to stamp the frame outline as you can see in the photo below.

I cut the flowers and frame from the Close To My Heart Artfully Sent Cricut cartridge.  The sentiments came from one of the three coordinating stamp sets.

I used Oceanside and Coral Reef sequins to add a bit of accent and embellishment.  I love how the sequins mimic the dots on the paper!

Please get this paper pack asap!  You will love its brightness and cheeriness and I know it will inspire you as it has me.

Close To My Heart New Product Announcements for 2016

2016 Annual Inspirations

It's here!  The brand new Annual Inspirations Idea Book from Close To My Heart!  Starting September 1, 2016 this new book is live to view on my website and, of course, purchase from!  

Annual Inspirations

Let me give you a sneak peak of the paper collection wonderfulness contained in its pages!

Zoe

Sangria

Urban

Georgie

La Vie En Rose

Kaleidoscope

Tea Bag Holder with CTMH Blossom and Treats of Friendship

Following up on my previous post featuring a card made from the fabulous Treats of Friendship stamp set and the new Blossom paper pack, I wanted to share this coordinating tea bag holder that is a perfect little gift for a friend, teacher, co-worker.

Individually wrapped tea bags or chocolate squares slide perfectly into the inside pouch!

An adorable holder for tea bags or chocolate squares!

Surprise!

For the exterior of the holder...

Lagoon cardstock base (included in the Blossom paper pack) cut at: 3 1/2" x 7 3/4"

On your scoreboard, place your paper landscape view and

score at 3 1/2" and 4 1/4"

Fold on score lines

Sorbet cardstock (included in the Blossom paper pack) cut at:  3 1/4" x 3 1/4"

Blossom B&T patterned paper cut at 3" x 3"

Before adhering your layered squares to the front, take approximately 18" of Bakers Twine or ribbon and attach underneath front squares to anchor.

For the interior tea bag holder...

Blossom B&T patterned paper cut at: 6" x 7"

On your scoreboard, place your paper portrait view and

score at 1/2" and 3 1/4"

Turn to landscape view and

score at 3 1/8" and 3 7/8"

Fold on score lines

Adhere at the 1/2" fold making a long sleeve

Use a circle punch on each end of your sleeve to make a decorative edge to slide your tea bags in and out.

Adhere the center of the sleeve to the center of the holder.

Embellish the outside with the "A Little Treat for You" sentiment stamped in Sorbet ink on the tea bag shape that is coordinated and cut out from the CTMH Artbooking Cricut cartridge.

Add a mix of Coral Reef Sequins and Oceanside Sequins for extra bling!

Thanks to Stamping with Stace for this great idea!

CTMH Seasonal Expressions 2 - Blossom and Treats of Friendship

Treats of Friendship stamp with Blossom paper pack

Those that know me, know that I love anything coffee or tea!  So, naturally when I saw the "Treats of Friendship" stamp set in the new Seasonal Expressions 2 Idea Book (you will be able to view and order starting April 1st!) from Close To My Heart I had to have it.  It was the first item on my shopping list.  Take a look at all the fun images...

Treats of Friendship - Item # C1616

The red outlined shape indicates that there is a matching Cricut cut on one of our cartridges.  In this case it is Artbooking.  

Use our Shin-Han markers to color your tea and cup!

I couldn't decide if I preferred the stamped image plain or colored in with our Shin-Han alcohol markers.  What do you think?

Here's how I made the card using our new Blossom paper pack:

• Cut a 4" x 8" piece of Lagoon cardstock
• Score at 4" and fold in half for your base
• Cut a 3 3/4" x 3 3/4" square of patterned paper and adhere to the base
• Adhere a strip of Smoothie Striped Washi Tape from edge to edge
• Cut the tea bag shape on your Cricut at 3" with the Real Dial Size on.
• Stamp the steam in Desert Sand ink
• Stamp the cup in Lagoon ink
• Stamp the sentiment in Sunset ink
• Adhere with pop squares
• Embellish with Coral Reef Sequins
• Used retired Baker's Twine to add the tea bag strings

I hope you find as many wonderful uses for this stamp set as I have!  Stay tuned to see the adorable tea bag holder that I've made.  I will feature it in my next post.

Enjoy!

10 Reasons to Join Close To My Heart and Live the Dream!

10 Reasons Why Close To My Heart Consultants Live the Dream

Why should you join the Close To My Heart Consultant family? We’ll give you ten good reasons:

1. You work with beautiful products that practically sell themselves.
With unique papers, Cricut® cartridges, and exclusive stamps, our products will keep your memory keeping on-trend and downright fun. To make matters even sweeter, when you’re a Consultant you get these products at a great discount—and who doesn’t love a discount on beautiful products? The toughest part of your job will be trying to resist purchasing the whole idea book in one order!

2. You make friends that will last a lifetime.
No doubt about it, the people you meet as a Close To My Heart Consultant will change your life. Ask any Consultant—the trust, love, and unity you feel when you’re a Consultant is reason enough to join today. Your new community of friends, business partners, and mentors will be an incredible support to you throughout your journey. Close To My Heart will become your second family, and when you’ve got family, you’ve got everything you need.

3. Your job is literally a work of art.
With a job where you work with art every day, you’ll be living the dream! You’ll have a great outlet for sharing your artwork, your business supplies will include paper and stamps, and you’ll teach what you’re passionate about. This isn’t your everyday business; you make money by doing what you love!

4. We’ve got your back.
Throughout your entire journey with Close To My Heart, we at the corporate office stand ready and willing to help. You’ll have access to every form, flyer, and newsletter you need. With an entire online library of training videos, business classes at almost every event, and a Consultant Services department dedicated just to helping you, you’ll always know you have a place to bring your questions. And your Team members (and even other Consultants you haven’t met yet) will also always be there to answer your questions, calm your concerns, or simply lend a listening ear.

5. You’ll become the business guru you always knew you could be.
You’ll gain some serious muscle as you work on building your business—business muscle, that is. A lot of your experience will come through fun travel and trainings with people you love to be around. You’ll have plenty of opportunities for “work” that will usually feel a lot more like play!

6. You can rest easy knowing your business is built on a solid foundation.
Not only will you find stability in taking control of your own career, but you can rest easy knowing Close To My Heart has unmatched longevity and stability. Our Founder & CEO, Jeanette Lynton, has been in the papercrafting business for over 30 years—that’s a lot of business savvy! Even cooler: Close To My Heart functions free of debt.

7. We throw pretty amazing parties and you’re always invited.
We do ‘em big, we do ‘em small, but all of them are fantastic! From annual Conventions to regional events across the globe, there is always something happening with Close To My Heart. These events offer countless perks, such as business training, product training, creative sessions, networking opportunities, and TONS of fun.

8. Sticky Boy. Enough said.
Come meet the world’s number one expert on clear, sticky, and sassy, the one and only Sticky Boy. You can’t help but fall in love with him immediately. Plus, if you attend Convention, you’ll have the chance to get your very own Sticky Boy to keep!

9. You have the chance to travel to exotic lands across the globe.
Who wants to go to the Caribbean on us? How about Hawaii? Central America? Abu Dhabi? If you work hard, we’ll make sure you’ll play hard. Guaranteed.

10. You get a free shoulder tote if you sign up this month!
Yes, that’s right—the adorable, trendy shoulder tote is yours when you join in the fun. Better yet, joining this month gives you the opportunity to earn its magnificent matching organization piece: the rolling tote! Could there be a better way to get your business in order right from the beginning?

You see, when it comes to business opportunities, it doesn’t get much better than Close To My Heart. Get in touch today to join the family!  I can’t wait to meet you.

Karen

CTMH Seasonal Expresssions 2 - NEW PAPER COLLECTIONS SNEAK PEEK!!

I've just received my Consultant preview copy of the brand new Seasonal Expressions 2 Idea Book from Close To My Heart!  It is fabulous!  There are 2 new paper collections, new hostess stamps, embellishments, kits, albums, and more.  

The new BLOSSOM collection features Lagoon, Glacier, and Sunset as it's feature shades.

The new Blossom paper collection

While JACKSON is more masculine and outdoorsy with the colors of Cocoa, Glacier, Barn Red, and Juniper

The new Jackson paper collection

These products go live for purchase on April 1, 2015!

FREE Tote from CTMH in March 2015!

Yup, I said FREE!!

Thinking about joining Close To My Heart?  March is the month to do it! During the month of March, new Consultants who enroll will receive a FREE Shoulder Tote (a retail value of over $26.00) in their New Consultant Kit.  The New Consultant Kit is just $99.00 and includes nearly triple the retail value in products and supplies.  Including your FREE Shoulder Tote, that's a savings of over $290.00!  Additionally, new consultants who remit $300.00 worth of commissionable sales in their first 40 days after their New Consultant Kit ships will receive the Rolling Tote (a retail value of $149.95) as a FREE bonus (not including shipping and handling)!  These organizational pieces are designed to help you get your business rolling, but they are only available while supplies last, so hurry to my website and join today!

Their are 2 kits for you to choose from depending on if you love to make cards or scrapbook.  CTMH has something for all types of paper crafters!

Cardmaker's New Consultant Kit

Scrapbooker's New Consultant Kit

JOIN NOW!

Easter Bunny Bag using CTMH Art Philosophy Cricut Cartridge

Easter is just over a month away, so there is plenty of time to make these adorable paper Bunny Bags using the ever versatile CTMH Art Philosophy Cricut Cartridge.  You'll only need two colors of card stock; I used White Daisy and Cotton Candy and 2 little goggly eyes!  I also used foam squares to pop up his feet and cheeks.

Isn't he adorable??!!

Check out his cute little cotton tail!

Side View!

Here are the instructions that you will need to cut with your Cricut:

CTMH Art Philosophy Easter Bunny Bag

White Daisy Cardstock Pieces:

Gift Bag (page 23), Cut 1

Fit To Page (mine was 6 1/4" on the Expression)

Shift + Font Layer  + <Square 1> key

Head (page 27), Cut 1

3 ½”

<Shape 6> key

Outer Ears (page 32) Cut 2

1 ¾”

<Oval 2> key

Feet (page 32) Cut 2

1 ½”

<Oval 2> key

Cheeks (page 21) Cut 2

1 ½”

<Circle 1> key

Buck Teeth

Cut 2 with paper trimmer

¼” x ½”

Cotton Candy Cardstock Pieces:

Inner Ears (page 32) Cut 2

1 ¼”

<Oval 2> key

Inner Foot (page 32) Cut 2

¾”

<Oval 2> key

Foot Pads (page 21) Cut 6

½”

<Circle 1> key

Nose (page 26) Cut 1

1”

Shift + <Heart 1> key

M0uth (page 21) Cut 1

1”

<Circle 1> key

As bunnies like to multiply quickly, you will find yourself making more than one of these cuties!

Don't have the Art Philosopy cartridge?  Order it HERE!