Becoming a Close To My Heart Consultant - My "Why"

With the CTMH April 2014 promotion called "Discover the Art of Business" (more details to follow below) being such a fabulous deal, I wanted take a few moments of your time to tell you about why I decided to become an Independent Consultant for the company.  I believe that each individual will have their own "why", but want to share mine with you.

I have been a customer of Close To My Heart for many years now.  I think I discovered it around 2008 or 2009 when my best friend Jennifer told me about it.  I had been a scrapbooker for many years before that, but was never dedicated to a specific product line or designer.  I always looked for what was on sale at the big craft stores and for what appealed to me visually.  When Jennifer passed on an Idea Book (catalog) to me, I was taken by how everything coordinated and even though I had never stamped before, I purchased a few paper and sticker kits when another friend, Dee was a hostess.

I liked that the company had designed everything to go together.  My kit came with paper and stickers that were coordinated and I easily completed several pages using the one kit.  After that, I sought out a consultant in my neighborhood and became a frequent attendee of her crops and a loyal customer.  Over the next few years, I dabbled more into adding accents to my pages with stamps and inking.  I used more embellishments on my pages and even made a few cards.  I loved the products and looked forward to the newest Idea Book for more inspiration and trendy items.  

In 2012, I made the decision to become a consultant.  One of the reasons was, of course, to get a discount off of my own supplies!  Let's be honest, hobbies cost money.  A 22 percent discount was a great incentive.  However, I also wanted to expand my social circle and meet others who loved to paper craft.  I love people and I especially love crops!  I have such fun getting together with other ladies while chatting, laughing, and creating!

Shortly after I made the commitment to join the company, my husband and I moved to a brand new city; Jacksonville, Florida.  I love where we live, but didn't know a soul here.  Guess what?  Scrapbooking changed all that quickly!  I created a meet up group for paper crafters, committed to hosting it monthly, and met so many wonderful ladies in the past year and a half! 

Close To My Heart has given me the opportunity to grow my circle of friends and earn income!  My business is growing so much, I now host two crops a month plus teach card making and scrapbooking workshops!  See what I'm up to now at Scrapbook, Stamp and Socialize!

If you love to scrapbook, stamp or make cards, consider joining Close To My Heart.  It has changed my life for the better and I believe it can do the same for you.  

April 2014 is the perfect time to join me on my journey!  Not only will you receive your business builder New Consultant kit for only $99 (an approximate retail value of $309), but this month only, receive a complete CTMH Cricut Collection of your choice for FREE!

Join My Team!

Choose from:

Art Philosophy

Artiste

Artbooking

Join My Team!

Thank you for letting me share my story with you and thank you for considering joining me as a sister consultant with Close To My Heart.  Please feel free to contact me with any questions.  I look forward to hearing from you soon and learning your "why"!

Travel Mini Album Made with CTMH Cricut Artbooking Cartridge

A mini album has always been a quick and easy way to document a vacation.  Close To My Heart has made it even easier by using just 2 keys on the new Artbooking cartridge for Cricut.  With your size dial set at 8 inches and your booklet opened to pages 38 & 39 you have all that you need to cut out the shapes and images that make up the adorable mini album found in the video below.  Create pockets for your vacation keepsakes and make journaling boxes to tell your personal stories and trip memories.

I thought that this project was particularly apropos as I am a travel agent for my "real job"!!  This is just the thing to organize some of the photos, boarding passes, brochures, etc. that I have boxed up at home.  No more excuses, it's time for me to get scrapbooking!

I hope that you are as inspired as I am to share your vacation memories in the form of a Travel Mini Album.

Close To My Heart My Creations Pennant Frame

Have you ever thought about using your scrapbooking paper to decorate your home?  I know, who would have thought?!  Well, thankfully, Close To My Heart did!  They recognize that your photos of loved ones need to be on display to see every day, instead of hidden inside of an album.  But in a more creative and pretty way; not just in a plain wood frame.

With the My Creations Pennant Frame, a white chipboard frame, you can use your favorite papers and embellishments to highlight a special 6" x 6" photograph.  To make it even easier, they have coordinated the CTMH Artbooking Cricut cartridge to cut out the overlay shape with the push of one button! Just go to page 76 of your manual, set your Real Size Dial to 9 1/2" and cut the Photo Mat 2 in the Wintertime themed keys.

Watch the video below to see 3 gorgeous examples of the finished project:

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What do you think?  Isn't this a cute and easy project?  I love Jenn's idea about doing one frame for each family member and hanging them on the wall as a photo frame collage!  Who will you spotlight with this fun technique?

Close To My Heart Easter Pillow Box

CTMH Some Bunny B1446 Hostess Stamp

I'm looking forward to Spring and Easter.  Although the holiday is still a little over a month away, it is not too soon to start planning and making little treats to put in baskets or give to friends and coworkers.  

I used my Close To My Heart Art Philosophy Cricut cartridge to cut out this adorable pillow box.  It was super easy as the machine not only cut it out, but scored it for me as well.  I used Colonial White card stock for the box, so the stamping, paper eggs and ribbon would really stand out.  After decorating, I just had to make a few folds, glue one flap and tuck in the edges.  Voila and ta-da!

Here's what you need:

• CTMH Art Philosophy Cricut cartridge
• Colonial White Cardstock
• Balloon Ride Paper
• Some Bunny stamp set (Hostess Stamp Set # B1446)
• Topiary Mini Chevron Ribbon

Pillow Box, page 28, 6"

Egg shape, page 57, 1 1/2" & 1 3/4"


The Some Bunny stamp set is an exclusive set just for Hostess Rewards.  When you place an order or host a gathering with sales over $150.00, you receive $25.00 in Hostess Rewards.  This stamp set is one of several that may be purchased at a very discounted price with your Hostess Rewards.  For more details, click HERE.

Water Based Dye Ink versus Pigment Ink - What's the Difference?

Ink plays such an important role in memory keeping.  When we document our stories for the generations that follow, we write them down with ink.  When we accent a page with a stamped image, we use ink.  As there are different types of inks, I wanted to give a brief overview to help you decide which type is best for your artwork or archival scrapbooking.

Close To My Heart Inks

Inks have two main components, the color and the carrier.  The carrier is the liquid (water, solvent or alcohol) that holds the color and transfers it to your page, which then evaporates and leaves the color behind.

A DYE ink soaks into the surface of your paper and bonds with it to change it's color.  A PIGMENT ink sits on top of the paper or surface it is applied to and hides the surface color beneath.  Dye binds and pigment covers.

Here are a few features and limitations...


Dye based inks:

• Dries faster and soaks in
• Fade in sunlight as sunlight changes the chemical bond between the dye and the medium
• Great for porous surfaces such as paper
• Can be blended with water
• Uses a felt pad for crisper images

Pigment based inks:

• Take longer to dry
• Are great for embossing
• More intense color
• Resist fading in sunlight
• Great for stamping a light color on dark paper
• Will not run if water is applied to them so are better for archival use
• Use a foam pad so images are not as crisp
• Retains vibrancy of color since it sits on top of the paper
• Store horizontally for best results

When stamping with pigment ink, use a gentle touch. Tap the pad lightly on the stamp straight up and down without rocking to avoid thick areas or bubbles

I hope this brief explanation of the difference in ink types has helped you see the unique characteristics of both.

Happy Stamping!

Go with the Grain and get a Free Embossing Folder in February!

Did you know that the cardstock from Close To My Heart has a grain and that if you go with the grain when embossing you are less likely to have the white core show through?  I have to admit that I didn't know this. The "Score Big with Embossing" video explains exactly how to find the grain of your piece of cardstock and shows examples of what an embossed piece will look like both with and against the grain.

This video is very informative as well as timely.  It just so happens that the February 2014 special of the month is a FREE embossing folder with the purchase of 2 packs of bulk or single color cardstock.

During the month of February, you are eligible to receive your choice of a new embossing folder FREE (a savings of $8.95!) for every 2 packs of bulk single color or combo cardstock you purchase. Pick from our 5 new folder designs—dot, chevron, quatrefoil, damask, or stripe—when you make a qualifying purchase. Add a touch of texture and flair to every cardstock project you create—gorgeous and easy! This offer is only valid while supplies last, so make sure to get your order in early!



*Offer valid February 1–28, 2014. Paper Fundamentals, Colonial White, White Daisy, and kraft cardstock packs do not count toward the qualifying purchase. No tax will be charged on the free item(s). Shipping/ handling is calculated based on the full retail price ($8.95) of the free item(s). Embossing folder size fits most standard embossing machine; sold separately. 

Close To My Heart Skylark Birthday Card

I really love the greens and blues in the new Skylark paper collection from Close To My Heart.  It is the first paper packet featured in the 2014 Spring/Summer Idea Book.  I especially love that the first sheet of paper in the pack has so much going on in the background that you don't really need to add a lot of embellishment to it.  The bird in the bottom right, the striped pennant in the top right and the "Beautiful Memories" in the top left are all part of the first sheet of paper! 

I used a piece of the Juniper card stock in the packet as my base and layered a smaller piece of the great Background & Texture paper.  I stamped a "Happy Birthday" sentiment using the Heartfelt Birthday Wish M-size stamp and mounted it on Kraft paper, also part of the paper packet, to highlight it. Then all I had to do was accent the card with a piece of the zip strip from the same sheet and used the new antiqued gold Durables Triangle Studs to point the eye to my sentiment.  

Close To My Heart Skylark Birthday Card

Supplies Used:

• Skylark Paper Packet - $9.95
• Durables Triangle Studs - $3.95
• Heartfelt Birthday Wish stamp - $2.95

This card used just a few small pieces out of this great paper packet.  I have lots left over to use for my Create & Takes at a future crop and to even make a 2 page layout!

I hope that you enjoy this paper and its possibilities as much as I do!