Clearly the Best: Random Stamping

"Random Stamping" features a stamping technique for creating your own background
paper by randomly applying a stamped image to a plain piece of cardstock.

CTMH Project Inspiration: Space Party

Discover how to make space-themed invitations, hats, party favors, and more for a party that’ll be memorable for eons to come!

Create a space-themed party for all the little astronauts in your life. It's simple using Close To My Heart's Cricut® Artiste collection and the My Acrylix® Outta This World stamp set!

CTMH's Project Inspiration: Stepping Up Your Stamping

Learn how versatile Close To My Heart's My Acrylix® stamp sets are that are included in our Workshops on the Go® La Belle Vie, Dakota, and Moonlight scrapbooking kits. You'll love using them for all kinds of projects!

CTMH Project Inspiration: Home Decor

Get an overview of the two new home décor Workshops on the Go^® kits — so cute, you’ll want to make both projects!

Let Close To My Heart's Workshops on the Go® kits make your home an even cheerier place to be when you create and display the festive advent calendar and eye-popping scroll album. You'll love these two new workshop offerings designed just for you!

To order your own Scroll Album and Advent Calendar kits, come back to my website on August 1st when the new CTMH 2012 Autumn/Winter Idea Book goes live!

PSA

Just a quick public service announcement.

CTMH Sneak Peaks

Make It From Your Heart

 

Close To My Heart's newest how-to publication features 16 two-page layout patterns, two single-page patterns, as well

as 12 different card patterns. Inspired by Jeanette Lynton's Let Me Show You How philosophy, the patterns are the same as those found in the Workshops On The Go (WOTG) cardmaking and scrapbooking programs in the 2012 Autumn/Winter Idea Book. This publication highlights all-new artwork, technique ideas and color palettes, conveniently bound in one volume for easy reference. 

This instructional tool will help keep you ahead of the papercrafting curve with fresh ideas to make your artwork shine with ease.
Make It From Your Heart - Volume 1: $7.95 (plus shipping/tax).

 My Creations Bracket Frame

 

  

 

CTMH Sneak Peak: My Reflections Scrapbooking Kits

Avonlea

 Clementine

 Dakota

 La Belle Vie

 Scholastic

 Flirty

 Moonlight

 Pear & Partridge

CTMH's Annual Convention

It's that awesome time of year again ... CTMH is holding their annual Convention in Dalls, Texas this week. There is so much fantastic stuff to discuss, that I don't know where to start. So we'll start at the beginning, the new Autumn/Winter idea Book pictured above. Packed with tons of new releases, even I can't wait to get my hands on a hard copy. I'll be stalking the mailbox the next few days for my edition.

CTMH introduced a lower priced New Consultant Kit. Now there will be TWO New Consultant Kits offered so team members can choose the option that best meets their needs. In addition to our $99 Master Kit (contents of both pictures above & below), we now have an Essentials Kit (shown above) that is just $49 and is packed with over $125 in products and supplies to help a new Consultant experience creative fun and business success right away.

To sweeten this awesome deal even more, when a new Consultant joins my CTMH team in August, they will receive an exclusive Damask Tote Bag for FREE! This offer has limited availability, so act quickly to ensure you snatch this darling bag (coated-canvas tote that can be slung over the shoulder, across the chest, or worn as a backpack). This offer is good for both the $49 and $99 New Consultant Kits (while supplies last). And yes, this is the same cute bag CTMH gave to Consultants who attended Convention 2012 in Dallas. I'm so jealous!

Offer valid August 1, 2012 – August 31, 2012

Drum roll please ...

A new Cricut® Artiste Collection! Every single element on the cartridge was personally selected and shaped by Jeanette, so it’s a cartridge that really thinks like you do. 

"With 700 images, the cartridge features themed projects, interactive cards, awards and more. From robots and spooks to weddings and Valentines, your cupcake liners, invitations and party favors will coordinate and quickly come together for any celebration!"

UPDATE: Here's a link to the Artiste Collection images ---> Artiste handbook

This is just the tip of the iceberg. Come back tomorrow for more information on the new paper packs, embellishments, Workshop On The Go kits and much, much more!

National Can-It-Forward Day

Join National Can-It-Forward Day on Saturday, July 14, 2012!

National Can-It-Forward Day lets everyone share the joy of fresh preserving. If you love garden fresh produce, Ball would love to show you how easy it is to preserve it to enjoy throughout the year. Whether you’re new to canning or are a Master Canner, Ball has recipes, tips and tricks to help make fresh preserving easy and fun!

To make it even better, Marisa over at Food In Jars, is giving away a 6-piece Ball Canning Discovery Kit and a case of jars of your choice to one lucky reader. Pop over to her blog and browse, because she has tons of great canning info and an awesome book. And, make sure to entry the contest while you're there!

Photos of CTMH's FREE Perfect Pairs

Quick recap of CTMH's July special: Perfect Pairs:

Place an online order (at my website) of $75 or more in July and receive a popular paper packet and coordinating accessory—a Perfect Pair—for free! Different Perfect Pairs are available on different dates throughout the month so you’ll want to place more than one qualifying order to snatch several Perfect Pairs.

Specific pairs are available on specific dates; see below to find out when your favorite Perfect Pairs will be available. Be sure to place your order early in the availability period, as the promotion is while supplies last.

Here are the dates and Perfect Pairs available, complete with photos:

July 6-10:

Dreamin' Paper Pack (X7142B)

Harvest Charms (Z1633)

July 11-15:

Fanfare Paper Pack (X7138B)

Fanfare Level 2 Assortment (Z1400)

 

 

July 16-20:

Lucky Paper Packet (X7137B)

Lucky My Stickease Assortment (X7137C)

 

 July 21-25:

Mayberry Paper Packet (X7136B)

Mayberry My Stickease Assortment (X7136C)

July 26-29:

Sophia Paper Packet (X7131B)

Sophia My Stickease Assortment (X7131C)

 

July 30-31:

Believe Paper Packet (X7145B)

Holiday Pockets (Z1486)

OR

Wonderland Paper Packet (X7146B)

Wonderland My Stickease Assortment (X7146C)

Happy Fourth of July!

Honored and proud to be an American!

CTMH's Perfect Pairs Special & SOTM

During the month of July, get a free CTMH paper packet and coordinating accessory with a qualifying online purchase ~ Perfect Pairs.

Place an online order of $75 or more in July and I’ll send you a popular paper packet and coordinating accessory—a Perfect Pair—for free! Different Perfect Pairs are available on different dates throughout the month so you’ll want to place more than one qualifying order to snatch several Perfect Pairs.

July SOTM: Live Out Loud

Beautiful Stamps, Amazing Discounts ~ Each month you can enjoy a new D-size stamp set, available for one month only, for just $5—that’s over 70% off retail! When you place an order of $50 or more in Close To My Heart products, you qualify for this special SOTM pricing.

DIY: Custom Baker's Twine Tutorial

This is an awesome tutorial from JoAnne at Oh Goodie Designs. It's even featured on the Martha Stewart craft site, so I had to share. I love making my own embellishments, and the ability to custom coordinate with a project is a crafter's dream. Photos and step-by-step instuctions below.

supplies:

 plain cotton thread (#10 crochet cotton works well)

markers (red & blue shown)

2 rulers

tape

Tape one end of the cotton thread to the underside of your ruler.

Start wrapping the cotton thread firmly around the ruler.

Wrap the layers right next to each other with no overlap.

Continue wrapping until you reach the end of your thread.

Attach the end of the thread to the ruler with tape.

Starting at one corner of the ruler, begin to draw a diagonal line across the rows of thread.

I used a 2nd ruler (or straight-edge) to help guide my marker and keep my lines straight.

  Press the marker firmly down and draw the line slowly.

You want the ink to saturate the cotton thread on both sides.

  Move a 1/2 inch down or up, and draw another diagonal line parallel to the first.

Continue drawing spaced diagonal lines until the whole side is covered.

Flip the ruler over, and do the same.

Let it dry until the ink does not smear when touched.

Once dry, unwind and enjoy your homemade, custom-colored baker’s twine!

Summertime Photo Scavenger Hunt

I stumbled up Rinda Ontivero's second annual "Summertime Photo Scavenger Hunt " and decided to join. Since I've started taking my camera bag with me everywhere (so as not to miss those everyday shots), this should be fun. I printed the list and need to laminate it for durability throughout the summer. Love having my scrap supplies on hand for other purposes!

2012 Photography Scavenger Hunt List

1.    A pier
2.    A clothesline
3.    A border
4.    A roadside stand selling something
5.    A train
6.    A historical landmark
7.    A person playing a musical instrument
8.    A person dressed as an angel or a statue of an angel
9.    A fountain

10.  A horse

11.   A shadow

12.   A maze, labyrinth, or trail.

13.   A library

14.   A person playing with a ball.

15.   Someone dancing.

16.   A bride.

17.   A church, chapel, cathedral, mosque or temple.

18.   A movie poster

19.   An outdoor stairway

20.   A swing hanging from a tree (or a hammock)
21.   A picture of you standing with something that symbolizes your nation

Thought for the day ...

Love the phrase ... and the tile/coaster. Definitely need to lift this project. 

Color Ready Seam Binding Ribbon

Make this pretty, soft white Color-Ready seam binding ribbon a stunning color to match your layouts, cards, and home décor projects. Our Close To My Heart expert shows you how easy it is to do.

Summer Manifesto

According to Wikipedia, a manifesto is a public declaration of principles and intentions, often political in nature. Manifestos relating to religious belief are generally referred to as creeds. Manifestos may also be life stance-related.

Inspired by an Ali Edwards blog post, I decided to create my own Summer Manifesto. It's a combination of things I want to accomplish, as well as experiences I want to share with the family. What are your summer plans?

~ Uno Championship on autotrain to FL

~  swim with the dolphins at Discovery Cove
~ tons of campfire banana melts & hobo pies 

~  family movie night at a drive-in

~  discover & conquer new bike trails

~  collect 2 National Park Passport stamps

~  go raspberry & blackberry picking

~  enjoy delicious meals from our garden

~  eat lots of Amy's cucumber sandwiches

~  learn to can (enjoy our harvest year-round)

~  crab-stuffed mushrooms from summer catch

~ family board games on the deck
~ create homestead notebook
~ lunch at a Sonic Drive-In

~ scrapbook name banners

~  learn to french braid
~ ride Rebel

Go knit something ...

CTMH's June Stamp of the Month: Life is Tweet

Beautiful Stamps, Amazing Discounts: Life is Tweet

Each month you can enjoy a new D-size stamp set, available for one month only, for just $5—that’s over 70% off retail! When you place an order of $50 or more in Close To My Heart products, you qualify for this special Stamp of the Month pricing.

Stampaganza!

Fabulous stamp images for your cards, scrapbook pages, banners and more can be yours FREE in June. For every two My Acrylix stamp sets* (sizes A, B, C, D or E) you purchase at full retail price, you'll receive a third stamp set of your choice FREE* (of equal or lesser value) - a savings of up to $29.95 per set!

Browse CTMH's stamp sets here. Place your order, including your FREE set(s), here.

* The following do not count as a qualifying purchase and are not available as a free set: customizable (K-size), Workshops On The Go, Cricut Collection and Stamp Of The Month sets. Offer value June1-30, 2012. Tax and shipping/handling may apply. The lowest priced set(s) in the entire order will be the free set(s).