Inky Fingers

Here's a peek at next month's featured paper!

2012-02-20T11:57:00.000-05:00

Next month I'll be featuring the new paper pack, Stella, at my classes and gatherings so be sure to check out the classes tab here on the blog and "Like" my Facebook page so that you receive all the up-to-date information on what I'm offering! My Facebook page can be found by entering Karen Barber - Close To My Heart Independent Consultant in the search box!

Enjoy these Stella offerings:

Dino-mite Scrapbook Pages: Project Inspiration Spring/Summer 2012 Idea Book

2012-02-13T12:59:00.001-05:00

Check out this incredibly clever video from Close To My Heart on how to get multiple uses of your stamps! Enjoy!

Florentine Cards

2012-02-09T10:06:00.000-05:00

Here are 2 more cards and a bookmark made with Florentine! Note the ribbon rose on the first card - I'll be teaching that at my classes this month (check out the schedule under the Classes tab at the top). Also, I just love our new Pewter Badge Buttons - just peel the back off and stick to your project! Click on the link to see them up close and personal on my website. On the bookmark, I love the way you can get a multi-color flower - simply stamp an outline image on your background & texture paper, cut out and adhere to your project - what could be simpler, yet so elegant.

New Studio J Layouts!

2012-02-05T17:11:00.000-05:00

Last month I took advantage of our Studio J special to complete 10 layouts (buy 9 get one free - $12.95 value) and thought I would share a couple of them with you....like most of you I do love paper scrapbooking and can never see myself switching over to digital completely! I feel the digital scrapbooking perfectly complements my paper pages. It is really useful when I only want to do 2 pages of a certain event, etc. and don't want to have to buy more paper than I really need. The other advantage is that with Studio J, I have access to paper designs that have long been retired as well as all the current paper designs!

This month is a perfect opportunity to try Studio J if you have not already - when you purchase a Studio J 5-pack (5 2-page layouts) for $55, you get a second 5-pack for free!! So that is 10 2-page layouts for $55! Plus Studio J is completely free to try out - click on the Studio J logo to the right and then the Studio J link on the left of my website and it will walk you through setting up an account and get you started creating your very own layouts. There is no cost to just play around with it...you only need make a purchase if you are happy with your layout and want to buy it! If you'd like me to help you get started, I'd be happy to meet with you in person at either my house or yours and get you set up. Simply contact me and we'll set up a mutually convenient time!

I'll have some more layouts to share with you throughout the month as well as so more Florentine samples so keep checking back!

Paper Trail Blog Hop - Anything Goes!

2012-01-31T21:00:00.000-05:00

Welcome back to the Paper Trail blog hop! February 1st launches our beautiful new Spring/Summer catalog! Isn't the cover just beautiful....makes you want to dive right in!

This month our artists will be displaying projects made with any papers they choose - they could be new papers from the new catalog or one of their favorites from the fall/winter book! Whichever they choose, I'm sure you'll be delighted as always with the creative art these ladies have to share with you. If you've arrived here from Connie's blog, you're in the right spot.....

For my projects this month, I chose to focus on our new Florentine papers.....here is a sample of the background & texture papers included in the pack:

For this card I used the die cut cards (Z1473) for the base and added some of our new Color Ready ribbon (Z1732) that I sponged with the Goldrush, Twilight and Cocoa Inks. The sentiment is from our new February Stamp of the Month. One of our new Pewter Badge Buttons (Z1704) finished off the card.

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I created the next card using the Art Philosophy Cricut Cartridge and made a cut-out card out of the Background & Texture paper. I stamped a border stamp in olive across the top and the embellishments are the new Paradise Paper Flowers (Z1710) and one of the new Garden Wooden Shapes (Z1718).

Here's another card that uses Background & Texture paper as the base, plus I added a piece of the zip strip, a shape cut from the AP cartridge with a sentiment from the February Stamp of the Month, color ready ribbon and a pewter badge button.

For my last card, I made a 6x6 card using colonial white as a base then added a piece of the Background & Texture paper that I had trimmed out of a leftover scrap piece, stamped an image from the February Stamp of the Month, added a Garden Wooden Shape and a Pewter Badge Button to complete the look.

I hope you enjoyed your visit to my blog...please stop by later this month as I will be posting more artwork using the Florentine papers....now hop over to Terri's blog and see what she's got going on! I'm sure it will be stunning as always!

Its a Winter Wonderland!

2012-01-16T11:05:00.006-05:00

I thought you might enjoy these additional layouts using the Wonderland papers! These were created by the CTMH art department.

January Paper Trail - Its a Wonderland!

2012-01-02T17:50:00.000-05:00

Welcome to this month's Paper Trail! If you've hopped over from Linda's blog, you're in the right spot! This month I used Wonderland to create a two page layout celebrating Christmas throughout the years. I decided to skip stamping this month and simply used the coordinating My Stickease; Top Coats Icing Overlays, Clear Sparkles, chocolate striped grosgrain ribbon and Rhinestone Designer Brads.

I hope you've enjoyed my offering this month....hop on over to Mary's blog to see what she's got in store for you this month! And be sure to come back next month when we'll be featuring papers from the new Spring/Summer catalog!! Happy New Year and many blessings to all of you in the coming new year!

Wonderland Kit - Creating Your Own Border

2011-12-21T06:00:00.000-05:00

Here's a new video from Close To My Heart on how to create your own border in Studio J! Check it out!

If you haven't played with Studio J yet, did you know its free to create an account and try it out? Just click on the Studio J logo on the right side of my blog and have fun!! Let me know if you have any questions....for those of you who think you would never do digital scrapbooking, just give it a try! I love to mix and match my paper and digital layouts in my album....everything coordinates and most people can't even tell my digital layouts from my paper ones!

Roxie Card

2011-12-18T07:00:00.000-05:00

Use our Roxie papers to create this cute card!

Materials Needed

My Acrylix® Love Life
Desert Sand Exclusive Inks® Pad
Smoothie Exclusive Inks® Pad
2 – Just Blooms® Butterflies
Sponge

Paper Dimensions

Base		5 1/2" × 8 1/2" Smoothie Floral B&T Duos® Paper
A		4" × 3" Colonial White Cardstock
B		2 1/4" × 2 1/4" Plaid B&T Duos® Paper
C		2" Circle Colonial White Cardstock

Helpful Hints

To create the card as shown, follow the helpful hints as outlined. For more detailed information on how to assemble the featured card, refer to the Wishes: Geometric™ pattern on page 124.

Stamp images with Smoothie ink on C.
Stamp sentiment with Smoothie ink and flourish with Desert Sand ink on bottom third of A.
Sponge edges of all papers and two butterflies with Desert Sand ink.
Assemble card according to pattern on page 124. For added dimension, use 3-D foam tape as desired.
Attach two butterflies.
If desired, cut a 5 1/4" × 4" piece of Colonial White piece of cardstock and add it to the inner right side of the card.

The Inspired Home

2011-12-15T06:00:00.000-05:00

Ah, home sweet home, where we get to decorate to our heart’s delight! Add these beautiful DIY dècor pieces to your home to live inspired every day. We’ve chosen a sleek color scheme of Grey Flannel, Black, and White Daisy, with a pop of Pear, and we used the graphic flowers from the My Acrylix^® Dreamin’ Workshop set to add subtle texture to the White Daisy paper in the desk calendar and art canvas. Here are a few hints for you as you create these chic projects.

Desk Calendar

Create the triangular base of this calendar by folding a 12" × 12" piece of chipboard at the 3" and 7 1/2" marks.
Insert three pins from the Bling assortment (Z1466) and clip the sharp ends if they protrude too much. (Tip: You can use hot glue on the back to anchor the pins.)
Cut twelve 3 1/2" scalloped squares from Pear cardstock using the shape on the Cricut^® Art Philosophy cartridge (Z1686) and sponge the edges with Pear ink.
Cut twelve 3 1/2" squares from Grey Flannel cardstock and sponge edges with Grey Flannel ink.
Use the 3" chipboard squares from the My Creations^® memory game (Z1614) for the date tiles. Stamp the background flower pattern in second generation using Grey Flannel ink and then stamp the month or numbers with black StazOn^® ink. Sponge the edges with Grey Flannel ink. (Tip: Stamp two of numbers 1 and 2. Stamp one each of numbers 3 – 9 and 0.)
Back each month and date tile with the 24 pieces of cardstock and then punch a hole in the top for easy hanging.

Art Canvas

Cut a piece of cardstock to the size of your canvas. (Tip: Do all your stamping and inking first before attaching the cardstock to the canvas.)
Select four or five alphabet stamp sets, varying the size and styles. (Tip: You can create this “subway art” look with whatever alphabet sets you have on hand.)
Choose a few simple icon stamps to fill in empty areas.
Play around with the placement and spacing of the letters and icons before stamping.
Stamp the words and icons with black StazOn^® ink.
Attach the finished cardstock piece using a thin coat of Mod Podge applied to the canvas.

Vase

Cut out 130 2" scalloped circles from Grey Flannel cardstock using the shape on the Cricut^® Art Philosophy cartridge (Z1686) or by punching the circles using the 2" scallop circle punch (Z1392).

Staple the circles together in stacks of five.

Squeeze and scrunch the edges then adhere two stapled sets together on the flat sides to create a spherical shape.

Sponge edges with Grey Flannel ink if desired.
Place the finished flowers inside a glass carafe or vase.
Wrap Sweet Leaf ribbon from the Designer Ribbon green collection (Z1616) around the neck of the vase to accent.

Timesaving Gift Ideas!

2011-12-12T06:30:00.000-05:00

The gift-giving season can be an uplifting time of merriment and joy... but it can also feel a bit hectic. It’s nice to know you can count on Studio J® to help you give meaningful gifts that don’t require a lot of time or money. Here are a few ideas to simplify your life and save time for both the giver and the receiver.

•Make one family layout and print multiple copies for everyone. (Time: 15–45 minutes) With Studio J, printing extra copies of a layout is as simple as changing the quantity on the checkout screen. Or, if you prefer, create one layout, then copy it into a new project as many times as you like and customize it for each recipient.

•Give a Studio J 5-pack along with a Quick Pic™ album. (Time: 5 minutes) Since a 5-pack includes free layouts, free shipping, and free Memory Protectors®, it’s everything they’ll need to create a finished album!

•Present a loved one with a 3-month Studio J membership. (Time: 5 minutes) A 3-month membership costs just $30 and is the perfect way to help someone “get their feet wet” with Studio J and give them complete access to a product you love. Combine it with a 5-pack to make it an extra-special stocking stuffer!

•Give a gift certificate for one-on-one Studio J training. (Time: 35 minutes) With Studio J, you can create two 2-page layouts in just 30 minutes. Give a gift certificate for a 30-minute session of one-one-one training with me where I will help them create two layouts. Once I've shown them how fast and easy it is to scrapbook the Studio J way, they’ll be excited to create more pages on their own!

So put on the holiday music, pour yourself some eggnog, and pull out your holiday gift list. Studio J is a great way to help you give the gift of memories—without taking much time!

Click on the Studio J button on the right to help you get started!

Holiday Tag Assortment!

2011-12-09T10:09:00.001-05:00

Check out this handy video from Close To My Heart about making holiday tags!

Let me know if you have any questions about how you can simplify your tag making!

December Paper Trail Blog Hop!

2011-11-30T21:00:00.000-05:00

Its that time of the month again!! Time for more paper creations from the talented artists in the Paper Trail Blog Hop! If you've hopped over from Vicki's blog, you're on the right trail.

This month we've brought you creations using the Roxie Papers. Here is the paper included in the kit:

For my offering this month, I made what I call a Handkerchief card - I got the pattern from my mom who is one of the extremely talented CTMH consultants on my team! My card is accented with some of the black ribbon from the Mini Medley Accent Collection and the paper medallion is dressed up with one of the buttons from the Bling Assortment. I confess I did use a border punch that is not CTMH but only because we don't carry one in this type of pattern!

Here is the card when opened:

And here is an up-close photo of the medallion on the front:

I hope you enjoyed my offering for this month! Now hop on over to Lynne's blog to see what she's made for you this round.....join us back here on January 1st when the Paper Trail will be featuring projects made with Wonderland papers. In the meantime, have a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Thanksgiving Card Idea

2011-11-16T06:30:00.001-05:00

Create a multi–layered stamp image using the base and shade technique and our new My Acrylix^® So Grateful stamp set. As you can see on this video, it's as easy as pumpkin pie—and will look great on your Thanksgiving dinner invitations and cards.

Rock the Block Promotion from December 19th-January 31st!

2011-11-14T14:44:00.000-05:00

Join the craze! When you place a minimum order of $25 from the Autumn/Winter 2011 Idea Book between December 19, 2011 and January 31, 2012, you can get two new products for just $15: the My Creations® Collage Cubes (a Spring/Summer 2012 sneak-peek product!) and the exclusive My Acrylix® Rock the Block E-size stamp set (available only during this promotion). That’s a retail savings of almost $30!

You’re going to love the way the collage cubes and the Rock the Block stamp set work together for interactive, 3-D fun. Watch this video to get more details from Kristine Widtfeldt, Vice President of Sales and Marketing.

November Paper Trail Blog Hop!

2011-10-31T21:00:00.019-04:00

Welcome to the Paper Trail Blog Hop! If you've hopped over from Pam's blog, welcome! This month we're offering up projects created with the Dreamin papers....love these colors! I thought they coordinated perfectly with pictures of our chocolate lab puppy, Brodie. Although he's grown quite a bit since these pictures, this layout reminds us of how tiny he was when we first brought him home and how he has worked his way into our hearts. I chose to accent my pages with a bit of the Bronze Glitz Glitter Gel and also used the Dreamin My Stickease, the stamp set "Unscripted" and the Antiqued Copper Brads.

I hope this will inspire you to try Dreamin for your own layout! Now, hop on over to Lynne's blog to see what she has cooked up for you. Be sure to check back next month for new projects using our Roxie papers on the Paper Trail Blog Hop!

6" × 6" Christmas Tree Greetings Card

2011-10-25T07:00:00.004-04:00

Use the October Stamp of the Month - Holiday Magic - to create this elegant holiday card...

Materials Needed:
S1110 My Acrylix® Holiday Magic
X7141B Elemental Level 2 Paper Packet
X5912 Dark Neutral Cardstock Shade Pack
Z1482 Silver Glitz™ Glitter Gel
Z1489 Mini-Medley Accents Olive Collection
1388 Colonial White Cardstock
Z2114 Cocoa Exclusive Inks® Pad
Z2137 Olive Exclusive Inks® Pad

To create this artwork, follow the helpful hints outlined below and the assembly instructions found on page 96 of our how-to book Originals®.

On Bamboo card base, stamp snowflake in third generation with Cocoa ink; accent with glitter gel and set aside to dry

On 3 1/2" × 3" Colonial White cardstock, stamp sleigh runners in second generation with Cocoa ink

On 3" × 3 3/4" Colonial White cardstock accent, stamp and trim the following, trimming only the top portion of the script Christmas tree and discarding the remainder:

Christmas trees in first and second generation with Olive ink tree trunks in first and second generation with Cocoa ink Scissor-distress edges of all papers

Attach cut-out stamped images to stamped Colonial White cardstock, using 3-D foam tape as desired; stamp “Greetings” sentiment with Cocoa ink and wrap finished piece with Olive ribbon

Assemble card according to pattern on page 96 of Originals, using 3-D foam tape as desired

Enjoy!!

Buttoned Up Card Set

2011-10-21T07:00:00.003-04:00

Lovely, chunky, fashion-forward bling turns your cards from charming to super-fantabulous. Learn the WOW techniques in this how-to video from Close To My Heart, and then send holiday cards that people will be talking about into the New Year!

Pillow Box

2011-10-12T14:19:00.000-04:00

This cute little gift box is one of the items we're making at my fall parties over the next month or so. It features our Elemental papers and a couple of items cut from our new Art Philosophy Cricut cartridge...let me know if you'd like to host a party for your friends and earn some free product while learning how to make this cute little project!

October Stamp of the Month - 12x12 Layout - Santa's Little Helpers

2011-10-06T09:50:00.001-04:00

Here's a fun project created by the CTMH Art Department showcasing our October Stamp of the Month - Holiday Magic!

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.

In love with the artwork we created with this stamp set? Get ready to make it yourself! Purchase the materials listed here along with your deeply discounted Stamp of the Month set to get started!

Materials Needed:

S1110 My Acrylix® Holiday Magic
X7141B Elemental Level 2 Paper Packet
X5912 Dark Neutral Cardstock Shade Pack
Z1482 Silver Glitz™ Glitter Gel
Z1489 Mini-Medley Accents Olive Collection
Z1096 Embroidery Floss Neutral Assortment

Required Tools you may already have on hand:
1388 Colonial White Cardstock
Z2105 Black Exclusive Inks® Pad
Z2114 Cocoa Exclusive Inks® Pad
Z2116 Cranberry Exclusive Inks® Pad
Z2137 Olive Exclusive Inks® Pad
Z1395 Irresistibles™ Eclectic Alphabet
Z1096 Embroidery Floss Neutral Assortment
Z1114 Piercing Tool Kit
Z697 Sponge
Z341 Mini Glue Dots®
Z1151 3-D Foam Tape
Y1000 1" × 1" My Acrylix® Block
Y1002 1" × 3 1/2" My Acrylix® Block
Y1009 2" × 3 1/2" My Acrylix® Block

To create this artwork, follow the helpful hints outlined below and the assembly instructions found on page 116 of our how-to book Magic™.

•Use cutting diagrams on page 116 of Magic™ to cut papers
•On 3 3/4" × 6 1/2" Colonial White cardstock accent, stamp and trim images; accent with glitter gel as desired and set aside to dry

•snowflake stocking with Cranberry ink

•polka-dot stocking top with Olive ink

•script Christmas trees with Olive ink

•tree trunks with Cocoa ink

•“Celebrate” sentiment with Cocoa ink

•Sponge surface of desired Irresistibles™ title letters with Cranberry ink

•Write or print title on 1" × 3" Colonial White cardstock accent and journaling on 1 3/4" × 5 1/2" Colonial White cardstock accent; pierce hole in title and thread with Cocoa embroidery floss

•Sponge edges of all papers, photos, and chipboard letters with Cocoa ink

•Assemble layout according to pattern on page 117 of Magic, using 3-D foam tape as desired

•Stitch border with Cocoa embroidery floss

•Stamp sleigh runner image with Cocoa ink as desired; trace with glitter gel and set aside until dry

•Attach cut-out stamped images with 3-D foam tape as desired

•Embellish, threading buttons with Colonial White embroidery floss as desired

Paper Trail Blog Hop - October!

2011-09-30T21:00:00.003-04:00

Hi Everyone - If you've hopped over from Terri's blog, you're in the right spot. This month we're playing with the new paper pack called Believe. So I hope our creations inspire you to try this paper for your artwork!

This month I've been creating some simple, easy cards for my customers to make at my Christmas card workshops...I usually hold a couple of these over the next couple of months and its a great opportunity for my customers to create some handmade cards that can be easily made in multiples. You'll notice that these cards use just a bit of bling with our Sparkles and some of the new Red Glitz Glitter Gel. Note that on the second card, I left the zip strip attached to the paper and incorporated it into the design (thanks Linda T. for that idea!).

I hope you've enjoyed this little Christmas card sampler...now hop on over to the blog of my team member, Connie, to see what she's got going on! See you next month on the Paper Trail.....

3 1/2" × 4" Save the Date Card - September SOTM - Limited Edition

2011-09-19T07:00:00.001-04:00

To create this artwork, follow the helpful hints outlined below:

•Use the Cricut® Art Philosophy cartridge to cut paper as follows:

•4" Card (p. 24) Honey cardstock

•3/4" Font + Shift (p. 67) Honey cardstock

•2" (p. 44) Colonial White cardstock

•3 1/2" Font (p. 69) Barn Red cardstock

•Use paper trimmer to cut paper as follows:

•2 3/4" × 2 1/2" Barn Red cardstock

•Stamp images as desired using Cocoa and Barn Red inks

•Sponge edges of all papers and canvas badge button with Cocoa ink

•Starting from outside edge, roll Barn Red spiral flower in on itself and use Liquid Glass to secure

•Assemble card using 3-D foam tape as desired

•Embellish as desired

Congratulations Tag & Gift Boxes

2011-09-12T07:00:00.001-04:00

To create this artwork, follow the helpful hints outlined below:

•Use the Cricut® Art Philosophy cartridge to cut paper as follows:

•3 1/2" (p. 60) Colonial White cardstock

•9 3/4" Font Layer + Shift (p. 21) Barn Red cardstock

•11" Font Layer + Shift (p. 21) Juniper cardstock

•Stamp images as desired using Cocoa, Barn Red, and Juniper inks

•Sponge edges of all papers with Cocoa ink

•Embellish tag as desired

•Assemble gift boxes, wrapping each with ribbon as desired and attaching tag to top box

With the new Stamp of the Month program, you can get the set for $5 with a $50 purchase!

September Stamp of the Month - Limited Edition

2011-09-09T09:47:00.001-04:00

Here's a cute idea created by the Close To My Heart Art Department for a little calendar of fun ideas for family activities. Enjoy!

To create this artwork, follow the helpful hints outlined below.

•Use the Cricut® Art Philosophy cartridge to cut paper as follows:

•7 1/2" Font Layer + Shift (p. 25) Autumn Terracotta cardstock (for Doorhanger pouch)

•1" (p. 55) Colonial White cardstock (for focal piece on front of doorhanger)

•5 – 3 1/2" (p. 60) ledger B&T (for inside tags)

•Stamp images as desired using Cocoa, Barn Red, and Juniper inks

•Sponge edges of all papers with Cocoa ink

•Assemble door hanger, attaching stamped plaque with 3-D foam tape

•Embellish with ribbon as desired

Paper Trail Blog Hop -September Sonoma!

2011-08-31T22:00:00.009-04:00

If you've hopped over from Mary's blog - welcome!! This month our group is featuring projects from the Sonoma paper packet - boy, is this paper just beautiful!

This month I created a 5x7 card using Sonoma, the Sweet Moments stamp set, and our new Just Blooms Paper Shapes which I sponged with Smokey Plum ink. Notice that the little cameo shape is cut out using our new Cricut Art Philosophy cartridge...so, so simple! I had to make 8 of these cards for a swap so having this shape cut out with the Cricut sure made my work faster, simpler and easier!

My next offering is one of our new 6x6 Quick Pic Albums in the Olive color. I created 8 layouts using just 2 sheets of Bamboo cardstock, one sheet of the B&T paper, the zip strip and a few miscellaneous pieces of Colonial White cardstock. I featured the September Stamp of the Month - Limited Edition and the Mocha Opaques for a bit of embellishment. The two tags were created using the Cricut Art Philosphy cartridge. I think these would make a great gift and you could get several albums out of one paper pack with just the addition of a couple of sheets of Colonial White cardstock. I am offering this little album as a class at my September crop on the 24th! Enjoy!

Here is the front of the album....

The title page...the title was made with a piece of the zip strip border.

And the inside pages....

The tag on this page was made with the Cricut Art Philosophy cartridge and the September SOTM

The "Love" element is a piece of the zip strip...

And the last page...

Thanks for stopping by this month...be sure to check in on October 1st for a whole new set of projects featuring yet another new paper pack! Now hop on over to Linda's blog and see what she has in store for you!

Quick Halloween Card!

2011-08-28T12:05:00.002-04:00

Here is a quick little Halloween card idea for you!

Supply List:

1388 Colonial White Cardstock
x7144B Michief Level 2 Paper Packet
Z1263 Clear Sparkles
C1462 My Acrylix® All Hallows Eve (or another favorite Halloween set)
Z2105 Black Exclusive Inks® Pad
Z697 Sponge

Paper Dimensions:
Base 4 3/4" × 6" Stripe B&T Duos® Paper (Finished card size is 4 3/4" x 3")
A 1" × 3" Damask B&T Duos® Paper
B 3" × 2" Colonial White Cardstock
Accent 3" Zip Strip from B&T Duos® Paper

The pattern used is from Originals: Right Spotlight® on page 29.

Stamp sentiment and images with Black ink on B.

Sponge edges of all papers with Black ink.

Fold base in half w/fold on left side. Attach piece A to card front placing it 1 3/4" from top, keeping side edges flush. Attach piece B to card front placing it 3/4" from the top and 1/4" from right edge.
For added dimension, use 3-D foam tape, as desired.

Attach three Sparkles accents.

If desired, cut a 4 1/2" × 2 3/4" piece of Colonial White cardstock and add it to the inside of the card for your sentiment and message.

Save Your Summer Memories!

2011-08-25T10:15:00.000-04:00

Close To My Heart has created some wonderful videos to walk you through creating a digital scrapbook layout using our Studio J software. Check out this video which contains some great ideas for creating a fun layout for your summer memories!

To play with Studio J for free, simply go to the Studio J box on the right of my blog, create an account and follow the steps to create your own summer layout! With Studio J there is no software to download to your computer and it contains lots of paper choices (both current and retired) and layout ideas. If you have any questions about how to use Studio J, the membership options or how to access it, let me know!

New Cricut Art Philosophy Cartridge!

2011-08-12T11:30:00.000-04:00

Ok, I admit I did not have a Cricut until very recently...I just couldn't justify the expense because the images that I could get on other cartridges did not always coordinate with what I was trying to make with Close To My Heart products....well our new Fall/Winter catalog has changed that! We now carry an exclusive CTMH Cricut cartridge! My Cricut machine and my new cartridge came this week and I've been having some fun with this baby!!

I'll get some of my items photographed and up on the blog soon but in the meantime, here is just a sample of the 700 images you get on the Art Philosophy cartridge:

Plus, the cartridge comes bundled with 3 stamp sets and 3 sets of Dimensional Elements (value $68.70) as shown here so you have images you can use to decorate your shapes once you've cut them out! And many of the new stamp sets in our catalog now have corresponding shapes on the cartridge so no more painstaking trimming!

Here is a sample of some artwork done with the Cricut....do you love the beautiful flowers??

Don't forget there are two specials in August that you can combine between 8/15-8/31 and receive 3 additional stamp sets for free! Check out the Extra Extra! special and the National Stamping Month Special on the right of the blog....e-mail me or call if you have any questions about how to make this work for you!

August Stamp of the Month!

2011-08-04T08:03:00.000-04:00

With the launch of our new Fall/Winter Idea Book, the Stamp of the Month program is now Faster, Simpler and Easier! Purchase the set for $17.95 OR place a $50 order and get the set for $5.00! Easy peasy! Check out the set on the right side of my blog....PLUS during the month of August only, when you place a $50 order and purchase the Stamp of the Month for $5, you’ll receive the My Acrylix® A Typeface bonus A-size set FREE (retail value $6.95)! Think of it as two promotions in one—qualify for and purchase the discounted August Stamp of the Month set, and we’ll throw in a second stamp set FREE! It’s Extra! Extra! Here is the A Typeface set:

Plus, CTMH has provide some great projects to make with your set, including a list of items needed and directions! Here is a picture of the ideas...

Here is a shopping list:

S1108 My Acrylix® Wicked
X7144B Mischief Level 2 Paper Packet
X5913 Light Neutral Cardstock Shade Pack
Z1487 Mini-Medley Accents Pewter Collection
Z1335 Opaques Licorice Adhesive Gems
Z282 Black Hemp
Z1647 My Creations® Card Box

Required Tools (or things you might already have on hand)

Z2105 Black Exclusive Inks® Pad
Z2111 Chocolate Exclusive Inks® Pad
Z2191 Sunset Exclusive Inks® Pad
Z2305 Black Exclusive Inks® Marker
E1016 My Acrylix® Friendship Alphabet Large
Z1311 1 1/4" Circle Punch
Z1114 Piercing Tool Kit
Z697 Sponge
Z341 Mini Glue Dots®
Z1151 3-D Foam Tape
Y1002 1" × 3 1/2" My Acrylix® Block
Y1009 2" × 3 1/2" My Acrylix® Block
Y1010 2" × 6 1/2" My Acrylix® Block
Y1012 4" × 5" My Acrylix® Block

Directions for Treat Box:
Cut paper as follows:

2 – 4 1/4" × 6 1/4" orange B&T
6 1/4" × 6 1/4" orange B&T
2 – 2" × 4 1/4" orange B&T
2" × 6 1/4" orange B&T
1" × 6 1/4" orange B&T
2 – 2" × 4 1/4" stripe B&T
2 – 2" × 6 1/4" stripe B&T
1" × 6 1/4" stripe B&T
2" × 6 1/2" Desert Sand cardstock
2 – 1/4" × 12" black netting B&T
2 – 1/2" × 6" Colonial White B&T, scored at every 1/4"
3/8" × 7" black damask B&T, scored at every 1/4"

Trim two labels from label B&T

Stamp images as desired on B&T papers

Stamp title with Black ink on 2" × 6 1/2" Desert Sand cardstock; trim

Sponge edges of all papers with Black ink

Color edges of seams on card box with Black marker

Accordion-fold Colonial White B&T and black damask B&T pieces and attach ends to create rosettes; trim prongs from three brads and attach to centers of rosettes

Attach orange and stripe B&T pieces to interior and exterior of box

Wrap two black netting B&T pieces around box, attaching so that ends overlap

Embellish card box as desired

Create faux stitching border with Black marker around box top

Attach title using 3-D foam tape

If you'd like to make the cards featured in the picture, click here for directions!

If you'd like to receive notice of when I update my blog, enter your e-mail address in the Follow By Email box to the right!

August Paper Trail Blog Hop - Anything Goes!

2011-07-31T22:00:00.040-04:00

If you've hopped over from Lynne's blog - welcome to this month's Paper Trail blog hop. This month we were allowed to use any paper from the new catalog or one of the patterns that are carrying over from the Spring/Summer catalog (Sophia, Lucky, Mayberry and Fanfare). I have a mix of items to offer up!

The first item is a Journal I made and gave as a gift to each of my first downline at Convention - I used the Fanfare papers with sparkles and Cranberry ribbon to decorate - these little journals are in the CTMH catalog and are super simple to keep on hand to decorate as a quick gift - the insert into the plastic pocket is the same size as a 5x7 card so its easy to simply make a card front, slip it in the pocket and its ready to go!

My first layout uses Fanfare plus the super cute stamp set "Dreams" which we were given as gift at the Awards Dinner during the CTMH 2011 Convention - the set includes a couple of Walt Disney sayings plus images that will inspire many Disney-themed pages for years to come! Love the gifts CTMH showers on us at Convention each year! The layout itself is the pattern from the Fanfare Workshop on the Go and I embellished it with the Blue Button Assortment, waxy flax and some scallops created with the Scallop Punch.

I just got a new camera this weekend (after mine took a dunk on Splash Mountain while I was at Disneyland for Convention!) so I'm still playing with it a bit. I've included shots of each side of the layout so you can hopefully see the details a bit better!

Next, I created a layout using our new Dreamin papers from the Fall/Winter catalog - I'll be featuring these papers at my August classes so check out the calendar to the right to see when you can join me in making some items with this fun paper. I used the new Antique Copper Brads, Bronze Glitter Gel and the new Unscripted (C1465) stamp set to decorate the pages. See the little banners on the left side of the layout? Those are words cut from the new zip strip that has been added to all our B&T papers! While the CTMH logo information is on one side of the strip, the other is a cute border that you can add to your pages - I love that you can use these and they don't get thrown away!

For my last offering, I have included a card that I made for a Stamp of the Month swap to which I belong. It uses the cute August Stamp of the Month called Wicked and I used the new Mischief paper. Again I incorporated the zip strip from the B&T paper into my card - I used the broom image in the set to create the little black "grassy" border at the bottom of the card and the hat image is paper pieced using Sunset ink. I finished the card with the black button brads from the Black Mini Medley Collection.

I hope you've enjoyed my offerings for this month....be sure to stop back often to see more new goodies from the Fall/Winter Close To My Heart Idea Book! If you go to the "Follow By Email" button on the right side of my blog and provide your e-mail address, you'll receive an e-mail notice whenever I post something new! Now, hop on over to Vicki's blog and see what she's got cookin'!

2011 Convention Highlights

2011-07-25T22:05:00.000-04:00

What a great week we had at Disneyland including 4 fun-filled days at the CTMH Convention! Enjoy these video highlights and maybe think about joining us next year in Dallas???

Art Philosphy Cricut Cartridge!

2011-07-19T21:05:00.000-04:00

I'm back from Disneyland, the site of the Close To My Heart 2011 Convention! Wow - love our new Idea Book which goes live on August 1st! Here is a taste of one of the fabulous items available in it!

I'm booking parties for August and September and we have 2 great specials - one for each month, so contact me today to book your gathering to see all the new goodies!

July Paper Trail Blog Hop

2011-07-01T20:18:00.000-04:00

If you've arrived from Mary's blog, you're at the right spot! This month we are featuring our Fanfare papers...I used these papers to create two cards for my Birthday Card Class this month. The two cards you see feature Fanfare and the stamp set included in the Workshop On The Go kit for Fanfare...perfectly suited to summertime birthdays! Note the yellow button on one of the cards...this is simply a clear button with a bit of yellow background & texture paper glued to the back of it (I use just a small bit of Liquid Glass), then punch holes through the paper and add waxy flax. A faster, simpler way to create buttons in any color to match your project! The second card takes its pattern from the Workshop on the Go and uses the scallop punch to create the yellow scallop at the bottom of the card.

Here's what you get in a Fanfare paper pack:

And here are my cards:

Now hop on over to Betsy's blog to see what she has to offer this month and be sure to check back with us around August 1st to see something from the new CTMH fall/winter catalog! Also, I'll put the rest of the cards from the birthday card class up in a couple of days so I'll see you back here soon!

Studio J Layout - First Day of School - 11th Grade!

2011-06-23T21:45:00.000-04:00

This is one of my Studio J layouts and it uses papers and a pattern that are available to Studio J members only! The memberships are a great way to go if you have lots of scrapbooking to catch up on because you get free shipping once a month and free page protectors plus free .JPEG files so you can share your layouts on blogs and Facebook. Try it out for free and this month you get one free .JPEG file of your layout. Click here to get started: https://karenbarber.myctmh.com/Retail/StudioJLanding.aspx?PageID=185

Newsprint Rub-Ons!

2011-06-15T10:50:00.000-04:00

Check out this video produced by Close To My Heart! Find out what makes Newsprint rub-ons so easy to apply and fun to use, and then watch as we show you how to create stunning artwork using these rub-ons!

New Studio J Layout

2011-06-10T09:34:00.000-04:00

Here are two more layouts I created on Studio J for a camping trip we took last summer with my brother Todd and we also included Phoebe's friend Amanda...other than a few mishaps setting up our camp (broken tent poles, pulled back muscles and ruined dinner!) and the rather worrisome presence of bears, a fun time was had by all! Don't forget you can click on the photos to seem them in a larger size.

One of the nice things about Studio J is that retired papers are still available - I used Outdoor Adventure papers here which are no longer available in paper format. Plus, if you are a Studio J member, you have access to papers created especially for members along with special layout patterns! And, as a member, you get your layouts for 50% off plus JPEG files, free page protectors and free shipping once a month. Click on this link: https://karenbarber.myctmh.com/Retail/StudioJLanding.aspx?PageId=185 to explore what Studio J has to offer.

Studio J Free For All!

2011-06-07T18:31:00.000-04:00

June is a great time to try Studio J for free! Simply follow this link and it will take you to the Studio J section of my website where you can sign up for a free account and try Studio J digital scrapbooking for free--there is nothing to download and nothing to purchase while you try it out. Follow the steps to upload your pictures and it will walk you through creating a beautiful completed layout! And during the month of June, you can get a free JPG file of your layout which you can then share on the web or have printed.

Here is a layout I created this afternoon in 40 minutes! Stop back by all this month as I will be posting several Studio J layouts that I've created. Enjoy and let me know if you have any questions - I'll be posting some more

June Paper Trail Blog Hop!

2011-06-01T10:51:00.000-04:00

Welcome to the June Paper Trail Blog Hop! If you've hopped over from Lynne's blog, then you're in the right spot.

This month we are playing with the Lucky paper pack. These papers lend themselves to so many themes...I used them for layouts of the Jersey shore, for graduation cards and gifts, for outdoor themes like 4-wheeling, camping and outdoor family fun as well as for masculine layouts celebrating fathers, husbands and sons. My offering this month is one of our display albums...this was inspired by one created by my sister-in-law and fellow consultant Linda T. I chose the Level 2 Stickese and Mocha Opaques to decorate my pages and created a cute graduation gift. But this same album could be used for a Father's Day gift or any number of celebrations! In fact, I'm teaching this as a workshop on June 5th from 3:00-5:00 pm for a fee of $22 so e-mail me today if you'd like to register for that class!

Here is the cover:

And some of the inside pages:

I hope you've enjoyed this month's installment of the Paper Trail blog hop - be sure to check at the beginning of each month for the next installment. Next month we are featuring projects with Fanfare. Now, hop on over to Terri's blog and see what she has in store for you!

10 Things You May Not Know About Memorial Day!

2011-05-27T12:11:00.000-04:00

10 Things You May Not Know About Memorial Day!

10. Memorial Day was originally known as Decoration Day.

9. It was first widely observed on May 30, 1868.

8. Originally, the day was to honor soldiers killed in the Civil War.

7. After World War I, people began to observe and honor those who were killed in all of America's wars.

6. The day was declared a national holiday by Congress in 1971.

5. The birthplace of Memorial Day is Waterloo, New York. The town first celebrated the day on May 5, 1866, by closing businesses, and residents decorated soldiers' graves with flowers.

4. Waterloo was declared Memorial Day's birthplace by President Lyndon Johnson.

3. About 5,000 people attend the Memorial Day ceremony every year at Arlington National Cemetery.

2. Some southern states set aside a special day for honoring the Confederate dead. It's known as (surprise) Confederate Memorial Day.

1. On Memorial Day, a wreath is typically laid at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier by the president or vice president.

Now, go out and celebrate Memorial Day but remember to say a prayer for those soldiers who gave their lives for the life you lead today and for those currently serving our country.

Sophia Cards

2011-05-24T09:40:00.000-04:00

Here are a batch of cards I made using scraps from my Sophia paper pack plus some pink buttons and colonial white waxy flax. The pattern for the flowers came from the blog of Brenda Frerich...she has all sorts of pattern for flowers on her blog and I love her step by step instructions! Here is a link to her blog: http://brendafrerichs.blogspot.com/ I love these flowers because they use our circle punch and our scallop circle punch to create layers for each flower!

The origami butterfly card was inspired by one I saw on the CTMH Consultants Artwork Board by Karen Hardt...I just love the ideas you can get from our family of CTMH consultants!

Mayberry Layout - Happy 50th Anniversary Mom & Dad!

2011-05-17T19:44:00.000-04:00

I had not yet used our Mayberry papers so last week I created this layout (it is the alternative layout from the WOTG) using the Canvas Badge buttons and the circle punch to create the cute scallop border. I thought these colors perfectly completed these family photos taken recently while my parents were in Florida celebrating their 50th Wedding Anniversary! If you click on the links in this paragraph it will take you to more information about the products mentioned. If you'd like to learn how to make the scallop border and/or stamp on canvas badge buttons, e-mail me today to book a class for you and your friends....happy May!

May is National Scrapbooking Month

2011-04-28T11:02:00.005-04:00

See what Close To My Heart has in store for you in May.....contact me learn more about how you can get this great kit during the month of May only!

You’ll be exclaiming “Ooh!” and “Ahhh!” as you watch the National Scrapbooking Month video, which features the classy You & Me kit. See how the elements of the kit work together to create two beautiful layouts!

Simply Sophisticated

2011-04-19T10:18:00.000-04:00

The CTMH Art Department created this wonderful artwork and provided descriptions and step by step instructions for each so I thought I would share it with all of you....one of the perks of being is a consultant is that the company provides us with so much creative inspiration that there is never a shortage of ideas to share! Enjoy!

“Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication,” said Leonardo da Vinci, and who could argue with that great artist? The seeming simplicity of the My Acrylix® Fill In the Blanks stamp set (D1465) is what makes it such a perfect—and perfectly versatile—addition to any stamper’s toolbox!

The words and outline images that make up this set really lend themselves to a variety of looks and techniques. Let’s take a peek at some artwork!

The butterflies on this card are stamped tone-on-tone using the small butterfly image from the Fill In the Blank set, and then we took word stamps and stamped them in first and second generation to create our own patterned paper.

We’ve also used the small butterfly stamp on this layout, but can you guess what other stamp we used from the set? If you guessed “flower,” you’re right! Since our My Acrylix stamps are flexible, we’ve scrunched up the flower stamp in different ways to get these cute cloud images. We stamped them on B&T Duos® paper to give them a subtle pattern.

For this card, we cut out the large butterfly stamp image a few times and then layered it to make it dimensional. Here are the steps so you can make it yourself:

Stamp butterfly with Desert Sand ink on Colonial White cardstock. Using a craft knife, cut along wings, leaving body intact. Mount cardstock piece on Cocoa cardstock and Bamboo B&T paper. Pop up wings using 3-D foam tape.

Stamp butterfly again on Crystal Blue B&T paper. Cut out entire image, omitting body. Mount on Colonial White butterfly using 3-D foam tape.

Stamp butterfly a third time on Sweet Leaf B&T paper. Cut out entire image, including body, and mount on Crystal Blue butterfly with 3-D foam tape.

Accent body with Opaques Mocha adhesive gems.

This card, featured in the Spring/Summer 2011 Idea Book on page 96, also shows the stamping on B&T paper technique. This time we used the bird stamp, and the background pattern is much stronger. To give visual variety, we stamped the bird’s wing on a complementary piece of Grey Wool cardstock. Then, we stamped three different sentiments with Grey Wool ink, then highlighted one of them by stamping over it in Goldrush ink. This brings in a third color and makes the “friends always” sentiment stand out as the main message of the card.

Does this card look familiar, too? It’s also from the Spring/Summer 2011 Idea Book on page 96. Check out the Hollyhock cardstock on the sides. We stamped the flower on it in a repeating pattern to make an abstract, subtle patterned paper. Notice how the petals overlap in various spots? This gives the flower image a whole new look!

And here’s a final technique for you: using the stamp set as a cutting guide for negative space then filling it with a patterned paper to give visual interest. To create the stars you see in this layout, follow these steps:

Stamp three stars on top of your layout, overlapping paper pieces and photos.

Use a craft knife to cut out the center, leaving a 1/8" border, and distress the edges with a stipple brush dipped in Desert Sand re-inker.

Stamp three 2 1/2" × 2 1/2" pieces of Colonial White cardstock with words or phrases, using Cocoa ink and first, second, and third generation.

Attach the cardstock pieces to the back of your layout so the sentiments show through.

Accent each star with a pair of Opaques Mocha adhesive gems to give them even more zing!

Have you created a fun project using the My Acrylix Fill In the Blank set? Send me a photo of your artwork and I'll post it here on my blog plus send you a little giftie as a thank you for sharing!

April Paper Trail Blog Hop!

2011-04-01T09:22:00.000-04:00

Welcome to the April Paper Trail! If you've just come over from Mary's blog, you're in the right spot! This month we used the Bliss paper pack for our creations. While many people may see this paper as useful for weddings and anniversaries (and it is!), I thought the browns went perfectly with pictures of our new chocolate lab puppy, Brodie! So here are some early pictures of him when we picked him out at the kennel and his first few weeks in our home in October. I used the Villa Irresistibles Die Cuts, the Basic Button Assortment, Mocha Opaque Pearls, some Bamboo Waxy Flax and Bohemian Alphabet with Chocolate and Sunset inks to accent my pages.

Now hop on over to Betsy's blog to see what she has to offer....I'm sure you'll love it! Thanks for stopping by and check in with the Paper Trail next month when we'll be featuring Mayberry.

Prom Night Mini Scrapbook

2011-03-30T09:47:00.000-04:00

My mom made this little book for Phoebe's prom pictures....little did she know that Phoebe's dress is almost exactly the same color of blue! The book was made using our 6x6 accordian scrapbook and simply gluing the middle pages together to form a pocket. She then made a tag that will hold additional pictures and which goes in the pocket. She used the Miracle papers and some leftover froms one of our special last year. Love the shabby chic flower and the bling.

Hope for Japan

2011-03-25T11:26:00.000-04:00

Give a little hope to Japan by purchasing an exclusive stamp set for just $5.

Our hearts go out to the victims of the earthquake and tsunami in Japan, and like so many of you, we’re eager to help. And helping has never been easier!

During April, purchase the exclusive “Hope for Japan” A-size stamp set for the special price of only $5 (retail value $7.95) and Close To My Heart will donate 100% of the profits to the American Red Cross efforts in Japan. This beautifully designed stamp set reminds us of how our hearts are hopeful for those who are in need. Contact me at karenbarber@myctmh.com if you would like to order this set!

Offer valid March 24–April 30, 2011. Tax and shipping/handling charges apply. Profits will be donated by Close To My Heart on your behalf to the American Red Cross Japan relief efforts.

Perfect Paper Pinwheels

2011-03-12T11:47:00.000-05:00

The My Acrylix® Miracle Workshop stamp set, exclusively available in the Miracle Workshops on the Go™ kit, includes two stamp images that make it easy for you to create darling pinwheels. Watch this video created by the CTMH Art Department to find out how!

March Paper Trail!

2011-03-03T09:43:00.000-05:00

If you've hopped over from Mary's blog, welcome!! This month we are playing with the new Miracle papers - I just love the colors and patterns in this kit - very versatile.

I hosted a crop this past weekend and sat with my mom and her friends as we made these layouts using one of our True Fit Folios - what a great way to add extra pages/photos to your layout. The folio will go into my page protector facing down with the outside flap outside the page protector. You will simply lift the page and reveal the other 2 pages and then when you turn the page, there is yet another layout on the back. You could also turn the folio so that it slips into your page protector with the opening at the top and you could tuck other memorablia in the folder such as ticket stubs, newspaper clippings, etc. that can then easily be lifted out for viewing.

I embellished my pages with the Miracle My Stickease, Green Button Assortment, Bamboo Waxy Flax and the new Kraft color-ready borders - I just love these new borders - they add just the right touch to your layouts. While I used them as they come out of the package, they can also be inked with our ink pads to match whatever paper you're working with. They come with adhesive so you just peel and stick!

Now hop on over to Betsy's blog and check out what she's done with Miracle...see you next month on the Paper Trail.....

Designer Ribbon Pink Collection

2011-02-16T07:28:00.001-05:00

check out this nice video made by the CTMH Art Department using our new Designer Ribbon!

Paper Trail Blog Hop - Sweetheart Papers!

2011-02-01T07:36:00.000-05:00

Welcome to my blog! If you've arrived from Mary's blog, you're on the right path...this month we've got some creations for you using the new Sweetheart papers from the brand new Spring/Summer CTMH Idea Book! If you'd like a copy of the new Idea Book, be sure to contact your consultant and find out how you can get a copy! This month I created 3 cards using the Sweetheart papers, the new Sweetheart epoxy stickers and some new stamp sets. I hope you enjoy my offerings.....

This first card is the Flap Overlap pattern from the Originals Card Confidence Program and the next 2 pictures show the card with the flap open - I used a piece of velcro to close the flap but you could also incorporate a button and waxy flax as an opener too! See the heart epoxy stickers? Aren't they just darling? The bottom tag that reads "so sweet" is sprayed with paint and reinker using our new spray pen!

The next card uses the Vertical Three pattern from Originals and features some of our new Pink assortment of buttons and the expoxy stickers...note that other than the sentiment at the bottom, there is no stamping on this card! I used the spray pen on the 3 squares for this card too!

This next card is a 6x6 card and makes use of the February Stamp of the Month....love the saying!

Thanks for stopping by my blog this month...The Paper Trail will feature the Miracle papers next month so be sure to stop back and check that out....now hop on over to Betsy's blog....she is one creative lady so I can't wait to see what she's come up with.....

New Wings Paper!

2011-01-20T14:52:00.000-05:00

Here is a Mother's Day card I created for a consultant swap that I am in....I had to use stamps and papers from the new CTMH Spring/Summer Idea Book. Since the only stamp set I had at the time was the new Bohemian Alphabet, I used that! Thank goodness it had some floral images in the set along with the letters! Notice the new black button brads I used for the flower centers and the new pleated black ribbon....all of these items are available now as a special for the month of January! There are still 10 days left to get some of these items on sale during our National Papercrafting Month special - click on the Shop With Me button to the left and check out the details! The new book goes live February 1st and I'm booking parties for February and March right now!

January Stamp of the Month

2011-01-13T14:18:00.000-05:00

Check out this month's Stamp of the Month and some beautiful artwork produced by the CTMH Art Department!

E-mail me today at karenbarber@myctmh.com to learn how you can get this beautiful set!

Paper Trail Blog Hop - Featuring new Wings Paper!

2011-01-01T10:43:00.001-05:00

Welcome to the Paper Trail blog hop for January...if you've hopped over from Erica's blog, you're in the right place! This month we are all featuring the new Wings paper from the CTMH Spring/Summer 2011 catalog. This beautiful paper and coordinating accessories are being released a month early as part of National Papercrafting month. Be sure to contact your consultant this month for some pretty cool discounts available only in January. The colors used in this paper are black, juniper, sweet leaf and vineyard berry. I have a confession to make with this artwork...I did not create it! My wonderfully talented mother, Janice Alvord, created this layout...she is also a CTMH consultant and simply loves our Magic book. This layout is Raise the Curtain on page 66 and contains a cute interactive piece on the left side where you attach a photo to the front of the piece and use a pull tab to reveal the journaling underneath. Don't you just love the elegant flowers she created for the pull tab portion of the layout using the Pearl Opaques for the centers?

One thing that Janice noticed when creating this layout is that there is a typo in the sizing of one of the pieces. The Photo slide used was the 4x3 one. It says piece A is 4 1/2 x 3 1/2 and piece B is 5 1/2 x 3 1/2. But Piece B SHOULD BE 5 1/2 x 3". The piece B should always be 1/2 inch narrower than the piece A. So you may want to make a note of that in your book if you choose to re-create this layout.

I hope you've enjoyed Janice's work...I'll post more of her lovely creations in the future! Thanks for stopping by and now hop on over to Mary's blog to enjoy even more artwork using the Wings papers!

Looking for Ideas?

2010-12-21T14:05:00.000-05:00

Looking for ideas and inspiration for making scrapbook pages, cards, and gifts using Close To My Heart products? Check out bigredscraps.ning.com Your gonna love it!!!

December Stamp of the Month!

2010-12-14T13:39:00.000-05:00

Every month Close To My Heart offers you an exclusive My Acrylix® D-size stamp set FREE or at a large discount. The stamp set is available to qualifying customers for that month only. It’s our way of saying thank you, and your way of getting fantastic deals on our amazing stamps! Here’s how to get a fabulous deal on your very own Stamp of the Month!

Spend $25, get it for 25% off or $17.21

Spend $50, get it for 50% off or $11.48

Spend $75, get it for 75% off or $5.74

Spend $100, get it for 100% off or FREE!

December’s Stamp of the Month is:

Amore (Set of 13)

January Special!

2010-12-14T13:16:00.000-05:00

I'm booking parties right now for January - check out our beautiful kit that is available in January! E-mail me for a more detailed flyer and to book your January party before all the dates are filled!

December Paper Trail Blog Hop!

2010-12-01T07:00:00.005-05:00

Welcome to my blog! You're at the right place if you've arrived from Terri's blog. This month we made items using our beautiful Magnifique papers. While I am not normally a fan of blue, I love these papers! Could it be the touch of chocolate that has been added? All I know is they are so versatile. I have created a 6x6 accordian album using Magnifique along w ith the coordinating stickease, Mocha Opaques and the Circle of Love stamp set (D1438). This album was made at our annual team stamp camp with the design being created by my upline (and SIL) Linda Taylor. The original pattern was designed by fellow consultant Tresa Black (http://www.fabulouslyartsy.com/).

To prepare the album, glue the two center pages together to form a pocket. Be sure to use extra stong adhesive (I used redline tape) along the bottom edge and back edge of spine where the paper meets the cover.

All papers and edges were distressed with chocolate ink. While my book uses tags in the pockets (on which you could put journaling or pictures), you could also put a photo DVD in the pocket as a gift for a family member. Or attach a gift card to one of the tags for your gift recipient.

Now hop on over to Betsy's blog and see what she has created for your enjoyment!

Origami Christmas Card

2010-11-30T12:14:00.000-05:00

Here is my take on my friend Betsy's origami Christmas card from this month's Paper Trail Blog Hop (and thanks to Joyce Houck for creating a great tutorial video!). I used the Mistletoe Creative Basics and my favorite Christmas stamp set called "A Timber". Its a great little set and only $7.95 yet its got everything you need to make great Christmas cards!

Mistletoe Clear Card

2010-11-16T07:27:00.000-05:00

I made this card at convention using our Mistletoe papers and our clear cards. Notice the area in the top right of the card - it is a great corner stamp from the set "The Present" and while it makes a lovely corner on either a card or scrapbook page, it was used here to create some texture in the paper which is actually attached to the inside back of the card and so shows thru the clear front of the card. I also love the bracket edge on these cards (yes, they come that way!) which adds a great touch to your card!

Santa's Workshop - Saturday, December 4th from 10-4:30!

2010-11-10T14:19:00.003-05:00

SANTA’S WORKSHOP!

Make Handmade Christmas Gifts on Saturday, December 4th from 10-4:30.

We will start at 10:00 and go til about 4:30(or when you finish!). I will be teaching all 3 of my Christmas Gift Workshops as detailed below. You must register by 11/22 for 1, 2 or all 3 projects so that I make sure there are enough materials for each person that wants to do each project. If you register to do all 3 projects, please plan to arrive at 10 to begin your day in order to ensure that you can complete all 3. If you are only doing one, you will need to arrive at the beginning of the time for that particular project to allow yourself time to complete your project. In order to allow me to plan the workspace, when you register, please let me know what project(s) you plan to make. Sign up with a friend for any one workshop and you each receive $2 off the workshop fee. Sign up for all 3 workshops and receive $6 off the total cost for all 3 (or $36 for all 3 projects!). Register and arrange for payment by sending me an e-mail at karenbarber@myctmh.com. All fees payable in advance.

Ornaments – 10:00-12:00. Make 6 darling ornaments using our new Ornament Dimensional Elements, Mistletoe papers and accessories! Class fee is $15 - all materials provided – simply bring your favorite scissors and adhesive. These make great teacher and family gifts. If you’d like your ornaments to contain pictures, please bring several pictures to choose from depending on how they fit into the ornament. Your pictures should have faces or objects close together so they can be seen through the “window” of the ornament.

Magnifique Mini Album – 12:30-2:30 p.m. Using one of our 6x6 accordian albums and our new Magnifique papers and stickease, we will create this darling album that has pockets with tags. The pockets can be used for favorite photos, momentos or even a photo CD or DVD you want to give as a gift. Class fee is $17 – all materials provided; bring your favorite scissors and adhesive.

Joy Mix & Mingle Mini Album – 2:30-4:30 Check out our new Mix & Mingle mini album that has a combination of chipboard and acrylic pages. Using this small album, we will make a 3-page home décor piece that will look elegant on your mantle or coffee table or you can make it vertical to be used as a wall hanging. Although the picture shows only the Christmas side, we’ll be using fall papers and images to decorate the other side so it can be used during the fall months too! Class fee is $10 – all materials provided; bring your own favorite scissors and adhesive.

Why attend a workshop?

Have fun!

All papers cut for you!

Leave with a completed project ready to be used!
Have fun!

No extra materials to buy, store, wonder how to use!

Get a chance to play with great CTMH products!
Have fun!

Learn new techniques and tips!

Have fun!

Paper Trail November Blog Hop - Mistletoe!

2010-11-01T07:32:00.001-04:00

Welcome to my blog! You're at the right place if you've arrived from Betsy's blog! This month we are creating goodies using the Close to My Heart Mistletoe papers. This kit uses Cranberry, Cocoa, Garden Green and New England Ivy colors. One of the things I did with this paper was create a Christmas Card workshop using the Creative Basics Mistletoe papers and the Mistletoe Level 2 Assortment. The guests created 20 cards (2 each of 10 designs). They also added some ribbon and glitter to spice things up a bit. There were some images that were colored with colored pencils, some with the blending pen and ink pad and some with solid stamping.

Also being offered as a workshop for the holiday season is this small Joy album using 3 panels from our new Mix & Mingle album which contains both acrylic and chipboard "pages" held together with jump rings. The design for this album came from my SIL and fellow CTMH consultant, Linda Taylor, and I made this at our annual team Stamp Camp which is hosted by Linda each year! While I made mine with a horizontal orientation, you could easily make this a hanging element by orienting everything vertically. I used the Creative Basics Mistletoe paper on this as well along with the Stars Dimensional Elements, glitter and ribbon. What's a Christmas project without glitter??!!

Thanks for stopping by! Please follow this link to Mary's blog. See you next month on the Paper Trail when we feature our Magnifique papers!

Autumn Scrapbook Class

2010-10-18T09:52:00.000-04:00

I have two more seats for my Autumn Scrapbook layout class on 10/25 - we'll start at 6:30 and make 4 pages using the Olivia papers and Designer Shimmer Brads - e-mail me today if you want to join us!

New Puppy Pics

2010-10-18T09:50:00.000-04:00

I thought you all might want to see some updated puppy pictures...he is keeping us busy!

Christmas Card Workshops!

2010-10-08T11:36:00.000-04:00

Join me as we make 20 Christmas cards using our new Mistletoe papers and accessories! I still have 5 seats available for the class on October 16th from 1-4 and 4 seats for the November 7th class. Each class is $20 with all materials provided except you will need to bring your own scissors and adhesive!

Here are some samples of the cards we will make:

Paper Trail Blog Hop!

2010-10-01T07:00:00.024-04:00

Welcome to my blog, you're at the right place if you've arrived from Betsy's blog. This is the first month of what I hope will be many months of creative inspiration for you! I have teamed up with several other CTMH consultants to provide you with a blog hop on the first of each month which will feature projects created with one of the fantastic CTMH paper packs! This month's creations were made using Olivia.

For this first month, I've made a 2-page layout for your enjoyment...I used the Card Trick pattern from our new Magic book. It contains oodles of wonderful interactive layouts featuring sliding pieces, pull-outs, flip flaps, spinners, etc. This particular pattern incorporates a card pattern from our Wishes card idea book - the Just Right pattern on p. 37. You'll see that on the right hand side of the layout, you can lift up the front of the card and it contains a picture (which happens to be a great picture of my mom with David Lynton at convention). You could also put hidden journaling here or an inspirational quote too. For accessories, I used our new Sunset Mini Medley collection, Opaques Mocha Adhesive Gems and Designer Shimmer Brads! The nice thing about the new Magic book is that, in addition, to having all the interactive layouts, the layouts can all be done the traditional way without the interactive pieces.

Thanks for stopping by! I hope you'll come back each month to see what we have to share! Please follow this link to Erica's blog for more great artwork!

October Scrapbook Workshop!

2010-09-27T14:13:00.000-04:00

Here are 2 of the pages we'll be creating at my October workshops using our new Oliva papers and the new large designer shimmer brads!

New Puppy!

2010-09-27T14:08:00.000-04:00

We will be welcoming our new puppy to his fur-ever home this Friday! He's a chocolate lab named Brodie!

September SOTM Artwork #3

2010-09-16T09:59:00.000-04:00

I love this guy! The background technique on this card was borrowed from my fantastic downline Sandy V. and it is one of the techniques I'm teaching in my combo workshop class on the 25th - we're going to make a 2-page scrapbook layout and 3 cards for $15! E-mail me today to register!

September SOTM Artwork #2!

2010-09-16T09:56:00.000-04:00

This is a 6x6 card that I made with the SOTM - love the heart eye patch! Come to one of my workshops this month and learn to make the glitter paper shown on this card (the thin green piece at the bottom)!

September SOTM Artwork

2010-09-16T09:53:00.000-04:00

Here is a real simple card with the September SOTM - this could also easily double as a bag topper - I made it from a few leftover scraps

And by the way, here is a picture of the puppy!!

September Stamp of the Month!

2010-09-16T07:41:00.000-04:00

I know it's half way through September and I'm just introducing this month's stamp of the month set!! Shame on me - but I'm not really sure where the first half of the month went!! Oh yeah....camping, getting ready to go back to school, picking out a new puppy!!! Anyway, here is the set for this month - at first I thought these stamps weren't really my style but then I started playing with them and now I love them and my daughter thinks they are very cool - I love all the fun little details - like the heart for eye patches! I've got some artwork with the stamps which I'll post in just a little while - for now, I've got to get ready for work - why oh why can't I just stay home and stamp today???!!! LOL!

Hooligans Artwork!

2010-08-31T13:43:00.000-04:00

Check out these cute new papers and stamps in our new fall/winter idea book which launches tomorrow! I've got workshops on my calendar to make these cute layouts and cards so sign up soon to make these projects. I'm featuring a cool glitter technique in these classes...plus gatherings in September will also be learning this technique - so book your own class with your friends today and earn some free product while having fun!

Triple Play Art

2010-08-28T09:32:00.000-04:00

Hi Everyone - I know its been a bit since I posted but its been a crazy couple of weeks; first getting ready for my August crop - we had a great time and I'll post a couple of pictures next time; and second because we lost a child in our neighborhood to suicide. My heart has been aching for this family and it has hit us all hard.....

Creating artwork is a way to come through some of these hard times...it can soothe and relax and take us to a place where the hurt is not quite so bad, at least for a little while.

Here is an idea I saw on our consultant's bulletin board that you can make using our Triple Play kit available thru September 30th....you take one of the little album kits and make a pocket folder and use the two other folded pages (trim one panel off to create the pockets) to make a couple of cute cards to tuck in the pocket. Makes a cute little gift for someone. The first shot shows it open and the second is what it looks like closed.

Celebrate National Stamping Month with our August/September Special!

2010-08-16T12:13:00.000-04:00

Create 3 mini albums with our National Stamping Month kit, Triple Play. With 4 Exclusive Inks® mini stamp pads, a versatile C-size stamp set, 3 mini albums, ribbon, an instructional brochure, and pre-cut accents for stamping, you'll complete all 3 albums in a snap!

There are several ways to get your Triple Play kit:

1. Buy the Triple Play kit for $29.95.

2. Purchase $25 in My Acrylix® stamps and get the Triple Play

kit for just $15.

3. Spend $40 on My Acrylix stamps and get Triple Play for only $5!

4. Host a Gathering with sales of $300 or more and get

Triple Play FREE!

5. Join Close To My Heart as a Consultant and get the kit FREE!

This special is available beginning today until September 30th or while supplies last! I'm working on a couple of alternative projects with the materials in the kit so check back in a couple of days and I should have photos of thos posted!

Something Splendid Clear Card

2010-08-12T20:38:00.000-04:00

This lovely clear card was made by my SIL, Linda T and used Moonstruck to create the flower. Note the way she used Stardust Glitz on the edges of the card - cute!!

And here is the card open so you can see the inside - Clear Cards are great and go together easily with just a bit of planning.

Yet another Something Splendid Card!

2010-08-12T20:31:00.000-04:00

Here's an example made by Beth N. of this flower in using Blush and Tulip and using the Cherry-O Creative Basics papers.

August Stamp of the Month w/Passages

2010-08-12T13:42:00.000-04:00

Here's another card created by my terrific downline, Amy R! She used the Passages paper pack to create this 6x6 card. The flower is stamped in Barn Red and the leaves are Garden Green. One of my favorite stamps in this set is the little twigs.

August Stamp of the Month Swap Cards

2010-08-12T13:38:00.000-04:00

Love this card by Donna L. because it only uses cardstock for the layers. The center of the flower has liquid glass for an extra pop. Simple yet beautiful. In fact, I liked it so much that my hostess club is making this one next week!

Something Splendid!

2010-08-12T13:35:00.000-04:00

Check out the August Stamp of the Month! I'll be posting some pics of cards I received in my monthly Stamp of the Month swap! I love the versatility of this set and the fact that it has sentiments so you can create a whole project(s) with just one set. Don't forget that Stamp of the Month is only available during that month - you can purchase this set for $22.95 or better yet, get it at a discount!

My Creations Display Album

2010-08-08T14:06:00.000-04:00

These little albums make a great gift for anyone to display their photos from a one-time event or treasured photos of a loved one. They could be used on your coffee table or in your office to showcase photos of children and grandchildren, baby pictures, sports or dance memories, wedding memories and lots of other special events.

I made these albums for my terrific downline who attended convention this year and one for my upline as a thank you for her suppport throughout the year. Each of these albums was made with a My Reflection Level 1 kit, the display album and a bit of ribbon and coordinating embelishments. Very economical and easy! I have a pattern for the pages that makes creating the 24 pages in these albums a snap. During our $2, $4, $6 Appreciation Sale thru August 11th, the Level 1 kits are only $4 and you can add the Display Album and perhaps a few accessories of your choice to your order! When you purchase a display album and Level 1 kit this month, I'll send you the pattern that I use to make these albums!

Zippidee Pages

2010-07-28T18:02:00.005-04:00

Here are 2 scrapbook pages that I made using the Zippidee papers and accessories! Disney pages for me of course, being the Disneyholic that I am. But these papers would work great for school photos, birthdays or summer travel pages! The yellow stars are new to our Dimensional Element line simply covered with Sunny Yellow cardstock. I used buttons and waxy flax to add some additional dimension.

My Creations Board Book

2010-07-25T22:43:00.002-04:00

Here is one of our new CTMH My Creations board books decorated with Zippidee papers (X7125B) and stickease (X7125C). These books are 6x6 so they are really easy to decorate! The second picture features one of the new A-Door-Ables (Z1321) sponged with Cranberry (Z2116) ink (the door is covered with the striped pattern from the paper pack). These little dimensional doors let you put journaling or an extra picture inside so there is an interactive element to the page with a surprise. Up in the top corner, I used a piece of the Fancy Fuzz Zippidee borders (Z1315) to create a Mickey!

Enjoy!

CTMH Convention!

2010-07-25T09:53:00.000-04:00

Hi Everyone! I'm venturing into the blogging world! I must admit I was rejecting this forum for a while but after attending the Close To My Heart annual convention in Washington DC and talking to other consultants, I decided to give it a try. The CTMH convention is always in a great location and over the years I've been lucky enough to attend several. This year, we stayed at the fabulous Gaylord Hotel at National Harbor.

My family went with me this year (which is a first) and we had some fun with George and Abe in the lobby. That's my mom and my daughter with me - mom is a consultant too!

Throughout the years at convention, I've made friends and created relationships that have lasted many years! Here are mom and I with my SIL, Linda and our dear friend Joyce!

Here are Linda and I with our upline and friend, Bren as we give out gifts at our team meeting! We had a record number of 35 attending convention between mine and Linda's teams - yahoo!

In fact one of those friends is the one who convinced me I should give blogging a try - thanks Dawn! Her blog is one of the first that I will link to mine so be sure to hop over to her blog and check it out! http://www.stamptildawn.blogspot.com/. She's got a great video on there from the first day of convention - its quite a hoot - the Scrappin Ladies!

I hope you'll bookmark my blog or better yet, click on Follow and pass it on to others!

Happy Scrapping!