Planners are HERE!!!

Though I use my smart phone every day all day long, I have to tell you that I really prefer to write my events on an actual calendar.  I just like being able to open up my month-at-a-glance page and see all of my events on one page in a font that I can READ!!!  Close to My Heart has come up with the most adorable planner system that I know you are going to love, and in the month of December, you can get the Planner Bundle for only $29.95.   What's extra fun about our new planners is that you can add other fun elements to the planner binders--including My Crush pages and Pocket Pages.  So, you can use them as a calendar, use them as a smaller album, or combine both into one book.  Be sure you watch the video to see all of the possibilities--it's hard to explain in writing!  The Planner Bundle special is only available in December--you can order it online at http://christina.ctmh.com.  This makes an AWESOME idea for Christmas gifts, and there is no limit to how many Planner Bundles you can order.   Also, your Planner Bundle purchases also help qualify you to get the beautiful December Stamp of the Month for only $5 (see previous post). 

December Stamp of the Month

Our December Stamp of the Month, Candlelight Garden, is SO pretty!  It's the perfect set to use with our watercolor paints or our Shin Han markers!  It's only available in the month of December, so be sure you get your orders placed in December.  You can get this stamp set for only $5 with a $50 purchase, OR you can purchase it at the regular retail price of $17.95.   If you purchase the discounted Planner Bundle in December, it will count toward your qualifying purchase!

FANTASTIC FUNDAMENTALS SPECIAL!!!

If you're a scrapbooker, you'll love Close to My Heart's November promotion!  Purchase a bundle of our AWESOME core products, and you'll get an entire value pack of our page protectors (top or side load) absolutely FREE.  That's a $20 value!!!  And, did I mention that Close to My Heart makes the BEST page protectors that you will find on the market?  PLUS, when you purchase the bundle, you'll get instructions for completing the five layouts shown in the photo below.  You can take advantage of this deal on my website at http://christina.ctmh.com.  You can select any of our albums (D-ring or post-bound), but note that the black post-bound albums are currently out of stock.

SANGRIA KIT NOW AVAILABLE

My Sangria kit is now available!  I think this might be my favorite paper pack in our Annual Inspirations catalog this year.  The colors are so rich and vibrant and versatile.  I gave this layout a slight autumn feel, though you could really use it for anytime of year (just change the "Hello, Autumn" title to something else).   You kit will include all of the layout pieces, cut, pre-stamped and ready to assemble, a package of the Sangria Complements and any other accessories shown on your layout.  I've included four cards--again, all the pieces are cut and stamped, ready for you to assemble.  I include an instruction sheet with photos of the projects and general instructions. 

Time for Christmas Crafts!!

I always host a "Great Gifty Ideas" workshop in November, and our focus is making inexpensive items that you can give as gifts.  Here's a sampling of some of the things we'll be making this year.  The class is Thursday, November 19th, 2015, here in Springfield, MO.  If you're interested in attending, contact me ASAP.  I may post some additional info on some of these projects after the class.

These paper mugs are one of my favorites. . .SUPER easy and full of possibilities!  Fill them with candy, chocolate, hot cocoa packets, tea bags. . .and, of course, you could do them in any paper you want.  Wouldn't they be cute for a shower or a ladies luncheon??

I try to incorporate some type of gift card holder each year because most people I know give at least one gift card to someone during the holidays.  I think this one's really cute because it's actually shaped like a gift, and I like the way the middle pops up when you open it.

I found directions for this little guy on Pinterest--so cute and easy to do.  I used shapes from my Art Philosophy and Artistry cartridges to do his antlers, ears, etc.  

Because this project is fairly time-consuming, I probably won't include it in my Gifty Ideas workshops.  However, I think I'll be sure to share instructions with everyone so that they know how to make one on their own.  This would be a fun project to do while watching Christmas movies!!  Stay tuned. . .I may share some general instructions here as well.

November Club Projects

The projects I have planned for our November club are some of my FAVORITE projects this year!!!  I can't wait to share them with you!  Scrapbookers will be doing this beautiful layout featuring the Sangria paper pack.  I just love the colors in this paper pack--I don't think the photo quite captures the colors.  If you like this layout but can't attend my local workshop, I will be offering it for sale as a kit SOON (stay tuned for details).

I open up my clubs to guests each month--just let me know if you'd like to attend.  Cost for club night is a $20 minimum order, which is a steal of a deal when you consider that you're getting the project materials FREE!  My club meets on Monday, November 16, at 10 a.m. or 6:30 p.m.

This layout features the stamp set D1677 Friend Tree and the ink colors I used are Eggplant, Pomegranate, Poppy, Fern and Champagne.

Card Makers will be learning some really fun interactive Christmas cards.  They all feature fold-out or pop-up features that I know you're going to love!   All of the cards feature the White Pines paper pack and coordinating ink colors:  Fern, Chocolate, and Cranberry.

Believe Christmas Frame designed by Michelle Snyder

Do you ever see one of those projects that just makes your jaw drop and you say, "I WANT TO MAKE THAT!!!"  Consultant Michelle Snyder designed this decor frame to auction off at our Convention to benefit Operation Smile.  Needless to say, the frame went for an incredible amount of money because it was just stunning!!  Michelle was generous enough to share her pattern with us so that we could make them ourselves, and I'm really pleased how it turned out.  I wish that you could see the sparkle of the Glitter Paper and the depth of the embellishments a little more in this picture, but at least you get the idea!  

I'm offering this as a workshop on Monday, November 23rd.  Some of my customers already have one of these decor frames, so I'm giving them the option of purchasing the frame.  Cost for the class is $23 for the layout without the frame and $56 with the frame.  Let me know if you'd like to attend!

November Stamp of the Month, "Cheers"

Here's a fun stamp set for your New Year's cards and layout pages!  Get it before it's gone!  You can order online at http://christinactmh.com.  As always, the Stamp of the Month is only $5 with a $50 purchase. . .or you can get it for $17.95 retail price.  Available through November 30th.

Fantastic November Special!!!

I've become a big fan of Close to My Heart's Fundamentals papers, stickers and accessories.  They are SUPER versatile, and you can mix and match them with so many different things.  During the month of November, we are offering a phenomenal "bundle" of products featuring your album of choice and the Fundamentals Enchantment paper pack and accessories.  If you purchase this product bundle for $71.80, you get a VALUE PACK of our Memory Protectors FREE ($19.95 value) plus a workshop guide to create the layouts shown in the photos.  WOW!!!  If you have never used our Memory Protectors (page sleeves), they are the BEST on the market--you won't find better quality anywhere!  To take advantage of this November offer, visit my website at http://christina.ctmh.com

Time for Christmas Cards!!

I'm hosting a Christmas Card Marathon workshop next week, and I thought I'd show you some of the cards we will be making.  At my marathon class, participants make four each of five different cards designs. . .they leave with 20 cards ready for the holidays!

This card features the October Stamp of the Month, Twinkle.  I got the design idea from one of my team members who went to the CTMH Making Connections event in Overland Park, KS.  I think Shari Froemming may be the original designer!

I like to give my customers options at the Card Marathon class.  This card is the very same design, but they get to choose which stamp image to put in the box.  

This card features the stamp set from the White Pines Workshop on the Go Scrapbooking Kit.  I just love this stamp set!!  I can't take credit for the card design, though--I saw the card on Pinterest by Liz Johnson.   

Here's another card with the October Stamp of the Month.  I like the clean crisp lines on this card.  I always put a variety of message stamps out on the table at my Card Marathon class, so my customers can put any Christmas message they'd like on the card..

My October Club Layouts

Thought I'd share the fun Halloween layout that we're making in my October clubs.  I'm using the Nevermore paper and Eggplant, Pear, and Saffron cardstock.  I started with the same basic layout design, but I'm offering two options for embellishments--one featuring the Nevermore Complements and one featuring the Little Monsters stamp set (C1630).  You can't see it very well in the photo, but both layouts have the Black Shimmer Trim running along that bottom border, and it gives the layout some fun sparkle!

If you like to stamp and color, you'll love the images in the "Little Monsters" stamp set.  They are ADORABLE!!!  I used the ShinHan markers to colors the stamped images.  Below is a close-up of the little witch.  The "Halloween FUN" title was cut from the Artiste cartridge.

If you prefer to skip the stamping, use our Nevermore Complements to add fun things all over your layout.   You'll see some close-ups of the embellishments below.  I cut the "SPOOKY" title from the Artbooking cartridge.

Nevermore Collection Connection

This Is Halloween, This Is Halloween. . .

Though we don't do much Halloween-ing around my household, I do enjoy making some fun Halloween papercrafts!  Here's a look at some of the projects I've made this year. . .you can purchase the products to make these items on my website at http://christina.ctmh.com

This is made with our new My Creations Pint-Size Containers (Z3137, three in a package for $3.95).  I embellished it with paper from the Nevermore paper pack and some of our black Shimmer Trim and Glitter Paper.  

I can't take credit for this idea, but I saw them at Convention this year and KNEW I had to make these broomstick lollipops.  They're made with Blow Pops, though I think you could use any type of lollipop.  I sponged the handles with Desert Sand ink.  I cut a piece of Kraft Cardstock 2 1/2" x 12" and then I cut thin vertical lines all the way down the piece (they do make fringe scissors now--that might help a bit).   I cut up just a little over 2" so you still have some solid part to hold it together.  Then I wrapped it round and round the Blow Pop stick (adding some adhesive every so often so it doesn't unwind).  Then, I stamped a cute label and tied on some of our Thistle Twine.

Here's a variation on a theme, in case you have some kind of lollipop aversion.  Anyway, these broomsticks (also an idea I got at Convention) are made with grape licorice and paper from the Nevermore paper pack.  I put the licorice inside one of these super-skinny clear bags.  I ordered the bags a long time ago from clearbags.com, but I'm not sure if you can find them in stores.  Walmart carries pretzel stick bags back in the cake decorating/wedding section, and those might work.

We have such great ready-to-decorate products liked these Designer Creations Paper Bags (Z2036--only $3.95 for 12).  I cut out some tag shapes on the Cricut and then added some stamped images from our newest Halloween sets.  I also used a zip strip from the Nevermore Paper Pack.

I didn't get much of a chance to play with my Artfully Sent Cricut cartridge last Halloween, so now it's time to pull it out and see what fun things we can create with this awesome cartridge!  This is one of the MANY pop-up cards you can find on this cartridge. . .and it was very easy to put together!  

Here's the front of the card. . .I used some paper from last year's Scaredy Cat Paper Pack.  

This is the card I made for one of my recent team card swaps.  I adore these cute little kids in the Little Monsters stamp set (C1630) which is featured in the new Holiday Expressions.  It's the perfect stamp set to use with our ShinHan markers, so if you're into color therapy, this one's for you!  The "Trick or Treat" sign comes from the Pumpkin Chevron stamp set (B1488).  Paper is from the Nevermore paper pack, and, okay, I can't remember which CTMH cartridge I got the bats from.    

Here's another fun creation I made with the Artfully Sent cartridge.  This is a Pocket Card that I cut out in black cardstock.  I put our silver Glitter paper behind the web to give it a fun shiny look.  I cut my pocket card at 5 inches, and it seemed just about right for some stick candy or Pixie Sticks, but you could make it larger if you need to stuff it FULL of candy!!  The spider came from the Artbooking Cartridge--he was slightly mean until I gave him some google eyes!