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28 December 2010

Looking for Inspiration?

If you're looking for ideas for your Close To My Heart products, check out Big Red Scraps.  It's an online community dedicated totally to all things Close To My Heart.

If you've got a certain stamp set or paper packet you're looking for ideas for, you can even search the gallery by its name and see all the ideas for it on one page. 

Check it out!

15 December 2010

Christmas Card time!

I am FINALLY done making my Christmas cards.  I did 68 this year.  Whew!  I don't normally do that many, but every 5 years I do everyone.  This year was extra special because I wanted to send pictures from my son's wedding this summer to those who could not make it or who I thought might like a couple of them.  (Yeah, I'm a proud mama!)

I based this card on one by K Werner who based her card on this one.  I just couldn't leave the original design alone and had to add inking to the white edges and around the stamped circle images.  It still wasn't sitting right with me so I punched out circles and mounted the images inside the circles leaving enough space so the background showed through a bit.  A little bling in the middle of each snowflake and I was finally happy with the end result.


Supplies:
Stamp sets:
B1194 Music of Winter (retired)
B1357 All the Best (Mistletoe Workshop on the Go exclusive stamp set)
Cardstock:  Sweet Leaf, White Daisy
Inks: Cranberry, Clover Meadow
Ribbon: Cranberry Grosgrain
Embellishments:  Z1104 Sparkles

This one is a simple one and I just had no creative ideas so lifted it from Vicki Wizniuk who lifted Andrea Walford.  I changed mine out a bit because I didn't want the bulk of the buttons so just stapled my ribbon to the card instead.  I didn't add the bling along the scallops, either, opting instead to just use a punch that included holes in the scallops so the background shows through.


Supplies:
Stamp Sets:
D1384 Snow Flurries (sentiment)
Ribbon: Cranberry Grosgrain
Ink: Black
Cardstock: White Daisy, Cranberry, New England Ivy, Olive

Vicki Wizniuk proved inspiration for this one, too.  She is amazingly talented on her own but she also has an amazing talent for finding other amazing talent.  So ... I CASEd Vicki and she CASEd Connie Collins who CASEd it from a card she saw in Paper Crafts Holiday Cards & More (vol. 5).
                                       

Supplies:
Cardstock: Colonial White, Ponderosa Pine
Patterned Paper: X5802 Holiday
Stamp Sets:
C1379 Holiday Commentary

This one was totally lifted from the founder and CEO of Close To My Heart, Jeanette Lynton



Supplies:
Cardstock: Chocolate, Colonial White
Patterned Paper: X7130B Mistletoe
Stamp Sets:
C1379 Holiday Commentary
B1357 All the Best (Mistletoe Workshop on the Go exclusive stamp set)

All the designs were lifted in whole or in part from somewhere and I've given credit where I remembered where the idea came from.  I was just not feeling inspired this year and it was getting down to crunch time.  I am not ashamed of using the talents of other amazing crafters!  My name is Lisa and I am a CASEr!

Isn't it amazing how one good idea can spread from person to person and each one puts their own spin on it? 

Which one will YOU get if you're on my list?  You'll just have to wait and see!  :-)

Happy Holidays and Merry Christmas to everyone!

05 December 2010

December Newsletter

Happy Holidays Everyone! Christmas is almost upon us. Are you ready? LOL

I'm going to make it short and sweet this month.

1. Plenty for Twenty Campaign
During the month of December, if you place an order of $20 or more on my website, will be rewarded with a popular, retired D-size stamp set for FREE!!! Talk about getting more for your money – the free stamp set is valued at $26.95. CTMH is sure you’ll be thrilled with the set they pick out for you. They are also including free shipping and handling and taxes on the free stamp set! Need more information? See the flyer!

2. Idea Books
I went over this last month but it bears repeating ... the Autumn/Winter Idea book will be valid until the end of January since the new Spring/Summer does not start until February 1.

3. January promotion
January will have it’s own mini catalog! Here is the link to the pdf version of it but will probably be ordering hard copies and get them out to you (mini idea books will be given to select clients as I will only be ordering 10).

Answers to FAQ about the January promotion:
1. Stamp sets in the mini are only available at the discounted price IF you purchase the January Workshop on the Go Kit.
2. Stamp sets in the mini can be purchased at the regular prices listed as well.
3. To receive the January Stamp of the Month set FREE you can either:
a. purchase the WOTG kit and FOUR or more items from the mini
b. purchase items from the mini and/or Autumn/Winter Idea Book totalling $117.50 or more (before shipping and taxes).
c. See chart in the mini (page 5) for how to qualify for savings of 25%, 50% or 75% off on the January Stamp of the Month. Otherwise, the chart available in your Autumn/Winter Idea book would apply (page 109).
4.  Promotion runs 1 January 2011 to 31 January 2011.
If you have any questions, email me!

4. Prices are falling!
CTMH has notified Canadian Consultants that because of our stronger dollar, prices on the majority of items will be going down! This means product prices will fall but it also means that qualifying purchases totals for the Stamps of the Month and Hostess Rewards will be going down, too. As an example, as of January 1, 2011, to qualify for the Stamp of the Month FREE, you only need to spend $110.95. That is $6.55 less than now! You’ll definitely be getting more for your money! Yay!

5. Girls Night Out!
Some of you have told me that you did not receive last month’s newsletter so this bears mentioning again, as well.

Every woman deserves at least one day a month to do something for herself without kids or a husband interrupting. Don’t you agree? We barely have time to do our normal household duties let alone time to pursue hobbies. Well here’s your chance. And it is PG-13. LOL

I would love to start a Scrapbook Club for sometime in February. If you are interested in joining here are a few of the details:

- a minimum of 5 (FIVE) Club members is required to start a club.
- you would be required to purchase a minimum of $25.00 each month for 6 months (or 7 if there is seven people in the Club).
- each month a different person will be considered Hostess. As the monthly Hostess all that is required is you bring a treat to nibble on during “recess”. That’s it! I provide coffee, tea or water and all classes will take place in my home. No worries about keeping your house clean!
- during the month you are Hostess, you will receive a minimum of $30 in free product. If sales are higher, you could get more product free!
- all Club members will receive any Idea Book/Catalogs that are brought out during the Club period for FREE.
- each month we will create different paper craft items (supplies for all projects are included in your Club ‘membership’) Projects will vary but will always be papercraft related – scrapbook pages, cards, 3D items, altered items, home decor items, and I’m always open to suggestions if there is something paper-crafty you’d like to try!
- NOTE: Because my husband is a shift worker, Club nights cannot be held on one particular day each month. Most Clubs typically run on the 3rd Tuesday or 2nd Monday of each month, as an example. Because of my husband’s varying shifts, I am not able to set dates in that way. What I am proposing is to do is, say, during the first week of each month but the day of the week would vary from month to month, depending on his shifts. Since there won't be a fixed date each month, I will have a makeup date within about 2 weeks of the original date for those who cannot make it to the original Club night. 

This gives you a general idea of what the Club is about but if you’re interested in more in-depth details, email me and I will send you more information – the fine print, per se. LOL

That’s it for now ... I hope you all have a wonderful holdiay season and that the New Year brings all that you could wish for you and your families!

21 November 2010

"Thank You"

I made a couple of these as a "Thank You" for some clients of mine who recently ordered from me.  I don't typically like working with oranges and yellows but am really happy how these turned out.

The cards are based on a card by K Werner.  She is incredibly talented. 


Supplies used:
Cardstock: CTMH - Honey, Autumn Terracotta, and Chocolate
Inks: CTMH - Chocolate
Ribbon: CTMH - Chocolate Grosgrain
Stamp Sets:
Thanks for looking and happy crafting!

20 November 2010

CASE'd card

I had posted some Christmas cards on my personal blog that I had made at a Christmas Card Workshop I attended and I loved one of them so much, I thought I would copy it using my CTMH stuff!  I love seeing how similar yet different they turned out.

Here is the original:


And here is the copy of it using CTMH product:



See that shoe in the background?  I LOVE the bling on it.  It is actually a wine bottle stand shaped as a stiletto high heeled shoe!  LOVE the zebra print on it, the bling and sheer ribbon.  When we got them in at work, I knew I had to have it.  Just because!  LOL  I was so worried it would sell out before my break but there was one of two left when I went.  Happy girl!  There's another style there, with leopard prints on them.  Rawr! 

Anyway ..... LOL ... more about the card.   I think I should have tipped the star a bit so it wasn't so up and down and would give it a more natural look, but too late.  I thought about adding some bling, too, but will see how many Christmas cards I get done before it's time to mail them out.  :-)

Happy crafting - I am off to create a couple of "Thank You" cards for a couple of customers!  :-)

Supplies used:
Cardstock: CTMH Cranberry and New England Ivy
Inks:  CTMH Cranberry and New England Ivy
Border Punch: Stampin' Up
Stamp Sets: all CTMH
B1361 Tannenbaum (sentiment)
D1308 All Decked Out (snow swirls)

18 November 2010

New Art & Soul Episode is up!

The new episode of Art & Soul is up.  Go check it out by clicking on the Art & Soul icon to the right. 

Need a little inspiration this season? You’ll find there! Get amazing shading and dimension using the stamp stenciling technique. Save time and money making holiday creations using a circle punch and any one of a number of stamp sets. And trim the tree with beautiful Dimensional Elements Ornaments. It’s all right there on Art & Soul®!

Another Challenge Prize Update .... (last one ... promise!)

I've updated the post about the prize for the November / December Challenge with the grand total of how many pieces of paper will be included in the prize.  :-)

14 November 2010

October Design Team projects

This month the girls were given: 

As usual, they both rocked their projects!  I didn't give them a challenge this time, though, and just told them to do what they wanted.

Nikkis' creation:





Nikki also used one of her stamp sets, C1408 Live Inspired, on her page and having the bird on a transparency really helps it pop.  I love that she used paper tearing - one of my fave techniques. Her kids are always so photogenic, too!

Irma's creation:






Love how she used an easel type card on the top of the boxes. The Shimmer Brads as stoppers are really played up by the sparkles on the stars. Fun!


13 November 2010

Challenge Prize Update!

Okay .... was looking at my 'collection' of paper today and though I am loathe to admit it, I have OBSCENE amounts of patterned paper.  OBSCENE, I tell you! 

So, in order to reduce the amount of what I have, the winner of the November/December challenge (done by random drawing of all entries), will receive ....



Wait for it .....


TWO sheets of EVERY Close To My Heart paper pack that I have, including any from Constant Campaigns that I've ordered as well !!! 

I haven't counted how many different packs I have, but I am pretty sure you will end up with over 50 sheets of patterned paper. 

Good luck to everyone!

ETA: I counted my paper packs after posting this and I have over 40 paper packs!  See?  Told you I had obscene amounts of PP.  And that's just the CTMH ones!  LOL

Anyway, I have multiples of some paper packs so I am going to make the prize

100 SHEETS of CTMH patterned paper.

PLUS, if I get more than FIVE people who complete my challenge this month, I will add a CTMH stamp set to the mix.  :-)

ETA #2:

Okay, I've gone through all of my paper packs from CTMH and the winner will receive 134 pieces of patterned paper!

Here are the paper pack sheets that will be included (I ended up putting in FOUR sheets of ones I had multiple packs of):

Aspen - 4
Bella - 2
Best Friends - 2
Boom-Di-Ada - 2
Caboodle - 2
Caprice - 4
Cherry-O - 2
Elegant Bouquet - 4
Emporium - 4
Evensong - 2
Felicity - 4
Floral Impressions - 4
Floral Tapestry - 2
Free Spirit - 4
Good Times - 2
Grace - 4
Heirloom - 4
Holiday - 2
Jingle - 4
Key to my Heart - 4
Life Delights - 4
Magnifique - 2
Miracle - 4
Mistletoe - 4
Moon Doggie - 2
More to Adore - 2
Notebook - 4
Olivia - 4
Passages - 2
Perfect Day - 4
Sarsaparilla - 2
Silhouette - 4
Splendor - 2
Sweet Home - 4
That's Amore - 2
Tickled Pink - 2
Tinkerin' - 2
Topstitch - 2
Twitterpted - 2
Unforgettable - 2
Veranda - 4
Victorian Elegance - 2
Vintage Travel - 2
Whoops-A-Daisy - 2
Zippidee - 2

11 November 2010

November/December Challenge

Hi girls!

So late getting this posted but life is crazy and I couldn't even begin to tell you what I've been doing that makes it seem that way.  The time change has really thrown my body for a loop this time around, too!  I just cannot seem to get enough rest and I feel tired ALL the time.  Getting through a day is a struggle lately. 

So, this month's challenge is late (November is 1/2 over already!) so am going to combine it with December and give something extra special away at the end of the year.  I don't know what yet, though.  I haven't thought that far ahead.  It will be FAB, though.  Anything CTMH is fab.  LOL

Am going to continue to give you choices, too, again.  I LOVE LOVE LOVE sketches so I think that will be a staple every month.  Not everyone feels that way, though, I am sure, so will add one or two other options each time as well.

The Sketch from Stacy Cohen which I got off the Pencil Lines blog back in 2009:


OR

Create a layout but using patterned paper you have created using stamps.

OR

Create a layout using the technique that won the Blog Candy earlier this month by random drawing.  Once of Carmen's fave techniques is to clear emboss ... try it out!

How to enter: 
- comment on this post with a link to your layout.
- send a photo of your project to me via email
- join my Facebook group : CTMH with Lisa and post your photo in the photo section

Winner will be chosen my random drawing of all entries - one entry per completed challenge.  If you do the challenge more than once, you'll get more entries.  Entries are due by midnight on December 31, 2010.  Will do a random drawing of all entries using Random.org.  Good luck to you all!

ETA:  I've decided on the prize for the month and you can see the details in a post HERE.

My favorite product ...

CTMH is having a contest right now on Facebook for $50 (US) worth of CTMH product.  All you have to do is blog about your favorite product.  Wahoo!

As hard as it is for me to pick just ONE (everything is AMAZING - the stamps are second to none, the papers are gorgeous, the inks so vibrant), the first thing that popped into my mind is our Liquid Glass.  This stuff is super versatile.  I even used it recently to fix Christmas decoration that had been given to me by my boss because they had broken in transit to the store I work at and we couldnt sell them.  I had tried my hot glue gun first but it really left the ornament looking repaired and the gaps from the glue super visible.

I don't know what I was thinking when Liquid Glass has done the trick for me before.  LOL  The ornaments are looking brand new now ... and free is a good thing! 

Other uses for Liquid Glass:

- use to attach page embellishments
- cover the top of a brad and then dip into glitter for a sparkly brad
- use as a water effect on pages and cards ... give the look of raindrops and such
- make a dull metal object look shiny
- use to highlight patterns on paper etc
- use on a photo to make an object stand out
- cover stickers to give them some dimension
- add some reinker to give it color and use as a stained glass effect
- fill a concho with items you'd like to preserve and then fill in with Liquid Glass
- trace words with it
- repair objects around the house! 

I'm sure there are tons more ways to use it but this gives you a general idea of its versatility.

Try some Liquid Glass on your next project!

02 November 2010

Late --- but I have a winner!

Sorry this is late, ladies!  I was a bad blogger and forgot to do the draw until today.  Argh!

Without further ado, the winner is:


The second person to post was Carmen and she said:


Congratulations, Carmen!  Will be contacting you to arrange delivery.  :-)

26 October 2010

Happy Anniversary to me! (Blog Candy)

Friday marks the second anniversary of the day I signed up as a Close To My Heart Consultant!  Wow ... two years already. Time really does fly when you're having fun!

So, in honor of my anniversary, I am giving away some gifts!



I have an extra Stamp of the month for this month coming ... uber cute! ... that I am going to give away to one lucky reader.  Since it's my SECOND anniversary, I am going to make the blog candy TWO things.  Not sure what the second item will be, yet, but will think of something fun for you and post it later.

To have your name entered in the Blog Candy drawing, just comment at the end of this post telling me your favorite scrapbooking or card making technique.  That's all  you have to do!

On Halloween night, I will do a random drawing of one lucky person from all entries using Random.org.

Good luck!

ETA:

Well,  I have decided on the second item for you.  :-)

I am also including the SOTM from LAST month!  I am not a huge Halloween fan, so this stamp set was going to go into my For Sale pile.  I may as well give it to the winner!  I am sure there is a Halloween fan or two out there!  :-)


Sorry for the bad picture .... didn't have one saved from last month so had to go searching and borrowed this one from a blog. 

21 October 2010

I got creative!

I am getting a head start on my Xmas card making this year so you'll be seeing some cards posted over the next little while. 

I made 6 of these cards using our Star Spangled Banner and Black cardstock.
The border stamp is from D1225 Jingle Borders and the sentiment is from A1110 A Timber.

The black strip is embossed in white and punched with a border punch.




The card is actually based on this card by K Werner.  I made the card landscape style rather than portrait style so left the ribbon off.  It looked too plain without the ribbon so that is why I decided to do the border punch on.

If you're like me and scrap 12x12 you know that when you cut down your 12x12 into an 8.5x11 you are left with that strip of cardstock that is 3.5 inches wide.  I am REALLY trying to use my scraps up now so decided to make co-ordinating gift tags!  I love how they turned out!


Hope you like them and thanks for the inspiration, Kristina.  You rock!

20 October 2010

New Art and Soul Episode is up and inspiring!

Click on the photo to see this month's Art and Soul Episode.  You won't be sorry!

You’ll fall head over heels for the techniques featured in this episode! Add subtle texture and a variety of colors with tissue stamping; create layouts, cards, mini albums, and home décor with Flip Flaps™; and learn how to cluster embellishments and move or resize them in Studio J®. With all this inspiration, you’ll be unstoppable in all your autumn artwork, so tune in now!

11 October 2010

September Design Team Projects

For September the girls were given products from the Magnifique collection of papers. My favorite of all the paper packs in the Idea Book!!!

They were given papers from the X7127B Level 2 Magnifique Paper Pack

Here is the layout from Nikki.  I love what she did with the products!  Using strips of cardstock to frame both her photo and the page is fun and her photo is amazing, too!




This is Irma's double page spread.  Love the stitching on it and the paper hat is adorable.  So cute!





I can't wait to see what they come up with for October!!! 

04 October 2010

A Virtual Gathering - Earn FREE product!!!

I'm testing out our new way of having a Gathering by having a Virtual Gathering.  No one has to worry about inviting anyone into their homes.  Everyone shops from the comfort of their own homes. (Not comfortable shopping online?  You can email me your order and I will add you manually to the Gathering once you pay me.)

Sending out invites to all my regular clients for sure.  If you're interested in joining us, drop me a line and I'll add you in or send you more details.

The best part?  You could earn some free stuff! 

I don't want to keep all the goodies for myself so I will be doing a random drawing from everyone who orders during the Gathering period and places an order over $25.  If the Gathering sales are high enough, I will draw more than one name!!

The great thing is that this month (from October 1 to 31 only), for any Gathering that reaches a minimum sales total of $500 or more, CTMH will bump up the rewards one level.  Instead of getting $95 in free product and one item at 50% off, they will be giving $115 in FREE product and TWO items at 50% off. 

There are still rewards for levels below $500 so no worries ... a Gathering of only $175 will still receive $30 in Free product so will definitely be selecting someone to win (unless no one decides to play along with me ...lol).  Each Gathering only needs a minimum of two orders to qualify and I will be ordering something for sure.  (Because I don't have enough stuff to last a lifetime already ...LMAO!)

Join me!  Email me with your name and you can play along with us!  The more we get, the more rewards and the more names I can draw for free stuff!

Want to do your own Gathering or Virtual Gathering?  I can help you out with that, too!

October Challenge

Happy Fall everyone!  The leaves are turning amazing colors around here.  It makes me happy.  Love fall!

I am giving you a couple of challenges to choose from this month.  Pick one to do and you could win a package of last month's promotion:  Triple Play!!!

One of the three mini albums you can make using the Triple Play kit!

Your first option is to use this sketch ... I LOVE sketches!  They really get my scrapping mojo flowing. (Sketch from the So Sketchy blog)

OR
Create a layout using FIVE different patterned papers on the layout.
Post a link to your creation in the comments section OR post a picture in the photo section of my CTMH with Lisa group on Facebook.


Can't wait to see your creations!

18 September 2010

No September Challenge

Since I am so far behind that I think I am first, I am  not posting a challenge this month.  Summer was so busy for everyone that no one had time for the last two anyway and with back to school this month and getting used to a school routine again, I decided to give it a rest this month.  :-)

I will be back with a new Challenge in October ... and don't forget Oct 2 is National Card Making Day!

I had hoped to have something fun going on for that day but turns out I have to work even though I had asked for it off.  Boooooo!  Ah well.  Gotta pay for my addiction hobby one way or another.  :-)

August DT Projects

This month I gave the girls:
and told them to go to town!

This is what Irma did for you!  She cut the clear cards apart and linked them together using hinges to make this super cute photo stand. 



Nikki stuck with the cards as they are and incorporated a couple of the CTMH stamp sets.  Her first one, adding in D1217 - Free Spirit and for the second one she used Cherish the Moment (May 2010 Stamp of the Month).  They both turned out so cute and the word circles fits inside the round card perfectly!!!  Great idea.



I can't wait to see what they do with Septembers stuff!  Let's just say it will be
Magnifique!  LOL

03 September 2010

July DT Projects ...

For this month, the girls were given papers from the X7125B Zippidee paper packet line along with some co-ordinating accessories.  :-)  I also challenged them to 'alter' something and here is what they came up with!!!

These are from Nikki.  Awesome scrappy pages about her boys fishing along with some detail shots.  Super cute!  She took some of the Dimensional elements and inked and stamped them as her form of altering.  :-)





Here is Irma's project for the month.  She took an old tea bag box and made it something totally new and ca-ute!!!!  Great way to repurpose something that would just get tossed out!  Plus she used the leftovers to make a matching mini book! 




Are these girls amazing or what???  So lucky to have them on my team!