September 09 Newsletter

PHEW! We had stamp camp this weekend, which I absolutely intend to post pictures from and report on (hopefully tomorrow - check back!) BUT in the meantime here's Vol. 1 (that's right, TWO volumes!) of September's newsletter for your reading pleasure!


SEPTEMBER 2009 NEWS
Volume 1

In This Issue:

* SPLIT ISSUE
* LAUNCH PARTAY
* TIPS AND TECHNIQUES

Split Issue
There are SO MANY amazing things going on with Close To My Heart right now with the NEW IDEA BOOK (live tomorrow, September 1st, people!) that I HAD to split this month's newsletter. This first issue will deal mainly with PRE-launch party news and then you'll have to excuse me as I invade ONE more time this month for post-launch party news! BUT make sure to check it ALL out because it's FANTASTIC!! SO, without FURHTER ado....

Launch Party
THAT'S RIGHT folks!! Tomorrow marks the first day of the brand-spankin'-new Idea Book, and let me tell you this is a book you do NOT want to miss. WOWzers. We're partying on FRIDAY to celebrate - FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 4TH, 7:35PM at MY HOUSE. Now, we ALWAYS have a blast at these parties, but you do definitely want to make it on Friday if you can:

* The first three people to book gatherings to happen before Oct. 31st will receive a free stamp pad of their choice;
* First five orders that reach $100 (before tax) will get free shipping (if you qualify for the dollar amount but don't have your order in fast enough 1/2 price shipping, still!)
* Place an order for $35 or more to get your idea book for free
* get a ticket for our prize(s) draw for every additional guest you bring
* And of course, as always, the grand prize of the evening is HOSTESS REWARDS! JUST FOR COMING you have a shot at at LEAST $30 free product from CTMH - in the past this prize has ranged anywhere from $30 to $100+ in FREE STUFF!!
* NOT to mention other great prizes, perks, and a first-hand viewing of some of the greatest new products on the market: love eyelets but hate the hammering?? CTMH's NEW SOFT-SET EYELETS SOLVE that problem! Love our albums but hate the screws?? NEW SNAPEASE ALBUM SYSTEM makes adding pages a SINCH - you can throw away those screwdrivers! And do you ever wish you could erase your misplaced adhesive or rub ons?? How about a fantastic new eraser designed specifically for those tacky situations!? All this and MUCH more in the new book!

SO put on your party-hat, grab a friend, and come check out the latest and greatest with great food, great ladies, and ME!

PLEASE contact me to RSVP (or for directions!) by THURSDAY at the absolute latest to ensure I have enough goodies to go around! I can't WAIT!

Tips and Techniques - Base and Shade Stamping*
Step 1 - Using the Exclusive Inks stamp pad of your choice, stamp your desired solid base image three times without reinking, creating a first, second, and third generation image.
Step 2 - Using the same Exclusive Inks stamp pad, stamp shade image directly over the third generation base image.
Step 3 - To add dimension, cut out the stamped image and sponge the edges using the foam tool and the Exclusive Inks pad.
*this technique is featured on page 9 of the Fall/Winter 2009 Idea Book including step-by-step photos for ease!

Getting Excited!

I sadly don't have any creative work to share with you today, BUT feel like I'm finally on top of the flea problem we've been having AND we're getting the house BETTER than back together!!

My mom came down today to help me put things in my war zone office after having taken it ALL out to treat for fleas (and vacuum, and treat, and vacuum......) she's been down lately to help with the kitchen (THAT was a big project), Mr. Man and I have gotten on top of our basement (HELLO workshop space!! BOOyah!)....it was finally time to relocate the surfaces in my office.

We're not DONE by any means, but we're on the way.

Which gives me the mental capacity to get EXCITED again about this awesome job again! WOOHOO!! And why on Earth not?!?!

Tomorrow night at my place I'm throwing a gathering for my gals from soccer - YES we're tough on the field but we like to do some crafty things, too! It's going to be SO much fun to sit down with these ladies in SUCH a different setting!! I've been with them on outdoor fields, indoor fields, to bars (interesting...) and restaurants... THIS is going to be a blast! Let's see how well that corner-kick translates into stamping!! hahaha

Saturday I'm off to Barrie for the latest installment of Stamp Camp (read all about our last trip here) which is going to be awesome. I got my order in on Monday just overflowing with fantastic new stuff I can't wait to get my hands on so I can SHOW IT OFF...

...NEXT FRIDAY at the Idea Book Launch Party!

So, you see? LOTS going on, LOTS to get excited about (I mean, I haven't even REALLY broke and told you about all the FANTASTIC, AMAZING, SUPER COOL NEW stuff coming out and you should hopefully be catching at least SOME of the enthusiasm! BOOM baby!!)

I'll try to get some photos of my work tomorrow to post 'cause I know that's the best part of a scrapbooker's blog - we will master this little thing, really!!

In the meantime, goodnight, sleep tight, and don't let the bed bugs...or in my case FLEAS!...bite!!

For the men in life.

I get asked ALL THE TIME for ideas or to borrow stamp sets that are more 'masculine' in nature. We ALL have oodles of beautiful flower stamps and cute creatures but.... My mom has a beautiful set from CTMH for golf as my dad's a HUGE golfer, but I borrowed that set last year for his birthday.

So how the HECK do you make a card for a guy without having 'masculine' stamps???

THIS is where the fun comes in! BE CREATIVE!

OBVIOUSLY I made this card a while ago, hence the Father's Day sentiment, but that can just as obviously be changed to say what the heck ever you want!! Oh the beauty of making your own cards!!

I used one of the WISHES workshop patterns for this sucker and then went back to my Emporium Workshop products to find this ever-so-fantastic Connections stamp set. I stamped a few circles, some 'bursts', cut them out (SO easy with my micro-tip scissors, though it would have been even EASIER with my coluzzle...alas, I was not at home), and pasted them down...wherever!! VOILA!

SO when you're looking to do a card for a guy and you DON'T want to stamp pretty roses or hearts or googly-eyed animals take a peek through your stamps for something a little more abstract - borders, circles, frames, stars, backgrounds, flourishes... You've GOT something in those carrier cases I KNOW you do!! :)

Something to get excited about

CLICK HERE to check out the new Studio J website, learn about what it is and when it's coming, and get as ridiculously excited as I AM!! WOOHOO!!!!!!!!!!!!

Amen!

(you can buy this as a t-shirt here - tell them I sent you! LOVE it!)

August CTMH News

This is a copy of the monthly newsletter - if you want more information about anything PLEASE let me know i.e. Stamp Camp registration or whatever!!

AUGUST 2009 NEWS

In This Issue:
- Customer Thanks-a-bration!
- National Scrapbooking Month
- Stamp Camp
- Save the Date
- Tips and Techniques

Customer Thanks-a-bration!
My Close to my Heart business would be nothing without my wonderful customers and CTMH KNOWS it! SO we're having a THANKS-A-BRATION from August 3rd - 17th!! Place an order of $124.95 during that time and not ONLY will you get the FREE stamp of the month (which is REALLY REALLY cute this month!) but you'll also receive a current Level 2 paper packet (for a total of $44.45 FREE!!) and there's NO extra shipping or taxes on these items! It's a GREAT opportunity to score some fantastic, versatile products as a sincere THANK-YOU!! from us to you!

National Scrapbooking Month
September is 'National' Scrapbooking Month!! AND we are just so plum stoked about it we're starting our celebration EARLY! SO from August 18th - September 30th when you or your customers purchase a minimum of $75 in stamp sets (A, B, C, D, and E-size; some exclusions apply), you’ll receive a FREE Everyday Celebration card kit containing materials to handcraft 16 exquisite cards. Join the stamping festivities by making a qualifying purchase, or buy the kit outright for just $49.95. Hostesses and new Consultants can also get the card kit free during September. WOOHOO!!

Stamp Camp
If you read my scrapbooking blog then you may already know of all the fun we had at our last Stamp Camp in Barrie. Well, THIS time around it's not an overnighter, but EVERYONE is invited. It's on August 29th from 9am-5pm at Midhurst United Church. Cost is $25. Registration closes August 16th. I've attached the registration form which has a little bit more information - you can fill it out and get it and your money to ME or you can mail it right to the address specified on the form. And please do let me know if you have questions!!

Save the Date
The beginning of August means....we're quickly approaching time for our next Idea Book Launch party! HOORAY! I always have SO much fun when we do these and hope you do too!! THIS time the launch is at MY HOUSE on SEPTEMBER 4TH - additional details to follow, but please DO mark your calendars! The fall/winter idea book is always chalk FULL of fantastic new innovative products and ideas (like Snapease albums and digital scrapbooking - what??? Can't WAIT!) and we LOVE to give away prizes and FREE HOSTESS REWARDS for your attendance.

Tips and Techniques
Stamping with markers

Step 1 - Using the brush end of your Exclusive Inks markers, colour directly onto the desired areas of the stamp.
Step 2 - Hold the stamp and spray with a very fine mist gently onto the coloured areas to remoisten the ink and revive the colour. Stamp immediately onto cardstock.
Step 3 - Colour your image with the blending pen by lifting a small amount of ink from the brush end of your markers.