The Home Stretch

I was WAY too excited to finally surpass the 50 mark the other day in my cardmaking. AND I've been going SO gangbusters I MAY even make it to my goal of 100 cards by Saturday! Of course....I have homework to do... ;) hahaha I'm up over 60 at the moment - 100 here I come!

One week to go!

Cardmaking is at an all-time HIGH in this house!! Can't WAIT for next week's craft sale!!

Getting Ready

Well, except for the H1N1 flu scare going around in my little household right now, and school doing its best to kick my butt...there's been an awful lot of Christmas card making going on!!










These are all in prep for the upcoming Craft sale I'm participating in hosted by my friend - she makes fantastic crafts and was kind enough to allow me to come peddling our wonderful CTMH products along with whatever cards I have made up! PLUS there will also be my other girlfriend with her BEAUTIFUL jewelry creations - if you're in Niagara on November 7th you should REALLY come check it out!!

Saturday, November 7th, 9am - noon, at 77 Dunvegan Road in St. Catharines.

Christmas Comes Early?

Soooo...I've been working on Christmas cards lately - I'm having WAY too much fun with my Wishes book! (Mr. Man might be ready to burn it...hahaha He's such a good sport!!)

Here's the first 12 fruits of my labour!! Using Evensong, Evergreen and Say it in Style stamp sets and various accessories :) but LOTS of Prisma Glitter!

And each of the six (times two!) cards!

October CTMH News

I cannot BELIEVE how quickly time is racing by right now. It's AWESOME! hahaha I'm one-month closer to the end of school - hooray!! Oh, I can't WAIT! And as my faithful readers (I'm sure there are just OODLES of you! hahaha) you should be excited too - no school = more creative time! WOOHOO!!

Anyway, here's this month's newsletter, hot off the presses! PLEASE do contact me with questions, comments, suggestions, whatever you may have. Leave a comment in the 'comment' section below this blog post or click here!

Happy October! :D

October 2009 News

In This Issue:
Studio Splurge
Grace Workshop
Upcoming Events
Tips and Techniques

Studio Splurge
October features a fantastic campaign for any of you who have been thinking about starting your own fun-filled CTMH career!! When you join CTMH in October and successfully complete our wonderful Straight To The Top program (which lands you $30-$200 worth free product ALREADY!) then get your first TEN Studio J layouts printed FREE, an additional $150+ value! Yes, this means we are gearing up more than EVER to launch Studio J next year - see www.studioj.com for information and details and ME for questions!!

Grace Workshop
Introducing this month's workshop, Grace, including a fantastic, whimsical EXCLUSIVE stamp set only available in your workshop kits! I'd like to hold this month's workshop on Oct. 29th and will be placing the order on the 15th - please PLEASE RSVP by then so we have your kits here and ready to go!!


AND now it's easier than ever to participate in the wonderful new workshop program! If you can't attend the physical event you can still order your workshop kits including full step-by-step assembly instructions online at rking.myctmh.com or even get the current workshop kits as a hostess bundle when you host a gathering! Ask me for details!

Upcoming Events
This month my place will be open this Thursday, the 8th, and Tuesday, the 20th for your cropping pleasure! Please let me know if you can or plan to attend as I have a tiny house and space is limited. AND we'll be collecting your $2 donations to Operation Smile, which will entitle you to use whatever I have that you don't and want/need to use. I have a pretty good stock-pile of stuff.... hahaha

ALSO, mark your calendars and CONTACT ME ASAP - I will SHORTLY be sending out registration forms for our very first "Stamp Camp!" This event will be ALL DAY November 21st at my mom's house in Georgetown. Again, space will be limited so you MUST register as soon as possible. We are hoping this event to happen 'regularly' alternating between Georgetown and St. Catharines, so if you can't make the travel distance this time around we haven't forgotten about you! Watch your inboxes for additional information including registration forms!!

Tips and Techniques - Chalk Popping
Supply List:
VersaMark Pad (z891)
Soft Chalks
Sponge Daubers (z726)
Stamp Set of Choice

Step 1: Using VersaMark ink, stamp desired image on paper (can use regular cardstock OR technique is great when used with B&T Duos paper!)
Step 2: Using a Sponge Dauber, apply a light colour of Soft Chalks to the entire stamped image.
Step 3: Allow VersaMark ink to dry slightly, then apply a slightly darker coordinating shade of Soft Chalks in a circular motion to the edges of the stamped image, giving image a shaded look.

That's all for now!! Happy October!
(PS - don't forget to check out this month's Stamp of the Month - it's SO cute! AND don't forget to place your CHRISTMAS ORDERS or order Gift Certificates!!)

A Twitterpated Thanks

So at Little Miss' daycare they threw her a birthday party for turning two (I can't believe how FAST the time flies!! Everyone TELLS you it does but I don't think you can appreciate it until it's GONE! GAH!!)

Little Miss felt it appropriate to make thank-you cards for her party throwers and present givers - SO unneccessary!! WHAT a lucky girl!!


Obviously, she opted to work with the BEAUTIFUL 'Twitterpated' paper pack, a 4x4 card pattern from Wishes, 'You're a Hoot' stamp set, soft chalks, blending pen, edge distressor, embossing stuff, a variety of accessories - brads, ribbon, etc.

TOO cute! :)

A shortened stamp-camp report.

So blogging has recently, you may have noticed, TOTALLY gone by the way-side. It's sad. I'm a slacker, I know. It's not on purpose, it's just....INSANITY around me lately.

September brought: the new idea book & launch party, Little Miss's second birthday, the first day of school (I'm officially a fourth-year student now!), (followed quickly by the first week of school, first few days of school, the first assignments and quizzes of school.....OY!), Mom had knee surgery....somewhere in all that muddled-ness was MY birthday.... OY! STOP THE RIDE - I WANNA GET OFF!! hahaha

Sooooooo......... here FINALLY are some pics from Stamp Camp, though my 'report' will be much more sparse than if I'd had a chance to get it up closer to the end of the actual event. My SINCEREST apologies. I can't guarantee it won't happen again, but I'll do my best.

Just look how excited Spo is to be driving me to stamp camp!! THANKS, SPO!!


Here's the Royal Family table... we scrapbookers sure know how to take up some space, eh?



This little gal is 12, and made this BEAUTIFUL layout while we were there - she won second-place for layouts-made-at-stamp-camp - YES working with CTMH is THAT easy!


Suzy Scrapper working up a storm! (AND the proud mama of the 2nd-place winner!)


St. February trying to ignore the camera... ;) (Suzy's sister!)


And THIS, ladies and gentlemen, is The Brae-er. She's a fantastic gal and a lot of fun to get better acquainted with AND if I understand correctly she is to blame for at least half of the organization of these fantastic events I get to go to, so KUDOS and a million thanks! :)

Volume 2

I have NOT forgotten about the stamp camp report - just been enjoying the last few days with Little Miss before classes started today. BACK to the grindstone of school and I'll be reporting in...SOON!! (I know I always say that, but hold me to it this time!)

September 2009 News
Volume 2

In This Issue:

* Fall/Winter Idea Book
* National Stamping Month
* Workshops/Crops
* Christmas

Fall/Winter Idea Book
WELL we had a FANTASTIC time at the Idea Book Launch last Friday -thanks ALL those who came out to celebrate with me! There were lots of prizes and lots of fun, not to mention playing with the new eyelets and yummy food (thanks, Mom!) And a big congratulations to Heather Brown who won the title of 'hostess' for the evening, walking away with $100 in free product!!

If you DIDN'T make it but want to see the book, let me know!! Book a party, come to a workshop, or just BEG me for one and I may be able to help you out. (Or just visit my website!)

National Stamping Month
Don't forget that September is 'National' Stamping Month and that Close To My Heart is celebrating by giving away a FANTASTIC everything-you-need card kit including a fantastic d-size stamp, papers, inks, accessories, and the how-to instructions for 16 cards! The kit is available while supplies last until September 30th for $49.95 OR earn it free by purchasing $75-worth in stamps (EASY to do in this new catalogue!), hosting a gathering in September with sales of $500+ OR signing up as a consultant! It's THAT easy!

IF you have already ordered the kit and are looking for guidance LET ME KNOW and we'll set up a Card-Kit Assembly workshop - there ARE instructions but for any first-timers it can be a little bit daunting. LET ME SHOW YOU HOW!!

Workshops/Crops
SPEAKING of workshops, as mentioned at the launch party CTMH has come up with a GREAT new workshop program - there are fliers attached about the upcoming September workshop(s). The basic gist is for $37.50 get your level 2 paper pack, an EXCLUSIVE stamp set, ONLY AVAILABLE in your workshop kits - not in the idea book, not online, not through your consultant on a supply order - coordinating accessories, and the how-to for one two-page layout and six cards PLUS add a couple extra pieces of cardstock to your workshop supplies to stretch that paper pack to another two-page layout (or forget the cards and just do the layouts). It's FANTASTIC, EASY, FUN, YOU decide what you want to do, and they will be up and running SOON! Each month I will be offering one each of the scrapbooking and cardmaking workshops. So check out the attached flier and contact me to sign up!

And I will occasionally be hosting crops at my house in my newly tidied and organized basement! Watch for upcoming dates in your newsletters, on Facebook, or contact me to see what's going on!

Christmas
The FINAL thing for September's news!! PHEW! And I KNOW that Christmas isn't until December, but you know, if you're a paper-crafter, that it's time to at least plan when you'll be completing your Christmas projects to avoid last-minute all-night card-making sessions!!

I ALSO wanted to just take a second to remind everyone that CTMH makes a GREAT Christmas present...you just have to give me some notice!! If you'd like some of our fantastic new product under the tree for you this year make sure to leave your wish list lying around with my website, e-mail address, and/or phone number! OR e-mail ME your significant others' information and I can contact HIM! (What man wouldn't love to have his Christmas shopping THAT easy??) I can also make up fancy gift certificates for any occasion and am happy to offer gift-wrapping for your ease, too! So DON'T leave it to the last minute for yourself or whoever you're shopping for.

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.

What's going on???

I have no idea if people read this blog and if you do if you read my main blog, but if you do or don't and you're wondering where I've been...I just wrote all bout it.

I'm trying, desperately, to get my basement tidied up so that there will be room for a long folding table so we can have crops and workshops and all sorts of fun down there, but at the moment it looks like a losing battle.

And there have been no pictures of artwork lately because when I take them and then upload them they're always turned sideways and I don't know WHAT the heck or how to fix it and have literally not had a chance to get Mr. Man's help yet.

It's driving me nuts, too.

Where's July??

Okay, so keeping this thing updated has NOT been going well. My camera is conspiring against me, I'm certain. Every time I take pictures of my work and/or stuff coming up they flip the wrong way on here and I'm not savvy enough to flip them back - Mr. Man does some weird thing in GIMP to fix it... OY.

Needless to say, I'm not thrilled. I'm ALSO working on it, except Mr. Man's and my schedules lately have not lined up at ALL soooo....

Just bear with me. Remember you love me. And if you love me a little less right now....at least CTMH still rocks! hahaha I WILL BE BACK!!


(Yes, this is also on my main blog but I just thought you should know it applies to HERE too! ;)

It's about TIME!

Okay okay, I'm back with what I think is some cool stuff.

A little while ago I was chatting with my mom about my little side-career here with Close To My Heart and how much I LOVE LOVE LOVE what I'm doing. It can be a little frustrating, though, because as the title of this blog suggests I'm a student, so MOST of the year I hardly have time to myself to THINK let alone scrapbook, make cards, or run my business! PHEW!! And, honestly, before I joined CTMH I wasn't a scrapbooker - I knew NOTHING about scrapbooking, paper-crafting, or anything. I used to do like, 'photo journals' - just glue the pictures down and write about them!! But then I was so madly in love with Little Miss I wanted to do a little more, yet not TOO much, for her. Anyway, I quickly stumbled upon CTMH, SIGNED up, and the rest is history!!

SO Mom a little while ago mentioned that even with the setbacks I have with my creative-time and everything that it's fantastic that I am in this business because I get so much family scrapbooking done, which I realized was true. Even though it's not all currently in order or totally finished or whatever, it's getting done, which is great. THEN I thought, nuts to THAT I don't ONLY want to do work-related-scrapbooking! So we bought a brand-new album and some fantastic supplies and I'm incorporating some of my old not-so-great work in with my new I-know-what-I'm-doing work and making Little Miss a book. A baby book, I guess, only it will probably go on longer than the 'baby' period - she's 21 months and has yet to have that first hair cut!! hahaha



Do you see just ONE of the amazing products I found in the Idea Book to get things together (and finally off my desk!!):

Memorabilia Pockets!! Oh how I love them!! They worked beautifully to hold in Little Miss' hospital...anklets (hahaha!) as well as the card with her information and my hospital bracelet - the card is made of cardstock but is it all archival acid-free paper, pen and marker??? Doesn't MATTER 'cause it's in its own POCKET!

Anyway, I was super-stoked about this. And don't worry - there are other pages with her name, DOB, weight etc. etc. I'm not an idiot. Well...about this, at least! ;)

OH, and DON'T FORGET to check the deal-a-day today - IT'S ANOTHER GRAB BOX! WAY too much fun! I know some of you (oh, okay, US - me too!) have been really enjoying deal-a-day and the anticipation of the (superb!) grab-box deals, so DO NOT forget today's!!

Apologies

Just wanted to say a quick SORRY for the lack of interesting material this week - it's been a surprisingly busy week!! And I DO have some neat things to post but I haven't had a chance to bust out the camera - boo!!

On a GOOD note, my team has expanded by one more, which is fantastic - she's BRILLIANT so far and way too much fun to work with. I'm really looking forward to 'training' sessions and all that goes with newbies - she's SO enthusiastic it's hilarious and infectious, which makes it so so much fun!!

Anyway, be checking back Friday for sure for new posts and pictures and do NOT forget to be checking the website for each day's deal-a-day!! Today's is free craft jars (GREAT storage solutions for your mini-medley accents collections, brads, etc.) with a stamp purchase, and as always, the discounted shipping. There's been ALL SORTS of great things, so keep checking!!

Thanks for sticking with me - it'll get better again soon, PROMISE! :D

Another grab box!

Today's deal-a-day is ANOTHER grab box, only this one's the biggest YET!!

I got a message on facebook from a customer who grabbed the first grab box that came available this month:

"I got my grabbox!!! The big one! It is awesome! I love EVERYTHING. Matching colours and everything. 3 great stamp sets, one dimensional page, a card kit, cranberry my accents & base pages & a 12 month 'magic moments' scrapbook kit."

SOOOOOOOOoo......yeah. Grab boxes really ARE that cool!!

Check out today's at my website and don't forget to KEEP CHECKING each day for a new deal! There have been some GREAT buy-a-stamp-get-this-free deals going on. New deals are posted at 11am and taken down the next day at 10am, so you have a 23 hour window in which to shop.

Hope you're all having as much fun as I am!

GRAB BOX!

It's another GRAB BOX DAY!! WOOHOO!!

Today's fantastic deal-a-day deal is another grab box, but this one's a bit smaller than last time: for $49.95 get $99.95 worth!

LAST time there were grab boxes they DID sell out, eventually, so...think about it, but not TOO long!!

Happy shopping, and long live the grab box!