December Deals!

Only 22 shopping days until Christmas! Close to My Heart is a great place to shop for the crafters on your list.

The December Stamp of the Month features adorable "Special Care" labels which can be cut with the Cricut Art Philosophy Cartridge. These stamps are perfect for cards, scrapbook pages, gift tags and anything you'd like to add a message of of love to.

This stamp set is available until December 31st only. With a purchase of $50 or more, you can have this stamp set for only $5! (Regular price: $17.95)

Remember, the products from the Close To My Heart Holidays from the Heart Gift Guide are still available, until December 31st, and have great products for all kinds of projects: cards, scrapbook pages, mini-albums, tags, bags and more!

Get something for all the crafters on your list, then get something for yourself! With every $100 purchase from the Fall/Winter 2013 Idea Book or Holidays from the Heart Gift Guide, you can choose a "Star" item from the Gift Guide for FREE! Choose from the Sparkle & Shine Paper Packet, Sparkle & Shine Complements Dimensional Elements, Magical Days stamp set, Santa Claus stamp set, Mary and Babe stamp set, Trim the Tree stamp set, Charming Chevrons stamp set, Banner Wishes stamp set, Lifting Spirits stamp set, Lots of Love stamp set, or Angel Friends stamp set.

There's still time to host your own Gathering in December too! This time of year is so busy, but you can invite friends and family to shop through your Online Gathering and earn free Hostess Rewards for yourself! Contact me today to set up your own Gathering!

Note: To guarantee delivery before Christmas, place your order or host your Gathering no later than December 9th.

Circle Journal: Mandy and Heather

Here are the next two pages for the Circle Journal project.

Based on a sketch from Make It From Your Heart Volume 2

Mandy's scrapbook centres on her children's school days. I had the honour of making her daughter's Grade 1 page. This was a real treat for me as I don't often have the opportunity to do girl pages!

This page is an example of how you can use off-theme products on a page. I did use a stamp set from the Scholastic Workshops on the Go kit and Varsity Alphabet stamps, which are both school themed. But the paper line is La Belle Vie and I also  used additional off theme stamps: the chicken wire stamp from the Distressed Backgrounds set and a sentiment from Sweet Moments.

The lined paper from La Belle Vie gives the page a notebook feel and provides a spot for journaling.

Instead of using primary colours, which are a mainstay on pages I make about school days, I made La Belle Vie Pink, Outdoor Denim the stars against the neutral backdrop of Saddle cardstock.

With the help of a little bling, because it is a girly page after all, and Tiny Type Epoxy alphabet, the page was finished off with those small details that bring memories to life.

Sketch from Even More Scrapping!

The theme for Heather's book is places to visit in Durham. She asked for a page about an interesting place with spots for photos to be added later. Her intention is to visit all the places and add her own photos. What a great idea for this project!

The place I selected was the Bowmanville Valley. It's one of my favourite places in the autumn when the salmon are running.

The first think you'll likely notice about this page is that it doesn't feature CTMH papers. The papers are from Crate Paper and the cardstock for the photo mats is Bazzil. But the background cardstock is Desert Sand and the yellow cardstock is Crème Brulee. This is a perfect example of how CTMH colours coordinate with paper lines from other companies.

I've been waiting for a special page to use my Arbour Wooden Shapes and was so happy to finally open the package. I found the wooden shapes took the inks very easily--I just swiped them with my ink pads (Barn Red and Autumn Terracotta)--and dried fairly quickly. To create a two-tone effect on the maple leaf, I first swiped the entire leaf with Autumn Terracotta and while it was still wet, swiped the edges with Barn Red. The red bled into the orange a bit and gave a nice look to the leaf. I finished it off by colouring the stem with a New England Ivy marker.

Here's a tip: When adhering wooden shapes to each other or to your layout, use a strong adhesive like Liquid Glass.

Keyboard Uppercase is one of my favourite letter stamps and is excellent for creating subtitles, like the one on the edge of the small journaling spot. The main title was created with Old World Alphabet.

Again a little bling and a Canvas Badge Button (stamped with an image from the Honeycomb stamp set) finish off the page.

My scrapbook club is about halfway done the Circle Journal project and we're having so much fun with it, we're already looking ahead to the next one!

Watch for the next Circle Journal blog post--it will be on Scrapbooking Tips and Techniques!

Sneak Peek: Day 4

My latest home decor piece using the Display Tray.

I love seeing my scrapbooking around my house. Whether it's mini-albums in a basket, a favourite layout in a picture frame or a canvas on the wall, I get a lot of joy out of seeing something I've lovingly made, that's celebrating the people I love, displayed in my home.

The designers at Close To My Heart know exactly how I feel and have neatly organised several new products to make embellishing my home as easy as embellishing a scrapbook page. With Designed Decor (home decor with heart), crafters are encouraged to create artwork with substance.

Turn your crafting projects into enduring works of art with our new Designed Decor products. These art and memory displays are durable enough to last from your child's first finger paintings through junior high art class and beyond.

Designed Decor Black Frame

The mini clothes pins and hooks, sold separately, are ideal for clipping artwork or photos to our new wired frames.

Use the Designed Decor Black Frame, with five wires, to organise and display precious photos or important pieces of paper--like tickets, notes and business cards.

The Designed Decor Colonial White Frame uses honeycomb wire for displaying artwork, photos, accents and more.

Both frames come with sawtooth hangers on the back.

In addition to the Display Tray and the Hinged Display Tray seen in previous Idea Books, the Autumn/Winter 2013 Idea Book introduces the Designed Decor Flip Stand Album.. This clear acrylic stand has rings for displaying photos up to 6 1/2" x 5 3/4". The stand also has a slot for inserting a background image.

Designed Decor Frame Kit

 The Designed Decor Frame Kit comes with everything you need to create a stylish, decorative art piece to display in your home. The kit includes a Designed Decor Colonial White Frame, My Acrylix Frame Kit Stamp Set (B size), 33 Kraft Paper Die Cut Shapes, 6 Mini Wooden Clothes Pins and 1 yard of Baker's Twine Hemp.

This is an excellent project for a workshop Home Gathering! Your family and friends will love crafting this stunning frame to display in their own homes.

It's easy to set up your own Workshop Gathering. Contact me to select a date. Invite your family and friends. Confirm how many kits you need 2 weeks before the Gathering. Get your crafting space ready. On the Gathering Day, I will arrive with everything your and your guests need to create the project, including additional inks and stamps, and will provide instruction and guidance to help your guests create a special keepsake--and having fun crafting the whole time!

Contact me today to book your own Gathering with the Designed Decor Frame Kit!

Sneak Peek: Day 3

Do you have a box of odds and ends that are sentimental to you, but you really don't know what to do with? I do. It's an old cigar box and has a few pictures from my childhood, foreign currency, ticket stubs and even one of those key chain photo things from Canada's Wonderland.

My Crush Modville

They're all special things I don't really want to part with, but not anything I'd want to make a full scrapbook or even 12" x 12" page with. Just small memory tokens.

Well, CTMH knows most of us have a little box, or envelope, or drawer of these things and has come up with a way for us to preserve these small memories in one place: My Crush.

My Crush is a memory keeping system that's fast, easy and convenient. Find it. Crush it. Love it.

My Crush books give you a safe place to quickly hold the precious everyday memorabilia while life is happening. Grab a glue stick, some tape, or a paperclip and attach your little things on the printed pages of these handy-size books. It's a way to capture your memories on the go.

The two new My Crush books each include sixty 10" x 7" full-colour, designed pages in a wire-bound, hardcover book. Adhere memorabilia and photos to the pages, write some quick journaling, and then close the book until next time.

My Crush Modville Book

Its small, portable size makes it easy to carry around in a purse or backpack so you can quickly memory-keep, even amidst the busyness of life. If finding time for traditional scrapbooking is a tricky thing right now, start a My Crush book and document life as it happens. No paper trimmer required.

My Crush Bluebird

My Crush comes in two fashionable designs: Modville and Bluebird.  Each also has two assortments to chose from. Add stickers, alphabets and envelopes to embellish and personalise you book You can also use the exclusive coordinating B-size stamp sets to take your book to the next level. Finish it off with your choice of embellishments, like Washi Tape and Shimmer Trim for even more flair!

Whether you want to use My Crush like a smash book, a journal or a mini-album, this is a must-have for creative crafters who want to document the special moments in life.

Sneak Peek: Day 1

Welcome to the Sneak Peek for the upcoming Autumn/Winter 2013 Idea Book! Visit my blog daily over the next 10 days for a sneak peek at my favourite new products. On August 1st, The Big Reveal, you'll be able to browse the new Idea Book online.

Can't wait? Receive a FREE Idea Book with your July order! Remember, this is the last month to order many of the amazing products in the current Idea Book--they'll be gone as of July 31st. Place your order ASAP! (Just visit my website and join the Last Chance Gathering for a chance to win the Mystery Hostess Rewards!)

Washi Wonder $10 (D-size)

The Party Is On $8 (C-size)

Family Photo $6 (B-size)

Speaking of Hostess Rewards, the exclusive new Hostess Stamp Sets are one of my favourite new products!

When you host your own Gathering (online or in person) and earn Hostess Rewards (starting with only $150 in sales), in addition to the Hostess Bundles you've seen before, you can chose to use your Rewards to purchase exclusive Hostess Stamp Sets. These beautiful stamp sets are offered at reduced price and start at only $4!

 

Bright All Night $4 (A-size)

Whether you want to make quick cards or create fabulous pages, the Hostess Stamp Sets offer you a range of designs for a great

price.

And you don't have to wait until the new Idea Book comes out to book your Gathering! Contact me right away to book your summer or fall Gathering!





July Specials

Stamp of the Month

The July Stamp of the Month is so delicious! Beautiful fruit images with sweet sentiments. You'll use this stamp set over and over for cards and scrapbook pages.

This stamp set is available only during July for $5 with a $50 purchase

.

Big Discount! 

 The Workshops on the Go^® canvas art kit includes an exclusive stamp set, a 12" × 12" canvas display, Cashmere baker’s twine, clear Sparkles, Sparkles flourish, Dimensional Elements in two colour schemes, and an instructional brochure. The workshop is perfect for making as a group or on your own. The Workshops on the Go^® canvas art kit has a retail value of $39.95 but is only $19.95 during July.

There is no qualifying purchase or minimum necessary!

Hurry! This is a "while supplies last" offer.

Patriotic Stamp Set Still Available!

If you missed it on your June order, there's still time to order the Patriotic stamp sets. When you purchase these exclusive patriotic stamp sets, Close To My Heart will donate a portion of the proceeds to either the USO (for the US) or the Canadian Hero Fund (for Canada), charitable organisations that support military families.

Order any of these great products through my online store, www.susanagomes.ctmh.com, or contact me to hold your own Gathering and earn Hostess Rewards.

June Specials!

Wow! There is so much happening in June! Feel like you deserve a little reward for all the hard work you're doing this month. CTMH makes it easy to treat yourself with FOUR great offers in June.

STAMP OF THE MONTH

June Stamp of the Month

Every month, CTMH offers a gorgeous D-size stamp set for only $5 with a $50 purchase. This month's stamp set is perfect for colours, cards and scrapbook pages.

MAKE IT A BANNER DAY!
This month only, with the purchase of $25 in product that includes a stamp set, you get the My Creations Mini-Banner for FREE! This cute mini-banner can be used as a home decor item, on scrapbook pages and cards and even to make a mini-album. The sturdy chipboard can be inked, distressed or just covered in patterned paper. For fun ideas on using the mini-banner, check out this YouTube video.

THANK YOU!
Close To My Heart is making a new Autumn/Winter 2013 stamp set, A True Thank You, available

immediately and will donate 100% of the profits from the sales of the from May 23 to June 30 to the American Red Cross to aid the Oklahoma victims. Help CTMH provide relief to those affected by the devastating Oklahoma tornadoes by purchasing A True Thank You stamp set for only $2.95 today!

STRONG AND FREE
Show your support of troops and country with new patriotic stamp sets—available only from June 1 to July 31, 2013! As a show of our support, Close To My Heart will donate $3 from each B-size My Acrylix® Courage stamp set and $5 from each D-size My Acrylix® Strong and Free stamp set to the Canadian Hero Fund, which supports spouses and children of fallen Canadian military troops by providing post-secondary education. Show your support
today—stamp style!