Avonlea Workshop on the Go Kit

I love the Avonlea papers. The mix of Avolean Teal, creams and browns is beautiful and calming. I love the shapes on the patterned papers and stamps too.

I knew I wanted to scrap something special with these beautiful papers and immediately thought of the photos I'd taken on Father's Day last year. The layout from the Avonlea Workshop on the Go Kit was perfect for these photos as well.

What I didn't realise until I began assembling the page, was I'd learn a new stamping technique!

Did you know you can use BOTH sides of an acrylic stamp? I never would have thought of it. If you have an image that's a symmetrical shape, you can stamp the reverse side of the stamp and get a "filled in" image of the shape. The Avonlea kit suggest stamping the reverse side of the doily stamp in second generation ink, then stamping the "regular" side of the stamp directly on top. The result is a perfectly shaped, tone-on-tone image.

I can't wait to try this technique with my other stamps!

Another feature I love about this kit is the velvet rub-ons. They're easy to use and add a great fuzzy texture to the page. Add a few gems and there's a lovely contrast of texture and sparkle.

Even though this kit provides enough product to complete the two double-page layouts, additional recipe box project plus some, I like these papers so much, I think I'm going to have to buy another pack!

Studio J! Try it Today!

October is a great time to try Studio J, Close To My Heart's online scrapbooking tool. This month's promotion offers a FREE Studio J double-pay layout for every 9 purchased. Buy 9 layouts, get the 10th free; buy 18 layouts, get 2 more free!

Best of all, you can try Studio J, anytime, for free. Just visit the Studio J area of my website, create an online account and start scrapping!

Studio J has streamlined the online scrapping process into 4 easy steps:

1. Start a New Project: This is the starting step. When you want to create a new page, or series of pages, click this button to begin.

2. Upload photos: Upload the photos you'd like to scrap directly to the Studio J website. The photos are stored in your project folder and are available for any projects you create in that folder. You could upload all your photos for a particular event and scrap multiple pages under the same project!

3. Select your layout: Studio J allows you to chose pre-made layout templates, give you the ability to alter them or start from scratch with your own design. It's easy to chose the perfect template with the drop down menu that sorts templates by number of photos.

4. Select your paper kit: Studio J has dozens of paper kits for you to chose from. Papers from the current Idea Book as well as papers from past Idea Books. Whatever your subject, there are multiple paper themes to chose from. And each paper kit comes with My Stickease digital stickers. The stickers include an alphabet, borders and different sized stickers. My Stickease may also include title, quotes, tags, frames and more. To make scrapping even easier and faster, Studio J will suggest paper arrangements for the template you've chose. Just select the one you like best!

Now get scrapping! You can change the papers, colours, embellishments , orientation and add text. You can add brads, ribbon, stitching and even distress the papers. Studio J makes altering your layouts easy by suggesting co-ordinating colours.

And you can do all this, make as many Studio J pages as you like, with no commitment. With no membership fees and no pre-paid access, you can use Studio J, as much as you like for free!

When you love your layouts and have decided to order, just check out, approve your layouts and place your order. Double-page layouts are only $6.95 each and come with free .jpeg files you can download within minutes of placing your order. For scrappers who only want .jpeg files, you can order those without ordering the printed pages, for only $2.95 per double-page layout.

I've said it before, I'm a dyed-in-the-wool paper crafter, but Studio J has transformed my hobby. My scrapbooks are almost up to date, I can easily share finished pages with family and friends via email or on Facebook, I'm saving time and money by working on Studio J. And there are no messy scraps to clean up afterwards!

Try it! You'll like it! I did!



Flirty & Fab

I don't often fall for papers with a lot of pink, but the beautiful Flirty papers grabbed my attention.

The Flirty paper pack has bold Raspberry and calm Desert Sand colours with a little bit of Goldrush thrown in. The co-ordinating chipboard elements include the lovely flower images from the papers as well as beautiful butterflies, leaves and even a tree.

The sentiments are autumn-themed and together, the paper packet and chipboard are perfect for photos set in a fall garden or outdoors.

But I couldn't wait for great fall photos. When I received my Flirty Workshop on the Go Kit (complete with the paper packet, chipboard, an exclusive C-size stamp set, gems and additional cardstock) I knew it would be perfect for summertime photos of a trip to Niagara.

My t-shirt goes great with these papers! As do the pinks and yellows of the flowers.

Dress up chipboard with bling!

I used the Botanical and Friendship Alphabet Large for the title, natural Hemp twine for the stitching and dressed up the chipboard with bling. The ink colours are New England Ivy and Goldrush.

As a bottom border, I stamped the leaf stamp repeatedly with New England Ivy ink and embossed with clear embossing powder.

I made a second layout using the Flirty kit, also about a Niagara Parks garden. For this layout, I used Goldrush cardstock as a base, which makes the Flirty Raspberry patterned paper really pop! I also used Colonial White cardstock for the title and journaling spot. The photo mat is made from New England Ivy cardstock and the edges of all the papers have been inked with Chocolate distressing chalk ink.

The lovely scalloped border across the bottom of the page was created using the Gratitude sentiment stamp from the Workshop on the Go kit. I simply stamped a row in New England Ivy across the bottom of page and covered the top 2/3 of the stamp with patterned paper. I added a gem to each scallop.

To create the journaling spot, I simply die cut the shape and inked the edges with Goldrush ink. I used the twiggy stamp with Goldrush ink; stamping it once in full colour and stamping again, without re-inking, for a softer image. For a final touch I added a chipboard butterfuly and different sized gems to both the journaling spot and butterfly wings.

The title is stamped using my new favourite alphabet stamp set: Token Alphabet. This stamp set offers several backgrounds for the inner circle enabling you to create a variety of looks with a single stamp set. For this title, I stamped the mesh background in Goldrush ink first, them stamped the letters directly over in New England Ivy ink. The chipboard sentiment "Beauty in..." is dressed up with 3 mico-mini gems in place of the ellipses.

To finish off this page, I added a large chipboard flower and vines as well as a tied off ribbon from the Designer Ribbon Pink Collection.

These two double page layouts, made with the Flirty Workshop on the Go Kit, are a beautiful addition to my album. And with lots of papers, cardstock, chipboard and bling left over, as well as the stamp set, I still have enough for another scrapbook page, cards or another project. What a great value!

The Big Reveal!

Here it is Scrappers! The Autumn/Winter 2012 Idea Book! Just click the link and start browsing.

The new Idea Book is full of new products and ideas. Here's a short list (yes, this is actually a SHORT list) of my favourites:

* Exclusive Inks Mini Pigment Pad Sets (pg. 3/$19.95): These 10 pad sets in 4 new colour families make it easy to purchase all the colours you need for stamping and colouring.

* Workshop on the Go Card Kits (pp. 22 & 66/$29.95): Everything you need to make 15 cards per kit and lovely stamps sets you'll use over and over again.

* Pear & Partridge Paper Packet (pg. 62/$9/95): It's whimsical and traditional. A beautiful Christmas palette with a burst of Smoothie. The pear and partridge images are just too cute!

* Jardin Stamp Set (pg. 39/417.95): These romantic images are perfect for Valentines and pages celebrating the one you love.

* Magic Potions Stamp Set (pg. 57/$13/95): These spooky apothecary labels are great for embellishing a Halloween page, or take them off the page and use them to decorate Halloween treat bags. Best of all, the Circut Artiste cartridge cuts all the labels for you!

* Tea Time Stamp Set and Outta This World Stamp Set (pp. 104-105/$13.95 each): For a girl or boy, the cutest birthday invitations are just a stamp away.

* Trinity Alphabet Stamp Set (pg. 115/$29/95): This stamp set should be in every scrapbookers collection. It has 3 versatile alphabets in one set as well as 2 number sets. The largest set is easy to trim and the smallest set is perfect for journaling. If you only buy one stamp set, this is the one to get.

*My Legacy Faux Leather Albums (pg. 121/$24.95): A great price for a great product. I've tried many different albums over the years, including the high-end ones, and this one is the best I've encountered, hands down! These are the only albums I'm buying here on in. (Make sure to get the Label Holders (pg. 122/$4.95) to easily identify your albums.)

* Burlap Ribbon (pg. 124/$7.95): It's rustic. You can stamp it, distress it, cut it into shapes. A must have for autumn pages.

* Velvet Rub Ons (pg. 126/4.94): You may have a hard time choosing between these 4 different rub on sets, but at this price, why not get them all?

* Display Tray (pg. 129/$19.95): Trending with scrapbookers everywhere, the display tray allows you to show off special photos and memorabilia. See page 89 for a dressed up tray.

* My Creations Canvass Journal (pg. 132/$8.95): So versatile and useful, for personal journals, notebooks, gifts. I'm going to be stocking up on these!

* Studio J (pp. 12-13): No more membership fees! New Express Collections! New papers! Best pricing! Digital scrapbooking is easier than ever!!

There are so many more new and amazing products. Pour yourself a cup of tea, sit back and enjoy flipping through and exploring each page. If you'd like your own hard copy of the catalogue, just email me.

When you've made up your wish list, contact me to book your own Home Gathering--the best way to start shopping!

Happy Shopping!

Stamp of the Month

Each month you can enjoy a new D-size stamp set, available for one month only, for just $5—that’s over 70% off retail! When you place an order of $50 or more in Close To My Heart products, you qualify for this special Stamp of the Month pricing. For customers who prefer to place smaller orders but would still like the stamp set, it's available to purchase at the regular price of $17.95.

These lovely stamp sets are only available from the first to the last day of the month and are not offered for sale at any other time. They are often themed and available a couple of months in advance of the occasion, allowing crafters lots of time to use their stamps and prepare cards and scrapbook pages ahead of time. For example, the Christmas theme stamp set is available in October, giving you most of October and all of November to prepare your Christmas cards!


July SOTM available until July 31, 2012

In addition, each stamp set comes with suggested ideas--cards and scrapbook pages--using the stamps. You can follow the pictures on the package, or you can visit my website and click on the Stamp of the Month link under the Special Promotions tab. There you'll find a supply list of items used to complete the projects as well as Helpful Hints on how to assemble the projects.

The July 2012 Stamp of the Month is a lovely set of inspirational sentiments that make great page titles and sayings for cards. This will quickly become a go-to set for graduation, friendship and anytime cards.

With a new month just around the corner, here's a sneak peek at the August Stamp of the Month.



August Stamp of the Month available August 1-31, 2012

The Baroque Borders set has a lovely old world flair. With large flourish stamps and classical shapes, this stamp set is perfect to adorn corners or create your own patterned paper. It's elegant enough to use for special occasion pages, such as weddings and anniversaries, and rustic enough to use for vacation and outdoor pages. Stamp in dark colours for a dramatic effect or in subtle tones for a subdued one.

The Stamp of the Month is a great value and a terrific way to build up your stamp collection with minimal cost!

Tomorrow's blog: THE BIG REVEAL!


Shopping and Saving

Shopping on my CTMH website is easy as 1-2-3: Visit, browse, buy.  Then in about a week, a package filled with your goodies arrives on your doorstep. It couldn't be easier!

You can shop on the website a couple of different ways. You can view the Idea Book online and jot down the items numbers of the products you're interested in. Then enter the item numbers in the product search box. Or you can click on the Shop tab and browse various categories: New Products, Special Promotions, My Reflections Scrapbook Products, My Acrylix Stamp Sets, Exclusive Papers, Exclusive Inks, Accessories, Albums and Accessories, Studio J Items, Circut Collection, Workshops on the Go Kits, Stamp of the Month, and While Supplies Last.

These categories are self-explanatory, but I want to draw your attention to 3 categories:

New Products
Clicking on this category will give you easy access to everything in the current Idea Book that is new and did not appear in the previous Idea Book. Here you'll quickly find all the new Workshops on the Go Kits, Accessories, My Acrylics Stamps and more. If you know the item you're after is exclusive to the current Idea Book or you're only interested in new products, not what has been available previously, shopping via the New Products tab will simplify and expedite your online shopping.

Special Promotions
Every month CTMH offers a special promotion, in addition to the Stamp of the Month, that offers a special incentive or special value to customers. The Special Promotion is often linked with a celebration--such as the Dotty For You papers offered to celebrate National Scrapbooking Month and the special stamp sets to celebrate National Stamping Month (look for that in September!). The Special Promotion in July is Perfect Pairs. (You still have time to take advantage of this great promotion. Visit my website for more details.) With orders of $75 or more, you receive a paper packet and matching embellishment, a Perfect Pair, for free! Visit the Special Promotions section of my website every month to discover what's new.

While Supplies Last
Did you know my website has a bargain bin? The While Supplies Last area offers discontinued CTMH products at reduced prices. You'll find everything from patterned papers, chipboard and ribbons to inks, cardstock and embellishments. This area changes often and items are removed without any warning. Once they're gone, they're gone! So if you spot something in the While Supplies Last area snatch it up before it's gone! Recently added to this area are the remaining packages of 8.5" x 11" cardstock. Now discontinued, these are the last cardstock sets in this size in these colour palettes. If you scrapbook in this size or like the smaller sized sheets for cardmaking, visit my website and stock up while you can!

Tomorrow's blog: Stamp of the Month

Ideas and Inspiration

With so many kits and patterns to follow, it's easy to get a lot of scrapbooking done with minimal effort. But once you're done with the with the kit or have completed the projects in the Idea Book, how do you reuse the stamps and papers?

If you're short on new notions, just visit my website and click on the Ideas and Inspiration tab. There you'll find videos and patterns for scrapbook pages, cards 3-D projects and more. Learn how to use your stamps to make patterned paper. Take a tutorial on using tools, such as a blender pen or watermark pen. Find out ways to make the most out of what you've already purchased and see what you can do with just a few more items. Keep up to date with the latest stamping techniques.

The Ideas and Inspiration area is continually updated with new videos as well as containing an archive of several years worth of information. You'll find ideas using brand new products and stamp sets you're already familiar with.

My website isn't just for shopping! There's a wealth of information at your fingertips. So grab a cup of tea, select a video of interest and spend a few minutes thinking about how you can take your next scrapbook project from great to amazing!

Tomorrow's blog: Shopping and Saving