Snowhaven cards

Snowhaven Workshop on the Go

Check out the awesome cards you can make with the Snowhaven Cardmaking Workshop on the Go kit.  These make great additions to your Christmas cards for your friends and family.

I love the Red Enamel Hearts.  These little additions really spruce up the cards or any project.   And don't forget my favorite ribbon, Shimmer Trim.  We now have eight different colors!

Last Chance: Cutie Pie

Don't miss out on this month's Stamp of the Month.  For only a $50 order, you can purchase this stamp set for only $5!  That same $50 order qualifies you for the Deal of the Decade.  If you've had your eye on any C and D sized stamp sets, this is the best time to get them.

December SOTM: Cutie Pie

Yuletide Bells and Stockings

This card came together pretty quickly using a few of the tools that CTMH has to  make things easier.  The bottom New England Ivy pattern was created using the Scoreboard, with the arm closed at the angle.  The bells are cutouts from the pre-printed Picture My Life kit.

Holiday Happenings collection can be used just like the Picture My Life cards.  Use them to decorate more than the Crush books.  They work great on Christmas cards too.  The above card was inspired by Patricia, one of the new consultants from the Australasia group that moved to CTMH last year.  She used the Snowhaven kit to create her card.  I switched it up to use the Yuletide Carol Workshop on the Go kit and the Holiday Happenings Assortment.  The "NORTH POLE EXPRESS" was stamped on a cut out from the Cricut.

Quilling Tool

Even though it is the middle of winter, and most things are hibernating or dead, flowers remind us that everything is not dead.  Decorate your house with lovely variations of paper flowers using the Artise Cricut cartridge and the quilling tool.  Check out the video below to learn how to roll flowers to add to your projects.

The Quilling Tool from Close To My Heart helps you create gorgeous rolled paper projects and embellishments that are simply stunning. The tool comes with two sizes - one on each end - to help you achieve as tight or as loose a roll as you would like. The Quilling Tool makes rolling up and curling cut flowers, like our Cricut-cut shapes, quick and easy, so your flowers stay tightly would before you release them and add your adhesive. Take one end, slip it on to your paper and roll away. Just like that. Now both ends of the tool feature tapered ends so that as you roll, the completed portions ease onto the barrel without ripping, of course. Then you simply slide the completed flower off of the end and apply adhesive to both ends and add to your projects.

Yuletide Carol Pop-out

The Yuletide Carol paper kit has several beautiful images, including the bird image above.  I didn't have to add anything to this image, beyond a little glitz with the Shimmer Trim in the corner.

The scoreboard comes in handy when creating cards, in this case, a pop out card.  Scoring at the fold for three separate pop outs makes an easy place to adhere the J-O-Y.

CTMH Scoreboard

Snowhaven Home Decor

Even though we don't see snow in South Florida, we've seen snow because our family lives in the Great White North or we take vacation in the colder weather. Snowhaven is a perfect kit to decorate for the holidays or to bring a little bit of the cooler weather into your home, without the actual cold temperatures.

Yuletide Carol Ribbons

  

Scraps left over tend to make interesting cards.  Adding banners, or bits and pieces can add dimension and texture to cards.  Also, tags can be a way to pop out your sentiment.  This card, layout found here,  uses both a tag sentiment and scraps as ribbons, even my favorite Shimmer Trim.

 

Layering the different scraps, stamping bits, even adding doodads like Badge Buttons, sequins, and fibers, make cards more interesting.  The above card has everything.  Using a sketch from LilyBean Paperie, I stamped on B&T paper, cutouts from the Cricut, Badge Buttons, and different ribbons.  This card has a lot going on, but I love how it makes the eye travel is so many different directions.

Yuletide Carol Tickets

Four of the stamps in the Yuletide Carol Workshop are ticket shapes with different sayings. These are great, especially when stamped on pre-cut papers from the Cricut cartridges.  I built this card based on a tea card from Peggy. I love how adding stamps to Close To My Heart's Background and Texture Paper creates a unique background no one else has.  It added the right kick to my card base.  Then, the fun tickets stamped in Ruby and New England Ivy finalized this cute card.

 

Making my own backgrounds is a favorite of mine, so that I can create unique cards.  Melissa shows a technique to make a ticket background.  With this set, four different tickets made for an easy background in New England Ivy, Desert Sand, and Ruby, showcasing my favorite saying, Oh, What Fun.

Snowhaven

 This month's featured kit is called Snowhaven, and uses some of my favorite colors.  Cranberry is a long-standing favorite of mine, and the new color Glacier is a great, versatile color.  The Snowhaven kit uses Cranberry, Glacier, Black, White, and Whisper colors in combination with lovely snowflake images. It is perfect for Christmas images or fun snow day photos.

While I do make it back to Ohio to visit, and take photos of the snow, I don't have many snow photos.  But, this kit can be used for other images.   Pair it with the Red Enamel Hearts for a Valentine's theme.  The Nordic images are perfect for a trip overseas.  Add a little Kraft cardstock, and the kit makes a great nautical kit.

Seasonal Expressions

It’s finally here, the idea book you’ve been waiting for! 

Full of unique ideas and bright, detailed photos, this themed seasonal book is sure to delight! From now through March, you can order some of the most charming Valentine’s- and spring-inspired papers, stamps, and embellishments you’ve ever seen. The vivid colors and patterns will give your layouts and cards a fresh look and plenty of pizazz. See the contents for yourself now in Seasonal Expressions 1!

Everything from the 2014/15 Annual Expressions will be available until July, 2015.  The Seasonal Expressions Idea Book is a little different.  Several items are very limited edition, and available only for the amount of time the Idea Book is live (December through March).  They are designated with a little clock next to each item.  All of the other items are available for longer time, beyond the Idea Book life.

Deal of the Decade

Celebrate the 10-year anniversary of Close To My Heart’s revolutionary My Acrylix® clear stamps with us! 

With a qualifying purchase of $50 during the month of December, you are eligible to purchase ANY C- or D-size stamp sets from the Annual Inspirations 2014–2015 idea book for only $10. That’s up to $7.95  of savings on a single stamp set—and there is no limit to the number of eligible stamp sets you can purchase at this discounted rate. Remember, a purchase of $50 will also qualify you to receive the December Stamp of the Month for only $5, so if you purchase both the discounted Stamp of the Month and additional stamps at this special campaign pricing, your savings will compound! It is truly the deal of the decade.

*Shipping and handling are calculated based on the full retail price of the discounted items (C-size stamp set: $13.95, D-size stamp set: $17.95).

Christmas Gift Cards

 

Living away from family and friends makes it more difficult to deliver special packages.  We send more gift cards now, which are easier to mail, and the receiver can decide what they want.  My husband doesn't like to give the cards in a plain envelope, so I make many gift card envelopes.  Close To My Heart has several Gift Bags, that make it easy to add to cards.  The inside of this card is the Ruby Gift Bag, folded in half so the open end allows for you to slip a gift card inside.  The right side of the bag is left unattached, so a little sentiment and signature can be seen.  The front of the card is a stamped wreath, using the two pine boughs from the Yuletide Carol Workshop. 

 

 

Paper Bags can also be used on the outside of the card.  Check out the Christmas version of Kelly Janes that I created using the Yuletide Carol kit.   Simply fold the bag in half to fit on the card front, wrap with Baker's Twine, and adhere to the card front.

This layout lets you slip the gift card inside the bag on the front, and still leave a signature and little note on the inside.

SOTM: Cutie Pie

Add a little frosting to your order this month!

It’s a sweet, sweet December deal: Place an order totaling $50 or more and you’ll qualify to receive the December Stamp of the Month, Cutie Pie, for just $5! This set of sugary stamps will be perfect on your cards and layouts featuring your favorite sweet faces. It’s available only during December—so act fast!

December Stamp of the Month: Cutie Pie

One Day Only! Cyber Monday Sale

For the first time ever, Close To My Heart is offering a Cyber Monday Sale today. There has never been a better time to buy Close To My Heart’s exclusive Cricut® Collections for 20% off the retail price. Whether you love scrapbooking, cardmaking, or creating 3-D projects, our four exclusive Cricut® collections make the perfect addition to any craft room! Sale started at midnight (MST) and ends at 11:59 pm tonight. Make sure you share the news about this sale with all your friends and family members, too! You will be able to take advantage of this special deal at my online shop, inkysquid.ctmh.com.  While you are there, check out the "While Supplies Last" area for great deals on retired products.  Also, take advantage of  December's "Deal of the Decade" on C- and D- sized stamps and you could save even more!  Orders must be submitted between 12:00 am and 11:59 pm (MST) on Monday, December 1 in order to get the discount on your selected Cricut® collections. Enjoy extra savings on Close To My Heart's exclusive Cricut® collections this Cyber Monday!

Offer Valid from midnight (MST) until 11:59 pm  on December 1

Wreath Building

Two of the stamps in the Yuletide Carol Workshop on the Go are very versatile.  Two pine boughs, one with pine cones, and one without, can be used many ways.  In the previous Yuletide Carol cards post, I used the single bough as an accent behind the Peace on Earth sentiment.  The banner looks like it is nestled amongst the trees.

 

In these two cards, I used the two boughs to build a wreath.   It's super easy to build, just stamp them in the general direction of a circle.  In the first card, the pine boughs were stamped in second generation New England Ivy ink, and the pine cones popped for dimension.  The second card shows first generation New England Ivy ink, cut out in the wreath form.  I love adding a little sparkle; one wreath is decorated with sequins, while the other has red glitter glue.

Yuletide Carol Cards

Scrapbooking Workshops on the Go can be used as a basis for a great cardmaking workshop.  When you look at the techniques from the scrapbook layouts, they can easily be used similarly on cards.  Three parts of the Yuletide Carol WOTG make unique Christmas cards.  

Multilayer stamping on the card above is one such technique.  Cutting out and popping up certain parts of stamp add dimension and interest to the cards.

Workshops on the Go this year use the Cricut cartridges from Close To My Heart, giving you more options to use your tools.  Don't forget to use them on your cards!  The "DECEMBER" cut out paired with the "25" wooden accent makes a wonderful Christmas card.

 A grouping of accents help keep elements of your scrapbook layouts from "floating off" the pages.  These accent groupings can make fun little cards.  The combination of the tickets and forest of trees use strips of paper to help create the illusion of the tickets being posted on the wall and the trees sitting on the ground.

 The accents from the WOTG can also be used in creative ways, like sequins for the tops of the trees.  Add dimension to the trees by distressing the edges to create shadows and popping one of the trees with 3-D Foam Tape.

Scoreboard

The Scoreboard offered by Close To My Heart features 1/8" increments on the board and a diagonal folding arm, allowing you to make perfectly straight score marks as well as accurate 45 degree score marks on your papers for easy folding. It's really easy to give some added interest to your papers. Extend the arm out, and use as a normal score board for making card bases or creating straight embossed lines. Fold in the arm and create angled embossing lines on your cardstock for a different look. You can try creating a dry-embossed argyle design using the angled ruler. Our Scoreboard also features its own folder tool that fits very nicely, and quite snugly, inside the board, so you don't lose it. This special tool is best for a very smooth continuous crease. The prominent ruler at the top of the board takes all of the guesswork out of scoring placement. That's a definite plus when you're scoring card bases. So whether you are scoring a card, dry embossing a page, or adding other beautiful, inventive patterns that you space and create embellishments all your own the Scoreboard is going to be a great tool for any project. 

CTMH Scoreboard

Yuletide Carol

 

Many of us start to decorate our house for the holidays immediately after we clean up from Thanksgiving. Yuletide Carol can help add a little festive glow to your decorations. Display your photo Christmas Card from this year. Create paper wreaths or homemade ornaments.

Don't forget that Workshops on the Go provide two ways to create the layouts.  Version one requires you to rev up your Cricut to cut out specific images, all laid out in the instructions.  Version number two helps you create the same layouts, without the need for a Cricut machine.

Lucky Five

November marks the five-year anniversary of Studio J®, and that means it’s your lucky month. Take advantage of five amazing ways to win through Studio J and Close To My Heart social media by creating and ordering your Studio J print layouts at the outstanding price of just $5—then hope for luck to visit! Every fifth print order in Studio J will include one FREE accessory retailing $5 or more. But that’s not all! Five lucky winners will receive a “golden ticket” redeemable for a brand new D-ring album* loaded with 10 Memory Protectors™ hidden in their Studio J print orders! If luck is not your lot, then you can earn your prize through raw talent. 

Those who post photos or JPEGs of their newly printed layouts on Facebook or Instagram, marked with the hashtag #ctmhlucky5, will enter the contest for layouts featuring the best artistry and creativity. Five winners will be chosen from each site, notified after November 30, and will then receive their own D-ring album with 10 Memory Protectors. The luck is abounding—come and get your fill!

*Pattern and color of D-ring album given to winners will be at CTMH’s discretion based upon availability. No tax or shipping will be charged on the free item(s).

It's the Little Things

 

Ever noticed how big of an impact the little actions have? It really is the small things joined together that get the biggest results. So it is with the November Stamp of the Month, It’s the Little Things. The petals, leaves, and all the tiny trimmings of the set come together to make a blossoming beauty fit for any project. If you’d like to get this powerful bunch of blooms for yourself, make sure to get it this month. This set is just $5 when you place an order of $50 or more in Close To My Heart products throughout the month of November. Spend a little, save a lot!

November 2014 Stamp of the Month

Last Days for Home for the Holidays

Don't miss out on the cute polar bear, candy, and other stamps that will help get you in the mood for Christmas and get a jump start on your holiday cards.  And check out our new Designer cupcake boxes. Decked out here with the Chevron ribbon you can earn with Ribbon Revelry.

Sweet Halloween Treats

Wednesday was the quarterly meeting for my lab at work.  We usually order pizza and pop to munch on while we update each other on what's been happening and what's coming up in our field work and research.  I thought it would be fun to give out a little Halloween treat to everyone.  We have several great kits in this year's catalog to help.  This super easy, really fun Halloween treat bag made the perfect gift.  

 

 The kit comes with 10 pre-cut paper bags, 10 plastic bags, 10 paper circles, several sticker sheets, and 3-d Adhesive.  The kit suggests using the Stamp set Sweet Salutations, but I used the Halloween set Perfect Fit-Halloween.  The reason that a stamp set isn't included with the kit is the idea that if you buy several of these kits, you don't have multiples of the same stamps, and it makes them more cost-effective.

 

I used Rolos as my candy.  I think any round candy will work, like Hershey's kises.  I looked at Peppermint Patties, but the packaging has changed since I remember.  If you buy off brand, you might find the more traditional foil wrapped mint chocolate candy.

Organize your Stamps

Before the advent of the smart phone and wonderful apps, I made a really neat rolodex type file to be able to flip through the stamp images to remember what I owned.  This was supposed to spare me from digging through my stamps and spending more time hunting than actually crafting.  I started it, for sure.  Even copied a few stamp images onto the pages.  

Rolodex-style stamp index

But it did not end up working for me.  I heard folks who used an app to keep themselves organized, not just with stamps, but with to-do lists or groceries, genealogy research, and reminders.  Evernote is a free, widely available cloud-based program to use on your smartphone and home computer.  I downloaded it first to my smart phone to use for grocery lists and reminders on the go. 

I could access it on my home computer through a login on their web page.  The website synched with the app, simply.

Evernote sign in/sign up page

But when I started this stamp inventory project, I downloaded the Evernote program to my desktop and it made the data entry a lot easier to handle.  I created a "notebook" for each company's stamps that I own.  Then each "note" has a photo of the stamp set.  For CTMH stamps, I title the note with the number coding, like D1245.  Then, I "tag" it.  Some notes have a lot of tags, flowers, Christmas, sentiments, etc.  That way, when you are looking for a specific stamp, you can search for those tags.  And if you want a specific stamp from a specific company, you can search for that also.  All three, smart phone, web browser, and desktop sync with the cloud so they sync with each other to have up-to-date notes.

Evernote Desktop Application

I can imagine all kinds of scrapbook and stamp organization possibilities, non-consumables especially.   No one likes buying something, just to get home and figure out you have it already.  We have our phones with us all of the time these days.  They are like an extra arm, anymore.

This system takes a bit to set up, but it has already paid off.  I have fully embraced Evernote. I use it now for even more things, like saving special recipes or even writing my dream diary.  It helps me keep my family history research and organize my stamps and other scrapbook supplies.