Sneak Peek!

CTMH has some great deals, gorgeous new products and fabulous projects in store for January.  Here's a sneak peak at the new Wings kit of the month (KOTM) layout.  More photos and previews coming soon!

Plenty for Twenty!

Place an order of $20 or more* on my website from December 1–31, 2010, and CTMH will reward you with a popular, retired D-size stamp set for FREE!  Talk about getting more for your money—the free stamp set is valued at $22.95 US/$26.95 CAN!  We’re sure you’ll be thrilled with the set we pick out for you.  We’re also giving you FREE shipping/ handling and tax on your free stamp set. That’s a lot of plenty for your twenty!

Grab Plenty for Twenty in December by visiting my website here and making a qualifying purchase today!

*Excluding tax and shipping/handling. Qualifying purchases must include shippable products (Studio J® layout purchases excluded, Studio J memberships and 5-packs will count toward a qualifying order only if shippable items are also ordered).

Crop Night!

When:   Friday, December 3rd from 6pm-midnight
Where:  Allison's House

Come and enjoy a night of fun and creativity! Your RSVP gets you a spot to catch up on your scrapbooking, work on your Christmas cards or get some holiday gifts made, along with access to exclusive sales, specials and giveaways. Bring your own supplies and work on whatever you'd like! Enjoy an evening out with the girls and share some creative inspiration with others. Cost is $5.00 and space is limited. Please bring a snack to share. RSVP to me today!

December Scrap Club Layouts

These are my scrap club layouts for December.  Using the festive Mistletoe kit was so much fun!  On the Merry and Bright layout, I was inspired by a tree layout in my Scrapbooks Etc. magazine for the right page, and finished it off with a Reflections layout for the left side.  The second layout is from the Magic book.  Both layouts use papers from the Mistletoe Level 2 paper and Creative Basics which features Garden Green, New England Ivy, Cranberry and Colonial White.  I used the Snow Days, Serendipity, A Timber and Card Chatter - Christmas stamp sets.  To add that finishing touch, I used Gold satin ribbon, Cranberry grosgrain ribbon, Green sparkles. Colonial White brads, Cranberry brads and Holiday buttons.  Click here to learn more about my scrapbooking clubs!

December Kit of the Month Club Cards

December KOTM Club Cards - Mistletoe.

Kit of the Month Club
This new club provides a fabulous way for you to get beautiful scrapbook pages and/or handmade card sets completed quickly, have products leftover, get a fabulous discount on the product kit, get your hands on an exclusive stamp set, get FREE products from the idea book, have fun and be creative!
What: Each month, we’ll complete a project from the selected kit. Each kit includes a Level 2 Paper Packet, a full accessory pack, an exclusive B-size stamp set (not available anywhere else) and a full-color instructional brochure. At our club meeting, we’ll go through the cutting guide for the featured project together – you can choose either a 2-page 12x12 scrapbooking layout or a set of 6 cards from that month’s featured kit.
Cost: $29.95 per month (products in kit retail at $35.00) plus shipping/handling cost.
Commitment: Six-months of participation in the club. This club makes it very easy to do your packet “to go” for any of the months you cannot make it to the club meeting since it includes the full-color instructional brochure right in your packet. You’ll receive the cutting guide, blueprint, instructions and everything you need. If there is a month you don’t like the kit we’re doing, you can just order $29.95 in your choice of products from the idea book.
Benefits: - Hostess one of the six months ($25 in free product from the idea book).
- Simplicity of ordering (all you are required to order for the month is pre-ordering your kit for the following month for $29.95 plus s/h).
- You’ll receive instruction on making a beautiful 2-page 12x12 scrapbook layout or 6 versatile cards (2 each of 3 designs).
- Provides flexibility of making either cards or scrapbook pages in the same club from month to month.
- Instructional brochure has info on both scrapbook and card project, as well as bonus layout and card projects so you can complete more at home with your leftover products!
Sign up now! Call me at (503) 393-9146 or e-mail at allisong@myctmh.com

December Kit of the Month Club Layout

December KOTM Club Layout - Mistletoe.

Kit of the Month Club
This new club provides a fabulous way for you to get beautiful scrapbook pages and/or handmade card sets completed quickly, have products leftover, get a fabulous discount on the product kit, get your hands on an exclusive stamp set, get FREE products from the idea book, have fun and be creative!
What: Each month, we’ll complete a project from the selected kit. Each kit includes a Level 2 Paper Packet, a full accessory pack, an exclusive B-size stamp set (not available anywhere else) and a full-color instructional brochure. At our club meeting, we’ll go through the cutting guide for the featured project together – you can choose either a 2-page 12x12 scrapbooking layout or a set of 6 cards from that month’s featured kit.
Cost: $29.95 per month (products in kit retail at $35.00) plus shipping/handling cost.
Commitment: Six-months of participation in the club. This club makes it very easy to do your packet “to go” for any of the months you cannot make it to the club meeting since it includes the full-color instructional brochure right in your packet. You’ll receive the cutting guide, blueprint, instructions and everything you need. If there is a month you don’t like the kit we’re doing, you can just order $29.95 in your choice of products from the idea book.
Benefits: - Hostess one of the six months ($25 in free product from the idea book).
- Simplicity of ordering (all you are required to order for the month is pre-ordering your kit for the following month for $29.95 plus s/h).
- You’ll receive instruction on making a beautiful 2-page 12x12 scrapbook layout or 6 versatile cards (2 each of 3 designs).
- Provides flexibility of making either cards or scrapbook pages in the same club from month to month.
- Instructional brochure has info on both scrapbook and card project, as well as bonus layout and card projects so you can complete more at home with your leftover products!
Sign up now! Call me at (503) 393-9146 or e-mail at allisong@myctmh.com

November Scrap Club Layouts

Here are my November Scrap Club layouts.  For these, I used the beautiful fall/botanical kit Olivia.  Colors are Sunset, Barn Red, Bamboo, Cocoa and Colonial White.  I used The Present and Serendipity stamp sets, along with Mocha opaques, Cocoa grosgrain ribbon, Bamboo brads and some natural hemp for accents.  These layouts come straight from the brand new how-to book, Magic - love it!!

Here's more info about my monthly scrapbooking club - I'd love to have you join us!

- Would you like to have a designated time, once a month for you to get caught up on your scrapbooking? - Have you ever wanted to start scrapbooking but feel a bit overwhelmed? - Do you feel like you are just too far behind to even get started? - Do you currently love to scrapbook and want to expand your knowledge in techniques & layout design? - Do you like to scrapbook but never seem to find the time and have pictures piling up? If you answered yes to any of these questions, then THIS is the class for you.  Come and learn how fun, creative and quick scrapbooking can be.  I will teach you several different techniques and tips and you will go home each month with 2-4 ready to go TWO-PAGE scrapbook layouts! When:  3rd Tuesday evening of the month at my house in Keizer  – 6:30-8:30pm -      OR- 4th Sunday afternoon of the month in Rainier – 2:00-5:00pm What:  Come and experience HANDS-ON how easy scrapbooking really is.  You’ll receive a packet of pre-cut paper and embellishments you need to complete your layouts, and have access to my stamps and ink pads.  All you have to do is bring your adhesive and your photos if you’d like. You will have your choice to do the featured layout that I’ve made, or your choice of themes and colors to be sure that you are making pages you can use with your pictures. I will have those choices available to you the month before the class. Cost:  The class is actually free! The commitment however is to a $25 purchase of Close To My Heart products each month (before S&H).  The fun part is that you are guaranteed to be the “hostess” one of the months that we meet.  On that month, you will receive $25 in FREE product of YOUR CHOICE.  If you’d like to complete an additional 2-page layout above the one included, you can add one additional 2-page layout for only $2.00.   Commitment:  The commitment is for a full 6-months.   You can join the class during any month!  If, for some reason, you are unable to attend one of the classes, all you need to do is give me a call with your class order. I will save your packet and you can do it the following month or attend one of my make up classes. Call me at (503) 312-5454 or e-mail me at allisong@myctmh.com to join! Allison Grice www.allisong.myctmh.com

We're saying THANKS with 2 free stamp sets!

During November Close To My Heart is expressing our gratitude to you by helping you earn two fabulous My Acrylix® stamp sets for FREE! When you place a minimum order of $100, you will not only receive the November Stamp of the Month set, A Little Thanks, for FREE, you will also receive one stamp set of your choosing from the 2010 Autumn/Winter Idea Book for FREE*! This means you can increase the value of your purchase by up to $45.90—that’s almost 50 percent more
in value! It’s just our way of imparting A Little MORE Thanks to you for being a great customer.

*Free stamp sets include A-D size sets. Stamps that are not available as the free set include Workshops on the Go, Stamp of the Month retail, E-size, and customizable K-size. Tax and shipping/handling may apply. Offer good November 1–30, 2010.

Place your order today to receive two My Acrylix® stamp sets for FREE!

November Kit of the Month Club Cards

November KOTM Cards - Olivia.

Kit of the Month Club
This new club provides a fabulous way for you to get beautiful scrapbook pages and/or handmade card sets completed quickly, have products leftover, get a fabulous discount on the product kit, get your hands on an exclusive stamp set, get FREE products from the idea book, have fun and be creative!
What: Each month, we’ll complete a project from the selected kit. Each kit includes a Level 2 Paper Packet, a full accessory pack, an exclusive B-size stamp set (not available anywhere else) and a full-color instructional brochure. At our club meeting, we’ll go through the cutting guide for the featured project together – you can choose either a 2-page 12x12 scrapbooking layout or a set of 6 cards from that month’s featured kit.
Cost: $29.95 per month (products in kit retail at $35.00) plus shipping/handling cost.
Commitment: Six-months of participation in the club. This club makes it very easy to do your packet “to go” for any of the months you cannot make it to the club meeting since it includes the full-color instructional brochure right in your packet. You’ll receive the cutting guide, blueprint, instructions and everything you need. If there is a month you don’t like the kit we’re doing, you can just order $29.95 in your choice of products from the idea book.
Benefits: - Hostess one of the six months ($25 in free product from the idea book).
- Simplicity of ordering (all you are required to order for the month is pre-ordering your kit for the following month for $29.95 plus s/h).
- You’ll receive instruction on making a beautiful 2-page 12x12 scrapbook layout or 6 versatile cards (2 each of 3 designs).
- Provides flexibility of making either cards or scrapbook pages in the same club from month to month.
- Instructional brochure has info on both scrapbook and card project, as well as bonus layout and card projects so you can complete more at home with your leftover products!
Sign up now! Call me at (503) 393-9146 or e-mail at allisong@myctmh.com

November Kit of the Month Club Layout

November KOTM Club Layout - Olivia.

Kit of the Month Club
This new club provides a fabulous way for you to get beautiful scrapbook pages and/or handmade card sets completed quickly, have products leftover, get a fabulous discount on the product kit, get your hands on an exclusive stamp set, get FREE products from the idea book, have fun and be creative!
What: Each month, we’ll complete a project from the selected kit. Each kit includes a Level 2 Paper Packet, a full accessory pack, an exclusive B-size stamp set (not available anywhere else) and a full-color instructional brochure. At our club meeting, we’ll go through the cutting guide for the featured project together – you can choose either a 2-page 12x12 scrapbooking layout or a set of 6 cards from that month’s featured kit.
Cost: $29.95 per month (products in kit retail at $35.00) plus shipping/handling cost.
Commitment: Six-months of participation in the club. This club makes it very easy to do your packet “to go” for any of the months you cannot make it to the club meeting since it includes the full-color instructional brochure right in your packet. You’ll receive the cutting guide, blueprint, instructions and everything you need. If there is a month you don’t like the kit we’re doing, you can just order $29.95 in your choice of products from the idea book.
Benefits: - Hostess one of the six months ($25 in free product from the idea book).
- Simplicity of ordering (all you are required to order for the month is pre-ordering your kit for the following month for $29.95 plus s/h).
- You’ll receive instruction on making a beautiful 2-page 12x12 scrapbook layout or 6 versatile cards (2 each of 3 designs).
- Provides flexibility of making either cards or scrapbook pages in the same club from month to month.
- Instructional brochure has info on both scrapbook and card project, as well as bonus layout and card projects so you can complete more at home with your leftover products!
Sign up now! Call me at (503) 393-9146 or e-mail at allisong@myctmh.com

It's not too early.....

I blinked and October is over halfway over already!  I can't believe it - I feel like I was just getting used to school being back in session and now almost two months have gone by.  You know what that means - before we know it, the Holiday season will be upon us.  It's never too early begin thinking about your Christmas projects, specifically cards - here's a couple of fun ones for you.

My first card is a small but stunning example.  My favorite part of it is the stamp set I used - it's one of CTMH's new A-sized stamp sets, which are now only $7.95!!!  It's called A Timber and it features the gorgeous tree with the swirls on it, along with the swirl stamp, the sentiment and a few other little accents.  I used the Mistletoe paper packet which features New England Ivy, Cranberry, Garden Green, and Colonial White for it's colors.  I finished it off with some Cranberry brads and one of my most favorite new embellishments from CTMH - Opaques in Mocha.  These little pearls are self adhesive and add a super classy, finished look to any project.

The second card is 8x3.5 size.  I also used Mistletoe papers for this card, along with the Mistletoe Creative Basics papers.  This is a special bonus pack of two coordinating Background & Texture papers, along with a spool of ribbon (metallic garden green) - perfect for card making projects.  I used the A Timber stamp set again, along with the Holiday Trinkets and Card Chatter-Christmas sets.  I also used some Colonial White Brads and Bitty Sparkles for that finishing touch.

Festive Fall Card 2

I apologize if you saw my blank post yesterday - my blog was having some technical difficulties!  Anyway, it's back in gear now and here's another fall card using the gorgeous Olivia kit.  I used the timeless stamp set again, and the rock and roll technique on the leaf - this technique lends itself so perfectly to leaves and their natural color variations.  I also used some Cocoa grosgrain ribbon and Antiqued Copper brads.  Super simple yet super stunning!

Festive Fall Card 1

This card is a fun 6x3 size.  I used CTMH's new, gorgeous autumn kit - Olivia.  The colors are Barn Red, Sunset, Cocoa, Bamboo and Colonial White.   Fall is my favorite season by far!  I love the cool, crisp air, the gorgeous colors, crunchy leaves everywhere and all things cozy - sweaters, hot drinks and a warm toasty fire.  This kit is the embodiment of autumn.  I used the Timeless stamp set, and the rock and roll stamping technique on the leaves.  I finished it off with some Cocoa buttons and Colonial White waxy flax.  Come back tomorrow for another autumn card from the Olivia kit.

Bling Bling Invite

Here's the birthday party invite I just finished for my daughter's 4th birthday party.  I wanted to keep things simple and with the theme of her party and I think it turned out perfectly.  She loves "Bling Bling" Lightning McQueen from the movie Cars, so we chose a turquoise and black/white color scheme which the new Lagoon CTMH color was perfect for.  We stamped the birthday cake, flourish and birthday present using the Everyday Celebration stamp set.  Then, I added some "bling" with some of the Bitty Sparkles to carry out the theme.  I've fuzzed some of the personal information out for privacy. 

I'm still here!

You know how life has distinctive patterns?  A time when you have time to work, time to play and time to relax.  Another time when you're going 90 mph with your hair on fire just to keep up with your family's schedule and you barely have time to take a breath?  That's the time I'm going through right now!  So sorry I haven't posted anything lately.  Things are leveling out a bit for me this week and I hope to have new artwork to post for you in the next couple of days.  In the meantime, here's one of the projects I've been working on this past week.

These were some tissue paper topiaries I made for an event for the mom's group I'm a part of at church.  We used them as centerpieces during our first general session last week to reflect a game we were playing.   The verse in the middle was part of the favor box we used as a table goodie for each attendee.  Between making these, keeping up with football schedules (my son's and my husband's), processing hundreds of tomatoes from our garden into salsa and tomato sauce, and teaching 5+ dance classes each week at the dance studio, my head is spinning.  I can't wait to sit down this week and get creating on some scrapbooking and card-making projects.  Check back soon for new artwork pics!  Hope your autumn season is off to a great start!

Here's a couple of photos of what we've been up to this season so far:

Ava eating her rice krispie treat "world" she made at preschool as a part of her "God created the world" lesson.  She loved it!

Alex ready to play at his first flag football game.

October Scrap Club Layouts

When I saw this new Hooligans kit from CTMH, at first I thought it was a cute kids Halloween kit, but I had trouble figuring out what else it could be used for.  Then an idea came to me - the colors would go perfectly with my son's first hip hop costume!  Alex has taken tap dance for two years and this past school year, he was so excited to be old enough to take hip hop class.  The photos on the top two layouts were taken by Diane Inskeep http://www.dianesphotos.com/ and I took the photos on the bottom two layouts at home.  I wanted to feature these awesome photos and fun story of Alex taking hip hop using the Hooligans paper without the cute monster theme that is shown in the idea book. 

For the top two layouts, I used the Star Power stamp set, Dimensional Elements Borders, and White Daisy Brads, along with two of the non-monster themed background and texture papers from the Hooligans kit.  I stamped the title using Building Block Alphabet.  I love the look of these pages - they are clean, simple layouts with stunning colors that highlight the photos - just what I wanted.

For the lower two layouts, I used the Troublemaker and Field Trip Alphabet stamp sets along with Star Power.  I added some clear buttons which I backed with small scraps of Hooligans background and texture papers using Liquid Glass and tied the button holes with Black Waxy Flax.  I used some White Daisy and Black brads and Dimensional Elements from the Booksmart and Fresh Shapes collections.  I heat embossed the title "Hip Hop" on page 4 using White Daisy embossing powder and the heat tool.  Both layouts are from the brand new Magic how-to scrapbooking book. 

For more information on how to join the fun at my scrap club, click here.

October Kit of the Month Club Cards

October KOTM Club Cards - Hooligans.

Kit of the Month Club
This new club provides a fabulous way for you to get beautiful scrapbook pages and/or handmade card sets completed quickly, have products leftover, get a fabulous discount on the product kit, get your hands on an exclusive stamp set, get FREE products from the idea book, have fun and be creative!
What: Each month, we’ll complete a project from the selected kit. Each kit includes a Level 2 Paper Packet, a full accessory pack, an exclusive B-size stamp set (not available anywhere else) and a full-color instructional brochure. At our club meeting, we’ll go through the cutting guide for the featured project together – you can choose either a 2-page 12x12 scrapbooking layout or a set of 6 cards from that month’s featured kit.
Cost: $29.95 per month (products in kit retail at $35.00) plus shipping/handling cost.
Commitment: Six-months of participation in the club. This club makes it very easy to do your packet “to go” for any of the months you cannot make it to the club meeting since it includes the full-color instructional brochure right in your packet. You’ll receive the cutting guide, blueprint, instructions and everything you need. If there is a month you don’t like the kit we’re doing, you can just order $29.95 in your choice of products from the idea book.
Benefits: - Hostess one of the six months ($25 in free product from the idea book).
- Simplicity of ordering (all you are required to order for the month is pre-ordering your kit for the following month for $29.95 plus s/h).
- You’ll receive instruction on making a beautiful 2-page 12x12 scrapbook layout or 6 versatile cards (2 each of 3 designs).
- Provides flexibility of making either cards or scrapbook pages in the same club from month to month.
- Instructional brochure has info on both scrapbook and card project, as well as bonus layout and card projects so you can complete more at home with your leftover products!
Sign up now! Call me at (503) 393-9146 or e-mail at allisong@myctmh.com

October Kit of the Month Club Layout

October KOTM Club Layout - Hooligans.

Kit of the Month Club
This new club provides a fabulous way for you to get beautiful scrapbook pages and/or handmade card sets completed quickly, have products leftover, get a fabulous discount on the product kit, get your hands on an exclusive stamp set, get FREE products from the idea book, have fun and be creative!
What: Each month, we’ll complete a project from the selected kit. Each kit includes a Level 2 Paper Packet, a full accessory pack, an exclusive B-size stamp set (not available anywhere else) and a full-color instructional brochure. At our club meeting, we’ll go through the cutting guide for the featured project together – you can choose either a 2-page 12x12 scrapbooking layout or a set of 6 cards from that month’s featured kit.
Cost: $29.95 per month (products in kit retail at $35.00) plus shipping/handling cost.
Commitment: Six-months of participation in the club. This club makes it very easy to do your packet “to go” for any of the months you cannot make it to the club meeting since it includes the full-color instructional brochure right in your packet. You’ll receive the cutting guide, blueprint, instructions and everything you need. If there is a month you don’t like the kit we’re doing, you can just order $29.95 in your choice of products from the idea book.
Benefits: - Hostess one of the six months ($25 in free product from the idea book).
- Simplicity of ordering (all you are required to order for the month is pre-ordering your kit for the following month for $29.95 plus s/h).
- You’ll receive instruction on making a beautiful 2-page 12x12 scrapbook layout or 6 versatile cards (2 each of 3 designs).
- Provides flexibility of making either cards or scrapbook pages in the same club from month to month.
- Instructional brochure has info on both scrapbook and card project, as well as bonus layout and card projects so you can complete more at home with your leftover products!
Sign up now! Call me at (503) 393-9146 or e-mail at allisong@myctmh.com

Another Hooligans Card

Now for this Hooligans 6x6 card, I definitely wanted to use the monster/Halloween theme.  It turned out so cute - my son just loves it, he even helped me stamp the little monsters.  I used the Hooligans paper packet, the Troublemaker stamp set, Black Brads and White Daisy Ricrac.  It's just plain fun :)

Let Me Help You Scrapbook!

 Tier I Sample

Tier II Sample

Tier III Sample

I'm introducing a brand new aspect of my business - scrapbooking for you!

Click here to check out the flier with all of the details and pricing on the three tiers.

I am also offering a pre-made layout club - these are Tier III layouts - your choice of layouts from Scrap Club each month or other Tier III design, pre-made for you (2 sets of double-page layouts) with stamping, embellishments, titles and inked paper edges.  Cost is $20.00 each month for both sets of layouts completed and put together. Club members commit to six months and receive $25.00 in hostess rewards from the current CTMH Idea Book one time in that six months of membership.  Check out photos of my scrap club layout here on my blog on earlier posts.

Contact me to get your project started today!

Hooligans Card

Here's a card I made with the Hooligans kit without the Monster/Halloween theme.  The stamp set Troublemaker has lots of monsters, but it also has a cute star border/sentiment and small star combo that I used.  I love the color combo of this, it is fresh and energetic.  It includes new colors Sunset, Lagoon and Pear along with Black.  I also used some White Daisy grosgrain ribbon and Black Hemp along with some Black Brads.

Another Magnifique Card

Here's another new card from the Magnifique kit.  This kit features three colors from the beautiful new summer palette unveiled by Close To My Heart in the new Autumn/Winter 2010 idea book - Sky, Pacifica and Lagoon.  I chose a size (4.25x5.5), found a pattern in the Wishes book, cut my papers, stamped my images using the Heart to Heart stamp set, cut them out and added some embellishments - the new Blue/Green Sparkles and Mocha Opaques.

Magnifique Card

Here's a card I made using the Magnifique kit from the new idea book.  I used the technique taught on page 9 of the book - Variegated Stamping on an image using Sponge Daubers and three colors of ink (Sky, Lagoon and Pacifica).  I added some Blue/Green Sparkles and Mocha Opaques to highlight the stamped peacock from the Circle of Love stamp set and stamped my sentiment using the Thank You set.  I also added some Colonial White designer ribbon.  The card is 5x7 size and the pattern is from Wishes.

September Scrap Club Layouts

Here are my Scrap Club Layouts for September - LOVE how these turned out.  They were so fun to make.  This is definitely my most favorite kit from the new Autumn/Winter 2010 idea book - I love the rich new blue hues paired with Chocolate and Colonial White.  It features three new colors from our summer palette - Sky, Pacifica and Lagoon.  As soon as I saw this kit, I knew it would be perfect for some of the family photos we had taken in the spring.  (All photos are taken by Steph Barcenas http://www.abellav.com/ )

I really went all out for these layouts using lots of techniques and products to create stunning detail and fun effects, including an interactive way to add more photos - a 4x6 flip flap shown in the photo above.  Here's a list of all of the products I used to create these:  Magnifique paper packet, Circle of Love, A Tweet, and Heart to Heart stamp sets, Love Letters Rub-ons, Chocolate Grosgrain Ribbon, Colonial White Edge Anchors, Mocha Opaques, Blue/Green Sparkles, Colonial White Bigger Brads, Dimensional Elements chipboard letters, Sponge Daubers, Irresistibles Pizazz chipboard and the Blending Pen.

To get more info on my Scrap Club and see how easy it is for you to join in, click here.

You know these cards are easy when.....

you make them on almost no sleep!  Ha! 

A few weeks ago, I was blessed enough to have an amazing scrapbooking getaway trip to Lincoln City with my great friend.  It was so amazing to relax, watch the ocean waves and get TONS of scrapbooking done!  Needless to say, we stayed up late into the night crafting away, and the last morning before we packed up and left I wanted to use up some of my scraps and My Stickease from the Grace kit to make some quick cards.  Normally, I am a person who definitely needs her 7-8 hours of sleep to function properly, but during this getaway time, I wanted to get a lot done!  I pulled out my Wishes book and make this cute and easy set of cards on literally just a few hours of sleep.  Let's just say, I wasn't really thinking too straight - but that just shows how easy it is to make gorgeous products with the help of Close To My Heart's how-to programs.  They are my absolute favorite of all of our products.  This is because they create the foundation for almost every project I make!  They help me to get a design idea and blueprint to create my scrapbook layouts and cards.  And, in the brand new Autumn/Winter 2010 idea book, Jeanette Lynton (CTMH CEO and founder) has published a BRAND NEW scrapbooking how-to book - Magic!  I've only had my copy for a week and I am in LOVE!!  I've used it to make all of my new Scrap Club layouts for the upcoming months - I'll be posting those soon, stay tuned!  In the meantime, make it easy on yourself - use one of our how-to books to make your layouts and cards easy and gorgeous!

Scrapbooking How-To Books:
Cherish
Imagine
Reflections
Magic - newest addition - available beginning tomorrow, September 1, 2010!

Card-making How-To Books:
Originals
Wishes

September Kit of the Month Club Cards

September Kit of the Month Club Cards - Magnifique.

Kit of the Month Club
This new club provides a fabulous way for you to get beautiful scrapbook pages and/or handmade card sets completed quickly, have products leftover, get a fabulous discount on the product kit, get your hands on an exclusive stamp set, get FREE products from the idea book, have fun and be creative!
What: Each month, we’ll complete a project from the selected kit. Each kit includes a Level 2 Paper Packet, a full accessory pack, an exclusive B-size stamp set (not available anywhere else) and a full-color instructional brochure. At our club meeting, we’ll go through the cutting guide for the featured project together – you can choose either a 2-page 12x12 scrapbooking layout or a set of 6 cards from that month’s featured kit.
Cost: $29.95 per month (products in kit retail at $35.00) plus shipping/handling cost.
Commitment: Six-months of participation in the club. This club makes it very easy to do your packet “to go” for any of the months you cannot make it to the club meeting since it includes the full-color instructional brochure right in your packet. You’ll receive the cutting guide, blueprint, instructions and everything you need. If there is a month you don’t like the kit we’re doing, you can just order $29.95 in your choice of products from the idea book.
Benefits: - Hostess one of the six months ($25 in free product from the idea book).
- Simplicity of ordering (all you are required to order for the month is pre-ordering your kit for the following month for $29.95 plus s/h).
- You’ll receive instruction on making a beautiful 2-page 12x12 scrapbook layout or 6 versatile cards (2 each of 3 designs).
- Provides flexibility of making either cards or scrapbook pages in the same club from month to month.
- Instructional brochure has info on both scrapbook and card project, as well as bonus layout and card projects so you can complete more at home with your leftover products!
Sign up now! Call me at (503) 393-9146 or e-mail at allisong@myctmh.com

September Kit of the Month Club Layout

Kit of the Month layout for September 2010 - Magnifique.

Kit of the Month Club
This club provides a fabulous way for you to get beautiful scrapbook pages and/or handmade card sets completed quickly, have products leftover, get a fabulous discount on the product kit, get your hands on an exclusive stamp set, get FREE products from the idea book, have fun and be creative!
What: Each month, we’ll complete a project from the selected kit. Each kit includes a Level 2 Paper Packet, a full accessory pack, an exclusive B-size stamp set (not available anywhere else) and a full-color instructional brochure. At our club meeting, we’ll go through the cutting guide for the featured project together – you can choose either a 2-page 12x12 scrapbooking layout or a set of 6 cards from that month’s featured kit.
Cost: $29.95 per month (products in kit retail at $35.00) plus shipping/handling cost.
Commitment: Six-months of participation in the club. This club makes it very easy to do your packet “to go” for any of the months you cannot make it to the club meeting since it includes the full-color instructional brochure right in your packet. You’ll receive the cutting guide, blueprint, instructions and everything you need. If there is a month you don’t like the kit we’re doing, you can just order $29.95 in your choice of products from the idea book.
Benefits: - Hostess one of the six months ($25 in free product from the idea book).
- Simplicity of ordering (all you are required to order for the month is pre-ordering your kit for the following month for $29.95 plus s/h).
- You’ll receive instruction on making a beautiful 2-page 12x12 scrapbook layout or 6 versatile cards (2 each of 3 designs).
- Provides flexibility of making either cards or scrapbook pages in the same club from month to month.
- Instructional brochure has info on both scrapbook and card project, as well as bonus layout and card projects so you can complete more at home with your leftover products!
Sign up now! Call me at (503) 393-9146 or e-mail at allisong@myctmh.com

Out With the Old, In With the New....

Isn't that how the saying goes?  The Retired List is here!  While it will be so hard to say a final goodbye to many of the products on this list, CTMH is clearing out room for tons of fabulous new products!  Now is your chance to shop for the products on the Retired List while most of them are still available.  If you see something you want, don't wait to pick it up - products are only available while supplies last now and after December 31, 2010 they will be unavailable for purchase.

Items in RED are no longer available
Items in BLACK are available while supplies last
Items in GREEN are retiring items that are featured in the Autumn/Winter 2010 idea book that sold out early and CTMH corporate has said they will do everything possible to restock them throughout the fall.

Click here to check out the retired list.

If you want to order, you can do so at my website here, send me an e-mail here or call me at 503-312-5454.

Reserve Your Spot Now!

End Of Summer Scrapbooking Extravaganza!!

What better way to end the summer and get ready for the new school year than an evening filled with time to crop, new and exciting products from the brand new Close To My Heart Autumn/Winter Idea Book, giveaways, prizes, special deals and fun!

Get the first look at all the fabulous products in the new Idea Book, have a chance to win and/or purchase products at great discounts, and take advantage of specials not available at any other time.

When/Where:        
Saturday, August 28th at my home in Keizer

Time:                     
6:00-midnight - come and go at whatever time works for you!

What:                    
Come and work on your projects during the open crop time from 6:00pm-midnight.  It's open, so you're welcome to come and go at whatever time fits yours schedule.  The presentation on the new Idea Book and all of the great products inside will be around 6:00pm.  Just bring a snack to share and a drink for yourself, along with the projects you want to work on.  I'll have special discounted products for sale, specials on shipping and great raffle prizes too!

Cost:
$5.00 or FREE with a minimum $25 order - includes all of the crop time you want between 6-midnight.

Customize this evening to fit your scrapbooking needs and to maximize your fun!

Space is limited so sign up today to reserve your spot.  Call me at 503-312-5454 or e-mail at allisong@myctmh.com

Brand New Beautiful Idea Book

It's big, it's beautiful and it's 109 pages of pure crafting bliss.  Chock full of tips, techniques, artwork, ideas and fabulously gorgeous products, you'll want to get your copy in your hands as soon as possible!  If you're in one of my clubs (Club Cat, Kit of the Month Club or Scrap Club), you'll get your copy this month.   Shopping from this treasure begins promptly on September 1st.  Contact me to get your copy!

Celebrate Stamping with a Triple Play!

One's good, Two's great, and three’s best of all!  Celebrate your love of stamping by using stamps to embellish the three mini albums in our exclusive National Stamping Month kit, Triple Play.  With inks, stamps, albums, and pre-cut accents for stamping, you’ll complete all three albums in a jiffy.  Since each album has its own color scheme, all three are unique and ready for many different kinds of photos.  Make one for yourself and two to give away—if you can bear to part with them!

In honor of National Stamping Month, you can get huge discounts on the Triple Play kit when you purchase My Acrylix® stamps from your wish list, or get it free when you host a qualifying Gathering or become a Close To My Heart Consultant. 

Here are five ways to get this outstanding mini album kit: (Note: We’ve saved the best for last, so be sure to read all five!)
1. Buy the Triple Play kit for $29.95. 
2. Purchase $25 in My Acrylix® stamps and get the Triple Play kit for just $15.
3. Spend $40 on My Acrylix stamps and get Triple Play for only $5!
4. Host a Gathering with sales of $300 or more and get Triple Play FREE!
5. Join Close To My Heart as a Consultant and get the kit FREE! 

National Stamping Month is always fun, but this year you’ll get three times the excitement with Triple Play!


Triple Play Kit Contents
1 – My Acrylix® Love This Stamp Set
4 – Exclusive Inks® Mini Stamp Pads (Desert Sand, Hollyhock, Indian Corn Blue, and Sunset)
9 – 4" x 12" Panels (3 each of 3 color schemes)
3 – 6" x 12" Die-Cut Sheets 1 – 72" Length Colonial White Grosgrain Ribbon
3 – Hook and Loop Fasteners 1 –Brochure
Colors: Bamboo, Blush, Desert Sand, Garden Green, Hollyhock, Indian Corn Blue, Outdoor Denim, and Sunset

*Qualifying stamps set purchases exclude Stamp of the Month sets, K-size custom stamps, and Workshops on the Go stamp sets. Tax and shipping/handling may apply. Offer valid for customers and hostesses August 15–September 30, 2010. Offer valid for new Consultant enrollees September 1–30, 2010. Limit one discount-priced Triple Play kit per order per customer. Offer valid while supplies last.

New Autumn/Winter 2010 Idea Book Artwork - Day 4

They did it!  CTMH has come up with a new Christmas kit that is classy, cozy, fun and versatile.  I can't wait to begin creating for Christmas with it!  Features a great holiday color palette - Cocoa, Cranberry, Garden Green and New England Ivy.  This is Mistletoe - and, those cute little ornaments on the tree - Dimensional Elements Ornaments - they come with a solid back and a cut out front, perfect homemade gifts or decorations for your holiday home.

New Autumn/Winter 2010 Idea Book Artwork - Day 3

New kit that is beyond gorgeous in my humble opinion:  Magnifique.  Features new colors Lagoon, Pacifica and Sky, along with Chocolate.  It is a close race, but I think this one is my favorite of the new kits.

New Autumn/Winter 2010 Idea Book Artwork - Day 2

New kit - Hooligans - super cute for Halloween and fun child's themed artwork, but very versatile for many other uses including teen/tween, sports and birthday.  Features new colors Gypsy, Lagoon, Pear and Sunset with Black.  The new CTMH color palette has EIGHT brand new, gorgeous colors!

New Autumn/Winter 2010 Idea Book Artwork - Day 1

Level 3 artwork from new kit - Olivia.  Features brand new colors - Smoothie, Pear and Sunset and an old favorite color - Barn Red. 

Be sure to check back each day for more previews of what's to come in the Autumn/Winter 2010 CTMH Idea Book!!

2, 4, 6, 8 - AWESOME online sale begins tomorrow!!

Beginning tomorrow, Wednesday August 4th and continuing for ten days through August 11th, go to my website and shop for some amazing values on selected My Stickease Assortments, My Reflections Level 1 kits, and My Reflections Level 2 paper packets. 

• Select My Stickease Assortments - Only $2.00!!
• Select My Reflections Level 1 kits - Only $4.00!!
• Select My Reflections Level 2 paper packets - Only $6.00!!

You can't beat these values!  CTMH is shouting from the rooftops how much we love and appreciate our customers and we want to pass on our appreciation with these amazing deals.  The sale only lasts for 8 days and products are available while supplies last.  These incredible values are only available on my website: http://allisong.myctmh.com/ beginning tomorrow morning at 8:00am pacific time.

Sale items can be combined on the same online order as our normally priced CTMH products, and they do count toward a discounted and/or free Stamp of the Month purchase as well.  Shipping charges are calculated based on the weight of the total online order. 

If you are a member of one of my clubs (Club Cat, KOTM or Scrap Club) and you'd like to use an online sale order for your August monthly club order, that is definitely fine.  All I ask is that you send me a quick note letting me know that you want that order to count for your monthly club order and I will make a note of it on my club spreadsheet.

Regarding the MYCTMH shopping site's availability at the time of the sale, the following information comes directly from the CTMH corporate office:

"Will there be issues regarding the MyCTMH® shopping site’s availability?
Potentially. Close To My Heart has a state-of-the-art server system and e-commerce platform designed for enterprise-level business. That said, we do have a finite Internet “pipeline” to the corporate office, and when thousands of users simultaneously shop, it can slow connections or even cause dropped connections.

There are some things you can do to improve your shopping experience and ensure a smooth transaction. We have specifically chosen the items available for sale because they are desirable, current and retired items for which we also have strong stock. Not all quantities in stock are equal and there will likely be some that we run out of. But the variety is wide and there is something for everyone’s taste and style. Although this is a “while supplies last” campaign and it’s important for us to position the items as such, our inventory varied and well stocked and ready to support your shoppers."

Here's a list of the products that will be a part of the sale:



Happy Shopping!

August Scrap Club Layouts

 

 For my August Scrap Club layouts, I used the Passages kit.  I love the rich, timeless feel of these papers - they are just gorgeous!  Colors in this kit are Garden Green, Brown Bag, Cocoa, Barn Red and Colonial White.  I used the Happy Journey and State of Mind stamp sets.  Embellishments are from the Antiqued Copper Mini Medley collection and some Antiqued Copper brads.