Perfect Day Layout

I scooped up several packages of Perfect Day paper when I heard it was retiring just in case anyone needs some. Here's a layout I did over the weekend with this wonderful set. If you have to have it, let me know before it's all gone.

Hope for Japan Artwork

Isn't this pretty? This is just some of the artwork you could make from the brand new Hope for Japan stamp set. The price is only $5.00 and it all goes to help the people of Japan. I'm purchasing several of these for those of you who would like to buy one. With the shipping and tax I'm charged the cost will be $6.00 (PLUS postage if I have to ship it to you after it arrives here). Otherwise you can buy directly from my website and pay the $7.95 postage (minimum) order. Let me know if you'd like to purchase one of these from me directly to save on the postage and help out Japan at the same time.

Reminder of my online crop coming up Friday!

Almost 3 years ago now I decided to sign up to become a consultant with Close to my Heart. I did some research first and discovered that most people in direct sales quit in their first year. The information I read also said that if a person were to work hard and stick it out to their third year, that's when they would really start to see success. I told my upline (person I signed under), Michelle, that I would commit to three years in this business then decide whether I was going to continue on. I know that she's waiting breathlessly to hear what I've decided on April 1st....at least I hope she is!!

To commemorate this decision I've decided to have a virtual online crop that evening, April 1st, 2011 from 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. EST. I will be having LOTS of giveaways, a page challenge/contest, SUPER SALES and who knows what other fun I can come up with in the next couple of weeks. If you would like to participate you must be a fan of my Facebook Business Page as that's where the online crop will happen. I'm hoping to have videos, photos, and lots of good laughs, conversations and prizes. You do not have to attend the whole 3 hours to win but your chances are better the longer you keep checking in! So, become a fan and get your scrapbooking, papercrafting and stamping supplies ready to go on April 1st!!!

Fine Print.....CTMH consultants may attend the crop but not win the prizes as this is for my wonderful customers and you know you all already get the goodies for free and low cost, don't ya!!

Wings Layout using liquid glass

What's really cool about this two page layout is that I used liquid glass on the title to make it look like epoxy stickers. It's so easy, just stamp your title then outline or fill in with liquid glass and let dry. Check out the cool look and then run and get yours RIGHT HERE!

Bliss cards

I spent yesterday making cards and layouts at a great crop in Battle Creek. Thanks to all of my friends there who made it so fun! Here are some of the cards I made, all except one is from the Bliss Workshop on the Go. If you are the FIRST person who can tell me which card, 1, 2, 3, or 4 that is not in that kit, you win one of the cards, I'll send it right to you. This is for non-consultants only, I know they already know the answer!!

Wings Layout

I put this layout together yesterday really quickly using the Imagine book. If you're ever stuck for layout ideas, you need to have one of Close to my Heart's idea books. You can find them HERE! This is made from the Wings paper kit.

Sophia and Bliss Workshops

In June I will be doing the Sophia and Bliss Workshops on the Go. No dates are set yet but I will let you know. In the meantime here is a little preview. I haven't added titles yet because I'm not sure which photos are going to go on these layouts yet but you get the idea. To have me come do these workshops in your home with your friends, call or email me and let's talk!

Hope for Japan

I'm so proud to be a part of the company that reaches out to help in time of need, for Operation Smile, for New Orleans and now for Japan. Please check out the stamp set that Close to my Heart had created to help those devastated by the earthquake and tsunami in Japan. It's now up for sale.

HOPE FOR JAPAN

Spring Scrapbook Titles

Here's a few spring titles for my friend, Annette, who is always looking for a new one!

It's Always Spring In A Mother's Heart
Spring Is In The Air
Spring Fever
First Signs of Spring
Simply Spring
The Grass is Always Greener
Spring Cleaning
Spring is Sprung
April Showers
It's a Spring Thing
A New Beginning
A Day in May
Bloom where you are planted
Celebration of Spring
Flower Child
April Fool
Here Comes the Rain
Spring Forward
Spring Flowers

Perfect Paper Pinwheels

One of the things I love about Close to my Heart is how they give us constant instruction in running our businesses and even in creative ideas for our crafts. We get to share them with you too! Here's a cute technique to decorate your pages.

Sophia Cards

Yesterday I had a chance to go to a crop that I wasn't running and was able to sit down and get some layouts and cards done. Three of these four are from the Workshop on the Go with Sophia paper. All I had to do was to follow the directions that came with the kit. You can do it easily by picking up a Sophia Workshop on the Go for yourself on my website. While you're there, check out the new CLEARANCE items that were just added!

Do you like to talk about scrapbooking and stamping?

Well that's what we do on my business Facebook page, Scrapping with Heart. We have giveaways, freebies, contests and lots and lots of chatting about our very favorite hobbies. I would love for you to join us, it's easy and free. Just go to http://facebook.com/scrappingwithheart and click the "like" button! Can't wait to see you there!

Being a consultant for Close to my Heart

As we approach the end of March I know that I will be celebrating my third anniversary with Close to my Heart. Wow, have three years gone quickly. I am so grateful to this company for giving me a new direction in my life.

I love setting goals and working towards them and there is always a new goal for me to shoot for in Close to my Heart. So many of them have come true. I won the Rising Star award just after my first year, a recruiting award last year, don't ask me how many tears flowed when I won these, it's embarrassing! I made director last year within a matter of months, recruiting 21 people in one year. Even better than the sense of accomplishment that I get in making my goal is that Close to my Heart knows all of these things are important too and they go out of their way to honor the consultants in the company with so many awards, gifts, write-ups, and privileges that you wouldn't believe it.

When is the last time you were celebrated for something you did? Noone says, "hey mom, great job on the vacuuming today," do they? I think it's something that's missing in our daily life but since joining with Close to my Heart I get a chance to get that "atta girl" and let me tell you, it feels good!! Is that the way you'd like to feel? Would you like to be rewarded for your accomplishments? If so, and you have a passion for scrapbooking, cardmaking and papercrafts, then consider joining us at Close to my Heart. I would love to have you on my team and will do everything I can to help you go for your goals and dreams! I would love to tell you more about the advantage of working for a company like this. Email me at caldreamin05@comcast.net or call me at (989) 906-6420 and I'll give you the information to find out if we're the right place for you!

P.S. If you've already made up your mind, you can enroll today RIGHT HERE!

Studio J Layouts from Close to my Heart

If you are interested in learning how to do digital scrapbooking, I can teach you. It's easy with Studio J. Contact me to make a phone or in person appointment. If you are one of those people who like to figure it out yourself, here's the LINK. Remember that it's $13.00 per layout ONLY if you don't buy the membership. If you get a membership like me you will have access to special papers and patterns, 1/2 OFF all layouts, free page protectors and free shipping once a month. A membership is definitely the way to go! In the meantime, here are some new layouts I whipped out yesterday!

How to decorate a Hershey nugget

I have been having such fun with the new Sophia paper. At first I thought it might be too busy for me until I started using it. That will teach me not to judge too soon. It's beautiful, it's springlike and just brightens up any artwork I make with it. I just taught a workshop this past weekend to make candy for Easter baskets look even prettier so here's an example. I wrapped a Hershey's nugget up in the beautiful Sophia paper and you can do this easily too!The great thing about Hershey's nuggets is that they are flat on the bottom. It makes them perfect for decorating.

In the past I've used mailing labels and random stamping to decorate the nugget but you don't even have to go that far. Find a pretty pattern paper, cut it 1 inch by 4 inches and it will wrap the same way. If you want the seam of the paper to end up on the bottom of the nugget you need to start wrapping at the side of the nugget and go down under the bottom first, up around the top and then around to the bottom again. Use Tombow adhesive and be generous. You may distress first if you want with some pretty hollyhock ink.

For the holder, cut a piece of hollyhock cardstock 5 inches by 1 inch. Score 2 inches in from each side, distress and fold at the score marks.

Using one of my new favorite stamps, Circle Together, you can stamp the flowers directly into a 1 1/4 inch white cardstock circle with hollyhock ink. Use a scallop punch in pear cardstock to frame it. You can distress all of these too.

Cut two 1 7/8 by 7/8 pattern paper strips and glue to the upper sides of the holder after distressing. Add the circle to the front of the holder, keep it down towards the bottom so you can put a brad in the top.

Use a glue dot under the wrapped nugget to keep it steady in the bottom of the holder.

Attach the brad through the top two parts to close and you're done. I have leaned my nugget holder up against a container of brads so you can see it straight on. The Easter Bunny could make a bunch of these to give to the kids in your family!! Now it's your turn, find all the supplies you need right on my website.

Fanfare Workshop on the Go

The Workshops on the Go are so fun to play with, I am sure you'd love them. I've set up clubs to do a different one each month. My first club is full and I have another one starting up in Battle Creek too. If you'd like to finish a 2 page layout every month you might want to consider joining us. For just $35 you will receive a Level Two paper pack, a stamp set exclusive to the kit, a full package of embellishments and the directions to complete a 2 page layout and 6 cards! I am willing to travel if you have friends who would love to meet monthly to do the club in your area. In the meantime, this is the Fanfare kit, how cute is this? By the way, don't you just love that pennant alphabet? You can buy it HERE!

Cropping at the Beach Photos - Part Two!

Here's a few more pictures from the crop! Thanks to Annette for sending them to me!

I'm Cropping at the Beach today!

Can't wait to see everyone who signed up! For those of you who couldn't make it, I will post pictures when I get home!!

Can't Stop Dreaming Team Meeting

On the second Thursday of every month my team, Can't Stop Dreaming, has their unit meeting. We have awards, business talk, snacks and learn a new technique that we can share with our customers. Last night we had one in Delton, Michigan and learned how to color in an embossed image with water color pencils. What a blast. I pulled out the camera so you could see what a great time we have! We would love to have you join our team and there's no better time than right before convention! Contact me for more information on what it means to be a Close to my Heart consultant.