Taming the Closet Monster Part Four

Here's part four of my closet monster posts. Please scroll down to see parts 1-3.

I went through all of my finished 12 x 12 layouts and put them in albums that still had spaces. Remember that I scrapbook by theme so the pages can go anywhere in the theme album, I do not scrap chronologically. I then labeled the outside of all the albums with the theme they contained. I was hoping that I could fill the upstairs closet with albums that were completely filled but I ended up with too many full albums so some are still downstairs in my craft room.

Now I am not a person who likes to have to unscrew, unbuckle or take out straps to add more pages, I find it to be a big pain. I could actually fit some more of the pages into some of these albums but am truly too lazy to have to open them up at this point but it is my goal down the line. In the meantime I will be purchasing one to two albums a month to put in the rest of these pages. You can see them on the top of these white albums (which also need to be replaced). The level of pages has definitely gone down and half of these are actually insert pages and page protectors for the albums so I really have less than 25 pages that need a place to go.

For the stack of 8 1/2 by 11 Christmas pages that I had to remove from an album that was beginning to mold I had to take more desperate measures. I have these file folder portable crates and stuck them in there until I can find albums in this size that I like. I have two full crates of these already, not good.

Finally I looked through all of the mini albums that were finished but didn't include photos and chose these four to sell at the Shipshewana crop my team is throwing at the end of the month. The mini albums that were personalized or are unfinished went into my bookshelves in my craft room, ready for use.

My box of digital dvds is much more organized now. I have started uploading some of them into my photo files. I have already starting scrapbooking some of them with Studio J too. The negatives still need work but I've run out of time so they will sit for another time.

I have one more stack to go through, it's finished pages without photos. I have to look through them, decide which to keep and which to sell. I plan on taking the ones I want to keep with me to the crop and actually USE THEM!! I hope that you've been inspired to take on one of your closets or any scrapbooking or stamping "monster" that you've been putting off. I do feel a lot better about my closet now. I know that albums are a necessity for me, if they are for you too, check them out HERE!

Remember that getting albums is a lot cheaper when you are a Close to my Heart consultant. If I buy 6 albums from myself I will get a free stamp of the month and $25 in free products PLUS 22% back in commission. That's about $81 in free products that I didn't have to spend. Wouldn't you like to get in on this type of buying? You can right HERE!

I have three new card tutorials coming up. My favorite will be in my newsletter only on Tuesday, January 17th, so make sure you've signed up at the upper right of my blog. The other will be up tomorrow.

Okay, here you go! New Products!

Check out this set of sales and deals on the brand new Wings paper and Inspiration sets! Click on my website to see these items in the brochure.

When you purchase the new Wings Workshops on the Go™ kit (G1016) for only $29.95 US / $33.50 CAN, it opens the door for you to participate in three exciting promotions. With the purchase of the Wings Workshops on the Go kit you can choose any or all of the following:

1. Purchase the following new Spring/Summer Idea Book My Acrylix® stamp sets at a super discount:
   
   

   My Acrylix® Stamp Set	Discount Price	Full Retail
   A Game (A1113)	$5 US / $5.50 CAN	$7.95 US / $8.75 CAN
   Rosy Regards (B1369)	$10/$10.95	$13.95/$15.50
   Take a Picture (C1440)	$15/$16.50	$18.95/$20.95
   Dreams Come True (D1470)	$18/$19.95	$22.95/$25.50
   Bohemian Alphabet (E1019)	$25/$27.95	$34.95/$38.95

   
   
2. Get the January Stamp of the Month set, Find Your Style, at a discount or free by purchasing new Spring/Summer 2011 Idea Book products found in the [insert MyCTMH catalog name here] as follows:
   
   
   

   Purchase a Wings Workshops on the Go™ kit AND…Get Stamp of the Month
   1 item from the Inspiration brochure	25% off
   2 different items from the Inspiration brochure	50% off
   3 different items from the Inspiration brochure	75% off
   4+ different items from the Inspiration brochure	FREE!

   You can also mix and match new products from the [insert MyCTMH catalog name here] and products from the Autumn/Winter 2010 Idea Book, and we will automatically calculate the greatest savings between the standard program and this promotion for you to get the best deal possible!
   

3. Celebrate National Papercrafting Month in January with a My Creations® banner project. Simply purchase a My Creations® Banner (Z1378) and you will be able to make the project with the remaining supplies from the Wings Workshops on the Go™ kit and the E-size Bohemian Alphabet stamp set. The how-to instructions are included with the Wings Workshop kit exclusively through the month of January.
   For details, see your Independent Consultant today!

Fall quotes for your scrapbooks and cards

Autumn is a second spring when every leaf is a flower. - Albert Camus

Autumn is a season followed immediately by looking forward to Spring. - Anonymous

Autumn, the year's last, loveliest smile. - William Cullen Bryant

There is a harmony in autumn, and a luster in its sky, which through the summer is not heard or seen, as if it could not be, as if it had not been! - Percy Bysshe Shelley

As the first leaves change their colors for autumn's big show, we welcome the cool crispness in the air. - Sheri Bresnahan

Every leaf speaks bliss to me, fluttering from the autumn tree." - Emily Bronte

Now if these inspire you to get to work on your pages, check out the new Olivia paper that is perfect for fall pictures.

How to make money your way!

When I was younger I worked as a waitress in a Pizza Hut for about a year. I was living on my own at the time and in college so money was a big deal for me. One of things I loved about being a waitress was knowing that every time I worked, I would come home with cold hard cash. I think that's definitely a factor in working as an independent consultant for Close to my Heart too. Each time I do a party I know that I'll come home with money. It doesn't come in the form of tips like it did when I was a waitress, instead it's a commission but I still revel in the knowledge that I get to bring that cash home.

I don't know about you but I'm not big on having bosses. With Close to my Heart, I choose what I do for work, when I want to work and who I'll work with. There's noone looking over my shoulder to micro-manage me. What freedom!! Imagine being in control of your income, your schedule and how hard you work! I know exactly how many parties I can do to bring home the amount of money I need for the month. Right now I'm working a lot. Check out my calendar HERE to see. The reason is that my daughter's tuition is coming due in December and I will probably be paying for the majority of it out of my check. In January I could choose not to work so much for whatever reason, the beauty is that I decide.

There are a lot of advantages to joining Close to my Heart like I did that have nothing to do with what you can choose to earn money-wise but I'm not discussing those today. Instead I want to talk about what we all seem to need in these trying times. Cold, hard cash. Wouldn't you like to be the one who is control of your own income? What difference would just a $100.00 extra a month make to you? How about $300? How about more? The thing is, with Close to my Heart, you decide. Another thing is that YOU CAN START RIGHT AWAY! No waiting for that first check. Just like getting a tip, you can walk away with cash from your very first party. If you want to be in control, consider signing up with me and Close to my Heart and I'll show you how!

Halloween magnets

Now don't tell my team members but I couldn't resist sharing the awards I made to give to my top three sellers for the month of October. They won't get to see them til our team celebration next month. They are magnets so they can put them on their refrigerators to remind them of their accomplishments. I try to make each month's magnets unique and I LOVE making them. If you'd like to join my wonderful team and earn your own awards, email me at caldreamin05@comcast.net and let's make your dreams come true.

September Stamp of the Month Blog Hop

Hello and welcome to the September Stamp of the Month blog hop! I don't know who came up with this idea but it's a great one! I hope you enjoy hopping through all the wonderful artwork. If you arrived here from Kimberly Smith's Blog you are in the right place.

I just LOVE the September Stamp of the Month, Thriller. I know it's a Halloween stamp but it's very Pirates of the Caribbean or Nightmare Before Christmas to me. Being a big fan of Halloween "art", I couldn't wait to use this set. Here is the wrapped, randomly stamped Hershey's nugget that I made. If you want directions, keep reading! Then head off to see what my friend, Melissa Laverty, has in store for you on her blog. If you get lost, go to Helen Onulak's blog HERE.

If you're a frequent reader of my blog you know that I love random stamping. I used pear, bubblegum and black inks to create a randomly stamped background on mailing labels and white daisy paper. Use the small swirl on the stamp set first and stamp on some white mailing labels that measure 1" by 4". If you use shorter labels they will not go around your Hershey nuggets as easily.
Stamp the heart in bubblegum ink in between the swirls. Yes, I am using unusual colors for a Halloween treat.

Take the trick or treat stamp and randomly stamp in black in the white spaces that are left on the labels. Don't be afraid to let all three stamps overlap each other. It actually looks better on the nuggets if you really fill up the page.

Starting at the SIDE of the nugget, not the top, wrap the label around the candy. It will end up with the seam on the bottom.

Now do your random stamping on some white daisy cardstock. Use as much as you need for the amount of nuggets that you'll use, you'll be cutting it just smaller than 2" by 1" so it won't take much paper for each one.

Once you've finished the stamping, cut the paper 1 7/8" by 7/8" and distress edges with one of the three colors.

They should look like this when you are finished. Imagine how cute these would be to give out at Halloween.

Cut a piece of black cardstock 5" by 1". Score 2" in from each end so that the middle fold is 1 inch by 1 inch, just fits the nugget perfectly. Glue your decorative white daisy randomly stamped paper on the front of one of the two inch sides. If you want to get fancy, put one on both of the 2 inch sides.

Stamp just the top of the skeleton on a 1 1/4" white daisy circle. Distress edges.

Cut two scalloped circles (if you have the punch) in black and bubblegum paper for each nugget.

Distress the edges of the pink circle and layer the three pieces as shown here.

Put adhesive (I prefer Tombow) on the bottom of your little folded up holder to secure the candy bar. Bring the top together, poke a hole and add a brad (or poke two holes and tie a ribbon instead). Using a glue dot, attach the circle decoration. Now who wouldn't want one of these?

Last Day! Final goodie box for June Jackpot - June 30

Hello all! Wow, what a month it's been. I wanted to thank you for being such great customers this month and taking part in the Jackpot June specials! It's been a fantastic promotion and I've heard such good things especially from those of you who bought the goodie boxes! Congratulations also, to all of you who won the free Close to my Heart apron! Today is the last day and Close to my Heart is letting Jackpot June go out with a bang just in time for 4th of July! Here's one big goodie box deal for you!

BUY IT HERE! https://barbraotten.myctmh.com/Retail/Products.aspx?CatalogID=1601

Here are the details!

Today is a Goodie Box day! Get a box filled with popular products at 50% or more off of retail value. Plus you'll get a deal on shipping/handling. Purchase this Goodie Box (retail value $300 US / $352.95 CAN) for only $125 US/ $146.95 CAN. Buy now! This offer is while supplies last and will be snatched up quickly.

Goodie Box #2 is up!

The second goodie box is up on my Close to my Heart website for Jackpot June! It's worth $80 but you can buy it for $40, whoo hoo!! If you are worried about what comes in these, check out the types of products that came in last year's goodie boxes on the links below.

Buy yours HERE!

Goodie Box from 2009
Goodie Box from 2009
Goodie Box from 2009
Goodie Box from 2009

Now if you don't like mysteries and want to know exactly what you're getting for your money, check out what you get in our consultant kit. It's valued at $300 and only costs $99 plus shipping!! It also comes with a 22% discount on your future purchases. You can see what's in the kit here. Just turn to pages 106-107. If you are ready to sign up, the enrollment form is here. If you do sign up you need my sponsor number which is 9324322, I would love to have you join my team!

Have fun shopping!

One day left!

It's not too late to take advantage of the Close to my Heart new consultant special. I truly can't understand why every scrapbooker doesn't jump on this special like my 12 new consultants did this month. Where else are you going to get $400 of new products for $99 plus shipping? These are not clearance items, they are wonderful current Close to my Heart products and along with those you get free training, my support in helping you tailor consulting to your needs, brand new friends (some of the most wonderful people in the world), free products, creative ideas galore, time away from home, and extra money!! What's not to love! The time is almost gone for those four extra brand new stamp of the month stamp sets though. (not shown above) April 1st, they are no longer part of the new consultant kit. Are you going to let this bargain get away? Click here to sign up, make sure to add my consultant number and click the box next to my name. 9324432