Why I'm a consultant for Close to my Heart

I find that when an anniversary comes around I have a tendency to reflect on the time that has passed and the reasons I've committed to the person or job or whatever that the anniversary celebrates. So here's my thoughts about my five years with Close to my Heart.

I've been a scrapbooker for over 15 years.  I started the week after my youngest was born.  How I had time to learn a new craft with two other kids and a newborn at home, I don't remember, but I did.  I remember seeing scrapbooking supplies at the local JoAnn's Fabrics and had a vague recollection of one of my distant cousins showing me her scrapbook at a family reunion.  I had plans to only do one book for the new baby but within what may have just been days I became hooked on this new craft. 

I remember that a few months after starting scrapbooking I ended up teaching it at a scrapbook store in Flint, Michigan.  It wasn't too surprising that I have taught this craft again and again over the years at many stores, crops, and parties because I used to be a school teacher and the love of teaching tends to stick with you. 

We moved from our little town near Flint to Stevensville, Michigan about eight years ago and though I still scrapbooked, I didn't have a place around here to teach it anymore.  Being new to town and a homebody, I also led a fairly solitary life for a couple of years, doing most of my socializing online with old friends.  I attended a crop with a bunch of these friends in 2008 and one of them, Michelle, was a Close to my Heart consultant.  Though she had been one for a couple of years she hadn't really ever asked me if I wanted to be a consultant before, but that day she told me I'd be good at it.  It took me just a few days to realize that it might be just the opportunity I needed.

I loved scrapbooking, I loved teaching and what was consultanting other than just a manifestation of what I'd already done before?!!  Within a few weeks I signed up (five years ago today) and am now a Senior Director with Close to my Heart.  I've won the Rising Star award, a recruiting award and earned two cruises!   I have a team of over 65 wonderful, wonderful ladies who's friendships enrich my life.  Every. Single. Day.   I have met so many scrapbookers and cardmakers who take my classes, have me over to their homes, attend my crops and buy my products but most of all, give me their friendship.   I've learned to be a better listener, a more caring person and a pretty good businesswoman too!

I honestly can't see myself ever leaving Close to my Heart. Age isn't going to be a factor and so, as far as I am concerned right now, I'm in it for the long haul.  Close to my Heart has given me so much and I am proud to be a part of such a great company.  So, thanks for helping me celebrate today, I hope you had fun, I know I did!

Giveaway Five

Congrats to Wendy Eifler for winning this giveaway.

In honor of my fifth anniversary with Close to my Heart I'm having giveaways all day!  Here's the fifth one.  The second person to email me at caldreamin05@comcast.net and tell me whether you are a card maker or scrapbooker will win three of my cards!  Good luck!

CONSULTANTS ARE EXEMPT FROM THESE GIVEAWAYS, SORRY.  Don't forget to scroll down to see the rest of the posts for today, I'm posting hourly.

Giveaway Four

WE HAVE A WINNER, CONGRATULATIONS TO Heidi Baweja.

 

In honor of my fifth anniversary with Close to my Heart I'm having giveaways all day!  Here's the fourth one.  The third person to email me at caldreamin05@comcast.net and tell me how you started scrapbooking, cardmaking or paper crafting will win this felt monster packet below.  Good luck!

CONSULTANTS ARE EXEMPT FROM THESE GIVEAWAYS, SORRY.  Don't forget to scroll down to see the rest of the posts for today, I'm posting hourly.

 

Perfect Day cards

I'm having a home gathering (party) on June 27th in Battle Creek, Michigan and I made invitations to send out to all of my guests. If you live close to Battle Creek and would like to attend, contact me at caldreamin05@comcast.net. In the meantime, here's how to make these cards. You will need Perfect Day Level Two paper, a trimmer, popdots, adhesive, scissors, a dry embosser, a sanding block, Tulip, Sorbet, Juniper and Cocoa ink, a corner rounder, sponge, the Aspiration stamp set, the blocks to go with it, a square punch (1 inch), sparkles and pop dots. Cut the off-white paper in the paper set 8 1/2" by 5 1/2" to make a card base, score it at the 4 1/4" line and fold. Cut a piece of tulip paper 5 1/2" by 4 1/4". Find one of the other papers in the set that you like, cut it 5 1/4" by 4" and use your corner rounders on the corners. Distress if you like with the cocoa ink and sponge.

Attach rounded corner piece to the tulip cardstock. Now cut a 4 1/4" by 3" piece of paper, another one you choose from your stock. I chose the juniper colored dotted piece. Glue it about a 1/2" from the top.

Cut a 2 1/2" by 2 1/2" piece of tulip cardstock and dry emboss lines in it by placing it on your trimmer and using your dry embossing tool to press down into the groove about every 1/8" on the paper.

Now turn the piece over and sand it so that the white core of our cardstock shows through.

Now cut off the corners and distress with the sponge.

Glue the piece to your card about an inch or so from the bottom.

Now on a piece of off white cardstock, stamp flowers. I have several because I made more than one card, you'll only need two. First stamp them in sorbet then roll the edge in tulip. Don't forget to use the sponge from your stamp set under your paper and also remember to never do this rock and roll technique going from dark to light ink colors or you will ruin your lighter color stamp pads.

Use the outline stamp (this is called two step stamping), line it up on the flowers and stamp in cocoa ink.

Dab a little cocoa on the dots on the flower using a cocoa pen and stamp one of the centers on the stamp set in the middle of the flower with juniper.

Using your two flowers, glue one directly the card as shown and then use a pop dot on the second one turning it slightly so the bottom flower shows through. Punch out three squares from the paper of your choice (a good way to use up your scraps) and glue them on as shown.

Put on two of our self-adhesive sparkles on the left side of your card and you are done!

Don't forget to check out the deal of the day at 11:00 Eastern time today.