Twelve Days of Christmas 2013

My Twelve Days of Christmas newsletters have started!  Are you signed up?  Simply sign up in the mailing list block at the upper right of this blog to get in on giveaways and specials!

I love making cards!

Here's a couple of new cards I made this week!  It's so funny that I was the one who said I wasn't interested in making cards at all just six years ago!   

CLICK HERE

 TO SEE MY BLACK FRIDAY SPECIAL!

Holiday Gift Guide Blog Hop

Welcome to our Holiday Gift Guide Blog Hop! 

We are thrilled to introduce you to the BRAND NEW products from our Close to my Heart Holiday Gift Guide, available October 15 through December 31 (or while supplies last). If you have come here from Pamela O'Connor's Blog, you are on the right path!

The blog hop is a great big circle, so you can start here and work your way all around.  If you get lost along the way, you'll find the complete list of participating consultant HERE.

It's super simple to hop along with us.  Just click on the link at the end of each blog post to move to the next one!

You will be able to see the entire gift guide on October 15th right here!  If you spend $100, you get one of the starred items in the catalog FOR FREE!  Make sure you hit the JOIN HERE TO SHOP button when you get there!

I just love the new Sparkle and Shine paper. There is no way that a photo can truly show how pretty this paper is in person. The colors are juniper, slate, ruby, and white and they look incredible together!  I was so excited to get started using this paper, especially for a new Christmas card!  Supplies used are listed at the bottom of this post.  Thanks so much for stopping by!

Now "Hop" on over to my friend, Rebecca Cross' Blog to see her work!  Be sure to visit all the Consultants in the Hop to get some great crafting ideas!  Remember the Holiday Gift Guide is only available until December 31!  Contact me or shop directly from my website to get your holiday products today!

Sparkle and Shine paper
Sparkle and Shine washi tape
Ruby ink
Slate ink
Holiday Tags stamp set
Juniper brads (retired)
Artiste cartridge
3 d foam tape
Tombow adhesive
Microtip scissors
Fiskars cutter
Red glitz glitter gel

Cards and Kits!

I am so excited because I have had so many people ask me to have a "virtual" card workshop for those who cannot make my actual workshops. So......I'm going to have one!

  

Here's how it will work:

  

Every month I will create FIVE cards that will not be posted online at all. They will truly be exclusive cards and super special. 

  

You may buy the card workshop for $15.00 by the 15th of each month.  This will be an introductory offer for October so I can see how the postage prices run.  If they are too much then the price of cards may raise a bit in future workshops. 

  

You will not be able to see the cards until you receive the kits.

If you've been following my facebook page, blog, and newsletters then you've seen examples of my cards which will give you a good idea of what you'll be getting.

  

By the 20th of each month I will sent out your card kits in the mail, the pieces will be cut and stamped for you.  The day I send out the kits I will send out instructions and photos of the card by email.  You will then be able to put the cards together.  For those of you who are consultants, I have no problem with you using my cards in your own workshops. 

  

So, this is the chance you've been waiting for!  Payments may be by credit card (you will call me with the number 989-906-6420), paypal to caldreamin05@comcast.net, or you may mail a check to:

  

Barbra Otten

1247 W. John Beers Road

Stevensville, MI 49127

  

The first cards will go out October 20th and your order must be in by the 15th.  Thank you and let's start our first virtual card club!

Paypal link for Shipshewana

Card Workshop Battle Creek

I'm having a card workshop in Battle Creek on Sunday, October 6, 2013, from 2-5 p.m.  The cost is just $15 for all the cards you can make in three hours.  All cards are pre-designed and pre-cut for you so you just follow the directions to stamp and paste!   You make the cards you want to make!   See some examples here and contact me at caldreamin05@comcast.net to sign up!   Beginner's welcome!

Waterfall Card

Contest

Card One

Card Two

Card Three

Card Four

Card Five

Card Six

Card Seven

New clearance products just popped up on my website.  Click on the JOIN HERE TO SHOP link, then hit WHILE SUPPLIES LAST. Http://barbraotten.ctmh.com or click on the SHOP NOW link to the right.

Studio J Layouts - August 2013

I had a fun weekend with my family in Frankenmuth and at Birch Run.  What's really wonderful is that I was able to use Studio J digital scrapbooking to collect and scrapbook all the photos within a couple of days of taking them.  Each layout is super easy to make, no programs to download.  Beginners have no problems with this type of scrapbooking!!  The best part is that Close to my Heart prints these out in 12 x 12 and sends them to you to simply slip in with the rest of your traditional scrapped layouts!  These are not books, they are layouts just like you already make, just digital!   Contact me to hear about how easy Studio J is!

Click on the layouts to see them larger.

My first Christmas card workshop of the season is going to be October 6, from 2-5 at 1190 Chalmers Drive in Battle Creek. A first workshop special price of $15 for 3 hours of card-making, all the cards you can make in that time. There will be over 25 Christmas cards to choose from, you pick the ones you like to make. Bring your own tool kit which needs to consist of adhesive, glue dots, pop dots, scissors, sanding tool (or sand paper), piercing tool or hole punch. Let me know if you will be attending, people who pay before October 1st get a special gift.

National Stamping Month - September 2013

September is just around the corner, look at the fabulous TRIPLE STAMP SET deal that we have coming!

Get an exclusive You Are My Happy stamp set trio in celebration of National Stamping Month! During the month of September, when you make a purchase of $50 or more, you qualify for this whimsical stamp set trio for only $10. You’ll love the whimsical alphabet, light-hearted sentiments, and fanciful images for a variety of occasions to give a cheerful touch to your projects, with a full retail value of $47.90.

Shipshewana Crop - August 2013

We had another wonderful weekend in Shipshewana, Indiana at the Farmstead Inn.  The Can't Stop Dreaming Team put on a 3 day cropping retreat with the Western theme!   We're doing it again January 24-26.  You can send your $25 non-refundable deposit to:  Barbra Otten  1247 W. John Beers Road, Stevensville, MI 49127.

The signs around the room were Western themed.  This was the table where you could trade items you no longer wanted, a donation to Operation Smile made the item yours.

 There's never a lack of food at the old bunkhouse, we had plenty of vittles for breakfast, lunch and dinner and in between!

Guests earned tickets all weekend long for the prize table or as we called it, The Gold Mine.

The brand new Close to my Heart Artbooking Cricut cartridge was our first drawing!   

The Flip Flap class was well attended and guests learned how to tame their photo overload!

The nametag contest is always a favorite activity!

The Close to my Heart raffle board gave these three winners gift certificates to shop!

It's always important to wet your whistle with a little sasparill-y (or as we call it, root beer).  

A complete card workshop was available all weekend long.  Guests could make cards when they wanted to for just a dollar per card.

Speaking of cards, the card contest was a thigh-slapping hit.

The pajama contest was Western themed, of course!

And the winner was Molly Raster!

A strange feller delivered little bags of gold to everyone.

Of course thar was croppin' all weekend too.

We would love to have you join us in January, only 60 spots are available so don't delay.