Tracy's Craft Room

Heart Warming Winter Cards

2012-01-25T06:49:00.000-08:00

It's January and a dear friend is having a birthday. Or a neighbor brought you over some homemade cookies and you want to give them a thank you card. Do you reach for your flower or summery stamps? No way! Use a winter theme for your cards since it's winter! Or fall themes if the occasion is in the fall...you get the idea. Not all birthday cards have to have balloons! Ha! Ha! I love to make "seasonal" cards for your every day thank yous, get wells, and birthdays. That's why I reached for my "winter" stamps and the beautiful Wonderland paper to create these special cards. Check out how the pin clips are used to create "steam" rising from the hot chocolate mug. So fun! So use the seasons the next time you are creating and break away from the standard "balloons are for birthdays" mold!

Happy creating!

Love Your Layout!

2012-01-19T07:19:00.000-08:00

Dreaming of snow? We have some friends whose children are seeing snow for the first time this year. It's so exciting! And it reminded me of the beautiful Wonderland papers. Check out this Love Your Layout video that shows you how to create a darling snow themed layout...along with a great tip on how to create borders with stickease! You'll love it!

All Stitched Up!

2012-01-12T17:10:00.000-08:00

I LOVE stitching on layouts, cards and other craft projects. I just think it is so cute and adds a great touch! I have always been a little sad that I couldn't stitch on my Studio J layouts...until now!! They have added some fabulous stitching options to your embellishing options in Studio J. I'm in heaven!

Check out the cute stitched ribbon in the layout above. I created that stitched looking ribbon simply by dragging the running stitch pattern on top of the ribbon and then choosing a color. That's it! So easy!

There are tons of stitching options in Studio J...a variety of stitches, cross-stitches, stitched shapes like circles, hearts and flowers, and there are even stitched pennants and banners. All you do is click and drag them on...fast and easy just like all of our other embellishments. So swing on over to studioj.com and play....you'll love it!

A Perfect 10!

2012-01-09T07:25:00.000-08:00

January is free layout month for Studio J^® members! For every 9 custom-printed Studio J layouts you buy, you’ll receive the 10th layout free. To receive the discount, just add 10 or more layouts to your cart. You’ll see a discount reflected in your order total. And you can totally take advantage of this promotion by ordering in multiples of 10. Buy 9, get 1 free. Buy 18, get 2 free. Buy 27, get 3 free. And so on! If you’re not a member yet, now’s a great time to join!

Dates: Offer valid January 1, 2012–January 31, 2012.

Holiday Gift Tags? Check!

2011-12-05T16:51:00.001-08:00

Holiday gift tags? Check! I love making holiday gift tags to dress up my presents and packages. And they are so easy to do. Watch this little video and you'll see just how easy they are!

Cut Your Stamps? Are you Crazy?

2011-11-14T08:52:00.001-08:00

One question I get from my customers is, “I’ve heard you cancut acrylic stamps. Is it really okay to cut my stamps?” The answer is YES!! I know it’s scaryto do but it opens up a world of possibilities with your stamps!

First of all, why would you want to cut your stamps? Wellperhaps you have a saying that is long and narrow but you want the words to bestacked on top of each other to fit a square space. Or perhaps you only want touse part of a stamp.

When I created this card the other day, I had a vine stampand I wanted to stamp this cute flower onto the vine without the stem andleaves. Yet, the way the stamp was designed it was difficult to ink up justpart of the stamp. The answer? Cut the bloom!

I just took the stamp off the carrier sheet and decidedwhere to cut. When cutting a stamp, I like to make sure that there is enoughblank space around the image to make it easy to cut the image without cuttingany other parts of the design. As you get more confidence in cutting stamps youcan get more daring. JWhen you have planned your cut, simply use your microtip scissors and cut yourstamp.

Now you have your stamp in two pieces. It’s easy to put bothpieces together on a block to stamp the whole thing as one image in the future.So you don’t have to worry about not being able to use the whole stamp togetheras one piece another time. You have the best of both worlds!

Now just stamp your image.

And voila! Your final card! See the cute blue blooms on thevine. I couldn’t have done it easily without cutting that stamp.

See! It’s super easy to cut your stamps and have flexibilitywith your images. Enjoy!

Supplies:

· Dreamin’ paper packet

· D1482 Love Life stamp set

· D1436 The Present stamp set

· Art Philosophy Seasons stamp set

· Chocolate, Goldrush and Pacifica ink pads

· Bronze Glitz Gel

· Basic button collection

Studio J....Not Just for Scrapbooking!

2011-11-09T12:57:00.000-08:00

Do you think that Studio J is only forscrapbooking? Think again! Here is an example of a recipe bookthat was made using Studio J. Youcan take your JPG’s and have them printed any size that you want. In this example, they were printed in6” X 6” size so that they would fit into a My Creations Display Album. You could make a book with a collectionof favorite Christmas recipes, family favorites, soups, etc. Make each recipe and take a photo ofthe finished product and include it with the recipe for a gift that is sure tobe cherished.

Cherish the Day!

2011-11-03T11:12:00.000-07:00

So I have a secret to tell you! I LOVE the November Stamp of the Month! :) It is a delightful set filled with images for each month of the year. Check out some great artwork ideas, created by my friend Sandy.

And she made it all without using a single pair of scissors! She used the Cricuit Art PhilosophyCartridge to cut out all of the tags, pop up boxes, tickets and even the cutefry box! She said it was so fast and easy it left her more time to stamp andcreate beautiful works of art.

The Fry Box makes the perfect Studio J giftcard holder, or any other gift card (Don't have a Studio J gift card? Give me a call and we can takecare of that). It is the perfect gift for everyone on your Christmas List!

The best part of the Stamp Of The Month set is youcan get it for as little as $5.00. Get ready to create all of yourholiday gifts Faster, Simpler and Easier!

Name that Paper!!

2011-10-21T08:00:00.000-07:00

Can you name the paper packet used in this Studio Jlayout?

Stumped? It’s Michief!That’s right…a Halloween themed paper! Would you have ever dreamed of usingHalloween paper on a Homecoming layout? That’s one of the benefits of StudioJ. You can play with papercombinations that you wouldn’t normally try! On this Homecoming layout, Isimply chose any paper kit mix I wanted. Then I swapped the papers for two ofthe more traditional papers in the kit. Added some accents that matched thecolors in the picture and voila! A surprise layout that does not look“Halloween” at all. So the next time you hop on Studio J, play around withswapping papers and the different looks and combinations that you can get!

Making Great Black and White Photos

2011-10-19T08:00:00.000-07:00

Halloween is almosthere and you’ll be taking those traditional photos of your ghosts, goblins andfairy princesses. A fun way to capture some Halloween spirit is to turn some ofyour color pictures into black and white. It is very easy to do using Studio J, just drag and drop your photo intoa layout, click on the Filter drop down and you can change it to Black andWhite or Sepia. Using these filters is a perfect match with the new Mischiefpaper. Don’t be scared – give it a try!

Here are 5 Tips foryour Black and White Photos to come out looking sharp.

Shape and Form - When looking for a good shot, look beyond thecolors in a scene and instead focus you attention on the shapes. Try to createan interesting composition.

Contrast - Without differences in color to separate elementsin your shot, you must instead introduce contrasting shades. Use contrast tohelp your main subject stand out – such as a light subject against a darkbackground.

Pattern - Black and white photography gives you a muchbetter chance of capturing interesting patterns because it focuses the viewer'sattention on the shapes formed by the elements in a scene.

Texture - In the same way that patterns can be lost incolor photography, textures can be too. With black and white photos, the mindno longer has that color information to work with, so it pays more attentionand focuses on the elements such as texture and pattern.

Lighting - Lighting is absolutely key to a good black andwhite photograph because it affects all of the above elements - shape, contrast,pattern and texture.

Side lighting oftenproduces the most dramatic black and white photos. It picks out the edges ofshapes and increases contrast by adding highlights, and the shadows it createsadd interest to the scene as well as enhancing textures and patterns.

Online reference: http://www.photographymad.com/pages/view/5-essential-tips-for-black-and-white-photography

Sleigh Card

2011-10-05T12:48:00.000-07:00

Check out this adorable Sleigh Card made by my friend Allison. So simple to make and fun to give! And of course...it uses the October stamp of the month! Love it!

Simple and Sweet

2011-10-03T07:18:00.000-07:00

It's that time! Christmas will be upon us before we know it.Wouldn't it be nice to have all our Christmas cards ready beforeDecember? This months SOTM is a step in the rightdirection. When you purchase $50 in product, you can also purchase thiscute set for just $5! Then you can enjoy creating sweet and simple projects to make your holiday season festive! Watch for more cute and easy projects using this adorable stamp set each day this week! You will be inspired by simple and sweet holiday creations that you can create in a snap!

By the way, aren't these children in this above layout adorable? They are my nieces and nephew! So stinkin' cute! They were thrilled to be featured in the Close to My Heart Idea book! My nephew even said, "I'm famous now!" I love it. What a cutie.

Raid Your Stash for a Little Extra Bling!

2011-09-28T07:46:00.000-07:00

I had so much fun creating some new Studio J layouts the other day. Yesterday they arrived in the mail and I eagerly ripped open the box! :) As I looked at them I noticed on my table was sitting some left over bling from another project I had just finished (imagine that! I'm actually finishing projects! ha! ha!). So I decided to add some of that extra bling to my layouts. Sooooo awesome! I love the look! I had so much fun in fact that I did another one! The pictures really don't do it justice, but here are some picts anyway:

Before

After with a little extra bling

Before

After with a little extra bling

All I did was raid my stash for a little extra bling and voila! So much fun!

Gift Card Holder Tutorial

2011-09-22T06:56:00.000-07:00

It seems like I am alwaysin need of a gift for a wedding, and gift cards are a quick pick, but can berather impersonal. Why not make itextra special by enclosing it in this beautiful gift card holder? It features our brand-new Roxie paperand accessories, and is super easy to put together.

Here is how, step-by-step:

Supplies

All papers, stamps andembellishments are available in the Roxie Workshop on the Go Kit—G1025, pg. 25,$29.95

Stamp Pads

Z2105 Black

Z2166 Tulip

Z2118 Desert Sand

Miscellaneous

18” ribbon

Adhesive, such as Tombow

1772 Glue Dots

Z1151 3-D Mounting Tape

2 pins from Z1466 BlingAssortment (pg. 128--$4.95 or included in Workshop on the Go Kit)

Z697 Sponge

Cutting Dimensions

Black Cardstock

1 ¾” x 2 ¾” (tag)

4 ¼” x 11” (base)

Score along long edge at3”, 5 ½” & 8”

Roxie Background and Texture Paper

Four-4” x 3 ¾” (use plaidside on two and pink side on other two)

½” x 4” pink rose patternpaper

Colonial White Cardstock

1 ½” x 2 ½” (tag)

Scrap for stamping

Desert Sand Cardstock

4” x ¾”

Assembly Instructions:

Cut papers as listedabove.

· On a scrap of Colonial White Cardstock, stamp onelarge rose in Tulip Ink, and the small rose in Tulip, and then withoutre-inking, stamp it again so that you have a second-generation rose—it will beslightly lighter in color and will give you a nice variation in color.

· Stamp the filigree border stamp in Black on the pink½” x 4” strip.

· On the 1 ½” x 2 ½” Colonial White piece, stamp “Love”in Tulip Ink in the bottom right-hand corner. Stamp “So in” in Black Ink in the upper left-handcorner. Sponge edges of tag withTulip Ink.

· Stamp two large leaves side by side, slightlyoverlapping, in Desert Sand. Scorethe 4 ¼”x11” base at 3”, 5 ½” & 8”. Fold on score lines to make an “M” shape.

Next, you need to cut theopening for the gift card. Find around

object that is approximately 4” in diameter to use as a guide—I used

asmall tin. Fold the base piece inhalf and trace the edge of your

round object along the fold. Make sure that you are leaving at least

3/8” along both sides. Trim with scissors.

Next, you will need to adhere the gift card pockettogether. Place a strip ofadhesive along both sides and the bottom edge of the pocket, as illustratedwith the white strips below. Youcan use an adhesive, such as Tombow, but may want to add some gldots at thecorners for a stronger bond.

Fold the base in half andyou will have a nice pocket for the gift card.

Next, you need to add the ribbon. Mark the center of your length of ribbonand wrap it around the holder—make sure that you have the fold at the bottom. Adhere in several places with glue dots.

Now you are ready to addthe beautiful papers. Distress theedges of the pink rose-print papers with black ink and adhere to the inside ofthe holder.

· Distress the edges of the plaid papers and adhere tothe front and back covers of the holder.

· Using the edge of your scissors, scrape the edges ofthe black tag base and the Desert Sand strip for a nice distressed edge, andthen layer with corresponding stamped pieces.

· Adhere the Desert Sand Strip on the front cover,approximately ¼” from bottom edge of plaid paper.

· Adhere the “So in Love” piece to the using 3-DMounting Tape.

· Cut out roses and adhere the large rose to theupper-right-hand corner of the message tag. Adhere the two leaves to the smaller rose, then mount overthe larger rose using 3-D mounting tape.

· Add the two pins, inserting them through the 3-Dmounting tape that you used to adherthe smaller rose.

· Addgift card and your hand-written greetings to the inside and you have a lovelygift for the bride and groom!

Cutting with No Scissors

2011-09-19T06:55:00.000-07:00

That's right! I created these cards with no scissors! I just used my new Art Philosophy Cartridge and my Cricut Machine! I love the many options for different card bases contained on the Art Philosopy cartridge: scallops, circle cards, bracket shapes, zig zag edges, cards with cutouts....so many to choose from. I just can't imagine cutting out the scalloped or other fancy edges by hand! Ugh! Yet this cartridge makes it so easy. If you already own the Art Philosophy cartridge, then grab it right now and play with fun card shapes of your own....no scissors allowed!

Art Philosophy..Cricut style!

2011-09-15T07:30:00.001-07:00

The Art Philosophy Cricut Cartridge is here!

Close To My Heart has taken paper crafting to a new creative level. Not only did they come out with an exclusive cartridge with 700 images, they have bundled it with three coordinating D-size stamp sets as well as three sheets of chipboard shapes for a terrific price of only $99. It all works together perfectly!

You may be wondering if this cartridge matches up to other stamp sets? The answer is YES! There are other stamp sets throughout our Idea Book that are indicated with a thin red line. These stamp sets also match up with images on the Art Philosophy Cricut Cartridge. Awesome! How do you know what shape and size to cut out for each stamp? The stamps sets do include the measurements right on the packaging - the stamp’s carrier sheet - so you will know exactly what size to die cut your image with your Cricut so that you can then stamp your image perfectly onto your die cut. And to make it even easier, purchase the Art Philosophy package and I will send you three quick reference temps to help you know exactly what shape to use. Just slip them into your stamp set case and with a quick glance you have the cricut setting info for each stamp. Perfect!

Photo Tips that will Light Up your Photos!

2011-09-12T20:57:00.000-07:00

Have you ever seen professional photographers use those cool light reflectors in their photo shoots? Wow! They can make a huge difference in your photos! Whether you are staying inside or you are out enjoying the sunshine, the use of a light reflector can make a good photo great. But guess what...they aren't just for professionals! Here are a few simple tips on making and using a lightreflector in your photography.

Here are a few images to compare.

The first image was taken without a reflector, casting harshshadows on the face.

In the second shot, my friend Sandy positioned a reflector in front of her daughter (towards the incoming light), bouncing the light and brightening theface. Doesn't that make a huge difference?

Create Your Own Reflector

Light reflectors are available to purchase at localphotography stores. Or you can make your own in a few simple steps using foiland cardboard.

Here’s how:

1. Cut cardboard piece to desired size and score in thirds.

2. Wrap foil around cardboard, and smooth out wrinkles.

3. Secure foil in place using tape.

4. Use the finished reflector to bounce light

Additional Reflector Options

There are other tricks to the trade when it comes tobouncing and reflecting light.

Here are a few ideas to try:

Wear White: Reflecting light can be as simple as throwing ona white shirt. Light bounces offof white and will naturally reflect on your subject it you aren’t a greatdistance away.

Use White Foam Board: Foam core boards are available atlocal craft stores and are a great reflector option. Plus, they are lightweightand inexpensive, making them a nice photo-equipment option

Pair-A-Phrase

2011-09-08T10:50:00.000-07:00

Thanks Ann for asking about a sneak peek at the National Stamping Month special set, Pair-A-Phrase! I thought others might like to take a peek at this adorable set also, so here are some pictures. Don't you love it? Fun, whimsical images, with great phrases and sayings...it's a double delight! Ha! ha! :) And just think...you can get it FREE this month! Enjoy!

What's Worth Remembering?

2011-09-06T09:17:00.000-07:00

I’m a big fan of anything with a nostalgic touch to it. My hubby teases that if you want me to like something just make it look old! Sowhen I saw the September stamp of the month, Limited Edition, it was right upmy alley! There is a very vintage look to this stamp set and I think it wouldbe perfect for so many things. Of course the obvious, is an invitation like this one with cute rosette flowers.

But it’s not often that you come across a set that can be usedas an invitation but is flexible enough for other options as well. My friend Blythe created this fun CD cover for a CD that her sister in law gave her. She plans to write in onthe note the contents of the case.

I have all sorts of great ideas for this kit. Take a plain list and spice it up a bit with these stamps, slap a magnet on the back and you have a darling refrigerator list (hmm, sounds like good neighbor gifts for Christmas). A composition notebook (on sale now with back to school) would be darling decorated up with these. And the possibilities for scrapbook journaling are huge. So take advantage of the opportunity to get this set in September because once October rolls around, it’s gone! And with a $50.00 purchase, it is only $5.00. Now that’s worth remembering!

Celebrate National Stamping Month with Double the Fun!

2011-09-01T07:48:00.000-07:00

That's right! It's National Stamping Month in September! And it will be "double" the fun because we are offering our first-ever double stamp set! This little treat tote was created with the beautiful Roxie paper (my fav!), our new Cricut Art Philosophy cartridge, and of our course the Pair-A-Phrase double stamp set that you can get FREE this month!

You canget the exclusive My Acrylix® Pair-a-Phrase double stamp set FREE when youplace an order of $75 US from August 15 through September 30, 2011. You'll lovethis double set—two D-size sets in one envelope—which includes lots of cleverphrases and coordinating images you'll use in your handmade cards all yearlong. The double set has a retail value of $35.90, which drastically increasesthe value of your qualifying purchase! Have double the fun stamping duringNational Stamping Month with our new Pair-a-Phrase double stamp set!

Dates: Offer valid August 15–September 30, 2011

What to do on a rainy day?

2011-08-08T04:35:00.000-07:00

I'm in hotel room (in a foreign country where hardly anyone speaks English by the way!) and it's pouring rain outside. Not a great day for sightseeing! LOL! So what do you do a rainy day like this? Read a book? Check! Watch TV? Nope...(did I mention there is very little English here?) If only I could scrapbook the many pictures I've been taking. But of course I didn't bring my scrapbook supplies with me...ha! ha! But hey! I can still scrapbook! Studio J! It's the perfect answer! I'm far away and didn't have to bring a thing with me except my computer! Woohoo!! So the day is saved and I am having a blast scrapbooking away. :) This is just one of the pictures I am scrapbooking...taken on a sunny day! ha! ha! Who knows...if the rain keeps up I may just have my entire album done before I get home!

"Wicked"ly Awesome cards!!

2011-08-04T12:59:00.000-07:00

I know it's only August, but it's not too soon to be thinking about Halloween! Some stores already have their festive and fall goodies on display!! :) And this "wicked"-ly awesome set of cards will get you in the mood to play with this month's stamp of the month set called "Wicked."

These were created by my darling friend Karen Pederson (thanks for sharing Karen!). Not only is this month's stamp of the month set so fun, but it gets even better! We are celebrating a NEW Stamp of the Month Program!!! Now, each month you can enjoy a new D-size stamp set, available for one month only, for just $5—that’s over 70% off retail! When you place an order of $50 US or more in Close To My Heart products, you qualify for this special Stamp of the Month pricing. Or, you may also purchase the stamp set with no purchase required for retail price of $17.95.

Also, full details of all the projects featured on the website above are available online at: http://www.closetomyheart.com/en/Campaigns_and_Promotions/Stamp_of_the_Month.aspx so you can have project guides on what to create with your stamp set!

Enjoy!

It's Here! It's Here!

2011-08-01T12:41:00.000-07:00

The New Idea Book is here! It's almost like celebrating a new arrival to the family! :) Follow this link to view the Idea Book online:
http://www.closetomyheart.com/Home/Products/Online_Idea_Book.aspx.

Aside from all of the beautiful new papers, and stamps, and artwork, want to guess what my favorite new thing about this idea book is? LOWER PRICES!!! That's right! Our beautiful exclusive stamp sets have dropped in price! A D-size stamp set that used to be $22.95 is now only $17.95! That's almost 22% savings! Stamp sets that used to be $18.95 are now only $13.95 and so on. You can get quality stamp sets for as low as $6.95. Gotta love lower prices! Hop online and check it out!

Big News!!!

2011-07-27T06:43:00.000-07:00

Guess what!?! Close to My Heart is teaming up with Cricut to come out with an exclusive cartridge that is going to WOW you! Check it out! I'm so very, very excited!

Celebrating America!

2011-07-16T12:49:00.000-07:00

Check out this fun layout with a patriotic flare. Just grab your Fanfare paper packet, July stamp of the month called "American Celebration", and your Magic book and you can create this too!

These pictures were taken when we hiked up to Stewart Falls in Utah with some extended family. See the focal point photo...that is a glacier that they are standing on! Yup! At least 6 feet of packed snow and ice in the middle of the summer! Who would have imagined? Good thing we got a picture to scrapbook. :)

Happy summer!

Sweet Treats Anyone?

2011-07-11T15:05:00.000-07:00

Looking for a cute party favor? Or a fun treat for a friend? Then check out these adorable Hershey Nugget Purses. They are so cute and easy!

Supplies:

Cardstock, paper and ribbon as desired
Brads
Hershey Nugget chocolates of course!

Directions:

Start with a 3x6 piece of cardstock. Follow the pattern below and score on the lines, cutting on the solid lines. Cut off the two shaded 1” x ½” side pieces at the top to make the flap. Then decorate! Glue the sides together as you fold it and put it together. I like to add a brad to the middle front to hold the top flap down when it is closed. Add a “handle” made of ribbon and you are done. Each purse holds 2 Hershey Nuggets. So cute and super easy!

New York, New York!

2011-07-07T12:56:00.000-07:00

This New York layout is so fun and easy to create in Studio J! One of the cool techniques on this page is the photo divided up in to four squares on the right page. To replicate this look, select photo with a single subject and quite a bit of background space. Drop the same photo into each of the four wells. Scale the photos up to at least 200%, using the same percentage on each. Then arrange the photos to appear as a single photo by scooting each photo over so that only one corner is visible. Presto! It looks like one photo! Love, love, love this technique!

Beautiful Badge Buttons

2011-06-02T09:33:00.000-07:00

I love our canvas badge buttons! They are adhesive backed making them easy to attach. Plus, you can stamp on them, sponge ink of them, and create cool objects with them! On this Mayberry card, I used a canvas badge button to create an apple! Here’s how:

Supplies:

Mayberry paper packet

Mayberry Workshop on the Go stamp set

Olive and Smoothie ink pads

Chocolate waxy flax

Directions:

Ink a stamp that is larger than the badge button with Smoothie ink (or use olive ink if you want a green apple!). The stamp can have any pattern desired. I used the pear stamp included in the set because I loved the pattern on it! Now stamp on the button, rolling down around the edges (the edges are curved on the button so if you don’t roll down around the edge you accidentally only stamp on the center of the button). Now take a sponge and add some extra sponged ink around the edges to make them look darker and more dimensional. To complete the apple, stamp some leaves and cut out. To make the stem, take 4 shorts pieces of chocolate waxy flax and twist them together. Attach onto the card with a glue dot. Just peel off the adhesive paper-backing and attach! It’s that easy!

Gotta Love Hemp!

2011-05-27T08:46:00.001-07:00

Want a different look with hemp? Just tie it in a knot then fray the edges! How simple is that? I LOVE using hemp on my cards...the texture is fabulous, it's so easy to use, and hemp is super inexpensive!

My Peeps Layout

2011-05-23T21:37:00.000-07:00

I love this layout! I really liked the polaroid look of the pictures to give the layout a fun personality. To recreate this look, add a horizontal text box across the bottom of each photo mat and click on the color picker to make it white, just like the photo mat. That's it! Simple! {Helpful tip: Get a shadow on the polaroid portion to make it look dimensional by making sure the "text box" you added overlaps the photo.}

Love Your Layout!

2011-05-10T13:12:00.000-07:00

Close to My Heart has a brand new webshow called Love Your Layout! Each month there will be new video showing you a fun layout you can create in Studio J. Open up Studio J and create the same layout just be following along step-by-step! I really do LOVE this layout! :)

Celebrate National Scrapbooking Month!

2011-05-02T10:32:00.000-07:00

When you place an order of $50 or more in Close to My Heart products in the month of May, you can get the exclusive You & Me scrapbooking kit for the discount price of just $15—that’s more than half off the retail value! You’ll create two fully embellished two-page layouts using the new cardstock-weight B&T Duos® papers, D-size stamp set, accessories, and instructions. You can also purchase the kit at full retail for $34.95 with no minimum purchase required. Become a Close To My Heart Consultant during May and we’ll include a You & Me kit for free* as part of your New Consultant Kit. Contact me today to get the celebration started.

Bliss

2011-04-04T12:00:00.000-07:00

This beautiful card was made by my talented friend Shelly. It's "Blissfully" beautiful! (The paper collection is called Bliss! Perfect!). Thanks for inspiring me Shelly.

Studio J Step-by-Step

2011-03-31T22:22:00.000-07:00

Tried Studio J yet? Well, now is a great time, because here is a wonderful step-by-step tutorial that will walk you through the basics in a snap! In just 7 minutes you will see how fast and easy it is to use Studio J! Have fun!

Hope for Japan!

2011-03-24T09:36:00.000-07:00

Our hearts go out to the victims of the earthquake and tsunami in Japan, and like so many of you, we’re eager to help. From now until April 30, when you purchase the exclusive “Hope for Japan” A-size stamp set (A1118) for the special price of only $5, Close To My Heart will donate 100% of the profits to the American Red Cross’ efforts in Japan. This stamp set has a retail value of $7.95 US but is available to you at a great discount, with the profits going toward helping this urgent, important cause. Email me to order or visit my website at www.tracy.myctmh.com. Together we can make a difference!

Best Stamps on the Block!

2011-03-01T14:48:00.001-08:00

At Close To My Heart, we know we've got the best clear stamps and blocks—and we’ll prove it! Throughout March, when you buy your favorite My Acrylix® stamps, we’ll give you a free My Acrylix block. Not only will you have the best stamps on the block, you’ll have the best block, too! Just purchase $25 in stamps and you can choose from two of our most versatile block sizes: 3" × 3" (Y1006) or 2" × 61⁄2" (Y1010). Ask your me for an Idea Book so you can start shopping now!

Versatile Ribbon!

2011-02-18T22:56:00.000-08:00

Love, love, love this new Designer Ribbon Pink Collection! This new rosette ribbon is my favorite. At first I thought it was too cute to cut and play with! But, after watching this video I just had to jump in and play with it. Now I think it's too cute not too! :)

Valentine M&M Treats

2011-02-07T13:00:00.000-08:00

Supplies:

Sweetheart paper packet
Hollyhock and Baby Pink ink pads
Heart stamps (there are a variety of fabulous new sets to choose from in the Spring/Summer Idea Book)
1 ¼” circle punch
Scallop punch
White ribbon collection
Clear Sparkles
1x8 cellophane bags (I purchased mine at: www.gtbag.com; “Ultra Clear Lip and Tape 1x8 bags")

Directions:

1. These sweet little M&M treats are simple to make. I love simple Valentines treat because I tend to have to make them in mass my kids’ friends, neighbors etc! Your children can even help! To get started, have your kids fill the 1x8 cellophane bags with M&M’s. I like to make a pattern, but they can get creative if they would like.

2. Now, use the 1 ¼” circle punch to punch a white cardstock circle. Stamp your desired heart with Hollyhock ink. Sponge the edges with Baby Pink ink.

3. Mount the circle on Hollyhock cardstock. Now punch a scalloped circle out of floral paper from the Sweetheart paper packet. Add the heart circle in the middle of the scalloped circle.

Add a sparkle to the center of your heart. Now, punch a hole at the top, and thread white organza ribbon through it to tie it to the M&M tube. That’s it! Sweet and Simple!

The New Spring/Summer 2011 Idea Book is Here!!

2011-02-03T06:14:00.001-08:00

Close to My Heart is starting a new system for their Idea Books that I love. Instead of new books three times a year, there will be new books twice a year (but packed with twice as much new goodies! It's gorgeous!). So this Spring/Summer book that was released this month will cover February through July. Then in August there will be a new Fall/Winter Idea Book that will go until the end of next January.

This issue is packed with 8 brand new paper themes, complete with the perfect accessories, new albums, new buttons and other bling, and more! And the artwork ideas are amazing!I really love these new catalogs...and I hope you love it too! Email me for your copy today!

Krafty, Kool, and Kolorful!

2011-01-26T11:43:00.000-08:00

Check out this cool video about some fun ways to use our new Kraft borders! LOVE it!

Pretty Pins...what a treat!

2011-01-17T12:27:00.000-08:00

I went to a wonderful Team Builders Conference in Salt Lake this past weekend, and look how awesome CTMH is!!! Each one of us received a beautiful handmade pin that was unique! I love it so much! Hmmm...I'm thinking these pins will be fun for a workshop soon....what do you think? :)

Spray Pen Unplugged

2011-01-10T08:38:00.000-08:00

Close to My Heart has a fabulous new product called the Spray Pen. It's so much fun to use! Check out this video created by Close to My Heart's very own art department on how to use it! Get ready to have fun!

Love Getting Surprises!

2011-01-04T07:50:00.000-08:00

My dear friend Kim surprised me by giving me two beautiful cards! Ahhh...it made my day! Thanks Kim...you are awesome! I will have to pay it forward and now send someone else two cards and keep the love going. :)

Bring on the New Year!!

2011-01-03T16:32:00.000-08:00

Now that the holidays are over, I am really itching to stamp, scrapbook and create!!! The hectic (but fun!) holidays always seem to steal all the time we have and now that the kids are back in school and life is settling down it's time to get creative! I always get a crafty itch in January. :) So, bring on the new year and bring on the crafting time! :)

To get your creative juices going, take a peek at the beautiful January stamp of the month. The butterflies are my favorite! The paper featured in these projects is called Wings and is a sample of the beautiful papers coming up next month in our new Idea Book. But you can see them (and purchase them now!) in our sneak peek brochure!!! And you can great discounts on our sneak peek products this month. Check back for more details soon!

A Little MORE Thanks...for ordering in November!

2010-11-01T14:08:00.000-07:00

During November we're expressing out 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.

Place your order today to receive two My Acrylix®stamp sets for FREE by going to www.tracy.myctmh.com!

Halloween Sour Cream Containers

2010-10-27T15:41:00.001-07:00

Here is how to make these fun and easy Halloween sour cream containers. Don't they look just like the shape of the containers of sour cream you get at Wendy's? :)

1. Start with a 4 1/4 x 5 1/2 piece of paper or cardstock.

2. Put adhesive on the two long sides and one short side. Now put the short sides together to create a tube, just enough so that the adhesive overlaps the other side.

3. Now close one end together (your adhesive is already on the inside of the paper so you are all set!)

4. For an extra touch, you can crimp the end you just glued together, crimping about 1/2 to 1 inch. It's just a cute little touch to add, but totally optional so don't worry about it if you do not have a crimper handy.

5. Fill with candy and treats (Yum!). Now repeat steps 3 and 4, but this time, close the tube at 90 degrees from the other end. So, one end will close one direction, and the second end will close another direction, as shown in the photo.

6. Last of all, punch a small hole in one end and tie on a cute tag. That's it! You can make these in less than 3-5 minutes so they are perfect for making for party favors etc! Have fun!

Happy Halloween!

2010-10-25T08:28:00.000-07:00

I never send Halloween cards to anyone (I'd love to hear if you all are the same!) but I LOVE to make Halloween treat and goodie gifts! They are so fun to make for Halloween parties, teachers at school, friends etc. Here is just a sampling of a few goodies I've made this year. The Coffin treat box was inspired by Jess Ballas. You've got a few more days until Halloween so there is still time to make some of these little goodies for yourself! :)

Happy Haunting!

October Stamp of the Month

2010-10-04T21:04:00.000-07:00

Today here in Utah, the weather definite took a turn towards winter. Snow capped the mountains and there was a chill in the air (not to mention a ton of rain that will turn to snow before I know it!). It made me think of Christmas coming around the corner! I realized that I need to get started on making Christmas cards! :) So, for all of you who are realizing the same thing, the October stamp of the month is an ADORABLE Christmas stamp set called Share the Magic. Here is one fun idea you can do with this fun and festive stamp set!

Lovin' Studio J!

2010-09-13T22:37:00.000-07:00

I took a few minutes this weekend and played with a few new layouts with our online scrapbooking program, Studio J. Oh man! It's so easy and so stinkin' fun!! I can't believe how quickly you can throw together an adorable layout! Choose a paper theme and layout design, drag on your photos, click on some embellishments and you're done! And check this out...it is free to use! You don't pay anything until you print out some layotus! So just go to www.tracy.myctmh.com and click on "Studio J Online Scrapbooking" and you too can play and create some beautiful layouts in just a few minutes! Have fun!

Silent Auction for Operation Smile

2010-08-10T07:22:00.001-07:00

I am so excited about the Silent Auction and Crafting day for Operation Smile today. I can hardly stand it! It's going to be so much fun! Even if you cannot attend, you can still participate in the auction! I will post here pictures of many of the projects available at the auction. Email me the project you are interested in and your bid (your max bid and I will start at the lowest and work up to that bid...if that makes sense) and I will place your bids for you. Thanks for being generous and helping Operation Smile and children in need!

Auction Items

Adventure Chipboard Album

Tag Friends Album

Set of Cocoa Cafe Layouts

Set of 6 Thank you cards and envelopes

Photo Cube

Set of 6 Circle Cards and Envelopes

Washer Necklaces

Set of 4 Scrapbook Layouts

Time of Your Life Journal

Set of Winter Scrapbook Pages

Recipe Binder

Tag Family Album

Set of 6 Birthday cards with Envelopes

Washer Pendants

2010-08-02T08:14:00.000-07:00

Ever thought of making jewelry out of scrapbooking supplies? Well you can! And it’s both fun and easy! I made these Washer Pendant Necklaces for my upcoming Operation Smile Auction! Shhhh....but it's a secret! LOL! Here is what you need to make them:

· Washers (this is the only non-scrapbooking supply you need. I use Fender washers from the hardware store that are 3/8” by 1 ½”)

· Paper – great way to use up scraps!

· Accents – I used bitty paper flowers, bitty sparkles and our Rub-ons.

· Liquid glass – LOVE this!

· Hemp – Our thin hemp is great for completing the necklace with.

Watch later this week for a step-by-step tutorial!! You will love it!

$2, $4, $6, for 8…IT’S YOU WE APPRECIATE!!!

2010-07-31T08:33:00.000-07:00

2, 4, 6, 8, who do we appreciate? It’s YOU, of course! We are shouting from the rooftops how much we love and appreciate you! It only makes sense to pass along our appreciation with amazing deals at more than 50% off to show our thanks to you! So for 8 days, August 4 through August 11 (while supplies last), you can purchase select My Stickease® Assortments for only $2, My Reflections® Level 1 kits for only $4, and My Reflections® Level 2 paper packets for only $6 online. Visit my online shopping site (www.tracy.myctmh.com) today to see these amazing deals for yourself. You’ll want to shout for joy, too!

Here is a list of items that will be on sale (while supplies last). Happy saving!

Item # Name Price
X7045A My Reflections Vintage Travel Level 1 $4.00
X7045C VintageTravel My Stickease $2.00
X7056A My Reflections Discovery Level 1 $4.00
X7060A My Reflections Heirloom Level 1 $4.00
X7060B My Reflections Heirloom Level 2 Paper Packet $6.00
X7061A My Reflections Floral Impressions Level 1 $4.00
X7061B My Reflections Floral Impressions Level 2 Paper Packet $6.00
X7061C Floral Impressions My Stickease $2.00
X7062A My Reflections Laid Back Level 1 $4.00
X7069A My Reflections Just Chillin Level 1 $4.00
X7069C Just Chillin My Stickease $2.00
X7070A My Reflections Simple Pleasure Level 1 $4.00
X7070B My Reflections Simple Pleasure Level 2 Paper Packet $6.00
X7070C Simple Pleasure My Stickease $2.00
X7071A My Reflections Best Friends Forever Level 1 $4.00
X7072A My Reflections School Zone Level 1 $4.00
X7072C School Zone My Stickease $2.00
X7073A My Reflections Abundance Level 1 $4.00
X7073B My Reflections Abundance Level 2 Paper Packet $6.00
X7073C Abundance My Stickease $2.00
X7075A My Reflections More To Adore Level 1 $4.00
X7075B My Reflections More To Adore Level 2 Paper Packet $6.00
X7075C More To Adore My Stickease $2.00
X7076A My Reflections Sonata Level 1 $4.00
X7076C Sonata My Stickease $2.00
X7077C Sweet Harmony My Stickease $2.00
X7078A My Reflections Cutie Pie Level 1 $4.00
X7078C Cutie Pie My Stickease $2.00
X7079B My Reflections Rough n Tumble Level 2 Paper Packet $6.00
X7079C Rough n Tumble My Stickease $2.00
X7080A My Reflections Route 66 Level 1 $4.00
X7080C Route 66 My Stickease $2.00
X7081A My Reflections Majestic Blue Level 1 $4.00
X7081B My Reflections Majestic Blue Level 2 Paper Packet $6.00
X7081C Majestic Blue My Stickease $2.00
X7082A My Reflections Expedition Level 1 $4.00
X7082C Expedition My Stickease $2.00
X7083A My Reflections Let's Get Together Level 1 $4.00
X7084A My Reflections Floral Tapestry Level 1 $4.00
X7085A My Reflections Everlasting Level 1 $4.00
X7085B My Reflections Everlasting Paper Packet $6.00
X7085C Everlasting My Stickease $2.00
X7086A My Reflections Caprice Level 1 $4.00
X7086B My Reflections Caprice Level 2 Paper Packet $6.00
X7086C Caprice My Stickease $2.00
X7087A My Reflections Enchanted Level 1 $4.00
X7087B My Reflections Enchanted Level 2 Paper Packet $6.00
X7087C Enchanted My Stickease $2.00
X7088A My Reflections Free Spirit Level 1 $4.00
X7088B My Reflections Free Spirit Level 2 Paper Packet $6.00
X7088C Free Spirit My Stickease $2.00
X7089A My Reflections Lifes Delights Level 1 $4.00
X7089C Life Delights My Stickease $2.00
X7090A My Reflections Silhouette Level 1 $4.00
X7090B My Reflections Silhouette Level 2 Paper Packet $6.00
X7090C Silhouette My Stickease $2.00
X7091A My Reflections it’s a Guy Thing Level 1 $4.00
X7091B My Reflections it’s a Guy Thing Level 2 Paper Packet $6.00
X7091C it’s a Guy Thing My Stickease $2.00
X7092A My Reflections Good Times Level 1 $4.00
X7092B My Reflections Good Times Level 2 Paper Packet $6.00
X7092C Good Times My Stickease $2.00
X7093A My Reflections Sweet Pea Level 1 $4.00
X7093C Sweet Pea My Stickease $2.00
X7094A My Reflections Paper Garden Level 1 $4.00
X7094C Paper Garden My Stickease $2.00
X7095A My Reflections Boom-Di-Ada Level 1 $4.00
X7095B My Reflections Boom-Di-Ada Level 2 Paper Packet $6.00
X7095C Boom-Di-Ada My Stickease $2.00
X7096A My Reflections Blue Ribbon Level 1 $4.00
X7096B My Reflections Blue Ribbon Level 2 Paper Packet $6.00
X7096C Blue Ribbon My Stickease $2.00
X7097A My Reflections Game On Level 1 Kit $4.00
X7097B My Reflections Game On Level 2 Paper Packet $6.00
X7097C Game On My Stickease $2.00
X7098A My Reflections Sarsaparilla Level 1 Kit $4.00
X7098B My Reflections Sarsaparilla Level 2 Paper Packet $6.00
X7098C Sarsaparilla My Stickease $2.00
X7100A My Reflections Perfect Day Level 1 $4.00
X7100B My Reflections Perfect Day Level 2 Paper Packet $6.00
X7100C Perfect Day My Stickease $2.00
X7101A My Reflections Magic Moments Level 1 $4.00
X7101B My Reflections Magic Moments Level 2 Paper Packet $6.00
X7101C Magic Moments My Stickease $2.00
X7102A My Reflections Notebook Level 1 $4.00
X7102B My Reflections Notebook Paper Packet $6.00
X7102C Notebook My Stickease $2.00
X7103A My Reflections Aspen Level 1 $4.00
X7103B My Reflections Aspen Level 2 Paper Packet $6.00
X7103C Aspen My Stickease $2.00
X7104A My Reflections Evensong Level 1 $4.00
X7104B My Reflections Evensong Level 2 Paper Packet $6.00
X7104C Evensong My Stickease $2.00
X7105A My Reflection sEmporium Level 1 $4.00
X7105B My Reflections Emporium Level 2 Paper Packet $6.00
X7105C Emporium My Stickease $2.00
X7106A My Reflections Unforgettable Level 1 $4.00
X7106B My Reflections Unforgettable Level 2 Paper Packet $6.00
X7106C Unforgettable My Stickease $2.00
X7107A My Reflections That’s Amore Level 1 $4.00
X7107B My Reflections That’s Amore Level 2 Paper Packet $6.00
X7107C That’s Amore My Stickease $2.00
X7108A My Reflections Daydream Level 1 $4.00
X7108B My Reflections Daydream Level 2 Paper Packet $6.00
X7108C Daydream My Stickease $2.00
X7109A My Reflections Stardust Level 1 $4.00
X7109B My Reflections Stardust Level 2 Paper Packet $6.00
X7109C Stardust My Stickease $2.00
X7110A My Reflections Back Country Level 1 $4.00
X7110B My Reflections Back Country Level 2 Paper Packet $6.00
X7110C Back Country My Stickease $2.00
X7111A My Reflections Moon Doggie Level 1 $4.00
X7111B My Reflections Moon Doggie Level 2 Paper Packet $6.00
X7111C Moon Doggie My Stickease $2.00
X7112A My Reflections Animal Cookies Level 1 $4.00
X7112B My Reflections Animal Cookies Level 2 Paper Packet $6.00
X7112C Animal Cookies My Stickease $2.00
X7113A My Reflections Tinkerin Level 1 $4.00
X7113B My Reflections Tinkerin Level 2 Paper Packet $6.00
X7113C Tinkerin My Stickease $2.00
X7114A My Reflections Bella Level 1 $4.00
X7114B My Reflections Bella Level 2 Paper Packet $6.00
X7114C Bella My Stickease $2.00
X7115A My Reflections Jingle Level 1 $4.00
X7115B My Reflections Jingle Level 2 Paper Packet $6.00
X7115C Jingle My Stickease $2.00
X7116A My Reflections Sweet Home Level 1 $4.00
X7116B My Reflections Sweet Home Level 2 Paper Packet $6.00
X7116C Sweet Home My Stickease $2.00
X7117A My Reflections Grace Level 1 $4.00
X7117B My Reflections Grace Level 2 Paper Packet $6.00
X7117C Grace My Stickease $2.00
X7118A My Reflections Twitterpated Level 1 $4.00
X7118B My Reflections Twitterpated Level 2 Paper Packet $6.00
X7118C Twitterpated My Stickease $2.00

*Available August 4-11, 2010; while supplies last

Stamping For a Cause!

2010-07-28T12:08:00.000-07:00

< Join me for a day of fun, all to raise money for a good cause…Operation Smile!! Operation Smile is a non-profit organization that helps children all throughout the world as volunteers repair childhood facial deformities such as cleft lip and cleft palate. For as little as $240 we can give a child a life-changing surgery that a child desperately needs to live a normal life! Together we create smiles, change lives, and heal humanity. So join me in an event benefitting Operation Smile!

Tuesday, August 10th

Anytime between 6-10pm

Tracy Liu’s home (288 Gold River Circle, Orem)

There will be a both a free project and a free gift just for stopping by! Plus, bring a friend and you will be entered into a drawing for a free collection of stamps and papers! Then check out 3 ways to join in the fundraising fun:

1. Silent Auction! There will be a plethora of hand-stamped items I have created that will be auctioned off in a silent auction. From scrapbook layouts and card collections to hand-crafted home décor and jewelry, you will find a variety of items for auction. 100% of the proceeds will go to Operation Smile. I am so excited about this and hope you are too! Here is just a sample of some of the many auction items!

2. Crop. Come and bring any unfinished projects you have at home. Dig out those papers & photos that you have been on your to do list. For only $5 you can crop, use inks and stamps I have on hand for you and enjoy homemade treats while 100% of the money goes to Operation Smile!

3. Cherry-O workshop projects. Sign up for one of the adorable workshop projects below and a portion of the proceeds from each project you sign up for will go to Operation Smile! You will stamp, have fun, and make kids smile all at the same time! Please RSVP for these projects by August 5^th.

Cherry-O Recipe Box $25

No stamping is neded to make this yummy recipe box! Create this cute box and dividers in less than 20 minutes! Includes 32 adorable recipe cards to tuck inside. It makes a great gift for weddings, bridal showers, and birthdays!

2) Cherry-O Card Box $20

This cheery cherry card box is filled with dividers and 12 easy cards and envelopes for all occasions. You'll want one for yourself and one for a friend!

I hope you join me in Stamping for a Cause!!

Happy July!

2010-07-01T14:37:00.001-07:00

Happy July! This month is always filled with Good Times...picnics, vacations, fireworks, parades and much more. So I thought this "Good Times" layout would be a perfect way to kick off the month! It's created with Zippidee paper, buttons, waxy flax, and fun tickets! Enjoy!

Join me for a Delicious Cherry-O Workshop

2010-06-18T07:41:00.001-07:00

Summer time is here, filled with yummy summer fruits and fun in the sun. To celebrate a delectable summer, join me for a delicious stamping workshop! You can choose from 2 scrumptious projects to create!

1) Cherry-O Recipe Box $25

2) Cherry-O Card Box $20

This cheery cherry card box is filled with dividers and 12 easy cards and envelopes for all occasions. You'll want one for yourself and one for a friend!

The workshop is Tuesday, June 29th with two sessions to choose from: 1-3 pm or 7-9 pm. Want a different day? No problem! Just gather a couple of friends and I'll do a custom workshop just for you!

RSVP to save your spot by Thursday, June 24th! Bring a friend and you will receive a free goodie bag filled with $10 worth of scrumptious goodies. Enjoy!

Happy stamping!
Tracy

June Jackpot gets even better!

2010-06-16T16:24:00.000-07:00

Today's jackpot special is a FABULOUS Goodie Box offer!! You get over $250 worth of CURRENT & recently retired Close To My Heart products for only $100! It's a killer deal! Go to my website at www.tracy.myctmh.com and snag a deal before they are all gone! Today is one deal you won't want to miss out on! You have until 8am MST on the 17th! :)

June Jackpot Day 2!!!

2010-06-02T08:18:00.000-07:00

Woohoo!! Today's June Jackpot special is a Goodie Box! Get a box filled with assorted popular products valued at $200 for only $80!!! WOW! Just go to www.tracy.myctmh.com to get yours before it sells out! (Today's special is good until 8am MST on the 3rd or until supplies last). The goodies boxes are my favorite deals!

June Jackpot! Day 1!

2010-06-01T20:40:00.000-07:00

Everyday in June you can hit the jackpot with a fabulous deals! Enjoy two kinds of deals every day of the month!

On goodie box days… you can purchase one box filled with popular products at 50% or more off retail value! Each goodie box day will feature different surprise items, so you can score a wide variety of current and recently retired products.

On jackpot days… 5 products will be offered for sale at discounted prices. One of the 5 products is the mystery jackpot item for that day, but we’re not telling which—exciting, isn’t it! If you happen to order the mystery jackpot item, we’ll reward you with one or more FREE Close To My Heart products, with shipping included on the free items! If you purchase all 5 products, you’re guaranteed to hit the jackpot! There’s no purchase limit—if you order multiple secret jackpot items, we’ll send you the same number of free items.

Today is Day 1 and it's a fabulous jackpot day! You can choose one of 5 fabulous Level 1 scrapbook kits for only $7! And one of these fabulous will earn you two beautiful ribbon rounds FREE (retail value $16)!!! Woohoo!!! Check back tomorrow for a new special!

These special offers include discounted shipping/handling and are available at www.tracy.myctmh.com. Check back every day for the latest offer.

Winter in May?

2010-05-25T12:03:00.000-07:00

This is a picture of my backyard...not in January, but yesterday! May 24th! Can you believe we had that much snow? I just can't believe how crazy this weather is that we've been having. Global warming? Not here in Utah! :) The one bright side to yucky weather is that it makes me want to stay inside and stamp! Here is one card that I created (thanks Chris for the inspiration) to drive away the "winter" blues! I love these clear acrylic cards and the May Stamp of the Month. May is almost over so order yours before time is up! :)

More May Stamp of the Month

2010-05-19T07:15:00.000-07:00

LOVE, LOVE, LOVE our new acrylic cards! And when you match them up with our cute new Cherry-O papers and May stamp of the month you have a winning combination! This cute card was inspired by my friend Chris Green. Thanks for the card idea!

Cherish the Moment

2010-05-07T09:25:00.000-07:00

I love the May Stamp of the Month! The adorable boxes that you can "check" for whichever occasion the card is for makes the cards you create very versatile! For example, you can create a set of cards and then when you go to use them add a brad or check mark to the appropriate sentiment. No more thinking "If only that were a wedding card instead of a birthday card!" Here is one card idea created with the Cherry-O papers! Enjoy!

You Can Create with Studio J!!

2010-05-01T22:01:00.000-07:00

What is Studio J? Well, it is an innovative, new, easy to use online scrapbooking program from Close to My Heart! If you love to scrapbook, you will love Studio J! Love the feel of creating with paper, and yet don’t have time to create all the layouts you imagine, then Studio J is for you! The papers and products match our beautiful digital layouts so they look fabulous side-by-side in an album. Love to take digital pictures and just want to scrapbook them digitally too? Then Studio J is for you too! You will love the photo editing possibilities! Want to make duplicate copies of pages or albums and don’t have time to recreate them each the traditional way? Then Studio J is for you too! With a click you can create pages for family reunion albums, albums for several children, and gift albums with no extra time! I love it! So no matter what your scrapbooking goals are, Studio J is for you!

Seeing is believing so play with it for FREE!! Just go to www.tracy.myctmh.com or studioj.com and get started! You can try it out and design layouts to your heart’s content…no charge until you print them out! Here is just few questions and answers that might help. But, if you need any assistance with Studio J, let me know at: tracy@myctmh.com and I’d be happy to help anytime!

Questions and Answers:

What is Studio J™ Design Software?
Studio J™ is free online scrapbooking design software brought to you by Close To My Heart. Studio J helps you easily create custom-printed two-page layouts using our foundational scrapbook patterns, exclusive color palette, and themed designs all delivered in 12" × 12" custom prints ready for your albums. It’s a snap!

Is Studio J easy to use?
Studio J software is extremely intuitive and easy to use. The program walks you through five steps that include:

uploading your photos;
choosing your desired themed kit;
selecting an exclusive layout pattern;
adding photos, embellishments, titles, and journaling;
and purchasing custom-printed layouts ready for a cherished album.

I love Close To My Heart products. Will Studio J use the same great papers, patterns, colors, and embellishments?
Of course! If you love Close To My Heart’s scrapbooking philosophy, then you will love Studio J.

Do I need to download any software to my computer to use Studio J?
Not at all! You only need an Internet connection, and then you simply log in to www.tracy.myctmh.com to get started. Feel free to design to your heart’s content—you are not required to buy anything or provide any personal information to get started!

Can I save what I am working on and come back to it later?
You bet! You can create a customer profile that allows you to save and return to a project in progress at a later time. Your active projects will be saved for up to 90 days, giving you plenty of time to work on them. You extend that timeline for your active projects by 90 days each time you make a purchase, and your purchased projects will remain archived for one full year after purchase.

Do I need a printer that can print 12" × 12" pages to use Studio J?
No. Your Studio J layouts are not available for you to print from a home computer. In fact, we take care of the printing for you. When you purchase your designed layouts, we print and ship them quickly and directly to you using only top quality printing technology and archival-quality papers.

What is the price?
You are not charged a thing until you order your custom prints. The price per printed two-page layout is $12.95. We also offer some fantastic rewards for larger orders. You can receive FREE Memory Protectors® to protect your layouts in your albums, and FREE shipping/handling based on the number of layout prints you purchase in a single order as follows:

For 5–9 layout purchases: You’ll receive a pack of 5 Memory Protectors FREE!
For 10–20 layout purchases: You’ll receive FREE shipping/handling PLUS a FREE pack of 5 Memory Protectors for every 5 layouts in your single order.

Happy April 1st!

2010-04-01T09:49:00.000-07:00

Today it's snowy and cold and yucky here in Utah so I ran to Costco to bought a beautiful bunch of my favorite flowers...tulips! I had to "trick" myself into thinking it is spring! LOL! Seeing the pretty flowers made me think about the new April stamp of the month called Flower Pot...a beautiful collection of spring-like flowers with pots and planters. Perfect for all of us who are wishing it felt like spring was here! Here is a little card made with this pretty set and Caboodle papers. Enjoy!

Baby Shower Invitation

2010-03-25T09:35:00.001-07:00

A friend of mine is soon to have a baby girl and I'm helping throw a baby shower for her. She is going to be the cutest mom! I was working on the invitations to the shower yesterday and thought I would share what I came up with. This is with the Caboodle paper...so stinkin' fun for baby cards, albums...anything!! Love this paper!

You Rock!

2010-03-09T12:38:00.001-08:00

My children are involved in Ballroom dancing and really love it! At least one of them is dancing around my kitchen daily. :) And this week is the biggest competition of the year! So you can imagine the energy, excitement (and nerves!) at my house!!! To channel some of that energy, I decided to make some good luck cards for my kids and their partners to let them know that they rock! :) Of course the You Rock paper was perfect! Here are a couple of samples.

Here's to wishing my kids good luck this week! :)

Dare to Dream!

2010-03-01T20:58:00.001-08:00

Join Close To My Heart in March and receive four exclusive new stamp sets FREE! Be your own boss with flexible hours and unlimited earning potential when you join Close To My Heart as a new Consultant this March. When you join, you will receive four new stamp sets free! The retail value of the free stamp sets total $91.80, which nearly covers the price of your New Consultant Kit*. When all is said and done, you will receive more than $400 in fabulous new products to get your dream business started.

Now is the time to make your stamping dreams come true! Ask me about joining our incredible team today!

* Purchase of the $99 New Consultant Kit is required. Tax and shipping/handling are required on the New Consultant Kit. There is no additional tax, shipping/handling for the free items. Free items are the May-August 2010 Stamp of the Month sets. Offer valid March 1-31, 2010

Piece of Cake!

2010-02-12T09:22:00.000-08:00

This adorable card is made with the February stamp of the month set called "Piece of Cake." My friend Diana made it for me....thanks Diana! You are the best! And check out the sanded textured cardstock on the front of the card...what an awesome touch! Don't forget that our textured cardstock is buy one, get one free this month!! And with every pack you buy, Close to My Heart donates $2 to Operation Smile's Haitian Relief Fund! It's a wonderful cause!

Ghiradelli Treat Box

2010-02-04T11:23:00.000-08:00

Supplies:

3 11/16 x 8 ½ piece of cardstock for box base
2 ½ x 2 ½ piece of cardstock (2 – 1 for lid and 1 for base)
2 5/16 x 2 5/16 piece of patterned paper
7 ½ x 5/8 strip of cardstock

Directions:

Score the cardstock box base on the long side at 2”, 4” and 8”. Turn 90 degrees and score the other way at 2” and 3”. Cut out the pieces marked with an X in the diagram. Cut along the 3 short score lines at the bottom (just until the next score line).

Now, fold along score lines. To assemble the box, glue the small tabs together. If desired, cut notches out of the corners of the 2 square base and lid pieces, plus the patterned paper. Attach the patterned paper to one lid piece. Now glue the lid to the top flap of the box. Glue the base piece to the bottom of the box.

For the strap that holds the box closed, score the long strip of cardstock at 1 ½”, 2 ½”, 5”, and 6”. Decorate strip as desired. Glue ends together and slide over box. I added a decorative flower to the top of the strip, but you can decorate it however you wish! This box will hold 3-4 Ghiradelli chocolate squares.

Relief for Haiti

2010-02-02T12:42:00.000-08:00

My heart goes out to the victims of the earthquake in Haiti! It is so devastating! I feel an urgency to reach out and help, especially since I have two fabulous cousins who are over there right out helping to translate and rebuild orphanages and hospitals! They are a great example to me. And like so many of you, Close to My Heart is eager to help as well. And helping has never been easier! Throughout February, purchase a 12" x 12" textured cardstock combo pack and you’ll get one FREE— and with every offer purchased, Close To My Heart will donate $2 US to Operation Smile’s Haiti relief efforts. That means for only $14.95 US, you get two packs of our high-quality textured cardstock and you help this urgent, important cause.

Offer valid February 1–28, 2010. Tax and shipping/handling charges may apply. Donations to Haiti will be made by Close To My Heart on your behalf to Operation Smile’s relief efforts. To learn more about their efforts visit www.operationsmile.org/haiti.

January Stamp of the Month

2010-01-08T12:08:00.001-08:00

I love January's stamp of the month! The rustic frames and sayings are so beautiful and go with any papers! It's my favorite!

Supplies:

True Friends (January stamp of the month)
Cocoa and Garden Green inks
Creme Brulee ribbon
Veranda paper packet

Have a Holiday Hey Day and Save 50-80%!

2009-11-30T12:16:00.000-08:00

SIT BACK AND RELAX. It's OK to start your holiday shopping a little late this year, because the best deals start in December! You can buy everyone on your list a gift and stock up on much-needed supplies, leaving you time to enjoy the festivities! Beginning December 2*, you’ll want to get in on the amazing deals like My Acrylix® stamp sets from $2 and My Reflections®
paper packets from $5. But that’s not all—we have “grab bags” for $30, each filled with over $100 in retail products! Plus, great shipping deals on orders over $100. These products are only available while supplies last, so mark your calendar and be the first to fill your shopping cart!

*Sale continues through December 17 or while supplies last. Shipping/handling: $100+ have a flat rate shipping of $5. Orders $99.99 and under have weight-based shipping. Tax is charged based on discounted amount.

You're Invited to a Sweet Holiday Workshop!

2009-11-10T10:02:00.000-08:00

Want to spend a day laughing with friends, munching on yummy food and creating sweet & luscious projects? Then join me for a Sweet Holiday Workshop!

The day includes:

· All the supplies for two fabulous projects! (see details below)

· A delicious lunch, along with delectable desserts

· A special surprise gift for everyone who attends

· Prize drawings

· 8 hours of fun…and more!

When: Saturday, November 21st from 10am until 6pm

Where: Party room at Four Chairs Furniture, at the corner of 2000 North & State Street, Orem

What to bring: scissors, adhesive, snacks, and any unfinished projects you may want to work on between projects!

RSVP: Space is limited to 20 people, so sign up right away! Your spot is reserved when you pay your $35.

Projects:

· a sugary memory keeper box filled with all of the supplies for a cooking making party (yes, the ALL the contents of the box are provided as well!). These boxes make great gifts!

· 12 beautiful holiday cards & envelopes that are just sweet!

There will be free time as well so you can bring unfinished layouts or projects to finish. Or if you missed a workshop like our Family album or scrapbook nights, kits for a variety of fabulous projects will be available that day on a first-come, first-serve basis.

Stampaganza Starts Today!!!

2009-11-03T09:46:00.000-08:00

WOOHOO!!! My favorite special of the whole year starts today!! It's Stampaganza time! From November 3–30, 2009, when you purchase any two stamp sets (sizes A, B, C, D, and/or E only) at full retail price you will receive a third stamp set of your choice FREE (of equal or lesser value)— a savings of up to $22.95! Choose from any stamp set offered in any 2009 Idea Book or the current Product Review. To order, visit my online shopping site at: tracy.myctmh.com or email me your order at: tracy@myctmh.com.

Take advantage of this month’s great offer to add to your assortment of these beautiful stamps today!

Happy November!

2009-11-02T11:30:00.000-08:00

I can't believe that it is November already! Where did October go? My daughter Janica informed me yesterday that there were only 55 days until Christmas! Eeek!

To celebrate the arrival of November, here are a couple of cards designed with the November stamp of the month set. They were created by my talented friend, Karen Pedersen. Isn't she talented? This stamp set is really darling. Enjoy!

Thank You for Your Thoughtfulness

2009-10-27T22:07:00.001-07:00

I have a dear friend who is fabulous at always writing thank you notes. She is very observant of people around her and often thanks people for ways they have influenced her life. It is a real inspiration to me. There is never an inappropriate time to thank someone! And a heartfelt thank you card always makes someone day. I have tried to learn from my friend and take more opportunities to thank people. It feels good to be grateful! Here is one of my latest Thank you cards that I've made to keep on hand for those grateful moments.

Supplies:
Grace paper Packet
Card Chatter - Thank You stamp set
Cocoa ink pad
Sanding kit
Basic buttons
Waxy flax

Inspired by Nature

2009-10-23T13:23:00.000-07:00

Last week our kids had fall break and we went to one of our favorite places in Utah...Zion National Park. It was positively beautiful! The leaves were changing colors in the canyon and it was beautiful. I love fall leaves! I made this card while thinking about the beautiful changing leaves. To make the leaf look like it was changing colors, I first inked the stamp in Sorbet ink and then rolled the edges in Chocolate ink. Presto! It looks like it is changing colors! And each time I make a leaf it looks unique...just like real leaves in nature. So even nature can inspire our cards and layouts! :)

Happy stamping!

Want to Win a Free Scrapbook Album?

2009-10-09T10:12:00.000-07:00

Love digital scrapbooking? Check out Close to My Heart's new online design software called Studio J coming out in the Spring! Go to StudioJ.com for details. Sign up for email updates, and you will automatically be entered into a weekly random drawing for a My Legacy® Dark Cocoa linen album!!! Woohoo!! If you didn’t get the album that week, don’t worry—your name is still in the drawing for the next week. I have my fingers crossed that you will win!

Record Breaking Scrapping Weekend!

2009-10-06T14:01:00.000-07:00

This was a record breaking scrapbooking weekend for me! In just 2 days I created 20 scrapbook pages! WOW! I was really on a roll. Usually, like most of us, I squeeze in the time to put together a page here and a page there. But this weekend I started going and kept going! It felt so good! One year ago today I was in the Mediterranean on a Close to My Heart cruise I earned free (I LOVE this company!) and it was those pictures I was scrapbooking. It was so fun to relive that great trip while creating the pages. I loved it! There are still more pictures and memories from that trip to scrapbook, but here are just a few of the pages I did. :)

Here's to more scrapping time for all of us! :)

Workshop Fun!

2009-09-28T21:54:00.000-07:00

You’re Invited to the Family Album Workshop!

When: Saturday, October 10^th from 1-4pm or

Tuesday, October 20^th from 10am -1pm and 7-9pm

Where: Tracy Liu’s home (288 Gold River Circle, Orem – email for directions)

Cost: $17 All of the supplies will be cut and ready for you! All you need to bring is your favorite adhesive!

RSVP: Please RSVP by Saturday, October 3^rd specifying which date you would like to attend. Email me at: tracy@myctmh.com. If you are interested in attending the workshop, but these dates are not convenient, please let me know.

If you are interested in getting together a group of friends, I would be happy to come to your home to teach the workshop at a time convenient for you! And you receive fabulous hostess gifts as well! For more information email me at tracy@myctmh.com or call me at 801-224-6995.

For the Love of Chocolate!

2009-09-28T11:03:00.000-07:00

I was telling a friend this weekend that chocolate should be part of the food pyramid with a daily recommended number of servings a day. She laughed and asked, "You mean it isn't?" Ha! Ha! I admit it...I love chocolate! And I love it even more that Close to My Heart has an ink color called "Chocolate!" And surprise, surprise....it's one of my favs. :) So, to celebrate everyone else who loves Chocolate (both the candy and the ink color!), here is a recipe for one of my favorite Chocolate Cakes! My friend Cindy made it for me and some friends one day when we got together to stamp. See...another reason why chocolate and stamping are a match made in heaven! Enjoy!

1 chocolate cake mix (I like fudge or milk chocolate)
1 egg
1 stick of butter

Preheat oven to 350. Combine ingredients. Pat into lightly greased 9x13 pan. Prepare filling (below).

8 oz soft cream cheese
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
1 stick of butter, melted
16 oz powdered sugar

Beat cream cheese until smooth. Add eggs and vanilla. Add butter, then powdered sugar. Spread over cake mixture. Bake for 40-50 minutes. You want the center to be a little gooey, so do not overbake.

National Stamping Month Idea

2009-09-21T10:51:00.000-07:00

Here is a little National Stamping Month idea that I thought you all might love! The fabulous kit we are offering this month is so stinkin' cute! And it makes 16 beautiful cards. Why not keep half the cards for yourself and give the other half as a special gift? Here is a little card keeper that will fit all 8 cards and envelopes inside and really makes a great presentation when you give to someone dear. It's so easy to make...all you use is an 8 1/2 x 11 sheet of cardstock. Email me for directions and diagram. Enjoy National Stamping Month!

Twitterpated

2009-09-11T10:26:00.000-07:00

I just wanted to share the fun and easy card we are making at the Women's Expo at UVU this weekend! Thank you card just have to be quick and easy because you are normally making more than one. :) Happy stamping!

Treasures

2009-09-04T10:34:00.000-07:00

I love the September stamp of the month called Treasures. It reminds of playing with the dandelions and blowing them as a child! I'm sure my parents loved that! LOL! That memory was the inspiration for this simple bookmark I made with the dandelion and little pieces blowing across it. I embossed them in white to make them pop. You could easily use this same design as a long narrow card (to fit in a long envelope) instead of a bookmark. Enjoy!

Visit me at the Utah Valley Women's Expo!

2009-08-29T12:35:00.000-07:00

Come visit my booth at the Utah Valley Women's Expo at the UVU McKay Events Center in Orem, Utah on September 11th and 12th! There will be free make and take projects, prize drawings, expo specials, and peeks at fabulous new fall products! It will be a ton of fun! If you would like free tickets, email me at: tracy@myctmh.com and I'll hook you up!

See you then!

It's Your Day!

2009-08-24T22:20:00.001-07:00

I've been playing with the August Stamp of the Month and just LOVE it!! I always need birthday cards and this set is a fabulous birthday set for fun, whimsical cards. And I love to make matching bags. So, here is a picture of birthday bag I made...and there is a card to match that looks just like it! I added glitter on the candles on the birthday cake for a little extra bling!

Free Card Kit!

2009-08-19T10:47:00.000-07:00

To celebrate National Stamping Month in September we are giving you 3 ways to get a FREE Everyday Celebration card kit for making 16 beautiful cards!

• Purchase a minimum of $60 in stamp sets** (includes A, B, C, D, and E-size) between
August 18–September 30
• Host a Home Gathering with minimum sales of $400 between September 1–30
• Sign up as a new Consultant between September 1–30

You can also buy as many card kits as you’d like for $39.95 per kit. And there’s more fun! Place any order between September 1–30 and you’ll be automatically entered in our daily drawing for a FREE card kit! Winners will be announced on tracy.myctmh.com and closetomyheart.com. Express your passion for stamping with this pretty new card kit today!

It's a Thanks-a-bration!

2009-08-05T21:18:00.000-07:00

You do so much for everyone else; Let Close To My Heart do something for you! This August 3–17, place a minimum order of $100 and you not only get the August Stamp of the Month, My Acrylix® It’s Your Day stamp set, for FREE, but we’ll throw in a My Reflections® Level 2 paper packet as well (a total retail value of $35.90)! How about even more thanks? We’ll also cover the tax and shipping/handling on the free products! Act fast, time is already running out. This Thanks-a-bration only lasts until August 17!

Leadership Buzz!!

2009-08-03T18:31:00.000-07:00

I just returned from our FABULOUS leadership conference in beautiful Long Beach, California. It was so much fun! And the new product releases and specials Close to My Heart has are the most exciting! Here are just a few:

New online scrapbooking software called Studio J and it's free to use! It will be coming out to customers in the spring. And I'm so lucky to have been able to test the program! It will be the best product on the market!
Brand new look and feel to our Idea Book, with stamps shown at 75% of real size so you can get a better feel for how they really are.
New products such as: Snapease album system to help you put your pages in and out of our post-bound albums in a snap, gorgeous flexible papers, glitter brads and rub ons, and a fabulous quiet eyelet tool, just to name a few!
New organizational tools like a beautiful bag (you will want to use it all the time and not just for carrying craft supplies!) and new rolling tote

That's just a taste of what was unveiled. I can't wait to tell you more...stay tuned!

Happy stamping,
Tracy

Last Deal-a-Day special is WOW!

2009-06-30T12:53:00.000-07:00

Today is the very last Deal-a-Day special and Close to My Heart has saved the best for last!!!! You can purchase a goodie box worth $300 for only $125!!! That's over 50% off. Plus, shipping is only $10 (in the continental US). WOW!!!! Visit my website at tracy.myctmh.com and click on the Deal-a-Day special. This is a great time to stock up on fabulous stamps and accessories for yourself or as gifts for other crafters you know!

Happy saving!
Smiles,
Tracy

Unforgettable Hong Kong

2009-06-20T08:02:00.000-07:00

I love to travel and have been fortunate enough to be enjoying a fabulous trip to Hong Kong with my family. I can't wait to scrapbook all of the thousands of photos we have been taking! Of course I need some fabulous Asian themed papers and stamps for this album. :) As we have been snapping pictures and I have been planning an album in my head I keep thinking about our pretty papers called Unforgettable. How perfect for an "unforgettable" trip! :) Here is just one card made with our stamp set called "Kanji Phrases" and the Unforgettable papers. When I return from Hong Kong and download the pictures, I'll post some of the photos and some scrapbook pages too!

Wishes coming true!

2009-06-11T07:24:00.000-07:00

I love our fabulous new card idea book called Wishes! I have had so much fun making really easy cards using the simple directions, templates, cutting sizes and everything! I was talking with a friend the other day about how much we love Wishes, Originals and all of our idea books....using these card layouts make you look so creative! :) I'll be posting some of the cards I've made as I have been playing so stay tuned! :)

Deal-a-Day Specials in June!

2009-06-01T07:27:00.000-07:00

Love a great deal? How about 30 fabulous deals? Every day in the month of June Close to My Heart has a new deal for you!

Specials include a free item with purchase of a My Acrylix stamp set and goodie boxes priced at least 50% off retail or more – available only that day and only while supplies last. Plus get extraordinary shipping rates with these specials! You’ll want to check back daily for terrific deals.

Just visit my website at tracy.myctmh.com and check out each new special as it is announced daily. A new special starts every day at 9am MST and lasts for 23 hours. Just a couple of notes to make your shopping easier:

• There is plenty of stock available so you don’t have to “rush the doors” and shop right at 9am MST. Shop at off-peak times or whenever is convenient in your day and you will still be able to take advantage of the great deal of the day!

• For specials with a qualifying purchase of a stamp set required to receive a free item, please put the stamp set in the cart BEFORE the free item.

• To give you the best possible deal on shipping, Deal-a-Day purchases must include Deal-a-Day items only (e.g. the goodie box, or the qualifying stamp set and free item)…nothing else. If you add other items the system will not recognize the special or the discounted shipping.

• What’s in the goodie boxes? That would ruin the surprise and spoil the fun! There will be not be pictures of the surprise boxes, but we can tel you that they are filled with a variety of fun products including stamp sets, paper packs, embellishments and more. CTMH has made every effort to vary the contents of the boxes by days so you can take advantage of the goodie box specials on different days and get a variety of favorite products. As another sneak peek the value of these boxes will range as high as $300!!!

Scrapbook Night Out!

2009-05-26T08:26:00.000-07:00

I love Scrapbook Night Out! One Friday night each month everyone is welcome to come and scrapbook the night away! It's a ton of fun as we laugh, relax, and scrapbook!

This Friday, May 29, we are making layouts with my very favorite kit from the new Summer 2009 Idea Book called Moon Doggie! Gotta love these fun beachy papers! If you'd like a scrapbook kit or want to come and scrapbook with us, you are more than welcome! Email me for details. :)

Creatively Yours!

2009-05-14T13:25:00.000-07:00

I have some pretty creative children. Some times it's creatively trying to get out of trouble for doing something wrong (ha! ha!). But in this case, it's creatively designing a card. My oldest daughter designed this card for me without a stitch of help! I gave her the stamps and papers and she just dived right in and came up with this card. It's pretty fun to sit back and watch my children create and experience the joy of saying, "Hey! I did that!" I think we all need to experience that joy from time to time.

Thanks for Playing!

2009-05-08T22:04:00.001-07:00

WOW! Thanks to the many, many people who played Website Scavenger Hunt! What a great response! I'm so glad that so many people had fun playing. Congrats to the first 10 winners:

Grace C.
Katie A.
Amy P.
Sandy S.
Deborah S.
Emily R.
Gail K.
Tiffine D.
Cherrie G.
Kim M.

We'll have to have more fun games like this in the future. :) So, I hope you keep coming back to my blog, and watch for more fun!

Play Website Scavenger Hunt!

2009-05-06T14:20:00.000-07:00

Website Scavenger Hunt!

Like to play games? Well, I have a fun scavenger hunt for you! Simply go to my website at: www.tracy.myctmh.com and find the answers to the 5 questions below. Email the answers to me at: tracy@myctmh.com. The first 10 people who email me the correct answers win a FREE PRIZE!!! Let’s play!

1. Did you know that on the second Tuesday of every month there is a fabulous new episode of Art and Soul? What is the name and featured technique of the March 10, 2009 episode of Art and Soul on CTMH TV?

2. How many stamps are in May’s cute stamp of the month called Be Yourself?

3. I love to add new artwork regularly to my website so you can always find fresh, new ideas. Name 3 of the 4 new products used in the latest scrapbook page posted to My Art page.

4. You can browse through our new Idea Book online! Woohoo! Flip through the Idea Book and tell me 3 of your favorite new products! Would you like to have an idea book of your own? Just email me!

5. I LOVE being a consultant! Flexibility, great discounts, fabulous friends, and time spent doing something I love…it’s all great! What page on my website can you find out more information about being a consultant?

May Stamp of the Month!

2009-05-05T11:31:00.000-07:00

LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the new May stamp of the Month! It's called Be Yourself. These fun silhouette girls stamps are fab! Here's a card I made just to give you a taste for how cute it is.

Tickled Pink!

2009-04-15T15:12:00.001-07:00

I'm really tickled pink to announce that Close to My Heart's Tickled Pink scrapbooking kit is available beginning today! You can purchase this fabulous kit for only $34.95 or earn it free! To get your Tickled Pink kit, email me or visit www.tracy.myctmh.com.

And it gets even better! As another fun way to celebrate this special month, Close to My Heart has created a website, www.scrapbookandshare.com, that you can visit to share your artwork and win Close To My Heart products. To participate in the Scrapbook and Share contest, simply send us a JPEG image of a two-page layout that highlights you in some way to scrapbookandshare@closetomyheart.com. Along with your submission, you’ll want to share why the layout highlights you. At the end of May, finalists will be selected from all of the entries, and you and your customers will be able to vote for your favorites. The winners in each category will receive $150 US retail in Close To My Heart products.

Wish

2009-04-06T07:43:00.000-07:00

I made this cute card a few weeks ago at one of Close to My Heart's Regional Celebrations in Phoenix. It was a ton of fun spending the day stamping and scrapbooking with 150 other women who love what I love! What a great feeling!

I love the letters on this card, because they are one of our Color Ready alphabet stickers! Just sponge them any color you want and stick them on! So stinkin' cute!

Celebrating Relationships

2009-03-18T16:32:00.000-07:00

Let me share a story, if you don't mind me sharing something personal. My grandmother passed away last week. She was 103! Can you believe it? She was a sweetheart and we love her a lot. This is a picture of my dear Grandma. She didn't have a lot of possessions left, and had already given away many of her belongings when she moved into a nursing home. But do you know what she kept close to her? Photos of her loved ones and a scrapbook that our family had made for her years ago. All of the families and grandchildren had made simple scrapbook layouts (many of them are not scrapbookers) and put them together in an album. And it was one of her dearest possessions. That scrapbook celebrated her relationship with her family. I have been thinking about these scrapbook pages we make and how they truly are priceless they are. Each layout is more than just paper, a photo and some journaling. It is a memory made special and long-lasting for others to share and treasure always.