Love Your Layout!

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!

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

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

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!

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!

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!

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

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!!

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!

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

Pretty Pins...what a treat!

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

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!

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!!

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!

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

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!

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

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!

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

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