Close to My Heart Leadership

This fabulous lady next to me is Jeanette Lynton, founder and CEO of CTMH. In October, I went on a Mediterranean cruise with several consultants and their families. We had all earned the cruise as a special gift from Jeanette. And, she spoiled us with showers of gifts while on the cruise as well! It was unbelievable. In addition, Jeff and I were on the ship, on our 20th anniversary. I was so happy to celebrate with him!

Well, tomorrow I leave for the CTMH Leadership conference in Long Beach CA. And again, I will be spoiled by CTMH. We begin with a Create and Take Thursday p.m. with new Fall/Winter product. Then the new Fall 2009 idea book will be revealed on Friday morning with the opportunity to buy bundles of product at 30% off. In addition to this we will have luncheons, crop time, business classes, and most of all, time together!

Just a reminder, you can be spoiled by CTMH this month! When you sign up as a consultant for only $99, in addition to the $218 retail of product you will get in the kit, you can choose from a list of FIVE favorites to add to your kit for free...no extra tax or shipping. There are also additional add ons to the kit. A scrapbooking kit for $60 ($180 retail of product) and/or a cardmaking kit for $50 ($150 retail of product). If you have ever thought of becoming a consultant to get the discount, make it a career or anywhere in between, now is the time to be spoiled!

You can sign up, even while I am gone. Go to my website and Your Opportunity and follow the "road" to wonderful opportunities to be spoiled!

August Specials are Looking Great!!

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 $39.90)!
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!

Possible paper packets include:
My Reflections® Vintage Travel Level 2 Paper Packet
My Reflections® Rough ‘n Tumble Level 2 Paper Packet
My Reflections® Route 66 Level 2 Paper Packet
My Reflections® Expedition Level 2 Paper Packet
My Reflections® Floral Tapestry Level 2 Paper Packet
My Reflections® Everlasting Level 2 Paper Packet
My Reflections® Caprice Level 2 Paper Packet
My Reflections® Enchanted Level 2 Paper Packet
My Reflections® Free Spirit Level 2 Paper Packet
My Reflections® Life Delights Level 2 Paper Packet
My Reflections® Whoops-a-Daisy Level 2 Paper Packet
My Reflections® Perfect Day Level 2 Paper Packet

Many of these are my favorite. I will post artwork throughout the next two weeks showing these different paper packets. You can shop 24/7 on my website and also take advantage of the special, beggining August 3rd.

* Offer valid August 3-17, 2009. Limit of one free paper packet and Stamp of the Month per qualifying order. No shipping/handling or tax on free items, but shipping/handling and tax will apply on the qualifying purchase. Free paper packet will be hand-selected for you by Close To My Heart.

A Little Peek at Creation

The other day I was standing under our dogwood tree and noticed a birds nest in the top. I thought it was probably an old one, at least from this past spring. Tonight from our deck, I was looking out and had this feeling something was staring at me. As I scanned the tree, I saw a robin in the nest that I had seen from below. It seems late for nesting but when she flew away, I thought I had a glimpse of blue. Pushing some branches aside, I confirmed that there are eggs in the nest. We have the priveledge of watching creation.

More Flip Flaps with Back Country

Here are some more pages I created using the flip flaps.

Ten things I love about flip flaps:

1. Add more photos to a page
2. Create interactive pages
3. 15 for 3.95
4. Stack several together on a page for even more photos
5. Create a mini album
6. Use flip flaps for hiding personal journaling
7. Use them for page protectors in our 3 ring mini binder
8. Add more photos to a page
9. Use them as a top layer to create a "window" card
10. And did I mention, add more photos to a page!

More Animal Cookies and Flip Flaps

I have two workshops this week using Animal Cookies Paper Packet. I love the diversity of this set. I have used it for girl scout camping, archery, Christmas carousel, and a retirement celebration. And it works for all of these themes.

And then, there are the new flip flaps. These interactive elements allow you to slide photos or artwork into a 4x6 pocket and then attach it to the page protector with its adhesive strip. More photos on your pages!! (Z4114 Flip Flaps 15 for 3.95). In addition, I was directed toward a great tutorial by fellow consultant Tresa Black, who not only demonstrated how to use flip flaps but also how to create a "flip flap" from a 9x9 page protector. On the following pages, you will see I have used both "sizes" to add more photos to my pages. I apologize for the glare in the photos but you have to have the protector on to show the technique.

As I promised

Before I left for vacation, I promised some cards done with the "you've got flair" set, July stamp of the month. Well, here they are. I must say this was a hard stamp set to be inspired by but I am very happy with the work I was able to do. I also used a variety of heat embossing techniques which are explained below. I hope you enjoy them.

For this card, I stamped the flourish with versa mark and heat embossed using white embossing powder on cranberry cardstock. Then I cut it out and mounted it on the card. Easy to do, no coloring involved.

Using the versa mark ink pad and red embossing powder, I heat embossed this flourish and water colored with Indian corn blue.

For this one, I did not heat emboss but instead used the archival stamp pad to stamp the image, let it dry and then also water colored with Indian corn blue and cranberry.
Another heat embossed using the resist technique. I stamped with the versa mark, embossed with the clear embossing powder and then sponged Indian corn blue over the image. When the blue was the intensity I wanted, I then wiped the image with a tissue to remove the ink from the stamped image, revealing the design.

You've Got Flair

The July Stamp of the month has awesome potential! Lacy Victorian swirls and flourishes highlight these graceful images, each one sending a message of flair and whimsy.
Available July 1–31, 2009 only. To see some amazing artwork using this stamp set, hop on the "Blog Hop" trail and view the artwork of over 40 consultants. Start at Jena's blog and continue following the trail of creativity! My artwork will be posted soon so check back!

Happy Fourth of July

I hope you all enjoy a fun, safe and warm day celebrating with your families.

Best Wishes,
Michele

More Animal Cookies

Happy Birthday to my stamping friend Mary. I made this card for her with her favorite paper and a fun new product, Foam Die Cut Numbers.


This card is made using the Animal Cookies Creative Basic pack (X5807) and the Foam Die-Cut Numbers. Using my heat embossing tool, I heated the number and then stamped on them with a background stamp (D1280 Spot on Backgrounds) inked with Versa mark (Z891), holding it for 10 seconds. The versamark ink keeps the stamp from sticking to the warm foam and allows for easy separation after the impression is made. To see a step by step guide to this technique, refer to our Summer Idea Book, page 27. If you don't have a current Idea Book, you can see this on my website or contact me to get a hard copy.

Animal Cookies

Bright, cheerful colors and stripes, engaging animal designs, and fun polkadots create memory magic with Close To My Heart’s Animal Cookies Level 2 paperpacket (X7112B). As my workshop guest, you’ll have great adventures using our handy piercing tool kit! Class fee: $28 with ship/tax. RSVP by July 15th to save your space.

On this layout, I also used our Heartfelt Whimsy Die-Cuts to add color and texture. During the workshop, we will be using the Foam Die-Cut Numbers (Z1162) and learn how to add texture to them as well as shrink them to the size you want.

And the Winner is....

Michele P. Please contact me and I will send you your box and notecards. Thanks to all of you who browsed my blog and/or made purchases on my website. I hope you enjoyed what you saw and what you bought.