So much more than crafting—it's about connection, community, and the friendships that blossom along the way. Yes, I offer workshops, classes, and retreats where I teach card-making, scrapbooking, and journaling techniques, but what truly matters is the sharing of stories, the support we give each other, and the laughter we share.
Here is the retired paper kit Flirty again. This time, I used it for my Autumn Family page. I love how the colors highlight the falls color in my photos. The fall leaves during this trip to Leavenworth were nothing like I had seen before. Brilliance!
For the past several summers, our family as done a week long mission trip to a camp in Canada. As the girls have gotten older, they have become more interested in the “right of passage” to jump off the “high” dock. The length of this jump depends on the tide.
In 2010, Marissa was ready to take the plunge, over, and over and over again.
This is the Flirty Paper packet from last fall. Although it had a fall feeling to its designs, it fit well with the summer colors of my photos. This page was easy to create using the Dimensional Element Chipboard shapes for embellishment and Artiste Font for the title.
The stamp set from the Chantilly Card Workshop on the Go can be used with a variety of paper packets. Here, I had a few left-over card bases cut from the holiday paper pack, Pear & Partridge. I added Juniper to the Sorbet and created this birthday card. I love how it turned out.
You can see the Chantilly Workshop on the Go here. When you purchase this kit, you get everything you need to cut and create 5 of 3 different designed cards. You add your inks and your blocks. Then, you can use the stamp set with other papers and color combinations for more birthday wishes.
Close To My Heart is teaming up with Big Picture Classes to bring you a live webcast with step-by-step instructions for making this Happy Thoughts kraft container. The FREE webcast will air Thursday, May 30 from 6:00 pm to 7:00 pm (PDT). During the presentation, you’ll learn to make several projects from a variety of sponsors, including Close To My Heart’s Happy Thoughts kraft container, as the presenter walks you through the steps. Watch the Pajama Party by yourself or invite a few friends over. Anyone with an Internet connection can watch!
Need the supplies for the class? Order yours for $3 by May 20th by emailing me at michele@therowleys.us. Local orders can be picked up between May 27th-30th and out of town orders will be shipped at actual shipping cost.
The Pajama Party class will be available for FREE at BigPictureClasses.com on May 30. If you would like to interact on the message board, participate in live chat, post to the gallery, download handouts, or enter any contests, you will need to log in to the Pajama Party “classroom” by creating a free account on the Big Picture Classes website.
What's in a Pajama Party? Six fun-filled, inspiration-filled, and prize-filled segments:
I am looking forward to getting in my pajamas by 6 p.m. on May 30! How about you?
More Chantilly and zipper lace. Cheryl also added the Chantilly textiles to create a ruffle under the zipper. Take a look below at the layout I created using the Hollyhock zipper lace.
These layouts were inspired by the Close to My Heart Idea book and Karen Pederson. I have since added photos from our Japan trip during the cherry blossom season. The pages are so nice. Need to get some photos of those and post them soon!
Cheryl created this card with the Hollyhock zipper lace. It is a fun embellishment that adds interest to any craft project.
One stamp and a embellishment and you have a beautiful card. The Buzz & Bumble Paper is a delightful summery paper packet but can be used in so many different ways.
After 11 years with Close to My Heart, I have seen a lot of changes and although I don’t always understand them in the moment I have come to trust that Jeanette and her team know what they are doing and it is for the good of the consultant and customer. (Yes, sometimes they are the same person.)
Jeanette shared some inspiring news with us through her blog and I am repeating it here because this is why I love what I do.
By Jeanette Lynton
Within the past month, paper crafters have heard and seen some hard news—well-known industry names have announced bankruptcy or removed their scrapbooking lines. It may leave many wondering what the future is for our beloved pursuit of memory keeping and creativity. As the CEO and Founder of Close To My Heart, I have many thoughts on the topic and wanted to share a few with you.
First off, preserving our memories is NOT a fad. It's one of the most important things we do in our journey here on earth, and it's as key as breathing and as sustainable as family. In the past few years, we have seen scrapbooking come into the spotlight and many flocked to set up shop and design products to capitalize on it. While we at Close To My Heart have welcomed the focus on scrapbooking over the past few years, we know that even when the hubbub fades, the core and relevance underneath the hype remains. I have been in the industry for nearly 30 years—LONG before it was "trendy"—and plan to be in this essential industry for decades to come.
Because Close To My Heart will be here for the long-term, we have run our business differently than many others. We are not leveraged to the hilt or financed by outside investors. I have always believed in organic, cash-based growth, and the simple provident rule of spending less than I earn. It's a principle I've applied to business and it's ensured that Close To My Heart operates profitably. We have been profitable month after month, year after year. Our credit rating is excellent, and this protects our commitment to delivering a wealth of diverse, beautiful products at competitive prices while providing secure commission checks for our Consultants, employees, and vendors.
Second, yes, the industry is changing. I welcome and embrace that! In my 30 years in business, I have seen many changes and they almost always yield fresh directions, new products, and a new crop of crafters. Change always brings opportunity! I have long said that as long as little girls are born with hands, they will want to create. I am grateful to be a part of such an important contribution to society and know that this will continue.
Ultimately, I invite everyone—whether you are an existing Consultant or customer, a past purchaser, or even if you have never purchased a Close To My Heart product—to get to know us again for the first time. Close To My Heart is strong. Papercrafting, memory keeping, and creativity are more important than ever before and we provide unique, diverse products for every style and ability of crafter. Close To My Heart is committed to scrapbooking, and if it's a passion you share, then YOU ARE WELCOME HERE.
If you are interested in learning more about Close to My Heart and how you can be a consultant, customer or both, I would love to share with you.
Give someone the treat of a homemade gift from the heart, personalized down to the very container itself. Watch the video to learn how to use some of our new gift giving products for your special treats.
You may have followed the blog hop last week and seen the creative art done by my team members using the special Dream Pop paper. If you didn’t, you can start here and take a look.
This past weekend I was taught a class at my scrapbook retreat and those who were consultants, were able to get the paper packet early so we played with it. This is just one of the layouts we created.
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This layout was inspired by Brenda Rose.
Now I know these colors don’t necessarily POP but I love the mint green with the gray and the texture on the cardstock is beautiful.
How can you get this paper packet? With a $35 purchase it is just $10 during the month of May. Want to get some friends together? When you are the hostess of a $400 gathering, you get it for FREE! OR order the Close to My Heart starter kit for $49, and it will be included at part of your kit. Ask me for more information! And, when you order this from me, I will include a workshop guide with ideas and projects that you can complete.
