Summer Sweetness

I love the fresh summer fruit.  My daughter is enjoying the peaches, local and fresh from the fruit stand.  The Sweet Life is a celebration of the taste of summer and is the stamp of the month for July. 
Available through the end of July, you can get it for $5 with a $50 order or for $17.95. 
This card was created by Carla, a downline of mine.  We stamped the apple branch 3 times.  First on the square, the twice on scrap paper.  After coloring with watercolor pencils and blending pen, we cut out the different layers and raised them with foam tape to accentuate the dimension.  I love how this looks. 
If you want to see more ideas using this stamp set, follow this blog hop of creative consultants from across the US and Canada. 

Enjoy the sweetness of summer. 

Tutorial: Japanese Doll

Remember the Japanese doll card I created this past spring?  Well, I made a photo tutorial of how I created her dress.  This little lady would be fun to create in a variety of paper packets so if you don’t have Dream Pop, then try something new! 

Cut three ovals the same size.

Layer the ovals to create the design you like.  Adhere them together.

Flip the three adhered ovals over.

Use your micro tip scissors to trim off the access from the side ovals, creating your original oval shape.

Turn back to the right side and trim just a small piece off the bottom of the underneath oval to “flatten” the

bottom edge.  (sorry for the blurry photo)

For the face, I cut a circle from champagne colored cardstock and for the hair, I cut a second circle, 0.2 inch larger than the face, in black.  Cut out wedge for hair. 
Finally, I used this tutorial for my inspiration.  I love all the different “hairstyle” options she tried.  Gonna have to play some more with this pattern. 

Pajamas plus Artbooking = Good times!

Big Picture scrapbooking is hosting another pajama party and Close to My Heart will be there!  This time, Kristine will be give a preview demonstration on the new Cricut cartridge Artbooking.  The live webcast will feature step-by-step instructions for making this layout.

The Pajama Party class will be available for FREE at BigPictureClasses.com on July 31, and will be archived after the event for future viewing. 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. If you have already created an account or if you registered for the first Pajama Party in May, you are all set! You will not need to create another account or register again.
Want more Artbooking?  If you are in the local Seattle area, I will be hosting a demonstration/workshop with the cartridge, August 6th at 7 p.m.  Come and just watch the demo or participate in the workshop for $10 and create this page above.  Please bring your own adhesive.  I recommend a combination of a tape runner like tombow and a glue pen like our Bonding Memories glue pen.  Foam tape is also a great way to add dimension.   I will have a limited supply of adhesive to purchase at the workshop. Also bring your own Cricut mat and spatula! 

Memory Keeping Matters: You Are Welcom Here

I have been riding the ups and downs of the industry for over 11 years as a consultant and have never felt more stable.  In uncertain economic times, a secure company offering great products can be hard to find. Close To My Heart offers that stability to its Consultants, who also enjoy being able to do what they love: create and preserve memories! Watch the video to learn why now—more than ever—is a great time to celebrate creativity, preserve memories, and consider the Close To My Heart opportunity! 

Happy Hour Idea Book Preview!

If you are local to Seattle, you are invited!

Monday July 29th from 4-8 p.m. 

Rowley Residence

RSVP at michele@therowleys.us

Party Fun and Give Aways!
Grab a refreshing summer mocktail from the "bar" and enjoy browsing through the new product CTMH has to offer this fall.  I have $250 in product to give away (your choice from the current idea book) and 6 half price bundles/items.  Earn tickets to put in the drawing for the prize you want!  Start by RSVPing for one ticket, bring a friend for 5 tickets per person, pre-order the Artbooking Cricut Cartridge for 10 tickets (you can double dip with my previous offer), and host a fall workshop with me for 10 tickets.  Carpooling saves the environment and makes the neighbors happy too!  One ticket per person in your car!
Can’t attend but still want a chance to earn prizes?  Here’s how you can earn tickets even if you can't party with us!

• Respond to let me know you can’t attend= 1 ticket
• Pre-order Artbooking Cartridge= 10 tickets
• Sign up for monthly club= 10 tickets
• Order online by July 31st = 1 ticket per $10 ordered (before shipping and tax)
• Like my Facebook page=1 ticket www.facebook.com/EvergreenMemories (already follow? let me know for your ticket)
• Host workshop or Artbooking demo before Sept 30th= 10 tickets.

Looking forward to hearing from you!

So much to share

I sit here beside my 17 year old (her birthday was last week) watching over her as she recovers from her wisdom teeth removal this a.m.  (My previous career was nursing, so I easily flip into the R.N./patient care mode.)  This in fact gives me time to realize that there is so much to share and I have been on vacation and haven’t shared anything…therefore, you will get spoiled with hopefully lots of blog posts over the next few weeks. 

First of all, I can’t say enough about the new product coming in the Fall/Winter Idea book.  If you would like one, please let me know.  I am shipping them for $5 (to help me cover shipping costs) and will include a $5 coupon to use on your next CTMH order with me! 

Second, I had a chance to play with the new Artbooking Cricut Cartridge for about 4 days in a row!  It was so fun to craft with my buddy Trish for several days.  We had a blast creating, laughing, sharing, laughing and more!  You aren’t gonna believe how fun and easy the projects are with Artbooking. 

Just a reminder, if you pre-order your cartridge by July 31st, you will get to choose a free stamp set of your choice.  And, Close to My Heart just announced that with a $50 order, you will get the August Stamp of the Month for FREE!  That is two free stamp sets. 

Contact me today for your pre-order.

Finally, I am scheduling free demos of the Artbooking Cartridge.  We can meet together, just you and I OR gather a few of your friends and I will show you how to create stand alone mini albums, a two ring flip album, a three ring binder 8x8 mini album AND a 12 x 12 double page layout.  Close to My Heart has made creating so much fun with this new cartridge.  Schedule your date with me by July 31st, to occur before Sept 30th, and you can choose a free stamp set or paper packet when we get together!

Creative Vacation

I am spending a few days with my friend Trisha and we are creating at our whim!  When I return I will have lots of fun new artwork to share with you but in the mean time, how about some information that can help you with your creative endeavors?

This is one of the sets I am bringing with me.  Can't wait to play.

Home Décor at a Hot Price!

During the month of July, you can purchase this kit for half price and share a special memory in this home décor.  Keep it for yourself OR think “Christmas in July” and make it as a gift. 

You can order your kit on my website here. 

Want to create together?  Watch for open crop dates is August and September and bring your kit and put it together.

For Always Large Tag

I was asked to create a piece of art for an Operation Smile auction at the Close to My Heart convention.  What an honor AND scary thing.  I decided to keep it small and work on a decorative tag.  This is about 8 inches in height but was so fun to decorate with bling, ribbon and pearls.  I think the winning bid was $20.  In total, the auction brought in $1271 which will provide 5 surgeries for new smiles. 

I created this tag using the Artiste Cricut cartridge, For Always paper packet, Black Glitter Paper, For Always Textiles and a variety of buttons, bling and ribbon. 

I used the banner stamp from the Artiste Cartridge stamp set and masked out the Happy birthday words.  Then I added  the “Happiness is…” stamp is from  Floral Happiness.  The versatility of the clear acrylic stamps made this an easy way to get exactly the look I wanted.  

Did you know that Close to My Heart gives a portion of the proceeds from every stamp set sold to Operation Smile?  Although I am not good at asking, you can round up your order total and donate the extra to Operation Smile every time.   I am going to work on that this year!

Want to know more about Operation Smile?  You can read about it here. 

My journey to director

Many of you know that I am working hard to earn a trip to Costa Rica through Close to My Heart.  Along the way, I had the happy surprise of becoming a Senior Director with CTMH.  It was not something I planned for or realized when I took on the challenge but was delighted to find myself there. 
What are the benefits of being director?  Well, beside a pay raise, there are many tangible and intangible rewards.  Maybe you will find yourself wanting to be a director too!
First off, I received a special gift from corporate celebrating my accomplishment.  This came just in time for me to pack for the convention in Florida. 

Second, at convention, they reserve special seating for directors, know as the “black chairs.”  These coveted seats are right up front for great visualization of all the exciting general sessions.  It was truly great to see the events in person and not of the big screen.

Third, an evening at Epcot Center with dinner at the aquarium windows, up front seating for the light show and then back door entrance to the ride Soarin’.  And then a beautiful gift.  (I will post a photo of that later.)

(Yes I am blurry but Mickey is looking good!)
Finally and probably my favorite of all, time to connect with really awesome people.  For the first time, I met people who I have mentored with on Facebook, shared emails with regarding business, and just wanted to meet because I knew they were great people.  Because of the time we were able to spend together, they are now friends.  What a great benefit of this journey and an fantastic company to work for!

Dana Swadling and me.  One of my mentors and cheerleaders.

Thanks Close to My Heart for all you do!

Join the fun and discount

Close to My Heart has a new starter kit featuring products from the Fall/Winter 2013 idea book.  How can you get new product before August 1st?  How can you get a 22% discount on new product? 

Purchase the starter kit for $49 ($155 in retail value) starting now!  Then, you can order any product, new or past for a 22% discount.  (Including the Cricut Cartridges). 

Need more information about the starter kit and becoming a consultant?  Visit my FAQ page or contact me directly at michele@therowleys.us. 

Kit contents:

Includes a Read Me First Letter, Autumn/Winter 2013 Idea Books (qty. 3), Hostess Order Forms (qty. 5), Customer Order Forms (qty. 5), Close To My Heart Color Swatches (W471), Autumn/Winter 2013 B&T Duos® Sampler (W1125), Petite Perks™ A Touch of Fall Incentive, Stamp Set (W2026), Laughing Lola Complements Dimensional Elements (X7170C), Workshops on the Go® Laughing Lola Scrapbooking Kit (G1065), Reflections® Scrapbook Program(9037), Originals Card Confidence Program® (9036), Black Exclusive Inks®Pad (Z2105), Gypsy Exclusive Inks®Pad (Z2190), My Acrylix®Paisley Perfect Stamp Set (C1556), My Acrylix® Cityscape Stamp Set (C1563), My Acrylix® Swirls Around Stamp Set (D1551), and a 3" X 3" My Acrylix® Block (Y1006). (Some items may not be shown. Contents are subject to change without notice.

One of a Kind: Artbooking Cricut Cartridge

Last week Close to My Heart introduced the newest and most innovative Cricut cartridge yet!  The collection includes a cartridge to make cutting shapes the easiest it has ever been, three coordinating stamp sets, and three sets of chipboard die-cuts waiting to dress up your scrapbooking and crafting. This really is a revolutionary product—the first of its kind! Cutting edge technology allows users to link shapes according to size, create elements for scrapbook pages with just one key, and create themed mini albums, all at the right size proportionately.  You are going to LOVE it!




This product will begin shipping from Close to My Heart on August 1st.  When you pre-order your cartridge between today and July 31st, with full payment, I will send you a stamp set of your choice and a new Fall/Winter 2013 idea book.  Contact me today to receive the special.  (Shipping and tax apply on Cricut Cartridge)

Need more?  More chocolate that is?  Get this most delicious stamp set along with your Artbooking cartridge.  Add the August stamp of the month to your pre-order for $5. (Shipping and tax apply)




 





Watch for more artwork soon!