Last Chance: Blossom Reitres Aug 31st

This beautiful paper packet will retire at the end of August.  It has been a flexible set of paper for so many different occasions.  Below is the scrapbook layout that I created for my workshop.   I will be offering this workshop on Friday September 11th at my school day crop.  If you would like to attend, please contact me by August 30th to order your supplies.  Because they are retiring, I cannot guarantee the availability of the products so order soon. 

I created 4 double page layouts and look forward to adding photos from my recent visit with my daughter in Colorado. 

You may have seen this first layout before.  I used the Artfully Sent and Art Philosophy cricut cartridge to create the title elements for this page. 

Thanks for stopping in and remember to order your kit before it is gone. 

Creating feeds my soul,
Michele

Supplies I used to create these layouts can be purchased on my website. 

One final Sampler in our year long series

I have had so much fun creating a seasonal sampler for each month of this past year.  Our final workshop will be in September but the products must be ordered by August 30th as they will retire at the end of August.  Don't wait to contact me if you would like to create this sampler.  Of course, if you cannot make the workshop, you are welcome to order the kit to go and I will email you the instructions. 

Back to School Sampler

Celebrate the beginning of the school season with this sampler.  Great for school teachers as well as home decor.  The sampler is $15 and must be order by August 30th. 

Workshop date is Friday Sept 11th 9:30 a.m. or Sunday Sept 13th 7 p.m.  

Now here's a review of the samplers we have created through out the year.

October

November

December

 January

 February

 March

 April

 May

 June

July

August:  Sports

Soccer

Seaside

I just love seeing them all together and I look forward to putting my samplers up each month again this year. 

Watch for more home decor and gift ideas this upcoming year as I offer workshops through out year with giving in mind.

Happy creating,
Michele

Blog Hop: Picture My Life Cards created using Artfully Sent

 On this blog hop, we are featuring pocket cards created with the Artfully Sent Cricut Cartridge. 

Did you know that you can use the Artfully Sent Cricut cartridge and create your own pocket scrapbooking cards?  Yes, easy as pushing a couple of buttons and you can personalize your pocket scrapbooking!  If you came here from Mary Brooks' Blog, you are on the right track.  When you are finished here, hop on over to see the pocket cards created by Tina Lovell. 

I used the Blossom Paper packet and the July Stamp of the month to create these two cards.

 4x3 Pocket card

 4x6 Pocket Card

 Although these cards are great for pocket scrapbooking, you can also use them on your classic layouts.  You can see here, I added the top card to the left hand page.  I then stamped the "Wonderful" from the July stamp of the month on the right hand page to complete the title. 

 I did make a third 4x6 pocket card but it didn't fit on the layout so I paired it down a bit to make it work.  You can compare the layout with it here.

If you want to learn more about creating your own pocket cards or the Artfully Sent Cricut cartridge, then contact your CTMH consultant or if you don't have a consultant, I would love to help you out!  Not all the cards swapped will be represented in this hop, but I will be posting those I received over the next few days as well.  Enjoy this hop and remember to head over to Tina's next! 

Happy stamping,
Michele

Blog Hop: Jump on it July!

During the month of July, when you purchase $25 in current, retail priced stamps, you qualify to receive either the July Stamp of the Month,  Life Is Wonderful, FREE or any one of the Hostess Rewards stamp sets featured in Annual Inspirations 2014–2015 or Seasonal Expressions 2 for only $5! That is a savings of up to $17.95!

To celebrate this great special, several talented consultants have put together this artwork blog hop to share ideas with the different Hostess Reward stamp sets.

If you have come here from Melinda's Blog, you are on the right path.  After you have read my blog post, you will be traveling on to Brenda's Blog. 

I knew I had to have it when I first saw it...yes it was the Paper Bird Hostess reward set.  I am really drawn to designs, paper and embellishments that include "newspaper" or "dictionary" type text as part of the design. 

This stamp set features on image that is cut using the Art Philosophy Cricut cartridge but I also wanted to use a butterfly cut as well.  So I looked through the book and with a little trial and error, I found that Butterfly 2 found on page 55 of the handbook, cut at 1 1/2 inches, although not a perfect match, works well to for the stamp image to capture the "text".  I cut a large butterfly in our silver glitter paper as an accent and then used smaller butterfly cuts to embellish. 

Here's is a card create by the corporate artists using the Art Philosophy Cricut heart cut. 

I have had fun playing with this set and you can too!  Contact your consultant about the Jump on it July special or visit my website and click on the Promotion tab. 

Hope your day is filled with smiles. 
Michele

July Stamp of the Month Blog Hop: Life is Wonderful

Welcome to the stamp of the month blog hop!  Close to My Heart has featured another fun stamp set with sentiments to brighten any card, scrapbook page or decor item.

If you have arrived from Wendy Kessler's Blog, you are headed in the right direction.  The hop is one big circle.  As you continue from post to post, you will see the fabulous artwork from almost 50 consultants.  After you have visited here, you will hop on over to Lela Norris's Blog to see what she has created! 

I was inspired to use this stamp set in a couple of different ways.  First I played with the Artfully Sent Cricut cartridge and made a "Sleeve" card.  These pull out cards are a fun way to send a special message.

After playing with the "Sleeve" function, I moved to the "Pocket Card" option.  This cartridge is full of so many possibilities.  I made both a 4x3 card and 4x6 that can be used for either pocket scrapbooking or as embellishments on a classic scrapbooking layout.  I will be featuring these on a future blog hop but I did want to give you a sneak peek!

  
Now here's the great news! 
As usual with the stamp of the month, you can purchase the set for $17.95 or $5 with a $50 purchase  BUT during the month of July, CTMH has an additional special going on.  When you purchase $25 in stamps, you can get this stamp of the month FREE!  To hear more about this special, contact your consultant or visit my website and click on the "promotions" tab. 

Don't forget, there is more to see!  Hop on over to Lela's Blog and see what she has created. 

Life is Wonderful!
Michele

Have I ever told you...

...that one of my favorite things about CTMH is how products can be so easily coordinated together?  It makes crafting FAST, SIMPLE and EASY.

For example, what do you get when you cross the Taste of Simple paper packet (May 2015 special) with the Blossom WOTG?

I used the same card cutting instructions included in the Workshop on the Go, added Thistle and Cotton Candy ink colors and created the bright taste of summer cards.  I love how the cards change with just a simple change of paper packets.  Here are the cards in better detail.

Since the Taste of Summer packet is no longer available, what paper would you use to pair with the Blossom workshop on the go?

You can purchase the workshop on the go here, on my website. 

Operation Smile!

Close to My Heart has been supporting this amazing non profit program for several years!  In the recent past, Monica Wihongi, one of the corporate executives was invited to go on a mission with Operation Smile and accompanying her group was Kate Walsh.  It was an experience that changed many lives!  You can see a video of their experience here.   

Throughout the world, Operation Smile volunteers repair childhood facial deformities while building public and private partnerships that advocate for sustainable healthcare systems for children and families. Together we create smiles, change lives, and heal humanity.

Did you know that you can support Operation Smile through a super fun stamp set purchase from Close to My Heart?

With every stamp set purchased, CTMH donates $3 of the proceeds to Operation Smile.  It takes $240  to make a smile.  I figured if my team sold 80 sets in the month of June, we would could change a life.

Will you participate with us?  You can shop on my website or contact me to make your Happy Everything purchase.  Share this with your friends so together, we can make a difference in the life of a child.

To follow our team progress on this challenge, visit my Facebook page and watch the stamp set count as it goes through the roof! 

And don't forget to watch this blog and my Facebook page for artwork featuring this fun set.

Here's to smiles around the world,
Michele

And then this happened!

On May 1st, Close to My Heart came to town!  I love Close to My Heart events.  They inspire and energize me AND I get to share CTMH with some of my closest friends who also happen to be my team members. 

Prior to the CTMH event, my upline, Naomi had a meeting.  Part of the meetings are rewards and I was the happy recipient of three awards...and I owe two of them to my team! 

First of all, the Evergreen Memories team placed second in team sales for the first quarter!  Way to go ladies. 

Second, my team grew by 8 members in the first quarter!  I love sharing this wonderful company and all the benefits with people!  I am so happy that 8 new people joined us!  Welcome to Lorene, Mary, Cat, Jen, Jennifer, Cheryl, Mindi, and Nicole. 

Finally, I got first place in the artwork contest.  Many consultants participated with absolutely beautiful artwork.  What an honor to be chosen. 

Here's the card I made for the contest. 

Aren't the awards Naomi made just gorgeous and multipurpose?  Yes, they are great inspiration for cards and they fit in the Picture My Life page protectors so my keepsakes are ready to safely store in my album.  Thanks again to my team for all the support!

Now if you want to join this fast growing, award winning, fun loving group, you are welcome here! 
For the most recent information on becoming a consultant, visit my website here.  If you have questions about other details, please feel free to contact me. 

Have a great day!
Michele

Seasonal Expression 2 is Here!

You are going to love the fresh new paper designs and fun new embellishments in this new Seasonal Expressions from Close to My Heart.

This blog hop will feature all new items!  I can't wait to see all the artwork created by these talented consultants.

If you have arrived here from Michelle's Blog,  you are on the right track.  After you have visited here, don't forget to move on to  see what Priscilla has created!    

It was so hard to decide what to share with you!  I have been playing with both new paper packets, Blossom and Jackson, and several of the new stamp sets.  Really, you are going to love these new products. 

So, I am sharing with you the month of May Seasonal Sampler I created for my workshop.  It is created to celebrate Mother's Day and friends and family.  Refreshing and simple! 

The Blossom paper packet is perfect for Mother's Day cards and gifts.  The images in each square come from the coordinating complements, Artiste and Artfully Sent Cricut cartridges as well as SEQUINS!  Yes we have new sequins in an Oceanside color set (shown here) and Coral Reef.  Even after filling the heart with sequins and adding some others for details, I had more than a half a pack left.  What a great deal for $3.95. 

If you haven't seen the new Seasonal Expressions II, contact your consultant or visit my website here.  It's the book with the strawberries on the front cover.  Now if you are done here, move on over to Priscilla's Blog to see what she has created.  Have fun hopping through a field of inspiration as your travel along the blog hop.


Below is a list of the supplies I used to create my project. 

 Oh and a little edit!  I forgot the embossing folder! 

Happy Creating!
Michele

No Foolin' here!

I am celebrating 13 years with Close to My Heart and you are receiving the gifts.  

Everyday, for 13 days, I will have a different special that is only available through me!

If you want that day's special deal, just email or FB message me, and I will add it to your list.  Each day's special is available ONLY for that day.  At the end of the 13 days, I will accept your payment and place your total order for you.

If your order total is over $50 at the end of the 13 days, you can add the stamp of the month for $5! 

So let's get started!

Special for April 1st!

Extra thick twine now comes in four colors: Pixie, Flaxen, Glacier and Thistle.  Buy three get the fourth one free!  Retail price $3.95 

Click here to add these items to your list.  Please indicate the colors you would like.

And here is some artwork showing you different ideas for using this extra think twine!

 Add a splash of color and texture to a card.

 Use the twine to close up a gift bag or wrap decorative bottles.

This special is available only through me and you must contact me by email or FB message to take part.   If you would like to combine the special with "DEAL a DAY", please indicate a phone number where you can be reached for instructions.

Thanks for celebrating with me. 

Michele