Keep calm and color on!

Many of you have seen the adult coloring books on shelves in the craft stores.  Adult coloring is a newer trend but it can take you back to calm, peaceful place.  I found this article, 10 Therapeutic Benefits of Coloring and I thought it summed up what I have been feeling, seeing and hearing as I have enjoyed time to color.

I have always found paper crafting therapeutic and want to share some calm relaxing color time with you so I am starting a "coloring club".  Coloring with the Shin Han markers creates vibrant pieces of artwork that you can use to create cards, postcards, or even elements for a scrapbook page or home decor.

You can join the club and collect all the Shin Han markers sold by CTMH or you can just join us for an evening of coloring.

For $30 per month, you will receive:

• 4 Shin Han markers
• Archival or Momento black ink will be included one month
• Pre-stamped coloring pages
• Card bases and envelopes to create 4-6 cards
• Use of my stamp sets at the club time
• Instruction on fun techniques to try including shading, blending, pointillism, and layering
• After completion of the club, $25 in free CTMH products.  

You can join us here locally OR you can start your own coloring club.  I will supply you with the materials and Skype in with techniques and instructions.

If you already own the Shin Han Markers and want to join us, RSVP and for $5, I will provide the pre-stamped coloring pages, card bases and instruction techniques.

Our first coloring night will be in my home in Bothell, on Thursday April 7th.  We will then meet every first Thursday of the month through September.  I will recommend a marker selection for each meet up and through out the times, you will collect them all.

RSVP by March 28th so I can have your supplies for you!

Keep calm and color on!
Michele

Regatta Scrapbook Workshop and More

The blues fading into red, the anchors, the bows, the flowers.  So much potential to capture your memories and and celebrations.

 I used the Regatta Workshops Your Way, G1105, the super cute stamp set Beach Days D1684 and thanks to Tina Lovell for the sketches, I created four double page layouts! 

 Adventure

 Explore

 Happy Place

Nothing Better

Which memories would you scrapbook on these pages?  Join me for a workshop or crop time to create these layouts.  Dates are listed in my calendar of events.  Or, you and your friends can gather together and I would love to walk you through, creating these pages for your scrapbooks.  

Happy Scrapping,

Michele

March Stamp of the Month and Stampaganza

March brings us some peeks at Spring and a special offer you don't want to miss.  Make sure you read to the bottom of this post to get the scoop.

Sunshine birdies is a whimsical stamp set that you can use many different ways!  

Are you into the adult coloring book trend?  Stamp these birds and butterfly in a random fashion all over a white sheet of cardstock, color in with your favorite medium, then cut them apart into sections that you can use to create handmade cards. 

What is your favorite coloring medium?  We have a selection of options you can use. 

• Watercolor pencils
• Shin Han Markers
• Blending pen and ink pad
• Watercolors paints

Although I was not able to participate in the blog hop this month, you can start at Melinda's blog and hop through to see what the consultants have created with this set. 

STAMPAGANZA is BACK!  

One of your all time favorite Close to My Heart Specials is here for March.  Buy 2 stamp sets and get 1 free.  You can save up to $29.95, you can order as many sets of three as you like and you will get the lowest priced stamp set(s) for FREE. 

Here is how it works.  

• Read the details here. 
• You can shop on my website  (shipping is $4.95) or contact me personally.   
• You can see all the new stamp sets HERE.  
• Don't forget we still have deep discounts of products in the clearance section, only available with website order.  
• One last reminder.  All the stamp sets in the Spring Seasonal Expressions will retire on April 30th.  You can see the catalog here.  Don't miss out on your favorite.  

I look forward to sharing inspiration and tips with you this month.
Michele

Blog Hop: Share the Love

During this month, CTMH is Sharing the Love!  That is the love of a sweet smile!  Close To My Heart will also donate $7 USD of the proceeds from The Share the Love stamp set to Operation Smile™, an amazing organization that provides surgeries to repair cleft lips and palates for children all over the world!  And you are here to see the fine talents of many different consultants who have created with this special stamp set.

If you have arrived here from Haley's Blog then you are on the right track.  When you have finished here, you are welcome to hop on over to Priscilla's Blog to see her creative work.  

Isn't this set adorable?  Am I the only one who starts singing the Adele song when I see that cute little "hello" speech bubble?

So I created a really fun project, inspired by Tina Lovell.  These 10 cards, 2 each of 5 designs fit perfectly in the Designer Creations cupcake box, with 10 3x3 envelopes and the cards peek out the window with a sweet peek.

As you can see I added a bit of the Cranberry Fundamental assortment to give them a little sparkle. 

Remember, this month, you can "Share the Love" and help create a smile!  Order the stamp set from your CTMH consultant or visit my website here. 

Hop on over to Priscilla's Blog now and see what sweet thing she has created. 

Smiles,
Michele

You could give someone a SMILE and change their life!

This month, by purchasing the "Share the Love" stamp set, filled with adorable icons and lovable sentiments, you will be supporting the mission of the Operation Smile.  Not only are you getting a high-quality, swoon-worthy stamp set but Close To My Heart will be donating $7 of the proceeds from this set to Operation Smile.  (Learn more about Operation Smile here.)

Thank you to: Tatiana, Stacey, Jan, Barb, Cindy, Shawn, Shelley, Linda, Jen, Christina and Karen for joining me for Bingo on Feb 1st. I had a great time crafting and calling numbers! "R-13"? And the purpose was to kick off my goal of raising enough money for one "SMILE" surgery for Operation Smile.

• Q: What is the cost of one surgery?
  A: $240.
  Q: How much did we raise?
  A: $100

What a kick off!

Now you too can participate!  During this month, the Share the Love stamp set is available BUT you can also purchase the Animal Greetings stamp set (all year round) and CTMH will donate $7 of the proceeds of this set to Operation Smile as well.  

Or, you can also participate by rounding up your order total.  Your additional pennies will add up with others' pennies and together help bring a new smile to this world. 

To see artwork with the Share the Love stamp set, type #ctmhsharethelove into Instagram or Facebook.  If you create and post artwork, add this hashtag to your artwork to share with others. 

You can also donate directly to Operation Smile here.  

And you can shop for these stamp sets here. 

Finally, on February 7th, come right back here to see the Operation Smile Share the Love blog hop where consultants from all over will be posting their artwork and celebrating the work of Operation Smile. 

And here's a sneak peek for you! 

Thank you! 

Michele

February Stamp of the Month: Balloon Animal

Welcome to the stamp of the month blog hop.  Can you believe it is already February and we have a fun new stamp set to play with? 

You are going to love all the creative ideas you will see with these sweet stamps, Balloon Animals.  When I saw them, I knew they would be so much fun to play with.

If you have arrived here from Jacquelin's Blog, you are on the right track.  When you are finished here, you will hop right along to Jean's blog.  Now this is a great big circle so just keep on moving through and you will have at least 40 great ideas on what you can create with this stamp set. 

I thought these stamps went great with the Penelope paper packet featured in the Spring Expressions mini catalog that went live in January.  And they fit great with the cards that are created in the Workshops Your Way kit using the Little Critters stamp set.  So, I used the same card patterns, did a little rotating on some of the designs and created another set of cards with this set.  Here they are!

Now remember, hop on over to Jean's Blog and see what she has created with these Balloon Animals.  Remember, this set is only available through the month of February.  You can purchase this set from your Close to My Heart Consultant or, if you do not have a consultant, you can visit my website to purchase yours.  And when you have a $50 order, you get this set for just $5. 

Enjoy your creative time!
Michele

Valentine, Techniques and Tutorials OH MY!

I have started thinking of Valentine treat and have been posting some on Instagram (follow me @ Evergreenmemories).  Here's a great video tutorial from Close to My Heart on creating a more masculine Valentine.  And Jill shares so many techniques using watercolors, watercolor pencils, sparkles, and stars. 

Enjoy! 

Michele

Seasonal Expressions 1 Blog Hop!

Did you know that CTMH has a new mini catalog full of wonderful, refreshing product?  If you missed that announcement, then you are in the right place to get an artwork preview!

Filled with fresh new paper and stamps bringing a bit of spring to your winter!  If you have arrived here from Kirsten's Blog then you are on the right track to hop through the consultant artwork from this featured catalog.  From here, you will hop on over to Jeanie's Blog.

I love everything about this book but I am choosing to share with you my paper pieced Spring Critters.

This technique is easy to do with our new thin cuts.  I stamped first on white paper and then again on the patterned paper.  I then used the thin cuts to cut out both images and used scissors to hand cut off the extra paper that I would use in the image.  So fun and easy.

I am new to thin cuts but I love that the CTMH cuts are packaged like our stamp sets; held on a magnetic sheet so they are easy to store and manage. 

To see more products from the Spring Seasonal Expressions, visit your consultants website.  If you do not have a consultant, you are welcome to shop with me. 

Now remember you will be hopping on over to visit Jeanie's Blog. 

Happy Stamping,
Michele

More than just one way to Live Your Day!

The Live Your Day Picture My Life deck of cards is only available during the month of January.  I used mine to create this fun birthday book... (can be seen in its entirety here)

 
 but watch this video from our home office and you can even more ideas on how to use this wonderful stack of cards. 



What will you do with your sets?  Order yours from my website today. 

Happy scrapping,
Michele

Introducing Charlotte

With the new year comes three new paper packs in the Close to My Heart selection.  Today you are getting a look at the paper packet possibly named after a princess, Charlotte.

The colors featured in this paper packet include black, champagne, slate, sorbet, whisper, and white daisy.  I also added some smoothie for a little vibrancy.  And something you should know about these new paper packets is they have new features.  All the papers in the kit are double sided patterned paper.  With some prints that are more subdued than other so they create a perfect combination for your artwork.  If you feel you need to add some solid cardstock, it is available from our Annual Inspiration idea book.

You will also notice that the paper packets have a new name for the workshops, Workshops Your Way.  These are set up for scrapbookers AND card makers.

In addition to all this product, Close to My Heart includes online access to a cutting and creative guide for scrapbook pages and cards.  As an example, you can see the guide for the Charlotte Workshop HERE. 

Finally, here are the cards that you can create when you add the Springtime Wishes stamp set.

Join the fun today!  Order your workshop your way and create at home or visit my Calendar of Events and attend one of my workshops.

Happy Stamping,
Michele

Products used:
G1104  Charlotte Workshop Your Way
C1641  Springtime Wishes Stamp set
Z3201  Springtime Wishes Thin Cuts
Z2164  Sorbet Ink Pad
Z2196  Smoothie Ink Pad (I substituted for the Sorbet for a little more vibrant color)
Z899  Momento Ink Pad
Z3132  Watercolor Paints
X254 White Cards and Envelopes
Z3188 Watercolor Brushes
Z2060 Thin Foam Tape