Cyber Monday

Hi Friends!  I'm here! I'm here!! :)

For the first time ever, Close to My Heart is offering a Cyber Monday sale.  CTMH just released this Cyber surprise to consultants this weekend!

Tomorrow, December 1st, all of Close to My Heart's exclusive Cricut Collections will be 20% off the retail price!  That's only $79.20!  Our four Cricut collections make the perfect addition to any crafters craft room whether you love scrapbooking, cardmaking or creating 3D projects.

Each of our Cricut Collections comes with the cartridge (PACKED full of images, projects and an alphabet), 3 D-sized stamp sets and Dimensional Elements or Cardstock (depending on the collection).

This sale starts at midnight on December 1 and ends at 11:59 pm on Monday night. Spread the news to your family and friends... print this off and set it in the perfect place for Santa to see - make his job a little easier! :)

Act fast, swing on over to my online shop and take advantage of the Cyber Deal today!  Email, call or text if you have any questions!

Sunday Paper: It's Tradition

This is one of my most favorite family projects ever.  During the month of November we take time as a family to talk about what we are thankful for, daily.  We usually have this conversation during supper and then we each take our turn recording what we are grateful for in words or drawings.

 

The beginning of the month, each year, seems to be similar - the biggest influences in our lives are identified first.  The days of November are some of my favorites because as a family we take the time to identify all that we are thankful for from the ordinary things of everyday life, the littlest things that leave impressions on us to moments that help us to learn life lessons.  This family projects encourages us to see all that is good in our life and remind us how blessed we are. 

There are no right or wrong things to be thankful for, no rules to our collection of gratitude.  If you are grateful for something, record it.  When the kiddos are too little to write we trace their hand and then brainstorm as a family things in their daily life they would maybe identify as being thankful for.  Their tiny handprints on our poster is one of my favorite things.  I usually write a little note or quote the kids' words under their drawings when they are old enough to make pictures and draw.  I love words that are misspelled and other things that show their age/development.  It's so fun to hear all the ideas our kids come up with on a daily basis!  It's also interesting to hear their answer when asked, "Why are you thankful for ____?"

Every member of our family participates!

Our Thankful Poster sits in our kitchen all month long.  Sometimes I just walk by, pause and reread all that is written and smile because when you take a second to look around this life is pretty darn awesome!  Of course, I keep each years artwork to look back on - I LOVE looking back and am so thankful for our families recorded memories! 

Maybe your family does something similar?  I'd love to hear how your family focuses on the blessings in your life!  If you're looking for something, give this a try - you won't regret it!  

And the winner is...

Hats off to a fun 6 months!  During the month of October you all had the opportunity to earn tickets for the "Thank You" drawing.  The winner gets a bag of CTMH goodies.  Papers, stamps and Exclusive Ink the bag is ready to be given away!!

There were 41 tickets!  Drum roll please...

And the winner is... 

Stephanie Becken!  We'll be in touch and I will deliver your bag o'fun soon!

Thank you to all of you, near and far, that are enjoying this fun crafty journey with me so far.  I'm ready for more!  How about you??

Studio J

CTMH's Online Design Software is called Studio J.  November is the 5 Year Anniversary of this program and its all the hype this month!

Did you know that you can set up an account and create until your heart is content at absolutely no cost?!  It's FREE, completely free, to check out and play around with!  You can start with an "express collection" which is really a template already designed for you to slip your photos onto or you can "Create Your Own Custom Layout".

Studio J is like an additional Idea Book for you!  Even if you create an account, play around a bit and decide this program isn't really for you you haven't lost anything but have instead gained a little inspiration.  Win!  It's full of layout ideas and if you're using a CTMH paper pack you can choose that paper when you do a custom layout and move it around before you slice and dice your own paper.  There are over 100 paper packs to use. It will actually even give you 3 different options of a layout with the paper of your choice.  Neat, huh?

Play around with the kits as a starting point or for inspiration!

I like the way this video walks through creating a layout from start to finish in Studio J!  It is just one of many videos produced by CTMH Corp on how to use and create different projects using Studio J.

What are you waiting for?? You really should check out Studio J for yourself! For real. It's pretty cool. :)

Once you get into Studio J and you find yourself hooked, remember, November has five ways to win big with Studio J!

5 Ways to Win Big in November:
1) Studio J layouts are available for only $5 throughout the month of November.  You got it, layouts all month for $5 which is a savings of more than 25%.

2) Your second chance to win must come by sheer luck:  every fifth order placed in Studio J during November receives a FREE surprise CTMH accessory in its shipping box that has a retail value of $5 or more.  Be a multiple of 5, that's what I'm reading - I'm a math teacher remember!

3)  If luck doesn't smile on your in that way, you might stumble upon it by finding a little extra something in your Studio J box.  Five "golden tickets" will be sent out during the month of November with randomly selected Studio J print orders!  This "golden ticket" is redeemable for one of Close to My Heart's new D-ring albums loaded with 10 Top Load Memory Protectors.  The "golden tickets" are not made of gold - but they are as good as gold!

"I've got a golden ticket! I've got a golden ticket!"  C'mon Charlie and the Chocolate Factory?!? Well, here's your chance!!!  How fun would that be to open up?? Ahhhh!!!!

4) For a fourth way to win, simply create new, gorgeous layouts in Studio J, select your favorites, and then post pictures of them on Close to My Heart's Facebook page using the hashtag #ctmhlucky5.  At the end of the month, five lucky winners will be selected from the entries based on their artistry and creativity and each of these winners will receive their own D-ring album loaded with 10 Top Load Memory Protectors!

The last way to win is to take your new Studio J artwork and post a picture of it on Instagram using the hashtag #ctmhlucky5.  Just as it is with Facebook, after November 30, five lucky winners will be selected from the entries to receive their own D-ring album loaded with 10 Top Load Memory Protectors!

And to make things even more exciting, starting November 1, five brand new kits from the Annual Inspirations idea book will be made available in Studio J, so you can create new artwork using the latest papers and embellishments from Close To My Heart.  With so many ways to win, five may be your new lucky number!

*Offer valid November 1–30, 2014. Pattern and color of new D-ring album to be given to winners will be at Close To My Heart’s discretion based upon availability. New kits available in Studio J^® on November 1 include Confetti Wishes, Snowhaven, Seaside, Pathfinding, and Scaredy Cat. No tax or shipping will be charged on the free item(s). Studio J layouts ship in a protected box that can hold 4 to 50 two-page layouts. 

Log in to Studio J and start creating today!  You have the whole month of November to play and score some good deals!

Happy Crafting! 

Sunday Paper: Toolin' Around

"Does everybody know what time it is?  TOOL TIME!"  Name that TV Show...  :)

Who doesn't love a good boarder punch?  They can add just the right finishing touch to any number of projects.  One of my favorite paper crafting tools I've been using lately is my Triangle Boarder Punch from Close to My Heart.

I have several different boarder punches but truth be told this is my first CTMH boarder punch.  I have used this boarder punch on my own a bit in the last month and have also had several different crafters use it at two different workshops.  Hands down it got rave reviews. 

Three things I really love about this boarder punch:

• This boarder punch has little grippies on the bottom making it non-slip.  
• Some punches require you to have muscles bigger than Superman to use and fingers smaller than a fairy to dig out the paper that gets stuck on in the inside.  This, my friends, is not the case with this punch! Yay!
• I saved the BEST for last! Check out the bottom of this gem!  It has a storage container for all the little, itty bitty scrap pieces!  I LOVE this!  Clean up has never been easier.  The pieces are tucked away until I open it up to either use the little triangles on a project or discard them.  Either way they are not all over the place!

Bottom of what all CTMH Boarder Punches looks like.
A nice little storage compartment that collects scraps and opens easily!

Here's how I've been playing with paper and  new boarder punch.

I used the triangle boarder punch to create a boarder with
glitter paper peeking through on the bottom of this card. 

The triangle boarder punch was used to create a frame on this card.

CTMH has three boarder punches: triangle, chevron and scallop.  Next on my list: chevron.  You can find these and other fun tools and gadgets on my online site. 

Happy Crafting!