Exciting April Promotions!

Welcome!!!  I'm so glad you stopped by today and because I'm soooooooo excited to share the New Consultant Special for April with you today!!! Do you remember Close to My Heart's mission?  (Refresh yourself here.)  Ah-mazing, right?!  I love it!  I love the heart in this company and I truly believe in the mission of Close to My Heart - this is exactly why I'm so excited to share this opportunity with you.  I believe you're gonna love it! :)

Ready?  Drum roll please.... Introducing the brand new New Consultant Kit and the "Baby, You're Worth It" April special.  The kit is just $75!  There's SO MUCH MORE so keep reading!

• Your kit will be filled with basic business supplies that includes a Medium Organizer!  
• Your kit comes with $50 Select Product Credit to spend on additional supplies. You get to make your kit whatever you'd like it to be!  
• The opportunity to earn Straight to the Top rewards.

In April, if you sell $350 in your first 30 days, you will receive: 

• FREE Cricut Collection of your choice OR an additional $100 in Select Product Credit!
• THREE exclusive stamp sets that can only be earned by reaching these sales in your first 30 days as part of the Straight to the Top rewards. ($54 value)
• A party total of $350 also earns you another $60 in Select Product Credit plus one item 50% off!!  (Not to mention 22% commission = $77)  I will walk you through the process step-by-step.

Let me tell you a little bit more... 

• During April, Consultants are in the Consultant Preview Period for Seasonal Expressions 2 and the May National Scrapbooking Month special.  This means you will get to order BRAND NEW product, only available to consultants, in any order your place effective immediately! 
• You are in charge and can make signing up whatever you want.  
• Sign up for this hot deal and see where it takes you.
• Sign up as a hobbyist for yourself or a group of friends.  Quarterly minimums are just $300.
• Interested in making income doing something you love?  You can do that too!  Let me show you how!
• Your instant commission is 22% and you earn Select Product Credit monthly according to your sales

* Select Product Credit is essentially money that you get to spend (kind of like a gift card) on papers, complements, workshop kits, stamps, stamp blocks, inks, re-inkers, ShinHan markers, Picture My Life cards and more!

Seriously, if I could, I would sign up again!! I'm so excited about this deal!! :)  I have been part of the Close to My Heart family for 2 years this month and have LOVED every minute!  I am head-over-heels with the product, the people I have met are some of the nicest around and oh my goodness, so creative and talented!  I love this crafty gig and would love to have you join me!!

You can get started today at my online site! 

• Go to ellielundstrom.ctmh.com
• Click on "What We Do" and "Be a Consultant"
• Click on "Let's Get Started."

Wahoo!!! Once you submit your application you and I will both get an email.  You can be sure I'm ready with a big, warm welcome!! :)

These 3 exclusive stamp sets can be yours when you place your initial order of $350 in your first 30 days.

Stamp of the Month: Life in Pictures

​This great stamp set, Life in Pictures, can be yours this month for just $5, with a qualifying purchase of $50.  All the fun camera images and sentiments in this stamp set make it one you'll use over and over again to help capture the moments in life you treasure most.

Upcoming Workshops! Tuesday, April 12th, 6pm-8pm: Creative Card Buffet at my house.  Come make as many cards as you can in 2 hours!  This workshop is $12.  Please RSVP by Wednesday, April 6th. 

May: National Scrapbooking Month Online Event Join me for an online event that I will host for National Scrapbooking Month, all month long!  Watch my blog and Facebook page for more information!

Saturday, May 7th, 9am - 11pm: National Scapbooking Day Crop!! Come join me at my house to get scrappy and craft the day away!! More information will be sent out and will appear on my Facebook page, be on the lookout! :)

Tuesday, May 17th, 6pm - 9pm:  Scrapbooking Layout Workshop.  

I hope April Fools Day brings you a few giggles!! 
Happy Crafting!

Sunday Paper: Artfully Sent Halloween Card

The days of September are cruising by and before we know it Halloween will be here!  True Story. Just like that we'll have little goblins and ghosts at our doorsteps trick-or-treating.

This card was created using the Artfully Sent Cricut cartridge.  "Candy Corn Kisses" cuts directly into the card so all I had to do was put some backing (retired Scardey Cat paper) behind the image.  Finally, paper fundamental scraps worked perfectly to decorate the candy corn - voila!  Truly a card made in minutes!

CTMH Artfully Sent Halloween Card

Are you wondering if Artfully Sent is the next Cricut cartridge for you?  Watch this quick video from Close to My Heart to see more of the functions Artfully Sent offers up close.

You can find Artfully Sent and the rest of CTMHs Cricut Collections on my online shopping site. Let me know if you have any questions!

Happy Crafting!

Close to My Heart Mission Statement

Hey all! I'm back!   Whew - That. Was. Awesome.

Close to My Heart Convention was amazing and way more than I expected! From the moment I registered to go (and even before) I was excited to go.  I was excited to be one of the first to see all the new product, to be one of the first to make things with new product - heck! just to scrapbook on a vacation!  Sign me up!  I was looking forward to meeting people on the much bigger team I'm part of, Northern Stars.  And, I was excited to be able to go do Disneyland!

Convention was a blast from beginning to end.  I loved, LOVED the inspiring Creative Sessions, Product Premiere and crazy awesome artwork at Extravaganza.  The General Sessions were crazy fun and the giveaways and show this company put on had me stunned in amazement.  But as I said before I found out that Close to My Heart's Annual Convention was so much more.  The first thing I said to Mike when he picked me up at the airport was that I was surprised by how much my heart was touched.

While in California at Convention, I had the opportunity to meet so many great people from all around the world and was able to connect with different members of my team.  (Really!  Did you know Close to My Heart is in Canada, Australia and New Zealand?)  We got to hear from Jeanette Lynton the Founder & CEO of CTMH.  Her Q&A session left me with giggles, grins and teary eyes.  Even bigger hearing from her left me with a heart full of gratitude, a greater appreciation for this company and (if it were possible) an even deeper passion for what I do and why I do it.  Finally, CTMH is a huge supporter of Operation Smile and Convention is a major event where money is raised for this charity - wow!  More on that later!

I came back with so much to share!  Today, I'll start with a video really showing you Close to My Heart's mission and why we do what we do.  I shared it on Facebook when I was at convention but I don't think you can watch it too many times.  Take another look...

I'm excited to connect with everyone and show you what I've got, tell you what I've learned and to share Close to My Heart's mission with you!

We show you how to celebrate relationships 

through discovering your own creativity, 

to preserve and share the moments that matter most. 

Make it from your Heart!

Happy New Year!!

Happy New Year!! I hope you made the most of your 2014 and it ended with a bang! 2015 is here and ready for us to make each day the best...I'm ready! :)

Close to My Heart is ready for a fun, exciting 2015 and has the January promotions to prove it.

Stamp of the Month: This Moment

January's SOTM is such a cute one! Who else is in love {with this stamp set}?  This stamp set is only $5 with any $50 purchase this month!

January is National Papercrafting Month!

In celebration of National Papercrafting Month, CTMH invites you to reflect on the things that make you who you are and on what you want to accomplish in the coming months.  Then, with the help of the Year>> Noted paper kit, record your experiences and goals!  Really, the possibilities are endless!  The color palette of the B&T duos and the stamp set that accompanies the paper pack is super cute and can be used for many different projects!

During the month of January, with a qualifying purchase of $50, you are eligible to purchase the exclusive Year>>Noted paper kit (which has a retail value of over $24) for only $5 - that's over 80% off retail!  For an additional $5, you can order the Year >>Noted paper kit with an accompanying My Creations kraft mini book.  That means if you purchase the kraft mini book along with the paper pack you are getting $34 worth of crafting supplies for just $10!  Which, by the way, if one of the new kraft mini books was already on your wish list this is a bonus deal because the mini book itself retails for $9.95 so with January's deal you get more for your money!! :)

Take a peek at the campaign video for more inspiration and ideas of how to use the Year>>Noted kit for 12x12 scrapbooking layouts!

EXTRA! EXTRA! Hostess Rewards!! 

During the month of January, all Gatherings that reach $350 or higher, will be eligible to receive up to 50% more Hostess Rewards!! this means an additional $30, giving you the opportunity to earn up to $230 or more in select free products.  

This offer is only available during January and is the ideal pairing for your National Papercrafting Month Gatherings! 

Contact me today to set up your gathering!  Gatherings can be at your home, at my home or online.  We can even do a Facebook party!  It's whatever you want it to be and you get the rewards!! 

I wish you the best year friends!  I look forward to sharing many more crafty days with you all!  I hope 2015 is filled with new dreams, lots of love and sweet {scrapable} moments! 

Cheers!

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: Playing with Paper

What a sunny morning it is here today!! Happy Sunday!

First and foremost, the Artfully Sent Cricut Collection has been released to Close to my Heart and has been available since Thursday!  I know... I know... it's Sunday.   I had a chance to post the exciting news on my Facebook page but not here yet, so how about now??

I am excited to get mine!  I like that it can make cute cards but that it also can be used to create pocket cards for Picture My Life pages and other layouts as well!  This collection is a big one just like all of Close to My Heart's collections.  You can create 400 unique projects from this collection.  The Artfully Sent cartridge comes with 700 images and an alphabet.  The collection also includes 3 stamp sets, (sentiments, frames, and alphabets that coordinate with the alphabet on the cartridge) and a 24 pack of White Daisy cardstock to get your creativity kicked off!   Be sure to "like" my Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/inspirecreatecultivate) to get in on all the chatter and announcements! :)

This week I have been creating and completing projects for upcoming home parties and workshops and just getting in some good ol' paper playing! :)

At the end of the month a friend of my is hosting a workshop and one of the things we'll be making is a fall bunting.  I had fun with my Cricut and got mine (the example) made!  By the way, this is also the first chance I have taken to play with Close to My Heart's glitter paper and I'm impressed!  It's durable, the glitter does not fall off and get all over the place when you're working with it and I put it through my Cricut and it cut with out any problems.  I'll be adding more shades of glitter paper to my wish list!  Here's a sneak peak. :)

Artbooking Cricut Collection, Pathfinding Paper, Brown & Tan Glitter Paper

I had a chance to go to a workshop this week hosted by my upline, Karina.  She had a card workshop and ran it using the new {to us} card buffet workshop style that a  CTMH Senior Director on our team, Barbra Otten, uses.  It was fun to create and learn.  It really was great: everyone can work at their own pace, there is variety in design and complexity of the cards and everyone is able to choose to design the cards they prefer.  Here's a snapshot of a few of the cards I made.  Many of the cards were designed by Barbra and some have a Karina twist.  :) I know for sure the top card has a Karina twist; she added a different element on the mounted frame...check out the flower stamped using the "rock and roll" technique.  This marks the first time I have quite literally rock and rolled stamping. :)

So crafting so totally rocks, right?  But, what's the "rock and roll" technique you ask?  I'll let Kristine and Monica demonstrate for you you! :)

My wheels are definitely in motion and I am going to give this Barbra Otten style workshop a spin, too.  Mark your calendars, if you haven't already, for my Christmas Card Workshop on Tuesday, October 28th from 6pm-8pm!  It will be a buffet of cards for you to choose from, stay tuned for more details...

Happy Crafting!