Monday, October 24, 2016

Heart 2 Heart Challenge - Jeepers Creepers

I hope you are joining us this week for the Heart 2 Heart Challenge where we are featuring, "Jeepers Creepers". That happens to be the title of on our newest product line but you are welcome to interpret it how you choose, as long as you use Close To My Heart products. Please consider linking up to us at Heart 2 Heart!

Here is a photo of the items available in this line. While it screams Halloween, I have seen some fabulous artwork that has been more generic. The paper has great flexibility!
One of my customers requested Halloween cards and because I like her (a lot LOL), I designed 10 cards just for her. (They will be posted here tomorrow.) This was one of the cards I made.

The background, with the moon and stars, is from a pocket card included in the paper packet. The Tangerine and Pansy cardstock pieces are the only ones I used. The monster and striped banner came from the Jeepers Creepers Complements. (They are stickers.)
The sentiment is from the stamp set, "Monstrous Halloween". It is actually sold as a bundle, with coordinating Thin Cuts. It was stamped in black ink, Here is an image of the bundle items.
Link up to our Challenge and share your Jeepers Creepers artwork with us! I can't wait to see what you create!

Have a blessed week!
Melissa 


Friday, October 21, 2016

Let's Celebrate My 18th Year Anniversary!

I celebrated my 18th year anniversary as a Close To My Heart Consultant and you can reap the fun of that for a week! Details are provided in this visual and outlined below.
Here is another closeup of my artwork creation - both inside and outside of a frame. While it looks pretty good photographed, I guarantee you that it is much better in person! 

To take advantage of this offer, simply place an order of at least $25, before the end of the day on the 27th, on my website and then I will email you to see if you want the link to my Design Space file - to create this home decor item on your own - or if you want me to make it and ship it to you (frame not included). Note: In order to use the Design Space link, you have to own the City Sidewalks Digital Cricut Collection

If you have any questions please contact me. 

I hope you are experiencing a blessed Friday and gearing up for an enjoyable weekend. I know I am!

Make It From Your Heart,
Melissa

Thursday, October 20, 2016

NEW Stamp Pads = GREAT SAVINGS OFFER! (Two Options)

Close To My Heart has redesigned our stamp pads and they are absolutely fabulous! Watch this video to see what I mean and then continue reading for my exclusive offer.
I have a special offer for you to obtain all 40 Stamp Pads, within our exclusive color palette, in just four months and with fabulous benefits for doing so. Actually, there are two offers both of which have been explained below. Consider them and let me know which you prefer, or if you have any questions. (To be eligible for this offer you must make your first month's purchase before December 31, 2016.)

STAMP PAD MEMBERSHIP - Option #1
Receive $40 in Hostess Rewards PLUS 50% Off Any Item of Your Choice

  • 1st month: Buy 9 Stamp Pads, Get 1 FREE = $71.55 (before s & t)
  • 2nd month: Buy 9 Stamp Pads, Get 1 FREE = $71.55 (before s & t) 
  • 3rd month: Buy 9 Stamp Pads, Get 1 FREE = $71.55 (before s & t)
  • 4th month: Buy 9 Stamp Pads, Get 1 FREE = $71.55 (before s & t)...PLUS...
In the 4th month you get to redeem $40 in Hostess Rewards (redeemable on eligible products) and 50% off any one item of your choice! In summary, you pay $286.50 (before selecting your 1/2 off item) and receive more than $358 worth of products. (Here is a visual of the items eligible for redemption of Hostess Rewards. Click here, or on the image, for an enlarged view.)

STAMP PAD MEMBERSHIP - Option #2
Receive Five Stamp Pads FREE

  • 1st month: Buy 8 Stamp Pads, Get 1 FREE = $63.60 (before s & t)
  • 2nd month: Buy 8 Stamp Pads, Get 1 FREE = $63.60 (before s & t)
  • 3rd month: Buy 8 Stamp Pads, Get 1 FREE = $63.60 (before s & t)
  • 4th month: Buy 7 Stamp Pads, Get 1 FREE = $55.65 (before s & t)...PLUS...
In the 4th month I will order your last five stamp pads for you and have them shipped to your front door. That means you pay $246.25 for products valuing $278.25!

Additional Benefits of Membership
There are other bonuses provided to you with Membership to include:
  • FREE Copy of:
    • Annual Inspirations Idea Book
    • Holiday Expressions 1 Supplement
    • Seasonal Expressions 1 Supplement (goes live January 1, 2017)
  • Handmade Thank You Card
  • Tokens of appreciation in the way of product and handmade items
  • And...whatever else I decide to send you!

How Do You Obtain Membership?
Email me at mlisrobinson@gmail.com with your interest and indicate which option you like to take advantage of. When you do so, I will email you back with some more details on the process of this offer.

You will place your order of the stamp pads (and you are welcome to add on additional products), based on the option requirements, on my website by clicking HERE. Please click the JOIN button next to Stamp Pad Membership on the bottom right hand corner of the home page.

You can begin Membership any month while this offer is available (only through me). All products will ship directly to you soon after your order is placed.

There is no penalty for not fulfilling your Membership. However, in order to reap the rewards, you are to make the outlined purchases in four consecutive months*. Once you place your order in the 4th month, contact me with your list of reward items (as they apply to the membership you chose). I will place the order for those items and have them shipped to your front door. It's really that simple and a great option to obtain the new stamp pads in a timely and affordable way.

*Disclaimer: IF life should happen, I will allow a one-month grace period. In other words, you can have five months to complete the purchases as outlined. However, you are to contact me to make me aware. 

There are truly no "hidden agendas" in this offer but instead, an opportunity for me to generate sales, you to benefit from this special offer, and for me to be provided an opportunity to provide you some customer appreciation.

Please let me know if you have any questions! You can contact me by clicking HERE

Hoping your week is going great!
Melissa 



Tuesday, October 18, 2016

Our 2017 Planner IS HERE!

I know many of you, including me, have been awaiting the release of our 2017 Planner and it is now here! Please read this post, for complete details - including a special bundle offer that is only available while supplies last. (After that, you will have to order everything separately, also while supplies last.) You can place your order on my website.

You can get one of two bundles at this time. Both include either the Everyday Life Sea Glass Album (Z4027) or the Everyday Life Strips Album (Z9979) , as well as the 2017 Planner Pages (CC2017) which come with a clear pencil bag and three gold paperclips. (I have both of these albums and they are both fabulous! They are a "soft" cover that is fun to touch! LOL)
The planner pages include monthly and weekly calendars, with designs you can color, and pages for notes. (You can purchase the planner pages as refills for last year's binder/album.)
Look at these fun coloring pages for the month dividers.
I have ordered my planner and anxiously await its' arrival. Please contact me with any questions you have and thanks, in advance, for supporting my business

Have a blessed day!
Melissa

Sunday, October 16, 2016

City Sidewalks CRICUT Blog Hop

Thank you for joining us on this Blog Hop as we feature our newest Cricut Collection, City Sidewalks. It is a mini digital collection that contains 30 holiday images you will love.

If you are coming from Cat's Blog, you are on the right track.  You can find a complete list of participants if you click here.

I had such a fun time creating this home decor item to fit an 8" x 10" frame. It has been a big hit for those who have seen it in person and the frame, purchased at Hobby Lobby, was perfect.
After sizing and designing it in Design Space, with the help of my friend, Pamela Thorn, I layered all the pieces together and this was the result. White Glitter Paper was placed behind the snowflake-filled Glacier cardstock (difficult to tell from the photos).
I ended up providing this as a gift at a Stamp Camp I recently attended so I will have to make another for myself. I love being able to create a fun and festive home decor item at a very reasonable price. That is one of the things that drew me to papercrafting. 

Consider letting me know what you think of my artwork before heading on over to Michelle Jones's Blog to see what she created with this City Sidewalks Digital Collection.

Happy hoppin' and remember...Make It From Your Heart!
Melissa

Saturday, October 15, 2016

CTMH Technique Blog Hop - Wacky for Watercolor

Welcome to our Technique Blog Hop where we are "Wacky for Watercolor". Artists can incorporate watercolor into their artwork however they would like. It will be fun to see everyone's interpretation.

If you are coming from Tonya's Blog, you are on the right track. You can find a complete list of participants at the end of this post, if you were to get lost along the way.

Have you ever checked out our jewelry line called "Base & Bling"? It is totally fun and you can see how I used it to make a keychain - a great gift for this holiday season. And the design inside the square pendant? It is an image from our Base & Bling Watercolor Sheet - Clear.
Images are white embossed so I applied watercolor paints. When I did so the sentiment was exposed. Too fun, right?! The same is true for the Gold Watercolor Sheet.

In order to make this keychain, I used:

These are some of the fun watercolor techniques I taught at a class last month. I love the versatility of our products, including watercolor, and how they create different effects you can incorporate to your artwork. 
Please head over to Wendy's Blog to see how she is "Wacky for Watercolor". We appreciate you joining us and have a wonderful weekend!

Happy hoppin'!
Melissa

List of participants:
1. Melissa Robinson *YOU ARE HERE*
2. Wendy Kessler
3. Haley Dyer
4. Darlys Recker
5. Jenifer Benner
6. Michelle Johns
7. Janna Brown Gray
8. Michelle Loncar
9. Catherine Nowak
10. Tammy Lubick
11. Tonya Whitehurst

Monday, October 10, 2016

Heart 2 Heart Challenge - Perfect 10

Welcome to this week's Heart 2 Heart Challenge with the theme, "Perfect 10". It will be fun to see how everyone interprets it because I think it is very broad. I hope you will join us! Be sure to use Close To My Heart products when you do.

I love how this card turned out. Keep reading to find out why I consider it a "Perfect 10".
I am calling my artwork, this card, a "Perfect 10" because it has three qualities I appreciate in artwork I create:

  1. It is simple.
  2. It came together easily.
  3. It has bling. 
In my opinion, that makes for perfect artwork! LOL I used two colors of ink: Glacier and Raspberry. The Raspberry really made the sentiment pop and coordinates well with the patterned paper from City Sidewalks and the sheet of Peacock cardstock. The photo really doesn't do it justice, in my opinion. I used this stamp set, "All is Bright" and cut the Silver Shimmer Trim vertically, down the middle, to make it more narrow. I love that we can do that!

Consider linking up to this challenge and share your artwork with us! 

Have a wonderful week!

Melissa

Thursday, October 6, 2016

Operation Smile - True Love Blog Hop

We are thrilled you are joining our Blog Hop where we are featuring this adorable stamp set, "True Love". It is our Operation Smile stamp set which means a portion of the proceeds, from this stamp set, is donated to this organization that puts a smile on the faces of children with cleft palate.

If you are coming from Melinda's Blog, you are on the right track. You can find a list of participants on her blog.
I love the sentiment, "This card is a paper hug". It's perfect for what we do, don't you think? I paper-pieced the li'l girl's dress and the heart using the Swan Lake paper pack. The two times I have created a card with her I have incorporated the google eyes included with the Jeepers Creepers Assortment. I think it just makes her even cuter. LOL What do you think?

Head on over to Darlys' Blog to see what she has created with this cute stamp set. 

Thanks for joining us and happy hoppin'!

Melissa




Wednesday, October 5, 2016

CTMH Paper Blog Hop - Swan Lake


Welcome to this month's blog hop where we are featuring "Swan Lake", a beautiful fall-themed product line. I am not a fall girl but I have fallen in love with this paper pack. The color combinations are beautiful!

If you are coming from Anna's Blog, you are on the right track. You can find a list of the participants below.

I had fun creating this card, showcasing one of the beautiful Complements shown above. Aren't they too fun?! I included some patterned paper several pieces of zip strips (the cranberry one with the sentiments, Glacier polka dots and multi-colored polka dots) and the tag (that is a sticker). Of course I had to add some Gold ribbon and sequins to finish it up.
I really love how this card turned out and hope you like it too!

Leave a comment, if you would like, before heading over to Tonya's Blog to see what she has created.

Thanks for hopping with us and have a blessed day!
~Melissa

Participants:
1. Melissa Robinson *YOU ARE HERE*
2. Tonya Whitehurst
3. Sheila Wilkerson
4. Anna Robinson

Saturday, October 1, 2016

October Stamp of the Month Blog Hop - Yuletide Joy

Thank you for joining us for this blog hop where we are featuring the Stamp of the Month, "Yuletide Joy". It retails at $17.95 but can be yours for $5 with a qualifying order, this month only. You can read details by clicking here.
If you are coming from Jen's Blog, you are on the right track. You can find a complete list of participants by clicking here.

Here is a fun and whimsical card I designed using the color combination of the City Sidewalks paper pack. 
The stocking image was Gold Embossed on White Daisy cardstock. ShinHan markers were used to highlight the image. The sentiment, "Let the magic of Christmas warm your heart", was also gold embossed. A few gold sequins were added to finish it off. I am looking forward to sending it to someone...just not yet!

Head on over to Melinda's Blog where you are sure to find some fun inspiration using this stamp set.

Enjoy this first day of October!
Melissa