Seasonal Expressions 1 Products RETIRING SOON!

Almost everything from the Seasonal Expressions 1 will be retiring at the end of this month (April 30, 2017) and are only available whiles supplies last. Please keep in mind, there are some products that have already sold out.

Grab your copy of this Seasonal Expressions 1 Idea Book (aka catalog) - or view the online version by clicking here - and see what is a must-have before it is no longer available. (Our catalogs always note the "live" dates on the front cover so be sure to keep that in mind as you mark your favorites at the release of a new Idea Book).

There are my top 3 favorites that are soon-to-be-gone:

#1 Here for You - Workshops Your Way - Cardmaking Kit

#2 Sugar Rush Cardmaking Stamp Set & Thin Cuts (these are sold as two separate items)

#3 Some Kinda Wonderful - Workshops Your Way - Scrapbooking Kit

There are some items that will carry into the Seasonal Expression 2 including the Creative Collections on pages 44-47 (with new artwork incorporating them) and the Seasonal Albums, page 49. 

• Z3306 My Boy Complements
• Z3308 My Girl Complements
• Z3307 Springtime Complements
• Z3309 Snapshot Complements
• 12" x 12" D-Ring Albums - White, Sea Glass, and Pink
• 12" x12" Post-Bound Albums - White, Sea Glass and Pink

Items that will still be available for purchase, although not pictured in the Seasonal Expressions 2 are:

Z3316 Shimmer Brush - Gold

Z3317 Thin Cuts Basic Hearts

Z3318 Thin Cuts Basic Circles

Z3312 Gold Glitter Gems

Z3313 Blush Shimmer Ribbon

If you place an order before the end of this month, as soon as your order goes through, I will mail the new Seasonal Expressions 2 out to you with a handmade thank you card! It does not go 'live' until May 1st! 

You can place your order on my website at MlisRobinson.CTMH.com. Please contact me if you have any questions. As always, I appreciate your business!

DATE CHANGE: Capture Your Memories in Minutes (Workshop May 3, 2017) - Just $9!

I am hosting a workshop in Mansfield, TX on Wednesday, May 3rd, at 6 pm and I would love to join me. For just $9 you can make one 12" x 12" layout and four pocket pages of either theme shown below. They are perfect for a "Beginner" or seasoned scrapbooker who can appreciate the ability to create beautiful pages in a short amount of time.

To attend this class, be sure to pay the class fee by April 24, 2017 at 12 noon. You can make payment through PayPal - PayPal.Me/mlisrobinson/9 - and I will add you to the list! (Contact me if you have any questions.)

Details regarding this event are posted on Meetup. You can view them without having to be a member, although membership is FREE.

Forever & Always Kit:

12" x 12" Layouts

First page (horizontal photo) with pocket page (horizontal photos)

Middle pocket pages (horizontal and vertical photos)

Pocket page (vertical photos) with last page (vertical photos)

Little One Kit:

12" x 12" Layouts (vertical photos)

First page (vertical photo) with pocket page (vertical photos)\

Middle pocket pages (vertical and horizontal photos)

Pocket page (horizontal photos) and last page (vertical photos)

Don't pass up this great workshop price! Have a wonderful evening!

Heart 2 Heart Challenge: "What a Wonderful World"

Welcome to this week's Heart 2 Heart Challenge where we are creating and sharing artwork to align with the theme, "What a Wonderful World". Please consider linking up to us at H2H by using Close To My Heart products in your creation.

For the card I am sharing, I used a pocket card from the Some Kinda Wonderful paper packet. The card is the light pink focal point area you see, with the cat, turtle and bird. I simply added a few additional components, and layered it on black cardstock and the white card base, to provide some dimension.

"Thinking of You", in the sentiment, came from the "Happy to Be Friends" stamp set. "Sending Happy Thoughts" came from the exclusive stamp set included with the Flower Marker Cricut Collection. (This stamp set is one of my favorites.)

The Cherry Pink Shin Han Marker was used to color in the White Dots. For a special added touch, I decided to add a Purple Heart Enamel Gem on the cat's ID tag.

I enjoyed putting this card together, using some scraps. I hope it brings some happy to the person who will be the recipient.

Have a blessed day and don't forget to connect with us at Heart 2 Heart! I look forward to seeing your artwork!

Cardmaking Workshops Your Way Blog Hop

Welcome to our Blog Hop where we are featuring Close To My Heart's Cardmaking Workshops Your Way, showcasing how you can be creative in your use of the products included in these quality kits. An exclusive stamp set, not available through any other means, is always part of the contents.

If you are coming from Michelle Stewart's Blog, you are on the right track. If you were to get lost along the way, you can find a complete list of participants by clicking here.

I chose to use the floral and leaf images, from the Here for You Cardmaking Kit, to create this bag-a-lope.

"Bag-a-lope?", you ask? Yup! A bag made out of an envelope! They can be made from any size envelope, obviously impacting the resulting size of the bag, that is perfect for those small little treats for anyone who is worthy of a little goodie. 

This bag was made from an envelope to fit a standard-size card (4 1/4" x 5 1/2"). 

I first glued the flap of the envelope down, just like you would do for mailing. Then, I trimmed a 1/4" off the top of the bag (which allows for the bag opening). Then I scored, 1/2" on all remaining three sides and proceeded to random-stamp the bag as seen here.  Colors used were: Pansy (purple), Canary (yellow), Willow (green) and Poppy (red). 

Once you fold along the score lines, both backward and forward, you'll see how the bag tags shape. You will have to form it a bit but with some good creases, it will take form. There are two triangles that end up at the bottom of the bag. Those get tucked under and I adhere them with scotch tape.

You can leave the bag front empty or add a sentiment like I have done here. To close the bag, simply punch a holes with a hole punch and tie with a ribbon. Various types of goodies can fill this handmade bag.

(The wider the score lines, the wider your bag. The same is true for thinner score lines. :) Feel free to experiment with various sizes of envelopes.)

I do have the directions typed up for this treat bag. If you would like it, email me at mlisrobinson@gmail.com and put "Bag-a-lope" in the subject line. I am happy to send it to you.

I appreciate you stopping by on this Easter holiday. I hope you have enjoyed a beautiful day wherever you are, spending it in a way that has blessed you.

Please consider leaving me a comment before heading over Darly Recker's Blog to see what she has created.

CTMH Technique Blog Hop - Vellum Makes Everything Better

Welcome to this month's Technique Blog Hop where we are featuring vellum! Vellum is a fine parchment paper that allows for different types of techniques, or creates just a nice overlay, as I have used it in my artwork below.

If you are coming from Kirsten's Blog, you are on the right track. Let's go ahead and get started!

Did you know Close To My Heart carries vellum? We sure do. It is not a stand alone item but is included in a couple of our paper packets and are usually always included in the Complements. I used the gold embossed polka dot paper that is included in the Uptown Fundamentals paper pack. It contains several sheets of vellum, with different patterns.

The striped paper came from the Adventure Fundamentals paper packs. One of the patterns included is this bold stripe. I chose the Emerald (green) sheet. Using a card design by Jennifer McGuire, I cut a portion of the circle into a piece of White Daisy cardstock. (The striped paper, piece of vellum, and white cardstock were all glued to the front of the card base.)

The floral images on the card were stamped using the set from the Here For You Cardmaking Kit. "Thanks" is from the All the Thanks stamp set.

The sentiment was gold embossed and the main flower was 3-D to add some dimension to the card.

I really enjoyed working with the vellum and am excited to see what the other ladies have created with it. Please consider leaving a comment before heading to Haley's Blog to see her vellum creation.

Happy hoppin'!

Participants:
1. Melissa Robinson *YOU ARE HERE
2. Haley Dyer
3. Tammy Lubick
4. Michelle Loncar
5. Darly Recker
6. Wendy Kessler
7. Annemarie Julian
8. Kirsten Desorcy

Blog with Friends: "Starting Fresh"

Welcome to this month's Blog With Friends theme, "Starting Fresh", where there are 11 of us who have generated blog posts of various themes which are sure to inspire a fresh start of some kind.

You will find their titles and links below so be sure to check out all those that generate your interest.

As I was considering the theme and how it applies to my love for papercrafting, I decided that, at this time of the year, flowers experience a fresh start as they bloom and generate beautiful scents (and pollen LOL). I guess there always has to be that little sacrifice that comes with something so beautiful.

I was at a papercrafting retreat last month and was given the box of seeds and gardening gloves that I think would make a perfect gift for anyone - friend, co-worker, neighbor, family member, etc. While a gift is great, the packaging can sure add a little something special and that's exactly what I have done. (The design of this bag is the original creation of a great and creative friend, Pamela Thorn. I simply duplicated her design.) 

This bag front is the result of a design from our exclusive Cricut Collection, "Flower Market". It is truly amazing how quick and easy it is to design and reproduce this artwork, making it look like one spent hours doing so.

Here is a close-up of the poppies that are made with the following cardstock colors: Poppy, Cranberry, Fern and Black. The layering of the various colors sure provides for some quality dimension, don't you think? 

This is my favorite adhesive for layering the pieces of the flowers, the Bonding Memories Glue Pen. It has a small-tip that is great for putting glue on these images.

We have three Cricut Collections available at this time. They are exclusive to Close To My Heart and cannot be purchased through anywhere else. If you have any questions about them, please contact me. They are a great value and offer some fabulous options for your papercrafting creations!

Check out the "Blog with Friends" projects that are associated with the theme, "Starting Fresh". They are blogs with various topics and have been provided for you below.

Baking in a Tornado - "Springtime Waffles"

Eileen's Perpetually Busy - "A Fresh Start for Kitchen for Less than $100"

The Three Gerbers - "My Journey from (Former) Couch Potato to (Wannabe) Fitness Buff"

Think in English - "7 Fresh Ideas Straight from the 2017 TESOL Convention in Seattle"

The Lieber Family - "Tips and Thoughts on Moving"

Little Mama Jama - "How to Start Fresh Each Day with Your Austistic Child"

Cluttered Genuis - "Daily Devotions to Start Your Day (There's an App for That)"

Spatulas on Parade - "Garlic Honey-Rubbed Pork Tenderloin"

Southern Bell Charm - "Dollar Tree Wreath for Spring"

FLASH SALE (30% off select products) TODAY!

BIG NEWS!

It’s that time again! Close To My Heart is holding another one-day flash sale on my website starting TODAY, April 7 at 3:00 pm MDT (2:00 pm PDT; 4:00 pm CDT; 5:00 pm EDT) and ending at that same time on Saturday, April 8. This sale will feature a 30% discount on selected products and product bundles from Annual Inspirations and Seasonal Expressions 1. (I have no prior knowledge of what will be available at this fabulous price.)

Sale prices will only be available on orders placed through my website and count towards the Stamp of the Month.

To thank you for your order (today and through the rest of this month...)
If you place an order today, you will receive a handmade greeting card made with new product that will release on May 1st!

If you place an order today, or any day during the month of April, you will receive a handmade card made with new product AND an A-size stamp image from the Seasonal Expressions 2. (You will get to choose the stamp image from a selection of four.)

Contact me if you have any questions. Feel free to share this information with all those who may be interested!

15-Minute Memories

Would you believe me if I told you that you can create a scrapbook layout in less than 15-minutes? You should because it's totally possible with Close To My Heart's Cut Above layout kits.

This month our innovating and new Cut Above kits are available at 50% off the retail price! That's an incredible deal on layout kits that make memory keeping incredibly easy!

Choose between two designs - Little One and Forever & Always - and then follow the simple assembly instructions to create your beautiful two-page layout in minutes. Add even more memories using the coordinating pocket cards and pocket Memory Protectors included in the kit. You're going to love how quickly you can preserve your memories with Cut Above.

This video showcases the ease and simplicity of creating the Cut Above layouts. It comes with everything you need. You simply provide the adhesive. (You might also consider grabbing your Thin 3-D Foam Tape to add dimension to some of the embellishments and don't forget a Journaling Pen!)

Want to earn one of these kits FREE? Anyone who signs up in April will receive their choice of either the Little One or the Forever & Always Cut Above Layout Kit in their New Consultant Kit at no additional cost. Oh and by the way...the Consultant Kit contains BRAND NEW PRODUCT that is not released to the public until May 1st and it's all pretty phenomenal! Contact me with your questions.

Don't miss out on taking advantage of this month's special, 15-Minute Memories. They are available throughout the month, while supplies last.

Happy Hump Day!