NEW Seasonal Expressions Idea Book is HERE!

Isn't the cover to our BRAND NEW Seasonal Expressions Idea Book gorgeous?! We are celebrating 35 years of Close To My Heart and the front cover commemorates that perfectly!

Our Founder & CEO, Jeanette Lynton, is featured on the front cover and CTMH promises to celebrate this year in some FUN ways!

WANT YOUR OWN COPY? To get a hard copy, all you have to do is place an order of any size on my website; that's it! It will ship with your products! In the meantime, consider perusing the digital version of our newest Idea Book. You won't be sorry!

In fact, we kicked off a SALE yesterday where you can save 35% off all alphabet Stamp Sets. You can see details about that special here.

Today, I am sharing with you my Top 5 NEW PRODUCTS, in no particular order, as of today. LOL My favorites tend to change quite a bit during an Idea Book cycle because there are so many great products!

#1 I Heart Us Product Line

If you know me well enough, you probably would have picked out this paper suite as my favorite. I love it because of the bright colors that are totally cheerful! The coordinating products are super awesome as well! 

There are several DELUXE kits included in this Idea Book. The designed artwork incorporates various stamping and other papercrafting techniques. In the "I Heart Us" Deluxe Kit, you have the opportunity to make this mini album that measures 6" x 8".  

#2 Bunny Trail

There are many NEW and fabulous stamp sets in this new Idea Book. I have a few that I love, and I don't even own this one, yet, but it's a for sure giveaway on why I like it LOL...I love Peeps! (I only love them at Easter time and at no other time throughout the year.) I can't wait to get this stamp set and create with it. Besides the cute Peeps-ish image, aren't the sentiments just adorable?! Check out all our current stamp sets by clicking on this link. 

#3 Stories I Love

This 6" x 8" mini album, and awesome page accents, is great for preserving your most precious memories.

"This collection of your most favorite photos and the stories they represent. It will reveal what is most essential about you, the creator. Not all pictures are created equal. Some pictures strike a chord so strong in you that you feel compelled to single them out. This project gives you permission to bring these photos together in one scrapbook." - Stacy Julian

Watch this video for more insight on this new way to preserve the moments that matter most.

#4 Stitched Thin Cuts Frames

 Use these 3 thin metal dies to quickly and easily cut the shapes shown, using your favorite diecut machine. 

Size of square shapes: 4½", 3¼", 2".

Thin Cuts are packaged on their own magnetic sheet and work well with most die-cutting machines.

 Size of rectangular shapes: 4¼" × 5½", 3" × 4¼", 1¾" x 3".

#5 Designer Shoulder Tote

This beautiful NEW tote coordinates with our Designer Travel Luggage that I absolutely LOVE! It features a zippered main compartment, one small interior zipper pocket, and one large exterior zipper pocket; 18½" opening, 6" × 13½" base, 14½" tall.

Now that I have shared my favorites, take a look at the Idea Book and let me know what catches your attention! (There just may be some Blog Candy - aka goodies - provided when you do!)

Wishing you an enjoyable and restful weekend!

Celebrate 35 Years!

It's been 35 years since Close To My Heart Founder & CEO Jeanette Lynton began selling stamps, and we're kicking off a whole year of celebrations by offering a 35% discount on all My Acrylix Alphabet stamp sets! Isn't that awesome?!

What is great about alphabet stamp sets is that you can make names or words of any kind and you never run out of a certain letter! Just stamp a letter as many times as you want and reuse over and over again.

You can view the details of the sale by clicking on this link. (This link shows the retail and sale price items for the stamp sets.)

Enjoy your first weekend of the new year!

Offer available through January 31, 2019. Shiping and handling assessed on retail value of all items.

Frame It Up!

Close To My Heart is offering a great way to celebrate National Papercrafting Month with a new papercrafted decor frame. There are so many different ways to use this versatile frame so be sure to get one.

You receive a discount when you buy more than one! Save 15% when you buy two, or save 30% when you buy three! Plus, you can get one FREE by signing up as a Close To MyHeart Consultant in January or hosting a qualifying party!

The Magnolia Frame Kit CC11910 includes sturdy chipboard frame (including backing), double-sided frame overlay, “love” and “home” sentiments, shiplap-printed backing sheet, 3 sheets of die-cut leaves and flowers, and 1 sheet of gold foil die-cuts.

I will be sharing other variations of this frame with you, including a way to include photos and more! While you are seeing two samples, there is other potential; great for you or a gift!

Let me know if you have any questions or if you want to add it to your next order!

"Card Captions" - January Stamp of the Month

HAPPY NEW YEAR and welcome to the first Stamp of the Month Blog Hop for 2019! 

Today, I am thrilled to welcome in our NEW Seasonal Expressions Idea Book which contains tons of new stamp sets, paper packets, and more! While you might await a hard copy, you can view the Online Idea Book by clicking on the link provided. You can get a FREE copy of it when you place your first order through your Consultant's website. (Don't have a Consultant? I'd love to be yours.)

This month's Stamp of the Month is called "Card Captions" and contains 26 stamp images, some which can be combined as desired to provide for that perfect sentiment. I love that different fonts were incorporated into the set. 

If you are coming from Terry's Blog, you are on the right track. You can find a complete list of participants by clicking here.

While I worked to focus on the stamp images of this set, I couldn't help but throw in the beautiful floral image from the I Heart Us - Cardmaking stamp set (shown below).

The sentiment and heart images are stamped in Heather ink, with the flower images colored with our Watercolor Pencils. I did cut a tag from Ballerina cardstock using the Fancy Tags - Thin Cuts, with my Cuttlebug.

I used some White Ribbon for the bow. I love this ribbon since you can ink it up and make it any color of your choice. 

The Ballerina-striped patterned paper is from the Something Fierce paper packet. 

Thanks so much for stopping by on this first day of the new year!

Please head over to Cat's Blog to see what she has to share with you.

I look forward to sharing my love or Close To My Heart with you in 2019! Make it a blessed day and year!

Wish Upon a Star - Heart 2 Heart Challenge

Merry Christmas eve and welcome to the last Heart 2 Heart Challenge of 2018! Can you believe it?! It's been a great year seeing the artwork associated with these challenges. I hope you will continue sharing your creations with us.

This week's theme is "Wish Upon a Star". I look forward to seeing your interpretation. Be sure to include Close To My Heart product(s) in your creation.

I created this card using the Oh What Fun product line which will go away this month. I may or may not be shedding some tears over that. ;) I love the bright, non-traditional Christmas colors in this paper packet. (This was a card designed by the CTMH Art Department.)

I love the added star and sparkle images stamped on this card, in Pixie ink, that just add a fun little touch for a simple card that is cheerful. 

You can find those related products, for Oh What Fun, by clicking on the link. 

Connect up with us at Heart 2 Heart! See you there! 

Wishing you a blessed day, however you choose to spend it. Enjoy this Christmas season! 

Love of Color - CTMH Technique Blog Hop

Welcome to this month's Technique Blog Hop where several Close To My Heart Consultants are featuring our newest how-to book, "Love of Color"!

This publication includes breathtaking artwork that illustrates how to create perfectly balanced color combinations as well as references different card and layout sketches from our other Make It From Your Heart reference. It fits inside our Everyday Life album, is 3-ring hole-punched, and measures 8 3/8" x 6 7/8". 

If you're like me, and create best when you have a source of inspiration, you definitely want to add this to your library. You can find all of our How-To Books through the link. 

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

I am featuring this color combination of Sapphire, Candy Apple, Cover, Linen and Mink, on my artwork. I wanted something I could use to make another Christmas card and felt this worked, referencing Clover in the index. This color combination can be found at the bottom of page 48 in "Love of Color". 

The card sketch is Pattern 24 from Make It From Your Heart, Volume 1. The card that inspired me is found on page 47 in "Love of Color". 

Because I wanted to do a bit more with the "Ugly Sweater" stamp set, I decided to use it here. It is obvious how I pulled the color combination together.

The sentiments in the stamp set continue to make me giggle. My work Christmas party is "Ugly Sweater" so they will receive these as their Christmas cards.

Thanks so much for stopping by. Keep moving along the hop by heading to check out Haley's creation.

Happy hoppin'! (Only 10 days until Christmas! Are you ready?!)

Participants:
1. Melissa Robinson *YOU ARE HERE*
2. Haley Dyer
3. Debi McBain
4. Wendy Kessler
5. Michelle Johns
6. Marciava Warrell
7. Darlys Recker
8. Catherine Nowak
9. Valerie Kapsha
10. Katy Taylor
11. Shirley Ross
12. Lauren Moore
13. Tamara Sandwisch

In Any CASE...with Melinda & Melissa

Join us twice a month as we CASE, “Copy And Selectively Edit”, artwork created by the Art Department of Close To My Heart as showcased in the current Idea Books and our Make It From Your Heart How-To Books.

On the 2^nd and 4^th Thursday of each month, at 7 pm CST, we will direct you towards a piece of art and recreate it using the exact products or others that compliment its initial design. Tips, techniques and assembly directions will be shared in detail to help you recreate them on your own.

As you reproduce the items we have shared, post them on social media using the hashtag #ctmhinanycase. We will randomly search that hashtag and reward those who CASE our items. Winners will be announced on our blogs so be sure to follow us!

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I hope you are doing GREAT and had a wonderful Thanksgiving! Because were were enjoying the holiday with our families, we took a little break from our CASEing, but...we are baaaaaaack!

Today, I am coming to you to highlight this handmade card found on page 70 in Holiday Expressions Idea Book. 

As a reminder, the majority of the products contained within the book are set to retired on December 31st. If there is anything you still have to have from the book - I'm having such a hard time preparing to say goodbye to some of them! - then be sure to get them soon as they are only available while supplies last! You can SHOP HERE. 

I love every little thing about this card including the fact that it's super easy to reproduce, can be used for various occasions (stamping a different sentiment, rather than the believe, if necessary), AND uses scraps you may have from other projects! 

The paper is from the Oh What Fun paper pack and I look forward to creating more projects with it through the rest of this month. While it contains some fabulous Christmas-themed paper, it definitely has many papers that can be used otherwise. 

While I only used the "believe" banner from this coordinating stamp set, I have definitely enjoyed using the other images on different artwork. 

I wanted to show you how it was super easy to include the Raspberry Baker's Twine on the packages, as faux ribbon. I find by using some Scotch tape, that I just adhere the edges of the ribbon to the back of the presents, forming a cross. Then, I took a separate piece to tie the bow and frayed the ends a bit. 

This approach is easier than having to try and keep the twine as one piece. 

Here is a close-up of the packages and other dimensional items.

The Glacier heart, in the top right corner, is from the Complements. The Raspberry heart is a white dimensional Complement that I sponged, using a Dauber, with Raspberry Ink. That was a slight edit from the original artwork in that I had already used one of the Glacier hearts for some layouts I made. I did 3-D the gifts and banner for some added dimension.

Here are the measurements to create this card design. Consider switching it out with other papers, images, etc. It can definitely be used for birthday cards!

My partner in CASEing, Melinda Everitt, has this card to share with you today! She'll do so on her blog so follow the link now!

We look forward to you CASEing artwork from Close To My Heart. When you do, tag it with #ctmhinanycase. We'd love to gift you a goodie for doing so!

I hope you are having a wonderful week wherever you are! Thank you for stopping by. Always choose joy!

Holiday "Anything But A Card" Blog Hop

Welcome to our Blog Hop where we are featuring artwork that is "Anything but a card". I'm looking forward to seeing what the other participants have created to share with you and I hope you are too!

If you are coming from Brenda's Blog, you are on the right track. You can find a complete list of participants by clicking here.

One of the reasons I joined Close To My Heart over 20 years ago is because of my love for giving people gifts, for various occasions. I learned that I could hand-create goodies for a fraction of a cost of what I would pay for something in the store and that is what got me hooked and still holds true!

I wanted to create some treats for my team members as we gathered together last weekend for a kick-off celebration for the new catalog, which debuts January 1st. I wasn't sure what I wanted to create and came across this pattern for a Ghiradelli holder. I think it came out cute and hope you do as well!

This pattern doesn't require any glue so that was nice. Just some scoring, folding and tucking is all! LOL

I worked to keep the decorations cute and simple by cutting out the circle on Gold Glitter Paper and then adding some White & Gold Skinny Ribbon. I thought all was the perfect topping for a package.

A little tip: My corner rounder didn't allow some of the sides to tuck in nicely, so I used some scissors to trim off a bit more. Should you recreate these and experience the same, hopefully that will help. 

The little box holds two Ghiradelli squares; a perfect treat, in my opinion!

I truly appreciate you stopping by. Let me know if you plan on trying this pattern out for yourself and then head on over to Cat's Blog to see what "Anything but a card" item she has to share with you.

Happy hoppin'!

It's a Holly Jolly Christmas - Blog with Friends

Welcome to this month's "Blog with Friends" post where I, and a few friends from around the country, share some fun topics associated with the theme, "Jolly". 

At the bottom of this post, you'll see links to those friends blogs. Show them some blog love by visiting their sites and leaving the a comment. You can see some great topics reflected in the above visual. 

I am here today to share something Jolly with you. Santa, an ugly sweater and hot cocoa all say "Jolly" to me. What about you?

Making handmade greetings cards and other fun treats is my joy and that totally rings true during the Christmas season! Keep scrolling as I share a couple of jolly creations with you!

Not only do I enjoy this Santa image, I love this card design a friend of mine shared with me. (Thanks, Pam!) 

You can see that it's almost like a "faux" front, with a hidden message. This is how it looks inside. While simple, it is something a bit different from a typical card and that makes me love it.

 I paper-pieced the red parts of the ornament and Santa Claus which means... I cut those images out of the respective papers and glued them on top of the image stamped in Black. It's a fun technique that is perfect for some images.

Know anyone who can use a little sprinkling of hot cocoa and the extras as we enjoy the cold weather? Coworkers, teachers, neighbors? This is a fun way to gift them a little goodie. And the sayings on the "Ugly Sweater" stamp set! LOL I love them!

Which is your favorite sentiment? They all kind of make me giggle.

I created this based on the information provided on this blog of Do Stamping with Dawn.

You can see that it's filled with a packet of hot cocoa, candy cane and then I took a plastic jewelry bag and filled it with some marshmallows (with clean hands, of course)!

I will be teaching how to make this hot cocoa treat on Thursday, December 13, 2018 in  my VIP Group on Facebook. Join me there, if you currently do not have a Close To My Heart Consultant (or are not one 😘). That's where I share all the crafty goodness!

Now...check out these fabulous blog images, associate with awesome content, and check out my Blog with Friends links! I see how all of them perfectly connect to what I had to share with you.

Make it a jolly day, week and month!

Karen of Baking in a Tornado

Dawn with Spatulas on Parade

Tamara of Part-time Working Hockey Mom

Lydia of Cluttered Genius

Jules of the Bergham Chronicles