Update on Blog Updates!

I wanted to let you know some changes that I have made recently.

For those of you who signed up for my daily blog updates through Google's FeedBurner, there are strong rumors that it will be going away soon. Some of you have already noticed that you weren't receiving updates.

In order to alleviate this problem, I have converted all FeedBurner accounts over to my weekly blog updates through MailChimp!

MailChimp is my newsletter service as well as blog updates. But most of my news is communicated through my blog so you should only be receiving my blog updates once a week - Monday mornings.

Some of you are still receiving the daily FeedBurner posts. There is no official word as to when they are shutting down. If you would like to be removed from either list (or both - gasp!) you can do it yourself or simply let me know and I will be happy to do it for you.

I appreciate every one of you that follows my blog - whether I hear from you or not, I know you are there! And if you have stumbled on my blog and are NOT receiving weekly updates, you can click on the chimp above or the tag below and sign up today!

Thanks for following!

Jubilee Club Cards

In June my clubs will be working with our Jubilee Papers! Here are the 12 cards we will be making. All of the cards are a variation of the pattern found in the Make It From Your Heart book Vol. 1 - pg. 46 (Pattern 27). I LOVE how I can use one simple pattern and easily vary it to make all of these unique cards!

Inside of card:

I've also used our embossing folders on all of the cards for a subtle look with a huge impact!

Inside of card:

I used a very special stamp set that I received at a recent Close To My Heart event that Jeanette designed herself and gave out at convention last year to a select few. I'm SO honored and excited to receive one of these and wanted to share it with you, my club members. This statement represents Jeanette's perseverance and dream for every consultant! She is such a STRONG, loving, supportive woman. And I am so blessed to be able to say I know her and serve under her.

This last set of cards can say anything - birthday, thank you, thinking of you - I just decided to stick with the stamp set I was using and chose a few different sentiments. Unfortunately, I need a sympathy card this week. It's nice to have a couple laying around when the need arises. Sometimes it is hard to create when your heart is heavy.

As you can see on the cards above and below, I've added an element from our Base and Bling jewelry line - Rhinestone Charms. I've simply poked a hole in the card stock with my piercing tool so that they can dangle under the sentiment. I've camouflaged the metal ring by adding some Neutral Metallic Baker's Twine.

Aside from the special "She Believed" stamp set, I tried to stick with just 2 sets so that you could easily afford to add them on to your kit if you wanted to. BOTH of these stamp sets I have used over and over again! They are:

Frame Flair (D1546)
This one coordinates with our Art Philosophy Cricut Cartridge.

Words of Comfort (C1524)

If you are a club member, here are the kit options:

Basic Kit - $15

includes cards/env, paper, rhinestone sparkles and clear sparkles

Optional Add Ons

Baker's Twine Neutral Metallic Assortment - $6

Scallop Border Punch - $18

Frame Flair Stamp Set - $18

Words of Comfort Stamp Set - $14

Cocoa Ink - $5.25

Chevron Embossing Folder - $9

Damask Embossing Folder - $9

If you want to join the club and make these cards, simply contact me! I will be ordering supplies this Friday and we will meet to make these on Friday 6/20 at 1pm and 6pm.

Jubilee Club Layouts

Next month my clubs we will be working with our celebratory Jubilee Products! This paper pack speaks county fair, country picnic, Amish Country, or just plain good ol' Summertime Fun!

Here are the layouts we are making. This one features five 4x6 photos and is perfect for flip flaps! (Or you could put a 6x8 photo on the left.)

Love the cluster of dimensional elements!

Here is the second layout. Flip flaps would also work well on this layout!

I've tucked some of our Topiary Chevron ribbon under the flowers to simulate leaves.

I just love the bright, bold colors in this kit!

For my club members, here are the kit options:

Basic Kit - $15

includes paper, dimensional elements, red bakers twine

Optional Add Ons

Jubilee Assortment - $6

Topiary Mini Chevron Ribbon - $5

Brown & Tan Sparkles - $3

Flip Flaps 4x6 - $5

Mini Glue Dots - $7.50

Cashmere Ink - $5.25

Would you like to join us at club next month? I will be ordering kits this Friday and we will meet to make these on Friday June 20th at 1pm and 6pm. Contact me if you'd like to join us!

Artbooking Made Easy: Fun in the Sun

In this edition of Artbooking Made Easy, Kristine focuses on the Summer fun pages in the Cricut booklet. You'll love these sun loving layouts with the overlays and icons - you will want to book your reservation for the beach NOW so you can have pictures to go on your layouts!

As you know, the Artbooking cartridge is designed to make creating layouts a breeze by setting the cut size dial to 11" and leaving it there! This Saturday I'll be teaching a class to show how to create the layout on the right. I'll show how to design in the Cricut Craft Room and then cut it out on your Cricut machine. With the Craft Room you lose the size default and connectivity - in other words, in the Craft Room you have to designate the size of each image. But that's okay, because you can size it based on what looks best to you! I'll show you how!

Are you interested in attending a class like this? I'd be happy to host one at my home if you'd like to come and bring your Cricut and Laptop! Just let me know!

Happy Creating!

You've Got A Friend In Me Card

This month's Stamp of the Month is such a fun set! It retails for $17.95 but can be yours for only $5 THIS MONTH ONLY with a qualifying $50 purchase.

Here is another card I made with this set for a special friend…

It's so quick and easy to create with this fun, funky set! Be sure to get yours before it's gone!

NEW Product Bundles!

Are you just getting started in this hobby? Do you need help choosing the basic products you need? Close To My Heart has just added 5 bundles of products designed to help YOU get started in this hobby with basic supplies - and all at a slight discount! 

Click on the images to add them to your shopping cart!

Outdoor Denim Exclusive Inks™ Pad (Z2140) 

New England Ivy Exclusive Inks™ Pad (Z2135) 

Ruby Exclusive Inks™ Pad (Z2170) 

Honey Exclusive Inks™ Pad (Z2162) 

Smokey Plum Exclusive Inks™ Pad (Z2147) 

My Acrylix™ Quick Cards—Japanese Blossom (A1155) 

My Acrylix™ Quick Cards—Island Greetings (A1157) 

My Acrylix™ Spritz Cleaner (1778) 

My Acrylix™ Stamp Scrubber (Z1782) 

My Acrylix™ Organizer (Z1038)

Bundle Price $65.30 (save $5)

Cotton Candy Exclusive Inks™ Pad (Z2193) 

Lagoon Exclusive Inks™ Pad (Z2195) 

My Acrylix™ Belated Birthday (B1442) 

My Acrylix™ Big Hug (D1584) 

2" x 2" My Acrylix™ Block (Y1003) 

2" x 3 1/2" My Acrylix™ Block (Y1009) 

White Card and Envelopes Value Pack (X254) 

Pink Glitter Paper (Z1922) 

Baker’s Twine Paradise Assortment (Z1702)

Bundle Price $73.25 (Save $5)

Medium Organizer (Z4139) 

Craft Boxes (Z4137) 

Dot Embossing Folder (Z1924) 

Chevron Embossing Folder (Z1925) 

Stitch Guide (Z1852) 

Piercing Tool Kit (Z1114) 

Sanding Kit (Z1294) 

Bone Folder (Z1204) 

Spray Pens (Z1380) 

Create-a-Shade™ Pearl Paint (Z1039)

Bundle Price $71.05 (Save $5)

Slate Exclusive Inks™ Pad (Z2173) 

Desert Sand Exclusive Inks™ Pad (Z2118) 

My Acrylix™ Believe in Yourself (C1574) 

My Acrylix™ Hopscotch Alphabet (E1028) 

My Acrylix™ LOL (A1159) 

3" x 3" My Acrylix™ Block (Y1006) 

Bonding Memories™ Glue (1512) 

Liquid Glass (Z679) 

VersaMat™ (Z1279) 

Memory Protectors™ Side Load Value Pack (Z1977) 

Memory Protectors™ 4" x 6" Flip Flaps™ (Z4114)

Paper Fundamentals Basics Assortment (Z1939)

Bundle Price $132.10 (Save $10)

Timberline Paper Packet (X7182B) 

Timberline Complements (X7182C) 

Timberline Assortment (Z3005) 

Skylark Paper Packet (X7177B)

Skylark Complements (X7177C)

Skylark Assortment (Z3000)

Bonding Memories™ Glue (1512)

Memory Protectors™ Side Load Value Pack (Z1977) 

Cherish™ Scrapbook Program (9038) 

3-D Foam Tape (Z1151) 

Scallop Border Punch (Z1851) 

Corner Rounder (Z1912) 

Marvy® Uchida® LePen™ Journaling Pen (Z1979) 

Metallics Markers (Z1768) 

Sparkles Flourishes (Z1708) 

Teal Shimmer Trim (Z1918) 

Chocolate Woodgrain Washi Tape (Z1930) 

Keyboard Kraft Alphabet (Z1825)

Bundle Price $133.40 (Save $10)

Aren't these great bundles? And the GREAT news is each of these counts towards our specials this month - Free To Be Me Paper Pack for only $5 and the Stamp of the Month for only $5!

Click on the images to start your bundled savings now!

Free To Be Me Special Paper!

Happy National Scrapbooking month! Celebrating treasured memories and special people in your life is something WE celebrate everyday! But now we have a National holiday to remind the world how important this "hobby" is and all the fun they are missing out on!

To help you celebrate, Close To My Heart has a very special paper pack along with a workshop designed with layouts and bonus cards that includes cutting guides and instructions!

During National Scrapbooking Month in May, you can get the Free to Be Me paper collection for just $5 with your qualifying purchase of $50. The paper collection features exclusive printed cardstocks, vellums, and BandT Duos™ and, with a retail value of $11.95, is a fantastic deal for products you can’t get anywhere else. Plus, with your $50 qualifying purchase, you will also qualify for the May Stamp of the Month for an additional $5 (retail value $17.95)! 

This means May is the perfect month to double up on promotions, getting the paper collection for $5 and the May Stamp of the Month for $5—that is a savings of nearly $20! So make sure to get your Free to Be Me paper collection in May for just $5 and let your creativity take flight!

Timberline Layouts

This month my clubs will be creating outdoor layouts using our new Timberline Papers and accessories!

This first layout was designed by the very talented Joanne Walton! I love the simplicity of adding triangle scraps to the base page to create a beautiful almost quilted background! Genius!

 The Timberline Assortment includes wooden shapes that have been burned or etched with designs! Ink the edges if desired or just add them to your layouts as is!

The Adventure title, trees and fire images were cut from our Artbooking cartridge. Such a simple but perfect addition to this layout!

This next layout was designed by the creative Susan Williams! I used one of the Artbooking Cartridge overlays for the center of the pages. It looks great unadorned OR you can add scraps of paper like I did inside the arrow shapes! (4x6 flip flaps will work great on this layout)

The coordinating Stickease in this kit are so cute! Love the camper!

The Timberline Assortment also include wooden shapes on pins - perfect for tucking into foam tape under an image.

Would you like to make these layouts too? It's simple! Kits start at only $15. Contact me to JOIN THE CLUB and start earning rewards today! We meet once a month and always have a lot of fun!

You've Got A Friend Card Set

Our stamp of the month for May is called "You've Got A Friend" and boy is it cheerful!

 I thought the whimsical fonts and fun sayings would lend itself perfectly for a more rustic or masculine set of cards this time. By adding some of the woodgrain paper from our Timberline kit, some Kraft Cardstock, and a pop of Pear, Ruby, and Colonial White Cardstock here is what I came up with!

Doesn't this look fresh off the farm? The background stamp behind the apple is chicken wire - one of my all time faves - from the Distressed Backgrounds stamp set. I also used our Stripe Embossing Folder on the Kraft Cardstock. (The leaf strip is a zip strip from the Lollydoodle Paper Pack.)

This next card can be a funky thank you OR a Father's Day Card! I used the chicken wire background again and some of our Ruby Chevron Washi Tape on a toothpick for a flag! LOVE how you just fold over and it sticks to itself! SO easy to work with!

This one is so simple, but I really like the pop of color the Pear Cardstock provides. I've also added some of our Brown and Tan Sparkles to the cards.

This one features the chicken wire background on the card base and some more Ruby Chevron Washi Tape! This time I have applied it to the top of Colonial White Cardstock so the brightness shines through on the white chevron lines. It really looks like fun, funky paper!

And finally this last card features our Kraft Cardstock once again embossed with our Stripe Embossing Folder - it gives it so much character and added texture! And I've added a little Bronze Shimmer Trim to the bottom.

This fun, funky stamp set retails for $17.95 and is only available during the month of May. BUT, with a $50 purchase it can be YOURS for only $5!

Not sure what to purchase for $50? Here is a supply list for making the above cards. Some items you may already have!

Colonial White Cards/Envelopes Value Pack - $14.95

Colonial White Cardstock - $9.50

Kraft Cardstock - $9.50

Ruby Cardstock - $14.50

Pear Cardstock - $14.50

Cocoa Cardstock - $14.50

Timberline Paper Pack - $9.95

Brown and Tan Sparkles - $2.95

Ruby Chevron Washi Tape - $4.95

Bronze Shimmer Trim - $4.95

Stripe Embossing Folder - $8.95

Distressed Backgrounds Stamp Set - $17.95

Cocoa Ink - $5.25

Sponge Daubers - $3.95

3" x 3" Block - $8.50

2" x 6 1/2" Block - $9.95

There is MORE good news! Our National Scrapbooking Month Special is a FUN paper pack for only $5 with a $50 purchase! So you can score TWO great deals at once! With a $50 purchase, you can receive BOTH the stamp of the month and the National Scrapbooking Paper Pack for ONLY $5 each! (More to come on that!)

Click here to start shopping and save BIG!