Stonewall Resort Crop Recap!

Just a quick post here to recap our wonderful weekend together at Stonewall Resort!

Saturday morning we woke up to a light dusting of snow which just made it perfect to be indoors scrappin' away!

The ballroom was plenty spacious for all of us and our "stash"! The resort staff kept commenting on how we are "serious about this scrapbooking thing"! ABSOLUTELY!

They also commented on how much fun we were having! Although I didn't get pictures of the "chicken dance", we had fun "clap-clap-clap-clap"!! And Pandora kept our hearts light and our feet tapping.

We also had GAMES! I had 6 chick flick movie clips and each group had to answer trivia questions about each clip as well as name the movie! They were pretty well educated on their chick flicks!

Throughout the weekend we had workshops up front with a large projector for teaching!

There was plenty of room in the back to spread out artwork displays for lots of ideas to get your creative juices flowing! As well as a tool table and plenty of products for sale!

And of course our auction items to bid on with your crop cash!

But the best news of all was that we raised $389 for Operation Smile!!! That pays for over one and a half surgeries!! Which means that precious lives were redeemed and changed forever! Which just makes my heart overflow! Thank you ladies for your generosity!

That just about sums up the fun we had in our ballroom. Of course many more good times were had around the dinner tables and laughing together in rooms at night! I can't wait to do it again. If you missed it this time, be sure to sign up for next time!

Hope to see you there!

Confetti Wishes Club Layouts!

We had such a great time at my Stonewall Resort Crop! And I have a few things to share about that, but first I need to get a few things posted. First up is the layouts my club will be doing next month using our festive Confetti Wishes papers!

These layouts were inspired by the fabulous Susan Williams! She designed a kit to make FOUR layouts out of one paper pack. I've pared it down to just two to keep it simple for my club. I'm hoping to start a new group next month and I don't want it to be overwhelming for them!

The first layout it titled Make A Wish and featured a pattern taken from the Make It From Your Heart Vol. 1 book page 14. I used silver shimmer trim and purple glitter gems to spice it up a bit! And you could easily add two 6x4 flip flaps to the left page if you wanted!

The second layout is titled Happy Birthday To You and featured a pattern from our Magic book page 14. I added silver shimmer trim, purple glitter gems and some silver sequins on this layout. All of the 8 photo spots are 4x3 - perfect for the 4x3 flip flaps! Or you could put 4x6 photos and flip flaps over two photo sections!

There are many other embellishments that will work with these papers. You choose the ones that are right for your photos and theme! Here are a few of my favorites:

Shimmer Trim - silver, gold, pink, blue, white

Glitter Paper - purple, teal

Sequins - silver, gold

Sparkles - clear, purple glitter

Puffies - Junebug

Flip Flaps - 4x3 and 4x6

Ink Distressing - Canary, Crystal Blue, Thistle, Whisper

The paper in this kit is bright and festive and the stickers are so much fun! I love building the different layer cakes and stacking the presents. There are enough stickers and paper left over to easily create a third layout or a few birthday cards! But I have to move on to my next project! I'd love to see what you or my club members come up with!

Want to join the club and join the fun? Contact me for more information!

Operation Smile Fundraiser at Stonewall!

This year we will have several different ways you can donate to Operation Smile! We have a jar where you can donate any amount you choose and get the same amount back in crop cash! We also have cards you can purchase with a $2 donation to Operation Smile. You can round up your cash and carry sheet or any orders at the crop and donate that change to Operation Smile. We will also have a 50/50 drawing and a beautiful spa basket that you can purchase tickets for!

All of those things are exciting and fun, but the heart of the issue is serious. And Operation Smile is an organization dedicated to SAVING the lives of children all over the world! I'd like you to meet  one of them. Her name is Maria.

Though the first 5 years of Maria's life were filled with hardship and pain, she now has a reason to smile and a bright future ahead of her!

A BROKEN FAMILY... A NEW SMILE, A NEW LIFE FOR MARIA

Abandoned by both her parents, Maria Eulália Cabralda Costa faced incomprehensible pain during her first five years of life in Brazil. She was born with a cleft lip that scarred her beautiful features. Her parents separated when she was just a baby, and her father chose two of her siblings to live with him. Her mother chose two others. Neither of them wanted Maria, a beautiful little girl with huge eyes that reflect her emotions. When Maria’s parents left her, the city’s Child Protection Council called her grandmother, who chose to raise her small granddaughter. 

 As Maria grew older, she begged her grandmother to allow her to skip school. Her classmates taunted and tormented her, yelling, “You are crippled. Stay away from me.” Maria was too embarrassed to even play with children in her neighborhood. If she ventured from her home, she covered her mouth with her hands. 

 Maria’s grandmother was determined to find help for her granddaughter. She first approached the mayor of her city, who was also a doctor. Eventually, a government official directed her to Operation Smile. When she arrived at the medical mission in Fortaleza, 5-year-old Maria immediately captured the hearts of all the medical volunteers. 

After her surgery, she was bursting with laughter and smiles. “I’m so very happy,” said her grandmother. “She plays, runs, talks. She is completely different. Everything has changed for the best. She is not ashamed anymore. Now, she is always looking at herself in the mirror. She always says that she is beautiful, that she is gorgeous. It was everything we have ever wanted.”

Maria now looks forward to school and works very hard.

Would you like to be a part of this mission to reclaim, recapture, TRANSFORM a child's life? Please join me in supporting Operation Smile! 

If you will not be at my Stonewall Resort Crop this weekend, you can still support Operation Smile. On my website you will find a special stamp set Close To My Heart has created. 

When you purchase this C-size You’re the Bomb stamp set at full retail price anytime from now through March 2015, Close To My Heart will donate $3* of the proceeds to Operation Smile. 

Since its founding in 1982, Operation Smile has performed over 220,000 surgical procedures to correct facial deformities in children. It only takes an hour for volunteer medical teams to perform these life-altering surgeries that will give children confidence for a lifetime.

Click here to add this special stamp set to your shopping cart. And THANK YOU for joining with me to transform lives like Maria's!

The Chicken Dance Song!

I've had many requests to BRING BACK THE CHICKEN at my crops!! So this year I am!

This little guys makes a lot of noise, but he's nice to have around! Here's the deal.....when you complete a project (card, layout, etc.) find the chicken and bring him back to your seat. If you have the chicken when you hear the Chicken Dance song play you get $5 in Crop Cash! And anyone who gets up to dance will also get $1 in Crop Cash!

Here is a video in case you have forgotten how (I love the boy in the second row, second from the left)!

(Click here if you can't see the video above)

There will be plenty of room for us to form a large circle and it gives everyone a break and a little exercise throughout the weekend. The activity is purely voluntary, so no worries about being put on the spot or pulled from your seat when you are on a roll. Just random opportunities throughout the weekend to get some exercise and earn some crop cash!

Crop Cash and Auction at Stonewall!

At every crop I offer Crop Cash for various activities that you can use to bid on items at the auction on the last day of the crop! (I wanted to give you a sneak peek at the auction items, but they are all packed! I guess you just have to wait for the crop!)

This currency is as good as gold at my events AND it never expires! If you don't spend it at this crop, bring it back to the next one!

Here are ways you can earn crop cash at the Stonewall Event:

Pay for the crop in full by December 31 - $20

For every $1 spent on products - $1

For every $1 in orders placed - $1

For every $1 spent at workshops - $1 

 For every $1 donated to Operation Smile $1

Host a Gathering, Book, or Online party - $10 

Join a Club - $15 

Become a consultant - $20 

Chicken Dance - have rubber chicken when song plays - $5

 Chicken Dance - dance during song - $1 

Play a Game - $1

 Pajama Hour – wearing PJs in ballroom after 9pm - $1 

 Enter a contest* $1

*you can enter once in each category

 Win a contest: 

Lady of Layouts – voted best layout (2 winners) $20 

Sultan of the Studio – voted best SJ layout $20 

Countess of Cards – voted best card $20 

Princess of Paper – voted best 3-D project $20 

As you can see, there is no shortage of opportunities to earn your cash! And don't forget to bring any you have left over from previous events!

Are you getting excited yet? I am!!

Here is what I am bringing to Stonewall Resort!

I've got game prizes packed, workshop kits packed, and plenty of products for sale! But I'm also bringing some of my tools so you don't have to!

I'm bringing my Cricut Expression and cartridges!

You may use my cricut and cartridges. All I ask is that you bring your own mat!

I'm bringing my stamp sets and blocks!

I'm bringing all of my current stamp sets with me. Feel free to use them. I will also have used and new stamps for sale!

I'm bringing my ink pads!

I will have all 42 exclusive ink colors in dye based and pigments inks available for you to borrow.

I will have cardstock in full packs and by the sheet. 

Full packs are $14.50 and single sheets are $0.70 each.

I will have my Cuttlebug and Embossing Folders!

I'll have our fabulous CTMH embossing folders for you to borrow!

I'm bringing my craft heater!

For those that fall in love with heat embossing or are using pigment inks.

Many of you will bring your own tools to have at your fingertips, but for those that are trying to bring  a lighter load, I will have you covered! BUT, you have to share!

Getting Ready for Stonewall!

The countdown begins!!! My Stonewall Resort Crop is coming up Friday, January 23rd!!! I've got workshops kits prepped and packed along with prizes, and gifts, and lots of FUN!

There is SO much to enjoy at Stonewall and I will be posting all week about what you can expect.

But first up, I'd like to enlist your help! If you are attending the Stonewall Crop and have surge protectors and 3-prong extension cords PLEASE bring them with you! I'd like to have electric available at each table. And many are bringing lights, laptops, and cricuts to have at their tables. I have some, but will have to purchase more unless you can help me out. Stonewall charges $10 per day per surge to use theirs. And right now I still need a bunch!

If you have a surge or an extension cord that you can bring PLEASE let me know how many and how long they are. Be sure to mark them with your name so that if they get left behind I will know who to return them to. I really appreciate your help!

Next, did you know that if you book services with the Mountain Laurel Spa and mention that you are with the Creating With Christine Group you will receive 20% off! Click here to see a list of services and packages available and contact them directly to reserve your spot BEFORE Friday!

Stonewall offers so much more than just the spa for pampering. Their staff and service is second to none! You really feel like the most important person in the world when you are there!

Stay tuned this week for more posts of what to expect while you are there! Are you getting excited?? I am!

New Studio J Christmas Layout Collection!

Good News!! Just in time to record your Christmas memories, we have added a collection of pre-designed Christmas layouts to Studio J - our online scrapbooking program!

For a limited time only, you have access to a special new Express Collection in Studio J® using the Yuletide Carol paper kit. Want a sneak peek? 

 Aren't they beautiful? Now is the time to capture all your recent holiday memories! Express Collections make documenting your memories even easier by doing most of the creation for you. Just drop in your photos, add some journaling and personalized titles, and order your layouts. Using this Express Collection, you will have your recent holiday photos scrapbooked before you know it! 

The Express Collection will be available only from January 1 to February 28, so make certain to place your orders before the deadline.

Contact me if you would like an introduction to Studio J or login to try it your self now! Click on the image below to begin!

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, so join in the celebration and watch your earnings grow!

Contact me to set up an online gathering or to get more information on collecting orders from friends to maximize your rewards this month!

Year Noted - National Papercrafting Month Special

In celebration of National Papercrafting Month, Close To My Heart 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! 

There is so much to love about the Year Noted paper kit available during our National Papercrafting Month campaign. Whether you’re attracted to its bright, exclusive colors, the super trendy golden foil stickers, the stylish and oh-so-useful stamp sentiments and icons, or for the sensationally low price, the thing you’re sure to love most about this kit is the way it accents your pictures as you use it to preserve your memories throughout the year. 

The paper kit pairs beautifully with the My Creations™ kraft mini book to become a mini album of your favorite memories from the year, but lends itself to creating fabulous layouts, cards and pocket-scrapbooking pages, too! You can easily get a look at all the wonderful artwork people are making by searching the hashtag #yearnoted on Instagram and Facebook. Add to the fun by uploading your own artwork featuring this great kit and using the #yearnoted hashtag. 

This paper kit with gold foil stickers and exclusive stamp set has a retail value of over $24 but you can get it for only $5 with an order of $50! For even MORE value, you can get the paper kit AND the My Creations kraft mini book for just $10—with a retail value of over $34, it's a deal that saves you $24 off the retail value of the kit and the mini book. 

 Act now, because the Year Noted paper kit is only available through January 31!

Click here to start shopping now!

This Moment - January Stamp of the Month

This week I want to share some of the great specials we have this month!

Let's start with the stamp of the month! It's called This Moment and has images that coordinate with the Artbooking cartridge.

I LOVE the fonts and images on this stamp set! Perfect for Valentine's or anytime!

I've been so busy preparing for my crop that I haven't created my own artwork with this stamp set yet. Here are a few of my favorites from the amazing Brenda Rose!

This stamp set coordinates beautifully with our Heartstrings paper! 

This stamp set is only available during the month of January. Be sure to get yours before it is gone!

It can be yours for only $17.95!

OR

With a $50 order you can add it for only $5!

Click here to start shopping now!