Close to My Heart Upcoming September Product Campaign

WATERCOLOR FUN!!!!

$11.95 Z3132 Watercolor Paints

$5.95 Z3224 Small watercolor pen

 

Watercolor Products and Art

How many of us would love to be able to make a simple card like this?

A lot of practice goes into the design but well worth it for the receiver of a simple card.

September Constant Campaign SNEAK PEEK

CARD Kit for 24 cards, stamp set, block, die cuts & ink. 

Product Description $46.95

Celebrate National Stamping Month this September by making hand-stamped cards to create a little more kindness in the world! Our Create Kindness card kit contains all of the supplies you’ll need to create 24 beautiful handmade cards, with sentiments perfect for brightening someone’s day!

Kit contents:

24 – 3" × 3" pre-printed card bases with envelopes

24 – Pre-cut 1 ¾" white circles

8 – Exclusive M-size stamp sets

1 – Archival Black Exclusive Inks™ mini stamp pad

1 – 2" × 2" My Acrylix® block

1 – My Acrylix® mini stamp organizer

 

Blessed Beyond Measure

September Stamp of the Month

Item Number: S1609

Uptown Fundamentals

Look at the elegant feel that the Uptown Fundamentals bring to this layout with that beautiful script font, the gold foil polka-dots, and the striped vellum it features neutral colors. Check out our new fundamental paper lines for your scrapbooking and card making today.  SHOP WITH ME

CLOSE TO MY HEART NEW PRODUCT SPECIALS

CLOSE TO MY HEART

SAMPLE USING FUNDAMENTAL PAPER PACKET

NEW IDEA BOOK 2016-2017

SPECIAL CAMPAIGN OFFER

What could be better than treating yourself to brand new papers? How about getting even MORE paper for free!

During the month of August, when you order our Whimsy, Adventure, and Enchantment Fundamental papers, you can choose to get either the Rustic Home or Uptown Fundamentals for FREE! Both of these Basics packets feature foil designs and specialty materials for making your artwork unique. Yep, this deal is basically the best!

SEPTEMBER STAMP OF THE MONTH

Purr-fect Halloween

Beautiful Stamps, Amazing Discounts

Each month you can purchase a new D-size stamp set, available for one month only, for just $5. When you place an order of $50 or more in Close To My Heart products, you qualify for this special Stamp of the Month pricing.

Close to My Heart NEW Annual Idea Book Release

August 1, 2016 Monday
NEW RELEASE of Close to My Heart's NEW Idea Book

Ordering from the NEW Annual Idea Book is easy. Go to www.ldj.ctmh.com for the link and press the Idea Book tab to view on your computer.  Orders can also be placed from this website. Sign on to make your own account so you can receive up to-date newsletters and specials available for each month.  Thank you for viewing my post.  It has been quite some time since I went down this road and plan to make it work.  Thanks for your support and comments.  Bless you all!!!

September 1, 2016 Thursday
NEW RELEASE of the Close to MY Heart's NEW Holiday Expressions
Go to www.ldj.ctmh.com for the link and press the Idea Book tab and scroll to view the Holiday Expressions on September 1, 2016.  Please join me in the months to come for some great projects and view some NEW IDEAS for Scrapbook Pages.

Close to My Heart LAST CHANCE SALE

SALE

LAST CHANCE 

CURRENT Post & Bound or D-Ring Albums

SALE ENDS JULY 31, 2016 - SUNDAY

25% OFF ALL ALBUMS

ALL CURRENT ALBUMS RETIRE JULY 31ST!!!!!

LAST CHANCE

2015-2016 Close to My Heart Annual Idea Book 

RETIRES JULY 31st 

Get your favorite stamp sets and CTMH products of the year before its too late!!!

A List of Retiring Products will be posted for your convenience.  

The Seasonal Expression 2 Idea Book will RETIRE August 31, 2016-Wednesday

Both of these Catalogs are available to view online.

http://www.ldj.ctmh.com/

Tommy Paper Pack CTMH

http://juliedavison.blogspot.com/2012/01/snowman-side-spring-card.html

Picture not shown of original design on my website.

    Hello again, I only had a little time to create today and I had pinned several items last night that I wanted to take a hand at.  The link is above to the pin I made, however you have to go one more step to Splitcoasters to get the picture tutorial.

    I made two of the cards featured and with a lot of thought, I mastered the folding and adhesive areas on the example.  As the link described the card would not open all the way so I made an alteration to the version and made a cut in the seam so the card would open all the way.  However, folded as link instructed, it was too bulky on the left side, would not stand up or lay down flat due to the many folds at the left side, and that is even with adhesive in the right spots.

     So with that I made my own version.  This is an example and sorry about the quality of the photo but I do not have an area that is so masterfully set up as some posting on Pinterest.

     I cut a piece of card stock that was 41/2" x 51/2" size, scored it at 23/4", folded on the long side.  Then I cut another coordinating piece at 21/2" x 21/2" an adhered it in the same spot as the original folded card in the original tutorial and then began to matte and embellish with coordinating pieces.  It folds, stays shut, and fits in a regular envelope(41/2" x 53/4").  Give the original tutorial a try and then let me know what you think about my version.  This is a cute card style and I can see creating other cards in this same manor just different papers and embellishments because its outside the box and attractive to the eye.

Autumn/Winter 2013 & National Stamping Campaign for September

This is a selection of my latest work and designs for classes I hold in my home.  The National Stamping Stamp set featured here with the sun only 2 of the Stamp Sets were used here in the 3 set that is available this month. I posted earlier the September Campaign and you can get this adorable Stamp set for only $10 with a purchase of $50 or more.  www.ldj.ctmh.com This card was designed using all CTMH products but the Paper Packet retired several years back but it worked perfectly in this design.  

The last 2 cards featured on the right bottom utilized the Always Grateful Stamp set, Masking Technique(close up of card made in the class today), and  Holiday Tags Sentiment. The bottom right featured the Avonlea Paper Packet and CTMH Sentiment Stamp Set.  The Paper is no longer available. This was one of my favorites from an earlier Idea Book.  Then the bottom right picture shows 3 cards they were my first class introducing the Autumn/Winter Idea Book and New Products.  I focused on showing the class the chalk board look using our Colonial White Pigment Ink as well as the new paper packs, Babycakes, Huntington, & Frosted Paper Packs. The Artiste Cartridge was used for tags as well.  I did use a Stampin Up Stamp Set in the middle card for the sentiment.  

National Stamp Set Available only IN September

I just finished this class today utilizing the masking technique with Post it notes.  We used 3 colors and the masking technique for all 3 of these cards.  I also demonstrated the new PIGMENT Inks we have and they loved them.  The difference in clarity is amazing.  The Always Grateful Stamp set was utilized for this class along with a Sentiment stamp set for the Think of you card shown here.

Technique of Masking with Always Grateful Stamp Set

Babycakes Paper Packet with Wild Wonders Stamp Set

The next card and scrapbook page utilized the Babycakes Paper packet from our CMTH Idea Book and the Wild Wonders Stamp Set.  Just darling and so much fun.  The scrapbook layout incorporated several embellishment elements from our Fall line along with the Canvas Stickease that coordinates withe the Babycakes Paper.  I also used the Artiste Cartridge to cut the pin wheel out.  This was a lot of work measuring to get a balance for the picture I choose of our 3rd Grandchild.  I have yet to use the Cricut to cut this young mans name out and apply.  Corner Rounder, Bronze Shimmer Trim were also used. 

Babycakes Paper Packet

OK, I stepped out of the box on this one.  My daughter had this punch so I  just punched the famous hexagon shapes that we are seeing everywhere these days with I think Mind's Eye Paper packet to create this beautiful piece.  The Artiste Cartridge was used to cut the butterfly and I used some gems I had on hand and a CTMH sentiment Stamp with a banner cut with the Artiste as well.  Love this one and Love the colors.  

Creative Memories Hexagon Punch, CTMH Sentiment Stamp Set
and Artiste Cartridge for Butterfly

Avonlea Paper packet and CTMH Sentiment Stamp Set

CTMH Always Grateful Stamp Set

Always Grateful Stamp Set

Babycakes, Frosted & Huntington Paper Packets

Spring Summer 2013 Last Chance

Spring/Summer 2013 Projects

CMTH Country Born Stamp Set

CTMH Country Born Stamp Set

SOTM 2012 Autumn/Winter

The projects using the Country Born Stamp Set was so much fun.  Reminded me of my days with Watercoloring classes.  I applied the knowledge anyway.  This stamp set is still available while supplies last so get yours now.  I utilized all CTMH Card Stock and embellishments, the Rosewood medley accents noted in second picture are just beautiful...Hope you enjoy.

The SOTM card featured is from 2012 and stamp set is no longer available it was one time only.  Hope to see it back one day.  Truly beautiful.  I used the NEW CTMH alcohol based markers to color this gem but the rest of the products were from a Card Stock pack I had on hand that went perfect with this card I featured.  

Dotty for You Paper Packet

Last time I was on here, I posted about the amazing deal with the Dotty for You Paper Packet.  I still use this and the colors would be great for Halloween and Thanksgiving.  It was a one time special but I think you might like the samples I have posted here.

 The card designs here utilize the CTMH Flutter By Stamp Set, I believe it still maybe available from the Spring/Summer 2013 Catalog, but hurry only while supplies last and also includes the Dotty For YOU paper packet(One time ONLY), CTMH chocolate card stock, Paper Studio 5 x 7 kraft cards and envelopes, and I utilized the CTMH scallop and circle punch for the sentiment.

The Dotty for You Paper Packet for the scrapbook layout, scallop and circle punch, I also used the square punch from Stampin Up to achieve the zig zag edge on the layout, I used markers to color the self stick alphabet(retired) and then used 1st generation stamping in another color in Sunset on the letters as well.  The corner rounder was another tool utilized.

This is our second grandbaby, her second birthday is coming up in October and she is pictured with her Papa here.  Just Lovely!!!! So that dates this layout but wanted to share.

National Stamping Month 2013

How about this amazing deal folks.  www.ldj.ctmh.com for an order with Close to My Heart.  The stamp set special of the Month for National Stamping Month is a huge savings.  3-D size Stamp Sets for the price of $10.00 with the order of $50 or more, you also get the Stamp of the Month for $5 and both are a huge savings and great products.  Check out the website for tutorials, information and ideas.

Halloween

I haven't been on here in ages.  OMG..I can't believe I have had as many views as blog spot has posted.  I guess I need to get busy and get a few things caught up.

I am still a CTMH consultant and having so much fun.  I have finally converted from a hobby enthusiast with CTMH to a teacher of CTMH.  I have been giving classes since April of this year and it has been so much fun and have gained a few customers for classes.  I have the classes in my home with small groups and I have promoted the CTMH line as well as Ideas I come up with by MY Design.  I will post a few of past classes as I have time.

Here is picture of a small and fun project I just cooked up, using some Paper Studio paper along with a Retired Halloween Stamp set from CTMH.  It's appropriate I suppose to begin thinking about Halloween since products in the hobby industry have been out now for well over 2 months.  I can't believe we promote so early.

Simple Hershey Snack Bars, a 3" x 3 1/2" cut paper, scallop punch and circle punch by CTMH and a stamped image from the Merry Monsters Stamp Set (retired). Some twine and ribbon to finish it off.  Simple and the price to make is close to 25 cents.  Only 30 more to make. Wow, what a cute idea, simple and not much time involved.  Be on the look out for more pics to come.

Dotty for YOU Paper Packet & Monthly Specials CTMH

Celebrate National Scrapbooking Month in May by mixing and matching to your heart’s content with our new Dotty for You paper packet! The trendy patterns on the front of the papers coordinate perfectly with the dots on the reverse side, giving you lots of options for crafting colorful layouts, cards, and other projects. Dotty for You includes 24 specially designed, coordinating B&T Duos^® sheets (2 each of 12 patterns) and an artwork idea insert to get your creative juices flowing.

There are three ways to get this exclusive Dotty for You paper packet, valued at $19.95:

• Place an order of $35 or more in products from the Spring/Summer 2012 Idea Book between April 17 and May 31, and add the Dotty for You paper packet for just $5*.
• Host a Gathering with a sales total of $400 or more (excluding tax, shipping/handling, and Operation Smile^®donations) between April 17 and May 31 and receive a Dotty for You paper packet FREE.
• Join Close To My Heart as a new Consultant between April 1 and May 31 and receive a Dotty for You paper packet FREE.

Celebrate National Scrapbooking Month in May with the oh-so-cute Dotty for You paper packet.

NEW STamp of the Month for April

Each month you can enjoy a new D-size stamp set, available for one month only, for just $5—that’s over 70% off retail! When you place an order of $50 or more in Close To My Heart products, you qualify for this special Stamp of the Month pricing.

Here are a few creations with the Dotty For You Paper Packet.  So much fun!!!

CTMH Card Word Puzzle Stamp Set C1494

These were so much fun and so easy to create.  Using 4-1/4 x 5-1/2 cards with black and yellow cardstock scraps.  I created these wonderful cards.  I did use a Stampin Up punch out and CTMH ribbon for embellishments.  SO EASY!!!

Preserving Photos of Yesterday, Today, & Tomorrow Part 1

Preservation of Photos yesterday, today and tomorrow has many avenues.  Photographs provide a graphic portrayal of our families history, but if we neglect and do not preserve our photographs, some of our history will fade away along with those images. 


The avenues that are out there range from good old traditional scrap-booking, storing photos on our computers or hard drives, digital photo frames and online book bound scrapbooks. I have to admit that scrap-booking has been more of a challenge for me spite the unlimited the avenues available to each of us to choose for storage.  Why?  Well today we have digital storage that is enormous instead of a roll of 35mm film that has to be developed and printed. We take hundreds of pictures that if not downloaded, categorized, edited, backed up, filed appropriately  and stored in a safe place we fall behind and accessing those memories is a task only TIME can heal. How many can agree with me here?


For our family the old fashion scrapbook is a treasure and stored in a safe and accessible place so we can take them out and view history and memories when we have family gatherings.  I also have to admit I still have shoe boxes full prior to the digital age of photos that are still left to be scrap-booked.  However it is my mission in my empty nest days to scrapbook my families memories and then to properly store these treasures so if a tragedy or natural disaster should hit we have back ups for all our families photos, history and memories.  I have been scrap-booking for almost a quarter of century...25 years that is a long time and have to also admit I don't have it all done.  My years of scrap-booking has had its own seasons of plenty and want.  During the days of my children's younger years 35mm photos were the only means of taking photos and preserving our families history and memories.  Then came along digital and in the year 2000 our life changed in the way we took pictures and stored them.  In 2001 my digital library was huge.  I have a natural love of photography and the new digital age gave me unlimited and free photo takes which resulted an overwhelming digital library that has continued to today.  TIME... is needed in everyones life to go through these enormous libraries and sort, catalog, file in folders and of course label and date each one.  Then on to the truth, most of us don't have that much time in today's world.  I still fall behind but here are a few tips to get you started on a road of organized photo history.


1. Begin today.
2. Start with your most recent photos and work to the older photos as time allows.
3. Download to computer and label the folders individually.  If this is all the time you have then get this part done first and be sure to label the file with date and event.  
4. As time allows even if its 30 minutes to an hour one dreary afternoon.  Begin to dissect each file folder, I know there are the blurry photos, they really need to be discarded first.  You only have 120 photos or more of the "Blue Bonnet" takes. So you have now reduced it to 110 takes of the same shoot.  If you have 20 shots of the same pose you need to place them in order of best to worst shot and discard duplicates of those.  One by one you have gradually reduced hopefully your batch of photos taken and they are now in order of Best to OK.  
5. Next would be to upload the BEST photos to your nearest  photo printing business.  Most offer free storage and of course as time allow you can always go back and create a bound photo scrapbook, print pictures for your own scrap-booking days or even utilize these photo printing businesses to share your albums with family members without the use of the post office. By uploading your edited album, you have also created one back up for those precious memories should the hard drive crash or natural disaster occur at home. Remember to not store all your treasures in one basket either.  Select 2-3 reliable printing companies in order to avoid the loss of memories due to unfortunate disasters in the business world.  
6. From here TIME is another factor.  Sharing, displaying and working with your photos is the next step to decide on.  From here they are organized on the computer and one back up has been created.  HOWEVER, will they ever be viewed from here?  How many of us have memories of our camping trip that we actually access the file from our computer to share with others?  In my family, if the photos have not been printed and placed in a temporary archival photo album later to be scraped, or a bound scrapbook created on line they will remain on my computer and not viewed because well most of my family members are not going to stand around my computer to view our pictures. There are other options available and each person needs to decide how they will utilize technology or TIME to store and create a way of sharing those memories with others around them.  
7.  As you complete and edit each file folder on your computer, uploaded to a reliable source then the next step is to yet again back up your photos and for my families history I have learned the hard way.  Its best to choose a couple of methods.  Flash drives are larger and larger these days and can store quiet a bit.  I use these but I also use a external hard drive that is kept in a fire proof box when not in use.  A specific hard drive for only photo archival is the choice I have made.  There is always a chance of failure with any of our technology today so it is worth the time and effort to have at least 3 places for your stored treasures.  


In this Part 1 series you have EDITED, LABELED and FILED your photos from your camera on to one source your computer.  You have created an online source of BACK UP for later use in scrap-booking and sharing your memories and have BACKED UP to at least 2 other sources.  These steps are very important to your families history and memories.  Your now set to move on to the next step that will be covered in Part 2 of this series.  Don't put this part off or the unexpected will hit, technology does have its fall back and some of us have learned the hard way and lost a great deal of treasured memories to this technology. Your now set to move on to the next step that will be covered in Part 2 of this series.  Downloading, edited, labeling, filing, and backing up is the way of todays photo memories IT IS A  MUST!!! 

Special Offer March & April CTMH

Try our Upcoming Specials and The Stamp of the Month still available through March 31, 2012.  I am offering a 20% discount, the same CTMH discount I receive Today & Tomorrow March 25th, by email only and credit card payments. Orders will be shipped directly to your door.  Email your phone number with order and I will call to get CC information for payment on orders.   

April 2012 Campaign

Get Ready for some amazing new layouts with the papers featured with this special.  You will HAVE to have this special the colors are amazing!!!!!

March 2012 Stamp of the Month

Receive a 20% Discount On your order Today and Tomorrow by email only.

ldjohnson65@yahoo.com

Scrapbook Layout with CTMH Roxie Paper Packet

CTMH Products:

Roxie Lv. 2 Paper Packet & Colonial White Cardstock as base, Color Ready Kraft Borders, Coordinating Stamp Pads Black & Desert Sand & Ribbon, Liquid Glass & Liquid Stardust Glitz Gel, Spray Pen using 2 drops black re-inker, Cricut for Letters using Black cardstock.

The Layout is featured on pg. 23 in the 2011 Autumn/Winter Idea Book with a few modifications.  I used the Reflections Program Layout cutting guide featured on pg 54 in the Program Guide (Main Frame-Vertical Window).  I used my Cricut Cutter to cut out in Black cardstock the letters for my layout and using the Liquid Glass and Glitz to give a little "Bling".  The base page was antiqued with black and using the Spray pen with Black reinker, I gave the page a spritz to add dimension. This layout was labor intensive and took 2 hours to complete.  Considerable time was given to all the detail of the layout, be looking for more layouts and hope you enjoy. 

Scrapin' & Stampin': Featured Projects

CTMH Typeset Paper Packets

Using Typeset Paper Packets and coordinating card-stock from CTMH you can make these adorable layouts with your own embellishments.  I used one of the Stamp Sets with hearts and used the clear detail embossing powder to bring out the colors.  I also incorporated some layouts from the Magic layouts book to include more photos in the layouts.  I used a "Stampin Up" punch for the branch embellishments and some ribbon from their line but the layout was made using 99% CTMH products.  

This was so much fun putting together and just love the Typeset Paper Packet.  I was able to create roughly 16 pages with 1 paper packet, 1 cardstock combo packet and a few additional Desert Sand Cardstock.  All thats left is to journal a few spots and I'm done.  What a delight the CTMH products are.  Be looking for the Roxio Paper Packets in the next featured projects.  If interested in the designs or layouts used please email me at ldjohnson65@yahoo.com and I will get you the layouts featured.   Happy Scrapin'!!!!