Last Quick Note of 2011

Whew!  I can't believe it has been a whole month since I've posted something!  The holidays just kicked my butt.  Christmas was wonderful here!  Lots of sugar, presents, and fun.  Jill, thanks for hanging out with me at the December workshop.  If you didn't make it but ordered something I still have your kit.  I can drop it by so let me know. 

We're still enjoying the Christmas tree, music, cookies, and each other.  Turns out we really are gaming nerds.  With the relaxed schedule we are either playing each other on the computers or the playstation.  How about you?  What are you enjoying right now?

I'll tell you what else I'm enjoying...the NEW IDEA BOOK!  I got them last Friday and there are some of the cutest, elegant, and fun paper kits in there.  I can't wait until the January workshop so you can see it, too!  For January we'll be doing the Elemental paper kit with simplified lines, and geometric shapes.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!  See you in 2012.

Have you been wondering about the new Close To My Heart Art Philosophy Cricut cartridge?  Wanna play with it before you buy it?  Visit the Cricut.com Craft Room and you can play with ALL the images and features of the Art Philosophy Cricut cartridge!  Sign in with your Cricut account and you can start creating right away.  Explore all six creative feature buttons to cut cards, seasonal images, letters, numbers, tags, borders, and 3D flowers.  Many of the images on the Art Philosophy cartridge coordinate with new My Acrylix stamp sets!

When you order the Close To My Heart Art Philosophy Cricut collection you receive not only the cartridge but also three exclusive D-size coordinating stamp sets and three coordinating Dimensional Element chipboard sheets. 

Visit my website to view the entire collection!

New Buying Rewards!

I think I've come up with a great new way to reward you, my customers, for your continued support of my business!

Complete five Bonus Projects featured in the Idea Book and Workshop on the Go cutting guides and get 20% off your next order.  That's almost my entire commission!  But what the hey - you guys deserve it!

Bring/email/message me a photo of your Bonus Project and you're on your way to 20% off.  Bonus Projects are made with the current month's WOTG kit and added supplies.  Of course, you may have some items on hand as well.

This month's Bonus Project are the additional Cricut Art Philosophy cards.  Those of you that purchased the Typeset workshop kit received a complimentary Bonus Project this month to try out.  Complete five more and get 20% off your next order!

Thin chipboard!

I have been looking high and low for this and I finally found it! Did you know your Cricut can cut chipboard? It can, but the thinner the better. I recently used .5mm chipboard and the multi cut setting on 4 to make templates for those that purchased the Typeset workshop.  I used our new Art Philosophy Cricut cartridge (which has some awesome images btw) and the chipboard got a bit frayed. I purchased this chipboard, which is about .25mm, from the MIA Enterprises website, Couture Cardstock. I bought in bulk so let me know if you wanna try it. One piece per person.  I think I'll keep these on hand for those that fall in love with it.

Having a little one with seizures is no fun :(

This past June my sister had her second child.  A beautiful baby boy they named Holden.  Her husband was reading The Catcher in the Rye at the time and thought it sounded very stately.  I must admit, I never the book so I don't know the character but Holden is absolutely adorable.  Three days after he was born he started having seizures.  So off to the hospital they went.  They gave him a PICC line for a 21 day antibiotic.  They did three spinal taps.  He had an MRI, CT, PET Scan, and EEG.  And the doctors all shrugged their shoulders.  They have no idea why he's having seizures.  They got the seizures under control and sent him home.  He was seizure free for two weeks...and then, they came back!  He was having 50 per day so they got a referral to UCLA.  More tests and more medication.  But no answers.

He's now home and on four different medications to control his seizures.  While he is not completely seizure free he is down to 3-4 per day.  Not bad, but not ideal.

My sister, who is a nurse, is supposed to go back to work on the 22nd.  But as you can imagine, two weeks is just not enough time to feel comfortable with leaving your baby who has seizures.  She's taking one more month of emergency family medical leave but work stops contributing their portion of insurance at the end of the month.  I'm helping to raise funds for COBRA through the end of September with donations.  If you would like to help let me know.  Get a cute little bracelet with Holden's name on it for any donation amount that you can afford.  Email Me, Text Me, Call Me!

Order Up!

Hear Ye!  Hear Ye!

I'll be placing my next order around August 15th!  "Why", you ask?  Because that is when our National Stamping campaign starts.  It runs through September 30th.  Place a $75 or more order with me or through my website and receive our My Acrylix Pair-A-Phrase double D-sized stamp set for FREE!

$75!!!  Purchase the supplies for my August workshop and you're almost halfway there!  We'll be doing the new Typeset Workshop on the Go.  Remember our new paper packs have all cardstock weight papers and the stamp set is now a C-size instead of a B-size.  Even more quality for what you pay.

To get you even closer to the $75 goal purchase the August Stamp of the Month: Wicked and you'll also get our My Acrylix A Typeface A-size stamp set for FREE.  This deal only runs through August 31st.  Purchase the September Workshop on the Go Roxie and you're set!

So let's review. 
Purchase Typeset Workshop on the Go: $29.95
Roxie Workshop on the Go: $29.95
August Stamp of the Month: $17.95
Total: $77.85
and you'll get two FREE stamp sets.  Plus you're set for workshop supplies for two months! 

Of course, this is just my way to work the deal.  You can always choose your own!



It's here!  It's here!  The new 2011 Autumn/Winter Idea Book is here!  There are so many awesome changes that you just have to get your copy to see them.  Changes to My Reflections paper packets, lower pricing on kits and stamp sets, new hostess rewards, Stamp of the Month changes!  It is all so wonderful! I think this is my favorite Idea Book by far!

I can't wait to share all of the great new products and create the new Workshop On The Go kits with you!  There are eight paper packs to choose from each with their own coordinating My Stickease or new Compliments!  Contact me to get your copy of click here to view it online. 

Check back for more pictures and information other items from Close To My Heart that I have to offer.  You won't want to miss it!

Survey Says!

With all of the wonderful changes coming up with Close To My Heart I thought I would get the pulse of my customers.  I posted this same survey on facebook so if you've already filled out no need to do it again.  However, feedback regarding my Close To My Heart website and newsletters would be awesome.

Please click here to complete and you'll be entered to win wonderful Close To My Heart products.

My Convention Goodies!

Inside this wonderful bag is all of the goodies they gave to us at the 2011 Close To My Heart Convention!  Paper and accessories and, of course, the Autumn/Winter Idea Book.  I can't wait for everyone to see the all of the new things we will be doing for our upcoming workshops!  I'm so excited!

You & Me Extra Projects!

For those of you that purchased the National Scrapbooking Month You & Me I have two extra projects for you!  Included in your kit is one sheet of 12"x12" Colonial White cardstock.  Before stamping on the cardstock be sure to cut an 8.5"x 11" piece from it.  Then cut that 8.5"x11" piece in two.  Place your paper into paper trimmer where it is longer horizontally (11") and cut in half at the 5.5" marker.  This will give you two 5.5"x4.25" pieces.  Fold each in half to make a standard A2 card.  You'll have plenty left to stamp what you need for the workshop.

Now, complete your You & Me layouts according to the instructions! 

With the left over scraps and embellishments you'll be able to create two beautiful cards.  For my cards I chose Collage from Wishes (pg.97) and Buckle from Originals (pg. 82).  I used both of these patterns for my inspirations but deviated from the actual measurements to use what I could of my scraps and the included stamp set.  Follow my samples or make your own!

You & Me & National Scrapbooking Month

This month is National Scrapbooking Month and to celebrate Close To My Heart is featuring an exclusive You & Me scrapbook kit available only in May.  The You & Me kit features two beautiful layouts using our Exclusive Inks colors chocolate, creme brulee, olive, and smoothie.  Not only do you get enough papers to create the two gorgeous layouts you also get two full embellishment packs and coordinating ribbon.  You can use the included Opaques Mocha Adhesive Gems embellishments and the You & Me Irresistibles Chipboard Die-Cut sheet to decorate the layouts to your hearts content - follow the instructions or walk your own path!

When you place a minimum order of $50 in Close To My Heart products in May, you can get the exclusive You & Me scrapbooking kit for the discount price of just $15 - that's more than half off the retail value!  You can also purchase the kit at full retail for $34.95 with no minimum purchase required.  Become a Close To My Heart Consultant during May and not only do you get your starter kit for 50% off we'll include a You & Me kit for free as part of your New Consultant Kit.  Contact me today to get the celebration started.