Dream Pop!

Let's Talk Close To My Heart and National Scrapbooking Month!!!

May is the time we like to celebrate Scrapbooking and so CTMH is offering a fantastic paper collection called 'Dream Pop'...in it you will find 12 Cardstock sheets with a very unique glossy resist pattern on them AND 12 B&T Duos papers (background and texture for those that are wondering what B&T means) This paper pack is a wonderful collection of Spring and Summer colours that you are sure to love playing with!

How can you get one for yourself you ask?

Well with each $35 order you can purchase this pack for only $10 ! Unbelievable deal for 24 sheets of paper if you ask me! Hostesses can get it for free with any Gathering of $400 or more. New Consultants will have this pack added to their New Consultant kits during the month of May!

Here's some more Artwork featuring this fantastic 'Dream Pop' paper:

Don't forget that every order of $50 during the month of May you can also get our Stamp of the Month for $5...May's 'Pinwheel' stamp set will be the perfect compliment to our special 'Dream Pop' paper...we've even got fabulous Workshop instructions available for you to make all the Artwork you've seen above!

Contact me for more information on May's specials and to get your 'Dream Pop' paper before we run out!!!

I'm just 'Dotty For You'...

Check these out!!! I got my UPS delivery today and our 

April/May National Scrapbooking Month special was inside my box...Dotty For You can be yours too starting April 17th but I thought you might enjoy a little preview now :)

These photos really don't do this package justice but you get the idea...and I'll be posting some artwork soon too just to tantalize your creative taste buds ;)

 24 Coordinating B&T Duos sheets (2 each of 12 patterns)

There is even a sheet with 7 different projects and their recipes!

Three ways for you to get these awesome papers :)

1. Place an order of $35 anytime between April 17th and May 31st, and add this Dotty for You paper packet for just $5.

2. Host a gathering with a sales total of $400 or more between April 15th and May 31st and receive this Dotty for You paper packet for  FREE!!!

3. Join Close To My Heart as a new Consultant between April 15th and May 31st and receive this Dotty for You paper packet FREE.

Stay tuned for more fabulous Dotty For You artwork...and April's Stamp of the Month BLOG HOP coming in just a few short hours...

You & Me scraps

Ok...so I've mentioned it before...but I have to say it again.....I love creating with my bits n' pieces :)

Last month's 'You & Me' kit was a smashing hit with so many people. What started out as a promotion for May's National Scrapbooking Month has now extended into June's support of all the people affected by recent severe weather in the US.

During the month of June, order a You & Me kit for only $16.50 CAN (a retail value $38.95), and a portion of the proceeds will be donated to the American Red Cross 2011 Floods and Tornadoes relief operations. Simply use item number CC1012B to place your order for this sensational kit and help those in need at the same time. The You & Me: Stronger Together campaign will continue until June 30 at 11:59 pm (MDT) or while supplies last.

Holy Smokes!!! For those of us that already have this kit...why not grab another one at this incredible, giving it away price, for a friend or future gift...

Here's the layout I created with the little bits

This is such a fabulous stamp set and incredible deal...don't miss out! Contact me to get your own kit today

Sunshine is all around this long weekend

I thought I'd take a minute to post a few layouts I created on my ultimate 'Ultimate Scrapbooking Retreat' retreat :) at the end of April...four glorious days and three nights to eat, drink, relax, sleep in, stay up all night and of course SCRAPBOOK!

I have to say that out of all the years I've been treating myself to this escape...I have been the most productive ever this past time in April...now I could easily say that it was because I was away for four days VS. the usual three days retreat...but that would simply NOT be the truth...honestly...this was the most organized I've EVER been...I could have been more organized, but wanted to leave some of the creativity for when I was actually there...

Firstly, I made a list of the events/pictures I wanted to scrapbook...seemed easy enough, but still took time.

Secondly, I looked through various Map/Idea Books...I went to my CTMH books, like Magic, Imagine and Cherish...as well as Page Maps and Scrapbooks Etc. Maps...once I found some maps that looked like they'd work for my event, I made reference to that on a sticky note...listed off what resource (MAP location), page or design title...this was stuck to my printed picture when I got them home from printing.

Thirdly, I sent my final cuts for photos to my Desktop, I find that clicking and dropping the pictures I want to print onto my Desktop, saves me loads of time later at the upload stage as I can then later grab and drop my chosen pictures into my Upload Photos page of the Costco online photo page (I like Costco's print quality for the price here where I live)

Fourth, when I was in the photo ordering page in Costco online photo site, I made sure to tag each photo with the actual crop size and location in the layout...I know this seems excessive or maybe a little OCD...I know, but when I got to my retreat...I knew exactly what my plans were with the photo as it was printed on the back of each picture where I wanted it to go in the layout as well as the layout Map...this saved me time.

Lastly, when I got to the retreat, the only thinking I needed to do was pick out paper...which, for those of you that know me...takes me some time :) Once I had some paper in hand...grabbed my photos which were seperated with my sticky notes with the layout design I was planning on working with and the printed photos/enlargements when needed...and...away I went!

The prep ahead of time saved me from 'creators-block'...just made that one up...and allowed me to whip the layouts up! In Kristine-time...probably much faster in your own-time...I am still reeling in the pleasure of how much I accomplished...maybe you have some great tips for making the mnost of your scrapbooking time...I'd love to hear them, just leave a comment below !

Here's a couple of layouts that I did on that retreat weekend...thanks for stopping by and enjoy your Long Weekend, hopefully the sun is shining where ever you call home :)

Studio J ~ Focus on the Photos

Studio J has just published a fantastic tutorial where they are focussing on the photos. They are showing you some of the FAQ's you might have after playing with the online software. I found it very helpful for myself as I am new to playing in Studio J...remember that Studio J is available online FREE...purchase only those layouts that YOU want...otherwise, maybe think of using this online software when you are sharing the couch with your family...at the same time creating some scrapbooking layouts...

Maybe you don't like the look digital scrapbooking? 

If that's the case with you, I encourage you to play with the software and use it like a 'dry-run' before you go and play with paper and scissors...create some layouts, save them and then the next time you are ready to sit down and play with paper...pull up your pre-done designs on the computer and copy them using your actual product...this way you have some fast and easy layouts to produce...you've only printed out the photos you need for the layout and  you've just saved yourself money and TIME.

Cosmo Cricket and Crate Paper together...lookin' good

My little girl is growing up...makes me sad to think back at all the memories and know that in a few short years this little baby is going to be on her own...my only consolation is in knowing that we raised an independent, strong and wonderful little girl into the young lady that she is today...we had a special little escape to Fort Langley for her 16th birthday in November...right after stopping into the Motor Vehicle office so she could write her Learner's Test...she passed of course...then drove us to Fort Langley!!! One of the charms with Fort Langley is all of the little Antique stores and little specialty shops like this fantastic hat shop...

Does this layout look similar to the one above...same Close To My Heart design...just completely different looking theme's and paper...why re-invent the wheel when the layout works and looks great...just make another one...might just speed up your create-time and challenge you to take the same layout and add touches to each of them to make them appear different...it'll even give you extra time to maybe add or try some different techniques like ribbon flowers or hand stitched stars...?

Remember to keep some of your layouts clean and simple...some photos tell their own story...journalling is important, but not always required...I'm planning on leaving these layouts the way they are right now...perhaps I'll add a few words later...maybe

You & Me Scrapbooking kit

This fabulous kit is only available for May...let me know if you'd like me to order one for you before they are all gone! This kit is available while supplies last...here's the current flyer showing exactly what is included in this gorgeous kit...cardstock weight patterned paper, a full package of Mocha Opaques, an exclusive D-size stamp set designed specifically for this kit, a sheet of Irresistibles die-cuts in chipboard, ribbon and a complete guide to show you how to create these two beautiful pages!

A 'You and Me' Scrapbook Class will be held on May 31st in the Workshop starting at 7:00PM for those of you that would like to do this kit in a classroom setting at no additional cost. 

It's National Scrapbooking Month!

It's National Scrapbooking Month...well for me every month is Scrapbooking month :)   Close To My heart has created another beautiful kit to celebrate this treasured month with our new You & Me scrapbooking kit.

During our May celebration, you can get the exclusive You & Me scrapbooking kit at a fabulous discount or even FREE*!

When you place a minimum order of $55 CAN in Close To My Heart products* in May, you can get the exclusive You & Me scrapbooking kit for the discount price of just $16.50—that’s more than half off the retail value! You’ll create two fully embellished two-page layouts using the new cardstock-weight B&T Duos^® papers, D-size stamp set, accessories, and instructions. You can also purchase the kit at full retail for $38.95 with no minimum purchase required. Become a Close To My Heart Consultant during May and we’ll include a You & Me kit for free* as part of your New Consultant Kit. 

To sweeten the deal, if you join my team as an Independant Consultant this month, not only will they give you this kit for free (a $38.95 value) BUT they will also give you 50% OFF of your New Consultant Kit...for $70.00 you will receive the basic business essentials and 3 'choose me' kits to personalize to your own business building needs...a value of over $300.00!!! Amazing...wish I had those deals when I signed up :)

Besides being paid for doing what you love, Consultants are your own boss—setting your own hours, work around your priorities, and share revolutionary new products unparalleled in the industry. You’ll also receive discounts on the products you love and have the amazing opportunity to touch hearts and change lives through the joy of scrapbooking and stamping!


If you are looking to support your scrapbooking with discounts, specials and like our low quarterly sales...then you'll want to join my team...cause I haven't seen a better time yet than now :) Just sayin'

National Scrapbooking Month Promotion

You are going to be head over heels for this one...Excited doesn't even fully express how I'm feeling about this kit...you can complete two full layouts! Each kit contains a complete D-size stamp set, one pkg. of Mocha Opaques, six sheets of patterned CARDSTOCK weight paper, one Irresistables chipboard sheet and new chocolate ribbon! Watch the video to see all you get and the featured layouts you will be creating when you order this kit in May!

Happy Scrappin' and thanks for stoppin' by :)