Sweet Heart Gift

Do you know anyone that likes chocolate? Here is an easy gift to make. And you know Valentine's Day is coming up fast!

First I used our My Creations Card box (Z1647 $4.95).

6 1/4 x 4 1/4 plaid b&t from Roxie 

6 1/4 x 1 Plaid 

6 1/4 x 2 Tulip cardstock times 2 

2 x 4 1/4 Tulip cardstock times 2 

1 3/4 x 4 1/2 plaid times 2 

1 x 3 1/2 zebra b&t times 6 

6 circles 1 1/4" of linen b&t 

I sponged the edges of the box with black.

The heart doily is 4" - it is on our Cricut Cartridge. The "chocolates" are the chinese take put boxes also from the Cricut Cartridge. Those are cut at 3" & 2 1/2". I took some of our stripe

ribbon to go on some of the "chocolates" and the white squiggles are made with our liquid appliqué. When you are making the chinese boxes, fold the top flaps in and adhere. Then glue them on the box upside down using liquid glass! How fun is this!

Here is the inside. I used Reese's peanut butter cup for the round ones, Ghiradelli squares (on the right) and nuggets (top left).

It's a fun and inexpensive gift for that special chocoholic in your life!

Wonderland Gift

Here is a gift that I sent to my friend Julie in Colorado! HI JULIE! lol

I used one of our My Creations cubes (Z1152 $4.95). I cut the top off and then decorated it using our Wonderland paper! I put some scrunchy paper in it, with a bag full of color

coordinating candy! It was fun to decorate! And hopefully fun to get!

When you are looking to give gifts, remember to give homemade gifts! They are the best!

Merry Christmas!

Here is my Christmas card to all of you in cyberland!

I wish you all a VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS and a Happy New Year!

Make Your Own Christmas Tags!

Need some quick tags...here is a great idea for making your own tags using our Cricut Cartridge.

I did make my tags this year...I know I am crazy...but it was a couple weeks ago when life wasn't so crazy! LOL I matched my tags to the wrapping paper! I found this GREAT wrapping paper and knew I could create matching tags.

I simple loaded up the Cricut, selected my image and set "auto fill" and it cut a whole page! Then I assembled them when I was on hold, or on a call...whenever I could multi task! It worked great. Then I stamped To/From with our white pigment ink and I will write the names using our white marker. Very fun!

Rock the Block

I posted the video in my last blog post...here are my Rock the Block pictures. They are very fun to play with.

On my blocks I put a picture on all 6 sides. Now, I like how it turned out, but to do it all over again, I think I will just put pictures on 2 sides of the blocks. If you set it up at an angle, you are good, but if you lay them down like on a table, then you see the sides of the blocks and the other pictures. So, I will only put pictures on 2 sides next time.

These blocks will be in our New Spring Summer catalog (coming February 1st...YIPPEE) for $14.95...but if you get this special you can get the blocks, tray AND the E size stamp set for just $15 with a $25 purchase.

So remember to add this to your next order!!!

MIA!

I am so sorry that I have been Missing in Action lately. So much to do, so little time! I know you all know what I mean! But I THINK I am done Christmas shopping, wrapping and all gifts are mailed that need to be mailed! WHEW! Now it is time to post to my blog!

I wanted to tell you about our Rock the Block special! Watch this cool video that CTMH made for us. It is so cool.

Here's what you get...simple purchase $25 in products from now until the end of January and get the blocks with tray ($14.95 value) and an E size stamp set ($29.95) for just $15! This is an amazing deal!

December/January Close to my Heart Special

Our Rock the Block special starts December 19th - January 31. It is so cool. Here is what you get. You get an E size stamp set ($29.95 value) and our My Creations Collage Cubes (blocks) that contain 9 blocks and tray. As you can see in the picture above you can cut your picture and add the embellishments on all 4 sides! Want to see what I did with mine? You will have to wait just a bit longer. I am still working on mine! LOL

So you ask, how do you get it? It's easy. Simply place an order of just $25 or more from our current catalog (Autumn/Winter 2011) and get both the stamp set and block with tray for just $15! WHAT A DEAL. They tell us the blocks are a sneak peak at our Spring/Summer 2012 catalog (can't wait to see that catalog!). So if you fall in love with these blocks, you will be able to purchase even more starting in February! But don't delay! You will want to get this set now. I don't think you will be able to get this stamp set in the new catalog. It is a set only available for this special.

So get your order put together, either call me with it or email me and I will get this order for you starting December 19th!

6 Scrapbook Pages Done in 2 Hours!

Are you ready to get scrapbooking again?

I have a workshop planned using our Roxy kit. Here are the 6 pages YES SIX pages you will be making. You do not need to be involved in my current groups to attend this workshop!

This workshop will be Wednesday, December 28th at 7:00 - 9:00.

You have several options for this workshop. You can get the big kit with stamps, workshop guide, paper, black hemp, extra cardstock and our Bling assortment for $38.09 .

The second option is the paper pack, black hemp, bling assortment & extra cardstock $24.71, or

the last option is just the paper pack and extra

cardstock for $16.39. All amounts are including shipping and tax.

If you would like to attend this workshop, please RSVP to me by December 19th! I need to get supplies here in time. So don't delay!

Add Some Glitz to Your Layout

Here is a layout that I re-created based on one our corporate office did. It is using our Believe paper pack and our Flurries Dimensional Elements. They are chipboard snowflakes that I put some of our Stardust Glitter Glitz Gel on. I just LOVE how it makes those snowflakes glitter.

I also used our Snow Flurries stamp set (page 74 of the current catalog) to make it look like the cold wind blowing over the paper. I just stamped it in our white pigment ink, put some clear embossing powder over it and then heat set it. I also edged the paper with the white stamp pad to give it a little extra snow. I really am hoping that is the ONLY snow we get this year.

Now I have a little snow storm going on in my pages. LOL I hope to not be able to put pictures on this page for a while! LOL Maybe I better look in last years pictures and add them to this layout.

December Stamp of the Month

It's time for my December stamp of the month samples. Here are a few cards, a box and a layout that I created using Mad About You.

I feel this set was designed to use for Valentines Day cards. And I did make one card, but I wanted to show different uses for these stamps...so I created a box you can put goodies in that says, "you're sweet" and a card that says, "mad about you". These can be used for every day. The box is a pillow box I created using our Cricut Cartridge. YEA! It's so fun!

Then I made this cute baby layout using paper from our Wonderland kit. When I saw this paper, not only did I see winter, but I also saw baby! So I took our December Mad About You stamp set and created this layout.

How appropriate is "Over the moon in love with you" for pictures of your new baby! Then I used our newsprint rub ons for "welcome little one". I have to tell you I really really love these rub ons! Every time I put them away, I find myself pulling them back out! LOL I think I will just leave them out! The heart is from the stamp of the month and then the giraffe is from our Zoology stamp set. It also has a lion, elephant and a cute little hippo in it. It is on page 30 of our Autumn/Winter 2011 catalog. And, it's only $9.95. This is a must for all those pictures of your "little ones". Not to mention for a trip to the zoo!

Remember, the December stamp of the month is ONLY available in the month of December. You can either purchase it for $17.95 or order $50 in products and get it for just $5.

December Group Pages

If you are in my December Groups, here are the pages you will be making.

If you are NOT in my groups...come join us as a guest! I still have room in a few of my groups...check out my "upcoming events" tab here on my blog for the dates in December....then call or email me to reserve your space. I do have limited space, so call or email soon!

These layouts I am using our Believe workshop kit. The directions to make this layout are in the kit along with the stamps, accessories and a full color guide. If you don't live in the Omaha area, and would like to make these layouts...you can order this workshop kit (or any of our workshop kits) for just $29.95. These kits are only available until February 2012, so make sure you get them soon.

The second layout is from our Magic How to Book. The layout is called Levitate.

If you want to get a head start on your Christmas layouts (or get some past pictures on layouts) just email or call me to be a guest at one of my groups OR order your kit today!

Customize your Pattern Paper

Ever wish you had just the right pattern paper in just the right color? Well you can! Just use STAMPS!

These cards here are using our Two Step Background stamps. They are in our Spring/Summer catalog on page 92. I also used our Remarkable Wreath stamp set on page 88 of our current catalog.

I just took one of the background stamps and stamped it, then took the other stamp that is the second stamp and got a coordinating color and stamped it over the first one. Very cool, very easy and now you can have whatever color cards you want! The colors combinations are endless! If you have this stamp set...get it out and start creating!

Scrapbooking in Pink!

FINALLY I get to scrapbook in PINK! lol

Last year I was on the Close to my Heart Advisory Board and we had a meeting in Park City Utah. They spoiled us, worked us hard and even bought us PRESENTS! One of the gifts we got was matching PINK pj's! Here we are posing of the camera in our jammies! I just got around to scrapbooking these pictures and found that I had some extra pieces of our Sophia kit. So I took some scraps from Sophia and off I went. USING WHAT I HAD! YIPPEE! I love it when I can consume it and not collect it. Paper does get dated, so you want to use it up. And, I don't want to have to find more storage for all these extra paper kits I have...so I USE IT UP!

The other layout is of the matching shirts CTMH gave us. I LOVE this color. And that photographer followed us everywhere! LOL We did get some cool pictures from him. This layout I used our Typeset kit (again using leftovers). I stamped a flourish in desert sand on it too.

I really like how you can take a kit and make something totally different with it then what you think. This kit has large alphabets and letters on 2 of the sheets, but I used the other side and this is the outcome.

So remember, get out those 1/2 finished kits and FINISH THEM! You don't want to add on to your house because you have too much paper!! lol

Snowman Candy Bar Holder

Need a cute quick idea that holds CHOCOLATE? Here it is. This cute snowman candy bar holder. It holds a Hershey's chocolate bar.

Here's how to make it. Take a piece of white cardstock cut at 5 1/2 x 6.

On the 5 1/2 side, score it at 1 1/4", 1 1/2", 3 3/4", 4". I used our All Decked Out stamp set (page 75 of our current catalog). This stamp set has 29 pieces of the snowman in it. I stamped the white cardstock with the snowman pieces. Adhere the bottom and back, crimp the bottom and you are ready to dress your snowman.

The scarf is just coordinated ribbon but the hat...it's a baby sock! YES! A baby sock.

What I did was cut the toe part off (just a little bit so you don't lose the length) then I cut little slices and tied it in the middle so it looks like a hat. The elastic for the top of the sock becomes that bottom of the hat. Too cute huh!

Then I put my candy bar in it and ready to give to a favorite friend! Make some for your chocolate loving friends!

Personalize it!

Have you ever looked for the perfect paper to scrapbook your memories? Here's a way to personalize your pages. On these Cranberry & Black pages, I wanted to make some Nebraska Football pages. Nebraska football is VERY popular here. So I took a set of football stamps and stamped white cardstock. But I also wanted to make it even more personal but adding the word "Nebraska". Did you know Close to my Heart makes personalized stamps? They do! So I had one made that said "Nebraska". How cool is that! I just stamped "Nebraska" just above the Football stamp and now it says, Nebraska Football. You can do it with whatever you have.

Do you have volleyball stamps? Baseball stamps? Hockey? Etc. Then get a personalized stamp that says your team name, or the school your child goes to. How about getting one with your child's name on it! The possibilities are endless!

This other page I made one with a local schools name on it and stamped white cardstock with baseballs all over it. Very fun and NOT very expensive at all! Personalized stamps start at just $5.95.

You can even personalize cards too! Just get the stamp you want and then start personalizing your own stationary or some for your friend.

Some other ideas for personalized stamps... "from the desk of..., from the library of, Merry Christmas from ____. The possibilities are endless.

Have fun with it!

November Monthly Group Layouts

If you are in one of my monthly groups, these are the pages we will be making this month. We are using our Dreamin kit which is perfect for those fall and Thanksgiving pages.

I just love fall, the colors are so beautiful and the weather is great.

That fall crisp air, perfect for sitting out by the fire pit making Smores. I think I am going to take some pictures of that for these layouts!

If you are NOT in my groups, you are welcome to either come check it out and make these pages or you can also join a group where you make 4 pages each month and you will get free stuff for being the host of one. It's so fun. If you would like more information or would like to come to one of the groups, please email or call me and I will find a group for you!

November Stamp of the Month

It's time for the new stamp of the month and here it is. It's called Cherish the Day. I wasn't sure I was going to like this one very much, but once I started to use it, I LOVE IT! They are rectangle stamps one for each month. Then we have all the numbers too. So you stamp the rectangle with the month on it, then stamp the date in the circle area. I like to stamp the date in a different color so it really stands out.

If you look at my Santa card, you will see an arrow. I cut that arrow using...yes, you guessed it...our CTMH Cricut Cartridge!! And also the tags too! Can you see that I am using the Cricut Cartridge A LOT! lol And as a little sneak peak, the top left card is also using the December stamp of the month! Too cool!

Here is my favorite. The layout I made using our Thanksgiving stamp set. This is not what I set out to make, but I really love how it turned out. I also cut some leaves and branches with the cartridge. If you look at the close up picture of the pilgrims...on the branch there...I even cut the branch of that leafy branch using the cartridge! Dang...that cartridge has EVERYTHING on it! lol But a little warning...the branch is VERY delicate...so pull it off your mat carefully. I ruined 2

before I got all that I needed.

The other cool thing

about this stamp set is

you can use your CTMH Cricut Cartridge to cut a "ticket" shape that fits these shapes. I didn't use it in these samples, but the stamps are marked and tells you how big to cut it if you choose to use it.

I hope you enjoyed my creations using the November stamp of the month...and remember, you can only get this stamp set in the month of November. They are either $17.95 or $5 with a $50 purchase!

November Special

November is just around the corner and we have a special for November ONLY! It's this cute stamp set! When you purchase $25 in stamps in the month of November, you can get this D size stamp set ($17.95 value) for just $5!

There are 2 bonuses with this in addition to getting a $17.95 stamp set for just $5! For every $25 you purchase in stamps you can get one for just $5. So if you have friends that stamp...this would be a GREAT Christmas gift! And you will only pay $5! What a DEAL! The stamp set contains the tree you see on the card, an ornament, star and stocking (you can see those in front of the card) it also has the words "Tis the Season to Sparkle, Merry Christmas and Holiday Wishes".

Here is the second bonus...these stamps have compatible Cricut Art Philosophy Cartridge shapes! So if you have the CTMH Cartridge you are set! You can get this stamp set and cut the images out using your Cricut cartridge. Then mass stamp! Are you thinking Christmas cards??? LOL Making Christmas cards this way will be a FAST!

If you don't have our Cricut Art Philosophy Cartridge...then you better put it on your Christmas list and have Santa give me a call! I will be happy to order it, wrap it and deliver it! All "Santa" has to do is pay me! I make it easy for your Santa to get you what you REALLY want for Christmas!

Halloween Ideas

I had this cute little cat in my box of Halloween decorations. He is made out of wood and is very cute, but I decided he needed a banner! LOL So I took my dimensional elements banner (these are the small ones that come on one sheet see page 130 of the catalog) and as a bonus, if you have our Cricut cartridge, you got them with it! So pull them out! Then you cut your patterned paper using your Cricut cartridge (or you can hand cut them if you don't have the cartridge yet) and decorate with ribbons, stamps etc.

I stamped the bat on the first E and I put a stamped spider with a licorice opaque for his behind. Then put him on the K. The letters I used are from the Dimensional Elements Monograms. (also on page 130 of the catalog)

I love to add my personal touch to things I already have.

It's Pumpkin Carving Time!

It's time for another photo op at the Froemming's!

Saturday we decided to carve pumpkins. Who said it was only for little ones!

So Cody & Brooke came over for dinner and we brought out the pumpkins. I wanted to do an initial pumpkin...so that is what I worked on, Stacey made an owl pumpkin because for some reason I am crazy about owls right now. Cody made the scary face one and he had a little pumpkin stuck in his mouth! That was very funny, but the picture didn't come out as good. And Brooke made the skeleton one. Hers was the most detailed and time consuming. I really liked them all, but I think hers was my favorite!

Now I need to get these developed and on layouts!! This is a fun time of year where you can get some fun pictures! So take some time to get those great pictures and then make sure you TAKE the time to preserve them! I do have a crop coming up, so get those picture taken, developed and scraped! Watch for these pictures on layouts coming soon!

Fall Banner

I am so in love with our banners! Here is another one I made using our Dreamin kit. I stamp lifted it from someone...but I can't find who, but I was so in love with it, I had to make one of my own.

I used our Cricut Cartridge to cut the banner shapes, the flowers, leaves and then added Dreamin stickease, Harvest Charms, dimensional elements letters and buttons. Can you see why I am using our Cricut Cartridge so much! There is just so much to do with it!

So now is your turn. Get some of our My Creations banners and start creating! They are so much fun to make!

Scallop Card Treat Bag

I am going crazy creating these cute little treat bags! They were inspired by a fellow CTMH consultant, Pam O'Connor...and I ran with her idea! They are so much fun!

They are made with our 6 x 6 Kraft Die-Cut cards (Z1474 10 for $6.95...see page 123 of our catalog). YES I turned our cards into a treat bag and with minimal supplies...this is what I came up with.

First you take the card and open it up. It has that cute little scallop edge on it already! HANDY! So you open the card, but keep the scallop part folded over facing down on your Cricut mat. Oh, did I tell you, you get the oval by cutting it with your Cricut Art Philosophy Cartridge! YOU DO! So put the card down on your mat with the scallop fold on your left. Then set your size to 2 1/2". Now you will need to move your blade to the following position. Left/Right 1 3/4" and the In/Out to 0 11/16. This is where you manually move the blade...watch your screen for the left/right and in/out position...it will come up as you move the blade. I used the Oval 3 on page 42 of the Cartridge book. Cut. Then take it off the mat and score 1 inch on both sides of the score line to have the bag stand up. Then just decorate with your favorite stamps and paper and tada!

I was having so much fun, I had to create on for Halloween, Christmas and Winter! HOW FUN ARE THESE! You simply add a baggie filled with your favorite treat and give to a special friend, teacher, coworker etc. So order your Kraft cards and get started making these great treat bags soon! You just never know when you will need some!

Southern Caribbean Cruise!

How would you like to earn a free cruise to the Southern Caribbean?

When I go to work I earn a cruise for 2 FREE! Does your job offer that?

Each year my husband and I are very blessed to go on vacation compliments of Close to my Heart! And you can too! Sign up to be a CTMH consultant and you can earn a trip for 2 to the Southern Caribbean.

Not only do you get the cruise for 2, but Close to my Heart showers us with gifts each day on the ship! It is sooo amazing! I have been blessed to go on cruises to Alaska, Hawaii, Mediterranean, Mexican Riviera, Western Caribbean, Eastern Caribbean and we even went on a land trip to New Zealand! All compliments of Close to my Heart. Boy I love my job!!!! These are places I might have never experience if it wasn't for Close to my Heart.

If you would like to work towards earning a free cruise for you...this is the month to do it! Here's why...

1) The contest just started, you will have ample time to earn one too!

2) Our busy season just started (great for increased sales which translates into CRUISE POINTS!)

3) Our new Autumn/Winter Idea Book & Catalog just came out

4) New commission structure that means we are making MORE MONEY AND earning free products! YIPPEE!

5) Here's a GREAT part! Sign up in October for just $99 and get one of our "add on kits" (normally $40 for $80+ in product) for FREE!

6) As a gift from me, when you reach your Straight to the Top goals, I will give you a CTMH shoulder tote FREE AND Close to my Heart will give you $100 in free products! Not to mention the commission you will make!

So what are you waiting for! ACT NOW! Go to my website to get signed up! Or call or email me with any questions you might have! I will be happy to talk to you about how CTMH can work for you!

Cricut Art Philosophy Cartridge

Have you seen it? Have you heard all the Cricuts chirping about Close to my Heart's NEW CRICUT ART PHILOSOPHY CARTRIDGE?

It's here and it's AWESOME!

Our cartridge has 700 images from boxes, bags, tags, cards, envelopes, alphabet, flowers and much much more! We also have coordinating stamp sets to add to the beauty of the image!

In addition to our cartridge you get 3 stamp sets ($53.85 value) and 3 of our dimensional elements chipboard shapes (9" x 12" valued at $14.85). Both these stamps and dimensional elements coordinate with our Cricut Cartridge. You get all this for just $99! WOW! This is an amazing deal!

AND, our Founder and CEO Jeanette Lynton is posting a new Cricut art project on her blog every day this month! So, stop by her blog jeanettelynton.com every day in October to see something new!

Then give me a call and get your Art Philosophy Cartridge today! You will be so glad you did...I am! Much to my surprise, I use mine EVERY SINGLE DAY! So join me, and get your cartridge today!

iSad

It's a sad day in the world today. Especially if you have ever owned an Apple product. Steve Jobs changed the way we live.

Even though I have never met this man, he has changed the way I live and work. My life is more productive and easier because of his innovations.

Take time today to not only appreciate what this man has done for the world, but I encourage you to hug your loved ones!

Steve Jobs 1955 - 2011

iSad!

Halloween Group Layouts

It's time for Halloween! And my October groups will be making these 4 pages this month. We are using our Mischief kit. I really like this kit. I guess I am in the mood for fall!

Each year we sit on our driveway on Halloween and hand out treats by our fire pit. We usually need that to keep us warm. We also have a little buffet and some wine to help with keeping us warm. Some of our neighbors even join us. It is fun to sit by the fire and hand out treats to all those trick or treaters.

I also took the last two pages and make them exactly the same except for putting our Mischief rub ons with a fall theme. That is for those of you who don't do Halloween. This just shows you how versatile our kits are.

If you would like to make these and are not in my group, you are welcome to come. Just give me a call or email.