Monogram It!

If you have not seen them yet, we have these AMAZING monogram stamps!  I LOVE them!  And here's the best part...they are sold individually and are only $2.95 each!  So you can get the ones you want and not have to have all of them!  BUT, as you will see in this video...there are so many things you can do with these that you might just HAVE to have all of them!



These make GREAT gifts too!

If you are interested in purchasing these monograms, you can go to my website or call/email me and I will be happy to get them for you!

Merry Christmas!

I pray that you have a VERY Merry CHRISTMAS!  Enjoy your time with your family...and remember to not only TAKE pictures, get YOURSELF IN the pictures!  LOL

Love the Santa Mustache?  lol

And if you know me...you know I go to "work" in my slippers and what would Christmas be without Rudolph slippers!  

MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR!

2013 HERE WE COME!

Let's get ready for 2013 by getting our scrapbooks ready!  I have gotten my 2013 album ready for all those pages I will be making!!  And I am here to help you get ready too!

I know I know, you may be saying...but I have so many YEARS to do before I even THINK about 2013...BUT, I am here to tell you...you need to STAY caught up to GET caught up!

Current events are always the easiest to remember, so why not get your CURRENT photos PRINTED...YES I SAID PRINTED!  You MUST print them in order to scrapbook them.  They do you no good to just keep them on your computer or memory stick!  So let's get PRINTING!  lol  Then you can get the scrapbooked!

I thought I would show you how to load our albums.  They are post bound, so you do NOT need to scrapbook in order!!  YIPPEE!  I am a "mood" scrapbooker.  I scrapbook what I am in the MOOD to scrapbook and that doesn't mean IN ORDER!

 So first you unscrew the screws and I recommend adding our 1" extender posts.  This will give you LOTS of room for all those pages. 

You take these cardboard pieces out.  They are just there for shipping.  So take them out and recycle them!

 Now I put page protectors in it ALONG with our photo storage pages.  This way once you have printed the pictures you can slide them in our photo storage pages (1 page holds 12 photos) and they will keep your photos in order and free from bends and mishandling!  They come both vertical & horizontal.  I normally use horizontal.  BUT, you can also use these to permanently store your photos in here too.  Instead of putting a photo in one, add cardstock and journal about your photos!  DONE!

Then once you are ready to scrapbook them, you simply go to the pages in the album, pull them out and put them on your finished page!

 The picture above is the album before I put the binder on (binder on the right)

 Above is the binder tucked in the bottom.  You tuck it in the bottom, then roll it to fit in the top part.  Very easy!

 Above is the album with the binding in.

 Here are your page protectors just WAITING for those precious scrapbook pages!

 And here are the photo storage pages...I put them AFTER the page protectors.  Not the best picture of it, but you get the idea.

 Then the last thing to add to your album is our label holders.  These are so great.  They just clip on the top of the binding and you can customize them however you want.  Here I took the November 2012 stamp of the month (no longer available) to stamp the year.

Here is a close up view of the label holders.  Anyone that purchases label holders from me will get a FREE label to slide right in!  

So let's get organized and READY to go for 2013 pictures!  You will be so excited and AMAZED how good it feels to get your album ready.  I always feel "caught up" on scrapbooking when I do this!  

Then, once you create your 2013 album, work backwards and create 2012, then 2011...you get the idea.  Next thing you know...you WILL be caught up!

AND, now you can make your first page for your scrapbook!  OR, come to my open house Sunday, January 27th from 1:00 - 5:00 to make your FREE first page using Close to my Heart products!  

Each year my husband & I go out on January 1st and get our picture taken and that is the picture we use for our first page of our 2013.  It is a fun little tradition that we do AND, it starts the year off right!  

So make sure you get out there and get your picture taken for your 2013 cover page!  

Close to my Heart SPECIAL

Do you LOVE a GREAT special?  Well Close to my Heart has a GREAT one for you!  Starting RIGHT NOW, through January 31, 2013 when you spend $35 you get our Whooo's Your Valentine special for just $10!  You will get 12 of our NEW treat tubes (new product coming out in our Spring/Summer 2013 catalog (get your new catalog at my open house on Sunday January 27th from 1:00 - 5:00) along with a special stamp set..YEA!  It has 2 cute owls in it!!  LOL  12 precut AND scored boxes to fit the treat tubes, and 3 sheets of cardstock along with 1 sheet of our new glitter paper (another new sneak peek into our Spring/Summer catalog).  You get ALL THIS...a $40 value for just $10 when you spend $35.

This is not only a GREAT stamp set for Valentines, but I have also used it for NON Valentines items!  Watch for upcoming blog posts!

So check out this video and get yours soon!  Do it before January 31st...because once February starts, this special is gone.

You can order from my website or by calling or email me!

Get Ready for Valentines Day!

YES!  You read that right.  It's time to start thinking and creating for Valentines Day.  Ok...maybe not creating yet, but at least you can get your supplies ready!  And Close to my Heart has just the thing!

It's our Whooo's Your Valentines Kit.  And they spilled the beans and they are showing us some new products from our Spring/Summer Catalog!  Here's what you get starting today and running through January 31, 2013...
12 Die-Cut Boxes (3 each of 4 colors...blush, hollyhock, ruby & white)
3 - 12 x 12 cardstock sheets (blush, hollyhock, white)
1 sheet silver glitter paper **new spring summer product
12 treat tubes with lids **new spring summer product
1 Whooo's Your Valentine Stamp Set (D size)

This is a $40 value, but you can get it all for just $10 with a purchase of $35 from our Autumn/Winter catalog.
Check out my website to see the ADORABLE stamp set.  I just LOVE this set!
You can make these for your kids, coworkers or someone special.  Don't wait...get it now and when the holidays are over you will be ready to start your Valentines!

Contact me to order yours!  Watch the upcoming posts for things I have created with this stamp set!

Quilling Tool, Rub on Tool & Chalkboard marker & paper

Close to my Heart has so many cool tools and this video is perfect for what I have been using and teaching this last month.  Check out this video!  It shows you how to use our quilling tool to make flowers, our rub on tool to use with rub ons and our chalkboard maker, chalkboard shapes & chalkboard paper.




It is so easy to paper craft when you use the correct tools and more importantly...how to use those tools!

December Stamp of the Month

I just LOVE our December stamp of the month!  Look to the left to see a picture of the stamp set and to get an ever better view, check out the stamp of the month tab.  But here are some samples of it in use.

 This is a gift card holder.  The above picture is it closed, and below is it open.  This is cut out with our Artiste Cricut Cartridge.  It cuts the shape out and even the score lines and the slot for the gift cards.  How cool is that!

 Here is a cute card...makes  me want summer again!  

 And in case you didn't have enough pie over thanksgiving...you can create your own pie with no calories!  LOL  The "topping" on the pie is liquid appliqué (Z308 $3.95).  You put it on, wait for it to dry and then heat it up and it puffs up.  That is also great for Santa's beard, marshmallows and even snow.  Very fun!

 Then here is a layout I made.  It turned out VERY CUTE!  Here is what I love about this layout.  I pulled my Medium Organizer box (Z4139 $16.95) out.  I have all my supplies organized in it by color and I went into the white & silver area...and took out those colors.  I am now using soooo many of my supplies just by having them organized in one spot!  

 Above is our Silver Shimmer Trim (Z1799 $4.95).  It is a roll of 5 yards and is self adhesive.  The best part is it is sparkly!  Then I also found some of my licorice opaques (Z1335 $2.95) they are the little blue pearls around the snowflake.  They are actually grey, but next to blue they look blue.  

 Then in the middle of the big snowflake is our Shimmer Brads (Z1349 $4.95).  I have had these forever and they were not my favorite product, but now that I know they look amazing in the middle of snowflakes...I LOVE THEM!  And I used all but 2 of them.  Using what I have...YEA!

 Here is the cutest snowman ever!  He is from the Flakey Friends stamp set (C1506 $13.95) which I think is the BEST STAMP set in the catalog!  lol  Again I used our licorice opaques for his buttons and you can see a better view of our Silver Shimmer Trim.  I also used the liquid appliqué for the snow under the snowman...and a little silver glitter glitz gel.

And then here is a little better view of the second page.  Now I just need it to snow so I can get some pictures on here!  LOL

If you would like to get this stamp set, you need to do so before the end of December.  It is $17.95 or if you order $50, it is just $5.  Don't delay!  

Best Cat Friend

Have you ever had a pet that is more then a pet.  They are like a best friend?  I had one of those.  My cat Pablo.   Well...technically he was a cat, but he thought he was a dog!  Just in a cat costume. 

This Thanksgiving weekend he got real sick and we had to put him to sleep.  It was such an unexpected and hard thing to do.  He was 15, and as sad as I am to not have him here,  I have to remember all the joy he brought me for 15 years.    

 Our cats are like kids.  They rule the house...and Stacey & I just get to make the house payment...but it is THEIR house!  lol  If there was a blanket I was making...there were on it!  Above is Pablo on a blanket I finished a couple years ago.

Here he is sleeping (kind of) on the couch in my office.  If I was home, I was easy to find...just look for Pablo.  He was just a few steps away from me.  He would wait for me in the morning when I was in the shower...sometimes I couldn't get out...he blocked the door!  LOL  And every time I passed one of them during the day, they would get petted.

Here's the chair we bought for Pablo...he LOVED to sit next to me.  And that is Corley on the other side.  They were actually brother & sister.  She got sick almost 2 years ago...so we have been missing her for a while too.

This is the lamb skin we brought back from New Zealand for them.  Corley mostly slept on it, but Pablo loved it too.

We had a heating pad in my office just next to my desk that Pablo would always lay on in the cooler months.  I miss turning my chair and seeing him there.  Since I work from home, he was like a 

co-worker.  

Then his big thing was dragging my slippers around the house.  Here he is using my tigger slippers for a pillow!  Crazy cat!

Just about every day at 10:30 & 2:30 he would come and MEOW loudly in my office.  That meant he needed a hug and some lovin.  I knew since he was getting older, that I needed to take time to cuddle with him.  So every time he came in, I stopped what I was doing and took time for him.  So glad I did this now!

This picture was taken recently...Halloween night by our fire pit.  He hated it when I was outside and he wasn't, so I brought him out to sit with me for a little bit.

This is the thing I love about scrapbooking and digital photos.  You can take a bunch and you know right away if the photo is good or not.  I am so thankful for my Pablo.  I will miss him terribly, but I know I have lots of pictures that help me remember all those memories.  

So remember, whether it is a pet, friend or family member...photos are precious!  

Pablo Froemming 5/1/97 - 11/23/12

December Group Pages

I am so excited for these December pages!  This month we are making 6 PAGES!!  Normally we make 4, but this month we are making all 6!  YIPPEE!  So if you would like to get your pages done BEFORE the holiday, you will need to contact me soon to get signed up!  

Not a member?  We have openings in our groups!  Just call me and I can let you know what groups have openings.  

Not sure if you want to join?  That is ok...you can come as a guest to my groups.  All you have to do is pay for the kit and you are on your way!

I really LOVE this kit!  I love how the pages came out and I can't wait to start taking pictures and put them on!  How great will that be to have your pages WAITING for the pictures!  Normally it is the other way around! lol

So don't delay!  Get signed up for these workshops soon!

Studio J Wednesday

Here is another Studio J how to video.  I hoped you have liked these videos.  Next week's video will show you how to start creating some layouts using Studio J.



Once you get the hang of it...it is so simple and you will be creating layouts like CRAZY!

Snowman Display Tray

It's that time of year!  When the snow falls.  We actually had a little fall earlier this week.  Good thing it didn't stay!  Whew!  lol

Today I wanted to share my display tray (Z1750 $19.95) I made the other day.  I thought it looked so good.  

This is using our Display Tray.  What I love about this is they are EASY TO MAKE!  All the openings are 3" x 4".  So it doesn't take a lot of supplies.  

I was on a mission.  I went in my stash and found LOTS of retired supplies and was determined to use them!  

The snow drift at the top was just cut by hand and then I used liquid appliqué and our silver glitter glitz gel.

Then I used a snowflake from our dimensional elements.  I also used my FAVORITE stamp set in the catalog...Flakey Friends (C1506 $13.95)  I used some Cricut shapes from our Art Philosophy Cartridge, and some of our overlays.  Those are the glossy snowflake things.  They were 4 x 6, so I just cut them in 1/2 and tada...perfect.  Now I need to add some pictures and I will be done.  

These display trays make perfect gifts AND you can use left over paper & supplies from your stash.  You still have time to get these and create them for Christmas gifts!  I actually have a few here on hand.  If you would like to create these for gifts, give me a call & I will hook you up!

BLACK FRIDAY, SATURDAY & SUNDAY SPECIAL

Black Friday Saturday AND Sunday!

Would you like free & discounted Close to my Heart scrapbooking & stamping products?  I am having a Black Friday, Saturday AND Sunday filled with deals!   Here’s how it works. 

Place an order of $25 - $50 (before shipping & tax) and get one of our NEW marker sets free ($5.95 value) of your choice (note, some colors are not yet available so this is based on availability). PLUS be entered in a drawing for a free CTMH My Legacy Album ($24.95)

If you spend $50 or more you will qualify to receive the stamp of the month for just $5.  

Place an order of $51 - $75 (before shipping & tax) and get a free paper pack ($9.95 value) from the Autumn/Winter Catalog (or any paper pack I have here at my house...this listing will be emailed to you after your order is placed) plus you also will qualify for the November stamp of the month for $5. PLUS be entered in a drawing TWICE for a free CTMH My Legacy Album ($24.95).

Place an order of $76 - $100 (before shipping & tax) and get a free paper pack AND a marker set FREE ($15.90 value) from the Autumn/Winter Catalog (or any paper pack I have here at my house...this listing will be emailed to you after your order is placed) plus you also will qualify for the November stamp of the month for $5.  PLUS be entered in a drawing THREE TIMES for a free CTMH My Legacy Album ($24.95).

Place an order of $101 - $149 (before shipping & tax) and get a free paper pack, marker set AND stamp pad FREE ($21.15) from the Autumn/Winter Catalog (or any paper pack I have here at my house...this listing will be emailed to you after your order is placed) plus you also will qualify for the November stamp of the month for $5

PLUS be entered in a drawing FOUR TIMES or a free CTMH My Legacy Album ($24.95).

Place an order of $150 (before shipping & tax) or more and get $25 in select products of your choice FREE!  Choose from stamps, stamp pads, markers, blocks, paper packs, stickease & cardstock.  If you are in this category, YOU MUST email your order to me in order to get your free products!  PLUS be entered in a drawing FIVE TIMES for a free CTMH My Legacy Album ($24.95).

You can either email me or place your order and link it to the Black Friday “Party” on my website.  When placing your order it will ask if you would like to join that party.  YOU MUST EITHER join that party OR email your order to me to qualify for this special!

Make sure to check out our While Supplies Last section of my website to see the newest items added!  There are AWESOME sales out there!  These items MUST be purchased online...so if you are interested in any of these products, you can combine them with other items for my sale and pay just ONE shipping rate as low as $4.95 and it will be delivered RIGHT to your doorstep by Fed Ex.

If you live out of town, you must order online via my Black Friday Order on my website.  This will make sure your order is delivered right to you.   Please make sure you link to that order before you check out in order to be eligible for the free bonus’.  These free items in my special will be ordered by ME, the computer doesn’t know I have a personal special.  After your order is place, I will be sending you an email on Monday requesting what you want for your free product.  So watch for that email from me.

***SPECIAL NOTE MORE DISCOUNTED PRODUCTS*** If you spend $50 (before shipping & tax) and you get the November stamp of the month for $5, you will qualify for any stamp set (in the Autumn/Winter Catalog) for  50% off!  PLUS CTMH will donate $1 to the Hurricane Sandy relief fund.  PLUS, that 1/2 price stamp set will then COUNT towards your sales of other free stuff from me!!  The fun keeps going!!  

If you have any questions or need help placing your order, PLEASE call (402-334-5615) or email me gottastamp@cox.net and I will be happy to assist you!

Cards You'll LOVE!

If you love dimensional cards then you will LOVE this video.  It shows you how to use the Close to my Heart Artiste Cricut Cartridge.  So easy.  Check it out!


If you don't have this cartridge yet, give me a call or send an email to me & I will be happy to get it for you.  Want it for Christmas?  Send me your wish list, give your significant other my name & number.  All they have to do is call me and I will order it, wrap it and deliver it!  Easy for them and GREAT for you!  WIN WIN!

Studio J Wednesday

It's time once again for another quick and easy Studio J video.



Today we are focusing on photos.  See how easy it is!

If you would like to learn more and come to my FREE Studio J workshop on Tuesday, November 20th at 7:00.  If you would like to attend please RSVP.

Christmas Ornaments

If you love giving homemade things for Christmas, then you will love this video.  It is just a little over a minute, so take some time to watch it.  It is highlighting our Dimensional Elements (chipboard) ornaments and our Ornamental Cheer stamp set.

Not only is it good for making ornaments, but you can embellish scrapbook pages, cards AND use them for gift tags!
Here are a few that I made.


So get ready for the holidays by making your ornaments NOW!

Christmas Star

I love these new My Creations Stars that we sell.  Here is one that I created (saw something similar at our convention) so I knew I needed to make my own.  These would make not only GREAT decorations for your home, but GREAT gifts!  These are only $9.95.  

Here is the thing I LOVE...you can create these USING THE PAPER YOU HAVE!!  So for $9.95 (plus tax & shipping), and the paper you have, you can have a BEAUTIFUL gift for not a lot of money!  

 When you purchase one of these stars, I will give you a FREE pattern.  This way you cut the pattern out and use it to cut your paper and you are DONE!  FAST, EASY, HOMEMADE AND USING WHAT YOU HAVE!  Now that is my kind of gift!  If you would like a star or two (or more) just give me a call and I will get them to you!

Oh and the poinsettia in the middle serves 2 purposes...first is it pretty but it also hides any of the areas where you might not have cut as straight at you would have liked!  LOL  The poinsettia is from our Cricut cartridge!  I made 2 and bent them to look more realistic.

Studio J Wednesday

It's Studio J Wednesday and today's video is about Personalizing your layouts.



Remember, if you would like to learn more about Studio J, come to my FREE Studio J class on Tuesday, November 20th at 7:00.  Please RSVP!

Turkey Day is Coming Soon!

And I am ready for it!  I created this ADORABLE turkey using our Cricut Artiste Cartridge.   I wish I could take credit for this idea, but I can't.  One of my downlines Anne Case created this.  Then I created my own.

How cute is he!

 So here is how to make this.  Page 50 of the Artiste cartridge are the medallions that I used to make the "back end".  I cut those at 2 1/2", 2 1/4", 2", 1 3/4".  Remember you will need to make 2 of each of these to create the medallions.

I cut the turkey body on page 78 at 5".  Then for the other part of his body, I cut 10 circles at 1 1/2".  Then the last thing is to cut the BIG circle he stands on.  I cut that at 6".  I used liquid glass to adhere it all.  You can customize this to whatever colors you like.  But you better hurry...if you want to create this for your thanksgiving table...time is ticking!  LOL

November Group Layouts

This month we are using our Clementine paper pack for our layouts.  I have to say I JUST LOVE how Close to my Heart makes their paper packs to go with EVERYTHING!  This could be used for fall, desert, outdoor...but I used it for my son's proposal pictures!! 

I know you are NOT going to believe it, but the colors were NOT planned!!  (which is so unlike me not to color coordinate it...but I didn't!)  lol  But look how PERFECT these pictures go with this paper pack!  Cody proposed at Red Rocks in Colorado and the rock soil, mountains and even their clothes work PERFECTLY!  I swear this wasn't planned!  LOL  

                                     
                                         You can click on each of these pictures to enlarge it.

Here is the picture of Brooke being SHOCKED when Cody proposed.  I asked her what she said and it was, "WHAT ARE YOU DOING?"  LOL

Oh, this is why I love scrapbooking!  If it wasn't for my son's (get's it from his mom) love of pictures, Brooke (and the rest of us) would not have seen these very memorable moments!  I am so glad he likes to have pictures taken!  And I am sure Brooke is too now!  Just to relive this moment over and over is priceless!

I love this layout...notice the pictures on the bottom right...those 4 pictures are actually wallet size.  They worked PERFECT here.  Remember to get those every once in a while.

Here is a zoom on the flowers in the upper right hand corner and below is an enlargement of the heart. What I REALLY love about this layout is the heart featured here and the heart border on this layout...are OLD products that I pulled out and USED!!  I always get excited when I use what I have!  YIPPEE!  And it worked perfect with this layout.

Would you like to make these layouts?  I would love to have you come and join us!  Check out my Upcoming Events tabs to see when I have groups that are meeting in November!  Please call or email to reserve your space (space is limited and I want to make sure I have a paper pack for you)

Remember, if it isn't scrapbooked..it didn't happen!

Introducing Studio J Videos

I want to add a some Studio J education to my blog, so each Wednesday I will be putting a Studio J video on my blog. These are GREAT SHORT videos that show you how fast and easy it is to use out online scrapbooking. AND the best thing is you don't have to purchase any software and it free to try!  

Simply to go my website and click the Studio J tab at the top.  Set up an account (it's free and we don't do anything with it) or if you already have an account simply sign in and start creating.  But you might want to watch this video first to get familiar with how it works.   

It's so easy and you will have all your scrapbooking done before you know it!  I am hosting a FREE Studio J class on Tuesday, November 20th at 7:00.  If you would like to attend, please RSVP to me!  You can bring your laptop and I will even help you get started!
AND, there is no cost unless you decide to purchase your layouts!
SO check out this video and then stop by next Wednesday for another step by step Studio J video!

Masking

Have you ever wondered how to get just a portion of your stamp on a card or layout?  Here is a video that shows you how to mask!  It is a GREAT technique that gives you even more ideas to use your stamp sets you already own!

Attention Card Makers!

If you are a card maker...or want to be...here is a GREAT video that tells you about our new card making kits!  With each of these kits you get 3 different designs and enough products to make 5 of each card!

If you are interested in the Christmas Card kit (Pear & Partridge) I am hosting a workshop for this on pack.  I am having it on Monday December 5th or December 19th at 7:00.  Space is limited so if you would like to come to one of them please call or email me soon!  More information on the "upcoming tab" just above here on my blog.



If you would like to purchase either of these kits, I will be happy to get them ordered for you!

Cricut Candy Flowers

I posted one of these flowers a while ago on my blog and promised I would share with you when I got them all done...so here they are!  A bouquet of candy flowers!  CUTE!  

Here is what I did...I used our Artiste Cricut Cartridge.  I used the C key on page 63.  First I cut out the Accent 2 with Goldrush cardstock at 3 1/4" and then the Shift Accent 2 with our pattern paper at 2 3/4"  It even cuts out the middle!  

Then for the leaf I used Olive cardstock and the #2 key page 32 and cut it at 2 3/4".  After I have them cut out, I use our Treat Cups (Z1778 10 for $3.95) filled with colored M & M's.  I then took some sticks and wrapped with florist tape and liquid glassed them to the flowers!  TADA!  

Done!  I think it turned out VERY CUTE!  Give it a try!

The possibilities are endless with our Cricut Cartridges! 

If you have not gotten your cartridges yet, just let me know!  I can get them ordered for you!

Christmas Card Workshop

It is that time again to start making your Christmas Cards and I can HELP!  I am having a 

Christmas Card Workshop on Monday November 5th or Monday November 19th at 7:00.  

You will make these 15 cards (3 different designs, 5 of each).  

Here is a close up of the 3 cards

The kit includes the Pear & Partridge Stamp Set, all cardstock and pattern paper, 15 Colonial White cards with envelopes, 1 pack of red glitter gems (108 pieces), spool of tan twill ribbon, and a color brochure.  I will provide step by step instructions to get them done.  If you would like to make more (on your own) I will have extra cardstock and pattern paper for you to make more!

Now is the time to get signed up for this!  Call me (402-334-5615) or email me at gottastamp@cox.net to get signed up!  You must email me by October 29th to get signed up for the November 5th workshop and by November 12th for the November 19th workshop.  I need to get the supplies ordered.  

This workshop is $34.59 (tax & shipping included)

 I love this stamp set!  I know it is going to be one of my favorites!  This kit will NOT be carried over to next year, it is only available until the end of the year...so even if you don't take this class, you still can order it, but get it before the end of the year!

So let's get your Christmas cards done soon!  You will be glad you did!