Free Cricut Bundle or $100 in Free Products!

How would you like to get over $400 in Close To My Heart products, including the Art Philosophy Cricut Collection, for only $99?  Yes, you read that right!  Close To My Heart has once again out done themselves!

Now is a great time to join Close To My Heart because when you sign up as a new Consultant between March 1st - 31st, you will receive a FREE Cricut Art Philosophy Cricut Bundle*.  This collection's retail price of $99 adds incredible value to your New Consultant Kit and will give you hours of creative fun with the included exclusive Cricut cartridge, three coordinating D-Size stamp sets, and three full sheets of matching Dimensional Elements shapes.  And although this collection retails for $99, it is valued at $124 - so FREE is an awesome deal!

Already own the Cricut bundle?  You can always give your free one as a gift or choose to receive $100 in Select Product Credit** instead.  Now is the time to embrace the philosophy of fun - Consultant and Cricut fun!


Don't want to be a Close To My Heart Consultant?  You do not have to sell CTMH products to take advantage of this great deal.  There are many "hobbyists" in the Close To My Heart family and you will fit right in.  Just getting $400 in products for only $99 is reason enough.  Even if you never sold another thing, this is a sweet deal!  And if you just purchase items for yourself, you get the Consultant discount! Also, you are considered a "Consultant" if you have only $300 in sales per quarter so if you're like me, you can do that on your own!  And remember that Consultant discount.  Close To My Heart has a very generous discount for it's consultants.

New Consultant Kit

Add on #1 is just an additionl $40 and has a value of over $95

Add on #2 is just an additional $40 and has a value of over $94

Add on #3 is just an additional $40 and has a value of approximately $63

For more information, contact me here.  Or, if you are ready to join, just click here for an online enrollment form.

*Offer available March 1 - 31, 2012.  No additional tax is charged on the Cricut Collection when ordered during enrollment.  Cricut is a registered trademark of Provo Craft & Novelty, Inc. and all rights are reserved.
** Additional requirments and limitations regarding the redemption and shipping of Select product Credit apply.  Select Product Credit is added to new Consultant account following enrollment.

Exploding Box

I was surfing around the Internet and came across something called an "Exploding Box".  I had heard of it before but never looked into it.  Well, I figured that since I've been on a roll with paper crafts rather than cards and layouts, I would give it a whirl. I think it came out pretty good.  

I made the box and cover with just 4 pieces of 12x12 cardstock plus some paperscraps for embellishing.

  

Here's what you need to make one for yourself:

Materials needed:

The box is made from only 4 pieces of 12x12 cardstock.  The embellishing is paperscraps I had from other projects.

The Box itself:

Take 3 sheets of cardstock colors of your choice for the box and trim them as follows:

Piece #1 - Leave this piece 12" x12".  This will be the outside of your box.

Piece #2 - Take the next piece of cardstock and cut it to 11"x11".  This will be your middle layer.

Piece #3 - Take the last piece of cardstock and cut it to 10"x10".  This will be your inside layer.

Lid of Box - All instructions say to cut this piece 8"x8" but I cut mine a little smaller, 7.5" x 7.5" so that more of the sides of the box can show.

You will score 4 sides of each piece.  The measurements are as follows:

• Outside layer (12x12), score 4" in on each side.  You will have 9 squares measuring 4" each.
• Middle layer (11x11), score 3.75" in on each side.  You will have 9 squares measuring 3.75" each.
• Inside layer (10x10), score 3.5" in on each side.  You will have 9 squares measuring 3.5" each.

Example - Layer #1 (12x12) - score as shown:

** The dotted lines are scored, not cut **

Next, Cut out the corners from all 3 sheets. They should look like the diagram below when they are layered on top of each other

Now you can embellish each of the four side panels on all three sheets as you wish. I embellished both sides of each panel but you can do just the top sides if you'd like. Be creative - make mats for photos, create pockets for tags, stamp images, use ribbon, brads, sparkles, buttons, etc. Adhere the bases together when you have finished embellishing the box.

The Top:

As I mentioned, I made the last piece of cardstock for the lid to 7.5"x7.5" so that more of the box shows.  Score folds similar to the others but only 2" from each side. Do not cut the corner squares on this piece.  Score 4 more diagonal folds as shown in the diagram below.  Fold each corner up and adhere to the side to form the lid.  Embellish as desired.

**Note - I embellished the top before I folded and glued it together **

The finished Exploding Box

February Hostess Club

February's Sunday morning Hostess Club made Valentine Cup Holders.  It was a lot of fun and everyone finished their project today!  

Great job ladies!!

Event Calendar

This great Event Calendar is wonderful for kids to keep up with their chores and projects.  Each month has enough space to keep track of all they need to do for that month.

If you'd like to make this calendar for your kids or for yourself, 

check out the information below

Make this Event Calendar

Just buy the Close To My Heart Event Calendar and get a DOUBLE Stamp Set called "Pair-A-Phrase" for only $18.00!  That's a savings of $17.90!  This double stamp is in limited quantity so contact me for your set.  This Event Calendar and DOUBLE Stamp Set special is available through me while supplies last.  When you purchase this Event Calendar combo, I will give you the instructions to make this great calendar.

Contact me for yours today!

Pemberley Note Box

An idea from Lisa Stenz, a note box made with Close To My Heart's new Pemberley Paper.  6 note cards with envelopes and a matching pen.

Valentine's Day Cup Holder

Thank you to Lisa Stenz for this idea.  Although from last year, I love this idea and the end result was so cute!  If you like it, contact me for instructions!

Goodie Bag for an upcoming crop

I wanted to give my crop participants a little something to say Thank You for attending.  I made this Goody Bag with the Close To My Heart Art Philosophy Cricut cartridge, one of the new paper packs, Stella and one of the AP stamp sets, "Tags".

Kids Valentine

A cute and simple Valentine for your kids or even for your kids to make for their classmates

Happy Valentine's Day!

Just a small start to Valentine's Day - I am working on some cards today.....

New Spring/Summer Papers!!

Just when I think they can't come up with better paper packs, THEY DO!!

Florentine Paper Pack

Footloose Paper Pack

Lucy Paper Pack

Stella Paper Pack

Pemberley Paper Pack

I just love the new Pemberley paper!!  I wanted to make a few things with each paper pack but got carried away when I got into Pemberley.  It's just so beautiful!!

NEW Spring/Summer Idea Book is HERE!!

It's finally here!  It's finally time!  The new Close To My Heart Spring/Summer 2012 Idea Book goes live today!!  As a Consultant, I have been able to look through this wonderful book as well as order and play with the new items for the last month and now you can too!  You can get your own copy to read, read, and re-read! And best of all, orders can be taken as soon as TODAY!  


Every time I see a new Idea Book I think that there is no way they can top the last one.  But here it is and it is AMAZING!!  It is jam-packed full of some incredible new items. 

And as with any new Idea Book, I definitely have my favorites that I will share with you.  This book, I have so many that I don't know if I can list them all.  First, there are 8 new paper packs that will rock your world!  Whether you have girls or boys, there is something for everyone!  There are also tons of new stamp sets (many that coordinate with the Cricut Art Philosophy  Cartridge), so many new and incredible embellishments, and of course, more inspiring artwork than you can imagine.


So now that I've gotten your attention, how would you like to have your own copy of the 2012 Spring/Summer Idea Book?  There are 3 ways you can get one:

1. You can view it online here
2. Order  your own from me and pay only the $5  shipping charge
3. Receive a copy (no shipping cost to you) if you place a $25 minimum order here

So here is a sneak peak as some of my favorite new paper packs.  

Beautiful colors using cocoa, olive, lagoon, and sunet.  I just love the designs of these patterned papers!  Check it out up close by clicking on the photo below:

Stella

Or another of my favorite new paper packs.  This paper pack has gorgeous hues of blues.  I am in the process of making a few cards and items and will post them here tomorrow.  


To check it out all the new papers, just click on all the photos below for a more up close look:


Pemberley

Lucy

Florentine

Victory

Footloose

Superhero

Cruisin'