Create From The Heart

February is the month to LOVE!

2012-02-06T17:11:00.000-07:00

I am in LOVE with the new Spring / Summer Idea Book from Close to my Heart. One of my favorite new paper packs is "Lucy" because of its sweet pink flowers which are perfect for Valentine's Day, or to get us in the mood for springtime! Take a look at this fabulous artwork created by the amazing folks at CTMH:

What can you create with this amazing new paper pack?? I'd love to see what you come up with! Click here to order yours today!

Happy Scrapping!

~ Lauren

Two Promotions in January!

2012-01-01T21:30:00.000-07:00

January is a busy month at Close To My Heart -- there are two amazing promotions going on!

The first is the Rock the Block campaign, which I also wrote about previously, and which I had to write about again because it's AMAZING! When you place a minimum order of $25 from the Autumn/Winter 2011 Idea Book, you can get two valuable new products for just $15: the My Creations^® Collage Cubes (a Spring / Summer 2012 sneak-peek product!) and the exclusive My Acrylix^® Rock the Block E-size stamp set (available only during this promotion).

Here are the collage cubes:

And here is the stamp set:

And the second promotion this month: January is free layout month for Studio J^® members! For every 9 custom-printed Studio J layouts you buy, you’ll receive the 10th layout free. To receive the discount, just add 10 or more layouts to your cart. You’ll see a discount reflected in your order total. And you can totally take advantage of this promotion by ordering in multiples of 10. Buy 9, get 1 free. Buy 18, get 2 free. Buy 27, get 3 free. And so on! If you’re not a member yet, now’s a great time to join!

Let's get 2012 started on the right foot by making a resolution that you can actually KEEP for a change... to feed your creativity with these amazing products from Close To My Heart! Contact me to place your order before the end of January!

Happy New Year and Happy Scrapping!

~ Lauren

The New Idea Book is Here!!

2011-12-23T18:01:00.003-07:00

I am a happy girl... I just received Close To My Heart's new Spring / Summer 2012 Idea Book, and it is AWESOME! So many new products that I am super excited to use! Like the new wooden badge buttons, and luscious velvet rub-ons. Idea books can be previewed now, but can't be used until February 1, 2012.

With one notable exception... Close to my Heart's ROCK THE BLOCK campaign is on now! Until January 31, when you place a $25 order from the Autumn / Winter 2011 Idea Book, you can get two new products for just $15: the My Creations Collage Cubes (a Spring / Summer sneak peek product!), and the exclusive My Acrylix Rock the Block E-Size stamp set. That's a retail savings of almost $30! You're going to love the Collage Cubes and the Rock the Block stamp set, which work together for interactive, 3-D fun!

This is such an amazing deal -- I know you're going to love it! Contact me today to place your order and to get your new Spring / Summer 2012 Idea Book!

School Pages

2011-11-06T15:25:00.000-07:00

So, I know that we're a little ways past "back to school," but I am playing a bit of catch-up with my scrapbooking lately. I have created a "School Days" book for my son, which highlights each year of school with either artwork or school work or awards from the year. He is now in 8th grade, but I have yet to finish his 7th grade page... oops! :-) So I decided to work on it a bit this weekend, using one of my very favorite paper packs from Close To My Heart -- Typeset. Here is a pocket page that I did today. I like these because it makes it super easy to stick letters or other memorabilia into the pockets, and have a complete page without a lot of fuss.

The stars and the pennant were cut using my Cricut machine and the Cricut Art Philosophy cartridge from Close To My Heart. You can see the pocket I made with the White Daisy cardstock, and I kept the rest of the page's background simple, because it's going to get covered up with all the stuff that goes into the pocket anyway.

So, I have a lot of work to do still, but I think this is a pretty good start. Thanks for looking!

Happy Scrapping,

Lauren

Sympathy Card

2011-10-22T08:36:00.000-06:00

Recently, a friend of mine lost her mom, so I wanted to show her that I was sorry for her loss, and that I was thinking of her and wondering if there was anything I could do to help her during this very difficult time. I came up with this card, which I thought was nice and simple, not too flashy or fancy, but conveyed the simple message, "I'm here if you need me."

I used the Remarkable Wreaths stamp set for the front of the card. It's sitting on a cut-out from my Cricut Art Philosophy cartridge, which was edged in Chocolate ink. The ribbon is that beautiful chocolate striped grosgrain ribbon that CTMH just started selling, which I really love. The background paper is from our new Dreamin' paper pack... love those fall-ish colors. It's a little hard to see, but there are small dots of gold glitter glue on a few of the little berries in the wreath... just to give it a little bit of pop.

A little closer up:

The inside of the card is blank, except for a little stamp on the top inside flap... I found this sweet sentiment on the Gift of Love stamp set, and I thought it was lovely. The flower stamp is from the A Little Thanks stamp set, and I used markers instead of an ink pad to color the different colors right onto the stamp itself.

Thanks for allowing me to share!

~ Lauren

Fall Craftiness!

2011-10-10T17:01:00.000-06:00

I absolutely love fall... definitely my favorite time of year! Here's a very quick and easy project I put together in about 10 minutes this afternoon. What do you think?

I took an ordinary foam pumpkin, cut off the top, put some fall flowers in there, and decorated the outside with black jewels from the scrapbook store. Easy! The harvest sign in front is cute, too, but I didn't make that one. :-)

I wonder what else I can find to stick these cute little jewels onto?? The hunt begins...

What a weekend we had!

2011-10-09T17:16:00.000-06:00

Last weekend I took a bunch of crazy scrappy girls up to the mountains for a weekend-long crafty retreat! What fun we had. Here are some photos of our amazing weekend together in Estes Park:

Thanks for a fabulous weekend, ladies! I'm already looking forward to next year!!

Christmas is just around the corner!

2011-09-12T23:00:00.000-06:00

Have you started thinking about the holiday season yet? It's not too early... especially if you love to make handmade cards, gifts and decorations!

I made this paper star wreath recently, and I got the idea from the Splitcoast Stampers website... if you haven't visited them, you need to... such cute ideas! This is one I loved, and it turned out to be pretty easy.

There are so many different things you can do with this once you have the basic design down... I went a little crazy with the ribbon on top, but you could even get rid of the ribbon completely and do something else entirely! (My heart skipped a beat just now when I typed the words, "get rid of the ribbon." Perish the thought! :-) )

What Christmas goodies are you planning to make this year? Cards? Ornaments? Decorations for the house? If you want to be a creative Christmas goddess, but feel a little overwhelmed by it all, why not host a Christmas Decoration workshop for you and your friends and family! We'll make something cute, and I'll teach you a few new techniques along the way! Click here to contact me so we can schedule your workshop. The holiday season will be here before you know it!

What's Your Favorite Item in the New Fall / Winter Idea Book from Close to my Heart?

2011-09-01T21:45:00.000-06:00

Do you have a favorite? Can you pick just ONE thing?? That's more of a challenge, because there are so many amazing new products in this Idea Book!

Of course, my very favorite new product has to be the new Cricut Art Philosophy cartridge set. (DUH! I think I've mentioned in it just about every post since July!) :-) Seriously, this thing can do it all! Boxes, 3-D flowers, tags, cards, fonts, shapes, etc. If you haven't tried it yet, you really must contact me so that I can show you how this one little cartridge will transform your paper crafting experience. You won't believe what you can do. And look at everything you get with it! At just $99 for everything here, it really is a steal.

My other favorite new product this fall is the Typeset Level 2 Paper Pack and the canvas stickers that match. I absolutely love the colors, the designs, the "old school" feel of the self-adhesive Complements canvas shapes... all of it. I love ALL of it!

Cute, cute, CUTE!!

So now I want to know what YOUR favorite new product is! Leave me a note, and perhaps a picture (or a link to one) of a project that you've done using that new product! I can't wait to hear from you!

Happy Scrapping!

Look at What Else My Cricut Art Philosophy Cartridge Can Do!

2011-08-28T19:37:00.000-06:00

I wanted to share a project that I will be doing at an upcoming gathering because I thought it turned out pretty cute! This is the fry box that you can cut out using the new Art Philosophy Cricut cartridge from Close To My Heart. I used our new Dreamin' Level 2 paper, and decorated the outside with our Sparkles and a couple of flowers, also cut out using the Cricut! My hostess is planning to put goodies inside and give them as little gifts, which I thought was a fabulous idea! This little box was so quick and easy to put together... even the flowers were easy! I didn't even need a second sheet of paper to line the inside of the box, because Close To My Heart's B&T paper is double-sided!

And because the Background & Texture paper is now cardstock weight, it holds up beautifully no matter what you put inside!

Don't forget, we're coming to the end of August which means that the August campaign is almost over! If you haven't already gotten your FREE Typeset stamp set, then you're missing out! Contact me today!

Happy Scrapping!

Stamping Technique - Masking

2011-08-24T20:01:00.001-06:00

Have you checked out Jeanette Lynton's blog yet? If not, you need to. She has the most amazing ideas, tips and tricks out there to share! This time around, she is showing how to use a masking technique to bring out the most in our stamping projects. Click here and check it out!

Back to School card made by Jeanette Lynton

FOUR Stamp Sets for $5.00?!? Yes, indeed!!

2011-08-16T14:46:00.002-06:00

Don't forget... from now until the end of August, Close To My Heart is running TWO specials simultaneously:

First, when you spend $50 on any Close To My Heart products, and you purchase the "Wicked" Stamp of the Month for just $5, you will receive this adorable alphabet stamp set for FREE!

PLUS, if you spend a total of $75, you will ALSO get Close To My Heart's first ever DOUBLE stamp set for FREE!!

That's FOUR stamp sets for just $5.00!! Such an amazing deal, and only good through the end of August! Hurry and get yours while supplies last! Contact me today!!

Scrapbooking Vacation Photos

2011-08-14T18:26:00.000-06:00

I spent the majority of today scrapbooking our recent vacation photos into the first of two albums. The first album will be a traditional 12 x 12 album, with lots of room for memorabilia and photos and embellishments, and the usual scrapbook-y things. The second album, which I am actually working on first, is a Road Trip album, which focuses on our time on the road, and will highlight the little things that we did along the way that might not necessarily make it into the big album. Here's a picture of what the cover looks like:

It's a smaller album... it measures 5 1/2" x 7", and I made it extra durable by putting Mod Podge on the front and back covers. I actually took it with us on the trip, but didn't get anything in there while we were on the road, because we were too busy having a great time! So now I'm filling it after the fact with pictures and stories that will hopefully mean a lot to my family as they read through it and remember what a great time we had!

The suitcase "charm" on the binding is actually a sticker that I put onto cardstock so that it wasn't sticky on the back anymore, and then covered front and back in Liquid Glass, so that it now feels kind of rubbery and flexible, but it's not going to rip!

Maybe I started with this one because the smaller size was less intimidating that the big, blank 12 x 12 album, I don't know, but I'm having a great time finishing it! I'll try to put pictures of pages up as I get them done so you can see...

I would love to see YOUR vacation albums, or your mini-albums, or whatever you're working on currently! Feel free to send me an e-mail, or reply to this post with a link to your site so that I can get some inspiration for my own albums! :-)

Happy Scrapping!

How Creative!!

2011-08-11T15:02:00.000-06:00

Sometimes I look at artwork done by other crafters and think, "how in the world did they come up with the idea to do that?!?" Other scrapbookers always seem to be more original, more creative, more sure of what they're doing, and the artwork they produce sure seems prettier and more complex than mine does. Do you ever feel that way??

After thinking about it for a while, though, I have come to the conclusion that these crafters... these creative geniuses... may not be more creative than I am after all. They may just know better places to go to scraplift ideas!!

Now, it's very possible that all of their ideas truly come from inside their own heads. But, as I look around various bulletin boards and idea books and magazines and such, I find more often than not, "inspired by..." or "pattern borrowed from..." or "reproduced from..." etc. And that makes me feel just a little bit better about my limited creative juices sometimes!

So if you are like me, and get frustrated from time to time by "scrapper's block," do what the other creative geniuses out there do, and find an idea to steal and make your own! (Just make sure to give credit where credit is due.)

To the left of this post, and down a bit on the page perhaps, is a list of blogs and other sites that I love... take a look sometime... they all have some great project ideas that may inspire you to create something similar, or maybe even something completely different. We paper crafters are not above "scraplifting" ideas, tweaking them a little bit, and making them our own.

Of course, in my opinion, the best place to find amazing project ideas is in your own Close To My Heart Idea Book! But I might be just a little bit biased about that.

Now, go be creative. And let me know how I can help.

Happy Scrapping!

You Must See This Album!!

2011-08-08T20:12:00.001-06:00

Friends, the video that this immensely talented woman put together showcases her winning album from the recent Close To My Heart convention at Disneyland. The theme was "wishes." It is truly the most amazing album I have ever seen, and I hope it gives you as much inspiration as it gave me when I saw it. Click here to see the video: Fabulously Artsy: Make A Wish Album. Enjoy!

~ Lauren

Successful Open House!

2011-08-07T20:29:00.000-06:00

What a great open house we had yesterday! Thank you to everyone who came and played... we had so much fun! We made this cute little card during the Make & Take:

Everything on this card, including the card itself, was cut on my Cricut Expression using the exclusive Close To My Heart Art Philosophy cartridge. This cartridge is so amazing... it will cut over 700 images, including 3-D flowers, boxes, tags, shapes, fonts, cards and more! This cartridge is an absolute MUST HAVE for any Cricut enthusiast. It also comes with THREE large D-Size stamp sets, as well as three sheets of chipboard cutouts, all of which are made to coordinate perfectly with the images on the Cricut cartridge. It's an amazing package, and I can't tell you how many hours I have spent playing and creating to my heart's content. (If you want to check it out, or purchase one of your own, contact me!)

With a New Month Comes TWO New Campaigns!

2011-07-31T20:01:00.000-06:00

August is an exciting month at Close To My Heart. The long awaited 2011 Autumn/Winter Idea Book comes out, and with it come some amazing changes and additions!! I hope you're planning to come to my open house on August 6 to learn all about the fabulous new things that are happening this month!! (RSVP here!)

Another great thing about August is that there are actually TWO amazing campaigns happening this month!

First, starting August 1, when you place an order of $50 or more and purchase the August Stamp of the Month set, Wicked, for just $5, you'll get the My Acrylix^® "A Typeface" A-size set FREE (a retail value of $6.95!) for FREE!!

Second, starting on August 15, to celebrate National Stamping Month in September, we are offering our first-ever double stamp set! You can get the exclusive My Acrylix^® "Pair-a-Phrase" double stamp set FREE when you place an order of $75 from August 15 through September 30, 2011. You'll love this double set—two D-size sets in one envelope—which includes lots of clever phrases and coordinating images you'll use in your handmade cards all year long. The double set has a retail value of $35.90, which drastically increases the value of your qualifying purchase!

E-mail me today to take advantage of these great campaigns during the month of August... and I hope to see you on the 6th!!

Happy Scrapping!!

All Paper Crafters Welcome!!

2011-07-19T22:57:00.000-06:00

Come join me on Saturday, August 6 from 11:00 am - 2:00 pm at my house in Thornton for an Open House to celebrate the new Autumn / Winter Idea Book from Close To My Heart!!

This event is going to be amazing, and I really hope that you can make it! You'll get to see the all new Autumn / Winter Idea Book, and be the first to see the many changes (including new lower prices on your favorite paper and stamp sets, and the brand new exclusive CTMH Cricut Cartridge) coming this fall!

Plus we're going to have raffle drawings for fabulous prizes, a cute Make & Take project for you to do, and a hands-on demonstration of Close To My Heart's digital scrapbooking program, Studio J!

RSVP no later than August 1, and get a FREE Idea Book, plus a free raffle ticket for the prize drawing!
Bring a friend with you, and earn another raffle ticket! Two friends earns you two raffle tickets; three friends earns you three raffle tickets, and so on! The more the merrier, and the more chances to win!
Book a Home Gathering at the Open House, and earn TWO raffle tickets!
Sign up as a Consultant at the Open House, and earn FOUR raffle tickets, plus get a fabulous gift from me!

The Open House is going to be SO much fun... I really hope you can make it! It's going to be held at my house in Thornton -- if you are in the Denver metro area, please stop by! The prize drawings will be held throughout the day, so feel free to stop by anytime between 11:00 am and 2:00 pm. RSVP to me at (303) 507-7636, or e-mail me. I hope to hear from you soon!!

Summer is in full swing!

2011-07-05T09:35:00.000-06:00

Do you have big plans this summer? Going on a fabulous vacation, or perhaps staying close to home and getting lots of crafting done?? Either way, it's a great time to get your creativity flowing! At Close To My Heart, July is "Bang For Your Buck" month -- spend $50, and get a bonus item for just $1 !! How's that for value shopping?!?

It's so easy! When you spend $50, you get to choose one of these fabulous products for just $1:

5811 Creative Basics® Mistletoe (value: $8.95 US/$9.95 CAN)
X5807 Creative Basics® Animal Cookies (value: $8.95/$9.95)
X8624 My Originals® Bits & Pieces Card Kit (value: $12.95/$14.50)
X8622 My Originals® It’s Your Day Card Kit (value: $12.95/$14.50)
X8623 My Originals® Around the Holidays Card Kit (value: $14.95/$16.50)

Quantities are limited, so hurry and get in on this fantastic promotion while you can! Contact me today to place your order!

Happy Scrapping!

Summertime is a Busy Time!

2011-06-04T17:10:00.000-06:00

Things are busy as always in the craft room! This month we're focusing on the collage technique. This fun technique is awesome because there's no wrong way to do it! Plus it's all my favorite things mashed up together in one place.

You can collage anything you can think of... all you need is someplace to stick it all down to! Below are some pictures of my recent projects... I turned a plain pencil box into a collage work of art using some fabulous Tim Holtz paper and some Mod Podge. Oh, how I love the Mod Podge. If you haven't played with this stuff yet, you really need to. It will take you back to your elementary school days of cutting and pasting and creating with wild abandon... so much fun.

The second picture is of a handmade book that I made out of plain old chipboard. Looks better decorated, don't you think?? I love blank chipboard... it's just BEGGING to be decorated to within an inch of its life! That white ribbon around the right side of the book is a stretchy ribbon that is secured on the back of the book with a pretty brad... that will keep it shut after it no longer wants to stay shut on its own.

Anyway, enjoy the pictures and hopefully you'll get inspired to create your own collage works of art!

Happy Scrapping!

~ Lauren

May is National Scrapbooking Month!

2011-04-26T15:38:00.002-06:00

Can you believe that it's almost MAY already?!? Holy cow, where does the time go?? But May is a great month for us crafty types, because it's National Scrapbooking Month! And of course, Close To My Heart is celebrating with a very special kit - only available until May 31!

This beautiful kit comes with everything you need to make 2 fabulous 2-page layouts!

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 just $15!! That's more than half off the retail value! The kit comes with new cardstock-weight B&T Duos® papers, a brand new D-size stamp set, accessories (including that gorgeous chocolate striped grosgrain ribbon, chipboard diecuts, and my favorite - the Opaques Mocha Adhesive Gems in three sizes), and a full color instruction sheet.

You can also purchase the kit at full retail for just $34.95 with no minimum purchase required.

Or, become a CTMH consultant in May, and you will get the You & Me kit for free as part of your New Consultant kit!

I cannot wait to make these beautiful pages using my own pictures! Aren't they fantastic?!

What about you?? This kit is only available until May 31, while supplies last! Don't miss out -- order yours today! Or better yet, join us for our May Home Gathering Workshops this month and see what else you can create with this amazing new kit! Contact me to RSVP!!

My New Cafe Press Shop

2011-04-15T15:43:00.000-06:00

So, I am starting to branch out just a bit, and have decided to start creating designs for apparel and accessories that might appeal to scrapbookers and paper crafters. What do you think?

Feel free to visit my shop often, as I am putting new designs out there almost every week. And it's not just t-shirts... you can get water bottles, wall clocks, mouse pads, coffee mugs... the list goes on and on. Check it out!

Just click on the link above, or click here to visit my shop. Enjoy!

~ Lauren

Spring is here!

2011-03-31T21:27:00.001-06:00

Friends, spring is finally here, and I am so glad! I love this time of year, before it gets too hot, and everything is just starting to come back to life... This year at our house it's a time for new beginnings and new ventures. You'll be seeing lots of new things coming to this blog page in the coming weeks and months, so stay tuned!

For now, though, let's concentrate on Close To My Heart's fabulous April promotion! This month, we're LOVIN' LEVEL 1!! Through April 30, when you make a purchase of $100 or more through my CTMH website, you will receive one of these Level 1 Kits FREE:

Just click on the "Shop" button to the left to get started!! Hurry, though, because supplies are limited, and these popular kits will go FAST! I've already got my favorites picked out... how about you??

The Best Stamps on the Block!

2011-02-27T13:45:00.000-07:00

March is just about here, and I am so glad! I love this time of year because spring is just around the corner, and everything is coming back to life after a long winter.

March is an exciting time of year at Close To My Heart, as well! The promotion for this month is fabulous -- when you buy $25 in My Acrylix^® stamps, you'll get a FREE acrylic block to go with it! You can choose from two of their most versatile sizes: 3" x 3" (Item #Y1006) or 2" x 6 1/2" (Item #Y1010). There's never been a better time to stock up on stamp sets!

Let me know how I can help you make your creativity come to life with scrapbooks, cards, home decorations, or whatever else you can imagine! Happy Scrapping!!

Love Is In The Air...

2011-02-02T13:36:00.001-07:00

February is here, with its chalky "candy" hearts (which I still love, by the way), and its promises of L-O-V-E for one and all. What do I love this month? I'll tell you... the new Sweetheart Level 2 Paper Pack from Close to my Heart!! Take a look:

Cute, right? It's even better in person... the polka dots, the stripes, the flowers that are actually little hearts... it's SUPER CUTE!! You also have to see the stamps that match the paper... and the ribbon, and the buttons, and the flowers... holy cow, there's so much to L-O-V-E this month at Close to my Heart!!

This is the project I made with this Sweetheart paper...

This project was super easy to do! I used the Sweetheart paper and covered the My Creations Banner (Z1378) with it to make this sweet little wall decoration -- perfect for Valentine's Day!

Click here to shop directly on my website, or send me an e-mail if you want to set up a home gathering, a Banner Workshop, or a Valentine's Card Workshop! Can't wait to hear from you!

Happy Valentine's Day!

New Year, New Idea Book!

2011-01-15T21:37:00.000-07:00

I am so excited about this new Idea Book! Close To My Heart has started putting their Idea Books out twice a year rather than 3 times a year, so it's now bigger and better than before! You'll be able to order from this fabulous new book starting February 1, but if you want to have one of these new books sent to you now, please let me know! Call me or send me an e-mail, and I'll be happy to send one out to you right away.

Don't forget to take a look at the "Monthly Specials" tab {above} to see the January Stamp of the Month -- it's totally cute, and only available through the end of January!

Hope to hear from you soon -- Happy Scrapping!

Happy Holidays!!

2010-12-05T15:29:00.001-07:00

It's especially happy this time of year, because Close To My Heart's December campaign is AWESOME!! Place an order of $20 or more on my CTMH website from December 1–31, 2010, and you'll receive a popular, retired D-size stamp set for FREE! You'll love the stamp set that's picked out for you and sent to you absolutely FREE (free of tax and shipping charges, too!). These are retired sets that you cannot purchase anywhere else, so get them while you can! Visit my CTMH website today!

On a personal note, I really want to take this opportunity to say Happy Holidays to all of my friends, family, neighbors, and customers! I hope you all have a warm and wonderful holiday season, and a fabulous new year full of fresh ideas and creative inspiration!! Thank you all for being a part of my life in one way or another... you encourage and inspire me all year long, whether you know it or not, and I am forever grateful!

I also wanted to share with you some of the Christmas card designs that I came up with this year... I hope you enjoy looking at them as much as I enjoyed making them! Who knows... maybe they will provide some ideas for your own cards this year!

Enjoy the season -- Merry Christmas, and Happy New Year!!

~ Lauren

A Little MORE Thanks!

2010-10-28T17:07:00.000-06:00

November is a great time to stock up on stamp sets!! Close To My Heart is helping you earn TWO My Acrylix® stamp sets for FREE!

During the month of November, when you place a minimum order of $100, you will not only receive the November Stamp of the Month set (pictured below) for FREE, you will also receive one stamp set of your choosing from the 2010 Autumn/Winter Idea Book for FREE*!

You can earn your free stamp sets by either shopping on my website, or by booking a Home Gathering during the month of November. Either way, you've got a lot to be thankful for!!

* Free stamp sets include A-D size sets. Stamps that are not available as the free set include Workshops on the Go,™ Stamp of the Month retail, E-size, and customizable K-size. Tax and shipping / handling will apply. Offer good November 1–30, 2010.

Our Fall Workshop Project

2010-10-17T10:20:00.001-06:00

Fall is absolutely my favorite time of the year! So for our monthly workshop group's September project, we made wall hangings out of the My Creations Mix & Mingle Album from Close To My Heart. These versatile albums can be used in so many different ways. We opted to make wall hangings, but you can also use them to make mini albums, or other projects. One of our workshop participants even used hers to make very special Christmas cards for her close family members! So creative!

You can add pictures if you want to personalize it even more... there are so many things you can do with these cute little albums! Click here to order some for your next project!

If you are interested in joining the fun at our monthly workshops, please contact me and let me know! We'd love to have you!

Happy Scrapping!

October Gatherings Mean More Hostess Rewards!

2010-10-05T12:08:00.000-06:00

October is the perfect month to host a Home Gathering! At every Home Gathering during the month of October that reaches a minimum of $450 in sales, hostesses will be able to "jump" to the next level of Hostess Rewards -- which means more free products and more items at 50%!

$450 may sound like a lot... but if you hosted a Home Gathering for just 10 guests, each guest would only have to place a $45 order for you to reach your goal! It's really easy because Close To My Heart products are hard for any paper crafter to resist!!

Think about all the free goodies that can be yours -- simply by hosting a gathering of friends and family for an afternoon of fun! Contact me today to book your Home Gathering!

Spend $100 and get a little something extra!

2010-09-14T10:09:00.003-06:00

When you spend at least $100 in any single order, you will receive our Petite Perks Mini Stamp Set FREE! This cute little set is perfect for your fall cards and other projects.

When you're ready to place an order, contact me via phone or e-mail, or shop directly on my website 24/7 by visiting http://lauren.myctmh.com/!

Happy Scrapping!

~ Lauren

2010-07-20T07:05:00.001-06:00

F is for... FAMILY and FRIENDS. I put these 12x12 layouts in frames and hung them in my office at work. I turned all the photos to black and white and although I couldn't capture ALL of my friends' images, I tried to have a broad representation of different friends I've had throughout my life. All were important at different times and for different reasons. I love being able to look over at my wall during the day and see the most important people in my life looking back at me!

Baby Album

2010-05-28T09:10:00.005-06:00

I recently made this baby album for my sister-in-law... she's not a scrapbooker, so I created a book with pre-made sections for photos and journaling so that she could just stick things in there quickly without a lot of thought needed. Besides, what new mom has the time or the brain power for creative design?!? Hopefully she'll find it easy to work with. And we'll have fun personalizing together it once the baby is born.

Enjoy the pictures, and if there's any part of this that you want to know more about how to create, let me know! I'm happy to share. Happy scrapping!

~ Lauren

Brag A Little!

2010-02-28T22:17:00.000-07:00

Recently I created these brag books out of 4" x 6" Flip Flap Memory Protectors from Close To My Heart. They are super easy to put together, and the Memory Protectors are the perfect size to slide 4" x 6" photos into! You'll need to create 2 covers (front and back) out of chipboard or some other sturdy material. Then use cardstock to create an accordian folded spine for your book. The Flip Flaps are self-adhesive, so stick those into the "valleys" in your accordian folded spine, and decorate! Easy! I also used some rub-on words directly on the Flip Flap Memory Protector... so cute! Take a look:

New Projects

2010-02-21T15:08:00.000-07:00

I wanted to share with you some new cards that we made last Friday in our monthly workshop! These are cards from the Veranda Workshop On The Go kit from Close To My Heart. It comes with the Veranda level 2 paper pack, plus an exclusive stamp set and some really gorgeous filligree brads. Take a look!

Valentine's Day is Coming!

2010-02-07T23:06:00.001-07:00

I love Valentine's Day because it gives me an excuse to unpack all of those heart stamps and pink papers, which I don't usually use, and play around! Here are a few cards I made this year. Now I just have to decide which one to give to my hubby...

These cards are all fairly simple to make -- even the one with the dangly heart. On that particular card, I also stamped on the twill ribbon to personalize it a bit. I love that you can stamp on just about anything!

Let me know if you'd like instructions on how to make any of these cards... I would be happy to share!

Happy Valentine's Day, and Happy Scrapping!

~ Lauren

2010 Desk Calendar - Our January Workshop Project

2010-01-01T11:41:00.004-07:00

Happy New Year, everyone! I'm excited to share our January Workshop project... a 2010 desk calendar! I think this project will be a fun way for everyone to show off their hard work and creativity every day of the year! If you are in the north metro Denver area and would like to join us on January 15 for our monthly workshop, please let me know -- we'd love to have you!

This calendar is made from an empty CD jewel case... it's super easy to make up a new insert for each month. The inserts are 4.75" x 6", and they fit perfectly into the slots in the holder. You can detatch the front cover, turn it around backwards, then reattach it, and it will lay back at the perfect angle for viewing! Here's how mine turned out:

I hope you enjoy it, and I hope you have a fabulous start to the new year!

Happy Scrapping!

~ Lauren

Why am I so obsessed with mini albums lately?!?

2009-12-23T10:13:00.001-07:00

I have no idea why I am so preoccupied with making these cute little mini albums lately, but I'm OK with that! I turned this one out on Monday, and I think it turned out pretty cute! Shhh... don't tell, but the paper is not Close To My Heart... but it was too cute not to use! Let me know what you think!

That's Amore Mini Album

2009-12-19T22:48:00.006-07:00

I wanted to share my latest project with you... it's a mini album that I made for a friend. I used the That's Amore Paper Packet, and I think it turned out pretty cute! I have to admit that I didn't think I'd like this paper packet very much, because the colors aren't those that I have traditionally used a lot, but I have to say that I really LOVE it! In fact, mine is almost gone, so I must get more. I would challenge you to try using papers that are different in color or style from what you usually use, and see if you don't like the result! Here's how my album turned out...

The Felicity Collection!

2009-12-13T22:12:00.003-07:00

January is National Papercrafting Month! And to celebrate, Close To My Heart is introducing the new Felicity collection paper packet and stamp set! This is a fabulous kit -- and the stamp set is exclusive to this set, which means you can't get it anywhere else! This promotion will be in effect from December 15 through January 31. Visit my website after Dec. 15 to order your Felicity kit -- you'll love it!

Below are photos of a two-page layout that I did using the papers in the Felicity kit. I really love the rich colors and the new die-cut circle papers that come in the packet. Plus that stamp set! Too cute!

There are three different ways you can get the Felicity kit:

• Purchase it at full retail price for $34.95. (Item # CC1008 if you're ordering from my website!)

• Place an order of $60 or more in full-retail priced stamp sets (A, B, C, D, and E-size) and receive one collection FREE! (Excludes: Stamp of the Month, Art & Soul,® Workshop on the Go,™ and customizable (K) stamp sets.)

• Place an order of $125 or more in full-retail priced Close To My Heart products and receive one collection FREE!

The campaign also has enticing opportunities for hostesses who host a home gathering or workshop between Dec. 15 and Jan. 31. Hostesses get the collection FREE with a Home Gathering or Workshop sales total of $400 or more!

Trust me, you're gonna want this kit!

Happy Scrapping,
~ Lauren

All Sorts Mini Album

2009-12-11T09:05:00.003-07:00

I wanted to share one of the projects that we did at our team's retreat last weekend. Miranda, my upline, presented it, and it turned out so cute! It's the All Sorts mini album, covered with the Good Times level 2 paper packet, and embellished with HeartFelt die cuts and some ribbon. Thanks for taking a look!

Happy Scrapping!

~ Lauren

Check out my website!

2009-12-10T16:15:00.002-07:00

I just created this website... my first attempt... and wanted to share! Thanks for visiting!

www.wix.com/TheScrappersWebsite/ScrappersWebsite

~ Lauren

Have a Holiday Heyday!!

2009-12-01T11:44:00.002-07:00

Beginning December 2, have a Holiday Heyday with amazing deals up to 50-80% off! Select clearance items are only available through December 17, and only while supplies last, so hurry and get in on the bargains! (And don't forget about all those stamp sets that are retiring forever at the end of the month! Time's running out!)

Last Friday's Workshop

2009-11-23T09:46:00.004-07:00

What a blast we had at our monthly workshop last Friday! It was a very small group, which actually worked out really well. We made three really cute Christmas cards, and had a great time doing it! Here are some pictures of our awesome group working hard on those cards!

This group of ladies is so talented... they did a great job on their cards. I would like to extend a BIG thank you to all of the ladies in my workshop group... I love your enthusiasm and your willingness to explore and learn new techniques. Plus we always have a great time together -- it's a fabulous way to spend one Friday evening a month! Our next workshop won't be until January... if you live in the northern metro Denver area, and would like to join us for our January workshop on January 15, we would love to have you! Just send me an e-mail and let me know that you're interested: lauren@myctmh.com. We're going to be making an altered desk calendar to celebrate 2010... should be a great time! Hope to hear from you soon!

Some New Jingle Cards!

2009-11-18T11:06:00.002-07:00

I've just finished a new round of Jingle cards that I wanted to share with you! Everything but the ribbon is Close To My Heart... I hope you like them!

This first one is a card that I will be presenting at a Close To My Heart retreat during the first weekend in December. I wanted to make it simple enough to do fairly quickly, but be unique enough that the consultants and directors that will be making it will be able to learn something new. This is a tri-fold card...

This is the inside of the card. I cut slits in the two side flaps so that the ribbon could wrap around just the flaps. The ornaments in the middle are stamped from the Christmas Trinkets Stamp Set, cut out, shaded with Tulip and Juniper inks, and adhered using pop dots for some extra dimension. The side flaps can be used for photos or text, whatever the sender wants to include.

On the second card, I used the large Headline alphabet stamp set to spell "joy." I stamped the letters on Creme Brulee cardstock using Versamark ink, then heat embossed the letters with a white and silver sparkly embossing powder. Then I cut the letters out, and left a thin border around the letters to give them more dimension. I adhered them to the matted cardstock frame in the middle of the card, and ran the ribbon through the letter "O" and tied a knot. I random stamped the snowflake pattern on the juniper cardstock on the bottom of the card using silver ink. Jingle Brads adorn the corners of the frame. Below is the inside of this card:

The final card I made is a 3-D interactive card with dangling ornaments in window cut-outs. I purposely didn't adhere the ornaments to the card, so that they would dangle freely. It's hard to see here in the picture, but trust me... it's cute in person! :-)

Thanks for checking out my latest cards... if you want more specific instructions about how to put any of them together, send me an e-mail at lauren@myctmh.com. I'll be happy to provide any information that you need!

Also, don't forget to schedule a home gathering so that you can earn some free and discounted Close To My Heart products for yourself!

Happy Scrapping!

~ Lauren

Our November Workshop!

2009-11-01T09:09:00.001-07:00

Just a reminder that our November card workshop is coming up on Nov. 20! Please RSVP no later than Nov. 16 if you're planning to attend, so that I can order your supplies in time. I hope you can make it! We're going to make three really cute Christmas cards using the new Jingle paper pack from Close To My Heart -- see my previous post for pictures of our project!

Thanks, and happy scrapping!

~ Lauren

More New Cards!

2009-10-29T12:47:00.000-06:00

Here are three new cards that I'm going to teach at my November Workshop on Nov. 20. They are made from the Jingle Paper Packet -- everything but the ribbon is Close To My Heart. I love this Jingle paper -- it's so versatile!

If you live in the north Denver metro area, and would like to attend my November workshop, please let me know! We would love to have you join us!

Happy Scrapping!
~Lauren

My newest card

2009-10-28T10:15:00.000-06:00

This is a card that I recently made for a co-worker who got a promotion... it's made with papers from the Groovy Blossoms Paper Pack (from Close To My Heart, of course!).

Hope you like it... Happy Scrapping!

~ Lauren

Fun Halloween Projects!

2009-10-17T21:53:00.000-06:00

Take a look at these fun Halloween projects... both were done in an afternoon. They are so easy and quick, and they look pretty cute, I think!

The first project idea came from Jeanette Lynton's blog... she made this really cute sign that I knew I had to try for myself. I used different colors and images than she did, and here's how it came out:

(If you want to see Jeanette's original, visit her blog... the link is to the left!)

The next project I wanted to try came from Tina Sutton's blog. (The link to her blog is also at the left!) This is a Halloween treat bag made out of an envelope! It went together so quickly... and the possibilities are endless... you could make one for any holiday. Here's how mine turned out:

And here it is from the side... you can see that I used brads to attach the handle.

The instructions to make these very cute projects are on Jeanette's and Tina's blogs... visit them to learn how easy it is to make these adorable Halloween projects!

Happy Scrapping!

~ Lauren

Our October Workshop

2009-10-02T10:51:00.002-06:00

Join us on Friday, October 16 for our monthly scrapbooking workshop! Contact me at (303) 507-7636 or at lauren@myctmh.com for more information!

Clear Stamp Storage

2009-09-20T20:48:00.000-06:00

One of my favorite tools to use when I'm scrapbooking or making cards are my clear stamps. Close To My Heart makes some really fabulous clear stamps in their My Acrylix line. But I have a hard time storing them. I'm the kind of person that needs to be able to SEE the stamps as I'm creating, so that I can pick just the right one. Sometimes, I'll get inspired by a stamp set, and design an entire page around it! I like to be able to browse through my stamps in a photo album-type format, but I couldn't find an album that worked well. So I made some myself. I used chipboard to make the album covers and the pages. They are heavy enough to support the weight of the stamps without bending or folding. I stuck the back of the stamp sheet down to the book page using an aggressive adhesive, so that when I want to use a stamp, I just lift up the top sheet and peel off the stamp, like this:

The top sheet is made by taking a scanned image of the stamp sheet, printing it, and adhering it to the foam insert that comes with all of the Close To My Heart stamp sets. That sticks (on its own) to the top of the stamps so that I can see the stamps "right side up" as I'm flipping through the book.

Because of the thickness of the pages, each book can only hold 6 - 8 stamp sets. So I have MANY books, as you can see! Here are some of them a little closer up:

And a picture of the inside:

So that's my system... although I'm still trying to figure out what to do with the larger stamp sets that are 8 1/2" by 11". I can't find chipboard that size! (If you know where to find some, please let me know!)

I'd love to see your stamp storage solutions as well - send me pictures!

Take care, and Happy Scrapping!!

~ Lauren

Check out this great blog!

2009-09-08T22:45:00.000-06:00

Check out Miranda's blog... it's amazing!

The New Fall / Winter Idea Book is Here!

2009-08-19T12:30:00.003-06:00

The new Close To My Heart Fall/Winter 2009 Idea Book has arrived! You won't believe all of the fantastic new fall and winter products that are available from Close To My Heart this season!

Past, present and future customers... please contact me at lauren.myctmh.com if you are interested in receiving an Idea Book!

Also, if you would like to host a home gathering where you and your friends and family can sample some of these fabulous products and make a cute handmade card out of the latest line of exclusive My Reflections papers and embellishments, please let me know!

Join us for our August Workshop!

2009-08-14T14:34:00.003-06:00

This month, we're going to be focusing on several different techniques that we can use both in our scrapbooks as well as on our handmade cards. Some of the techniques we'll be learning this month are:

heat embossing

dry embossing

second generation stamping

masking

two-color stamping

layering images

and more!

I hope you'll be able to join us on Friday, August 21 at 5:00 pm. Please e-mail me at love2scrap.ctmh@gmail.com if you would like to learn more!

Interested in hosting a gathering or workshop??

2009-07-21T13:22:00.003-06:00

Earn discounted or FREE products from Close To My Heart when you host a gathering or a workshop in your home! Contact me at lauren@myctmh.com if you are interested in learning more!

Our July Workshop!

2009-07-01T16:26:00.004-06:00

JOIN US FOR OUR JULY WORKSHOP!

We LOVE the new BELLA collection from Close To My Heart! Join us on July 17 from 5 - 8 pm as we create the pages shown here. Contact me at lauren@myctmh.com to learn more!

Join us for our upcoming workshop!

2009-06-10T10:01:00.003-06:00

Come join us on Friday, June 19 for our monthly Close To My Heart workshop!

Contact me at lauren@myctmh.com if you are interested in learning more!

Welcome to The Scrapper's Blog!

2009-03-19T08:29:00.000-06:00

Welcome, fellow scrapbookers! This blog is a resource for those of you who want to ask questions, exchange ideas, get some inspiration, or just discuss whatever is on your mind!

I will also have information here about the Close To My Heart product line, opportunities to host CTMH parties and earn fabulous hostess gifts, and the latest products and ideas from the CTMH catalog and Idea Book.

So let's get started! I want to hear from you!