Purposeful Plastic - CTMH Technique Blog Hop

There are 10 other amazingly talented Close to my Heart Consultants sharing their artwork with you for this month's Blog Hop. 

Should you get lost along the way, all participant's links can be found here. 

If you are coming from Michelle's Blog, you are on the right track.

As mentioned in a post a couple weeks back, I love to use our Cardmaking Kits to create layouts. 

These exclusive stamp sets coordinate perfectly with the patterned paper collection, as well as the supplies that come with the kit.  

For the Close to my Heart Convention a few weeks ago, I submitted a rather simple layout of my son Constantine when he was 6 months old. 

He is now almost 2. 

Here is a photo of the layout submission at Convention.

For the contest, I did not use 6 x 12 flip flap memory protectors, or any of the additional Pocket Plus Memory Protectors, however once I got home, I realized I wanted to add more journaling and an additional photo or two to my layouts in my album. 

When I take photos of my children at home, we almost always have a ton of photos. 

Using flips flap memory protectors or the Pocket Plus Memory Protectors is a great way to add just a little more space. 

They come in several different sizes.

I chose this layout to highlight the "Purposeful Plastic" technique for this month's Blog Hop. 

Here are photos of the layout in the album with the 

Pocket Plus Memory Protectors included.

I used all Close to my Heart products for the layout and the additional space.

The layout itself features the Fresh Air collection paper, and the products included in the 

Workshops Your Way® In My Heart Cardmaking Kit. 

The Picture My Life Cards that you cut apart from the paper collection were perfect for the Pocket Plus Memory Protectors.

In addition to the paper, and cardstock, I also used the pretty sequins pieces as embellishments. 

The "Memories" wording is from the Documented Complements.

This collection will be retiring at the end of the month. 

It is perfect for camping, outdoor, and masculine themes but also as you can see here, baby boy.

Thank you so much for stopping by, before heading over to Valerie's Blog, please consider leaving a comment and enjoy the rest of the creative talents in this month's Blog Hop! 

Consultant Showcase Projects from Close to my Heart Convention

I had an awesome experience last week at the Close to my Heart convention in Las Vegas, NV. 

While there I had an opportunity to showcase some of my cards, a mini album and scrapbook layouts.

For those that were not able to attend, I thought I would share my projects on video, so that you might be able to get a closer look. 

I feature all of the pages of the Disney Mini Album I posted a few weeks ago. 

Please note that I did misspeak in the video, and that the "Simply Beautiful" sentiment actually came from the "New Adventure" stamp set, that I correctly listed on my blog post for that card a few weeks ago. 

As always if you have any questions at all, please feel free to comment below or email me. 

Vintage Typewriter Card With All Close to my Heart Products

Happy Monday!

As I journey back to Georgia for Las Vegas to return home from the Close to my Heart Convention, my mind is literally spinning! 

This week I learned so many new layout ideas, techniques, and business concepts, that I can not wait to try out and share with all of you!

While at convention, we worked on several projects, many of which will be shared with you either here on my blog, in my VIP group on Facebook or in my new Virtual Classrooms. 

My New Virtual Classrooms will feature various videos, some will be free general technique videos, others will be videos provided free with the purchase of a specific kit or products used to create them.

Close to my Heart has so many great items coming your way! 

I truly was blown away and am so impressed with the new catalog that will begin September 1st. 

If you are interested in receiving a new Holiday Expressions catalog, please complete the free request form here.

One of the many awesome projects we created this week, was this adorable Vintage Typewriter card.

This card actually features several new products.

The paper pieced typewriter, alphabet border and the sentiment are both from the new stamp set "My Type of Note".

I popped the typewriter panel up with 3-D Foam Tape for some dimension. 

The paper packet is from a new Christmas themed collection called "'Tis the season". 

The cardstock featured is Charcoal and one of our new colors Mint. 

Speaking of which, with the new catalog change in a few months, there are ten colors that are retiring. 

They are:

flaxen

sorbet

crystal blue

juniper

cranberry

poppy

pacifica

blossom

tangerine

nutmeg

So if these are colors, you know you have projects you need them for, now would be the time to begin ordering a sufficient amount of them. 

They will be retiring the cardstock, ink, and reinker bottle for each color.

I will create a separate post with a video about the new ten colors that will replace the retiring ones.

There will also be a post and video about the new "Color of the Year".

I distressed the edges of the card, and pieces with Tuxedo Black Memento Ink, another product that will be retiring soon. 

I also added a few new embellishments; Silver Glitter Gems and Silver Embellishing Thread.

I entered this card into the following challenges:

Pile It On Challenge Blog-#144 Vintage (Typewriter)
Simon Says Stamp- Wednesday Challenge Anything Goes
 Creative Memories - #147 Anything Goes
Jo's Scrap Shack-#240 Fun-day Friday Challenge
Whoopsi Daisy Digi and CD Challenge- Anything Goes with Optional Christmas 

As always, I hope you enjoyed my post, feel free to leave me a comment below. 

I would love feedback on the type of products, techniques and themes you would love to see. 

Happy Friday Flash Sale!

Happy Friday! 

We have an awesome Flash Sale later today starting at 3pm,(MDT). 

Be sure to stop by my website to stock up on all the goodies! 

We are making room for new items that will unveiled at next week's Convention in Las Vegas! 

Convention Swaps Batch Two

As promised, here are a few photos of batch #2 of my Convention Swaps.
Some of the batches I will post, others I will leave for an element of surprise at the Convention.
I try to make each batch somewhat different, by changing the style, layout, technique etc.

I made 13 cards to swap at convention.
These 13 cards were made into two different sets.
For both sets, I tried to create a semi monochromatic look.

In this first set, the flowers came from the stamp set Beautiful Friendship-Scrapbooking 

by Close to my Heart, I used them to make a One Sheet Wonder piece, for a few of the cards.
For the One Sheet Wonder patterned paper I made, I used Juniper and Lagoon ink.

I used Juniper, Lagoon, Peacock, and White Daisy cardstock for most of the floral cards as well.
The cards are all based with the White Cards and EnvelopesValue Pack.

Most of the cards, have panels that are distressed with Pewter ink.

The "Perspective is Everything" and "the World is Yours to Explore" sentiments both came from the "A New Adventure" stamp set.

This set is so versatile and definitely one of my personal favorites.
For most of the sentiments I mounted them with 3-D Foam Tape.

For the second group of cards, I used Kraft, Pewter, and Sapphire for the A Big Thank You Thin Cuts overlay.  

Underneath is a layer of White Daisy that has been distressed with Glacier, Lagoon, and Sapphire ink. Love this color combo.

The cards are all based with the White Cards and EnvelopesValue Pack.

To attach the overlays I used the Bonding Memories Dual Action Glue Pen.

I used the Bitty Sparkles to embellish all of the cards.

Hope you enjoyed these, as much as I did making them.

As always if you have any questions at all please let me know.

Convention Swaps Are Underway...

I am so excited, in just a few weeks, I will be driving across the country again out west to Close to my Heart's annual convention. 

This year it is in Las Vegas!

I've been to Las Vegas, once before a few years ago, to visit my husband's family. 

While out there this year, I am going to try to spend some time with them again. 

If you have ever been to a Scrapbooking/Stamping convention, then you know swapping your handmade cards is a big deal!

Last time, I think I swapped over 100 cards. 

My goal this year is at least 50, but I am going to try to reach 100 if I can. 

So since I have such a lofty goal, I knew I needed to go ahead and get started. 

So this weekend, I didn't have much planned, so cards it is. 

Now some folks like to make all of their cards exactly the same, kind of like an assembly line. 

I personally like to make mine that way, but in small batches, then switch the colors, layout, etc. 

So today I am sharing with you my first batch.

I made 6 cards to swap at convention, and a card for a dear friend that is feeling under the weather. 

I used the One-Sheet-Wonder Technique, to create the floral print paper. 

The flowers, and leaves came from the stamp set Beautiful Friendship-Scrapbooking by Close to my Heart.
The cards are all based with the White Cards and EnvelopesValue Pack.

I used Thistle, Smoothie, and Bashful for the two-step stamped flowers and Sweet Leaf for the leaves.

Most of the cards, have the top panel of White Daisy, distressed with Pewter ink.

The "Life is Better With Friends"sentiment came from that same set. 

These were both stamped in Pewter ink. 

The "Simply Beautiful" sentiment came from the "A New Adventure" stamp set. 

This set is so versatile and definitely one of my personal favorites. 

I used our new Thin Cuts- Stitched Ovals and our Thin Cuts- Basic Ovals for the sentiment and them mounted it with 3-D Foam Tape.

These were stamped in Pewter on White Daisy cardstock, then layered on Bashful cardstock.

I used the Grey Gems to embellish a few of the cards.

For the card I am mailing to a friend, I used a layer of Bashful under the three panels of White Daisy I created.

The "A Beautiful Friendship" sentiment came from the "Beautiful Friendship- Scrapbooking" stamp set. 

Each panel was distressed with Pewter ink.

I will start working on my second batch in just a few minutes. 

As I create batches over the next few weeks, I will post them here on the blog to share them with you.

As always if you have any questions at all please let me know.

Convention & New Products

While I was not able to attend Convention this year, my upline is there sharing information and amazing pictures! 

Love the new hostess rewards and the new color of the year! Stay tuned for more pictures!

Have you been wanting the new Cricut? Now would be a great time to be a hostess!