September 7, 2017Celebrate, Create, Learn

Split Stamping Technique

Close To My Heartbaby, card, cardmaking, floral, flower, how, idea, split, spring, stamp, stamping, technique, to 22 Comments

In honor of National Stamping Month, we thought it’d be fun to share with you some stamping techniques on the blog—because no crafter can ever have too many stamping tricks up her sleeve, right? 😉

Today’s post is going to teach you what we call the Split Stamping technique.

This technique is exactly what it sounds like: You split your stamp image. There are a few different ways to do this.

One of the easiest ways is to stamp an image onto a piece of cardstock and then cut it into pieces, like the elephant below.

Cutting up an image and reassembling it on your artwork is a unique way to draw more attention to your stamping.

Another way you can “split” your stamp is with masking. Not sure what we mean by “masking”? Masking is when you cover up part of your stamp or paper before stamping an image.

Here, we attached a strip of cardstock across the center of our card with just a little bit of adhesive so it wouldn’t slide around. Next, we stamped our flowers along the top and bottom of the card, overlapping them slightly with the strip. We then carefully peeled off the cardstock strip, removed any leftover adhesive with our Rub & Remove™ eraser, painted our flowers, and then stamped our sentiment.

For a more advanced spin on this technique, try incorporating the piece of cardstock you use for the masking!

For this card, we cut both pieces of White Daisy cardstock, attached the smaller piece to the center of the larger piece with a little bit of adhesive, and then stamped our flowers over both pieces. Next, we carefully separated the smaller piece of cardstock from the larger one, painted our flowers, and popped the piece up on Bashful cardstock with 3-D foam tape. To add even more dimension, we also stamped some of the blossoms on scrap paper, painted them, trimmed them out, and then attached them over the matching blossoms with 3-D foam tape.

What do you think of the Split Stamping technique? Tell us in the comments below! And be sure to follow the blog all month long to see even more stamping techniques! 🙂

Recipes

4 1/4″ x 5 1/2″ Congrats Card (Vertical)
D1726 My Acrylix® Sweet Baby Stamp Set, 1385 White Daisy Cardstock, X5941 Bashful Cardstock, Z3271 Archival Black Exclusive Inks™ Stamp Pad, Z1263 Bitty Sparkles, Z3361 Whimsy Ribbon Pack, Z3132 Watercolor Paints, Z3188 Paintbrush Set, Z1979 Marvy® Uchida® LePen™ Journaling Pen

4 1/4″ x 5 1/2″ Best Wishes Card (Horizontal)
D1747 My Acrylix® Happily Ever After Stamp Set, 1385 White Daisy Cardstock, Z3271 Archival Black Exclusive Inks™ Stamp Pad, Z4014 White & Gold Twine, Z1263 Bitty Sparkles, Z3132 Watercolor Paints, Z3188 Paintbrush Set

4 1/4″ x 5 1/2″ So Happy for You Card (Vertical)
C1693 My Acrylix® Many Congratulations Stamp Set, 1385 White Daisy Cardstock, X5941 Bashful Cardstock, X5953 Charcoal Cardstock, Z3271 Archival Black Exclusive Inks™ Stamp Pad, Z1263 Bitty Sparkles, Z3132 Watercolor Paints, Z3188 Paintbrush Set

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September 5, 2017Create, Learn

Step-by-Step Instructions: From the Heart Card Kit

Close To My Heartcard, flower, from, heart, how, instruction, kit, Month, September, stamping, to 23 Comments

September is National Stamping Month, and we’ve designed an incredible card kit with elegant, layered stamping to celebrate!

It’s called the From the Heart card kit, and if you love stamping, you’ll love all the ways you can play with the interchangeable stamp designs to achieve a variety of looks for your cards.

If the thought of creating cards like these feels a bit daunting, don’t worry! The kit comes with helpful instructions to walk you through the assembly—just take a look!

Here are the pieces you get in your kit. You get enough to create 12 cards, plus the beautiful From the Heart stamp set and 12 envelopes. Once you punch out these pieces, follow the instructions below to create your cards.

Step 1

All the folds come pre-scored, so all you have to do is fold along the score lines. Starting with your card base (A), turn the gold foil side down and sharply fold the two outside flaps inward. Add adhesive to the top of these flaps.

Step 2

Fold your card base in half along the score line, attaching the front of the card base to the top of the flaps. This will form a pocket.

Step 3

Starting with the detached end of the large flap, make sharp folds along the score lines, accordion style, as shown.

Step 4

Add adhesive to the bottom of first fold (the white side).

Step 5

Insert the pull insert (B) into the pocket in your card base (A), keeping B centered. Attach that first fold from step 5 to the edge of the pull insert, keeping the edges flush. Now when you pull on the insert piece in and out, the large flap should pop up and down!

Step 6

Slide your card closed and then add adhesive to top of first fold (over gold foil).

Step 7

Attach supporting piece (D) to the top of first fold. This supporting piece is a little bit larger than the area where you added the adhesive, so keep the top edge flush with the crease and center it on the flap. When it’s in place, the edges of the supporting piece should overlap the gold foil around the edges of your card.

Step 8

Stamp your choice of sentiment and flowers onto your card front (C). When stamping the layers of your flowers, add extra depth by using different colors for each layer.

Step 9

Stamp leaves and twigs in between flowers. Again, add depth by stamping all of the layers in different colors. This stamp set allows you to get incredible detail in your stamp images for a beautiful finished card.

Step 10

Set aside your card front and go back to the base for a moment. Slide your card open, and then stamp your choice of inside sentiment onto the card base. The From the Heart stamp set includes four large sentiments designed especially to fit this space.

Step 11

Once your stamping is dry, slide the card closed and add adhesive to second fold of large flap. This is the section right next to the supporting strip (D) that you attached, and it is where you will attach your card front.

Step 12

Attach your card front (C) to the second fold, lining up the edges with the supporting strip (D).

Make your own beautiful, interactive cards using this card kit, available only during September! If you have any questions about how to assemble these cards or about the card kit itself, tell us in the comments below!

Happy crafting! 🙂

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August 29, 2017Create, Memory Keeping

Free Back-to-School Scrapbook Pattern!

Close To My Heartback, free, pattern, school, scrapbook, tinkerin', to 6 Comments

Back-to-school season is in full swing, and we’ve got a free scrapbook pattern to help you celebrate!

This pattern originally debuted with our Tinkerin’ paper collection, but we’ve revamped the instructions so they can be used with any papers for any occasion. We chose to use this pattern to document some back-to-school memories using our Enchantment Fundamental paper packet and some matching cardstock.

We also incorporated our August Stamp of the Month set, My Acrylix® School Year. This stamp set is designed to help you document both the first and last day of school. Be sure to order the stamp set now because it’s gone at the end of the month—you won’t want to be tardy on this one! And the great news is that you can get the Stamp of the Month for a super great price with a qualifying purchase. However you do the math, more crafting supplies for less money is the always the correct answer! 😉

Download the pattern below, and enjoy a little scrappin’ time!

Download Pattern

For even more scrapbook patterns, check out our Make It from Your Heart™ pattern books, including volume three, which just debuted this month! If you love the free scrapbook patterns on the blog, you’re sure to be blown away by all the patterns in our how-to books.

Recipe

12″ x 12″ School Is Cool Layout
S1708 My Acrylix® School Year Stamp Set, Z3352 Enchantment Fundamental Paper Packet, X5958 Peacock Cardstock, X5961 Saffron Cardstock, 1385 White Daisy Cardstock, 1386 Black Cardstock, Z2805 Black Exclusive Inks™ Stamp Pad, Z3090 Red Gems, Z3323 White Burlap Ribbon, Z3329 Thin Cuts—Basic Stars, Z3348 Thin Cuts—Scallop Border, Z3386 Thin Cuts—Block Alphabet, 3505 Watercolor Pencils, Die-cutting Machine

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August 24, 2017Create, Memory Keeping

Mini Cricut® Flowers

Close To My Heartbitty, border, cricut, daisy, flower, market, mini, tulip 19 Comments

When you think about using Cricut® flowers on your scrapbooking, you probably think of something like this…

…a large flower cluster in a corner, or maybe a wreath. This certainly is a beautiful way to embellish a page, but have you ever thought about making your Cricut® flowers itty bitty?

While large flowers create a dramatic focal point, mini-sized flowers add a certain daintiness to your artwork.

To create the littlest flowers on this page, we actually used the inside pieces from the other daisies on the page. Aren’t they so cute and sweet? 🙂

Mini Cricut®-cut flowers also work really well on cards. You can use them to frame your stamping, and when you use layered images like these, you get lots of extra dimension.

Another great thing about mini flowers is that you have more flexibility for arranging them on your page. We love the idea of creating custom borders with these little flowers, like you see on the page above. It creates such a beautiful accent and draws the eye in to the photos.

What do you think about this technique? Tell us in the comments below!

Recipes

12″ x 12″ Remember Page
Z3350 Whimsy Fundamental Paper Packet, 1385 White Daisy Cardstock, X5978 Glacier Cardstock, X5959 New England Ivy Cardstock, X5960 Fern Cardstock, Z3355 Happy Moments Complements, Z3312 Gold Glitter Gems, Z1151 3-D Foam Tape, Z3342 3-D Foam Dots, Z3285 Cricut® Flower Market Collection, Sewing Machine, Thread

Cricut® Shapes:
Flower Market
2 ½” Shift+Background <#> (cut 3, p. 3, #MD4326D)
3 ½” Shift+Background <#> (cut 3, p. 3, #MD4326D)
4″ Shift+Icon <J> (cut 2, p. 27, #MD6F435)
2 ½” <Hibiscus> (p. 30, #MFAD3B7)
1 ½” and 1 ¾” <Rose> (p. 42, #MFAD8CB)
1″ <Daisy> (use just smallest flowers, p. 46, #MFADCF2)

12″ x 12″ XOXO Page
Z3353 Basics Fundamentals Paper Packet, Z3350 Whimsy Fundamental Paper Packet, X5941 Bashful Cardstock, X5974 Raspberry Cardstock, X5946 Linen Cardstock, Z3367 Vellum Paper, Z3238 Gold Glitter Paper, Z3380 Gold Bow Clips, Z3355 Happy Moments Complements, Z3132 Watercolor Paints, Z3188 Paintbrush Set, Z1151 3-D Foam Tape, Z3342 3-D Foam Dots, Z3386 Thin Cuts—Block Alphabet, Z3285 Cricut® Flower Market Collection, Die-cutting Machine

Cricut® Shapes:
Flower Market
1″ Shift+Icon <J> (p. 27, #MD6F435)
1 ½” Shift+Icon <J> (cut 4, p. 27, #MD6F435 )
2″ Shift+Icon <J> (p. 27, #MD6F435)
1″ <Daisy> (cut 2, p. 46, #MFADCF2)
1 ¼” <Daisy> (p. 46, #MFADCF2)

4 ¼” x 5 ½” Thanks Card (Vertical)
B1536 My Acrylix® All the Thanks Stamp Set, Z3352 Enchantment Fundamental Paper Packet, 1385 White Daisy Cardstock, X5941 Bashful Cardstock, X5953 Charcoal Cardstock, X5959 New England Ivy Cardstock, Z3367 Vellum Paper, Z2832 Pewter Exclusive Inks™ Stamp Pad, Z891 VersaMark™ Ink Pad, Z3363 Enchantment Ribbon Pack, Z3371 Gold Pearls, Z3348 Thin Cuts—Scallop Border, Z3318 Thin Cuts—Basic Circles, Z2066 Ranger™ Princess Gold Embossing Powder, Z555 Craft Heater, Z3316 Shimmer Brush—Gold, Z1151 3-D Foam Tape, Z3285 Cricut® Flower Market Collection, Die-cutting Machine

Cricut® Shapes:
Flower Market
¾” and 1″ <Daisy> (p. 46, #MFADCF2)

4 ¼” x 5 ½” Thank You Card (Horizontal)
B1536 My Acrylix® All the Thanks Stamp Set, 1385 White Daisy Cardstock, X5959 New England Ivy Cardstock, X5953 Charcoal Cardstock, X5941 Bashful Cardstock, Z2832 Pewter Exclusive Inks™ Stamp Pad, Z891 VersaMark™ Ink Pad, Z1263 Bitty Sparkles, Z2066 Ranger™ Princess Gold Embossing Powder, Z2067 Ranger™ Silver Super Fine Embossing Powder, Z555 Craft Heater, Z3318 Thin Cuts—Basic Circles, Z3285 Cricut® Flower Market Collection, Die-cutting Machine

Cricut® Shapes:
Flower Market
1″ Shift+Background <#> (cut 4, p. 3, #MD4326D)
2″ Shift+Background <#> (cut 4, p. 3, #MD4326D)
2″ Background (p. 18, #MD42E65)
3″ Background (p. 18, #MD42E65)
¾” <Daisy> (cut 2, p. 46, #MFADCF2)
1″ <Daisy> (p. 46, #MFADCF2)

12″ x 12″ Remember Page (Floral Borders)
Z3350 Whimsy Fundamental Paper Packet, 1385 White Daisy Cardstock, X5946 Linen Cardstock, X5953 Charcoal Cardstock, X5955 Pebble Cardstock, X5957 Sapphire Cardstock, X5985 Smoothie Cardstock, X5964 Pomegranate Cardstock, X5941 Bashful Cardstock, Z3361 Whimsy Ribbon Pack, Z3369 Bashful Pearls, Z3285 Cricut® Flower Market Collection, Sewing Machine, Thread

Cricut® Shapes:
Flower Market
1 ½” Shift + Background <#> (cut 6, p. 3, #MD4326D)
2 ½” Flower-2 <j> (cut 8, p. 27, #MD6F398)
2″ Shift + Icon <J> (cut 9, p. 27, #MD6F398)
2″ Flower-1 <z> (cut 5, p. 31, Real Dial Size off, #MD6FE71)
2″ Flower-2 <z> (cut 3, p. 31, Real Dial Size off, #MD6FE40)

Numbers starting with #M specify the image number in Cricut Design Space™

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August 22, 2017Create, Memory Keeping

Basic Cricut® Shapes for Backgrounds

Close To My Heartbackground, basic, circle, cricut, design, heart, page, scrapbook, scrapbooking, shape, space 12 Comments

Looking for a way to spice up your scrapbook pages? We’ve got just the thing! All you need is a Cricut® machine and a little imagination for this technique.

First, find a basic Cricut® shape that you like: square, heart, diamond, etc. Next, cut out the shape over and over again on a piece of solid cardstock (we recommend using Cricut Design Space™ so you can more easily control where the shapes cut). Remove the shapes from the piece of cardstock, and then back the empty spaces with different pieces of patterned paper. As you can see from the example above, we repeated paper patterns across the shapes to add a sense of continuity to the page.

If you don’t have Cricut Design Space™, you can still get this effect by cutting multiple versions of the same image, but you could also cut the shapes out of patterned paper and attach them to a piece of cardstock. There are lots of different spins on this technique!

For example…

…try backing the shapes with photos! It’s a lot easier than trying to cut your photos on a Cricut® machine because you can slide them around behind the cardstock until they are framed just the way you like.

Another spin on this technique is to change up the size of your shapes. Smaller shapes give you a lot more little shape windows to work with. This page also shows how much you can play around with dimension as well.

First, we backed some of the empty spaces with patterned paper and left others empty. Next, we used 3-D foam tape to attach the White Daisy cardstock piece with all of our heart shapes cut out of it. The Bashful background shows through the empty hearts and creates a bit of a shadow. To finish off the look, we took some of the hearts that were cut out and embossed them with gold powder. We then used them to “fill in” a few of the heart-shaped windows with more 3-D foam tape to make them really pop. See how many possibilities there are when you start playing around with your Cricut® shapes?

We used circles and hearts for our artwork, but what Cricut® shapes would you try with this technique? Tell us in the comments below! 🙂

Recipes

12″ x 12″ Sweet Moments Page
B1539 My Acrylix® Pen Pal Alphabet, Z3353 Basics Fundamental Paper Packet, Z3350 Whimsy Fundamental Paper Packet, 1385 White Daisy Cardstock, X5953 Charcoal Cardstock, X5941 Bashful Cardstock, Z2825 Mink Exclusive Inks™ Stamp Pad, Z3355 Happy Moments Complements, Z3369 Bashful Pearls, Z3381 Gold Heart Clips, Z3342 3-D Foam Dots, Z3132 Watercolor Paints, Z3188 Paintbrush Set, Z1979 Marvy® Uchida® LePen™ Journaling Pen, Z3290 Cricut® Flower Market Digital Collection

Cricut® Shapes:
Flower Market
2 ½” Background <C> (cut 7, p. 33, #MD70813)

12″ x 12″ This Is the Life Page
Z3351 Adventure Fundamental Paper Packet, Z3350 Whimsy Fundamental Paper Packet, Z3352 Enchantment Fundamental Paper Packet, X5941 Bashful Cardstock, 1385 White Daisy Cardstock, X5968 Lagoon Cardstock, Z3355 Happy Moments Complements, Z3371 Gold Pearls, Z3387 Cricut® You Are Here Digital Collection, Sewing Machine, Pen

Cricut® Shapes:
You Are Here
3½” Title (cut 8, p. 18, #M282C87A)
3½” Title <Seas> (p. 40, #M27F84BF)
3 ½” Shift+Title <Seas> (p. 40,#M27F84BF)

12″ x 12″ Together Page
Z3353 Basics Fundamental Paper Packet, X5941 Bashful Cardstock, 1385 White Daisy Cardstock, X5953 Charcoal Cardstock, Z891 VersaMark™ Ink Pad, Z3364 Basics Ribbon Pack, Z555 Craft Heater, Z2066 Ranger™ Princess Gold Embossing Powder, Z4034 Thin Cuts—Together, Z3342 3-D Foam Dots, Z3290 Cricut® Flower Market Digital Collection, Die-cutting Machine

Cricut® Shapes:
Flower Market
2 ½” Background <C> (cut 90, p. 33, #MD70813)*
*Grouped onto a 11″ x 11″ square and welded in Cricut Design Space™

Numbers starting with #M specify the image number in Cricut Design Space™

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August 17, 2017Create, Memory Keeping

Mini Summertime Adventure Album

Close To My Heartadventure, album, are, Artbooking, cabin, camp, camping, collection, cricut, here, mini, outdoor, summer, summertime, travel, vacation, you 8 Comments

Can you believe summer is already coming to a close? Oh how time flies when you’re having fun! Though it may be hard to wave farewell to days lounging by the pool, visiting family, and traveling to beautiful destinations, you can keep those summertime memories alive and well by creating a mini album. Summertime doesn’t have to end!

We created this camping-themed album with two of our exclusive Cricut® collections: Artbooking and You Are Here.

The Artbooking collection includes a variety of tabbed, hole-punched pages designed especially for creating mini albums like this one! To decorate those pages, we turned to the You Are Here collection, which is our newest Cricut® collection. This collection includes designs to help you document your adventures both near and far away from home. Combine these two collections together, and you’ve got everything you need to create any number of mini summertime adventure albums!

You’ll see lots of the Jack paper packet in our mini album. With its tree, woodgrain, and flannel-inspired plaid patterns, these papers are perfect for documenting your outdoor adventures. Just remember, it’s only available until the end of the month while supplies last, so grab yours while you can!

If these pages inspire you to make an album of your own, feel free to refer to the recipe at the bottom of this post to see which products we used, as well as more details about the Cricut® cuts.

What are your favorite memories from this summer? Tell us in the comments below!

Recipe

6″ Wander Mini Album
X7222B Jack Paper Packet, X5957 Sapphire Cardstock, X5948 Heather Cardstock, X5960 Fern Cardstock, X5979 Juniper Cardstock, X5950 Toffee Cardstock, X5978 Glacier Cardstock, X5962 Goldrush Cardstock, X5965 Ruby Cardstock, X5959 New England Ivy Cardstock, 1385 White Daisy Cardstock, Z3274 Clear Sparkles, Z1263 Bitty Sparkles, Z3095 Whisper Thick Twine, Z3169 Cricut® Artbooking Collection, Z3389 Cricut® You Are Here Collection

Cricut® Shapes:
Artbooking
3 ¼” Photo Mat 2 <1> (p. 38, Real Dial Size on)
6″ Photo Mat 1 <1> (cut 3, p. 38)
6″ Photo Mat 1 <2> (p. 39)
6″ Shift+Photo Mat 1 <@> (p. 39)
6″ Photo Mat 2 <3> (p. 40)
6″ Photo Mat 1 <3> (p. 40)

You Are Here
2 ½” Icon-2 <1> (p. 1)
2 ½” Shift+Icon-2 <!> (p. 1)
1 ½” Icon-3 <4> (p. 4)
1 ½” Shift+Icon-3 <$> (p. 4)
2″ Icon-4 <8> (cut 3, p. 8)
2″ Shift+Icon-4 <?> (cut 3, p. 8)
2″ Title <8> (p. 8)
2″ Shift+Title <8> (p. 8)
1 ½” Shift+Icon-3 <?> (p. 8)
2 ¾” Icon-4 <Y> (p. 16)
2″ Shift+Icon-1 <F> (p. 24)
2 ½” and 3″ Shift+Icon-3 <F> (p. 24)
2″ Icon-1 <G> (p. 25)
2″ Shift+Icon-1 <G> (p. 25)
1 ½” Title <G> (p. 25)
3″ Icon-2 <G> (p. 25)
3″ Shift+Icon-2 <G> (p. 25)
2″ Icon-4 (p. 35)
2″ Shift+Icon-4 (p. 35)
1″ Icon-2 (p. 35)
1″ Shift+Icon-2 (p. 35)
2 ¼” Title (p. 35)
2 ¼” Shift+Title (p. 35)
3″ Title (cut 2, p. 35)
2″ Title <Seas> (p. 40)
2″ Shift+Title <Seas> (p. 40)

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August 15, 2017Learn

10 Tips for Taking Better Photos on Your Phone

Close To My Heartbetter, chari, how, Learn, pack, persnickety, phone, photo, photography, prints, tips, to 14 Comments

Today’s post is an extra special treat! We’ve asked the talented Chari Pack, founder & CEO of Persnickety Prints, to share with you some tips for taking better photos on your phone. Whether you’re promoting your Close To My Heart business, taking photos for your scrapbooking, or just posting to social media, these tips are sure to take your phone photography to the next level!

The way you present yourself, your artwork, and the products you offer has a huge impact on your business. Online sales will increase with improved product images.

Here’s how to get the best shot every time…

1. Natural Light (no flash)

When shooting with flash, the subject can be blown out and shadows disappear. With product shots, a soft shadow adds depth. Keep your flash off and set products under a window using natural light.

2. Focus (tap screen)

On iPhones (and some Androids), tap the screen to focus on the subject. With the new iPhone 7S, use the portrait mode to blur out the background. With a short focal length, you’ll get that fancy dSLR camera result without the fancy camera.

3. Hold Steady & Level

“Camera shake” can cause your photo to be blurry. Use steady hands or prop up your phone and use the self-timer for best results.

4. Staging (simple & clean)

Invest in a white poster board—it’s the perfect solution for a DIY backdrop! Wrapping paper or other fun colors can be added for dimension. Be sure your CTMH projects, cards, and layouts stand out. “Busy” photos tend to get lost in the crowd.

5. Get up close and personal!

Don’t be afraid to get up close to show details of the project. Shoot from different angles to focus on specific elements.

6. Pay attention to shadows

Be sure the shadow of your hand or camera is not in the frame. When shooting scrapbooking layouts, take the pages or photos out of the Memory Protectors™ and set the pages or photos on top. Your reader won’t notice they’re not inside, but they’ll notice the plastic glare when they are.

7. Use negative space to add text

10 Tips for Taking Better Photos on Your Phone #ctmh #closetomyheart #persnicketyprints #scrapbooking #memorykeeping #photography #tips Use the rule of thirds and push the subject to one side, leaving empty space to add a text overlay. We love using Rhonna Designs (iPhone and Android) and Adobe Post (iPhone and Desktop) to add text or a message to your photos.

8. Scale size with objects or pretty hands

Use objects to show the actual size of your product so the viewer isn’t misled. Well manicured hands holding a product works, too!

9. Keep your phone/camera level

When shooting from above your product, be sure your camera is flat and level. Use the Snapseed App (free on iTunes and Android) to adjust horizons if needed.

10. Take 1 minute to Edit & Enhance before sharing

Even a quick click of the enhance button in your native camera will give your photo just enough pop! We love Snapseed (free on iTunes and Android) for enhancements.

The Rhonna Designs App is not only great for text overlays: We also use it to journal and design prints for our scrapbooks!

We can’t wait to see you put these tools into action! Additional photo tips and tricks can be found on the Persnickety Prints blog.

XOXO,

Chari

Thanks, Chari, for the great tips! Let’s show her some love in the comments, folks!

Also, remember that Persnickety Prints created a discount code for you, our readers! Aren’t they the best? 🙂 Use this discount code to save 20% on your entire Persnickety Prints order: CTMH20

This code expires August 30, cannot be combined with other discount codes, and is limited to one use per customer.

Now go print those fabulous photos on your phone! 🙂

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August 8, 2017Community

10 Reasons Why Having a Crafting Squad Is the BEST!

Close To My Heart10, best, consultant, crafting, ctmh, reasons, squad, why 7 Comments

What’s great about the world of crafting is that it brings unique, talented women together. Whether you regularly attend scrapbooking crops or just have some friends who like to craft together every so often, having a crafting squad is basically the BEST—just read the reasons below!

1. They give you an excuse to slip out for some much needed “me” time.

Whether you’re a stay-at-home mama or a working woman, every gal needs a little “me” time to recharge her batteries—and going over to a friend’s house for a craft night is just the thing!

2. They understand the obsession.

They don’t think it’s crazy to stay up until midnight on your computer waiting for the launch of new crafting products—in fact, they’ll be up all night with you as you place your order and chat about your favorite new items!

3. They don’t mind when you go down memory lane because that’s what they’re all about—preserving and creating memories!

They totally get it if, while you’re scrapbooking, you somehow end up telling a 20-minute-long story about your cousin’s daughter’s dog: They value storytelling and memories, and they want to learn more about your family because they truly care about you.

4. They let you use their fun gadgets and gizmos.

What’s the next best thing to owning the latest and greatest crafting products? Knowing somebody that does! 😉 When you have a crafting squad, it’s like your crafting stash multiplies! They let you borrow their tools, and you let them do the same because that’s just what crafting buddies do! #squadgoals

5. They get your creative juices going.

When you hang out with your squad, you get to see the amazing artwork they create, which is always sure to inspire new ideas for you!

6. They teach you cool techniques and tricks.

On a similar note, you get to learn new techniques and tricks from your squad. When you have a problem you’re trying to overcome, two heads (or three, or four, or five…) are better than one!

7. They help you when you’re in a pickle.

Need last-minute décor for a forgotten birthday party? Did your Cricut® machine give up the ghost right before your crop? Do you need glitter paper for the school project due tomorrow that your kid just told you about? Crafting squad to the rescue! They’ll always have your back.

8. They make you feel like you belong to something bigger than yourself.

It’s not just about crafting. It’s about having a second family, a sisterhood, who understands you and accepts you for who you are.

9. They give you confidence and encourage you to be yourself.

They boost your self-esteem and make you feel validated when they admire your artwork. They make you feel capable of doing more than you thought you could, which translates into all aspect of your life.

10. They help you reach your goals and dreams.

Whether you’re trying to catch up on scrapbooking your family photos, creating handmade invitations for an upcoming event, or working toward earning an all-inclusive trip by being a Close To My Heart Consultant, they help you get closer to reaching your goals and dreams. It’s the best support group a girl could ask for. 🙂

Are there more reasons you love your crafting squad? Tell us in the comments below! Let’s share the love! 🙂

Looking for a crafting squad to join? We can help!

To find a Consultant in your area who can introduce you to other women who also love to craft, visit our website. You can also volunteer to have a Consultant throw a crafting party at your house and earn free products! Learn more here.

You can even become a Consultant and start building your team! Not only will you build your own crafting squad, but you can also make money and earn free products at the same time. Learn more here.

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August 1, 2017Community

Online Warehouse Sales All Month Long!

Close To My HeartAugust, online, sale, warehouse 3 Comments

Folks, our warehouse is stocked to the brim!!! We’ve gotta make room for all the exciting new products we have in store for you, so…how about we have a sale? 🙂

Actually, let’s make it FIVE sales—one for every week in August! Yeah, we like the sound of that! 🙂

Every Tuesday at 12:00 am (MDT) during the month of August, a whole new set of retired products will be posted online at 50% off the retail price!

And to sweeten the deal, we’re going to help you save on shipping costs! For these special online warehouse items, we’re gonna charge shipping on the discounted price, not the full retail price! Can we get a woot woot? 🙂

These products will only be available for one week or while supplies last, so make sure you check the latest deals every Tuesday! Our first batch is live right now—check it out!

Interested in even more special offers? Check out the awesome FREE items that you could get when you sign up as a Close To My Heart Consultant or the extra rewards you can earn by hosting a Gathering this month.

August is off to a great start! Now go get shopping! 😉

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1. Natural Light (no flash)

2. Focus (tap screen)

3. Hold Steady & Level

4. Staging (simple & clean)

5. Get up close and personal!

6. Pay attention to shadows

7. Use negative space to add text

8. Scale size with objects or pretty hands

9. Keep your phone/camera level

10. Take 1 minute to Edit & Enhance before sharing

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1. They give you an excuse to slip out for some much needed “me” time.

2. They understand the obsession.

3. They don’t mind when you go down memory lane because that’s what they’re all about—preserving and creating memories!

4. They let you use their fun gadgets and gizmos.

5. They get your creative juices going.

6. They teach you cool techniques and tricks.

7. They help you when you’re in a pickle.

8. They make you feel like you belong to something bigger than yourself.

9. They give you confidence and encourage you to be yourself.

10. They help you reach your goals and dreams.

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