September 22, 2021Celebrate, Create, Memory Keeping

Papercrafting Treats for Halloween!

Close To My HeartBesties, Boo Crew, box, Buddies, container, ezra, fall, Halloween, ian, isaac, joey, kelsie, Lucy, October, olivia, pod, pumpkin, spooky, treats, workshop, zoey 4 Comments

Happy first day of fall! Between the changing leaves, crisp evenings, and all the other great things about fall, one of our favorite things about this wonderful season is the Halloween celebrations and the great crafts that come with them!

This year, we’ve got some very special Halloween-themed products in store, starting with the Boo Crew collection! This spook-tacular suite includes an imaginative color scheme, bringing together the classic tones of orange and black, along with bright pink accents to tie it all together.

The Boo Crew collection features a selection of fun patterns in a paper packet, sticker sheet, stamp set, and Thin Cuts. With all kinds of cute and spooky sentiments, icons, and images, these stamps and stickers are the perfect complement to your favorite Halloween memories!

Rounding out this too-cute collection are the Boo Crew coordinating cardstock, made up of 3 sheets of Ballerina, Black, Nectarine, and Wild Berry 12″ x 12″ cardstock sheets, and the Boo Crew Sequins. These little holographic ghost sequins are a treat to include in any craft, and they’re sure to bring a little sparkle to the spooky moments you love most!

For an even sweeter treat, you can get all the Boo Crew products together in the discounted Boo Crew Product Bundle, for 20%-off!

In addition to the Boo Crew collection, we’re also very excited about our new Halloween Besties and Halloween Buddies stamp sets and Thin Cuts dies! Our Besties and Buddies, Zoey, Kelsie, Lucy, Olivia, Ezra, Isaac, Ian, and Joey are back with a hauntingly fun twist to their original Besties and Buddies debut!

These festive Halloween sets are all available now, through our September–October catalog, and make a bewitching addition to our Halloween products for the 2021 spooky season!

To ensure we capture as much of the Halloween spirit we can this year, we’ve also put together a workshop that creates three coordinating 12″ x 12″ two-page scrapbook layouts and six treat containers using the products from the Boo Crew collection.

Join us for a Facebook Live, on October 12, at 2 p.m., MST, to create all three scrapbook layouts together. Then, keep watching for the second half of our Boo Crew workshop, where we will have Close To My Heart President Monica Wihongi’s daughter, Maya, demonstrating how to create the Boo Crew treat containers!

We hope you have a safe and fun Halloween season, and we can’t wait to see all the incredible things you create with the Boo Crew collection and the Halloween Besties and Buddies!

Recipe

12″ x 12″ Spooktacular Layout
Z3997 Halloween Buddies—Ezra Stamp + Thin Cuts, Z3988 Halloween Buddies—Joey Stamp + Thin Cuts, X6047 Black Cardstock, X5947 Mink Cardstock, X6033 Paprika Cardstock, X6051 Sundance Cardstock, X6056 Wild Berry Cardstock, X6032 Wisteria Cardstock, Z2832 Pewter Exclusive Inks™ Stamp Pad, Z6521 Sundance Exclusive Inks™ Stamp Pad, Z4189 Intense Black Exclusive Inks™ Stamp Pad, Z3837 Pumice Stone Distress Oxide™ Ink Pad, Z5021 Wild Berry Loose Sequins, Z2475 Brown Grey TriBlend™ Marker, Z2517 Burnt Orange TriBlend™ Marker, Z2515 Earth Brown Shades TriBlend™ Marker, Z2476 Fair Skin TriBlend™ Marker, Z2516 Gold Brown Shades TriBlend™ Marker, Z2513 Red Brown TriBlend™ Marker, Z2477 Tan TriBlend™ Marker, Z697 Round Sponge , Z2089 Glue Dots® Micro Dots, Z2060 Thin 3-D Foam Tape, Z5038 Die-cutting & Embossing Machine, Sewing Machine

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September 1, 2021Celebrate, Create

Celebrating All Things Slimline Cards!

Close To My Heartbubbles, cards, circles cluster, critter, fish, fishy greetings, gnome, mini garden gnomes, National Stamping Month, nsm, September, slimline, Slimline Celebration, stars cluster, thoughtful critters 88 Comments

National Stamping Month is here! Celebrate with us in a Slimline Celebration! With so many great deals on slimline stamps and Thin Cuts metal dies, it’s bound to be one of the biggest bashes of the year!

The Slimline Celebration special includes three exclusive stamp and Thin Cuts sets, one stamp set of just sentiments, and two exclusive Thin Cuts dies, all of which have been designed specifically for slimline cards! Let’s take a closer look at all the amazing stamps and Thin Cuts available through this Slimline Celebration!

One of the stand-out stamp and Thin Cuts sets in the Slimline Celebration is the Mini Garden Gnomes set! Some of our most popular stamp sets over the past year have been from our gnome collection, and this miniature gnome set is sure to be a fast favorite.

With a fun assortment of sentiments, images, and icons, the Mini Garden Gnomes Stamp + Thin Cuts is the perfect way to step up your slimline creations!

Along with our mini gnomes, we also have Thoughtful Critter Stamp + Thin Cuts! This adorable set includes a variety of woodland creatures with a handful of playful sentiments.

These stamps and metal dies make it easy to create unforgettable slimline cards that dazzle every time!

In addition to the too-cute Thoughtful Critters, our Slimline Celebration also includes the Fishy Greetings Stamp + Thin Cuts. This stamp and Thin Cuts set is yet another way to add some whimsical delight to your slimline cards!

The last stamp set included in the Slimline Celebration special is the My Acrylix® Slimline Sentiments stamp set. This set includes twice as many stamps as a normal set would have and is comprised entirely of sentiments tailored specifically for slimline cards!

These sentiment stamps include options for both vertical and horizontal cards, and look incredible no matter where they’re placed! These stamps are perfect for card fronts and interiors, alike, making them a quick, easy, and versatile option as you create your own slimline cards!

For some extra pizzaz, the Slimline Celebration special also includes two stand-alone Thin Cuts (dies) to help you create gorgeous backgrounds. With the Stars Cluster Thin Cuts, it’s quick and easy to create a stellar foundation for your card, while the Circles Cluster Thin Cuts allows for versatile creation right from the start.

For even more fun, all the stamps and Thin Cuts you’ve seen here today are available together in the Slimline Celebration Product Bundle at a 20% discount, and to top it all off, we’re also hosting a special National Stamping Month virtual event on September 24, via Facebook Live!

This event is open to all crafters to watch, but in order to fully participate, viewers will need to purchase the Slimline Celebration Cardmaking Workshop Kit (CC92112), which includes all the stamps and Thin Cuts available through the Slimline Celebration special, along with Clear Sparkles, cardstock in various colors, and 12 slimline cards and envelopes.

As a special treat, we’re giving away five Slimline Celebration Cardmaking Workshop Kits to five lucky readers! All you have to do to qualify for this giveaway is make sure that you’re subscribed to this blog and leave a comment below telling us about your favorite part of the Slimline Celebration special, or who you’d love to give a slimline card to! You have until noon on Friday, September 3 (MST), to subscribe and leave a comment. All winners will be notified via email (the one you are subscribed with!).

Good luck and happy National Stamping Month!

Recipes

3½” x 8½” Swimming by To Say Card (Vertical)
CC9217 Fishy Greetings Stamp + Thin Cuts, CC9214 My Acrylix® Slimline Sentiments Stamp Set, X5978 Glacier Cardstock, X6062 Harbour Cardstock, 1385 White Daisy Cardstock, Z3885 Distress Watercolor Cardstock, Z2895 Lagoon Exclusive Inks™ Stamp Pad, Z4189 Intense Black Exclusive Inks™ Stamp Pad, Z4521 Mermaid Lagoon Distress Oxide™ Ink Pad, Z5030 Lagoon Loose Gems, Z2481 Coral TriBlend™ Marker, Z2486 Dull Green TriBlend™ Marker, Z2519 Gold Yellow TriBlend™ Marker, Z2474 Ice Grey TriBlend™ Marker, Z2480 Orange TriBlend™ Marker, Z2496 Pale Pink TriBlend™ Marker, Z3557 Cool Mint Stickles™ Glitter Glue, Z3563 Diamond Stickles™ Glitter Glue, Z3789 Hibiscus Stickles™ Glitter Glue, CC9218 Circle Cluster Thin Cuts, Z5038 Die-cutting & Embossing Machine, Z2089 Glue Dots® Micro Dots

3½” x 8½” Happy Birthday Card (Vertical)
CC9216 Thoughtful Critters Stamp + Thin Cuts, CC9214 My Acrylix® Slimline Sentiments Stamp Set, X6057 Capri Cardstock, X6062 Harbour Cardstock, X6063 Papaya Cardstock, 1385 White Daisy Cardstock, Z4189 Intense Black Exclusive Inks™ Stamp Pad, Z2481 Coral TriBlend™ Marker, Z2478 Earth Brown TriBlend™ Marker, Z2519 Gold Yellow TriBlend™ Marker, Z2496 Pale Pink TriBlend™ Marker, Z3563 Diamond Stickles™ Glitter Glue, Z3789 Hibiscus Stickles™ Glitter Glue, CC9219 Star Cluster Thin Cuts, Z5038 Die-cutting & Embossing Machine

3½” x 8½” You’re the Best Card (Vertical)
CC9215 Mini Garden Gnomes Stamp + Thin Cuts, CC9214 My Acrylix® Slimline Sentiments Stamp Set, X6053 Avocado Cardstock, X5951 Espresso Cardstock, X5978 Glacier Cardstock, 1385 White Daisy Cardstock, Z3885 Distress Watercolor Cardstock, Z6523 Avocado Exclusive Inks™ Stamp Pad, Z4189 Intense Black Exclusive Inks™ Stamp Pad, Z4521 Mermaid Lagoon Distress Oxide™ Ink Pad, Z5026 Clear Loose Gems, Z2475 Brown Grey TriBlend™ Marker, Z2481 Coral TriBlend™ Marker, Z2486 Dull Green TriBlend™ Marker, Z2478 Earth Brown TriBlend™ Marker, Z2476 Fair Skin TriBlend™ Marker, Z2519 Gold Yellow TriBlend™ Marker, Z2496 Pale Pink TriBlend™ Marker, Z3557 Cool Mint Stickles™ Glitter Glue, Z3789 Hibiscus Stickles™ Glitter Glue, Z5038 Die-cutting & Embossing Machine, Z2089 Glue Dots® Micro Dots

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August 11, 2021Celebrate, Community, Create, Inspiration

Back to School Teacher Gifts!

Close To My Heartapple, appreciation, back to school, cricut, Design Space, DIY, gift, gift box, note pad, school, sticky note, teacher 13 Comments

How is it the middle of August already? Bells will ring, announcing the start of a new school year, and students and teachers, alike, will be back in the thick of it all before we know it!

Our teachers give so much of themselves, year after year. As our children prepare to return to fill their classrooms, let’s add to their supply lists a small gift of appreciation and encouragement!

We’ve got three simple projects for you and your kiddos to work on and bring to your teachers on that momentous first day.

First, we have a fun twist on the traditional school apple.

Did you know that, back in the 1700s, some families would give teachers a basket full of apples as payment for their child’s education? Now-a-days, the gifting of apples (or an apple) shifted from attempted compensation to a kind gesture of appreciation.

We’ve got a delicious variation of this popular gift with these gorgeous paper apples.

You will need three different color/pattern papers for the body of the apples, another paper for the leaf, and another for the tag (if you choose to add a tag). You will also need a pencil (cut down to 6″), adhesive, and twine.

We used a combination of shapes from our Art Philosophy Cricut® collection and free shapes available through Cricut Design Space™ to cut the pieces you see here. (School Apple Cricut Design Space™ file.) If you don’t have a cutting machine, we kept the shapes fairly simple so they could be recreated by hand. We recommend making the apple shape first, on a scratch piece of paper, and then using this as a template to trace and hand trim the six apples needed for the 3-D apple shape.

Once you have all of your shapes cut, fold the apple pieces along the score lines and attach them to each other, as shown above. (For those of you who cut these shapes by hand, there should be two score lines in the middle of each, approx. ⅜” apart.) Before attaching the last two wedges together, closing the circle, glue the pencil inside the “core.”

Embellish the apple with a leaf and a tag and then it’s ready for school!

Dressed up sticky notes is another fun way to show your teachers a little love. You know they will use sticky notes throughout the school year, so why not add a little flair and present them as gift?

To make one of these, you will need a 3″ x 3″ sticky note pad, one sheet of cardstock for the base of the holder, hook and loop dots (aka velcro dots), adhesive, and any type of embellishment you wish to add to the inside or outside of the base.

Use this Design Space file to cut the long, scalloped and scored rectangle cardstock piece you see here. (If you are cutting it by hand, the rectangle is 3¼” x 8½” and has score lines at 2⅛”, 2⅝”, 5⅞”, 6⅜” from the bottom.) Once you’ve cut and scored the cardstock, this project is pretty intuitive. First, attach the note pad to the center of the cardstock. Next, fold the pieces up and around the note pad. Then, embellish the top of the holder however you’d like, and finish by adding a hook and loop pair for the closing.

The last diy gift of appreciation we’re showing you today is actually a gift box for you to make and then fill with small goodies.

To make one of these boxes you will need two sheets of cardstock or pattern paper (that’s if you’d like for the box insert and sleeve to be different colors or designs), adhesive, and embellishments of your choice.

Use this Design Space file to cut the necessary shapes. (If you don’t have a cutting machine and would like to make a gift box, use this link to learn how to make one similar to the one shown here.)

Fold the cut paper along the score lines and attach them with adhesive to create the sleeve and box insert. Decorate the top of the box with additional papers, the teacher’s name, and other embellishments, and then fill it with goodies you know your teacher would like (tissues, lotion, hand sanitizer, a gift card, candies, etc.). That’s it!

Now, let’s show our teachers some love and encouragement this upcoming school year by letting them know, even in small ways, that we see and recognize their hard work and dedication.

In the comments below, we’d love to hear what you’re doing to show your teachers how much you appreciate them. ❤️

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July 14, 2021Celebrate, Create

Return to the Happiest Place with New Cardmaking and Scrapbooking Workshops!

Close To My Heartamusement park, balloons, castle, ferris wheel, happiest place, happy place, magic, mouse, party girl, return to the happiest place, roller coaster, silver foil, slimline, slimline cards, theme park 12 Comments

Return to the Happiest Place #closetomyheart #ctmh #ctmhreturntothehappiestplace #cmthhappiestplace #cutabove #happiestplace #amusementpart #themepark #rollercoaster #castle#scrapbooking #cardmaking #papercrafting #partygirl

We are returning to one of our happy places this month by bringing back some of our most magical products and two new workshop kits, all at 20% discounted prices!

With vibrant colors, delightfully whimsical patterns, and a wide selection of coordinating items, the Return to the Happiest Place collection is a must have, as so many of you already know! If you missed out on any of these dreamy products last summer, or wish you got more of them, now is your chance to stock up and save!

And, because no one likes a sequel that is exactly the same as the original, we are offering two new workshop kits this time around to sweeten the magic!

Let’s take a VIP tour!

1. Happiest Place Paper Packet + Sticker Sheet

Our first stop is the Happiest Place Paper Packet + Sticker Sheet. This packet comes with twice as many patterned papers than the packets in most of our other collections, with 12 sheets—two each of six double-sided 12″ x 12″ designs!

Along with this awesome paper count, the coordinating sticker sheet in this collection is full of eye-catching silver glitter foil accents!

Happiest Place Paper Collection #ctmh #closetomyheart #happiestplace #scrapbooking #cardmaking #papercrafting #magic #themepark #amusementpark #dream #cutabove #memorykeeping

2. Happiest Place Coordinating Cardstock

The Happiest Place Coordinating Cardstock also comes in a pack of 12 sheets, including six sheets with silver foil patterns on one side designed especially with the collection’s theme in mind.

3. Happiest Place Acrylic Shapes

Looking to add even more dimension to your projects? The Happiest Place Acrylic Shapes coordinate perfectly with the magical patterns in this collection and make a great addition to any card or scrapbook layout!

4. Happiest Place Stamp + Thin Cuts

They say, “a dream is a wish your heart makes, when you’re fast asleep.” Well, wake up and dream no further! Next, on our tour, we have the Happiest Place Stamp + Thin Cuts set. The dies in this set make creating your own dimensional accents from this fanciful coordinating stamp set even easier!

5. SVG Files!

Also returning for this year’s sequel are the Happiest Place Digital Art Titles and Designs!

After downloading the image files, resize them, remove layers, and much more with your chosen software, and then cut the shapes with your personal digital cutting machine. These files can be used to cut paper for your cards and layouts, and they can also be used to cut vinyl to create one-of-a-kind album covers!

6. Happiest Place Cut Above^® Kit

Use the materials in this kit to create the pages of an 8½” x 11″ album—an opening page, a closing page, and seven two-page layouts. No fussy-cutting required!

The Happiest Place Cut Above^® Layout Kit includes pre-printed base pages, exclusive die-cuts, pre-cut pieces, and instructions to guide you through every step of the way! No cutting or stamping necessary. Just pair this kit and your memories with a journaling pen, photos, and some adhesive!

7. Return to the Happiest Place Scrapbooking Workshop

Does this stop look a bit familiar? The Return to the Happiest Place Scrapbooking Workshop Kit turns the 8½” x 11″ pages from the Cut Above kit into 12″ x 12″ pages! Download the instructional guide below and take a look!

scrapbooking workshop guide (US/CA)
scrapbooking workshop guide (AU/NZ)

8. Return to the Happiest Place Cardmaking Workshop

Our final stop of this VIP tour, and newest addition to our collection, is the Return to the Happiest Place cardmaking workshop!

With the materials in this kit, you can create 20 slimline cards, two each of 10 designs!

Download the guides, below!

cardmaking guide (US/CA)
cardmaking guide (AU/NZ)

Thank you for visiting us today as we returned to one of our happiest places! In the comments below, let us know how you are using this magically beautiful collection!

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July 7, 2021Celebrate, Create, Inspiration

Christmas in July!

Close To My Heartbbmp, Bring Back My Pack, christmas, Christmas in July, cricut, pineapple, stars & sparkler, White Pines 3 Comments

It’s always a great time to celebrate all the things you love about Christmas, even in the middle of the year! The concept of a Christmas in July crafting party has been around for a while, and this year, we’re getting in on the fun! (Fun fact: Some crafters call their Christmas in July parties LEON parties—that’s NOEL spelled backward! 🤓🎄)

No matter how you choose to celebrate or what type of projects you feature at your soiree, a Christmas in July party is a fun excuse to get together with friends, family, and fellow crafters, and prepare for the upcoming holiday season, or catch up on your scrapbooking from the last year!

For our Christmas in July celebration, we’ve brought back one of our favorite paper suites from the past—White Pines—and given it a fresh look with an updated color scheme and a brand new 12″ x 12″ sticker sheet!

This gorgeous collection is accompanied by four stamp sets, two workshop kits, and a product bundle, which includes all the exclusive White Pines products! With so many adorable holiday designs and products, the refreshed White Pines suite is just what you need to get into the Christmas-in-July spirit!

To get your own Christmas in July party started off on the right foot, a few handmade decorations can be a great addition to the festivities. For a fun take on a Christmas tree, we’ve taken this awesome pineapple, given it its own pair of stylish sunglasses cut from our Cricut® Stars & Sparklers collection, and outfitted its crown with a few festive paper ornaments from our Artbooking collection! (Learn more about these Cricut® collections, here.)

You can also spruce up your backgrounds with a fun and simple garland. For this festive spread, we’ve repurposed the gnomes from our Chillin with My Gnomies Stamp + Thin Cuts for a more summery Santa Claus and fellow elves! Pair a few of these cut-outs with festive patterned stars, dress them up in red, white, and green stripes, and voila! You have a cute summer Santa garland!

With a few handmade decorations on hand, you’re all set for your very own Christmas in July, Leon party! Once you’re finished with your décor, it’s time to plan what you and your guests will make during the party itself. Popular choices for Christmas in July party crafts are scrapbook pages to document precious Christmas memories, or Christmas cards for the upcoming holiday season.

If you’re looking for project ideas to incorporate into a Christmas in July party, our White Pines scrapbooking and cardmaking workshop kits are a great way to keep your celebrations going. These workshops come with step-by-step instructions and are easy for crafters of many experience levels to complete.

The White Pines cardmaking workshop kit includes all the exclusive materials you’ll need to create 20 beautiful Christmas cards—4 each of 5 designs!

A handmade Christmas card for a close friend or family member can be the perfect addition to your holiday festivities and making these cards early on will leave you with more time for other festive traditions, all while helping you feel a little bit of Christmas magic, even when Christmas is half a year away!

Another way to keep your Christmas spirit strong year-round is to create holiday-themed scrapbooking pages! We all have treasured memories and traditions that we want to document, and many of these are centered around special occasions, like Christmas.

With our White Pines scrapbooking workshop kit, it’s a breeze to create gorgeous scrapbook pages for your favorite holiday memories! This workshop includes the White Pines materials you’ll need to create three two-page layouts and one single page.

Each of these layouts makes a beautiful background for your holiday photos and they’re sure to be pages you’ll adore for years to come!

We’re so excited to be able to provide a starting point for some Christmas in July creativity this year, and we can’t wait to see how you use the White Pines collection! Have you made your own Christmas in July crafts before? Leave a comment below and let us know about your experience!

RECIPES

Pineapple Sunglasses & Ornaments
CC72110 White Pines Paper Packet, X6047 Black Cardstock, X5950 Toffee Cardstock, 1385 White Daisy Cardstock, Z4213 Silver Embellishi n g Thread, Z3372 Adhesive Runner, Cricut® Artbooking Collection, Cricut® Stars & Sparklers Collection, Pineapple

Cricut® Shapes:
Artbooking
#M3D45C

Stars & Sparklers
#M22FC2524

Summer Santa & Elves Garland
Z3965 Chillin’ with My Gnomies Stamp + Thin Cuts, CC72110 White Pines Paper Packet, X7271B Wander Paper Packet, X6038 Candy Apple Cardstock, Z3555 Christmas Red Stickles™ Glitter Glue, Z3799 Carnation Red Liquid Pearls™, Z2475 Brown Grey TriBlend™ Marker, Z2484 Citrus Green TriBlend™ Marker, Z2497 Dark Red TriBlend™ Marker, Z2476 Fair Skin TriBlend™ Marker, Z1151 3-D Foam Tape, Cricut® Basic Shapes, Die-cutting & Embossing Machine, White Twine

Cricut® Shape:
Basic Shapes
#M36989A

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June 16, 2021Celebrate, Inspiration, Memory Keeping

Photos to Take This Summer, and What to Do with Them!

Close To My Heartlist, photo, photo ideas, photo list, picture ideas, picture list, pictures, summer, summertime 9 Comments

Pictures to Take This Summer #closetomyheart #ctmh #summerphotos #photoideas #memorykeeping #scrapbooking #summer

We will be rolling out those hazy, lazy, crazy days of summer real soon, and to prep we’ve compiled a list of photo ideas so they won’t be so “hazy” come fall (how “lazy” and “crazy” these next couple of months are is up to you! 😉)

Whether you’ll be going on a huge vacation or planning on sticking around locally, there is so much life to capture during the summertime. The best part, these moments don’t require extravagant locations or fancy dress. All you need is you and your people and, of course, your camera.

Before we jump into our list of photo ideas, let’s talk about what to do with all of these photos once you have them. The worst thing you can do is take hundreds of awesome photos and then loose them to the seemingly bottomless pit of a gallery that you have saved on your phone or on social media, to never be seen again. Let’s just not do that this year. We can do better, and here’s how.

The first step is to turn digital images into printed pictures. We all take multiple photos of the same thing to get that “perfect pic.” Choose your favorites, print these off, and then delete the rest (you can do it!).

The next step is deciding what you want to do with these printed pictures—do you want to scrapbook all of them or put a few on display?

If scrapbooking is not your thing, make it your thing! It is not an archaic medium, and it certainly is not obsolete. One of the wonderful things about scrapbooking is that it combines your creativity with your photos and memories in a way that is personal and unique to you. If you already journal this way, a scrapbook is not that different. In a scrapbook, however, your memories will be better preserved through the years because your pages are in clear plastic pockets we call Memory Protectors™.

Regardless of whether scrapbooking is or isn’t something you’re into, if you’ve got a lot of summer photos that you want to put in an album, pocket scrapbooking is a great solution to quickly scrap all of your photos (even those photos that you may have multiples of because you couldn’t pick just one as your favorite). Add journaling, a few pieces of paper here and there, and you’re done!

If you’ve got a lot of pictures of one particular subject, like a trip or a person, the Short Story approach by Story by Stacy™ may be the way to go. The instructional workbook walks you through the process of visual storytelling in a 6″ × 6″ album, using a large group of photos topped off with a personal story written at the very end.

Displaying your summertime fun is definitely something we encourage! You can frame individual photos or create collages of all shapes and sizes. Add stickers, patterned papers, journaling—whatever will fit with the feelings you’re hoping to capture and the story you want to tell.

Now, as promised, here’s a list of photo ideas to take this summer. Use them all, just a few, or maybe use these as a jumping off place to new ideas of your own. Whatever you do, find and capture moments during this summertime so you’ll not only have an answer to the “so, what did you do this summer?” question, but also a keepsake for yourself and your family for years to come.

SUMMER PHOTO IDEAS

Wearing sunglasses
Lounging in the sun
Tan lines
Enjoying a cool summer treat
Summer beverage
Summer reading
Seashells
Flowers
Sunset
Working on a summer craft
Favorite summer footwear/“where I stand”
Fireworks
Summer bbq/cook-outs
Water fight
American flag/July 4^th decorations
Patriotic clothing
Fireflies
Sun flare
Road tripping/vacation
Beach landscape
Feet in the sand
Eating watermelon
Bubbles
Blue skies/summer clouds
Family time
Shopping
Kites
Summer dress/beach hat/go-to summer outfit
Ducks
Temperature (on a thermometer/screen)
Mani/Pedi
Attending a sporting event
Deck chairs
Riding bikes
Silhouettes on a bright sunny day
Fun in the yard
Fun on the water (boating/paddle boarding, etc.)
Car wash
Local carnival/fair
Enjoying the outdoors (nature walks/hiking/camping/bonfire)
Summer garden (veggies/flowers)
Sidewalk chalk
Summer love
Pets outside (on a walk/at a park)
Kids taking photos
Around the house
Colorful fruit
Golden hour lighting (about an hour before sunset or an hour after sunrise)
Your front porch
Nap time

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June 9, 2021Celebrate, Community

Calling All Crafters! Come and Celebrate with Us!

Close To My Heartconsultant, convention, fee, Maker, promotion, registration, sign up, virtual 13 Comments

2021 Virtual Convention #ctmh #closetomyheart #virtualconvention #scrapbooking #cardmaking #papercrafting #crafting #diy

One of our favorite things about our Close To My Heart family is connecting with crafters from all over the world. There’s something magical about joining together with friends to create beautiful things. This year, the magic is happening at the Close To My Heart 2021 Virtual Convention, July 27–29! Want to get your Convention registration fees waived? Learn how, below!

Over the course of our time in the crafting industry, we’ve had the chance to host some fabulous events, and we’ve put our whole heart into each and every one. While we will miss being able to meet together in person, this year’s virtual Convention is sure to be one for the record books!

Through all the experiences of the past year, we’ve all realized just how important it is to stay connected to family, friends, and of course, fellow crafters. This year’s Virtual Convention will include opportunities for crafting, education, creation, connection, and celebration with Makers from the USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and Japan! The online-only format of this Convention will allow for many more Makers to join us. We’re so thrilled to have the chance to connect more fully with so many friends, whether you’ve just joined the Close To My Heart family or we’ve known you for years and years!

Convention attendees will be able to participate in business training classes, artwork workshops, giveaways, contests, and more! In addition, Close To My Heart President, Monica Wihongi, and other members of the Home Office staff will give Convention attendees an in-depth first look at TWO new catalogs: the 2021–2022 Core Products Catalog and the 2021 September–October catalog! These beautiful catalogs are full of brand-new products and eye-popping artwork, from cover to cover!

As a Convention participant, you’ll not only get the chance to see these catalogs, you’ll have the opportunity to craft with some of the new products showcased in them! This will be the only opportunity to get an early preview of these highly anticipated catalogs, and it’s worth tuning in just for that!

This event will also provide us a special opportunity to celebrate the achievements of our US Makers over the last year. We love recognizing our Makers’ exceptional efforts and accomplishments and look forward to celebrating the achievements and successes of this great community with all of you!

2021 Virtual Convention is sounding better all the time, isn’t it? And we haven’t even gotten to the part about how you can qualify for free event registration yet!

Virtual Convention will be an exciting, 3-day event for Close To My Heart Makers only. If you’re not a Maker yet, now is the perfect time to join the ranks!

That’s where this month’s Sign Up & Celebrate special comes in! Through this special offer, any new Makers who sign up during June will have their Convention registration fee waived! For our existing Makers, anyone who signs up five or more new Makers during the month of June will also have their registration fees reimbursed! This amazing offer will only be available through June 30, so be sure to take advantage of this chance to join us with no registration fees!

What are you most excited for with the 2021 Virtual Convention? Leave a comment below to let us know what you’re looking forward to! We’d also love to hear from you if you’ve already registered for Convention! Comment below to let us know you’re coming!

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June 2, 2021Celebrate, Create

Cutting Diagrams and Patterns for a Father’s Day Mini Album!

Close To My Heartdad, download, father, father's day, free, guide, keepsake, mini album, no ordinary dad, pattern, stars & sparklers, workshop 4 Comments

Can you believe we’re already in June?! It’s that time of year where we shift our focus to the dads in our lives and remind them of just how much we appreciate them! To help us do exactly that, not only have we designed three sweet and fun No Ordinary Dad stamp sets for you to make your own meaningful creations, but we also designed a 4″ x 4″ mini album using these very stamp sets, highlighting what makes fathers so special!

No Ordinary Dad

Best Dad Ever

My Dad Rocks

Mini Album:

(click on the individual images to enlarge)

Handmade Father's Day Gifts #closetomyheart #ctmh #ctmhnoordinarydad #noordinarydad #scrapbooking #stamping #diyphotoalbum #minialbum #father'sday #bestdadever

To make this mini album, exactly as you see here, you will need the following materials:

My Acrylix® No Ordinary Dad Stamp Set
My Acrylix® Best Dad Ever Stamp Set
My Acrylix® My Dad Rocks Stamp Set
Blue Belle 4″ x 4″ Album
Stars & Sparklers Paper Packet + Sticker Sheet
Stars & Sparklers Coordinating Cardstock
(or 1 Bluebird, 1 Carolina, 1 Sapphire, 1 Scarlet, 1 Toffee, and 2 White Daisy sheets)
Blue Belle Cardstock (1 sheet)
Bluebird Exclusive Inks™ Stamp Pad
Sapphire Exclusive Inks™ Stamp Pad
Scarlet Exclusive Inks™ Stamp Pad
Silver Shimmer Trim
Black Journaling Pen (.01)

Download the free cutting diagrams and patterns, below, for additional guidance to make this super cute and meaningful little keepsake!

No Ordinary Dad Mini Album guide (US/CA)Download

No Ordinary Dad Mini Album guide (AU/NZ)

Make Father’s Day a little extra special this year with meaningful, personalized handmade gifts from the heart. ❤️

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May 26, 2021Celebrate, Create, Inspiration, Learn, Memory Keeping

Create an Entire Album in Less than 2 Hours!

Close To My Heart3-2-1, 321, 6 x 8, 6" x 8", album, formula, national scrapbooking month, nsm, scrapbooking, technique, you are enough 4 Comments

Scrapbooking Made Quick #closetomyheart #ctmh #ctmhyouareenough #youareenough #nsmyouarenough #nationalscrapbookingmonth #nsm #scrapbooking #scrapbook #scrapbookingtechnique

If you’re looking for a quick, easy, and beautiful way to scrapbook your photos, then we’ve got just the thing to make that happen!

A little while back, we shared a speedy scrapbooking technique that we called the 3-2-1 Formula to make 10 6″ x 8″ two-page layouts. Since it’s national scrapbooking month, we decided to pair this speedy scrapbooking method with the exclusive You Are Enough collection and share with you our gorgeous results!

(Click on the individual images to enlarge.)

Now, let’s revisit the steps to making this album! As the name implies, this is a formulaic project. That means that you will follow a simple formula to cut all of your patterned paper and then assemble your layouts. As you will see, you will continue to have a lot of creative freedom to add your own flair to each of your pages. No two albums will look the same, unless you make them that way intentionally.

Here’s what you’ll need:

5 sheets of patterned paper* (in a variety of coordinating patterns)
4 cardstock sheets* in coordinating colors (coordinate with your patterned paper)
10 White Daisy cardstock sheets*
Coordinating embellishments

*If you are not familiar with Close To My Heart products, all of our cardstock and patterned papers come in a 12″ x 12″ format, and that is what we will be using to make this project.

Step 1: Creating Base Pages. The very first thing we cut are base pages, from the White Daisy cardstock. From 10 sheets, you should be able to get 20 6″ x 8″ pieces.

Step 2: Cutting Patterned Paper. Before measuring and cutting anything, trim all the zip strips from each of the patterned paper sheets. The zip strip is the extra ½” accent paper along the top of each Close To My Heart patterned paper sheet. Cut each of these in half and set them aside. Next, cut the remaining 12″ x 12″ paper in half, to 6″ x 12″. Here’s where the 3-2-1 comes into play. Cut these two half sheets of patterned paper into strips of 3″ x 6″, 2″ x 6″, and 1″ x 6″.

(Half of this example is showing what the pattern is on the back side of this sheet. Each one of our patterned papers has a double-sided coordinating design, for additional creative flexibility.)

Step 3: Creating Photo Mats from Cardstock. For a more polished look, we like to add photo mats behind most, if not all, of our photos. That is what we make with the four sheets of coordinating cardstock.

Cut each cardstock sheet into six 6″ x 4″ rectangles. You should have a total of 24 when you are done. If you’d like to have a few 3″ x 4″ mats, simply cut these in half. Please note that the photos you will be mounting on these mats will have to be trimmed down a ¼” in both height and width to fit.

Step 4: Putting It All Together. You’re going to need a bit of space for this part, so make sure to clear your table or a place on your living room rug or somewhere else you can keep your project safe. Lay out all 20 White Daisy cardstock base pages. Next, distribute the strips of patterned paper and cardstock mats. Each page should get one 4″ x 6″ photo mat, or two 3″ x 4″ mats, and one strip of each size, 3″, 2″, and 1″. If you’d like for the pages that will be facing each other in your album to match, keep that in mind as you distribute your papers. Lastly, decide how you want to attach these pieces to your pages and get to it! Move the components around until you are happy with your pages. Experiment with different arrangements and consider whether you want 3″ x 4″ or 4″ x 6″ photo mats on your layouts, or a combination of both.

Step 5: Embellish! Using coordinating embellishments, add your finishing touches!

If you like our finished album and would like to recreate it using our same papers and embellishments, make sure to get your You Are Enough papers, cardstock, and butterfly sequins while you still can! This collection is only available while supplies last and it has been flying off our shelves, fast! If you want to make an album like this using other papers and embellishments, that’s completely okay, too! The beauty of the 3-2-1 technique is that it can be used with any coordinating papers and embellishments you like.

As we begin to wrap up another National Scrapbooking month, we hope you enjoy creating scrapbook pages that you love and that best suit your photos and memories!

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Make It from Your Heart

Category Archives: Celebrate

Papercrafting Treats for Halloween!

Celebrating All Things Slimline Cards!

Back to School Teacher Gifts!

Return to the Happiest Place with New Cardmaking and Scrapbooking Workshops!

Christmas in July!

Cutting Diagrams and Patterns for a Father’s Day Mini Album!

Create an Entire Album in Less than 2 Hours!

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