Cherish Your Love, Now and Forever!

Cherish Your Love, Now and Forever! #love #valentinesday2023 #valentine #now&forever #scrapbooking #cardmaking #memories #relationship #cards #care #floral #stories #storytelling #you&me

At Close To My Heart, it’s no secret that we love LOVE! Love is one of the most amazing things on earth, and as we’re only about a month away from Valentine’s Day 2023, we want to take some time to share a few ideas about how you can celebrate the love in your life this year! 

Whether you’re celebrating new love, old love, love for family members, friends, or any other relationship, there’s no better way to commemorate it than with handmade crafts from the heart. With that in mind, we want to introduce you to our love-themed collection, Now & Forever

This collection is a callback to vintage floral patterns and is perfect for any design you can dream. The patterned paper is an adorable flurry of soft pinks and floral themes, with a dash of French-inspired flair, and a sticker sheet that kicks things up a notch with metallic gold accents.

  • Cherish Your Love, Now and Forever! #love #valentinesday2023 #valentine #now&forever #scrapbooking #cardmaking #memories #relationship #cards #care #floral #stories #storytelling #you&me
  • Cherish Your Love, Now and Forever! #love #valentinesday2023 #valentine #now&forever #scrapbooking #cardmaking #memories #relationship #cards #care #floral #stories #storytelling #you&me
  • Cherish Your Love, Now and Forever! #love #valentinesday2023 #valentine #now&forever #scrapbooking #cardmaking #memories #relationship #cards #care #floral #stories #storytelling #you&me
  • Cherish Your Love, Now and Forever! #love #valentinesday2023 #valentine #now&forever #scrapbooking #cardmaking #memories #relationship #cards #care #floral #stories #storytelling #you&me

Another stand-out feature of this collection is the accompanying assortment of embroidered floral and butterfly embellishments, which are a great way to dress up your cards and scrapbook pages!

Cherish Your Love, Now and Forever! #love #valentinesday2023 #valentine #now&forever #scrapbooking #cardmaking #memories #relationship #cards #care #floral #stories #storytelling #you&me

Last but not least is the Now & Forever Stamp + Thin Cuts set, which includes an exclusive selection of stamps, floral and butterfly dies, and a very special heart doily die, complete with delicate lace edging! With so many spectacular products to work with, Now & Forever is an excellent collection for preserving cherished memories and celebrating relationships with people that you love!

Cherish Your Love, Now and Forever! #love #valentinesday2023 #valentine #now&forever #scrapbooking #cardmaking #memories #relationship #cards #care #floral #stories #storytelling #you&me

To see the power of Now & Forever in action, we’re going to take a peek at the cards and scrapbook pages featured in the Now & Forever workshop kits!

Cherish Your Love, Now and Forever! #love #valentinesday2023 #valentine #now&forever #scrapbooking #cardmaking #memories #relationship #cards #care #floral #stories #storytelling #you&me

Our first stop on our Now & Forever journey is to take a look at the pages included in the scrapbooking workshop kit. First on the list is this 12″ x 12″ “Cutie Pie” layout. This layout was designed with room for eight total photos, making it a wonderful way to tell a story!

Cherish Your Love, Now and Forever! #love #valentinesday2023 #valentine #now&forever #scrapbooking #cardmaking #memories #relationship #cards #care #floral #stories #storytelling #you&me

With predominant themes of red, pink, and white, and splashes of Seabrook, this layout is a gorgeous backdrop for fond memories and journaling. One of our favorite parts of this layout is the selection of patterns and their flow across the page. The ledger pattern on the left page is balanced by the floral pattern on the right page, bridged by the red patterned paper that spans the center of the layout. Although not entirely symmetrical, these patterns flow nicely when grouped together this way—just another benefit of using coordinated papers in a Close To My Heart paper packet

Our second piece on the hot seat today is this single “Timeless” page. Right away, our eyes are drawn through the page from the “Timeless” title in the upper left-hand corner down through the lower right-hand corner, which sports a delicate lace-edged heart doily. 

Cherish Your Love, Now and Forever! #love #valentinesday2023 #valentine #now&forever #scrapbooking #cardmaking #memories #relationship #cards #care #floral #stories #storytelling #you&me

This unique feature is created by using the die in the Now & Forever Stamp + Thin Cuts set.The rest of the accents and detailing in this page were created using stickers, zip strips, and the Now & Forever Embroidered Embellishments, and we love how it came together!   

One of our favorite parts of the Now & Forever suite is the metallic gold detailing present on many of our stickers. These are on full display in this “Laugh Often…” layout. While this layout has a lot going on in terms of patterns, additional excitement is generated by the presence of multiple gold-accented stickers at various points around the pages.

Cherish Your Love, Now and Forever! #love #valentinesday2023 #valentine #now&forever #scrapbooking #cardmaking #memories #relationship #cards #care #floral #stories #storytelling #you&me

This layout also includes another heart doily die-cut, this time repurposed as a journaling piece! Between the innovative journaling piece and the selection of sparkly stickers, this layout is a wonderful example of the impact a few well-placed embellishments can have! 

Before we move on to our array of cards, we want to show off one last scrapbook layout, which brings together many of the stand-out elements discussed in the previous pages. The “Our Story” layout utilizes a beautiful blend of patterns from the paper pack, a couple of our embroidered embellishments, another heart doily journaling piece, and a large golden sticker serving as the title piece.

Cherish Your Love, Now and Forever! #love #valentinesday2023 #valentine #now&forever #scrapbooking #cardmaking #memories #relationship #cards #care #floral #stories #storytelling #you&me

All of these elements taken together create a gorgeous backdrop for the photos and journaling shared in this layout, and we couldn’t have asked for a better way to showcase them! If any of these layouts caught your fancy, these designs are all available to create with the Now & Forever Scrapbooking Workshop Kit. Click here to check it out! 

If cardmaking is more your forte, you can also find plenty of inspiration in the card selection available through the Now & Forever Cardmaking Workshop Kit! This workshop kit includes options to create eight standard size cards—two each of four designs—and three unique slimline cards, with downloadable instructions available on our website.

Cherish Your Love, Now and Forever! #love #valentinesday2023 #valentine #now&forever #scrapbooking #cardmaking #memories #relationship #cards #care #floral #stories #storytelling #you&me

One of the major perks of crafting with the Now & Forever cardmaking kit is that while you have the materials to create two each of four standard size card designs, the coordination in the patterned papers makes it easy to switch out the colors and patterns used between cards. This means that even though you’re working with four standard size card designs, you can end up with eight unique cards!

  • Cherish Your Love, Now and Forever! #love #valentinesday2023 #valentine #now&forever #scrapbooking #cardmaking #memories #relationship #cards #care #floral #stories #storytelling #you&me
  • Cherish Your Love, Now and Forever! #love #valentinesday2023 #valentine #now&forever #scrapbooking #cardmaking #memories #relationship #cards #care #floral #stories #storytelling #you&me
  • Cherish Your Love, Now and Forever! #love #valentinesday2023 #valentine #now&forever #scrapbooking #cardmaking #memories #relationship #cards #care #floral #stories #storytelling #you&me
  • Cherish Your Love, Now and Forever! #love #valentinesday2023 #valentine #now&forever #scrapbooking #cardmaking #memories #relationship #cards #care #floral #stories #storytelling #you&me

As you can see in the photos above, each of the four card pairs were created using the same design, but the changes in paper colors and patterns, ink colors, and embellishment placement results in eight unique cards! 

Along with our standard size cards, the Now & Forever Cardmaking Workshop Kit also offers options for three slimline card designs, pictured below:

Cherish Your Love, Now and Forever! #love #valentinesday2023 #valentine #now&forever #scrapbooking #cardmaking #memories #relationship #cards #care #floral #stories #storytelling #you&me

These cards each have their own individual flair and are a perfect way to implement some more out-of-the-box card creativity into your crafts! 

We have loved walking you through the incredible projects available through the Now & Forever Scrapbooking and Cardmaking Workshop Kits, and we can’t wait to see how else you celebrate the love in your life with the products included in this amazing love-inspired collection! 

What stories and relationships will you commemorate with Now & Forever? Tell us all about it in the comments below!

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Win a FREE Album Retreat Bundle!!

Win a FREE Album Retreat Bundle! #albumretreat #travel #vacation #getaway #journey #roadtrip #love #family #crafting #friends #scrapbooking #album #layouts #ticket #map #atlas #memorykeeping #document #love #staycation #epic #car #train #airplane #boat #cruise #safari #tour #tourist #beach #mountain #nationalpark #hotel #b&b #destination #passport #goingplaces #albumretreat

One of our most popular events is coming up! We’re talking about none other than the February Album Retreat, of course! We love Album Retreat for so many reasons, but mainly because we get to spend time creating with all of you! Join us for three days of instructional fun with some of our favorite Home Office personalities and create a 12″ x 12″ album in the process!

Album Retreats are events unique to Close To My Heart where we get together to make the pages of a 12″ x 12″ album. We offer a bundle of materials you will need to create 11 beautiful 12″ x 12″ two-page layouts over the course of three days of instruction. For February’s Album Retreat we will be creating a travel themed album featuring a variety of interactive elements—flaps, sliders, pockets, and MORE!

To join this February, simply purchase the February 2023 Album Retreat Bundle, which includes the papers, stickers, an exclusive stamp set, and embellishments needed to create the album. There is no separate registration fee! As we get closer to the event, we will invite everyone who has purchased the bundle to join a private Facebook group where the retreat will be hosted virtually.

The retreat will be held February 1–3, from 2:00 pm to approximately 8:30 pm (MST) each day. (That’s’ 2–4 February, 6:00 am–12:30 pm AEDT for our friends in Australia and New Zealand.) The last day to order your bundle is January 10, so mark your calendars if you haven’t ordered yours already!

Hosting a retreat virtually has its perks. Not only do we get to have as many of you attend as would like to, because there is not limited seating, but once the feed is no longer live, Facebook saves the videos so you can return to watch them over and over again at your own convenience!

We want everyone to have a chance to join us, so we are doing something extra special today and giving away one FREE Album Retreat product bundle! That means that the lucky winner will not only get a bundle of select and exclusive products but will also have access to the private virtual retreat hosted on Facebook in February!!

For an entry into this contest, there are two requirements: First, you must be subscribed to this blog (Yes, we will check!). Second, share this post on Facebook with the hashtag #ctmhgoingplaces. That’s it! You have from now until 3 pm (MST) on December 30 (7 am (AEST) on 31 December). The winner will be notified via email on January 3.

If you’re reading this and have already purchased a bundle, try to win the retreat for a friend! These types of events are a great way to invite others to learn about and fall in love with the art of scrapbooking!

This Album Retreat is sure to captivate you with interactive elements on every single layout! Get a glimpse of each pull, tuck, turn, and more in this stunning travel album!

See you in February!!

UPDATE: Our lucky giveaway winner is Cathie McKenzie! Congratulations, Cathie!

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Baking Memories with a Recipe Swap and Giveaway!

Baking Memories-with a Recipe Swap and Giveaway! #sharing #recipes #baking #cooking #kitchen #memories #memorykeeping #scrapbooking #cardmaking #recipebook #cookbook #cook #family #friends #holiday #love #sharing #crafting #food #cake #cookies #dessert #giveaway

Some of life’s sweetest moments take place in our very own kitchens. It is where we gather with friends and family to share stories and make memories, often while enjoying something appetizing that has been carefully plated by the host. Today, we invite you to be our guest as we combine two of our favorites—food + crafting!

Even though in scrapbooking we often find a lot of squares and straight edges, have you noticed how prevalent circles are in a kitchen? From an array of dishes to cakes and cookies, circles are everywhere!

Baking Memories-with a Recipe Swap and Giveaway! #sharing #recipes #baking #cooking #kitchen #memories #memorykeeping #scrapbooking #cardmaking #recipebook #cookbook #cook #family #friends #holiday #love #sharing #crafting #food #cake #cookies #dessert #giveaway

We took that familiar basic shape and used it to make a scrapbook page with our Freshly Baked paper collection, easily creating a space for preserving a moment where friends gathered to spend quality time together and make a delicious treat.

The smaller, patterned paper circles making up the larger circle shape on the page were cut from the Freshly Baked paper packet using the Circles Thin Cuts. The additional page elements, including the title and the smaller accents scattered across the page, are either stickers from this collection or stamped images from the Freshly Baked—Scrapbooking stamp set.

Baking Memories-with a Recipe Swap and Giveaway! #sharing #recipes #baking #cooking #kitchen #memories #memorykeeping #scrapbooking #cardmaking #recipebook #cookbook #cook #family #friends #holiday #love #sharing #crafting #food #cake #cookies #dessert #giveaway

This second scrapbook page also carries the circle theme, this time through the designs on the patterned papers rather than the way the papers were cut. With just a few strips of paper, and some additional straight cuts, this delectable page also comes together quickly!

One of our favorite things on this page (besides the super cute couple pictured! ❤️) is the cookie cooling rack with the cookies on top of it! The cookie shapes were easily cut with the Freshly Baked—Scrapbooking Stamp + Thin Cuts and then colored in to create accents to accompany the photo. For easier attachment, and to avoid having the space behind it appear too busy through its spaces, we mounted the die-cut cooling rack on White Daisy cardstock. The white space surrounding the cookies provides our eyes with a place to rest as we visually take this delicious page in.

As you can see from these two examples, the Freshly Baked collection has all the ingredients you need to preserve memories of food, recipes, traditions, and other kitchen fun in amazing scrapbooking layouts. Next time you’re preparing a meal–whether it’s an old family favorite, something new, or a meal for a special occasion–take pictures of the process and the result (so millennial of us, but why not?!), and then add these, along with pictures of the chefs and a copy of the recipes, to your scrapbooks!

Baking Memories-with a Recipe Swap and Giveaway! #sharing #recipes #baking #cooking #kitchen #memories #memorykeeping #scrapbooking #cardmaking #recipebook #cookbook #cook #family #friends #holiday #love #sharing #crafting #food #cake #cookies #dessert #giveaway

Not sure where to start? Give one of our workshop kits a taste! The Freshly Baked scrapbooking workshop is designed to create three coordinating 12″ x 12″ two-page layouts that would make a great home for any of your kitchen exploits.

Baking Memories-with a Recipe Swap and Giveaway! #sharing #recipes #baking #cooking #kitchen #memories #memorykeeping #scrapbooking #cardmaking #recipebook #cookbook #cook #family #friends #holiday #love #sharing #crafting #food #cake #cookies #dessert #giveaway
Baking Memories-with a Recipe Swap and Giveaway! #sharing #recipes #baking #cooking #kitchen #memories #memorykeeping #scrapbooking #cardmaking #recipebook #cookbook #cook #family #friends #holiday #love #sharing #crafting #food #cake #cookies #dessert #giveaway

Include the recipes as part of the journaling and turn your scrapbooks into an even more valuable keepsake!For even more crafting assistance with the recipe side of your cooking adventures, the Freshly Baked—Cardmaking Stamp + Thin Cuts are designed to make actual recipe cards.

Baking Memories-with a Recipe Swap and Giveaway! #sharing #recipes #baking #cooking #kitchen #memories #memorykeeping #scrapbooking #cardmaking #recipebook #cookbook #cook #family #friends #holiday #love #sharing #crafting #food #cake #cookies #dessert #giveaway
Baking Memories-with a Recipe Swap and Giveaway! #sharing #recipes #baking #cooking #kitchen #memories #memorykeeping #scrapbooking #cardmaking #recipebook #cookbook #cook #family #friends #holiday #love #sharing #crafting #food #cake #cookies #dessert #giveaway

This stamp and die set can be used to make cards to add to your scrapbook pages, or to make cards that you keep in your kitchen, or even to create a combination of both ideas—just imagine the beautiful functionality of a scrapbook dedicated to recipes with pictures and stories that you keep in your kitchen! (To see how and why Karen Pedersen, our Creative Arts Manager, preserves her recipes using this yummy collection of products, check out the video at the end of this post!)

Because we love food and memory keeping, we thought it would be fun to host another recipe swap, right here on the blog! We’ve done this a few times before and with huge success. It’s so exciting to see what everyone is cooking up in their kitchens, to get to know each other through our stories, and to pick up new recipes and ideas along the way! We’ve started you off with two actual recipes in the photos above–now it’s your turn!

If you’d like to participate (and we hope you will), share a special recipe and a memory that goes along with it in the comments below. If you’re not quite sure whether or not you want to share those delicious recipes running through your mind right now, we’re sweetening the deal by adding a giveaway. Share more than one recipe, even, and increase your chances to win one of THREE Freshly Baked—Cardmaking Stamp + Thin Cuts!

Baking Memories-with a Recipe Swap and Giveaway! #sharing #recipes #baking #cooking #kitchen #memories #memorykeeping #scrapbooking #cardmaking #recipebook #cookbook #cook #family #friends #holiday #love #sharing #crafting #food #cake #cookies #dessert #giveaway

For your recipe to be counted as an entry in the drawing, you must also be subscribed to this blog. (If you are not yet a subscriber, all you have to do is push the big blue button on the sidebar that says, “Subscribe to list.”) You will have until 3 p.m. Friday, October 21 (MST) to enter. Even if you miss the deadline, share a recipe anyway! We want to hear from you! (While you’re at it, be sure to check out this video to see how Karen uses the Freshly Baked product collection to document and organize her own recipes!)

Now tell us…what kind of yummy memories are you baking up in your kitchen? 😋


Recipes:

12″ x 12″ Baking Memories Page
Z8047 Freshly Baked—Scrapbooking Stamp + Thin Cuts, X7285S Freshly Baked Paper Packet + Sticker Sheet, X6050 Flamingo Cardstock, X6046 French Vanilla Cardstock, X6066 Honey Butter Cardstock, X6068 Seabrook Cardstock, X5950 Toffee Cardstock, Z4189 Intense Black Exclusive Inks Stamp Pad, Z3561 Black Diamond Stickles Glitter Glue, Z3630 Watercolor Pencils, Z3224 Small Round Waterbrush, Z4575 Black LePen, X7285E Freshly Baked Dots, Z3943 Circles Thin Cuts, Z2060 Thin 3-D Foam Tape, Z5038 Die-cutting & Embossing Machine

12″ x 12″ Lick the Bowl Page
Z8047 Freshly Baked—Scrapbooking Stamp + Thin Cuts, X7285S Freshly Baked Paper Packet + Sticker Sheet, X7285D Freshly Baked Picture My Life Cards, X6046 French Vanilla Cardstock, X6066 Honey Butter Cardstock, X6049 Scarlet Cardstock, X6068 Seabrook Cardstock, X5950 Toffee Cardstock, 1385 White Daisy Cardstock, Z6531 Mocha Exclusive Inks™ Stamp Pad, Z3555 Christmas Red SticklesGlitter Glue, Z3787 Platinum SticklesGlitter Glue, Z3559 Waterfall Stickles Glitter Glue, Z3630 Watercolor Pencils, Z4575 Black LePen, X7285E Freshly Baked Dots, Z2060 Thin 3-D Foam Tape, Z5038 Die-cutting & Embossing Machine

4″ x 6″ Creamy Cinnamon Rolls Recipe Card
Z8046 Freshly Baked—Cardmaking Stamp + Thin Cuts, X7285S Freshly Baked Paper Packet + Sticker Sheet, X6068 Seabrook Cardstock, 1385 White Daisy Cardstock, Z6531 Mocha Exclusive Inks Stamp Pad, Z6526 Scarlet Exclusive Inks Stamp Pad, Z2805 Black Exclusive Inks Stamp Pad, Z1509 Sepia LePen, X7285E Freshly Baked Dots, Z4607 4″ Masking Tape, Z5038 Die-cutting & Embossing Machine

4″ x 6″ Sour Cream Cheese Potatoes Recipe Card
Z8046 Freshly Baked—Cardmaking Stamp + Thin Cuts, X7285S Freshly Baked Paper Packet + Stickers, X6066 Honey Butter Cardstock, X6049 Scarlet Cardstock, X6068 Seabrook Cardstock, 1385 White Daisy Cardstock, Z3839 Scarlet Glitter Paper, Z4189 Intense Black Exclusive Inks Stamp Pad, Z4575 Black LePen, Z1500 Red LePen, Z5038 Die-cutting & Embossing Machine

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Celebrating Your Legacy with Picture-perfect Christmas Cards!

Celebrating Your Legacy with Picture-perfect Christmas Cards! #picturethischristmas #cards #photos #shakercards #photocards #stamping #legacy #holiday #christmas #cutabove #diecuts #craftwithheart #family #friends

We don’t know about you, but we’re starting to hear Christmas bells ring here at Close To My Heart! (Yes, we know it’s still two months away…😬) In all seriousness, the holiday season is right around the corner, and if Christmas cards are your jam, it’s time to start planning for these festive creations! What we have to show you today is truly special, as it allows you to celebrate your dearest relationships and memories by showcasing your favorite photos, right on the front of each card! It also puts a brand-new twist on a favorite art technique—shaker cards! Picture This Christmas is a beautiful way not only to flex your creative muscles, but celebrate your relationships with the people closest to you. 

Our Picture This Christmas special is built on the idea that your own personal photos have an incredible power to inspire joy in those you love most, and who doesn’t love to inspire joy and share their legacy? 😄 We are all about expressing and sharing the products of your creativity with those closest to you, and the holiday season is a prime time to do this! Let’s take a look at the amazing opportunities available through the Picture This Christmas special and how you can use these cards to spread a little extra Christmas cheer among friends and family.

Celebrating Your Legacy with Picture-perfect Christmas Cards! #picturethischristmas #cards #photos #shakercards #photocards #stamping #legacy #holiday #christmas #cutabove #diecuts #craftwithheart #family #friends

One amazing thing about Picture This Christmas cards is the ease with which they come together. Picture This Christmas cards were designed with the Close To My Heart Cut Above® format, which means that the creative process takes just a few minutes from start to finish, and you’re left with an absolutely stunning card at the end of it! With Cut Above® projects, each workshop kit contains pre-cut paper pieces, die-cuts, stickers, and even pre-printed card bases, so all you need to create your cards apart from the Cut Above® kit itself are your choice of adhesive, and a journaling pen to inscribe your personal message on the inside of the cards. Cut Above® projects are a great option for crafters of all types and experience levels.hey can serve as an easy starting point for crafters just discovering this mode of creativity. For more experienced crafters, they make a quick project that they can do in a short amount of time, with minimal effort, whether to wind down or just to catch up on a few crafting goals! With Cut Above®, there are a wealth of creative possibilities to help you realize your crafting vision, whatever it may be! 

Celebrating Your Legacy with Picture-perfect Christmas Cards! #picturethischristmas #cards #photos #shakercards #photocards #stamping #legacy #holiday #christmas #cutabove #diecuts #craftwithheart #family #friends

To showcase just how easy it can be to create with the Picture This Christmas Cut Above® card kits, we’re going to go through each step of how these cards came together. For our Picture This Christmas cards, we start off with a pre-printed, pre-cut card base, measuring 5” x 7”. These cards are larger than our standard 4¼” x 5½” cards for a very special reason. As we mentioned at the beginning of this post, the cards in a Picture This Christmas kit are designed to feature your own personal photos, and by providing a 5” x 7” card base, your cards can comfortably accommodate a 4” x 6” photo! 

With card base in hand as a starting place, we next attached a photo to it, taking care to center it, and then continued by attaching the provided frame die-cut. As with the photo in the previous step, make sure to take care when placing your frame, aligning the corners of the die-cut with the corners of your photo. By taking extra care when placing your photo and die-cut frame, you will be left with a more polished card at the end.

After placing the photo and attaching the frame die-cut over it, we used the provided evergreen branch and pennant sentiment die-cuts to add some extra flair and pizazz to the corners of the photo. The addition of these die-cuts helps to add some depth to the photo, and definitely ups the visual interest of the overall card.

Celebrating Your Legacy with Picture-perfect Christmas Cards! #picturethischristmas #cards #photos #shakercards #photocards #stamping #legacy #holiday #christmas #cutabove #diecuts #craftwithheart #family #friends

And just like that, with only a few simple steps, we created a beautiful, polished card with a one-of-a-kind personal touch! This card, while simple, is an excellent example of how a Cut Above® kit can be used to incredible effect as a quick and easy crafting solution.

If you’re wanting to take the creative process a little further with your own Picture This Christmas cards, we have an outstanding option for that as well! Let’s take a look at how you can really shake things up and take this card design to the next level by adding a full cardfront shaker window! 

To create Picture This Christmas cards with shaker windows, we started out by centering the photo on the base, and then attached a perimeter of 3-D Foam Tape and added a few pinches of sequins or other shaker window fill pieces to the center, directly over the photo. To make this a quick and easy process, we offer three different Picture This Christmas Shaker Window Card kits with Gold, Silver, and Iridescent Flower Sequin options.

  • Celebrating Your Legacy with Picture-perfect Christmas Cards! #picturethischristmas #cards #photos #shakercards #photocards #stamping #legacy #holiday #christmas #cutabove #diecuts #craftwithheart #family #friends
  • Celebrating Your Legacy with Picture-perfect Christmas Cards! #picturethischristmas #cards #photos #shakercards #photocards #stamping #legacy #holiday #christmas #cutabove #diecuts #craftwithheart #family #friends
  • Celebrating Your Legacy with Picture-perfect Christmas Cards! #picturethischristmas #cards #photos #shakercards #photocards #stamping #legacy #holiday #christmas #cutabove #diecuts #craftwithheart #family #friends
  • Celebrating Your Legacy with Picture-perfect Christmas Cards! #picturethischristmas #cards #photos #shakercards #photocards #stamping #legacy #holiday #christmas #cutabove #diecuts #craftwithheart #family #friends
  • Celebrating Your Legacy with Picture-perfect Christmas Cards! #picturethischristmas #cards #photos #shakercards #photocards #stamping #legacy #holiday #christmas #cutabove #diecuts #craftwithheart #family #friends
  • Celebrating Your Legacy with Picture-perfect Christmas Cards! #picturethischristmas #cards #photos #shakercards #photocards #stamping #legacy #holiday #christmas #cutabove #diecuts #craftwithheart #family #friends

Once we made our shaker element selection and added it to the center of the photo, we carefully trimmed a 5” x 7” piece of clear acetate from the 12” x 12” sheets included with the Picture This Christmas Shaker Window Card kits and centered it over the photo and base, making sure to line up the corners. Once the acetate was secured, we centered the die-cut frame over the acetate and base and embellished it at the corners with the provided die-cuts. After this final step, our shaker card is complete, and we’re left with a stunning and uniquely personal card, perfect to send to a loved one or friend! 

As a fun, final touch, Picture This Christmas also includes the 5” x 7” Envelope Flap Thin Cuts to decorate the flaps of your card envelopes, as well as an exclusive stamp set to add sentiments to the interior of your cards! These stamps and Thin Cuts can be used to further personalize and set your cards apart!

No matter who you choose to send your cards to, or which photos you decide to feature on them, your Picture This Christmas cards are a beautiful reflection of your memories and identity, and are certain to be treasures for years to come! What photos will you showcase on your Picture This Christmas cards? Tell us all about it in the comments below!

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Springtime Crafting for Easter!

With Easter right around the corner, it’s time for some of our favorite springtime traditions! From egg decoration and hunts to leaving out a basket for the bunny and spending treasured time with family and friends, it’s a perfect time to get crafting and preserve those delightful memories when they come along.

Today, we’ve got some fantastic Easter-themed cards and a two-page 8½” x 11″ scrapbook layout to help you get your creative wheels turning as you think of ways to spread your Easter joy and commemorate your sweet experiences during this beautiful time of year. Let’s dive in!

For all our card makers out there, it’s a prime time to make gorgeous cards for the dear ones in your life. Our selection of adorable stamp + Thin Cuts designed specifically for your Easter crafting needs ranges from celebratory religious sentiments to fun bunnies, eggs, flowers, and birds.

The Easter season can also be an ideal time to express your love for those around you with a heartfelt scrapbook layout. To maximize both your time and stories, consider creating 8½” x 11″ pages to record your special Easter memories. Creating a smaller layout like this one can be a great way to ensure that your stories are told without cutting into time spent with loved ones.

As you can see here, a layout doesn’t have to be intricate or over the top to provide a memorable backdrop for your favorite photos and stories. layout requires relatively few steps when it comes to cutting, stamping, and embellishing.

For instance, the border and background pattern seen here can be created in minutes with just a few pen strokes and some quick tone-on-tone stamping. These elements come together to create a finished look while saving you time and effort.

Looking for something a bit more challenging to stretch your creative abilities? Consider creating a fun title accent like this one, using a sponge dauber and a few of your favorite ink pads to selectively apply color to your stamp, resulting in a multihued single stamp image! You can then add more color and shading as desired using watercolor pencils.

With a wealth of creative possibilities available for Easter crafts, we hope you’ll find these tips and techniques helpful as you celebrate this wonderful time of year!

What Easter traditions do you celebrate, and how would you scrapbook them? Leave a comment below to let us know!


Recipes

8½” x 11″ Happy Easter Layout
Z4426 Some Bunny Loves You Stamp + Thin Cuts, X9038 Mix-in Paper Packet, X6036 Ballerina Cardstock, X6039 Carolina Cardstock, X6035 Lemonade Cardstock, X6042 Mint Cardstock, 1385 White Daisy Cardstock, Z6523 Avocado Exclusive Inks Stamp Pad, Z6505 Carolina Exclusive Inks Stamp Pad, Z6527 Wild Berry Exclusive Inks Stamp Pad, Z4189 Intense Black Exclusive Inks Stamp Pad, Z3515 Black Journaling Pen (.01), Z3517 Black Journaling Pen (.05), Z1513 White Gel Pens, Z3630 Watercolor Pencils, Z5012 Wild Berry Shimmer Trim, Z4304 Silver Loose Sequins, Z6012 Wood Hearts, Z2089 Glue Dots® Micro Dots, Z2060 Thin 3-D Foam Tape, Z5038 Die-cutting & Embossing Machine, Cricut® Art Philosophy Collection

Cricut® Shape:
Art Philosophy
#M4620A

4¼” x 5½” Easter Eggs Card (Vertical)
Z4428 Easter Egg Stamp + Thin Cuts, X9038 Mix-in Paper Packet, X6063 Papaya Cardstock, X6058 Rosemary Cardstock, X6059 Shortbread Cardstock, 1385 White Daisy Cardstock, Z6505 Carolina Exclusive Inks Stamp Pad, Z6534 Papaya Exclusive Inks Stamp Pad, Z6530 Shortbread Exclusive Inks Stamp Pad, Z6514 Wisteria Exclusive Inks Stamp Pad, Z891 VersaMark Ink Pad, Z2476 Fair Skin TriBlend Marker, Z3563 Diamond Stickles Glitter Glue, Z3792 Bisque Liquid Pearls, Z3796 Lavender Lace Liquid Pearls, Z3795 Robin’s Egg Liquid Pearls, Z3312 Gold Glitter Gems, Z6025 White Acrylic Flowers, Z2089 Glue Dots® Micro Dots, Z1151 3-D Foam Tape, Z5038 Die-cutting & Embossing Machine, Sewing Machine

4¼” x 5½” Snuggle Bunnies Card (Horizontal)
Z4431 Snuggle Bunnies Stamp + Thin Cuts, D2052 My Acrylix® For All Occasions Stamp Set, B1791 My Acrylix® Easter Egg Stamp Set, X6039 Carolina Cardstock, X5947 Mink Cardstock, X6063 Papaya Cardstock, X6059 Shortbread Cardstock, 1385 White Daisy Cardstock, Z6505 Carolina Exclusive Inks Stamp Pad, Z6534 Papaya Exclusive InksStamp Pad, Z3271 Archival Black Exclusive Inks Stamp Pad, Z4189 Intense Black Exclusive InksStamp Pad, Z3132 Watercolor Paints, Z5014 Papaya Shimmer Trim, Z6012 Wood Hearts, Z4095 Botanical Embossing Folder, Z3224 Small Round Waterbrush, Z5038 Die-cutting & Embossing Machine, Sandpaper, Sewing Machine

4¼” x 5½” Faith Card (Horizontal)
Z4432 Easter Cross Stamp + Thin Cuts, X6061 Mulberry Cardstock, X6045 Sage Cardstock, 1385 White Daisy Cardstock, Z6531 Mocha Exclusive Inks Stamp Pad, Z6532 Mulberry Exclusive Inks Stamp Pad, Z6504 Sage Exclusive Inks Stamp Pad, Z2066 Princess Gold Embossing Powder, Z1985 Gold Shimmer Trim, Z4235 Gold Loose Sequins, Z697 Round Sponge, Z4252 Heat Tool, Z4220 Anti-static Pouch, Z2089 Glue Dots® Micro Dots, Z1151 3-D Foam Tape

4¼” x 5½” He Is Risen Card (Vertical)
Z4432 Easter Cross Stamp + Thin Cuts, X8028 Wood Grain Paper Packet, X5978 Glacier Cardstock, X6045 Sage Cardstock, 1385 White Daisy Cardstock, Z6503 Mint Exclusive InksStamp Pad, Z6532 Mulberry Exclusive Inks Stamp Pad, Z891 VersaMark Ink Pad, Z2066 Princess Gold Embossing Powder, Z3132 Watercolor Paints, Z4235 Gold Loose Sequins, Z1985 Gold Shimmer Trim, Z3224 Small Round Waterbrush, Z697 Round Sponge, Z4252 Heat Tool, Z4220 Anti-static Pouch, Z2089 Glue Dots® Micro Dots, Z2060 Thin 3-D Foam Tape, Z5038 Die-cutting & Embossing Machine, Cricut® Art Philosophy Collection

Cricut® Shape:
Art Philosophy
#M45BEB

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Watch Parties to Remember

There’s no better way to enjoy your favorite TV shows than by throwing a watch party with your family and friends! It might be a Super Bowl party, a girl’s night to watch the Oscars, or a get-together for the Olympic Opening Ceremonies. Whatever you’re getting together to watch, the point is you are getting together, having fun, and making memories—which you should definitely include in your memory keeping!

Scrapping Watch Parties #ctmh #closetomyheart #scrapping #scrapbooking #layout #watch #parties #party #superbowl #football #family #friends #together #celebrate #food #games

Sometimes our watch parties become a family tradition, like the one featured in this layout. Include photos of the people that were there, but don’t forget to also add shots of the snacks, decorations, and any other happenings that mark the event. The sights, sounds, and tastes are all part of the experience and make those memories special. These pages use our All-Star Complements with Basics Fundamental and the Stargazer paper packets, creating a simple layout highlighting a family Super Bowl party worth remembering.

Scrapping Watch Parties #ctmh #closetomyheart #winter #games #snow #2018 #scrapping #scrapbooking #watch #parties #friends #together #celebrate

Sometimes, watch parties include activities before or after the actual watching. These may seem like everyday events to you, but in the long run these moments are what life is all about. The little every day things we do that make us, and celebrate, who we are. In the page above, we share some inspiration for the upcoming winter games. Stargazer Dots and All-Star Complements pair perfectly for whatever team you’ll be rooting for during the next few weeks.

As you prepare to throw your own watch parties, check out this video, where our very own Jill Broadbent shares theme party ideas for tomorrow’s Opening Ceremonies. Complete with décor, food, and crafts, all you need to do is take a quick trip to the grocery store and get out your favorite Close To My Heart paper and cardstock.

Preserving what matters most includes the traditions we create with friends and family. With the Oscars in a few short weeks and a royal wedding in May, there are plenty of memory making watch party opportunities heading our way!

How do you celebrate these, and other, TV milestones? Share with us, in the comments below!


Recipes

12″ x 12″ Super Bowl Sunday Layout
S1802 My Arcylix® Sunny Thoughts—February Stamp of the Month Stamp Set, X7229B Stargazer Paper Packet, Z3353 Basics Funamental Paper Packet, 1385 White Daisy Cardstock, 1386 Black Cardstock, Z3271 Archival Black Exclusive Inks™ Stamp Pad, X7229C Stargazer Complements, Z3356 All-Star Complements, Z4143 Stargazer Dots, Z3386 Thin Cuts—Block Alphabet, Z3389 Cricut® You Are Here Collection

Cricut® Shapes
You Are Here
2½” Icon-2 <GameDay> (p. 48, #M282C66F)

12″ x 12″ Let the Games Begin Page
X7228B Gimme Some Sugar Paper Packet, X7229B Stargazer Paper Packet, 1385 White Daisy Cardstock, 1386 Black Cardstock, X5946 Linen Cardstock, Z3356 All-Star Complements, Z4159 Thin Cuts—Block Numbers, Z3389 Cricut® You Are Here Collection

Cricut® Shapes:
You Are Here
1″ <font> “LETTHEGAMES”
1½” <font> “BEGIN!!!”

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