Psst! A Gnomes for Winter Giveaway!

Gnomes for Winter #closetomyheart #ctmh #ctmhgnomesforwinter #gnomesforwinter #wintergnomes #winterscrapbooking #winterscrapbook #wintercardmaking #wintercards #giveaway #free

Delivering on our promise of having A Gnome for All Seasons, we are excited to share our newest collection—Gnomes for Winter!

A few months back, we introduced the four-season paper collection series, A Gnome for All Seasons, beginning with the Gnomes for Autumn collection. We indicated that just weeks before every new season we would release a new gnome paper collection correlating with the upcoming seasonal period. Here we are, gearing up for winter with these mystical little creatures!

Much like its autumn-themed predecessor, the winter-themed patterned papers and sticker sheet are mainly that, seasonally themed. We love our gnomes but also understand that too much of a good thing can be overwhelming. If you look closely at the patterned papers and the sticker sheet, you will find that only one of the six 12″ x 12″ paper designs is sprinkled with gnomes, and there are only two gnome stickers on the coordinating 12″ x 12″ sticker sheet. So, even if you’re not into gnomes as much as we are, you can very much enjoy this beautiful collection of products in your scrapbooking and cardmaking projects!

Pair the patterned papers and sticker sheet with a set of coordinating, two-toned cardstock, for effortless color matching; a stamp set designed specifically for cardmaking, with sentiments for both inside and outside your cards; a stamp set with coordinating dies designed for scrapbooking, including large, themed titles; and a set of white acrylic snowflakes to complete the look!

For our friends who would like to add more gnomes to the mix, we have a set of Gnomes for Winter Thin Cuts dies that will cut the paper shapes necessary to assemble a 4½” gnome, enjoying himself in a pair of ice-skates!

This whimsical, fun-loving gnome has made his way onto the pages of our Gnomes for Winter scrapbooking workshop layouts!

Gnomes for Winter #closetomyheart #ctmh #ctmhgnomesforwinter #gnomesforwinter #wintergnomes #winterscrapbooking #winterscrapbook #wintercardmaking #wintercards #giveaway #free
Gnomes for Winter #closetomyheart #ctmh #ctmhgnomesforwinter #gnomesforwinter #wintergnomes #winterscrapbooking #winterscrapbook #wintercardmaking #wintercards #giveaway #free

The Gnomes for Winter scrapbooking workshop kit comes with materials to make three 12″ x 12″ two-page layouts. We have two kit options, one including the ice-skating gnome dies and the scrapbooking stamp and dies set and another without these. For a less gnome-themed set of layouts, you can easily follow the instructional guide and skip the part where it says to die cut and add the gnomes. Also, our patterned papers are double-sided. That means that where the gnome-themed paper is used on a page, you can flip those pieces over to use the design on the back instead.

Gnomes for Winter #closetomyheart #ctmh #ctmhgnomesforwinter #gnomesforwinter #wintergnomes #winterscrapbooking #winterscrapbook #wintercardmaking #wintercards #giveaway #free

Naturally, we also have a Gnomes for Winter cardmaking workshop! The kit for this workshop comes with materials to make 16 cards, two each of eight designs!

You’ll notice that the gnomes are not very visible in these cards. Just like we suggested for the scrapbooking workshop layouts, flip some of the paper pieces over! (Or even swap them if you’d like!) The guide is exactly that, a guide. Make the cardmaking and scrapbooking workshops your own with paper choices and embellishments that work for you, showing less or more of the winter-themed gnomes.

We want everyone to have a chance at enjoying creating with this collection, so we are giving away 10 FREE Gnomes for Winter paper packets and sticker sheets, here on the blog! PLUS, so you can really get into the gnome theme without skipping a season, we will also include a FREE Gnomes for Autumn paper packet plus sticker sheet with every winner! That means that TEN lucky readers will get two paper packets and sticker sheets, one each from the winter and autumn gnome collections!

For an entry into this contest, there are two requirements: first, you must be subscribed to this blog. (It’s an easy step that often gets overlooked, so make sure that you are actually subscribed because we do check!) Second, share this blog post on Facebook with the hashtag #ctmhgnomesforwinter. That’s it! You have from now until 3 pm (MT) on November 22 (7 am AEST on 23 November). The winner will be notified via email after the contest is closed.

Good luck!

Win a FREE Album Retreat Bundle for May!

May Album Retreat #ctmh #closetomyheart #ctmhcorememories #ctmhalbumretreat #scrapbookingtechniques #scrapbooktechniques #scrapbooking #littlemomentsbigmemories

National Scrapbooking Month is almost here! If you’ve been with us for a while, you know that we do a lot to celebrate our love for preserving memories, and this coming May is no exception! In fact, May is so full of creative opportunities that we are spilling over into June with our fabulous virtual May Album Retreat!

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. At May’s Album Retreat, we will be creating a “Core Memories” themed album, where each layout is intended to frame and preserve major moments from our lives that help shape who we are.

Get an up-close look at the pages of the album with our Creative Arts Manager, Karen Pederson:

We love Album Retreat for many reasons. For starters, the albums we make are full of techniques and free instruction! From shading with alcohol markers to distressing embossed paper details, every page in May’s album features a technique that we will teach live, during the event. We pride ourselves in being the “Let Me Show You How” company, and this is a wonderful opportunity to do just that.

Album Retreat also provides an opportunity to share new and exclusive products. In the product bundle for this May’s retreat you will find two exclusive stamp sets, including a reusable versatile alphabet stamp set, exclusive acrylic shapes and die-cuts, a coordinating embossing folder, Thin Cuts die, and stencil set, and a sneak of patterned papers that will not be available for months!

May Album Retreat #ctmh #closetomyheart #ctmhcorememories #ctmhalbumretreat #scrapbookingtechniques #scrapbooktechniques #scrapbooking #oneofakindexperience

The main reason we enjoy our Album Retreats so much, however, is because we get to spend time creating with all of you! We host the retreat live on Facebook and read every one of your comments and questions. Oftentimes, we’ll read and answer questions on camera for the benefit of everyone participating.

To join us this May, simply purchase the May 2023 Album Retreat Bundle. There is no separate registration fee! As we get closer to the event date, 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 May 31–June 2, from 2:00 pm to approximately 8:30 pm (MT) each day. (That’s 1–3 June, 6:00 am–12:30 pm (AEST) for our friends in Australia and New Zealand.) The last day to order your bundle is May 9, and that’s only if we don’t run out of them before then, so mark your calendars if you haven’t ordered yours already!

May Album Retreat #ctmh #closetomyheart #ctmhcorememories #ctmhalbumretreat #scrapbookingtechniques #scrapbooktechniques #scrapbooking #dayslikethese

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

And, just like last time, we want everyone to have a chance to join us, so we are giving away a FREE Album Retreat product bundle, here on the blog! That means that one lucky reader will not only get a bundle of select and exclusive products, but they will also have access to the private virtual retreat we are hosting on Facebook in May!!

May Album Retreat #ctmh #closetomyheart #ctmhcorememories #ctmhalbumretreat #scrapbookingtechniques #scrapbooktechniques #scrapbooking #memoriesweremadehere

For an entry into this contest, there are two requirements: First, you must be subscribed to this blog. (It’s an easy step that often gets overlooked, so make sure that you are actually subscribed because we do check!) Second, share this blog post on Facebook with the hashtag #ctmhcorememories. That’s it! You have from now until 3 pm (MT) on April 24 (7 am (AEST) on 25 April). The winner will be notified via email later next week! [This contest is now closed.]

Get a quick glimpse at some of the interactive elements from May’s gorgeous album, below!

See you in May!

A Birthday Surprise!

Birthday Cards for Jeanette #ctmh #closetomyheart #happybirthdayjeanette #diycards #diybirthdaycards #birthdaycards #handmadecard #pulltabcards #interactivecards #slimlinecard #letseatcake #anothercandle #youdeserveitall

We sure love our CEO and founder, Jeanette Lynton! As a pioneer in the stamping and papercrafting industry, she has put so much time and heart into helping others discover their creativity and preserve their memories. She truly is one-of-a-kind.

As many of you know, Jeanette’s birthday is in March. This year, we’d like your help in giving her a birthday surprise to remember! Handmade cards are a thoughtful way to show someone just how much they mean to you, so let’s show Jeanette some love with beautiful uniquely crafted cards! Here’s what to do:

1. Create a birthday card for Jeanette and snap a photo of it

2. Post it to Facebook and Instagram using the hashtags #closetomyheart and #happybirthdayjeanette

3. Tag us on Facebook (@closetomyheart) and on Instagram (@ctmhoffical). Please feel free to leave a message for Jeanette with the picture, if you’d like!

We will randomly select five people who have posted a card and give them a Let’s Eat Cake Stamp + Thin Cuts (shown below), as a prize for helping us out and celebrating with us! (Winners will be notified directly in the first week of April.)

At the end of the month, we’ll show Jeanette all the cards you’ve made by searching these tags and hashtags on social media. Beautiful artwork made by people she cares about so dearly will be sure to touch her heart!

We’ve gathered a few cards made with some of our current favorite stamps and dies for inspiration!

Birthday Cards for Jeanette #ctmh #closetomyheart #happybirthdayjeanette #diycards #diybirthdaycards #birthdaycards #handmadecard #pulltabcards #interactivecards #slimlinecard #letseatcake #anothercandle #youdeserveitall

This interactive card was made using the Another Candle Stamp + Thin Cuts paired with the Pull Tab Thin Cuts. The pull tab element adds to the already fun experience of receiving a card and they are easier to put together than you might think! (See Creating Interactive Pull Tab Cards the Easy Way! For more details on how to make one of these cards.)

Birthday Cards for Jeanette #ctmh #closetomyheart #happybirthdayjeanette #diycards #diybirthdaycards #birthdaycards #handmadecard #pulltabcards #interactivecards #slimlinecard #letseatcake #anothercandle #youdeserveitall

Trade the cake for a present by pairing the pull tab with the You Deserve It All Stamp + Thin Cuts!

Birthday Cards for Jeanette #ctmh #closetomyheart #happybirthdayjeanette #diycards #diybirthdaycards #birthdaycards #handmadecard #pulltabcards #interactivecards #slimlinecard #letseatcake #anothercandle #youdeserveitall

Then there’s these two sweet characters with their birthday celebration from the Let’s Eat Cake Stamp + Thin Cuts. (How cute are the bear and llama!) What’s especially fun about this stamp set is that the cake comes in separate pieces, so you can decide just how tall to make it! The full height of the cake is just the right size for a slimline card, while shorter cakes fit perfectly on a standard card.

  • Birthday Cards for Jeanette #ctmh #closetomyheart #happybirthdayjeanette #diycards #diybirthdaycards #birthdaycards #handmadecard #pulltabcards #interactivecards #slimlinecard #letseatcake #anothercandle #youdeserveitall
  • Birthday Cards for Jeanette #ctmh #closetomyheart #happybirthdayjeanette #diycards #diybirthdaycards #birthdaycards #handmadecard #pulltabcards #interactivecards #slimlinecard #letseatcake #anothercandle #youdeserveitall
  • Birthday Cards for Jeanette #ctmh #closetomyheart #happybirthdayjeanette #diycards #diybirthdaycards #birthdaycards #handmadecard #pulltabcards #interactivecards #slimlinecard #letseatcake #anothercandle #youdeserveitall

Make sure to post your handmade cards by March 31, as outlined above! Thank you in advance for helping us celebrate the extraordinary life of one of the best people we know!

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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A Birthday Bash You DON’T Want to Miss!

A Birthday Bash You Don't Want to Miss #cakeday #birthday #party #cards #scrapbooking #birthdaybash #celebrate #celebration #cake #happybirthday #crafts #cardmaking

Can you believe that we are already halfway through March? That means that there’s still another half left, and we plan on wrapping it up in Close To My Heart style with a celebratory giveaway!

What are we celebrating? (Do we have to have a reason? 😉) One of our most dear relations has a birthday coming up in the next couple of weeks, and this simply cannot go without notice! We are talking of none other than the heart of Close To My Heart, Founder and CEO Jeanette Lynton!

Please join us in celebrating this inspiring pillar of our creative community by leaving her a birthday message in our comments, below. Jeanette loves this company and all of us who comprise it with all of her heart! If you’re one of our readers who’s been fortunate enough to meet her, you know that this is true. ❤️

To get the party started, we are giving away the Cake Day stamp and Thin Cuts sets! Not only are these two sets ideal for a variety of artwork projects celebrating birthdays and other occasions, but they both feature a variety of fun, stacking images that are easy to achieve and customize thanks to the versatility of stamping!

CAKE DAY—CARDMAKING STAMP + THIN CUTS

A Birthday Bash You Don't Want to Miss #cakeday #birthday #party #cards #scrapbooking #birthdaybash #celebrate #celebration #cake #happybirthday #crafts #cardmaking
(The highlighted shapes are what the included coordinating Thin Cuts are designed to cut with your favorite die-cutting machine.)
  • A Birthday Bash You Don't Want to Miss #cakeday #birthday #party #cards #scrapbooking #birthdaybash #celebrate #celebration #cake #happybirthday #crafts #cardmaking
  • A Birthday Bash You Don't Want to Miss #cakeday #birthday #party #cards #scrapbooking #birthdaybash #celebrate #celebration #cake #happybirthday #crafts #cardmaking
  • A Birthday Bash You Don't Want to Miss #cakeday #birthday #party #cards #scrapbooking #birthdaybash #celebrate #celebration #cake #happybirthday #crafts #cardmaking
  • A Birthday Bash You Don't Want to Miss #cakeday #birthday #party #cards #scrapbooking #birthdaybash #celebrate #celebration #cake #happybirthday #crafts #cardmaking

CAKE DAY—SCRAPBOOKING STAMP + THIN CUTS

A Birthday Bash You Don't Want to Miss #cakeday #birthday #party #cards #scrapbooking #birthdaybash #celebrate #celebration #cake #happybirthday #crafts #cardmaking
  • A Birthday Bash You Don't Want to Miss #cakeday #birthday #party #cards #scrapbooking #birthdaybash #celebrate #celebration #cake #happybirthday #crafts #cardmaking
  • A Birthday Bash You Don't Want to Miss #cakeday #birthday #party #cards #scrapbooking #birthdaybash #celebrate #celebration #cake #happybirthday #crafts #cardmaking
  • A Birthday Bash You Don't Want to Miss #cakeday #birthday #party #cards #scrapbooking #birthdaybash #celebrate #celebration #cake #happybirthday #crafts #cardmaking
  • A Birthday Bash You Don't Want to Miss #cakeday #birthday #party #cards #scrapbooking #birthdaybash #celebrate #celebration #cake #happybirthday #crafts #cardmaking

Let’s take a closer look at how some of the different layers of this stamp set build on each other. For the presents, you have three different shapes to choose from, and you can add details to each of them with bows, wrapping paper designs, or both!

A Birthday Bash You Don't Want to Miss #cakeday #birthday #party #cards #scrapbooking #birthdaybash #celebrate #celebration #cake #happybirthday #crafts #cardmaking
A Birthday Bash You Don't Want to Miss #cakeday #birthday #party #cards #scrapbooking #birthdaybash #celebrate #celebration #cake #happybirthday #crafts #cardmaking

This little triangle is especially versatile because you can mix and match the different stripe patterns with each other, or stamp either stripe pattern on a solid stamped triangle to create a variety of colorful pennants for a banner.

A Birthday Bash You Don't Want to Miss #cakeday #birthday #party #cards #scrapbooking #birthdaybash #celebrate #celebration #cake #happybirthday #crafts #cardmaking

Turn a pennant upside down and stamp one of the two included accents on top and you have a party hat!

We are giving away a total of five stamp + Thin Cuts sets, winners’ choice! If you’re one of our winners, let us know which set you prefer, the Cake Day—Cardmaking or Cake Day—Scrapbooking stamp + Thin Cuts!

To qualify for the drawing, it’s the easy two-step entry it always is. First, make sure you are subscribed! (So many leave comments and are not subscribed—we look!) If you are not subscribed, simply click on the blue “Subscribe to list” button found on the sidebar, if you’re on a computer, or at the very bottom of this post, if you’re on a phone or tablet. Second, and this is a must and just as important, if not more so, leave a birthday message for Jeanette in our comments section below. That’s it! All entries must be submitted by 5 pm, March 28, MDT (that’s 10:00 am 29 March, AEDT for our Aussie friends.) Winners will be notified via the e-mail address connected to their subscriptions.

Be sure to also check out Facebook and Instagram feeds for even MORE Cake Day giveaway opportunities that we will be running there in honor of Jeanette’s birthday month!

All of you that are part of our crafting community, you mean so much to us and especially to Jeanette. We are grateful for the years of friendship we’ve all shared and the many years of friendship to come. We love celebrating our relationship every opportunity we get! Today, please join us in celebrating Jeanette and leave her a birthday message below! Happy birthday Jeanette!!


Recipes:

4¼” x 5½” Cake Card (Vertical)
Z4417 Cake Day—Cardmaking Stamp Set + Thin Cuts, X7278S Cake Day Paper Packet + Sticker Sheet, X5978 Glacier Cardstock, X6031 Green Apple Cardstock, X6035 Lemonade Cardstock, 1385 White Daisy Cardstock, X6056 Wild Berry Cardstock, X7278D Cake Day Picture My Life Cards, Z2841 Glacier Exclusive Inks Stamp Pad, Z6513 Green Apple Exclusive Inks Stamp Pad, Z6521 Sundance Exclusive Inks Stamp Pad, Z6527 Wild Berry Exclusive Inks Stamp Pad, Z4189 Intense Black Exclusive Inks™ Stamp Pad, Z1513 White Gel Pens, X7278E Cake Day Dots, Z1263 Bitty Sparkles, Z697 Round Sponge, Z5038 Die-cutting & Embossing Machine

4¼” x 5½” Happy Birthday to You Card (Horizontal)
Z4417 Cake Day Cardmaking Stamp + Thin Cuts, X7278S Cake Day Paper Packet + Sticker Sheet, X5978 Glacier Cardstock, X6031 Green Apple Cardstock, 1385 White Daisy Cardstock, Z2841 Glacier Exclusive Inks Stamp Pad, Z6513 Green Apple Exclusive InksStamp Pad, Z6517 Lemonade Exclusive InksStamp Pad, Z6521 Sundance Exclusive Inks Stamp Pad, Z6527 Wild Berry Exclusive Inks Stamp Pad, Z4189 Intense Black Exclusive Inks Stamp Pad, X7278E Cake Day Dots, Z4525 Primary Sprinkles, Z3515 Black Journaling Pen (.01), Z1513 White Gel Pens, Z1151 3-D Foam Tape, Z2060 Thin 3-D Foam Tape, Z2089 Glue Dots® Micro Dots, Z5038 Die-cutting & Embossing Machine

12″ x 12″ Hip Hip Hooray Layout
Z4416 Cake Day—Scrapbooking Stamp + Thin Cuts, X7278S Cake Day Paper Packet + Sticker Sheet, X5978 Glacier Cardstock, X6051 Sundance Cardstock, 1385 White Daisy Cardstock, Z2841 Glacier Exclusive Inks Stamp Pad, Z6513 Green Apple Exclusive InksStamp Pad, Z6521 Sundance Exclusive InksStamp Pad, Z6527 Wild Berry Exclusive Inks Stamp Pad, Z4189 Intense Black Exclusive InksStamp Pad, Z3787 Platinum Stickles Glitter Glue, X7278E Cake Day Dots, Z2060 Thin 3-D Foam Tape, Z5038 Die-cutting & Embossing Machine, Cricut® Basic Shapes

Cricut® Shape:
Basic Shapes
#M2AAB3EFD

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Memory Keeping with the True Story Album

True Story Album #closetomyheart #ctmh #ctmhtruestory #scrapbooking #scrapbookalbum #papercrafting #nationalpapercraftingmonth #memorykeeping #ctmhnationalpapercraftingmonth #flipflaps

One of the best ways to make a lasting connection with friends and family is through sharing your favorite stories. Being able to share your best-loved memories with your best-loved people is such a treat—especially when the story is accompanied by the perfect photos!

As memory keepers, we’re passionate about creating showcase pieces for our most treasured pictures and stories. Our new True Story album makes it easier than ever to preserve and retell your own priceless stories. With beautiful pre-cut pages and fold-out sections throughout, this mini album carries more of your favorite photos and stories than you might expect based on its size!

True Story Album #closetomyheart #ctmh #ctmhtruestory #scrapbooking #scrapbookalbum #papercrafting #nationalpapercraftingmonth #memorykeeping #ctmhnationalpapercraftingmonth #flipflaps

The True Story project is designed to accommodate over 40 photos in individual Memory Protectors™ and Flip Flaps while still leaving plenty of room for journaling to tell the stories depicted in the photos. This unique album is designed to fit in one of our Everyday Life™ 6″ x 8″ albums and comes with many of the pieces pre-cut and even pre-printed! It also includes a few clear acrylic pages and specialty die-cuts for an even more unique finish.

True Story Album #closetomyheart #ctmh #ctmhtruestory #scrapbooking #scrapbookalbum #papercrafting #nationalpapercraftingmonth #memorykeeping #ctmhnationalpapercraftingmonth #flipflaps

With so many exciting elements like no other, True Story is a joy to create and will be a treasured keepsake for years to come. To help you get the full picture of this project’s potential, including all the opportunities for journaling and photo display in the finished product, we’ve put together this short video, which shows off each page of this one-of-a-kind album. Enjoy!

We can’t wait to hear about all the amazing things our fellow crafters do with the True Story album! As a special treat, we’ll be giving away five True Story Album Kits to five lucky readers! To be eligible for this giveaway, subscribe to the Make It from Your Heart blog and leave a comment below and let us know about your plans for True Story! All entries must be submitted by 4 p.m. tomorrow, January 6 (MST). Winners will be notified via e-mail we use the email address you are subscribed with so make sure it is up to date to not miss out!).

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You Are Enough National Scrapbooking Month & Giveaway!

It’s time to party, because National Scrapbooking Month is officially here! We started things off with a bang last weekend, with a two-day National Scrapbooking Day Celebration virtual event, where everyone was welcomed to follow along and create beautiful scrapbook pages, cards, and even a mini album with us! If you missed out on any of these projects and would still like to participate, the instructional segments are available under the past Events tab on the Close To My Heart (Official) Facebook page. (For example artwork photos and information about the product bundles to make these projects, visit our website, here.)

We’re thrilled to continue our National Scrapbooking Month celebrations with a new and exclusive patterned paper collection and suite of coordinating products, only available for the month of May and while supplies last. The gorgeous You Are Enough collection is built on a foundation of affirmation, encouragement, and celebration of all the beautiful qualities we admire in our loved ones and ourselves! It was inspired and designed around a gemstone concept, making it a perfect complement to treasured memories.

Start with the incredible You Are Enough paper packet, which features 12 double-sided paper sheets, two each of six double-sided designs—that’s double the number of designs and sheets than in our other paper collections!

You Are Enough Paper Collection #closetomyheart #ctmh #ctmhyouareneough #ctmhnsm #ctmhnationalscrapbookingmonth #nsm #nationalscrapbookingmonth #scrapbooking #minialbum #cardmaking #papercrafting

The beautiful coordinating stickers and cardstock feature stunning rose gold foil accents and designs. (Click on the thumbnail images for a closer look!)

Increase your crafting potential with a coordinating stamp set, pocket cards, and sequins!

My Acrylix® You Are Enough Stamp Set

(*Outlined images coordinate with Thin Cuts metal dies.)

You Are Enough Picture My Life™ Cards

You Are Enough Paper Collection #closetomyheart #ctmh #ctmhyouareneough #ctmhnsm #ctmhnationalscrapbookingmonth #nsm #nationalscrapbookingmonth #scrapbooking #minialbum #cardmaking #papercrafting

You Are Enough Sequins

Since May is National Scrapbooking Month, after all, we’re celebrating with not one, but two scrapbooking workshops!

You Are Enough Scrapbooking Workshop Kit

Use the materials in this kit to create four coordinating 12″ x 12″ two-page layouts and one single page.

You Are Enough Album Workshop Kit

Use the materials in this kit create the 6″ x 8″ scrapbook pages of the You Are Enough album. (Album not included.)

We may be celebrating scrapbooking this month but we certainly have not forgotten our amazing cardmakers! (We love handmade cards, too!)

You Are Enough Cardmaking Workshop Kit

Use the materials in this kit to create 24 standard size cards, 2 each of 10 designs and 4 unique designs.

If you’re not quite sure where to begin, let us help you out! We are giving away FIVE You Are Enough Paper Bundles, right here, right now! That five sets of the You Are Enough Paper Packet + Sticker Sheet and the You Are Enough Coordinating cardstock! For a chance to win, you must be subscribed to this blog AND leave us a comment below letting us know what you like most about this amazing You Are Enough collection! All entries must be submitted by 4 p.m. tomorrow, May 6 (MDT). The five lucky winners will be notified via e-mail (we use the mail address you are subscribed with, so make sure it is up to date to not miss out!). (In order to subscribe, simply click here.)

We have so many exciting things lined up for this year’s National Scrapbooking Month! Keep up with all of our festivities by continuing to follow us here, as well as on Facebook and Instagram (@cmthofficial).

Happy scrapping!

Join us and create the artwork from all three of the You Are Enough workshops along with us on June 21, 23, and 25 on the Close To My Heart (Official) Facebook page. See you there!

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Celebrate National Papercrafting Month with a DIY Frame and a Giveaway!

DIY Home Decor #ctmh #closetomyheart #ctmhhomesweethome #nationalpapercraftingmonth #papercrafting #diyhomedecor #framekit #homesweethome

Happy 2021 and National Papercrafting Month! At the start of this new year, many of us find ourselves with a burst of creative energy and are looking for ways to make some positive changes in our lives and homes. For an easy way to fulfill this need, celebrate all month long with us and our Home Sweet Home special!

Our Home Sweet Home special features a frame kit that comes with everything you need to make a gorgeous 13¾” x 13¾” framed “HOME” with a wide variety of interchangeable accents for year-round celebration!

DIY Home Decor #ctmh #closetomyheart #ctmhhomesweethome #nationalpapercraftingmonth #papercrafting #diyhomedecor #framekit #homesweethome

Each Home Sweet Home frame kit includes a wood frame, a large wood “Home” piece for the middle of the frame, a selection of papers and die-cuts to easily decorate your frame and create the interchangeable accents we’ve mentioned before, and 14 4″ wood circles and magnets to hold each accent in place on the frame.

The seasonal accents fit perfectly over the “O” in “HOME” and are made using the punch-out die-cuts included in the frame kit. Many of the accents have multiple layers for a beautiful, three-dimensional look, and each one features bright, vibrant colors to really make them stand out.

Altogether, this kit includes 27 different accent options! The Home Sweet Home frame kit comes with 14 wood circles, but each component of the kit is also available individually, including additional circles and magnets if you’d like to make all 27!

As you can see, there are accent options for every season to keep your frame updated throughout the year!

DIY Home Decor #ctmh #closetomyheart #ctmhhomesweethome #nationalpapercraftingmonth #papercrafting #diyhomedecor #framekit #homesweethome

There are also options for many different holidays, incorporating a touch of festive décor for every occasion!

DIY Home Decor #ctmh #closetomyheart #ctmhhomesweethome #nationalpapercraftingmonth #papercrafting #diyhomedecor #framekit #homesweethome

Is there an athlete in your life? Celebrate game day with a personalized accent just for them!

DIY Home Decor #ctmh #closetomyheart #ctmhhomesweethome #nationalpapercraftingmonth #papercrafting #diyhomedecor #framekit #homesweethome

If you want to add a little more personalization to your Home Sweet Home frame, design your own accents using the wood circles and parts of the provided die-cuts. Whether you want to create an accent for a special holiday, family tradition, or any other accent with personal meaning, it’s easy to do with the various components in the Home Sweet Home frame kit!

Along with the easy punch-out die-cuts for the interchangeable accents, each kit comes with beautiful overlays and backgrounds for the frame itself. These can be easily applied to the wood frame to create a polished, classic look. If you favor the natural wood, however, you can easily add color to the wood itself using a TriBlend™ marker, an Exclusive Inks™ stamp pad or re-inker, or even embossing powder!

There’s so much to love about the Home Sweet Home special, and for five lucky readers this week, there will be even more to love! We are ringing in the new year today by giving away FIVE Home Sweet Home frame kits!

DIY Home Decor #ctmh #closetomyheart #ctmhhomesweethome #nationalpapercraftingmonth #papercrafting #diyhomedecor #framekit #homesweethome

For a chance to win one of these beautiful kits, you must be subscribed to this blog AND leave a comment below letting us know what your creative aspirations are for 2021. All entries must be submitted by 3 p.m. tomorrow, January 6 (MST) (that’s 8 a.m. January 7 AEST for our Aussies). The five lucky winners will be notified via e-mail later this week. (We use the e-mail address you are subscribed with, so make sure it is up to date in order to not miss out!)

We have so many exciting things lined up for 2021! Keep up with all of our projects, designs, products, ideas, and more by continuing to follow us here, as well as on Facebook and Instagram (@cmthofficial).

Now it’s your turn: what creative things are you up to this year? Tell us below!

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From Jeanette: YOU Are MY People!

You Are My People #ctmh #closetomyheart #jeanettelynton #thesearemypeople #youaremypeople #ctmhconsultants #cutabove #scrapbooking #album #minialbum #memorykeeping #giveaway #birthday #prize #free

As many of you know, March is a special time of year around Close To My Heart: It’s my birthday month! Every year, as my birthday approaches, I can’t help but reflect on life. I like to reevaluate how and where I spend my time, and especially with whom. I’m not perfect, but I believe in making every moment count and living life to its fullest, and when I look at the wonderful people who have walked by my side over the past 35 plus years, I am blessed to know that I am doing just that!

You Are My People #ctmh #closetomyheart #jeanettelynton #thesearemypeople #youaremypeople #ctmhconsultants #cutabove #scrapbooking #album #minialbum #memorykeeping #giveaway #birthday #prize #free

Thank you for always asking about me and my family. Thank you for your dedication to this wonderful community that we have created, together. Thank you, from the bottom of my heart, for believing in me and my vision for Close To My Heart, and for making dreams come true day in and day out. You, my dear Consultants and readers, are MY people! I could not ask for a better group of women to share my life with. I am truly blessed to have you and love you all so much!

You Are My People #ctmh #closetomyheart #jeanettelynton #thesearemypeople #youaremypeople #ctmhconsultants #cutabove #scrapbooking #album #minialbum #memorykeeping #giveaway #birthday #prize #freeYou Are My People #ctmh #closetomyheart #jeanettelynton #thesearemypeople #youaremypeople #ctmhconsultants #cutabove #scrapbooking #album #minialbum #memorykeeping #giveaway #birthday #prize #freeYou Are My People #ctmh #closetomyheart #jeanettelynton #thesearemypeople #youaremypeople #ctmhconsultants #cutabove #scrapbooking #album #minialbum #memorykeeping #giveaway #birthday #prize #free

For my birthday, I want to celebrate you, the wonderful people in my life. One way I plan on doing this is through the special that we just launched on March 1st, These Are My People. One of my favorite products in this special is the These Are My People Cut Above® kit. (All of the pages that you are seeing today are from this kit, complete with pictures of our wonderful Close To My Heart Consultants! <3 )

You Are My People #ctmh #closetomyheart #jeanettelynton #thesearemypeople #youaremypeople #ctmhconsultants #cutabove #scrapbooking #album #minialbum #memorykeeping #giveaway #birthday #prize #freeYou Are My People #ctmh #closetomyheart #jeanettelynton #thesearemypeople #youaremypeople #ctmhconsultants #cutabove #scrapbooking #album #minialbum #memorykeeping #giveaway #birthday #prize #freeYou Are My People #ctmh #closetomyheart #jeanettelynton #thesearemypeople #youaremypeople #ctmhconsultants #cutabove #scrapbooking #album #minialbum #memorykeeping #giveaway #birthday #prize #free

This kit is designed to create a 6″ x 8″ album with an opening page, a closing page, and eight two-page layouts in between, each page aimed at celebrating special relationships. What better product could I ask for to say thank you to all of you?

The beautiful collection of products available through the These Are My People campaign, especially the workshops and the Cut Above® kit, are truly an embodiment of the Close To My Heart mission.

You Are My People #ctmh #closetomyheart #jeanettelynton #thesearemypeople #youaremypeople #ctmhconsultants #cutabove #scrapbooking #album #minialbum #memorykeeping #giveaway #birthday #prize #free

For the next three weeks, until my birthday on the 27th, we will keep track of everyone who purchases one of these Cut Above® kits. At noon (MST) on my birthday, I will pick 4 of you to receive a prize containing an Everyday Life™ album in the color of your choice, one of our journaling pens of your choice, and an additional These Are My People Cut Above®kit. A fifth winner will also be picked for a grand prize. This lucky person will receive the album, pen, and Cut Above kit, as well as a $50 (USD) credit to Persnickety Prints, and a Sticky Boy and Sticky Girl stamp (because they are some of my favorite people, too!)!

You Are My People #ctmh #closetomyheart #jeanettelynton #thesearemypeople #youaremypeople #ctmhconsultants #cutabove #scrapbooking #album #minialbum #memorykeeping #giveaway #birthday #prize #free

My sweet friends, I hope you know that I love you and cherish the moments we get to share together. I encourage you to do your best to live your best life with those who matter most and express your love and gratitude every day. And, if you’re searching for a community of crafters that are more of a family than anything else, you’ve come to the right place and are welcome here.

With all my love,
Jeanette

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