Picture Your Life - A great new offer from CTMH

Picture Your Life at Close To My Heart!!

When you join the Close To My Heart family between now and December 15th, you not only will get $155 worth of amazing CTMH products for only $49, you could also qualify* to receive a stunning new product, the Picture My Life™ scrapbooking program — for FREE!! (retail value $24.95) You get to select from eight great themes - from vacation to friendship to childhood. Each featuring 122 double-sided cards plus 10 unique Memory Protectors to capture it all. You "Just Picture it", then capture it!

*Email me for more information at natashacrafts@gmail.com
or sign up now at:https://orders.closetomyheart.com/enrollment/default.aspx?sponsorid=204857329&c=1

Artbooking Layout: Autumn Harvest

It's been a minute, hasn't it? I was away at a crop this past weekend and decided I needed to make a layout to teach as a class. Since we are officially in the fall season, I choose to do the above layout. The background paper is from DCWV paper pack.

I've added two 4x4 flip flaps onto the page to allow for 4 extra photos to be added onto the page. This cartridge is absolutely my most favorite cartridge, EVER. All of the elements from this page were cut from one key. There was no searching around in the booklet to find matching pieces. I can't wait to make another layout!!

Don't for for the next week, if you place an order of $50 or more you get the "You Are My Happy" stamp set trio for only $10. Click here to start shopping.

Stay Crafty

October Weekend Retreat

Just wanted to pop in to remind my wonderful followers that I will be co-hosting a weekend crop here locally in Wilmington, DE. It's 3 full days of crafting with an onsite store (Escape Scrapbooking) and me with my Close to my Heart items.

We are advertising in two places. The first is on Facebook and the second is on Meetup. Our account on Meetup allows you to pay the deposit to secure your space. Spaces are limited and there is a block of hotel rooms just for us.

We'll be at the DoubleTree Hotel, 4727 Concord Pike, Wilmington, DE 19803. Cropping starts Friday at 2pm and ends Sunday at 3pm. Come join us!!

Stay Crafty

September is National Stamping Month

Good Morning Everyone,

Can you believe it's already September? The little ones marched off to school today (YAY!!) and before we know it, it'll be Thanksgiving.

This month at CTMH, we have an amazing deal!!

Get an exclusive You Are My Happy stamp set trio in celebration of National Stamping Month! During the month of September, when you make a purchase of $50 or more, you qualify for this whimsical stamp set trio for only $10. You’ll love the whimsical alphabet, lighthearted sentiments, and fanciful images for a variety of occasions to give a cheerful touch to your projects, with a full retail value of $47.90. The stamp set trio on 3 D-size carrier sheets will arrive in 2 stamp envelopes: one carrier sheet in one envelope (like a D-size stamp) and two carrier sheets in one envelope (like an E-size stamp).

September Stamp of the Month (SOTM)

You can get these exclusive stamps by clicking on the shopping cart below.

Autumn/Winter Idea Books

Our new Autumn/Winter Idea Book is available! If you don't have yours yet, you can view it online here. I will have a few available at the crop on August 24th if you plan on attending.

Workshop On The Go Kits

There are 6 new scrapbooking kits - each discounted at $29.95 each. They include paper, stamps, accessories, and the best part....instructions!

There are 2 new card kits - each discounted at ONLY $24.95 each! They include paper, cards/envelopes, stamps, accessories, and instructions!

And there is 1 new fabulous new Designed Decor Frame Kit - discounted at only $35.95! I love how you can easily update this frame with new photos as often as you want!

August is an especially sweet time to shop—when you place an order of $50 or more during August, you’ll receive the August Stamp of the Month set, A Chocolate Affair (S1308A), FREE! This D-size stamp set with a retail value of $17.95 includes 16 images and sentiments that will have your friends salivating over your chocolatey layouts and cards. Make every project a treat with this must-have set.

*No additional tax will be applied for the free stamp set. Shipping/handling is calculated based on the full retail price of the stamp set ($17.95). Offer valid August 1-31, 2013.

I'll be sure to come back in the next few days to show some of my favorite projects. If you'd like to get started on your own projects, click below to start shopping!

I'm a CTMH Consultant

Just a quick update. While I'm venturing out with my group of friends and doing the Tri-State Scrap Pak, I have also signed up to be a Close to My Heart independent consultant. I'd love to help you with your CTMH needs. Just click the image over on my side bar to start shopping or follow the link below

Shop with Me

Stay Crafty!

New Adventures

Do you live in the Philadephia Tri-State area? My scrappy friends and I have began a scrapping crop service for the tri-state area.  Check us out on Facebook, like our page to stay notified of upcoming events.

Our first event is this Saturday, July 20th in Cheltenham. We are so excited! If you live in the Philadelphia area, please come out and visit us. There will be vendors available all day (8am-11pm) to restock some of your scrappy supplies.

I'll be back on Saturday to give you some live action details.

Stay Crafty!

Craft Fair

OMG, I'm so nervous for tomorrow. I'm participating in a local craft/vendor fair. I really didn't give myself a lot of time to prepare either. Here are a few items that I'm taking:

What do think? I have enough of each to make a decent display, but I'm worried that I won't have a lot of variety. I'll make sure to try to have a few examples of my super cute invitations and banners. I'm thinking these will have to be more of a "made to order" item.

Ahh, I can't believe how nervous I am. I mean, I've been selling my stuff on Etsy for 2 years, no biggie right?

Lingering Projects/Vinyl/Craft Fair

Hey everyone,

I know it's been a while. Things are starting to pick up and I'm preparing to participate in my first real craft fair on June 1st. (Yikes!)

So I've been busy wrapping up projects that have been lingering. Here are two:

This is my very first vinyl project. Everyone says the magic settings are 3-3-3 (speed, pressure, blade depth), but found that mine were more of a 3-2-2. This is on it's way to KY where it's going to be part of a cooler and cup set.

This project isn't completely finished yet. It's missing something and I haven't figured out what that was yet. These are going to be birthday cards for X-ray technicians. The inside says, "Have an x-cellent birthday".

In preparation for this craft fair, I've been scouring the internet looking for the perfect projects to make and take with me. I'm thinking of having a few Father's Day themed things, general summer, end of school/thank you items for teachers (school lets out here on June 13th), post-it note holders, etc.

Any seasoned craft fair veterans out there that would like to share some of their "successful" items?

Stay Crafty,
Natasha

Custom Orders and Low Prices

Hello Blogiverse,
I know it's been quite some time since I've dropped by and chatted with you. Life's been a bit crazy and I lost my mojo somewhere along the way. All the excitement I had vanished along the way. It happens, I'm not upset or mad.

So the other day, I had someone contact me on Etsy about some custom items for a baby shower. I'm all about doing something different so I responded. I really don't know/understand why people expect things to be dirt cheap. You are requesting my labor, my supplies, my creativity, etc. Not to mention you want something customized for you, therefore making it one of kind. I'm not going to sell myself short. She found another person to do what she wanted for cheaper and I hope she is satisfied with the results.

So my question to you today is: Do people you know expect you to do things practically for free?

Stay Crafty!

Project Life updates

Week 1-




Week 2-




Week 3-




Week 4-




Week 5-




I all caught up now. All my pictures are printed. I got a new set of page protectors. The last two weeks you see I'm using Design D. I think I like it better than Design A. We'll see as time goes by.

Stay crafty

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Valentine's Cake in a Jar

Happy February Bloggers!

It's been a while since I've updated you on what's been going on over here in my little crafty world. Today I have a project for you that I can't really take credit for. Another of my crafty friends enlisted me to help her with some Valentine projects. Well, actually a few friends. This past Sunday we made cake in a jar.

I don't have the recipe, but it was an applesauce spice cake. We used pint sized mason jars. Here's the final project. This one is for me, but the ones we made for her patients had tags on them that said, "Happy Valentine's Day".

I peeked on Google and there a tons of recipes and directions for making the cakes. You can adapt them for any season, any holiday. We used fabric from Walmart and took a saucer out of the cabinet to trace circles and fabric scissors to cut them out. After the cakes baked and cooled a bit, we took the rims off and added the fabric. Finished them off with a little bit of tulle for glam.

I'll be back next week to update you on my Project Life progress.

Stay Crafty

Project Life 2013: Weeks 1 & 2

I've decided to take the plunge into Project Life. I was unhappy with my success in documenting the memories of my little family. This method seemed to be my answer (let's see how well I keep up with it). I started by ordering the Cherry Edition Core kit and the Signature White binder. I'm still waiting on the binder, but it should be here tomorrow. I loved the colors of the kit, not too feminine and not too masculine. I apologize for the lack of pictures (I need to go pick them up) Here's my title page:

The only thing I added to this that wasn't included in the kit was the "2013" that I cut from my Cricut using some cardstock I had on hand.

Week 1: Right page - Still trying to decide how I want to identify each week. I started this album with the days of 12/31 to 1/5. I added to stamps to this page. I added the recipe I made for Taco Eggrolls that I found on Pinterest.

Right Page - On this page I added a little blurb about each of us, what we are currently doing, and my baby sister's big 16th birthday

Week 2:

Left Page - Added a summary of our week, which was pretty uneventful. Talked about the great Gummy Bear heist.

Right Page - I added a stamp that says, "You are so silly" which has lines for a quote. Miss A said, "the first 5 days before the weekend are the hardest". This was her reponse when I asked her about her first full week back to school.

So far, I'm really enjoying the process. I signed up for OhLife.com which emails me everyday to remind me journal for the day. Are you doing Project Life? Share your link down in the comments, I'd love to come check your progress out.

Stay Crafty!

2013 Goals

Happy New Year!

Let me just say, I'm so glad that 2012 is over. It was a pretty hard year. My plan is to make this year, 2013 one for the record books both personally and professionally. I started off the year by putting my Etsy shop in vacation mode. It's not that I don't love it anymore, I just haven't had to time I wanted to do things for me. I haven't scrapped in AGES!

So my first goal for 2013 is to scrap more. I have 2 albums that I need to do for others and my own layouts that need to get done. I didn't take many pictures this past year, because frankly we didn't do much.

My next goal is to add some scrapbook layouts to my Etsy shop. Still debating on whether to offer individual layouts or full books (20 layouts).

Another goal is to do more things, together, as a pseudo-family this year. As you all know the man-friend, his daughter, and I aren't legally the typical family. But we do all live in the same house, with the Queen B (the cat). I want to take a real vacation this year. Not just a weekend down to the Jersey Shore.

I want to meet up with some friends that I've recently reconnected with. One friend and I have known each other since we were 4. Went to the same preschool. It's rare to have friends that long. Another friend and I met when we were 9. That one is going to be a bit harder to actually meet up with, since she is in Oregon. With that said, I'd love to take a trip out to the West Coast.

I want to feel normal again this year. My ulcerative colitis kicked my butt this past year, but I'm ready to kick it's butt. I will not spend weeks upon weeks feeling ill.

What are some of your goals this year?

Stay crafty