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Capture Senior Year Memories with this new Workshop

I’m so excited to announce my new graduation-themed scrapbooking workshop. These fun pages have big bold die cut images, a shaker element and lots of room for photos and mementos.

The workshop makes four Senior Year themed two-page 12″ x 12″ layouts with custom Cricut shapes created from CTMH images, a star shaker element and optional shimmer brush and stamping techniques. Let’s take a closer look at these layouts:

This workshop is available to order now! You can choose to get a complete kit, Cricut and die cut pieces only or just the instruction guide. You can also get a free instruction guide by placing an order of $40 or more on my Close To My Heart website. After placing your order, click here to request the guide.

Be sure to review the list of included and additional materials to decide which option to choose. If you are doing your own cutting, you will need the Star Shaker Window Thin Cuts (Z3871) and have access to the following Cricut collections in Design Space: Artbooking, Flower Market, You Are Here, Artiste, Art Philosophy. These collections are available through my Cricut affiliate link.

The sample layouts include optional stamping, distressing and shimmer brush techniques.

  • Stamping: The image inside of the star shaker window and other places in the workshop are stamped with the All-Star Birthday Stamp Set (C1888) and Intense Black ink.
  • Distressing: Papers in layout 1 are sponge distressed using a Toffee ink pad and sponge (or sponge dauber).
  • Shimmer: Splatters were added to the base pages for layout 2 and 4 using a Black Shimmer Brush. The brush can also used to add extra sparkle to several black cardstock pieces.

Step-by-step directions for cutting, prepping and completing the layouts, plus lots of helpful tips, are in the instruction guide.

Order now>>

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How to Customize Subscription Layouts (Here’s My January – April Pages)

I’m so excited today to show you my layouts that I made with the Craft With Heart kits for January – April. Along the way, I’ll explain a few of the modifications I made. Although these pages come together quickly because of the printed backgrounds, die cut papers and stickers, they are versatile because most of the elements are separate and ready for you to assemble.

You may want to also have my Craft With Heart subscription page open so you can compare mine to the sample layouts. You will see that I resized, rearranged and added photos to my pages. If you love these pages, it is not too late to order. However it will be soon. I’ll explain a little about how the subscription program works later in this post.

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My favorite way to use 1 Stamp with 2 Colors (Free Kit with Order)

2021 may be the year of Scandinavian artwork! Traditional Scandinavian design is based on symmetry and repetition and often include cheerful detailed images. Our April Stamp of the Month, Scandinavian Folk Art Greetings embraces this trend with images of home, flowers, envelopes, boot, bird and a window. The cool thing about stamping is that the repetition is effortless since you can just reink an image to add it multiple times.

Cheeful Thank You Card handmade and stamped with Scandinavian Pattern. Uses Close To My Heart paper and stamps. The April 2021 Stamp of the Month is just $5 when added to a qualifying order (free for VIP customers!) | CTMH | house | tulips | Eat Pray love | stamping | card making |

Although Scandinavian art is often monotone, I couldn’t resist adding a lots of color to my card. I really love how cheerful this color combination is and through it would be a great way to let someone know I appreciate them. If you like this design, you are in luck! I will be sending a kit to make it to everyone who orders this stamp set from me. Read on for more details.

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Announcing the May 2021 Album Retreat Theme: “My 5 Senses”

The theme for the May 2021 Album Retreat has been announced: “My 5 Senses”! All of the layouts in this 22 page kit will be centered around things that we see, hear, smell, taste, and feel. These pages include papers and stamps from the yet-to-be released May – June catalog plus lots of fun techniques and interactive details. This is going to be such a fun book to make!

What is an Album Retreat?

For years, Close To My Heart has sponsored “Album Retreats” for consultants to make an album that features all new products and lots of techniques. It was a way for use to learn and be equipped to teach our customers. Because of the pandemic, in 2020 CTMH started offering these retreats virtually and since they were no longer bound to the space in a meeting room, these amazing events were opened up and are no longer “consultant -only”.

This year’s virtual Album Retreat will be held on May 14 – 15 in a private Facebook. During those two days, instructors will walk your through each step in the process to make these beautiful pages. If you cannot make it to all of the sessions live, that’s ok because the group will remain available for you to watch them afterwards.

How can I be part of this?

To participate in this event, simply purchase the album bundle (EB20214)—there is no separate registration fee! Your kit will include all of the base and cut papers needed for the pages. You’ll also get stamp sets and thin cuts needed to make these elaborate decorative pages. As we get closer to the event, Close To My Heart will send an email to everyone who has purchased the bundle with an invitation to join a private Facebook group where the event will be held. A list of additional materials needed to complete the project will be added in the coming days.

Order now>>

Closer Look at the Projects

This retreat’s album includes 11 two-page 12″ × 12″ scrapbook layouts, for a total of 22 pages! Scroll down to see them all. Click on the images to see all the details.

Order now>>

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New Page Kits Are in My Online Store!

2 page 12x12 scrapbooking layout titled "Beautiful" with die cut flowers

I just added six new kits to my online store! The first four kits are made with the More Magical papers and are great for Disney memories.

2 page 12x12 layout titled "Inspire" with Disney Theme
2 page 12x12 layout titled "1 of a Kind Vacation" with Disney Theme
2 page 12x12 layout titled "When You Wish" with Disney Theme
2 page 12x12 layout titled "Love This" with Disney Theme

Those of you who attend the crop at First Baptist Church in Arnold will recognize the last two layouts. Each month, I bring a project and these are the layouts we made in November and January and feature the beautiful Serenity and Happiness Lives Here paper collections.

2 page 12x12 scrapbooking layout titled "Grateful" in blue and tans
2 page 12x12 scrapbooking layout titled "Beautiful" with die cut flowers

Each of these kits include the base pages, papers and any die cuts or embellishments shown on the samples. None of the papers are attached giving you the flexibility to rearrange the pieces to fit your photos. All of these layouts are available to order on this website under the “Page Kits” tab. Start shopping>>

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New! In This Together Collection (Free Workshop Guide Downloads)

In this together paper collection images

As we continue to adjust to life in the midst of a pandemic, it’s important to remember happy memories made during these otherwise challenging times and celebrate the things that unite us. With that sentiment, I’m pleased to announce our February special, In This Together!

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This New Collection Brings Sunshine on a Chilly Day

The first paper collection in our new January – February catalog is filled with sunshine and happiness. The Happiness Lives Here papers, coordinating cardstock, PML cards and embellishments feature the pleasant color combination of Smoothie, Peach, Blue Belle and Sage. If you plan to spend some time crafting this winter, this set is perfect for the chilly days ahead.

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Week 1 to Better Handwriting: Uppercase Print

Last week, I kicked off a series of posts focused on improving handwriting. I’m working my way through the Penmanship with Melissa Esplin book and invite you to join me! . This week, I tackled chapter 1 and in this post, I’ll show you some of my practice work and share a few tips I learned.

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