Tag: memories

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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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New Kids Craft Kit: Born to Shine Album Workshop (Virtual Event 8/21)

UPDATE: Photos of completed book!


Announcing a NEW virtual event! This one is a little different because it will be aimed at younger creators!

I fell in love with crafting as a child. I love making things in school, at church and at home. I’m so glad that my creativity was encouraged. I still have embroidery thread and books given to me by my grandma while I was in elementary. Although my style and type of projects have changed over the years, the love of making things with my hands is here to stay!

I’m really excited to announce a new virtual event that will be created for and lead by children! I’m reminded note I wrote in the margins during last year’s Business Builders conference while our founder and CEO, Jeanette Lynton, share her thoughts with us. She said, “As long as little girls have hands, there will be crafting.”

She said it so well and I agree 100%. I saw this when raising my daughter who learned to knit before her age was double digits and I see it every time I work with children. The love of creating is an important part of development. 
The live event will be hosted by Maya, the 9-year old daughter of our president, Monica Wihongi on the Close To My Heart Facebook Page. You may have seen her helping her mom teach at other events. She has grown up at Close To My Heart and is a natural instructor! At this event, Maya will walk participants through each step of creating a fun mini album. Order the Born to Shine kit today so you’ll be ready to create during the class.
Here’s some of Maya’s completed pages:

This fall many of you will be home schooling either entirely or part time to allow your school to maintain social distances. This would be a great addition to your curriculum! The stamp set is filled with positive messages and journaling prompts to help them maintain a strong sense of self during these uncertain times. This stamp set is exclusively available in this workshop — you can’t get it anywhere else!

This would also be a great workshop to do with your grandchildren or nieces and nephews. Their parents are likely overwhelmed with all of the changes and would love to have some help. Wouldn’t to be fun to see them create their own personal memory book? If you can’t physically be in the same place, you could join them virtually through zoom or other meeting app. 

Each student will need the Born To Shine Album Workshop Kit which includes:

  • 4″ x 4″ Story by Stacy Album (one of the three designs shown)
  • 4″ x 4″ White Daisy cardstock
  • Born to Shine Stamp Set
  • Summer Vibes Picture My Life cards
  • 2″ x 3.5″ stamping block (1/4″ thick)

In addition, you’ll want to have an ink pad (Maya will be using Intense Black) and writing tools (like our black journaling pens) available for them to use.

This is a great addition to the already planned virtual events on the Close To My Heart Facebook page. Here’s all of the events currently scheduled in August. 
Be sure to go to the event pages and mark yourself as “Going” to be entered to win prizes! It’s going to be a fun, creative month!
Enjoy,
Rebecca
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More Magical: FREE Project Guide and Workshop Options

I’m so excited that we brought back the popular Magical paper collection. As an avid Disney lover, this was one of my favorite collections and since it retired, I’ve taken a couple trips to the parks so I’m glad to have it back to scrap those pictures. Since we have updated the colors, this paper collection is called “More Magical” and it is available through September 30 (or while supplies last).

Today, I wanted to tell you a little more about this bundle of products. These papers plus the exclusive coordinating stamp set (CC8183 Dreams) can be used for lots of projects. But you are like me and like to have a little help getting started, you can download a workshop guide to get complete directions for creating four 2-page layouts and eight cards. You can make the pages, the cards or both!

Download Workshop Guide>>

To make these projects, you’ll need the Dreams Stamp Set (CC8183), More Magical Paper Packet (CC8181), 12 additional sheets of cardstock (3 White, 2 Black, 3 Bluebird, 2 Candy Apple and 2 Carolina), White & Gold Ribbon (Z3189), Black & White Dots (Z3314) and 8 cards and envelopes.

You can get all of this and save 20% when you buy the More Magical Workshop Kit. 

If a few of these color names don’t sound familiar, that’s because Bluebird, Candy Apple and Carolina are new colors that are not available other than in through the More Magical special until September 1!

If you are not familiar with the Close To My Heart workshop guides, you need to check it out to see how through they are. Each guide includes a complete cutting diagram for each sheet of paper.

The guide also has a diagram and step by step assembly directions for each project. 

Regardless of your papercrafting experience, the guide will ensure that your pages will be beautiful and look professionally made! Of course, if you have any questions along the way, I’m here to help you figure it out. 

Here’s a closer look at the 4 layouts in the workshop:

And here’s a look at the cards. You’ll have enough paper and other supplies to make four each of these two designs.

Ready to get your hands on this workshop? I have two options for you to choose between. Don’t wait to order, this workshop is only available through September 30!

Option #1 – Cut your own papers: Order the workshop directly from my Close To My Heart website and have it delivered to your door. Print the guide for directions to cut the papers and assemble the projects. The workshop is available through September 30. Be sure to add Black and Mink ink pads to your order if you don’t already have them. Order now>

Option #2 – Let me do the cutting: Have your kit make a quick stop at my house and I’ll cut your papers! Your kit will also include a full color print of the workshop guide.  Order now>>

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#scrap20 Week 3 Check In: Thailand Page 1

Week 3 of the  #scrap20 Page Challenge is in the books — scrapbooks that is! Through this challenge you can get some pages done, share artwork and earn a chance to win a PRIZE!

This was one of those weeks that it was hard to find time to scrapbook. In fact 24 hours ago, I had not made time to work on any of my personal projects. The semester starts next Monday and I’ve been busy planning for my classes. Other than that, I’ve also been busy getting ready to roll out all our new Holiday products in September (can’t wait to show you!!!)  

But because of this challenge, I had to get something done this week, so I sit down and finished the first page of my Thailand scrapbook.  One page is better than nothing, right?

This page was designed by the Close To My Heart artists and provided as a kit as part of the incentive trip I went on earlier this year. This will give you an idea of how beautiful the pages in this album will be and it uses some techniques that I never take the time to do unless following a guide.

You’ll notice that there is lots of gold accents which really reminds a lot of the sites in Thailand. This page has gold in the Glitter Paper, Glitter Gems and Black Shimmer Ribbon.

This map of Thailand was one of the images on the exclusive stamp set provided in the kit. It was stamped on a piece of patterned paper and fussy cut out — something I never take the time to do, but I love how it turned out. It really pops because of the Saffron splatter behind it. The “splatter” actually an image on the stamp set Splash of Color (D1733). This fun stamp set is used through out the album to add extra layers of color. By the way, it retires at the end of August, so there are just a few more days you can get it.

This temple is another image on the exclusive Thailand stamp set. It is stamped with Momento ink and colored with watercolor pencils. You may know that these pencils went out of stock a couple months ago and I’m excited to tell you that we are getting them back in September. I love using them with our small waterbrush to make the colors blend to get that fun watercolor look.


Tally: My goal for August is to complete 20 pages. I only finished 1 this week which brings my total up to 14 pages and I have 6 to go!



How many pages have you done? Comment your count below before next Friday and you’ll be entered to win a new product bundle from the Holiday Expressions Idea Book! Then be sure to check back each Friday in August to update your count to get another ticket in the drawing. In the mean time, share your completed pages on social media using the hashtag #scrap20!

Can’t wait to see what you make!

Rebecca

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Why I do what I do…

I’m a scrapbooker. I have always loved pictures and the stories they tell. Everyone has a story to tell — what is yours?

That is what Close To My Heart is all about. That’s why I love this new video that showcases all the ways we can help you tell your story…

You have the pictures. Let me help you preserve the memories you captured with your camera — or phone!