More Sweet Treats

I am having so much fun creating with the February SOTM set, Piece of Cake. I've already shared my card made with the fun and funky You Rock papers, but this time I've used my very favorite papers from the Spring 2010 Idea Book - Topstitch!

This first card was heavily inspired by fellow consultant Amy McGrew. I added a little distressing to the edges, some color to the cupcakes and cake plate and a touch of Liquid Applique to create frosting good enough to eat!

The 2nd card was inspired by consultant Melissa Laverty - you may have seen her version if you went through the Stamp of the Month Blog Hop. I fell in love with this simple card design as soon as I saw it and had to create my own version! The cake and sentiment are embossed with Baby Pink embossing powder to make them more vibrant against the Chocolate card base.

Thanks Amy & Melissa for being such amazing creative inspirations!!

I hope you haven't seen enough of the February SOTM set as I have more to share in the coming days. Check back soon, but in the meantime, be sure to head over to my website - http://beth.MyCTMH.com to order your very own Piece of Cake set!

Hearts for Haiti-Give & Get Back!

We have all been touched by the devastation and suffering caused by the recent earthquake in Haiti. Like so many of you, Close to My Heart is eager to help those in need. And helping has never been easier!

During the month of February, purchase any pack of 12" x 12" Textured Cardstock and you'll get a second pack FREE AND Close to My Heart will donate $2 to Operation Smile's Haiti Relief efforts. That means that for only $14.95 (plus tax and shipping) you get TWO packs of Textured Cardstock and you help this urgent, important cause.

Our Textured Cardstock comes in 5 fabulous combo packs, so choose your two favorites or get some of each! Visit my website to order yours today!

To learn more about Operation Smile's Haiti relief efforts visit http://www.operationsmile.org/haiti.

February SOTM Blog Hop

After taking a month off from the Stamp of the Month Blog Hop, I'm BACK! I missed it so much last month, December was just so hectic for our family, I realized it was one of those times when I just had to let something go. Needless to say, I am so excited to be back!


Many of you are already familiar with the format of the hop, but for those of you just checking it out for the first time, here's a little about how it works. After you are finished browsing my post, click on the link I will provide at the bottom. That will take you to another consultant who is sure to have another fabulous piece of artwork to share, she will also post another link. Continue to follow the links until you get back her to mine. You are sure to be inspired by the creativity of my fellow CTMH consultants!


I simply LOVE the images in this month's Stamp of the Month set, Piece of Cake. Filled with whimsical images of cakes and cupcakes, this set is almost good enough to eat!!





These fun images will work great in ANY color scheme, but I decided to go a little outside the box and pair it with our funky new My Reflections kit, You Rock. Since the paper had a bit of a tye-dyed look to it, I figured my stamped image should too. Yes, it was time to pull out my re-inkers and create my own "puddle pad". To create your own puddle pad, you will need the following supplies:

*3-4 Re-inkers in coordinating colors (I used Goldrush, Indian Corn Blue, Outdoor Denim and Olive)

*1 paper plate

*1 small piece of felt (I used pink as it was the only color I had laying around - using white would allow you to see your colors much better)

With the felt on the paper plate, start with your lightest color and drop a few drops of re-inker onto the felt.

Add the remaining colors around the edge of the first color allowing the colors to run together.

Be sure your puddle pad is large enough to accommodate your stamp - I had to make mine large enough for a 2 1/2" x 2 1/2" stamp.

Place your stamp onto the puddle pad as you would if you were using a traditional ink pad.

Stamp onto your paper as usual.

I LOVE this technique for adding several colors to my stamped images!

I dressed up the cake with a touch of Liquid Glass and some Sparkles - after all, everything is better with a little bling!

Don't forget, the February Stamp of the Month, Piece of Cake is only available through February 28th! Head on over to my website (or check with your own consultant) to see how you can earn yours at an amazing discount, or even FREE!

Be sure to check back later in the week - I have more fun artwork using the February SOTM set to share with you!

Now onto the next stop...I'm sure the fabulously talented Brenda has something wonderful to share with you! Head to her blog by clicking on her name above. If at anytime you get lost along the way or come across links that are not working, Jena's blog has a complete list of this month's "hoppers"! Happy Hopping!

Join my Close to My Heart Team!

The new year is a time for new beginnings, so what better time to join the Close to My Heart family and begin earning a great discount on all of your favorite stamping and scrapbooking supplies!

Have you checked out the New Consultant Kit? Wow! Makes me want to sign up all over again! :-) This amazing new kit has everything you need to get your business off to a great start - over $300 in in product for only $99!

To make make the deal even better, when you sign up you can take advantage a generous discount of one or both of the bonus packs shown below. Bonus packs are filled with our newest product and represent a 65% discount off the regular retail price.

Scrapbooking Bonus Pack - over $160 in product for only $60

Cardmaking Bonus Pack - over $150 in product for only $50

As if those discounts weren't a sweet enough deal, if you join my team in January you will receive the National Papercrafting Month exclusive Felicity Collection absolutely FREE with your New Consultant Kit.And...all New Consultants will have the opportunity to preview Studio J, CTMH's brand new online scrapbooking software before it releases to the public this Spring - you'll even have the opportunity to purchase up to 10 layouts at a special introductory price!

A few of the reasons I love being a CTMH Consultant include...a generous discount/commission, industry leading products, working with amazing and inspiring women, and the opportunity to expand my creativity and meet new people! I know you'll love it too!

Whether you want to earn a discount on your own supplies, a little extra spending cash, or supplement or even replace a full-time income, it is all possible with CTMH! Call or email me and we can chat about the opportunity. Or simply head on over to my website and sign up!!

Idea Book Superstars!

Okay...I have a confession to make about Close to My Heart Idea Books! The day my supply of idea books arrive is a much anticipated day at my house. Of course, one would think I simply can't wait to see the new goodies CTMH has designed and the amazingly inspiring artwork that graces the pages of each book. However, if I am being perfectly honest, my first look through the idea book isn't focused on the incredible new products! No, my first look is always focused on the artwork, specifically the pictures used in the artwork. Yes, I look eagerly for my pictures in each Close to My Heart Idea Book!!!

Close to My Heart encourages consultants to submit photos for their Art Dept. to be used in sample artwork. Well, who doesn't love sharing their photos?!?! I faithfully oblige and send them my favorites and lo and behold occasionally I will flip through a new Idea Book and see the precious face of one or both of my children smiling back at me.

My kids have learned to anticipate the new books too, and always ask, 'Mommy, am I in the catalog this time?" More often than not, the answer is "Not this time, sweetie!", but it sure is fun when I can open my copy and show them "their page"! Thank you CTMH for making my kids feel like superstars!!!

The picture above is page 80 of the Spring 2010 Idea Book. I wish I could claim the amazing artwork, but I CAN claim the adorable little girl who was using a wrench to put her training wheels back ON her bike all on her own!

January is National Papercrafting Month

January is National Papercrafting Month and Close to My Heart is celebrating with Felicity! A special website filled with tips, techniques and inspiration, and daily giveaways along with amazing product collection make this a celebration you can't miss!

Felicity means extreme happiness or bliss and that is exactly what you'll find in this gorgeous collection!

The Felicity Collection features decorative die-cut paper, three gorgeous color schemes, and a D-size stamp set that includes flowers, flourishes, argyle patterns, birds and and entire alphabet!

There are three ways to get your Felicity Collection:
-Purchase it at full retail price for $34.95
-Place an order of $60 or more in full-retail priced stamp sets and receive the Felicity Collection FREE!
-Place an order of $125 or more in full-retail priced CTMH products and receive the Felicity Collection FREE.

Additionally, Hostesses who have total gathering sales of $400 or more and new Consultants who join CTMH in January will each get a Felicity Collection FREE!

Available through January 31st or while supplies last! Celebrate with Felicity today!!!

To make the celebration even better, Close to My Heart invites you to visit the National Papercrafting Month blog, where everyday you'll find something new - fun techniques, helpful tips and inspiring artwork AND evey day this month they are giving away a FREE Felicity Collection! Visit daily and leave a comment for your chance to WIN!

Spring 2010 Idea Book is HERE!

You won't want to miss the brand new Spring 2010 Idea book from Close to My Heart! It is filled with the latest and greatest goodies for scrapbooking and stamping - 4 gorgeous, new My Reflections Scrapbooking kits, over 35 exclusive My Acrylix stamp sets, and more incredible new accessories - not to mention the inspiring artwork that fills the pages! This Idea Book is one of the best yet!!!

This beautiful new book is available NOW! You can view it online by visiting my website - http://beth.myctmh.com/. Or shoot me an email at beth@MyCTMH.com to get your very own copy delivered to your door.

Since I know you're all dying to see the 4 new My Reflections Kits, I thought I'd share them here. Enjoy!!!!

If you like the gorgeous layout on the cover of the Spring Idea Book, you'll love the soft, muted, earthy colors of Veranda (Creme Brulee, Cocoa, Garden Green & Juniper). These papers have such an elegant look!
I think Topstitch is quite possibly my favorite new kit!! The fun color combination of Baby Pink, Chocolate, Heavenly Blue, and Vineyard Berry give these papers a bit of a retro feel. Check back soon to see the fun Easter layout I created with Topstitch!

This next kit is oh so playful and downright FUN! Caboodle is perfect for those little boys in your life and all sorts of springtime fun. Caboodle features Buttercup, Crystal Blue, Sorbet and Sweet Leaf.
For all you aspiring Guitar Heros and Rock Band members out there, this kit is for you! I simply love the psychadelic look of You Rock which combines Goldrush, Indian Corn Blue, Olive and Outdoor Denim with some great patterns for a totally groovy look!

So there's a peek at the new kits! Are your creative juices flowing yet? I hope so - I know mine are! If you LOVE one of these kits (or ALL of them), be sure to check out my workshop schedule on the right hand side as each of these new kits will be featured for a month at my workshops this spring.

Happy Scrapping! Happy Stamping!