How-To Books Retiring!!

How-To Books available only while supplies last!

If you don’t have any of Close to my Heart’s How-To Books, you are missing out. These books are jam packed with awesome templates, patterns, creative ideas, and most of them even have a CD or DVD included  as well.

It was just announced that these books will be retiring at the end of the current catalog cycle, but they are only available while supplies last. Once they are sold out, they will be gone forever. (And at only $21.95 each, I guarantee they won’t last long.)

Have you ever seen a project in the Idea Book/Catalog that you loved? Did you know that most of the cards and layouts in all of the Idea Books/Catalogs are actually created using the patterns from these books? If you look closely, under each project, it will tell you which book the pattern came from and what the pattern is called. They are a great resource! There are four scrapbooking books and two card making books. I own all but one and can honestly recommend them!

You'll love the newly updated Reflections™ program which features (100) 12" × 12" scrapbook pages. Each layout pattern comes complete with a shaded blueprint, detailed assembly instructions, companion layout guides, photo options, and creative techniques sure to make your memories come to life.

Cherish is a beautiful hardbound book is similar to the Reflections programs with blueprints, step-by-step instructions, and photo suggestions, but it’s really in a league all of its own. It is a stand-alone publication that will look simply fabulous on a bookshelf or coffee table. It features 50 12" × 12" two-pagescrapbook concepts as well as in-depth instructions for unique art techniques, accessory suggestions for every concept, detailed cutting diagrams, step-by-step assembly instructions, a thumbnail index, and all the artwork recipes.

Create your own 12" × 12" designer layouts with Jeanette Lynton’s second volume of incredible scrapbooking patterns. Packed with 50 all new, two-page patterns, complete cutting diagrams, and assembly instructions, plus inspiring techniques, Imagine™ is every scrapbooker’s best friend.

Bring magic to your scrapbook layouts using clever interactive techniques. You'll add hands-on excitement and dramatically increase your photo and journaling space using pop-ups, pull-outs, slides, cascades, and more! Magic™ also includes 35 gorgeous 12" x 12" layout patterns that can be used on their own or with the interactive techniques. (DVD included.)

Create beautiful handmade cards with confidence using the numerous patterns in our exquisite hardbound Originals™ program. With exact dimensions, fold placement guides, blueprints, and step-by-step instructions, every aspiring cardmaker or crafting pro will love Originals. Feast on the gorgeous, full-color artwork sprinkled throughout the pages and then make cards of your own, simply and easily, with Originals!

Bulk cardmaking, trendy circle cards, and all new patterns make Jeanette Lynton's latest hardbound, how-to cardmaking book, Wishes, a must-have for your creative library. The three bulk card "workshops" help you make 8, 12, or 16 cards in a jiffy while getting the most out of your papers and your time. The beautiful full-color artwork and creative tips and techniques offer hours of inspiration and fresh ideas.
 
Be sure to order your copies of these valuable books before they are gone!

Try Digital Scrapbooking This Month!!

I have considered myself a die-hard traditional paper scrapbooker. I love looking at (and often buying) new patterned papers and embellishments.  My creativity gets flowing when I see adorable products at my annual voyage to the Scrapbook Expo.  But lately I have to admit that I've really been thinking about digital scrapbooking.  Not that I would go exclusively digital, but I think there may be events that would be faster & easier to scrapbook digitally.  Case in point - my family's recent trip to Legoland.  Do I do my usual thing of looking at the photos on my laptop, then print the 4 x 6 photos that I think I'd like to put on a layout, put those photos in an envelope that will sit on my craft table waiting for me to pick the perfect paper & embellishments before I even begin to think about how I will arrange those photos on the paper.  It could be years before that layout comes about (seriously!).

But what if I did the digital route?  If I go to the Studio J website I can upload my photos and play around with paper & layout options, and have that layout done in an hour or less.  Then, instead of paying for those 4 x 6 photos that I may or may not end up using, I can just pay for the 2 page layout to be printed and mailed to my home (free of shipping) where I will lovingly slide it into my scrapbook!!  Hmmm....kind of a no brainer I think!

This month I am finally going to take the plunge into digital scrapbooking using Studio J.  The deal is so great this month that I just can't pass it up!  For each Studio J 5-pack that you purchase, you'll get another 5-pack for free!  A 5-pack runs $55 - but for this month only, you get 2 for the price of one.  That means you'll get 10 two page digital layouts for $55.  If you figure how much you usually spend on printing photos, buying paper & embellishments, etc. you can see the value in this.  It comes out to just $2.75 per page, with free shipping! Not too shabby!

It doesn't cost a thing to go to Studio J and just check it out (click HERE).  You can also upload your photos and create a layout without spending a penny!  If you love the layout you create and want to do more, consider this month's special.  You don't have to use the 5-packs this month - they do not expire - so you can use them whenever you want.  You do have to purchase it during the month of February to get the free pack though.  Let me know if you have any questions!  And watch for a future post where I will share with you my first digital layouts!!

Is it February already?!

I'm sitting here looking at my calendar and, yes, it has taken me 12 days to realize that it's February!! That does not bode well for me during a month that is almost half over! Will I get anything done this month? I think not :)

In any case, let me belatedly post the February Stamp of the Month Blog Hop!  I do really like this month's stamp set.  It has several shapes that coordinate from the Cricut Philosophy Cartridge, which is fun & exciting!

 My favorite is the "You're Top Notch" on the postage stamp shape - I can see it on a cute card made from kraft paper and then tied with some bakers twine - you know, so that it looks kind of like a package!  I'll have to try to make it so you can see what I'm picturing in my mind ;)  Here are few projects using the Stamp of the Month that you can see right now:

For more ideas, click HERE to follow the February Blog Hop!  Now, if I can just get caught up and get some things done over the next couple of weeks!

Progress on my Project

 I've been enjoying working on my "Rock the Block" project!  I really love the Elemental paper - the patterns and colors really look great!  I've used the Cricut Philosophy Cartridge to cut out some hearts, covered the blocks with paper, and then used the exclusive stamp set to stamp flourishes and sayings.

 Cutting your photos can be tricky!  I had to cut a second picture of my son because on the first one, I cut his eye in half!  On this one, notice how I made a horizontal cut just below his eye - much better I think!

 While the blocks are designed so you can use a 4 x 6 photo, I ended up cutting this family photo down to 4 x 4 because I thought it was more visually pleasing.

 Since it will be a puzzle on my coffee table, I thought I'd add another "puzzling" element by cutting this heart in half and putting on two blocks.

So 3 sides down and 3 to go!  I am almost done with the 4th side, which is a picture of my daughter.  Then side 5 will have a picture of both kids together.  I have yet to finalize which photo I'll put on the last side.  I'll post again on the progress.  In the meantime, take a look at my previous post about this "Rock the Block" block & stamp set.  It's only available until January 31st!!

January Stamp of the Month Blog Hop

Check out the super useful stamp set for January!  It would be great to use on a scrapbook layout to remember the date of the event you are scrapping.  It would be equally as great on a card to recognize the date of an anniversary, etc.  What about a save the date card?  Or to make a calendar?  See?  The possibilities are endless!

Check out more possibilities by following the blog hop HERE

Rock the Block Starts Monday, 12/19!! Get it along with a free gift!!

My last post had a bit of information on the awesome "Rock the Block" set. I think it's such a clever project for a gift or just as for home decor.  The blocks can be covered with photos or paper, or just stamped, and you can flip & turn the blocks to see the various sides.  So much fun!  If you place an order for $25 or more, you are eligible to get the Rock the Block set (collage block set & exclusive stamp set) for just $15!  Above is a better picture of the exclusive stamp set that is only available with this promotion.  You can earn the Special Delivery stamp set for free (on the right) if you place an order with me before December 30th!!  It's such a cute little set!!  Come on, what are you waiting for?

To see all sorts of clever ways to use this block set, click HERE to follow the Rock the Block blog hop!

Rock The Block!

Close to My Heart has a rockin' new campaign that starts on December 19th called: Rock the Block!

When you place a minimum order of $25 from the Autumn/Winter 2011 Idea Book, you can get two valuable new products for just $15: the My Creations^® Collage Cubes (a Spring/Summer 2012 sneak-peek product!) and the exclusive My Acrylix^® Rock the Block E-size stamp set (available only during this promotion). This Rock the Block promotion represents a retail savings of almost $30! You're going to love the collage cubes and the Rock the Block stamp set, which work together for interactive, fashionable fun!

I'm currently putting one together that will sit on my coffee table!  I'm using the Elemental paper line and some cute pics of my kids & family. I'm hoping to finish it over the weekend so that I can post it next week! It's a fun, home dec kind of project!