June 2023 CTMH News

Happy June 2023! I hope you are ready for the warmer–scratch that–hotter temperatures we are forecast for later this week. I like summer, but I am not a fan of the temperatures that are being forecast. We spent part of the past weekend getting our outdoor umbrella base up and ready to shade our patio door and installing a sail-like shade to keep the sun from heating up the front porch and living room. We will try to get by with shade and fans since neither of us are a fan of closing up all of the doors and windows putting on the air. We will see if we can make it through. Good luck to you staying comfortable this summer

June 2023 Stamp Of The Month Botanical Shadows

Botanical Shadows—June Stamp of the Month (S2306)

Botanical Shadows (S2306) is an exclusive D-Size set of 6 stamps. Botanical Shadows is available only during the month of June 2023. The stamp set can be free for CTMH VIP Customers who place a qualifying order during June 2023. Those who are not CTMH VIP Customers can place a qualifying order and purchase the stamp set on the same order for only $5. Everyone qualifies for additional sets at $5 for each additional $50 spent on the same order. The June 2023 SOTM is also available for $19.95 with no other purchase required. The recommended CTMH My Acrylix® Blocks for this stamp set are: 1" × 3½" (Y1002), 2" × 3½" (Y1009), 2" × 6½" (Y1010), 5" × 6" (Y1015).

The CTMH Art Department created some cards using Botanical Shadows:

cards created with Botanical Shadows—June Stamp of the Month

Botanical Shadows is available only during the month of June 2023. Visit Melinda Everitt's CTMH Artwork Showcase on Facebook to see other art work created with Botanical Shadows.

Melon Mania

Melon Mania

Celebrate the CTMH Color of the Year, Melon, during June before the color retires when the next Core Products Catalog is introduced on July 1, 2023.

   

Melon Mania Flyer - page 1	Melon Mania Flyer - page 2
Melon Mania Flyer - page 3	Melon Mania Flyer - page 4

Melon Mania is available June 1-June 30 while supplies available.

National Scrapbooking Month—Dream Maker

National Scrapbooking Month—Dream Maker

While May is National Scrapbooking Month, the special CTMH created for 2023 continues to be available in June, while supplies last. As I said last month, I think the National Scrapbooking Month specials get better each year and Dream Maker is one of my favorites.

Dream Maker Flyer

The Dream Maker Flyer highlights each Dream Maker product and a bundle of the papers or a bundle of all products. You can download a PDF of the flyer here.

Dream Maker flyer page 1

Dream Maker flyer page 2

Dream Maker Scrapbooking Workshop Kit Flyer

The Dream Maker Scrapbooking Workshop Kit Flyer lists the products in the scrapbooking workshop kit, list the additional supplies to create the workshop and shows the 3 two-page 12" x 12" layouts you will create when you follow the workshop instructions. You can download a PDF of the flyer here.

Dream Maker Scrapbooking Workshop Kit flyer page 1

Dream Maker Scrapbooking Workshop Kit flyer page 2

Create the Dream Maker - Scrapbooking Workshop with staff from the CTMH Corporate Office during a Live Event on the CTMH Facebook page on Monday, July 10 at 4pm EDT.

Dream Maker Cardmaking Workshop Kit Flyer

The Dream Maker Cardmaking Workshop Kit Flyer lists the products in the cardmaking workshop kit, list the additional supplies to create the workshop and shows the 16 cards–2 each of 8 designs–you will create when you follow the workshop instructions. You can download a PDF of the flyer here.

Dream Maker Cardmaking Workshop Kit flyer page 1

Dream Maker Cardmaking Workshop Kit flyer page 2

Create the Dream Maker - Cardmaking Workshop during a Live Event on the CTMH Facebook page on Wednesday, July 12 at 4pm EDT.

Dream Maker Album Workshop Kit Flyer

The Dream Maker Album Workshop Kit Flyer lists the products in the album workshop kit, list the additional supplies to create the workshop and shows the 14-pages you will create when you follow the workshop instructions. You can download a PDF of the flyer here.

Dream Maker Album Workshop Kit flyer page 1

Dream Maker Album Workshop Kit flyer page 2

Create the Dream Maker - Mini Album Workshop during a Live Event on the CTMH Facebook page on Friday, July 14 at 4pm EDT.

Dream Maker is available through June 30 while supplies last.

April–June 2023 Catalog

April–June 2023 Catalog cover

We are in the final month of the April–June 2023 CTMH catalog. This catalog has three new paper collections Cosette, Hey Handsome and Hello Darlin, a new Mix-In and many new stamps and stamps + Thin Cuts. The April–June 2023 catalog can be viewed here and there is a PDF on that page that you can download to view off-line anytime.

I hope you have a wonderful June and get some time to rest, relax. recharge and craft something you love. 

Hey Handsome Cardmaking Project 4

Happy Memorial Day! I hope that you are fortunate enough to have a day off from work and can enjoy time with family and friends (and maybe get a chance for some crafting) after the Memorial Day Parades.

I am back with the final Hey Handsome Cardmaking Project 4 cards.

Hey Handsome Cardmaking Workshop Kit Project 4 variations

On the Project 4 cards I used a different cardstock color on each card, but kept the card design the same as in the workshop guide.

Be careful when cutting the collars. I had planned on each collar being the true color (dark side) of the cardstock. Unfortunately I accidently cut the collar cardstock incorrectly for the Paprika card. Rather than cut more cardstock, I improvised when it came to the buttons, pocket and placket; I turned the cardstock over and auditioned the true color and other side of the cardstock until I found a true color/light combination I was happy with.

You may be wondering how I completed the cutting for the cards. I cut the patterned Hey Handsome paper exactly as shown in the Hey Handsome Cardmaking Workshop Kit (G1279) Workshop Guide (download the Workshop Guide (PDF format) here). As I mentioned before, I sketched out the rest of the cutting in Cricut Design Space, then used my paper trimmer to make the cuts. So you can visualize the cuts I made, here are screen snips I took of the Design Space project I created.

Before you start cutting, one important note. Most of the cuts are the same size as indicated on the workshop guide, but they are cut from a different color. There are only a few exceptions:

• Project 1 - I cut two pockets using a different die so the pocket was wider to accommodate the stamp width better, alternatively you could just use the included pocket die or, if you want a wider pocket use a die cut as a pattern and trace around the cut adding a little‒⅛" should be enough‒to either side when tracing
• Project 3 - I cut the Paprika "tags" at only ½" rather than ¾" as listed in the cutting guide

Modified Harbour CS Cutting Guide

So you will have enough Harbour cardstock to die cut the pocket, when cutting the Harbour cardstock make the 5" cut from top to bottom first, then turn the cardstock and make the 3½" cut for Card 1. If your next cut is from top to bottom at 5¼", you will not have a wide enough piece of cardstock remaining for the pocket. You need the 2¼" wide scrap to die cut the pocket. I hope I am writing this so it makes sense. If it is unclear, please use the contact from to the right to ask questions.

Modified Mink CS Cutting Guide

I forgot to depict the pen die cuts on the Mink cardstock when sketching the changes I planned in Cricut Design Space, but as you can see, there is enough cardstock to make the four pen die cuts.

Modified Paprika CS Cutting Guide

I mentioned the different Paprika cardstock cutting above; rather than cut the "tags" that are applied adjacent to the pocket at ¾" as listed in the cutting guide, I cut them at only ½". I also substituted a different pocket die to make the pocket wider for Card 1.

Modified Pine CS Cutting Guide

There is nothing special about the Pine cardstock cuts, but if I missed explaining any details, please let me know.

Modified Toffee CS Cutting Guide

Like the Pine cardstock, there is nothing special about the Toffee cardstock cuts. Again, if I missed explaining any details, please reach out via the Contact form to the right.

I hope you enjoyed the changes made when cutting the cardstock and assembling the cards in the Hey Handsome Cardmaking Workshop Kit (G1279). In my opinion, it is like assembly line cardmaking without several cards looking identical.

Happy crafting!

Memorial Day Sale Cardmaking Workshop Kits

Happy Saturday! The CTMH Memorial Day Sale is going strong and already, just about 24 hours have passed, and some items have sold out.

CTMH Memorial Day Sale

Some of the items that are still available are cardmaking workshop kit. Specifically the Isabella Workshop (G1235), Tutti Frutti Workshop (G1256), Sweet Safari Workshop (G1224), and Eat Play Love Workshop (G1228).

If you hesitate to purchase the cardmaking workshops because you do not want to create four identical cards, I want to share some of my completed cards with you to show that you can change them a little, or, if you have been following my Hey Handsome posts (project 1, project 2, project 3, and project 4 will be available on Monday), you can change them up quite a bit by changing colors, but using the same pattern.

When creating the Isabella Cardmaking Workshop Kit (G1235) workshop I kept the changes fairly simple by only changing the greetings stamped on each card. Unfortunately it has been many months since I created the cards and misplaced the list of stamp sets I used. I remember I used the Isabella—Cardmaking Stamp + Thin Cuts (Z3969) set on some cards and kept the stamp sets from the Craft with Heart™ Cardmaking Kit close by when creating with this kit, but I encourage you to shop your stash when creating with the Cardmaking Workshop Kits.

Isabella Cardmaking Workshop Project 1 cards

Isabella Cardmaking Workshop Project 1 cards

Isabella Cardmaking Workshop Project 2 cards

Isabella Cardmaking Workshop Project 2 cards

Isabella Cardmaking Workshop Project 3 cards

Isabella Cardmaking Workshop Project 3 cards

Isabella Cardmaking Workshop Project 4 cards

Isabella Cardmaking Workshop Project 4 cards

I used the Tutti Frutti Cardmaking Workshop Kit (G1256) when I was creating invitations for my mother to use for a class reunion, so I did not worry about duplicate cards, but I make a few minor changes to the cards.

Tutti Frutti Cardmaking Workshop Kit Project 1 cards

When I first shared the Tutti Frutti Project 1 cards, I share some notes about how I changed to centers of the cards to (soften the color) on this post.

Tutti Frutti Cardmaking Workshop Kit Project 2 cards

Photos of the Tutti Frutti Project 2 cards were posted about a year ago when the workshop was in the current CTMH catalog. I used the lighter yellow on this card too. Some notes about the changes I made to the cards here.

Tutti Frutti Cardmaking Workshop Kit Project 3 cards

I like the look of the bow on the Project 3 card. The notes I posted when I shared the cards about a year ago can be found here.

Tutti Frutti Cardmaking Workshop Kit Project 4 cards

The Project 4 cards were very easy to change from a birthday card to an invitation. I had a little scrap of Lemonade, so I decided to see how a card would look with Flamingo and Lemonade banners. I like it. I shared the Project 4 cards, along with a card I created from the Cardmaking Workshop Kit scraps (a card from Make It From You Heart Volume 2 (9042 - retired)), here.

I enjoyed creating with the whimsical characters in the Sweet Safari Cardmaking Workshop Kit (G1224). Unfortunately in my collection of unorganized photos I am unable to find photos of all of the Sweet Safari cards I created. Luckily I was able to find a few cards that I shared in 2021.

Sweet Safari Cardmaking Workshop - Project 3 - Variation 1

Sweet Safari Cardmaking Workshop - Project 3 - Variation 2

Sweet Safari Cardmaking Workshop - Project 3 - Variation 3

If you are concerned about how to line up the squares, please visit the post when I previously shared the Sweet Safari cards. There I posted a pattern that I created in Cricut Design Space. I printed the pattern and used a light pad (box) to aid with aligning the elements on the card.

I also used the cute monkey to create a cute Valentine.

card created with Sweet Safari stamps & Heartstrings paper

Details of the card can be found here.

Unfortunately the Eat Play Love Workshop (G1228) sits in my stack of unfinished projects. I have too many ideas and projects and not enough time. I suspect that I am in good company.

I hope this post helps you see the Cardmaking Workshop Kits in a fresh way. Enjoy the rest of your holiday weekend.

Memorial Day Sale!

Close To My Heart is having a Memorial Day Sale!

CTMH Memorial Day Sale

Save on an assortment of crafting items during this weekend's big Memorial Day Sale. The sale begins at 5:00pm EST (3:00pm MST) on Friday, May 26. Deals, while supplies available, will be available through 1:59am EST on Tuesday, May 31 (that is 11:59pm MST on Monday, May 30).

There will be exclusive items too and they are only available for the duration of the sale.

Please keep in mind that details that applied to previous sales that also apply to the Memorial Day Sale:

• Sale prices are only available on orders placed on my Maker website.
• All discounted items count toward earning VIP Credit.
• All discounted items count towards Stamp of the Month qualification.
• Sale prices do not apply to VIP Credit purchases; that is, if you choose to redeem VIP Credit on sale items, you will be charged the full retail value for those items (so my suggestion is to save your VIP credits for a future order).
• Shipping and handling is based on the full retail value of the sale items.
• To see the items featured in the sale, visit the Flash Sale page on my Maker website during the sale.
• All offers are only available while supplies last, so be sure to get them in before the sale ends!
• I believe only a limited number of current products were set aside for the sale. Once CTMH sells through the allotted supply, I think those items will no longer be available. I also believe any current items that sell out during the sale will return to availability at their normal price when the sale has ended.

Subscribers to the Close To My Heart newsletter or Close To My Heart VIP newsletter will receive an email at the beginning of the sale to let them know when it has started.

Please shop early for the best selection.

National Scrapbooking Day

National Scrapbooking Day Celebration

While the live events for the CTMH National Scrapbooking Day Celebration have concluded, the recordings are still available on the Close To My Heart Facebook Page. The National Scrapbooking Day Celebration workshop kits, two scrapbooking kits, two cardmaking kits and an album workshop, are only available through May 31, 2023 while supplies last.

Holiday Closure

The Close To My Heart Corporate Offices will be closed on Monday, May 29 in observance of the US Memorial Day holiday. While the website will be open to download instructions and for placing orders, no orders will ship and customer service will be closed.

No matter how you celebrate your Memorial Day weekend, have a safe and fun weekend with family and friends.

Hey Handsome Cardmaking Project 3

The changes I made to Project 3 in the Hey Handsome Cardmaking Workshop Sheet are not very noticeable, mostly because I would have had to supplement the changes from my cardstock stash. If anyone is following along with the changes I made, they may not have extra cardstock to make the alterations, so I decided to keep it simple.

Hey Handsome Cardmaking Workshop Kit Project 3

Rather than use the "I Just Really Love You" stamp, I make the Project 3 cards into birthday cards using the included stamp. To make the sentiment fit on the pocket and still use the "stitching" stamp, I masked the comma and "dude" with masking tape when inking the stamp (just don't forget to remove the masking tape when stamping on the pocket).

I made the Paprika "tab" a little shorter, cutting it at ½", because it was more pleasing to my eye. On one card I used the dark side of Toffee to make the belt a little darker.

I will share the Project 4 cards next week. I hope you are enjoy the changes I made, even if they are very subtle, to the Hey Handsome Cardmaking Workshop.

Have a great week ahead.

Hey Handsome Cardmaking Project 2

I am back to share more cards from the Hey Handsome Cardmaking Workshop Kit. While last week I focused on Project 1, this week is all about Project 2.

Hey Handsome Cardmaking Workshop Kit Project 2 variations

On the Project 2 cards I used different colors for each shirt and a Black Journaling Pen to create the thread that attaches the button to the shirt. I was able to complete all of the cards, even with the alterations, from the paper included in the Workshop Kit.

Come back next week when I share a couple of minor alterations to Project 3 in the Hey Handsome Cardmaking Workshop Kit. I hope you have an amazing week.

Hey Handsome Cardmaking

Hello. It seems like it has been forever since I've had a chance to post between the first of each month. I have to admit that I am falling asleep as I write this, but I am determined to get this post ready for you.

If you are anything like me, it is rare that you can use four identical cards. And there are times that the sentiment on the sample cards is not a sentiment that I would use or need several cards with that phrase. In many cases when this happens, I use a sentiment in the kit several times or pull sentiments from my stash.

Here are the cards you will create if you follow the instructions in the Hey Handsome Cardmaking Workshop Kit.

Hey Handsome Cardmaking Workshop Kit (G1279)

Today I am going to focus on Project 1 in the Hey Handsome Cardmaking Workshop Kit and share the subtle changes I made to make each card somewhat unique.

Hey Handsome Cardmaking Workshop Kit Project 1 variations

The first thing you might notice is the pocket is a little larger on the Paprika and Pine cards. Personally, I did not love that the "dad" sentiment was large enough that it could not be stamped within the stitched lines of the included die. I remembered that I had a pocket die from Tattered Lace, so I made a substitution. If I did not have a die that the stamp would fit on, I would have used one of the die cuts from Hey Handsome and used it for a template to make a wider pocket (the die I used made a cut that was less than ⅛" taller than the die cut from the CTMH die). 

To ensure I would have enough cardstock from the kit, I sketched out the changes in Cricut Design Space. I have a Cricut Maker, but anyone can use Design Space to create a new or revised cutting guide.

On most of the buttons I used the stamp to give the illusion of thread, but on some I used a Black Journaling Pen.

Since I now have so many birthday cards from this collection, I will be giving a few of them to the "sunshine" committee of our local senior group. They make sure that folks attending the senior luncheon during their birthday month receive a card.

Stop back next week when I share how I altered Project 2 in the Hey Handsome Cardmaking Workshop Kit. Have a great week.

May 2023 CTMH News

Happy up and down of the Northeast Spring weather. A couple of weeks ago we were breaking records and were able to sleep with our windows open and as I write this on April 29, I am so chilly that I had to cover up with a blanket (and yes, I did turn the heat back on after those warm days). Fingers crossed we do not see snow in May like we did the year my nieces were Baptized or have snow on the ground like the year I was born. My mom often reminisces that when she went into the hospital to give birth to me there was snow on the ground and when she was released the trees started to have leaves and my father could not take us home until he put the top up on the convertible. What a change in 5 days.

May 2023 Stamp Of The Month Little Stinkers

Little Stinkers—May Stamp of the Month (S2305)

Little Stinkers (S2305) is an exclusive D-Size set of 17 stamps. The stamp set can be free for CTMH VIP Customers who place a qualifying order during May 2023. Those who are not CTMH VIP Customers can place a qualifying order and purchase the stamp set on the same order for only $5. Everyone qualifies for additional sets at $5 for each additional $50 spent on the same order. The May 2023 SOTM is also available for $19.95 with no other purchase required. The recommended CTMH My Acrylix® Blocks for this stamp set are: 1" × 1" (Y1000), 1" × 1½" (Y1016), 1" × 3½" (Y1002), 2" × 2" (Y1003), 2" × 3½" (Y1009).

The CTMH Art Department created cards using Little Stinkers:

cards created with Little Stinkers—May Stamp of the Month

Little Stinkers is available only during the month of May 2023. Visit Melinda Everitt's CTMH Artwork Showcase to see other art work created with Little Stinkers.

National Scrapbooking Month—Dream Maker

National Scrapbooking Month—Dream Maker

May is National Scrapbooking Month and for as long as I have been a Maker, CTMH has always come up with something fabulous. I think the National Scrapbooking Month specials get better each year. Last year many of the National Scrapbooking Month products sold out so if you like Dream Maker, please be sure to order early.

Dream Maker Flyer

The Dream Maker Flyer highlights each Dream Maker item and a bundle of the papers or a bundle of all products. You can download a PDF of the flyer here.

Dream Maker flyer page 1

Dream Maker flyer page 2

Dream Maker Scrapbooking Workshop Kit Flyer

The Dream Maker Scrapbooking Workshop Kit Flyer lists the products in the scrapbooking workshop kit, list the additional supplies to create the workshop and shows the 3 two-page 12" x 12" layouts you will create when you follow the workshop instructions. You can download a PDF of the flyer here.

Dream Maker Scrapbooking Workshop Kit flyer page 1

Dream Maker Scrapbooking Workshop Kit flyer page 2

Dream Maker Album Workshop Kit Flyer

The Dream Maker Album Workshop Kit Flyer lists the products in the album workshop kit, list the additional supplies to create the workshop and shows the 14-pages you will create when you follow the workshop instructions. You can download a PDF of the flyer here.

Dream Maker Album Workshop Kit flyer page 1

Dream Maker Album Workshop Kit flyer page 2

Dream Maker Cardmaking Workshop Kit Flyer

The Dream Maker Cardmaking Workshop Kit Flyer lists the products in the cardmaking workshop kit, list the additional supplies to create the workshop and shows the 16 cards–2 each of 8 designs–you will create when you follow the workshop instructions. You can download a PDF of the flyer here.

Dream Maker Cardmaking Workshop Kit flyer page 1

Dream Maker Cardmaking Workshop Kit flyer page 2

Dream Maker is available through June 30 while supplies last.

National Scrapbooking Day Celebration

National Scrapbooking Day Celebration

Close To My Heart is hosting a National Scrapbooking Day Celebration on May 5 and May 6 at the @CloseToMyHeartOfficial Facebook Page. Head to the CTMH Facebook Page, choose More then Events to receive reminders from Facebook closer to the event. If you have not purchased any of the workshops, or the product bundle, they are still available. The Facebook Lives will be saved on the CTMH Facebook Page so you can view them when your order arrives.

There are two cardmaking workshops and three scrapbooking workshops to choose from or all five of the workshops can be purchased in a bundle. When you are on the product page to see all of the product details, be sure to download a copy of the workshop guides.

     

National Scrapbooking Day Celebration flyer page 1	National Scrapbooking Day Celebration flyer page 2
National Scrapbooking Day Celebration flyer page 3	National Scrapbooking Day Celebration flyer page 4
National Scrapbooking Day Celebration flyer page 5	National Scrapbooking Day Celebration flyer page 6

The National Scrapbooking Day Celebration bundles are available until May 31 while supplies last. If you would like to download a copy of the flyer, you will find it here.

April–June 2023 Catalog

April–June 2023 Catalog cover

We are in month two of the April–June 2023 CTMH catalog. This catalog has three new paper collections Cosette, Hey Handsome and Hello Darlin, a new Mix-In and many new stamps and stamps + Thin Cuts. The catalog can be viewed here and there is a PDF there that you can download to view off-line anytime.

As always, I hope you have a wonderful month ahead and are able to find many opportunities to craft. Take card of yourselves and Happy Mother's Day to all of the moms.