Weekend Scrapbooking Retreat, Accepting Deposit Now!

Close to My Heart

Weekend Scrapbooking Retreat

September 23, 24 & 25, 2011

Love to scrapbook? Love to get away for weekends? Then try a scrapbook weekend retreat. Get some serious scrapbooking time with this incredible overnight getaway that includes hands on instruction, break-away classes utilizing some of the industry's most popular products, goodies, prizes, and lots of fun! Gather your girlfriends and get ready to re-energize your scrapbooking creativity! 48 blissful hours of scrapbooking with your buddies, making new friends, leaving your routines at home, pampering yourself!

When: Sept. 23, 24 & 25

Starts: Friday 4:00 until Sunday 4:00

Where: Springhill Suites, 5250 28th Street, GRR , 49546 (Behind Cascade Target)

Cost: Weekend $45. Or, Friday $15. Saturday $25. Sunday $10.

Register: RSVP with your $25. deposit before Sat. August 27th and earn "Early Entrance Privileges" & reserved seating for your group. Start as early as noon. Email me with your info.

What to Bring: All your scrapbooking and Stamping friends, a cup with a cover & a treat to share.

Hotel Registration: Get your best price by reserving your room under the CTMH block at $79. per night. Call 464-1130. The hotel is newer & beautiful. Rooms are suites with fridge, micro & separate area with couch & dining table. Breakfast Buffet is included with your overnight stay.

CROP INCLUDES:
**Your own 6' table
**A Chance to win the Huge Grand Prize Basket
**Lots of Random Prize Giveaways (scrapbook layouts, notebooks, paper flowers, crochet flowers, scrapbook tools, stamp sets & more)
**Use of CTMH Stamps, Inks, Tools & More
**Free Technique Demos throughout the Weekend
**Design Help Desk with Hands On Iinstruction
**Cash & Carry area including: Paper, Stamps, Scrapbooking Kits & a Clearance Center
**Cricut with large library of cartridges to use available, bring your own 6x12 mat or pay $2.00 to use one for the time you are there.

**Regrettably this is a non-refundable event space is limited. I appreciate your understanding in this matter.

**Please pay for your cropping Registration with cash or check. Credit cards, cash or checcks can be used for Close to My Heart Orders.

**Send your $25. deposit to: Jolene McCormick, 12700 McPherson, Lowell, Mi 49331. Your deposit is what saves your spot.

Call me with any questions, 616-608-2653


Jolene McCormick

Wedding Card

I'm still in the "Wedding mode!" This Bliss paper pack...it inspires me. it's soft & pretty & oh so easy to make beautiful cards! Enjoy a quick post today, Hope you like it.

It's Wedding Season!

Sooo... some of you who know me, know of my annoying habit of being a little (or sometimes a lot) late. Well, I'll tell ya that no matter what I do I can't seem to be on time! I had these 2 cards (plus a couple of more) done, pictures taken & edited, they where ready to go on my blog & what happens so I can't be on time to join the site challenges I made them for??? Our internet goes wacko! I t 's   g o i n g   v e r y   s  l  o  w .  (Get the picture!)  So slow I couldn't get it to upload the photos here. So I thought it was just a glitch & it will be fine in a couple of days (cuz our internet is very temperamental) Well...It just got worse so finally I called it in & after a few days of phone calls & trying to walk me through fixing things over the phone they said we needed to update our equipment. We'll be there Thursday...yah, that day came & went, then we'll be there Friday...yup that day came & went too! (Well by now I missed most of the deadlines for the challenges) So on Monday I was reduced to begging. It's now been about 10 days without internet. Yesh you forget how much you depend on it! But all is well (I think) in the end because we are updated & back on line. It still seems to have a few fits & sometimes a little slow but at least we (yes, I had a lot of frustrated kids who couldn't check there facebook! Oh No!!) can get on line again! So if you've missed me that's what's been causing the lack of posts! But I'm back & have a lot of artwork to share!

Pretty, Pretty, Pretty! What more can I say! I love flowers & flourishes! This is a new flower for me, I have seen it a lot on other sites but haven't tried it until now. The ribbon is rolled & twisted & sewn together. The bottom layer is lace, then Blush Cardstock punched with our scallop punch, sanded, bent & inked then cut apart to make larger & glue dotted back together. (Sounds like Humpty Dumpty!) The design is from Mojo Monday & the paper is from the "Bliss WOTG Kit." I did a lot of edging with blush ink & chocolate ink. My sewing machine happened to be out so I added some stitching. I like that & think I should add stitching to my projects more often. The brown paper is our new "Kraft" CS & the boarder is from the coordinating "Kraft Color Ready Borders."

The design below is from Sweet & Simple Challenge blog. Again I used the "Bliss" paper pack & Kraft CS. The butterfly is a Martha Stewart punch. It's so pretty when you double or triple it. Not only does it add dimension but it appears to be in flight & gives movement to your project! You may not be able to tell (click on the photo & it will enlarge it) but I added glitter to the flower centers & butterflies. The stamp set is from our special this month "You & Me." It's a lovely kit including: irresistible chipboard, stamp set, ribbon & paper. Very versatile heavy weight paper (new for us) patterned on both sides & the stamp set is awesome...of course it has a great flourish in it! Close to My Heart is donating a portion of the profits from this kit to add in the flood & tornado relief operations. Read Below!





You & Me Kit



Severe flooding, tornadoes, and storms have affected the lives of thousands across the United States, but together we can make a difference.

Purchase the You & Me scrapbooking kit for only $15.00 US/ $16.50 CAN (a retail value of $34.95/$38.95), and a portion of the proceeds will be donated to the Red Cross Spring 2011 Floods and Tornadoes relief operations. With the You & Me kit, you’ll create two fully embellished two-page layouts using the included instructions, papers, D-size stamp set, and accessories. At only $15/$16.50, this kit is more than 50% off the retail price. You’ll win by getting the kit at a phenomenal price, and those in the weather-devastated regions will benefit from your charitable contribution. Together we can make a difference; together we are stronger!

Offer valid June 1–30, 2011, or while supplies last. No qualifying purchase required. Tax and shipping/handling charges apply.

My New Favorite Scrapbook Pages



This is by far one of my favorite layouts using the Miracle Paper Kit. I usually have a very hard time with angling photos & paper but this just came together like "Magic!" (No pun intended! Look on pages 62 & 63 for the sample pages & template) the left page is pretty much the same as the template but on the right page I used the template as a guideline & took a little artistic detour and added a chipboard butterfly & journaling strips on the upper corner & the matching Kraft Color Ready Border (I love these) on the right side instead of the left as in the book. I also carried the 2" (1 & 1/2 in the book) border to create movement across both pages it adds a subtle line to ease the eye to read from left to right & encompass both pages comfortably while taking in the creative details in the embellishments and not taking away the focus of attention to the photos (which are not there yet!). In the "Magic" How to Book the title is curved around the circle mat. I think that is where I will put mine once I chose the photos & have a topic!

Miracle Color Ready "Irrisistibles" Dimentional Elements
(Chipboard) 



As you all know I love chipboard! Especially Close to My Heart's as it is "Color Ready" so when you apply your medium with sponges, brushes, markers or direct to ink contact they accept it beautifully. Most chipboards are grey or brown like the back of a legal pad & are hard to get the right color because of the base. You either have to paint it white to start with or cover them with paper. Some are white but have a shiny surface which changes the color of the ink & can be difficult to add ink to because the surface is non-porous & the inks won't dry.With ours there are so many more options because they truly are "Color Ready" and take the ink the same way a piece of our White Daisy cardstock would.

The leaf & flourishes (did I tell you how much I love Flourishes!) under the the large flower were one piece that I cut. I used a sponge & inked it with Sweet Leaf. then take a clean paper towel & rub the ink off the "resist" area & it pops with an awesome design. Look how pretty the butterflies turned out! I love the flourishy (hmm... is that a word?), swirly pattern in the wings!

Add a few pearls or glitter glue for the body of the butterfly. Apply beads or sequins. Again because you are starting with a white color ready background you can add what ever color goes with your paper & watch the details on the chipboard come to life! For these butterflies I started with sunny yellow in the middle & worked my way out with Sweet Leaf next, Heavenly Blue, Crystal Blue & finally I tipped the edges of the wings in Dutch Blue.  You don't have to use all the inks but I think it adds depth the the butterfly &  gives a stunning effect. 

 The flowers are made with our new Scallop Punch. There are 3 layers of our B & T Dous (2 sided pattern paper) in the flower to the right. Crinkle each layer into a little ball & then smooth out, lightly add a little desert sand ink to each piece with a sponge & it will enhance the wrinkles and give a subtle distressed look. Add a glue dot to the center of the scallops to put it together. The top layer is cut down to a smaller circle. Vary the designs & colors you use in the layers for whimsical look. The center is a large pearl with little pearls surrounding it. Very Shabby Chic!

 This flower also uses the Scallop Punch. There are 5 pieces of Crystal blue cardstock & the bud uses 4 punched pieces of our B&T Dous (2 sided paper).  The 4 petals are folded creatively & attached to a cardstock scallop to make the bud. I could have stopped there but I wanted the flower to bigger so I added 4 more scallops of cardstock (sanded the edges & curled) & glued it all together with glue dots & added the chipboard leaf & swirl from the Miracle "Irresistibles" Dimensional Elements. All the circles are part of the same package as shown above. Gotta love that chipboard with the resist patterns!

   

We reproduced these pages at my WOTG class last month. The girls loved learning how to create the flowers & how simple they were to make. I think my love for chipboard is spreading! They were amazed at how easy they are to color & how much they bling up a page!                                                                          

Prom Night for my son Nick & his sweet girlfriend Mel.

I'm so excited & I have to share! I just finsihed editing some of the prettiest pictures of my son & his girlfriend Mel. They went to prom last weekend & they looked so great together in their prom outfits! That's the first time I've seen my son Nick in a tux. Oooh when did he turn into a young man? He looks so handsome & Mel in her beuatiful purple gown. Eeek I'm getting teary! But here's the proof of what a good looking couple they are.

Are you singing "It's Prom Night, Prom Night" yet! Becareful cuz it gets stuck in your head.

A couple of more "Miracle Kit" cards

I guess I just can't get enough of this paper! It's very pretty & seems to work with any theme. Both of the patterns for these cards came from MOJO Monday. I completed them to late to enter in their contest & links, but I do love the way they turned out. I seem to always step it up a notch when "Mojoing!" (Is that a word??!)

The large flower is a rolled rose. I started with a ripped piece of colonial white & edged with Sky ink. I also curled the ripped side of the paper. The rose adds beauty & charm to the card with a rhinestone in the middle. The light blue scalloped edge is one of the patterns from our "Kraft Color Ready Borders" I put Heavenly Blue embossing powder on the sticky side of the scallop & heated it. I love the crackled effect it created.

This is one of my favorite cards! I made the flower with our 2" scallop punch & a folding technique. The flower center is one of our colonial white designer brads with our small pearls surrounding it & one in the middle of the brad. The flower wasn't as big as I wanted so I punched out 4 more Chrystal blue scallop circles & distressed them by sanding & curling the edges & placed them around the underside of the flower to create larger petals & more of a dramatic look. I wanted the flower to be the focal point of the card. The leaves are free handed with dry embossing, wrinkling & sanding so they look more realistic, they are edged with a touch of dessert sand ink. We can't forget my favorite embellishment...chipboard! Especially our "Miracle Dimensional Elements" with an resist pattern already on them, just add coordinating ink and Wallah" you have a beautiful matching 3 dimensional embellishment. (I also added pearls to it for the body) The scallop border is from our "Kraft Ready Borders." this is the first time & tried the wrinkle technique with the ribbon. It's so easy; tie your bow & gently & slowly heat it with your heat gun & it will shrink irregularly adding a shabby chic look to it. I can't wait to give these cards to graduating seniors this year!

May Special!! You & Me Scrapbooking Kit

During our May Celebration you can get the exclusive “You & Me Scrapbooking Kit” at a fabulous discount or even FREE! It’s a charming kit you are sure to love. Here’s How:
• Purchase the kit outright for $34.95
• Acquire at a discount of more than 50% when you place a minimum order of $50. purchase price of the kit will only be $15!
• Become a Close to My Heart Consultant during the month of May and it will be included for FREE in your New Consultant Kit.

Watch this video to view the kit & see everything that is included! Look at how easy it will be to create gorgeous pages in Minutes with everything you need included in this kit!

I can't wait to get my hands on this kit! The tranquil muted colors & classic paper designs make this kit a "Must Have!" You'll be able to use it with any theme & with boys & girls. Love, love, love the ribbon, stamp set & of course the new chipboard that comes with it. Here's a list of what it includes:

• My Acrylix "You & Me" D size stamp set {$22.95 Value}


• 1 12x12 White CS


• 6 12x12 B&T Duos Papers {New Cardstock Weight}


• 6x9 "You & Me" Irresistibles Chipboard Die Cut Sheet


• 1 Yard Chocolate Stripe Ribbon


• 1 Package Mocha Opaques Pearls


• 1 Full Color Instruction Guide

Featured colors: Chocolate, Creme Brulee, Olive & Smoothie

Hurry to Order this kit is only available through May 31 or While Supplies Last!

Miracle Scrapbook Pages & More

Our Corporate Artists are so talented! I'd like to share some of their creations with you. I guess I can't get enough of the "Miracle Paper Kit." I especially love how they incorporated our new Canvas Buttons, Kraft Borders & Miracle Chipboard into these amazing layouts & cards.

The pinwheels are adorable. Stamp them with the exclusive B-size set that comes in the WOTG (Workshop on the Go) Kit. Then cut & fold. Easy Peasy!

Here's the promised artwork with the "Miracle" Paper Kit! Such pretty blues & greens. I've paired the paper with one of our newer stamps sets "Dreams Come True." Of course I like it because it has a Great(!!) Flourish! (Used behind the chipboard flower)I'm also very pleased with the sentiment & font chosen. I added Crystal Blue ink onto the chipboard "Irresistible" then edged it with a sponge & Desert Sand ink. It's finished off with a sparkle. Gotta love the bling! The white flower & stitching on the chipboard are part of the resist technique that make these "Irresistible" Dimensional Elements so much fun to work with, you just rub color on with a sponge & ink & wipe of the resist area clean & Ta Da it adds instant visual "Pop" to your piece. These 3"x 3" cards are the perfect size to accompany a small gift or fit into a gift bag. Quick & easy to make to show your appreciation to that someone special in your in your life.

I wish I had a better picture of this card. It is so much prettier than it looks. The design is from "Mojo Monday."(turned sideways) I second generation stamped in the circle very lightly with the large damask stamp from the Feb. SOTM set & then stamped my sentiment (from the Card Chatter-Sympathy set) over top. It's matted with Sweat leaf & Heavenly blue CS & then I ruffled paper under it & added pop dots.

Easter Pages

Now that Easter is over let's get those photos developed! There's room for 6 photos on this layout. Some of you may remember the "Original" Miracle kit from before it was made into a "My Reflections Kit." (It was a CTMH special that you could earn by ordering ordering product, maybe 9 months ago or so.) Everyone liked the paper so much they made it into a kit, yippie! I for one Loved it and was so glad to see it in the latest catalog. The color scheme is flexible enough to go with anything! It included some of the same paper designs and as pictured below, the gorgeous half circle & bracket die cuts and also came with some of my favorite chipboard...called "Miracle." (Imagine that!) The chipboard is what we call "Irresistible." They are die cut into flowers, leaves, flourishes, butterflies & stems, but the best part is when you ink them they have an area on them that resists the ink & stays white. It's a very stunning affect.

This is a close up of the bottom of the page using the half circle die cut. We will be making this page at the next WOTG night on May 6th. If you have the kit, bring it, if not I will be teaching you how to make a similar die cut with your my Reflections "Miracle Level 2 Kit" a cricut & some punches. Call or email me to join us at the LAAC for this class. ( We will also be making one more layout with the Miracle paper.)

Learn how to use watercolor pencils and a waterbrush to make these rabbits look so realistic and soft.

"Awe" isn't he cute! (Yes I said that!) Stay tuned in for the next few days & I will show you some beautiful cards made with this paper pack. Stop back tomorrow for more inspiration!