Christmas is just around the corner, so now is a great time to start on your Christmas cards and crafts.

STAMP OF THE MONTH

Our October Stamp of the Month - Yuletide Joy is the perfect stamp set to kick off the Christmas crafting!  It's perfect to decorate cards, tags or use as an embellishment or decoration on your Scrapbook layouts.

HOSTESS REWARDS JUST GOT BETTER! We love rewarding our Hostesses, and our Hostess Rewards program is one of the most generous programs out there.  During the month of October, in addition to earning free and discounted products, Hostesses have another fantastic option for using their Hostess Rewards credit: applying it towards a New Consultant Kit!  It's the perfect time for hosting your own Close To My Heart Gathering-it could open the door to a rewarding new opportunity! FIND OUT MORE HERE - or Contact me directly. *Offer valid 1 October - 31 October 2016. New Consultant Kit requires separate application to purchase. Normal shipping/handling apply to purchase of New Consultant Kit. WORKSHOPS - Our Workshop Room is getting a Make Over! Newly tiled floor with under floor heating to keep us cozy through those winter months Newly built workshop cabinets New Bi-Fold Doors to let the sunshine in... And a Brand New EXTRA LARGE Table so we all have lots of room to spread out! Future Workshop Dates:- Thursday October 20th - Oh Deer! Paper - Scrapbook Pages and Cards Saturday November 26th - Christmas Craft Day - All Day Saturday of creating beautiful Christmas Craft - Cards, tags & decorations. *Pre-orders for the wreath project before October 20 January (date to be advised) - The GRAND OPENING just in time for National Papercraft Month!  Contact me if you would like to attend any of these workshops.

GETTING MY CRAFT ON!

Yesterday I held my first workshop for 2016 where I showcased some gorgeous layouts using the fun Kaleidoscope Paper Kit,Kaleidoscope Complements and Assortment


We also created some cute cards from the Kaleidoscope Workshop on The Go Card Making Kit.


Notice that I have used some bolder ink and cardstock colours in my "Carborders" so they can complement masculine celebrations as well....change it up to suit your photos!


As I am a scrapbooker at heart I just love that I can use all the amazing card layouts in my scrapbooks!"

Getting Ready for the Gift Giving Season!

Week 2 of my Christmas Craft Classes saw us creating a gorgeous gift bag with a cute little matching gift tag.
These gift bags are very simple to put together using only two matching sheets of scrapbook paper.  I had two samples of gift bags on display made from different paper packs.  The one on the left is created using Snowhaven paper Pack (X7188B), and the bag on the right uses paper from the elegant Yuletide Paper Pack (X7187B).  Thank you to my team member Susan Crichton France for this idea.

Some of my happy croppers with their Snowhaven Gift Bags.

We also created some of these elegant 3D gift tags inspired by another one of my talented team members Jeanette Grevett.  The Bauble is created by joining circles cut on the Cricut or from a 1" circle punch and the Yuletide Paper Pack (X7187B).  Thery're so pretty and would add a bit of pizazz to any gift.

SHOP FOR YOUR CHRISTMAS CRAFTING SUPPLIES HERE!

Don't forget our customer specials this month.....

STAMP OF THE MONTH  - It's the Little Things!

Each month you can purchase a new D-size stamp set, available for one month only, for just $5 — that’s over 70% off retail! When you place an order of $75 or more in Close To My Heart products, you qualify for this special Stamp of the Month pricing. You won't want to miss out on November Stamp of the Month - It's the little Things, this is such a pretty set of stamps that you'll find yourself using on cards, scrapbook layouts and crafting projects.  

LUCKY 5 - STUDIO J OFFER

SHOP WITH ME HERE 

During the month of November, I hold one workshop a week concentrating on Christmas Crafts for the impending festive season.

Yesterday was the first workshop where we started on our Christmas Card stash!  We created four gorgeous cards that could be easily replicated at home.

First up was this cute Door Wreath card.  Using the C1591 Merry, Merry Stamp Set it was fun to put this card together.  We added a few Bitty Sparkles coloured with Shin Han markers to add a bit of bling!

This card was inspired by one found on Pinterest and my talented downline Doreen Watkins.



Next up, this Classic Noel card features the Yuletide Carol paper pack, C1598 Noel Stamp Set and Shin Han markers to colour some of the image.

Front of the Noel Flip Card

The Flip card opened up with plenty of space for writing your greeting.

Our third card is cute and quirky featuring the A1162 Bright Spirits stamp set, some Yuletide Carol paper and some bling in the form of Gold Shimmer Trim and Bitty Sparkles. Some texture was added by dry embossing the bottom layer with the Damask Embossing folder.


Last but not least was this elegant Hark the Herald Angels Sing card.  This card uses the exclusive Hostess Rewards stamp set - C1587 Sing Glory. You can buy this stamp set at a greatly discounted price if you host your own gathering.  The soft Glacier Cardstock and Exclusive Inks stamp pad give this card a soft and serene feel.


To add a bit of sparkle and shine to this card we added some Silver Shimmer Trim and some Sparkles Clear Assortment

If you would like to join me next week for my Christmas Craft workshop where we will be making Bags, Tags and cards....please email me at wilmot@cia.com.au to reserve your spot.

SHOP WITH ME HERE - to purchase your Christmas Craft making supplies.  And don't forget if you spend $75 or more you qualify for the November Stamp of the Month - It's the Little Things for only $5.

One week left to get Home for the Holidays!

Here's a few projects I've been teaching at my workshop and training events this month.

They feature the fantastic October Stamp of the Month - Home for the Holidays which is compatible with compatible with Cricut cut shapes and some of the gorgeous Snowhaven Bulk paper.

The first project I'm sharing with you is a simple S-Fold card.  The double sided Snowhaven paper with the bold pattern on one side and subtle black pattern on the other side is a fabulous contrast.

The "dreaming, believing, wishing" bauble is stamped with the October Stamp of the Month onto a Cruicut cut shape.....too easy!



The next project is a simple layout that my workshop ladies loved as it allows you to add 3 standard size photos (with a little cropping).  It is perfect for Christmas photos of loved ones that my have come "home for the Holidays" to celebrate the season with family.



This layout has also used a stamped image from the October Stamp of the month - Home for the Holidays.

Most of the images from the October Stamp of the Month - Home for the Holidays has a Cricut compatible shape, they are perfect for Christmas tags, cards or layouts.
If you would like to add this stamp set to your collection there's still time..... Each month you can purchase a new D-size stamp set, available FOR ONE MONTH ONLY, for just $5 - that's over 70% off retail price.  When you place an order of $75 or more in CTMH products, you qualify for this special Stamp of the Month pricing.

SHOP WITH ME HERE!

The September Stamp of the Month - Family is Forever is only available for another few days....don't miss out on this set!

Here a few cards that I used to showcase this gorgeous set at my monthly workshop and events.

Products used: Canary Exclusive Cardstock, Pixie Exclusive Cardstock and Ink Pad, White Daisy Cardstock, Sweet Leaf Exclusive Cardstock and Ink Pad, Brushed B&T Duos Paper Pack, Flamingo Dots, Sponge Daubers, 3D Foam Tape and September Stamp of the Month - Family is Forever

Products used:  White Daisy cardstock, Sky Blue Cardstock, Chalk It Up B&T Duo's Paper pack, Dots Embossing Folder, Flaxen Exclusive Ink Pad, Lagoon Exclusive Ink Pad, Black Exclusive Ink Pad, Chalk it Up Assortment, Silver Shimmer Trim, Silver Sequins and September Stamp of the Month - Family is Forever.

Products Used:  Canary Exclusive Cardstock & Ink Pad, White Daisy Cardstock, Brushed B&T Duos paper pack, Pixie Exclusive Ink Pad and September Stamp of the Month - Family is Forever.

This is the card with the 'belly band' removed and opened up to show inside.

You can order the September Stamp of the Month - Family is Forever (S1409) for $27.... or place an order for $75 to complete your crafting projects and get the set for only $5! (save $22)

SHOP FOR YOUR CRAFTING PROJECTS HERE!

Don't forget if your order has $30 in stamp sets included...you'll get this adorable #30yearsofhappy stamp set for FREE!

But HURRY.....Only a few days left to get your hands on these stamp sets before they're gone!

Sorry it's been so long between blog posts...I'll attempt to catch up.  This will be a long post as I've got tonnes to share with you!

The start of this year has been a little hectic!  I've been travelling interstate doing training and Fundays with Consultants and Customers (we had a fabulous new Idea Book & Catalogue to show off and promote), throw in a trip to visit with our son in Hawaii who is attending College there and before I know it we are in April.

Between travels I've still managed to take some time out for some creative fun.

Throughout February I was promoting the gorgeous Skylark Collection at workshops and trainings.

Here are a few of my creations.....

Products used on Card:  Skylark B&T Duos (X7177B), Fabulous You stamp set (C1533), Sparkles Clear Flourishes -Small (Z1812)

Products used on Card: Sklyark Workshop on the Go Papers & Stamp (G1072),  Silver Shimmer Trim Z7199)

Products used on Layout: Skylark Workshop on the Go Kit (G1072)

Products used on Layout: Skylark Workshop on the Go Kit (G1072)

Skylark B&T Duos paper (X7177B),  Skylark Assortment (Z3000)