Close To My Heart–YOU are WELCOME here!

I feel so BLESSED and THANKFUL to represent a company like Close To My Heart!!!

Take a moment to view this updated video sharing about what makes us, Close To My Heart, the company that we are!!! J

If you’d like to learn more, after viewing the video, please feel free to check out the many tabs at the top of my BLOG that will give you insight and information regarding your interest – whether you’d like to be a CTMH customer OR a CTMH consultant!! 

Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions!!

Blessings to you for a BEAUTIFUL day!!

Krista Hershberger J

Use Close To My Heart page protectors for your CM albums

Happy Monday to each one of you!!!

I wanted to share a bit of information as many of you have contacted me regarding Creative Memories and their bankrupt situation. 

First, I wanted to say how sorry and how sad I am for you as CM customers AND the consultants!! I can't imagine the confusion and shock that it must have been as you learned of many items CM is discontinuing!! 

 I do have to say I especially feel for the many CM consultants that are my friends and customers and how they are trying to deal with this sudden news.  I can’t imagine the disappointment they are dealing with.  I wish you each the best as you continue to share and preserve your memories!! Those pictures, and stories are SO important to our future generation!!!  I encourage you to continue on  in your memory making and find the products and supplies that fit YOU and your taste! J

On a happier note, regarding all that is happening with Creative Memories, I wanted to share with you some info. about how Close To My Heart has become a part of this.  We at CTMH are excited about previous CM Consultants that are joining our CTMH teams that live in Australia/New Zealand!! 

Unfortunately, CM did have to close down their Australasia plant BUT Close To My Heart is working closely with Brian O’Callaghan, former General Manager of Creative Memories Australasia, as well as Susan Wilmot and Diane Lampert, both successful former Senior Directors of Creative Memories Australia, to officially launch Close To My Heart in Australia and New Zealand in mid-July 2013. We are excited to engage the passion and enthusiasm of former Creative Memories Consultants with one of the industry’s most stable, enduring companies here at CTMH!!!

If you’d like to read all the details about Australasia joining us at CTMH…please click on the CTMH/Australasia website http://www.closetomyheart.com.au/

As these fellow CTMH consultants are adapting to the change that came their way, I am impressed with their wonderful attitudes and their EXCITEMENT about CTMH!!!

It has been brought to my attention that there are many products that are no longer available through CM. One of these items is their page protectors.

One of my new, fellow CTMH Consultants in Australasia, Shaunna Richards, created a WONDERFUL video on how to use CTMH PAGE PROTECTORS in place of the CM protectors that are no longer available!!! 

 I thought this may be helpful to you and wanted to share it so if you are looking for a page protector solution, these may work for you!!!  Take a moment to watch this INFORMATIVE video!!!

I can't wait to see you at my Fall/Winter Open House Aug 1 or 2!!! You can join me live in person at my home OR take advantage of my amazing specials from wherever you live!!!

I have LOTS of new, GORGEOUS product and artwork samples to share with you!!  I can't WAIT!!!

Of course you will want your own FREE copy of the NEW Fall/Winter Idea book, which you will receive when you come visit me at my Open House!!!  

If you would like a copy, but can't physically come to my home, please contact me and I will mail you this AMAZING new Idea Book for just $5...but wait, I will ALSO include a $5 coupon to be used on your NEXT CTMH order...so really your NEW 2013 Fall/Winter Idea book will be FREE!!!

  Details about this Open House will be on their way to you this week!

Blessings to you for a beautiful Monday!!!J

Krista J

THREE July 2013 Specials….

1. How about a 50% discount???  CHECK it out!!!

Get this Canvas Workshop KIT for ONLY $19.95!!! While supplies last!!!

This kit is ADORABLE…AND there are enough items included in this kit to create 2 canvas’ if you choose!!  You would need to purchase another canvas, but you have PLENTY of pieces to create 2 canvas!!!

Click on the picture below to check out what OTHER specials are taking place on the While Supplies Last section of my website! J

 

2. Stamp of the Month - ONLY available in JULY 2013!!!

A Sweet Life SET of 9

Available July 1-31, 2013

Get this EXCLUSIVE stamp set at reg price of $17.95

OR

get it for just $5 when you place an order of $50 or more.

CLICK HERE for more details!!!

 

3. Last month to purchase these EXCLUSIVE stamp sets!!!

Exclusive military stamp sets –ONLY available until July 31^st!!!  Part of purchase price goes toward helping the military. 

CLICK HERE for details on these exclusive patriotic stamp sets!!

4. Retiring List!! 

CLICK HERE to see the up-to-date retiring list!!!

Items are SELLING out FAST!!!!  

Check your wish list and make sure that none of the items you have listed are on your list!!!  All items are WHILE SUPPLIES LAST!!

July Joyful Stars Blog Hop!

Welcome to our monthly

Joyful Stars Blog Hop!!!!

We're excited to share our creativity with you using our favorite Close To My Heart products!  This blog hop is easy to do…just click on the link at the end of the post to go to the next creation!! 

If you have arrived from Elizabeth’s blog you are right on track. 

I thought I’d share with you a card box I created for one of my recent new downline!!  J I love to give something special to my new team members…and by creating this box, this gives them something they can use as a business tool to share with their friends too!! These boxes are so CUTE, and FUN to create…there are so many different ways to create them….and to use them!!

Take a look at the box…

Did you notice???  I only used ONE stamp set on this project!!!  I used my favorite background stamp set (again- LOL!) Universal Background for the script writing on the banner.

To create the flowers, I used our Art Philosophy Cricut cartridge, and cut these flowers in a variety of sizes!!
Aymee’s name was created with the Artiste Cricut cartridge and cut from our Black & Grey glitter paper.  I LOVE how you can cut ANY design with our Cricut cartridges from our glitter papers!! I think the glitter paper sticks to the Cricut mats better than our designer papers!

At the moment Close To My Heart carries 2 different sets of glitter paper.  Black & Grey and Brown & Tan.  They come in a pack of 3 sheets, but each sheet is a different shade/color.  BUT ----Stay tuned August 1 - we will also have GREEN glitter paper, just in time for the holidays!

Take a look at my use of the zip strip???  Do you see it? I LOVE zip strips and the little “extra” they add to each of our designer paper packs!

Here’s a close up to see some more detail of the box…

I hope you enjoyed the project!  At ONLY $4.95 for our Card box - it makes a WONDERFUL option to use to create a gift!!!  

Here are the Products Used to create this item! 

X7165B For Always paper pack
D1477 Universal Backgrounds

Z1647 My Creations Card Box
Black & Grey glitter paper
Sparkle flourishes

Button Assortment - Black
Just Bloom Flutter butterflies
Now hop on over to Betty’s blog to see what amazing artwork she has created this month!!   

Blessings to you for a BEAUTIFUL day!!!

Krista Hershberger J

Convention 2013 recap…part 1

Disney World!!! It was YEARS since I was here…but this time I was here to meet with friends, and celebrate what Close To My Heart (CTMH) had to share with us!!! Wahoo!
We stayed at the lovely Disney Coronado Springs Resort…
a beautiful resort where we did a LOT of walking to keep us in shape for a few days! LOL!! 

Being at any Disney location makes you feel so special!!  They treat you with extra kindness and it’s so much fun!  This is what greeted us when we entered our room….

So much happened during my Wed-Sat stay…I will just share a few more photos and then the MAJOR item that was released from CTMH. 
This is what the lobby looks like on Thursday morning as we await the opening of the doors into the first General Session!!!

Everyone is ANXIOUSLY awaiting the debut of our NEW fall/winter Idea book as well as what products will be released to our customers on August 1st!!

Our morning started out with some Disney entertainment…Hi Minnie!

…and then our founder, Jeanette Lynton…and our three VP’s (Kristine, Monica & Brian) put on great costumes (it’s different every year), got out their acting skills (you guys DO have them!)  and “tell us” in a special way what NEW things are happening at CTMH!!! 

They AMAZE me each year…and this is one of the major highlights of our time at Convention!!! We love the energy and excitement these 3 put into creating entertainment for us as consultants!!!  We also get some GREAT videos created ahead of time….we saw “Downtown Shabby” and “Slate Grey’s Anatomy” all starring our 3 VP’s….fun, FUN!

At the end of our first General session, each consultant receives a BEAUTIFUL bag (with the CTMH logo) AND inside the bag is a consultant copy of the NEW 2013 Fall/Winter Idea book (Yay!!  It’s gorgeous!!!)

and I’ll give you a sneak peek of ONE of our new items that will be released on August 1st…

Yup - you guessed it…a NEW Cricut cartridge called Artbooking!!!  Wahoo!!!!!

You’ll want to make SURE to come to my Open House (or take advantage of the GREAT deals from long distance too!) on August 1st and 2nd….more details coming soon!!!
So many other things take place during our time together….BUT one of the best things is to reconnect with fellow consultants and renew the friendships that have been created and make new friends too!!!

I was privileged to have 12…yes, TWELVE of my team join me there this year!!  That was DOUBLE exciting!  It was great to meet some of my new team members, but wonderful to catch up with those that I knew and who are my friends!!!  I’m so sad we missed having Sasha in our picture….I’d photoshop you in if I could! LOl!!! 


Also, for those of you that knew me three years ago, you might remember the Scrapbooking Spa Getaway I WON with CTMH!!!  I was flown out to Utah for 3 days at a cabin and treated like a Princess!!  There were 8 other ladies given the same privilege…and I’m so blessed to call each one of these ladies a friend!!! 

At Convention 2013, there were 7 out of the 9 in attendance (we missed you Audrey & Lori!) and it’s TRADITION for us to get together SOMETIME during our Convention stay!  These ladies are truly a blessing and we always have a WONDERFUL time together!


I’m sure you can sense the excitement and energy surrounding us this day. 

All of the NEW products will be released on August 1st…OR if you’d like to purchase these items right away…why not consider joining my family and get these FABULOUS new items at a discount (including the ARTBOOKING Cricut cartridge) and get to be one of the first to touch and see these WONDERFUL new items!!! 

Here is a peek at the new Consultant kit…and it can be yours for just $49!!! 
(final cost of $62.54 in a state that has 6% sales tax)  

This kit shares with you the new “Laughing Lola” paper pack…a fun, happy paper pack that just begs for smiles!!!

By clicking HERE you can join my team today!! 

I’d love to have you join me AND you would then be eligible to join us at our NEXT CTMH Convention - next year, in Disneyland, California!!!  Wahoo!!! I look forward to chatting with you soon!!! 

Stay tuned over the next couple weeks to see some artwork I created using the NEW products from CTMH!!!  

    

Blessings to you for a BEAUTIFUL day!!!

Krista Hershberger J

July Stamp of the Month Blog Hop

Welcome to our monthly

Stamp of the Month Blog Hop!

Today we will be featuring July’s Stamp of the Month (SOTM), which is called “Sweet Life”, a set of 9 stamps.

A beautifully sketched stamp set, that is PERFECT for creating hand stamped cards, capture memories through scrapbooking OR creating home décor pieces!!! 

If you have come here from Fancy Melissa’s Blog, you are on the right path!

The blog hop is a great big circle, so you can start here and work your way all around. If you get lost along the way, you’ll find the complete list of participating consultants here HERE…

This month we have 54 Close To My Heart Consultants sharing their creations using this month's stamp set!!  So, sit back and enjoy your tour as you click on the link at the end of the post to see what EACH Consultant has created!!

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Here is the card I created with this set…

 I’m not sure if I like this card yet, (it’s growing on me) J

however, with CTMH’s Convention taking place in Orlando this week (check out tomorrows blog post for some pictures of Convention), I didn’t have time to revamp or recreate another card. 

Let me share the main item I used in creating this card…

  

I wanted to use PIGMENT ink on this card…so, I used pigment ink on TWO different places on this card.

1. I used the Enchantment pigment ink set, to stamp the cherries in the center of the card.

I LOVE the 1” cube size of these inks!!!

You can ink up a small portions of the stamp images with multiple colors!

 I used the Ruby & Olive pigment ink cubes, and then took my watercolor pencils and blending pen to color in the image!

2. I also used colonial white pigment ink to stamp the cherries as the background image. I LOVE how pigment ink stays bright and bold when it is stamped. 

In this case, I wanted to tone the ink down a bit, so I used the Distressed Backgrounds stamp set (mesh image) to stamp over the cherry outline design.

 Other products used on this card…

Chantilly Paper pack

Corner Rounder (new one arriving Aug 1st!)

Burlap Ribbon

Kraft Cardstock

Pink Glitter Gems

I hope you enjoyed my card and now head on over to Maureen’s Blog  to see what she has created using this stamp set!

Be sure to visit ALL the Consultants at their Blogs to get some great crafting ideas and other fun ideas!

****Remember, the July SOTM is only available

until July 31st! J

Contact your CTMH Consultant (or click here) to see how you can get this EXCLUSIVE stamp set ONLY during the month of July for a 77% savings of just $5.00!!!

Blessings to you for a WONDERFUL day!!!

Krista J

Pre-Embossed frames!

Hi Everyone!!

I'm sorry you haven't heard from me in a while...I am using all of my time to finish up creating pieces for our upcoming Convention with Close To My Heart!!!

I am humbled and honored that I was one of the 18 teachers chosen to teach at the Extravaganza part of our Convention!  

While this DOES mean a "sneak peek" at some of our NEW items, (sorry-can't share now, but come to my OPEN HOUSE Aug 1 & 2 and you will see it ALL!) it also means a HUGE time commitment as I create artwork using these new items to show and share with my fellow consultants!

Even though I don't have a piece of artwork to share with you today, I DID want to take a moment and share another FABULOUS video created by CTMH!!

I LOVE the videos they share with us!!!

Take a moment to watch this video sharing how you can use our ADORABLE Irresistible Frames!!

When you are finished with the video, and you decide you'd like to get some of these amazing embellishments for yourself, just CLICK HERE to head over to my website to find them!!

You'll want to MAKE SURE you check out...

1. NEW items in the "While Supplies Last" section of my website
2. The newly published RETIRING LIST of items that will no longer be available after July 31st - however, as of today - they are while supplies last...
3. The Fabulous June specials!!!  Scroll down to see all of the specials!!!

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I'm LOVING June 2013 at CTMH!!!

5 Joyful JUNE specials!!!  

1.

Exclusive stamp sets –ONLY available until July 31^st!!!  Part of purchase price goes toward helping the military.  CLICK HERE for details on these exclusive patriotic stamp sets!!

2.

Join my TEAM in June

for ONLY $49

($62.54 with tx & shipping)

and receive $210.85 in CTMH products! 

PLUS receive EXTRA goodies from ME when you join my creative family before JUNE 30th!!

CLICK here for pictures and details on this AMAZING deal!!

3.

By purchasing this stamp set for $2.95...you will support those affected by the Oklahoma tornadoes!!!!  CLICK HERE for all the details!!

4.

A Flowering Bunch SET OF 10

Available June 1-30, 2013

Get the Stamp of the Month set for just $5 when you place an order of $50 or more. 

CLICK HERE for more details!!!

5.

Purchase $25 and a stamp set and RECEIVE a set of TWO milk cartons for FREE!!
CLICK HERE to learn more!!