April CTMH Promotion - So Exciting!

Sign Up as a Consultant in April and earn a FREE Cricut Cartridge or $100 in Select Product Credit!!

If you've ever thought of having your own business or simply getting a discount on your favorite papercrafting supplies, now is the time! Signing up as a new Consultant with Close To My Heart during April is more rewarding than ever. Did you know the price of the New Consultant Kit has dropped to $75? Here's what's included in your kit:

• New Consultant Essential Supplies

• $50 in Select Product Credit to spend on additional supplies

• The chance to earn awesome Straight To The Top rewards

If that doesn't have you drooling what about a FREE Cricut Cartridge? That's right! When you submit $350 in personal sales within your first 30 days**, you get your choice of either a FREE Cricut® collection or $100 in Select Product Credit—and that’s in addition to the Straight To The Top start-up bonus that you’ll earn along the way!

*Offer valid April 1, 2016 (9:00 am MDT) – April 30, 2016 (11:59 pm MDT). Cricut® collections available while supplies last. No tax will be charged on the free item. Shipping/handling will be charged based on the retail value of the free Cricut® collection.

Watch this video to learn more about the perks and benefits of becomming a CTMH Consultant:

To learn more, you may also join us for one of our free upcoming Opportunity Webinars. During the webinar, CTMH will walk through the contents of the New Consultant Kit, talk about the Consultant discount, explain how new Consultants can earn free products, and answer the most frequently asked questions. Those who join the webinar will come away understanding what an incredible opportunity it is to join Close To My Heart.

So mark your calendar and attend one of these free 1-hour webinars!

Tuesday, April 5, 6:00 pm PDT

Thursday, April 14, 6:00 pm PDT

Saturday, April 23, 8:00 am PDT

Wednesday, April 27, 6:00 pm PDT

Join the Opportunity calls via phone by calling 1-201-479-4595. To join online, go tohttp://fuze.me/32464058 a few minutes before the scheduled webinar time. You can also simply go to www.fuze.com or open the Fuze app and enter the meeting ID: 32464058. If you wish to participate online, we encourage you to download the Fuze application beforehand so you can be all set up to enjoy the webinar when it’s time to join.

So if earning money—and rewards—through your love of scrapbooking and stamping sounds like a dream job, then now is the perfect time to join Close To My Heart. Believe us, it’s worth it! If you have questions about becoming a CTMH Consultant, feel free to contact me. Are you ready to sign up? Click { HERE } for the online application. 

Sweet & Simple Friendship Card

Sometimes a quick and easy handmade card is all it takes to add a little smile to someone's day and let them know you care! I'm hoping this little beauty does the trick.

I let the Cricut Artistry cartridge do most of the work with the adorable flower and jar combo on pg2. Stamping was kept to a minimum on this one.

The sketch is based on Freshly Made Sketch #222 (great sketch Narelle!). The color combo was inspired by Color My Heart Color Dare combo #179.

Hope your day is full of laughs and love!

~Michelle Battitori

Project Recipe:
Paper: Charlotte Paper Pack, (X7205B), Whisper Cardstock (X5929), White Daisy Cardstock (1385), Sorbet Cardstock (X5751), Blush Cardstock
Stamps: Share the Love (CC1060), Woodland Romance (D1683)
Ink: Black (Z2105), Z2164 (Sorbet), Slate (Z2173)
Other: Artisty Cricut Cartridge (Z3167) Black & Gold Ribbon (Z3197), Thin 3-D Foam Tape (Z2060)

SOTM Blog Hop - Balloon Animals

Welcome to the Stamp of the Month Blog Hop! Today, approximately 40 CTMH consultants will be showcasing new and creative ways to use the February Stamp of the Month (SOTM), Balloon Animals, a set of 13 stamps.

If you've arrived from Priscilla Gotham's blog you are on the right track! For a complete of participants please visit Melinda's blog.

This set is so sweet and fun and I was totally inspired by the CTMH artwork for this set to create this two-page layout of my son's 6th birthday! I changed it up a bit by using the Urban paper pack and layout 9 from Make it From Your Heart V1.

The "balloons" were popped up using both Thin 3D Foam tape and regular 3D Foam tape. The varying dimension really adds a special touch to the layout.

I continued the stamping on the right side of the page by creating a journal card on the lower right corner. I had a few more things to share on this layout so I included two 3x4 flip flaps to create a little mini. The stamped monkey in the corner was added to the top of the flip flap to help keep the album closed. Once it's in the page protector I'll add a little velcro dot to keep it closed.

I hope you enjoyed the layout as much as I did! It was so fun to create and I hope it inspired you to create something new!

Balloon Animals SOTM is only availabe for the month of February. To purchase a set for yourself please contact your CTMH consultant or feel free to visit my webpage { HERE }. 

Please continue to Terrie Shortsleeve's blog to see what she's created!

~Michelle

Project Recipe:
Balloon Animals Stamp Set (S1602), Urban Paper Packet (X7204B), Colonial White Cardstock (1388), Pomegranate Cardstock (X5780), Make It From Your Heart Volume 1 (9035), Cricut Artistry (Z3167), Fundamentals Stickers-Enchantment (Z3164), Fundamentals Assortment-Peacock (Z3098), Thin 3D Foam Tape (Z2060), 3D Foam Tape (Z1151), 3x4 Flip Flaps (Z3027), Neutral Metallic Baker's Twine (Z1921), Whisper Ink Pad (Z2172), Saffron Ink Pad (Z2651), Peacock Ink Pad (Z2649), Pomegranate Ink Pad (Z2653), Black Ink Pad (Z2105), Saddle Ink Pad (Z2171)

Beloved Bouquet SOTM Blog Hop

Welcome to the Stamp of the Month Blog Hop! Today CTMH Consultants will be shocasing the January Stamp of the Month set, Beloved Bouquet, a set of 14 stamps. If you've arrived from Michele Rowley's blog you are on the right track! If you find you are lost along the hop please visit Melinda's blog for a list of all participating consultants.

The layout is based on the Main Frame - Quilt Blocks sketch in the Reflections How-To Book, one of my favorite scrabooking resources! The blocks are a great way to use some of the small embellishments from your stash.

The flowers and leaves were heat embossed with gold embossing powder and then colored with watercolor pencils. I combined several colors on a piece of scratch paper and blended them with our watercolor brush to create a unique color palette that coordinates with the Sangria paper pack.

The rest of the embellishments (arrows, puffy hearts, foil chipboard pieces) are from the new Seasonal Expressions Charlotte line. It always amazes me how CTMH is able to coordinate all it's products making it really easy to mix and match product lines and still have one cohesive project!

Thank you for checking out my project. I hope you've enjoyed it! Now please hop to Maureen's blog to see what she's created with this beautiful stamp set.

The Beloved Bouquet stamp set is only available until January 31, 2016. If you like to purchase it (or any of the other products used in this layout) please contact your CTMH Consultant or visit my website  { HERE }.

12x12 Scrapbook Layout Recipe:
S1601 Beloved Bouquet SOTM, Z2114 Cocoa Ink, Z891 Versamark Ink Pad, Z2066 Ranger Gold Embossing Powder, Z555 Craft Heater, X7199B My Reflections Sangria Kit, 1388 Colonial White Cardstock, X5642 Cocoa Cardstock, 9037 Reflections How-To, 3505 Watercolor Pencils, X7205C Charlotte Complements, Z3203 Treasured Puffies, Z3167 Artistry Cricut Cartridge, Z1151 3D Foam Tape

December SOTM Blog Hop - Candlelight Garden

Welcome to the Stamp of the Month Blog Hop! Today, 33 CTMH consultants will be showcasing artwork using the new Candlight Garden stamp set.  If you've arrived from Haley Dyer's blog you are on the right track!

For my project I created a scrapbook layout featuring my baby girl and her budding personality! To create this layout I started with a sketch from the Reflections How-To book (Main Frame - Perfect Square p. 63) and modified it to fit my photos.

The mason jars were stamped on White Daisy cardstock and decorated using a variety of techniques like watercoloring, stamping, masking and paper piecing. Like her, each jar is unique and I love the way it turned out!

The title was created in Design Space using the Artistry Cricut Cartridge font and one of the many shape images.

To create the journal jar I masked the string with a post-it-note before inking it. When I was ready to stamp I removed the post-it and stamped on cardstock. No more string! I also used the masking technique to alter the sentiment stamps to make them fit inside the jars.

This layout certainly wasn't one of the quickest I've ever created but I absolutely love the way it turned out. It's sweet and quirky just like my girl!

Thanks for checking out my project. I hope I inspired you try something new with this stamp set. If you'd like to recreate it here is the Design Space file: https://us.cricut.com/design/#/canvas/33702097. You will need the Artistry cartridge to use this file.

Now it's time to continue on the hop by visiting Lauren Moore's blog! If for some reason you get lost along the hop please visit Melinda's blog for a list of participating hoppers.

This stamp set is only available 12/1 - 12/31 and can be purchased for only $5 with a qualifying CTMH order. To purchase yours please contact your CTMH consultant or visit my shop at www.michellebattitori.ctmh.com.

Layout Recipe:
S1512 Candlight Garden stamp Set,  9037 Reflection How To Book, Z3167 Cricut Artistry Collection, X7199B Sangria Paper Packet, 1385 White Daisy Cardstock, 1386 Black Cardstock, Z3098 Peacock Fundamentals Assortment, Z3126 Paper Fundamentals Enchantment, Z3132 Watercolor Paints, Z3188 Paintbrush Set, Z2641 Glacier Stamp Pad, Z2652, Poppy Stamp Pad, Z2652 Pomegranate Stamp Pad, Z2653 Canary Stamp Pad, Z2648 Sapphire Stamp Pad, Z534 Micro-Tip Scissors

Have a crafty Tuesday!

~Michelle Battitori

P.S. Don't forget it's Cyberweek at CTMH! Save 25% on select items now thru Friday, 12/4! To see what's included please go HERE.

Spotlight on Holiday Expressions

Welcome to the Spotlight on Holiday Expressions blog hop! There are approximately 30 CTMH consultants featuring any item from the new Holiday Expressions Idea Book. If you've come from Jen Rubio's blog you are on the right track!

Today I'm featuring the Nevermore paper pack (p. 7) along with the adorable Little Monsters stamp set (p.8) to create this fun Halloween card!

The stamp set has 8 stamps with 5 "monsters" to choose from. I picked 3 of the 5 to stamp since I have three kids (two boys and a girl) and colored them with our new watercolor paints. I'm a new "painter" so to help me keep everything in place I first heat embossed the images with clear embossing powder and then mixed colors until I found a palette I was happy with.

The sentiment is stamped on one of the images from the Artistry cartridge. I finished off the card with some Black Shimmer Tape (since every card needs just a little sparkle) and some White Enamel Stars I colored black with my ShinHan Touch marker.

The Holiday Expressions Idea Book  is available now until December 31, 2015 and contains everything you need to craft for the upcoming holidays. You can view it online HERE or get a hard copy free with any online CTMH order. If you would like more information on the items featured in the Holiday Expressions Idea Book or this post please contact your CTMH consultant or visit my website HERE.

Thanks for checking out my project. Now please continue on to Michele Rowley's blog to see what she's created!

~Michelle Battitori

P.S. If for some reason you get lost along this hop please visit Melinda's page for a complete list of participating consultants.

Card Recipe:
C1630 Little Monsters Stamp Set
X7198B Nevermore Paper Pack
X5930 Slate Cardstock
X5764 Pear Cardstock

Z3132 Watercolor Paints

Z3146 Watercolor Paper
Z3188 Paintbrush Set
Z2010 White Enamel Star
Z1446 ShinHan Touch Twin Black Marker
Z2088 Ranger Clear Super Fine Embossing Powder
Z555 Craft Heater
Z891 VersaMark Ink Pad
Z2105 Black Exclusive Inks Stamp Pad
Z1809 Black Shimmer Trim

Last Call for Framed SOTM

There are just two more days to purchase the August Stamp of the Month, Framed. This super versatile stamp set is a must-have for cardmakers. With nine sayings and three frames, you'll never run out of options for mixing and matching. Each month Close to My Heart has one stamp set that is only available for that month. You can purchase it for full price at $17.95, or save over 70% and get it for just $5 when you place an order of $50 or more on my website. Stamp of the Months are only available during their assigned month, once they're gone, they're gone! To find the current Stamp of the Month on my website, go to the "promotions" tab in the top bar and pull down to Stamp of the Month.

Here's to a crafty Sunday!
~Michelle

CTMH Cricut Artistry Blog Hop

Welcome to the CTMH Cricut Artistry Blog Hop! If you are coming from Gina's blog you are on the right track!

Today, 30 CTMH consultants will be featuring the brand new Cricut Cartridge, Artistry! This cartridge includes shapes spanning a wide variety of themes, holiday's and seasons to add some visual spice to any project. This cartridge comes with three D-sized stamp sets as well as a full package of Enchantment Cardstock (with a sneak peak of our soon-to-be released new colors). The cartridge is available digitally (bundled items will be mailed separately) or with a cartridge for a slightly higher price.

For my project I created a double page scrapbook layout featuring my son's 5th Birthday party. I first designed my page in Design Space. Some might think this is an extra, unnecessary step but for me it's the easiest way to ensure my accent pieces are proportionate to my layout without wasting a bunch of precious paper on miss-sized pieces.

The title was cut with the Artistry font and adhered to the page with our Bonding Memories Glue Pen. This stuff works great for small, intricate pieces like letters. The lines on the journal tag were stamped in Slate ink using the ZOE Workshop on the Go Stamp set.

Here's a tip for you: instead of getting your fingers gunked with glue use your piercing tool to hold the shape in place until the entire piece has glue. When it's ready to place on your project use tweezers or scissors to place it where you want.

The tag was cut out of White Daisy Cardstock and then stamped with one of the bundled stamp sets from the cartridge.  The rest of the accents were pre-designed pieces from the Artistry collection, including the border underneath the large photo. I just re-sized, picked my paper and cut away! I love not having to fussy cut my accents!

Please continue on the Catherine's blog to see what project she's created. Please note, if you happen to get lost along the hop please visit Melinda's page for a complete list of participants.

Project Recipe:
Z3167 Cricut Artistry Collection
G1096 Workshops on the Go Zoe Scrapbooking Kit
1385 White Daisy Cardstock
1273 Desert Sand Cardstock
X5751 Sorbet Cardstock
X5770 Glacier Cardstock
X5772 Canary Cardstock
X5759 Pacifica Cardstock
Z2033 Paper Fundamentals Whimsy Assortment
Z2173 Slate Ink
Z2641 Glacier Ink
Z1938 Sponge Dauber
Z1912 Corner Rounder
Z1151 3D Foam Tape
Z3025 Blue Shimmer Trim
Z553 Bonding Memories Glue
Z1979 Marvy® Uchida® LePen™ Journaling Pen

Thanks for stopping by!
~Michelle Battitori

If you'd like to re-create my layout here is the link to the Design Space File: https://us.cricut.com/design/#/canvas/30084866

Please note that you will need the Artistry Cartridge to use the file. If you don't have it please check with your CTMH Consultant or visit my webpage HERE.

Get the New Artistry Cartridge for $10.65!!!

The new Annual Inspriations book doesn't go live until September 1 but CTMH released a few of the new products early! One of them is the brand new Artistry Cricut Cartridge.

Here's what comes on each cartridge:

• A complete font that's a little funky and a lot of fun
• 141 icons like a typewriter, cat, dog, feathers, house, diamond, cake, and even a kitchen sink (just kidding!). Many of these are layered.
• 50 new basic shapes which each have 3 different coordinating layers of designs or sentiments
• 50 layered "banners" or what I'd call "labels" that are begging to be stamped on and guess what? In September, you'll see some new stamp sets that fit on them perfectly!
• 50 backgrounds similar to the square overlays on Artbooking but generally less complex. 
• 50 borders 

To view all the images check out the complete handbook HERE.

 For the first time CTMH is releasing this cartridge in digital form (Z1390)* as well as standard physical cartridge form (Z3167) too!

So you're probably wondering how you can get this fantastic cartridge for $10.65, right?)! Let me break it down for you. Each cartridge comes bundled with 3 My Acrylix D-size Stamp sets ($17.95/set) as well as 1 full size Enchantment Cardstock Combo Pack ($14.50). If you were to purchase each of those separately they would cost you $68.35. If you purchase the digital cartridge* ($79) you'll ONLY be paying $10.65 more! That's a bargain if I ever saw one...especially since this cartridge, like our others, contains 700 images!

Created by CTMH Art Department 

Physical Cartridge users will also receive the same 3 stamp sets and Enchantment Combo Pack but will pay a slightly higher bundled price of $99. If you break it down again that's still only $35.15 for the cartridge which is well below the market rate for store-bought cartridges!

So, what are you waiting for? There isn't a time limit on this fantastic deal so if you would like to purchase the Artistry Cartridge please contact your CTMH Consultant or visit my website HERE.

*The digital Artistry Collection is available only for use with the Cricut Explore and Cricut Explore Air. 

Have a crafty day!

~Michelle

August SOTM Blog Hop - Framed

Welcome to the August Stamp of the Month Blog Hop! If you are coming from Jen Rubio's blog you are on the right track! This month CTMH Consultants are featuring the awesome set of 12 stamps , Framed.

I decided to get a head start on Christmas Cards by creating a trio of cards! And, since each frame coordinates with the new Cricut Artistry Cartridge cutting each shape was a breeze! Here's a tip for you...if you are using neutral cardstock cut a full sheet of each shape and tuck them into the back of your stamp envelope. That way when your short on time you can pull one out and stamp in your preferred color!

Each card features one of the frames in the stamp set. I kept it uniform by stamping the frame in black and heat embossed each sentiment. Keeping your ink colors to a minimum really saves time if you are planning on making bulk cards in a single setting! Here's a close-up of each card along with a list of supplies used:






Card 1:
Paper: Yuletide Carol (X7187B), Black Cardstock (1386)
Stamp: Framed (S1508)
Ink: Black (Z2105), Versamark (Z891), Ruby (X5927)
Other: Value Pack Cards (X1410), Cricut Artistry (Z3167), 3D Foam Tape (Z1151), Cranberry Embossing Powder, Pink Glitter Gems (Z1807), Sponge Dauber (Z1938)

Card 2:
Paper: Yuletide Carol (X7187B), Black Cardstock (1386)
Stamp: Framed (S1508)
Ink: Black (Z2105), Versamark (Z891), Ruby (X5927)
Other: Value Pack Cards (X1410), Cricut Artistry (Z3167), 3D Foam Tape (Z1151), Cranberry Embossing Powder, Pink Glitter Gems (Z1807), Sponge Dauber (Z1938), Bakers Twine (Z1861)

Card 3: 

Paper: Yuletide Carol (X7187B), Black Cardstock (1386)
Stamp: Framed (S1508)
Ink: Black (Z2105), Versamark (Z891), Ruby (X5927)
Other: Value Pack Cards (X1410), Cricut Artistry (Z3167), 3D Foam Tape (Z1151), Cranberry Embossing Powder, Pink Glitter Gems (Z1807), Sponge Dauber (Z1938), Bakers Twine (Z1861)

Thanks for stopping by my blog today. Now it's time to continue on the hop by visiting Lisa's blog.

If you would like to purchase the August SOTM, or any of the products (including the new Cricut Cartridge) please contact your CTMH consultant or visit my website. This set is only available until August 31.

Have a wonderful day!

~Michelle Battitori

P.S. For a complete list of blog hop participants please visit Melinda's blog.