Saturday, April 26, 2014

Come Get Crafty With Me!

April is an awesome month for joining the Close To My Heart family of crafters with an amazing opportunity to purchase a collection of products and receive a special bonus gift of a Cricut Cartridge -  together they are valued at over $500 but could be yours for just $130. What do you need to do? - just click here and place your order....no obligation - you can take this wonderful collection of crafty goodies and simply play or you have 6 months to trial the joys of being a consultant - the choice is all yours!
 
....the most difficult decision will be to decide what cartridge to choose. I love, use and have all three!! - one of the benefits of being a consultant is that I get all my craft supplies at a discount! However, to help you with your decision making you might like to watch this fabulous video that showcases a little of what can be done with the Cricut Artbooking Collection
 
 
I am rather addicted to making paper flowers to embellishment my craft projects and after watching this video I have become addicted to using the overlay grids found on the Artbooking Cartridge too! - they are so much FUN!
 
 
This card was inspired by the video and was made entirely of scraps - including some cardstock off-cuts that I had previously embossed with the Dot Embossing Folder and a little Glitter Paper. My flowers and leaves were cut from the Cricut Artiste Collection and embellished with some Clear Sparkles - then just a few Aqua and Flamingo Dots were added as my finishing touch!
 
...and because these cards are so addictive and easy to make I thought I would share a couple more with you. I wish I was able to photograph this card a little better so you could see all the beautiful glossy accents in the Fundamentals Paper and the gorgeous "Free To Be Me" paper pack. The "Free To Be Me" papers are another good reason to join Close To My Heart this month - this pack is our exclusive National Scrapbook Day collection and can be purchased for only $5 with a qualifying order in April or May. It includes, decorative paper, printed vellum and glossy embossed cardstock and is ideal for a variety of papercraft projects.
  
 
This card shows how vibrant the "Free To Be Me" papers are and how they co-ordinate so well with other paper packs in our range. The feathers were hand cut from the decorative paper with my ever favourite Micro-Tip Scissors and matted with some Silver Glitter Paper. I also used a different overlay grid from the Cricut Artbooking Cartridge to create this card - there are just so many possibilities!
 

 
If you would like more information about joining my Close To My Heart family or would like to place an order for the "Free To Be Me" paper pack just visit my Online Shop or contact me at lotfam@iinet.net.au
 
...and to keep up to date with all that happens in my crafty world follow me on Facebook - I'd love to have you share the crafting journey with my team and I.


Wednesday, April 16, 2014

Happy Easter

Easter in my family has always been a time of year where we get our "craft on" - creating Easter Bonnets for the school parade, decorating eggs, making paper baskets (for the Easter Bunny to fill) and the list goes on. As a child I use to collect the foil Easter Egg wrap for my art and craft projects and as an adult nothing much has changed!! It was these memories that inspired my Easter cards along with some fabulous stamp sets from Close To My Heart.

While I didn't use foil wrap to embellish my card, I did have some wonderful Close To My Heart products to make it "sparkle".  Pink Glitter Paper, Pearl Paint and Teal Shimmer Trim are amongst my favourite embellishments. I am so glad that as a consultant I get a discount on my craft supplies because I am always re-ordering these glitter goodies! My crafting friends call me the "Embellishment Queen" I love using all sorts of bling to add finishing touches to my projects and the Wooden Trinket Shapes and Flamingo Dots where perfect for this card. I really enjoyed piecing this card together, incorporating all sorts of FUN techniques - colouring, paper piecing and ink misting. If you are a paper crafter and enjoy sharing your creative passion with others?... why not consider joining my team of consultants check out my Facebook Page to see the bonus offer for new consultants - it is only available this month!!....or  you can click here to find out more! I would love to share my creative journey with you :)

This next card was something I "whipped up" today for my daughter to give to a friend - while I may be the "Embellishment Queen" she is the "Queen of Last Minute" LOL! - but Mum always comes to the rescue - a little stamping, a little colouring, some faux stitching and a craft room full of paper... and a card is created in a matter of minutes - gotta love that! The little girl and bunny featured belong to a stamp set called "Some Bunny". It is one of the Hostess Rewards stamp sets you can treat yourself to by hosting a craft gathering with your friends - message me at lotfam@iinet.net.au if you would like to add this set to your collection.

I hope you and your family have a lovely Easter break, the Easter Bunny finds you and you get a moment to get your "craft-on"!

Sunday, April 13, 2014

April - Stamp of the Month

We are now well into April and I realised I am yet to share my April Stamp of the Month cards with you but don't despair there is still plenty of time to add this stamp set to your collection. This month we have an awesome set of 24 stamps called "Balloon Talk" available to you for just $5 with a $75 purchase - amazing value! Speech Bubbles are a FUN way to add sentiments to your card projects. However, this set isn't just about balloons & bubbles there are many individual words/sentiments included too...making it one of the most versatile stamp sets you will own.

 
I decided to create a card Welcoming New Friends into the neighbourhood by combining my Balloon Fun stamps with the very cute images from the Robot Family. It is a little difficult to see in the picture but I used Bitty Sparkles for the buttons and antennas on my Robot couple. I really enjoyed piecing this card together and I hope the recipients enjoy it too!


While you often hear me boast about the 42 colours of  cardstock in the Close To My Heart range, that isn't really all we have to offer!! - many of our My Reflections Paper Packs have exclusive colours included in them - I used the "Ariana Grey" from the Ariana Paper Pack for my Robot card and I also used it as the feature for this other card created with the "GOODBYE" sentiment from the Balloon Talk stamp set. To add a little more texture to it I embossed the cardstock using the Dot Embossing Folder.

I love creating my own background papers using exclusive ink reinkers and spray pens. This time I added a little pearl paint to give it a bit more glitter and shine and to co-ordinate with my use of silver shimmer trim - I also added a little more "bling" to embellish this card in the way of - black jewels, grey sparkles  and bitty sparkles... all these products are available in my online shop - click here to add these goodies to your treasure chest of craft supplies!

The tag for this card was cut using the shapes from the Artiste Cricut Collection and many of the Balloon shapes in this month's Stamp of the Month can also be cut from this cartridge. Remember this month we also have the added bonus of receiving a Cricut Collection for FREE when you join Close To My Heart as a consultant. This offer comes with "no strings attached" you can purchase you "Start-Up Kit" here and for the cost of $130 receive over $500 of products for your personal 'craft treasure chest'. However, if you decide you want to build a business you also have the opportunity to earn back the reimbursement of your $130 start up fee..........interested in finding out more? - joining my team? or my craft classes? - please don't hesitate to contact me.

Thursday, April 10, 2014

Celebrating Cricut Collections

This month is all about "Celebrating Cricut Collections"  -  Close To My Heart is giving away FREE Cricut Cartridge Collections with every purchase of a $130 Start Up Kit...this kit already contains over $500 worth of yummy craft goodies - Oh My! what a bargain that is!! One of the best investments I have ever made was my Cricut Machine and the co-ordinating Close To My Heart Cricut Collections. I have had so much fun with them and they have certainly developed my creative skills. I love creating personalised Home Décor items and they are so easy when you team your Cricut Collections together with the My Creations product range .....simply add your own creative flair and you end up with customised pieces of art work for your own home or to give as gifts.
 
These are two of my latest Cricut Creations and I am thrilled with the results! This is my new favourite - I really love my daughter's "sassy" instagram photo highlighted in this way. I started with a  My Creations Bracket Frame cut out my frame overlay and scallop border from my Cricut Cartridges ..... then added my embellishments. The leaves were cut from the Art Philosophy cartridge , the flowers stamped in my "go to colours" of  Hollyhock and Blush ( with a touch of Pearl Paint ) then embellished with Base & Bling Acrylic Flowers - quick, easy and very pretty!
 
 
Doesn't this cute photo in the My Creations Pennant Frame just melt your heart?? There certainly is something so very "sweet" about a sleeping baby! I can't believe how easy this piece of art work was to create - honestly the Cricut Cartridges did all the work!! I just put it all together....overlays are  trending in the Papercraft World at the moment using the Artbooking Cartridge you can create them any colour and size your heart desires - I chose a pink option to mat my precious photo with!
 
 
Close To My Heart products are in huge demand in the crafting world - join my team and help spread the creative fun with your craft community...simply click HERE to join or even refer a friend - every new team member (and/or referring friend) will go in the draw to win an additional FREE Cricut Collection - you have to be "in it to win it" !!
 

Sunday, April 6, 2014

A Gift of Bling & Beauty

I have just returned from the inaugural Close To My Heart Leadership Conference here in Australia and felt very blessed and honoured to be asked to present some creative sessions. I LOVE being a part of this amazing company which truly has a caring heart...is nurturing, encouraging and appreciative of it's crafting community.

This is one of the projects I shared at the conference, a pocket card and insert created to showcase the awesome Base & Bling range of wearable craft. I am very addicted to making these "one of kind boutique style pieces of jewellery" and they make a perfect gift for family and friends.


This card was so much FUN to make and Close To My Heart has everything you could possibly want to make your "Projects Sparkle" - Shimmer Trim, Sequins, Trinkets & Charms, Sparkles & Gems and so much more...the magic of this project comes from all the added "bling and beauty" - and I am going to enjoy giving it to my Mum for Mother's Day - I know she is going to LOVE it!

The little girls in your life will also enjoy receiving this unique hand made gift or even making it for their friends - it is very cute when pieced together with the Lollydoodle Assortment.


It was a little difficult to photograph this 3D project to really show you how the jewellery insert fits inside the card. Therefore, I thought you might like to see the 2 pieces separated - the insert actually fits snuggly and sits right at the bottom edge of the card pocket - the only piece visible then is the top of the chain. I would love to share how to make this card with you - contact me to find out my class schedule and I am also happy to visit with your crafting group and share this great gift idea with them too.



 
Stay tuned over the coming days and weeks and I will showcase some more of the projects I created and shared at the Leadership Conference.

Tuesday, April 1, 2014

Special Cricut Bonus Offer

I am VERY EXCITED to share an amazing offer for April from Close To My Heart, join my team this month and receive a FREE cricut collection....yes you read that correctly!, If you join my team as a consultant this month you can choose a $130 Cricut Collection for FREE...but even better is the fact that this offer has a retail value of over $550!! - Click HERE for more information.


I would love to have you join my team... Close To My Heart is the perfect solution for those who live in rural areas of Australia looking for a home based business or an online source to purchase your own crafting needs (at a discounted price)...our products are in demand, they are trendy, affordable and we have everything you could possibly want to make your projects sparkle!
 
Do you love Papercraft? and would you like to belong to a fantastic network of Fellow Crafters?....then this in an opportunity not to miss!!

For just $130 you can sign up to become a Close To My Heart Consultant and receive your FREE Cricut Collection plus....

  • The New Consultant Kit with over $400 in products
  • Your own online store – the company host and pay for the website
  • The Opportunity to earn more free goodies and cash back
and there is more!!!
  • The Opportunity to join a fun and caring team
  •  The Opportunity to get great discounts on high quality product
  • The Opportunity to purchase a Cricut and/or Cuttlebug machine at wholesale price including a $100 worth of bonus accessories.
 
I welcome any enquiries and would love to have you in my team, help you grow your business and inspire your creative endeavours.