Monday, July 30, 2012

Retiring CTMH Products

The 2012 Autumn/Winter Idea Book from Close To My Heart is live Wednesday, August 1st. Check back for a link to an online version.  We've had to make room for new amazing products (including a new Cricut cartridge) so there are a few items we have to say goodbye to. 

After July 31st, the following products are no longer available.  You may see them on the discontinued/discounted section of my website, but if you really really need something from this list, don't take the risk of it being gone forever.  Visit my website to place an order, or contact me at EzScrapbooks dot cox dot net to get in on a group order July 31st at NOON PST.

Paper Packs/Stickease/Complements
·       Cruisin’ Paper Pack                                           X7154B
·       Cruisin’ Complements Foil Images                     X7154C
·       Elemental Paper Pack                                       X7141B
·       Elemental Complements Dimensional Elements  X7141C
·       Footloose Paper Pack                                        X7151B
·       Footloose Complements Dimensional Elements  X7151C
·       Lucy Paper Pack                                               X7149B
·       Lucy Complements Glittery Rub-Ons                  X7149C
·       Roxie Paper Pack                                              X7140B
·       Roxie My Stickease Assortment                         X7140C
·       Sonoma Paper Pack                                          X7143B
·       Sonoma My Stickease Assortment                      X7143C
·       Superhero Paper Pack                                       X7152B
·       Superhero Complements Rub-Ons                      X7152C
·       Typeset Paper Pack                                           X7139B
·       Typeset Complements Canvas Shapes               X7139C

Workshops on the Go
·       WOTG Cruisin’ Kit
·       WOTG Florentine Kit
·       WOTG Footloose Kit
·       WOTG Lucy Kit
·       WOTG Pemberley Kit
·       WOTG Stella Kit
·       WOTG Superhero Kit
·       WOTG Victory Kit

Papers/Inks/Reinkers  AND SHADE PACKS
(Cardstock, inkpads, and reinkers are all included. Check your Idea Book for part numbers.)

·       Amethyst
·       Baby Pink
·       Brown Bag
·       Dutch Blue
·       Garden Green
·       Garnet
·       Grey Flannel
·       Grey Wool
·       Heavenly Blue
·       Holiday Red
·       Key Lime
·       Lilac Mist
·       Moonstruck
·       Pansy Purple
·       Parchment
·       Petal
·       Spring Iris
·       Sunflower
·       Sunkiss Yellow
·       Sunny Yellow
·       Taffy
·       Tulip
·       Vanilla Cream
·       Vineyard Berry

Cards
·       Clear Cards 4-1/4” x 5-1/2”
·       Clear Cards 4-1/2”

Albums/Accessories
·       Quick Pic Album-Dark Chocolate                        Z1406
·       Quick Pic Album-Dark Cranberry             Z1405
·       Quick Pic Album-Outdoor Denim                        Z1404
·       Snapease Album System 12x12             Z4110



Embellishments
·       Bitty Brads Basic Assortment                 Z1367
·       Bitty Brads Metal Assortment                 Z1368
·       Bitty Buds Assorment                            Z1690
·       Bottle Caps                                           Z1691
·       Canvas Badge Buttons                          Z1397
·       Clear Sparkles                                       Z1104
·       Color Ready Irresistibles- Lots of Dots    Z1261
·       Comic Badge Buttons                            Z1688
·       Dimensional Elements-Ornaments          Z1337
·       Heirloom Assorment                              Z1635
·       Hinges                                                  Z1402
·       Mini-Medley Accents-Honey                   Z1488
·       Mini-Medley Accents-Pacifica                 Z1698
·       Mini-Medley Accents-Sunset                  Z1338
·       Mini-Medley-Tulip                                  Z1320
·       Photo Hangers                                      Z1403
·       Ribbon-Designer Pink Collection             Z1384
·       Ribbon-Sw. Lf. Stitched Grosgrain (bulk) Z1383
 
My Creations Products
·       My Creations A-Door-Ables                    Z1321
·       My Creations All Sorts Mini Album          Z1224
·       My Creations Cube                                Z1152
·       My Creations Mix & Mingle Album          Z1334

Tools/Organization
·       Craft Tray                                             1764
·       Dotto Dots Dispenser                             1766
·       Dotto Dots Dispenser-Refill                    1767
·       Double Scrubber                                    Z1163
·       Euro Personal Paper Trimmer                 Z338
·       Euro Replacement Blades                      Z339
·       Euro Replacement Blade/Scoring           Z340
·       Microfiber Cloth                                     Z1006
·       My Legacy Writer Black Pen Set             4275


Saturday, July 21, 2012

Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be JPEGs Part 2

Here's a video from Stacy Julian that is sure to stir a desire to visit your memories.


Have a memorable day,
Sheila

Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be JPEGs

Stacy Julian founder of Big Picture Scrapbooking was our keynote speaker at Close To My Heart convention last week.  Her presentation made a big impact on me.  As an independent consultant for Close To My Heart, I hear a lot of people say they don't have time for scrapbooking.  Stacy invited us to ask ourselves how much crafting, cardmaking, or scrapbooking is enough for you? (Everyone will have a different answer).  We take waaaaay more pictures than back in the day with the long skinny 110 camera loaded with 12 or 24 exposures of film.  Remember those?  We had to be really picky about when to snap the shutter because there were only a few exposures and it cost a fortune to get them developed, right? 

Nowadays we have the freedom of snapping as many pictures as we want with digital cameras, and we process just the right amount of photos once they've been photoshopped.  Too many of us keep all those photos pent up on our USB or hard drive.  Remember the commercial with the boy jumping in the pool saying "mom, I'm over here on the memory card."  Guilty as charged.  I have about 2 years worth of photos camping out on my hard drive waiting for TIME to preserve them and the memories they represent.  Thinking about it leads me from guilt to overwhelmed to the-heck-with-it. Have you experienced that?  GET OVER IT.  You decide how to honor your memories. Remember: it's about the memories not the pictures.  Phew! that was soooo freeing for me.  I don't have to put every picture of my kids coloring Easter eggs for the past 8 years in the album.  But I do want the memory of how Collin pouts when his egg doesn't turn out right, or how that blue oil cloth is in every year's Easter pictures.

Now when I take pictures I look for shots that will tell the story, not the one's that will make it into photography magazine.  Thank you Stacy for giving me that freedom.


A couple other tips from Stacy.  Put your camera down.  Sometimes we're so caught up in getting all the pictures that we're not present for the story.  Have you struggled with journaling?  Maybe this tip will help.  Leave your camera at home and focus on your emotions.  You don't have to scrapbook in chronological order. Just go pick a photo or an event and get started.

The story you're most qualified to tell is your own.  If you don't do it who will.  You have exactly enough time to scrapbook.  Open yourself up to ideas and memories that come to you.  Simply get started.  Contact me to join a monthly papercrafting club where you have scheduled time to make 2 two-page layouts in one session. email EzScrapbooks at cox dot com.

Have a memorable day,
Sheila

Tuesday, July 17, 2012

New Cricut Cartridge Announced

I just returned from Dallas, Texas where over 1,200 women and 3 men were kickin' up their heals after Close To My Heart revealed their new Cricut cartridge, Artiste, which will be available August 1.  Every year CTMH holds a convention to celebrate the new product Idea Book.  This is three exciting days of product reveals, business classes and hands-on cropping. Oh my, there are so many great things coming your way beginning August 1st, and I can hardly wait to get my hands on that new Cricut cartridge.  Just like Art Philosophy, this cartridge offers 700 images - yes that is SEVEN HUNDRED, not a typo. But Artiste is a Cricut cartridge on steroids.  These new die cuts focus on themed projects, interactive cards, 3D artwork and more.  Robots, spooks, valentines, babies and more. There's even a step by step assembly book so you don't go crazy trying to figure out what goes where. 

Just like the Art Philosophy Cricut collection, the Artiste cartridge is available only as a bundle exclusively from Close To My Heart consultants.  The collection includes:
  • 1 cartridge with 700 images of themed projects, cards, font & 3D items
  • 3 My Acrylix D-size stamps sets that coordinate with Artiste die cuts
  • 3 coordinating 12" x 9" Dimensional Elements sheets (chipboard) of awards, quotes & mini album pages
The entire collection - with a retail value of $125 - is just $99.  Contact me to order this amazing collection or click here to shop online. (Remember it's not available until August 1st.)

Created by Tamara Pope
Be sure to tell your friends - something this good is worth sharing!

Have a memorable day,
Sheila

Monday, July 9, 2012

Close To My Heart Annual Convention

I created these layouts using Studio J to share my memories of Close To My Heart's 2011 annual convention at the Disneyland Resort.  These events are the highlight of my summer.  I get inspired with new products & artwork, and I get to meet up with friends from across the country. 

Studio J is so easy to use and I love that I don't have to process pictures and worry about sizing.  The online program does it all.  Nothing to download.  Just play, add to cart, and wait for the delivery.  And there's no obligation to play with the product online.  Click here to get started.
Disney-Themed Scrapbook Convention. What could be better?
Great friendships acrros the miles.
Splash Mountain SOAKED us!
Have a memorable day,

Sheila

Sunday, July 1, 2012

Live Out Loud - July Stamp of the Month


The July Stamp of the Month is called Live Out Loud and includes images of positive phrases with hip, lively designs.  My daughter was doing a little posing for a fun event at our church and I thought these phrases captured the moment perfectly.  I jazzed it up further with flowers and butterflies using the Art Philosophy Cricut cartridge exclusively available from Close To My Heart consultants, like me.  The paper is from the Lucy collection. Oh and a little bling never hurts.


This stamp set is great for cards and gift bags too, as you can see below in the artwork generously shared by some of my talented friends.

Created by Judy Faye Gardner

created by Melissa Robinson
Have a memorable day,

Sheila