Welcome to the CTMH Blog Hop !!!

Welcome to our Close to my Heart Summer 2009 Idea Book Blog Hop! Almost 40 Close to my Heart Consultants are celebrating the upcoming release of the Summer 2009 Idea Book by sharing their amazing creations using new products via their blogs. This is simple do to- just click on the link at the end of the post on each blog to move to the next one!

Ready for a sneak peak at some new products?! Here we go!

I absolutely love the cute new Bella paper packet! The colors are Smokey Plum, Olive, Vanilla Creme, and Desert Sand with Hollyhock as the accent color! I made this fun little card holder and six matching 3x3 cards:




The stamps are the new Buttoned Up and Thanks! I am so excited that CTMH has finally come out with a Thanks word puzzle! I make more Thank You cards than anything, so this set is extremely useful for me.




Paper: X7114B Bella Level 2 Paper Packet
My Acrylix Stamp Set: C1361- Buttoned Together, D1361- Thank You
Ink Colors: Smokey Plum, Olive, Desert Sand, Hollyhock marker for accent
Embellishments: White Daisy My Accents Collection (flower brads), Colonial White Brads, White Daisy Ribbon, Twill Ribbon, Sparkles, Liquid Glass, White Hemp, 3D Foam squares, Sponge, Edge Distressor, Paper Piercing Tool.

Now "Hop" on over to Penny's Blog <http://scrappinpenny.blogspot.com/> to see her work! Be sure to visit all the Consultants at their Blogs to get some great crafting ideas and see the great new Paper Packs and My Acrylix Stamp Sets! Remember, the Summer 2009 Idea Book goes LIVE on May 1st!

In case you get lost along the way, here is a list of all the amazing Close to my Heart Consultants participating in the Blog Hop:

Erin Herring http://www.tazzygirl2000.blogspot.com/
Penny Doucette http://scrappinpenny.blogspot.com/
Kathleen Rensel http://scrapbookaddictkath.blogspot.com/
Jessica Moore http://www.jessicaspaperpetals.blogspot.com/
Colleen Porter http://www.inkemup.blogspot.com/
Sherry Thompson http://www.picturespatternsandpaper.blogspot.com/
Jen Patrick http://www.roxybonds-scrappin.blogspot.com/
Corey Acton http://scrappytimeswithcorey.blogspot.com/
Amy Edwards http://www.paisleysplayhouse.blogspot.com/
Amy Schultz http://www.amylizschultz.blogspot.com/
Tresa Black http://www.fabulouslyartsy.blogspot.com/
Leslie Kolic http://www.leannesscraps.blogspot.com/
Rebecca Garrison http://www.stampingwithbekah.blogspot.com/
Miranda Kurz http://www.scrampinwithmiranda.com/
Terrie Dodd http://my-life-in-real-time.blogspot.com/
Traci Tanimura http://www.creativetraci.blogspot.com/
Debora Mcelhany http://www.mcdoodlesscrappinplace.blogspot.com/
Katie Paterson http://katiepaterson.blogspot.com/
Michelle Robinson http://amaizenbluelady.typepad.com/
Lori Scott http://scrapinglori.blogspot.com/
Amberlyn Gentry http://amberlyng.blogspot.com/
Wendy Kessler http://www.myscrapbookingblog.com/
Meredith Burgess http://www.meredithsscrappylife.blogspot.com/
Vicky Sullivan http://www.sullyscrapandstamp.blogspot.com/
Caren Goldstein http://www.scrappycaren.blogspot.com/
Jena Devries http://www.livelovelaughscrapbook.blogspot.com/
Kami Welter http://www.scrappin4memories.blogspot.com/
Traci Godbee http://createwithtraci.blogspot.com/
Julie Banzon http://www.scrapbookiejulie.blogspot.com/
Laurel Seabrook http://www.want2scrap.blogspot.com/
Alisan Smith http://scrappinalistamps.blogspot.com/
Haley Dyer http://www.inkyscrapper.blogspot.com/
Dawn Heuft http://www.stamptildawn.blogspot.com/
Ali Creel http://www.scrapali.blogspot.com/
Helen Onulak http://www.hookedonstamping.com/
Jean McNulty http://stampinmaui.blogspot.com/
Aaron Brown http://aaronsbooth32.blogspot.com/
Shannon http://www.rockinstamps.blogspot.com/
Julie Lane http://raggedydoodles.blogspot.com/
Carrie Zrodlowski http://carriesinspiration.blogspot.com/

Have a great day!
-Erin-

Stay Tuned...

The Summer 2009 Idea Book release is right around the corner, and to mark the occassion, almost 40 Close to my Heart consultants are joining together in a Blog Hop! The fun begins shortly, so check back soon!

Tickled Pink and Unforgettable Get Well!

I recently received my Tickled Pink kit from CTMH (the new promo that is currently underway), and WOW! I am not much of a flower stamp girl, but I have to say, this set goes way beyond the kit and die-cuts!

I got to reach for this set the other day when I was making my mother-in-law a Get Well card. She just had hip-replacement surgery, so between Eric and I both getting sick, we have been to the hospital to visit. And nothing brightens up a hospital room like a pretty card!

I used a new template Jeanette posted on her blog (http://www.jeanettelynton.com/). It is from the new Wishes template book! I can't wait to get my own copy, but Jeanette posted one of the templates from it as a sneak preview. Here is the card I came up with:

Paper: Unforgettable
Stamp: Tickled Pink, Say it in Style (May '08 SOTM coming back in the Summer '09 Idea Book!!)
Ink Colors: Blush, Sorbet, Juniper
Embellishments: 3D Foam Squares

This flower is GREAT for layering! The front is dimensional with foam squares under the matted square and the flower, too. My friends could always tell an "Erin-Card" because I always fold down a corner of the double-sided B&T paper... but after I saw the rolled corners in one of the Idea Books, it has taken over! I love the little touch it adds!

That's it for today, but stay tuned... I have some GREAT things planned for this week as we count down to the release of the new Idea Book!

Lots of Love,

-Erin-

Tickled Pink! and a new Scrapbook website!

CTMH did it again- they came out with an awesome promotion for National Scrapbooking Month called Tickled Pink. It is a kit that has cute pink and blue B&T, a stamp set, sheet of die-cuts, Mini-Melody accents, a texture tool, and instructions for two layouts! I can't wait until my order gets here, but this is what it looks like:



You can purchase it for $34.95, or earn it FREE with a $60 My Acrylix Stamp Set purchase (ha, like I need an incentive to buy more stamps)! CTMH is running this campaign from now until the end of May. There are also more details on the CTMH Homepage. Can't wait to see what I can create with this awesome set!

And to add more excitement, CTMH created a new website for National Scrapbooking Month- www.scrapbookandshare.com (There is a link on the right side). They are hosting a contest for May- go check out the details! Woo-hoo! With our remodel almost complete, I cannot wait to get back into my office space and start creating again!

Sneak Preview on Jeanette's site!

The Summer 2009 Idea Book will be unveiled to customers on May 1st, but Jeanette Lynton has shared one of the new sets with everyone early! I was happy to see one of the new sets- super cute- and some artwork to go with it...

What are you doing still reading this? Check out her blog-- there is a link on the right side --->

More Regional photos- part 2

Here are some more great photos from Regionals! My projects are not done yet, as all my craft supplies are packed away to keep them safe from the remodel dust! Hopefully my great new friends, Terrie and Ashleigh, do not mind being the models for some of the great projects!

All creatively crafty women in one room! Let the fun begin!

Look at the pack of goodies that was waiting for us at each place! Four stamp sets, lots of embellishments, Memory Keeper box (see completed project below), and lots more:

Yours truly with the ever-talented, creative, humble, amazing Jeanette Lynton, Founder and CEO of Close to my Heart. She was so sweet to talk to and really is as nice and down-to-Earth as she appears in the Art & Soul Webisodes (new links added to the right, too)! AMAZING!

Some of the cards from the That's Amore Workshop on the Go- we did two out of the three layouts, and had plenty supply left over for these cards:

Terrie showing off her completed Memory Keeper Project and her Contest Card- too cute!

Ashleigh and her completed Memory Keepers Box! Notice that her's and Terrie's look different- the beauty of the new B&T paper with the monochromatic print on one side! The project used the Sweet Leaf side (look at Terrie's), but you can also use the reverse Twilight side (see Ashleigh's), too!

Posing with Ashleigh and Terrie under the Regionals sign!

Once the dust settles (literally) here, there will be more to show! Hope you are all having a great weekend!
-Erin-

Fun little 3x3!

Just wanted to share a cute little 3x3 card using the Stardust paper and Believe in your Dreams stamp set. I got the template for the little "envelope" from Terrie! These are quick and easy to make- I am sure you will see this fun card at our next Gathering!