Holiday Extravaganza!

Annual Holiday Extravaganza!

Get into the holiday spirit as we tackle Halloween, Thanksgiving & Christmas all in one day!  Come and enjoy creating an assortment of at least a dozen projects ranging from cards, tags, gifts and more!

Date: Saturday, October 10

Time: 10:00 am – 5:00 pm

Cost: $45 (bring favorite adhesive(s) & scissors; all other supplies + lunch included)

RSVP by: September 25

Location: Adobe Wells Clubhouse #1: 1220 Tasman Drive, Sunnyvale

Questions?: Call Cathryn (Close To My Heart Independent Consultant) at 510-207-2976 or email at Cathryno@gmail.com. Shop online at Cathryn.ctmh.com.

__________________________________________________________________________

Registration Form

Name: _______________________________________________

Email: ________________________________________________Phone Number: ________________________

# of Participants Registering: ______  First Names for Badges: _________________________________________

Any food allergies/restrictions? ___________________________________________________

**Cancellation Policy—you have 48 hours after payment for a full refund up until RSVP deadline; after this time, you have the option of a kit OR to sell your spot to a friend.**

PAYMENT METHOD Check (made payable to Cathryn Oliver) OR Credit Card is accepted.  Registration confirmation/receipt and further information will be emailed.

Please check appropriate box:

q  Check                      

q  VISA                                         Expiration Date: _____________

q  Mastercard                             Card #: _____________________________________

q  Discover                                  Print Cardholder Name: ________________________

3-Digit Security Code: ___________

Billing Zip Code: _______________

Mail to: Cathryn Oliver, 2047 Country Dr, Fremont, CA 94536

Capture Life

I was struck by a recent blog post by Heidi Swapp.  Heidi recently lost her son. In her post, she explains the importance of documenting the lives of our loved ones.

I have pictures everywhere-- on my phone, on my computer, printed in bins. I have notes, ticket stubs, brochures, and more. I have memorabilia everywhere! I do admit that I am ahead of most people. I relax by scrapbooking. But like most people, I make up excuses about not getting it done. There is always something else to do. I need to get organized first. I am so far behind how can I possibly start.

But this post hit me hard. What if something happened to one of my kids? How will I remember the day to day events? Everything gets blurred together. Will I remember how high my pole vaulter jumped at championships? Will I remember the laughter around the dinner table? Will I remember the craziness of our lives?

Heidi Swapp wrote: YOU MATTER. YOUR FAMILY MATTERS. Your story... MATTERS!

She is so right. We need to tell our story. We need to remember.

So, I am joining Heidi's challenge. I will capture my family's life.

Start with the photo prompt. Day 1- Ready Set Go.

Make a quick note about your day and about the photo.

Print the photo. Yes, we need to print. You can use a blog to keep track of your picture and journaling. Make sure you save the blog and not just keep it on the cloud.

Scrap it! There are plenty of ways to do this. Use a My Crush Book. Use Picture My Life. Use a traditional scrapbook.

Remember, you don't have to be fancy or creative. You just need to do it. A simple page with a picture and  some writing is all you need.

I did a quick album last Christmas documenting our different family traditions. I used Close To My Heart's Christmas My Crush book.

It turned out great. Now it is time to continue. I haven't decided if I am going to use a My Crush book again or not. Maybe I will use one of the new Picture My Life sets. I am thinking about the Through the Years set which is is available September 1.

Now, it is time to get started. Go out and take your picture. 

Jump Into July!

Are you ready for a deal?! July is the time. Hop on over to my site and check out all the great stamp sets. Many are on the list to be retired soon. Many are while supplies last. So don't wait. 

During the month of July, when you purchase $25  in current, retail priced stamps, you qualify to receive either the July Stamp of the Month, My Acrylix^® Life Is Wonderful, FREE or any one of the Hostess Rewards stamp sets featured in Annual Inspirations 2014–2015 or Seasonal Expressions 2 for only $5! That is a savings of up to $17.95! The July Stamp of the Month is a lovely, versatile stamp set that is a great match for your cards and layouts that celebrate all the wonderful things—big and small—that life has to offer. Additionally, the Hostess Rewards stamp sets have previously only been available as part of the Hostess Rewards program, which means now is the perfect opportunity to get those special stamp sets you’ve had your eye on! To get your FREE stamp set or your $5  Hostess Rewards stamp set, simply place an order for $25 of any current, retail priced stamps. This offer is available only during the month of July and applies only to the July Stamp of the Month and current Hostess rewards stamp sets, so spring into action and jump on this deal before it’s gone!

July Stamp of the Month

Paper Bird Stamp Set

 

Sweet As Sugar Stamp Set

Bokeh Technique

Well, it has been quite a while since I posted. I am still very active in Close To My Heart. But mostly I am posting daily on my Facebook page. Have you checked out my Facebook page yet? Go to www.facebook.com/cathrynCTMH and be sure to like my page.  Here's one of the techniques I have been playing with lately.

The Bokeh technique is a lot of fun.

I used Pacifica, Lagoon, and Saddle ink using a sponge to ink up the colonial white paper. Some people like to use a dauber instead of a sponge. When I use a dauber, it tends to look more like a dot of the ink instead of the blended inks.

When sponging, keep the sponge moving in a circular pattern. You don't want it to look like a sponge mark. It takes a bit of patience. I put the three colors on lightly then add more color where I want it darker or where I want it blended more.

Once your background colors are ready, add the white circles.

I simply punched a few sizes of circles from a piece of scrap paper to use as a template. Then I sponge colonial white pigment ink to form the circles.

The circles need to be  a pigment ink so that they don't blend with the other inks. Pigment inks sit on top of the paper. The pigment ink takes a few minutes to dry before stamping your image on top.

I used the Seaside Greetings stamp set and mounted it on Saddle paper. I used CTMH's value pack card in Colonial White as the card base.

Here's another card using the same technique:

I used Gypsy, Sky, and Pixie inks for this card. The dots are in Daisy White pigment ink. The sentiment is stamped in black archival ink using the Happy To Be Friends stamp set.

Give this technique a try. You do end up with inky fingers but that is part of the fun. 

Join Close To My Heart

Thinking about joining Close To My Heart? March is the month to do it! During the month of March*, new Consultants who enroll will receive a FREE shoulder tote (a retail value of over $26 USD / $29 CAD with their New Consultant Kit. Our New Consultant Kit is just $99 USD / $109 CAD and includes nearly triple the retail value in products and supplies. Including your FREE shoulder tote, that is a savings of over $290 USD / $320 CAD! Additionally, new Consultants who remit $300 (USD & CAD) worth of commissionable sales in their first 40 days after their New Consultant Kit ships will receive the rolling tote (a retail value of $149.95 USD / $164.95 CAD) as a FREE bonus (not including shipping/handling)! These organization pieces are designed to help you get your business rolling, but they are only available while supplies last, so hurry on over and join today!

Contact me for more details.

*Offer valid while supplies last March 1–31, 2015. No tax will be charged on the free item. The shoulder tote will ship with the New Consultant Kit. For more information on shipping/handling options for the New Consultant Kit, please contact your Independent Consultant. Shipping will not be charged if a shoulder tote is shipped separately from a kit checked out from a sponsoring Director. Shipping will be charged on the bonus free rolling tote if earned based upon normal shipping rates.

Thank You Card Featuring Hopscotch

I really love the Hopscotch paper pack. I made a few cards with them last week and had a great time doing it.  Here's one:

This card is on a white value pack card. The blue piece is not part of the Hopscotch paper pack. It is part of the whimsy fundamentals pack.

I love these fundamentals. Look at the texture on that paper. Lovely!

Supplies:

Hopscotch Paper Pack    

Paper Fundamentals Whimsy Assortment    

You Mean The World To Me stamp set

Flaxen Extra Thick Twine

Value pack cards

3-D Foam Tape

Outdoor Denim Ink