31.7.14

NEW PAPER COLLECTIONS ARE HERE!

Close to My Heart has nine new paper collections! The new Annual Inspirations idea book can  be viewed starting August 1st, on my website, or get a copy for free with any $30 purchase. As a consultant I have been able to view all of the new goodies during July, and thought I had picked out my favorites. However, after opening a big box full of new product, I can't pick a favorite, I love them all. There is a scrapbook Workshop on the Go for seven of the paper collections. The Workshops on the Go below are the first ones I opened. I can't decide which one I want to work with first.

Brushed has  flowers and beautiful patterns.
Seaside has blues, corals, stripes, dot, and shells.
Pathfinding is perfect for all your fall memories.

Yuletide is a versatile collection for winter holiday photos.

Each WOTG comes with an instruction booklet, and enough supplies for several scrapbook layouts. Of course, the supplies can be used any way you want, including cards, and home decor.Visit my website to see all of the new products starting August 1st.  http://dedras-crafts-for-a-cure.ctmh.com/Default.aspx

30.7.14

Digital Scrapbooking with Studio J


Finally get all of those pictures in a beautiful album!


Studio J is a fun, easy, and economical way to take all of those pictures out of boxes, drawers, totes, and envelopes, and into a lovely album for everyone to enjoy. You simply make an account, upload your pictures, choose a theme, and start creating lovely pages. Close to My Heart will mail your pages to you, and also provide a jpeg to download. Here are a few I have done of two of my favorite subjects:

Some of my favorite photos of my grandson
Day at the zoo with my daughter and grandchildren
If you are looking for a quick and easy way to get all of those pictures in albums, check out Studio J.

28.7.14

Coming August 1st!

First Look at Chalk it Up


Close to My Heart's new Annual Inspirations book showcases a lot of new products, and one of my favorites is the Chalk it Up collection.

This is a very versatile collection that can be used to scrap school photos, family events, make cards, and more. There is a paper pack with 2 each of 3 double sided papers, and 6 solid colored cardstock in 4 different coordinating color. Complimentary chipboard, and puffy sticker embelishments are a fun addition to the collection. This collection also has a scrapbooking workshop on the go. The WOTG contains everything that's in the paper pack, plus sticker embelishments, black striped twill ribbon, and an exclusive stamp set. My WOTG has arrived, and I can't wait to create something. This collection will be available August 1st. Visit my website at http://dedras-crafts-for-a-cure.ctmh.com/Default.aspx or by clicking the Shop Now button above, and find out how to get yours free.

26.7.14

The Ups and Downs of Having Cancer


At first you would think that having cancer is just a downer and a struggle. It is that, for sure, but there are also many things that have improved in my life since my diagnosis.When it was time to tell extended family and friends, I decided I wanted to do it in a humorous way that wouldn't make people sad. Here is my facebook post from that time:

The upside of cancer:
1. If you choose to stay in Spongebob Squarepants pajamas (even if they belong to your husband) all day, no one will dare say a word.
2. If you get a chemo port in your chest your grandchildren will think you are part robot, which makes you cool.
3. You will be encouraged to eat more fat and calories.
4. You will fit back in clothes that you "outgrew"
5. Your children will cook, clean, and use appliances that some of them claimed not to understand.
6. Your family has an automatic out for anything they don't want to do, as in "I'm sorry, I can't, my mom has cancer."

I can now add to that message of June 2012.

 7. Having cancer has made "I love you" something my family says a lot more often.
 8. We take more trips and more photos.
 9. Priorities have shifted and we try harder to focus on the important things, like family time.
Ringing the bell on my first 6 courses of chemo.


Of course, there have been times when I have not been able to keep a positive attitude, and I hit another one of those "down" times recently. I know that I will be dealing with this cancer for the rest of my life. Sometimes that just seems like too much, especially as my energy level is low, and chemo brain makes it hard to focus. We are told to keep a positive attitude because it's so important for our recovery.That's a lot of pressure during times when you are throwing up and running a fever, having a bone marrow biopsy, or learning that other friends battling cancer have lost their fight.

I read something about a year ago detailing how an actresses was coping with breast cancer. She told the interviewer how chemo had been easy to deal with, that she had continued her daily walks, and felt wonderful. Again, that is a lot of pressure on the rest of us who needed a loved one to help us bathe, and kept a large trash can next to our beds all night. 

Reading the things I wrote in 2012 has reminded me of the up times, and that this will pass. I hope that during the times I am feeling up, I will remember that others might be having trouble coping. There shouldn't be any pressure on anyone dealing with a chronic illness, we are all just doing the best we can, through all the ups and downs.

RETIRING ITEMS AND A SPECIAL OFFER

Get the new Annual Inspiration Book for free!

8/1/14 through 7/31/15
Anyone placing an order of $30 or more will receive a free inspiration book from me. Simply click on the Shop with Me button on this page, or follow this link http://dedras-crafts-for-a-cure.ctmh.com/Default.aspx to my Close to my Heart website. Offer expires 8/31/14.

The current Idea Book is still active until July 31, 2014. Many items are retiring to make room for the new. Here is a list of all of the retiring items that can be ordered while supplies last http://dedras-crafts-for-a-cure.ctmh.com/Retail/Products.aspx?CatalogID=18 

As always, a portion of all sales will go to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.

Happy Shopping!


24.7.14

FDA Approves New Drug for blood cancer

The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society Applauds FDA's Approval of Idelalisib To Treat Three Types of Blood Cancers

(White Plains, NY) - July 23, 2014 - Today's U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval of idelalisib to treat patients with relapsed chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), follicular lymphoma (FL) and small lymphocytic lymphoma (SLL) is a significant advance for patients with these blood cancers. 


For full report follow this link:

http://www.lls.org/aboutlls/news/newsreleases/07232014_FDA_Approval_of_Idelalisib

go to LLS.org to find out how you can help

Free Classes from scrapbook.com

If any of you own We R Memory Keepers products, you might be interested in a free class being offered by Scrapbook.com. I personally own the envelope punch board, and the crop a dile, and use both often.

Here is the link to the free class:

http://www.scrapbook.com/classes/wertools.php

Have you taken any of the free classes on scrapbook.com, or any other website? Comment and let me know what kind of experience you had.

20.7.14

BALLOON RIDE PAPER PACK

RETIRING JULY 31, 2014

 Balloon Ride has been one of my favorite Close to my Heart collections to work with. I love the colors, sentiments, and embellishments. I created a mini album using the collection and a bind it all chipboard album cover. The hot air balloon popped up on the cover is from the chipboard embellishment set. The title on the front was cut from one of the papers. All CTMH background and texture papers have a strip at the top, one side lists the paper name and collection, and the other side has a coordinating design. I simply cut the strip into the title "flags" and used 3-D foam to make them pop off the cover. I stained the chipboard cover using a sponge dauber and Tim Holtz Broken China distress stain.


The Workshop on the Go Balloon Ride kit is already sold out, but it's not too late to order the paper pack and embellishments.

Balloon Ride double sided papers


Balloon Ride chipboard embellishments

The retiring paper collections can be found here http://dedras-crafts-for-a-cure.ctmh.com/retail/Products.aspx?CatalogID=21 or by clicking on the  Shop with Me button, and selecting My Reflections Scrapbook Products

The Damon Divas Walking for Cancer Research

Our team has earned $724 this year!

 

The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society has an annual Light the Night Walk in major cities around the country. Our team, The Damon Divas, has participated for the last two years, and we are raising funds for this year's walk. Contact Light the Night if you would like to participate in a walk in your area.

http://www.lightthenight.org/

Our team has set a goal of $3000. We have earned 24% of our goal, and have until October to earn the rest. Our team has never failed to reach a goal, so I have confidence we will raise the additional funds in time. Two of our members have lost loved ones to Leukemia and two of us have had our own battles with Lymphoma. Here is the link to our team page:

http://pages.lightthenight.org/txg/Houston14/TheDamonDivas

Comment below and let me know if you do any fundraising for a cause near and dear to your heart.

19.7.14

CLOSE TO MY HEART ~ OUT WITH THE OLD AND IN WITH THE NEW

 IMPORTANT CTMH NEWS AND A GIFT WITH PURCHASE


Here is a link to the list of items that will be retired at the end of July. CTMH is making room for lots of new papers, tools, inks, and even a Cricut collection!

http://dedras-crafts-for-a-cure.ctmh.com/Retail/Products.aspx?CatalogID=18


Skylark is just one of the amazing paper collections that will no longer be available after July 31st.
!
SNEAK PEEK OF NEW CTMH IDEA BOOK FOR 2014/2015

ANYONE PLACING AN ORDER OF $30 OR MORE ON MY WEBSITE WILL BE SENT A FREE IDEA BOOK FROM ME!  OFFER EXPIRES 8/31/14
This is an annual inspiration book and will be current until 7/31/2015

JUST CLICK ON THE  BLINKING "SHOP WITH ME" BUTTON AND GET STARTED

10.7.14

Close to my Heart ~ July Stamp of the Month

Every month Close to My Heart offers a Stamp of the Month for $5 (more than 70% off retail), with any $50 purchase or $17.95 without purchase. This month the stamp set is the adorable Circus Alphabet. 
http://dedras-crafts-for-a-cure.ctmh.com/ctmh/promotions/sotm/2014/ss/1407-circus-alphabet.aspx 






https://cdn.closetomyheart.com/2014/image-gallery/1407-sotm.jpg?maxwidth=600&maxheight=400


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