HALLOWEEN HAUL

Let the Spooky Fun Begin

There were so many things I wanted to purchase from the new Holiday Expressions Catalog that it was hard to decide what to get first.

I decided to go with some Halloween goodies as I have a project I need to get started on a.s.a.p.  

I've started a tradition of making countdown gift boxes or bags for major holidays for my grandchildren. To my grandchildren Halloween is a major holiday. 

I made a video showcasing the items that I purchased for this very important project. 

If you would like any of these awesome items for yourself I have included the links below. 

I hope you all have some great Halloween crafting planned.

Ordering Information

Nevermore Paper Packet
Nevermore Compliments 
Nevermore Compliments 
Green Shimmer Trim 

MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND SPECIAL!

May 23 through 25

Make a purchase totaling $25 or more on my WEBSITE,

and receive a free exclusive ink pad in the color of your choice.

Simply make your purchase, then email me at dedraclutz@hotmail.com with your color choice. I will mail your ink pad directly to you.

If you have never used Close to My Heart products you have been missing out on a large selection of high quality crafting products.

  This offer is for a limited time only, so don't delay!

ADVENTURES WITH MY CRICUT V

Artfully Sent Cartridge - Page 5

I actually started playing with the Artfully Sent Cricut Cartridge back in September 2014. I made the cards on page 4, and then hopped around a bit. 

When I started playing with the cartridge again this year, I decided to start with page one and create a series of posts, and YouTube videos. I really wanted to get the hang of this unique cartridge, and thought this would be the best way.

This week I made all of the cards on page 5, and they are all about foxes and friendship. I chose the Jackson Paper Packet, which I thought fit the theme. 

If you missed page 4 back in September, it can be found HERE.  

As always I made a video showing how I used the card shapes. There are many ways to change things up simply by changing the colors, embelishments, adding stamped images, and more. I hope you will take my suggestions as a starting point and create some unique cards of your own.



Following the video I have a list of the supplies I used, and the dimensions for the pop-up card.

 Supplies

Artfully Sent Cricut Cartridge

Jackson Paper Packet
Brave Enamel Shapes 
For a Friend Stamp Set 
Paper Fundamentals - Whimsy Assortment 

Thanks for visiting my blog. Happy crafting!

ADVENTURES WITH MY CRICUT III

Artfully Sent Cartridge Page #2

This week is brought to you by the number 2. As I work my way through the Close to My Heart Artfully Sent Cricut Cartridge, I'm filming a video, and sharing the products I use.

This is really helping me get familiar with the cartridge, and all of it's features. I highly recommend doing this with cartridges you thought you would love, but almost never use, or cartridges with tricky features. 

I hope you enjoy the video, and it gives you some ideas for this fantastic card making cartridge.

 Supplies Used

Cricut Artfully Sent Cartridge

Jackson Paper Packet

Fundamental Paper Pack in Basics

 Terra Cotta Exclusive Cardstock

Canary Exclusive Cardstock 

Silver Sequins Assortment 

Let me know in the comments section below if you have any questions, or have a cartridge you need to work through.

THE GIFT OF HANDMADE CARDS

Stationary Folder

A collection of handmade cards is a very nice gift to give a friend, even if (s)he is a paper crafter. I love to have cards on hand for every occasion, and receiving them as a gift is even better.

This stationary folder just takes a few minutes to make, requires minimal supplies, and looks like it took a lot of effort.

The easiest way to learn how to make this folder is seeing it done, so I filmed a short video for you.

Following the video is a list of the supplies I used, and links to purchase them on my shopping site.

 Supply List

Blossom Paper Pack
Sure Cut Deluxe Paper Trimmer
Non-stick Micro Tip Scissors
Liquid Glass Adhesive
Bone Folder
Ribbon of your choice

I hope you will give this simple project a try. Stay tuned for Part #2 to learn how to make the simple, heat embossed cards. If you have any questions, leave them in the comments below. Thank you, as always, for your support. 

ADVENTURES WITH MY CRICUT II

Artfully Sent Cricut Cartridge 

Page #1

I have decided the best way to learn all of the ins and outs of the newest, Close to My Heart Exclusive, Cricut Cartridge is to start at the beginning, and work through each page. 

This week I made the cards from page one. I chose a paper collection, so that all of my cards would coordinate. First, I pulled out the Confetti Wishes Paper Packet .   

 

  Next, I looked over the cards, and picked two solid colors for my first card. The cards came together fairly easily, though I did find the pop-up card on this page a little tricky. Hopefully, my tips will make these cards even easier for you.

If you would like to purchase the Artfully Sent Cartridge you can follow this link to my shopping site for all of the details.

 I always find videos helpful, and I hope you will also. 

Do you have a favorite Cricut Cartridge? I think this one will become a go to for cards that impress.

YOU'RE MY TYPE

A Couple of Cute Vintage Cards

I love the Close to My Heart April 2015 Stamp of the Month. The Typed Note stamp set is full of fun sayings, with a vintage feel.

I made a couple of masculine cards, which is not my forte, and they are two of my favorite cards. 

I hope you enjoy the video below, and it gives you some ideas for using this versatile stamp set. Below the video is a list of the supplies I used, and the dimensions of each card.

Do you like to make masculine cards? I think I'm getting the hang of it.

Supply List
White Daisy Cardstock
Lagoon Card Stock
Whisper Grey Cardstock
Paper Fundamentals in Basics
Distressing Ink (black and chocolate) 
Chalk it Up Assortments (glasses and heart)
Bakers Twine - Neutral Mettalics 
Black Striped Twill Ribbon 
Typed Note Stamp of the Month ($5 with $50 purchase) 

Card Dimensions
 Grey Card 
Base is 8 1/2" x 5 1/2", scored and folded at 4 1/4"
Grey fundamentals paper layer is 4 1/8" x 5 3/8"
Stamped layer is 3 1/2" x 4 1/4"
Edge of stamped area smudged with Black chalk distress ink
Image stamped in Basic Black

Lagoon Card
Base is 4 1/4 " x 11", score and folded at 5 1/2" in Lagoon cardstock
White stamped area is 4" x 2 3/4"
Twill ribbon cut at 4" and notched
Edge of stamped area smudge with Black chalk distress ink
Stamped image in Basic Black


Thank you for your support. My goal is to donate $12,000 this year to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. Each and every purchase you make is greatly appreciated. 



SEASONAL EXPRESSIONS 2 IS HERE!

Finally I Can Share With You!

I have had this sweet, mini, catalog for nearly a month, and had to keep it to myself. I will be sharing the items I chose to order with you in a later video, but for now lets take a look inside the new Close to My Heart catalog. First, the catalog is active from April 1 through July 31. 

There are two new paper packs, lots of stamps, and embellishments. Something I have been wanting is a paper collection with a masculine feel, and I found that with Jackson. 

Blossom is a fun floral for spring/summer. It has coral/orange, greens, and blues. There are no pinks, but I suppose I can get over that. The last two floral paper packs had plenty of pink, so  maybe you needed a break. I never need a break from pink, but maybe the rest of you did.

I hope you enjoy the video below. I always get excited about new craft supplies, and this catalog did not disappoint. 

Anyone who emails me at dedraclutz@hotmail.com and sends me their mailing address, along with the words "Seasonal Expresions 2 is here!", will receive a free copy of the catalog.  This offer is only good through April, so don't delay.

 As always thank you for watching, and reading. I appreciate your support of my efforts to raise funds for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.

CLOSE TO MY HEART NEW CONSULTANT KIT

Take a Look Inside the Cardmakers' Kit

The latest Team Crafts for a Cure member, Audrey, agreed to do an unboxing video to showcase all of the great products she received. You will get a look at all of the items ($360 value) that come in the cardmakers' kit. There is also a Scrapbookers' kit available if that is your preference. It would be really hard for me to decide.

 

Cardmakers' Kit

Scrapbooker' Kit

 Close to My Heart is running a great special during the month of March. If you become a consultant, purchase one of the kits for just $99 plus shipping, you qualify for a couple of great prizes. The first prize is a shoulder tote which will come in your consultants' kit. You can also receive the rolling tote simply by having $300 in sales within your first 40 days as a consultant.

I think Audrey did a great job with the video, and I am very grateful that she was willing to let me film her. As you all know, I prefer to be a hand model in my videos. We are now discussing what we will make first from her kit. She is giving me a look like she may not want to share. It's a good thing I am very persuasive.

I hope you enjoy the video, and all of the products Audrey received. If you have any questions about becoming a consultant, please email me at dedraclutz@hotmail.com, or go to my Close to My Heart Website.

CLOSE TO MY HEART BIRTHDAY CARDS

March Birthday Bonanza

We have a lot of birthdays in March, and I am happy to say I have the birthday cards finished. Yes, I am that good. 

I need to get used to making more masculine cards though. It just doesn't come naturally to me. If there isn't pink, or glitter, I'm just not happy with the results.

I used the March Stamp of the Month, "Choose Happy", on a few of the cards. I also used the CTMH Artfully Sent Cricut Cartridge. I will list all of the supplies used following the video.

March Stamp of the Month

I'm sure I will get lots of use out of this set. I really prefer to have a few versatile stamp sets over a lot of sets that are very specific. I can see a set like this being used for every holiday, just by adding different sentiments. 

Supplies

March Stamp of the Month "Choose Happy"

Stamp Set "Have a Happy Day" 

Artfully Sent Cricut Cartridge 

Exclusive Ink Pads 

Confetti Wishes Paper Pack 

 Do you have a month that is full of birthdays? How do you handle making everyone feel special? Let me know in the comments below. 

 



EASTER CRAFTS

Cut Mini Cards and Envelopes

I have vowed not to spend the time before a holiday frantically trying to finish cards, crafts, gift bags, etc. again. My family is laughing as they read this, but I have gotten a start on Easter.

 These cards were simple to put together, and I had a great time with the stamp set. I hope you enjoy the video, and the cards inspire you to make a few of your own. 

I have a basket full of small Easter gifts for my grandchildren, so the next video, and blog post, in the Easter series, will be all about making their gift bags. 

Supplies Used
Hopping By stamp set 
Shinhan Markers 
Hopscotch Paper Pack 


Let me know your plans for Easter. Do you procrastinate like I do?Feel free to link to any blog posts, videos, pictures, etc. as you get ready for Easter.

NOW HIRING!

Join a Fun Team Now

Now is a great time to start your own Close to My Heart Business. There is a lot of support available, whether you want to earn a little extra money, get a discount on great products, or make this your career. 

There is always room on the Crafts for a Cure Team for one and all. I would love to show you how to set up a blog, Facebook business page, etc to help grow your business. 

There are currently two great kits to choose from, and both are worth over $360. You simply go to the become a consultant section of my website, and get started.

Besides having access to support from me, there are lots of training videos, audio files, and emails you will have access to from Close to My Heart. 

If you are ready to make money sharing your love of crafting, I'm ready to help you. Contact me with any questions by emailing me at dedraclutz@hotmail.com, or leaving a comment below.

FEBRUARY SPECIALS

Close to My Heart Albums!

Have you been using cheap photo albums that now look dirty, and old, with page protectors that are splitting? After you have gone to all of the work to make beautiful layouts,  preserving all of your memories, don't you want to protect them for years to come? Not only do CTMH albums hold up really well, the covers are easily wiped clean.

Close to My Heart has some of the best quality albums you will find, and come in both post-bound and D-ring styles. The D-ring is my favorite for ease of use, and is also a better choice for pocket scrapbooking, such as Picture my Life, and Project Life. The reason I recommend the D-ring for pocket scrapbooking is the pages are able to lie flat better than in a post-bound. However, the post-bound can be expanded.

The best part of Close to My Heart albums? They are on sale for the entire month of February! This month only you can buy one album at regular price, and receive a second album for half price. That is a savings of over $17!

Take a look at the albums, and how you can purchase a few for yourself on my Close to My Heart website.



Watch this CTMH video to see the albums in action. If you still have questions, or comments, please leave them in the comments section. I always love to hear from you all.

 

100+ YouTube Subscribers!

Giveaway Celebration!

I have been making YouTube videos for about four months, and enjoy being able to show products and creations to others. I really expected that maybe 10 people (family and friends) would occasionally watch my videos. I am definitely still learning about filming, editing, etc., but I am having a blast.

I have met some wonderful people who have been very supportive, and helpful, as I have grown my YouTube channel.

Imagine my surprise when I suddenly realized I was very close to having 100 subscribers! I decided I needed to celebrate by having a giveaway.

Watch the video to see some of the new Close to My Heart products I have purchased, as well as the giveaway I am offering. 

If you are not subscribed to my YouTube channel, you can follow this link so that you have a chance to win.

Here are links to the CTMH items in the video:
Heartstrings Card Making Workshop on the Go
Polka Dot Alphabet
For a Friend
Pixie Twine
In the Pink Crush Book
In the Pink Crush Book Assortment

Thank you for your support. If you have any questions, or comments, please leave them below.



EARN FREE PRODUCTS THE EASY WAY

Announcing the Crafts for a Cure Club!

 

Hostess only stamp set - Cuddly Salutations

I know that a lot of you have very busy lives, and can not imagine hosting a party in your home, no matter how much fun you and your friends might have. If you would still like to earn free products, it is as easy as joining my club.  Here is how it works:

• Go to my website (http://dedras-crafts-for-a-cure.ctmh.com/Default.aspx), select "shop", and place an order in any amount. 
• You will be asked  if you want to join an open gathering, select Dedra's LLS gathering.
• Once you place your order it will be sent directly to you, and I will worry about keeping track of your club order amounts.
• You are still eligible to take part in any special monthly offers that you qualify for. I will send you a weekly newsletter so that you do not miss any special offers, along with a free Annual Inspirations idea book.
• Once you have spent $150 (within a 12 month period), simply contact me with a list of your free products, and I will send them directly to you.
• You will qualify for $25 in free products for every $150 spent. 
• Your free products can be Workshops on the Go, paper packs, cardstock packs, ink, markers, stamp sets, re-inkers, acrylic blocks, compliments, and even the exclusive hostess only stamp sets.
• If you refer someone who also joins the club, you can select an exclusive dye ink pad of your choice.
• As always, your orders help me donate to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (LLS).

If you have any questions, please leave a comment below. 

Cricut® Artfully Sent

A new cartridge is coming! A new cartridge is coming!

 

Artfully Sent will be released in September, as soon as Provo Craft (the Cricut people) are finished with production. I'm anxiously (impatiently) waiting to try Artfully Sent. All of the cards I have seen so far look amazing! Below is a video teaser showing just a few of the cards that you can make with this new cartridge.

 Give -a-way Reminder!

Don't forget to sign up for my newsletter to receive all of the latest news and specials. I will randomly select one of my newsletter subscribers to win a  copy of the new Annual Inspirations idea book, and a C or B sized stamp set of their choice. The winner will be selected on Friday, August 22, 2014 so sign up ASAP. The sign up box is in the upper left hand corner of this blog. Good luck!

August Stamp of the Month

WHAT A HOOT!

This adorable Close to My Heart stamp set is not just for Halloween. It would be a wonderful addition to cards, scrapbook layouts, party decorations, treat bags, and more. The best part is it's only $5 with any $50 purchase. Don't delay, because this stamp set is only available this month.

August Stamp of the Month

If you would like to own this stamp set, check out my website at http://dedras-crafts-for-a-cure.ctmh.com/Default.aspx

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

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.

http://dedras-crafts-for-a-cure.ctmh.com/ctmh/products/studioj.aspx

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.