Friday, January 31, 2014

February 2014 Special from CTMH!!!

and THIS just in!!!  Another FABULOUS FEBRUARY Special!!!

Get a free

embossing

folder of

your choice

with your

qualifying

purchase!


During the month of February, 
you are eligible to receive your choice of a new embossing folder FREE (a savings of $8.95!) for every 2 packs of bulk single color or combo cardstock you purchase. 

Come see the 5 NEW 5x7 embossing folder that CTMH has to offer YOU!!



*Offer valid February 1–28, 2014. Paper Fundamentals, Colonial White, White Daisy, and kraft cardstock packs do not count toward the qualifying purchase. No tax will be charged on the free item(s). Shipping/handling is calculated based on the full retail price ($8.95) of the free item(s). Embossing folder size fits most standard embossing machine; sold separately.

Friday, January 17, 2014

Chocolate Almond Macaroons

These would be great to add to a cute treat bag or box (lined with wax paper) from one of CTMH Cricut Cartridges and given for Valentines Day!!  

Chocolate Almond Macaroons
(Almond Joy Bites) via Laura Haffke
 
1 can Sweetened Condensed Milk
1/4 t. Salt
2 t. Vanilla
14 oz. pkg Coconut
 
1/2 c. Almond Slices
2 squares Chocolate Almond Bark
 
Oven 350*
Mix Condensed Milk, Salt & Vanilla in a large mixing bowl.  Add Coconut and stir.
Line baking sheets with parchment paper. ( I use the air bake sheets for even baking).
Use a small scoop (1-2 T. size)  and place on parchment paper. I fit about 16 on each sheet.
Bake 15 minutes. Cool.
 
Toast Almond Slices in oven 350* for 5 minutes. Set aside to cool.
 
Melt 2 Chocolate Almond Bark Squares in microwave safe bowl (30 seconds, stir, 20 seconds, stir).
 
Divide in half, put half in a small ziplock bag.
 
With the remaining chocolate, drop a small amount of melted chocolate on each macaroon. Sprinkle with Toasted Almonds.
 
Snip a very small corner of the baggie and drizzle on top of the Almonds- zig sagging back and forth. After they have cooled, they are ready to eat or share!

Free Downloads From CTMH!!

REDISCOVER YOU.

As you plan your New Year’s resolutions, take time to rediscover who you are and who you want to become. Download these free journaling prompts through January 31 to get to know yourself better!

Tricks of the Trade ~ CTMH

Tricks of the Trade

Here is a  list of how to use the many tools that CTMH offers to us in the catalog. the List came from Julie Reynolds and our fearless team leader Joy McHargue......

BONDING MEMORIES GLUE
re-sticking my Cricut mats)
make re-sealable envelopes!  Just put a line of bonding memories glue onJenvelope flap, let air dry and you have a re-stickable flap!  
temporary adhesive when masking (another image), if I can't stamp on a Post-It
cover the face of chipboard or paper with the glue then sprinkle it with prisma glitter.
trace stamped images with it then sprinkle on the glitter.
Best adhesive for gluing paper to My Creations items like the blocks or star. Make sure you have good "blue" coverage from edge to edge and hold for 30 seconds.
very economical adhesive.
QUILLING TOOL
curl our Cricut flowers
 quilling- cut 1/8" strips and roll
Hook Ribbons to push them through a “slot” in the cubes to make a hanger for it!   
BONE FOLDER
one of the best weighted and shaped ones out there.  (curve in place for between thumb and index finger
Score and crease cards before folding
Scoring for additional multi-folds in card creations
use this with my 3D Artiste Cricut items…folding those lines could not be done Jwithout the bone folder!  
add texture to my card stock – score to stripe on reverse side
make flat cricut cut outs pop up.... Like a five petal flower
I use the bone folder to "curl" edges of flowers, leaves, borders, etc. (rub with round end on VersaMat
 Use the bone folder like you would a pair of scissors to curl ribbon.  I place my item down on my piercing mat or the foam side of our versamat for stability.
I use it a lot for faux stitching – especially great for non-straight lines. 
 I recommend everyone with a Cricut have one handy to use to score and fold all cards and 3-D items for crisp edges.
SPONGE DAUBERS
Washable
Must have at least one for each color family, or why not one for every color! 
With sponge daubers, I like to use one for each color family. I'll label the side "orange", "red/pink", "blue",etc.
Ink distress edges, makes a nice, “tight” sponged look on the papers (as opposed to round sponge )
Also, like to use these to come in on the corners of my papers when sponging…so instead of just the edge being sponged, The entire corner is colored and then blended out to the edges.
apply color to a stamp image,
also I use them for chalk application.
I also use Sponge Daubers on masked images (stamp the image (like the scotty dog we had a while back, cut it out.  Keep the outside, discard the inside of the dog.  Use the sponge dauber to color the fur of the dog.)
I like to do a quick-coloring technique with them by creating a stencil & sponging through.
Stamp an image on glossy or thick cardstock. Cut it out (or portions of the image) w/ an xacto knife. Stamp same image on paper, lay stencil over top & sponge through. It makes a quick, almost air-brushed type of look.
use these with pigment inks…sponge on different colors on one stamp image 
Use sponge daubers to add colors to Color Ready Seam Binding Ribbon
I love using the sponge daubers to color chipboard and irresistibles.
I also like to heat emboss with clear detail powder and use my sponge dauber to create my own resist pattern on paper and chipboard.
cleaning up white edge of paper on cricut cuts (with ink that matches paper)
FINISHING FILES
I use the finishing files to even out the edges of the chipboard – clean off the nubbins from punching them out
to make paper blend in with the my creation items when I cover them.  
I use the handles to curl paper and roll flowers when my tweezers or quilling tool are not within reach. 
hole poker
holding down paper when embossing
I use these all the time for finishing edges on projects, especially wood, FABULOUS for a clean edge.  Sell them by the boat load at expos because I always incorporate their use in one of the hands on projects
PIERCING TOOL KIT
Pierce holes for brads
The piercing tool is great for picking up opaques and sparkles – and especially the bitty ones - as you want to add them to your work.
Piercing holes for stitching
lifting the adhesive off the silver trim ribbon
opening the hole back up from the liquid glass
TWEEZERS
Easy pick-up of brads (especially when you have lovely long fingernails or short absent ones!)
Tweezers - to place opaques and sparkles on artwork
RUB-ON TOOL
Application of rub-ons
smoothing your paper down after using the bonding memories to help it lay down. No air bubbles.
To give dimension to cricut cutouts ex. Flowers
LIQUID GLASS
Good adhesive for gluing paper to MyCreations items
Great for any dimensional items on cards, pages or projects: buttons, etc.
adhering Cricut-cut flowers together once they are rolled
making sponged dimensional element letters shine
highlighting pretty much anything you want to have highlighted .....

CTMH Pajama Party 2014!

Close To My Heart is teaming up with Big Picture Classes again to bring you a live webcast with step-by-step instructions for making this Valentine's Day scrapbook page. It's the perfect way to showcase your precious photos of that special someone.


The free webcast will air Thursday, January 30 at 7:00 pm (MST). The Pajama Party will be available for FREE at BigPictureClasses.com on January 30, and will be archived after the event for future viewing.

If you would like to interact on the message board, participate in live chat, post to the gallery, download handouts, or enter any contests, you will need to log in to the Pajama Party "classroom" by creating a free account on the Big Picture Class website.

To make our "Lucky in Love" scrapbook page, you will want to have the following items—or similar products—on hand:
  • G1066 Workshops on the Go Sarita Scrapbooking Kit
  • X5935 Adventure Cardstock Combo Pack
  • 1385 White Daisy Cardstock
  • Z2016 Blush Exclusive Inks Pad
  • Z2170 Ruby Exclusive Inks Pad
  • Z1826 Hollyhock Zipper Lace
  • Z1807 Pink Glitter Gems
  • Z1850 Lagoon Houndstooth Washi Tape
  • Z1294 Sanding Kit
  • Z1151 3-D Foam Tape
Contact me if you have any questions about registering for this free webcast. To purchase any of the supplies needed for this layout shop on my website http://cardsbytamara.ctmh.com

Saturday, January 11, 2014

I'm On Cloud Nine!!

 

Reminder of the special for the month: Not only is it the first month of the year, but it's National Papercrafting Month. To celebrate, Close to My Heart is offering a Cloud 9 card kit for only $15 with a qualifying purchase of only $35. The kit comes with enough supplies to make ten cards, two each of five designs. The gold polka dotted washi tape and the teal shimmer trim included in the kit are new products that will be in the Spring/Summer Idea Book that goes live on Feburary 1.
There are two ways to get the adorable Cloud Nine cardmaking kit: Purchase it for just $15 (retail value $46) with a minimum qualifying order of $35 during January 2014 in Or you can get it FREE when you enroll as a new Consultant in January and submit total personal sales of $300 or more.
Create 10 cute cards (2 each of 5 designs) using three sneak-peek accessories from the upcoming Idea Book, a new D-size stamp set, and exclusive papers!
Cloud Nine Card Kit Contents
1 – My Acrylix™ Cloud Nine Stamp Set (D-size) 1 – Cloud Nine B&T Duos™ Paper 1 – Lagoon Cardstock Sheet 1 – Honey Cardstock Sheet 1 – 9" x 9½" White Daisy Die-Cuts Sheet 1 Roll – Gold Polka-Dot Washi Tape† 1 Roll – Teal Shimmer Trim† 1 Package – Durables Triangle Studs† 10 – Card Bases & Envelopes 1 – Instructional Brochure Featured colors: Lagoon, Sunset, Honey, White Daisy











Sunday, January 5, 2014

Retiring CTMH Items as of January 31, 2014!!

Retiring Items


Here is a list of the products that will not be available after January 31, 2014 OR while supplies last.  Don't miss out on getting more of your favorites or the things you've been holding out on ordering!  Shop now at: http://cardsbytamara.ctmh.com/

To view this list, with pictures (and to see what is still available!), click here: http://cardsbytamara.ctmh.com/Retail/Products.aspx?CatalogID=2159

RETIRING LIST:

  • Z4115 Memory Protector Value Pack-Clear(50)
  • BULK299 Black Pigment Pads
  • BULK300 Cocoa Pigment Pads
  • SJ5P2 US/CN Studio J 5-pack
  • W1104 Studio J 5-pack cards
  • Z1778 Treat Cups
  • Z1788 Chalkboard Shapes, Adhesive-backed
  • Z1777 Color-Ready Canvas Alphabet
  • Z1682 Dimensional Elements Alphabet                  
  • Z1735 Dimensional Elements Hearts
  • Z1654-79 Dimensional Elements Monograms "A-Z"
  • Z1680 Dimensional Elements Stars          
  • Z1779 Irresistibles™ Houndstooth Alphabet
  • X7165C For Always MyStickease® Assortment   
  • X7168C Surf's Up MyStickease® Assortment       
  • X7175C Frosted MyStickease® Assortment          
  • X7174C Huntington MyStickease® Assortment  
  • X7163C Chantilly Complements Dimensional Elements
  • X7169C Tommy Complements Canvas Shapes
  • Z1883 Base & Bling Floral Accents
  • Z1882 Base & Bling Word Accents
  • Z1707 Bitty Opaques Pearl Adhesive Gems
  • Z1706 Durables Round Studs
  • Z1705 Durables Square Studs
  • Z1775 Glamour  Glitter Alphabet
  • Z1744 Opaques Flourishes Pearl
  • Z1335 Opaques- Licorice
  • Z1333 Opaques- Mocha
  • Z1336 Opaques- Pearl
  • Z1776 Pixie Glitter Alphabet
  • Z1764 Just Blooms® Floret Paper Shapes              
  • Z1463 Just Blooms® Flutter Pape Shapes
  • Z1269 Filigree Brads
  • Z1905 Base & Bling Necklace Kit
  • Z1814 Chantilly Assortment
  • Z1811 For Always Assortment   
  • Z1890 Frosted Assortment
  • Z1881 Huntington Assortment
  • Z1841 Surf"s Up Assortment      
  • Z1824 Tommy Assortment
  • Z1786 Mini-Medley Accents Antiqued Gold Collection
  • Z1787 Mini-Medley Accents Slate Collection
  • Z1701 Baker's Twine Neutral Assortment
  • Z1781 Black Striped Grosgrain Ribbon
  • Z1800 Colonial White Rosette Ribbon
  • Z1732 Color-Ready Seam Binding Ribbon
  • Z1617 Dark Chocolate Striped Grosgrain Ribbon
  • Z282 HempBlack
  • Z280 HempTan
  • Z281 HempWhite
  • Z1802 Slate Satin Polkadot Ribbon
  • BULK252 Bulk Durables-Antiqed Gold
  • BULK253 Bulk Just Blooms- Crème Brulee
  • BULK314 Frosted Cardmaking Workshop Guide (10 pack)
  • BULK313 Frosted Scrapbook Workshop Guide    (10 pack)
  • BULK312 Huntington Scrapbook Workshop Guide (10 pack)
  • BULK286 Chantilly Guide
  • BULK288 For Always Guide
  • BULK292 Tommy Guide
  • BULK291 Surf's  Up Guide
  • BULK306 Frosted B&T Duos® Bulk Pack
  • BULK305 Huntington B&T Duos® Bulk Pack
  • BULK284 Surf's Up B&T Duos® Combo Pack
  • BULK283 Tommy B&T Duos® Combo Pack
  • BULK278 Chantilly B&T Duos Combo Pack
  • BULK280 For Always B&T Duos
  • Z1804 MyCreations® Cubby
  • Z1322 MyCreations Recipe Box                 
  • Z1746 MyCreations® Block
  • Z1737 MyCreations® Collage Cubes
  • Z1803 MyCreations® Star
  • Z1819 Chantilly  Textiles
  • Z1884 Sparkle & Shine Textiles
  • Z891 VersamarkInkPad
  • Z892 VersamarkReinker
  • Z1845 MyOriginals® Matchbook Card Kit
  • X8627 MyOriginals® Polar Pals Kit
  • Z1738 Colonial White Die-Cut Cards
  • X7163B Chantilly Paper Packet
  • X7165B For Always Paper Packet
  • X7175B Frosted Paper Packet
  • X7174B Huntington Paper Packet
  • X7168B Surf's Up Paper Packet
  • X7169B Tommy Paper Packet
  • Z1483 Bronze Glitz™ Glitter Gel
  • Z821 EmbPowderClearDetail
  • Z668 EmbPowderGold
  • Z669 EmbPowderSilver
  • Z1313 Glitz Glue Stardust                                                                             
  • Z308 LiquidAppliqueWhite
  • Z134 PrismaGlitter
  • Z1484 Red Glitz™ Glitter Gel
  • Z1482 Silver Glitz™ Glitter Gel
  • Z534 MicroTipScissors
  • Z555 CraftHeater
  • Z1091 FinishingFiles
  • Z1796 Rub-On Tool
  • Z1298 TextureTools
  • Z1769 Almond Glitz™ Glitter Gel               
  • Z1771 Green Glitz™ Glitter Gel  
  • Z1770 Pink Glitz™ Glitter Gel
  • G1053 Workshop on the Go (WOTG)® Chantilly Scrapbooking Kit
  • G1055 Workshop on the Go (WOTG)®For Always Scrapbooking Kit
  • G1058 Workshop on the Go (WOTG)® Tommy Scrapbooking Kit
  • G1059 Workshop on the Go (WOTG)® Surf's Up Scrapbooking Kit
  • G1064 Workshop on the Go (WOTG)® Laughing Lola Cardmaking Kit
  • G1063 Workshop on the Go (WOTG)® Frosted Cardmaking Kit
  • G1068 Workshop on the Go (WOTG)® Babycakes Scrapbooking Kit
  • G1070 Workshop on the Go (WOTG)® Frosted Scrapbooking Kit
  • G1069 Workshop on the Go (WOTG)® Huntington Scrapbooking Kit
  • G1065 Workshop on the Go (WOTG)® Laughing Lola Scrapbooking Kit
  • G1067 Workshop on the Go (WOTG)® ProPlayer Scrapbooking Kit
  • G1066 Workshop on the Go (WOTG)® Sarita Scrapbooking Kit