Christmas Card Workshop!

Here it is! Loads of Christmas cards. 32 Cards - 4 each of 8 patterns in 2 different papers. I will have all the papers cut and ready for you to put together. You can add your own style to the cards stamping images and greetings. Cost for the workshop is $25. I have 2 dates on the calendar for this workshop. November 1st from 11-5 and November 15th from 11-5. Call today to sign up for the date that works best for you. Need more cards? Feel free to sign up twice!

Halloween and Fall Cards

So these are cards we will make for a fall card workshop I'm holding at work. We're doing 3 cards for $5. I will also hold this card workshop at my home on October 11th from 1-3. If anyone is interested please email me to reserve a spot.

Last 2 Christmas Cards

Here are the last 2 cards for the workshop for the auction winner. It took me a bit to get these figured out but I finally did. I love this paper.

Christmas Cards (yes I know it's only September)

Here are the cards I'm working on for the winner of the school auction basket. I had some scrapbooking supplies in the basket along with a gift certificate for a 6 person card workshop. The basket earned over $100 for my kids' school.

Carol, the basket winner, requested Christmas themed cards. I am using Wishes card program to come up with the designs. The standard card is "Sun Dial" and the circle card is "Timeless Trio". Both use the Jingle Creative Basics paper, twinkle brads, liquid glass, and prisma glitter. The stampsets are Feathery Flakes, Snow Flurries, Holiday Warmth and Christmas Scripts.

I have 2 more cards to come up with for this workshop. I'll post them when I get them together.

If you would like to send handmade Christmas cards this year, I will be holding a workshop in October to make cards. The workshop fee will be $20 and will make at least 25 cards. I haven't finalized it yet but I will have it for you shortly. Check back for details.

A couple new pages...

This layout is "Abstract" from Cherish.

I used the heartfelt die cuts, dimensional elements letters, a dimensional element framed fun, a metal rimmed tag, and Just Blooms paper flowers to embelish the pages. The colors are topiary, hollyhock, and buttercup. Of course that's my cute little girl when she was 3 and still unafraid of the Lorakeets at the Oregon Zoo. Now that she's 10 everything freaks her out. :)

Autumn/Winter Catalog Swaps!

3 times a year when the new catalog comes out I get the privilege of participating in a catalog swap. Our director Julie organizes the swap and everyone makes 42 of one item and sends it to her. She 'swaps' them and sends them back. The consultants that participate are truly creative and make some gorgeous artwork.

For all her hard work Julie gets to keep one of each item, plus she sends one to the corporate offices to be entered into the 'From the Heart' contest. At the last convention I found artwork from each person in my unit up on the art wall. It was really cool to see my card on that wall.

Below are pictures of the items I received made out of the newest papers from Close to my Heart using the latest embellishments.

Twitterpated!





I just love fall when everything turns colors. This is great paper for you pumpkin patch pictures or just to make some fun cards.

Jingle

This maybe non-traditional colors for Christmas but after working with it I really like it.! That little 4x4 card with the sparkly tag is mine.

Jingle Creative Basics

The creative basic kit is Christmas themed with candy caned striped paper that is printed in the diagonal pattern. It comes with grograin ribbon and is perfect for making all your Christmas cards. I will be holding a Christmas card workshop in October featuring this paper. 25 cards for $25. Check back for more information and to sign up!

Grace

Fall just has a grace about and this paper at first seemed very overwhelming with its large print dalias and sunflowers but it has grown on me after seeing the stunning artwork from other consultants. The catalog truly does not do this (or any) paper justice.

Sweet Home

Finally Sweet Home - these warm colors are perfect for cards or layouts that can be masculine or feminine. The stamp sets featured with this paper definitely give you all the comforts of home.

I'd like to thank everyone that participated in this swap. I have emailed several of them to tell them how much I appreciate their brilliant artwork. I gain so much more than card examples to show - I gain an appreciation for some truly great artists.

I've been working on pages!

Here are 2 layouts I completed this week. The first is "Kept in Proportion" from Cherish. The paper "Free Spirit" is one of my favorites. Featuring cocoa, honey, and dutch blue. Unfortunately, this great paper has been retired, but I was lucky enough to receive it in one of the goodie boxes in our summer sale at more than 1/2 off. I can't pass up a sale - it's my 2nd most favorite 4-letter word with my 1st being FREE.

This next layout uses the colors topiary, smoky plum, buttercup, with just little grey wool. I never wanted to cut my little guy's hair. He has wonderfully thick hair that I love, but that wasn't what kept me from cutting it. Up until we got a portable DVD player getting him to sit while getting it cut was a nearly impossible task! This layout design is from Imagine and is called "Personality Presence". Well my son definitely has that!

Open Crop

Are you behind? Is the last thing in your child's scrapbook from when he was 2 and he's now 7? Want to impress all the other mom's in your child's class by sending handmade birthday invitations? Or make all your Christmas cards? Too many distractions at home to get it all done?

Well then you sound like me! My goal is 8 pages a month (four 12x12 layouts) complete with journalling. Join me on the 2nd Friday of every month and we'll work to get caught up together and have some fun. 7-10pm. No RSVP necessary but it will help just in case I need to get the hubby to set up the extra table.

First crop will be September 11th 7-10 pm.

National Stamping Month

TO CELEBRATE NATIONAL STAMPING MONTH in September we are giving you 3 ways to get a FREE Everyday Celebration card kit for making 16 beautiful cards!

1. Purchase a minimum of $60 in stamp sets** (includes A, B, C, D, and E-size) between August 18–September 30 (CC1006C)
   



2. Host a Home Gathering with minimum sales of $400 between September 1–30
   



3. Sign up as a new Consultant between September 1–30You can also buy as many card kits as you’d like for $39.95 per kit (CC1006B).

And there’s more fun! Place any order between September 1–30 and you’ll be automatically entered in our daily drawing for a FREE card kit! Winners will be announced on my website, kbgerlach.myctmh.com and http://www.closetomyheart.com/. Express your passion for stamping with this pretty new card kit today!

Welcome to my blog!

I'm finally coming out of the dark ages and moving beyond Facebook (and my addiction to Mafia Wars) to the wide world of blogging!

The new Autumn/Winter Idea Book is stuffed full of beautiful, high quality products and a few surprises. For instance, in January Close to my Heart is adding digital scrapbooking. The program will be free to use. Once you complete your pages you place your order and your finished pages ship directly to you. It's Faster, Simpler, Easier!

I've got workshops on the calendar for the next 4 months. One workshop for each of the new papers. Workshops can be either cards or layouts - you decide! You can even make both!

Please be patient with me as this blogging thing is new to me. My intention is to post upcoming specials, workshop dates, and tips. I will do my best to update once or twice a week.

Email me with any questions and if you want to earn free product just ask me how!

Thanks for visiting.