Merry (belated) Christmas!!

MERRY CHRISTMAS

to all of my creative friends!

Once again, the holiday season has been lovely, fun, interesting, and even challenging at times, to say the least! Ugh, that flu bug that's been going around is no joke! lol.

Now that my oldest two children are adults and in college, I'm especially grateful to have had them here at home with us. I LOVE having a "full house!!" (sometimes! lol).

It may have meant having a lot less "creative time" for me in my scrapbook room in recent weeks, but it also means more photos were taken and there are now more memories to save and share and add to my always growing collection!

I hope you and yours were able to enjoy making some new memories also! Whether you took just a few photos this season or a lot of photos, I encourage you to take a few minutes alone to reflect on the past few weeks and write down some of the good (and even not-so-good) things that made this holiday season memorable for you and your loved ones. If you enjoy writing, then write as much as you can. If you don't really care to write, then just jot out a quick list of things you appreciate and want to remember always.

These "notes" will become very helpful when you do 

finally get a chance to sit down and scrapbook these memories!

As the year 2017 winds down to a close, I wanted to

express my gratitude to the many amazing friends and customers who have been an important part of my life this year and for many years. My Close to my Heart business is so much more than just a business to me. It has provided me with the opportunity to connect with those who share a similar passion for creativity and making the world a more loving and beautiful place, one card and/or one scrapbook page at a time!

YOU are the heart of my business and the biggest reason why I love creating with and sharing Close to my Heart. THANK YOU for your friendship, for creating alongside me, and for supporting me with your purchases and interest in my many kits, classes, and events! I'm excited and looking forward to all of the creative time together 

that we have ahead of us in 2018!

Please mark your calendars now and plan to 
JOIN US at any or all of my Spring 2018 events!!

February Scrapbooking Workshop!!

I'm especially excited about the 
workshop kit I'm offering this month 
because I designed it ALL myself!!
(and they are simple/basic pages
that look great and go together fast!)

February's kit contents include:
1-La Vie En Rose Paper Packet ($9.95)
1-roll of White Shimmer Trim ($4.95)
1-Childhood Picture My Life Assortment ($8.95)
1-Silver Sequins Assortment ($2.95)
2-sheets bulk Clear Sparkles ($2.00)
Additional 4x6 and 3x4 pieces of white daisy
cardstock to use for photo-matting,
and step-by-step assembly Instructions!
(actual retail value totals 
more than the $32 price!)

For $26.95 (plus tax and s/h)
each of my monthly workshop kits 
will allow you to create:
3-12x12 layouts (6 pages)
1-Picture My Life layout (2 pocket pages)
and 8-9 standard-size cards!!

 Layout #1 - You are my Sunshine!
Add 2-4x6 wide photos and 3-4x4 photos.

 Layout #2 - Love you to the moon and back!
Add 3-4x6 wide photos and 2-3x4 wide photos.

 Layout #3 - Life is a daring adventure.
Add 2-4x6 tall photos, 2-4x6 wide photos, 

1-4x4 photo, and (optional) 1-2x2 photo OR journaling.

FIVE standard-size embellished greeting cards (no stamping involved!!)

THREE standard-size cards using left-over PML cards 
with a little bit of stamping (quick and easy)!

The value of what you get when you join in is so simple
(yet genius)! All of the new monthly kits we have to offer
are designed to help you "use it all up" and consume
(not just collect!) your scrapbooking products.

In February, I am offering TWO
different workshop dates/times
for you to choose from including:

Friday 2/19 (6pm-9pm)
and Saturday 2/20 (1pm-5pm)
Join me either date (or both!)

To attend, please reserve your kit now:
Get $32 cash/check (per kit) to me asap
(and NO LATER THAN 2/13!!)
so I can get your supplies ordered for you.
You can also pay easily and securely online
using PayPal (contact me if you would like
me to send you an online "money request").

Non-local customers who reside in the U.S.
can order this kit from me also for 
$40 (price includes shipping!)
When pre-ordered by 2/13, I will mail your kit
to you on Monday 2/22, complete with
your papers pre-cut, pre-stamped, and 
including the step-by-step assembly instructions.
(PayPal payments can be sent to 
stampwithjen@ymail.com
and/or email me with your questions).

**Please note that card bases and envelopes
as well as the 12x12 memory protectors are NOT
included in the price of the kit. Since some may
already have these items on hand that they've
already purchased, you are encouraged to
bring/provide your own to use at the workshop OR...
If you wish to add those items on to your kit,
you can add the 8 card bases/envelopes for $3,
and/or the 6-12x12 memory protectors for $7.50,
for your use on the day of the workshop.
You will also have PML cards left-over that can be
used to create additional pocket-page layouts if
you want to ($1.25 per each pocket-style protector).

Bring/purchase your own adhesive to use
and please RSVP asap, as space is limited!
When you RSVP I need to know which date(s)
you plan to attend also please!!

All are also welcome to participate in my 
New CONSISTENCY CLUB!!
Those who purchase a scrapbooking kit
from me every month for 6 months in a row
(online or in-person)
will received their 7th kit FREE!
(a savings of $32!)

Feel free to tell and invite your friends!!
I'm really looking forward to helping you
complete more pages with this fun and colorful kit! :)

Share the Love stamp set Blog Hop!!

THANK YOU for stopping by to enjoy our
Share the Love
Promotional Blog Hop!

Today, 26 consultant artists are sharing
artwork they've created using this stamp set

available during February 2016 only

from Close to my Heart!

When you purchase this stamp set 
this month for $17.95,
a $7.00 donation will be given to
Operation Smile, our affiliated charity!
(Learn more at OperationSmile.org).

If you've just arrived here from
MICHELLE's BLOG
then you are on the correct path.

Here are three standard-size cards I created using this stamp set along with a little bit of the "La Vie En Rose" paper packet (X7201B) and a few "Childhood" Picture My Life cards (Z3178). The telephone is paper pieced together using Black and Lagoon ink, and the camera was stamped with Lagoon ink and then fine lines were drawn in to add some details using my favorite fine-point black permanent ink pen (Marvy Uchida LePen Z1979). Embellished with Sequins Silver Assortment (Z2013), White Shimmer Trim (Z3024), and Clear Sparkles (Z1752).

Lastly, here's an image (below) that shows all of the stamps included in this stamp set
that is available for purchase this month only (February 2016):

Now you can continue on with the hop
and be inspired by more creative ideas
using this stamp set by visiting

HELEN's BLOG next.
Enjoy the hop!!