Picture My Life Blog Hop!

THANK YOU for stopping by to enjoy our
Blog Hop featuring Picture My Life
(PML) products from Close to My Heart!

If you've just arrived here from

STEFANI's BLOG
then you are on the correct path.

If you get lost along the way, you can find
a complete list of all of the participating
consultant blogs here on MELINDA's BLOG.

First, let me show you the two sets of PML cards 
I've chosen to utilize for the greeting cards I've created
and am ready to share with you today!

Product Description
24 - 4" x 6" double-sided pocket cards ($4.95 per pack)
Coordinates with the Cut Above The Story Begins Baby Boy layout kit (Z3382).
Use these cards for a variety of projects, including pocket scrapbooking,
mini albums, cards, etc...

...and here are the two cards I designed with them!

I also used stamp set B1558 Baby Animals and the

following Shin Han Touch Twin markers:

Tender Pink, Marine Blue, Warm Greys 4 and 7.

My cards were inspired by Make It From Your Heart,

Volume 4, pattern 15 (on page 34). Here is an image (below)
 that shows you which PML cards I used (from the Baby Girl

pack) and how I cut the paper I used to make my card.
If you cut two of each piece as shown, then you will have
enough pieces to create two of the baby girl cards.
Then make similar cuts using the baby boy PML
cards also to create two more of the baby boy cards.

The best thing is...I only used 4 PML cards from

each pack and still have scraps and tons of 4x6 PML 

cards left to use for pocket scrapbooking and/or 

to make any additional cards I might want to.

Now you can continue on with the blog hop

and be inspired by more creativity using

PML cards by visiting HALEY's BLOG next!

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!!

Fast, Fun, and Done Scrapbooking Class...March 21st...RSVP now!!

Let me show you how to

create all of this for just $25!!

All projects shown above were designed by my CTMH upline/team leader Cindy Baker.

One beautifully embellished 12x12 layout (two pages),

a 4x6 mini album (10+ pages),

a 5" tall gift bag with matching card,

and three more greeting cards...

all made with Hopscotch 3x4 and 4x6 Picture My Life cards,

Complementing Stickers and clear Sparkles!

Each kit will include ALL of these goodies (shown below)

PLUS all of your papers pre-cut for you!

...all you will need to do is assemble

and add your own photos/journaling!

Join us Saturday, March 21st

(2pm-5pm) or (6pm-9pm)

you choose the time that works best for you!

Prepay $25 per kit by Saturday 3/14

to reserve your space now!

bring/purchase your own adhesive

- or -

Order a "Kit-to-Go" for $30,

price includes shipping

(payments can be made online via

PayPal.com to StampwithJen@ymail.com).

Picture My Life Wall Hangings

How sweet are these?!!

I simply turned a few Picture My Life memory protectors on their sides so the holes lined up at the top, then filled them with photos and pre-printed PML cards. I added a bow with a glue dot to the top center of the page to cover the hole, then tied a piece of ribbon from the remaining holes to create these fun wall hangings.

So simple and very affordable to create!

(approxiately $2 each)

 This wall hanging (above) features the Avonlea PML collection (Z1942)

This wall hanging (above) features the For Always PML collection (Z2022).

How to Save with Picture My Life Scrapbooking!

THANK YOU to all the ladies who were able to attend my

free Picture My Life Scrapbooking Class last night!

I hope you learned a lot and were inspired as

I showed you how Scrapbooking "simply" with

Picture My Life saves A LOT of time and money!

(as well as your photos and memories!!)

For those who couldn't attend, here is a little bit of information

to clue you in on what a wonderful thing PML is

and how it can help you save your memories

faster, simpler, and more affordably as well!

First, here is our Designed Decor Black Frame (Z1880)

dressed up with a few photos and Picture My Life cards

from the NEW Chalk It Up PML kit!

(YES! This is an exclusive sneak peek at one of the

NEW kits available August 1st in our Annual Inspirations Catalog!)

I threw this beautiful display together in less than ten minutes!

...and I can't wait to hang it on my wall!!

Using Hook Clips (Z1899) and Mini Clothespins (Z1815)

I now have a beautiful wall-hanging that I can change

and update with new/different photos and/or PML cards

anytime I am in the mood for something new!

Please click here to see all of the Picture My Life kits that are currently available.

Below you see our Medium Organizer Box (Z4139)

filled with a few of the cards from PML kits I have purchased.

I used my label-maker with left-over patterned papers I had to make index tabs

to keep the cards from the different kits separated and easy to find when I'm creating with them.

You can also use this box to store/sort/organize your photos that are ready to scrapbook,

as well as any accessories and tools you will use frequently.

Please note that the Corner Rounder (Z1912) and Black Journaling Pen (Z1979)

also shown here are essential must-have items you'll need if you plan to scrapbook using PML!

Here is what the Medium Organizer Box (Z4139)

looks like closed (below). It includes a handle for carrying,

removable dividers, and a raised design in the lid so it is stack-able

(stacks perfectly with any of our boxes that are sized small, medium, and large!)

This photo is just to show you my craft room all ready to present my PML class!

If you missed it, it's not too late to take my class...as I am now scheduling

Free PML classes for anyone who'd like to book one as a hostess (your house or mine)!

This is your chance to share CTMH and PML with your friends and be rewarded

with the Free products of your choice with just a few sales from your gathering!

Next, here is a "Tally Sheet" that breaks down the actual costs of many of our

products that you might want to purchase to use at any of my upcoming

Free Crops/Scrapbooking Buffets! The prices shown here already include

the cost of s/h (7.95%) and the sales tax we currently pay here in CA (8%).

By using this to tabulate the cost of the SIX pages I recently created,

I discovered that the materials I used to create my SIX Picture My Life pages

(shown below) only cost me $6.55!! ...and I now offer you the option to purchase

any of the PML kits with their entire contents for the best variety OR just buy a few 

protectors and cards from me at a time as you are using them at my upcoming crops!

Close to my Heart recommends that PML pages look best with a ratio of about half photos and half cards. I went a little picture "heavy" on my pages that I'm sharing with you here below, but I know that depending on how many photos I have from each event I scrapbook this way, I can include more cards and more journaling, or less, depending on what I like best (I love the flexibility of it all...my pages, my way!...and because so little is glued down, I can change my mind and re-arrange later if I want to). Can you believe that I completed these SIX pages in one afternoon with just ONE hour of my time?!!

 Page 1 - pre-printed 12x12 cover-page (just added a photo

and a button my daughter was given to wear that day!)

 Page 2 - back side of the cover-page (just added photos!)

Page 3 - took a little extra time to journal my memories

(...but so worth it!)

 Page 3 again - with the 4x6 flip flap opened

(where I "snuck in" the ticket stub for parking that I saved)

 Page 4 (notice I cropped the middle 4x6 photo in half,

just as I did on page 3 also)

 Page 5 (lots of 4x6 photos...a little journaling)

Page 6 (the last page for this event)

As you can see, I did use just a little adhesive to add photos on the cover pages (1 & 2), corner rounded my photos, and cropped a few of the pictures to make them fit just where I wanted them...but those things are optional, and because this method uses so little adhesive and cropping, you SAVE lots of time and money!

Also, did you notice how versatile this kit is?!

Not only would it work great for summer/vacation/beach/travel

photos, I used it to scrapbook photos I took of my soon-to-be college-bound daughter during the month of April...a day-long family trip we took in the Spring!

I really believe that Picture My Life scrapbooking is the future of the scrapbooking world...fast, easy, flexible, and affordable! This solution just works for Scrapbookers and Non-Scrapbookers alike!

If you are local to me, I hope you will be able to join us for a Crop/Scrapbooking Buffet soon so I can help you try out this new method! Locals and non-locals alike also have the option to purchase any of these products now by shopping

 with me online here:  StampwithJen.ctmh.com

Thank you for reading and learning more about PML!

Free "Picture My Life" Scrapbooking Class on Friday 7/18!

If you've been following trends in the scrapbooking world you may have heard of a thing called "Pocket Page" Scrapbooking that has become very popular

(also sometimes referred to as "Project Life").

Close to my Heart has taken this trend even "one step better"

with the introduction of our beautiful new...

"Picture My Life" kits!

You're invited to my first ever

FREE Picture My Life "Try Me" Class!

Friday, July 18th (6pm-8pm)

Class attendees will each go home with a FREE

12x12 page sample that we will create during the class.

Simply slip your photos and journaling cards in to

the pockets...no cropping or adhesive required!!

Try this FAST and EASY new way of preserving

your memories with me and discover how to make

your pages more meaningful, more affordable,

and DONE in less than half the time

traditional scrapbooking can take!

Shown here (below) is just a sampling of some of the cards

included in the "Surf's Up" PML kit...

as well as the SIX pages that I completed

this afternoon with just ONE hour of my time!!

 Page 1 - pre-printed 12x12 cover-page (just added a photo

and a button my daughter was given to wear that day!)

 Page 2 - back side of the cover-page (just added photos!)

Page 3 - took a little extra time to journal my memories

(...but so worth it!)

 Page 3 again - with the 4x6 flip flap opened

(where I "snuck in" the ticket stub for parking that I saved)

 Page 4 (notice I cropped the middle 4x6 photo in half,

just as I did on page 3 also)

 Page 5 (lots of 4x6 photos...a little journaling)

Page 6 (the last page for this event)

As you can see, I did use just a little adhesive to add photos on the cover pages 

(1 & 2), corner rounded my photos, and cropped a few of the pictures to make them fit just where I wanted them...but those things are optional, and because this method uses so little adhesive and cropping, you SAVE lots of time and money!

Also, did you notice how versatile this kit is?!

Not only would it work great for summer/vacation/beach/travel

photos, I used it to scrapbook photos I took of

my soon-to-be college-bound daughter during the month of April...

a day-long family trip we took in the Spring!

I hope you will join us for my FREE class on 7/18,

(Please RSVP to reserve your spot now!)

and if you can't join us this time, then please feel free to

contact me to set up your own one-on-one demonstration

or schedule a free class for you and a few friends!

...More about the Picture My Life™ Scrapbooking Program!

Love documenting memories in minutes? Then you’ll love the new Picture My Life™ scrapbooking program, meant for quick and beautiful memory-keeping. This program comes in eight themes, all based on the gorgeous designs of some of our most popular paper packets. Whether you choose to embrace a single theme or mix and match for a truly unique look, you’ll love the ease, affordability, and beauty of the Picture My Life programs. Your own photos are all you need to add to make astounding artwork—in no time at all!
 
Each program has a theme, from childhood to friendship to travel, but because we have ensured sufficient variety in design and style of each you can easily apply the cards to other themes. Say you love the palette and designs of the Babycakes program but wish to apply a “family” theme—go ahead! It’s one of the unique differentiators and possibilities of the program! With a large quantity of product in each program you will be able to craft creative arrangements all your own. Each program includes 122 double-sided cards plus 10 unique Memory Protectors™ to capture life as it happens, and their versatility and gorgeous designs will transform your albums into masterpieces. On one side of each card is space for journaling, and on the other you’ll find artistic sentiments and icons. Each program is designed to accommodate approximately 100 photos in your included Memory Protectors, so with a balance of photos and cards, you’ll finish with about 20 remaining cards. That means you have plenty of choice and flexibility in which cards you choose to include, making it uniquely yours! Of course, you can easily use more or fewer photos in your project to suit your story’s needs.
 
Unique to Picture My Life is the included 12" × 12" double-sided cover page with each individual program, using a beautiful My Reflections™ pattern. True to Close To My Heart standards, the cover page offers a finished and cohesive look to your project with its featured high-quality design. The Picture My Life program is so versatile that you’ll find dozens of other ways to incorporate it into your papercrafting. Use the cards to expand other projects you’ve started! For example, if you just got back from the trip of a lifetime and wonder how you will capture all the details, mix the Picture My Life cards with your photos to extend your scrapbook pages. Choose your very favorite photos to scrapbook on 12" × 12" two-page layouts then use coordinating Picture My Life cards and your remaining photos to document the rest of your trip in minutes.
 
This program is yet another new, fresh addition and option for memory keepers to preserve their memories. The cards enhance the scrapbooking experience—making it even more fun—and they work brilliantly in mini albums, My Crush™ books, as journaling cards on your 12" × 12" classic scrapbook pages, or as gift cards and tags.
 
Please see my previous blog posting for more details as well as to learn when these brand NEW kit will be available!