We had a great day at our Annual Christmas Card Extravaganza!
Thanks to all consultants, excellent team work and to our great guests, you made our day so special. 

Here are the raffle items that I made using the Cricut. The Happy Thanksgiving plate was made by using Artbooking and the Cricut craft room.  I welded the words together and cut them out with our glitter paper.

You can't see on the Trick or Treat plate that I used the black glitter paper for the house and fence.  The bats were cut with black vinyl.  

One of my favorite cuts with the Artbooking cartridge is the deer. This can be personalized, "The Houcks"
 I used the deer on one of the cards I made. Watch for pictures of all the cards we made today,  Now I need to get some rest and find my bag of cards that we all made.  So proud of my team!

Joyful Stars September Blog hop

Welcome to the September Joyful Stars blog hop. Just hop from blog to blog and check out the great projects everyone has made.  


I decided to show you examples of the Stitch Guide
and foam mat.  Z1852 and Z1859  15 inches long.
Notice the stitching across the top
and on either side of the give thanks 

The stamp set is Happy Autumn D1550, I will be using this set at Tuesday's class. Another item I used was the bronze shimmer trim, new to this catalog.  Z1849

Sorry, the examples don't show up to well, you can make kinds of different shapes using the piercing tool and the stitch guide.

 

Another cut from Artbooking Cricut cartridge is this tree.  You can make this into a 12x12 album or a card of any size.  The neat part of this you can cut the tree with the frame and cut just the tree and you will have leaves to put in the tree.  The paper I used is Sarita, using both sides. X7171B

Now hop over to Nickie's blog and see what she created.


Joyce Houck                Joyce-joyfulcreations.blogspot.com

Nickie Hoffer              nickiehoffer.blogspot.com

Krista Hershberger      Kristascraftycorner.blogspot.com

Stephanie Huber          lavendersagedesigns.blogspot.com

Helen Gullett               byheleng.wordpress.com

Cindy Leek                  savingmemorieswithcindy.com                          

Elizabeth Mindemann ejoym.blogspot.com

Meredith Hainsworth craftyschemings.blogspot.com

Lori Meadows            CraftyMeadows.blogspot.com

Betty Locco                scrapbookgirl2.blogspot.com

Nancy Brown             creativelyartsygallery.blogspot.com

Back to Joyce-joyfulcreations.blogspot.com

September special

WOW look at this deal.....

CTMH ARTBOOKING Special
Item                        Price                            Value
Artbooking bundle                  $99                   $125
  'YOU ARE MY HAPPY"  TRIO   $10                   $47.90     
Sept Stamp of the month                     $5                    $17.95                                         Total                                                         $114                                       $190.85
all before tax and shipping


This month only, contact me or go to my website enter Artbooking and you will prompted to receive all of your other goodies.

 September National Stamping Special.......get 3 these three stamp sets for $10. Go to my website for all the details.

Thursday was a free workshop we did some creating using the September Special triple stamp set. 

 We also discovered how to use the Cricut Craft room to make this card in layers. This way you can cut layers and simply glue them together.  Thanks to Tracy Joy for getting me started.  We also went over Studio J and how to make scrapbooking faster, simpler and easier. If you need me to help you learn Cricut, Studio J or Cricut Craft room, just let me know.

This is a list of sentiments found in the New Artbooking Cricut cartridge. Notice the "hello" on the card.

Joyful Stars Aug blog hop

Welcome to the August Joyful Stars blog hop!  Your in for a treat, we had one month to get our hands on our wonderful NEW products and stamps from the Autumn Close to my Heart catalog and we will show you just a glimpse of what's new. I hope you enjoy this hop.

It was hard for me decide what to showcase, I love the NEW "Artbooking" Cricut cartridge
and I also love the NEW Base and Bling wearable art. I could go on and on ......I had my best friend and CTMH consultant, Debbie visit and we had fun making these wearable art jewelry items. I hope you enjoy this:

This is the teal necklace kit. You can find this on page 75-77 in the new fall catalog. The box is an extra bonus to put your necklace in.  Of course cut with the CTMH cricut cartridges.

There are five color shades to pick from, 12 fabrics and endless other accessories in the catalog. I was mainly working on black and white.  I velcroed the center gem and I can swap them out to go with any outfit.

I even made earrings!

This is Debbie's collection

Here is a trick that you can do to color your Base and bling floral accents.  I took liquid glass and re-inker and mixed them together and applied it the flower with a bone folder.

Now hop over to my talented  friend NANCY"S blog

Here is a list of bloggers for this month:

Joyce Houck            Joyce-joyfulcreations.blogspot.com

Nancy Brown            creativelyartsygallery.blogspot.com

Lori Meadows           CraftyMeadows.blogspot.com

Krista Hershberger     Kristascraftycorner.blogspot.com

Nickie Hoffer            nickiehoffer.blogspot.com

Stephanie Huber         lavendersagedesigns.blogspot.com

Helen Gullett               byheleng.wordpress.com

Elizabeth Mindemann   ejoym.blogspot.com

Betty Locco                scrapbookgirl2.blogspot.com

Angelina Romero         papercraftingwithangelina.blogspot.com

Cindy Leek                 savingmemorieswithcindy.com

Back to Joyce

Artbooking layout

I can't wait to show you my layout using the NEW "Artbooking" Cricut cartridge. This is one of 15 layouts that you cut using one key and one size.  I set my size at 11" and everything that I wanted to cut to go with this page was cut at 11".  All the words and objects are linked so that you don't have to guess what size goes with the layout.  Everything you see was cut with the Cricut. 

 The picture frame is scalloped, using the same key.  What a time saver.

Tuesday's class

Become a follower through email to be reminded when the blog hop is posted each month. We are about to have our third hop and this one that's coming on Sat the 10th. We're hoping to highlight some our favorite new items in our new catalog.

Here are some of the cards we made at class on Tuesday. These were taken my Debi, thank you for helping me with my photography.  Debi added a doily to the last card that she makes by hand.  Nice addition.  The first card was using a new hostess rewards hostess stamp set.

 The next 2 cards is using another hostess rewards Washi stamp set.

 This card is using new paper from Babycakes and the new scallop punch.

Thanks for visiting our stamp class, Hannah, you were so brave.  SNAP!

Joyful Stars July Blog Hop

Hi everyone!  Welcome to the "Joyful Stars" Blog hop for July.  We could pick anything CTMH and I had to give you a peek at what's coming in August. I'm so excited about the new catalog, new products and the new Cricut cartridge.  So, grab all the soon to be retired papers and stamps this month and pre-order the catalogs and get ready for next month.

The card I made is with the new Circle spin cards and envelopes Z1866 with my favorite paper Laughing Lola X7170B. I also used new Mini stamps  Birthday Wish M1033 and A Little gift M1030.
Sparkle flourishes, silver trim and of course the AP Cricut cartridge was used.  To embellish, I spritzed the card with a little re-inker.  

Here is a close-up of the swing card.

This is the inside of the card that can be decorated as well.





Next month the blog hop theme will be anything NEW so be ready for that on August 10th.  Below is a list of hoppers so if you get lost you come back here to find your way. We have 15 bloggers this month, so have fun hopping.   Now hop on over to NICKIE'S blog to see what wonderful creation she came up with.

Leave a comment and become a follower and your name will go into a drawing for a free gift. .  Last month Laurie won congratulations.





Joyce Houck             Joyce-joyfulcreations.blogspot.com

Nickie Hoffer            nickiehoffer.blogspot.com

Nancy Brown            creativelyartsygallery.blogspot.com

Lori Meadows           CraftyMeadows.blogspot.com

Stephanie Brown       stephanielovesscrapbooking.blogspot.com

Heather Flaherty        papercrafteranonymous.com

Crystal Davis             craftingwithcrystal.blogspot.com

Stephanie Huber         lavendersagedesigns.blogspot.com

Helen Gullett               byheleng.wordpress.com

Elizabeth Mindemann   ejoym.blogspot.com

Krista Hershberger     Kristascraftycorner.blogspot.com

Betty Locco                scrapbookgirl2.blogspot.com

Jean Murphy               stampandscrapjeanie.blogspot.com

Cindy Leek                 savingmemorieswithcindy.com

Meredith Hainsworth    craftyschemings.blogspot.com..


.................................back to Joyce

New Cricut cartridge "Artbooking"

Hey everyone,  we have a New Cricut cartridge,  700 awesome images  Go to the Cricut tab button for some more images.  Way to many to post them all.                                                                                                   

 This is just the font, wait until you see the rest!!!!!!   You will be amazed.  I am taking pre-orders for this cartridge so you can get it as soon as it's available.  Contact me by email or add a comment right here.
  
Blog hop coming on July 10th

Returning from Disney

Trying to get back from my visit with Mickey and Minnie,  I learned alot at covention and I have lots of new products to share with you.   Keep watching as I share our new products.  Remember our Joyful Stars blog hop will be July 10th.   Check out the updated July schedule for workshop, crops and clubs.   

Hi, everyone, I'm in sunny Florida at our annual convention. Tomorrow we get the new fall catalog.
This is the best day of convention. I'm sure the excitement will be high.  Watch for more news. Oh btw
I saw the August Stamp of the month, all about Chocolate!

Card class

Here

 are the cards we made at card class.  These cards were inspired from the CTMH blog spot. The neat part about the card above is we used both sides of the stamp, that way you didn't need to  color the flowers in.

June Joyful Stars blog hop winner is Elizabeth, you will receive the Thank you stamp pictured above. Congratulations.  Comment on our next blog hop, July 10th and you could be a winner too.

Joyful stars June blog hop

Welcome to our first Joyful Stars blog hop. I hope you enjoy hopping every month on the 10th to see the talent on my team and with other consultants.  

This hop is a continuous hop and if you start here you will go all the way around and get back to here. ENJOY!

My card is a graduation card, folding the cap using a square of paper. 

I used Dakota paper which will be retiring soon, buttercup and outdoor denim cardstock and ink. The shape was cut from the Art of Philosophy Cricut cartridge.  Stamp sets were "4 My Friend and Love Life (stars)  The tassel was bought at Walmart but you can make it from embroidery floss.



Here is a closeup of the cap, the directions are below. Add a comment and have your name entered into a contest.

Now hop on over to the very talented   Krista'sblog

If you want to see how to make the cap.......watch the video below!   

Here is a list of all our bloggers for this month:

Joyce Houck             Joyce-joyfulcreations.blogspot.com

Krista Hershberger     Kristascraftycorner.blogspot.com

Nickie Hoffer            nickiehoffer.blogspot.com

Nancy Brown            creativelyartsygallery.blogspot.com

Stephanie Brown       stephanielovesscrapbooking.blogspot.com

Crystal Davis             craftingwithcrystal.blogspot.com

Stephanie Huber         lavendersagedesigns.blogspot.com

Elizabeth Mindemann   ejoym.blogspot.com

Betty Locco                scrapbookgirl2.blogspot.com

Jean Murphy               stampandscrapjeanie.blogspot.com

Meredith Hainsworth    craftyschemings.blogspot.com..

Hellen Gullett               byheleng.wordpress.com

.................................back to Joyce

Graduation Cap video:

Make It a Banner Day!

It’s going to be a “banner” day! When you place a $25 order that includes a qualifying stamp set, you’ll receive a My Creations® mini banner for FREE!!!! (a $5.95 value)!

The mini banner includes 10 chipboard pennants in 4 different shapes with 9 jump rings for

hanging. Use the mini banner as a decoration for your parties and get-togethers this

summer. Make it a “banner” day in June!
Watch the video for more ideas

Check out the NEW Blog Hop starting on Monday!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

June/July Military special

Exclusive stamp sets –ONLY available until July 31st!!! Part of purchase price goes toward helping the military. CLICK HERE for details on these exclusive patriotic stamp sets!!

Relief for Oklahoma

Relief for Oklahoma




Close To My Heart is making an upcoming Autumn/Winter 2013 stamp set, A True Thank You, available immediately and will donate 100% of the profits from sales of the set from May 23 through June 30 to the American Red Cross to aid victims of the Oklahoma tornado. Help us provide relief to those affected by the devastating Oklahoma tornado by purchasing A True Thank You stamp set for $2.95 (M1029) today

Recommended My Acrylix® Blocks:

2" × 2" (Y1003)



Click here to purchase the A True Thank You stamp set.

June Stamp of the month

June Stamp of the Month


With a minimum qualifying purchase, get your D-size Stamp of the Month set for just $5.00  Add the stamp set to your cart on this page at full retail price or, with your qualifying order, add it at checkout for the promotional price.

Spend: $50.00 You pay only: $5.00 or
$17.95 (full retail) No purchase required

Set of 10

Recommended My Acrylix® Blocks:

1" × 1" (Y1000), 1" × 3½" (Y1002), 2" × 2" (Y1003), 3" × 3" (Y1006), 2" × 6½" (Y1010)
Go to my website and order today! 



Project Inspirations: A Different Spin