National Paper Crafting Month...

National Paper Crafting Month is almost gone. If you have not purchased your exclusive Felicity Kit, earned it at a discount or earned it for free NOW IS THE TIME! This exclusive kit offer ends on Sunday, January 31st. Visit my website (amy.myctmh.com) for all the details. You are most welcome to call or email me with your order or you can place the order directly from my website!

Here are two more journals I embellished for my mother. She is giving them as Christmas gifts to a couple of her grand daughters in December. I think these journals make the BEST gifts!

Have a super weekend!

I Love Calendars!

I LOVE calendars! Every year I create a calendar that hangs in our kitchen. Each month I place photos from happenings occuring throughout that specific month. Then at the end of the year I take the calendar apart and place the layouts in a "Year in Review" album that sits on our coffee table in the family room. I have 4 years in my album to date!

I had fun playing with the new "In the Month" stamp sets over the weekend. Here is my January layout, as well as my February layout.

The "In the Month" stamp sets are a great collection to start, as the stamp images in each set lean themselves to so many scrapbooking, card making and paper crafting projects. You can collect them all AND recieve fun projects in the mail each month from me just by joining the "In the Month" club. I shared all the details in yesterday's post. Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions or would like to sign up.

Close To My Heart has several types of calendars in the Idea Book. They offer the 12 x 12 calendars that you see here. They also sell a 9 x9 weekly calendar. This 9 x9 calendar is my favorite. Each of my children have one and each night before bed they write three things about their day in it. Then I create a layout representing the week. Now that my kids are getting older, they can create their layout, too!

Be sure to visit Jeanette's Blog and check out the first week of January posting. She offers some fantastic ideas on how to embellish and use all the calendars!

New Club!

Sorry that it has been so long since my last post. Trying to adjust and get back to reality and get caught up on LIFE has been a somewhat monumental task this past week!

Anyway, here I am and I am excited to share news about a new club I am starting! All the details are below and I am posting photos of the January, February and March projects for you. I am having trouble posting the photos again-I appologize that two are verticle...but I thinnk you can still get the idea!

Please let me know if you have any questions. Contact me today to sign up!

“In The Month Of” Stamp Set Monthly Club
How would you like to get 2-3 projects with directions, embellishments and a stamp set delivered right to your mailbox every month?

What Do I get each month?
1(one) My Acrylix “In the Month Of” stamp set
Pre-cut pieces for 2-3 projects
Embellishments
Instructions

Can you tell me more about what I get?
In one years time you will have gained 156 individual stamps, 24-36 creative projects and instructions that can be used to create more project throughout the year.

What is the Cost per Month?
$27.00 (this covers the stamp set, projects and shipping to your house)

Are inks and blocks provided?
No. These projects are to be completed at your connivance, there for you would use your own inks and blocks.
Will any images be stamped for me?
No. You will have the stamp set, and all stamping can be completed at your convience.

Are there any other benefits?
Yes! Each month a “hostess” will be drawn from the group and they will receive the
$25.00 in FREE select product.
*There must be a minimum of 12 members for the hostess benefits to apply.*

Can I be the hostess more than one time?
No.

When is the money due?
Payment is due on the 15th of each month (You will be pre-purchasing. For example-you pay by July 15th for your August packet) this will ensure any time sensitive holiday projects will be received in a timely fashion.

Do I have to sign a contract?
Yes, everyone in the group must commit to 12 months in order for the club to work. This will ensure that everyone gets a turn to be the hostess.

What if I already have one or more of the “In the Month Of” stamp sets?
You may pick out a substitute C size stamp set from the current catalog. You must notify me at the time of payment; otherwise you will receive the current “In the Month Of” stamp set.

We do need a minimum 12 participants to start the club. If you sign up on/before January 7th you will receive a $5.00 discount on the first month’s kit!





Amy McGrew’s Close to My Heart
Word Puzzle Stamp Set Monthly Club
Club Date Jan-Dec 2010

Amy McGrew
Close to My Heart Independent Consultant

Name_______________________________________________
Address_____________________________________________
City, State___________________________________________
Zip Code____________________________________________
Phone_______________________________________________
Email_______________________________________________






I, __________________________________ commit to the club for a 12 month period of time. Each month I will make a payment of $27.00 by check or credit card to Amy McGrew. Due NO LATER than 15th of the month.

Signature______________________________________ Date________________




Payments should be made to Amy McGrew and mailed to 5428 Langston Park Dr., North Charleston, SC 2942 (If you wish to pay by credit card you can call me at 843-207-8698) If your payment will be late for any reason, you must notify me right away.

True Friends

I love the January stamp of the month. Actually, I love all the stamp of the month stamp sets in the Spring 2010 Idea book. I am excited to share artwork created with each of the 4 sets during their month.

Here are some cards created using the January stamp of the month which is called "True Friends" (#D1406). I created this card using the New TOPSTITCH Paper Pack. The other cards below are created by my dear friends and Close To My Heart event roommates; Pam Beery, Michelle Nist and Chris Shouse. These ladies are so talented-I love swapping with them.

This stamp set is available for just 9 more days. You can purchase it at full price ($22.95) or you can earn it at a disoucnt or FREE with a minimum order! You can place your order on my website (amy.myctmh.com) or you can contact me with your order via email or phone and I will be happy to place the order for you!

...And speaking of true friends, I am truly blessed to have some wonderful friends, many whm I have met via Close To My Heart. I love earning the incentive trips that CTMH offers consultants for many reasons. It is wonderful to get away with my hubby and soul mate, Stan. We consider these trips our "once a year" date as we do not go out alone very often when we are home. We tend to do things more as a family with the kids. Because of CTMH we have been able to travel to many places we would probably never be able to see.

Another reason I love the trips is because I get to meet and form friendships with fellow consultants whom I don't neccesarily get to spend time with at Convention and Leadership. Last week in New Zealand I had the opportunity to get to know Janet Swan on a more personal level. She and her husband, Steve are wonderful people. Stan and I had a super time hanging out with them. Lots of laughs and fun and Janet and I were able to share business tips and offer each other advice.

Here is a photo of Janet and I, as well as three other special CTMH friends, Michelle, Lynn and Linda. This photo was taken in Queenstown, NZ on Janet's actual birthday! Happy Birthday Dear Janet!

This photo below is of Janet, Lynn. Linda and I with our husbnads. We were at a Mexican restuarant in Queenstown.

And this last photo is of Janet, Lynn and I at an incredible fruit stand we stopped at on our bus trip from Christchurch to Queenstown. The fruit, nuts and flowers were amazing here. I especially loved the "try it" table. You were able to sample a large variety of fruits and nuts. They had Macademia Nuts at the "try it" table. I LOVE Macademia Nuts but they are so expensive I rarely buy them. I am ashamed to say that I think I ate ALL the Macademia nuts on the Try It table! I appologize to all those who were not able to try them!

Home Again, Home Again Jiggety Jig!

Hello, Hello, Hello!

Stan and I have returned safely from New Zealand. What an incredible trip it was! The highlight was spending quality time with my dear friend, Sari, whom I met and worked with when I was teaching in Christchurch, NZ 17 years ago. We have kept in touch over the years and when we saw each other it was like we were next door neighbors!

I can not thank Close To My Heart enough for giving me the opportunity to earn this AMAZING trip to New Zealand. If it were not for my love of CTMH products and my addiction to scrapbooking, stamping and paper crafting, I would have never had the opportunity to return to the land "Down Under" and reunite with my dear friend.

This is one of the MANY reasons I LOVE my job as a Close To My Heart consultant. I actually get paid and earn once-in-a-lifetime trips...all because I LOVE CTMH products! And the friends I make and the reslationships I form with customers and other consultants is absolutely PRICELESS. If you would like to have a job like mine please feel free to contact me. It has never been a better time to start your Close To My Heart business.Let me show you how!

The exclusive "Felicity Kit" is still availabale for 10 more days. If you recall I shared information on how you can earn this fabulous kit for free or with a discount about one month ago. I love this kit for it's unique circle shaped papers and the fun stamp set. You don't want to miss out on this one, folks. Once January is over this exclusive kit will be gone. If you need help ordering it please contact me, I will ber happy to help you!

I am all unpacked and ready to start planning my February calendar. I am looking forward to my FREE "Try Me" scrapbook and/or card club class on Sunday, January 31st. I am offering this treat to you so that you can come visit and see how my scrapbook and card clubs are run. Please be sure to r.s.v.p on/before FRIDAY, JANAURY 22nd. the class will start at 1:00 and conclude at 3:00.

There are many more stories and photos to share of our trip to New Zealand. I will share a little bit at a time in the next several days. Hope you will enjoy it!

"CHEERS MATE!"

New Zealand Journal

I am so excited about my trip to New Zealand. For those who do not know, I earned this trip from my Close To My Heart business. I could have never have done it without the help of my dedicated customers. THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT. I LOVE YOU ALL AND I HOPE THAT I CAN ALWAYS FULFILL ALL YOUR STAMPING AND SCRAPPIN' NEEDS AND WANTS!

Stan and I leave very early in the morning to fly to San Fransico and then on to New Zealand on Saturday. I am almost packed and now I just need to write out all the instructions for my parents who will be staying with our children while we are away. They drove 16 hours yesterday to come stay with Tucker, Molly and Payton (THANKS MOM & DAD!). Stan and I know our children will have loads of fun with Grammy & Grampy (my parents have more energy than most 20 year old's)! I made this journal yesterday to take on the trip. I am so excited with how it turned out and I had oh so much fun creating it! This journal is a new product in the Spring 2010 Idea book. In fact, it is my FAVORITE new product! It is found on page 95 of the Spring Idea Book. It is called the "My Creations Journal. It is 5 x 7 and has 75 unlined pages. It sells for $7.95. What I love about this fun little journal and what makes it better than all other journals is that the front cover is actually protected by a protector! You create your 5 x 7 layout (or cover page) and then you slip it into the protector. How cool is that?!!!!! You never have to worry about the cover getting damaged!

I actually "scrap-lifted" the design. If you look on page 11 in the SPring Idea Book you will see a journal decorated using the new "Vernada" papers. I used that as my guide to create mine. This is a perfect example of why our Idea books are called Idea books and not catalogs-they are filled with so many fabulous ideas!!!! I save all my Idea Books and refer back to them time and time again.

Here are the supplies I used:

#Z1268 My Creations Journal

#X7120B Topstitch Paper Pack

Baby Pink (#Z2102), Heavenly Blue (#Z2102) and Chocolate Inks (#Z2111)

#Z1270 Soft Suede Pinwheels

#Z1275 Mini Medley Accent Collections-Antique Copper

#Z1136 White Daisy Mini Medley Accent Collection

#Z1124 Heavenly Blue Ribbon Rounds

#Z1138 Blush Ribbon Rounds

#D1401 Authentic Stamp Set

#D1386 Save The Date Stamp Set

#D1303 Classmate Alphabet Stamp Set

All of these items can be ordered from my website (amy.myctmh.com)

This will be my last post until I return home. I promise to share lots of photos and stories with y'all once I get home!

Now...off to finish up all the last minute details before we leave!

SMiles,

Amy

I Love Janaury!

I LOVE January because several years ago Close To My Heart officially named it NATIONAL PAPER CRAFTING MONTH! What could be more exciting than dedicating an entire month to an official holiday that revolves around some of my most favorite things?!!!!
I LOVE January for another AWESOME reason... the Close To My Heart Spring Idea book goes live! If you could see me right now you would know that I am dancing all around my stamp room because I am surrounded by FABULOUS new product-stamp sets, embellishments, Idea Books and a GORGEOUS limited kit that was created just for National Paper Crafting Month!
If you have not yet picked up or requested YOUR Spring Idea Book please contact me today. All those in my Kit of the Month and Commit to 12 Clubs will receive a free Idea book with their January kits (if you want yours prior to our next class please feel free to contact me and/or stop over). If you have not requested an Idea Book then contact me today. The Idea Books are $3.95 (plus shipping if I have to mail it to you), FREE with a minimum $25 order, FREE to any individual who schedules a gathering or catalog show or FREE to all those who join my NEW! In the Month of...Club (details below). I invite you to visit my website (amy.myctmh.com) to view the Idea Book online, as well!

I have been working on a new club which I have named “In The Month Of...” I give it this name because we will be using a new stamp set each month from the “In the Month Of” stamp collection. On page 78 -79 of the Spring 2010 Idea book you will see the January, February, March and April In the Month of Stamp sets. Be sure to visit my website (amy.myctmh.com)to read about this fun club. The unique thing about this club is that the club members will receive their kit as a “To Go” kit. I encourage my long distance friends to join this fun club, as well as my local gals! Once you read about the details contact me to sign up!

I had fun creating over the weekend. Here is a layout I made using the "Topstitch" My Reflections Kit, Charmed Stamp Set (#C1385), Togetherness Stamp Set (#D1402), Soft Suede Pinwheels (#Z1270) , Cocktail Alphabet (#E1015, Irresistibles Lots of Dots (#Z1261) , eyelets, dimensional elements, the Blush/Chocolate Connection Club gift and baby pink, heavenly blue and chocoalte ink pads/