The Display Tray is Awesome

I am thoroughly enjoying my Close To My Heart products and I earned the Designed Decor Display Tray with host credits while ordering. I have been waiting for just the right time to play and make it up and finally have done so. I would love to know what you think!

There are so many possibilities if we take the concept of popping a photo on top, and others way down in the 4 x 3 inch trays. I have seen some lovely designs by other consultants and the same idea is used. Use 3D tape to add dimension, position a ‘hero’ photo across sections of the tray. Many samples also have banners – i decided mine was busy enough without them.

I will do my best to describe how I achieved this finished product!

Disply Tray featuring Ever After WOTG, Glitter Paper and Host Only stamp set ‘The Party Is On’.

I first selected some photos from the hundreds i have from this Big Bash. Then trimmed them to fit the 2.5 x 3.5 so they would fit in the spaces, all bar the primary photo which I trimmed to 4×4, and one photo is 4×4 with the fourth inch in the next tray. (the center photo). I then sorted out background papers and cut 3×4 mats from an assortment of my leftovers, focussing on the black and white print. I chose the Dark grey from the Black and grey Glitter paper and used the Artiste Cricut cartridge to cut the shapes of the 50, the scallop frame for the main photo and the base for the roses. I also cut some 3×4 mats in the same paper, including one inside the scallop frame to save paper. To get the frame the right size I simply created a 4×4 square in cricut craft room, positioned it over the scallop and enlarged to scallop frame until i was satisfied the photo would fit nicely.

Noe it was time to stamp. I could not quite decide what to use so i stamped all three of the titles from the ‘The Party Is On’ (exclusive and available only to gathering hosts) on white card stock. I used the daubers to colour the edges off and then played with the layout now I had my pieces. I had already cut and made the black rose and the purple leaf and they were sitting in my little collection of embellishments.

Here are some close ups of these elements.

Shapes made using glitter paper and the Art Philosophy Cartridge,

I loved this stamp set and since I had had a BIG BASH I had to take advantage of the host rewards program and get it.

I also added a little black shimmer trim and some of the lovely bling from CTMH to finish it off. If I had the red shimmer trim i could have been tempted to put that where the black is – maybe i will when it arrives. I am very pleased with how it came together. There are some essential adhesives at work here. Glue dots have been used to put each piece in place as they are removable so if fancy takes me to change the display I can. I used 3d foam tape, Double up in places so there are very few flat sections – this piece is all about dynamic dimension, just as the party was!

If you would like to make a tray just like this one the one thing you will need to do is host a gathering to get hold of the ‘The Party is On’ stamp set. That bit is easy – we can do one online if I do not live anywhere near you! Just drop me an email or comment below and I will get in touch. The other items you can shop for online right now and go ahead and choose other stamps to compliment your project.

Shopping list:

Workshops on the go – For Always scrapbooking kit G1055 (Or grab the paper pack and the ever always assortment)

Designed Decor display try Z1750

3D foam tape Z1151 and Memory Book Glue Dots 1772

Cricut Collection – Art Philosophy Z1686

Glitter Paper black-Grey assortment Z1829

Exclusive Inks Black Z2105

Black Shimmer trim  and assorted gems

Host Only exclusive Stamp Set The Party Is On – viewable page 4 of the Product Launch Guide

How awesome would it be to get some of this free, and some half price? Did you know if you were to shop for just some of these products and your order reaches 475 you also qualify for Stamp of the month? More bonus! 

Host a gathering and you will be able to aim to achieve all these goodies! Imagine 50% off your cricut Art Philosophy Collection 🙂 We can organise an online or an in person gathering to suit whatever your passion is. Drop me a line nenifofer@gmail.com and i will contact you as soon as possible.

While I am talking savings, have you given thought to being a CTMH Consultant yourself? Be your own host, share your shop online with your friends and reap the rewards of 22% discount AND all the hosting rewards on your orders. Email me now to find out more or visit my site to learn more about it. nenifoofer@gmail.com.au

One final thing – if you would like to see this project up close and personal take a look at my events calendar at facebook and come join in a Play Day in my area! Click on the events link. I would love to have you come along!

Cheers Jen

 

Just FOUR more days!

Four, Yes just 4 more sleeps until I head to Melbourne for Creative Kickoff – the launch of our brand new to Australia Close To My Heart company. I am going to be among over 500 super excited new consultants spending time both training and creating for two and a half days!

And there are JUST Four more days left for YOU to grab the best joining offer around for anyone who does scrapbooking, stamping, and other crafts – even if you are a total newbie!

Did you know your kit also includes your own online store just like Jen’s Creative Classroom? You pick your store  name! You and your friends, family and customers can place orders any time! You are also not obliged to ‘do parties’ to contribute to your holiday fund, increase the size of your personal stash or rise up in leadership! We have so many options for those of us holding consultant accounts I would love to show you how it could all work for you!

I am one of those who does want to build a team consultants having fun with Close To My Heart. I am actively seeking passionate people to build a fun, powerful and profitable business! Remember  our current $99 Kit is available until the 15th of August is  filled 100% with over $300 product! 

AND, (no it isn’t steak knives!) Australian CTMH Consultants are now able to be part of an exclusive offer for Cricut Machines with extra bonus products and Australian warranty included!

Check out this little machine making a lace doily for me today!

I enjoyed making this little card with my Cricut Aet Philosophy cartridge,

Reward yourself and come and join our new community! If you love photos, scrapbooking, stamping and craft we have something for you!

 

What will the kit be after August 15?

I cannot answer that other than to say it will switch from the current 100% product to some product being removed to make way for business supplies. If you want the best value for money with Close To My Heart these next four days are your last chance to get the 100% product kit! Just head to my website, click ‘Opportunities’ and select be a consultant. In the second box click Australia as your country and complete the form. (Just press continue if you are not an ex CM Consultant) In a very short time you will receive an email with confirmation of your order and a link to go ahead and set up your online business address!

I am stoked!

Close To My Heart has turned out to be much more than I ever imagined! My $99 kit has provided me with enough product and support to make pages, sharing product over three workshops, have a website online to gather orders anywhere anytime in Australia AND easily invite people to events through EZ invite! In less than a month my business has doubled, and I have been able to order product for myself to enjoy. My lost and dulled innate creativity has come alive – and so will yours – you even get loads of easy access online training and printed guides! This really is an easy to manage business in a box and I love it!

What is in the box?

There is nothing like the excitement of opening that first deliivery from Close To My Heart and I was very lucky that team member Sandra, who was the first in my team to get her box, brought it to my place to share the grand opening!

Here is ‘the box’ – we all got one eventually!

Getting a box like this one is very exciting!

I was just a bit excited about getting my box

So Now we get to peek inside….nope…group photo!

Myself and my first two team members – we get together regularly to crop and share ideas.

Of course the bubbles are out! We are about to discover stamps, new papers, new embellishments, new design books and a whole new way of doing business!

Sandra reads her CTMH welcome letter

There are lots of goodies in the consultant kit!

There are new things to learn, new language to get used to and smashbooking to do:)

My first Crushbook page

My second Crushbook page – just waiting for a photo

Workshop on the go kit page layout from Laughing Lola

 

Another double from Laughing Lola. I have plenty left fr more pages and cards!

Page layout for boy using Chantilly

Cards made with Chantilly, inspired by the cardmaking program book that came in my kit

Since receiving my kit three more wonderful people have joined my team! I am very excited to have them aboard and can’t wit till they have the opportunity to feel the excitement that goes with opening their box. It is currently such extraordinary value I would love to tell you more! You can visit my website Jen’s Creative Classroom to become a consultant,  contact me below or me direct on email nenifoofer@gmail.com to find out more about our opportunity, my crops, workshops and gatherings.

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Wishful thinking? Dream, Dare and Do

I am outside a mega crop! there are 100 scrappers inside!

I have had some of the most wonderful days (or hours)  ‘out’ scrapbooking with other like minded scrappers who enjoy recording memorable moments, sharing their stories in scrapbooks, playing with paper and decoration and dealing with the internal negative voice that says our personal handwriting is not neat enough! Sometimes a nice intimate class of 3-4 people does the trick of bringing calm, colour and joy in our otherwise chaotic world and lots of laughs and giggles for good therapy too. Then there are those big events….I so want to see that happen again one day in Sunraysia and surrounding areas too!

Little workshops can work well in anyone’s home. A few friends getting together regularly to scrap, perhaps taking turns hosting is an unofficial ‘club’ . The women provide each other with very important therapy. They share tools, they encourage and support each other with ideas, maybe they swap papers, embellishments, and even show each other the latest technique spotted on a video seen online.

 

 

 

Our tables didn’t stay this tidy but we had a lot of fun!

Another look at our Robinvale group

They laugh, giggle and have fun. We do not do enough of this. Far too often i hear I would love to but I do not have time. Women who gather like this see value in the gathering – they make time for themselves and dare to do it. Of course they also share their secret stash secrets too (secret from partner that is)  because they are daring enough to have a secret stash!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Myself and my first two team members – we get together regularly to crop and share ideas.

I have a little group like this – we are all dedicated scrappers and we also all have now joined Close To My Heart. Being a new business in Australia I am really looking forward to scrapping together and developing our understanding of our products and business model at the same time. We get together weekly if we can and just chill, share ideas and knowledge, and make each other cups of brew (tea or coffee). Sometimes we also take turns with my babysitting so my grandson’s mum can get her pages done too! The few hours we spend like this is fun and relaxing. It is even more fun because we are using new toys! (We have stamps now:) ) Someday soon we will also have a Cricut machine to play with.

We have a whole new range of papers, embellishments and page layouts to try, not to mention cards to make. AND…we need a team name! I am looking forward to a brainstorming sesh for that one! We have supported each other as a team and I look forward to doing this with our CTMH products and businesses. There is no doubt about it. Women need fellowship, an outlet to share, AND an outlet for creativity. Scrapbooking and papercraft provides a vehicle for this and sharing and camaraderie is central to fun in our little group. We  have had to make the ‘sacrifice’ of time out for ourselves to ensure ‘life’ doesn’t get in the way but it is very very worthwhile!

There are lots of goodies in the consultant kit!

OK…so little workshops could work for you. Regular get togethers, your favourite snacks and beverages, and a consultant is all you need. Yes, consultant! You need a consultant so you get the goss  on what is coming and access to the latest products, information and rewards! You consultant is your guru and guide. She may not be expert, but she is your link to all the resources and ideas. If you have a group and don’t have a consultant consider inviting someone like me along. I can pop in and out quickly with the latest news and product samples, teach a technique and make plans for next visit. It will be easy, fun and one of the group can get the benefits of hosting!

So what about a BIG one?

I love that I can keep working at my scrapping and papercraft with my team, but my dream is the BIG Crop. This is my Dream, Dare and DO! ‘Why?’ you may wonder!  Well there is

• lots of eye candy
• lots of ideas shared
• lots of freebies and give-aways if you happen to get one of the lucky door prizes
• Lots of happiness and buzz (so good for the soul in a busy life)
• lots of laughter and
• occasionally even a few quick challenges just to spice up your approach to album making!
• Chocolate….

Shouting yourself a Big Crop Day is like taking a day off just for you. Arrange the child care and focus on yourself and your project. You enter a whole new stress free world and go home having accomplished something to show those who care. Imagine getting among 50-100 people all doing what you do! Your world of papercraft becomes a whole lot more fun.

Big crops happen regularly in the cities. They range in price for the day depending on your welcome gift, catering and venue costs. ALL the work is done for you. You can just sit, scrap, chat, eat, scrap and chat some more. Don’t forget the chocolate! Breakout sessions show you new ideas and techniques. Product displays give you creative inspiration and seeing walls filled with page layouts and tables covered in cards and off the page projects will get your creative juices going!

Wall of page layout ideas to inspire.

In crop events there are always bonus tips and techniques like these paper flowers! Everyone is willing to share how they do something!

Newest products on display at the Adelaide Ideas Extravaganza crop

Lots of scrapbooking and chatter going on here!

It is a fest of creative inspiration. But the BEST bit is being among like minded devotees of photos, memories, storytelling and papercraft. You don’t feel weird. You do not feel like the only woman whose partner scrutinises how much ‘stuff’ you have and if you happen to have a craft room or shed for ‘her’ you will be the envy of others. (Watch out they may invite themselves over for a visit and their partners will curse you for putting big ideas in their heads!)

I have fond memories of big events like this on various occasions as a consultant and more recently attended events in Adelaide that were attended by over 80 scrappers – consultants and their customers – and had a ball. Six hours goes way too fast! We have managed to have smaller versions of these with combined crops of local Mildura consultants and our customers go home grateful to have had a day out, to have learned new things, and have some fun, That photos of me playing in leaves comes from one of these events as we let mother nature provide us with the photo opportunity!

So… I dream of making these bigger! Imagine a really juicy creative play day!

Perhaps I should explain Juicy!

Juicy is a term I have learned from PLANET SARK. (Your Home for Dreaming, Daring, and Doing!)  I first read her work ‘Succulent Wild Women’ and while I have not been totally wild with a journal and coloured pens I have wanted to. I have found the answer for me has always been in my scrapbooking. It is good for the soul! Picking up from the SARK philosophy, Creativity is juicy; Journalling is juicy; Colour is juicy! Put all that juicy goodness into your memory keeping and you will have fun and one day your family will have juicy fun pouring over the pages you have made with fun and love.

And Yes! I do want to see at least 50 attendees at a big CROP. I know there are many more than 50 scrapbookers in Sunraysia and surrounding areas so I dream of having a day where at least 50 of these delightful memory keepers are together for a day of fun and sharing. I dare to and I am going to do it. I have found a well lit venue with a perfect kitchen, plenty of no limit parking  and flat access for trolleys and wheeled bags. ( There are no steps or stairs to drag trolleys over! ) All I need are the juicy scrappers and their enthusiasm who will come along to play. We will have a ball! We will be like kids on a big play date! Maybe we will find some of our own lost in childhood creativity!

Wishful thinking? Too ambitious? That is my negative self talk talking. If the city girls can do it so can we country gals! How about it? If there were big Crops would you go? Have you been to one? What do you remember most about such events?

Please pop your comment below- I would love for you to share your experience with me!

A new year, a new beginning!

What an exciting day! The beginning of the financial year has never been an exciting time for me but today is different! Today I officially joined Close To My Heart as an independent consultant AND I got new old wheels which are not as old as the adventure bus!

The Bus!

Let me explain!

Around the same time as Freaky Friday when we lost CM, I also had to give up my car. Since then I have been in ‘Keep Calm and Scrap on’ mode and “”Yep you can borrow the bus until you buy more wheels” mode to get around. Now don’t get me wrong, I loved the ”Adventure before Dementia” bus that belongs to my dad but it did make nicking down to the supermarket for two litres of milk a chore after a while. With my arthritic right knee, clambering up into the driver’s seat became more than a bit of a chore!

Adventuring in the bus between cars

However, the BUS, as I now fondly call it, got me around, took me safely to Adelaide and back and for a few nights even became my home away from home. After all, it is built for camping in right? Maggie and Macey didn’t like it much – I ended up putting the leads on them to coach them up into the bus rather than chase them and pick them up!!! It was cosy enough to sleep in and while I didn’t use the shower, the porta loo was handy.

Well today, July 1, the beginning of the financial year in Austalia, I thankfully was able to bid the bus goodbye – for now. I am sure to holiday in it sometime . That will be fun. I have gladly embraced my new regular vehicle to get around in! I am not sure how well I will fit my new CTMH goodies into it but that problem is for another day.

A New Year, a new beginning.

The other piece of magic that happened today was an end to the waiting for Plan B, the Wigwam. I signed as a consultant with Close To My Heart and as in previous posts clearly I am excited to begin the financial year with a new business along with hundreds of other ex CMC’s who have been waiting with me while the super leadership team went to work. Now there will be another long wait…for my Kit! But I am ok about that. I  have a lot to do to get my customers connected and my team organised. I have workshop dates, bookings to check on, flights to make sure are ok and and and….I need a list!

I am busy, but thankfully so. I now have a clear direction and some good wheels to help me travel the path. I am on my way in the CTMH family and I anticipate it will be a lot of fun. I am looking forward to adding stamping and crush books to my repertoire,  playing with washi tape, using a Cricut machine and meeting lots and lots of new people and rekindling connections with previous customers and new consultants. If you would like to join me on my journey please drop me a line.

The new year has begun – not with the bands and fireworks of a traditional new year but plenty of joy in my heart as I would have if there was a big party and lots of fireworks!

Closer To My Heart

The countdown is on! 5 days to go! I am overwhelmed by the skills of the people who have implored us to scrap our stash and be patient – Plan B would come. I have heard one of them speak with true passion about finding a solution for those of us who are now all ex CM consultants in Australia. To suggest we are not excited would not be true – but I cannot speak for everyone – so I will speak for myself.

I am over the moon with JOY!

I can go into places I could not go with CM. I can still scrap classic scrapbook pages, I can still create digital ones – even easier now that we have Studio J © to use, AND I can stamp designs and use a Cricut and teach others how to do the same!!! I have seen the palettes and packs that coordinate to help tell a story, that make creating gorgeous gifts for those we love easy so I am really looking forward to working with this product, doing the projects and encouraging others.

I have changed the name of the blog to suit since this is not just about Digital Scrapping now – I have so much more to share. July 1 can’t come quick enough!

Why is it that Close To My Heart is closer to my heart? Because I believe we can all be creative. Anyone who claims they are not creative would be more accurate if they stated they do not have the time to nurture creativity in themselves by applying their knowledge, skills, talents and ability to learn to a craft. We were all kids once right?

Were we afraid then of a look, a criticism, a scoff at our creations? No…and for most of us we were well praised for our efforts (even if the grownup could not quite make out what it was!) Somewhere between childhood and now our pure joy in playing with creating got lost. It may have been a teacher who decided our attempt was not as good as another’s in class. An unthinking adult may have even asked us ‘What is that supposed to be?’ when we felt it was patently obvious it was a car, a house, a duck…so we started to feel insecure about our own innate desire to create. A demon voice grew, trying to convince us we can’t do creative, we can’t do art, we are not talented.

If you have a voice within you….

I was one of those people when it came to art. My yr 7 Art teacher told me I wasn’t ”creative”!  I would like him to look at my paintings, my scrapbooks, my quilts, my original designs and tell me now he was WRONG!

For many years any desire to explore art was gone. When I got married, stopped studying and started to look for something other than correction to do at home in the evening I bought myself some coloured pencils and intricate colouring pads…something in me wanted to create!  Actually, I have my mother and the growth of folk art as an industry for home made craft to thank for giving creativity back to me. There are tools, there are products to understand, and there are patterns and instructions. And there are instructors like me! If you can watch a demo, and have and learn how to use the right tools and equipment you can create! Anything is possible.

You know your human brain has a section specifically for creating. Those students who learn to develop something (a piece of writing, a speech, a project) from a range of sources using a number of skills are ‘creating’ not just regurgitating and this is the main aim of our education system. So, how did adults lose faith in themselves to be able to create? That art teacher, the judgmental peer,  or simply being so busy with other ‘more important’ things in daily life to have time to create would be the main perpetrators. It is time to get your creative back!

There are so many benefits to being creative. Take a moment to tell that little voice in your head that says you can’t do it to be quiet a minute and listen. You may not produce prize winning artwork, but you will switch on a piece of your brain that has been inactive for too long.  You will be able to tune out the noise of life (and the voice of the negative knocker who suffers from tall poppy syndrome) and become absorbed in something different. That will lead to less stress rather than more. Take a moment to pause and watch a knitter (Not our ex PM but just someone you know), a spinner, a weaver, a painter, a patchworker, a tinsmith (my dad is one of those and he turn out great pieces for restored stationary engines). What do you notice about their mood? Their demeanor? Unless something is not quite going right and causing them frustration, you will find they are generally relaxed, happy and even oblivious to the woes of th world around them. It is their escape, their time out.

You can choose to do simple projects or complex ones – depending on your skills, confidence and equipment available to you. You may also need coaching or mentoring – that is my job! Enroll in a class scrapbooking or card making workshop and give it a crack. There is nothing better than the feeling of achievement that you lost somewhere in your childhood and you will be overjoyed by the compliments you get when you share creative work that also tells a story, and includes photos and messages of love. Such an experience will also bring others closer to your heart and you to theirs.

With my coaching, Close To My Heart will enable you to achieve what you thought you could not- with product, workshops, hosted gatherings or even having a go at being a consultant yourself. All you need to do first is acknowledge you have been neglecting the creative piece of your brain and letting life and daily stress take over all your thinking. Then make a commitment to give that piece of your brain a little workout. You will finish up more relaxed and refreshed – AND likely to be praised or thanked for your efforts once again,

Go on…give it a try !

I am closer to my creative center when I am teaching people to connect with theirs. The journey I am about to embark on is closer to my heart when I see people producing artwork from their heart. Now I have the opportunity to move well beyond the scrapbook page so my creative buttons are all ready to go and I cannot wait to share the journey with you!

It all starts July 1!

For inquiries about hosting gatherings or business opportunities please drop me a line!

Cheers

Jen –  Creative Classroom Coach with CTMH