Thank You...

I now they are going to kill me for posting this pic but...I want to say thank you. These are my Cherish Club ladies. They come every month and listen to me babble and try to teach. They are flexible, willing to listen, and excited to learn something new. For some this is their ONLY night out and they chose to spend it at Cherish Club. Most importantly, they have become my friends. This is something I didn't think of when I signed up to be a consultant almost 4 years ago. I thought I'd make a little money and support my habit. What I didn't realize is that this " job" would bring so many people into my life! So, thank you to my Cherish ladies, my blog followers, my customers and my friends, without you my business and my personal life would not be the same.

"365" Album

As 2008 was ending, I started thinking about what I wanted to accomplish in 2009. One of the things I wanted to do was scrap more of the "everyday". A peek into what happens on a day to day basis. I have been good about scrapping holidays, birthday, accomplishments, and funny things my kids do and say BUT not much of the everyday. Which is what takes up 95% of our time. My problem is time! How could I keep up with scrapping everday! So I came up with a solution.

Here is my plan:

I will take a picture a day for the next year. Somedays I will do receipts, mail or bits of paper that represents that day. If I was super busy that day and didn't take a picture, I will do a quick journaling spot about how busy I was and what prevented me from taking a pic. This is my out for those days when it is bedtime and it seems I just got up an hour ago. This is still a realistic view of "everyday".

Here is my album. It is a Close To My Heart 12 x 12 Cocoa Linen Album ($34.95). You could use an album you already have. It is best to use a Close To My Heart album, as you will see in a minute.

You will only need ONE paper pack (15.95) for the WHOLE album! I chose Emporium from the new catty that came out Jan.1st. (You can view it and all our other products online at http://www.closetomyheart.com/ or call me for a catty) What's great about this paper is it is double sided. This will come in handy in our next step. I decorated my album with some of the patterned paper. I used Dimensional Elements Simple Numbers (chipboard)($6.25) for the "365". I also added some buttons, ricrac, and clear parenthesis (also CTMH). If things look a little askew, it is because I haven't had a chance to glue it down yet! Hee Hee. I will be using Tombow on the paper and Liquid Glass for the buttons and possibly the ricrac. Another way to decorate is to buy the matching My Stickease ($6.25). This way the adhering is taken care of for you. I will protect everything with one of our Album Protectors ($4.50). A great reason to pick a Close To My Heart Album.

Now here is what is going to make EVERTHING possible. Our Photo Storage Pages (6 Pocket). They are $10.95 for a packet of 10. Each protector can be used for 2 weeks as they are double sided as well. You will need 3 packages for the year with a few leftover. Here is were having a CTMH album is a bonus. These page protectors will work in most albums (if not I can tell you how to modify them). After many protectors in other albums they sometimes bunch a bit. This is because they have an extra seam so that a 2 page layout will come together with no break in the middle. Another awesome reason to choose a CTMH album.

Next, I cut 2-3 sheets of the Emporium paper into 4 x 6 pieces (6 per sheet) and put one for each page protector. As they are double sided and so is the paper, only one is required for 2 weeks. There is more than enough paper to use extra for embellishing etc. This is where I will journal. I will label each pic with the month, week and the corresponding number (1-31) with stickers, stamps, rubons, etc. I will jot a few words for each photo. I will mostly let each pic speak for itself. I will do very little embellishing. You are welcome to of course! I just want to keep this manageable.

I then slipped 5-4 x 6 pics into the pockets. For the 2 others, I had 4 pics developed onto one 4 x 6. This is easy to do at your local photofinishing store (or kiosk). If you don't know how to do this, just crop 2- 4 x 6's down to the desired size.

Voila, done. Between taking pics, photo finishing, journaling, and assembly I don't think this will take more than an hour to an hour and a half each week. I am going to try and upload my pics Fri., pick up Sat., and try to scrap on Sat. or Sun. If I can't get it done on the weekend it should be easy to do in 10-15 min. here and there throughout the week.

A couple notes:

1. I plan on expanding on some of these to a full blown layout. For example: birthdays, Christmas. But at least there will be something until I get around to doing the full deal.

2. I bought a notebook and I am keeping it in a central location where I can easily add to it a sentence or two of journaling in point form to keep track. Nothing fancy just each month and 1-31. with the info for that day.

So, if this seems a little much for you, try using the 6 pocket protector and this idea to do a week here and there. This can be added to your regular album.

I will try and post my progress. I will be ordering Jan. 20 if anyone is interested.

Top 25 Stamp Sets

I am often asked what are the best stamp sets for...? So I thought I would compile a list of MY top list of stamps. These are the stamps I reach for over and over. Not everyone will love all the stamps like I do but I'm sure there is a few that will appeal to everyone. This could easily have been my top 50! It was very hard to choose. I also didn't include any sets that aren't available (retired or Stamp of the Month) and added a little bit of everything. I will do a holiday related list soon. I have included the order number to make it easier. You can view the catalogue online at www.closetomyheart.com.

No particular order:

1. D1322 Adorning Corners
2. D1212 Playful Flourishes
3. D1183 Adorable
4. E1009 Building Block Alpha
5. D1280 Spot On Backgrounds
6. C1281 Card Commentary
7. E1010 and D1296 Chocolate Alpha Large and Small
8. C1234 Simple Stitches
9. D1201 Frame of Mind ( I cut mine with scissors so I can use the frame without the lines.
2 stamps for the price of 1!)
10. D1242 Doodle Alpha (More for the birds and swirls)
11. D1200 Adorable Backgrounds
12. C1288 Playful Petals
13. C1301 Thing of Beauty
14. D1264 Angel Whispers
15. D1217 Free Spirit
16. D1171 New Fallen Snow ( I know, this is a "holiday" set but I use it for lace and flowers
all the time.)
17. D1182 It's a Party (Again cut up so each ring can be a different color or used individually.)
18. D1320 Shining Star (Holiday, but can be used for so much more.)
19. The Alpha Solos and Numbers Series (These are made to mix and match so they could be
counted as one GIANT stamp set.)
20.D1191 Friendship Blessings
21. D1303 Classmate Alpha (An alpha AND so many sayings!)
22. B1269 Journaling Jots (So handy for journaling!)
23. C1191 Calender (Use this to date almost all my layouts.)
24. E1002 and D1267 Rustic Alpha and Numbers
25. B1315 Code It

Ok, I sneaked in a few extra, but whose counting!

Bad Blogger!

I'm sorry! I am a bad blogger. Life has been crazy lately. I will try and post something soon. Not sure what. Maybe another video tutorial.

Tell me what YOU want.

Cleaning and Organizing Your Stamps

I know this sounds like a boring post but it will help you get better images, extend the life of your stamps, saving you time and money, so you spend more time scrapbooking and use those extra $$$ for more product.



Seasoning stamps:



Did you know all stamps, acrylic or rubber, need to be seasoned before you use them? What's seasoning you ask? All stamps come with a manufacturing film. It needs to be removed so ink can soak into the stamp, creating a more even image. This is particularly true of solid stamps. Those suckers need more seasoning then the others.



I will tell you 3 ways to season. Start with the first and work your way down until you get the result you want.



Technique 1: Repeatedly ink up stamp (usually with neutral colored ink) onto scrap paper. Be sure to have the foamy piece that comes with your stamp set under the scrap paper. More on that foamy piece later.




Technique 2: (My favorite) Wet the fuzzier side of your Double Scrubber and scrub, scrub, SCRUB. Ever once and a while test it with the method above to see if you need to scrub more.




Technique 3: I only use this method for those stubborn spots that just are not working the other two ways. Caution! This makes a mess of your work space. Using a good quality white eraser (pink for rubber) rub those stubborn spots away. And then you guessed it, scrub, scrub some more with the Double Scrubber. I suggest cleaning out your scrubber after the eraser method. How do you clean out your scrubber? Glad you asked. I remove the fuzzy side and put it all in the dishwasher! How easy is that!



Cleaning Stamps



Dye ink: Most of Close To My Heart's ink is dye (meaning water based). What's great about this is, they dry quickly when stamped and are easy to clean. I use plain old tap water in a hairspray sample bottle I found in the travel minis section of most stores. I cleaned it out VERY well and spray that on my Double Scrubber. Before I got my scrubber, I used a wet chamois (because it is lint free) on an old plate.

Pigment Ink and Embossing Ink: Close To My Heart has 3 stamp pads available in pigment ink~White Daisy, Colonial White, and Vanilla Cream. What's great about pigment ink is it is wetter than dye ink so it holds embossing powder and light colors show up on dark cardstock~even black! The problem with pigment ink is it likes to stain your stamps opaque. I do not suggest using dark pigment inks with clear stamps. I have seen some stained so badly they weren't clear anymore! (Dye inks will sometimes discolor your stamps but are still see through) I DO NOT use my Double Scrubber for pigment ink! Instead I use an old toothbrush under warm running water. I place a cloth over the drain or for really small stamps a strainer. After using the toothbrush, I spray with our Spritz cleaner and than Double Scrub. I use the same method with embossing ink. It likes to get everything sticky.

Staz-On: Staz-On has it's own cleaner that is a must if you use it. DO NOT get Staz-On cleaner on your block. Over time it will get a haze or small hairline cracks in it, making it harder to see through the block. Instead remove the stamp from the block and clean that way OR I have an old block that I use for Staz-On. That way I'm not upset if it cracks or gets any ink on it. Staz-On stays on blocks too!

Blocks, Carrier Sheets, and Occasionally Stamp Cleaning:
Once and awhile your supplies need a little more TLC. If your stamps won't stick to the carrier sheet or blocks, do this: Get out that strainer again and give everything a nice wash in warm water, NO soap. Let them dry on the counter and then return to carrier sheet when dry. They will be sticky once again.

Random Fact: Your images will come out crisper and cleaner if you put the foamy sheet under your work.

Organizing Your Stamps:One of the great thing about Acrylic stamps is they don't take up a lot less space. Above is our stamp organizer. They can be stacked and now come with a handle.

Did you know that the paper inserts that come with your stamps are color coded? This is how I organize my stamps. By color first, then letter (A,B,C,D, or E. This indicates size), then number. I also cut up a picture from an extra catalog and slip it in the front so I can see what's in it from both sides. You don't have to be this organized, I'm just a little anal about some things. Now I will tell you what the colors mean.

Spring~Lt. Yellow

Summer~Sunflower (orangey-yellow)

Fall~Garden Green (med. green)

Winter~Desert Sand

Alphas~Indian Corn Blue

Sentiments~Baby Pink

Celebrations~Amethyst

Borders, Tags, and Accents~Lilac Mist (lt. purpley blue)

Everyday Life~New England Ivy (dk. green)

Animals, Outdoors, and Travel~Heavenly Blue (lt. blue)

I hope this answers most of your questions as these are the ones I get asked most often. I would love to hear your suggestions on what you want from this blog. Not sure what my next post will be about but please come back!

Sunset Silhouette Card Tutorial

This is my first video tutorial! What an experience. I learned a few things like: I need to find a different place for my tripod, I need better lighting, and the whole video is a little too much to the right! Hopefully, it will look better next time. Please leave comments below. I would love to hear from you. Suggestions welcome.

I will be placing an order on Sept. 24.

Next post will be how to care, clean, and store your stamps.

Clear Acrylic Mini Album Tips

I love our new clear mini album! But I know some of you will be unfamiliar with this medium. So, I thought you would appreciate some tips.

The album measures 6.25 x 7. It comes with 4 thicker (think thin plexiglass) divider pages with half circle tab, one rounded page, one mini scallop, and 2 half pages. These are thinner like heavy template (mylar) material. Cost: $16.50 (Sidenote~ I realized after I started my project that I should have taken pictures of just the album. Oh, well. You can see it and all the other products mentioned here in our catalogue online at http://www.closetomyheart.com/)

Here is the front cover. Before I got to this point, I planned out each page and drew a sketch. This is more planning than I usually do. This is because you will see everything from the front page all the way to the last. To make it easier on myself, for consistency, and so I got a clear border (for a nice airy feel) all the way around, I cut all base pages 5 x 5. This also meant I could cut 1 inch off my 4 x 6 pic and they would fit! This also gives me a 1 inch border to journal in or embellish. (See photo below)

Now adhesive is very important as you can see from one side to the next. I strongly suggest vellum adhesive. I used small amounts in key areas and it is bearly noticeable. I also try to cover it with embellishments. In this case, the white corner stamp. This stamp is from my favorite new set from the new Fall/Winter catty: Adorning Corners. I stamped it with our White Daisy pigment ink. It takes a while to dry, so I poured white embossing powder on it. This worked great for the first part but about 3/4 through the image the heat started to warp the acrylic page! (Thus the smudge along the bottom) My suggestion is to use Staz-On ink with stamps instead. It comes in several colors Black (avail. through Close To My Heart), Brown, Green , Blue, Orange, Red, and even White at Craft/Scrapbook stores. The White doesn't perform well enough in my opinion. OR be very careful when embossing, do small sections for 3-4 sec. at a time.

With all my pages, I used a single sheet of paper. Our new paper packs now come with double sided patterned paper! This one is Notebook. I LOOOVE it! It's hard to see but on the second side the photo and rubons are floating above the paper that was glued to the front. Rubons work fantastic on this album. Close To My Heart has to sets with 3 sheets each. One each in White, Chocolate, and Black.

Unfortunately, my album is only half done. I will post more pics when I finish. Please feel free to post comments or questions.

Next week, I will post how to make a card using our September Stamp Of The Month.