Tuesday, December 31, 2019

Happy New Year!!

I hope you all had a great 2019 and that 2020 will bring many blessings!  Tomorrow is also the day when the new Close To My Heart Idea Book for January/February 2020 releases.  Check out this blog post for some sneak peeks:  https://blog.closetomyheart.com/2019/12/31/an-inside-look-into-our-new-2020-catalog/?utm_source=Make+It+from+Your+Heart+Blog&utm_campaign=fc908959a9-RSS_EMAIL_CAMPAIGN&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_0991fe0e27-fc908959a9-250217313

I'll be back soon with some new videos using the new products as well as some products that are available in our annual Idea Book.

I'm so thankful for you all coming to read my little blog and watch my less than professional videos. ;-) Love you all!!

Sunday, November 10, 2019

Days of December Prompts

Hi all!  I am planning on doing a December Daily album.  Tomorrow I will have a video for you all showing you how I put together my album so I am ready to go on December 1st.  I also wanted to share last year's prompt sheet with you just in case you find it helpful:


Let me know in the comments if you will be taking part in this project and leave a link to your social media so I can show you some love!!

Friday, August 23, 2019

My Close To My Heart Story

I've had several folks recently ask me about the business side of Close To My Heart.  I thought I'd put together a blog post that outlines the business side of things since I don't think I've really ever done that sort of post.  First...I'll tell you my story.  It's sort a windy road that brought me to CTMH so while this story might seem sort of disjointed at times, I promise it ends up with CTMH!

I've been crafty as long as I can remember.  When I was really little I would create little homes for my dolls out of cardboard boxes and pieces of fabric and my mom would get me those little kids craft kits where you created Christmas ornaments out of pins, sequins, beads, and styrofoam balls.  My grandmother taught me how to embroider when I was probably about 10 years old and then I started sewing when I was about 12 or 13.  About that same time I started creating scrapbooks.  My early scrapbooks were just construction paper, stickers, memorabilia, and pictures.  There wasn't all the supplies and programs we have now!  I guess you could say I was into scrapbooking before it was a thing.  LOL!

As I got older I picked up additional crafty skills such as crochet, lace net darning, and quilting.  All along I continued to scrapbook but now there were specific supplies that made it easier, more fun, and safer for the items I was scrapbooking (acid and lignin free supplies - yay!!!).  I also started stamping and making cards.  While I still did my other crafty endeavors most of my crafty time was spent playing with paper.

Then about 8 years ago I saw a product that was new to me - the Smashbook!  I fell in love with it and starting smashing all the things!!  I then started watching YouTube videos of other people smashing all the things.  That is when I first heard of CTMH.  A YT-er that I watched (CorenesCreations) was using a book from them called My Crush.  I was intrigued but I had several empty Smashbooks already so I wasn't looking to buy another but I really enjoyed the art she was making so I kept watching and smashed all the things along with her.

Then in June of 2012 a wonderful man who the Lord brought to my life when I desperately needed him asked me to marry him!  I immediately went into crafty bride mode and fell face first into Pinterest!!  Very quickly I realized I wanted to make my wedding flowers out of paper.  I saw some great ideas using the Cricut machine.  One problem...I didn't have one.  So...I started figuring out other ways to make the flowers but all the while I was jonesing hard for a Cricut machine.  Then on Black Friday Joann had the Expression machine on an amazing sale.  I had to work that day but my man (in his normal amazing fashion) braved Joann on Black Friday and got me one!!!  I know, he's a keeper!!!

I made my flowers for my wedding and in the process got hooked on the Cricut!  I was amazed at all the things I could do with it.  I started buying cartridges whenever I saw them on sale.  I started using Cricut cuts in my scrapbooks and smash books and using them on cards.  One day I stumbled upon some artwork made with a CTMH Cricut cartridge and coordinating stamps.  This fit perfectly with what I was already doing.  It was a natural progression for me.  I remembered that Corene always linked to her CTMH consultant in her videos so I checked out her consultant's website to see about this Cricut cartridge.  That is when I met Jessica!!

Jessica shared that CTMH was going to have a special in April 2014 where any new consultants would get a free cartridge and stamp set (and a cardstock pack - OMG the cardstock!!!).  The consultant kit was $99 back then and I thought it was a great deal so I signed up.  I only had to have $300 in sales (before my commission) each quarter and I was easily spending that already buying supplies to make cards that I donated to Operation Write Home and my own crafty fun so I didn't see a problem with that requirement.  So on April 1, 2014, I started my CTMH journey and it has been a blast!!!!

Well...that was five years ago and now I am getting close to retirement from my day job and plan to increase my activity with CTMH and turn it into a part time business that will fund our vacations - the hubby and I LOVE to travel!!  Part of the increase in my activity was to start making YT videos and have more of an online presence through my blog, Facebook, Pinterest, and Instagram.  In the coming years I will start holding card and scrapbook classes - I love to teach and show people how to make beautiful things that will make others happy and capture their memories so I'm really looking forward to this!

Another part of my business will be to build a team of other crafty people who want to take advantage of the wonderful opportunity with CTMH.  This month (August 2019) CTMH is having a special promotion where you can join CTMH for $35!  The Thrive for 35 promotion is in honor of  CTMH's 35th anniversary.  And the best part is that you get to pick what you want in your kit.  You will get $35 in CTMH Cash that you can spend in your own online store on stamp sets, stamp blocks, stamp pads, re-inkers, markers, embellishments (we call them complements), paper packs, cardstock packs, Picture My Life cards, scrapbooking and card making workshops, and some select bulk items. Did I mention that your online store is provided FOR FREE!!  Most other home based businesses charge you for your online store but not CTMH!!!  If you want to do this as a hobby, you can use your CTMH Cash on things that you love but if you decide you want to try your hand at making this a business, I can work with you on strategically spending that money on things (that you will still love BTW!) that you can turn around and use in your first Home Gathering.

Another kit option is our traditional kit that I think is an even better deal than the August promotion.  This kit is $70.  It comes with $50 in CTMH Cash to spend on stamp sets, stamp blocks, stamp pads, re-inkers, markers, embellishments (we call them complements), paper packs, cardstock packs, Picture My Life cards, scrapbooking and card making workshops, and some select bulk items.  For the remaining $20 of your sign up fee you will receive the following items:


    • Adhesive Runner (Z3372) - $6.95
    • 2″ × 2″ My Acrylix® Block (Y1003) - $7.50
    • Black Exclusive Inks™ Stamp Pad (Z2805) - $8.95
    • Mix-in Paper Packet (X9007) - $6.95
    • Mix-in Coordinating Cardstock (X9008) - $5.95
    • Piercing Tool (Z3547) - $7.95
    • Stamp Shammy (Z3579) - $10.95 (you actually get two shammies)
    • Non-Stick Microtip Scissors (Z1836) - $15.95 (these are the best crafting scissors I have ever used - my husband borrowed them once and then asked me to order him a pair too!)
    • US Customer Order Forms, qty. 25 (W101) - $4.25
    • Cardstock Sampler (W3003) - $4.00
    • Petite Perks—Feeling Fancy, qty. 3 (W2044) - $4.50
    • Desk Pad (W1140) - $4.75 (I love these - you get a pad of 50 and they are really big)
    • Let Me Show You How Stamp Set (D1785) - $18.95
    • US Core Catalog 2019–2020 (W1201) - $3.00
    • US Sept./Oct. Catalog, qty. 5 (WCS1201) - $10.00

That is a total of over $120 in additional items for $20!  And...if you discover that being a consultant is not for you, you are welcome to let a quarter go by without hitting the $300 minimum and I would be happy to have you back as one of my customers instead.  There is no contract that you will have to buy your way out of and you are never required to carry inventory so nothing there to worry about either.

This post is already way too long so here is an FAQ that has all the details regarding becoming a consultant that you can check out at your leisure:  https://reneprice.closetomyheart.com/ctmh/join-faq.aspx

If you think this is something you would like to explore, please let me know.  I will NEVER push you to meet sales goals (unless you ask me to) and I would just be so thrilled to have you on my Creative Hearts team!  We have a private FB group where I post fun information and you can share with each other.  My goal is to create a family of crafters who are there for each other!


Wednesday, July 17, 2019

Vintage Trailer Gift Box | Cricut Project

I made a cool vintage trailer gift box for my sons 29th birthday. Links to the products and files used in the description box of the video. 


Saturday, May 18, 2019

The World Is Yours - National Scrapbooking Month

Hi all!  Sorry I've been MIA from YouTube for a bit - we have been fighting the flu in our house and it was not messing around!!  I'm feeling much better now and finally have a voice so I'm doing some prep work and hope to film tomorrow.  In the meantime I wanted to share with you this amazing set of layouts you can make with our National Scrapbooking Month special paper suite.  These supplies are available through May 31st or until supplies run out.  I will warn you that the Cut Above kits has already sold out and we expect the rest of the collection to be gone soon as well.  So....if you like this suite, I would suggest picking it up ASAP!  Also...if you purchase this suite, you will also qualify for the stamp of the month at the discounted price of $5.00.  I'll throw a pic of the set at the bottom of this post.

Here's a link to my shop where you can find all the supplies to make these amazing layouts (and yes...one of them is a giant shaker!!!) - a total of seven pages!  The cutting guide and instructions for the layouts are also in my store and they are FREE!!!  https://reneprice.closetomyheart.com





And here's the stamp of the month:




Thanks for stopping by today and let me know if you have any questions!

Current Idea Book:  https://reneprice.closetomyheart.com/ctmh/products/online-idea-book.aspx

Tuesday, March 5, 2019

Lots of Close To My Heart March Specials!!

Hey all!  I just wanted to jump on and let you know there is so much going on this month with CTMH!  Not only are there amazing items on clearance (you have GOT to check those out but you might want to check them out quickly since many are selling out and they will not be back) but we also have these specials available just this month.  

BOGO Paper Party

All paper packs and coordinating cardstock are Buy One Get One 50% off through March 31st.   

Love Blossoms
With this beautiful kit you can create these 12 handmade cards - only available through March 31st or while supplies last:  



March Stamp of the Month:


I really love the stamp of the month!  It is called What's Happening and you can purchase the stamp set for only $5 with a $50 purchase.  Or...you can buy just the stamp set for $18.95




Check out all of these specials 
and much more on my website!! 

Saturday, February 23, 2019

Papercrafting videos this week and griping about all the rain in Tennessee!!!

Hi all!  I've posted a few videos this week and have more planned for next week!  I've been having lots of fun indoors while it's been pouring buckets and buckets of rain outside.  My first winter in TN is definitely living up to the warnings!!  Even the locals say they are tired of the rain!

This is the March Craft With Heart process video - I LOVED these layouts!  I can see all kinds of ways to use these same ideas in other pages to tell a multi page story.












I am donating some cards to a card drive for Children's Hospital so these are some videos capturing five of the designs I am putting together.  I love making cards for kids and these kids definitely need the pick-me-up!  If you are interested in taking part, you need to have your cards to Mary early next week.  Info on how to contact her is in the description box in both videos.


Well I'm off to the Y for my water aerobics class and then it's back home to do more crafting!  I have several layouts coming your way and an unboxing of a fun quilting subscription service I just received!  Watch for some actual sewing videos coming soon on my blog and YT channel!!!

Saturday, February 9, 2019

Lots of Videos!!!

Hi all!  I've been posting lots of videos on my YouTube channel lately.  Here is a sampling of some of the projects I've posted recently:

This was such a fun mini album!!  And the kit has so much in it that I still have several scrapbook pages left to assemble and lots of scraps to turn into cards!!

I started a series showing how I created the flowers for my wedding.  These are the first two videos of the series.
One of my goals for 2019 is to use up a bunch of my supplies stash.  
This is one of the videos I have posted showing how I've been using those papers.
I'm continuing to love my Craft With Heart Subscription.  These are the February pages.  Keep watching for the rest of the year.  I made some changes on these pages to better suit my needs and style.  It's amazing how you can change things around easily.  I've also found these kits are jumpstarting my own mojo and giving me a kick in the creative keister!


If you want to see more, just check out my channel by clicking on any of the videos and following them over to YouTube.

Thanks and have an awesome day!!