A Coffee Key Chain

Who doesn't love getting a gift card for your favorite coffee establishment? Especially when it's super cute and accompanied by a Base & Bling key chain!

Have you seen these adorable Starbucks cup gift cards that are designed to attach to your key ring? I couldn't pass them up, they are so cute and look amazing with a little penguin Base & Bling pendant.

This is just one idea for giving a gift card. Close To My Heart has many unique options to present those cards to your recipients. Just ask me how?! :)

Holiday Bling

The Holiday Expressions catalog introduced us to some new Christmas edition Base & Bling charms and style sheet. I will have these new items available for my customers during our annual Christmas Exchange Party just one week from today. They will get the opportunity to design necklaces of all shapes or even a key chain. They can spoil themselves with some handmade jewelry or get a head start on Christmas gifts.

The new style sheet is adorable and offers critters, floral's and sentiments. The charms include red drops, jingle bells and snowflakes! Here is just one necklace I created to display as inspiration.

Here are a few more ideas from the book~

 Take a look at the cute style sheet! They can be left square or you can easily use the 1" circle punch for the round frame.

I'll let you in on a little secret.....I've recently discovered that the newest Seasonal Expressions book arriving next month contains a fabulous edition to the Base & Bling collection making the necklaces even easier to give as gifts. I can't tell you what it is now! My lucky customers will get a sneak peek at our Christmas party! I'm so excited!!

First Ever Crate Card Club

Last month I introduced my customers to a new club I was starting. I call it the Crate Card Club!

This is the original photo I made for the flyer and introduction. I did an example and explanation of the club and handed out 6 colorful crates that day.

Our very first club met this past weekend and it is already a success! In fact I already gained an eighth member for our next club in January!

Here is how the club works~

Each member brings their crate filled with a sample card and all the materials for all other members to create their sample card. Each person gets a turn to be the teacher. We rotate to each member around the table until we have completed everyone's cards. In the end you create/design one card yourself and get to make 7 (depending on how many members you have that day) more cards taught by other members. They can be any occasion they desire, I only require that they use mostly Close To My Heart products.

Each member received a plastic crate that they could decorate as they desired. I gave away all the brightly colored crates so I used an older clear one that I dressed up in some black gross grain ribbon and a Base & Bling pendant.

Inside I had my designed card (inspired by the Snowhaven card making WOTG) the papers already cut, stamp set, embellishments and envelopes. I also had all the stamps we were going to use already mounted on blocks.

Here are the cards that were created from all the members~

My card

Nanette

Pat

Tommie

 

 

Barbie

Janet

Lori

What did we learn from our first get together?

1. We get to use stamp sets that we don't already own

2. We learn different styles as everyone has unique ideas

3. We learn clever and creative techniques we never tried before

4. Everyone has a different way of teaching

5. Several cards can be made in a little amount of time

6. We will have a variety of cards for many occasions

7. We laugh and have way too much fun being members of this club!!

I can't wait to meet again in January!

Also~

In conjunction with the Crate Card Club I held a Holiday Open House where I showcased some of the Autumn and Winter collections available in the Annual Expressions Idea Book. I also hosted a Base & Bling buffet and gave a sneak peek to several products that will be featured in the newest Seasonal Expressions Idea Book. Whew!!! Yes, it was a big day for me!{and that's only the half of it!}. Stick around and I will have photo's from my Open House soon!

Follow Your Dreams ~ Base & Bling

How about some Base & Bling today? Here is a little necklace I made for my sister-in-law. I used the square silver pendant, follow your dreams sticker from the Dreamer style sheet and feather charm. I added some length on the chain to dangle the feather and attached a navy denim polk-a-dot flower on it. Here is how the necklace was packaged using one of the cello envelopes and Washi tape.

I even stamped a sentiment on the bag that read, "for as you dream you shall become". Here is what the necklace looks like on.

If you are interested in making some fun jewelry for yourself or someone else as a gift the Base & Bling collection has everything you need. You can find the collection in the Annual Inspirations Idea Book pages 164-167. If you are interested in attending a Base & Bling Buffet and creating some jewelry with a fun group please contact me and I will set a date. These would make great Christmas gifts!

Base & Bling Ideas

Base & Bling was first introduced in the Spring/Summer 2014 Idea Book. Close To My Heart has continued the Base & Bling fashion line and has added many more fabulous products to this collection. You can click on the Idea Book link in the right hand column or click here to see them all, but I would like to show you a few I created for my Open House.

This first item is just a necklace. I actually wore it to work today, which is what reminded me that I never posted about it!! It is fairly basic and does not require to many extra's, but I think that it still looks stunning and believe that some projects should just be easy and quick!

Your Base & Bling creations don't only have to be necklaces! I purchased a pack of these rings very inexpensively and made this key ring. No more boring keys!!

Finally, I'd like to share the new oval cuff. Simply add a style sheet image of your choice and adhere an oval glass cover. This is a stunning addition to your jewelry collection as is or you can fancy it up with charms and ribbon.

Whether you choose a necklace, key ring or bracelet; any Base & Bling creation will be "Awesome"!

If you are interested in coming to a Base & Bling Buffet let me know! You can explore the wonderful products this collection has to offer and create an entire project or two while hanging out! Not a bad way to get a head start on Christmas gifts either!! Contact me for more information!

Summer Open House 2014

The brand new 2014-15 Annual Inspirations Idea Book will be released this week, Friday, August 1st. It is full of gorgeous new papers,  fun stamps, innovative tools and delicious embellishments!

I held my Open House to showcase just some of the fabulous new items. I called it a "Summer" Open House, because I will hold additional Open Houses later this year to truly show all the new items this book has to offer!

The new book will be available to view online this Friday and you may begin making purchases from the book then too!

{Welcome to my Open House}

 

One of the first "favorite" items is this red framed magnetic chalkboard. I love that Close To My Heart has introduced so many new home decor items. Several of these items have filled many walls and shelves throughout my home. This frame sits on a shelf in my dining room which already had red details in it so it was a perfect fit! It welcomed those ladies attending my Open House. I put some little bottle cap magnets on it just to show that it was not only a chalkboard. I'm excited to write messages on it or favorite quotes!

This is the my main table I had set up filled with lots of new goodies!

I wanted to show the new book, the 5 brand new colors {inks & paper}, a beautiful Seaside Workshop on the Go kit {it just happens to feature my own family pictures in it, woo~hoo!}, Picture My Life program and one of my absolute favorite items...the fundamental papers in the Whimsy color palette.

I showed a preview to a scrapbooking workshop using a gorgeous new paper called Brushed. This layout showcases a beautiful new stamp set and the cutest heart Washi tape in Lagoon! I also showed a level 3 layout using papers and embellishments from the Chalk It Up collection.
 

Finally I set up a display of the newest Base & Bling collections as well as a "try it" marker display. Yes, that's right, new markers and they are awesome!

I will have more detailed pictures of all these projects soon!

I also offered some handmade projects for sale. They included a mini album, 12x12 layouts and boxed card sets. I will have these posted in a "for sale" section on my Blog soon.

Be sure to stop back here at the end of the week! See the new book and be inspired by all the new products and the outstanding artwork. Want a new book in your hands? Just contact me and I'll help you with that. You can place your order for new products online here. Be sure to click on the JOIN button under my Inspiration 2014 gathering.

Simple Base & Bling Necklace

I was playing with some of the Base & Bling accessories earlier this week and made a few creations. I suppose I was inspired by all the new Base & Bling options coming in the next Idea Book! So I thought it was best to use some of the pieces I already own.

This necklace has a subtle old-fashioned appeal to it. I love the faux antiqued gold finish to this pendant and chain. It blends beautifully with the sorbet color of the Dreamer Style Sheet sticker. That darling little bow is the finishing touch don't you think?

Base & Bling with Ariana

My project today was inspired by Jeanette Lynton's favorite things in the latest Idea Book {found inside the cover page}. She has chosen pieces from the new Base & Bling, but has them displayed so neatly in a folded card.

I wanted to re-create this project myself using some Ariana papers that happened to match the necklace image I chose from the Storyteller style sheet. Now the necklace is perfect to give as a gift, complete with elegant packaging.

Base & Bling Necklaces

One of my favorite new products this Spring are the new Base & Bling necklace craft pieces. Wearable art is all the rage these days. I love that you can create something for yourself or a loved one that is simply unique and personalized! Here are a few I did to show at my Open House.

This first necklace represents my nickname given to me by my parents; 'Birdie' is what they would call me! I used a bird cage image from the style sheets and added the silver bird and feather charms.

Monograms are the perfect way to personalize a jewelry piece. On this one I chose a flashy and fun chevron image in bright colors. Before adding it to the pendant base I used an older black rub-on letter 'A'. I added the scissors and another charm of my own, a mustard seed given to me by my sister.

 

You can make these all your own, the possibilities are endless. To see all the style sheets and charms look in the latest Idea Book pages 80 & 81 or go online here.

Spring 2014 Open House

Just a few highlights from my recent Open House. I was focused on just a few new items from this Spring Idea Book~

New fresh paper collections~

Making your own jewelry with Base & Bling~

 

 

Picture My Life Scrapbooking Program~

 



 



Paper Fundamentals Basic Assortment~

These are just a few of the delightful new offerings in the Spring 2014 Idea Book! Check back here often to see more products and how I will use them in my projects!