Charming Chevron Card

Here is a quick, easy card using Lollydoodle Bulk paper and A1150 Charming Chevrons.  The words come from C1540 Hello Blooms and C1543 Perfect Fit -Mom.  The stitching is from C1564 Stitch Wonder.  5 Bitty Sparkles add a bit of bling. Ink colors are: Slate, Sorbet, Cotton Candy, Gypsy, Sky and Pear.  The words can be changed to fit many occasions.

Creative Corner & Business Bit: Keep in Touch With Your Customers - CTMH Monthly Newsletter

Creative Corner:

Here is a quick, easy card using Lollydoodle Bulk paper and A1150 Charming Chevrons.  The words come from C1540 Hello Blooms and C1543 Perfect Fit -Mom.  The stitching is from C1564 Stitch Wonder.  5 Bitty Sparkles add a bit of bling. Ink colors are: Slate, Sorbet, Cotton Candy, Gypsy, Sky and Pear.  The words can be changed to fit many occasions.




Business Bit:

This week has been pretty crazy here in Seattle with Super Bowl Sunday approaching! We sent off our Seahawks this week and we have been watching all the press conferences too. With all this craziness and attention, they understand that they need to focus at each practice to play their best on Sunday.

Just like our sports teams, even with all the craziness that is going on in our own lives, we need to focus and continue to live our lives so we can perform our best.  CTMH has provided an awesome tool to make keeping in contact with our customers Faster, Simpler and Easier!

Rediscover Events! and Clear the Clutter.

Rediscover Close To My Heart Events

I had a conversation recently about my goals for 2014 - one of my goals this year is to encourage as many team members as possible to attend at least one CTMH corporate event.  

CTMH is hosting several regional events in the coming months, designed to be affordable for a larger amount of people. Join us at one near you to enjoy the high-energy motivational atmosphere and to be in the know of the latest and greatest from Close To My Heart!  I will be attending the first two events and hosting an abreviated team meeting from 4-5 pm.  Events will be held in the following locations from 6-9 PM -  registration begins at 5 PM

Business Bit: The Three "P's"

Why not you?
You might be asking why there is a football photo on my blog today and what football has to do with CTMH?  It's interesting how you can find inspiration all around you that you can use when you think about CTMH.  For those of you who aren't football fans, last Sunday was a huge deal here in Seattle.  Our football team, the Seahawks are headed to the Superbowl!  As my husband and I watched all of the pregame hype there was an interview with our 2nd year quarterback, 25 year old Russell Wilson.  He talked about how he was told that he'd never make it as a starting quarterback in the NFL because he's too short at 5' 10+.  His dad always asked him "why not, you?" which he has since turned in to "why not us?" refering to his team.  I love this young man, he has such a positive attitude even when the Seahawks lose.  He has a belief in himself and doesn't quit trying to better himself.  Russell was asked about other things he learned from his dad and he shared that his Dad taught him the 3 "P's"  Purpose, Perspective and Perserverance.

I thought, what great words these were and that can be applied to most anything in life including CTMH!

Purpose - Have a goal, why did you sign up as a consultant?  What keeps you moving forward?  Is it for the discount, the monetary income, to be a leader, recognition, friendship, trips, as a way to meet new people and share a craft?  What do you want to accomplish in the coming year? 

Perspective - are your goals in line with the reality of your daily life?  Are you willing and able to do what it takes to reach your goal?

Perserverance - I have been asked my best advice for a new consultant and my answer is simple - There will be challenges so - be consistent, do your best and above all don't quit! 

Mini Business Bit: Invest in Your Business, Creative Corner

Most people understand that when they start a business, it will take a lot of hard work to make it successful. But everyone also understands that when a young business is successful, the rewards are enormous! Here are a few quick tips on what to invest into your growing business. My personal favorite is the "emotional investment" because many of us overlook the emotional toll that it takes to get a business up and running!

Card With Lollydoodle

Creative Corner

I have had fun creating with our new stamps and papers!  Here is one of the cards for my February classes.  It features the Lollydoodle Bulk Zipstrip with Pear cardstock.  Inks are Pear, Whisper and Buttercup.  Stamp sets are B1452 Funky Blossoms, D1559 Geometric Backgrounds and D1542 For a Friend.  A bit of 3D Foam tape and Paradise Assortment Baker's Twine finish this quick easy card.  Stay tuned for more creations coming soon.

Quick tip: I cut my white daisy card bases down to 5 1/2 x 4 so I can get 6 Pear card fronts out of 1 12x12 sheet.  Saves paper and most people don't even notice.

Article of the Week: Forget Setting Goals. Focus on This Instead

Hello everybody! I just wanted to introduce myself. I am Kathi, Naomi's new social media assistant and I will be up-keeping the blog as well as creating Instagram and Pinterest accounts so we can all have different outlets for keeping up-to-date with CTMH and the team! 

This week's article is all about setting up systems, not just setting  goals for ourselves. Naomi once again apologizes for letting the blog fall to the bottom of her to-do list; but this time, instead of setting a goal of updating the blog twice a month, she hired me. The system that we've implemented to keep ourselves accountable involves shorter entries with multiple entries per week. We are aiming for new posts to go up every Tuesday and Thursday to keep us all updated and motivated. 

If you have any suggestions for us, please please please leave a comment! We love hearing from you! 

Naomi's note:
As most of you know, I am a huge believer in the power of goal setting, but what often happens is that we lack a clear and structured action plan to help us achieve our goals.  The following article is food for thought.

Card Box & Cricut Pillow Box

This is a super cute card box that was shared and taught by Lynn Christopher at the Oregon Team meeting.  It measures about 3x3 and has a drawer that pulls out with a card on top.

Click to Download Directions!!

I love this Cricut pillow box that was shared at the November 2013 Oregon team meeting
It features Sparkle and Shine paper, Washi tape and the Scallop Border Punch.  I can imagine this project easily done with some of the new Spring/Summer papers.  I don't know who shared this, if it was you or someone you know, please leave it in the comments so I can give credit.

Shout Outs!: Costa Rica Trip Earners - Creative Corner

Business Bit: News Flash!

Log into your OBA and check out the new Aussie stamps that CTMH made for the Australian/New Zealand customers. All Consultants can order 2 now during the preview period: C1586, D1596, C1585, D1597, D1598, D1601 and then yes, your customers can purchase them as well beginning February 1st.  

Shout Outs!:
With the 50 degree winter weather in Seattle, I know I can't wait to get down to Costa Rica in March! So many of our team have worked so hard to get there too. Congratulations to the team members who made it and a very special shout out to Joy Tracey who is the first to earn the Aulani Hawaii Trip 2015! 

Business Bit: Business Brainstorm from Team Meetings

Welcome to 2014 and welcome to my new blog! The New Year calls for new ideas and inspiration. Here are some sales ideas to get your year started. 

Business Brainstorm From the Oregon and Washington Team Meetings 2013

  Ways to Promote Sales in January 2014

·         Customer appreciation day

       -pamper customers

       -make and takes (3)

       -gift certificates

       -give old swap cards

       -make a handmade gift to give if they purchase a certain amount

·         Catalog parties     

 ·         Any online orders- send them a free catalog

·         Promote retired list

·         National Paper-crafting Month Special

·         Picture My Life albums

·         Pre-scheduling workshops for January

·         Wish list for husband/friends for gift giving occassions - offer gift wrapping

·         “So you got a Cricut for Christmas” workshop

·         Themed (pajama/pretty in pink, etc.) party; base workshop around the theme

Creative Corner: 

Cloud 9 card for my January classes.  I used the card design from the 2013 Dream Pop Constant Campaign.  I needed to be able to cut enough B&T for 20 cards from the 1 piece of B&T.  I'm giving my customers the option of which stamp to use by cutting extra Cricut cuts.

My January Stamp of the Month - Cross-Stitch Wishes card featuring Babycakes.  I cut the "You are the BEST" stamp apart to make it easy to stamp on the Cricut cut hearts. The card design is from Make It From Your Heart 2 - Pattern 22 page 43

Valentine's Day treat/gift holder
technique feature - sponging the For Always B&T  - the back is covered with a piece of the Sparkle and Shine Bulk Stripe.  Cardstock cut at 6 1/4 x 4 3/8, scored at 1 1/4.  I used a 4 1/4 square cello envelope from www.Clearbags.com . You can also use a 4x4 Flip Flap.  I have alternate words shown on the right.

Laughing Lola card/giftcard: recipe below - card insert is 4x4 - Holder is 4 1/2 x 8 1/2
fold in half and score one end at 1 1/4" - Bakers twine holds the card closed.

Laughing Lola - Banner Wishes

B1438 Banner Wishes Stamp Set

A1150 Charming Chevron Flair Stamp Set

D1514 Just a Number Stamp Set

Bulk301 Laughing Lola B&T

X5762 Lagoon Cardstock

X5754 Crème Brulee Cardstock

1385 White Daisy Cardstock

Z1829 Glitter Paper Black & Grey

Z2172 Whisper Ink Pad

Z2195 Lagoon Ink Pad

Z2105 Black Ink Pad

Z2191 Sunset Ink Pad

Bulk 251 Bakers Twine Grey Wool

Bulk232 Sparkles

Z1912 Corner Rounder

Cricut Art Philosophy  - page 62  shift <leaf 1>  ¾ inch (for candle flame)

Card by Lalia Harris with slight tweak by me
I cut the Happy Birthday stamp apart and mounted it on 2 different blocks to make it easier to use in my workshop.