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If you {heart} Close To My Heart, then this challenge blog is for you! Please read our revised rules, above.

Monday, December 27, 2010

Looking for sponsors for 2011

If you would like to sponsor the H2H blog with a prize in 2011, please contact me. I am setting up a schedule for sponsors and would like to get a few months filled. There will be a few changes to the sponsorship program and it will be outlined to all potential sponsors, with a post for all about the changes after the 1st of the year.

* If you have been a sponsor previously, please do not request to be a sponsor again at this time. We would like to give the opportunity to new sponsors first and will contact past sponsors if we have spaces to fill.

To find out more, send me an email at mbryt1@bex.net. Thank you~

Friday, December 24, 2010

DT Applications - deadline extended

Due to the holidays, the deadline to send in applications for the Design Team has been extended until Dec. 29. Please see the Dec. 10th post for details on how to apply and send in your application soon! A new team will be chosen and notified by Jan. 1.

Thank you and happy holidays!

Wednesday, December 22, 2010

Odds and Ends

First I want to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas! Only a couple days away - are you ready? I still have wrapping to complete but the baking and shopping are finished! Finally!

Just a few things to post before the holidays come and go -

Don't forget to apply for our next round of Design Team members. If you like playing in our challenges, you'll love being a part of the team! See the post on December 10th for all the information about applying and send your application soon!

I have been looking for the prize winner from a couple of weeks ago and I never did hear from Marcie so I drew another name from that week and the new winner is : #19 - the Paper Princess!  If that's you, please contact me at mbryt1@bex.net so Kim can send out your prize!!

Keep posting those holiday cards - there is a prize to be awarded when we start up with new challenges in January! There will be a few changes to H2H and hopefully everyone will like the new things we will be bringing you in 2011!

That's it for now - see you after the 1st of the year!

Saturday, December 18, 2010

Friday Five - Saturday Style!

What a great way to wrap up this year's Friday Fives with a gift related challenge! There were so many awesome entries, narrowing down to 5 was a difficult task but we finally picked those we want to showcase. And I'm excited to see a couple of past DT members playing along! Congratulations to this week's "chosen ones":

Fabulous projects, everyone!

Over the next few weeks, we want to see your holiday cards so check out the post below - there's a prize for someone to be awarded in January, when we come back with an all new DT after a little holiday break.

And don't forget that applications are now being accepted for the next round of the DT. See the December 10th post for all the details and apply!

Monday, December 13, 2010

Last Challenge of the year!

Thank you to everyone who played along with our gift challenge this past week - there were some awesome ideas and beautiful projects!  And one lucky person was drawn to win Debbie's prize package and that person is.....#15 ANN! Please email me at mbryt1@bex.net and send your address so I can pass it along to Debbie!

And a big Thank You to Debbie for being a great sponsor! Be sure to visit her at Scrappin' My Heart Out and leave her a little love!

This week will be out last challenge of the year and will run until Jan. 2 - that's 3 weeks to play along while we all take a little holiday break. And it's an easy one. We know you are busy creating holidays cards for loved ones and we want you to share your creation with us! That's all there is to it - post your favorite holiday card using CTMH products (Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwaanza, New Years.....) and feel free to post more than one!

And to top off the fun, there is not one but 2 prizes in store for one lucky player! If you're going to be playing for three weeks, might make it worth your while, right? So this is a 4 for 40 week and I am your hostess but unfortunately, I didn't get a tip or idea prepared for you. Been sick all week and haven't had a chance to think something up. I know - lame excuse. BUT I'm going to make it up to you! I am not only going to send our winner 4 cards created by me but also a surprise package of goodies!!!  It will be like getting a Christmas gift after Christmas!

So are you ready to see what the DT has to share with you on their final week?? Be sure you stop by these talented ladies' blogs and leave them a great big THANKS for all the incredible artwork they have shared with you week after week - they are true inspiration!








Gorgeousness! Thank you team - you have been so great to work with!

Don't forget that we are now accepting applications for the next Design Team that will start in January. See the post below for all the details. And, last but not least, watch for a new look and new goodies here at the blog in the New Year!

From all of us at H2H, a very Happy Holidays to everyone!

Friday, December 10, 2010

Friday Five and DT CALL

It's time for a new Friday Five but I want to start out today's post with information on applying for the next round of Design Team members!

The current members will be ending their term on December 13th so it's time to find new members!! Do you have what it takes? Here are the requirements to consider before applying:
* You must be a current Close To My Heart consultant (Junior consultants are welcome).

* You agree to be a member of the Design Team for a term of 4 months.

* You must have a blog and be willing to join a Yahoo Group set up specifically for team members.

* You must be able to participate in every week's challenge (posted by 6:00 am on Monday mornings) and have your artwork for each challenge posted to the DT Yahoo Group the Saturday before the challenge begins.

* You must be willing to post your artwork on any other boards/galleries you belong to and advertise our challenge blog whenever and where ever you can so we can continually grow in numbers of participants. We currently have a group at Paper Craft Planet and on Facebook that I would like DT members to join but this is optional.

* You will be expected to participate in any extra programs that we may decide upon as a team (for example, the past 4 for 40 program). You are also expected to weigh in on your choices of winners in weekly awards (a new version of Friday Five - more details to come).
* You will be expected to visit the blogs of the challenge participants and leave comments.


What will you get in return?

* Committment to producing artwork once a week gives you an opportunity to create on a regular basis!

* Increased blog traffic which will hopefully lead to an increase in your business!

* Fun and fellowship with the entire team and a chance to meet new consultants and CTMH fans!


Now who couldn't use a little of that?


To apply, please send an email to me at mbryt1@bex.net .

You must include the following:

* Name, address, phone number, email address, blog address, website address (if you have a website).

* A brief bio telling me how long you have been with CTMH, a little about your stamping/scrapbooking background, and anything you would like to share about your family or hobbies, for instance.

* Please tell me if you have ever had any experience on any other Design Teams

* Tell me why you would like to be on this team.

* Tell me what your favorite type of challenges are.

* You MUST send 3 samples of your best CTMH artwork. These do not have to be elaborate but they must be well done, attractive and clean.


The deadline to apply is December 24th and new members will be notified December 30th and announced on the blog on January 3rd. The first challenge for the new team will be January 10th.

Ok, now on to our fabulous Friday Five! Take a look at these awesome creations based on last week's sketch:


Gorgeous work everyone! I will be sending out your badge info soon.
 
There is only one more challenge coming up this Monday so be sure to play along this week and next! We will then be taking a little break until the new year and there will be a whole new look and surprises planned for everyone when we resume in 2011!

Monday, December 6, 2010

It's Gift Week

We're now into December and that's the perfect time to turn to gift ideas. The DT has some adorable projects to share with you, but first, a little odds and ends -

Our winner of Kim's wonderful prize is.....#11 Marcie! Congratulations Marcie - please contact me with your mailing address at mbryt1@bex.net and I will forward your info to Kim. And a big THANK YOU to Kim for sponsoring! Remember you can stop by Kim's blog and say howdy by clicking HERE.

We have another sponsor this week - one of our former Guest DTs - Debbie Carriere! Here is the package Debbie will be sending one lucky player this week:


Lots of goodies - just in time for Christmas! You can stop by and check Debbie out at Scrappin' My Heart Out. And Debbie has a really great creation to share with you for this week's challenge too so be sure to visit !

The announcement and guidelines for applying for the next round of the Design Team will be posted tomorrow so please check back then and consider applying!

Ok, on to this week's challenge. We are focusing on gift items - NO cards! We want to see what you can create or dress up as a small gift for someone this holiday season. Let's see what the DT has ready to give as a gift this year:







Wouldn't you love to get a sweet gift like these at Christmas? I know I would! So now it's your turn - let's see what gift item you can create. You might just win Debbie's awesome prize package or be in our next Friday Five!

Friday, December 3, 2010

Thankful for our Friday Five - and ALL of you!

Last week we saw some beautiful expressions of thanks created by our fabulous players. Thanks to each of you for playing along and making Heart 2 Heart Challenges a fun blog!

As it always is, narrowing down our choices to just five was no easy feat but we have finally made our decisions and this week's Friday Five are:


And can I just say that blue was a theme among these "thanks" cards... must be the "in" color! All are lovely! Congratulations ladies! Click the photo to see the entire project.

I will be sending out your badge information this evening - Michele and Brenda - I do not have your email address. If you need a badge code, please contact me at mbryt1@bex.net

Still time to play along this week! We are looking forward to seeing your creations!

Monday, November 29, 2010

Sketch week!

Hello once again and welcome to a new H2H challenge. This week is one of our favorites - sketch week! But before we get to that, let's tie up some other loose ends.

There were not 40 players last week so unfortunately no winner of Mandy's 4 for 40 package. :(  There will be one more chance this year for a 4 for 40 prize in a couple of weeks and there may even be an extra goody or two so stay tuned!

This week, we have another fabulous sponsor - Kim Harper! Kim will be sending one randomly selected player a Triple Play kit! Great prize and even makes a great holiday gift! You can visit Kim's blog at Care to Scrap? and while you're there, leave her a "hello" and a "thank you".

This is also the last week with our talented Guest DT member, Leisa. Thanks for playing along with us Leisa - we enjoyed having you on the team!

And finally, I want to let you all know that December will be a bit different as we will be taking the last part of the month off from challenges. But never fear - there is something in store so you want to check back each week to find out what we have going on. And our current DT members will be staying with me a couple more weeks but I will soon be announcing NEW DT APPLICATIONS!

Ok ready for this week's sketch? Here it is:


And here is the fabulous artwork the team created using this sketch, starting with Guest DT, Leisa -









Are you ready to get sketchy with us? Here's a reminder of how to play along. Just create your card (or other project) based on the sketch and upload it to your blog or other public online gallery. Then come back here and leave a direct link to the post below in the Mister Linky box. You just might win this week's prize or be chosen as one of our next Friday Five!

Have a creative week!

Saturday, November 27, 2010

Our Girly Friday Five!

Sorry for the late post - out of town company for the holiday will do that to ya! Hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving (also known as Thursday to our non-American friends!)

Here are our top 5 girly artwork picks - enjoy!


Congratulations, ladies! Your Friday Five badge information will be in your email this morning. If you don't receive it, drop me an email at mbryt1@bex.net.

A new challenge will be posted Monday but there's still time to play along with our Thank You card challenge! See you soon!

Monday, November 22, 2010

Thank YOU!

Happy Thanksgiving week! We certainly have a lot to be thankful for and here at H2H we are extremely grateful for YOU! Thanks for playing along every week and sharing your beautidul artwork with us.

My thanks also to my incredible Design Team who create such awesome projects every week - you inspire me!

This week we are all about Thanks and want to see your best Thank You card. Before we get to the DT artwork, though, we have a winner to announce from last week's challenge and that person, chosen by random draw is .....#7 Jennifer Germain!  Jennifer wins the prize package from our wonderful sponsor, Mary Eisen. A bit THANK YOU to Mary for sponsoring us! Jennifer please contact me at mbryt1@bex.net with your address so I can forward it to Mary and she can send out your prize!

This is also a 4 for 40 week and our hostess this week is the lovely Ms. Mandy! And Mandy has something fun to share with you - check it out:

"With paper flowers being a big trend right now I figured this would be a perfect time to share how I make my paper flowers. Not only do handmade paper flowers look great on cards and scrapbooking layouts but they’re also perfect for home décor items. With the holidays around the corner you can easily whip up a few paper flowers, add them to a candle and viola… a great little handmade gift! So grab your Close To My Heart cardstock, ink, scallop punch, a brad and get crafting to make your own paper flower(s) to add to your Thank You card for this weeks’ challenge.
Be sure to check out the video below that shows you the step by step process to making paper flowers. Can’t wait to see what you all create."



In case this doesn't work here, you can click this link to see the video.

How freakin' cool is that? Here is one of the cards Mandy created just for her 4 for 40 week:


Thanks Mandy for sharing your artwork and super-fab tutorial with us!

Want to win a set of 4 cards from Mandy? Then get your friends and family and customers and uplines and downlines to play along this week because we need 40 players in order to award this prize!

Now on to the rest of the team's samples, starting with our uber talented Guest DT, Leisa:








Are you inspired yet? We hope so because we would love to see what you can create this week that expresses thanks. Post your project by 10 pm EST on Sunday and leave us a link here. That's all there is to it!

Have a wonderful turkey day!