3-D Projects!

Thanks to everyone for joining our challenges in January.  It has been a great start to 2012!  This week's challenge is a little different.  Make a 3-D Project!  This can be anything you like, but nothing flat like a card.  Please remember to include Close To My Heart products in your design.

Note: You have until this Saturday, Feb. 4th at 10:00 pm EST to play along with the January challenges and be considered for a spot in our monthly Top Ten!

Let's take a peek at the projects the Design Team has came up with this week, starting with our Guest Design Team Member, Jami.

 Jami

Allisa

 Ann 

Haley

 Jennifer

 Mary

 Tamytha

 Thanks for the great inspiration from the Team B Design Team Members!

 

Now it is your turn to show everyone your 3-D projects!  Remember to include Close To My Heart products in your project.  Please add your link below to your actual project, not your general blog link.  Thanks for joining in on the fun!

Photo Inspired Challenge

As "Scrapbookers", "Card Makers" and "Crafters", we find inspiration all around us! It can be found in a magazine, a television commercial, or a photograph.

Our challenge to you this week is to be inspired by this photo. What speaks to you? Perhaps it's the design, the colors or the images.




Let's see how the Design Team was inspired, starting with our Guest Designer Jami.

Jami

Lucy

Paige

Amy

Joelle

Mary

Carla

Your artwork is so inspiring Team A!

Now it's your turn! Show us how you were inspired by this photo using your beautiful Close To My Heart products! Be sure to link your post to the artwork for this challenge rather than your general blog address. Thank you!

Scrapbooking Layout - January

Sorry this is a few days late but better late than never, I always say! A new scrapbooking sketch from Cheryl has been posted at our H2H Scrapbooking page and it's fabulous! Here's her sample layout - click over for the sketch itself, see what Cheryl has to say about her sketch and layout and then play along!

Color Challenge PLUS

It's time for our first color challenge of the new year (with a twist), but first, THANK YOU to everyone who has already played last week's "something new" challenge. I think we may have set a record for number of participants, and you have all month to keep linking up your submissions! Just remember to use Close To My Heart products in some way in your project.

The first part of this week's challenge is to use the beautiful CTMH colors Crystal Blue and Amethyst on your artwork. The plus part of the challenge (should you choose to accept it) is to add some glitter to your artwork. This week also introduces our second string of Heart 2 Heart designers, our Team B, so let them inspire you, beginning with this month's talented guest designer, Jami.

Guest Designer Jami

Allisa

Ann

Haley

Jen

Mary G.

Tamytha

Now it's your turn! Let's see your creations using the Close To My Heart colors Crystal Blue and Amethyst. Take it to the next level with some sparkly glitter too!

Are you ready for a NEW year??

We are definitely ready!!! We have two teams ready to show you some great artwork, and a list of fun challenges coming your way! Keep in mind, there are no longer sponsored prizes but keep playing along because you never know when a goody opportunity might pop up! And there is still chances to be in our monthly Top Ten and be one of our Guest DT members!!

Speaking of prizes though, before we get to our challenge, I wanted to mention the ad you will find in the left sidebar. This was set up to generate a little income to support this blog and any goodies that are given away. I have also added a Pay Pal "tip jar" button so if you feel so inclined to send a little donation to support the prize cause, please do so. All monies generated will be used directly for this blog! Want to win your choice of CTMH products? That is just one way that prizes will be awarded - provided we have the funds to do that. Ok enough business - let's get to the challenge!

It's a new year so we want you to find a stamp that you haven't used yet and put it to use!! Or, if you have used them all (good for you!), find one that hasn't seen any ink in awhile and get stamping with it!!

Here is what Team A created for the challenge, starting with our Guest DT, Jami:

How cute is that?? Great project, Jami! Be sure to visit her blog for more details on this sweet artwork!

Amy

Paige

Carla

Mary

Lucy

Joelle

Fabulous start, Team A!! Don't forget to visit these gals blogs and leave them a nice welcome. And then grab your unused stamps and get creative! We want to see what you can do with this challenge. Just to remind everyone of the rules:

* Your project MUST use products from Close To My Heart

* You must link to the blog post with the artwork, not to your whole blog

Use the link box below - we can't wait to see what you create!

Can't forget our last two DT members!

Tow last members to meet and then we're on to a new challenge on Monday! Say hello to Carla Ganske from Team A:

Hi Mary, me name is Carla Ganske and I live in Elk Point Alberta. I work full time as a supervisor at a bank and I have been scrapbooking for 14 years!!!!

It all started when my son was born and my sister gave me some cardstock and deco scissors for my birthday!!  I have been published in Canadian Scrapbooker several times and designed for Scrapbooking Fanatics for two years. I run a monthly 10 for 10 club out of my home and teach classes in several of the communities surrounding my town. One of my scrapbooking "highlights" was when I was able to be a class assistant for Ali Edwards at ScrapFest...what a rewarding experience!!!!!

I enjoy spending time with my family. My husband Richard, my 13 yr old son Theo and my 11 year old daughter Hannah. We love to camp and quad in the summer time. Winter is spend quadding on warm days and lots of skating.

To stop in and say Hi to Carla at her blog, go here: http://carlaganske.blogspot.com/      

And last but not least, from Team B, meet Jennifer Zimmerman:

Hello, my name is Jen Zimmerman.  I live in Minnesota with my husband of 17 years and our three children ages 12, 10, & 7.  When I'm not crafting I enjoy reading, gardening and spending time my husband and kids.

I've been paper crafting since 1995, when my friend taught me how to stamp and heat emboss.  We didn't really have the right tools just yet, so we heated the embossing powder by holding the paper over the toaster.  Humble beginnings for sure!  I've also been keeping "scrapbooks" since I was in grade school.  When I'd go visit relatives, I would keep memorabilia like ticket stubs or brochures from places we visited and put it into the old style magnetic albums.  In 1997 I learned the importance of using archival quality materials and albums to preserve my photos and memorabilia for years to come.

Throughout the years, I've used many products from lots of companies.  In 2007 I found Close To My Heart and was hooked on the clear stamps, coordinating papers and the high quality of the products.   Since I wanted everything in the Idea Book, I became a consultant! Teaching and sharing ideas are passions of mine.  This past year through blogging, I discovered a whole new world of inspiration and a community of talented artists to learn from.  I hope to be a source of inspiration to others as well.  I'm really excited to be a part of the H2H Design Team!

You can see Jennifer's work at her blog here: jenzimmerman.blogspot.com

So that's the whole bunch of us! We're all looking forward to getting crafty with you this year so plan on joining in the fun every Monday! See you on the 9th!

Say hello to....

We're winding down with our introductions - 4 more to go! First up today is - from Team A - Amy Moore:

Hello! My name is Amy Moore. I have been married to the love of my life for 17 years. I have two wonderful children that inspire many of my craft projects and scrapbook pages. I have been a Close To My Heart consultant for 5 years now and my business is slowly growing. My passion for crafts, baking, cooking and scrapbooking are frequently shared on my little blog! I have been participating in Heart 2 Heart challenges for some time now, so I am totally thrilled to be a Design Team Member. Hope to see you play along and share your wonderful creations and talents with us here on Heart 2 Heart!

You can check out more about Amy on her blog here: www.amysartfromtheheart.blogspot.com

We also have an intro from Allisa Chilton on Team B:

Hello, my name is Allisa Chilton.  I have three boys and live in Southwestern Wyoming with my spouse of twelve years.  I started scrapbooking in 1997, after my first son was born.  I found DOTS around the same time through an ad in Creating Keepsakes.  I signed up to be a consultant in the same year.  My stamping addiction soon followed.  I love to tell the story with my scrapbook pages and creating handmade cards.  Crafting is my stress reliever.  I look forward to being on the H2H Design team and sharing my creations with you. I feel we can all be inspired by sharing our creations and can’t wait to see your creations as well!

And Allisa is found on the web here: http://rockymtnpapercrafts.blogspot.com/

Ok 2 more for tomorrow and then we'll be ready to roll on Monday!

Two more members to meet!

Next up on the introduction circuit is Lucy Kelleher on Team A:

Hello!  My name is Lucy Kelleher and I am so excited to be a part of the H2H Design team.  This will be my VERY first design team and I’m a little nervous but so looking forward to it! 

I live in Southern California with my amazing husband of 10 years.   We met while training in Aikido, a Japanese martial art almost 20 years ago.  We now own our own Aikido dojo (school) where I teach our children’s classes.  I became a trial paralegal right out of school but decided to change careers about 8 years ago.  I went back to school and became a teacher.  After 5 years of teaching 3^rd and 4^th grade students, I am now a full-time Close to My Heart consultant and LOVING it!  I have traded in teaching my little guys for teaching and creating memories with my “big” kids.

I have to admit that I was never particularly craft growing up.   I always wanted it to be “perfect” the first time I made something.  Hardly a stress-free activity!  I began crafting over 12 years ago when I saw a mother of one of my students working on cards in her car while waiting for her sons to come out. She invited me to a card workshop and I have been absolutely hooked every since.  I have been with Close to My Heart for a little over 6 years now and am always amazed at all the new products they come up with every year.  Every new Idea Book inspires me.  I have only been in the blogging world for a couple of years but love posting projects and ideas and getting feedback from others.  I am a firm believer that there are really no “mistakes” in creating.  ANYTHING can be fixed!  Absolutely anything!  

I can’t wait to get started and get to know everybody! 

My websites are:

Blog:  http://love2createitall.blogspot.com/

CTMH site:  http://lucyk.myctmh.com/

FB page:  http://www.facebook.com/LucyK.CTMH

Thanks Lucy and welcome!

And today from Team B meet Tamytha Jenkins:

My name is Tamytha Jenkins, but I also answer to Tammy. :)  I live in Merritt Island, Florida with my habit-supporting husband of 19 years.  I'm also a mom to a beautiful 15 year-old daughter, an imaginative 11 year-old son, and I can't fail to mention...one chocolate lab and two rescue cats.  I have been teaching middle school science for 8 years and even though I still love teaching...there's a lot about it that makes me crazy.  Thankfully, paper crafting keeps me sane...at least most of the time. :)  When I'm not spending time with my family, working, grading papers (yuck), or creating, I pursue spiritual activities, blog (and blog surf), and resell items on Ebay (the more old stuff I sell...the more new stuff I can buy). :) 

Even though I kept photos and memorabilia as a teenager, the addiction I have today started with a friend inviting me to come over to "scrapbook" when I was pregnant with my daughter.  I had never used that word as a verb before, so I had no clue what she was talking about.  However, she assured me, "Don't worry. You'll love it!"  Was that ever an understatement!  About a year later, in the pursuit of scrapbook supplies, I also discovered stamping.  Since then I've been fortunate enough to work and teach in local stamping and scrapbooking stores, and enjoyed the excitement of being published in a couple of scrapbooking magazines.  However, after giving birth to my son, I suffered with postpartum depression, that I let go untreated for way too many years and I stopped crafting.  After hitting bottom and finally seeking help, a dear friend of mine got me crafting again...and it felt good.  At that point, I made a promise to myself to make time to craft...it was no longer an option.  About a year later, I joined Close To My Heart as a way to make myself carve out creative time...and it's one of the best decisions I've ever made.  I've been with CTMH almost two years now and I'm feeling great! 

I have to tell you, I am so excited and honored to become part of the H2H design team.  But I'd be lying if I said I wasn't a little nervous to follow in the footprints (or should I say ink prints) of such talented artists, not to mention all of the talented artists that participate and follow the H2H blog.  However, I hope my art will not only please you all, but that it will motivate you to carve out time in your busy lives to create.  I look forward to getting to know all of you over the next several months.  And Mary, thanks for this wonderful opportunity!

You can all stop by and say hello to Tammy at her blog here: http://www.paperheartist.com   
More to come tomorrow!

More Intros and a correction

Well it seems I'm getting the year off on the wrong foot - I made an error in yesterday's post. We don't have 8 new DT members - we have 10!!! So let's get to more introductions!

First up today from Team A - Paige Dolecki!

I'm mom to three fabulous kids Eliza (16), Spencer (13) and Devin (10) and have been married to my college sweetheart Mark for 20 years.  We live in the beautiful Pacific Northwest in the foothills of the Cascade Mountains just outside of Seattle. I enjoy spending time being creative in my craft room with my new love bug, the Cricut Expression 2.  When I'm not covered in glitter and adhesive I can be found at my martial arts studio training for my Black Belt in Tae-Kwon-Do.  Making pretty things and kicking bags keeps me happy!

You can pop in and see Paige at her blog here: http://www.paigespaperparadise.blogspot.com.

Our next new member on Team B is Mary Gunn:

Some of my earliest memories involve loving paper, art, photographs, playing teacher, and gift shops. So, being a Close To My Heart Consultant is pretty much a perfect place for me to be!

Being on the Design Team of the Heart 2 Heart Challenge blog is an exciting place to be, as well. I am especially honored because of the previous Design Team artists who have inspired me with their projects and their encouragements over the years. Huzzah to you and thanks.

This month (January, 2012) I will be marking my 12th anniversary as a Close To My Heart Consultant and what a tremendous journey! I started as Mary Gunn, but have evolved into Mary Gunn FUNN! Not only have I been able to "play" with the best products in the industry, I have met the most fabulous customers, consultants, and corporate representatives while happily calling many of them friends. My business has gone from a few friends in my basement to online classes reaching "FUNN Fanns" from Maine to California, Japan and South Korea - who'd of thunk it?

I do plan to retire from Close To My Heart when I am 78 which is still quite a ways away - that is, of course, unless the Idea Book is just too good to give up that year! So, H2H Challenge blog followers, let's have some Mary Gunn FUNN and "make ladies happy and the world cuter!"

You can visit Mary at her blog here: http://marygunnfunn.blogspot.com/

Six more talented ladies to meet! Are you getting excited?

Meet our new DT!

With 8 new DT members, it's going to take me a couple of days to post all these intros so let's get to it!

In 2012, we will have two DT Teams - Team A will be headed up by myself and Team B will be headed by the talented Haley Dyer, who was a DT member last term.

Now for our new members - on Team A, please welcome Joelle Hiller!

My name is Joelle Hiller and I live in Western New York with my husband of 13 years, our two kids, 7 and 1, and our two cats.  I worked for 15 years as a high school math teacher, but recently left that position and am in the process of figuring out what I’d like to do next.

I have been a CTMH consultant since June 2009, which is when I saw paper samples for the first time and got myself hooked.  I love scrapbooking and card-making, and as much as I am a tech-friendly sort of person, I can’t see myself ever switching entirely to digital scrapping.  I love playing with paper, ink, and stamps; sitting in front of a computer just isn’t the same for me.

Being on the H2H design team now gives me an “excuse” to make my hobby a priority.  I am excited to contribute to this creative community that has provided me with tons of inspiration.  When I’m not busy creating, I like to read novels and research my family tree.

You can stop by and visit Joelle at her blog here: http://scrapbooksnippets.blogspot.com.

And from Team B, say hello to Ann Lessner:

 

Hello everyone my name is Ann Marie Lessner.  I am so happy to be apart of H2H.

I have been scrapbooking and stamping for almost 10 years and I have been apart of Close To My Heart for 4 years.  All my life I never thought of myself as crafty but when my best friend invited me to a stamping party something changed.  I found I really enjoyed making cards and gifts for my friends and family.  When I found Close To My Heart and saw how beautiful the stamps and scrapbook paper was, I was hooked from that point on.  I have also met the kindest and sweetest people during my time with this company.  Women who are willing to do anything to help you succeed.  

I have been married for 17 years to my high school sweetie.  We met the first day of my freshman year on the bus on the way to school.  We have been together ever since.  We have to wonderful kids, my daughter who is fiercely independent is 16 years old and working on picking just the right college.  My son will be 13 on the 21st of this month!!  He is such a hard worker and quite the good football and basketball player.  He also is an animal lover and I have yet to meet an animal that doesn't love him in return.  We have a mini zoo going on at my house with 3 dogs, 1 cat, 1 fish, and 1 lizard.  But in the next month or so we will be getting ducks again so my kids can raise them for 4h.  

I am looking forward to my time here with H2H and getting to know everyone.  Thank you for the wonderful opportunity!

Check Ann out at her blog here: http://www.creativeramblings345.blogspot.com.

More to come tomorrow - stay tuned!

Welcome to a New Year and new faces!

Welcome to H2H 2012! We have a lot of cool challenges coming your way with more Design Team members than ever before! This week, you will get to meet them all, starting today with our Guest DT for January, Jami Larson!

Hello, my name is Jami Larson and I'm thrilled to have this fun opportunity as the January guest designer. Thank you so much to the gals at Heart 2 Heart Challenges. I am from a town, of about 1500 people, in Northeast, South Dakota.  I am a mom to three boys ages 11,15 & 17, and have been married for going on 20 years. I have only been a CTMH demonstrator since August and am loving all of the great friendships that I have come to know, through what I do.  I am a complete Cricut addict, so the cartridge is what lured me in, and I am loving the Cricut/stamp combo. I am not a huge scrapbooker but do like sending homemade cards.   I'm rather practical and love using my Cricut and stamp sets to make fun, yet useful gifts. I'm so excited to be here and look forward to being able to share some projects with you.

We are excited to have Jami joining us and she is going to be playing along with us every week this month! Just so you know, all Guest DT members are chosen from our monthly Top Ten and this year, they will be hanging out with the DT every week (if they choose to). So watch for Jami's artwork starting this coming Monday, Jan. 9th and stop by and visit her blog at http://thepaperfarm.blogspot.com/.

Tomorrow, I will start to introduce the 8 new DT members - be sure to stop back and say HI!