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

Thursday, December 22, 2011

DT Call reminder and SCRAPBOOK layout!

This month's scrapbook layout by Cheryl is a little late but I know you're all busy with holiday happenings so I know you'll forgive me!

Before I direct you to the sketch and sample however, I want to remind you about our Design Team call. So far, I have received very few applications so we need more people to apply!! Please consider trying out for the team and send your application to me today. Details on how to apply can be found in a post below.

Now for our next scrapbooking "challenge". You can find Cheryl's wonderful sketch and sample layout on our H2H Scrapbooking page. Check it out and play along. You know you have photos that need to go into albums!

Have a wonderful holiday!

Monday, December 12, 2011

Addicted to H2H?

I keep forgetting to post the names of those who played along with every H2H challenge in November. They are:

Sheila H.
Twyla Norris
Wendy Coffman
Kelly Brandt
Amy Moore
Karen C
Donna Davis
Polly
and our Guest DT Allisa

Thank you all for hanging out with us! If you don't have one already, feel free to pop over to our Badges page and grab the Addicted to H2H badge for your blog! And if anyone was missed on this list, please contact Haley at inkyscrapper@gmail.com and she'll add you.

Have a good week everyone!

A Virtual Holiday Card Exchange

Well it's our last challenge of 2011 - we hope you have enjoyed all the challenges we posed to you through out the year! Before we get to this last challenge, I just want to thank this round of the Design Team one more time for all their help these past months - you have all been beyond fabulous! Haven't they been great?

Starting Jan. 9 of 2012 we will have all new DT members and maybe YOU will be one of them. Be sure to check out the post below this one for details on how to apply. H2H wouldn't be here without talented people like yourself helping out!!

Now on to our challenge. Since it is the last challenge of the year, you can play along with this one right past New Year's Day! We're calling it a Virtual Holiday Card Exchange and here's all you have to do: post any holiday card you created using Close To My Heart products and wish everyone who stops by your blog a very Merry Christmas, Happy Hannukah, Happy Kwanzaa or whatever you celebrate this season!!

And now for holiday wishes from our Design Team, check out their cards (and blogs) below - be sure to leave them some love, too -







From all of us to all of you - thank you for keeping H2H a fun, inspiring place to visit and may you all have the very warmest and merriest Christmas and a fabulous New Year~~

Friday, December 9, 2011

New Design Team needed and some changes

It is almost the end of another year and this Monday will be our last challenge for the year as well as the last time we will be seeing our fabulous Design Team at work! A great BIG Thank YOU to my great team - they have really put in a lot of time and effort this term to bring everyone some awesome inspiration! You will all be missed!

But with their departure brings an exciting opportunity for you! It's time to apply for the next round of the Design Team here at H2H and we're changing things up a bit.

In 2012, there will no longer be any sponsored prizes. The majority (about 98%) of our players are consultants and there really is no sense in having consultants sending other consultants product. Seems kinda silly. Now that doesn't mean there won't be occasional goodies to be won but they won't be on a regular basis and they might just pop up and surprise you so you want to be sure to continue playing along with our challenges!!

Another change to the H2H blog is the formation of not one but TWO Design Teams!! The teams will both have 6 month terms but will split the responsibilities with Team A inspiring us one week and Team B inspiring us the next. This allows the teams members to get a little "break" and gives them additional time to get their artwork ready for their week's challenge.

If you would like to be considered for one of the teams, here is the application process:

* Email me with your Name, Address, Blog Address, Email Address and a little bio about you. Be sure to tell me how long you have been a consultant (you MUST be a CTMH consultant to be considered for the team but you can be in Junior status) and why you want to be a part of the team.

* You MUST know how to write and publish a post on Blogger. Each DT member will have a couple of weeks in which they will be responsible for creating the Monday challenge post. Don't worry - I (and another team leader) will be around to help out with this as well but please only apply if you are comfortable blogging.

* You must send photos of three of your pieces of artwork. DO NOT send me a link to your blog to look at your artwork there  - I want you to pick what you consider three of your best and include them with the application.

ALL applications must be received by December 30th. I will make the selection of the new team members by January 1st and the new team will start on January 9th.

Here are some more things to keep in mind about a position on the DT:

* You must be willing to join a Yahoo Group set up specifically for team members.
* You must be able to participate in every challenge for your team's week (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. You are also expected to weigh in on your choices of winners in monthly awards (Top Ten).
* You will be expected to visit the blogs of the challenge participants and leave comments.

What you get in return:

* Committment to producing artwork once every 2 weeks 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!


I think that about wraps it up. What are you waiting for? Send in your application today!! (Any questions can be directed to me at mbryt1@bex.net).

Sunday, December 4, 2011

Oh so much to talk about !!

I know, I know, another week has come and gone and I am just not getting around to November's prize winners and Top Ten! Where does the time go? Our prize winners from our fabulous November sponsors are:  From week 2 (metal challenge) - #18 Donna Davis and from Week 3 (gratitude challenge) - #15 Kelly Brandt! Ladies email your mailing information to me and I will forward it to the sponsors.

Our Top Ten for November are:
Week 1:
Week 2:
Week 3:

 Week 4:

There is no Top Chick this month as there is no December Guest DT. But that doesn't mean there wasn't outstanding work this month! Just click each photo above to see the complete project these ladies made - awesome! Congrats to you all! Your badge info will be emailed soon.

Now on to this week's challenge. Remember, we are not playing for prizes this week but we hope that won't stop you from joining in!

This week we are working with an inspiration photo - take a look:


So much to love here! The colors, the giant letter, the ribbon, the twiggy wreath....what speaks to you? What about this photo will inspire your project this week? Let's see what the DT came up with:






Now it's your turn. Use the photo to get those creative juices going and then post your finished project below. We're looking forward to some great artwork!!

And one last thing - I will announce the DT application information in the next couple of days as well as the list of everyone who participated in every challenge in November so come back soon!

Please remember - you MUST use Close To My Heart products in your artwork or your link will be removed. Thank you.

Monday, November 28, 2011

Sketch Week and some announcements

Thanks to everyone who played along with our challenges in November. I will be drawing the winners of the sponsored prizes later this week and will announce them along with our November Top Ten. A great big THANK YOU to our sponsors, Wendy and Teri - you gals rock!

We are starting a new month but will only have a couple of challenges before we take a much deserved holiday break so there will be no new Guest DT and no sponsored prizes for December. But I hope you will still play along with us!!!

As we are heading into December, this will also be the last few weeks for our current Design Team. Haven't they been awesome?? I can't thank these ladies enough for hanging out with us these past few months and wow-ing us with their artwork week after week.

But with their departure, the doors are open for YOU to apply to be in the next DT group!! Watch for the details on how to apply later this week, as well, and then send in those applications. The team will be bigger than ever so I hope you will throw your hat in the ring!

Now on to this week's challenge. A favorite - a sketch! Here's the sketch we're working with:


Now let's see what the DT has to share with you for this week's challenge, starting with our departing Guest DT for November, Allisa:

Beautiful in blue! Thank you for joining us this month, Allisa!

Also, playing along is one of our November sponsors, Wendy:

Another blue beauty! I love these colors for a holiday card - so fresh and fun! Thanks for playing along Wendy!







And there you have it - a sketch flipped every possible direction with amazing results! So let's see what you can do with it. Just be sure to include CTMH products or your link will be removed! Have fun creating!



Monday, November 21, 2011

Time ....for a new challenge!!

It's Time for a new challenge so get your thinking caps on because our theme this week is Time.

We want to see what you can create using this theme - maybe you will use clocks, or the word Time...or Timeless.....got you thinking now, don't we?

Let's see what the DT came up with:






Got some ideas swirling in your brain? And some Time to play along? Then we want to see what you create with this week's theme! Link up below and be sure to include Close To My Heart products in your artwork!

Wednesday, November 16, 2011

A day late and a dollar....

You know that saying right? A day late and a dollar short? Well, I seem to be a dollar short often but I try not to be a day late - not when it comes to posting our next fabulous scrapbooking sketch from team member Cheryl! Alas, the time got away from me this week. But fear not - the sketch and Cheryl's sample layout are now posted on our H2H Scrapbooking page!  Just go to the link at the top of this page to get to it and then - well, you know what to do - play along!!

Want to leave a comment? Please leave it on this post. Happy scrapping!

Monday, November 14, 2011

From Your Heart to Ours - Gratitude

November is the month when we are most inclined to think about the people and the things we are grateful for. I have a long list of blessings including my wonderful DT members, past and present, as well as all of the creative people who come to Heart 2 Heart every week and play along with our challenges. Thank you!

This week, we want you to share From Your Heart to Ours about someone who deserves some gratitude in your life. Create a card or other project for someone you are grateful for. Tell us about this special person and why you created the item for them. Then make sure you send it to your recipient so they know how you feel! Make your gratitude known and share with us along the way.

The DT has some special projects to share with you - be sure to stop by each person's blog to find out who they created their item(s) for -






Thank you for spending your time with us today and each week. We look forward to sharing your project of gratitude. Link up below and be sure to use Close To My Heart products in your project or your link will be removed!

Sunday, November 6, 2011

Metal mania!

Oh we have so much to get to so let's get to it!

First up, I have two prize winners to announce from last month's challenges. Those winners are:
From week one (sketch week) - #36 Melanie B
From week three (numbers week) - #10 Karen C

Congratulations ladies! Please send your mailing info to me at mbryt1@bex.net and I will pass it along to the October prize sponsors.

I also have a terrific Top Ten to announce today and here they are:

Week one - sketch:


Week two - layout with a story:


Week three - numbers:


Week four - Halloween/Fall:


And our Top Chick of the Top Ten is Jami Larson:


Congratulations to you all! You will be receiving an email soon with directions on how to add a Top Ten badge to your blog.

Last but not least, the following players completed all 4 challenges in October:

Amy Moore
Wendy Coffman
Marie with a :)
Allisa, our Guest Designer
Lisa Bzibziak
Kelly Brandt
Karen C.

Please head on over to the Badges page and grab the code for the Addicted to H2H badge for your blog. If anyone was missed, you can contact Haley at inkyscrapper@gmail.com. Thanks for playing along with us through the month of October!!

Now on to this week's challenge. We want to see how you can incorporate something metal into your project. This can be a simple embellishment on a card or it can be...well, let's take a look at what the DT came up with for more inspiration:






These gals really took the theme and ran with it - in a lot of different, gorgeous ways! Now let's see what you can do with metal. Link up below and be sure to use Close To My Heart products!!