Tuesday's Tips--New Year/New Beginnings/New Way to schedule/organize/prioritize your CTMH crafts

This is what happens when I am feeling a bit under the weather for more than a week.  My body is sooo lazy, but my mind keeps working.

I love Close to my Heart.  I want all of their products and I want to make a biz-zillion things. However, like most people I live in the real world, and I don't have a lot of spare $$.
 I needed a plan.
A way to see (with my very own eyes)
what promo's are coming up next,
what items I NEED,
what items I want,
what project I want to make.

This is my solution

I have created a file on legal sized paper (landscape orientation) which gave me enough room to add my info in each heading.
I started with the Month and added a pic of the SOTM
Now I can see at a glance what the stamp is and how I might use it in the future. 
 e.g. I love Dec's stamp, and the promo. But I know I won't have time to use them in Dec. 
However, I can buy them now and plan when I am going to use them.   
You can see that I bought Travel themed stamps in Dec. and am not planning on using them til Feb.

My Basic Supplies column is for items that I NEED--adhesive, more cardstock, etc. I want all the ShinHan markers, but can't afford to get them all at once, so I have scheduled in a plan to purchase 2 or 3 every month until my collection is complete. By planning what supplies I know I will need, I can easily ensure I hit the $50 min. order each month and qualify for the Month's Promo's.

Each page showcases 3 months.  I have done 6 months, which takes me to July....just in time for the NEW IDEA BOOK.  When the new book comes out I am going to pre-plan the basics for the whole year.

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Tuesday's Tip--No Plug Glue Toppers for Paper Crafting

So,  it's just a couple days before Christmas, and I am sick.
You know that icky feeling when you just don't have the energy to anything
 except watch TV or youtube.
And that's where I found this week's tip.
It's Brilliant..
Use silicone baby nipples for glue tops
I found this tip on Follow The Paper Trail

To view the video and see how easy and amazing this tip is click here

and watch the "No Plug Glue Toppers for Paper Crafting Video,



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December Decor--CTMH Cross Canada Hop

Welcome to our December Blog Hop featuring Christmas Decor.  

 If you came from Brandy's Blog you are in the right spot.  

Now on to the hop!

I have chosen to go outside my comfort box and create a 12x12 canvas.

This is not completely done (as I had a new grandbaby arrive 3 weeks early, which cut into my creative time)

 However, I hope you get a feel for my vision.

I will add the final tweaked creation in the next few days

Supplies

dessert sand ink

Pear & Partridge PML Cards

Glacier Cardstock

Sweet Leaf Cardstock

Gold Dot Washi Tape

Gold Sequins

Small Sparkle Flourishes

B&T paper from the new Hopscotch Paper Pack

Artbooking & Artiste Cricut Cartridges

Basically, everything except the 12x12 canvas is from Close to my Heart.

Hope you like it.

Your next stop on the Cross Canada Hop is at Nancy's Blog

 If you get lost along the way, you can head to Michelle S Blog,  as she has the complete blog list. 

Thanks for hopping along with us - we hope we were able to inspire you to get creative using some of the designs, products and techniques seen along the way. To purchase any of the items seen in our blog hop today, contact myself or your local consultant. 

 We hope you will join us again next month when we will be featuring Valentine’s Day creations.  So mark January 15th on your calendars and hop along with us.

Tuesday's Tip-Victorian Flair

I was asked to create a Victorian/Vintage Christmas Mini Album for a co-worker.

Which leads me to this week's tip

Sometimes you need to add more.

Below is my album--first attempt

My take on Victorian involved

*  Dessert Sand ink to distress all the edges

*  Images stamped off the corner of most pages

*  Paper ribbons

*  Gold polka dot washi tape

*  Dessert Sand Cardstock 

*  Retired Pear & Partridge paper

*  New Pear & Partridge PML set

*  Holiday Happening My Crush Asst.

  

Now I think it turned out pretty nice, but not really

 Victorian

so I added more stuff
and more stuff and now, I think it's leaning toward Victorian.

see below

So this week's tip...to achieve a Victorian Flair, dig out bits and pieces of lace, buttons & add layers to your layout.  

Thanks for stopping by. Please leave a comment. I love to hear what you think.