CTMH Convention ... in Disneyland

The annual Convention for Close To My Heart was held in June at the Disneyland Resort.  This fun event, attended by over 1,000 consultants from the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, is the highlight of the CTMH year.  New products are introduced, the Annual Inspirations catalog and idea book is revealed, projects are created with new papers and ink, Extravaganza presenters share their beautiful creations, and friends from across the country get to spend an inspiring weekend together.  

The theme was 'The Artistic Adventure' and the CTMH corporate staff prepared a wonderful series of General Sessions, business classes, and creative projects for all consultants. 

Even 'Sticky Boy' was prepared for an adventure, wearing a fedora and carrying a suitcase.  Each year, CTMH creates some new 'Sticky Boy' stamps and hides them on surfaces (doors, windows, phones, walls) in the Convention Center.  It is a special surprise to be able to find one. 

In order to keep the color palette fresh and up-to-date, CTMH introduced five new colors available as ink and cardstock.   These will be available in the new Annual Inspirations idea book and catalog being released August 1.    

During the Awards Banquet, which included a delicious formal dinner, Janice Hodgkin (my friend and upline) received a special pin honoring her 15 years as a CTMH consultant. 

A new cartridge for the Cricut machine was introduced.  The Artfully Sent cartridge is specially designed for card makers.  It includes 5 styles of cards (pop-up, build-a-scene, sentiment, sleeve, pocket), an alphabet, and coordinating envelopes.  Look for it to be available for purchase during August.   

Disneyland Resort offered a great hotel room rate for everyone attending Convention.  The room is filled with Disney magic, including a headboard which twinkles with fireworks and music.  

For the first time, CTMH organized a "Rise & Shine 5K" run/walk.  More than 300 consultants met early on Saturday morning and were excited to walk 3.1 miles through the California Adventure park before it opened to the public.   By 8 am, I had already logged more than 7,600 steps on my FitBit Flex.  

An early morning in the theme park, with almost no one else around, is truly magical. 

Seeing Disney characters around the hotel and parks always makes me smile.  Even though Cruella de Vil is an evil villain, her outfit is striking.   

The annual Close To My Heart Convention is open to all Consultants.  Next year will be held in the Convention Center at the Disneyland Resort again, July 8 thru 11.  Join the CTMH family, and you can enjoy all the fun too! 

All papers and stamps are from Close To My Heart (CTMH).

	Sheila Bennett Close To My Heart Independent Consultant (913) 485-4355

Enjoy Today

Sharing another two-page scrapbook layout which each consultant was able to create during the Friday afternoon Creative Session at this year's Close To My Heart Convention.  Details for the other Happy Little Life layout can be found in a previous post.    

Using the new Flaxen and Glacier inks along with some Black, images from the Glitter Glam set were stamped randomly to create a background.  Love the font of the Handwritten Print Alphabet which was used to stamp the title.  The great arrow image is also from the Glitter Glam stamp set.   

Papers from the new Seaside and Wanderful kits are used along with some Flaxen, Lagoon and White Daisy cardstock.  Even though the same stamps, inks, and embellishments were used for the two layouts on Friday afternoon, each page is very different.  The feather image used on this page is from the Happy Birds stamp set and the "happy happy happy" is included in the Here We Go set.    

Be sure to keep watching my blog for more posts with artwork from Convention! 

All papers and stamps are from Close To My Heart (CTMH).

	Sheila Bennett Close To My Heart Independent Consultant (913) 485-4355

Happy Little Life

Hello from the annual Close To My Heart Convention which is being held at the Disneyland Resort this weekend.  It is a beautiful hotel, and consultants received a very special room rate.  It is wonderful to watch the fireworks over the castle from your hotel room window, while listening to the accompanying music through the special Disney television channel.  

At different times during Convention, CTMH has planned projects and provides every consultant with all the supplies needed to create their own.  These projects always incorporate new papers, stamps and other accessories just announced during Convention.  As a Creative Session Helper for Friday afternoon, I had the opportunity to complete the scrapbook layouts in advance so that others could reference my samples and ask me for assistance while working on their pages.  

The title of this page, stamped using the new Handwritten Print Alphabet, reminded me of this great photo of my son and grandson.  They were enjoying an afternoon at the park.  

Papers used are from both Chalk It Up and Wanderful kits.  The various stamp images are included in three other new stamp sets:  Here We Go, Glitter Glam and Happy Birds.  You may notice two new colors which were just introduced; Flaxen (a golden yellow) and Glacier (a soft blue).  There are also new Gold Sequins and Gold Shimmer Trim.   

Be sure to keep watching my blog for more posts with artwork from Convention! 

All papers and stamps are from Close To My Heart (CTMH).

	Sheila Bennett Close To My Heart Independent Consultant (913) 485-4355

Spin Cards & Minis Stamps

One of my favorite new products being released by Close To My Heart with their Autumn/Winter Idea Book are Spin Cards.  These are 5"x7" pre-made card bases include a focal point with a die-cut circle that spins!  

At our Convention, CTMH provided all consultants in attendance with the supplies and instructions to create five different Spin Cards.  There are eight new Minis stamps available which are only $2.95 each, and they are perfectly sized for the circle of the Spin Cards.  Background & Texture papers from all six new paper packets are used on the cards. 

Gift Circle Spin Card:  uses A Little Gift Mini stamp along with papers from Babycakes and Huntington.  

Happy Birthday Spin Card:  uses Heartfelt Birthday Wish Mini stamp along with papers from ProPlayer and Laughing Lola.

Thank You Spin Card:  uses A True Thank You Mini stamp along with papers from Sarita and Laughing Lola.

I Love You Spin Card:  uses Dotted Love Mini stamp along with papers from Laughing Lola and ProPlayer.

Snowflake Spin Card:  uses Single Snowflake Mini stamp along with papers from the Frosted paper packet.

For your amusement, here is a video showing the Spin Card in action.  Actually, if I had wound the circle a few times before closing the card, then it would have spun around more when the card is opened. 

All papers and stamps are from Close To My Heart (CTMH).

	Sheila Bennett Close To My Heart Independent Consultant (913) 485-4355