Random Ramblings of a Scramping Addict

Celebrate with a Double 'D' sized Pair-A-Phrase!

Yes indeed, it's that time of year again, CTMH is getting set to celebrate National Stamping Month this September.

As always, to mark the event, CTMH has put together an amazing stamp campaign!  This year's campaign is the biggest ever - with the offer of our first-ever Double 'D' size stamp set!  That's right, you heard me, that's two 'D' size stamp sets in one envelope and the sets include lots of clever phrases and coordinating images that you'll use in your handmade cards and scrapbooks all year long!

The Double 'D' stamp set called Pair-A-Phrase has a retail value of $39.90, but can be yours free beginning today when you place an order of $82 or more.  The Pair-A-Phrase campaign runs from August 15 through September 30, 2011 and is NOT a while supplies last campaign.

So while there's no huge rush to get your hands on this amazing set -- I do want to remind you that if you make your purchase in the month of August, and your order includes the August Stamp of the Month, you'll also take advantage of the Extra! Extra! campaign I told you about last week.  That's right, you'll not only earn the entire Pair-A-Phrase stamp set, you'll be purhasing the Stamp of the Month at 72% off it's retail prices AND you'll receive the My Acrylix 'A Typeface' A-size stamp set FREE as well (retail value $7.95).

Adding all that up, for your $82 order (which includes the $5.50 for the Stamp of the Month), you'll get $39.90 plus $7.95, and have saved $14.45 on your Stamp of the Month purchase.  What could be better than that.  It's like getting over $62 in product for free!

So come on.....go ahead and have double the fun stamping during National Stamping Month with our new Pair-a-Phrase double stamp set!  Visit kristinefowler.myctmh.com or call me at 905-317-8823 to place your order today.

Extra! Extra! {Extra Stamps that is!}

Guess what I just learned and couldn't wait to share?

IN CELEBRATION OF OUR NEWLY UPDATED STAMP OF THE MONTH PROGRAM, CTMH is throwing in a little something extra: a FREE* bonus stamp set!

In August, when you place an order of $55 or more in products and purchase the August Stamp of the Month set, Wicked, for just $5.50, you’ll receive the My Acrylix® A Typeface bonus A-size set FREE (retail value $7.75)!

Think of it as two promotions in one—qualify for and purchase the discounted August Stamp of the Month set, and we’ll throw in a second stamp set FREE!  It’s Extra! Extra!

Don't miss out on this opportunity!  Hop on over to www.kristinefowler.myctmh.com or contact me at 905-317-8823 to place your August order today!

CTMH August Stamp of the Month "Wicked"

Did you know that effective August 1st the Stamp of the Month program with Close To My Heart was revised?  Well it's true, and getting your hands on the Stamp of the Month just got more affordable!

Each month you can enjoy a new D-Size stamp set, available for one month only, for just $5.50 - that's 72% off the full retail price of $19.95.

That's right!  When you place an order of $55 or more (before shipping and taxes) in CTMH products, you get the stamp of the month set for only $5.50.

Shown here is artwork from the October Stamp of the Month 'Wicked'.  Isn't it great?  I just love that the witch is just a bit sexy and not too too scary!

Do you like what you see, because the news gets even better?

Close To My Heart is making it easy for you to create the featured Stamp of the Month artwork.  In the Idea Book and online you'll find the supply list for the featured projects.  Simply purchase the items on that list (or other products to total $55) and you'll qualify to purchase the Stamp of the Month at the $5.50 discounted price!  CTMH has even included online a quick tutorial so you can duplicate this artwork at home with your own supplies!  How neat is that?

Here's a close up of the August 'Wicked' Stamp of the Month.  Click the image to see it even larger!

 

Keep your eyes on my blog to hear all of the latest news from Close To My Heart.  So much has changed this month and I can't wait to share it all.  I'm also working on a Fall workshop schedule and have a couple of events in the works too!  In the meantime, feel free to contact me if you have questions or are looking for something specific!  905-317-8823 or by email at [email protected]!

February is Free Free and Fabulous!

When you become a Close To My Heart Consultant during February and achieve Straight To the Top, you will receive a rebate of $140 on your New Consultant Kit, plus $110 in select product credit rewards!

That's a total retail value of up to $544 in products and business supplies for FREE!  Your kit is FREE, Your Select products are free -- How FABULOUS is that?

So what does this mean exactly?  and What the heck is Straight to the Top?  Let me explain.

Straight To The Top is a CTMH corporate sponsored program designed to help you hit the ground running with your new scrapbooking and stamping business.  You can reach Straight To The Top by:

• Submitting sales of $330 or more in your first month and
• Submitting total sales of $1,330 or more during your first three months.

After doing so, you can redeem your $110 in select product credit for My Acrylix® stamps, blocks, Exclusive Inks,® cardstock, My Reflections® paper packets, and more!

How hard is it to reach Straight To The Top?  Consider this.

My average CTMH gathering sales are about $350.  This means that by hosting just one $350 gathering in your first month, you've meet the first hurdle.  Now $350 per month for 3 months is only a total of $1050 in first quarter sales which isn't quite enough to reach the second hurdle is it?  Nope.  But consider what would happen if you did 2 gatherings a month instead.  Hosting 2 $350 gatherings per month would give you a grand total of $2100 in sales for the first quarter --- drastically exceeding the $1330 minimum!  It's that easy!

Also remember, you're not just playing this game to earn Straight To The Top rewards right?  You are playing this game to earn a commission and get paid for your efforts!  So what would 2 $350 gathering per month pay you?  Base commissions are 22% of product sales.  So your commission on the $700 monthly total would be

22% x $700 = $154

But that's not all.......

CTMH Consultants also earn 'override' commissions as their sales increase.  On $700 in monthly sales, the override commission would be an additional 3% or

3% x $700 = $21

For a grand total of $154 + $21 = $175

Now consider this -- on average I spend 4 hours on a gathering.  This includes prep time, driving time, and actual gathering time.  So if the same is true for you, you'll be 'working' just 8 hours a month to earn this $175.  This means that you're making more than $20 per hour!  And you're making more than $20 per hour doing something you love - scrapbooking and stamping!  Ain't that's sweet!

Now remember, in addition to your base and override Commissions - if you sign up in February, and reach your Straight To The Top goals - you'll get a rebate of $140 for your kit purchase plus the regular $110 Straight To The Top select product credit.  Believe me, with an offer like that there is no better time than now to join Close To My Heart!  It's Free Free and Fabulous!

If you're looking for more information on becoming a Close To My Heart Consultant, visit my Information for New Consultants page, email me at [email protected] or call me at 905-317-8823.  If on the other hand you're ready to jump right in and sign up, just complete the online application and you'll be on your way to earning the rewards in no time at all.

It's Idea Book Release Day!

Good Day faithul readers....it would seem that I've been MIA again - but now I'm back!  And I've got big plans and lots of great content coming your way for the month of February, so be sure and stay tuned!

Did you know that today is the big release day?  That's right, today is the launch of the brand new Spring/Summer 2011 Idea Book from Close To My Heart.  If you've been following all the Close To My Heart news, you might remember that for 2011, there will only be 2 Idea Book releases, instead of the 3 that we are used to.

What does this mean?  In short, it means that there's even MORE product featured in each book and you've got a full 6 months to purchase from it before a new book is released.

Specifically, each new book contains a minimum of

• 8 exciting new Scrapbook kits, plus 4 returning favourites for a total of 12 selections
• 8 brand new Workshops On the Go kits!
• Accessories Galore!  Some old, some new - but all fun for sure!
• 6 Stamp of the Month choices - one for each catalogue month of course
• and Loads of My Acrylix Stamps!

Availability for all items (with the exception of My Acrylix) is limited to the current Idea Book selection only.  Quite simply, this means that if it's not featured in the current book, it's not available!  So when you get your new Idea Book, be sure to take stock and make your wish lists early so you don't miss one of your must-have items before it's gone.

As I mentioned, the only exception to the availability rule is for My Acrylix stamp sets.  Because we know that you love to have a wide variety of My Acrylix stamps to choose from, we're making them available longer!  At any time, you may purchase stamps from either the current Idea Book or the one preceding it.  This means that all My Acrylix stamp sets are available for a minimum of one year following release!

Do you have your copy of the newly released Spring/Summer 2011 Idea Book yet?  If not, contact me, and I'll hook you up!  You can reach me by email at [email protected] or by telephone at 905-317-8823.  As always, Idea Books are free - so don't hesitate!  Contact me to get yours today!

A Little Thanks (well actually a lot)

Yesterday I had 5 ladies join me at a Close To My Heart home gathering.  It had been quite some time since I'd had the opportunity to talk about Close To My Heart to a group of 'newbies' so to speak.  They had seen the product, used the product, and even owned some product already, but had oddly never had opportunity to hear the whole product talk so to speak.  I had so much fun!

Once I completed the product talk - we moved on to create 2 beautiful make and take greeting cards. Because the holiday season is sneaking up on us, I opted for one Christmas themed card and one generic thank-you (we can never have too many of those!).  The thank you can be used for just about anything - be it a gift, an invitation, lending a sympathetic ear - or whatever.  Here is the thank-you.

Artwork Recipe
Card Stock: (1388) Colonial White, (X5643) Chocolate, (X5759) Pacifica (all included in X7127B Magnifique Paper Pack)
Patterned Paper:  X7127B Magnifique Paper Pack
Ink: (Z2103) Bamboo, (Z2192) Pacifica
Stamp Set: (D1444) A Little Thanks
Other:  Adhesive Foam Squares, Scissors
Finished Size: 4.25" x 5.5"

Now this post's title is significant for a couple of reasons.  First, A Little Thanks is the name of the stamp set we used for the sentiment, and it is actually the Stamp of the Month for November.  Here's the whole set.

The reason though that I owe a lot of thanks....is that I fully admit I lifted this card from somewhere in cyberspace.  As soon as I saw it, I just knew that I had to duplicate it - but unfortunately I was a bad girl and didn't record the name of the original artist.  So if that's you ---- I owe you a BIG THANK-YOU because this card is absolutely fabulous!  So please....if it's to you that I owe my gratitude, please please let me know.  All of the gals that joined me yesterday were simply enamoured with your work, and I definitely want you to get the much deserved credit.

If you are interested in purchasing the A Little Thanks Stamp of the Month for yourself, as always, it is available this month only (November 1-30, 2010), as always!  The stamp of the month can be purchased either at full price $26.95 or if combined with other regular priced product at a discount or even earned free! Here's the pricing details.

If you spend $29.50.  You Save 25%.  You pay $20.21
If you spend $58.95.  You Save 50%.  You pay $13.48
If you spend $88.50.  You Save 75%.  You pay $6.74
If you spend $117.50.  You Save 100%.  It's FREE!

And remember, for the month of November, there is also an additional campaign, whereby with a qualifying order of $117.50, you'll not only receive the A Little Thanks Stamp of the Month for Free, but also one additional stamp set of your choice absolutely free as well! (free stamp set excludes E size sets!)

To place an order, you may either shop online, email me, or give me a call at 905-317-8823.  I'm always happy to help you out!

I will share our second make and take card here tomorrow, so watch for the update on that.  I used one of my favourite new stamp sets from the Fall/Winter Idea Book "I Believe".

 

 

There's Still Time to Celebrate

With a Triple Play!

This is just a reminder that Close To My Heart's National Stamping Month Campaign is still underway! For all the details of this awesome campaign, follow this link to my original post.

The Triple play campaign runs through September 30 - or while supplies last - so don't delay, Shop Today!

Earn Rewards the Online Way

If you were listening, I told you last week, that beginning September 1 and the Autumn/Winter 2010 Idea Book Close To My Heart Hostesses earn their rewards quicker than ever before.  What I didn't tell you was that there will soon be a brand new way to be a Hostess!  Beginning October 1, 2010 you can be a Hostess completely ONLINE!  That's right.....you will no longer need to host a face-to-face Home Gathering to qualify for Hostess Rewards.

Close To My Heart knows that in today's busy world, scheduling a face-to-face Home Gathering can be difficult.  Not only do you need to establish a date that works for the majority of your guests, send invitations and collect RSVPs, but on the day of your event you might need to tidy you house, worry about the weather, be concerned that you'll have too few (or too many) in attendance, prepare or purchase snacks for your guests and so on.  With the revised Close To My Heart EZ Invite system - you can avoid all of this and host your gathering in the virtual world - 100% online.

With the new EZ Invite, all of your guests shop online and when your Gathering reaches $175 in sales with at least two orders placed, you, as the Hostess, start earning rewards!  It is a convenient alternative to the traditional home-party approach.  There is very little prep time for you and your guests will love the convenience of shopping at their leisure from home, anytime!  All guests will have immediate access to the Idea Book online and will have their order delivered directly to their door!  It also means that you can invite everyone!  Even your best friend from college who lives across the country - your guest list is not restricted by proximity or time.  Forget having to worry about how many chairs you have available - you can invite as many people as you want - and no one needs to reserve a day or time to attend.

I will give you more details about hosting an ONLINE Home Gathering as we get closer to the October 1 launch - but for now start thinking about who you would invite - I'll be offering a special incentive for my first 2 Online Hostesses!

Stay tuned.....

Hostess Rewards Plus! Sooner

Rewards are Stacking Up!

Beginning September 1, 2010 Close To My Heart is treating hostesses to faster rewards by introducing the 50% off Hostess Rewards Plus! items on sales level earlier.  In addition to getting the same free product credit you love, now hostesses will be able to get 50% off one item with Gathering sales of just $300.  That's $100 sooner than before!  And yes, we're also adjusting the levels so you can get two, three, or four 50% off items one sales level earlier, too!

Just think.....if you host a Gathering (either in person or online) with 8 guests, and the average order is just $38 - as a Hostess you qualify for one Hostess Rewards Plus! item in addition to your regular Hostess Rewards.

So what is available as a Hostess Rewards Plus! item?  ANYTHING.

That's right, you can select any item from the Idea Book as a Hostess Rewards Plus! item for a 50% discount.

OR

You can choose to purchase one of these preselected Hostess Rewards Plus! item collections:

Collection One: 

After 50% Hostess Discount: $35.10 (Retail Value: $70.20)

This collection includes a Mini-Medley Accents Sunset Collection (Z1338), Mini-Medley Accents Pear Collection (Z1339), Olivia Level 2 Paper Packet (X7128B), Olivia Level 2 My Stickease Assortment (X7128C), My Acrylix The Present Stamp Set (D1436), and 4 1/4" x 5 1/2" Clear Cards (Z1323)

Collection Two: 

After 50% Hostess Discount: $45.88 (Retail Value: $91.75)

This collection includes a Hooligans Level 2 Paper Packet (X7129B), Hooligans Level 2 My Stickease Assortment (X7129C), Hooligans Level 2 Assortment (Z1332), My Creations Mix and Mingle Album (Z1334), My Acylix Party Pennants Stamp Set (C1429), My Acrylix The Boo Crew Stamp Set (C1421), Mini-Medley Accents Lagoon Collection (Z1340), and Opaques Licorice Adhesive Gems (Z1335) 

Collection Three: 

 After 50% Hostess Discount: $59.58 (Retail Value: $119.15)

This collection includes a Magic How-To Book (9034), Memory Protectors 6 Pocket Vertical Photo Storage Pages (Z1324), Memory Protectors Flip Flaps 12" Assortment (Z1325), 12" x 12" My Legacy Work-in-Progress Album (Z1348), My Acrylix Ice Crystals Stamp Set (C1428), and a My Acrylix Adorn-able Stamp Set (D1446)

Collection Four: 

After 50% Hostess Discount: $73.00 (Retail Value: $146.00)

This collection includes a 12 month Studio J Membership and a 12" x 12" Dark Chocolate My Legacy Faux Leather Album (Z1342)

So remember, EVERYTIME you host a qualifying Gathering, you receive fabulous Hostess Rewards. With $175 in Gathering sales, you start earning free product and the rewards just get better from there (click here for the complete rewards table).  The Hostess Rewards Plus! program sweetens the deal, allowing you to choose from these four exquisite Hostess Collections, or any single item from the Idea Book, and save 50%.  The Hostess Rewards Plus! discounts begin when your Gathering sales reach as little as $300.

I am currently prepping my calendar for Fall 2010, and would love to give you the opportunity to host a Gathering.  Contact me today to schedule your show.  You can email me at [email protected] or contact me by telephone at (905) 317-8823.

Celebrate National Stamping Month with a Triple Play

Did you know that September is National Stamping Month?  That's right, since 2007 Close To My Heart has been celebrating stamping offering amazing specials all month long.  This year we're celebrating a bit early, and bringing you a Triple Play! beginning Monday, August 15.

ONE’S GOOD, TWO’S GREAT, and three’s best of all! Celebrate your love of stamping by using stamps to embellish the three mini albums in the exclusive National Stamping Month kit, Triple Play. With inks, stamps, albums, and pre-cut accents for stamping, you’ll complete all three albums in a jiffy. Since each album has its own color scheme, all three are unique and ready for many different kinds of photos. Make one for yourself and two to give away—that is if you can bear to part with them!

In honor of National Stamping Month, you can get huge discounts on the Triple Play kit when you purchase My Acrylix® stamps from your wish list, or get it free when you host a qualifying Gathering or become a Close To My Heart Consultant.

There are five ways to get this outstanding mini album kit:
{Note: We’ve saved the best for last, so be sure to read all five!}

1. Buy the Triple Play kit for $34.95.
   
2. Purchase $30 in My Acrylix® stamps and get the Triple Play kit for just $15.
   
3. Spend $47 on My Acrylix stamps and get Triple Play for only $5!
   
4. Host a Gathering with sales of $350 or more and get Triple Play FREE!
   
5. Join Close To My Heart as a Consultant and get the Triple Play kit FREE!

This is a great opportunity to try stamps in scrapbooking if you're new to it, and an easy way to enjoy the look of hand-trimmed stamped images without even touching the scissors.  The three albums are built the same way and come together in a snap, but the three different colour schemes make each one unique.  Just follow the steps outlined in the full-colour brochure included in the kit to create three mini albums you can keep for yourself or give as gifts this holiday season!

Kit Contents:

• 1 - My Acrylix Love This Stamp Set
• 4 - Exclusive Inks Mini Stamp Pads (Desert Sand, Hollyhock, Indian Corn Blue, and Sunset)
• 9 - 4" x 12" Panels (3 each of 3 color schemes)
• 3 - Hook and Loop Velcro Fasteners
• 1 - 72" Length White Grosgrain Ribbon
• 1 - Instructional Brochure

Colours:  Bamboo, Blush, Desert Sand, Garden Green, Hollyhock, Indiean Corn Blue, Outdoor Denim and Sunset.

There is no limit to the number of kits you may purchase for $34.95 but orders that qualify for discounted kits are limited to one discounted Triple Play kit per order.  Hostesses and new Consultants can qualify for up to one discounted kit per order in addition to the free kit.

The Triple Play kit is available beginning August 15 through September 30, or while supplies last.

Qualifying stamps set purchases exclude Stamp of the Month sets, K-size custom stamps, and Workshops on the Go™ stamp sets. Tax and shipping/handling may apply. Offer valid for customers and hostesses August 15–September 30, 2010. Offer valid for new Consultant enrollees September 1–30, 2010. Limit one discount-priced Triple Play kit per order per customer. Offer valid while supplies last.