Creative Live Broadcast Featuring Close to my Heart. In review.

This weekend November 20th and 21st Close to my Heart teamed up with Creative Live to create a two day live broadcast of our products and tips, tricks and techniques on how to play and create with them. It was a great opportunity to craft alongside them and grow in inspiration! I just soaked it up! It was fantastic. There was also great prizes to be won if you followed along with social media. The whole show is now available to view HERE. Here is my quick review of what was all done:

1. Class Introduction and Explaining Profiles.

Just a quick explanation of what Close to my Heart was and the fantastic different ways a person can paper craft. We were introduced to two fantastic ladies from the Home Office: Monica Wihongi and Jill Broadbent. Amazing ladies!

2. Stamping Profile.

Since Close to my Heart is mostly known as a stamping company this is what we started with. Jill explained how our stamps work and gave many great tips and techniques while making tiny little 3x3 cards. I didn't have the stamp sets she had so I used some from my own collection. One great tip that I am excited about is that she seasons her new stamps on her arm instead of always stamping it a million and two times on scrap paper. Of course you can do that too! Seasoning stamps helps so that the image comes clear on the page. Apparently rubbing the stamp on your arm uses your natural body oil to take off some of the stickiness and remove the bubbles.

She showed various easy techniques and tips. She explained the generational inking. Which means a 1st generation is the image you would create from first inking your stamp, 2nd generation is the second time you would stamp an image WITHOUT re-inking your stamp. And so on and so forth. In this mini card I used a 2nd generation inked image on a flower base stamp that way when I stamped the outline in 1st generation it is clearer, darker but the same color.

She also explained the "Rock & Roll" technique where you put a lighter color of ink on a stamp and then before stamping you roll the image in a darker or different color to make a colorful image like I did for this butterfly. 

She also explained a few more techniques like masking which is where you can cover a part of the stamp so that when you stamp the image you only get part of the phrase or picture. All of these are basic and useful ways to use your stamps. It was nothing new to me but I remember when I was a new consultant five years ago I was very excited to learn all the ways I could play with my new stamps. So make sure you check out the video!

3. Card Maker Profile.

She then moved on to work on two beautiful cards which you can get the recipe for here.  They were created using our beautiful glitter paper, our cricut cartridges, some fundamentals, some sequins, all sorts! You should definitely check it out. She reminded us again that you can buy card bases with envelops in both colonial white and white daisy. Packs of 50 for only 17.75$, which makes it so easy to create fast and beautiful cards. We also have the cut above cards which are all pre-cut and ready to be assembled. I personally don't make a lot of cards but just started to get into the mood for them. I was inspired by all the artwork in this entire broadcast. Just such beautiful work.

4. Stacy Julian: Why Stories are important.

We got a great visit by the famous and talented Stacy Julian to explain to use the art of story telling. All lot of people often are scared to start scrapbooking because it just seems so overwhelming. There are just so many pictures and they are often worried about how much they will have to do, especially when their kids are all grown up. Stacy says no you don't HAVE to scrapbook all that. She said you just got to start SOMEWHERE, ANYWHERE. And showed that instead of worrying about all these baby books you will have to do for your kids she just made one page of one picture of her four kids as a baby and a quick write up of their birth stats and there: DONE. No more stressing about baby books. Another quote from her that was very inspiring is: "It's better to have stories without pictures than pictures without stories." LOVE that!

5. Decorative Scrapbooker Profile.

This was my section! I am that scrapbooker profile. I just LOVE it. I've been doing it almost 11 years now and the growth I've had in this hobby is incredible and I owe it to Close to my Heart <3. Monica showed us a beautiful layout she created and encouraged us to do it along with her. She used a variety of beautiful stamp sets and inks and flowers and images cut from the Artistry Cricut Cartridge. I decided to make the pages along with her and had a blast doing it! She showed how to ink all the flowers using a distressing technique and all sorts. Here is my take on the sketch:

 I absolutely love this page and am very happy I followed along with Monica as she did the right page in front of the camera. The recipe and cricut shapes can be found here. Of course I used different stamp sets and embellishments because I used what I had.

6. Studio J Scrapbooker Profile.

To be honest I wasn't really looking forward to this section because I am a decorative scrapbooker not an online scrapbooker. I just love to hold materials in my hands and turn it into art. But surprisingly I learned that Studio J had many features I haven't thought of. Creating images on there that you can then print and add to your pages, creating photo cards, which are great to give out to family & friends for the holidays, making those scrapbook pages on there and there and adding your embellishments by hand after, allowing you to blow up and edit your pictures and not pay an arm and a leg for them. I was honestly going to skip this section but found myself intrigued with the possibilities. Something to think about.

7. Paper Crafter Profile.

I missed a bit of this section because my baby needed a bit of attention but this section was very intriguing! They showed home decor, gift ideas, mini books, the base & bling line, soooo many things. Such BEAUTIFUL artwork. There is just so many possibilities with Close to my Heart. I am super excited now to order some of these things and test it out and make beautiful projects to give as gifts. I know my Mom would have especially loved this section. In fact in every Idea Book I mostly ignore this section when showing to my customers because it wasn't something I was familiar with and WAY out of my comfort zone. Especially the base & bling because I am not a bling person. I wear my wedding rings and a cross necklace at all times and that's it. Not even make-up. 

So this section really helped me to think outside my comfort zone and think of the possibilities of engaging a whole new type of customers. I am really excited about this. 

8. Pocket Scrapbooker Profile.

Once again this is not something I do often because I really enjoy making my pages from scratch but I do still order these decks and use them on my 12x12 pages. They did explain that as well and also showed a demo how you can make a quick card in just minutes. I love that idea. Once again it was very inspiring. They also showed our tiny instalife books and how fun it is to create and give as gifts. 

They finished off by showing our AMAZING new planner that will be ready to sell December 1st. I AM SO EXCITED. Its more than just  a planner too, we will  be selling pocket pages to go in it, My Crush pages (those are our version of Smash Book pages), and the actually planner pages. There is a roller stamp to coordinate with it stickers, washi tape, all sorts! The way they created this planner gives something for everyone and will be in just in time for the holidays and will make GREAT gifts! Then they announced 5 winners and guess what? I WON! I am just so excited you have no idea. To see a video of our awesome new planners click here.

9. Social Media Update with Q & A.

Some great questions were answered in this section. I can't really remember what they were but I remember they were good questions lol.

10. Fundamental Scrapbooker Profile.

In this section you were able to follow along with Monica as she easily assembled a quick two page layout featuring our fundamentals line. Fundamentals can be easily used as they don't require too much embellishing. These are our papers that have one side a glossy resistant pattern and the other side has the color and white pattern. I just started experimenting with it myself as I didn't think it was my style but sometimes bright colors are needed in a layout. I absolutely LOVE the assortment packs though!

11. Create Using Cricut Cartridges & 12. Close to my Heart Cricut Cartridges.

Day 2 started off with the Cricut and the cartridges sold by Close to my Heart. Jill took the time to go over what we offer with our packs. I personally own 3 of our 5 cartridges and quite honestly sometimes forget to use them lol. This was a great reminder of all the possibilities and images we have to offer. I need to explore mine a lot more! I loved this section today and was glued to the screen, of course I had to go run and grab my little books and check out what I can all do. Now I am even more inspired if that is even possible. She showed a quick simple layout that could easily be done. I decided to take my time and check out what images would suit my pictures and theme. Here is my take:

I really enjoyed making this page from the new Artistry Cartridge. Thanks CTMH for the reminder to expand on all the possibilities.

13. The New Consultant Kit.

The new consultant kit is fabulous and will be available starting December 1st. They put in some GREAT tools, anything you would need to start your business. Even double of some things. Its a great start up price and there really isn't anything else you would need to purchase right off the bat. Starting December you should check it out. To find out how you can sign up and be a consultant and join my team click here.

14. Consultant Party Planning Basics & 15.Consultant  Event Basics

I never had so many ideas hit me at once than I did in this section. Wow. It was just amazing. Michelle Snyder is insane. You definitely need to go see this section. I am so excited now to host a party, any party lol. Sooooooo many ideas I don't even know what to start with or say. Just go watch! This lady made everything look so simple, beautiful and fun. The colors... I just... no words...

From Michelle: Four Simple Steps to Planning a P-A-R-T-Y to remember:
1. Choose a theme
2. Choose the key elements
3. Consider the guest experience
4. Keep the budget in mind

"A theme can come from anything. We're looking for points of inspiration." -Michelle Snyder

16. Card Making Workshop.

Using a fundamental pack she showed us how we can make 50 simple cards. Cards that can coordinate with the party decorations and theme. She also showed us how she likes to create a focal point by making lines around a square with her journaling pen. I liked that idea and used it in my Cricut layout (Above). Amazing and simple cards.

17. Home Gathering Demo.

Kristina Livingstone joined us and showed us how to make a successful home gathering. She started by walking us through the Idea Book and finished off with a little project, Q&As and asking everyone to fill out an easy form for feedback and more questions. The form is provided by Close to my Heart on their online office. It was very informative, especially for a new consultant and can give you the courage to host your own gathering.

3 Home Gathering tips from our Kristina Livingstone:
1. Encourage your hostess to invite everyone and anyone
2. Use the Consultant Kit
3. You just have to try!

20. Connecting with Community through Social Media.

Social Media is constantly evolving. We need to keep up and spread the word about our products and opportunities. Just as I am now in my blog. :) You never know who might stumble upon your artwork and stuff and become interested in learning more.

19. Consultant Highlights with CTMH Consultants Karen, Michelle & Kristina.

They answered some questions about the joys of being a consultant :). After they were done we got on Skype with Brian Holman. He shared his story and announced another 5 winners of the new planner.

18. Consultant Opportunities & 21. Close to my Heart Events.

I loved these sections explaining all the benefits of being a hard working consultant. You can win incentive trips where you get pampered for all your hard work. I would love that. My goal is to get the incentive trip for the first time within the next 3 years. That would just be a dream come true and a great reward for all the hard (but fun) work. They also explained many of their great events they do year round, album retreats, workshops and their annual Convention which I really REALLY want to go to this year. I would be getting my 5 year reward and would love to get it in person! 

In General.

This was a fun and inspiring event that I am glad I got to take part in. I think anyone interested in crafting NEEDS to see this broadcast. Or at least parts of it. I loved it and hope Close to my Heart and Creative Live decide to team up together again and do another one next year.