The Holiday Season and More!

23 days until Christmas!  Are you as excited as I am?!?  The holiday season began for me a couple of weeks ago when friends and co-workers gathered to make handmade holiday cards.  From beginners to experienced stampers - we all had a great time!

There's still time to schedule your own holiday card making session!  Contact me via email shirleyventresca@ymail.com or by phone 614-312-8915.  I'm sure we can find a date and time to fit for you!

I'd also like to invite you to try MeetUp - it's a website at www.meetup.com where you can find any group with common interests that you have.  Why am I asking you to check it out?  Because I have my own local group - Ohio's Heartland Scrapbookers and Stampers!!  If you are anywhere in the central Ohio area, please join.  We're starting off small, but the more the merrier!  Our first crop was held in November and our 2nd is Dec. 5th at the Reynoldsburg Community Library.  You can find details at Meetup.com.

I hope to see you sometime!!

Keep posted to this blog for more news on the Holidays!!

Have a MARVelous time crafting, everyone!

Available Oct. 15 - Dec. 31 Only!

 

This new special gift guide is full of holiday color in Ruby, Slate, Juniper, and Sparkle & Shine Silver!

 

There's a wonderful Christmas Countdown calendar just waiting for you to create at one of my Workshops!

 

The Season's Tweetings Gift Bag Kit is a quick and easy project for anyone!  It's just too cute to miss!

 

Please go to shirleyventresca.ctmh.com for a full online view of the guide - or contact me to set up a one-on-one workshop or schedule a group workshop with your friends - shirleyventresca@ymail.com or 614-312-8915.

 

Have a MARVelous time crafting, everyone!

October is Around the Corner!

Get ready for beautiful Autumn colors!  For Halloween, Thanksgiving, and yes - Christmas!!

The new Stamp of the Month features Scandinavian Christmas stamps that are really irresistible. 

Mid-month you can start to order from CTMH's new Holiday Gift Guide.  This little Idea Book has fantastic holiday papers and stamp sets, a great Workshop on the Go kit, and previews of stamps that will be in the next Idea Book coming out next year.

I'm got big plans in the works - lots of crafting, picture-taking, and scheduling of Workshops and Crops.  I'll keep you posted on here, so stay tuned!!

Have a MARVelous time crafting, everyone!

New Idea Book

Close To My Heart's Autumn/Winter 2013 Idea Book is now out!  There's so much!!  New paper packs that include Laughing Lola, ProPlayer, and Sarita to name a few.  A brand new concept in Cricut cartridges that is a MUST have! Hand-made jewelry called Base and Bling that is so incredibly easy to make!  And a new twist to keeping scrapbooking your memories quicker - My Crush books.

For details and MORE!! visit my website:
shirleyventresca@ctmh.com

July - Last Chance!

Don't miss out on ordering the fabulous stamps, papers, and accessories in Close To My Heart's Spring/Summer 2013 Idea Book!  You have the month of July to get your hands on Chantilly, Buzz & Bumble, For Always, Claire, Later Sk8r, Surf's Up, and Tommy.

What's full of incredible new designs?  New papers?  New stamps?  New accessories?  New projects?  CTMH's Autumn/Winter 2013 Idea Book!  And to get the excitement going I will be hosting an Open House on Saturday, Aug. 3 from 1-3 PM.  I'll have door prizes & treats, a Make - n - Take, plus I'll be demo'ing the new Artbooking Cricut cartridge, exclusive to CTMH!  You don't want to miss out!!

Bring a friend and get a free gift!  Contact me for details at shirleyventresca@ymail.com or 614-312-8915.

MAY IS NATIONAL SCRAPBOOKING MONTH!

Specifically, May 4th is National Scrapbooking Day.  I hope you are planning on getting a little scrapbooking or card making done on this day.  A day set aside just to do what I love?  You know I'm going to take advantage of it!

I've been having difficulty with getting pics to my computer from my iPhone.  As soon as I get this figured out I'll post the things I've worked on - a couple of frames that I think turned out really nice!

I'm the proud mom of a college graduate!  My son, Matthew, graduated from the University of Cincinnati last weekend.  Of course I took pictures of him with friends and family.  I am antsy to get the pictures printed and to scrapbook them!

Back on the Grid

I am back after a long hiatus from this blog that I had not intended on taking!  But I have been a busy bee!!  (No pun intended with the Buzz & Bumble papers!)  And in all that busy-work I was able to include some crafting - preparing for Home Gatherings, Easter, and starting to prepare for a vendor show that occurs in April.

Speaking of Buzz & Bumble - when you host a Home Gathering you & your friends get to make a little 3" x 3" Hello card made from this pack of paper. 

 

 

I live in a rural town that is booming with pride.  I love it.  It's a wonderful place to raise a family.  On Friday nights during football season you cannot find a place to sit in the stands at the local high school - Big Walnut. Both of my childen have benefited greatly from the opportunities the school offers.  We have all been full of Eagle pride, and to celebrate this and share it I made a school spirited star from the My Creations Star:

 

The star measures 12".  (Any school colors can be used - and any size diamonds can be cut and folded in half to create the pennant with the mascot name.)  The time frame for making each one of these was so little!!  I'll be showcasing the star and other school spirited items at the Sunbury/Big Walnut Chamber Community Expo.

 

Last, but not least April brings a fantastic offer from Close To My Heart that I encourage everyone to take advantage of!  The CTMH Essentials Kit is full of products.  It's a Try-It Kit, Starter Kit, as well as the Essential Kit for those who would like to become a consultant - and the cost is only $49!!  AND!!!  For the month of April when you sign-up for the Essential Kit, you will get the April, May, June, and July Stamp of the Month kits for free!!

 

THAT'S A 70% OFF SAVINGS!  You get over $225 in product for $49.  Plus! If you're not quite sure you'd like to be a consultant, purchase the kit as a Try-It Kit or Starter Kit with no obligations!

 

Contact me for details on hostessing or purchasing the Try-It / Essentials Kit.

 





Have a MARVelous time crafting, everyone!

 



Scrapbook Pages with Buzz & Bumble

These are my pages made from the Buzz & Bumble Workshop on the Go!  Prep was really easy and I loved the colors.  I especially love the little bee:

I used Cocoa ink on the Colonial White paper to stamp the flowers and the seed design; I couldn't believe how perfect the stamping came out!  The images were so fine that if I hadn't stamped them myself I would've thought they were put on there by an actual print shop. I colored these with my CTMH Exclusive Inks Markers.

I distressed the picture mats with Cocoa ink and then used 3-D foam mounting squares to make the pictures stand out a little from the layout page.  The little flower embellishment is just as cute as the bee!

 This is really a simple layout, terrific for beginners, and I think the results are phenomenal.  If you'd like to try your hand at this, contact me to attend a Buzz & Bumble Workshop!
shirleyventresca@ymail.com

Valentine Update & What's Going on Now!

Several weeks ago I mentioned that my friends and I were getting together to make valentines for her 5 year old son to take into his Pre-K class.  We used the Whoo's Your Valentine? set and had so much fun!  The little guy's mom is very crafty, another is good, while the 3rd likes to say she's challenged.  With all of our efforts we made some wonderful candy-stuffed Treat Tubes and decorated them so no 2 were alike!  When my friend took them home and her son saw them he said, "Mommy, I'm going to be the 'it' guy!!"  He's been so excited that he has to look at them everyday.  With today being Valentine's Day I can't wait to hear what she has to report tomorrow!

In the meantime, I've been working on something of my own.  I ordered a few things from the new catalog, one of which is the Buzz & Bumble Workshop on The Go.  Let me tell you, I just love the colors and the bees, the honeycomb shapes, and the country look of it all!  The colors are Champagne, Creme Brulee, Cocoa, and Sunset - nice warm colors!

This is CTMH's picture of the scrapbook pages in the Workshop on the Go (WOTG).  I've cut the pieces and have distressed the edges (all things I can do while I watch tv!), picked out my pictures and am looking forward to putting my own touches into making these pages.  I'll definitely post the final product!

The WOTG also has a Bonus Project of making 3 Kraft Kontainers with the Buzz & Bumble theme.  I'll be working on those and can't wait to show you my versions!

Have a MARVelous time crafting, everyone!

CHECK OUT THE NEW CATALOG!!!

Today is the day!  Close To My Heart's Spring/Summer 2013 catalog is available today!!  Please check out all of the beautiful new paper packets, stamps, fabrics, embellishments, and kits at shirleyventresca.ctmh.com! 

I'm offering a special Starter Kit for $35 that consists of

• My Reflections Paper Pack of your choice
• 1 A-Sized Stamp Set
• Exclusive Inks Pad of your choice
• 3x3 Acrylic Block
• Tombow Adhesive

That's a $40 value for just $35, which gets you on your way to creating incredible papercrafts.

And when you spend $50 or more you can get the February Stamp of the Month, Home Sweet Home, for $5.00!!  (The Starter Kit can be part of the purchase totalling $50 or more.)

1! TOMORROW IS IT!

Have you enjoyed the sneak-peeks I've given for the new Close To My Heart Spring/Summer 2013 catalog?

Here are some more!

The 7th new paper pack is Claire:

One of the special Home Decorating items that can be purchased in a Workshop is this Canvas Art piece!

If you've seen anything you've liked, remember that tomorrow, Friday, Feb. 1, is the day you can head over to shirleyventresca.ctmh.com and check out the entire new catalog!! 

2 DAYS TO THE NEW CATALOG - AND 2 MORE PEEKS!

Check out the beautiful pool-side or sea-side colored papers in SURF'S UP:

And also think of the potential for weddings, special occasions, and more you can make with FOR ALWAYS:

These and so many more new things will be available starting in only 2 days - Friday, Feb. 1, when the new Spring/Summer 2013 Close To My Heart catalog is available. 

Where?
shirleyventresca.ctmh.com

3 DAYS - AND ANOTHER PEEK!

Here's a peek at another of the new paper packs you'll be able to get from Close To My Heart starting Friday, Feb. 1!  Both are a little boy-oriented, but can still be used for any kind of papercrafting!

Later Sk8r:

Tommy:

Please visit my website at shirleyventresca.ctmh.com to order these starting Friday.  (You can still order from the Fall/Winter 2012 catalog now!)

4 DAYS TO THE NEW CATALOG!

Here are examples of just 2 of the new paper kits:

Buzz & Bumble:

Chantilly:



New Catalog Countdown!

I'm really getting excited to show everyone the new Close To My Hearty Spring/Summer 2013 Catalog.  Beginning Feb. 1 you can order all the beautiful new papers, fabrics (yes, fabrics!), stamps, & projects your heart desires!  So as of today we are 9 days away!

Just a little hint about items in the new catalog: There's a new paper packet called Buzz & Bumble, as well as some new My Creations Kraft Containers. My box of these items should be arriving tomorrow - so guess what I'll be doing this weekend?!?!! And I'll be sure to post photos of the things I make from the Workshop On The Go kit.

While I wait for my package of goodies I decided to catch up on an project I started this past summer.  The CTMH Cricut Artiste cartridge has some beautiful flowers that are easy to cut and make.  Using the La Belle Vie papers I made some roses and put them on a tan lampshade I found at a thrift shop for $2.  The lampshade has been sitting in my craft area, patiently waiting for a base.  Well, I finally found one at Dollar General for $7.  A few roses, some sparkle embellishments and voila!  I really like Victorian looking things and this lamp fits that!

Gearing Up for the New Year

We're half-way through the first month of 2013 and I feel like I'm just getting myself geared up for the new year.  Yes, I am a great procrastinator!  But I'm trying to take little steps.

What exactly do I mean by 'gearing up' for the new year?  I'm trying to organize my scrapbooking and stamping time and my overall commitment to being an Independent Close To My Heart Consultant.

Close To My Heart has all these wonderful free trainings on-line.  I already have a CTMH Bachelor's Degree, and I'm working on my Master's!  They have a terrific Listening Library full of information that I've been tuning into so that I can really get a jump on the business side of things. This will help me share my enthusiasm for my hobby even more!

While I'm educating myself I haven't really been very creative physically - lots of stuff going on in my head though, which lead me to getting my friends together for a Girls' Night In...

CTMH has a terrific deal going this month, which is National Papercrafting Month:  With any $35 purchase from the Autumn/Winter 2012 Idea Book you can buy the Whooo's Your Valentine kit for just $10 (retail price is $40)!

The kit includes 12 die-cut boxes, 3 cardstock sheets, 1 sheet of silver glitter paper, 12 treat tubes, and an exclusive D-size stamp set created specifically for the kit. You get a sneak peek at two new Spring/Summer 2013 products: the treat tubes and the silver glitter paper!

My friend at work has a 5 year old son who is in Pre-K.  Several of us girls are getting together to make these for him to take for his class.  It's an easy way to have a Girl's Night In and get something necessary done quickly!

Please contact me at shirleyventresca@ymail.com or go to my website shirleyventresca.ctmh.com to place your order!

Happy 2013!

Hope everyone had a good holiday and a good start to the new year.  2013.  Wow, can't believe it's here.

While I didn't do very well at all with the craft show (no one there really did), I did get a lot of compliments!  It was uplifting at the same time that it was disappointing.  Oh, well, there's always next year - with a different venue, of course.

I've been busy with both of my kids home and even traveled to Buffalo, NY to see my parents.  I really loved spending time with them.

Of course one of my hopes for the new year is to stamp/scrap/craft more than I did last year.  I enjoy it more than I thought I would, and with my sister-in-law Tricia as my CTMH upline, and my sister Jennifer as my downline, I've got a family of crafters to get excited and inspired with.  Just wish we lived closer (while I'm in Ohio, Tricia is in Arizona, & Jennifer is in Colorado).

There's actually something new to inspire us and you'll be love what we come up with from the new Close To My Heart Spring/Summer catalog which will be available starting Feb. 1st.  It's amazing, with beautiful, bright colors, sparkling papers, fantastic new stamps, and terrific ideas.  So hang in there - just a month to go!