NEW ANNUAL INSPIRATIONS

Close To My Heart 's new Annual Inspirations 2014-2015 Idea Book is available starting today. I'm excited for all the new things and ideas in this book and can't wait to share them with you!

One of the highlights of this issue are the NINE new My Reflections paper packets. This month we'll be focusing on Chalk It Up. This set features the colors Lagoon, Sorbet and 1 of 5 new colors: Flaxen!


Visit ShirleyVentresca.CTMH.com to see all 193 pages of the Annual Inspirations Idea Book!

Have a MARVelous time crafting, everyone!

AUGUST 1ST!!

The new Close To My Heart Annual Inspirations book debuts on August 1st!  There are so many new products and new ideas - I can't wait to show you!!

Scrapbooking for a Friend

I have a friend that went on a wonderful vacation to California recently. He wanted to showcase his vacation in a different way than just putting the pictures in a photo album. Knowing how much I love to scrapbook he asked me if I would make a scrapbook album of his vacation.

My initial concern was "How do you scrapbook photos of someone else's memories?"  I had my friend to sort his photos by location, then asked him to make notes of where the photos were taken. After consulting with him we decided I would leave several spots in the album for him to add personal journal notes.

After getting familiar with the pictures I came up with some great ideas. I made different layouts (using mostly CTMH papers, embellishments, page protectors, and the album itself - of course - the quality is beyond compare!).

As the album came together I found myself getting more and more excited to show my friend.  I gave him this title page preview and he was really pleased. I can't wait to see his reaction to the whole album this weekend!  I'll keep you posted!

So - don't be afraid to try something you've never done - for instance, making a scrapbook for a friend!  It's so satisfying!!

Have a MARVelous time crafting, everyone!

Happy National Scrapbooking Month!

May is National Scrapbooking Month, and luckily I'm feeling crafty lately! With that comes updating my blog!  I'm the poorest blogger there is...

I've had some really great things going on in the past few months, and I've got the piles of pictures to scrapbook them!  Yes, I actually have downloaded them from my phone and had them printed!

Back in March I volunteered as an Advisor for Buck-I-SERV, which is Ohio State University's alternative break program.  I drove with 8 undergraduate students to One Heartland in Minnesota where we helped prepare for their summer camps for children and young adults affected &/or infected by HIV/AIDS.

Last month my daughter Melissa and some of her friends and my son Matthew's joined me in the AIDSWalk Columbus. A portion of the funds our team raised go directly to the AIDS Clinical Trials Unit and Infectious Diseases Clinic at OSU. 

And just this month Melissa was inducted into Phi Beta Kappa, the nation's oldest and most prestigous Honor Society.  The following day she graduated cum laude from Ohio University with 2 majors: Psychology and Sociology/Criminology.

I have to say I am extremely impressed with the young adults I have had the fortune to make memories with during the first quarter of 2014!  I cannot wait to celebrate those memories by scrapbooking them.

I'll try my best to post a page or 2...

Check out Close To My Heart's special this month in honor of National Scrapbooking Month.  I think the Free To Be Me set will work well with some of the memories I'll be turning into artwork.

Have a MARVelous time crafting, everyone!

New Year, New Adventures, New Activities!

Happy New Year!

The holidays were a bit quick for me this year having a truly full house, which now includes 7 adults, 4 dogs, and 3 cats!

Starting in February Close To My Heart's Spring/Summer 2014 Idea Book is available!  ALL CTMH Consultants are really thrilled with this catalog. We're all in love with the New Reflections paper packs and Workshops On The Go.  Contact me for a sneak peek and to schedule crafting time.

I'm not sure if you've heard the news yet, but Archivers is closing for good.  All of it's stores will be closing in February and stock will not be available after.  I for one am going to miss Archivers - I loved the different papers I could get and the different ideas I would get just from walking around the store.

If you know anyone that shopped at Archivers and is at a loss for what to do - please tell them about Close To My Heart!  Scrapbooking and papercrafting doesn't have to be a thing of the past for Archivers customers - CTMH is incredible!  You can see the current Idea Book at ShirleyVentresca.CMTH.com.

Have a MARVelous time crafting, everyone!

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!