January Sneak Peak

I just have to share a little sneak peak with you all. The products coming and promotions in January are amazing! I will have an official promotion post up early January, but here are some sneak peak photos!

Let me know down below what you are most looking forward to. I am very excited for National Papercrafting Month, January!

Boxing Week

I hope you all had an amazing holiday weekend. I spent time in Fargo with family and friends. And some time in Bemidji with the soon to be in-laws.

This week is a fantastic week for some great deals. Each day at midnight new sale items will be posted. Don't miss out on some great savings on ink pads, re-inkers, albums, Cricut® cartridges and cardstock! Click here to start saving!

Happy shopping!

December Promotions

Can you believe it's already December! So many awesome promotions for this time of year. Check out all promotions and other amazing products on my website, www.kraftykank.ctmh.com.

 Through the Year Calendar

Create your own calendar with our wonderful Through the Year kit! This kit is only available, as supplies last, from December 1, 2017 through December 31, 2017. The calendar with layouts is a great project for yourself or a perfect gift for the holidays. This project also creates a beautiful album by removing the calendar pages after the year is up and inserting the scrapbook layouts in a 12” x 12” Memory Protector.

The kit is available in two different options:

Without the November Stamp of the Month (CC1344)

With the November Stamp of the Month (CC1344S)

The kit includes 12 sheets of Basic Fundamentals, 9 sheets of custom cardstock, Happy Moments Compliments and Gold Glitter Gems(Z3312), and exclusive gold glitter die cuts from the You Are Here Cricut® collection. Additional items used that aren’t included are: Jennifer’s Hand Stamp Set (B1484), Heather Exclusive Inks™ Stamp Pad (Z2826), My Acrylix® Blocks(Y1000 and Y1002), Adhesive Runner(Z3372), Bonding Memories™ Dual Action Glue Pen(Z553), and Thin 3-D Foam Tape(Z2060).

The Through the Year Calendar Kit is offered at 20% off the retail value. Get yours FREE when hosting a qualifying gathering in December or becoming a new consultant. Ask me for more details.

Stamp of the Month

The December Stamp of the Month is A Bit of Pun (S1712). Who doesn't love a great pun! Only $5 with an order of $50 or more.

Holiday Expressions Ends

December is the final month for the products featured in the Holiday Expressions idea book! For example, all Beary Christmas items will be retired after this month. Get yours while you can. 

What's Coming Up

The January monthly special is called Love Letters. It is a great way to celebrate National Papercrafting Month. I will host a class for anyone interested in assembling their letters together.

As always, I appreciate your business and don't forget to subscribe to my blog to see all of my tips, project shares, and promotions.

Links are directed to my website where I receive a small commission from purchases. I appreciate your business.

Make It Monday: Top Folding Card Base

Have you ever wanted to make a card, but didn’t have the perfect color base? Making card bases is simple and you can use the supplies you may already have.

Supplies Needed:
8 ½ x 11 inch cardstock
Ruler or trimmer with ruler
Scissors/trimmer
Scoreboard (optional)

1. If you have a larger piece of cardstock, cut it down to 8 ½ x 11 inches.

2. Cut the 8 ½ x 11 inch piece of cardstock in half on the 8 ½ inch side.

(You can cut the 11 inch side for a side folding card)

3. Score and/or fold your 4 ¼ x 11 piece of cardstock in half, from top to bottom, on the 11 inch side.

4. Decorate your card base. Tip: I add a piece of white to the inside of dark bases for my written statements.

Please let me know if you have any questions down below. I'd love to see your card base creations.

Links are directed to my website where I receive a small commission from purchases. I appreciate your business.

Make It Monday: 5 X 6½ Envelope

I know many of us make some amazing cards! Sometimes those cards don’t fit into the ready made 4½ x 5½ envelopes. After reviewing some others ideas online, I decided to post some instructions to create your own 5 x 6½ envelope. There is room for a larger card, multiple cards, or a card with lots of embellishments.

Supplies Needed:

10x12 piece of paper – (designer paper to match the card is super cute)
Score tool or Ruler
Scissors
Adhesive

1. If starting with a 12x12 piece of paper, trim to 10x12.
2. On the 12 inch side of your paper score at 3½ and 8 7/8.
3. On the 10 inch side, score at 1½ and 8½.
4. Trim off the corner tabs on all sides.

5. Round the corners on the small sections.
6. Fold along all score lines.
7. Adhere the large middle pieces together.
8. Adhere one of the small flap.

9. Only adhere the other small flap when ready to seal.

Please let me know if you have any questions. Have a great day!

November Specials

It's already November 13th! Have you seen the November specials yet?   

Fundamental Bundles up to 40% off!
During November, save on essentials that can be used all year long. Choose a Fundamentals Bundle FREE when you become a consultant or host a qualifying party. Contact me for more information.

November Stamp of the Month: Through the Year
Remember when you place an order of $50 or more, you qualify for this stamp set for just $5. ** Exciting new Calendars coming in December that use this awesome stamp!

Have a wonderful first week of November. I look forward to posting some of my cards and other projects this month!

TP Mini Album - Brag Book

Hello everyone! Today I want to share a small toilet paper mini album I created for a friend who just had a baby. I thought this would be an awesome size for a brag book to carry in her purse!

Her nursery theme is mermaid, so I had to use the Let’s Be Mermaids paper from Echo Park by Lori Whitlock.

The creatures and bright colors are so cute. I embellished a little with dollar store stickers. 

Many little tags and spots for small pictures.

The cutest little stickers. This turtle was one of my favorites.

Look at how cute this dog is!

Each page has a matching tag. The back is plain for journaling or more photos.

What do you think? This was a super easy album using hidden hinge and toilet paper rolls. I used part one and two tutorials from My Sisters Scrapper on youtube to get a baseline and adapted to my ideas and sizes. If you haven't yet, you MUST check out Ginger's channel. She is awesome! 

Punny Pals Promotion

Have you heard about Operation Smile? Close To My Heart is partnered with Operation Smile™, an organization that provides free, life-changing surgery that repairs smiles and reshapes lives, one child at a time. Since 2008, Close To My Heart has provided support to change the lives of over 1,500 children and their families. Buy with pride. Your business with Close To My Heart makes a big difference in the life of a child.

 Share a smile in a three easy ways!

1. Get your Punny Pals stamp set today with $7 being donated to Operation Smile.
2. Purchase your Share a Smile card kit on my website.
3. FREE when you become a consultant or host a qualifying party in October.

Make a difference and share a smile today!

Stronger Together

Let's make a difference together. As always, relationships and personal connections are the most important part of mine and Close to My Heart's philosophies. The unfortunate events being caused by natural disasters leave my heart aching. I am praying for all those impacted.

I am proud to say that Close to My Heart has designed a stamp set to provide assistance to those in need. The Stronger Together (C1716) stamp set is now available. ALL proceeds (including consultant commissions) will be donated to the Red Cross to help with these natural disasters. This set has motivational and comforting sayings to bring us together during this devastating time. 

Please let me know if you have any questions and remember, you're never in this fight alone. God Bless.

National Stamping Month - From the Heart

It’s a time to celebrate! National Stamping Month is being celebrated at Close to My Heart with an exclusive From the Heart card kit. This interactive kit comes with everything you need for 12 interactive cards.

There’s three ways to get your hands on this amazing kit:
1. Purchase from my website kraftykank.ctmh.com
2. Become a Close to My Heart consultant in September
3. Host a qualifying party in September

Post your creations below! Do you have a crafty blog? I'd love to follow you, comment below.

Tip Tuesday – Using Cricut Cuttlebug

Happy Tip Tuesday! Here are 5 tips for using the Cricut Cuttlebug:

1. Use all types of manufacturer’s dyes or embossing folders including: Close to my Heart, Quickutz, Sizzix, and Spellbinders.

2. Extend the life of your plates by periodically flipping them over.

3. Don’t force items through the Cuttlebug, instead, check placement of your items.

4. Prevent paper cracking/ripping by rolling the plates through slowly.

5. Experiment with the placement and “sandwich” of your plates for each brand.

I am still new to my machine, do you have any tips?

2017-2018 Color of the Year - Bashful

Have you seen the new color of the year yet? It's the beautiful and soft color Bashful! Perfect for so many projects. It is now available in ink, ink refills, cardstock, albums, pearls, and glitter paper. Click the image below to shop today.

Link up to the pages you have created using the new color in the comments below!

August Warehouse Sales

Have you had a chance to check out the Warehouse Sales?! Updated every Tuesday in August, retired items are brought back at 50% off! Get yours while supplies last and remember these items are only available for the week. Another bonus, shipping is based on the discount price instead of the full retail price. Win-Win right?

This weeks sale items:

Scrapbooking Supplies 101

So, you’ve decided to start scrapbooking or cardmaking. Welcome to the world of paper crafting! It might be overwhelming at first, but you don’t need to buy everything available to get started. Here are a few items I recommend when starting your scrapbooking and cardmaking stash.

1. Paper

• Cardstock – There are many options available for cardstock. Personally I like a thick card stock to use for card bases, background colors, frames, and more. The CTMH cardstock is my favorite, but I might be biased.
• Pattern Paper – This isn’t a necessity, but pattern paper really makes your projects stand out. You can use pattern paper for embellishing, backgrounds, and decorative accents. There are a ton of options for pattern paper from CTMH that change frequently.
  
  

2. Scissors/Paper Trimmer

• Scissors – Scissors are a key tool for any paper crafter. You can always tear your paper, but I prefer a more finished look. My favorite scissors are the Non-Stick Micro-tip Scissors from CTMH. It gives me the sharpness I need and the fine tip allows for fussy cutting small shapes.
• Paper Trimmer – This isn’t a necessity, but a paper trimmer will give you a straight cut that you might not be able to get with your scissors. At least I know I can’t cut a straight line (didn’t I learn that in elementary school)!

3. Adhesive

• Glue – You can use the old fashioned glue stick to adhere your photos and paper.
• Tape Runner – I prefer a tape runner for my adhesive. It is much easier, cleaner, and doesn’t crinkle the paper.

4. Album

• When all is said and done, you will want an album to put your scrapbooking pages in for you and others to enjoy viewing. CTMH has many album options including post and D-ring.

5. Embellishments/Stickers

• Embellishments aren’t a necessity, but really bring your projects to life. CTMH offers embellishment kits as well as pre-determined kits for cards and scrapbook pages.

I hope this small list gets you started on your paper crafting journey. If you need any assistance or have any questions feel free to contact me. What are some of your must have items for beginners?