Welcome to another Color Dare challenge at Color My Heart.  When I first laid eyes on this week's colors in the Ariana paper pack, it wasn't for me.


But after seeing it in person (instead of on a computer screen) and playing with it for a variety of projects, I have become more and more fond of Ariana.  There's so much you can do -- just see what our DT has come up with.

And see what I came up with.  I had another challenge I was working on -- to create something using CTMH's Stamp of the Month for April, "Bubble Talk".  So I combined those two inspirations into this week's card.


This card looks complex, but it wasn't hard.  Yes, there are lots of pieces and it took time to choose the right papers and put them in the right place.  But it came together so nicely and easily -- and looks even better now than it's finished than it did in my head.  :)


Now it's your turn!  Pull out your Ariana and play!  Then post your creation on Color My Heart's Color Dare blog and share what you've done!  Please have fun and feel free to enter more than once!

Yes, I can say with great confidence that Close to my Heart has changed my life.  It has, in so many wonderful and amazing ways.  But the biggest way it has changed things is with the people who have come into ... and stayed ... in my life.  People who support me.  People who challenge me.  People who come to me for help.  People who inspire me with their talent and generosity.  People who love me, no matter what.

When I look back at my Close to my Heart experience, it's the PEOPLE that I think about and remember ... and will always remember.

So thank you, to each and every one of you who have left a footprint (or an inky handprint) on my heart.  I am so grateful for having you in my life.

These are just a very few of my special friends ...

I'm back.  It was a busy week and I haven't had as many chances to post, but that's a perfect example of my Reason #6 for loving my CTMH business -- FLEXIBILITY!!

For me, flexibility means 2 things.  First, the flexibility of time.  Over the years, I have been able to work my CTMH business around the other things in my life: my family, my corporate job, my commute, vacations, illness, seasons.  I set my own schedule and plan my workshops, crops, customer care, admin time and more around the other events and milestones.  It fits into my life ... I don't have to fit my life around it.

So flexible, there's even time to relax with my hubby (above) and friends at their cottage!

The other meaning of Flexibility is my ability to build my business any way I want.  I have built my business through workshops, crops and retreats instead of the traditional home gathering (party).  That's what works for me.  Others love doing the parties and find it's a great way to meet new people.  And others still like to keep it small, just enjoying the discount on amazing products.

And your business can CHANGE!  Maybe you want to start small.  That's ok.  I started big, but then had to pull back because the demands of my life became too much.  And I've slowly built it up again, managing my time and doing my best to keep a better balance.

As recently as a year ago, I never would have even THOUGHT about making a try for the CTMH Incentive Trip -- never thought that I would even come close to achieving it.  Yet, here I am, just over half way through the earning period and I am RIGHT ON TRACK for getting there.  It will mean that I have to continue to work hard, but I'm okay with that.  That's how much my business has changed in just the last year.

Aloha Donald!  This year's incentive trip is to the Disney Aulani resort in Hawaii! I so want to be there!

Want to learn more about what being a Consultant can mean for you?  Want to see how it can fit into your life?  Give me a shout at justscrapit.ctmh@gmail.com.  Let's talk and get you started.

Plus, when you sign up in April, you get even more!  For just $99, you get over $400 in great products, INCLUDING your choice of 1 of our 3 Cricut Collections.  April is almost over so you want to sign up NOW!

• This is a circular hop so you can start here and go all the way around.
• If you came from the talented Tamara's "Mara's Journey" blog, then you are going in the right direction.
• Visit Brae's "The Brae-er" blog, for the complete blog list if you get lost along the way. 

• This is a circular hop so you can start here and go all the way around.
• If you came from the kreative Krista's Simply Creating blog, then you are going in the right direction.
• Visit Michelle's My Creations blog, for the complete blog list if you get lost along the way. 

As you may remember, I'm using a My Crush album to create a memory book for my son Sam's Grade 8 (or Gr.8) year.  I really love how it's coming together.  I can focus on a few key photos for each moment and somehow, I'm feeling a little more FREE when I'm creating, as I'm not as focused on creating a traditional 2 page layout.

And it's really super fun!  With My Crush, anything goes.  I've used stamps and washi tape, Cricut diecuts and stickers.  Fun, fast and easy!  And looks FANTASTIC.

Here are three of my favourite My Crush layouts so far:

I mentioned in one of my earlier posts that the reason I first went looking for a business opportunity was so that I could stay home with my young family.  CTMH has provided that outlet for me:

• It's something that I love to do:  scrapbooking, cardmaking, being creative.
• It's something that I'm good at -- I have fallen in love with teaching others.
• I get discounts on my addiction, um, I mean hobby!  (Wink, wink.)

These are all great things.  But when it comes to the bottom line, does this business allow my to stay at home without putting my family at risk?  Can I still put a roof over our head and keep food on the table?

I'll be very honest here.  Right now, CTMH does not replace my corporate salary.  But I never thought it would.  I have worked hard and built my business, and I AM able to contribute to my family's finances in a meaningful way.  I pay for my cleaning lady, who comes in twice a month.  I pay for my son's orthodontics.  I contribute to family vacations and other special occasions.  It's not a big deal, but it helps.

And just as importantly, I'm happy.  Yes, I could go back downtown and re-join the agency world (I work in advertising), but I wouldn't be happy.  I wouldn't be as relaxed.  I wouldn't be here when my kids need me.  So while money matters, it isn't everything.  And right now, I can't imagine doing anything else.

Welcome to another Color My Heart Color Dare with some spring and Easter-y colours:  Juniper, Sorbet and Creme Brulee.  Do you already know what you'll create with these fresh colours?



My Card:  Happiness

There were so many ways I could have gone with this Color Dare.  But I chose to go Clean and Simple and really create an impact.  I have to admit, this card turned out even better than it was in my head.  I love it!


Supplies Used:

• CTMH White Daisy Cardstock
• Juniper, Creme Brulee and Sorbet ink and cardstock scraps
• CTMH Stripes embossing folder
• CTMH White Daisy organdy ribbon (retired -- I miss this!!)
• Love Life stamp set
• Licorice opaques pearls -- using the lightest grey ones

Please leave some love in the comments below.  :)  THX!

Ok!  Now it's your turn!  Check out the amazing creations from the Design Team at Color My Heart Color Dare, then create something yourself.  Upload it and share your spring creations with all of us.

What's better than the top quality products in our Close to my Heart Idea Books?  It's the fun, fresh and trendy goodies we get to give away with our Constant Campaigns!

What's a constant campaign?  It's a special offer or package brought to you by CTMH.  Sometimes it's a special paper pack or stamp set.  Sometimes, it's a great deal, like this month's Art of Business promotion.  No matter what it is, it's a great opportunity to get excited and have fun with CTMH.  And it's always a special value that's worth sharing.

As a consultant, it's a great way to keep things fresh and new ... for ourselves and our customers.  It's CTMH's way of supporting our business, and giving us new reasons to talk to our customers regularly.

And let me tell you, my customers LOVE the constant campaigns!  As a consultant, you'll get the opportunity to get your hands on the products early.  You can even plan a workshop around it, to help your customers get the most from whatever's being offered.

THIS MONTH'S CONSTANT CAMPAIGN: THE ART OF BUSINESS

Want to be part of a business that gives you great offers, top quality products and lots of fun things to offer your customers?  Join my team today!  You'll get your choice of Cricut Collections, complete with cartridge, 3 exclusive stamp sets and 3 coordinating sheets of chipboard, valued at $99, FOR FREE!

When you join CTMH, you ARE running your own business, but you AREN'T alone!  You're part of a team ... actually, if you join my team, you're part of TWO awesome teams.  And you become part of an amazing family that is interconnected across the country and throughout the US too!

Lying around at Convention 2013. The paper we received matched the carpet!

Me with our executive VPs -- what an awesome trio!

There really is no better time to join the Close to my Heart Family!  WHY?  Because of all the FREE stuff you can get!


FREE CONSULTANT KIT

I'm getting ready for a fun crop night with some great ladies and I realized I didn't post any artwork from my Birthday crop.  So here are two layouts using the (now retired) Buzz & Bumble Workshop on the Go.  I used the same layout sketch for both, but they still look distinct ... and buzz-tastic!

I'm often asked what I like best about being a CTMH consultant.  There really isn't just one reason!  But the first reason that comes to mind is the main reason why I joined in the first place:  I wanted to work from home and have the flexibility to be there for my family whenever they needed me.

Nine years ago, I gave birth to my second son, and going back to the Corporate world was not something I wanted to do.  I wanted to be home, and I wanted to do something I loved.  It didn't take me long to find Close to my Heart and instantly, I knew it was the solution for me.

With CTMH, you are your own boss.  You set your own hours, you choose how much or how little you want to work.  It's flexible and it's rewarding.


I also liked that CTMH didn't dictate HOW I ran my business.  I could choose to do home gatherings, or not.  I could do workshops, or not.  I could host retreats ... or NOT!  It was totally up to me.  So long as I met my quarterly minimums of just $300, the business was mine to create, build, and recreate if needed.

And over the past nine years, my business has had to change.  I've had to adapt it and move parts around to fit with my life.  But that's ok.  I've had the flexibility to make it happen.  So when I say you can build your business, your way, I mean it.  And I've done it.  It works for me, because I want to be here for these guys:


So what do you say?  Is a CTMH business for you?  Contact me at justscrapit.ctmh@gmail.com and let's find out together.

For more details on this month's fabulous promotion, The Art of Business", click here.  You'll learn how you can get a Cricut Collection for FREE!

It's an exciting time when you sign up to become a CTMH consultant.  So many opportunities and possibilities in front of you.  A new business to launch.  New people to meet.  A new passion to pursue.

And a whole lot of new goodies to play with!!  In fact, you get products worth over $300, which makes the CTMH New Consultant kit an AMAZING value!  It will cost you only $99 (plus shipping and taxes).


So much stuff, plus business materials too!  It's everything you need to get started.

• Skylark papers!
• Skylark embellishments!
• Useful tools, like ink, My Acrylix blocks, spritz cleaner, Liquid Glass!
• Valuable how-to books!
• Awesome and exclusive My Acrylix stamp sets!
• Bonding Memories glue!
• Idea Books to share!
• And sooooo much more!

Even if you're simply purchasing the kit to get some great products at a great discount, this kit is absolutely worth every penny!

And don't forget! When you join CTMH in the month of April, you can choose one of the three CTMH Cricut Collections FOR FREE!  It's a special gift for joining this month.  It's the Art of Business!  Click here for more details.


PLUS, THERE'S A LOT THAT YOU GET THAT YOU CANNOT SEE!
When you join my team, the Designing Divas, you get some wonderful things that cannot be photographed and cannot be traded!  As a member of my team, you'll also get:

• ME!  I am here to answer your questions, show you the ropes, and help you with your business as much or as little as you want me to.
• Corporate training and support: through events like Rediscover Nights and Convention, through videos and audio recordings on our Corporate site, through Facebook pages for our team, and our bigger team, The Brae-ers.
• The opportunity to meet some truly amazing and talented people.
• The flexibility to build your business, YOUR WAY and make it just what YOU want it to be.
• Discounts on some top quality, well known and respected, not to mention GORGEOUS products.

Contact me at justscrapit.ctmh@gmail.com with any questions you might have on becoming a CTMH consultant.  We can get together, chat, and see if a CTMH business is right for you.

Then sign up in April to take advantage of the spectacular Art of Business promotion and get a FREE Cricut Collection when you join my team.