New Product Review | 2016 Annual Inspirations Idea Book

2016 Annual Inspirations

The new Annual Inspirations Idea Book (catalog) has been available since the beginning of August...if you'd like to see it for yourself, simply place an order on my website & you'll get a FREE idea book in your box! Or - if you want to take a peek right now, click here for the online version.

In October, I'll be reviewing the Holiday Expressions catalog, that came out this month. I'm not one to rush the seasons...so I won't be presenting those products just yet. But stay tuned!





The Annual Inspirations idea book is filled with some awesome new products! If you're local, I'm happy to deliver one to you. If you're looking online, look for this green flag that denotes "new" items.



Here are a few of my favorites. And trust me, it's hard to pick just a "few!"

Cricut

The newest Cricut Cartridge is Flower Market. And like all our cartridges, it's nothing short of A-mazing! All the flowers you see on the idea book cover were made using it, as well as this wreath. I see many, many projects being created in my future with this cartridge!

Cricut Flower Market

For the first time, we're also featuring a digital only City Sidewalks cartridge that coordinates with our City Sidewalks, our holiday paper packet (more to come about that in my Season Expression Review next month).

Cricut City Sidewalks Digital Collection

Thin Cuts

Use these thin metal dies to quickly and easily cut shapes for embellishing your scrapbook pages and cards. Thin Cuts are packaged on their own magnetic sheet and work well with most die-cutting machines.

New Thin Cuts

Cards with New Thin Cuts

Paper & Inks

Our new Fundamental paper packets are designed to be VERSATILE. They're available for the entire year & coordinate with the seasonal paper packets that will be introduced in our Seasonal Expressions Catalog (stay tuned for my holiday product review in Oct).

Enchantment Fundamentals

Whimsy Fundamentals

Uptown Fundamentals

We have 8 new ink & cardstock colors.

New Colors

If you haven't already heard, Sea Glass is the "color of the year" - I will be featuring projects that coordinate with this color throughout the next year.

Sea Glass

Acrylic Stamps

Of course, there are also TONS of new acrylic stamp sets. Check them out here.

Autumn Wishes Stamp (B1530) 

School Kids Stamp (D1706)

Sugar Skull Stamp (D1698)

Short & Sweet Stamp (A1189)

I love sharing CTMH products & {creating from the heart} -  please contact me to learn more!

Day 5 Presenting...Frosted

I cannot wait to start creating beautiful holiday items with Frosted. I'll be picking a date soon & planning a holiday card workshop with this lovely paper packet! Hope you'll join me.

Frosted layout by Michelle Bowley

Frosted cards & ornament by Michelle Bowley

You can order this paper directly from my website. Leave a comment & let me know which is your favorite!

Frosted paper packet

Thanks for stopping by this week to check out our fantastic new papers. I hope you enjoyed this preview. Contact me if you'd like a catalog or want to attend my New Idea Book Open House at the end of the month.

Day 4 Meet ProPlayer

If you've got "gamers" in your family, this paper is for you! Tune in tomorrow when I feature my favorite paper...

ProPlayer layout by Kimberly Jo Merillat

ProPlayer cards by Kimberly Jo Merillat

You can order this paper directly from my website. Leave a comment & let me know which is your favorite!

ProPlayer paper packet

Day 3 I'd like to introduce you to Huntington

Today's featured paper packet is going to be perfect for our fall cards & layouts! May I present, Huntington. And even though I'm still in the midst of enjoying a long, lovely, warm summer we're having in the Puget Sound this year, it makes me long for falling leaves...

Huntington layout by Michelle West

Close up of the adorable Mini Clothes Pins

Huntington Cards by Michelle West

You can order this paper directly from my website. Leave a comment & let me know which is your favorite!

Huntington paper packet

Day 2 Announcing...Baby Cakes

Here's the 2nd in my series of new introductions...of CTMH paper packets, this is! Baby Cakes is a perfect pattern for kid layouts, baby shower invitations/announcements or party treats. But also versatile enough to be used for all occasion cards - check out this swap card that features Baby Cakes. I think it's adorable too :)

Baby Cakes layout by Amy Barnes

Baby Cakes cards & treat holder by Amy Barnes

You can order this paper directly from my website. Leave a comment & let me know which is your favorite!

Baby Cakes Paper Packet

Day 1 Introducing...Sarita

This week I'll be introducing you to our 5 other new paper packs (in addition to Laughing Lola - which I previewed previously - click here if you missed it). All the artwork featured this week is from fellow CTMH consultants. I really enjoyed participating in this swap & I hope you enjoy seeing their fabulous creations. Today, I'd like you to meet Sarita.

Sarita Cards by Stina Swansen

Sarita Layout by Stina Swansen

You can order this paper directly from my website. Leave a comment & let me know which is your favorite!

Sarita Paper Packet

Happy {Heart} Day!

At first glance I wouldn't have thought of Chantilly for making Valentine crafts, but I love it. What are you making to celebrate Valentine's Day? Wishing you a day filled with love!

New Idea Book - sneak peek

I just returned home from my first Close To My Heart convention...wow!! It was an amazing weekend filled with friends, inspiration & creativity galore. My mind is swimming with a gazillion new projects & products that I can't wait to share with my customers. I wish I didn't have to go back to my "real" job tomorrow. I'd rather spend a day in my craft room preparing a fantastic demonstration board for you. But alas, the real world calls & this data diva needs to return to her database! Here's a quick peek at the new Idea Book cover - the paper pack featured is called Avonlea (as in Anne of Green Gables) & it's one of my new favs. This new Idea Book will be available to customers in August & I'll be having a launch party to introduce you to all our new products.

Fall/Winter 2012

And my other new fav is -- drum roll, please -- the new CRICUT ARTISTE cartridge!!! WOOT! For those of you who've worked with Art Philosophy, this new cartridge is going to blow your mind. Like the AP cartridge, it's got over 700 images; tons of 3D cuts, party favors, card shapes with coordinated envelopes, banners, word phrases.

Close To My Heart exclusive - Cricut Artiste collection

I cannot wait to get my hands on it & start cutting out fabulous items. New cartridge is available to customers on August1. Please come back later in the week, as I'll be sharing more artwork from Convention weekend with you.