Introducing NEW Workshops Your Way and Thin Cuts! (long)

With the unveiling of our newest Seasonal Expressions catalog (Jan - Apr 2016), I wanted to take a few minutes to explain the Workshop Your Way (WYW) line and our new Thin Cuts products.  So here goes:

1) Changes to Paper Packets--you might notice something different about these paper packs.  There are now 12 sheets of B&T paper (background & texture).  Five of the sheets are double-sided = ten different coordinating patterns FUN! The remaining sheet can be cut up to use as Picture My Life (PML) cards or can be used in traditional scrapbooks.  The WYW will show you how to do that! The cards are printed both horizontally and vertically to give you the most options for using them in your scrapbooks.  Finally, you will note that there is no cardstock in the paper packs, but both the catalog and the zip strip on the papers lists the solid cardstock which coordinates with each collection.  The WYW does include a few sheets of coordinating cardstock.

2) The WYW does not include a stamp set--which will make some of you happy and others, not so much! Remember I am talking about Workshops YOUR Way,  which means you get to choose how you keep your memories.  At the Scrapbook Class of WYW, we will create the three layouts together, step by step like we always have.  Additionally, for those who are interested, there is a coordinating stamp set which matches the WYW, and is used to create cards and other embellishments.  YOU get to choose what you want to do.

3) ANNOUNCING THIN CUTS--CTMH really thought this launch through and one of the fun new products that coordinates are called THIN CUTS.  Thin Cuts are metal dies which have shapes that coordinate perfectly with the stamp set that goes with a particular WYW.  They are used with my brand-new Cuttlebug and I will be teaching folks how to use it in person.  Here is a quick look introducing Thin Cuts by the Home Office:

One thing I would like to point out is that the "sandwich" (how you layer the pieces of the cuttlebug and the paper and dies) is a bit different from machine to machine.  I will show you the correct method at my house when we do the OPTIONAL WYW ADD-ON Crop. The Add-on Crop is where you will create items using the "leftover" pieces from the scrapbook class.

4) How I will be teaching WYW Classes--my plan is to offer both parts of the WYW classes to my customers.  I love the ease of stamping as embellishing and don't want to lose that part of my crafting (somewhere Pat Sparks is in shock reading these words)! So I have decided to teach the WYW Scrapbooking Class and the WYW Optional Class!

• WYW Scrapbooking Class--in most cases these will be on Saturdays from 9a - 3p just like our other monthly project classes.  For $35, you will receive the FULL WYW kit, space to work, instruction and light lunch and snacks.  Occasionally, I may have to have one on a Friday night and the cost will be $30 instead and will include everything except lunch.

• WYW Optional Class--in most cases these will be held the Friday night PRIOR to the WYW Scrapbooking Class.  I am trying something new for this option:  purchase a value pack of White Daisy cards and envelopes for $14.95 and attend the first THREE WYW Optional Classes for FREE.  This will give you your own card/envelope pack to work from and bring to each WYW Optional Class.  By the end of all three you will have made 25 cards in varying themes.

5) OK, how do I know what classes/themes are when?  Stick with me for one more moment.  Here are the three collections in the current Seasonal Expressions catalog....introducing:

CHARLOTTE COLLECTION

REGATTA COLLECTION

PENELOPE COLLECTION

Here are all of the dates when these collections will be taught.  

     CHARLOTTE WYW

     Optional Class--Friday 2/5/16  7pm - 11pm
     Scrapbooking Class--Saturday 2/6/16  9am - 3pm

      REGATTA WYW

      Optional Class--Friday 4/1/16  7pm - 11pm
      Scrapbooking Class--Saturday 4/2/16  9a - 3p

      PENELOPE WYW

      Optional Class--Friday 4/22/16  7pm - 11 pm
      Scrapbooking Class--Saturday 4/23/16  9a - 3p


Check out the Seasonal Expressions Idea Book to see what the layouts and cards for each look like! Be sure to contact me if you have ANY QUESTIONS...I'm here to help!

Charlotte Workshop Your Way Classes! (short)

In February, I will be teaching the first of the NEW Workshop Your Way classes!

These new workshop kits retail for $26.95 and include everything you need to make 3 scrapbook layouts in one beautiful color scheme.  Here is a look at the kit:

And here are what the three layouts look like:

I will be teaching the scrapbooking only portion on Saturday, 2/6/15 from 9am - 3pm.  Cost is $35 per person and includes the entire Charlotte WYW kit, plus a light lunch.

Please contact me by 12 noon on Tuesday so that I have time to order your kit for you.  Hope to see you here with us then!

CTMH Planner Fun

I've spent this past weekend browsing online the MANY wonderful ideas for decorating and using my CTMH planner.  At first I wasn't going to do much of that but then I realized I needed just a couple of things to make my life easier so I decided to give it a whirl.

First off, stamping on my monthly pages...just makes them look a bit more fun and personal to me.  It took me about 5 minutes to stamp using Peacock and Pomegranate.  Then I chose to stamp an I'm age from this month's SOTM to remind me what it is.  Here is the photo I shared previously of that:

Something I learned from this is that if you are rushing, you should not try to stamp on the pages WHILE the pages are in the planner.  My SOTM flower is messed up as a result but now I know what to do in the future.





Next, I wanted to make another pocket to use in the planner.  Again, going fast and not paying attention, one of my paper patterns ended upside down but it doesn't bother me at all.  I used two pieces of the My Crush insert pages which match the planner to make the pockets you see here.  The second is a bit narrower than the first but it works me.  I sealed the sides with tape runner and wash tape:

Finally, many of you know that I plan my meals for the week, sometimes doing a bulk of the prep ahead of time.  I wanted a menu listing in my planner but with a family that changes plans on me frequently, I knew I wanted to use post-it notes so I could switch the meals around.  I ended up making a Weekly Menu listing and attaching it to the back of my "TODAY" page finder.  Here are the supplies I used to do this:

I used Cotton Candy, Gypsy and Lagoon inks and the D1572 stamp set "My Life" which comes with the Artbooking Cricut bundle.  I stamped the days of the week on one of the My Crush sheets, trimmed it down and attached it to the Page Finder with Washi tape (no other adhesive used so that I can remove it in the future if I don't like it).  I then used small post it strips from a different day planner I just stopped using to list the meals I plan to make.  If and when my sons change plans on me, I can move the meals around to suit the tastes and number of family members who will be home that night.  Here is a close up version of the Page Finder (this is on the BACK):

Again, I could have done a better job making sure all the washi tape was perfectly lined up on the front but, meh, who cares? Its done and its mine! On the front, I have plenty of space to use cute post its for other reminder and it adds some pops of color to my week since I use certain inks for certain things/family members.

At any rate, it took me longer to type this blog post (20 min) than it took to make either of these things.  If you are interested in adding to your own planner, or checking out the CTMH planner in person, my next crop night is Friday, January 22nd from 7-11 pm (and just $5 per cropper).

I am loving this line of products and hope you will check them out soon! Next time, I will be talking about the new paper packets and Workshops  Your Way, which I think my Peeps will LOVE!

Get Inspired!

Just a quick post to remind you that there are so many ways to get excited about CTMH.  Flip through an Idea Book either in person online (IDEA BOOKS ONLINE ).  Come to an event...see that calendar right over there ------>

Another way is to check out the CTMH Blog from the Home Office.  I always get excited and inspired reading it.  Here is a link to one of my fave posts from this week about the awesome #ctmhplanner naturally: CTMH BLOG

Tonight I will be getting together with a few of my team members to continue planning for our awesome weekend together in March.  Hope you all have a great weekend, too!

JANUARY Email just sent

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JANUARY 2016 Newsletter Upcoming events...retiring products and more! HAPPY NEW YEAR! I am so excited to help you get back into your photos, scrapbooks and other projects.  I spent some time over my vacation from work organizing the crop space in my house and learning the new equipment Santa brought for the workshop--a Cricut Explore Air and a Cuttlebug! I am hoping to continue to offer a mixture of crops, page layout classes and other events.  If there is something YOU would like to learn more about, let me know and we can find a date/time to schedule that. Check out the image at the top of this email....that is the cover of our Brand New Seasonal Expressions I catalog...attend any event to get yours for FREE! Read on for info/links to this month's specials and for a list of upcoming dates for the first part of this year! Thanks for being part of my Peeps Family...I appreciate your business!

Check out the January Stamp of the Month here:  http://poolespeeps.blogspot.com/p/stamp-of-month.html This month's constant campaign celebrates National Papercrafting Month...check out the details:  http://poolespeeps.blogspot.com/p/monthly-specials_26.html

UPCOMING EVENTS Registering for events is first come, first served and many events fill quickly.  To register, simply send me an email and I will send you a customized invoice which can be paid using your credit/debit card.  Checks can be mailed to my house as long as they arrive by the registration deadline. Saturday, January 9th 9 am - 3 pm     WHITE PINES PROJECT CLASS--FULL Friday, January 22nd 7 pm - 11 pm   $5.00 Its a $5 Friday crop...which includes snacks, a small create n take and a door prize ticket.  Friday, February 5th 7 pm - 11 pm    FREE Crop Night + Decorative Workshop Prep I will be teaching my first NEW Workshop Your Way class on 2/9...if you want to do the decorative/stamping portions of the class, come for FREE the night before to prep them OR come for FREE to work on ANYTHING you wish. FUTURE EVENTS  Saturday,February 6th  Charlotte Workshop your Way CLASS 9am-3pm Friday, February 19th $5 Crop Night 7 pm - 11 pm  LAST CHANCE TO ORDER FOR THE WEEKEND EVENT Friday, February 26th, FREE Crop Night  PICK UP LAST MINUTE ITEMS FOR WEEKEND MARCH 4 -6 PEEPS-Palooza Weekend Event in Ocean City, MD