New Items to be Released!!

New Close To My Heart products will be released on a monthly basis.  The April release is happening early!! Friday, March 29 @ 3 pm MST.

Here is the flyer for the new April Products.

The Joy in the Journey is also starting early. You can view the FLYER.

Out Of Stock items will be re-stocked and available at 3 pm.  Please keep in mind that the website will be extremely busy!!  You can find the Out Of Stock list (and a list of what is coming back today) under the Sold Out and Retired tab above.

Sold Out and Retired List

Here's a link to the retired list. 

This is a list of products from the current Core Catalog that will retire at the end of August. All available items are WHILE SUPPLIES LAST. A few things are already sold out. As more items become unavailable, I will update the list. 

Sometime an items is on the retired list because the packaging is being changed, not necessarily that the product is being discontinued. Sometimes the manufacturer changes, that's also a new item number. If you have a question, or are in a panic, just ask me.

If your list is really long, talk to me about Hosting a Facebook Party or Catalog Show. You can also click above on the Opportunity for You tab and jump in with both feet!

For the two-month long Seasonal Catalogs, products are featured for those two months and many are not intended to be in stock for longer. Stamps are being kept current longer than they initially were. Anything that is available, that is not in the Core Catalog or current Seasonal Catalog, can be found on my website under the Online Only section.

What will sell out first?

Wait a minute while I get my crystal ball...oh right, I don't have one. But, here are my educated guesses (and I've been wrong before!).

• More than once, demand has exceeded supply and we've surprised the corporate office wizards  who study trends, buying habits, etc. You Are Enough and Stars and Sparklers flew off the shelves the last couple days of June!!
• Paper collections are promoted in same order as they are in the catalog. They may sell out in the same order. 
• Items for the retiring colors usually sell out fast as consultants rush to fill existing orders, buy supplies for upcoming workshops, complete collections and get back ups for their favorites.
• It is easier to control items made "in house" than those we carry from other manufacturers. That is why sometime a product is just gone forever with no warning. When we attempted to re-order from the supplier, they had discontinued the product, or moved on to a new model. Stamp sets are made by CTMH, so if a quantity is low, they make more. 

The following colors are retiring (watch for updates!):

• Color of the Year - Blue Belle

You already know one of the new colors...Mulberry! This was included in the May Special - You Are Enough.

 Any guesses on the new Color of the Year??

Can't find an item on my website? 

                           What do the banners mean?

                                                                            Is it sold out?

• Back Order/Delayed Shipping
• More are on the way. 
• Item may cause order shipping to be delayed (up to 6 days) until it becomes available.
• We know they'll be here soon so we're going to wait X days and ship everything together.
• If you don't want to wait, remove the delayed items from your order before submitting. You can always ask me if I have something in stock (especially cardstock).
• 
  
• Low Quantity

• Is is almost gone forever? 
• current items-not necessarily
• clearance and going soon items-likely
• Is it going on back order? 
• current items- maybe.
• clearance and going soon items-unlikely
• Will they be gone in 5 minutes or 5 months? Yes.
• there might be 100, or 1000
• ASK ME TO CHECK
• 
  
• Out of Stock

• Is it gone forever?
• Apparently not. This seems to be code for "be back soon." Example: Sugarplum reinker in the Summer of 2020, I would not have been surprised if it was gone forever, but more stock was coming within a week. 
• Is it during a Flash Sale?
• The "quantity set aside for the sale" is probably gone. Look for the item (especially current products) to return to stock (at regular price) after the sale.
• ASK ME TO CHECK

• Where did it go?!?!
• During a flash sale, I had something in my cart, and then it disappeared! Now I can't find it online!! 
• The item probably sold out. If it is a regular, current item, it will probably be back at regular price after the sale.
• If it was a retired item, it is probably out of stock and gone forever.
• It's only 3 weeks into the new catalog and I can't find a new product online.
• Sometimes it's glitch.
• I can tell you if the item actually sold out.
• It may be temporarily unavailable to order. More are coming, but it will be too long to hold on back order. The items is "gone" temporarily until more are back in stock. (Example: the happened with Thin Cuts once)
• It was in Going Soon or Clearance forever, now it's gone, along with several similar items.
• They may have been pulled for an upcoming sale. (I saw this before Stamptacular.)
• They may be gone, especially if they are really old and not selling.
• It sold out. - These are generally a guess, unless I happen to catch it right after it goes. Retired items don't get placed on the list I receive.

It's that time of year...

The Holiday Expressions catalog will end December 31, 2018. That means there is a retiring list and items start selling out. If there is something you've been waiting to order, now is the time!!

You can find the complete retired list here. I have the list in order by page number. Major changes include:

• Red Album in post-bound and ring-bound
• Pink Album in post-bound and ring-bound

Most of the other items are "normal" retirement items, all the printed paper/kits, all the stamp sets, SOTMs, etc.

Items already sold out are:

• Z1382 Tweezers
• Z1767 Chalk Marker
• Z1768 Metallic Markers
• Z1795 Quilling Tool
• Z1805 Hook & Loop Dots
• Z2197 Edge Distresser
• Z3024 White Shimmer Trim
• Z3090 Red Enamel Gems
• Z3299 Cricut Artbooking Collection (CARTRIDGE)
• Z3371 Gold Pearls
• Z3400 Shimmer Brush-Bashful (previous color of the year)
• Z4238 Wonder of the Season Stamp + Thin Cuts Bundle
• Z4306 Thin Cuts--Merry Christmas
• Z5205 Red 12" x 12" D-ring Album

With the busy holiday season upon us, keep in mind that delivery times may take 3-4 days longer in transit than you are accustomed to for your area. Close To My Heart is committed to staying within the 2-6 day in-house turnaround time, and encourage you to allow a few additional days for shipping times in order to accommodate the increased loads placed on parcel delivery services at this time of the year. 

Going Solo in July

As part of this month's Stampaganza special, we've brought back our popular Solos Alphabet and Number stamp sets.

Here are some cards I made (yes, they're originals!!) using the Solos.

Something inspired me to match up a circle with one a letters, so I turned to Make It From Your Heart, Volume 4 and found design #23. Instead of cutting a piece of paper for piece C, I used the zip strip. The B&T paper and color scheme is from the Central Park creative collection.

I added a large "13" to the inside of a birthday card behind the sentiment from the March SOTM. If you missed out, I have one left!!

Be sure to complete your collection or stock up on things Poppy and Pacifica because they will be retiring at the end of August and may sell out prior to that.

The products used in these cards were:

• Make It From Your Heart, Volume 3
• Central Park paper pack
• Central Park sequins
• WYW Cheers To You cardmaking kit
• White Daisy cardstock
• Poppy cardstock
• Poppy ink pad
• Pacifica ink pad
• Thin Cuts Basic Circles
• alphabet or number Solo stamp set
• White cards and envelopes value pack
• thin 3-D foam tape
• WYW You Are More cardmaking kit (retired)
• S1803 Birthday Time (retired) Contact me to purchase; I have one left!

Products are available to purchase on my website. Or, Let Me Show You How to discover your own creativity!

Operation Smile™

Here's the picture from the CTMH blog post of the Share a Smile Challenge winners. The beautiful young lady between President Monica (center) and Avis  (right) is an Operation Smile™ Ambassador. Chadlene stood up in front of her class at 3 years old to sing for them. Due to her facial deformities, the other children laughed and bullied her. Before that, she thought she was just like everyone else. She prayed for a miracle and Operation Smile performed the necessary operation. She used singing as part of her therapy. In 2013, Chadlene won a reality singing show in the Philippines. Now she tells her story and uses her talent as an instrument to help other children receive their miracles.

.Every year at convention there is an auction of items made by consultants. These items are amazing pieces of art! I will try to share them once they are made public. In addition to the auction, some teams have additional fund raising opportunities. At the 2018 North Convention, these combined efforts raised over $81,000, the largest amount ever raised at a single CTMH event!

Our customers have been a big part of raising money for Operation Smile™ too. Remember that we offer a special stamp set, currently Punny Pals, and when you purchase this set at the regular D-size price, $7 of the proceeds are donated to the organization. If  you haven't already purchased these cuties, do so now, they'll be leaving us August 31! I also have the matching Thin Cuts dies available. Another way to help is by rounding up your order every time you make a purchase. We also offer  Operation Smile™  t-shirts. For every one purchased, we will donate $10 USD of the proceeds.

Thank you for your continued support of Operation Smile™!!

News from Convention

The first bit of news is an adjustment to our Idea Book publication. We will have three issues of Seasonal Expressions, just like before, except that they will include all the current products so there's only one catalog per cycle. There will no longer be a large Annual Inspirations, year long book.  With this modification, the current Annual Inspirations will continue through August 31, 2018. Keep in mind that, as always, some products may sell out as we approach the retirement date, so shop early!

The NEW Holiday Expressions that was revealed to consultants at our annual convention this past weekend, will begin September 1, 2018 and run through December 31, 2018. This is the same Expressions schedule we have had for the "small books." The catalog has been beefed up and actually has more pages than last year's Annual Inspirations.

Let's talk colors! It should be no surprise that Bashful, the current Color of the Year will be departing to the great palette in the sky, but never fear, a new shade is on it's way! If you love this delicate pink though, don't be shy, make sure you order the re-inker for your stamp pad and stock up on the cardstock and glitter paper. 

10 additional colors will be leaving to make room for 10 new shades. Gone in the new CTMH year will be:

• Crystal Blue
• Juniper
• Flaxen
• Sorbet
• Pacifica
• Tangerine
• Blossom
• Cranberry
• Poppy
• Nutmeg

The mini-pigment pads are discontinued. Full size pigment pads are coming in select colors.

The Fundamentals line is retiring.

Be sure to keep an eye on my cloud based Retiring List where I've added notes and will update you as products sell out.

One of the many highlights of convention this year was having Stacy Julian, former DOTS consultant, back with us. Her new product line, Story by Stacy, expands in the 2018 Holiday Expressions. She made a quick video to give you a peek. When you're shopping STAMPAGANZA this month, be sure to add Colorful Texture and Quotable Words to your cart. Not only will you be able to get a 3rd stamp set FREE, but prices will be going up slightly on stamp sets for the first time ever.

Stay tuned for more updates and info on new products!!

More questions? Leave a comment!

2018 Retired List

The corporate office has released the retired list.

The big catalog aka Annual Inspirations 2017-18 is valid for 1 year. As we approach July 31, 2018, some items may sell out, so shop early!

The new Annual Inspirations 2018-19 will post and go live August 1, 2018. Contact me for a physical copy.













Our small catalogs aka Seasonal Expressions run for four months each.

The current issue runs through August 30, 2018.












You can still find several items from the January-April Expressions for sale while supplies last under the Going Soon area of my website.








Click here for the retired list in PDF format.

Click here to link to the list in Excel format. This is the list I will keep up-to-date as items sell out.

2017 Retiring List

It's that time of year...the Annual Inspriations retiring lists list has been released. Items on this list will only be available through the end of the current Annual Inspirations idea book (July 2017), WHILE SUPPLIES LAST. 

Retiring items are listed under "Going Soon" on my web site.

 Here is a printable version.

New colors coming!!

Word from the Close To My Heart convention today is that new colors are coming in the 2016-17 Annual Inspirations (releases August 1, 2016)! We'll be saying good-bye to several shades from the Adventure collection:

• Topiary
• Gypsy
• Pear
• Honey
• Sunset
• Cotton Candy
• Hollyhock

Be sure to stock up on cardstock, finish out your ink pad collection and grab the reinkers before they sell out!

Give Away Winner and Retired List

And the winner is...Courtney!! I'm sure she'll Celebrate With Cake for winning the stamp set.

The CTMH Corporate Office recently announced a list of products that will retiring These items will no longer be available after July 31, and are available while supplies last.

Here's a printable list that I will update as often as possible as things sell out.

Here's the list in a nutshell...

Page 16 #AllTheAlbums

Page 18-91 All the workshop kits, paper packs, compliments and matching accessories (as expected)

Page 112- 115 all PML cards except gold & silver overlays

Page 120-121 Cricut Collections Art Philosophy, Artiste, Artfully Sent

Page 123 all the embossing folders except Confetti and Confetti Stars

Page 126-127 Instalife albums, cards and roller stamps. NOT the Memory Protectors

Page 129 both Cut Above kits (expected, stamps are on the retiring stamp list)

Page 130-133 all of the Designer Creations and Designed Decor items

Page 137 the four style sheets

Page 140-41 the red hearts, white stars; all the right page items except sequins and bitty sparkles

Page 142 shimmer trim in pink, Aqua, blue, purple, bronze only

Page 143 the older four colors of EXTRA thick twine

Page 144 everything except the calendar

Page 145 the separate envelopes only

Page 150 the three border punches and the two Base and Bling adhesives

Page 153 the Rolling Tote

Here's the list of retiring stamps from a few months ago.