Over the Moon (Doggie) for Catalog!

First off, thanks for all your great reading suggestions for my new Kindle! I’m having a blast figuring it out—it’s so easy on the eyes, I’ve decided to read “Pillars of the Earth” by Ken Follett. The book is 1,000 pages long, but the Kindle should make it a breeze.

But I’ve been doing much more than reading since my last post: It’s been a busy week at Close To My Heart. Our new Summer Idea Book started shipping to Consultants and the response has been wonderful—thank you so much for your enthusiastic response and wonderful e-mails!
I’ve been thrilled to read the many messages you’ve sent in expressing your delight with the new stamp set designs, from fresh twists on classics like “get well” sentiments to totally new themes like gears and even rubber duckies! I thought I’d share a couple of the comments I’ve read this week:

Consultant Jan Dagley e-mailed:
“Typically, I don't gush over every new Idea Book...we've been given so many wonderful copies over the years. While always very excited by their release, I'm able to contain myself. Not so this time! This Idea Book hits the mark on every account... (I) felt so strongly about it that I felt I should tell you so. I love every square inch of it! It shows what great effort was taken with every submission...the layouts and cards are varied and exciting, the new add-on products are appropriate and ideal compliments to the new line of papers, the stamps are often restyled winners of days gone by; … but now reintroduced in stylish interpretations that have me seriously wanting to take to the woods again, just to have an excuse to use them!”

Consultant Geri Polasek said:
“All I can say is "WOW!!! What an awesome job done on the Summer Catalog. …I need to go to bed now but I know I will have a hard time sleeping tonight as I am brainstorming the many different workshops that I can offer to my guests. I feel like a little girl in a candy store---which do I choose to show/demonstrate first to my guests? It is like a whole new world out there with Close To My Heart's great products---it is endless!!! Thank you again for the spark!!!”

I couldn’t agree more with these sentiments! With each new release, I pronounce the latest edition as my favorite, and when I say it, I mean it! Each idea book seems even more on target with versatile paper kits, unique stamp designs, and artwork that really inspires.

I often get asked which kit is my favorite in each catalog—that’s an unfair question, because I love them all and we’ve labored on every detail to make each one special. I was very drawn to the “Back Country” kit, which is why I chose it for the cover. The intense hues and rugged patterns remind me of the mountains that surround the beautiful valley I live in. And don’t you think our cover model resembles my husband, David? (Perhaps that’s another reason I like this kit so much!)

But if I HAD to choose a favorite from the Summer book, I think it would be the surfer-savvy “Moon Doggie.” This kit rocks! As many of you know, one of my favorite places on earth is Hawaii, and this kit transports me there without ever leaving home! The lush hibiscus flower, the weather-worn surfboards, and the layers of palm fronds all work together in this kit to make any vacation special (Hawaiian or not!). I have photos from previous adventures in Hawaii that are itching to be paired with the Moon Doggie papers. For the many of you who haven’t seen the new idea book yet, I thought I’d give you a peek at “Moon Doggie” and some artwork you can create with it. Anybody else ready for summer?


And while you’re waiting to get your hands on your own copy of a Summer catalog, do you want to know a little behind-the-scenes information about our catalog strategy? I am happy to share it with you! First off, Close To My Heart is unique in that we publish not one but THREE idea books every year: Spring, Summer, and Autumn/Winter. We’ve learned that scrapbooking, cardmaking and stamping in general are much like fashion—there are hot trends in color and design that simply can’t be addressed in just one annual book. Three books ensure we target what’s hot, WHEN it’s hot. Three books create and sustain tremendous momentum for our Consultants and our customers who are always looking for the next “new” thing—and we deliver, with plenty of new stamp sets, papers, embellishments and more that are brand new each issue. For example, did you know that there are more than 70 new products in the Summer book alone? And typically, there are even more in our Autumn/Winter release! Also, by publishing three smaller books a year, we keep prices low—just a fraction of the cover price of most of our competitors. This means our idea book is affordable for everyone who wants one to have one, and we’re all about sharing inspiration, right? By following these philosophies, Consultants now distribute MILLIONS of Close To My Heart catalogs every year.

I think you can see why I LOVE our idea books—I’m over the moon for them! I’m so glad you like them, too: here’s to a wonderful, stamping-filled summer!